#CALEB WIDOGAST

[essektheylyss]

I love that Caleb does not ever seem to take opportunities to take any kind of "this might be the last moment I have" actions. No matter what, when everyone else is going around and making their desperate moves, Caleb doesn't. Even after he recommends otherwise to others, it is notable that he among the group doesn't do so, and this is consistent with his previous behavior.

I like to think that stems from the moment he opted against trying to work with Trent—which I think, at its core, was an attempt at such an action. If Caleb had died fighting the Somnovem, he had every reason to believe that Trent would continue in his actions. Though Astrid and Eadwulf were willing to subtly undermine him, they had made it clear that they were not willing to challenge him outright. Caleb tells the Nein, when they are discussing their last wishes at the Blooming Grove before returning to Eiselcross, that he would appreciate Trent being eliminated in the event of his death. I have to believe that there was a fear or regret that his dearest motivations would not come to fruition which spurred his interest in using an alliance with him in Aeor to trap and kill him.

I've mentioned elsewhere that I believe Essek's willingness to disagree with him was one of the factors in Caleb being able to trust him and his judgment, but I would also argue it was a wake-up call for Caleb—about letting himself be distracted; about not focusing in on the mission at hand; about, potentially, expecting failure in this goal, especially after he has watched his friends say their goodbyes as if they too expect to die. "Stay on task, Widogast," is a mantra he uses in Vergessen, but he does get caught up, to an extent, in enacting as much damage as he can to the place in the process, and regardless of whether this ruthless assault slowed or sped their discovery, Trent did catch up to them, and very nearly caught Veth and Jester as well as himself. Given Caleb's fears throughout the campaign that he will draw the danger that dogs him onto his newfound friends, and his later apology to Essek in the same conversation for drawing Trent's attention to him, it is not a stretch to argue that this is yet another guilt he shoulders.

It isn't lost on me that Caleb almost died before the Nein even met, he was perpetually aware of his fragility among the group, and he was the last member of the Nein to go down and need to be revived. So I just think it's very fun if he, who so often seemed to be on the verge of death, who in fact planned to step back in history and in the process erase the person he had become, found himself at some point determined to live, and firmly confident in his ability to do so.

He does not wrap up his affairs, he does not say goodbyes, and while he may acknowledge the stakes for the group, he does not entertain the idea that he personally will not make it out alive—because, as Dorian notes, he has a lot to live for. He has to get back home to his partner and his well-maintained garden; he has to make sure the Cerberus Assembly's nefarious schemes do not continue in Ludinus's absence, perhaps even in the absence of the Assembly itself, depending on what its members do in its wake; he probably has to go egg on his godson's shenanigans as payback for Veth threatening to shoot him out of the sky.

Caleb Widogast is an absolute cockroach of a wizard, and, in true Mighty Nein form, he is at all times thriving on unfinished business.

[mareastrorum]

Liam hadn't thought about it ahead of time, but he came up with some canon on the spot:

Caleb and Verin met at some point, especially because Caleb and Essek traveled around the world so much. Maybe at something like a Bed & Breakfast in Nicodranas.

Caleb thinks Verin is a bit of a himbo, but is sweet.

Caleb appreciates that Verin likes poetry. Liking literature of any kind is a plus for Caleb.

Caleb thinks Verin and Essek are chips "off the same hot block." Not sure what the block is. Maybe the Luxon does that?

[eternalmomentss]

God Dorian. "You have many things that I am envious of." A partner and their cozy little home they created for themselves. A home made of love and trust. A family he chose. A life he shaped. Not a throne, or a palace or a legacy or jewels and riches.

[goldenrose101]

From the Liam O'Brien Fireside Chat:

The Question: When, if ever, did Caleb start to feel settled/moved on with his love for Jester?

Liam: That's interesting. I mean, it's definitely like a tempered thing now. I think he still loves her very, very much. But he is so happy for her happiness and Fjord's happiness. He loves Fjord very much. And I think he just appreciates her from afar. She's still the most special cupcake in Exandria. And, y'know, for me, there's no issue there. He can still care for her and think the world of her, and of course it's always a delight when they get a visit from her in Rexxentrum.

[alliekitaguchi]

thinking once again about the final fight with lucien when lucien threw the tower caleb was standing on at essek. how essek used his action and burned his fortune's favor to pull caleb free of the rubble. how caleb pressed his forehead to essek's. how when caleb was downed, essek was so angry that he used his 8th level gravity fissure only after realizing that caleb was awake again. how essek had to watch him die and be brought back. how he pretty much never left caleb's side again, and years later, still yearns for him in the exact same way he did in aeor.

[linzer-art]

"𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚, 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉."

inspired by this beautiful piece from @_K0TTERl_ on twitter:

[ludinusdaleth]

jester woobifies ludinus (part 3)

-Critical Role Campaign 3, Episode 115, "To the Arx Creonum"

[foldbaron]

Der Katzenprinz & Other Zemnian Tales

From the frigid regions of the Zemni Fields, born in the very heart of the Dwendalian Empire, come three fairy tales told to children on cold winter nights. Plucked straight from Exandria, this illustrated storybook is fit to grace any archmage’s library.

Ornamented with a double-sided and beautifully illustrated jacket, gold trim, and a ribbon bookmark, this elegant fairy tale book includes Der Katzenprinz, Die Waldhexe, and the never-before-told Himmelsschloss, a magical story about a lost Sparrow and a soaring city. Each tale is penned by storyteller Liam O’Brien and illustrated with enchanting original art by Charlie (Newt) Borovský.

Pre-order today! Releasing April 8th, 2025.

[tinysluttywizardwaist]

Pretty sure the last thing Caleb Widogast could ever imagine was someone telling him they envied him. If anything people were probably glad, that they weren't like him. And now a guy like Dorian tells him, he envies him for the life he has...

[sassy-cass-16]

caleb, on the subject of simulacra: i have done this myself one time.

caleb, 5 seconds later, unprompted: good night.

ESSEK THELYSS IS A LUCKY LUCKY MAN.

[ohnonewfandom]

Caleb and Allura and Essek and Verin having a small secretive poetry book club my HEART

[sansssins]

Caleb: What are you drinking? Essek: Vodka. Caleb: Straight? Essek: No, gay. Why?

[marvelousbelladonna]

Caleb is still in awe from traveling with Chetney

[mareastrorum]

In response to what Caleb was thinking when he considered leaving the Mighty Nein around the Iron Shepherds arc: He liked them, but they were often angry at him for something, since he was a hoarder and trying to accumulate power. Caleb realized he liked them, and that was enough. "They're a distraction of what you're trying to fucking do, so cut and run."

Liam changed his mind because Matt said he could do that, but also warned him that if Caleb leaves, "he's mine." Liam didn't want that to happen.

[readerofdragons]

Bearing in mind that it wasn't that long after Matt "got" Vax as an NPC, it makes sense Liam wouldn't want to give him Caleb as well. I literally watched the chat this morning, and can't remember when he said this was in relation to them losing Molly too

Watching the fireside chat over my lunch break and Liam describing not having Caleb leave the party because Matt had said “if he leaves, he’s mine” as “uhh you can’t have my buddy, I will figure it out” was so funny to me for some reason.

[gwendolynnderolo]

critical role ships as hozier songs

vax / keyleth : francesca

percy / vex : work song

pike / scanlan : foreigner's god

fjord / jester : nobody

beau / yasha : as it was

caleb / essek : from eden

imogen / laudna : NFWMB

orym / dorian : like real people do

ashton / fearne : dinner & diatribes

specific lyrics that i feel like represent the pairings under the cut!

vax / keyleth : francesca

how could you think, darling, i'd scare so easily?

my life was a storm, since i was born, how could i fear any hurricane?

if i could hold you for a minute, darling, i'd go through it again

it was too soon, when that part of you was ripped away

i would not change it each time, heaven is not fit to house a love like you and i

percy / vex : work song

when my time comes around, lay me gently in the cold dark earth, no grave can hold my body down, i'll crawl home to her

and i was burning up a fever, i didn't care much how long i lived

but i swear, i thought i dreamed her, she never asked me once about the wrong i did

if the lord don't forgive me, i'd still have my baby and my babe would have me

in the low lamplight, i was free, heaven and hell were words to me

pike / scanlan : foreigner's god

she moved with shameless wonder, the perfect creature rarely seen

her eyes look sharp and steady into the empty parts of me

wondering who i copy, mustering some tender charm

breaking if i try conveying, the broken love i make to her

fjord / jester : nobody

i'd be appalled if i saw you ever try to be a saint, i wouldn't fall for someone i thought couldn't misbehave

but i've had no love like your love from nobody

if i had the choice between hearing either noise, the excitement of a thousand, or the soothing of your voice

and on the other side, why should we deny the truth? we could have less to worry about, honey, i won't lie to you

beau / yasha : as it was

and in a few days i will be there, love, whatever here that's left of me is yours, just as it was

the lights were as bright as my baby, but your love was unmoved

tell me if, somehow, some of it remains, how long you would wait for me and how long i've been away

the shape that i'm in now, your shape in the doorway, make your good love known to me or just tell me about your day

and the nights were as dark as my baby, and half as beautiful too

caleb / essek : from eden

there's something tragic about you, something so magic about you, don't you agree?

honey, you're familiar like my mirror years ago

innocence died screaming, honey, ask me, i should know

there's something broken about this, but i might be hoping about this

a rope in hand for your other man to hang from a tree

imogen / laudna : NFWMB

give your heart and soul to charity, cause the rest of you, the best of you, honey, belongs to me

ain't it a gentle sound, the rolling in the graves?

if i was born as a blackthorn tree, i'd wanna be felled by you, held by you, fuel the pyre of your enemies

ain't it the life of you, your lightning of the blaze?

orym / dorian : like real people do

i will not ask you where you came from, i will not ask and neither should you

i know that look, dear, eyes always seeking, was there in someone that dug long ago

honey, just put your sweet lips on my lips, we should just kiss like real people do

ashton / fearne : dinner & diatribes

i knew well from our first hookup, the look of mischief in your eyes

your friends are a fate that befell me, hell is the talking type, i'd suffer hell if you'd tell me what you'd do to me tonight

honey, i laugh when it sinks in, a pillar i am, upright

now that the evening is slowing, now that the end's in sight, honey, it's easier knowing what you'd do to me tonight

oh, let there be hotel complaints and grievances raised and that kind of love