Vax says goodbye to Vox Machina

[@torn180]

A one shot where Vox Machina wake up one day and hear Vax say "Jenga"

[@xWinterstarex7]

And they fight the raven queen just for shits and giggles TTwTT

[@Ryans_tryin]

I was personally hoping that this would have been Vax's last word

[@Emily_Grace_Barnes]

@@Ryans_tryin Ahh now that would be epic

[@Ryn-dq2yr]

I want this.

[@beastslayer8729]

Please yes. I want that so bad. 😂

[@grey8288]

"Is it worth it?" "To keep him here? Yes!" "Alright. I counterspell." "What level?" "Nine." ..... "I WISH I could have done more."

[@pugpugsly2829]

Oppo

[@FerreusVir]

Not sure where I read it, but the quote that best summarizes Scanlan's reaction: "Most went into the last fight ready to fight one god, one of them went in ready to fight two."

[@Sepricotaku]

This, this is the embodiment of what scandlan had in his heart

[@vlixle2781]

This comment needs more likes

[@ssfbob456]

There was another that was pretty good too, "While everyone else worried about winning their game of checkers, Scanlan lost his game of chess."

[@carcosa_tyrant9444]

matthew colville, for anyone wondering. he has an incredible video where he breaks down the finale and the true tragedy of the fight. that damn 9th level slot...

[@TL-xx2em]

No truer words.

[@CreepsMcGerald]

"Can I ask... are you afraid?" GROG THIS HURTS ENOUGH ALREADY

[@PotatoForce42]

i could not wish for a better farewell from Grog. "Are you afraid?". in my opinion this is perfect.

[@MrBloodyBat]

I expected a "Afraid? No... I'm heartbroken, but not afraid, as you've taught me". . .

[@sarneus117]

Could not agree more. This was the perfect question and I wish the conversation had extended further. Could you imagine something like: "Of course im afraid... but if theres anything youve taught me its to not walk away from my fears" And then Grog would be like: "Ha! Dont be so modest, your courage was there all along, I just taught you how to use it." like damn Grog never gets any time to really let his character shine and yet on those small opportunities he gives 120%. Oh well. Still an amazing scene!

[@EviIM0nk3y]

Sarn grog always shines what you talking about? Almost every episode the comments praise grog.

[@lucas_vstheworld]

That moment got me because it was so simple but complex at the same time

[@alexeyagapov4205]

Scanlan literally said "I WISH I could have done more". Just wow.

[@razrboy20]

omg I'm going to cry. ;_; He used his 9th lvl spell he was saving for Vax to save the world and Vax knows it as soon as he used it.

[@adondriel]

@@razrboy20 I'm pretty sure this was the reason Sam was crying during the battle with Vecna, if i'm not mistaken.

[@vivi_gaming5710]

@@razrboy20 he had a choice. Lose a part of his world or lose the world and in the end. He gave up his friend for the rest of the worlds sake

[@bigbundle3223]

he did eventually wish for more, which is just even more heartbreaking

[@TheDragonaf1]

Timestamp?

[@4Pidgy4]

I like how scanlian says not even a night together. Just a small chance to get his 9th level back

[@qualopec]

I think that's why the Raven Queen did it this way, she was ahead of the game.

[@parkerharris4489]

I wish they could of back tracked a bit and rped it when they were all fully powered up at lvl 20 spells and all because everyone knows Vox machina would of fought the raven queen right then and there if they thought they had a chance

[@texteel]

@@parkerharris4489 unlikely. In DnD terms, they are level 20. Between 20 and 30 are the epic levels. Trying to acquire any form of divinity comes after that. But than again, not sure how Matt homebrewed it

[@Enkrod]

@@texteel Some things, some entities are not meant to be contained in numbers. I'd rather have the Raven Queen as something so powerful, so out of this world, so alien and yet oh so much part of everything mortal, that opposing her is something unthinkable and for it, the more terrifying if some villain is trying to escape the inevitable end of his life. Opposing her should be possible, but the ones who do, should dread the price of their sacrilege.

[@texteel]

@@Enkrod you not wanting to contain them in numbers doesnt mean they have never been contained in numbers. Others have done it. Over and over again

[@Errrrrrrick]

What breaks me personally is Percy's last defeat. How throughout all this, it feels like all he is doing is repeating inside his head: "I should be the one to pay for everything. Not him." In the mind of someone who truly believes himself to be toxic and evil, someone who strives to be good and pure... The feeling of powerlessness, seeing true kindness pay while he himself gets to live on. Percy just fought a god, and feels like the weakest man on the world. And that is a feeling he will have to learn to live with until his dying breath. That blank stare says that he is well aware of this. "I don't accept this."

[@JirkaKunst]

Before the K'varn fight Vax tried to invoke the "it was an honor talk". Percy responded he wishes his last words to Vax to be indignant and irritating. At least that worked out in the end.

[@Sistertotherain9]

If I could draw, that's what I'd most like to draw. Percy taking three staggering steps toward the Raven Queen before she freezes him, and standing there frozen, glaring. "I do not accept this."

[@Darman0430]

15:21 when my boy Liam closes his Character folder for the last time. That's when It really hit. That poetic little bastard, he knew what he was doing.

[@assassain0425]

Till he gets brought back to fight the mighty nine

[@BrightFameTowers]

"I want my last words to you to be indignant and irritated" "I do not accept this!"

[@actually_a_catt]

Dude i broke at "i dont acccept this" omgggg

[@lucypeace6132]

Mission accomplished.

[@Squeleton]

Then she became Beau?

[@TitaniumCrane]

"This isn't about you"

[@crisstrider8857]

Matt's stone look is making everything even more emotional. You *can* see him crying, but he's so stonefaced. That is the sign of a great actor.

[@Madlaph]

Cris Strider yeah... the saddest stone face. I know very few people who can do that so massive admiration for that.

[@awesomepossum2598]

This is why they made him jotaro

[@hexpsyche]

The mother line from Matt is especially powerful since Liam lost his mother during this campaign

[@DarthSinistris]

Holy fuck dude I didnt know this. Goddam, i'm a wreck now.

[@gdobrocsi]

@@DarthSinistris Happened around episode 34-36. In the campaign wrap-up Talks Machina that is what Matt mentioned when he said that he knew Liam was going through a tough time, and it was perfect that Vax pledged himself to the RQ when Vex died by the trap so Matt could give some glimmer of light to hif friend Liam.

[@RudeGoat]

Watch Critical Role they said... it's all laughs and Grog Scanlan antics... they never warned you that a Role-Playing Livestream would make you feel this way.

[@demonangel918]

Peter the Great 2.0 CRYING?! WHOS CRYING?! Because I’m not!😭

[@andrewvisser8210]

I AINT CRYING DAMN IT! THERES JUST A DOZEN NINJAS HIDING EACH CHOPPING UP A BUSHEL OF ONIONS!

[@xxenchanteddemonxx5222]

I'm not crying, I'm just sweating from my eyes...

[@jesterssketchbook]

I cant believe my mom started cutting onions for dinner while i was watching this.........oh wait.......no........no, she didnt

[@paragonofhope2620]

No. It's just the pollen. AND THE GODDAMN RAIN

[@eclairz9275]

Vex's "I don't know how to live." broke me.

[@katekursive1370]

That whole bit was almost too much for my poor heart. She's so perfectly Vex, refusing to face her brother. Ugh

[@matttabor5103]

"I'll never be that far away." - Vax Visits her as a raven every day until she joins him. Some great story telling.

[@AUDIOPHILEpuma01]

Amazing scene. That final level of druid was poetic af. I like to think that as each member of VM perishes, he personally comes and ushers them into the afterlife.

[@Mike-oc3bn]

AUDIOPHILEpuma01 that would be beautiful and poetic. There to greet them and be the familiar face at deaths door.

[@cjvs1604]

For the love of all the gods, make DAMN sure the door is open already.

[@gabthegreat01]

CJ47 So much Yes!

[@chaosundividedreborn]

Now my friends, we must walk together one last time, share one last story, one last laugh, and one last drink, as we cross the desert under the endless night

[@demonangel918]

I didn’t deserve this image 😭

[@gcollins1992]

I love @ 3:52, when Scanlan slyly tries to buy enough time to recover his greatest spell and have some form of greater chance to save Vax.

[@Rakescarr]

this entire campaign needs to be maade into a movie... same voice acters... it would destroy the box office

[@KRDD-KMHR]

BiscuitHammer it would need to be at least a trilogy

[@haremfanatic1014]

Luis Arturo Perdomo Carballo CFI, CFII, MEI Or a Netflix show

[@captainkiwi77]

BiscuitHammer several films

[@neffariouspanda]

Nah, this would need like 5-6 seasons of hour long episodes as a show at a minimum.

[@bloodline307]

i would totally support that in every way possible

[@12chains]

The way Laura tries to turn away with a small "No..", it just tells how hard it was for her. I haven't bawled for a show in so long.

[@Dasacht095]

I recently dealt with lose before this episode and it utterly gutted me, I can certainly relate I clearly never cried to this episode

[@stuartharam1742]

Is anyone else torturing themselves re-watching this, knowing precisely what will happen to themselves? Still worth it

[@junemacdonald44]

Yep. My heart disintegrated for a second time. It’s just so so so good.

[@DarthSinistris]

FUcckiing YEP

[@michaeldominguez8013]

It's my guilty pleasure and I'll thank you to shut up about it!

[@JoshVanAlstine]

I was involved in D&D for years, and not once in all that time did I ever come across a group of players as committed to their role play as these folks. What's more, the acting isn't purely acting. The emotional investment is there. I can't help but be drawn in by it.

[@wiredspider]

Josh VanAlstine Its a crazy unique story telling experience for sure. They are half themselves and half a character. All in this amazing fantasy world created by an incredible mind.

[@captainkiwi77]

Josh VanAlstine 7 years as one character will do that

[@kuhncannon]

I had a group where half of us stayed about this in character. it was during a zombie apocalypse campaign and both my best friend and i had gotten bitten (no magic campaign) we had one cure left and one of the other players had to decide who to save. he chose me and i spent about 5 minutes in game carrying his body to a good spot to bury him. it broke my heart honestly, our characters were a perfect team. pretty similar to Vax and Vex as far as relationship.

[@blackomega20]

Its a terrible day for rain...

[@eclairz9275]

It isn't raining.

[@Spider-Dad40]

It's raining very heavily ......

[@jana_6697]

THE PAIN. WHY YOU HAFTA INCREASE IT.

[@mayfernandez2115]

My dude! NOOOOO!!!!

[@SuperHellsingFan]

This rain feels quite painful, are you sure it's not hail?

[@manicmania7046]

"I use druid craft..." ...and I fall apart in tears. Well played Vax'IlDan....

[@JoshTheHoffman]

manic mania thats when I finally broke too.

[@plgrn8r683]

Marisha's reaction really got me there. The split second of not understanding, followed by a rush of affection...

[@Rebellions]

"Now? We don't even get... A Night together?" Scanlan was STILL trying to make his plan work.

[@christophermendez4322]

Jack Ream what was the plan? I know I’m 10 months late but I’m just started watching CR a month ago

[@totalkhonest8997]

@@christophermendez4322 He wanted to use his 9th level Wish spell to change Vax's destiny. He was forced to use his 9th level spell slot. After a long rest he'd get the alot back.

[@SimbaChar]

Liam closing his book at the end is just devestatingly beautiful.

[@CrimsonHybrid]

I agree. It adds another layer to the statement that Vax's story has ended...

[@johnthedutchman564]

Just laying vax to rest.

[@biobiobio7777]

Matt doing his best not to break down. Doing my best to not break down here. Oh man....

[@fictionaldrew]

"I am richer for having known you."

[@museluvr]

Matt has both women crying, and if you watch, both Travis and Matt respond to their sadden loves in r/life.. that is heartbreaking to watch in its self. Damn good DM.

[@Gizmo8095]

museluvr I'm unfamiliar with their actual lives, may you tell me who is with who?

[@deathknight2425]

Gamer Central Matt is with Marisha and Travis is married to Laura

[@actually_a_catt]

@@Gizmo8095 matt is the DM. Marisha is the red head. They are a couple. Laura is the girl with black hair and she is with Travis. The guy with the red shirt on.

[@francisxavier8374]

so i guess ashley doesnt count as a woman anymore?

[@Reike4chan]

If you look up the symbolism behind the snowdrop flower, it represents hope, rebirth, and consolation. The general info gathered from the legends behind this little flower generally tie it to the ending of winter, marking spring's arrival as the first bud before most other flowers. So, when Liam/Vax chose the snowdrop, it adds another layer of meaning. My first D&D character was originally a priest of a church in which its symbol is the snowdrop. "And as the snowdrop flowers continue with each step, you blink, and it's just feathers."

[@Duurin]

Snowdrops also grew outside of the house where Liam grew up. He posted about it on Twitter.

[@jonathonbartos5420]

Despite how much this wrecked me emotionally, I agree with Matt Colville: From a narrative perspective, this was *far* more impactful and fitting an ending than it would have been had Scanlan been able to cast his Wish to prevent it. This is a moment that will stay with you, forever.

[@WillisMillis]

Critical Role: Is it a love story? Is it a grand adventure? Is it a story of friendship? Is it a story of bad choices? No... it's the story if a family, a family that will last on and on. I don't mean Vox' Machina.

[@thunderspear2251]

Jesus, even Matt's almost crying. I wish my D&D group could reach this level. Reach the point where these are not just characters. These are a part of us. As someone who has killed one of their own characters, after two years of work and writing, it really isn't easy. And to see how much these characters mean to them, it truly is heartwarming. Now I can catch up on Season 2. Matt, throw our hearts down a monastery's worth of stairs again, and I swear to Bahamut...

[@artmy3045]

If everyone would like to play along and still enjoy it then yes

[@ashleyharrison861]

Long may he reign

[@epicbananaman7776]

This is why I love Matt Mercer. Any lesser DM would have completely ruined the power of this by pulling a Disney happy ending moment. He's my idol in more ways than I can count, and he truly is one of the best DMs ever

[@Chris_Meade]

EpicBananaMan 777 with a good god/goddess a happy ending may have happened, but the RQ is the lawful neutral goddess of death. She ain't gonna let anyone get out of their natural end time. Mercer is amazing

[@ayonixanimations]

I feel it's only not a "happy ending moment" because you don't see it that way. I feel it was a neutral ending despite them not being able to save Vax in the end, but at the end when everyone is talking about their plans for the future. The raven that visits Keyleth every day, I feel it's an open-ended interpretation. It could just be a raven attracted due to her being a druid. It could have been the Raven Queen keeping tabs. Or it could have been Vax. Since it's open-ended I feel you can make the ending whatever kind of tone you wish it to be, and I love that more than a straight neutral, good, or bad ending. Matt Mercer is truly amazing.

[@rodrigorebollos]

Yeah, either the usual "I said I would take your life after your service but I never said when" ...or the darker way of having them each willingly give a part of their life span in exchange.

[@boitata2617]

I agree with you that Matt made an amazing job, but in defense of "lesser DMs" I think we should understand that maybe people that don't get to play as regularly as CR would not like to have an year long campaing have such a sad ending, and maybe the DM would feel insecure, you know, everybody worked so hard to make This happen, not only in game but IRL to make time to come to the sessions, let's give them the happy ending, what If It does not give the same impact, this is for us, let us enjoy It. Once again, Matt did a great job, but there is nothing wrong with a "Disney ending" ( BTW since when did Disney equals bad story telling? ), a DM skill is not mesuare by How well he/she knows the rules, How hard their campaign are, it's mesuared by it's ability to tell a story and entertain the players

[@MrBloodyBat]

It was almost as if Liam was leaving for good. Not as Vax, as Liam.

[@Wookiescantfly]

there are no words for the quality of this scene. If you close your eyes and listen to this segment, it genuinely sounds like a scene from a movie or from an audio book reading of some kind. It was powerful and emotional, yet so easy to pick up on that someone who has really only watched the shenanigans of this show (mainly Grog being Grog and his deck of many things) was able to tell immediately what was going on with minimal context. All of you did a phenomenal job and I think I'm going to go back and watch this whole thing from start to finish now.

[@jamham69]

why on earth would you do that to yourself? this is traumatic enough just once

[@ghdude150]

Does this really count as acting? I'm pretty sure all of those emotions are real lol

[@fezmaster696]

Ghdude they are. Remember they made these characters, got to know them and played with them for 5 years. Of course they'll be sad

[@ghdude150]

Fez Master I know, I'm saying I'm not so sure it's acting because it's really how they're feeling, they're not acting out those emotions

[@Karak971]

Ghdude that’s the thing about d&d, I can’t remember who said it but they described it best as this. In d&d we don’t remember it as our characters doing this, we remember it as US doing this. We killed the dragon, we saved the city, we lost our best friend...

[@annaibanez2499]

Acting envolves real feelings. If you don’t feel it, you’re faking, not acting.

[@actually_a_catt]

You know its real when even MATT is fucking crying UGHHH

[@DragonPrincessAoife]

I've said this before, and I'll say it again. Matt is a phenomenal story teller. Unparalleled, his use of emotion and feeling is rivaled by no one else.

[@kinglyknight]

"Laying it on pretty thick there friend." I said while bawling my eyes out

[@vincesergi7339]

I love in the very last frame, everyone is balling their eyes out and then you have Travis with the biggest grin on his face.

[@popburnsy3207]

I think Travis gets just how fortunate he is to have this good a campaign/game moment

[@rgh1132]

Pretty sure he's laughing at Sam's face

[@kimmehamehaaa7241]

I think that's him being in awe of Matt once again lol. He is The biggest fanboy and I love it!

[@robertthompson5701]

That's the face Travis has every time he's fanboying over Matt's ability to tell a story. Look closely, he's crying, but he's loving the story far more.

[@magiv4205]

When you play D&D so well that you make yourself, your party, your DM and the entire audience cry

[@Eaglebrace]

Me: '' Oh i am not gonna cry this time '' *watches it* Me: ''.....Shit..''

[@andrewvisser8210]

Martin Vilhelmsson I don't even watch Critical Role and I'm on the verge of tears.

[@JirkaKunst]

"It is a terrible day for a rain."

[@CarolinaMouse]

I cannot begin to tell you how much this scene made me bawl on Thursday night and...it still does. I'd even venture to say it broke the whole Critter fandom. Superbly beautiful but yet...extremely sad too.

[@rosenrot234]

I started crying the moment Matt mentioned Vax having a pain in his chest.

[@a7xguitar666]

idk about other people, but i was able to hold it together fairly well for the most part...until vax used druidcraft to make the snowdrops bloom. that shattered me completely

[@qualopec]

Don't even remind me or I will start crying again. =(

[@CarolinaMouse]

qualopec the thought of it still makes me cry

[@checkmate1860]

when he says "I will see you again" to vex it breaks me so much

[@koreshura1227]

And then there is the Dalen's Closet one-shot...

[@Frozenkoldfury]

As someone who has not seen the whole series... I'm crying so much here. Mercer, you command my emotions like I am a Puppet. I'm in hysterics over characters I barely know, in a story I have barely heard, told by people that, admittedly, I know quite well. You are a god among men, Mercer.

[@captcorajus]

I certainly would have liked to have seen what would have happened if Scanlan had saved his wish. As a long time DM myself, given the right wording, I would be inclined to allow it to influence the Raven Queen in some way. Though, this ending is actually BETTER for dramatic purposes, and everyone did a great job playing it out, one can't help but consider, 'what if'.

[@a7xguitar666]

captcorajus matt and sam talked about it on the following talks machina episode. basically matt said vaxs time had to come to an end and trying to undo the pact he made with the goddess of death and fate wouldve been almost impossible. however, with the use of wish and clever wording, he wouldve allowed the raven queen to possibly alter the agreement. also, sam figured the pact would be permanent no matter what happened. his use of wish wouldve been based on one of two things: 1. if the raven queen didnt come to collect vax right away, he wouldve used wish to delay the raven queen sensing vecnas defeat. this wouldve given vox machina time to properly say goodbye to vax and spend time with him before he was gone. wouldve spent the night to regain his use of wish and find a way to alter the agreement to where vax would live out the rest of his natural life before joining the raven queen. 2. if the raven queen came to collect vax right away, he wouldve used wish to try to alter the agreement to where vax could live out the rest of his natural life before joining the raven queen. matt said if the wording was right, there wouldve been a chance these wishes worked, but there was also the chance of vax dying a natural death early because a wish that powerful is prone to backfiring

[@Dasacht095]

Watching back the Vecna fight from Sam's perspective as the wonderful Matthew Coville describes in his own video far better than I could articulate. Sam, not scanlan, sam, is utterly torn and gutted using his counterspell, save his beloved friend's character so perhaps they have their happy ending or save the world your other friend developed over the course of five years.This ending is truly bitter sweet, Scanlan, as Sam has expressed on Talk's Machina, can never accept this, every night wishing for Vax'Ildan Vessar to get the happy ending he deserves. To love Keyleth and have his happy ending, kids, be an uncle and simultaneously positive and negative influence on his twin's five children. But they save the world, their new characters of critical role now see this moment, a generation later as amazingly inspirational, or simply have the viewer of a tale looking in's perspective of "well why couldnt X just do Y" but this endinf, as bitter sweet as it was, was the best ending possible

[@Zolbat]

In terms of storytelling, the way it turned out was basically perfect. When fighting Vecna, Scanlan - the guy who had left the group for a year because he felt useless and unappreciated - would have given anything to actually be as useless as he believed he was. But instead the worlds fate lied on his shoulders. And the only way to save the world was to sacrifice his best friend. He was the most important figure in that fight and he SO wished he wouldn't be, so he could save his friend.

[@madmanwithaplan1826]

I couldn't disagree more. Imagine with me that what if. That little gnome the womanizer the galavanting bard. Just now coming to terms with the responsibility he owes to his friends and family. He pulls in every trick he can he makes a copy of himself he learns the notes to make the universe dance to his tune. He puts aside his doubts his fears about how much weaker he is than the rest. The rest of vox machina goes to fight a god. Scanlan alone willingly goes to fight two. What better happy ending could their be than for him to win. Everyone loves an underdog.

[@Zolbat]

@@madmanwithaplan1826 it would have completely taken away the significance of the moment. The sacrifice, the torn heart, the hero is devestated after having saved the world, that's some powerful story right there. If he'd gotten everything it wouldn't have meant anything, and would be much less memorable, exciting and epic.

[@FinalFirebrand]

The way Matt just watches. And how lost they all are in the moment. The perfect example of what D&D can be, can do. Wonderful. Tears....forever and always.

[@elizabethfrazier6078]

What makes me tear up without fail every time I watch this is the way Liam struggles to say “I’m going to visit my mother,” considering his loss.

[@zangor3005]

I love Liam throughout this whole scene. He's ready. Vax is ready. He knows what is coming and he welcomes death as an old friend. It's everyone else who isn't ready.

[@anthonyhantonh]

Everything, every life, must come to an end....that's the deal.

[@dominusempyreus2383]

There's a last time for everything.

[@TheAutoman217]

"The debt that all men pay."

[@KuroiHoshiV]

Memento Mori

[@hon3ybunny01]

Liam hitting us right in the feels with his acting skills

[@rustyshackle8000]

This reminds me of an exchange between Gandalf and Pippin in Return of the King. It goes like this: “PIPPIN: I didn't think it would end this way. GANDALF: End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path, one that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass, and then you see it. PIPPIN: What? Gandalf? See what? GANDALF: White shores, and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise. PIPPIN: Well, that isn't so bad. GANDALF: No. No, it isn't.” I love this. It's sad, yet oddly... calming. Dying isn't so bad. It isn't an end, but simply a new beginning. That's the feeling I get from Vax here.

[@chrisnielsen9779]

Matt being one of the greatest GMs I've had the pleasure of watching (been playing D&D for about 15 years), and seeing him at 10:11 whiping tears from his eyes hit me harder than most thing i've seen. The emotional impact of the sequence is, indescribable! This in it's essence is what D&D is about. Developing characters, their emotional bonds, and their place in the story. This was such a beautiful, and emotional send-off to one of the most well-developed characters I've seen.

[@qualopec]

Matt is crying, it's destroying me too.

[@FatuaFleur]

Me: I surely won't cry 7 months later. Also me: pretty sad through the whole thing, then I lose it when Laura says the "no..."

[@aliyahdickerson5865]

The last second right before it ended hits me. The audio cut out and he lowered his head crying. Everyone is just an emotional mess and dear Jesus this has ruined me.

[@mathewsmith2281]

Aliyah Dickerson look at Travis fam. Not such an emotional mess

[@Wolfstar26]

isnt it just fucking incredible what old fashioned storytelling does?

[@a7xguitar666]

Vax multiclassing into druid for keyleth and casting druidcraft actually shattered my heart into a billion pieces. He always spoke about wanting to learn just enough magic to help keyleth with a tomato garden back in zephrah, and his dedication and love for her manifests in a beautiful display of snowdrop petals as he is about to be claimed by death itself. That line will never not fuck me up

[@thefinalfrontear]

“I’m so proud of you” to Keyleth and Vex saying “I don’t know how to live” with that implied “without you” are what broke me

[@billthecanuck]

as a long time RPG player it's fantastic to see storylines like this shown publically, i've had so many moments with my small group of friends that are so intimate like this over the years but it's usually just huddled around someone's kitchen table and a very private moment that isn't shared with anyone. Next day you're all depressed at work and noone gets why.. lol. I just stumbled onto this scene about a week ago and had never watched any critical role, although friends gush about it being great this sold me on it. Since watching this I have since gone back and i'm on episode 18 of season one and going :)

[@ResolvesS]

I have watched like ten random episodes and barely know the characters, but this scene still brought me to the verge of tears. Cheers to the writers!

[@CartoonFreakChannel]

This isn't scripted btw... This is all pure role playing no script acting It's beautiful... (╥﹏╥)

[@TheFuryHasCome]

It's not scripted. And if you want the full effect, just watch the entire series. Take your time with it, it's not going anywhere.

[@ResolvesS]

Praise the Beef /s fyi. Sadly, I don't have the time to rewatch the series. I am however watching along with the new campaign

[@captainkiwi77]

Resolves I mean technically Matt does “write the campaign” but not in the way you are thinking

[@jasonp7423]

RIGHT?!?!?

[@gabthegreat01]

I didn't cry when Tiberious died, I didn't when percy died or even his revival. I didn't cry when Scanlan left the group, but this...this destroyed me! Not even kidding I was a blubbering mess...

[@The-Great-Penguin]

What I wanna know is if nott is still up and kicking.

[@aileenzhao7951]

Connor Clarke *alarmed ?!?!?*

[@GrantParker]

That druid craft cantrip broke me

[@captainkg5910]

It's gonna be absolutely heart-wrenching when we get to this point in TLoVM.

[@FTWBojangles]

We humans are truely amazing creatures. 10:51 - Laura Bailey says it best "I love you."

[@wickedpissa25]

This game started for Liam's birthday, but we all got the presents.

[@KappaKiller108]

13:14 Watch just how much Travis loves this moment

[@ThePastaBolognese]

When you wanna comfort your wife that is bawling her eyes out but the narrative is too good to interrupt it

[@DoomMishima]

I cried not even 20 seconds into the video. I swear everytime this pops in my recommended its still water works even 3 years later.

[@daanroelofs119]

that last level into druid....... im crying so much what hurt the most was the raw, real emotions of everyone there

[@grey8288]

I pulled a similar move on my party, almost exactly like this, and let me tell you as a DM that a moment like this is one of the hardest. A party member died in the second to last battle with no chance of resurrection. The dead soul was approached by Apsu, who was willing to offer his aid and power to bring him back to life for 24 hours to stop the end of the world. The party knew that if they failed their final battle then the world would turn to chaos and destruction, but if they won their friend would be gone. After the final battle, after they wind and saved the world, one of our party members did all he could. He plead to all gods, all powerful entities he knew, but none would answer. And, after the final hours, a doorway opened and our beloved PC walked through into the afterlife.

[@olivershelby4413]

This popped up in my recommended and I don't even know who these characters are and I am devastated. Like holy shit

[@tonyrigby6065]

I hope you found them, the show is called "critical role" and this is the end of the first campaign.

[@sunshinepurple1043]

Same here

[@Doctor-Stoppage]

😂

[@doctorbath-o7]

Even Matt is in tears, christ these lot are brilliant.

[@zen.3279]

What's with all these ninjas cutting onions?

[@thawizard5947]

I AM ON EPISODE 2 !! WHY AM I HERE ... I saw fan art of goodbyes and got hit with feels. Must not be spoiled!

[@thatsmike1]

xD this show is good man keep watching

[@meeplfuse2682]

I’m on episode 4 and this showed up in my recommended along with critical role animations for other spoilers lol, I’m really excited to stick with the show and watch them till they get to this point

[@enigma1326]

I’m on episode 35 and unknowingly clicked this right after Vax confessed his love to Keylith.

[@LindaOlives]

I haven't watched campaign one and it will be a while until I do but man, I lost count of how many tears I shed. This hurts

[@Brady19921]

I will watch this hundreds of times and never fail to shed tears... hundreds of hours with beautiful characters closed in the most perfect way...Beautiful

[@coolplayer14]

one of (if not the most) emotional scene in this campaign :( what a great story they have told and IS IT JANUARY YET?!

[@mathieupoulin2577]

Is it gonna be new characters/new story/same players and same DM?

[@coolplayer14]

Mathieu Poulin if read that thats the case, really hope so

[@answer131313]

Mathieu Poulin new characters, new campaign one generation after this campaign, same dm, same players. The actions of what box machine did through all 115 episodes plays a part in how the next one shapes, including the arkhan betrayal

[@IgnisFiend]

coolplayer14 OMG I'm so hyped for January!! I can't wait!!

[@JH-gu4hj]

Ignis Fiend I can’t wait for the earth Titan over vasselheim (could be spelled wrong) reveal. That’s gonna be freaking awesome

[@tarensGambit]

10:30 Godamnit somehow this right here hurts the most. Because I can see them. This isn't just two people acting, this is a brother and sister saying goodbye for quite possibly the last time.

[@sidc2083]

"I never had a greater friend than you," breaks me every time

[@remnantryku7112]

Agreed. Vax and Vex remind me of my older sister and myself. We were each other’s first friends and still close to this day. This scene makes me sad knowing one day one of us will say goodbye to one another.

[@teakonorth4393]

Matt is one of the most incredible storytellers I've ever heard. Especially since he does it LIVE, like we've been telling stories for thousands of years. He's incredible, and yes, I am crying.

[@charnelbane]

I'm guessing I probably shouldn't have watched this one first . . .

[@dolansajorda4513]

Charn El'Bane i know right? I'm like at ep 3, then this suddenly pops up. Darn you curiosity!!

[@mathewsmith2281]

Heh

[@kimmehamehaaa7241]

I'm on episode 29 and I couldn't help myself. I've only seen a fraction of their adventures and I still cried like a teenager at a Nicholas sparks movie

[@pendingauthor2536]

Didn’t even start episode 1-why have I ruined myself

[@Addy0302]

I've only watched campaign 2

[@Volatile9747]

honestly can say that no film or tv show had made me feel more emotion than watching critical role for both campaigns. It is a testament to how amazingly well they created and played these characters. I laugh when they laugh, cheer when they cheer and cry when they cry.

[@sirdigsalo1]

Saddest anime deaths

[@benni3566]

I have not cried out loud like this in many years. Had I been in this game I would have had to leave the table. Matt is a god among men. He just made a full grown man audibly sob over a board game.

[@conorhatchet6611]

This popped up in my recommended videos bc I’ve been watching C2 and with no real knowledge of the characters I love that it’s still such a powerful scene. I also love how the last second of the video is just everyone bawling their eyes out but Travis is just sitting there with a smile loving the story.

[@nickh3205]

We need someone to animate this

[@ashleycook300]

A year later and Vax's death scene STILL needs beautifully animated.

[@actually_a_catt]

Wellllll looks like you might get your wish depending on the funding that goes into their current gofundme

[@madman0169]

this is the 12th or 13th time i have seen this goodbye and it makes me cry every time!!!! the raw emotion everyone shows is insane

[@kogandkagome]

I held it all together until Vex and Vax. Then I broke

[@yulumero3520]

I haven't watched a single episode of campaign one, don't know any of these characters in the slightest and yet I'm crying. God damn

[@benrogers9082]

to quote the another podcast: "the show where a groupd of friends played DnD so hard they cried"

[@duskderp6917]

I'll be honest, I haven't seen a single episode of Vox Machina but I'm bawling my eyes out. I don't know these characters but I'm really really hurt and I don't feel like this is even fair. How can they do this to me?

[@cocoafells3441]

Ikr same here I barely know these characters but this is So heart Breaking

[@robertthompson5701]

Jesus, I'm sitting here watching this, crying like a freaking baby. That "I'm going to see my mother" broke me right in half.

[@Probly_a_sweet_potato]

IM NOT CRYING, YOU'RE CRYING!!!

[@fplaysdm74]

Probly a sweet potato SOMEBODY PUT TEARS ON MY PILLOW

[@thefinalfrontear]

YOURE DAMN RIGHT I AM

[@MKelly-gj1tu]

Probly a sweet potato WHERE THE FUCK ARE THESE NINJAS AND WHY ARE THEY CUTTING ONIONS

[@katekursive1370]

YES, SO?!! DON'T YELL AT ME, I'M EMOTIONALLY VULNERABLE

[@magiv4205]

Don't worry, EVERYONE is crying

[@ChasingDeathbeds]

Years later and I'm still bawling damn it T^T

[@FinalFirebrand]

I only dream that one day I might be so blessed and fortunate to tell a story that makes a handful of people react from such depths...

[@jerryxie4712]

Mother fucking bullshit. Adding Druid as his final level just destroyed me for a SECOND TIME. I love this show.

[@kerimullane298]

These are just friends playing a game, sitting at a table, rolling dice and playing pretend. But this is the power of storytelling, that pulls you in, paints pictures within your mind that draw forth laughter and sorrow in equal measure. These dorks love one another and love what they're doing and that shows through the screen. It's one of the biggest reasons I love this group.

[@Feuryy]

The interaction and storytelling and crafting of this world the cast and crew have created here is outstanding. Far beyond any tv show or video game, I've played so far. Entertainment industry take fucking notes!

[@ayonixanimations]

Okay, I'd like to say some things. (I actually had to pause and calm myself down while writing this, I have been sobbing the last 16 minutes) I'm on C2, and I know a lot about these characters but I've never seen C1 in all of its glory, so I don't have the same kind of connect you all do. But I still felt it. The way Marisha was crying, Laura was trying to hold back tears, Taliesin wiped a few away, I think I saw Ashley shedding a few in the back there, and hell, Matt cried too. The sheer... connection these players have to their friends, their characters, and Vox Machina is so strong. Two and a half years and this is where it starts to come to a close. I think what killed it for me was the way Marisha cried... almost sobbing, and she even leaned against Taliesin for emotional support. The interactions with Liam and Laura hurt. She thought she was holding it together so well until he touched her. I love Critical Role, and the way they make their characters their own people while connecting with them so strongly. I hope as campaign 2 gets near its end, it gives us just as much of an effect.

[@BisexualWrath]

You think Matt added Vax seeing his mother as a tribute for liam. He lost his mother irl all the way back when vax first promised his life. Maybe this was matta wat of saying to liam that his mother would be proud. Fuck so many tears

[@MrDarkweaver]

Watching this again, reminds me of all the character moments, Matt allowing the players to spend time and have meaningful conversations in character. That is what makes this so emotional, not just this scene, but the emotional investment everyone who has followed the story has made in each character. Because of this, the impact of Vax leaving with the Raven Queen is all the more powerful, the quality of the prior storytelling makes this all the more powerful. Love this crowd.