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Critical Role’s major D&D campaign officially returns — what to know
Critical Role’s fourth main Dungeons & Dragons campaign will return for its second arc in three weeks, following a 31-episode opening arc. Led by Brennan Lee Mulligan rather than Matthew Mercer, the series marks a significant departure from previous Exandria-based campaigns through its darker political tone, new setting and unusually large 13-player ensemble.
Set in the godless world of Aramàn, Campaign 4 follows the aftermath of a war in which mortals overthrew their gods 70 years earlier, leaving powerful Sundered Houses in control. The story begins with the funeral of revolutionary war hero Thjazi Fang, whose execution prompts three separate player groups—the Soldiers, Seekers and Schemers—to pursue clues, revenge and missing allies; among the revealed threats is a plan by House Tachonis to turn Occtis Tachonis into a controllable godlike weapon.
In short
- Critical Role’s Campaign 4 returns for Arc 2 in three weeks.
- Brennan Lee Mulligan leads a darker, politically focused D&D story.
- Thjazi Fang’s death sparks separate investigations and revolutionary conflict.
Explained simply
Critical Role is a series in which actors play Dungeons & Dragons, a fantasy game where players create characters and tell a story together under the guidance of a game master. Its campaigns are long-running stories, and the fourth takes place in Aramàn, a world ruled by powerful noble families called Sundered Houses.
In Aramàn, people overthrew the gods in a war 70 years ago. The campaign follows several groups of characters drawn into events after the death of Thjazi Fang, a celebrated figure from that revolution. The story’s political conflict and large cast mark a change from earlier Critical Role campaigns, which were set in the world of Exandria.