“Critical Role: Armory of Heroes” is the perfect addition to any “Critical Role” fan’s bookshelf. Author Martin Cahill and illustrator Ana Fedina bring the story to life through descriptive prose and gorgeous artistry. Like many of the “Critical Role” art books, “Armory of Heroes” incorporates a deeper story into the book itself. This book could be a simple list of weapons and armor of some of the greatest heroes of Exandria. However, “Armory of Heroes” is much deeper with true insights into lore.
“Armory of Heroes” expands upon the weapons, clothing, and armor of three of “Critical Role’s” most iconic groups of heroes. This includes Vox Machina, Mighty Nein, and the Ring of Brass. The illustrations are exceptionally detailed. The beautiful images include a full 360 view of each character. This consequently does make it easier to bring these images to life for cosplayers. Accordingly, “Critical Role: Armory of Heroes” is directly tied to Campaign 1, Campaign 2, and “EXU: Calamity.” It includes major spoilers for the end of each of these campaigns.
3 New Voices Share Heroic Tales In Armory of Heroes
This isn’t the first time Cahill has brought heart to a piece of Exandria lore that isn’t often at the forefront. His short story in “Critical Role: Vox Machina: Stories Untold” personified the Sun Tree like never before. He correspondingly brings that same precision and imagination to this. Fedina’s experience as a concept artist in video games shines through not only through the beauty and details but also in how all the pieces fit together when showing off each character in full regalia. This is perfect for cosplayers looking for a full breakdown of how each character looks and what they carry.
The story of these three adventuring parties is told by three different individuals. A bard named Tallulah Fontaine, a Cobalt Soul scholar named D’Rishk Dawnscale, and a Kryn Dynasty intelligence agent named Oren Keth Kaylis. Each of them is somewhat connected to the stories they tell, with the bard connected to Scanlan through Dr. Dranzel. Cahill certainly brings a unique voice to each of these characters as storytellers.
The Ring Of Brass Are Remembered As Heroes
Where Tallulah is melodic or relaxed in the cadence of her stories, D’Rishk is much more verbose, and Oren is a bit more cryptic. The stories told about each adventuring party also reflect how they are viewed within Exandria. Vox Machina are shown as legendary heroes with their vestiges of divergence and impressive garb on full display. Their story is also much more well-known than the other two. Mighty Nein feels grittier with rumors and more personal artifacts on display. Poems and direct quotes are also incorporated into this portion.
Notably, this is the first example of the Ring of Brass being recorded. In “EXU: Calamity,” the Ring of Brass and their city are lost to history when it crashes. “Armory of Heroes” is the first account of the remaining artifacts and records being discovered. Consequently, the Ring of Brass portion is much more speculative. Perhaps most interesting about this portion is the dichotomy between what fans know and what inhabitants of Exandria know, even with what they apparently dug up.
Armory of Heroes Brings New Pieces of Exandrian Lore To Life
The book not only has descriptions and reports from the three writers, but it also incorporates unique pieces of Exandria’s lore. Poetry, legends, first-hand accounts, and records of artifacts. The tale that Cahill weaves through three writers and countless other original aspects of lore is truly impressive. The story itself elevates each piece of stunning art, giving unique and explosive context.
Critical Role has built a truly amazing world through numerous campaigns that span hundreds of hours. These iconic heroes have been the center of astounding battles and achievements. The books and novels bring a new level of storytelling to the world, with “Armory of Heroes” digging into the pieces that helped these iconic heroes become the legends they are within this world like never before. “Critical Role: Armory of Heroes” is the perfect addition to any “Critical Role” fan’s collection and a true work of art from cover to cover.
“Critical Role: Armory of Heroes” is available for purchase now.
