#wildemount brothers

[gravitycosplays-solarflareart]

Another fun shot from the Formal VM/M9 group!!!

Fjord: @corruptedwolfcosplay

Caduceus: @gravity_cosplays

Photo and edits: @mewmacaron

#fjordstone #caduceusclay #criticalrolecosplay #criticalrole #mightynein

[omens-daughter]

just a lil reminder that Judicators and K'Nauth had a choice about defacing themselves and becoming vessels for their gods

the Ruidusborn Exaltants? who all felt fated to be in the Hellcatch? y'know, the ones like Imogen who are developing scars and physical disfigurement by just existing?

they didn't.

[utilitycaster]

I think something really worth mentioning is that Dorian has pretty much been on the run since parting with Bells Hells in Jrusar - the Crown Keepers had to stay off the roads in their travels to avoid detection. For all that Bells Hells have had a time of it, they have had a few moments of respite, Team Wildemount especially, that Dorian simply hasn't had. And worse, most of the worst attacks have come from within and/or been deceptive ones - obviously Opal being over taken by Lolth, but also Fearne being lured away, Laudna in Zadash, Dominox, and Laudna again. And, of course, his brother, the entire purpose of his departure, has died.

I think the kindest thing Bells Hells can do for him is just make space for those feelings, hopefully address the Delilah situation with the current ritual, and let him figure things out. It might be that he still wants to kill the gods. It might be that he's more worried about specifically saving Opal. It might be that a chance to grieve Cyrus or even to breathe for a moment will change his mind, but it's entirely possible it won't. He was extremely quiet this episode; I'm not even sure he's ready to meet those feelings head-on quite yet.

More generally it's a bit like the god debates earlier in that there are characters I disagree with; but I'm saying this with a lot of knowledge that is not available to them. I don't think Ashton has ever had a worldview I would consider healthy, rational, or realistic, but I also think their cynicism comes from a very real place given their history. I think going on the Liliana assassination mission would have been an extremely fun option, but I get why Imogen wouldn't choose to do that. I (outside the text) don't agree with Dorian on an abstract philosophical level, but he's the character in the story actually being affected by events that happened to him. There's little more joyless than just jumping on to whichever characters embody your own personal positions and deciding they're right; feels a little like Brennan's note on propaganda, honestly, except a la carte cherrypicked rather than homemade. There might be some fun conflict but honestly, I think Dorian's also pretty disgusted with Ludinus in a way not unlike how Ashton feels, so it really may be they spend the remainder of the campaign with the attitude of "I'd gladly kill a god were the opportunity to present itself, but the Exandrian Accord seems to have room for people who feel this way but hate Ludinus more." An ideological argument, but not a practical one.

[critter-genfic-events]

This week, we have nine fics dealing with Grief or Mourning -dealing with the losses in the recent episodes of Critical Role, older losses, and imagined losses still in these character's futures. Check them out beneath the cut, and remember to comment and kudos if you like them!

divorce the first by Ink_Beneath_Her_Fingernails (3496,Not Rated) Warnings: Brief mentions of Molly's death, but it's not a focus. Pairings:

Common is the only language all of the Nein share, but it's not the first language of any of them.

Reccer says: There's such an aching sense of longing and grief and mourning in this fic that leaves you with the feeling of an old pain, almost too small to bother dealing with, not that you even could, but every day it sticks around like a rock in your shoe. It manages to slip under your defenses in a way fiction about things like death can't always do, while still touching on loss. There's also some really excellent development of worldbuilding and Wildemount here.

Proud by awaytobeunshaken (557,General) Warnings: None Pairings: Beauregard Lionett & Caleb Widogast

Beau isn't sure how to feel after her father's death. Caleb tries to comfort her anyway.

Reccer says: I liked it

a white and soundless place by BeatriceEagle (7064,Teen) Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Major Character Death Pairings: Una Ermendrud & Caleb Widogast

A portrait of grief, from either side of the thing.

Reccer says: Una and Leofric feel like people, rather than saints.

psychopomp by hydraxx (3357,General) Warnings: Pairings: Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast

Essek comes back to visit Blumenthal over the centuries after Caleb dies, while a long series of local innkeepers observe his mourning process.

Reccer says: It's a really sweet look at how Essek processes losing one of the people important to him, with background worldbuilding!

A Wisdom Without Face or Name by violettressed (17280,Teen) Warnings: major character death Pairings: Caduceus Clay & Jester Lavorre, Jester Lavorre & Essek Thelyss, Artagan & Jester Lavorre

Jester Lavorre spends a lifetime learning how to let go.

Reccer says: A great fic if you need a cry - there's little sparks of humor left by everyone being in character that make the entire thing even more heartfelt

Things to Do in Whitestone When Your Best Friend is Dead by untropicalisland (3038,General) Warnings: major character death Pairings: Ashton Greymoore & Laudna, Percival "Percy" Fredrickstein Von Musel Klossowski de Rolo III & Ashton Greymoore

Ashton tries to make sense of FCG's death while the party regroups in Whitestone following their return from Ruidus.

Reccer says: Ashton and FCG's relationship was so great, it's nice to see something that's got Ashton processing their death. And the Percy and Ashton's dynamic is pitch perfect and *chef's kiss*

Synonym for Tragedy by thetickingclock (1060,Teen) Warnings: None Pairings: Orym/Dorian Storm, Fearne Calloway & Orym & Dorian Storm, Dorian Storm & Cyrus Wyvernwind, Dorian Storm & Dariax Zaveon

Dorian and his brother. The music is different now.

Reccer says: Beautiful and haunting

like wildfire, it starts in my chest by ellis (ellabellachicketychella) (1523,Teen) Warnings: None Pairings: Dorian Storm & Cyrus Wyvernwind, Dorian Storm & Dariax Zaveon

If this is grief then the poems got it wrong-- or, i love how dorian's grief is rage so much. i wrote a little about it

Reccer says: A brilliant character study of Dorian after episode 93

To hold, to cut by thetickingclock (1665,Teen) Warnings: None Pairings:

A series of vignettes about the coping with grief through shared work

Reccer says: It felt true

This is one of our weekly communally-generated gen rec lists. Every week we announce a new theme and allow anyone to submit a fic recommendation. Please note that the summary and content notes are provided by the reccer, and may be different than what the author has provided. Please assume good intentions all around. <3

And hey, anyone includes you!

Next week, we'll be focusing on Fjord Stone! Know of something focusing on his backstory, or maybe his interior life during the campaign, that orphanage heist that happened after? You should rec it!

After that, we'll be changing things up a bit. Mentorship will be happening on the 15th, but after that, we're going to switch to a twice a month schedule - starting with Scanlan.

Any fics coming to mind? Well, then use this form to submit!

Oh! Also! Critter Gen Week is happening! We've been using the themes for our reclist - so if you're inspired by what you're reading, consider writing (or making art) for that week!

[nanierose]

Honestly I'm loving how this group already has different vibes to the other one. In the first group they landed in Wildemount, which Chetney already knows pretty well it being his home, and met two people who have roots in one of the major cities and who come to the party's aid. Both are clearly skilled, reliable and one even has a connection to Chetney setting up an interesting dynamic there. Immediately they present as more stable because they have better context and foundation for moving forward and getting information. Not to say the group aren't struggling, but it isn't as visible I would say.

This group? No-one really has a clue where they are. Not a single person is from the continent, only our original trio know each other and aside from Deni$e the new PCs have no combat experience. It is inherently more chaotic and stress-inducing because of this. Everyone is scared, confused and exhausted in some way. Especially the three who have just survived a major battle and are terrified of what just happened and are trying to hold on despite the guilt they are feeling right now. And of course Bor'Dor who is currently experiencing having fairly high-level magic appear overnight, being away from the only place he's known with his sick brother, and the stress that would induce. Deni$e and Prism are faring better but still confused and nervous obviously. This group really feels like they're in survival mode and it will be interesting to see how this group mesh with all this in mind.

[ksanya]

I love the parallels between Wildemount & Issylra teams separation and BH & Dorian separation. Traumatized Issylra: How are we? AWFULL! We had the worst time of our lives! >:'( Traumatized Dorian: How am I? I'm okay! I did lost my brother, my friend got corrupted, another went after her so she might get as well, I ran from my best buddy and I also lost the last party member… But I'm fine :D

[nilesdaughter]

i fall in love just a little, oh, a little bit

Fandom: Critical Role Characters: Percy De Rolo, Vex'ahlia, Trinket (Mention), Orthax (Mention), Saundor (Mention), Zahra Hydris (Mention), Vesper Elaina De Rolo (Mention) Pairing: Perc'ahlia Word Count: 1,212 Note: The fill for the "Fall" prompt for @percahliaweek. I also specifically dedicate this one to my beloved @lycaboros because, like Vex, falling in love with you was never a single definable moment. [Also found on Ao3.]

“I don’t know when it happened. When I fell.”

Vex’ahlia couldn’t help but think that it would have been impossible to fall in love in a single moment, because it had never been a single moment with Percival.

It was their initial meeting. How he looked up at her through the bars of his prison cell like he was seeing the sun after a long and stormy night that had blocked out the moons and stars. How, without hesitation, he passed over his entire coin purse to her once he retrieved his effects from the storage chest they’d been unceremoniously tossed into. How he gravitated towards Trinket, not shying away from her beloved bear like most everyone else did upon meeting him, and even seemed to find comfort in tangling his trembling hands into Trinket’s coarse fur.

It was the first trick arrow. How he’d been uncharacteristically unsure as he presented it to her, apologizing for the potential overstep. How the knowledge that he’d thought of her and crafted something that only she could use flustered her in a way she never would have expected. How he’d turned such a pretty shade of pink when she kissed him in gratitude.

It was Whitestone. How he said he trusted her to know if and when he lost control. How startled and touched his expression had been when she told him that he didn’t have to be alone when he faced the darkness ahead of him. How her voice, her words, had seemed to be the ones that pulled him away from Orthax’s influence just long enough that the connection between them was interrupted, offering Percy a chance to reorient himself and decide that he would not give in to the constant whispers of violence and vengeance that the demon promised him.

It was the broom. How he didn’t think any less of her for taking it, even if—in retrospect—it had been a shitty thing to do. How he worried for her safety the first few times she’d tried to use it to fly. How he took his worries and channeled that energy into making the enchanted item safer, even going so far as losing sleep over ensuring she had proper failsafes.

It was Syngorn. How she felt safe enough to admit that she was terrified of going back. How, for even just a moment, she allowed herself to rely on someone that wasn’t her brother. How he had assured her that she was worth so much more than she believed, so much more than what the elven city tried to convince her that she was worth. How he’d given her a title—a title—to ensure that her father was forced to acknowledge that she was accomplished, that she had risen up in the world after she’d abandoned his home so many years before. How, when Saundor tried to convince her to give up her heart, she felt she had no other choice but to admit that it already belonged to someone else.

It was Wildemount. How she had spent so much time dancing around the fact that her confession had played a part in ensuring the success of his resurrection that she almost missed the hints that he’d heard it, wherever his soul had been. How he’d agreed that they had to be willing to forgive in order to grow, to heal. How, even when she still couldn’t bring herself to find the courage to ask him if he’d heard her, he’d kissed her in the snow and promised they would find the time to talk about it all properly.

It was the Courage. How he was willing to play to her whims, even when her opening the door naked had apparently erased all his carefully laid plans for their evening before they went to take on Thordak. How he let her take the lead, deferred to her knowledge, however limited it was, to ensure they both found satisfaction in that evening’s shared bed. How he surprised her with continuing beyond the first round, showing off that he actually knew a little more about intimacy than he had let on, and made her feel like she was making love and not just having another casual fuck.

It was the Grey Hunt. How he had granted her a title that, for all intents and purposes, had to be earned before it could truly be hers. How he believed in her so wholeheartedly that he had no doubt she would earn it. How he’d clearly lost sleep waiting for her to return from her ritualistic challenge, ensured he was present when she finally did.

It was the manor. How he gave her free reign to design the space. How he was his ever meticulous self and ensured she had anything and everything she desired to outfit her new home. How it became his home, too, because more and more of him appeared there as the year stretched on. How it became a quiet haven amidst the patrolling and the politicking, a space where they could be their authentic, messy selves, even during the brief time they allowed their fears to force them apart.

It was their elopement. How it wasn't something either of them planned for, even with all his tendencies to mastermind all the details and all her tendencies to weigh the consequences before a decision was made. How the synchronization of their impulsive streaks left them giddy and nearly drunk on their love for each other. How, even with the love and support of their friends, they managed to ensure their formal dedication to each other was something they kept to themselves. (And bless Zahra for not breathing a word of it to anyone until they were ready.)

It was Elysium. How his faith in her never wavered, letting a god know just how much love and trust he had in her. How he was so proud of her fiery rebirth, so enamored with her brilliant sunlight, that he declared an additional star needed to be added to the De Rolo crest, their crest, to mark the occasion.

It was everything that came… after. How he understood the devastation of losing family. How he knew that her grief and the subsequent healing were in no way going to be linear. How they broke to pieces with night terrors and haunting memories, but were always there to catch each other, build each other back up with love and understanding. How he turned his brilliant mind away from weaponry and destruction and focused instead on clockwork and artistry. How he absolutely beamed when they realized they were going to have a child. How, when Vesper was born, he seemed to physically shed his identity as the Terrible Tinkerer of Tal’Dorei, shed his identity as Lord Percival Frederickstein Von Musel Klossowski De Rolo III. How, with their small daughter in his arms, he became so soft and doting, donning the identity of ‘papa’ with surprising ease. How he never squandered an opportunity to let them know just how much he loved them, how grateful he was to them for giving him a future he once believed he’d thrown away.

“I think it happened through all the little moments that I didn’t even notice.”

[joshuasumter]

The Inspiration Template for Onward to Critical Role

Swords and sorcery just get real as Ian and Barley Lightfoot from Disney/Pixar's 'Onward' landed smack-dab in the middle of Exandria, the world of 'Critical Role' that exists in the Material Plane full of real magic, real epic adventures, and real wizards, bards, real fantasy and beyond…and no modern technology in this new hypothetical Crossover Alternate Universe (CAU) timeline that explores what would happen if the events of Disney/Pixar's 'Onward (2020)', Critical Role's animated series 'The Legend of Vox Machina (2022)' and its upcoming animated 'Mighty Nien' series occurred differently.

(The crossover timeline takes place after the events of 'Onward' and into the events of 'The Legend of Vox Machina', and the rest will be within the animated series itself)

In this new hypothetical crossover AU after the events of Disney/Pixar's 'Onward', life is still full of magic and wonder for Ian and Barley Lightfoot in the suburban city of New Mushroomton after their journey to bring back their late father…that is, until they woke up to find themselves in another world unlike their own filled with real fantasy magic and no modern technology.

Little do they know that they've been dragged into Exandria, the world of 'Critical Role', and allow themselves to be joined by an unlikely band of rowdy and ragtag heroes, misfits, and adventurers turned mercenaries for hire known as Vox Machina (Comprised of twin half-elf siblings, Vex'ahlia and Vax'ildan; charming gunslinger Percival "Percy" Fredrickstein Von Musel Klossowski de Rolo III; clever cleric Pike Trickfoot; half-elf red-headed druid Keyleth; gnome bard Scanlan Shorthalt; goofy goliath barbarian Grog Strongjaw; and their giant grizzly bear, Trinket) and chose to do what they can to help save Exandria and restore justice from the evil destruction of dark magical forces, terrifying power couples, and even a group of not-so-friendly dragons…if they want to survive this strange, new world despite all the epic dangers, magical surprises, comedic fun, and even the heartwarming romance the two brothers experience in such an epic saga along the way.

Then, their second adventure takes place after the events of 'The Legend of Vox Machina' Season 3 and into the events of the 'Mighty Nein' series as Ian and Barley get dragged into yet another campaign and saga anew when they're time-warped to 20 years after the adventures of Vox Machina where the two brothers are now joined by another motley group of criminals and misfits based in Wildemount known as the Mighty Nein (Comprised of Caleb Widogast, a human transmutation wizard; Nott the Brave, a young goblin rogue; Jester Lavorre, a blue female tiefling; Beauregard Lionett, a human female monk; Fjord, a green half-orc Hexblade warlock; Mollymauk Tealeaf, a lavender tiefling blood hunter; Yasha Nydoorin, a female aasimar barbarian; and much more).

The inspirations and influences of the Onward/Critical Role crossover and its new hypothetical crossover AU timeline are:

Onward (2020)

Critical Role

The Legend of Vox Machina (2022)

Scoobynatural

Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM), Teen Beach Movie

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003): Fast Forward (Season 6)

Scooby-Doo! The Sword and the Scoob

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

DreamWorks' The Road to El Dorado

Jeff Smith's Bone

Dungeons & Dragons: The Cartoon, the classic TV show from the 1980s. (Including The Adventure Begins! (Dungeons & Dragons) (Little Golden Book) and Dungeons & Dragons: Saturday Morning Adventures)

The crossover fanfics of... - "Frozen Turtles" by Iron117Prime - "The Owl and the Frog" by ChampionElCid - The crossover stories by Hero Central/AlexMontyArt that involved heroes from one continuity end up in a different world of another, including "The Avengers: The Avatar Saga", "Ben 10 & She-Ra: Heroes of Power", and "Sonic and Ariel"

[arthurn9]

About My PC: Katarina

(Original art by the incomparable Alice Shikinoko! Find her on YouTube!)

(Second image here also by Alice Shikinoko (Timeskip!Katarina is seen here with her wife, Saturn, the Umbral Mistress) and the first image by the amazing @scruffyturtles!)

Name: Katarina (Original name unknown)

Gender: Female

Birthday: Some time near winter, 795PD

Age: Unknown, temporally 47, age fluctuated after planeshifting

Birthplace: Greying Wildlands, Wildemount

Current Residence: Manor of Darkened Dreaming, Byroden, Tal’Dorei

Height: 5’10”

Weight: 147 lbs

Weapons: Dagger and Improved Pepperbox Pistol

Weapon Names: Spellbreaker & Legado

Discipline: Remnant Mage Slayer Arts and Self-Taught Gunslinging

Class Levels: Rogue 11 (Swashbuckler)/Fighter 3 (Gunslinger)/Warlock 1 (Hexblade)

Connections:

Unknown Mother & Father (killed by slavers)

Remnant handlers/teachers (killed by Katarina)

Delilah Briarwood (teacher, deceased?)

Alexander Cena III (guardian, deceased)

Esperansa Cena (former guardian, banished from home)

Alexander Cena IV (former adoptive brother/charge, deceased)

The Cena daughters (former adoptive sisters/employers – two have disowned her, two remain friendly)

The Umbral Mistress, Saturn (wife/mistress)

Full backstory after the jump. It got WAY longer than I expected it to be.

Katarina was born in blood and murk, in the darkness of Shadycreek Run, a stretch of land notorious for being the home to thieves, slavers, and criminal scum. She wasn’t even born with the name; her parents died before she could have one, and the slavers she was picked up by didn’t care much about formalities. It was only when the Remnants came that she found identity. The slavers had dared to steal a document from a Remnant informant, and paid with their lives. The child they found was just extra. She could be taught, molded to serve the Whispered One’s cause.

She was given the name by a woman named Delilah, who told her a pretty name and a pretty face were useful tools. Katarina was trained up as an assassin, and she was good. A prodigy with a dagger, in time she would be taught to kill mages. Despite being one herself, Delilah relished in the idea of ending so-called arrogant arcane practitioners with a simple blade. “They’re so squishy, relying on their tricks…”

In time, Katarina earned enough trust to be offered a mission; assassinate a mage who was getting too close to discover Delilah’s true circumstances. As the man’s blood flowed from his neck, Delilah presented Katarina with a powerful weapon. She called it a Vestige of a long-forgotten time, one that would prove useful to ending the Cerberus Assembly and other organizations. Katarina was also whisked off into the Shadowfell, to learn the ways of this blade. She acclimated well to the darkness there, losing the color in her hair and eyes, but gaining the ability to disguise herself lightly, at will.

A new mission was given to Katarina; she was to assassinate a noble family in the city of Byroden, one who had actually gotten close to finding a way to seal away their master. The patriarch, a paladin of some renown, had uncovered documents that led to a ritual to seal Vecna away in the Shadowfell permanently. Even if this was a local hero, she would not fail in taking these documents, and his life.

At least, that’s what she told herself, before he completely stopped her in her tracks.

Alexander Cena III took pity on her, however. The fool bought her act, her story that she was only trying to steal things to sell for money. He took her in. The first week wasn't so bad. Turns out that being a hero was a lucrative business - the man was rich beyond reason (though he would say it all came from his wife’s side of the family, and given her alleged connections, Katarina believed him). Katarina, undeterred from her primary mission, did all she could to undermine him and his regime. But he was clever. All of her attempts to steal information or snuff out the hero's brats and servants were "foiled" by the stupid hero. After a few weeks, Katarina found herself making fewer attempts. At first, she didn't know why. The mission hadn't changed; no agent had come to her with the news that it had. Then again, no other Remnant had come at all, and that was odd. She'd always had a handler around when on a mission. And, yet...

Then they started treating her...strangely. Like...she was something less than an assassin. Like she was...a person. The stupid hero talked to her about...life. And what she thought. All things that were banned by the Remnants. The wife, though colder, encouraged her to read books and learn with her children. And those children...they wanted nothing more than to spend time with their new friend. The first year of this treatment was unbearable, though the second…wasn’t so bad. She even welcomed the birth of triplets to the family, and was actually excited to be a big sister-

…when did she start considering herself a sister?

When news that Delilah, her husband Sylas, and the forces that had taken over the city of Whitestone had been felled, Katarina breathed the first sigh of relief in her life. She didn’t know why it was so relieving, at least not initially, but started to suspect that this was what peace felt like.

Katarina started to forget about the Remnants, though she never forgot her training. The hero insisted that she continue honing her skills, but he was different from her teachers with the Remnants. He encouraged her growth for her own sake, and though she suspected that he was only grooming her to become a counter-agent in his war against the Whispered One, he always insisted that it was only so that she may carve her own path.

In time, the hero would put his plan into action to finally seal away the Undying King. The Ritual of Fell Sealing, this supposed powerful enchantment, would return Vecna to the Shadowfell and seal him there for good. Though the efforts of the Remnants in Whitestone had been deterred, the Cena family knew that this would not be enough to stop Vecna forever. The hero said his goodbyes…but unknown to him, Katarina had tagged along. She wanted to help the man who had saved her, and who better than a former Remnant?

Unfortunately, her assistance cost him dearly. Though he was able to push Vecna’s avatar back to the Shadowfell, Katarina’s interference came at the cost of the ritual’s permanence…and his life. With his dying words, he asked Katarina to protect his family as a final request. Katarina nodded through tears, devoting herself to the protection of his family.

Katarina returned to the Cena Manor, head hung in the shame of this defeat, lacking the blade that Delilah had provided her all those years ago. Esperansa, the wife, took the news the hardest and simply walked away to her study to weep and mourn. Marcia and Alicia, two of the triplets who had, unfortunately, been spoiled, immediately jeered and flung hatred at her, despite only being three years old. The third triplet, Leticia, as well as the elder siblings Aurora and Alexander, attempted to cheer Katarina up, saying that their father had died a hero and that they held no ill will toward her.

Though she was not banished as she had feared, Katarina felt the sting of shunning from the matriarch of the house, as well as the two daughters who hated the young woman who they felt had taken their father from them. In time, news of the final sealing of the Whispered One, despite his ascension to godhood, reached them. Esperansa softened, relieved that her husband’s killer and the being she’d sworn to stop one day, was finally felled.

Katarina’s guilt, however, had only compounded in the year since his death. She decided that it would be best to live a life not by the side of this family, but in service of them. It was the least she could do to make up for her mistakes. Though reluctant, Esperansa allowed this arrangement.

The next 16 years marked a time of peace for the family. The triplets followed in the footsteps of their mother, learning magecraft at her feet (and in the company of many good teachers, now that Esperansa had rejoined the Arcana Pansophical in an advisory role). Leticia had even taken up the blade as a side project, in honor of her father. Alexander had taken up training, as well, though his was more in the area of sharpshooting. He reasoned he would be a hero like his father before him. Katarina, by now a well-tenured member of staff with a reputation of being quick on her feet and silvered of tongue, taught her young master in secret, honing his dexterity and aiming skills. Esperansa would not approve, but Katarina knew the young master would make a fine hero. She also viewed this as an opportunity to keep her own skills honed, skills she secretly employed in the interests of the family. They didn’t need to know that bandits and other ne’er-do-wells would occasionally attempt to cross the barriers of the home.

Her loyalty and devotion had been rewarded. Katarina was assigned as the direct retainer of Alexander Cena IV, a role she cherished; the two were closer than siblings by this point.

On the day of his 23rd birthday, Alexander had an argument with his mother, who had discovered his training. In the dead of night, he ran from the house, leaving a note for Katarina saying that he needed to test his mettle in the real world, and become a hero himself. Within two days, Katarina had been sent off to find him and return him home by Esperansa.

She would travel to the site of the original ritual, the one that had taken her father figure from her, to pay respects. What she found there were the abandoned, now-psychotic Remnant handlers she used to have, with her old Vestige, Spellbreaker, in their hands.

They didn’t last 30 seconds.

Katarina swore she would find her young master and return him home. She tracked him deep into the Verdant Expanse, eventually finding a curious gate. She’d heard that this gate was one into the Feywild, erected by a group of heroes as a favor to an archfey they had befriended, but in this moment…the gate was different. Perhaps it was the leylines fluctuating, but this gate didn’t seem to be going to the world of the Fey…

Katarina awoke in a strange land, one of fog and darkness. A castle of ill omen in the distance did little to calm Katarina as she began to question those around, asking where she was. In time, she would learn that this fell place was known as Barovia. She also managed to find out that Alexander had managed to find his way here, and seemed to be traveling with an unusual troupe. Her priority in place, she searched for him…but in time, she would find herself far too late.

Alex had fallen in battle, the unfortunate casualty of crossfire as he and his compatriots battled a cursed living tree. At the same time, a strange woman, claiming herself to be a priestess to a dark goddess, arrived, claiming to be seeking Alex for her own purposes. Katarina tried to get this woman to revive her charge…but resurrection magic was cursed in Barovia, and the ritual failed. Katarina had lost both the Alex in her life.

The rest of his party introduced themselves, told stories of Alex’s bravery, his prowess, and his abilities with an unusual weapon. Katarina picked it up…she had heard rumors of such a contraption being used by some of the less savory criminals in Tal’Dorei, though she’d heard that the heir of Whitestone himself, Percival de Rolo, used such a weapon, a firearm, as well. She took the weapon from her young charge��s body, vowing vengeance against the world that had taken him.

In time, this group would work to undermine and defeat the master of this land, an undead monstrosity named Strahd. During their mission, Katarina became close to Saturn, the two bonding over their shared fates, and wishing to protect each other, viewing it as a way to make up for their failures to protect Alex. In time, their bond would evolve to one of romance, and their relationship would blossom through their final days of combatting Strahd. It was during this campaign that Saturn took on some of the vampiric traits from Strahd himself, as part of his final defeat. Katarina was worried that Saturn would turn to darkness…but despite her being a dark cleric, Saturn only wished to live in peace and spread love, and these new powers would allow her to do so.

The two parted ways with the rest of the adventurers who had traveled with Alex. Saturn’s skills with magic and new abilities allowed her to bend space and return them to Exandria, but with a catch; there was a large amount of time dilation for them as they returned, and what had only been about a month in Barovia had been 5 years in Exandria. The Cena family had almost given up on seeing either Katarina or Alex ever again. Esperansa had taken ill, and the revelation almost broke her. Aurora cried deeply for the loss of her little brother, and Marcia & Alicia had only gotten worse, vitriol towards the former maid at the news of their brother’s death enhanced by the poisonous brattiness they now carried. Leticia took the news the worst. She ran away, only taking a moment to look back and ask Katarina if she had genuinely done her best to bring him back.

Katarina almost broke then and there.

Esperansa banished Katarina on the spot. She had failed in her duties, after all. Saturn, however, did not take kindly to her lover’s judgement. Though entirely a bluff, it was convincing enough; she “cursed” Esperansa to a life of grief, only to be broken by an act of genuine forgiveness. This was no true malady, but Esperansa’s grief would leave her bedridden in the years to come, so it may as well have been.

Her ties severed, Katarina walked out of the Cena manor one last time. Saturn did her best to assuage her lover’s guilt, and though it helped immensely, Katarina lived with a dark cloud looming over her, a reminder of her greatest failure, for years. In spite of this, she did her best to move on; in a year’s time, she had been wed to Saturn in a private ceremony. Only Leticia was allowed to attend, though when she did, the youngest Cena noticed several new friends, maidens who swooned for “the lady”.

In time, the city of Byroden had been besot by rumor. This wasn’t uncommon, as word travels fast in the biggest city in the Gladepools of Tal’Dorei. Still, these rumors spoke of a strange gathering in the old, long-thought-abandoned Castello family manor, of young women who would attend some kind of school. Some of the more sensational rumormongers of the countryside called it a coven. Others called it a cult. In time, this order would be given a name: the Black Lily Sisterhood, and at its head was the mysterious woman known only as the Umbral Mistress. And while it was rare to see this mysterious woman, rumored to be as pale as Catha with eyes of crimson and hair of gold, those who frequented the markets in Byroden spoke of seeing her loyal housemaid, hair of white with a green tinge at the tips, eyes hidden by the reflection in her glasses, and sidearm on her waist.

[12pt-times-new-roman]

c3e59

let's go back in tiiiiime

"Where are we?" "Where's everybody else?" "Where's Imogen?"

This area is rife with not just volcanic activity, but with seismic activity as well, and Ruidus is to the south.

Laudna identifies a handful of places that match this description: the Truskan Vale (near Kamordah), the Panagrip Sands (to the far east of Marquet), and the Spectrum Gorge in the middle of Issylra.

Orym to Caleb, via sending stone: "Um... Caleb Widogast? Are you alright? Where are you? Not sure we're even in Marquet anymore. Please respond." He's met with a feedback loop and static.

Orym to Dorian, vis sending stone: "Dorian? Can you hear me? Uh... what's the sky look like where you are? Tell me you're okay." Same thing.

They crest a ridge of the gorge, and beyond, there's a dense forest, a cluster of growth affixed to the mineral-rich earth. Orym, with a passive perception of 31, sees movement — 

AIMEE!!!!

She's a dwarf with long blond hair, covered in tattoos — two stand out, one of a banner heart that says "me" instead of "mom," and one with a large cursive D. She's wearing earring hoops that say "fuck off." A corset, bejeweled boots, a massive gold belt buckle, carrying a whip and a sickle.

I'm calling it right now, this woman is going to romance Laudna and Ashton.

An hour ago, she was in Tal'dorei looking for her ex. She almost found him when she heard Ludinus' voice, saw white light, then appeared in this forest.

Mona is a barbarian/rogue (who rolled excellent stats btw).

From the top, they can see that the gorge is a massive canyon at least two miles long. Ruidus is to the southwest of them. An extremely overgrown and vibrant forest surrounds the canyon, and there's a river nearby.

Orym can see another gathering of leylines to the northeast — another nexus point, miles off. Loosely in that direction, he can see a township, and beyond that, a massive mountain range with one singular mountain taller than any he's ever seen — the Heaven's Stair. The entire western side of his vision is taken up by a mountain range that looks so foreboding and ominous that he doesn't even want to go near it. To the south, ocean.

Traveling to the northeast, they encounter a fire and send Pate to scout. (Friendly reminder that Pate uses the stat block of an imp, so he can turn invisible at will.) At the fire, there's a cart, a reindeer-looking beast of burden, and a humanoid figure warming their hands.

Utkarsh Ambudkar is an actor best known for his roles in Pitch Perfect and Avatar: the Last Airbender.

Bor'dor is a half-elf "built like a coat hanger." 6'4 but hunched over, delicate fingers, no scars or tattoos. Brown skin with shades of green and gold, unkempt hair, and large gold-amber eyes. A face that carries the resting expression of "what the fuck is going on?" No armor, a green cloak, leather shoes, and a crossbow.

He shoots a 5th-level lightning bolt at Mona, then casts cure wounds at second level. He's a divine soul sorcerer!

He was in the Cyrios Mountains on Wildemount (near Pride's Call) with his sheep — his family raises sheep and sheepdogs — and caring for his sick brother. Then he felt a humming, heard a voice and a droning, a pain in his forehead — then he got teleported here, along with his cart.

And apparently he just... spontaneously gained 9 levels in sorcerer over the course of the hours he's been here. Which, if he's a divine soul sorcerer, is super fucking concerning considering what we know about the gods giving large amounts of power to their followers from EXU: Calamity.

Mona's whip is a whip of warning, which gives her advantage on initiative rolls. Also, creatures within 30 feet of her cannot be surprised, and if they're sleeping naturally and combat starts, they wake up at the start of combat.

Orym spots another figure, walking through the forest, approaching the light and conversation.

EMILY!!

She's a shadar-kai elf with emo girl tattoos with runes instead of song lyrics, but she's dressed in the formal attire of a mage's apprentice. Indoor kid vibes, clothes not meant for adventuring, "coming out of a tense conversation with a book."

She's a Cobalt Soul apprentice!! She's here asking about their "experiences with the apogee solstice."

Her book talks to her. She was sent by the Cobalt Soul, but with a sentient book chaperone. It's a tome with black and brown leather and silver runes, with a scrunched face roughly pressed into the front. Denios was trapped in a book during a rivalry, the Cobalt Soul got their hands on it, and now he's a chaperone.

The Cobalt Soul didn't know where she was gonna end up, but they sent her through a teleport spell hoping for a metropolis — and ended up here. So this confirms that teleport works, but there's no guarantee where you're gonna end up.

Prism was stepping outside the library to prepare for her teleportation when she heard Ludinus, saw a flash, and ended up here.

The Soul knew that the apogee solstice would be a "cataclysmic event." They scrounged up everyone they could and dispatched them to try to figure out what's happening.

The sentient book is also her spellbook, so she's stuck with him.

It sounds like Prism is an order of scribes wizard? That would make sense for the Cobalt Soul.

Mona's "real" name is Deni$e. Her nails are incredibly sharp stilettos. Her demeanor reminds me a lot of Keg.

More rustling in the bushes! More people?

Nope! Initiative at the end of the break.

Prism has a raven familiar she calls "mother." She also invokes the spirit of her spellbook, confirming that she's an Order of Scribes wizard.

Denise has at least 3 levels in rogue, because her sneak attack is 2d6, and at least 2 levels in barbarian, because she has reckless attack.

Gods, I forgot how much I love Talisein's descriptions of Ashton's attacks and rage builds. They're all so good.

Oooooh, I've never seen steel wind strike used in a game before! It's a 5th level ranger/wizard spell from Xanithar's that deals 6d10 force damage on a hit to up to 5 creatures within range. Then, regardless of whether it hit or not, the caster can teleport to a space within 5 feet of any of the targets.

Also, yes, rules-as-written a familiar counts as an ally that can proc sneak attack. So if Veth, as an arcane trickster, had taken find familiar, or if Frumpkin was used in this way, she could've gotten sneak attack much more reliably. Personally, I find it strange that familiars can do this while spiritual weapons cannot, but yeah.

I love that Bor'dor, the newly-minted sorcerer who has no idea how to use his magic purposefully, is this party's only source of healing (besides Laudna's wither and bloom, which hardly counts). From that, it seems like this group is much more geared toward social encounters than physical ones,

YO. EMILY. that is a DOPE FUCKING MOVE

The plant swallows Orym, then the book goes in behind him and gets into contact, then Prism casts dimension door through the book on Orym to teleport them out.

THIS is why I absolutely love watching veteran players on Critical Role. People new to the system have their own unique charm to the way they play their characters, but people like Emily and Aabria who are highly experienced with and aware of D&D 5e know to make incredibly creative moves like that.

And at the same time, Utkarsh (and guests new to 5e) pushes the limits of the rules, because they're not familiar with those rules, to a point that they come up with wildly creative plays based on what knowledge they do have of the rules-as-written that end up being clutch moves.

Combat ends.

Prism's raven is named after both her own mother and the Matron of Ravens, because the latter is prominent in the Shadowfell.

Prism is "really new to spellcasting," despite being a 9th-level wizard who is therefore capable of casting things like contact other plane, create spelljamming helm, legend lore, and teleportation circle. tbh this is such a cool take on wizards -- someone who's never tested their spells in combat situations, but who's confident in their own ability with those spells in more innocuous circumstances, due to their expansive study and lack of practical experience.

Also, Prism knows exactly who Ludinus Da'leth is, though she's never interacted with him directly, because of his leadership of the Cerberus Assembly.

"We don't leave people behind. That's the rule. You do not leave people the fuck behind." I love that this has become the center of Ashton's philosophy, because it makes so much sense. They were left behind, left for dead, and a single person stayed by their side, helped them, saved them. So of course they are going to be that person for someone else. Of course they would rather be the Milo, of course they'd rather try in vain to save someone instead of leaving them behind and subjecting them to the same pain and isolation that they themself felt.

Also, again, Emily is using the same logic for Prism as Aabria did for Laerryn. Maybe it's just because we've never really had a proper elf PC (or a player-character who had the trance ability), but this is just such a cool take on trance...... I love it.

Ahhh, so Prism doesn't necessarily believe the gods should die but she does believe that they might deserve to be usurped by mortals ascending to godhood like the Raven Queen. With a skill check, Prism's truthful reason is that she's feeling excited to be out of the library. She thought she was going to freak out, but she didn't, and she's excited by that -- she feels like she could smoke a cigarette in a single drag, she feels that rush of adrenalin. It's like when Caleb said in C2 that they were all addicts to the thrill of battle, the adrenalin of purpose.

Bor'dor doesn't remember his mother very well, and he hasn't seen her in a very long time. He believes that his magic comes from the love of his mother, and he's clinging to that. He and Prism take the first watch, and bond over their ability to trance.

Yep, Prism is 100% an order of scribes wizard. Manifest Mind is a 6th level ability of that subclass.

Ashton panicked, down in the mines. They thought they'd won, they thought Laudna had won, and they think they made some bad calls. Laudna says that "we're a bunch of dumb-fucks, going up against a 500-year-old wizard, so..." And Ashton reassures her that they're gonna get their people. They're gonna get Prism, Bor'dor, and Deni$e to where they need to go, then they're gonna find Imogen. "If they went to space, then we'll go to space... if she got vaporized, we'll bring her back. This is what we do. We bring everybody back. There is no failure in this, and we're going to figure it out because it's what matters. I have-- whatever broken thing that's in my head, that means that anything's possible now, that's what I've decided. We brought you back, and we can do it again... sure, we're not enough to save the world, but we are more than enough to bring everybody back... we can't save the world, but we can save our people. We're going to."

I never really got to know Percy, I liked Molly, I loved Caduceus... but I want to fucking study Ashton like a bug under a microscope, I want to turn them around in my brain like a microwave. They are fascinating,

Deni$e and Orym take the last watch. Deni$e knows Shaun Gilmore! She went to Emon looking for him specifically. She also knows Dariax, "that piece of shit." She knows Orym from wanted posters all over Emon -- the Nameless Ones have put up wanted posters for all of the Crown Keepers.

Dariax has a dumptruck ass, canon.

DARIAX IS THE EX DENI$E WAS LOOKING FOR

And the Nameless Ones were going after her because they were looking for what Dariax stole, and as soon as she saw him months later, she got teleported here.

Orym has flashes of Keyleth, Will, the horrors they've witnessed. It permeates this light conversation, his entire existence. He drinks, heavier than we've seen him drink the entire campaign. "I just... I just don't think I've ever felt so small."

Prism doesn't know sending, but if she can find a scroll or a copy of a spell, she can transcribe it into her spellbook very quickly. She wants to find a library or some discarded spellbooks so she can help, so she can cast sending.

As an interesting note, this is also an Order of Scribes ability! Usually, it takes 2 hours per spell level for a wizard to transcribe a spell, but for an Order of Scribes wizard it takes two minutes per spell level.

"That mountain to the north is the Ascendant Bridge, the tallest mountain in Exandria... it's visible as far away as Vasselheim. It's believed to be where the gods first arrived in the world." The party is within a gorge of Othanzia, the region in which Vasselheim, the dawn of all civilization, sits.

The party can still see Ruidus, even in the early daylight. They can see townships around -- they have options scattered in every direction.

[isagrimorie]

I really adore that Ashton’s Eliot Spencer big brother energy is really coming through.

I also need him to focus that on Orym, who is also as much on the verge of a breakdown as Laudna is.

They’re more of a team breakdown than anything.

Team Chaotic energy in Wildemount were able to stave off a lot of the angst, keeping Imogen’s breakdown at bay.

I think it might have to do with Chetney and FCG willing to divert from the angst. Both Imogen and Fearne were ready for it too but the chaos (and trolling)of Chetney & FCG mitigated the angst.

But also, weirdly, I think the new guests won’t pull this trio from the really heavy angst that seems to be at the core of this trio of Bells Hells.

Anyway! Despite being the youngest, Ashton is at home playing the spot of the immovable hitter ala Eliot Spencer. The big brother energy is really great!

[soath]

Also, all of the current deleted scenes/chunks from zwiefacher

There is a folktale in the Zemni Fields, not one of the ones written down. Older than that. A woman goes to the witch of the woods and asks for help becoming pregnant again, for even though she had seven sons she wanted a daughter. The witch agreed, on the condition that if the promised girl turned into a boy it would come to her. 

Of course, the woman gave birth to a son. Witches don’t make deals they won’t win. At five, when the illusion of girlhood faded, the witch came for the boy. He grew up in her hut, never stepping foot outside, until one by one the brothers he barely remembered came, slayed the witch and stole him back home. 

(There is another version of the story, one that Bren was not allowed to hear until he was ten. In that telling, the brothers come one by one and the witch bleeds them out for sausage, throws their bones in a broth, and feeds it to her boy, who eats it all up because he loves her. When all seven older brothers are gone, the witch sends him out, back to the mother who birthed him, the only son she has left. 

A bit nonsensical, but monsters in stories do things like this; cruelty for the sake of being cruel) 

As a child he liked it for the idea of a boy-born-girl and thought of little else. Bren has never imagined the witch’s son before, except as a reflection of himself. Now he thinks of him with Essek’s face, so sweet and nervous it’s impossible to square with what he’s done.

-

No, these days it’s more popular to file them down; to demonstrate submission before the Luxon.” That too feels wrong, depriving the world of such a bite.

-

It’s not that Master Ikithon is uninterested in the flesh, before his blood pressure issues spiked out of control he had a standing date with Colette Shryven, a retired courtesan who makes exceptions for old favorites. There are whispers in the Academy staff room of a broken engagement in his youth. He picks his students for charm as well as skill, but to everyone’s relief, he finds those same students too puerile to even glance at. There’s a reason he brings them in pairs and trios, so they self socialize. 

Besides, it’s dangerous for wizards to get attached. Bren’s listened to many a diatribe on the subject.

-

Essek’s perpetual flush betrays nothing. It’s hard to read into his blood-hot cheeks when they’re always that red. He has a drow’s high metabolism, another backhanded gift from the Spider Queen. The jump in core body heat allowed them to survive in the chill of the Underdark. It also forced them to expand aggressively, constantly seeking out new sources of food in the resource scarce tunnels. Heat-sensitive predators were drawn to them, their fevered brains turned quickly to delusion, they retained none of the storied restraint of their elven kin. It’s not their fault they’re vicious, one of Bren’s more liberal teachers used to say, but their tragedy is not the rest of Wildemount’s responsibility.

-

A footstep on the stair, heavier than Trent’s, catches Bren off guard. He whirls, hands full of flame, then relaxes. It’s just Sessike, the oldest Volstrucker still living. Oil slick black eyes glitter amid the tarnished silver scales of her face. 

“Did you have a meeting with our teacher?” Bren asks politely. 

“Just ended. I wanted to see something. Normally I wouldn’t bother—“ Bren has no idea what she’s talking about, still he nods. Sessike doesn’t bother. She loathes all of them, a misanthropy forged under the desert sun, as she stumbled out of the ruins of an already resented home. “Only your display left me with questions, questions I couldn’t answer with Grieve playing bodyguard.”

She hops down to meet him on the landing, her gait tightly controlled, nothing automatic. Beneath layers of drapery is the wrapped stump that survived when she cut off her own tail. A decade ago, intra-dragonborn politics were more… fraught. 

Though she hates all of them, she also hates confrontation, shifts in the status quo, and mess. Killing him would earn her a thorough scolding and stain her shirt, at least that’s what Bren reassures himself as she reaches for his neck. 

Delicately, using her claws like tweezers, she turns down his collar and examines his throat, both sides. “Not even a bruise,” she says, with some disappointment. 

“Should there have been?” he squeaks. 

Sessike’s hand wobbles back and forth. “Better that it got healed, a mouth is a filthy place. But next time he bites you, I’d like to get a dental pattern.”

“Next time who bites me?” It feels better with his neck protected, buttons done up and shoulders bunched around his ears. If she really wanted to take a chunk out of him he doubts he could stop her, some of her teeth are as wide around as his thumb. 

Smiles from Sessike are rare, even condescending ones. “You’ll know.” 

[vaxyl]

Inspired by @ghostofwhitestone, who answered an ask about this on this post here, I wanted to think about my own Vox Machina fruit headcanons.

Because, oh boy, do I love doing posts like this! (tone = genuine; they spark joy!)

This time, I'm going to be doing it in order of my age headcanons from oldest to youngest - just for fun!

(I love ghostofwhitestone's take on this btw, this isn't shade at them! I just found the idea really cute and wanted to take a shot at it!)

~

Scanlan (68 as of 811PD) -

As someone who has lived a long time (should you believe any of his many long, winding, dramatic stories), Scanlan has eaten a lot of different foods of all types.

Despite being a fruity little man, he's actually not super big on fruit himself.

Pomegranate, however, has wormed its way into his heart (and his stomach) with Scanlan loving to pop little pomegranate seeds into his mouth as if they were candy.

He gives nobody any reason as to why, but secretly it's because his mother loved them and was always snacking away on them.

~

Pike (36 as of 811PD) -

Pike Trickfoot grew up with a gardener, her Papa Wilhand loving to home grow his own fruit and vegetables.

Wilhand was always partial to a good bowl of fresh strawberries and cream, but Pike's favourite were the raspberries - which she'd eat with reckless abandon if Wilhand would allow it.

She always takes a bunch with her whenever she stops by, eating them on the road towards her next adventure.

~

Taryon (30 as of 811PD) -

Taryon grew up in a very strict household that sources its crops from only the best of the best Zemnian farms.

That being said, Taryon loved nothing more than sneaking out into the encroaching woods surrounding the lonely little Darrington Estate to pick himself some lunar berries.

Lunar berries, growing off the thin and twisting branches of the short but thin lunar trees native to Wildemount, are small orbish fruits of a pale greenish turquoise colour.

They glow a faint pale blue in the dark, and they taste rather sweet, usually forming separately but occasionally forming in pairs or clusters.

Not only are they a great snack, but the act of sneaking out to pick them gives Taryon quite the little thrill.

His father disapproves of this, calls it uncivilised and unnoble-like, but Taryon just can't get enough of them.

~

Grog (30 as of 811PD) -

Grog eats… Everything.

He especially loves bacon, but bacon isn't a fruit.

Apples, however, are.

He loves apples, the bigger the better; The redder the better; The juicier the better; The sweeter the better; The crunchier the better…

He loves apples a lot.

~

Vex (27 as of 811PD) -

Growing up in Byroden, Vex'ahlia took things like the wild berries in the woods and the fruit in her mother's garden for granted.

When taken to Syngorn, she quickly learned to regret this - something about the soil used in Syngorn, as well as the fruit that they grow there, just wasn't… Right.

She misses her mother's strawberries a lot, but most of all, she misses the weird little fruits that grew in the summer on the trees that stand tall and broad around the mysterious Gladepools.

They were tough little fruits with a thick, almost-jelly like feel to them while being a translucent pinky red in colour with a bitter flavour to them that sweetened as you chewed away on them.

Apparently they were planted there by the first Elven settlers on Tal'Dorei, if Vex believes her mother's bedtime stories like Vax did.

She has no idea what they are called or how they got there, but she won't lie if she said that they did make her think of The Feywild a little.

Whatever they were, Vex never did find herself back out that way even after her and her brother ran away.

~

Vax (27 as of 811PD) -

Blueberries.

Vax'ildan has always loved blueberries, they make him feel a burst of joy and excitement like nothing else.

They technically didn't grow in his mother's garden, but their neighbour's blueberry bush had overgrown and crept into it at some point.

Whenever Vax is able to, he always buys (or steals) some when he's in town. If that's not possible, he'll get Vex to find him some blueberries next she goes out foraging.

~

Keyleth (25 as of 811PD) -

Keyleth loves all fruit.

Well, expect from pears and bananas… But that's because the texture of pears are gross and bananas were pretty different in Zephrah compared to how they are commonly and Keyleth just doesn't have the heart to try the universal yellow things.

Her little fat, lime green-skinned and pale blue, tough bananas would always be better than the long, pale-white, thin, and mushy yellow-skinned bananas that Scanlan always tries to make her eat for some reason.

That being said, Keyleth's all-time favourite fruit would have to be pineapple.

She tried it once while Vox Machina was in Ank'Harel, and she fell in love with it.

She has Gilmore import it from Marquet just for her, something that the man is more than happy to do - especially if it makes Vax very happy whenever he sees Keyleth very happy.

~

Percy (24 as of 811PD) -

Percy has a very refined palate when it comes to food, having grown up in a minor royal house as second in line to the throne.

(Vesper had been more than happy for Percy to skip over her, having even less interest in ruling than him.)

Whitestone was Emon's little brother in a way, its own royalty not quite on par with Tal'Dorei's ruling family but still being just as respected and important.

This meant it was just as strict, especially when it came to meals and snacks.

Fruit salad accompanied every lunch Percy had growing up, something he and his siblings all quickly grew sick of but had to tolerate for their parents.

Percy did become quite fond of the grapes, though, that would usually be a part of the dinner starter every night - especially the sweet, dark red ones that splash you with bright red juice when squashed by an annoying younger sibling.

They were used to make wine by the de Rolo family winery, 'The Old de Rolo Wine House', and Percy loved to sneak into the vineyards around the city to pluck some off the vines.

After the Briarwoods laid waste to his home, Percy vowed to one day bring the vineyards and winery back to their previous excellency.

~

Trinket (9 as of 811PD) -

Trinket is a simple bear.

He loves honey, bacon, chocolate (don't tell Vex that Vax sneaks it to him), and salmon - grilled or raw.

He also really likes…

Cranberries.

More than once, he's come back from foraging looking like he's mauled something to death, but in reality, he's only gone off to eat every cranberry he can find.

Sometimes this has been picked cranberries left in a basket by someone.

Vex has lost count of the number of times she's paid someone off because Trinket ate their whole basket-worth of cranberries.

[dawnshe]

because i finally have an idea on what i want to do with it, have vex’s campaign two / tombtaker verse :

upon fleeing syngorn and discovering the fate of their mother, vex and vax decided it was time for to start completely fresh and headed to wildemount, particularly finding themselves returning to shadycreek run, but wandering to and fro as they pleased. there they several times completed jobs with locals, though neither of the twins joined, vax being engaged in secretive missions with the myriad leaving vex’s curiosities to roam when her brother was away on day mission.

more often than not, vex would aid her brother on his tasks, hoping to avoid the very instance that happened before her eyes, one day on their travels back to shadycreek run, her twin brother was slaughtered before her eyes, using his last breath to tell his sister to run.

in desperation to be surrounded by people, vex was quick to ally herself with some familiar faces and joining some memeber of the claret order on the occasional mission, including one to rexxentrum and in time, to aeor.

the idea and possibility of getting her brother back was something she was so set on, vex’ahlia is quick to follow along with the tombtakers and lucien, obtaining five eyes herself before derogna’s failed ritual ( one on her right palm, one on her left wrist, one on each of her shoulders, and a final on the spot where her neck meets her back ). it isn’t till after the ritual fails that vex finally wakes up to how naieve and wrong what she was planning on following through with was and promptly goes about trying her best to avoid other members of the tombtakers to try and combat her grief for lucien and properly grieve her twin.

upon / if encountering a member of the mighty nein she is going to not say shit about any marks so if they catch a red eye grill her about it and be prepared for her to try and cover her tracks until she literally can’t

whether or not vex returns to the tombtaker’s side to finish their quest truly is a gamble but if she does it’s not without a heavy heart and much hesitation.

within this verse, vex is a ranger, bloodhunter ( ghost slayer ), paladin ( ‘oath of the ancient’s’ that i’m calling oath of the dreamer but she becomes an oath breaker ) have a character sheet :)

[your-enby-antihero]

Caleb and the two very hot purple people that are sitting at the next table over

Based on a  tumblr post

Caleb works as a teacher at the Soltryce Academy. His life is fairly normal, not very notable at all, but when he meets two people at a bar he becomes an utter mess.

also available on ao3

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Chapter 7: Mollymauk Tealeaf Has a Very Surprise Visit from a Multitude of Brothers

Summary: Molly and Essek were just expecting a regular day, until some unexpected visitors arrive.

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Molly hadn’t expected to wake up to the sound of screaming. Living as the middle child with their two brothers was loud but they had moved away from both of them and not to mention it sounded like three voices in the living room. Molly let himself fall back into the blankets and snuggled up to a sleeping Essek. It had been a few days since dinner with the group and Essek had been catching up on some marking and ended up actually sleeping instead of trancing the evening before. Molly let the shouting go for probably another 5 to 10 minutes before they carefully slid out of bed, kissing a stirring Essek on the forehead on the way out.

Molly carefully entered the living room only to see a tall drow and two purple tieflings talking loudly at one another. Molly sighed, contemplating whether or not he should go back to their beautiful boyfriend and sleep in some more. He didn’t really get the chance when red eyes met red.

“MOLLY!!!!,” the tiefling shouted, as they came barreling into Molly’s chest and sweeping him into a bear hug.

“It’s good to see you too Kingsley,” Molly sighed fondly.

Kingsley, Molly’s younger brother, was a firecracker, a sailor, and a pain in their ass. Molly and Kingsley were very close when they were younger, both dead set on terrorizing the local population and their eldest brother Lucien. They had drifted when Molly had gotten with Essek, though not for a lack of love for the other brother on either side. Mostly because Kingsley had been working outside of Wildemount with an air ship for Marquet called the Silver Sun.

“You bitch, you haven’t called in ages. Like I say hey Molls you might meet the second love of your life if you move out there and I only hear about your cute ginger when I call Yasha???”

Molly sighed, of course Yasha had called Kingsley, who obviously called Verin, who probably ran into Lucien at some corporate meeting and let it slip. They set the thought aside and instead peeled Kingsley off of him and ushered the group over to their small kitchen table.

“Verin, Kingsley can I get either of you some tea? Lucien, you know where the coffee is, make a pot please,” Molly called as they grabbed a few mugs from the cabinet.

Of course Molly loved their eldest brother, but he was kind of a prick, a bit egotistical, and didn’t even text or call, so he could make the coffee. And not to mention Molly was a petty bitch and last time Lucien called he had said that moving would be a big mistake, that they would be better off in a circus than in Rexxuntrum. 

“Come on Mollymauk, you have to be over that by now,” Lucien whined.

“Lucien you know where the coffee pot is please can you make a pot,” he smirked.

Lucien sighed, annoyed, before getting up. The pair danced around each other in the kitchen, those sibling instincts kicking in, even though Molly and Lucien didn’t always see eye to eye, they cared about each other. They knew each other.

Soon after coffee and tea was served a sleepy looking Essek wandered into the room, t-shirt and star themed pajama pants crinkled from heavy sleep. Verin’s eyes lit up as he ran and swept his brother into a tight hug, ponytail whipping Molly in the face on the way.

“Good mornin’ love,” Molly snorted, Essek squeezed in Verin’s arms, eye nearly popping from his head.

“It’s been a while Starburst,” Kingsley chuckled into his tea.

Essek patted Verin on the back, “you didn’t say you would be in town?”

“Kingsley texted me that you and Molly found another partner and that you were in love and that he was smart and nice and had a cat. I just was so excited, I dropped everything to come and meet him!”

Verin had always been sweet and cheerful, Essek’s only reason for not running away from home, but Essek was tired, and hadn’t had any type of caffeine.

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Somehow the normal work day of the Tealeaf-Thelyss household turned into shepherding a group of unexpected arrivals around the city. Molly had a meeting with the client who had commissioned a tarot set from them. They had finally finished the mock set so that the customer could send the design to their manufacturer. Before the couple had to do actual work they stopped at Caduceus’ cafe and had a bit of what Molly decided to call ‘brunchish’, it was probably fine to classify it as breakfast given the hour but Molly and Lucien both ordered lunch dishes so brunchish it was. Then Essek went into the University at about midday to meet with his colleagues. Molly took the little group over to Jester’s art studio and basically pawned them off on her for a bit.

“I promise I’ll pick them up at before dinner time,” they smiled before running out the door.

He breathed in a sigh before booking it to a small shop, a tall furred man with goggles sitting behind the counter.

“Sorry for the wait, Pumat, I had some uninvited guests drop by this morning,” Molly apologized.

“Oh that’s alright bud, here ya go, come sit. I’m interested to see what ya got for me,” Pumat smiled, as he gestured over towards a back room.

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When Molly returned to Jester’s art studio they heard the gleeful shouting from the doorstep. He smiled to himself and hoped that they did have fun. Molly really did wish that they could have spent more time with his siblings and Verin.

Molly took a big breath in and ran through the door, making the wind chime outside clatter in the wind.

He bursted through the door and shouted, “OI you menaces- and Verin, leave our poor Jester’s studio alone. We’re meeting Yash and Essek at the bar for dinner!”

Molly blew Jester a kiss on the way out as they ushered the gaggle of brothers out the door. From there it was a bit of a walk, the cool air tousled Molly’s curly purple hair into a bit of a tangle.

Molly chatted ideally with the rest, how business was for Verin and Lucien, what fuckery Kingsley had been up to. Molly felt a warmth spread in their chest as they neared the entrance to Beau and Yasha’s bar, the obnoxious neon lettering of an open sign flashed to life as Molly threw open the door. Essek was perched at their usual table, chatting with Yasha, who was setting up the bar for operations, and flipping through some papers. Beau hadn’t arrived yet, her day job with the Cobalt Soul wasn’t done until later in the evening. Molly slid comfortably next to Essek, kissing both Yasha and Essek’s foreheads on the way. Kingsley clapped Yasha on the back, gaining an affectionate punch to the shoulder in return. Verin greeted everyone politely before he muscled his way into the seat next to his brother. Lucien, the last to enter the bar, hissed at the bright fluorescent lights and pulled a chair to seat himself at the table. Quick and nonchalant pleasantly were exchanged as he sat. 

Marius slid by the table and brought a round of drinks, greeting everyone he knew, before ducking back to his little room in the back. Marius was sorting through paper or something, at least that’s what Molly thought he was doing anyway. 

As glasses were raised and cheers were exchanged the night truly began.

[slayerscake]

Veth has a rivalry with Nick's brother, Joe Jonas, who founded and manages another summer camp in Wildemount called Camp Roc.

Nick Jonas canon in Exandria