#kraghammer arc

[thatoneboxwithallthestuff]

Vox Machina give Kima some spare armour to wear. When they all try and find their way out of the Emberhold, there's a tense moment when Kima comes face to face with Vox Machina's newest companion.

'Breaching the Emberhold' C1E6, VOD Timestamp 2:39:49

[essayofthoughts]

kraghammer is really underrated; is there anything that really interests you in how you're writing it in ghost cass?

Distract me from feeling like shit with Q's about my WIPs

The noise? Like that was what inspired me writing their first look at Kraghammer, was the background noise that Matt played for some of it, this hammering and clunking, the noise of not just a smithy but a foundry, an actual industrial factory - because a huge chunk of this city is just it's production! And it's in a massive stone cavern, there is no day or night, we know also that dwarven culture means you have a work month not a work week, and they can just rotate shifts to keep it going at all times, because it's already dark, there is no clear day or night!

So... the noise, the hammering of metal, the hiss of steam as works are quenched, the clunking of the lifts down to the mines and quarries, the clatter of minecarts hauling up ore and stone, the continual noise of industry.

It's pervasive, it's constant. Matt obviously turns the sound down for noise balance and later swaps it out for bar chatter when they get to the inn and the like - but the first introduction to Kraghammer is that wall of noise, not just a forge or a smithy but the biggest one you've ever seen - a whole city centred around it.

I think that's very cool. They are a trade city, they have to farm outside their boundaries (like most cities) but there's also so much they probably don't produce in huge quantities either because they don't need it or simply because they don't have access to the raw material!

What they do have is stone and veins of ore. What they have is coal and magic. What they have is smithing, is being the Allhammer's hands and fists, anvil and quenching trough, is living up to their creator's livelihood. It's ingrained into every little thing.

I think that's pretty cool and interesting, and I am absolutely gonna have that omnipresent noise and work be noticed (soot clustered on the high-off, barely-lit cavern ceiling, steam rising from below, the heat and warmth despite the subterranean stone of it all. Industry, inescapable).

[cabinetofcurios]

Critical Role Rewatch: S1, E14 (Shopping and Shipping)

I recall being impressed with how quickly Matt made me like Allura. It was the first NPC that really left a positive impression. Although this scene did make me like Kima for the first time, too. She’s just so chill about the sudden reveal that they have the horn, like she’s been going along with the plan the whole time.

Gotta love how much Taliesin telegraphs the Briarwood thing to the audience, very helpful.

The war council dynamic from this campaign is pretty cool. Vox Machina leaves behind these kinds of discussions which involve outsiders later on, so I’ll enjoy it while I can.

Overall this episode is a decent intro to a lot of our major NPCs, which is nice. Matt as Gilmore is still one of my favorites, just in terms of watching Matt play them, although I think at this point Allura was my definitive favorite.

 It’s adorable how Matt and Liam fight about how handsome Gilmore is? Matt: “Well, he’s not muscular or fit...” Liam: “Wait, I thought he was hot?” Matt: “Did I say he wasn’t? He’s a handsome man.” Liam: “Cool. We go on a date.”

[thatoneboxwithallthestuff]

Vax opens the door to the room where Kima is held prisoner and yells: " Your turn, Grog!"

'Breaching the Emberhold' C1E6, VOD Timestamp 2:18:35

[thatoneboxwithallthestuff]

Scanlan uses Dimension Door to bring himself and Pike up to the top of the fortress. They appear exactly between two Duergar guards. Scanlan casts Thunderwave at both of the guards, and pushes them over the sides and down into the magma flow.

'Breaching the Emberhold' C1E6, VOD Timestamp 1:17:55

[thatoneboxwithallthestuff]

'Oh, did you not stealth around that little pebble?'

Vax insults Grog, and the big guy manages to trip the rogue with an exceptionally good role.

'The Trick about Falling' C1E5, VOD Timestamp 1:43:53

[thatoneboxwithallthestuff]

Vox Machina find Lady Kima and free her from her restraints. She's standing naked on the table, and Grog can't help but be impressed by the total badass that she is.

'Breaching the Emberhold' C1E6, VOD Timestamp 2:31:51

[thatoneboxwithallthestuff]

The Emberhold

The Duergar fortress in the Underdark. A massive magma fall hits its top and flows down on both sides as a defense mechanism.

'Breaching the Emberhold' C1E6, VOD Timestamp 36:23