#c2e135

campaign 2, episode 135 - The Genesis Ward

Caleb investigates a room labeled Records 104 and uncovers documents. one such "document refers to the 'Factorum Malleus Project'" AKA hammer of creation

later in the episode, they repair Charlie the Aeormaton, who reintroduces himself as Devexian.

"Devexian at first doesn't remember what happened to the city, but then recalls the experiment that the gods must have deemed too dangerous: the Factorum Malleus. It doesn't translate to the 'Hammer of Creation.' It translates to the 'Creator Hammer'"

now, that document Caleb uncovered also references an individual at the head of this project "named 'Athodan', who made the inspired find of 'The Relic' and was working in rejuvenation"

it is my belief that this relic either is or is something similar to the ruins in the Hellcatch Valley and the wizard who uncovered them, working on rejuvenation, is Ludinus Da'leth

he is far older than an elf should be and talks about the Calamity as if he witnessed it. after surviving the Calamity, "the relic" so-called could have been lost.

remember, Marquet used to be a jungle continent where societies of orcs and elves flourished. Gruumsh was offended by this and tried to destroy all of Marquet. thanks to the Ruidus-born hero Alyxian, Marquet was simply turned into a desert instead of being wiped from the face of Exandria.

because of this, and the loss of Aeor and the power granted to him, Ludinus wouldn't have been able to access this relic until the dust settled, and he built up power and influence again. ergo, founding the Cerberus Assembly.

In summary: the machines are called malleus keys because they are from the original, pre-Calamity project Ludinus, then Athodan, was working on: the Factorum Malleus project.

i tried live-doodling during the 135 stream and definitely enjoyed that. might do that way more.

I couldn't not redraw this week's episode thumbnail.. (Original below the cut)

[ID: two images of a digital drawing of Essek Thelyss and Caleb Widogast from Critical Role. Caleb wears a long, brown, fur-lined coat, a big red scarf, a dark blue shirt and brown trousers. Essek wears a dark, unsaturated blue cloack with thick, white fur around the collar and cuffs. He has a few silver earrings in his pointy ears.

Caleb is presenting an open book to Essek. He seems to be talking about its contents and gesturing with his other hand for emphasis. Essek is just looking at Caleb with a sift smile, a slight blush and his hands tucked in the pockets of his cloack. /End ID]

Taliesin: "Have you ever had a pre-war Twinkie, when they were using banana cream?" Dani: "Well, no, none of us were alive then, except for you."

our favorite morally questionable wizard got a new toy