WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for Critical Role Campaign 1, available on YoutTube and Spotify, as well as The Legend of Vox Machina, now streaming on Prime Video.
As is usual with any Dungeons & Dragons campaign, The Legend of Vox Machina was rife with magical artifacts that help the heroes and villains alike. Perhaps the coolest of any of the collection of crafts throughout the series was the haunted blade of Sylas Briarwood, the vampiric antagonist whose overwhelming power was bolstered by the blade in battle.
Though the story's basis in the Critical Role campaign that inspired it offers far more depth into the background and abilities of Sylas' sword, the show itself played those secrets close to the chest. By looking at the first season of The Legend of Vox Machina it is possible to look at the powers the blade demonstrated that may offer a teasing look at future storylines yet to come.
After the series took a couple of episodes to introduce its main cast of heroes, adventurers in a world of fantastical magic who call themselves Vox Machina, the true villains of the first season step forward to quickly establish their threat. Known collectively as the Briarwoods, Sylas proved to be the more physical of the pair as his astonishing strength and speed allowed him to mutilate mere mortals with his bare hands. But when Sylas faced off against the members of Vox Machina he does not go into battle bare-handed, and his blade proved to be every bit as cool as the vampire himself.
Sylas first summons the blade in a battle against the barbarian Grog, and even in summoning it, he proved its subtlest power. Dressed in formal attire for the evening's festivities, Sylas was seemingly unarmed when his first fight with Vox Machina began. He had only to reach behind his back and the blade manifested into his hands, a trick he pulled again later in the series to prove that the laws of space and time did not necessarily apply to the magical weapon. Yet it was when he started using the blade that its most unique ability reared its head.
The more Sylas slashed away at Grog, the more it absorbed Grog's blood into it to make the blade more powerful. Beautifully animated sequences showed slashes of blood reversing mid-air to sink into the metal of the black blade, causing it to grow in Sylas' hand to further its reach advantage. Though the implication was that the blade grew in power with each strike it landed, its mysteries were never plunged in the series itself. To find out the possible backstory to the blade and where it would go, fans are forced to turn to Critical Role which Grog's possession of the blade following Sylas' defeat allows for an opportunity where its mysteries unfold.
The story that unfolded in the source material could spoil crucial elements of future plotlines, so those looking to be surprised beware. In the Critical Role campaign, the blade became known as Craven Edge and served as a major part of Grog's story after the barbarian began wielding it. There, it turned out that the blade had a dark mind all its own. Speaking to Grog and constantly urging him toward the violence that fed it, the game mechanics behind the sword revealed the true power the animated series has yet to fully convey. It grants dark vision to its wielder, and its blood-sucking nature absorbs strength from its target that it transmits to its wielder. It was even so powerful that Craven Edge could devour a target's soul.
There is still no telling how closely The Legend of Vox Machina may follow its source material when it comes to the portrayal of Sylas' sword. It did end the first season in Grog's possession and the barbarian was delighted to have the new blade to accompany his axe.
But its dark edge could be exactly the thing Grog's story needs to take on its own unique focus. Little is known about the character and, though he proved endlessly entertaining in his own right, his story thus far has the least amount of nuance or depth to it. The sword may be just the direction to provide him the edge he needs, but in any case, it is sure to provide awesome action in the future of the series.
