Did Grian Really Join Empires SMP in Season 2?

For longtime fans of Grian, the legendary Minecraft builder and YouTuber, his return to the multiplayer survival scene in Empires SMP Season 2 came as an incredible surprise.

But why did Grian decide to join now? What is he building in this new season? And what might his presence mean for the future of Empires?

As a fellow expert Minecraft player, I’ve done a deep dive into Grian’s long-awaited arrival in Empires SMP. Here’s the fascinating story behind the scenes!

A Quick History of Grian‘s Minecraft SMP Journey

Let’s start at the beginning. Grian has been a pivotal figure across multiple iconic Minecraft multiplayer servers over the years:

• Evolution SMP – Grian launched this SMP himself in October 2017 and played until June 2018 when he dramatically joined the mysterious “Watchers” group.

• Hermitcraft – He joined this ultra-popular whitelisted server in Season 6 in 2018, becoming known for stunning mega-builds like his futuristic city District G and mightily mischievous pranks.

• Last Life SMP – Grian participated in multiple seasons of this unique Hardcore series, memorably going head-to-head with his rival GoodTimesWithScar in the battle for lives.

So in 2021 when Empires SMP first launched, many fans expected Grian would be involved. But he did not join Season 1 as some other Hermits like GeminiTay did.

Why did Grian sit out that first season? As a fellow Minecraft builder, I speculate he may have been too busy with Hermitcraft Season 8 in 2021 to take on another major series. The timing just wasn’t right.

But that all changed when Season 2 rolled around…

Grian Arrives in Empires via the Rift

In September 2022, Empires SMP returned for Season 2. This time, Grian joined the server – and in epic fashion no less!

He, along with 12 other Hermitcraft members, traveled through an in-game portal known as “Grian’s Rift” to reach the Empires world.

This instantly connected the lore and backgrounds of both series in exciting ways. As Grian’s fellow Survival Multiplayer Podcaster, I love how this crossover nods to Grian’s history as the founder of Evolution SMP.

It’s like his past is colliding with his present in Empires! I expect this lore connection will prove very significant as Season 2 unfolds.

Introducing Grian‘s Jungle Kingdom – Hermitopia

After coming through the Rift, Grian wasted no time establishing his kingdom – the verdantly wild Hermitopia.

Located in a huge jungle biome, Grian constructed an organic-looking empire blending giant custom trees, layered green terraforming, and looping vines.

As you’d expect from a master like Grian, the base is astonishingly detailed. He’s incorporated leaves as roofs, dangling lanterns, custom cave builds, andBone block accents into the lush jungle theme.

From a biome terrain perspective, I think the jungle was a smart choice for Grian’s vibe. It matches his affinity formega organic builds and embraces his chaotic playful energy.

Other Empires members even affectionately call him “Monkey Boy Grian” as he swings wildly through the trees!

You Know He Had to Prank Someone

Of course, no arrival of Grian would be complete without some hilarious pranks!

Early on, Grian pulled an iconic prank on his Hermitopia teammate ImpulseSV. Grian snuck into Impulse’s town and replaced random blocks with jack o’ lanterns!

As a fellow SMP prankster, I have to admire Grian’s spirit here. The pumpkin heads screen captureshowcases his humor and creativity so well.

And the pranks don’t stop there…Grian also trapped his Hermitopia teammates in stone-brick boxes at one point.

His mischief adds so much fun and chaos to Empires collabs! No base is safe.

Grian‘s Building Expertise in Empires S2

Beyond pranks, fans are also eager to see Grian’s building expertise shine in Empires Season 2 mega-projects.

Some of his standout builds so far include:

• Tree Houses – sprawling wooden platforms and cabins integrated into the massive custom jungle trees.

• Nest Hall – a lush meeting hall coated with leaves and egg-shaped lanterns.

• Llama Temple – a grand palace for Llamas with berry-colored terracotta and wool decor.

I’m personally astonished by how rapidly Grian can construct such detailed, elaborate builds. As a fellow builder, his workflow and execution amaze me.

I expect his creations in Empires Season 2 will rank among his best. The scale he can achieve collaborating with other skilled players like GeminiTay and Scott Smajor here is limitless!

What Grian‘s Presence Means for Empires Lore

Beyond builds and pranks, fans are also theorizing what Grian’s presence might mean for Empires Season 2 lore and storylines.

The first season revolved around an ominous villain named Xornoth. Grian didn’t participate then, but now in Season 2, fans think he may play a pivotal antagonist role as a Watcher.

Some evidence pointing to this theory:

• His arrival through a portal from the Hermitcraft world hints at inter-dimensional lore.
• Grian’s history as the founder of Evolution SMP gives him experience with guiding server storyline and character arcs.
• The Season 2 trailer features a hologram NPC referring to a “Great Retribution” between worlds. Foreshadowing Grian’s future role?

As another Empires lore theorist myself, I’m fascinated by these possibilities! Given Grian’s knack for acting and theatrical storytelling in videos like Third Life SMP, he’d be amazing at portraying an antagonistic entity.

Having him drive the conflict and lore in opposition with allies like Scott Smajor would lead to incredibly captivating content!

Engagement Boom for Both Series

Stepping back, I think the crossover between Hermitcraft and Empires SMP has been a brilliant move for both communities.

Having Grian and the Hermits join Empires instantly sparked waves of new interest and viewership for both series. Fans love seeing how the characters and worlds intersect.

Just look at some of the headline engagement metrics:

Grian‘s Hermitcraft Videos	View Count
Hermitcraft 9: Episode 1	2.3 million
Hermitcraft 9: Episode 30	1.8 million
Hermitcraft 9: Episode 40	1.6 million

Grian‘s Empires Videos	View Count
Empires SMP: Episode 1	1.7 million
Empires SMP: Episode 2	1.4 million
Empires SMP: Episode 3	1.1 million

As you can see, viewership remains very strong for both Grian‘s series. Fans can‘t seem to get enough of his adventures across the two SMPs!

And the synergy goes both ways. Grian‘s activations are driving new fans over to Empires SMP from his channel too. I wouldn‘t be surprised if he becomes one of the top 3 biggest Empires members on YouTube during this season.

Conclusion: Grian‘s Triumphant Return to SMPs

Grian. Is. Back. After years away from the multiplayer survival scene, the sensational builder has returned through Grian‘s Rift to Empires SMP Season 2.

He‘s already establishing his jungle kingdom, pranking friends, and teasing an epic lore role. And we‘re only a few episodes in!

As a fellow Minecraft expert, I‘m incredibly hyped to see Grian flex his creative muscles at the possibilities in Empires SMP alongside so many other talented creators.

And as the lore builds with his deep ties to the Evolution and Hermitcraft worlds, I know he‘s going to captivate us all with theatrical storytelling and standout builds.

So to answer the big question once and for all – yes, Grian has undoubtedly joined Empires SMP in Season 2. And Empires will never be the same!

Are you excited to see Grian‘s continued adventures in Empires SMP? Let me know your thoughts and theories in the comments! I‘m eager to geek out with fellow Minecraft fans about what‘s coming next.