Pass Through Fire

is the fifth episode of the second season of The Legend of Vox Machina. While traveling to find the next Vestige of Divergence, Vox Machina passes by Pyrah, home to the Fire Ashari people. Discovering that the village is in distress, Vox Machina must help them, battling fire creatures that are spilling out into the world through a portal to another dimension. As they try to close the portal, Keyleth learns more about the power that lies within her.

Plot summary
In Zephrah, a mountainous place full of cherry blossoms, a red-headed woman with a staff walks away from a house. A small girl opens the door and begins crying, and calls out for her not to leave, then runs over to her. The woman embraces her, addressing her as Keyleth, and tells her that she'll be back, and to listen to the wind. Vilya conjures up the elements, as Keyleth's father, Korrin, joins her. Keyleth flinches at the fire, but Vilya tells her to never pull back, and that fire needs air, just as they are the Air Ashari. She tells Keyleth that they were made to pass through fire. Korrin then tells Keyleth that it's time for Vilya to go on her Aramente, and they watch as Vilya leaves.

In the present day, Keyleth gathers wood in the snowy woods, and suddenly notices the wind. At the campfire, Vex retells the story of her resurrection, though few of the rest of Vox Machina are listening to her and seem somewhat irritated that she's not helping. Keyleth returns, and Pike asks her if something's wrong. Keyleth responds that they're very close to Pyrah, home of the Fire Ashari and a rift to the Elemental Plane of Fire, and she feels she should go as it was one of the last places Vilya was known to have gone, but Vax says that it's more important to focus on the Chroma Conclave for the good of Tal'Dorei. Keyleth awkwardly agrees and goes to gather more wood for the fire. Vax looks concerned, and Pike asks how long Grog, supposedly relieving himself, has gone. Scanlan offers to look for him. Vex, meanwhile, looks at the broom Scanlan had been holding when he throws it in her direction, and notices some writing on it.

Grog, on his own, pulls out Craven Edge to speak to it. Craven Edge tells him that it hungers for blood, and Grog agrees that feeding it is fun, but asks if it can ever be satisfied. He is interrupted by Scanlan calling for him. He evades Scanlan's questions and asks Scanlan to provide accompaniment, and as Scanlan plays a tune, continues talking. Craven Edge tells him that it always hungers.

That night, on watch, Vax sees the face of the Matron of Ravens in the fire, and then images of a city other than Emon being attacked by dragons. A feather falls, and he stands before the Matron, and sees the skull again before calling out. This awakens the rest of the party, who ask him if he's okay. He says he probably dozed off, and waves off Vex's offer to take over watch, instead leaving the lean-to and trying to take off the Deathwalker's Ward, which does not budge.

The next morning, the party continues through the terrain, and Keyleth notices the wind from Pyrah again. Pike rides on Grog's shoulders. Scanlan has difficulty navigating the snowy rocks, and when he falls, Vex catches up and asks him to read the words on the broom. He mumbles 'Volantire', and the broom suddenly rises into the air. Vex immediately asks for the magic word, but Scanlan refuses unless Vex offers him a favor. She scoffs, so he takes off again on the broom. While up in the air, he notices an active volcano, and as Vex threatens him and Vax grumbles that they don't have time, Scanlan tells the rest of the party what he saw. Keyleth worriedly says that this means that Pyrah is at risk. Vax tells her that they can't stop. Keyleth asks Vex to interfere, and then, when no one acts, frustratedly turns into a bird and flies off towards the volcano. Vax is frustrated as well, but the rest of the party points out that Keyleth deserves their help.

Keyleth lands in Pyrah, which is aflame and being attacked by fiery dragon-like creatures. She uses her mastery of wind to rescue someone, and sees the broken rift. She then hears voices, and runs towards them. One of the speakers is her father, and she calls out to him and runs over. Korrin is happy to see her, and tells her that the rift was broken open. Cerkonos, who is injured, tells her that a dragon broke through and killed many of the Fire Ashari, and that they need to reseal the rift soon to save what they can, as others are focusing on the creatures coming through. Korrin brings Keyleth, confident that she can help, but Keyleth is unsure. At the rift, Keyleth sees Kima and Allura, who are happy to see her. She is similarly shocked that they're alive, and they ask her where the rest of Vox Machina is.

Vox Machina has meanwhile reached Pyrah and sees the devastation. Grog and Percy rush to fight off the creatures, and Vex releases Trinket, then asks Scanlan for the broom. He refuses again until she provides the favor, and takes off into the air, singing. Keyleth and Allura see him. Allura asks Keyleth to hold off the creatures while she gets the rest of Vox Machina. Grog attacks the monsters, but Craven Edge is unsated as they do not have any blood with which to feed it. As he makes his excuses, Pike asks him what he is doing, and he tries to deflect. Allura and Kima teleport in front of Vex and Pike, who are stunned but happy to see them. Allura and Kima lead Vox Machina towards the rift, and Kima tells them that Allura managed to teleport her, Salda Tal'Dorei, and the children as the tower was falling on them. Allura then explains that she, Kima, and their fellow adventurers battled Thordak years ago, and used the soul anchor to imprison Thordak in the plane of fire via the rift, so they knew that if he was free, something must have happened to Pyrah.

At the rift, Keyleth and Korrin attempt to seal it. At first it appears to work, but the seal quickly breaks, and more creatures come through. Vox Machina continues to fight back, with Craven Edge threatening Grog to find something with blood if the creatures have none. Vex tells Scanlan she needs higher ground, and he gives her the command word for the broom, which she uses to attack from above. Allura gathers everyone around the rift to try to control it and fight the influx of monsters, but Korrin is knocked to the ground by one of them. Keyleth rushes towards him and calls for Pike. As Pike comes to him, Keyleth tearfully tells Korrin she hasn't completed her Aramente trials because she's too afraid. She then hears the voice of her mother. Vilya tells her to listen to her power, and Keyleth approaches the rift. She reaches into it, saying "I was made to pass through fire." She walks into the plane of fire. She briefly feels the pain of the fire, and then reminds herself that it only hurts if she lets it. She then takes on the form of an enormous fire elemental and destroys the creatures trying to flock through, then seals the rift to a narrow slit, while still in the plane. Vax calls out to her, as does Korrin, and a moment passes before she appears back on the Material Plane and falls into Korrin's arms. Vox Machina rush over to congratulate her, and Vax hands her her staff.

Cerkonos performs a ceremony on Keyleth, telling her she has completed her fire trial, and warns her that Thordak was freed by someone posing as an Ashari. Vax then asks Keyleth how she sealed the rift, and she reveals that she now has felt the connection between the planes, and may be able to travel between them. Korrin thanks them all, and tells them to take care of each other.

Allura and Kima tell Vox Machina that they will help clean up at Pyrah, then leave for Whitestone, and they share a kiss. Kima remarks that they also need to check on Syngorn. Vex approaches Scanlan and tells him that she accepts his terms of a favor, and seals the deal by having Trinket pee on him.

In the city that appeared in Vax's vision, a number of half-giants roughly push around the people while Umbrasyl looks over his hoard. One of the half-giants, Zanroar, tells Umbrasyl the herd will pay tribute, for a time. As they talk, Anna Ripley approaches, and says that the reign of the conclave will not last long unless Umbrasyl listens to her.

Cast
End credits list main cast, then guest cast in alphabetical order.

Crew

 * Written by -
 * Staff writer - Meredith Kecskemety
 * Directed by - Alicia Chan
 * Storyboard artists -

Vox Machina
These characters are Vox Machina and their adventuring companions.
 * Keyleth
 * Percival de Rolo
 * Scanlan Shorthalt
 * Grog Strongjaw
 * Pike Trickfoot
 * Vax'ildan
 * Vex'ahlia

Returning
These characters previously appeared in an episode of The Legend of Vox Machina.
 * Allura
 * Anna Ripley
 * Craven Edge
 * Trinket
 * Umbrasyl

New

 * Cerkonos
 * Korrin
 * Vilya
 * Zanror