Rock and Flame | Critical Role | Campaign 4, Episode 34 | Part 2

September 22, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The first thing you hear is the ringing of hammers on cold iron. The Hawthorne tree on the Miller’s Road is not just burning; it is being systematically murdered. As the party emerges from the tree’s portal into the De Hoption Rainforest, they step into a premeditated slaughter. The air is thick with smoke laced with iron filings, a designed poison that immediately knocks out every low-level fey creature — the pixies, sprites, and black rabbits — before they can even act. The Candescent Creed and their hired fairy poachers have come prepared for a rout.

A Battlefield Designed for Murder

The scene the party witnesses is one of methodical cruelty. The Hawthorne tree is on fire, with Creed members hammering cold iron spikes into its trunk. By the lake, other members are dumping casks of iron filings into the water, spreading an oily shimmer across the surface. This is not a random attack; it is an extraction. The ambient smoke is specifically designed to incapacitate the weaker fey so they can be scooped up and bagged alive. The party’s own allies — Hawthorne the dryad, Shuffa the shambling mound, and the sprites — are already down or bloodied. The battle is treated as a foregone conclusion by the attackers, who have already stopped fighting to begin collecting their unconscious prizes.

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What you'll learn

1 (01:53) **Return to the Miller's Road** - The party emerges from the tree to find the Hawthorne glade under siege, with the air thick with smoke and iron filings.
2 (04:12) **Initiative and the Opening Carnage** - The party rolls initiative, and high-perception characters get a full view of the battlefield and the dire state of their allies.
3 (16:20) **Cadigan and Wolfric Enter the Fray** - Cadigan commands Wolfric to jump into the middle of the enemy, using a powerful howl to frighten and deafen several foes.
4 (21:20) **Thimble's Assassination Attempt** - Thimble uses a bonus action dash to close with the poacher captain, who has a weapon to Hawthorne's throat.
5 (26:11) **Octus Summons an Ally** - Octus performs a ritual to summon his protector, Dame Seramai, and casts Vital Sacrifice to empower himself.
6 (30:34) **The Lake and the Hag's Stirring** - As the iron filings fill the lake, a creature stirs beneath the surface, and the party begins to address the multiple threats.
7 (37:25) **Julian's Daring Charge** - Julian leaps into the battle, using a daring strike to deal heavy damage to a soldier and calling out a strategy to the party.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Part 2

This episode is sponsored by

An attempt to harry the Tachonis procession leads to the discovery of an attack on the fey at Hawthorn's Glade...

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Learn more about Campaign 4 at https://critrole.com/campaign4/

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OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN 4 CAST
GAME MASTER Brennan Lee Mulligan
Laura Bailey as Thimble
Luis Carazo as Azune Nayar
Robbie Daymond as Kattigan Vale
Aabria Iyengar as Thaisha Lloy
Taliesin Jaffe as Bolaire Lathalia
Ashley Johnson as Vaelus
Matthew Mercer as Sir Julien Davinos
Whitney Moore as Tyranny
Liam O’Brien as Halandil """"Hal"""" Fang
Marisha Ray as Murray Mag’Nesson
Sam Riegel as Wicander """"Wick"""" Halovar
Alexander Ward as Occtis Tachonis
Travis Willingham as Teor Pridesire

CREDITS
Produced by Maxwell James, Steve Failows, & Kyle Shire
Set Designed by Shaun Ellis
Production Designer: Noxweiler Berf
Character Art by Loren Hontanilla
Edited by Taylor Burke and Emily """"Stevie"""" Stevenson
Critical Role Announcement Playhouse Editor: Vinny Celesti
Opening Title Editor: Paul Foyder
Opening Title Colorist: Peter Koocheradis
Window Effects by Christian Brown
Graphic Design by Aaron Monroy & Jordyn Torrence
Dol-Makjar art by Daniel Jiménez Villalba
Miniatures Painted by Payton Keo Lacebal
Opening Title Theme by Neal Acree
Campaign 4 Key art by Hannah Friederichs
Additional Art & Design by Hannah Friederichs

Episode QC by Catherine Zimmerman & Paula Flores
Assistant Editor: Gianna Gencarella
Post Production Coordinators: M Swing & Bryn Hubbard
Closed Caption Editing by Margaret Dill, Nikki Kindelberger, Courtney Knewtson, Danielle Lackie, Eleanor Smith-Dufresne & Alice Tsoi
Post Production Supervisor: Tal Levitas

HEALTH & WELL-BEING
Due to the improv nature of Critical Role and other RPG content on our channels, some themes and situations that occur in-game may be difficult for some to handle. If certain episodes or scenes become uncomfortable, we strongly suggest taking a break or skipping that particular episode.
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