Zanroar

Zanroar is Kevdak's son and Grog's cousin. Although initially a member of the Herd of Storms, Zanroar later became a prisoner and ultimately the new Thunderlord of the Herd. As an NPC, he is played by Matthew Mercer.

Appearance
Zanroar is a half-giant goliath man. After his imprisonment in the Westruun, his face had swollen and bruised.

Background
According to Grog, Zanroar regularly challenged him to fights in their youth, resulting in Grog regularly beating up Zanroar and causing a long-standing grudge between them.

When Grog sought to protect Wilhand Trickfoot from sport-slaughter by the Herd of Storms, Zanroar helped several Herd members beat Grog nearly to death. Grog managed to defeat Zanroar, but he fell to Kevdak and was assumed dead by Zanroar and the Herd. (This event led to Grog's introduction to Pike Trickfoot, who saved his life and healed his wounds.)

Vox Machina encountered Zanroar while travelling to Kraghammer (just before the Critical Role stream began). Grog managed to resolve the social encounter without a fight.

Zanroar returned to the Herd of Storms and warned them that Grog had survived, but they thought he was lying and beat him.

After the Chroma Conclave attacked Westruun, the other dragons left the city while Umbrasyl, the ancient black dragon, remained. Kevdak swore fealty to Umbrasyl, conquered the city, and provided the dragon with offerings pillaged from Westruun's citizens. Zanroar felt that the Herd had become domesticated and tamed by staying in one place so long, and that his father's mind had been corrupted against him by Greenbeard. Zanroar plotted a rebellion against his father but was discovered, and Kevdak was warned. Zanroar and his pregnant mate, Worra, were put in chains and were awaiting the Herd's version of a "trial" when Vox Machina challenged Kevdak.

Once Grog had killed Kevdak, Zanroar and Worra were brought out in chains and Greenbeard tried to persuade Grog to execute them for being weak. Grog acted as though preparing to execute Zanroar, then pivoted and killed Greenbeard. Demanding that the Herd of Storms make Zanroar their new leader, Grog ordered that Zanroar and Worra be unchained. Zanroar then told the Herd that they would stay in Westruun for one more night to help slay the dragon, Umbrasyl. Zanroar invited Grog and his friends to join them.

Vox Machina took the meeting with Zanroar, with Grog leading the way. Zanroar and Worra met them, and again asked if the rest of Vox Machina would be joining the fight to slay Umbrasyl. Vox Machina confirmed they would, and asked if the Herd of Storms would do the same. Zanroar confirmed that they would, if only because even if they fled Westruun, Umbrasyl would likely take revenge on them due to them betraying the deal he had made with Kevdak and Greenbeard.

During this conversation, Ivon, a member of the herd interrupted to tell Zanroar that he did not recognize his leadership and that he and 17 other would not be joining the fight. Vox Machina attempted to convince and intimidate him and his companions, but Ivon did not listen. Zanroar told Ivon to leave, and that following the battle with the dragon, the Herd of Storms would not look kindly on deserters. After Ivon left, Zanroar and Vox Machina finalized their plans in their alliance to take down Umbrasyl.

Keyleth and Vex'ahlia went to find Zanroar who was preparing with Worra and the rest of the herd. Vex asked if Umbrasyl had been talking to them when it picked up the treasure, and he said it only did at the beginning. Then she suggested using Kevdak's body and telling the dragon that he was plotting to overthrow him and ask the goliaths if they would help with Percy's trap by holding Umbrasyl down with chains. Zanroar tentatively agreed to help, as long as they understood the scope of what they were trying to do. Keyleth impressed Zanroar and Worra with a display of her abilities, creating pillars of stone and explaining that she would also attempt to pin the dragon. She also promised to dig a trench for the goliaths to hide in when Umbrasyl approached.

Zanroar took part in the battle against Umbrasyl. After the dragon fled and Vox Machina followed him to his lair, Zanroar heard of their victory from Shale, who returned first. He was surprised to see her alive, but glad for it. The Herd of Storms suffered great losses in the battle, but Zanroar took heart when Shale said that dying fighting a dragon was hard to beat. Zanroar and the remaining herd had been talking and had agreed that the Herd of Storms died here, and the survivors would join the Rivermaw to settle into a simpler life.

After the battle with Umbrasyl was over, the goliaths said goodbye to their fallen allies, but twelve of them survived scarred from the encounter. This mourning group included Zanroar, and Worra bandaged and taking a moment of silence to the departed.

Grog, approaching Zanroar and Worra, told them that Vox Machina killed Umbrasyl and gave them a hint that there is might be a treasure hidden in his cave. Zanroar were planning to join the Rivermaw Tribe since there are so few of the herd left, inviting Grog to rejoin, but he said he needed to stay with his new family, Vox Machina.

Grog Strongjaw
Grog and Zanroar were cousins. Zanroar's relationship with Grog was historically negative, being one of the people to aid Kevdak's brutal beating of Grog and shunning him from the tribe. Grog and Vox Machina were ambushed by a group of roving barbarians, including Zanroar, on their journey to Kraghammer, but Grog managed to resolve the situation by social means.

Later, when Grog was pitfighting in the Crucible and got knocked down, Vax'ildan was able to enrage Grog to the point of getting back up by yelling, "your cousin is going to make you his bitch!"

By the time Vox Machina encountered Zanroar again in Westruun, it was clear that Zanroar had changed significantly, no longer agreeing with his father's leadership choices—even getting arrested for proposing that the Herd of Storms should slay Umbrasyl to free themselves. When Grog defeated Kevdak, he decided to make Zanroar the new leader of the Herd of Storms. Realizing they had common ground in wanting to fight the biggest foe and leave the weak townsfolk in peace, Grog and Zanroar settled into a more amicable relationship.

Skyhaal
As of 836 PD, Zanroar has a daughter named Skyhaal who helps Zanroar lead the Rivermaw Herd.