Campaign synopsis: “Hero to many. Enemy to some. When Thjazi Fang is marked for execution, various figures from across his remarkable life unite to uncover the truth behind his grim fate. In a land still suffering from the fallout of dead gods and living in the shadow of a tumultuous rebellion, these disparate people will come together across the fractured world of Aramán and connect in ways they never imagined.
As hope and victory fade, a question hangs over Aramán. Without the Gods, what great deeds now fall to us? And who, or what, shall grab their crown from themselves?”
Episode synopsis: To the Hounds!: “The search for Teor’s brother Cyd continues as the Soldiers are guided by the Hounds of the King down a mysterious fey shortcut…”
Cold Open
I won’t lie to you, I hardly paid attention to this cold open. Hal and Asune are currently the characters I’m the least interested in (this could change, we’ve hardly spent any time with them yet) so it didn’t engage me at all.
In the Kingdom of Timmony
We’re only nine episodes in and we already have a running joke. “She’ll [Doctor Finger] be back, and that IS a threat”. Doctor Finger is the MVP of campaign 4 so far.
Not Wic trying really hard to convince everyone that he’s voluntarily celibate. Araman feels more real with every episode. This is 100% a joke, I’m not being serious. I love Wic, he’s my second favourite character so far.
Obridimia is such a cool name for a city. I love all of the names so far Dol-Makjar is also insanely cool. The fact that there is still not a set spelling of Sloke (Sloak) yet is quite funny.
Miller’s Road
It was good to find out in last week’s cooldown that Brennan is constantly using everyone’s passive perception scores to figure out what they can see. It makes the start of this section make more sense as Brennan often says things like ‘Kattigan you’d notice this straight away’. Saves them having to ask about and make perception checks.
Wic is so easily swayed by what other people tell him he should do. He’s such a loveable idiot.
The Black Rabbits
I’m loving how many fey creatures we’ve come across so far and the fact that they’re all savage. I especially love that the ones in this episode are riding black rabbits.
Thimble: “He looks like a good guy!”
Clauny: “No, I’ll break any promise I make”
Fey that can change their heads, which also changes their personality, are stupendously funny. They feel like a Brennan creation? They feel like they are but they could be real. I don’t know much about fey lore.
Candle Feast
The NPC kids were funny, but they become even funnier when you remember it’s a middle-aged man pretending to be kids excited by a fairy. The physicality of it really made the whole performance. The constant wiping of his nose made it extremely believable.
Tybry’s Lea
Get in loser (Wicander) we’re going shopping.
Episode 9 feels so late to get our first shopping experience. It feels worth it if this shopkeeper is the first one we’re meeting. Once again I will praise just how great Brennan is at creating unhinged NPCs.
Laura rolling four natural 20s, pretty much back-to-back, is insane. This table has been rolling pretty bad on most stuff so far so the fact that there have been six nat 20s this episode feels like the tide is turning. Now that I’ve said this something terrible is going to happen.
Best quote of the episode: “I don’t know a lot about a lot” – Kattigan
Second best quote of the episode: “I’m not the like the other demons” – Tyranny
Infiltrating Castle Delawney
I’m really enjoying the lighting in this section. It feels very cosy and I love how the background in the windows change depending on where they are. I have a feeling I’ve commented on this before but the greenery looks great.
Castle Delawney Cellar
This section was a great build up for the next episode. I’m actually pretty excited for episode 10. That makes it sound like I’m not enjoying the campaign so far – I am but then I remember there are two other groups that we’ve spent no time with and I’m not sure how much I’m going to enjoy them. Is anyone else feeling this way?
Cooldown
The cooldown has confirmed that Brennan did make up the fairies that switch their heads. Love that.
Final thoughts
I wish Beacon had a comment section. I loved reading the comments for the previous campaigns, especially as people point out things I’d probably miss otherwise. There’s obviously the YouTube comments, but as I watch the episode as soon as it’s available on Beacon (Friday in the UK) I forget by the time Monday comes around.
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