#Otis has that halfling luck

[mareastrorum]

WIP Wednesday: TF&TS (Luck)

Here is a scene from an early chapter of a longfic I am working on.

Fanfic Summary: Mollymauk Tealeaf survived the encounter with the Iron Shepherds, but a short time later, a spirit had begun hunting him, claiming that he stole his body. This Campaign 2 AU begins with Episode 26 and continues on from there.

This fanfic will be posted on AO3 starting hopefully by Friday 7/28.

Zadash was fucking boring.

Otis had only been in town for a month, but they were running out of things to do. Half the city was off limits because it would piss off Cree’s boss. There weren’t really any rivals against the Myriad because they had gotten that good at killing (or selling) off the competition. Breaking and entering lost the novelty after a while. No one to spy on who was interesting. The city didn’t use the Victory Pit for most of the year, and with the war, it had been abandoned completely. Zoran’s nose for underground fighting rings wasn’t any good because those losers all insisted on fair fights, and what was the fun in that?

Boring.

Shadycreek Run was fun. There was always some insane bullshit going on. An Uttolot beast got loose and wreaked havoc maybe. Brawls breaking loose for any reason anywhere. Raids between the Mardoons and the Jagentoths. Gangs imploding when it turns out one of the leaders was an Empire plant. And if it didn’t happen organically, Otis could help out a bit by loosening some locks, fucking with people’s thoughts, spreading rumors, planting some forgeries or stolen seals or whatever. But the halfling didn’t know enough about the power players in Zadash for that kind of shenanigans, and the low-risk stuff lost their appeal.

Fortunately, Tyffial had finally arrived, which meant that they could get on the road to Nicodranas. Unfortunately, Cree had to handle some bullshit because her boss might get mad at her for leaving, and Tyffial immediately found an excuse to dress up and threaten people. The women had both prohibited Otis and Zoran from tagging along, so they had to wait for however long that was going to take.

There hadn’t been much to do except tail Zoran through the Pentamarket while he picked up supplies for his new two-handed maul, hanging from his belt. The weapon was larger than Otis, grooves into the sides shaped like a grate—perfect for triggering a rite with a shallow wound on skin rather than carving in deep with spikes, plus the intimidation factor. It looked ridiculous otherwise, but most people had no reason to know why that design would be useful, so it mostly just attracted confused looks if anyone paid any mind. Maybe it could be used to shave mammoths or something. Zoran would probably refuse to test that.

But anyway, those errands were handled quickly and the two agreed to get drinks at the Song and Supper and wait at the bar after dumping their things upstairs. It was loud enough that they didn’t need to talk, so Zoran could zone out and drink, and Otis could people watch and look for ways to cause trouble. The only real concern was that someone from the Claret Orders would recognize either of them, but it wasn’t that likely after so much time had gone by. Sure, there was a chance because the Orders frequented the inn, but things always seemed to go Otis’s way when they stayed there. The halfling sure as hells never told the Tombtakers that; they were each their own flavor of superstitious, and they each judged the rest for that shit, so they all just silently tolerated it.

Hopefully, the Tombtakers could get going before dark. If not, Otis had plans for messing with the temples for the Night of Asc—

A high, raspy voice cut in, “You’re Zoran Spiritseer, aren’t you?”

“Wot’s it to you?” Zoran countered before looking. Otis looked over out of the corner of their eye: on Zoran’s other side stood a tall, muscular white dragonborn with blue eyes, wearing boring clothes and leather armor. Despite the generic appearance, there were several scars along her hands. No weird veins. Clean, sturdy armor. No Raven Queen markers like feathers or masks. No weapons, but that didn’t mean much. Either a profaned soul or a ghostslayer, then, but if she recognized Zoran and knew his clan nickname, probably the latter.

Fuck. Maybe it hadn’t been so lucky to visit this time since Zoran had made a reputation for himself at the Orders. Otis kept their mouth shut and pretended not to care. The two might have looked like they had just happened to sit next to each other.

The dragonborn sat on the stool next to Zoran. Otis could barely hear her. “Not here on business, friend, but I remembered you from a job a few years back. A friendly warning, from one hunter to another: bounties have been posted for our trade.”

“Tch, s’old news, ‘friend,’” Zoran replied with some bite. Otis stifled a snicker. The goliath hated the Orders more than the rest of them combined, so it was impressive that he was being so polite. There were maybe a handful of people he tolerated from there, and the Tombtakers were a majority of that category. Then again, Cree and Tyffial would be pissed if he started a brawl here.

“It’s been around a while, sure, but they’re still collecting,” the dragonborn replied. “Whoever it is, they’re not only after those in the… organization. Whether they’re after someone specific or just want bodies, they’re taking any victims they can find.” She leaned in, whispering, “And they know about this meeting spot.”

Oh, this was interesting. Otis rolled a copper piece in their hand, muttered an incantation, and tapped Zoran with their free hand. Another layer of voices suddenly filled Otis’s mind, mostly violent, gnashing whispers from the shadows and in-between places, but one sounding just the dragonborn.

He’s not even listening, is he? Stubborn as always.

“Ain’t worried,” Zoran scoffed, taking a drink. “But ‘ow d’ya know they’re onto this place?”

Paranoid, too. Small favors.

“A few friends went missing after their hunts, and all of them had stayed here on the way to the keep,” she answered before a pause. “We’ve stopped using this place already, but I’ve been trying to bait them, and now I saw you. Figured you could use a heads up.”

Otis saw flickers of images as if through a taller person’s eyes. People, mostly human or elven, wearing draping cloaks to cover their clothes; sitting in dark corners, watching tavern folk; walking the streets after lone mercenaries in armor; brawling in alleys, sewers, back paths, all ending quickly and in bloodshed. Then one of those groups sitting together in the Song and Supper, then on the streets, then one looking in Otis’s direction from a gate. Lastly, a party of three humans—strange black lines tattooed on their arms—talking with others and then collecting a body onto a covered cart.

The halfling pulled back out of the visions, then glanced up at the bottles on the bar. No groups of three in the reflections. No one with those tattoos. Otis resisted the temptation to touch their daggers. So, those bounties really were serious if blood hunters were getting nabbed in Empire cities. Were they evading the Crownsguard, or were the authorities in on it? Regardless, the Tombtakers needed to get a move on, then. They could handle trouble, but that sort of distraction was going to be a waste of time when they already had a chase to start.

“Sure,” Zoran eventually replied, still dismissive. “Send my thanks along to ‘em jackasses that posted you ‘ere.”

Zoran Lughead, more like. Gods.

The dragonborn growled a sigh, “Listen, I don’t care why you left or what you’re up to, but this has been happening more and more as word of the payday spreads. Whoever’s doing this, fuck them. I don’t want them getting any more of us. So, if you’re staying in town, I recommend staying elsewhere, and if you’re leaving, leave under cover of night.”

Please, just save yourself. Fuck’s sake.

“Aye, I’ll keep it in mind,” Zoran replied casually as he slapped a gold on the bar and stood up. “‘Ave a drink on me.” He shoulder-checked her as he passed and walked up the stairs without another word. She snorted, but just watched him go.

Damnit. Well, I tried.

Otis stayed behind, slowly savoring their liquor. Their hands itched to move. The dragonborn shook her head, pocketed the coin, and walked off. The halfling tracked her in the reflections of the bottles, watching her take a seat at a table with a gnome, but by then, the whispers had receded. She looked frustrated, but nothing notable otherwise. After waiting a few minutes, Otis headed upstairs and into their room.

“Wot’d you get?” Zoran asked as soon as the door was closed. The goliath sat at the table, his maul already at his side.

“Nothin’ shady from her,” Otis answered rapidly as they fetched their crossbow and started checking it over in case they’d get into a skirmish. “She was serious about it. Picked her brain, saw groups tracking blood hunters in Zadash, but they got their targets before she could stop it. One might’ve spotted her. The people collectin’ the bodies got weird tattoos with black patterns on their arms.”

Zoran growled, “Seen that markin’ a few times in the capital. Them types work for the Assembly, but fuck if I know wot they do. Never seen it in the Run?” Oh, it was exciting to think about a fight with the Assembly, but it’d be more fun once Lucien was back.

Otis shook their head, but didn’t look up. “Not like those. Gang tattoos, sure, tribes’ stuff and all that, but these ones were… fancy? Too clean. Kinda like arcane symbols.”

“Aye, that sounds like wot I saw,” Zoran grumbled. “Don’t like this business, but we’re fuckin’ off to the coast soon anyway. Maybe it’ll blow over by the time we get back.”

“Maybe hide that thing,” Otis suggested as they looked over. “If they know what blood hunters can do, they’ve got an idea of what kinda weapons to look out for.” They pointed at the hook on their crossbow.

Zoran side-eyed his maul, then grunted and fished out some cloth from his pack. By the time he wrapped it up, there was a brief rap at the door—the two of them shifting their weapons to ready positions—before it opened, Tyffial and Cree striding in.

“Well, hello to you, too,” Tyffial sassed as she walked over, placed a bundle of papers on the table, and took a seat. For whatever reason, she was still dressed like a lady, even when she moved like a fighter.

“Is something wrong?” Cree asked as she closed the door.

“Someone from the Orders warned us that bounty hunters have this place staked,” Otis answered with a grin. As annoying as it was, it was still exciting to get everyone riled up, and seeing the new frowns on those two felt good.

Oh, a mood was coming on. Good timing, yes, yes.

“Wonderful,” Tyffial sighed as she reached into her pack nearby and pulled out a few glasses and two bottles of who-knows-what.

“We should leave soon, then,” Cree added. “I must attend one last meeting for the Gentleman this evening, then pick up some supplies. After that, I am free to go.”

“Said we should leave af’er dark,” Zoran noted, looking at the bottles with suspicion. He’d made the mistake of raiding Tyffial’s stash exactly once. “Not that I trust the Orders any, but s’good advice if we’ve been spotted.”

“Tonight, then,” Cree agreed. “The sun sets early as it is.”

“I’ll make my check-in brief, in that case,” Tyffial commented as she poured three glasses from one bottle, then a fourth from the other. “It won’t take me long, less time than Cree, I suspect. I already arranged for horses on my way back, so Zoran and Otis can meet us outside the gates.” She kept the fourth for herself and nudged the others away, glancing at Zoran. “It’s whiskey for you lightweights, don’t worry.”

Zoran sneered at her, but took the glass. Otis cackled and grabbed the other two, handing one off to Cree before they knocked the whole glass back. It burned good, it did.

“Thank you,” Cree replied. “It will be good to get away from this city for a while with all this mess.” She took a sip.

Tyffial took a shot of whatever her drink was, exhaled in satisfaction, then loudly set the glass on the table. “Now that that’s all settled, let’s discuss: why the fuck do the Somnovem want us to bring Lucien back as an undead?”

Otis snickered instinctively at Tyffial’s bluntness (by the Voice, they had missed it), Cree nearly choked on her whiskey, and Zoran just barked a laugh. Leave it to the soulless bitch to stab right to the heart of the matter. Cree coughed once to catch her breath and force the drink down.

“Well?” Tyffial prodded sharply. “Why are we summoning Lucien as a ghost? We can just kill the thief ourselves. I’ve got poisons. Zoran can call in favors with his Myriad assassin buddies. Otis has…” Otis cackled, and Tyffial shook her head as she continued, “creepy bullshit. Hells, Cree, your employer has connections, too. Why are we going through the trouble?”

“Aye, don’t like this ghost bollocks,” Zoran muttered. The goliath had been in town for all of a week and his mood turned sour every time undeath came up. Cree had been getting tired of his arguments, but Tyffial had missed all that drama.

Cree sighed heavily before she answered, “The Somnovem instructed me to summon Lucien so that he could kill the thief. There was— there was little time for them to explain with the spell that I used to communicate with them. So they used that time to pass that instruction and teach me how to summon him.”

Tyffial scoffed, “He has to do it personally? When the thief has been using Lucien’s blood magic that is particularly effective against undead?”

“It is not ideal.” Cree nodded in exasperation.

“Why not ask them again, then?” Tyffial pressed. “Maybe they needed to be clearer.”

“Oh, shit, well, we’d have more potions this time, Cree,” Otis blurted out with a half-mad laugh.

Tyffial narrowed her eyes at Cree in inquiry, and even Zoran raised a brow. Oops. Apparently, Cree hadn’t told them what happened.

Cree glared at Otis (what? It was her own fault for not telling them earlier) before adding, “Without the Nonagon filtering such contact, it is… a challenge to speak to the Somnovem. Damaging. It is not something to risk lightly, especially because none of you are healers or capable of reviving me.”

“Revival?” Tyffial noted flatly. “It nearly killed you?”

“You shoulda seen it!” Otis barked. “Blood everywhere, buncha screaming, and the—” Cree clamped a hand over Otis’s face and forced their jaw shut, using the tips of her claws as emphasis. Tyffial’s face contorted to agitation. Zoran shook his head and looked down at his drink, already deciding not to bother with a fight.

“Attempting to connect to the minds of the Somnovem without the Nonagon’s blessings was foolish,” Cree said definitively. “I knew the risks, but I had to do it to understand how to bring Lucien back. I learned what I needed, and I am still here. The Somnovem are not at fault for my decisions, and I will not risk it again just because the answer was not what we wanted to hear. So the details are moot.” She gave one more glare at Otis as a warning.

The vein on Tyffial’s left temple pulsed as she set her jaw, but she nodded. Zoran nodded without looking at them because he knew damn well both women would do as they pleased. Otis was tempted to lick Cree’s hand since she hadn’t released them yet, but she was the boss for now, so that kind of sass would have to wait until Lucien was back.

“Anyway, Tyffial, you found records at the Archive?” Cree asked tiredly. She let Otis go, and the halfling bit at the air and laughed quietly. Cree rolled her eyes. Oh, this trip was going to be so fun, so fun. Tyffial nodded and quickly sorted through the pages on the table, handing off stacks to each. Zoran scowled at his pile, small as it was.

Otis flipped through their stack. It was notes about a member of the Cobalt Soul, mostly a disciplinary record. It didn’t take long to go through once Otis caught the pattern: brawls, sneaking out of the monastery, sneaking in drugs, mouthing off to superiors. It kind of reminded Otis of the trouble they and Lucien used to get into at the Orders. Good times, good times!

But there were only a few important bits. Beauregard Lionett was also a member of the Nein, permitted to travel with the group by an expositor with an indecipherable signature. Didn’t even have to check in, which would make her tough to track. She was originally from Kamordah, had decent marks for research skills, but everything else was boring. Maybe she’d visit home at some point, but there was no direct route there from Nicodranas, so it didn’t matter for now, nope. One of their sneaky sneaks, basically, supposed to be sniffing out corruption or whatever. That was a laugh, especially from the Soul. The Orders had been paying off some of their leaders to keep stuff quiet for decades, and Otis had no doubt others were doing the same.

It’s only corruption when other people do it, of course, of course!

“So, which one of ‘em’s the thief?” Zoran asked before finishing off his glass, not having looked at a single page.

“Mollymauk Tealeaf,” Cree answered, slightly bewildered as she looked over a page. Otis peeked; a list of names with notes in the margin reading “Victory Pit,” something about a carnival, and “Knights of” some gibberish. “How did he come up with a name like that? Even Lucien wouldn’t try something that inane.”

Zoran snorted and shook his head, then froze after a moment, then looked at Cree, asking, “Wot?” The goliath was not very bright, but Otis had not expected a name stump him like that.

“The thief’s name is ‘Mol-ly-mauk Tea-leaf,’” Cree repeated slowly to enunciate. “As I said, it’s ridiculous.”

Zoran turned to Tyffial, who returned a sharp smirk. They stared at each other for several seconds, then both burst into a laughing fit.

“What? Is it that amusing?” Cree asked in surprise as she looked up from her papers. Otis shared her confusion. Sure, sure, it was a silly name, but it was weird that both Zoran and Tyffial equally thought something was funny. And it didn’t seem like their type of humor either; no blood or guts or torture or poison or nothing.

“That is absolutely a name Lucien would make up, if he were the thief,” Tyffial concluded as she calmed her laugh.

“I’unno, that one’s pretty bad,” Otis chimed in. Lucien came up with all sorts of obvious cover names just to show off that he would get away with it. As far as Otis could recall, none were quite as bizarre as this one, no.

“A mollymawk is a bird,” Tyffial explained with a wry grin. “There’s a mess of a sailing story about them, but the point is that it’s bad luck to kill them. It’s good luck if you see them and let them be.”

“Aye,” Zoran agreed, still chuckling. “And ‘tealeaf’ is an insult. It means ‘thief.’”

Tyffial nodded. “So his name means, ‘It’s bad luck to kill this thief. Leave me alone.’” The two erupted into laughter again while Otis and Cree looked at each other incredulously. Cree shook her head and rubbed her eyes. She was going to get sick of this so quick if she was already tired. Maybe living in Zadash had softened her up.

“Bad luck’s not that big a deal, right, right?” Otis prodded. “Still balances in our favor between me and Lucien.”

Tyffial guffawed and shook her head. “How do you figure that?”

Otis snickered and gave a wide smile. “We’re lucky.”

[thequeenofmyownscreen]

Nineteen things I noted about CR2E123 “Fair-weather Faith” and the Talks Machina about it :

I'm not apologizing for this post, the episode was 5 hours and 24 minutes long !

The fact that we had, almost back-to-back, a moment where Beau was like "No ! Don't pour acid on my hand ! I need my hand for... like, stuff... Combat !!", and a moment later, this gem : Ashley : "I'm going to grab Beau's hand and just start just trying to rub it [the eye] off." Laura, with her 14-year-old adolescent mind : *snickers* Ashley : "Just rub one out real quick !"

Travis, overjoyed at this turn of events, in vindication : "Ah, this is great ! Who's having the fucked-up dreams now, huh ??"

I'm crying with laughter, they are so FERAL, they went from "let's cast Greater Restoration" to "maybe the only solution is cutting off their heads !!" while also doing "let's pour acid on the eye on the hand !" and "maybe if we cut the hand and grow it back ?" !! Poor Beau is having the worst night.

Ashley's "I rolled a dragon !! I'm sorry !!" was entirely too cute.

Ooooooh, the Beau-Jester team up was HOT. Bonus, Sam, having a flashback to CR1 : "Dimension Dooring to a dragon ? That sounds like a terrible idea."

This fight is awesome because a) I fucking love dragons b) they are learning a lot about how Lucien & Co work in battle !

The image of both Otis and Veth trying to hide behind Fjord (who is... a half-orc, yes, but not that massive) while they're bickering is so hilarious.

Jester cast Heal on Fjord, true love, babyyyyyyyy ! Caduceus : "That feels good, doesn't it ?" Jester, not convinced at all : "Def' !... whatever..."

Ashley 'Pool Hall' Johnson : "I summoned this bitch, AND WE'RE GOING TO END HER !!"

Me, after this fight versus an ancient white dragon, when Matt calls for break : "well, this was dangerous but fun !" Also me, remembering the total length of the episode and knowing that most episodes of CR that are that long tends to end up in tears and bone-deep anxiety : "... cool... So THAT WASN'T the thing I should be worried about ??"

OTIS STOLE THE FUCKING BAG OF HOLDING DURING THE FIGHT WITH THE DRAGON when they were hiding behind Fjord. I hate them !!!! But also, respect.

me, 5 seconds later : "Oh yeah I understand the runtime now"

Liam, about Taliesin's former character (Lucien) attacking Taliesin's current character (Caduceus) : "That is a man going down on himself !" You would know, mister Liam 'I was once so agile I publicly bragged on my podcast with my best friend that I could have sucked my own dick' O'Brien

You know it's bad when the DM almost say "I would consider getting out of here" to his players

Caleb Counterspelled a Counterspell that Counterspelled a Slow spell, oh my god this fight !!!! I can't believe it will see that animated

Sam : "Remember when I said I didn't want it to end ?... I want it to end now, I want it to be over !" That's the mood though. This fight was harrowing, because the Mighty Nein were at a disadvantage from the beginning, and the Tomb Takers were out for blood, they even prevented them to escape !

They took 5 minutes of Talks to drag Sam's mustache (fair). Then, Brian made some great comments throughout the show : "You look like if Tim Curry moved to Nantucket to become a sommelier", "Before you go to your audition for Gang of Newark...", "tell us more, Tony Shalhoub character guest spot", "that mustache looks like my garbage disposal when it's malfunctioning"

Sam goes on a rant about how he hates the inherent Luck halflings have, and it's glorious.

At this point in time, Liam reveals he chose Sam's next character class/race combo, and that Sam has accepted it. I do wonder if Sam abided by those choices, or he changed it for Campaign 3. Since we don't have Talks anymore, and I don't think they answered that kind of question on 4 Sided Dive, I don't know...

[eponymous-rose]

Talks Machina Highlights - Critical Role C2E123 (Feb. 2, 2021)

After last week’s thoroughly relaxing and brief episode, tonight’s guests are Sam Riegel and Liam O’Brien!

Brian, to Sam: “You look like Tim Curry moved to Nantucket to become a sommelier.”

How did Caleb and Veth approach the ally-ship with the Tombtakers? Sam: “I mean, we got some information, and I think we got a little closer to Lucien and knowing whether he has any of Mollymauk inside of him, which is I think the most important knowledge that we’re seeking right now. Is there someone to be saved inside there? We got glimpses, and we got a little hint that Mollymauk is maybe still in there? Maybe? And we got a little more insight into their plans, so that was useful.” Liam: “We know why we were having that fucking dream.” Sam: “But other than that, it was just a road trip with assholes.” Liam: “All our plans have been ripped in a new direction, and it’s just been improvisation.” Sam notes that it feels like we’re always about to rip into Caleb’s backstory, but haven’t yet followed that thread all the way through. Liam: “It’s partially frustrating, to be sure, but also I like the idea that-- his whole shit has been selfish, it’s been dealing with the trauma that he’s been through and not the greater world, and that’s been shifting somewhat.”

Does Caleb think the book was worth it, and is he still interested in reading more? Sam: “How do you ask Caleb not to read a book?” Liam: “Caleb has spent enough time with the Nein to know you shouldn’t put a hand on a hot stove. After what happened with the book, he knows it’s a terrible idea. But maybe. But it’s a really bad idea. But reserve judgment, but it’s a really terrible idea. I think that Caleb is very aware that mages and people like him very easily fall prey to their curiosity and it can lead to bad places. But there is still that amount of scientific endeavor where you think there is value in knowing and learning, and maybe we can ride that line. He was True Neutral at the start of the campaign, and maybe he’s Chaotic Good now, but part of him is hubris, even if it’s a little bit, still.”

What about Otis has drawn Veth’s focus? Sam: “I mean, he’s a little shit. She was curious about Otis because he’s a small like she is, and in talking to him, he seemed to be real creepy, but he was just creepy and distant and didn’t value his past or family or anything like that. She sees someone who’s like her, but so not like her, and maybe that scares her a little bit more.”

How does Caleb feel about Beau being on this ride with him? Liam: “The dream is another example of how Caleb had very narrow vision of the things he wanted to do. It used to seem so massive to him, but now... To have Beauregard involved feels right. If anyone in the group is going to stop him from grabbing something he shouldn’t, it is probably Beauregard. She’ll punch him in the fucking face to stop him, which I think he needs, to a certain extent. They’re two different kinds of nerds, and I kind of like that, that this group of nine philosophers, they’ve reached out and somehow grabbed the two nerds in the party.”

How do Caleb and Veth see the Somnovum? Sam: “I mean, they seem real bad. Anything that’s a quorum of powerful entities heading towards your planet to unleash an energy of any kind, typically bad? I assume they’re bad, or at least the Tombtakers wish them to do ill.” Liam: “I think they want the kind of peace that comes from snapping your fingers and turning people to dust. Caleb sees them as a cautionary tale; they’re the worst-case scenario for arcane inquisitiveness.” He sees Allura Vysoren as the antidote to that.

Why the staunch refusal to use Halfling Luck? Sam: “I don’t like Luck! I just don’t like Luck. I think it’s cheap, I think it’s a cheat, I think it’s stupid. It just feels like a do-over.” Liam: “I am your antithesis! If I ever voice a halfling, I am going to hammer that feature!” Sam: “What I love about D&D is that you don’t know what’s going to happen. If you roll bad, okay, that’s it. If you roll well, it makes the success more enjoyable to know that it’s a pure success and don’t one where you’re like well actually... it’s so stupid. If someone was about to die, I would probably use the fuckin’ Luck feature. Well. It depends who. If it was Travis, yeah, no, he’s fucked, sorry.”

Liam drops that he’s picked Sam’s character class and race again for a hypothetical campaign three. Sam: “It’s not what I was thinking for future characters, but I’m excited to explore.”

Cosplay of the Week: an amazing Mollymauk by KatofValkyrie!

What was it like to bring the Tombtakers into the tower? Liam: “It is complicated, because he does not like him. Lucien’s just a fucking dick. But Caleb also knows that Molly’s in there somewhere. That tower’s only for the M9, and Lucien’s not in the M9. Their situation with these people is shitty, it’s terrible. Caleb doesn’t feel like they have the upper hand. He doesn’t like that they’re even going on this journey per se, because life is bigger than his bullshit. He feels like they’ve been losing over and over again, so it was a gamble to try to get on equal footing.

What spurred Veth into making sure she and Yasha have some one-on-one time? Sam: “Yasha hasn’t been getting a lot of moments to shine. Now that she’s back, I just got the impression that Yasha feels out of place sometimes, or timid, or unsure of herself. When Veth was Nott, Nott certainly had her share of those moments. I think she sees a kindred spirit and wants to make sure that she’s been giving all the opportunity she can to flourish and thrive. Dani, you’re just laughing at my mustache, aren’t you?” Dani: “Yes, that’s the only thing I’m laughing at through this whole bullshit.” Sam denies all knowledge of trolling, but eventually admits, on the topic of Yasha and Beau getting together: “They’ve made me wait this long... I’m going to make them wait a little bit longer!”

What was it like to show his friends the upper floors? Liam: “I kinda expected somebody to sneak up there before that. That being part of the tower is not even a conscious choice of his, it just is. The reason Caduceus has creeped Caleb out for a long time is because he talks about how-- Caduceus is a really kind person and wants Caleb to let go of the past. And in a really simplistic way, turn that frown upside-down. And that’s just not who Caleb is, and it’s not who everybody is. There is something to be said for trying to stay open and positivity, but thinking you can shut out the past, especially a traumatic one, is just not true. When things happen to us, we carry them. But to candy-coat it and say, ah, I’m free, or everything is good, or I’ve turned the corner... life is way messier than that. It’s not flipping a switch, it’s not bad-to-good, it is such a work in progress. Even when you make strides and start to get to a better place, you can backslide a lot. So the tower is who he is, and the tower is 7/9ths love for his friends, and 1/9th hope, but there’s still a percentage of him that carries everything from the past, and knows that he should, and knows that he should not go back to where he was. And the way to do that is not to say everything is rainbows, but to remember it. The tower is just like an extension of who he is. He’s never going to forget the past, and he’s never going to be like, I’m good, or I’ve turned a corner. He should remember the past, and he should do better, always.”

Does Veth still believe it’s possible to get Molly back? Sam: “Well, she was a person trapped in another body for many years, so has some experience there, and definitely believes that the spirit and soul of Molly is in there and just needs to be unlocked somehow.”

Fan Art of the Week: an amazing group shot by HarpySN!

How are Caleb and Veth dealing with their guilt and fear about being in the middle of this? Sam: “It definitely was a deep conversation that might have repercussions going forward. The problem with all of what we’re doing now is that we don’t have time to deal with our petty problems anymore. It’s all high tension all the time!” Liam: “It’s true; they’re not in control of their situation at all anymore.” Sam: “It’s good to have these check-ins, but it’s not like we can do anything about them. We’re reactive right now.” Liam: “He’s not happy with where they are, but they wouldn’t even be this far if the goblin hadn’t pulled him out of the mud. So part of it is, you saved me from where I was and got me on my feet again, and now it’s disconcerting to see it all just get knocked sideways by something he never could’ve predicted. I think Caleb felt nostalgic for when things were simpler, in a way, for them, when we’re both troubled drifters.”

What was it like to see Gelidon’s return? Liam: “I am the least superstitious person at the table. Ashley’s dice suck.” Sam: “It was fun fighting a dragon!” Liam: “Two massive battles in one episode, neither of which came away with a victory. I guess surviving is a victory.” Sam: “I’d forgotten about the dragon, honestly.” Liam: “I loved it. I was so upset at the idea that we were going to stealth and not get into it.”Sam: “Mercer doesn’t keep a live dragon around and not do something with it. That dragon’s coming back.”

How do Caleb and Veth feel about going to see Essek? Sam: “He can be very helpful, I believe, but as Sam Riegel, a player of D&D, I’m super suspicious. What the fuck is Essek doing up there, so close, now? I don’t trust him as far as I can throw him. And I can throw him pretty far because he floats.” Liam: “I 100% agree with you. I do not understand what Essek could bring to what we are going through. I know the audience loves him, I love him too. He’s a really cool character. But he’s fucking toxic. He out of curiosity caused a war between two nations. And Caleb has been changed for the good by the M9 from months of travel with them. Essek has had none of that. Caleb has changed for the good, but not because of people like Essek. Essek is where Caleb came from. We kept the lid on the pot during the whole treaty at sea and it almost all went fucking sideways, and only because we pressed him into a corner. I hope that guy finds some sort of balance and peace for himself, but I do not see how his input here would be helpful. There’s other heavy hitters that I would try to pull in.”

Liam notes that the Cloven Crystal is in the Bag of Holding. Sam: “Do I have Fluffernutter, or is Fluffernutter gone?” Liam: “Nope. 300 pounds of fireworks? Gone. A dead mage, a threshold crest, and fireworks.” Dani: “Your basic essentials.”

[the-punslinger]

Critical Role Quotes and Memorable Moments - Campaign 2 (79/?)

Matt: "I just need a dexterity check from both of you." Sam: "Oh, just dex." Matt: "Just a dex check using the dex of your owl as well." Liam: "Oh, okay. (fake sobbing) I don't know what the owl is, but it was a super low roll." Travis: "You chose poorly." Sam: "I rolled a one." Travis: "Oh my god." Marisha: "That's so bad." Matt [hinting]: "It is an ability check." Sam: "It's not." Laura: "Can't you just for once use your damn Halfling Luck?" Sam: "There's no skill. I have no [proficiency]. " Matt: "This isn't Halfling Luck. Oh that's proficiency. No, it's proficiency, you're right, for the... Is that how it works for the Reliable Talent?" Sam: "Yeah, I have to be proficient in the skill, but you said a dexterity check. I am not at proficient in dexterity." Matt: That is correct. Liam: "But a halfling, when they roll a one, can re-roll." Sam: "True." Laura: "Yeah, that's what I'm talking about." Sam: "That is true. Hmm. [smacks lips] It's a shame."

Jester-bird grabs Otis to help them but has to roll Matt: "Natural one!" Sam: "But they got halfling luck." Matt [rerolls]: "You don't got her." Liam: "Just join the Tomb Takers already!" Sam: "I'm an agent of chaos!"

Lucien: "YES I'm lost, alright?!"

[weird noise comes from Travis] Laura: "Did you just toot?" Travis: "No, I broke another one [holds up stress ball] My chair's all wet."

[Sam talking in an Irish accent] Taliesin/Caduceus: "I cast dispel on the illusion." Sam: "It's been me the whole time!"

[As Lucien dispels the Tower] Caduceus [sad]: "I was gonna have a hot meal." Yasha: "I was gonna have a..." [laughter] Liam: "A hot meal?" Travis: "If it'll help, I have Marine Layer."

[Patience is drawing thinner and thinner with each conversation] Travis: "We have that effect on people"

Liam: "I use a cantrip and start to make food appear in the fire, and cats, and books, and [beat boxing] booksncatsnbooksncats"

[cadaceus]

C2E123

I’m gonna have to buy myself a T-Shirt that says “I survived Critical Role Campaign 2, Episode 123″ because y’all... that was a lot. I also can’t believe I successfully caught up in time to tune in live tonight--but now I’m scared to do so, because oh god, that was rough! Happy Thursday, critters, let’s hope tonight goes better than 123 did! (Spoilers, of course, abound down below.)

- Using that much diamond dust to try and dispel the eye seems like such a risky gamble, since who knows when they will get more diamonds?  😭

- Wait I forgot, why do they have the point of exhaustion despite the long rest? 

- “I can smell you... I told you I had your scent...” *”beyonce??” meme but instead picture me yelling GELIDON?????*

- FJORD JUST FLYING INTO THE DRAGON’S SPHERE I LOVE MY 7 WISDOM PALADIN LMAOOOOO

- WHAT DO YOU MEAN LUCIEN HAS LEGENDARY ACTIONS WHAT 

- Both of the halflings attempting to hide behind Fjord is so funny fghjkljh 

- The fact that Ashley rolled Double 20s earlier and Double 1s now is so sad but also so funny.... balance has been restored to the universe

- Beau has 17 hit points left...... is she gonna go down here...... if she does and then falls off the dragon..... 😭

- GELIDON ESCAPED AGAIN FDGHJKFLP[FL WILL WE MEET HER AGAIN DOWN THE ROAD??

- Fjord kissing Jester after she heals him is so cute, I really wasn’t expecting that to happen

- Jester covering up her message to Dagen by peeing dghjkdlf please I love her

- I am not exaggerating when I tell you that I would pay good money for a little bound copy/”Jester’s sketchbook” that has all of the illustrations and scribbles she’s jotted down during this campaign so far

- Lucien describing the Mighty Nein as a “bunch of brightened stars in the sky” and then half an hour later, the Wildmother presents Essek as a bright star in the sky.... hold on everyone I’m thinking, just hold on

- “You look down and your bag of holding is missing” THESE LITTLE STINKERS DGCHJKDASJL;JSFHJFKL DID THE TOMB TAKERS JUST CUT AND RUN IM SO MAD

- Jester just take their threshold crest and RUN please

- Beau successfully stunning Cree on the first try!!! I’m so proud!

- Lucien being immune to necrotic damage..... Big Yikes, is that because he’s died before, a bloodhunter thing, or does it have to do with the Eyes of Nine?

- This background music is so cool and spooky, it reminds me of Stranger Things

- THE THREE NATURAL 1s ON INITIATIVE..... RUH ROH

- Matt: “Beau, you take 69 points of psychic damage” The entire cast, without hesitation: “Nice :(((”

- Wait, Lucien dispelled the night vision goggles??? Uhhhhh uh oh 😱

- WHY ARE THEY ALL GOING FOR BEAU DSHJKHFL GO AWAY GO AWAY

- It’s midnight and I have an 8am class tomorrow but I’m so tempted to finish this episode anyways...........

- ^ THIS IS LITERALLY ALWAYS USED AS THE NEUTRAL EVIL CATCHPHRASE I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN LUCIEN WOULD PULL THIS SHIT DGHJFKLF

- Is Otis like a bloodhunter/rogue/warlock combo then?

- “The arcane symbol burns, like [Fjord] has been branded or marked in some way.” THIS IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AS WE GO ALONG

- The fact that Yasha and her wings were on the outskirts of the anti-magic cone and it worked..... :’)

- Okay so I did end up going to sleep at like 1am but man, leaving off in the middle of this stressful fight was rough...

- The actual epitome of “We’re running, it’s bad”

- “Claim the rest, the wizard’s mine.” LITERALLY CINEMA OVER HERE I AM ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT

- Wait this triple stacked Counterspell is so funny SASDFGHJK

- Sam: “Remember when I said I didn’t want it to end? I want it to end now.” 

- LMAOOOOOOO THE NEIN ARE BARELY OUT OF RANGE, GET WRECKED LUCIEN

- “I will continue to be a twig in the arms of a barbarian woman” I wish that were me right now

- Does Jester still have the Tomb Takers’ lodestone special thingy? I’m stressed so I’ve forgotten what they’re called

- I FINISHED THE EPISODE!!! I SURVIVED, AND SO DID THEY!!!

- That must have been the longest episode of the campaign, right? That was so stressful (though I admittedly went into it knowing that nobody died.... I couldn’t stand not knowing, so I spoiled myself, I’m sorry!) Even so, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.... I also successfully caught up before tonight’s episode, so we’ll see what happens in the aftermath of this whole mess.... I think we’ll need all the luck in the world tonight y’all  😭