The Legend of Vox Machina Episode 9 Reaction

[@DougCoughler]

In the live game, Matt Mercer (the DM), came up with Pike being an astral projection because Ashley Johnson, the player, was on the East Coast filming "Blindspot", so she had to Skype in to the game. If her connection was buggy, Matt just had the astrally projected Pike wink out for a bit until she came back.

[@cyberfalcon2872]

That's a gigantic brain solution

[@MoteMayhaps]

Pike's Astral Projection power is amplified by the fact that her body is still in the channeling chamber of the temple- her goddess is giving her a LOT of extra juice. Also, clerics against the undead are OP- they have an ability called Turn the Dead, which can destroy them immediately at high levels. Pike really WAS that clutch in the stream (and did 'project' in via Skype). Percy was never meant to be heir, hence his reluctance. It was brother Julius, then sister Vesper (who isn't in the animation), THEN Percy. (And then four younger siblings, the youngest of whom also isn't in the animation for streamlining reasons). A spare for a spare, he just wanted to make clocks. The vengeance is all he wants, not the responsibility of ruling. Cassandra pushes it on him because she's even less prepared than he is, and people don't trust her because, as she said, the Briarwoods showed her off as a prize for her 'loyalty'.

[@hhylobates4098]

Cassandra was originally the youngest, I'd say they made them closer in age to give them a closer relationship (that scene with them being tutored dosent really make sense if there should be 3 other children between them).

[@elfbreath]

Percy’s big gun is called Bad News, because nothing travels faster. Taliesin (the guy playing Percy) actually had quite the knack for naming his inventions. Like there was one that didn’t make it into the series called Diplomacy. It was a gauntlet that could be charged with a lightning strike and used to shock anyone he shook hands with, and he made it before that dinner with the Briarwoods hoping to use it on one of them.

[@RogueAlchemyArts]

I think I love "Manners" best :)

[@JulianCommodus]

@@RogueAlchemyArts Manners wasn't one of his inventions.

[@zemorph42]

Diplomacy still might make it in season 2. Did you see how he fixed the hand he shot in the end?

[@mollymawkery]

Sylas: Til death do us part. Delilah: Bold of you to assume death would get you out of this relationship.

[@carlycchapman]

Not me reading the "Delilah" line in Grey Griffin's voice. 🤣

[@NoActuallyGo-KCUF-Yourself]

Sylas did seem to be going along for the ride. Delilah was in charge.

[@Nylota]

Just a quick note: You say that the people on the list had taken Percy's throne, but it was never supposed to be his to take. He was never meant to take over as Lord of Whitestone, as the oldest son was his brother Julius. It's very much about avenging his family and restoring Whitestone to its former glory

[@Bsco09]

Lol I don't think she was being that specific/literal about it.

[@lokithecat7225]

Once Julius was dead, it was Percy's. So, by the time the Weapon was made, they were right.

[@JulianCommodus]

@@lokithecat7225 Actually, I think it was after Julius and Vesper. Percy was third in line and was never actually supposed to become, nor trained to be, a higher member of the Whitestone court; that's why he was permitted to focus more on learning science than political protocol. Yeah, once his family was murdered, it fell to Percy by default, but there's much more to being a functional lord (at least, a halfway decent one) and that's why Percy doesn't feel he has the chops for it.

[@lokithecat7225]

@@JulianCommodus Okay, Once Julius and Vesper were dead, it was Percy's... Lineage is more about who is alive, than about who received training.

[@couragew6260]

1:44 “How’d she know that was there?” If you pay attention at 1:18, you’ll hear a whispering sound. Delilah was NOT just walking aimlessly. She was blatantly directed where to go by the “Whispered One”

[@EsquilaxM]

Also it's her job to be able to find these things. I guess they might not mention this until campaign 2 is adapted though as a fun easter egg or something.

[@yiklongtay6029]

3:27 She is characterized as a human wizard specializing as a necromancer and him an immortal vampire. I think she's a wizard instead of a sorceress because in DnD, wizards study for their power while sorcerers have magical lineages giving them powers without the hard work necessary. Probably because an ancestor 17 generations ago banged a something hot and magical that one time. Basically the "My daddy's got money" kid. I see Delilah more of a learn-to-mastery kind of gal. I assume that if their gods promised them power, I guess he could make Delilah just as immortal so she wont leave Sylas with age.

[@acm4bass]

The game was never a perfect reflection of dnd rules, and as they have interpreted the live game for Animation, all those distinctions are gone. Unless your a live stream fan and DnD player you won't distinguish between Wizard, Necromancer, witch or Sorceress. Also given that the power came from "The Whispered One" aka Vecna- Warlock would also fit. But yes in the live stream, she was labeled a necromancer.

[@Zenshu1]

Well to be fair she didn't get her power from "the whisperered one", she studied to be a wizard but learned the forbidden necromancy spells from old tomes that "the whispered one" lead her to so warlock would definitely not apply there since it wasn't her power she got from him just the locations of specific spells she couldn't be taught anywhere else.

[@acm4bass]

@@Zenshu1 I think you need to rewatch that sequence, see was compelled to go find the book, the book glowed, and there is no create vampire from my dying husband spell. And who was on the ceiling if not the avatar of the whispered one. I think you can make a case(If this was DnD) for any of the aforementioned classes- but certainly including warlock. In the Game - she was a necromancer and they never explained how she made sylas.

[@bouboulroz]

@@acm4bass They did explain how she made Sylas a vampire. In the stream, Delilah claims she follows the Whispered One because "he gave me my Sylas back". It was always known since that point that she made some kind of pact and that is how Sylas was brought back as a vampire, we just didn't see the specific ritual used to make the pact. And based on her old title and position (which we learn about in campaign 2), she was definitely a wizard before she made the pact.

[@shadowytwilight]

@@acm4bass they did explain in the campaign one or two wrap up. Deliah was a wizard and her and sylas were lesser nobility. Sylas got sick, and while Deliah was trying every 'legal' way of curing him, he died. her grief and anger caught the attention of the Whispered One, and he showed her to one of his haunts, and there she found the tome that had the ritual to make Sylas a vampire. there's wasn't a Warlock pact, but more like say a deal with a devil. an I showed you how to find the means to do this, and now you owe me this favor in return. and because Deliah was so obsessively in love with Sylas, she didn't care what the Whispered One wanted, or what it would mean for anyone else or the world at large. As long as she had Sylas back, the rest of the world could burn for all she cared.

[@anathem9982]

14:26 the Everlight essentially covered this last episode; she can live whatever lifestyle she wishes to, so long as her goal is ultimately a good one

[@Shimkra]

And she is honest about herself and her intentions.

[@brayne6231]

"God told me I can say 'Fuck'"

[@scorpiocarnage1055]

@@brayne6231 I mean... God does have a sense of humor.

[@Nargon46]

I love watching you guys get to experience the story for the first time. They have done an incredible job of balancing being faithful with in-game events and structuring it to fit this medium. And Pike's return and curb-stomping the zombies is one of the most epic moments in history! Everything about this series hits the mark SO HARD.

[@wcookiv]

7:20 When you said Percy was killing it, that was actually Vax with his returning knives making all of those headshots. Also there's zero plot armour in Critical Role. Player characters have died during the history of the main show, and it doesn't matter if they're important to the plot. Percy could have been eaten by zombies in the streets, and that would have just been a different story. Matt wouldn't have saved him just for the sake of the story he wanted

[@andyme3541]

Yes and no in the roleplay yeah no plot armour Matt just makes sure that the fights have either outs or are winnable if really freaking tough. In the show, they can up as much as they like.

[@wcookiv]

@@andyme3541 Balance isn't plot armour, it's the opposite. And LoVM follows the story of CR:C1, at least as far as PC deaths, so it doesn't make sense to call the show plot armour when it's based on a story where they survived through honest skill and luck. That's like saying people have plot armour in a movie based on a true story. Nobody was rewriting anything to keep them alive.

[@theinfernalfae]

It's not even plot armor, in the original stream they survived some things they logically shouldn't have! It was all just super good rolls of the dice! That's the best part of d&d is the chance aspect.

[@andrewbrzezinski915]

Agreed can't ever claim plot armor for these characters.

[@Zenshu1]

Yeah plot armor doesn't exist here, since this was adapted from a d&d game player characters can die at any time(especially in Matt's campaigns since he adjusted the rules for resurrection magic to make death a real threat even for high level characters) and you just roll up a new character that's a little lower level than the main party and get worked into the story to meet up with the group to keep playing.

[@hhylobates4098]

It could be argued that "hit points" work out to be a kind of plot armor. How come an adventurer has 140 and a villager has 12? If you stood them in a fire why does one die after 12 seconds and the other lasts several minutes.

[@Zenshu1]

@@hhylobates4098 hit points aren't plot armor, they are a game mechanic representation of an adventurer getting stronger through experience, plot armor is when a main character is impossible to kill simply because they are important to the story, while I see what you are trying to get at with adventurers being able to withstand more than the average village idiot they aren't protected from harm simply because the story would stop without them, a level 1 adventurer would die just as brutally to a pissed off ancient red dragon as the village idiot would in a d&d campaign which is what we are getting at here. Any one of the main character could die at any moment from doing something stupid they aren't equipped to handle and rolling poorly, plot armor would guarantee the main cast would survive no matter what until the story was ready for them to have a heroic death for plot reasons.

[@steelangel9039]

Percival Frederickstein von Musel Klossowski de Rolo III, voiced by none other than Taliesin Axelrod Armstrong Jaffe. Ah, those nobles and their names! 🙂

[@geak78]

You pick up extra names every few millenia

[@steelangel9039]

@@geak78 nah, I think Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno Crispín Crispiniano María Remedios de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz Picasso is much younger than Taliesin Jaffe 🙂

[@tea_time_t]

Pike Trickfoot is a monstaaa hell yeah. I cannot wait until the next episode to see how they deal with the lady in the cell. The Briarwoods are fantastic villains. They would let the world burn as long as it kept them together.

[@ronanfel8191]

Just in case you didn't catch it: Delilah Briarwood is also the voice of Azula from Avatar TLAB.

[@PalleRasmussen]

Delilah was the Archmage of Antiquities in the Cerberus Assembly, an extremely powerful and ruthless organisation of powerful mages with large political influence in The Dwendalian Empire of Wildemount. Even they were appalled by her necromancy and kicked her out. Replacing her with Ves deRogna of Campaign 2 fame. And no worries. Player characters do not have plot armour; they are just tougher.

[@rogue7723]

That’s kinda like the Nazis kicking out Amon Goëth for being too sadistic for them.

[@queerquill]

I like you two a lot. You've got such a genuine and positive feel about you. Thanks for making these videos.

[@chipsalom]

Lol, it's so much fun watching you guys experience this stuff and seeing how many people are getting excited with each new set of episodes that drop :-)! Thanks for the fun vids, I've been checking out some of the other stuff you guys are a lot of fun!

[@yiklongtay6029]

Best part of the adaptation is that now we get to see an animated backstory. These two were to some degree victims of circumstance. Plan A be a wonderful couple full of cuteness and goodness. Plan B is to be a villainous loyal couple who is willing to serve a god of death and all that BS in the name of love

[@evanwilliamson1231]

It has been mentioned before on Talks Machina it’s an awesome and tragic story

[@hhylobates4098]

Delilah was part of the Cerberus Assembly before all that with Sylas happened though....not much goodness there 😬

[@yiklongtay6029]

@@hhylobates4098 She could have been one of the occasional members who just mind their own business. Though since M9 met 3 and fought 3 I can see how it's a decent assumption that they are all horrible. But I think in a Talks Machina episode Matt said that there were a few who just keep to themselves

[@thaesimir]

I legit love y'all. You're both hilarious, intelligent, and beautiful people that I've been thoroughly enjoying watching take this ride

[@Zenshu1]

I kinda of wish they had given Delilah and Sylas a whole episode for their backstory or just left it out, the story matt told during the campaign wrap up Q&A was more heartbreaking and kind of made you feel for Delilah. Spoiler for that story ahead if you haven't seen it and plan to watch the campaign one wrap up Q&A and don't want to hear it until then Sylas was sick and nothing they had tried could cure him, then Delilah heard tale of a cure to his disease in a remote far off place so she left to try to track it down and she succeeded but was too late, by the time she came back Sylas had died from his sickness. In her grief Delilah screamed her loss and agony into the abyss and a voice whispered back "I can help you if you do what I say." So she did and learned the necromantic arts and eventually the rights of vampirism to resurrect Sylas as a vampire, but in return she had to obey the whisperered ones directions from then on.

[@yiklongtay6029]

I compiled a list of memorable moments in the original campaign if you want to compare the series to the original content The Crimson Dinner: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6PVc5KnYrtrfZI The Sun Tree's reveal: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3aVaIGtqb2dhrs The famous door incident. 30 minutes to open a f*ckin door: kzbin.info/www/bejne/naKXkqlvaZ5gabs Killing Kerion Stonefell: kzbin.info/www/bejne/naKXkqlvaZ5gabs Scanbo: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYe2mHdnnqdkfZI Pike's return (Not as exciting imo. LOVM made this so much more epic): kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGbWhouJlrl7gcU

[@Xiatter]

I CHEERED and clapped when a certain holy gnome re-joined the fray. Just like I did when it happened in the campaign. I love it when the game and the characters lead or are lead into situations that feel so cathartic.

[@PaulGuy]

"Like Bruce Leeroy!" Glad I'm not the only one who remembers _The Last Dragon._ 👍

[@josefinity2248]

Good description! Delilah is the ultimate ride or die for Sylas XD

[@BikerFromSpace]

lets be real, Vex is the leader- no one's going to say it but she keeps everyone on target

[@elfbreath]

This came up in the Q&A of the episode 1-3 watch party with the cast. Apparently the writers asked the CR cast who the leader of Vox Machina is and they were like “… All of us? None of us? Depends who you ask and when?” Liam O’Brien was the one who was like “If you REALLY want a leader, its gotta be Vex. She’s the one who keeps us on the straight and narrow when shit hits the fan.” And he was right.

[@suntiger745]

The group will look for whoever has the most relevant skills to take charge in the situation at hand, but since Vex is the best tactitian, closely followed by Scanlan, they usually look to her. Scanlan's skill as a tactitian is often overlooked because of his jokster persona, but he is really clutch on a number of occasions. :)

[@JulianCommodus]

@@suntiger745 Scanlan's skill as a tactician is overlooked because, when it comes to tactics, he's a one-trick pony: distraction, and that's about it. Even after his distraction plan fails, he rehashes the same game plan of "I'll create a distraction." Scanlan always introduces himself as the leader because his ego is that inflated; when it comes time to actually lead, Scanlan usually steps back. When it comes to tactics, Vex and Percy are the big thinkers.

[@suntiger745]

@@JulianCommodus Disagree, though it is based on the campaign, not the animation. Scanlan is really good at buffing people or reduce incoming damage at key moments. iirc he's also provoked reactions from enemies a few times, so they can't use a reaction later when one of the other players is doing something. That kind of thing is harder to show in animation because the mechanics of a fight isn't visible like they are in a dnd game, but still. :)

[@zozilin]

@@suntiger745 Those examples are less about group tactics and more about personal prowess. Scanlan used his own skills smartly, that doesn't make him a good tactician

[@zeterzero4356]

You can hear how much fun Ashley is having getting to voice Pike unleashed. She's like the sports team coach that gets you PUMPED before, during, and after the game. Love this. "She's speaking her holy truth." YEAH SHE IS!

[@wolfox7776]

One thing I love about the Briarwoods. As evil as they are, the love they have for one another is goals.

[@Syntell]

very very true

[@Geth-Who]

Delilah viewing Sylas as 'too valuable' is pretty clear since her love for him led her to twist the laws of life and death, defy nature itself, and get herself kicked out of the magical equivalent of a Cabinet post for necromancy, just to get her husband back.

[@richardsuplee8137]

Don't think this is a spoiler. Lady Briarwood is officially a wizard and necromancer in the campaign at least. Difference between sorcerer and wizard in dnd being that sorcerers are born with magic and wizards are educated in it

[@LednacekZ]

arent sorcerers charisma based and wizards intelligence?

[@richardsuplee8137]

@@LednacekZ in a game mechanics sense yea. But in the flavor if the game the difference between the two is that sorcerers are magical mutants more ot less and wizards learn it more academically and part of deliah backstory (in the game at least) is from that education and stuff

[@M4dH4tt3rsMus3]

Thanks for this

[@aro1284]

OMG the comment that I would make involves spoilers. But the discussion afterward the episode hit hard at a certain moment for critters.

[@daimonclarke]

I watched the 15s Scanlan singing bit like 20 times in a row. It’s so good. “Hop on I’ll give you a riiiiiIIIIDE”.

[@corporealghoul]

Actually all those undead getting mowed down in a line were all vax and his daggers. He can throw them then call them back. So he just chucks one... headshot... pulls it back... chucks it again.

[@ryanbrooks8045]

Lol Bruce Leroy. Points for the obscure reference. 80s? I think, maybe early 90s.

[@targetdreamer257]

Told ya Pike's return was BADASS!

[@Gumbopot72]

Glad y'all like this Pike Trickfoot will get even more powerful later on.

[@Eddrian32]

Druids man, they're so damn good. The only bad thing about them is their Cantrips aren't amazing (in that you don't have a lot of good damage options, you're probably grabbing some combination of Produce Flame, Primal Savagery, and Frostbite) and they don't get a lot of the better crowd control options that Clerics and Wizards get (except yes they do hey there Circle of the Land, fancy meeting you here), but when you have stuff like Faerie Fire, Moonbeam and Call Lightning who cares that you can't Counterspell or Fireball entire rooms.

[@Zarsla]

Depends on your build for a druid. I'd do Shieligh & Produce Flame. Shieligh for Wis based attacks and damage. And then produce flame for range.

[@JirkaKunst]

The Briarwoods are evil as ****, but they are also kind of a relationship goal.

[@Syntell]

Right!!!!

[@TriXJester]

Yennen just being "Clerics doing awesome Cleric shit"

[@isaiahwelch8066]

This moment with Pike is one of my favorites! I've watched Campaign 1, and when Pike jumped off a wall, she cast Turn/Destroy Undead, in a 60-foot radius -- and destroyed something like 37 zombies and skeletons in one shot! I just can't wait to see if we get to see Pike take down a dragon -- with a successful Divine Intervention! Trust me, if they get that far, it will be an epic moment! Edit: WE FINALLY GET TO SEE BAD NEWS! This is a sniper rifle with a 4x scope that can shoot 1200 feet, or 400 yards -- much further than the 400 feet a longbow can shoot. I am so happy you get to see "the big gun"! Edit 2: Actually, if Pike had Raise Dead, Archie could be brought back. Spare the Dying is a spell that stabilizes a dying character. Also, any Cure Wounds or Healing Word spells can also be used to prevent perma-death in D&D. Scanlan, in particular, is able to cast Healing Word, so he could have saved Archie. As for Sylas, he was made a vampire. Story is, he had a terminal illness, and while Delilah was searching for a cure, he died. So the Whispered One came to her and said he had the secret to bring him back to life -- in exchange for her devotion. So he led her to an old laboratory of his, millenia old, and she learned necromancy -- a school of magic outlawed in the Dwendalien Empire. To practice it is akin to treason -- so Sylas and Delilah fled to Whitestone when the Empire tried to arrest them. (NOTE: These are not spoilers, as this aspect of the story was only told during the Campaign 1 Wrap-Up.)

[@bcn1gh7h4wk]

POV: Pike pulls out a Thor entrance.

[@Toby_Lehman]

LOL...Pike Trickfoot. LOL You two crack me up!!!!!!!!!!

[@toonezon4836]

there's also a season 2 coming, not sure when its expected, my guess, sometime in 2023

[@CameoAmalthea]

Love your reactions! You guys are the cutest couple.

[@unicyclist97]

When Pike appeared I was hearing the Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin.

[@kino9239]

same

[@NinjaGidget]

It was "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC for me.

[@unicyclist97]

@@NinjaGidget I think that's what Scanlan was aiming for

[@uselessmitten7836]

She's technically a warlock! I know that's not a term that's used very often in other media, but a warlock is specifically someone who gets their powers via a pact with a powerful being (such as a god or demon). And now you know! :)

[@CoachMarkus]

Bonus points for "The Last Dragon" reference! LOL

[@sarahjo9975]

Pike is a MONSTAAAA!!! 😆💕

[@Juice1984]

"Plot armor" . . . . . . **Laughs in spoilers*

[@StanleyMancil]

great reaction guys

[@miikomakes8083]

syntell to my ear sounds so much like the voice of Uriel

[@sappystrawberries]

Oh, some of them sure will have plot armour,,,, ha ha,,, yes,,,, armour that is,,,,,, important to the plot,,,,,,, 🪶⚰️⛓

[@wymans668]

Backstory for Delila Briarwood SPOILERS............................................. She was a high powered wizard in Wildmount part of the Serberis Assembly. After she "cured" her man she was ran out of the kingdom accused of necromancy.

[@SuperByakhee]

I mean, they weren't wrong...

[@wymans668]

@@SuperByakhee I never said anybody was wrong

[@AtomikaBlerd]

Imagine having scruples in the Cerberus Assembly... 🤣

[@wymans668]

@@AtomikaBlerd no damn I did spell it wrong didn't I thanks for the correction

[@AtomikaBlerd]

@@wymans668 I wasn't trying to be a spell check, just make a joke about morals of that group. But, happy to help!

[@dragonettiification]

I will say if a group of people ruthlessly murdered my whole family id be right next to Percy smoke and mask or not.

[@notyourfathersdm]

I mean, part of you has to love the Briarwoods, who are undoubtedly Tal'dorei's greatest power couple. Yes, I see you Allura and Kima. Fight me.

[@jordanpeterson5140]

You wanna fight Kima? Obviously you don't value your knees.

[@thomassmart4088]

ah the cutie people

[@adwaithnarayanpv5261]

have you read shibuya incident jjk and can you also react to demon slayer s2 ,it was amazing ,the animation was of the roof

[@PuffyCloud_aka_puffeclaude]

I'm thankful that you're slow getting out your reactions, since your thumbnails are the "spoileriest" I've seen so far.

[@Syntell]

Maybe, but context is everything. We are happy that It grabbed your attention. Thank you for spending your time with us 🥰

[@PuffyCloud_aka_puffeclaude]

Okay, context. Let's look at it from the context of someone who's seen up to ep.6 but hasn't seen 789. Then go look at the thumbnails for 7,8,and 9. Look, it's fine if you're reacting to stuff that's been out forever, but when your thumbs hit one or two days after release, and they pop up in someone's feed before they get a chance to see it..... not cool. People need at least the weekend, and if their feed includes spoilers, those channels are gonna be removed from those feeds. Ain't mad, just giving algorithm tips. Take em or leave em, but KZbin is no longer recommending you to my feed.

[@Syntell]

@@PuffyCloud_aka_puffeclaude First impressions are hard to change. We hate that we lost you as a viewer, maybe time can heal this wound. You’re always welcomed back to come hang out. We look forward to seeing you again.

[@criticallol3039]

Wait, can a vampire still get an erection?

[@elfbreath]

I mean… have you seen Delilah?

[@suntiger745]

Even if not in their "natural" state, there are spells and potions that can fix that.

[@ccloudleaf]

Pike. Trickfoot.

[@EulerCosta]

Maybe avoid spoilers on the thumbnail?