Grog, Pike, and Scanlan journey to Westruun, a city under siege by the half-giants of the Herd of Storms, led by Grog's violent uncle Kevdak — and now forced to work under Umbrasyl of the Chroma Conclave. With Kevdak in possession of one of the Vestiges, the Titanstone Knuckles, it will take cunning and bravery for our heroes to take their prize and save the city.
Tropes
- Apologetic Attacker: Teenaged Grog apologized to Zanror for knocking him out to save Wilhand.
- Asskicking Leads to Leadership: When Zanror begins arguing against his father's recent decisions and brashly labels him "weak" Kevdak responds by pummelling him bloody.
- Bad Boss: Kevdak's reputation among the Herd took a big hit when he started serving Umbrasyl, with some — including his own son, Zanror — questioning his leadership. Such questions are met with brutal beatings.
- Broken Tears: Teenaged Grog sheds a tear after Kevdak banishes him from the Herd and leaves him to die in the cold.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: Kevdak excels at dishing these out to noncompliant followers.
- First teenaged Grog in flashbacks after the latter refuses to obey him.
- Then his own son Zanror, thrashing him near dead as a show of dominance to the other Herd members.
- Even Evil Has Standards: Frigidly staunch Social Darwinist that he is, even Kevdak can't stand the similarly minded Umbrasyl, his face twitching at the sight of the dragon fatally squirting acid onto one of his men, a subtle indication of fear and disgust.
- In Grog's flashbacks Kevdak is outraged that his nephew would turn against family for the sake of defending an "insect" like Wilhand.
- Even Zanror couldn't bear to watch the brutal beating Kevdak gave to Grog.
- Hypocrite: Kevdak is outraged that Grog would turn against his cousin but had no remorses about killing his nephew.
- Meaningful Echo: When Grog makes the decision to confront Kevdak, their conversation is a near-recreation of Pike's temporary farewell to Vox Machina. "... but what if I need you?"
- Moment Killer: Scanlan does this to himself when Pike expresses admiration for the way he's been caring for Grog by responding with a crude come-on that disgusts her.
- Mythology Gag:
- Grog notes when Pike suggest sneaking that her armor "is not the quietest." In the tabletop, Ashley playing Pike was known for failing stealth checks thanks to her heavy armor. Ironically, Grog says it when Pike is just in her gambeson, not fully armored up.
- When Grog recounts how he came to meet Wilhand and Pike, Pike is shown in the flashback as having black hair and missing the scar she has across her eye in the present day. Pike originally had dark hair at the beginning of the campaign, before the Critical Role series started streaming: it turned white after she was brutally killed and subsequently resurrected.
- My Species Doth Protest Too Much: Grog may be an enthusiastic Blood Knight, but he's still decidedly more noble than other half-giants who slaughter indiscriminately and sneer at those weaker than themselves. This abnormally kind nature ultimately lead to a Heel–Face Turn, much to his uncle's scornful revulsion.
- No-Gear Level: Scanlan infiltrates Westruun with nothing but his Scanbo beret. He has to borrow a flute from Kaylie in order to use his bard magic.
- No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: Grog spent his youth as an unrepentant murderer and raider for the Herd. The one time he showed mercy in sparing Wilhand, he was beaten nearly to death and banished.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Grog is deadly serious as he tells the events that led to him meeting Pike and Wilhand, a far cry from the Goliath's normal personality out of battle.
- Relative Button: Kevdak presses Grog's when he insultingly compares him to his "weak" father, pissing off Grog so much he jolts up and strikes Kevdak in the face, costing him his right eye.
- Token Heroic Orc: Discussed: Even though he is clearly an ally of Scanlan and Pike, the other townsfolk of Westruun are frightened of Grog due to him being a half-giant like the other members of the Herd. This is what prompts Grog to make a stand against Kevdak.
