When it comes to the art of running a tabletop roleplaying campaign, few Dungeon Masters have demonstrated as much creative audacity as Critical Role’s Brennan Lee Mulligan. In the latest installment of the hit show’s fourth campaign, Mulligan revealed what he is calling the dirtiest Dungeon Master trick in the Dungeons & Dragons book: player bait. The revelation came during episode 36 of Campaign 4, titled “Spectacle,” and centers on a deceptively simple plot device — a magical axe that appears harmless but quietly sabotages a player’s carefully constructed scheme. The move has already drawn laughter and groans from the show’s audience, and it signals a new era of mechanical storytelling that blends narrative intrigue with game mechanics in ways never seen before.
For those unfamiliar with the setup, Campaign 4 has leaned heavily into the scheming, politically charged atmosphere reminiscent of George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones. The world of Aramán is populated by powerful, magically inclined noble houses, while the show’s 13 players portray underdogs attempting to topple the established order. This dynamic has naturally encouraged the cast to build alliances on deception and trickery. Yet it is precisely this environment of calculated dishonesty that Mulligan exploited to his own advantage, turning a mundane prop into a masterclass in player manipulation.
The Axe That Started It All
The baiting scheme traces back to episode 26, “Council of Heroes,” when Lady Ingrid Einfasen presented a magical axe to Sir Julien Davinos, played by Matthew Mercer, as a token of her favor — a subtle nod to her interest in the character. Julien, ever the opportunist, kept his options open before ultimately passing the axe onto Teor Pridesire, portrayed by Travis Willingham. The Katari paladin’s untimely death meant the weapon changed hands once more, eventually landing in the possession of Azune Nayar, played by Luis Carazo, who has carried it ever since.
The consequences arrived in episode 36. While investigating the murders of the demon tailors at Mercanaud Couturier, Azune shared a conversation with Harondus Einfasen, a noble of House Einfasen who has taken over security oversight in the city of Dol-Makjar by shutting down the Revolutionary Guard’s offices. During their exchange, Harondus noticed the axe on Azune’s person — and, crucially, recognized it as a plot-significant item.
The stakes were immediate. Harondus not only identified the weapon but quipped that he would congratulate Ingrid on her “stellar taste in men.” This jab carried real danger for the Schemers’ table, which included Liam O’Brien, Marisha Ray, Luis Carazo, Whitney Moore, and Sam Riegel. Ingrid had given the axe to Julien under the assumption that genuine feelings were involved. If she discovered that Julien had simply tossed it to Azune, she could retaliate by confessing everything she knows — including exposing Azune’s lies and damaging the relationship the player has painstakingly cultivated with the Einfasen family.
“I love how much trouble I can get people in by making plot-significant items really mechanically good,” Mulligan teased. “It’s like: we’re not going to say no to this axe. This axe is sick as hell. Hey, that’s the love axe.”
Brennan Lee Mulligan, Critical Role Dungeon Master
The reaction from the audience was unmistakable. As the Schemers’ table despaired over the prospect of a random axe derailing their plans, Mulligan appeared thoroughly delighted with the outcome. The joke, of course, is that the axe was never truly random. Its stats were strong enough that both Teor and Azune swapped out their previous weapons for it, underscoring how the item’s mechanical appeal made it nearly impossible for the players to resist.
The Art of the Bait
As a Dungeon Master, Mulligan is clearly relishing the opportunity to manipulate his players through carefully crafted incentives. The axe serves as a perfect example of how game mechanics can be weaponized for narrative effect. When a magical item is genuinely powerful, players are far more likely to accept it without hesitation, making it an ideal vehicle for planting a story beat that they never saw coming.
This is not the first time Critical Role has employed items with hidden consequences. Cursed items have featured in the show’s history, most notably Grog’s sword Craven’s Edge in Campaign 1: Vox Machina. Those items are typically extraordinarily powerful but carry serious drawbacks that make them risky to wield, forcing players to weigh the temptation of strength against the danger of overreliance. They also play on a player’s sensibilities, compelling a choice between risking everything for power and playing it safe.
What sets Mulligan’s approach apart is his decision to avoid the traditional curse mechanic entirely. Rather than punishing the players with an item that openly reveals its danger, he baited them with something that appeared harmless on the surface but was, in fact, a plot-significant piece of the puzzle. The subtlety of the trick is what makes it so effective — the players never suspected that a simple axe could unravel their entire scheme.
Looking Ahead
The full ramifications of Harondus Einfasen noticing the axe remain unresolved. Ingrid Einfasen could prove far wittier than she appears, or she could feel outraged that Julien favored someone else and turn villainous. Either outcome promises rich dramatic tension for the cast to navigate in the weeks ahead.
For the players, the lesson is clear: always double-check any item your Dungeon Master hands you, no matter how innocuous it may seem. The repercussions of accepting a seemingly ordinary prop could cascade down the line in ways that are impossible to predict. As Critical Role continues to push the boundaries of interactive storytelling, Mulligan’s willingness to manipulate his players through clever mechanics suggests that the show has no intention of slowing down. Well played, indeed.
Ed note: This article contains spoilers for Critical Role, Campaign 4, Episode 36, “Spectacle.”
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