Who are the main Vox Machina characters? Critical Role’s very first RPG-streaming campaign, Vox Machina, kickstarted the critters’ rise to fame – and it’s become a big-budget Dungeons and Dragons animated series! Legends of Vox Machina Season 3 is out now, so read on for a who’s who of the main characters, their classes, and who plays them in the show.
If you’d rather get straight into the action, check our Legend of Vox Machina Season 3 release schedule for the latest episodes and a plot recap of Season 2. You can also learn more about the talented actors behind the show in our guide to the Critical Role cast.
For the record, there are light spoilers below for seasons one and two (we have to explain the characters, after all!) but none for the brand new season three.
Here is the Vox Machina character list:
Grog Strongjaw
Fan-favorite character Grog Strongjaw is Vox Machina’s tank, a big bag of hit points, and its strongest melee fighter. This DnD Goliath fighter is a classic himbo: a big dumb tough guy with a heart of gold. Grog Strongjaw and his lack of brains is often the butt of the joke, but actor Travis Willingham manages to play the archetype perfectly, and not overdo the trope, making Strongjaw charming and loveable rather than annoying.
Grog was best friends with Pike Trickfoot right from the start of the campaign, having saved the gnome’s grandfather from his own goliath group, and getting exiled in the process. He’s very protective of the cleric, and this friendship is helpful for getting himself revivified after (for instance) a bad run-in with the deck of many things.
Keyleth
An awkward half-elf DnD druid played by Marisha Ray, Keyleth has a fear of failure and social anxiety that makes her highly relatable. She belongs to the Air Ashari tribe and has been nominated to journey between the elemental tribes and earn the title of headmaster of the Air Ashari.
The trouble is, her mother disappeared trying to do the same thing. Keyleth is hard on herself, is determined to prove her value, and has a strong moral code. She also has an arch-enemy, the evil green dragon Raishan.
Percival de Rolo
Played by Taliesin Jaffe, Percival de Rolo (Percy for short, Lord Percival Fredrickstein von Musel Klossowski de Rolo III for long) was part of a noble family in the city of Whitestone, before they were violently usurped by the Briarwoods.
Percy thirsts for revenge, and sensing this, a demon teaches him how to build the very first gun in a dream. Hence, Percy is a Gunslinger, the ranged combatant of the party. Bright, but quiet, Percival has the mind of a tactician. Having fallen from the high life himself, Percival has contempt for those with airs and graces, and takes joy in knocking pompous nobility down a peg or two.
Pike Trickfoot
A gnome DnD cleric played by Ashley Johnson, Pike Trickfoot is Vox Machina’s healer, and the one responsible for patching everyone back together after or during a fight. She’s aided in this by her compassionate nature, though during the campaign – seeking to be stronger in combat – Pike switches from the domain of healing to that of war.
Due to Johnson’s film work, Pike was a less regular member of the party during Vox Machina season one, but no less valuable – her friendship with other Vox Machina characters like Grog formed the impetus for key story moments.
Scanlan Shorthalt
The joker of the party, Scanlan Shorthalt is a halfling DnD bard with an oversized personality. He’s the face of the group, able to lead a negotiation or orchestrate a cunning distraction. A somewhat tropey character, Scanlan starts out as the typical, roguish ‘ladies’ man’ type of bard, though later episodes delve deeper into his personality, and the insecurities that lie hidden behind the bravado. Over time, Sam Riegel played Scanlan as less of a joke character, allowing for more character development.
In Critical Role’s campaign, Scanlan leaves the party for a time to go on a journey of self-discovery.
Vax’ildan Vessar
Vax’ildan is a rogue/paladin half-elf, and twin brother to Vex’ahlia. Unhappy in elven society, Vex and Vax left to seek their own fortune. Vax is highly loyal to his sister, and even pledged himself to The Raven Queen in order to save her life. She’s really the only one he’ll open up to – Vax has a tendency towards brooding and self-loathing. Vax can be pretty serious and shy, though certainly has a playful side. Vax’ildan is played by Liam O’Brien.
Vex’ahlia Vessar
Laura Bailey plays Vax’ildan’s twin sister Vex’ahlia. Like most Rangers, Vax loves nature (especially her bear companion Trinket). Like Scanlan, she’s adept in social situations, quick witted and not afraid to get her flirt on when required. Vex’ahlia is bold, sometimes taking a leadership role within the group. Though she occasionally has a barbed tongue, she also has a kinder side.
Tiberius Stormwind
A Dragonborn Sorcerer who wore glasses, got dirty looks for his chromatic nature, and was pretty reckless with his spells, Tiberius Stormwind had only a relatively short stay in Vox Machina, due to his actor Orion Abaca leaving Critical Role about a quarter of the way through its first campaign. As a result, the character doesn’t appear in the Legend of Vox Machina show.
Taryon Darrington
Later on in Critical Role’s first campaign, Sam Riegel also gave life to Taryon Darrington, a rich artificer with an amusing construct companion. Darrington starts out with some less than ideal traits, looking down on others, and making up mean nicknames. Taryon hasn’t appeared in Legends of Vox Machina yet, but there have been rumors that he might be a part of season 3.
Thordak, the Cinder King
The villainous red dragon Thordak, also known as The Cinder King, is one of the principal antagonists in the Vox Machina campaign, and is absolutely the big bad behind the events of Legend of Vox Machina seasons two and three.
As an NPC in the original campaign, he was played by Matt Mercer – but in Legend of Vox Machina seasons two and three, Thordak is voiced by legendary actor Lance Reddick. Reddick died in 2023, but recorded his lines for season three before his passing.
As an ancient red dragon, Thordak is many centuries old, but until recently had been imprisoned in the Elemental Plane of Fire. He conspired with the ancient green dragon Raishan to form a secret group of dragons called the Chroma Conclave, which then helped him escape to the Material Plane.
In the current plot, going into Legend of Vox Machina Season 3, Thordak and his Chroma Conclave allies are maneuvering to take over all of Tal’Dorei (and later all Exandria) – with only Vox Machina able to foil his schemes.
Raishan
The ancient Green Dragon Raishan is, in many ways, just as dangerous in the Vox Machina setting as her Chroma Conclave boss, Thordak. Played by Cree Summer in the show, Raishan is a ruthless, calculating, manipulative master of deception who’s always playing the long game.
Afflicted for decades with a crippling incurable disease, she fell under Thordak’s spell when he promised her a cure in exchange for her loyal service. The Chroma Conclave was Raishan’s idea, intended to release Thordak from his bondage, and thus earn the cure she wanted so badly. When Thordak later showed zero likelihood of ever keeping his promise, however, Raishan began to weave her own secret plots.
At the outset of season three, Raishan is about to play a much larger role in the story of Vox Machina’s battle against the Chroma Conclave – but if there’s one thing adventurers should never, ever do, it’s trust a Green Dragon…
Now you’ve experienced some heroic (and villainous) examples, there’s really no reason not to dive into Dungeons and Dragons yourself – follow our expert guide on how to make a DnD character to make life easier. Our full analysis of all the DnD races and DnD classes will help you build your perfect adventurer, too.
Source: Wargamer
