Vox Machina Origins II 2

Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins II #2 is the eighth issue of Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins and the second issue of Vox Machina Origins Series II. It was written by Jody Houser, art produced by Olivia Samson, lettered by Ariana Maher, and the cover art was produced by William Kirkby. The issue was published by Dark Horse Comics on August 14, 2019.

Plot summary
Scanlan, Vex, Vax, and Keyleth stand with Pike and Wilhand Trickfoot outside their home, worried about Grog's whereabouts and fate. Wilhand provides Keyleth with information about the dangers of Gatshadow Mountain before the group leaves to find Grog. Pike insists on joining them, despite some initial reluctance from the group.

The party makes their way on horseback through the wilderness to Gatshadow. While making camp one night, Keyleth asks Pike how Grog came to live with her and Wilhand. Pike tells her that Wilhand was nearly killed by a group of half-giants, but Grog, a member of the herd, spoke up in Wilhand's defense. As punishment, the herd badly beat Grog instead and left him for dead. Pike and Wilhand tended to his wounds, and Grog became their protector and a member of their family.

As Pike finishes her story, Vax wanders off into the woods for more firewood. He comes upon a large spider, which attacks him, and he is barely able to shout for help before being poisoned and wrapped in webbing. The party quickly tracks down the spider and attacks it, with Vex warning the others to keep the head intact so that she may use the fangs to create an antidote. Pike gets the killing blow on the spider, and brings Vex the fangs. Vex tells the group "Funny thing about nature...the problem and solution often come in the same package," as she feeds Vax the antidote, reviving him. Pike then points out that she can heal people of poison in the future.

The party reaches Gatshadow. Keyleth remarks that it seems ominous, and Scanlan jokingly calls out that there is free ale in the hopes of bringing out Grog. Pike magically locates him, and Vax notices the horse that Grog stole grazing outside the entrance to a cave. They continue on into the cave, coming on what appears to be an abandoned laboratory or study. Vax finds a very old and tattered book in Abyssal, and determines it has something to do with "Life beyond life" and is by someone named Drath Mephruhn. In the next room, they find Grog, seemingly in thrall to an undead entity who is muttering arcane words. Pike tells them to attack the shade and get it away from Grog. Drath then commands the living Grog, the skeleton of Grog's father, Stonejaw Strongjaw, and several other skeletons to attack the party.

The party fights the skeletons, trying to avoid harming Grog, and finally defeat them, though Drath Mephruhn seems to flee. Grog comes back to himself, clutching his head. He joyfully reunites with Pike, and apologizes to the party for trying to kill them while under Drath's control. He then asks them for their help burying his father. They do so, in the grass outside of the grave.

As the party leaves, they question why Drath needed to lure Grog to Gatshadow, instead of just using the skeletons to carry out his bidding. Pike asks Grog if he is feeling all right, and Grog replies that he does, but scratches a large, stitched-up scar on his chest.

Returning

 * Grog Strongjaw
 * Keyleth
 * Pike Trickfoot
 * Scanlan Shorthalt
 * Vax'ildan
 * Vex'ahlia
 * Wilhand Trickfoot
 * Kevdak (in a flashback)

New

 * Drath Mephruhn
 * Stonejaw Strongjaw

Creative team

 * Story — Matthew Mercer
 * Script — Jody Houser
 * Art — Olivia Samson
 * Colors — MSASSYK
 * Lettering — Ariana Maher
 * Cover art — William Kirkby

Collections

 * Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins: Series I & II Collection