Gustav Fletching is a half-elven carnival master of The Fletching and Moondrop Traveling Carnival of Curiosities. As an NPC, he is played by Matthew Mercer.
Description[]
Appearance[]
Gustav has a lanky physique. He has ashy brown hair that curves ever so slightly past his mid back. He wears a long coat and tails that knock around his skipping step, and a top-hat that is floppy towards the top.
Personality[]
Following the zombie outbreak in his carnival, Gustav claimed all responsibility for what happened so that Mollymauk could freely go. Caduceus would later analyze him and deem him a very sad individual despite his flamboyant and jovial attitude, deducing that Gustav was willing to be imprisoned rather than deal with his problems in the real world. It would seem Clay's analysis was accurate as Gustav persistently tried to convince the Mighty Nein not to pay off his debts and leave him in jail.[2]
Biography[]
Background[]
Gustav apparently came from Shadycreek Run. He was known by other members of the Carnival to often make poor choices, some of which have plagued him his whole life.[3]
At a time when the Carnival was not doing well, the devil toad Kylre offered Gustav a deal: he could make the Carnival something great, but Gustav would have to bring him people to eat. Gustav wasn't willing to give him just anyone, but did offer to bring the elderly and infirm after each show.[4]
When a disoriented tiefling was found by Toya (the youngest and most recent member of the carnival until then), he allowed him to stay. Among the performers he found a home, and he slowly became a full person, taking his new name, Mollymauk Tealeaf when Gustav forged documents for him, since he had heard Molly's first word, "empty", as the letters "M.T."; he hoped that those initials were either somehow significant to Molly or his original name.[5] Later, when Lestera and Molly showed him that the tiefling had abilities connected to hemocraft, the half-elf gave him two scimitars to use those powers in his own number for the carnival.
Official art of Lestera's funeral, by Hunter Severn Bonyun and Cathy Le from The Mighty Nein Origins: Mollymauk Tealeaf.[art 2]
When the old fortune teller died, Gustave, following Lestera's wishes, gave Molly part of Lestera's wardrobe and her deck of oracle cards, making him the new fortune teller and explaining him that he should add new cards to the deck just as their friend and her predecessors had done.[6]
He brought the carnival to Nogvurot between 834 and the first half of 835 PD, when Molly scammed a lawmaster who was scamming his own people; Gustav provided the tiefling with the disguise of a member of the royalty, and once the lawmaster left he helped return the money to the citizens, after which the carnival (having taken some profit) set off again. Since Gustav knew that windfall wouldn't last long, he took the performers to Trostenwald hoping to sell as many tickets as possible.[7]
"Curious Beginnings" (2x01)[]
Fan art of Desmond Moondrop, Gustav Fletching (left), and Bo the Breaker, by Kileigh Gallagher.[art 3]
Gustav and his circus arrived in Trostenwald and put on a show, which Gustav lead as ringmaster. He welcomed the crowd and introduced each act, promising an incredible and unique performance. When the final performance went horribly wrong and ended in a zombie attack, Gustav emerged from the back and tried to figure out what happened. The Mighty Nein pointed out a correlation between Toya's performance and the man's transformation into a zombie but Gustav explained that she was just a normal girl the circus took in from the streets. The Crownsguard then arrested Gustav and the rest of the circus, holding them responsible for the attack. Gustav tried to convinced the Watchmaster that Mollymauk wasn't part of the carnival but failed and he was also arrested.
"A Show of Scrutiny" (2x02)[]
The carnival workers and the Mighty Nein were brought before Lawmaster Norda to plead their case. Gustav claimed that he was solely responsible for the incident, and the rest should be set free. Bo attempted to protest but Gustav shut him down, and Molly corroborated Gustav's story perfectly. Lawmaster Norda had Gustav and Bo moved to the holding cells within the Stockade and dismissed the rest of them.
"Disparate Pieces" (2x04)[]
At the trial to resolve the situation with Kylre, Gustav was sentenced to pay off a debt of 2645 gold pieces. Later, he seemed resigned to his fate, hoping that the remaining members of the carnival would make do without him.
"Beyond the Boundaries" (2x32)[]
The Mighty Nein traveled through Trostenwald and decided to check on Gustav. In the stockade, they were escorted to his cell by Norda. He was living in a reasonable comfort and looked leaner than he had previously. They informed him of Mollymauk's death, and he said the circus had found him in a vegetative state in the woods. He considered his death a shame.
Caduceus Clay said that they should pay the money Gustav still owed so he could be released and start to pay his debt. Gustav insisted that he was paying his debt. Caduceus explained to the others that Gustav was guilty of something and hiding in the stockade from the outside world to avoid facing his real problems. Norda determined that there was 2100 gold left to pay, and that if they paid 1700 she'd let him go. They bargained her down to 1500 and although Gustav tried to convince them that it really wasn't necessary, between the whole party they paid it off. Jester used the Wand of Smiles on Gustav to make him look happy. Norda kicked him out of the stockade and told him to be grateful.
Stepping outside, Gustav took his personal belongings and thanked the Mighty Nein although he expressed uncertainty about what he'd do now with the circus scattered. Caduceus intimidated him by reminding him he should deal with whatever was trying to put him in a box. Gustav appreciated his candor but responded that it was only a possibility. He bid them farewell and the Mighty Nein told him they'd message him if they ever needed him again. As he left, Caduceus said that Gustav seemed like a very sad person despite his smiles.
"Homeward Bound" (2x48)[]
Caduceus Clay asked around Trostenwald for Gustav while the Mighty Nein passed through on the way to Felderwin. No one had seen him since he was released after the Mighty Nein paid off his debt.[8]
Relationships[]
Character Information[]
Abilities[]
Notable Items[]
Appearances and mentions[]
- Campaign Two
- "Curious Beginnings" (2x01) (first appearance)
- "A Show of Scrutiny" (2x02)
- "The Midnight Chase" (2x03), mentioned only
- "Disparate Pieces" (2x04)
- "Beyond the Boundaries" (2x32)
- "Homeward Bound" (2x48), mentioned only
- "New Homes and Old Friends" (2x111), mentioned only
- "Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained" (2x122), mentioned only
- The Mighty Nein Origins: Mollymauk Tealeaf
Quotations[]
- "Maybe I'll find an ear to bend one day."
Trivia[]
References[]
- ↑ The Chronicles of Exandria - The Mighty Nein, p. 37.
- ↑ See "Beyond the Boundaries" (2x32) from 1:22:16 through 1:41:11. The Mighty Nein meet with Gustav
- ↑ Desmond implies that Gustav has some sort of history in Shadycreek Run. See "A Show of Scrutiny" (2x02) at 3:33:28.
- ↑ See "Critical Role Campaign 2 Wrap Up" (Sx56) at 35:14.
- ↑ See "Talks Machina #62: 'Fleeting Memories'" (TMx62) from 0:47:13 through 0:48:10.
- ↑ See The Chronicles of Exandria - The Mighty Nein, page 37.
- ↑ See The Chronicles of Exandria - The Mighty Nein, page 37.
- ↑ See "Homeward Bound" (2x48) at 3:01:25.
Art:
- ↑ Official art of Gustav between 833 and 834 PD, by Hunter Severn Bonyun and Cathy Le from The Mighty Nein Origins: Mollymauk Tealeaf. This file is a copyrighted work. Its use in this article is asserted to qualify as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.
- ↑ Official art of Lestera's funeral, by Hunter Severn Bonyun and Cathy Le from The Mighty Nein Origins: Mollymauk Tealeaf. This file is a copyrighted work. Its use in this article is asserted to qualify as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.
- ↑ Fan art of Desmond Moondrop, Gustav Fletching (left), and Bo the Breaker, by Kileigh Gallagher (source). Used with permission.
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