- Vox Machina travels to Vasselheim to search for allies, turning to a group of seedy bounty-hunters, called the Slayer's Take. They encounter a creature who holds information that could help them against the dragons of the Chroma Conclave.
- Vox Machina travels to the mysterious ancient city of Vasselheim to search for allies. They're soon forced to turn to a group of seedy bounty-hunters, called the Slayer's Take. There they encounter an ancient creature who holds critical information that could help them in their fight against the dragons of the Chroma Conclave.
- Keyleth transports the party through a tree on the side of a mountain, causing the them to fall down the cliff. They survive thanks to their various powers, and find themselves within walking distance of Vassleheim. Pike leads them to The Platinum Sanctuary where the religious leaders of the city are gathered, and gets them an audience. The leaders are aware of Emon's destruction through a vision, and grants Vox Machina hospitality, but refuses to get Vassleheim involved, despite their protests. They are sent away, and Vax once again sees the dark, masked figure for a moment before she disappears. Highbearer Vord's assistant catches up with them and suggests they go to The Slayer's Take, a guild of monster hunting mercenaries, and ask their mysterious patron for help. Vax is reluctant, but Vex insists that they have friends there. On the way, Grog gets sidetracked and wanders off.
The rest of Vox Machina arrive at the Slayer's Take headquarters, and Vex and Vax are immediately recognized by Kashaw "Kash", a human cleric, and Zahra, a teifling warlock, who put a bounty on the half elves for double crossing them on a shared job years ago. The rest of the Take mercenaries surround the party, who now realize that they are down their barbarian. Grog meanwhile has gone to get food, and when finished he is enamored with one of the main religious buildings, dedicated to the Stormlord. Inside a large, outdoor training arena, he finds a monk grandmaster, Earthbreaker Groon, meditating. Groon knows that Grog enters seeking and answer to a question. He asks Grog where his strength comes from, and challenges the goliath to a hand-to-hand duel. Grog is skeptical of the old man, but takes him up on the offer. At the Take, Vex is unable to talk their way out of paying their debt to the guild, either in gold or their blood. Before the mercs can act, a booming voice from below order Vox Machina sent to it. The mercs obey, and Vox Machina is plunged into a deep cavern below the Take. They are met by a massive creature in the darkness, immune to their weapons and magic. She reveals herself to be Osysa, and ancient Sphynx, Chosen of the Knowing Mistress, and patron of the Slayer's Take. The party beg her to help them against the Chroma Conclave, and she decides to test their resolve.
At the Stormlord's arena, Earthbreaker Groon moves inhumanly fast and with incredible strength, easily overcoming Grog's brutal and heavy style. He asks Grog again where he draws his strength from. Grog becomes frustrated and angry, and resorts to his new weapon, Sylas Briarwood's sword, Craven Edge. Groon disarms him and points out his use of a dark sword as further proof of his weak conviction, and asks over and over again where his strength comes from. Grog finally answers that he knows it is not his muscles, but the strength of his heart. This is the wrong answer, and Groon continues to beat the barbarian with little effort.
In the sphinx's cavern, Osysa's power separates Vox Machina and examines their weaknesses. Vax, dependent on his sister for purpose. Vex, desperately seeking the love of her uncaring father. Pike, lacking faith that she can protect her friends. Percy, worried that he will never be trusted again. Keyleth, running away from her responsibilities to her people out of fear of failure. And Scanlan, suspicion that no one in the world truly cares about him. She says they are too parlayed by fear to be ready to fight the dragons, as, like so many before them, they do understand what the cost will be for such defiance, and tells them to go.
Earthbreaker Groon stops his attacks, and tells Grog that he has taken the first step towards true strength. Grog asks what the second step is, but Groon's answer is too cryptic for the injured goliath to understand.
Pike refuses to go, stating that no matter the cost, they will not run and hide. Osysa is impressed at the tiny cleric's conviction, and says they have passed her test. To defeat the dragons, they will require special weapons forged during a great Calamity called the Vestiges of Divergence. The first of which, the Deathwalker's Ward, is not too far from Vassleheim. She tells them to find it and bring it to her mate, who will tell them where the rest of the Vestiges are. The party thank her, and she reminds them that the fate of the world rests solely on their success. Zahra and Kash are extremely irritated that the party have survived their encounter. They reunite with Grog outside, and head for a round of drinks for getting started on the next leg of their journey. Percy stops by a nearby shop for some black powder, run by a half-crazed merchant named Victor. He tells Percy that he is the second person to have bought the novelty element from him lately, the other being a woman with one hand. Percy tries to brush it off, but worries this revelation could cause them future problems.
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