#cr asmodeus

[asmodeus-cock]

This is about Vespin and Zerxus

#critical role #exu calamity #cr asmodeus #lord of the nine hells #vespin chloras #zerxus ilerez #exu zerxus

[ofteasandherbs]

I saw what you did Mr.Mercer…

#critical role #lee’s art #ludinus da'leth #cr Asmodeus #asmodeus cr #exu calamity

[shellem15]

Thinking about the Dawnfather. A god of light, a god of harvest, a god of the sun itself. Good but not nice, kind but not soft. Life-giving but also scorching. Protective, warm, and kind, but also stern, harsh, and abrasive. His light can foster growth, can protect and guide, but it can also scorch and burn. The sun is warm and nurturing but don’t stare at it too long, child, it’ll blind you.

Was he always so hard? Did he always hide his face with the harsh light of the sun? Or was there a time when he smiled and laughed, let others see him as he truly was?

Thinking about the Schism. Was the Dawnfather close to the Betrayer Gods before they turned? He must have been, Asmodeus wouldn’t be so hung up on him if he wasn’t. Speaking of Asmodeus, he was once a being of light, like the Dawnfather and the Everlight are now. Were they closer than the others? When the Gods came to Exandria, did they come from the same place or were they scattered, a ragtag group of survivors fleeing from predators seeking to devour them? And if the latter is true, did these three beings of light come from the same place? Siblings, born from the same stuff, forever tied to one another?

If this was the case, then, what was their relationship before the Schism? Did they call each other “Brother” and “Sister”? Did they hold each other when they were scared, dry each other’s tears, laugh and joke and tease and fight and make up because they were siblings and they’d always be together, and they loved each other with every fiber of their being and they only had each other. When Predathos came, when it devoured two of their newfound siblings, did the Dawnfather hold them both and promise them that everything was going to be okay because he was their brother and he was going to protect them, all of them. The gods, mortals, the world itself, they would not be devoured, they would not be destroyed, because he was there and would fight until his very last breath to keep them safe.

Wondering then, was that the moment when Asmodeus truly grew to hate their creations? Seeing his brother and sister and siblings risk their lives just to protect some mewling mortal wretches when they could just leave it all behind and start somewhere new. Was that the moment when he realized that mortals had done something to them, changed them when they were not supposed to change. Why else would they risk being devoured by Predathos, why else would they suffer through war with the Primordials? Why else would they choose them over him!? Was this the moment when he decided to conspire with the Primordials and the other Betrayer Gods? To destroy this world and the mortals on it so they could finally leave. And they would leave, of course, because the Dawnfather was his brother and the Everlight was his sister and the Gods were a family, and at the end of the day, they would always be together, and once the corrupting influence of those mortals was gone, they would surely all see reason.

And when the Dawnfather discovered this betrayal, when all the Prime Deities did, he must have been furious. How could they!? His kin, his brother, who had always been by his side through everything, how could they turn around and destroy their creations, their children. And so he and the other Primes took up arms and fought against their own family to protect this world they had created, and their children who inhabited it. Those battles must have been brutal, bonds of comradery broken, kin clashing against kin, screaming curses as they tore each other apart.

During those final battles of the Schism, when the Dawnfather clashed against Asmodeus, did they scream at each other in rage? A twisted reflection of previous squabbles, different because this time it was real, this time there is no forgiveness, no making up. When the Dawnfather knocked Asmodeus down, crushed his throat under his foot and banished him to the Hells, was he yelling when he disowned him? Or was he quiet when he did it, his voice going into a low growl, deadly calm as he told him that he was not his brother anymore. And moments previously, when the Dawnfather could have easily killed him, did he look into Asmodeus’s eyes and see his brother? Scared and hurt by his hands, hands that once held him and swore to protect him. In that moment, did the Dawnfather realize he couldn’t kill him? Because that was his brother and despite everything, he still loved him, and hurting him brought him more grief and pain than he could ever imagine. So instead, he banished him, locked him and all the other Betrayers away because he and the other Primes couldn’t bring themselves to kill their family, but they also couldn’t let them free.

Was this when the Dawnfather obscured his face? Hardened his heart because otherwise he would break, and he cannot break, because the other gods need him to be strong, because Exandria needs him to be strong. And so he stayed strong, despite the grief, despite the guilt, despite the pain of heartbreak, of hurting the ones he loved to protect the ones he loved. And this hardening must have continued, running himself ragged during Calamity, beating back Tharizdun, protecting Ioun after she almost died, sheltering the Everlight after Asmodeus once again betrayed her, stabbed her in the back and left her broken and weak when all she wanted was to do was get her brother back, to save him from his own wrath. Failure after failure after failure to protect those he cared about, to protect his siblings and mortals and Exandria itself. The guilt of his failures must be overwhelming, and these are his failures: Predathos devoured his siblings under his watch, his siblings betrayed them under his watch, Calamity ravaged Exandria under his watch, and even now, the threat of Predathos has once again returned under his watch.

No wonder he is so harsh now, so controlling now: because every time he has failed in his vigilance the world has suffered for it. He can’t fail again; he can’t lose any more siblings. And so, he continues hardening his heart, continues fighting, because the sun must always rise again in the morning, no matter what.

#did i make my first post a 1000+ word essay about the dawnfather? yes #did i write this instead of doing my work? also yes #would i do it again? absolutely #i have so many thoughts about the gods of exandria #i want to shake them in a jar and examine them under a microscope #it is my foremost belief that pelor has eldest daughter syndrome #like surface pressure from encanto is literally the perfect pelor song tell me im wrong #he is so stressed. all the time #like pelor IS a dick. absolutely #he has definitely done some fucked up shit #but he's not malicious or evil. hes doing what he thinks will protect everyone #he is in desperate need of a nap. a hug. and a therapist #this definitely delves into headcanon territory but i dont care #critical role #cr spoilers #cr meta #cr headcanons #dawnfather #everlight #cr asmodeus #pelor the dawnfather #cr sarenrae #cr gods #shelley's overdramatic character analysis

[rabbit-exe]

I very much do want to see the betrayer gods again because they are some hilariously petty bitches who would definitely try and pull some absolute bullshit, but also I will Never be able to picture Lolth the Spider Queen or Asmodeus the Lord of the Hells, in mannerism, in voice, or in appearance, as ANYTHING other than Aabria Iyengar and Brennan Lee Mulligan. they did it too good and now it's Them Forever

#these two... iconic #aabria did such a perfect job as lolth. the playfulness. the warped affection in her voice. the cloying sweetness of rot. gah!! #brennan did asmodeus more than justice in his portrayal (made even more compelling by the fact that he as the gm also played evandrin!) #literally obsessed with the idea of lolth and asmodeus Interacting. you KNOW they're the bitchiest sister-brother duo in all the realms #collaborating over the inevitable end and squabbling the entire time... I Want To See It #critical role #lolth #lolth the spider queen #asmodeus #the lord of the hells #cr lolth #cr asmodeus #aabria iyengar #brennan lee mulligan #I just want them to come on as guests and do their nasty betrayer god thing again. it's so COMPELLING #exandria unlimited #exu calamity

[thatoneacecryptid]

Listen, I love DND and all my various favorite actual play shows to pieces

I love all of the moments that have come about at the tables I play at

But nothing, I repeat NOTHING, will hit me as hard as Brennan Lee Mulligan’s Asmodeus growling, “You’re trying to atone me… and I didn’t do anything wrong…”

#Brennan Lee Mulligan pulled no punches and I love him for it #critical role #cr spoilers #exu spoilers #exu calamity spoilers #exu calamity #brennan lee mulligan #cr asmodeus

[beedreamscape]

When Asmodeus said to Zerxus he'd protect him from fae this *points to Fearne getting her hand kissed by Teven* is what he meant

Not (just) because they're dangerous, but because they charming--- Stop flirting with the changeling! No, do not kiss the satyr's hand--- Don't let that eladrin touch your cheek, this is my last warning! Oh they're taking off their pants, I'm gonna rip their face off...

#this is why he asked the whole Feywild to steer clear of the calamity #instead of world domination. theyd be fucking and flirting #cr asmodeus #zerxus #fearne #teven klask #cr stuff #exu calamity #the tempting is a tactic not meant to be acted upon #except... #critical role #rambles

[blazingstar24]

Thinking about the parallels between Ludinus and Asmodeus.

One is devoted to taking out the gods because of the destruction they did to his home (among other reasons too). The other devoted to punishing all mortals and those who side with them because of the divide he believes they caused in his family.

These two powerful people filled with so much hate. Ludinus devoted his entire life to this goal. His hatred for the gods never diminished. Asmodeus admitted that he would still be unsatisfied even if he got to punish all who wronged him (in his eyes) because it could never be enough. The way they both can hold back their rage and true feelings and then drop on a dime.

The parallels in their conviction. They truly believe that they are right in their beliefs. Never once wavered. Scoffs at the idea of it. Asmodeus was so fucking offended at Zerxus’s attempt at redemption. I get the sense that Ludinus probably has talked to people who understood but asked him why not let go? Why not move on? Live life. Take that second chance that a whole bunch of Aeorians did not get. And he remains convicted and steadfast. Much like how Asmodeus clearly wouldn’t have thought about changing his ways.

Funnily both of them are lawful evil too. And in that, there’s the way they both rarely lie (at least in EXU Calamity for Asmo) Manipulate? Yes. But lie? It’s interesting in how Ludinus has been willing to tell the PCs his plans. He’s not a wholly honest person, but he hasn’t exactly said anything he doesn’t mean yet. He outright tells Imogen and Fearne his whole deal. He’s most certainly not lying about the 1000 years thing. He seems to genuinely believe what he’s selling.

Of course there’s the rhyming lines of “You/We are not our/their children”. Matt knew what he was doing when he chose that line. It’s meant to get us to remember Asmodeus and EXU Calamity. But in it, there is this reoccurring question of the relationship between mortals and the gods. And how muddy the water has become or was in the first place. If a mortal can become a god, if a mortal can kill a god, if someone can become a god through the faith of one child? What are the boundaries between mortals and gods?

It’s kind of funny how the god hating mortal and the mortal hating god have quite a bit in common.

#ludinus da'leth #cr asmodeus #cr meta #cr spoilers #god imagine zerxus trying to redeem Ludinus tho #do I think he could get through to him? no #would Ludinus hear him out tho? probably

[hexxxcapades]

Atonement

#exu: calamity #critical role #zerxus ilerez #the lord of the hells #cr asmodeus #mine #art tag

[mara-phelion]

the more i think about it the more i realize that zerxus' situation is like so much more fucked up if we add elias' appearance in the situation

luis confirmed some part of zerxus did fall for asmodeus, but also mixed with convoluted paternal love, which sounds bad but it also makes sense when we take into consideration that while asmodeus pretty much looked like an uncanny valley version of his dead husband, that is also probably what zerxus envisions elias to look like especially when he grows up

there's that love and longing he felt for evandrin that he felt when died, and then there's also another form of that love and longing he felt for elias that he felt when they became closed off to each other

adding to that: he missed so much of elias and the last time he saw him, he was just a little kid who needed guidance and protection. then when he saw asmodeus, he exuded this energy of a need for someone to help him (dare i say a child-like helplessness and innocence)

for zerxus to be subconsciously battling between seeing evandrin and then seeing the son he feared he wouldn't see growing up before his eyes

the idea of him being torn between this demonic image of his husband AND his son, both being the most beautiful people he's ever known, and to see that face and those features on the literal devil himself must have been a wild ride for him

#critical role #exandria unlimited calamity #exu calamity #exu calamity spoilers #zerxus ilerez #cr zerxus #elias ilerez #evandrin ilerez #cr asmodeus #mara phelion: some thoughts head not that empty #exu wrap up #exu calamity wrap up

[boygirlswag]

exu calamity fans please help i dont really see much about this online & i wanna see if this is a common reading or not

#exu calamity #zerxus ilerez #exu zerxus #evandrin alterra #cr asmodeus #if u dont know what im talking about dont mind me ok? #cr #critical role #exu calamity spoilers

[queseraawesome]

So I know it's been weeks since EXU Calamity but Zerxus Ilerez and his whole arc still live in my head rent free

And I hope to the bottom of my weird little heart that even after ages and ages of the Calamity, even after serving all that time at the side of the Lord of the Hells, that Zerxus is still just the most massive thorn in Asmodeus's side. Constant arguing and utterly determined to redeem him. Like a dog with a bone, a stone in his shoe, like gum in his hair, undermining Asmodeus at every opportunity and calling him a spoiled brat right in front of the cambions and spine devils and still utterly convinced he's right. "Never forget him" was right, you'll never be rid of him, looks like you really fucked up

#zerxus ilerez #exu calmity spoilers #exu calamity #cr asmodeus #critical role

[asmodeus-cock]

Taking a hint motherfucker

#critical role #exu calamity #cr asmodeus #lord of the nine hells #zerxus ilerez #exu zerxus

[morathor]

So.  Like.  Beneath all the eloquence and gravitas and cleverness lent to him by Brennan's brilliant portrayal.

Asmodeus’ tragic tale, in his own words, where he can give himself the most positive spin he wants (or where he can outright lie), is "I made a million ways for people to hurt each other and then no one liked me."

If you look at things from the perspective of like... a storyteller, or a game designer, there's a lot of sense to what he's saying.  Success rings hollow when failure is impossible, being good is less meaningful if it's the only thing you can be, I get it.  But uh.  For the people of Exandria?  The people who have to live with your decisions?  It's not a story.  It's not a game.  And you cannot be surprised, or upset, when you create misery and the miserable people don't like you.

"My gifts were not received the way I had intended" you intended them to be bad.  And they were.  You wanted to make something bad, and make people live with it, and to have them be grateful to you.  To praise and worship you, for all this bad you brought into their lives.  And that was never a realistic expectation my dude.

Now I do recognize that he did not talk exclusively about the mortals and their reaction.  That he dwelt as much or more on the other gods and how they responded.  But it's kind of the same thing.  Like, later on they were hostile towards him, but at that juncture it seems like they just... weren't on his side like he wanted and expected them to be.  It seems like the response he was looking for was comfort, for validation, for them to tell him it was unfair or, best of all, for them to tell the mean mortals they were being unfair.  To speak on his behalf and explain to all their followers, "Listen Asmodeus is a really great guy and I think his work is really underappreciated."  Which, also, not a realistic expectation.

I dunno it's a similar vibe to shitty people making hurtful jokes and then playing the martyr when people push back against them.  Just, you know, scaled up to the level of divinity.

#critical role exu #exu calamity #cr asmodeus #like i don't doubt that he feels genuinely hurt and betrayed #but like #this is kind of the distinction between 'your feelings are valid' and 'your feelings are justified'

[shellem15]

Asmodeus is so fascinating because there are moments when you feel genuine sympathy and pity for him, but then you remember he's The Worst™. It's like, you can see genuine anger and hurt when he talked about his siblings, and that makes you think that there could be a chance for redemption for him. But then he turns around and uses that against you. It's not that he's incapable of changing (maybe), it's that he doesn't want to. He deliberately spits in the face of kindness and deliberately chooses to be cruel and awful, because he doesn't think he's doing anything wrong (and even if he did he wouldnt care).

#its like #you can SEE a spark of potential in him #the potential to be something better #and he KNOWS it #and still chooses to be cruel #and actively wields that potential against those who try to help him #i want to shake him in a jar #and examine him under a microscope #and then shake him again because hes a bastard #like WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU #WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS #poor zerxus didnt stand a chance #critical role #cr asmodeus #cr meta #asmodeus cr #the lord of the hells #exu calamity

[ozbian]

I love Brennan's Asmodeus so much. So perfectly playing to Zerxus' character. Even if every single word he spoke was the honest truth, he left sooo much room for fuckery

#critical role #zerxus ilerus #exu calamity #cr asmodeus

[curlzformetal]

ASMODEUS IS NOT A POOR LITTLE MEOW MEOW, I REPEAT, ASMODEUS IS NOT A POOR LITTLE MEOW MEOW

#cr spoilers #exu: calamity #exu spoilers #exu: calamity spoilers #cr asmodeus #critical role