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Byron Anders

Tal'Dorei

As an NPC in Critical Role, Anders was played by Matthew Mercer. In The Legend of Vox Machina, he is voiced by Stephen Root.

As an NPC in Critical Role, Anders was played by Matthew Mercer. In The Legend of Vox Machina, he is voiced by Stephen Root.

Appearance

Anders is an older gentleman with short grey hair and a little bit of facial hair. During the battle with Vox Machina in the Critical Role stream, he wore a breastplate.

Personality

In the streamed campaign, Byron Anders was a devoted cultist of Vecna and acted as an inside man for the Briarwoods to take Whitestone castle. In the animated series, Byron Anders's betrayal was motivated by his frustration over the ambitions that he believed had been shattered by the de Rolo family, and working under their wing as teacher to the de Rolo children.

Background

Anders was a lesser noble of Whitestone and a tutor to the young Percy prior to the arrival of the Briarwoods. Percy believed that Anders was responsible for letting the Briarwoods capture Whitestone Castle in the night. Waiting for unwelcomed guests, Anders prepared a push-tile, dealing cold damage, and two helmed horrors in the back of the room — ready to receive orders.

Critical Role

" Reunions " (1x33)

While Vox Machina was looking for Cassandra de Rolo in Whitestone Castle, Anders hid in his room, threatening her to be quiet, hoping to avoid the group's attention. They almost passed him by, but Vax heard distant whispers, found out that Percy's sister was in danger, and burst into the room shouting "Jenga". To distract Vox Machina, Anders Dominated Grog and cast Minor Illusion to seemingly cut Cassandra's throat. Nevertheless, Vox Machina managed to prick out both of his eyes and defeated him with Percy delivering the killing shot.

Afterwards, Vax searched the Professor's desk and found a collection of letters describing the Briarwoods' machinations, written in the hand of Lord Riskel Daxio.

The Legend of Vox Machina

In The Legend of Vox Machina, Anders was fought in one of the noble manors instead of Whitestone Castle, in place of Count Tylieri, who did not appear. In " Scanbo " (LVM1x07), Anders actually cut Cassandra's throat, precipitating the battle with Vox Machina. Keyleth was able to heal her before joining the battle. Anders used a strange, seemingly-living silver tongue to Dominate the party and turn them against Percy, but Percy was able to distract him by apologizing for his family's perceived slights against him. Percy then used a ricochet shot to shoot out the tongue along with his lower jaw and end the domination, donning his mask and becoming surrounded by smoke. A terrified Anders was forced to face and listen to him as he called Anders out that they had trusted him and he betrayed them when they needed him most. Percy then killed Anders with a shot to the head. Anders' name faded from The List as the smoke enveloping Percy dissipated.

Later, when Vax'ildan entered Orthax's realm to rescue Percy's soul, he saw Anders as one of the many other souls being held prisoner by Orthax to suffer for eternity.

Class features
  • Bardic Inspiration (≥d10)

Notable items

Quotations

  • Anders: (addressing Cassandra, holding a knife to her throat) "Shh! You be quiet until you're told to speak. They should be close."

Appearances and mentions

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