Those Who Walk Away...

is the forty-fifth episode of the first campaign of Critical Role. An exhausted Vox Machina spends some time hashing out their pent-up frustrations and examining their spoils of victory. They then journey to Pyrah, home of the Fire Ashari, hoping to find survivors of Thordak's escape from the Elemental Plane of Fire.

Previously on Critical Role
"The party Vox Machina, having to deal with the current terrible danger of the Chroma Conclave—a collection of very dangerous dragons that have torn through the entire Tal'Dorei countryside—have then gone on this quest to collect allies and find these items called the Vestiges of the Divergence, these artifacts of ancient wars that carry great power and seem to be the best way they could prepare themselves for going up against these terrifyingly powerful entities.

"In searching for this, they made their way to Vasselheim, where they reacquired and reestablished friendships with Zahra and Kashaw, two allies from previous installments of our wondrous adventure, as well as getting Lady Kima on loan from the Platinum Sanctuary of Bahamut. They all went to seek the first bit of information they discovered about one of these Vestiges, not too far from Vasselheim: the Champion of the Raven Queen's armor that had been entombed within this temple that had sunken beneath a lake.

"After traveling to this lake, finding their way through this subterranean watery location, they found the location of the tomb, upon which a series of fish creatures called kuo-toa had seemingly been worshiping another denizen of this temple: a rather strange, slime-covered beholder that then surprised the party. The battle hard-fought, they came out victorious, and upon going to retrieve their spoils a trap was set off in the tomb, dodged by one, survived by a bear, and claimed the life of our beloved Vex'ahlia.

"After a resurrection ritual attempted by Kashaw, the party helping, they were successful in bringing her soul back from the other side, restoring her to life. The party then, figuring out what their next step in their journey was, took their new allies via Keyleth's Transport via Plants spell, back to Whitestone, which seems to be building as this kind of defensive bastion, this currently not on the radar of the Conclave location that needs defenses, and a good place to keep their allies at the time."

Part I
The party arrives in Whitestone, where everything seems normal. Kima is upset to learn that Allura went to Westruun, but agrees to wait a few hours before pursuing her there and goes day-drinking instead. The rest head to the castle where Keeper Yennen is meeting with some of the governing council. The party gives him the black crystal and armor from the tomb to identify, and Vex'ahlia mentions that it was a trap Percy set off that killed her, not the armor. Vax'ildan is startled, as he hadn't known that since he was in the chasm when it happened.

Yennen is able to tell them some of the properties of the armor, which Vex takes for now. The black crystal on a chain proves to be a magical amulet capable of holding a living creature -- and there is currently one inside it, although he can tell nothing of what it might be. Scanlan takes it, and Vex remembers that in her 30-gold book on the Raven Queen, it spoke of the Champion in the tomb keeping with him an ally, the dangerous and respected Galdric. They decide to release the creature later in a safe place away from Whitestone to see what it is.

Percy takes Vax aside and admits he set off the trap that killed Vex because he had a careless moment; that he's very glad she's alive because he doesn't think he could have lived with himself if she weren't. Vax in turn apologizes to Percy, because everyone makes mistakes, and punches him in the mouth. Percy takes it, and goes off to tinker and replenish his ammunition supply. He also creates an explosive siege arrow

Keyleth and Vex go find Kima, and Keyleth casts Scry to find Allura and Drake Thunderbrand safe in the ruins of the Cobalt Reserve in Westruun, a black dragon flying overhead toward nearby Gatshadow Mountain. When Kima goes outside after a mention of Thordak, Vex point-blank asks Keyleth what happened in the sunken tomb. Very reluctantly, Keyleth tells her that Vax offered the Raven Queen his life instead of Vex's. Scanlan and Grog are trying to figure out what to do. Grog tells Scanlan he needs to go boom-boom, and they find an outhouse. While Scanlan stands guard outside, Grog takes out Craven Edge, and as he focuses hears a voice saying, "You fed me well." Grog asks the sword what it gets out of this, and the response is: "There is no feeling more terrifying than hunger. And I hunger forever. You help satiate that hunger. That is our arrangement. I give you the strength of those you cut down, and I feed upon them." While a little unsettled by this, Grog likes the way the sword cuts people open, and tells it they'll continue the conversation another time. Scanlan and Grog then head to Jameson the Painter's workshop to check on the progress of the painting Scanlan had commissioned. It is finished: a landscape of rolling hills, tree lines, and a mountainscape in the distance with magnificent lighting. Atop the fantastic green hilltop, there is a fine white and grey steed rising up, hooves in the air, and atop it is Scanlan, shirt open, chest slightly fuzzy and muscular. Behind, clutching him, is Pike wearing long greyish-silver and blue robes flowing behind and a long train. It is everything Scanlan hoped for. Overcome, Scanlan tips Jameson an additional 50 gold and promises to write him an epic poem, and happily takes the painting back to Whitestone Castle.

Meanwhile, Vax goes to Keyleth's room and she invites him in. He is confused, and although he wouldn't take anything back he doesn't understand what happened in the tomb or if he did anything. Looking down, however, the symbol of Sarenrae on the back of his glove is now heavily tarnished and cracked, and they are startled by the caw of a raven on the windowsill that flies into the night. Keyleth admits she may love him, but is afraid of it because she might lose him. Wordlessly, he leaves the room and falls asleep across his sister's doorway

Part II
The next morning, Vex'ahlia finds her brother sleeping outside her door. She invites him in and tells him she's heard a rumor he saved her life in "a really creepy sort of way." She gives him Deathwalker's Ward and although he says he doesn't want it, he accepts it reluctantly, not putting it on yet.

The party gathers and travels together north of Whitestone to the stone giants' fortress and its caves, which seems currently empty of danger. Once inside the fortress they prepare to release the creature held within the crystal. Vax'ildan begins donning the Raven Queen's armor, and Percy gives Vex the siege arrow he crafted the previous night. Cautiously, Scanlan releases the creature in a burst of shadow energy that forms into a large dark grey and black wolf. It snarls at them and bites Percy when he tries to extend his hand to it. Keyleth casts Speak With Animals and confirms that this is Galdric, the ally of the ancient Champion of the Raven Queen Purvan Suul who wore Deathwalker's Ward previously. Keyleth tells Galdric that the Raven Queen has chosen a new champion, and Vex pushes the half-dressed Vax forward. He kneels, and Keyleth asks Galdric to join him, but after a long moment, Galdric simply turns and walks toward the exit, which Grog is near. Grog pulls out Craven Edge, sinking it into the earth near Galdric's head and commanding him to stay, and Galdric obeys. The wolf accompanies them back to Whitestone, with Vax removing the pieces of the black armor he had already donned. Keyleth casts Speak With Animals again and tells Galdric he'll be fed if he helps guard the town from the coming dragons. With pride, Galdric responds that he can feed himself but he will watch until the danger has passed. He grows tired of service. And he walks off into the woods.

Percy suggests that Trinket would fit nicely in the now-empty Raven's Slumber and Vex tries it, popping the bear in and immediately back out. Keyleth asks Trinket if he'd be willing to do that occasionally, and he agrees, if Vex wants him to.

They discuss what to do next and agree to go to the Fire Ashari the next morning, spending the rest of this day in preparations. Percy accepts the Gloves of Missile Snaring from Vex, and Grog asks Percy if he knows of any houses of lady favors in town, but Percy doesn't. Vax buys a short sword. Keyleth and Percy stay up all night to successfully create one potion of fire resistance and in the morning, Keyleth casts Heroes' Feast to make breakfast before she and Percy go to sleep.

While they're waiting, Vax takes Scanlan aside and asks him how he stays happy all the time. Scanlan isn't sure, but he likes the rest of the group, and his life now is better than it was. He advises Vax not to dwell on the shit.

Around three in the afternoon, the party regathers and heads to the Sun Tree where Keyleth uses Transport Via Plants to take them to Issylra and the Fire Ashari settlement of Pyrah. When they arrive, the volcano is continuing to erupt, and they see a small group of humanoids slowly climbing the mountain and cooling the flowing lava as they go. Vex pops Trinket into Raven's Slumber while Keyleth casts Skywrite to communicate: "Keyleth, Kaitiaki." They respond, "Kaitiaki. Survivors remain, Keyleth." The party begins making their way to the survivors. Keyleth slips Vax the potion of fire resistance, and noting that he has donned Deathwalker's Ward and set it to fire resistance, Vax gives the potion to Vex. Scanlan and Vex both suffer one point of exhaustion from the heat radiating from the lava.

As they get closer, they see that the group they saw from afar consists of five of the Fire Ashari including Nastoen and Cerkonos, whom they had previously met. Cerkonos is missing an arm. He tells them that there are twenty-five survivors, and that they brought this on themselves by helping to seal Thordak within the rift many years before. Another figure approaches -- it is Korrin, Keyleth's father. They greet each other lovingly. He explains he has come to help the Fire Ashari and invites them to help as well, showing them the mostly destroyed remains of the Cindergrove, the incinerated remains of the dead of Pyrah, and a very large central red rift pulsing with bright, almost sunlight energy.

Vox Machina

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

New

 * Korrin

Returning

 * Zahra Hydris
 * Kashaw Vesh
 * Lady Kima of Vord
 * Keeper Yennen
 * Jameson the Painter
 * Galdric
 * Nastoen
 * Cerkonos
 * Allura Vysoren (via Keyleth's scry)
 * Drake Thunderbrand (via Keyleth's scry)

Quotations
Matt: There’s a brief pause before you hear this long, drawn-out, (heavy sigh). Vax'ildan: Keyleth, I love you. Keyleth: And I think I love you. I just don't know if I can allow myself to. I'm terrified to allow myself to.
 * Grog: (to Craven Edge) Question: so, when we were fighting that big Earthbreaker Groot-looking guy, he called you a ‘dark weapon’. Does that-- do you have feelings, and did that hurt them?
 * Craven Edge: There is no feeling more terrifying than hunger. And I hunger forever. You help satiate that hunger. That is our arrangement. I give you the strength of those you cut down, and I feed upon them. If this is unsatisfactory, I can and have found others who are more willing to be part of this arrangement.
 * Keyleth: I thought I was going to lose you. And I'm terrified I'm still going to.
 * Percy: Vex, by the way, I've got something for you. Vex: What? Yes, dear? What is this? Percy: This is an evening of unbridled guilt. Come here, let me show you. In theory, this is a siege arrow. Vex: Okay. Percy: Shattering stone, shattering glass, breaking things that should not be broken. Vex: Breaking hearts left and right? Percy: If that is what you're after. It should work! Never forget you're my favorite and I'm so sorry.
 * Percy: Your secret is safe with my indifference.
 * Scanlan: (to Vax) And it's all shitty, so it just depends on how you look at it. You can dwell on the shit or you can leave it behind on people's beds and keep going.