Critical Role's fourth campaign, subtitled The Legend of Vox Machina, has consistently presented players with emotionally taxing scenarios. From its opening funeral to its pervasive themes of sacrifice and the constant threat of character death, the campaign has put its cast through a dramatic ordeal.
A Test of Character
Campaign 4, episode 37, titled "Death to Tyrants," provided a particularly tense encounter that highlighted the depth of player commitment. The episode focused on Wicander Halovar, played by Sam Riegel, who was ambushed by assassins during a play performance. The situation escalated rapidly, with assassins, including Wicander's own sister, Zebani Halovar, attacking him. The other members of the Schemers table, Hal, Murray Mag’nesson, Azune Nayar, and Tyranny, intervened to protect Wicander.
During the ensuing battle, Wicander's mother, Iris, used the spell Warding Bond to protect him. This spell transfers half the damage dealt to the recipient to the caster. Riegel, embodying Wicander's character, inquired whether the spell required a willing target, demonstrating a character-focused decision rather than a purely meta-game one.
Despite the efforts of his allies and family, Wicander was downed, reaching two death-saving throws. Facing a potential critical hit from an assassin, Riegel rolled a 5, failing his final saving throw and seemingly bringing Wicander's journey to an end.
An Impossible Choice
Dungeon Master Brennan Lee Mulligan presented Riegel with a difficult decision: re-roll the death-saving throw with disadvantage or use Wicander's remaining strength to free Tyranny from a contract with his family. Riegel initially intended to sacrifice himself for Tyranny, but was persuaded by fellow players to take the re-roll.
However, Wicander was downed again, and Mulligan offered a final choice: continue rolling for survival or save Tyranny. Although strategically it might have been wiser to focus on his own survival, Riegel chose to save Tyranny, accepting two more death-saving failures in the process. While Riegel's choice ultimately proved successful for Tyranny, it placed Wicander in extreme peril, showcasing a player prioritizing narrative and character actions over self-preservation.
This moment underscored Riegel's strength as a Dungeons & Dragons player. In high-stakes situations where players might revert to metagaming to keep their characters alive, Riegel demonstrated a commitment to playing his character authentically, leading to a memorable and impactful episode for the Critical Role audience.