#it’s not exu

[the-wildmother]

actually you know what

can we not tag Downfall as EXU: Downfall

this is a part of campaign three, not a separate series. this is critical to the storyline of this campaign. there’s a reason its episodes 99, 100, and 101.

it’s not exandria unlimited.

it’s campaign three.

edit: YES it’s standalone, but it is inextricably linked into this campaign !! its still not exu — both can exist!!!

[captain-xandis]

I come from a time a thousand years ago, when gods walked among mortals. And the world was ruled by magic. Like you, I protected my home as First Knight, a member of the Brass Ring, a group similar to yours. And also like you, I assumed the best of them. I was blind as my friends condemned our civilization with their curiosity. Their hubris.

You mean the Calamity?

The gods set to war upon Exandria, and in the chaos, I found myself face to face ith the Lord of Torment himself. But instead of destroying me, he gave me a choice. Die with the rest or join him, and spare my family. I thought if I had enough time, I could reach him, save him, tame his turbulant heart. For my folly, I watched my husband and son fade with the rigors of time, losing even the memory of me. As if I never existed at all.

season 3, episode 4 of THE LEGEND OF VOX MACHINA

[loserwithanartacc]

I’m so happy with this one

Drawing sunlight thru trees is actually so fun I do recommend (it’s not as hard as you think it is probably)

Anyway I’m insane about her and very exited for ep 2 tonight

[i-kanava-i]

I honor and revere that which walks inside and around you, Queen

[smilelikeawolf]

The Betrayers turned to their siblings and said, "Your creations are flawed and broken, they disappoint you, they hurt you. We have to destroy them."

And the Prime Deities replied, "No, they are our children. We won't destroy them. We love them too much."

The faithful of Aeor turned to their gods and said, "We believe in you. Let us help you. The Betrayer Gods are cruel and evil. We will use the Factorum Malleus to kill them all to end this war and make the world better."

And the Prime Deities replied, "No, they are our siblings. We won't kill them. We love them too much."

There's nothing like a tragedy born from love.

[yudol-skorbi]

some completely normal non suspicious mortals and their crate of apples

[blorbologist]

hey there's something about how in Zerxus' stained glass exposition, the Ring of Brass all look... subdued. remorseful.

Is this how he remembers them? At the end? Not the confident, powerful portraits we are presented with during Calamity?

and of course, the missing sixth member (not depicted with the ring, separate from his friends...) with the Mace of the Black Crown vs his Holy Avenger...

[burntpink]

Exu do Blues em 4 atos, 2023 by Emerson Rocha

[floweroflaurelin]

Opal, Twice-Crowned Champion of Lolth 🕷️🕸️🕷️

—

(Billie Eilish’s “you should see me in a crown” playing in the distance)

[7lizardsinacoat]

SAY HI, PACK OF PIXIES!

Every time I rewatch A Court of Fey and Flowers (or let's be real, any campaign Aabria Iyengar is in or runs), I had more and more wanted to paint her. So I did. Truly one of my favorite and most inspirational DMs, and a fashion icon to boot.

[foldbaron]

This is some of the most beautiful animation I've ever seen.

[die-o]

It took me millions of years to finish, but they took millions of years to get here, so I think I'm justified. also i did just finish 113 and i need to say, on a related note and in light of that episode, hey Robbie?? is this your play EVERY new character? congrats honestly

[agarthanguide]

A fun fact about EXU Calamity-

Working on these had me stressed and overwrought, mostly because I was worried that I wasn’t gonna pull of the Look, and the aesthetic would be shakier because of me.

To deal with that, I made up a character to be the in-universe mosaicist who was designing and crafting these panels of the Ring of Brass. Every time I messed up or my hand slipped and I had to go back a step, I imagined him dropping a tile, muttering a curse, and trying again. His name was Florent, he was a journeyman artist and craftsperson in Avalir, and he was my coworker for about a month.

[shellem15]

Can I just say, I really appreciate how Critical Role plays the Devil trope straight. There's been this phenomena in a lot of modern media (I'm not going to mention specifics but I'm sure a few examples pop up in people's minds) where Hell and the Devil aren't scary or malevolent forces. Hell is portrayed as being basically the same as our world just "edgier", and the Devil is a pretty decent guy actually. Heaven are secretly the real bad guys!

But Critical Role doesn't do that. In Exandria, Asmodeus *feels* like the Devil. He's malevolent and manipulative and terrifyingly powerful and he hates you, personally. We never see that type of portrayal anymore! And it's amazing! And he still manages to be sympathetic and tragic without losing his edge!

And the "Good Gods" are portrayed as flawed without being secretly evil or something! Like, actual nuance? In my Heaven/Hell dichotomy? What!?

It's just such a breath of fresh air after so many "The Devil was right, actually" stories. So props to Matt and Brennan and the cast.

[crystal-lillies]

don't mind me while I pierce the fucking sound barrier

WE GOT CALAMITY FOLKS!!! WE GOT ZERXUS!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[asexxxualauthor]

Rewatching through EXU Calamity and I just want to give big props to Marisha and Aabria for going so hard on the “rip to that other guy but I’m different” vibes that the Age of Arcanum was overflowing with.

The ladies find a letter written in plain and simple language that essentially says “Wizards can’t be trusted with knowledge because they’re too ambitious so I won’t tell you what the tree does” and immediately went “well maybe not those ambitious wizards but we’re totally different ambitious wizards who definitely know what we’re doing and are so much better and cooler that we’ll definitely be able to handle what we find!”

The arrogance, the drama, the self-centered hubris of it all—god I wish we had more time with these two ego-maniacs!