Stone to Clay | Critical Role | Campaign 2, Episode 91

[@flandomaltrizian4603]

HEY, there might be some SPOILERS under the thing 0:20 The Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount, congratulations Matt 2:40 The saga of B1@ckWi110w73 continues (watch Taliesin) 4:20 Wow, these Cyberpunk 2077 designs are amazing 7:00 Intro cinematic 8:40 Episode Starts 11:45 Recap Ends (Fjord’s true accent) 16:05 We are 19:05 Guess who’s coming to dinner 20:35 Under Essik’s cloak 22:45 Small talk/interrogation 27:20 Caduceus protects the kitchen 29:50 Consecution mechanics 39:15 Essik X Fjord fanfic 57:50 The murder-sex equation 1:04:20 Luxon beacons 1:05:30 What is it good for 1:07:55 Exhibitionist Jester 1:08:25 M9: The Dating Sim 1:20:25 Everyone’s nice to Caduceus 1:23:05 Essik is tempted by the hot tub 1:24:00 Feetails 1:26:30 Hot tub design plans 1:31:40 Jester embarrasses Essik 1:33:10 It’s a foot 1:38:15 Essik commits to the bit 1:39:15 Essik is a real adult person confirmed 1:39:45 Workshopping the Traveler pitch 1:41:30 Pitching Jeff 1:44:05 Jester loses Jeff 1:44:55 Jeff’s rich history 1:49:20 Don’t drink in hot tubs 1:49:55 Stone 1:53:45 Caleb and Jester 1:59:25 Traveler and Jester 2:01:00 Caduceus and Yasha 2:04:10 Caduceus does not snore 2:05:20 The butter churner 2:06:25 Break Starts 2:15:25 Art Montage 2:27:15 Break Ends 2:27:45 Morning workouts are rough 2:28:35 Just naming muscles 2:29:50 New Yasha 2:33:50 Do crayons exist in this world? 2:42:55 Fjord is a big boy 2:47:50 Jester trusts a beard oil salesman 2:51:55 Betch me outside 2:53:55 Nott a debt 2:55:20 Caleb needs some plutonium 2:56:55 Jester buys every green cloak in the city 3:12:30 Beau teaches swagger 3:19:10 It’s not surprising that Sam looks in the medicine cabinet 3:27:40 Long con for the books 3:30:35 Discussing the spell 3:39:35 Fjord is too weak to dig 3:42:45 Nott the best aim 3:45:05 Two big decisions 3:48:00 Caleb and Nott 3:49:35 The spell 3:54:50 Episode Ends The in-game start date for the episode was the 18th of Thunsheer 836. Sam’s flask says “R.I.P Sprinkle 2019-2020 ‘Please Kill Me’” Any moments I missed? Feel free to post them here. Is it Thursday yet?

[@EincoolerName1312]

Early as always

[@adampigott9677]

Dude you are lightning incarnate!!!

[@richardlycett8184]

I would just love to know how your so fast

[@Fox7-h8r]

Thank you so so much, again!

[@doomyboy100]

Me thinking I'm finally here before flando Flando: oh my sweet summer child

[@spaceland-fae5264]

Jester: why do you wanna hang out with us Essek: ***violent flashbacks to that month the Nein vanished and he had no one to talk to*** "uuuh"

[@SnickerSkye]

Fuck, as someone who tends to isolate themselves when I brew my depresso too strong, this comment makes me sad, man. It's so fucking lonely when the only people you talk to and socialise with don't need you _nearly_ as much as you need them. You find yourself alone a lot, thinking it over in your head _just how little_ you must matter to them in order for them to conveniently forget about you as much as they do. I mean, even though I know that eventually they'll come back once they get bored enough, it still hurts knowing that as much as _you_ keep them in _your_ thoughts, actively make an effort to _listen_ to them (which, with ADD and a touch of autism, _can be really fucking hard to do sometimes)_ when they speak and genuinely try to remember all of the information -- their different likes and dislikes, the things they're worried about or scared of and the things that make them happy, their goals and ambitions, their failures and successes -- that they consider important enough to share with you. All of that _and you know_ that they'll _never_ put in even _a fraction_ of the effort that you did just to get to know them better and be a better friend to them. I greatly dislike being clingy and needy, but with each friend I make and lose it does sting coming to the realisation again and again that even though _they_ might be a big part of _my life,_ in the end I'm just one _veeery small_ little low-priority facet in their's, and there are a great many number of things in their life that will understandably always come before me. TL;DR: Depression is fun and in the context _of your comment,_ I really feel for Essek having to go it alone for so long right after meeting this fun, boisterous group of people that he tentatively hopes he might eventually be able to trust and let in, only to have them abandon him just as he's starting to get comfortable, leaving him to contemplate for a long while how easily he was tricked into believing that they cared and how easily _he_ tricked _himself_ by daring, _even for a moment,_ to entertain the slowly blossoming ghost of his optimism. That got a little darker (and longer) than I'd originally planned -- my bad. :x

[@chaos2inferno]

@@SnickerSkye Or - and hear me out here - absence makes the heart grow fonder?

[@Amoechick]

Kelse I get that KZbin comments might not be the place for this, but like... people get busy. People have lives. Just because someone has to go away for a while doesn’t mean they are abandoning you and only coming back when they “get bored enough”. That’s the depression lying to you, yo. It might be hard to hear or feel it, but I’m sure you have friends who are struggling too, who miss you when you isolate and feel like they aren’t worth your time. I had to learn this the hard way. It can be terrifying but sometimes you have to trust that they may be doing the best they can. They may be trying to include you in their lives. Getting stuck in a loop of ‘they never do as much for me as I do for them, so clearly they don’t care’ isn’t fair to yourself. I hope you’re having a good day. You’re always loved as a Critter :)

[@spaceland-fae5264]

@@SnickerSkye hey bud, Amoechick has said it way better than I could. I've got ADHD and I really do understand how you feel.

[@SnickerSkye]

@@Amoechick I have a shitty, isolated living situation which leaves me with most of my friends being online and me not playing as pivotal a part in their lives as they do mine :shrug: I've lived with my depression long enough that I know its ins and outs pretty well and I go through episodes of loneliness, but I eventually get over them for a bit. It was just a lil rant vividly detailing the darker sides of bein' lonely when it gets out of hand, was all. Nothin' too much to read into other than I'm a s a d g i r l and wanted to show other people who have similar episodes that they're not alone or crazy; I appreciate you lookin' out for someone you can see struggles some times.

[@elfbreath]

Friendly reminder that Essek probably got like 5 steps away from the Xhorhouse, heard the ungodly cacophony of bone harp, toy piano, cat yowling and bloodcurdling screams and thought "I've made a terrible mistake I MUST make these people my friends", and ran out to get a fancy bottle of wine before coming back.

[@rodrigoespinoza7164]

Stevie Lawson this is my head canon now, thank you

[@SeductiveCrab]

He has great taste.

[@SpidersFace]

"steps"

[@elfbreath]

@@SpidersFace fuck

[@markdasaro9045]

That's an ingenious way of getting people to stops scrying on you.

[@polyxenifoutsitsi8827]

When Essik takes his cloak off everyone suddendly turned into victorian gentlefolk who saw a glimpse of an ankle

[@Apostate_ofmind]

Ksenia Foutsi my thought exactly 🤣🤣🤣

[@Ekigane]

I love how that was almost literally what happened too. Since he landed on his feet before taking it off.

[@kristieackerman904]

My new favorite comment

[@klillym1461]

THEY COULD ALMOST SEE HIS LEG

[@singingwolf3929]

I stopped here to look for these type comments. This "softer" side of Essek is either Really good or REALLY bad. Not sure which yet.

[@pamplemoussejuice8427]

the theme: the adventure begins, they were always beside you. the show: *WHAT DO HIS FEET LOOK LIKE*

[@darklord884]

Theme: Your nerdy best friends and a DM to guide you! The show (long before this, but still counts): Jester: "Yeah, let's join in the fight pits! I cast inflict wound on Beau!" Beau: "So anyway I killed her..."

[@BeinIan]

Now it's your turn... your turn... YOUR TURN..... TO ROLLLLLLLLLL to see if you messaged your friend while he was pooping

[@pvic6959]

1:24:08

[@Null--]

I suspect they wondered if perhaps Essek was disabled and that was the reason he always floated around.

[@alexanderfarley574]

@@Null-- this has always been my headcannon

[@noahdaglio9362]

Cad has talked about the lore of the Clay, Dust and Stone families at least 3 times and Fjord with all of his 7 wisdom is just now putting it together. I love it.

[@alexv3357]

Fjord: “I’m sure you told us before, I just never listen.” He's very Fjorgetful

[@WhiffleWaffles]

Haha poor Fjord. He fjordgot. But at the same time I'd probably be the same. And off topic sort of but didn't they visit the stone family? I think Tal said they didn't in this episode or the last one. But they did unless I'm wrong. Those dwarf blacksmiths on a volcanic mountain or whatever were the Stones.

[@cf6909]

@@WhiffleWaffles they were the dust family. Cause they burn the bodies into dust.

[@WhiffleWaffles]

@@cf6909 that's right!Thanks! I guess I'm fjorgetful too.

[@Artrysa]

I wonder if Travis actually had that in his backstory or if he talked to Taliesin about adding it.

[@jirimothejzik5389]

"The spell requires about 50 pounds of raw Clay" *Caduceus starts sweating*

[@DJenser]

Cad's far too smooth to be considered "raw."

[@TheOnlyValken]

@@DJenser depends on how long you cook him

[@lordpepper6932]

@@TheOnlyValken idk furbolgs are cow people, they seem pretty raw already

[@ThenameisMarsh]

"Raw Clay" is that name of Caduceus' sex tape

[@thorny1]

Omg! Yes!

[@MsCunningLinguistic]

Matt, giving up and in: FINE YES ESSIK HAS SEXY FEET OK The table: *cheers*

[@DJenser]

Further proof that the party will fixate on some unimportant detail briefly mentioned by the DM, often instead of furthering the main story. It happens even to the best DMs.

[@steinistein8611]

@@DJenser it's not a bad thing though, it just makes the game more fun. As long as it doesn't take over completely. Dnd isn't a speed run after all

[@rhythminthemind7408]

@@DJenser Are you kidding? It happens MORE to a good DM.

[@EmbryW]

Honestly this was my favorite moment

[@morganarees9385]

@@rhythminthemind7408 agreeee! My group still laugh about a missing ham we fixated on for no good reason. Love our DM

[@XFizzlepop-Berrytwist]

Jester making that catch of kids being “taken” is an incredible catch, I bet Matt was proud in that moment.

[@xEvilRaptorx]

Absolutely. Theres been a few times Marisha catches something and Matt is so happy that his players connected the dots

[@stingerjohnny9951]

It’s always a good feeling when players show they are actually paying attention to you lol

[@SimoColes]

Yea that's something that's probably not been mentioned in over a year for the players

[@mr.e7541]

Laura's pretty good at connecting dots it seems. Unlike Liam.

[@kevwox]

I had that same reaction as Laura, it felt like a mindfuck moment

[@DaniGeez]

Essek: can I stay for dinner? Me but also Jester (and Caleb’s brain): WOULD YOU LIKE TO STAY FOREVER?

[@Nortarachanges]

Same reference popped into my head ^_^

[@lilyminer9164]

Dani Gee One day we’ll get him to abandon his big luxurious life in favour of having friends, one day. . .

[@C_Bat]

That's a nice reference to Mulan, damn

[@nicolecrawford278]

Excellent reference!

[@amberpdavis]

When Cad starts talking about Stone family, Travis sits back and stares at Matt like “you bastard you knew about this didn’t you”

[@roge220]

This only further proves CR is scripted! /s

[@stalin4timetravel376]

Onion Knight ... dude how lol

[@crownclowncreations]

@@roge220 Wth are you on about? I don't get why some people insist it's scripted - _there's no way!_ Of course the DM knows a bunch of tings related to the characters and overall story, he's the DM, that's his job! 😂

[@geedavis6602]

@@crownclowncreations /s indicates sarcasm

[@crownclowncreations]

@@geedavis6602 Oh.. My bad. Never heard of that :v

[@divinityquartz3428]

love how a cleric of the wild mother gave a cleric of the traveler guidance on a persuasion check to convince a paladin of the wild mother to follow the traveler.

[@Questfinder1]

Love Jester and Cad. An agent of Chaos and a sage healer

[@brandonk8948]

^ DnD lawyer in the house....lol

[@divinityquartz3428]

@@brandonk8948 *adjusts glasses* actually, I'm a DM.

[@Nyanx4]

@@divinityquartz3428 I want to use that phrase in inappropriate situations.

[@isaac8734]

Thats because they go.on dates

[@mooshy2]

Caduceus: We need diamonds. Nott: 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. Caduceus: I know, Nott. Nott: 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. Caduceus: I know, Nott.

[@youshallnotpass567]

Time stamp?

[@mooshy2]

Bro I commented this 3 years ago, fuck if I know where the time stamp is@@youshallnotpass567

[@EchoesFromCorn]

He knows not?

[@csn583]

Cad: Where did you get these diamonds? Nott: I know nott...

[@theafterparty2264]

the font here is killing me

[@Day-Box]

Caleb: whats the worst thing you’ve ever done jester Jester: ... i stuck an ax in the back of a dudes head Caleb: i know i saw that

[@holyheals]

Time stamp please?

[@alecLogan]

@@holyheals approximately 58:13

[@Lucarioguild7]

I loved that call back from Liam, I remember laughing so hard at Jester asking that and his lie was to just be like "Oh me and Nott stole a lot and stuff like that"

[@timd4524]

I know. I saw it.

[@ashleylaricci2023]

Didn’t he live tho thanks to Caduceus? He works on the Ball Eater?

[@bronzeowl9]

A mysterious woman used magic to turn Veth into Nott. A mysterious woman used magic to clear Caleb's mind at the Sanatorium. A mysterious woman threatened to use magic against Beauregard's father.

[@morganarees9385]

OOOOoooOooooOooooOoo, mysterious girlllll, i wanna get close to youuu

[@cutlery9831]

A mysterious woman was at yasha's reckoning the first time too, and at molly's resurrection. (I'm pretty sure anyways)

[@bronzeowl9]

@@cutlery9831 mOlLy'S wHaT?

[@Dicefinity]

Spoiler Well two of them are connected

[@cutlery9831]

@@bronzeowl9 when he died and came back before the events of the campaign.

[@amberpdavis]

Caleb: oh no, Jester’s beating herself up Caleb: that’s not good Caleb: only I can do that

[@joshr6589]

Story of my life

[@klillym1461]

Lol

[@bionicdragon5]

Yeah, she's supposed to outsource her self-abuse. You know. Like Yasha did.

[@hannahbobanana]

I feel like I see this tyoe of comment a lot

[@waynebraun9824]

Hopefully I'm not the only one who notices how brilliant this is, on Matt's part. Using an NPC to get the players to stop and think about their personal motivations beyond stopping the world ending abyssal elder god.

[@DustedAsh3]

Not to mention it gives him information on where they want to go, so now he can prep easier.

[@francisdoherty5580]

Some times we need to check in with our friends/family. It helps us figure out our next steps in life.

[@e-linamarie]

suuper helpful for the audience too lmao, sometimes i get mixed up in all of their objectives and plans

[@stingerjohnny9951]

@@e-linamarie Plus it’s nice to have an audience surrogate that reacts to their chaos in a realistic way. One of the reasons I love Yezza so much XD

[@kjj26k]

It's also really helpful for seeing how the characters have changed. When the mighty Nein formed, all their goals were "Alive, Free, Wealthy, achieved together" Now it's all both some much bigger but also more personal. And they actually know each other and themselves now.

[@roberthinch7841]

"I am a transmutation wizard, but you're the one who changes people." tears.

[@1manApocalypse_CP]

That was a fucking great line.

[@katieravenhill6633]

@Kleek Vishon 1:54:15 !

[@isaac8734]

@@1manApocalypse_CP especially because of what will happen 2 episodes later

[@ScorchHellfire]

I definitely got misty-eyed at that part. :'D

[@ScorchHellfire]

@@isaac8734 Coming back from just having watched that. Yep. Most epic changing of a person's mind across either campaign so far. xD

[@DarkAuraLord]

>tfw they finally unlocked the romance option for Essek

[@thethirdsicily4802]

They finally finished the grind to get that affection up

[@CaptainZlex]

All of 'em. At the same time.

[@christofferhougaard]

Oh man I love Essek. So this unlock is probably one od my favorites!

[@AkihitoTysko]

I ship Caleb x Essek so hard.

[@emmote77]

I honestly hope not. When he said he's uninterested in such things (seeing people naked) I was so happy. I'm ace and I will be so happy beyond measure if it turns out Essek is too.

[@roguepawn8963]

M9: *ask about Esek’s feet* Matt: *internally* “It’s the Chair all over again....”

[@MadSwedishGamer]

Only hornier.

[@themardbard9096]

@@MadSwedishGamer I beg to differ

[@aarona8940]

@@themardbard9096 god damnit, nearly killed me with that 😂😂😂

[@themorrigan7224]

@@themardbard9096 then beg

[@Dicefinity]

@@aarona8940 and my family

[@Sibunamember101]

I love how the the Mighty Nein just snuck their way into Essek's heart and basically said we're your friends now

[@MsYunaFires]

it was in Jester's "power move" hug. whatever antagonistic plans Matt for Essek went completely out the window that day. or so i'd like to think so :)

[@nosuchthingasgoodcows7003]

@@MsYunaFires who would win: a neutral evil drow who has had over 100 years of experience and study of magic and bends the laws of physics to his will for fun or one little blue tiefling hug

[@retrochimdev3868]

They really went "We're your friends now! We're having soft tacos later!"

[@TheOldOwl8]

Why is it I read this and just pictured Essek waking up at night and Jester is just hovering above him "Hi....we're friends now..."

[@Stephie0125]

It's like that meme of extroverts adopting introverts ❤️

[@a2rons803]

It's old hat by now, and probably taken for granted, but Matt's feel for when to disappear and let the players just invent a scene out of nowhere is remarkable. It should be noted that the players ability to create those scenes is pretty special too.

[@unclevivid9028]

Its comforting

[@jasonutty52]

I wish my party could do that. The amount of awkward silences...

[@Raynsideways]

I loved Marisha cutting into Matt's "you all wake up" narrative to wake up Fjord; the sudden knocking interruption made it weirdly feel super early. Really brought me into the moment.

[@Drakan21]

He bows out immediately when they claim agency over the narrative, and he loves it. He doesn't let them simply trample his world building, and reels them in when they get a bit carried away, but he always allows them their play space. It's what makes this show so damned amazing to behold.

[@LakeVermilionDreams]

I'm lucky enough to have players that can do this. Not to this extent, but for a while. I love it!

[@mab_cat]

"Do we need to hide anything? Is there anything out that's illegal?" I feel like Beau double checks this ANY time there's a knock at the door instinctively.

[@corwyncorey3703]

Its hard when you travel to places things that are normal become inexplicably illegal...

[@Zombiewithabowtie]

@@corwyncorey3703 Like that dose of hallucinogenic mushrooms that she's been carrying around since Alfield.

[@earlhoundstooth124]

Honestly, I thought that was actually Marisha peeking into her character a bit.

[@NonRegnumDei1934]

yeah it feels like Marisha probably does too lmao

[@darkvizardking69]

Criminal background, when you're always paranoid about the law habits will be hard to break. Very in character for her to do

[@zoeguyh1355]

Fjord “I’m sure you told us before, I just never listen.” Fjordgetting

[@nateb7804]

Fjord stone is "like a rock"

[@okthen623]

I like how when Ashley said with the most serious and genuine voice "I smell like a crayon" and half the table goes down. Like head to wood, silent wheezing and shaking, tomato red faces. The whole thing is fantastic

[@IanDaviesRules]

I think they're at level 10 or 11 here, so around the corner at level 12 she could get a +1 in strength and another stat, or a feat that gives +1 strength

[@forgemakesstuff2734]

I made the amazing choice of taking a giant gulp of tea right before she said that line, so I had to cover my mouth, shaking from silent laughter, to avoid spewing tea all over my desk

[@rob_carr]

If you pause it right when she says it and then keep pausing and unpausing you can see the different expressions unfold on each of the cast members faces as they process it, you can see Liam trying to keep in character and he manages for it about a second then he just completely cracks up and hits the table with everyone else

[@rachelclaw]

I lost count of the number of times I almost spit soup over my entire desk during this episode, it was incredibly dangerous lmao@@forgemakesstuff2734

[@Zakiel97]

"standing on the shoulders olf giants" "that's very hard, they are very aggressive" goddamnit cad, never change

[@steeveewuzzheer1992]

Time stamp please!

[@Zakiel97]

@@steeveewuzzheer1992 it's at 3:31:14

[@steeveewuzzheer1992]

@@Zakiel97 swift delivery, good lookin out

[@MadnessQuotient]

In ~15 years time, a teenager in Zadash is going to realise they are a Krin assassin.

[@AllHailSp00nRiver]

Season 3 spoilers.

[@kitparsons6680]

That is such a fucking good character background

[@AllHailSp00nRiver]

Who is going to be this character? It sounds like a great Talisen character. Growing up a bard instead of a wizard would mess with some things. A Scourger in a Krin drow body for another? A Liam character?

[@jacquelbonheur6859]

Frankly, with the Assembly having had their mitts on multiple beacons for n amount of time, Trent being a fossil and Caleb and his friends being born around Rexxentrum at the same time when it's "unusual" for so many to be so gifted... Add in a little (already established) Modify Memory... And it wouldn't surprise me in the least if it turned out sometime later that the three of them were reincarnations. Perhaps more than them.

[@AllHailSp00nRiver]

@@jacquelbonheur6859 oh. That sounds pretty plausible. How many reincarnates? Molly? Caleb? Nott? Beau? Fjord? Yasha? Probably not Caduceus or Jester. Note the pattern: no clerics. Also, people not directly involved in Xhorhas and the Empire are not reincarnates.

[@brianholdbrook5504]

That look of pride in Matt’s face when Jester remembers and solves the mystery of the missing children

[@calebsanner2632]

That was an excellent moment of recall, quite impressed with that, 35:25 for those that wish

[@OldOneTooth]

I was thinking it might be the wizards stealing them and as those born could be reprogrammed like caleb, gaining them access to the information their past lives had.

[@matthewmccann-willis162]

Beau: What's the worst thing you've ever done? Essek: *visible fear*

[@Rellyks]

Essek: Sweating like the gentleman

[@robinrahne1]

Caleb: desperately hoping the conversation takes a different turn

[@AksentNethariaFilm]

The fact that we got almost an hour and a half of pure Essek-M9 bonding gives me so much joy

[@tenacityxl]

I especially love the fact that Essik doesn’t blindly follow the Bright Queen or the Luxon, And is comfortable enough to share that with the M9. That’s probably something that you really SHOULDNT share in Rosanna, but he trusts them enough to say those things.

[@xEvilRaptorx]

I think this is the episode that really jumpstarted the Essek/Caleb fanfic. (Ps. My phone autocorrected "jumpstart" to "hump start")... how!!!?!

[@sassyviking6003]

@@xEvilRaptorx your phone knew, it knew...

[@katyusika]

Agreed, pure serotonin

[@riemhostal7536]

You're a mother fuckin ✨ G O D ✨

[@willnelson9906]

me: "you know, i want to like essek, i want to trust him, but he just seems shady" matt: "I just, uh... If you would have a guest for dinner, perhaps?" me: "marry me you floating hunk"

[@ravinsaber]

LOL

[@deffdefying4803]

@Cole The moldier i mean wizards can be jacked too, we dont know what his musculature is like

[@OverkillDM]

deffdefying In all fairness, he has been skipping leg day for about a hundred years so...

[@KRAMER2411]

@Cole The moldier Yeah, no way an introverted wizard, who doesn't even get the daily exercise of walking normally, has a higher strength than 8 lol

[@dittmar104]

will nelson twink*

[@crankyhead1089]

Jester about the Traveller : "sometimes i see his profile, and he seems very good looking and handsome" Yup that fits in my head cannon, that he looks like Matt Mercer.

[@beaug.2326]

A lot of the Traveler fan art makes him look like Matt so it's probably canon at this point.

[@dustytayman6500]

i actually have my own theories about him being Artagan, though to be fair they aren’t entirely original

[@amymannion4197]

@@dustytayman6500 theory confirmed as of ep94!

[@Jason-kp4vc]

@@amymannion4197 don't post spoilers on previous episodes.

[@bioboy1819]

I reckon he is one of the agents of Theruzdan

[@hellomynameis________]

I love imagining Essik hyping himself up before knocking on the door and saying yes to their dinner offer. He seems so socially self conscious and I find it so endearing (if he turns out to be evil I will RIOT)

[@k.whatever9046]

thoughts?

[@jameswillis5682]

Oof

[@jacksonwagner5963]

Spoilers, open at your own risk Not only does he turn out evil, they grow his heart 3 sizes larger than the grinch and he becomes one of the 2 people that makes the m9 truly 9 people and him and caleb end up as lovers for a while (Essek living for like 4 times caleb's lifespan make it kinda hard to be live together.

[@itbelikethat4940]

@@jacksonwagner5963 I opened the spoiler not thinking it would be that much 😭😭

[@wee_haggis6374]

I’m not touching that spoiler, sliding on by 😅🫣

[@tatsusama3192]

Mother: Honey, Malic has been acting rather strangely lately Father: Really? How do you mean? Malic: SILENCE, EMPIRE SWINE! I care not for this "sprout from Brussels" you've given me. I shan't be eating them! - throws plate like a frisbee embedding it into the dinning room wall. Does several back hand springs and back flips out of the room - Father: . . . Well he's 15 now. Everyone goes through puberty in their own way

[@Zalamancer]

This is gold

[@dillionbarton8383]

This deserves more likes.

[@tatsusama3192]

Haha, Thank you. It's all I could think of during the scene where this was being explained😂

[@bytheburnside7539]

Just..... an immortal drow warrior.... in the body of a teenage boy..... with teenage boy hormones..... oh no

[@themardbard9096]

oh nO

[@Maddelomaniac]

"I'm the transmutation wizard, but you're the one who changes people." What a beautiful scene and what an amazing episode overall!

[@spartanchief2]

That was such a smooth line. Caleb injecting wholesomeness straight into my veins.

[@jamescanjuggle]

"I'm the video game boy, but it's you that has won"

[@Frantzypantz]

New favorite quote

[@andrewmorris8650]

Caleb isn’t a transmutation wizard, he is the feels doctor

[@SageSavage]

I fuckin' live for hearing their DnD characters say nice things to each other.

[@theslenderbacon7261]

Essek the respect mage, renoun councilman, holder of an unknown arcane practice... has social anxiety and I LOVE IT

[@johnathanera5863]

Theres a difference between having social anxiety and being an introvert. He seems more than capable of talking with people, he just doesnt want to or see the reason too.

[@theslenderbacon7261]

@@johnathanera5863 touche my friend

[@bytheburnside7539]

@@johnathanera5863 that's also kinda presumptuous. Just having social anxiety doesnt mean your not capable of handling intense social situations. It just means it takes more resolve and practice

[@johnathanera5863]

@@bytheburnside7539 wrong. It means you feel anxiety and fear from social interaction. He hasnt seemed to show fear or apprehension. Just no interest. So not social anxiety, just introversion.

[@Lurklen]

@@johnathanera5863 Sorry, but no. Many people who experience debilitating social anxiety can appear completely fine in social situations (it's very difficult, even for the incredibly anxious, to avoid social situations, and so most find coping mechanisms, though they can be very costly) it's one of the issues that can make it hard for them, no one knows how greatly they are struggling until they are past the point of being able to hide it. At which point those who witness this sudden collapse are shocked, and the individual themselves feel/look crazy when the seemingly stable facade falls away and a person in crisis emerges. (Imagine if Essak, calm, erudite, and wise, had suddenly needed to excuse himself to the bathroom because he felt like he couldn't breathe and began sweating profusely and or throwing up and that's what it can be like) Another unfortunate aspect is often those people CRAVE social interaction, but default to introverted behaviors because those are not as taxing. (A socially anxious extrovert is a person who faces a unique challenge indeed.) Essek coming back after saying no at first, that could very easily be read as a long term socially anxious person deciding they're not going to let their coping mechanisms prevent them from doing something they want to do. (Probably after a short but pointed bout of self talk.) That said, there are lots of people who are just more introverted than others and don't suffer intense destabilizing emotional reactions to social situations, it's just kind of tiring and not to their liking, and he could just be one of those too. My take is that he's someone who has underlying social anxiety, but has long ago learned how to manage it to the point that it doesn't present too much difficulty (dude's 150, and he's made a success of himself, that sounds like a man who's reckoned with himself and figured out how to keep himself on track.) but his methods of coping (overcompensating by making himself seem hyper-competent and floating everywhere for example) can lead to him becoming a little isolated. Like thousands of people in our world (minus the floating).

[@seeminglyseph]

I really do appreciate Essek not even taking half a second of hesitation before offering to let the M9 tear up his yard to do a new spell they just made.

[@oakenshadow6763]

He is a true nerd, and it was a worthy sacrifice.

[@ethanpeterson5640]

This episode really humanizes Essek a lot and I loved it. I think Matt did something amazing with this, and the choice that Essek would join the M9 for dinner.

[@Dicefinity]

I like to think it was that message jester sent last episode in the end

[@three-card-dead]

Agreed. I want Essek to become a trusted ally. He's totally right up their alley. I think of Essek as Matt's Character in a way now.

[@MrK133n]

Felt so natural.

[@Canibalteaspoon159]

@@three-card-dead ye I really see Essek as Matts own self put into the campaign. This episode cemented that for me. The awkward kid at the pool party was brilliant

[@SeerOfTime577]

Same. My love for him quadrupled.

[@ZeroSkylerxD]

its kind of adorable how the mighty nein is always like "hey, please be our friend, we're really great.... WE HAVE A HOT TUB IN OUR HOUSE PLEASE HANG OUT WITH US"

[@WorldWalker128]

For a group of seven adventurers they sure are a lonely bunch.

[@asilnorahc8910]

I just heard Jester's voice reading this comment, this is great

[@stingerjohnny9951]

@@WorldWalker128 I mean, each of them either had no friends or family or lost their friends and family. I could see them being desperate, reminds me of Beau realizing they might have codependency issues and was cool with that lol.

[@chanyael]

Which fits really well with your golden retriever profile picture

[@kevinwheeler7427]

Essik: "I would say...angering my father to a point where he went unprepared into the depths of Bazzoxan and never returned." M9: "Woah" Vox Machina back in Tal'Dorei: "Daddy issues detected. Target Acquired!"

[@Direwolf181]

It's a wonder they didn't scoop up Beau lol

[@Badusername2000]

you'd never assume from when they went "fuck the war, let's go be pirates" that they'd end up being the intermediaries for it

[@poppyonline4034]

I love Matt’s proud smile when Laura/Jester figures out the children taken from the Empire city.

[@mmbmod]

that was SUCH a good recollection on her part!!

[@johnjaeger2968]

Especially important since they're kind of biased towards the dynasty but, I am pretty sure the moral of Matt's tale is that the world is grey and no one is truly good nor evil.

[@earlhoundstooth124]

Did Matt ever weigh in on the M9 just skipping the kidnapped children plotline? It was pretty defining for the group as more of a neutral group that was more into finding their own path than helping others.

[@tibot4228]

@@johnjaeger2968 I feel like this is the episode where they really began to see the darker side of the Dynasty (you know, torture and racism aside, but that happens in the Empire too): laying claim to powerful artifacts discovered in other countries that could allow the inhabitants to live forever or improve their conditions through research because of a religion without a "confirmed" deity.

[@The_Cowwwthem]

Me too

[@thegaspatthegateway]

So when the M9 carried the beacon all across Wildemount, they seeded souls EVERYWHERE like Johnny friggin Appleseed? Hahaha that'll bite them in 20 years come Campaign 3 ;)

[@forthelols9176]

I suppose it depends how many souls were in the beacon before it was stolen. It had already seeded a bunch of souls in the Empire and presumably would not be taking in any new ones there. I wonder how big the waiting room for souls is inside these things.

[@Estheriam]

Something to note, it was in the haversack and bag of holding most of the time.

[@moth446]

it was in that lead type box, unclear how that may have affected it

[@cassandragidney7682]

I now want to play a Gith Revived Rogue who is seeded with the soul of a Xorhaasian Noble because the beacon was in the Astral Plane so long.

[@araccoonstolemyradiator]

The beacon doesn't store up souls, if consecuted people were dying near them while the M9 were walking around then yes but they were in the middle of the empire, so no souls were being put into or taken out of the beacon.

[@madelinegreene8031]

Matt really out here offering Liam fantasy boyfriends in both campaigns

[@namespara6669]

Lets hope he chooses this one

[@austinsadler1403]

Liam can have little a fantasy boyfriend. As a treat.

[@cabbagetheif]

Ok but the best ship is Gilmore & Essek

[@LuckasSilver]

Liam also got Matt to write porn for the campaign early on. Tusk Love.

[@zackfaulkner1294]

Bless it

[@rabbitsintheattic9889]

I like to think that as soon as Essek leaves the Jorhouse he decides to scry on the party out of curiosity, just in time to see Jester converting Fjord and Cad licking a rock.

[@kl-1447]

Yes, and this also just for everytime someone tries to scry on them. Like I I fully aware there is a high possibility that secrets have been revealed because they weren't aware that they were being scryed on (until Fjord noticed the orb) but I also like to think that there were so many times where they tried and it was just the Nein's chaos they got to observe for 10 minutes.

[@Logan-um4eh]

Or anyone scrying on them during the time they make plans...and getting Plan C only, when eventually settle on a plan that combines elements of Plan Q and ball bearing chaos.

[@stingerjohnny9951]

@@kl-1447 Honestly, if I was assigned to scry on them and I saw some of the fucked shit they do on their off time, I’d be too fascinated to look away XD

[@smallolive]

@@kl-1447 "What do you mean you spent all of your spell slots scrying on them while they took a mud bath for 4 hours?"

[@Skeleton---Arts]

Can you IMAGINE being a drow in the dynasty, having a child, and that child turns out to be like, your deceased parent. Like how WILD would that be

[@aidanmills6136]

I have a sudden urge to start singing "I'm my own grandpa."

[@doctorofrecreation]

alternatively how weird would it be to have a kid and expect that kid to be a reincarnated soul and train him in the religion and find out he’s a new soul like Essek is.

[@colleen6440]

Or to be a before puberty and you're just waiting to see if you're going to start remembering past lives or if you're normal. The anxiety, excitement, and disappointment of the results. Or being some low class bugbear family and your kid reaches adolescence and starts claiming to be an ancient drow noble.

[@iandriver9803]

Tibetan Buddhism has a view on riencarnation, after all the Dalai Lama is the 14th

[@Anna-nl2dg]

Alternative and even stranger situation: one day there is a knock on your door. And before you stands a mother with her annoyed teenage son. "I came here to return your father to his beloved den. Beware, he is a real prick now, just give it another 20 years... He is all yours now", she says with relief and leaves you with this teenager who tries to pressure all the time with the sentiment "I am your father, show some respect son!"

[@jamescanjuggle]

One day Mats going to turn around for the ad read and the whole cast will be dressed like Sam for the bit

[@ambskater97]

All wearing Matt shirts.

[@uwukotoa]

With a giant flask each.

[@tokatstorm9270]

Don't give Sam ideas.

[@simpleevan3583]

"Mr. Mercer" hahahahahaha

[@camimae5721]

Can't wait

[@vigilantsycamore8750]

All the way back in episode 3 of this campaign: "You want there to be a witch in there, Sam? There can be a witch in there!" Wow, Matt really plays the long game huh

[@AnimeStuffAndMore]

Hehehehehe

[@emmawirtz6541]

Roll for witches.

[@Soma2710]

Henry Morgan I think it was back in episode 3, but they were investigating what they heard was a haunted island. They kept saying things like “maybe this is where the witch is” and stuff like that. Then they came upon what Matt described as a “ruin”, but they assumed it was the “witch’s” hut, to the point that Beau said “I jump on top of the hut”, to which Matt replied “it’s not a hut...it’s a ruin”. Sam said “It’s a full on hut with a witch inside, Matt”, to which Matt replied the above quote.

[@dig8634]

@@Soma2710 You "think". With that accurate a retelling, way beyond what I can remember, I don't believe for a second you didn't go back and watch the clip XP That is like 88 episodes ago! I remembered it when I read it, Sam's classic sarcastic tone of voice and all, but not before.

[@Rastislav000]

Well, Matt threatened them with Astral Dreadnought in e44, then in e45 was introduced Happy Fun Ball of tricks and then they discovered it in like e82/e83.

[@KoonsieN7]

"I've heard two great things about the Traveler if only there was one more" broke me.

[@DamZ1428]

"You know, that whole thing about being forgiven about all my sins and getting an eternal afterlife in heaven is great and all, but i can't shake the feeling it's missing something-" "We get free wine during our rituals" "You son of a bitch, i'm in"

[@stonedfox2138]

it took me too long to realize that "nott the brave" is an anagram for "veth brenatto"

[@mkang8782]

I don't recall which episode it was revealed in, but one of the cast/characters explained it.

@@mkang8782 yeah i think it was revealed in the question just after the ep where nott said the full name

[@charlescates5703]

🤯

[@michaeltodd343]

I was today years old, holy crap

[@caskaronn]

mind fucking blown wtffff

[@Fairfieldfencer]

Laura: "I was distracted by the cookies." Me: "That's some nice Jester roleplaying." Me: [Sees there are actual cookies.] "Oh no, wait, that's just Laura." XD

[@caseygray2328]

there is a difference?

[@crimsonflame2k]

@@caseygray2328 Absolutely not, and I love it.

[@caseygray2328]

@ElvenSithLord true i watched that episode but my statement disguised poorly as a question was asked because that is who Jester is and felt that fact being questioned

[@kelnhide]

Laura is just real life Jester.

[@uncah_bucchal2953]

Double Oreo's and milk.

[@Aman123ace]

Fjord: "It's like not knowing how deep the ocean is" Beaux: "do you know how deep the ocean is" Fjord: " it's pretty fucking deep" Underrated comments

[@evlredsun]

i thoroughly enjoy their in game banter.

[@Riverfall_]

I mean they did travel to the bottom of the ocean twice by now.

[@SpAceyADHD]

Binge watching this it's really funny that Traveler con keeps being like a month away for multiple months, it's like in G.O.T. where winter is always coming.

[@laurensargent9552]

I was just thinking this 😂 matt says 5 weeks in this episode but last time jester asked it was four weeks 😂

[@garyjorgensen992]

Before the Happy Fun Ball it was like 6 weeks, then 3 weeks later it was 7 weeks

[@ScreamsGeo]

Okay, so I *wasn't* imagining that.

[@stingerjohnny9951]

@@garyjorgensen992 Looks like Caleb discovered time travel after all. He just used it to make sure one of his besties made it to her party 🤣

[@lunavixrn5651]

Considering how much the Traveler loves Jester, I am convinced that the in-game reason for this is that he knows she's busy and doesn't want to have it without her, so he keeps pushing it back and all his other disciples are having the shit trolled out of them cuz this god wants his favourite child to be at his party.

[@TheShinigamiXanFails]

Yasha asking if she can sleep in Caduceus's room for the night may be the most underrated small moment for me this campaign. It's so sweet and warms my heart.

[@Xiatter]

I love this moment and the whole interaction surrounding it. Cad checking in on Yasha felt right, and made me love them both a little more.

[@katarinadreams6955]

Big bod besties 👍

[@SaintBigfoot]

Yasha’s flat “I smell like a crayon.” Sending everyone into fits of laughter, causing Tal and Liam to head-desk and Matt to stare off into the distance questioning existence ever so slightly. That is one of my favorite breaks this Campaign.

[@dehro]

I'm still confused by that one

[@peachaton364]

@@dehro think it was just such a random thing to say, considering i dont think crayons exist in their time

[@Pluvii]

It seemed like it was an in joke to me.

[@MadnessQuotient]

To people who stick crayons up their nose, everything smells like crayon

[@lordeiswolf]

Yasha is a Titan confirmed

[@namespara6669]

58:36 "What about you essek, whats the worst thing you've ever done?" Matts laugh knowing exactly what essek did :)))))))

[@annsmalley9039]

NamesPara yeah that little snort laugh made me go !!

[@xEvilRaptorx]

Oh you know, I joined the ranks of a awkward matriarch reincarnation society... killed my whole family

[@Mugipiano]

I imagine that all Essek could think about was the thing he couldn't tell them and in his head frantically going "what else omfg what else um shit fffff calm down! Think of something else, what else is bad enough for this I cant down play it to much *panic*"

[@jee462]

Yeah, this is my first watch through but I gave up trying to escape spoilers way back now and I'm just sitting here like "we both know what you've done hot boi"

[@camiart_casual]

That and his face when he asked if they had connections to the Assembly and they said yes 👀

[@Solanuma]

i love how meta Esseks explanaition for his hovering is: "people have expectations"

[@kkav4586]

Essek's true power: seeing past the 4th wall at the millions of eyes watching and adoring his floaty appearances😂

[@helplmchoking]

I mean, once people hear you're the floating guy you kinda have to own it, right?

[@ChrissyPlus]

​@@helplmchokingI think it's meta because like when he first introduced Essek, he just described his walk as being really smooth almost as if he were gliding. He repeatedly kind of tried to redirect the players But they were 100% convinced he was floating and finally just gave it to them 😂 so in both a meta and in-narrative sense, The reason that he floats is because he was expected to.

[@JulianVJacobs]

Laura's so good at this. For her to remember the Town Crier saying children were being stolen! Her mind!

[@ikeekieeki]

matt's face of pride at that moment is wonderful

[@barbnoren]

Laura's wisdom score has always been a 20. not jester, laura. she is ALWAYS the first one to pick up on things.

[@MmMm-sf7pe]

The opposite of A Larkin. ;)

[@mystic-malevolence]

Right, I thought it was Ludinus's comment about the Dynasty "spreading their heretical religion", but she reached right back to something they heard at the beginning of the campaign... wild.

[@AkatsukiNukeNin]

Yasha: "Do you ever get lonely in your solitude?" Essek: "I didn't think so... until recently." ;A; The M9 are just too damn likable. Lonely Boi has already fallen for them.

[@Secret_Takodachi]

I give it 2 hours: love M9 but just like me IRL: I'm guessing Essek will gain a new appreciation for his alone time once he spends a couple days with the crew during a one-shot or some other future episode!

[@MrSHADOWANGEL999]

the 9 like him to, even invited him on an adventure with them now they just need to find the Inevitable Friend again and they can really be the Mighty Nine

[@NWolfsson]

Essek after a few months with the M9: Damn I can't stand those guys anymore... Essek after they spent a few weeks in the Happy Fun Ball: Damn I miss those idiots... Essek after spending a few hours with them after they return: Ah yes... I remember now...

[@Undomaranel]

@@NWolfsson Essek after the first sincere and heart felt, life changing talk: _That_ makes it all worth it.

[@Practicallypreposterous]

The Revelation that the Luxon still functions while it's stolen makes me happy for the Kryn soldier who they met in the sewers, he probably gets to live a peaceful life after the great sacrifice he made to retrieve his people. Honestly could be a cool campaign 3/ back up character: that soldier reincarnated in whatever race of choice

[@taiasoncole8148]

I completely forgot about that. Since he died within range of the beacon he'll be reborn.

[@privpi]

If he did the ritual. Wich he probably did, but maybe he's just dead who knows

[@Practicallypreposterous]

@@privpi don't ruin this for me 🥺

[@Practicallypreposterous]

@@taiasoncole8148 would be awesome if in campaign 3 an NPC or even PC would just be that guy reincarnated

[@YourPalRowan]

@@Practicallypreposterous this, and grown-up rogue Kiri who follows the Traveller

[@krdraws3123]

Essek wondering how these weirdos weaseled their way onto his heart The M9:we like it here and we’ve decided to stay Essek:that’s not- M9:I FITS I SITS

[@pixiekit]

I love this

[@violet7773]

Heh weaseled Rip sprinkle

[@Nichristi]

M9 feral cat colony confirmed

[@caseybaker7935]

​@@NichristiThat's been confirmed for a long time. Their literal first three jobs all ended with basically dumping a monster's head at someone's doorstep

[@forgemakesstuff2734]

@@caseybaker7935 WOULD YOU LIKE A SLIGHTLY SOGGY MANTICORE HEAD

[@anothercub6958]

I love how they played the "Fjord's last name is stone" theory. Cuz technically, the Wildmother wasn't lying when she said he happened upon her by chance. Cuz he technically isn't a Stone, but he also is. That's some fucking Macbeth type prophecy right there. Now Caleb would be fitting for dust cuz ash counts, right?

[@darkvizardking69]

That's like how in GoT you can have a name like waters if you're a bastard or unadopted child. Something general as more of a placeholder then a real last name. Seeing as these guys have likely seen it, they went with it. Different then caddy's family and their whole bit but still.

[@KhanCrete]

Oh cool, good to see Essik is just Farengar from Skyrim "It seems this damnable conflict has consumed everyone's passions as of late. Me, I prefer my books. And my spells."

[@TheDinohunter2000]

One of Essik's favors is to acquire a stone tablet where the location of dragon burial sites are ledged in.

[@maliktyson18]

@@TheDinohunter2000 this is so good think you just won the internet this day!

[@TheDinohunter2000]

@@maliktyson18 Hahaha, you're much too kind.

[@Overcrox]

“Come to the Lucid Bastion to discuss the ongoing hostilities, like the rest of the Kryn warriors?”

[@Undomaranel]

Watch the M9 go on a fetch quest for him and all that's left is a note from some eradicated Taldori sect dedicated to the Chromatics.

[@LowlySlime]

Essek: so uhh tell me about yourselves The M9: tell us literally everything about your society ever

[@zippomage]

yeah, I felt a little bad about that. He just wanted some friends!

[@shwiiiiies4704]

Essek /Matt is going to Judge that

[@themardbard9096]

I think it's also that they don't want to rehash their backgrounds in the campaign, since it's (meta) knowledge that Matt and the party already know. I didn't really mind.

[@alecLogan]

ALowly Slime Felt like it semi-naturally flowed into asking him questions back in sequence. Like, rather than an interrogation where information is being extracted unwillingly, they asked him about things that related to both them and himself (after he asked most of them about their general motives, they asked him back, and from there it reached consecution which they’ve hid their curiosity on _very well_ up until now and, granted, he can’t answer all the questions, but relating to the beacon and his own motivations on why _not_ tell the Bright Queen [you know, instead of coyly going “I have my reasons” like he’d be within rights to say if he weren’t himself opening a dialogue with them]) *inhale* Sorry. My bad. So, things flowed naturally, and as someone at least _claiming_ to be somewhat unattuned to chatting with a group, he had answers that technically didn’t reveal much they could do anything about, or actually want, mostly just revealing consequential information (like the background of the ‘kidnappings’ heard of much earlier, and that consecution is a process one must be guided through and takes several years for such a soul to resurge wherever). In the end, Essek hung around them a bit longer and did get enough of a chat going to learn a fair bit about them as well.

[@JazzGodlyElephant]

Essik: "Maybe trying to have dinner with them would be a nice social thing...I'll give it a shot." The Nein: time to accidentally interrogate the guy Caduceus: "Food time!"

[@AvalonLunatica]

Welp, it's official. *insert Kiri voice here* @Essek: "Welcome to the Mighty Nine~!"

[@b4n4n14]

Oh n o

[@justbeingjason4486]

Kiri voice is whatever voice she heard the phrase in. She is a Kenku. So I believe that is Jester's voice.

[@phobiawitch835]

NOW I WANT KIRI TO MEET ESSEK!

[@chromatic_fate7114]

@@justbeingjason4486 Nott was actually the one who said that line

[@justbeingjason4486]

@arandomfandomfan Right. Thank you.

[@Dilettante15]

Caleb and Essek sittin' in a tree S-T-U-D-Y-I-N-G

[@lilypad852]

First comes friendship Then comes marriage Then comes Nott with a baby carriage

[@zackgeldhof1206]

WiZaRd fLiRtInG iNtEnSiFieS!!!!!!!!!!

[@feylights166]

I ship it

[@ryujin8754]

Yup, and that's all this is. Just friendship. PS. No, I am *NOT* being sarcastic.

[@Digimastertwo]

When was Stu Dying, and who is Stu anyway? Was it someone Caleb burned during his brainwashing?

[@tenacityxl]

Love that Essik feels comfortable enough around the M9 to share some of his doubts in the Dynasty as a whole.

[@alleycat2297]

caleb and essek: profuse nerdy flirting jester: SO YOURE SAYING YOU HAVE A CRUSH ON FJORD--?!

[@kharolyneholler2518]

She was too focused on the cookies hahahaha

[@csn583]

Sometimes you get your cookies tossed, and sometimes you toss your cookies.

[@warbacca1017]

The real question now is: does the bright queen have a hot tub, and if not how long until the mighty nein manage to get her to visit theirs? "Names have a funny way of sneaking up on you" Is that how Taliesin feels whenever he finds one of his previous names in a history book?

[@Faith276]

“Oh fuck they caught me- oh wait this is just a history book I’m safe whew”

[@Aman123ace]

Shit they found that name

[@tobiasbrandt5425]

Caleb: This will be our greatest trick yet. Nott: We need to name this. And thus they invented 'The Old Switcheroo'

[@gumdani]

I love this

[@willcaster819]

CANNON

[@trlton420]

Me: holy shit Notts almost back to normal! Everyone else: Essek's feet and Ashley's a crayon.

[@skateywatey]

"I'm the transmutation wizard, but.... you are the one who changes people. I see it every day." My heart.

[@NumbFlynn]

The look on Travis's face when he said that was so heartwarming.

[@Krindig]

A Timecode would be great :)

[@discard-dead]

1:54:15

[@skateywatey]

@@discard-dead Thank you! :) I thought about adding a timestamp when I wrote it but I didn't think anyone would see my comment!!

[@RtotheK605]

@@skateywatey I was scrolling to see if anyone else had commented on this line. I was listening to the podcast of this episode at work last night - when Caleb dropped this truth bomb, I just stood there dumbfounded by greatness.

[@ScaramouseChopain]

I would kill to know the whisper Laura got when asking if Essek had done something embarrassing while using Sending on him..

[@Shornaal13]

At the table they went with "you poopin'?" but I went with "master-debating" over here.

[@mastermelee2543]

@@Shornaal13 same.

[@KumaoftheForest]

Betrayed the Dynasty

[@jaysabol1821]

@@Shornaal13 i think essek would prefer EduBation

[@LydiaTereK]

Perhaps it's a mystery we will never find out... until when they wrap up C2

[@laurenhawes7201]

3:26:00 I like how essek doesnt even hesitate, like "tear up my yard babe im yours"

[@Laticia1990]

Is that what the kids are calling it these days?

[@soooze7367]

Lauren Hawes he gets one (1) hug and immediately throws himself at the Mighty Nein and I respect that

[@FeyzaOnay]

Susie Murphy Dooley it has the same energy as the memes about boys/men getting a compliment once every five years

[@cait8480]

i am DYING to know what marisha’s whisper was when she insight checked essek at the start - esp when she was like “are you married? *GESTURES BLATANTLY AT CALEB*”

[@wouldiwasshookspeared4087]

I wanna know Jester's lol

[@koretechx1]

It's been literally years since I read it. So, apologies if I'm remembering the wrong one. But, that whisper was noticing his apparent attraction to Caleb based on his mannerisms and eye contact.

[@defdefdef478]

@@koretechx1 ??? what is the source of this? was it in a talks or something??

[@izzyliberty8720]

Essek being like "*how do I do this*...how was your day?" I mean, can I adopt him? I know he's an adult, but he needs to be taken care of. I insist.

[@corbyrobinson3640]

1:41:25 That moment when Travis roleplays Fjord Roleplaying a character with a backstory.

[@corwyncorey3703]

Backstoryception

[@MrK133n]

Jeff gets together with his archeologist friends on the weekends to play a game of make believe.

[@mcmann2243]

Jeff for campaign three

[@Skeranda]

Socially awkward Essik is the most precious thing in this world. I want him introduced to Kiri NOW!

[@R3adybreck]

Spin off : The Adventures Of Shadowhand Essek and Kiri the Kenku featuring Orly the Tortle episode 7: Essek strugles to contain Kiri's reckless behaviour as Orly steers the gang closer to THE ISLE OF FRIENDSHIP

[@Rastislav000]

Yeah, bring Kiri back.

[@Laughing_Dragon]

@@R3adybreck you... I like you. I want this to be a thing...

[@sankha2361]

@@R3adybreck this...This is amazing.

[@snowyowl10]

Oh I didn't even THINK of essek interacting with baby bird kiri!!!!! OHHH that could be very cute if played the right way 😍

[@saturnoperative4484]

i still lose my mind every time at ashley johnson literally causing 2d8 AOE psychic damage in real actual life with that "i smell like a crayon" line. absolutely fucking incredible.

[@wouldiwasshookspeared4087]

That killed me. I'm watching this way too late at night to be laughing that hard.

[@arklanuthoslin]

you ain't kidding I laughed so hard I got lightheaded.

[@CazTails]

"I guess my biggest fear is... If I change... I won't want to stay." Oh my word Nott.

[@matthewcochran619]

That line sent me to tears

[@martinbooyens6013]

This is someone who understands his character completely. Each of his characters has a distinct personality and always has certain tropes that seem like it's just how Sam is but the tropes never cross over characters.

[@OutlawWalker]

For as of a jokester sam is his characters have such depth it shows that you can be the "funny one" in the group and still have so much more to who you are

[@alberichvanpeterhausen3346]

"I smell like a crayon" dear Gods, thank you for giving us Ashley

[@govirdrauka7116]

Was this ever explained? I can't tell if Ashley was saying there's a reason because she was just following up on the bit, or if there was an actual reason she said it.

[@Jaster832]

@@govirdrauka7116 Did you ever get an answer to this question? Best answer I can get is that the book she read made her "beefy" and crayons contain beef fat... It sounded like there was more to it from the way people laughed and Travis said, "We all immediately went there."

[@govirdrauka7116]

@@Jaster832 Nope! But to be fair, this is the only place I’ve asked about it. It’s probably too late as a question for Talks Machina. Could do a Hail Mary and ask directly on Twitter, but I dislike doing that. So we’ll probably never know!

[@Jaster832]

@@govirdrauka7116 Yeah, I'm the same way about Twitter. I know the question was already submitted to Talks, I'll have to watch the episode after this to see if she answered it. Will update =D

[@thiesey4609]

@@govirdrauka7116 I just assumed it was because Jester drew the smut with a crayon and Yasha slept with the book on them

[@Lumine100]

I hope he names the spell something like Widowgast's untangled Nott.

[@annikabunnel743]

Lumine100 this is beautiful

[@Sinderlocke]

Holy shit YES!

[@BrandonKrist]

I wonder if these customers Widogast spell will be in the Wildemount book

[@ImaginaryJeremy]

Omg wow!

[@DarthPoyner]

It's a modified Reincarnate spell with targeted race. Good name though.

[@lotus4972]

23:00 Beau's subtle wingman attempt for Caleb with the "are you married?" **suggestive pointing** was so funny

[@Lunar_Blacksmith]

But then right to cock block when she went with him and Essek to go see where Essek’s house was. That was totally going to be a moment to have a small thing between them but she inserted herself there. 100% a thing Beau would do, but I wonder if Marisha also knew that she was cock blocking lol.

[@lotus4972]

@@Lunar_Blacksmith lmao imagine blaming a woman for something grown adult men have full control over. Couldn't be me.

[@Lunar_Blacksmith]

@@lotus4972 It was just going to potentially be a cute moment that she inserted herself into. Everyone in the campaign has done it. I’m not on the hating Marisha train as many are. Just pointing out in this moment of time there was a potential for it to be a cute moment to develop their relationship alone or have a small moment together and she wedged herself into it. It happens. I mentioned it bc I thought it was funny you mentioned her wingman’ing and then immediately blocking after. Caleb/Liam could have forced her to stay behind. She could have read the social cues more. In the end it’s a fictional relationship between two fictional people in a game that mostly takes place in people’s minds so it doesn’t matter. Hope you have a good night though.

[@lunardelos1210]

@@Lunar_Blacksmithnah you're just being misogynistic lol get cucked

[@gaigeschaal9070]

​@@Lunar_BlacksmithIt really wasn't. It was a casual moment, not the right time for romance. That's called participating in the group conversation, not "wedging yourself" between two people

[@joshuahammel6508]

Sam: "They cut the foreskin off." Me (A Jew): "Jewnamis magic!"

[@Caitydid561]

XD Yasher koach on that awesome pun!

[@Drekromancer]

oy vey

[@anaccident12]

JEWNAMANCY LMAOOOO

[@supagirl277]

That’s how is sounds like when Jester says it 🤣

[@Tom-rc2rl]

A year in the making, you just made me snort coffee out my nose.

[@elinamauno8833]

Moments that are the best because it's DnD: Essek getting home, getting some wine, and turning around... and hearing the concert and still going in. The party supporting Nott for whatever she has to do. Fjord's last name drop and his face!! And most importantly - 3 women and one man talking about the logic of making boobs smaller or bigger if they had the option, on livestream and in character.

[@ZEROBLOOM]

Wonder what Matt's gesture was in agreement with... Knods, as he brushes finger across nose and looks to his right.

[@RJ_Ehlert]

@@ZEROBLOOM I'm confident it was acknowledging Yasha (Ashley) when she said that you shouldn't change yourself (your body) to please other people, only to please yourself.

[@Chibipayne]

Did you notice his face when Sam said something like, every guy like bigger boobs? Given Marisha has a smaller chest size. (Not that is is a bad thing!!! I love Marisha. He just seemed mildly put off by the comment)

[@neonfox_1158]

"you have my sword* "and my bow" "and my axe" Caduceus: *I have a shovel*

[@irysgundam0052]

Hey. Don't underestimate a shovel. To quote Lee from the Walking Dead: "A Shovel is never not useful."

[@platyclysm4633]

Yasha: I smell like a crayon

[@dantheman0411]

Got this comment to 69 likes. You’re welcome

[@Alina28357]

And my toy piano

[@derschwartzadder]

Depending On what the sword, bow, and axe were used for. ... That shovel might be just what they need.

[@booco728]

*Essek became a real friend of M9* *me enjoying the wholesome episode* "I love him so muc.......... oh no...... these are death flags"

[@evlredsun]

so... so much worse...

[@TheTaiylorWallace]

I'm curious if you finished the campaign yet and how you liked how it turned out?

[@booco728]

Yeah I finished. Didn't want it to end up it turned out amazing. The whole end plot was fucken awesome!

[@dull_demon4717]

same man same no spoilers pls ^^

[@xEvilRaptorx]

@@dull_demon4717 but thr BBEG ends up being so good. I had a inkling that might happen ;P

[@cristianl1516]

Essek: “...” Mighty Nein: “SHOW FEET!”

[@teacooper6485]

Oh god I hadnt thought of that...........

[@Butterfly1025A]

Essek: //trying to make friends probably for the first time since he was a wee bab// M9: “😩 send us feet pics, queen 👅💦 “

[@AkihitoTysko]

panda cooper the mighty nein are thirsty boys for that egirl feet

[@spacelyft2418]

@Cole The moldier the grooves are his toes lol, essek doesn't wear shoes i think

[@NvrLucky43]

@@spacelyft2418 now essek just looks like sigma to my brain

[@thestrawman1429]

What excellent acting by Liam when Caleb realizes he can cure Nott and then the come down when he understands she might go and leave them (him).

[@evlredsun]

liam defo has an amazing emotional grasp of scenes. he has the occasional big miss on acting choices, but, he has SO many other moments like this that are so perfectly played and in tune with his characters understanding of the situation. when he is on his A game, it is so wonderful to watch.

[@aster5767]

Nott goes shopping "Fjord, pay the man!" Fjord is just Nott's actual dad lmao

[@Anubis30224]

Sugar daddy without the benefits

[@zachmercer1065]

Meanwhile in another life: Grog goes shopping “Taryon, pay the man!”

[@TheThomasuu]

Rewatching C2. The fact that Liam broke himself with that Essek line is just pure gold. "We know there are feet under there, not a full sized baby". So good

[@alexwantsbeans2230]

If essek does end up having an ulterior motive my heart will be absolutely broken (edit: WARNING!!! Do not read this comment thread if you are allergic to SPOILERS)

[@Questfinder1]

Welllllll. See what happened was... Um Spoilers

[@CrisSelene]

Welp. How is that broken heart faring?

[@Gaawachan]

Oh, no, are you dead now? Did you die? :(

[@BriMBaca]

Oh ... Oh no.

[@vixvax6499]

So...uhhh, how ya feeling about recent events?

[@lucasm.3864]

(Two days later) “Hey Essek, why is there a pit in your yard?” “Mind your Luxon-damned business, Jerry!”

[@DarkAuraLord]

Fuckin' Jerry...

[@scrungly]

fuck, i hate jerry

[@designator7402]

Luxon damnit Jerry.

[@AnatoDragonshard]

Yeah mind your own business Jerry.

[@sethsegal8333]

*very Rick voice* shut the fuck up jjjEEEEEEEERRERY

[@giorgiomauceri410]

Beau:trains for years in order to be strong Fjord: becomes stronger overnight because of magic Yasha: becomes stronger overnight because of magic Beau:surprised pikache face

[@astridstarr2787]

That's the curse of being a monk

[@mr.fluffles1552]

Beau: "Am I a joke to you?"

[@kmacgregor6361]

To be fair she learned Undercommon overnight, not through magic, so, tradeoffs.

[@theKurtAnderson]

I might be wrong, but most monks are Dex/Wis optimized. I haven’t seen many with particularly high Str. I always imagined Beau as “wiry” (rather than “ripped”).

[@avantikashaha7959]

@@theKurtAnderson I think a lot of people visualize Beau as svelte or lithe but with defined muscles. So she's not bulky per say but has visible tone. Jester seems to a petite version of that while Yasha is a big gal.

[@anzamanto4407]

Essek the type of person you invite to dinner and they're mysterious and cool but 30 minutes in you find out they're a fucking nerd (in the best possible way)

[@anzamanto4407]

Also, mad crushing on lonely, driven, nerdy boy essek

[@zgblanche1815]

*Essek:* [talking about dunamancy and plunging into its depths] *Jester:* Are you saying you want to date Fjord?? No Jester he's saying he wants to date Caleb, keep up 😤

[@ElricTheWhiteWolf]

zg blanche she felt threatened by his hot boi presence

[@scrungly]

yes daddy, plunge deeper into the depths 😫😫

[@LuckyDragon289]

Interesting how KZbin comments are thirsty/shipping af, but when the interaction was playing out on-stream, live chat was crying out, "IS HE ACE?!"

[@zgblanche1815]

@@LuckyDragon289 Essek: *keeping direct eye contact with Caleb, talking about how alike they are, emphasizing his "plunging into knowledge and its unknown depths" in conversation with him, artfully dodging any questions by Jester about if he finds any of the M9 attractive (still low-key maintaining eye contact with Caleb though), referring to him more often than any other character, offering to help him out with his equations and research sometime, just generally keeping his attention on him* This is the ace rep we needed 😳

[@scrungly]

LuckyDragon on rerun it was all just HOT BOI and WIZARD DATE :D

[@HabarudoD]

1:49:55 The moment when Travis realizes. You can just see him go "wait what the fuck..." and then starts just looking at Matt like "Hey... you hearing this? You.. you did this?!" I love seeing how players gets a mini-panic attack when the realize something and just go "wait it was this all along?..."

[@samoht_yt]

crazy to think matt planned from the start fjord would end up under the wildmothers wing..

[@saysay8920]

@@samoht_yt He didn't thats the funny point about Cad talking about coincidence. Taliesin coming up with the Clay, Stone and Dust backstory happened midstory remember after Fjords being picked already. Fjord's last name being the same is just the gods playing with destiny.

[@willnelson9906]

essek saying "i'm responsible for the death of my father because we got into an argument" in like, his first non-war related conversation to the m9 has the same energy as todoroki pulling midoriya aside and being like " i don't use my left side because my mother was emotionally and psychologically abused by my father, so one day she snapped and spilt boiling hot water on the left side of my face because it reminded her too much of him and gave me this scar" in their first conversation.

[@ssdestroyah3919]

"That's rough buddy", as the nephew of a wise man once said.

[@alexwantsbeans2230]

Essek does have strong todoroki energy

[@themardbard9096]

He is very bluntly honest, yeah 😂

[@imkabochan]

That's the "I look cool outside, but in reality I'm just a socially awkward cute potato when it comes to true friendly social interactions" vibes.

[@yurigouveawagner9432]

i love how taliesin adds caduceus' love for cooking in his roleplaying and shows how much he loves it and cares for making good food for his friends. the "let's all forget what i made yesterday" added so much life to one joke he made about caleb's excited doc-like behavior. i love little things like this.

[@stingerjohnny9951]

Caduceus in the Kitchen: I’ll cut you 😊