The Omen Archive

previous episode C4E017 The Place of Wings
next episode C4E019 Hand & Wheel

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Thumbnail for Critical Role IV episode 18, with a green emblem around the episode number and compass arrows in the bottom corners. A split image having the effect of cracked plaster, with a photo of Ashley on the left and a photo of Matt on the right, both sitting at the table. Ashley looks astonished, staring forward in surprise and fear. Matt mimicks swinging a weapon, his right arm raised and left hand reaching forward, eyes wide in concentration.

Runtime

4h 13s

Cold Open End 00:16:18

Episode Start 00:23:03

Break Start 02:17:05

Break End 02:24:29

Total Combat Time

1h 14m 23s

Running Bird Count

A number in a slightly cracked egg: 107

* See our note on how we count this

Battlemap Highlight

A battlemap of a walled courtyard under cover of night focused on the white-winged and scorpion-tailed Tertia Tachonis on a stone wall standing over the body of Gaya Seremai. Tertia’s body is gaunt and zombie-like, dirty yellow clothes laying loosely across her frame. She leans forward with clawed hands, her wings outstretched and her skeletal tail arched above her head. Behind Tertia is a red glowing crystal pillar, and Vaelus is just visible on the ground in the background.

Hark! Wisdom!

Seven Shining Tenets VI

“To live aglow or be unmade, that to err is to dim and to glow with rightness is to spark. The sparkéd soul shall be rekindled, the dim burned.”

Breaking Down Vaelus’s Nat 20 Damage

SourceRollDamage
Censer Whip2d10 + 4 Bludgeoning14
Embers of Arask2d6 Fire9
Divine Smite6d8 Radiant26
Total--49

Poop

Sam drinking from a large ornate silver chalice with the next “POOP” written in black marker on white paper on the bottom. The chalice has spokes emerging from the curve of its cup reminiscent of Candescent Creed sun ray designs. A turquoise gem is set in the side, matching the gem in Wicander’s circlet. Sam wears a thin white button-up shirt opened to reveal the top of his chest and a royal blue shirt underneath.

HEY, there might be some SPOILERS under the thing:

Created by Flando Maltrizian, Master of Time(stamps)
Timestamp Description
00:01:45 Wick and Osli
00:05:20 The Candlefeast Ritual
00:06:40 The Naming of the Shadows
00:08:35 Is it right to do bad things for good reasons?
00:09:30 Have you come to confess or seek guidance? (Nick has lied to a lot of people)
00:11:15 The Hymn of Refraction (something is up with Osli)
00:16:20 Critical Role Announcement Playhouse (Sam and Travis’s Heated Rivalry)
00:19:45 Laura’s merch corner
00:21:45 Intro cinematic
00:23:05 EPISODE STARTS
00:29:10 Turns out anywhere is fine for the sacrifice
00:31:30 Recap Ends
00:35:55 Pascard and Thaisha (Thjazi was doing something weird with Trickster stuff)
00:40:05 Pascard’s story
00:42:45 Mara the Wing
00:49:25 Tachonis contracts
00:55:20 Atonement (Ashley does not have dice)
00:59:00 The Drowned Men contracts
01:03:05 Pascard walks the path (lots of ways through the woods)
01:07:05 Calcidion
01:11:30 We can’t stay and harvest the scorpion
01:13:40 Julien does not want to wait
01:20:15 Forgot about the NPC’s (Catching Dr. Talter up)
01:24:05 Wreck those nerds
01:28:05 Occtis reads the ritual room
01:33:00 Occtis and Thaisha come to a head
01:37:00 The Tachonis own this angel
01:40:25 Julien is only reasonable when it annoys Thaisha
01:47:05 The Embalming Room (EBL)
01:48:45 The process of creating the Final Angel
01:53:55 The ritual failed (probably)
02:01:50 The Hall of Guardian Demons
02:07:50 Demons are different in Araman
02:14:30 The Sepulchral Veil
02:17:10 BREAK STARTS
02:24:30 BREAK ENDS (map out)
02:26:05 Jason Statham is made of bees
02:27:45 Battle begins badly
02:34:10 Holy to Azgra is also bad
02:35:10 Making the Nat 20 count
02:38:35 Gaya has a good idea
02:40:05 Julien does not get Talter’s bless
02:41:55 Why didn’t we rest?
02:44:10 Trying to command the angel (Tertia)
02:50:20 Daring Strike (ready with the desperate measures)
02:52:10 Precautionary ballista
02:55:20 Vow of Enmity (paladin crits)
03:00:50 Vaelus level up
03:02:50 The monster goes every round in 2024
03:06:50 Vaelus is out
03:11:10 Julien gets to a ballista
03:15:25 Vaelus connects to Thaisha
03:21:55 Julien goes down
03:23:30 Occtis intimidates Tertia
03:28:05 Death saving throws
03:35:15 HDYWTDT
03:37:05 Failed experiments
03:39:25 Occtis piggyback (tossing the snake)
03:46:55 Julien and Occtis discuss trust
03:56:40 If Tachonis had succeeded, the Houses of Royce and Davinos would’ve fallen
03:59:45 Episode Ends
Full time Gameplay time Game 1st half Game 2nd half Mid break 1st start Ad start Ad end 1st end 2nd start 2nd end
4h 13s 3h 45m 9s 2h 10m 20s 1h 34m 49s 7m 24s 00:00:00 00:16:18 00:23:03 02:17:05 02:24:29 03:59:18
Encounter Total length Start time End time Rounds In game time Notes
Tertia, Vindicta 1h 14m 23s 02:24:39 03:39:02 5 30s starts with second initiative call, after break

Main cast attendance

Aabria Iyengar, Alexander Ward, Ashley Johnson, Brennan Lee Mulligan, Matthew Mercer, and Sam Riegel.

Absent

Laura Bailey, Liam O’Brien, Luis Carazo, Marisha Ray, Robbie Daymond, Taliesin Jaffe, Travis Willingham, and Whitney Moore.

Week 1

Episodes in week: C4E018.

Priest’s Day / Solaire
Weaver’s Day / Luniere
Day 1
Hunter’s Day / Chassaire
Day 2
Victor’s Day / Victoire
Day 3
Smith’s Day / Forgiere
Day 4
Farmer’s Day / Viére
Day 5
Trader’s Day / Marchandiere
World
  • Alogar Fang and members of the Barrowguard destroy elements of the Tachonis ritual at Tannesar [ep. 18]
Soldiers
Seekers
Schemers

Week 2

Episodes in week: C4E017C4E018.

Day 6
Priest’s Day / Solaire
Day 7
Weaver’s Day / Luniere
Day 8
Hunter’s Day / Chassaire
Day 9
Victor’s Day / Victoire
Day 10
Smith’s Day / Forgiere
Day 11
Farmer’s Day / Viére
Day 12
Trader’s Day / Marchandiere
World
Soldiers
Seekers
  • Vaelus uses the Stone of Nightsong to speak with Pascard Velmonte [ep. 17, 18]
  • Explore more of Tannesar and gain further insight into the extent of House Tachonis's failed attempts to warp Tansul's gift to make a celestial under their command [ep. 18]
  • Fight against the failed Deva Vindicta form of Tertia Tachonis [ep. 18]
  • Group decides to return to Dol-Makjar [ep. 18]
Schemers
Map number Map
1

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

Total: 150

Character Damage dealt
Wicander 0
Julien 34
Thaisha 19
Occtis 17
Vaelus 80

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

Total: 72

Character Damage taken
Wicander 0
Julien 45
Thaisha 0
Occtis 0
Vaelus 27

Total: 35

Character Healing performed
Wicander 0
Julien 0
Thaisha 35
Occtis 0
Vaelus 0

Total: 1

Timestamp Character(s) Description
03:35:11 Vaelus Tertia Tachonis, Censer Whip with Divine Smite, HDYWTDT

Total: 1

Timestamp Character(s) Description
03:35:11 Vaelus Tertia Tachonis, Censer Whip with Divine Smite

KOs

Total: 2

Timestamp Character Circumstance Resolution Notes
03:06:45 Vaelus Deva Vindicta/Tertia Tachonis, scorpion stinger, Tannesar Brought back up by hit points from level up Level up timing was re-ruled to account for accurate total of HP gained
03:21:52 Julien Deva Vindicta/Tertia Tachonis, scorpion stinger, Tannesar Brought back up by Cure Wounds from Thaisha, cast through her familiar
Totals
Spells Leveled Spells Only Spell Levels
17 11 13
Character Spell Base level Cast at Notes
Wicander Protection from Evil and Good 1 1
Wicander Mage Hand Cantrip Cantrip
Thaisha Guidance Cantrip Cantrip on Vaelus
Thaisha Message Cantrip Cantrip to Julien
Thaisha Pass without Trace 2 2
Occtis Dancing Lights Cantrip Cantrip
Occtis Dancing Lights Cantrip Cantrip
Julien Jump 1 - via Hare's Charm
Thaisha Fire Bolt Cantrip Cantrip
Occtis Cause Fear 1 1
Vaelus Divine Smite 1 1
Thaisha Find Familiar 1 - via Wild Companion
Occtis Witch Bolt 1 1
Thaisha Cure Wounds 1 - Vaelus heals for 17 points; spell level not stated
Vaelus Divine Smite 1 1
Occtis Spider Climb 2 2
Thaisha Cure Wounds 1 - Julien heals for 18 points; spell level not stated

Total: 9

Character Ability/Feature/Trait Type From Notes
Julien Ride the Threshhold Subclass Feature Daredevil
Occtis Unsettling Presence Feature Hollow One
Julien Daring Strike Subclass Feature Daredevil
Thaisha Adrenaline Rush Species Feature Orc
Vaelus Vow of Enmity Subclass Feature Oath of Vengeance
Julien Action Surge Class Feature Fighter
Vaelus Desperate Measures: Heroic Inspiration Homebrew Death Saves granted to Thaisha
Thaisha Wild Shape Class Feature Druid Wild Companion
Julien Desperate Measures: Heroic Inspiration Homebrew Death Saves granted to Thaisha

PC natural 20s

Total: 2

Timestamp Character Description
02:33:40 Thaisha Nature Check on the pool of blood
02:56:13 Vaelus Censer Whip attack with advantage on Tertia Tachonis

PC natural 1s

Total: 2

Timestamp Character Description
02:54:14 Thaisha Ballista attack on Tertia Tachonis, directed at Julien instead
03:09:50 Occtis Perception Check to see Tertia Tachonis

DM natural 1s

Total: 1

Timestamp Character Description
02:42:23 Tertia Tachonis Grapple (Athletics) Check on Vaelus

Total: 10

Timestamp Item Payer Recipient How obtained Notes
00:04:08 candle Lux Osli Cafland Wicander gave
00:16:00 Osli's Holy Orders Lux Osli Cafland Wicander stole
01:11:55 giant scorpion tail - Julien looted
02:31:34 torch Julien - thrown
02:47:05 giant scorpion tail Julien Occtis gave The actual exchange was not on screen but determined at this time stamp
03:36:57 head of Tertia Tachonis - Occtis takes
03:50:33 gemstones - Thaisha looted specifics unclear, but Thaisha "grinched the shit out of it"
03:55:42 books, papers - Occtis looted specifics unclear
03:56:04 gemstones - Occtis looted specifics unclear
03:58:53 remains of Dame Seremai - Occtis retrieved

Total: 3

Name First mention First appearance Race (if given) Identifier (if relevant) Description (if given)
Tertia Tachonis C4E017 The Place of Wings at 01:19:43 C4E018 Vindicta & Vale at 02:27:44 Human/celestial Occtis’s cousin Had a pet scorpion. Younger sister of Doset and Univere. Killed in a "partially successful, but largely a failure" experiment by the Tachonis to graft a "calcidial prosthesis." Later revealed to have been partially transformed into a celestial-type creature with a scorpion tail. Fights and is killed by the Seekers in C4E018 Vindicta & Vale. (She/her)
Demon guardians C4E017 The Place of Wings at 03:35:31 C4E018 Vindicta & Vale at 02:03:41 Demon Currently statues, guarding the Apotheotic Vindicta and the Sepulchral Veil. One looks like an adolescent boy with wavy hair and extremely small horns, but with no nipples or other sexual characteristics. It looks confused. The second statue looks like a smiling old man with a goatee, wild horns that curl all the way around, pointed ears, and goat-like legs, with a small pouch around his neck and a curling staff. The last statue is an extremely tall, broad-shouldered masculine figure with bat wings and, rather than horns, a halo-like circle that has been shattered in the front. It wears ancient armor and has an extra pair of eyes on each side of the face, which has a strong jaw and a sorrowful expression. A fourth statue seems to have been smashed.
Lux Osli Cafland C4E018 Vindicta & Vale at 00:01:12 C4E018 Vindicta & Vale at 00:01:12 Lux of a tiny roadside Candescent Creed chapel in a shepherd's hamlet in the Kavrosi mountains. Likely mid- to late 20s ("two or three years" younger than Wick, who has been described as 28-30).

Tenets

Note that reference has been made to both “Tenets of the Whispered Light” (01:50:57, Cruelty) and to “Seven Shining Tenets” (02:16:41, Wicander). It’s not yet clear if these are two separate sets of tenets or one and the same.

Total: 1

Tenet Name First Mention First Mentioned By
Seven Shining Tenets VI. To live aglow or be unmade, that to err is to dim and to glow with rightness is to spark. The sparkéd soul shall be rekindled, the dim burned. C4E018 at 00:07:53 Lux Osli Cafland

Proverbs, Hymns, Quotables

Total: 3

Proverb, Hymn, or Other Phrase First Appearance First Said By
Bent wicks are straightened. Spent wicks are trimmed. Not all vessels are ready to bear the Light. C4E018 at 00:05:24 Lux Osli Cafland
All flames are one. Let us then share the Light. C4E018 at 00:06:04 Lux Osli Cafland
The Hymn of Refraction: We are the colors of the flame borrowed brief and bright. No hue may claim the fire itself. No voice may own the Light. Shadow, pass through trembling hands, broken though we bend, a single gleam, a thousand beams with neither start nor end. C4E018 at 00:11:13 Lux Osli Cafland and Wicander

Other Beliefs

Total: 1

Belief First Mention First Mentioned By
"But also, we are told that light casts its own shadow and that he who holds the torch must mind the darkness it throws." C4E018 at 00:08:24 Lux Osli Cafland

Other Vocabulary

Total: 3

Word or Phrase Quote First Appearance First Used By
Revealing the first flame "What would your family have done if you had been home with them to celebrate [Candle Feast]?" "Well, we would have revealed the first flame and the weighing of the wicks, and it was all very formal, really, in my house." C4E018 at 00:04:33 Wicander
The weighing of the wicks "What would your family have done if you had been home with them to celebrate [Candle Feast]?" "Well, we would have revealed the first flame and the weighing of the wicks, and it was all very formal, really, in my house." C4E018 at 00:04:36 Wicander
The naming of the shadows "You know, maybe we could just skip to the part where-- The naming of the shadows. There's something I'd like to confess and--" C4E018 at 00:05:13 Wicander

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 4
Unknown 2
Falcon 1
Ostrich 1

Total: 4

Timestamp Species (if given) Line Notes
00:42:41 - "He referred to a member of his order that he was searching for named Mara The Wing." Not definitively a bird reference, but was interpreted that way by the players.
00:43:11 Ostrich "You guys see an ostrich walks in. "We have no time. Let's move at once if we are to save Aramán. (squawks)" Joke in response to the players ribbing Brennan for his bird references.
00:49:06 - "She, exhausted beyond measure, needed every precious moment and flew at once for Dol-Makjar." Seems to refer to Mara in a bird Wild Shape.
02:36:00 Falcon "Near the foot of this well, there is a falcon's feather [...] The falcon's feather is from a Wild Shaped druid."