#scourgers

Volstrucker.

Astrid: Is it me, master?

Trent: No it is not you Astrid.

Eadwulf: Is it me, master?

Trent: No it is not you Eadwulf.

Bren: Is it me, master?

There’s been a lot of discussion on how Essek is a narrative foil—a reflection of Caleb’s own dark path. But the Shadowhand isn’t the only NPC to give us a look at who Caleb might be now if things had happened differently.

It started with the nameless Scourger. The “little sister” from Bren’s assassin family. Caleb talked to her twice, searching for a hint of hope. Evidence that she (and he) was able to be saved. She died laughing, using her final moment to pass on Trent’s rage.

Then, Caleb saw Eodwulf (Trent’s new favorite) and Astrid (who plans to replace Trent). She expresses mild remorse but firm commitment to her role as a Scourger. She embraces it, knowing her horrible deeds are on the side of good. Plans to carry on the legacy after Trent is gone.

All these mirrors Caleb keeps looking into, hoping to find the potential to change. For Redemption. Remorse. He doesn’t see it in any of them. None of them hear his pleas. He is the lost pup, the one who didn’t listen, who ran away. They’re all so proud he’s done better than drool in an asylum.

Until Essek. Finally, the mirror reflects the guilt and hopelessness that Caleb understands. Maybe the path to redemption isn’t an illusion. And maybe it doesn’t have to be walked alone.

Because Essek has something else in common with Caleb that was missing from the other Mirrors—The Mighty Nein. That empathy Caleb said was absent from the young Scourger’s life is offered in droves by this band of loving misfits. There is no escaping the impact they make on the lives around them.

S C O U R G E R 

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I’m almost afraid to post this because my designing skills are only so-so, but I had a lot of fun coming up with possible travel/mission gear for Critical Role’s Astrid and Eodwulf! I’m sure Matt had something completely different in mind, but so be it.

you know, anon, I have considered it, but only briefly, so let’s start with my favorite question: why has essek, acclaimed beacon thief, met the archmage of civil influence and not the archmage of antiquities?

the easy answer is that vess was probably out on, like, expeditions, doing her creepy ass job, becoming the nonagon. the FUN answer is that the archmage of civil influence and his dancing assassin monkeys are, in fact, far more intimidating, and the assembly wants their dynasty mole more intimidated of them than he is loyal to his own country.

that’s not difficult with essek, obviously, but if they were meeting some mid-level drow mage, they’re probably gonna want to pull out all of the stops.

so, what I’m suggesting here is that essek has seen them exactly once, on his first face-to-face meeting with the assembly, as trent’s bodyguards. the scourgers haven’t been briefed on why they’re meeting with a kryn official—but they’re both smart enough to know by now that they don’t ask questions that they haven’t already been given the answers to, and the archmages are speaking in slanted discussion and never saying what this interaction is regarding directly.

what the scourgers are good at doing, however, is looking utterly terrifying and occasionally making intimidating and mildly threatening comments. astrid looks bored enough to kill a man for fun. wulf has his arms crossed so you can see all of the voluntary pain he has accepted to be stronger.

and essek has heard the vaguest whispers about the scourgers, these mages who have been trained to be weapons and nothing else, and the effect absolutely works.