The Legend of Vox Machina 2x4 Reaction | Those Who Walk Away

[@crimsoneclipse0618]

I really love the detail that to be accepted as the Champion of the Matron of Ravens, you have to first accept death.

[@PristineTX]

Yes...and fate. She's the goddess of death and fate, so naturally, her Champion must be able to give himself to her domains.

[@testfire3000]

I thought that was very poetic. I am loving this series, so hyped that they have a long term deal with Amazon (from what I have heard).

[@momqabt]

Also, severing their fate connection, tieing Vax's fate to herself after he accepted his fate and hence death...yeah, very very symbolic

[@zenmastermtl]

Also worth noting that no matter how hard you fight, you can't beat death. It's going to win, so you may as well accept it and be at peace.

[@nonechuks6683]

@@zenmastermtl Which makes a certain big bad we'll hopefully see in future seasons the perfect counter point to her.

[@TBoring]

15:19 “Are his feelings for Keyleth genuine?” He definitely is attracted to her, but, without going into too much detail, Kash just wants to help people. He spent his life training as a healer it’s just his experiences have left him jaded. Also he was Ron Stoppable in a past life, so he’s got a thing for badass redheads.

[@bandi138138]

He was also The Batman of the future, so doing the right thing is in there deep down lol

[@elfbreath]

And out of character, the guy playing Kash (Will Friedle) is a total troll as well as friends with the cast. So I think Will having fun messing with his friend Marisha and her D&D character is a contributing factor, lol.

[@myboatforacar]

Also, Will was a childhood crush of Marisha's :) So they had fun riffing on that.

[@goose1415]

HOLY JESUS THAT'S WHERE I RECOGNIZE HIM FROM??? I knew that I recognized his voice but I didn't think that was where from.

[@PearseNation]

Kash is also married* haha

[@grifftastic2745]

And we watch reaction channels so we can see more people process those moments in real time. We thank you for your service.

[@Precaricat]

It's the only way to watch something for the first time twice!

[@grendalsuncle4040]

Or many times

[@Musabre]

@@Precaricat This. It's how i describe the phenomena of reaction channels to people who are still totaly dismissive or confused by it. I used to be skeptical myself. But watching something for the first time, 'again', that's bang on lol.

[@gmbryant746]

It also helps me understand why I like something

[@Musabre]

@@gmbryant746 Good point. Hearing others articulate things in a way you might not have realised you were also.

[@operative2136]

So quick explanation: Yes. The woman Vax has been seeing is the Matron of Ravens. The key thing to understand about the Matron of Ravens is this: She is the God of Death, Fate, and Winter. Her chief focus is safeguarding the transition of the soul once a person meets their fate. The duel with Purvan was a test of sorts to prove he was worthy of the armor. The test wasn't to defeat Purvon - it was to accept fate and his death at Purvan's hands. Fun easter egg! You know those golden threads you keep seeing whenever the Matron shows up? Re-watch the musical title sequence and you may notice something you previously overlooked when watching. Glad to see you're enjoying the show!

[@ShingenNolaan]

I really should not be reading those comments, cause you're pulling me into the lore, man.

[@AshEshyr]

so basically she is the psychopomp of exandria?

[@judah5037]

​@@ShingenNolaan read more comments. Matt Mercer does a FANTASTIC job world building.

[@WolfgirlAidan]

Liam and Laura actually have the same birthday, which is why they decided to play twins in the first place. They still refer to eachother as "my twinny" 🥰

[@ChillyCucumber]

In the campaign, Kash was Keyleth's first kiss. Also, the "optical guy" was a non-copyright beholder.

[@Heavensrun]

Ahhhh, I was right then. The toothy mouth and the one big eye, along with the petrification, I thought it had to be a beholder.

[@TheJerbol]

That sucks because beholders are way more cool and unique than this monster. I loved it, but beholders are so much more interesting

[@DungeonDragon18]

In the original stream, they fought the beholder before they found the armor, and that's why Vex was low enough on hit points that the trap killed her.

[@JackOfBlackPhoenix]

One could say it was... a Copyrightholder

[@Heavensrun]

@@TheJerbol i honestly thought this thing was way scarier. I always thought beholders were kinda goofy looking.

[@elbruces]

Just a quick mention, as far a "Taliesin shaking," he has a condition that causes involuntary hand tremors, so that might have been a factor.

[@funnylilgalreacts]

I was told about that earlier today, I’m thinking that it was a combo of the two because he knows he just caused what happened, but also someone said that he doesn’t take his medication regularly…??

[@VegetaLF7]

@@funnylilgalreacts Yeah, his hand tremors usually aren't that noticeable aside from those times when he doesn't take his meds, but they do pop up a bit more during high stress moments. And given he just got Vex insta-killed qualifies as a high stress moment I'd say.

[@TimpanistMoth_AyKayEll]

@@funnylilgalreacts What I've heard from others with essential tremors is that these medications, like many, can cause some unpleasant side effects, so it's something of an ongoing balance day-to-day whether to try to reduce the shaking or live with it. And as one migth expect, the severity of tremor is absolutely affected by adrenaline, anxiety etc. There is a cute video from 2017 called "Taliesin Jaffe cuts Erika Ishii's hair - Geek and Sundry" (clipped from a different show on the same Twitch channel, no spoilers for Critical Role content) during which he remarks that yes, he did take his meds that day, but his hands are still shaking quite a bit because he's doing this, quote, (yelling) "LIVE ON THE INTERNET!!" Extra funny to watch because Erika (another voice actor and TTRPG personality, goes by all pronouns) is a Chaos Gremlin incarnate and really, reallllly struggles to ever contain their energy, let alone actually hold perfectly still. Plus there was a live studio 'audience' (crew/friends) who kept trying to make both of them laugh at the worst possible times. (Spoilers: It turned out great and Erika has kept a variation of the same hairstyle to this day! Tal was 100% right when he said it was a 'gateway haircut'...)

[@davidribeiro1064]

On Mini Prime Time it comes up. It's actually worth seing because Will shows him a hack to stabilize the hand while painting details.

[@testfire3000]

@@TimpanistMoth_AyKayEll I gotta find that video!

[@dawebs71]

This is more or less when Vax multiclassed - in addition to being the group's Rogue, he's now a Paladin (holy warrior) of the Raven Queen.

[@wrytar7717]

I love that the Raven Queen didn't even say anything when Vax offered himself up. She just looked at him as if to say "Interesting. Let me get back to you on that later." The animators did a really great job with that and the whole show in general.

[@dreadlordherk6367]

The figure Vax had been seeing was the Matron of Ravens. The visions weren't in the live stream. Because the show is essentially a revision of the live stream they know where the story goes and can foreshadow later story elements that would be near impossible to do during play. A game master can never predict what their players will do. no matter how well you know them.

[@zaincassis2612]

You have quickly risen through the ranks of my favorite reactors, can't want to see more from you!

[@Citizen88020120820]

She was taken my #1 spot

[@beelzebubkaiser6388]

Dont know if someone has mentioned before or if you know already, but when a player deals a killing blow to a someone Matt asks "How Do You Want To Do This". And the players gets to pretty much describe how they finish off a monster. Also I just found your channel and I love the way you do reactions.

[@Logan_Baron]

You saying Vex is pretty much the leader of the group. In a Q&A they were asked who the leader of the group is, and the answer was something like "The group doesn't have a leader...... But it's Vex".

[@axisjack7]

Fun fact....the main reason that Matt gave Laura the amulet was to keep the group from spending too much time wrangling over how to get Trinket up ropes, across chasms, and out of battles. Speaking as a DM, pets can definitely slow down a campaign at times. Also, bears don't fare well against higher level creatures. Great reaction. Thanks for all your hard work!❤

[@mikebreaddelancey4755]

Vex is a beastmaster ranger. Its her specialty. You get a cool animal companion when you select it. The problem was when they were playing originally, your cool companion like Trinket didn't get stronger along with you. Trinket was a level 1 beast and they were level 10. Trinket was pretty much getting left behind because a single hit from one of the Briarwoods or some other creature would kill him. Matt invented the broach and gave it to Vex in this tomb just so Trinket could start going along with them again. The best part of the broach is if Trinket is "killed" and drops to 0 HP, he just goes into the broach unconscious and wakes up. Its a "no dead pet" magic item. Secondly, the rules used to be either the ranger or the companion could attack. If Vex told Trinket to attack, she couldn't do any other normal action. Matt also changed the rules so Trinket could attack the same time as Vex. DnD changed the rules for beastmaster rangers essentially because people working there watched CR and realized how stupid the rules were. They still aren't the best, but they are better because Matt voicing Trinket made the game makers reassess things.

[@AnxietyRat]

@@mikebreaddelancey4755 nope. Trinket it does not regain consciousness inside of the amulet. He can be unconscious in it but when he gets bamfed back out he is STILL unconscious and needs to be healed. But it was a buffer for being allowed to have some time to be able to bamf them out to be healed when Pike had healing spells back or they could get him somewhere where healing spells could be given by someone else if Pike wasn't there. because time freezes within the amulet. So it absolutely was used as a buffer and as protection for trinket. But it did not heal him and it did NOT bring him back to consciousness when he is inside the amulet. It only freezes time and keeps him safe from further damage. So it's not really a "no dead pets" item in the way that you described it to be. But kinda. It was created to save Laura's heart.

[@kerouac.jackson]

The flashback in the beginning is what's important. When Vax is fighting Purvan, he sees Vex from the flashback, and she says "Whatever happens, it's out of our control." That's one Vex line from the flashback at the beginning, but it reminds Vax of the other Vex line at the end of the flashback. "Sometimes you have to embrace what's in front of you. Not fight it." And that's how he survives, by taking that advice and just accepting what was happening.

[@nemonamenlos7330]

Also, the first line is the one she says before Vax kills the mother bear. And after remembering that Vax accepts death. 😢 This show is so damn good!

[@KevinDPomeroy]

Yeah the figure in the first 2 Episodes were hinting at the thread between Vax and the Matron of Ravens. In Vasselheim, Vax sees her in front of her temple, which is present in the city but not one of the major ones, that figures like Pike regularly acknowledge.

[@PristineTX]

Actually, the Matron of Ravens is one of the more well-known entities in Vasselheim's recognized pantheon. In the stream, it is actually Pike's goddess, the Everlight, that is far less well-known there. Her temple was in ruins and just starting to be rebuilt by a few followers when Pike first visited Vasselheim.

[@KevinDPomeroy]

@@PristineTX I guess recognized was a poor choice of words, esteemed is probably more accurate. Her temple was kind of tucked away while others were more prominent. Most people recognize the importance of death, but it isn't a faith that many flock to.

[@AresAlpha]

The monster they fought was "Similar to but legally distinct from" a beholder.

[@bouboulroz]

You already know the woman with the crystal ball at the end of that episode. She just has shorter hair, a weird hand, and her name isn't engraved on a gun anymore.

[@testfire3000]

Hahahaha, that last piece is super helpful!

[@marauderdz]

I find it very interesting how most reactors don't recognize her, yet I did immediately, thanks in part to being primed for her return after the Viktor scene. Usually, my mild face blindness means I'm the last to recognize anyone.

[@shadowecdysis]

I was one of the nerds who backed this series on day 1 of the kickstarter because Matt and the crew of beloved nerdy ass voice actors touched my heart with their ability to tell magical stories. It makes me so happy to see people enjoying the series and even better getting to know the people behind the characters/voice talent and enjoying clips from the dnd game.

[@banf7425]

Yes! Adam from previewed’s Percy cosplay is amazing hahaha

[@StealthMarmot_]

6:29 When asked someone said that "Vox Machina doesn't really have a leader, unless Vex is in earshot. Then it's Vex."

[@adiboobruh6453]

Just wanna say, your curly hair is STUNNING & your passion for this story is also, just as stunning. Glad to see you on the journey with us all, and I hope the critters have been treating you well, they normally do ❤️

[@Mazecraft]

I am so glad you are also watching Previewed! Those guys are great. And like them, one of the things I really enjoy about your channel is your empathy and heart. I can't wait to see your reaction to the rest of the series!

[@mr.stuffdoer8483]

I love how other reactors mention Adam’s cosplay. You’re the second I’ve seen mention him. He was legit built to cosplay Percy. He’s got the rectangular head and everything.

[@TuanAnhNguyen-gd2vp]

One thing I love about this episode is that the opening is not just a back story of Trinket but has another layer to it.

[@tithannisk7470]

At some point, the members of the crew had an unspoken rule (don't know if it still holds) : if one of the characters die during a session, they'd go out immediately after and get drunk to process it.

[@AnxietyRat]

Not that exact wording. they go to a local Irish bar and have a wake for the character. They don't "get drunk to process the death"... they celebrate the character's life as if they were a real person.

[@tithannisk7470]

@@AnxietyRat Same difference. I was tired and couldn't find my words.

[@AnxietyRat]

@@tithannisk7470 there's enough of a difference that I decided to correct you. Having a couple of drinks and getting tipsy to celebrate the life of a character is VERY different from getting drunk to process their death ...the emotional weight of those two scenarios are different. All I did was spit out what they have said in the past in pretty much the same words they used. 🤷‍♀️

[@aaronbourque5494]

The Matron of Ravens is as much a psychopomp as a goddess (that means she guides the dead to whatever afterlife there might be), so her appearance at Emon while the Chroma Conclave attacked makes sense. As to why Vax and only Vax saw her, well, that could be a complicated answer. For one thing, deities don't necessarily experience time linearly. Also, Vax is a trained and decently powerful assassin rogue, so maybe he had more of a connection to death than the rest of Vox Machina. The monster scene was VERY different in the stream. For one thing, it was a different monster, something called a Beholder (a fairly powerful monster with a lot of baggage attached to it, but is IP of D&D, not Critical Role itself, so they changed it). For another, they actually fought it BEFORE Vex's death, so also before Vax got the vestige. Also, Kima--remember her from season one?--was also involved in the exploration of the sunken tomb. So, they had to change a bunch for that fight. In the show, it looks like it was all to showcase the potential of a Vestige--although they actually changed THAT, too, combining it with another magic item Vax had that gave him a boost of speed and ability to attack (or move) once more on his turn. Not that the Deathwalker's Ward isn't impressive, too, it just doesn't make him fast.

[@Ozgarthefighter]

The dice rolls usually just determine success or failure. Using Vax's fight with the discount Beholder as an example, Liam would declare an attack on the monster and roll a 20-sided die. If the number on the die is higher than the monster's armor class (AC) then the attack succeeds. Matt Mercer's DM style is heavily narrative focused so whenever a major attack or kill happens he would ask the player, "how do you want to do this?" At which point the player would describe what their character does in that moment.

[@SCUBAguypnw]

So fun seeing the show through your eyes. You also have extremely intelligent insights. Looking forward to more.

[@1timemelody1]

The figure Vax had been seeing was indeed the Matron of Ravens. She wears a mask, always. Likely to protect her identity as she is unique among the gods in that she was once a mortal. The cast did a Q&A after their watch parties for season 1 so if you want a take on Vex's whole deal with Keyleth straight from the player herself: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pF7PqIp-pd1lpsU from 23:30 - 26:39 The monster is probably a budget beholder lmao. Beholders are copyrighted material so we get a knock-off version instead. Also just a sweet thing I wanted to note. Laura Bailey (Vex) gave Liam O'Brien (Vax) a ring engraved with raven feathers and the phrase "Do not go far from me" for his birthday. She gifted it to him on stream I believe.

[@theanyktos]

1:15 yeah, you're good:) Taliesin is a tough one, but you got it. He actually has a condition that makes his hands shake, it's not necessarily a sign of distress for him.

[@d.k.t.3380]

Can we just take a moment to credit Liam for what an incredible performance that was? Seriously, he should get some sort of Emmy nomination for that.

[@xboxman1710]

I believe the string connecting Vex and Vax symbolizes the bond they share being twins, at points in the show the twins have been able to sense things between each other such as in the first fight with the Briarwoods where Vex had a feeling the Vax was in trouble. It could also represent a fate that they shared and now that it has been severed their paths may begin to drift apart.

[@inkpenavengerYT]

Taliesin has hand tremors anyway, but they do get more pronounced when emotions run high. I dont know what, if anything, they fought then in the campaign, but this was a new creature designed for the show. And the woman with the orb at the end was Ripley.

[@DungeonDragon18]

It was a beholder that had moved into the ruins. They actually fought it before opening the grave, and that was why Trinket had enough HP left to survive the trap but Vex didn't.

[@CrazyOldLiam]

I haven't watched the whole livestream campaign yet, so I don't know how deeply the Matron of Ravens will tie in as the series goes on, but I find something interesting: That yellow line tied between Vax and Vex, and then Vax and the Matron - Makes me think about the raven in the intro that bursts into the yellow lines that seem to tie the group together. I wonder just how involved the Matron has been the whole time.

[@hawkname1234]

She is the Goddess of Fate.

[@jackakimbo5718]

...you'll see.

[@elfbreath]

If you think this version of meeting baby Trinket made you emotional, you should read Laura's original version of the story! When she originally wrote it Vex was totally alone, no one came to save her. She had to save herself. And the experience was so traumatic for Vex she never told anyone what happened. Look up 'The Saga of Trinket' if you want to read her version!

[@Shenare]

Yeah, I was really bummed out that they decided to change it in the animated series.

[@Chaosm03]

I believe the eye creature was their version of a Beholder. But, obviously changed for copyright reasons.

[@Thundarr100]

That’s what I was thinking as well.

[@jcbass2u]

A cross between a roper and a beholder mixed with a basilisk perhaps....definitely the first two for sure.

[@Mordring]

@@jcbass2u basilisk for petrification, I assume? No need, one of beholders' eye rays also petrifies. At least they went with that instead of disintegration or death ray.

[@jcbass2u]

@@Mordring Yes, that is true. I know a Beholders abilities well, it's one of my favorite monsters to throw at smug murder hobo parties.

[@christophercorbin9387]

Not a spoiler, just lore. The Matron of Ravens is the goddess of not just death, but fate. She is not good, she is not evil. Consider if you will the intro to each episode, where a raven sends threads of light out weaving certain people together. Yes, Vax was seeing her beforehand (in the show). The monster was a show original, because they fought a beholder in the game, which is a D&D specific monster. It has similarities to it. Not so much a servant, but a paladin of a goddess. But his evolution isn’t done yet.

[@jypziiatthecrossroads9047]

You're a D+D virgin until your first character dies.

[@thekingofnido]

So, just a heads up Taliesin has an Essential Tremor that causes those shakes. He has said that stress can add to it as well.

[@purplelikefire]

When you got the tissues I was like "good you will need it for the first scene"

[@funnylilgalreacts]

Did I think it would be because of a Trinket backstory? Nope. Regrets? NONE.

[@tofton1977]

IRL Liam and Laura are born on the same day (but not the same year), so they decide it would be fun to play twins.

[@blackpaw29]

Yeah, I'm guessing anyone who's nursed a pet through their last stages found Trinkets Mum particularly hard.

[@Antenox]

I'm SOOOO excited to see you experience the ups and downs of this series over the next three seasons! Your visceral reactions to these episodes mirror what I felt inside during these moments, and it's so much fun reliving those emotions vicariously through you in this new format 🤗 Edit: Yes, that was the Matron of Ravens (or "the Raven Queen") It didn't exactly play out like this in the campaign. In the campaign, Kash DID resurrect her. Vax does still get the vestige, but it doesn't become "exalted" (when it turns golden, essentially symbolizing the bearer uniting with it) until later. Also, Kash and Zahra are much friendlier in the campaign. No spoilers on Larkin. 🤐 Bidet and beep beep!

[@bandi138138]

It's still not exalted yet, just awakened. There's one more crucial feature of the armor that comes with being exalted.

[@elfbreath]

Also you should listen to “Willing”- a fan song from Vax’s POV regarding Vex’s resurrection and his deal with the Matron of Ravens. No spoilers in it, just feels!

[@lvfd6117]

I must say I found you because of lovm season 1 and have since watched a TON of ur vids and I must say ur such an amazing sweet caring person who also enjoys the spice of life I appreciate you so much, thank you!

[@Umbradomo]

I think that the person dying in bed was the past owner of the destroyed shack that Vex and Vax are standing in front of. He now sees visions of past and future deaths due to the Matron. It makes sense since I have not seen the games these are based on.

[@CrownofMischief]

21:17 here's a hint: that hand is a prosthetic

[@funnylilgalreacts]

I didn’t even get it by the end of episode 2. I was editing and was like “Anna….RIPLEY” 😑

[@CrownofMischief]

@@funnylilgalreacts You're all good! It makes it harder to recognize her since she cleaned up after escaping, before she had unkempt hair and bags under her eyes

[@neintales1224]

Did you notice Keyleth's reaction after Vax killed the eye-tentacle-thing-that-is-not-a-trademarked-Beholder? Someone likes a badass xD

[@Vipre-]

1:50 Speaking as a player it's strange how connected you can get to your characters, particularly when you put so much effort into their backstories, motivations, and interactions with other players. I don't doubt for a second how nauseous Laura was feeling as that was playing out as had it failed Vex could've just been gone.

[@bouboulroz]

Definitely. Even a quirky character you initially made just to have fun can quickly grow on you, and their loss can hurt you in ways you didn't expect.

[@AlmostOtaku7]

@@bouboulroz Shout out to Buttscratch Tumbledown.

[@pali1d]

Agreed. I've been playing my favorite D&D character for over three years now, and I actually WANT her to die eventually because it would be the perfect culmination of her arc... but it's going to hurt when that happens. It doesn't matter that she's imaginary, or that she was designed to be a tragic character from the start - when it happens, it is going to hurt me. More than the actual death of many real people I know would. She's a part of me made manifest through countless hours of roleplaying, and losing her will be losing a part of myself. I still want it to happen, because that kind of attachment and loss is part of the magic of games like D&D. I don't think I'll be able to say that I enjoyed her death when the time comes, but I know I'll value the experience.

[@bcn1gh7h4wk]

didn't Pike die before the stream series? she knows there's resurrection.... that's why Matt nerfed it because he knew it was going to be a minor inconvenience for them, all with having a cleric, a bard, a druid and a half paladin in the same party. a party of _a punching bag who won't die,_ a _cursed MF who is too stubborn to die,_ and _four other people who can cast resurrection in one way or another_ ... with the only squishy one being Vex.

[@bouboulroz]

@@bcn1gh7h4wk Matt didn't take the team comp into account for the nerf. It was always to make death matter, regardless of many people have access to it. Beside, he can always manage the access to the material components, so it never matter how many people can resurrect in the party. Whether you have 5 clerics or only one, if there's only 300 gp of diamonds, there's only 1 revivify. Lastly, how could Matt even consider Vax being part Paladin for the nerf, when the nerf happened before Vax took any paladin level ?

[@pallenda]

I am hyped for Mighty Nine, just to see more of Jester. I saw all of campaign 2, and they way Laura played Jester is just soo awesome! It will take some time for it to arrive I guess, but we have Vox Machina now and it's awesome. Love your reaction to these episodes. 🥰

[@ThePoopsmith-12345]

I binge watched campaign 1 and campaign 2 from April 2022 to December 31 2022. Start to finish. I’m on episode 54 of campaign 3 now.

[@johnekare8376]

Great reaction! It's always a treat to follow along your discovery of Vox Machina. I'm stoked about campaign two becoming an animated series! C2 was my gateway into the Critical Role universe; the first campaign I watched from the start. I wouldn't be surprised if we have to wait at least two years for it to come out though. They just announced the green light so presumably they are still some time away from even starting production. I totally understand if you want to go in blind for that reaction as well, but I think there is enough time until C2 comes out animated for one to have time to watch the campaign play videos.

[@Logan_Baron]

Talking about Talieson's shaking. He actually does have tremors. He usually hides it well, and it's not noticed except in certain circumstances. You'll see he often has his hands clasped or hidden, and he fidgets, which makes the shaking less noticible.

[@mikebreaddelancey4755]

The Matron of Ravens is the Goddess of death and fate. The critters have been waiting for this episode since the first time the opening sequence was shown last season. The raven and the yellow threads of fate in the opening like the one she manipulated in this episode takes on a whole new level.

[@testfire3000]

I have really been enjoying your reactions and your interest in learning more about the characters, players, world and story. I love it! The magic amulet was something Matt came up with. Trinket was so big, how does he go down ladders or climb a rope? It became quite the hassle for Laura (Vex) and that is why you see Sam (Scanlan) making jokes about how useless Trinket is. With this new magic item Vex could pop Trinket into the amulet while (for example) they went sea-diving, then bring him back out when they got to dry land or whatever.

[@Applescentedcandle]

Wow you really get this show. I love your reactions. Sometimes you catch more of the through lines and themes than I do in this show and I’ve watched c1 like, multiple times 😂

[@MehrGills]

As others have said. "Larkin" is an inside code for critters who know how the chroma conclave arc progresses. If you look up who Larkin is, you'll be spoiled. It's a way for us to chat about spoiler things without spoiling others by proxy

[@andrewhelmer6853]

Discovered you a few days ago, finally caught up on Vox (Among other shows). LOVE the reactions. Also, the rings and necklace you're wearing are amazing. very cool. Thanks Angela!

[@funnylilgalreacts]

Thanks!

[@sherra-sama]

Speaking as a Critter who's been watching the livestream since ep 11 of campaign one: I seek out these reaction videos just because it's soooo much fun seeing the reactions of people who are unknowing of the story. It sort of mimics the way it used to be in in the live chat with people reacting in real time (before it got too big to even follow anymore.) I think I watched about a dozen for ep 3 and cried every single time even though I already knooow. Anyway, yours have a been a joy to watch, and I hope the community keeps up the kindness they're known for. You've done a great job so far on picking up the plot threads and I hope you enjoy the ride and I can't wait to keep watching your videos.

[@davidbodor1762]

18:33 - Just look at Keyleth's face there as everyone is staring at Vax, she's absolutely smitten.

[@ElMonoFuerte]

I love writing Larkin in places and then getting this acknowledgement...as a long time Critter, everything that you do on this channel is great.

[@Vipre-]

23:00 "Legally distinct from copyrighted material" totally Not-a-Beholder. Campaign 1 Episodes 44 and 45 are what this episode and episode 3 are primarily based on. Vex's Death is the ending of 44.

[@TimeturnerJ]

16:56 You can't be Death's Champion if you don't accept Death. :')

[@MrPingn]

Fun Fact: Zahra was voice acted by Mary Elizabeth McGlynn. Among many other roles. She has played Motoko "The Major" Kusanagi in the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex series. She was also a voice director for The Legend of Vox Machina.

[@richardbrown3055]

Your reactions are some of the very best to this series, I really enjoy how genuine you are. One major spoiler you are going to LOVE the Mighty Nein!!!! Vox Machina is amazing but there is a special magic to the Nein. I have cried every time I’ve rewatched that announcement, and I’m tearing up a little right now thinking about. One of the things I loved about this episode was the subtle, beautiful between the beginning and ending scenes. We first see a young Vax and Vex meeting Trinket, but in the process Vex guides Vax to show mercy on Trinket’s mother by ending her suffering, and in the end you have the Matron of Raven’s silently showing Vax the same thing with the suffering man, though that one was interrupted by Vax’s fear of what he’s become. When talking about the first season they “Critical Role” said that the golden threads represent the threads of fate, which is also the domain of the Matron of Ravens. So the golden thread between Vax and Vex was his fate being bound to hers, that thread was severed and his fate is now bound to the Matron of Ravens as her Champion.

[@gerbie42]

So no. In the show almost nothing is already written. Matt has a main story he guides them along, but it's upto the players to respond and do with it what they want. In this animated series they took all that happened and made it a bit more cohesive, tied together, by adding more foreshadowing and they put more emphasis on the emotional and pure awesome moments. It's really well done. Also you're going to react to Severance!? I can't wait!

[@JSkinnerish]

You make some very astute guesses and I have to say I'm enjoying your reactions. Enjoy the series.

[@daffyduck008]

I didn't realize until this episode that Vex was Trinket's mom. That makes her first rate in my book.

[@chipsalom]

I think... Or sorta took the fight with Purvan, whose role basically represents "Death's Champion", ending with Vax surrendering to... Death... As what the fight was about. I dunno. I don't remember that specific bit from the stream.

[@Zerashadow]

"I drink and i know nothing" me being like: Hey, i understand that reference! The ones in the bed, weren't that the Briarwoods, or maybe just the people who used to live in that house, i just thought they looked alot like the scene where Delilah went and sold her soul for Sylas life.

[@lady_draguliana784]

how she dealt with the hair in her mouth made me snort-laugh! 🤣 hilariously relatable!

[@MrSmile078]

The eye monster was a copyright safe beholder, the show often changes some monsters because licensing issues

[@grimm516]

And now you have seen the amulet, it's funny because that item only exists because laura constantly bring trinkt everywhere and sometimes matt forgot about trinket so he created the item to hand wave trinket being with the party all the time. And as you asked about how it happened in the campaign so all the main story beats are there but it's moved around a bit for example the fight happened first and it was against a beholder but because of copyrights and other stuff it's changed in the show, as for the power vax got in the show that's a bit wiblly woblly for creative reasons they basically combined a bunch of vaxs magic item from the game in to the vestige eg: boots of haste is how he moves so fast in the game

[@NoActuallyGo-KCUF-Yourself]

18:06 _How do you want to do this?_

[@nonechuks6683]

Yup. Vax was seeing the Matron of Ravens in EP. 1 & 2. In EP. 1, Umbrasyl ironically announces himself by saying "death has come to Emon," and lo and behold, Vax first sees her as she's collecting dead souls while the dragons are rampaging. In EP. 2, the Matron of Raven's temple in Vasselheim catches his eye and -- consequently -- he spots the Matron of Ravens once again. There's even more foreshadowing dating back to EP. 2 of Season 1, but that's spoilery.. I think?

[@TheTsuha]

finally! i was waiting for ur reaction video to be uploaded! i love ur reaction.. ur the best!

[@mkohlhorst]

Taliesin shaking, while undoubtedly exasperated by the stress, has to do with a tremor condition. He commented on it when cutting Erika Ishii's hair. I actually stumbled onto that video before the Critical Role stuff. Later after noticing the tremor during the CR campaign put two and two together.

[@-nav-398]

I'm fairly certain that the woman with the crystal ball at the end of the episode was Ripley. I haven't finished the chroma conclave arc of campaign 1, but all I hear is that she is bad news.

[@phoenixdzk]

Once you've finished this series maybe react to Exandria Unlimited: Calamity! It's a phenomenal series that occurs before Vox Machina and events that take place in it indirectly influence the creation of the vestiges! Mind you that's definitely getting animated in a few years considering Campaign 2 is already greenlit for a series of its own

[@Phi1618033]

The Matron of Raven's (i.e. the Raven Queen) is also the goddess of fate, so Vax kept seeing her because she already knew his fate. Also, notice that the raven at the beginning of the opening titles is also sending out golden threads to everyone in the group. Raven, Matron of Ravens, golden threads, fate...do the math.

[@grimm516]

Yay, me next... hahah 😉 & yes the person vax is seeing is the matron and for content now you have seen her. The matron has the domains of Death, Fate, Winter, Twilight, Inevitability & everything is all connected

[@edwindrood2816]

Teeth guy: swapped in for a beholder monster (WotC ©️) in the game. Also, Liam's mom was dying of cancer when this happened (he later said so in interviews and Twitter) and said his character working for death helped him process a lot of emotions

[@Pannekoek.]

During the game the creature was guarding the tomb and they had to fight it before they could get to the armor. Zara was the one who killed it (they were already friends at the time) After the fight they opened the tomb. Because they were still relatively low on hit points Vex died instantly when the trap went off. In the animation they moved the fight till later to show off what the cool new vestige could do.

[@wyverntark]

As someone else mentioned, a lot of the fights are dramatized and adapted pretty heavily, so even some of the epic moments (like Vax throwing the dagger and then spiking it with his boot) aren't necessarily drawn 1-to-1 with the game. However, it does line up with how Matt handles finishing blows. When a player lands the final blow, Matt will ask them "How do you want to do this?" The phrase is well known to critters, and is always used to signify the final blow in a big fight. Depending on the fight, it can be for every notable enemy, or for an enemy killed in a particularly tense moment, but sometimes it's reserved just for the last enemy or the biggest one. When Matt says it, the table erupts in celebration. Fans have even tracked each "HDYWTDT" the players have earned in each campaign (Matt even got to ask himself "how do I want to do this" once when an NPC helping the players got the final blow). The interpretation of the rules can be as simple as "hit target for X amount of damage; if target's health is reduced to 0 you win." However, Matt encourages narrative flair at his table. When he asks "how do you want to do this," he is inviting the players to bring some character and flair to an important moment. Different players will answer the question differently. Sometimes they'll give a general description of what they do, or even just describe how their character feels in the moment, and Matt will turn it into a narrative description of the final blow. Other times (and Liam in particular is known for this) players will give a detailed description of their own for exactly how they want the attack to land. Although Vax's epic kill isn't pulled from the stream, it's very much the kind of description Liam might give for a final blow. Usually, when it's a HDYWTDT, there is no additional roll to see if the action succeeds. The player rolled and hit successfully, and their reward for getting the final blow is the opportunity to put some flourish on it. Additional rolls might be called for if a player were trying to add a flourish to a regular attack before you know whether it's a final blow or not.

[@Logan_Baron]

Zahra wasn't that bad in the actual table game. She was a lot more like Vex. Arrogant, haughty and a bit rude, but not one to willingly put people in danger, and she was able to work as a team.

[@wildbronco038]

The monster was a "Not a Beholder For Legal Reasons."

[@sybariticcupboardrat3763]

In the campaign, they fought and killed a beholder that was living in the temple (they changed the monster enough to avoid copywrite issues in the animated show). The players want a break from the tension after a battle, so they tend to get lax. That's why Taliesin forgot to check for traps. Kash did the resurrection spell 'raise dead'. I think others have explained that Matt developed a system where three people help with the ritual. Usually you're supposed to appeal to the soul of the deceased to return to the body, but Vax decided to make a deal with the Matron to take Vex's place. When Vex came back to life, but the Matron didn't take Vax's soul, they didn't know what it meant at first. The armor didn't magically appear on Vax. No one even put it on right away. Kash and Zahra were never working against them. And the magic locket was with the armor. It's called Raven's Slumber and it still had Purvan's familiar in it. Sadly Galdric the wolf isn't vital to the story.

[@evanflynn4680]

9:48 he's animated he's animated he's animated

[@cryptc]

I am a bit rusty on the campaign, but I believe that since Vax had a feat that let him reroll a dice several times per day, he's "fate touched", so I think they used the foreshadowing to show that the matron of ravens would be his fate (which obviously wasn't known beforehand in the game, so adapted for the show with the hindsight of what happens in the tomb)

[@denmoore92]

Not sure if you’re just using different wording and I am also a little rusty on the campaign, I believe the feat he had was the lucky feat and that you could be referring to he and Vex be Fey touched as they are half-elves

[@cryptc]

@@denmoore92 I mean something specific to Vax, only he sees the matron, but again, not sure how much they tweaked things knowing later outcomes

[@AnxietyRat]

@@cryptc Being fate touched in Matt's world doesn't have anything to do with being able to see the gods. But it IS a very special title that Matt gave Vax because Liam was going through a really difficult time IRL. There's only been a handful of other people that Matt Mercer has talked about at conventions being fate touched within the campaigns that he's run. It's a specific thing to Matt's home brew, being fate touched, and is not a thing in DND as a whole. There are videos on KZbin of panels where you can see Matt explain what being fate touched means within his campaigns.

[@cloudstone123]

To answer some of your questions, it was Kashaw that brought her back in the stream in terms of casting the spell. But the way you can bring back someone from the dead in D&D doesn't suit Matt's tastes as it makes death trivial so he makes them undergo a ritual that they have to roll for to see if it succeeds. Vax's contribution to it was basically the dialogue you saw in the show. Matt has up to 3 people contribute, there is a roll each one makes so when Matt makes the final roll, it can make the final roll harder or easier. You've seen a short clip of it no doubt of Vex's death but it probably ended before Kashaw stepped in with his magic. Here is a timestamped link to the campaign just as Kashaw is casting the spell: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXnWcmOIlKyirLc It is 4 and a half hours into the almost 5 hour episode. The hints of the Raven Queen were not a thing in the stream. It is something they likely worked in based on how the entire campaign played out and taking all that into consideration, I would definitely say yes, it was the Matron Vex you were seeing as a foreshadowing of what was/is to come. Someone else in the comments described the creature accurately. They can't use what Matt used in the campaign in the animated show so they just made simple modifications that make the reference obvious without copying it. It is one of Matt's favorite monsters and it also happens to be very deadly in D&D so they did a good job of it. They did not find the vestige yet in the campaign when they killed it. Zahra was the one who killed it in the stream. So this episode played out differently than the stream but all the key references are there. They have to cram a lot into a 30 minute animated episode from the hundreds of hours of material available. Campaign 1 is 115 episodes with each episode being at least 4 hours long on average.

[@PolarisSuncleaver]

Something that I don't know has been touched on is that the golden threads that are in the opening sequence and now connecting vax to the Matron of Ravens are the threads of fate (if I'm remembering the explanation from the live stream)

[@ShadowyFox_86]

The little kid isn't Larkin, but you're on the right track. 😁 Taliesin and Liam really get into their characters, and I know that when something bad happens to one of his character (or something bad happens because of a bad decision he's made as a player) Taliesin takes it very hard. Campaign 2 has stuff that he didn't get out of bed for several days after. I love that people are really seeing why Vex is so protective of her brother now. You now are getting to meet the Matron of Ravens (the goddess over the passage of death, of fate, and of winter). She is neither good or evil. She's neutral like death itself. You also got to see the Calamity, which was the war with the gods that Osysa talked about (when the Vestiges were created). I only just noticed the fight with Purvan was about acceptance, in this case of both death and fate; you can't beat them; you can't outrun them; you can only accept them as they are.

[@funnylilgalreacts]

Oh wow! Taliesin definitely seems to be the emotional one of the group. From what I’ve seen at least. Well now I feel dumb that I put it out there that I thought that was Larkin but I don’t even know what that even means 😂😂 I didn’t want to ignore the fact people were commenting #Larkin2023 without a guess of what they were talking about

[@ShadowyFox_86]

@funnylilgalreacts He is definitely one of the emotional ones. Liam tugs on the heart strings. Sam has his ways of doing it. Laura super emotionally invested. Everyone takes their turn. Don't worry. The Larkin thing is purposefully code right now. You are very much on the right path to figure out who Larkin is (when they show up). The Matron is the individual Vax saw in episodes 1 & 2, and you've also met the lady at the end of the episode before as well.

[@ShadowyFox_86]

Vax is now more than a servant. The champion of a deity in Critical Role is the highest honor. They don't tend to have a lot of them. The Matron only ever has one at a time. It's something that the clergy recognize as a holy figure, personally touched by the god and their direct agent in the world.

[@Mordring]

@@funnylilgalreacts Larkin is something that will pop up in Critter community in this (and possibly next) season. If you want to avoid spoilers, just trust that it will all make sense in hindsight, as many other foreshadowing moments from previous episodes. The benefit of having the whole story rather than progressing it as it's being created is having access to Matt's brain from the get go and all the massive behind the scenes content he prepared for his players, which typically pops up in the show as those little foreshadowing hints here and there. Veteran Critters are blessed because we know where to look for those hints and it's like and Easter Egg hunt for us which keeps the plot interesting even though we know where it's heading (just like in movie adaptations of books). New viewers, however, get more surprises along the way and can experience this masterful storytelling for the first time, which always forms a most precious connection with any kind of good story. Ultimately, everyone wins in such a faithful adaptation.

[@AnxietyRat]

Yeah, Taliesen has said that he was experiencing about of insomnia during the session where that incident happens in C2. He then didn't sleep the next night as well and had a LOT of emotions about it and to quote him " curled up in bed and cried until the sun came up." So yeah he had a really ROUGH time after that moment in campaign 2. Things that happened in the campaigns definitely do effect him. Or at least they effect him significantly when things are rough in his own life as well.

[@dehro]

not sure how much the critters have informed you about the main cast.. but a couple of things that might enhance the experience of watching both the show and the played campaign: Liam and Sam are best friends IRL. Liam is the one who started it all because Matt ran a 1 shot DnD session for his birthday on his request..and that's how vox machina came to be. Incidentally, it was also Laura's birthday (only a couple years appart)... Liam and her sharing a birthday is what brought the idea of the twin characters. Laura and Travis are married and have a child (who was born somewhere in the second half of the campaign airing) Matt and Marisha married after the conclusion of the vox machina campaign (had been together since before it aired).. Taliesin and Matt have been friends for a long time.. I'm not entirely sure how/when Ashley came to join the gang in general, most of these actors have known each other one way or another for a long time, and they have become a real found family over the fairly recent years of this crazy adventure. it helps that they share a profession, a cultural background (and relevant studies)... and in general a lot of life experiences. so, yeah... they are actors who live their characters.. when something bad happens, it can get emotional :P

[@Phi1618033]

Ashley used to be neighbors with Travis and Laura. Incidentally, that's how Ashley met her fiancé Brian, because Brian is best friends with Travis.

[@dehro]

@@Phi1618033 I figured they'd met professionally. first...

[@Phi1618033]

@@dehro They probably knew each other professionally, but they were friends because they were neighbors.

[@AdamEspersona]

Also, Marisha is the youngest of the cast at the table… and thus they have Keyleth being the youngest of Vox Machina in the animated series.

[@gmbryant746]

I had seen the campaign long before the show was even a dream but these moments still make me cry in the show. Says allot to quality of the show

[@stonecoldku4161]

Oh that's got to be some foreshadowing with Grog and the locket. He's going in there at some point, no doubt.

[@PearseNation]

Episodes 3 and 4 were the ones I was waiting for ever since the show got funded. Vax is my favorite character from campaign 1 and this is so formative for him.

[@jdogus1994]

Since I haven't seen anyone say what the monster was, it was there version of a Beholder which is just a floating eyeball with teeth and tentacles, couldn't use the real on do to copyrights

[@btgardener39]

An intriguing thing in the lore is that while the Matron of Ravens is a goddess of death, fate and inevitability are also considered to be in her divine portfolio. It's entirely possible that she knew, or anticipated, the threads that would draw Vax into her service as, like the Greek Fates of myth, she snipped the tie binding Vax to his sister. But yes, LOVED the imagery and the metaphor of the fight against Purvan for how, sometimes, events can't be avoided or defeated or rolled back no matter how much one tries, and one has to accept death's inevitability.

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

I'm trying to be as vague as possible, but lets just say that ultimately when things fall into place from what happened in this episode, it was so strong that it made Sam cry at the table. Not in character, he himself cried. The only time in all these years.

[@OptionZero]

The reaction of Laura and others at the table is in part based on the mechanics of taking damage in DND. Health is measured in “hit points,” when they are reduced to zero by damage, the player is “unconscious” - not immediately dead. Every turn while unconscious, the player can do nothing except roll their 20-sided dice, an act called a “death saving throw.” Three rolls below 10 and the character is dead. Three rolls above 10 and the character becomes “stable” - still unconscious, but no longer dying. Any amount of healing to raise hit points above 0 will wake the character up, so it is relatively “easy” to save someone from dying. Given there were no visible enemies to finish her off, and her friends around, Laura assumed they’d wake her up and it would be fine. The trap that zapped her, however, was a special, magical trap. After all, they were in the tomb tied to the Goddess of Death. The added effect of this trap was not just damage, but instant death, skipping the death saving rolls. That contributed to their shock, and is why Pike’s attempt to “heal” did not work. Healing helps the unconscious, it does nothing for the dead.