GJ

"Uhhh furniture?"

The order and pacing of character introductions in C4 episode one really highlights how important editing is as a DM. To introduce 13 characters in four hours in a way that makes narrative sense and gives the audience some idea of the story being told as well as establishing a new setting and seeding hooks of a mystery is a mind-boggling task. Brennan does it really really well, and the cast is right there with him.

(This got long, so buckle in,)

Bolaire’s mask has fluid expressions— it works like a normal face. But Panto masks (as far as I know) have a single emotion or archetype that it displays. I am assuming that each “undivine” mask the halflings created displayed a different emotion/ archetype.

So what was Bolaire? Based on the only identifying feature of his mask that he can’t change like a normal face: the tear stains going from his eyes, I’d say he was sorrow/ the suffering.

Like. You have found a Person who has brought light into your life and pulled you out of this deep depression that you’ve lived in forever. There is a flavor of fantasy there (yay) but this isn’t a scenario that is all that odd to a lot of people right?

And it’s not a romantic relationship. And whether or not we think Bolaire and Hal should fuck about it is not the point (though they should at some point if you ask me). You get saved by this man and he has no idea. But he’s just a genuinely kind, gentle man and he gives out friendship easily and you need him.

And so you’re friends with him. You’re friends with him and you have a secret that you have no qualms about telling him. It’s not something you can share with a stranger— you told him the cover story when you first met him— but once your friendship is solidified you’re planning on telling him everything. Not even a question. He’ll keep the secret for you and you want him to know.

And then, you’re over his house one day and you happen to meet his brother on the way out. He’s talked about his younger brother before, he’s kind of a big deal. Nice to put a face to a name. You shake his hand, let your friend introduce you, and you head out. And then that night you get a blackmail note.

You get a full-fledged piece of blackmail written out and everything. And it is from your friend’s brother. Whom you met for roughly thirty seconds. And it turns out the most important person in the world to you? His brother is a criminal and wants you to jeopardize your nice job by stealing shit and giving it to him at no cost. Or else he tells everyone your secret. Which will get you run out of town at best.

How he knows your secret is a mystery. But he sees you as subhuman because of it. And he has also made it clear that his brother is not to know. He’s got a reputation of keeping his brother out of his business. The brother is still the good man you thought he was. But now you can’t tell him anything about this.

Like what do you do when the most important person in your life is intertwined with the person causing you the most pain? What do you do when the person you love loves your abuser?

Because I 100% believe Bolaire when he said that Thjazi was cruel to him. I think that’s an interesting layer to Thjazi. And though all we have to back up his story is a natural one insight check I do think Bolaire was telling the truth that Thjazi saw him as a “thing.” A relic that kills its hosts and may turn at any moment. Something designed to kill that is on the loose. I think Thjazi would see it as responsible to put some sort of leash on Bolaire.

You know two brothers who love each other. One brother is the only person who makes you feel real. The other wastes no breath telling you he thinks you’re fake.

Bolaire mentioned that Thjazi put his job in jeopardy and “poisoned” the only thing that ever mattered to him: his friendship with Hal. I love the word poisoned. Because now not only does Bolaire have to constantly lie to Hal, something I do think he never would have done otherwise, he also now has to live with the knowledge that Hal is connected to Thjazi. Going over to Hal’s house could mean running into his blackmailer. Going to see Hal perform in a friends and family section means sitting next to his abuser. The only thing that is important to him is now connected to the worst thing that could happen to him.

Peer reviewed tags from @purple-petrichor

Like exactly! I don’t think Thjazi was necessary showing that he was a bad person here. I think it’s one of those moments when you side with the person you met first.

Like imagine a warrior acquires an incredibly powerful weapon. And that magical weapon is…. a tad smarter than maybe a weapon should be. And it’s tired of doing what others want. Maybe it’s gained a bit too much sentience. Or maybe not. Maybe it is acting just as intended, and it is cursed. Supposed to reject an owner if they do not do certain things.

So it takes over. The warrior is under its complete control. Possessed by the weapon.

Like… I haven’t actually watched all of Campaign One but didn’t that exact thing happen to Grog? Craven Edge?

Bolaire gained sentience during the Falconer’s Rebellion. The war Thjazi is well known for. For all we know, Thjazi knew the guy Bolaire first possessed. Imagine: a brother in arms goes off to find a weapon once used to kill a god. And he finds it and shows it to you and then he leaves for a battle and you never see him again. Then, four years later, you see that same weapon, now being worn by a different person, in your brother’s home. And this “man” claims the mask he’s wearing is just some cursed artifact he can’t take off, that he found years ago. Perhaps before you saw your friend holding it. And like… ok you make some correct assumptions.

And he’s in your brother’s home. A brother you are extremely protective of. The home where your niece lives.

Honestly in this story Thjazi’s flaw is deciding to use blackmail instead of attacking on spot. Vox Machina/ Mighty Nein probably would have attacked on spot. Just based on that information this is a horrifying and dangerous situation.

But that also just makes Thjazi more interesting! Because Thjazi isn’t some adventurer, he’s a revolutionary. He’s never been someone who makes money by traveling into a monster den and killing them— he fights battles, steals weapons, etc etc. an adventurer goes “oh damn this is a dangerous sentient weapon! Gotta put it down!” A politician and revolutionary goes “This thing has taken over a very impressive institution, isn’t causing any outward trouble. I have a duty to make sure it doesn’t go wild but maybe this could be a boon for my cause.”