#ashton/orym also good but tbh not as good as orym/dorian

[flashhwing]

if laudna/imogen not real. laudna/ashton equally good. send tweet

[zeephyre]

CRITICAL ROLE CAMPAIGN 3 EPISODE 86 SPOILERS

RAHHH, SPOOKY LAKE MINI ARC!!!!!!

God. I fucking love you Matthew Mercer.

The back door is indeed a back door and while that is exciting, I honestly need us to table all theories.

First of all, Matt really did his big one with this campaign and all of the spooky horror elements that are scattered all over. The nightmare king, Laudna, Jrusar tbh, Uthodurn and the Savaliir woods, the creepy ass monsters and gjosts we keep running into, the GHOST PIRATES, the fucking shattered teeth as a whole, RUIDUS, and now this fuck ass lake.

The way Matt slowly built up the suspense and the intrigue of this odd abandoned town that started as just curiosity and location discovery to help us understand where in Exandria they were, and then slowly became an investigation into how...empty it was despite no signs of struggle or even a mass exodus to somewhere safe... and then the notes about the disappearances... how people were rumored to have just...walked into the water.

GOD IT WAS SO GOOD.

The way my heart dropped out of my ass when Liam used the stone to talk to Dorian (I don't wanna discuss that "I miss you" that definitely felt like an "I love you", I'm so upset rn Robbie please come home). I knew the stone wikldnt work because he'd already talked to Caleb (which !!!!! CALEB!!!!!!! AHHHH) but then Matt was like "you hear something outside, it's Dorian" and I just???? Almost shat myself when I understood what was happening.

It is...interesting that whatever is in that lake only affected FCG, Orym, Chettie and Ashton.... it can't just be that they weren't women because... that doesn't really make any sense so it must be something magic related? Because they were making charisma saves and the witches have either max charisma or amazing fucking charisma. (But so does FCG? I think? Whatever).

I loved everything about that battle and the lake but I especially loved Laudna's whole deal... Dread Pirate Queen Laudna fan art needs to flood my social media feed so much that I get sick of it (I wont). She's such a silly little guy I love her to bits. (We won't discuss she who must not be named except to say... she was kinda spitting during that whole later interaction)

FINALLY THESE DUMB FUCKS SLEPT BUT GOD. I WAS CONVINCED MATT WANTED THEM DEAD FR.

ANYWAY. JESTER. JESTER LAVORRE. JESTER HAS SENDING. SHE TALKED TO US. SHE TALKED TO IMOGEN. THEY’RE EITHER ON THEIR WAY TO THE KEY OR TO THE LAKE AND EITHER WAY I KNOW WE'RE GONNA SEE THE NEIN AGAIN IDC IDC

Kinda almost broke down in tears when Jester spoke to Imogen because I just??? love Laura Bailey so much??? AND WHENEVER THE OTHER PCS SHOW UP I JUST GET SO HAPPY

I know Jester is being a terrorist with sending rn, and I know she's gonna message Imogen constantly.

Did not want them to leave that lake until Kiki's group showed up the next morning but my hellians never listen to me so cest la vie.

(Also????? Fearne and Chetney romantic tension??? Let's discuss. Let's also discuss how bad Fearne wants to kiss Imogen)

[inconmess]

The sheer insanity of today's episode?

I mean daaaaaamn

The poor emissary. The amount of failed modify memories and his fate because of it… If only you had a lower save…

Technically too many hits to the head should've caused him brain damage anyway

I mean BH are chaotic but this was next level even for them!

Summoning Bor'dor as a guard dog??

The staged play?

The constant shifting of plans? Let's talk, no let's kill. No no no no TALK! Nvm, kill it is he's not talking and we don't want to leave evidence. Bells Hells - the Cleaning Crew, people

The sheer amount of fails on Bane and Modify memory and silvery barbs??? If FCG trying to commune with the changebringer was one thing, this is the next level. At the beginning of the episode and the end of the episode

Matt: You need 4 Marisha: *rolls 1* Matt: You need 3 and above Marisha: *rolls 1* Matt: You need 2 and above Marisha: ... *rolls 1*

That die had a bad day today and Matt's had a really good one

Gaes is back baby! Also poor Dorian the whole time at Nana Morri's place. Looked kinda spooked and miserable and it's a fair reaction

Also I wanna say the Sorrowlord will be missed but really, I don't feel it. Good conversation and a really interesting end tho. The Loom was certainly something. Killing him was a decision tho... I feel sorry for Gloamglut :(

And BH finally have a conversation. Effective maybe not but at least everyone has put most of their thoughts on the table?

Ashton commenting about coin flipping, cold

Chet being the only one to actually ask Imogen and Fearne

Orym… Put his point across really well tbh. And I kinda agree. It's it really worth putting a whole population at risk trusting an unknown entity just because you want the gods gone???

I get trusting no one than trusting yourself *flashbacks to the crown keepers* but is it really better in the longer run?

The crisis of faith I guess will happen regardless. Either due to the gods running, the clip of Aeor or something totally different. Also Braius commune??? And his night with Morri? (I think)

[a-menagerie]

Wait oml what if like, reader has known Ashton for longer and so when all three of them get together both Dorian and ash get those insecurities? But Ash thinks reader is better off with Dorian since he would be good and stable for them, whilst Dorian thinks they’d be better off just staying with Ashton since reader has known them longer and they are both a literal and metaphorical rock for them. But reader likes them for both for their own unique personalities that keep the relationship feeling full and keeps them their toes!

ok ok but wait (I hope you don’t mind if I just steal your ask as a post lol)

Dorian and Ashton obviously get on really well, even if they go a bit heaving on the sarcasm and playful nagging

But they’re both like ?? when reader approaches both of them bc like to them? The other is “better” for you

Yeah you’ve known Ashton longer, sure, but they argue that Dorian has so much more that he can offer; Dorian is _whole_ first of all

Plus a fancy lineage and fancy home and you would probably never want for anything with Dorian. What does Ashton have for you? A hovel in the Core Spire and barely any gold to their name

Of course in Dorian’s eyes, why would you look at anyone other than Ashton? They’re cool and hot and they’ve been by your side for years. Why would you give that up or risk it for someone like Dorian?

Dorian’s just a pretender, a showman, why choose him when Ashton is real

They both need a smack upside the head tbh

It takes a bit of…not arguing, per se, but a lot of heavy discussions, both one on one and all three of you together, to get them to quit crucifying themselves in favor of the other

The gods have blessed you if you enjoy tummies as there’s two good ones on display

I think you and Ashton would end up joining the Dorian, Fearne, and Orym cuddle puddle pretty often (though you’re not above asking Dorian for a more private sleeping situation)

(Also I’m not saying Dorian deserves to be in a Reader and Ashton sandwich but I’m kind of saying it okay)

[edelgarfield]

i also saw people saying that the mn have "more bearing" in this campaign bc they are pro-god. girl... orym's freaking mom has more bearing in this story than mn does.

I understand this perspective to some extent, but I think it's short sighted. MN is ALSO pretty vehemently anti-authority, and part of the Cobalt Soul's whole deal is exposing corruption. I feel like MN would have watched Ludinus's PowerPoint (well. they probably wouldn't have gotten that far bc I think Beau would be throwing punches) and immediately start shouting at the sky. Especially if MN learned all the shit BH has about the origin of the world & the Primordials. I feel like Beau & Caleb have seen enough propaganda to recognize it. Like I'm obviously biased, but I think MN would have taken Downfall MUCH harder than BH, which is the point.

But yeah, MN is "pro-god" but like. That doesn't give them more stake in the story than anyone else on Exandria? I would have like to have someone in BH who was more pro-god, like Braius, but tbh a lot of people complained about the ongoing god debate when it was happening bc BH "wasn't invested" and they kept "having the same conversation." But imo, and this isn't meant as character hate, the reason they kept repeating the same conversation over and over again was bc of Orym's complete refusal to budge from his position that anti-god = pro-Ludinus. Ever since Orym's commune with the Wildmother, which imo, I think shook some of his faith, he's been MUCH more receptive to the idea that Exandria can exist without gods. Like he's still holding the same position as before, but he's at least listening & letting the others talk. And ever since, any debate about the gods has been sooooo much more productive & interesting.

but BH not having much stake in the narrative

1) that's literally Orym & Imogen's whole story. What.

2) they have stake in the primordials unlike anyone else (except perhaps Keyleth) which are the indigenous metaphor to the gods' imperialist one. Like. there's a whole narrative there about loss of indigenous culture & identity & the long-term consequences of colonialization with Ashton and Dorian. Like Ashton became who they are bc of people's wish to reconnect with the natural forces that were destroyed & erased by the deities, & how that can make ppl vulnerable to exploitation. i think Ashton's father's true goals are ambiguous, like whether he truly believed in reconnecting with Primordials or whether he just wanted power of any kind. and then like. it's not 1-to-1 but as a child, Ashton was separated from a community that was united by a desire to reconnect with their stolen culture, and instead taken in & raised by a society that placed no value in that history, and was fed the same lie that everyone else in the world was abt the Primordials. there's a very real-world parallel there to indigenous children being stolen, or even legally adopted with good intentions, and having that part of their identity erased.

then Dorian imo is coming from the other direction, of someone who was raised in an insular indigenous community, struggling with the weight of his parents' expectations & feeling torn between two worlds, unsure of his own identity and where he fits. and like, not to mention IIRC Robbie has admitted to feeling some disconnect with his own heritage bc his native parent left when he was young. (this was from an interview back when FE3H came out and I cannot find it again for the life of me) so like, while i don't want to be parasocial & make assumptions abt Robbie's feelings, I think it's likely a lot of Dorian's struggles take inspiration from Robbie's own upbringing.

And for the record, Orym ALSO has shades of this too, being an Ashari which is very indigenous-coded, though I don't think it's as salient to his narrative as Ashton & Dorian. I think there's def an angle where you can see Orym's rigid defense of the status quo as him trying to assimilate into a world that doesn't fully accept who he is, but I personally don't think that's the angle Liam was going for.

like CR3 very much has a LOT of themes relating to indigenous cultures & colonization & people's struggles to find their place in a world that doesn't understand or value a core part of their identity & tbh a lot of people seem to totally ignore that and focus on the divine aspect of it all like "BH doesn't have a stake in the god conflict" wtf are you talking about, they have a huge stake in it bc three of their members have ties to the CULTURE THE GODS ERASED ARE YOU KIDDING ME. and like. the characterization of Ashton by the fandom as basically an angry child who's just acting out bc he hates authority and feels jaded bc his own life was hard, like lmao. completely ignoring everything i just said abt how the gods systematically erased & lied abt Ashton's cultural roots. like yes he's angry, he has every reason to be angry at the gods, and his belief that they shouldn't hold that kind of power bc NO ONE should hold that kind of power is born from their experience as a person who understands that there CAN BE a form of governing that doesn't rely on that kind of power dynamic, that just because this kind of society, where there HAS to be someone at the top is what we're familiar with, it's not the only one and just because change is scary & unfamiliar doesn't mean we should write it off. but nah, Ashton is irrationally angry just like the big bad primordials who lived here before, if they didn't want to be murdered they should've been nicer to the poor little gods when they showed up here and started hoarding the world's elemental energy for themselves and completely perverted Exandria's natural cycle of life & death.

(more on this point actually, the idea that someone HAS to be at the top like. so much of the pro-gods arguments just take that as a given like. "power vacuum" "someone would take their place" etc etc. like first of all "making a better world would be hard so we shouldn't try" lmao okay. second. like. do you live on planet earth. where we don't in fact have magical supreme rulers that colonized the planet & send psychic messages to the people in government telling them what to do. Like I feel like so much of this argument is trying to treat the gods like gods IRL without recognizing that the gods in Exandria have and display much more Actual, Physical Power that IRL gods. Like whatever your spiritual beliefs are, the gods & powers we worship here on earth aren't granting the Pope the ability to shoot laser beams out of his hands okay. like that's the difference. the religious aspect is part of it, bc imo it takes a lot of inspiration from American politics & imperialism in general often has a lot of religious motivation, but the pantheon is very much also a ruling council. like they aren't overt & they don't care abt general day to day politics, but they are very much in the pockets of a lot of Exandria's government & ruling powers influencing things behind the scenes, and as seen Right Now On Screen, if mortals do something they don't like, they WILL come together & shut it down.

anyway, my point is that for all of our faults here on earth, WE don't have a council of beings that supercede ALL OF HUMANITY so idk why people are so attached to the idea that Exandria would fucking fall apart if the gods weren't there. Like no, someone does not in fact have to fill that position. People can be left to govern themselves and They Will Survive I Promise.)

3) just like the general theme of feeling like your life is something outside of your control & being controlled by things that were decided before you were born. Like basically all of BH has gotten to where they are bc of something they had no part in. Imogen & Fearne are Ruidusborn, FCG was literally artificially created, Laudna was killed because she LOOKED like someone else, Dorian was born into royalty which is why he's traveling in the first place, Braius had his life ruined bc Jester pulled a prank, Chetney got bit by a werewolf. There were shades of that with MN, but with BH it's very much like. It COULD have been anyone else in their place. The things that happened to them aren't about THEM, it's about being fate's plaything and in the right/wrong place at the right/wrong time, which reflects the presence of the gods on Exandria. It's all random. You can pray to them your whole life & never hear a word, or one day you can be bleeding out in a gutter & the Dawnfather steps in to save you. Not because you're especially devout or special or unique, but because the Dawnfather looked down at Exandria & you just happened to be in his line of sight. it's being burdened with the weight of the world bc of choices other ppl made. you HAVE to consume this primordial shard bc it was made for you. you HAVE to attack your friends bc it's what you were built to do. you HAVE to keep living bc delilah won't let you die. you HAVE to go fight ludinus and absorb predathos bc no one else can, bc you were born at the "right" time. you cant run away, you can't live a normal life, whatever hopes & dreams you had before don't matter bc the world is ending & you're the only one who can stop it. you didn't choose this, you didn't earn it, you aren't especially heroic or brave or smart or wise, in fact there's people much braver & smarter & wiser than you that are better suited for this job, but that doesn't matter bc this choice was made for you long ago.

god this post got super long but my point is like. this constant denial of BH's role in the narrative & the stakes they have is like. idk if the pro-gods crowd just doesn't see the colonial themes when looking at the story or if they're just determined to deny them (which is wild considering it's been commented on by the cast??????) but like. the reason ppl think BH doesn't have a stake is bc they're refusing to engage with that aspect of the narrative. Ashton & Dorian's narratives, & BH's narrative as a whole, have a lot of indigenous themes and idk if people just don't see that bc they don't recognize it or they don't want to admit that bc admitting that means recognizing the gods as colonizers and that makes it obvious that the gods aren't the Good Guys & makes them harder to sympathize with. but either way it's like. idk I think it definitely says Something that everyone focuses on the fact that BH doesn't have someone who's super devout & ignores their connection to the natural world which opposes the gods. & just like. the general themes of their story.

VM would not fit in this narrative bc it's too morally complex for them. Not to say they couldn't handle it but like, VM's story was a very straightforward fantasy narrative, unlikely heroes, gods good, undead bad. I think if you asked Grog to watch Ludinus's Powerpoint his brain would bleed out of his ears.

MN wouldn't fit in this narrative either because they're too internally motivated, individualistic, & anti-authority. MN was placed right in the middle of their story's central political conflict at the very beginning, they were there at the first outbreak of war between the Empire and the Dynasty and they literally ran from it. Matt dangled the main plot in front of their noses and they literally went to go spend two months at sea instead. They didn't engage with the ongoing political conflict until Matt brought it to them by attacking Veth's home. (And then they proceeded to get involved through the most buckwild, subversive method possible by following the path of a burrowing worm back to the Dynasty but anyway). Until the very end with Lucien, MN pretty much shirked or avoided any responsibility that was handed to them. They orchestrated peace between their nations and said "okay we'll be in the city but we don't want to be there and don't say our names."

If Eshteross had approached them the way he approached BH, MN would have told him to pound sand and idk. Probably gotten lost in the desert. Love MN to bits but that was their whole thing. If they had been placed in this story the way BH were, they would not be the Mighty Nein as we know them. They're only involved NOW because of Beau & Caleb's ongoing work with Ludinus. Obv they got pulled in for meta reasons, but narratively, if it wasn't Beau & Caleb asking the rest of their party to help, MN would not have responded to their summons. Jester heard "the gods are leaving" and said "omg this is GREAT for me." THE WORLD IS ENDING AND VETH NEARLY KILLED BEAU IN A DICK-MEASURING CONTEST. The Mighty Nein do not do things because they have to or because someone asked them to.

It's Bell's Hells because they're fate's favorite chew toy and it was already decided for them long ago.

[utilitycaster]

This was a really good Orym episode tbh. Like, I definitely think that recently hearing from Dorian and having Ashton acknowledge that Orym's role in the party is something of a tough one helped, as did the weird gruff praise from Uther and Chetney this episode.

I really loved Orym's response to Seedling - it's truly so fitting. It's a way to keep growing and changing while still keeping the memory of Will close, and it allows him to get a bit of range from enemies. He seems so excited about it when he talks to Chetney. I also think, given what Orym knows of Vox Machina and what he says to Chetney, he feels greatly reassured that the gods are aware of them, because that's how this sort of story goes.

I also think that the opportunity to relax did a lot because the party was able to burn off some steam with no more severe consequences than annoying the staff; all Orym had to do was tell people to maybe not cheat at cards just yet, and could otherwise sit back and let Fearne and Chetney and Ashton cause problems.

[astralleywright]

okay i thought you hated dorian for some reason so dorian. now im curious

oh no not at all!! I-well, lets talk about it!

First impression

i'll be real, i too thought he was a spoiled soft clown. Ashton clocked both me and themself with that one. i enjoyed watching him a lot because Robbie Daymond is perhaps the most likeable person on the planet, but Dorian's concept as a runaway prince and the broad socially awkward niceness that was the broad strokes of his personality were simply Not My Thing, especially in a campaign that appealed to me because of all the characters being NPC-types and also sucking. Maybe this is where the idea that I hated him came from?

Impression now

Like Ashton I have realized Dorian is not a spoiled soft clown, and like Ashton i am also sorry. Robbie's gotten more of a chance to stretch his rp muscles than he did in the first 14 of C3 (and I've gotten more of a chance to witness it), and he's so fucking good, and it would be literally impossible for me not to love Dorian because of it. And tbh the power differential he had with the other hells that bugged me from a thematic perspective is now a boon, because it acts as a good contrast that shows how even more privileged mortals can still become the playthings of the gods! yay Dorian!

Favorite moment

I mean, yeah, his speech during Spin the Bottle a few episodes ago is up there at the top, but I think it will always be the confrontation he had with Orym and Fy'ra over the crown To Me.

Idea for a story

Dorian you gotta save your girl Opal right. we're doing that right

Unpopular opinion

I mean I feel like i've already expressed some lmao. here's another; I have always found Dor/ym pretty uninteresting until the last few eps, where I now find it interesting and also dislike it 😭 Dorian PLEASE find yourself a man who will not dismiss your feelings like that and talk to you like he's your dad. I feel like that's gonna be a one off moment that's forgotten in the grand scheme of things but I'll know. I'll remember

Favorite relationship

Oh I was gonna say Double Ds and Fy'ra and Laudna and Ashton and Braius but it's Chetney. It's obviously Chetney.

Favorite headcanon

I love the interpretation of him as Native-coded (and I mean elements of that are already canon with things such as his flute)! I'm super curious to see what the Silken Squall is like

[divinesouldariax]

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

1. Chetney. Self explanatory.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[romeoandjulietyouwish]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It's absolutely okay!

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

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

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

[haorev]

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

C1:

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

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

Percival: nonbinary man, biromantic demisexual, he/they

Keyleth: cis woman, heteromantic demisexual, she/her

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

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

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

Taryon: trans man, gay, he/him

C2:

Beauregard: nonbinary woman, lesbian, she/they

Caduceus: agender, aroace, he/they

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

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

Fjord: cis man, demiaro demiace, he/him

Jester: trans woman, bisexual, she/her

Mollymauk: genderfluid, bisexual, he/they

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

Yasha: woman adjacent, lesbian, she/her

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dorian: man adjacent, gay, he/him

Bertrand: cis man, greyaro bisexual, he/him

[cattycaleb]

i’ve watched the first 2 eps of campaign 3 so far and i wanna give my first impressions of each character for posterity’s sake!! :D here we go

fresh cut grass: my absolute beloved. fave so far. such a cute little robot that is also already making me very sad. i can tell he only cares about himself for what he’s able to provide for other people. he doesn’t think he has the same level of importance as beings with a soul, and he constantly makes himself subservient to them because of it. i wanna watch this lil robot develop self worth outside of their “purpose”

bertrand: my second fave. he’s so funny, like a posh grunkle stan. and he seems like he has a lot of room for god tier character development. we need more old people as main characters in these dnd campaigns

laudna: ohh my god. can you get any cuter than this. love characters that repurpose an evil and spooky aesthetic while being fundamentally good hearted

imogen: she is so great but she also scares me to death tbh gHgBHGJHK. something about her screams “hidden darkness”. she seems very sharp and cunning. let’s just say i wouldn’t want to see what she’s like when she’s actually angry. very intriguing. very mysterious

fearne: hands down the funniest character. ashley’s comedic timing and physical acting is absolutely impeccable with her

dorian: yet another cutie. he’s very earnest. a baby. thats about all i have for him

orym: i dont think ive quite clocked him yet. he seems like just a down to earth dude. grounded and stable. i wonder how long that’ll last

ashton: a goody two shoes punk! quite an interesting combo. he seems to have very set rules in his mind for acceptable criminal behavior. almost like a robin hood type figure. likes fighting but won’t pick a fight without reason (?)

[captainsspnanon]

C3E08 - liveblog

Last episode for 2021!   Watching it the day after, the VOD is only 3 hours and 45 minutes.  15 of that is preroll, and 10ish of that is break.  Shortest episode so far!

Did my little scroll-skim through the episode, looks like no combat either, or at least nothing that requires a map.  No complaints here!

...Old Spice is their sponsor now?   Alright, I need to just let this go.  This isn’t worth me feeling weird about.  They’ve done sponsors for ages and I’ve always been cool with it.  Just because it doesn’t match their ‘theme’ doesn’t mean it’s any different from the ones that they’ve always done.  And they’re acknowledging that it’s weird too.  OH HEY THE WITCHER it’s themed again!

Also I’ve had to drop the quality because I would get through about 15 seconds before it started stuttering.  :(  The downsides of not waiting til youtube release.

I missed Travis so much.  I love how EVERYONE is just LOSING it, Matt can’t keep a straight face at all!  Though with how aggressive Chetney is towards Dorian (why did I almost right Damian?  That’s not even one of the D names!), I wonder if that will be the push to have Robbie leave soon. :(

I am laughing so hard I’m crying, this is amazing I love it and I don’t want it to end

“You look like a Dorian” “jokes on you”  I CANNOT BREATHE I AM LAUGHING SO HARD

Alright, so assuming the throwaway lines are accurate, Chetney is 3’1”, Orym is 3’3”, and Fresh Cut Grass is 3’5”.  I’m okay with these heights, though I do miss Orym being the smallest.

Uthodern!  First really C2 shoutout!  Also makes sense because it’s the elves/dwarves land.

I may be way off base here, but I can’t help but think that Gunge is actually Duggar?

Matt starts writing after Taliesin says “Sit and Swill”, wonder if that was an established thing and Matt is doing something unrelated, or Taliesin just came up with it and Matt’s writing it down for future reference.  Pretty good name for a shitty level tavern, tbh!

...that unprompted whisper is leading to very serious liam faces……

WHAT IS THIS EPISODE!  “Come on, man!”

what the fuuuuck is this episode!!!!!  “Cyrus and ….Dorian”.  I CAN’T

Imogen is so delighted by Dorian being a prince.

OH GOD I swear I thought this was Robbie’s exit.  Matt you are so evil!!

Done with the first half, and so far I’m already feeling Chetney with the team.  It’s hard to put it fully into words, but it’s a situation where he really feels more fitting as compared to Bertrand, who really did feel very separated from the group.

So this is the plot thread set up episode.  They’ve got Orym’s thread, Dorian’s thread, Chetney’s thread, Laudna/Imogen’s thread, Ashton’s thread which may be connected to Dorian’s thread, Fresh Cut Grass’s thread (kind of, this seemed more like a long term thing than a short quest), now they’ve got this ‘rebel’ thread.  This is where Matt let’s them do the picking.

And even more dump of plot thread options.

I have no clue why, but my attention has disappeared for the past like, 15 minutes of them inspecting Gurge’s home.

Watched a chunk more, but for some reason the second half is not holding me anywhere near as much as the first half.  I’ve only got 15 minutes left and I’m taking another break.

OH NO FEARNE, OH NOOOOOOOO

All in all, very good episode!  Just not sure why my focus went out the window from right after the cable car ride all the way to talking to the wardens.

[readbythestarlight]

c3e1

HOLY SHIT HERE WE GO

okay idk if it’s my TV of what but something about the set loots weirdly cgi?

First Sam ad!!

So far so… normal…?

Ah there we go, that’s more like it

I hope this isn’t a trend of us not actually getting at the table ads but I do love a good Sam song

Ashley my wife I have missed you so much

Oooo I want that hoodie

I NEED THE HENRY CRABGRASS SET IMMEDIATELY

Wait okay so how long after C2 are we I need to know

HERE WE GOOOOO

Apex war okay

I’m not gonna remember any of this lore but I’m loving it

Oooooo!! FIRST CHARACTER INTROS HERE WE GO!!

I haven’t even taken in the table composition yet!! There’s so much to think about!!

Will they be siblings?

Laura: light purple hair, SOFT SOUTHERN?? shy. Human? Sorcerer!! Imogen.

Marisha: GOTH GIRL AW YES. Warlock/sorcerer. Helllll yeah. Oh very goth. Played by Helena Bonham Carter in the motion picture coming summer 2027. Laudna.

Oh good, they know each other already!

DO NOT DENY MY SWEET SOUTHERN GIRL WHAT SHE WANTS

how dare

I am so in love with Imogen’s accent.

First roll! What is our magic number gonna be?

12 it is!

"Nobody knows who is on the Taldore council—" :P

Sam and Tal?? Amazing

WHAT COLOR TAL

WHAT COLOR

Hobo… rogue? I’m betting rogue.

Taliesin: he/they EARTH GENASI IVE BEEN DYING FOR A GENASI PURPLEEEEEE I CALLED IT. Barbarian?? Ashton.

Tal once again killing cosplayers with his character design

It’s a robot holy shit

Sam: F.C.G. oh my god the robot shirt really was a hint I’m dying. A CLERIC ROBOT. A SOUTHERN. ROBOT.

Court of Miracles vibes are off the charts

I love how last campaign we had one character with a southern accent for half a campaign and now we’ve got two

Spire by Fire sounds rad

Awww therapy robot who wants to fix all the broken people awww

"I can’t taste."

FRESH CUT GRAAAAASS! :D

Robby??

Guest?? In the first ep?

Okay okay

Where is Travis I want to know who Travis is going to beeeee

It’s their?? EXU characters??

Ashley: Faunnnnn! Fearne. Druid!!

Liam: Orim. Halfling fighter.

I have some mixed feelings of having pre-established characters, just because I like the fully clean slate? Not a complaint though!

Robbie: Dorian. Bard. Air genasi heck yeah gettin’ all that genasi rep.

So is Robbieeeee like a guest or is he now part of the main cast because this feels like cast and I have some Mixed Feelings

Where is TRAVIS?

Wait wait wait aren’t Orym and Dorian dating?

Ooo please tell me this has to do with Travis

Uhhhh??

Travis? Where is? Travis?

Where?? Is Travis??

IM NOT GONNA BE SEE TRAVIS’ NEW CHARACTER BEFORE I HAVE TO GO TO BED

THERE HE IS oh thank god

oh my god I literally told my sister that I hoped he played an old man and he is IM CRYING

I love that so far the party alignment feels like it’s leaning towards chaotic stupid

"Eldritch blahst"

Traviiiiiiis!

Travis: Sir Bertrand Bell. A fighter. Highest intelligent of the group. I fucking love him.

OH MY GOD Sam and his gas can I’m wheezing

I’m calling it: Travis is a gambler in over his head who needs protection

Made it to break now I gotta go to bed but I’m so excited for this

"Motley crew" is 10000% right

Oh Ashton def has people after him xD

"Fair. *I* would know but."

Lord Estoros

Also I’m so fascinated by a character introduction also being like the first hook of the show

Mmmm they’re sus of Bertrand and tbh so am I

Leave Fresh Cut Grass alone about their name

Former Associate ooooo

Aww

Tragic Backstory right out of the gate?? Damn.

Y’all stop pestering the poor baby

Also if this is what Sam is willing to share episode one imagine how much worse is the actual backstory going to be

Oh fuck we’re getting into the "does this Unit have a Soul?" feels SAM IM NOT READY FOR THIS

Whitestone???

So Laudna right. Undead?

Ashton just being like "just go with it buddy live a little"

6 gold oh no xD

By the way I’d marry Ferne

Okay so the telepathy huh what’s that

The MOOD lighting

Okay okay what’s up with her I need to know

Strange things, huh?

Awww. Okay I like Dorian

Oh poor Dorian awww xD

Ferne is my WIFE

TWO mindreaders??

RIP to Ashton’s purse

The very clean one?? Dorian??

FCG stop you’re so sweet

Bertrand don’t get their hopes up

Travis is playing such a lying liar

I want this Lord Whoever to be a vampire and idk why

I want it

Please I’m such trash for vampires give it to me

He’s SO a vampire right?? Right??

DAMN

I wanted a vampire

Unless it’s a vampire orc

“This campaign is about silver foxes ONLY” god I hope so

God I’ve missed them

[a-menagerie]

What are some characters you'd like to write for? Just wanted to know who you have the most inspiration for rn!

Oh hmm. That’s a good question 😂

I almost always have inspo for: Caleb, Molly, Dorian, and Vax

Rn I’m really vibing with Ashton, Orym, Kingsley, Imogen, and Laudna

Tbh it might be easier to say who I’m not vibing with 😂 I’ve found it really hard to get inspo for Chetney or FCG (sorry guys lmao) but I’m also really behind with C3 so I’m sure that doesn’t help!

[cadaceus]

C3E14

I am playing a major game of catch up at the moment but here are my liveblogs for Campaign 3, Episode 14 of Critical Role: “In Too Deep.” I indeed feel in too deep because the end of this episode made me so genuinely emotional... the gif header of this one is a small hint as to why :’) Full spoilers below!

- “You all came in with weird energy, and it done fucked me up” LMAO episode off to a good start!

- SAM??? IS HE GOOD??

- I was gonna be like fists ARE melee weapons but Marisha’s right, monks are just special :(

- The way that FCG got the Ardent Armor into Ashton is so funny sfdghjkd I love them so much

- THE TALIESIN CHARACTER DEATH JOKES LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE!!!

- “I’m on cameo” LMAO SAMMM

- A zero with advantage..... oh Ashton hahaha

- Dorian kissing Ashton on the cheek to convey a message is so sweet, Dorian Storm my beloved

- TRAVIS/CHETNEY GOING INTO A SOUTHERN ACCENT SFGSHJKL

- Robbie’s oh shit Ashton just got roasted face at ~1:33:17 is absolutely sending me

- Note to self: “The Green Seekers” are a (highly fashionable) detective agency

- Dorian’s “also, I have to pee” after Chetney’s extremely startling announcement SDFGHJK COMEDIC DUO OF THE CENTURY

- Every time Marisha turns to sneeze it scares the heck out me, ma’am BE CAREFUL YOUR RIBS

- Laura’s iWatch(?) at 2:45:05 and Laura’s reaction DSFGHJK I love her so much

- WEREWOLF CHETNEY WILL NEVER GET OLD (no pun intended)

- Wait, so Lady Emoth got away?? Oh noooo

- BELLS HELLS WE HAVE AN OFFICIAL PARTY NAME I LOVE IT

- THE BOTTOM TABLE’S REACTION TO DORIAN ROLLING A NATURAL 20 PERSUASION IS A BIG MOOD ASGJHSKADJ god that was clutch

- I love how Matt rewards kind of “unnecessary” kindnesses, like how the party saved Dunot and then later Dunot vouches for Laudna in front of a suspicious guard, like it’s a small thing but I really love to see it!

- Fearne and Orym look SO distraught when Dorian says he’s going with Cyrus, me too loves, I’m so sad :((

- Okay tbh I didn’t really ship Dorian/Orym before but the way Dorian reacted to Laudna’s insinuation (Laudna: “all those nights in bed together...” / Dorian: “no no, it wasn’t like that, it was... uh... *eyebrow raise*”) HELLO??

- Goodness I am so sad right now... what a bittersweet moment, seeing all of their goodbyes (and Ashton’s “To Dorian, who is leaving us for his stupid brother... what the fuck is up with that?” was the perfect sendoff!) I wish we could keep Robbie forever; I will miss Dorian SO much since he was one of my favorite characters this campaign. I hope we get to see him in the main campaign again someday soon! (Although that 2 part EXU special announcement is EXCITING)