Rise of the Chroma Conclave

is the first episode of the second season of The Legend of Vox Machina. Vox Machina's victorious return home to Emon is cut short by the arrival of ancient dragons, the Chroma Conclave. Despite Vox Machina’s best efforts, the dragons lay waste to the city, forcing the team to find a way to escape.

This episode was screened with episodes two and three at Cinemark theaters on January 19, 2023, the day before their Prime Video release.

Plot summary
As Uriel Tal'Dorei II gives his speech thanking Vox Machina for their opposition to the Briarwoods and announcing his resignation as sovereign in favor of turning rule over to the Council of Tal'Dorei, he notices several dragons approaching. The crowd panics and begins to scatter as the four dragons attack. Allura is able to magically shield Salda Tal'Dorei and the children, but Uriel dies from Raishan's poison. In the chaos, Vax sees a strange figure wearing a white mask.

Gilmore also defends against the attacks, and Vox Machina attempt to fight back, but are mostly ineffective. Vorugal's icy breath separates Vax, Percy, and Pike from Vex, Scanlan, Grog, and Keyleth. The two groups split up and agree to meet at Gilmore's Glorious Goods. The latter group encounters Raishan, who recognizes Keyleth from Brimscythe's lair. They also can see Thordak and his massive soul anchor gem as Thordak demands the fealty of Emon.

Meanwhile, Percy is downed by Umbrasyl's acid, but is healed by Pike. The Chroma Conclave continues to destroy Emon, and they collapse the castle. Vox Machina reunite in the ruin that was Gilmore's, and Percy notices Gilmore's hand beneath the rubble. Grog is able to lift the debris and Pike heals Gilmore enough to stabilize him. He tells the party to take whatever items they can - with Scanlan losing the race to most items before grabbing a simple broom - and uses a one-time teleportation stone to transport them all to Greyskull Keep.

There, the party and Gilmore discuss their options. Gilmore notices that Grog's sword seems to radiate dark energy, but Grog seems unbothered. Percy recommends that they retreat to Whitestone, Scanlan argues they should just leave for Marquet, and both Keyleth and Gilmore remark how strange it is that the dragons are working together. As they talk, there is a knock on the gates of the keep, and they open the doors to find many of the refugees from Emon. They let them in, but as they do, Vorugal attacks the keep. Keyleth works to open a portal in the tree to the Sun Tree. As she does, Scanlan, as a distraction, attempts to fake out Vorugal with an illusion, but the dragon can see through it. Pike blocks some attacks from Vorugal magically.

The refugees, Gilmore, and Vox Machina escape to Whitestone, where Cassandra de Rolo and Keeper Yennen are discussing building efforts. They take in the refugees, and Yennen offers to help heal Gilmore. A small green-eyed girl among the refugees glares up at Grog, who is confused. Vox Machina goes to Castle Whitestone to plan further into the night. Yennen recommends they go to Vasselheim, which most of them agree with, but Scanlan believes is hopeless. He goes out to the balcony, where Grog, uninterested in the conversation, is also standing. They both notice how much Whitestone has been rebuilt, and the rest of Vox Machina comes out to watch the sunrise over Whitestone and remark how their efforts in dispatching the Briarwoods renewed hope in the city. They decide to take Yennen's advice, and Yennen attempts to describe a tree she remembers so that Keyleth can transport the party.

Back in the fiery ruins of Emon, the Conclave plans how they will divide up the continent of Tal'Dorei. Vorugal tells Thordak that some people managed to escape, and asks to pursue them, but Thordak tells him to stick to the plan, and instead dispatches Umbrasyl, who wants to plunder Westruun, to go after Vox Machina once Westruun has been claimed. They part ways.

Cast
End credits list main cast, then guest cast in alphabetical order.

Crew

 * Written by - Brandon Auman and Eugene Son
 * Directed by - Young Heller
 * Storyboard artists - Marvin Britt, Servan Castillo, JJ Conway, Jesse Cuffe, Karen Guo, Sinae Jung, Minh Hoang Le, Richard Suh, and Erin Won

Vox Machina
These characters are Vox Machina and their adventuring companions.
 * Keyleth
 * Percival de Rolo
 * Scanlan Shorthalt
 * Grog Strongjaw
 * Pike Trickfoot
 * Vax'ildan
 * Vex'ahlia

Returning
These characters previously appeared in an episode of The Legend of Vox Machina.
 * Cassandra
 * Jarett
 * Keeper Yennen
 * Gilmore
 * Allura Vysoren
 * Sovereign Uriel
 * Salda Tal'Dorei
 * Raishan
 * Thordak
 * Vorugal
 * Umbrasyl