Critical Role: What Is the Winter’s Crest Holiday?

Throughout the many campaigns of Critical Role, fans have been introduced to famous historical moments and celebrations that echo throughout all of the fictional world of Exandria. As we enjoy our own winter season, let’s explore a fan-favorite festival that was introduced during the legendary adventures of Vox Machina: Winter’s Crest.

What Is Winter’s Crest?

The festival of Winter’s Crest is a wintertime holiday celebrated throughout Tal’Dorei, marking the time at which the veil between the planes is thinnest. On the Exandrian calendar, it falls on the 20th of Duscar, the month that heralds the start of winter — other continents have similar festivals and holidays at different points in this month.

The holiday itself also commemorates the end of the Icelost Years, where the continent was dominated by Errevon the Rimelord and his white dragon herald Skysunder. Errevon was a primordial titan who escaped the Plane of Ice and attempted to invade and subjugate  Tal’Dorei. His siege lasted about 15 years until he was pushed back by an alliance of the Tal’Dorei Empire, the elven dominion Syngorn, and the dwarven citadel Kraghammer. The nature wardens known as the Ashari helped seal the rift he had passed through to seal him once more in his frozen home.

Winter’s Crest is celebrated with lights and music, festive food and drink, and gift exchange between friends, family, and allies. Similar to many real-world winter festivals, it is a time of togetherness and joy to break the bite of the colder months. In Tal’Dorei, some consider the Matron of Ravens to be the patron of the day, but the wintertime celebration is secular enough that most individuals celebrate it regardless of their faith.

Due to the fact that it is the time when the veil between planes is thinnest, Winter’s Crest is also used for conducting magical rituals at increased potency. During Vox Machina’s adventures, the Briarwoods attempted to use this to their advantage in service of the Whispered One. Winter’s Crest is also the time Raishan was able to free Thordak from his imprisonment on the Plane of Fire.

Where Is Winter’s Crest Celebrated?

As seen in Vox Machina’s adventures, Winter’s Crest is celebrated throughout the cities and settlements of Tal’Dorei, one of the continents of Exandria. A post-rebellion celebration of the holiday takes place after the battle with the Briarwoods at the Whitestone ziggurat. Festivities in Westruun were once put on hold when the entire town was discovered frozen solid. And in the capital of Emon, a Winter’s Crest parade was held in Vox Machina’s honor after the adventurers saved Sovereign Uriel Tal’Dorei’s family from a demon.

While fans mainly see the festival through the eyes of Vox Machina during Critical Role: Campaign 1, other characters in later adventures also hail from this region, including Bells Hells members Orym of the Air Ashari and Chetney Pock O’Pea. Chetney even admits to having a fear of dragons after witnessing Skysunder and getting separated from his family during the Icelost Years. Several members of the Crown Keepers, including Opal and Dariax Zaveon, also hailed from various towns throughout the continent, from locales like Byroden (the home of twins Vax’ildan and Vex’ahlia) and Turst Fields in Westruun.

Vox Machina and Winter’s Crest

Bringing hope back to Whitestone, Percy De Rolo’s ancestral home, Vox Machina took time to celebrate with the people who had just been freed from Delilah and Sylas Briarwood’s thrall. While the people’s material wealth had been reduced as a settlement due to the malicious leadership, their joy at newfound freedom bolstered the celebrations.

The Sun Tree in the center of Whitestone was decorated with lights and baubles, and activities like a pie eating contest, an archery competition, and other community events were held in celebration of the holiday. Seen in Campaign 1 Episode 36, “Winter’s Crest in Whitestone,” the party takes time to exchange gifts, join the revelry, and commemorate their victory. Scanlan Shorthalt even becomes a patron of local arts, commissioning a craftsman named Jameson for a (somewhat) factual but extremely humble portrait of himself as leader of the Whitestone rebellion, riding on the back of a stallion.

Wildemount Holidays

In the northeast, the continent of Wildemount has its own winter holidays separate from Tal’Dorei. These two fall earlier in the month of Duscar, beginning with Barren Eve on the 2nd. Barren Eve marks the official start of the winter season, though it’s a much more solemn observance. It’s the longest night of the Exandrian calendar year, and is a time for remembering lives lost in the struggle of war.

On the 16th of Duscar, the Day of Heart and Hearth takes place. It’s a secular holiday much like Winter’s Crest, and involves outdoor activities in the snowfall, which then move inside for more intimate family gatherings. In slightly warmer regions, it’s also viewed as an excuse to throw parties. The characters of the Mighty Nein, like Jester Lavorre, Caleb Widogast, Caduceus Clay, and others, hail from the Wildemount region where these holidays are observed.

Critical Role at Sideshow

Sideshow’s official Critical Role collection features a collectible art print paying tribute to the holiday celebration as it happened in Whitestone. The Vox Machina: Winter’s Crest at Whitestone Fine Art Print by Ian MacDonald captures the team during their revelry under the branches of the Sun Tree. The print includes all the heroes and their animal companion Trinket in a vibrant, joyful scene. Critters can pre-order Vox Machina: Winter’s Crest at Whitestone now in an unframed giclée format.

Whatever plane of existence you’re celebrating the season on, we wish you the happiest of holidays! For more legendary loot, be sure to check out Sideshow’s entire treasure trove of official Critical Role collectibles. Don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!