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Critical Role Campaign One, episodes 24-35ish (Whitestone Arc)
At some point in my life there was probably something I cared about more than The Feast/Crimson Diplomacy, but right now I can’t think of what that was??
I’ve read, and maybe it’s true, that Liam O’Brien plays Vax recklessly because it’s something he would never do in real life. His is probably my favorite playstyle of the groupexcept Grog, because the recklessness is always in character, he’s willing to stick to his guns and deal with the consequences of fucking up, and even when the recklessness is disruptive it’s always productive (see: Trial of the Take): he works in character building and social conflict while progressing the plot (contrast: Tiberius’s item questing, which is 200% in-character but does slow the pace). I am such an easy sucker for “rogue with social baggage who swears lots and flirts with everyone” that loving Vax almost feels redundant, too predictable, too much my thing, but he’s so good I just can’t help it.
But my actual favorite player to watch is Taliesin Jaffe, in part because I love the gunslinger archetype bouncing off the high fantasy setting, but mostly because he is So Invested and So In Character; the anticipation with which he approached his character arc and the unbroken intensity with which he’s reacted to it so far has been captivating. During the battle with the Broker, most of the group is destressing on easier opponents and feeling out the dynamic with their visiting guest, both in and out of character; but Percy just does not have time for this and Taliesin never loses that focus. I find it functions both as audience stand-in and guide, a counterbalance to Sam/Scanlan as tension-breaker: this is how real this can be, if we allow it, and we should.
This arc has had such an excess of two of my favorite things that it is actively hurting my heart to contain it all.
Thoughts on the Whitestone arc (from the midway point, oh god this chapter is long, but that’s not a complaint):
The prolonged battles and constant struggle to find shelter and rest and sometimes even food are the best type of exhausting. Somehow it manages (through the magic of DM, I assume) not to slow the pace, but does make the situation feel more real. It also forces players to stretch their abilities, think creatively, pull on skills and items they’d normally overlook.
The quiet times between the endless struggles are so precious in contrast. Scanlan with unexpected insight, “Is the last chamber for you?” Vax'ildad, nakama-caretaker of my heart, whose risktaking and pranking co-exists with conversations of sudden intimacy, and those co-exist with threats of violencehe loves, he’s not gentled. “Vax? I have a sister” is my entire heart. (The cloak exchange, too.) Consistently, the short and long rests are my favorite moments, even when they’re pragmatic burn-the-body loot-the-room rests, and it’s all because of roleplaying, of character arcs within plot arcs; I’m particularly thankful for Liam’s ability to integrate plot progression into character progression, tagging in other party members. And it’s because I love intimacy, I love catching your breath while revolution happens around you; because the limits of a character’s ability are as definitive as what they achieve.
Pike may be the group’s moral avatar, but Keyleth is their moral voicemore importantly, she’s her own moral voice. I don’t particularly care about her character quest, though I enjoy Marisha’s ability to soliloquize. But I love and adore and will fight for Keyleth’s willingness to confronteven her allies, even her friends. I like that she sometimes overlooks her morality in the heat of the moment, and that as often her morality drives her to overlook common sense or even her party. She’s real. And she’s brave! Female characters stubbornly speaking is actually invaluable, pass it on.
So, Percy. Percy is such a fan favorite that I expected I wouldn’t care about him. Because, yes, I am a special snowflake; in particular, I dislike “he hurts and must be comforted” angst and prefer “he hurts and it makes for interesting character development” or just, tbh, “he hurts”and whatever it says about me or about fandom, I expect the first to be what’s popular. But Percy is so frickin much in the interesting character development camp. Things I particularly love: Taliesin above all, with his hands and his glares; no one is as furiously invested as Taliesin. (I believe in confirmation bias, not luck, but dem natural 20s are still amazing.) Those moments when RNG lines up with plot, when Percy fails checks and his corruption, only his corruption, goes up. “Be mindful that when you strike to kill, you aim to torture before you do.” Those moments when stats are not all-defining: Pike curing some of his corruption, and it matters but it doesn’t matter, because this force is not entirely external but is rather something he invited because of desires that come from within. Under that influence, he’s still acting; regardless of influence, his actions are not necessarily pure.
That last sequence is so good because Pike!! whom I love! returns and her appearance as an avatar is perfect, sayings so much so briefly about her repaired faith, integrating in Vax’s accidental faith. And those positive developments co-exist with Percy’s less positive developments. The plot is complex, multi-layered; characters have no instant cures, and good things happen and then bad things still happen.
It be good storytelling yo.
Me: I don't care about angsty characters finding happiness! I only care about interesting plot and character progression, and tears!
Critical Role: Cassandra.
Me: HOW DARE
#I have a theory that the reason I didn't not want this one line crossed #is because Percy's relationship with Cassandra was coming to foil Vex and Vax #and now voice of god is explicitly telling us that nothing is sacred and anyone can betray you and HAVE FUN PRETENDING TO BE HAPPY #and I just my heart it hurts me #Juu watches #Critical Role #spoilers be ye warned
At some point in my life there was probably something I cared about more than The Feast/Crimson Diplomacy, but right now I can’t think of what that was??
I’ve read, and maybe it’s true, that Liam O’Brien plays Vax recklessly because it’s something he would never do in real life. His is probably my favorite playstyle of the group
But my actual favorite player to watch is Taliesin Jaffe, in part because I love the gunslinger archetype bouncing off the high fantasy setting, but mostly because he is So Invested and So In Character; the anticipation with which he approached his character arc and the unbroken intensity with which he’s reacted to it so far has been captivating. During the battle with the Broker, most of the group is destressing on easier opponents and feeling out the dynamic with their visiting guest, both in and out of character; but Percy just does not have time for this and Taliesin never loses that focus. I find it functions both as audience stand-in and guide, a counterbalance to Sam/Scanlan as tension-breaker: this is how real this can be, if we allow it, and we should.
This arc has had such an excess of two of my favorite things that it is actively hurting my heart to contain it all.
Thoughts on the Whitestone arc (from the midway point, oh god this chapter is long, but that’s not a complaint):
The prolonged battles and constant struggle to find shelter and rest and sometimes even food are the best type of exhausting. Somehow it manages (through the magic of DM, I assume) not to slow the pace, but does make the situation feel more real. It also forces players to stretch their abilities, think creatively, pull on skills and items they’d normally overlook.
The quiet times between the endless struggles are so precious in contrast. Scanlan with unexpected insight, “Is the last chamber for you?” Vax'ildad, nakama-caretaker of my heart, whose risktaking and pranking co-exists with conversations of sudden intimacy, and those co-exist with threats of violencehe loves, he’s not gentled. “Vax? I have a sister” is my entire heart. (The cloak exchange, too.) Consistently, the short and long rests are my favorite moments, even when they’re pragmatic burn-the-body loot-the-room rests, and it’s all because of roleplaying, of character arcs within plot arcs; I’m particularly thankful for Liam’s ability to integrate plot progression into character progression, tagging in other party members. And it’s because I love intimacy, I love catching your breath while revolution happens around you; because the limits of a character’s ability are as definitive as what they achieve.
Pike may be the group’s moral avatar, but Keyleth is their moral voicemore importantly, she’s her own moral voice. I don’t particularly care about her character quest, though I enjoy Marisha’s ability to soliloquize. But I love and adore and will fight for Keyleth’s willingness to confronteven her allies, even her friends. I like that she sometimes overlooks her morality in the heat of the moment, and that as often her morality drives her to overlook common sense or even her party. She’s real. And she’s brave! Female characters stubbornly speaking is actually invaluable, pass it on.
So, Percy. Percy is such a fan favorite that I expected I wouldn’t care about him. Because, yes, I am a special snowflake; in particular, I dislike “he hurts and must be comforted” angst and prefer “he hurts and it makes for interesting character development” or just, tbh, “he hurts”and whatever it says about me or about fandom, I expect the first to be what’s popular. But Percy is so frickin much in the interesting character development camp. Things I particularly love: Taliesin above all, with his hands and his glares; no one is as furiously invested as Taliesin. (I believe in confirmation bias, not luck, but dem natural 20s are still amazing.) Those moments when RNG lines up with plot, when Percy fails checks and his corruption, only his corruption, goes up. “Be mindful that when you strike to kill, you aim to torture before you do.” Those moments when stats are not all-defining: Pike curing some of his corruption, and it matters but it doesn’t matter, because this force is not entirely external but is rather something he invited because of desires that come from within. Under that influence, he’s still acting; regardless of influence, his actions are not necessarily pure.
That last sequence is so good because Pike!! whom I love! returns and her appearance as an avatar is perfect, sayings so much so briefly about her repaired faith, integrating in Vax’s accidental faith. And those positive developments co-exist with Percy’s less positive developments. The plot is complex, multi-layered; characters have no instant cures, and good things happen and then bad things still happen.
It be good storytelling yo.
Me: I don't care about angsty characters finding happiness! I only care about interesting plot and character progression, and tears!
Critical Role: Cassandra.
Me: HOW DARE
#I have a theory that the reason I didn't not want this one line crossed #is because Percy's relationship with Cassandra was coming to foil Vex and Vax #and now voice of god is explicitly telling us that nothing is sacred and anyone can betray you and HAVE FUN PRETENDING TO BE HAPPY #and I just my heart it hurts me #Juu watches #Critical Role #spoilers be ye warned