Vex notices she has the letter and starts reading it herself
at 2:27:44. I’m not considering it part of this scene explicitly, but it’s
insightful to Vex’s character to watch her face as she reads it. Her happy
smile becoming crestfallen when she realizes what it is, and then wavering
between deep concern and a sad smile. Until the end where she tries to put her
smile back on and push her feelings away (2:29:57).Credit to ToKe86 on Reddit for transcribing the letter
itself. https://www.reddit.com/r/criticalrole/comments/5588no/spoilers_e69_transcript_of_a_letter/Transcript method notes: http://otdderamin.tumblr.com/post/153539301510/a-note-on-my-transcription-method
Scenes
Vex finds the letter – 1:10:13 to 1:11:06
https://youtu.be/YLcRhm8UP8g?t=4211The letter is opened, read, and discussed – 2:32:53 to 2:39:42
https://youtu.be/YLcRhm8UP8g?t=9173Vax stacks trays on Pike – 2:38:47 to 2:41:25
https://youtu.be/YLcRhm8UP8g?t=9527The Vex sneaks into Percy’s room – 2:41:25 to 2:43:18
https://youtu.be/YLcRhm8UP8g?t=9685There is an unbroken copy of the letter below the
transcript.
Vex finds the letter
1:10:13
Laura: “Can I reach forward and look in Percy’s coat
for that whitestone, that condensed whitestone that he caries?”Matt: “Sure. Go ahead and make an investigation
check.”Keyleth: “Hey, Vex, will you look for that raven skull
I gave him while you’re at it?”Vex: “Sure.”
Laura: “25.”
Matt: “25. You start rummaging through his coat, and
you find his gun, retort, you find a bunch of random bullet casings and
bullets, you find a cluster of papers and notes that are folded up in a small book,
and what appears to be a partially sealed letter with no name on it.”Laura: “Nothing else?”
Matt: “You eventually find some of the whitestone
glass, the green glass that you guys has flashed around in Ank’Harel.1:11:06
Percy’s Death Letter
2:32:53
Marisha: “I was looking anxiously over at Vex. And she
was-”Vex, trying to sound chipper but with undertones of anxiety:
“Oh this?”Keyleth, looking curious and concerned: “Yes. What’s
that?”Vex: “Oh, it was, um,” she pauses and quietly
laughs nervouslyVax cocks his head to the side curiously, reading Vex’s
nervous tone and manner.Vex, her tone turning wry: “Well, I suppose I’m a
horrible person, so you might as well be, too”Vax’s body language changes to surprise.
Grog: “What? You read it?”
Vex: “This?”
Grog: “Yep.”
Vex, guiltily and nervously: “Mmhm.”
Vax, arms crossed, in and interrogating tone: “What is
it?”Vex: “It’s a letter. It’s a goodbye letter from Percy
to us.”Vax looks very startled by this. Keyleth is more subtly
alarmed. Scanlan looks over rather knowingly.Taliesin:
“You’re terrible people.”Grog: “A what?”
Vex: “Umm…”
Vax reaches over and wrenches the letter out of her hands,
looking very serious and sad, and hastily pulls it out of the envelope. Keyleth
moves over to join him.Vex: “I-” laughs nervously again. “I feel
like it’s a bit of an invasion. I probably shouldn’t have just done that.[Chatter 2:33:26 to 2:33:39]
2:22:35 Vax and Keyleth start reading the letter themselves.
Keyleth’s face quickly shows the same crestfallen look Vex’s did. Vax is hard
to read from the angle.Grog: "Are we all reading it, or just you two pricks?”
Vex: “If you want to.”
Matt:
“Just read it out loud at that point.”Sam:
“Yeah, I mean, I’m the only one, I mean-”Taliesin:
“Only those of you who don’t care about my privacy.”Liam:
“Taliesin, would you like this to be in your voice?”Taliesin:
“No! It was never supposed to be in my voice.”[Vax becomes increasingly more serious and then sad as he
reads. Keyleth sadly looks at Vax, or the letter, as he reads. Scanlan looks
down looking contemplative and unusually downcast. Vex looks lost in her own
sad thoughts. Grog looks thoughtful at first, but his body language becomes
increasingly nervous, and suggest he disagrees with Percy’s morbidity.]2:33:52 Vax, reading: “My friends,
"I have just taken an audience with the Raven Queen who
has snuffed any hope of my redemption, for which I am truly grateful. With new
clarity, I can finally see my life as a series of compounding, poor choices.”
Vax winces. “There was nothing I could’ve done to save my family, yet I
still sold my soul in search of vengeance. Later I allowed Ripley to leave,
knowing full well she was a greater threat to the world than the Briarwoods
would ever be. I traded the world’s safety for the belief that I could murder
my way to peace; that if I could be a greater horror, it would bring my family
back. And once this lie was shattered I scrambled to find a solution, to make a
deal, to undo my mistakes and balance the scales. I now understand that there
are no scales, there is no redemption, and no ledger that judges me good or
evil. I am free to simply be myself and live with the terrible mistakes I’ve
made.2:34:54 Vax, reading: "Tomorrow I start upon a new path
beyond the gods and demons who have tormented me, and it’s your friendship that
makes this possible. Though a shadow lingers, the need for vengeance is gone. I
will try and do my best for you all. I will strive to buy the future more time,
free of my legacy. I will stand against the children of my madness in hope,
rather than in anger.” Vax’s body language deflates. “And if you are
reading this, then my travels on this path have come to an end.” Vax’s voice
nearly breaks with grief.2:35:27 Vax, reading: “Scanlan,” Scanlan looks up,
startled, hearing his name, “thank you for destroying my gun. Do not let
the weight of life’s consequences crush your bravado, it is your greatest
weapon.” Scanlan smiles wishfully at the words. Then hangs his head
looking even sadder.2:35:36 Vax, reading: “Grog,”
Grog: “Yes?”
Vax, reading: “remember that your compassion has
brought you this far, not just strength. For the record, I would’ve wiped the
floor with you that time.” Grog is startles by the last statement, then
glares off.2:35:49 Vax, reading: “Vax, you often remind me of
myself and yes, I know that is a bit of an insult. Stop indulging your desire
to sacrifice, and try being the man these two women seem to think you are. They
may actually need you one day.” Vax’s tone manages to turn even grimmer at
the last line, but both Vex and Keyleth smiles at it.2:36:06 Vax, reading: “Vex, you often remind me of
myself and that is the highest of compliments.” Everyone smiles and laughs
at the contrastVax, fondly: “Oh, true to form Percival, true to
form.”Vax, reading: “I hope you free yourself of whatever
voices haunt you. Also since I’m gone, you’re the clever one now.”Vax: “Still the cleaver one.”
2:36:25 Vax, reading: “Keyleth, don’t let the world break
you. Learn to forgive it for not living up to your standards.” Vax, with a
broad smile, “We promise to try harder.” Keyleth laughs and smiles.Keyleth: “Smartass.”
Vax: “Yeah.”
2:36:34 Vax, reading: “Pike, it is wonderful to have
you home. You bring everyone closer to their best selves, and I can only
imagine what a burden that must be.”Vax, looking over: “Oh, she’s out.” Everyone
softly laughs.Vax, reading: “Allow yourself some vice and failure,”
Vax, with a laugh: “Done and done.” The laugher
grows louder.Vax, reading as he laughs: “we’ll still love you just
the same.”Vax: “All true.”
2:36:54 Vax, reading, his tone sobering: “As to what
must be done, I’d be content to be left in a ditch, my weapons and notes burnt
and broken.”Vax, shaking his head, with an irritated tone:
“Fucker.”Vax, reading: “But I imagine that would upset Cass. If
you can, take me home. If you can’t, I understand. She knows where to find the
rest of my instructions. Times being what they are, burn my work or bring it
home in the hopes of aiding in the defense of Whitestone. I leave this judgment
in your capable hands. Please find Ripley before she does too many terrible
things, and erase my legacy wherever you find it. That silence would be the
greatest eulogy I could ever hope for.”Vax: shifting the letter with concerned exasperation:
“Oh dear.”Vax, reading, with a heavy sigh: “With eternal
gratitude,"Percival of Vox Machina”
Vax leans on the table, woefully holds his head in his hand.
Then stares at the letter for a while.2:37:39 Grog, who’s been fidgeting for a while: “I’m gonna
kick his fuckin’ ass.”Scanlan, quietly: “Why?”
Grog: “He-”
Keyleth: “He was anticipating-”
Scanlan: “He didn’t mention you, did he?”
Grog, flustered: “Yeah he did! Yeah. He said he
could’ve wiped the floor with me.”Scanlan: “Well, I’m sure it was a joke, friend.”
Keyleth moves back to her seat away from Vax.
Vax: “Yeah, that’s a very highbrow kind of humor. It’s hilarious,
I promise, it’s hilarious.”Grog: “Eyebrow?”
Vex: “Really, really funny.”
Keyleth, quietly laughing: “Was it a joke?”
Vax: “Yeah. It means stuffy. Boring, boring. Boring
humor.”Ashley:
“Am I still out? I’m still out.”Matt: “You’re
still out. You’re done for the night, Pike. Actually, you know what, roll a
perception check. With disadvantage.Vax folds up the note, softly sighing again and looking
dejected.Scanlan: "Well, you should not have taken that note.”
Vex, guiltily, taking the letter from Vax: “Well, I
know. I was searching for something important.”Ashley:
“12.”Matt:
“No. You’re passed out. You don’t hear anything.”Vex, toying with the letter: “I just realized I still
had it, is all.”2:38:38 Grog: “So, do we plan to act like we didn’t
read it, or are you gonna try to slip it back in his pocket without him
noticing?”Scanlan: “Hmm. That’s a good plan.”
Vex: “What do you guys think?”
Vax: “That’s a good point, that’s a good point.”
2:38:47 Liam: “I balance a tray on top of Pike’s prone
form, and put some cups on top of it.”Vex, earnestly: “Should I pretend I didn’t read it?
Should I pretend I didn’t take it?”Grog: “Was it sealed or anything?”
Scanlan: “Slip it back in.”
Vex: “No, it’s just folded.”
Grog: “Yeah! Try an’ sneak it in.”
Vex: “Alright.”
Vax: “Yeah.”
Liam: “I put a tray on top of the cups, on top of the
first tray.” Vex laughs.2:39:08 Keyleth, seriously: “But now we go forward,
just with the knowledge that we know Percy was anticipating dying?”Scanlan, gently: “Well, aren’t we all anticipating
dying?”Grog, flippantly: “Yeah, kind of.”
Vax: “Yeah, and I mean-”
Vex: “Technically, we should all write these letters.”
Vax: “I mean,”
Scanlan: “Well, some of us have.” [Only Pike knows
Scanlan has, or was likely the first to.]Vax: “that’s Percival up and down. There’s nothing
really that surprising in the letter, really.”Grog: “Don’t know if we all need to write.”
Vex: patting him on the shoulder: “Grog, you can draw
some pictures for us.”Grog seems intrigued by the idea.
Vax: “MmmHmm.”
Liam: “More cups on top of the second tray.”
2:39:33 Scanlan: “The fact is, we all might die at any
point.”Vax, mouths: “Yeah.”
Keyleth, softly and somberly: “No, it’s true.”
Scanlan: “And it would be terrible. And we should enjoy
every day that we have together.”Vax: “That’s right.”
2:39:42 Liam: “Third tray.”
Matt: “Yeah, make a dexterity check, Vax.”
Liam: “No problem, 24.”
Matt: “24 – the stack is beautifully balanced. It’s
retaining a little bit.”Vex: “You better hope she doesn’t move.”
Vax: “No, I just stand and admire my own work.”
Scanlan: “Grog?”
Travis: “I walk up, and shove Vax into the trays.”
Matt: “Yeah, as he’s admiring it, you get a sudden ffwffb!
push forward and Kchk! clanking. All of the trays and glasses fall and hit the
ground. You hear the metal and the brass cingcing wuwuwuwubwub wub wub woob
wooob wooob wooooob.”Laura: “Would it have woken her up?”
Matt: “Pike stirs. You wake up, still trashed, Pike,
and still your lips numb as ever, but you’re back to consciousness now, hearing
all this clattering around you.”Vax: “Hey!”
Pike: “Gah!”
Vax: “Hey. Did you know I’m-”
Pike, garbled: “I was tryin’t [indistinguishable]!”
Vax: “What?”
Keyleth: “I was trying to stealth!”
Pike: “Too loud!”
Vax: “You are drunk! You are very drunk.”
Vex: “We should- We should head back to the
castle.”Vax: “Yeah. Grog, you wanna pick up Pickle, and let’s
go get some sleep?”Grog, accusingly: “Pike! What did you do to all these
cups and trays!”Pike, bewildered: “Did I do that?”
Grog, sternly: “Yes.”
Pike: “Oh no!”
Grog: “I’m very disappointed. You should apologize to
the owner.”Pike: “I’m sorry, I was-”
Matt: “The older woman in the corner who owns the bar
is like, ‘Ah, it’s fine.’”Travis: “I flip her a gold coin.”
Matt: “She watches it hit the ground.” Matt nods
looking over his should as at the coin rolling, “’Thanks.’”Grog: “Welcome. Alright! Let’s go home.”
Vex: “Alright.”
Travis: “I pick up Pikey.”
Matt: “Alright. You guys all find your way-”
Pike, cheerfully slurring: “Welcome!”
2:41:25 Matt: You find your way back to Whitestone Castle.
To your respective rooms.“Laura: "Oh! No! I sneak into Percy’s room.”
Matt: “Okay. Make a stealth check.”
[Chatter]
Laura: “29.”
2:41:46 Matt: “29. Uh, yeah, no. Percy does not seem to
notice you. He’s just snoring loudly, face down on the-”Laura: “Aw, he’s face down?”
Matt: “On the still-set bed, just-” He uses his
hand to mimic having his face pressed into the bed and makes snoring noises.
“In the bed itself. The room is dark, but you can still see fine because
you’re half-elven.”Liam: “Put it in the mail slot.”
Laura: “Can I- I’m not gonna shove in his butt. Can I
try to reach under and get it into the pocket of the coat that I-”Liam: “Oh, that side.”
Matt: “Yeah, go ahead and make a slight of hand check.”
Sam: “Sort of reaching around?”
Taliesin: “I love you all. So much.”
Laura: “Slight of hand?”
Matt: “Yeah.”
Laura: “7 + 15 is…”
Matt: “22. Percival, I need you to go ahead and roll a
perception check. With disadvantage.”Sam, emphatically: “Yes.”
Taliesin: “Full disadvantage, or the new disadvantage
that-”Sam: “You’re dead! You’re essentially a dead person!”
Matt: “Both. You are in the sleep of the dead right now,
so you are rolling with disadvantage, and whatever you roll, -4.”Taliesin: “-4.”
Marisha: “Oh right, because you died.”
Taliesin: “Eh, that’s a- Perception? Um, that’s a-
13.”2:42:53 Matt: “For a couple moments the snoring kind
of,” stuttered snoring, “and you stop, and wait for the breathing to
continue. You find the coat pocket where you found it, gently slip the letter
in with the notes that you found it with, close it, step away…”Laura: “I tell him,”
2:43:12 Vex: “I’m glad you’re back.”
Laura: “And I leave the room.”
Percy gives a quiet snore in response.
Matt: “Okay. You gently close the door.”
2:43:18
Unbroken transcript of the letter:
My friends,
I have just taken an audience with the Raven Queen who has
snuffed any hope of my redemption, for which I am truly grateful. With new
clarity, I can finally see my life as a series of compounding, poor choices.
There was nothing I could’ve done to save my family, yet I still sold my soul
in search of vengeance. Later I allowed Ripley to leave, knowing full well she
was a greater threat to the world than the Briarwoods would ever be. I traded
the world’s safety for the belief that I could murder my way to peace; that if
I could be a greater horror, it would bring my family back. And once this lie
was shattered I scrambled to find a solution, to make a deal, to undo my
mistakes and balance the scales. I now understand that there are no scales,
there is no redemption, and no ledger that judges me good or evil. I am free to
simply be myself and live with the terrible mistakes I’ve made.Tomorrow I start upon a new path beyond the gods and demons
who have tormented me, and it’s your friendship that makes this possible.
Though a shadow lingers, the need for vengeance is gone. I will try and do my
best for you all. I will strive to buy the future more time, free of my legacy.
I will stand against the children of my madness in hope, rather than in anger.
And if you are reading this, then my travels on this path have come to an end.Scanlan, thank you for destroying my gun. Do not let the
weight of life’s consequences crush your bravado, it is your greatest weapon.Grog, remember that your compassion has brought you this far,
not just strength. For the record, I would’ve wiped the floor with you that
time.Vax, you often remind me of myself and yes, I know that is a
bit of an insult. Stop indulging your desire to sacrifice, and try being the
man these two women seem to think you are. They may actually need you one day.Vex, you often remind me of myself and that is the highest
of compliments. I hope you free yourself of whatever voices haunt you. Also
since I’m gone, you’re the clever one now.Keyleth, don’t let the world break you. Learn to forgive it
for not living up to your standards. We promise to try harder.Pike, it is wonderful to have you home. You bring everyone
closer to their best selves, and I can only imagine what a burden that must be.
Allow yourself some vice and failure, we’ll still love you just the same.As to what must be done, I’d be content to be left in a
ditch, my weapons and notes burnt and broken. But I imagine that would upset
Cass. If you can, take me home. If you can’t, I understand. She knows where to
find the rest of my instructions. Times being what they are, burn my work or
bring it home in the hopes of aiding in the defense of Whitestone. I leave this
judgment in your capable hands. Please find Ripley before she does too many
terrible things, and erase my legacy wherever you find it. That silence would
be the greatest eulogy I could ever hope for.With eternal gratitude,
Percival of Vox Machina
<3