Poinketh's Review:
Season 2 Episode 1 Review: One Voice To Rule Them All or how I learned to stop worrying and accept children on the battlefield.
Alright, we’re back! And the first roll of the new season was to see if someone noticed their cloak was being stepped on so they tripped and looked silly at a formal occasion. So we’re on theme.
I liked the starting soon screen and the new title sequence. Just gives the entire thing a little polish. And the sheer number of people in this show was impressive both to see how much the show had grown and because there were no technical issues the whole stream. Tiny bit of vision lag, that’s it.
Some interesting background characters introduced. Minister Crown Guard Derricks for instance who apparently has opinions on how these things should go but was too busy being official to share them this episode. I’m sure that’s going to change later on. Matt is very good at characters with opinions.
But the thing that interested me was the Minister idea. I like that, even in a theocracy where the dominant religion is plain to see, you get people who just worship everyone. It just makes sense. Everyone knows these gods all exist. Even the Faith of Man didn’t try to deny the gods were there. So it makes sense that not everyone follows just one tenant of faith. I’m not sure I’ve heard the alternative being described as ‘Representatives’ before, but I like the terminology.
We also met Lachlan’s mother who was about what I expected, though the idea that Lachlan is just going to finish up soon and come back home has the potential for interesting conflict later. And the sense that she’s just not been listening when he’s been telling her what he’s been up to. ‘So what have you been doing?’ ‘Saving the world’ ‘Well that nice, but why don’t you visit more?’ I wonder if her opinion is different now. Is there a difference between going off to do some strange thing that isn’t being famous and being the leader of a group of people that are all doing some strange thing that isn’t being famous.
It’s also telling that one of Lachlan’s tactics of dealing with her is to throw an eligible bachelor at her as a distraction.
Then we have Gizzik’s aunt, calling herself the High Priestess of Segrund. Given how she was talking about Segrund later I have to wonder if Segrund is aware of the appointment. Actually, I wonder how many followers of Segrund claim to be high priestesses. Probably as many as think they can get away with it.
I’m glad Gizzik was savvy enough to see the trick in ‘give me the item of great power and, in exchange, I will give you...some power’. Especially when compared to the current situation of him eventually just being given the thing of power later without having to share.
Our final new character was the fey princess (so literally a fairy princess?) who will bear watching. Royal enough to have influence and prestige, rebellious enough to want to be a diplomat to the outside world. So formally polite but so full devisive questions. Ones, I got the feeling, she believed had one correct answer to. So it’s a shame, or perhaps a blessing, that she asked Morrowkhan, and got no answers whatsoever. I suppose she picked him because they’re from around the same area and his goddess was one she understood.
When she asked him why the other fey gods were not represented I found myself thinking along the lines that Morrowkhan had been sent by Hemeena who, in her wisdom, had seen the need to send one of her representative to face the conflict and build the Fellowship. That Titania and the others hadn’t sent their own representatives was down to their feelings on the subject and who are we to even attempt to guess the motivations of gods and goddesses, especially those we do not worship. I suppose Morrowkhan’s “I ‘unno” is the same sentiment.
I’m in two minds about her treatment of Sabella. On the one hand that’s magic that perverts the will being used on a small child. On the other hand, I have nieces about that age. Having the option of getting them be quiet and walk away is sometimes tempting.
And along with the politics that came with the new arrivals was the politics the players were engaged with all by themselves. Each seemed to pair with someone. Often unwillingly, Gizzik and his aunt, Morrowkhan and the princess, F’Thora and Lady Fadaveir. His response to who he thought would be an ideal leader was so on point.
But then we had the two groups making plans all by themselves. Lachlan and Anduriel people-watching as the walked through the lobby. There was something about the idea of them sitting, watching, and commentating that made me think of Stadler and Waldorf from the Muppet Show. Seemed like a bizarre thing to think of really. And then they started talking about the other Fellowship members and it seemed to make sense again. Especially since Anduriel is (mostly) back to referring to people by what they are and not their names.
Lachlan said it’s all too political for him, then made plans with Anduriel based on who they thought would be the best leader, and, amongst other things, that Gizzik wouldn’t be a good idea for leader, just because of the look of the thing, which is a pretty ‘political’ way of thinking. (Incidentally, I love that Gizzik is still only using the Hat of Disguise to try minor cosmetic changes.) Not that I think it was wrong, necessarily, but it made realise that, politically, people could find issue with whoever won. Lachlan, as we heard during the episode, is rather young. Gizzik looks like a monster and there’s still those baby-eating rumours. Anduriel is a vampire, which some people object to. Morrowkhan doesn’t look like the other people in Winter’s Run and is from a place that’s considered only technically a part of the Andari Republic, he just reeks of ‘outsider’. People who don’t know Aylin see a tiefling and worry about the devilish ancestry, those that know her worry about her unpredictability. Lavender is logical and sensible, but unemotional with that. F’Thora is, possibly, just uninterested in the whole idea of being a leader. And Lady Fadaveir is too interested in being a leader.
I am not saying any of these are actual issues. In fact the diversity is wonderful considering what the point of this whole thing is. And the fact each of them have a public perception they have to work through is actually something they can empathise over. But it did occur to me as Anduriel and Lachlan talked, that, no matter who won, their enemies would have a political way of trying to undermine them.
And then we had Lavender and Aylin. Sniping at each other wonderfully every chance they could get and then coming together in an attempt to avoid what they saw as a horrible outcome. As Lavender said, ‘I never thought I’d choose to stand next to you but, my god, these people.’ So there you go. The Divine Fellowship, bringing divergent faiths together for a unified goal. Congratulations! You did it!
So I guess that’s all I wanted to talk about before the actual battle. Though I suppose I should admit a couple of things before that.
When I first heard that the season debut was going to involve deciding who was going to lead the Fellowship, and that anyone, including guest stars, could take the role I had a think about it. Before I knew it was going to be decided by combat and before I understood the role, I was thinking of F’Thora for it. I was picturing it as more someone that stayed at the headquarters and assigned tasks and F’Thora seemed the best choice for that. I think it was mostly that he didn’t have an active dislike of one of the other choices. And though, as I understood the situation better at the end of the episode I did go into the fight rooting for F’Thora. I’ll let you know my thoughts on how things turned out when I get there.
I’ll tell you who I wasn’t expecting, Sabella, with her silver energy (kudos to Lulu for running two characters during the battle). Her and Morrowkhan were really cute and I like that, despite the common jokes that get made about the way the group prioritises who to attack, she made it to top three because no one was willing to attack the little girl. Well, no one but Aylin. And let’s be honest, she was just aware this was no place for a little girl, that no one here would actually die, and that ‘killing’ her was the quickest way to get her to safety. All very logical and direct, to the point where you might have expected that sort of thing from Lavender. It was just using the fire, I think, that made people react so strongly.
I really have to ask, who came up with the names for Sabella’s powers? What The Heal. Anklebiter. Death By A Thousand Questions. Especially that last one, so on brand. I mentioned I had nieces, didn’t I? Though their style is more continuous, unconnected story fragments strung together in a way that somehow makes sense to them. Makes me feel quite accomplished when I can follow along.
It was a shame we never really got to see what Thousand Questions could do. There was a bit of that going around. Some from poor dice rolls (looks like Gizzik can’t catch a break when it comes to knocking down party members. Well, knocking them down on purpose) but Morrowkhan using his interrupt power on someone else’s, if not daily, then at least encounter power was such a good use for that.
I appreciate that Scarlet Moth had to leave but it’s a shame that we didn’t get see how she’d have done fighting to her end. The way she chose to go out was so in character though. With her admitting she knew she wouldn’t be a good leader and then making a dramatic exit. Did she do it to make Lavender look better? Did she know that there was an audience and did to embarrass Lavender. We may never know.
Despite more than one person stating more than once that they didn’t want her as the Voice, I think Lady Fadaveir was only the first to be focused on purely because Gizzik rolled so high and she was closest to him. It would be interesting to see how a different initiative order might have changed things. It was quite by accident that Gizzik’s attack confirmed Lady Fadaveir prejudices about him. Whereas Anduriel confirmed her prejudices entirely on purpose.
Morrowkhan attacking Aylin first was interesting. Partly because, without having had a quiet discussion in the foyer before the battle, Lachlan was suggesting that action. As if, one could say, he was trying to show leadership through more than strength. But the other thing was Morrowkhan saying that had been his focus from the start. I had almost forgotten before that moment that Morrowkhan had an issue with Aylin from the start because her method of arrival had been, to his mind, a corruption of Hemeena’s power. Though when he attacked Lavender later it was with a, ‘well you’re the one I know least’, suggesting his basis for battle was, if not me then someone I know well enough to trust.
F’Thora seemed to be playing a mostly defensive game. Even the burst attack served to increase his defences and the advantage of Wild Shape was mostly the damage resistance. Which seems fitting since he didn’t really have and grudges or targets when he went in. And was more interested in a game of chess when he got out. I think he’d have lasted longer if people had kept compelling him to attack or move into attacks of opportunity.
Anduriel’s back to giggling. Thought that would stay away a bit longer. But we’ve missed a month or something of organising since the last game so I guess that’s fair.
It seemed almost dispassionate by the time we got to the end. People just accepting their fate when it happened. Even when it came time to send Sabella back to her father. Though I enjoyed Anduriel’s moment of ‘I don’t want to do this. I did this the last time.’ And it was good to see that it was the same for the players as well. Even when someone was apologising for the amount of damage they just did the other player was like, ‘no, that’s fair’.
And then the final moment with Anduriel and Lachlan. Lachlan saying they’d achieved their goal, seeming to offer a sort of dual leadership, and Anduriel saying he’d support Lachlan. And they get back to a room of people shocked, an over enthusiastic mother, and Lachlan unaware that Lady Fadaveir was at him judgingly, though I’m sure he could guess.
So what’s my opinion of Lachlan in this role? It’s strange, and I can’t really say why, but it’s not something I really considered. Despite Lachlan and Anduriel having their talk before the fight. Despite him often being the one in the past who would suggest actions to take and, by dint of the telepathy, guide people’s tactics during battles.
He, well Ryan, I suppose, said he wasn’t in the right mind frame during the ritual. That it was a game for him. That he pushed Morrowkhan off the drawbridge because it was just too tempting. Though it’s worth noting that, apart from Sabella hiding in trees he was the only one that used the surrounding to tactical advantage, which is an important skill.
I think I was expecting the new leader to be either someone who seems to have something to prove or someone who would just be practical enough to make the decisions needed. And in a weird way Lachlan slips in between those two. So, without ever feeling the need to complain about the outcome, I still felt unsure about it.
Then Ryan noticed he hadn’t taken any damage and laughed, I think in that same surprised/apologetic way he laughed when he was DMing and kept rolling high damage. Hadn’t even lost the temporary hit points he gave himself at the start of the battle. And not only had no one hit him, no one had even attacked him.
I thought about it for a second and I realised I couldn’t even picture anyone attacking Lachlan. It took me a while to figure out why, but I think it’s this. It’s because he’s between those two things I was considering for a leader.
All the others have or have had some sort problem with one or more other members. Lachlan has been disappointed by others actions but his never raised his eyes to Sindel and asked, ‘Really, these ones? Are you sure?’ Because he can be a bit superficial he can be dismissive of the the rest of the party l, but only over superficial things. He understands what they have underneath. He has had horrible things to say about Gizzik’s appearance, but never Gizzik’s heart.
Way back in the second episode when Irma wanted them to investigate the chapel it nearly didn’t happen. Anduriel peaced out as soon as he could. Gizzik needed Segrund to tell him to go. Caitlin wanted to help but wasn’t sure she could. Only Lachlan seemed instantly enthused at the idea. Because it was helping people. Because it adventure. Because it was fun!
And sure, he might sing or mock or joke as he attacks. He might act like it’s just a game. But you know what that isn’t? Dispassionate and disconnected. He cares about what he’s doing.
So I wasn’t sure at the time, but I am now. The gods or the dice rolls or the politics. Whatever the cause, they made the right choice.
On a boring mechanics side of things, with the power to channel other people’s divinity it’s good that the winner was someone who’ll often be in battle and part of the main campaign. Though I’m really excited to see the guest stars getting their own adventures and how that’s going to expand and affect this world.
The episode was a great season premiere because it finished on such an open note. We have the questions we had before. What are the Fallen up to? What do we do about Anduriel and the Piper? Who are Sabella’s friends who talk to her about how fulfilling it is to help people? But at the moment the next step isn’t clear. They have found their leader, they have shored up and strengthened the new Divine Fellowship. But the next big threat hasn’t revealed itself. At the moment anything could happen next.
And I can’t wait to find out what it’ll be.