After barely surviving their encounter with the blue dragon Brimscythe, Vox Machina returns to Emon emptyhanded. However, they suspect that someone within the Council of Tal'Dorei is colluding with the beast. Hence, they set forth to figure out just who the traitor might be, and what else could be in store for the kingdom.
Tropes
- Bait-and-Switch: Vex believes that the shady, sneaky Finch is the one who's colluding with the dragon, and the rest of the party rolls with this conclusion. Turns out it was General Krieg who was the real traitor.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: Brimsycthe delivers one to the army of Emon. They barely managed to put a dent in him before he brutally wiped out the entire platoon.
- Lord Briarwood ends up brutally dispatching three bandit highwaymen who try to hold up him and Lady Briarwood.
- Cuteness Proximity: The palace guards are seen petting Trinket, but snap back to position when Vox Machina leaves the throne room.
- Didn't See That Coming: Said verbatim by Vex when Krieg transforms into a dragon.
- Double Entendre: Scanlan’s magical song to unlock the front door of Krieg’s mansion has the following lyrics: “Open your back door baby. Loosen your hinges I’ll show you my key”. It's not hard to pick up on the double meaning of the song, especially given Scanlan's character.
- Establishing Character Moment: Within seconds of his introduction, the fabulous Shaun Gilmore flamboyantly introduces himself and his business before noticing Vax and intimately hugging him.
- Explain, Explain... Oh, Crap!: The gang is at first ecstatic to find a chamber packed with gold...until they realize it's the dragon's lair.
- Fastball Special: When Vox Machina turns the tables on Brimscythe, Scanlan uses his magic hand to hurl Vax towards the dragon so he can attack its weak point.
- Foreshadowing: Keyleth examines four polished black stones in Brimscythe's lair. One of them transforms into a monstrous green eye, and a sinister voice whispers "intruders..." This would suggest that these stones allow the other four members of the Chroma Conclave to contact Brimscythe; the eye and voice (provided by Cree Summer), are likely those of Raishan.
- A Homeowner Is You: Vox Machina's reward for slaying the dragon isn't gold, but rather the deed and keys to their own keep in Emon. This was done as a way to keep the party within the kingdom and easy to contact when danger arises.
- Mugging the Monster: The Briarwoods are introduced near the end of the episode being held up by a trio of bandits. As Lord Briarwood is a powerful vampire, he quite handily and brutally dispatches all three of them with no trouble.
- Mythology Gag: Vox Machina's trouble with opening doors rears its ugly head.
