Heartwarming / Critical Role Vasselheim Arc

As a Moments subpage, all spoilers are unmarked as per policy. You Have Been Warned.

Episode 17: Hubris

• During the episode the Geek & Sundry channel gained more than 300 new subscribers because one of the regular audience members vowed to buy the cast an 8-foot tall Trinket if the subscription count hit 5,000. The cast, and audience, were all moved by the love and support of the fans. It doubles as a Moment of Awesome.
• Despite losing in the Crucible fight, the bookie congratulates Grog on his supreme fighting abilities and says that the Goliath is welcome to fight in his ring whenever he feels like it.
• Orion is horrified by the realization that his fireballs hurt his teammates, due to a misunderstanding with Matt regarding the hydra's size. He tries to redo the spell but they disagree because it is officially done, even Liam whose character took damage; he (Liam) says "that makes it interesting". So instead Orion uses the "How Do You Want To Do This" to express his anguish by roleplaying; Tiberius shouts "You bastard, I didn't mean to do this!" while using Control Flame to contain the fireball. Matt ruled that he could only do that with the second one, because it is how their private game worked.
• Trinket gets knocked unconscious during the fight and everyone immediately closes ranks around him while Keyleth heals him.
• There's another "Critmas" after the session, which is as heartwarming as the previous occasions, but two items stand out in this one. The first is a bear-themed snuggie for Laura, who squeed and immediately put it on. The result is as adorable as you imagine; Liam petted her. The second one is a large wooden caligraphy sign that incorporates elements of Vox Machina. Everyone is awed by it and Matt declares that it is going up on the wall as a set piece.

Episode 18: Trial of the Take, Part 1

• This and episode 19 are heartwarming in the way that the audience immediately latched on to the characters of Lyra and Zahra and the people who played them Felicia Day and Mary Elizabeth McGlynn respectively.
• Vex and Zahra initially butt heads, but once they have a talk over the campfire and realize they have some things in common, their tension is soon after defused.

Episode 19: Trial of the Take, Part 2

• Despite being somewhat bemused and frustrated by her throughout the last episode and this, the gang generally treats Lyra quite well, to the point where she admits they're the first real friends she's ever had. Scanlan even praises Lyra as he's talking to the guild mistress, claiming that she's the only leader they'd want to have for future contracts.
• When Scanlan is downed, Grog rage-rushes to his side and force-feeds him a healing potion, exclaiming that he can't lose his buddy for "going to lady favor places".
• Zahra casts Beast Speak and talks to Trinket to ask him how he feels about the fight they're going into, he replies through the spell "I'll do whatever it takes to protect my Vex. If this creature tries anything, I will tear its throat from its head!" and nuzzles Vex after she tells him she loves him through Zahra.
• Vex gives Zahra a big hug after they finish their mission, officially calling each off best friends.
• When Scanlan revives Lyra while disguised as Aldor, she quickly smothers and kisses him. But then she realizes the height difference and Scanlan dispels the Seeming spell. She then goes:
  Lyra: That was not as good a kiss as usual. I was worried...
  Scanlan: I'm sorry.
  Lyra: But it was special.
• Just the overall joy of Lyra succeeding on her first official hunt as leader of a group is felt by her teammates and even by the audience themselves.
• Despite the group's suspicion that this was a Suicide Mission, it turns out that Vanessa, the leader of Slayers Take, bet 210 gold coins on their success.
• Lyra saying how she thinks she needs to Really Get Around and gain experience to win the heart of the guy who slept with her then threw her aside. Vanessa ends up saying that she needs to have a talk with Lyra, woman to woman to make sure she doesn't do anything too rash.

Episode 20: Trial of the Take, Part 3

• For as rough and tumble as Thorbir is, buying a small mask for a small girl (confirmed in the next episode to be his daughter).
• When Keyleth needs new robes to blend into the high-class establishment the group are infiltrating, Vax offers to take her shopping and pay for it, without a second thought.
• The reason Steve Blum stopped by behind the scenes? He was doing a video on the show for Toonami Pre-Flight.

Episode 21: Trial of the Take, Part 4

• Hotis threatens the group's families just before he tries to flee. What follows is Tiberius using his highest level spell slot (6th) to block his escape and then Vax kills him. Two turns after the threat, he dies. It may be a coincidence, but the context is heartwarming.
  Vax: What did you say about my sister? *slits his throat*
• Much like how Vex and Zahra came to be friends by the end of their mission, so did Vax and Thorbir as they came to respect each other's skills and became genuinely concerned for each other as comrades. Thorbir even praises them at the end of their trial and even the Huntmaster finally acknowledges their strength and skill:
  Thorbir: If the rest of this team is half as good as these members, the Take has grown much stronger this day. They are worthy.
  Vanessa Cyndrial: I believe you are correct. I think there will be great things ahead for us. (to the party) ...Welcome to the Slayer's Take.
  • And on that note, Kashaw admitting that the adventure was "certainly interesting", Tiberius giving his respect to both him and Thorbir, and Kashaw finally calling him by his actual name. Tiberius' reaction is just as heartwarming.
• After finding her upbeat attitude annoying the whole way through, Kashaw gives a Big Damn Kiss to Keyleth before making his exit.
• At one point, almost everyone who was in this 4-parter (save an absent Sam and Felicia) is together at the table.

Episode 22: Aramente to Pyrah

• The entire episode was pretty much The Power of Friendship at its finest; from the team reuniting (and mourning the loss of the carpet), to the surprise reappearance of Pike, to everyone supporting Keyleth for her trial 100%. Especially how everyone makes it clear they're family.
• When Keyleth tells the rest of the party about Kashaw and their Big Damn Kiss, Marisha plays up Keyleth's crush, and it's adorable.
• When Tiberius goes shopping for new gear, Vax follows him and pays for all of it himself as thanks for Tiberius saving his life.
• Vax calling Keyleth by an Affectionate Nickname for the first time.
  Vax: We're going to get some potions, and then we're going to see Kiki's family.
  Vex: Kiki?^* It's unclear how much of Vex's apparent disapproval of her brother and Keyleth's closer relationship is her looking out for him and how much is jealousy, but there is something there.
  Keyleth: I like it.
• Everyone is horrified and worried when they're hearing about Keyleth's vision of her death and is worried for her as she practically breaks down about how terrified the vision made her. They make sure to let her know she won't face the Fire Aramente alone, no matter what.
• Cerkonos starts the Boss Battle by asking what they have learned. Tiberius turns this into a Pre-Asskicking One-Liner by pulling out a blight spell scroll and saying "here's what she taught me!". Keyleth chimes in to say that she really did teach him that.
• Since she started restoring Sarenrae's temple, Pike has unwittingly developed a fan club. Everyone else working there has started calling themselves her "followers".

Episode 23: The Rematch

• Scanlan was not, as previously thought, spending his time at the house of lady favors while the party was gone. He was actually at a slumber party with Zahra and two other tieflings. The whole week was entirely PG rated bonding.
• During Grog's rematch with Kern, Scanlan's bets 100 gold against him. What makes this heartwarming is how he cheats on Grog's behalf despite this: 2x Inspiration and a Cutting Words. With Grog's victory, the others note that he "looks poorer" but he says it was Worth It.
• Grog and Kern shake hands and say "good fight" at the end. Grog even tells him about Castle Greyskull so they can have a second rematch. He also returns the "2nd place medal" but even that rings of Friendly Rivalry, like a traveling trophy.
• Vax's very heartfelt talk with Kynan, the boy who wanted to join Vox Machina despite his glaring inexperience. After some "Tough Love" (read: non-lethal sneak attack to the temple) to illustrate the danger of the adventurer life style, he tells Kynan to continue training and come back again. If he does then he will be the boy's mentor. Further, Vax convinces him that he was once as foolish as he was, but Vax will train him to be better.
  • The rest of the party says What the Hell, Hero? for the rough treatment, particularly Vex and Tiberius. Yes, the grumpy one insists there were better ways to handle the situation from physical trials to guard duty or a mission, that didn't involve knocking him out and breaking his heart.
• Scanlan's description of Pike after scrying and checking up on her through the poo (It Makes Sense in Context) and describing her to Vox Machina as beautiful and just everything wonderful they think of her.