Recap / Critical Role 106 The Endless Atheneeum

Volume VIII
The End of Vox Machina, Episode 7:

The Endless Atheneeum

"The Endless Atheneeum" is the seventh episode of Chapter 8, The End of Vox Machina.

Starring:

• Liam O'Brien as Vax'ildan ^note Half-Elf Rogue (Assassin)/Paladin (Oath of Vengeance)
• Laura Bailey as Vex'ahlia ^note Half-Elf Ranger (Beast Master)/Rogue (Assassin)
• Ashley Johnson as Pike Trickfoot ^note Gnome Cleric (War Domain)
• Taliesin Jaffe as Percival de Rolo ^note Human Fighter (Gunslinger)
• Marisha Ray as Keyleth ^note Half-Elf Druid (Circle of the Moon)
• Sam Riegel as Scanlan Shorthalt ^note Gnome Bard (College of Lore)
• Travis Willingham as Grog Strongjaw ^note Goliath Barbarian (Path of the Berserker)/Fighter (Battle Master)

And

• Matthew Mercer as the Dungeon Master

Guest starring:

• Darin De Paul as Sprigg ^note Gnome Rogue (Arcane Trickster)

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Tropes in this episode:

• Actually Pretty Funny: Sprigg's joke to Ioun:
  Sprigg: Knock knock?
  Ioun: Who's there?
  Sprigg: You'd know.
• Blank Book: The Tome of Isolation turns out to be one. Text only appears when magic of a high-enough level is cast on it.
• Brick Joke: As Vox Machina prepares to leave the Atheneeum, Sprigg starts devising a mnemonic device so he and Ioun can capture one of the library's spectral servants—just in case.
  Ioun: [smiling] This is going to be a very interesting conversation to have.
• The Chosen One: Scanlan emerges as Ioun's.
• "Flowers for Algernon" Syndrome: Ioun gives Grog and Percy the knowledge required to forge the prime trammels, but with the caveat that the knowledge will be lost to them when the forging is complete.
• Great Big Library of Everything: The Atheneeum, of course, with hundreds of thousands of books. Scanlan has to find one specific book to earn Ioun's favor.
• How Do I Shot Web?: Ioun says that despite Vecna's ascension, Vox Machina may still have enough time to stop him as he is new to his godly powers.
• I Choose to Stay: Sprigg stays in the Atheneeum with Ioun to help her recover.
• I'm Having Soul Pains: Ioun is still recovering from her wounds from battling Tharizdun, and using her divine power takes a notable amount of effort.
• Mass "Oh, Crap!":
  • Ioun, Sprigg, and Vox Machina when Ioun realizes that Vecna has ascended to godhood.
  • Vox Machina, again, when Vecna appears to them in the ruins of Sprigg's house.
• Mr. Exposition: Ioun lays out what history of Vecna she knows to Vox Machina.
• Needle in a Stack of Needles: To earn Ioun's blessing, Scanlan has to find one book in the enormous library.
• Shout-Out:
  • Scanlan's songs, as usual; he pulls from, among others, Reading Rainbow, Hamilton, Les Misérables, and Mike Posner.
  • Sprigg quotes the Doctor, saying "We're all stories in the end—just make sure it's a good one."
  • As Vex and Scanlan race back through the library to reach Ioun, Matt at one point compares the broom's maneuvering through the bookcases to the Death Star run in A New Hope.
• Third Eye: Ioun has one, and Scanlan gains one with her blessing.
• Timed Mission: To earn Ioun's blessing, Scanlan is given one hour to find a tome needed to seal Vecna away and present it to Ioun.
• Wham Line: "...And then there was one more. The ritual is complete. I can sense his ascension."

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