The Trials of Vasselheim
In The Legend of Vox Machina Season 2 Episode 2, the band of heroes makes it to Vasselheim, where almost every prime deity is represented by a temple. Percy hopes to negotiate terms with lawbearers of the town, but Pike thinks her holy credentials will better help them.
When they arrive to tell the Platinum Sanctuary about the Chroma Conclave, Highbearer Vord conjures a vision to see what the dragons have done. Still, they refuse to help with their armies. Their city, Vord argues, has stood so long because it stays isolated from the problems of Tal’Dorei.
When they leave the sanctuary, Vax again sees the figure from the attack on Emon, this time attracting ravens. Again, she disappears.
A gnome in service to the highbearer overheard their plea to the lawbearers and tells them they need the Slayers’ Take, a Vasselheim guild that slays rare creatures. Vex is immediately intrigued.
Grog’s sword glows and whispers to him when they speak of The Slayer’s Take. “Hunger,” it whispers. But no one notices. Realizing he himself is hungry, he goes off to a pub on his own. After eating and drinking, he’s distracted by a butterfly that leads him to a meditating man. His name is Earthbreaker Groon, and he tells Grog he has entered the Storm Lord’s ring.
Groon tells him the Storm Lord is interested in warriors, but Grog’s mind is clouded in weakness. The answers he seeks will be earned in combat–which is fine by Grog.
Yet Groon surprises Grog with extraordinary strength. He sees that the goliath wields a dark weapon, proving his weakness, and he asks Grog where his strength comes from. Groon ceaselessly attacks him until Grog finally admits he doesn’t know. The old man then helps him up, assuring him he’s taken the first step to becoming a great warrior.
Meanwhile, the others enter The Slayer’s Take, where several members recognize Vex and Vax from wanted posters.
A tiefling named Zahra comes out to confront Vex. She says the last time she saw her was when she ditched them to poach Zahra’s monster and steal The Take’s reward. Vex asks to see their patron, but Zahra says she still owes them 12,000–nothing, Vex says, compared to what they’d bring in from four dragons.
Zahra doesn’t care; she still wants to be paid. They surround Vox Machina, about to attack until a voice booms out. It’s the slayers’ patron. She says she’ll take care of them; suddenly, Vox Machina is falling through a trapdoor.
They fall into a dark, expansive room, where the patron greets them. She’s a sphinx named Osysa. They make a desperate plea for help, but she tells them it will cost them. She separates them all, pointing out their weaknesses and exploiting them.
“How do you expect to save the world if you can’t even save yourselves?” Osysa asks them. She tells them to leave, but Pike leads them in resisting. They don’t care if they die; they will save Tal’Dorei.
That’s what Osysa was looking for–their will to give everything. She tells them they will need knowledge of the vestiges of divergence. These war weapons were created to strike down the gods in the Great Calamity. They were scattered across the lands. The Deathwalkers’ Ward is one of the vestiges. It’s the armor of the Matron of Ravens, and it’s entombed by a lake to the west. Find this one and bring it to her mate, she says, and the other vestiges will be revealed to them in turn.
Grog reunites with the party, and Percy makes a stop at a black powder dealer’s shop. The dealer tells him he’s the second to buy black powder this week. The first person had one hand–Dr. Anna Ripley, Percy realizes.
Percy keeps this information to himself as they make their way out of Vasselheim to begin seeking the vestiges. It’s not the quest they expected, but hopefully it’s the one they need.
The Episode Review
Grog’s side plot in this episode is very “D&D” (a mysterious old man sees to the depths of his capabilities?) but a bit distracting from the more interesting mission. Aside from that, we get another absolutely intriguing entry in Vox Machina’s dangerous journey.
Of course things wouldn’t go as the party planned; when have they ever? But Osysa has set them on a far more interesting journey than recruiting an army to face the Conclave head on. Now we have a path of mystery and challenge set before us. It seems the sphinx knows the ways Vox Machina will be tested (and how they will test each other). I, for one, can’t wait.
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| You can read our full season review for Vox Machina season 2 here! | |
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Episode Rating
(4.5)