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critter-genfic-events · 4 months

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Canon Divergent AU Recs!

This week, we have canon divergent AU recs! A dozen different what-ifs to explore below the cut - and as ever, if you like them, remember to comment or kudos!

Catch A Falling Star by Rainydaydecaf (32921,Mature) Warnings: Feeblemind Pairings: Beauregard Lionett/Yasha Nydoorin, Essek Thelyss & The Mighty Nein

The Nein find a feebleminded Essek down in the sewers along with the beacon.

Reccer says: It's got a great spotlight on each of the Mighty Nein as they interact with the feebleminded drow - from Fjord babysitting him and Kiri to Beau giving him a haircut - and feels true to the characters and the world

pressure cracks by BananasofThorns (10271,Teen) Warnings: None Pairings: Fjord & Caleb Widogast

Fjord is a student at Solstryce Academy. Professor Ermendrud requests a private meeting with him.

Reccer says: It's got echoes of Fjord and Caleb's dynamic in the pirate arc, combined with scourger Bren

The Star and the Wildflower by devil_seabird_king (ShaaKi) (8173,Teen) Warnings: suicidal thoughts Pairings: Caduceus Clay & Essek Thelyss

A young Essek is becomes friends with a young Caduceus Clay

Reccer says: This is a combination that doesn't get enough love, so it's fun to imagine what they'd be like as childhood friends

A Whisper On My Shoulder by EssayofThoughts (251169,Mature) Warnings: Major Character Death Pairings: none

Percy's not the only member of his family to survive the Briarwoods' attack. He's just the only one to do so alive.

Reccer says: A true epic that imagines Cassandra as a ghost by Percy's side throughout the initial parts of Vox Machina's journey. Amazingly well thought out

some ever after no one could predict by QueenWithABeeThrone (15343,Teen) Warnings: None Pairings: Leofric/Una Ermendrud

Over thirty years ago, Una Ermendrud went into the Feywild and met a satyr named Garmelie. thirty years later, Caleb reunites with his godfather.

Reccer says: I love how practical Una is in this, and how that practicality cuts through the feywild magic.

both my broken hands are true by quothhh (1805,Teen) Warnings: None Pairings: Veth Brenatto & Caleb Widogast

In a world where Yeza was taken by the goblins instead of Veth, Caleb and Veth manage to meet anyway.

Reccer says: It's got some killer lines and also a great example of the Caleb and Veth friendship

watch my back, and keep the blade by jadeandquartz (3553,Mature) Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Major Character Death Pairings: Orym & Imogen Temult

Laudna permanently dies. Imogen and Orym head after Otahan for revenge

Reccer says: An amazing bit of angst

You Think You Can Rid Yourself Of Me So Easily? by sparklegem (3724,Mature) Warnings: Hurt no Comfort Pairings: none

Percy's cursed weapon is not as easy to get rid of as they think.

Reccer says: I liked it

to know that this war was winless by quanshi (burningdarkfire) (834,Teen) Warnings: none Pairings: Beauregard Lionett & Caleb Widogast

Beauregard meets Bren for lunch

Reccer says: I love scourger Bren vs. Beauregard fics, and this is a lovely little taste

The Fool and the Soldier by mare_astrorum (200,000+,Mature) Warnings: None Pairings:

Mollymauk Tealeaf survived the Mighty Nein's encounter with the Iron Shepherds on Glory Run Road, but a short time later, a spirit began hunting him, claiming that he stole his body.

Reccer says: One of the most insane things Matt dropped during the wrap-up was where the campaign might have gone had Molly survived. This is such a wonderful exploration of the concept of the Tombtakers as reoccurring enemies and Molly still with the party that is wonderfully IC, extremely detailed, and a lot of fun. It's going to be a long one and it's ongoing, so buckle in.

Magic Jar by Anonymous (3211,Teen) Warnings: none Pairings: none

The mighty nine, if Caleb was a soul in a magic jar

Reccer says: It's a fascinating premise and an amazing thing to think about

you'll let it go by pigflight (1590,Teen) Warnings: major character death Pairings: Delilah Briarwood & Laudna

What if Delilah convinced Laudna to take the shard?

Reccer says: wonderfully angsty and delicious

If you liked this rec list, follow along for more! We'll be posting a new list with a new theme each Monday. Want to make your own recs? Check out use this form to submit!

Next week, we're featuring your featuring explorations of grief, in all forms. It'll also be a day late, as next Monday is Christmas.

After that, we'll Pike Trickfoot, mysteries, and then monsters.

If you're looking for some more, check out some fics written in the critter genfic bingo tag, or the older rec lists! Or you can request your own card and join in on the fun!

#critical role #critter genfic rec lists #gen fic #bells hells #the mighty nein #vox machina #caleb widogast #veth brenatto #percy de rolo #essek thelyss #caduceus clay #fjord stone #beauregard lionett #mollymauk tealeaf #laudna cr #orym of the air ashari #delilah briarwood

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captainofthetidesbreath · 1 year

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This is a more focused and somewhat more serious of the version I ran yesterday that included Gustav Fletching, Lucien and Molly, and Fjord (for Kingsley reasons).

That poll was more for the comedy of the spread of possible options, but I got curious about if the results would change if I restricted the options to actually their father or strongly held to be a father figure by that character, particularly with how this no longer potentially splits a vote between Vandran and Fjord.

For the record, the qualifications here is that he actively fulfilled that function in their life, hence why Lucien and Molly are disqualified from this poll; apologies, but comparing them to parents doesn't quite qualify for this. This is also why Gustav doesn't qualify, since Molly does not seem to have considered him that way, but Baska gets by on a technicality.

Anyway, pick one.

#Again I think it's funny of me to give no parameters for HOW to pick.#Favorite? Best? Most interesting guy? Most interesting to HAVE as a dad? Hottest? Most dad (affectionate)? Most dad (derogatory)?#Nope. No guidance from me. Pick as what your heart says. <3 #Critical Role things #CR

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anxietiefling · 2 years

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caleb doesn’t have a will, for many good reasons, first among them the fact that his life partner and primary recipient of any inheritance is mostly living in hiding. so when caleb passes, the nein privately manage the whole affair of helping essek sort out what needs to be sorted out. and essek, a romantic at heart, but no less a pragmatist, decides against keeping the house or the money or valuable items. he gives caleb’s enormous collection of books, apart from a few he keeps for himself, to the cobalt soul. he makes sure each and everyone of their cats will find a loving home (most of them stay with veth in nicodranas). he lets the nein take their pick through the sentimental items he doesn't hold on to, encouraging them to take and keep as much as they want. he sells the things that remain, including the lovely, small house full of memories. and then, one day, he Sends to archmage astrid beck, asking for a private meeting at a time of her choosing, before setting of to travel as far and wide as he can. a few months later, through covert machinations and several generous anonymous donations, a new support program for disadvantaged, talented young arcanists is established at solstryce: the una and leofric ermendrud scholarship, represented and vouched for by tal‘dorei council member allura vyssoren. it provides young aspiring wizards with financial support for lodging, education, spell components, and cross-continent internships, to teach them the values of collaboration and integrity, with the only explicit goal of „imbuing in them a sense of stewardship“ - no further explanation.

#critical role #caleb widogast #essek thelyss #shadowgast #listen i'm emotional about wizards again #i also think essek wouldn't want to stay alone in their home #when the person who made it home isn't there anymore #he'll make memories #to tell caleb when they see each other again #he'll have so many stories #he promised caleb to move forward after all

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beatriceeagle · 7 months

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Fandom: Critical Role

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death

Relationships: Una Ermendrud & Caleb Widogast

Characters: Una Ermendrud, Caleb Widogast, Leofric Ermendrud

Additional Tags: Afterlife, Grief/Mourning, Parent-Child Relationship, Complicated Relationships, Healing, Canon-Typical Sadness and Trauma, the major character death refers to an inevitable unspecified death of old age

Summary:

In Exandria, the dead don't stop. They continue in the outer planes, in whatever afterlife they've earned. And from the outer planes, they can watch the living. Una Ermendrud watches her son. She tries to understand.

___

Una seems to float between worlds for eons, but when she opens her eyes, the house is still on fire. She could almost think that she is still alive, still trapped, but she feels no heat.

“Bren,” says Leofric, and in hearing his voice, Una realizes that he’s beside her. And in realizing that, she realizes that he, too, is dead.

Grief, like time, is strange in death. When Una’s mother died, she felt it in the weight pressing on her chest, in the burning in her eyes, in her roiling stomach. Here, she feels her grief nowhere—and yet it is everywhere, expansive, filling up the whole of the outer plane.

And yet, what reason does she have to grieve Leofric? He’s right beside her, holding her hand.

“It was Bren,” Leofric says.

Una focuses, and then she sees it. Him. Bren, her little flame, her clever child, the light in her heart. He is screaming. Screaming and throwing fire, while his classmates—little Astrid from the other side of town, Helga’s boy Eodwulf—hold him back. All the while, the house burns before him.

The door was blocked. That sickening dread and confusion Una felt when she and Leofric reached it, only to realize that it wouldn’t move. She understands, now. Someone pushed the cart in front of the door to seal them in. Someone. Someone. Bren.

“Why?” Una says.

She wants to roll back time, not to undo it, but just to see. What did Bren say when he blocked the door, when he lit the fire? What was he thinking? What explanation did he give?

But even in death, time moves only one way. And it is years before Bren speaks again.

Read more on AO3

#apologies i just finished campaign 2 so you're suddenly going to be seeing a lot more critical role content #critical role #una ermendrud #caleb widogast #fanfiction #cr #the mighty nein

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kermit-coded · 8 months

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Like A Row Of Captured Ghosts (I've Come Home) (1379 words) by kermit_coded Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Critical Role (Web Series) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Leofric Ermendrud & Una Ermendrud & Caleb Widogast, Caleb Widogast & Original Character(s), The Mighty Nein & Caleb Widogast, Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast Characters: Caleb Widogast, Leofric Ermendrud (mentioned), Una Ermendrud (mentioned), Original Characters, Essek Thelyss, The Mighty Nein (mentioned) Additional Tags: POV Outsider, Future Fic, in the sense that im not done w c2, Grief/Mourning, Presumed Dead, Rumors, Small Towns, Caleb Widogast's Backstory, author does not know german, Post-Campaign 2 (Critical Role), Married Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast, essek is in disguise, Healing Series: Part 6 of coming are the nein Summary: Bren returns home.

#my writing tag #cr #cr2 #critrole #critical role #cr fanfic #cr2 fanfic #critrole fanfic #critical role fanfic #critical role fanfiction #shadowgast #shadowgast fanfic #essek thelyss #caleb widogast #the mighty nein

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duskoscrawl · 8 months

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A break down of my 'The Voices Beneath' Series and Playlist

The entire playlist can be accessed on YouTube here and the series is on ao3 here and is summarised as following:

An exploration of the pervading influence of Dwendalian Nationalism over the Empire's citizens and how it seeps into their mentalities. Particularly through the life of Caleb Widogast.

The Playlist, Song by Song:

Mordred's Lullaby, Heather Dale: this is the song that the series title is drawn from. It draws from Arthurian myth and is pretty dark for a lullaby. The series premise draws from the lines 'And you won't understand the cause of your grief | but you'll always follow the voices beneath' which I think really feeds into the collective grief stricken nationalism of the Zemni Fields.

Eat Your Young, Hozier (Bekon's Choral Version): A lot of my work for this series is rooted in Irish literature - especially since my reading of the EGW suggests that the fields are mostly worked by tenant farmers - therefore I was thrilled when Hozier released a song based on Johnathan Swift's 'A Modest Proposal' which argued that as the English landlords had stolen so much from the Irish, why didn't they just eat the children too. It is this kind of energy that fuels the first half of Zemnian Days (fort, doch nicht vergessen), which is a bildungsroman of Una Ermendrud's life and explores day to day life in the fields.

The Worker's Song, Ben Robertson (Ed Pickford, arr. Dick Gaughan): this is a very good folk song about the systematic abuse of the working class. The lines 'and when the sky darkens | and the prospect is war | who's given a gun | and then pushed to the fore?' play into the Righteous Brand's recruitment of farmhands from the fields, seen throughout Zemnian Days.

Pleasant and Delightful, the Longest Johns: this is a folk song about love and grief and longing, perfect for the last section of Zemnian Days, where Una and Leofric fall in love, but Leofric signs up to the Righteous Brand to be able to financially support the child Una falls pregnant with.

Unbreakable, Keiino: this is one of my go-to songs for Caleb. It's based on the story of the Snow Queen and carries that fairytale vibe that Caleb delivers so well with Der Katzenprins and the Waldhexe. It is paired with Looking Out of the Window which is a fic in which Una watches her son grow up for sixteen years, and ends in fire and flame. When listening to the song, I often position Ikithon as the evil mother figure from the Snow Queen who is making Bren unbreakable

The Innocent, Aurora: this is where the thrumming beat of Rexxentrum starts to play. Where Bren gets his scholarship and meets the city with wonder and joy. The song slowly spirals into a kind of desperation, wherein you can imagine Ikithon taking power over the Blumendrei.

A Temporary High, Aurora: this is the song for the Blumendrei being each other's only comfort in the midst of Ikithon's torture. There's a running motif throughout the song about being cold and hoping that the love is not just a temporary high - which I think really plays into the whole story of their imprisonment in the Academy tower.

Wulf ond Eadwacer, Hanna Marti: this is my favourite Old English poem, excellently performed by Hanna Marti. It is spoken by an Anglo Saxon woman about her two lovers (historical debate and difficulty in translation makes this uncertain), but I have drawn from my favourite bits of translation to write Ungelīc is ūs (we are apart). This covers Astrid's story of the first month after Bren breaks and she is a fully fledged Vollstrucker. It is very intense about the level of control Ikithon has over her life.

The In-between (piano solo), Evanescence: this is a particularly haunting piece of music that encompasses the first part of Bren's imprisonment in the Vergessen Sanatarium. It pairs with the fic Hourglass of Ash, which is a free indirect discourse piece showing Bren's perspective of his time in Vergessen.

Me and the Devil, Soap&Skin: this covers the end of Hourglass of Ash where the man who will become Caleb Widogast comes to himself in Vergessen Sanatarium and begins to face the horror of what he has done.

The Tragedy of Widogast, Chase Noseworthy: this is a wonderful song, and in this playlist it bookmarks the birth of the man who is becoming Caleb Widogast. As a lot of this is covered in game, I have not written much for the next section of songs.

Feed the Machine, Poor Man's Poison: this song is another one about the systematic abuse of the working classes. It is my song for Nott and Caleb before they meet the Nein.

Give Me a Reason, Chase Noseworthy and Lilli Furfaro: this is a beautifully haunting song about Astrid and Caleb meeting in Rexxentrum. It keeps its context in this playlist.

Dine with the Puppetmaster, Chase Noseworthy: this song is about the dinner with Ikithon. It keeps its context in this series, and I very much enjoy the imagery that is used in the song.

This is Love, Air Traffic Controller: this song is my go-to song for Trent Ikithon. It has a relentless set of vocals that sing from the perspective of an abuser. There is also another voice that reminds me of Astrid. In this playlist, this song represents the final battle against Ikithon in the finale.

I Won't, AJR: courtesy of @leetlesapphiretiefling. This song directly pairs with the fic I do what you tell me to (and do it to death), which is a character study of Eadwulf. The fic is inspired both by the song and by a hedgerow in my village that I was walking along. It explores snippets of Wulf's childhood, paired with his survival technique during his years with Ikithon.

So Human of You, Shireen: this song is about deriding a person who bases their humanity in cruelty. It pairs with Inheritance of the Archmage, which is a fic about Astrid having Wulf, Caleb and some members of the Cobalt Soul helping her to clean out Ikithon's Candle, which she, as the new Archmage of Civil Influence, has inherited. It is about coming to terms with the cruelty that has made up the last 17 years of her life.

The Devil is Human, Aurora: this one is also related to Inheritance of the Archmage, as it carries a similar message about humanity and cruelty. It also refers to the singer and associates as becoming 'real human beings' which I tie into Astrid and Wulf being able to move out of living in survival mode and process what has happened - something that is explored in the fic by them finding a cache of genuine letters from their families that Ikithon had withheld from them.

Waldhexe, Chase Noseworthy and Ginny Di: this song directly inspired Waldhexe (spare us from your claws). This fic is a pov outsider piece from the perspective of the Ermendrud's neighbours, who see Caleb come to visit home as a ghost. It is about the collective grief in the Fields, as the War of Ash and Light (I think that's what it's called, Essek's war) had robbed the Ehlers of their three children, all of whom were called up to be soldiers. It works to reconcile the broad strokes of the campaign with the minutia of the thousands of inhabitants of the Empire and the Dynasty.

Lost Without You, Freya Ridings: this is the purest grief song on this entire playlist and it is dedicated to a goose called Peck Beck, who is the narrator for Find Familiar. This fic is about a goose who loves baby Astrid unconditionally and is then eaten when her family die, before being brought back as a familiar. I adore this fic. It was inspired by a trip round a lovely Welsh museum of culture (it's the kind of museum where they have lots of historical buildings on site and they had medieval farmhouses through to modern ones).

Gloria in Excelsis Dei, Vivaldi: I would have put the whole Gloria oratorio in here if I thought I could get away with it. This accompanies the fic Gloria, which details Essek viewing a graduation at the Soltryce Academy and exploring the role of pomp and ceremony in nationbuilding. It was inspired by watching my flatmate perform Gloria with a university choir in a particularly nice church.

Garden of Bones, Galdorcræft: this is a very dark sounding song about being in the garden and keeping on living. It pairs with my fic Bitter Meadowsweet, which deals with Caleb mourning the mundane aspects of his childhood, as well as the fact that he will never be able to learn skills and recipes off of his parents.

Earth Mother, Fáerhin: this is a fairly dark sounding ambient song that carries an ominous sense of peace. It is another one for Caleb's garden and the uneasy sense of peace you get when mingling the soft epilogues with the political uncertainty of Rexxentrum politics and Essek's situation.

Brave New World, Kalandra: this is a beautifully dystopian song. I associate it with Beau and Caleb beginning to uncover just how deep the Cerberus Assembly corruption goes, as well as trying to utilise Caleb's role in the Academy to curb wizard hubris. For that reason, it goes with the fic Control Flames, which is a pov outsider view of professor Widogast that I began writing in the wake of the finale.

A Good Song Never Dies, Saint Motel: this song has a very determined beat, and a very strong sense of purpose. It is a song I associate with Beau and Caleb working to take down the Assembly.

Death to Cerberus, Chase Noseworthy: this song is about taking down the Cerberus Assembly and the implications that might accompany it. It keeps its context in this playlist.

Hiraeth, Plu: this is a lovely song in Welsh that sounds almost hymnal. It is for this reason that it makes a good conclusion to the playlist and a good companion to No More Children On The Pyre, which is a love note to the impact that the Mighty Nein's ethos has had upon Wildemount, and Exandria.

All in all, I think that The Voices Beneath is the series that I'm most proud of.

#chill to reblog #critical role #campaign 2 #long post

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quinn-of-aebradore · 1 year

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Caleb Widogast and Essek Thelyss are deeply, happily in love. They have peace and each other. Neither could be more content. And then both realize they want to take another step. The customs of the Empire and Dynasty are rather different, however, and what is a wizard meant to do except research how to propose to his partner, with some help from friends along the way?

Chapter Four: The wizards navigate their new engagement, telling their friends, and the fledgling plans for their wedding. Fluff, chaos, and many an emotional conversation ensue.

Hello, my friends! For my birthday I bring you the longest thing I’ve written to date, the fourth chapter of blossoming hearts! I’m not joking, this thing is like 18.7k. Get some water and snacks, it’s a long, fluffy ride. Jester at last makes an appearance! The wizards are soft! There’s bit of angst courtesy of Verin! It’s all a very, very good time and I’m very pleased with how it turned out. I hope you all enjoy it and have a lovely, lovely day 💜💜💜💜

Check over the fic cover made by the always wonderful @fortunesfavours

#shadowgast #essek thelyss #caleb widogast #beauregard lionett #yasha nydoorin #una ermendrud #leofric ermendrud #verin thelyss #veth brenatto #jester lavorre #fjord #the mighty nein #reani #marion lavorre #cr fanfic #critical role #quinn fics #astrid beck

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critterfloozy · 10 months

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Descriptions of a River Flowing - Notes

Notes for the fic Descriptions of a River Flowing - aka, five aliases of Essek Thelyss. If you haven't read it yet, check it out here:

All right? Done? Here, have a timeline, some notes on how the fic can connect to some other stories I've written, and some other notes:

Let's start with the timeline, then go on to the more pretentious stuff:

800 - 805 PD: Leofric Emmendrud is fighting on the front lines. M. Tasithar is captured, tortured, and dies.

803 PD: Caleb Widogast is born.

Early 800's: Delilah Briarwood visits Rosohna, not for the first time. Engages with Deirta Thelyss to try to get her husband, Sylas, consecuted. It fails. (realistically this might have been in the late 700's, but, eh).

Essek is at the Marble Tomes, meets three students that are possibly Da'leth plants. ("M. Tasithar", AXXXXX, EXXXXXX)

820-821: Essek refuses consecution. Fearing radical academics influencing her son, Deirta makes a deal with Essek to fake his consecution in return for him taking a position in court. Archmage Uludan makes an appearance in the Kryn Court.

822 PD: 'M. Tasithar' disappears. Essek's father dies.

827 PD: M. Tasithar reappears, having been reborn and made his way to Rosohna post-anamnesis.

830: First recorded meeting between Da'leth and Dezran Thane. AXXXXX disappears.

833 PD: Beacon theft happens. EXXXXXX disappears.

835-836 PD: Campaign 2

838 PD: Essek disappears. Suspicion grows, Essek is considered a class A security risk. Verin is questioned. Deirta reveals that Essek is not consecuted.

840 PD: Essek runs into his father in Uthodurn.

841 PD: Molly Fancypants is sighted in Darktow.

843 PD: Apogee Solstice.

844 PD: Aldric Ermendrud is set upon by rogue scourgers

847-8 PD: The Augen Trust shares information with the Lens. After a year's investigation and having dispatched someone to Blumenthal, they close the file.

850s PD: Some sharing of information starts between the Cobalt Soul and the Lens regarding Essek Thelyss, the connection between Dezran Thane and Essek is discovered.

852 PD: Eldric Lavorre is discovered in Uthodurn. Glassblades share this information with the Lens.

860 PD: The Cobalt Soul releases their initial report.

874 PD: Leylas Kryn dies, is thought to be suffering from typhros. Accusations of murder abound.

875-876 PD: The Kryn Court's dissolution hits the Lens, they begin investigating and assassinating each other, hiding and burning documents. The surviving Thelyss documents are hidden within a Luxon church.

Sometime between 876 PD and 882 PD: The military seize and retain control of the government. The Ulaban reforms (which prevent anyone from holding the same governmental office for more than one lifetime) are put into place.

883 PD: Caleb Widogast dies. Essek stops using the name Eldric Lavorre, gives testimony to the Cobalt Soul.

895 PD: A Haimish fisherman's daughter claims to be Leylas Kryn, and with the backing of a number of former members of court, seizes the throne. A very reactionary period follows, many of the military leaders and any unloyal members of the court are killed.

902 PD: A consecuted member of the court that had avoided the purge by dying in 885 deposes the fisherman's daughter and institutes a limited republic and reinstitutes the Ulaban reforms.

Early 900's PD: the loss of military power means that a large portion of Xhorhas is no longer under Rosohnan control.

924 PD: The Rosohnan government donates the remaining Thelyss papers to the Rexxentrum Cobalt Soul.

950 PD: The University in Icehaven is established.

1000's PD: The University grows, purchases some homes in town to use as offices.

1146 PD: Ilyn takes a class with Professor Wivore in the fall semester of her second year.

1148 PD: Graduating, Ilyn asks Wivore for a letter of recommendation to the Rexxentrum Cobalt Soul.

1151: Ilyn essentially reads chapter one of the fic in the archives, looks up and confronts her old professor.

The more in-depth notes:

Back when I wrote No One By That Name Lives Here Anymore, I realized I'd accidentally created a great populist usurper - he's got military ties, knowledge and experience from being a General, he's got insider political knowledge from being married to an Umavi, and he's got a great populist message - he gave up all of his power to live as a simple merchant because he thought that was a purer way of 'living multiple lives'. If there's anything that the military wants to assure people is going to happen after a coup, it's that they're only going to be in power just long enough to let things stabilize - whether or not that's actually the case (it rarely is).

I'd thought about writing the story where Dantrag is approached to essentially become the face of the coup, but I was worried that readers might interpret that as me saying that he would be a good leader - or a better leader than Leylas. Which, no. I still think he was a shit dad as Selakiir. It also would be after 2-3 other stories, at least, and it just didn't seem to ever be important enough to move to the top of the pile.

The story maybe works with All the Paths - the Deirta story, but All the Paths was left open ended, and one line in Descriptions would have decided something about her fate in a way I don't really want to put in canon. But the 'Deirta makes a deal to get Essek to be the Shadowhand to get him away from radical academics' idea happens in both. And honestly, she's not completely wrong, if the Lens's theory on Da'leth planting a few scourgers to look for possible defectors was true.

But a lot of what brings these three stories together is the question of identity and what it means to live multiple lives - just in Descriptions of a River Flowing, it's about living multiple lives outside of consecution.

The history themes were definitely influenced by my workplace giving us the opportunity to write down what we have learned since the George Floyd protests (in twenty-five words or less), then get our picture taken with our words. For those who don't know, I live in South Minneapolis, close enough that I had to deal with eight months of helicopters circling afterwards. There's a special level of unreality that happens when you live through a complicated event that others - just by necessity of the amount of information that a brain can hold, and their ability to challenge their own assumptions and worldview - whittle down to a tweet. And it's got to be even worse when it's your family that's being turned into two dimensional beings. It's a lot easier to let other people's narratives do the work

(IMO, The Sentence gets it about right, even though it's too kind to the National Guard. Please do not take me saying that it was a complicated situation as any sort of support of the police.)

Uh, last thing - Essek/Wivore is teaching in Icehaven because Icehaven actually had a good number of drow students, on account of it having little sunlight for most of the academic year. Wivore specifically chooses the fall semester to avoid the sunniest months.

#my fic #notes #descriptions of a river flowing

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grayintogreen · 2 years

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Day 21 of Fav Creedemption quotes!

Chapter 21 Caleb did not believe in Fate. To believe in Fate would be to believe that Fate could not be changed, that everything that had ever happened had happened for a reason and therefore nothing needed to be fixed. The flow of time should not bend for anyone, because everything was already in the proper order. And to believe that would be like telling himself that Una and Leofric Ermendrud died so that he could become Caleb Widogast and theirs was a sacrifice, not a slaughter.

this has been the week of ouchie quotes

IT IS INDEED. Good god, exploration of Fate and Destiny in MY fairy tale metaphor story? It's exactly as likely as you'd think!

#my asks #once upon a damn you all

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critter-genfic-events · 9 months

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Parents: A Critical Role Gen-fic Rec List

Hey everyone! This week we have eighteen incredible fics that are all about parents and other parental figures. Recs under the cut, and as always, remember to comment or kudos if you liked them!

they really love their shades of gray by grayintogreen (1619,General) Warnings: Mentions of tiefling racism, brief mentions of Kashaw's traumatic relationship with Vesh, brief mention of Kashaw's forced marriage to Vesh Pairings: Percy/Vex'ahlia (background), Zahra/Kashaw (background)

When Gwendolyn is born, Kashaw reflects on being a father of a tiefling.

Reccer says: Kashaw's voice is extremely well done, and the little slices of him reflecting on what it's like to be a not-tiefling father of a tiefling in a world where that generally signifies something about him as a person is well done without being overdone.

Benediction by Sandtalon (4961,General) Warnings: None Pairings:

A deep look into Cerrit's quest to return home after the events of EXU Calamity as well as Maya's thoughts as she waits for him to come home.

Reccer says: This fic is beautifully characterized on both Cerrit and Maya's ends and takes a very complex, emotional look at the beginning of the Calamity. Cerrit's determination to reach his family even when he's pushing himself too hard is just so viscerally beautiful and the ending is a happy gutpunch on so many levels.

ridged scars bandaged with butterfly kisses by Ford_Ye_Fiji (3220,General) Warnings: None Pairings:

A look at Percy through the eyes of his youngest child.

Reccer says: This is probably my favorite Gwendolyn and Percy fic- it's a sweet look at Percy as a dad getting schooled by a precocious child.

Sing the Sky to Sleep by commoncomitatus (3105,General) Warnings: Pairings:

A character study of Marion Lavorre following the birth of her daughter.

Reccer says: This fic is absolute poetry from start to finish and handles the messy, complicated emotions of motherhood so well. Marion is beautifully characterized and it's equal parts sweet and sad.

A Fate Stitched by Angel Ascending (896,Teen) Warnings: Temporary Child Death Pairings:

A look into just how much work Nana Morri might have put into protecting Fearne.

Reccer says: This fic took an offhand line in EXU and turned it into a beautiful- if not a bit creepy- look into Nana Morri protecting Fearne, no matter how hard she makes it on her.

Bleeding Heart by steelneena (2321,Teen) Warnings: None Pairings:

Gustav Fletching adopts a stray into his circus.

Reccer says: I love stories that deal with Gustav's paternal relationship with Molly and this is one of the best of the lot. It blends Gustav's bleeding heart with his pragmatism very well.

some ever after no one could predict by QueenWithABeeThrone (15343,General) Warnings: None Pairings: Leofric Ermendrud/Una Ermendrud

Una goes on a journey to the Feywild in order to earn herself a happy ending. She gets some help from a familiar archfey.

Reccer says: This fic takes the idea of "Artagan as Caleb's fairy godfather" and runs with it. The characterization of Una is absolutely lovely and it makes you wish it was canon. It's so cute and fun.

Fearful Symmetry by seraphium (3151,Teen) Warnings: none Pairings: Keyleth & Vilya

In the aftermath of the Apogee Solstice, Keyleth is hurt and her mother waits at her bedside.

Reccer says: It seems extremely true to the complexities of their relationship and Keyleth as a character, as rough as it might be.

Storge, I Will Protect You by Professor_Rye (2135,General) Warnings: None Pairings: Percy/Vex, Vex & Syldor, Vex & Gwendolyn

Percy and Vex have a beautiful tiefling daughter and no one in Exandria is going to say anything bad about her, least of all her grandfather.

Reccer says: Really liked the big show of support from everyone

white orchids by quinn_of_aebradore (1561,Teen) Warnings: None Pairings: Essek & Marion Lavorre

Essek's crimes catch up with him, forcing him to flee his sinking ship and seek safety in the company of an old friend.

Reccer says: I adore any instance of Marion adopting Essek, and this does that wonderfully while also playing with a fun Pirate AU concept

The Ruby by Ceridawn (580,General) Warnings: None Pairings:

Marion Lavorre does not wield a blade, but she also doesn't need it to protect her daughter and her friends.

Reccer says: Always love when we get to see Marion Lavorre kick ass in her own way, and this fic captures that perfectly

Wild's Grandeur by Operafloozy (3741,Teen) Warnings: None Pairings: Caduceus Clay & Clay Family | Constance Clay & Vilya

For the first time in decades, the Clays could leave the Blooming Grove and celebrate Wild's Grandeur in the Savalirwood. Caduceus would rather stay at home. On necessary confrontations, being able to open the windows, and move on.

Reccer says: I really enjoy the more tense but still deeply meaningful depictions of family here. Of parents who mean well but still hurt their children, and of trying to pick up the pieces afterwards.

and the birds sing by celaenos (1604,General) Warnings: None Pairings: Keyleth & Vilya

Vilya returns to Zephrah.

Reccer says: It's extremely sweet and soft.

cabin fever by justlikeswitchblades (3032,General) Warnings: None Pairings: Fjord & Vandran

Fjord works, and meets Vandran

Reccer says: I liked it

and after the scripture (your mother beside me) by SaltCore (9531,Mature) Warnings: Major character death (he gets better) Pairings: Deirta Thelyss & Essek Thelyss, Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast

Essek dies. Deirta calls the Nein to Rosohna to mourn.

Reccer says: It's a very nuanced view of Deirta, and I love how the announcement at the beginning is handled.

in the times in between by jakia (8098,Teen) Warnings: miscarriage Pairings: Una Ermendrud & Caleb Widogast, Leofric Ermendrud & Caleb Widogast, background Shadowgast in the second half

Caleb Widogast travels back in time to save his parents. He runs into Una a few times when getting the timing right.

Reccer says: I love this version of Una, smart and kind and loving.

Worth It by TherapyBard (1085,Teen) Warnings: Discussion of Luc's death Pairings: Yeza Brenatto & Caleb Widogast, Yeza Brenatto & Luc Brenatto

Yeza and Caleb talk about guilt on the plane of fire

Reccer says: There's not much exploration of Yeza's feelings as a father in the fandom, it's nice to see something that gives Yeza space after Luc dies.

No One by That Name Lives Here Anymore by Operafloozy (13138,Teen) Warnings: None Pairings: None

A few years after faking his own death, Essek runs into his father in Uthodurn.

Reccer says: I liked it

If you liked this rec list, follow along for more! We'll be posting a new list with a new theme each Monday. And if you would like to make a rec yourself, feel free to reach out to @professor-rye to request access to the submission form!

Next week, we'll be presenting gen fics focusing on Shapeshifting into Animals! Whether it be polymorph shenanigans or one of our favorite druids just having fun, we want it all!

#critter genfic rec lists #critical role fan fiction #critical role fan fic rec list #cr fan fic #the mighty nein #bells hells #vox machina #gen fic

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