The Omen Archive

C4E021 King of Cards

C4E020 The Vanishing
C4E022 The Point of No Return

Aired on .

Thumbnail for Critical Role IV episode 21, with a red emblem around the episode number and birds in the bottom corners. A split image having the effect of cracked plaster, with character art of Bolaire on the left and a photo of Taliesin on the right. Taliesin sits at the table, smiling mischievously and leaning forward. He tilts his head and peers over his round glasses. On the left, Bolaire is an elf wearing a paper-white porcelain mask with dark lips and lines resembling tears running down from the eyes. He has long, voluminous, curly red hair reaching past his shoulders. He wears a red ornate leather vest buckled over black pants and poofy sleeves. He holds a silver rapier in his right hand. He seems to look directly at the viewer with the dots of blue light at the center of his black eyes.

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Runtime

3h 42m 49s

Cold Open End 0:24:15

Episode Start 0:31:04

Break Start 2:29:14

Break End 2:39:10

Initiative going into C4E022

  1. Azune/Bolaire
  2. Crow Keeper
  3. Halandil
  4. Murray

Running Bird Count

122

* See our note on how we count this

Battlemap Highlight

A battlemap of a stone underground room in the sewer. Five Crow Keepers stand within the room around a fallen Demodus Blix, while two guard an entrance on one side and two guard an entrance on the opposite side. The entrances have sewer grates set into them. A sewer trench runs in a circle in the room and exits through both entrances. A raised wooden boardwalk goes from the wall to the center of the room among wooden boxes and three stone pillars holding up the ceiling.

Some Light Scheming

Figuring out what the F is going on

Romina
  • Wicander has been missing for 2 days
    • The Photarch came by the Einfasen Estate, it’s chaos
    • She mentioned the doors to Faerie opening
    • Other Halovars will not be as supportive of the theater
  • Otto Einfasen requested a meeting of the heads of the Sundered Houses
    • Ethrand Tachonis visited the Einfasen Estate to apologize for Primus’s absence
  • There has been no pigeon back from Maya Davinos in the Golden Orchard
  • Filoneus was talking to Harondus Einfasen about the Sons of the Dawn
    • There is a delay on Einfasen plans until the Halovar can gather mercenaries
    • Einfasen and Halovar seem to be allied
  • The Einfasen are hosting an envoy from Argosia, including a nama diplomat
Gus/Arnesha/Druspin
  • Gus, Arnesha, and Druspin don't recognize the name “Blix”
  • Druspin works with tailors, including the Mercanaud Couturier
  • Gus is in Dol-Makjar for less than a week
Pimley
  • Demodus has been getting eye drops, beard growth formula, and other things at the Toad’s Tuffet apothecary
  • Demodus came looking to get out of the city after the events at Palazzo Davinos
    • The Tachonis are looking for Demodus
    • Pimley turned him over to the Crow Keepers, who Demodus owed money to

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HEY, there might be some SPOILERS under the thing:

Created by Flando Maltrizian, Master of Time(stamps)
Timestamp Description
0:01:45 Young Hal and Thaisha
0:03:20 Orcsy
0:04:25 Hal meets The Lloys
0:10:55 Hal finds himself in a beautiful house and asks himself ‘How did I get here?’
0:13:25 The Lloys are civil engineers and part-time arms dealers
0:17:20 Hal’s faith
0:19:00 The First Farramh
0:23:35 Congratulations
0:24:15 Critical Role Announcement Playhouse
0:24:45 Stuck in the teleprompter
0:26:40 Taliesin’s salami
0:27:35 Matt is a New Yorker
0:29:45 Intro cinematic
0:31:05 EPISODE STARTS
0:35:45 Recap Ends
0:37:50 Misha realized he’s implicated in some stuff
0:47:25 DnD characters need to eat?
0:51:55 Romina Rountree
0:53:10 Thjazi was always a fighter
0:58:25 Eating ass
1:01:45 Hal and Romina
1:12:05 The Sundered Houses are making moves
1:23:15 Picking up a rock
1:26:10 Eating that ass raw
1:29:25 The poker game
1:34:50 Azune is a gamer
1:38:05 Pimley is suspicious
1:44:15 Druspin Fortunada is a great name
1:46:15 It’s King Gus!
1:47:05 Dol Makjar has plumbing
1:48:05 Initiative
1:51:10 Messaging frozen Pimley
1:52:50 Pimley’s story
1:59:25 No aces up the sleeve
2:02:10 Pimley still knows his business
2:05:20 Druspin works with the Twins
2:15:25 A question of justice
2:20:50 That dog is a narc
2:21:55 Gus and Hal
2:25:30 Gus’s scars
2:29:15 BREAK STARTS
2:39:10 BREAK ENDS (Ass Without Trace)
2:48:45 Network investigation montage
2:53:30 Vaelus killed that Crow Keeper like 2 days ago
2:54:20 Temelow
3:00:45 The tarot reading
3:04:45 You’d best start believing in faerie stories Murray, you’re in one
3:11:25 Azune finds the way forward
3:14:40 Hal shuts the door on a different life
3:19:25 Interesting stealth
3:24:35 Map out (something real bad is here)
3:33:55 Distraction
3:37:55 A couple things happen simultaneously
3:40:30 Cliffhanger initiative
3:42:25 Episode Ends

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Full time Gameplay time Game 1st half Game 2nd half Mid break 1st start Ad start Ad end 1st end 2nd start 2nd end
3h 42m 49s 3h 25m 4s 2h 22m 25s 1h 2m 39s 9m 56s 0:00:00 0:24:15 0:31:04 2:29:14 2:39:10 3:41:49

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Main cast attendance

Aabria Iyengar, Brennan Lee Mulligan, Liam O’Brien, Luis Carazo, Marisha Ray, and Taliesin Jaffe.

Absent

Alexander Ward, Ashley Johnson, Laura Bailey, Matthew Mercer, Robbie Daymond, Sam Riegel, Travis Willingham, and Whitney Moore.

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Week 1

Episodes in week: C4E021.

Priest’s Day / Solaire
21st Trozemere
Weaver’s Day / Luniere
22nd Trozemere
1
Hunter’s Day / Chassaire
23rd Trozemere
2
Victor’s Day / Victoire
24th Trozemere
3
Smith’s Day / Forgiere
25th Trozemere
4
Farmer’s Day / Viére
26th Trozemere
5
Trader’s Day / Marchandiere
27th Trozemere
World
  • Demodus Blix asks Pimley Morn for help escaping Dol-Makjar and is instead turned over to the Crow Keepers [ep. 21]
Soldiers
Seekers
Schemers
  • Halandil meets with Inez and Romina Rountree at the Seven Stars aviary and hears about ongoing chaos within the Sundered Houses [ep. 21]
  • Romina Rountree mentions an envoy from Argosia is currently being hosted by House Einfasen at the Stahlkeep [ep. 21]
  • Murray confronts Pimley Morn on whereabouts of Demodus Blix and learns he was turned over to the Crow Keepers [ep. 21]
  • Bolaire unknowingly plays a game of cards and ponders philosophy with King Augustus Valian of Timmony [ep. 21]
  • Temelow, a prophetic card reader in Caravan Hill, provides the party information on current location of Crow Keepers and asks for a message to be passed to Thimble [ep. 21]
  • Travel into the sewers below Dol-Makjar and discover the location of the Crow Keepers and Demodus Blix [ep. 21]

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Map number Map
1

A battlemap of a stone underground room in the sewer. Five Crow Keepers stand within the room around a fallen Demodus Blix, while two guard an entrance on one side and two guard an entrance on the opposite side. The entrances have sewer grates set into them. A sewer trench runs in a circle in the room and exits through both entrances. A raised wooden boardwalk goes from the wall to the center of the room among wooden boxes and three stone pillars holding up the ceiling. A battlemap of a stone underground room in the sewer. Five Crow Keepers stand within the room around a fallen Demodus Blix, while two guard an entrance on one side and two guard an entrance on the opposite side. The entrances have sewer grates set into them. A sewer trench runs in a circle in the room and exits through both entrances. A raised wooden boardwalk goes from the wall to the center of the room among wooden boxes and three stone pillars holding up the ceiling. A battlemap of a stone underground room in the sewer. Five Crow Keepers stand within the room around a fallen Demodus Blix, while two guard an entrance on one side and two guard an entrance on the opposite side. The entrances have sewer grates set into them. A sewer trench runs in a circle in the room and exits through both entrances. A raised wooden boardwalk goes from the wall to the center of the room among wooden boxes and three stone pillars holding up the ceiling. A battlemap of a stone underground room in the sewer, placed on the Critical Role table. Four Crow Keepers are visible guarding entrances on either side of the room, and three stone pillars rise up from the battlemap, intended to hold up the ceiling. The entrances have sewer grates set into them. Brennan is in the background behind a wooden DM screen, wearing a denim button-up with the top two buttons undone. A battlemap of a stone underground room in the sewer, placed on the Critical Role table. Brennan holds a long transparent measuring tool over the battlemap, stretching out past the entrance closest to the camera. A few Crow Keepers are visible in the room not blocked by Brennan’s arms. A raised wooden boardwalk goes from the wall to the center of the room among wooden boxes and three stone pillars holding up the ceiling. A battlemap of a stone underground room in the sewer, focused on an entrance guarded by two Crow Keepers. The entrance has a sewer grate set into it, and a sewer trench runs out the entrance from a circular channel within the room. In the room itself, three Crow Keepers stand by a number of wooden boxes, while another is visible guarding an entrance on the opposite side. A raised wooden boardwalk goes from the wall to the center of the room

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NOTE: Numbers represent damage as dealt, taking into account resistances and other effects, and may differ from the damage as rolled.

Total: 0

Character Damage dealt
Thaisha 0
Halandil 0
Murray 0
Azune 0
Bolaire 0

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NOTE: Numbers represent damage as taken, taking into account resistances and other effects, and may differ from the damage as rolled.

Total: 0

Character Damage taken
Thaisha 0
Halandil 0
Murray 0
Azune 0
Bolaire 0

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Total: 0

Character Healing performed
Thaisha 0
Halandil 0
Murray 0
Azune 0
Bolaire 0

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Totals
Spells Leveled Spells Only Spell Levels
21 4 6
Character Spell Base level Cast at Notes
Azune Guidance Cantrip Cantrip on Halandil
Azune Detect Magic 1 - Ritual cast
Azune Control Flames Cantrip Cantrip
Azune Message Cantrip Cantrip to Bolaire
Azune Message Cantrip Cantrip to Bolaire
Azune Message Cantrip Cantrip to Murray
Murray Message Cantrip Cantrip to Pimley Morn
Murray Hold Person 2 2
Murray Message Cantrip Cantrip to Pimley Morn
Murray Message Cantrip Cantrip to Pimley Morn
Murray Message Cantrip Cantrip to Pimley Morn
Murray Message Cantrip Cantrip to Pimley Morn
Azune Message Cantrip Cantrip to Murray
Murray Message Cantrip Cantrip to Azune
Azune Guidance Cantrip Cantrip Applied to whole party group check
Halandil Minor Illusion Cantrip Cantrip
Azune Guidance Cantrip Cantrip on self
Azune Control Flames Cantrip Cantrip
Murray Mage Armor 1 1
Bolaire Phantasmal Force 2 2
Halandil Minor Illusion Cantrip Cantrip

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Total: 5

Character Ability/Feature/Trait Type From Notes
Bolaire Eldritch Invocation: Mask of Many Faces Class Feature Warlock
Murray Portent: Used Subclass Feature Divination replaced own persuasion roll
Murray Lucky Ability Feat
Bolaire Eldritch Invocation: Pact of the Blade Class Feature Warlock
Murray Stonecunning Species Feature Dwarf

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PC natural 20s

Total: 1

Timestamp Character Description
3:37:41 Bolaire Deception Check with advantage to trick Crow Keepers with Phantasmal Force

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Total Long: 0

Total Short: 1

Timestamp Long or Short Characters
1:00:23 Short Murray

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Total: 14

Timestamp Item Payer Recipient How obtained Notes
0:55:38 bottle of wine Seven Stars Halandil purchased
0:58:43 ass steak Seven Stars Murray purchased
0:58:43 ass steak Seven Stars Azune purchased
0:58:51 wine Seven Stars Bolaire purchased
0:59:11 ass steak Seven Stars Bolaire purchased
1:36:34 38gp Bolaire - has Taliesin states Bolaire’s total gold
1:45:33 2gp Bolaire - bet
2:04:36 2gp Bolaire - bet
2:08:13 2gp Bolaire - bet
2:09:34 4gp Bolaire - bet
2:27:51 bottle of wine Seven Stars Murray stole
2:28:03 bottle of wine Murray Halandil took
2:59:33 2sp Murray Temelow paid for a divination reading
3:05:59 1sp Murray Temelow paid

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Total: 20

Name First mention First appearance Race (if given) Identifier (if relevant) Description (if given)
King Augustus "Gus" Valian C4E006 Knives and Thorns at 0:22:18 C4E021 King of Cards at 1:29:38 Human King of Timmony Name mentioned at C4E007 1:44:47. First and current king of Timmony, which fought against Argosia and became its own country. His banner is three red hounds on a white field and he invited a druidic circle into his court, which lead to dogs being honored in Timmony. Called Gus by those who fought with him. Was believed to be a bastard and was raised by his father's kennel masters, but turned out to be true born and ended up opposing him. On meeting him, he is a hulking bruiser. Around 6'4", appears to be in his early to mid 50s. Thick biceps, thick forearms, salt-and-pepper hair and beard, big scar over one eye and deep into a cheek. Wears a leather vest, carries a broadsword with a snarling dog's head as the pommel. Has a bad burn from a fire poker on one arm. First seen playing cards at the Seven Stars. (He/him)
Scyvah Lloy C4E013 Seeking Sanctuary at 1:45:18 C4E021 King of Cards at 0:08:55 Orc Thaisha’s grandmother Thaisha writes her a letter from Riesingürtle. In flashback to the year 42, was 108 years old. A druid of the Circle of Ancients; carried the sounds and scents of the natural world. Helped make the weapons that killed Azgra. Referred to as Thaisha's *great*-grandmother at C4E021 0:24:03. (She/her)
Demodus Blix C4E019 Hand & Wheel at 2:38:21 C4E021 King of Cards at 3:27:46 Gnome Grad student and TA at the Penteveral A 22-year-old grad student at the Penteveral. Darkish brown skin and, in flashback, an ice cream swirl of froompy hair that goes up, as well as a little blue jacket and sharp vest. Wears school badges on the vest and a deep blue chest binder with wizard stars on it underneath. A graduate of the school of illusion now studying for his doctorate. Brilliant, dedicated, full of school spirit. Has a chamelon familiar. Came to the school at age 12. Has always dreamed of being a professor there. Has a condition where his irises are the color of whatever's behind him. Was a busker doing illusion shows in the Ogrimok Marketplace before arcane magic was banned there, and knows Bolaire from that time. Missed the class he was supposed to teach the morning of C4E019 Hand & Wheel, which is out of character, and seems to have been somehow roped into a cover-up of the massacre at the Palazzo Davinos by the Tachonis. Was sold out to the Crow Keepers by Pimley Morn. Leaves Dol-Makjar to go work for King Gus of Timmony. (He/him)
Thana Lloy C4E021 King of Cards at 0:04:52 C4E021 King of Cards at 0:04:52 Orc Thaisha’s mother (She/her)
Kjasha Lloy C4E021 King of Cards at 0:05:25 C4E021 King of Cards at 0:05:25 Orc Thaisha’s older sister Beautiful, wears her hair in a coil of braids on top of her head. (She/her)
Gorzav Lloy C4E021 King of Cards at 0:06:04 C4E021 King of Cards at 0:06:04 Orc Thaisha’s brother Heavyset and muscular, looks like a classic blacksmith. (He/him)
Lloy father C4E021 King of Cards at 0:06:47 C4E021 King of Cards at 0:06:47 Orc Thaisha’s father About 6'7". (He/him)
Agari Shadow C4E021 King of Cards at 0:19:30 Druid who gave the first Farramh after Azgra's death.
Tafkazi C4E021 King of Cards at 0:20:06 The last war priest of Azgra.
Gregor C4E021 King of Cards at 0:53:26 Kid who a young Thjazi threw a rock at for teasing a young Romina Rountree.
Lash C4E021 King of Cards at 1:25:07 Actor playing Murzat A member of Hal’s theater troupe who is playing the lead role in Vokjan and Murzat. (He/him)
Druspin Fortunada C4E021 King of Cards at 1:29:26 C4E021 King of Cards at 1:29:26 Human A sort of dashing aristocrat playing cards at the Seven Stars. Old money, but also works in haberdashery. (He/him)
Pimley Morn C4E021 King of Cards at 1:30:01 C4E021 King of Cards at 1:30:01 Gnome Smuggler Smuggler who helps bring arcane components into the city. Sold out Demodus Blix to the Crow Keepers. First seen playing cards at the Seven Stars. Ulbid Morn's nephew. (He/him)
Arnesha Vane C4E021 King of Cards at 1:30:18 C4E021 King of Cards at 1:30:18 Orc A traveling wizard who spent part of her childhood in Dol-Makjar. Carries as spellbook. Playing cards at the Seven Stars. (She/her)
Tanvar Nendash C4E021 King of Cards at 1:53:25 Does some unlicensed apothecary work at the Toad's Tuffet. Knows Demodus Blix.
Zaghi C4E021 King of Cards at 1:56:06 C4E022 The Point of No Return at 0:47:43 A leader of the Crow Keepers Had lent Demodus Blix money. Pimley Morn took Demodus to him. Killed by Laumy in C4E022 The Point of No Return after being tricked into turning on it by the Schemers. (She/her)
Harving Bowsprit C4E021 King of Cards at 2:23:14 C4E024 Good Tidings at 4:40:58 Merchant hosting King Gus' retinue Merchant hosting King Gus' retinue. Knows Hal’s ex-partner Elodie. (He/him)
Temelow C4E021 King of Cards at 2:54:12 C4E021 King of Cards at 2:54:12 Glaistig (fae similar to a satyr or faun) Fortune-teller Often tells fortunes for members of Hal’s troupe. Reads cards, tea leaves, etc. She is stunning, with ringlets of red hair and deep, ruddy red-brown skin with white deerlike freckles across it. She has small delicate antlers which she disguises as being part of a tiara. Deerlike fae. Wears a sparkling green glass dress with exposed midriff and arms. (She/her)
Laumy C4E021 King of Cards at 3:21:31 C4E021 King of Cards at 3:21:31 Raugrannath Aligned with Crow Keepers A dark fey mold spirit from the realm of Harrow. Appears to have intestines of filth and mold spilling from its torso in coiling heaps. Two dim, faintly bioluminescent eyes that resemble firefly light. Has tendrils networked funguslike into the walls of the Crow Keepers' sewer trading post. (he/they/it)
Surviving Crow Keeper C4E021 King of Cards at 3:26:30 C4E021 King of Cards at 3:26:30 Serves as Bolaire’s new body Multiple Crow Keepers were in the fight in the sewers. The only one to survive became Bolaire’s new body.

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Total: 1

Timestamp Kiss
0:07:17 A young Thaisha kisses the back of her father's head

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Marisha, Taliesin, and Sam at the Critical Role Announcement Playhouse table. Taliesin squints with effort as he swings back a large salami, ready to hit Sam. Sam raises his hands to protect himself and screams. Two other salamis, wrapped in netting, hang below the one being swung. Marisha looks on grinning, slight worry tinging the glee in her eyes.

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This category includes any mention of a bird by Brennan. Things named after birds (i.e. The Crow Keepers) are only counted in Bird Lore. Things associated with birds (i.e. feathers), metaphors, idioms, and catchphrases including birds (i.e. “I can still hear the falcon’s cry”), and actual birds are counted on all mentions.

Summary
Species Count
Total 5
Carrier pigeon 2
Crow 1
Peacock 1
Unknown 1

Total: 5

Timestamp Species (if given) Line Notes
1:01:07 - "Hal, heading upstairs, you get up to the beautiful little aviary, and you see there's some candles lit. Romina and Inez are up here."
1:12:00 Carrier pigeon "'There's already been a pigeon back from Riesingürtle, and there's a-- '"
1:14:24 Carrier pigeon "'I also know that word. I've been bidden to report the minute that a pigeon comes back from the Golden Orchard, reaching out to the Lady Maya Davinos, who's in residence there, while the Lady Aranessa is traveling. And there's been no pigeon back from the Golden Orchard. Not even one to say that the Lady, I mean, just no response. So, you know, it's very-- The time is very, very short. It's possible that there's been a storm, pigeon was waylaid. We're still within a reasonable time frame that maybe a response is still on its way back.'"
2:54:55 Peacock "But you can see outside of a carriage at a beautiful table, there is a peacock feather pattern, silk tablecloth over a small table that you see has some cards on it."
3:05:14 Crow "'The treasure you seek will not stay long in their clutches, for crows are fickle birds, and they will go for what is shiny over what they know can cause them harm.'"