Eleven Years tho

I’ve seen a lot of posts that say “Trent is lying about releasing Bren from the asylum. It makes no sense why he would wait 11 years so therefore he’s lying.”

But we know that Matt plays Trent as one who wields the truth like a weapon. So, what changes if all those things he said at dinner were true? What pieces are we missing from this puzzle? (Side note: Using the name “Bren” because it pertains to the boy he was before “Caleb” existed.)

1. Bren was special above the other two. Maybe they started as equals and Trent saw something more in Bren. Or maybe Bren had that spark from day one.

2. Trent is personally invested in Bren’s growth and wants him as a successor. And it’s no secret—Trent’s right and left hand Scourgers (who have served faithfully for 17yrs after witnessing the fall of their classmate into madness, his 11 year internment at an asylum, and his return 5 years later with a group of weirdo outsiders demanding peace talks) are willing to drop their own ambitions and follow Bren’s leadership. Like, in what work place is that normal advancement? Stupid question, sorry. But these three were groomed, and then Bren was groomed more.

3. It took 11 years before Trent deemed Bren ready for “release,” then orchestrated a “Truman Show”-level farce for his escape. Bren wasn’t left forgotten in a room for over a decade. He was kept in a research facility specializing in the Beacons and human experimentation. “Breaking” was a necessary part of the process. But to what end?

Theories

1. Consecuted Caleb. My personal favorite theory that I’ve been clutching to my chest since we learned the word—Bren is a Consecuted soul. Maybe Trent/Soltryce/Cerberus is finding children that show signs of amnesis in areas of known conflicts with Kryn soldiers and tells the parents they’re potential magic prodigies. Or maybe Trent got lucky and realized Bren alone was Consecuted based on the boy’s reaction to the Beacon.

Matt is almost aggressive in pointing out Caleb’s immediate feelings of familiarity to the Beacon when they first find it—even gave Caleb a dream that required everyone else to leave the table. And the sanitarium is drenched in that same feeling of dunamancy. Whether this is because Caleb is a Consecuted soul or because Trent experimented on Bren with the Beacon during those 11 years I think it’s clear that he’s intimately tied to the Beacon since pre-stream.

2. Bren, the Soul Jar. An excellent theory that is possibly more likely than the first—Trent has done something to Bren that will allow him to take over the young man’s body as his own in the future. Possibly as a contingency plan against assassination. Or maybe it’s the goal all along. Trent’s personal form of Consecution where he picks the body ahead of time. Like Halas building clones except he’d be taking a used body with a soul. The old dude ain’t gettin any younger...

3. Winter Soldier Bren. Break him down, wipe his mind, reprogram. Rinse and repeat until done. Then set him lose to do his work unaware. And when the time is right, flip his switch.

Caleb’s Mirrors

There’s been a lot of discussion on how Essek is a narrative foil—a reflection of Caleb’s own dark path. But the Shadowhand isn’t the only NPC to give us a look at who Caleb might be now if things had happened differently.

It started with the nameless Scourger. The “little sister” from Bren’s assassin family. Caleb talked to her twice, searching for a hint of hope. Evidence that she (and he) was able to be saved. She died laughing, using her final moment to pass on Trent’s rage.

Then, Caleb saw Eodwulf (Trent’s new favorite) and Astrid (who plans to replace Trent). She expresses mild remorse but firm commitment to her role as a Scourger. She embraces it, knowing her horrible deeds are on the side of good. Plans to carry on the legacy after Trent is gone.

All these mirrors Caleb keeps looking into, hoping to find the potential to change. For Redemption. Remorse. He doesn’t see it in any of them. None of them hear his pleas. He is the lost pup, the one who didn’t listen, who ran away. They’re all so proud he’s done better than drool in an asylum.

Until Essek. Finally, the mirror reflects the guilt and hopelessness that Caleb understands. Maybe the path to redemption isn’t an illusion. And maybe it doesn’t have to be walked alone.

Because Essek has something else in common with Caleb that was missing from the other Mirrors—The Mighty Nein. That empathy Caleb said was absent from the young Scourger’s life is offered in droves by this band of loving misfits. There is no escaping the impact they make on the lives around them.

TL;DR—Don’t forget to love each other. It can change the course of nations.

Asylum

We may meet the Mysterious Woman who fixed Caleb’s mind and then fell insane minutes later.

We may meet other Scourgers. We may meet Astrid and Eodwulf. We may learn of other experiments with the Beacon. We may learn the pieces that Caleb doesn’t remember.

So many possibilities...

Caleb, the wizard who will fight from the next room if possible, claims the first and most vulnerable room.

They know he’s here. If Astrid or Eodwulf or Trent comes for him, they won’t have to go through the Mighty Nein.

What’s the chance he sets the Alarm but leaves his window open?

HAPPY THURSDAY!!

I woke up absolutely RABID for tonight’s episode! I started messaging friends about it before I was fully awake. My coworkers, who know NOTHING about D&D or Critical Role, know that I’m losing my shit (because I told anyone with ears in a non-stop rant thru the day).

I can’t handle all the possibilities for tonight:

I need a nap.

Thoughts for the Battle Ahead

You only have to glance through my liveblog posts from last night’s episode to know that I spent most of those hours in rising panic. I was really expecting Caleb to be confronted by Trent/Astrid/Eodwulf when leaving the Cobalt Soul. They are circling his storyline and it feels like we’re so close to another big Encounter.

When they arrived at Pumat’s without incident, it made me more tense. Something was building. I wasn’t expecting an assassin mid-shopping, but I also wasn’t too surprised.

Thinking ahead, however, I realize that we are by no means clear of Angst. Pumat Sol is connected to the Cerberus Assembly—his shop carries their symbol. There is now a battle happening in that very public space.

A loud, nasty, messy battle containing all the M9... And if The Inevitable End is here, Obann is likely close by. With Yasha in tow.

If Cerberus Assembly members converge on Pumat’s shop... how many “sides” can there be in a battle? And who gets to claim authority when it’s over?