Keyleth

Keyleth
Player character
Official 2016 portrait of Keyleth, by Kit Buss. Screenshot of Keyleth from "The Terror of Tal'Dorei - Part 1" (LVM1x01).
Basic information
Actor	Marisha Ray (Campaign 1 and one-shots) Matthew Mercer (Campaign 2 and Campaign 3)
Race	Half-elf
Class	Druid (Circle of the Moon)
Biographical information
Full name	Keyleth
Pronouns	she/her
Titles	Voice of the Tempest
Also known as	Kiki Minxie (as saber-toothed tiger) Majesty or Highness (by Tiberius Stormwind) Antlers (by Taryon Darrington) Chief T (by Derrig) Kimothée (human disguse)
Age	Around 21 or 25 to 26 (Campaign 1; 810 PD) Around 47 or 51 to 52 (Campaign 2; 836 PD) Around 54 or 58 to 59 (Campaign 3; 843 PD)
Languages	Common, Elvish, Sylvan, Druidic, Primordial
Places	Zephrah, Tal'Dorei (hometown)
Family	Keyleth's family Korrin (father) Vilya (mother)
Partner	Vax'ildan (boyfriend, deceased)
Affiliations	Ashari (Head of the Air Ashari) Vox Machina (member) Slayer's Cake (co-owner and operator)
Status Status Alive (resurrected) Cause of death Performed a reckless swan dive off a 1000-foot cliff
Mechanical information
Creature type	Humanoid
Alignment	Neutral Good
Level	20
HP 147 AC 17 DC 21 Strength 14 Dexterity 15 Constitution 14 Intelligence 15 Wisdom 22 /20 Charisma 10 / 8 Speed walk 30 ft.
Stats reference
Appearances First seen Stream: "Arrival at Kraghammer" (1x01) Print: Critical Role: Winter's Crest Festival Animated: "The Terror of Tal'Dorei - Part 1" (LVM1x01) Last seen Stream: "Doorways to Darker Depths" (3x86) Print: Vox Machina Origins Series III #5 Animated: "The Hope Devourer" (LVM2x12) Stream Campaign 1 (112 episodes) Campaign 2 (1 episode) Campaign 3 (15 episodes) One-shots (8 episodes) Television The Legend of Vox Machina (24 episodes) Comics Critical Role: Winter's Crest Festival Vox Machina Origins Series I Vox Machina Origins Series II Vox Machina Origins Series III Other works Pre-stream

I don't know if I'm the leader you deserve, or a good leader, but I'm willing to dedicate the rest of my life to doing whatever I can for all of us. As long as Vox Machina stands by my side.

— Keyleth speaking to the Air Ashari

Keyleth (/ˈkiːlɪθ/) is a half-elf druid member of Vox Machina. She is played by Marisha Ray.

Keyleth was raised in Zephrah as a member of the Air Ashari tribe. When she was a child, her mother Vilya left on a journey to earn the title of headmaster of the tribe, but never came back. After reaching adulthood, Keyleth left her home to attempt the Aramenté herself.

During her adventures with Vox Machina, she became the wielder of a legendary staff, the Spire of Conflux, to fight against the Chroma Conclave. She completed her Aramenté and became the headmaster of the Air Ashari, a position that grants her the title "Voice of the Tempest", and extends her lifespan to over a thousand years.

Intro

"A first impression of Keyleth would leave you with little information on the half-elven druid. You might even think that her social awkwardness, due to her sheltered upbringing, is... kind of sweet. Of course, it would be unwise to underestimate her based on first impressions. Under that unintimidating petite frame is a vicious beast waiting to be unleashed, whose natural powers have made even the fiercest of champions pee their pants. Literally.

Born to the air tribe of the Ashari people, Keyleth was raised with a deep love of nature and the elemental magics. It is her people's inherent duty to protect the delicate areas in Tal'Dorei, where the four elemental planes begin to bleed with this realm. Since she was a little girl, she had quite a knack for air manipulation and beast shaping abilities; well, if you consider kittens and flying squirrels to be little beasts, which I do. Anyways, it wasn't long before the headmaster of the tribe, her father, Korrin, realized her true prodigious abilities and she was inveterated to succeed him as the next headmaster. Just like that, her jovial childhood was stripped and replaced with endless spell memorization, teachings from ancient traditions, and exceedingly high expectations.

Every druid leader-to-be must embark on a journey to seek out the sister tribes in order to introduce and establish respect amongst the fellow headmasters. They call this the Aramenté, or Noble Odyssey. When her father felt she was ready, he set her on the path to truly discovering herself. Not knowing when, or if, she will ever return. As she hikes down the mountain towards Stilben, she meditated on the task ahead. Part of the Aramenté is proving yourself a strong warrior, a valiant protector, and a wise and compassionate leader. With this knowledge, one thought plays in repeat in her mind: is she even worthy?"

Description

Appearance

Official art of Keyleth, by Ulvar.

During Campaign 1, Keyleth is a twenty-three-year-old young half-elven woman standing about 6' tall, with fair skin, green eyes and long red hair, which was later cut short. She is depicted with freckles on her nose and cheeks in some official material. She's almost never seen without her signature "antlers", a druidic circlet. She would later wear the Mantle of the Tempest, a long cloak made of dark green leathers that unfurl into autumn-colored leaves.

After joining the Slayer's Take, Keyleth has the brand of the guild on her right arm. In the year that passed between Vex'ahlia's first successful Grey Hunt and the party's vacation to Marquet, Keyleth received tattoos along her chest, shoulders, and back to symbolize the Mantle of the Tempest when she's not wearing it, as a reminder of her position as the Voice of the Tempest.

In 836 PD (at the time of her appearance in Campaign 2), Keyleth's description seemed to match her previous appearance. Because of the druid ability Timeless Body, even though Keyleth is 47 years old at the time, she should appear to be around 25 years old.

Personality

Keyleth is shy and very socially inept. This makes it difficult for her to persuade others to help her and her friends out in many situations. However, she also has a strong moral compass, which leads her to question at times some of the rather extreme choices that Vox Machina tends to make. Although she has slowly been overcoming her own social flaws, at times her anger gets the better of her. She has been gaining more confidence in herself, and becoming more pragmatic, without compromising her morals. At times, Keyleth is prone to acting impulsively, which has led to unfavorable outcomes. However, she's also very tenacious and stubborn, refusing to give up even in the bleakest of circumstances and always wanting to go the extra mile to help others. Another thing that defines Keyleth is her tendency to feel guilty. She tends to focus more on her mistakes than her successes.

Whereas many of her people, the Ashari, are worshipers of the nature goddess Melora, following her as a deity and example, Keyleth herself is much less devout. In fact, she has a very strong distrust towards any religious establishment. This is due to several unpleasant experiences in the past where she had witnessed corruption within those of the faith. It is after the attack of the Chroma Conclave, or the Chroma Crisis, begins that she starts to overcome her distrust of the gods, most notably taking an interest in Melora herself.

Despite her peoples' exceedingly high expectations of her, deep down Keyleth never wanted the responsibility she was given. But she felt as if she couldn't escape from it, that she had no control over her future since birth. She yearned to return to the normal life she once had, to be blissful and ignorant again. However, over time, she has learned to accept her responsibilities. After many struggles, she took up the mantle of the Voice of the Tempest and became a leader for her people. By the end of the campaign, she had accepted herself as a leader, and exhausted, she was ready to retire from adventuring.

Keyleth also believed for the longest time that she did not deserve happiness. She has a strong fear of death and of losing those close to her. She worries that even if she lives to fulfill her Aramenté, she will still watch those close to her die. This has caused her great pain and for some time made her unable to allow herself to love others, such as Vax'ildan, who would become her first boyfriend. She eventually fought that same fear and confessed her feelings to him. It was also Vax who taught her how to love and take chances.

Keyleth feels attraction towards confident and self-assured people because those are qualities that don't come easy to her. She not only returned Vax's affections when she confessed her love for him, but also has expressed an attraction to women. As she mentions to Percy during Grog's rematch with Earthbreaker Groon, when Vex thinks of flashing Grog to "inspire" him, Keyleth suggests it could be inspiring for all of them. But she herself is new at relationships in general and trying to figure things out about herself.

Keyleth is one of the party's main spellcasters. She often uses her Wild Shape abilities to turn into various creatures for battle, scouting, transportation, stealth, and many other purposes. She can control the elements, and at times she uses these abilities to slow down enemies or buy time but is also capable of using said powers to defend herself and others. Keyleth also possesses some knowledge of healing, as she can heal the wounds of her friends and she once managed to bring Grog out of a catatonic state.

Biography

Before Campaign 1

Background

Keyleth was born in the Air Ashari village of Zephrah to two other half-elven druids, Korrin and Vilya. Ever since she was a little girl, she had a natural talent for transforming into beasts and for using magic.

When Keyleth was only five or six years old, Vilya had gone on the Aramenté to succeed Korrin as headmaster, but she never returned. Due to that, Keyleth became next in line. As such, she found herself groomed to become Korrin's successor, having to undergo endless training in the ways of her people, under the weight of the high expectations of her people. She learned the rites of the Ashari, politics, economics, and the art of the druidcraft. Due to her sheltered life and homeschooling, Keyleth never really had any friends growing up.

When she came of age at age 20, Keyleth set off into the world to follow in her parents' footsteps, to seek out the sister-tribes of the Ashari, establish respect and communication between the fellow headmasters, and become a strong leader for her people. Initially, Korrin sent an escort with Keyleth, planning for them to reach Stilben, then together sail to the Fire Ashari, Water Ashari, and arrive to the Earth Ashari in a span of five years. Keyleth, however, firmly declined their help, when they reached the threshold of Zephrah and sent them back to her father. Korrin was impressed with her maturity and was convinced she had the heart of a leader, after all.

Early in her journey, Keyleth found herself in the swamp town of Stilben where she met members of the group that would—herself included—eventually form the adventuring party that would become Vox Machina.

Vox Machina: Origins

Series I

Oh, I'm... no, I'm nobody. I'm... it's not important. I'm Keyleth.

— Keyleth introduces herself to the twins

Keyleth ran into Vax'ildan and Vex'ahlia for the first time in the K'tawl Swamp, near Stilben. She healed a wound on Vax's chest and was very friendly towards the twins, but was only met with distrust from them, especially Vex. Keyleth stated that the swamp water might be poisoned, and drank some to find out, much to the dismay of the twins. They parted way shortly after, and Keyleth returned to the town, where she met up with Tiberius and the rest of her group: Stitch, Brul, and Helicax. The party had been hired by The Clasp to find out who was poisoning the peasants they rely on for their prostitution supply and narcotics sales. When Stitch asked for compensation for a job well done but got poisoned, they got 12 hours to get to the bottom of the killings, or else Stitch would die.

Official art of Keyleth greeting Vex'ahlia and Vax'ildan, by Olivia Samson from Vox Machina Origins Volume I Issue #1.

Keyleth and Tiberius split off from the rest of their group, and headed for an alchemical laboratory where they ran into Vex and Vax, as well as Scanlan and Grog, who Tiberius had met previously. The pairs didn't trust each other but banded together to fight a common enemy, Iselda. After Iselda retreated into a mirror, Keyleth suggested that they all work together since they ultimately had the same goal, but the pairs all turned her down and went their own separate ways.

Vex'ahlia later called on the help of the others to help her rescue Vax, who had been kidnapped and pulled inside a magic mirror. Keyleth was the only one to accept. She followed Vex to the outskirts of town and was introduced to Trinket. The trio headed for the docks in search of Vax and ran again into the others. They all witnessed an explosion as Vax'ildan jumped out of a hole in the side of a ship, where he was being held captive.

The group decided to work together this time, and boarded the Mockingbird. They fought their way to Iselda as well as the source of the poison that has been plaguing the inhabitants of Stilben. They managed to kill her, stop a strange ritual, and escape through the previously made hole in the side of the ship. Afterward, they all headed to a tavern together.

Series II
When tracking the whereabouts of their friend Grog, the party that would one day become Vox Machina was directed to the Trickfoot household, where they met Pike. Later, the party had to split to find ingredients for a ritual to save Grog from a lich attempting to possess his body. Keyleth went with Pike and Scanlan to the Umbra Hills to find the skull of a nightmare.

While looking for a cult rumored to possess the item, the trio interrogated Percival de Rolo, a prisoner accused of being one of the cultists. He explained to them that he was actually put in jail by the cult, and Keyleth and the others busted him out in exchange for his help. After their mission was complete, Percival decided to tag along with them.

"CelebriD&D with Joe Manganiello" (OSx09)

A paladin of Tiamat, Arkhan, hired a small group of mercenaries, including Keyleth and Percival, to investigate the Vault of Shumas in the Aggrad Mountains of Marquet, where they discovered the Wreath of the Prism.

"The Story of Vox Machina" (Mx04) and other pre-stream events

Keyleth and several other members of Vox Machina fell into a subterranean river system below Emon, where they encountered an aboleth. Keyleth almost died after turning into a shark to fight it in the water, as the aboleth created a slime that tainted the water and pulled the oxygen out of it, causing her to suffocate.

At some point, Keyleth was thrown in jail and the party had to figure out a way to get her out. Scanlan managed to convince the guards that she had pubic lice. She played along by foaming at the mouth and acting insane. Percy acted as her lawyer.

First official portrait of Keyleth, by Kit Buss.

Keyleth used a form of a white saber-toothed tiger, which Grog named "Minxie", to help Grog intimidate somebody, pretending to be his pet tiger. This animal form became her favorite.

While fighting an abyssal monstrosity, Keyleth made a wall of stone to create a safe patch on the floor covered in bones. If a creature, standing on the bones, didn't move during their turn, they had to save against being pulled underground by cursed skeleton hands.

Vox Machina was forced to fight the Dread Emperor after they discovered he was abducting children and had abducted Uriel Tal'Dorei's son. While the group was in an alternate plane of existence controlled by the being known as the Dread Emperor, Keyleth was able to stop a fight against a corrupted treant using her ability Dominate Plants. While fighting the Dread Emperor, one of his defenses was using children chained by their necks to him as living shields to share the damage he took from the group's attacks. When Keyleth attempted to rescue one of the children with her Grasping Vine spell, she got into a tug-of-war fight with the Dread Emperor over the child. The child accidentally died when his neck broke from too much pressure around the collar.

During the six-month period of time where Vox Machina decided to split to pursue their own separate goals, Keyleth traveled to Terrah alone to complete her Earth Ashari trial. However, she experienced great difficulty due to the trauma of the child's death still fresh in her mind.

Campaign 1: Vox Machina

Arc 1: Kraghammer and Vasselheim

"Yug'Voril Uncovered" (1x09)
While the party was journeying through the Underdark, Keyleth mentioned her suspicions about Lady Kima of Vord. Vax argued that she wasn't being fair to her. He then told the druid that he knew about her hardships, that they all have had them, and that they have all made mistakes. Keyleth subsequently broke down in tears, wondering if they were doing the right thing and upset that she killed a lot of people. Vax, along with Percy and Tiberius, went on to mention that despite the situation in which they found themselves, miles underground, they were the only ones that could put a stop to K'Varn's plot and that they would get through their ordeal together.

"Aramente to Pyrah" (1x22)
Vox Machina journeyed to Pyrah so Keyleth could attempt the next step of her Aramenté. They met with Cerkonos, Flamespeaker and headmaster of the Fire Ashari. Cerkonos confirmed that Keyleth's mother, Vilya, came through about ten years ago on her own Aramenté. He invited Keyleth to begin her trial immediately, with no preparation. They proceeded to the Cindergrove, where they found and entered a portal into the Elemental Plane of Fire. Cerkonos told her to "follow the footsteps" to find a "stone spire."

Arriving at the stone obelisk that Cerkonos told them to look for, they found Cerkonos himself and two other druids. The druids transformed into fire elementals to test the party's skills in combat. The party took down two of the druids before a cinder storm interrupted their fight and they were forced to flee the plane. Once back outside the portal, Cerkonos congratulated Keyleth on completing her trial. He gifted her a spark stone in celebration of the deed.

Arc 2: The Briarwoods

"Consequences and Cows" (1x26)
Keyleth expressed her concerns to the rest of the group about Percy's brutal behavior while fighting The Broker and his entourage, namely butchering an unconscious old woman, but the group was quick to justify it based on his traumatized state after confronting the Briarwoods. Keyleth also put forth the idea that the group should consider their sense of morality more going forward. She considered leaving the group if this kind of senseless violence continued. The group agreed that they should all be more mindful of their actions.

"Reunions" (1x33)
Vax finally revealed to Keyleth, after almost dying again at the hands of Professor Anders, that he was in love with her and emphasized it with a kiss. Vax's sudden display of affection greatly flustered Keyleth.

"Race to the Ziggurat" (1x34)
Keyleth stayed behind while the rest of the group left the ziggurat and tried shoving some glass into the black orb. As her hand got to a point of no resistance, she felt an immediate, extremely strong suction begin to pull towards her hand, and yanked back with all her might, pulling away successfully.

It was revealed during "Talks Machina Special #3: Critical Role Campaign 1 Wrap-up" (TMSx03) that Marisha rolling a nat 20 on her strength save may have saved Keyleth's life at that moment, as the save was very high. If she had failed, she would have gone through the orb, taken a ton of damage, and either died or been thrust out into the Shadowfell on the outskirts of Thar Amphala, completely alone.

"Winter's Crest in Whitestone" (1x36) After freeing Whitestone, Percy and Keyleth had a private talk. She showed him the skull of a raven that she had found in a nearby field, then cleaned and polished for him, explaining that it reminded her of everything that had happened and how Percy nearly gave into the demon inside him. She gave him the skull as a reminder of what Percy or any of them could have become if they gave in to darkness.

Arc 3: The Chroma Conclave

"Desperate Measures" (1x40)
Allura told Vox Machina that she and a group of adventurers had sealed Thordak in the Elemental Plane of Fire about 15 years prior, and Keyleth feared that his escape might have put the Fire Ashari in danger. She immediately felt responsible for Thordak's escape, and worried Vox Machina might even be responsible for the attack of the Chroma Conclave, remembering the time Vox Machina killed Brimscythe and were threatened by the dragons through magical stones in his lair, two years before.

With the help of Allura, Keyleth scried on Pyrah and saw the devastation left behind by the red dragon. Everything was burned and destroyed, and she saw no survivors. After exiting the ritual, Keyleth, devastated, declared that her people had failed their cause. Allura tried to encourage her, promising that they would rally who they can and bring the dragons to justice.

"Dangerous Dealings" (1x42)
Keyleth and Vax both voiced their disapproval of an alliance with the Clasp and, as a sign of him severing all ties with the guild, Vax asked Keyleth to burn away the brand on his back. Keyleth complied and did so with her burning hand, leaving in its place a scar of her handprint. Before retiring for the evening, when Vax knocked on her door, Keyleth let him in and they spent the night together.

"Those Who Walk Away..." (1x45)
After Vax'ildan offered himself to the Raven Queen to save his sister's life, he told Keyleth he loved her. Keyleth answered that she thought she loved him, too, but was afraid of it because she might lose him. She feared outliving and losing everyone after completing her Aramenté, a feat that would allow her to live for hundreds of years.

The next day, Vox Machina traveled back to Pyrah, and found it almost completely destroyed, with the volcano still erupting. Cerkonos, gravely injured, announced that there were only twenty-five survivors. He believed they brought tragedy on themselves, as the Fire Ashari had agreed to help Allura's party seal Thordak into the Elemental Plane of Fire. Keyleth's father, Korrin, was also there to help, and Keyleth reunited with him for the first time since she began her Aramenté. She apologized for not checking in sooner, saying she was afraid of disappointing him.

"The Family Business" (1x47)
Cerkonos revealed to Keyleth that the tear that allowed Thordak to escape was opened by a young girl named Raishan taken in by the Fire Ashari four years prior. He warned Keyleth to watch out for her, believing she may be someone else than what she led the tribe to believe. Keyleth, filled with resentment, recognized the name: the girl was none other than the green dragon from the Chroma Conclave.

"Hope" (1x56)
After the defeat of Umbrasyl, Vox Machina had a party thrown in their honor in Westruun. Keyleth felt extremely undeserving and began to panic, as she still felt guilty for the dragon's attack in the first place. Noticing Keyleth's unease and anxiety, Kerrek invited her to step outside. He understood that she was bothered by the fact that no matter what she did, she seemed to end up destroying more things than she fixed. He validated her fears and anxieties, but reminded her that things aren't hopeless, and explained that he once felt the same way and turned out okay. Keyleth felt comforted from this talk, and later hugged Kerrek tightly when it was time to say goodbye.

"The Streets of Ank'Harel" (1x65)

Keyleth:I realized this whole time that I was afraid of losing you to a future that ultimately has not yet been written, which is… stupid.
Vax'ildan: Maybe so.
Keyleth:But you're ultimately right. We have nothing to lose. I love you, Vax. I have for a long time. And I'm sorry for being me and that it took me this long to say it.

— Keyleth and Vax'ildan

Emotionally exhausted after coming back from the ruins of Draconia, where she witnessed the dead body of her friend Tiberius, Keyleth knocked on Vax's door and asked to spend the night with him. She finally admitted that she loved him too, and was ready to pursue a relationship with him. The two half-elves sealed the deal with a high-five before embracing.

"The Chase to Glintshore" (1x67)
Keyleth used Control Weather to command an entire storm to part for the skyship that Vox Machina was using to chase after Anna Ripley.

"Passed Through Fire" (1x69)
Keyleth received a letter from Kerrek, who gave news of Westruun and talked about the hardship of being a leader for his people. Keyleth was happy to hear from her friend, and receive more of his advice.

You have the heart of a gardener, and because of this, you think of consequence, and your current path pains you. I am not wise, and I do not give advice, but I have come to know a few things. Sometimes breaking is making. Even iron can start again, and there are many things that move through fire and find themselves much better for it afterward.

— Part of the letter written to Keyleth by Kerrek

"Trust" (1x70)
Raishan revealed that she had been masquerading as Seeker Assum and was aware of their plans to defeat the Conclave, and proposed an alliance with Vox Machina, as she also wished to take down Thordak. Keyleth, enraged, declared that Raishan would not live to see Thordak die and would suffer for what she did.

During Raishan's conversation with Vox Machina, Keyleth frequently interjected with resentful, aggressive remarks and threats towards the green dragon. While most of the party believed it would be better to team up with Raishan in order to defeat Vorugal and Thordak, planning on killing her later, Keyleth was extremely against the idea.

Raishan: Child, your anger is misplaced–
Keyleth, shouting: Call me child one more goddamn time!

— Keyleth facing Raishan in Whitestone

Fueled by her need for revenge, she wanted to use this chance to kill her then and there. After careful negotiations, and when even Grog advised for patience, Keyleth reluctantly accepted the deal and shook hands with Raishan.

"Vorugal" (1x71)
During the battle against Vorugal, Vox Machina summoned the goristro, Yenk, and defeated them both. They uncovered a powerful staff, the Spire of Conflux, one of the Vestiges of Divergence, from his body. It was given to Keyleth to wield.

"The Coming Storm" (1x73)
Back in Whitestone, Raishan reappeared, still disguised as Seeker Assum. She appeared to have had modified Kima's memory, as she acted like she was talking to the real Assum. Keyleth insisted on killing Raishan now, but the others wanted her help in defeating the Cinder King. Keyleth asked Grog how he used his rage, being able to be patient. He told her to let her rage build, and that he would help her take down Raishan when the time was right.

"What Lies Beneath the Surface" (1x81)
After Keyleth fell in lava during the battle inside Thordak's lair, her hair was badly burned and left a lot shorter than it used to be. Vax'ildan gave Keyleth a clean cut with Whisper.

Keyleth: Do you like it shorter?
Vax'ildan I like you. And I see you doubting yourself. I see it, Kiki. I have no doubts in you. I've known you for a long time now… and I have seen the strength in you growing. And I'm a fan. You're gonna make a great leader some day.

— Keyleth and Vax'ildan

"The Deceiver's Stand" (1x83)
Vox Machina tracked Raishan back to the Island of Viscan and confronted her. Keyleth spoke up, telling the dragon that she had taught her a lot about herself in the past weeks, and how she hopes to never turn to anger and selfishness in dark times as Raishan did. The two had a tense conversation, in which Keyleth admitted that she had let herself be driven by her selfish need for revenge against Raishan, and wasn't the only one who should decide what her fate was going to be. She offered Raishan a fair trial on behalf of the people of Emon, the Ashari, and all of Exandria if she accepted to follow them peacefully. The dragon scoffed at the offer, comparing the people of Exandria to ants below her feet.

During the battle with Raishan, Keyleth cast Feeblemind against the dragon in a desperate attempt, and succeeded. Raishan's brilliant mind was reduced to primal instincts, and the party managed to take her down, though at great cost.

Later, when attempting to teleport away from the island, Allura and Kima accidentally ended up in the middle of the ocean. Keyleth found them through scrying, and spotted them far off the coast, allowing Vex to fly to them and rescue them.

Arc 4: Taryon Darrington

"Onward to Vesrah" (1x87)
Vox Machina arrived at Vesrah so Keyleth could take on the final trial on her Aramenté and meet with Uvenda, Heart of the Tides and headmaster of the Water Ashari. Uvenda explained that the final task of the Aramenté was to venture through the rift into the Elemental Plane of Water. There, they would have to gather three lodestones dropped by a kraken living not far from the rift. They could not, however, kill the kraken, as the Water Ashari people would then lose their source of lodestones.

Uvenda revealed that Keyleth's mother made it to their tribe but was unable to complete her Aramenté. She attempted this task with her own group of companions, but they were all killed in the effort. Of her remains, only a leg was found, so she could not even be properly interred. Keyleth accepted this news and agreed to attempt the task the following morning.

"Tangled Depths" (1x88)
The party ventured to the Aerie of Torrent, the rift to the Elemental Plane of Water. They managed to bring back the required loadstones through the portal while fighting off the kraken. Keyleth plane shifted with Vex'alia and the lifeless body of Vax'ildan to the outskirts of Vesrah, while the rest of the group were left to fight their way out through the rift. This was a key turning point in Keyleth's development as a leader.

"Curious Tides" (1x89)
During Vax's resurrection ritual, Keyleth touched the handprint she burned onto Vax's back, casting Daylight as a light to guide him back from the darkness. The ritual succeeded.

Uvenda was visibly surprised and congratulated Keyleth on the completion of her Aramenté. She admitted that the Aramenté was not meant to be lethal; Keyleth and her mother had been the only ones to attempt it since the coming of the kraken, and perhaps it was time to reconsider the task. As a reward for completing her trial, Keyleth learned the 9th-level spell Shapechange.

Keyleth announced that she has been holding on to something she had Gilmore help her make: a set of dragon-tooth pendants, enchanted so that, if any member of the party goes unconscious, the rest will know. She handed out a pendant to each member of the party.

"Voice of the Tempest" (1x90)
After fulfilling her Aramente, Keyleth eventually returned to Zephrah for her coronation as the Voice of the Tempest. She attested the success of her journey to the people of the world, the support of her tribe, and most importantly, the bonds of friendship and family she has with Vox Machina. As proof of her new responsibilities, she was gifted the Mantle of the Tempest and the Inspiring Leader feat.

"One Year Later..." (1x95)
During her year off, Keyleth spent a lot of time in Zephrah with Vax. When she and Vax went to get tattoos together, Keyleth got a version of her mantle across her chest and shoulders. She also spent a significant amount of time, with Percy and Tary's help, setting up a Crisis Orb system to enable better communication between the four cities of the Ashari.

Keyleth worked with Pike, Vex'ahlia, and Taryon in the Slayer's Cake, a bakery they opened together in Whitestone. She also took a sprig from the Sun Tree in Whitestone to grow her own tree in Zephrah, spent some time learning more alchemy, and had crafting parties with Vex and Tary.

At some point, Keyleth, Vax, Vex, Pike, and Tary all made a group outing to the Feywild to look for the theater they had been told about. They found it in the north of the forest where they had faced Saundor. Disguising themselves as small beasts and insects, they snuck into the theater and watched a three-act performance put on by six pale, white-eyed, elvish-looking actors. On their return from the theater, Percy, who had read a lot about the Feywild in his youth, told them they had managed to witness the Royal Troupe of the Unseelie Court, and that, had they been caught, they very easily might not have been heard from ever again.

"Taryon, My Wayward Son" (1x97)

Official art of Keyfish, by Critical Role from The World of Critical Role, page 569.

In what may have been a slight lapse of judgment, Keyleth swan-dived over the side of a cliff to join Vex'ahlia at the bottom, thinking she would hit water and be fine. She didn't jump quite far enough, however. In a moment of panic, she Wild Shaped into a goldfish before hitting the rocks at the base of the cliff and died on impact. Vex, on her broom, was the only one who saw this. Luckily, she still had a Revivify coin given to her by Tary and quickly used it on Keyleth's body.

Arc 5: Vecna

"Dark Dealings" (1x112)
While Keyleth and Vex retrieved the Sword of Kas, they accidentally revealed their position to Vecna, who sent the resurrected Briarwoods. To escape them, Keyleth cast Plane Shift and brought the party to the Feywild. Once there, she suggested asking Artagan for help to ensure that time wasn't warped during their stay there. However, when he showed up, Artagan only agreed if he was allowed to strangle Vax'ildan to death and if they built a doorway into the material plane for him.

"The Final Ascent" (1x113)
Keyleth brought the party back to Thar Amphala and Vox Machina fought their way to Vecna.

"Vecna, the Ascended" (1x114)
During the fight against Vecna, she hit the god with a Sunburst spell, accidentally killing Velora, who was trapped inside his ribcage. She Shapechanged into a planetar and attempted to drive the Raven Queen's Divine Trammel into Vecna's chest to aid with his banishing ritual, but missed, and the trammel shattered.

Although Scanlan was the only member of Vox Machina able to read arcane texts, Keyleth realized that, in her planetar form, all languages were legible to her. While Scanlan had to wait for his next chance to attempt the rites of Prime Banishment, she flew to him and took the book, beginning to read. Keyleth finished the ritual and Vecna was successfully sealed.

"The Chapter Closes" (1x115)
Vox Machina flew down to the Platinum Sanctuary on the back of J'mon Sa Ord to announce the defeat of Vecna. On the urging of her friends, Keyleth stepped forward to address the people gathered there.

The bravery of Vasselheim remains evident on this day. You all should be proud that your reputation of a city unfallen by invasion or attack remains, and that is only because of the faith and the bravery and the strength of the citizens of this amazing city. We of Vox Machina are proud and honored to have fought by every single one of you and we vow to continue to stand by your side through the rest of our days.

Huzzah! To 1,000 years of Vasselheim! Huzzah!

— Keyleth addresses the people of Vasselheim

Almost immediately after the end of her speech, the Raven Queen appeared to take Vax away. After he said goodbye to his sister, Vax turned to Keyleth. She said she wasn't ready, but he assured her she was ready to lead her people. Keyleth promised she would find him and see him again.

Sometime later, after helping Pike for a while in the rebuilding of Vasselheim, Keyleth eventually retired to Zephrah to take up her duties there. She adventured with her friends when called upon, and reconnected with Kerrek in Westruun. Taking the raven feather given to her by Pike, she embedded it into the sprig she once took from the Sun Tree in Whitestone. The sprig grew over time into a new Raven Tree of the Ashari.

One cold day, on the 13th day of the tenth month of the year, Keyleth was visited by a single raven, larger than the ones she has seen before. She blew it a kiss, and the raven landed on her shoulder. Every day after, that raven came to visit.

After Campaign 1

Official art of Keyleth, 20 years later, by GalacticJonah.

In "Dalen's Closet" (OSx33), Keyleth brought Derrig, her bodyguard, as her plus one to Vex and Percy's wedding. Keyleth was asked to be Percy's best woman. She was very nervous and inquired with the wedding planner to make sure that everything was going to be perfect. After waking up with the others who had been knocked unconscious, she lifted a heavy fog that limited visibility, allowing the party to realize Vex and Percy were missing. Keyleth, in water elemental form, retrieved Vex'ahlia's body from the ocean. She was not in time to save Vex'ahlia from drowning, but she was able to bring her back to be revived with Revivify.

After Sylas Briarwood was finally defeated, Vex'ahlia and Percy decided to get married then and there on the cliff. Keyleth stood behind Percy as they exchanged vows. Right before the rings were brought out, Scanlan interrupted the ceremony to cast Wish, and Vax'ildan appeared briefly. After he congratulated his sister and her husband, he turned to Keyleth and wrapped her in his arms. Keyleth told him her life was not the same without him and jokingly asked how he expected her to get over him if he kept sending her ravens. He assured her that he was far, but not gone.

Per her epilogue in "The Chapter Closes" (1x115), Keyleth lent her wisdom to the councils of Tal'Dorei and Whitestone. She eventually considered dating again, though not for a long time after Vax's loss. As a half-elf archdruid, could live to be over a thousand years old. She intends to eventually retreat into the Raven Tree to become a part of the realm. At some point, Keyleth visited Jirana, a grief counselor in the Shattered Teeth, in order to better come to terms with Vax's death.

In 836 PD, during Campaign 2, while in Zephrah, Keyleth reunited with her mother Vilya, who emerged from a tree via Transport via Plants from Rumblecusp.

In 837 PD, Keyleth was attacked by Otohan Thull and her dunamantic echoes (called Gray Assassins) at Zephrah. Keyleth survived but other Ashari, including Will and his father Derrig, were killed and poisoned with a toxin that prevented resurrection. The attack was related to Ludinus Da'leth's work to release Predathos and need to draw Vax'ildan out for use as a lens in a Malleus Key, but the Ashari were unaware of this and, uncertain of the attack's purpose, debated whether it was a real attempt or a test. No further information was uncovered for about six years until shortly before Campaign 3, when Jarret Howarth heard from his old friend Oshad Breshio that assassins matching a similar description had murdered the Lumas twins.

At some point after the Traveler Con occured in 836 PD, Keyleth (together with some of the members of VM) was present at the fey trial of the Artagan. Deeper into the process the public started to rally, and Keyleth, persuaded by the fact that she owns Artagan a favor, helped him escape by teleporting Artagan to Jester Lavorre.

Campaign 3: Bells Hells

In 842 PD, in Exandria Unlimited, Orym alluded to having worked for Keyleth in Zephrah. In the following year, shortly before Campaign 3, she sent Orym on a mission to Marquet to find Oshad Breshio. Keyleth advised him to invite his friends Fearne Calloway and Dorian Storm, who could help him with this task. She used Transport via Plants to sneak them to the skyship port in Emon, from which they traveled to Jrusar.

About a month into his mission, Orym contacted Keyleth with his findings by Sending cast by Imogen. In response, Keyleth told Orym to continue his investigation and that she would do what she could to help from afar. Bells Hells contacted her via Sending to arrange a meeting in the hopes that Keyleth could resurrect Laudna. Keyleth, who was on business in Vasselheim, used Transport via Plants to meet them in Jrusar. Recognizing Laudna as someone whose body was hung from the Sun Tree as a threat to Vox Machina decades ago, Keyleth cast Transport via Plants again to bring the group to Whitestone. She inspected Laudna's body for the presence of a toxin that might prevent resurrection magic, and, once she confirmed it was not present, left Bells Hells with Percy after she was called away on business.

While Bells Hells were on route to Gelvaan, Orym had Imogen deliver another update to Keyleth via Sending. She informed him that she was in Terrah, investigating some trouble beneath the rift, and she believed it may be related to the situation he was looking into. A few days later, she contacted Orym through the Message Bloom he received in Niirdal-Poc to inform him that the Cult of the Dark Heart beneath Terrah was challenging, but they were able to, at some cost, defeat them and stabilize the rift. However, the leader, Vureeo, indicated an alliance or shared interest with the Ruby Vanguard. Keyleth told him she could bring some people to the Tishtan site to help. Imogen cast Sending to Keyleth and told her where to go.

As Bells Hells prepared for what would be the Battle of the Red Center, Orym marked a haggardoe tree with the symbol of the Ashari for Keyleth's use. When they were ready, Imogen messaged Keyleth, telling her to arrive in an hour. When she did, she appeared in earth elemental form and told the assembled to halt, then cast Mass Cure Wounds, but immediately was incapacitated by Ludinus's Power Word Stun. Otohan then attacked her repeatedly with her weapons dipped in toxin that prevents resurrection until she dropped back into her normal form. When Otohan went for a blow that was intended to be fatal, the Champion of Ravens appeared, daggers drawn to protect Keyleth.

After Bells Hells reunited in Jrusar a little over a week afterwards, Deanna cast Scrying on Keyleth. She saw that Keyleth was alive and in Zephrah, but severely weakened, her wounds no longer bleeding, but not healing. Deanna also noticed Keyleth stroking a single black feather in her room. The party traveled to Zephrah a few days later and received audience with Keyleth, who was still gravely injured and not healing and remained in her bed. She provided the party with updates on the Ashari's knowledge of the Ruby Vanguard and informed them she intended to destroy the cult, encouraging Orym's anger towards them. She also asked Orym to lead the party to retrieve blue perennem flowers from the Grey Valley, and if possible to find an Ashari scouting party that had not returned from an earlier mission. Keyleth planned to visit Birthheart in Vasselheim and speak with its hierophants, as soon as she recovered. Upon Bells Hells' return with the flowers, as well as Baernie and two of the Tempest Blades, Keyleth was able to heal herself with the aid of the poultice the Ashari herbalists made. She then addressed the Ashari to reassure them of her recovery, and spoke with Bells Hells at length. In the conversation, they told her about the Reilora and other details of the moon; Imogen summoned one into her chambers as proof. Keyleth also determined, after they asked about the Hishari, that Ashton had the essence of a Primordial in their veins. This led to a conversation about Evontra'vir, a tree spirit in the Shattered Teeth the Hishari leader claimed to have been blessed by. Keyleth provided the party with updates about political events due to the solstice, including unrest in the Dwendalian Empire and various attacks on temples, as well as some information about Ludinus Da'leth's harness, before offering the limited help she could provide in transportation. She then asked them to leave so that she could rest and continue her recovery, but before doing so, named Orym "Savior Blade of the Tempest" for his service.

Bells Hells returned to her home the next day, where she had fully recovered, and told her they intended to go to Yios, where Dancer was, to repair the harness. She told them that she could join them for the initial leg of their journey, transport them to the Shattered Teeth, and then go on to her allies. She also gave Fearne a small amount of the poultice on her request. While in disguise, she went with Bells Hells to Yios, then used Transport via Plants to bring them to Bassuras after Dancer told the party Imahara Joe would be more help in repairing the device. She went off on her own in Bassuras to speak to the forces from Vasselheim there and had a productive conversation with Quethir Droh before returning to transport Bells Hells to the Shattered Teeth. Because she was planning to eventually visit Whitestone, she agreed to take Joe, Dancer, and Verna there to work on the harness.

Keyleth was present at the war council in Whitestone when Bells Hells returned there from Igthuldus and recommended Bells Hells scout ahead on Ruidus, as she'd previously suggested in Zephrah. She and Orym also had a private conversation afterwards in which she warned him to keep an eye on Imogen given her connection to Liliana, stressing that she trusted Imogen but not the Ruby Vanguard. However, she and Allura later vouched for Imogen and Fearne to Earthbreaker Groon, Mythtaker Qi Mandozi, and Tofor Brotoras at the Tishtan site when Groon brought up their Ruidusborn status.

While waiting for Percy to finish up his final touches before the scouting mission began, Laudna asked Keyleth about the Champion of Ravens, to which Keyleth responded that the only way to reach Ruidus was via the Bloody Bridge, and so he could not be removed yet, but he must be freed as soon as possible. Laudna promised to look for alternate means of transport. Keyleth then apologized to her, which left Laudna unsettled. She then gathered Bells Hells and cast Wind Walk on them before bringing them towards the base of the Bloody Bridge.

After realizing that Sending was working again, Imogen contacted Keyleth to inform her of the secret portal to Ruidus in Ria'Doin; Keyleth in turn confirmed the party was in Issylra and told her she would send a team soon, as time was running short. Imogen contacted her again after Bells Hells returned from Ruidus following their defeat of Otohan, telling her they were at the Tishtan site, and she told them to go to the western encampment. At the time, she was in Zephrah, having just spoken to Dorian, who had recently arrived following his brother's death. After she promised Dorian she would send people to retrieve Cyrus's body, they both left for the western encampment, where Bells Hells soon met them. Keyleth told them she was extremely relieved they had returned and expressed her sorrow at FCG's death before leaving with Evoroa to another portion of the camp. The following morning, she, along with Qi Mandozi and Tofor Brotoras met with Bells Hells. The party debriefed them on their mission, and Keyleth asked them if they would go to Aeor to track down Ludinus. When Chetney resisted in an attempt to understand how Keyleth saw their contributions, she was sympathetic, and the party agreed to go. She contacted Caleb Widogast, who sent a disguised Essek Thelyss to transport the party first to Zadash to speak to a Cerberus Assembly member with the intent of going to Aeor after. Keyleth then left on her diplomatic business for the Exandrian Accord. Orym briefly spoke for her, vouching again for Imogen and Fearne. Keyleth told him she trusted him and them, but should anything go badly, he knew what to do.

The Legend of Vox Machina

Season One

In the animated adaptation, Keyleth showed to be very hesitant in using her powers and often froze in panic during battle. However, she fought past her fears to save her friends: when Brimscythe collapsed rocks on top of them, Keyleth created a sphere of vines to protect them. She later conjured sunlight for the first time while the group was under attack by undead creatures, pushing the enemies back and allowing Vox Machina to defeat them. Keyleth mentioned her Aramenté to Percy, telling him that she might never see her family again should she fail. She later expressed more doubt about her future role as leader to Vax'ildan.

Relationships

Grog

Main article: Relationship between Grog and Keyleth

Keyleth and Grog have worked together on occasion, such as creating a special combo attack referred to as the "Fastball Special", where Keyleth turns into a brawny creature, like an earth elemental, in order to have enough strength to throw Grog at a large opponent.

Grog was present when Keyleth was on the brink of attacking Raishan when the dragon revealed herself in the guise of Seeker Assum and explained to her the value of patience. When Keyleth, struggling with her anger at Raishan, asked Grog how he manages to keep his rage in check, he answered: "Family."

Kashaw

Keyleth became interested with the cleric Kashaw Vesh while completing a trial for the Slayer's Take guild in Vasselheim, even receiving her first kiss from him before he departed. During their reunion when the party visited Vasselheim once more, after the attack of the Chroma Conclave, the two of them cleared the air as Kashaw apologized for stealing her first kiss, saying that while it felt good, it was ultimately wrong of him. Keyleth herself said that he didn't have to, that she never meant to hurt anyone physically or emotionally.

When Vex'ahlia was killed due to a trap within Purvan Suul's tomb, Kashaw revived her because he knew Keyleth would have wanted him to. After Vex's resurrection, Kashaw told her that he believes not in Vesh, but in life itself. He later told Keyleth that he noticed the interest that Vax'ildan, Vex's twin brother, had in her and told her to stay near him, that the rogue would look after her in his stead. Since then, the two have had a rather awkward friendship.

Kerrek

Keyleth first met Kerrek after Vox Machina defeated Umbrasyl the Hope Devourer. When Keyleth was having a breakdown over the fact that she hated being called a hero, thinking that she was not due to her actions, it was Kerrek whom she confided in, telling him that she never wanted the burden and responsibility of the Aramenté. The former paladin served as an inspiration and mentor to her, being the very first person who completely understood Keyleth's constant struggles with herself, telling her that she needed to look at the big picture even if it was unpleasant, that things were not as hopeless as she believed. It was this advice that started to motivate her to turn her life and way of thinking around, which would later lead to her further development as a person. He later sent a letter to Keyleth after Percy's resurrection, giving her additional wisdom along with a ring with the engraved words, "I Have Passed Through Fire".

Keyleth and Kerrek crossed paths once more in the wake of the death of Thordak and the escape of Raishan, as he comforted her after her failure to achieve revenge for her people. He later accompanied her to the Island of Viscan in order to find and defeat Raishan for good, being given her Cloak of Displacement just in case. When the battle was won thanks to their combined efforts, and after Allura Vysoren and Lady Kima vanished due to a freak teleportation accident, Keyleth had managed to spot the two of them in the ocean despite the odds. Kerrek, being doubtful of Keyleth, tried giving her "the talk", saying that sometimes you lose people and you never get them back. However, his words only served to make Keyleth feel worse. After Scanlan Shorthalt's resurrection in Whitestone, the two later parted ways in Emon.

Lady Kima of Vord

Keyleth and Kima did not initially see eye to eye. After Vox Machina's assault on the Emberhold, they had gotten into a very heated argument about how the paladin's blind faith in her god's protection in addition to her vengeful desires put their party in grave peril and caused Grog to get captured. Keyleth also told Kima that she hoped, in her efforts to rid the world of K'Varn, she would not end up becoming the very thing she was trying to destroy.

Keyleth later expressed concern to the rest of her group that she did not want Kima or the people of Emon to gain control of the Horn of Orcus, as she did not completely trust them. After being comforted by Vax, Percy, and Tiberius about the situation they had found themselves in, Keyleth later apologized to Kima, who forgave her earlier outburst, and the tension between them lessened greatly with Keyleth giving Kima her patience while the paladin gave the party the respect they deserved.

In the days since, Kima earned Keyleth's trust and even her friendship as well, a prime example being when the paladin was reunited with Vox Machina after the attack of the Chroma Conclave. Keyleth, in particular, had defended Kima when High Bearer Vord ridiculed the halfling's "foolish impulses" by saying that said impulses were exactly what Vox Machina needed.

Korrin

Keyleth loves her father very much. The interim headmaster himself has expressed his praise and fondness for his daughter and her accomplishments. The night before the battle to reclaim Emon, he decided to aid Keyleth and Vox Machina by having his tribe provide air support, with him taking part in the battle himself. Upon Keyleth's return to Zephrah after the completion of the Aramenté, Korrin personally passed on the mantle of leadership to his daughter, appointing her as the new headmaster of the tribe and once again expressing how proud he is and how proud her mother would have been if she had lived.

Percy

Main article: Relationship between Keyleth and Percy

Keyleth and Percy share a deep bond of friendship, despite their differing views on leadership and moral choices.

Pike

Main article: Relationship between Keyleth and Pike

Despite having a huge distrust of the gods, Keyleth has great respect for Pike and the two are good friends.

Before Keyleth departed for the Feywild, Pike told her about how despite being a cleric of Sarenrae, she still has control over her own life. She then gave Keyleth some advice about finding happiness and getting comfortable with Vax. That advice eventually gave Keyleth the courage to confess to him.

Raishan

Raishan:  "You act as though the laws of the anthill affect the foot that crushes it. You speak words of importance, but I've seen laws and people come and go, change, die, turn to dust, and rise again. People kill neighbor, families die from the inside and out. They say I'm diseased, but look upon you, you insignificant creatures. You do more to your people than I've done in an entire lifetime."

Keyleth:  "That might be true. But at least that's the fate of our own consequences and our own doing. Not some outwardly force, forcing their repercussions on us. And, you should know, Raishan, I've stepped on plenty of anthills in my day. Those that don't die revolt. And guess what? There's some pretty nasty stings from some ants out there. The strength of a colony is stronger than the individual of one great, diseased foot."

— Keyleth and Raishan

Keyleth discovered from Cerkonos, headmaster of the Fire Ashari, that a young girl that they took in had been the one responsible for freeing Thordak of the Chroma Conclave from the Plane of Fire. Her actions had led to Pyrah's destruction and the devastation of his tribe. Keyleth later learned that the girl who set Thordak free and one of the dragons of the Conclave, Raishan, were one and the same.

Since then, Keyleth developed an immense hatred for the Diseased Deceiver which was brought to the fore when the dragon revealed herself to Vox Machina under the guise of Assum Emring. She lashed out at the dragon, the party having to calm her down and convince her to not give in to her desire to kill Raishan out of fear of destroying Whitestone. Eventually, Raishan and Vox Machina made a mutual yet temporary alliance to defeat Thordak due to the Cinder King having lied to her. Keyleth begrudgingly agreed to the alliance, but still yearned to kill the dragon to avenge her sister-tribe.

Despite failing to kill her in the moments after Thordak's death due to Raishan escaping, in their last encounter Keyleth spoke up against the dragon, the druid keeping her anger in check and mentioning her hope that during her very long lifetime she does not become like her, and she even gave Raishan a chance to surrender and be brought to justice, a far outcry from their first proper encounter in Whitestone weeks before. A long and bloody battle ensued, with Keyleth effectively neutralizing Raishan's spellcasting with Feeblemind, destroying her very identity and intellect, and Kerrek delivering the final blow on her.

Tiberius

Main article: Relationship between Keyleth and Tiberius

During their adventures together, Keyleth and Tiberius shared a strong, respectful friendship. When Tiberius was discovered to have died defending Draconia, it was Keyleth who personally buried him.

Vax'ildan

Main article: Relationship between Keyleth and Vax'ildan

I know you can hear me. I know you're still in there. And I'm sure She can hear me, too. But your sister is right. You've held up to your promise to Her. And you've made a promise to me. We have to settle down and live happily together, remember? You promised me Zephrah. So I want to give you a little bit of light to follow in the darkness. [...] And besides... you know I'm in love with you, right?

— Keyleth to Vax'ildan during his resurrection ritual

Vax is Keyleth's first love. Beginning as simply mutual acquaintances and later friends alongside the rest of Vox Machina, the two of them eventually became romantic partners after a series of harrowing events. After over a year of traveling alongside him, she first developed feelings for the rogue when he began standing up for her, becoming the first to ever do so. Vax has also shown his full support in regards to the Aramenté, encouraging Keyleth to pursue her goals and that she deserves to live the life she is destined to have.

Keyleth was initially hesitant to admit her feelings for Vax, however, and for a time she was afraid of losing him be it through himself dying in battle or just outliving him, a fear that kept her from allowing herself to love him. She eventually did admit her feelings, much to her relief and his. The two of them have been together since, and Vax has continued to support her and encourage her, telling her that despite her doubts, she must mix in the faith that he and the rest of their companions have in her.

After Vax was brought back as a revenant, the two of them came to terms that their time together would end far sooner than they hoped. But Keyleth remarked that despite all the hardship that was thrown at them, she would never take it back as it was Vax who taught her to take chances, including falling in love.

Vilya

Vilya went off on her own Aramenté twenty years prior to the campaign's start, and due to her not returning home, Keyleth had to be next in line. While venturing on her own quest, Keyleth learned more about Vilya's whereabouts, such as hearing that Vilya had visited Pyrah ten years prior.

It was not until arriving at Vesrah that Keyleth discovered the truth: Vilya had disappeared five years before Keyleth arrived while facing a kraken in the Elemental Plane of Water and was presumed dead, with only her left leg being found. In fact, Keyleth later discovered that the challenge she herself faced had been changed only recently due to the kraken's arrival, with Vilya and her party being the first to undergo the trial in its current state. During the celebration of Keyleth's completion of the trial, Uvenda told her that her mother's memory now lives on in her.

Keyleth learned that her mother was still alive when Vilya appeared in front of her in Zephrah with a Transport via plants portal, over twenty years after learning she had disappeared.

Character information

Quests

Keyleth's quest was to complete her Aramenté; this required her to seek out the sister-tribes of the Air Ashari in order to introduce and establish respect amongst the fellow headmasters. She has met with the Earth Ashari in Terrah during her absence from Vox Machina, visited the Fire Ashari in Pyrah during her stay in Vasselheim, completed the trial of the Water Ashari in Vesrah, and has succeeded in returning to Zephrah where she was formally given the title of "Voice of the Tempest" as the new headmaster of the Air Ashari.

Keyleth revealed to the party that the last person to attempt the Aramenté, her mother Vilya, had never been heard from again. Keyleth wanted to discover what happened to her mother, and eventually discovered that she disappeared while trying to complete the Water Ashari trial and was presumed dead. Over twenty years later, Keyleth was reunited with her mother, who returned from Rumblecusp after the Mighty Nein helped save her and the other denizens of the island from a memory altering being.

Keyleth also had a personal stake in Vox Machina's dealings with the Chroma Conclave, specifically with Raishan due to her role in freeing Thordak and causing the decimation of the Fire Ashari. She wished to personally kill her to avenge them, a goal that was fulfilled twofold with Keyleth destroying her intelligent and cunning persona with Feeblemind, and Kerrek landing the final blow on the then-feral Diseased Deceiver.

Notable items

Current items

• Alchemy set (bought in Gilmore's Glorious Gods for 50 gold)
  • Created two potions of healing and a potion of greater healing.
• Circlet of Wisdom (+2 to Wisdom and Charisma)
• Earring of Whisper (enchanted by Tiberius Stormwind)
• "Sparkle bomb", enables to cast Faerie Fire
• Two books on herbalism (bought in Emon for 25 gold each; give her advantage on all Medicine checks)
• Leather Armor of Spell Resistance (belonged to her mother)
• Scrying Eye (received from Vex'ahlia after Hotis's attack on Whitestone)
• Mantle of the Tempest
• Ring of Protection (+2)
• Ring of Spell Storing (holds up to five spell levels)
• Spire of Conflux (retrieved from Yenk's corpse)
• Dragon tooth necklace (created with help from Gilmore, given to the rest of Vox Machina)
• Sending stone connected with a pair owned by Caleb Widogast

Former items

• Cloak of Displacement (given to her by Vax'ildan, loaned to Kerrek indefinitely)
• Gate stone (a gift to Percival de Rolo from Lillith Daturai; eventually gave it to Vex)
• Magic Choker (requires attunement, +1 to attacks and damage., Traded to Whaska for information)
• Ring of protection +1 (traded to Whaska for information)
• Spark stone (granted when she passed the Fire Ashari trial; expended; granted Keyleth a permanent boon of +1d6 fire damage with hands, claws, or talons when activated)

Abilities

Being a druid Keyleth is gifted with the ability to harness divine nature energy to cast spells as well as, transform into animals through Wild Shape. Being a Circle of the Moon druid allows her to use more powerful wild shapes such as higher CR beasts and elemental forms.

Half-elf abilities

• Darkvision
• Fey Ancestry
• Skill Versatility

Feats

• Inspiring Leader (from completing the Aramenté)
• Mystic Conflux (4 attuned items at a time)
• Skilled (Alchemist's Supplies, Intimidation, Persuasion)
• War Caster

Druid abilities

• Druidic language
• Spellcasting (Wisdom-based ability)
• Wild Shape
• Druid Circle: Circle of the Moon
  • Combat Wild Shape
  • Circle Forms
  • Primal Strike
  • Elemental Wild Shape
  • Thousand Forms
• Timeless Body
• Beast Spells
• Archdruid
  • Unlimited Wild Shapes
  • Ability to ignore verbal, somatic, and no cost material components of spells

Proficiencies

Proficiency	Source	Ref.
Athletics	Hal-elf/Background
Insight	Druid/Hal-elf/Background
Intimidation	Feat (Skilled)
Nature	Druid/Hal-elf/Background
Perception	Druid/Hal-elf/Background
Persuasion	Feat (Skilled)
Stealth	Hal-elf/Background
Survival	Druid/Hal-elf/Background
Alchemist's Supplies	Feat (Skilled)
Herbalism kit	Druid

Spells

Keyleth has access to all druid class spells. As a 20th-level druid, she can prepare up to 26 spells per day.

Spell	Level	Notes	Ref.
Druidcraft	Cantrip
Guidance	Cantrip
Gust	Cantrip
Mending	Cantrip
Thorn Whip	Cantrip
Absorb Elements	1st
Create or Destroy Water	1st
Cure Wounds	1st
Detect Magic	1st
Entangle	1st
Faerie Fire	1st
Fog Cloud	1st
Goodberry	1st
Healing Word	1st
Ice Knife	1st
Speak with Animals	1st
Thunderwave	1st
Alter Self	2nd	Thousand Forms
Beast Sense	2nd
Earthbind	2nd
Enhance Ability	2nd
Flame Blade	2nd
Flaming Sphere	2nd
Gust of Wind	2nd
Heat Metal	2nd
Hold Person	2nd
Locate Object	2nd
Moonbeam	2nd
Pass without Trace	2nd
Protection from Poison	2nd
Skywrite	2nd
Call Lightning	3rd
Daylight	3rd
Dispel Magic	3rd
Plant Growth	3rd
Protection from Energy	3rd
Sleet Storm	3rd
Speak with Plants	3rd
Tidal Wave	3rd
Water Breathing	3rd
Wind Wall	3rd
Blight	4th
Conjure Woodland Beings	4th
Control Water	4th
Dominate Beast	4th
Freedom of Movement	4th
Grasping Vine	4th
Hallucinatory Terrain	4th
Ice Storm	4th
Locate Creature	4th
Polymorph	4th
Stone Shape	4th
Stoneskin	4th
Watery Sphere	4th
Antilife Shell	5th
Commune with Nature	5th
Contagion	5th
Control Winds	5th
Geas	5th
Greater Restoration	5th
Mass Cure Wounds	5th
Planar Binding	5th
Reincarnate	5th
Scrying	5th
Transmute Rock	5th
Tree Stride	5th
Wall of Stone	5th
Bones of the Earth	6th
Find the Path	6th
Heal	6th
Heroes' Feast	6th
Move Earth	6th
Sunbeam	6th
Transport via Plants	6th
Wind Walk	6th
Fire Storm	7th
Plane Shift	7th
Regenerate	7th
Whirlwind	7th
Animal Shapes	8th
Control Weather	8th
Earthquake	8th
Feeblemind	8th
Sunburst	8th
Tsunami	8th
Foresight	9th
Shapechange	9th	Imparted from Uvenda
True Resurrection	9th

Appearances and mentions

• Pre-stream
• Campaign 1, appears every episode except "Trial of the Take: Part 1" (1x18), mentioned only, "Dungeons & Dragons Campaign Tips" (1x12), absent and "Trial of the Take: Part 2" (1x19), absent
• Campaign 2, as an NPC
  • "Devoutness and Dicks" (2x107), non-speaking appearance
• Exandria Unlimited
  • "The Oh No Plateau" (E1x02), mentioned only
• Campaign 3, as an NPC
  • "The Draw of Destiny" (3x01), mentioned only
  • "Trial by Firelight" (3x02), mentioned only
  • "On the Trail of a Killer" (3x04), mentioned only
  • "Growing Bonds and Teasing Threads" (3x06), mentioned only
  • "Chasing Nightmares" (3x11), mentioned only
  • "Omens Above" (3x19), mentioned only
  • "Hidden Truths" (3x26), mentioned only
  • "Breaking Point" (3x31), via Sending
  • "Blood and Dust" (3x33), mentioned only
  • "What Dreams May Come" (3x34), mentioned only
  • "Pyrrhic Return" (3x35)
  • "A Desperate Call" (3x36)
  • "A Dark Balance" (3x38), mentioned only
  • "An Exit Most Fraught" (3x48), via Sending
  • "The Aurora Grows" (3x49), via Message Bloom and Sending
  • "Red Moon Rising" (3x50), via Sending
  • "The Apogee Solstice" (3x51)
  • "Ripples" (3x53), mentioned only
  • "Escape From The Past" (3x58), mentioned only
  • "Somewhere Out There" (3x59), mentioned only
  • "Faith or Famine" (3x60), mentioned only
  • "Reunited" (3x64)
  • "A Path of Vengeance" (3x65), mentioned only
  • "Aid of the Tempest" (3x66)
  • "Bloody Flowers" (3x67), mentioned only
  • "For The Tempest" (3x68)
  • "Nice" (3x69)
  • "Embattled in Bassuras" (3x70)
  • "Mist and Whimsy" (3x71), mentioned only
  • "A Gathering of Heroes" (3x76)
  • "The Promise and the Price" (3x77), mentioned only
  • "Fractures" (3x78), mentioned only
  • "A Test of Trust" (3x80), mentioned only
  • "The Eve of the Red Moon" (3x81)
  • "Doorways to Darker Depths" (3x86), via Sending
  • "Broken Roads" (3x92)
  • "Bittersweet Reunions" (3x93)
  • "Where The Red Fearne Glows" (3x94)
• One-shots
  • "Q&A and Battle Royale" (OSx03)
  • "Q&A and Battle Royale: Take II" (OSx05)
  • "CelebriD&D with Joe Manganiello" (OSx09)
  • "Level 17 Battle Royale" (OSx11)
  • "Grog's One-Shot" (OSx17), mentioned only
  • "Trinket's Honey Heist" (OSx18)
  • "Epic Level Battle Royale" (OSx21)
  • "The Search For Grog" (OSx28)
  • "The Search For Bob" (OSx31)
  • "Dalen's Closet" (OSx33)
  • "Guest Battle Royale" (OSx44), mentioned only
• "The Story of Vox Machina" (Mx04)
• Critical Role: Winter's Crest Festival
• Vox Machina Origins: Animals, mentioned only
• Vox Machina Origins Series I, every issue except Issue 2, mentioned only
• Vox Machina Origins Series II, every issue
• Vox Machina Origins Series III, every issue
• The Tales of Exandria II: Artagan
• The Legend of Vox Machina, every episode

Behind the scenes

• Marisha Ray chose Keyleth's name by putting an air-related word into an online Elvish translator, and then simplified the spelling. Keyleth is similar to gwilith, which translates as "air (as a region)". Likewise, the name of Keyleth's mother, Vilya, translates as "air, sky." When picking a class for Keyleth, Marisha almost chose a monk, but stayed with druid, leaning more toward the elemental domains, and deciding on the air domain for its abilities and thematically reflective of the shy demeanor and low charisma character Keyleth has. Inspiration for Keyleth, and her overall quest, came from Avatar: The Last Airbender.

• Playing in Pathfinder, Marisha chose the air druid domain for Keyleth, but wanted her to have other element abilities. This lead her to build a story of a girl who traveling the world for the first time in search of knowledge in the various elements, completing her Aramenté. According to The Chronicles of Exandria artbook, the original plan for her Aramenté was Pyrah, Vesrah, and Terrah before she insisted on her own choices.

• Keyleth's signature antlers were an invention of artist Kit Buss as a way to represent her circlet for her official portrait.

• Keyleth's spell choice is tied with her Aramenté. She tries to mostly rely on elemental magic of the Aramente trials she has competed, with emphasis on the most recent one. That's why Keyleth only once assumed the form of water elemental (during her fire trial), and Marisha played her as feeling hesitant about this decision. Keyleth also excludes certain spells that are uncomfortable and do not align with her worldview.

Trivia

Screenshot of Keyleth's portrait in Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire from [2].

• As of August 2022, Keyleth had the highest wisdom score of any player character.
• Keyleth's name is a suggested name for female Elves in the Fifth Edition Player's Handbook and Xanathar's Guide to Everything.
• It was revealed on Talks Machina: After Dark that at one point, she and Vax became intimate with each other, and that he was her first sexual partner.
• Keyleth has expressed an interest in learning how to make potions and has asked Shaun Gilmore about possibly starting up a workshop to teach people alchemy. She worked on alchemy during the party's year-long break from adventuring.
• Keyleth has participated in all four "Battle Royale" episodes and is the winner of the fourth.
• Keyleth is included in the Critical Role Pack DLC for Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire.
• In the Critical Role Major Arcana Tarot Card Set, she represents XIX - The Sun.
• Keyleth does not know what the metric system is.
• Keyleth has an extremely low tolerance for alcohol, and her behavior is extremely affected by any amount of drinking, making her very loud and emotional.
  • Ironically, in "A Fog Lifted" (2x106), when Beauregard Lionett (also played by Marisha Ray) asked if Vilya wanted some of her bottomless whiskey, she responded, "My family doesn't drink."
• Keyleth is the first and only member of Vox Machina to appear in Campaign 2. She was seen by Veth through the Transport via Plants portal opened by Vilya on Rumblecusp.
• As an archdruid, Keyleth ages ten times more slowly. Combined with the longer lifespan of half-elves, she's expected to outlive all of Vox Machina by centuries.
• Keyleth set the record for the most amount of damage taken in one "blow" for all campaigns, when she dove from a 1000ft high cliff, taking 363 points of damage and dying in the process.
• She is, so far, the member of Vox Machina with the most appearances, appearing in 122 episodes total. She is barely ahead of Percy and Grog, who appeared in 121 and 120 episodes respectively.
  • She is one of two characters of Marisha Ray to have the most episode appearances out of their respective parties. The other being Beauregard Lionett, who appears in all 141 episodes of Campaign 2 plus "Vox Machina vs. Mighty Nein" (OSx40)
• She is the only character to be, in some way, involved in all three campaigns as well as Exandria Unlimited.
  • She is a player character in the first campaign, she appears when Vilya returns to Zephrah in "Devoutness and Dicks" (2x107) in the second campaign, and she sent Orym on a mission in both Exandria Unlimited and the third campaign.

Gallery

• 

  Original design, by Kit Buss.

• 

  Updated design, by Kit Buss.

• 

  Official art of a winter Keyleth, by Kit Buss.

• 

  End of campaign, by Kit Buss.

• 

  Dalen's Closet, by Kit Buss.

• 

  Vox Machina Origins I & II

• 

  Vox Machina Origins III

• 

  The Legend of Vox Machina

• 

  Concept art of Keyleth's elemental form for the second season of The Legend of Vox Machina, shown at the second watch party, by Phil Bourassa.

• 

  Concept art of Keyleth's elemental form for the second season of The Legend of Vox Machina, shown at the second watch party, by Phil Bourassa.

• 

  Official Keyleth Pop! figure

External links

• Critical Role: Keyleth's Soundtrack – The Sounds of Nature (November 12, 2015)
• Dear Vox Machina: Ask Keyleth (May 27, 2016)
• Keyleth's Playlist 2016 – The Stars Through the Rain Storm (November 21, 2016)
• Critical Role celebrity playlist: Keyleth – Voice of the Tempest by Marisha Ray (December 12, 2017)

References

Footnotes:

Art: