"Branching Paths" (4x05) is the fifth episode of the fourth campaign of Critical Role. Decisions are made about how to keep Occtis safe from his family while the Soldiers embark on a hunt for friend and foe alike...
Synopsis[]
Cold open[]
The five Soldiers-- Teor Pridesire, Thimble, Kattigan Vale, Tyranny, and Wicander Halovar-- ride out from the city of Dol-Makjar in a driving rainstorm in pursuit of Casimir Gavendale, the man who betrayed Thjazi Fang for the price of ownership of a strong home at the edge of civilization. They hope to find Talcydimir Pridesire, brother of Teor, as well, believing he is heading in the same direction. Each of them is occupied with their own thoughts on the journey, as Kattigan begins searching for tracks of their two targets.
Announcements[]
- The sponsor is Dispatch from AdHoc Studio. Sam has lost his voice, so Liam fills in as a surrogate Sam with an assist from Ashley reprising her role as Gale (Former President, National Hero, Child Star). Gale proceeds to field calls about the game with some very questionable male actor choices she wishes were in the game.
- Hero Forge has released Daggerheart customizable miniatures based on the Fungril, Simiah, and Ribbet ancestries.
- New merch: Campaign Four roll call t-shirts and 10-year anniversary McCoy silk ("look it up") posters for the first three campaigns.
- Critical Role Presents: Winter's Crest now has new tracks and a deluxe edition.
- Critmas sale starts next Monday, November 10, 2025, to December 14, 2025, with deals up to 60% off.
- Humble Bundle is teaming up with Dark Horse Comics to sell the Vox Machina and Mighty Nein comic series with purchases supporting the Critical Role Foundation. Available until Saturday, November 15, 2025.
- Special guest appearance by Omar.
Part I[]
Returning to the Lloy home where the eight members of the Seekers and Schemers have gathered, Occtis is learning the new feelings and sensations of his now-undead body, confused by what has happened. He starts to try to open his mind to the Stone of Nightsong, but thinks better of it. The others, however, realize that the stone was meant to be destroyed in whatever ritual was being performed by Primus Tachonis and his family, but that the actions of Thaisha and Occtis had disrupted their plans, leading to his return from death and his life being now permanently interwoven with the Stone.
Fan art of Azune's conversation with Julien, by Hugo Cardenas.[art 1]
Azune takes Julien outside so they can speak privately, telling him that although he admires his forthrightness in immediately confronting his suspicions of Occtis, it was also foolish given those who were surrounding him. Azune first encountered Julien during his capture of Thjazi Fang at the end of the Falconer's Rebellion during which Azune was present and saw what happened. Azune offers, in return for Julien giving the others a chance, to support his story when his past inevitably catches up to him. Julien, however, responds only that it must give Azune great pleasure to see his family now brought low, before he strides back into the house. Azune, looking around, realizes he cannot rule out that he was followed there.
Meanwhile, Murray considers the possible connection between the Stone of Nightsong and the coffin of Olbalad, both of which are relics of celestial psychopomps. Halandil urges discussing what they should do now. Murray shares that when her group arrived at the Palazzo Davinos, there were no bodies nor signs of the attack, and Lady Aranessa points out that that means the Tachonis family is aware that Occtis wasn't there. Occtis realizes he has to get out of the city for his own safety, and remembers that while he was in the Tenebral Reaches of death, he saw Tachonis banners and a lone orcish warrior standing with the sign of the Barrowguard near sandstone columns found east of the Dvalmar Pass, in the Obridimian Empire to the east of the Kavrosi Mountains-- the ancestral lands of the Tachonis. Hal and Thaisha both think this may be their son Alogar. Julien tells Occtis that someday his family will return for him, and Julien intends to be always with him in order to be present when that happens.
While the others are talking, Vaelus attempts to retrieve the Stone of Nightsong, but Bolaire intercepts her, telling her that he will not allow her selfishness to harm Occtis. Vaelus swears to him that she has no such intention and will not abandon Occtis.
Lady Aranessa reminds the others about Occtis' vision of a Barrowguard warrior on the border of life and death, standing somewhere to the east. She needs to travel there to learn what House Tachonis is doing, and would like Occtis to come with her because he is the only thing that hasn't gone according to his family's plan. She invites Vaelus as well, after having seen the strength of her defense against the attack earlier that night at the Palazzo. Thaisha is torn between her desire to go with Occtis and to stay with Halandil in Dol-Makjar, but opts for the former, partially in order to protect Occtis from other druids who would see him as anathema and attempt to destroy him.
Azune reminds everyone that in the Shapers' War, Halovar and Tachonis fought for the gods, and houses Royce, Cormoray, and Einfasen fought against them. Now, Cormoray is trying to take over the Archanade museum, Einfasen has taken over the Revolutionary Guard and the Arcane Marshals, and Tachonis has come after the Penteveral. They seem to be working separately and not together, and Azune sees a chance to drive a wedge in between them by making Einfasen and Cormoray believe Tachonis will come to destroy them next, after their obliteration of House Royce. Bolaire asks for a signet ring from Occtis, which he gives him. Aranessa points out that she needs to find out who in House Royce remains alive, because the attack seemed quickly planned and executed, rather than long-thought-out. She will accompany Occtis, Thaisha, Julien, and Vaelus heading eastward.
Before the two groups part, Occtis promises to take detailed notes to bring back to his former teacher, Murray, the only other wizard in the group. Hal asks Thaisha that if she does find their son, to bring him home safely. With Aranessa's tacit support, Vaelus takes the Stone of Nightsong before the Seekers depart on their quest.
The Schemers-- Murray, Halandil, Azune, and Bolaire-- watch them go, thinking that all of them have to be at their various jobs in the morning very quickly approaching. They agree to meet again soon, and to each attempt to find out what they can. Hal is still taken aback that his friend Bolaire is actually an ancient godly mask, and isn't sure he can trust him. Murray asks why Bolaire let Vaelus into the city, and he explains he was hoping she would kill or weaken Thjazi's position enough to free him from their deal. He denies, however, having anything to do with the execution. They each return to their respective places. When Hal returns home, he notices a magpie hatchling in its nest, looking out hopefully over the gray city.
Break[]
- Ad for Dispatch.
- Promos for Critical Role Presents: Winter's Crest, Solar Gardens, Weird Kids, Critical Role Foundation, Beacon.tv.
- Trailer for The Mighty Nein (animated), Season One, coming November 19.
- New Merch: C4 roll call t-shirt everywhere except Australia; Delilah Briarwood and residuum dice sets in US, EU, and UK; live tour merch in US and AU; Daggerheart folio, CR 10 year anniversary posters, Fjord and Jester sherpa fleece jackets, champion dice for Grog, Percy, and Essek, red dice bag, game night camp shirt, sweat shorts and t-shirt in all shops.
- Submit fan art and cosplay for possible inclusion in the weekly online gallery. Critical Recap releases every Wednesday on CritRole.com.
- Low CR can only be cured by Beacon.
Part II[]
Meanwhile, back with the Soldiers in the rain outside the city, they know they need to head north and there are two possible roads: The Pilgrims' Road, which leads to largely abandoned ancient holy sites of the now-slain dwarven Goddess of the Forge, and the King's Highway, leading to Timmon's Rock, capital city of the Kingdom of Timmony. They quickly rule out the Pilgrims' Road, leading to a decision of whether to stick to the Highway or take to the Dahapshanee Wood, a conifer rainforest. They reason that Talcydimir Pridesire would stay off the road, so they decide to head into the woods after leaving the horses at an inn.
They approach the nearest inn, but on the way are hailed by a friendly orc in a hanging gibbet cage near the building. They offer him food and Thimble suddenly recognizes him as a fellow thief from Dol-Makjar named Abalang, who tells them he got caught while robbing a caravan. Wicander, even with prompting from Tyranny, is absolutely terrible at keeping his identity quiet. Thimble offers to release Abalang if he'll keep quiet about seeing them, and before he gratefully leaves, he shares that he saw a number of guarded House Tachonis carriages moving north. Some of their drivers wore crow feathers, and the group surmises this was Casimir Gavendale chasing Talcydimir. Teor heals him slightly and Abalang agrees that he'll be sure any Halovars he runs into know that "Lord Nicander" acted fully correctly and above-board. He also shares that if they drop his name at the Fiddle and Drum, they'll provide the group a place to stay, and that a friend of his, Ulbid, lives in a remote tower that would be a safe place to rest. Taking the gifted horses of the party, Abalang rides off happily.
The party moves off through the woods. As they start reaching the point where they're going to need to rest, Thimble notices a small fairy hiding just under the water in a brook, a nixie named Brookmeadow who tells her she saw a lion like Teor the previous afternoon, heading north. She also tells her that "Hawthorn's Glade" is about another day ahead, and "big folk" can't get in there so Thimble will be safe. There are dead things in the woods so they should try to get somewhere safe before night. Thimble gives her a button in gratitude and she disappears.
When she rejoins the others, keeping her promise to Brookmeadow not to tell the others about her, Thimble tells them she found some of Cyd's fur and he seemed stressed. Thimble knows that Hawthorn's Glade is a refuge for stranded fairies after the doors of Faerie closed, but it is relatively far away, they're uncertain of the exact location, and also uncertain of the fairies' reaction to the arrival of big folk. They decide to head for the nearby ridge where Ulbid's house is located. Eventually they reach the structure, which has a thatched roof, an enormous brass telescope coming through the roof, and multiple guinea fowl. Outside is a banner in Gnomish, wooden crates filled with fireworks, and a cold iron nail that turns red hot as they approach. A goat tethered outside raises the alarm, and they are greeted by an older gnome who tells them they've triggered his demon alarm, but doesn't seem unduly concerned about it since Tyranny's not trying to eat him. This is Ulbid Morn, Abalang's friend.
Ulbid welcomes them in, telling them the woods are full of undead at night but his house is guarded by traps. He offers them porridge, and shares that he uses the telescope to study the clouds, trying to determine if the Barrowdell of the Stormwrack is growing or shrinking. To him, it appears to be getting worse. Thimble explores the cottage and finds a toy chest filled with toys as Ulbid tells them of his wife, Jasavi, whom he loved dearly and thinks of every day. He saw a Tachonis caravan day before last, heading north, and looks through his telescope to see if he can spot them again. He can't, but he does see a group of men under the king of Timmony's banner heading south. Thimble asks him if the toys include a better tiny sword for her, and he agrees to see what he can find. Before nightfall, he lights a beacon lantern on the roof, making the cottage visible from the forest below the ridge. Wulferic heads into the woods as the sun sets.
Kattigan and Teor take turns keeping watch as the others sleep. Teor sees Ulbid come outside, looking anxiously into the valley and adjusting the banner, and asks him what it says. Ulbid tells him it says, "Welcome Home," and is meant for his daughters, who have been gone more than 15 years now. Ulbid has thought about going in search of them, but fears finding out for certain that they are dead. This way, hope remains somewhat alive, and he keeps the banner tended to. Teor promises to keep their names in mind, and to tell them their father awaits him if he finds word of them. During his watch, Kattigan is distracted by a doll he took from the toy chest, turning it over multiple times in his hands, but then discovers that the years of neglect have rotted it and throws it off the cliff edge. The party safely make it through the night.
Featured characters[]
Soldiers
Schemers
Seekers
New
- Abalang Howl, a dwarf-orc[1] rogue
- Brookmeadow
- Ulbid Morn, a gnome arcanist
Returning
Mentioned
- Alogar
- Amariya Cormoray (unnamed, implied)
- Casimir Gavendale
- Cerebel, Demuriel, and Elanadel, Ulbid Morn's warrior daughters
- Goddess of the Forge, Shaper of the dwarves (unnamed)
- Jasavi, Ulbid Morn's wife
- Kora Klepenvaisreck, the new Penteveral's dean (unnamed)
- Harondus Einfasen
- Primus Tachonis
- Raimond Davinos
- Rauwyn
- The late Lord Royce, Aranessa's grandfather (unnamed)
- Shadia (at Hal's, in a different room)
- Sylandri (unnamed, implied)
- Talcydimir Pridesire
- Thjazi Fang
Quotations[]
- Azune: (to Julien) My offer: when the past comes to find you, you have my word that I will speak the story that you choose to tell.
- Azune: All the witnesses to what happened are leaving.
Thaisha: What do witnesses matter? Something has changed in the city. It's about power. It's not about truth. - Ulbid: It's important to be honest, especially when you are engaged in crime.
Inventory[]
| Adjustment | Count | Item | Source | Destination | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transferred | 1 | Signet ring | Occtis | Bolaire | |
| Acquired | 1 | Stone of Nightsong | Vaelus | Vaelus is carrying the Stone, for now. |
Trivia[]
- Sam Riegel's "giant drinkware" was a silver chalice with the words "Yummy Angel Blood" and a smear of red on its bottom.[2]
- At the end of the episode, Sam reveals a shirt with Brennan's face on it.[3]
- While asking what day it was for the characters, Whitney Moore listed some of the names of Aramán's days of the week - Luniere, Chassaire, Victoire, Marchendiere, Solaire, and Forgiere.
References[]
Art:
- ↑ Fan art of Azune's conversation with Julien, by Hugo Cardenas (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Thimble with Brookmeadow, by @zhellers (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Ulbid, by Steven421 (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Thimble with Brookmeadow, by Shrugs (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Thimble and Brookmeadow, by Foxxology (source). Used with permission.
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