A Test of Pride

is the 9th episode of the second season of The Legend of Vox Machina. Knowing that the Titanstone Knuckles are in the city of Westruun, Pike and Scanlan come up with a plan to get them from their current owner, Grog’s uncle, Kevdak. But Grog, weakened by Craven Edge’s curse and haunted by his last encounter with his uncle, questions whether he is strong enough of mind, or body, to confront Kevdak.

Plot summary
A few villagers, peacefully farming, notice a noise. One woman goes to look, and her head is quickly crushed by Kevdak, a half-giant wearing the Titanstone Knuckles. He calls for his herd to attack and pillage. They quickly destroy the town, killing many of the people in it and setting it ablaze. One young half-giant in a helm is struck by three arrows from the town's archers, standing on a roof, but is seemingly unaffected. He quickly kills all three, leaping on and off the roof to do so, then lands before Kevdak. Kevdak gives him his approval, and addresses him as Grog Strongjaw.

In the present day, Grog, Pike, and Scanlan hide out in an abandoned barn just outside the gates of Westruun. Flies swarm the empty area, and the barn is full of pigs. Pike doesn't see any movement and asks Scanlan if he's sure this is the right place, but Scanlan confirms it is what he saw in his vision: the town was overrun by half-giants, the largest of whom wore stone gauntlets. Grog anxiously tells the other two that it seems like the half-giants are gone, and perhaps they should leave, but Pike tells him that they can still help the town, which has clearly been recently attacked. As she says this, they all hear a townsperson outside, begging for his life, carried by two half-giant guards. The man tells the half-giants that he has nothing left to give them. They appear to let him go, but then play boulder, parchment, shears to kill him, and throw an axe at his head as he runs away. Pike begins to cast a spell, but Grog grabs her hand, and warns her that while there are only two of them, if they're with the herd, they will not be an easy fight.

Grog sadly tells Pike and Scanlan that Kevdak, the herd's leader and his uncle, is in the city. Pike points out Kevdak has a Vestige; Grog tells her that he didn't realize what they were when he was younger. Pike admits that given the herd's size, they should scout first. After Grog despondently tells her he's not sure he can even hold an axe, Scanlan boasts that he can infiltrate. Pike seems impressed, so he delivers on his promise and transforms himself into a fly, then, as Pike excitedly watches, flies off into the city. Pike then turns to Grog and asks him about his old herd. He tells her that he is ashamed of his past actions. She encourages him to talk about his experiences if he wishes. He begins.

As Grog narrates, the story flashes back to the opening scene of pillage, showing Grog slashing through villagers. Grog tells Pike that everything changed when he broke into Wilhand's home. In the flashback, Wilhand pleads for Grog to take what he wants as long as he leaves him alive, and as Grog raises his weapon, Wilhand's locket opens, revealing a picture of a young Pike. In the present, Pike is shocked.

Meanwhile, Scanlan flies through a destroyed and seemingly empty city. He comes upon a group of half-giants, who look over a small pile of treasure and remark that they seem to have gotten all they could from the townspeople, which means that Umbrasyl will be upset. A half-giant woman expresses frustration that they are taking orders from the dragon and asks Zanror, another half-giant, what he thinks. Zanror says that he thinks someone should challenge his father for leadership of the herd. At this time, Scanlan's spell fades and he falls behind the crates Zanror had been sitting on. He sees a small hole in the wall behind him and squeezes through. He escapes the half-giants' notice, but a gnomish woman inside the building puts a knife to his throat. Once she establishes Scanlan isn't hostile, she tells him that the people inside this building were simply hiding from Umbrasyl, but became trapped when the herd appeared right after Umbrasyl left. They've been waiting to escape for over a week. She asks Scanlan who he is, and recognizes his name when he introduces himself.

In the barn, Grog tells Pike he could have killed Wilhand. In the flashback, Zanror enters Wilhand's home as well and tells Grog that Kevdak will not approve of him letting Wilhand go. He raises his sword, but Grog attacks Zanror, addressing him as his cousin. He then helps Wilhand escape. Wilhand thanks him, but as he turns to leave, Kevdak calls out for Grog and accuses him of betrayal. He demands Wilhand's head, but Grog refuses, and defends himself against Zanror instead. Grog disarms and knocks down Zanror, at which point Kevdak punches him with the Titanstone Knuckles and accuses him of treachery. As he taunts and beats Grog, Grog slashes at him with his axe, cutting through his right eye. Kevdak then punches him again, and begins to beat him repeatedly as the herd watches. He banishes Grog from the Herd of Storm and leaves him to die in the snow. Grog tells Pike that he would have died had Wilhand not returned with her and taken him in.

In the present, Pike tells Grog she never knew how he had been wounded or why. Grog tells her that he was too weak to stop the herd in the past, and she promises him that he has changed and that they are best friends, but Grog tells her that he still had killed many people. They are interrupted when they notice Umbrasyl flying over the town, and Pike worriedly wonders where Scanlan is.

Scanlan is introduced to the woman, Kaylie, by Dr. Dranzel, a half-orc man. He and Kaylie tell Scanlan they are part of a traveling band who happened to be in Westruun during the attacks. Kaylie tells Scanlan that as a hero, he should help them and the people with them escape, and also reveals that the herd is working with Umbrasyl. Scanlan tells her he doesn't have his instrument nor his friends, but Kaylie tells him that she knows no one returns to save you, and so, as he's here, he needs to help. They all then hear Umbrasyl's wings overhead.

Umbrasyl, ridden by Anna Ripley, lands in the square and demands his tithe from Kevdak. Scanlan notices that Umbrasyl carries Mythcarver. Ripley remarks the herd keeps offering less and less, and in the course of conversation reveals that Kevdak's arrangement is that he keeps his gauntlets in exchange for giving all spoils from the city to Umbrasyl. Umbrasyl uses his acid to dissolve one of the half-giants, and tells Kevdak as he flies off that he will return in three days and will need there to be sufficient gold, or else he will take Kevdak's arms. Kevdak then demands that the herd find all remaining treasure in the city. Zanror pushes back, asking why they are serving the dragon instead of fighting it, and he and Kevdak briefly argue before Kevdak chokes him, asking him if he believes he could better lead the herd. Zanror gasps that he could, and Kevdak beats Zanror, then challenges the herd to kill the citizens of Westruun. Kaylie urges Scanlan to lead their escape.

Pike and Grog watch Umbrasyl take off and Pike gets ready to find Scanlan. Grog argues that he is too weak, and unarmed. Pike decides that they will instead sneak in. Shortly after, Grog, covered in blood, carries Pike by her ankles to the guards at the gate and tells them that she had stolen from Kevdak. After a brief exchange, the guards let him in.

In the hiding spot, Scanlan tells Kaylie he will go out and return with a rescue party. She angrily tells him that from what she's heard of him, she expects him to run. Scanlan seems confused, but agrees that he will lead them out now instead. He also asks her for her flute. He uses it to create an illusory monster that rushes around a corner, distracting the half-giants. Scanlan and the Westruun refugees run through the back alleys in the other direction until they reach a half-giant sharpening a cleaver, at which point Scanlan uses Scanlan's Hand to overturn a cart onto him and crush him. Scanlan then runs into a half-giant as Kaylie gasps, but fortunately, it happens to be Grog. Grog embraces Scanlan, as does Pike. Scanlan tells the group that Grog is on their side, and catches Pike and Grog up on the deal the herd has with Umbrasyl. They continue their escape.

A bell tolls at sunset, and Grog tells the group that Kevdak is holding a meeting. Scanlan tells the group to escape with Grog through the gate while the herd is occupied, but they shy away from Grog's outstretched hand, which reminds Grog of Wilhand's similarly hesitant response at their first meeting. He appears disappointed, so Pike offers to lead instead, with Grog guarding the back. Grog tells them that he is staying, instead. Kaylie, frustrated, asks why. Scanlan tells her to lead the group and promises he will catch up. Pike asks Grog what he's doing, and Grog tells her that unless he challenges and defeats Kevdak, people will remain afraid of half-giants. Scanlan is dubious given Grog's state, and Pike tells him that they have to stay together, but Grog tells her that this is his fight. Pike begs him to reconsider, but Grog tells her that it would be weaker of him to leave; his strength comes from standing up for others. Pike tells him that she needs him. Meanwhile, Kaylie escapes, and looks back suspiciously.

Kevdak addresses the herd from a balcony, and tells them that if the power of the herd is challenged, he must answer it. Two half-giants bring a beaten Zanror, in manacles, before the group. Kevdak tells the herd that they are free to go, as he throws Zanror off the balcony to the ground, but that his leadership is not to be questioned. He challenges the group to step up if they believe they would be a better leader. No one responds until Grog shouts Kevdak's name from the back of the crowd.

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

Crew

 * Written by - Sam Riegel and Travis Willingham
 * Directed by - Eugene Lee
 * Storyboard artists - Marvin Britt, Karen Guo, Sinae Jung, and Erin Won

Vox Machina

 * Keyleth
 * Percival de Rolo
 * Scanlan Shorthalt
 * Grog Strongjaw
 * Pike Trickfoot
 * Trinket
 * Vax'ildan
 * Vex'ahlia

Returning

 * Anna Ripley
 * Kevdak
 * Umbrasyl
 * Wilhand Trickfoot
 * Zanror

New

 * Dr. Dranzel
 * Kaylie
 * Kent Plucker, non-speaking appearance
 * Zedd, non-speaking appearance