Brennan Gets The Most Brutal "How Do You Want To Do This?" (Ravening War Spoilers)

"Hey, what if we got Mercer to come in and..." #shorts #dimension20
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[@_.violyse._]

everyone under the sun had already mentioned this but Zac's insane ability to cut through a dramatic moment with an amazing one-liner is just INCREDIBLE.

[@ShawnThroop]

Give me your teeth!

[@williamrose3413]

​@@ShawnThroop I killed him, yeah

[@ShawnThroop]

@@williamrose3413 it was one or the other, my two favourites 🤣

[@IrisGlowingBlue]

+

[@michaelmitchel3471]

​@@ShawnThroop"the deviled egg on my shoulder"

[@Lunano2]

Brennan: *Well, well, well if it isn’t the consequences of my own actions*

[@iantaakalla8180]

“What’s this? The consequences of my actions now”

[@lynnaenelson3417]

He deserves all of this after Calamity 🤣

[@pouncelygrin6699]

​@@lynnaenelson3417 facts

[@IrisGlowingBlue]

*Genuinely* 😂

[@RuneKatashima]

Lmfao

[@qwertwert21]

Brennan, writing Crown of Candy: Queen Pamela Rocks dies in the Ravening War. Matt Mercer, three years later: Care to elaborate?

[@benjaminoechsli1941]

Brennan: _BSoD_

[@Kasiarzynka]

Thank you for this comment, I never watched any of these seasons and I didn't quite understand the context. I thought maybe Brennan wrote some of the campaign for the season this short is from, as in he was originally meant to DM it, but then they got Matt Mercer on and he picked up whatever Brennan developed from there. So I thought Brennan wrote the death for this season specifically but didn't write how and Matt was telling him to finish his work 😂.

[@Miglow]

​@@Kasiarzynkanope. Mercer basically crafted Ravening war based on the lore from Crown of Candy. I think Brennan even gave him notes and lore and resources that were made but not used in the original season. However, there is a lot of lore in The Ravening War that Mercer added. I can't really say what specifically because it's all huge spoilers.

[@jena7239]

Are CoC and TRW worth the watch?​@@Miglow

[@KittyMax97]

@@Miglowsounds almost exactly like what Brennan did for exu: calamity. Took a pre written insane battle in another dm’s world’s history and gave it all the final details.

[@CryptofSkulk]

I CANNOT imagine the feeling of creating a character, writing that she dies, then having to be the one who pulls the trigger😂😂

[@Infinite_Archive]

Like, "Oh, this is DOUBLY my fault! I wrote that she died, and I'm the one that killed her!"

[@tomadough]

I love the show manifest

[@soloshottie]

as a bit of a writer myself, I actually love when this happens because it lets me make the scene exactly in my vision, just for a moment

[@CryptofSkulk]

@@soloshottie it does give you creative freedom lol

[@Pichula456]

Oh I do, in fact, it's happened to me thrice already. Idk what's wrong with my characters, but apparently they look like they would make great final bosses to GMs. It's not a matter of gender, class or personality, doesn't even matter who's the GM, if it's me who's playing them, there's a not so small chance they'll become a final boss.

[@uelsam4774]

“HeY wHaT iF wE gOt MerCer tO cOme iN aNd dO a liTtle-“ 😂😂😂

[@thomasfevre9515]

The nonchalant tone is what sells it. Like, it's just Matt Mercer, no biggie, a little d&d game between friends.

[@Sabbathtage]

... and followed by the impish laughter of Mercer himself.

[@CrazyDeeDee]

​@@SabbathtageLiterally impish! 😂

[@Krensharpaw]

I loved that line.

[@twistedturns65]

@@CrazyDeeDee The frame it freezes on when it hits the end of the reel is perfection.

[@grey8288]

Brennan sealed her fate, but he didnt expect to be the one to finish her off. The one who gives the sentence wields the sword.

[@Miss_Myth]

Holy CRAP that's a great line. 🫡👏👍

[@DoctorMcHerp]

@@Miss_Myth It's what Ned Stark says to Bran in the first episode of Game of Thrones, as well as to the rest of his sons. The one who sentences a man to death should bear the responsibility of being the executioner.

[@michaelbryant3640]

I immediately thought of the 10th Doctor pulling the trigger on Mt. Vesuvius: "If I do this, then it's not just history... it's me."

[@bootleg_]

In that moment, Brennan wasn't just the Judge and Jury, but now the Executioner as well.

[@NJohnsonProductions]

The pen IS mightier than the sword

[@bushidotestu1997]

That “Oh no” has the energy of a person who found themselves in a situation they have no way of backing out of

[@Nikoli420]

I bet you are wondering how we ended up in this situation??

[@thatguynamedgabestyfy8348]

Well now he can make it as cannon as possible

[@reynastrange2828]

Watching Brennan take psychic damage in real life

[@martinderabbie3429]

More like Emotional Damage (Which should actually be a Thing in D&D)

[@IrisGlowingBlue]

​+

[@IrisGlowingBlue]

​@@martinderabbie3429 It can be if you want it to!

[@doctorjay8673]

​@@martinderabbie3429emotional damage is just Vicious Mockery, but you reroll damage every 10 days

[@edwardwilson7459]

@@doctorjay8673 every 10 days...... and randomly when your brain feels like it, and when you remember that 1 embaressing thing.

[@jayblu_]

This is so dramatic... Brennan killed her in the history, and he also KILLED her with his own hand... Chills

[@Krensharpaw]

Well sometimes, you just have to do it yourself.

[@DraconicDuelist]

Feels like someone botched their history publication, and rather than make a retraction, built a time machine to go back and make their typo historically accurate.

[@GrayAndGrey]

A job is better done if you do it yourself.

[@Kenar.E]

I feel I lack context.

[@DraconicDuelist]

@@Kenar.E Brenan wrote the backstory for a game, in which a particular character was killed off. In a prequel game that he was a player, his character was the one to kill that same character he had written a vague historical death for.

[@Cross177]

That moment you realize, the Author of this world who wrote of an assassination of Amathar’s mother has now become the hand whom has dealt the deed.

[@logicaloverdrive8197]

The only thing more just... upsetting in a meta sense in this fight, is Lou as Delisandro fully ready and committing to murdering Pamela.

[@Cross177]

@@logicaloverdrive8197easily, I thought it was gonna be Lou that kills Pamela cause that would’ve been some meta bullshit of the “one who killed the queen also has played the son who becomes king a couple of decades down the line.”

[@roelkloosterman118]

He did have a hand in killing his sister

[@syrendelphi5586]

it's like if a fortune teller tells you "your life will be cut short by the force of a moving vehicle", and also coincidentally accidentally hits you with their car 5 years later in a freak accident lol

[@mufasa5851]

Funnier if its 5min after

[@shadowrealm4206]

Same thing happened when jester did Lucians tarot reading and then became the one who defeated him

[@stoiccrane4259]

@@mufasa5851 If it were 5 mins then that wouldn't have been an accident!

[@alexandercressman3420]

There's a HP Lovecraft story about a wizard cursing a family to all die in their 25th birthday or whatever. So the grandson is desperately trying to break the curse, turns out the wizard is just breaking into their house and murdering them

[@Platypi007]

The realization on Brennan's face, Zac chiming in with one of his perfectly timed lines, Mercer cackling... This is such a perfect clip.

[@TheDScott]

That initial “Oh no” had some serious gravitas 😅

[@Vee_9001]

Nobody understands how much this gonna fuck with the politics of Candia quite like the guy who invented the place.

[@ebonimccain6988]

This has "What do you want me to tell your family" energy

[@McSkullmun]

But now the turns have tabled

[@Miss_Trillium]

​@@McSkullmun"what words would you like to tell your family, before you kill them?"

[@akumacv2075]

9 months late to the comment party, but I understand the Evan Kelmp reference hahaha

[@Frozenkoldfury]

Brennan gave Fate a bullet, and Fate handed him the Gun.

[@jeffquinz2118]

No, Brennan gave Fate a gun, and Fate shot him on the foot. LOL

[@MangetsuSAMURAI]

"What if we got Mercer to come in and do a--" Thank you, Zac.

[@pacree1015]

You could even say it was fate Brennan. Things always comes back in folds

[@jeffquinz2118]

Zac's comedic timing... always on point. LMAO fr though, Brennan deserves it for putting us through that much pain in ACOC. LOL

[@KangarooKommando]

He’s the comedy sniper :)

[@buckstoeffler8363]

Don't forget Calamity.

[@ArmageddonAngel]

I live for Mercer's troll laugh.

[@JonihnHart]

Same

[@Tyranno]

"how do you want to do this?" "i don't."

[@GamerJV]

Reminds me of the moment when Matt Mercer killed a bigbad as an NPC and went, "Oh no. How do I want to do this?!"

[@officialsprunt]

This is the most divine circle of life I've ever seen in media

[@spykid1121]

That "How do you want to do this?" was so hard-hitting that I didn't even realize it was happening until it had already happened.

[@lastnamefirstname8655]

amazing turn of events. mercer is making brennan now describe in detail how he wants his lore written.

[@Van-dq4sw]

Sometimes a man writes his own prophecy.

[@ItCameFromTheSkyBeLo]

Destiny is designed.

[@criticallol3039]

Brennan with this HDYWTDT: Not like this...not like this.

[@killfacebalor2474]

I'm actually shocked that that matrix line is not quoted more often. It was a perfect delivery given what was happening. Everyone has seen the movie, but every time I start to quote it I realize no one's going to remember it enough to recognize the reference.

[@Valhalla05]

I think the best part is Matt's(?) laugh. That "yeeheeheeheehee"

[@mastermattvd]

Truly the best moment of the season so far. I love the poetic justice of making her author her literal assassin. A chef kiss moment in my mind.

[@bettrhalf8006]

"Fire." "Water." "Rocks."

[@Miss_Myth]

"Oh no."

[@TitaniaBird]

Now we just need "Air."

[@micahnewby7964]

"Heart" By your powers combined..... No, wait

[@draconshot928]

Long ago the three nations were screwed but all of that day changed when air came into town..now people weren't dropping like flys every few minutes

[@logicaloverdrive8197]

This is so fucking cool because the true implications of this kill is hitting *both* Brennan and Raphaniel.

[@Awes0m3n3s5]

As a layperson to dropout and this show, what an amazing storytelling opportunity for Brennan

[@ParticleZon]

Brennan is burning up the storytelling with Raphaniel. Today I looked at him reacting in what was an emotionally logical way and thought, "Oh, Laerryn."

[@suchfrecks3110]

Truly a “oh no! This parachute is just a backpack!!!” Moment

[@MarioGMan25]

I enjoy that Matt somehow induced existential dread in Brennan through this.

[@SlymeWizard]

He wrote the beginning and the middle. Now he gets to write the ending.

[@britnicox3929]

The evil cackle lol I just love that these two came into each others worlds and then made their players deal with some really truly brutal situations

[@A_T216]

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the consequences of my own actions."

[@lowkeyobsessedngl]

it was one of brennans dream to be a guest player on CR. now hes technically living it. doubly epic too, as matt is dming a game in a world he created

[@Ventanty]

Brennan killing Pamela Rocks a second time lmao

[@rhysfrechette7739]

What Matt is probably thinking after saying that famous line: “Yeah this is for ripping off my wife’s characters arm in The Calamity, you dramatic bastard…”

[@toobytah]

It’s the “yeeheeheehee” from Matt for me. I’m dead.

[@pamsp]

Another gut wrenching moment is Lou realising it was his other character's mom but doing what Delissandro would do

[@benjaminoechsli1941]

Lou has never been one to shy away from his character doing something he himself knows is a bad idea (Fabian and the cultists, anyone?), and it makes him a _brilliant_ player.

[@naomigracielle]

matt's diabolical laugh is amaazing

[@mach6794]

It’s so wild how you can single out the exact moment where Raphaniel broke for good.

[@luniticarmor6843]

The "how do you want to do this?" and "Oh, no." Have such similar tone and grit that its insane.

[@logicaloverdrive8197]

Man, Brennan killed her twice.

[@kei2kei]

Technically, this is still the 1st time.Just in excruciating detail.

[@logicaloverdrive8197]

@@kei2kei He killed her with a pen. and then again with his own hand as another's.

[@NTWoo95]

Brennan: I am become death. Destroyer of worlds.

[@dangerouscool]

That “oh no” will live in my head rent free until the end of time

[@MasterChief11700]

Mercer needs to come and dm more cause i love his dynamic with Brenan

[@nickbrown638]

Brennan: “Pamala Rocks was assassinated during the Ravening War.” Matt: “Care to elaborate?”

[@Daikon_Micucci]

When the Chaotic DM gets to play for the Lawful DM.

[@AegixDrakan]

That first oh no is so perfect. XD It really feels like "This was a mistake and should never have happenned" XD

[@Notbatman374]

I loved this episode. First half is home alone trap antics. Second half is brutal game of thrones murder, just non-stop. That poor banana-boatman

[@dirtburger2773]

HOW'S IT TASTE, BRENNAN?

[@wchenful]

Like blackberry.

[@potatonope9774]

​@@wchenful I love blackberries :D

[@DwiteLoot]

EAT YOUR DICE BRENNAN

[@IHaveWaffles]

Matt Mercer is fucking brutal. I love it.

[@mikaylafrancis6036]

I love that Brennan stalls by DMsplaining XD

[@tysondennis1016]

“Oh no.”, Brennan stated, resigning himself to his fate. That he wrote that Queen Pamelia’s death was what propelled Candia into the Ravening War, and he had to kill her, it was too late to back out now. And even if he could, he would have contradicted his world’s own continuity.

[@xspex1321]

It's Aabria's bordering on subsonic squeal for me 😂😂

[@Niggelsworth]

What a tangled web indeed lmao

[@mastermattvd]

First Brennan wrote the tragedy of the rock’s family then he was made to make it real .

[@therealmckoy6772]

Well since tears of the kingdom released recently i would like to insert the image of matt mercer doing the ganndorf laugh into your heads thank you and have a good day

[@Saxdude26]

I love how Aabria had that glint in her eye that almost says "I love seeing other DMs asking Brennan that question, how DO you want to do this?" 😂

[@anewhero1216]

Ice cold that the "How do you want to do this?" from the trailer was for THIS KILL of all kills lol

[@YTsucks300]

The impish laugh from Mercer is AMAZING

[@Zeuseus6609]

This is what happens when you give a professional DM your universe's lore and ask him to run a game for you Brennan.

[@saiphrivas1437]

the words "the Queen detonates" still linger in my mind a week later

[@-Infex-]

First he wrote the obituary, and now he's pulling the trigger.

[@NaughtyShepherd]

“Hey what if we got Mercer to come on” 😂

[@lorvincent]

Mercer hands Brennan a pen, "finish the story."

[@russdarracott395]

That's a gobsmacked "oh no" moment.

[@blackreign92.]

When Brennen kills a character, he KILLS a character 😂

[@SteinarrBattlefist]

This is basically like a historian writing about the last days of someone who was horrifically murdered, only to then be sent back in time to do the deed themselves.

[@DanielC01000100]

I love Matt's laugh

[@RashidMBey]

Life comes at you fast, Raphaniel! I'd say write a note and remember it, but you don't even have pockets!

[@SpectralArchivist]

"Listen... Life comes at us fast. We don't know what life's gonna give us. But today, it's gonna give you... a paintball."

[@gwaites6329]

Yessssssss just finished the season. Best SHORTS EVER. ITS EXACTLY WHAT HE NEEDED YES

[@jackdutoit8707]

The best ever delivery of an “Oh, no” ever.

[@LashanaKaos]

Aabria's excited "Yes!" gets me every time. She's so happy to see Brennan emotionally challenged by a fellow DM. 😂

[@P.A.theDarkstar]

The heaviest "...oh no..." that ever hit this table 😅

[@hotelmario510]

It's pretty poetic how Brennan is the one to kill Pamela _both times_

[@grumbledore424]

The dice tell their own story.

[@spaceman9599]

Superb table work, but sometimes I do wonder about Brennan's sanity :)

[@lunavixrn5651]

It must be fucking hard to do a prequel to someone else’s story and ensure the players don’t fuck up the timeline- it’s so easy for the players to kill somebody supposed to survive, and if they were important enough that it was know they live, that could become a massive plot hole. Props to Matt, Brennan and Aabria for their (probably I haven’t watched any of the D20 or CR prequel campaigns) successful preservation of the timeline.

[@ItCameFromTheSkyBeLo]

This isn't hard to deal with. The question just then becomes, how did the lie in history get written?

[@lunavixrn5651]

@@ItCameFromTheSkyBeLo yeah, I’m just saying that it’s hard enough to get players to follow the plot you’ve created for them, how hard must it be to stop them from screwing up history, especially someone else’s history. I’m sure none of them want to fuck up Matt and Brennan’s worlds.

[@ItCameFromTheSkyBeLo]

Brennan's soul was lost that day.

[@saikoakuma]

I love the idea that Pamela succeeds in her save but had already taken too much damage beforehand, a last light of hope ruthlessly snatched away, and Brennan made to stare down the chasm he had doubly created.

[@Rogues4Ever]

Zac's timing is ON POINT

[@Sunshine-lf1ot]

"How do you want to do this?" are the most traumatizing words you can hear when gaming.

[@MegaTomPlays]

This is destiny manifest

Brennan's version of *record scratch* "yep, that's me. Now you're probably wondering how I got into this situation"

[@Miss_Myth]

That. Face. 😂😂😂 Only Brennan could make the absolute *pain* and *anguish* on his face be endearing, relatable, foreign/mysterious, and completely hilarious all at the same time. 😅

[@mc732611]

Aabria fangirling in the background ❤

[@cameronlapp9306]

Only Brennan uses success to destroy his own character.

[@TitaniaBird]

The universe is not without a sense of humor, it seems.

[@deathbykonami5487]

This will escalate with deaths of Citrina, Sapphria, Lazuli, and a fight with Rococoa that ends with her death, culminating in an epic TPK at the hands of Amethar Rocks, Calroy Cruller, Manta Ray Jack, and Ser Morris Brie.

[@dwell7315]

unfortunately this didn't happen, however several items on this list did happen or almost happen, which is very neat

[@deathbykonami5487]

@@dwell7315 We can just say everything's implied by how in A Crown of Candy, none of the party are mentioned in person or in passing.

[@STRYDERMANN]

This is one of the most Full circle moments of all time. Like years in the making.

[@urbangoose001]

Brennan; "I miscalculated..."

[@DrewFilms05]

Brennan's voice legit sounded so raw when he went "Oh no"

[@1rotzy]

HOW'S IT FEEL BRENNEN!? WHEN YOU RIP OUT OUR HEARTS AND SHOW IT TO US! HUH!?

[@legoobear6810]

Loving this campaign. Brennen as a player is so great with a great cast all around the table. Got a sub to Drop Out to support and looking forward to future episodes!

[@Phantom_Zone]

A self fulfilling prophecy.

[@spudsbuchlaw]

I know literally 0 context and still find this amusing!

[@Zelmel]

This part of the episode was SO goddamn good. Brennan just losing his damn mind over the situation.

[@korayberk54]

Where do you guys watch this from?