Heartwarming / Critical Role Vecna Arc

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Episode 100: Unfinished Business

• To commemorate the 100th episode, Travis is wearing a piece of merch that hasn't been seen in some time: the "Mercer & Percy & Keyleth & Tiberius & Scanlan & Pike & Grog & Vax & Vex & Trinket" shirt. Tiberius's name really stands out on the shirt, a great reminder of the early days. To drive that point home, Mercer emphasizes Orion in his shout-outs at the beginning of the episode. Whatever happened when Orion left the show, he is still remembered fondly here.
• Vax telling Scanlan that he's finally happy. Crosses over into Funny when Scanlan can hardly believe it, but it's still a nice moment.
  • Scanlan also affirms that the times when he was in Vox Machina were the best of his life, because they're his best friends and his family and he loved being with them. At the end of their conversation, Vax and Scanlan tell each other that they love each other.
• Pike finds Grog in the war room in Scanlan's mansion and they talk about how upset they are with Scanlan, Grog especially feeling like he's been replaced, right down to Lionel taking Grog's former sleeping spot in the sandpit. Pike suggests making a blanket fort by the fireplace, to make something new for themselves.
• Crosses over with Funny: Scanlan's apology to Grog comes in the form of a promissory note:-
  Ashley/Pike: [reading the note for Grog] "All who read this, let it be known, by order of Aes Adon—" it's a stupid name, Scanlan. But it's fine.
  Sam/Scanlan: It's Elvish.
  Liam/Vax: It's a stupid name.
  Ashley/Pike: "AKA the Meat Man, AKA Vicoul the Vicious, AKA Reddish the Bold, AKA the Little Paws, AKA François Bertrand Jean-Luc Australia, be aware that the bearer of this note, Grog Strongjaw, shall be entitled to any libation of his choosing at any pub, tavern, restaurant, inn, alehouse, brewery, or house of lady favors within the city limits of Ank'Harel. He shall be allowed to drink until drunk, and enjoy no molestation by any employee of said establishment, unless he requests it. All charges and bills related to his drinking, cavorting, or violent behavior resulting from drunkenness, shall be forwarded to the Meat Man for timely payment in full. By complying with this request, you are hereby under the protection of the Meat Man, and shall receive all the benefits and goodwill accompanying such association. The Meat Man always remembers. Sincerely, Aes Adon."
  Travis/Grog: [still pouting, tucks the note in his pocket] Probably best to test it out. See if it's even worth anything.

Episode 101: Thar Amphala

• Vex doesn't know what to give Tary as a parting gift, and Tary asks if she can just rip up that check he wrote her when they first met. Vex replies that she ripped it up about two weeks after he moved into her house.
• Doubling as an Awesome moment, Keyleth grabs Vax and urges him to stay alive while they are in the Shadowfell. And with that, she casts Foresight on him, a 9th-level spell that grants advantage on everything.

Episode 103: The Fate-Touched

• The trees of the Shademirk - seemingly remembering Vox Machina's role in curing the corruption that afflicted them - lower their branches and allow them to shelter in their boughs overnight. It is a most welcome respite after the trauma of the previous battle: though they had to flee from one villain, this area has healed from the debasement caused by one that they previously defeated, and repays their kindness.
• The sequence of the group reacting to the return of Vax from the dead runs the gamut of emotions, but their eventual relief that he is - for now - still alive eventually wins out.
  • Pike, being the one to take the last watch as the group rested, is the first to see Vax, naked and confused, wander into the clearing where they are camped. She takes the whole thing surprisingly well, and Team Mom that she is, helps calm the high emotions of the group as they make sense of what has happened and treats Vax very gently as they determine the nature of his resurrection. Their first words to each other as they realise who each other is also happen to be their nicknames for one another, making an already poignant moment even more adorable.
  Liam/Vax: ... Pickle?
  Ashley/Pike: Stringbean?
  Liam/Vax: ... Hi.
  Ashley/Pike: Hi.
  • Percy, who is rightfully cautious that this is too good to be true and instructs Vex and Keyleth to keep their distance until Pike has confirmed that Vax is not a danger to them, upon seeing him not react to the Turn Undead spell, lets out a massive sigh of relief, tells the girls to go to him, and collapses on the ground. Given his experience with his sister being turned against him by the Briarwoods, his concerns for the safety of the group and Vex and Keyleth in particular were not without merit, and both he and Vax understand one another enough for it not to be an issue between them.
  • Scanlan, as one of the last to wake due to his lower perception, initially can only look in puzzlement at the pouch of ashes he had recovered, unable to figure out how Vax is still alive, but on learning the ramifications of his deal with the Raven Queen, tells him he made a very brave choice, one he's not sure he would have made, and that he's glad Vax chose to come back to them.
• In Vasselheim, Grog wants to go pay a visit to the Lord of the Quad Roads, the former peasant he'd granted Wishes via the Deck of Many Things, and the group thinks he should have a chaperone; the recently resurrected Vax drops the hint to Scanlan that this is his chance to reconnect with him, and Grog accepts.

Episode 104: Elysium

• The audience with Sarenrae is full of heartwarming moments:
  • Sarenrae has been diminished as a deity since the Calamity, and the party sees this reflected in the damaged structures on their way to the palace. This changed recently. Pike's work on restoring her temple in Vesshelheim is restoring both her faithful and she herself.
  • Pike gets to meet her deity in person, who is full of praise for her. Unlike with Pelor below, there is no worthiness challenge. Sarenrae grants Pike her blessing just for coming. Even more heartwarming, the goddess shows her cleric a vision of all the faithful who have come before her living on the Island of Renewal, and says that Pike will join them eventually. This is basically assuring Pike of her place in heaven.
  • Sarenrae does not ignore the party for Pike. She tells Scanlan that she has heard his prayers, when he was sincere, and this clearly means a great deal to him. Note that faith was required to reach Sarenrae's palace, and only Pike and Scanlan were able to achieve this unaided.
• During Vex's trial to become the champion of Pelor...
  • Scanlan uses True Polymorph, a 9th-level spell, to turn her into a dragon, which is absolutely vital to her being able to reach her goal.
  • Percy uses an Action Suge to take a bunch of Wing Shots at the planetars, and he drops two of them. Only one of them is able to harass Vex for much of the trial.
• Pelor asks the rest of Vox Machina what Vex's best qualities are. Especially heartwarming are Scanlan's ("She's the most perfect of us"), Percy's ("She is my heart and my judgment and the future that I have chosen [...] she is the one I have betrothed to"), and Vax's ("She's every hope I have"). Pelor accepts Vex without further question, saying "There is hope".
• After the consecration is complete, Percy says that the Whitestone flag needs to be updated now, because there is a sixth champion of Pelor. He just sounds so proud.

Episode 105: The Fear of Isolation

• See the entry for what Percy said in Episode 104? Turns out that Percy and Vex went and eloped at some point, probably during the timeskip between Episodes 94 and 95. It just shows how much the two of them care for each other, and how their relationship has blossomed over the course of the filmed portion of the campaign.
• Percy's excitement over Ioun's library is just plain adorable and shows us a side of Percy we usually don't see. We totally know where Percy's soul is going to end up when he dies.
  • Also, his interpretation of it:
    Percy: It all matters.

Episode 106: The Endless Atheneum

• Just as Scanlan aided Vex in her trial with Pelor, Vex is of vital aid to Scanlan in his trial with Ioun, using her broom to fly him through the sea of shelves to get to what he needs in time.

Episode 107: Scaldseat

• Despite a seemingly irreversible fate to die once Vecna is defeated, Vax and Keyleth reflect on what has happened between them.
  Vax: I'm grateful for the time I have left to look on you. And I’m grateful to fight for your future. And I’m grateful for that chance you took on me.
  Keyleth: I wouldn’t take it back. You taught me how to take chances. [...] I’m grateful for you. And I always will be.
• In the same conversation, when Keyleth fears that one day she will eventually forget the name "Vox Machina":
  Vax: I don’t believe that will happen. You’re going to live a long life. And you will love again. And you will lead. And you will be loved because who cannot love you?
  Keyleth: I can name a few.
  Vax: No one of any worth.
• It's mostly played for Sickeningly Sweethearts (especially since it turns out she can give it to more than one person), but Vex and Percy try to get each other to take one of Pike's Death Ward spells for protection.
  Vex: You.
  Percy: You.
  Scanlan: Oh god, just kiss already!
  Taliesin: Oh, we do.
  Sam: Oh God, no! They do.

Episode 109: The Ominous March (LIVE)

• Crosses over with Funny: after pulling off their love potion prank on Scanlan together, Vax finally apologizes to Grog for shaving off half of his beard, 85 episodes after it happened.
  Liam/Vax: As everybody's trundling up the stairs, I catch Grog alone for a second and say: "Let this stand as a testament to how much I love you. I'm sorry that I shaved your beard."
  Travis/Grog: [deadpan] Thank you. I don't have to kill you now.
  Liam/Vax: I give him a little pinch on the cheek. "Oh, Grog, you couldn't if you tried. Now. Good night, big guy."
  Travis/Grog: Night.
• Keyleth's Adorkable Inspiring Leader speech to the group as they head to the final battle. It starts off with her fumbling for words, then Marisha grabbing the mic and saying (as Keyleth) that she needs a moment to come up an inspiring speech, because she is not as witty as Scanlan (i.e. Sam) or capable of spontaneous lyrics in front of thousands of people, and then goes on from there.
• The brief softness in Allura's voice, despite the situation, as she calls Kima "my lady".

Episode 111: Shadows of Thomara

• Matt is dealing with some back pain, which makes it harder for him to move pieces around the battle map; Marisha at one point says a quiet "Sweetheart..." in concern.

Episode 112: Dark Dealings

• Vex and Keyleth sobbing and hugging each other in relief after being separated by Planes and unable to communicate or know where the other was.
• Keyleth kissing Vax goodbye when he agrees to let Artagan (hopefully temporarily) strangle him to death.

Episode 113: The Final Ascent

• Vax reminds Percy that their last words tomorrow have to be "indignant and irritated".
  Percy: I've already planned them out.
  Vax: Goodnight, brother.
  Percy: Goodnight, brother.
• Liam/Vax holding Laura/Vex in relief and for comfort as Gilmore, Kaylie, and Cassandra - the three Remnants the twins killed/wounded - are saved.

Episode 114: Vecna, The Ascended

• Right before the fight, Vax grabs Keyleth to quickly give her what may be their last kiss.
• Crossing over with Tear Jerker, Sam reveals that he had been saving his 9th level spell to Wish Vax back once Vecna was defeated... moments after using said 9th level spell slot to Counterspell Vecna's 7th level Teleport spell. To emphasize, Scanlan spent the first half of the fight knocking on death's door. He could have easily used Wish to heal himself and the party back to full, but he put himself at risk just for the chance to keep his friend alive.
• The battle ends with winged Vax and planetar!Keyleth wrapped around Scanlan, the former shielding him from Vecna and the latter reading over his shoulder, in what's described as a "winged spooning circle".
• Vex's last actions of the battle are to heal Percy, and then to simply hold his hand, knowing they've done all they can and now can only watch.
• The miniature for Vecna (Nagash, Supreme Lord of the Undead for those wondering) was a gift from a critter. To represent the biggest baddest bad of the entire campaign, Matt used a gift from a fan.

Episode 115: The Chapter Closes

• Velora is revived successfully. Unlike episode 44, this time Kashaw shows no hesitation in trying to bring her back.
• Zahra and Kash both survive as well, and Zahra's pregnant.
• Keyleth gives a Rousing Speech to the survivors of Vasselheim, praising them for their actions in the final conflict, and that Vox Machina will continue to stand by them until the end of their days. A very poignant moment for Keyleth considering how she started out and now becoming the archdruid she was destined to be.
• Vax multiclassed into Druid for his final level, a representation of his bond with Keyleth.
• As Vax says his final goodbyes to the group as a whole, he calls them by their name. No, not Vox Machina: The name they went by in the years before the stream started.
  Vax: S.H.I.T.s...Thank you. How lucky I have been to have had all of you...how lucky indeed.
  • During this, the Raven Queen is sympathetic to the loss the group will be feeling and allows Vax as long as he needs to say goodbye. The only time she acts coldly at all is when Vex and Keyleth try to convince her to allow Vax to live longer.
    Raven Queen: I understand selfishness. I understand the impulse of mortality...but we made a deal. With power comes a price.
• After failing to invoke his contract with Ipkesh in a last-ditch attempt to try to save Vax at the expense of himself, Percy begins to confront the sheer grief he's been avoiding all along. To that end, he gives the contract to Pike and asks her to keep it far from him, willingly ceding control to someone else and finally, finally beginning to move forward.
• Pike builds an appropriately well-hidden memorial chair for Vax out in the forest of Whitestone.
• The group gets to hang out with Allura & Kima one last time, and Allura, in particular, is happier and more relaxed than we've ever seen her. The two of them and Vox Machina drink a toast to Vax before parting ways.
• Vex sends Trinket to be with Keyleth the first night after the Raven Queen finally comes to take Vax to the afterlife. Keyleth just cries into his fur into she falls asleep.
  • Not only is Percy the one to suggest Vex do this, he also comforts Keyleth after everything's dealt with.
    Percy: Faithless to the end.
    Keyleth: Thank you Percy. You taught me just the right amount of how to be a shithead.
• Scanlan and Pike finally get together and start dating.
• The epilogue:
  • Scanlan writes a book that, aside from some embellishments, chronicles the adventures of Vox Machina. He also ensures that Kaylie is given the absolute best education.
  • Pike continues to go on adventures with Grog, and she proposes to Scanlan. With Grog's permission, Scanlan accepts her proposal and the two get married. All of them start living in the late Wilhand's house in Westruun.
  • In Taryon's epilogue, not only do the Darringtons become a happy family with a reputation for charity, but Tary reunites with his old tutor and first love Lawrence, who goes on to join the Darrington Brigade.
  • Percy and Vex go on to have at least five children, to rebuild the families they've lost, though Liam points out "That's at least three sets of twins." Vex and Percy also encourage Cassandra to let go of her dark past and the three of them share a strong family bond. Finally, Percy builds a clock tower that plays the story of Vox Machina once a year and serves as his magnum opus. He and Vex make a festival out of it, which invites tinkerers to come and share ideas. A statue of Trinket is also made.
  Taliesin: I will be content with building a clock tower and never making another weapon again.
  • Grog decides to look for the next new challenge by choosing to expand his mind, and he hires the potions merchant from Vasselheim to be his tutor and shows interest in the library.
  • Despite all of the hardships she endured from an unforgiving world, Keyleth tells her father that she still appreciates all the good things it had to offer. And then, starting on the thirteenth day of the tenth month (The Night of Ascension, the Raven Queen's holy day), a larger-than-normal raven companion comes to see her every day, implying that Vax is watching over her through the raven. And at the end of her long life, she eventually becomes one with the Raven Tree she grew, keeping in line with one of the possible futures in her vision, and she reunites with Vax in the afterlife.
• The first words out of Sam and Travis' mouths once Matt closes the campaign.
  Sam: What a nice story.
  Travis: Let's do it again.