Still amazes me sometimes that all of this is because Liam wanted to play D&D for his birthday.

58:08 Fan Theory: the character Oskar from Tusk Love, is inspired by a young Eshteross and his adventures

The triumphant "I can do...nothing!" sounds absolutely adorable

Peak sibling energy between Laura and Liam 😂

Laura and Liam may not be siblings by blood, but they are siblings by life.

Now I wanna see Matt as young Eshteross in EXU: Apex Wars

"Just because something seems like it's impossible or larger than you doesn't mean you don't try. It just means you fail spectacularly." "Systems that are ineffectual are meant to be challenged and crumble." Wise words, Matt.

Laura hiding the (I think) polaroid camera so nobody will think of stealing it... She truly is the Bailey dragon.

I love Taliesin's explanation for why Ashton stayed. They saw possible information and an advantage they could grab and accidentally made friends.

100% convinced that whenever Matt is on 4 Sided Dive he just remembers all the batshit theories and uses it against the party

The greatest fantasy Critical Role has ever portrayed is having so many close friends into your 30s.

For anyone who, like me, was wondering what the gas lamps Taliesin talks about Whitestone using are: they're mercury-vapour lamps. They do indeed have a sickly-green glow. Very cool.

Matt's, "...you bitch," because Laura ruined his nice Christmas moment of giving to give her the Occulus by hiding the camera the whole time, is perfect for the holidays 🤣🤣

I'm all in for an Esteross backstory. He's a fantastic character.

I love that they talked about why Caduceus wasn't in the mighty nein reunion. And I love thst Laura wished she messenged him. 😊

The end of the gifts with Matt about to be super sweet to laura before calling her a bitch for hiding the camera XD It was amazing, all of their energy together is so wonderful

God making Laura do a second spin on the tower was brutal

Can we talk about the fact that the 9th episode of 4 Sided Dive is also the episode they discuss the Mighty Nein reunion?

56:22 Matt yelling “Ask for consent!” killed me.

Eshteross’ phone case is 100% one of those wallet phone cases that old people get that flip open

Liam making Laura pull multiple bricks from the tower was the most deliciously petty hilarious big brother Vax shit, and I loved every second of it 😂

4SD Ep 9 - Time Stamps 0:32 - Rolling 0:44 - Liam wins with a six 1:08 - Intro Speech 2:42 - Intro Credits 3:00 - Episode Start 3:15 - Feet 3:33 - Does have a butt flap 3:49 - What the __ is up with That?? 4:06 - Otohan killed Eshteross 5:26 - Lots of Death 5:42 - Together for a little over a month 6:25 - Impossible 6:42 - Fallen Beard 7:03 - Otohan was playing 7:40 - Not facing Otohan 8:21 - I can do hard things 9:38 - Where’s Imogen’s Mom? 10:00 - Moon city? 11:11 - Gorgynei 13:10 - VM 14:15 - Vex and Percy 15:30 - Defense of Whitestone 16:40 - Advanced Tech 17:15 - Lex Luthor Percy 18:37 - Ruidus Flare. 19:48 - Imogen is Ruidusborn 20:38 - Moon theories 22:00 - Heroes and Villains 22:50 - Mighty Nein Reunited 23:00 - Kingsley 23:40 - Caduceus 25:00 - What Cad’s doing. 26:25 - King in Combat 26:57 - Ukotoa Fight 27:54 - Things left over from C2 29:00 - Uki lore 30:36 - More C2 30:54 - Tower of Inquiry 31:00 - Laura pulls a block 33:16 - Block removed! 33:56 - If your character had a custom cocktail, what would it be called and consist of? 35:20 - Laudna is Aviation’s 36:19 - Literal poison 37:13 - Laura Tower #2 38:58 - Block acquired 39:48 - The Boots 40:04 - If phones existed in Exandria, what would your character’s phone case be? 42:20 - The Deep Dive! 42:49 - Liam, in regards to Ashton’s conversation with him, how is Orym handling the weight of being “The Good One” among the powderkeg that is Bells Hells? 43:44 - Overwhelmed 44:47 - Failure 45:47 - Laura, Imogen’s mother is alive! How is she handling that and the fact that her mother won’t see her? 47:57 - Evil Power 48:37 - Tal, Ashton had a lovely conversation with Orym about asking for help and pressure from the group. What made them want to reach out to Orym and what did they mean by finally having some introspection? 48:56 - Orym is the reason Ashton joined the group 49:52 - Ashton in the Otohan fight 51:18 - Ash & Orym being Supports 52:24 - Matt, what was the inspiration for the Gorgynei and what is it like to explore a society of werecreatures? 54:50 - Backstory tie ins 55:57 - Wereherbivores 56:40 - Liam, it was Orym’s mind that Otohan read to discover their patron was Lord Eshteross. How is Orym handling that in the wake of his death? 58:10 - Eshteross was hot 58:55 - Laura, does Imogen think her dreams are of her own making, like FCG thinks? 1:00:11 - Tal, Ashton referred to themself as ‘a person who is professionally left behind’. How does the root of ‘being left behind’ affect Ashton and how they relate to others? 1:02:25 - Chetney is the best 1:02:40 - Matt, Bells Hells are on their way to Yios. What hints can you give us about this new city? 1:04:19 - Liam, Orym was chosen over Laudna for Fearne’s Revivify. How did that knowledge affect him and what was it like to see Laudna get resurrected? 1:04:55 - Laura, tell us about Imogen’s emotional coaster of losing Laudna then getting her back. What was that like for Imogen? 1:05:25 - Tal, how did Laudna’s death and resurrection affect Ashton? 1:06:12 - Matt, did you consider bringing in Essek to fight alongside the Mighty Nein? 1:08:24 - Six months isn’t long 1:08:41 - Fjord hasn’t proposed 1:09:12 - Laura Tower #3 1:09:45 - Laura pulls a block 1:10:00 - Laura struggles to put the block back 1:10:53 - If your characters were dragons, what items would be in their horde? 1:11:17 - Weird Dragon Mini Game 1:14:00 - Matt’s turn with the Tower 1:15:10 - Matt pulls a block 1:15:40 - Laura attempts to make a pact with Liam 1:16:06 - Is it a challenge to keep elements of your character’s backstory from other players until the reveal in game? 1:17:15 - Liam has to go 1:17:48 - Dani will keep all the backstory secrets 1:18:15 - Laura will/will not pull another block 1:19:02 - Laura’s fake pull 1:19:49 - Winter Wolf 1:20:55 - Story Time 1:21:50 - Hot Rods in Whitestone 1:22:32 - Santa is canon? 1:25:19 - Winters Crest Message 1:25:40 - The End 1:26:19 - BREAK STARTS 1:27:47 - Uk'otoa Sea Shanty 1:33:53 - BREAK ENDS 1:34:00 - Gift Exchange 1:34:42 - The Rules 1:37:03 - Tal Unwraps 1:38:16 - Liam Unwraps 1:39:52 - Liam Unwraps Candles 1:40:33 - Matt, what inspired The Grave Mystic Weva Vudol? 1:41:45 - Tal gets paper 1:42:37 - Liam, how did Orym feel about traveling to Whitestone and meeting the rest of VM? What was that like for you as a player? 1:44:03 - Tal, what changed for Ashton to begin allowing physical contact from the members of Bells Hells? 1:45:28 - Matt, what was it like setting up for the Mighty Nein reunion and making Uk’otoa the big bad? 1:47:32 - Laura, you now have personally killed Delilah Briarwood twice. What was it like to face her again in an entirely different context? 1:48:31 - Liam unwraps the old Tower 1:50:10 - Matt unwraps 1:50:51 - Laura, how is Jester enjoying her life at sea with Fjord and becoming an art teacher? How are she and the traveler doing? 1:52:08 - Liam unwraps the Oculus 1:53:00 - Laura, what was it like to interact with Vex as Imogen and to see the Lady De Rolo in all her glory? 1:57:10 - Laura accidentally unwraps a Polaroid 1:58:06 - Liam, what was it like for you to lose Orym to Otohan and to see Will in the afterlife? 1:59:00 - Tal unwraps teas 2:00:10 - Tal unwraps a bandaid ball 2:00:38 - Liam unwraps duck tape and gaffer’s tape 2:00:54 - Matt unwraps Jerry’s stapler 2:01:36 - Tal unwraps a laser pen 2:01:59 - Laura unwraps Sam’s baby teeth 2:02:32 - Liam, why was Caleb so reluctant to accept a position at the Soltryce Academy and how does he feel now that he’s taken it on? 2:03:22 - Essek is Caleb's Significant Other!

the vine boom + wilhelm scream when the beard fell made me laugh so hard

Ashton realizing the value of their friendships comes out in the episodes as they. for instance, makes sure they are by Laudna during a fight. Orym and Ashton focusing on protecting Laudna and Imogen is so sweet.

Funny how Percy and Vex very much embody or mirror BOTH of their greatest enemies: the Briarwoods and the dragons. Says a lot about how circumstance shapes who becomes a villain far more than inherent personality

The Liam and Laura tower saga 30:56 - The first pull 37:10 - The Betrayal 1:09:10 - Accepting her fate 1:13:44 - Mercy 1:17:10 - Pull in my absence 1:18:10 - The Conspiracy 2:05:15 - Accept entropy or rage against the dying of the light? 2:07:15 - Laura Bailey everyone!

The ending Santa Soliloquy was the coolest thing I've EVER seen on this consistently ridiculously cool show ! ! !

Laura's inner loot goblin (well, Vex) came out so hard during the gift exchange game 😂

Of course Liam is the ninth tavern keeper

6:41 is peak goddamn editing. Whoever did that deserves a bonus JUST FOR THAT. 37:45 And wow, haven't heard Laura make that sound since she was pregnant with Ronin and rolling shitty against the fish dudes in early Mighty Nein.

Some of my friends literally avoid hugging me tight because they know how much it can hurt. I've never seen representation of that until Ashton. Thank you, Tal!

Can someone please lovingly remind Matt that he has Dariax for character questions? Please? Pretty please? We need to hear more about that precious cinnamon bun!

Anyone else legitimately invested in the monologue at the end?

i'm still a fan of Cadeusus waking up to Jester's message, half asleep, and seeing a beetle, saying "Hey." to it, and then going back to sleep. That's my personal headcannon

Between novels like Kith & Kin and the Origin comics, I feel like there's absolutely room for an Eshteross story. I can totally see a narrative where the frame story is him preparing for that final assault, with the meat of the story revolving around him having flashbacks to his younger days and everything that led to his lifestyle by the time the Hells meet him.

Is it just me or has Liam become much more cheerful than he was in the beginning of everything? I absolutely love it!

Yes, please, CR, make many returns to the Mighty 9. Like Essek, I, too, was changed by them and will never forget their adventures and lessons learned. Like I love Bell's Hells and Vox Machina, but there is just something about the M9 that made an imprint on a lot of us and we miss them a lot.

"The bones tell me nothing" line really killed me because I had literally just re-watched Willow (the movie) the night before. Lol.

"It would eat through the cup" no wonder Taliesen is immortal

Liam saying that Orym is "overwhelmed" was the perfect response to that question. I still firmly believe that Orym has a dark secret and that when it is revealed it'll shake the entire party. Everlight help Bells Hells if Orym ever truly dies. That would strike a heavy blow to the entire party.

It's very fitting that Liam unwrapped and ended up with the old tower, since he's the one who destroyed it.

It’s funny that Liam is simply using the tower as an excuse for Vax to get back at Vex.

The monologue at the end was amazing and heartbreaking, I would watch a short film of this for sure

Liam in a red onesie is the embodiment of chaos.

Liam is the best host! This was the kind of chaos I love from Critical Role haha

That custom cocktail question is fuel for another episode of HowToDrink.

So proud of Laura for bossing the tower on inquiry SO MANY TIMES this episode

This was by far one of the best 4-Sided Dive's imo, the cozy atmosphere is already a very good plus(they should get themed PJ's to wear every time, similar to the tankards), but also the ending was way better I think. The games they play at the end are kinda fun, but it's hit-or-miss depending on the game, because a lot of times they can't really talk during it, this one they got to talk the whole time so it was really nice.(I just find it's best when they're able to be free to talk about whatever, because that's the most entertaining, and for some games they can't)

"This is my show and your hell!" Is so amazing I love Liam

"Romanic and fun and i have an audience" specTACULAR ENERGY TALIESIN. But TALIESIN WITH HIS FUCKING LORE DROPS

God the sibling energy in this episode

I love the ease with which Liam threw his twin under the bus on the tower of inquiry. He's gonna pay for that. lol

Tal's cocktail is probably the reason he gained immortality.

I really like that a city full of orcs and half-orcs and orcish culture is a very fancy city and a city of knowledge and flowing lights. It's very different than the common stereotypical orcish cities, if the orcs even get a whole city in a story.

The drink Taliesin was talking about we called "Jungle Juice"

The cowboy Santa monolog at the end was so beautifully and sad!! Now I feel bad for a Christmas decoration lolll

Liam is a phenomenal host, he went all in, he stuck to the plot and gag without making Laura feel singled out, he read the prompter so eloquently that i even forgot that they have prompts to read. He avoided hosting for so long but he's a lot like his characters, someone who is hyper competent but runs away from greatness.

Liam: Are you lying to us? Laura: No! Liam: Ok, she's lying. Such perfect sibling energy.

Taliesin just using his ancient eldritch powers to end up with the perfect gifts for himself

Don't know if this has been mentioned already, but Greg from How To Drink HAS to make Imogen's Lavender Dark and Stormy (because he's the only guy to make that work), Orym's Aviation, Ashton's Trash Can Punch and Weva's Corpse Reviver now.

Liam once again making his consequence everybody else's consequence and we love to see it.

liam is a perfect host 😂

Love when Matt and Talesin get to team up. Seeing them goof together is so fun

hello, earthling critters! it's 4:40am and I'm working the night shift. just took a break to say "don't forget to love each other."

Liam is mad with power and Laura is so good at that tower... so is Matt. I also love Taliesin's pjs.

That Santa monologue was a thing of beauty.

They should do an Eshteross story where he's waiting in his home in the first few pages for Otohan to come and that's when the reminiscing begins. Then at the end of his backstory show off the fight with Otohan.

Fun game to play: when a brick is pulled from the tower of inquiry, answer for your own character as well at home.

The Imogen cocktail... make a dark and stormy, but instead of dark rum, use over proof white rum infused with butterfly pea flowers or violets. Garnish with a maraschino cherry for Ruidus.

Bell’s Hells could really be a good explorative narrative on grief, loss and over coming those feelings with all the characters close to them that they have lost. Could really help people dealing with those kinds of hardships as well.

Being a bartender and hearing them say Laudna smells like an aviation is hysterical. It really is an awful old lady smelling cocktail lmao

36:15 Laura’s face on the description of Talesin’s drink.

I'm so sad that Ashton's drink wasn't something on the rocks

The monologue at the end is oscar worthy

That outro monologue is wild

Silly thought: If Caitlin Doughty, of Ask a Mortician, played DnD, I'd so be down for seeing her embody the NPC lady that made Essteross' corpse talk. I feel like she'd get real weird with it in a way Matt could not predict. ...or control.

I love at the end when Liam is sweeping up that Matt gets the zoomies and just starts running around the set 😂

"I can talk about whatever the fuck I want!" God... I love Liam O'Brien

I did not expect the trauma dump speed round, but it was glorious.

When Liam-Wolf called Matt "Kevin Sorbet" I died

This is officially my new favorite 4 Sided episode! 😂❤️

Travis when Grog’s backstory came into play: We’re all going to die Travis when Fjord’s backstory came into play: Oh god no please not me Travis when Chetney’s backstory came into play: *uncontained joyful werewolf noises*

Finally getting round to watching this series and i just want to thank whoever came up with the edits at the end of the episodes, bring me so much joy

This might be my favorite episode thus far 😂

Laura: Get gets creeped out by wikifeet Also Laura: Brings up wiki feet saying, "I feel like every time I'm on this show, wikifeet gets brought up." 😀 Love you, big critter darlings! So great to hear this after-the-battle analysis. Laura's story of " I can do hard things/I can do... NOTHING" was precious!

I appreciate the very slight edit of "style SHOULD be a dump stat" for the ugly sweater ad

I love each of these wonderful people for different reasons, but the energy Liam brought to this right off the get go was amazing! Can't get enough of this group.

Well we found out the potion that has preserved Taliesin these thousands of years

a lot of fun, great host, gifts and surprises: chritmas at its best 🙂

Can we please get a Matt Mercer and Tallison Jaffe one shot just the two of them on an adventure, pretty please?

Dani's reaction moan when Laura said how hot young Eshteross would be. 🤣

Shoutout to Gary the Weretrout

I’m just saying… An Estheross last stand one shot would be BADASS to watch play out. Obviously it’d need tweaked to fit the table but I love the idea

Appreciation post for taliesen's unicorn pajamas

Let's put this way: Orym is attracted to the chaos that is Hell's Bell's like Martin Freeman's Watson is to people like Sherlock and Mary.

Taliesin seems to be so relaxed and comfortable this episode. And everyone looks so cozy! Although the unicorn jumper is just the best

At 2:10:40 that bit had me in an existential crisis as a literal Roto Molder pulling molds and trimming them…

This was the MOST sibling energy I've ever seen between Laura and Liam and that is SAYING SOMETHING. 😂

Oh is the mini twitch subscription ad new? Absolutely amazing, love it

No matter what Ashton's cocktail is, it would obviously be on the rocks.