In case you haven’t joined the Critter community yet, Critical Role is our Dungeons & Dragons RPG show where a group of geeky voice actors roleplay fantastic and memorable stories. Though they’ve wrapped up their current adventure, the world lives on in the Critical Role sourcebook, our Chronicles of Exandria art book, the Vox Machina comic book, and in song through character playlists, like this one.
Fans of Critical Role will know that Keyleth left her village and her father, the headmaster of the tribe, to embark on a rite of passage known as the Aramente, a “noble odyssey” quest involving meeting other headmasters of the Ashari tribes. With the help of Vox Machina, Keyleth completed her rite of passage and learned about the world around her and its people. She may have started her journey naive and untested, but by the end she was a formidable force with the makings of a true leader.
Marisha Ray, who played Keyleth, compiled this playlist to sum up that full journey that she and the character went on together, and included her insights and commentary below.
Warning: minor spoilers below.
“Thunder Official Remix” by Imagine Dragons, K. Flay
I love this song for a few reasons. The first time I heard the original was when Liam dedicated it to me on my birthday. Then they teamed up with K. Flay to do this amazing remix, and the breakdown is so Keyleth. It feels like the duality between Keyleth and I wrapped into an almost overplayed top 40 song. Just remember, “It’s easy to jump when you know how to fall…”
“Cherry Blossom Girl” by Air
This song comes to mind whenever I think, or see art of the Aramente’ ceremony with the falling cherry blossoms. It just sets the mood so nicely! Plus: the bands name is Air. How perfect is that?!
“Grigio Girls” by Lady Gaga
Of course, Keyleth is more of a Shiraz girl, but this song goes out to Vex, Pike, and all of the bad ass women of the world.
“Into My Arms” by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
It’s no secret that Percy and Keyleth didn’t end up in team #blessed at the end of it all. Keyleth had a hard time wrapping her head around the concept of having faith and/or trust in a god when she was surrounded by some of the most capable people in the world, all of whom she loved and would give her life for. That’s not to say that she didn’t pray. Keyleth did a lot of soul-baring and pleading on long, sleepless nights in those final months. It’s incredibly hard to find songs to quantify that type of hopeless beholden to a situation, or in this case, a deity, that you have no control over. This song and Nick Cave convey that type of beautiful melancholy perfectly.
“Carousel” by A Blaze of Feathers
Keyleth’s prayers were… unanswered. Hope and mourning are highly conflicting emotions. When is the right time to accept the sad reality and let that hope fade? Eventually, one has to protect themselves, and hope is a very vulnerable condition.
“Polymorphing” by Chairlift
Let’s bring the mood up a notch and talk about how amazing Scanlan, and therefore, Sam is! I’ve yet to dedicate a song to Scanlan, and I’m glad I waited for this one. Every time I listen to this, I see Scanlan singing and gifting this performance to Pike on their wedding night, destroying decor as he floated on Bigby’s Hand through the reception hall.
“Tokyo Sunrise” by LP
Vax. I have a hard time getting through this song without ending up in tears. But, with any final driving hope, necessary as it is contradictory, maybe as LP says, “Someday in the sky we’ll see the same sun on the horizon.”
“Last Leaf” by Tom Waits
Oh man, maybe this playlist is more tragic than I thought. Well, in any case, fast forward 1000 years, and there is little ol’ lady Keyleth. The last leaf on the tree. Oh Tom Waits, I love you so.
“Supercut” by Lorde
This song is dedicated to the entire six-year campaign. Thanks to this incredible experience I have these extraordinary memories that all feel as real as the rest of them. I look back at it all, and it plays like a supercut. Just as tangible as if I was leaning over one of our editor’s shoulders at the studio. Appropriate, considering this campaign is one of the greatest projects I have ever been, and ever will be, a part of in my life.
WANT MORE CRITICAL ROLE?
- Start the adventures from the very beginning with the Critical Role Podcast.
- Learn about the new Critical Role art book!
- Show your love of Vox Machina with Critical Role dice, apparel, prints, and more!
- Follow the Critical Role crew on Twitter for news about events and signings.
- Don’t miss new episodes of Critical Role Live on Alpha and Twitch, Thursdays at 7pm PT!
- Tune into our official after show, Talks Machina, live on Alpha and Twitch, Tuesdays at 7pm PT.
Featured image: Jonesy / @drunken_pilot
