#shadowfjord

[quinn-of-aebradore]

CR Non-Endgame Ships Bracket Take 2

Hello my friends! Some of you may recall that just about 2 years ago now, I ran a series of polls for ships from Campaign 1, Campaign 2, and EXU Calamity that were not together at the end of their respective series. I excluded any Campaign 3 and modern era EXU ships, since at the time, those storylines were still open; Imodna weren't even together at that point. However, now that C3 has reached it's conclusion, I thought it was a good time to revisit the concept. I also didn't feature M/F pairings last time around and now is a good time to make that right too.

So! Let's get into the rules and paraments parameters:

The phrasing "non-endgame" was chosen as certain relationships present were together at some point in canon but are not longer (ex. Blumendrei) or there was an either mutual or one-sided attraction that did not result in a relationship (ex. Widojest). It doesn't feel right to me to simply call these ships "non-canon", though they are featured alongside plenty of purely fanon ships (ex. Verinwulf), so. Non-endgame. It's a little clunky, but it works.

I've reincorporated pairings from the first poll that lost in the very first round, potentially giving them an opportunity to shine further! Any ship from the first poll that made it further than that is not present this time around. These pairings are: Widofjord, Fjordwulf, Vaxmore, Fjolly, Jester x Reani, Polynein, Vexleth, Perc'ildan, Beaukeg, Vexahra, Beastrid, Beaureani, Polymachina, Beaujester, Lucigast, and Widomauk. Please do not ask me where they are.

Almost every ship will feature fanart of the characters in question, included of course with permission from the artist. Links to the original posts will be included and I highly encourage giving them some love if you vote! Any ship that doesn't have a piece of fanart has a little tableau designed in HeroForge by myself. Grogleth is the only exception, with a still from TLOVM.

This bracket is for fun. Ship hate will not be tolerated. You will be blocked if you act poorly in the tags.

Block “cr non endgame poll” if you don’t want to see this further!

Voting will begin this Friday, February 14th, at 3pm CST. All polls will run for 24 hours. The first round will take place over two days, split into Parts A and B.

Matchup links and breakdown below the cut.

Round 1 Part A:

Laudna x Dorian VS Widoyussa

Polyhells VS Blumenshadow

Scanvax VS Dashrym

Dariax x Deni$e VS Shadowmauk

Beauvasha VS Percylan

Ludinus x Liliana VS Laudna x Fearne

Yu x Laudna VS Orym x Dariax

Kashleth VS Imofearne

Chetanna VS Vaxlethmore

Verinwulf VS Grogleth

Liliana x Otohan VS Yashter

Percy x Tary VS PolyCrownKeepers

Fearnechet VS Imogen x Otohan

Jessek VS Veth x Devexian

Luciessek VS Jester x Calianna

Shadowmoore VS Fjeth

Round 1 Part B:

Fjarrow VS Dashrymwill

Fearne x Braius VS Pikeleth

Widobrave VS Doomstorm

Ashrym VS Percy x Pike

Shadowidomauk VS Laudmoore

Shadowfjord VS Fearne x Opal

Verleth VS Greystorm

Blumendrei VS Percleth

Bashter VS Rubygold

Grog'ildan VS Kashvax

Jestermauk VS Doriax

Essek x Ludinus VS Widoking

Widojest VS Zerxus x Azmodeus

Laerryn x Patia VS Lucien x Cree

Esswulf VS Mariking

Jestrid VS Goldenshadow

Round 2:

Widoyussa VS Blumenshadow

Dashrym VS Dariax x Deni$e

Beauvasha VS Laudna x Fearne

Orym x Dariax VS Imofearne

Vaxlethmore VS Verinwulf

Yashter VS Percy x Tary

Fearnechet VS Veth x Devexian

Jester x Calianna VS Shadowmoore

Dashrymwill VS Fearne x Braius

Widobrave VS Ashrym

Shadowidomauk VS Fearne x Opal

Verleth VS Blumendrei

Bashter VS Kashvax

Doriax VS Widoking

Zerxus x Asmodeus VS Laerryn x Patia

Mariking VS Goldenshadow

Round 3:

Blumenshadow VS Dashrym

Beauvasha VS Imofearne

Vaxlethmore VS Percy x Tary

Fearnechet VS Jester x Calianna

Fearne x Braius VS Widobrave

Shadowidomauk VS Blumendrei

Bashter VS Doriax

Zerxus x Asmodeus VS Mariking

Round 4:

Dashrym VS Imofearne

Vaxlethmore VS Fearnechet

Widobrave VS Blumendrei

Bashter VS Zerxus x Asmodeus

Round 5, Semi-Finals:

Dashrym VS Vaxlethmore

Widobrave VS Bashter

Round 6, Finals:

Dashrym VS Widobrave

[critter-rarepair-reccs]

Hey everyone! Hope y'all had fun for CR's 9th anniversary yesterday 💕 Today we have five fics with divergent canons! Some diverged before campaign events and some in how the post-campaign played out. As always, you can find them below the cut and if you check any of them out, I encourage you to leave kudoes and comments to spread the rarepair love 💕

I dream of you amid the flowers by glittergarbage (66,967 words, Explicit) Pairing: Mollymauk Tealeaf/Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast (Shadowidomauk) Warnings: Mentions of drug use by minors typical of Volstrucker experimentation

Molly comes back after Cognouza instead of Kingsley. Old feelings stir, new feelings are born, and polyam fluff between Caleb, Essek, and Molly ensues.

Reccer Says: A classic SWM fic, to me. It's all so sweet and lovely and I adore the way Essek and Molly's relationship develops. Essek apologizing to Caleb for developing feelings for Molly so fast compared to how long his feelings for Caleb took to develop is just. Imprinted on my brain. And there's so many good moments like that! Also the side of Trent intrigue that comes into play a bit later in the fic is a very fun addition, imo :3

your touch's so sweet (throw me in the water) by quinn_of_aebradore (1,872 words, Teen) Pairing: Fjord/Caleb Widogast (Widofjord) Warnings: None

Champion of Uk'otoa Fjord and Scourger Bren meet to hook up every so often. Fjord knows it's nothing real, nothing that could go anywhere, but when Bren teleports to his ship in the middle of the night he catches himself tempted to pretend anyway.

Reccer Says: A surprising amount of yearning for an evil-AU oneshot, and it's delicious. Fjord knows Bren is a Volstrucker and he still can't resist Bren's obvious moves to manipulate information out of him. Also, it's hot. That should probably go without saying but just in case.

the stranger who was your self by Demenior (60,045 words, Mature) Pairing: Fjord/Eadwulf Grieve/Jester Lavorre Warnings: None

Running away from the fallout of the end of the Volstrucker program (and maybe something Else), Eadwulf joins Fjord's crew, swearing fealty by rather dramatically kneeling before him on the dock and making Fjord very alarmed! He becomes the captain's bodyguard (and by extension, Jester's) and explorations of loyalty and power and, eventually sexy and fraught power dynamics ensue.

Reccer Says: Mostly alternates POV between Fjord and Eadwulf, but also some (very good!) Jester POV. Slow-burn between Eadwulf (aka the Captain's Hound) and the happy couple, plus Fjorester PDA that they think they're being subtle about (they are not). Also featuring Orly not being paid enough for this, despite being paid quite well. Came for the Eadwulf/Fjord power dynamics, stayed for the character studies and also for the crew (and for the power dynamics lbr). Now a series, there's also a threesome one-shot and Orly POV fic, with another installment apparently on the way!

Three Wizards by yesthisisnarumi (1,329 words, Mature) Pairing: Yussa Errenis/Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast (Shadowidoyussa) Warnings: None

Caleb has a thing for elven wizards. Elven wizards have a thing for him. Bickering, kissing, and more ensue.

Reccer Says: There is Never enough of these three in the world and this is such a fun take on them. Caleb constantly observing the contrasts between Essek and Yussa is delicious, the jealousy (that only makes them wanna make out more) is delicious, it's all just *chef's kiss* so fuckin good.

ebb and flow, love's sweet metronome by wytch-lyghts (12,972 words, Explicit) Pairing: Fjord/Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast (Shadowidofjord) Warnings: Recreational drug use, sex while intoxicated

On-the-run, evil AU Shadowgast pays a visit to their ally and sometimes-lover, Plank King Fjord. Unsurprisingly, they fuck about it.

Reccer Says: It's so hot. Like, insanely hot. Most of the action is between Widofjord and Shadowgast, but there's still moments of Shadowfjord and they're Very Good too. These three make Such a fun triad, especially in an evil AU. The dynamics, the push-and-pull, yes, the sex, all of it is so good. My Ao3 history says I've revisited it like ten times and I nearly got sucked into it for another read while writing this recc lmao

Thank you for joining us this week’s recc list! All the love to everyone who submitted a fic 💕 All enclosed recommendations were submitted by the community via our submissions form, which you can find here. All fic information is as it was provided by the reccer, so it may not be accurate to the author’s intent or the precise contents of the fic itself. Please assume good intent from all parties 💕

Submissions for next week’s list are already open! We’ll be featuring Keyleth Rarepairs. If you have any you’d like to highlight, you can send them in here. The week after that, the theme is Polyamorous Ships and the weeks after that we’re taking recommendations for Enemies to Lovers and Miscommunication fic! Submissions for all of these themes are currently open.

If you want more rarepair fic, check out @cr-summer-wildflowers and their event collections on ao3! If you want some friendship after all this romance, take a look at @critter-genfic-events and their recc lists! And if you’re interested in everyone’s favorite wizards, you can’t go wrong with the lists at @aeor-is-for-reccing !

Thanks all and have a lovely day/night/timezone! 💕

[queenofshenanigans]

Ok I am fully on the Shadowgast train. But it can't be ignored that Essek's brain seemed to short circuit a little when Fjord was Seemed into a bathrobe.

[quinn-of-aebradore]

CR Non-Endgame Ships Round 1b

All HeroForge designs by myself, quinn-of-aebradore

Fearne x Opal art by @drawsmaddy

Rules, parameters, and poll links here

[quinn-of-aebradore]

Light, why is this so difficult? He’s stolen two priceless artifacts, committed treason, faced down undead frost giants and a city-turned-aberration. He should be able to handle giving a gift to someone he… cares for. It shouldn’t make him so nervous his stomach tempts spilling contents across the floor. Essek, while on the run, finds a gift for Fjord. When he pays him a visit to deliver it, he finds himself thrown into the deep end of emotions and vulnerability. These are, thankfully, subjects Fjord is well-versed in.

Hello friends and happy Valentine's/Wednesday/Thursday. I still have about fifty minutes left before the day is over so I count that as a win on getting this done on time XD I have Shadowfjord, with a hearty side of Shadowidofjord, for you! As we know by now, I love a rarepair and I love giving Essek all the smooches :3 I'm very pleased with how this one turned out and I hope you all enjoy it as well! 💜💜💜💜

[quinn-of-aebradore]

Mighty Nein Relationship Moodboards 6

Blumenduo

Caduceus & the Wildmother

Jester & Marion

Mariking

Caduceus & Caleb

Shadowfjord

Threeleaves

Veth & Yasha

Lucigast

Yashter

[quinn-of-aebradore]

He hears the footsteps before he feels Fjord’s warmth at his back. “Can’t sleep?” he asks quietly, not touching Essek just yet. “You could say that.” Fjord hums. “Anything I can do?” Essek attempts to step outside his comfort zone while at sea. It doesn't go as well as hoped. Fjord comforts him in the aftermath.

Have I mentioned before that I enjoy some Shadowfjord? Because I do and I wrote fic about it. They're lovely and I love them, that's all :3 Hope you enjoy!

Dedicated to the lovely @marymauk 💜💚

[quinn-of-aebradore]

CR Non-Endgame Ships Poll

Hello and welcome to the project that’s been occupying me all week! A showdown of sorts between 32 Critical Role ships that were not together by the end of their respective campaign! Some notes;

I’ve gone with the phrasing “non-endgame” as some of the relationships featured were together in canon at some point (ex. Blumendrei) or one half/both were canonically attracted to the other/had a crush (ex Widofjord). These are here alongside relationships that are purely fanon (ex. Verinwulf)

Since C3 and present-day EXU are still ongoing, open stories, no ships featuring those characters are included. Anything’s possible. Since EXU: Calamity is a closed story, it gets featured.

All relationships featured here are m/m, f/f, or poly. I have a running list for m/f ships and may do a bracket for them in the future depending on how this one goes. I am not ignoring them.

Each poll will feature art of the characters in question, included with permission from their artists. Links to the original posts will be included and I highly encourage giving them some love if you vote!

Let’s not do ship hate y’all, this is for fun. Please. Campaign for your favorites but keep it civil.

Block “cr non endgame poll” if you don’t want to see this further!

Voting will begin tomorrow (Feb 12) at 6pm CST! All polls with run for 24 hours

Matchup links and breakdown below the cut

Round 1; 

Widofjord VS Percy/Tary

Luciessek VS Fjordwulf

Vaxmore VS Scanvax

Fjolly VS Yussa/Essek

Verinwulf VS Jester/Reani

Polynein VS Blumendrei

Shadowfjord VS Vexleth

Perc’ildan VS Zerxus/Asmodeus

Beaukeg VS Jestrid

Laerryn/Patia VS Vexahra

Jester/Calianna VS Beastrid

Beaureani VS Yashter

Shadowmauk VS Polymachina

Mariking VS Beaujester

Kashvax VS Lucigast

Gilmore/J’mon VS Widomauk

Round 2;

Widofjord VS Fjordwulf

Vaxmore VS Fjolly

Jester/Reani VS Polynein

Vexleth VS Perc’ildan

Beaukeg VS Vexahra

Beau/Astrid VS Beau/Reani

Polymachina VS Beaujester

Lucigast VS Widomauk

Round 3;

Widofjord VS Vaxmore

Polynein VS Vexleth

Vexahra VS Beau/Reani

Polymachina VS Widomauk

Round 4 (Semifinals);

Vaxmore VS Polynein

Vexahra VS Widomauk

Round 5 (Finals);

Vaxmore VS Widomauk

[quinn-of-aebradore]

CR Non-Endgame Ships Round 1

Shadowfjord art by @catjacket-scribbles

Vexleth art by @daydreamdeuce

Rules, paraments and voting links here