#EXU Spoilers

[quinn-of-aebradore]

I love how we’re getting to see the softer, kinder side of the Dawnfather, when every other time we’ve seen him, he’s been all the glaring harshness of the sun. This is the kindness, the first sunbeams of dawn, the first harvest after a blight, because that’s his domain too, the harvest.

[elementalladymallorie]

"I'M NOT NEGOTIATING!" "I'm not negotiating. Just one more thing."

-Negotiations are going well.

[lostsometime]

So today I’m feeling emotional about Laerynn Coramar-Seelie and her answer, when the incredulous villain gives her the standard Foiled Villain Exclamation of “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?”, being a tiny whisper of, “My best.”

Because isn’t that the dream? Especially for someone who had all sorts of expectations piled on them, both from other people and from yourself, isn’t that the ideal? You know you’ve done your best, and it was enough. It was enough. You were enough.

“My best.

Finally.”

[hellebore-petall]

DnDtober Day 9: Prismatic

This was a really ambitious drawing for me (drawing people is not my strong suit usually) but boy was I ever glad I took the risk and drew Laerryn and Loquatius' final moment.

[simplysparrow14]

the fact that it’s been revealed that this clown of a wizard Ludinus has been searching for the Raven Queens name for so long helps make the plot line all the way back in EXU: Kymal about Morrighan The Lagomor, this random ass rabbit girl hopping around Exandria, following the birdsong of a Raven, destroying busts that had the OG Raven Queen’s name makes so much sense now.

[greatfairymagic]

the raven queen hates her slut (dawn)dad

[fortunesfaevor]

Listen, I know people are big on Dorian and Orym, but I have been a Dariax and Dorian shipper from day one, and my Doriax heart is soaring!

[rohanrider3]

The Shattered Teeth islands never stop moving, huh?

Sounds an awful lot like an ever-shifting pattern.

Like petals blowing away from a tree.

As in the Tree of Names.

Which, come to think of it, was destroyed at almost exactly (give or take several gripping hours of game-play and heartbreaking ends to The Brass Ring and Avalir) the same time as the Shattered Teeth Islands were created.

But it'd be CRAAAAAAAAZY to have MOVING ISLANDS STILL BE SPELLING OUT NAMES TO KEEP OUT THINGS that are/were/have since been banished out of Exandria, (like, perchance, the essences of two very scattered but if still somehow existing, prob still real pissed Titans?!!)

It'd be SUPER CRAZY.

CRAZY AWESOME!!

[longlivedelusion]

hiiii I really love your ashrym fic 🥺 they're so perfectly written that it like actually hurtssss. I was wondering if you'd been open to maybe writing a dorym fic? not sure if you do that pairing but id love like an angsty fic turned comforting at the end? just cause with all the new stuff that's gone on, and how dorians not really opening up as much as he used to with orym (and now braius!)

so yeah like whatever you want with that, just want someone to write my sweet bois cause i miss them 😭

Thank you so much!! 🥹 My friend, I am a Dorym truther. I love Ashrym, don't get me wrong, but I was more Ashrym early campaign. Now, especially having watched EXU, I get it. I get it. (Will always love me a little Ashrym tho)

I love this request though! Happy to oblige ~ It's just a quick little something, but hope you enjoy nonetheless <3

SPOILERS AHEAD UNTIL LIKE EP 101 OF CAMPAIGN 3 <3 you've been warned.

The Distance Between Us (Dorian x Orym)

Angsty, hurt/comfort vibes. Nice ending.

Warnings: mention of grief, death, insecurities. Spoilers up until cr3 ep 101

Orym nearly crash landed into a tree, the force of the sudden teleportation spell from Essek causing the Hells to shoot across this new space. He grunted, slowly pushing himself up as his fists sunk into snow below him.

The air around them was cold, colder than it had been in Aeor where they were moments before. He felt the soreness in this muscles as he pushed himself up, a reminder of the battles they'd just had. A Greater Demon, Ludinus, the fall of Aeor… gods. And a new apparent member of their group, as a 6-foot minotaur now stood and shook off the snow like it was nothing. Orym stood, turning to see his friends all paired off already, trying to figure out where they were, what the hell just happened.

After quickly assessing the area and seeing no dangers, he looked to Fearne. He watched as she blinked her eyes up at the Teven, Champion of Hells, held out his hand for her. Unsure of his presence but also clearly enjoying his attentions, she grabbed his hand and stood up, wiping the snow off her dress.

Ashton was not too far off, their eyes darting between the two while they huffed up. Crossing their arms, they sizing up the new members. Essek looked exhausted, and slightly overwhelmed by the new information. Imogen was right beside him as Laudna creeped behind. Unsure.

And then Braius. With Dorian.

He watched as the minotaur reached down to help the air genasi up, with such a force that their chests collided on impact. There were awkward laughs, some flirtatious eyes and a large hand still settled on the lower back to steady Dorian. Fingers teetering on the edge of chiffon.

Hands that easily fit, bodies that easily fit. A better fit, perhaps for Dorian.

He shook his head, trying to let go of the insecurities. They barely knew each other and truthfully it didn't matter. It'd never work out anyways.

Orym's body grew colder than before, the chills settling into his very bones. But he knew the temperature hadn't changed.

He made his way to the group, aiming for Fearne as he sidled up beside her with his arms crossed. One thing at a time.

“So… what the hell is this contract?”

After a series of arguments and discussions about the fact that Fearne was now contracted to the Lord of the Hells, and that we also had another follower of said Lord of Hells now in our midst. That the weight of everything we'd just seen shedding new light on the gods changed things. We eventually settled on the fact that this would need to be discussed further with the Tempest, with everyone else.

So they now all settled around the Essek's magical hut, each separated to process everything. Too much had happened and too much had been seen.

Orym’s own body was worn, not just from the physicality of what had just happened, but the emotional toll it had taken on him and his friends. He could see the guilt lined on Chetney’s face, the heaviness of his shoulders bearing down at whatever he had seen in his vision. A lot of the group had been shown things that played on their insecurity, according to Teven, but none of them took it as hard as Chetney seemed to. Or Dorian.

He looked to his old friend, the deep creases in his brow a new sight. At least, as of late. He was curled over his knees, sat on the ground. Alone. Deep in thought.

Before it would have been easy to go up to him, talk him through whatever he was going through. Hell, Dorian might've come to him even first. But this was before Dorian left. Before he came back and looked like a shell of who he was, empty smiles and hollow eyes that became the new normal. He hadn't relied on Orym since his return, not really. Not truly opening up, despite their attempts to talk and reconnect. It felt awkward and strange and Orym didn’t know what to do.

He could leave him be, let him work out his things. Or, he could push his own insecurity aside and…

“Hey.”

Dorian’s eyes looked up at the soft sound, sending him a tired, tense smile. “Hey.”

“Mind if I sit?” Orym gestured to the space beside him.

Dorian nodded, his arms reaching up as he stretched his back and legs out. “Of course.”

Orym sat down, far enough away but still close enough so that they could talk without being overheard by the group. He looked up, Dorian's tired features looming over. “Do you wanna talk about it?”

“Talk about what?” Dorian said, his voice taking on an air of innocence.

“Whatever. What happened in there, before, anything.”

Dorian just gave off a charming smile, not even making eye contact as his hand quickly grasped Orym’s shoulder and dropping back into his lap. “It’s nothing important really, don’t worry about me. How about you, you ok?”

Orym sighed. “I’m fine. I’m more worried about you.”

“I’m ok Orym. Really.” He kept the charming smile, but noticed Dorian's hands tighten and flex.

Orym made a point to look at his hands. “Yeah?”

Dorian's hands quickly moved up and behind his head, trying to play it off. “Yeah, absolutely. Thanks for checking in though.”

The two sat in silence for a time, small whispers and wind the only sounds filling the space. Orym’s mind drifted, filling with memories of the past of his time with Fearne and Dorian. Curled together on their travels, the ease of which they told each other things, looking out for each other. Then everything happened with Opal, and the gods, and his brother… It made the distance between them seem like an ocean. He didn’t know how to bridge the gap, had struggled to since he'd returned. If he was the one meant to even anymore. No matter how much he wanted to be.

“I know it’s been… a lot. There’s so much going on and we’ve barely had a chance to breathe. I know I’m the one who asked you to come here, and this is my fault that you got caught in this but... I wanna be there for you Dorian. I wanna help you if I can. Please, let me help you.” Orym’s voice came out breathy, desperate. Similar to the voice he had the last time he sent a message on the sending stone.

Dorian spinned to face him, his face now open in shock. "Orym, no, I-" He sighed, his shoulders slumping forward. “I don’t know how I feel. Angry? Confused? Helpless?" He paused, words caught in his throat. "They had a chance to destroy them, to end the war, to leave and they-“

The halfling reached over, a comforting hand tentatively touching his knee. Dorian’s shoulders began to shake as he leaned his head forward further to cover his face. Orym's grip tightened as he listened.

“It’s the god’s faults. They did this. They had a chance to leave, to stop their siblings, but they just stayed. And now because of that Opal is controlled by the Spider Queen, Fy’ra probably too, and Cyrus- Cyrus is dead. He’s dead. Because of them.”

Orym didn’t know what to say. He knew grief, the earth shattering loss, knew his own confusion with the gods, but... He also knew how he had been helped by some of them as well. He couldn’t condemn them all for their mistakes, for the good they've done. And would Ludinus still have done and been who he was had there not been gods?

“This is all really confusing. It’s a lot.” Orym said, voice more resolute. “I don’t know what the right answer is after all of this, since it’s something that’s not so black and white. At least, I think. No matter how much as we want it to be. But we will figure it out Dorian, we’ll find a way to make this right. Or as right as we can.”

He looked up to Orym then, his eyes slightly bloodshot from tears but fierce. He could see the hint of anger, devastation, uncertainty. Stains marking down his skin, carrying down his neck. Orym wanted to reach out, so badly to wipe away his pain.

“I don’t know what’s right anymore.” Dorian said, his voice raspy yet the lull was still music to his ears. To hear him speak at all, to hear him be open with him again.

Orym reached up then, insecurities be damned as he wiped away his friend’s tears making the genasi stiffened slightly. “We’ll figure it out.”

Just as Orym was about to pull his hand away he felt a large blue hand encompass his own. Dorian’s eyes met his and he felt his body both warm and freeze in place at that moment. He watched those harsh blue eyes now soften, as Dorian whispered out. “I’ve missed you Orym, truly.”

Orym’s heart was beating so fast, a steady drum against his chest as he swallowed his nerves down. He couldn’t find the words in that moment. All he felt was Dorian’s hand curl around his own. He felt as it was pulled away and down to the ground beside them. Dorian's fingers slowly unfurling before Orym held them back, keeping him in place.

It felt like a dance, seeing who would let go first.

The Halfling struggled a moment, his voice getting caught in his throat as he gazed upon this man. This man he...

“I’m glad you’re here. So glad." Orym choked out. "Even if this all goes to shit, I’m just- I’ve missed you too. So much.”

[everypigeondeserveslove]

The Arya-Stark-ification of Pelor

[quinn-of-aebradore]

Hey. Hey. Remember that FRIDA is nearby in this moment. They were nearly obliterated by the (presumed) explosion of the Hammer. They were sent to protect it.

[elementalladymallorie]

"Do you know what a trope is? It is a thematic element... My least favorite, but it's where my heart guides me. I want revenge."

-Dorian still angry about what happened.

[magicallarynx]

There’s a super mega evil demon being killed over and over just to power an arcane engine—and this wasn’t even top priority enough to come up in EXU: Calamity?!

Laerryn Coramar Seelie what the FUCK were you up to?

[odusseus-xvi]

When you realise the difference of what Bells Hells and the Crown Keepers are going through right now it's hilarious ;

Bells Hells are tangled in conspiracies involving forgotten gods, powerful corrupt governments, Ruidus and are fighting dead necromancers to bring back a dead friend while processing different betrayals...

Meanwhile the Crown Keepers are playing Tom and Jerry with Poska and the Nameless Ones with the most cartoonesque escapes possible all the while Opal is being all "I can fix her" speaking of a literal betrayer god and convincing the Spiderqueen to let her take care of her marketing.

[renatogpadilla]

THOUGHTS ON CR3E92 IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER:

- FIRST EVER CR CROSSOVER EPISODE?!

LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

- Dariax said "This Flute doesn't play itself anymore." Doriax canon offscreen?

- "After all the handjobs, this is what we mean to you?!" Damn... I mean, I'm glad Opal and Cyrus found a way to relieve stress, Gods know they're both stressed, but damn.

- Ending the episode on Opal Twice-Crowned hitting phase 2 of the boss fight was EVIL!

I love it, @quiddie ! I feel like when this gets animated in a decade or so, we'll get this fight and the fight with Otohan Thull overlayed one on top of the other for a Season Finale or something!

- Raven Queen going two for two on Rogues turned Paladin! Which is great, but now I have to replan Morrighan's moveset for that imaginary Critical Role fighting game that only exists in my head (somebody ask me about it please, I NEED to talk about it!) but at least she gets some Smite options out of the Bunny Hop command jump!

- Dariax is a Bard now too! That's honestly so perfect for Matt! And the fact that both Sorcerers and Bards are Charisma Casters makes me feel like the Synergies are gonna be great!

- Oh, Dorian, wonderful blue king... That's a lot of strength that your Dice will never agree to let you use for anything cool. I missed you SO MUCH!

- Speaking of that imaginary CR fighting game, this just solidified Opal as a puppet character. The tag combos with Ted would be WILD! Think Kenshi from MK1!

- Fy'ra Rai... Just... FY'RA RAI! Gods, I've missed Anjali at the table! Her memory with Opal, her tug-of-war with her thoughts about her sister... THE LAVA WHIP! Nothing sexier than Monks! Except a pissed off Wizard or Druid.

- On the other side of the table, I LOVE the moment the girls all collectively remembered they had to break the news to Frida... Oh, that's gonna hurt BAD!

- Anyone else noticed that Ashton is BURNT OUT and laying on the ground after his Titan form wears off, but Fearne just says she's really tired and just KEEPS GOING? Ashton is DONE for now, but Fearne needs to keep moving forward... Fuck, I love these two.

- Orym... Just... Orym. If you take a level in Barbarian after this, I wouldn't blame you.

- Side-Note: This means Dorian DID get Orym's last message before they went to the moon! He just didn't/couldn't answer! Which means, through the static and everything, Dorian COULD hear Orym! And now he's probably gonna get this message once the battle is over... Jesus, if they get to Zephra and Keyleth went to the Lodge next to the lake that's gonna be a problem...

- Side-Note Side-Note: Anyone else hoping to GOD that Allura called the Nein to help? Cause Beau and Caleb were involved, but now it feels like an "All Hands on Deck" situation, and we could use Kingsley's small army of pirates right about now...

- So much happened this episode between the grieving and the flashbacks and the rolling for handjobs that I didn't have time to process the splinter cell of Xhorhasians that split their soul in twain until I woke up... Opal may have forgotten, but maybe Ted hasn't? Though if they're the same person, maybe they both forgot...

- Aabria, the corrupting of the Memories was FOUL, I LOVE IT!!!

- Somebody needs to tell Essek about the soul-splitters. In fact, let's get to that while we deal with Ashton too!

- IF OPAL DIES, AMY CAN COME OVER AS DENI$E! Like, I don't WANT her to die, but Westruun isn't that far... 👀

- I just realized this is the first ever FULL episode of CR without Sam at the table... Fuck, man, when it hurts it hurts. Glad Marisha brought back the fan.

"Forgot the Consonants?" "No Letters." OUCH, MISS RAY, WHAT THE FUCK?!

- Raven Queen Paladins hasting themselves first thing in the fight. Vax is back, and he's a Bunny Girl now!

- I like that the Crownkeepers are a two-way Overwatch reunion (McCree Cassidy and Symmetra) and a three-way Persona 5 reunion (Yusuke, Ann Futaba and Akechi).

- Everything was so fucked this episode that everything with Liliana got knocked to the background for me, THAT'S how good it was!

- The SECOND Evoroa said Ludinos was on Exandria I knew EXACTLY where he would be! Now we HAVE to get the Nein involved, right? Unless the bastard makes the city float again...

I cannot WAIT for the next episode! And if Sam brings a new character when all the groups are together, it would be SPECTACULAR! I'm guessing he's going to play one of the moon races, because that just sounds cool... Either that or Tary!

[greatgodempresspan]

I love the idea of the Hells going to Emon - sans Fearne and Orym, who are weirdly insistent that they can’t set foot there, but don’t really want to get into *why* - ands being faced with just, A WALL of Wanted posters for the Crown Keepers.

Chetney gets a copy each of Dorian, Fearne and Orym, with the intent to roasting them for them later for breaking the laws so obviously and getting caught. But on closer inspection, realising how high quality they are, the bounty on their heads, the fact that they’re wanted by a crime syndicate, he starts getting choked up. They must have opulled so much shit when they here. He’s so proud!

Ashton, also a little teary (gritty) eyed can’t work out whether they’re proud of them too or whether they’re dying of jealousy.