Critical Role Teases a Game-Changing D&D Choice for One Beloved Player
In Critical Role’s Campaign 4, Vaelus, played by Ashley Johnson, appears to have lost access to all paladin magic after destroying the sacred Stone of Nightsong. The decision helped stabilise a bridge carrying orc souls to the afterlife, but it also severed her connection to Sylandri and prompted a threat from Kyra, matriarch of Vaelus’s order. The development matters because it could permanently reshape Vaelus’s role and abilities within the campaign.
Despite being unable to cast spells or use features such as Lay on Hands and Vow of Enmity, Vaelus remains labelled a paladin and has retained her statistics, including a permanent +2 Wisdom increase gained in a dream. It is unclear whether she will become an Oathbreaker, seek a new source of devotion, or multiclass into another role; the article suggests an Oathbreaker path may not suit her motives or character. Vaelus’s loss of power follows her choice to prioritise others over the centuries-long mission assigned by the Sisters of Sylandri.
- Vaelus lost her paladin powers after destroying a sacred artefact.
- Her choice saved souls but severed her divine connection.
- Her future class and abilities remain uncertain.
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Critical Role is a long-running fantasy role-playing series in which actors play Dungeons & Dragons characters and build a story together. In the game, a paladin is a warrior whose special abilities come from a sacred promise or devotion to a god, cause or order.
Vaelus is a paladin connected to Sylandri and the Sisters of Sylandri, an order that gave her a mission lasting centuries. Her choice placed the needs of dead orc souls ahead of that mission, raising questions about whether she can keep her old role, find a new source of power or take a different path.