The Place of Wings | Critical Role | Campaign 4, Episode 17 Part 1

Summary of The Place of Wings | Critical Role | Campaign 4, Episode 17 Part 1

by Critical Role

2h 10m•March 5, 2026
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Overview of The Place of Wings | Critical Role | Campaign 4, Episode 17 Part 1

This episode follows two parallel threads: an early Dolmachiar tavern scene where Murray Magneson (a Hucklewind worker/jewel merchant) encounters faculty from the Penteveril university and is recruited toward wizardry, and the Seekers’ expedition into Tanisar — the ruined “Place of Wings” — where the party uncovers defilement, experiences supernatural visions, recovers a powerful artifact, and fights animated dead and a colossal scorpion. The hour balances roleplay (character moments, lore, new affiliations) and an escalating dungeon encounter that ends on a cliffhanger.

Major scenes & plot beats

  • Nest & Natter, Caravan Hill (Dolmachiar)

    • Murray Magneson and her Hucklewind crew are finishing a fountain job for House Cormoray.
    • Murray casually demonstrates a short-range telepathic Message effect (using gemstone teeth) to Professor Olypides Tallbarrel and Penteveril faculty.
    • Murray is praised, offered drinks, and later invited to join Penteveril as a bursar/try wizardry — this sets up Murray’s arc (beginning her wizard training).
    • Olypides and colleagues discuss resource shortfalls (gemstones, ritual components) and potential patrons (houses, Revolutionary Council).

  • Tanisar — “Place of Wings” (desert ruins in Obra Demia / Aramon)

    • The Seekers descend into the quarry/temple of Tanisar after following clues about ancient prophecy (Tonsul, the sun god) and recent excavations.
    • As the group explores, an initial supernatural effect transforms or lifts Vaelus into a murmuration of nightingale spirits; she produces the Stone of Nightsong.
    • Tysha and Vaelus both briefly begin to die (each marks a failed death save). They receive visions of traumatic deaths from their pasts (Tysha’s son; Vaelus’ sister).
    • Nightingale spirits pour through Tysha into Vaelus; Vaelus becomes attuned to the Stone of Nightsong, which removes one death-save failure from both characters and grants spell capabilities.
    • The party discovers the site has been desecrated: ambient necrotic effect (accelerated decomposition), desert bones bleached, a sorcerous crystal/enchantment (glass/crystal brought in and placed) likely tied to House Taconis.
    • Combat erupts: first a massive scorpion (Saharkis, recognizable to one PC as a relative’s scorpion) attacks, then multiple animated skeletons/barrow guard rise and swarm the party.
    • Party tactics, spells, and damage exchanges ensue. Julian levels up in the fight (takes the Daredevil-like fighter path). The session ends with the party still fighting and the map filled with reanimating dead — cliffhanger to part 2.

Key characters present

  • Player characters / Seekers: Vaelus (attunes Stone of Nightsong), Taisha (Tysha), Julian Devinos, Octus Taconus, Bayliss (Phelous?), and companions (Pin, scorpion, etc.).
  • Murray Magneson (Murray / jewel merchant, Hucklewind worker) — introduced and invited to Penteveril.
  • Penteveril faculty: Olypides / Illipides Tallbarrel and other professors.
  • NPCs at the dig: Dr. Amri Talter (halfling cleric of the Totality), Dame Gaia Sarami (vassal of Octus Taconus), members of Barrowguard, House Taconis operatives.
  • Monster / notable NPCs: Saharkis (giant scorpion tied to the Vakari family), animated Barrowguard skeletons.

Important items, places & lore

  • Stone of Nightsong
    • Found in the quarry and produced during the nightingale spirit event.
    • Attunement by Vaelus grants known capabilities: Spare the Dying (cantrip), Ceremony, Gentle Repose, and Speak with Dead (among spells normally beyond Vaelus’ casting list). The stone also conveys nightingale whispers/visions and a strong connection to grief/mourning.
  • Tanisar — “Place of Wings”
    • Ancient celestial temple tied to Tonsul, sun-god lore; described as a buried holy place with obsidian/volcanic glass architecture.
    • Site is desecrated: unnatural accelerated decomposition, ambient necrotic effect that damages living creatures over extended exposure.
    • A sorcerous crystal/glass array (enchantment) is present — likely installed by House Taconis as part of a larger, malign plan. It functions as a necromantic “battery” powering the reanimation.
  • House & organization mentions
    • House Cormoray: wealthy patrons commissioning a fountain (Hucklewind job).
    • House Taconis: likely responsible for tents, mobile cages, and the enchantment at Tanisar.
    • Penteveril university: new school seeking arcane resources; professors are under-resourced and considering offering arcane services to houses to fund research.

Combat & mechanical highlights

  • Initial supernatural effect forced Wisdom saves; Vaelus and Taisha failed and marked a death save failure each. The nightingale spirits later removed one death-save failure for both.
  • Vaelus attunes the Stone of Nightsong immediately — learns its spell options and gains a persistent mystical connection (hearing whispers; uncertain fey/undead nature of spirits).
  • Major encounters:
    • Giant scorpion (Saharkis) — hit-and-run grapple by claw; party kills it after combined attacks (Vaelus, Julian, etc.). The scorpion is identified as Tertia’s scorpion (family tie).
    • Wave of animated skeletons / undead reanimation — powered/triggered by the blue/enchanted crystals. The party uses Burning Hands, Thunderwave, Firebolt, Shield of Faith, Sanctuary, Dancing Lights, and melee to hold a choke point; heavy resource expenditure and injuries occur.
  • Julian levels up mid-combat (fighter → Daredevil subclass noted), gains HP and temporary hit points, and leans into a frontline “charge” playstyle.
  • Ambient effects: the temple inflicts slow necrotic exposure (risk of lesions if present too long); divine sense reveals the site is desecrated and contains both celestial script and an acrid, sickening aura rather than purely fiendish brimstone.

Notable quotes & roleplay beats

  • Murray’s tavern recruitment scene showcases the Penteveril bench: “we’re generalists… these houses are limited in their arcane oeuvre by their bloodline. We can study where we wish.”
  • Professor Tallbarrel (delighted): “rich in knowledge, poor in food and drink” — a light beat between PC generosity and academic poverty.
  • Prophetic/setting lore: Tonsul’s vow of vengeance and the memory of when “the sun walked this very Earth” ground the Place of Wings in deeper cosmology.

Hooks & what to watch for in Part 2

  • The sorcerous crystal array: what exactly does it do, who placed it, and can the party deactivate or destroy it without catastrophic consequences?
  • The Stone of Nightsong’s full uses: Speak with Dead / Gentle Repose could reveal what happened at Tanisar and locate missing people (Tysha’s son?).
  • House Taconis involvement and the mobile cages/tents — political baggage and culpability to investigate.
  • Murray’s new role: expect the start of a PC side-arc (bursar/wizard studies at Penteveril) that ties city- and university-level intrigue to the main plot.
  • The party must manage resources, wounds, and the necrotic environment while exploring deeper into the ruined temple.

If you want a super-short TL;DR:

  • Murray meets Penteveril and begins a wizard/bursar path.
  • Seekers find Tanisar, Vaelus attunes to the Stone of Nightsong (major artifact), two PCs nearly die but are saved by bird-spirits, and an undead wave plus a giant scorpion attack — combat ends on a cliffhanger while the party uncovers a House Taconis crystal/enchantment powering the desecration.