Vox Machina Origins III 5

Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins III #5 is the seventeenth issue of Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins and the fifth issue of Vox Machina Origins Series III. It is written by Jody Houser and Matthew Mercer with art by Olivia Samson and cover art by Jonah Baumann. It will be published by Dark Horse Comics on February 9, 2022.

Plot Summary
Vox Machina speak to Eskil Ryndarien, who is imprisoned under suspicion of freeing Skysunder, and ask him who may have framed him, given that they believe his protestations of innocence. Eskil says that while he has rivals, none would target him in a way that would put all of Westruun in such danger. Grog notes that the party, and he specifically, owe Eskil a favor, and offers to break him out, but Eskil tells him that he'd rather not be a fugitive. Eskil tells Vox Machina that Skysunder was sealed below the Frostweald by the Arcana Pansophical at the end of the Icelost Years, and identifies the blue stone Vex gives him as a now-deactivated fragment of a threshold crest. Vax gives Eskil the letter to the margrave, and Eskil is able to magically trace the letter back to an unknown Clasp member. Vax tells the party that he will be able to track down the person in question, and, despite their protestations, slips away.

Vax goes down a grate into the sewers, and is stopped by a guard in front of a door. Vax tells the guard he can provide identification, and reveals his own Clasp brand on his right shoulder. The guard welcomes him in. Vax enters an underground tavern, full of thieves telling stories of their exploits, and overhears one group talking about someone named "Fetch", who had unwittingly delivered something that led to an entire town being frozen.

Meanwhile, the rest of Vox Machina walks the streets of Westruun, unsure where Vax has gone. Keyleth thinks she's found a missing dwarf child, but she turns out to be mistaken. However, a woman overhears her apologizing and asks Keyleth if she can find missing children, as her own daughter went missing about a year prior. Keyleth asks the woman for more information, and the woman tells her that her daughter had made friends with a boy with black hair and golden eyes, shortly before disappearing, and that neither of the children had been seen since.

Back in the sewers, a hooded Vax tracks a man into an area full of crates, and the two briefly fight, until the other man gains the upper hand. He is suspicious of Vax and accuses him of spying on other Clasp members, and asks Vax for gossip. Vax replies that he heard about someone named Fetch who had delivered a deceptively powerful blue stone, and when questioned further, tells the man that he had been in town when the stone froze it. The other man reveals himself to be Spireling Fetch, and tells Vax that he'd been tracking him since he'd entered the sewers. Fetch tells Vax that he delivered the stone but has no interest in freezing the city, as it's bad for thievery. Vax tells Fetch that it seems someone was willing to frame the Clasp, which Fetch appreciates, and he tells Vax that he was paid very well for the delivery to the point that he did not try to get further information about the sender. However, he says the stone was sent via the Emon Clasp headquarters and rumor has it that someone high up in Emon is involved. Vax tells Fetch that whoever it is also wanted to frame Eskil, and that he is trying to clear Eskil's name. Fetch says he can help with Eskil, although Vax will owe him a debt. Vax agrees. Fetch also tells him that he admires Vax's skill and would be happy to provide him with some job opportunities with the Clasp, but Vax tells him he's currently busy with his adventuring party.

Vax then resurfaces and meets back up with Vox Machina, who had still been looking for him. He evades Vex's question of where he had been, and tells the party to go to the prison to check on Eskil as he suspects the situation will soon change. Upon arriving at the prison they find Eskil being escorted out by the margrave, who is apologizing for the misunderstanding. Eskil asks Vox Machina if he should thank them, and Vex tells him Vax did most of the work. Eskil gives Vax the Boots of Haste as a thank-you gift, which Vax happily accepts.

Percy asks Vax if he found out more about who freed Skysunder, and Vax tells him what he learned from Spireling Fetch: that the Clasp had merely done the delivery, but the stone came from someone powerful in Emon. Grog asks if the party should go to Emon to follow up on the lead, and Percy and Pike agree that it would be a good idea. Pike and Grog say goodbye to Wilhand, and they all start out on the road to Emon.

Returning

 * Grog Strongjaw
 * Keyleth
 * Percival de Rolo
 * Pike Trickfoot
 * Scanlan Shorthalt
 * Vax'ildan
 * Vex'ahlia
 * Trinket
 * Eskil Ryndarien

New

 * Spireling Fetch

Development
The comic was originally scheduled for publication by Dark Horse Comics on January 5, 2022. Due to the 2021–2022 global supply chain crisis and unidentified circumstances with creative teams, all Critical Role titles were delayed, some multiple times. The issue was delayed to February 9, 2022.