This was one of my favorite episodes so far. I hope you all enjoy! Songs: Dramatic hit - freesound.org/people/SoundFla... Follow me on Twitter / unicco_1 #CriticalRole #DungeonsandDragons #MightyNein
yeah, that was pretty intense. i thought they were going to go with "zone of truth" but instead went with Beau's ability. the cast reactions were great too.
Tis the life of a DM. I've had to have a 10 minute conversation with myself because the party now has 2 NPCs in it, and the two of them had to secure passage into a city.
Made better by the fact that it was the note-taker herself dropping the backstory this time. Every one who scrambled has relied on her notes for most of both campaigns
I thought Avantika's death was so heartbreaking for her character. All her ambitions, all her plots, cut through with a few punches. Such a smooth talker and at the end she couldn't even utter a single scathing phrase. This wasn't just an execution, it was a humiliation, a perfect destruction of what makes Avantika Avantika. Well done to matt, this was incredible.
squattingheads, outside of a Mislead spell I don’t think that she would have got the chance and I don’t think she was of sufficient magical power to do this. But you never know with the trickster god that is Mathew Mercer.
Yooo, y'all know Cad wasn't down for that shit. You could see the confusion and then horror on his face when Matt's decision was made. He was actually scared/horrified.
I think it was because it was an unnatural death. Not a hungry animal just sustaining itself with food, or protecting itself. This was politically motivated, the man-made worlds ideologies resulting in her death. Probably very disturbing.
@@silversalmon9909 but it was an animal (though an intelligent one) protecting itself and its territory. There are animals that will kill potential threats that may overthrow it as head of the pack. If a lion is head of a pride he will chase off male cubs once they have grown to near-adulthood so that they don't overthrow them.
@@quietlodestar Caduceus is very heavy on people dying at the right time for them in the natural cycle, rather than at the behest of someone else. Avantika’s life was cut short, in his eyes, rather than cut at the right point.
@@deffdefying4803 he is very acceptant that the nature of nature is one inherently violent. animals are constantly brutalizing and murdering eachother. thought this was stated in more recent episodes. it may be that when first leaving the grove he thought that death should be a natural and peaceful process but as he came face to face with the violence he and others commited and the dog eat dog world outside of the graveyard, he somewhat changed his philosophy. violence is as natural as it gets and animals' lives are constantly cut short by others.
Beau: “I’m from a secret order of the monks of the Cobalt Soul, known as the Expositors.” *frantic note taking* I keep watching that moment, it’s so funny.
To have Avantika, who has already been established as a highly skilled, calculating & deadly individual, ultimately outplayed is simply VICIOUS. I mean...if Beauregard actually gave a damn half the time, she'd be just as formidable and terrifying. Her cold reveal of her affiliation with the Cobalt Reserve was chilling, and her subsequent knuckle-cracking & cut-off jabs were just ruthless...perhaps that's why she considers those in power with such disdain...she fears that she could be good at it.
I've had these exact thoughts, if Beau really wanted to go off the deep end, she'd be a force beyond reckoning. Especially when it comes to getting the information she needs. I think she fears she'd like the power WAY too much.
Aw man. GREAT ANALYSIS. I always wondered why Beau never used these tactics so often; but I have renewed appreciation for her. She didn't really revel in her achievement *too much*. I wondered about that; now i have an answer.
Tony Favilla And while it’s not necessarily fitting to his character, “He would see the realm burn if he could be king of the ashes” is a fucking awesome quote for our firey wizard boy
I love the juxtaposition of super spy beau over the nott and jester detective agency. This whole case was so...clean. 'Erybody was amazing, and they couldn't have done it without everyone doing their part, but I've got to say: Marisha -- MVP.
Jester and Nott's Detective Agency is a rollercoaster, while Beau's mercenary spy tactics are more like a black car following you slowly as you walk down the street, keeping a middle distance.
Can we just take a moment and appreciate that Travis, Sam, and Taliesin all grabbed a pen and started to write down "Expositors" when Marisha dropped that name?
Avantika's death was crazy! It was between her and the party and with a natural 20, and a failed charisma save could this only happen. I mean, she was ultimately against the party so she had to die at some point in the campaign, it was better that it was in a RP environment instead of battle in my opinion. Great vid!
I mean you're right and wrong in my opinion it was kind of a letdown that they didn't kill her in battle or something really cool like that she went out bye simply a neck break it would've been nice if she was guillotined or hanged like that
@@TheCart54321 Honestly I like the fact that it was just a neck break. Avantika was her own spindoctor, she talked big and thought of herself even bigger, but by contrast her incrimination and death was humiliating and for all to see.
@Cool Dude Do you know how much more intimidating her death was than by a guillotine or a gallow? This man went up to her, lifted her with one hand without a problem and just broke her neck like a goddamn twig. No actual trial, nothing, mess up under his reign and you'll be done for, that's pretty scary.
10:55 God, I love the excitement as they've realized they've won, the relief, turn to horror as they realize the brutality of what's about to happen, and then genuine shock as it happens and then the reality of it sinking in for them. Such masterful storytelling by Matt and great playing from the cast, and really great song choice from yourself!
Avantika's Death was absolutely shocking to me, i was both elated and saddened by her death; elated because she was Probably going to kill everyone, and saddened because i think she could have been an awesome reoccurring Villain to the Mighty Nein. Matt did such an amazing job with this scene!
I thought this too. She has mentioned she felt like Beau might have been somewhat in awe of/inspired by Avantika. Ultimately, even if she was misguided and a little cruel, she was a powerful woman who fought hard to achieve things in her life. She looks genuinely upset in that moment. I think it's also easy to forget that you're not in a civilized place on a place like Darktow. You think it's going to be jail time or maybe a grand execution at some later date. Not the King snaps a neck right in front of you.
@@SeanBoyce-gp that's true. I dont think anyone of us was expecting a snapped neck right then and there. I had the same reaction Travis had when that happened.
11:30, doesn’t even need to make any rolls to hold her up or break her neck. Which is just terrifying. Imagine if they had to fight this guy, someone who could get up close and do that kind of damage so easily.
She was restrained, he's got a an extremely high strength with a class and items and feats that increase his barehanded strike damage, and he crited. A lucky but totally doable event in DnD for a high level character/NPC.
Wouldn't be surprised if Veera escapes/survives and comes looking for them. Also interested to see if Avantika's rival lady comes to their aid in the future.
I remember one morning turning on the critical role stream (it was streaming during morning for me for some reason) and i opened it just as the plank king picked up Avantika and snapped her neck. Impeccable timing, but i had no idea what was going on haha
Wall of Fire: Severely damaged the crew and bought the M9 some much needed time to get distance. Counterspell: Maintained the WoF and prevented anyone from being washed overboard. Fireball: Annihilated the bulk of Avantika's crew. Caleb doesn't make plays. Caleb IS the play.
@@plgrn8r683 if i had to give true props to the biggest MVP's this episode it has to be Beau Fjord and caleb hands down with honourable mention to jesters dimension door
Okay but the moment he said “look at me in the eye, woman” they all collectively died from shock and terror Also I love Sam and Travis staring wide eyed as they scramble for pencils
The "Look me in the eye, woman" line is one my favorite of the entirely 3 campaigns. The sheer intimidation and voice is just perfect. Matt is incredible
The craziest thing about this scene is that Avantika died to a failed DC 14 saving throw. One simple bad roll spelled her fate. That being said, how much you wanna bet both Avantika and Vandrin come back later in the campaign as undead to haunt Fjord?
This video demonstrates what makes this group so legendary. You can have the amazing D&D games and stories but you don't get the voices and little things that the story telling stand out
Hands down, probably the greatest episode of campaign 2. This is the equivalent of the Kill Box in campaign 1. High-stakes combat that ends with a nerve-wrecking social encounter.
Now dont get me wrong, I love the whole cast and their characters, but this whole trial took Beau from one of my least favorite to my top 3 PC in the history of Critical Role. I was blown away.
I mean that was for sure in character, I'm so glad he's playing Deuces, I was not a huge molly fan and I honestly don't think he liked the class, Blood hunter is not very much fun until like level 8+
@@thenosieyartist6924 exactly. keyleth was infuriating because i could tell marisha had so much cool shit to do, but keyleth was just too dorky for it all
This episode make me really wish I seen then first campaign beginning, trails, and hardships from before they streamed. Just having the feeling of being at the table, on the edge of my seat watching the events unfold. Just like I did this episode.
That's not the way pact weapons or Hexblades work. The Hexblade patron itself is an entity that creates sentient weapons, not a sentient weapon itself. And pact weapons are simply weapons that Pact of the Blade warlocks can summon, they're not special weapons in and of themselves.
Kaihu That might be true for some pact weapons, but this is different. I don´t think that Avantica´s pact was too different from Fjord´s and even as he takes different weapons as his pact weapon, they just basically fuse with the base-falchion. Yes, the diety might have some kind of control over who can pick it up and use it, but in the end, it needs followers to free it and will take the opportunity the same way it did when Fjord picked up his weapon after his friend´s death.
Fjords nat 20 may be one of the most significant of this part of the campaign. Without the Plank Kings permission, this whole thing would probably have ended in violence
As a few people have noted, in this episode we get a look at how ruthless Beau can be. Take a look at her expression at 9:25, just after the Plane King says, "Be my guest". She's going to enjoy this.
I’m late to the campaign 2 party and have been playing catch up. I just got this point in the podcast, and while cheering out loud at Fjord’s nat 20 along with the rest of the scene. I kept thinking, I hope this moment has been clipped by a fellow Critter... thank you good sir for the clip and edit
11:43 I just want to take a sec to appreciate the music choice for this moment. Because the music that follows that moment is pretty spot on in my opinion of how everyone is feeling.
she has a clone somewhere in the world. If the briarwoods were able to do that, she can too. She is going to come back after like 40 episodes and we will all be like: HOW
@@jaredsousa9356 you might not be wrong, but there is a sacrifice involve with the Serpent but honestly ether it has been done by Avantika death (i suspect it has to be a chosen one like Vendren for the sacrifice). Honestly, i would be thrilled to se her come back, she would be a great villain. Imagine if she becomes a revenant.
I have been dipping a toe in the uvera of CR, but this was the first time I heard the name of the order of monks. And now my game worlds gain a new secret order... The Brothers of Exposition. Masters of disguise, traveling the world, explaining backstory and stating the obvious to the divine "fourth wall".
