The serpent belt is a magical belt that grants immunity to the poisoned condition and can be transformed into a poisonous snake. Such a belt was given to Vax'ildan by Thorn. Vax eventually named it Simon, and later entrusted it to Kynan Leore to keep the snake safe. Kynan cared for Simon for a year before the belt was returned to Vax. Vax gifted the belt to Velora Vessar during her resurrection ritual.
Properties[]
The belt grants its wearer immunity to the poisoned condition. It can also be turned into a poisonous snake as a bonus action, using the stat block for that creature included in the Player's Handbook. This can be done once a day and lasts for one hour, until the snake is reduced to 0 hit points, or unless the snake moves more than 100 feet away from its owner. The snake follows verbal commands issued by the one who animated it.[1][2] While a belt, the snake does not require food or water and is unaware of the time passing.[3]
History[]
Kith & Kin[]
Fan art of the serpent belt, by BlackSalander.[art 2]
The belt was first seen in the possession of Thorn, who received it as a gift from his master when he was an apprentice.[4] During their confrontation with the Shadewatch, Vax used the belt in its snake form as a distraction against Culwen, and it remained with him after the fight.[5][6] When Thorn and Vax parted ways, Vax tried to return the belt to him, but Thorn told him to keep it.[7]
Campaign One: Vox Machina[]
Vax was fond of the belt and named its snake form Simon, after the young boy Simon Brist.[8] The belt was first mentioned in "The Trick about Falling" (1x05), when Vax used it as part of a surprise attack on a pair of ogres.[9]
In "The Feast" (1x24), Vax used the belt to distract the guards outside the Briarwoods' guest room in Emon. As he was caught immediately afterward, he did not have a chance to pick it up again. Vax later asked the palace guards if they had found the belt, but he was not able to locate Simon.[10][11] In "Winter's Crest in Whitestone" (1x36), Vex'ahlia presented the belt to Vax as a gift, having made a secret trip to get it back from the guards.[12]
When the party were facing the prospect of a difficult fight against Thordak, Vax entrusted the belt to his protégé, Kynan Leore, for safekeeping.[13] Kynan kept the belt for over a year before Vax reclaimed it.[14] The belt was ultimately gifted to Vax's half-sister, Velora, during her resurrection ritual.[15]
Trivia[]
- Because Vax already owned the belt by the start of the Critical Role stream, it would have been acquired under Pathfinder rules and may possibly therefore correspond to the Pathfinder Serpent Belt.
- The belt also appears in The Legend of Vox Machina.[16]
- Liam O'Brien's character in Campaign Three, Orym, invited Fearne Calloway in snake form to wrap around him like a belt, prompting Matthew Mercer to mention Simon.[17]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3
Liam O'Brien (@VoiceOfOBrien) on Twitter: "Here. Have some red meat" (2016-04-26).
- ↑ See "Shadows of Thomara" (1x111) at 0:52:25.
- ↑ See "Family Matters" (1x96) at 1:25:14.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 183.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, pp. 320–321.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 328.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, pp. 345–346.
- ↑ See "Into the Frostweald" (1x48) at 29:24.
- ↑ See "The Trick about Falling" (1x05) at 1:54:31.
- ↑ See "Consequences and Cows" (1x26) at 1:00:27.
- ↑ See "The Path to Whitestone" (1x27) at 2:08:43.
- ↑ See "Talks Machina: Campaign Wrap-up" (Sx31) at 1:08:52.
- ↑ See "The Coming Storm" (1x73) at 1:12:34.
- ↑ See "Family Matters" (1x96) at 1:25:37.
- ↑ See "The Chapter Closes" (1x115) at 0:35:55.
- ↑ See "The Feast of Realms" (LVM1x03).
- ↑ See "On the Trail of a Killer" (3x04) at 1:33:19.
Art:
- ↑ Fan art of Simon the serpent belt, by DungeonScribe (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of the serpent belt, by BlackSalander (source). Used with permission.