04x02 - Trial by Water

[bunniefuu]

[grunts in exertion] Come on. Hold.

- Hold.
- [Vax laughs delightedly]

[whoops]

That all you got, ocean?

[whimpers]

- [screams] Oh, no, no, no. Watch out.
- [Vax cries out in shock]

Vax! [grunts]

[grunts, shouts]

- [sighs in relief, chuckles softly]
- I'm sorry. Are you okay?

Of course.

Sailing's quite the thrill. [gags]

Once you get past the urge to vomit.
What about you?

[sighs] It's like...

the other elements, I can sense.
They're a part of me.

But water...

[sighs] It doesn't want to be tamed.
[grunts in effort]

Oh, you'd think it would just
go with the flow.

- [chuckles softly]
- [grunts softly]

[sighs wearily]

Still.

What if I fail my water trial?

- My mother--
- You are not your mother.

You're the woman I love.

[gentle music playing]

- [groans in pain]
- Sorry. The blight.

- It's worse.
- No, it's fine.

Hey, hey, hey.

You always think of everyone else.
This is your time.

I know, but what if--

What if tomorrow

you'll be the m*therf*cking
Voice of the Tempest?

Look.

Vesrah.

[Keyleth] And the end of my Aramenté.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

[serene music playing]

And the trials begin.

- Headmaster Uvenda, winds watch you.
- You're late.

Okay, well, there was a storm,
and I had some trouble controlling--

Excuses won't help you survive.

I told you she hates me.

She's just trying to scare you.

[indistinct chatter]

[Uvenda] Welcome to Vesrah.
Preparations for your trial are underway.

And your valet can stay
in the servants' quarters.

Actually, this is Vax'ildan Vessar
of Syngorn.

My... second?

You get no second in your Aramenté.

You succeed or you fail.

Never mind, she's the worst.

[ominous music playing]

Interesting.

- I'm fine. Thanks for your concern.
- [sighs]

This creature, it's, uh...

- Disgusting?
- Unnatural.

I'll say. I had to k*ll it twice.

Undead? Well, that's very interesting.

Will you stop saying that.

[Percy] It's not only this monster.
The Orb misbehaved last night, too.

Between my Orb and your beast,

something is going on here.

Now, that is interesting.

- Told you.
- Also, I hate it.

I would suggest telling the others,

but they'll probably
think I'm being paranoid.

You are paranoid, darling.

When we learn more,
we'll tell them everything.

Everything?

Well... what they need to know.

Until then, no more talk of Vox Machina.

M'lord, m'lady,
you've a visitor from Vox Machina.

[Percy] It's been a bloody year.
They couldn't give a little notice?

[Vex] You know these people.
Planning has never been their forte.

- Huh?
- Huh?

Ah! You! Spectacles!

- [Percy] Who?
- And you, the little elf girl.

[Vex] Little what?

I'm sorry. Who are you?

Who am I? [chuckles]

'Tis I, Taryon Darrington,
Defender of Deastok,

newest and truest member of Vox Machina.
You're welcome.

[scoffs] The f*ck you are.

The f*ck I am. I come bearing a message

of some urgency from Spike and Greg.

Do you mean Pike and Grog?

I think I know the names
of my best friends. Thank you.

[scoffs]

- [Doty] Tary.
- [gasps in surprise]

Worry not! That is my biographer.

Perhaps I'll make the next model
less visually alarming.

Doty, take this down.

They stood in awe of the golden guardian,
weapons drawn.

Did they fear his majesty

- or was this a warrior's sign of respect?
- I'm going to k*ll Spike and Greg.

[gentle music playing]

Um...

So, do we knock or... [gasps]

do we gotta say a prayer first?

Sorry. [sighs] It's just weird.

The last time I was here, it was to...

reconnect with my faith.

Um, and now?

I just want some answers.

Pike Trickfoot. Oh!

Her blessings be upon us.

Her blessings be... [mumbles] upon us.

[chuckles awkwardly]

[vicar] High Priestess Talia
was the most devout

and powerful cleric I've ever met.

But this year, her daughter
fell quite ill and...

She couldn't heal her?

She tried every gift the Everlight gave.

Afterwards, she was inconsolable.

Retreated from her duties.

Exhibited bizarre behaviors.

Yeah, like un-breaking her neck?

[stammers] What?

Nothing. [sighs] Go on.

She would mutter to herself
as if speaking to someone.

When she disappeared last month,

I hoped it was as a pilgrimage

to seek the Everlight's warm embrace.

We kept her quarters
exactly as she left it,

out of respect.

Thanks for letting us look around.

I've heard of your great deeds, Pike.

I know the Everlight's faith in you
is not in vain.

For your trial, you will enter
the Water Plane to retrieve

the lodestone, the ore
that keeps the rift safely closed.

[pensive music playing]

Normally, we would perform
such a task with a team,

but you must use only what you've learned
on your Aramenté.

And hear this.

The Water Plane
is a place of sacred balance.

No matter what you encounter,

k*lling anything beyond the rift
will result

in instant failure.

But you said it was dangerous.

A true leader does not use violence

to solve every situation.

You'll need these to breathe.

I'll meet you below.

I've thought about my Aramenté
for so long.

But these days,
all I want is to be with you.

Maybe I'm too selfish to lead my people.

Is becoming the Voice of the Tempest

really more important
than finding you a cure?

Fighting your destiny
is like swimming against the current.

At some point, you have to let it take you
where you're meant to be.

And of anyone I've ever met,

you are meant to lead.

I... I can breathe.

And talk, apparently. [chuckles]

♪ ♪

[Uvenda] A word of warning.

I get it.
It's really hard and I'll probably fail.

You had best not.
Since the last solstice,

the rift has been unstable.

Whatever lays beyond
may try to enter our world.

[tense music playing]

[creatures vocalizing]

[gasps]

[booming voice] I recognize that essence.

[gasps] What the...

The lodestone.

[booming voice] Hopeful.

Powerful.

[echoing] Weak.

Like your mother.

A Kraken.

Books, scrolls, Everlight scripture...

Ooh, purple stuff.

This place is clean. Too clean.

[scoffs] Yeah. Don't you holy folks

have prayer booze stashed everywhere?

Come out, come out wherever you are.

[singsongy] Oh, booze?

Reveal your secrets to Grog.

There you are.

[gasps]

[eerie music playing]

Ooh, I knew it.

Come on, booze. [grunts in exertion]

Come to Papa Grog.

I can see you back there.

Don't need to be shy.

[grunting in pain]

Ha-ha! Pike?

[Pike groaning in pain]

- Pike!
- [bottle shatters]

Oh, sh*t.

Huh?

Ow. [winces] Ow!

[groaning in pain]

Uh, Pikey? Pikey, come on, wake up!

How do we get out of here?

[coughs]

[groans in pain]

You're always telling me to use my head.

Well, here it goes!

[grunts] Pikey?

Pike! Help! Help her!

[panting] Come on.

By the light...

Hey... [groans in pain]

Thanks for the tour. Ow.

[Taryon] The dauntless Darrington
rode to Whitestone.

Weary? Yes. Hungry? Ravenous.

Chafed? A gentleman never reveals.
But yes.

- Gods, man, get to the message.
- The message?

Oh, right. The message is...

in a subsequent volume.

- Doty, return to the Taryvan and fetch--
- [monstrous cries]

[gasps] What was that? Did you--

Me? Frankly, miss, I resent your--

Oh, shut up. And stay with the guards.

[suspenseful music playing]

[Vex] Seems we have a security problem.

[Percy] This smoke--

I doubt a severed head did all this.

Did you hear that?

- [creature growling]
- [Vex gasps]

And now there's this guy.

Who the hell might you be?

Shall we?

Thank you for finding

my lost pet.

- Nope. [grunts]
- Hello-- Oh, my!

[grunting]

You've got this. I-I'll just-- Oh!

[Beastmaster] Farewell.

[guard] What the...

Did he just... Oh. Oh, no.

[guard] Can you see?

[growling]

- [growls]
- [screams]

- Broomstick?
- Stairs.

Do wait.
"Defend Whitestone" is on my list.

[mysterious music playing]

Who are you? How do you know my mother?

[Kraken] Vilya came here

as you do now.

Alas,

she failed.

[Keyleth] You mean...

[Kraken] I sense your heartache.

Your caring.

Even so close to your goal,

your thoughts cling to your dying lover.

Vax? W-Wait, dying?

[Kraken] Worry not, for I can

help you save him

and fulfill your Aramenté.

[gasps]

- The lodestone--
- [Kraken] ...is yours.

I only ask that you allow me

beyond the rift,

to my rightful home.

[Keyleth] What? I-I can't.

This is my trial. I have to protect--

[Kraken] Your love grows
closer to death each day.

All I ask--

You ask too much.

If you won't give the lodestone,
I'll take it.

[Kraken] As if you could!

[dramatic music playing]

[Keyleth] The rift.

[Kraken bellows in pain]

[Kraken] Foolish Ashari.

You are weak

- like your mother,
- [crying out]

and now her fate shall be yours.

[exhales]

[grunts softly]

- [roaring]
- [people exclaiming]

Close it. Close it right now!

[Kraken roars]

Uh, is this part of the test?

Damn it. Protect the rift.

[Kraken] You cannot prevent
the inevitable.

[Keyleth] Watch your back.

But the trial. Your Aramenté.

Isn't worth it. I'm not letting
anyone else get hurt.

[guard coughs] Where is he?

Reform, my pet.

So you can take to the skies once more.

[intense music playing]

That energy. It's the same as the Orb.

Let us return to him.

- How?
- Questions later.

For now, we need to get closer.

[growls in pain]

- [grunts in exertion]
- Vex!

f*ck.

Oh, no, you don't.

Turn!

[gloomstalker shrieks]

[cries out in pain] Damn it.

Ugh. That sucked.

[intense music playing]

[Kraken growling]

[Kraken] The ocean is mine.

[Uvenda] Everyone, back!

- [groans]
- [screams]

Vax! [screams]

[groaning in pain]

[screams]

- [grunting]
- [Kraken] Your failure is complete.

Like your mother before you.

And like her,

you shall be forgotten.

[Keyleth shouts]

[majestic music playing]

[gasps] She's done it.

[Keyleth] My mother did not fail.

She fought for the people
and world she loved.

And live or die, if the Ashari prevail,

so will I.

[grunting, straining]

[Kraken] You cannot protect them all.

[Uvenda clears throat]

Keyleth.

I know you had quite a day,

but I'm afraid
we must discuss your trials.

You don't have to say it.
I didn't recover the lodestone.

No. You did not.

[Keyleth] Look,

if succeeding in my Aramenté

means losing people,

then I don't want to be
the Voice of the Tempest.

But that's not my problem,

it's yours.

Maybe you forgot
that our job is to protect.

You failed my mother, and for that,

- I forgive you.
- [gasps]

Because one trial does not define you

or her or me.

I don't need your approval
to know who I am.

I do not disagree.

But before you so rudely interrupted me,

what I was going to say was...

All hail the Voice of the Tempest.

[others]
All hail the Voice of the Tempest.

All hail.

[gentle music playing]

[Percy] Your hunt,

the Orb suddenly reactivating,
this beast-person...

Maybe it's a complete
and utter coincidence?

[scoffs] We're not lucky enough for that.

Something sinister is at play.

We just can't see it yet.

- As I said before,
- Ugh.

I came bearing a message,
which, if I'm being honest,

I've forgotten the details of.

May I k*ll him?

But the gist was, your pals and I

waged battle against someone who,

like this animal fellow,
was quite hard to put down.

Uh, which means?

Which means this chapter of my book

ends in a cliff-hanger.

Doty, take this down.

Are these invincible villains related?

Can Four Eyes solve his orb conundrum?

Will Little Elf Girl fall in love with me,
like so many maidens before?

You may k*ll him now.

Ma'am, an invitation arrived.

It's from Keyleth,

for her coronation in Zephrah.

She did it. She finished her Aramenté.

[Percy] Well then,

it appears we're in
for quite a celebration.

[ominous music playing]

[energetic music playing]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Chirp.