To SAVE a city, Sam succeeds with just his words ALONE! / EXU Calamity Ep. 4 FINALE

This clip comes to you from EXU: Calamity Ep 4. When the fate of an entire city hangs in the balance, there is no one better suited to make the clutch play other than Sam Riegel. No matter what the stakes, no matter what the cost, Sam will always pull through in the end, making you feel all the feels a person can feel!
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[@cameronpearce5943]

Something that must happen. The party is exploring ruins in the Shattered Teeth. They find an ancient Avalirian storage crystal, damaged, but still with enough juice to play it's final message...

[@oceanwater6887]

Aaaaaaaa that would be amazing

[@Landis963]

"We regret to inform you that Eldamyr the Wise has passed away..."

[@maddie4834]

@@Landis963 passed is a gentle way of putting it…

[@Landis963]

@@maddie4834 Which only enhances the irony, really.

[@postulater]

& It's just some B-roll for an ad! XD

[@cogsworther1639]

My headcanon is that Loquatius Seelie just really liked his job. He did a sponsorship read for a market that he knew would be ash in moments simply because he wanted to enjoy the experience one last time

[@user-xb5bz4fu9o]

:( perfect

[@peterhousen7974]

Absolutely. Even as someone who is mostly there for comic relief, he tells a great story of tragedy just in his own moments. He is a fey that fell in love with a mortal, only for that mortal to choose her work over their partnership. He consistently says that he likes this plane, where it's fun, glorious and safe. The woman he loves has made it her life's work to leave this place for the unknown, and he tries his hardest to keep her machinations a secret, even resorting to killing someone too close to the trail. Only in their final moments do the two reconcile, after he refuses the call of safety from the head of his Court, electing instead to perish along with the people he loves. It's safe to say he did honestly enjoy every moment in this plane, and it's insane to think that Sam was able to create and morph into such a believable and emotional character in such a short amount of time, and with so few lines. He did love that ad read. He really did.

[@ankurchawla1154]

@@peterhousen7974 I agree with everything you said, but small note (I might be wrong). I don't think he killed the reporter who got the story on what Laerryn did to Evandrin. I think he just destroyed her credibility and buried the story and essentially exiled her. Still bad, but not as bad as straight murder.

[@kamiitto7574]

@@ankurchawla1154 as he is leaving the studio, he looks at the reporters desk and Brennen says "It represents the one time you killed the truth" (paraphrasing slightly) but it is heavily implied that he murdered the reporter to keep his wife's secrets.

[@Landis963]

@@kamiitto7574 Except he asked Brennan after her and he said Loq had lost track of her since she left journalism.

[@gabrielamedeirosribeiro3223]

“YOU ARE A CHANGELING” “Okay… it’s a 25” “That’s low for you” “I know, it’s as low as I can go” “Would you like to watch the broadcast?” “Good evening Toramunda” “Ehem… Fire” “Our two cities are like a married couple” “I have instructed the administration to go down with the ship” “And remember the Architect Arcane, Laerryn, the most beautiful woman in the world” “And remember… the Market of Wonders” I have to agree with Brennan there, he just handed in a 20 in a silver platter

[@GodBear97]

Sam proving once again that he is a real life eloquence bard

[@JudgementFish]

Truly a man born with the Gift of Gab!

[@Icipherx]

Seriously, how talented do you have to be to go from a breaking voice to a sponsorship. Gosh, Sam. I love you

[@Juice1984]

I can only think of 2: Sam and Linus of Linus Tech Tips.

[@danny8231]

@@Juice1984 thank you for this comment,

[@CharalamposKoundourakis]

He actually admitted that wasn't planned, he was overcome with emotion.

[@sebastiansparky1444]

@@CharalamposKoundourakis and for that is he a even greater. He was so inbued in the seelie's emotions that he even was overheated in the sad anguish.

[@MeonLights]

In the wrap up Brennan took a moment to point out how that switch was a perfect joke, a piece of humor you only see a couple of times in life. I agree tbh :)

[@tuffy1992]

For those of you who know how much Brennan wants a nat 20 for a practically impossible but epic moment, you know just how fucking epic something needs to be for him to literally give someone an automatic natural 20 moment.

[@TheThreeHeadedDragon]

He did that with Zac Oyama once as well when he pulled upon his rank as a Primogen of the Bulbian church to get people to clear the room and, because it was exactly the right thing to say, Brennan didn't make him roll for it.

[@kaiserofkush]

@@TheThreeHeadedDragon Yeah, if you roleplay well enough a lot of DMs will just be like "fuck yeah we're really in it thats great" and go for it.

[@Balthazar2242]

He acted like this was some kind of amazing act for a GM to do but it really isn't. Any good GM will respect a great moment instead of ruining the vibe with incessant tit for tat rolls.

[@wierdalien1]

@@Balthazar2242 ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[@AlexGoldhill]

To be fair, most of the time he's asking Ally to roll and that's basically giving a free Nat 20.

[@brayidur]

Let us not forget that even though Sam had pre-wrote the vast majority of that speech throughout the course of the episode on the spot managed to make a pitch for Mercer's discount spell ink. And remember Mercer's discount spell ink is now canon

[@JudgementFish]

I will be patiently waiting for the re-introduction of Mercer's discount spell ink at some point in the future!

[@Zombiewithabowtie]

@@JudgementFish They manage to find an unbroken bottle of it in the wreckage of The Shattered Teeth

[@jamesgiammo5898]

I hope someone finds a preserved bottle in some forgotten ruin during this campaign, uses it, and it fails on them because what else can you expect from discount spell ink?

[@akjakjakj]

My god! That is one durable company.

[@stingerjohnny9951]

It’s loss as a company brought a certain hobo wizard much financial woe.

[@sasquatchbukkake]

Although Travis' character was the only survivor. Remember - Sam's character had a chance to leave the world but chose to stay.

[@JudgementFish]

You can always count on Sam to go down in a blaze of glory =)

[@goodzillo]

@@JudgementFishLOL

[@vjeranjanes5783]

@@JudgementFish yeah, last CR episode just confirms this more

[@theultrasceptile]

@@JudgementFishhe truly went down in a blaze of glory…

[@IcarusNadir]

@@JudgementFish god damnit...

[@SirSadness]

Sam is the reason why no other main cast member dares to touch the bard class in the main campaigns. How the hell do you live up to this guy? Maybe Liam with Matt's new bard could get close.

[@JoschiChr]

Marisha once did for a one shot.

[@SirSadness]

@@JoschiChr She was more of an artificer that made music.

[@JoschiChr]

@@SirSadness Straight classed bard.

[@MonsterTeegs]

Also, isn't Nydus a bard as well?

[@TheKillaShow]

Just play a failed bard? There are alot of different kinds of bards people could play. ONly limited by your imagination.

[@DemPop]

The moment I knew Sam was IN THIS 100% and is gonna give us gold was when Loras appeared and Sam went "Is he in the room? Fuck you, dude!". The frustration was so real and rare to see from Sam, I just knew that he's cooking up something hardcore.

[@smashbrandiscootch719]

Right?! I'm so glad you mentioned this!

[@Taguren]

@dem pop Goes immediately to his spell list.

[@TheKrou]

@@Taguren When Sam reaches for his spell list you know shit's about to get real LOL

[@Taguren]

@@TheKrou “what lvl?”

[@dylans3833]

And then when he asked Loras to stay and watch the broadcast!! Big “yes, and” to Brennan putting Loras in the scene.

[@drewmoffatt9414]

Months later, I still cannot get over what a _masterclass_ this is. Sam has always been the king of my favourite kind of player - a kind of above-table emotional cleric, using comedy to shield the players from sadness and then perfectly targeted sincerity to fill them with purpose. And the thing that puts him above and beyond here is that he's made the effort, prepared for the moment, and his preparation and innate understanding of rhetorical structure continues right up to the last second so he can incorporate Brennan's throwaway "we have ad copy" setup and turn it into what Brennan would later correctly describe as "the rare occurrence of a _perfect_ joke". I can't think of a better piece of creative work in any RPG I've seen. People give props to Brennan for not asking for a roll, but no DM worth their salt could ever ask for a roll for that. You roll when an outcome is in doubt, and after Sam is done there's nothing _to_ doubt. He opens with a great metatextual reference, then perfectly subverts it to give it new resonance in context. He takes the language of a media presenter and just slightly tweaks and embellishes to give it subtext and meaning, and brings in the marriage metaphor to emotionally bind it to the game story. He uses his in-game abilities to exert tremendous narrative power, changing the course of the story so that thousands more innocent people are saved and that the guilty suffer their consequences. Then he makes a point of bringing every other player at the table into _his_ spotlight moment and glorifies them in turn, so that nobody is left out of this crucial event, even if their characters aren't there. He brings both his and Aabria's emotional arcs to a climax with the slightest break in his voice, and then brings it home with a phenomenal, scene-relevant punchline that he spotted and incorporated, timing and all, barely a minute before he had to start speaking. It's a speech composed, structured and resolved like music. Just think of all the work he had to do in the background over the course of the game to get it _that_ right.

[@davidotoole2853]

this is absolutely correct. I LOVE THIS SCENE. ROLLING IS WHEN OUTCOME IS IN DOUBT. A NATURAL 2 ROLL WOULD GET HIM A 100.

[@mistamemewide]

I feel like it was an absolute dream for Brennan to just see Sam Riegel be the absolute best he could ever be.

[@swiftlymurmurs]

According to his fiancée Izzy, Brennan would come home every night and say "I just played the best D&D of my life" so, yeah

[@picachufan2000]

I love that even though this series didn't have any ads for him to read in the usual spot he still managed to out in a in ad read

[@Landis963]

@@picachufan2000 He did that like 3 times - Orison's Hardtack in Episode 1, Mulligan's Tavern (3rd best ale, 1st best for making friends!) while Loq and Cerrit were going through the Herald's Tome archives, and now the Market of Wonders.

[@shoylerk9973]

They way Sam was meant to go out: with tears and an ad read

[@onilink134]

Take my like that's not a like so I don't break the funny number streak

[@comradecordell4856]

Goddamn, that "Ladies and Gentlemen: the Replenishment is cancelled" line gets me everytime.

[@rizerek]

I wish there was an IRL news station that used the line, "We report the news...win, draw or lose." That's such a great line.

[@JubioHDX]

it was so perfect for the situation of the unwinnable situation he saw himself in, given it was right after he decided to stay and go down with the city himself instead of return to the feywild and thematically had just written that speech while waiting for aria to set up👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 everything about it was perfect (and sam even wrote it during the episode so really wasnt far off from a real cold read anyway)

[@KyleRobinson204]

This, the held healing word, mind sliver on Travis to give Marisha advantage. Sam has a mind and a luck and a touch for incredible top tier moments.

[@tommagennis]

Tbf the silvery barbs, while an unreal play, did almost kill Laeryn when the original attack would have actually been enough.

[@High-LordHarza]

@@tommagennis He had no way of knowing though is the thing, but a counter spell would save her in that instant far more likely than an attack, in most cases. It was a good play considering the things he knew

[@techbeef]

@@tommagennis Yeah, Sam literally made the most optimal play. Dice rolls do not make a good plan bad.

[@tommagennis]

@@techbeef Oh not disputing that at all, I did call it ‘optimal’.

[@PaimonsQuill]

@@techbeef Sam has great foresight and is an amazing player, but just to note, I wouldn't call that play optimal - only because Brennan either glanced over or missed Sam using two reactions there. Held action healing word and Silvery Barbs. Both were top tier moments, but because both were used in the same round, it wasn't 'clean' for me. Toss it up as rule 0 though since Travis used two reactions as well. I'll rank it lower on the long list of golden moments Sam has haha.

[@marvelfan281]

I can't believe Calamity had so many all-time greatest moments in Critical Role history. This brings me to tears. I can't believe it. What an AMAZING show.

[@metzli5797]

KZbin keeps recommending this to me, and I keep watching it, and I keep crying.

[@nicolaj990]

When Sam basically instructed all the officials to stay in the city while the populace flee *Chefs Kiss*

[@yiklongtay6029]

I just imagine an animated feature of Calamity and as Seelie starts listing his friends, the camera pans over to Cerrit and Xersus soaring the skies down to Cathmoira, then Nydas and his automotons deep in combat, then at Patia and Laeryn preparing the ritual. The camera cuts to Laeryyn alone as Quay said she was beautiful.

[@JudgementFish]

I would pay to see this get animated post haste!

[@Holidaemon2516]

and then pan to the Market of Wonders, as people are already looting it for anything that can help with a roof on fire and a shattered magical neon sign

[@TheKrou]

When Sam Riegel reaches for his Spell List, you know you fucked up.

[@JudgementFish]

Among the things I would not want to meet in a darkened alley... Evil Sam with a spell list

[@amalofoto]

Sam was the person who made me cry the most during calamity. I really teared up at the end of that speech. There's power in a bards song, and also in his words. And biggest of all shoutouts to Brennan for giving this a truly deserved auto nat 20

[@labillustration]

Love the subtle Adventure Zone reference, if you meant it. For Johann!

[@amalofoto]

@@labillustration of course!! I'm glad you caught it. Damn bards making me cry

[@Samu-oe9pf]

How did you manage to make me cry twice by making me remember that line from TAZ oh my god

[@Zombiewithabowtie]

The idea that Nydas Okrio, shirt off, mid-battle alongside the Taxmen and the Harvest Moon, sees his friend's final message broadcast across the whole city.

[@jayfe86]

Do you think as he was running EXU Calamity, Brennan was looking at Sam and thinking "huh, ok he's like Emily Axford, but not mean to me."

[@jamiereid7428]

Hahahah I think that’s incredibly accurate

[@wavetech_]

one of the greatest moments in CritRole history! What a goat....And this mini-series was probably the best thing to happen this past year for SURE! Past two years even! Amazing

[@Antonimo1989]

what is a goat?

[@wavetech_]

@@Antonimo1989 Greatest Of All Time*

[@ezekielreyes1215]

Past 5. Tbh.

[@renanfalcao912]

for a man who the main think about him is fame and notoriety in his final appearance he asks to remember everyone but himself... what series

[@Xorgrim]

true. But I also think, he assumes to be unforgettable anyway. :)

[@WadeWilsonKPop]

And you thought Scanlan was the one who always made the clutch moments. Nope. It's Sam.

[@TheMightyWamps]

Brennan: "We have an add, do you wanna use that?" Sam: "Yeah, yeah, sure."... There you can see that these two have an Improv background. I throw something silly at you and you embrace it fully.

[@lizs2546]

And then he finger gun and moonwalked his way out of the building like the legend he is. Sam's so good at being the bard, I think wizards of the coast made this class for him specifically

[@xTheUnderscorex]

The timeline doesn't support it unfortunately. Bards have been part of the core game rules since the AD&D player's handbook in 1978. WotC wasn't founded until 1990 and wasn't the publisher of D&D until 1997. I wouldn't rule out the possibility that Sam's birth (1976) sent out the psychic shockwaves that incepted the class though.

[@lizs2546]

@@xTheUnderscorex WotC were given a prophecy that one day, the greatest bard of all would rise to take his bardly throne. They spent years perfecting the class in preparation of their bard king.

[@Happyhannahping]

After the break from serious, sad remembrance speech to "MARKET OF WONDERS!", Travis (as he collapses behind Aabria): "WHAT's THE MATTER WITH YOU?!"

[@Justking]

I was surprised that he wasn't more serious and sober at the start of his message, but it makes sense (as does the ad at the end). He was assuring his people and trying to keep them calm as everything around him burned to the ground.

[@tomatobruv76]

This entire miniseries played out like a movie. Every roll and every action taken were as if it were originally planned and I love every single bit of it

[@owohscorner]

This actually inspired me. I don't expect my players to be professional actors, but if they can pull off something spectacular in rp, and they have to burn their spells or features (deception roll, force cage, and silvery barbs), then of course I'll just gift them a nat 20 or automatic success.

[@glenndallas7171]

Excellent. Good roleplay and creativity should always be rewarded. =)

[@earldritchgrey]

Some people are just irl bards

[@Direwolf181]

Yeah Sam is basically the pure embodiment of what a bard is...

[@TheDakkaman]

Something that I think doesn’t get enough respect for its beauty in this speech: Sam explicitly calls for the people to remember Zerxus as a hero right alongside everyone else, despite knowing full damn well that he’s the reason Asmodeus was able to get to the Prime plane in the first place. Quay knows his old friend is responsible in significant part for the Armageddon coming at everyone and he *still* does what he can to make sure the world remembers him as the paragon he always tried to be. I’m not sure it qualifies as proper forgiveness, but it’s a damn sight closer than an egotist like Quay would normally be expected to demonstrate.

[@williamwitt6212]

"Occasionally, people, without needing to roll a die at all, just give you a nat 20."

[@dragonkitty7519]

Yup. I love this character so much. I could never do this Sam is an amazing player

[@gconnor18]

I agree sam is an amazing character especially when that character is an orator, so many amazing moments he has brought to critical role now. He has to be my favourite

[@jasoncampbell3558]

It got edited out here, but a little thing I like about this, is that when they rolled high on the save for Wall of Force, Brenndan slyly reminded Sam that he had Silvery Barbs by asking "How does Silvery Barbs work again." Which promted Sam to ask if he could Silvery Barbs, which resulted in a slower roll so this amazing speech can happen. A nice but subtly way for the DM to basically say to the player "This is some cool shit you're doing here, so I wanna give you a chance." Masterful DM work here, the kinda stuff that I hope one day maybe I can aspire to do.

[@Odisher7]

Only sam could make one of the most dramatic and beautiful speeches I've ever heard, only to follow it with a dumb joke, and make it work flawlessly

[@kayserzoze2459]

I always cry when hering sam with this masterpice of speech. Also great edit with the world ending offer

[@psyberian]

That Wall of Force though..damn

[@HenriqueErzinger]

Thank God one of the most prominent mages of the city didn't have disintegrate hahaha

[@psyberian]

@@HenriqueErzinger Why would he? Maybe he used his 6th level spell slot, or had other spells memorized that would be useful like "mass suggestion" or "circle of death" like the other Wizard did. Or maybe he was multi-classed and didn't have it available. Lots of reasons.

[@HenriqueErzinger]

@@psyberian it was not a critique against Brennan, I was just mentioning how it would fell in universe. For the game it's plausible enough that he wouldn't have it at the time, and as a gm I would never rob a player of such a cool moment, unless it was absolutely necessary for the story

[@gtv4005]

The moment I clocked Sam writing stuff down and preparing for his turn as everything else is happening, I knew a moment like this was coming. The man's a bard, through and through.

[@worldshaking00]

Truly amazing. One of the best moments of the mini-campaign.

[@TransoceanicOutreach]

7:45 - Travis saying 'Whats the matter with him!?' in the background.

[@foxtoxic9722]

Wow, was watching the live campaign wrap up and they were talking about this speech. I haven’t watched this campaign all the way through yet, I know spoilers for myself, but I had to see it. Brennan asked Sam if his voice breaking at the end was him acting and he told him no. Sam was actually fighting back tears in this one.

[@JudgementFish]

Just because Sam is a extremely talented voice actor (among the many many other hats he wears) and the general population may not know him because he face isn't on tv or movies, doesn't diminish his skills as an actor and his ability to be human, providing us a crystal clear window into his heart, his passion, and his soul. There can be no doubt that Sam wholeheartedly provides the entertainment and the feels =)

[@curoskai]

Travis saying, "What's the matter with you?" broke me.

[@xarvous]

No roll required Nat 20 on deception is a top 5 TTRPG moment of ALL TIME. Sam slays it, and Brennan just says "Yep. That works."

[@juliawhitmore3991]

SO to the editing, the neon banner at the bottom of the screen during the ad read absolutely killed me

[@Cabbage-dk6nu]

The way that little quiver in his voice makes me SOB before he's even actually said anything. The most instant tear-button I have ever had

[@Phi1618033]

Brenden said that Sam's ad read was one of the best jokes he has ever made. I would concur.

[@JudgementFish]

Out of all the great moments Sam has had over the campaigns, this one right here is amongst the top!

[@radu7472]

your added effects enhanced this performance so much seriously good job and timing with them!

[@robertreynolds1293]

So…Mercer’s Discount Spell Ink is on sale, I assume?

[@ReadingDave]

Go Locasious! The greatest bard that time forget.

[@gmacwizard8890]

Well...Second greatest

[@Doctorme4]

I'm calling it, Locasious' rincarnation is seen in Campaign one... and his name is Scanlan. >.>

[@TenzinBeifongIII]

How do people misspell PC names when they literally show on screen regularly 🤦 0 IQ moves

[@Doctorme4]

@@TenzinBeifongIII In my defense... I usually let it play in the background and don't look at the screen.

[@Bleax]

@@TenzinBeifongIII man, it’s almost like there are audio only listeners. How can you be so pretentious and still not use any punctuation? 0 IQ move right there.

[@elizabethkblanco4620]

1:07 - 1:14 You can see Marisha’s barely contained rage.

[@0pine0]

I just need Brennan and Sam together all the time now

[@anthonycannon811]

This was my first campaign/arc I’ve ever watched on critical role! And it was a blast!!

[@Pearlem]

This one might be tough to beat but hope you enjoy other campaigns if you decide to keep watching

[@epsome13]

This entire short campaign needs to be a movie. Don't tell anyone it's d&d until the opening of the end credits. And it must include him moon walking out the door while flipping the prick a double bird

[@Paytonzane]

I was inspired by this clip to write something, as I had thoughts about how Eldamir has such a renowned title. We see an elderly archmage, backed by a contingent of wizards and sorcerers, all channeling magic into emergency stations in a part of the plaza he stands in, channeling the beginnings of their vast magic stores into the Etheric Net of the city. This standard procedure, in times of trouble, is to ensure the preservation of the city, by any means necessary. And yet, on this terrible night, Eldamir the Wise feels something akin to doubt in his mind. The more advanced mages of course have plenty of magic to spare, but the civilians being escorted forward by the guard to channel their own into the Net, well...he knows this will end with bodies on the floor, unable to move, unable to run for safety. But, it is the decision of the Septarion that the city and its effects must be preserved first, or all their work over the years will have been for nothing. And then, projected across the display mirrors and waterfalls and beacons across the city, and in a huge image below the city, Eldamir, and everyone else, looks up in awe at a face they all trust implicitly. "Good evening, Avalir and Cathmoira--no...good evening, Toramunda!" The civilians stop channeling magics, and even the well-trained mages and sorcerers slow their own etheric streams down to trickles, as they listen and watch, enraptured, as the Herald of Avalon announces the cancellation of the Replenishment, the betrayal of the Administration, and warns them of the incoming danger. Eldamir can only watch, in utter bewilderment. Didn't he send Loras to instruct the Herald to tell the people of the Etheric Net Preservation? To inspire them to give their lives so that their legacy may live on? "But don't trust me. Trust someone else." "Oh...hello. It is I, Eldamir the Wise. Loquacious speaks true, as always..." The crowd around him murmurs in shock, looking from him to the sky. None of them know of Loquacious's true nature. The populace always assumed it was a magical editorial trick, to make his transitions look so smooth. They watch, now themselves in disbelief, as Eldamir himself gives the evacuation order, telling all to use their magic not to save the city, but to flee for safety for themselves. And as they watch, more confused than ever, Eldamir just starts to chuckle, before throwing his head back in an unadulterated cackle, that only an old wizard can truly pull off. "Loquacious Seelie, you brilliant son of a bitch! How could I, the wisest man in Avalir, forget such a simple truth of life!? It is not a collection of buildings and grand magical marvels and towering spires that make a city! IT. IS. IT'S. PEOPLE!" As the broadcast comes to an end, the civilians feeling emboldened while the surrounding mages look a bit apprehensive and look towards Eldamir, Eldamir looks back at them. "Well!? You heard me up there, what are you standing around here for!? Get those civilians to the galley, and any that can't find a spot, burn whatever magic you can into teleporting them off the city, or get as big of a group together you can and Fly them away!" As he gives this order, a scream of terror comes from a little girl, pointing down the street of the plaza, as a horde of devils comes charging and flying down the street, right for the assembled group. In a flash, Eldamir stands in front of the little girl, and slams the end of his gnarled wooden staff against the pavement, erecting a Wall of magical Force in their way. The horde slams into the barely visible wall, stretched 30 feet tall and blocking the entire street. He turns to the girl, and gives a warm smile to her awestruck face. "There, there, child. All will be well, I am sure of it." He turns a steeled expression to the mages. "GO! NOW!" A mage rushes up and grabs the girl, and the crowd rushes down a side street, heading for the galley as fast as they can. Eldamir turns back to the horde, a grimace on his face. He hasn't had to actually cast a spell like this in years, decades even. A crack appears in the wall, and as the last civilian turns the corner, he gives a wry smirk. "And as for you...fiends of the lower realms..." With a swift wave of his staff-holding hand, the wall shatters outwards, the force of it throwing the horde back, as Eldamir begins to rise above the horde. He calls out as he begins to cast a spell, "Come on then, ye hordes of the Hells! I haven't lost my fire yet!" He unleashes a powerful spell, before charging forward, magic guarding his self and starting to blast spell after spell into the horde, with one final battlecry on his lips. "FOR TORAMUNDA! AAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!"

[@JudgementFish]

Aqua ....dude well done! I would like to believe that his speech would revive what humanity and decency remained in the last of the Administration to allow for the evacuation....well except for Loras lol.

[@Lionbug]

I love it!

[@davidgomes4408]

I genuinely thank you for the fun read. I have to ask though, given the tone of the campain...isn't it *wrong* to picture a redeeming Eldemir? Feels like picturing Ned Stark somehow escaping his close shave predicament. I only say that cause I find it a pity to waste such fine writing on injecting cheesy scenarios in a gritty setting. In my, respectful, opinion.

[@Paytonzane]

@@davidgomes4408 Well, there's two sides to this I could address. For one, this was just an in-the-moment bit of fun writing. We never really see the Archmages of the city for more than a glance, and what we see of them, Loras is fully committed to the cause and following orders, whereas Eldamir is seen as a bit of an old man but is understanding, and obviously holds a lot of Marisha's character's respect. In the moments of the Calamity, it's not impossible to believe some of the Archmages would have also thought like our 'heroes' of the series, thinking the people are more worth saving than the citizens, but were out-voted by the others to 'uphold our traditions' and 'preserve the city' and 'follow the regulations we've made ahead of time for disasters' and such. Between the stress of the Calamity itself, and Sam's 'unrolled Natural 20', I believe it's not insane to think someone who's title is literally "THE WISE" would have a change of heart and throw the Archmages' plans to the wind. For second, to address 'injecting cheesy scenarios in a gritty setting'. The entire closing to the campaign was exactly about this. One lone survivor, against all odds, refusing to go down with the ship, all so he could keep a promise he made to his family that he would see them again, even if he might just be going there to die in the following years of the Calamity. This campaign was about hope in the darkest of places. Hope that mortals could save a city. Hope that mortals could stop the end of the world itself. Hope that a betrayer god might still have good in him and was ready for redemption. And hope that, in the face of adversity, there will always be a few people in humanity that are willing to step forward and make sure that good is done; that the civilians get out safe, that the innocent are protected before the complicit, and that those who would sacrifice lives for the sake of 'tradition' are put behind a Wall of Force and told to suck it. And besides. It's DnD. Cheesy scenarios in gritty settings is a staple. I once had a Monk shoot a musket at a vampire lord in the middle of his monologue. And it was awesome.

[@brian0057]

EXU Calamity is the finest work Critical Role has ever produced.

[@Jojo-jy7ud]

That moment never ceases to make me tear up. Such amazing acting

[@Never_heart]

Sam has made me cry 3 separate times for his characters that started as memes. And he gives them such heart and he can whip together a soliloquy so well that multiple times he has made me cry because the emotion he evokes is just that intense. Respect and slight fear at the power he weilds

[@FourDozenEggs]

Every one brought their A-game to this campaign. Brennan really brought out the best in all of these players with his moving method of story telling. I never thought I'd cry watching people play D&D and yet I did cry, multiple times. Massive props to Brennan and these amazing players who poured their hearts and souls into these characters.

[@morryau]

this entire episode is legendary. tears, joy, shock all in one. Was emotionally drained when it finally ended, but great story, and well played by all

[@davidotoole2853]

I can watch this thousands of times. I absolutely love this whole speech.

[@happyclam1266]

Everything in Sam Riegel's career--including Broadway and an Emmy winning soap opera performance--was preparing him for this moment in time.

[@theacegamingdemon6983]

The "FIRE SALE!" fucking *KILLED ME*

[@Ongargis]

Nydus after hearing the speech instructs the taxmen to guard the Market of Wonders. "Commerce shall not fall tonight!"

[@s.j7423]

this is some flavourful editing, good job

[@nathaelbarrieremorissette2063]

I cried so many times during that last episode

[@river7874]

Loquatius saved SO many people that day with his speech. Sam is a God-Tier roleplayer, and truly a master of his craft.

[@christianlecroy980]

Sam is one of those people who are born for dnd

[@JudgementFish]

Darn right!

[@tommyg121]

Lou and Marisha fanning themselves at the beginning is a big mood.

[@Trencaportes21]

this scene ios the second time I've seen Sam trying his hardest playing D&D, only Vecna and the fkin Calamity can bring this out of him

[@shadowpsykie]

I love how pissed Marisha gets about character shit

[@OCelestial1]

the sfx on this destroyed me 💀

[@phoebica]

Great edit with dope effects. Thank you for enhancing this epic moment.

[@queenannsrevenge100]

In all honesty… this ranks as one of the Top Ten - right along Laura’s Cupcake moment, if not outright beating it.

[@wierdalien1]

I don't know, that cupcake moment was special as all hell

[@DParkerNunya]

I'd say it's either tied for first or it's in a close second. As far as roleplay goes, it's definitely tied. As far as mechanics go, it's second, because Jester took out a hag with a pastry.

[@onilink134]

@@DParkerNunya she out-tricked a Fey creature. That takes something special.

[@fidellerosa]

your edits and effects make it so good!

[@justintimeleave1360]

Imagining this being broadcast as the place went down around the people felt surreal

[@EchoMirage72]

This is the moment in which the true villain of Exandria is turned into the hero. :(

[@samuelstensgaard4828]

Later on Brennan said that Sam's Market of Wonders gag was "the perfect joke" and he's only ever seen that executed a few times in his life.

[@supermr123454321]

you little edits and vfx make all your clips sooo good

[@wimpie031]

Great edits, loving the Fire Sale. Calamity Clearance!

[@conflictdiamonds]

This, Scanlan vs everyone and the ultimate goat moment of that 9th level counterspell and the reality of what he had planned to use it for make him the goat...not just this. x

[@BrutalDongshart]

This is something that happens when a top-tier bard player comes out of retirement.

[@Green2Eyed9Pearl]

I don’t know if there will ever come a time when watching one of these emotional scenes from Calamity will fail to make me cry. What a beautiful season with incredible characters. Bravo!

[@MsPitenali]

legendary vfx, you're awesome! ♥

[@JudgementFish]

Thanks Astra! I'm still learning the ropes about making my own effects and lighting so it can only go up from here! =)

[@elliotth9674]

Honest to god I can’t count how many times I almost and did cry from joy, sadness, and laughter. This was a truly beautiful game. God send to each and every one of them

[@Getatron]

I remember in the story of Old Man Henderson how one player claimed that the support, properly played, is a force multiplier. Sam proves the thesis correct.

[@francescobianchi595]

Sam fucking Riegel, the only person that can make me cry and laugh at the same time. What an artist

[@Skyelar0512]

I have watched this part MANY TIMES. God I love Sam. This part was so GOLD.

[@frap7774]

that was fucking epic, what an amazing speaker

[@campfiretales5780]

I would love to see Calamity in the animated series it would be so amazing and gut wrenching.

[@BonDijon]

great edits, really elevated this scene 😁

[@camloch]

I do love that now that Lou has done his "get up and walk it off" that Marisha has decided to participate (if anyone else has done it or is CR has done it before, I'm sorry, this is the first time I've seen it)

[@rapmabida9813]

gotta get that moola apocalypse or not 😂

[@cap5364]

As much as this series blew me away the first time through, the second time is even better!

[@JudgementFish]

Thanks cap! Hold onto yer butt...the Cerrit family saga is just about done =)

[@Hollyclown]

This campaign has been just one big clutch.

[@jamesperez988]

RULE OF COOL!!!

[@bigboyart1]

I really want to see an ExU: Calamity short series or movie so fucking badly. This shit is pure gold

[@DeinosDinos]

1:56 I can feel Lou's excitement IN MY SOUL