Critical Role - Vox Machina: Origins (Volume #1)
Project Overview
A comic dub of the Origins comics for the party of Vox Machina of Critical Role.
Twins Vax'ildan and Vex'ahlia have been hired to investigate the town of Stilben, which is currently suffering from a curse of stillbirth. Babies which are born alive are near-lifeless and unaware of anything around them. Some claim the only way to solve the problem is to sacrifice the children to the bog. Will Vax and Vex be able to solve this mystery before everyone flees the town?
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One of the unfortunate victims of Stilben's stillborn plague. She appears in the beginning only, desperately trying to keep her baby alive before her mother tears it from her arms and throws it into the water.
She should sound kind and optimistic, and a little panicked. Like a person trying to convince themselves that everything's fine when they know everything is not. She has a mild southern accent.
(Clutching her baby in the swamp as he stares up with blank eyes and her parents tell her she's a fool.) "He's still breathing, though, see? Here, I'll nurse him. I'll nurse him and he'll be alright. he'll be fine. Baby's fine. He's alive. He's alive. He'll be alright, oh."
(With her mother standing over her shoulder, accusing her of bringing this upon herself. Note: she is not angry.) "No. We didn't do nothin'. This ain't my fault. He's fine. He's going to be fine. My baby."
(Her parents rip her baby from her arms and throw it into the bog.) "No! My baby! My baby! Let me go! I can save him! Why are you doing this?!"
An old crone and the mother of NPC Woman #1. Superstitious, she believes the curse on Stilben must be appeased by sacrificing children to the bog. She is cynical and unsympathetic. She has an old voice, and also a mild southern accent.
(Telling off her daughter who is hopelessly trying to keep her baby alive.) "'e won't be fine. Won't never be fine, and you know it. Ain't really livin'. It's cursed, just like all the others."
(Menacing and hushed in tone as she leans over her daughter's shoulder, whispering to her.) "This is just what you deserve, you and your young man. The way you two live. You know what you got to do."
(Wrestling her daughter's baby from her arms so she can sacrifice it to the bog.) "You're too weak! Too weak to do what must be done!"
Vax is the Half-Elven twin to Vex'ahlia. As a Rogue, he is sly, focused, and keen, but he tends to hold a bit more compassion than Vex. He can be a bit of a prankster, and wears his heart on his sleeve.
When voice acting for Vax, you do not need to sound exactly like Liam O'Brien, but a bit of similarity is appreciated, and an English accent is required.
Reference: https://youtu.be/i-p9lWIhcLQ?t=574
(Note: Most of this audition will be a long conversation between the twins. Only read the lines for Vax.)
[In the shadows of a hollow tree, Vax and Vex watch in silence as the woman is dragged away and her child is swallowed up in the swamp.]
Vex: [Cynical] Welcome to the world, kid. You didn't miss anything.
Vax: [Mildly disgusted/horrified] What kind of people are these?
Vex: [Indifferent] No different than any other. At least that mother fought to keep her child.
Vax: [Disapproving] You're a cynic, sister.
Vex: [Not caring] Not if I'm right, I'm not.
Vax: [Watching people leaving the bog] We should wait 'til she's away from her parents and talk to her.
Vex: [Biting and harsh] You can talk to peasants anytime. Tracking's hard enough on land. Almost impossible across water.
Vax: [Nervous] I feel exposed out here. Good place for an ambush. We can avoid that, right?
Vex: [Logical] It's their swamp, brother. Whoever they are, if they want to ambush us there isn't a lot we can do about it.
Vax: But you can track them? Across water?
Vex: [Impatient] Of course I can. Now come on. Let's get to the bottom of this, get paid, and get out of here.
Vax: We could just ask the locals what lives out here.
Vex: [Disdainful] They'd say 'demons' or some ignorant nonsense. Peasants don't know anything except how to make more peasants.
Vax: [Matter-of-fact] We were raised by a peasant.
Vex: Speak for yourself. Father wasn't worth a shit but he was noble-born and as far as I'm concerned, once I graduated from the school, so was I.
Vax: [Pointing out] Noble-born don't grub around in the muck chasing after a swamp god curse.
Vex: [Light tone] They do if I'm doing it.
Vax: It was your idea to take this job, remember. You said we needed the work.
Vex: [Eye-rolling] I didn't mean charity.
Vax: [Softer tone, a bit frustrated] It's not charity, stubby. It's just... not a lot. Besides, when do WE get to solve a problem like this? Cure a curse? It should feel good.
Vex: [Suspicious] I feel suspicious. Nothing happens in a town like this without someone making money off it.
Vax: A curse doesn't seem very profitable.
Vex: It is to someone.(Please record some battle sounds.)
Vex is the Half-Elf twin to Vex'ahlia. As a Ranger, she is watchful and in-tune with her surroundings. She's a little selfish and cynical, caring the most about getting paid and paying as little as possible, which is why she is such an effective haggler. She is confident and deceptive, and rarely lets others behind the walls she's built up.
When voice acting for Vex, you do not need to sound exactly like Laura Bailey, but a bit of similarity is appreciated, and an English accent is required.
Voice reference: https://youtu.be/i-p9lWIhcLQ?t=663
(Note: Most of this audition will be a long conversation between the twins. Only read the lines for Vex.)
[In the shadows of a hollow tree, Vax and Vex watch in silence as the woman is dragged away and her child is swallowed up in the swamp.]
Vex: [Cynical] Welcome to the world, kid. You didn't miss anything.
Vax: [Mildly disgusted/horrified] What kind of people are these?
Vex: [Indifferent] No different than any other. At least that mother fought to keep her child.
Vax: [Disapproving] You're a cynic, sister.
Vex: [Not caring] Not if I'm right, I'm not.
Vax: [Watching people leaving the bog] We should wait 'til she's away from her parents and talk to her.
Vex: [Biting and harsh] You can talk to peasants anytime. Tracking's hard enough on land. Almost impossible across water.
Vax: [Nervous] I feel exposed out here. Good place for an ambush. We can avoid that, right?
Vex: [Logical] It's their swamp, brother. Whoever they are, if they want to ambush us there isn't a lot we can do about it.
Vax: But you can track them? Across water?
Vex: [Impatient] Of course I can. Now come on. Let's get to the bottom of this, get paid, and get out of here.
Vax: We could just ask the locals what lives out here.
Vex: [Disdainful] They'd say 'demons' or some ignorant nonsense. Peasants don't know anything except how to make more peasants.
Vax: [Matter-of-fact] We were raised by a peasant.
Vex: Speak for yourself. Father wasn't worth a shit but he was noble-born and as far as I'm concerned, once I graduated from the school, so was I.
Vax: [Matter of fact] Noble-born don't grub around in the muck chasing after a swamp god curse.
Vex: [Light tone] They do if I'm doing it.
Vax: It was your idea to take this job, remember. You said we needed the work.
Vex: [Eye-rolling] I didn't mean charity.
Vax: [Softer tone, a bit frustrated] It's not charity, stubby. It's just... not a lot. Besides, when do WE get to solve a problem like this? Cure a curse? It should feel good.
Vex: [Suspicious] I feel suspicious. Nothing happens in a town like this without someone making money off it.
Vax: A curse doesn't seem very profitable.
Vex: It is to someone.(Please record some battle sounds.)
Keyleth is a shy girl with a strong moral compass. She's friendly and upbeat, but she's no fool, and she's hard to manipulate. The world is new to her, and many things she sees fascinate her.
When voice acting for Keyleth, you do not need to sound exactly like Marisha Ray, but a bit of similarity is appreciated.
Voice Reference: https://youtu.be/i-p9lWIhcLQ?t=176
(Note: Most of this audition will be a long conversation between the twins and Keyleth. Only read the lines for Keyleth.)
[A squirrel appears before the twins after their battle with the Sahuagin.]
Vax: I'm hallucinating. I jsut saw that squirrel wave at me.
Vex: You've lost a lot of blood. I'll get you back to town.
Vax: That squirrel just gave me the most intelligent look I've ever seen from an animal.
Vex: What? There's no Squirrels out here.
Keyleth: [Puffs from Wild Shape to human form, coughing slightly on the magic sparkles] *Cough* *Cough* *Sputter* Ahem, it's because I haven't figured out gills yet, ok? Also, hello!
Vex: [Aims her bow at Keyleth, dropping Vax] Who are you?
Vax: Ow.
Keyleth: [Nervous] Oh, I'm... no, I'm nobody. I'm... it's not important. I'm Keyleth.
Vax: I'm dying. I'm dying and I'm hallucinating a squirrel who can turn into people.
Keyleth: [Goes over to Sahuagin and stares at its body, fascinated and impressed.] Wow.
Vex: "Wow"?
Keyleth: You slit its throat.
Vax: Yes.
Keyleth: From behind.
Vax: Safest way.[Vax is staring at Keyleth]
Keyleth: What?
Vex: Forgive my brother. he's never seen another Othlir (Oath-leer) before.
Keyleth: What's an Othlir?
Vex: You are. We are. It's Elven for "Ill Born".
Vax: Half-Elven. Half'Human.
Vex: Dad from whichever race was doing the conquering at the time.
Keyleth: [Shocked, NOT sarcastic.] What? Oh. Really? I mean, no! No, my parents... no, they loved each other. Still do! I think. "Ill-Born"? Really? Wow.
Vax: Really.
Vex: Could you stop saying "wow", please?
Keyleth: That's terrible! Why would they call you that?(Please record some battle sounds.)
This man lost his wife to the curse as well as his twins. He is the first man the twins question about the stillbirth curse. I picture him having a deep, rather grisly voice with a bit of southern twang.
(Note: Most of this audition will be a long conversation between the twins and the man. Only read the lines for the man.)
Vax: Who told you it was a curse?
Man: Alchemist named, uh... Zeth.
Vex: Well, we think... it's looking more like poison. Like... someone in the city is poisoning... well, you, and blaming it on the fish-men.
Man: Who'd want to do that? What'd we do? What'd any of us do?
Vex: Does it matter?
Man: 'Spose not... [looking sadly at an empty crib] They was gonna be twins. But they're gone now. And then their Mama... well, there weren't nothin' left inside, I guess. I buried her, after I dragged her body out of the swamp. Figure seeing this through is the only thing keeping me here. And there ain't no one left now to do right by me if I go the way she did. Glad you're sticking with it. If it's a job needs more payin', we could maybe collect a few more...
Vax: You paid us enough. Just know that we're making progress. Working the problem.
Man: [Turns around and sits down, depressed and accepting, as the twins leave.] All right.
An NPC merchant who could possibly be tied into the curse. He seems like he would sound very posh and eloquent. He also carries a few extra pounds, so he should have a deeper voice.
(Note: Most of this audition will be a long conversation between Vex and Zeth. Only read the lines for Zeth.)
Zeth: Good afternoon, young lady. Fancy some Foramere Lavender? That outfit's seen better days, I could have a tailor look at it before we dye it.
Vex: Well, that's a generous offer.
Zeth: I'm a generous man when in the mood.
Vex: Oh, I bet you are. Speaking of moods, I'm in the mood for something... caustic.
Zeth: Caustic? Like Lye you mean?
Vex: Hoping for something a little more... potent.
Zeth: Like Aqua Regia, maybe? Nothing like that around here, friend. No call for that sort of stuff in the muck.
Vex: That's too bad.
Zeth: Still, if you're looking for something toxic?
Vex: Yes?
Zeth: There's bound to be places in the city proper. Ask around at the taverns maybe.
Vex: [Looks disappointed and begins to leave.] Ah, well, thanks.
Zeth: [Calling after her.] Sure I can't interest you in some rifenmist cardinal? Brighten that cloak up a treat, very fashionable.
Vex: [Looking back from doorway.] My dear man, whatever I'm wearing IS fashionable.
Zeth: [Irritated growl as door closes.]
Iselda (pronounced Iz-ELLE-da) is a beautiful, seductive mistress of the Myriad, working to further her plans in Stilben... or rather, the plans of the Myriad. Seemingly enslaved into this scheme, she is no less wicked, and uses deception, sleight of hand, and her own beauty to reach her goals.
I'd imagine Iselda to have a rather seductive voice, like Poison Ivy, but she also can disguise herself, which means, you should be able to guise your voice mildly. Still, this does not happen often.
(Note: Most of this audition will be a long conversation between the Zeth and Iselda. Only read the lines for Iselda.)
[Standing alone in his room, Zeth hears a faint noise, and becomes nervous.]
Zeth: Hello?
Iselda: [In disguise as a man, steps out of the magic mirror and into the room.] You were followed.
Zeth: Aaah! How did you...?
Iselda: [In a magenta puff, turns back into her true form. She looks displeased.] I take this as a sign your plan is working. They hired someone ti find you and stop you.
Zeth: it's working. Another week... ten days, there'll be no one left in the muck. They're all leaving.
Iselda: [Smiles and leans in close, taking his chin in her hand, speaking seductively.] Think about what you want when this is over, Zeth. You could have your pick of any district in the city.
Zeth: Um... I've thought about it... oh, um. But... what about the... the ones following me?
Iselda: [Seductive with an undertone of menace.] Just ignore them. Go about your business. I'LL take care of everything.
The Ghormalith are a fish-type people who live in the swamp. Early in the comic they attack the twins. I need some people to voice a sort of... fish language, so to speak.
(A screeching battle cry)
(Trying to say something to Vex, who doesn't understand. Likely something along the lines of "get out of our swamp" or "you're dead, landwalkers!")
(Choking sound as Vax'ildan slits the Ghormalith's throat.)
The city Guards of Stilben who attack the Twins near the end of the chapter, and also appear in later volumes. They are mostly young men.
(A surprised sound as Vax dodges his dagger lunge. Sort of akin to a shocked "huh!?")
(A cry of pain as Vax stabs him in the back with a dagger.)
(A panicked noise. His friend was just shot in the eye and is falling from the roof, he is running away so he doesn't get shot, so he also sounds like he's running... and panicked.)
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