[Anders] Whitestone.
Mined from our very mountains,
its plain appearance belies an exceptional trait.
When refined, it is known by another name.
Residuum Glass, Professor Anders.
Correct as always, Percival.
Residuum is a potent arcane amplifier.
- [grunts] - [whistles]
- [stifled laugh] - Take this delicate Lambent Crystal,
for instance.
Ugh. Cass!
[Anders] Cassandra.
Are you volunteering to demonstrate?
Um, certainly, Professor.
On its own, the light remains measured.
However, when even a tiny bit of Residuum touches it...
- [gasps] - [door opens]
You're not endangering the heirs of Whitestone,
are you, Professor?
No, of course not, my lord.
Merely relaying the import of its most valuable commodity.
Do keep the children in one piece if you can?
[Anders] [chuckles] Childr... yes.
I-If I may, I still have not received word
on my refinery proposal.
Anders, we've been over this.
Yes, but with enough funding,
we could triple our Residuum production.
Your ambitions cloud your duties!
More is not always better.
Perhaps focus on your pupils
instead of matters beyond your purview.
Oh, forgive my hubris. [chuckles]
Your advice is always illuminating.
[Lady De Rolo] See you at dinner, dears.
[grumbles]
Ugh, why do I bother?
No one appreciates me. No one at all.
Professor, it's just an experiment.
Not to me!
You'll never appreciate the potential here.
How could you, when everything is given and nothing is earned?
[groans] Fanciful whelps.
Pray you never wake to find reality
knocking at your door.
[door creaks]
♪ ♪
[men panting]
[Archie] Spread word of our escape.
Rendezvous in the morning.
- [rope creaking] - [bird cawing]
[Vax] Time to start talking, Percival.
- The fuck happened back there? - I assure you, I'm in control.
Oh, were you in control when you pointed that at me?
- I saw your eyes. - The pepperbox is a potent tool.
I-I may have gotten carried away.
Oh, I swear, if you turn that thing on any of us again,
I will not hesitate.
I will kill you.
Percy, holding that weapon,
it's like you're a different person.
What is it?
When we came here, darling, you promised no more lies.
You owe us the truth.
You're right.
The creation of the pepperbox begins five years ago.
- [panting] - [horses neighing]
With my family murdered, I had no way of striking back.
So I did the only thing I could.
I fled.
Washed away to a new life.
I feared the de Rolo name was a death sentence,
so I disappeared.
Wandering aimlessly,
my days spent struggling for survival.
My nights filled with fear,
blood...
and cruel nightmares.
- [shouts] - [thunder crashes]
[gun clicks]
These unrelenting visions of my family's end.
I worried I would go mad from grief.
The hatred inside me grew.
[sinister laughter]
Vengeance burning hotter than black powder.
Nearly consuming me.
- [gun clicking] - [maniacal laughter]
- [explosion] - [gasps]
Until the new vision came.
A spawn of science that would bring me
the revenge I so desperately sought.
[sizzles]
I dreamt of a machine
that would tip the scales of fortune in my favor.
I dreamt of this.
[gun clicks]
Yikes. No wonder he's single.
[sighs] Not the time, Scanlan.
Do you normally build instruments of death
you find in dreams?
Not the first time I've been inspired.
Does it matter where it came from?
At the moment? Yes, I'd say it does.
[gasps softly] Sun Tree?
[indistinct chatter]
What happened to you?
♪ ♪
[gasps softly]
[grunts]
You're so weak.
[grunts]
Yeah, look, don't get me wrong, that thing's badass.
But what are those scribbles for?
The monsters I hunt.
Professor Anders,
Anna Ripley, the Briarwoods,
and until about an hour ago, Kerrion Stonefell.
In my dreams I swore to make a list of those who wronged me.
Swore to who?
Hold up, that's five names.
Who's the sixth barrel for?
- [Keyleth] Uh... no, no, no. - Huh?
Uh, fire.
[coughing]
[Grog] Is that ale?
You told me they was all empty!
- Guess there was one left. - Uh...
Must not kill Vax.
I-I'm so sorry. The Sun Tree was...
I-I thought maybe that sunlight could...
Inside? Why not just announce where our hideout is
- while you're at it? - All right, you made your point.
It was an accident.
Hate to interrupt, but this is bigger
than all your personal shite.
We have a real chance at reclaiming Whitestone here.
[scoffs] Are you sure you want to?
I mean, this town ain't even got any ale.
Aye, we've seen our share of dark days.
But Percival de Rolo is back from the dead.
If that won't inspire the people, nothing will.
Sorry, Archibald.
Right now I'm only thinking about my sister.
Ugh. Guess they're a close-knit family?
- Eh? Know what I'm saying? - [both] Shut it.
[grumbles]
I know you're eager to rally the troops,
but Cassandra's my only family.
I have to find her.
Percy, old friend, I reckon we can do both.
The noble de Rolo residences.
Once symbols of the connection between your family
and their people.
Now the Briarwoods hand them out as prizes to their cronies.
Stonefell got one.
Their enforcer Duke Vedmire
lives in the one we passed earlier.
And right there, Professor Anders.
My scouts got word he's holding the Kestrel here.
Cassandra.
- Then what are we waiting for? - Hate to burst your bubble,
but we can't just stomp through the front door.
There's a million guards and we'll die a thousand deaths.
Um, is that a lot?
She's right. We've tried and failed before.
Cassandra is the Briarwoods' prize hostage.
Freeing her would be a massive blow.
The whole city would take up arms.
Ooh, ooh! What if I lure the guards away from the house?
[laughs] Yeah, good one.
Come on. Real ideas only.
I could shape that tree in the back into a sort of ladder?
Nope. Just scouted it.
Even more guards posted in the back.
Yeah, but there wouldn't be if I made them leave.
[laughs] Seriously.
How do you come up with these jokes so fast?
Scanlan, please. Now is not the time to be cute.
I am not cute. I mean, I am.
Extremely. But not like you mean it.
Listen, I'm serious.
I can create a distraction while you save Percy's sister.
That would have to be an enormous distraction.
Yeah, and you're tiny.
Well, then I'll pick a big target.
-T-That bruiser. Venkman. -Vedmire.
Yes, I'll burn down his motherfucking house.
A fire that big would be seen across Whitestone.
The answer is no. It's far too dangerous.
And you're far too... you.
Grog and I will go. I'm much better at this.
No. You're the stabby-kill-kill guys.
I can do this alone.
- I've got these potions. - Which do what again?
No idea, but it doesn't matter.
Look, I'm a master distractor.
My songs, my jokes, my... me.
Vex, you're always saying I'm annoying.
- Hmm. - Well, let me be annoying.
[sighs]
If there's trouble, we can't help.
Ah, don't worry about me.
I know exactly what I'm doing.
[thunder crashes]
What the fuck am I doing?
Ooh, I'm a master distractor.
Ooh, I'm gonna burn his house down. Ugh. Moron!
Whew. Okay, come on, come on, come on, you got this.
No one ever suspects the Scan-man. Right?
Right? Yeah, right.
[plays upbeat melody]
♪ ♪
What the hell was that noise?
♪ ♪
Come on.
♪ Hoppin' walls like a cat ♪
Ugh! Oh!
[groans]
♪ Totally meant to do that ♪♪
Scanlan's hand!
[grunts]
♪ Gonna prove Vex wrong ♪
[thunder rumbles]
♪ Unless fucking rain comes along ♪♪
Hmm.
[straining]
[exhales]
[sniffing]
- [flatulence] - [splashes]
[Scanlan] Oh, shit.
- [gasps] - Oh, shit.
[Duke Vedmire] Trespasser! It's one of them!
Oh, shit, oh, shit, oh, shit!
[snarling]
- [guard] He went that way! - [guard 2] Through that door!
- Locked. Locked. - [guard] Move it, move it!
Fucking lock... Ugh!
Roll to see if he... Huh?
[Scanlan] Uh... hi.
Gentlemen, to your health.
[gulping]
No? Yeah, I really thought that would do something.
- [grunts] - [Scanlan cries out]
[chuckles] Oh, hell yes.
[all clamoring, grunting]
[yelps]
♪ ♪
Uh, you know what, lemme just...
[straining] Uh-oh.
[grunting]
Potion number two.
[vial shatters]
[high-pitched] How would this ever help?!
Loathsome measle!
[grunting]
- [shouts] - [yelps]
[growls]
[laughs] Missed me, Dukey.
Ah!
[groans]
Yeah, yeah. Vax is way better at this.
Okay. Last one. Please be something good.
[gulping]
- [stomach gurgles] - Fuck.
So... what misguided ambitions
delivered this miniature parcel to my abode?
[chuckles] Yeah, uh, funny story actually.
I thought this was 74 Whitestone Drive,
But it must be 74 Whitestone Aven...
[shrieking]
More jokes.
I strung children's corpses from a tree,
but I promise you, you will suffer worse.
[stomach gurgling]
[gags, coughs]
- [flatulence] - [groans]
[rumbling]
[crying out]
[shouting]
[guard] Get away! Everybody run!
Wow, that was convenien...
[cries out, coughs]
[snoring]
[Vex] Thinking about your sister?
Is it that obvious?
She was 13 when you last saw her, right? Such a sweet age.
She was a nightmare. Always got me in trouble.
Terminally irritating, pompous,
- utterly incapable of silence. - [chuckles]
- She sounds like Scanlan. - [chuckles]
They're not entirely different, no.
[rain pattering]
I hope she's okay.
Scanlan, too.
[screaming]
- [belches] - [banging on door]
- [grunting] - [guard] Open!
Aah! Oh, fuck, ah!
[guard] Put your back into it!
[guard 2] Break it down!
Ugh. Ugh...
This guy's weirder than me. Huh?
Oh. Westruun, Fort Daxio, Emon.
What are these psychos playing at?
[Duke Vedmire] Help me with this door!
And you, put out that fire!
Oh, shit. Okay, uh,
- no, no, no. - Give me some room!
Tempting, but not the right time.
- [banging continues] - [guard] It's almost there!
- [shouting] - This scroll.
I've read this stupid thing a hundred times.
[snarling]
But I've never sung it. Huh. Okay, fuck it.
♪ Nevosh, nevonn ♪
♪ Klululululu, mehon ♪♪
I'll filet you and use your bones for... Huh?
- [roaring] - [shouting]
Not bad.
[roars]
♪ ♪
[roaring]
[grunts]
Normally I hunt beasts in their domain.
[guard screaming]
This should be interesting.
[panting]
Whoa! [grunts]
Doors are such bullshit.
Heh, not bad. I should remember that spell.
Hmm.
Now for my grand exit.
W-W-Whoa...
[gasping] Oh.
Or not.
Going somewhere?
Had a busy evening, little man?
You're a tiny maggot.
But your head will still mount nicely on my wall.
- [snoring] - [pepperbox clicking]
[Vex] Darling.
Scanlan's probably three-deep
at a brothel right now.
Who let that sex-crazed gnome do this solo?
Um, you?
[scoffs] Never listen to me again.
That's it. I'm calling it.
You're just going in?
The longer we wait, the more we risk being discovered.
On my shot, we move.
Let's not be rash, Percy.
Holy shit. He did it.
And it looks like he went all-out.
Oh, yeah, he's into dat freaky stuff.
- [guard] Move it, men! - [grunting]
Excellent plan, Vox Machina.
I mean... that is what we're known for.
I'll rally the rebels. When you have her, send a sign.
And, Percy, try not to get yourself killed.
I was dead yesterday, remember? Can only improve from here.
Hmm.
♪ ♪
[all panting]
Looks clear inside.
Hold on. There could be a trap.
[grunts, groans]
Not everything's a trap, you twit.
Let's do this!
Uh...
It's a trap.
[grunts]
[coughs]
[groaning]
Oh, wait. Please, please...
[growls]
[chuckles]
[grunting]
[groaning]
You good, buddy?
[Vax] [chuckles] Oh, man. They are fucked now.
[roaring]
[guard screams]
- Come here! - [screams]
[shouting]
[grunts]
[grunting]
Anders.
♪ ♪
Did you honestly think you could best me by yourself?
[grunting]
[zapping]
[cries out]
I'm afraid this performance is over.
You're weak. You're small.
And in this world, that means you lose.
Wait, wait, wait. It's true.
I'm all talk. Everyone thinks I'm a joke.
But the brothels have taught me one thing:
size doesn't matter.
It's how you use it.
- [crying out] - [zapping]
[screaming]
[grunts weakly]
♪ ♪
[grunts] Fucking little cunt.
You been an annoying piece o' shite.
♪ ♪
And you've been a lovely audience.
And don't forget to tip your server.
Good show, Scanlan.
Aah!
[groans]
[grunting]
[panting]
Anders!
[doors creaking]
Open the door, coward!
[grunting]
[gasps]
- Cass? - [grunting]
Percy?
Always early to class, Percival.
- [pepperbox clicks] - Release her, Anders.
That's an order!
An order?
[scoffs] You de Rolos were always so entitled.
My new employer encourages me to make my own decisions.
If you harm her, I will end you.
Let her go and we can discuss a future
where you're still breathing.
Oh...
you seem to think this is a negotiation.
- Don't! - [gurgles]
[gasping weakly]
♪ ♪
[gasping]
♪ ♪
Chirp.