04x03 - The Coronation

[bunniefuu]

[atmospheric music playing]

[Korrin] This is it.

Coronation day.

If anyone was meant to don
the Mantle of the Tempest,

it's your daughter.

I cannot wait to see her shine.

[birds calling]

[guard] Weapons, please.

[Percy] Of course.

As excited as I am to see our friends,

this event still feels very Whitestone-y.

[sighs] At least in Zephrah,
we're not the hosts.

For once, we can relax.

If you mean get shitfaced,
I am right there with you, darling.

[Percy laughs] Remember, though.

No talk of orbs till we know more.

For once, I don't want to be
this party's pooper.

[Grog groans in frustration]

Dis robe's itchin' ma nips.
Is the ceremony almost over?

[sighs] Grog, it hasn't even started.

[annoyed groan, gasps]
Oh, hey! It's Vex and Percy.

Guys! Over here!

Oh, man. Wait till they hear
about the flesh-eatin' gas

and that scary priestess. [chuckles]

Just like the old days.

Uh, well, maybe we hold off on all that.

I mean, this is a big step for Keyleth,

and she may not want to go back
to the old days.

None of them may want to.

It's my honor to carry on
this hallowed Ashari tradition.

"H-Hollowed"? No, "hallowed."

[groans in frustration]
What does "hallowed" even mean?

"Really great tradition"?
[frustrated sigh]

You've bested
far deadlier challenges, Kiki.

Everything's going to be fine.

Oh! "Fine."
"This really fine Ashari tradition." Yes.

[chuckles] I'll leave you to it.

Really not the best time for a chat.

[eerie music playing]

Wait. What is this?

[distant screaming]

No!

What's happening to them?

[Matron of Ravens] Since the day
you first called on me, Champion,

I have been preparing you
for what now begins.

Is this about the ceremony?
Is Keyleth in danger?

[Matron of Ravens] Everyone is in danger.
Soon, your realm will be...

[Vax screams]

[gasps in fear]

[shuddering breaths]

Will be what?

[suspenseful music playing]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

- Hey, look, everybody's small still.
- [laughter]
- Hey, guys.

[laughs] Look at us, together again.

Oh, man. How's Whitestone?

Must be nice not dealing with,
you know, monsters and-and stuff.

- [chuckles] Actually--
- It's, uh, wonderful.

Uh, what sort of scrapes are you and Grog
getting into on the road?

You know... [stammers]
...nothing too exciting.

Just carousing with the common folk.

Basic sword-for-hire stuff.

Whatchu talkin' about, Pikey? We just got
the sh*t beat out of us by this nun who--

Owed us money for that beer tab.
I'm sure Lord and Lady Whitestone

don't want to hear
about our lowly barroom brawls.

- Oh... right.
- [chuckles conspiratorially]

[tense chuckle]

- Mm-hmm.
- Mm. Mm.

[chuckles awkwardly]
So... you wear shirts now.

[Grog] Um... [clears throat]

- Is it just me, or--
- No, no, this is awkward as hell.

I'll, um, be right back.

And then I'm supposed to do the four
elements ritual, which is like... [sighs]

it's actually super tricksy,
but if I can just get through that, then

it's just the speech, which, bleuuch.

- [ominous music playing]
- [Vax] Hmm?

- Vax? Are you listening?
- All right.

[chuckles in surprise] It's been a while,

but I assumed you'd see
the family resemblance.

- Vex'ahlia.
- You came!

Wouldn't miss it for the world.

Why is he so jumpy?

Oh, I just, um, thought I saw something.
A-A premonition.

Uh, wait, is this a Matron thing?

Let me guess, a vague portent of doom
with little to no explanation?

Well... [sighs] ...yes, but, uh...

But nothing. This is Keyleth's big day.

You've got the combined might
of the Ashari

plus m*therf*cking
Vox Machina in attendance.

- Don't be nervous. We've got you.
- [door opens]

[Korrin] Keyleth.

We're ready.

It's good to see you, Stubby.

You too, brother.

[dramatic, majestic music playing]

[determined sigh]

Hah!

[panting]

♪ ♪

[huffs]

[shouts]

- [crowd cheering]
- [applause]

[Korrin] Headmasters,
do you recognize Keyleth of the Air Ashari

as our people's representative?

[headmasters] We do.

And do you, Ashari, recognize
your new Voice of the Tempest?

- [crowd cheering]
- Hail the tempest!

- [cheers]
- That's right!

- What a sexy voice!
- f*ck yeah, Kiki!

[Pike] Oh, yeah! You earned that sh*t!

[majestic music playing]

My wife, Vilya, set out on her Aramenté
when Keyleth was little,

but fate had other plans.

Today, her destiny lives on
in our daughter.

Our ancestors saw value in finding
a single voice to speak for the many.

But my time with Vox Machina
taught me that

the collective is mightier
than any individual.

The Ashari may be four tribes,

but we are one people,
and all our voices must be heard.

I am honored
to carry on this fine tradition

the Ashari have kept for a minimum.

Millennium, I meant millennium.

Anyway, um, let's eat.

- [cheering]
- [Keyleth laughs awkwardly] Woo.

Congratulations again.
Korrin, you must be so proud.

You're too kind. Winds watch you.

Well, I did a loop,
and I cannot find Scanlan anywhere.

They definitely invited him, right?

Hmm... Well, maybe he's just late?

Maybe he didn't want to come.

Well, I just mean,
a lot can happen in a year.

I mean, you guys seem so happy.

Maybe he's happy, too,
just somewhere else.

And you, Pike? Are you happy?

Well, I am now.

A toast.

To Kiki, the nature girl
who brought us all--

- Together again! [laughs]
- Seriously?

How did you even get here?

A temerous tale for the telling,
let me tell you.

Doty, take this down.

- No.
- Please stop.

Take it down several notches.

Ah, trying to remain spoiler-free?

Okay, then let's skip to the toast.

Ah. To Vox Machina. My people.

Spike, Greg, Antler Queen,
the little elf twins,

Percival Frederickstein
von Musel Klossowski de Rolo III,

and I, Taryon Darrington,
Defenders of the Realm. Huzzah!

[Doty] Tary.

[laughs] That is potent.

I loathe this man.

Who the f*ck...?

I should make sure
they're on the guest list.

Well, the guys seem to know him.

Wait, is he on the team now?

Did they replace us already?

Is what the old Keyleth would say,
not the new, kickass leader Kiki.

And as Voice of the Tempest, I order us
to stop worrying and enjoy ourselves.

[overlapping nervous chatter]

[Necro-Ninja] Congratulations,
Voice of the Tempest.

[suspenseful music playing]

And to the Ashari leaders.

[crowd gasps]

For you will be the first pillar
of the Old Order to fall.

Oh, gods. The Matron was right.

[Necro-Ninja] You pound
the drum of tradition to hold onto power,

then surrender that power to fate.

Letting "heroes" determine
whether you live or die.

Groveling before the whims of nature.

[Cerkonos shouts]

You dare insult the Ashari!

[dramatic music playing]

You believe you crowned
a new leader today,

but the Children of Truth
see her for what she is,

another blind follower.

[shouts]

[screams in pain]

[crowd gasps in shock]

- [woman screams]
- Cerkonos!

The old ways must die,

that we may seize control of our destiny.

[crowd screaming]

[cries out in effort]

These vines won't last long.
We've got to get up there.

No. We can handle this, Keyleth.

You're the Voice of the Tempest now.
You're too important.

I am also a member of Vox Machina,
and we don't run.

Tell the Fire warriors
to lead the counter-attack.

Earth and Wind, provide defense

while the Water Ashari
help the wounded escape.

- But you need--
- The Tempest has spoken.

[rousing music playing]

[crowd screaming]

- Holy sh*t, am I glad to see you guys.
- Who the f*ck are these people?

If the Matron is to be believed,
no one good.

You had a vision about this?

Any other prophecies
you want to fill us in on?

Well, they look kinda like dat priest lady
who wouldn't stay dead.

[Percy] Wait, what did you say?

In Whitestone, we fought
a nasty bugger who kept reviving, too.

Well, why didn't you tell us?

I was waiting till we knew more.
What's your excuse?

Well, I was waiting for the right time.

[groans in frustration]
Guys, are we gonna argue...

or are we gonna f*ck sh*t up?

About time.

- Let's go!
- [Percy] I'll fetch the weapons.

Wait for me, Sir Percival.

♪ ♪

[grunts]

You've made a grievous mistake today.

[shouting with effort]

Looks like you've refined
your table manners, Stubby.

And you're still eating with your hands.

[groans]

Eh, just didn't have the right salad fork.

Are you two related?

- How could you tell?
- Normally, people don't banter this much.

[Taryon] De Rolo's coat flaps in the wind

as he happily hurls himself into peril,

confident that his daring and handsome
comrade-in-arms will aid him.

No one asked for your aid.

Of course not. For Taryon Darrington
needs no reason to be a hero.

He just is one.

[strains]

Locked. I don't suppose you have
a gem that could get us in?

No. I have many!

But which would be most dramatic?

Can't believe I'm saying this,
but I miss Scanlan.

[Taryon] En garde!

[people screaming]

[exciting, ominous music playing]

- [whimpers]
- Get the f*ck away from him!

Why are you hurting these people?

Not hurting. Helping.

Like you.

What the...?

Everyone out. Move.

[dramatic music playing]

[grunts with effort]

[tense music playing]

[cries out in pain]

Hey, helmet hair!

Incoming!

[uneasy, suspenseful music playing]

Aw. Is that it?

[growls]

Goodie.

[Taryon] Perhaps... No. Mm-mm.

Ah, maybe. Aha! [sighs] Eh. Mm-mm.

Just pick one!

Ah! The Battering Ram,
which is a bit of a pun, because--

Do it, you gold-plated git!

[ram bleats]

[light-hearted music playing]

[laughs triumphantly]

- [Percy] "Battering Ram." I get it.
- [ram bleats]

Now, is it the boy elf or the girl elf
that throws the daggers?

[annoyed grumble]

[whimpers]

[tense, dramatic music playing]

Hand over the child.

There's no way you survive this.

We do not fear death.

- [screaming]
- No!

[confused gasps]

Are you okay?

Survival is clearly not part
of their goal, so what are they after?

Only one way to find out.

[intense music playing]

[grunts]

You missed me, didn't you, brother?

Not as much as you missed me.

Ah, sh*t, we do banter a lot.

- [Eagle-Keyleth screeches]
- [Vax] Damn it. Where is she going?

[tense, dramatic music playing]

[Keyleth] Hey.

[Necro-Ninja] What wise words does
the Voice of the Tempest wish to share?

How about "surrender or die"?

[intense music playing]

[screams]

[gasps]

[screams]

[Necro-Ninja] Aren't you sick of this?

The endless cycle,
the meaningless traditions

- chaining you to the past.
- [cries out]

You have the power to change things.

You need not sacrifice in vain,

- as your mother did.
- [coughs]

My mother died protecting
the ones she loved.

Keyleth!

[Necro-Ninja] But will they
do the same for you?

[Vax] Kiki!

[Necro-Ninja] Let's find out.

No! Stay away from him!

[cries out in pain]

[dramatic music playing]

[panting, groans in pain]

- I got you.
- Thank you, child.

[Grog screams]

[tense music playing]

Oh, no. Grog.

Go. I'll be fine.

[grunting in pain]

[roars]

[screams in pain]

[groans] Almost had him.

[straining] I know you did, buddies.

Grog!

Had enough?

[Vex] Guess who finally showed up
with our party favors.

- Me!
- [Doty] Tary!

[exciting music playing]

Cover me.

[Taryon] One for you, and another for you,
and, oh, I didn't forget about you.

[coughing]

Truly the tides had turned,
thanks to that persistent portmanteau,

Taryval DeRollington.

Absolutely not. Nice work, though.

[growls]

[intense music playing]

Oh, yeah. Good as new.

[shouts]

Who's the big one now?

[Knight growls]

[Grog] Uh-oh.

[suspenseful music playing]

- [Vax crying out in pain]
- [gasping]

[gasps, coughs]

Vax?

[panting]

Vax!

I'm here.

Are you okay?
I thought she was coming after you.

I'm fine. We're fine.

The guests are clear, Tempest.

And the assassins are on the ropes.

The Matron's warning was averted.

When that freakshow started talking
about sacrificing loved ones, I thought...

Wait.

Where's my father?

- [Korrin screams in pain]
- No! Dad!

Tempest, wait!

[Necro-Ninja] This realm is built

- on hollow institutions...
- No.

[Necro-Ninja] ...would-be saviors,

and false gods.

Today, we bestow on you
a great gift, Ashari,

the ability to see the truth.

[screaming in agony]

- Dad!
- No!

[Necro-Ninja] The Ashari are part
of a flawed system

that must die and be reborn.

[cries out in pain]

[grunts in surprise] A new champion?

Yah!

Another time, then.

Dad!

Okay, ugly, let's finish this.

Huh?

Oh, f*ck. Oh, thank the gods.

[straining]

[g*n c*ck]

Answers. Now.

What was your motive?
Who do you work for?

We are his blood.

Wait!

- [Doty] Tary...
- Perhaps we'll just edit this part out.

No. No, no, no, no, no.

I'm so sorry, I...
I can't bring his eyes back.

[crying]

What the f*ck just happened?

Whoever these "Children of Truth" are,

I'd wager Pike's priestess, Vex's beast

and his "master" are part of it, too.

But to what end? Where did they come from?
Why did they retreat?

Why blind the Ashari leaders
instead of k*lling them?

We've got nothing close to a real lead.

[clears throat] Not so.

Shadowstone.

An extremely rare gemstone
only found in the mines near Deastok.

And Deastok is what now?

Well... 'tis my home.

Then that's where we start.

And we don't stop
until every last one of 'em pays.

Matron, if that was what
you were preparing me for,

you could've been a bit more specific.

[dramatic music playing]

[Necro-Ninja] The Matron of Ravens
has chosen a new champion.

We must act now.

[delicate, melancholy music playing]

♪ ♪

Chirp.