Content Warnings: Blood, Death [off screen,implied] This is my first ever video! I heard this song for the first time a few months ago and have been working on this ever since.
I feel like Essek was meant to be the campaign’s original big bad, until the Mighty Nein put so much energy into being his friend that Matt had to improvise. I mean think about it- a powerful master of a school of magic none of the characters understand who betrays his entire country and starts a full scale war purely to increase his own personal knowledge and power- he definitely feels like he was originally designed as the big surprise villain.
He was even designed to be another Trent in some way. He immediately took an interest in teaching Caleb but was really manipulating him. The only difference is that Essek caught feelings.
The thing that breaks my heart the most is thinking about the moment when he realizes he cares about them. Either before he goes over, or immediately following. Imagine how that feels. Knowing that there are people you know who you have come to see as your only true friends, and believing that you have completely and utterly betrayed them in a deeply harmful way, and you can't even begin to take it back because it's too big and it was done before you met them. To love people, and then to feel, with all your being, that that love has always been doomed to fail and it is entirely your fault because you made a selfish, unforgiveable decision... Just... Just *damn*
"My stubborness will put up a fight" Flees the shackles, putting up a fight "But I don't deserve to win it" Cad keeps him from running away, winning the fight Good symbolism.
I usually dislike Sam's stuns and his humor is too blunt and over-the-top, and often I have no idea why his characters should do things that they do. But for moments like those, like "He's MY boy". And this absolute masterpiece told to Essek: "You are a broken person, who had ill intentions and wandered aimlessly into a path that you had no intention, or idea how to complete. And yet somehow, along the way, you found a heart. You sound like ALL of us. Welcome to the Mighty Nein"
Sad they aren't bombarding him with random messages anymore. It feels like it's because they don't need his teleport services, rather than their new knowledge and... he called them friends, they promised him friendship, the "welcome to mighty nein"... and now this silence. Not like they can't spare spellslot on less busy day. On other hand, how can Essek not have the spell and at least once try to let Jester taste her own medicine?
@@ewabrzakaa6395 I think its because they're kinda preoccupied with their other purple friend that has recently reappeared which Essek has nothing to do with. They'll eventually get back to deal with him, but for the time being it's not their priority for the moment.
Esseck was objectively a selfish horrible person. But he finally met someone he considered to be worth his time. He finally met people who he could let his guard down around. The measure of what makes one a horrible person or not is not what they've done it's whether or not they have regret for doing it. The Mighty Nein gave him regret and now he has a path to redemption even though the blood on his hands can never be removed.
It almost reminds me of Trent Ikithon. During the dinner at his tower, he claimed he has "spent my life bearing knives"; in much the same way, ever since his adoption into Den Thyless, so much of Essek's life must have been spent constantly watching the shadows, playing the angles, guarding against all others, especially after his betrayal - if he had never met the Nein, would he have become Ikithon's mirror? One of the monsters that everyone knows lives in Xhorhas?
@@Zombiewithabowtie I feel like without the Nein he would have been potentially more dangerous. Drow naturally have an affinity for magic that humans just don't.
(some light spoilers for the rumblecusp arc) AU where the Mighty Nein all lose their memories in Rumblecusp and stay there for so long that Essek gets suspicious/worried and eventually goes to look for them, finding them on that island, and having to make them remember who they were and how many lives they'd impacted (his included)
The moment I saw the thumbnail I thought 'is this the song I think it is???' and it was and I might just cry now. Your art is beautiful and the matching of lyrics to scenes is just perfect... the contrast between 'I am the host of this hostility' and happy parasol Essek especially is gonna stick with me for a while. Wow. Thank you for making this, it's beautiful and my desire to hug Essek is now reaching truly ridiculous levels
So proud of how far Essek had come, it’s amazing, reminds me of Beaus dramatic change after the unfortunate events of episode 26, although the next is the last of this campaign, his story is far from over, and I hope the Nein can help him along the way, he is one of them now indeed.
Imma just take a moment, to appreciate the fact that I somehow got this in my feed. This video is so underrated, and I just happened to be lucky enough to stumble upon it.
@@kariissmol9172 I've heard both from everyone, I don't think its confirmed but it is confirmed hes had polyamory relationships, And Liked Women and Men, So either I guess works
This is so powerful and honestly I think my fav frame is them all on the ground before the bright queen - it also has ace flag vibes so that's pretty cool
I fucking love Essek, he’s such a well-thought out character, and the art, viewpoints, and the song tell his story beautifully. Thank you so much for making this!!
I'm only on episode 99, but this blows me away. Soooooooooooo well done, that's some real dedication and it really brought the story to life in your own interpretive way
this is so good;_; i'm weeping... i love how you included the perspectives of characters other than essek. and the art is beautiful!! my favorite part is the interlude, with the animated panel. so good. thank you for sharing
I heard the song a few days ago and I wanted to make an animatic for CR immediately! Well, I looked it up on youtube, to see if anyone's done it already, just to make sure. :D Well. I guess someone has beat me to it. You've done a great job!
There's no reason you shouldn't do it anyway! I've seen one other animation to this song since I posted this, and it's amazing! They had a slightly different take on it, and it was fully animated, and it doesn't make either of ours worse! There's definitely still something you could bring to it if you wanted to. And, even if you decide you don't want to post it anywhere, doing it anyway is really good practice.
seriously tho, Idk if you're on discord but you should join the Essek Theylss server. We'd really love to have you bc we've been screaming about this for the last 24 hrs. Message my on twitter or insta (@firerinart)
This is so beautiful. The way the music picked up when they tried to change Veth - it's heartbreaking. Your night skies are breathtaking. I haven't been able to get through the full video without pausing to appreciate the art. Thank you for this!
I come back to this video monthly. But today - and especially after last nights episode (episode 131) - I've watched it more than once. The art, the music, the flow, the symbolism...it's too perfect. I love this video. Essek makes my heart soft.
My whole dnd group crowded around a computer screen to watch this after a particularly awesome session. I’ve watched it ten or more times since then. :)
Beautiful. Music and Art. These lyrics reach me at a time I desperately need them. Ptsd, kids, fresh separation, all while these fires rage everywhere. Tensions from pandemic, tensions from racial prejudice. Thank you for bringing this into my life, Keep drawing, keep picking good sounds. It's p eople like me who need such beauty in this world to decide to wake up the next day.
reuhflieuhfw Okay so this had such an emotional impact on me I literally cried. I've loved Essek so much as a character from the moment he was introduced, and this song so perfectly describes him it's painful, especially with lines like 'I need you to see through my act' and 'I don't deserve to win it' like my heart ouch. Just everything about this, it's so beautiful and it fits Essek so well. Thank you for bringing us this masterpiece!
Actually on the verge of tears. The way you subtly brought in Yasha and the mind control with Essick and every little thing about this whole thing was so good. Essick waiting for the signal from Caleb to kill the prisoner, The face he makes when he’s disguised and sees the M9, just all the tiny details. I love it
I need you to know that I still watch this animatic months later after seeing it dozens of times. You are a fantastic artist and storyteller, I think this is one of the best CR pmvs ever. I hope you continue to create!
I don't believe they'll fight him. Matt once said at a signing that Essex was meant to be a possible love interest and was disappointed it didn't happen.
@@johnthaxton9235 it really depends on what they do with the assembly. If they kill members of the assembly. Then they should do the same to Essek. He might seem different but he's the same, Power for the good of his country.(that's what all of the assembly say)
ash ellis you forget he truly has no allegiance to country no one has done right by him, except for the nein. Remember what he said “it’s terrible when you find out you’ve betrayed your friends before you even met them”
@@ongoingfive8730 all that is true, but he is a war criminal. it'd be rather hypocritical of the nein to want to bring down the assembly but not essek. although my heart still ships shadowgast :'(
I've had this song stuck in my head for the past few days and every time I hum it I think of this animatic. The colors, the emotion! The amount of love you clearly poured into every frame!!!!! My favorite is the bit at the end "We all wish we had strength to admit it" and Essek looking ashamed. You captured that emotion so well!!!!
yoo this is so good! ive only discovered this today but already watched it like five times, i just keep coming back to it. you have an impeccable sense of timing and putting together an interesting story, and the song too just fits really well. essek is a great character and you definitely show it! i especially love the lineup between essek killing the Vollstrecker and "deny it all", fuckin beautiful
Holy crap this is now perhaps my favourite PMV ever! I am honestly losing it. I got obsessed with this song over quarantine and was thinking about how cool an Essek PMV to it would be, and then this appears. Proud to be your 16th sub❤️ and I can wait to see what you do next!
This is amazing and beautiful!! Every frame is incredible on its own, the whole is magnificent! There's no drawing that isn't just so gorgeous and expressive!!
i spent the whole series cheering for Caleb to be happy. I think the ending we got was more beautiful than what i hoped for. It's bittersweet, but it's grounded. Trauma and guilt are powerful forces, and i think that Caleb and Essek just barely being able to cope and clawing tooth and nail to find forgiveness and purpose in the midst of their pain is both relatable and heartbreaking, but also inspiring.
Huuh, I am still at episode 15 or something, but just couldn't resist it - I just love drows so much, and your artwork... Woah, man, great job. I mean, I know literally nothing about Essek, but you were able to picture him in so, so good way... Congrats, I think, really 💚
This is the second take I've seen on Essek with this song and it's amazing to see just how differently you've both tackled it! This song fits insanely well, and I love how much of Essek's journey you've packed into it! (also random, but I absolutely love your handwriting!)
Sooo good definitely the best essek animatic I’ve seen! And the details! You can see just how much time an effort this took!! Sooooooooo amazing I hope you put more stuff out there because you are greatttt!
Ahhhhh wow this is incredible!!!!!!!!!! I love all of the colours so much, every image could be a stand-alone piece! This is such a fantastic depiction of everything that's happened so far
