Grog Strongjaw
Grog Strongjaw is a goliath barbarian/fighter and a member of Vox Machina. He is played by Travis Willingham.
When he was young, Grog was exiled from the Herd of Storms by its leader, Grog's uncle Kevdak, for taking pity on a helpless old gnome the tribe was attacking. He was then taken in by that same gnome, Wilhand Trickfoot, and raised alongside his great-great-granddaughter Pike.
During his adventures with Vox Machina, he became the wielder of the legendary Titanstone Knuckles, acquired by taking down his uncle, to fight against the Chroma Conclave. He forged the Prime Trammels and was the wielder of the Sword of Kas in the fight against Vecna.
Intro
"Right, listen up. If you have ale, then you have a friend in Grog Strongjaw. A goliath of towering height and size, this barbarian has an appetite for the two great loves in his life: combat, women, and ale. Wait...
Easily the brains of the group, Grog is often consulted for his vast knowledge of shapes, colors, and shiny things. Also ale.
In his early years, armed with his two-handed great axe, Grog often enjoyed proving his might amongst the ranks of his family's wandering herd. But after coming upon an unsuspecting elderly gnome in the woods, he objected to the killing of such an innocent life. A creature of impulse, Grog felt only pity for this terrified little thing. His disobedience cost him dearly. Beaten bloody and banished by the herd leader, his uncle Kevdak, Grog was abandoned and left to die.
Exiled from his herd, it was then that the relative of the very gnome he fought to save, saved him. It was the kindness of a gnome cleric named Pike that healed Grog, bringing him back from death's edge. And they have remained close friends ever since.
Most nights, Grog can be found challenging entire taverns to wrestling matches! Or accompanying Scanlan to the nearest house where you pay for, er, lady favors. Also ale."[39]
Description
Appearance
Grog, being a goliath, has grey skin resembling that of a stone giant, with black tattoos adorning his upper body and the top of his bald head. With a massive, muscular build, he weighs over 645 pounds[40] and stands 8 feet 7 inches tall.[41] After a phylactery was removed from his body, a scar formed on his chest, marking the lingering darkness within him.[42] Grog bears the brand of the Slayer's Take guild on his right arm, which he received upon joining. Whenever he enters his rage, his eyes appear to glow red, as seen in the Vox Machina Campaign Intro. The Belt of Dwarvenkind allowed Grog to grow a thick black beard, a feat thought impossible for him, as male goliaths have no body hair.[43] While it was growing, it appeared translucent. During Vox Machina’s one-year break, Grog took the skin with the bear tattoo, which he had flayed from Kevdak’s chest, and had it tanned. He then had an exact copy of the tattoo inked on his back as a symbol that Kevdak and the events surrounding him are now behind him.[44]
Typically shirtless, Grog wears fur-trimmed pants and secures the large Belt of Dwarvenkind, adorned with a golden face emblem, around his waist. A leather strap stretches across his chest, supporting a fur pelt draped over his shoulder, which is decorated with a large skull. After growing his beard, he added a metal band around his neck, featuring fang-like objects at each end. On his arms, he now wields the Titanstone Knuckles, massive stone-textured gauntlets forged from the heart of an earth titan.
For a brief time, while attuned to the Sword of Kas, Grog’s stone-grey skin turned pale white, his body became gaunt, and his jowls slightly sunk. His eyes turned blood-red around the irises.[45] However, after completing the mission to seal Vecna and breaking free from the sword's influence, Grog returned to his usual appearance.
When Bells Hells encountered him in Vasselheim about thirty years after the adventures of Vox Machina, Grog was still incredibly muscular and bearded, but the black beard was streaked with gray and he had a little bit of a gut slightly overlapping the Belt of Dwarvenkind.[46]
Personality
Jokes have been made occasionally about Grog being smarter than most barbarians when the group plays, as Travis does mathematical calculations faster than the other players. Travis has jokingly called his character "Professor Grog".[47]
Grog's low intelligence score has proven problematic for the group in the past. He has been completely incapacitated by creatures that made psychic or intelligence attacks, particularly when an intellect devourer's attack put Grog into a catatonic state.[48]
Because of his low intelligence, Grog is illiterate and cannot read or write in any language. After being unable to read any of the runes written in Giant within the City of Brass, Grog expressed a desire to learn how to read, and asked for Pike to help him learn the Common alphabet.[49] Since then, Pike has managed to teach Grog how to read words in Common that are up to five letters long.[50]
Grog has shown himself to be rather impulsive, as seen often when he charges ahead of the group into an unknown area of a dungeon or map. He was also the only chaotic-neutral group member at the start of the campaign, and he is often more aggressive and less merciful than some of the other characters. He does not like being bested in single combat, as seen in "Hubris" (1x17). He is willing to cheat to win, as seen when he drank a potion of Stone Giant Strength to defeat the half-orc Kern in "The Rematch" (1x23). Despite this, Grog has a sweet, happy side that often comes out when he is around his friends.
Grog is physically the strongest member of Vox Machina and often attempts to take the majority of damage, acting as the party tank, due to his high armor class and constitution.
Biography
Before Campaign One
Background
Grog was raised in the Herd of Storms, a band of nomadic raiders consisting mainly of goliaths. When Grog was younger, he and his group encountered a helpless old gnome and attacked him, but Grog took pity on the gnome and protected him. Because of this, Grog was beaten nearly to death by the leader of the herd, his uncle Kevdak, and he was exiled and left for dead. His father, Stonejaw Strongjaw, watched and did nothing to help his son. However, the gnome he had saved, Wilhand Trickfoot, sent his great-granddaughter Pike to his aid. She saved him from death, and Grog was welcomed into the Trickfoot home. He and Pike became best friends.[51]
Vox Machina: Origins
Series I
Grog was a member of The Wing with Scanlan Shorthalt, Vash, Arnicor, and Thurista to recover an artifact from a temple in the swamp near Stilben. They fought a giant frog as well as the cult of fish-like people who inhabited the temple. They cut off the ruby eyes off of the statue of a fish god, then headed into town. Vash, the party wizard, identified some of their loot, but couldn't identify a vial of clear liquid they had found in the swamp. The party headed to an alchemist's shop to ask about it, but were met with assassins of the Myriad, who said they had interfered with their plans and demanded the vial. The assassins killed Vash before the rest of the party managed to kill them.
Grog followed his party to a tavern. There, he noticed Scanlan was talking to Tiberius Stormwind and joined them. The dragonborn expressed interest in the vial, which he recognized as a potion of Aqua Caedis, and bought it from Scanlan.
Later, Grog and Scanlan overheard an alchemist mention the Mockingbird, a ship arriving in the morning with a shipment. They walked in and Scanlan put him to sleep with magic so they could take a book he was guarding. As they investigated the room, Vax'ildan and Vex'ahlia jumped out of the shadows and attacked them, asking for the book they just got. Grog and Scanlan fought with the twins, but they were interrupted by a group of assassins who walked out of a mirror - the same ones that they had fought and killed earlier. Grog, Scanlan and the twins worked together to fight the assassins. Mid-battle, Tiberius walked in with Keyleth, and joined them in the fight. After all the assassins were killed, Iselda also walked out of the mirror and attacked the party. Grog tried to fight her, but he was trapped in a magic bubble that only dissipated once Iselda retreated.
Grog followed Scanlan when he decided to go help Vex instead of leaving for Whitestone with Arnicor and the cleric, and they met up with Vex'ahlia, Keyleth, and Tiberius at the docks. There, Scanlan pointed to the Mockingbird, and they all witnessed an explosion as Vax'ildan jumped out of a hole in the side of the ship, where he was being held captive. The group decided to work together this time, and boarded the Mockingbird. Grog fell overboard before they even made it on deck, but later reappeared, covered in seaweed, when the others were about to be overpowered by Iselda. Grog killed her by pushing her into a magical sygil that had been carved in the floor, and she burned alive. The group escaped through the previously made hole in the side of the ship. Afterwards, they all headed to a tavern together.
Series II
As was also shown in "The Story of Vox Machina" (Sx06), after doing some odd jobs in Stilben for a while, Grog left the group and traveled back to Westruun. After not hearing from him for a while, the rest of the party traveled there as well and met Pike Trickfoot for the first time. She told them that Grog had been acting strangely and had marched on his own through the Bramblewood Forest towards Gatshadow Mountain. Deep within the mountain, they discovered a mind-controlled Grog, the reanimated corpse of his father, Stonejaw Strongjaw, and a dying mage attempting to become a lich. The party slew the mage, but not before he embedded his phylactery into Grog's chest.[52]
The party later realized the phylactery was going to activate very soon, and split up to find ingredients for a ritual that could save him. Grog went with the twins in search of the heart of a nymph. While in the Frostweald, they found a pond where a nymph, named Nahla, lived. Instead of attacking him, she invited Grog to follow her into the pond, which was a portal to the Feywild. After a while, Grog returned looking quite satisfied with himself while holding the item the group needed. He refused to tell the twins what happened on the other side.[53]
With the help of Eskil Ryndarien, the phylactery was successfully removed from Grog, although it left behind some lingering necromantic energy.[54]
The Story of Vox Machina and other pre-stream events
At some point, Grog inadvertently almost killed Trinket when he hit the bear's backside with the flat side of his axe, causing Trinket to charge through a heavily trapped area of a dungeon. Vex was not amused.
Grog was the one who decided to keep one of the penises of the trolls, that his teammates shot off, as a souvenir; it was later used as a distraction in an encounter.[55]
Grog has previously been mentally dominated by another opponent, which caused him to turn against his group and almost kill a few of the party's members.[citation needed]
During a mission, Grog was fighting an umber hulk just like in "Into the Greyspine Mines" (1x02). He ended up getting confused and, in an attempt to bull rush the creature, he fell 170 feet to the cavern floor. He was knocked unconscious and almost killed by the impact.[56]
Grog and Scanlan managed to intimidate a group of hostile mages in a fighting pit when Scanlan summoned a pony, that Grog abruptly decapitated and smeared its gore on his body while screaming.
Grog was responsible for a blue dragon, Brimscythe, turning against Vox Machina when he found a treasure room and went into a "rage loot";[57] when the dragon emerged, Grog paused to acknowledge it before he continued looting the room. Grog's choice almost cost some members of Vox Machina their lives, but it also significantly increased their party funds.
Grog convinced the group that in order to find good security for their new keep, which they named Greyskull Keep, the potential guards would have to fight each other to the death.
On the road from Emon to Kraghammer with mission to aid Kima, Grog successfully prevented a fight between a roving band of goliath barbarians, led by his uncle Kevdak's son, Zanror, and Vox Machina after he recognized his cousin. The truce was only temporary, though, and Grog left with the understanding that their next meeting would almost surely be their last—though this later turned out not to be the case.[58]
"Arrival at Kraghammer" (1x01)
After Grog successfully prevented a fight with his cousin Zanror and his former Herd, the party made their way into the city of Kraghammer. Upon arriving at the Iron Hearth Tavern, Grog, being a half-giant, had to duck slightly to avoid hitting his head in the cramped space. A group of dwarves quickly offered him a drink, which he gladly accepted before sitting down with them. Meanwhile, Scanlan inquired about rooms from Adra, the innkeeper, and upon learning the price, he and Grog decided to share a room. Shortly after securing their accommodations, Grog, much to Scanlan's frustration, asked Adra about the tavern's fighting champion. The innkeeper directed him to Balgus, the reigning champion. Later, Grog and Scanlan grabbed some ale and approached the drunken Balgus. Grog asked how often he was challenged to fights and sought information about the city. The half-giant then pointed Balgus toward Keyleth and Vex, thinking they might have better luck getting information from him. That evening, the party split up, with Grog and Scanlan heading to The Stone's Pillow in search of lady companionship. Later that night, they regrouped with the rest of the party back at the tavern. When they heard that Trinket was in the fighting ring with Balgus, Grog rushed downstairs with the others and, without hesitation, placed a bet on Balgus winning. This offended Scanlan, who couldn’t believe Grog would bet on the enemy.
The next day, the party ventured into the Greyspine Quarry, where they were attacked by a group of goblins. Scanlan expressed his hatred for goblins and ordered Grog not to leave any of them alive. As the battle progressed, the barbarian noticed the goblins weren’t charging at them but seemed to be fleeing from something. Despite this, Scanlan insisted that he kill them anyway, and Grog continued his attack.[59] After defeating the goblins, the party also managed to defeat the naga that had been chasing them out of the mine.
"Into the Greyspine Mines" (1x02)
As the rest of the party followed Nostoc Greyspine to continue their conversation, Grog was eager to delve deeper into the mine. However, the others reassured him that they would return later. After speaking with Foreman Hieris to gather information about the creatures they might encounter, Grog offered him some rotten meat from the Bag of Holding as a thank you and to free up space in the bag.
The next morning, the party returned to the mine. A couple of hours in, they were attacked by umber hulks. When one of them nearly struck Grog, the half-giant retaliated but was caught by its Confusing Gaze, nearly hitting Tiberius with his axe. Once Tiberius dispelled the effect, Grog leaped into the water after one of the umber hulks, killing it by plunging his axe into its forehead. After the fight, while the others wanted to take a short rest, Grog, still in a frenzied rage, ran toward a light in the tunnel. There, he found a campfire and began attacking it. Before the others could reach him, he was shot multiple times by duergar. As the battle intensified, an intellect devourer accompanying the duergar invaded Grog's mind, and due to his low intelligence, the barbarian immediately fell unconscious. Despite Keyleth and Scanlan’s efforts to wake him, the barbarian remained unresponsive.
"Strange Bedfellows" (1x03)
The party examined his condition but couldn’t find a way to revive him. Keyleth believed she might have a spell that could help if they took a long rest. After resting, she performed a ritual and successfully healed Grog with Greater Restoration. To everyone’s relief, Grog woke up and immediately ran over to Keyleth, hugging her in gratitude.
When they later reached the duergar warcamp and spotted a mind flayer, the group began planning their next move. Drawing on his experience with his Herd, Grog suggested using their surroundings to their advantage by luring the enemies near the camp into the lava. The party used his suggestion as the foundation for their plan. Before setting out, Grog attempted to ride the Carpet of Flying but found he was too heavy for it, so he stayed behind in case the plan failed and the bridge needed to be cut. However, after the party was noticed, the illithid and the remaining duergar cut down the bridge and retreated into the camp.
Later, when Grog encountered Clarota for the first time, after joining up with Vex and Keyleth, he noticed the mind flayer’s peculiar helmet and inquired about it, learning that it protected him against outside influence. The half-giant sensed a hint of desperation from the mind flayer and its need for their assistance.[60]
"Attack on the Duergar Warcamp" (1x04)
The goliath followed Clarota, along with the others, to the abandoned Goblin village. When the party entered a tent with the mind flayer, Grog stayed outside as a lookout. He was overjoyed to see Pike reunite with them. While waiting for the conversation with Clarota to finish, Grog pulled a large bronze pot from the Bag of Holding and placed it on his head, trying to mimic the mind flayer’s helmet and its protective qualities.
Once final preparations were made, Tiberius cast Fly on the half-giant, while the others boarded the flying carpet and the transformed Keyleth. Together, they all flew over the crevasse to the warcamp. When they reached the enemy mind flayer’s residence, Keyleth cast Daylight on Grog's pot as he slammed his war axe into the roof, splitting it open. Grog then slid down into the room below, with Pike clinging to his leg. The light from Grog’s helmet forced the duergar to avert their eyes. During the chaos of the fight, a bulette emerged, prompting the frenzied barbarian to charge at it, dealing significant damage with his axe. He finished it off by cutting a tendon near its jaw to force its mouth open, then pulled out its tongue with his teeth and split its body in half using his hands.[61]
"The Trick about Falling" (1x05)
After the party interrogated the general for information on Lady Kima, Grog took an interest in the general’s warhammer and decided he wanted to keep it. However, the general managed to turn invisible and tried to escape with the weapon. Grog and Vax quickly caught up to him and killed him before he could get far. As Clarota devoured the general’s brain, the half-giant seized the warhammer. Following this, he harvested some natural armor from the dead bulette. When reinforcements arrived at the warcamp, the group attempted to escape. As Grog was flying, Tiberius lost concentration on the Fly spell, causing the goliath to plummet. Tiberius tried to cast Feather Fall, but Grog was too far away and hit the ground hard. Despite the fall, he managed to stay conscious.
As the party continued down the tunnel, Grog used Dust of Tracelessness to cover their tracks. Upon reaching a fork in the tunnel, the barbarian charged off to the left. After the others caught up, they decided to set up camp. While the rest of the party prepared for a long rest, Grog and Vax stayed up, gambling together while keeping watch. Eventually, they heard footsteps above them and decided to lay low and remain quiet. The next morning, Grog helped Pike break them out of their hiding place, and they continued down the tunnel.[62] When Vax made a joke at Grog's expense, the goliath immediately tripped him, causing Vax to faceplant onto the ground.
"Breaching the Emberhold" (1x06)
After continuing through the tunnel into the lower chasm, they eventually reached the Emberhold. As they tried to infiltrate the fortress, Scanlan used Thunderwave to push two duergar guards off a wall. Although they survived the fall, Grog, now in a rage, swiftly finished one with his axe while Keyleth sent the other plunging into the lava. As more duergar appeared, Grog, with Pike on his back, pulled on a chain to open the door, managing to get it open just enough for the entire party to slip inside.
Inside the fortress, before they could locate Lady Kima, the group encountered a lone duergar. The half-giant, encouraged by his companions, brutally dispatched the duergar by ripping off his jaw and using it as a weapon. After the battle, Grog cut Lady Kima free from her restraints with his axe and provided her with studded armor from his Bag of Holding, as her own gear had been confiscated. Impressed by her violent reaction when she bludgeoned the lifeless duergar, Grog handed her one of his greatswords.
"The Throne Room" (1x07)
During their battle with King Murghol and Queen Ulara, Grog fell under the Dominate Person spell cast by Ulara. When Vax attacked the Queen, Grog, under her influence, retaliated against him. After Scanlan killed the King, Ulara teleported herself and Grog away using Dimension Door.
"Glass and Bone" (1x08)
Later, Vox Machina discovered a camp where Queen Ulara had a captive Grog bolted by iron bands to a cart. As she pointed at the goliath, the other duergar began preparing tools for torture.[63]
"Yug'Voril Uncovered" (1x09)
Scanlan tried to bargain with Queen Ulara for Grog’s release, but she refused, and an invisible mind flayer attacked them. When Grog regained consciousness, he saw Scanlan banish Ulara, the one who had been torturing him for days.[64] After the party defeated the illithid, Keyleth freed Grog from his restraints. Although he was still badly injured, Kima stepped in to heal him when he asked Pike for help. Upon inspecting Grog, the party noticed the numerous scars and fresh wounds from his torture. As they traveled to Yug'Voril, Grog, still captivated by Lady Kima, walked beside her and asked about the greatsword.
"K'Varn Revealed" (1x10)
Grog stayed in the boat with Pike, Percy, and Keyleth near the shore of Yug'Voril while the others ventured into a cavern that concealed an abandoned camp. When the rest of the group was suddenly attacked by undead, Grog sprang into action, sprinting after Percy to join the fight. However, by the time he reached them, the battle was already over, leaving him disappointed. As he arrived, Vex handed him a Greatsword of Frenzy that she had discovered in the cavern. Just as they were about to leave, the group was ambushed by a cloaker, forcing them to retreat to the boat. Grog, consumed by rage, led the charge, but in the chaos, Pike tried to jump onto his leg and was accidentally struck by the half-giant, who hadn’t noticed her. He continued running, unaware, but fortunately, Scanlan was able to teleport her out of harm's way. Once back on the boat, everyone except Grog, Kima, and Vax was paralyzed with fear by the cloaker's natural ability. In response, the barbarian unleashed his Intimidating Presence, terrifying the creature in return.[65] Later, as he pulled the boat onto the beach, Grog glanced at Kima, hoping for some sign of admiration after the battle, but found none. As they were resting, Grog offered Clarota some ale, only for the mind flayer to spill it, dismissing it as unnecessary sustenance, which left the half-giant visibly upset.
"The Temple Showdown" (1x11)
As the rest of Vox Machina battled a giant, Grog unexpectedly attempted a diplomatic approach by speaking to the giant in its own language, but his efforts were in vain. When Vex put the giant to sleep, Keyleth used Geas to control him, and they decided to name him Tiny. The next morning, Grog offered Tiny a sip from his cask of ale, but the fomorian drank the entire contents and broke the cask. In retaliation, Grog headbutted the giant in the face, landing a critical hit that stunned him, and angrily demanded that Tiny owe him a new cask of ale. The giant, momentarily subdued, nodded in agreement. Afterward, Tiberius mended the cask and returned it to Grog.
As the party prepared for their next move, they flew over to the temple in the middle of Yug'Voril. Grog remained uneasy about the entire group entering through the same entrance, fearing that K'varn, the beholder, could target them all with his many eyes. However, they had no other plan. Before the fight, Pike cast Death Ward on Grog, and he slid down into the room with K'varn. Grog immediately charged at the beholder, landing several hits before being struck by one of K'varn's beams, which caused significant damage. In the ensuing battle, Keyleth, in her giant earth elemental form, hurled Grog onto K'varn. The half-giant then attempted to rip the Horn of Orcus from K'varn's forehead, enraging the beholder, who focused his attacks on Grog. After Grog fell unconscious, Death Ward activated, reviving him momentarily, but K'varn continued his assault, ultimately stealing Grog's soul as he lay lifeless on the floor. Fortunately, Pike quickly brought him back to life with her Revivify spell.
"Escape from the Underdark" (1x13)
The party managed to defeat the beholder, but Grog remained ensnared by one of the creatures trapped in a cage as a trio of illithids entered the room. The moment they removed Clarota's helmet, the mind flayers launched a mind blast at the party, stunning several members, though Grog managed to avoid the attack. Spotting Pike under assault from a distant mind flayer, Grog, still grappled, threw his axe in desperation to assist Scanlan, hoping the gnome could save Pike. Once Percy killed Clarota, Grog finally broke free from the grapple, retrieved the petrified Kima, and climbed out of the temple. With the mind flayers swarming the temple, the party quickly teleported to Emon. After securing the Horn of Orcus in Grog's Bag of Holding, they visited every pub in the city before returning to their Greyskull Keep. There, they deliberated their next steps regarding Kima and the horn. With most of the party harboring doubts about Kima's trustworthiness, Grog proposed un-petrifying her and claiming they failed to retrieve the horn, as a test to gauge her true intentions.
"Shopping and Shipping" (1x14)
After receiving their monetary reward for freeing Kima, the group headed to Gilmore's Glorious Goods for a shopping trip. Grog was eager to browse the armaments, and Sherri highlighted the Belt of Dwarvenkind among the offerings. However, Grog wasn't impressed by any of the items and decided not to purchase anything. The rest of the party, on the other hand, bought a bundle of goods, including the belt, which was later given to Grog.
"Skyward" (1x15)
When Grog discovered that the Belt of Dwarvenkind would allow him to grow facial hair, he was thrilled at the prospect of finally having a beard. He eagerly took the belt and put it on. While waiting for their skyship to arrive over the next two days, Grog and Scanlan visited the Laughing Lamia tavern to ask about any recent sightings of goliaths.[66] When the patrons remained silent, Scanlan, frustrated by the lack of response for his friend, threatened and intimidated the entire tavern into talking. They eventually learned that the only goliaths seen recently were part of a roving band attacking travelers on a trade route near Westruun. The next morning, Grog excitedly checked for signs of his new beard, only to be disappointed that nothing had changed yet.
After two days had passed, the group boarded the skyship and set off on their journey to the distant city of Vasselheim on the continent of Issylra. In the middle of the night, after covering some distance, they were abruptly awakened by the violent shaking of the ship. Grog immediately rushed to ensure the Horn of Orcus was still secure, while the others headed to the deck, where they discovered the ship was under attack by several winged creatures ridden by humanoid figures. The half-giant swiftly tossed one of the riders overboard to their death, while the rest of the party dealt with the remaining attackers, leaving one rider alive. Grog seized the last rider and dangled her over the edge of the skyship, demanding to know the reason for the attack. Terrified, she revealed that they were searching for any riches they could steal. To everyone's shock, as soon as she finished speaking, Grog let her drop overboard. However, Vex managed to catch her with a grapple arrow. The party decided to keep her alive aboard the ship.
"Enter Vasselheim" (1x16)
Grog was thrilled to discover that, thanks to the Belt of Dwarvenkind, he had finally grown some short, colorless stubble on his chin. Proud of his newfound facial hair, he eagerly showed it off to his friends. However, Vax decided to play a prank on him that night, gluing some rope to Grog's chin to create a makeshift goatee. In the morning, Keyleth confided in the group about the disappearance of her mother and her journey through the aramenté. Concerned, the goliath asked if they would need to defend themselves when they visited the Fire Ashari. The party reassured him that Keyleth's family was nothing like his herd and that they wouldn't be attacked. After delivering the Horn of Orcus to the Platinum Sanctuary in Vasselheim, Highbearer Vord asked the group to explore the Hall of the Exalt, an ancient vault beneath the sanctuary, and eliminate the invading vermin. During their escape, to Grog's disappointment, he was caught in a blast of fire, which singed off his short stubble.
"Hubris" (1x17)
With Pike now absent, the party contemplated their next move as they spotted a distant temple, marked by a massive dark-red statue of a muscular, bearded man. Upon closer inspection, they recognized it as a depiction of Kord, the god of war, combat, and storms. Curious about a place to fight, they inquired with the locals and were directed to The Crucible, a renowned brawling arena in the Braving Grounds District. Grog, in particular, was thrilled by the prospect. Noticing Grog's enthusiasm, the rest of Vox Machina decided to accompany him to the arena. Once there, Vex and Grog approached an attendant to inquire about getting the half-giant into a match. As the attendant sized up Grog, he asked whom Grog would like to challenge. Sensing Grog's unwavering confidence, the attendant began to collect bets from the crowd. Under the alias "Phillip the Newcomer," Grog leaped into the pit, brimming with anticipation for his bout against Kern "The Hammer," the arena's reigning champion.[67] The fight was brutal; at one point, Grog even bit off the top of Kern's lip. Despite a long and evenly matched struggle, it seemed Grog had claimed victory, but Kern's half-orc Relentless Endurance allowed him to recover and deliver a final, devastating blow.
In the aftermath of his defeat, Scanlan rushed to heal Grog and attempted to deceive him about the match's outcome, but Grog, fully aware of the truth, remained silent as his friends offered their comfort. Impressed by Grog's display of strength, the attendant invited him to fight in the ring anytime, but the half-giant merely walked away, his spirits crushed. As Grog entered a nearby tavern, the patrons broke into applause, and the barkeep rewarded him with a large tankard of ale and a complimentary room in recognition of his intense battle with Kern. Burdened by the loss of both his pride and Vox Machina's gold, Grog drowned his sorrows at the bar, eventually passing out in his room.
The next day, the group stumbled upon an ongoing fight against a hydra. Without hesitation, they joined the fray and managed to slay the beast. However, their victory was short-lived, as they unknowingly violated a contract. Yet, the moment Grog learned that joining the Slayer's Take meant getting paid to slay monsters, his enthusiasm returned in full force. They were taken to the Slayer's Take guild, where they were divided into two groups to complete contracts. Grog found himself in a group with Scanlan, Vex, and Percy.
"Trial of the Take: Part 1" (1x18)
As dawn broke, Grog, Vex, Percy, and Scanlan arrived at the Slayer's Take guildhall, where they were introduced to their new traveling companion, Zahra Hydris. She sized up the group with a quick glance, immediately recognizing Grog from his battle with Kern.[68] As she complimented his imposing stature, the half-giant blushed a deep shade of blue and introduced himself as Grog the Unintimidated, revealing his true name after she had only known him as Phillip. Shortly afterward, they were joined by Lyra, the leader of their temporary party, who arrived fashionably late. Vanessa, the Huntmaster, then presented them with their contract: to slay an adult white dragon. While discussing their next course of action, Grog noticed that, once again, the Belt of Dwarvenkind had caused him to sprout bristly, translucent facial hair overnight.[69]
The party embarked on a nine-hour journey through the dense Vesper Timberland before deciding to set up camp. Eager to contribute, Grog chopped down some lumber and afterward volunteered to take the third watch. While the rest of the group slept, Grog kept a vigilant eye on the surroundings, eventually hearing the distinct snap of twigs in the distance.[70] Determined to investigate alone, he ventured into the darkness, but upon spotting orcs accompanied by dire wolves, he immediately shouted to wake the rest of the party. As his companions scrambled awake, Grog wasted no time charging a dire wolf. With a powerful strike, he cleaved its throat, ending the threat. The fight was over quickly, but as they finished off most of the enemies, Grog was flanked by a pair of orcs. Without hesitation, he cleaved one in half and grabbed the other by the throat. Seeking information, he intimidated the orc into speaking. However, after the orc revealed what he knew about the dragon, Grog, to Lyra’s frustration, promptly beheaded him. In an attempt to make amends, the half-giant offered the severed head to Lyra as an apology.
On the second day, as heavy snowfall enveloped them while they approached a mountain, Grog felt entirely at home in the frigid environment, thanks to his natural Mountain Born ability. Drawing on his familiarity with mountain ranges, the goliath guided the group on how best to proceed.[71] But before they could advance further, they were ambushed by what Grog instantly recognized as a frost giant.
"Trial of the Take: Part 2" (1x19)
In the dragon's lair, with their plan falling apart, the party, now joined by two giants whom Zahra had persuaded to aid them, had no choice but to face the dragon directly. Grog, initially frozen by the dragon's intimidating presence, quickly overcame his fear as he entered a Rage. He charged at Rimefang, striking the beast repeatedly with his ignited Firebrand Warhammer. With Scanlan on the brink of death, Grog quickly moved to his side, administered a Superior Healing Potion, and then slid him across the ice to safety.[72] When one of the giants turned traitor, Grog didn’t hesitate, caving in the giant’s torso with a crushing blow. With the dragon defeated and their contract fulfilled, Vox Machina and their two new friends returned to Vasselheim, where they were welcomed into the Slayer's Take as official members.
"Aramente to Pyrah" (1x22)
The two halves of Vox Machina reunited at the guildhall, where everyone embraced one another. Feeling left out, Grog opened his arms for Vax, who cautiously returned the hug.[73] They were soon brought before Osysa, a gynosphinx, who magically branded their right arms, officially marking them as members of the guild. After catching up and sharing the details of their respective contracts, the group realized it was time to restock their supplies. Grog set off to visit a merchant, eager to find a potion that would enhance his strength. The merchant offered him a Potion of Stone Giant Strength in exchange for all of Grog's dragon teeth and two vials of dragon blood. Grog, trying to imitate Vax's haggling skills, attempted to negotiate, but his efforts backfired, and he ended up offering more vials of dragon blood than the merchant had initially asked for.[74] Satisfied with the deal, the half-giant took the potion, imagining how proud Vex would be of his purchase. Afterward, Grog, along with the rest of Vox Machina, accompanied Keyleth to the Elemental Plane of Fire to support her in completing her Aramenté. Unfortunately, he once again singed off most of his newly grown stubble while battling fire elementals.
"The Rematch" (1x23)
Back in Vasselheim, as they discussed their return home, Grog requested that they stay so he could have a rematch with Kern "The Hammer." Unfortunately, the Crucible was empty in the middle of the day, but as soon as word spread about the impending rematch between Kern and "Philip," the name Grog had used in his previous fight, a crowd quickly gathered. Confident in his abilities, the goliath bet all his gold on himself and eagerly jumped into the pit even before Kern arrived. As the match began, Grog drank from his wineskin, which he had secretly filled with the Potion of Stone Giant Strength, fortifying himself for the battle ahead.[75] He then announced to the crowd that "Philip" was dead, declaring that his true name was Grog the Vengeful. Despite the advantage provided by the potion and the inspiration from Scanlan, the battle was still tough. Kern's training had endowed him with the skills of a monk, making him a formidable opponent. However, Grog, using his Relentless Rage, remained standing through blows that should have knocked him out and finally delivered the finishing strike on Kern, earning the title of Grog "the Victorious" and becoming the new champion of the arena.[76] As the battle concluded, the half-giant seemed to have earned the respect of a mysterious monk, Earthbreaker Groon. After collecting his reward, Grog shook Kern’s hand, promising another rematch in the future.
Later, Grog, accompanied by Scanlan and the twins, sought an audience with Groon at the Trial Forge. However, only Grog was permitted to meet with him. Initially, Groon was in a deep meditative trance. The monk revealed that he already knew all about the barbarian and his travels and instructed him to ask any questions he might have. Since Grog had no questions, he instead offered the services of Vox Machina. As Groon emerged from his trance, he accepted Grog’s gesture of piety, smiling as he foretold that dark times were ahead and that one day he would require Grog’s assistance. The Earthbreaker urged him to stay alive.[77] Afterward, they reunited with the rest of their friends and teleported back to Emon.
"The Feast" (1x24)
As the group prepared for the royal feast with the Briarwoods from Whitestone, scheduled for the following week, they discussed Percy's troubled past with them and began strategizing for the event. To ensure they were ready for any trouble, they agreed on the code word "Jenga," a suggestion from Grog, in case things took a violent turn. A few nights later, Grog was finally able to grow a full beard. However, he never even got the chance to see it, because on the very night it fully grew in, Vax sneaked into his room while the goliath slept and shaved off half of it as a prank. Frustrated by Vax's relentless, mean-spirited pranks against him, Grog immediately knew that the rogue was responsible.[78] On the day of the feast, while everyone was preparing their formal attire, Grog tore down a tapestry from a nearby wall and fashioned it into a makeshift toga.[79] Tiberius, noticing Grog's frustration, used his magic to create an illusory beard where the real one had been shaved off. Later, Grog offered Vax a goblet of ale, and as soon as the rogue emptied it, Grog gave him a menacing smile and crushed the goblet in his hand, a clear warning not to test him again.
"Crimson Diplomacy" (1x25)
As Vox Machina left the feast, they suddenly heard the code word from Vax, signaling that he was in danger. Without hesitation, Grog, Vex, and Percy grabbed their weapons and charged toward his location, now accompanied by Lillith Daturai. Grog quickly attached the Chain of Returning to his warhammer and hurled it at Sylas Briarwood, striking him with a powerful, flaming blow. When Sylas retaliated with his blade, Grog felt an unnatural pull, as if the weapon were trying to drain his very life force. However, his formidable constitution allowed him to resist the sword's dark enchantment. As the vampire retreated, Grog seized the opportunity to strike back, but before he could land another blow, Delilah and Sylas vanished into thin air.
On their way back to the keep, Vax, aware of his blunder during the failed stealth mission, offered Grog the chance to exact revenge for the prank from the previous night. Grog approached him with a serious expression, extended his hand in a gesture of goodwill, and remarked that he was glad Vax hadn't died. Vax, in turn, admitted that he appreciated Grog and was fine with him marking his face as retribution. Instead, Grog delivered a hard backhand to Vax's face, declaring that no one else would ever get to kill the rogue but him.[80] As they neared their keep, they were attacked by the Broker, who was targeting Lillith. During the brief skirmish, Grog positioned himself behind one of the sleeping foes, drew his Javelin of Lightning, and launched it at the foes, striking two of them, while the rest of the party swiftly dealt with the remaining enemies.[81]
"Consequences and Cows" (1x26)
At dawn, within the walls of their keep, Grog, still missing half of his facial hair, took his altered appearance in stride, using it to bring some laughter to his friends. Tiberius, with a sprinkle of magical dust, cast an illusion that made Grog's beard appear full once more.[82] Grog and Scanlan decided to check on Percy, who hadn’t come downstairs yet. Finding his room empty, they headed to his workshop in the basement, where they found him working on a project. Later, Vox Machina met with Uriel, the ruler of the Tal'Dorei Empire, to discuss recent events. In response to their attack on the Briarwoods, Uriel temporarily suspended their membership in the Council of Tal'Dorei.
Back at the keep, Vex and Grog interrogated Desmond Otham, a prisoner they had captured during the Briarwoods' escape. Both showed him kindness; Grog even offered him some ale and brought a bed to his cell, convinced it was the safest place for Desmond in the event of an attack. That night, the group set out to assist local farmers by hunting down a giant bird that had been preying on their livestock, a task they had recently accepted. When Scanlan suggested they turn into cows to lure the roc, the others were initially hesitant. Grog, however, was thrilled by the idea and felt disappointed when his companions started to back out. Eventually, they all agreed to go through with the plan, much to his satisfaction. After successfully dealing with the roc, Grog was delighted to notice that the other half of his beard was finally starting to grow back.[83]
"The Path to Whitestone" (1x27)
As they returned from their mission, the sounds of gunshots and struggle echoed from within their keep. Grog immediately charged in to assist Jarett and Desmond. Thinking the enemy might share the same weakness as vampires, he crushed a vial of Holy Water in his hand and delivered a powerful punch to the invincible entity, but the Holy Water had little effect. Unfazed, Grog quickly switched to his Firebrand Warhammer, landing three solid blows and dealing significant damage. Realizing the enemy was trying to kill Desmond, their prisoner, Vox Machina moved him to a safer room, where Grog stayed with him, keeping watch through the night. The next day, while the group debated their next move, they couldn’t agree on whether to quietly leave Emon and head to Whitestone. Grog, wanting to get things moving, called for a vote. He, the twins, Scanlan, and Percy all agreed they should get ready to head to Whitestone and take on the Briarwoods. With a week to prepare, Grog took the time to grow back his full beard, thanks to his Belt of Dwarvenkind, this time without any pranks from his friends.[84]
"The Sun Tree" (1x28)
While traveling through a tunnel toward Whitestone, the party ran into trouble with a massive behir, a reptilian creature. After they managed to weaken it, Grog, having endured the brunt of its Lightning Breath, delivered a final blow to the behir’s skull with his hammer. Even as it died, the half-giant continued to pound the creature until Scanlan intervened.[85] As they continued their journey, the twins noticed a section of the mountain that looked unnaturally angular and smooth. Grog, familiar with similar structures in the Cliffkeep Mountains, immediately recognized it as a stone giant fortress and advised the party to go around it.[86] However, as they drew closer, they realized the fortress was abandoned and ransacked. Grog searched for weapons but found nothing. While the party chose to rest inside, Grog and Vax kept watch outside. When suspicious crows spotted them, they decided it was safer to keep moving. As they finally neared Whitestone, Grog suggested finding an abandoned building to use as a base. But on their way, they came upon the Sun Tree, now adorned with hanging bodies, each dressed to resemble a member of their adventuring party, a grim message left for them.
"Whispers" (1x29)
At the abandoned tavern where they had set up camp, Grog and Vex stayed behind to protect Keyleth as she focused on a ritual to revive the Sun Tree, while the others ventured into the Zenith. After a failed attempt to revive the tree, the group regrouped and devised a plan to eliminate Kerrion Stonefell, one of Briarwood's closest allies. Scanlan suggested a direct approach—rather than discreetly searching for Kerrion, they would go house to house, killing everyone in their path. Grog was thrilled by the idea.[87]
The next day, as they neared Kerrion's house, Vax told Grog that they must protect their friends in the coming battle. Although Grog initially wanted to lure Kerrion out of the house, the group discovered a way in through a fence. Keyleth cast Heat Metal on the bars, allowing Grog to bend them with his bare hands, suffering only minor burns that Keyleth quickly healed.[88] As they stealthily searched the house for Kerrion, Grog found eighteen bottles of fine wine in the cellar and stowed them away for later. Eventually, they tracked down their target. Vax whispered that they should send in the goliath, and Grog, without hesitation, climbed the ladder and prepared to strike one of Kerrion's henchmen. When his initial target vanished, Grog redirected his fury toward a guard attacking Vax, swiftly dispatching him. With most of the enemies dealt with, they decided to keep Vouk alive for interrogation. After extracting the information they needed, Grog, following Percy's orders, tore out Vouk's tongue and flung him out the window, followed by the lifeless body of Kerrion.[89] As the house began to burn, Grog carried the unconscious guard to safety, letting the rising flames send a message.
"Stoke the Flames" (1x30)
Back at their hideout, everyone was worried about Percy and the shadow that had surrounded him during the fight. Grog, however, remained unconcerned about the shadowy presence, seeing it as a useful ally in Percy's pursuit of vengeance. The barbarian reassured the others that if Percy ever lost control, they would subdue him and take him to a temple.[90] At Percy's request, Grog promised to do whatever was necessary if he ever turned against them. Later, during their night watch, Grog and Vax discussed the strange smoke that had surrounded Percival earlier. Suddenly, they found themselves shrouded in a mysterious fog. The half-giant assumed it was just ordinary mist and stepped closer, only to be ambushed by a pair of vampires.[91] Both creatures tried to bite him, but only one managed to pierce his body. Vex woke everyone else, and they swiftly dealt with the threat. Grog decided to stay up for another watch with Trinket, just in case of another attack.
The following day, after securing a new hideout, the group began preparations for their next target: Count Tylieri. After Vax knocked out the guard at the mansion's entrance, Grog, fueled by rage, charged headlong through the gate, heading straight for the main door, while the others silently infiltrated through different openings.[92]
"Gunpowder Plot" (1x31)
Grog smashed through the mansion's main entrance, and he and Trinket rushed inside, only to be immediately surrounded by ten guards with crossbows aimed directly at them.[93] Count Tylieri stood at the top of the staircase. In an instant, six bolts struck Grog as he stood in front of Trinket, shielding the bear from harm. Grog locked eyes with Tylieri, who leaped down to engage him. The two traded blows until Tylieri grabbed Grog by the neck, giving the guards a chance to unleash another volley. Seven more bolts pierced the goliath as he left himself vulnerable in his reckless attack on the vampire. After Trinket decapitated the count, Grog, now covered in bolts, charged up the staircase to engage the remaining guards. As they attempted to flee, Grog vaulted over the banister, taking down one of them while the others were dispatched by his allies.
Afterward, as Grog searched the mansion, he discovered a secret hatch concealed beneath a carpet in the study.[94] Descending into the hidden chamber, the half-giant found the vampire's coffin, which contained a cloak. After Vax claimed the cloak, Grog smashed the coffin to pieces. Following a brief rest at the Alcove, the group set out to join the rebelling citizens. But as they neared the Sun Tree, a massive horde of undead attacked. Realizing they were about to be overwhelmed, the party turned and fled.
"Against the Tide of Bone" (1x32)
Vox Machina, thanks to Keyleth's desire to protect the citizens, launched their attack on the undead horde from a stone wall that the druid had conjured. To everyone's excitement, Pike arrived just in time to aid in their defense. Grog lifted Scanlan and tossed him up the wall so he could join Pike. Moments later, the barbarian vaulted over the wall himself, landing beside Pike as they faced the advancing skeletons. While Grog smashed through a few of the undead with brute force, Pike unleashed her Destroy Undead, decimating the majority of the horde with her divine power. After dealing with the majority of the undead, the group spotted two towering undead giants in the distance. They quickly divided into two teams, each setting off toward one of them. Grog, accompanied by Pike and Scanlan, charged south, carrying both gnomes on his shoulders as he made his way toward the giant.[95] Entering a frenzied rage, Grog rushed at the undead giant, slamming his warhammer into its leg with such force that it shattered the bone, leaving the lower half of the limb destroyed. The giant retaliated by smashing Grog with its club, but the goliath countered with three strikes from his Firebrand Warhammer. The first blow caved in the giant’s skull, the second deepened the fracture, causing the jaw to hang loosely, and with a final, powerful swing, Grog completely dislodged the jaw, sending it hurtling down the street. Scanlan’s magic further weakened the giant, allowing Pike to deliver the finishing blow with her divine power.
After a brief rest in a tunnel outside the city walls, the party infiltrated the castle’s basement through a secret entrance. There, they encountered an old woman locked in a cell. Grog, suspicious of her, was inclined to leave her imprisoned, reasoning that if their assault on the Briarwoods was successful, it wouldn’t matter whether she was freed now or later.[96] Both Grog and Pike suspected she might be a vampire, and since Pike couldn’t, Grog bit his hand to test her reaction to the sight of blood. The old woman, however, was simply disturbed by the act, showing no signs of vampirism.
"Reunions" (1x33)
After releasing the old woman, who was revealed to be Anna Ripley in disguise, the group went to her room to retrieve her belongings. Grog stayed close, ready to act if she tried anything suspicious, warning her that he’d put her through a wall if she made a move. As Ripley tucked vials into her armor, Grog grew suspicious and demanded to see them. When she showed him the vials, Grog recognized one as a Greater Healing Potion. For the other, Ripley explained it was a Potion of Flying.[97] At this point, Vex expressed interest in the potion, and Grog, as a threat, drew his weapon to ensure Ripley handed them over. Reluctantly, Ripley gave the vial to Vex. As the doctor disclosed the location of Professor Anders, one of Percy’s targets, the group tried to dissuade Percy from taking the obvious bait. However, Grog was the only one who supported Percy’s quest for revenge.
When Vax fell into Anders’s trap and began fighting him alone, Grog was the first to charge into the study, followed closely by the rest of the party. There, they found the gravely wounded Cassandra de Rolo. Before Grog could assist Vax, Professor Anders cast Dominate Person on him, ordering Grog to kill the rogue. Grog struck Vax twice with the Firebrand Warhammer, leaving him barely conscious, but then broke free from the domination, turning his fury on the professor.[98] Percy delivered the final blow to Anders, and Grog turned his attention to the living armor. After they destroyed the armor, Grog, Scanlan, and Vex pursued Ripley, who had slipped away during the chaos. Realizing they wouldn’t catch her, they returned to the study. As the half-giant re-entered the room, Percy asked him to dispose of what remained of Professor Anders. Grog opted to burn the corpse. Following Cassandra to the castle's cellar, Grog and Vex searched for tracks. Grog found a cluster of footprints, belonging to about seven people, no more than a day old, leading into a tunnel.[99] As he pointed this out to the others, they were suddenly attacked by ghosts, which managed to possess Grog, Keyleth, and Vax. The possessed trio turned on their allies, but Scanlan's Spirit Guardians spell freed Grog from the ghost's control. Grog then focused on the now-possessed Percy, knocking him unconscious to free him.[100]
"Race to the Ziggurat" (1x34)
Before stepping into the tunnel, Grog distributed healing potions to the party. When Vax showed interest in the Superior Healing Potion, the rogue proposed a deal: in exchange for the potion, Grog could flick him hard in the nads. Delighted by the offer, the goliath eagerly agreed. However, after the exchange, Grog handed Vax a Greater Healing Potion instead. As they ventured into the tunnel, Pike rejoined them as a projected avatar. Overjoyed to see his closest friend again, Grog charged forward, knocking Vax aside, scooped up the gnome, and enveloped her in a bear hug.[101] Their path led them to a large bronze chamber, where two massive walls of green residuum glass suddenly slammed down, trapping them. It became clear that Cassandra had betrayed them and escaped with the Briarwoods, taking the mind-controlled Vax with them. Grog struck the glass wall with all his might, but it proved too resilient, leaving only a small scratch. As the room began to fill with acid, Grog smashed one of the opals on the wall, cracking it. By shattering all the opals, they eventually managed to climb out of the trap.
Upon entering the chamber with the Ziggurat, they launched their assault on the Briarwoods and Cassandra. Grog attached the Chain of Returning to his holy oil-covered warhammer and hurled it at Lord Briarwood, striking him in the side. Cassandra de Rolo, emerging from behind a pillar, stabbed Grog in the back, but his barbarian rage allowed him to shrug off most of the damage. Grog retaliated by slamming her into the pillar beside him. When she dropped her weapon, he shifted his focus to Delilah Briarwood. Enraged, Lord Briarwood attempted to seize control of Grog’s mind, but the berserker’s rage made him immune to the effect.[102] As Keyleth and Pike vanquished Sylas with Sunbeam, a grief-stricken Delilah teleported to the top of the Ziggurat. Grog seized Cassandra by the neck and carried her to the edge of the pyramid, intending to throw her off. However, Percy intervened, convincing him to spare her. Reluctantly, he agreed and placed manacles on Cassandra instead. He then retrieved Sylas's sword from the ashes and, rather than keeping it, handed it to Percy. They continued their pursuit of Lady Briarwood, who was attempting to complete a ritual at the top of the Ziggurat. During the fight with Delilah, Vex fell unconscious. Grog leaped to her side and carried her out of the chamber to heal her, as no magic was functioning near the temple after the ritual. Once Delilah was subdued, Grog dragged her unconscious body away from the orb and out of the chamber.
"Denouement" (1x35)
Grog carried both Vex and Delilah as he led the group out of the tunnels. After passing the bronze room, he handed Vax a healing potion, which, to their relief, finally took effect. He then dropped Lady Briarwood unceremoniously to the ground as they waited for Keyleth and Vax to catch up. Seeing Delilah's wounds, Grog grabbed some dirty rags to stop the bleeding, keeping her alive just long enough for the group to decide her fate.[103] When Percy refused Orthax’s command to kill her, the enraged shadow entity emerged and attacked. In the ensuing battle, Grog was forced to turn his weapons on his friends, Pike and Scanlan, but luckily, he missed them both. With Orthax weakened and trying to get to Percy, Grog slammed the creature into the ground, pinning it down as Trinket ripped its head off.[104] The victory over the Briarwoods sparked a celebration with the citizens, who had captured Countess Jazna Graben and Duke Goran Vedmire. When Jazna refused to help rebuild the city, Grog beheaded her with such blinding speed that the crowd didn’t even see the weapon strike. After a brief moment of stunned silence, they erupted into cheers.[105]
"Winter's Crest in Whitestone" (1x36)
During the two weeks leading up to the Winter's Crest festival, Grog roamed the town, lending his strength to aid in the rebuilding efforts. He effortlessly lifted and carried heavy stones, earning the admiration of the townsfolk. When they offered him gold as a reward, he graciously declined, opting instead for a simple refill of his cask of ale.[106] Later, Grog sought out Percy to inquire about the sword recovered from Sylas Briarwood's body, proposing to trade his Dragon Slayer Longsword for it. Percy, finding the sword too large for his liking, agreed. As soon as Grog took hold of the weapon, it spoke to him. Initially puzzled by the mysterious voice, Grog introduced himself. When the goliath asked if the voice could have a female setting, the blade responded with a sigh of frustration. The sword then offered Grog power, but Grog, curious, asked for clarification on what kind of power it meant. The sword explained that it would allow him to absorb the strength of his foes, making their power his own, and instill fear in his enemies, causing them to kneel before him. Grog eagerly accepted, and the sword introduced itself as Craven Edge.[107]
As the festival commenced, Grog and Scanlan made their way to the arm-wrestling competition. After several rounds, Grog found himself in the final match against a formidable guardswoman named Trish. Before the match began, Grog extended his hand, thanking her for her service to the city and congratulating her on her victory over Vedmire. Despite a fierce and intense struggle, Grog was ultimately defeated. However, Trish gifted him her prize flask of ale as a gesture of respect. Grog graciously accepted and praised Trish, declaring her a true warrior.[108]
"A Musician's Nostalgia" (1x37)
After teleporting back to Greyskull Keep and bidding farewell to Tiberius, Grog suddenly recalled their prisoner, Desmond Otham. They needed to present him to Uriel to clear their names now that the Briarwoods had been defeated and Whitestone liberated. When they met with the Sovereign, he was already aware of the events that had unfolded, expressed his deepest apologies, and tasked Vox Machina with tracking down Riskel Daxio, a traitor allied with the Briarwoods and the cult of Vecna. While searching Riskel's room for clues, the group discovered glyphs identical to those found in the Ziggurat. Grog recalled that these glyphs were used to shield the room from scrying.[109] With no further clues in sight, a guard directed them to Jeffrey, a servant and the last person known to have spoken with Daxio. Acting swiftly, Grog and Scanlan made their way to the interrogation room, the others following close behind. Upon arrival, the half-giant ordered the guard to leave. He then unsheathed his new blade, Craven Edge, slamming it into the ground beside his foot, shadows curling ominously from its edge. With an intimidating presence, Grog demanded the servant answer all of Scanlan's questions truthfully. Through their relentless interrogation, the duo extracted information from Jeffrey, including a lead that directed them to the Diamond Nest Tavern. As they wrapped up the interrogation, Grog heard Craven's voice echo in his mind, reveling in the servant’s misery and yearning for his death. Confused by the sudden craving for bloodshed, Grog resisted the dark urge and chose to spare the servant, much to the sword's displeasure, as it sighed in frustration.[110]
At the Diamond Nest Tavern, they descended through a hidden hatch in the cellar and found Daxio imprisoned by the Clasp. As they opened the cell, Daxio attempted to fight back, but Keyleth swiftly restrained him with a vine, and Grog shackled him with manacles. However, before Grog could fully secure him, Daxio broke free from his grasp. After a brief skirmish, they succeeded in subduing him once more and took him into custody.
"Echoes of the Past" (1x38)
Vox Machina brought Daxio before Sovereign Uriel Tal'Dorei II, where they interrogated him to learn more about Vecna. Following the questioning, Uriel ordered Daxio's execution, a task Grog eagerly took upon himself. He drew his blade, Craven Edge, and with a powerful swing, as its shadowy aura emanated from it, decapitated Daxio. As blood pooled on the ground, Grog felt an unnatural surge of joy and exhilaration, driven by the sword's dark influence. He began to smile, but when his companions gave him puzzled looks, the goliath quickly suppressed it.[111] After a long night’s rest, the party set out to infiltrate General Krieg’s former mansion in the Cloudtop District once again, following a request from Dr. Dranzel's Spectacular Traveling Troupe. As the group debated their approach, Grog simply vaulted over the fence and strode confidently toward the house, taunting his friends as he went. After knocking on the door and receiving no response, Pike joined him and swiftly picked the lock. As Grog peered into the open doorway, he was immediately hit by the pungent scent of decay, and the group cautiously entered the house.[112] While exploring, they stumbled upon a sinister humanoid skull with an emerald embedded in its right eye socket, which they covered with a nearby tapestry. Eventually, they descended through the secret entrance leading to the cavern beneath the mansion, where they had previously battled Brimscythe. As they came across the gold they had left behind, spilling out from the wall, a massive wormlike creature suddenly erupted from the ground just as Grog was about to set down the Bag of Holding to collect the treasure.
"Omens" (1x39)
As Grog prepared to strike the frost worm, the sinister voice of Craven Edge echoed in his mind, urging him to "Kill." However, the goliath held back, telling his weapon to be patient as he was still too far from his target. Instead, he hurled his Javelin of Lightning at the creature. Soon after, a massive purple worm joined the fray and swallowed Vax whole. As Percy killed the beast, Grog quickly sliced open its belly with his blade, accidentally cutting Vax in the process. Undeterred, Grog leaped into the air and, with a powerful descent, cleaved the frost worm in half. Still thirsting for battle, he conversed with Craven Edge, who expressed satisfaction with his performance. When his companions looked at him in confusion and asked who he was talking to, Grog deflected, claiming he had been speaking to them and suggested they respond next time.[113] The barbarian swiftly began frenzied rage-looting the gold, with Scanlan assisting him using Bigby's Hand. Once they had their fill, they made a hasty escape from the cavern, narrowly avoiding an even larger purple worm.
Back at the mansion, while debating what to do with the ominous skull, Grog picked it up and whispered to it, asking if it could hear him. To his surprise, the skull responded. Before Vax could snatch it away, the goliath bolted from the house, shouting for everyone to evacuate. When Grog's attempt to lie about his reasons for fleeing with the skull failed, Vax, irritated by Grog's increasingly bizarre behavior, demanded answers. Vax said that despite all the pranks he had played on the half-giant, including shaving off half his beard, he believed they were now even. However, Grog disagreed, insisting they were far from even, and challenged him to a fight, which led the rogue to leave in frustration.[114] After Vax departed, Grog admitted to the others that the skull had offered to grant him a Wish, and he was tempted by the proposition. Pike, sensing the evil radiating from the skull, urged him to put it down. After some convincing, he reluctantly dropped the skull to the ground. However, later that night, Grog attempted to break into Percy's workshop, where the skull was being kept, but his efforts were unsuccessful. The next day, as they gathered to hear Uriel's speech, they were suddenly attacked by four massive chromatic dragons. Grog tried to strike the green dragon that landed near them, but to his shock, his attack didn't even leave a scratch.[115] As they were hit by its poisonous breath and two more dragons closed in, Vox Machina realized they couldn’t win this fight, so they teleported back to their keep.
"Desperate Measures" (1x40)
Upon teleporting into their keep, Vox Machina found refugees from Emon desperately seeking shelter. Before they could secure everyone, a white dragon from the Chroma Conclave attacked, freezing Trinket and killing many with its icy breath. Acting swiftly, Grog pushed the frozen bear toward the entrance as Pike healed him. Fortunately, Vorugal, the white dragon, was called away by an ancient red dragon before more devastation could occur. In the aftermath, Grog confronted Percy in the workshop, insisting they use the Wish from the magical skull to stop the dragons. He revealed that only he and Percy, both marked by dark forces, could wield its power. Percy sent Grog to retrieve Vax and hid the skull, fearing the consequences of Grog's plan. Both Vax and Percy were united in their opposition, believing the evil within the skull might be even more dangerous than the dragons themselves. As Vex entered and Vax left, Grog blocked the workshop’s entrance. Grog’s desperation escalated, leading him to threaten Percy for the skull. Vex, trying to read their intentions, found both men too guarded. As Grog lunged at Vex to seize the skull, Percy fired a warning shot and pulled her out of his path. In the ensuing chaos, Grog tackled Percy and took the skull from Vex's hands just as the other party members began to arrive. Preparing to spike the skull on the ground to destroy it and use the Wish, Grog suddenly caught sight of Pike’s disappointed gaze. The weight of her disapproval stopped him cold, and his resolve crumbled. He let the skull fall to the ground, undamaged.[116] As Vex fled upstairs with the skull, Grog explained his intentions to the remaining party members.
"In Ruins" (1x41)
While exploring the burning ruins of Emon, now ruled by Thordak, the massive red dragon, the party searched for Gilmore and any surviving allies. As they surveyed the devastation, Grog approached Vax, questioning whether he still believed the threat within the magical skull was truly worse than this. He remarked that they could have prevented it, then walked off. When they reached the ruins of Gilmore's Glorious Goods, they encountered about ten looters scavenging through the rubble. The looters refused to leave, prompting the party to draw their weapons. Grog, hoping they would flee to make it more thrilling, entered a frenzied rage. He sliced his palm with his blade, and his blood was instantly absorbed into the dark weapon. During the ensuing battle, Grog felt his strength grow with each strike of Craven Edge, as the cursed blade drained the power of his foes.[117] After the fight, they discovered a hidden hatch, where they found Gilmore, Empress Salda Tal'Dorei, and other refugees. The group decided to split up, with Grog, Pike, Percy, and Keyleth escorting the refugees to their keep, while the others attempted to retrieve the items that were looted from Gilmore.
"Dangerous Dealings" (1x42)
After teleporting the refugees to Whitestone, the group ventured back into the ruins, seeking to ally with the Clasp. However, on the way, they were attacked by wyverns and their lizardfolk riders. Still bolstered by the strength he had absorbed in their previous battle, Grog charged at the enemies the moment the wyverns landed. He quickly took one down, absorbing even more power and eventually reaching a strength score of 22.[118] During their meeting with the Clasp, Vax declined their offer, turning the Clasp into enemies of Vox Machina, a decision that greatly pleased Grog. Later, Grog told Vax that he believed the rogue had made the right choice. After returning to their keep and taking a long rest, Grog lost the additional strength he had accumulated throughout the day. Once rested, the group escorted the remaining refugees to Whitestone, before teleporting to Vasselheim to seek aid from the Slayer's Take guildhall. On the way, Grog expressed his desire to speak with Earthbreaker Groon, hopeful that he might offer them the help they needed.
"Return to Vasselheim" (1x43)
At the Slayer's Take, the group reunited with Zahra Hydris and Kashaw Vesh. Despite it being their first time meeting in person, Kashaw immediately recognized Grog. He revealed that he had placed a bet on Grog's first match against Kern and won 75 gold after Grog lost. The goliath, unaware that Kashaw had bet against him, simply replied, "That was money well spent."[119] The party was then led to Osysa, who revealed that to face the Chroma Conclave, they would need the Vestiges of Divergence, legendary armaments from ancient times imbued with immense power. While shopping at the Quadroads, a potion salesman recognized Grog, who had previously failed to negotiate a better price for a potion, and eagerly invited him back into the shop. Vex, still furious at the shopkeeper for swindling Grog during their last visit, angrily pushed the goliath aside. However, Grog, believing he had secured a great deal before, told Vex to sit back and watch a "pro" haggle as he confidently entered the shop. After some persuasion from Vax, Grog eventually stepped aside and allowed Vex to take over the bargaining.[120] Later, while drinking at a local pub, Kern unexpectedly walked in. Upon seeing Grog, he panicked and fled, but Grog immediately gave chase and caught up with him outside. Curious about Kern's connection to Groon, Grog began questioning him. During their conversation, Grog learned that their upbringings were surprisingly similar, prompting him to apologize for biting off Kern’s lip during their previous fight. Grog also discovered that Earthbreaker Groon had trained the half-orc, with the condition that Kern would one day test a particular person in combat.[121] That evening, Grog returned to the Trial Forge to seek help from Earthbreaker Groon. As he approached the temple, the guards stepped aside, seemingly anticipating his arrival. Inside, Groon asked Grog, "Where do you find your strength?" Grog responded, "In my anger," but this answer did not satisfy the monk. Earthbreaker repeated the question and slammed Grog to the ground, challenging him to find a deeper source of power.
To test his conviction, he allowed the barbarian to choose two allies to join him in battle. Grog immediately wanted Pike, but since she was unavailable, he chose Vax and Scanlan. Grog managed to wound Groon with Craven Edge, but the Earthbreaker resisted the sword’s strength-draining power, commenting on the dark nature of the weapon. Wanting to change tactics, the goliath attempted to switch to his warhammer, but the sinister voice of Craven Edge compelled him to keep the blade and strike again. As he did, the world around him darkened, leaving only Groon stepping toward him. In the darkness, Grog heard his voice: "Grog. You are stronger than this. This thing that binds you. Where do you find your strength?" Without hesitation, Grog replied, "In my friends." In that instant, the darkness shattered, and Groon bowed before him. The monk then shared vital information with Grog and the party about two Vestiges he knew of. When he mentioned the Titanstone Knuckles, forged from the remains of an earth primordial titan, Grog’s expression shifted to one of recognition and shock. The weapon was all too familiar to him.[123]
"The Sunken Tomb" (1x44)
After leaving the Trial Forge without learning the location of the Titanstone Knuckles from Groon, Grog shared an important truth with the group: he believed the Knuckles were in the possession of his uncle Kevdak, the brutal leader of his former tribe, the Herd of Storms. Grog recounted that his uncle had once used two prized weapons, including the Knuckles, to beat him nearly to death, making it a difficult topic for him to discuss.[124]
However, with their current proximity to another Vestige, the Deathwalker's Ward, the party decided to journey to Marrowglade Loch first. As they prepared for the journey, Zahra gifted the barbarian a dark metal warhammer, the Moonhammer, which she had forged herself. Eager to try it out, Grog tested the weapon on what he believed to be Vax, unaware that Scanlan had created an illusion of the rogue. For a moment, the goliath was distressed, thinking he had accidentally killed his friend. When Vax stepped out of his hiding spot, unharmed, Grog was relieved and rushed over to give him a huge hug. After resting near the lake, the group eventually made their way into the tomb. Once inside, they were ambushed by a beholder and several kuo-toa. Throughout the battle, the beholder fired some of its rays at the barbarian, but he shrugged off every effect. The creature hovered too high for Grog to reach, so he suggested that Scanlan use Bigby’s Hand to throw him at the beholder. Scanlan summoned the magical hand, launching him into the air and allowing him to get within striking distance.[125] With the party unleashing their attacks from all sides, Zahra delivered the final blow, finishing the creature off with a powerful Witch Bolt. As the battle wound down, Grog helped Kima and Vax out of a chasm using a rope. Meanwhile, Percy accidentally set off a trap in the coffin in the center of the chamber, which contained the Vestige. Vex was struck by a blast of necrotic energy from it, killing her instantly. After her revival, Vex was confused, thinking she had only been knocked unconscious, but Grog bluntly told her the truth, that she had died.
"Those Who Walk Away" (1x45)
Back in Whitestone, after examining the items they had retrieved from the tomb, the party dispersed to pursue their own tasks. Scanlan stayed with Grog, who, during their conversation, admitted that when Keyleth had mentioned other goliaths earlier, it had made him nervous. Needing privacy so no one would overhear his conversation, Grog decided to head to the privy and asked Scanlan to stand guard outside. With the gnome playing loud music to mask any sounds, Grog sat down and began speaking with his cursed blade, Craven Edge. Uneasy, he asked why Earthbreaker Groon had called Craven a "dark weapon" and questioned what the blade gained when he killed with it. To appease the blade, Grog slit his finger on the edge of Craven, letting a few drops of blood drip onto it, feeding its insatiable hunger. The blade replied, "There is no feeling more terrifying than hunger. And I hunger forever. You help satiate that hunger. That is our arrangement. I give you the strength of those you cut down, and I feed upon them." When Craven Edge hinted that it could easily find a more willing servant, Grog quickly reassured the blade, admitting he was fond of the power it gave him, though he remained unsettled by how it absorbed the blood of his enemies.[126] After leaving the privy and grabbing something to eat, Grog and Scanlan stopped by Jameson the Painter’s workshop to pick up Scanlan’s commissioned painting.
The next morning, the party decided to head to the abandoned giant fortress to release Galdric, the wolf companion of the former Champion of the Raven Queen, from the Raven's Slumber, a mystical amulet they had found in the tomb. When they released Galdric, the massive wolf ignored Vax, who now wore Deathwalker's Ward, the armor of the previous champion, Purvan Suul. Instead, the creature made its way toward the entrance. Grog slammed Craven Edge into the ground near the wolf’s head and commanded, "Heel!" To the party's surprise, the wolf obeyed and sat down.[127] When Scanlan asked if Grog was now Galdric’s master, the goliath replied that he believed the wolf was too powerful to have a master, but it needed a purpose. The wolf followed them closer to Whitestone, where they gave it the task of protecting the city and the surrounding lands. Galdric gave Grog a look of acknowledgment before disappearing into the woods. The following day, the party agreed to travel to Pyrah, home of the Fire Ashari, to assist in sealing the rift to the Elemental Plane of Fire.
"Cindergrove Revisited" (1x46)
Eventually, they arrived at the rift, which hovered above a pool of lava, guarded by fire elementals, a large salamander, and an efreeti. Scanlan quickly trapped the efreeti in Otiluke's Resilient Sphere, while Grog unleashed his attacks on the salamander. Vax finished it off with a dagger throw, and Grog, pulling the dagger from the creature’s body, momentarily believed he had gained magical powers when it vanished in his hand. With the efreeti still trapped in the sphere above the lava, Grog stepped into the molten pool, enduring damage, and began pushing the sphere toward the rift. Before he could complete the task, the sphere shattered, and Scanlan swiftly cast Lightning Bolt, killing the efreeti. As its body turned to ash, Grog dashed over, pretending to cast a spell, and beheaded the lifeless corpse. Once the enemies were defeated, the Fire Ashari druids began focusing their magic on sealing the rift. At Vex's suggestion, Grog joined in, holding out his hands and focusing intently on closing it, despite having no magic of his own.[128]
"The Family Business" (1x47)
With the tear to the fire plane now sealed, Scanlan conjured his magical mansion, inviting the party to rest in their new home. Vex followed Grog into the training room to retrieve the flying broom she had stolen from a blue dragonborn, which was stored in his Bag of Holding. As she tried to figure out how to use the broom, the goliath focused on his training with Trinket. While the rest of the group settled into their rooms, Grog chose to sleep on the sandpit in the training room. In his dream, he walked through a tunnel into an arena, hearing a distant crowd cheer. He sensed multiple presences closing in but couldn’t see them. Then, a voice echoed in his mind: “Release me.” Instinctively, he drew his dark blade and swung wildly at the unseen threats, feeling each strike land as he cleaved through everything nearby. A rush of adrenaline and joy surged through him, fueled by his own power. But when the blindness finally lifted, he saw farmers, children, and Pike Trickfoot dead at his feet. Though he wanted to scream, he found himself laughing against his will. Looking up, he saw the imposing figure of his uncle Kevdak, with the Herd of Storms behind him, watching with pride as Grog sat atop a throne of corpses. Kevdak knelt before him, saying, "You’ve finally made me proud, Grog."[129] The next morning, as the party discussed going after Kevdak and the Herd of Storms to retrieve the Titanstone Knuckles, Grog grew uneasy, trying to steer them toward a different goal. He wasn’t ready to face his past. Nervously, he explained that Kevdak had left him for dead after he defied the herd to save an old gnome, Wilhand Trickfoot. He recounted the fight with his cousin Zanror, which he won, only for Kevdak to step in, beat him savagely, and leave him to die. When Percy suggested disguising Grog for their eventual confrontation with Kevdak and hinted that he might be avoiding something, Grog, initially angry, eventually feigned excitement, not wanting to appear weak.[130]
The party teleported near Westruun, Grog and Pike’s hometown, only to discover that the town was now occupied by Grog's former herd, serving a black dragon. They learned this from a farmer, Reginald, who had been forced to work the fields. When the barbarian heard about the farmer’s child, something shifted in him, and he decided to confront his old herd. He recognized Horace, one of the goliaths overseeing the workers. After Keyleth used her magic to entangle Horace, Grog tackled him, delivering a few punches until the goliath calmed down, shocked to realize Grog was still alive. Thinking he had come to rejoin the herd, Horace shared information about the herd’s current situation. After getting the answers he wanted, Grog asked, “Are you hungry?” Horace barely had time to react before Grog plunged Craven Edge into his chest, driving the blade up through his ribcage. The party watched in horror as the sword drained every drop of blood from Horace’s body.[131] While the others scouted Westruun for more information, Grog stayed behind with Scanlan. Alone, he confided in the bard, telling him about the nightmare, the people he had killed in it, and the fact that the sword had spoken to him. He wanted Scanlan to inspect the blade more closely but found himself unable to hand it over due to the sword’s curse. With Scanlan’s Suggestion spell, Grog finally managed to relinquish it, but soon after, the sword’s voice entered Scanlan’s mind, urging him to kill Reginald, and he quickly returned it to Grog.[132] The half-giant made Scanlan promise not to tell the others, and the gnome agreed. When the group regrouped, Grog proposed a dangerous plan: to avoid fighting the entire herd, he would challenge Kevdak one-on-one. The party, deeply concerned for their friend, voiced their worries. Vax, in particular, expressed his fear, telling Grog that he didn’t want to lose him and that the party needed him.
"Into the Frostweald" (1x48)
The party decided to seek out Osysa’s mate, who could provide crucial information about the remaining Vestiges, before turning their attention to Kevdak. Setting off toward Frostweald, they soon came across an encampment filled with refugees from Westruun. One of the guards recognized Grog from the town and, after apologizing for the trouble he had caused him in their youth, warned him that the camp’s inhabitants were especially wary of goliaths in light of recent events. As they moved deeper into the camp, many people were pleased to see Vox Machina. However, the warm reception quickly turned to unease when they noticed Grog, their fear of goliaths triggering a visceral reaction. Grog could feel the hatred directed at him, which made him uneasy.[133] While the rest of the party slept, he chose to stay awake and keep watch. The next day, Pike reunited with the group using the gate stone. Grog greeted her with a tight hug, and in private, he told her about the occupation of Westruun. He confessed that he wanted to search for her grandfather, Wilhand, but didn’t want to risk endangering the group. He also explained the need to find more Vestiges to prepare for the inevitable battle with his uncle. Pike agreed, and when Grog started to cry, she hugged him tightly, wiping away his tears.[134] After their conversation, Grog gave Pike his Gauntlets of Ogre Power, increasing her strength to 19.
After a long day of travel, the group rested in Scanlan's mansion. During a conversation with Pike, Scanlan expressed his concerns about Grog's sword. Soon after, they resumed their journey, eventually arriving at an obelisk in a snow-covered forest near the Stormcrest Mountains. Grog had to carry both gnomes, as they were nearly buried in the snow. While investigating the obelisk, the party was suddenly attacked by several basilisks. However, they swiftly dealt with the threat. Grog heard more creatures approaching from underground, prompting Keyleth to seal the holes with stone. Despite this, one basilisk broke through, but Grog quickly dispatched it, absorbing more of its strength. With the danger dealt with, the party pressed further into Frostweald, heading toward an orc camp.
"A Name Is Earned" (1x49)
Vox Machina reached the camp and swiftly ambushed the orcs. Grog waited for the others to strike first, then charged in with frenzied rage, joining the assault. He quickly killed both an orc and a bear, absorbing their strength through his blade. Afterward, he grabbed the orc war chief by the shoulders, impaling him on the pointed end of his sword and ending his life. The party spared one orc, and Grog, his blade casting shadows around him, approached. He questioned the orc about the sphinx they were seeking, but when the orc refused to provide any information, Grog brutally killed him, reaching a strength score of 24. After dealing with the orcs, they freed the captured refugees. Grog inquired about Wilhand, and a young girl told him he was in Westruun. Scared of Trinket, the girl watched as Grog rushed over, put him in a playful headlock, and gave him a noogie to show the bear was harmless and cuddly. Soon after, they discovered a cavern that led to the sphinx, but before entering, most of the party decided to rest in the mansion. Grog, not wanting to lose his accumulated strength, chose not to sleep and consequently gained a second level of exhaustion. During the rest, Grog spoke with his blade, Craven Edge, once more. He asked it about its previous master, Sylas Briarwood, and whether it knew anything about the Briarwoods’ plans with Vecna. The blade praised Sylas but wasn’t interested in Vecna, knowing nothing about the lich. Afterward, Grog promised the blade he would feed it more blood, as it was nearly full.[135]
The next morning, the party noticed Grog’s exhaustion, and Vax suspected he had lied about resting. Together, they ventured into the mountain's tunnels, encountering numerous puzzles. Grog’s weariness began to show, and while climbing a passage rapidly filling with sand, he struggled to keep up. At the last moment, he managed to break through, barely escaping the sand’s grasp.[136] Finally, they reached the chamber where Osysa's mate awaited. The sphinx informed them that the knowledge they sought could not be given freely but had to be earned. To gain it, they had to figure out his name while fighting him. When Grog attacked the sphinx, Craven Edge absorbed the creature’s strength. The blade, now full, began to emanate a thicker, darker aura, growing longer, jagged, and more menacing.[137] When Vex discovered the first letters of the creature's name, Grog acted without hesitation, leaping into the gateway to the Elemental Plane of Air, despite not having a rope to secure himself. As he drifted away from the portal, he uncovered the final letters of the name. Desperate to return, he attached his Chain of Returning to Craven Edge and hurled it back through the portal, accidentally skewering Pike, who was standing nearby. She clutched the blade, holding it inside her abdomen to keep Grog from being pulled away. Horrified by what he'd done, Grog was unable to speak. Pike reassured him that she was alright and that the important thing was his return.[138] He slowly regained his composure and finally uttered the last letters of the name, allowing them to complete the task. Meanwhile, Vex, holding onto a rope, jumped after Scanlan into the portal to pull him back. With the portal closing, Grog pulled Vex to safety just in time using the same rope. Kamaljiori then revealed the locations of the Vestiges he knew. Sensing Grog's fear, he confirmed that the Titanstone Knuckles were indeed in the possession of Grog's uncle before teleporting them out of his lair.
"Best Laid Plans..." (1x50)
Grog, wracked with guilt after the accidental stabbing, turned to Pike and apologized. She reassured him, telling him she knew it wasn’t intentional and that she would be fine, gently embracing him while declining his offer of a healing potion. As they rested, Grog stepped away from the group with the blade in hand. The weapon had shrunk, hungrier than ever for blood, but Grog had nothing to give. Suddenly, a cold, chilling sensation crept from the blade, eerily similar to the feeling when K'Varn had once pulled his soul away. As their rest concluded, Grog, still exhausted from lack of sleep, collapsed without warning into the snow, lifeless as Craven Edge consumed his soul. Chaos erupted among his friends. Pike rushed to pull the cursed sword away from him while Scanlan revealed the truths he had learned about the blade. Pike’s panic deepened, realizing that Grog Strongjaw, the goliath she had grown up with and saved countless times, was gone. Desperate, Scanlan pleaded with Pike to save him, expressing how much he loved Grog, just as she did. With the final moments of the spell's window ticking away, Pike managed to cast Revivify. Grog’s arm shot up, grabbing Scanlan by the throat, his eyes filled with rage as he squeezed the life out of him. But after a few tense seconds, Grog’s mind cleared. Realizing in horror that he was choking his best friend, he immediately let go, confused and disoriented.[139] Despite everything, Grog didn’t want to part with the sword, still determined to use it against Kevdak. He confided in Pike that he wasn’t afraid of dying, as long as it was a glorious death, but the one death he couldn’t accept would be at his uncle’s hands. Pike reassured him they would find him a better weapon and, with a Greater Restoration spell, severed Craven Edge’s cursed hold on him. Freed from its influence, Grog finally saw the blade for what it truly was—evil, manipulating him. Keyleth then banished the sword to the empty pocket dimension of the Dread Emperor using Plane Shift. Grateful and relieved, Grog hugged Pike and thanked her. She offered to return his gauntlets, and although he protested, she gave them back anyway. In return, he gifted her his Boots of Levitation. That night, as they took a long rest in the mansion, Grog made sure his Firebrand Warhammer wouldn’t talk back to him. Satisfied when he heard no voice, he finally allowed himself to relax.
As they approached Westruun, the group discussed their strategy for confronting Kevdak and the Herd of Storms. They agreed to follow Grog’s initial plan of challenging his uncle to a one-on-one duel. However, Grog suggested they approach it more cleverly. He proposed that one of them lure a few herd members out of town, allowing them to deal with them quietly before the final showdown between him and Kevdak. When asked how honorable his people were, Grog explained that while he didn’t want to defeat Kevdak dishonorably, he was comfortable with the idea of his family fighting by his side. Percy suggested using Grog as bait while the rest of the group rescued the refugees, but Vex and Vax disagreed. They preferred to stay close to their friend, hiding nearby, ready to support him during the fight. Grog also suggested they secretly cast magic to make it appear as though he had gained extraordinary powers to help him in the duel. Later, Scanlan asked him if he would feel ashamed if the herd discovered he was receiving help from his friends. Grog responded firmly, “No. No, I made a choice. This is my family. My old family left me to die.”[140] That night, they quietly returned to the farmland near Westruun, a place they had visited before. There, they found the lifeless body of Reginald, the farmer who had once helped them. Pike cast Speak with Dead, and as Reginald described his killer, Grog realized it was Kevdak’s son, Zanror. He then asked how long it had been since the dragon was last seen in town and learned it had appeared just two days earlier. As they deliberated on a plan to thin out the herd, Vax asked the half-giant about his father and what the herd might know of him. Grog admitted he didn’t know much, only that the last time he saw his father, his uncle had nearly beaten him to death while his father stood by, watching without intervening.[141] Scanlan infiltrated the town to draw some of the herd members into a trap, while the rest of the group waited outside, ready to swiftly take them down.
"Test of Pride" (1x51)
With the help of Scanlan and Kaylie, several members of the herd stumbled into the trap. Grog, disguised as his undead father, stepped out of cover, terrifying a few of the goliaths, who promptly fell into the trap. One of the remaining goliaths recognized Grog, as the barbarian smashed his head into the goliath’s and kicked him into the pit. Handing his salt lick rock to Pike for safekeeping, Grog promised she wouldn’t lose him twice in one day, then entered the town, while the others quietly followed, concealed by Pass Without a Trace.[142] Before long, Grog was stopped by guards. Claiming to be a relative of Kevdak, he persuaded them to escort him to the town square. Occasionally, the guards overheard the party’s accidental noise, but Grog’s taunts and provocations distracted them, causing them to send only a few guards to investigate, who were swiftly and silently dispatched by the others.[143] Upon reaching the square, some of the goliaths expressed doubts about Grog's claim of being Kevdak’s kin, but the old seer, Greenbeard, recognized him and welcomed him. Grog seized the moment, promising the Herd of Storms the greatest show they’d ever witness and boldly challenging Kevdak to a fight.
As Thunderlord Kevdak approached, Grog continued to mock and provoke him, pushing his uncle into accepting the challenge. While Vox Machina hid on the rooftops, ready to assist if needed, the duel began. Kevdak, empowered by his Titanstone Knuckles, grew in size and unleashed brutal blows with his Bloodaxe, striking his nephew hard. Grog retaliated, managing to inflict some damage, but Kevdak’s bear totem made him resist most of it. Picking Grog up, Kevdak shoved him onto the spikes surrounding the arena, but Grog, refusing to yield, pulled himself free. Facing his uncle Grog declared, "Clearly, I’ve been a fool. You are truly a foe to be reckoned with." Then he shouted to his friends, "Vox Machina! Fuck shit up!"
"The Kill Box" (1x52)
Kevdak relentlessly attacked the now-disarmed Grog, who resisted much of the pain but couldn't shake the sting of necrotic damage from the enchanted greataxe. In a swift move, Scanlan paralyzed the goliath leader, allowing Grog to rip the Bloodaxe from his uncle's immobilized hand. Glaring at Kevdak, Grog growled, "Oh, I do hope you have a necromancer in your group, 'cause I'm looking at a fuckin' dead man," before brutally hacking at his arm.[145] Witnessing this, nearly every herd member on the ground redirected their attacks toward Grog. Despite the onslaught, the barbarian struck Kevdak with reckless abandon—his first strike severing Kevdak's already wounded left arm, and the second leaving a deep gash across his back. As the herd swarmed Grog, Vex swooped down on her broom and, despite sustaining several hits herself, whisked the barely conscious barbarian into the safety of the Raven's Slumber. Meanwhile, Greenbeard rushed to heal Kevdak, who began to retreat, but Grog wasn’t finished. As Vex released him from her necklace, Grog plummeted from the sky, ready to strike. With his uncle’s own axe in hand, he cleaved through Kevdak, bisecting the Thunderlord of the Herd of Storms. Smiling in satisfaction, Grog collapsed from the fall, only to be revived moments later by Scanlan's Healing Word.[146] The bard raised his friend into the air using Bigby’s Hand, as Grog declared Kevdak's defeat. The barbarian then called on the herd to rally behind Vox Machina in the fight against Umbrasyl.
Now on the ground, Grog equipped the Titanstone Knuckles, one of the Vestiges of Divergence. Approaching the bound Zanror, Grog appeared to address his cousin, but in a sudden turn, he swung his axe and decapitated Greenbeard, the herd’s seer.[148] He freed Zanror and declared him the new Thunderlord, rightful ruler of the herd. Grog then looted Kevdak’s body, taking his skull and cutting away the bear tattoo from his skin to store in the Bag of Colding. He then ordered the herd to release any prisoners in their custody.
"At Dawn, We Plan!" (1x53)
Vox Machina escorted Theodore to his mother, who cast a worried glance at Grog. The party quickly reassured her that Grog had slain the Herd's leader and freed the town. The goliath promised her that many positive changes were on the way, but urged her to leave for the nearby encampment, warning of an impending battle with Umbrasyl. The group then made their way to Pike and Grog's home in search of Wilhand. When they found him, he embraced them both in relief, but his joy quickly turned to panic, fearing the Herd had returned to punish him for escaping with Grog. The half-giant gently calmed him, assuring him the danger was over. Pike proudly added that Grog had defeated Kevdak. Noticing Wilhand was drunk, Grog took his bottle, and they arranged for him to stay at Scanlan’s mansion for safety. As they traveled to Master Quall’s home, Vox Machina debated whether to delay their confrontation with Umbrasyl. Grog expressed serious doubts about surviving another day, admitting he didn’t trust the Herd, who had already abandoned him once. He suggested they consider evacuating the refugees and leaving town entirely. When they arrived at Master Quall’s home, Grog remained outside as a lookout. He noticed a few nervous passersby and a pair of figures leaning against a building, watching him. He paid them little attention, focusing instead on attuning to his new weapons. As he completed his attunement to the Titanstone Knuckles, a sudden vision overwhelmed him. His hands went numb as he witnessed the chaotic birth of the planet and the time before civilization. Fiery energy surged through his fingers, filling his body with immense strength.[149] When the others returned with Fassbender, Grog shook hands with the golem, realizing just how much stronger he had become.
Back at Scanlan’s mansion, in the training room, the barbarian eagerly demonstrated his newfound power to Pike by punching a wall, showing the force behind the Knuckles. He then returned Pike’s Gauntlets of Ogre Power, boosting her strength, and even spoke to his Bloodaxe in front of her, ensuring it wouldn’t lead to the same fate as Craven Edge. As the group debated what to do next, Grog reassured them that the Herd was made up of terrible people who had committed unforgivable acts. He emphasized that his only concern was the safety of the townsfolk and the people in the room. With that in mind, he assured them they should have no reservations about sacrificing the Herd if they chose not to fight the dragon tomorrow. In the quiet pre-dawn hours, Grog woke the others to meet with his cousin Zanror. On the way, Grog spotted the same pair from the previous day following them. Confronting them, he asked why they were trailing him. They explained they were trying to figure him out after he had killed their leader. During the meeting with Zanror, his cousin suggested Grog shave off his beard, as it unsettled the other goliaths, who typically couldn’t grow facial hair. After the Rivermaw Tribe had left the Herd, Grog successfully convinced Zanror to be patient and give them more time to prepare a trap for the dragon.[150]
"In the Belly of the Beast" (1x54)
While the others prepared for the upcoming fight, Grog was on a separate mission to find Reginald's daughter. His search led him to an abandoned iron stockade where the herd was keeping their prisoners. Inside, he found four captives: Amelia, the daughter of Reginald the farmer; Noja, a wizard who had once aided Vox Machina; a shifty man named Orn; and an elderly dwarf named Davin. Grog shared some dried food rations and ale with them before discovering a set of keys on a dead guard. After locating the right key, he immediately freed Amelia, gently telling her about her father’s bravery, though he couldn't bring himself to reveal that Reginald had died. He handed her more keys to free Noja, then questioned the other two before releasing them as well. Grog enlisted Davin’s help for the upcoming fight. Using his Earring of Whisper, Grog contacted the party, asking if anyone would join them on a trip to Noja’s shop to retrieve the wizard's spellbook. Scanlan volunteered, and as they searched the shop, they discovered a Potion of Diminution and a Potion of Speed. In exchange for their help, Noja identified Grog’s Bloodaxe, confirming it was not cursed. With the wizard agreeing to help in the battle, Grog and Scanlan returned to the prison to gather chains for the trap.[151] Later, Vex suggested using Kevdak’s head, which Grog had stored in his Bag of Holding, as bait for the dragon. Unwilling to part with his prized trophy, Grog instead eagerly offered to act as bait himself. Vex argued it was too dangerous, but Grog wouldn’t budge until Pike gave him a disapproving look. At that, Grog quickly relented and agreed to Vex’s plan.[152]
The following morning, as everyone took their positions, Grog and Pike waited in the tunnels with the other goliaths. When Umbrasyl finally appeared, the trap was sprung, pinning the beast to the ground. The group leaped out of the tunnels, throwing chains over the dragon to keep him immobilized. The party unleashed a series of attacks, and when the dragon attempted to slam Grog with its tail, Scanlan caused it to miss using Cutting Words. Standing atop a stone pillar created by Keyleth, Grog struck at the dragon with full force, but Umbrasyl retaliated, using his wings to knock him off the pillar and send him crashing to the ground. Despite their efforts, Umbrasyl managed to break free from the chains. As it flew into the sky, it unleashed a deadly acid spray that killed most of the goliaths and wounded both Grog and Keyleth. Grog activated his Titanstone Knuckles, growing in size. He hurled his Bloodaxe, now tethered by the Chain of Returning, at Umbrasyl, striking the dragon and keeping the weapon attached. As Umbrasyl fled toward its lair, Grog held onto the chain, dangling from the beast, while Scanlan and Vax were trapped inside the dragon’s stomach as it soared away.
"Umbrasyl" (1x55)
Grog climbed up the chain onto the dragon’s back but was quickly thrown off, barely managing to cling to the chain. Suddenly, the dragon spun into a barrel roll, flinging Vax from inside its body and dislodging Grog’s chained axe from its back. Both Vax and Grog began plummeting toward the ground. Scanlan, standing atop Bigby’s Hand outside the dragon, saw Vax falling below and Grog, above him, struggling to use a fancy robe as a makeshift parachute. The bard quickly rode the hand upward to grab the goliath, stopping his fall. However, realizing that Bigby’s Hand wouldn’t reach the rogue in time, Scanlan swiftly cast Polymorph, transforming Grog into a giant eagle. With newfound wings, Grog dove after him, and with both of them on his back, safely descended to the ground. Once reunited with the rest of Vox Machina inside Bramblewood, they were approached by Shale, an elder goliath woman missing her left arm and an eye. Grog immediately recognized her from his old herd. After Scanlan reverted him to his goliath form, Shale looked at Grog with quiet surprise, noticing his beard. She reminisced about how Grog had been a runt when he played goatball in the herd and remarked to the others on how puny he had been back then.[153] The half-giant, still confused about why the group now wanted to face the dragon in its lair, something they had refused to do when Zanror suggested it, voiced his concerns. Shale told him that it was his destiny to face the dragon, though she later quietly whispered to Keyleth that she was making that part up. Despite his doubts, the group set off for the dragon’s lair at Gatshadow Mountain. As they prepared for battle outside the lair, Shale had a conversation with Grog. He was surprised to learn she hadn’t named her staff, to which she replied that only men name their things. She encouraged him, promising that if he killed the dragon, he would be remembered as the greatest goliath who ever lived. She swore to tell the herd of his triumph if he succeeded.
Once inside the lair, the battle against Umbrasyl began. After breaking Umbrasyl’s concentration on his invisibility, Pike, still clinging to Grog’s back, unleashed a critical Guiding Bolt, striking the dragon hard. Now able to see his foe clearly, the goliath charged, landing a devastating critical hit of his own. Empowered by Pike’s War God's Blessing, he struck again. With Scanlan’s help via Bigby’s Hand, Grog was lifted closer to Umbrasyl’s head, where he unleashed a flurry of attacks, slashing open one of the dragon’s eyes as Scanlan struck the dragon with lightning. Enraged, Umbrasyl used a breath attack once again, dealing massive damage. Percy and Trinket were knocked out, and Shale was left on the brink of death. Grog pushed through the pain, using his Retaliation ability to strike back. With one final swing, he cleaved his axe through the base of the dragon’s skull, splitting its jaw wide open. Even as Umbrasyl’s head fell, Grog continued hacking at it, ensuring the beast was well and truly slain. Shale watched proudly as Grog Strongjaw, once the runt of the Herd of Storms, stood victorious over a dragon. Yet, there was a hint of sadness in her eyes, knowing that the battle had not granted her the glorious death she had long sought.[154] As a parting gift, she gave the barbarian her Dragon-Tooth Necklace, telling him it would serve him better, as he still had many battles ahead of him. With the dragon defeated, Vox Machina prepared to rest in their magical mansion. Shale chose to return to the herd to tell them of the "Bearded King," a name she now gave Grog, and the great triumph he had achieved in slaying a dragon. [155]
"Hope" (1x56)
While rummaging through the dragon's hoard, Grog discovered a ceramic jug carved with strange runes. Despite appearing empty, it made sloshing sounds when shaken. Initially, Grog wanted to smash it, but after his friends protested, he kept it. That night, after the group entered the magic mansion to rest, everyone except Vax headed to the spa. Grog charged into the water with a massive cannonball, with Pike quickly following suit. Inspired by the moment, Pike suggested a cannonball contest. Grog volunteered to be the judge, feeling it wouldn’t be fair if he participated. When everyone had their turn, Grog declared Percy the winner, not because of the splash, but because Percy’s chemical explosion managed to draw blood from both of them. Later that night, Grog experimented with the Alchemy Jug and discovered it could produce a limited amount of beer, which he promptly drank. When the beer ran out, he curiously asked the jug for mayonnaise. The next morning, Vex, amused, asked if the jug was now full of mayonnaise. Grog sheepishly admitted that he had already eaten it all during the night.[156] After breakfast, the group returned to Westruun and found Zanror, Worra, and the herd preparing to leave, standing by funeral pyres for their fallen. Grog approached his cousin and shared news of their recent battle. Zanror, already briefed by Shale, greeted him as the "Bearded King," a title that made the barbarian happy. Grog suggested his cousin take some of the remaining gold from the dragon’s lair before departing and urged Zanror to look after his unborn child. When Zanror invited him to rejoin the herd and travel with them, Grog declined. Though he cherished the good memories he had of his cousin, he explained that he had found a new family and was determined to stay by their side, vowing to protect them with his life.[157] After saying his goodbyes to his cousin and Shale as the herd was leaving, Zanror promised Vax that he wasn’t like his father and only needed enough gold to fund their journey.
Later, while discussing Westruun’s future with Kerrek, Grog expressed his hope that the townsfolk would stay, as the city was a home for him and Pike. He even suggested that the sewers could serve as a hiding place if another dragon attacked. Grog then reminded the group that they still needed to speak with Amelia, Reginald’s daughter. He revealed that he had found her but didn’t know how to break the news of her father’s death. Eventually, they located her in town. Vex and Pike, with Grog standing behind them, gently told her the truth. The four of them raised a flagon in Reginald’s memory, and Grog gave Amelia 400 gold, pretending it was money her father had been saving for her. The next morning, after a town meeting, the party spent several days helping fortify Westruun and clearing out the sewers of monsters. As their work came to an end, the group discussed their next destination. Although they wanted to go to the and seek another Vestige of Divergence, Vax expressed a desire to first visit Vasselheim.
"Duskmeadow" (1x57)
In Vasselheim, the party decided to split up, each tending to their own tasks. Percy had some errands to run, and Grog volunteered to help him. Along with Scanlan, the trio set off for Victor's house in the Braving Grounds District to acquire black powder. After some searching, they discovered Victor trapped beneath a trap door in his workshop. Grog pulled him out, though the man was now missing all his fingers. Percy promised to craft him a new hand and then sent Grog and Scanlan, who wanted to visit a hat shop, off with a shopping list to gather some items. The two easily found everything on the list and then made their way to the Sore Socket Haberdashery, run by Deirdre. Scanlan ordered a custom black witch hat, and with some persuasion from both the bard and Deirdre, Grog was convinced to try on a few hats himself. However, he quickly opted for a helmet with a massive pointed horn, which Deirdre sharpened for him, all for 50 gold.[158] When they reunited with the rest of the group, Grog proudly showed off his new battle helm, even letting Pike try it on. Due to her small stature, the helmet covered half of her face. After a brief rest, the party traveled back to Whitestone to offload some gear, as Grog's Bag of Holding had become quite full. While there, Grog attempted to summon the wolf, Galdric, but to no avail. They gathered for a meal at the castle with their allies, including Gilmore, Cassandra, Allura, and Kima, where they enjoyed the expensive wine that Grog had discovered during the Briarwood occupation. After dinner, Grog decided to pull a prank. Using his Alchemy Jug, he poured oil outside Vax's door. However, Vax spotted the trap and used the oil to write a message on Grog’s door. Vex, who was passing by, pointed out that Grog couldn’t even read the message.
"A Cycle of Vengeance" (1x58)
In the dead of night, Grog and the others were abruptly woken by Vax, speaking through their Earrings of Whisper, as he was under attack by Hotis, a rakshasa. Since Grog’s room was the furthest from Vax's location, he immediately bolted through the hallway, catching sight of other assassins attacking his friends. Fortunately, they were quickly dispatched, and Grog then waited for Keyleth to create an opening in the wall so he could charge onto the rooftop, where Scanlan, Vax, and Hotis were engaged in battle. With a powerful leap, the goliath landed on the roof and hurled his chained Bloodaxe at Hotis, inflicting some damage. Already weakened by the party, Hotis was finished off when Pike unleashed a powerful Flame Strike. After they successfully removed the cursed Robe of Flaying from Vax back in the Ziggurat, Grog rummaged through his bag, pulled out a fresh robe, rolled it up, and playfully smacked the rogue with it. When Vax told him how happy he was to be alive, Grog grinned and replied that he was just as glad to see him survive, handing him the robe to cover up. With additional guards now posted, the group settled back in for some much-needed rest. The next morning, the goliath assisted Kima by holding Vax's tongue while she examined him, as he had fallen under a curse from the rakshasa. Pike and Keyleth joined in, and together they used Greater Restoration to help Vax recover. Since Pike had been asked to remain in Whitestone to help protect the city from magical intrusions and cloak it in illusion, they spent the evening with her at a tavern. At one point, Vex, riding her newly improved flying broom, now called Death from Above, kicked Grog. Not realizing it was her, the goliath sparked a lively tavern brawl that only added to the night’s fun.
As they made their way back home, Pike hugged Grog and called him her big brother, reminding him to stay safe. The goliath, in turn, asked if he should keep an eye on Scanlan, given that Scanlan had proposed to her. Pike revealed that the offer was no longer on the table and wasn’t happening. Her brother, showing his support, remarked that Scanlan had probably been overwhelmed by how awesome Pike was, then asked if there was anyone special he should keep an eye on instead. The cleric confirmed she already had someone in mind. Grog promised to avoid making too many reckless decisions on their journey, and Pike vowed to put her gauntlets to good use.[159] The following morning, the group said their goodbyes to Pike and their allies before teleporting to the Feywild in search of Fenthras, another Vestige. They arrived near a familiar lake, where Grog had once had a close encounter with a nymph.
"The Feywild" (1x59)
When Keyleth plucked a flower near the lake, it withered instantly in her hands. At that moment, a strikingly beautiful woman, who had been hiding behind a stone wall, stepped over its edge. Percy, standing beside Keyleth, was immediately blinded by a magical effect. As he spoke, the mysterious woman quickly dove back into the water and vanished from sight. The party suspected she might be the nymph Grog had encountered earlier in their adventures, but Grog, preoccupied with helping Scanlan scratch his back, had missed the entire scene. Vex, curious, turned to Grog and asked if it was safe for him to approach the nymph, given their previous connection. Grog, unconvinced that it was the same nymph, replied that the one he knew had never blinded him. When Vex pressed for details on what had happened between them, Grog, keeping his secret, merely told her it was none of her business. After some convincing from the party, the half-giant decided to jump over the stone wall for a closer look at the pool. He called out to the nymph, but there was no answer. With Scanlan coaching him through the earring, Grog called out again. This time, the nymph’s laughter echoed from the water. Recognizing him from their past, she emerged and approached the group. Grog, having forgotten her name, asked her to remind him, and she confirmed that she was Nahla. Suddenly, Pike appeared, inadvertently startling Nahla, who quickly retreated into the water. After Pike greeted her brother with a hug, he reassured the nymph that Pike was a friend, and Nahla returned. Nahla then asked Grog if he still carried her heart with him. He tried to lie, claiming he did, but she could sense the truth. The goliath admitted that he had used her heart to save his life after something terrible had become embedded in his chest. Nahla was glad he was safe and told him she would start the process of creating a new heart.[160] He apologized for his friends' earlier behavior in her glade, and Keyleth, in a show of goodwill, crafted a new flower for Nahla. The half-giant then introduced the nymph to Vex, who asked about the location of the cancerous tree they sought. Nahla pointed them toward the Shademurk Bog, warning them of the dangers lurking in the Feywild. Before leaving, Grog expressed his joy at seeing her again and bowed respectfully. As she stepped into the water, Nahla smiled warmly at him over her shoulder. With that, she disappeared beneath the surface, and the party set off in the direction she had indicated.
As they continued on their journey, Vex caught sight of a satyr named Garmelie, who had been secretly following them while drawing nude caricatures of the group. Vex captured him and brought him before the party. Grog grabbed hold of the satyr, who struggled but was no match for the goliath’s immense strength. Later, inside Scanlan’s magical mansion, Grog remained suspicious of Garmelie and stood guard at the door. However, he did offer the satyr some ale, which Garmelie eagerly accepted, drinking until he was thoroughly drunk. Eventually, the satyr promised to guide them through the Feywild, but only on the condition that Vox Machina first retrieved a few things for him from the city of Syngorn. The next day, after a night of rest, the party made their way into Syngorn, ready for whatever awaited them.
"Heredity and Hats" (1x60)
As they journeyed through the city of Syngorn, with Garmelie gripping Grog’s pants, the group set out to meet the twins’ father. Grog, eager to appear formal in front of the city officials, misheard the phrase “Good day” as “Bidet.” From then on, he greeted everyone enthusiastically with “Bidet!”[161] During the meeting with Syldor, the twins’ father, Grog exaggerated the truth and mixed in a few lies. He claimed the twins had slain the dragon while the rest of the party lay dying on the ground, insisting they were the only reason anyone survived. After leaving the meeting, the group gathered in one of their assigned rooms to discuss their next task with the satyr, Garmelie. He revealed that he needed a piece of a threshold crest and High Warden Tyrelda's green tricorn hat. Grog suggested smashing Vax’s head into the crest to break off a piece. This sparked an idea in Keyleth to simply create a fake threshold crest instead. The group decided to steal the hat first. While the others distracted the High Warden’s son, Braum, Vax slipped away and successfully snatched the hat without being noticed. Afterward, Braum led them to a storeroom filled with gifts the Warden had received but had no use for. As the others found random items, Grog found a potato, took a bite out of it, and when Keyleth asked for it, he crushed it in his hand. On their way back to the room, still being followed by guards, Scanlan claimed they were all in a polyamorous relationship. Playing along, Vax dragged Grog into their room, pretending they needed privacy, with the rest of the party following suit. Once inside, Percy and Keyleth executed their earlier plan, crafting a fake crest using part of the room’s threshold. In doing so, they fulfilled both of the satyr’s requirements for the magical deal. At that moment, Garmelie turned invisible again, grabbed Grog by the finger, and led them out of the city and toward Shademurk Bog, eventually arriving at the entrance of a cave.
"Denizens of the Moonbrush" (1x61)
After Vex, Keyleth, and Trinket emerged from the cave and explained what had happened inside, Grog was eager to explore further. He turned to Scanlan and asked if he would join him. Despite the others' protests, Scanlan agreed, saying he would back Grog’s decision no matter what. The goliath hoisted Scanlan onto his back and charged into the cave. Though their exploration yielded nothing of interest except for a large crystal beast skull, they made a plan: Scanlan would cut Grog’s face, and together they’d fabricate a tale of a dangerous battle. However, everyone but Percy quickly saw through the lie. Vex healed the small cut on Grog’s eyebrow, and the group continued their journey toward the bog, with Scanlan still perched on Grog’s back, reading his book. As they pressed on, faint folk music interrupted their progress. Vax ventured ahead to investigate, only to fall under a magical charm, joining a guard and a lycanthrope in a dance. Vex moved in and swiftly placed Vax into the Raven’s Slumber to protect him. However, by then, Scanlan had already succumbed to the same charm. Immune to being charmed while in a Rage, Grog charged into the campsite where the music was playing, snatched up Scanlan, and bolted away. Percy, needing to extend his Rage, shot at him twice, missing once but hitting the second time, keeping the barbarian in his enraged state as he dragged the struggling gnome away from the music.[162]
Reunited once more, the group pressed on. The goliath asked Garmelie about the lycans they had been warned about, and almost on cue, they found themselves surrounded by a group of lycans known as the Fendir. The lycans demanded a favor in exchange for sparing their lives, wanting them to destroy a crystal stone circle in the village of the Wisher pixies. As the party debated, the half-giant reminded them of Garmelie's warning not to take sides in this conflict, but ultimately, they agreed to play along for now. After scouting the village, Grog expressed his hesitation to get involved with either side but agreed to go along with the plan to deceive the lycans. Keyleth cast Hallucinatory Terrain to make it seem as though the village had been destroyed. Once the illusion was in place, the group tried to leave but ran into an invisible barrier. The Fendir returned and warned the group that the only way to escape the Moonbrush was to truly destroy the village before departing. Grog attempted to break the barrier with his weapon, only to be thrown backward into a nearby tree by the magical force. Realizing they needed rest, the group settled down, and the half-giant suggested they approach the pixies to see if they could play both sides. During the second watch, Grog and Vax spotted the pixies’ distant lights and tried to remain quiet, but the pixies noticed the barbarian and quickly fled. By morning, they found themselves surrounded by seven pixies. The group tried to convince the pixies they meant no harm, but upon seeing the cut on Grog, the pixies suspected he had been infected with lycanthropy. They prepared to cast a spell on him. Despite his friends' protests, Grog, hoping to ease tensions and allow his companions to negotiate, willingly allowed the pixies to cast their spell on him. The magic instantly turned the goliath into a stone statue, and after a brief exchange with the rest of the group, the pixies began to fly away with the petrified barbarian. Realizing they could not reason with the pixies, Vox Machina immediately launched an attack. Grog remained frozen in stone as the battle raged around him. Once the pixies were defeated with some assistance from the lycans, Keyleth used Greater Restoration to un-petrify Grog. With the pixie village now in ruins, the group was finally free to continue their journey and made their way toward the Gilded Run.
"Uninviting Waters" (1x62)
The twins attempted to soar over the rushing rivers, but it was as if an invisible force pulled them toward the water, causing them to dive straight into the rapids below. Fortunately, they were quickly rescued. Grog hoisted both Pike and Scanlan onto his shoulders and easily leaped over the first river. When Percy couldn’t make the jump, the goliath donned the Alchemy Jug like a helmet and tied the Chain of Returning around his waist. He passed the other end to Pike, who gripped it tightly with her Gauntlets of Ogre Power. Wading into the water, Grog grabbed hold of Percy, but the current intensified, dragging them toward the river’s center. Keyleth successfully used Control Water to momentarily halt the flow, allowing Pike to drag them both to safety using the chain. As the group struggled to come up with a solid plan, Grog grew impatient and suggested chopping down a tree to make a bridge, but the others objected, wary of provoking more danger by disturbing the Feywild’s environment. Eventually, they settled on tying a rope between them, with Grog leading the way. As they crossed, the half-giant stepped on something submerged in the river, but it quickly vanished into the mud before he could get a good look. While crossing the next river, a massive plant-like crocodile lunged from the water, biting down on Grog and dragging him to the shore, pulling the rest of the party, who were still tethered to him, along for the ride. Trapped in the creature's jaws, the barbarian swung his axe, striking the creature, but the beast quickly swallowed him whole, dragging the rest of the party closer. Percy fired at the creature, but Grog felt the sting of some of the shots hitting him too. Scanlan quickly severed the rope with Magic Missiles, freeing the party. Inside the creature's belly, Grog smashed his Titanstone Knuckles together and cast Enlarge, causing his body to swell in size and forcing the beast to spit him out.[163] The crocodile then snatched Percy in its jaws, but Keyleth brought it down with a Blight spell. With the battle over, Grog, finally getting his wish to chop a tree, carved Percy free from the creature's mouth with a single swing. Still enlarged, he effortlessly tossed his companions across the final river, caught Garmelie, who was trying to leave, and jumped over with him holding onto his arm. At last, they reached their destination, the Shademurk Bog.
"The Echo Tree" (1x63)
After a brief discussion about the nearby hag’s abode, Vox Machina agreed to bypass it, choosing not to provoke her, except for Grog. He wasn’t convinced the woman inside was a hag and, unsatisfied with their last fight, craved more danger. As they trudged through the bog at half speed due to the difficult terrain, they spotted a nearby troll. Opting for a quicker route, they decided to traverse the canopy above. Grog, believing his size would make it difficult to navigate the trees, was eager when Keyleth asked him what animal he wanted to be. Excited by the idea of being a gorilla, he asked to be transformed into one, and Keyleth happily obliged. In his new form, Grog was able to swing effortlessly from tree to tree. As they neared a massive, cancerous tree, Grog suggested that someone should scout underground to sense any lurking threats. Keyleth agreed and transformed into an earth elemental to investigate while the others retreated to Scanlan’s mansion to strategize their next move. Grog, however, headed straight for the kitchen, determined to improve his Vestige, the Titanstone Knuckles, by smashing things, inspired by Vax’s recent upgrade to his Deathwalker's Ward. The half-giant struck a cow that Scanlan had manifested, repeatedly with the knuckles, hoping his relentless effort would trigger the Vestige’s awakening. Afterward, the pair relocated to Grog’s training room, where Scanlan transformed into a triceratops, offering the barbarian a more challenging sparring partner. Despite this, Grog’s Vestige remained unchanged. In return, they swapped roles, with Scanlan attempting to level up his Mythcarver by testing it on his friend, but the result was the same, nothing changed.
After resting, the party ventured into the enormous tree. There, they encountered Saundor, the archfey who owned Fenthras. He engaged Vex in conversation, attempting to manipulate her, but she refused to fall for his tricks. In response, she fired an arrow, and the battle for the bow began. While the others managed to hurt Saundor with long-range attacks as he darted around the tree, the barbarian found himself frustrated. Every time he got close, the archfey teleported away. As the fight wore on and Saundor weakened, Grog positioned himself in front of Vex to shield her from harm. Frustrated and tired of Saundor’s tactics, Grog shouted that no one cared about the archfey’s heartbreak. He pulled out his Javelin of Lightning and hurled it straight at Saundor, landing the final blow right in his jaw and blowing him to pieces.[164] Relieved, Vex leapt onto Grog’s back, grateful to see the archfey defeated. The goliath offered her a healing potion, asking if she was alright as she thanked him. The group reassured her that she had made the right choice, and Grog, placing a hand on her shoulder, told her she had done well. Though she declined the potion, he handed it to her anyway. Later, Grog quietly asked Vax what Saundor had meant when he mentioned Vex’s past and a bloody dagger, but the rogue, having missed the conversation, had no answer. As they left the tree with Fenthras in hand, they were confronted by an archfey named Artagan, who revealed that he had been disguised as Garmelie all along. After a short conversation with him, they teleported back to Whitestone.
"What Lies Beneath the Surface" (1x81)
While looting Thordak's lair, Grog found the Deck of Many Things. Grog pulled a card from the deck, which was at first misread by Matt as the Key card, and awarded him a rare magic weapon: Dancing Sword. The mistake was corrected in "Deadly Echoes" (1x82), and was retconned when Grog saw a medusa-like visage within the blade, felt a rush of pain in his mind, and dropped the sword which turned black and rusted. The card Grog pulled was actually Euryale, and he had been cursed to a permanent penalty to all his saving throws. The curse could only be removed by a god.
Vex took the deck back from Grog, and when attempting to draw a card herself, was warned by Percy of its dangerous nature.
"Deadly Echoes" (1x82)
Grog tried to trade the Periapt of Wound Closure to Vex in order to get his deck back, but Vex tricked him by giving him a leather pouch with rocks inside. Vex made Grog promise not to pull anything from it: he could only keep it in its little pouch.
"A Bard's Lament" (1x85)
In the rematch against Grog, this time in a one versus one battle, Earthbreaker Groon initially showed to be impossible to hit. Instead of attacking Grog, he simply moved around and examined him, giving cryptic hints. Frustrated at his inability to hit him, Grog eventually just placed a finger on his torso, confirming that Earthbreaker Groon was present.
Eventually, Groon managed to drop Grog down to 0 HP, but Grog used his Relentless Rage in order to stand back up. Groon, impressed by Grog's endurance, attacked him again but another Relentless Rage allowed Grog to keep fighting, causing him to win.
When he won the fight, Grog's Titanstone Knuckles also reached their Exalted state.
When Scanlan woke up after his resurrection and yelled at everyone for not knowing him or his story, Grog was one of the only ones who didn't talk back at him, and simply asked what his mother's name was, saying he was sorry he didn't know. He immediately recognized that Scanlan's accusations had some truth to them, said that he meant a lot to them, and told Scanlan that whatever he wanted to do was up to him. As Scanlan got up to leave, Grog tossed his salt-lick rock to Scanlan, to remember them by. While Vex and Vax lamented his departure, Grog simply said that the only thing that mattered was that Scanlan was alive, and that they had to give him time. He later asked Percy if he could send anyone after Scanlan and Kaylie, to keep an eye on them.
"Daring Days" (1x86)
Vex admitted to Grog that she had secretly kept his Deck of Many Things. She gave him back the real one, feeling guilty for having lied to him. Grog completely failed to understand happened and got very confused by her confession.
"One Year Later..." (1x95)
Grog got bored in the peace that followed Thordak's defeat. Among other things, he went looking for Scanlan, but did not find him; he also got a copy of Kevdak's bear tattoo done on his back, "because that shit's behind me," and made Kevdak's skull into a mug. He then returned to Vasselheim and defended his title in the Crucible. He also did some contracts with the Slayer's Take, but did not find it as exciting as fighting ancient dragons.
While drunk late at night in the streets of Vasselheim, Grog found a random, also drunk, stranger and convinced that stranger to pull a card from his Deck of Many Things. The stranger pulled a card, said, "I wish that I was a powerful lord of the Quadroads," and then ran off in a carriage that suddenly appeared for him. Grog never got the stranger's name. Though Grog was extremely tempted to draw another card for himself after that incident, he convinced himself to wait until he could return to Whitestone and try it with Pike. Finally, Grog made a visit to the Frostweald, visited the nymph he knew there, and gave her a palm-sized ruby that he found in his bag.
"The Core Anvil" (1x108)
Vox Machina made their way into the Core Anvil, the abandoned workshop of the Allhammer. Using the strength of the Titanstone Knuckles, Grog forged three Prime Trammels out of the beads of divinity provided by Ioun, Pelor, and the Raven Queen, which were then completed by Percy's engravings.
"Dark Dealings" (1x112)
After Vox Machina retrieved the Sword of Kas from within Thar Amphala, it was given to Grog to wield in the final battle against Vecna.
"Vecna, the Ascended" (1x114)
During the final confrontation with Vecna, Grog was banished to another plane twice by the god. When he was finally brought back, he attacked Vecna with the Sword of Kas, opening three wounds in his chest. Hanging onto Vecna's chest, Grog managed to shove Pelor's divine trammel into one of the wounds before being banished again. Keyleth attempted to place the second trammel, but failed. When Grog reappeared, Pike passed the third divine trammel to him, and he drove it into another chest wound.
When Vecna banished Scanlan, who held the Tome of Isolation, Grog broke Vecna's concentration with a hard blow, allowing the Rites of Prime Banishment to continue. Grog hung onto Vecna's body until the lich was successfully banished.
"The Chapter Closes" (1x115)
After Vox Machina returned to Whitestone castle to finally rest, Grog stepped out to the front courtyard, checked that no one is watching, and pulled out the Deck of Many Things. Just as Pike returned from the forest, she saw him draw a card, The Void, and fall to the ground. Grog was left catatonic, his soul drawn from his body, with an open deck of cards in his hand.
Epilogues
"The Search For Grog" (Sx42)
Vox Machina discovered that Grog's soul was held captive on the plane of Pandemonium, sealed within a stone. The party tied Grog's body to the back of Trinket and carried it with them as they searched for his soul and fought with the Empyrean guarding it. When the stone made contact with Grog's body, he regained consciousness.
"The Search For Bob" (Sx45)
After returning to Whitestone, when Grog inquired about the current location of the Deck of Many Things, Vox Machina lied that it had been left behind on Pandemonium. Pike cheered up the disappointed Grog by offering to make him a homemade (and decidedly NOT magic) Deck of Many Things.
"Dalen's Closet" (Sx47)
Grog took it upon himself to taste-test the food for Vex and Percy's rehearsal dinner, making sure at least half of them weren't poisoned. The bride and groom put him in charge of clearing a path down the aisle and laying down petals. Grog teared up when they asked him. He swears that he will practice his petal-throwing skill all night.
During the rehearsal dinner, Grog was the only one, along with Derrig and Trinket, to remain conscious as the rest of the wedding party suddenly dozed off. While he fought off the vampires attacking them, he didn't notice that Vex and Percy were being taken. When Sylas tried to escape in bat form, Grog struck him down with his Bloodaxe, forcing him back into the ground for Vex to deal the final blow.
Post-campaign
As revealed in "The Chapter Closes" (1x115), Grog returned to Vasselheim to turn himself in for punching a guard in a certain potion merchant's shop. However, he was recognized as one of the saviors of the city and forgiven of his crime. The merchant was initially indignant at Grog's release, until Grog offered him 8,000 gold to become his own personal reading tutor. He agreed. While in the city, Grog helped Earthbreaker Groon rebuild the temple of Kord, and occasionally had Pike join him in the Crucible to defend their titles there. He also adventured with Pike, and moved in with her into Wilhand's home. When Scanlan asked him for permission to accept Pike's proposal, Grog accepted. He gave Scanlan a black sapphire for Pike, and carried Scanlan down the aisle at the wedding.
Grog's next great challenge was to improve his mind. He eventually learned to read and write, and also studied numbers. He organized the Luncheon of Champions, an event taking place in Whitestone every four years on the Day of Challenging to which he invites the greatest warriors of Exandria to a massive brawl, followed by food and drinks.[165]
Grog's bellicose personality caused him to end up in prison on more than one occasion (being released thanks to the intervention of Vex and Percy). At some point he tried to find love, without success.[166]
As of 843 PD, Bertrand Bell believed Grog was in Whitestone.[167] However, during Bells Hells' multiple trips to the city and castle, they did not encounter him there.
In Vasselheim, as Fearne pushed through the crowd with the rest of Bells Hells toward the front of the Platinum Sanctuary during a meeting of the Exandrian Accord, Grog stopped her by placing a hand on her shoulder. He questioned whether the group was invited, and Orym replied that they worked directly for the Voice of the Tempest. When Braius tried to threaten the half-giant, Grog was ready to fight, but the others intervened. Grog then mentioned that he was a close friend of Keyleth's and began to push them out, following orders to remove anyone he didn’t recognize. However, Pike intervened, recognizing Bells Hells from a previous encounter. Afterward, Grog helped the party get to the front by pushing through the crowd and yelling for the others to move aside, which made every representative from around the world momentarily focus on Bells Hells.[168] After the meeting, Grog approached the party, proudly claiming he had nearly single-handedly defeated the Earth Titan with his Titanstone Knuckles. When Chetney touched them with his small hand, an electric charge jolted through him. Fearne, intrigued by the vestige, asked to examine the Knuckles more closely. As Grog brought the Knuckles near her, she felt a strong pull between them and her primordial Spark of Rau'shan. Sensing the Knuckles heating up and turning red, Grog quickly pulled them away. He then introduced himself to the group as the Grand Poobah de Doink of All of This and That, one of the masters of Whitestone, and a legendary warrior from Vox Machina—Grogory Strongjaw. Pike informed the party that she and Grog were serving as temporary bodyguards for one of the dignitaries present. Realizing that Braius appeared taller than him because of his horns, the half-giant put on his old helmet, which featured a large bladed horn at the front, to add height. Later, Grog and Pike went their separate ways for the evening.[169]
Later, while Grog and Pike were attempting to slip some alcohol into a priest's cup at the Cluttered Cloister, a bar in Vasselheim known for catering to clergy, they were approached by Vex and Keyleth. The two had come to gather Vox Machina members for their upcoming assault on the Malleus Key. In the midst of their conversation about reuniting with the rest of the team, Grog was stunned to learn that Pike and Scanlan had divorced again. Unsure of Scanlan's current whereabouts, they decided to bring Cerkonos, the leader of the Fire Ashari, and make their way to Whitestone to speak with Percy. When they arrived, Grog gifted Percy a broken, blood-stained pocket watch he had taken from a corpse. While Pike reached out to Scanlan, Grog attempted to open Percy’s safe in secret but accidentally triggered a magical trap in the process. Before leaving for Xhorhas, Grog handed a very confused Vax'ildan de Rolo a petrified piece of poop for safekeeping. They then teleported to the Barbed Fields of Xhorhas, where they immediately encountered Scanlan, who had transformed himself into a centaur using True Polymorph. After catching him up on their mission, Grog expressed how much they needed him. Scanlan embraced the goliath and agreed to join them.[170] The goliath promised to make shoes for the bard’s loud hooves, and together, they returned to Vasselheim. Grog immediately began crafting the new shoes, and after working for some time, the group retired for the night. In his room with Pike, Grog pretended to sleep while secretly listening to her conversation with Scanlan about their relationship. The next day, the party received the signal to begin their mission. Before they left, Grog shared some beer with Scanlan and presented him with a pair of impressively crafted boots, which he helped fasten onto Scanlan’s hooves.
The group boarded an airship, which was teleported near the Tishtan excavation site. As they approached the Malleus Key, the ship was suddenly attacked by large flying creatures. Keyleth grounded one of the beasts for Grog, who cleaved it open with his Bloodaxe. Eventually, the party leaped off the ship, using Feather Fall to descend into the fortress below. However, as Grog, carrying Pike, was about to land, a magic-dispelling missile struck him, sending him crashing to the ground. The party regrouped and began fighting their way through an army of foes to reach the Malleus Key. During the battle, Grog accidentally stepped into Scanlan's Reverse Gravity spell. Before being pulled upward, he managed to grab a root and kill a nearby Ruby Vanguard soldier. When the bard released the spell, a massive vidulch erupted from the ground near Grog. Without hesitation, he leaped onto its back and began hacking at it. A Reiloran Juggernaut jumped onto the vidulch, attempting to push Grog off, but the barbarian held his ground. In the same turn, he decapitated the Juggernaut and finished off the vidulch as it attacked Pike, using Sentinel. With reinforcements arriving, Vox Machina pressed further into the ruins.[171] Shortly after arriving at their destination, the group sprang into action. While the others moved into position, Grog used the Titanstone Knuckles to enlarge himself and stepped into the open. Vex took the first strike, launching an explosive arrow into the enemy ranks. Suddenly, Sunder King Ozo Cruth descended from the sky, riding his modified vidulch, Scrag, and focused his attacks on the ranger. Meanwhile, Grog, using the Boots of Feral Leaping, jumped onto one of the enemy's magic towers. Shouting to draw their attention, he swung his axe twice, toppling the structure completely. Spotting two terrified Ruby Vanguard soldiers hiding in a nearby tent, Grog warned them to stay put if they valued their lives. Just then, a massive bane worm named Vorak, under Ozo’s command, burst forth and attacked Grog, attempting to swallow him whole. Grog narrowly dodged the attack and countered with a slash. However, when Ozo commanded the worm to strike again, it succeeded in devouring him. Enraged, Grog continued his assault from within, landing a critical blow that tore into the creature’s insides, forcing it to vomit him back out. As soon as he was free, Grog moved closer to Ozo and Scrag. Eventually, Scanlan managed to extract the beacon from within the Malleus Key, causing the Bloody Bridge to Ruidus to vanish. The red moon began to resume its orbit as Keyleth initiated the destruction of the Malleus Key with an earthquake. Ozo dismounted Scrag and launched a relentless assault on a prone Vex, ultimately killing her. As Vorak tried to shift its focus from Grog to Pike, Grog intercepted and held the worm in place, giving Pike the chance to use her Divine Intervention to resurrect Vex. The surrounding enemies swarmed him with further attacks, but their strikes barely scratched him. Playing along, Grog exaggerated his pain to make the enemies feel better about their efforts. As Keyleth freed Vax from the orb, Grog paid no mind to the enemies still attacking him. Humming his own theme song, he advanced toward Ozo Cruth. In a frenzied rage and using Great Weapon Master on all three attacks, Grog carved the Reiloran leader from navel to chin. When his axe became lodged, Grog drove it deeper with his fists, then reached inside Ozo’s lifeless body to puppeteer his foe, making him apologize for killing Vex. After Vex dispatched the bane worm, the group reunited to speak with Vax, who was granted one night to spend with his family and friends. While the others conversed, Grog busied himself looting the fallen enemies. Once ready, they all teleported back to Whitestone.[172]
The next morning, Grog along with the rest of Vox Machina was summoned to Vasselheim, arriving in time to see the completion of the Rites of Catatheosis and the destruction of the Divine Gate. During the council to determine the fate of the potential Ruidian refugees, Grog was more interested in whether he could go live on the moon.[173]
"Total Party Kill: Chicago Live 2025" (Sx95)
A few months after the Catatheosis Vox Machina and some allies had a meeting in Whitestone to talk about how to inform Tal'Dorei of the new era that was about to start. During said meeting a dark entity kidnapped Grog, transporting him to a pocket dimension in which he and other heroes from Bells Hells and the Mighty Nein had to compete in games organized by Malvolio Contreras. During the game, the barbarian was willing to take those challenges seriously, but after a bit it became clear that their host was dangerous, and the adventurers teamed up against him. A battle ensued, during which Grog was tricked into hitting Fearne Calloway with his weapon, but eventually Kingsley Tealeaf defeated Malvolio, and all the adventurers returned to Exandria.
Later life
Eventually, Grog was appointed as a kind of ambassador to Ruidus, where he was met by Gaz Tomo, a Crimson Officer of the new Krevirian Republic. They immediately engaged in a friendly contest to see whose handshake could break the hand of the other.[174]
Season One
Briarwoods arc
Grog participated in a drinking contest with his friends and won. However, he became angered by the taunting of another group of mercs, and after enough goading from Vax, he chopped off the hand of one of the mercs. This led to a bar fight, which enraged the barkeep enough to kick Vox Machina out. Although the group was in a funk after being kicked out, Grog happily played with the hand he severed before Scanlan showed everyone a help-wanted sheet that would earn them money. They met the council of Tal'Dorei, who hired them to kill the unknown beast attacking innocent lands. As they set out on their mission, they learned it was a blue dragon called Brimscythe. Grog impulsively decided to fight the dragon despite being woefully unprepared, which led to him being easily struck down by the dragon. Brimscythe defeated the party by sending rocks down on them. They survived, but Grog was severely injured before being healed by Pike. Grog initially wanted to abandon the mission, but after finding a village they had passed through had been ravaged, he had a change of heart and wanted to kill the dragon. The party returned to Emon, informing Uriel that while they did survive the fight, the dragon was still at large. Uriel decided to bring the fight to the dragon, dismissing Vox Machina from the palace. Vex'ahlia then revealed she felt the presence of someone working with the dragon in the council, meaning one of them was a mole. Scanlan claimed the mole was probably Allura, with Grog agreeing. Vex shot them down, claiming it to be Fince, and Grog conceded he didn’t actually get anyone’s name. Vex then assigned Grog and Scanlan to the task of looking for Fince, much to Scanlan’s boredom. Grog stole a keg of ale and chugged it to pass the time until Scanlan noticed Fince going past them. The two quickly followed him and watched as he entered a mansion while drawing a blade and locking the door. Scanlan rushed off to tell the others just as Grog asked him to get him a sandwich. Scanlan caved to the request before getting the others. As Grog enjoyed eating his sandwich, the other party members tried different ways of getting the door open. After a couple of failures, Vax took a toothpick off Grog’s sandwich and used it to pick the lock. Once inside, they sought Fince and finally caught him stealing documents from Krieg’s cellar. He tried to explain himself to the party until Krieg murdered him. The party gave chase to Krieg, landing themselves in a room filled with magic. Grog suddenly became infatuated with a pornographic painting, much to Keyleth’s disgust. She threw a book at him, which bounced off his head and revealed a hidden portal. They went through it, revealing a huge treasure trove. They became ecstatic as Grog helped fill the party’s bag of holding with various valuable items until Vex came to her senses and informed the party that this was the dragon’s hoard. Krieg reappeared and revealed that he had been the dragon all along. Another fight ensued, and Brimscythe began to manhandle the party in battle, giving Grog a heavy shock with his lightning. When they had a moment, the party devised a plan. Scanlan created an illusion to trick the dragon. With Brimscythe hoodwinked, the party each played their part in killing the dragon, with Grog delivering the final blow by axing Brimscythe in the skull before taking one of the dragon’s teeth as proof that they killed him. Scanlan complimented him on this. They then ran as fast as they could as the place began to collapse. They returned to the council, who congratulated and thanked Vox Machina for their victory, giving them a deed and key to their new keep as a reward.
The morning after their first night in the keep, Grog ate breakfast with his friends. He quickly punched Vax in the crotch, proudly announcing, "7 to 2!" Lady Allura then arrived to call for their audience. Grog smashed the door open when she called for them. She informed them that Sovereign Uriel expected them at his banquet. As Grog listened to Allura, Vax suddenly elbowed him in the crotch as delayed retaliation, much to Allura’s intolerance. Scanlan pointed it out as a three-pointer. They eventually made it to the banquet the following night, begrudgingly leaving their weapons at the main booth. Grog and the others dispersed as they got inside. He and Pike picked up a few glasses of champagne, which confused Grog as he had planned to get drunk. Nevertheless, he chugged down two of them. After that, Grog and the others reconnected just in time to see Percy in a state of anger and paranoia, explaining that the Briarwoods, who had just shown up to the banquet, had taken everything from him when he was a teenager. Upon learning they would be staying overnight, Vax offered to sneak into their room. Scanlan suggested a safe word for Vax in case things went south, which Grog suggested should be "Jenga." The party, excluding Vax, then attended Uriel’s table. Grog noticed Percy grimace as he saw the Briarwoods were also attending the table, understanding that things were going to be intense. As they all sat down, Grog suggested Percy say hello to the Briarwoods to break the ice before landing a punch on them, with Pike shooting the idea down. Grog ate improperly as dinner went on and Percy remained on edge. After Percy had an outburst from a lie about the de Rolos spewed by Delilah, the party took him away to talk in private. Percy told them the Briarwoods had killed his entire family and conquered Whitestone, surprising the party. After learning who the Briarwoods really were, the party decided to leave and save Vax, as he was in the room they would be staying in. After Vex sensed Vax was in imminent danger, Grog threw the man who made them leave their weapons out of his booth. They collected their weapons and ran out of the building to save Vax, who was just about to be killed by Sylas. Grog ran into battle to face Sylas head-on. Sylas drew his greatsword, Craven Edge, and slashed Grog a few times with it. Grog gazed in awe as the blade absorbed the blood drawn from him and increased in size. The two continued to square off until Delilah called for their carriage driver. The couple then took off. As Percy prepared to shoot the driver for working with the Briarwoods, the party was stopped and seized by Uriel’s guards.
Grog and the others were taken before Uriel, who reprimanded them for attacking the Briarwoods and thus ruining the banquet. Lady Allura calmed him down, promising to handle the party accordingly by putting them under house arrest. Grog and the others were then confined to their keep, and their weapons were taken away by Captain Jarett’s men. Grog angrily objected to just sitting in the keep, but the decision was final. So, Grog decided to entertain himself by lifting a makeshift weight bar. He then suggested beating up the guards and escaping, but Vax shot the idea down. Percy instead found a secret opening in the room that led to a hallway and a way out, but Jarett caught them and had them separated. Grog was locked away with Pike in the latter’s shrine. Grog checked in on Pike to see if she was okay. Pike claimed she was trying to meditate. Grog then looked around for something to eat. He found an urn and started eating the contents until Pike told him it was her ancestors’ remains. Grog then picked up Pike’s holy symbol. Understanding Pike spoke to the Everlight through it, he tried to speak through it himself, hoping for a reply. Pike soon broke into tears, telling him that ever since the symbol was cracked, it felt like Everlight wasn’t listening to her anymore. Grog suggested simply apologizing to her for that. They heard a commotion outside and decided to investigate. The door was locked, and Grog was reluctant to break Pike’s shrine until she permitted him to do so, as it sounded serious. The party reconnected and realized that Delilah had sent wraiths their way. Understanding they were under attack, Jarett gave them weapons to fend off the wraiths. The wraiths gained the upper hand at the start of the battle, as they were in darkness and could not be hit by their victims. That changed, however, when Keyleth conjured light, rendering the wraiths vulnerable. The party could finally hit and destroy them. Once they did, this convinced Jarett to let them go and stop whoever had sent the wraiths.
The party began to leave in the morning, but Pike remained behind as she needed to reconnect with the Everlight. Grog offered to stand by her side the whole time, but Pike insisted this was a journey she had to do on her own. She assured him she would still be there even if she was gone. Grog tearfully hugged her goodbye before reluctantly leaving. They then devised a plan to get what they needed to start their journey. Grog took part in stealing a humble horse carriage. Grog then began to feel distressed, moping and weeping, still upset about Pike’s absence, even admitting Pike was stronger than all of them. He wasn’t worried about her, but about how they would fare without her.
Vex had Percy stop the cart when she felt a disturbing presence. It turned out to be monstrous canine creatures sent by Delilah. They captured Scanlan since he had Delilah's book. The party chased after them all the way to a cliff. Noticing a couple of the monsters chasing them as well, Grog and Vax fought them head-on. Both monsters hopped into the carriage. Grog nearly got swallowed by one of them, but he ripped the creature in half before he could be eaten. He then tossed the other one out after it bit Vax. The party then noticed how dangerously close they were to the cliff, and they all jumped out, losing their carriage and the stuff they bought from Gilmore in the process. When they found a spot to make camp, Grog watched Scanlan use a scroll he had looted from Brimscythe's cave. He watched with fascination as the gnome turned into various things. Later that night, Grog suggested the party go around explaining the craziest thing they had ever killed. When it was Grog's turn, he spoke about a desert monster he had fought and killed by prying its jaws open and biting its tongue out. When Percy was asked what the worst monsters he had faced were, he answered that it was the Briarwoods and that they would be seeing them soon. Grog called him a buzzkill.
When they finally made it to Whitestone, they saw it in the desecrated state that it was. Percy later gained their attention by pointing to seven corpses hung from the Sun Tree, each corpse dressed as a member of Vox Machina, showing them the Briarwoods were anticipating them. Though unsettled by this, the party had to move on as a resistance member called them over to hide with them as a zombie giant was heading in their direction. When the resistance member noticed Percy's attire, she asked if he was another member of it. The party was later taken to Keeper Yennen, who was amazed to see Percy again and saw him as a leader now. Grog scoffed at this, claiming Percy's size was insufficient for him to be a leader. Yennen took them into a secret hideout. When Grog saw that there were ale barrels, but found them empty, he became furious. The party later tried to devise plans to rescue Archibald Desnay after Yennen informed Percy that he had been captured. Grog's plan was just to kill everyone and leave. Since Grog's idea was one of the bad ones, Vex devised her own plan. She, Keyleth, and Grog would take the front door of the building the Briarwoods' men were keeping Archie in. Grog tossed a few Briarwoods guards while Keyleth picked up the keys to the prison. The party reconnected and they saved Archie, only to be stopped in their tracks by Sir Kerrion Stonefell. Grog helped fight against the guards Stonefell had on hand, and they eventually won. They all fled from the prison, returning to Yennen's hideout. After Percy explained the origin story of his pepperbox, Grog asked why it had writing on the barrels. When Keyleth tried to put life back into the Sun Tree, she accidentally started a fire, prompting Vax to put it out with a barrel of liquid. When the said liquid was revealed to be ale, Grog restrained himself from acting violently. Later, the party ran off on a rescue mission for Cassandra while spying on Professor Anders when they found the building the two were located in. Grog laughed when Scanlan suggested he lure the guards away from Anders' house, but the party later relented and let him go. Upon seeing a sign that Scanlan's solo mission was a success, the party ran to enter Anders' home. Vax tried to see if there was a trap first, only for Grog to dismiss the idea and impulsively bust the door open, where guards were pointing bows at the party. The guards released their arrows into Grog, only igniting the goliath's wrath in the process, which got most of the guards killed.
When Grog caught up to Percy, he noticed Anders had brought empty suits of armor to life. Grog eagerly fought one of them, only to realize he could not lay a dent on the construct. The party later learned they needed to disassemble the armor by going for their joints. Grog turned to Anders himself, ready to kill him, only for Anders to possess Grog with his silver tongue. On Anders' orders, Grog attacked his friends. This escalated when Vex tried to kill Anders to break the possession, but Anders possessed her, Keyleth, and Vax in the same manner. When it seemed he had the upper hand, Percy eventually managed to shoot Anders' tongue out, restoring his friends' minds before killing Anders. After that, they reconnected with Scanlan outside, who warned them of a hoard of zombies heading their way. They made a run for it to Archibald's hideout. They were not safe there for long, however, as zombies burst through the door and attacked. They managed to slay the zombies, but Scanlan got bit. Since it would spread, Grog offered to amputate the arm, but Scanlan accepted it only as a last resort. They eventually moved out of the hideout, where they found a zombie giant heading their way. Percy used a rifle to destroy the giant in one shot, much to Grog's amusement. Unfortunately, Duke Vedmire showed up with two more giants, ordering them to kill Vox Machina. The party split up, not ready to fight them, before meeting back up at the Sun Tree. Try as they might have, more zombies showed up, making the denizens of Whitestone lose hope. But after a rousing speech from Percy, Grog encouraged everyone to kill everything. Killing all the zombies was still no easy task. And when things seemed hopeless, Pike returned, coolly greeting the party. Grog gratefully embraced her. Upon noticing she was glowing, he asked if she was a ghost, but she quickly explained that she was in astral projection form. Now the fight was much easier. Grog had Scanlan throw him at one of the incoming zombie giants. When Grog landed on top of the undead, he bisected it by chopping it from the head down. When the zombie hoard finally let up, Vox Machina, along with Cassandra, hunted down the Briarwoods. They went through an underground dungeon on the way. A prisoner called out to them asking to be freed in exchange for helping them find the Briarwoods, but Percy only turned his pepperbox on the prisoner.
Relationships
Keyleth
Grog calls Keyleth's sabretooth tiger form "Minxie", after the two of them (Keyleth in her cat form) attempted to intimidate somebody and Keyleth pretended to be Grog's pet.[175] Keyleth and Grog have worked together on other occasions as well, 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.[176] When Keyleth, struggling with her anger at Raishan, asked Grog how he manages to keep his rage in check, he answered: "Family."[177]
Lady Kima of Vord
Grog became infatuated with Lady Kima after the party freed her from a torture rack in Emberhold and she subsequently borrowed Pike's mace to bash the duergar who tortured her into "hamburger meat."
Pike
Grog and Pike are best friends due to Grog protecting Pike's great-great-grandfather Wilhand Trickfoot, and Pike having saved his life after his uncle Kevdak banished him from his tribe and ordered the other tribe members to beat him near to death. The two often joke when working together, and Pike will often defend Grog from jokes made by other team members. After her death and resurrection, she has become more violent and bloodthirsty, sometimes even impressing Grog.
Scanlan
Grog and Scanlan Shorthalt were best friends, occasionally pursuing the same things. After he left Vox Machina though, relations between the two have been strained. Grog seems to feel that he has been replaced by the "Bardbarian".
Vax'ildan
Grog and Vax'ildan have a rather antagonistic relationship, the two of them occasionally playing pranks on each other. Aside from that, they are close friends who have each others' backs.
Character information
Quests
Grog's quest is not exactly known. However, it has been stated by Travis that he wants revenge on his uncle Kevdak for nearly killing him, which he managed to fulfill in "The Kill Box" (1x52).[178]
One of Grog's short term goals was to beat the half-orc Kern, also known as "The Hammer", who beat him in the Crucible—a quest he has since fulfilled.[179]
Proficiencies
- Skills: Animal Handling, Athletics, Intimidation, Survival[180]
- Tools: Smith's Tools,[181] at least one other set of artisan's tools[182]
Notable items
Current items
- Alchemy Jug[183]
- Amulet of Defense (+2 to AC)[184]
- Amulet of the Drunkard (allows Grog to heal HP when he drinks ale)
- Bag of Holding
- Luxon beacon (from the Malleus Key[185]
- Belt of Dwarvenkind[186]
- Bloodaxe[187]
- Boots of Feral Leaping[188] (traded for Percy's Boots of Spider Climbing[189] and traded back [190])
- Chain of Returning (made by Tiberius)
- Dragon-Tooth Necklace (doubles hit points restored by hit dice; given to Grog by Shale[191])
- Dust of Tracelessness
- Earring of Whisper
- Dwarven Thrower[192]
- Helmet coming to a sharpened point in front like a rhinoceros horn[193]
- Moonhammer, given by Zahra Hydris[194]
- Titanstone Knuckles[195]
- Boots of Levitation
Former items
- +2 Studded Leather Armor (given to Kima of Vord)[196]
- Boots of Spider Climbing (received from Percy in a trade[197] and traded back [198])
- Bracers of Defense[199] (given to Scanlan's Simulacrum in "The Final Ascent" (1x113), lost in "Vecna, the Ascended" (1x114) when the Simulacrum was dispelled by Vecna.)
- Craven Edge[200] (banished to the Dread Emperor's realm by Vox Machina in "Best Laid Plans..." (1x50))[201]
- Dancing Sword [202] (originally awarded by the Deck of Many Things, but taken away through creative editing due to DM error on the draw[203])
- Deck of Many Things[204](confiscated by Vox Machina after he pulled The Void card and they had to spend two weeks retrieving his soul from Pandemonium[205])
- Firebrand Warhammer,[206] picked up by a member of the Herd of Storms[207]
- Gauntlets of Ogre Power[208][209][210] (now belong to Pike)
- Greatsword of Frenzy (found in the cave near Yug'Voril;[211] given to Whaska in exchange for information about Plate of the Dawnmartyr[212])
- Holy Oil
- Javelin of Lightning[213] (lost in Ank'Harel[214])
- Sword of Kas (gains a +1d10 bonus to initiative, deals an additional 2 dice of damage to undead; given to Highbearer Vord[215])
Abilities
Grog has a few abilities that allow him to inflict more damage in combat and demoralize the enemy. The primal path of his rage is that of the berserker—his rage is a means to an end, in which his thrill is derived from the chaotic nature of battle. He later multiclassed into a Battle Master fighter similar to his uncle Kevdak, gaining use of Second Wind, the Great Weapon Fighting style, the ability to use Action Surge, and a variety of combat maneuvers.
Goliath abilities
- Mountain Born
- Natural Athlete
- Powerful Build
- Stone's Endurance
Additional features
- Beard Growth (Belt of Dwarvenkind)
- Darkvision (Belt of Dwarvenkind)
- Dwarven Resilience (Belt of Dwarvenkind)
- Elemental Resistance (Fire/Cold/Lightning) (Titanstone Knuckles)
- Enlarge (Titanstone Knuckles)
- Siege Damage (Titanstone Knuckles)
Feats
Barbarian abilities
- Rage
- Unarmored Defense
- Reckless Attack
- Danger Sense
- Primal Path: Path of the Berserker
- Frenzy
- Intimidating Presence
- Mindless Rage
- Retaliation
- Extra Attack
- Fast Movement
- Feral Instinct
- Brutal Critical (3 dice)
- Relentless Rage
- Persistent Rage
Fighter abilities
- Fighting Style: Great Weapon Fighting [221]
- Second Wind[222]
- Action Surge[223]
- Martial Archetype: Battle Master
- Combat Superiority
- Student of War: Smith's Tools[224]
Maneuvers
As a 3rd-level Battle Master, Grog knows three combat maneuvers and has four Superiority Dice, which are d8s.
Appearances and mentions
- Pre-stream
- Campaign One, played by Travis in all episodes except as follows:
- "The Throne Room" (1x07) [DM]
- "Glass and Bone" (1x08) [DM]
- "Dungeons & Dragons Campaign Tips" (1x12), absent
- "Trial of the Take: Part 3" (1x20), absent
- "Trial of the Take: Part 4" (1x21), absent
- "The Siege of Emon" (1x78) [DM]
- Campaign Three
- "Trial by Firelight" (3x02), mentioned only
- "For The Tempest" (3x68), mentioned only
- "Cages" (3x103) [DM]
- "The Cradle's Convocation" (3x104) [DM]
- "The Assembling of Legends" (3x112)
- "Assault on the Malleus Key" (3x113)
- "Fight for the Bloody Bridge" (3x114)
- "A New Age Begins" (3x121)
- Specials
- "D&Diesel" (Sx03)
- "The Story of Vox Machina" (Sx06)
- "Critical Role Q&A and Battle Royale!" (Sx08)
- "Critical Role – Level 17 Battle Royale!" (Sx19)
- "Critical Role: Grog's One-Shot" (Sx26)
- "Trinket's Honey Heist" (Sx27) [DM]
- "Critical Role One-Shot: Epic Level Battle Royale" (Sx30)
- "The Search For Grog" (Sx42)
- "Dalen's Closet" (Sx47)
- "The Search For Bob" (Sx45)
- "Vox Machina vs. Mighty Nein" (Sx57), mentioned only
- "Total Party Kill: Chicago Live 2025" (Sx95)
- Winter's Crest Festival
- Vox Machina Origins Series I, all issues except Issue 1, mentioned only
- Vox Machina Origins Series II, all issues except Issue 5, absent
- Vox Machina Origins Series III, all issues
- Vox Machina Origins Series IV, all issues
- The Legend of Vox Machina, all episodes
- Narrative Telephone
- Episode 8: "Grog's Vlog"
Quotations
- "I would like to rage!" (Grog's catchphrase)[228]
- "I have an intelligence of six, I know what I'm doing."[229]
- "You owe me a cask. Of. Ale"[230]
- "How about-- All of the dragon's teeth and three of the vials of blood?" (Grog's attempt at haggling)[231]
- "...Vax." (after having half his beard shaved)[232]
- "Do you have a female setting?" (to his cursed sword Craven Edge}[233]
- "In my anger." (when first asked where he finds his strength)[234]
- "In my friends." (when asked again where he finds his strength)[235]
- “Vox Machina! Fuck shit up!”[236]
- "FOR STRONGJAW!" (During his HDYWTDT on Kevdak)[237]
- "Bidet." (Grog trying to sound fancy)[238]
- "Standing there, with one hit point, acid melting my flesh, I would like to pull out the Deck of Many Things."[239]
- "Vox Machina, fuck shit up! And I would like to rage! With my bonus action, I will smash the Titanstone Knuckles together."[240]
- Grog: (responding to Keyleth asking how he keeps his rage at bay) Right, it all comes down to one word, really. Family. Right, before I was a part of this group, I had no family. Pike took me in, I met all of you. And I had a purpose. So before that, I would be down to fuck up anything up, anytime, no problem. I still kinda am. But I realized that if I fly off the handle too soon, it screws over my family. That's no good 'cause I care about you. Most of you. You're gonna get yours. It's coming, and I'm going to help you. And I'm going to high-five you when it's done. But until then, you keep that shit tucked inside. Let it build. And then, when the time is right, you let her have it. And I'll throw you into the fray, when the time is right.
Keyleth: Promise?
Grog: Yeah, I promise.[241]
Trivia
- "Grog" is a term for any alcoholic beverage, originally referring to a drink made with water and rum.
- Travis didn't have a name for his character when he arrived at their first home game, so when Matt asked him for one he made it up on the spot.[242] He cited his love of the game Monkey Island, in which "Grog" is a popular pirate beverage that is 'one of the most caustic, volatile substances known to man'.[243][244]
- "Grog" itself originated from the nickname of Vice Admiral Edward Vernon (who first introduced the drink), Old Grog or Old Grogram, which itself stemmed from how Vernon wore a coat of grosgrain (also known as grogram) cloth.
- Grog officially puts Kashaw Vesh to shame when it comes to genital size.[245]
- In the Critical Role Major Arcana Tarot Card Set, he represents VIII - Strength.[246]
- In the 2017 video game "Mass Effect: Andromeda", there is a krogan warlord named "Strogjaw Grog". Strogjaw Grog is the leader of a refuge for exiled scavengers known as "The Flophouse" on the scorching desert moon of Elaaden.
- In the Vox Machina Origins comics, Grog's title of "Grand Poobah de Doink of All of This and That" is erroneously written as "Grand Poobah of de Doink."[citation needed]
- Travis compared Grog to Joey from Friends, at least when it comes to their love lives.[247]
- Grog's design as a large, muscular man with pale skin, a bald head, facial and body tattoos, and thick black beard coincidentally gave him a resemblance to Kratos in the 2018 video game God of War. Additionally, Kratos also has the special ability to "Spartan Rage" in the game. Many Critters were quick to point out these resemblances across various social media such as Twitter and Reddit, with quite a few posts directed straight to Travis Willingham.
- Grog is included in the Critical Role Pack DLC for Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire.
- A screenshot on the DLC's Steam page shows Grog built in-game as an Island Aumaua.
- According to Matthew Mercer, in The Legend of Vox Machina, Marisha Ray and Laura Bailey were the ones who recorded most of Grog's burps, as they were the cast members who demonstrated the most ability to do so.[248]
- In the promotional video "The Legend of Vox Machina Kickstarter is LIVE!", in Travis's nightmare, Sam Riegel says that he wanted to voice Grog.[249]
Superlatives
- Grog formerly had the lowest intelligence score of any player character. However, starting in December 2019, that distinction belonged to Buddy the Ogre with an Intelligence of 5, which has not been surpassed so far.
- Occasionally Travis forgets himself and "Grog" says something clever, usually played off as a random moment of cleverness. However at least once it has resulted in Grog suffering pain and the DM assigning psychic damage for "attempting to think too hard."[250]
- As of June 2022, Grog had highest constitution score of any player character and the second highest strength score after Zerxus Ilerez.
- Grog was the first player character to die after the stream began, and the second overall, after Pike.
- Grog currently holds fifth place for highest damage in a single turn, achieved during "The Search For Grog" (Sx42) with two critical hits with the Bloodaxe plus Enlarge dealing 152 points of damage total.[251]
External links
- Critical Role: Grog's Soundtrack – In the Key of Rage (November 27, 2015)
- Dear Vox Machina: Ask Grog (May 20, 2016)
- Grog Playlist 2016 – Long May You Rage (December 16, 2016)
References
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Art:
- ↑ Official art of Grog in 843 PD, by GalacticJonah (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Official art of Grog in 812, by Kit Buss (source). This file is a copyrighted work. Its use in this article is asserted to qualify as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.
- ↑ Screenshot of Grog from "Shadows at the Gates" (LVM1x04). This file is a copyrighted work. Its use in this article is asserted to qualify as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.
- ↑ Fan art of Grog getting the bear tattoo on his back, by DJ Crumrine (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Official Grog Pop! figure.Critical Role Shop
- ↑ First official portrait of Grog, by Kit Buss (source). This file is a copyrighted work. Its use in this article is asserted to qualify as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.
- ↑ Grog attacks Iselda, by Olivia Samson ([Vox Machina Origins Volume I Issue #6 source]). Used with permission.
- ↑ Art of Grog being controlled by a lich, along with the reanimated corpse of his father, Stonejaw, by Wendy Sullivan Green. See "The Story of Vox Machina" (Sx06) at 0:01:31.
- ↑ Fan art of Grog killed by K'varn, by Wendy Sullivan Green (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Grog during his fight with Kern the Hammer, by Wendy Sullivan Green (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Grog in his "formal wear" for the feast, by David Rodrigues (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Grog Strongjaw, by Kerri Aitken (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Grog being taken over by Professor Anders's Dominate Person spell, by Wendy Sullivan Green (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Grog, by Ameera (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Grog missing with his attack against Raishan, by David Rodrigues (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Grog and Earthbreaker Groon: "Where do you find your strength?", by Lap Pun Cheung (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Grog speaking to Craven Edge in the privy, by Lap Pun Cheung (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Horace pierced with the Craven Edge by Grog, by Joma Cueto (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Grog with Craven Edge, by Lap Pun Cheung (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Grog landing the killing blow on Kevdak, by David Rodrigues (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Grog Strongjaw versus Umbrasyl, by Jet (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of the cannonball contest, by Lap Pun Cheung (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Grog's new hat, by Lap Pun Cheung (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Grog hugging Pike, by Wendy Sullivan Green (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Grog pulling a card from the Deck of Many Things, by Hugo Cardenas (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Grog working at the Core Anvil, by Lap Pun Cheung (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Grog delivering the final blow to the empyrean, by BlackSalander (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Official art of Grog in 836 PD, by Wesley Griffith (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Grog telling tales to the de Rolo children, by Wesley Griffith (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Official art of Grog in 843 PD, by GalacticJonah (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Grog with the Craven Edge, by Viktor Engholm (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Grog Strongjaw, by David Rodrigues (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Grog's portrait in Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire.[1]
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