Delilah Briarwood

Delilah Briarwood
Fan art of Delilah Briarwood, by Nicklas Andersson.
Screenshot of Delilah Briarwood from "The Legend of the Cast of The Legend of Vox Machina".
Type	NPC
Actor	Matthew Mercer (Critical Role) Grey Griffin (The Legend of Vox Machina/What Doesn't Break)
Character Information
Name	Delilah Briarwood
Pronouns	she/her
Also known as	Lady Briarwood D (by Laudna) Delaudna (by Bells Hells, while possessing Laudna)
Creature type	Humanoid
Race	Human
Class	Wizard (School of Necromancy)
Languages	Common
Places	Wildemount (originally) Whitestone (after assassinating the de Rolos) Shadow Realm (as a warlock patron) Pinion of Service (currently)
Family	Sylas Briarwood (husband)
Connections	Remnants Anna Ripley (hired to construct the distillery beneath Whitestone) Vecna (master) Percival de Rolo (killed his family) Cerberus Assembly (former Archmage of Antiquity) Laudna (warlock beneficiary)
Profession	Necromancer Former co-ruler of Whitestone
Status
Status	Undead (physical form exists as a zombie; spiritual form is trapped in a Soul Anchor within Laudna)
Causes of death	Stabbed by Cassandra and had her corpse dissolved in acid. Shot through the head by Percival de Rolo. Shot through the head with an arrow by Vex'ahlia.
Death episode(s)	"Denouement" (1x35) "Race to the Tower" (1x102) "The Final Ascent" (1x113)
Stats
Level	≥ 17
HP	223-269
AC	18
DC	18+
Appearances
First seen	"The Feast" (1x24) (stream) "The Terror of Tal'Dorei - Part 2" (LVM1x02) (animated)
Last seen	"Cages" (3x103) (stream, voice only) "Whispers at the Ziggurat" (LVM1x11) (animated)
Stream	Campaign One (10 episodes) Campaign Three (19 total episodes, 14 voice only)
Comic	The Legend of Vox Machina: The Whitestone Chronicles: Ripley
Television	The Legend of Vox Machina (9 episodes)
Other work	Critical Role: Bells Hells - What Doesn't Break

“

Faith for some is strong. I prefer reality.

”

– 

Delilah to Laudna

[!h]

Lady Delilah Briarwood is a powerful human wizard from Wildemount, former Archmage of Antiquity for the Cerberus Assembly, and a zealot of Vecna, The Whispered One. She is played in Critical Role by Matthew Mercer and voiced by Grey Griffin in The Legend of Vox Machina.

Description

Appearance

Fan art of Delilah, by RobynAlyHope.

When Vox Machina first met her, Delilah was a beautiful woman with dark auburn hair, pulled up into a tight braided bun. She wore a blue and black gown that had a long, billowing skirt which tapered up to be form-fitting at the waist and bodice, with a neckline that wrapped nearly to her jaw. She also wore gloves on her hands.

During her time as an undead warlock patron she appeared often as a wraith-like entity made of dark and purple energy. After she was sealed inside the Pinion of Service, her appearance was that of a frail woman in a tattered dress chained to an invisible wall, with glowing purple eyes.

Personality

Delilah is incredibly cunning and intelligent as well as ruthless, cold, and willful. She is strategically minded, clearly being the mastermind behind the Briarwoods' plans in Whitestone. Despite this ruthless nature, she is genuinely loving and devoted to her husband, willing to do anything to preserve their life together.

Biography

Background

Main article: Briarwoods

Prior to emigrating to Tal'Dorei, the Briarwoods had some renown and enough powerful connections to maintain a comfortable life in the Dwendalian Empire. Delilah had studied briefly at the Alabaster Lyceum in Emon as part of her training as a wizard.. Later she began working with the Soltryce Academy, and was appointed the Archmage of Antiquity on the Cerberus Assembly. During that time she worked with Ludinus, but wasn't as involved in politics as he was.

At some point during Delilah's time on the Cerberus Assembly, Sylas became sick with a disease that no one could seem to cure. Delilah, therefore, set out to find something or someone who could help her husband. Though she found a cure on her quest, she returned too late and found that Sylas had already passed.

Delilah was devastated by Sylas's death and became obsessed with pursuing means, through magic and meditation, that could perhaps bring him back. One day, she was screaming her frustration into the Astral Sea when a voice whispered back: "I can help you." Delilah would later learn this voice belonged to Vecna.

She was given whispered directions in her dreams, which she followed unquestioningly in her grief. These directions eventually led her to one of Vecna's old laboratories. There, on condition of her service to Vecna, she was given information about the rites of vampirism. This allowed her to bring Sylas back as a vampire, but the rite also bound his existence to Vecna, bringing the couple both into service to the Whispered One.

Necromancy is outlawed in the Dwendalian Empire, and people had begun to take note of Delilah's activities. When Sylas' undead nature and Delilah's involvement were discovered in an investigation led by the Cobalt Soul, she was ousted from the Assembly and the couple was pursued and arrested. They managed to escape, fleeing to Port Damali on the Menagerie Coast with Dwendalian hunters in pursuit, bent on capturing them for execution.

In Port Damali, the Briarwoods encountered Dr. Anna Ripley, who was also fleeing the Dwendalian Empire for her own reasons. Since all three were fugitives from the Dwendalian Empire, they decided to work together.

Upon hearing about an isolated city called Whitestone, the new allies made it their next target, as they believed its remote nature meant they could overthrow the ruling family without much involvement from other governments. Styling themselves as "Lord and Lady", the Briarwoods traveled to Whitestone Castle and were welcomed as guests of the de Rolo household. The Briarwoods began to make frequent trips from Port Damali to Whitestone, building a relationship with the de Rolos while also secretly turning some of their servants against them in preparation for the coup.

Eventually, the Briarwoods struck, slaughtering nearly all of the de Rolo family and taking over Whitestone. During that time she performed multiple experiments with unwilling subjects, which included members of the staff in the castle, such as Alexander, Tethany, and Vincent, who became specters haunting the place.

Campaign One: Vox Machina

Arc 1: Kraghammer and Vasselheim

"Shopping and Shipping" (1x14)

At the end of a meeting with the Tal'Dorei Council, Percy asked Sovereign Uriel about the Briarwoods’ visit to Emon, upon hearing about it in passing during the meeting. Uriel told Percy that the Briarwoods were interested in establishing an official trade route from Whitestone to Emon, using their fabricated story that the de Rolo family gifted Whitestone to the Briarwoods before the family died. Percy asked to be notified when the Briarwoods returned to Emon, and withheld the truth about the Briarwoods’ attack on the de Rolos from the sovereign.

"The Rematch" (1x23)

Seeker Asum Emring visited Greyskull Keep to invite Vox Machina to a dinner to celebrate a new venture, helmed by the Briarwoods, to build a bridge over the Shearing Channel. The bridge would connect Tal'Dorei to the continent of Wildemount, set at the edge of the Alabaster Sierras. Asum questioned why Percy was uncomfortable at the mention of the Briarwoods, and Percy told him that he found them untrustworthy. Asum agreed with Percy’s assessment, as he had sent multiple operatives into Whitestone, only to have them resign. Vox Machina agreed to attend the dinner.

Arc 2: The Briarwoods

"The Feast" (1x24)

Percy told the rest of Vox Machina the truth about the Briarwoods: they were responsible for the deaths of the entire de Rolo family. Vox Machina swore to help him take his revenge, and helped disguise Percy as Vax for the feast. Meanwhile, Vax was made invisible and hid in the Briarwood's room..

Once the meal began, the Briarwoods were introduced to Vox Machina, and a conversation began regarding the bridge that was to be built over the Shearing Channel. When the conversation turned to how the Briarwoods became caretakers of Whitestone, Delilah told the group how the Briarwoods met the de Rolo family during a trip to Wildemount, and that the two families had kept in touch. Five years prior, the Briarwoods were visiting Whitestone to discuss a joint venture to create the bridge when the de Rolos all fell to disease. The Briarwoods were surprised to find that the de Rolos left Whitestone in their hands, and agreed to continue the de Rolos’ legacy.

When Scanlan inquired about the disease that killed the de Rolos, Sylas told him they didn’t know the details, as they were informed about the deaths after a few months had passed. When Keyleth questioned why they weren’t afraid to enter the castle after the disease had swept through it, Sylas reassured her that they had sent in clerics to remove the corpses and any trace of the disease.

After the dinner ended, the Briarwoods returned to their room and were alerted to Vax’s presence. While Vax claimed to only be a castle guard, Delilah remarked that they had just had dinner with someone who looked just like him. When Vax attempted to flee, Delilah successfully cast Hold Person on him. Delilah berated Vax for trying to flee when she simply wanted to ask him some questions, while Sylas slammed a hand down on Vax and said he looked delicious.

"Crimson Diplomacy" (1x25)

Vax managed to break the Hold Person spell, and when Sylas failed to charm him, the couple moved to attack Vax. Delilah dealt necrotic damage to Vax, while Sylas bit him, revealing his vampirism. Vax attempted to escape by jumping out of a window, and used his Earring of Whisper to alert the rest of Vox Machina. Delilah successfully cast Hold Person on Vax once again, and then knocked Vax unconscious with a blast of necrotic damage.

Vox Machina then joined the fight against the Briarwoods, with a new ally, Lillith to help, while Seeker Assum was charmed by Sylas. Vex hit Delilah with multiple arrows causing significant damage, and Delilah retaliated by using Finger of Death against Vex, injuring but not killing her. After successfully casting Feeblemind on Tiberius and witnessing Sylas taking a lot of damage, Delilah decided it would be best to leave instead of continuing the fight, and cast Dimension Door away from the party.

"Consequences and Cows" (1x26)

After the fight with the Briarwoods, Vox Machina attended a council meeting to explain their actions. Although the party explained the Briarwoods’ true history with Whitestone and Sylas’ vampirism, it became clear that Uriel had at some point been charmed by Sylas. Believing Vox Machina were the true instigators of the attack, Uriel removed the party from the council pending further investigation.

Vox Machina then interrogated Desmond, the Briarwoods’ carriage driver, whom they had captured the night before. Desmond told the party about the Briarwoods’ invasion of Whitestone, and the harsh life under the Briarwoods’ rule. He told them that all of the servants in the castle were undead and that the Briarwoods spent a lot of time excavating something underneath the castle.

"Race to the Ziggurat" (1x34)

Vox Machina, along with new ally Cassandra de Rolo, traveled through the crypts beneath Whitestone Castle toward the Ziggurat. Percy asked Cassandra which of the Briarwoods she considered more of a threat, and Cassandra described Delilah as being a very powerful mage.

“

That being said, Lady Briarwood, Delilah, she carries magic far more powerful than I’ve seen. She on her own was able to create, run, and rule each of these sentries that run about the entire city. She had half of the entire castle staffed with long-dead individuals. None questioned her. I’ve never seen her in battle, but I sense there is far more to her abilities than I’ve seen.

”

– 

Cassandra, about Delilah Briarwood

[edit]

When the party became trapped in an acid distillery, both the Briarwoods appeared. Cassandra revealed that she had aligned herself with the couple, and told Vox Machina she had a destiny with the Whispered One. The party escaped the acid trap and followed the Briarwoods, along with a charmed Vax, into the Ziggurat.

When Scanlan failed to cast Blindness on Delilah, a charmed Vax stepped in front of her to protect her. After Pike successfully cured Vax’s charmed state, he attacked Delilah with his Dagger of Life-Stealing, poisoning her.

After Sylas appeared to be seriously injured, Delilah attempted to cast Dimension Door to escape with her husband but was Counterspelled by Scanlan. After being shot by Percy multiple times, Cassandra healed Delilah with a potion. Delilah tried to tell Sylas to continue the ritual, but Sylas was killed by Keyleth's Sunbeam spell. Watching in horror as her husband was disintegrated, Delilah screamed “You can't! I broke the world for us!”

After casting Dimension Door, Delilah appeared on top of a platform in the Ziggurat, attempting to complete the ritual. Delilah read from a scroll which caused the ice in the chamber to shatter, and bodies on the walls began to writhe. While resisting attacks from Vox Machina, Delilah cut her wrist to add blood to the black orb on the platform. After taking more damage from the party, Delilah cast Finger of Death on Vex, leaving her with one hit point.

Delilah was desperate for the ritual to work, but seemed unsure whether it was successful when the orb stopped spinning and shrank down to a speck, and the bodies on the walls stopped writhing. Percy shot Delilah in the arm, leaving her unconscious.Grog carried her out of the Ziggurat.

"Denouement" (1x35)

Once the party made it out of the Ziggurat chamber, Delilah was bound and stabilized, though still unconscious. When she woke up, Percy used Minor Illusion and taunted her with the face of a slowly melting Sylas, and asked her how to stop the ritual. Delilah confessed she didn’t know if it had even worked, and that they had been working on the ritual for five years to repay a debt. The ritual was supposed to be completed during Winter’s Crest, in return for Vecna raising Sylas from the dead.

While Vox Machina was fighting Orthax, Delilah cast Misty Step and attempted to escape, but Vax managed to hit her in the back with one of his daggers. Cassandra confronted Delilah and killed her with a rapier.

Due to her magical precautions, Delilah didn't die, but instead survived as a Clone elsewhere, with a small fragment of her power getting tied to a girl from Whitestone who had been resurrected as a Hollow One recently.

Arc 5: Vecna

"Unfinished Business" (1x100)

Over a year later, while Vox Machina investigated a second Ziggurat in Marquet, they found a group of cultists besides a Sphere of Annihilation. One of the cultists was revealed to be Delilah, who the adventurers believed to be dead. She used an amulet to change the color of the sphere from black to white, which canceled out the anti-magic field, and cast Prismatic Wall. She targeted Pike with a Feeblemind spell, but ultimately decided that leaving to complete her goals was more important than fighting the group. She used the amulet to change the sphere back to black, which brought back the anti-magic field, and stepped through the orb into the Shadowfell.

"Race to the Tower" (1x102)

In Thar Amphala, Vox Machina witnessed Vecna's rebirth, thanks to the ritual that Delilah had been trying to complete. Once the party ascended Entropis, they began fighting Delilah and the newly reborn Vecna. When her attempt to Disintegrate Vax was Counterspelled by Scanlan, Vecna later completed her "unfinished work". After she had already sustained considerable damage from Grog, Delilah was killed when Percy shot out her remaining eye. Percy took Delilah’s body with him when Keyleth used Plane Shift to escape to the Feywild.

"The Endless Atheneum" (1x106)

When Pike attempted to cast Speak with Dead on Delilah's body, she found that there was no spirit for her to bring back, meaning Delilah wasn't dead. Keyleth then scryed on Delilah, and found she was once again in Thar Amphala, with both of her eyes. Delilah emerged from a tunnel, and said to an unseen companion that something was "almost ready".

"Dark Dealings" (1x112)

Delilah and Sylas, riding on an undead white dragon, appeared to Vox Machina when she dispelled Scanlan's mansion in Thar Amphala. Delilah failed to successfully Counterspell Keyleth’s Plane Shift, and Vox Machina escaped again to the Feywild.

"The Final Ascent" (1x113)

Fan art of The Briarwoods and Obatalá confronting Vox Machina, by Kent Davis.

Upon returning to Thar Amphala from the Feywild, Grog and Arkhan smashed one of the crystals protecting Thar Amphala from Vasselheim’s forces. The noise this made drew the attention of the undead white dragon that was carrying Delilah and Sylas on its back. Percy shot Delilah, pushing her off the back of the dragon, and while she was on the ground Keyleth used Entangle to grapple Delilah to the floor. Grog hit Delilah and caused massive damage, causing Delilah to reach for Sylas' hand to try to escape. Before she could cast Dimension Door, Vex permanently killed Delilah with an arrow to the head.

Once the Briarwoods were defeated, Arkhan cast Animate Dead on Delilah to bring her back as a zombie.

"Vecna, the Ascended" (1x114)

It was revealed that the reanimated Delilah was beheaded during Arkhan’s fight with the Death Knight.

Between Campaign One and Campaign Three

Delilah's soul ended up in the Shadow Realm, in some mysterious space, still bound to the power of the Whispered One, and strong enough to cultivate her subtle connection with one of her victims sacrificed for the display for the benefit of Vox Machina on the Sun Tree, who became her warlock.

Campaign Three: Bells Hells

Fan art of Laudna with Delilah, by @caravaggio2000.

After Laudna first shared bits of her history and told Bells Hells that her warlock patron was one of the Briarwoods, Delilah spoke in her head after Laudna had gone to bed, chastising her for revealing her secrets. Later, on the road to Heartmoor Hamlet, when Laudna was knocked unconscious and nearly killed by a fairy-lure mantrap, Delilah spoke to her in her head again, reviving her and telling Laudna "Not yet, there's still much to do."

While Laudna and Imogen Temult were talking on the deck of the Silver Sun while traveling to Bassuras, Laudna got a pang in the back of her neck, a worry about the fragment of the Gnarlrock that Imogen was carrying. When Laudna asked to inspect it and held it in her hand, she felt it grow warmer and the warmth course through her arm towards her heart. When Laudna opened her hand, the stone had cracked and gone dim. Laudna demanded of Delilah, "What did you DO?", and Delilah replied "I've taken care of it."

When the party was in the Calloways' hideout, as Laudna reached for another gnarlrock shard Delilah's approving voice crept into her mind, saying, "You wander dangerous paths. Be warned, child. Not everyone's looking out for your wellbeing like I am. I'll keep you safe." Delilah told her she was watching from her "distant, forgotten perch" as Laudna wandered around dangerous magics. Laudna knew the impact they could have on her, and Delilah was just trying to keep her safe. "For if you die, I go, too." Laudna asked about Ruidus and Delilah admitted she'd researched the power of the celestial solstices. Delilah had had been forced to rush before the optimum time and still achieved something great, and couldn't imagine what could be accomplished during the upcoming apogee solstice. She encouraged Laudna to get as involved as she'd like.

During the battle against Otohan Thull, Laudna was unconscious and on the brink of death when Marisha rolled a natural 20, bringing her back to consciousness. Laudna heard a slow heartbeat and Delilah Briarwood's voice saying, "Not yet, my child. We have much to do." However, Laudna was struck again and killed shortly afterwards.

Official art of Imogen and Fearne destroying the tree, by Jessica Nguyen.

When Bells Hells entered the shadowy realm where Laudna's spirit was held, they encountered a shadow form of Delilah at the base of the corrupted shadow Sun Tree holding Laudna's spirit caged within its upper boughs. Delilah asserted she and Laudna were one being, and Laudna could not be brought back to life without bringing Delilah as well. She allowed the party a brief conversation with Laudna, culminating in Imogen attacking Delilah and an all-out battle. Delilah's essence was linked to the tree, so that any damage caused to it affected her as well, and when it was destroyed through fire, Laudna's spirit was released in a white flash. As Delilah shrieked, "NO!" there was a whoosh of white and the party was pulled back to the Material Plane.

Subsequently, Delilah's presence and influence over Laudna seemed to be gone. However, Laudna's severe sense of betrayal over Bor'Dor's hidden identity and motives caused her to cast Hunger of the Shadow on him before killing him, and this brought back a slow heartbeat in the back of her mind. A few days later, when Bells Hells were in Zephrah talking with a recently recovered Keyleth about old magical rituals, the Whispered One was mentioned, and Laudna felt a cold jolt down her spine, presumably from Delilah recognizing her old master's title. That evening, Laudna attempted to contact Delilah but there was no answer. A few minutes later, after spending some time with Imogen trying to pray to Sehanine, Laudna felt a cold sensation on her shoulders and heard a voice in the back of her mind: "No matter who you pray to, no matter who you reach for, you are, and will always be, mine."

Fan art of Laudna/Delilah, by Sabira Langevin.

During her time on the Crimson Abyss, Laudna spoke to the group about her concern that Delilah was back, and how Laudna might be empowering her by using other people's life forces. She and her friends debated whether they should try to use Delilah's power for their own benefit, although Imogen insisted that she wanted her girlfriend as an ally, not Delilah. Kyle, a skeleton crewmember, came forward to tell Laudna that he had dealt with addiction when he was alive and that her relationship with the archmage sounded similar. Bells Hells made two attempts to detect Delilah with magic: Fresh Cut Grass tried Scrying on her, but failed immediately. Later, while Laudna daydreamed, FCG used Shared Dream but Laudna had a hard time remembering what Delilah looked like, finding it hard to focus on her. Simultaneously, Imogen cast Detect Thoughts to try to help her focus, but couldn't sense another consciousness that she could connect to around or within Laudna, seeing only a shadow of a woman walking in front of her that she found it impossible to concentrate on.

Some days later, when Bells Hells were in Whitestone Castle talking to Gwendolyn de Rolo, Laudna used her spooky abilities to show her a bit of her sternum and offered to let her touch it, since the child had stated she liked medicine and scary stuff. She did so, and then became suddenly deeply frightened, going back to her room. When asked about it, Gwen confessed to Imogen that she had sensed intense hatred coming from the warlock, stronger than anything she had felt before, and she thought Laudna hated her. Imogen assured her that wasn't the case but when she talked to her girlfriend later, they speculated that the young tiefling had felt Delilah's emotions, which concerned Laudna a lot.

That night, the three witches explored the castle and found Delilah's old laboratory and workroom connected to the chamber formerly holding Sylas Briarwood's coffin. Three specters appeared and, recognizing Delilah's aura, attacked Laudna; in order to defend herself, the warlock adopted a Form of Dread very similar to her patron's appearance. Shortly after the fight, Delilah's voice was for the first time audible to all present. She named the specters as servants from her time in the castle, and communicated willingly with the three witches (telling Fearne that she should become a darker version of herself to succeed in her mission, and taunting Imogen by saying that her very nature was anathema to the gods she was trying to help); she told Laudna that she was alive only because of her, and that both of them depended on the power of the Whispered One, so it was imperative that Laudna became stronger (by feeding her more energy and life, for she was hungry) and help stop Predathos, so that Delilah's now-divine master would continue to exist. She also expressed that, ultimately, her own personal goal was to outlive the world after learning all she could about it, with Sylas by her side. Laudna made Imogen promise to help her if Delilah took control again, but when Delilah whispered in the warlock's mind, telling her they should work together, Laudna agreed.

Fan art of Laudna sleeping, by Mintywolf.

The following day Bells Hells went to the ziggurat under the castle to use the Quintessence Array in a controlled environment, and Laudna felt strange, because through her, Delilah had recognized that place. After Ashton absorbed and then ejected the shard of Rau'shan, Laudna felt Delilah urging her to take its power for herself. When Laudna fled the Ziggurat, deeply disturbed by Ashton's betrayal, she reverted to childhood and entered into a continual dialogue with Delilah, who urged her to take the shard's power for herself, told her that the strong find a way to retaliate against the pains love can cause, and that Laudna should retaliate against being hurt. She manifested stronger and more solid shadows around Laudna to hold her in her sleep when she was in her old cottage.

When Fearne finally decided to absorb the spark of Rau'shan in Ligament Manor, Delilah tried to influence Laudna and force her to take it, but the warlock managed to resist, being distracted and, with Imogen's help, managing to ignore the archmage's whispers.

Fan art of Laudna killing Edmuda, by @cpprcoyote.

Hours later, back in the Material Plane, Bells Hells traveled to Ruidus and captured a powerful reilora, Willmaster Edmuda. To prevent her from using her powers against them the adventurers used their harness to leave her temporarily powerless, planning to complete later an hour-long ritual to kill the prisoner and give Orym a permanent boon. However, when the party had to leave Razora in a hurry, Laudna killed her with Hunger of the Shadow (saying it was so her death would not be wasted), immediately sensing the presence and approval of Delilah encouraging her to continue her journey and find her next victim.

Later, during a solo watch and after an existential conversation with Pâté that lost solemnity when he farted, Laudna sent the familiar away and walked to have some privacy. She talked to her patron, having a similar existential conversation during which the wizard told her that despite the dangers (and the warlock's own concerns about Delilah growing stronger), it was good that Laudna was getting more powerful since it meant she could protect the ones she loved, especially Imogen, the way Delilah had tried to do with Sylas. During the conversation Laudna also wondered if Delilah was Pâté somehow, but she confirmed that despite the magic keeping them connected, they weren't the same. Before the end of the conversation, Delilah appeared visually in front of the adventurer for a few moments, promising her that both of them would endure.

When Bells Hells were in Kreviris, Laudna and the party were briefly confronted by the Weave Mind, who tried to convince them to stay in the city; during that interaction, the mystics detected Delilah through her warlock, and tried to tempt her. Minutes later Otohan Thull attacked them. At one point Laudna tried to attack her with Hunger of the Shadow, exciting her patron, but Otohan managed to pull away.

A few days later in Zadash, Laudna was the last to sleep and noticed that Orym was now carrying Ishta, Otohan's blade that had killed Laudna, Fearne, and Orym. Delilah whispered in her mind that perhaps the blade had a mind of its own, had somehow cursed Otohan, and would do the same with Orym. Delilah told Laudna she could tell her more if Laudna held the sword herself, and when Laudna asked for more power in order to defeat Ludinus, Delilah focused again on Ishta, saying she needed something in exchange. Laudna tried barely touching the sword, and Delilah insisted that she had to actually hold it. A brief battle ensued after Laudna tried to sneak it away, and Laudna managed to grab the weapon with Mage Hand. Delilah assured her that it was indeed dangerous, and she would be glad to destroy it for them. The rest of Bells Hells woke up in confusion and during the subsequent conversation, Delilah tried and failed to control her warlock's actions. When Chetney offered Laudna Scream Needle (Otohan's secondary weapon) so that Orym could keep Ishta, Laudna (only partially in control of herself) took it to the roof and used her Form of Dread, turning into a copy of Delilah as dark finger-like tendrils took the blade and absorbed it through her chest. Imogen, who had followed her girlfriend, saw this happen and heard Delilah breathe and speak at the same time as her warlock. However, Delilah's presence and ghostly image surrounding Laudna disappeared when Imogen reminded Laudna of their love. They spoke for a bit, and Laudna explained that she intended to use her patron as a weapon against Ludinus, even if it was dangerous for her. When Imogen left, Delilah whispered in her ear that no one really understood them.

The following day, when Bells Hells were exploring the Aeorian ruins, Laudna asked Delilah directly about a strange symbol carved into a slain Ruby Vanguard member, and was told that it seemed more ritualistic than magical. Later, after Ludinus Da'leth showed the party the recording of the fall of Aeor, he felt Delilah's presence, addressing her directly and telling her that she had had so much potential before turning to selfishness and dark faith. He tried to tempt her, then threw a magical amulet toward her as a distraction while he left. Delilah, hungry and tired of waiting for Laudna to act, manifested as a spectral entity connected to the warlock, and started attacking the party with her magic and necromantic arts. The adventurers focused on trying to neutralize her without killing Laudna, who was trying to interfere and make it easier for her friends to attack Delilah. She succeeded several times, at one point casting Phantasmal Force to summon an image of Sylas Briarwood, which enraged Delilah further. Eventually Braius Doomseed knocked Laudna's body unconscious, forcing Delilah to withdraw inside Laudna shrieking, still connected to Laudna's soul.

The party discussed the possibility of using the soul anchor that used to contain Dominox (the Pinion of Service) to deal with Delilah, and Essek Thelyss agreed to help with that plan, bringing them to his house in Rexxentrum while stressing that the ritual to bind Delilah Briarwood to the soul anchor must be done quickly, before she could recover her strength. The ritual was performed with the aid of each of those present, placing the soul anchor within Laudna's body. Delilah was aware of what was being done, attempting to convince Laudna not to proceed, and screaming, "I will not be stopped!" while attempting to strangle Laudna. Imogen sensed the struggle and sent her mind into Laudna's, seeing a vision of Whitestone and the figures of Delilah and Laudna fighting there. Imogen sent her strength into Laudna while confronting Delilah and trying to convince her that succumbing to the ritual was better than annihilation, while Laudna summoned the spirits of all those who fell in Whitestone at Delilah's hands. The successful ritual left Delilah bound to the soul anchor implanted within Laudna's chest, providing Laudna power for her warlock magic but unable to communicate without being invited, and totally unable to control Laudna's actions.

Fan art of Laudna showing Delilah to Vox Machina, by Elaine Tipping.

The following day, after attending a meeting in the Platinum Sanctuary of Vasselheim, Laudna informed Vex'ahlia and her friends about Delilah's current situation, and although they were shocked at first, Lady de Rolo became very pleased and asked Laudna if she had ways of making her patron's imprisonment worse. The warlock focused and envisioned the space inside the soul anchor, seeing a chained and furious Delilah threatening her; Laudna ignored that and informed Vex that Delilah was sealed.

Relationships

Sylas Briarwood

Delilah was married to Sylas Briarwood. Their marriage is portrayed as a loving one; when Sylas was killed by Keyleth, Delilah yelled, "You can't! I broke the world for us!".

Even after her death, Delilah was still focused on eventually reuniting with Sylas, and she took it as a great offense that Laudna even dared to use his semblance against her.

Ludinus Da'leth

If Delilah's own word can be trusted, during her time in Wildemount she and Ludinus Da'leth exchanged mere formalities, and although she didn't share his interest in politics, she was very aware of his influence in that field.

Cassandra de Rolo

Unbeknownst to Percy, Delilah and Sylas did not kill Cassandra when they murdered the rest of the de Rolo family, but instead kept her as a pawn in maintaining peace in Whitestone. Over time, Cassandra developed a somewhat Stockholm Syndrome-like loyalty to her captors and began to do their bidding. She helped them quash one rebellion attempt prior to Vox Machina's arrival and willingly betrayed her brother to the Briarwoods on his return. However, Cassandra decided her loyalties were with her true family, and ultimately killed Delilah in revenge.

Laudna

The events that led to Delilah becoming Laudna's warlock patron were initially unknown but the two shared a strange, seemingly distant relationship, with Laudna treating her as though she were just a voice in her head or a friend to talk to. Delilah did not contact Laudna often but did seem to hear much of what she said. She seemed to advise Laudna more than control her, warning her not to talk to others about their secrets.

Fan art of Laudna sleeping, by Mintywolf.

After Laudna's death and Bells Hells killing the avatar of Delilah in a shadowy realm, she seemed to fade out of Laudna's life for a time. However, each time the warlock cast Hunger of the Shadow, Delilah strengthened, first regaining her ability to communicate within Laudna's mind, and later being able to be heard by those around Laudna as well. Delilah eventually admitted that she wanted Laudna to become stronger, even saying that she cared about her. Following Ashton's apparent betrayal of the party by surreptitiously attempting to absorb the shard of Rau'shan, when Laudna was feeling particularly fragile and alone she sought out Delilah's spirit for advice. Delilah told her that though others would come and go, Delilah was always there. Laudna asked Delilah when love didn't equal pain, and Delilah replied, "That's what love is... and it's worth it. It's worth everything." She urged Laudna to find a way to hurt those who hurt her. Even now she tries to make her obey certain impulses (which is mechanically reflected when the warlock makes Wisdom saving throws to resist her influence), while also finding solace in her advice whenever she feels lost, or when her friends react badly after actions Delilah herself has influenced. The adventurer sees her patron as a weapon to wield against Ludinus. After finding out there was a way of containing her patron without cutting their connection Laudna pursued it, finding satisfaction in the reversal of their roles, and seeing Delilah as her puppet.

Character Information

Fan art of Delilah Briarwood, by Nadz Salvo.

Notable items

First death

• Bracers of Defense (looted and given to Grog)
• Robe of Shielding Shadows (looted by Vox Machina, unused by the party)
• Cloak of Displacement (looted and given to Vax)
• Wand of Fireballs (looted and given to Scanlan)
• Ring of Lightning Resistance (Looted and given to Percy)

Second death

• Eye of Vecna (looted Vox Machina, later destroyed by Pelor)

Third death

• Diary (lost in the ruins, eventually found and given to the Cobalt Soul)

Abilities

• Necromancy Savant
• Grim Harvest
• Undead Thralls
• Command Undead

Spells

Spell level	Spell	Notes
1st	Shield
2nd	Hold Person
2nd	Invisibility
2nd	Misty Step
3rd	Counterspell
3rd	Dispel Magic
3rd	Haste
3rd	Animate Dead	School of Necromancy
4th	Blight
4th	Dimension Door
6th	Disintegrate
7th	Finger of Death
8th	Clone
8th	Feeblemind
8th	Power Word Stun
9th	Blade of Disaster	The summoned blade looked like Craven Edge.
9th	Prismatic Wall

Using Laudna's body

During the battle against Bells Hells when Delilah inhabited Laudna's body and seized control, she exhibited the following:

• Legendary actions (3x/turn)
• Legendary resistances
  • Wraith Claw: ~19-31 necrotic damage and user regains health in the amount of half the damage taken.
  • Shadow Step: Teleport 30 feet
  • Summon Undead: Summoned 3 skeletons and 2 specters with two attacks each or Life Drain
• Resistant to fire and cold damage
• AC: ≥ 19
• DC: between 19 - 23

Appearances and mentions

• Campaign One
  • "The Feast" (1x24) (first appearance)
  • "Crimson Diplomacy" (1x25)
  • "Reunions" (1x33), mentioned only
  • "Race to the Ziggurat" (1x34)
  • "Denouement" (1x35)
  • "Unfinished Business" (1x100)
  • "Thar Amphala" (1x101), mentioned only
  • "Race to the Tower" (1x102)
  • "The Fate-Touched" (1x103), corpse
  • "The Endless Atheneum" (1x106), via Scrying
  • "Scaldseat" (1x107), mentioned only
  • "The Ominous March" (1x109), mentioned only
  • "Dark Dealings" (1x112)
  • "The Final Ascent" (1x113)
  • "The Chapter Closes" (1x115), mentioned only
• Campaign Two
  • "Unwanted Reunions" (2x88), mentioned only
• Campaign Three
  • "Growing Bonds and Teasing Threads" (3x06), voice only
  • "Make It Fashion" (3x12), mentioned only
  • "A Hungry Jungle" (3x18), voice only
  • "To The Skies" (3x23), voice only
  • "A Taste of Tal'Dorei" (3x25), mentioned only
  • "A Race for the Prize" (3x27), mentioned only
  • "Dark Portents" (3x29), mentioned only
  • "Breaking Point" (3x31), voice only
  • "A Stage Set" (3x32), voice only
  • "Blood and Dust" (3x33), voice only
  • "What Dreams May Come" (3x34), voice only
  • "Pyrrhic Return" (3x35), voice only
  • "A Desperate Call" (3x36), mentioned only
  • "From the Boughs" (3x37)
  • "A Dark Balance" (3x38), mentioned only
  • "The Momentum of Murder" (3x39), mentioned only
  • "Compulsions" (3x40), mentioned only
  • "Axiom Shaken" (3x43), mentioned only
  • "Somewhere Out There" (3x59), mentioned only (unnamed)
  • "Crisis of Faith" (3x61), mentioned only
  • "A Long Walk of Reflection" (3x62), mentioned only (unnamed)
  • "A Haunted Past" (3x63), mentioned only
  • "A Path of Vengeance" (3x65), mentioned only
  • "Nice" (3x69), voice only
  • "Phantasmal Parley" (3x72), mentioned only
  • "Kindling the Spirits" (3x73) (in a daydream)
  • "Roots Between Worlds" (3x74), mentioned only
  • "A Gathering of Heroes" (3x76), mentioned only
  • "The Promise and the Price" (3x77)
  • "Fractures" (3x78), voice only
  • "To Hurt Is to Heal" (3x79), mentioned only
  • "A Test of Trust" (3x80), voice only
  • "The Eve of the Red Moon" (3x81), mentioned only
  • "Intense Interrogations" (3x85), voice only
  • "Doorways to Darker Depths" (3x86)
  • "Divisive Portents" (3x89), mentioned only
  • "True Heroism" (3x91), voice only
  • "Gathering of Needs" (3x95)
  • "Shadows New and Old" (3x96), voice only
  • "Reconciliation" (3x102)
  • "Cages" (3x103), voice only
  • "The Cradle's Convocation" (3x104)
  • "Under the Arch Heart's Eye" (3x107), mentioned only (unnamed)
• The Legend of Vox Machina
  • "The Terror of Tal'Dorei - Part 1" (LVM1x01), mentioned only
  • "The Terror of Tal'Dorei - Part 2" (LVM1x02)
  • "The Feast of Realms" (LVM1x03)
  • "Shadows at the Gates" (LVM1x04)
  • "Fate's Journey" (LVM1x05)
  • "A Silver Tongue" (LVM1x08)
  • "The Tide of Bone" (LVM1x09)
  • "Depths of Deceit" (LVM1x10)
  • "Whispers at the Ziggurat" (LVM1x11)
  • "The Darkness Within" (LVM1x12)
• Vox Machina Origins: Animals, mentioned only
• Critical Role: Bells Hells - What Doesn't Break
• The Legend of Vox Machina: The Whitestone Chronicles: Ripley

Quotations

• (after Sylas was destroyed by Keyleth at the Ziggurat) "You can't! I broke the world for us! No...!"
• (inside Laudna's head) "Careful, dear. Some things are meant to be kept secret."
• (to Laudna) "No matter who you pray to, no matter who you reach for, you are, and will always be, mine."
• (to Laudna) "Bound as we are, I do care for you."
• (to Laudna) "There is only really one reason for power: to protect those you love. And if that fails, vengeance is a pretty decent second goal."

Trivia

Laura dressed as Delilah for Halloween 2016.

• Laura Bailey dressed as Lady Briarwood during "The Coming Storm" (1x73), which aired the week before Halloween 2016. Laura has identified Delilah as the "Anti-Vex'ahlia", and says Vex came very close to becoming someone very similar to Delilah had she gone down a darker path.^{[citation needed]}
• In the Critical Role Major Arcana Tarot Card Set, she along with her husband, Sylas, represent VI - The Lovers.
• Delilah has been killed three times so far, each time by a member of the de Rolo family; once by Cassandra in "Denouement" (1x35), once by Percy in "Race to the Tower" (1x102), and once by Vex in "The Final Ascent" (1x113).
  • Following "Dalen's Closet" (Sx47), Vex is also the final member of Vox Machina to defeat and kill Sylas Briarwood, as well.
• During her time in Thar Amphala Delilah kept a diary in which she wrote reflections on her plans, and also dedicated thoughts to her husband. After her defeat, the diary would be found in the ruins and part of its contents ended up in the hands of the Cobalt Soul.
• She is the first Campaign One character to appear in Campaign Three.
• Laudna's original Form of Dread, similar to a mourning attire, was connected to Delilah's grief after losing her husband.
• Marisha and Matt both see parallels between dealing with addiction and Laudna's problems resisting the temptation to access Delilah's power. This parallelism was acknowledged in-universe through Kyle, a member of the undead crew of the Crimson Abyss.
• As of "Mission Improbable" (3x90), according to Matt himself, Laudna is very close to the edge of something important regarding her connection with Delilah.
• It has been implied that she met her successor in the Cerberus Assembly, Vess DeRogna, in person, since the first time Laudna cast Spirit of Death she was able to use DeRogna's appearance for the spell.
• A popular theory among fans is that the space Delilah inhabits while serving as Laudna's warlock patron, informally known as Darkstone, is a Domain of Dread: a demiplane in the Shadowfell that acts as the realm and prison of a particularly evil mortal, which receives the title of Darklord.
  • Evidence in favor of this theory includes that Darklords are considered effectively immortal powerful entities capable of being warlock patrons, the gloomy and dark environment that Matt describes when Bells Hells enter Delilah's domain (reminiscent of the Shadowfell), and that the place where the adventurers meet Delilah is a dark and twisted version of Whitestone (a reminder of the place where the wizard had a great power, but also where she performed some of her most unforgivable acts and where she suffered the first of her defeats against Vox Machina). Moreover, when FCG tried Scrying on Delilah the spell immediately failed, suggesting she isn't on the Material Plane, and when Matt described her domain he explicitly referenced the Shadow Realm.

References

Art: