Cassandra convinces him not to shoot and Dr. Ripley may just be able to help them find the Briarwoods.
Percy’s reactions stokes some of Vox Machina’s lingering concerns about the darkness that has been taking over him. Pike (still an astral projection) lays her hands on him to sense what could be causing this change.
Percy sees a vision of Pike being attacked by dark claws. She tells him that he must go to a temple as soon as possible in order to save him. ..
Percy is concerned about the Briarwoods and agrees to hold off on killing Dr. Ripley so she can show them the way forward.
Vox Machina enters the Briarwoods Manor and comes across a residuum factory. The Briarwoods are producing tons of the substance, but Dr. Ripley says she doesn’t know why. ..
Percy’s gun suddenly glows with the name Cassandra de Rolo, startling everyone in the room. They all turn to find Cassandra about to close a door and leave them all behind. ..
Vax rushes forward and is just able to make it to the other side. Percy screams for his sister to no avail. The Briarwoods then appear behind Cassandra to tell her she has done well. Sylas casts a spell over Vax to control him. Percy’s sister is unable to help him, and the Briarwoods appear behind Cassandra, congratulating her on her performance. Sylas casts a spell on Vax, controlling his movements. ..
Percy sinks to his knees as Cassandra tells him he has brought this on himself by abandoning her. The Briarwoods are her family now. ..
Vox Machina triggers a trap that closes all around them, and the room begins to fill with acid.
Percy is still frozen, so Scanlan grabs him with his magic hand and they all rise up to the ceiling. Vex says that Cass may be gone, but she and the rest of his friends will never abandon him, and they need his help. ..
Percy awakens from his trance and helps the others figure out that there are two switches that can reverse the trap if pulled. The problem is that one of the switches is sitting at the bottom of the acid pool. ..
Grog is a brute who doesn’t ask questions. He just strips down and dives for it. He’s in excruciating pain, but with Pike healing him throughout the whole endeavour, he manages to pull the switch just as Percy and Dr. Ripley take care of the other one.
As the acid recedes, Vox Machina is able to press forward. The episode ends with the Briarwoods approaching the ziggurat. Delilah says the ritual will require a blood sacrifice. She then turns to look back at Vax.
The Episode Review
Though utilizing only one setting, this installment still manages to deliver a full and suspenseful arc brimming with twists and turns. ..
The big reveal in the episode was well-executed, but it’s the little details I found most intriguing, such as Pike’s vision of Percy’s darkness and the glow of a new name on his pepperbox. So much more is in store for Percy’s character, and things will only get worse before they can get better.
The episode was good. I thought Vox Machina could trust Dr. Ripley because he has been a good friend to them in the past. However, I wasn’t sure if the Briarwoods could truly trust Cassandra because she has been known to be unreliable in the past.
