Stoke the Flames

is the seventh episode of the third chapter of Critical Role. The seeds of rebellion begin to take root in Whitestone! But as the members of Vox Machina make their move to bring the population to revolt, they learn that another de Rolo may still be alive...

Previously on Critical Role
"Vox Machina had an encounter with two individuals known as the Briarwoods, Lord and Lady Briarwood, who currently control Whitestone, the city that Percival once lived in and his family once essentially ruled before they were usurped and most of them murdered by the Briarwoods. So upon meeting them, a vengeance urge kicked up within Percival, the rest of the party following him to Whitestone to attempt to free the city from the clutches of the very, very, seemingly evil—and in some cases undead—Briarwoods, as Lord Briarwood appears to be vampiric in nature.

"After arriving they had some stealth missions, they went around, discovered a fair warning on the Sun Tree—one of the central items of Whitestone, a relic of Pelor from long ago that the city was built around—now dead and holding a series of bodies hung from it, all dressed and painted to look like members of Vox Machina. While they were here they managed to find and hole up in an abandoned tavern, closing the windows off, and after doing a little bit of digging spoke to the head of the Lady's Chamber, the temple to Erathis, to which Percival and most of the team seemed to be interested in starting a rebellion within Whitestone. They planted the seed there, to return to germinate at some point, then began to follow a couple of individuals, or at least an individual, who was partly responsible for the really, really, honestly shitty social atmosphere in Whitestone.

"Following him back to a home, it was discovered that Sir Kerrion, one of the individuals responsible for the death of Percival's family, was still part of the ruling class here. The party then snuck in through the bottom of the building, stealthed into a full surprise ambush upon him and his compatriots, and murdered most of them. They took his toadie, essentially, Vouk, and instead of murdering him, tore out his tongue and then burned the de Rolo family crest into his forehead before throwing him out the window. The party then escaped into the night rain, returning to their tavern."

Part I
As the sun begins to set, Vox Machina returns to the tavern they had previously stayed in. They head down into the cellar and Keyleth uses Hallucinatory Terrain to hide the entrance.

The party questions Percy about the smoke that emanated from his body in the previous battle, as well as the strange cough he's developed since entering Whitestone. Percy explains the dream he had about a year after the Briarwoods took the castle, where an entity asked him if he wanted revenge and the means to achieve it. In return, he would have to offer up the souls of those he killed. He says he woke up the next morning with an idea which he then built, creating his first gun. Percy defends himself, saying it was just a dream and it wasn't real.

Vax'ildan points out that it definitely was not just a dream, since they all saw the smoke. He asks if Percy has any theories, and the gunslinger says he doesn't know, he's never thought about it because it didn't matter. Vex'ahlia asks who the last bullet is for. When Percy doesn't answer for a moment, Vex says they don't want to lose him.

Percy says that he talked to the captain of one of the ships he spent some time on after leaving Whitestone. He showed the man what he was building and what he was intending to do. The captain said if revenge was what he was after, there would be no stopping it and there would be casualties along the way. He said Percy would have to gives things up, and to hurt people, and that was the price of revenge. Percy says that the last barrel is because there are not just five names: he is going to have to keep hurting people because it never ends. He has killed a lot of people on his journey with Vox Machina, more than five. The last barrel is to remind him that this is the path he has chosen.

Vax argues that they had a reason for killing those people. Percy counters that the names on The List also have reasons they should be killed. Vax agrees the Briarwoods and their allies need to die, but the level of violence displayed in the previous battle went beyond that.

Percy says that he no longer feels in control and he does not trust himself anymore. He doesn't expect anyone else to trust him either. However, he does trust Vox Machina.

Grog asks if Percy is afraid that he is going to hurt them. "No," he immediately answers. "I'm afraid I'm going to disappoint you." Keyleth asks how he would do that. He thinks Vox Machina has come to Whitestone out of justice and maybe friendship, but he himself has not. Percy is here for revenge. He wants to hurt his enemies and he wants them to know it is him. He is grateful that there is justice to be found by doing this, but even if there wasn't he would still be here.

Vax wants to know what happens after the last of Percy's targets are killed. Percy says he's never had to think of it before. He thinks Vox Machina will either have to save him or finish him.

Grog says that if Percy gets out of control, they'll just bop him on the head and take him to a temple. Vex says that's actually a pretty good plan. The two of them also agree that Percy looked pretty awesome wreathed in smoke, although Vex is quick to point out that she doesn't like how dark the situation became. Grog gives Percy a thumbs-up from behind her.

Scanlan says he doesn't understand why everyone is so upset about what happened; the whole point of their mission was to assassinate Sir Kerrion. Vex says that ripping Vouk's tongue out went a bit too far. Percy agrees that it got out of hand. He says he hopes Vox Machina will restrain him if he starts acting like that again, and the moment he threatens any of the party is the moment he is no longer in control. Vex walks up to Percy and kisses him on the cheek.

The group begins discussing plans for their rebellion. Scanlan suggests waiting to see the citizens' reactions to their first strike against Sir Kerrion. They decide to rest for the night and plan to visit a magic shop known as The Alcove in the morning, as Percy is familiar with the owner. Vex senses for undead presence within the town and feels there are more around than there were before. They seem more active after Sir Kerrion's house was set ablaze.

Vox Machina heads down into the tunnel Keyleth previously dug out around the roots of the Sun Tree and settle down for the night. Percy and Scanlan take first watch, using Grog's Firebrand Warhammer as a light source. Grog and Vax take the second watch.

As the night goes on, the temperature steadily drops. A low mist begins to form within the tunnel. Vax wakes up his sister. Grog is convinced the fog is just normal fog and steps closer to prove it. As he leans in, the fog begins to form into a humanoid shape and reach for him.