#essek is pissed off

[anne-o-nyme]

In honor of the anniversary of the most unhinged shadowgast era, I present you the Timeloop-babygast-execution Au, where two mad lads run away from home (secret military underground bunker) and try their hands at murdering criminals (Caleb, their own father) and piss off a powerful dunamancer (Essek, their other father) enought to set up a timeloop none of them can escape (until they sit down and talk about their feelings/misunderstandings).

Many thanks to the amazing @flappingduster for joining in this madness, and  lending her babygast

#critical role #critical role fanart #the mighty nein #shadowgast #shadowgast baby #babygast #ocs #teens with trauma and knife happy tendencies #they probably got kidnapped as babies #and trained as mage killers #meet ugly : how to stab your biological parents on first meeting #essek is pissed off #caleb is bleeding on the carpet #might or might not write an actual fanfic #the whole family takes turn murdering each other until they FINALY recognise each other #very sad indeed #very angsty #slap shadogast : these bad boys can fit so much tropes

[wackachewbacca]

When you realize Beau and Yasha discussed adopting children after the events of Reunited so not only is Yasha waiting for Beau to come home but possibly so are their children waiting on their mom

#the whole Beau and Caleb being alone during their reconnaissance mission with the grim verity bugged me #because they should totally have contingency plans in case they went silent for too long and that’s what I’m hoping they did #because with the way the nein were so interconnected so cannot tell me even a decade after the campaign #they would not be constantly messaging every one and I’m hoping they did that because if not their fucked and I will kill them for it #also here’s hoping Yasha and Essek charge in pissed off as hell and ready to beat an old man for their partners #currently on c3 ep57 so if we know what happened to all the previous pcs I don’t know as of yet #yasha nydoorin #cr spoilers #critical role #beauregard lionett

[c-kiddo]

@elfwizard69​ ye! this exactly! like , a thing would happen, tmn would mention molly, and people would start posting about how they’re “finally going to go get molly back” like ???? man. molly got so fanonised that it really turned me to a little hater. that and th constant complaining that a character i actually rly like and relate to was existing in the show :-l now what the hell was that 

#replies #/lh #as in i am technically mad abt it but i also dont rly care im jus chatting :-3 #sidenote but do yous remember when in ep 130/131 cad was having a super emotional moment w his family #and veth was too. and people were complaining about tmn not getting to essek fast enouhg? ?? ??? #essek??!??!???!? of all fuckin people #fandom favourites in general usually end up pissing me off bc you draw something and people go :/ Um wheres molly? #jokes on u thats one less drawing now

[orcelito]

Accidentally watched, um. A lot more of the episode. I now have 3 hours left. I just couldn't stop during the battle!!!! And then there was all the stuff afterwards and then suddenly it was my definite bedtime when I MEANT to go to bed like 3 hours ago. Whoops

#speculation nation #cr2 spoilers/ #seeing the collar idea finally pay off was just. so fucking good. #plus giving it to beau was a GREAT idea. she executed it perfectly. #astrid having a Breakdown over all of this. caduceus getting PISSED. OFF. at trent. #just. oh my godddddd #last thing i saw b4 i turned it off for the night is jester drawing little rose print gardening gloves for essek to wear. #like look i know hes a war criminal and whatever but that obviously doesnt matter in comparison to the idea of him GARDENING #it's soooo fucking cute. #i rly wonder what his thoughts were during all of this. he just mentioned to caleb during the fight that he was scared. #that fuckin broke my heart too. the normally aloof essek showing fear bc his spells were doin jack Shit to trent #and then seeing caleb briefly huddled up with his old schoolmates. expressing Love for them #but it's a love of the past. and then they left. #knowing about the Wizards In Love aka shadowgast. im like. what was he thinking during that moment???? #oooughhhhh i can feel myself itching to read fic about him. i want MOOOORE #he's probably the most pronounced npc by this point already but PLEASE i love him so much #sometimes a tsundere wizard that has warmed up until hes almost Sweet (if still a lil awkward) can be such a personal thing #thats my own dear wizard nico and now essek and also caleb if u think about it. tho he warmed up a long time ago #GOD when i think about how far hes come i get so emotional. he used to be a terrified dirty man #but now. hes clean. hes Happy. almost at least. happy with his friends if nothing else. #with big dreams of change that he hopes to enact at his friends' sides #and then hes gonna get secret little wizard meetings in his tower ooooOooOo👀 #i wish essek would be a part of the 2 shot bc i wanna see them flirting more SO badly #but. the end scene will suffice. #i need to go to bed lmfao i just have so many thoughts. i cant believe im about to finish campaign 2. #ive been working on this for a solid YEAR ish. & that was after i'd watched 25 or so episodes back when they first came out in like 2018 #me for years refusing to watch more bc of molly. and yes it still does hurt. but it's so worth watching anyways. god. #cradles the mighty nein in my hands. i love them so much #BED TIME now. goodnight

[essektheylyss]

Honestly, the implication with the Sendings that there is something wrong with the leylines and the weave of magic in Exandria is so funny to me. There is a non-zero chance, not even a low chance, that Ludinus is pissed because he got tossed to some random point in Exandria, and now he has to walk places. And maybe get on a ship. God forbid.*

But this also has a lot of other implications. The leylines tend to be associated with both intra- and interdimensional travel, as well as things like Scrying, Sending of course, and possibly other methods of divination.

It is also possible that, given what we know about dunamis, that dunamancy is also tied to the leylines or the weave in some way.

We know that divine magic is at least working—but we only know this to be true of divine magic granted by a god of the Pantheon.

So, with all of that in mind, a HIGHLY incomplete sample of things that may or may not be happening across Exandria while the Hells A-Team is traveling to Uthodurn:

Yussa is torn between gratitude for being free from the menace of Caleb Widogast teleporting into his house and Jester Lavorre sending him messages at all hours, and irritation that he can't get any of his work done because it all has to do with planar magic.

Any gratitude wears off when Fjord and Jester come banging on his door because Jester cannot send any messages nor contact Artagan, who is bound by the rules of the planes and by extension the leylines (since he can, unlike the gods, pass mostly freely from plane to plane).

Fjord's magic is completely fine because he is operating on sheer force of will and obeys no laws known to mortals, physics, or nature. Essek, who was holed up in the Lavorres' spare room for the week, is absolutely pissed because half of his magic is broken (and also he has no idea where his partner is).

Caleb and Beau take like seven hours to get the collar off before discovering that they are stuck somewhere in the Issylran tundra. (They would probably get fined by the Slayer's Take for the number of bounties they take out their rage on, if the Slayer's Take had ANY idea who the fuck they were.)

Caduceus is cheerfully gardening and has no idea this has happened. Melora decides not to bother him. Let him live in bliss, unlike the rest of Exandria.

Dorian has been having a meltdown into his Sending stone while Opal and Dariax run rampant and Cyrus looks very pretty but does absolutely nothing. It has no effect.

Keyleth is sitting in a daze somewhere next to a tree that will not open wondering if the last thirty-six hours were a fever dream.

The city of Syngorn saw the moon nonsense, panicked, tried to hop to the Feywild, then panicked harder. Fortunately, they could not contact anyone, and Allura Vysoren did not have to hear about it.

Ludinus has murdered several people. It has gotten him no closer to leaving whatever random part of the Tal'dorei countryside he is menacing.

Somewhere, there is a bird. That bird saw this beam, looked down into a very old, very precious orb, and said, "Not this fucking shit again."

All in all, very funny couple of days Exandria is happening. I'm sure things will not get any worse.

*I know he traveled by ship to the peace talks, okay, but that was for appearances. He didn't have shit to be doing at the time.

#critical role #cr spoilers #cr meta #honestly what's up in bazzoxan. I was gonna make a joke about verin but I truly don't even have a CLUE #I do think either the shattered teeth are in chaos or the perpetual cloud over it is just suddenly clear for the first time in a millennium #now THAT would be wild actually #yes this is just a post to clown on everyone. I'm having a great time actually. #yes I did make an agrupnin joke cerrit was invoked and I am being absolutely normal about it.

[critcallyobsessed]

Mollymauk Tealeaf is the reason Caleb Widowgast forgave himself and you cannot convince me otherwise.

When Caleb first met the Nien he was so afraid they would clock his criminal past he intentionally self issolated. And if Mollymauk hadn't been such a cocky ass, and literally forced him to open up about his issues he would have abandoned the Nien.

Yeah, they beefed, but you have to think about the weight of the guilt Caleb was carrying around versus Molly’s ‘dont worry be happy’ lifestyle it's honestly impressive they didn't PVP.

Molly comforts Caleb in one of his darkest moments and I believe it is bc Molly has at least a few of Luican’s memories and he can see Caleb’s pain and just cannot let him suffer alone.

But, most importantly, Mollymuck dies. And that really changes Caleb he realizes just how finite life is and I think he's kind of forced to keep Molly’s memory alive. Like, Caleb before Glory Run Road would have wasted 0 time going after Jester, Fjord, and Yasha. But watching Molly fall he is forced to forgive himself in order to “Leave the world better than he left it”.

He and Beau become besties because they're both left to face the reality that the only kindness they had ever known in their life was a conman teifling.

It really pisses me off that Molly died bc I really and truly believe that he and Caleb would have fallen in love.

CALEB MADE A TRANSMUTER STONE WITH THE PLAN TO RESURRECT MOLLY. GUYS! He carried the fucking stone around for at least 80 eps. He was the only one to mention the possibility of Molly being alive he never gave up on them.

I think Fjord saw it… ya know Molly and fjord were rommies and surly they talked bc when Caleb is using The Stone and that crazy spell (I can't recall the name) and it didn't work he comforted Essek. I think he was comforting Essek not bc Caleb wanted Molly back but bc Essek was morning for Caleb like without it having to say it out loud Fjord saw Calebs heartbreak and knew that Essek needed someone to check in.

Like please don't lie to me, Essek Molly and Caleb would have been world shattering

#critical role #dungeons and dragons #caleb widogast #dnd stuff #essek thelyss #molly tealeaf #beauregard lionett #the mighty nein #fjord stone #yasha nydoorin #jester lavorre #shadowidomauk #shadowgast #widowmauk #why am i like this

[neinofthem]

the beauyasha-shadowgast neighbors situation is ridiculous like beau and yasha are having wild lesbian sex in their garden, essek is sitting gayly in a chair and bitching about orange juice surrounding by piles of shittily knit scarves, caleb is drafting lesson plans except they’re just ‘piss astrid off’ written over and over again on a piece of paper, they have dinner once a week and essek tries to ask yasha about the garden but beau’s like ‘yeah this is good soup yasha rawdogged me over the basil can you taste it?’ i hate these people they are my best friends.

#critical role #essek thelyss #cr #the mighty nein #mighty nein #tm9 #cr shitpost #cr2 #shadowgast #critical role essek #essek #caleb widogast #beauyasha #beauregard lionett #yasha nydoorin

[renatogpadilla]

THOUGHTS ON CR3E92 IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER:

- FIRST EVER CR CROSSOVER EPISODE?!

LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

- Dariax said "This Flute doesn't play itself anymore." Doriax canon offscreen?

- "After all the handjobs, this is what we mean to you?!" Damn... I mean, I'm glad Opal and Cyrus found a way to relieve stress, Gods know they're both stressed, but damn.

- Ending the episode on Opal Twice-Crowned hitting phase 2 of the boss fight was EVIL!

I love it, @quiddie ! I feel like when this gets animated in a decade or so, we'll get this fight and the fight with Otohan Thull overlayed one on top of the other for a Season Finale or something!

- Raven Queen going two for two on Rogues turned Paladin! Which is great, but now I have to replan Morrighan's moveset for that imaginary Critical Role fighting game that only exists in my head (somebody ask me about it please, I NEED to talk about it!) but at least she gets some Smite options out of the Bunny Hop command jump!

- Dariax is a Bard now too! That's honestly so perfect for Matt! And the fact that both Sorcerers and Bards are Charisma Casters makes me feel like the Synergies are gonna be great!

- Oh, Dorian, wonderful blue king... That's a lot of strength that your Dice will never agree to let you use for anything cool. I missed you SO MUCH!

- Speaking of that imaginary CR fighting game, this just solidified Opal as a puppet character. The tag combos with Ted would be WILD! Think Kenshi from MK1!

- Fy'ra Rai... Just... FY'RA RAI! Gods, I've missed Anjali at the table! Her memory with Opal, her tug-of-war with her thoughts about her sister... THE LAVA WHIP! Nothing sexier than Monks! Except a pissed off Wizard or Druid.

- On the other side of the table, I LOVE the moment the girls all collectively remembered they had to break the news to Frida... Oh, that's gonna hurt BAD!

- Anyone else noticed that Ashton is BURNT OUT and laying on the ground after his Titan form wears off, but Fearne just says she's really tired and just KEEPS GOING? Ashton is DONE for now, but Fearne needs to keep moving forward... Fuck, I love these two.

- Orym... Just... Orym. If you take a level in Barbarian after this, I wouldn't blame you.

- Side-Note: This means Dorian DID get Orym's last message before they went to the moon! He just didn't/couldn't answer! Which means, through the static and everything, Dorian COULD hear Orym! And now he's probably gonna get this message once the battle is over... Jesus, if they get to Zephra and Keyleth went to the Lodge next to the lake that's gonna be a problem...

- Side-Note Side-Note: Anyone else hoping to GOD that Allura called the Nein to help? Cause Beau and Caleb were involved, but now it feels like an "All Hands on Deck" situation, and we could use Kingsley's small army of pirates right about now...

- So much happened this episode between the grieving and the flashbacks and the rolling for handjobs that I didn't have time to process the splinter cell of Xhorhasians that split their soul in twain until I woke up... Opal may have forgotten, but maybe Ted hasn't? Though if they're the same person, maybe they both forgot...

- Aabria, the corrupting of the Memories was FOUL, I LOVE IT!!!

- Somebody needs to tell Essek about the soul-splitters. In fact, let's get to that while we deal with Ashton too!

- IF OPAL DIES, AMY CAN COME OVER AS DENI$E! Like, I don't WANT her to die, but Westruun isn't that far... 👀

- I just realized this is the first ever FULL episode of CR without Sam at the table... Fuck, man, when it hurts it hurts. Glad Marisha brought back the fan.

"Forgot the Consonants?" "No Letters." OUCH, MISS RAY, WHAT THE FUCK?!

- Raven Queen Paladins hasting themselves first thing in the fight. Vax is back, and he's a Bunny Girl now!

- I like that the Crownkeepers are a two-way Overwatch reunion (McCree Cassidy and Symmetra) and a three-way Persona 5 reunion (Yusuke, Ann Futaba and Akechi).

- Everything was so fucked this episode that everything with Liliana got knocked to the background for me, THAT'S how good it was!

- The SECOND Evoroa said Ludinos was on Exandria I knew EXACTLY where he would be! Now we HAVE to get the Nein involved, right? Unless the bastard makes the city float again...

I cannot WAIT for the next episode! And if Sam brings a new character when all the groups are together, it would be SPECTACULAR! I'm guessing he's going to play one of the moon races, because that just sounds cool... Either that or Tary!

#Critical Role #CR #CR3 #Bell's Hells #Exandria Unlimited #ExU #Crownkeepers #Crown Keepers #CR3 Spoilers #ExU Spoilers #CR3E92 #C3E92 #SO MANY TAGS! #AND WE HAVE TO WAIT TWO WEEKS FOR THE SECOND PART OF THE CROSSOVER?!?! AAAAAAAAAARGH!!! #critical role #cr #cr3 #bell's hells #crown keepers #crownkeepers #exu #exandria unlimited

[dumbstupidfandomblog]

Man. I just can't help but imagine Critical Role x Baldur's Gate 3 drabbles or a fic or something of that some sort. Idk, I just think it'd be really funny and also a chance for some really cute scenes. Especially with the Mighty Nein.

Now obviously there'd probably be SO much mistrust between the two groups, but just imagine if you will(possibly very minor spoilers under the cut):

Caleb and Gale(and maybe Essek) talking about wizard stuff and cats.

Jester introducing everyone to Artagan. I think Astarion would either like him or fucking hate him.

Karlach, Yasha, and Beau just working out together. Buff lesbians

Fjord and Wyll bonding over shitty patrons. If it's post Ukatoa then Fjord giving Wyll some hope about his situation. I just think it'd be sweet.

Caduceus and Halsin. That's it. I think they'd talk for literally HOURS, just drinking tea and talking about random shit and their respective circles 'n such. ALSO, I'm just imagining them sort of gossiping about and spilling their respective party's secrets to eachother. They'd be silly lol

Jester overhearing the whole convo with Astarion and Tav(if there's a tav in this??) about him not being able to see his reflection and immediately getting to work drawing a portrait of him. As soon as she shows and gives it to him, he's his usual sorta sassy self about it but he absolutely cherishes it.

Also I feel like Astarion would see different bits of his own past in some of the Mighty Nein, specifically Caleb and Yasha, and it'd piss him the FUCK off.

Jester and/or Molly reading the groups fortunes just for fun, the Oracle of the Moon Deck has some cards that would make the groups fortunes REALLY INTERESTING. Maybe Molly also pulls out some of the old circus tricks for fun.

On the topic of Molly, I think Lae'zel would have this very confusing respect for Molly? She'd find them really foolish at first and not think much of them, but I think she'd then see them actually in combat and be impressed with their skills.

I feel like Nott/Veth would just start mothering some of the bg3 party. Like not heavily, but a bit similar to how she does with Caleb. I could def see her pairing up with Astarion to steal some shit. Maybe King joins in if he's there.

Jester giving some of the group tattoos. Not everyone would get them obviously but I could definitely see Karlach and I suppose Tav going for it.

Nein Sided Tower shenanigans. That's all.

#obvs there could be some rlly fun stuff w the other campaigns but I'm extremely biased for the M9 #esp tho with Percy/Laudna and Astarion #OH but also #if ur curious about what I meant about the fortune reading comment and the cards that'd be rlly fun with the bg3 group #I actually have the Molly/Jester oracle deck so I can tell you exactly what cards I mean #very specifically a past/present/future reading with Astarion being Death/Dawn Hunger/Sacrifice and Judge/Tyrant #the others I have are looser and not a full spread but yknow #Spark/Blaze and Sword/Anvil for Wyll and then Moon/Mirror for Shadowheart #Gale could have any one of Bond/Betrayer Lust/Tavern and Hand/Eye #but yeah please feel free to add on if you wish whether it be more M9 stuff or VM/BH shenanigans as well #minor bg3 spoilers #baldur's gate 3 #critical role mighty nein #wyll ravengard #halsin #astarion #karlach #gale dekarios #lae'zel #shadowheart #jester lavorre #caleb widogast #mollymauk tealeaf #yasha nydoorin #beauregard lionett #fjord stone #caduceus clay #nott the brave #bg3 tav #dumbstupidfandom stuff

[windlion]

Trick or treat!! 🦹 <- anon costume

Happy Halloween! Excellent costume, couldn't tell who you are :D

The purple tiefling who was Mollymauk had not addressed him directly as of yet, and truly, Essek did not expect him to.  They were strangers, and he did not have the easy amiability of the Clays to recommend him. Therefore he could be forgiven for not understanding at first.

Mollymauk apparently had just as much respect for personal space as Jester, which was to say none at all.  One taloned finger tapped him in the chest, over his heart, and Essek held himself back from flinching by main force.  "Heavy."

Beauregard cackled like a hyena, "Thelyss is not heavy, Molly-- I could pick him up one handed and throw him."

Essek, frozen with the split second memory, of grief weighing him like a leaded shroud and holding his feet to the fiery flesh that was the ground was entirely too late to react. "Do not."

It turned into an undignified yelp as Beauregard demonstrated her point ably with one arm around his middle.  Flexing her arm consideringly like measuring a sack of potatoes at market, Beau turned and yelled over her shoulder, "Hey, Fjord, I think we finally found a weight light enough for you to train with."

Forced to dangle head first with a view towards his knees, Essek folded his arms and waited with an impassive if aggrieved expression.  He'd been through this with Verin: the more he reacted the worse it would be.

Thankfully Fjord was the voice of reason, calling from across the room, "Ah, hell no, Beau. Put him down.  Caleb's gonna kill you with his eyes and I'm not dumb enough to piss off two wizards.  Even if one of them's travel-sized."

Beau laughed as she set Essek back down, with rather more care than he'd been anticipating.  She clapped his shoulder before shifting back to her seat around the fire.  She'd never even put down her drink. "Maybe we need to get you and Caleb training with us.  Runs in the morning."

Pulling his clothes back to rights, Essek arched his eyebrow at her, "I am not that much of a glutton for punishment, Beauregard."

She shot him a sidelong look, knowing, but anything she would have said was cut off by Mollymauk pronouncing again, with a nod, "Heavy."

It was followed this time by him immediately gesturing to himself, "Empty."

It seemed introductions were in order between the last addition to the Mighty Nein and one of the very first of them.  The best of them, if they were to be believed, and Essek did.  Court protocol provided a script and an automatic polite bow, one hand swept to his chest.  His voice didn't betray the butterflies in his stomach.  "Essek Thelyss.  I'm glad I was able to meet you, Mollymauk Tealeaf."

The purple tiefling seemingly accepted this, his head tilting consideringly, and he reached out to tap Essek's chest again.  "Heavy, and stiff."

For an amnesiac still working on stringing together sentences, that was a surprising amount of smug judginess. This time Essek lost the battle to control his composure, wry. "Oh, I can definitely see how you fit in."

Mollymauk smirked at him, turning the tap into a soft, proprietary pat.  Essek might not know the tiefling but he knew the Nein, and he rather thought that was a "You, too."   Mollymauk trailed his hand upward, ending with his fingers lifting Essek's chin up, before he stepped back, tail jauntily swinging behind him as he set his eyes on some new objective.  Essek attempted to remember how to breathe. 

Beau hadn't stopped laughing throughout the exchange, and she grinned at his expression, "Congrats, Molly likes you.  Or he's going to make your life living hell, one of the two."

Essek huffed, glancing up to see Caleb looking back at him, eyes warm.  "Are you sure there's a difference?"

"Tieflings, man."

#wind is a ridiculous creature #sometimes I write #*throws a wild shot in the dark* #how about some . . . CritRole? #I don't THINK I ever put this one up #so here have a tidbit!

[flaakalaa]

you know, shame we didn't get Essek in reunited not just for more wizard moments, *relationship edition*, but to see his dynamic with KIngsley

cause easy money it'd be along the lines of Kingsley trying so hard to piss Essek off and Essek just "you want to fuck me so bad it makes you look stupid"

#essek thelyss #essek #c2 #campaign 2 #mighty nein reunited #kingsley #kingsley tealeaf

[quinn-of-aebradore]

ooooh, juniper? [if you've already answered that one--the scars we bear?] otherwise, por qué no los dos.  👀

Sol!!! Neither have been asked about, so you indeed get both!!! juniper I'll stick under a cut for the sake of post length XD

the scars we bear is one I've had kicking around in various forms for a while. The core premise is very simple: what happens when Caleb and Percy finally meet? But figuring out how exactly, and where, they meet has been tricky. I think I finally found a version I like though :3

Like a blade through flesh, the sound of footfalls and a cane clicking against the floor cut through the tumult in his mind, settling it in an instant. It should be frightening, how easily he schools his face into an only slightly stormy neutrality, but it feels as natural as summoning fire to his hands. It even reminds him, distantly, of Essek and his Shadowhand mask.  Gods, let it not be Da’leth. “Mind if I join you?” Not Da’leth. Caleb doesn’t turn, savoring the little burst of relief at not being ambushed for the moment it lasts. “If you insist.” His new companion doesn’t answer, just crosses the distance from the doorway to the railing and settles a hand on the stone. Still, he doesn’t speak, joining Caleb in silent observation of the Platinum Veranda spread below them. After a minute or so of quiet, Caleb finally glances at him. Were he in any other mood, he might’ve startled at the sight of the Whitestone lord who’d joined the witnesses today. But there he is; white hair, complicated glasses, exhausted face, and navy blue coat.  In addition to everything from the last few months? This might as well happen.

WIP Title Ask Game

And as for juniper...

This one I originally started with a random prompt generator giving me "I can tell you're pissed off, you know"! Verin is grounded, stuck in the Den Thelyss library for skipping his classes to beat up Adeen, who has been treating Essek very poorly. And Essek is, ah, not happy with him for this. It was originally a drabble that I decided to expand on, and it needs some revisions. I'm not quite pleased with the direction it took last I worked on it. But! Have a bit of the portion of it I do like.

“Do you want me to apologize?” he says, voice pitched louder in case Essek’s gone far. There’s a long pause. “Would you, if I asked?”  He sounds somewhat close by, at least. Verin’s half a mind to climb the stairs to find him, the only thing stopping him the worry that someone will come in to check on his progress. Light, this whole situation is ridiculous. “Of course I would, Essie,” he says, running a hand absently through his hair, messing his braid and pulling painfully on his bruised shoulder in the process. “I only thought that…” “That what?” Essek’s voice is sharp, but Verin knows the difference between genuine sharpness and put-on sharpness, when it’s coming from his brother. This is the latter. “That Adeen Tasithar needed to be reminded to treat you like you and not…” Verin sighs, deciding that it may be better to not finish that sentence. Essek’s testy as it is about this. “You deserve better than him, that’s all.” “That isn’t for you to decide, Verin.” “You haven’t heard the way he talks about you with the rest of the Watch,” Verin says, frustration bleeding into his voice. “It’s not alright, Essek.”

#caleb widogast #percy de rolo #essek thelyss #verin thelyss #adeen tasithar #quinn writes things #quinn answers #ask game

[grayintogreen]

WIP WEDNESDAY

I'm gonna be alternating Wednesdays with Roseverse and LitMoR, so since last week was a Roseverse preview, here's a preview of the next chapter of YCDHN! Featuring the origins of a joke I have been dying to make for SO LONG.

-

Plans never survived first contact with the enemy, and that was equally true of victories. People who spent too long celebrating a win rarely lived to see a second one.

The Mighty Nein (ten plus an additional four) gathered in the dining hall of Kindunos Keep, where months ago nearly all of them had murdered an entire tribe worth of people who thought they were stronger than they were. Reminders of small victories were necessary as they prepared to face the biggest one yet- the one for all the marbles.

Lucien was the one who stood up to take point and leadership. This nightmare had been started at the time of his birth- for the purpose of this leg of the journey, they were all going to look to him now and no one complained about it. Not even Molly looked at him skeptically.

A far cry from where they began, but the world was moving on. “They work fast when they want to,” he explained, looking to Beau, hunched over her hand like if she dug her nails into the eye on the back of it, she would tear it from her flesh. “It starts with dreams and then one by one, they’ll start bringin’ you more gifts.” He looked to Tyffial, Otis, and Zoran with their amulets, to Molly with his- eyes downcast and on the table, the reality of being a thrall still too close to the surface for him. “And once you’ve got nine eyes, you’re theirs. There won’t be anything we can do ‘til they’re dead.”

They didn’t have time to get another amulet made. Those things didn’t come cheap and Waccoh had used up every bit of good will and resources she had to make the ones for the other Tombtakers. There was no scenario where they could buy time for a second and wait this out. If they didn’t leave tomorrow, there was going to be Hell to pay for Beau and for all of them.

“The Somnovem are still being fueled by the Chained Oblivion,” he went on. “And all of them are right pissed at us for bein’ a thorn in their drawers.” He folded his arms behind his back. “Always nice when the apocalypse has a personal touch, hm?”

A small, restrained laugh. It had been a long time since Lucien had to give a speech like this. Nice to know that he could still maneuver around the appropriate beats to keep the mood from souring into hopelessness. Yes, things were dire, but they were going to meet it head-on. Violently.

He went on, pacing. “I know it looks like we have plenty of numbers on our side, but it’s not just nine ancient, batty-as-shit wizards and the god they’re siphoning power off of. It’s the thousands upon thousands of people trapped in Cognouza as well.”

“You lot handle the Somnovem,” Tyffial shrugged. “The Tombtakers will handle whatever else there is.” She smiled at Essek with too many teeth. “That includes you.”

“Why I have no qualms about aiding you in the fight, I think calling me a Tombtaker is… inaccurate, to say the least,” Essek drawled.

Otis leaned over to stage whisper at him. “Nah, we already voted. Can’t back out now. You’re with us forever. Heh.”

While Essek had a crisis over that, Lucien flashed Tyffial a tight smile that she returned, the pair exchanging a heated series of silent messages with only the sharpness of their eyes. ”I don’t recall giving you control over the Tombtakers.” ”Oh really? Shouldn’t have fucked off and gotten yourself domesticated then.”

“That will not be enough to stand against an entire city,” Caleb spoke up. “We are going to need more allies.”

☽

“Hey, Yussa! It’s Jester. We’re just wondering if you’d come with us to Aeor? We’re gonna fight an evil city in the Astral Sea.” A beat. “Please?”

”Aeor is hostile to wizards and I regret that I would prefer not to accompany you there. I could perhaps do some investigating, however.”

“Okay, so I told everyone that and they all freaked out and Beau says you should really, really not do that, like, at all.”

”Ah. Well. I will speak to some of my acquaintance and see about gathering any useful tools you might need, then.”

☽

Beau crossed a line through Yussa’s name in her journal to join several other names that were considered dud leads. Couldn’t get the group in Vasselheim because somebody needed to be on stand-by if they failed; couldn’t recruit anyone from the Cobalt Soul because they were neck-deep in Assembly troubles…

Jester slapped her hands on the table. “What about Shakaste? We could have four clerics.”

☽

“Shakaste, this is Cree of the Mighty Nein. We could use your help with a problem in Aeor, if you would be amenable.”

“Hey, baby, I would love to, but I’m a bit tied up in business out in the Swavain Islands right now. You understand?”

☽

“I hate that guy, anyway,” Zoran muttered, watching Beau strike Shakaste’s name from the ledger.

“What about Cali and Reani?” Yasha offered.

☽

Seconds after receiving Jester’s Sending, a tree in the backyard of Kindunos Keep spat out an overly excitable aasimar druid and her nervous sorceress girlfriend, who looked as if she still couldn’t quite get a handle on tree travel. “Oh my gosh, this used to be the Jagentoth’s place, Cali! I can’t believe I wasn’t there to see them get wrecked.”

Caduceus, who had been waiting for them, grinned as he gestured to the bushes that had sprung up where the Jagentoths had been buried. “You didn’t miss the tea at least.”

The two girls tackled him for a hug.

☽

“This might be a long shot, but what about Keg? Think the Gentleman would give her up, Jes’?”

☽

In a fight club in Nicodranas, Beau stood next to Yasha, waiting patiently for Keg to finish the brawl that had interrupted their conversation. She stepped out of the ring, victorious, her opponent flat on his back and groaning.

“Yeah, what the hell?” She grinned. “I miss knockin’ heads with you assholes.”

☽

“Ooh. What about the crew of the Nein Heroez, Fjord?”

“I… don’t know if they’re going to jump at getting involved in this sort of danger willingly, Jester.”

Veth piped up, tapping her chin. “Twiggy might.”

☽

On the deck of the Nein Heroez, Caleb and Veth laid out the plan to a wide-eyed Twiggy.

“I’m in!” She said, without even pausing to think about it.

☽

“How many is that?”

“Eighteen. Anyone else?”

Eighteen seemed like so many to drag through the tundra, even with it being Molly’s favored terrain and therefore impossible for them to get lost. It seemed like too few to face the horrors of Cognouza and what was waiting for them there.

It also just didn’t feel like the right number, in general.

“I have an idea,” Cree spoke up during a lull between names being offered and dismissed in the same breaths.

#i have not been able to refer to the Aeor Strike Team as the mighty nein(teen) yet #and now i fucking can #wip wednesday #cr fanfic #you can't deny high noon

[keyleth-clay]

Hii, I was wondering if you had any thoughts on a critical role/venture maidens crossover? 💖💖💖

Oooooooooh, well, I have a few ideas, but not much in terms of, like, specific plot stuff:

If I Had A Nickel For Every Time I Watched An Actual Play Group's First Online Campaign Where The Goth Elf Ends Up A Champion Of The Raven Queen, I'd Have Two Nickels - Which Isn't A Lot, But It's Weird That It's Happened Twice. (and by that I mean I would love for Arrnodel and Vax to meet.) EDIT: also a Two Nickels moment with Arrnodel and Fjord both being unwitting warlocks in pacts with a fuck-off giant snake patron and then end up changing patrons as a major part of their character arc.

Just... the insanity (and destruction) that would happen as a result of the Fate Maidens meeting The Mighty Nein, given that one of the M9's bffs is a Drow, and. Y'know. Everything with Kara.

Building off of this - adding Valerius and/or Gidget to Caleb and Essek and Veth's magic experiments and Wizard Hubris™.

I've only watched one episode of Favour so far, but I know for a fact that Aoife and Fearne would adore each other. Also maybe low-key distant relatives? 👀👀👀

(Okay full disclosure this is just me taking my faves from each campaign and smooshing them together) But like I think that Keyleth and Sawyeh would have so much to talk about?? Like both of them being the youngest in their respective groups and having these expectations placed on their shoulders, and their respective elemental ties and how they feel about using those powers and their relationships with each particular element (Sawyeh generally being more drawn to fire on her own and water because of Persana [I still don't know how to spell the water elemental's name lol], and Keyleth being drawn more to air and earth [plus fire when she's pissed]). Plus throw Caduceus into the mix for some tea and meditation and growing up in an isolated religious/spiritual centre, and.... I'm gonna cut myself off here. 😅

HANG ON I JUST THOUGHT OF. PARALLELS. Rem/Isolde vs Allura/Kima???? Powerful WLW political leaders who are supporters of the party, one of whom is stabby and take-action and the other is a spell-caster and more cautious???? Is this something???? (I vote yes 🖤❤️🤍 💙💛🤎)

Also speaking of parallels - Ranna and Dorian? Enough said.

#I had so many Thoughts of similar things that happened in both VM and CR while I was watching Fate #but that was a while ago and i didn't write anything down and i forgor 😞 #ANYWAYS have some rambling ideas! #kc speaks #kc answers #Venture Maidens #Critical Role #VM 1 #VM Fate #CR 1 #CR 2 #CR 3 #VM 2 #VM Favour #Sawyeh Noor #Keyleth #Arrnodel Ithil #Vax'ildan #Kimallura #Remsolde

[glossolali]

ok I need to recruit more Shadowmauks because there aren't enough of us so here's why they're so good:

- Molly to Essek dynamic is:

"good goddess you're hot, I'm going to tease you and piss you off till you kiss me"

but also

"you're the only one who didn't know me back then, so you bring me solace from my own mind, and I want to take care of you, you soft, anxious, fussy nerd"

- Essek to Molly dynamic is:

"I'm going to banish you back to the astral sea because you're distracting me with how annoying and beautiful you are"

but also

"you're the only one who didn't know me back then, so you bring me reprieve from my own guilt, and I'm going to care about you and love you so intensely you stupid, sweet man"

#i've been rotating them in my brain for MONTHS #also pls note man is a non-gendered term... bc i said so lmao #shadowmauk #critical role #mollymauk tealeaf #essek #essek thelyss #mollymauk #cr spoilers #cr 2 #glossopost

[essektheylyss]

Beau can definitely get the collar off Caleb, but it is funny to imagine her failing and having to do Sending Stone relay around the Nein until they can get in touch with Jester, who can call Essek, who can maybe come pick them up depending on where they are and how safe he is at the moment.

This is also presuming that Yasha is not still convinced that she can speak to Veth with her mind, in which case Beau has to decide whether she's going to remain stuck with voiceless, hornet-pissed Caleb until Jester happens to Send her a message, or finally destroy her wife's beloved, deeply-held belief.

#critical role #cr spoilers #this is literally so funny to me actually #cackling #I know I did angst for like two seconds but this situation becomes increasingly funny the more you think about it. #caleb widogast #beauregard lionett