Echo Tree

is the 8th episode of the second season of The Legend of Vox Machina. In the Fey Realm, Vox Machina unexpectedly discovers the city of Syngorn and meets Vax and Vex’s father. After the emotional encounter, Vox Machina journeys deeper into the Fey Realm, searching for the next Vestige of Divergence – the Fenthras Bow. To acquire it, they must confront an ancient and powerful archfey. Meanwhile back in Tal’dorei, Scanlan and Pike attempt to nurse Grog back to health.

Plot summary
Keyleth, Percy, Vax, and Vex sneak through Syngorn as Vex tells Keyleth that Syngorn has the ability to teleport into the Fey Realm during times of danger. Garmelie nearly gets caught by some guards, and when the twins scold him, he tells them that it's better to cut through the city than encounter the pixies outside of it. However, despite their best efforts, the party runs into a patrol in the heavily-guarded city. Vex requests an audience with Ambassador Vessar, and Vax adds that they are his children.

In Syldor's house, Percy comments on the Vermaloc wood's quality. Vex remarks that her father's taste was impeccable but for his children, then asks Percy if she seems to come from nobility. Percy tells her that it's not hard to act noble, and that she is worth more than many nobles he'd met. Meanwhile, Devana Vessar introduces Velora Vessar to her half-siblings. Vex gives Velora the feather in her hair, and the introduction goes well until Syldor appears and expresses irritation at the visit occurring with no notice.

Meanwhile, Pike knocks on the door of the cottage. A voice calls out saying he has no money for them, until Pike tells him that it's her. With that, Wilhand Trickfoot rushes out and embraces her. She introduces Scanlan, and shows Wilhand Grog. Wilhand rushes over, asking Grog what is wrong, and Grog tells him that he fucked up.

Syldor lights his pipe and explains why Syngorn had retreated to the Fey Realm following the Chroma Conclave, and that they are preparing to strike back once they have gathered their resources. Vax expresses doubt, but Percy says that Vox Machina plans to do the same, and are searching for the Vestiges as part of their plans. While Syldor is familiar with Fenthras, the Vestige they seek, he dismisses the idea that Vax and Vex could ever be worthy of it or that they have any interest in dispatching the Conclave. Vax is angry at this, but Vex thanks Syldor for his time and tries to deescalate the situation. Syldor smugly offers his assistance.

Back in Wilhand's home, he makes a complicated mixture containing, among other things, dead spiders and leaves. He then informs Grog that it is taken as a suppository, which Scanlan offers to help with. Pike prays to the Everlight to protect Grog and the rest of Vox Machina.

Syldor meanwhile promises safe passage through Syngorn with his decree, as Vex bids a disappointed Velora goodbye. Percy tells him that Vex is actually Lady Vex'ahlia, Baroness of the Third House of Whitestone and Grand Mistress of the Grey Hunt. Vex seems happy, but Syldor refuses to change the decree. Vex then berates Syldor for his insult to Percy, as well as his treatment of her and Vax as children. Syldor tells them to not come back unless they have proven himself, and Vex angrily curses him out as they leave.

Once back in the wilds of the Fey Realm, the party then encounters Garmelie, who promises he was only invisible so as to better spy on the Vessar family argument. As Vax bickers with him, Percy apologizes to Vex for giving her the title without warning. She tells him to address him as "Lady", and agrees that Syldor is a piece of work. She also thanks him for standing up to her, something only Vax has ever done. She then tells him about her childhood; how Syldor took her and Vax from their mother, but never seemed to want them. When Percy tells her it must have felt good to tell Syldor off, she says she wish it would have. Percy then hands Vex a metal arrowhead, and Vex thanks him and tells him she hopes to find the bow so she can prove herself to her father.

The party continues deeper into the Shademurk, and Keyleth notices that the plants seem dead or unresponsive. As the party wonders about this, an echoey whisper reaches them. Garmelie tells them to cover their ears, and when Vax asks him for more details, tells them that the Shademurk is the home of Saundor, a cursed Archfey, whose sadness can destroy people. Vex seems affected, but continues, even as Saundor whispers her name.

Grog wakes up, thinking his weakness was only a dream, then wails when he realizes he is still weakened. Wilhand tells him that the pill removed the corruption from Craven Edge, but his muscles will only return after they are sufficiently shocked back. Pike tells Grog to be patient.

Garmelie leads Keyleth, Percy, Vax, and Vex to the heart of the Shademurk Bog, a corrupted tree. As Vex muses that Saundor must be in the tree, Saundor speaks to her, beckoning. She walks towards it, unimpeded by the bog, as the others chase after her but are much slower. She communicates mentally with Saundor, who tells her that he can understand her and her need for her father's approval, but that her father will never grant it. However, he tells her that he can provide approval. Garmelie runs away as Keyleth, Percy, and Vax all call out to Vex, who does not seem to hear them. Saundor continues to speak to Vex, and appears before her in the heart of the tree. Percy shoots into the tree so that he, Keyleth, and Vax can enter, but Vex is out of reach, and vines imprison them.

Vex asks Saundor how he knows about her, and he tells her that he learned everything about her when she entered his realm. He hold out his hand and she accepts. Her eyes go black as she recalls Syldor in her childhood, this time approving of her but in Saundor's voice. Saundor continues to promise Vex her desires as the others struggle, and Vax indicates to Keyleth to grab his daggers. Roots begin to crawl up her legs as Saundor shows her Fenthras, and tells her it will be hers and she will gain the approval she seeks, as long as she gives him her heart. The blackness suddenly drains from Vex's eyes as she tells him that her heart belongs to someone else, and she backs away and hits him, telling him that he cannot give her what she needs. Saundor angrily calls after her as she walks away, and attacks her just as Keyleth frees Vax and Percy. Two treants appear before the three of them, and a fight ensues. Once they realize that Vax and Percy's weapons will do little against the trees, Keyleth tells them to distract them while she transforms into her fire elemental form. As Vax and Percy watch, she engulfs both treants from within with her flames, destroying them.

Deeper in the larger tree, Saundor and Vex'ahlia fight, him pursuing her and shooting out tangled roots with Fenthras in her direction as she returns shots. Vex drops to avoid an electrified arrow, falling a long distance to the ground and breaking her bow. The ground around her lights up with unnatural fire and Saundor suddenly appears and grabs her by the throat. The other three party members rush towards her but are blocked off by Saundor growing roots to block them. Percy cries out before the barrier closes. Saundor tells her that she is alone, and she seems to agree with him before grabbing the arrowhead Percy had given her and stabbing Saundor in the heart. Saundor's dark blood and body seem to melt as he dies, and Vex takes the still whole arrowhead from his remains, along with Fenthras.

The group exits the tree, and Percy remarks that they should go back to Syngorn, but Vex tells him that she isn't ready yet, and that she and Syldor are still very much who they are. They come across Garmelie, who tells them that while he usually hates the theater, he has been very entertained by them. Percy, irritated, tells Garmelie he promised they wouldn't see them, but Garmelie opens a portal back to Tal'Dorei as thanks. Percy questions what Garmelie is, but the satyr declines to respond. Once they are all through the portal, Garmelie, still in the Fey Realm, transforms into a tall humanoid man with long red hair and green robes.

In Wilhand's cottage, Wilhand tries to coach Grog into showing some anger, but Grog is still too weak. Wilhand is encouraging, but Pike, though she had hoped to be reunited with the rest of the party, says she believes they need to go to Westruun now to get the gauntlets. Grog tells her that he knows who has them. Pike and Scanlan are excited until Grog says that the gauntlets belong to his uncle, who had used them in the past to try to kill him.

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

Crew

 * Written by - May Chan
 * Directed by - Alicia Chan
 * Storyboard artists - Cassey Kuo, Grace Mi, Brian Pak, and Will Rowe

Vox Machina

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

Returning

 * Garmelie

New

 * Devana Vessar
 * Syldor Vessar
 * Velora Vessar
 * Saundor
 * Wilhand Trickfoot

Mentioned

 * The Everlight

Quotations
Percy: The Fey Realm is definitely better in the books.