Vox Machina vs. Mighty Nein

is the fifty-seventh special episode of Critical Role. Legendary Exandrian heroes Vox Machina and the Mighty Nein face off in an epic TEAM DEATHMATCH! This one-shot was unlocked as part of The Legend of Vox Machina Kickstarter campaign.

Announcements

 * This one-shot was unlocked as part of the Kickstarter for the Legend of Vox Machina animated series.
 * Huge thanks to Anna Zee for tonight's incredible art!

Part I
Before the start of the battle, Matt has each of the cast introduce themselves as which character they are playing tonight. On the Mighty Nein side are Fjord, Jester, and Beauregard, and on the Vox Machina side are Pike, Scanlan, and Vax'ildan. Since there are an odd number of players at the table, Taliesin receives the interesting role of playing both Percival and Mollymauk.

With a flash and a ringing sound, the three members of the Mighty Nein find themselves upon a field with various structures, including a tower not far from view. About a hundred feet away is another flash in which appear three members of Vox Machina. Upon hearing screeching, they look up in the sky to see hundreds of swarming shadows, as well as devilish creatures. All laughter from these creatures stops as attention shifts to a being at the top of the central tower, a ten-foot-tall devilish being of grey skin and white hair that goes down past his ankles. He welcomes both of the groups explaining that they've been brought here to settle a disagreement. He claims there are boons and treasures that can be sought to aid them in battle, as well as a final twist: a gem, half blue and half purple. The gem contains two souls, one from each of their groups. Touching the gem will gain that team an ally until the other steals it back. The gem is set in a metal box at the top of the tower. In a flash of lightning, both teams find themselves transported to opposite sides of the field, and the battle begins.

Everyone receives a round of preparation in which they are allowed to do an action or a bonus action:
 * Fjord sets a portal at the top of the tower.
 * Jester Invokes Duplicity.
 * Beau activates her lightning gloves.
 * Pike casts Beacon of Hope on Vax and Scanlan.
 * Vax casts Bless on Pike, Scanlan, and himself.
 * Scanlan sends Bigby's Hand to the top of the tower and blindly swings for the box.

At the top of the round, Beau enters one of the towers and opens a chest. She finds a Rope of Entanglement that can restrain something within 30 feet, and uses her bonus action to get as close as she can to the central tower. Vax activates the Boots of Haste and bamfs out his wings. He uses his movement to see what Bigby's Hand has grabbed and informs Scanlan that the box is in the hand. He then hides behind the tower. Fjord appears at the top of the tower and sees the hand with the box in it. He strikes twice at the hand with Star Razor and jumps onto it. Scanlan uses his bonus action to attempt to flick Fjord into a pool of lava. Seeing this, Fjord jumps off the hand, landing prone on the ground beside the lava. Scanlan stops the hand short of the lava and brings it five feet closer to him. He then uses his action to attempt to Dominate Person, from which Fjord just saves, and Scanlan loses Bigby's Hand as the box clatters to the floor. Jester casts Fire Storm towards the other side of the field, catching both Pike and Scanlan. Erupting in flame, Pike loses concentration on Beacon of Hope. Pike activates her Sprinter's Boots and touches the gem. The gem turns completely blue as Percy appears right by her. Pike casts Guiding Bolt at Jester, but to the frustration of Pike and her team, the spell passes right through the duplicate. Percy, watching Jester's duplicate "react to the pain", takes three shots at Fjord with Animus, also pumping in Cabal's Ruin. After repairing the gun from the last shot, Percy runs up the tower behind him.

The gem appears and floats into the chamber by Beau, and she cheerfully takes the opportunity to grab it. Seeing the gem vanish, she calls for Caduceus, before Molly appears at the top of the tower and falls. Beau then uses her bonus action to move towards Jester. The gem moves into a tower on the opposite side of the field. Vax sees Fjord on the floor and sinks Whisper into him. After Star Razor hits Vax, Fjord teleports ten feet toward Molly, still lying on the ground. Vax, seeing Fjord teleport, stabs him again with the Life-Stealing Dagger. With his bonus action, he stabs Fjord again. As Star Razor hits Vax for a third time, he loses concentration on Bless. Fjord takes an attack of opportunity as Vax flies back up to the tower. Fjord, heavily injured, gets up from prone and walks over to Pike and Scanlan, asking for a truce. He casts Thunderstep which Scanlan Counterspells. Seeing no other option, Fjord casts Marine Layer and backs away. Scanlan feels out for Pike then shoots Thunderwave out in front of him, hoping to catch Fjord and succeeding and he is pushed five feet away. Scanlan uses Bardic Inspiration on Pike then backs out around the tower. Molly activates one of his scimitars with a radiant light and takes two swings at Scanlan, branding him on the first hit. Jester, not being able to see anyone but Beau and Vax, successfully casts Dispel Magic on Vax's boots. She then runs into a tower while moving her duplicate 30 feet forward. Pike moves forward to see Fjord and strikes him with her Frostbrand Sword. She backs away into the tower as Fjord gets an attack of opportunity and casts Enervation on Pike.

Beau runs into the Marine Layer and spots Fjord, then moves out of the fog towards Molly and Scanlan. She takes two strikes at Scanlan, one of which misses. Vax flies down toward Beau and attempts to shove the Life-Stealing Dagger. Molly uses his reaction to do Curse of the Eyeless making Vax miss both attacks as he amplifies it. Fjord uses his bonus action to cast Hexblade's Curse on Vax, then casts Thunderstep toward Jester and drops Marine Layer. Scanlan, uncomfortable with Beau and Molly in his personal space, decides he wants to Dimension Door away, but not before inspiring Vax. When he tries to teleport, the brand on his chest glows and not only prevents the teleport, but also causes him damage. Scanlan also playfully uses Minor Illusion so he can ask if Beau would hit a guy with glasses. She, not so playfully, responds by putting on her Goggles of Night as though they were glasses. Molly moves to the other side of Scanlan in order to flank with Beau and then swipes at Scanlan. Scanlan uses Cutting Words to make Molly miss the attack. Jester casts Dimension Door to get to the tower with the gem in it, but sees only a little imp sitting there. Jester tries to make conversation with it, but senses that the imp has eaten the gem. She casts Inflict Wounds on the imp, but even looking rough, it still flies out the window. Pike casts Heal on herself, regaining 70 hitpoints.

Break

 * Merch Alert! Trinket Funko Pop, Vox Machina and Mighty Nein chibi pins, Uk'otoa game, and Wildemount miniatures.
 * Exandria Unlimited is coming.
 * Campaign 2 Wrap Up is coming.
 * Liam asks for subscriptions.
 * Anna Zee's amazing art montage.

Vox Machina

 * Percival de Rolo
 * Pike Trickfoot
 * Scanlan Shorthalt
 * Vax'ildan

The Mighty Nein

 * Beauregard Lionett
 * Fjord
 * Jester Lavorre
 * Mollymauk Tealeaf

New

 * The Devil Host

Mentioned

 * Grog Strongjaw
 * Nott the Brave (Out of Character, by Sam)
 * Vex'ahlia de Rolo (Out of Character, by Liam)
 * Caduceus Clay
 * Lucien (Out of Character, by Marisha)

Quotations
Pike: I don't know what a vestige is. Scanlan: Nice one, Pike. Pike: What does that do? Fjord: I feel like-- Jester: I feel like she's lying? Beauregard: Look at that. Pike: Weirdly attracted for some reason. Beauregard: This is great. Scanlan: Pike! Pike: What? Scanlan: You're on our team. Pike: Yeah, I know. I'm just trying to, like, boost them up so that, you know, they-- Scanlan: Reverse psychology? Pike: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Vax'ildan: Wind up the sexual tension until it snaps. Pike: Yes! Scanlan: We promise, if we win-- when we win, we won't defile your bodies. Beauregard: Oh? Scanlan: Unless you're into that sort of thing. Jester: Ditto, I promise I won't make it look like you guys totally were having an orgy over there. Scanlan: (chuckling, pointing at Jester) I like that one. Vax'ildan: We could just do that instead, I'm going to throw that out there. Fjord: You're saying Thunderdome orgy instead? Beauregard: Maybe we give it 60 seconds and see how this goes. The Devil Host: That was not the arrangement! Travis Willingham: (narrating) All the devils are like, "Boo!" Liam O'Brien: (narrating) Wait, wait, crack open that gem, let's see what we get. The Devil Host: Silence! Scanlan: (like Nott) That rhymes! Sam: Wait, why am I Nott? Jester: Thanks, Fjord, I like your ass! Fjord: Okay. Molly: Well, what would you expect? Help? Travis: (laughing) You briefly read it. Sam: (narrating) It says- Travis: Four of your six seconds... Sam: (narrating) "I-I know I was a bad father figure to you, but- but I hope I've made amends. And I hope that all- all daughters who have... felt that same shame and pain find only joy in their life, because there's nothing- there's nothing more precious... than a daughter that needs more love." Marisha: (narrating) I pick up the letter, and I go: "Cool. I needed something to blot this wound." Travis: I will use my bonus action to cast Expeditious Retreat. I'll continue to fly to the top of the tower. Matt: All right, so that puts you at full movement of what? Travis: Of 120! Matt: Oh yeah! You head to the hatch. The hatch isn't locked; it's closed. Travis: I throw open the door! Matt: You head down the stairs. You need to fly down, down the stairs this way. You get down to the bottom floor and turn, and Percival's right there, gun back against the stairs. Fjord: Oh no. Matt: You can close the distance. Marisha: (laughing) Oh no. Travis: Oh, I do have my action because that was just my bonus action. Matt: Yep. Travis: I will close the distance! I will swing! Matt: Go for it. Fjord: You shot me so many times! Travis: NATURAL 20!
 * Fjord: We accept your challenge... of mortal combat.
 * Fjord: And let it be known, we do have a Vestige among us. I don't know if you know what that is, but it's quite powerful. If you wanted to quit now, we might understand.
 * Pike: (pointing at Beauregard) This one's hot!
 * Vax'ildan: It's in the hand, Scan-man!
 * Fjord: I'm really here for your outfit right now. Maybe after this we just take the tower?
 * Laura: Oh my gosh, my husband's attacking my boyfriend, this is weird!
 * Beau: You?!
 * Sam: (narrating) As I'm lying there, by the way, you see a letter to his daughter fall out of his pocket. You briefly read it.
 * Fjord: You son of a bitch! Don't you run from me!

Trivia

 * All characters were scaled to Level 15 for this battle royale.
 * Both Liam and Taliesin go into this battle as previously dead characters.
 * Liam starts with the fact that Vax "died once but it wasn't enough" and has "come to do it again", however no one necessarily points out that Molly has died.
 * Travis claims that he doesn't think that Fjord has ever been hit higher with a 31 to hit from Vax.