From the very beginning of the fourth campaign, new Dungeon Master Brennan Mulligan has maintained audience suspense with extensive world-building, a diverse cast of characters, and a thrilling plot featuring angels, fiends, and dark forces growing in power within the urban setting.
Heads-up: Spoilers for Episode 3 of the new season lie ahead.
The Warrior Group Revealed
The third episode ended with a dramatic pause and revealed the premier party of heroes who will separate from the primary party to undertake their independent quest, distinct from the remaining groups.
The Soldiers table features the determined fighter (portrayed by Travis), Thimble (the talented performer), the fierce warrior (the cast member), Wicander Halovar (Sam Riegel), and Kattigan Vale (Robbie Daymond).
Dividing the Cast
With a large ensemble, it was obvious from the beginning that keeping everyone at a single group would be impossible.
Hence, the first four episodes of this story serve as an Overture, weaving together the personal journeys before branching into three separate parties: Fighters, Strategists, and Questers.
Characteristics of the Combat Party
According to the DM, the Soldiers table is for players who enjoy a typically action-packed fight-heavy gameplay experience where diplomatic options are few and far between.
Upon first impression, figures such as the squeamish cleric the cleric might appear out of place, but the developments of episode 3 demonstrate why these particular heroes are ideally matched for the Soldiers table.
Reasons to Leave
To begin with, the team has a clear idea where to head next after a violent first encounter with the antagonists.
Casimir of Thjazi—whose death started the story’s plot—exploited the enemy for his personal gain, invading the secret base, attacking Thimble, and swiping all the powerful objects to sell off.
The traitor then settled his debts and fled to a Halovar stronghouse in Gormalay, Timmony, north of the city, with Cyd Pridesire pursuing him.
Individual Reasons
Secondly, each character has a personal reason to leave the city the metropolitan area:
- The rogue, as the close ally and closest confidant, seeks revenge.
- The knowledgeable figure knows Timmony and warns that it is a hostile location.
- The strong character and The healer, having disobeyed his house’s orders to execute Teor and instead rescued him, have nowhere else to go.
- Yet, their status as prominent individuals in the powerful family could assist the group reach locations they typically wouldn’t be able to.
- Additionally, The fighter swore a life debt to The cleric for his salvation and will now follow him everywhere.
Pursued by Authorities
Finally, all of them are hunted by the authorities that rule Dol-Makjar for a range of causes, making lingering locally too risky:
- The rogue and The character are known criminals.
- The strong figure and The cleric defied the powerful family and the horde of evil beings they are allied with.
- The fighter is targeted for elimination by the family.
This results in them little choice but to head to Timmony in pursuit of the traitor.
What’s Next?
From the recent installment’s Cooldown, we discover that the warrior group will not appear the following episode, leaving the remaining eight players to round up the Questers and Strategists tables.
Viewers can expect finding out which characters will be in which group in the season’s last Overture episode, available to watch on next week.
