From the very beginning of the fourth campaign, recently appointed game master Brennan Lee Mulligan has kept fans guessing with rich lore, a wide array of heroes, and a thrilling plot featuring divine entities, demons, and sinister influences growing in power within the urban setting.
Warning: Spoilers for the latest installment of Campaign 4 are included.
The Combat-Oriented Party Revealed
The third episode concluded with a dramatic pause and presented the premier party of characters who will branch out from the main group to begin their own adventure, apart from the remaining groups.
The Soldiers table features Teor Pridesire (brought to life by Travis Willingham), Thimble (Laura Bailey), Tyranny (the cast member), Wicander Halovar (Sam), and Kattigan (the actor).
Why Split the Party?
With a large ensemble, it was obvious from the start that keeping everyone at a single group would be unworkable.
Hence, the opening chapters of this story serve as an Prelude, weaving together the characters’ stories before branching into three distinct groups: Soldiers, Strategists, and Explorers.
Characteristics of the Soldiers Table
As described by the DM, the combat-focused party is for players who prefer a typically action-packed battle-oriented narrative style where diplomatic options are few and far between.
Upon first impression, characters like the squeamish cleric Wicander might look unsuited, but the actions of episode 3 make it clear why these five characters are best suited for the combat party.
Motivations for Departure
To begin with, the party knows exactly where to go next after a violent first encounter with the antagonists.
A former ally of Thjazi—whose passing started the narrative’s action—exploited The Crow Keepers for his selfish purposes, breaking into the hidden lair, attacking the rogue, and taking all the magical artifacts to dispose of.
The traitor then cleared his liabilities and escaped to a Halovar stronghouse in Gormalay, Timmony, beyond the urban center, with Cyd pursuing him.
Character Drivers
Additionally, each member has a personal reason to exit the metropolitan area:
- The agile hero, as Thjazi’s partner and trusted friend, desires vengeance.
- The knowledgeable figure knows Timmony and warns that it is a nasty place.
- The strong character and Wicander, having defied his family’s wishes to eliminate Teor and instead rescued him, have nowhere else to go.
- But, their reputation as key figures in the influential clan could help the team reach areas they normally couldn’t.
- Furthermore, Teor swore a life debt to The savior for his deliverance and will now go with him anywhere.
Fugitives
In addition, all of them are sought by the authorities that control the setting for a multiple motives, making remaining behind too risky:
- The agile adventurer and The character are known criminals.
- Tyranny and The cleric turned against the influential house and the army of fiends they are partnered with.
- Teor is marked for death by the family.
This means them no alternative but to head to Timmony in search of the traitor.
What’s Next?
According to the latest episode’s Cooldown, we discover that the warrior group will not appear next week, leaving the other eight players to form the Questers and Strategists tables.
Viewers can look forward to discovering which adventurers will be in which group in Campaign 4’s last Overture episode, available to watch on October 24.