#it's the same with laudna/ashton tbh

[revvethasmythh]

Besides the comedy and the bit of it all, what I really like about Chetney and Fearne is that Chetney is fully willing to call Fearne's bullshit. not in an unkind way, but in a very grounding way. like I think what Fearne really needs is someone who can look at her and say, "I'm not buying what you're selling. Your weirdness won't distract me. What are you really saying, what does it really mean, and what are you really feeling right now?"

#my new favorite relationship type: the 'cut the bullshit' type #it's the same with laudna/ashton tbh #''I like how weird you are but I also like it when you're being real so be real right now'' #critical role #bells hells #callopea #fearniture #it's about having the willingness and putting in the work to see behind someone's carefully crafted mask

[utilitycaster]

Fascinated by Ashton choosing to introduce themself as "Ashton of the Hishari" but also saying they wanted to mourn something they didn't know they'd lost. I mean, it makes as much sense as anything - it's not like Greymoore holds any meaning for him, probably much less so now that he does not think of himself as one of the Nobodies any more, but rather one of Bells Hells. It is an interesting choice though to claim Hishari. They are the ones who gave them that primordial essence that they are trying to tap into; but they also did this to a child who could not possibly have been able to agree to this with a full understanding of what would happen (if, to be fair, it was deliberate and not a complete accident, but that doesn't paint them in a terribly great light either).

It fits very well with what Jirana tells him though: good things were gained, good things come out of the bad, and it's more important to focus on what he has than what he lost. But I wonder what the more blunt (and possibly more aware of the situation) Evontra'vir is going to say.

(Evontra'vir being a Gau Drashari is also a really interesting twist because the Gau Drashari of Domunas were very specifically focused on keeping the titans sealed. What exactly did Efterin get? Was it actually a blessing of Evontra'vir, or was it a relic from the Shattered Teeth he claimed was that but absolutely wasn't? How did the Gau Drashari - the original ones - feel about sending the Primordials across the planes, since it was the only option but their role had been to guard what was sealed, not to destroy or eliminate it?)

#taliesin is always good at names tbh...god the fucking letter signed Percival of Vox Machina. #i have SO many lore questions #and also. ngl. i think everyone should get Tree Time. like. ashton and fcg but like. laudna and orym and imogen too. #chet and fearne don't have the same kind of grief at least not to our knowledge but. idk. i say do it anyway #critical role #critical role spoilers #ashton greymoore

[its-your-mind]

Tbh I??? Really love these Bell’s Hells Company Retreat Activities???? Bc like. It’s not like any of them have been overly cagey this whole time, or actively hiding big secrets from each other. (someone at some point mentioned how BUCKwild it would have been to watch the M9 try to play What The Fuck Is Up With That within the first ten episodes of c2, with all the shit all of them were hiding and how much their early relationships were based on a mutual understanding that no one would expect each other to bring up the past unless it became a danger - the only one who ever poked that particular bear was Beau with Caleb at the start when she traded access to the Archive for the reason why Caleb gets fucked up by fire, and that private conversation shaped their relationship for the rest of the campaign BUT I digress.)

Nothing anyone confessed during the Honesty exercise was… a surprise. The only one who hadn’t shared the entirety of his past (that he remembered) was Chetney, and his was never the past that felt like a threat - that revelation was more along the lines of FCG’s type of “tell me about your family trauma so I can fix you” line of questioning.

The truths the Hells offered up to each other… they were significant (Fearne, I was disappointed in you for being afraid of your power), and scary (deep down, both Delilah and I kind of want the shard), and hard to say out loud (even on the nights I bunk up with one of you, I feel so lonely), but critically, so little of it was surprising. No one was sharing anything earth-shattering about their pasts or previously unknown plans for future betrayal.

And during the Communication exercise - none of them - Chetney, Imogen, Ashton, or Orym - doubted that their directors were leading them the wrong way. They listened, and paid attention to instructions, and didn’t try their own path because they felt like they knew better.

And then during Trust! The part that should have been the hardest!! All of them were obviously distrustful of each other, shooting around stressed looks, sending familiars to dive-bomb to check for flesh, but like… none of them actually turned on each other. None of them ganged up, or broke off, or stood in opposition - they were wary of each other, and they got the task done.

So… it didn’t really lead to any huge shifts in the dynamic. But that was never really what they needed! The Hells have trusted each other since the beginning, and even when they’re actively having to fight each other, it’s always with a desperation born from a place of concern. They really do care for and love each other. I don’t think any of them, if they sat down to think about it, truly believed that one of them was going to betray the others.

But they haven’t had time to sit and think about it. They have been actively fighting the literal end of the world since like… ep 45 (first irl Ludinus sighting/convo). The apocalypse happened. Has been happening. For thirty episodes now. They spent a good chunk of that time apart from each other, and then the rest of it desperately reaching out to anyone with more power than themselves to beg for their help.

So yeah! It’s not a big surprise that they’re all bottling up a lot of their own shit right now! There aren’t that many personal issues that feel like they deserve more attention than the literal end of the world.

It was inevitable something was going to give. And since Ashton’s shit was up next for dissection because they had a past that brushed up against the Primordials? Of course they were the one whose internal lockdown broke first. And of course when it did, it physically shattered Ashton, too, right along those same fault lines where Milo put them back together the first time. It’s so good that they had friends who were there, past and present, to make sure none of the pieces got lost. To put them back together.

We watched Laudna break down right after, specifically because she was back home, in this place where Delilah had first tortured and killed her, where she had lived as a wraith haunting a castle. Delilah had been slowly picking the lock on the cage the Hells had forced her into, and Ashton’s “betrayal” was the last tumbler Delilah needed to snap into place to break the lock in Laudna’s mind. And her mind shattered, fragmented in the same way it had been after she was first brought back as Delilah’s vessel. How beautiful that it was Laudna’s love of children and her desire to make Ashton a gift (meant to be part insult, “because you’re a child,” and declaration of her care for him, “I like children.”)

And Fearne… Fearne almost broke down after them. Slamming the hammer down next to Ashton’s head over and over and over, screaming at him, wandering away through the city, sleeping alone in the woods… She saw the cliff’s edge coming. That’s why she asked them if they could stop at her Nana’s first.

Because she needed it. And the rest of the Hells say, “Why? Do you think Nana Morri can help us in this?” And Fearne says, “Well, I don’t know, but…” And Imogen says, “Do you need it for you?” And Fearne says, in a small and shattered voice, “…yes.”

And that’s the end of the discussion.

They go home, to a place where they are safe and have time, for the first time since Ruidus was locked in place.

And so they have time to be Honest - and they are. Fearne likes to watch them all and play with their hair while they sleep. Orym has thought through how he would neutralize them if he absolutely had to. Ashton thinks it would be better for him to be dead than for Fearne to be hurt. Imogen is scared to face her mom. Laudna dreams of leaving this behind. FCG is jealous of the people around him with a heart, because they have possibilities he doesn’t. Chetney hasn’t settled down once in 400 years because he’s scared he’s cursed to drive away any family he has.

Behind all of this - I want to know everything about you. I need to make sure you don’t hurt each other. I would sacrifice myself to keep you from pain. I don’t want to choose between my blood and this family we’ve built. I want you all to be safe. I want you to pursue happiness. I don’t want to lose you.

And then, Communication - follow along this path. Listen to my voice. Keep calm, keep quiet. Stay the course. I will keep you safe. Keep walking, keep walking, and… you’re there, honey.

And finally, Trust. Two of them are going to be replaced by fae beings bent on preventing them from completing their mission, and they have to complete this task without letting the infiltrators stop them. Okay. Let’s all stick together. Keep eyes on each other. Wait for the doppelgängers to give themselves away somehow. Do you remember these small, banal details about our mutual history? There’s a possibility that action you took was malicious, but I know you well enough to know that might have been a mistake you made on your own. Here, I’ll walk into traps to show that I’m not going to stop you. I’ll get out of your way and take out the threats. I’ll be eyes in the sky and send my familiar to poke you to test if you feel like you should. But nothing you’re doing makes me see you as a real threat - just the possibility of one. I trust you. I trust in you. I trust myself to know enough about you to identify if you’re doing something differently than normal.

And the result of those exercises? No new information, but maybe some things that we all had lost track of amongst the chaos. I am not shocked by your Honesty. I know deep down that I can rely on your Communication. I do Trust you. I know you. I care for you. I know you care for me, too. Even when I have doubts, even when you fuck up, even when things break bad and you make the wrong call…

We are a team for a reason, and no matter what we said in the beginning, it is not just out of necessity or convenience. Are we a bunch of fucked up, broken people? Absolutely. Are we going to continue to fuck up? Probably. Does that change how we feel about each other? No. Never. As long as you’ll have me, I’ll be here, fighting alongside you. Helping you up when you stumble. Offering a shoulder when you need to cry. Standing over you to protect you if you fall. Laughing with you in good times, kicking ass for you in bad. This is our family, damn it. It is strange, and broken, but it is ours, and it is good.

#critical role #bells hells #c3e80 #cr3 #c3 #this got away from me a bit maybe??? but fuck!! I was feeling so many damn emotions this episode!!! this is obvs a v watsonian take #I also wanted to add the doyalist take that the players needed some role play that was like… thematically appropriate (shit be fucked) #but without world-altering stakes #it’s been a stressful time!! #I am glad that they were having fun with the dnd mini games matt made for them #but anyway the post got too fuckin long so there it is in the tags #fuck I love this story

[densitywell]

when considering Ashton's reasoning about Imogen continuing to give in to Predathos, that her being lost is inevitable and that it would be better if it happened now as opposed to later, it feels very important to remember what they said to Laudna when they first landed in Issylra, when she was terrified Imogen had become a moon-worshiping zombie in their separation: If she got blasted into space, we'll go to space. If she got vaporized, it's not like we didn't fucking find you. There is nothing else until this is dealt with. This is what we do, is we bring everybody back. Not only is nobody getting left behind very much Ashton's thing, but he specifically does not see Imogen being lost to Predathos as her being lost for good. (and tbh I agree, given how heavily the story since the start of the campaign has been leaning on her to confront this.) And even if it did, they'd still go through hell trying to get her back.

But it also makes me think of what Imogen told Ashton, after the shard; maybe this was destiny, like they thought it was. Maybe what they needed was to shatter into pieces and come back together. That same idea, of controlled burning, needing to confront something to overcome it, fuck yeah, jump into that lava and find yourself, to hurt is to heal - Ashton, we watched you break into a thousand tiny pieces. If she got vaporized, it's not like we didn't fucking bring you back.

#critical role #imogen temult #ashton greymoore #cr spoilers #this is not to say they're CORRECT about any of this btw. but i saw Takes acting like Ashton said what he said #with the belief that this would be the end of Imogen as we know her and that its inevitable she be unhappy. and like. #classic 'Ashton is deeply pessimistic and sucks bad but also you're missing something pretty fundamental abt the character' moments. #and i had already been thinking of the post shardgate moment in this context so. #crposting #cr #also i will just run back in and add that you can't just attribute the same perspective on this to ashton and orym even if they agreed #orym would be crushed if they lost imogen. but if it meant they defeated the vanguard and predathos it would be a worthwhile sacrifice #meanwhile ashton would tell the gods to go fuck themselves to their faces if the choice was between saving them and saving imogen #or any of the hells #you're so special

[ratinayellowbandana]

Imodna prompts:

1. Bells Hells are hanging out on a night off, maybe at the casino in Yios, and Imogen keeps distracting Laudna by whispering sweet nothings into her head.

2. Laudna surprises Imogen with a ring since Imogen already got her one and she wants them both to have one.

hi!! thank you very much for sending this in. you were the first one and I honestly wasn't expecting any, so I'm very grateful. I picked the first prompt and had a lot of fun. tbh i was gonna keep these prompts short and sweet and this one uh. got a little longer than i planned. hope you like it!

length 1.2k

some prompt lists if you're so inclined || my ao3

~~~

Imogen reclines on a plush green stool at the edge of the room. The casino is busy tonight. The locals are here, certainly, buttons loosened after a long day’s work, sipping pints and grumbling about shifts over their card game. The skyship docks are full of out-of-towners just like themselves. They’ve unwittingly found themselves among Yios’s elite patrons, though it seems the most important have been herded off being a curtain. Even owning a skyship isn’t enough to warrant high status, apparently. She scoffs, the farm girl in her thinking fleetingly of sleeping in the hayloft and growing her own food. It’s strange how things have changed. 

Some things are still the same. The best things, she thinks, a small knot twisting in her stomach.

Laudna is glowing. With Pâté on her shoulder, she flits from table to table with a broad smile, leaning over patrons to get a better look at each game. Some startle when the neck that extends just a bit too far enters their periphery, but Laudna just grins, even as their eyes go wide when Pâté cocks his little head and his beak falls open. Imogen just chuckles from her position across the room. 

Imogen is perfectly content to watch. Ashton and F.C.G. have found their way to a table playing some sort of card game. The dealer huffs as F.C.G. indecisively flips his Changebringer coin for the third time this turn. Imogen catches a surface thought–something about this being the slowest round he’s ever played, wishing they’d move faster. More mistakes that way, better advantage.  

Orym corrals Fearne away from a group of very drunk half-elves, but already, Imogen can spot a new trinket or two hanging from the faun’s belts that she could swear weren’t there before. A…pocketwatch? and something else shiny Imogen can’t make out from here. She assumes there’s a fair bit more hidden in Fearne’s fur. 

…Imogen? Familiar whispers tap at Imogen’s mind, and she looks back. Laudna peers at her quizzically. It seems she’s linked up with Chetney at a game of dice. Pâté rolls for her. A pretty, exhilarated blush colors her pale cheeks a mottled purple. Are you alright?

Imogen’s lips split into an easy grin. Right as rain. Havin’ fun?

She receives a hum in response. It’s wonderful here, isn’t it?

You’re wonderful, Imogen replies. 

Laudna ducks her head shyly, glances down at Pâté, who’s lifting a dice with both tiny hands. She clucks her tongue at him, and he lets it roll. Chetney whoops and claps her on the back, nearly sending her toppling onto the table. She rights herself and looks back at Imogen with a shrug that almost dislocates a shoulder. 

I haven’t the faintest clue how to play this game. 

Seems like you’re doin’ just fine. 

“Another round!” someone shouts, and Imogen winces. It does not go unnoticed. 

Imogen?

Just surprised me, is all. She waves it off. You playin’ again?

Seems like it. Chetney has already put in for both of them out of Laudna’s winnings from the last game. Pâté seems to be enjoying himself. It’s good for him to let loose every now and then, hm?

For you, too. Imogen adds. Relaxed looks good on you.  

Spindly fingers begin to run through Laudna’s dark hair, where it’s fallen loose from her bun. She looks away again, occupying herself with whatever Chetney is muttering about strategy. It’s a game of luck. Imogen isn’t quite sure how much strategy could possibly be involved, but Laudna seems intently focused. She leans in, back hunching to reveal the vertebrae through her blouse. She continues tugging at her hair. 

Imogen silently sends a mage hand to pull it behind her ear and settle Launda’s twitching hands. Laudna turns with narrowed eyes.

Was that you, darling?

No, Imogen lies. 

Laudna rolls her eyes as Chetney demands her concentration. He’s gesturing, now, in a manner that can only suggest some centuries-old strategy for lucky rolling. Pâté does not seem to get it.  

It’s charming, watching Laudna warm under the heat of Imogen’s affections. The way color pools beneath her skin, and she can’t quite make eye contact. She isn’t used to this sort of attention, Imogen knows, even after their years spent together, and that’s just fine. It simply means Imogen will continue until each moment no longer holds the weight of self-hatred, however long it takes. It’s certainly not a burden, not when Imogen also gets to bask in the warmth that settles low in her chest when Laudna bites her lip and quietly, quietly asks if Imogen really thinks so?

She always does. 

Laudna has removed the rock chisel from her hair and nimbly twists it between her fingers. 

Takin’ ‘lettin’ your hair down’ literally, are we? Looks real pretty. 

It tumbles down Laudna’s back in a wave that Imogen itches to comb through. An image of the two of them, Laudna sat between Imogen’s legs, flashes through her mind. Countless nights of brushing and braiding by candlelight. 

Are you bored, Imogen? It’s asked good-naturedly, a bit flustered, with the subtlest hint of a tease. She’s deflecting. 

Could never be bored ‘round you. 

Imogen, Laudna admonishes, but it’s half-hearted. You’re distracting me.

Me? No. Besides, Pâté’s the one playin’. 

It’s true. Chetney has given up explaining whatever it was to Laudna and has focused his attention on Pâté, who is somehow managing to appear confused despite a distinct lack of facial features. 

I meant it, though, Imogen continues, determined, y’look real lovely. 

Laudna doesn’t respond but adjusts her posture to stand a bit straighter. She snatches the die from where they’ve fallen after Chetney’s attempt that left him swearing under his breath. Imogen’s mage hand flicks him behind the ear, and he whirls, searching for the culprit. Laudna rolls, making no attempt to mimic his technique. Imogen can hear Chetney’s cursing from her spot, and her suspicions are confirmed when the dwarf running the game passes Laudna a small coin purse. Chetney glares at Laudna’s retreating form as she crosses the room to Imogen.  

Imogen reaches out an arm that Laudna does not take.

“Was that your doing?” Laudna pouts. 

“Was what?” 

“Winning.”

Imogen brings a hand to her chest, aghast. “Darlin’, I would never.” Laudna raises an eyebrow. “I would, maybe, distract Chetney so he stops breathin’ down your neck, though.”

Laudna nods sagely, takes Imogen’s outstretched hand. “My hero.” 

“Anythin’ for you, darlin’.” Imogen brushes a kiss across the back of Laudna’s knuckles and does her best to ignore the fluttering in her chest. Imogen huffs out a laugh, stands. “What’d’ya say we get out of here? Head to bed?”

“Sounds marvelous.” 

Imogen sends a quick message to Orym before they make their exit. She can’t see him, but she receives a harried, Goodnight! in response, which can only mean he’ll be here a while yet before herding the others to a room. 

“Our hero.” Pâté corrects, his rough voice muffled from his hiding place in Laudna’s hair. 

“Yes, alright, our hero,” Laudna amends. 

“There’s enough hero in me for two, I think.”

“There certainly is,” Laudna replies with a knowing smile, “You’re very capable.”

#thank you so much! #this was just for fun so not really edited lol #and im so grateful to the folks who sent in prompts #im gonna keept working on them! #critical role #cr3 #laudna #imogen temult #imodna #imodna fic #my fic #critical role fanfiction

[noxinamillionyears]

Saw some gripes™  about Laudna and Imogen “hiding” their kiss from the BH, and I have some Thoughts. 

They were just reunited. Their whole lives have been pedal-to-the-metal for the past several months, and everyone in BH is reeling. The whole group was split and is just coming together, and they may not know how everyone else is dealing with things right now. Ashton is unpredictable, Fearne is quiet, Orym is hanging on by a thread, Chetney was just attacked in broad daylight, and FCG just said goodbye to their boyfriend. It feels very much like a “read the room” situation. 

Imogen seems to be pretty content with just having it out there. I don’t see her pushing anything at all now that Laudna knows how she feels and will most likely let Laudna set the pace. She let out the one thing she’s been repressing for who knows how long, and now that Laudna’s in the loop, Imogen is good. She doesn’t have to do anything but let Laudna figure out how she wants to move forward. 

The ball feels like it’s Laudna’s court, tbh. Maybe she’s still processing. Maybe she likes having this sort-of secret between them for now. Maybe she’s just waiting until she can talk to Imogen so they can decide what to tell the group together. My money is personally on the last one. But what it does not feel like is that either is ashamed of the other or that either of them regret being closer to one another. 

Laudna reads as being extremely surprised, processing, and a bit unsure of whether she’s good enough for Imogen to me. Which is why, I think, her immediate response to Imogen kissing her was “I’m a bad person” and why, when Imogen assured her that she’s not, Laudna kissed her again. Because Imogen really believes she’s a good person and worthy of love, and Laudna couldn’t help but kiss her again. I hope they have time to have a discussion in Zephrah about how to move forward together, now that they’re on the same page. 

Also, I just want Imogen to be able to finally be able to show her feelings unchecked and for them to be able to be soft with each other without the subtext. 

#laudna x imogen #imodna #southern gothic #dead horse discourse #spoilers

[sparring-spirals]

laudna is projecting so hard onto pate right now. she yelled at him for being too loud, too jovial, made a comment on the ship "he's fine, he's already dead"

i'm worried for her and i need someone to talk to her like asap

There's definitely all the standard part and parcel heartbreak of the Laudna Paté parallels, esp as she tries to navigate the concept of her own freedom and self worth paralleled with Paté. But tbh I also find her behaviour vaguely....encouraging? Watching her interactions with Paté definitely provides some concerning insights into her own self image and like. Hoo Boy. But I kind of enjoy it the same way Laudna being caustic towards Ashton in the early 30s episodes made me sit up in my seat.

Laudna is, generally, polite, if mildly unnerving, and deeply concerned about inconveniencing people. Especially now, wracked with guilt over being a burden and causing issues, the way she's been shrinking back in conversations, curling in on herself, apologizing, being unsure, being quiet.

(And it is. Devastating.)

It also makes her attitude towards Paté that much more noticeable. It comes off as maybe callous, maybe a little demanding, presumptuous, almost. It also speaks to a kind of comfort, I think- familiarity and a confidence in your tie to the other party.

Whether that comfort comes from thinking of him as unimportant- only a puppet, only an animation and extension of dead bones, unowrthy of care, not necessary to worry about, easy to demean (just like her). Or because she is confident in her and Paté- in that he was her oldest friend, still is. That he's seen her at her worst and weakest and stays consistent and will continue to do so, and that she knows where she stands, with him.

Or most likely, both. Maybe some mix of fear of this new unknown coming out as sharpness and condescension. Maybe a horrific mirror, or a familiar presence. Point being: I think her attitude towards Paté remains devastating as all the parallels always did but- there's something heartening about it, too, yknow?

(Anyway, as an eternal fan of Conversations I will say that the Bell's Hells did talk to her a bit! and future convos might take a bit more time, and maybe with Laudna's initiative. We'll see. Get that gal some Extra Support tho, and some hugs perhaps. cmonnn.)

#Many Things about Laudna's current demeanor and presumed mindset make me Sad and Devastated and also invoke MUCH thought like 👀 #but theres a few good things in there #i wasnt able to watch too closely so its possible im missing nuance here but the 'BE SADDER' 'MY FACE IS MADE OF BONE' interaction #made me go more this direction #critical role #c3e39 #laudna #pate de rolo #character meta #spar speaks #ask away! #laudna meta #hm #speculation

[77words]

Prediction since we have no new CR episode today: Orym, Ashton, and Laudna have landed in the Cliffside Mountains in Tal'dorei.

Terrah, which is right there, is the home of the Earth Ashari 👀 and would give an obviously great opportunity to explore Ashton's backstory.

Plus! It could segway into going back to Zephrah since it's on the same continent, because I'm sure Orym will want to to see if the Tempest is alright. (And we really haven't explored his backstory much either, tbh. Besides what he's told the group, we haven't gotten to dig much into his story. )

Also the Crown Keepers were on this continent last we heard (if I remember correctly), so running into them isn't totally impossible, especially if the state of the moon suggests that they're still in current times and haven't time-jumped or anything.

#critical role #cr3 #tal'dorei #ashton greymoore #orym of the air ashari #laudna #the crown keepers #dorian storm #predictions #because I'm missing one (1) halfling #maybe this has already been done #in that case its mostly for me to feel like I cracked the case if it turns out to be true #based on posts mentioning that the split is likely so that we can get more into Ashton and Chetney's backstories #cliffkeep mountains

[the-grey-hunt]

i've been feeling a little put off by the newer orym-laudna-ashton crew episodes, but it's a weird feeling that people in the fandom seem to share re: the whole godly plotline

as someone who is religious (polytheistic; i call it norse heathenry), the way Matt is approaching gods and sprinkling in smaller non-god divine spirits (such as the werewolf one that possessed chetney) is interesting, but i'm mixed on how the players are reacting to it. tbh i think they're just very culturally christian, but i wanna try and work out how i'm actually feeling about it all, though i've seen other, better meta posts on the subject

gonna put this under a cut because it's getting long

i think i'm mostly annoyed that the gods' followers are taken as the same thing as the gods doing a thing? i know in a d&d world these followers are literally getting magical power from their gods, and that certainly has to mean something, but at the same time, humans and other d&d sentient species have free will. that's the whole point of an improv game. the gods don't control their every action, and i would hope that the gods don't take your power away if you aren't a cleric/paladin in the One Approved Way there is to be a cleric or paladin.

i suppose that some of this relies on how matt sets stuff up (the mention of dawnfather *missionairies* really threw me, because that's a *very* christian concept), and partly how the players react. the players, who i assume are largely not very religious irl (idk about sam who's the only one i've heard discuss his religious background), tend to react like "well, that won't really affect me".

hang on, i've had a realization. i realized the main thing my brain is stuck on is we've listened to so, so many people talk about how the gods are bad, whether rural people who want to be left to their own worship or the "release predathos" gang, but we've had very few people who have a thorough, passionate, POSITIVE opinion of the gods. we haven't been presented with the option of the gods being good and helping. THAT'S why it feels weird. the players are ambivalent and only orym seems to remember that ludinus had to murder people to get away with his plan without people disagreeing with him, the guests are largely ambivalent about the gods (even deanna, which is fair), and matt has presented them with a lot of very strongly anti-god people.

it's not that any of these characters are wrong for their opinion. it's not that the gods *have* to be actually good and morally pure. it's that all these characters, NPC and PC, making the choices that seem right for them to make, have skipped over the part where they try to figure out what role the gods actually play in the world, be it the living world, afterlife, or basic function of the planet's biome (this post: X has a great take on that laid out more concisely than i could)

honestly, i think "are the gods good or bad" is reductive at best, but if i were at the table, i'd be asking things like "well, if the dawnfather gets eaten, does the sun go out, because we need that" or "if the raven queen gets eaten will there still be an afterlife"

#critical role #meta #working out my feels before monday when i catch up on the newest episode #i wanna know what matt is trying to set up here #does he have an endgame idea for how the gods are going to be portrayed? #also i wish people were nicer to the dawnfather purely because he made vex his champion back when and vex is my ultimate fave #don't be mean to vex's boy #(among her many other boys lol)

[divinesouldariax]

People I want Fearne to kiss in the order I want her to kiss them:

1. Chetney. Self explanatory.

2. Ashton. I don't even think I ship them romantically but it's funny for a meta reason and I like the character's relationship a lot and I think it would be funny if framed in context of "stealing" a kiss. Or even better, kissing while they’re both rolling sleight of hand to steal from each other. Absolutely unparalleled potential for shenanigans.

3. Opal. My gd, the image of Fearne brushing some hair out of her face to cast Cure Wounds and of snapping a guy's neck in wolf form to get revenge for him almost stealing Opal from her. Lives in my head rent free.

4. Poska. We’ve seen the cheek kiss, but holy shit the chemistry that they had in the two episodes they interact was absolutely fucking on fire and if Fearne hadn’t found and gotten attached to the Crown Keepers first, I feel like she would have joined the Nameless Ones and become Poska’s right hand + lover without hesitation.

5. Imogen and Laudna at the same time. If I had to pick one above the other, Laudna. But like, bitchy witches trio FTW.

6. Pretty the Cook. Come on Pretty, just give her another chance!

7. Bertrand (retroactively). Would have made him feel so good about himself for the 1-3 days before he died, and Fearne consistently flirts with older guys and I never quite feel like she’s joking.

8. Orym. Tbh I think Orym is probably mostly/entirely attracted to men, but Fearne is an exception to so many things. Also she is so tall and he is so small and it would be cute to see how they navigate that. (I didnt say the same for Chetney bc I'm pretty sure he will just climb her.)

9. Dorian. Fearne is so sad abt losing him and she deserves to give him a little smooch.

10. Eshteross. Zero interest in an actual romance. I just want Fearne to absentmindedly give him a kiss before walking away at one point like the "okay love you bye!", for the visual of Eshteross standing there in shock for 2-5 business days while he tries to process yet another fucking wild thing that this strange Fey woman has done to him. 

11. Captain Xandis. They’re hot and they have horns. Fearne’s hot and she has horns. I just think they should make out a little.

(Honorary mention because my friend suggested it and I can’t get the image out of my mind: 12. Pate. I said “Pate is in a happy relationship with Sashimi” and my friend replied “Pate has four paws”.)

#critical role #fearne calloway #critical role campaign 3 #bell's hells #critical role fearne #i'm not even joking abt any of these i'd be delighted if any or all of them happened in game #but additionally i will not be sad if none of them do #file this under thoughts i had and spent too long on writing out lmao #other honorary mentions: keyleth. dariax for the sheer chaos. #marwa but just on the forehead #orym's mom (dont worry abt it)

[romeoandjulietyouwish]

okay so im thinking about your 🏠 imodna au and i feel like they couldn’t meet ALL the bells hells as roommates at once (because that’d be a lot of roommates to get at once lol) so if you don’t mind here’s some other ways they could meet people i’d love to hear your thoughts on because your writing mind is genius

i feel like chet does actually have to be the roommate (or the first, i do agree they all end up moving in eventually) but like. he sees the ad for another roommate and he answers it. and they end up with this curmudgeonly old guy. and i feel like imogen especially keeps telling laudna she’s gonna kick him out (on days when chet is being especially frustrating) and laudna is just like, darling. first of all no you won’t, but second of all, what if he left and just died of old age? how would you feel then? and so imogen puts up with him (until she finally realizes that ofc she does like him, beneath it all)

imogen and laudna have great minds for design and what they want to do. what they don’t have? strength! so that’s where ashton comes in for sure. he’s not technically a construction worker, sure, but they’ll take any job you offer them and he’s a whole lot cheaper too (and shit they’re good at it? and actually beneath their tough demeanor they’re really cool and nice too)

i feel like FCG always has to come along with ashton so i guess they’re just a friend who maybe just tags along one day? maybe ashton mentions that they think FCG would like their new clients?

imogen is at a flea market one day (with laudna of course, laudna keeps her from getting too anxious in crowds) to get barter for some cheap decor and she sees fearne steal something. she wouldn’t care except she was just about to buy it—she chases fearne down and tries to convince fearne to give it to her or she’ll turn fearne in (once fearne realizes that imogen is not really a do-gooder/snitch type and in fact just really wants whatever she just stole, fearne instantly adores her. she does not give imogen the item, but helps her look around the flea market and get good deals on similar things (and sometimes steals things for imogen although imogen doesn’t encourage this))

maybe when they have a second bedroom open, orym is the next to take it? it’s been very interesting watching cr3 versus the fanon version of him because im so used to fanon that im like “oh yeah he moves into town all sad and lonely because of will’s death (and/or not being with Dorian anymore)” but im behind in cr3 and im at the point where they’re talking about the fact he’s actually the most normal/stable of them all and tbh that’s true (although he obviously is hiding all his shit) but for those reasons idk what fits for a good way to get orym into this au

so yeah some of these ideas make more sense than others in my brain so I’d love to hear your thoughts

I hope it’s okay that I decided to tweak your idea, im just avoiding homework and really love all your aus but am especially excited about this new one so my brain was like “ahh them all becoming roommates at once would be awesome but also a little chaotic, how could they all slowly be incorporated to the au over time?”

It's absolutely okay!

I actually think that Chetney is someone they hire to help them, ya know because he's good at working with wood and there's a shit ton of waterlogged floorboard in the house. And over time, you're so right, the two of them do grow begrudgingly fond of him to the point that when construction is almost over, they offer him the extra attic room.

Oh my god I love the idea of Ashton being a construction worker and FCG being their best friend that just goes everywhere that they do (I love the idea of modern au FCG being in a wheelchair and maybe Ashton learned construction and shit to help build ramps and lifts for them). And the same thing happens, construction is almost done and Imogen offers the two of them a room.

Orym is probably the only one who responds to the roommate ad. He doesn't know much about construction, but he needs a cheap place to live. And he's the connection between the witches and Fearne, when they find out that Orym and Fearne are friends, she moves in too. So everyone but Chetney is doubled up in rooms.

#whitestone house au #bells hells #critical role #lis makes hcs

[revvethasmythh]

1 and 3 for each campaign?

1. OTP?/3. NoTP?

Campaign 1: Pike/Scanlan was honestly the ship I was most invested in during C1, which makes a lot of sense considering my overall taste in ships. I wouldn't say I had any NoTPs for C1, just some that I was less interested in--probably Vax/Keyleth was the ship I was the least into, it just didn't grab me a ton. Respect to the ship, and I don't dislike it, but it was my least favorite of the campaign.

Campaign 2: OTP for this one feels pretty obvious. Widobrave, easily. That was my shit, though, admittedly, I didn't start shipping it until after they released their second playlists (post-episode 100). Heart In A Cage did a number on me, I was sitting there like, "Caleb and Veth.....as a ship... you can DO that??" Reader, you absolutely CAN do that. And thus I have. If we're only counting canon ships, then Fjorester, which I was also super invested in the entire length of the campaign.

This might be the only campaign I actually have NoTPs for. Molly/Caleb is the first that comes to mind, that's just a big nope for me. not touching that with a ten foot pole, though this is likely because Molly is my least favorite character in any campaign. He did not do it for me. Well, perhaps he did too much. Either way, not into it. I also have an instinct to put Beau/Jester here, but tbh it's not the ship itself I dislike necessarily, it's the memory of how poorly behaved the fans were. Absolutely hateful shit, never could look at the ship the same way again. Kind of similar with Caleb/Jester. I respect that ship for what the relationship meant to Caleb, but also. God, some of the fans.

Campaign 3: This one is interesting. I don't know if I have an OTP or a NoTP for this. C3 has been a much more plot-oriented story and I think that shows in the shipping scene for it (which is not a bad thing! It's just a thing). So there's ships that I like, and ones that I dislike, but not OTPs or NoTPS per se.

Obviously I think Ashton/Laudna has amazing chemistry, and I still think that. Definitely what I had been most invested in for the campaign. Orym/Dorian is a banger, and Liam is doing a great job keeping the spark alive despite Dorian's absence. Fearne/Imogen has great chemistry and I do also think Fearne/Ashton has a lot of promise, too. OH and of course Fearne/Chetney and/or Fearne/Chetney/Ashton. Fantastic vibes with either of those dynamics.

Things that aren't so much my bag here are Laudna/Imogen (the chemistry and interest just isn't there for me) and Ashton/Orym, which I just don't get at all. Really, a theme with me is that I don't get the Tal/Liam thing. Not for me.

ask me a question!

#ask games #fandom ask game #anon #asks

[captainsspnanon]

C3E65 reaction

Imogen Laudna stuff in it's own separate untagged post. Don't search it out if you love the pairing, I'm not here for drama.

FUCKING fanTASTIC episode!!!! ALL of it!

Looking at the timeline for this, as I finished watching late last night but immediately went to bed rather than typing up my reaction, as I always then spent like, 2 or 3 hours on tumblr after no matter how much I say I'm just going to make my reaction then go to sleep.

We got some solid conversation between the groups, and Laudna's freakout was 100% justified. As much as team wildemount did have their own struggles (and they DID!), it was a much more comforting trip than team issylra, especially with all the downtime they got. (had team issylra gotten those five days of wibbly timeline, i'm not sure if it would have been downtime, or if it would have been hishari drama or other drama.)

At the start of the episode, both my mom and I were a bit confused as to why Ashton was so chipper. However, when they had their conversation with FCG about trying to do better, not necessarily being okay but not being bad either, finding a purpose, actively engaging in friendship rather than avoiding it for fear of being burnt again, THEN it made sense. It's certainly one of the times where I would have preferred Taliesin to show more of the emotional transition on screen, but that's not how Tal RPs, and I'm used to that. 4 Sided Dives/Talks are always the best to find out what's truly going on with Tal's PCs, which is a sign of how much he has the inner life for them, and also (in my slightly negative opinion) a sign of how much he isn't really showing it outright in main campaign. And I admit my usual annoyance with Ashton asking Milo to make something but not verbalizing it so that the cast can be surprised when Taliesin shows whatever it was off. I didn't mind it to start, and it made sense with a lot of Percy's things to not take up time, but I've since learned that Taliesin will just do this all the time and yeah. I'm over it. However, by the end of the episode we know at least that the immovable rod was put in the hammer, as well as the scatter spell crystals, so at the very least we know a good chunk, so I feel better about it.

No real comments on FCG's emotional state, especially re: FRIDA, as he right now seems to be keeping it pushed down. However, I did appreciate how much he pushed back on other party members in regards to the opinions of the gods. Things did get smoothed over a bit more easily than I was expecting it to, based on the comments from 6sd, but at the same time it makes absolute sense as this party really is the 'smooth things over' party, especially when compared with VM and M9. I don't consider it a bad thing, tbh, even though I love the interparty drama, because it's a different dynamic that's being explored.

As I've already talked about getting spoiled about the imodna kiss, I'll keep this section brief. 1) I adore how they clearly forgot how Matt held his face to do Zhudanna and I love that they both nearly lost it. 2) Marisha flailing whenever getting romanced will never not be funny. 3) I actually hope that when we next get her on 4sd, she can talk more about the fact that she built a PC to be 'unromanceable'. We know that Liam had designed Caleb to not have another romance, and we saw how that fell apart. I wonder what her thought process was behind it and how she feels about it going forwards, as Liam made the choice with Caleb to RP the unrequited, and then take the steps for the requited, whereas Laura took the initiative with this romance. 4) Pour one out for my mom who is mourning the platonic friendship that she felt mirrored very strongly a friendship that she has which she was enjoying seeing portrayed.

OKay, the NON-romance stuff! I'm very excited to see how it plays out with both Imogen and Laudna feeling the need for power from sources that they feel they can't trust. Laudna not even being able to admit that she wants the power from Delilah, this could be a very interesting road to go down. AND LUDINUS YOU FUCK. So excited to see where else he's dropping his propaganda. Is it just Marquet? It's GOT to be around all of Exandria, right???

Moving on to Fearne, Chetney, and Orym - I'm a little disappointed they didn't share more information with Ajit, but it was a good conversation nonetheless. There were a few things that he said which made me feel as if Matt was leaving a few options open for if the party wanted to do a few paid tasks in town, a la the Mighty Nein. I didn't see any of them being accepted, but I liked that they were still put out there, even if the party is pretty much mainlining the plot at this point. The bounty hunter sent by the shopkeeper was unexpected (or would have been if I hadn't gotten spoiled, dammit) and was a fun mini-combat! I wonder how long Matt had that sitting in his pocket.

THE DUSKMAVEN. That whole scene was SO good! I was a bit surprised at first with how emotional Orym was, considering he didn't really have a connection with her beforehand, until I realized that this was the first time he's been in any temple since the shit hit the fan. I suspect that no matter WHOSE temple it was, he would have been the same way, with the possible exception of the Dawnfather. Having multiple party members receive a vision was definitely a good play, as this moves from FCG being the only one with actual interaction to four members. Vax as an orb forever screaming? fun times fun times. ...there's the morbid angsty part of me that hopes they share that information with Keyleth who shares it with VM. LOOK I LIKE SOME GOOD HURT/COMFORT SOMETIMES OKAY.

LILLIANA ON RUIDUS. LUDINUS ON RUIDUS. IRA ON RUIDUS TALKING WITH REILORA. oh I cannot WAIT to see how things go from here! MOON'S HAUNTED Y'ALL AND THEY ARE GOING BACK WITH A GUN.

#cr spoilers #critical role #bells hells

[ogdoadfates]

Aight random rant about a lot of things, this is just word vomit from my brain so keep that in mind. Anywho here we go! Spoiler central ahead!

I feel like things can go a bunch of ways here, the groups were separated each with one person who has some sort of connection to a god. F.C.G with the change bringer and Orym with the wildmother. F.C.G is just a fuckin force who heads head first into things but he also had the ability to talk to the change bringer by will via a spell. And yes that group had a few anti god blunders but by the end even if a bit begrudgingly they are close if not full on we need to stop and protect the gods if only so the god eater doesn’t wreck our shit.

The other group? Well thats where it gets tricky one thing I kind of noted is Ashton is not speaking up much when it’s about the gods, idk what fully to make of that but it’s something to note. Laudna is harder to read and idk her thoughts about a god bringing her back and who the hell knows how the group will react when they learn they won’t be able to even try that again if a member of their party goes down (feel like Ashton might have words on that). Orym our poor man has been through it and is in a way giving up, dude is in desperate mode and it doesn’t help that the one leader person is so dead set on ‘we kill them, fuck the gods, fuck any worshiper’ like yes they said if they leave they won’t do anything but tbh I didn’t 100% buy it? To be honest I’m waiting for either a betray or something else equally fucked to happen. Back to Orym I feel one thing that could happen is him actually meeting/having a moment with the Wildmother 1: we have no idea if Fearne’s request was made and 2: she seems the type to come to those when they need it and this lil man fuckin needs it bad. I feel this is going to be a test of faith not just to gods with some of the characters but faith in each other. I feel all of them feel off about what they are doing (original bells hells I’m meaning here) they know Ludinis is a bad crap shoot of a wizard that is straight cult levels territory. (which tbh, I get so many bad vibes from the leader person just being like op Idk if he cause my people to vanish or that he killed a lot of people and even though I know nothing of any of this shit I’ma believe this man I never met that would not give two shits about me) I also love Orym bringing it up that maybe it’s the followers and not the gods that are the main issue, like yes the gods have faults (I mean, who the hell wants a perfect god? I’d rather have one that has made mistakes then one that seems truely hollier then thou, makes them relatable, makes it so they can be reasoned with, makes them a whole lot of things) also lil thing, yeah it’s bad they hid that info but at the same look at what happened when it got out, feel like their was no right answer to if the info should have been hidden or not. but again, you stick with the ‘devil’ you know. idk this probably makes zero sense, I just wanted it out of my mind.

#cr spoiler #criticalrole #critical role

[hazelcephalopod]

Just a lot of feelings and thoughts tbh.

Important time to mention this blog does not believe permadeath is the ultimate stakes or resurrection cheapens dying. And good stories can fold resurrection into the story while maintaining personal stakes for the characters it effected. Exandria has resurrection, and they usually make that work. Interestingly I’m 50/50 on some version of it was all a dream. More favorable when it happens in the middle or beginning of a story, not the very end which rarely pulls off the trope well with the story being basically over. I think it could work very well this time. Personally I’m stressed enough, even if Imogen is the only one who remembers I suspect she will be traumatized by this. That’s plenty of stake imho.

Tbh I only enjoy stories with high death counts when I’ve been fully prepared for it. And while I’ll respect the casts decisions, this sort of character death is not common for them. I’m going to tune in next week but personally may take a break depending on how that goes.

Like Orym and Laudna are some of my favorites. Fearne’s story feels like it just started and we’ve learned so much, it would be, in my view, a terrible waste if she simply died now. Chetney, probably safe, and I love him. But I’d also be most ok with him dying I think? He always feels ready and I’m confident Travis will always serve up something interesting. I’m so glad Ashton seems to have survived, they are also one of my favorites and I don’t think I could take loosing them and Orym in the same episode. I’m so worried for Imogen, I have both infinit and no ideas what might happen to her. FCG is just a lil bot and I’m so worried for them. I know cool new characters and storylines have occurred which fills me with dread and hope simultaneously which is an experience.

Best wishes to death enjoyers, but… well my hopes are clear.

#critical role #cr spoilers #critical role spoilers #long post #vent #also be kind.

[haorev]

Critical Role Character Gender/Sexuality HCs (yes I know that technically some of these won’t be headcanons but actual canon):

C1:

Vax’ildan: bigender, bisexual, polyamorous but doesn’t know how to talk about it, he/him

Vex’ahlia: nonbinary woman, bisexual, she/they

Percival: nonbinary man, biromantic demisexual, he/they

Keyleth: cis woman, heteromantic demisexual, she/her

Grog: cis man? Maybe? He doesn’t really care, aroace, he/him

Pike: cis woman, straight, she/her (idk Pike gives me cishet woman vibes but like in a good way)

Scanlan: cis man, pansexual with a preference for women, he/him

Taryon: trans man, gay, he/him

C2:

Beauregard: nonbinary woman, lesbian, she/they

Caduceus: agender, aroace, he/they

Caleb: man (whether I see him as cis or trans changes day to day), bisexual, polyamorous, he/him

Essek: man (whether I see him as cis or trans changes day to day), gay demiace, he/him

Fjord: cis man, demiaro demiace, he/him

Jester: trans woman, bisexual, she/her

Mollymauk: genderfluid, bisexual, he/they

Veth: cis woman, bisexual with a preference for men, she/her

Yasha: woman adjacent, lesbian, she/her

C3 (big going off just vibes here and also manifesting vibes):

Ashton: trans masc, going with bisexual for now definitely t4t imo, he/they

Fresh Cut Grass: agender, probably aroace, he/they

Fearne: cis woman but also not sure gender works the same in the Feywild, sexuality is Chaos tbh (also gives me lesbian vibes), she/her

Laudna: cis woman, lesbian (or bi with a preference for women) ace, she/her

Imogen: nonbinary (possibly trans fem), bisexual, she/her

Orym: trans man, bisexual with a preference for men (also t4t), he/him

Dorian: man adjacent, gay, he/him

Bertrand: cis man, greyaro bisexual, he/him

#critical role #cr1 #cr2 #cr3 #vox machina #the mighty nein #campaign 3 folk #Bertrand’s Bells