#the adventures of the darrington brigade

[bananasofthorns]

reminder: vote for the character who is the most girlboss, not who your favorite is (unless they are one in the same)

[catgirlthecrazy]

Ruidus: the Fowl Red Moon

So we were having a discussion in the AifL voice chat the other day, and we came up with an unhinged crack theory about Ruidus that I’m kind of in love with.

So on the most recent CR episode we learned about the Reilora, a bunch of strange, twisted alien creatures from Ruidus. We still don’t know much about them, but we do know they are capable of reaching out into the minds of people with a connection to Ruidus and influencing them. Now where else in CR canon have we seen something like that?

If you thought of this guy, you win a prize:

(For those unfamiliar, that's Quackthulhu, the big bad of the Darrington Brigade one shot. Yes, he's an actual creature that actually existed in CR canon).

Just think about it. Quackthulhu was an ordinary duck, who:

Was transformed into something twisted and alien by a strange rock from space

Could influence the mind and dreams of those connected to him (namely Lionel Gayheart)

Had red glowing eyes

And where did that that mysterious space rock wind up when Duck’atoa was defeated and the adventure over? In the possession of Archmage Doolan Tversky, one of Ludinus Da’leth’s colleagues on the Cerberus Assembly. It all fits guys.

[blurrycriticalroleposts]

This is Owlbear Man erasure.

I’ve felt like Taliesin has been trying to find a way to do “superhero origin in D&D” for a while and I’m glad he’s finally nailing it with Ashton

[manueltorresart]

I've been out on holidays and couldn't (and didn't want to) share my @criticalrole drawings. Today I'll share three busts in a row.

From the Darrington Brigade comes the trusty companions of the adventurous Taryon Darrington. Here comes The Owlbear, a man who puts a suit of night creature to instill terror to his foes. Created and played by Taliesin Jaffe.

[mayapapaya33]

If we don't get a fully animated feature of The Adventures of the Darrington Brigade, at the very least, I want Owlbear references in the Mighty Nein Animated show. Give me some npc's in the pub speaking in hushed whispers about the hooting terror that stalks the night, criminals are a superstitious lot after all. Let me see the silhouette of an owlbear cowl on a rooftop in Rexxentrum.

The Darrington Brigade is set in the Dwendalian Empire, in fact the adventure was in Deastok, which is the sister city to Kamordah, Beau's hometown. Castle Lorelei is also about a day's journey away. They're all around the Cyrengreen forest. I'm just saying, it makes sense!

I mean, Pumat read a copy of Tary's autobiography (or is it a biography if Doty wrote it?) The Daring Trials and Tribulations of sir Taryon Darrington. So he and his troupe are known in the area at least somewhat lol.

[monocycle-of-fresh-cut-grass]

I vote that for the Vox Machina session/s Robbie and aliam play characters drafted from a Darrington Brigade group

Like Vex calls her bestie because they need a couple of adventurers and Taryon says "im sending the best people for the job"

[essayofthoughts]

📓 Who is the first member of Vox Machina to die after Vax (excluding Bertrand he doesn’t technically count anyway) and how do they die? What are the reactions of the rest of VM? How is the death honoured/grieved/commemorated among VM? Is the death grieved by any wider public? For example, if it’s Percy, how does that grief play out in Whitestone generally?

Tary is older than Percy and also is choosing to continue to adventure! So I think he's actually more likely to be the first to pass. That said, I do think he retires before he gets too much older - but I still think he's had rather more wear and tear and he's not as well known as the rest of VM, and certainly not as wealthy as Percy and Vex, so I do think he's likelier to die sooner.

I imagine it's probably a bit unexpected for VM? Tary being over in Wildemount means they probably don't see him quite as often as they do the rest of each other, and given Percy is... Percy, they probably expected him to go first - even Percy, probably.

I think they show up for his funeral, of course, and comfort Lawrence, Tary's sister, and (if alive) his mother. Howaardt Darrington most likely would have passed before and if not... well. I don't think he made a great impression on VM.

I think Vex, out of fondness for Tary, might help fund the Darrington Brigade, if any part of that was still extant, or otherwise support Tary's other endeavours - though probably makes sure that a capable accountant is handling those funds, most likely Tary's sister Maryanne. I also think, as a memorial, they all get very drunk and proceed to read excerpts from his books, even if it makes them burst out laughing at times, because better to remember someone with laughter and joy than with tears and grief alone.

I don't know that Tary's death would have a huge impact beyond VM and the Brigade - though I have a feeling that Tary leaves Doty to Percy and Vex. Percy did after all help Tary make Doty 2.0, and Vex is Tary's best friend - I could see him leaving them his last incarnation of Doty, and leaving Percy all his notes on creating automatons.

send in “📓” and I’ll roll a d10 and ramble some worldbuilding thoughts

[thescrabblesmcjellyfish]

Would it be too ridiculous to want a one shot Ala Darrington Brigade with Luc Brenatto called Luc's Might Brave Band of Adventurers with either wildlings from the wilde out camp ?

Or maybe even going back a bit in time with him going on a secret adventure that gives him the confidence to want to join the Nein in the trent mission.

I want more of this scrappy insane halfling

[infernalbloodhunter]

From day 1 of London Comic Con in May 2023 at the Critter / Critical Role meet. I was dressed as Owlbear Man from the Critical Role one-shot Adventures of the Darrington Brigade.

[thevalleyisjolly]

The shadow of Ruidus looms over the Hellcatch Valley as it has for weeks ever since the Solstice.  Red magic crackles and lightning screams as in the skies, Imogen and Liliana face each other once more; below, claws unsheathe and weapons glint and the smell of smoke chokes the air as the rest of Bells Hells make their attacks against a coolly focused Otohan Thull.  As friends and allies alike concentrate their efforts on the Malleus Key, an unbothered Ludinus continues to monologue about gods and mortals and might, seemingly unconcerned with the spitting mad monk and furious wizard doing their best to break through his defences.

All of a sudden, a strange tinny blare of trumpets, almost staticky in sound, fills the air.  There is a loud crash of something metal, a quick thump-thump like a marching drumbeat.  For the first time in his speechmaking, Ludinus pauses in confusion.  Appearing over the top of the ridge, a short figure with immaculate red victory curls and what seems like an entire one-man-band on their back scrabbles down the slope, instruments clanging and banging the whole way down, the wax cylinder on their belt continuing to proclaim the daring adventures of the Darrington Brigade.

As Ludinus stares, bemused, at this latest interruption, a large, dark shadow falls over his head.  This is all the warning anyone gets before a 9 foot tall ogre wearing goggles falls out of the sky and just misses landing on Ludinus by a hair.  It is, however, sufficient distraction for an elven woman with a mantle of dark raven feathers to dispel Ludinus’ magical shields.  Seconds later, a flurry of cobalt-blue fists and a dunamantic dragon are beating his ass to a pulp.

[bananasofthorns]

reminder: vote for the character who is the most girlboss, not who your favorite is (unless they are one in the same)

[drthrvn]

Hi there! Where campaign 1 is concerned it looks like critical role’s playlist has all the relevant oneshots except I would tack the adventures of the darrington brigade on at the end too (and the campaign wrap up if you’re interested). For c2 they have a campaign wrap up, parts 1 & 2 of tm9 reunited, and the echoes of the solstice. There’s a Vox Machina vs Mighty Nine oneshot. There’s a guest battle royale too but I think you need to watch exu crownkeepers as well to know everyone in that (I would watch the crownkeepers before watching c3 anyway). Otherwise, they have a playlist of their oneshots that covers more or less everything I’m aware of (I’m a big fan of the night before critmas and that time of year is coming up). The only other big “series” I can think of that might be missed is Exu: Calamity which is truly a masterful series. I hope that helps!

thank you for that!! so i suppose going by the playlists is the best way to go then. i was honestly surprised to find out there were more series and more content than main campaigns lol

[thequeenofmyownscreen]

Sixteen things I noted about the one-shot “The Adventures of the Darrington Brigade” :

Back when I was thinking of starting Campaign 1, I think this one-shot was just being broadcast, so I definitely remember seeing gifs and all. Wild to be thinking in retropsect about my own voyage into Critical Role...

Laura's dress is SO BEAUTIFUL, Marisha with her hair done like that is CUTE AS A BUTTON, and Ashley IN A SUIT ?!!! I'm DEAD !! Oh and the guys are nice too I guess (lol, no, in reality I especially love Taliesin's vibe)

THEY DID A KARAOKE VERSION OF THE OPENING !! HAAAAA !!! THIS IS SO FUN

Amazing characters all around, I can't pick a favorite, they're all so good. I loved the crowd's reaction to Marisha's description of her character, and the crowd's reaction to Travis' character goofy accent And I do wonder if Laura based Farriwen on a 1st idea for Imogen - or maybe it's just me ; but there's similarities : the hair (well, Imogen's purple), the decorated arms (well, Imogen are scars).

I'm so happy to see Lionel again ! (even if this is Matt jaegering). Love this funky bardbarian who was definitely a duck before Scanlan True Polymorphed him.

the initiation ? Same as that time Tary was iniated into Vox Machina... which is to say, a fight !! I love the cast's realisation that their past mistake is absolutely coming back to bite them in the ass.

How many instruments does Marisha have back there ? I'm amazed and in awe !!!

Sam as Tary, knowing full-well he's inflicting psychic damage on Laura : "I'm gonna hop on my flying broom and watch the action a little bit closer."

Macaroni Samsonite, about Damian : "You know what, Tary, I think we should take advantage of your rules and maybe we should call this a... BANISHMENT !" Damian fails her saving throw, and Ashley just leaves the table. Liam : "Oh man, we just got her back !!"

Sam is right, everything The OwlBear said is a one-liner, in the voice of Batman. Taliesin is so fucking funny.

I love Dotty's clear distates of Hazel... even though this robot knows only word, it is clear.

It's A GIANT DUCK MINI WITH TENTACLES ?? WHAT IS THIS ONE-SHOT

ITS NAME IS QUACKTHULHU ??? Matt this is too much laughing, my back hurts

Liam, about the mic that Ashley hit : "You just hit that like Marisha Ray striking an Irishman !" Marisha, pissed : "I hit you ONE TIME when you were leaning over my space, motherfucker !" (I love them so much)

I love Hazel's old-timey accent that slips sometimes in the strangest of syllabes, like "confusyion", "meditatyion", "inspiratyion", and I love that it gets ~worse~ and ~worse~(but hilarious !) during the episode.

So many puns this episode : about ducks, bears, owls, and stones passing

That was so much fun, holy shit. My serotonin levels are high, my skin is clear, my crops are thriving, etc etc. It makes its grand entrance in the top 10 of the CR one-shots, for me ! I hope Matt was not joking, and that someday they're going to do a follow-up.

[haorev]

Sometimes I think about how Damian, Buddy, Macaroni, Hazel, Ferriwen, and The Owlbear are just people who exist in the Dwendalian Empire

Like this chucklefucks are just running around Wildemount being absolutely unhinged

Amazing

[your-turn-to-role]

Lionel was TRUE POLYMORPHED INTO A HALF ORC? WAS THIS SOMETHING I MISSED?

haha, yeah!

alright, so when we first met lionel gayheart, also known as chod, he was definitely one of the stranger character concepts ever devised (and honestly i love jon heder for coming up with him). he’s a half orc bard/barbarian multiclass, the bard part college of valor, the barbarian part a new totem warrior path matt homebrewed for this, the totem of the duck (which you can find here, if you’re interested, it’s fantastic - technically you have to buy it to see all of it but the cost is free.)

weirder still was his backstory - he doesn’t remember his parents, or even seemingly a lot of his childhood, all he remembers is waking up in an oasis in the desert, surrounded by ducks, and says the ducks raised him. eventually, as an adult, he wandered into ank’harel, was generally not treated well by people, and kept making up new names for himself trying to fit in, since he seemingly didn’t have one before that. at some point, scanlan took him in, and he now works for scanlan. as a person, he’s very friendly, but rather slow, doesn’t know a lot about the world or how people function, his true affinity seemingly only with ducks.

this led to a lot of fan theories of people saying “hey what if lionel was a duck, but then scanlan needed an assistant and true polymorphed one out of a random duck he found in the desert”

matt then brought this up in the talks machina for the final episode of campaign one, and both he and sam confirmed that was definitely canon. (and then joked that if scanlan needed someone to take over as the meat man in ank’harel, maybe he just picked another duck, which will be an excellent surprise if the new major crime lord of ank’harel ever, say, enters a dispel magic field)

it also got put into the description for the totem of the duck itself, here’s the first page

and then when the darrington brigade one shot came out and lionel was relevant again, someone asked matt again on twitter, and he confirmed it for them there too, as recently as last december

so yeah! lionel gayheart, duck turned man

it’s the best