[footsteps approaching]
[guard] Halt. What are you-- Hey!
-[blows landing] -[guard cries out]
[adventurous music playing]
Okay, door's open.
All right, which one of these prisoners is the mark?
I told you, cult leader. Big payoff if we bust him out.
Psst. You, there.
Happen to be some sort of cultist?
[Percy] I beg your pardon?
Other cells are empty.
This must be our arsehole.
[Percy] If you're looking for the raving mystic,
you missed him by two days.
Seems confinement didn't agree with his constitution.
Ooh.
Uh, yeah. Gross.
Damn it. Guess we can kiss that reward goodbye.
Maybe not.
You don't seem like you belong in a place like this.
[Percy] Funny...
you do.
We're a bit short on funds,
and you talk like you come from money.
If we break you out, how much would it be worth?
A small fortune, I daresay.
If I weren't flat broke at the moment.
A detail you might have withheld until you were free.
Why bother lying?
You'd learn so enough I've not a silver to my name.
In fact, I am totally alone in the world.
Perhaps you can relate.
[quiet dramatic music playing]
It turns out, when you hit rock bottom,
the truth is your only bargaining chip.
Admitting you need help, it changes people's hearts.
You're shit at negotiating. You know that, right?
But you are brutally honest.
You might need that sort of honesty someday.
[Vex inhales]
Very well.
Let's see where the truth takes us.
[cell door unlatches]
What's your name, anyways?
[theme music playing]
♪ ♪
-[quiet dramatic music playing] -[crows cawing]
[Yennen] The people of Whitestone are no strangers to loss.
Grief has become our most familiar neighbor.
And yet, the sorrow of this tragedy
is somehow crueler than the rest,
as our cherished brother, friend and noble son
has been stolen from us anew.
Like his family, Percival de Rolo
was a man of deep devotion to his home
and loyalty to its people.
And though not religious, he believed in Whitestone
with every fiber of his being.
His heart found meaning in our history,
but his mind illuminated our future,
spending the hours and minutes of his life
carving our legacy with the unwavering chisel of time.
When we kneeled, broken, Percy stood tall,
reminding us that hope is a flame worth fostering.
And though today we say goodbye,
the Dawnfather will keep his eternal spark alive
in all of us.
In his name we pray.
Deliver the light where darkness dwells.
[all] Deliver the light where darkness dwells.
Deliver the light where darkness dwells.
[somber emotional music playing]
[moaning mournfully]
♪ ♪
[Scanlan panting]
What happened?
Where's Percy?
[sobbing]
[Percy] There's a reason I've been pressing you about this.
I'm in love with you.
[groans]
[sobbing]
♪ ♪
Sister.
I couldn't say it.
I wasn't strong enough.
[Vax sighs]
You're the strongest person I know.
[Vex] I was worried how he'd react,
how you'd react.
I closed off my heart when I should have opened it.
Gods, I am a bad luck charm.
[Vax] Why would you say such a thing?
My love ruins everything it touches.
The idea of feeling that strongly again terrified me.
And now... Percy never knew.
Of course he did.
He may have been an aloof, indignant arsehole,
but Percy was sharper than I.
And every time you gazed at him,
I knew.
You did?
You'd be a fool to miss it.
And that man was no fool.
Even so, what was unsaid
will remain so.
How can I live with that?
How can anyone?
[Vex sobs]
♪ ♪
-[footsteps approach] -[knock on door]
-Hey. -Hey.
Is Vex okay?
Are you?
I'm sorry for running away.
From us.
Come inside.
[emotional music playing]
The future has frightened me for so long.
But it's a future which hasn't yet been written.
And I'm starting to think fate is what you make it.
It's okay to be scared.
But we can face anything
if we're together.
I don't want to be alone tonight, do you?
I haven't wanted to be alone most nights.
[flames crackling]
It's not your fault, Scanlan.
I-I could've stopped you from leaving.
Why didn't you?
When all options are terrible, you go with your heart.
Yeah.
And what happens if that fails, too?
[ethereal tinkling]
[grunts softly]
[inhales sharply]
[raspy breath]
-[screeching] -[gasping]
[panting]
[Raishan] There's still a way, you know.
[Vax] The hell do you want?
To offer condolences...
and plan our next move against Thordak.
Oh, you've got some fucking nerve.
Our deal is off, remember?
A handful of his spawn have already hatched.
Dozens will follow within days.
Unless you want Tal'Dorei to perish as your friend did,
I suggest we rekindle it.
We need time, we're grieving.
My sister's a shell of herself.
I hadn't planned on burdening you with this.
But it's time you knew the truth.
About your family...
and Thordak.
[sobbing]
Vex, we need to talk. You--
What's all this?
I'm useless to you all right now.
Distracted.
I need to clear my head. Trinket and I will--
Vex'ahlia, you can't.
The pain you're in...
it's not the first time you and I have felt it.
What? W-What are you...?
Oh, the tales of destruction Thordak tells.
Boasting of the cities he's burned.
Port Callavon, Gremedash.
Byroden.
[gasps]
[Raishan] Yes, your hometown, if memory serves...
Mother.
[Raishan] Your fate has been tethered to the Cinder King
since you were a child.
It's time you stop ignoring it.
Thordak is your destiny.
[Vax] That grief, it froze us both for years.
Maybe our whole lives.
And losing Percy might very well do the same.
If we allow it.
What are you saying?
Stubby. We may be able to avenge both of them.
[exhales softly]
A dozen juvenile dragons wiped out Whitestone.
And according to Raishan,
Thordak's nest will hatch soon.
-If they do-- -We're fucked, in every single hole.
It would be bad, yes.
Nobody trusts her less than me,
but we didn't listen to her last time and it got Percy killed.
But taking Emon from the most dangerous dragon in the world?
You've tried that before.
Unless you have some army hidden away, what would be different?
What if we did have an army?
Oh, boy. Grog, I told you not to eat Percy's workshop paste.
What? No, I mean, everywhere we've been,
-we made friends. -Yeah, and enemies.
Well, yeah, sure, but if Thordak wins,
friends, enemies, they all suffer.
This is bigger than Whitestone.
Evel Tal'Dorei.
He's right.
Maybe I could convince the Ashari to help.
We could ask Zahra and Kash and Vasselheim.
And Earthbreaker Groon. [chuckles]
That guy's a beast.
[Allura] A compelling idea, Grog.
But you're talking about a handful of scattered fighters.
I doubt it would be enough.
[defeated sighing]
How about 1,000 Syngorn soldiers?
Um, that would certainly make a difference.
Then what are we waiting for?
[screeching]
[stirring, triumphant music playing]
[screeching]
-[electricity crackling] -[grunting]
[thunder crashing]
[soldiers grunt]
[loud grunt]
[growling]
[roars]
[laughing]
Damn it.
Why do I always have to be the bait, Zee?
Because, my darling Kash, you are just so damned attractive.
That is absolutely correct.
All right, come on, let's haul him back for the reward.
[Vax] And how much will the Take pay you for him?
One hundred gold? Fifty?
No. [chuckles]
Twenty-five.
What if you upgraded to something a bit scalier?
Ha-ha, you talking dragons?
No, no. No. No.
Last time we got involved with you lot, we nearly got killed.
Come on. Don't you want a shot at redemption?
Or at least a much bigger bounty?
All right, we know we owe you.
But near death and certain death are quite different.
Sorry, me and Zee? Package deal.
Speaking of...
where's your sister?
[birds calling quietly]
So, you've done it. Acquired the Fenthras Bow.
I suppose you've come to receive my praise.
Lovely seeing you too, Father.
But no, I don't need approval.
I seek something much harder to give.
Ooh. Our armies?
I've heard you're gathering forces.
But I'm afraid that's quite impossible.
Thordak can have Emon, for all I care.
Our forces must remain here in defense of Syngorn.
Your military is the easy part.
Oh.
Then what do you wish of me?
I want you to admit the truth.
The dragon killed Mother.
Elaina.
I spent years thinking her death was my fault.
That, somehow, we were the reason you sent her to Byroden,
and if we hadn't been born...
...she might still be alive.
And you know why I believed that.
Because you did, too.
You blamed us for her death--
Nonsense! I never said any such thing.
You turned your back on your children!
In our moment of need, you shut us out!
Left us to fend for ourselves in a world that consumes love and hope.
The only advice you ever gave was to guard our hearts,
to let no one in.
And now I know why.
It's because you were too proud to admit you loved her.
Her death hurt you as much as it hurt us.
That's your truth.
That was long ago.
[soft inhale] I've moved on.
I haven't.
You taught me my love was poison.
I learned the lesson so well,
I kept the one decent man who shared his heart at arm's length
until it was too late.
And now I would give anything to hold him,
to tell him how I feel...
to not be the callous fool you made me.
But everyone's pain is their own.
And he's gone.
Vex'ahlia...
I'm sorry.
This is my only bargaining chip, Father.
The truth. [sniffles]
If you've any love left for me,
or for Mother,
then march to Emon and prove it.
And if not for us,
think of those who will occupy this world when you are gone.
If anything's left.
[Velora laughing]
[contemplative music playing]
[screeches]
Kash and Zahra declined our invitation.
Will this be enough?
[Keyleth] I'm here.
No matter what happens, we'll face it together.
Not my fate. Not yours.
Ours.
[Pike humming]
Huh?
[humming continues]
W-What are you doing?
Oh, uh, sometimes singing calms my nerves.
This is Kaylie's song.
Your lyrics are beautiful, Scanlan.
Did you show her?
No.
And I won't.
I tried being a father and a part of this team,
and I failed at both things.
Maybe there's a solution.
Yeah, there is.
No more distractions.
-[curtain opens] -[Grog] Uh, guys?
You got to see this.
[exciting music playing]
Wha...
[commander] Company, halt!
[Vax] Holy shit.
She did it.
[commander] Forward march.
[roars]
[indistinct chatter]
[ballista captain] Roll it back!
[archer captain] Loose.
Very well, our soldiers are at the ready.
What is the plan of attack?
We'll wage a two-pronged assault.
Your Syngorn army, Groon's warriors, as well as the Whitestone Pale Guard.
We'll march through the city gates, engaging Thordak's spawn head-on.
The Firetamers and Arashari in front to shield against flame attacks.
Allura and I will also lend our magic to the cause.
And while the ground forces engage Thordak's offspring,
Vox Machina will use the distraction to reach his lair.
How will you get inside?
I've scouted it. We'll approach from the air.
[Raishan] That won't work.
His children guard it now.
[gasps]
-And who might you be? -She's, um...
-W-Well... -An informant.
Her name is Larkin.
Uh, codename, that is.
There is an unprotected back entrance to Thordak's lair.
A tunnel by the cliffs too small for a dragon,
but large enough to get inside.
And you assure us the tunnel will be open?
I pledge my word.
So, we take out the small ones,
while you use your vestiges on Thordak.
Plus the plate, if I can get it to work.
It's... it's a sound plan, Lady Vex'ahlia.
[Yennen] But will it work?
[Vex inhales] It has to.
[dramatic music playing]
[Syngorn commander] Infantry, form up.
Um... [clears throat] Good luck out there.
Uh, it's an honor to have you on our side.
The Stormlord is by your side.
That's all you need.
[thunder rumbles]
[Vex] All set, Grog?
Vex.
[sighs] I'm sorry I wasn't there.
I know, Scanlan.
After today, maybe we can all forgive ourselves.
You ready, sister?
For Percy.
For Mother.
For Exandria!
[soldiers] For Exandria!
For Exandria!
[dramatic music playing]
Shit. Down!
[Vax] Well, no getting in that way.
[tense music playing]
Smoke but no fire. How's that work?
And no resistance.
You'd think they'd notice us by now. Or at least notice me.
[Vax] Thankfully, we still have Raishan's entrance.
And if it isn't there?
I see it.
Land there.
[soldier coughs] So much smoke.
[soldier 2] Can't see a thing.
Hold.
♪ ♪
[ominous chittering]
Wyrmlings!
Mages to the front.
Take positions.
[ballista captain] Ready ballista!
[gurgling exhale]
W-Why are they not attacking?
[low rumble]
Do you feel that?
Oh, fuck.
[dramatic music playing]
[Keyleth] No.
She sold us out.
It's sealed?
-[sizzles] -[grunts] Still hot.
Thordak must have melted it shut less than an hour ago.
Grog, can you punch through this?
[concerted grunt]
But it won't be quiet.
[yells fiercely]
[low rumble]
Damn. I'm stronger than I thought.
I don't think that's you, big guy.
Goddamn it.
I told you we couldn't trust her.
Wait. Then that means...
-Father. -[Thordak growls]
[people screaming]
[roars fiercely]
-[dramatic music playing] -[screaming]
He left his lair?
[screaming]
Oh, gods.
What have I done?
[theme music playing]
♪ ♪
Chirp.