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Critical Role's latest adventure delves into the completely original realm of this unfamiliar territory, a universe remarkably changed from the familiar Exandria where past adventures took place. Throughout this domain, deities met their end by mortalkind only 70 years ago, magic has gone wild, and people must figure out how to rule their communities absent godly guidance.

The Setting of Campaign 4

Whereas Exandria represents a realm characterized by gods, the current setting is marked by their complete absence. Seven decades past, a monumental conflict occurred, and people defeated the final of divine beings. With the seven divine creators now gone, humanity had to make do independently in a changed existence, teeming with unpredictable magic and instability.

Our primary location for the premiere is Dol-Makjar, which is situated on the east side of a region known as Kahad. This mountain city greatly honors the rebellion figures of the great conflict. Monuments of these heroes extend from the barriers of the community, confronting nearby peaks seemingly restraining them.

Although Dol-Makjar functions as our starting point, multiple additional sites get mentioned throughout the episode. Initially there's the Rookery, evidently the creative area of the city, where performers, poets, actors, and assorted creatives live. It's in this district that viewers experience the bulk of the narrative during the premiere. This is also where the performance venue, this particular establishment, can be found.

Beyond Kahad lies a different settlement called Dol-Rungja, although its notable about this city has yet to be disclosed.

Tir Cruthu constitutes the realm of mythical beings and a mysterious place outside the material world. Apparently this magical domain has vanished, however, and the door to the fae realm was sealed. The implication behind this is yet to be disclosed, but it appears to affect Thimble, who has started to experience aging since getting disconnected from that realm.

Lastly, there is the Mournvale, a region distant from the primary setting and where an individual and a particular group live. It sounds like the domain of elvenkind, but similarly, much about it stay unknown at present.

The Story of This Adventure

The plot commences in the settlement of Dol-Makjar. At the start of the episode, the Dol-Makjar citizens assemble for a crucial gathering: the execution of the central figure. According to the official, this individual will be killed for serving as "a traitor, arcanist, assassin, and obvious insurrection against the settlement and the citizens." The character formerly a military legend, but presently he's regarded as a criminal by the ruling council to the administrative body.

At Thjazi's execution, thirteen different people with relationships to him come together to watch. These are the primary characters for the campaign, consisting of one character, Occtis Tachonis, a third person, Halandil Fang, Thimble, Murray Mag'nesson, a seventh character, Teor Pridesire, Tyranny, a tenth character, Bolaire Lothaire, a twelfth person and a thirteenth character. Several of these individuals seek to free Thjazi; though, the attempt proves unsuccessful and Thjazi is executed.

Thjazi's death triggers the storyline of this adventure, but each aspect relates closely to the modern lore of the world of Aramán. Seven decades prior to present circumstances, after the great conflict with the final deity being slain, humanity were forced to address the issue: how to proceed? Magic quickly grew chaotic and unstable lacking divine beings present, and the mystery about where the souls of departed people proceed, given that deities have ceased around to guide them to the afterlife, continues to be resolved.

Inevitably, humanity joined forces and started constructing their civilization again. Nevertheless, as expected, some people approved of what this new world might develop. Despite limited knowledge extensive details regarding the War of Axe and Vine, it gets referenced quite a few times in the premiere, and Thjazi was considered a war hero after that battle came to an end. However, following this period, he launched the Falconer's Rebellion against the Sundered Houses of the settlement. The motivation is still revealed, but since this individual mentions that the ruling clans "maintain absolute authority", we can safely assume several points: the Rebellion failed and the clans' power continues to be absolute in the community of this location.

Additionally, with magic functioning unpredictably, it appears to be regulated and carefully monitored. Remarkably unlike from how magic get regarded in a much more celebratory manner in the previous setting.

The Characters of Campaign 4

In addition to the primary characters, we're introduced to numerous notable non-player characters in the city of the mountain city.

Initially there's, unsurprisingly, Thjazi Fang. A rascal, a criminal, a rebel, a lover, a brother, a champion: The individual serves as the center regarding which the first episode {centers|focuses|revol