opal for campaign 4

Suffering is your domain.

You will wear many faces.

A face can change.

He wanted Demodus and Occtis - two vulnerable people perceived by others at the table to be 'just kids' - to go with him as evidence to Einfasen. He knew it would be a hard sell. So, what does he do? He starts with Murray. He starts with the emotion.

I don't doubt that he's really feeling the things he expressed. He's terrified of losing himself, if he hasn't already. He's overwhelmed, drowning in a complicated and deadly scheme, following in Thjazi's footsteps. But I think he pulled that deliberately to the fore in this scene to get what he wanted.

Watch him. There are four phases to that conversation. Phase one - vulnerability. Positioning himself as a child, in need of help. Making himself appear more vulnerable, more in-need than Demodus, so that famed underdog-champion Murray Mag'Nesson is compelled to help him. Then phase two - deliver the request. I need Demodus. He's my evidence. Azune's breathing steadies. He makes eye contact. He's in control.

Request delivered, while Murray's mulling it over, he amps up the emotion again in phase three. Help me, help me. You can't, he says to Murray, but Occtis can. His demeanour changes in a flash. Phase four, and his breathing steadies again. His voice is firm. He's in control.

It's a clever play. The party move to comfort him, but he rejects what he sees as platitudes from Occtis - he's not looking for comfort, he's looking for resources. By positioning himself again as that scared child, he compels the others. He doesn't get Occtis, but he gets the letter. And he gets Demodus - and as a bonus, Murray, to back him up.

Tyranny, from @criticalrole Campaign 4. When this character appeared, I literally screamed.

Orym: Imogen you seem a little down