#Fjord needs a hug guys his backstory is so so sad

[aswallowssong]

Sicktember 2024 #4: "Great. I got a cold for my birthday."

So @fragolinaa and I have been working on a Critical Role AU for... well over a year. The whole thing is called "Twinkling Lights," (all 3 campaign's characters) but each campaign gets their own little name, because that's not confusing at all. Campaign 2 has always been my baby, and the thought was "What if the Mighty Nein were all absolutely chaotic, burned out high school teachers?" So I give you "Twenty Somethings."

Fjord was done with the day before he’d even opened his eyes. There was a steady pounding in his skull, and his throat hurt. Not to mention the fact that his sinuses felt like someone had shoved handfuls of paper towels up his nose. 

Great. I got a cold for my birthday.

Not that he cared much for his birthday anyway. He didn’t actually know what his birthday was, since his parents had left him at the doorstep of the orphanage when he was a baby. They’d picked a date five months before, since that’s how old the doctor said he probably was, and Cuersaar 6th it was.

And Cuersaar 6th it was, and he was sick, and he needed to get up for work before his second alarm went off and he was super behind for the morning.

Thankfully, Caduceus wasn’t into grand gestures of affection in general, but instead small, intimate gestures. So, when he sat down to shove some toast in his mouth, which scraped his already irritated and painful throat going down, and sniffled pitifully, all that met him was a warm cup of tea, and an affectionate hand on his forehead.

“Good morning, Fjord,” Caduceus said, giving him a knowing smile. “Happy birthday. Are you sick?”

“S’ a cold,” Fjord rasped. “Probably got it off Luc.”

Veth’s son loved Fjord, much to her dismay and his delight, but he’d parked himself in Fjord’s lap for all of movie night while his nose ran and he coughed quietly into the elbow of his sweatshirt. Veth and Yeza had said they’d just stay home with him, but no one in their friend group cared about a little cold.

Now, Fjord almost wished he had.

Caduceus hummed knowingly. “Ah, he was real snotty on Friday. Probably. Sorry, friend. I’ll put some tea I think will help in a travel mug for you to take with us.”

Fjord didn’t go a day without feeling like he was so desperately lucky to have a friend like Caduceus. “Thanks, Cad.”

“Mhm. I think there’s some soup left from a few nights ago. I can put that in a thermos for you, if you’d like? For lunch?”

It would have been easy to brush Cad off and tell him that it was fine. He probably wasn’t going to be hungry, anyway. He didn’t even want the toast he was currently choking down, but he knew that he needed something to get him through his classes. 

“I–”

“Let me? Since it’s a day about you?”

That stopped him from declining, and Fjord nodded slowly after a second. Cad knew the mixed emotions that came with his birthday; he had for years. 

“Okay,” he rasped, wincing and taking another sip of tea. “Okay. Thanks.”

“Sure,” Cad said, smiling widely at Fjord, and making him feel a little warmer inside. “I think there’s some cold medicine under the sink. Why don’t you go get some before we leave while I pack this up?”

Fjord nodded, obeying like a child. Regardless of the fact that he was a thirty-one, no, thirty-two year old man, he wished the same thing he’d wished every time he felt poorly since he could remember. He wanted to be comforted, and taken care of, not because it was someone’s job, but because they wanted to. Because they loved him.

And Cad did. He really did. Fjord knew that. But like a friend, or even a brother, and that was different.

He rustled through their bin of medicine that Cad kept stocked with natural and chemical remedies, and found a few blister packs of bright orange cold and flu medicine. He swallowed one pack, and stored the others in his pocket, wishing that he was staying home in a sweatshirt and joggers instead of the khakis and polo he had on for his job. The fact that Cad got to wear whatever he wanted only frustrated him until he remembered that Cad wasn’t going to be teaching Biology, but Culinary and Agriculture. He’d spend half the day outside in the crisp, early Cuersaar wind.

The thought of it made him shiver, or maybe that was the fact that he was decently sure he was sporting a mild fever, but he didn’t let himself dwell too long. He needed to drive to school.

“Cad?” He called, wincing and sniffling quietly as he pulled a jacket over his polo and pulled his keys off the hook.

Gods, he felt awful.

“Coming!” Caduceus rounded the corner with his school bag, already in a coat, and with both their lunch boxes in his hand. He smiled widely, giving Fjord an encouraging nod, and holding out his other hand, which held the travel mug of tea. “Oh, and don’t forget this.”

Fjord managed a small smile, taking the cup from Cad with a nod. “Thanks.”

“Oh sure. It’s a chilly morning, and by the sound of your voice, I’d say your throat needs it.”

It did, and when it was gone before his first period prep was over, he wished it wasn’t. He knew it wasn’t strep – he’d had that enough times in his life to know the feeling – but it was enough that he wished he had a days supply of the warm tea to keep him from rasping so badly while he taught his first two blocks of AP Bio. Several students looked at him with worry, ones that he knew were prone to anxious thinking, and he tried to give them a reassuring look as he explained the circulatory system.

By the end of his third period the cough had started, and the sniffling was getting annoying enough that Fjord had just grabbed a box of tissues from his cabinet and parked it on his desk. He’d already figured he was going to have to restructure his afternoon classes plans to be independent work, as opposed to teacher-led, but he knew his AP students were already worrying about Thunsheer’s test, and he owed it to them to give them everything they needed.

Even if it was at his own destruction.

When the bell for his lunch period rang, he audibly sighed, and when he turned to make sure his kids hadn’t left anything behind, he nearly jumped.

“Shoot! Oh, Orym. You startled me.”

The senior was looking at him with drawn eyebrows. “Sorry. Coach, are you okay?”

Orym had a heart of gold. Fjord noticed too, now, that Dorian was hanging in the doorway. It was unusual to see one without the other, and Fjord sighed, running a hand through his hair that desperately needed a trim.

“I’m fine,” Fjord said, like a liar. He didn’t want to worry Orym more than he already was, especially with the heaviness he already bore. “Just a cold. Annoying, but bearable.”

Orym nodded, and so did Dorian from his sentinel’s post. “Okay. You should see if Nurse Jester has anything that can help. She showed up in Herr Widogast’s room earlier with cough drops.” He smirked a little. “Someone might have narked.”

Ah, Caleb. Caleb’s immune system was made of tissue paper, and as Luc’s uncle, he tended to pick up anything on the kindergartener immediately. 

“Herr too, huh? Good to know. Thanks, Orym.”

“Are we still having practice?”

Crap. Fjord did not want to have practice out in the crisp wind. He forgot they even had soccer that day. Why would he schedule a practice the day after a game? They didn’t have another one until the next week.

“Right, um. Let me get back to you, okay? Come see me after lunch. This is your lunch period, right?”

Orym nodded. “Okay. And then I’ll let the team know in the groupchat?”

“Perfect. I’ll write you a note to show up to fifth period a little late so we can figure it out. Now, go eat.”

Orym smiled, looking back at Dorian and nodding so the other boy would open the door, and they scrambled out to go find Imogen, no doubt. The three of them were a motley crew, but a favorite among his friend group of teachers. He could help but chuckle watching them go, and then sigh when the door closed and his headache reminded him that he was, indeed, sick.

The only good thing was that none of their friends knew when his birthday was. They didn’t know that it was, supposedly and legally, that day, and wouldn’t fret at him about being ill on a day that was supposed to be happy.

It wasn’t particularly happy, anyway.

The first one in his room was Beau, rage in her eyes, and he knew that the peaceful lunch he’d hoped for to let himself feel like crap was not happening.

“Do you know how ridiculous Kaylie can be?!”

Fjord sighed, sitting down at his desk and pulling out his hidden box of crackers, his water, and another blister pack of cold medicine.

Caleb had filtered in after that, looking pale and sucking on what Fjord assumed was a cough drop. He took a look at Fjord, and under Beau’s rant quietly said in a voice that matched his own rasp, “You as well then?”

Fjord gave a tired smile and nodded. “Yup.”

“Isn’t anyone listening to me?!”

“Kaylie is being a menace today because she spent the weekend with her mother, and then yesterday back with her father, so she is having the emotional whiplash,” Caleb said easily, and raspily, but Beau didn’t seem to notice.

“She still doesn’t have to be a monster–”

“Calm down, Beau. She’s seventeen and her home life is a wreck. Well, her mom’s home is a wreck. Let it roll.”

Beau looked at Fjord silently after he was finished, and then sighed, flopping down at her desk and basically throwing her lunchbox down.

The rest of their group filtered in, Cad bringing Fjord his lunchbox when he did, and Fjord savored the way the warm soup coated his stinging throat, and let conversation wash into the background as he settled a little bit into misery. He’d perk himself up when he needed to teach his next class, especially if he’d be dealing with a pissed off Kaylie, but for the time they sat in comfortable companionship, he simply let himself wallow a little.

Jester was eyeing him with worry, he knew that, and it embarrassed him, especially since he’d realized that he was very much in love with her, and she very much still had a shitty boyfriend. He tried not to make eye contact, but when the lunch bell rang and everyone started cleaning up their things to get ready for their next class, she was standing at his desk, holding a bottle of ibuprofen and a bag of cough drops.

“Here. I already gave Caleb what he needs for the rest of the day. You can come to me too, you know? I’m basically here for the students and the teachers. Having a cold while you’re teaching sucks so bad. Let me make it easier.” She leaned in and whispered to him, so no one else would hear what she said next. “Especially on your birthday.”

He felt like he was going to melt under the sincerity of her gaze, and he couldn’t do anything but give a little nod, his heart doing some sort of anxious tap dance when he took the bottle from her and their fingers brushed. 

“Thanks, Jessie. I know, I just… didn’t want to bother anyone.”

“Cad told me that you don’t want anyone to know about today. And I won’t tell anyone, but, maybe on Folsen I’ll bring a cake to Molly and Yasha’s for family dinner. Just because. Not for any reason.”

Her eyes were sparkling, and she was looking at him with no pity whatsoever. She wanted to do it, he could tell, and she wanted to help him, and all those things made it really hard to focus on what he was going to say next.

“I– Alright. Can it be strawberry?”

“Of course it can. And, I know you’re going to say no, but I’m going to get you a present. Don’t tell me no, I’ve made up my mind. You deserve something better than a cold for your birthday.”

She nodded, speaking in a normal voice again. “Also you should cancel practice, since you’re sick.”

“Oh,” Beau said, whipping around at the word ‘practice.’ “I can take the boys today. You should go home and sleep, you look like you need it.”

They were the only ones left in the room, everyone else having left, Cad with a small wave as he’d gone while Fjord had been talking to Jester.

“I–”

“Say yes,” Jester said simply, and shrugged. “Or else.”

“Or… else?”

“Or else.” She turned, her hair nearly smacking him in the face as she skipped out of the room, her pink scrubs a whirl as she spun out the door, and around Orym as he walked in.

Orym looked confused, but shook it off as he faced both Fjord and Beau.

“Hi, Coach Lionette. Coach Stone, did you figure out practice?”

“You guys are going to practice with me and the girls today. Let your team know.”

Orym looked between Beau and Fjord for a moment before groaning quietly. “They’re gonna kick our butts.”

Fjord chuckled, which turned into a cough, and he knew he’d made the right decision accepting Beau’s offer. She didn’t know it, but she’d also given him a present that was better than a cold. All he had to do was get through the rest of the day, and he could crawl in bed and hope he’d wake up feeling better, for a better day altogether.

[cadaceus]

C2E99

So, after nine months and ninety-nine episodes... I am finally caught up with Campaign 2 of Critical Role  ❤️ This episode seemingly tied up some plotlines, but I still have my personal suspicions and doubts... I can’t wait to see what happens! And, hopefully, for Traveler Con during the next episode! Until then, however (whenever then may be!), here are my thoughts, liveblogs, and emotions about Campaign 2, Episode 99 of Critical Role: “High Seas, High Stakes.”

- OH NO TRAVIS IS GONE FROM THE TABLE AND THEY HAVE TO ROLL TO REVIVIFY HIM?? I’M SCARED

- “The DC has increased for the next time [that Fjord dies]” THANKS I HATE IT SDFGHJKLA THAT’S SO OMINOUS

- That moment when Fjord has Cure Wounds prepared and Jester doesn’t sdfghjk I love and support them both (also I had no idea Fjord even had Cure Wounds! is this his first time casting it or am I just very forgetful? Equally likely options)

- Jester: “Were you hitting on her?” / Caleb: “Do you think that would have been useful?” 💀 Much to think about and be sad about regarding certain Caleb meta/theories.....

- Small thing that I really appreciate is Jester checking in with Fjord to make sure that her feeling-him-up-to-find-the-orb method is okay with him, I love her 

- Fjord casting Water Breathing every night and saying “Just in case they blow up the ship and we’re all in the water...” Is he remembering what happened with his old ship before he met the Mighty Nein :(((

- The Greater Restoration ritual and the description of Fjord barfing up the orb is so  😳 I love it! And also is my boy free, then?? Is he safe from evil eyes???

- Beau: “Marius, did you kill that guy?” / Marius: “I grievously wounded him!” / Beau and Fjord: “Oh my god...” / Caduceus: “How bad is grievous?” / Jester: “It’s pretty bad.” / Caduceus: “Oh! Well done!” I LOVE THEM ALL LMAOOOOO

- “Find the betrayer” uhhhhhh ruh roh

- They want to bring Fjord to the Ukatoa temple and use the orb as the final seal to bring back Ukatoa???? uhhhhh RUH ROH

- “Did you just roll dice?” “No,” said Matt, like a liar.

- Yasha: “I feel safe with these people.” Caleb: “We feel very safe with you.” I love the Haunted Ones’ friendship/relationship so much

- Whoever put Ashley’s rendition of the D&D Beyond theme over the break’s commercial for this episode is so valid, that was so cute

- Laura’s five year thank you.... she’s gonna make me cry :(((

- Jester telling Caleb to stay exactly how he is because she likes him that way and that he’s nice awwww that’s so soft I love them

- “If we recruited another wizard, would you guys butt heads?” “Well, you know, Essek and I get along fairly well.”  😭

- A Fjorclay moment (with Guardian of Faith) directly followed by a Beaujester moment (with Beau getting Jester from the Crow’s Nest), my heart stays full, we love to see it

- The ship being called the Everstorm !! coincidental/unintentional Stormlight Archives references !!

- Caleb (about Essek): “Well, add him to the list.” / Veth: “He can be at the end.” / Caduceus: “We’ll be at the end.”  💀 💀 💀 That entire conversation was so good and showed their characters so well, also Caduceus made such a good point tbh 

- Caleb leaving the deck late/after everyone else after that whole ‘punishment for Essek’ conversation.... I can’t help but wonder if maybe he was wondering to himself when/if the Mighty Nein would turn on him and decide he needed to pay for his past sins as well.....

- Caduceus making Jester (and the rest) a cake after she talked about wanting pastries!!!! Awwwwe!!!

- THE BEACON OH SHIT OH NO HERE WE GO

- Jester: “Essek, did you ever talk to (Adeen)? Did you hang out with him?” / Essek: “We once knew each other, for awhile.” / Jester: “Does he suck?” / Essek: “That is a word, yes.” WHAT is the backstory there I HAVE to know

- “How does it feel seeing him in chains and not you?” “Honestly? Freeing.”  👀

- WAIT THE WAR IS OVER???? (Externally, at least) I still feel like it’s not that easy but I am tentatively counting this as a win

- “Maybe we can do some good together” Okay maybe we will get an Essek redemption arc after all......

- The Empire siblings hug  😭 Maybe I am out here crying at 3:16am, don’t worry about it  😭

- Travis’ mounting dread about this Tiny Island is so funny and relatable tbh dfghjklkdhfjk

- DRAGON TURTLE???

- “We love you very much, and is it Thursday yet?” Guys.... guys I think I just caught up with Critical Role??? I’m so emotional about this for some reason (maybe it being 3:30 in the morning has something to do with it) I love this show and community so much, and I can’t wait for the next Critical Role Thursday........ whenever that may be. Until then, don’t forget to love each other!  ❤️

[readbythestarlight]

c2e61

"Darker than the last episode of Game of Thrones" lol

Sam throwing some serious shade omg

Matt: "so... so what about D&D Beyond?"

Sam: oh right!!

Jester is scrying nice nice

Mmmm I don’t like worm gods of creepy tunnels

I do however like the way Matt designs and creates gods

I’m sure other people have thought of this but how funny would it be if The Traveler was just her imaginary friend who like... became real

F: "does he ever ask you to hurt anyone?"

B, C @ Fjord: "does YOUR god ask you to do that?!"

F: "nyoooooope"

Mmmm Yasha revealing that sad backstory to the whole group

"They captured her and I ran away"

The M9: comparing memory gaps

Cad: "I don’t remember anything either but that’s normal."

You don’t THINK she’s alive anymore

you don’t THINK?!

YASHA

SHE COULD STILL BE ALIVE?!

FffffffffFfFfFf

N: "Maybe there’s a yellow parchment or something we can flip through."

WHAT IF ITS WHATSHISNAME. The other guy Caleb knew.

Oh damn Jester that’s clever!

Okay so not that guy Caleb knew

I totally forgot they found a tally stone

The horse had a Zedashy accent xD

Catch me appreciating Caduceus along with Sorna the giant

Matt’s dying over their scheming

Nott trying to get Fjord and Jester into a romantic situation

The one thing Matt doesn’t have prepared xD

I can’t breathe omg

Marisha’s just watching Matt the whole time

Guys take pity on the poor man xD

Yeza is safe thank goodness

Gonna talk to the dead goblin okay okay

Caleb murdered this poor gross little goblin by mistake

Oh Jester, honey, you don’t even know that he IS your dad, babe

"You’re being ridiculous, I’m not your father. But... I’m glad you’re alright, wherever you are. Come back sometime, I’ve got more work."

And now she’s messaging her mom baby giiiirl

...Caleb

He’s afraid Nott’s gonna leave isn’t he?

Oh god Fjord dream time

Leave my son ALONE U’kotoa

"Punish"

NOPE

SOMEBODY SAVE MY BOY

metal what

Oh no

The falchion what

Oh no did he de-magic the falchion

U’kotoa you son of a bitch

OH NO HE TOOK FJORD’S MAGIC AWAY

Oh no oh Fjord oh baby

SOMEBODY HELP HIM AND HUG HIM

god do you think he’s gonna worry about being useless to the group now

What does this even mean

What is a warlock without his magic??

The voice?? The voice????

Matt how could you hurt him like this

I’m adopting Fjord I’m his new patron now

I can’t decide if he’ll tell them or if he’ll try to not have to tell them until a fight happens

I agree Cad was the MVP and I too want him to have the staff

I’m betting Fjord doesn’t tell them about losing his powers until they’re actually getting ready to face a new fight

Caleb asking Yasha to do his shopping xD

Professor Whacko is funny

TAKE THE BLADE I bet it fit’s Cad’s!!!

Listen plz take the blade guys I’m begging you

Taliesin’s like "I really want the sword but I’m not gonna look at you because I’m not there"

Y’all gotta stop pushing. I know you want the books but y’all gotta stop.

Fjord’s being on edge and Caduceus is suspicious that something is up

Ohhhhh it’s an apothecary. Maybe using another alchemist to make that same potion Yeza made?

Liam and Travis always have the best reactions to Matt’s crazy voices

Why do they need sunscreen in a city where the sun has been blocked out

Oh god that hair growing potion is gonna be used for some crazy pranks

How did Fjord end up being the one everyone flirts with

I’m kidding it’s the voice

"I have no powers that’s a natural 1" oh baby

Okay so he’s got at least some of his magic back? Like this was just a threat of what could be to come?

Also I love his cool half orc guy

Yasha’s a good friend. A good bro.

Fjord’s desperately looking for a new god right now

Caleb’s getting a new outfiiiiiiit

Actually idk I’ve got a slight uneasy feeling about his very specific order of new clothes

Cad giving Fjord a look

Heyyyyyyyy Shadowhand Essik ;)

So U’kotoa is just fucking with him and showing him how much power he has over him. Bad.

So the Dynasty is giving them a house?? I don’t know how I feel

Lol Caleb you’re getting played baby. Which I know you know.

Jester honey you can’t give everyone a Tusktooth tattoo

11 AC I’m crying sad tears

They finally got their own mansion guys

Still don’t trust it I don’t think

Jester is really just going in for that hug huh? An inspiration to us all.

They’ve got a house I can’t believe it.

BED ROOMS BED ROOMS BED ROOMS

Caleb takes a tower room I bet

We didn’t get to the sword but that’s okay hopefully we’ll get to it next week

I wanna hear all about how they do up their rooms

[night-filled-mountain]

So the Labenda Swamp/Berleben episodes, while they had plenty of stand-out moments (KIRI! CALI! Shaving with a greatsword! Awkward hug!), weren’t exactly my favorites this campaign. Intra-party tension, lots of combat, lots of single-minded focus on their job (...their purely mercenary job for a crime boss, with no element of emotional investment or even a whiff of heroism). Basically, they had the generally grim atmosphere that you’d probably expect from a shitty swamp town. By the end of ep. 23, I was really craving some downtime for the group, some richer, softer interactions, juicy character development, and maybe an altruistic side quest that would help me really root for the Mighty Nein (much as I adore their shadiness).

...I cannot express how hard Hupperdook delivered on all of this. I loved this episode so much, you guys. SO MUCH.

Highlights:

There was so much goodness that I think I’m going to have to divide this up based on characters. Starting with...

CALEB

This episode was like the grand payoff for all of Caleb’s conflicts with the others about his inability to integrate with the group. Practically every little thing he did confirmed his affection for them and his determination to be kind and playful and fully present for them, to shed his sad-loner persona and become a team player:

-Magically lighting Beau’s firecracker for her with no hesitation, even though they’re both well aware of his issues with fire

-Encouraging Nott in her dance plans with Jester--i.e. encouraging her to enjoy herself with someone other than him, which feels incredibly healthy for both of them

-Hasting Jester to improve her piano-playing, and tossing gold in the “tipping hat” for her

-Having a civil (and hilarious) conversation with Fjord about the hazards of rooming with Molly in a party town--and actually inviting Fjord to share a room with him and Nott, which I kind of wish we got to see, although the way things actually turned out was equally satisfying

-Telling Yasha he was sorry she wouldn’t be going out with them because he counts on her as his social-anxiety buddy

-Gently checking up on Fjord re: his flirting anxiety (more on that later)

-Participating in the drinking contest--again, with no hesitation (and killing it!). This went against so many of Caleb’s usual scruples (not spending money frivolously, avoiding crowds and social interaction), not to mention making him extremely vulnerable, both physically and emotionally. He had to know that some of his closely guarded secrets might come out, and he had to extract a promise that they wouldn’t let him pass out in the gutter...but he went through with it anyway, trusting the group to take care of him. And they (specifically Jester) justified his trust.

-THE DRUNKEN SINGING. Counting and singing both seem to be compulsions for Caleb, especially in stressful situations (we’ve seen him sing a version of that “Mighty Nein” song on the battlefield, haven’t we?), but even after the heartbreak of the waltz scene, nothing can quite beat, “One of those things is true...aaand you are blue.”

-Speaking of which...

JESTER

-That waltz honestly might have been the saddest (and sweetest) scene of the entire campaign. In a situation that would normally be ripe for high comedy (the most awkward, inhibited member of the party gets super drunk and agrees to dance with Jester, trickery cleric and perpetual agent of chaos), we got a quiet slow dance and a line so poignant in context and delivery that I’m tearing up just thinking about it. The way Laura/Jester’s face instantly crumbled (even though Jester knows nothing of Caleb’s backstory). Her instantly softened tone, the complete lack of teasing. Caleb’s broken little “Oh, I’m sorry. I’m...I’m sorry.” His sudden reversion to Sad Loner Eternally Punishing Himself, as he walked away to seek out solitude in some filthy gutter. Jester’s determination to Not Let Him Do That, to keep her promise and get him into bed. “I’m sure Astrid loves you very much.”

...Yeah, I’m not sure how to do that scene justice other than crying about it.

Moving on to somewhat lighter tidbits...

-“I go over and give Caleb a kiss on the cheek.” 😊 (I need to make a whole separate post at some point about Caleb and touch.) (...About everyone and touch, for that matter.)

-Jester has never been drunk. I always kind of figured that her habit of ordering milk was just an in-joke about Laura’s pregnancy, like the pickles--but no, it’s a legitimate character detail stemming from her sheltered upbringing. I felt sorry for Jester and Laura when she was the odd tiefling out in the drinking contest, but in retrospect, it’s really good (for Caleb’s sake as well as their finances’) that they had a Sober Friend on deck.

-Her conversation with Caleb about “hidden skills” made me wonder, not for the first time, whether she’s actually had a lot of sexual experience as she often implies, or whether her childhood surrounded by courtesans (and her habit of spying on their clients) has simply made her feel qualified to speak on the subject. Passing the written exam but not the practicum, as it were.

-Her frantic (and mostly futile) attempts to get her teammates to say who they’re attracted to while under Zone of Truth were good fun, but her frantic attempts to get them to say whether they like her held a bit more weight, I think. Jester is, without a doubt, the best-liked member of the Mighty Nein--I don’t think there’s a single teammate who couldn’t have truthfully answered that question with a resounding “Yes”--but Jester, with her history of isolation, her social inexperience, her lingering fears of being left alone again, still feels insecure about whether her friendships are sincere. Give Jester hugs, is what I’m saying. Give her ALL the hugs.

-Jester’s concern for Kiri gets more adorable each episode. I especially like how emphatic she is about the fact that Kiri is a person, appearances notwithstanding (“She’s like you, she’s a little girl, not a pet”). Laura said in a Talks episode a while back that Jester thought of Kiri like a doll, but I definitely think her views have evolved. There was something especially touching about the music-box scene. Hupperdook seems to present several options for safe and wholesome environments in which they might leave Kiri, but I’m kind of rooting for Rissa and her father to take her in.

-Jester got to throw around her magic a lot in fun, non-combat ways this episode. Loved the Thaumaturgy cheers for Beau, and the Infernal whispers surrounding the blacksmith kids. But that Locate Object spell not only single-handedly saved their asses, financially speaking, but also changed the entire direction of their current adventure when it led them to that final scene, with the kids in the boarded-up shop.

-It was kind of amazing to see the different ways and specific moments in which each member of the Mighty Nein was affected by the kids’ story. For Jester, of course, it was when they said their parents were thrown in jail for “idol worship.” It is killing me (in a Very Good way) how we’re gradually finding the cracks in the Nein’s cynical, mercenary armor--the emotional buttons that can be pushed to lead them to propose (or support) an actual altruistic quest, despite their much-cherished self-identity as “a bunch of assholes.” Which, of course, leads me to...

FJORD

Holy cats, did this episode radically transform the way I see and feel about Fjord. I haven’t done such an intense 180 on a character since Beau’s one-on-one scene with Dairon back in the day. That was the scene that 100% hooked me on Beau. I went in feeling lukewarm and iffy about her, and came out finding her lovable, secretly vulnerable, and generally fascinating...and this episode had the exact same effect for me re: Fjord.

-His flustered reactions to flirtation have always seemed funny before, and they were funny in this episode too, up to a point...and then, as Travis played it up, it began to feel like something more. I love that it was Caleb, of all people, who sensed Fjord’s genuine discomfort and asked if he was okay. Whether that discomfort just stems from virginity/inexperience or from some kind of bad experience, it makes Fjord’s relationship with Jester--who defaults to flirting as a standard form of social interaction, because of her upbringing--a lot more interesting to me than it’s ever been before. Her offer of sex lessons would have felt like simple comedy in an earlier episode, but now it felt like a case of fundamental miscommunication, a clash between two people with very different backgrounds and worldviews when it comes to sex and romance...and I am All About It, I am so on board for that ride, it appeals to me so much more than Jester’s simple romance-novel-fantasy version of their relationship.

-In my notes on last week’s episode, I forgot to even mention Fjord confiding in Molly about the eyeball on his sword (and Molly’s poorly-timed and poorly-executed Charm Person spell), but Fjord and Molly’s relationship always intrigues me. In this week’s installment of their roommate shenanigans, we got Fjord’s rather jaw-dropping line “Half of me’s interested, the other half is terrified” (I could just hear the fics being written on the spot). My shipping compass is all over the place at this point. On the one hand, Fjord has low wisdom and an occasional tendency to jump on board with crazy scenarios just for the hell of it. On the other hand, I could swear sometimes, looking back over the whole campaign, that the only people in whom he’s shown anything like romantic interest are Caleb and Molly. (If you want to get all metaphorical-innuendo with this, they’re the only two teammates he’s almost allowed to hold/examine his sword...yet, in both cases, he decided to refuse/hold off.)

-Fjord coaching Beau on behavior and facial expressions never, ever gets old. And for once, instead of trying to help her be more courteous and less off-putting, he got to help her ramp up her intimidation to a whole new level (for a couple of teenage punks! 😂). Molly and Caleb doing good cop/bad cop last week was a delight, but Fjord and Beau pulled it off just as brilliantly. (Are we ever going to hear what became of those kids, as they spent a day frantically searching for the thieves the Mighty Nein had already found? ^_^)

-And finally...HOW ABOUT THAT BACKSTORY, THOUGH!?

No, it’s not the first backstory drop we’ve gotten for Fjord; in fact, it’s one of the briefest. We knew about the kids who made fun of him for his tusks and drove him to file them down. We knew about his sailor background, the shipwreck, his near-drowning experience, and that he presumably made a shady deal with his patron (whether he remembers it or not). We knew about his mentor, Vandren, whose fate is still up in the air. Yet somehow, none of that had anywhere near as much impact on me as that one little line, that achingly hesitant response to the question of whether he’d ever been in an orphanage: “Yes. I was. They’re terrible fucking places.”

I’ve actually thought a lot over the course of this campaign about why I’ve had more trouble connecting to Fjord than to the other characters, and I realized that a lot of it boiled down to the fact that he’s just never seemed to have the same vulnerability. Yes, his backstory was painful, even traumatic, but there was a certain macho romanticism to it--explosions, shipwrecks, a shady kraken-esque magical patron, even the fact that the loved one he lost was a surrogate father. It was all a little bit too “classic hero” for me to really feel it down to my bones...and honestly, that also applied to Fjord in general. He was always so smooth, so polished, so badass and confident and leader-like. I never heard the same raw desperation in his voice as I did in Caleb’s when he talked about his parents, or Nott’s when she talked about her goblin heritage, or Molly’s when he talked about rejecting his forgotten past, or Jester’s when she begged the Traveler to appear, or even Beau’s (downplayed as much as she could!) when she was seeking Dairon’s approval.

But with that one line about his childhood, regardless of the specifics, Fjord has joined the club for me. I’m all in. I’d die for him as soon as I would for any of the others. ...And this turned out waaay longer than I expected. 😳 Moving on!

-Everything about Fjord during that last scene (and actually, everything about that scene in general) was pure gold. Fjord was so soft toward those kids; he gave us the gentlest rendition of the line “I’m the one asking questions” that I’ve ever heard. His quiet, eloquent, persistent appeal to the others to join him in a dangerous, unpaid, purely altruistic rescue mission did such a number on my heart.

-Also?  “I would really like the opportunity to leave this place better than we found it” was a direct quote from Molly when he talked about his circus days under Zone of Truth--and Molly definitely noticed. I love, love, love that the members of this chaotic-neutral trash group are learning to appeal directly to each other’s backgrounds, issues, and specific values, not just to get a rise out of each other, but to activate the compassion that every one of them has buried beneath a hundred layers of cynical self-interest.

-Of course, Fjord and Molly weren’t the only people having their buttons pushed in that discussion, and Fjord’s wasn’t the only big backstory drop this episode! Which brings me to...

BEAU

-Though I was initially disappointed that the gang didn’t set off a whole bunch of them in the streets of Hupperdook, I am now thrilled and terrified at the thought of all the firecrackers she still has in her possession.

-Everything about Beau and Jester’s friendship is pure as the driven snow, and Beau getting Jester a flower necklace was no exception.

-Beau: *tries to snatch Molly’s tip for a dancer out of midair; rolls a natural one* Dancer: *grabs the coin, kicks Beau in the face, and winks at her* Beau: “I wink back. You know, I kind of liked that. That was kinda hot.” Me: This is the most quintessentially Beau moment I have ever witnessed, and I love her more than air.

-Low-charisma Beau and Molly leaning on the bar, totally ignored, for 15 minutes, was beautiful...but Beau’s “Sorry to interrupt your incessant flirting, but can I please have a drink?” is everything I have ever wanted from Beau and Molly’s frenemyship. I feel so fulfilled.

-Beau’s brief involvement in Jester and Nott’s dance plans (“Yeah, I know, I’m your second choice” / Nott: “No, third” 😂). Beau gets a lot of flak for arrogance, but honestly, her self-deprecation game is almost as strong as Caleb’s, and it is both hilarious and kind of poignant every time.

-Her defense of Nott from the racist (species-ist?) firecracker salesman. “Hey, don’t ever apologize for who you are, man.” Also telling her that Caleb is “a good guy”--which, coming from the one person who (a.) knows Caleb’s full backstory and (b.) isn’t Nott, is kind of huge.

-BEAU BACKSTORY DROP. BEAU BACKSTORY DROP. I wanted it SO BADLY, and I got my wish!! There was nothing about it that I didn’t love, starting with the fact that she confided in Nott. Out of all the Mighty Nein members, they’re probably two of the people with the fewest interactions, but it makes sense that the weird Caleb/Beau/Nott bond formed during Caleb’s backstory drop continues to strengthen.

-“Are you evil? Are you a bad guy?” / “No. I don’t...I hope not. I think it differs from day to day, depending on what I’m doing. Do you think I’m a bad guy?” This said so much about Beau herself, and also Beau’s self-image--and how heavily it depends on how other people see her, despite how vehemently she’d like to claim otherwise.

-Beau’s story wasn’t shocking or even surprising--it basically just tied together a lot of the hints we’ve already gotten--but there were so many little touches that killed me:

Her painfully realistic reluctance to pronounce her father a bad person

The fact that he hired the monks to straight-up kidnap her like some kind of horrific “scared straight” stunt (which is a thing that real parents do to real children, and that’s all I’m going to say about that)

The pained sarcasm of her, “Sure. Great,” when Nott asked if she was okay...and the brief dropped eye contact when Nott asked, “Was it hard?”

The looong pause and deeep breath between, “He was hoping...” and, “...they were gonna beat my indiscretions out of me.”

“I think all of the things that my father saw in me that he hated, the monks saw as a potential advantage.” I’ve always known that Beau’s first scene with Dairon felt raw and emotional and Important, but this scene finally gave us the context to explain why.

And, more than anything, the way her voice broke and dissolved into pained laughter when she said, “In fact, he told me he never wanted to see me again.” ...If this guy is still alive, the Mighty Nein had damn well better hunt him down and give him the full Syldor Vessar or Howaardt Darrington treatment.

...I have to note that amid all those dark emotions, something about Beau’s deadpan delivery of “I worked at a library” sent me into hysterics. (Also, “That had to do with the job that I had before the job that I had--”)

In short: For her first big backstory drop, this was deeply satisfying, but there are still so many things we don’t know! Why was her childhood “meant for someone else”? What about “I came to hate the town I was in and the system my father was a part of”? That seems related to her previous confession to Caleb, that she watched her father give up everything for the Empire and get screwed over somehow. And what about her comment to Dairon ages ago about how her father’s money (for her upkeep) must not be coming in anymore? Is he dead? Missing? In prison? I WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING.

Still not the end of the Beau moments, though:

-Beau getting Fjord out of awkward sexual propositions by pleading erectile dysfunction on his behalf. Best/worst anti-wingwoman ever. (Bonus: Fjord’s Very Southern, Very Offended, “She doesn’t know me like that.” 😂)

-She finally followed through with her long-ago threat to slap Caleb! (Caleb, luckily, was not in a state to care.)

-“I will fucking punch you if you try and kiss me.” Literally could not ask for more with Beau and Molly. Could. Not. Ask. For. More.

-Her anguished “NOOOO!” when Molly literally pulled the alcohol out of her body...and of course, ”Did you touch inside of me!?”

-Despite finally dropping backstory of her own, Beau is still #1 when it comes to digging out other people’s: “I mean, Nott’s over here trying to pull my heartstrings, but it seems like you should be the target. Do you have a thing with kids in orphanages?”

Speaking of heartstrings...

NOTT

-So happy to see more of her friendship with Jester (“Do we need choreography!?”), and an attempt to revive their Detective Duo dynamic.

-It’s been a while since we saw Nott deal with racism (species-ism?). Still as much of a gut punch as ever.

-I loved seeing her gratitude to Beau for taking care of Caleb, along with her determination to make sure Beau is doing it right. I’m still not sure how I feel about Nott’s whole “I am the parent” attitude, but she’s certainly a better ‘parent’ than most of the Mighty Nein have ever known.

-She did a fantastic job bringing out Beau’s backstory without overshadowing Beau, but she still got off some great lines in that scene: “So wait. Little townsgirl, her parents are wine-makers, now you’re a brutal assassin martial artist who can kill anything...what happened in between those two things?” and  “You were bootlegging your old man’s hooch!?”

-“I never thought of you as an optimistic person, but that’s a very positive way of looking at it.” Okay...I may finally, finally be letting go of my cherished image of Scrappy Urchin Child Nott, and warming up to Maternal Nott. Watching her earnestly encourage her ever-growing collection of adopted children is kind of the best. (She was also great at “pulling Beau’s heartstrings” during the final scene, though I couldn’t help thinking that a lot of her “Don’t you think the children should be with their loving parents!?” rhetoric would’ve hit home for Caleb as well.)

-The drinking contest was a delight from start to finish, but Nott’s match was probably my second-favorite. (Nothing could beat “little Caleb” triumphing over his mild-mannered opponent.)

-It was a small moment, but it made me inordinately happy to see Nott and Molly profusely congratulating each other after the contest and then DANCING TOGETHER. They’ve barely exchanged a word since (1.) Molly wrenched deeply personal confessions out of Nott with Charm Person, (2.) They clashed in the aftermath of Scrollgate, and (3.) Nott offended Molly pretty seriously during his Zone of Truth backstory. Every single moment of Mighty Nein friendship/concern/camaraderie in this episode gave me so much life, but these two were a highlight.

And, speak of the devil...

MOLLY

It’s been quite some time since Molly got a big chance to shine. I’m mildly concerned about that, but that’s a matter for another post. (And it will probably get cleared up soon anyway--I think Tal just has a somewhat quieter play style, and takes a while to settle into his characters.) That said, the Molly moments we did get in this episode were absolute gems:

-Straight-up knight-in-shining-armoring Rissa with the punks who were harassing her. Nothing will ever be quite as gloriously creepy as blood maledicts.

-“Do I have masculine wiles!?” / “You have...pan wiles.” / “I’m into it.” (There’s this very specific voice Molly uses once in a while, this tone of pure childlike wonder, that sends my Molly love into overdrive. The lines that come to mind are, “Can I!?” back when Fjord joked that Molly could take the mirror from Pumat Sol’s shop, and “I won a strawberry!” back at the Harvest Close festival. I love that I can now add “Do I have masculine wiles!?” to the list.)

-Drawing alcohol out of Beau with his blood-hunter powers to ease her hangover

-“Whatever team you’re on, I don’t think I play for that one...It’s Team Fuck-Off, I’m well aware.”

-Throwing up on Fjord, and then tenderly bringing him to bed (...not that way)

-His “Say no more, I’m in” as soon as Fjord made it clear that the quest to break the kids’ parents out of jail was personal for him. In perfect accordance with his carnie past, Molly often walks this delicate line between “keep your head down, don’t make trouble” and “be the chaos you want to see in the world,” and I love that a friend’s Strong Feelings can single-handedly push him from one side to the other.

-I feel like there are probably more Molly moments I’m forgetting because I’m at the tail end of a post the size of Mt. Everest here, and I am most sincerely sorry.

BONUS

Yasha was barely there this episode, for obvious reasons, but I still desperately want art of her cuddling with Kiri!

IN CONCLUSION

This episode was amazing and I cannot wait for next week.

[arodrwho]

critrole 2.24 lb

hupperdook party time!

“just like yer brain-sick dad” hey fuck you probably

“yes, you are very sweet” “[jester voice] yes, i am very sweet” kiriiii

“[caleb voice] doesn’t matter, though” “no but it does matter” that was such a dad speech there caleb

“she would come out of her room though i know her” “[jester voice] i know her” kiri why are u sabotaging urself u don’t gotta admit jester’s right

oh my god fjord

“i’m not real comfortable with this sort of stuff” .....................ace fjord

“[jester voice] don’t eat humans, okay?” is this ? u telling them to make good choices while they’re out there? i’m going to interpret that for yes, but in an out-of-story context it’s starting to sound & feel like he’s jus having u say Literally Whatever at times, like, not considering what u mean by it, just Echoing Meaninglessly is what the intent seems like. but i’m not a fan of that so. meaning i will find regardless

“don’t ever apologize for being who you are, man” heck yeah

“thank you for the other day” “when?” “for talking caleb through his...you know” i kNEW it

“he doesn’t deal well with harsh criticism all the time” hence (in part) ur dingdang complimenty style of pre-defense

!! backstory shariiiiing u trust her w/the informationes i am delighted

“that has to do w/the job i had before the job i had” and what job is this my dude, tell meeee

“my dad paid to get me abducted by monks, yeah” holy shit

what the fuck

okay so beau needs some fuckin hugs too i guess

ohmy g o d jester i can’t believe u

i mean i can but

holy jeez

the tiny games they have inbetween serious adventures are always so gripping???

the fuckin arrow contest, the arm wrestling match, this stupid drinking game now,,,

like, liam rolled that nat 20 and i punched the fuckin air

i’m so delighted

“you were always better than me astrid, you were always so good” o no

“i stumble away” oh no

“no no no” good, yes “i walk him upstairs and make sure he gets in bed” excellent

mom friend jester is good. caleb will have All the mom friends

“you are blue” “yes i am. and you are very nice and a little stinky” lmao

“one of those things is true, and you are blue” aw u don’t think ur nice. u have the angst

“whatever team you play for i’m not sure i play for it ...... team fuck off i’m well aware” h ah

oh shit what--oh that’s cool, i hope it works

okay so it works a little. u can use ur freaky blood powers to marginally alleviate drunkenness & hangovers. incredible

“[jester voice] go fuck yourself” yeah, rude, don’t accuse the 4yo of stealing all ur moneys

heyy, be nice to ur dad rissa pls, he seems sad & hurt

poor guy

oh no they’re siblings and alone & ohno

“were you an orphan?” “yes. i was. they’re terrible fucking places” oh dear

sweet lore tho

anyway uhhhhhhhhhh kiri better be safe w/those kiddos or i’ll be Real Sad

[readbythestarlight]

c2e43

I have no idea what Sam’s ad was about but that was amazing. I love how you can tell they’re such good friends that they can tease each other than way.

Oh god here we go

WALL OF FIYAAAHHHH

okay okay it’s fine they’re gonna be fine

OKAY BEAU GOOD RUN THAT BOOK TO THE PLANK KING

“but what she can do is control water” FRIIIICK

bad roll bad roll please bad roll

AHHHHHHHH CALEB FUCKING UP AVANTIKA WITH A COUNTERSPELL

MY BOY

LIAM’S FACE WAS THE BEST

matt no

YEEEEEEESSSSSS

MY BOYYYYYY

IM SO PROUD OF MY SON RIGHT NOW GUYS

“now you can die happy” TRAVIS

DIMENSION DOOR YAAAS

they have been using the break well for planning

Against Caleb fuck

Liam is so tense it looks painful

no

GET OUT OF THERE ALL OF YOU

FJORD GETTIN’ MY BOY OUT YAAAAS

Get Nott out get Nott out!

NOTT NO RUN

OH SHIIIT

RUN CREW OF THE MISTAKE RUUUN

They are playing so smart right now I’m so proud of them

CALEB NO

FUCK

CAD GET TO HIM

guys Caleb can’t die I won’t be able to handle it

I literally haven’t been this stressed since Molly died

NOTT NO

TAKE HER HEAD OFF, YASHA

“Let’s get weird” I like the sound of that

SUMON GREATER DEMON YAHHHHH

SJORD SUMMONING A GIANT DEMON ALKSALKDFSDGLKJ

Liam and Travis constantly slapping each other in excitement is the CUTEST FUCKING THING

what does that mean phantasmal force

DID IT WORK

The dice gods are smiling on my children tonight and I have never been so grateful

don’t lose the demon don’t lose the demon

okay good

wait Beau just wait

Travis’s excited little hug he gives MArisha

THEIR FRIENDSHIP JUST GIVES ME LIFE YOU GUYS

Liam’s rage is all of us

Cad, darling, how about you get to Caleb plz

Okay that’s fine bless Yasha and Nott and yourself that’s good too

Fjord coming in with the healing potion to save Caleb hell yes

Caleb don’t fireball now that’s not good

not what you wanna do not babe

you know what I changed my mind BURN THAT SHIP DOWN

Poor Bouldergut.

Daaaamn Caleb.

Welp Caleb’s gonna have a flashback.

Oh jeeze.

I can’t imagine how Beau feels waiting while all this happens behind her

Nott honey no

That was somehow even more stressful than the fight with the Iron Shepards when Molly died

I have literally never been so worked up from an episode of Critical Role you guys

Okay Beau be cool about this

OH GOD

IT WAS A TEST

FUCK FUCK FUCK

THIS IS BAAAAAD

oh damn girl you playing it hard

lie well baby girl lie well

Jumanji Costco again

This is NOT going as well as I thought it would

I’m tense again Matt why couldn’t you just give us a break

Liam’s reading his book and it worries me a little bit

I’m literally so worried about how this is going to end

Oh dang Beau spilling some half truths with a lovely 22 roll

“As you have murdered a majority of her crew” yeahhhhh they did at that

Avantika you liaaaaaar

AVANTIKA YOU LYING WITCH

AHHH THAT NAT20

oh god oh god please let this work

HAHAHA SHE FAILED HALLELUJAH

ohhhhhhhhh myyyyyy goddddd

I CANT FUCKING BREATHE

oh god okay

just banish them from the island

just banish them. please. a “if i ever see you again you’re dead” thing

THANK GOD

I’m literally shaking

Snake eyes lol Laura paying for all the good rolls

“We don’t have to pigeon this” xD

Listen I’m 100000% happy to have a resource management game for a while. I need a break from the insanity.

I’m so glad Orli made it out alive

Jester is so taking Avantika’s clothes lol

Caleb thinking about Fjord <3

C: “We are the three assholes in this group”

Nott: “I - I’m asshole adjacent”

C: “Fjord’s going to find this very difficult.”

N: “We’ll take care of him like we always do.”

“He’s looking for a father, he exposed himself to this woman for us.” I’m having a lot of feelings about Caleb worrying about Fjord and understanding that he’s going through hard things, and understanding what he had to do with Avantika and how it must have affected him.

Caleb and Fjord are back at the top of my list of my favorite relationships in the game.

I’m back to being lowkey WidoFjord trash I feel like. Oops.

Oh. Fuck. Wait.

Is Fjord’s accent to sound like Vandrin?? Is that something that was established at some point and I missed it???

Jester did just say “If we find him will you stop sounding like him?” didn’t she??

IS IT SOMETHING JUST BETWEEN THEM??

holy shit it is

WOW IM REALLY SAD NOW THAT’S WHY FJORD’S ACCENT CHANGES??

They’re still after the wreck. I was kinda hoping that they would just be like “okay let’s leave it buried there”.

But at the same time I think they need to go. So Fjord can get closure with the whole Vandrin thing.

Why do they all have these crazy cool spells that we’re only just hearing about

Caleb’s like “I just got my cat back but if you need an octopus I guess….. ;__;”

Caleb is so cute and proud

Hi yes y’all please remember the ghost woman

Fjord’s like “LET’S GO YEAH” and everyone else is like Fjord plz we need to rest first

Cad: “I’ve been putting the fruit in everyone’s food for like a week” I would die

GUYS PLEASE REMEMBER THE GHOST WOMAN

Oh good I’m glad Beau remembered

Oh I’m glad she remembered to take Sprinkle out before he could die :P

I love how they bought pets, lost one, left one, and constantly forget one

Oh god here we go into the ocean

They’re at the bottom of the ocean this is amazing and terrifying

oh god

it’s a whale it’s fine

I love that

Matt you make everyone so amazing

Cad waving at the whales. So pure.

I’m ready for the Fjord feels you guys

JUST AS MATT CUTS IT OF COURSE

Man this was insane, intense, I was so stressed for the first two hours.

I’m really eager to see how things go with Fjord. He’s been through a lot, first the guilt over Molly’s death and their treatment by the Shepherds, and then all of this, and also the stuff from his backstory with Vandrin, and the sudden acquisition of magic, and finding out the magic came from a probably evil banished god. I’m just saying he’s gonna need some hugs.

God so good. Good good good good episode.

[readbythestarlight]

c2e30 (I’m very late and I know it but here it is anyway)

I’m almost a week late but hey that’s fine let’s do this!

Still miss Ashley but I’m gad Travis and Laura are back!

I also miss Keg

I’m so glad they fucked Lorenzo up. I’m sorry for Matt’s plans but fuck that guy.

“Enduring it silently” Yasha my girl

“Case closed” cool make me cry again that’s fine

Nott just has no fucks to give for Fjord xD

Oh, Yasha, my girl.

"I have healing I have healing who are you I have healing" oh sure Jester NOW you wanna heal

“Where’s Molly?” FUCK it’s fine I’m fine

“is he waiting upstairs?”

“He didn’t make it.”

“To… this dungeon? Cause he’s waiting upstairs?”

IT’S FINE IM NOT CRYING

Fjord sounds so exhausted someone hug him

Everyone’s sad I’m sad I don’t wanna live with this again

Fjord. Honey. It’s not your fault.

God Fjord and Jester and Yasha are going to have such a rough time healing and moving on…

This is really hard… like. My heart hurts.

“We learned for the future. This won’t happen again, understand me?”

“Nothing this good ever happens, this is great.” I love him. He’s sweet and he tries.

Jester and Beau back at the cute BFF banter already

B: “I would have laid down my life for you guys.”

J: “I would have tried to heal you back.”

Oh lord guys you can’t just make butt jokes in the middle of my crying.

Oh damn, I forgot Molly and Fjord shared a room the most often. Poor Fjord.

“It’s probably stolen.”

“People need killin’ if that happens.”

Them talking about Molly possibly coming back like that’s what we’re all still hoping for please don’t pull my heartstrings like this.

And the Fjord/Jester train rolls on again. They wasted no time.

“Oooooo, ooooo! That’s all I need to know.”

“INSIGHT CHECK”

oh my god Sam xD

WHISPERS

“Fuck human traffickers, ammiright?” You are so right.

“Please bring me any books” Caleb’s priorities back in place again

Cad cooking food I love him

Matt plz chill with the torture stuff

I love how they’re always finding random potions

Godddd Lorenzo’s chamber…

“Some young creature” it’s a baby Matt just say it

Bag of holding?? IT IS A BAG OF HOLDING?

YAAAS

Please no body parts please no body parts…

Fjord checking the room for books <3

I want Fjord and Caleb to get back to being bros man I miss that so hard

Fuck I forgot Caleb was still injured Jester plz heal him

I adore Cad you guys. Adore him.

“Roots.”

“Do I smell anything…? Nah it smells like breakfast fuck it I go back down” xD Travis

A long rest sounds like a good idea, but is the fortress safe?

“WHAT’S THAT NEW MAGIC YOU USED?” SAAAAM LOL

Cad is gonna be the weird uncle of the team who keeps them all fed and relatively healthy

I’m curious about the bag and what all it can do and stuff

lol Fjord just spilled everything out

“I have deep arcane abilities” lol Fjord

101 PLATINUM NICE

Ooooo a gem!

Oh daaaamn wax sealed envelope

AN ACTUAL ENVELOPE

okay what is it….

omg could they collect anyone 101 platinum?

Oooo Wayfairer’s Cove? Is it Pirates?? Please be pirates.

Also does that mean they’ll go to Nicodranus?

OH.

OH SHIT.

FJORD HAS ONE. IN HIS STOMACH.

“You have 50 rings, do you have a glass bead?”

Nott has the most amazing collection of stuff

Ouch, 5 intelligence check

Fjord my darling why are you collecting a tusk?

Also guys i’m over my annoyance with Fjord I missed him so much he’s back to being one of my faves

“HEY LOOK WHAT I MADE :D” Caleb my son he’s so proud and happy look at him

He’s been working on it so he can protect his friends I’m crying

Cad just makes me smile every time he speaks. Taliesin just knows how to cheer me up with every character he makes.

I can’t believe Caleb actually managed to make them a small “home” they can move just like he wanted I’m so proud of him

NOTT PLZ

Jester dragging Yasha in lol

Niiiice magic potion and magic red gem

bad magic manacles no

C: “This has great power.”

N: “What is it?”

C: “It’s a meat hook.”

300 bolts nice

Beau looking for something throwable

Those are creepy manacles 0/10

Caleb please stop being weird about fire YOU’RE SCARING ME

“It’s not my thing” hnnn

Beau honey please keep it for him he doesn’t need it right now

Fjord using Molly’s sword is good

DON’T EAT THE GODDAMN SWORD

PLEASE

Fjord’s actual identity is a bag of holding I’ve solved it

BEAU

BEAU NO

beau plz

Oh Jester… oh honey… I’m crying again

“Why didn’t you come?” IT’S FINE

I’m fine

it’s not fine

Bye Keg WE’LL MISS YOU

Letter for Nott I cry

“Oh, a note… It’s really badly written…” Nott plz

That letter I’M CRRRYYYYYING

“p.s. if anyone hurts you I will kill them” <3<3<3<3

Marisha’s face when she looked at the letter I’m crying

Ashley B is the best I miss her so much

Fjord keeping the glaive for Yasha. <3

Cad offering to help dye the bag pink xD

He and Jester are going to be good buddies

C: “I need to head east at some point.”

Cad: “What is east?”

C: “I don’t know. But I’d like to find out.”

—

B: “He makes dead people tea.”

F: “He makes what?!”

Hmmm okay so what’s making the illusion. the cart itself?

MAGIC ILLUSION CART that could be great

Stealth cart yessss

Happy (late) birthday, Ashley!

Cad should stay with the cart maybe?

They’re very touchy about the cart xD

Ophelia is classy as hell and I don’t trust her but I like her

Oooo smart to remember to bring the glaive Fjord good job

My boy with the Nat20 persuasion ayyyyyyy

No wait we’re keeping it for Yasha

Nice okay good she let them have it

Oh dang I forgot they were supposed to escort her back to Zadesh

“I think ‘hot fuck’ is accurate on a few levels” Beau continues to be THE disaster lesbian

Fjord is creeped out by Cad and I’m loving it

Oh no who’s coming…

Oh okay it’s just the carriages lol I was worried

Stealth check for giggles lol

Money says Beau will try to sleep with Ophelia before the trip is over

SAM NAMED THEM AFTER ABBA SONGS omg I’m crying

Oh oh oh a crick person. What were they called?

J: “Shady deals happening!”

Cad: “Oh is that what that is? I’ve never seen one before.”

Okay we’re in the slums this is where something is going to happen

Driving through slums in fancy carriages is bad

Frumpkin is gone sadly

Oooo Jester has a fancy new spell? Nice

“Next time you use it maybe it will have a purpose” xD harsh, Nott.

Oooo some Beau and Caleb talk! It’s been a few weeks. And yesss give us some Beau backstory!

“Why are you running around with criminals? And me?” Caleb you are just as much a criminal as the rest of them

Beau and Caleb’s friendship and their conversations are my fave

I SAW SPOILERS ABOUT WHAT’S ABOUT TO HAPPEN AND IM NOT OKAY

is his coat there

HIS COAT IS THERE

thank god

I’m not ready for this

Taliesin looks like he might cry, I’m gonna cry, everyone’s gonna cry

Letting Taliesin choose which card Jester pulled I’m weeping

the same card she pulled when they met I’m sobbing now

Fjord with Summer Dance I’m just. A wreck.

Yasha wakes up AT MOLLY’S GRAVE THIS ISN’T OKAY

“What’s going on” noPE MATT HOW DARE

Oh Yasha my dear oh god

“It happened again” stop please I beg you

She didn’t even get to help kill Lorenzo

Oh, oh, Yasha…

Oh fuck.

Oh. Oh, my heart.

She doesn’t even have her sword.

Caleb and Nott please don’t make me cry either

TALIESIN DONT

IM

I CANNOT

He’s gone.

He’s really, forever, never coming back, gone.

“I made the earth remember him. Something will be here.”

Like… like I had this vague hope that somehow he’d come back, ten, twenty episodes from now. Hell, maybe close to the end, he’d just come back. He’d return to life and maybe he wouldn’t remember at first, but they’d help remind him who he is. But no… he’s gone. Tal gave him the best goodbye he could.

C: “Come, everyone. Molly wanted us to keep living.”

B: “And make things better.”

I’m glad they all got to say goodbye but my god, none of them had ever die, because I can’t handle anything like this ever again.

Goodbye, Molly. For real this time.

“Those ideas I had have come to fruition” oh god what does that mean

Caleb worries me

New feat is cool but he still worries me

Ophelia and the Gentleman, huh?

PFFF SHE BIT HIM. kinky.

I like Ophelia more and more tbh

Cad just grins

also the Gentleman doesn’t have Cad’s blood that’s probably good

Hey @ the Gentleman don’t be a dick “that’s just the way of it” i’m gonna kick you

LOL Nott and the moisture thing again I’m cackling

How much money? I don’t remember

“mostly platinum” O_O

600 platinum NICE

250 gold

6250 alksjdlaksjflkjsdhfkjasdhg

+50 platinum for the loss of Molly HE WAS WORTH SO MUCH MORE HE WAS PRICELESS

Nott explaining “money” to Cad lol

“I can’t think of four things I’d like to get, that’s nice.”

A tea set, a skillet, more cups.

Fuck okay he’s gonna get his blood sigh

WHISPERRRSSSSS

Cad and his bugs alksjdlkas

I’m actually glad that Caleb lied about Molly… I’m not sure why but I’m just glad. Molly didn’t want to be tied to Lucien, even in death.

Metagaming pigeon lol

GO SEE PUMAT SOL I just want him to meet Cad desperately

Tal rolling to determine how Cad feels about milk lol

Tal wants to strangle Sam/Nott for their tragic lack of knowledge (r their total deception) about how whiskey is made lol

Introducing Cad to alcohol lol

Fjord is so baffled whenever people flirt with him I love it

“Here is to fucking making it work” <3

Beau I don’t think he wants to talk about it, darling

Alright Fjord needs a goddamn hug. Like a big one.

They think Jester is fine but guys she’s not fine keep an eye on her. This is how she copes but she’s gonna fall apart. There are cracks.

Caleb is right about her. She’s suffering.

Cad: “I’ve had six drinks. I’m in the biggest city I’ve ever been in. Everything tastes TERRIBLE.”

—

N: “Have you not thrown up yet?”

Cad: “Is that part of the—are you supposed to?”

—

Oh boy intruding Jester to alcohol too let her be sweet and innocent and not a useless drunk like all of you smh

Jester is going to have so much fun introducing Cad to pastries

“What’s a smut shop?” Oh lord.

C: “To that purple devil. To Mollymauk Tealeaf.”

B: “And now to our new… tea leaf…”

Travis just suggested shopping the world must be ending

Matt just keeps ducking his head and giggling I love him

Nott my dear you are not subtle

I’m so glad they all back together (minus Yasha—come back soon, Ashley!!). I missed these happy nights of goofiness.

And I’ll always miss you, Mollymauk.

“FOR MOLLY!”

Goblight lol

“Caduceus Clay, we are your destiny!!” xD Caleb

Oooo some downtime episodes coming! Some time to get to know Cad, that’ll be nice.

THEY EACH HAEV OVER 1000 GOLD

amazing

“Just one 10 hour Critical Role episode, please.” Someday, Liam, someday.

Good episode. Good, good episode.