Here's how Zerxus Ilerez ended up in 'The Legend of Vox Machina' Season 3

In Season 3, Episode 4 The Legend of Vox Machina A key critical role crossover event. Not only is the show continuing, but it's Critical Role's first live broadcast campaign, which also includes a lead role Exandria Unlimited: DisasterA four-part mini-campaign set centuries ago The Legend of Vox Machina and run by Brennan Lee Mulligan.

The character in question is Paladin Xerxes Ileres (voiced by Luis Carazo, who also played Xerxes. Disaster) is the current owner of the Blade of the Danmartyr, one of the Vestiges of Divergence needed by Vox Machina to defeat the dragon Thordock (voiced by the late Lance Reddick). Their quest takes them to Xerxes' home in the Hells of Destruction, where he and cleric Pike Trickfoot (voiced by Ashley Johnson) play a high-stakes card game for the plate. The sequence replaces elements of the original campaign where Bart sees Scanlan (voiced by Sam Regal) elemental Plane of Fire gambling for the blade with a fire giant.

“From a story perspective, we had an opportunity to connect two story beats from our campaign,” Travis Willingham, voice of Crook Strong, told Mashable. (Willingham is also an executive producer The Legend of Vox Machina and CEO of Critical Role.) The series could take Vox Machina's role on the Fire Plane, which lacks a huge story hook in the show's timeline, and tie it into the idea of ​​J'mon being the ruler of Ank'Harel. Sa Ord (voiced by Mara Junot) hid the blade in the Hells to keep it as far away from Thordak as possible.

“Right after we finished EXU: Disaster“Because Xerxes' fate is sent to Hell, and it's 800 years later, he's still down there, and that would be a good thing to weave into the story,” Willingham continued. “Especially some of the stories revealed in EXU: DisasterAnd how the apocalypse started, and why that might be important to the big antagonists in the story, we can try to use that in a big way if we get future seasons.”

Zerxus' appearance is not a brief easter egg. Instead, he plays a fleshed-out role in the episode, the show paralleling his complicated relationship with his godfather. DisasterIt's Asmodeus, Lord of the Nine Hells, though he's not named here – along with Pike's own doubts about his faith in the Everlight. In their meeting, he also gives a quick rundown of the events of Vox Machina DisasterWith a colorful looking-glass-style animated interlude reminiscent of the campaign's intro sequence. Appearing interspersed are Zerxus' companions, other player characters Disaster.

“I think there is a hidden desire on our part to include everyone Disaster Sometimes,” Willingham said. And with more animated Critical Role projects in development at Amazon Studios, Mighty no Next year's series, in full Disaster Some form of adaptation is not too far off.

“It's ripe for a movie, a mini-series, something — we're trying to figure out the best delivery method for that, how it all fits together,” Willingham said.

There is an implicit desire to co-opt everyone “from disaster” at some point.

For now, it looks like we haven't seen the last of Zerxus Ilerez The Legend of Vox Machina. As Pike and her companions escape with the Plate of the Dawnmartyr, she utters a very foreboding statement: “We are his blood. The time for his ascension is drawing near.”

These words echo those of Delilah Briarwood (voiced by Gray Griffin) and the other Cultivators of the Whispered One – also known as Vegna in the original campaign. Season 1. This might make sense The Legend of Vox Machina Does Whisper One position Zerxus as champion? So, does that mean the series is mashing Whisper One and Asmodeus together? Or did Zerxus choose to serve another deity in hopes of trying to redeem him, as he intended to do to Asmodeus? Disaster?

“A Redemption Paladin is about to get even more redemptive,” Marisha Rae, the voice of Keyleth, told Mashable. (Ray is an executive producer on the show, as well as the creative director of an important role.) “I think it's very fitting because there are so many companies in the world of Exandria that fit the ticket that can be redeemed.”

“Hopefully we'll see some conspiracy theories [about that line],” Willingham said.

In addition to fueling fan theories, Zerxus' addition The Legend of Vox Machina The show is further proof of why One of the most fascinating works of adaptation on television today. Zerxus wasn't even a character when Critical Role's first campaign came out – viewers didn't meet him until a few months into Season 1. The Legend of Vox Machina Screened. Nevertheless, as the critical role continues to grow through its various campaigns, it creates more source material to draw from in real time for its animated adaptations.

“One of my favorite things about working on an animated show is that after the Vox Machina campaign ended, we continued to expand, enrich, and make history with the world. We created stories of the future, but also expanded on the past,” Liam O'Vax'ildan and executive producer Voice Brian told Mashable.

“That's really the best thing about adaptations. You can go and spray some good things that weren't there before,” Ray added.

He continued: “I think we're very lucky in the sense that we're growing Mighty no in real time The Legend of Vox MachinaAs well as the shooting of Campaign 3 and other ancillary material is still going on. There's this 5,000-foot view of everything – apart from all the things that need to be decided at the end of Campaign 3 – but we can take the Jenga blocks of the story and move them to fit better.”

Therefore The Legend of Vox Machina As it continues its run, look for substantial links to Critical Role's other campaigns. Zerxus may be first Disaster Crossover, but from the sounds of it, he probably won't be the last.

The Legend of Vox Machina Season 3 premieres on Prime Video on October 3, with three new episodes every Thursday.