It's a Critical Role blog

Listen - sometimes I’m a professional. 

Other times…. I‘m self indulgent.

-later that night after catching up for several hours-

i bullied @ionomycin into doing an art trade with me, in which they drew my Essek design and i drew theirs. i was beyond ecstatic to draw io's Essek, his white eyes and white freckles and big cute ears and floppy sleeves have bewitched me. we also align on our white nails!Essek opinions, which is a delight. and the medieval scandinavian vibes are irresistible okay.

It has character beats! Essek choosing to cast Fly on Caduceus rather than himself. Caduceus immediately picking Essek up and carrying him. Fjord getting another ‘being the captain’ moment when he chooses to retreat through the gate rather than stay to help Jester, Essek and Cad because he knows he’s becoming a liability. Cad fucking glaring at Essek as if to warn him ‘do not even consider suggesting that we leave you behind’ when he’s trapped by the water elemental.

It has absolute chaotic nonsense. ‘You SHEEPSHIFTED?’ The water titties. ‘Yessek!’ Tiny Veth. ‘And I will throw buttons at it and say, ‘BUTTONS!’ Caleb using a seventh-level spell to travel like twenty feet. ‘Veth’s really far away!’ ‘Now we come to Caleb. You are a sheep. Fjord, your turn.’ The table’s horrified glee when Liam announces he’s walking into the portal as a sheep. ‘Just you and me, titties!’ Liam looking up a sheep’s intelligence: ‘Yup, intelligence 2! Baaaa-ye!’

It has strategic masterpieces! Veth casting Mage Hand in advance to close the portal as soon as Jester makes it through. Jester using her duplicate to absorb hits. Essek’s clutch Misty Step. Caduceus going invisible to avoid an attack of opportunity at a crucial moment. Everyone coming up with creative ways to cross the difficult terrain (Fly, Expeditious Retreat, fucking Teleport). 

And look, I’m biased because of my love of the Nein’s a-spec duo, but that moment where Matt rolls for Essek to maintain his concentration on Caduceus’s Fly spell, and it works? Right after Caduceus refused to leave Essek behind, right after Essek was shown that his friends will fight for him? Poetic cinema. The dice supporting the narrative. A-spec solidarity. 100/10, would recommend.

Remember to vote for the best overall character!

Remember to vote for the best overall character!