Critical Role Campaign 2: Who are the Somnovem of Aeor?

The Mighty Nein’s ultimate (or penultimate, if you count Trent Ikithon) boss battle is a memorable fight against a monstrously mutated Lucien, who shared a body with their fallen friend Mollymauk.

Known as the Neo-Somnovem, the chosen Nonagon mage transforms first into a nightmarish form that’d make most Final Fantasy antagonists blush, with nine massive eyestalks empowering his devastating attacks. The final phase of the fight takes place in the living city of Cognouza, as Lucien’s flesh morphs with the very walls and floors of the destroyed pre-Calamity city.

But what, or who, are the Somnovem that give him his power? And what happened to Cognouza, setting it adrift in the Astral Sea? The answer lies in the hands of ambitious mages and their ultimate betrayal of the mortal realm. Time to open your Eyes of Nine to perceive the full mysteries behind this climactic Critical Role: Campaign 2 cosmic horror.

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What is Aeor?

Aeor was a massive floating city governed by a magocracy during the Age of Arcanum, a period of Exandrian history marked by immense magical growth that tested the limits of mortal power and even challenged the gods. In modern Exandria, it’s remembered as a cautionary tale, destroyed during the Calamity after hubristic mages created a weapon called the Factorum Malleus, designed to destroy divinity. The ruins of Aeor feature in both Critical Role Campaigns 2 and 3, when the Mighty Nein and Bells Hells each encounter the dead city in their travels.

In its prime, though, Aeor was powerful, although its society prized function over beauty. During its last days, the city was almost ruthlessly businesslike, creating Aeormatons that gained sentience, engaging in biological warfare and governing with strictly anti-divine rule.

The Cognouza Ward

Cognouza was a part of the larger city of Aeor during the Age of Arcanum, led by a group of nine figureheads called the Somnovem. These leaders eventually betrayed Aeor, sundering their ward from the city during its destruction and transporting Cognouza to the Astral Sea.

However, this doomed them all — the act disturbed the natural magic they’d become accustomed to, preventing anyone from fleeing via teleportation or other enchanted means. Furthermore, a psychic storm in the starry realm drove everyone mad and merged their minds together, shattering their psyches. The Somnovem merged into an Omega form, speaking as one while all the inhabitants of Cognouza eventually fused with their city.

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Who are the Somnovem?

It was Lucien Tavelle who sought to obtain the power of the Somnovem Omega for himself, eventually becoming the Neo-Somnovem. But who were these nine traitorous leaders, and what were their powers?

Most of their individual appearances, abilities, and identities pre-Calamity are unknown, but their transformed state of existence gives some hints. Based on what’s revealed in Exandrian lore, what we see in the Mighty Nein’s battle against the Neo-Somnovem, and what was learned in the Nine Eyes of Lucien novel, this is what we do know:

Luctus

In Lucien’s vision, a mundane version of Luctus appears as a woman with long, dark hair and a tear-stained face. Her name, similarly, seems to be based on the Latin word “luctus,” meaning grief and sorrow.

While the Mighty Nein did not face her essence in Cognouza, her eyestalk was dull gray and looked to be seeping fluid. Upon being caught in Luctus’ beam, the target would be thrown into despair and would have their actions become slowed with lethargy.

Gaudius

The vision of Gaudius showed a man with lustrous black skin, bright eyes, and a perpetually smiling, though very welcoming, face. When speaking to the Mighty Nein, his voice was comforting, though his speech was somewhat violent as he suggested they killed the other Somnovem who disagreed with his ideals.

His name comes from the Latin “gaudium,” meaning rejoicing, and his powers could leave the victim charmed and unwilling to attack. Gaudius’ magic was described as warm and filled with love, befitting what was seen of him by the party and Lucien.

Ira

Ira, known for her anger, appeared to Lucien as a tall and heavyset elven woman who had silver-gray eyes ringed with crimson. Her named eyestalk burned with anger and could cast fire magic at the party.

Her name is based on the Latin “ira,” meaning wrath, but it also means “watchful” in Hebrew. Ira’s first appearance was as a giant eyeball, and she communicated to the Mighty Nein through the reddened eye of one of the blank people-like figures in the courtyard of Cognouza. She approved of and encouraged the vengeance she could sense in the hearts of the heroes.

Vigilan

Vigilan’s appearance remained a general mystery, but Lucien described his manner as paranoid and watchful. He also was not encountered by the party, but his eyestalk power granted anti-magical protection, suitable for his suspicious demeanor. This Somnovem’s name seems to come from the Latin word “vigil,” meaning alert and awake.

Elatis

Elatis was primarily described as having very white teeth, though her past in pre-Calamity Cognouza has been elaborated on. She worked at the Dawn Crucible, assisting in dream studies and recording the thoughts of volunteers. Lucien and the Tombtakers visited this fallen research facility and Elatis felt like a companion to the Nonagon as she described her work to him.

Her ability was both enticing and exciting, creating a sense of elation within the victim, and she was known to have a melodic voice. Elatis’ name is similar to the Latin “elatus,” meaning uplifted and exalted. She dealt in the realm of hope and possibility.

Timorei

Timorei’s appearance also remained a mystery in the course of the campaign, but like Ira, they were able to communicate with the party through a reddened eye on the quasi-people in the courtyard. Their predominant personality trait was fear, in contrast to Vigilan’s paranoia. Timorei even encouraged Lucien to move beyond his initial fears and doubts, as well as counseling him on untrustworthy allies.

Eventually becoming desperate and insane, the eyestalk empowered by Timorei could push this fear onto its victims. Like the other Somnovem, their name is derived from a Latin word, this time being “timor,” meaning terror and fear. Their voice was also described as sounding like a too-tight lute string.

Mirumus

Mirumus only appeared to Lucien as a person hidden beneath a hood, leaving only their chin visible. Differing pronouns have been used for the character, and Mirumus was not formally encountered by the Mighty Nein. Still, Caleb and Beau found information about the Somnovem in Lucien’s journal, revealing this leader was excited to bond with new people (as the Eyes of Nein slowly began to imprint their marks on the party in the form of eye tattoos).

Mirumus’ eye attack was negated with magic during the battle, but their name appears to come from the Latin word “mirum,” meaning surprise. Their voice was “a hail of glass that pelted the brain,” and Mirumus spoke with excitement and slight nonsensical phrases.

Fastidan

Fastidan appeared to be the tallest of the Somnovem, with a golden beard streaked with gray. He was a sort of businessman and authoritarian individual who received funding from the city’s Convocation to finance his various arcane projects. This included overseeing slave labor to excavate and refine the materials for threshold crests, magical orbs that would allow a city to jump between planes of existence.

Over the ages since the fall of Aeor, Fastidan was the Somnovem member most responsible for seeking out and encouraging mages to pursue the group’s power and become their Nonagon. His name comes from the Latin “fastidium,” which means loathing, and his eyestalk had the power to blast powerful necromantic energy at its targets. While considered a philosopher given his role in Cognouza’s leadership, he was also seen as a tyrant among his peers.

Culpasi

Culpasi first appeared to Lucien as a shapeless entity made of black sand, but later took on a more humanoid, male form. It was Culpasi who appeared to the resurrected Lucien to affirm that he was indeed the Nonagon, and to verify his memories of the Somnovem and their goals.

His name is likely derived from the Latin “culpa,” which means blame or fault. Similarly, his eyestalk power caused intense guilt that put his targets at a physical and mental disadvantage, incurring damage from their wracked minds. The guilt was not limited to his victims, though, as Culpasi seemed to carry remorse of his own.

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Lucien the Neo-Somnovem

Lucien Tavelle and the Tombtakers trekked to Eiselcross, where Aeor had collapsed in the Calamity, in an effort to reach Cognouza and claim the power of the Somnovem. Their influence spurred him on as well as trapped him, as they grew excited and impatient at the idea of having their powers resurrected. He believed someone needed to control their chaos, and managed to keep his true intentions hidden.

Despite disagreements with the lingering minds of the city’s leaders threatening his ambitions, Lucien eventually succeeded in surprising them with an attack. The assault weakened the Somnovem, and the blood hunter was able to absorb them all into his being, transforming into the Neo-Somnovem with nine arcane eyestalks in the process.

And even though he had this immense power and unique abilities granted by each of the Eyes of Nine (another name for the collective Somnovem), the Mighty Nein still defeated Lucien. Destroying the Somnovem finally freed all the trapped, maddened souls who had been caged in Cognouza for generations.

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The history of Exandria is vast and filled with tales of ambition and ruin. Thanks to the epic campaign streams and additional materials like novels, game manuals, and more, Critters can dig deeper into the history of the different ages of this expansive fantasy realm.

What other burning Critical Role questions do you have? Which other villains do you want to see join Sideshow’s statue collection?

Join the conversation with your fellow Critters over at Sideshow Social Network or in side.show/geekgroup, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!