#cr vandran

[twinklestarss]

“I sent you a message. It was my voice. You probably heard my voice before. It was me!”-Jester

“It all makes sense now. Pleasure to meet you in person.”-Vandran

“You too!”-Jester

Campaign 2 Episode 141: Fond Farewells

#critical role #critteredit #the mighty nein #fjorester #fjord x jester #jester x fjord #fjord #jester #jester lavorre #jester critical role #critical role jester #fjord critical role #critical role fjord #cr jester #cr fjord #vandran #cr vandran #vandran critical role #campaign 2 #critical role campaign 2 #cr campaign 2 #cr2 #matthew mercer #matt mercer #travis willingham #criticalroleedit

[demenior]

Happy wip Wednesday. Today I offer you an older, unpublished piece I'm still obsessed with. I was trying to write it before the Fjorigins comic was released, but, alas. So it's non-canon.

Fjord and Vandran's first meeting. Sabian is there too.

--

“Stowaways,” Captain Vandran observes. He’s sitting behind a large desk in the captain’s cabin.

Fjord balls his hands into fists to keep them from trembling.

The captain looks to the man standing behind Sabian. The quartermaster, if Fjord heard him right.

“How the fuck did we get stowaways?” the captain has a deep drawl to his voice. He speaks in low tones, which make it sound like he’s not bothered. His sharp gaze suggests otherwise.

“Hell if I know,” the quartermaster shrugs, “I’ve got the men sweeping the brig, but I think it’s just these two brats.”

Vandran nods in agreement, and then focuses his eyes on Fjord and Sabian. He’s got such an intense gaze, that Fjord is certain that this man will kill them. His waxed moustache twitches as his lips curl into a snarl.

“The hell are you boys doing on my ship?”

Sabian’s looking at Fjord. Fjord isn’t sure what to say. He knows the zhelezo in Port Damali, knows what to say as a half-orc and an orphan to appease them into letting him go when he gets into trouble. Knows how to charm the matron at the Asylum into letting him stay just one more night, even though he’s too old to be living on handouts. And now he’s here, out on the open sea, and Fjord doesn’t know what to say.

“You’re Stones?” Vandran guesses. It’s not too hard a guess. Boys wearing ragged pants that are too short at the ankle. Shirts that are threadbare and stained with age. Sabian stole an open vest off a clothesline a few weeks back, but neither of them can afford another shirt or even shoes. They look like what everyone expects of the Asylum wards.

“We’re w-willing to work for passage,” Fjord says. His voice sounds high-pitched, a flighty bird compared to the steady force of the Captains’ drawl.

Captain Vandran sighs loudly, “And what use are two boys to me, Mr. Stone?”

This is the furthest Fjord has ever been from Port Damali and the first thing anyone knows about him is that he’s a fucking Stone.

“That’s not my name!” Fjord snaps.

It draws the captain’s full attention. Fjord squares his shoulders. Stares back.

“That is the name given to wards of the state, am I wrong?” the captain asks.

“It was given to me,” Fjord admits. His voice cracks, “but I don’t want it. My name is Fjord.”

Captain Vandran nods slowly. Looks to Sabian, but Sabian can’t hold his gaze.

“We can work,” Fjord says again. Sabian’s gone mute, so it’s up to Fjord to save them, “whatever needs doing—cleaning, cooking. I’m-- I know how to mend. I can sew. Or—or I learn fast. Whatever you need.”

The captain nods slowly, strokes a hand down his pointed beard. Looks up to the quartermaster again. Fjord turns his head to watch the silent conversation play out. He doesn’t know them well enough to read them. The captain is too stoic to gauge his emotions.

“Do you know what the policy is for stowaways, boy?” Captain Vandran asks.

Fjord thinks carefully, “They—they get reported to the zhelezo? When you dock?”

Vandran taps his fingers on his desk, “That’s what they say, yes. But how often do you think a stowaway actually makes it back to shore?”

Sabian whimpers. Fjord digs his fingernails into his palms. Thinks about all the kids at the Driftwood who caused too much trouble, and were “adopted”: never to be seen again. Thinks about slinking around the docks and staying near crowds so the zhelezo can’t use him as a scapegoat. He’s been one step ahead of a world that doesn’t want him his whole life. Fjord tries to convince himself that this threat is nothing new.

He’s also aware that you can only run for so long. Death only has to catch him once.

“Are you—are you going to kill us?” Fjord asks.

Captain Vandran stands up. Fjord’s heart leaps into his throat. The man makes his way around his desk without breaking eye contact. He stops in front of Fjord. Fjord can’t take his eyes off of him. He feels the same kind of shame that wells up in him when he’d be singled out for games of playing hero, when Fjord was always picked to play the monster the other children would kill. The kind of shame that can still bring tears to his eyes if he lets it. He won’t give anyone the satisfaction of making him cry ever again.

Captain Vandran stares at Fjord. Fjord balls his hands into fists. He’s tall, but he doesn’t have the same kind of muscle as working men. He can’t win this fight, but he’s going to give it his all.

Captain Vandran glances again to his quartermaster. The corner of his mouth curls upwards. One of his teeth is gold-capped.

“It’s a nice day. I’d hate to ruin it with some killing. Wouldn’t you agree, Mr. Dhelir?”

“Aye,” the quartermaster says, “bad luck to do something like that, with the weather as it is.”

“So Mr. Fjord. And Mr. Stone,” Captain Vandran says, “I’m not going to kill you. Not today, at least. While the weather, and my patience, still holds.”

Sabian sighs in relief. It comes out as a whine. Fjord keeps his eyes locked on the captain. There’s going to be a but, he knows it. The captain watches him right back.

“Get them some food. They look like they haven’t eaten in weeks,” Captain Vandran orders, “and then find them some work.”

Captain Vandran leans back, breaking away from Fjord. Fjord keeps his fists tight to keep from shaking. His chest aches like he ran a marathon, and he’s lightheaded with relief.

“Thank you,” Fjord hears himself say. Sabian has the sense to find his tongue again and blurts out a thank you as well. This has to be a trick. There’s no way this isn’t a trap of some sort.

Fjord can’t tell when the hammer is going to drop. But for now, he’s alive.

“Don’t make me regret it,” the captain orders.

#<3 this is a found family story #guy who doesn't know he's met his son figure #guy who doesn't know he's just met his father figure #vandran #cr vandran #fjord stone #critical role #vandran is modelled after flint from black sails #bc we had no visual of him at time of writing #fjord tusktooth

[fjordstan]

INFAMOUS PIRATE VANDRAN known throughout all of darktow as VANDRAN decided to go into hiding as a simple civilian

NAMED VANDRAN

HE DIDNT EVEN CHANGE HIS NAME??

#critical role #cr campaign 2 #cr vandran #orig #mercers home for imaginary friends #i'm still thinking about this

[captainofthetidesbreath]

Fjord 🤝 Ashton highly questionable decisions about power because that power is associated with their parents or surrogate parent whom they never truly knew and because they desperately hope that holding this power will grant a connection to those parents, in whose footsteps they unwisely follow at least for a short time (also pretty rock they violently and magically cough back up)

#Fjord somehow continuing to hold the title of Most Relatable To Other PCs #once again thinking about Fjord being afraid to lose his pact bc he believed it was all he had left connecting him to Vandran #Fjord Stone #Fjord #Ashton Greymoore #Critical Role #Critical Role things #CR spoilers

[utilitycaster]

I could talk about Steel forever bc I love her and she's fascinating and complex but while all those thoughts about what she means within the worldbuilding and the story and to Suvi and during the children's adventure and within the Empire are important I really do think in the end I'm like. some of you just want all parents to be evil, and not just evil, but evil in a very easily written-off way that requires no thought or understanding of why they might be that way [which does not mean their behavior is justified, simply understandable] and I think that is very boring and dumb of you.

#also true of the gentleman who is like. mechanically evil but as a parent...neutral? #in that he had literally no idea and then responded by freaking out but also being like. jester. i did nothing. you should not care about m #Or like. think about how people JUMPED to vandran and dancer are abusive instead of just. they're messy people in over their heads #it's also fascinating that the parents i see getting weird passes are the two flat out worst ones onscreen (thoreau and liliana) #cr tag #wbn tag

[breathalyzerfail]

Can’t wait for the Birdcage shenanigans from the Fjorester wedding special.

Jester’s mob boss dad and courtesan mom have to be introduced to Fjord’s two dads — Vandran the marooned sea captain and Uk’otoa (Uk’otoa…) the angry sea serpent demigod.

(Yes, Uk’otoa ((Uk’otoa…)) is played by Nathan Lane in this scenario.)

#critical role #cr spoilers #mighty nein #jester lavorre #fjord tusktooth #fjorester #the gentleman #marion lavorre #vandran #uk’otoa (^ uk’otoa) #the birdcage (1996)

[kerosene-in-a-blender]

One really funny aspect of Relvin/Vandran as a ship is that it results in Imogen "What have the gods ever done for me" Temult acquiring a (kinda) stepbrother who is a paladin

#and her new sister-in-law is a cleric! #critical role #cr3 #relvin temult #vandran #imogen temult #fjord #as he's there by implication #relvin temult x vandran #relvin/vandran #cr seahorse

[biblicallyaccuratesandworm]

Fjord: Damn. I had no idea Vandran was linked to Uk’otoa in any way, that’s crazy... Meanwhile, the Tide’s Breath’s figurehead:

#Critical Role #cr spoilers #Campaign 2 #Fjord Stone #Mighty Nein Origins #Vandran

[wind-and-cloud]

Vandran : my ship is named the Tide's Breath

me, dyslexic : The Biscuit

#critical role #vandran cr #fjord cr #mighty nein origins #mighty nein #the tide's breath #critrole #image description in alt

[undead-knick-knack]

Two tired dads vacationing at Rumblecusp drinking Ruby of the Sea cocktails. Vandran has an in with one of the owners so he's able to treat his bf 😊

#vandran also loaned relvin his copy of tusk love because it's great poolside reading <3 #critical role #cr3 #cr c3 #critrole #critrole memes #relvin temult #vandran #captain cowboy #cr seahorse #those are my ship names for them until further notice #relvin x vandran #vandran x relvin #cr memes #cr shitpost #courtesy of me #crit role #critrole meme #things are popping off with this crackship and i for one am very excited #relvin deserves love

[pocketgalaxies]

"do you think, if we find vandran, you'll stop talking like him?" WHOA

#W H O A #2h43m c2e43 #text #critical role #cr2 #cr lb #jester lavorre #fjord cr #ship: fjorester #vandran cr

[revvethasmythh]

A late WIP Wednesday to make up for the fact that I thought today might be Work FINISHED Wednesday, but instead is not:

Relvin shrugged. “Don’t know. Wasn’t there. She came raring through afterward with some strange woman in tow and then off they went. Last I saw of her until a couple of weeks ago.” “This is your daughter, you said?” “Yep,” Relvin confirmed. “And she just left?” “Sure did.” “How long ago was that?” “Two years, give or take.” Vandran let out a low whistle. “What did you do?” Relvin sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. “Not enough of the right thing, obviously. Maybe not enough of anything. Don’t even know what the right thing was, to be honest. Just know I kept missing it.” “Ah, well,” Vandran said, not unkindly. “You know, I got a boy of my own. Not by blood, but close enough to count. I look back on a lot of things and all I see are the mistakes, too.” Relvin looked at him dryly. “Did your boy ever leave without a word for two years?” “No,” Vandran admitted. “Right,” Relvin said. “I might’ve left him, though,” Vandran continued. “For a time. After our ship sank, I came ashore on some island and didn’t bother to get off of it. Didn’t figure much of anyone could have survived what happened. Until I found out he did.” “Well, that’s not your fault,” Relvin said. “Didn’t say it was,” Vandran said pointedly. “Doesn’t mean I don’t think about it. He did pretty well for himself, though. Better, maybe, than he did with me. Put a whole life together, friends, family, a girl to love. I couldn’t have given him that.” Relvin blew out a deep breath, balancing his elbows on his knees and placing his head in his hands. “Yeah,” he said, with a whole world of understanding.

#like this piece is actually really easy to write EXCEPT that it's very long somehow #so I keep writing it in weird chunks instead of all at once like I'd prefer #anyway I'm ACTIVELY self-conscious about my ability to write Vandran (which I don't feel very often) #but a girl's gotta make an attempt I guess #relvin/vandran #it ain't much but it's honest work and all that #cr wips

[demenior]

working on some Fjord backstory stuff that I’m still trying to finish before the Fjord origins comic drops and, well, here’s some street-urchin teenaged Fjord during his first night(s) on the Tide’s Breath, ft a Captain “I’ve only just recently decided not to be totally evil” Vandran:

Fjord pokes his head above deck and squints to orient himself. He’s pretty sure he’s not supposed to wander, and he doesn’t know the Captain’s standards for punishment yet. Best not to get caught.

It’s dark. There are a few lanterns lit, throwing off a faint enough glow to make out the limits of the deck. Fjord has heard the phrase ‘black as night’ before, and only now does he understand what it truly means. The masts disappear into the dark sky, even the stern and bow of the Tide’s Breath are lost to darkness. It’s like they’ve been swallowed by a void that’s only held at bay by the tiny spots of flame in the lanterns. 

Something like a lump, settles in Fjord’s throat. He’s been made to feel small and insignificant his entire life. This is the first time he’s wondrously small because the world is so vast. 

He wants to know what lays beyond the light. What’s out there, in the dark?

Boots come to a stop beside him. Fjord drags his eyes away from the creeping void, up into Captain Vandran’s face. 

“Shouldn’t you be sleeping?” the captain drawls. He’s got a hand resting on the pommel of his sword.

Fjord debates wordlessly slinking back to his hammock. Eyes that sword again. It’s not like Port Damali, where he can lay low to avoid attention. On a ship there’s nowhere to run. 

“I thought we were going to sink,” Fjord admits. His voice is as small as he feels. Not for the first time his face flushes in shame. 

Captain Vandran frowns at him. He seems like the kind of man who frowns a lot, with how natural the look sits on his face. It’s used to this kind of expression. 

“It’s a calm night,” Captain Vandran finally says, “we’re due for good weather this trip. Don’t you worry, son.” 

Fjord moves slowly, crawling up onto the deck. If you stood still at the Driftwood, especially if someone’s eyes were on you, then you became a target. He’s aware of how easily Vandran could kick him in the face, and he wants to change that. 

“How can you tell?” Fjord asks. 

“You spend long enough at sea, you learn to read the signs,” Vandran explains, “you’re from the port, you should know.” 

“Well I don’t,” Fjord snaps. Realizes his mistake. Bites his tongue. It’s too late. 

Fjord stammers out an excuse, “They don’t like it when you can read. If you can read, you can learn things. And if you can learn, then you have info you can sell.” 

Vandran stays quiet after Fjord finishes talking. Should Fjord have admitted to being illiterate? It might decrease Fjord’s potential in Vandran’s eyes, and change the man’s mind about letting him and Sabian stay on. 

“Words are important, but I was talking about the weather. Anyone can read that,” Vandran says. Fjord flinches. He revealed too much. He always talks too much. 

“Sorry,” Fjord mumbles.

“A sailor should know the difference between a good night and a coming storm,” Vandran says, and gestures for Fjord to follow him, “you feel that warm air? It’s good to have a warm night. If you notice that it gets cold real fast, well, then you’re in for some rough weather.”

Vandran takes Fjord to the edge of the deck, and out of the path of the night watch. Fjord holds out a hand like he’s catching the air in his palm. Warm is good? A shift is bad? That seems easy enough. 

The waves roll against the ship below. If he squints he can see the way the light glints off of the surface of the water. It’s as dark as the night sky, and maybe more mysterious. Seeing the gentle roll of the waves, compared to the noises he was hearing down below deck, Fjord feels foolish for thinking they were in danger. 

He can’t imagine how scary it would be to sail in truly dangerous weather.

#this is a father-son bonding moment but neither of them know it #i come from the opinion that fjord and sabian started off as stowaways #and that fjords spunk charmed vandran (though vandran didnt know what the emotion was) #also obvi here are a few other opinions abt fjords upbringing in this bit #i think fjord learned to read under vandran #technically was taught at the orphanage but circumstances made him give up trying #mostly bc he just kept getting picked on and singled out for pronouncing things wrong #and so that shame made him give up as a kind of rebellion and the driftwood didn't care enough to follow up w that! #anyways.... yeah im having emotions about them #fjord tusktooth #cr vandran #vandran cr #wip #critical role

[sparring-spirals]

"You can't talk to [Message/Sending] people you don't know, can you? It has to be people you've met." *immediate flashbacks to Jester messaging various individuals who suddenly heard an unknown cheerful tiefling voice in their head and consequently would never know peace again* You know, I don't think so.

#A tortured Yeza being confused by Jester and Vandran getting commentary on Tusk Love says otherwise #critical role #c2e49 #shitpost #cr liveblogging #ashton

[captainofthetidesbreath]

thinking again about how Vandran's pact with Uk'otoa ended at the same time that Fjord's began, how they both were armed with the Sword of Fathoms, how easy it is to frame the pact and its boon as conceptually and emotionally passed from one to the other, how it is like an unwitting inheritance from someone like a father to someone like a son, how Fjord mimicked Vandran's voice and bearing for the entire time (but no longer than) he had this pact that forms a continuity between the two of them, how much Vandran wanted to guide Fjord away from his path and away from his mistakes

#Vandran and Fjord have an insane relationship for two people who are in the same place for like 6 minutes out of 141 episodes #It's just.... their relationship is so weighty bc of all the structures like this that allow Fjord to engage with it in Vandran's absence #Critical Role things #I'll throw this into the tags sure lmao bc I miss them #Critical Role #Fjord CR #Fjord Stone #Fjord #Vandran #I regret not more consistently tagging Vandran tbh

[everypigeondeserveslove]

Feel free to reblog with better options

#critical role #cr c3 #bell's hells #bells hells #relvin temult #vandran #cr2 #relvin x Vandran #Relvin Temult x Vandran #ship names