Syldor Vessar[7][8][9] is an elven man, ambassador of Syngorn, and the emotionally distant father of Vax'ildan and Vex'ahlia. As an NPC, Syldor is played by Matthew Mercer.
Syldor also appears in The Legend of Vox Machina, where he is portrayed by Troy Baker.
Fan art of the Vessars, by Kileigh Gallagher.[art 3]
Description[]
Appearance[]
Syldor is an elven man with long, black[9] or dark brown[2] hair, a pale complexion, and a stern look.[9][10][2]
When he visited Byroden for the first time after the twins were born, Syldor was described as "well-dressed", wearing "fancy robes" and sparkling, heavy bracelets.[2][11] He didn't seem to carry any weapons or supplies with him.[11] Months later, when the twins arrived at his home in Syngorn, Syldor wore finer clothing: brown robes, with gold embroidery, a high neckline, and cut sleeves showing off gold silk.[12]
Personality[]
Vax'ildan and Vex'ahlia described their father as emotionally neglectful and contemptuous of their human heritage. He reluctantly took the twins in because he couldn't stand the idea of any part of him - even tainted with human blood as they were - to be so close to peasantry. However, he exhibited a very protective and affectionate side for his pureblood daughter, Velora.
Although Syldor maintained an aloof and formal manner around Vox Machina and his two eldest children, treating them as an inconvenience and something of an embarrassment, he felt affection for the twins and expressed that in their meeting in Syngorn to the extent his cool nature would allow. He had a sense of humor as well, breaking into laughter when Velora began repeating naughty words she had heard from the party, to her mother's consternation.
Biography[]
Background[]
Around 786 PD,[13][14] Syldor had a short-term relationship with a human woman from Byroden named Elaina. Unknown to him until years later, their relationship resulted in the birth of half-elven twins: Vax'ildan and Vex'ahlia.[15][16]
Kith & Kin[]
Syldor was not aware of the existence of the twins until around 795 PD.[13][17] One day, Syldor rode into Byroden just before sunset, on a female blue roan horse.[2][18] He was spotted by Feena, who passed the message along to the other local children until it reached nine-year-olds Vax'ildan and Vex'ahlia.[2] The children then gathered at Byroden's Bliss to spy on him.[18] Syldor sat alone in the inn, uncomfortable with the humble surroundings, waiting for Elaina to arrive.[19] His expression momentarily softened when he saw her, and he bowed to her.[19] Wenric, the innkeeper, closed the shutters to prevent the children from spying further, but they immediately began speculating that he was the twin's father.[20] Duncan noted that Syldor seemed to have "more gold and gems than the whole town put together."[21]
Around 796 PD,[13][22] Syldor requested High Warden Tyrelda's permission to bring his half-elven children to live in Syngorn.[3] About six months after his visit to Byroden, Syldor sent his own horses and three members of the Verdant Guard, among them Tharyn, to Byroden, with a letter to Elaina and instructions to escort the ten-year-old twins to Syngorn.[23][24][25] The letter mentioned that the children would want for nothing in his care.[24] The guards left the twins at the door to Syldor's home, where Syldor and his servant Alin were waiting.[12] He send Alin to care for their horses and belongings, and brought the children to his office.[26] He told them he intended to improve their education and that they were thankfully "young enough that all hope is not lost."[27] He informed them of a strict set of rules: a private tutor would arrive the next morning and they would study with them until they were ready to go to school; they would not be allowed to leave the house without permission; they would not be allowed to wear the clothes they brought with them; they were forbidden from bothering him during his work.[27] He told them they were welcome, but they didn't feel like they were.[27]
A year and a half later, Syldor had hired Iova to teach the twins archery, and Tharendril to teach them to use blades.[28] Tharendril only accepted because he owed Syldor a favour.[29] The twins were also studying with history, language, and mathematics tutors.[30] One day, while Vex'ahlia and Iova were practicing archery and Vax'ildan and Tharendril were practicing with blades, Syldor arrived with High Warden Tyrelda, who wished to observe the twins' progress.[31] She noted that they had barely been seen outside of Syldor's home in the time they had lived in Syngorn (they had, in fact, only left twice, with Syldor).[32][33] Syldor told her it was because he wanted to make sure they could keep up with their peers; Vax'ildan said it was because his father was ashamed of them.[32] The High Warden asked Vex'ahlia to demonstrate her archery and Syldor did not give her the chance to explain that she was tired; she performed poorly, and Syldor sneered at her.[34] The High Warden ordered Syldor to send them to school, amused by their spirit and believing it might be a good challenge for them.[35]
By around 800 PD,[13][36] the twins were attending school and able to roam the city independently, and Syldor was giving them an allowance.[37] He kept the half-elves away from the Elvendawn celebrations.[38]
By about a year later, Syldor had suggested to their teachers that the twins be split up in the classroom.[39] One day, Vax'ildan was caught breaking into the master of history's office at the school.[40] Syldor was furious, and summoned both children to his office.[41] He was aware that Vax'ildan had been sneaking out at night, and had overlooked it, but he saw this as the last straw.[42] The Verdant Lord had sent him a letter informing him of Vax'ildan's pickpocketing in the market, and he knew Vax had spent that money on an expensive gift for his sister: a hazelwood longbow.[43] Syldor then turned his anger on Vex'ahlia for covering up her brother's disobedience, telling them they were "undesired children."[44] Vax'ildan asked his father to return Vex'ahlia's bow, but Syldor instead snapped it before sending them to their room.[45]
The following year, Vax'ildan and Vex'ahlia left their father's home secretly, late on an autumn night.[46][47] They stayed for some time after the incident with the bow, but the final straw was another fight over a piece of jewelry.[48] They expected their father would "make a fuss for appearance's sake," but would be relieved that they were gone.[47]
"The Story of Vox Machina" (Sx06)[]
Art of Syldor Vessar from "The Story of Vox Machina" (Sx06), by Wendy Sullivan Green.[art 4]
Several years later, Vex and Vax encountered their father in Emon while doing some odd jobs with the rest of their party, now known as Vox Machina. Syldor was in the capital on business as an ambassador of Syngorn, and it was at that point they learned he had married an elven woman named Devana and had a young daughter, Velora. However, Syldor's contact within the Tal'Dorei Council had gone missing, and he hired the party to find him so that he could get back to work.[49]
"Heredity and Hats" (1x60)[]
Vox Machina met with Syldor in hopes of to gaining access to the rest of Syngorn as part of their request for aid against the Chroma Conclave and in their venture for Fenthras. He remained cold and somewhat disdainful towards his older children and Vox Machina, although he granted them a meeting with Syngorn' High Warden, Tyrelda. Their presence was a difficulty and an embarrassment to his family.
When the twins finally expressed their pent-up anger, he softened and apologized for their upbringing. He told them there was still a part of him that cared for them both and was genuinely happy that they lived, succeeded, and proved that they could achieve what the rest of "these fools in this city said you were incapable of." He admitted his prejudice, but said that he fought it every day. He told them that Velora loved to "play stealthy Vax and Vex", and it made him smile. They were an inspiration to those outside the city, which was more than he'd ever done. He urged them not to care about his opinion, just to avenge their mother's death, to show their little sister that they could rise up and destroy whatever came in their way. He promised to send word to Whitestone when the city was ready to return to the Prime Material Plane to attack Thordak in Emon.
"The Chapter Closes" (1x115)[]
Following Vax'ildan's death, Syldor and Vex'ahlia made an effort to have a closer relationship than before. Syldor would go on to do what he could with his political clout to try to make the future generations of elves in Syngorn more open and accepting of the other races of Exandria than he had been.[50]
Relationships[]
Vax'ildan and Vex'ahlia[]
Appearances and mentions[]
Appearances[]
- Pre-stream
- "The Story of Vox Machina" (Sx06) (first appearance)
- "Heredity and Hats" (1x60)
- "The Siege of Emon" (1x78), via Scrying
- Kith & Kin
- Vox Machina Origins Series III
- The Legend of Vox Machina
- "Echo Tree" (LVM2x08)
Mentions[]
- Campaign One
- "Arrival at Kraghammer" (1x01) (first mentioned)
- "Shopping and Shipping" (1x14)
- "Trial of the Take: Part 1" (1x18)
- "Dangerous Dealings" (1x42)
- "Best Laid Plans..." (1x50)
- "The Feywild" (1x59)
- "Denizens of the Moonbrush" (1x61)
- "Passed Through Fire" (1x69)
- "Path of Brass" (1x74)
- "The Deceiver's Stand" (1x83)
- "Deals in the Dark" (1x92)
- "Jugs and Rods" (1x94)
- "One Year Later..." (1x95)
- "The Final Ascent" (1x113), indirectly mentioned only
- "The Chapter Closes" (1x115)
- Specials
- "Critical Role: Grog's One-Shot" (Sx26)
- "Dalen's Closet" (Sx47)
- The Legend of Vox Machina
- "Fate's Journey" (LVM1x05)
- "The Fey Realm" (LVM2x07)
Quotations[]
- "I truly believed that with the right guidance, you might become something more than what you were destined to be [...] You might have been able to reacher higher than the low life that you were destined for. It appears that all good intentions aside, I was a fool."[41]
References[]
- ↑ The Legend of Vox Machina on IMDb
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 4.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 67.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 66.
- ↑ See "The Fear of Isolation" (1x105) at 3:56:38.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 264.
- ↑ Syldor's surname was first revealed when Vox Machina entered Syngorn in the Feywild. See "The Feywild" (1x59) at 3:01:02.
- ↑ Matthew Mercer tweeted the official spellings of Syldor Vessar's first and last names.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Matthew Mercer released a page of his DM notes containing a description of Syldor.
- ↑ See "Heredity and Hats" (1x60) at 30:19.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 6.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 69.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3
Critical Role (@CriticalRole) on Twitter: "Check out our updated timeline featuring ALL of our epic adventures throughout Exandria -- including Campaign 3! ⚔️" (2021-10-28).
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, pp. 3–4. The prologue takes place 12 years before the main story, and the twins are 9 years old, which would place their birth around 786 PD.
- ↑ See "Arrival at Kraghammer" (1x01) from 9:44 through 10:00.
- ↑ See "Arrival at Kraghammer" (1x01) from 11:12 through 11:19.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 3.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 7.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 8.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, pp. 8–9.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 9.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 65.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, pp. 65–66.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 68.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 70.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, pp. 69–70.
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 71.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, pp. 96–98.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 98.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 96.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, pp. 98–99.
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 99.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 102.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, pp. 99–100.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 101.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 135.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 136.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 137.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, pp. 197–198.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 223.
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, pp. 223–224.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 224.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, pp. 224–225.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 225.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 226.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, pp. 256–257.
- ↑ 47.0 47.1 See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 259.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 256.
- ↑ See "The Story of Vox Machina" (Sx06) from 6:24 through 7:10.
- ↑ Also: See "Talks Machina: Campaign Wrap-up" (Sx31) at 3:31:48.
- ↑ See "Heredity and Hats" (1x60) at 47:15.
- ↑ See "The Echo Tree" (1x63) at 1:34:53. Part of a longer conversation from 1:32:57 through 1:37:00.
Art:
- ↑ Official art of Syldor Vessar, by Olivia Samson from Vox Machina Origins III #6. Used with permission.
- ↑ Screenshot of Syldor, by Titmouse from "Echo Tree" (LVM2x08). This file is a copyrighted work. Its use in this article is asserted to qualify as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.
- ↑ Fan art of the Vessars, by Kileigh Gallagher (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Art of Syldor Vessar from "The Story of Vox Machina" (Sx06), by Wendy Sullivan Green.See "The Story of Vox Machina" (Sx06) at 06:27.
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