Critical Role Campaign 4 has introduced the world of Aramán, with the impressive cast being split into three tables. The Soldiers, The Seekers, and The Schemers have each concluded their first arcs with everyone reuniting in Dol-Makjar later this month. The Schemers’ Table, the final table to conclude their arc, includes Marisha Ray, Liam O’Brien, Luis Carazo, and Taliesin Jaffe, with Game Master Brennan Lee Mulligan. Jaffe’s character is one of the most uniquely intriguing in all of Campaign 4, being a sentient Panto Mask.

Bolaire is a fascinating character, being both an artifact and an entity. Bolaire has been around since the Shapers were defeated, having played a key role in the conflict. However, over time independence and personality have formed, with Bolaire now ingrained into Dol-Makjar society. While shaped by their ties to Thjazi Fang, Bolaire has become an active part of the Schemers Table’s affairs and the mission left behind by the executed revolutionary.

In an exclusive interview with Temple of Geek, Jaffe reveals details about Bolaire’s “siblings,” the other Panto Masks. He also teases why Bolaire reuniting with Occtis will be interesting. Jaffe explains the importance of art and why he wanted to explore that through Bolaire.

Taliesin Jaffe Explains Bolaire’s Feelings For The Other Panto Masks

Temple of Geek: Taliesin, the masks. The fact that Bolaire is looking for the other masks, considers them the siblings, but is so clearly scared of them is such an interesting kind of duology to me. It doesn’t feel like, yay, failure union. It feels more like I would like to know what is going on. 

Taliesin Jaffe

I’m actually—I’m really glad you asked that because this is something that I’ve been having to finally articulate deeply for the game itself. His core fear is disruption. Disruption is his terror. Is that, all this will go away. And that has been his, because he was not built with fear. This is not a mechanism that feels fear. Most of the emotions and most of the reactions that Bolaire has are intentional. They are responses based on what the appropriate response he thinks would be. Very surface.

Fear is the only new one, really, because there’s nothing to lose when you’re like, he’s only a couple decades into having something to lose. It’s so hard to wrap my brain around the notion of somebody who is fictional on that level. There is no parents. There is no past. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead; there is just Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. You woke up, you’re here. You don’t know why you’re going here, but you have relationships and you have people that you’re supposed to talk to.

They know you and you know them, but you don’t know anything beyond that. And this is family I’ve spent maybe a day or two with, but I love them and I know them because I was built to know them. It is so essential and so core it cannot be turned off. And it’s the same for them. We are family in the sense that that is what we have been written to be as fictional people.

You are a fairy court. This is who you are. This is the people. These are the relationships. They have been written down. They happen before the play. So, there is this inevitable vulnerability because he can’t even fathom how to turn that off. It’s not possible. So, there is a level of deep vulnerability of, I don’t know who they are now. I don’t know who I’m going to find. I know who I knew them to be.

And I know that most of that is still true, but are they like me? Have they changed? Have they not? And it is my job to take care of them. So it is this really interesting; the fear is wrapped up not just in panic, but also in anticipation and in love. It is a giant, I haven’t seen my family in two decades. I’ve vanished into the, it’s the most complex thing he feels. He’s also the intellectual of the group. They’re all very different, and he’s definitely the talker or he’s the most intellectual of that group of people. 

“The Only Real Thing About Him Is That He Saw A Piece Of Art And It Changed His Life”

Temple of Geek: One of the things I really connected with and loved about Bolaire was the importance of art. It’s because art had this really pivotal moment in his history where he made this really big decision. What was important to you about not only showcasing that, but maybe why that’s more important now than ever?  

Taliesin Jaffe

It’s honestly, it’s the only—on a certain level it’s the only real thing about him. He is so much artifice at all times. The only real thing about him is that he saw a piece of art, and it changed his life. I mean, we’re all on this call right now. There was clearly something happened to us. I think it’s a very, very short list of people on planet Earth who didn’t see a piece of art that changed their life at one point. And helped forge them into the person that they are.

Most people I even think, If you posed it to them it may take a minute, but you can say “what’s your favorite film?” Immediately that’s a story that you resonated with one way or another. Either consciously or subconsciously. Or some image that just, there’s always something that somebody else has communicated to you at some point in your life that really molded you.

And I think the few people who that’s not true of are extraordinarily dangerous. I think people without art are terrors. It is such an important thing. And I wish people understood art and what it is and what it’s meant to be. I know that sounds very poncy, but I’ll say this forever. I saw this amazing piece of graffiti that sticks with me forever that said, “All art is political except yours. Yours is just stupid.” I try and live by that. 

Luis Carazo

You said something; it’s so funny because as you were talking, you ended up saying what you made me think of when you first were talking about this, which is, art is the thing that stays with you after you witnessed it. And you’re right, I think to meet somebody who has never had anything that someone else left stay with them. I feel like that would be scary.

Taliesin Jaffe: 

They’re out there and they’re awful. 

Taliesin Jaffe Explains Bolaire’s Interest In Occtis In Critical Role

Luis Carazo

I wonder what it would have been like if like, Occtis was at our table and would have influenced the dynamic, because there’s parallels in a way there for sure.

Taliesin Jaffe

My God, oh, well, that would have been a mess. Oh man, that’s a delightful mess.

Temple of Geek: Well, I’m so curious about that because Bolaire instantly showed an interest in Occtis when he came back. And it seems as though everyone is coming back to Dol-Makjar at some point in their journey. So, is that something you’re excited to explore, Taliesin?

Taliesin Jaffe: 

Honestly, I’m excited to explore everything. I would hate for there to be anything, no matter what happens when everybody comes back together, I know I’m going to be disappointed that I didn’t spend ten more minutes with three people. Who knows who. There will always be, I wish I had more time with you. I wish I had more time with you.

Yeah, Occtis is honestly just interesting because it is triggering this – I don’t want to quite say “parental” because that’s not what it is. But this identified – I had a very unique experience, and I’m watching somebody else go through it. It’s not even empathy. It needs to be studied, and it needs to be taken care of because this is exactly what leads to miraculous things. 

The Schemers Table arc wrapped up on “Critical Role” on May 7, 2026. New episodes of “Critical Role” debut on Beacon, Twitch, and YouTube on May 21 with all three tables reuniting for the first time since the initial Campaign 4 overture.