The Legend of Vox Machina’s second season has wrapped up, with an excellent struggle and a cliffhanger that can have followers eagerly awaiting season 3. Threaded via the season had been a number of appearances by a quite unlikely Vital Function villain, who performed a significant position in Percy’s backstory and confrontation with the Briarwoods in season 1.
[Ed. note: This article contains spoilers for season 2 of The Legend of Vox Machina.]
Dr. Anna Ripley, inventor and former follower of the Briarwoods, is among the few free threads from Percy’s previous. She’s performed by Matthew Mercer within the actual-play sequence, and Kelly Hu (X2) within the animated sequence. Within the first season, Ripley is found in Whitestone, and Percy practically kills her on sight for the position she performed in his household’s demise and the torture she inflicted on him beneath the Briarwoods’ rule.
Ripley escapes Vox Machina earlier than they struggle the Briarwoods within the first season, however in season 2 she begins to resurface. Like Percy, Ripley has a fascination with firearms; earlier than she leaves within the first season, she spends time questioning Percy about his weapons. Whereas Percy is looking for black powder, the service provider who sells it informs him that another person bought black powder that week — somebody with one hand. Percy realizes that Ripley continues to be on the transfer, however finally ends up concealing it from his buddies.
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Picture: Prime Video
Later, Ripley reappears alongside Umbrasyl, who she approaches about gathering Vestiges. Vox Machina by no means will get an opportunity to confront her, however she’s threaded via the narrative, and even observes the ultimate struggle of the season earlier than she escapes (once more). It’s a departure from the precise play — after the Briarwood arc, Ripley disappears for a very good 30 or so episodes earlier than she makes a reappearance. Tying her story to that of the Chroma Conclave has attention-grabbing implications for simply how a lot she’ll characteristic in season 3.
“Ripley and her story ultimately turn out to be rather more vital, as she reenters the world of Vox Machina in the primary marketing campaign,” Mercer advised Polygon in our latest roundtable interview with the Vital Function solid. “So, a part of this dialogue [was] easy methods to weave these two beforehand unrelated narratives collectively, in a approach that is sensible however doesn’t detract from the narrative of each tales.”
“She has must-have moments for the present, so we’ve got to justify why a lot is being sliced out — we additionally need to justify these must-moments we’ve got later,” Liam O’Brien added.
“Plus, it additionally makes for enjoyable points of preserving our long-standing Critters on their toes,” Mercer mentioned. “When small modifications like that blend up their expectations.”
Not solely will Ripley return to the animated sequence, she’s additionally getting her personal graphic novel, The Legend of Vox Machina: Whitestone Chronicles – Ripley, set for 2024, that can reside inside the canon of The Legend of Vox Machina. Marieke Nijkamp, writer of the Kith & Kin Vox Machina companion novel, will deliver the devious physician to life alongside artist Tyler Walpole. The novel will chart Ripley’s years in Whitestone with the Briarwoods, earlier than her imprisonment. You may learn a preview from Darkish Horse Comics now.
