The Siege of Emon

is the ninth episode of the sixth chapter of Critical Role. Having gathered their allies, Vox Machina heads for the center of Emon to begin the final battle against Thordak the Cinder King.

Announcements

 * Travis is away shooting a project tonight
 * The show is sponsored by PuzzleQuest
 * Matt updated some of the Vestiges' abilities, including Cabal's Ruin, the Spire of Conflux, and Fenthras
 * Sam does a Loot Crate ad as surfer dude "Brody Slater"
 * Talks Machina plays each Tuesday on Twitch and Alpha, and there will be an "enhanced" version on Alpha in the new year
 * Dick and Johnson Holiday Special airs December 12
 * DM Tips on running an evil campaign is out
 * Critcal Role is supporting Patrick Rothfuss' charity Worldbuilders
 * Critter Mark Kuro appeared in person so Matt could thank him for his generous donations to 826LA. Mark issues a "Christmas Critter Challenge" to donate to your favorite charity.
 * Character Spotify playlists are still being released
 * Matt and Marisha are guesting at MAGFest next month.
 * New projects announced at PSX included Uncharted: The Lost Legacy starring Laura and The Last Of Us 2 starring Ashley
 * There is a new hat and new dice in the Critical Role web store

Previously on Critical Role
"Our fantastic band of adventurers, Vox Machina, have been battling against the Chroma Conclave, a collection of evil, dangerous, chromatic dragons led by Thordak the Cinder King, who has been reigning over their home city of Emon for quite some time, terrorizing the community and apparently slowly undergoing a change based on the elemental stone that is embedded in his body that once locked him in the Plane of Fire.

"They've defeated most of the dragons and allied with one of the only remaining members: Raishan, the green dragon. They have since acquired a number of allies, made their way to the Fire Plane, the City of Brass, and returned to find Fort Daxio under attack. They managed to defend it, saved a few friends, and returned to Whitestone. It seems like everything is gearing itself towards the final conflict in Emon with Thordak the Cinder King.

"Last we left off, they were meeting underneath Whitestone at the Ziggurat with the current-standing council; the war council of both Whitestone and this entire endeavor. With multiple armies to converge on Emon in the coming days, now is their time to relax and plan their next moves.

Part I
At the Ziggurat beneath Whitestone, Vox Machina carefully considers their plan for the coming day of battle. They devise a plan to have the various armies strike the city from all sides, giving them the ability to slip through the sewers into the center to get to Thordak himself. The party moves up to the castle to be outside the influence of the sphere and on the way they are met by Elementalist Drake Thunderbrand. He says they've been working on a few things for the party and to meet him in the common room. Upstairs in the castle, Keyleth uses her druidic nature to scry on a tree within the temple in Greyskull Keep and sees that at least the temple is still intact.

The party splits up to gather their allies around the city and tell them they are marching on Emon tomorrow. Vex goes to speak with Zahra, who offers her enthusiastic support. Keyleth goes to the guard barracks to talk with Kashaw. She apologizes to him and very nervously asks him to help them. He seems unwilling until he hears Zahra is involved, and then he immediately says he's in. Scanlan finds Jarett in a tavern, who had already assumed he was coming along. Scanlan also slyly asks about the drugs he'd sent Jarett to find, and Jarett walks him outside and hands over a small amount of Suude. He tells Scanlan never to ask him to do this again. Scanlan how to use it and he walks away in embarassment and disgust.

Percy spends some time (and 500 gold's worth of materials) repairing Bad News and then goes to find Cassandra. She is in her room, speaking with Allura, Gilmore, Brom Goldhand, and Drake Thunderbrand about what's to happen tomorrow. Percy informs them of the plan and asks if there are any supplies left for them to take with them tomorrow. Drake produces three Potions of Greater Healing and one basic Potion of Healing, and also four Potions of Fire Resistance that he's been able to make. Drake volunteers his assistance tomorrow and leaves to go pray. Percy tells Cassandra to seal off the city if they fail in their assault and protect Whitestone, and Cassandra says that she and Allura had already been discussing that. Percy leaves and passes Vax at the door, who is coming to speak with Gilmore. Vax asks him to help them "save the world" tomorrow, and Gilmore is eager to take vengeance on Thordak for destroying his home.

The party reconvenes and discusses equipment and tactics with Kashaw and Zahra. Kashaw suggests a revision to the battle plan: send skirmishes to several locations on the city walls, then send the brunt of the attack to one fortified position to more effectively pull the armies away from Thordak. Zahra uses Awakened Mind to telepathically speak to Kash, telling him to keep an eye on Raishan and if anything seems out of place they'll kill her.

Pike prepares a Heroes' Feast for everyone. Afterward the party speaks with Allura, learning that the Syngorn army, along with Daxio's reinforcements, should arrive at Emon in the early afternoon. They discuss the numbers of the various forces in play. They fear they will be weak in the air, given the number of wyverns in the city, and Keyleth says she can ask her father and the Air Ashari for assistance.

Zahra pulls Vex aside and tells her she's very concerned about Raishan, and if she has to she'll go down taking her out. She'd spoken with the dragon while Vox Machina were away, trying to glean information, and doesn't trust her one bit. Vex says she doesn't either and they agree they'll keep an eye on her.

Keyleth, Vax, and Allura make their way to the Sun Tree and Teleport Via Plants to Zephrah. They make their way into the village, Keyleth playing tour guide all the while, and Korrin flies over to them on his sky glider. The Air Ashari have gathered information about what's to come and knows that Keyleth is here to ask for their aid. She asks him to send air support against the wyverns, and to create a storm before the battle to incapacitate as many of them as possible. He agrees, and asks Keyleth to use the sky to signal them when to rush in. They bid each other goodbye and head back to Whitestone while Allura pokes fun at Keyleth for not introducing her.

That night, Percy heads to Vex's door. Through it, she asks him if he's here for the "later" talk he promised her after they killed Vorugal. He says no and that he has something to show her. She opens the door completely naked. He pulls out four bottles of booze from a bag and enters, closing the door behind him.

Break

 * A PuzzleQuest ad is played.
 * Sam's Loot Crate ad from is played
 * A video for Patrick Rothfuss' charity Worldbuilders is played.
 * The Wyrmwood giveaway winner is Jannro

Featured Characters
{{div columns|line=true |col1=

Vox Machina

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

New

 * Unnamed young man from the Clasp
 * Dale (Kashaw's friend; member of Daxio's army)
 * Mikael Daxio

|col2=

Appeared

 * Cassandra de Rolo
 * Shaun Gilmore
 * Brom Goldhand
 * Jarett Howarth
 * Zahra Hydris
 * Korrin
 * Raishan (as "Larkin")
 * Sun Tree (only used as transportation)
 * Thordak
 * Drake Thunderbrand
 * Syldor Vessar (through a scrying spell)
 * Velora Vessar (through a scrying spell)
 * Kashaw Vesh
 * Lady Kima of Vord
 * Allura Vysoren

Mentioned Only
}}
 * The unnamed fire giant general from
 * Tofor Brotoras
 * Dr. Dranzel
 * Assum Emring
 * Fassbender
 * Garthok
 * Rimefang
 * Spireling Shenn
 * Wilhand Trickfoot
 * Vorugal
 * Laina Yor

Quotations
Marisha: I drop to one knee and start retying my shoe. Kashaw: You're like five feet from me! Am I not supposed to see that? Keyleth: Oh my god, Kash! Whoa, I didn't see you there! Kashaw: Really? Interesting. It was the looking at me that threw me.

Kashaw: Is there a weak point? Scanlan: Yeah, our plan!

Taliesin: I knock on Vex’s door. I have a bag, and I go to Vex’s door and knock on her door. Vex: Hello, who is it? Percy: It’s me, I have something to show you. Vex: (faux surprise) Percy? Percy: No, I’m an evil green dragon, let me in. Vex: Are you here for our "later" talk? Percy: No this is a very– open the door, I have something to show you. Vex: Fine. I open the door-- completely naked!