"Vexations" (LVM3x03) is the third episode of The Legend of Vox Machina, Season Three. Go to hell, Vox Machina! But stop in Draconia first. Don't worry - Kima and Allura know someone there who can help. You'll love her, she's great. But first, don't forget romance. Percy has feelings for Vex, Vax has feelings for Keyleth. What could go wrong?
Plot summary[]
Thordak is in his lair, caring for his eggs, conversing with Raishan and Vorugal about the missing Vox Machina (whom Raishan has promised but failed to locate). Growing angry, he tells Vorugal to spread the word that anyone delivering the party to him will receive Raishan's share of their empire... so she had better find them first. She has two days.
Meanwhile, Vox Machina is back in Whitestone trying to figure out what to do next, joined by Allura Vysoren, Kima, Cassandra, and Keeper Yennen. Allura suggests a former ally of theirs, Dohla, might be able to help them get there, but Kima scoffs at the suggestion since there was a serious falling out between herself and Dohla. Dohla is now part of the Draconian Assembly, helping her people guard a hidden rift to the Hells. While Percy is reluctant to leave Whitestone, Cassandra assures him she can continue being an effective leader there. While she speaks, she notices his distraction with Vex'ahlia, and urges him to accept Vex's subtle invitation to join her later that evening. Later, armed with a bottle of Courage, Percy works up the nerve to knock on Vex's door. She opens it, completely naked, and pulls him inside for joyful sex.
Screenshot of Keyleth and Vax'ildan, by Titmouse from "Vexations" (LVM3x03).[art 2]
Simultaneously, Vax visits Keyleth in her room and they sit awkwardly on the bed as he tells her they can't be together because their future is clouded with misery. Even aside from his commitment to the Matron of Ravens, Keyleth will outlive him by many centuries. Keyleth asks if joy today isn't worth pain tomorrow, but he is reluctant to put her through that. Keyleth urges that they take risks all the time, but when he refuses, tells him to get out if he's afraid to let her in. Alone, she collapses on the floor crying as Percival and Vex's lovemaking reaches its climax.
At sunrise, Pike finds Scanlan alone, playing his lute, and reassuringly tells him that no matter how bad he messed up with Kaylie, she's here. When he leans to kiss her, she pulls back, saying that's not all all what she meant. Apologizing, he leaves her there.
Vax spends the night despondently on the floor outside Kiki's door, and in the morning Percival unexpectedly runs into him as he sneaks out of Vex's room. Both hideously embarrassed, they return to their own rooms. Later, dressed for travel to the icy Draconia, the party is accosted by Jarett Howarth, who quickly reveals himself to be Raishan in disguise telling them that Thordak is suspicious and they have two days only.
The party, along with Allura and Kima, arrive in frigid Draconia and are greeted by Dohla, who offers the use of the gateway to Despath if it will aid them against the Conclave. She leads them on a long journey there, but tells them some of the group must stay behind in order to be able to re-open the gate in exactly 12 hours. Kima, Allura, Percy, and Vex volunteer to remain while the others dash through into Hell, within sight of the city of Dis, wreathed in the souls of the wicked.
Back in the cavern holding the gateway, Kima talks to Dohla about the crush Kima believed Dohla had on her, while Percy tries to talk to Vex about their relationship. Vex seems reluctant to call it anything beyond fun, or even just a mistake, but Percival is pushing her for more when she clasps her head in pain, sensing a dragon flying toward them. The five of them run for cover with Vorugal in pursuit. The dragon sends shards of ice crashing around them but eventually flies away. Dohla urges them to a peak further away, and they realize they are getting dangerously far from the gateway.
Dohla then reveals she resented the accolades the two received when they returned to Tal'Dorei from imprisoning Thordak, feeling slighted. She activates a glowing beacon which will draw Vorugal to them, since the dragons have promised to spare Draconia and grant her the power she feels Allura and Kima stole. A brief battle ensues while Vorugal draws near, chasing the party as Allura uses one of her magical shields as a toboggan. Eventually Dohla collapses the mountain on top of them, knocking Kima out of the toboggan and down the mountain as Vorugal approaches. Dohla appears, urging him on, but Vorugal swallows her in annoyance. Vex's flaming arrow slows the beast just enough to allow the other three to reach a cave, in which the dragon seals them with ice while he flies in search of Kima.
Percival checks on Vex, who tells him she's not ready yet to tell him what he wants to hear, as in her experience her relationships always end badly. He agrees to consider this just a fling to spare her from any more angst. Vex tells a worried Allura that Kima will be all right, as will their friends, now in hell and cut off from the aid of their gods. They all have to believe everything will be all right.
Credits[]
Cast[]
- Laura Bailey as Vex'ahlia
- Taliesin Jaffe as Percy
- Ashley Johnson as Pike
- Matthew Mercer as Draconian Steward, Soul
- Liam O'Brien as Vax'ildan, Vorugal
- Marisha Ray as Keyleth
- Sam Riegel as Scanlan
- Travis Willingham as Grog
Crew[]
- Written by - Meredith Kecskemety
- Directed by - Karen Guo
- Storyboard Artists - Karen Guo, Angela Kim, Veronica Liu, Brian Pak, Erin Won
Featured characters[]
Quotations[]
- Vex: (answering Percy's knock) Who is it?
Percy: Uh, it's Percival. (she opens the door, naked) I was hoping... we could... chat.
Vex: Of course. Would you like to talk before, or after? - Vorugal: Don't worry, I won't bite. I swallow my prey whole.
- Percy: We both know there's something between us.
Vex: Maybe, but I'm not ready to say what you want to hear. Relationships are... dangerous.
Trivia[]
- In the livestreamed game, the encounter between Percy and Vex'ahlia took place in "The Siege of Emon" (1x78) at 1:57:34.
References[]
Art:
- ↑ Screenshot of Vox Machina, Kima, and Allura, by Titmouse from "Vexations" (LVM3x03). 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.
- ↑ Screenshot of Keyleth and Vax'ildan, by Titmouse from "Vexations" (LVM3x03). 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.