"There's people out there who" *Head snaps to Marisha* "Steal the mail" DYING

Liam: "I'm going to tell you the story of how I murdered my mother and father." Sam: "ooohhh." *Marisha immediately begins taking notes

Liam is a freaking genius actor. But can we talk about how Sam can improvise such touching moments in the spot?

Imagine if Nott managed to steal Ford's letter Nott: Hey, Caleb, I got you a way into the best magic school ever. The Soltryce Academy! To learn better magic 😊 Caleb: **Internal screaming** CooOOoOol 😐

I have a confession to make. I didn't leave the room when everyone was requested to do so.

Yasha "Do you want me to do the talking?" Everyone "Yes." Yasha "I was kidding." Yasha is the best.

Ok but the moment Matt mentioned trent’s name, immediately Liam stops and it’s Sovereign Uriel mentioning the briarwoods in the early episodes of campaign 1 all over again with Talisen

I just love the small panic attack Jester had when Marrion "only" sent 200 gold. You could tell she's been very pampered growing up. She's very down to earth most of the time, but its nice to see her showing some of her privlage, even if she tries hard not to.

I like to imagine the Stubborn Stock has their own DM who's narrating their view of the Mighty Nein's fight: "Suddenly, you hear an almighty, thundering tread, and the ground shakes as an enormous Hill Giant makes it's way into the arena. It's muscular, flabby bulk effortlessly topples a stone pillar as it shoulders it's way into the open air, and you can see from here, that the monster has long barbs driven into it's skin: it has been tortured and goaded to the point of complete and directionless fury. It bellows a challenge, and the Mighty Nein move to engage. The raggedy, dishevelled wizard of their group throws a firebolt as he darts into cover, which bursts almost harmlessly against it's massive barrel chest. The bubbly blue tiefling who had spoken to you earlier gestures through the air, and unexpectedly, a great pink lollipop snaps into existence, and broadsides the giant across the face. Roaring in retaliation, the Giant snatches up a rough handful of shattered masonry and bowls it at the wizard, who just manages to throw up a magic shield to deflect it away. The flamboyant purple tiefling in the red coat, who you had seen carve open a Winter Wolf in the previous bout, draws his scimitars and rushes at the Giant's flank, slashing at it's leg; with a roar, the furious beast swings it's club in an unstoppable arc at it's attacker, and when the dust from the impact clears, the tiefling lies motionless in the dirt. A member of the team wielding a quarterstaff and dressed in a cloak in the colours of the Cobalt Soul flicks out a hand in a flash of metallic light, which resolves itself into a throwing star a moment before it wholly buries itself in the Giant's gut. The half-orc dashes to it's blindside, seemingly unarmed; but as he reaches his target and swings with an empty hand, there's a burst of water and a strange, jagged blade materialises in his grasp, which rends a ragged gash into the Giant's flesh. Without breaking stride, the half-orc just runs on at full tilt, beyond the range of the Giant's retaliatory swing. As he does so, the musclebound, pale-skinned warrior woman, who you had seen grow to gigantic size and slay a otyugh in a single blow in the first round, blindsides the Hill Giant and swings her broadsword devastatingly into it's buttocks. As she does so, the strange, grey cloaked halfling in the team takes two rapid crossbow shots, the first going wide, but as the Giant turns in her direction, the second catches it full in the eye, and it bellows in agony, thrashing out of the path of another firebolt. The tiefling Clerics' spiritual lollipop bashes the Giant on the elbow, but after the attack lands, the enraged and suffering Giant turns and belts the barbarian woman so hard that, even at this distance, you hear the horrendous crack of her shoulder joint popping out of socket, and the second blow sends her into the earth in a slowly spreading pool of blood, clearly in a bad way. The clerics waiting in the wings start to their feet, faces set in concern. Crashing through the ruined walls of the arena, the Giant chases after the fleeing halfling rogue, while the monk tries to yell and draw his attention off her team-mate. As this happens, the half-orc sends out a blast of arcane energy from his sword, searing it's shoulder. Undeterred, the Giant's club clears a massive arc and slams the small form of it's target hard into the wall, where they stay, barely on their feet. The little figure yells out a terrible joke, and for some reason drops pastry crumbs on the ground, and in the slender moment of confusion this causes, gathers herself and dashes as far as she can from the danger. The party is in a bad way by this point, with two of their number down for the count and the rest either wounded or visibly flagging, when the wizard steps out from behind cover, snatches a handful of sand from the arena floor, casts it through the air and chants a spell. As he does so, the enraged Giant pauses... then it staggers. And yawns. Then, to the apparent surprise of everyone, including the wizard, the monster slumps to the ground, snoring, and fast asleep. After a brief moment of confusion, the team rallies, reviving their downed members and healing their wounds, and then slowly take their places around their unconscious target. As the monk stabs the slumbering beast in the eye, waking it and blinding it at the same moment, the rogue fires one last crossbow bolt at the Giant, and the whole shot vanishes into it's gut. Blood pours from the wound, and the Giant slumps back to the ground, and gently comes to a halt, defeated."

The moment an NPC picked up Frumpkin and started petting him I smiled so wide. I think Matt felt bad about how many times the poor lil guy was kicked..

liam: i’m going to tell you the story- me: oh sick a story- liam: -of how i murdered my mother and father me: hmmm significantly less sick

Nott: *wanders into dungeons completely carefree, sets off multiple traps in the process* Jester gets mail from her mum Nott: Check for traps.

"This is my compatriot, Master Trent Ikithon." Liam.exe has stopped working

3:00:59 "What you did was awful. Truly terrible. Despicable and unforgivable. ...Until _you_ can forgive it." **ugly sobbing**

I want an episode where it's entirely just Caleb in a library and Matt talks lore to Liam for 4 hours

Jester apologizing to Caleb about their argument over money hit me directly in the feels. I think a lot of people passed over it but it was so so sweet and as someone who’s struggled for cash around people who are always flush it honestly made me cry a bit.

Sir, this is my emotional support goblin

1:17:10 Caleb’s quiet “no” gets lost beneath Fjord’s “sure, yeah” when Yasha asks if everyone is going to speak with Trent. Oh man, Liam’s acting and all the subtle foreshadowing is phenomenal

“Your pain is a mask that you wear and you can take it off whenever you want” Both in campaign 1 and now Sam always has the most incredible improv, this one hit me like a brick

Caleb's reaction to Trent being introduced is comparable to Percy first hearing the Briarwoods being mentioned, such a instantaneous response

Fjord: Know anyone who's graduated from the Solstryce? Caleb, dying a few feet away:*dial up noises blue screening*

"This fuuuucking old guy" is probably my favorite description Matt has delivered about an NPC.

"There's people out there that STEAL THE MAIL" ... I'm deceased Sam

Sam talking to Laura : "I wouldn't want to send 5000 gold over the mail system" looks over at Marisha "There's people out there who steal mail". 🤣

"Do you consent to this piggy back ride?" - Matthew Mercer

Caleb: "Guten Abend." Grog in the distance: "Yes yes, Bidet, good almonds to you also."

Mollymauke walking into a room wearing only a gaudy tapistry around his waist and a fruit platter in hand a la Dionysus the Wine Twink and saying "I am your god, long may I reign" is SO iconic and SO in character plus Beau replying with an emotionless "Long may he reign" its juST SO good

Trent grilling Yasha, Yasha freaking out, and meanwhile Caleb is having a full-blown mindfuck right about now. 😂

"You talk to them Yasha, you won't draw any suspicion!" ... "Where are you from?" "Xhorhas..."

Beau:"Why are you afraid of fire?" Caleb's Mind: "No! I don't want to relife that trauma again, please don't ask me that!" Liam's Mind: "Yes, yes! I've been waiting 18 Episodes to tell my amazing backstory!"

This episode taught me that indifference can be a kindness. I think Beau's impassive response to Caleb's backstory was exactly what he needed. She wasn't completely apathetic, but her reaction was incredibly mild and largely neutral - in both directions. She neither condemned him nor consoled him. The closest she gets to expressing sympathy is saying "I don't think it's anything to be ashamed of", and she doesn't push it or even seem to care if he takes it to heart. She insisted on _looking_ at his past, but she keeps a respectful distance and doesn't try to touch it. I also find it interesting what she _did_ care about. She had nothing to say about Caleb's past, or how he should feel about it, or whether he should try to atone. But she _was_ very insistent that he has a responsibility to stop Trent from hurting more people - not to make amends for anything, but because he has knowledge that most don't have.

Liam's freeze as Matt says Trent Ikithon's name is absolutely FANTASTIC acting. for a minute there I really felt Liam feeling the things Caleb was feeling. that was legitimately impressive.

Liam just stops being Liam when hes playing and it just breaks my heart when he looks so devastated and shell shocked

*Episode 1* Jester: How much silver did I get? Beau: 7! Jester: Woo! *Episode 18* Jester: How much gold? Nott: 233 Jester: Woo!

matt: this is my compatriot, master trent ikithon liam: *KILL BILL SIRENS*

It's horribly realistic when Caleb says he's disgusting. The venom behind it was so painfully real, from experience. (2:53:45)

no ones talking about jester apologizing to caleb about what she said about the money? i think thats really mature of her, especially seeing how childish she acted when talking about it in the first place.

Matt: mentions a part of Caleb's backstory Liam: Freezes for like a minute

"This is two times I've tried to bail out of this conversation" lol.. Caleb says out loud what every socially awkward person wishes they could just say out loud.

Wow. I expected Caleb to have some skeletons in his closet, but this one was dragon sized. Poor guy, to be screwed over by someone power hungry like that. And Liam plays him incredibly. Also, Nott is an amazing creation as well.

the most painful thing is gonna be waiting for caleb to speak to fjord about the academy

Liam is an absolutely blessing to Matt, its so rare that a player gives a shit about your world building to the point they actually read things in a library and care about the contents beyond plot hooks.

Marisha's face when Travis said "One of those was full of dip spit" is the face of a chick from Kentucky who has *absolutely* taken a sip out of somebody's beer can full of spit before

2:44:03 Caleb's backstory begins... I'm sorry, I got tears at the end of this, especially after Nott's insistence that nothing was Caleb's fault, and that she would be there at his side until he forgives himself. Liam is SUCH a magnificent story-teller and weaver of his character's story!! ((all of them are equally great too, but for this clip seemed Caleb-centric))

can we appreciate how quickly Liam switched from being out of character to in character multiple times this episode?? there are so many but especially the end of the big convo where he jokes to Marisha "but don't leave the table, im not asking you to leave the table" and then IMMEDIATELY goes back into character and laughs, crazed and manic... Liam is such a fantastic actor!

Caleb's mask is metaphorical while Nott's mask is physical. One day they can both take off their masks together. They are a great pair

Caleb: "It was a good time" Also Caleb: "Our teacher was cruel"

There's a lot to be impressed with regarding Matt's skills, but the speed with which Matt is able to just find whatever he's looking for in the DMG/PHB at any given moment is astounding to me.

Beginning of Episode: *Bright eyed* I love you Caleb End of Episode: *Crying and hugging Caleb* I love you Caleb

Might Nein: We want to lay low..keep our heads down Last Episode: Party, displays of strength and luck, also becoming victors in a monster pit in front of tons of people This episode Mighty Nein: Uggggh why does everyone want to hire us for stuff??? We wanted to stay in the shadows!

Caleb: *tells his backstory* Me: ... Welp, time to start a rebellion.

“What you did was awful, truly terrible, despicable and unforgivable... until you can forgive it” Wow, this definitely hit hard and I don’t know why. Sometimes in life, we can be our own worst enemies. And with such a simple and quick-witted line; Sam managed to capture that perfectly. This is a truly heartfelt, heavy and amazing moment. I’ll remember this line for many years to come

Caleb singing, "We are the mighty nine." Under his breath in the beginning of the fight was adorable.

The way Caleb drops his head when Nott begins with, “what you did was awful,” just breaks my heart every time, and the way he holds his hands is like a kid begging for forgiveness or someone on their knees repenting. Anyways- The good news is I watered the plants. The bad news is I used my tears to do so. THERE IS SO MUCH PAIN.

Matt: "What is your name?" Sam: "Veth." *Everyone laughs* You fools!

1:30 Gunslinger features 4:15 Matt’s commitment to character (also, fanart?) 10:20 Episode Starts 13:40 Battle begins 51:20 HDYWTDT 52:50 Nott a champion 54:05 How old was he? 1:20:35 Yasha being casual 1:24:20 Everybody wonders why they sent Yasha to talk 1:27:25 Beau throws inter-office shade 1:31:05 TFW you see a cat at the party 1:36:15 Plausible Demiability 1:39:20 They are the pullout kings 1:44:40 Jester offers “stress reduction” 1:51:05 Break Starts 2:01:25 Art Montage 2:07:50 Break Ends 2:11:05 Beau segues hard 2:19:55 Nott tries to get info for the shippers 2:22:10 Scholastic fairs are canon, and the Critters will remember 2:24:10 The Ruby of the Sea sends the best May letter 2:28:20 Mail thieves are everywhere 2:30:20 Molly gets some stress reduction 2:35:05 Catchphrase practice 2:42:30 A truly private conversation 2:44:00 Caleb’s story starts here 3:03:10 Molly is a fruit god 3:42:15 The cool kids left Caleb’s nerd ass 3:46:30 Dirty Molly 4:05:05 This woman needs some throat coat

I have to give it to Liam... it was a really clever move getting everyone to leave. They would've behaved COMPLETELY differently for the rest of the episode if they'd known the context for their decisions.

Good lord Sam Riegel is a masterful voice actor. The dialogue after “I give him a hug” was just beautiful. I can’t believe I actually cried over watching a bunch of nerdy ass voice actors sitting around and playing dnd.

Copying from someone else since it's so far down 1:30 Gunslinger features 4:15 Matt’s commitment to character (also, fanart?) 10:20 Episode Starts 13:40 Battle begins 51:20 HDYWTDT 52:50 Nott a champion 54:05 How old was he? 1:20:35 Yasha being casual 1:24:20 Everybody wonders why they sent Yasha to talk 1:27:25 Beau throws inter-office shade 1:31:05 TFW you see a cat at the party 1:36:15 Plausible Demiability 1:39:20 They are the pullout kings 1:44:40 Jester offers “stress reduction” 1:51:05 Break Starts 2:01:25 Art Montage 2:07:50 Break Ends 2:11:05 Beau segues hard 2:19:55 Nott tries to get info for the shippers 2:22:10 Scholastic fairs are canon, and the Critters will remember 2:24:10 The Ruby of the Sea sends the best May letter 2:28:20 Mail thieves are everywhere 2:30:20 Molly gets some stress reduction 2:35:05 Catchphrase practice 2:42:30 A truly private conversation 2:44:00 Caleb’s story starts here 3:03:10 Molly is a fruit god 3:42:15 The cool kids left Caleb’s nerd ass 3:46:30 Dirty Molly 4:05:05 This woman needs some throat coat

3:46:17 😭 This is why I sometimes love when information isn't spread to everyone around the table. Im not sure Laura would pick those words for Jester, even in character, if she was present for Calebs story... It would be SO insensitive once you know the background 💀

Liam may not have Vax and his daggers any more, but man does he still know how to stab thousands of people simultaneously in the heart ;__;

I think it's amazing how Liam acted uncomfortable/anxious the entire episode! He never dropped character unless he talked as himself. He is truly the best imo.

"I am you god. Long may I reign" such an iconic line. such different implications now...

having just watch an episode of Dimension20, hearing Matt's apology for rolling well during the giant fight is sooo funny. His and Brennan's energy are so different, I love it

"I want to bend reality to my will" Caleb's looking for the 3.5 rulebooks.

Liam's sad smile when Jester said that she loved her mother was perfect given what you learn about his backstory not long after

i don't know why but "do you consent to this piggy-back ride?" is probably the funniest question i've ever had the pleasure of hearing

I'll never get over Ashley mouthing "What secret??", asking Taliesin and confusingly looking into her notes trying to figure it out.

caleb: dark, manic laughter after spilling his darkest secrets *5minutes later* liam: sLeEpy TiMe? tHx dAd :D

1:22:54 "This is my compatriot, Trent Ikithon." *Caleb FREEZES*

Rewatching Campaign 2 between Thursdays of Campaign 3, and there is an entire layer of subtlety that you pick up on after knowing all of these characters' backstories. Just the moment "Trent Ikithon" is said, and Liam up and freezes mid-action with wide eyes.

Lauras role play of jester reading the letter is so adorable to watch. The moment she starts reading the letter i am no longer at the table with them but i vividly see jester reading the letter and giving comments to her friends. I love that scene

Mr. O'Brien has me O'cryin

There is a blacksmith still wondering when that blue Tiefling girl is going to pick up her box

48:20 “biggest hitter goes first” “let’s have the monk do it” as the barbarian sits there silently. lmao

I like that they’ve all played level twenty characters, but are still amazed by fifth level features

Liam: trying to share Caleb’s tragic backstory Everyone else: has a seven minute conversation about how to cook a rat

The difference between Beau and Caleb now and Beau and Caleb later is beautiful. You know what that is? Growth.

I had a thought: There was mention of Caleb's bread gloves earlier in a past episode, and in learning what they were from the comments, I was of course saddened, but also confused, thinking, "Doesn't he know Produce Flame? Why not just conjure a fireball to warm up?" ... Oh. Shit.

Caleb is a fucking haunting character. I don’t know if everyone else saying he’s a lich-in-the-making as a joke, but I genuinely believe it.

I love how Matt completely gives control of the table to Liam for Caleb's backstory moment. When Liam asks if everyone can leave the room he agrees without a second thought and actively stops Liam and Marisha from rolling insight checks on each other while they were still trying to get into the scene, so they had to trust the other person was being honest. Matt totally stepped out of the DM role and let his players craft their own story. His "how do you want to do this" line is the only way I can think to describe his DMing style in general and it's obvious how much he trusts and loves them all to share in their stories

"those dancing lights mean i can punch people in the face" awww

THIS! This is why I love Nott and Caleb so much. Both are hurting and both hate themselves for the past trauma they have suffered or caused. However, whenever they beat themselves down the other is there to pick them back up. The fact that they are able to keep going because of the bond they share is really enduring, and it pulls at the heart strings.

YOU CAN TOTALLY TELL WHEN LIAM/CALEB RECOGNIZES TRENT'S NAME, OH MY GOD.

“I love you and Imma get you Taco Bell”~ Matt Mercer aka best Husband ever

I like to imagine the Stubborn Stock took the 10,000gp job and took up the alternate Empire path for this campaign. 😂

Oh my god, that harmony when they were singing "Lollipop" was amazing! Timestamp: 18:09

when Beau says, "He made you executioners..." as if she was trying to absolve caleb of the guilt and caleb just interjects with, "we wanted to be..." man, that broke my heart. These guys are so talented!

Holy shit, Liam absolutely took that note Matt gave in an earlier episode about asking if a character is lying instead of just calling out 'Insight check!' I realize that's small, but players/people who really listen are so undervalued.

I've seen some of the greatest actors in their prime. I've partaken in some of the greatest stories ever told. Liam's monologue was one of the most gripping, emotional, real and compelling things I've EVER seen. A nerdy D&D player made me frikkin cry. Unreal.

“This could turn into an hour and a half of me going on about the Age of Arcanum.” How about a 4-part, 20+ hour miniseries?

Spoiler: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I'll be honest, I didn't expect Jester's mom to give two shits about her. That she actually seems to really love her really surprised me. Not that I got the feels or anything.

Read the comment section. They said that Caleb’s backstory was great. I was excited to here it. I was not prepared. We are not prepared. You are not prepared.

Rewatching this and realizing this is the episode where Caleb reads about the Age of Arcana and how they talked about "turning mountains into clouds" and floating cities. Hearing that made me immediately think about the Calamity campaign with Brennan, and I love how everything's connected. Such a great world Matt built.

I refuse to believe that Caleb’s description of his school’s attitude as “The Empire over all” was not a reference to the song “Deutschlandlied.” He knows his stuff

"I am going to tell you the story of how I murdered my mother and father" marisha and sam: *poggers*

That moment when Caleb (Liam) hear the name and he just freezes, then you can see in his eyes how he starts planning his moves to get away, and he's battling internally with himself, and no one but Matt knows what just happened, and at that point even Liam is breaking, and Caleb starts remembering. Gosh, the imagination and creativity that goes into this. Love it!

I wish I could read lips, because I’m so curious about the things Sam and Laura are constantly talking about. They look like they’re having a lot of fun and I want to know what they’re whispering to each other!

"You have to give me something to go on here, otherwise it'll become an hour and a half on the history of the Age of Arcanum." - Hear that silence, Matt..? That's all the people waiting for you to continue and give us all an hour and a half on the history of the Age of Arcanum. XD

What I love most about how Caleb(Liam) gives his story is that you can see how he could become a tragic, redeemed hero... or possibly turn into one of the greatest power hungry villains of all time.