Critical Role burst onto the scene with Campaign 4, bringing a whirlwind of changes: Brennan Lee Mulligan at the helm as Dungeon Master, a sprawling cast of 13 players, a dynamic West Marches format, and the expansive world of Aramán. While meticulous planning went into this ambitious campaign, even the best-laid plans can be upended by player agency – especially when Matthew Mercer is involved.
A Moment of Defiance
In the opening episode of Campaign 4, Mulligan introduced Aramán and its key players embroiled in Dol-Makjar’s political landscape. Among them was Thjazi Fang, a revolutionary hero who ignited The Falconer’s Rebellion against the magical Sundered Houses. Tragically, Thjazi met his end at the hangman’s noose, an event mourned by many. However, Matthew Mercer, as Sir Julien Davinos, irrevocably altered Campaign 4 with a single, defiant act: spitting on Thjazi’s body.
This seemingly small gesture stemmed from Julien’s deep-seated resentment towards Thjazi. Julien believed his father’s alliance with Thjazi in the Falconer’s Rebellion led to the Davinos family’s downfall. The revelation in episode 31, “Trick of the Light,” that Thjazi’s soul had escaped being stolen by the necromantic House Tachonis and instead hidden within Julien’s shadow, was made all the more poignant because of this existing animosity. What could be richer than having the person you despise tethered to you eternally?
However, Mulligan revealed in an Instagram AMA”>Instagram AMA on Sept. 1 that Julien’s disrespectful act towards Thjazi’s body opened up unexpected avenues for Thjazi’s story.
“It’s important to know that even as a Dungeon Master, you want to plan a lot, but if you plan everything, where’s the room left for interesting player choices?” Mulligan explained. “I had some ideas about what was going on with Thjazi on the other side. I knew his intentions and plans, but I didn’t have everything lined up to the end.”
“When that spit happened, everything got thrown out. I went, ‘Oh, this is very good,’” Mulligan continued. “You gotta let player choices matter, even the ones they don’t know in the moment are going to matter… You gotta let those matter most of all.”
Any experienced Dungeon Master understands that attempting to control every detail is ultimately futile. Despite your best efforts, players will inevitably forge unexpected paths, forcing you to improvise. This can be frustrating, but it also compels the DM to devise new ways to shape the narrative and respond to player actions. This collaborative spirit is arguably one of the most enchanting aspects of tabletop role-playing games.
Mulligan’s emphasis on the importance of player choices is particularly crucial. While we don’t know Mulligan’s original intentions for Thjazi, we know those plans were dramatically altered by Mercer’s decision to be overtly antagonistic towards his former rival’s corpse. This single act opened up new possibilities not only for Mercer’s character but also for other players and their characters.
Thimble (Laura Bailey) now possesses renewed hope that her best friend’s soul is not lost forever and could potentially be recovered. Then there’s Halandil Fang (Liam O’Brien), who has been grappling with Thjazi’s actions since his death. With the knowledge that his brother isn’t truly gone, he will have ample opportunity to find closure later on.
By embracing Julien’s hatred of Thjazi, Mercer unintentionally triggered a chain of events that led to significant changes for Campaign 4. It also showcased Mercer’s remarkable ability as both a DM and a player, highlighting his exceptional acting and storytelling skills. Combined with Mulligan’s willingness to abandon a plan in favor of something he believes is better, the twists and turns of Campaign 4 seem almost guaranteed to keep us guessing as the story unfolds.
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