Voice of the Tempest

"Voice of the Tempest"
Campaign 1 episode

Current thumbnail for "Voice of the Tempest" (1x90), featuring Matthew Mercer.

Episode no.Episode 90 (1x90)
AirdateMarch 16, 2017 19:00 PDT
Running time4:08:37
Links and related articles
Associated
Talks Machina
"Talks Machina #17: Voice of the Tempest" (TM1x90)
Episode chronology
Previous
"Curious Tides" (1x89)
Next
"Vox Machina Go to Hell" (1x91)
Airdate order
Previous
"Talks Machina #16: Curious Tides" (TM1x89)
Next
"Talks Machina #17: Voice of the Tempest" (TM1x90)
List of Campaign 1 episodes

"Voice of the Tempest" (1x90), originally broadcast as "Towards The Iron City",[1] is the nintieth episode of the first campaign of Critical Role. Vox Machina searches for a means to seal away Opash's book and travels to Zephrah where Keyleth goes to embrace her destiny...

Synopsis[edit | edit source]


Announcements[edit | edit source]

  • Loot Crate is the sponsor for the evening. Sam displayed some pieces of fan art that he drew as part of a giveaway to promote Loot Crate.
  • Merch update!
  • There will be a live Talks Machina panel at WonderCon on April 1.
  • Taliesin will be returning to Wednesday Club next week after he missed last week.
  • Roundtable, a conversation between various storytellers, will be debuting on Alpha on March 19.
  • GM Tips, the last episode hosted by Matt, went up today; Satine Phoenix will be taking over next.
  • Satine also just appeared on the new episode of Signal Boost.
  • Talks Machina is live on Tuesdays at 7 PM Pacific.
  • The Critical Role Fan Club on Facebook hosted a limerick contest; Sam read off the winning limerick by Tamiko L.
  • The characters have all leveled to 17 now, except Tary, who's at 14.

Part I[edit | edit source]

On their first night back in Emon, Vax'ildan is visited in his sleep by a vision of the Raven Queen. She tells him that she senses some villainy on the horizon, and that she will call his purpose soon.

The party wake up to Laina cooking breakfast in Greyskull Keep. Shayne Tranter joins them, a former guard who has returned to pick up her duties after Thordak's defeat. She tells them that Kendrick has also returned, that Natibe hasn't been seen since he went to Wildemount, and that Cordell didn't survive the occupation. Keyleth decides to scry on Natibe, but gets nothing, meaning he is either dead or on another plane of existence. She asks Shayne to look for new hires.

The party decide to make a pit stop in Vasselheim before they go to Zephrah for Keyleth's coronation. Since Vasselheim frowns on arcane magic, a few of them undertake to disguise the visibly arcane Doty. Percival creates a porcelain mask, Taryon pays Shayne to shave her head for a wig, and Vax covers the whole thing with rubbery, painted fabric. Thus prepared, they travel via druid to Vasselheim.

The party split up: Vex'ahlia and Vax go to the Platinum Sanctuary; Keyleth and Percy go to research the Nine Hells; and Grog and Tary go to buy potions.

Meeting with Highbearer Vord[edit | edit source]

At the Platinum Sanctuary, the twins are greeted by Highbearer Vord. He offers to seal Opash's book in a vault beneath the city, but Vax, who doesn't entirely trust him, tells him they didn't actually bring it with them. He and Vex decide to go to the Raven Queen's temple instead, since the goddess of death certainly wants the book destroyed. As they go, Vax reveals a bruise-like mark in the center of his chest that appeared after his resurrection.

Research at the Cobalt Vault[edit | edit source]

Keyleth and Percy find their way to the Cobalt Vault, the best-known archive in the city. Percy offers to donate his Manual of Quickness of Action in return for access to the library's private collection. They are shown two books, one in Abyssal and one in Common. Percy browses the one in Common, learning about the power structures of the Nine Hells and the denizens there. In particular, he determines that the Iron City of Dis in the second hell may be a good starting point to find the rakshasa, Hotis.

Potion Shopping[edit | edit source]

Grog and Tary, along with the disguised Doty, go in search of a potion shop. A pair of guards start to follow them, so they leave Doty posted outside while they enter the shop. Tary instructs Doty to "let us know with some sort of sound" if the guards get close. They go inside, finding the shop to be run by one Cidrick Gillsman, who recognizes Grog. He only agrees to do business once Grog has assured him Vex isn't around.

Tary purchases a few healing potions and a Scroll of Fire Shield from Cidrick. While the shopkeeper leaves to gift-wrap the potions, they hear a loud clang from outside; Doty has knocked out the two guards who were following them. Grog panics, socks the guards across the jaw, and tries to stage them so they look like they have been drinking heavily. The shopkeeper returns just as Tary is trying, and failing, to induce himself to vomit over the guards. Cidrick, breaking down, begs them to leave and never come back.

Break[edit | edit source]

Part II[edit | edit source]

Vex and Keyleth go dress shopping to prepare for Keyleth's coronation. Percy and Vax, meanwhile, bring Opash's book to the Raven's Crest temple, where they relinquish it to one of the Maidens of the Raven Queen. She promises to see that it finds its final seal.

They all eventually meet up at a bar called the Siren's Succor. Grog and Tary recount their earlier exploits, Tary in tears because he thinks the two guards actually got killed. Grog hardly helps, insisting that he finished them off after Doty knocked them out. They do decide to remove Doty's disguise, hoping this will make him less recognizable. With that, they rent rooms for the night and go to bed.

Zephrah[edit | edit source]

In the morning, and in spite of Keyleth's nerves, they travel to the home of the Air Ashari in Zephrah. There they are greeted by Keyleth's father, Korrin. A ceremony is held, the whole village gathering to celebrate beneath a huge tree in the center of town.

For long, we of the winds have awaited the procession of our tradition. With the passing of our elder voice, Dwala, it was my wife Vilya who was selected to take the Aramente. Beautiful and full of determination, she accepted her path. And while she did not return to us, the destiny she set is now seen as one of preparation.

Her journey was not in vain, for it was her love that produced our daughter. It was her guidance in joy that taught our child compassion. It was her discipline and understanding that forged young Keyleth's spark of intuition and unlocked her adept connection with nature and the winds. We mourn the loss of our Vilya, but take pride that she lives on in the eyes of our own, returned, beloved woman of the winds.

Here we bring together our collective voices to bless upon my daughter, the memory of Vilya, the champion of Gwessar, the mantle of our destiny. Ring clear our voices to unite our breath and grant our strength to her guidance and wisdom, as Keyleth takes the rightful and earned responsibility of leading our people into this next generation.

Rise, my daughter, and become Keyleth, Voice of the Tempest.

— Korrin, at Keyleth's coronation ceremony[2]


Korrin formally presents Keyleth with the Mantle of the Tempest, a cloak of red, green, and gold leaves that trails behind her.

Vox Machina, along with the rest of Zephrah, raise a toast. With that, Keyleth takes up the leadership of the Air Ashari.

I didn't think I'd make it here. I couldn't have done any of this without not only the support of every person in Zephrah, and every person of the Ashari tribe, members of Emon, Tal'Dorei, Marquet... even Wildemount.

In my journeys, I've learned being a leader is a global effort, one that takes the wisdom of many. Most importantly, I couldn't have done any of this without Vox Machina, and the pieces of them that I've taken away and have desperately tried to emulate in each one of them over the years. Each one of them with qualities that I admire and strive to embrace.

Grog, with his strength and his unyielding loyalty. Vex, with her self-confidence and utter fearlessness. Vax, who is one of the most compassionate people I think I've ever come across and one of the most brave, even if it's maybe foolish. Percival, with your intelligence and your sensibility, is always there to be my balance. Scanlan, with his charisma and his wit. Pike... (sniffs) Pike. Her generosity and her authenticity, always true to herself. And even Tary. Taryon Darrington, whose blind faith in Vox Machina and perseverance, entrusted us even though he probably shouldn't have. (laughs)

All of these things that I learned and couldn't be a leader without. Vox Machina makes up me. Zephrah makes up me. The Ashari people, and all of greater Exandria. I don't know if I'm the leader you deserve, or a good leader, but I'm willing to dedicate the rest of my life to doing whatever I can for all of us. As long as Vox Machina stands by my side.

— Keyleth, at her coronation ceremony[3]

Featured characters[edit | edit source]

Main player characters[edit | edit source]

Companions[edit | edit source]

These characters are familiars or other companions of the player characters.

Returning[edit | edit source]

These characters previously appeared in Campaign 1 or any other Critical Role work.

New[edit | edit source]

These characters have not previously appeared in Campaign 1 or any other Critical Role work, though they may have been previously mentioned.

Mentioned[edit | edit source]

Inventory[edit | edit source]

Adjustment Count Item Source Destination Notes
Acquired 1 supplies for disguise kit Shops in Emon Vax used to disguise Doty
Transferred 1 Cloak of Elvenkind Vex Doty now covered in glue
Relinquished 1 Manual of Quickness of Action Percy Cobalt Reserve traded for access to restricted books
Relinquished 1 rotten basilisk egg Tary Cidrick Gillsman used to buy healing potions and a scroll
10,400 gold
Acquired 1 Scroll of Fire Shield Cidrick's shop Tary
6 Potion of Healing
3 Potion of Greater Healing
1 Potion of Superior Healing
Lost 1 cask of ale Grog unconscious guards poured over their bodies
2 chalices dropped in their laps
Acquired 2 couture dresses Shop in Vasselheim Vex and Keyleth
Transferred 6 Potion of Healing Tary Vex'ahlia gifted as a peacemaking gesture
3 Potion of Greater Healing
1 Potion of Superior Healing
Acquired 1 Mantle of the Tempest Korrin Keyleth the mark of her new station

Quotations[edit | edit source]

  • Taryon: (sings) 'Seven intrepid warriors we,
    'were strong before and stronger with me.
    'Drinking wine and Heroes' Feasts,
    'saving maidens, defeating beasts.
    'We fight, fight, fight, with strength and girth,
    'I slew a marid and proved my worth.
    'Vix and Vox, Kiko and Greg,
    'and Percival with the head like an egg.
    'I defeated a kraken too,
    'and I saved the Ashari single-handedly in the ocean blue.
    'We fight, fight, fight, with strength and girth.
    'I won your hearts and I proved my worth.'

Trivia[edit | edit source]

  • They discuss how in their second session of the home game, before Taliesin rejoined as Percy, that they fought a gelatinous cube and a mimic.[4]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. "Critical Role Ep 90: Towards The Iron City" on Geek & Sundry (subscription required).
  2. "Voice of the Tempest" (1x90) from 3:45:21 through 3:50:37.
  3. "Voice of the Tempest" (1x90) from 3:51:11 through 3:55:40.
  4. "Voice of the Tempest" (1x90) at 39:10.

Art: