Cerrit's Promise - ExU Calamity Animatic [[SPOILERS]]

[@MissAllThatJazz]

At the height of magic, the man who had none was the one who survived. Beautifully ironic.

[@Evija3000]

Well the amulet and the inspiration helped :D

[@Sticksalad]

@@Evija3000 🙄

[@TehConqueror]

the sin of the age was hubris and Cerrit was the least guilty of it.

[@Foretelling]

As is deserved. Of everyone involved, Cerrit can say with a clear conscience that the calamity was not of his doing

[@Gubbykahn]

@@Foretelling he cant deny the actions of his Group, he was part of all of it too even as non spellcaster to say it wasnt his fault is a lie, he failed hus duty in protecting so he is to blame too :)

[@seisosimp]

It's beautiful how the first and last rolls of Cerrit are 31s. It's a literal bookend.

[@BionicDirector117]

Travis has a habit of making bookend rolls.

[@SirGeoGio13]

@@BionicDirector117 If I recall correctly, he made the last roll of Campaign 1 and the first roll of Campaign 2, both of which were natural 20s.

[@BionicDirector117]

@@SirGeoGio13 Exactly!

[@maxinesenior596]

@@SirGeoGio13 and then proceeded to continue the bookend of C1 by making 2 natural 20's at the end of Search for Grog xd

[@weswes790]

I have NEVER. Seen someone capture almost exactly what was being shown in my head as I watched this scene for the first time. This is truly a work of art.

[@JesseNapalm]

It's a perfect recreation of how I imagined he would be running, flying, and dodging through the halls

[@joce7315]

Exactly how as I imagined it to be

[@ldoc3988]

exactly this

[@BrutalDongshart]

YES! Exactly! I came to the comments to say the same thing. I loved it.

[@tyraniman]

Agreed. Like to a "T" exactly how I pictured it in my minds eye. Stunning work, sir!

[@margaretgraham7063]

I loved the way you drew Cerrit dodging through the tunnels!! The combination of running, flipping, and flying is just... *Chef's Kiss*

[@timsmith7164]

The jog into a run into a sprint into the flight was just so fucking sick I can't get over how perfectly they captured this

[@sodasaintcommentaries4054]

WHat makes it even more intense is you can see the tunnel collapsing behind him!

[@Pyre]

"Why do we tell stories?" I'd argue this is a pretty good example.

[@bludfyre]

If they do a Calamity movie with Amazon, the 2 things I want are: Brennan as Talon, and Brennan's "Why do we tell stories?" speech over Cerrit escaping Avalir as it crumbles.

[@Blasted2Oblivion]

I love that when he promised initially, Brennen made a point to show that it was a lie because his ring was glowing. Then the dice had different plans.

[@animeotaku307]

TBF, if Cerrit doubted that he’d survive, it would be a lie.

[@Yajkal]

I cry every time Travis says “31”. Beautifully animated

[@Direwolf181]

What's makes it better 31 was his first and last roll

[@keithjohnson7893]

@@Direwolf181 the dice in this campaign were so incredibly poetic.

[@curvilinearcube8716]

Its like a reverse titanic you know he's going to make it but still everytime the relief, the hope is so powerful. Amazing work.

[@no-oneimportant6861]

No matter the monster, obstacle or god in his way… Nothing could keep a father from his children

[@luc-i-guess]

As someone who has lost their father, and knowing that Travis has also lost his, it hits so close to home. All we want as children is for our father to return, to come home, even after catastrophe. And this time, he did. He made it home.

[@RomanMC]

Wait when did Travis lose a child?

[@petrichorcandles]

​@@RomanMChe talked about his dad passing away when he was about 12 in his Between the Sheets (back when that was a thing). So him being able to have a Jor-El moment is huge

[@iamabread9614]

A comment by Brent Dreher ....weeks later.... A young Eisfurra boy wanders through the gardens outside his grandparents home. They were once beautiful and lively, but recent events and a lack of sunlight have turned them as dark and gray as the sky above. From inside the house, he hears his sister try to comfort his mother. She's had to become stronger since they came here, since at the same time their mother has almost drawn further inward. She barely speaks to the rest of her family, only holding the stone that Wingspan never responded to her last sending through, as though if she clutches it tight enough it'll start working again. Maybe it will. The whole of Exandria has been turned inside-out and upside-down. Old rules no longer seem to apply. The boy adjusts his glasses slightly, brushing off some of the gathered ash. The wind is low today, so there's not as much ash today. He can almost breathe normally (well...what passes for normally these days), and the light is just a tiny bit brighter than it has been. He raises his own stone to his beak and says, "Wingspan, this is Talon Two. Come in, Wingspan." There's no response, of course, but he didn't really expect one. Undeterred, he continues his morning briefing for his missing commanding officer. "Operation Joyfall continues to meet with resistance. Clear Eye's condition remains unchanged. Egghead has been taking excellent care of her, but outside of getting her to eat, there remains zero evidence that she....that...." The boy swallows hard against the flood of tears that threaten to spill out. The last time he cried was just before his commanding officer sent him away, and he's promised himself that he will not be that weak again. He needs to remain strong and vigilant until his whole squad is together again. Sighing, he picks up the stone again. "Wingspan, I am temporarily breaking protocol, but.....we really need you. It's been over a month with no word from you. Grandma and Grandpa are nice, but they don't know what to do. No one does. There's loud noises in the distance every night, and I just don't....I....I need you, dad. Please." The noise of something falling in the grass behind him makes the boy turn. Curious, he goes over to investigate it only to hear something else hit the roof. He looks up and sees something teetering on the edge, deciding whether or not to fall. One end is wooden, like a tree branch, but the other.... A third object crashes into the ground just behind him and he screams and turned around. This object is the largest of all -- six or seven feet tall at least, with partially burned clothes that are covered in the gray of the ash that has been falling throughout Exandria. It's hard to tell what color this new arrivals feathers originally were, but the eyes....and the beak... A door slides open behind him and he hears his sister. "Kir, what are you doing? I just-" She stops as she takes in the shape in the front yard - the feathers fallen away, the wings that would lift them up and fly them through the snow every Winter's Crest, the eyes hiding a mind capable of cracking the toughest cases in all Avalir. A scream of "DADDY!!!" comes from one of them, and then both children are running for their father, who is both thinner and more tired than they have ever seen him. As they reach him, a low chuckle comes from their father's throat and he slightly raises his head to look at them. "Good afternoon, officers," he says, and his voice is cracking, as though he hasn't drunk for days. "What's the situation?" Neither child answers him. They just laugh and smile and hug the man known to the world as Cerrit Agruppin, senior sightwarden, but known to them as merely "dad".

[@luckynumberme3188]

came here from Aabria's reblog and GOOD LORD THIS ANIMATIC WENT STRAIGHT FOR THE THROAT /POS. ABSOLUTELY BREATH-TAKING RECREATION OF A DEVASTATINGLY BEAUTIFUL MOMENT

[@SanderGoldman]

Aabria reblogged this? I havent seen that would you mind sending me a link?

[@quincyhotchkiss4775]

I think the greatest moments in DND are when the entire party puts all of their faith and power into one option to beat impossible odds. This is why I'm so fond of skills like bardic inspiration, pact of the talisman, the help action, etc. It's literally the power of friendship as a game mechanic

[@emilymc84]

The atmosphere is chilling, the poses carry enormous gravity, and the environments have just as much life and purpose as the characters. My jaw was on the floor within the first 60 seconds, and it stayed there until the end. Bravo, man

[@BladeOfThePoet]

I knew how this ended. I knew how this story went. I shed my tears for it already once before. And here I am, clenching my fists, tearing up again, on the edge of my seat hoping he'll make it. Absolutely stunning work, I tip my hat to you.

[@alexisrhayne7214]

Same

[@cjbee3839]

Akshual tears, man. Such a moving moment, no matter if you knew it was coming or never had context. Beautiful.

[@Tijnob]

I still love the fact that one of them surviving is perfectly in line with the rest of what happened during the calamity. It was basically the end of the world, but still some were able to survive it.

[@maxinesenior596]

I SO want Matthew to throw out an eisfura named Agrupnin just to get Travis's reaction

[@ten5h1]

So someone who was in the center of it could write what went down.

[@emmacain2783]

"Why do we rell stories?" . . FOR MOMENTS LIKE THIS! FOR MOMENTS LIKE THIS!

[@Thornsworks]

"The last member of the brass ring... Gets to keep his promise to his family" Holy shit Brenden just has an incredible way with words. It just spikes directly into my heart every time I hear that line. Great animatic mate! very well done!

[@draughtoflethe]

The way you depicted Cerrit's last push, that combination of running and flight, was so fluid and organic and perfect. "The Ring of Brass endures." Makes me tear up every time. So good. I love this.

[@darkhorsemcgreger3461]

After he rolled an 8 on the inspiration die, he literally couldn't fail that check due to reliable talent

[@vulapa]

He still had to obtain that inspiration die. Had the rest of the Ring of Brass outright died before he could make his escape, the DC of 30 would've been very difficult to achieve on his own. He rolled sufficiently high for the inspiration die. And considering that he had to rely on Reliable Talent to offset his bad roll, he needed all the help he could get.

[@tylerbarnick8750]

On top of that he has a D4 JUST IN CASE.

[@samsolitaryroll]

Yes, FYI Reliable Talent turns 9 or lower to 10 so with the 21 bonus he'll succeed whatever he rolled. But narratively, Cerrit having to rely on his Reliable Talent to barely survive (31 vs DC 30) is dramatic enough for a final scene.

[@bloomleaf8310]

@@samsolitaryroll what I would be more interested in is if Brennen would have let carrit try to leave without the map from larin, from my understanding lequastious should not have been able to use his prepped healing word because he burned the reaction to use silvery barbs.

[@samsolitaryroll]

@@bloomleaf8310 you are actually correct if Loquatious really used his Silvery Barbs after declaring ready Healing Word. Need to rewatch it

[@Thiccremoch162]

I love how fitting that, in a world filled with mages who have fallen to ego and hubris, the one guy who could be seen as comparably humble without magic made it through

[@destrious8133]

Literally so good, bawled like a baby and I'm about to do it again, this looks so good

[@thegethconsensus393]

And here I thought I was done tearing up over this series.

[@celestial_outsider]

We're never done

[@companioncube4180]

There is just something so soberly beautiful about the city falling onto the mountain. The dream ends right where it began

[@VI_VA.]

WTF this is like. Vox Machina series. The movement. The expressions. Holy crap!!!!!!😍😍😍😍 if Calamity ever gets its own animated series it would look just like this!!

[@Dragon_Lair]

Calamity could be a full animated movie.

[@Majyenta]

@@Dragon_Lair Oh that would be fantastic

[@maxinesenior596]

@@Dragon_Lair The animated cold open would be insane. "Whom did we betray?"

[@Just_Leo_kingofgods]

Screaming crying throwing upppppp GOD THIS HITS SO GOOD FANTASTIC JOB

[@xoduispurger5206]

it made me happy cerrits got to see his family

[@joshuabarrientes5477]

GM said we were going to cry and I didn't believe him, I was balling like a new born

[@rb4121]

There's one more thing to this scene, just one extra little gut punch. The talisman that Loquatius gave to Cerrit - it crumbles to dust the moment its owner dies. Cerrit was able to feel the life of his friends literally slipping through his fingers as he made his escape.

[@LemurFrenzy212]

Amazing, Cerrit's swoops and rolls, the emotion among them all, the massive scale of the world erupting. You did an amazing job! (also hearing Marisha just sobbing in the background again does not help my eyes)

[@Elnis888]

In the words of the tricycle kid from The Incredibles: "That was TOTALLY AWESOME!"

[@madeofmandrake1748]

That running sequence, god you captured it so perfectly. So much respect for how you perfectly showed how someone could run/fly down a hallway. Nice work dude

[@johannfunn6962]

Love that detail of someone running inside for safety but being unable to escape. Throughout this video you captured the devastation and desperation and also the relief so well

[@kaerus7096]

Absolutely incredible art. Even though it's just an animatic and not fully animated, the fluidity of movement was extremely evident, particularly in Cerrit's escape through the halls. A beautiful animatic for a beautiful story. Well done.

[@rebeccadittman6350]

This is amazing. From the shaky cam view as Cerrit makes for the window to the person miles away trying to get indoors… this was haunting in the best way. If CR ever makes an animated version of this mini series I wish they would hire you. Or at least let you help because this was outstanding.

[@tysondennis1016]

Cerrit was the only one to survive, as he always chose humility over pride.

[@michaelyoung7261]

When you feel your sinuses tighten up in preparation for potential tears, you know you’ve found something good.

[@vulapa]

I love that the look Cerrit had back at the crumbling Avalir is not of relief or even of steeling himself for what lies ahead. It's uncertainty. He realizes that the age of Arcanum is gone, and all he can do is fly. It's what he must do. I hope Cerrit became a bridge that connected that hope.

[@MistkatonicGrad]

Really wonderful animation of the finale! On top of all the wonderful renditions of the EXU characters, it was a very impactful choice to show the detail with the mother and her baby. In the middle of this epic, world-changing event centering on these powerful, remarkable individuals, getting a glimpse of two of the ordinary lives effected by this disaster was a brilliant, heart-wrenching touch. (My head canon thinks maybe they survived on a newly created island, but living in the aftermath is hardly any better....)

[@williammashtalier479]

Man, what are you doing making people cry like this? This is beautiful!

[@miniminish]

nothing is ever going to beat the feeling when travis rolled a 31 on that throw. this animatic is beautiful!!!!

[@TakeWalker]

duuuude, that's exactly how I pictured it! also I'm not crying, you're crying ;_;

[@benthomson1132]

IF ExU Calamity doesn't become an animated series I will never forgive this world.

[@maddie4834]

Here after we got Xerxes cameo in LOVM

[@DreadPirateElla]

UGH I FORGOT HOW EMOTIONAL THAT SCENE IS 😭😭

[@childofathena9420]

It is hard to give weight to word choice. But when you think of the difference between "gets to keep his promise to his family", and "makes it out alive" this difference is all but miniscule

[@rosenrot234]

The sobby relief at the end from all the players when Cerrit made it. It was just nice for one little moment so many of us had that same reaction watching this premiere.

[@newkidman101]

Holy cow, moved to tears. The music, the collapsing halls, and the designs! All fantastic, thank you so much for taking the time to create this and sharing it.

[@Menhtrol]

Cerrit really was an EPIC character. Exceptional. Perceptive. Intelligent. Clever.

[@foxglove_dreams]

It's criminal that KZbin only lets you like a video once

[@loganreid3320]

I’ve been following your progress on the clock app. And I was beyond excited to see that you had posted. This is an absolute talent you have and using it to create powerful moments that only had been in someone’s minds eye is incredible. You have an amazing skill please continue to do what you do, and bring these images to life!

[@marys4038]

This is incredible. The character designs, the action and movement of Cerrit’s escape, the music, the way you animated the massive amounts of destruction, Laerryn collapsing into Loquatius’ arms, the animation for Cerrit shooting out of the clouds… a beautiful animation for a beautiful moment of a beautiful campaign

[@tomkvideo]

I pray to any deity listening that the full length feature that CR teased in their recent Rolling Stone interview is a Calamity movie. And I hope they give you a job storyboarding.

[@williammashtalier479]

Again! I watched this again, after two months, and again I am crying.

[@rdtripler5604]

I pictured this moment exactly like this when the DM was describing it.... Thank you making the my theatre of mind into a reality..!

[@Belforem24]

I’ve watched this like 5 times and cry EVERY TIME! This is fucking amazing. You are incredibly talented.

[@alicewatcher6173]

the UNGODLY scream I made when I saw this

[@shadowlost8]

Wasn't the first time Brennan's made me cry, and it won't be the last.

[@Nargon46]

Wow, you really nailed this! The sprint-flying, the crashing action with no sound, the bursting through the clouds, perfect, all of what I pictured in my head when I listened to this. Well done!

[@haberschnack]

Dang, how can you make that even more emotional and epic? Wow! Just wow! Cerrit's flying animation was slick a*f*!! Thank you!!

[@matthewscorner2990]

Cerrit was my absolute favorite character in Calamity. The fact he got to survive and reunite with his family was the perfect way those episodes could have ended. And this animation captures that beauty perfectly.

[@TroggieAK]

I am fuckin' sobbing all over again. Great video, almost exactly how I imagined it playing out :)

[@percivallongname3418]

You DARE try to make me feel these emotions AGAIN?! I-I'M NOT CRYING YOU ARE!!

[@Geth-Who]

This is quite simply a Goddamned Masterpiece. The source material is some of the most perfect storytelling I've ever seen, but this animatic still punctuates and polishes that gem on its own.

[@dialog_box]

once again, this whole campaign proves just how perfectly cinematic it is. it deserves to be adapted into a full length 2D animated film, even though it almost certainly never will

[@artyfowljrr]

I've just finished Calamity. This came up on my feed and immediately I went "Oh God no it's going to hurt", then watched it anyway - and it did hurt, but it was so beautiful and so worth seeing. Sums up the whole campaign pretty well.

[@Paladin373]

I love that you made the talisman a brass ring. That was an exquisite touch.

[@jacobgalloway1392]

Psst, it’s also his wedding ring…. Thought you ought to know.

[@claudiacat4249]

I havent seen calamity for a while now, but when Brennan said "and on a 31, above the clouds-" i simply burst with tears. I forgot how emotional the scene was, and your animatic just enhanced that memory ten fold. Amazing artwork.

[@lukemckay8429]

Rewatching this two years later, STILL INCREDIBLE

[@gabrieljohnson8757]

This was my favorite scene of Calamity. Thank you for bringing it to life

[@apocryph0n]

Ahhh beautiful!! 🥹 Cerrit’s mad dash from Avalir is incredible, the movement is so visceral! And when he reaches the top of the cloud? Perfect, just amazing 🥹

[@pow8333]

this sends shivers down my spine every time i watch it

[@briannenurse4640]

An incredible scene made all the more magical. Wonderful work, especially on the Cerrit escaping parts.

[@ralphgann609]

That establishing scene, I've watched this so many times to only now realize Nidas' sword through Zerxus' chest both fallen over. Amazing details.

[@Gokou3036]

Nice touch, I don’t think the talisman was ever described in the series, but showing it as a brass ring here is just perfect.

[@qrrbrbirbel2]

This gives me such tenchu 1 ending vibes. Quay throwing the amulet to Cerrit, like Rikimaru tells Ayame to take his sword when he lifts the boulder.

[@Belrag]

thank you I really loved everything about this.

[@paulariefkohl4879]

Immediately bawling my eyes out from seeing this scene drawn out and remembering what it was like to hear it for the first time. It may be some of the best DnD I've ever seen

[@timsmith7164]

This gave me goose bumps dude holy shit this scene was beautifully done, you nailed the visuals. The comment that said they hadn't seen someone so perfectly capture the moment until this is right on the money you did an amazing job

[@NYJFlybyKnight]

It was the scene of this and him using his detective skills to find out who his children really were MY GOD THE TEARS HAVENT STOPPED ITS BEEN HOURS SOMEONE CALL A DOCTOR

[@jeepersmcgee3466]

Cerrit maneuvering the collapsing tunnel is one of the best animated sequences I've ever seen, and I watch HELLA animation

[@ajogden1940]

So. Amazing. Heartbreaking. Perfect. What. The finale to the finale hit me harder than quite possibly any story I’ve read and you depicted it perfectly.

[@GenericUser860]

Hot damn, this was absolutely fantastic. Great work! Just before I watched this, I was looking at art of a character with lopsided eyes, and at 0:18, one of Cerrit's feathers looked just similar enough to an eye that I thought, for a moment, he had lopsided eyes too, and that totally pulled me out of the atmosphere chuckling. But then you pulled me back in with your great artwork

[@zackgeldhof1206]

I'm not crying at all! *Mops up THE OCEAN.*

[@danathomas72]

i knew what would happen, im still crying and was holding my breath until we were told what happens. this animation is fantastic and perfectly represents what i saw in my head

[@thestranger954]

"There, peeping among the cloud-wrak above a dark tor high up in the mountains. Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end, the shadow was only a small and passing thing: There was light and high beauty forever beyond its reach." -JRR Tolkien, Return of the King Thank you and the cast for showing people that, no matter the world, no matter the story, the light shines on.

[@Stefan-xt5sk]

This is beautiful. It didn't expect the perspective shift to the outside of the city, but seeing the landing and the spreading destruction added so much to the scene.

[@OmniTheLeader]

This is exactly how I pictured it in my head

[@lasonris8934]

"This is why we tell stories.."

[@LeRodz]

Brennan has such a unique way of punching my feelings Amazing animation tho, i think this is my favorite rendition of this scene so far. It just captured perfectly both the emotional weight and tension behind Cerrit managing to escape the fall.

[@christianstarr9188]

He may not have always been the best dad but fuck he loved those kids.

[@alexkramerblogs]

Yes, yes, yes! I've relistened to the ending of the campaign like 10 times, and this animatic will not help 😂😭

[@HunterPanoch]

Not me watching this at work and full on starting to cry

[@sageowl286]

I love that you incorporated Abria's hair piece into Laeren's image. Awesome.

[@david7522]

This is exceptionally fine work. The action scene of him twisting and spinning down that hall way half running and half flying is wonderful. Well done you.

[@LeonardDaVincii]

Just finished Calamity so all the emotion is still with me. Thank you for this, it's beautiful.

[@friis98]

Every time I feel like an emotionless husk, I return to this video and shed a few tears. Thank you for making a beautiful moment a perfect moment ❤

[@kainan613]

Wow this really captures all the emotions so perfectly

[@brunojusto862]

This is beautiful my friend. Literally sobbing. EXU Calamity is probably the greatest piece of dnd media made and you made it even more heartbreaking. well fucking done.

[@ten5h1]

When this was happening in game, I started crying. Seeing this animation? I started UGLY crying.

[@variansloth]

cried at the end of it and again at this. very well done. very good animation

[@KunKunGun]

This is so freaking good!!! The action, the music, the artistry...this is just beautiful!