#cr2e2

The entire sequence of the Crownsguard vs. Goblin charade that Caleb pulls with Nott fascinates me. Caleb was trained to be ruthless and it shows. Compared to Nott who specifically "attacks" him with no intention to draw blood, he pulls no punches (literally), slamming her against the wall as hard as he can, punching her in the face hard enough to draw blood, calling her a "little green piece of filth," commenting on how he "beat her within an inch of her life" to the other Crownsguard that come up to help, he will do absolutely anything to get them out of this scrape. I think it says a lot about where he's come from, and also about his perspective on the Crownsguard / authorities that he believes they'll approve of this (and considering their clear disappointment when they find out they can't help him take out the "feral creature," yeah, he's got a point). But it also says a lot that afterward, he turns to Nott to repeatedly apologize and check the damage he did to see if she's alright. Caleb often paints himself as selfish (and yes, particularly in the earlier moments of the campaign, he definitively is) but however he might reframe his relationship with her as utilitarian in his mind, there is clear care and concern for her, and that capacity for attachment and love for another person is an instrumental factor in pulling him away from a dark path. She's the crack in his facade of selfishness, and she begins clawing that crack open wider, and wider, until that care begins to expand and encompass others as well. I’m looking forward watching to their conversation after Molly’s death, because in my memory that felt like one of the biggest turning points when she tried to push him to admit that his relationships weren’t solely utilitarian.

Episode 2 of Campaign 2 of Critical Role Beau implies that Halflings are all alcoholics in front of Nott who takes offense for undetermined reasons.