State of Vox Machina Post-Episode 102

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State of Vox Machina Post-Episode 102

Thanks to @madqueenmomo for this art piece!

Given the events of last week, it’s likely that restrictions on spells, skills, and equipment are going to heavily drive what Vox Machina does next. Here’s where the party stands. (Note: We’ve left out all completely expended spell slot levels for brevity. We’re assuming that the characters who benefitted from a short rest gained back all their health.)

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Monster Analysis: Vecna, Death Knight, and Delilah Briarwood

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Monster Analysis: Vecna, Death Knight, and Delilah Briarwood

Thanks to @iorverth for this art piece!

Vecna (Non-Deity)

  • Armor Class Unknown
  • 54 damage taken
  • Cast Power Word Kill, Finger of Death, Disintegrate (twice), Counterspell (twice), Fireball (at 7th), Hold Monster (at 8th), Fire Bolt
  • Legendary Actions: 2 to cast leveled spells, 1 to cast cantrip
  • Spell Save DC 24
  • Spell Casting Ability Modifier: +10

Death Knight

  • Armor Class 18-21 (Suggested 20)
  • 221 damage taken
  • Suggested Average, Max HP: 180, 247
  • MM standard +6 Dex Save, +5 Con
  • Spell Save ≥ 21 (Suggested 18)

Delilah Briarwood

  • Armor Class 18
  • 241 damage taken, 24 HDYWTDT by Percy
  • Immune to Necrotic Damage
  • Possesses the Eye of Vecna

Lair Actions:

  • Summon Undead (undead get attacks)
  • Ghostly Claws
  • Dark energy suffuses the landscape (unused)
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Media References and Puns of Episode 102: Race to the Tower

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And we all say
"Oh, well I never, was there ever
A gloomstalker as magical
Mr. Mistoffelees"

He is loud and large, he is black
From the snout to the tip of his tail
He can pierce through illusions to track
With fleshless wings he sails

His shrouded form is looking for a snack
He is equally quick with his claws like a knife
He is always deceiving you into believing
That he's only hunting for life...

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Monster Analysis: Gloomstalkers (Thar Amphala)

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Thanks to @capefoxalix for this art piece!

Note: This article was published in 2017, before the Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount was published. If you’d like to learn more about Gloomstalkers, you can find the official 5e entry on page 291!

  • First appearance: 101 Thar Amphala

  • “Encounter” appearance: 102 Race to the Tower

  • Armor Class 15

  • Speed unknown (flying speed)

  • Dex +3, Wis Save +3

  • +4 or greater to hit

    • Claw attack dealt 16 damage to Keyleth

  • Total health unknown, no damage taken

The gloomstalker, a Mercer creation and resident of the Shadowfell, is very similar to an undead cross between a dementor and a wyvern. These large creatures with 20-foot fleshless wingspans and elongated, snapping necks predatorily search from the skies for living flesh, using their fellow gloom stalkers to narrow their focus to the target they are hunting. Their skin billows in a black, shadow-like smoke, and gives off a freezing chill that reaches out to the very soul to those in close proximity.

Scanlan’s injured child Major Image was convincing enough that it distracted the gloom stalker from its intended quarry, Vox Machina. However, their bright, greenish-yellow eyes emanate cones of light that see through illusions. Illusions that fall under the cones’ influence disappear before the vision of others, as well. So, while the gloom stalkers aren’t terribly intelligent creatures, they’re not without their tricks.

It’s also Scanlan’s willingness to quickly use his 8th level spell, Dominate Monster, that saved Keyleth and Vox Machina from a protracted battle with the gloom stalkers. Though only one noticed Keyleth’s presence at first, several more were on their way to join in the hunt. Scanlan harnessed the power of the newly-named Mister Mistoffelees as an ambassador to the other gloom stalkers and as a flying steed, allowing Vox Machina a glimpse at what was happening on Entropis before the real battle began.

Quick Answers 54

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The last two questions have spoilers for Episode 102. If you want to avoid them, stop reading after taking a look at our saving throw tables.

Does your stat on time passed in-game count the time skips?

Yes!

On average, how many rounds of combat do VM's fights last? And which fight has taken the most rounds?

The current average is 4.91 rounds. The longest “fight” is tricky, though the current record is 67 rounds for the roc ambush and chase, with the fomorian fight at 20 (including Keyleth casting Geas). If you want to limit it to actual combat, it’d be Grog’s second encounter with Earthbreaker Groon at 18 rounds. For more time stats, check out our Running Times sheet here!

Love the website! Do you know where I can get a pdf, preferably fillable version of the character cards they show on stream? like the ones you have displayed on your website?

Thanks! We are not aware of a pdf version of their character cards, but knowing critter ingenuity, we’re guessing there’s one out there.

That infographic is amazing. Who designed it?

We worked with Geek & Sundry to come up with some fun stats for the infographic, and they worked with their designers to create the graphic. We had a blast, and we’re so pleased with the result!

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What We Know About: Vecna and the Shadowfell

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What We Know About: Vecna and the Shadowfell

Thanks to @kupieckorzenny for this art piece!

As Vex’s inspired Oracle Arrow revealed in Episode 97, Delilah Briarwood’s handiwork opened a window into the Shadowfell, also known as the Plane of Shadow. Delilah’s ritual was to advance the goals of the god wannabe, Vecna (who has not yet ascended to godhood in this world). Delilah’s return in Episode 100 has prompted Vox Machina to give chase into the Shadowfell, so let’s take a look about what all we know about the Shadowfell and The Whispered One. Before we begin, please remember that the Shadowfell and Vecna from any published material—5e DMG, previous lore, etc., may have similarities and differences from those in Critical Role. This summary is a combination of what we know from previous episodes, Matt’s descriptions in Episode 101, the DMG, and the MM.

Want to see the quotes from Critical Role about Vecna, the spinning orb of death, and the Shadowfell? Have we got a compendium for you!

 Vecna and Shadowfell Quote Compendium

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GoFiBePo Nutrition Facts

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GoFiBePo Nutrition Facts

 

GoFiBePo: A sedimentary rock-styled bowl of meat. Two-week salted goat meat beneath hickory-kept long angled smoked fish guts, mixed with a wondrous mix of minced steaks, with a sprinkling of pork belly on top that’s been ground up well and salt cured over 2 months. 

Given the extravagant combination of Whitestone's soon-to-be-official dish, we decided to bring it upon ourselves to calculate the nutrition facts that absolutely no one asked for. We decided that for a big guy like Grog, two pounds of meat seemed like a reasonable serving. This resulted in:

 We were a little aghast by the end result.

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Media References and Puns of Episode 101: Thar Amphala

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Critters, Matt has tasked you with assigning D&D classes to the characters in Hamilton. Don't throw away your shot at making an epic half-elf wizard character sheet for Angelica, a halfling urchin bard for Alexander, a human battle master fighter Washington, or whatever your heart desires!

Media References

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What We Know About: Lady Delilah Briarwood

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What We Know About: Lady Delilah Briarwood

Thanks to @rlinarts for this art piece!

With all that’s gone on in the last two episodes, we knew we needed to compile everything we know so far about Delilah Briarwood. Much like our previous efforts, we’ve made a compendium (linked below) of all relevant quotes about her. The following is a summary of that information: all facts, no speculation, and spoilers through episode 100. Proceed with caution. We’d like to thank @curriebelle for providing her insight into Delilah, as well as Critical Role Transcript for their truly invaluable service!

 Delilah Briarwood Quote Compendium

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