CRITICAL ROLE CAMPAIGN 4, Episode 5 Recap: The First Soldiers’ Table Episode

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Welcome back to another week of Critical Role Campaign 4 recaps! We know not everyone has 3.5 hours to watch the full episode, so we’re here to give you the highlights. This week, Campaign 4 really gets going – episode five marks the end of the introductory phase and the beginning of the main story. This recap focuses on the first ‘Soldiers’ Table’ episode. Critical Role Campaign 4 is being played in a ‘West Marches’ style, meaning there are three rotating player groups, each featured in their own episodes. While each group will have their own adventures, their stories will all connect. So, episode five is our first look at the Soldiers’ Table… after a bit of setup to finalize the player groups. Now, let’s jump into the recap of Critical Role Campaign 4, episode 5!

Table of Contents

Critical Role Campaign 4, Episode 5 Cold Open: The Soldiers’ Table Is Looking for a Path Forward

Episode 5 of Critical Role Campaign 4 focuses on the Soldiers’ Table, beginning with the group leaving Dol-Makjar. The Soldiers are comprised of characters played by Travis Willingham (Teor Pridesire), Laura Bailey (Thimble), Robbie Daymond (Kattigan Vale), Whitney Moore (Tyranny), and Sam Riegel (Wicander, or Wick Halovar). The scene opens with heavy rain, and the group encounters something called the Stormrack – a mysterious cluster of severe weather that isn’t fully explained just yet.

Leaving Dol-Makjar, everyone was lost in their own thoughts. Thimble was completely focused on avenging Thjazi Fang, needing to make things right. Teor was wrestling with a lot – he kept thinking about Casimir, a guy who betrayed their old revolutionary group, the Torn Banner, and also his brother, Cyd. It hit him he didn’t really know either of them, and honestly, he was a little jealous that Cyd seemed to have his life figured out. Wick was looking back at his home, the Villa Aurora, watching it disappear, but he was also hopeful about what’s next. Even Tyranny, that demon, seemed to be considering a quieter life, maybe just chilling as a ‘domesticated’ demon. And Kattigan Vale? He suddenly felt…right. Like he was exactly where he needed to be. It was a weird mix of emotions as we all prepared to move on.

In episode 5 of Critical Role Campaign 4, the group approaches the imposing city of Dol-Makjar and tries to figure out which path to take. There are numerous tracks leading in and around the city, so they attempt to use a skill check to identify the correct one. Unfortunately, everyone fails! We’ll revisit that moment later.

Critical Role Campaign 4, episode 5 Introduces the New Intro Sequence for the Campaign

Episode 5 of Critical Role Campaign 4 features the official campaign intro. It shows Halandil Fang’s performing group through dance, combat, and acrobatics – which we really enjoyed! While it’s still unclear what story the Campaign 4 intro is telling, we’ve done our best to analyze it here.

The Seekers’ Table Forms in Critical Role Campaign 4, episode 5

After following the soldiers for a while, the story shifts back to the other thirteen characters, who are now at House Lloy’s estate. This change happens about halfway through the episode.

The State of Occtis Tachonis in Critical Role Campaign 4, Episode 5

House Tachonis Thought the Stone Would Be Destroyed

The story reveals that House Tachonis originally planned to destroy the Stone of Nightsong as part of their scheme. However, Thaisha and others intervened, saving the ancient elven artifact. This is particularly significant for Ashley Johnson’s character, Vaelus, because the relic was sacred to her deceased goddess and held deep meaning for her elven people. Because Occtis and Thaisha saved the stone, and it’s now connected to Occtis, Vaelus feels drawn to him and vows to protect him while trying to understand their connection.

Azune and Julien Form an Unlikely Bond in Critical Role Campaign 4, Episode 5

Julien Davinos, played by Matt Mercer, is deeply affected by his father’s recent death and the destruction of his home. Surprisingly, it’s Azune Nayar who reaches out to him with a gesture of friendship and trust. Though hesitant, Julien decides to try and trust others. In Critical Role Campaign 4, episode 5, he also makes a pledge to Occtis, vowing that his family will eventually follow Occtis, and Julien will be there, seeking revenge.

The Seekers Go East, Where the Stone of Nightsong Leads Them

When Occtis was brought back to life, the Stone of Nightsong gave him brief, fragmented visions. He saw the banners of Tachonis against a dark sky, and a single warrior bearing the symbol of the Barrow Guard. Combining these visions with other memories, Occtis realized the Stone was showing him a location east of Dol-Makjar, within the original homeland of House Tachonis. Julien recognized the Barrow Guard, as he’d been training its recruits, including the son of Thaisha. This connection, along with her concern for Occtis, her apprentice, motivated Thaisha to join the group’s journey, as seen in Critical Role Campaign 4, episode 5.

United by Occtis Tachonis, the group known as the Seekers decided to travel east. Lady Aranessa joined them, hoping to find out if any of her family members, who were last seen east of the Dolmar pass, had survived. The Seekers consist of Sir Julien Davinos (played by Matt Mercer), Thaisha Lloy (played by Aabria Iyengar), Occtis Tachonis (played by Alex Ward), and Vaelus (played by Ashley Johnson). After saying their farewells, the Seekers began their journey eastward.

The Schemers Forms in Critical Role Campaign 4, episode 5

So, the core group of schemers – the people really pulling the strings behind the scenes – consists of Halandil Fang (played by Liam O’Brien), Bolaire Lathalia (Taliesin Jaffe), Azune Nayar (Luis Carazo), and Murray Mag’nesson (Marisha Ray). They’re all deeply connected to Dol-Makjar and want to stay put – Halandil with the Hallowed Round, Azune with the Arcane Marshal and Revolutionary Guard, Bolaire in the Archanade, and Murray at the Penteveral magic school. The problem is, all these places are under threat from the Sundered Houses, though it doesn’t seem like they’re coordinating an attack just yet. Azune thinks each house is pursuing its own goals right now. That means our schemers’ job isn’t to fight them all at once, but to create division and prevent them from uniting. It’s fascinating to learn that these houses have a history of taking sides – some even supported the gods, while others rebelled. Apparently, when House Tachonis attacked House Royce, it wasn’t just a power grab, but a priestly house eliminating a rebellious one.

During episode 5 of Critical Role Campaign 4, Azune aims to intimidate the remaining rebel families into believing they’re next to be targeted. It’s a clever strategy that will require careful planning. The group then returns to their everyday tasks, but not without a heartwarming moment: a baby magpie hatches on Halandil’s window, symbolizing the hope that there’s still something worth fighting for in Dol-Makjar.

The Soldiers Take to the Woods and End Up in a Comfortable… But Suspicious Place

We’re back to the Soldiers’ Table! The group managed to get just enough information from their last roll to narrow down their options and eliminate some dead ends. Now they need to choose between two paths: the King’s Highway, which is faster and offers more opportunities to gather information, or the Dapshenny woods – a dense, cold-weather rainforest.

The Soldiers Meet Abalaigne and Learn Casimir Is Working with House Tachonis

In episode 5 of Critical Role Campaign 4, the group finally decides to head into the woods. This offers them cover and is likely where Teor’s brother, Cyd, fled to escape Casimir, who is traveling by carriage.

Before venturing into the woods, the Soldiers encounter Abalaigne, a friend of Thimble’s with a criminal past. He’s been captured by the Halovars for theft and is being held in a cage at an inn. The Soldiers free him, and in return, he agrees to keep their presence a secret and shares some valuable information. He reveals that Casimir and his Crow Keepers were actually working with House Tachonis, who helped Casimir escape and provided the deed to the property Cyd stole. Abalaigne also mentions a friend named Elbid who lives in the woods – he’s a bit unusual, but could offer the Soldiers a safe place to rest if needed.

Thimble Meets a Niad and Learns of Hawthorne’s Glade in Critical Role Campaign 4, episode 5

So, as I was following Thimble through the Dapshenny woods, she bumped into another fairy – a really skittish one, terrified of humans, naturally. This fairy let slip that Teor’s brother, Cyd, had gone through heading north. More importantly, she mentioned Hawthorne’s Glade, which is basically a safe haven for fairies now that the doors to Fairie are closed. Apparently, it’s a place where humans aren’t exactly greeted with open arms, and Thimble doesn’t know how to get there yet, so that’s a lead for later. Oh, and it seems like there’s some undead trouble brewing in the world of Critical Role Campaign 4, but the details are still pretty hazy.

The Soldiers Go to Elbid’s Observatory

In Critical Role Campaign 4, episode 5, the group decides they need to rest, so they travel to Elbid’s Observatory as instructed. They meet Elbid, who’s a bit of a collector, but friendly enough. His cottage is full of strange things, including traps, a goat, and even some grouse! He uses a large telescope to observe something called the Stomrack, trying to determine if its condition is improving, staying the same, or worsening. He concludes it’s getting worse, though the implications aren’t clear. He also tells them that carriages belonging to House Tachonis were traveling north on the King’s Highway, but disappeared behind a hill. The group believes they can cut through the woods and overtake the carriages, as the highway is much longer.

Elbid has decorated with fireworks and a sign he says welcomes his daughters home – written in Gnomish. They joined the rebellion fifteen years ago and haven’t been seen since.

Can We Trust Elbid in Critical Role Campaign 4, episode 5?

Despite appearing friendly, Elbid doesn’t quite feel trustworthy. His actions – lighting a candle at night and constantly adjusting his banner – seem odd and raise our suspicions. Whether those suspicions are justified remains to be seen, but we’ll be watching him closely.

More Critical Role Campaign 4 Recaps Await Us

More episodes of Critical Role Campaign 4 are coming soon, and we’ll be here with recaps as they’re released.

Critical Role Campaign 4 airs live on Beacon.tv every Thursday at 7 PM Pacific Time. It’s also streamed simultaneously on the Critical Role YouTube and Twitch channels. You can watch a recording of the episode (VOD) the following Monday at noon PT. Audio versions are released in two parts: the first part one week after the live stream, and the second part the following Tuesday.

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2025-11-07 11:05