#verin thelyss

[theartofhellebarde]

Essek and Verin

#you know what would be really funny? #like reaaaaally funny? #Matt playing Essek #Aabria dm'ing #and Brennan playing Verin #ah the chaos #and with Aabria dm'ing I mean that I wanna see her play Dierta #critical role art #thelyss bros #essek thelyss #verin thelyss

[neinofthem]

shoutout to verin thelyss for doing whatever the opposite of haunting the narrative is.

#too rad to appear onscreen #critical role #cr #the mighty nein #tm9 #mighty nein #cr2 #verin thelyss #essek thelyss

[luddlestons]

things your embarrassing little brother does immediately upon meeting your best friends and wizard crush.

#younger brothers who are way taller than you is just what happens on the oldest daughter to transmasc roadtrip #my art #critical role #essek thelyss #verin thelyss

[aeoris4lovers]

the quiet tragedy of verin being the one who never quite made it out.

for most of their lives, essek was the one who was entrenched in expectations, in the politics of their den. while verin was stationed far from the heart of the dynasty, ostensibly free from the eyes of his elders, essek was sitting beside their mother in court and speaking before the queen. and it made sense, because essek had always been better at all of it — the posturing, the sweet-talking, the ladder-climbing. his brother the black sleep was still his brother the prodigy; his brother the heretic was still his brother the shadowhand.

but then, essek meets new people and they get through to him and change him and make him softer, make him better (and why them? what is it about them, that they could do what verin never could?) and he runs. he gives up the title and the status and the power and leaves it all (leaves verin) behind.

suddenly, verin is the lone newsoul of den thelyss, the one with all eyes on him, with the expectations meant for two brothers falling squarely on his shoulders and only his in the absence of their other target. he is still the youngest of his den, the one they all watch and wait to be disappointed by, but there is no one to share that burden with anymore and all at once it becomes painfully clear that distance never really was freedom.

essek has a family, then — not a den but a family, with love and trust and care and warmth and all the things essek once called verin childish for craving — and a welcoming home to go to with someone who loves him waiting there and a garden in the front yard, and verin is left still fighting demons under the banner of a god (of a family, of a home) he only half-believes in.

and maybe they see each other more often then. maybe bazzoxan is remote enough that it’s safe for essek to visit in disguise. maybe essek’s friends come too and are kind enough to offer a taste of what essek has now and verin can almost believe it’s his too. maybe essek doesn’t even fight it anymore when verin insists on hugging him. but how much can that really fix? how much can it really change?

an unloved man leaves no one behind when he finally makes a better life for himself, but essek was never an unloved man. not really.

#listen i have a lot of feelings about verin #hes the kindhearted himbo of the family yes but he also is A Thelyss and weve seen the baggage that comes with #i think on the surface hed be thrilled for essek and love the nein #but it definitely wouldnt be an easy thing to stomach #i imagine its like the feeling of your sibling going to college and leaving you with your shitty parents but like. times a hundred #like ‘im so happy for you but i want to be happy for myself too and you getting out mightve just locked me in so where do we go from here’ #fuck man sibling relationships are so messy im going feral #we never even get to SEE verin but he haunts the entirety of essek’s arc and im incapable of being normal about it #cr meta #verin thelyss #essek thelyss #the thelyss brothers #den thelyss #the mighty nein #c2 #critical role #critical role meta

[essektheylyss]

I know it wouldn't make sense for Essek to show up in the narrative at the moment, but alternatively it would be very funny to have a highly disgruntled Verin in Jrusar commanding a battalion of echo knights because he was recently promoted for "you're in the military, no getting comfortable," reasons, and promptly got voluntold to go help out with whatever's happening in Marquet, as a sign of good will and maybe some religious and political outreach.

And then he runs straight into some punk with a beacon in their head. Imagine. Everyday Verin Thelyss wakes up indeed.

#disclaimer that this is not to say essek will be in the one-shot. #this is to say that his presence in c3 prior (but chronologically after) would strain the continuity lmao. #I do think we should make as many jokes about wizard superposition as possible in the next three months. #it's our civic duty. #the mighty nein: schrodinger's jackasses #critical role #ashton greymoore #verin thelyss #as captainofthetidesbreath said. here's how verin appearance in campaign can still win.

[tytoz]

Verin Thelyss from Critical Role/ Call of the Netherdeep. 

I imagen him having long THICC hair, thicker body build, and just flat out taller in complete contrast to not only his older brother Essek but to other drow as well. What makes this even more fun is that drow males are canonly SMALLER than females. So, him being larger than the average drow would be a feat in itself. 

#drow #darkelf #Call of the Netherdeep #verin thelyss #critical role #the mighty nein #myartwork

[evienchantress]

Stress & Relief✨

I so love doodling these brothers. I imagine Essek was often under pressure as a boy with his natural magical prowess and the impression from others that he needed to be exceptional. Verin, being a good brother, does his best to understand and support his older brother however he's able. Even with just a hug😌❤️

#criticalrole #dnd5e #dnd #storyboards #criticalroleart #cr c2 #essekthelyss #verin thelyss #stressrelief

[foxqueen-katarian]

Caleb and Verin vs Essek and Jester prank war.

#posts that have been in my drafts so long I no longer know what prompted them or where they were going #critical role #essek thelyss #Caleb Widogast #Verin Thelyss #jester lavorre

[danikatze]

[ID in alt text]

I'm pretty bad at drawing kids: Essek looks older than I intended and Verin younger. But I actually don't mind it! I can imagine it's pretty common for elven siblings to have bigger age gaps.

Also drawing armour is not my thing hehe, it's good to challenge myself tho :3

#Verin Thelyss #Essek Thelyss #Critical Role #Critical Role fanart #danikunst #also also the colours are a bit too dull on my pc and a bit too bright on my phone so hopefully you're seeing something in between lol #4 #fanart #pencil #2023

[theartofhellebarde]

Verin Thelyss

#critical role #critical role fanart #verin thelyss #himbo #HIMBO HIMBO HIMBO #drow

[burningsuitfire]

Essek and religious trauma

Saw this post from @balleater here and having been meaning to write a meta on the subject, theorizing about what we know.

Essek admits to being seriously traumatized when Caleb talks to him in the Grove.

(141) Caleb: Somewhat hypocritical coming from me, but try to be kind to yourself.  Essek: You, more than anyone, showed me that trauma doesn't define you.

The simplest conclusion is religious trauma, along with neglect and abandonment.

In the wrap-up Matt puts serious emphasis on Essek's parents and family being "very deeply steeped" in the religious culture alongside how Essek has "very much eschewed" the religious culture, that no one has ever genuinely cared about Essek beyond his influence and talent, that his family didn't understand or support his focus on dunamantic research (or his career), and draws clear lines about the negative aspects of Dynasty's theocratic authoritarianism and uncompromising cultural zealotry, at points Mercer even compares it to evangelicalism and doomsday cults.

He also gives us hints that it's a bad situation for anyone who doesn't follow the official faith, like in Eiselcross when Caleb asks questions about the mandated religion and Kryn theories on the beacons:

(124) Essek: It is an interesting idea, though I would caution to keep it close to the chest. Such conversations might be considered sacrilege in some circles of the Dynasty.

Which as word of god tells us Essek had a very bad relationship with his powerful authoritarian den family that didn't understand him or his goals, and he grew up in the Bastion (which is a temple to the Luxon), when the Dynasty laws are founded on the faith and enforced by the military:

(EGtW) The laws of the dynasty, which stem from the faith of the Luxon, are enforced by a network of trusted Aurora Watch captains and soldiers

To the point where Matt emphasized how even petty criminals in the prison were systematically "beaten and emaciated", sacrilege could have ugly consequences, even growing up.

Especially considering that all we know of his father is that he seemed to have a temper to the point of extremely self-destructive tendencies, and that he was possibly military and thus law enforcement (warriors function as both in the Dynasty).

Even in the dinner conversation when he was being outstandingly open, Essek was very careful not to tell the nein anything that could allow other Kryn to question his faith:

Marisha: So his lying about it [consecution] was just about going along with the zealotry and not- Matt: Exactly, because he didn't want people to think that there was something up.

And then there's Essek's massive trust problems, which are specifically focused on the word "trust":

(131) Caleb: We feel we can trust you more than my old teacher. (You see, when you say the word "trust". It's simultaneously like seeing a small hit to the heart... and whatever icy bit that cracked melts away for a minute. There's a moment of him hearing the word and letting it wash over him.) Essek: I'm thankful for the trust you put in me. And I hope to make this up to you.

(124) Essek: I've never really been trusted and so I did not trust. When I- when you gave me trust, it gave me a perspective that was so agonizingly striking. So easy to see that I refused to acknowledge it at first, even. (135) Essek: The more I begin to see Beauregard, yourself return with these markings- I've only just recently learned to trust. It's hard to begin to mistrust so quickly.

Where there's a theory that it might stem from the Dynasty's training for echo knights and dunamancers (when we've heard Essek tell Caleb that the training is comparable to that of scourgers), and we even see the echo knight in Zadash react very strongly to the word "trust":

(13) Mollymauk: We just need to know who we can trust and who we can't.  Thuron: You cannot trust anybody in this city. You cannot trust yourselves. Anyone who has not bound themselves. They are the enemy.

Other context and info gives us that consecution and worshipping the Luxon and following the umavi-written "system of pure faith" created from their interpretation of the beacons (as EGtW dictates the Luxon is canonically silent and unconscious) is required for people to hold Dynasty political/spiritual/military office and influence, to work for the theocratic government (comprised of the 12 noble religious den families), and that dunamancy and the Dynasty's dunamis research is only accessible to those working for the government.

And it seems like Essek hints at unattractive consequences to others discovering he's been lying about his faith (and/or the dangerous nature of his career):

(131) Essek: I just know that I've also survived this long, weaving the intricacies of deceit like I have, by knowing how best to keep myself out of the complications as best as I can.

Finally, we have Essek's relationship with punishment and pain, alongside the Dynasty's systematic religious corporal punishment:

(57) In the shadows there look to be multiple figures. Some human, some ogre-ish with more reinforced bars, drow. Emaciated, beaten. Not looking happy and healthy, but then again, what good Dungeon of Penance would?

(77) ...days of chosen sunlight in which the nightfall is dispelled and the people of Rosohna and Xhorhas bask in the sun. Even those who find pain and challenge in its presence, as it is part of the worship. (EGtW) The Kryn drow who emerged from the shadowed depths of the caverns beneath Xhorhas now endure periods of sunlight as part of their worship. Periods of days, sometimes weeks, will transpire in a state of perpetual evening, enabling the darkness-bound denizens to go about their work. Such periods briefly come to an end to usher in periods of scheduled, mass worship under the sunlight.

(99) Essek: I will take my leave for the night. Thank you for not throwing me into the water. (97) Essek: The pain is somewhat comforting because I am my own punishment. (91) Essek: I have seen those far older than you that have experienced maybe half the pain I see in your eyes. Age isn't everything. Experience is what hardens you, prepares you for the worst. (138) Beau: My essence will haunt you. Essek: And I would deserve it, like I deserve all of the things that haunt me. Jester: Aw, Essek... Essek: Don't- offer me any solace. (141) Essek: Maybe it's time I just found my way. Really began my penance. I've procrastinated long enough in dealing with my sins. I convinced myself I'd be alone for so much of my life. It's hard to say goodbye when I don't feel alone anymore, but… I understand. I understand and accept what I've done.

#essek #essek thelyss #kryn dynasty #kryn #egtw #cr meta #cw religious trauma #den thelyss #verin thelyss #critical role #c2 #campaign 2 #the mighty nein #mighty nein #shadowgast #caleb widogast

[vagabondfirelily]

A cat rubs against his legs, its fur grey, ears short and rounded, and one eye missing. Verin heard Essek call her Kestal. She meows at him once and he bends down to scratch her behind the ears before she turns away and makes herself comfortable on one of the armchairs in the sitting room. With a small smile etched on his lips, he goes back to looking out the window. From here, he can just about spot Essek in the garden outside.

The sun has already begun to set, but the air is still warm with the peaceful embrace of summer. Essek kneels in the dirt, a large sun hat on his head, rose-printed gloves on his hands, and a wicker basket by his side as he plucks fresh vegetables from the ground for dinner. (Caleb mentioned a vegetable stew, to which Essek immediately lit up and told Verin he had to try it.)

Verin watches his brother work in a shirt one size too big, the sleeves rolled up. It looks like it could belong to Caleb, but Verin knows better. He can see Essek’s taste in the dark colors and the softness of the material, in the way it comfortably swallows his frame. Low sunlight glints off his silver ear cuffs. He’s barefoot. He has been all day.

The sound of light footsteps reaches his ears from behind and he turns just in time to see Caleb enter the room with a steaming cup of tea held between his hands. Two cats trail behind him, tails and heads raised expectantly. Amusement bubbles in Verin’s chest, he’s still getting used to sights like this. Caleb approaches him slowly.

“One of Caduceus’s newer blends. I believe it will be to your liking.”

He sets the tea carefully on the table in the middle of the sitting area and Verin sends him a smile.

“Thank you.”

He can feel Caleb shuffle behind him as he turns to look back at Essek. He’s been doing that a lot today.

“She used to walk barefoot. Our mother. Back when we were still in the creche. She was always easier on me than she was on Essek. I do not know why I remember that.”

His words are somewhat halting, startling even to himself. He cannot tell what brought this on. It’s just that he saw Essek this morning – comfortable clothes, a small hesitant smile and bare feet on the ground – and a weight has settled over his chest.

If Caleb’s surprised, he makes no sign of it.

“Does he tell you about her?”

“Not much.”

There’s a soft clatter and Verin hears Caleb reprimand gently one of the cats in Zemnian.

“I did not think he would. They never got along well with each other. I think he’s always been afraid of how similar he is to her. He has her eyes, though.”

He turns his head to Caleb and flashes him a fanged smile. Caleb smiles back, mirth kindling in his eyes.

“I would assume then that you have your father’s.”

“And you would be correct.”

Verin laughs brightly for a second before his eyes stray back to his brother outside the window, smile slowly fading away.

“I think she’s always haunted him in a way. I think they both have.”

Read more on AO3

#shadowgast #verin thelyss #caleb widogast #essek thelyss #cr fanfic #vlily writes #critical role

[aeoris4lovers]

essek is pretty in a "this guy went so far toward twink that he left man behind and twink became its own gender" way.

verin is pretty in a "local man smiles and 'straight' men everywhere feel something new awaken within them" way.

#thinking about Them #the thelyss brothers #essek thelyss #verin thelyss #the mighty nein #critical role

[neinofthem]

beau speaking undercommon is untapped comedy gold. she refuses to use esseks name and refers to him as ‘shitspider’ exclusively and essek hates this because it’s what verin used to call him. she has to sit in on caleb and esseks’ spellcrafting dates because when essek’s too excited he forgets common and she needs to act as translator so caleb can save his spell slots. she refuses to translate the pet names and she adds in swears. it’s the closest essek has ever gotten to a physical altercation.

#essek thelyss #critical role #cr #the mighty nein #mighty nein #tm9 #cr shitpost #cr2 #shadowgast #caleb widogast #beauregard lionett #verin thelyss

[quinn-of-aebradore]

It’s really a shame there isn’t more Verin/Eadwulf (Verinwulf) content out there because the sheer potential they have is delicious. Like you’ve got the obvious comedy of Verin dating the guy his brother’s husband was in a trauma polycule with in high school, it’s great it’s amazing. But then—

Neither of them were the bright shining prodigies that Essek and Caleb were. But what they were is the good children. The dutiful, loyal, unfaltering sons of their people. Wulf the perfect, unerring guard dog, waiting silently for and acting out orders efficiently. Only slightly deviating in taking up faith in the goddess of death, whose domain he’s worked in every day for half his life already, so it still fits within that mold, doesn’t it? That mold that he never falters in until the very end.

And then you have Verin, the loyal son, doing his duty to his family and Queen at every expected turn, carrying the weight of that on his shoulders. Filling his father’s position without question for years even as it slowly chips away at him, slowly kills him, refusing the idea of ever leaving because it might hurt his family, might bring them shame when they’re already fighting it because of his brother’s actions. We haven’t seen it; I hope he gets a chance to leave Bazzoxan behind before too long. He might be very good for that place, Beacon of Hope and all, but it’s not good for him and he deserves better than that.

And maybe, just maybe, that better can be found with Wulf. Maybe they can have a chance to change together. Grow out of the pots they’ve been planted it, tangle their roots together in something new. Maybe.

#I’ve got the brainrot for them BAD recently #if you couldn’t tell XD #the fic I’m working on for them deals with this A LOT especially on Verin’s side of things #been really interesting to explore #critical role #verin thelyss #eadwulf grieve #Verinwulf #cr meta #Quinn metas

[spottedenchants]

here's the essek verin jam book clip written up!

Matt, as Essek: “-especially one who's a bit rambunctious and does not necessarily appreciate, your- um… studious duties.

“So, when you go to read to yourself silently in the mornings… ah, before, you know, not playing with the children that avoid you in the various open play spaces, and you find that your, um, study book has been filled with jam- it’s a bit frustrating.

“And when you find out—or assume—that it is your brother Verin who did so, and you go and tell him, ‘please do not put jam into my books’, and he turns to you and says: [*voice: bright and pitched-up, clearly mocking*] ‘well that wasn’t me, that would be ridiculous, what do you think, is that so funny mehmehmeh’- [*voice: regular Essek*] I still hate him.

“I still-- I don’t really hate him, he’s won-- he’s. He’s sweet and a bit misguided, but, um. Nevertheless, I think back to that, and…. To this day…. I realize that that was where I began my appreciation for jam—not that I like the flavor—but because it reminds me of my brother.”

#essek thelyss #verin thelyss #critical role #also if y'all wanna screenshot or link this over to twitter feel free #let everyone have the words #chanse chatters