Jester Cupcake Dust of Deliciousness Critical Role ep 93 w/ TWITCH CHAT

[@NonsenseWithGlasses]

I love that in the middle of everyone yelling NOOOO and DON'T DO IT, there's one person in the middle of the chat that says "you're all forgetting she's a trickster cleric" 😂

[@SocialistSadako]

I love people who respect Jester

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

oh for sure! i think a lot of people underestimated what she was up to. thanks for the comment !

[@corynanni1461]

@@SocialistSadako You're right, with Liam being the exception. Once Laura brought in the cupcake, you could tell he was aware she was attempting something. You can see him feel confirmed she states she's casting Modify Memory. Its so awesome

[@MinnehahaSybyl]

@@corynanni1461 Sam sees her pull up Modify memory on DndBeyond at 5:50.

[@Reblwitoutacause]

7:01 it's true. There's the comment in chat

[@MrSHADOWANGEL999]

Jester clearly made her first tarot card, Reverse Uno

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

+4 pickup cupcake

[@lutobor13]

"no u"

[@thenecrodancer4833]

I think we found which tarot card she represents

[@lilypad852]

Omg yas just like the most elaborate fing blueberry cupcake with like edible gold and little sugar crystals and pearls and a hag’s had holding it up from the bottom just a reverse uno blueberry cupcake

[@megstarr726]

Best comment

[@lunatickgeo]

Laura's play was awesome, but I love how Matt's DM-mind works. Everyone in the chat kept mentioning how either the "spell doesn't work that way" or "what about legendary resistance" but when I read up on both, the things where the spell would fail would be at the DM's discretion. IF the hag had Legendary Resistance, it's the DM's prerogative to use it or not. IF the modified memory is too incongruent with the target's personality, it would fail. Both these things are up to the DM, Matt had otherwise followed the rules. So Matt (I'm guessing here) realized it would be much better to give the party this win because Laura did make an amazing play and he did spectacularly fail the saving throw. He role-played the hag to make the modified memory work. Looking at the reactions of both the players and the audience, he definitely made the right call. It just underlines what the DM's real job is: they facilitate FUN. Finally, he set-up a powerful recurring villain for them to fight in the future, opening more adventure hooks for them to fight through. Master class in DMing.

[@loklobo]

Exactly.

[@GM_Flynx]

Playing TTRPGs becomes more delightful when rules become more like guidelines. In my humble experience, making the rules fit what your cooperatively told story is becoming, to create memorable experiences that live on for the rest of your lives, is one of the most marvelous aspects of this game.

[@lunatickgeo]

@@GM_Flynx I couldn't agree more

[@netnoob77]

Yup, no doubt Matt being master class. :)

[@RamonCerrat]

such a great comment !

[@hadriennogueira3726]

I like to imagine the traveler watching the whole thing, just wheezing his stomach out laughing

[@alvintollah]

I'm pretty sure he's still laughing right now...

[@thomaschapman9112]

If he doesn’t grant her the title of Pope of his church after this amazingness, we riot

[@bmalloy0]

The Traveler is the one who whispered "yup" to her

[@Ashezth]

This aged well.

[@nathandudley4537]

Rishav! Spoilers!

[@TurielD]

She got that Dust of Deliciousness 60 episodes ago. 240 hours of DND later, she uses this item. That is the most incredible part to me.

[@islaroses2547]

It shows so much thought and strategy on her part - and knowledge of her items and their applications. I'm glad Matt let this moment happen - because it would have been such a let down for it to fail (never revealing Laura's character's machinations) only to have another standard fight with attack rolls, etc. -- this had more depth.

[@TheLuftpolsterfolie]

Yeah. Or she just looked through her sheet in search of something to give and saw those two items, then looked at spells look for one with willsave. Either way a beautiful plan well executed. Couldn't hold me laughter at work when I heard it.

[@drakeorion94]

She has been taking notes from Sam!

[@Macyisneat1123]

you would think the cupcake would go bad by then.

[@icymoons]

@@drakeorion94 the king of the long con. also you'll notice Sam was the one who stopped the other players from intervening, like with Beau knocking on the door. he probably saw the item or the spell up on her tablet and put two and two together. glad he stepped in and let this moment happen, or else we wouldn't have it.

[@virgiljericho664]

i love that matt later confirmed that the hag got over it but had so much respect for jesters trickery she let this slide

[@VegetaLF7]

Game recognizes game, plus she did get some sweet cupcakes out of it. Don't forget that Jester did keep her promise to send her more later on.

[@briandaaranda9735]

Hags are Fae. Jester played by Fae rules and won.

[@Vaillle]

Thats what I figured too, that she’d respected the gutsy move and appreciated the kindred trickster spirit she exuded. Plus, it’s hard not to be charmed by jester even when she’s not casting spells on you.

[@Xingmey]

@@Vaillle she? It's still matt doing that stuff the hag does not respect anything, nor is she real matt decided that it makes a good story, and that's why we still see this in the youtube recommendations pop up. f off with 'the hag respects gutsy moves' omg...

[@Landis963]

​@VegetaLF7 A promise she kept, and threw in a quickling for free.

[@SpencerLee97]

Shout out to Sam for insisting they let Laura see it through

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

absolutely! He crushed any meta gaming attempt haha

[@tibot4228]

@@simpledungeonsanddragons9903 Technically he was metagaming, since he admitted to seeing Laura pull something up on her screen. And while Marisha could hear what was being said, Beau knew that Jester was staying in there a lot longer than the others, and had a right to be concerned. They both metagamed, but I don't really mind because, WOW.

[@clockwork_mind]

Also shout out to Liam, for doing the same. He could tell she was up to something when she pulled out the cupcake. And he didn't even see her screen.

[@HeroKiro]

@@tibot4228 5 months late but Matt LITERALLY said that it was the same amount of time. So it was pure metagaming, not in character. edit: for Beau

[@tibot4228]

@@HeroKiro Matt said that the amount of time that passed for the characters was exactly the same amount that had passed for the players. Jester had definitely stayed inside the hut longer than most, if not the longest.

[@fryyourbrains_]

Matt’s meek little “yup” made me die

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

oh man we all felt it haha Praise Mercer

[@TheBaconBootsShow]

You could hear a venomous undercurrent of "All my plans have been ruined". Love that he rolled with it. What a legend

[@TheArrancar44]

@@TheBaconBootsShow That's just a universal DM feeling.

[@johnbiggscr]

Hellwolf99 yeah, been there, done that.

[@SocialistSadako]

That "yup" was SO FUCKING BIZARRE! Holy shit he usually describes roll outcomes with so much grace and poise and flair, so that sad, anticlimactic, soft little yup - like literally no flavour, no inflection, like he was just barely managing to get the word out - was just INCREDIBLE in comparison! Just goes to show how badly Laura threw him lmaoooo

[@alexhooi7268]

I think Jester/Laura deserved the win/outcome, because she had to pass so many checks, both in *and* out of the game. Everyone at the table including Matt were convinced she was actually going to give up her hands, and fell for it hook line and cupcake. Then she had to succeed the rolls, and the dice ruled in her favor. Matt's an experienced enough DM to know when a moment becomes deservingly, memorably epic, even if his prep and buildup got wrecked by a single, extremely delicious cupcake.

[@Gaiacrusher9fan2]

It's almost the tidal wave all over again!

[@lordhawkeye]

It was certainly a rule of cool moment. The wording of the spell plainly states this spell would have failed due to Jester's modified memory being too nonsensical to affect the hag.

[@PsyCoCinematics]

@@lordhawkeye Based on how Matt emphasized the hag is very well versed in this sort of thing, and the 'never know' in terms of seeing the battle map planned for the place, odds are she'll be back and less than pleased with how the interaction went down.

[@SPACEHARICE]

Literally everyone fell for her thing From the table to the crew behind the scenes to their friends to everyone watching. She not only had too roll to get her to eat the cupcake that I assume matt would of had a low DC for anyway she still got 23. She then had to bet it all on the hags roll anything above 8 probably would of saved She rolled a 2. Laura tricked everyone

[@jamesziegenbalg7683]

By RAW hags are immune to being charmed, but no way would Matt or any DM worth their salt take this brilliant moment away from a player.

[@gaijinexec]

“You fed a witch a baked good!” Couldn’t have said it better Tal

[@divinityquartz3428]

liam with the "world war 3 or a hostess cupcake" though

[@SocialistSadako]

That line is legendary

[@danieloceansmith3156]

Latham Bauer if she just makes it a point to get a delivery bird just to send cupcakes and letters to the woman to maintain her promise and just becomes penpals with this nigh immortal monster of a woman that feeds off of misery, I will be so very happy

[@johnekare8376]

daniel Ocean Smith She’s already sent a messenger with a box of donuts to her.

[@ashleycook6025]

As a irl witch if you don't make a cupcake with the dust of deliciousness we literally can't be made to do anything. If you can't get real dust of deliciousness, making them with love is fine.

[@CaptainAricDeron]

Anyone else come back here every so often just to watch Tallesin experience every human emotion ever in a 30 second timeframe?

[@Lagiacrus97]

And the best part is that he's not even human

[@CaroGo]

Pretty sure he found a few new ones during that journey.

[@dirttrackart]

The *fear* on his face when Laura when from cold, calculated to "HAHAHAHA you're so funny" innocence. That's the fear of a God who just witnessed his favorite protégé flex power that could kill him in an instant.

[@Drakoni23]

My favourite part about this! Watching Taliesin, eldrich god Taliesin Jaffe de Rolo III, try to hide behind Ashley when Laura starts giggling after the spell took effect

[@SimpleCombo]

i know i do haha :D such an epic moment!

[@jackdog06]

“You caught me in a good mood” Even though he was doing the witch’s voice, I’m pretty sure that was Matt talking

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

LOL i think yo right

[@josephtramelli5250]

As a gamemaster, I felt Matt's pain at the loss of his build up, but also his pride in his players incredible ingenuity

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

Praise Mercer!

[@raphaa16]

Ingenuity? I think he was proud of her cleverness

[@tentacletimeeternal-3812]

definitely proud. But with the power of dunamancy, future 1shots can be alternate realities or possibilities of things happening.

[@RamonCerrat]

this must be a fellow non english-native, i gues he misspelled he must've wanted to say witty

[@JB-xl2jc]

Ingenuity is actually the perfect word to use

[@norestforthewicked7828]

Shoutout to r_tostao at 2:42 who literally says, and I quote: “You know? They should trick her, like classic greek mythology.”

[@dig8634]

Beautiful catch my dude, and holy hell that's quite the call from tostao there XD

[@myrrhfortheroad]

Right?! And also glennagrant at 6:00 who said: “someone just give her some memories. NEVERENDING STORY THIS!!”

[@petersenior5432]

Yeah in another comment section about this moment I wrote a short story in the style of one of those myths. The moral of the story being, don't adhere to rules that harm people (Nott, Beau, and Yasha all gave options that would harm 1 or more people physically or emotionally), be decisive in your actions but never make it seem that way until the last moment (all three of the above did the opposite, decisive until they weren't), and leave the world a better place than when you found it (Hag is on good terms now, at least until she randomly gets Greater Restoration cast on her. The other ways are worse). Basically, all of this is Molly's philosophy. It's brilliant how he affected each of the party so so much

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

wow no kidding! good one :D

[@Landis963]

@@petersenior5432 In fairness, it wouldn't be random. She'd make it happen once the "incongruent events" were too strange to ignore. With that said, a) that's the sort of nuance that would easily be lost in multiple retellings of the tale, and b) Jester made sure to actually send the hag cupcakes, so it's possible that the Hag let it slide out of respect. It's the sort of thing that happens only once in a blue moon - as long as the story remains one of Isharnai's feast of miseries, and not one of the plucky children who defeat her with smiles and baked goods, she can let one bright spark fly away. I'm sorry for the person who next tries Dust of Deliciousness on her, though, because it sure af won't work ever again.

[@captcorajus]

As DM of 40 years, I would say Laura played this perfectly, and Matt DM'd this amazingly. Rules wise, the spell would totally work this way IF, it was in the creature's inclination to do so. So, If I was DMing this creature, getting into the headspace her decades of seclusion... would totally be a factor in my ruling if the spell worked. This is a CHARM spell. Thinking as such a being living alone and secluded and generally being vile and evil, an act of kindness might play on the creatures mind in unexpected ways. Laura was very clever in her situational awareness here, and guessing that just maybe the creature's psyche over the years might be vulnerable to such a charm. Also, the save was a 2. So, with that low of a save, and as good as role play as Laura did, a good DM should totally give this to her. Well played Laura and Matt! It was very enjoyable to watch as well.

[@annaapple3249]

I agree. This was perfectly played and perfectly DM’d

[@damoklessword5585]

Just a master class in DMing and DnD Playing all around.

[@Undomaranel]

@ajs1031 So Exandrian Monster's Inc? What could possibly go wrong??? XD

[@JaayCeez]

@ajs1031 Tricksters get trivked as well, often in the most absurd unexpected ways. I mean in jist life in general, often times when a trickster or con artist finally gets his or hers, its by a very unexpected-expected way. Jester may be a trickster, but she is very unassuming and is very innocent-like, with a voice like hers. The Hag was already feeling herself as she was salivating for a misery like hers given artists can and are soooo miserable if they can't do what they love. You also have to account for that and the Unorthodox way that out of everyone Jester was so kind and calm in front of her. There is experience and mastery in tricking people like The Hag... And then there is a protege in the making in Jester that is just destined to become a god of trickery essentially lolol. The Hag met her match is what I'm saying there. I cannot wait until they face each other again and see The Hag's response to Jester. I'm guessing it's going to be HORRIBLE, like Shamalan type of twists when she least expects it and will hurt her a lot. Dare I say to the point that it will turn her to a very sad and gloomy character afterwards. That would be such a great payback from The Hag's POV, to see such a happy person become misery all-around, and a very cool plot point for the party to face and/or hopelessly watch as they may not be able to do anything except defeat and kill her.

[@Drakoni23]

Laura was SO smart about it. Mechanically and roleplay wise. 1. Giving her disadvantage in a super unsuspecting way. Something that didn't have her roll to see if it affects them or if she can hide casting a spell, no save. It was "only" a persuasion roll. 2. She didn't just say "she thinks she agreed to lift the curse". No, she gave a whole framework that made sense in the context of her giving the cupcake, her being as ludinus put it "disarmingly charming" jester, even mentioning how "she didn't have good company in a v"ery long time" so you can really imagine the 10m of dialogue Jester put in Isharnai's head. Brilliant!

[@JFrenchman]

To the chat member who complained that they're going to unsub because "all they've been doing is talk for the past five episodes", realize that in a roleplaying game, you can boil the game down and force combat into every situation but frankly you'll just kill the story and character growth. I hope they changed their mind after this amazing moment.

[@BanditLeader]

That is true, but only true for a roleplay centric game. Dnd can be any percentage mix of roleplay and combat; hence the term "dungeon crawler". And when making a post about hosting a game, you have to specify if its roleplay centric or combat centric or just combat or just roleplay. The person who made the comment complaining about the roleplay for 5 episodes straight, is probably a combat centric player, so too much roleplay is a turnoff. You dont play a story based game if you like pvp

[@autumn-vl5ez]

@@BanditLeader well is this campaign primarily combat?

[@islaroses2547]

The irony of watching a D&D stream, with nerdy ass voice actors, and complaining that they're talking too much. lol

[@wanderingharlow6305]

If they hate the roleplay that much, you might consider them a war gamer or being THAT GUY.

[@spectralumbra1568]

Critical Role: All of us essentially role play for a living as voice actors. that guys: omg these guys role play too much.

[@Reavyn1]

This is why Jester is the Traveler's #1

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

Yup! thanks for the comment Reavyn!

[@FallstarFL]

Next book from the bookstore : "When You Feed a Hag a Cupcake"

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

I love the M9 book collection

[@dartdevious561]

I'd buy that book.

[@dartdevious561]

There's a book called "When you give an Imp a Coin."

[@aileenzhao7951]

She's going to want more cupcakes, and she's going to want magical sprinkles along with it.

[@RowanGreycastle]

Fallstar I feel like Matt missed an opportunity to name this episode that book title.

[@Scorpious187]

So, to put this in perspective... Jester bought the Dust of Deliciousness in episode 31. *That's over a year ago.* She's been sitting on this item for *over a year.* *THAT* is fucking LONG GAME. Scanlan 2.0.

[@fablion6324]

Mat’s face when Laura tells him she basically drugged the cupcake

[@Kavukamari]

"???????????? remind me again what that is??"

[@sircastic959]

Since I saw it pop up briefly in Twitch Chat: Somebody claimed Hags are immune to being charmed. This is incorrect. NIGHT HAGS are immune to charms. Went over the Monsters in D&D Beyond quickly, the ONLY two hags listed there that are Immune to charms are the Night Hag and Dusk Hag from the Eberon setting. So yes it fucking works.

[@samminicksm]

Sir Castic I’m not even sure she’s a hag. Did Matt say it? I’m saying this because if the Hags that do have charmed immunity aren’t what she is, she wouldn’t have Magic resistance either according to D&D beyond, but she does. It gave her advantage on the roll (straight roll due to dust disadvantage). I don’t know what she is, but I don’t think she’s a hag. That is unless Matt said so.

[@apex761]

I think in 5e Night Hags only have magic resistance. That is just advantage in saving throws, which got canceled out by the dust. IMO I believe they should have immunity given their background.

[@Kraktzor]

Oh, good. Was worried when I saw that. Now I just can't decide what would be more awesome; The Hag becoming a C2 Rakshasa-like reoccurring enemy; or Her actually starting a friendship with Jester simply out of being so impressed with getting outwitted.

[@shaderax_storm6165]

With the rules and worry about being known to break promises, she could even be a modified Devil of some kind. Or a half breed of some kind, either way it was a great use of a magic item, a spell and luck

[@sifoudresden6632]

Shes a green hag maybe a homebrew version of a green hag just cause of her lore with the misery thing

[@FiresofDarkness]

6:58 "Im literally going to stop watching if they dont stop talking....thats all theyve been doing the past 5 episodes, talking." This person does NOT pass the vibe check

[@ferrous719]

Clearly they aren't paying attention to what's happening

[@jaimeruiz7837]

Why do you care what others think or say? They’re allowed to feel and say what they want. I think it’s cringe that people like you all over the comment section pointed it out.

[@SnakeThisLife]

​@@jaimeruiz7837 You realize nobody said they weren't allowed to think that way or say that, right? These people are also simply expressing their opinion, but you have a problem with that because you personally don't like what they're saying. Why do you care what others think or say? They’re allowed to feel and say what they want. There is nothing cringe about pointing out ridiculous entitled fans, who are basically saying "Why isn't YOUR dnd game appealing to MY personal enjoyment?!?!?!"

[@apassionatenerd.3564]

I understand where they are coming from tbh, no normal dnd game has as much roleplaying & talking as critical role, it can get really slow, thats why even though I like the cast, I dont watch the show consistently. It can drag.

[@neronthetyrant]

@@SnakeThisLife "Why isn't YOUR comment appealing to MY values???????????????????????????"

[@ozpin8329]

15:23 You can see Matt survey his DM screen knowing the huge encounter he had set up wasn't going to take place...and then laugh it off. What a great DM.

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

he's such a pro!

[@Superdummy803]

Years from now when they finally make the animated show of the adventures of the Mighty Nein, this moment will be the climax of the entire show. What a Boss move Laura "F" Bailey. I never thought anyone could actually "win" D&D but Laura just came the closest

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

omg I didn't even think of that. That would be amazing to see! thanks for the comment Mark

[@michaelwolf8690]

I was actually wondering how they'd animate this. I can't imagine it's nearly so cool without exposition, It's just her sharing a treat with the hag and the hag being nicer to her.

[@wishstruck]

@@michaelwolf8690 i can see the entire 10 minute modify memory being shown in actual time. then 10 seconds before the 10 minutes end you see her tell isharna the spell then laughs and the scene continues. would give a great improv moment and comedy reel and then it cuts to the witch eyes rolled back drooling tongue out

[@unblorbosyourshows9635]

@@michaelwolf8690 They talk and negotiate about what Jester is going to give Jester offers a cupcake to The Hag She eats it. It's a very low paced scene without music, to build tension A few seconds of silence Flashback to a memory that didn't happen She explains to the rest of the group what she did after they get away from The Hag

[@bleusd]

@@michaelwolf8690 A compilation of jester and the traveller skipping through the hags memory of the scene "editing" it to their liking whilst a ditsy whimsical tune plays

[@n0xx295]

This campaign's "counter-spell" moment... Legend!

[@Acranify]

Speaking of counterspell, i am realy suprised this creature, being this powerfull wouldent have counterspell, or at the least remove curse, so they have made another enemy with this

[@olMISAKAlo]

@@Acranify as Matt mentioned via twitter, her legendary resistances weren't even up, so it stands to reason that she didn't see the spell coming, so she couldn't have reacted to it.

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

counter cupcake

[@Minecraftdemon99]

People where saying it's likely a green hag because they are the only hags with invisibility and apparently they don't get counterspell

[@MilkySubstance]

@@Minecraftdemon99 Its a homebrew hag because its clearly taken inspiration and traits from multiple different hags, so we dont know anything concrete about it. Theres a good chance tht since it shares a few similarities to a green hag though that she doesnt have counterspell. As far as remove curse, she isnt aware she had her memory modified, and since it was modified she has no recollection of any spell or curse being put on her. You cant just metagame a BBEG into getting around a players plan because you dont like how they beat you. If the hag isnt somehow made aware of the fact she had Jesters modify memory put on her, which only the MN know about and none of them would tell her, then theres absolutely zero reason she should ever figure it out, thats the nature of modify memory. Unless by the infinitesimally small chance some other random powerful-enough creature cast remove curse or greater restoration the hag she will never work out she was tricked, and since shes a hag, she doesnt have friends, she doesnt have random people coming to look after her since its entirey against their nature, that wouldnt never happen outside of a DM making up some BS just to ruin the players victory out of bitterness

[@Aquila009]

I kinda love how Marisha had so deeply taken to the idea of leaving Beau behind that she was completely lost on how to react during the entire thing. I saw people actually hating on her for still being emotional, but I love how it was just real emotion of not being able to process things as fast as they happened.

[@cmhalbach]

Thank you for stating this. I was struggling with her emotional expressions at the time wondering why she wasn't at the same level as the rest of the players. Yet, you're right she had been emotionally invested in making a HUGE in and out of the game decision with her character that Marisha, was still trying to process this complete 180° shift in the narrative.

[@Aquila009]

Christopher Halbach Yeah, it took me a moment to realize as well. I kinda recognized she was handling the roller coaster differently, but then at the end she stated that she was still processing, and that is when it completely hit me how much different emotions were fighting for her attention, more than the others. Like... Fjord, Nott and Yasha went in there, but none of them offered anything... really substantial. Beau offered up her entire life, with which Marisha offered up a character as good as that character dying. Both Beau and Marisha have gone through the emotional ringer in the past 2 episodes and rewatching this, it just kinda feels like the agglomeration of those things happened when Beau was talking to the Hag. That is not something that is just as easily flipped as Sam joking about starting a war or Yasha giving up a book with flowers.

[@monosito59]

Yea, and the blockheads in the chat saying things like "aww, she wanted to switch characters" like, are you actually paying attention? lol

[@fathermalkav1756]

Right? As someone who deals with this regularly myself, that was clearly almost 20 minutes of straight up dissociation. She was already deep in a world where Beau was gone, in her head, and such a tonal shift is akin to being violently torn from one reality into another. It's an exhausting experience.

[@davidparkes7741]

I hope Matt & co hugged her, cause she looked in need of a hug badly.

[@jacobstruck3582]

Talisen was all of us during this scene

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

haha for sure

[@blairbird8022]

I've watched this 6ish times now and Taliesin's reactions get me every time.

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

I've lost count how many times I've watched this since Thursday lol... I cant stawp!!

[@zackgeldhof1206]

Seriously, he goes through every emotion possible. Good lord.

[@Emmasmom97]

His reaction and Ashley's comment of "Laura Fucking Bailey" my favorite parts.

[@darkecofreak23]

As another commenter said, “he goes through every flavor of ‘What the fuck,’” and I am here for it.

[@kjj26k]

Mans is R E E L I N G.

[@Blue_Lunacy]

I finally noticed that Matt seems a bit stumped at how to proceed after finished narrating that spell took hold. Then Laura pick up where Matt paused with her setup. And then Matt followed her narrations beautifully. Amazing.

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

I loved that as well! Matt was thrown a little lol And Laura being the powerhouse performer she is Set the Scene and that brought Matt right back in. Thanks for the comment I loved that moment as well

[@Blue_Lunacy]

@@simpledungeonsanddragons9903 As Matt said, Laura managed to out maneuvered him. He was definitely thrown in the way that I don't think happened to him often. And I think he enjoyed that quite a bit.

[@bumblewyn]

i noticed that as well! such a lovely move by laura as a player to help matt kinda regain his footing

[@raven1579]

At 6:55 some dude is complaining about them RPing and not fighting. In an RPG, a role-playing game.

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

last few episode have been some great rping! thanks for the comment OGRaven

[@mandykarevicius9746]

That dude clearly never gets experience points for RP. He just plays "D&D Miniature battles".

[@sethchapman1425]

Yes some just like combat an mid maxing. I like well rounded games.

[@adammetc]

Insane comment to see... even when there's battles, they're still just talking about battle!

[@Tydar]

I caught that too while watching this. People are stupid

[@cornishbluebird]

Got to love all the rule lawyers in that chat session... always forgetting its NOT THEIR GAME

[@KevinVideo]

Gareth Thomas Even better, they’re all just assuming what the creature is. It could be variant homebrew for all they know, but they’re still going to call it out nonetheless.

[@DevilsNips]

Plus all this crap about "hags are all immune to being Charmed" only some in 5e are, look at the official Hags section and some are not immune to it. Matts Hag seemed to fit the Green Hag more than any of the others, in a swampy area, Ability to turn invisible ect, and that doesnt have any immunities atall. His could have been a high challenge rating version of that. Either way, the play was so good you would have to let it slide as a DM or your just an awful DM xD

[@zach1972]

@@DevilsNips This also wasn't even a charm effect right? On top of that, they're pointing out her "Natural inclination" as if they know what her NI would be

[@DevilsNips]

@@zach1972 The Modify Memory is a charm spell. But i agree about the NI, true it seems like she wouldnt have naturally gone with it but maybe deep down the hag is genuinely lonely and this would have worked like a charm *pun intended* if thats the case. Either way, such a cool moment and well thought out, any DM that wouldnt have allowed this in their game wouldnt be worth playing with. lol

[@arfived4]

Rules are for players. DMs just have to appear consistent.

[@hallysonveloso9227]

Liam is right, this was a legendary moment of dnd!!! Man, I can't stop thinking how many more moments like that happens in hometables and so many people doens't even know. Thats Why a fucking love dnd and RPGs!!!! For amazing moments Mike that. S2

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

so amazing! thanks for the comment Hallyson

[@hallysonveloso9227]

@@simpledungeonsanddragons9903 Tamo junto!

[@alexhooi7268]

There's actually quite a lot of such small stories on reddit, and there's some narrated on other youtube channels. I'd recommend All Things DnD cause of higher production value, but there's many others which are decent too.

[@Talonisthename]

This is up there with. "We are basicly gods." And Counter spell on vacna

[@letssee8397]

69th cheer Laura Bailey as Jester Lavorre, Play of the Game!! She took a traditional *gag item* and straight up Trickster Nailed this Evil Witch!!!

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

she wrecked Matt with that gag item :D

[@orwellianhorror7987]

@@simpledungeonsanddragons9903 You could plainly see the soul leaves Matt's body lmao. the entire last half of the video was just him coming to terms with it XD

[@LinkJTO]

@@simpledungeonsanddragons9903 never underestimate a gag item

[@madbombermedia3070]

@@LinkJTO dude trust me, I'll never do so again either.... I was running a modified D20 Modern in a Gamma World-like environment. What was SUPPOSED to happen was that the party was SUPPOSED to have the classic "they meet the big bad's henchman and lose the first fight" kinda deal. What INSTEAD happened was the littles fuckers built up a plan that, yes the henchman had godlike powers, but he still possessed a mortal form. They overcharged three of their gamma weapons for a combined effect as well as tossing in I DON'T EVEN FUCKING REMEMBER how much improvised explosives that the person playing gag chemist character had on him, and more or less fucking NUKED the henchman. Moral of this story: NEVER trust the chemist character not to be up to something....

[@darkecofreak23]

Lethal Joke Item trope for the win!

[@OmegaGuess]

Matt's notes: If you give Laura anything, make sure there's a save involved.

[@yellowbeard1]

This really does feel like the kind of item that should involve a save. Matt forgot to put one in, or felt nice and deliberately left the save out. What I’m really curious about is what kind of crazy shit they will do with the sovereign glue.

[@mrmcawesome9746]

@@yellowbeard1 I disagree. If this were like dust of disappearance where you have to throw it onto someone sure, but for the vast majority of cases, an enemy isn't going to willingly eat something you give them. It's literally impossible to use this item forcefully, which is why this is such an ingenious moment in my opinion. The persuasion check to get the witch to eat the cupcake was more than enough of a "balance mechanic" for the item.

[@JD2jr.]

I mean... it imposes disadvantage. That's like making the save at the time of a skill check

[@kjartanventer7697]

@@yellowbeard1 Kinda weird to give an item that's whole point is imposing disadvantage a save. That pretty much negates the disadvantage it gives in the first place.

[@Jerokhna]

@@mrmcawesome9746 Dust of Disappearance affects ALL creatures within 10ft. So if an enemy or player tosses it into the air and an opposing force is in range... they all go invisible and possibly not even realize it.

[@wickedpissa25]

Nott: "I'll start a war!" Beau: "I'll leave my family!" Yasha: "I'll kill all y'all!" Jester: "Have a cupcake..."

[@poppyonline4034]

wickedpissa25 This is so perfect fo it all.

[@petersenior5432]

It gives total folk tale vibes... "There was once a witch, who was known across the land for giving boons at the cost of misery." "One woman was turned into a green monster at the favor of one of the monsters' leaders' wife, and one vintner received riches for the cost of his own happiness." "A party of adventurers journeyed through a swamp to reach the witch, and remove the woman's curse. They were exhausted when they came upon the witch's home." "The green monster woman entered and offered to stop a war from reaching a peaceful end, so she would be free from the curse." "The witch said it would not be possible, but the misery of one side's leader would replace the green woman's misery. In the end, the woman left the house without making the deal." "The vintner's daughter entered and offered her isolation from anyone so the woman could be free from the curse, and so her brother could be best friends with the woman's son." "The witch said it would be possible, but the vintner's daughter left the house without making a deal." "A zealot from the east entered and offered her memory of her dead wife so the woman could be free from the curse." "The witch turned it down, and to this the zealot coldly threatened the witch's life. The witch merely laughed in her face and so the zealot left without making a deal." "Finally, the girl who was daughter of the most beautiful woman on the continent and one of the most well-known criminals on the continent entered. She was a talented artist, vandal, and cleric, and had located the witch with her magics." "Initially, she offered her artistic ability. The witch asked for both her hands instead, and the girl agreed reluctantly." "But at the last moment, so she could do one last thing with her hands, she offered to split a pastry with the witch. Pitying her, the witch allowed this to happen." "Little did the witch know, among the girl's talents was that she was a ruthlessly intelligent and wise trickster. The pastry was dusted with a powder that made the witch vulnerable to her magic." "In the minute that followed the witch's consumption of the pastry, the girl described events as the witch would remember they happened: 'That she was just so much of a good friend, she would remove the woman's curse once and for all.'" "When the spell ended, she laughed at a supposed statement the witch made, and with a wave of her hand, the witch removed the woman's curse." "With a promise of sending more delicious pastries, the girl left with her adventuring party, and days later the woman was returned to her original form, and was able to be truly happy once again, and look her son in the eye."

[@damobeck1]

Peter Senior damn... that would make an amazing tale!

[@anonymchen1598]

This needs to be a tshirt with jester:" Calm down and have a cupcake" in front with a magical hand motion and in the Background Nott, beau and Yasha just "raging"

[@azayrian1052]

Peter Senior amazing writing

[@kylenoyes6442]

I can't handle how absolutely broken Marisha looks the entire time, she was fully ready to sacrifice Beau.

[@ForeverWog]

I think Taliesin went through 12 of his 28,239 lives during that ten minutes.

[@PatatasinPajamass]

"cad dying to go in but can't walk fast enough" is literally just Tal's inner percy dying to take what ever braincell left in this group and rationalize

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

thans for the comment Lyz dy!

[@HenriqueErzinger]

I don't think there would come anything good of Caduceus going in. Caleb as well.

[@AccioNox]

Tal said in Talks Machina that wasn't the case. He also said he was going to do something similar as Fjord that his offering would've been at first to offer a favor. And then if that did not work, to never return to the garden once it heals. That, that would be his biggest misery from his own words. Your comment is very anecdotal and much more on the side of projecting things than what it was. Its still funny to think that way. ^_^

[@HenriqueErzinger]

@@AccioNox yes, and btw: I stand corrected about my comment as well. His promising not to ever go back home is probably the best idea of the group without Jester's trick, since it's appropriately sad but wouldn't affect his mission and still allow them to try and deal with it more to the end of the campaign, when they get stronger.

[@chantalperez7815]

@@HenriqueErzinger I think this is also why it wouldn't work and the hag wouldn't take the deal. Because even if he could never go home again, he would still be able to derive a sense of righteous satisfaction that no amount of homesickness could taint.

[@nuclearbirds]

Taliesin’s face when he realizes it worked......

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

priceless!

[@moonriseproductions]

“You gave a Witch a Baked Good! How!!!”

[@Landis963]

The mouthed "what the fuck just happened?!" Just makes it.

[@jkbscopes1233]

I love watching really serious people deal with jesters existence

[@joelhamlyn5186]

Most underrated comment award goes to....

[@monosito59]

People kept saying stuff like "poor marisha, she wanted to switch characters." or "guess we know how she feels about Beau". Did the tearing up and the look of absolute bewilderment at the end not give an indication to the opposite?

[@tenacityxl]

People just hate on certain players at the table for stupid reasons, probably just to have *something* to hate about CR, yknow?

[@blablubb4553]

@@tenacityxl Nah, it's much simpler than that. People hate on Marisha because she is a strong woman who takes shit from nobody, and they can't abide that. Plain old chauvinism.

[@robertwinslade3104]

If she really wants to switch characters then that would be something discussed with Matt, that he would arrange; like how Scanlan left to make way for Taryon in campaign 1. Therefore if this really was meant to be an out for Beau then another one will pop up soon. But I wouldn't be so sure that that is what was happening.

[@ZeliekSM]

@@blablubb4553 could be? also could be that Marisha in my opinion likes to take a spotlight for dramatic moments albeit i suppose the idea of "humbling" her father had built her character up to the idea of doing something drastic. I'm sure some folks haven't gotten over their feelings towards Keyleth either, she certainly had some frustrating moments. So it certainly could be the case(and for some i'm sure it is) but i think there's more of a conversation to be had than declaring with 100% certainty of yourself that the its because the general critter population can't abide by a strong women.

[@MissFeatherstone]

Marisha said on the last Talks that she didn’t have a backup character and was relived that Laura pulled off that stunt.

[@megangreen274]

One of the best parts of this is watching their expressions as it all plays out; Marisha going from shitting a brick to dumbfounded awe, talison and Ashley comforting each other and then watching them and travis' jaws drop as Liam just claps and Sam looks on like a proud dad, Matt thinking he got Laura and seeing the moment when he realized the hag got tricked all while Laura plays it cool like the pro gamer she is 😎

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

well said! It was an amazing moment :D

[@EthalaRide]

Jester didn't just save Nott, she saved Beau.

[@kjj26k]

She may have saved them all, they might have just tried to kill the witch if they were gonna have to take an L anyway.

[@Styx4473]

During a campaign I played in once as a rogue who was in charge of a thieves guild, I found out there was a traitor in our midst. I just hadn't found out who yet. So I came up with a way to find out that I'm particularly proud of. I held a celebration as things had been going well for the guild. After a while I announced a toast. I handed out goblets of the good wine, since it was a special occasion. After a short speech everyone drank. I pretended to drink. I then announced that I knew there was a traitor but more importantly, I knew who it was(I didn't) I told them all I'd poisoned that person's wine and if they acted quickly enough and came before me to give me info on who sent them and why, I'd give them the antidote which was in my goblet. At this point DM had me roll a bluff check (this was in the dark days of 4e) to see if the traitor would call my bluff. Boom! Nat 20 baby! So of course they revealed themself as the traitor, dropped to their knees before me, told me everything and then begged for the antidote. As promised I gave them my goblet to drink from which of course wasn't an antidote, but in fact the only wine that was actually poisoned. Cue evil laugh. Oh I should also mention I was a trickster rogue! Which is the main reason I think of that moment as I rewatch this. Tricksters 4 life! Seriously though. That was my all time best roleplay moment ever playing DnD, but Laura is next level. My trickster rogue bows before her trickster clerics greatness.

[@llewtree3013]

The power of friendship and trickery works over misery everytime

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

so much trickery :D

[@krikeydial3430]

This is one of the most epic moments in the campaign. Long live Jester! Long live trickery!

[@jimmy_the_squid9456]

Laura sold that shit perfectly, lured in Matt hook line and sinker and passed some really difficult checks to pull off the greatest play in CR history

[@MrGunsnrosesfan100]

1:17 look at the comment at 3:50:25 "Watch Jester just like, make her laugh the curse away" Great prediction, EchoKhode!

[@jacobmosovich]

"is there something else you wanted?" Jester: "oh just your company..." This is going to come back to bite them as jester gets kidnapped or something

[@poppyonline4034]

Jacob King I think so too.

[@phantomstranger8959]

@@poppyonline4034 Technically the Hag should be following them around like a stalker seeking her company and they will just have to live with it unless they cast greater restoration or remove curse, then they would be back in the situation they just got out of.

[@SocialistSadako]

I think there was a comment saying "I ship it". New member of Jester's ever-expanding harem incoming, you all.

[@artsyscrub3226]

@@phantomstranger8959 Oh god what if they actually befriend the hag and make her an npc in their party

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

its going to be interesting thats for sure!

[@BubbleBelly]

Matt's ".....yup" is the acknowledgement of a DM knowing a player has cheated his vision

[@narwaltz1239]

So now the M9 have both an Ancient white dragon AND a super powerful hag preparing to hunt them down. This endgame is gonna be wild.

[@MilkySubstance]

The hag wont be preparing to hunt them down, theres no logical reason she should ever work out she was cursed, unless she casts remove curse on herself for entirely unrelated reasons

[@monosito59]

@@MilkySubstance I think its more because of the fact that she was so adamant about trading misery of equal measure, saying that her word was her bond and that even if all the goblins were dead, she'd still keep the curse on. It goes against her beliefs to just erase a powerful hex for a bit of hangout time with Jester. Matt even said as much that the pieces weren't quite lining up in her mind. It may not be immediate, but its a safe bet this is probably come back to bite them in the ass. But regardless of what happens next, that was an absolute power move lol

[@mordirit8727]

@@monosito59 it was a power move and a good choice, IMO; either way they were gonna fight her; now at least either they never see her again, or do fight her... But this time after leveling up even more. It's like making the choice to face a young red dragon at level 1 or an adult red dragon at level 20

[@monosito59]

@@mordirit8727 The only problem is if she starts to piece it together before theyve made it out of the forest. While it might seem like a dick move if Matt does this, its 100% in line with her ability to do so for such a drastic reshaping of her intent. That being said, I think Matt would probably find more dramatic value in having this witch watching them, waiting for the best moment to strike like the Rakshasa in the previous campaign.

[@Sairin13]

Super Powerful hag who genuinely thinks Jester is the best company she's had in a long time and could be totally motivated to capturing Jester and keeping her with her for good. That's a scary thought, and an epic way to build this to a finale

[@HenriqueErzinger]

It's kinda shitty how there were even people calling her dumb in the chat until she revealed the modify memory, and then it was a instant 180 degrees...

[@raven1579]

I don't even get how they didn't see this coming, it's obvious Laura isn't stupid like when she came in all cheerful I knew she was going to pull some fucking massive brain shit

[@mduckernz]

That's why I don't much like Twitch chat, it's so often toxic. At least the Marisha haters have mostly moved on, so there's that. She's been amazing this campaign!

[@Ghost-Mom]

@@mduckernz there were people in the chat begging for beau to take the deal, so no the marisha haters havent moved on though I wish they would.

[@Cpt_JohnRackham]

Laura is the real Galaxy-Brain at the table. I have a player just like her.

[@SoyDrinker]

Twitch chat will always be garbage. There's literally a dude in chat with a subscriber icon telling them to stop talking about fight things because all they've done is talk for the past 5 episodes and how he's going to stop watching if they don't stop talking. This is 2-3 minutes before a top 5 moment in all of Critical Role, in an episode with combat.

[@sunshinepurple1043]

No matter how many times I watch this it never gets old. The setup. Jester's nervous fidgeting. The disbelief from the other players. (WTH?! Seriously? A CUPCAKE? *probably moldy by now*) MATT, YOU GONNA LET HER DO THIS?) Jester's "innocence". Matt getting so caught up in the role Laura/Jester completely blindsides him. I don't even PLAY yet I understand the epicness of the move.

[@briandaaranda9735]

Somebody said that of course it makes sense. Jester is the daughter of a charming courtesan and a scheming mafia boss. She has the best of both worlds.

[@cyndrigaming]

Jester's deception was so high, it surpassed the DMs detection.

[@YouLikeBosch]

The pause, "Okay..", "Did I succeed?"........."Yyyup." Cinematic. That's true tension.

[@sadiemcc9363]

"She seems very confused and is trying to piece together incongruent events." Yeah, sure Matt, *she's* confused and shocked. Those facial expressions you're making are *in character.*

[@Allacorro]

The people complaining about legendary resistance need to realize that you can make a good story without that DM hack for an already risky move.

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

couldn't agree more Butler!

[@gerbie42]

I agree. I'd personally rule it so legendary resistance only works if they 'see it coming' but since this was in a situation where she thought she completely had the upper hand almost about to make a good deal, distracted by eating a moldy delicious cupcake, yeah.. no legendary resistance. Rule of cool.

[@johnekare8376]

I fully agree, but I'm also curious : where does it say that Green Hags have a legendary resistance? I looked up hag on DnDBeyond, its clearly a green one if it likes missery, and I can't find any such rule about legendary res...

[@juanpablomontalvo4715]

John Ekare Its a homebrew hag made by matt i think

[@johnekare8376]

@@juanpablomontalvo4715 Ok, thank you!

[@garybond5117]

I like how at 10:27 Liam starts putting away whatever he had pulled out to offer the hag. He's like "cool I don't have to give up my brooch of nondetection or other stuff, Laura you genius"

[@matt11472]

Jester: Have a Cupcake ,you’re not you when you’re hungry.

[@karahtar]

"His name is the Traveler, I bet he's here right now looking over me!" Well Jester...

[@Nerdy_prepper]

Are you here?

[@katekursive1370]

A portion of the chat is so rude, no wonder they took it off screen setting well back when.

[@66Roses]

Before the M9 campaign, if you had asked me which Cleric subclass I would not recommend, it would be Trickster Cleric. On paper, the Trickster Cleric doesn't really offer much that other classes (or multiclass combinations) can't do better. Invoke Duplicity is highly situational as opposed to say, the Light Cleric's mini-nuke. The Trickster's Divine Strike is poison damage, to which half of all monsters are resistant or immune. However, Jester had several moments like this (another that comes to mind is escaping the temple of Bahamut), and she leans the fuck in to the "trickster" role. She's such a sweet, seemingly naive girl that until the last moment of the campaign had people underestimating her. And every single time they paid for it. Laura played her absolutely perfectly. For me, now, there isn't a single cleric subclass I don't think can't completely own a campaign if played right.

[@Cabbage-dk6nu]

CR is really quite good at demonstrating that when you have the time to put in to really learn it well, any class or subclass can kick ass. It's all in knowing how to use it (with some elements of party balance that can impact that, of course)

[@howtostandinsilence]

I absolutely love how every single person who underestimated Jester and Laura up to the hag moment by insulting her and calling her stupid or underthematic ended up being proved so ridiculously wrong lmfaoooo. I hope they all felt like complete fools after what she pulled. Amazing!! And I love how some people kept mentioning that she's a trickster cleric and that she's not a complete fool. At least some people in this fandom actually understand her character. It's honestly hard to believe that even viewers, who literally have the benefit of being completely objective and knowing all the facts, somehow still end up treating Jester the same way the characters who are fooled by her do lol. Also kudos to the person who pointed out the ridiculous double standard when people kept insulting Beau and then praising everybody else for the same things.

[@jordanwilson1156]

Two things I love about this: 1. Watching Tal go through every human emotion possible in a span of 25 seconds. Like, his inability to fully parse out what the living hell just happened…you can clearly see when it sporadically hits his brain what’s going on, the slight delay in reactions…I was on the floor. 2. The absolute confusion, adoration, love, and terror on Travis’ face as he watched his wife completely outsmart both Matt and the Ancient-as-Swamp-Water Hag.

[@H2OHydraulic]

The chat went from _concern_ that Jester would lose her hands, then to *ANGER* that they thought she'd actually go with the deal, then to _confusion_ at what Laura was planning with the Dust of Deliciousness. Then extreme *_Bamboozle-ment_* when we all finally saw how Laura's plan unfold into a sprinkled blueberry cupcake.

[@krumpits]

Chat tends to be incredibly short sighted and impulsive. I saw maybe like 3 people in the chat when watching mentioning "you guys remember she's a TRICKSTER cleric right?" But I guess to be fair she had most of the cast, including Matt thinking she was actually about to trade away her hands.

[@Azuremane]

The way Matt rolled with it and picked up the hand off. Well done!

[@Twoswordsdrizzt]

I was slowing down the chat to read it as I went, and I saw someone say "Oh no, she's gonna try to be clever and it's gonna go terrible!", followed immediately by "That was sprinkled with the dust of deliciousness". I would hate to be proven wrong so hard so fast.

[@shambyk4122]

Lol I caught that too ^_^

[@eventingirl001]

I love how delighted Travis gets!

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

he was so pumped! thanks for the comment Meryl

[@ATinyWaffle]

He was thinking: "God, I married the perfect woman!"

[@SocialistSadako]

@@ATinyWaffle Luckiest man in the world!

[@darkecofreak23]

“Outplayed by a cupcake” is just the perfect explanation without any context.

[@thatrainbowquickie8395]

2:43 User r_tostao at 3:51:52 says "you should trick her, like in greek mythology" yeah he got it right

[@curtisholsinger6023]

The opposite sides of the spectrum in chat: "YOU COULD HAVE ROBOT HANDS" And "When did this become Saw??"

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

Lol oh god!

[@jellydonut0]

When Matt said, “remind me what that is again” I knew this was going to be awesome!

[@SocialistSadako]

That line BLEW my mind. She caught Matt Mercer flat-footed!!

[@docmike8601]

I started playing AD&D in 1985. That is the single most epic thing I have ever seen in a game.

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

it sure is! Think i started 2001 !

[@Notbatman374]

My favorite part is travis' emotional journey. Hes basically the incarnation of the chat. Also jaffes "you totally hanseled his gretel. You fed a witch a baked good. Holy shit."

[@primeemperor9196]

Laura Bailey is a mad lass.

[@feylights166]

Nott: ultimate selfishness Beau: ultimate selflessness Yasha: I will give you something precious to me Jester: will you share a cupcake with me?

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

haha very good!

[@chrisriley2321]

I truly believe that every member of the cast including the DM Matt has had/will have a legendary moment... This was Laura's. The moment that will solidify her in DnD history: Using the Dust of Deliciousness to trick Matt's hag/witch character into lifting Nott's curse. It was brilliant and was Laura's biggest shining moment so bravo to her.

[@BigAstronewt]

When you give a witch a cupcake...

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

lol

[@lilypad852]

Dude I’m going to make all the hag themed shit damn. No crap I have all of those books and I will make that book and send it to Critcal Role you will see that shit there.

[@dumpsand]

Sam with his little "let her do her thing", was prime chaos crew.

[@WardNightstone]

Matt: i have never been more ANGRY and proud of one of you guys ever

[@cinnabinna215]

sooo much respect for matt. regardless of any frustration or disappointment about future plans, in the end the game should be fun, and him letting this moment happen anyways is a really awesome DM move in my book. laura played it so well and i think she earned this win. good play, matt :)

[@CMKseven]

Matt's micro expressions are so great in this, when the realization hits him of how much his boss character has been absolutely DUPED. It looked as though he was about to spit out an IMAGINARY cupcake LOL.

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

oh dude when he stopped mid chew on the pretend cupcake LOL was crazy >:D

[@RitzyYeti]

Taliesin probably hasn't seen such a power move since those greeks and their trojan horse.

[@HenriqueErzinger]

People telling them to teleport out at the end, but earlier in the episode Caleb said he didn't have it prepared (when Jester asked him to send the horses somewhere safe). They are in deep shit next episode still.

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

good point! I think the hag will put the pieces together pretty quick. thanks for the comment Henrique

[@HenriqueErzinger]

@@simpledungeonsanddragons9903 no problem :). But yeah, I think so too. Matt was already lenient on respect of the ballsy plan by letting such an absurd memory stick in the first place. The spell says he can disregard memories that contradict the targets nature too much (as this one does).

[@MilkySubstance]

Why would they be in deep shit? The nature of modify memory means the Hag isnt just going to work it out on the spot what happened. Unless she finds some evidence or someone tells her she had her memory modified she should never work it out.

[@MilkySubstance]

@@HenriqueErzinger Also, modify memory clearly says that the memory does not change the creatures behavior if the memory goes against their nature, it says nothing about the memory not sticking if it goes against their nature. It does say the DM can decide if a memory is too nonsensical when the spell is cast, and if so the memory doesnt take hold, but thats decided when the spell is cast. A creature cant just assume its way around a modify memory spell, once its cast and it sticks, and it sticks until someone casts remove curse or greater restoration on the creature. The spell forces the creatures mind to fill in the gaps in its memory by the spell, so the creature wholly believes the events are real unless they are deemed to nonsensical at the time of casting. There is absolutely no logical way the hag should figure out what Jester did to her, especially any time soon, unless by utterly random, unbelievable and BS happenstance someone else comes along and casts greater restoration on her.

[@HenriqueErzinger]

@@MilkySubstance I say "stick", you say "take hold", we both mean the same. I agree that following the rules the spell should just not work from the start, but Matt went ahead with it to reward the player (and it's a good DM decision), but he also roleplayed and stated that she was having a hard time with the incongruity of the situation. She is a powerful, old Hag, who deals with magic and trickery by nature. It wouldn't be strange at all for her to suspect something external affected her to make her act so out of character, to the point of ignoring a deal made (her own bread and butter), even if she wouldn't know exactly what. From there to casting magic that would remove undesirable effects from herself is a no-brainer. Matt puts the story before rules (which I agree, while you might not), and he already hinted that this in not over. I'm of the opinion that she will realize and cleanse herself before they can escape the swamps, but he might make it so it takes longer and save her for later as a recurring villain, but I would bet my right arm that it's not permanent at all. Now, about being in deep shit, either way it's still the case. The journey back will be hard hag or not, since it wouldn't be advisable to rest (since they don't know for how long the trick will work, same as us), they have no way to teleport as I said, they spent a lot of powerful spells, most of them are exhausted, it will take longer 100% on foot and it's now night - which means if they don't find a place to risk sleeping on the way, another point of exhaustion will follow. All of that with the anxiety of a intelligent monster they provably can' t beat possible on their heels. I won't say it's impossible, but it will be a pretty hard adventure that they can't exactly avoid easily.

[@MyVoidsVoice]

The best moment of this campaign by far from Matt's surprise that leads to depression then to the groups happiness

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

for sure! thans for the comment SausageDogg

[@Cabbage-dk6nu]

Honestly, watching Matt speed-run the stages of grief in the span of two minutes is incredible. The bargaining when he goes back *one last time* to check that it really works that way

[@Introbulus]

6:17 Neotag: "Jester thinking she can bluff an ancient witch". Oh more than just *thinking* she can.

[@1rotzy]

Door closes Laura: “Let’s get the FUCK out of here!”

[@virgiljericho664]

Matt externally: Ok Matt internally: She just played me like damn flute.

[@zorasmith4880]

Nay- he was played like the cheap kazoo he is.

[@dorendelight]

Watching the reaction of Taliesin through this whole conversation is pure entertainment in its own right. I highly suggest watching multiple times just to watch each individual’s own reaction to Laura’s play lol

[@beawolfe]

17:21 Matthew "Dead Behind the Eyes" Mercer

[@supagirl277]

Marisha "I'd made up my mind, I'm still processing stuff" Cause she was ready to have to leave the mighty nein, and now she doesn't have to

[@rubyfire317]

Though this MIGHT backfire, I really dont think so. The memories are incongruent sure, but her memory was modified and above all, the curse WAS broken. I think the memory will be dismissed as a strange dream, and the hag may assume that she no longer feels nott's misery because she's dead. It was just so cool and so hardcore I really dont think it will come back to bite them. Furthermore, she repeated over and over that she keeps her word. Even when that deal was under duress, she still made the deal. Her pride and her reputation is on the line here. I dont think she's gonna do shit

[@thevoidcritter]

I mean, even if her memory snaps back, technically Jester probably made the hag suffer. So it still counts.

[@JMPDev]

Everyone in chat that was screaming things like “legendary resistances?!” forgets: rule of cool trumps all. No DM in their right mind would shut this moment down.

[@Achridian]

Taliesin having a small existential crisis: "Oh my god you fed a witch a baked good. hOw?"

[@mageofthestorm1]

This clip never gets old. I literally pucker up everytime till the switch up. So good and clutch.

[@simpledungeonsanddragons9903]

lol i pucker up everytime 2 its a crazy moment!

[@grimnekropolis8500]

Cast reactions Taliesin: omg! Wtf?! Is this really happening? How much shit are we in later? Marisha: wait... that’s illegal. I was ready to say good bye. Travis: my wife scares me... can’t believe she did that Liam: YAS QUEEN! Sam and Ashley: lets see where this goes

[@monateru1712]

I saw the chat mad at marisha for crying people forget how traumatized beau is.she was kidnapped, at her fathers behest, and forced into essentially a military bootcamp. then everything else happened. its reasonable to cry at these moments.

[@chrisp33]

As a game master, there was nothing, absolutely nothing I LOVED more than when clever players absolutely DESTROYED one of my adventures/campaigns/entire worlds... So much gleeful chaotic joy in those moments when you realize that from that point on, NOBODY is in control and you are now just winging it.

[@BarberMidnight]

so i literally just stumbled across crit role about 2/3 weeks ago and hammered out campaign 2 non stop. This moment was one a good few in this series that made me stand up and shout in disbeliefe at how fuckin genius an idea it was. literally such a great play and such a great channel/story etc. Fan for life here. better late then never ;)

[@melancam]

Jester just made some serious traveler loyality points right there... soon to be the champion of her god and only lvl 13 or 14

[@danielstephens1185]

At this point Artagan/The Traveler had to be wondering, "Wait, am I the Trickster deity or are you?" A good DM will accept being outsmarted. A great DM, like Matt, will acknowledge it and work with it, despite frustration. I had that happen too, and the player doing it made our DM laugh so hard he actually rewarded us instead.