Desperate Measures

"" is the second episode of the fourth chapter of Critical Role. Vox Machina must deal with the Chroma Conclave's attack on Emon and the possible slaughter of much of the city's leadership and notable citizenry.

Synopsis
Escaping from Emon's Cloudtop District using Keyleth's Transport via Plants, Vox Machina transports to Greyskull Keep in the midst of the Chroma Conclave's attack. After sending the Keep's staff to the relative safety of the basement, some of the party went to the Keep's outer walls, only to find dozens of Emon's refugees clamoring for entry into the Keep. Vax passionately orders the guards to open the gates and escort the refugees inside, but an ancient white dragon attacked upon approaching the Keep (despite being ordered to pursue other tasks by the ancient red dragon).

Vox Machina attempted to fight off the ancient white dragon, with Trinket being frozen to unconsciousness and many refugees frozen to death. Pike healed Trinket, and the group began to flee. Before the situation became more dire, the ancient red dragon ordered the ancient white dragon—revealing his name as Vurugal—to continue east. Vurugal flew off.

As the party tended to the wounded refugees and damaged keep, Grog and Percy began arguing about using the evil skull to make a wish to undo the recent disaster. Eventually, the whole party became involved in the struggle for the skull, until Lady Allura arrived with a dwarf, Drake Thunderbrand. Lady Allura and Vox Machina shared information, revealing to the audience:
 * Lady Allura once travelled with an adventuring party that included Lady Kima, Drake Thunderbrand, Sirus, Dohla, and Ghenn;
 * The ancient red dragon is named Thordak;
 * Thordak destroyed Byroden, childhood hometown of Vex'ahlia and Vax'ildan, killing the twins' mother;
 * Lady Allura's party sealed Thordak in the Elemental Plane of Fire at the cost of Sirus, Dohla, and Ghenn's lives;
 * Lady Allura does not believe Vox Machina caused the Chroma Conclave attack;
 * Keyleth did not release Thordak by using the firestone she obtained in ;
 * Pyrah has been destroyed; and
 * Westruun has been attacked.

Vex and Vax vow to each other that they will kill Thordak, or they will die trying. Vox Machina, Lady Allura, and Drake Thunderbrand decide that their next course of action should be to assess which of their allies still live.