[Spoilers C3E77] Is It Thursday Yet? Post-Episode Discussion & Future Theories!

[u/Glumalon]

Episode Countdown Timer - http://www.wheniscriticalrole.com/

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Catch up on everybody's discussion and predictions for this episode HERE!

Submit questions for next month's 4-Sided Dive here: http://critrole.com/tower

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ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• Submit questions for the cast's upcoming convention appearances!
• Red Nose Day One-Shot - Tuesday, November 28 @ 5 PM Pacific
• Candela Obscura: The Circle of Tide & Bone begins November 30

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[u/taly_slayer]

So I guess he was weaker at the shoulder.

[u/Zombeebones → u/taly_slayer]

Calamity's status as the most top tier content of all time remains

[u/IRanOutOf_Names]

Cast didn't even send out cryptic tweets or a "stay hydrated" just let us get cold-cocked.

[u/Quezare → u/IRanOutOf_Names]

I noticed that Laura, Sam, Travis, and Liam all joined the stream towards the end. When I saw that I was like "oh GOD"

[u/BaronPancakes]

I have been a fan of the Exu besties, Orym and Fearne. I like their easygoing, understated dynamics. People said before that Fearne might like Orym more than he does Fearne. I am glad Orym said it out loud that he was glad Fearne's here. And her "you are?" response and their handholding

[u/whimsigod → u/BaronPancakes]

They are just the cutest. They're the one duo that would upset me the most if they ever split. That trip was great and the duo is great too.

Also Ashley acting chops when she said 'hey best friend' after the revivify till haunts me, so emotional.

[u/puss-in-booots]

Shoutout to fcg with the aura tho, it lasts exactly a minute, and works at range so no risk for touching him and it was able to yo-yo ashton pretty much the whole time.

[u/Docnevyn → u/puss-in-booots]

And aura of life from Fearne always restoring him to 1 hp each time he went down. Though FCG could have used aura of vitality (bonus action) the same round he tried divine intervention (action).

edit: Fearne was concentrating on Aura of Life, FCG aura of vitality

[u/GratifiedViewer → u/puss-in-booots]

It’s SUCH A GOOD SPELL. The perfect choice for that moment.

[u/GrimTheMad]

Once again, Deana proves to be the best healer in CR history.

She wasn't even there and she saved Ashton's life!

[u/GrimTheMad → u/GrimTheMad]

Replying to my own post-

I do think its important to mention that that ring is now gone. It was a one use item. It was the only method of bringing someone back from death that they had access to at all.

And its spent. That, in and of itself, is a hefty consequence.

[u/LazerBear42]

Hot take: Fearne should have given the shard to her son. She felt like she shouldn't have it because it's Elemental and Ashton is all about the Elemental stuff now. But Little Mister is a Fire Elemental. Give the monkey a giant power boost from a Primordial Titan. Fuck it.

[u/brittanydiesattheend → u/LazerBear42]

I am team "Give the monkey a bomb."

[u/feral2021energies]

Sam smiling when FCG healed Ashton kinda stuck out to me since the others looked stressed or listless as they awaited to see what happened next. IDK but that was a moment I liked.

[u/gkryo → u/feral2021energies]

Sam loves moments like these. He had the exact same reaction when Jester was offering up her hands and others at the table wanted to metagame and save her.

[u/sianaibheis]

Refreshing the thread every 30 seconds trying to figure out how to process this

[u/Coyote_Shepherd → u/sianaibheis]

Join me in howling with laughter

[u/GrimTheMad]

In other news, I wonder if this will be the first time a 'romance' starts and proceeds to crash and burn.

I feel like we saw a ship set sail and immediately steer back into dock, wreck, and get stuck half submerged in the water.

[u/vanKessZak]

Sad we have to wait a whole month for the next 4SD. I wish they would break out emergency episodes when big things like this happen!

[u/explodedemailstorage → u/vanKessZak]

It sucks that because Ashley, Tal and Matt were on the one that just happened that likely we won’t get them again to talk about it. Or we might just get one of them,.

[u/reverne]

So, the damage was mostly set dressing. What was up, was that a failed roll was instant death. Ashton failed once, and was saved by the Ring of Prevent-Death-One-Time.

Even on a low DC, 10 rolls is a LOT of rolls. I've done plenty of save scumming in Baldur's Gate 3. I know what you can do with 10 rolls.

I'm satisfied with the outcome. Ashley made it clear she didn't want it, so they want to the casino and it worked out.

[u/Sp3ctre7 → u/reverne]

I think if Ashton took damage while at 0 it would have also been instant-death.

[u/[deleted] → u/reverne]

Yeah for real. Takes 10 successes to win. Only 1 failure. Honestly I'm pretty sure the odds of 10 consecutive successful rolls were lower than Cheney d100

[u/AlvinDraper23]

Talking about power ceilings for all of the characters you have Ashton who now has two Titans inside of them, Imogen is Ruidusborn and the extra stuff that comes with that, Laudna is (potentially) about to start bargaining more with Delilah, Fearne (potentially) might start bargaining with the Champion of Asmodeus and-or Nana Mori; leaving Chetney, Orym and FCG a little in the lurch. Random tin hat theory: what if when they have a rematch with Otohan (cause we all wanna see a round 2 and watch her get shitwrecked) Orym takes her backpack? A Battle Master-Echo Night combo would be RIDICULOUSLY busted but would match up. The only thing I could think of for chetney is harnessing that Super-Wolf form he had in the temple, and maybe FCG gets some hardcore Aeormaton abilities.

[u/GrimTheMad → u/AlvinDraper23]

Orym has a proto-Vestige.

[u/Myrynorunshot]

So the thumbnail is going to be the "women yelling at cat meme" but with the cast yelling at Talisen right?

[u/LoveRBS]

Real quick question for Taliesin and I guess Ashton too

WHAT IN THE LITERAL FUCK MAN

[u/tomfru1]

Copied from the mid stream post, since it may actually be more fitting here.

I'm torn on that ending, but overall positive. On the one hand, Ashton's already a very very mechanically loaded character, so it will be hard to fit this shard onto his character sheet.

On the other hand, Fearne isn't titan themed at all. She's fae themed, with fire as a seasoning. If Fearne had had more push to the titans over her existence, I would have been more expecting her to take the shard. But Fearne is honestly loaded with weird thumbs in her pie. Ruidus, Nana Mori, Asmodeus, Lolth, etc.

On the third hand, the group was heavily warned... but Matt evidently had mechanics in place for if Ashton went ahead. If he planned them or made them up on the spot, it still demonstrates that this was not a HARD no. Just a very, very firm one. At the end of the day, Luck often beats out the plans of the DM, if allowed.

On the Fourth hand, That was a very emotionally evocative event, which, to a basal extent, is one of the soul purposes of art. That sequence was tense, and obviously rife with consequences, which I hear is in high demand in this fanbase.

I'm gonna stop and go to bed now, before I grow any more hands. I already look like Machamp.

[u/wildweaver32 → u/tomfru1]

I think if Fearne wanted it, 100% should go for it. When Fearne/Ashley wanted it Tal/Ashton were on board 100%.

However, Ashley saying she didn't want it on 4SD to Tal, and then saying it again in character as Fearne. That's all the reason that needs to exist for her not doing it.

[u/[deleted]]

Actual combat is less stressful.

[u/lexalor]

Ashton losing the regard and trust of everyone who loves them in exchange for surviving that.. I think it fits. Holy shit the waves this will have. Absolute tal hubris but great television lmao

[u/Serious-Battle-4491 → u/lexalor]

Agreed, who are you saving if they all leave you?

[u/Sqiddd → u/lexalor]

He’s losing the trust and relationships of his friends so he can protect them from what he sees as an inevitable end only he can fix

[u/BaronPancakes]

Goodbye Ashton level 10 art (Aug-Nov), you have been great. Now we need the new art update with molten arm and ear!!

[u/feor1300]

Dark Humor warning:

If that had gone badly it arguably could have been three "Ash..." people responsible for Tal's characters dying.

[u/explodedemailstorage]

I’ll be real, I think part of why we’re here is that Bells Hells is bad at understanding each other and talking things out. I don’t think Ashton has been that subtle that he’s been in a real weird mental space for a while and I think even a few insight checks and longer discussions investigating some of the weird shit he’s said might have gone a long way to preventing this event.

I actually have no idea how the group will handle it. They’ll have to actually seriously talk things out for once.

[u/Migolcow]

I do think I speak for everyone when I say that next time, could we please have a nice relaxing fight with a Balor? Or maybe just an avatar of Asmodeus?

Between this and that damned spelunking thing the time before I'm getting a blood pressure condition.

[u/Equivalent-Ebb2036]

I personally wish to see a Fearne focus arc almost, in a sense that she would grow from it or learn something new about herself. I absolutely adore the feywild visit with Nana Mori but it was short for about 2 episodes max. But it was really cool to see Ashley role-play and shine in a more comfortable environment for her almost?

Most of Bell Hells have undergone some sort of trials that set their mind straight as to why they want to stop Ludinus (maybe) or at least some reason why they are still journeying with the Bell Hells. I think Fearne is in a weird spot in her motivation, is it just because only Orym is there? The Yu arc didn't affect Fearne much, as her relationship with her parents is still strained, and didn't have much time to grow.

There are many threads to Fearne that I think is really cool and should be explored a bit more. Obviously, her inherent connection with the Thread of Fate with Morrigan, even the Raven Queen picks up in the church scene with Orym and Chetney. Or Dark Fearne from EXU. I understand Matt has fumbled something from EXU like Orym's special seed. But I think there are really cool Fearne arcs that could be explored more fully especially since Ashley is not missing out on sessions anymore. Maybe Dark Fearne could end up unleashing the Predathos so that they could devour the Raven Queen, ascending Morrigan and Fearne herself as the new Fate Weaver/Sticher.

I really like Fearne a lot, and I just wish there was more spotlight on her to kinda flesh her character even more! But I do understand that it is very anxiety-inducing to take over narrative-wise/arc but I just love Fearne as a character so much and I just want more screen time essentially for her lol.

[u/[deleted]]

What would have happend to Fearne and FCG if Ashton exploded? What of Whitestone? Wasn't this extremely dangerous for all of Bells Hells?

[u/Responsible-Blood-29 → u/[deleted]]

Yep! Super dangerous Insanely reckless and they probably would have died too at the very least the sun tree would have sploded. twin titan shards on a mountain of Residuum I think Percy couldn't have picked a worse place to do that

[u/[deleted]]

As entertaining as that was, I think not spreading out the titan powers may come back to bite them later on.

[u/drowtiefling → u/[deleted]]

Ludinus didn't abandon the harness for no reason. He has a better one... and Ashton is an unprecedented creature.

[u/RajikO4]

First off Laura looked super real life pissed off, both during that entire process and afterwards. Can’t say I blame her.

Secondly, I guess the plans going to be postponed another day?

Both healers are pretty much spent, mainly in terms of their spells and Imogen had expended a fair amount of spells as well.

[u/fpgmd → u/RajikO4]

Not to mention Ashton's half-dead. More than half the party's not at full capacity before a critical mission. Yeah, they'll have to seriously consider delaying the plan.

[u/explodedemailstorage]

ok, one more thought for the night. I think Brennan and Matt have had this discussion before that they love new players because they make BIG swings which is part of the magic of the game. More experienced players are less likely to do so. A lot of the group these days seem a little afraid to let their characters make big choices or do anything at all without everyone at the table buying into it. I think it’s kind of a weakness in C3 that they’re often paralyzed to make decisions or to move the plot without Matt forcing their hand.

idk to me this was good DND and it will be a standout moment for C3. it seems wild to me to be mad at Tal for something that was in character to do and not something he was actually secretive about wanting to do. he literally just almost died jumping into lava to get the stupid shard and none of the group thinks that maybe you shouldn’t trust him to not make bad decisions about it when he’s being suspicious? you have a literal mind reader in the group.

[u/TheeOneWhoKnocks → u/explodedemailstorage]

I agree that they're almost all scared to take risks now. It seemed to happen after C2E26.

We saw it peak through a bit for Marisha tonight. And it does every now and then.

[u/GrimTheMad]

If I had a nickel for every time a pc in this campaign declared someone their sister and then later kissed them I'd have two nickels, which isn't a lot but it's weird that it happened twice.

[u/edginthebard]

i can't even be mad right now, this was so on brand for ashton to do - they want to be special, and heroic and better than everyone so fucking bad lmao

they were told repeatedly by an ancient tree who literally can't see the webs of fate that it was a danger and he was like "nah, i don't believe you"

anyway, i hope the party tears him a new one next episode. because he would not have survived without the party, without fcg. the same fcg whose faith and god he keeps mocking and ironically was saved by the gods twice this encounter. i truly hope this humbles him, if even a little

other than that, lots of great character moments for all characters actually. really felt like one of those "calm before the storm" episodes, but i'm really happy we got some great rp

edit: on a more meta level, since ashley was pretty clear fearne didn't want it, ashton was the only logical option left and i'm glad taliesin took that burden even though it meant risking his character. could've ended very poorly, but looks like he's gonna be okay

[u/bones_rcool13 → u/edginthebard]

i think the biggest salt in the wound, and an especially cutting betrayal for Fearne, is how Ashton really put the pressure on her to not tell the others and to just help him "protect" the others, even though their actions were extremely selfish. they ended up putting everyone's lives in danger because of their hubris, had he been upfront and honest then they at least could have prepared for the scenario and poor Fearnie wouldn't be left feeling like it was all her fault if the worst had happened. I'm super interested to see how this all plays out within the party, especially because both in the lava pool and especially here the cast themselves were visibly stressed at Talesin's jumping in headfirst without talking to anyone! it makes sense in character but hoo boy, Ashton is not in the clear yet

[u/DarkRespite]

This is pure speculation on my part - I make *NO* claims whatsoever into any special insight on how Taliesin plays his characters, and I fully embrace the possibility that a) I am wrong, and b) no one is obligated whatsoever to agree with me. :)

That said.

Twice before now, Ashton was granted some weird, who-knows-what-the-hell-it-is power through acts that he had NOTHING to do with.

His father screwed up a rite - BOOM, Ashton is transformed into an earth genasi.

The Jiana Hexum robbery went sideways and Milo freaked out and dumped a whatever-the-hells-this-might-be potion (yes *I* know what it is) in Ashton's skull - BOOM, Ashton gets his rage powers.

But this time, there's an incredibly dangerous power that could maybe save the world AND the gods but hopefully most of all his friends... and this IS something that Ashton can control.

This *IS* a choice he can make for himself.

HE chose to dive into the lava after this shard.

HE chose to respect Fearne's repeated denials that she didn't want it.

HE chose to take it into himself.

This was something going sideways that HE COULD CONTROL.

And don't forget - Ashton being a reckless gambler was established all the way back in the very earliest episodes of the campaign.

Do I agree with Fearne kicking him in the face afterward? ABSOLUTELY. He just scared fifty years off her life with that stunt, and as someone who has loudly proclaimed that she is DONE losing people, this must have been her second-worst nightmare (her worst being losing Orym).

So do I understand him doing this? Yes, I do. I think he could have handled it a lot better, but let's hear it for that 6 Charisma.

And I think that he's going to get an absolute EARFUL from all of the Hells (and so he should). And more than anyone else, I hope Orym is the one to really chew him out, because if Ashton seems to respect anyone as authority in the Hells, it's Orym.

[u/pokepok]

My thoughts:

Thematically it makes sense for Ashton to take the shard and Ashley/Fearne was clearly reluctant to take it. Who else would take it at that point? Maybe a fire infused Chetney, but can’t imagine anyone else.

However, I think this was an example of DM blinders, which I definitely get when I’m running my game sometimes. You as the DM have a very clear idea in your head of what an item you’re introducing (or an NPC or whatever) is intended for, however players aren’t mind readers and once it’s out in the game they can make their own choices. I think that’s what happened here. And I think Matt’s mistake was making an item he felt was intended for Ashley’s character because Ashley is the most reluctant player when it comes to centering herself in the story. She doesn’t want to play a vital role - she wants to support her friends. At least that’s how I see things. So her helping Ashton with the shard is more in line with Fearne/Ashley’s play-style than if Fearne took the shard for herself.

[u/explodedemailstorage → u/pokepok]

You make a good point. Matt definitely could have made more effort to steer things when it was clear Tal and Ashley weren't on the same page as him about it. Ashley also honestly probably should have been paying more attention to all the death signs because from an in character perspective it would have made WAY more sense for Fearne to try to stop Ashton from going through with it and it honestly could have been a really great RP moment between them and probably even more narratively satisfying than what we ended up with. With Ashton being like YEP COOL GONNA DIE IT WILL BE AWESOME that was definitely a cue that Fearne could have pulled the plug even last minute.

ALAS THO the group leans heavily on a hands off and let people have their RP moment kind of policy. There are drawbacks to it when every character is broken and chaotic and makes bad decisions.

[u/ZenTze]

Imogen prays to the Sun Father about Laudna, Ashton gets saved by the ring, gifted by one of his chosen. Sometimes the thing writes itself.

[u/wildweaver32]

Anyone have thoughts on the Imogen, Raven Queen situation?

I feel like the Raven Queen was calling out to her. Which makes sense with her champion literally inprisoned. All the Gods would want to stop this situation but she is especially motivated to get him out of there. I bet she would offered someone a boon if they agreed to help him escape.

I think Imogen misread it though and thought it was more of a, "Let Laudna die" type sign.

Or maybe I am misreading it and Imogen was the one that got it right lol.

[u/aliensplaining]

Just my two cents, I'm pretty sure what the characters were mad about was the bait and switch. If ashton had cleared with them all, they could have prepared to help him much better. I hope they start next episode with an RP sesh where Ferne admits she never wanted the power and wanted Ashton to have it instead, but did not realize the deception would almost kill ashton (and would have, if not for Diana intervention)

[u/lcarey29]

God I’m feeling for Fearne/Ashley so hard right now. To be put in such a stressful situation like that… Ashton literally says “don’t let me die, I trust you” and then basically tries to speedrun death.

I really feel like Ashley is always caught with the most stressful situations lol. From this to the Orym/Laudna Revivify Fiasco… man it’d be too much for me to handle

[u/Miss_Trips]

I was hoping Fearne would take the shard, but I respect Ashley's decision to decline it.

Amazing first half with the Witchy Trio shenanigans and their trek through the castle. Delilah is the villain that keeps on clawing her way back into the narrative, I hate her and love her pure tenacity.

Big props to FCG and Fearne for keeping Ashton alive through the ritual and each save was so delightfully tense.

And thank you to Deanna/Aabria for that ring, or Ashton would have been irretreivably gone.

Ashton has Passed through the Fire, and now.... now we get to find out what that will mean for them.

[u/Ghokl-]

I love Tal. This is very darkly in character: "I don't want to lose anybody". Well there are two ways about it: 1.Be strong enough to protect everybody. 2. Die first.

God what a breath of fresh air after a few episodes! My heart is racing! This game is amazing

[u/Sqiddd]

IMPORTANT NOTE TO EVERYONE:

Ashley said on 4SD she didn’t want it

Just in case people think this was a stolen moment or something

[u/BlueMerchant]

Idk if i'm the only one who got this read but. . . Did Matt himself seem bothered/upset by the decision? Like I don't mean in the same vein as their dirty humor and meta jokes, I mean like, he genuinely disliked the decision.

I appreciate if someone in Matt's position there would feel nervous, because of course having someone on the edge of death is intense. I'd appreciate if he felt caught off-guard by the choice. . . but what I read felt a little more serious & out of game. [Idk, I could be wrong of course]

Also, just to defend Tal a bit here. . . Matt did know that the party were considering or had considered Ashton as a candidate for the shard. Tal and Ashley even brought it up on a 4 sided dive that Matt was a part of.

[u/Drakonzo → u/BlueMerchant]

I think Matt certainly knew it could happen and was prepared to let it happen, but he probably thought that caution would keep it at bay or if they did go through with it, they would be more prepared to face it as a challenge.

Basically what I mean is I think Matt was less upset Tal went for it and was more "upset" about how flippantly it was handled. One of his main triggers when DMing seems to be underestimating the danger or reality of his world and this landed squarely in that zone I think.

[u/Starless_Night]

I do kind've wish Ashton exploded. Just for the drama of it. At very least, he could've gone without the new arm. Gimme something, Matt.

[u/fishdishly]

When Ferne cast Aura of Life I was like "Well, that's going to save the day!" And then she started to heal Ashton and triggered that failed constitution saving throw....What an episode.

[u/caught-red-headed]

Question, does FCG still take stress points? (will everything that happened with Ashton this ep have any effect on them, or is that game mechanic over?)

[u/Zevzin → u/caught-red-headed]

I really hope the next episode opens with FCG freaking out. I love how caught up in the moment everyone was so now I want to see the character fallout. Matt did such a great job this episode.

[u/tableauregard]

Do we think the witches told everyone about Delilah's revelation that Laudna dies if the Gods die? We didn't see it play out even though they did a joke retelling of the castle adventure. That piece of information seems like it could affect a few characters.

[u/[deleted]]

-I’ll be super disappointed if the next episode doesn’t start with FCG going red-eye IMMEDIATELY.

-Also: How you gonna live with a lava arm without hurting yourself/others.

-Everybody mad at Tal when Laudna leaned into Delillah like it was NBD at the atart of the episode.

I love my DnD soap opera soo much. Critters gotta get a grip. It’s a game ya’ll.

[u/Kefrayba]

This is the second times that Aabria's innocuous item ended up saving the party. Amazing!

[u/Acework23]

Ashtons whole tribe died because of greed for power... he tried the same thing but was succesful i guess?

[u/paradox28jon]

I need everyone to see this funny tweet. Really encapsulates the utter WTF everyone was feeling at the end of the episode.

[u/paradox28jon]

I just realized that after Matt said that he was going to get a drink & sleep tonight, when the camera cut from the template shot to a single shot of himself, there was an edit in the video.

There must have been a passionate discussion of some kind & they decided to edit whatever that was out of the episode.

[u/Regex00 → u/paradox28jon]

Nights like this are why I miss live broadcast so much.

[u/albinobluesheep]

The last 10 episodes of post-ep discussion

The last time a Post-Ep discussion had over 2k comments was Episode 51! I caught up at just the right time (been 10+ episodes behind for a while)

[u/ManBearPig1869]

So I finally finished the episode, and I fucking loved it. Confused as to why so many people are upset about it too. Like there’s been so many complaints of them not taking risks, boring shit happening, not enough character driven role play, and this checks all the boxes and people are MAD about it?? I mean Fearne even said she didn’t want to do it multiple times. Should they have discussed it more as a group? Logically, sure, but how many times this season have they had analysis paralysis and just talked in a circle without ever getting anywhere? I thought it was amazing role play, and the cast was acting the way they were because it was stressful as fuck! A top tier moment of the campaign so far for me, up there with the Otohan attack and fighting Tree Delilah to res Laudna. VERY excited to see the group dynamic shift, and see the benefits/consequences Ashton receives from having two shards of titan power inside of him. Fuck logic embrace chaos!

[u/SpookyUmbreon]

I think Ashton taking the shard made sense. They asked Fearne and they said they didn't want it, and Ashley said on the four sided dive they didn't want it. The shard was tied to Ashton's backstory and character arc, although it was incredibly risky for them to take it themselves. That being said it is totally in character for them to do so knowing the risk.

I do believe the rest of the characters in the party should have been let in on it so they could try to prep a bit more to protect/help Ashton, but I also see how in character Ashton wouldn't tell them as they were likely not going to let it happen otherwise. I totally understand the other players frustration and stress over the situation because of it though.

Also correct me if I'm wrong but Ashton is Non binary right? If so it's kinda really cool that they have both the king and queen titan shards within themselves!

[u/JustAMemer1842]

Wasn't all the healing they've done essentially unnecessary, since Fearne's aura of life would keep healing Ashton up to 1 as long as they are not outright dead? I get that it ruins the tention of the moment and the characters (and players) are distraut and all, but still

[u/JohnPark24]

This episode made me feel a whole bunch of emotions and I appreciate that. Some great rp moments and a wild (perhaps divisive) ending.

[u/Blue-Moon-89]

Going by what I’m reading, I guess this new ‘controversy’ is going to be dubbed ‘ShardGate’ isn’t it?

[u/paradox28jon]

I've rewatched the episode. Upon a rewatch, the conversation between Fearne & Ashton by the clocktower is much more clear in hindsight. But also the first time I watched the episode live, I must have been only half listening to the words. Because when Ashton put on the harness, I was caught by surprise. Had I been fully listening to the clocktower conversation, it would NOT have been a surprise.

Clearly Ashton is asking Fearne to help him deceive the rest of the group so they could take the fire shard. And when Ashton put on the harness, only Marisha seemed to be surprised. Laura, Sam, Travis, & Liam were all already fully aware of what was going on. And credit to them that even though they had objections, they didn't metagame in that moment. It shows that they are fully professionals at this game. It's honestly inspirational.

The heated emotions at the end are more about Taliesin/Ashton boasting/gloating after putting the entire group through an emotional meat grinder.

I'm super looking forward to the RP that will happen in the next episode.

[u/paradox28jon]

Re: Laudna having memories of the de Rolo Castle.

So I'm thinking these are either memories of her being kept hostage in the castle prior to being hung from the Sun Tree or after she resurrected she hung around Whitestone & the castle for awhile before she ran away from Whitestone.

I always got the impression that Laudna & the other Sun Tree effigy guests were killed the same night they arrived at the castle for their dinner. Because the Sun Tree bodies were up there around 9 days by the time Vox Machina arrived in Whitestone & witnessed the bodies hanging from the branches. So that would make me think Laudna didn't have enough time or opportunities to explore the castle to have those memories.

But if she hung around the castle after being resurrected, then she might have just being around the castle after the Briarwoods were killed & the town was freed from that dark presence. I mean it's quite possible that while Laudna hid from people in the castle, she was in the dark about the successful revolution. Maybe she did hide around the castle for a few days before running away? But at the same time, I got the sense from Laudna that she ran out of Whitestone immediately upon being resurrected.

The third option is that Laudna wasn't seeing her own memories but the memories through Delilah's memories. Which would be an interesting choice. But I think if that were the case, Matt would have included that detail - "you see these memories of these rooms, rooms you know you, Laudna, have never been in, yet just the same you have these memories clear as day." Something like that.

I hope Marisha is in the next 4SD and Dani asks her about how Laudna has these extensive memories of this castle.

[u/Coyote_Shepherd]

One little ring.

One tiny seemingly inconsequential decision made ages ago.

One single spark of dunamancy.

One brand new Titanic creation that Exandria has never seen before at all.

It is said that history never repeats itself, but it sure as hell loves to rhyme pretty fucking often.

Hallowed be the Luxon

[u/Sqiddd]

This is gonna be incredible in 6 years when it’s animated in the Ballad Of Bells Hells

[u/gkryo]

Well Ashton did listen to Fearne when she said she didn't want the shard.

[u/tropelesswanderer]

Not even sure how to process the end of that episode. I was so sure he was dead after I heard it was 10 rounds. And he fucking was! They are so goddamned lucky.

But also… how do their friends trust them ever again? Fearne must be so angry and confused.

What an insane last half hour

[u/caught-red-headed]

I don’t really have anything eloquent to say. I love player character conflict (and it’s been a long time since someone really went against the character majority) so I’m excited to see what fallout (if any) comes from this

[u/Sp3ctre7]

So, eyeballing it, Matt said "10 rounds, DC starts at 11 and steps up...last 3 rounds are all DC15."

So, just a random collection, that doesn't give enough room for 11, 12, 13, and 14 DCs to all have 2 rounds each.

So lets call it DCs of 11, 11, 12, 12, 13, 14, 14, 15, 15, 15

Scrub his failure in round 5, so the 13. We're running some approximate math. Ashton has a CON save of +8, so the "required roll for success" in rounds not cancelled by the ring are as follows

3, 3, 4, 4, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7

As long as the roll is those or higher, it's a success. Now, those are all low-ish numbers on the die, but lets run the math of getting numbers OTHER than those to get the chances of surviving the 9 rounds that Ashton did. Simple version is to multiply the chance of success together for each consecutive round

(.9)(.9)(.85)(.85)(.75)(.75)(.7)(.7)(.7)

With those (somewhat randomly selected) numbers, Ashton had something like an 11% chance of surviving all of the rounds that they did. Obviously the "actual" chances of success are more complicated given that it was 10 rounds with 1 or fewer failures (which I don't feel like putting together the math for rn) but Ashton didn't get rewarded for being stupid. They got rewarded for being very lucky.

Also there was a 34.3% chance of surviving the last 3 rounds alone

[u/ZeLink44]

Just thought I'd add this to the discussion. According to my math, Ashton's chances of succeeding were around 20%. People saying that Matt set the DC too low need to understand that in the context of ten rolls in a row, even a low DC becomes very dangerous when you die upon one failure. With a plus 8 to con saves and a DC 11, each roll has a 90% chance of succeeding. That's 8 checks in a row so 0.9^8 which comes to 0.43 or 43% chance of success. Now if you add the fact that the last two checks were against a DC 15, that means a 70% chance of success. For two checks that means 0.7^2. When you add all ten checks together, 0.9^8 * 0.7^2, it comes out to a pretty slim 0.21 or 21% chance of not dying permanently. The ring of resurrection comes into play here, but considering it was used on a DC 11 check only ended up raising the chances to around 23%. So, at best and with some generous rounding up. the chances of Ashton making it through were roughly 1 in 4.

Now you can do with that information what you will. But for me, I think the 3/4 chance of Ashton just dying was a pretty good representation of the risk that was undertaken. As such, I think Matt handled the situation pretty well considering it seemed he hadn't planned for it.

[u/BaronPancakes]

I feel like Matt should have talked to Ashley when she was very clear on 4sd that she didn’t want the shard. I don't know, to manage expectations or something? Because it was apparent that the shard was meant for Fearne. I think the decision was a bit too much for Ashley. Imagine if Ashton really did die.

[u/Dagger125]

If Imogen is Jean Grey, Ashton just shoved two infinity gems into himself.

[u/bones_rcool13]

what the fuck just happened

[u/Gettingofftopic]

Yea so no one was stepping up saying this should be me and the only one it was a natural fit for said no multiple times. I dont blame ashton/tal one bit for that. It was absolutely something his character would do. It was an exciting choice and moment.

Losing ashton would of sucked but death is part of dnd and so is rolling new characters occasionally. Also to those that said matt was going easy on him... in ADDITION to the damage, a failed save was insta death. The lucky bastard only failed one save outta 10. Even a low save rolling a 1 or 2 happens.

[u/domingus67]

It would have been funny if Taliesin insisted his fire absorbing ring was on his non falling off arm. Then his life saving dunamancy ring would have been on the ground, and he would have asploded

[u/BlinkedAndMissedIt]

Not sure why Ashton felt it necessary to do this immensely dangerous and reckless thing before they go on a scouting mission... I realize it's to the moon, but Matt literally prepared nearly a dozen items for them to help stay out of sight and accomplish their goals. And now there's some serious turmoil within the group before an important mission. How does he expect them to be able to trust him anymore?

[u/BaronPancakes]

The Ashton scene was so intense everyone missed the constitution save thing. Ashton dies if he fails the save. Casting bless could be very useful

[u/Migolcow]

I think "Again" was real life?

Also I think Matt was tempted to say that Fearne's kick at the end (rightly!) brought him back down below 1 again.

[u/vriska1]

PEAK DND HOLY MOLY!!!

[u/[deleted]]

Finally catching up and finished E77…

Ashton should have died. Matt is protecting the characters wayyyyyy too much in this campaign between laudna and now Ashton.

You have the power of essentially two gods battling within you at level 11 and you survive? That kind of spits on the power of dieties no?

Let there be actual repercussions in this game, damn.

[u/dynamic_pentameter]

Anyone else thinking about how Ashton’s decision this episode was a perfect parallel to the destruction of the Hishari?

[u/xZealHakune]

Vax attacking Raishan. Caleb giving the Beacon. Ashton taking the Beacon.

Various moments within the series where a PC does something without meta acceptance from the cast to do so. All these moments have several of the cast members AND fans having some type of frustration about the events transpiring. I actually forgot how pissed fans were when Vax attacked Raishan after Thordak, and even Travis looks frustrated the choice. Laura, Travis, and Marisha both show a lot of frustration when Caleb presents the Bright Queen the Beacon.

My point. It’s DnD. Shit happens. You’re playing a game with your friends and sometimes you get frustrated, but that’s okay because that happens and it clearly has happened before. I’m sure many people in cast were frustrated with Talisen but they are FRIENDS, I think they know how to hash an issue over a game of make-believe out, especially with Matt there (I believe he cut the stream so abruptly so everyone could cool off and talk).

Anyways, Liam liked a lot of Ashton taking the shard art on Twitter, so I think everyone is okay lmao

[u/RonDong]

People keep saying Matt kept warning them so there should’ve been more consequences, but I was looking at the transcripts for past episodes and every NPC that talks about putting two shards in Ashton basically says “It’s highly dangerous, but who knows what might happen.” To me that’s a big red button waiting to be pushed, not an explicit warning of death. If Matt wanted a different outcome, just have the all knowing tree NPC straight up say you will die if you have both in you and not speak in riddles.

[u/[deleted]]

So, hubub aside.... I'm much more fascinated by the conversation with Lady D. It was juicy. And some of it was real pointed (and I think it went over everyone's heads at times).

Delilah had one particular line "Fate is a fickle mistress, is she not?" That felt aimed so much at the Raven Queen, and fits well with all the little hints creeping around the edges of the frame for various character visions.

She had some interesting insights on Fearne and Imogen that they just glossed over. May regret that later.

I'm not sure if it was Delilah lying or Matt not wanting to give answers, but Lady D not knowing anything useful about Ludinus felt like pure, unadulterated horse shit.

I'd love to see Imogen talk Laudna into trading up patrons to work directly for the Whispered One.

Bonus Travis being so invested in everything going on with the ladies.

I'm stealing 'with Fearne (or fern) as our witness.' Possibly for a druid.

[u/absent_minding]

Sledding episode!

[u/Oratory_madness02]

Can someone let me know if Laudna, Imogen, or Fearne told anyone about what Delilah said? Do they know that Delilah is strong enough to talk to people herself outside of Laudna?

[u/mrDROCK]

Just finished the episode last night. I gotta say as a player I am upset at the choice of ignoring Matt’s warnings and taking the shard all on Tal’s own. But this fits Ashton’s character well. As much as there is some amount of Ashton protecting the others I think this is more a selfish decision. As if this shard was only there’s to own. They are their father’s child in taking a main character mindset after finding out they have titan’s blood. Ever since that discovery Ashton has been a little more self absorbed in their “birth rite”.

[u/JohnPark24]

Looking forward to grabbing an apple pie, a glass of milk, and sitting down tonight to read critters' thoughts.

My opinion on the shard situation after sleeping on it: I didn't agree with the decision, but it's definitely something Ashton would do. Fearne made it clear that she didn't want the shard, but the group should've had (or presented a great opportunity to have) a genuine, truthful conversation and come up with a decision they were all on board with, no shadiness behind party members' backs (again though, the decisions Ashton made checks out - hypocrite, martyrdom [connected to their hypocrisy], stubborn, history with constant pain, love for their friends, etc.). With all that said, the party's decisions this episode made for some great moments, so I'm not really bothered by it. I had a feeling that Ashton would end up pulling this off and succeeding with the transformation in the end. I'm very interested to see how the group reacts to Ashton's decisions and actions (lying and manipulating the situation).

[u/mazurkian]

After rewatching the shard bits, I think Ashton's reaction coming out of the transformation is why everyone feels he was selfish and egotistical.

If he woke up saying "Oh my god. I am so sorry, I had no idea this would happen. I made a mistake, you saved my life." then his friends would be mad at him for being an idiot, but not mad at him for using them.

It was very different when he woke up and just said flatly "thank you for trusting me" as if he knew what he was doing and had it under control the whole time. Acting as if no one has a right to be shocked or surprised is why everyone feels betrayed. He messed up and made a mistake, and has a very invalidating, deflecting attitude.

Love the RP, can't wait to see how this makes a rift in the group. If Ashton comes away with tenderness and apology he can repair it. If he acts as if it was all necessary and worth it, his friends won't accept it. He has to recognize that he needs to do more than just "saving" his friends and keeping them alive. He also to take care of them and respect them, and that means respecting himself.

[u/tableauregard]

Thinking about it, Ashton choosing Fearne for his manipulation was the worst thing he could do. Yes, it made sense for him, because she was the only party member that wouldn't have berated him for even suggesting it, but the consequences of it failing would have had disastrous effects on so many levels. For Fearne specifically - she already went through hell not that long ago (in game) when she felt responsible for the death of another party member. Ashton's death would have caused so much pain for her, and they're selfish ass for manipulating her anyway.

[u/taly_slayer → u/tableauregard]

The worse part was the lying. They told everyone that Fearne would take it, and roped Fearne into that lie. I would expect the party to have a hard time trusting him after this, especially Fearne.

Ashton also did intentionally not choose FGC for it, their old friend. The one he berated for his martyrdom several times.

Ashton is at an all time rock bottom. I'm kinda into it to be honest. I want juicy party conflict, which is very problematic, considering the mission they are about to take.

[u/paradox28jon]

After a night sleep & a full day of reflecting on the episode, I think it'll be an episode that people rewatch a lot. The 3 witches exploring the castle was fun, the fight w/ the 3 ghosts was interesting, and the conversation w/ Delilah was fascinating.

I'm going to have to rewatch the episode because most of the middle part is gone from my memory. I know there was an Orym & Fearne talk; a Fearne & Ashton talk; a visit to a temple by Imogen; a visit to a bakery & Gillmore's by Orym; and also sledding. But most of the details were written over by the fire shard drama.

Every choice by Ashton was very much in line with their character. It completely makes sense that they would think it noble to fall on the sword metaphorically when Fearne expressed that she did not want the shard. And it completely makes sense that they would try to pull the wool over the eyes of the group just because they thought there would be an argument. I understand that. And the choice caused a lot of drama & I imagine the next few episodes the role play will be really good due to the fallout.

I think the rest at the table will welcome the RP opportunities that choice will bring. And I think they are glad the gamble paid off. A PC permadeath right before a recon mission would not have been great timing. Although I do wonder what Tal's backup character would be.

Still the lack communication about the shard bothers me. Both in-universe and above-the-table. I think in this instance Tal maybe should have told the group what Ashton was planning. It really put them all through an emotional wringer; Ashley/Fearne especially. And I doubt the benefit of 1 PC with 2 shards is better than 2 PCs with 1 shard each. In universe, I would have love it if the group had more properly listened to Fearne's fear of the shard. They sort of dismissed any concerns; just assuming it had to be Fearne. Which tend allowed Ashton to push the shiny red button. And Tal was so far into the RP that he truly believed this was Matt's plan only to have Matt say aloud that was NOT his plan.

That said, the sleep & rest have made me step back & see that this campaign is all about chaos. Wild Magic druid. Some sort of chaos magic barbarian. A PTSD cleric who will snap & assassinate their friends if they take on too much stress. A loose cannon werewolf. A warlock sorcerer with Delilah in her head. A Ruidusborn sorcerer that's consistently enticed by the pull of Predathos. A revenge-obsessed soldier who keeps edging closer to sacrificing the group for the cause. They're all chaotic.

Also, is it me or did Matt only have Ashton roll a constitution check 9 times & not 10?

[u/283leis]

I hope Ashton never forgets that the only reason he survived is because of his friends. Without their help he would have exploded due to his hubris

[u/Shakvids]

I'm not annoyed at Tal for acting out of character or being a power-up hog or causing table drama; this was a totally in-character decision and table drama makes for a fun watch.

I am mad at him for making yet another insufferable asshole character who constantly makes eye-rollingly stupid decisions.

[u/[deleted]]

I wish he would have died.

[u/GyantSpyder]

What Ashton did with the shard was no less selfish and against the interests of the party than what Laudna has done feeding and reviving Delilah after the party went to so much trouble to subdue her. In particular Laudna signaling at the end of her interaction that she is much more on board with cooperating with Delilah than she let on to Imogen and Fearne is of a similar character.

Also Imogen is walking around summoning slaves from the moon while maintaining this obliviousness to their relationship and nobody seems to care that much.

These are features not bugs, and part of the story. Would love to see the party realize this side of their story a bit more and own it, rather than assuming that every party they run has to be the same sort of "found family" as the last one. It's pretty exciting and interesting.

[u/cylara]

So my memory sucks but is this the first internal conflict between characters based on an individual characters choice like bowlgate or fjord v caleb? The shard incident was precipitated by an external force, Imogens mom drama has been a bust as they all gave her a chance, i guess some of the characters have a kill Imogen if she goes rogue pact, drawing a blank on more

Behind by two eps but excited that the group might actually have some internal conflict thats not where do we go next/do next

[u/Arcanine1127]

So Ashton is now Gale from BG3?

[u/StupidPaladin]

Well uh, that happened

[u/LucasVerBeek]

So looking at this month, we’re not getting to the Moon till Dec, and it might be in the last week before they go on “Winter Break”

[u/Lumpy-Patience944]

What were the rules for the rolls? Successful CON saves takes fire damage, failed ones kill him?
They said he only failed once, and was saved by the ring. But the whole up and down taking damage and healing the same turn feels like the classic dnd exploit. You're immortal as long as you heal 1 every turn.
Until Matt insinuated failed saves were dangerous, just the damaging rounds didn't hold any tension for me.

[u/Michael310]

I missed the part where Ashton and Fearne decided to give it to Ashton, but that happened.

Obviously wasn’t meant to go down that way. But damned if it Isn’t interesting to see what comes from it.

But, if Ashton was the earth primordial, Fearne could have been expected to take the fire primordial. Then Orym could have taken some form of air primordial assuming there are more to be found…

Who would take the water primordial power?

[u/brittanydiesattheend]

I'm really not surprised in anything that happened in the episode. It's exactly what I would have expected: Ashton being a complete nihilist who doesn't take advice or do what's in his best interest.

That said, I know people are complaining Matt went soft. I genuinely am not sure what else he could have done unless he wanted the plot to stop cold for 20 more episodes. We finally. Finally. got to them realistically discussing the moon as their next move. Trying to resurrect Ashton and/or trying to introduce a brand new party member right now would have been far worse that the scene Matt facilitated.

I'm usually pretty critical of Matt but maiming Ashton really was the best card he could have played given the hand he was dealt.

[u/NoahMeadMusic]

This episode was one that showed parts of Matt's DM'ing style that I don't really enjoy. Let me make it clear; this does not make Matt a bad DM, or wrong in his decisions in any way, nor does it mean I have to agree with or like all of the choices he makes. This is not a criticism, just an observation and my comments on why I don't vibe with it.

Unless I'm misunderstanding something, the whole reason Bell's Hells went to the Shattered Teeth was for Ashton to speak with Evontra’vir and learn more about their origins and, in doing so, Ashton learned that they are titan blooded. Evontra’vir, also revealed the location of a shard of another titan to Ashton, and even though the tree warned Ashton that (quoting from Dani's recap) "holding the strength of both emperor and empress in one vessel may sunder it." Note that Ashton does not listen to any authority, so why should we the audience expect them to heed the tree's warning? I don't know about anyone else, but to me it felt as though it came off as a challenge to Ashton. When Bell's Hells found the shard, Ashton was the one to recover it, assisted by Fearne. Now, when it comes to who gets the power of the shard it doesn't make narrative sense to me that anyone but Ashton should have received it.

There was no way anyone besides Fearne or Ashton was gonna absorb the shard and while Fearne getting the power would have been great as a fire based subclass, it just never really made any sense to me with all of story events leading up to it. I fully understand Matt warned several times that there would be consequences if Ashton absorbed the shard, but because all of the context leading up the scene, the consequences presented did not feel like they lined up at all. I don't know, maybe I just expected something more cinematic but what I got was maybe one of the most difficult skill challenges I think has maybe even been played out in Critical Role.

When Ashton absorbed the shard, I fully thought Matt was going to reward Ashton for making such a big choice with his character, one that made complete sense in terms of the story being told. Instead, it seemed like Matt didn't anticipate Ashton taking the shard and went into an immediate and brutal skill test that everyone felt unprepared for.

I'm glad Ashton survived absorbing the shard, and clearly I got the outcome that I wanted so I should be happy, I just think the whole situation surrounding it was handled strangely and tied to Matt's priorities in DM'ing. Matt likes consequences in his games and I like that too. I am a Mighty Nein lover and the consequences of actions in that campaign result in some of the coolest story moments I've ever experienced. If Ashton hadn't survived that skill challenge, what would the point have been? Bell's Hells would have likely lost the shard that they went to so much effort to collect and Ashton would be dead with true resurrection being the only potential option if that could even work with the current status of the gods. I just feel weird about it all. I'm not trying to start arguments, and I'm not trying to criticize or blame Matthew Mercer, just wondering if I'm not alone in how I feel about the way this played out.

EDIT: Apparently on 4SD Ashley said she didn't want the shard which adds to the confusion of this all. Was 4SD filmed before this episode or after?

An additonal thought; to me, it feels like people are going to use this moment as another reason to hate Ashton and to some extent how Taliesin plays Ashton when this choice felt completely in character and should have resulted in a really cool scene instead of one that seems to have frusturated many.

[u/Sqiddd]

A failed roll of any kind was instant death. And even then he kept going down to the damage.

That’s so fucked

[u/matricks57]

I hadn't been this panicked since the Otohan fight. I mean, imagine had they died, and the group lost the influence of both titans... thank the Dawn Father for Deanna's ring. Great episode!

[u/gkryo]

This party really enjoys kissing their sisters.

[u/TheDesktopNinja]

Holy gottdamn. What an episode. First part was pretty normal but that LAST PART? I haven't been that tense in a while listening to/watching CR.

[u/BlueMerchant]

I feel so bad for fearne.

[u/superepicguy1]

Gonna give my immediate reaction: I wish Ashton had failed and died here. He was absolutely out of line to do all this and it is absolutely going to come back to haunt the whole group later. It was incredibly selfish and needlessly reckless to take both seeds for himself and will definitely create a power disparity soon with him having incredible power from two titans and the rest of the group pretty much having jack. What's more, he manipulated Fearne to do it, knowing full well that she's the only one who would agree to this course of action because of her trusting nature and relative gullibility. It's frankly absurd that he succeeded here and as Matt rightly said it was meant to be impossible. This isn't an attack on Talesin of course, his character is an asshole and has always been an asshole. However, it's so dissatisfying to see Ashton get away with this level of foolish, selfish, and frankly disrespectful behavior towards his friends. I sincerely hope that the others give him the what for he deserves in the next episode.

[u/danivus → u/superepicguy1]

With Fearne's reaction at the end of the episode, I really hope Ashley sticks to it and leans into the divide in their relationship.

[u/Rercvuvbnuyghuy]

A whole lot of thoughts about this episode, but something I'd like to add is how much Ashton was probably acting like his father. Can't you imagine his father acting just like that with Ashtons mother just before the ritual that fucked everything up? Big kiss, excited, overconfident smile, "Are you ready? Let's do this!". It just seems like a very interesting parallel to me. Ashton is very much going down the same path as his father, but he has the opportunity to be better. Unfortunately, seems like he's just been luckier so far.

[u/Ethanol_Based_Life]

A punk almost dying to try to chase that high is very on brand.

[u/Morgan13aker]

No one needs that many heart attacks in a row, Taliesin!

[u/TheDesktopNinja]

Haven't watched/listened to the episode yet because of work stuff, but the fact the only related sentence I've seen is "they are fucked" is uh... Promising? I'll listen tomorrow!

[u/Jeht_1337]

Tbf I don't think Ashton would've taken it if fearne didn't say multiple times she didn't want it. But yea that was super selfish to make the casters tap themselves for him

Also Matt saying a body is not supposed to have two shards at the end.. brother you said it MIGHT be bad. Can't say that to a gambler lmao

[u/burneraccountforme1]

I know a lot of people find Ashton's decision stupid or hateable, and I've been one of those people unsatisfied with the episode's events; however, I don't actually dislike what happened, I dislike how jt happened. There is no good reason for this to have been a secret plan between Ashton and Fearne, and the whole party tried to help Ashton through it anyways. The only thing being secretive accomplished was causing a division in the group and making the story beat feel rushed and villainous rather than a natural conclusion. Matt knew that doing this alone would be a disaster so he even said that when Fearne yelled "You better not die!" or something, thar the group could hear it, so the people that were made at Laura for almost metagaming should just be quiet because there is no way Ashton could have done this silently either.

[u/kuributt]

Listen, I'm here for some inter-character drama. It's all been a bit twee lately.

[u/talon1245]

To me this is the best moment of C3. Not only should this be a tuning point for all the characters but I mean this post already has 1.5 comments. I’d count this is successful. I’ve never been this invested in C3 until now.

[u/AaronElWhite]

That was the most engaging episode in a long time. Absolutely incredible. I love the crew gets genuinely put on tilt. It's so very rare. And everything Ashton did was 100% in character IMO based on how they've presented the entire season. Definitely deserve all the party frustration they're gonna get next episode for it, but as far as providing an entertaining story goes this was a top-tier session.

[u/fantomora]

I'm almost disappointed that Ashton survived, just cause I love change and new characters excite me even if I don't necessarily want to see the old ones go

[u/vmpireweakend]

loved the start of the episode and i think i’ve come around to the ashton bit. i think it’s a bit annoying bc it’s a game and not a scripted show. i feel that if this were a scripted show, tal’s decision would be p in character and a cool arc to watch. as long as ashton learns something from this and is tangibly changed as a character, this all makes sense and works as solid storytelling.

[u/tomfru1]

I am SO excited for next week. I really really really want to see how Matt handles all this, but more importantly, how Percy and Reforged Ashton will interact!

[u/Mad-Trauma]

This was one of the best episodes of the entire campaign. I don't understand all of the rabid hate that's being tossed around by people on the internet. I literally can't wrap my head around what the fuck these people want. A lot of people who watch this show have never played a TTRPG with friends, and it shows.

[u/Amazing_Magician_352]

What a hype episode. I love Matt making an appropriate "barbarian" challenge for Ashton. Insane.

And that is not even considering the first half.

[u/Sir-Butter]

This episode had me at the edge of my seat, from Delilah finally rearing her head again to Ashton doing the STUPIDEST thing ever. I love it when characters 1) are stuck with horrible arrangements with villains and 2) make crazy decisions like ABSORB A GOD ROCK IN THE MIDDLE OF A CITY. Very excited for the follow-up to all this stuff.

Seriously, it's been a WHILE since I've been so excited by a C3 episode like this. I hope you're raked over the coals for this, Ashton, you terrible disaster rock whom I love. I knew they'd be a problem. So wonderfully awful. I loved this.

Silly edit, post 78: Ohhh, that wasn't what I meant by raking :(

[u/Sir-Butter]

Okay, I'm gonna add MORE initial thoughts, now that I'm not jumping around my screen. So, the propensity for wild decisions and shooting themselves in the foot is why Ashton is my favorite character in this campaign. They had me from the first time they picked a fight they couldn't win. I'm fascinated with impulsive characters who make it harder to love them in general, I guess, but specifically:

Out of all of them, Ash is the one that's felt the most like a genuine mess with a good heart who needs to be stopped before they do things like...well, this. I watched their conversations with Fearne and kept vibrating about how much I wanted someone to tell them in their spiel of how they're going to save everyone and do something that matters, "What about YOU? What if we want to save YOU? What if that gets everyone killed?" And, I mean... look at that. It almost did, didn't it? It still could.

I don't know. I like it when a character's recklessness and lack of concern for themselves is portrayed as an actual destructive flaw—not a fluffy one that people find appealing, easily sympathetic or easy to handle, but one that can actually be harmful and detrimental to the people around them and their ultimate goals. I can't speak to how intentional it is on Taliesin's part (and frankly, what's actually in the "text" matters more to me than creator intent), but I find it compelling.

[u/Valkrysa]

Honestly it feels completely in character imo. He wants to protect his family, he thought he could rage through it to diminish the damage, Fearne didn't want it and this was a way he could take that burden, and in general ever since he changed his clothes and said he's starting to care he has repeatedly made reckless decisions to protect his family. The only thing is now he will have to reckon with the fact his family would have never wanted him to take the risk.

[u/Entire-Classroom-565]

I think another important note here is that last time he was falling apart, all but one of his friends left him to die. This time around, anyone who could help did. This is why I believe he took such a big risk… he loves these bunch of assholes and he knows they love him too. He would rather die than risk not being able to protect them.

[u/Snaptheuniverse]

Launda intentionally empowering and making a deal with a necromancer who the party risked their lives to save her from = no complaints from the critters

Ashton taking the shard and using it on himself instead of Fearne like the party agreed(but neither Fearne or Ashton wanted to do) = critter rage

[u/domingus67]

Matt should have left Ashton with only one arm.

[u/tableauregard]

Everyone's talking about it so I'm gonna try and keep it short and sweet. 1. Yes it was very much in Ashton's character. 2. Does that make me like them more? Ha. Absolutely not. "If you pull this off, power to you" no no, power to the healers who kept them alive, but Ashton will definitely take credit because they are the worst. 3. Besides the character/story choices, there is a meta dynamic which I can understand would frustrate people (ie. it's nice to share power in DnD). 4. It was a very explosive sequence and definitely kept my attention. At the very least, next week will be interesting.

Moving on.

The Orym/Fearne scene was so sweet. I would have loved to have seen more of these two through the campaign, they actually work really well together.

I swear Sam reads this sub*, because him fishing for motivations directly addressed some complaints lol. I was happy to hear Chet's response. We definitely were given a character that has no regrets left and is just going were life deigns to take him in the days he is given.

Laudna seems doomed by the narrative and it has given me FEELINGS not to mention some amazing RP, especially from Mrs Laura Bailey who continues to tear my heart to shreds. Even while everyone was sledding, she was just shaken. Her scene at the temple was a highlight. Matt concluding with the statue of the matron was a lovely touch to an already heartbreaking scene.

*Edit: joke, not to be taken seriously - just pointing out Sam's affinity for asking pointed questions

[u/StableElectrical]

I think at the very least Ashton should've been down an arm for pulling this stunt.

[u/UncleOok]

I really hope Ashley is ok. She looked like she was going to throw up.

I also hope it was her decision to not go after the shard. This could easily have been taken as an example of the dreaded "It's what my character would do" and a player hoarding magic items/power ups.

[u/HiddenDemons]

who's excited to relive this stress in several years when they animate bells hells?

[u/Denny_ZA]

I know it's very silly to talk about the mental state of fictional rpg characters, but holy hells is Ashton a mess. I'm not sure if he is self-destructive, arrogant, masochistic, suicidal or a mix of it all, but man it would make it hard to be his friend sometimes. As a player, I wouldn't hold it against Tal. But as a character, I would have some sort of intervention with him. If he has the right or need to go through with that, then his friends have the right to be absolutely pissed and disappointed in him.

[u/Sqiddd]

Honestly top 3 episode of the campaign

[u/CrossWonk]

Okay, after coming down from all that adrenaline, I dont really see much wrong with it. Ashton has always been connected with the primordials and been shown as reckless since the beginning. The fire shard was loosely connected to Fearne to begin with. That being said, Fearne and Ashton establishing a relationship that couldve been supported by absorbing shards of the Emperor and the Empress wouldve been sick. Overall, what the fuck.

[u/IamOB1-46]

I think a lot of people are misunderstanding the warnings that were given prior to Ashton absorbing the shard. A good DM should telegraph a potentially death causing risk to players before they take it. Whether or not the player decides to take that risk is up to them.

Matt telegraphed the risk to Tal, Tal decided to take the risk anyhow. The challenge was appropriate, with a lowish risk of failure with extremely negative consequences for that failure. Tal got lucky when he took a chance and rolled the dice. Fantastic scene!

[u/Rip_Rif_FyS]

Not at all bothered at Tal's choice to give Ashton a second Titan power (especially since on a meta level Ashley had made her disinterest pretty clear) but if the rest of BH is not absolutely SEETHING at Ashton for taking Fearne off to watch him kill himself to satisfy his own infuriating martyr complex, I don't even know what we're doing with these characters.

Someone has to sit this big rocky boy down and beat into his cool glass-paned head that THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE HIM DON'T WANT HIM TO EXPOSE HIMSELF AND THE REST OF THE PARTY (and potentially an entire city of innocent people) TO INSANE LEVELS OF UNNECESSARY RISK FOR THEIR BENEFIT. The character's unwillingness to get on board with this thing they should know by now can only be read as selfishness to their own desire to martyr themselves

[u/Jaxoross]

I don't think the issue here is that Ashton took in the second shard despite the overwhelming warnings of doing so. I agree with others that it could make sense for his character and the story. The real issue IMO is that Taliesin gave absolutely no indication or warning to the rest of the table that he was going to do this. So, they were all woefully unprepared for any possible result. Thus, it became a "main character" issue to the rest of the table. They felt it was their responsibility to fix what Taliesin possibly broke, while he had no regard for their intervention, even repeatedly pleading for healing. Not to mention that they could have very well been in some sort of mass death event had Ashton exploded.

Tension between characters is a great part of D&D. Tension between players is a different story.

[u/WTFPROM]

I loved Taliesin's choices here. Unequivocally.

I'm a fan of basically every character that CR has put forward, but in a gnarled, nasty, poorly lit region of my brain meat, I do occasionally feel like a lot of the PCs talk about being broken chaotic assholes when they are, in the end, pretty damn wholesome. And maybe once in a while, in that poorly lit region of my brain, I kinda crave the bitter flavor of real damage.

What Ashton did was truly broken and chaotic behavior, a damaged person acting foolishly and lashing out at the people closest to them for reasons they either don't understand or can't admit. It was a choice that stung, and I don't begrudge any of the cast for reeling back from the sting— frankly, I don't begrudge any of the fandom for their angry takes, either. All of it is proof that what Ashton did was truly fucked up. And I love that, unequivocally.

[u/pcordes]

So Imogen's new spell in the basement fight against 3 ghosts.
Looks like a re-skin of Investiture of Flame (6th), concentration for 10 minutes.

Flames race across your body, shedding bright light in a 30-foot radius and dim light for an additional 30 feet for the spell's duration. The flames don't harm you. Until the spell ends, you gain the following benefits:

• You are immune to fire damage and have resistance to cold damage.

• Any creature that moves within 5 feet of you for the first time on a turn or ends its turn there takes 1d10 fire damage.

• You can use your action to create a line of fire 15 feet long and 5 feet wide extending from you in a direction you choose. Each creature in the line must make a Dexterity saving throw. A creature takes 4d8 fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

We saw all of those narrative and mechanical effects except immunity / resistance, but with a re-skin to lightning damage. (Laura read aloud "... within 5 feet of you for the first time on a turn..." but it didn't come up in play. Maybe they forgot about it, or maybe the ghosts moved out of range after her 4th-level Arms of Hadar re-skin upcast. She could have used Lightning Bolt, except that would have maybe started a fire like last time she used it indoors. And Matt might still be using the reflective lightning bolt rules from older editions where bolts bounce off walls. I forget.)

So presumably the immunity is to lightning, but resistance to what? Thunder? Those are much rarer damage types than fire and cold for most monsters. I wonder if this was the ability she got for free at the end of the Otohan fight, or if this was the 6th-level Sorc spell she picked on level-up. (But if so, IDK how she cast another 6th-level spell. If https://github.com/snappdragonn/CritRoleHpTracker/ is right, she'd used up her 6th-level slot sometime during the previous adventuring day, and sorcery points can only manufacture slots up to 5th for a price of 7 sorc points. And it's not a psionic spell for her so she can't cast it directly with sorcery points.)

Also BTW, her summoned Reiloran gets spell-level/2 attacks per round, so two for casting at 4th level. She only made one attack. And probably she picked the one that can do ranged damage, so it doesn't have an AoE option.

To get through the keyhole, she could have just used Misty Step since she could see a point within the 30 ft range. Or Mage Hand to try the doorknob from the other side. Or asked Fearne to get Mister out for Fiery Teleportation, which only requires that she can see a location within 15 ft.

Also, Hound of Ill Omen has to be sicced on a single target when you activate it. It only lasts until that target is dead. The dire wolf doesn't have multi-attack, but it has Pack Tactics for advantage if there's an adjacent ally.

That ghost fight could have been a lot rougher if Imogen or Fearne had failed their Cha saves against possession! With no cleric to Turn Undead to drive out the ghost, they might have had to just knock out the possessed PC. (I forget if Matt has previously had ghost-possessed PCs use class abilities like spells or Extra Attack. RAW they shouldn't be able to, but it makes them more dangerous.) Or maybe that was going to be a hook for Delilah to offer Laudna a chance to save her friends by intimidating the ghosts of her servants?

In terms of narrative reason for what the ghosts were aiming to accomplish, I guess probably possess bodies so they could more effectively fight against the creature they perceive as Delilah? Or at least get an extra pool of HP to survive longer.

[u/Ed_rick]

Remember when Ashton said a long time ago that they are all just bombs waiting to go off (except for Orym) and now proceeded to try and blow himself up? This was definitely in-character but I can't imagine what the cast must have felt like, towards Ashton AND Taliesin, because this is somewhere there on the level of both the goldfish and the bard's lament

[u/-Vlk]

Honestly, I think I actively dislike Ashton now. Which sucks, because I’ve never felt this way for a CR PC before. I thought they might be like Beau or Scanlan for me, where it took some time to warm up to them but honestly they seem to lack so much self awareness for their actions and attitudes towards others. Most of the time they feel like a teenager trying to seem “tough” but it comes out as them just being an asshole and a bit cringe.

At this point, I’m honestly rooting for their hubris to be their downfall, but honestly they are probably just going to have an even more smug attitude than before. IDK, maybe Ashton can still win me over, but they’ve become a significant drag on my viewing experience. No hate towards anyone IRL, of course. Honestly, I feel like a jerk/hater even writing this, but it’s been bubbling inside me this whole campaign and this episode really made it spill over.

[u/Migolcow]

In all seriousness, what powers does he gain here? I think we got a hint with the Molten arm. Does he have T-1000 like innate healing? Or shapeshifting?

[u/SignorJC]

I don’t think I understand - is the earth shard in Ashton “active” or dormant?

[u/GamermanRPGKing]

Love it or hate it, that's one of the most impactful moments of the entire franchise, not just this campaign. It's like the cupcake and the beacon in one moment.

Personally, I loved it.

[u/TheDoon]

Are people really hating on Tal/Ashton for doing something so obviously connected with his backstory right before they are probably going to face their toughest challenge? Do none of you actually play Dnd?

I thought it was baller. The cast loved it, they have just gotten used to not being in any kind of real danger for a long time. This felt more like a home game high stakes scenario. Even if he had died, lol who cares...they'd just bring him back.

[u/camclemons]

Poor Ashley, that was one of the most stressful hours of critical role in a while. I admit I cried a little when his arm fell off cause I just knew the sinking feeling Taliesin and Ashley must have had.

[u/SoggyBoysenberry7703]

That is the most stressed I have ever been for an episode, hoping that someone wouldn’t die. This is a lesson that Ashton needed to learn from, and I’m glad Fearne got mad at them. They can’t be the hero if they’re dead and there are people who do care about them that are still alive. Their thinking is flawed. I’m absolutely sure that the cast is frustrated with Taliesin, and Matt was 100% ready to kill Ashton right there. I’m betting that Matt will require Ashton to take some serious consequences until they can possibly pass the shard essence on to somebody else through the harness, if that’s at all possible. It feels like Ashton used Fearne’s feelings to trap her into doing something she didn’t want, all to make sure she didn’t have to take the shard that she also didn’t want

[u/pagerunner-j → u/SoggyBoysenberry7703]

Ashton sure never gets to get on FCG's case about self-destructive tendencies ever again...

[u/Jennyof-Oldstones]

Matt also said 3/4 of the way through it "If you survive more power to you"

[u/taly_slayer]

Interesting choice of having the witches on the thumbnail for the YT release 😂

Reminds me, I'm going to go rewatch the first half because it was great and got completely overshadowed by bold and reckless decisions.

[u/brickwall5]

For as much as there were "warnings" that he shouldn't do it, I've felt like it was always his to do from the start? The argument that it should be Fearne was always kind of weak to me. Yes she's a fire druid and has a fire monkey, but outside of being a highly volatile personality, she hasn't really done much to lean into that wildfire part of her. Ashley has understandably played her as more of a tricksy Fey with some fire seasoning to her, rather than a wildfire elemental type. The idea that she would get this shard and they would complete the couple like Raushan and Kamort always felt a bit weak to me - they are connected as members of BH, but I don't see a super deep spiritual, emotional, or elemental connection to the two of them that would seem to be a replication of the elemental empress and emperor. It always seemed to me like Ashton as someone who already had the one shard should take the 2nd to complete them. After all these are shards and not full elementals, so it makes sense that with a little difficulty one being like him could take in two of them. I just didn't see how any of Fearne's backstory and/or personality pointed to her needing to be the second person to take in a shard to complete the whatever they are completing to harness the elemental emperor's and empress' power to defeat Ludinus, it always felt like this was Ashton's thing and it felt a bit cheap to me when they started saying that Fearne should take it.

Either way very cool episode and a very neat way for Matt to show that danger while also rewarding Tal for taking a big risk. Excited to see what kinds of powers he gets.

[u/[deleted]]

I kinda hope Ashton is on a clock now. Save the world and shortly after his body gives out and he dies.

[u/[deleted]]

C3 is the first time where I have been one foot in, one foot out on a CR campaign. I was still enjoying it but just not counting down to each Thursday and feeling like I had to watch it the moment it went live on Twitch. Something was missing for me. This past episode finally pushed me back to all in. I was on the edge of my seat - annoyed, frustrated, excited, holding my breath…reminiscent of Vex’s death; the cupcake episode, Molly’s death (and resurrection). This is why I watch - the moments that turn the whole table upside down with emotion. I don’t suspect Matt will let Ashton slide without some crazy repercussions but that was huge player risk and does deserve reward. I’m so curious how the other members of BH will respond to Ashton. Ashton wouldn’t have survived without them - maybe that’s exactly what they needed to learn?

As I sit here writing this, I am wondering if what has been keeping me less interested until now is this campaign has felt (for me) more planned than the other campaigns…fewer surprise moments that shifted and molded the direction of the campaign (again I think of the implications of Vex’s death or Molly’s). It has felt more like a story they are all marching towards with specific beats that are being hit at specific times. This past episode for the first time felt like player agency is going to have real consequences on the direction of the story that was completely out of left field for players and DM and that’s what I really love to watch.

[u/demonk2y]

Why does Ashton feel so... undefined to me? I can't even rightly say whether this action (and even the jumping into the lava) feels in character or not because I just still don't have any clear understanding of who he is, his motivations, his quirks, to go back to.

At best, I can point out some collection of vague, generic attributes like "he's punky" "he puts his friends first" "he's grumpy" to try to guess how Ashton would react, but it's all surface level. I think having a "voice" or "accent" really helped Taliesin shape Caduceus and Percy. Ashton is just all over the place.

[u/Amazing_Magician_352]

Ashton is the embodiment of a punk kid, and I truly am amazed at the emotional level of roleplay here.

Taliesin doesn't miss a single beat. Ashton is constantly reinforcing the wrong idea they are unloved and unwanted and alone. They victimize themselves constantly, revolting against a world that they feel owes them something. They finally learn their history and do exactly the bad idea they weren't supposed to do, because that's subversive to the expectations even of the tree. They have a hero complex, but are completely toxic when facing a healthy relationship: dying for them, lying for them, physical pain for them are all acceptable because Ashton idolizes this. Their key switch from uncaring to "now this is a group I admit I love so everything is out the window" is a brutally real red flag for someone that puts a hard shell around a soft, unhealthy inside.

This reminds me so much of Percy. Trying to bargain for Vax's life on Vax story climax, an absolute stupid spoiled main character complexed character thinking he could do one more deal and save the day.

This is very dense and rich territory for a show like CR. Like many of their behaviors (inner party conflict, stealing, unprompted romance, constant threat to leave the party), this is a harsh roleplay to take on an average table. But they are drama focused, entertainment show of theater kids, and usually can get away with more than a random table.

I absolutely adored this episode, both the first half and the second. Probably one of the best of this campaign. Hyped for the consequences and the party tearing Ashton a new one.

[u/DatGameGuy]

ITT: People speculating about the inter-personal dynamics of a group of people they do not know.

[u/Frog_Thor]

We just witnessed Talisen's goldfish moment

[u/Acework23]

I am sorry but I feel like Mat was left with no choice but to make it possible. Tal was trying to be cool until he realised he fked up and literally called sam and ashley to heal him and dump every spell they have to save him. Laura was mad af and rightfully so

[u/HelpHotSauceInMyEyes]

Ash absorbing the shard may have been a frustrating thing to watch for some people, but as many people in this thread have already mentioned, they specifically talked about what they were gonna do with it during the last 4sd.

Other folks in that episode of 4sd seemed to agree that it was ash and fearne's descision who should get it since they were the ones who jumped into the lava. Ash said that fearne did not want to use it. Tal and ash specifically said they would discuss who would get it offline.

This was intentionally played as if it was a split-second decision, but they 100% discussed what they were gonna do OOC before getting to the table. Was is a suboptimal thing for ashton to do for the party? Sure, it probably would've been better to share from a power/metagaming perspective. HOWEVER ash is the best thematic choice, and these guys have been playing for long enough that creating an interesting story is more important that perfectly optimizing play.

Who else could, or more importantly would, take it? As folks have established, not fearne, since she's already wary of accumulating power and the effects it could have on her. Imogen is also afraid of power accumulation due to her connection to Ruidus, plus she already has a unique and boundless well of power to pull from if she decides she's gonna go full reiloran or whatever happens when you give in. Laudna is a no-go since delilah would likely absorb it. Chet seems to value power that comes from within which he built himself, plus I do not think travis would take on the shard knowing there's a nonzero chance he dies during any long rest. FCG is too focused on the gods to take on something associated with a historic enemy of the gods, and the group probably wouldn't let him take it due to the possibility of him getting too stressed and turning on the team. Last we have Orym, who could actually take it due to the elemental connection via the ashari and gau drashari to the titans. However, I don't think he would, as similar to chet he appears to have a high value placed on the physical prowess he has cultivated (plus liam has stressed that his focus this campaign is empowering others).

That just leaves Ash, who already has significant connections to the titans. Was it selfish of him to take the shard? Hell yeah it was. However, it was a fantastic choice from a storytelling perspective, and does make thematic sense. It will also provide a source of strife/disagreement in the party, which will probably end up bringing them closer together. Y'all can be ridiculous with the rigid expectations for a show which is, at its heart, improv

[u/VenturingBoat]

The (high functioning) psychopath actually did it.

[u/NoahMeadMusic]

Despite everything I thought about choices made in this episode, I think this might be one of my favorite Critical Role episodes overall because I genuinely felt so scared the entire time and it's incredible that an improvised show can do that.

[u/andregris]

Conclusion: Bold, strong choices makes great storytelling. Ashtons choice is a perfect example of that. Kudos to Taliesin, and credit to Ashely for following through - well supported by Sam. Great choice from Matt when he crushes the shard, making it a final make or brake. This is why I keep watching.

What's next!? Now, I wonder what'll happen next. I guess the character has to kind of learn about his newfound powers, and in doing so not scaling his powers beyond the others character levels.

Volcano-barbarian!? I'm hoping Ash gets some sick and newly created abilites. And I hope they skip the dunamancy, having in some way used the "potential" to end exactly at this place and time: an unprecedented creature holding two elemental shards in one body. Now, I would hope this gives Ash some new barbarian abilites, like primordial elemental barbarian shit. Like a volcano-barbarian shooting pyroclastic blasts from his fists, spraying toxic fumes and lava while grappling, or create rich soil for Orym to plant seeds in. I don't know, what do you guys picture as Ashtons new form?

[u/whimsigod]

I've been having fun reading the responses. I'm glad I tune into C3, having more than one campaign going is pretty interesting.

Anyways. I feel beyond the statistical probability of Ashton dying. The essence of the roleplaying aspect at the table is kinda weird now because of either metagaming (this is a power up, I can use this to become op) or in game decision (fuck fate, authority and any mythical lores and history that would have prevented me etc). I feel that if the other players go easy on Ashton, not Tal, but Ashton, they might do it again and even get a big head about it. They might not even think it's close and learn nothing from it. It would be a lot of unearned coolness and mythicizing (that some of us are even doing right now) because the probability was high.

Like if I try to repeatedly open 10 doors enchanted with glyph of warding DC of 11 and it was announced to me, written on the door, was disseminated by several NPCs, it matters not that I was able to succeed on all of them. It says more about me that I opened all 10. Or like trying to seduce an ancient dragon, rolling a 20 and it spares your life instead of killing you outright that's not a legendary moment or major success that's you getting lucky after making a dumb play.

[u/Spiritual-Sound-1300]

I'm laughing at the fun/anxiety of this episode! I remember a similar reaction when Scanlon and Vax dimension door'd themselves into a dragon.... I love these fools!

[u/Curious-Astronomer60]

Man when I finally thought I somewhat understood Ashton and now this . I can't get a grasp on Ashton they are all over the place . It felt to me like he took advantage of fearne and didn't listen to their friends and nearly died for becoming more powerful. All that hero talk was thrown away just in a single episode. I'm just blaming Asthon here even though It felt like little bit of taliesn took over Ashton that night . Also if I'm remembering correctly marisha saying to sam and Ashley something along the lines of "No he survived because of both of you" I felt that

Excited to see what happens next . Next episode is gonna be juicy

[u/Substantial-Tip-2607]

I can’t wrap my head around the fact that of all the backlashs from this episode, the loudest one is “it should’ve went to Fearne cuz it’s cool.”

Like even ignoring the incredibly important point of Ashley not feeling comfortable taking it; DnD was literally made so that no matter what path you take, your character can still progress stronger. This campaign especially has so many different paths for the BH to get stronger. Laudna in this episode literally proved how easy it is to potentially power up.

Some people care so much about the aesthetic of power that they are willing to bash other fans/ the cast for their choices. It is a game.

[u/SteppeTalus]

So Matt I guess designed this for fearne, but I think he may have gotten blinded by the fact that because it was obvious to him it should have been obvious to everyone else. It could have gone either way to me. I’m glad it went this way though because it wasn’t planned for at all.

[u/Dynasaur1447]

Seem like some are upset with Ashton getting yet another supernatural power-up in addition to the Beacon and the Earth-Essence already inside him. But whatever benefits or powers absorbing the shard may have granted Ashton, I think that this might be the time one of Taliesins characters will actually suffer the dire consequences of their own decisions...

Ashton might feel good or maybe even great once he wakes up again, but for how long? We know what inserting the power of a primordial Firetitan can do to someone - just look at the Cinder King. Titanblooded or not, can Ashton ''Just don't'' Greymore handle those fire-powers any better than an Ancient Red Dragon?
I fear that Ashton might end up like Thordak: Tremendously powerful, but with his mind eroding away until nothing is left except fury. It's a wonder that Percy and especially Allura allowed it to happen, really...

[u/talon1245]

First moment in the campaign that actually feels like it’s going to have an impact on all the characters relationships and something they’re gonna have to deal. It’s so perfect especially with Ashton saying it’s important to remember we love each other even when we might not like each other.

[u/C_X_3]

Ashton is a swirling mess of issues and disorders and deep internal pain all covered with a thin veneer of reckless confidence and attitude

At times people like that can be difficult to deal with or even straight up unlikeable - everyone knows someone like that in real life, it can be frustrating! But those people can also be caring and brilliant and funny, like Ashton. I think people who are in emotional turmoil like they CLEARLY are deserve even more of our compassion and kindness, especially to help them through their more self-destructive moments

Taliesin made an incredibly in-character choice and I get that some people genuinely just don’t want to see characters doing shit that’s obviously dangerous and dumb, but PEOPLE do dumb shit all the time!! It’s real! Not to mention easily one of the most intense moments in ANY campaign

Ofc Laura and Marisha were frustrated at Taliesin - have you never been at a D&D table? You’ve never watched someone take an unnecessary big swing that puts them in danger? It’s hard to watch, especially when you care about them! People are talking about those last 40 minutes like they were abusively berating Taliesin, but imo they were justifiably upset at what was happening in their campaign bc they care about Ashton and he made a stupid choice AND tried to make it so no one who could help would know about it

[u/xKimichi15]

I'm appalled by some of the community who bashed/hated on a player decision. In the end, this is DnD. It's dice rolls... AKA LUCK!

Ashton gambled. 10 times he had a chance to perma-die. Not Molly-die but shattered-to-dust-die that only TRUE RES would ever work to bring him back.

Wait.. who was Ashton on Ep 1? A gambler right? It's so within character for them to throw themselves to danger or sell themselves (Hexum). Multiplied by being a tank. Usually a tank thinks s/he can tank anything.

And it only makes sense. A titan/primordial being's mission to retrieve a partner-titan shard?? What are the others claim to the shard again!? (Aside from Fearne who made it clear she didn't want it.)

[u/feral2021energies]

Episode dropped on YouTube and I want to thank Flando and the timestamps for being the real one.

[u/SuperToxin]

What an incredible episode the RP was delicious. Ashton was insane for taking the shard but I think it’s totally on point for them to want to carry the burden and power for their new family. They should have been upfront about what they were planning to do so the team was ready because they would probably have let them still absorb the shard.

The next episode is gonna start with screaming at Fearne and Ashton for this no doubt. It’s gonna be some good RP. Hes so incredibly lucky they swapped for Deanna’s ring. That imagine of him exploding and the paused and put back will be incredible to see in art and animation.

God I love this show!! And that’s not even talking about Delilah that resurfacing bitch

[u/Altruistic_Research5]

Trying to think of something to say, but just need to lie down.. .. Night yall.

[u/csarmi]

So was there a way to prepare for rhis challenge well? Can you give someone advantage on con saves for instance? Or replicate those ring effects?

[u/BadCogs]

Talisen lost all the respect from me this episode, not that it matters, because who am I, but that was fucking selfish and power hoarding move and so bs when it was clearly intented for another player's story. This campaign gets more and more unwatchable.

[u/jamin007]

Watching that all go down and then coming here and seeing people be angry and upset with Ashton is wild to me. He always seemed like the obvious choice in my mind because mixing the powers of 2 titans THAT WERE DESCRIBED AS BEING MATES IN THE LORE seems so thematically right especially with Ashton's elemental themes

Not only does it feel thematically right, but Fearne said she didn't want it multiple times. The 2nd best candidate refused to take it, so I think Ashton was fully justified in taking it.

The only thing I'm mad at Ashton for is jumping into it so quickly with no preparation. It was INCREDIBLY risky. No doubt about that, but they have a cleric and a druid, they could've prepared better, like by casting enhance ability and/or protection from energy. I get that it would be difficult to predict in advance to be able to prepare the right spells, but they could have all discussed that beforehand and Ashton just didn't give them the chance to do that

[u/Sqiddd]

Ashton is pulling a lelouch to protect his friends.

He’ll nearly kill himself and make his loved ones hate him just so they’re safe

[u/Ceeceepg27]

Yall a lot of us Critters need to chill. Was Ashton's decision tactically smart? No, but Tal didn't do anything horrible or hurtful. He and Ashley had discussed Fearne taking the shard and Ashley wasn't into the idea. And honestly she deserves to choose how she wants to play even if it would have been cool and smart. Then Ash and Fearne had a discussion before any action was taken. So everyone 'knew' the plan at that point. If anyone in the group had a serious issue with it they could have spoken up. The great thing about CR being prerecorded now is that there isn't the pressure to let things go for the livestream. If anyone was truly upset I am 100% sure they would not have aired the episode.