Salda Tal'Dorei

Empress Salda Tal'Dorei is the wife of the late Sovereign Uriel Tal'Dorei II and mother of their children. She barely survived the attack of the Chroma Conclave, thanks to Shaun Gilmore. Vox Machina evacuated her with her children to Whitestone.

As an NPC in Critical Role, Salda is played by Matthew Mercer. In The Legend of Vox Machina, she is voiced by Cree Summer.

Background
Shortly before Vox Machina arrived in Emon for the first time, there was an attempted assassination on the royal family, which was thwarted by General Krieg. Following the attempt on their lives, the family grew strange and withdrawn, keeping Uriel away from the Council of Tal'Dorei. Salda demanded to be present at all meetings, and was often seen whispering into Uriel's ear.

Vox Machina went to the palace to speak with Uriel, but were barred entry. There they met Allura Vysoren for the first time, who was also trying and failing to enter. During their talk, Allura voiced her suspicions regarding the recent actions of Empress Salda.

Allura took Vox Machina to her home, the Ivory Tower, where she and Keyleth scried on the palace. Their vision revealed that Salda and her children were all under the influence of a demonic force and had been addling the mind of Uriel to use him as a mouthpiece for their plot.

After slaying Brimscythe—the draconic true form of General Krieg—Vox Machina returned to the palace, where Allura informed them that the evil feeding on the throne was growing more bold. With her help, Vox Machina infiltrated the palace as dark clouds began gathering overhead.

As they entered the throne room, they saw Uriel sitting upon the throne, surrounded by his possessed family. Vox Machina managed to banish the shadows from within their bodies, but then the dais below the throne began glowing a deep red, causing the throne itself to crack. A glabrezu named Juurezel emerged from beneath and Vox Machina did battle with it. During the battle, Pike was killed, and as soon as the fiend was slain the party hurried to a nearby temple of Sarenrae to resurrect her.

When Vox Machina returned to the throne room, they discovered that the royal family was still lying catatonic on the floor. After inspecting their bodies, they realized that their souls were missing—and without souls, their bodies were failing. Remembering the four glowing orbs they had retrieved from the Clasp's headquarters after killing Modeth Lai, they identified the orbs as soul jars. Through a rigorous and intense evening, Vox Machina successfully restored the souls of the royal family.

Salda attended the feast alongside her husband Uriel.

While investigating the ruins of Gilmore's Glorious Goods, Vox Machina found Salda and her children hiding in the cellar, with Sherri and a wounded Gilmore. Salda told Vox Machina that she didn't think her husband made it, although she didn't see him fall. She explained that Gilmore saved them, and the party rushed to heal him. Gilmore explained that during the attack, his first instinct was the grab the children and get them to safety, which he did alongside their mother Salda, Tofor Brotoras, and Assum Emring. The latter two had both since left the cellar, Salda explained, trying to find other survivors. Salda had attempted to convince them not to, but was unsuccessful.

Vox Machina decided it would be best to escort the family back to Greyskull Keep, and stealthily lead them through the city. When Vox Machina mentioned that there was a secret passage way, the children were very excited, and Salda smiled for the first time since they'd arrived. Once safely situated within Greyskull Keep, Vox Machina offered their rooms to her and her family, and she was grateful for their hospitality.

While walking the streets of Whitestone, Vox Machina encountered a caravan, where they saw the Tal'Dorei children playing with Hunin and Kyor. Salda was also there, dressed plainly and looking happy. She greeted Vox Machina respectfully, explaining to them that they were returning to Emon and taking the aasimar boys with them, and was thinking of enrolling them in the Alabaster Lyceum. Vax asked after the Tal'Dorei childrens health, and Salda assured him that they were well. She'd done her best to shield them from everything that was going on. Keyleth warned her that Emon wouldn't be the city she was used to, and Salda said that it couldn't be worse that the state they left it in.

Salda thanked Vox Machina for everything, and just before she departed, she noticed the addition of Taryon Darrington to the party. Tary immediately blurted out that he had just lost his best friend. Salda offered him some words of comfort, and said it would get better when surrounded with good people. Tary thanked her for her advice, and she left.

Trivia
The final design for Salda in The Legend of Vox Machina was changed from the original teaser trailer.

Appearances and mentions

 * Campaign 1
 * The Legend of Vox Machina
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 * The Legend of Vox Machina
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 * The Legend of Vox Machina
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 * The Legend of Vox Machina
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