CRITICAL ROLE CAMPAIGN 4, Episode 4 Recap: Masks, Murders, and Mayhem, Oh My!

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I’m a huge fan of Critical Role, and honestly, Campaign 4 is just so epic and sprawling! It’s amazing, but sometimes it’s tough to follow everything that’s happening with all the characters. So, to help fellow fans (and myself!) keep up, I’ve been summarizing each episode, condensing those 4-5 hours into the key plot points. Here’s my recap of Campaign 4, episode 4, titled “Stone-Faced.”

Critical Role Campaign 4, Episode 4 Recap: Table of Contents

Critical Role Campaign 4, Episode 4 Cold Open: Bolaire’s Mask at Work

The fourth episode of Critical Role Campaign 4 opens with Bolaire acting suspiciously. We quickly discover that under his mask, there’s nothing left of his original body. The mask itself is dangerous – anyone who removes it is compelled to put it on, which ultimately kills them and transforms their body into a new version of the mask. This episode also reveals Bolaire’s cold-blooded nature, as he casually dismembers a corpse and abandons it without hesitation.

Critical Role Campaign 4, Episode 4’s Major Scene Is the Battle at Palazzo Davinos, Where House Tachonis Tries to Destroy House Royce and House Davinos

Most of Critical Role Campaign 4, episode 4, focuses on a large battle at Palazzo Davinos. During this fight, House Tachonis – a family connected to the powers of the Underworld – attacks Houses Davinos and Royce, aiming to wipe them out. They bring with them an army of undead creatures like shades and ghouls. A particularly brutal moment occurs when Occtis Tachonis’ father, Primus Tachonis, kills Julien Davinos’ father in a gruesome way, enraging Matt Mercer’s character. Throughout the chaotic battle at Palazzo Davinos, Vaelus, Lady Aranessa, and Thiasha Lloy fight off the surrounding undead.

Critical Role Campaign 4, Episode 4 ‘Stone-Faced’ Sees Our Major First Character Death

Occtis Tachonis didn’t last long – he was quickly overpowered by his family’s forces. He was pinned down on a table by a ghoul, and then brutally killed by his brother, Ethrand, who stabbed him and removed his heart, replacing it with the Stone of Night Song. Occtis died there on the table. Immediately after, Ethrand and their father escaped, abandoning their army. This allowed the remaining members of the party to defeat the remaining forces and retrieve Occtis’ body. Tragically, nearly everyone affiliated with Houses Davinos and Royce – vassals, merchants, and friends – was killed, leaving only Julien and Aranessa as survivors.

Thaisha Lloy is devastated by Occtis’ death, as she loved him like a son. However, she’s able to reach him in the afterlife, desperately trying to convince him to stay, believing his time isn’t up. Occtis tries to distance himself from his family, seemingly drawn to a shadowy place, but then chooses to fight for life. In doing so, he removes the Stone of Night Song from within him, nearly losing his soul in the process. While Occtis appears to have died, the story isn’t finished in Critical Role Campaign 4, episode 4.

Elsewhere, We Learn the Truth About Bolaire in ‘Stone-Faced’

After leaving the previous, unsettling encounter, the story shifts back to Halandil’s house and focuses on Halandil, Azune, and Murray. In this part of Critical Role Campaign 4, episode 4, Halandil shares a letter with Murray from his deceased brother, Thajazi Fang. The letter contains warnings about Bolaire, suggesting he can’t be fully trusted. Despite this, Murray still feels positively toward Bolaire and believes they should seek him out to learn more about the events surrounding Thajazi Fang’s life and death.

At the Archanade museum, Bolaire is questioned about his connection to Thajazi Fang. He unexpectedly reveals that Fang was abusive and forced him to lie to Halandil and commit questionable acts through blackmail. Bolaire insists that Fang ruined both his career and his life.

In Critical Role Campaign 4, Episode 4, Bolaire finally reveals the truth about his identity. He isn’t a person, but a magical mask created long ago during the Shapers’ War. His original purpose was to help defeat Rauwyn, the Halfling god of trickery. After fulfilling that task, he continued to exist, being worn by different people, then falling asleep when not in use. However, realizing his original goal was complete, he abandoned his purpose and started a new life.

Bolaire’s life transformed when he befriended Halandil, who became his closest and only friend. He deeply values Hal, stating that Hal is the most important person in his life and that Hal’s guidance and creativity broadened his horizons.

The discussion is interrupted when the group notices something strange at Palazzo Davinos. All the lights are off, which is unusual, and knowing their friends are inside, they quickly head over to investigate.

Bolaire and Murray Bring Occtis Tachonis Back to Life in Critical Role Campaign 4, Episode 4

Inside Palazzo Davinos, Bolaire, Hal, Azune, and Murray discovered the remnants of a black candle used by House Tachnois during the battle, seemingly as a focus for their magic. They learned that House Tachnois had been trying to tear open a gateway between Aramán and the realm of death. The group magically restored the candle, which appeared to reverse some of the damage caused by Tachnois’s actions.

Then, the group gathers at the Lloy home for a heartfelt reunion. With a bit of magic – and a lucky roll from Taliesin Jaffe’s character, Bolaire – they bring Occtis Tachonis back to life, thanks to Marisha Ray’s character, Murray, and her special ability. However, Occtis isn’t truly alive; he’s been returned to the world, but remains deceased. The exact implications of this will likely be revealed in upcoming episodes.

The Party Reclaims the Stone of Nightsong in ‘Stone-Faced’

Murray and Bolaire successfully retrieved the Stone of Nightsong from Occtis, and it seems to have revived him. As the Stone is meant to guide souls in the afterlife, it’s logical that it could also bring someone back to life. It even began to physically heal Occtis, repairing his body, and surprisingly, it also brought Pin the fox back! We now have the Stone of Nightsong again, but Vaelus, who desperately wanted it, didn’t immediately take it. Seeing the Stone bring Occtis back to life clearly affected her, and she seems to want to join our group instead.

And that’s all she wrote for Critical Role Campaign 4, episode 4.

We Still Do Not Know Who the Seekers and Schemers Are After Episode 4 of Critical Role Campaign 4

Even after the first four group episodes, it’s still unclear which players are on the Seeker team and which are on the Schemer team.

The Soldiers’ Table Does Not Feature in Critical Role Campaign 4, Episode 4, ‘Stone-Faced’

During the third episode of Critical Role Campaign 4, the five members of the Soldiers’ Table were revealed. They are: Travis Willingham as Teor Pridesire, Laura Bailey as Thimble, Robbie Daymond as Kattigan Vale, Whitney Moore as Tyranny, and Sam Riegel as Wicander (Wick) Halovar.

As a huge fan of Critical Role Campaign 4, I was definitely surprised when The Soldiers just vanished after episode three! They went north and we didn’t see them at all in episode four, which left me wondering what they were up to.

More Critical Role Campaign 4 Recaps Await Us

As a huge fan, I’m really excited that Critical Role Campaign 4 is still ongoing! I’ll definitely be here to share recaps as each new episode drops, so you can stay up-to-date on all the action.

Critical Role’s Campaign 4 begins on Thursdays at 7 p.m. Pacific Time, streaming live on Beacon.tv and simultaneously on the Critical Role YouTube and Twitch channels. You can watch the recorded episode (VOD) the following Monday at noon Pacific Time. The podcast is released in two parts: the first part comes out one week after the live stream, and the second part the following Tuesday.

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2025-10-24 23:04