#Cree Deeproots

[fra4tas]

WIP??

[ludinusdaleth]

-Critical Role Campaign 2, Episode 13, "Lost & Found"

[manueltorresart]

It's Critical Role art time.

Working for the Gentleman and somehow connected to Molly, this week is Cree's turn.

This panther tabaxi is a NPC voiced by Matthew Mercer in @criticalrole.

[tealbird5]

Gate Thumbnail art of the Mighty Nein Ep 136 for ViewMasters

Tips Commission request form

[valdrift]

*IN TEARS* LUCIEN U SUCK SO BAD

[cringefaecompilation]

yes i made this post specifically for the cougar joke with otohan and cree. sue me

(slightly more passive aggressive one about briarwoods under the cut)

[grayintogreen]

HELLO FELLOW NEIN AGAIN ENJOYERS. And happy Tombtakers Loredrop Day. Today I bring you a preview of a long term event coming this summer.

Are you sad that all the enticing lore dropped in CR2 episode "Fleeting Memories" might as well be an eternity away from bearing fruit? Did you think Cree was a fun NPC and wanted more of her? Are you a fan of fix-it fanfic that barely fixes anything and in fact just makes everything a little bit worse?

Well, I have something you might enjoy!

In honor of Nein Again reaching episode 26 on the day of LitMoR's fourth anniversary, I'm going to be running a weekly "bookclub" for the series to run parallel with Nein Again starting July 29th. You can find the full schedule for the entire duology, plus side stories and intermissions here (more dates to be added depending on where I get with the third mega novel and yet it's still going to take less time to get through than Nein Again). It runs exactly like Nein Again, only its a really long fanfic.

And you may be asking yourself? Uh, what's LitMoR? And I'm GLAD YOU ASKED.

life in the margins of redemption is a post-episode 26 canon divergent series I started writing four years ago after the end of Campaign Two to satiate my incredible need to retell the story but slightly to the left, keeping dead characters alive, making certain plot threads and themes more prevalent, and exploring some elements from the campaign that I thought were underdeveloped simply because those just weren't the things the cast wanted to focus on (and that is valid- this is in no way me going HERE'S MY BETTER VERSION OF CANON, it's a love letter to wanting more of these characters). At 1.6 million words and the main two stories of the duology remaining in the top three longest fics in the CR tag even after all these years, it is an absolute chonker and I'm still adding to it. It's a story that is very close to my heart and I thought it would be fun for people to either re-read or discover it while taking it in in bite-size chunks as you watch how it diverges from canon and goes off in wild new directions.

Below the cut is an FAQ ranging from what you can expect to the story to how the book club will be run if you'd like to participate. If there are any other questions, please don't hesitate to send me an ask! I look forward to seeing how this goes. Hopefully it'll be fun for the people who would love an excuse to reread and for new readers alike.

WHY ARE YOU DOING IT?

I've been told numerous times by people that LitMoR looks interesting, but is ultimately very daunting and intimidating. By promoting a book club, I hope that maybe those people who have wanted to read it will find it easier to do so. Also a lot of people who have read it thought it would be cool to do.

WHAT WILL WE BE DOING?

Whatever you like! You can read the assigned chapter and go "that's nice" and never do anything else. You can leave a comment on AO3! You can join my Discord and talk about it with other people. You can talk about it on tumblr. You can not do any that at all and instead do some secret additional thing. It's really up to you how you engage with it. I just ask that you be polite about it. It's all in fun.

WHAT IF I DON’T LIKE IT?

Back button. I really don't expect this to be a huge thing- it's just something that I'm proud of and want to share it with others and if there's a way to share it that makes it easier on people to read, that's great! But I will not be coming to your house and demanding you give me my flowers. I just ask, again, that you be nice. If it's not for you, it's not for you.

WHAT CHARACTERS DOES THIS FOCUS ON?

This is an ensemble story, so while there are significant narrative beats dedicated to Molly, Cree, and eventually Lucien, every character is given a chance to shine and have their own subplots and arcs. A lot of arcs still play out as they did in canon, but under radically different circumstances and in new ways and some characters whose personal growth wasn't focused on as much even get some additional layers.

WHAT IS THE SHIPPING/ROMANCE VIBE LIKE?

My rule of thumb is that if you absolutely despise any of the ships listed, this series isn't for you, but if you're indifferent at worst, you'll probably be okay, because the shipping is on par with how canon treats it- i.e. it's part of some characters' arcs, but it does not derail the plot nor does the romance override other relationships. Everyone is still intensely weird about one another, regardless of whether or not they are kissing.

EXPLAIN THE RATING

The rating is for violence, gore, intense situations, and a lot of mindfuckery, but I wouldn't say any of it is atypical of what you would see in canon. The tags represent anything that comes up more than once, but if something is specific to a chapter, I will usually put it in the author's notes.

WHAT TAGS SHOULD I USE IF I WANT TO POST ABOUT IT?

LitMoR, LitMoR bookclub or life in the margins of redemption are good tags to use! I would avoid using canon CR tags unless you're just really into them for organizational purposes so to not to annoy people who aren't here for this. I'm trying to make this as fun and hassle-free for all sides of the line. I will only be using the CR tags for this post and the starting post and every subsequent bookclub post after will be tagged with the series name or "LitMoR bookclub" to keep things tidy and not annoying so you can either follow me or the LitMoR bookclub tag for updates.

WILL THIS SPOIL FUTURE EPISODES?

If you are aware of things that are coming up narratively even if you don't know the details, then you should be okay, because for the first few weeks OUADYA will follow pretty close to canon before it wildly diverges and doesn't pick up canon events until much, much later. If you want ZERO spoilers ever, then you might wanna sit it out, because while it does take lore in a different direction and does operate under its own thing, it will likely spoil a lot of things for you.

I have heard that it's possible to enjoy the fic if you haven't seen the full campaign if you don't care about utterly spoiling yourself! If you decide to stop watching after episode 26 for... reasons, it is actually fully able to be enjoyed with just that context.

HOW CANON COMPLIANT IS THIS?

It does not consider TNEOL or Molly and Caduceus's Origins comics canon (the first story was written before any of them came out), and does, again, take things in wildly different directions and has intense, deep, and maybe not exactly what was intended by Matt and the cast, lore, on top of occasionally throwing out certain spell rules that get in the way of good storytelling (like Doric's infinite wildshapes in the Dungeons & Dragon movie). I do have it on good authority that my characterization is pretty damn accurate, but you'd have to ask the frequent readers to weigh in on that.

Also shockingly, I have accidentally predicted a lot of canon events, which is very funny.

[mareastrorum]

I'm still dancing in my chair that Liliana got Cree'd.

Yes, show me the depths the main villain will resort to to ensure success. Show me what they're willing to sacrifice at the altar of their own desires. Yesssss.

[quinn-of-aebradore]

CR Non-Endgame Ships Round 1b

All HeroForge designs by myself, quinn-of-aebradore

Lucien x Cree art by @valdrift

Rules, parameters, and poll links here

[tiefbeef]

“Good to be Cree — I mean, free.”

I see what you did there, Travis Willingham, even if it happened so fast that no one at the table picked up on it. 😂

[tatersdoesstuff]

I just finished reading @grayintogreen 's life in the margins of redemption series and I Am So Normal About It

[critter-genfic-events]

Cuddling: A Genfic Rec List

This week we've got eleven fics that feature cuddling! Mostly platonic, including hugs between Yasha and Kingsley, some Bells Hells cuddle piles, and Vax and Percy sharing some warmth. Check them out underneath the cut, and if you like them, remember to kudos and comment!

with my last breath by ivelostmyspectacles (15684,General) Warnings: None Pairings: Mollymauk Tealeaf/Caleb Widogast

Caleb and Molly get separated from the party with little to no supplies, it's cold and wet and the caves may just be trying to kill them (plus feelings)

Reccer says: My favorite kind of cuddling is the trauma kind and this fic feels like it could have just been taken right out of canon. This is also a pre-relationship story so it's low on romance- just feelings and people suffering in dire circumstances together.

Whomever You Call Out to in the Night by Dira Sudis (dsudis) (6587,Teen) Warnings: Nightmares of people burning, Caleb-typical self-esteem issues, non-sexual rope bondage Pairings: Caduceus & Caleb

The time Caleb accidentally killed Caduceus with a fireball haunts his nightmares. Caduceus offers him comfort in the form of wise words, tea, and physical security.

Reccer says: The characterization in this fic is just so good; I can honestly imagine it being canon (and the author does, in fact, tie it back to a minor canon detail I'd forgotten about). Caduceus's actions are cathartic for Caleb, but the way it's all described is also cathartic for me as a reader.

Nasturtium by Clare_Hope (1641,General) Warnings: None Pairings: Fearne Calloway & Orym

One night on the Silver Sun while Laudna is still dead, Orym is fetched from the deck by a little elemental monkey who is worried about his Fearne.

Reccer says: I just love their friendship so much

A Quiet, Gentle Grief by piratesPencil (1972,Teen) Warnings: Pairings: Kingsley Tealeaf & Yasha

Yasha and Kingsley talk about Molly.

Reccer says: It allows Yasha to be friends with Kingsley, to mourn Molly, and allows for Kingsley and Molly to be different people.

Hot Rocks by MasterQwertster (1050,Teen) Warnings: None Pairings: None

Ashton makes a surprisingly good bed-warmer. …If you can get them to agree to it. aka Bells Hells cuddle pile

Reccer says: Who doesn't like a good cuddle pile fic? And a little Ashton character exploration too.

lingers like smoke by romeoandjulietyouwish (1231,General) Warnings: None Pairings: Clarabelle Clay & Caduceus Clay

Clarabelle has a nightmare after the fire. She goes to her brother for comfort.

Reccer says: I love fics that feature the Clays as a family and take time to explore what it was like for the rest of the Clays to have their home destroyed

Filling the Spaces In Between by MeilinLuo13 (2551,General) Warnings: None Pairings: Fearne Calloway & Orym of the Air Ashari & Dorian Storm

On how the cuddle pile came to be

Reccer says: It's extremely sweet and cozy!

The Cut of His Jib by Nenia458 (6542,Teen) Warnings: hypothermia, ptsd flashbacks, past torture Pairings: Percy & Vax, mentions of Percy/Vex and Keyleth/Vax

Pre-Stream, Vox Machina take a job that requires half of their group (Vax, Vex, and Percy) to be on a ship. Vax learns a little more about Percy's past

Reccer says: Percy is very much in character - alternating between being arrogant, traumatized, and an utter nerd, and Vax's thought patterns also seem very true to the show.

Keep Your Friends Close (The Ones You Have Left) by Angel Ascending (angel_in_ink) (2779,General) Warnings: None Pairings: Ashton & Laudna & Orym

Post-Solstice, half of the hells try to make it through the night

Reccer says: It's heartbreaking and sweet and makes me ache for all of the characters

Absence and Adhesion by bluegreenamber (1234,Mature) Warnings: Hypothermia Pairings: Lucien Tavelle & Cree Deeproots

The Somnovem don't need some mortal priest to bring their Nonagon back to life once the vessel blessed with their nine eyes has been emptied once more. Unfortunately, the Nonagon still struggles with the limitations of his newly restored body.

Reccer says: I like how it treats Cree and Lucien's relationship - that Lucien is trying to leave everything behind, but Cree still follows him.

Soft As It Began by Belphegor (1794,General) Warnings: None Pairings: Scanlan Shorthalt/Pike Trickfoot, Scanlan Shorthalt & Vax'ildan, Pike Trickfoot & Vax'ildan

Post Campaign one. The problem with writing a sad ballad about lost friends is that someone is bound to request it every now and then.

Reccer says: I love seeing Pike and Scanlan as an actual couple, talking through their grief over Vax.

If you liked this rec list, follow along for more! We'll be posting a new list with a new theme each Monday. Want to make your own recs? Check out the rules, and then use the form to submit!

Next week, we're featuring FCG! Whether it's therapy, or murder, or something in between, rec your favorite gen fics that feature them!

The weeks after that, it's going to be Forgiveness, Canon Divergent AU's, and then Grief.

If you're looking for some more, there's been some new entries in the critter genfic bingo tag! Or you can request your own card and join in on the fun!

[ludinusdaleth]

"You do see three not quite as ancient corpses."

the remains of the tombtakers.

-Critical Role Campaign 3, Episode 96, "Shadows New and Old"

[redstarcat]

Sometimes I think of them and wish of what they could of had )’:

[talktalitha]

I think we, as a fandom, could be more insane about Cree

[noxspost]

bone and blood feed the ground

Additional Tags: Sarai Lives (The Dragon Prince), Harrow in Pip's Body (The Dragon Prince), Presumed Dead. Song: Soldier Poet King (The Oh Hellos), what if, Blood and bone magicInspired by Apollo's Curse of Cassandra (Ancient Greek Religion & Lore), Messengers are protected under xadia on both sides, Sarai lives in the border now with harrow in pip's body, Inspired By a Sleeping At Last Song, Song: Mars (Sleeping At Last), Song: Eight (Sleeping At Last), Demigod Sarai (The Dragon Prince), Evrkynd, (The Dragon Prince), Quote: I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot but it's weird that it happened twice (Phineas&Ferb), Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Tags May Change, artemisia gentileschi - Freeform

Ethari, cree and Sarai were walking in the darkness of night. The sky was deep blue and purple the stars were big and bright. The tents were lights among the dark shadows. Their cloaks of shadows thanks to cree being able to take the light away from the lamps and bonfires as they walk by.

They were on a mission. They were going to stop Octavian and Laura. one of the giantess who led the giants. Cree was stepping softly like a Riptide waiting to pull someone. Sarai had the tent pegs in the basket wrapped individually with cloth as to silence the rattling. Sarai looks at Ethari who was the most tense his body tightening with anticipation is he led the group they moved in between the shadows.

Ethari had done this before. Cree using her light ability to smuff and snort out the lights as they came closer as the bonfire danced in the middle casting longer and longer shadows. the night sky became darker and darker and the Stars revealing the galaxy above the game brighter and brighter.

they were careful they planned this they were going to protect their loved ones. they were going to kill the people trying to hurt their home it was better to die standing than to die on their knees even. Ethari didn't trust half of Camp Half-Blood for not believing him when he had said repeatedly that the Hermes child Luke was the person doing all the terrible things. it was so obvious yet they only believed it when Percy Jackson told them.

He was the favorite of them all. He still cared for the buggers. Cree was down for pretty much any form of Justice there was no professional court system out here in the realm of demigods monsters, divine beings and divine adjacent.

Ethari smiles as he then went to his tent and before he shuts the 10 flap he turns to his two compatriots. Ths two accessories to a murder soon to happen "go get Octavian will deal with Laura in the morning."Sarai smirks it's a wicked grin of teeth too much teeth and Cree just looks extremely excited she nods and quickly turns around to go find Octavian. Sarai stays behind before she then spoke "be careful that grandchild to Apollo has a thick school and I fear would be too thick for these tent pegs." She got a look from ethari who smiles "I have made comb Shanks with a lot more sharpness than these pegs and they do the exact same thing." This makes the Belladonna child smirk snort a bit before she went into the bushes to hide to wait for the signal to help athari kill Octavian it did take a bit like 2 hours for the auger to show up.he was slightly drunk as his unstable walking pattern suggested and that was to their advantage because he was hopefully inebriated enough that he wouldn't pay attention to what tent he stumbled into.

That teen was a seedy, skinny almost weasel like boy who had blonde hair and a sharp face they made him look even more starved.He couldn't even cut actual animals to see the future hit Stoops a lot of kill stuffed animals which is a pain to repair after Perseus got his memories Rewritten and sent off with a pillow pet sarai and Cree were still furious with Octavian. Vesper had seen the man's future and how he will die.

But that boy had spat in her face and said that was not true he was not going to die at something so stupid you hear he was stumbling his way into athari's tent not so gracefully despite the fact the flap was open wet enough he didn't really need to struggle to get inside.

Ethari holds the sharpest peg and his hammer behind himself as the descendant fell directly on his face and into a couple of cushions Authority needed to play it cool before he would signal for a Sarai to get her butt inside and help him deliver the blow.

he looked at the potion that was made by Vesper that would induce a coma like sleep making it painless for the teen who was about to die and easier for ethari to do his job.

he would make it quick he wasn't a monster he was violent but didn't have to be disgusting about it this was a matter of protecting a future and Octavian had led himself down the same path he work to aviod to fall into.

ethari wanted to laugh wanted to Snicker and tease Octavian. Yet ethari wasnt heartless as he watches the teen struggled to just simply get off the pile of pillows which was barely a pile. it was two square-shaped pillows that were a lot skinnier and puffier than anything after Octavian flopped around like a dying dish for a bit with no coordination.

he finally hoisted himself up to stand weakly before he nearly fell face first again this time a good three feet away from the pillows that he had struggled to get up from. Ethair sighs silently. Ethari simply smiled as Octavian sees him "hello." Ethari now with charm speak was activated one thing that could counteract his charm speak is an obsidian made ear gauge was placed into your perforated ears.

it wouldn't Grant you complete immunity but it would give you some resistance which was very useful.How are we feeling today and the reaction to the spell was almost immediate Octavian seem to falter his knees buckling a bit as if he was not expecting to see a Moonshadow elf specifically a child of Venus in this tent he hiccuped a bit before saying "why are you in my tent?" Ethari looked at him not condescendingly but sympathetically "you stumbled into the wrong tent. yours is 3 tents to the left." Ethari said in the most kindest fake voice the magic was working.octavian's blue eyes had a bit of a tint of purple to them as he felt deeper into the spell. "I am fine! I will...." he mumbles something as he stumbles and ethari went to aid in standing "woah now sir there is no way we can bring glory if you cannot lead us please rest here so you will not make a mockery of yourself."

The condescension was plainly there now but Octavian was too far to realize it. He weak as a kitten and had the anger to match it now.

"No one will!" He snaps like a kitten as they are being given shots. "Oh course but I must tell you to stay here so we don't lose a great person like you for we need you before every battle to make sure that we are in the gods favor." Octavian like the stroke to his ego.he can he gave in and he asked "and how will you help me?"

it was a gargled mess. "Well this," he shows the other the small bottle "this is Poppy milk will help you get a good night's sleep and will help with the hangover in the morning." Octavian was skeptical but the curing a hangover was not a lie he was not going to have a hangover tomorrow because he would be dead.

Ethari just prayed that the Peg and the hammer were not noticeable to the other man's eyes.there was a bit of back and forth as they argued with a sorry was more like like teasing while Octavian was trying to regain some form of dignity. Much Ethari's joy he did take the poppy milk. He drunk it all and soon enough was gently laid on the floor on his side.Ethari's gentle but more blood soaked hands were holding his head and guides his body down. How terrible they should give some dignity to the person who he's about to kill

Octavian's head facing the flap quickly enough ethari walked out pretending everything was normal and he turned to the bushes. He had to hide his excitement "all right come out now I know there's a kitty there."

Which was the code word for get your butt over here the guys now asleep it was a little bit embarrassing but it worked soon enough ethari and Sarai were there quickly enough she closed the flap to the tent locking it.then quick to put a spell to make sure no one was going to think about undoing the straps and lifting up the flap.soon enough Ethari had the tent Peg lined up directly above the spot above the ears. Octavian was dead fast asleep his snoring's soft and gravelly."

one good swing to the skull could end his entire life." she said a bit remorseful "yeah and thousands would live." He spoke with sweetness that only had venom from everyone else not sarai "a thousands is a bit much no?" Sarai counted.The moon shadow elf smiles "right friends and the future demigod children now if his head becomes a cracked nut."

"the brain matter is going to go everywhere." Spoke sarai sadly"not if I hit it just right." Ethari quickly countered as he then lined up his hammer and he slowly guided his way in the motions and preparing himself. His strong arms from days in the Forge with the other hephestus kids made it pretty easy using a hammer with one hand. This is a pivotal moment this could end their existences or bring somethung new. he looked to his friend his sister in arms.

she gave him a knowing look as if this could easily make them Martyrs. They could he dead or alive Martyrs, yet tyey prefer to live. if they had to they would stand before they tied to give one last few to the powers above them. Sarai was extremely excited when she sees the glowing eyes of a angered Ethari. He was giving justice to the wrong and keeping others safe.one final time of preparing himself softly counted one one practice swing to is lifted above his head and in a moment of decision it came crashing Down.

Ethari's face was fixed in this steadfast committed expression. he wasn't scared he never was. he knew what he had set out to do today and when that peg went through Octavian skull the only sound coming from him was a wheeze and the sound of his bones crunching underneath the peg.

the hammer also added a lot more damage to the surrounding area making it a lot more painful yet quicker. The man barely had enough time to open his eyes and struggle and realize what had happened.

Sarai's eyes close and tighen when the hammer came crashing down so fast. Ethari didn't feel anything unusual besides pure relief when the man's heart stopped beating. the Belladonna child with him had given the satisfaction enjoyment of a job well done. "He is dead." Ethari felt a smile break through his Stern expression there was little blood with the exception of the blood spilled it out on impact but they were quick to dispose of the body by throwing it in the river.

Sarai raises her flask hoping whatever found the body next would make sure to pick it clean from the bone