Heartwarming / Critical Role Against The Chains

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Episode 71: Family Gathering

• The Brenatto family reunion is wonderfully heartwarming. The emotional payoff of seeing these three characters together for the first time in years is satisfying, to say the least. It's especially noticeable with Luc, who was extremely soft-spoken and likely still traumatized when the Nein first encountered him. Here, reunited with his parents and getting to hear all about their friends adn adventures, he's a lot more lively and acting his age.
• The group finally receives the package Calianna sent them, and it's full of gifts and letters for each member.
• Caleb and Nott have a heart-to-heart about the possibility of restoring her to her original body. Caleb pledges his loyalty to her and offers to help her any way he can, and Nott affirms that she has truly come to love him.
• As the group prepares to leave, Caleb invites Luc to "help" him with the teleportation circle. He draws connecting circles between Luc, Yeza and Nott, reassuring him that his family will always be connected. It's a very sweet moment from Caleb, who is usually uncomfortable around happy families.

Episode 72: Clay and Dust

• While Polymorphed into an eagle, Caleb begins pecking Nott on the head, only to turn back into himself and kiss her there instead.
• Before the party rests for the night Fjord asks Jester to use Sending to contact Vandren for him. When Vandren's reply is somewhat distant Jester does her best to reassure Fjord. Afterwards Fjord tells her about Uk'otoa taking his powers away a few weeks earlier. Jester offers encouragement when he brings up The Wildmother and promises to do anything to help him get away from his current patron.
• Fjord goes to Caduceus immediately after his confrontation with Uk'otoa. Caduceus heals him, and they have a heart-to-heart. Caduceus fears that Fjord isn't free of Uk'otoa just yet, but is sure that he has at least taken a solid first step. Fjord is worried that he's now a liability, and Caduceus reassures him that the opposite is true.
  • Fjord also thanks Caduceus for being there for him and sharing what he knows, and tells Caduceus that he admires him, which Caduceus is touched by.
    Caduceus: For what it's worth, those words alone make me feel like leaving my home and going on this journey was entirely worthwhile.
  • The next morning he immediately comes clean to the rest of the Mighty Nein about everything, in his real voice. Caduceus continues to have his back, Jester expresses her pleasant surprise that he's using his natural accent, and the rest of the Mighty Nein offer him some of their weapons so that Fjord is not defenseless.

Episode 74: Manifold Morals

• Reani's attempts to help the Mighty Nein hit a roadblock, and she starts to feel despair. She wonders if the higher powers really have her best interests at heart. The Mighty Nein swiftly reassures her.

Episode 75: Rime and Reason

• Caduceus casts Commune so Fjord can ask the Wildmother questions about finding his way. A standout moment of the conversation is when Caduceus tells Fjord that his being there for Fjord is his mission from the Wildmother.
  Caduceus: Eventually, one day, someone will pray for a miracle. Pray for something to save them, to whatever gods are nearby... And that prayer will be answered because you will show up. That's how it works, that's what a champion is.

Episode 76: Refjorged

• When Caleb blithely remarks that he came out of a fight unscathed for the second time, Jester protests that he was hiding safely in Leomund's Tiny Hut while others were carrying out more dangerous objectives. Fjord, Nott and Reani all imediately leap to Caleb's defense, saying his spells were crucial and that he did a good job (includes a supportive high five from Fjord for "holding down HQ" together).
  • In a additional moment of great physical acting from Liam, Caleb looks upon his hand after the high five and slowly turns to Jester to try and initiate a high five himself, to which she returns joyfully.
• Samliel visits Reani and tells her he wants her to make her own choices on what is good and what is evil. He trusts she has learned more than enough to not always need to depend on him anymore. Though Reani is distraught and worries he's leaving, he assure her that he's here and that her choices are his choices.
• Nott and Caleb's talk near the end of the episode, in which Nott feels her purpose is to be everyone's shield, and how she feels her journey won't be over until she's helped everyone else see theirs to the end, and Caleb's You Are Better Than You Think You Are speech back to her.
  Nott: I'll try to make you proud.
  Caleb: You already have.
• Reani Adorkably Druidcrafts Beau a rose and tells her she thinks she's pretty. Beau pulls her in for a kiss.
• Thanks to the Wildmother, Fjord gets a strength buff, and gets his powers back! And his Eldritch Blasts went from Sickly Green Glow to Emerald Power.
  • Bonus: He remembers his promise to Nott and says "eldritch blast" in his Texas accent just for her.
• Just the sheer contrast in description of Fjord's claiming of power from Uk'otoa versus Melora. Uk'otoa's influence with Fjord is one of coercion, distrust and a struggle of power. Due to the nature of how he first obtained his powers, (Having been saved from death with no recollection of the deal) the dynamic was defined by debt and being held hostage, as seen with the holding of the Cloven Crystal versus the siphoning of Fjord's powers. However, Melora gives Fjord one thing that he never had with Uk'otoa. A choice.
  Matt: You feel tendrils of kelp and seaweed begin to rise from the warm water beneath you, and wrap around you, and tie, and bind, and your heart rate begins to jump. They're still warm but begin to cut the light off as your face begins to be blanketed, and you feel yourself being pulled beneath the waters. Do you struggle?
  Fjord: No.
• When Cadeucus gives Fjord Dwueth'var, Fjord at first tries to reject it by saying that it's Cadeucus's sword. Caddy gently rejects him by insisting that Dwueth'var was always meant for Fjord. Doubly heartwarming when considering that Dwueth'var was forged by a pair of acolytes of the Wildmother and the Moonweaver, the respective Patron Deities of Cadeucus and Mollymauk, both close friends and confidants of Fjord.

Episode 77: A Tangled Web

• While Fjord is attuning Dwueth'var, Jester goes outside and makes snow angels outside the Kiln. Once the sword is attunded Fjord holds the sword over Jester and dismisses it, sending a shower of snowflakes over her.
• Caleb's final conversation with the captured Scourger goes very poorly. Later that day, Jester consoles him over it, and tells him that she's here for him if he wants to talk.
  Caleb (tearfully): You're a good friend.
  Jester: So are you.
• While confronting Dairon over her choices, Beau drops the "F" word in regards to the Mighty Nein; that is family. She's come so far from the stand-offish, doesn't-care-about-anything, doesn't trust anyone jerk she was at the start.

Episode 78: Between the Lines

• Marion gives Jester a pouch of 750 gold pieces, that she had been saving most of her life in case Jester wanted to go to school someday or set up a business.
  • Though it does become Fridge Logic, as she apparently gave Jester 5,000 gp to start her journey with (which Jester spent before the game began).
• As the Mighty Nein pass through Trostenwald, they return to the inn they originally met in. The dicks are still carved into the table, leading to a sweet reminiscence.
  • The M9 has a drink for Molly and Yasha... of Beau's family wine. Which Beau herself ordered, two bottles of.

Episode 80: The Folding Halls

• After they return to the Xhorhouse, Jester goes into Yasha's room and prays that the Traveler will help watch over her until they can free her. When she is finished, she looks at the wall painting she did and notices a hidden dick that she did not paint.
• While the Nein realizing the Bright Queen is having them scried-on during their stay at the Xhorhouse is both scary and saddening, there's also a moment of hope when it becomes clear that Essek probably had nothing to do with it, and that he seems genuinely on their side for now. He's even receptive to the suggestion there might be a third party manipulating the war, and has been sending agents to infiltrate the Angel of Irons cult to learn more.
• The entire cast's sheer joy at the return of Allura Vysoren. At the start of the episode the party were obviously feeling disheartened by their recent failure to deal with Obann. The surprise appearance of a beloved NPC from the first campaign, who provided a lot of useful information and set them an achievable goal, instantly lightened their mood.

Episode 83: Dark Bargains

• Jester uses the mirror to contact Allura again, and wakes her in the middle of the night. The conversation also wakes Allura's wife. The Nein don't get to meet her, but the players and the audience are very happy that Kima is still around.
• Yussa leaves the Mighty Nein in the Happy Fun Ball because they are harvesting the dragon's corpse and he just wants a meal. It was an hour for them but a day for him, and he is very happy to see them when they return.
  • Allura is also very happy that the Nein survived their trip. She tells Yussa that he's made some very good friends, and that she's met others with similar traits in the past.

Episode 84: Titles and Tattoos

• After Allura leaves, Yussa makes sure to take a moment to thank the Nein properly, and even gives them some of Halas' treasure. It works out to 350 platinum for each of them.
• Caleb desperately pleads with Nott to trust him and not Halas. Nott agrees.
• They return to Nicodranas and meet up with Orly and the Ball-Eater. He gives them their cut of the ship's business, and turns down Fjord's offer to tip him.
• The ladies of the Mighty Nein get Orly's magical tattoos. Each is individual, but all three of them also have a broken chain, because they are going to break Yasha's chains.
  • Nott's is a Mardi Gras style mask, covering the upper half of her face much as her old mask covered the lower half of her face.
  • Jester's covers her back, like her former cape, and it swings forward onto her chest, like the Traveller is hugging her.
  • Beau's tattoo is the All-Seeing Eye from Molly's tarot deck. Remember that Beau hated Molly at the start of the campaign.
  • Taliesin was visibly touched when Marisha went for the tarot deck.
• Meanwhile, Caleb sparks a deep conversation between himself, Caduceus and Fjord about purpose, opportunity, and what the gods want. Caduceus is reassuring the whole way through, and Caleb and Fjord are resolved despite their fears of what is to come. A particular line to note comes from Caleb, of all people:
  Caleb: I've started to forget what it's like to not be with you.
• Dairon made it back to Zadash, and smoothed things over for Beau. She also reiterates that she's forsaken her prejudice against the Kryn.
• Beau gets a new uniform, but she decides to keep her old belt as a reminder of where she came from, and to maybe pass it on to someone else someday.
• Pumat is quite happy to see the Nein once again, even more so when Fjord reveals that the sword hilt he purchased from the shop has been reforged. Pumat Prime even tears up at how far something from his shop has gone in aiding the Nein.

Episode 85: The Threads Converge

• Pumat Sol's shop is attacked by a powerful assassin working for the Chained Oblivion. He's a decently powerful mage but not much of a warrior. He would have every reason to want to forget all about the Mighty Nein. He chooses to help them find her. Doubles as Awesome.
  • Jester makes use of a magic shield during the fight. Afterward, she asks Pumat about the cost to see if she can afford it. He gives it to her for free.
  • Pumat tops it by going with them to confront Obann and company, despite still being afraid of Jourrael. Again, doubles as Awesome.
• Jester gets a desperate idea to impersonate her mother to see if the Gentleman really is her father. The Mighty Nein talk her out of it. Beau in particular is very concerned for Jester's emotional wellbeing.
• The Nein immediately comforts Jester after their talk with him.
• Ever since the Nein got back from their mission with Ophelia Mardun, The Gentleman has made an effort to avoid human trafficking, and isn't proud of occasionally dabbling in it in the past.
• The Gentleman continues to deny being Jester's father, and he doesn't appear to recognize Marion when Jester makes herself look like her... but Caduceus notices that the Gentleman watches them intently after their meeting ends.
• Beau reveals that she has a little crush on Jester, admiring her sense of humour, her crazy plans, and her complexities.
• The Gentleman finally admits that he is Jester's father. He has an open, honest conversation with her, and reveals that he is struck by how like Marion she is and proud that she has an amazing life but hasn't fallen into the traps he fell into. We also find out that his insistence on saying "I'm not your father" is only Metaphorically True: he believes he doesn't deserve to call himself that, as he wasn't there when she was growing up.
  • Jester tells him she's going to keep calling him "Dad", leading to a pained sigh from the Gentleman.
• The Nein track Obann and co. to Rexxentrum, just in time for the Kryn to apparently launch an attack. Caleb was already on edge about returning, but this starts to induce a panic attack. Beau talks him down.

Episode 86: The Cathedral

• Yasha's first rolls to attack the rest of the Mighty Nein are double ones. Heartwarming for the group, because it's played off as Yasha trying to fight Obann's control. But it also immediately adds $1000 to the charity donation total that the cast is collecting throughout the month for veterans.
• Caduceus pulls off a clutch move, and in a single turn frees Yasha of Obann's control with a 5th level Dispel Magic. Remember that she initially did not like him at all.
  • The cast were also really happy at this development, especially Ashley and Taliesin themselves. Once it sinks in for both of them, Taliesin wraps his arm around Ashley, who goes in for a hug.
    Taliesin: Welcome fucking back. Fuck some shit up!
• As the Nein follows behind Obann and a charmed Nott, Yasha tries to apologize to her friends. Jester just hugs her.
• Before their final fight with Obann, Yasha prays to the Stormlord, asking that he not abandon her. She feels the thunder in response. He will be with her.
• As they fight Jourrael, Yasha pleads with her to shake off Obann's control.
• Pumat Sol decides to hold off the forces getting in the Nein's way by staying behind and creating a vortex. Doubles as awesome.

Episode 87: Punishment and Politics

• Laura's dice turn what would have been a good move into a failure, again, and she is dejected. Matt comforts her.
  Matt: Jester's a great character, and you play her really well.
• Matt clearly feels really bad about getting the final hit against Obann the Punished as the Caedogeist, as it feels like he's essentially 'kill-stealing' from his players. The players do not feel that way in the slightest — Laura, Marisha, Ashley and Taliesin yell at him to say the line ("How do I want to do this?"), everyone cheers loudly when he finally does, and Laura even jumps up from the table to hug Matt while telling him she's proud of him.
• Caleb, still in giant ape form, is very solicitous toward Beau after she is revived.
• Pumat was badly wounded in the fight, but survived. The Nein are palpably relieved, as are the players and the viewers, and Nott gives him a healing potion.
  • His first words when he saw them?
    Pumat: I was really worried about you guys.
• As the Nein walk through Rexxentrum, they catch sight of the Cerberus Assembly. Jester quietly reassures Caleb that they are there with him.
• The Nein give Yasha an Info Dump, and the topic of Mollymauk comes up. Jester says that both Molly and Yasha are wonderful, and Yasha says she was drawn to him because he was Mollymauk.
• When the Nein meet with King Bertrand Dwendal, they find him with a number of advisors, including Arcanist Allura Vysoren, who speaks up for them.
• When giving her report to King Dwendal, Beau makes a point of highlighting Jester's importance in unmasking Vence. Sweet on its own, but becomes extra heartwarming considering a) Beau's crush on Jester, and b) Laura's earlier dejection over bad dice rolls.
• After the meeting, Trent Ikithon sidles up to them. The Nein immediately close ranks around Caleb; Jester stepping in front, Beau pressing up against his side, and Caduceus standing right behind. Even beat to shit, exhausted, and covered in blood and gore, the Nein form a united front in glaring Caleb's abuser down.
  • Trent only gets a few sentences in before he has to leave. The last thing he does is call Caleb "Bren" and smirk, and the seething rage from the entire party is palpable. Fjord and Nott visibly can't believe the man's nerve, Beau and Jester pin a Death Glare to his back, and Caduceus, who has the highest passive insight of the group, watches him leave with an expression of coldly disgusted rage.
    Jester: (quietly) I don't like him.
    Yasha: ...Should I go kill him?
    Caduceus: You can.