#mighty Nein origins

[sky-scribbles]

Caduceus's vision at the end of his origins comic contains nine butterflies: one for every member of the Mighty Nein, counting himself and Essek.

Not only that: there's the purple and red one, representing Molly. And then... the colours don't come through so well in this picture, but there are two blue ones (Beau and Jester). Two are green and yellow (Fjord and Nott/Veth). One is silvery-blue and white (Yasha). One is orange (Caleb). One is lavender and white (Essek). And one is pinkish and green (Cad himself).

At the loneliest time of his life, the Wildmother promised Caduceus every last member of his second family, and showed him that he wouldn't just be visited by them. He'd be one of them.

[kendrawells]

Polygon posted a write up about the book I wrote and previewed some gorgeous pages by Selina Espiritu and Eren Angiolini wowee zowee

[occidentalavian]

The gang's all here!

[bravenot]

a gem from caduceus’ origins comic. they’re holding on to each other’s clothes. oh this is too much.

[quasieli]

[Image description: Eight pages from the comic Mighty Nein Origins: Caduceus Clay. The first six pages feature a young Caduceus and his mother, Constance, while the last two pages show an older Caduceus, as well as his father, Cornelius, and sister, Clarabelle.

Page 1: A wide shot of the Blooming Grove, with a beautiful stone and wood temple sat at the center of a verdant cemetery. From afar, Constance calls outs "Caduceus!"

Page 2: Constance is stood behind her son, with his head only partially in frame. The first panel shows her saying, "There you are, didn't you hear me calling?" In the second panel, she is leaning down to her son, a concerned look on her face as she says "Oh."

Page 3: A smaller panel shows Caduceus cupping a dead bird in his hands, holding it tenderly. The wider panel then shows his mother sitting down beside him, the pair sat next to a head stone. He leans his head into her shoulder as she asks, "Would you like some help?" The pair then proceed ro bury the bird.

Page 4: Constance and Caduceus are kneeling in the dirt, over the bird's burial spot. Constance asks, "Ready?, with Caduceus responding "Mh-hmm." The pair touch the ground where the bird was buried, and soon a bright orange flower magically blooms from the spot, causing Caduceus to startle.

Page 5: Constance sits beside her son, her hand gentle touching his face as she says, "Death and decay are a part of a circle, a wheel turning without a beginning or end. Death is how we nurture life, Caduceus." He looks down at the flower as he asks, "Then how comes it hurts?" Caduceus lays down in his mother's arms as she explains, "Because you loved them." A smaller panel shows a closer shot of their faces as she asks, "Do you regret that love?"

Page 6: A small panel shows a closeup shot of Caduceus, looking sad as he replies "No." Another wide shot of the Grove is shown, with the pair sat at the center, Constance continuing, "Part of love is knowing they will go, and cherishing them with your whole heart in the face of that hurt." Another small panel shows a closeup of the newly bloomed flower, with some of its loose petal blowing into the wind.

Page 7: An interior shot, a number of years in the future, showing an adult Caduceus asleep in his flower filled bedroom. He wakes upon hearing the voices of his father and sister, who are in another room, getting up to go investigate. His sister says "I just don't think it's fair that --", Cornelius interjects, "Clarabelle, please keep your voice down."

Page 8: Caduceus comes down the stairs tiredly rubbing his eyes while his father and sister continue to argue. Clarabelle says, "I will not until you--", cutting herself off as she sees her brother appear. Cornelius moves to ready some gear as Caduceus asks "You're leaving?" He responds "The corruption isn't going away on its own. Maybe... maybe your mother found something out there. I'll find her and your aunt, and find a cure." Clarabelle steps forward, declaring "It should be my turn! I'm old enough and faster than you, anyway!" To which Cornelius responds, as he begins to depart, "Clarabelle Clay, mind yourself. Stay home with your brother." End description.]

Sneak preview of Caduceus's origin comic from Polygon!

Generations of the Clay family have tended to the careful rituals in the Blooming Grove. But when corruption begins to creep in on their sacred space, the Clays depart one by one to seek answers. Soon young Caduceus and Clarabelle are the only ones left, and when a dangerous burial quest falls to Caduceus, he must leave the Grove to do the family’s work.

[c-kiddo]

compilation of clarabelle images :' ] love her sm

[ID: 8 images of various panels from Mighty Nein Origins: Caduceus Clay focusing on Clarabelle.]

[siriusdraws]

Mighty Nein Origins: Caduceus Clay has been out for a little bit now, so thank you sincerely to anyone who has enjoyed it!

As ya'll know by now, the script and the colours (!!) are the true highlight of the comic!!! On my end, my goal was just to put my entire ass in it in such a way that I would be happy to pull any page out to slap on as a wallpaper/print. This was great at the beginning, but made me want to cry towards the end. No regrets..?

[critterpages]

Ohhhh Beau Beau Beau….

“Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins - Beauregard Lionett will be released next spring, landing in bookshops on April 30th, followed by availability in comic shops from May 1st.”

[revvethasmythh]

Chetney Pock o’Pea why are you HERE

[tiklishgirl]

absolutely fucking sobbing

[sky-scribbles]

The main takeaway I got from Caduceus's origins comic was realising just how much Cad did not want to be alone.

From the campaign, I had an image of the Clays leaving two by two, and Cadueus volunteering to be the one who stayed. I always thought he knew he was going to be the last one left, and awful as that situation still is, he at least knew it was coming.

But Caduceus was never meant to be alone. The Clays never meant to leave just one child behind. Clarabelle was meant to stay as well. And she left without telling him.

He wasn't ready. He didn't choose it. Yes, he chose not to go, but he never chose solitude, he never thought he was choosing everyone else being gone.

He was scared. He had to talk himself into staying. Standing in a room with his family's handprints on the wall, before a table meant to seat seven. Bound by repsonsibility to stay when everyone else was gone where he couldn't follow.

I don't think I understood til now how Cad was feeling when the Nein found him. I don't think I realised just how much he was desperately, achingly unhappy.

[kendrawells]

Mighty Nein Origins: Caduceus Clay is out TODAY!! This is a story about death, about being alone at the looming end, about what leaves and what is left behind.

Thank you to my incredible collaborators Selina Espiritu, Eren Angiolini, Ariana Maher, Gus Allen, and of course Taliesin and Matt and everyone at Critical Role for trusting me with Cad and being my very first writer credit‼️‼️

[captainofthetidesbreath]

also, very important character appearance in the Fjord comic: Frumptopus

[bravenot]

the environments from cad’s quest on the mountain are so beautiful 🍃🍂

[ID: Four comic panels from the Mighty Nein Origins: Caduceus Clay. Caduceus is small in each frame as he walks with his staff, clambering up rocks and tree roots in dappled sunlight. Behind him is a deep wooded valley. Some of the trees are being taken over by corrupting purple vines. He rests on an outcrop overlooking the valley, and in the last image he is winding down a stone staircase on the side of the mountain. End ID]

[ludinusdaleth]

"not as bad as it looks"

the mighty nein origins: jester lavorre // the tales of exandria ii: artagan

[c-kiddo]

this was so cute and silly T_T