Heredity and Hats

is the fourth episode of the fifth chapter of Critical Role, and the first episode of the series to be performed before a live studio audience. Forced by circumstance to enter the elven city of Syngorn in the Feywild, Vox Machina reluctantly seeks audience with Vax'ildan and Vex'ahlia's estranged father, Syldor Vessar, and his new family. After a tense reunion, the party acquires diplomatic papers to pursue their agenda in the city—and complete some unscrupulous tasks for their satyr guide, Garmelie.

Announcements

 * Live show in Indianapolis, Indiana, at the Hilbert Circle Theatre on Saturday, August 6th, 2016, at 8:00pm. Tickets are available online for General Admission ($60) and VIP ($200, includes poster and meet-and-greet).

Previously on Critical Role
"Our intrepid band of adventurers, Vox Machina, found themselves recently traversing the Feywild in search of another Vestige of Divergence. In doing so they managed to find an old friend in the nymph Nahla, acquired some information by trading a book, and found their way towards the Evershifting Grasses northward in search of where the object of the Divergence lay.

"In doing so they found a new ally, a new friend, a little satyr by the name of Garmelie, who had made some really interesting sketches of the party upon being caught, and was then dragged into Scanlan's Magnificent Mansion, and Pike then asked him to make a fantastic mural for the interior of that place, which I think still resides there to this day...on the Internet, as we've discovered.

"Upon traveling further north—hopefully to find their final destination in the form of the Shademurk Bog where the Fenthras bow seemingly exists—they instead came upon Syngorn, the city from the youthful days of Vex and Vax. Upon encountering Watcher Iova watching the gate, recognizing the twins and letting them within the actual city of Syngorn."

Part I
Once inside the city, the party asks Garmelie what it is he wants them to steal. He asks them to find a quiet place so they can talk, but they decide first to go see Syldor Vessar, the twins' father. They walk through the beautiful city into a residential area, greeting the elven passersby, to their old home that they have not seen for many years. The door is opened by Devana, the wife of Syldor Vessar, whom they had met in Emon some time ago. She is very surprised to see the twins and the rest of the party, but invites them in when they ask to see their half-sister Velora. As they enter, still surrounded by guards, Scanlan and Keyleth continue to greet everyone with, "Good day," which Grog mis-hears as, "Bidet." He continues to greet everyone with "Bidet," not only for the remainder of their time in Syngorn but from then on.

Once inside the pleasant home, the party each introduce themselves and Devana brings tea for them, and also brings the very young and shy Velora out to greet them. Syldor joins them shortly, curt as always but also tired and distracted. He tells them that the city fled the Material Plane to the Feywild when, with most of the Syngorn army off fighting another threat, they received word following the fall of Emon of three large dragons flying directly towards Syngorn. They have the remnants of the Emon army within the city, and they are re-equipping them and preparing their own army to join them in battling the dragons. He can offer the party food and a place to stay within the city, but no aid in their own fight, and he is disparaging of their plans to seek out the bow Fenthras within the Shademurk Bog. He bluntly tells the twins their presence brings up difficult memories. He clearly wants them gone.

The city plans to go to war against Thordak in a few weeks, after joining the remaining forces of Fort Daxio and gathering intel on the dragon. Syldor can give them a letter granting access to some storehouses, but they are outsiders and some are ostracized in their own rights. Percy attempts to play the royalty card but Syldor is rather dismissive of Whitestone, saying Percy's title and court is unfamiliar to him. When he asks what else his children want of him, they respond they don't want or need anything from him. They do ask if anyone can help with information on the path they must take through the Feywild, and Syldor tells them he can get them passage to see High Warden Tirelda. The party tells him they've already killed two dragons: Brimscythe and Umbrasyl, and he does seem impressed by that.

However, he makes it clear that the twins' presence is an embarrassment to him, and their anger breaks out, telling him he should have left them with their mother. He responds that he thought they would be worth more, given that they have his blood in their veins, and Vex'ahlia says bitterly she would rip his blood from her veins if she could. Syldor apologizes to the extent he's capable, telling them their sister admires them and that they are an inspiration to her and to others. He regrets his actions toward them, but it is too late. He leaves the room, and they awkwardly talk a bit with Velora while Devana is fetching more tea.

Suddenly, Syldor returns returns with diplomatic papers granting them passage through the city and a single meeting with the High Warden. Upon reading the parchment, Percy thanks Syldor but points out that he'll need to amend one of the names - it's actually "Lady Vex'ahlia, Baroness of the Third House of Whitestone and Grand Mistress of the Grey Hunt". Syldor apologizes, and Vex, obviously thrilled with this news, is gracious. Syldor will send word to Whitestone or to Allura Vysoren when the city plans to return to the Prime Material Plane to attack Thordak in Emon. He wishes them luck and safe journeys. It was good to see them. Devana brings Velora back in, and the twins lovingly say goodbye. Vex gives her an owlbear feather, and they tell her she's not their half-sister, she's their sister.

Once outside, Vex immediately hugs Percy, and he confirms it's a real title since they did kill two of the three barons of Whitestone the last time that they were there. There's no house because Scanlan burned it, and there's no money - just a crypt and a title. And once a year she has to do something ridiculous.

Still heavily escorted, the party finds lodgings for the night and gather in one of the rooms with three guards just outside the door. Garmelie reappears and they search him, but he has a pocket of holding. He finally reveals the two things they must steal: a piece of a threshold crest (the large stones they saw at the city gates that allow the city to plane shift), and the High Warden Tirelda's hat. He shows them what he stole: a very finely sculpted bronze statue of Syldor. Vex uses her new-found confidence in her authority to order one of their guards to set up the meeting with the High Warden, and he obeys. They talk about how they could obtain a piece of one of the threshold crests but reach no conclusion.

Just as they're leaving the inn, the guard returns to tell them their meeting with Tirelda can take place immediately and they start toward the palace.

Part II
On their way to find Fenthras, Vox Machina stumbled across the territory of Orlan. While Keyleth attempted to defend herself in the form of a giant scorpion, Vex'ahlia called Trinket to her aid. Sensing danger, Trinket immediately attacked Orlan, putting up a good fight but ultimately doing little more than gnawing on the Fey creature and getting knocked around. However, the bear's persistence sways Orlan to reason, and after an impassioned speech by Trinket, the Fey Creature allows them to pass in peace.

Vox Machina

 * Keyleth
 * Percival de Rolo
 * Scanlan Shorthalt
 * Grog Strongjaw
 * Pike Trickfoot (absent)
 * Trinket
 * Vax'ildan
 * Vex'ahlia

New

 * Orlan
 * Braum: Son of Highwarden Tirelda
 * High Warden Tirelda

Returning

 * Garmelie: A satyr from the Feywild, accompanying Vox Machina.
 * Watcher Iova: An elf from Syngorn (mentioned only).
 * Devana Vessar: Current wife of Syldor Vessar in Syngorn.
 * Syldor Vessar: Father of Vax'ildan and Vex'ahlia.
 * Velora Vessar: Daughter of Syldor and Devana in Syngorn; half-sister of Vax'ildan and Vex'ahlia.

Quotations
Vex'ahlia: Why? Why pull us away from her if you had no love? We would have been happy with her. Syldor: Because I had hope that you would be worth more, given that you had my blood in your veins, than to waste away in some small hovel. Vex'ahlia: If I could pull the blood of you from my veins and give it back, I would. I want no part of you. Syldor: “Lady?” Percy: Lady Vex'ahlia, Baroness of the Third House of Whitestone and Grand Mistress of the Grey Hunt. Travis: First doors, then grass. Liam: Don't talk shit to grass! (hums 'The More You Know' jingle) Sam: How do you want to 'mow' this? Trinket : She is everything. Her life is mine; you take HER, you take ME! Or we walk on and remember you as a kind soul. Orlan: (after a moment) Very well. If you are at her side, I take your charge as well.
 * Vax'ildan: (to Syldor) You should've left us to be with our mother when she died!
 * Percy: You’re going to have to amend that one name, though, just to be fair. It’s Lady Vex'ahlia.
 * Percy: (attempting to win the favor of the Evershifting Grasses) Lovely field, I apologize at the rudeness of my compatriots. We will be gentle trouncing through you. We will make as little mark as we can and enjoy the splendor of your ever-changing colors. You are majestic; you are windswept; you are everything I could hope for in a beautiful field.
 * Matt: You've successfully parleyed with a field.
 * Orlan: You walk with this one; is she your charge?
 * Grog: Bidet!

Trivia

 * This episode marked the first time Grog used the greeting, "Bidet!"