Exandria is a vast and ever-growing world that the founders of Critical Role, notably Matt Mercer, have been building since before the show even began. Initially a home game, this world has been crafted for over a decade. While originally it was only the founders who took part in building it, that has changed.

Exandria has been further fleshed out through books, comics, and mini-campaigns run by Aabria Iyengar and Brennan Lee Mulligan. The animated series has even played a part in adding new elements to the world. Through this, there are new voices that share the story of Exandria. This is done not just through the publishing branch of Critical Role or the guest GMs but the guest players as well.

For this reason, Exandria and “Critical Role” are an ever-growing tapestry with new threads being woven in. Some of these threads are from the past; others deepen the understanding of established characters, while others keep the narrative moving forward. Dani Carr, Lore Keeper, is in charge of making sure it is not only all connected but also makes sense. During Carr’s exclusive interview with Temple of Geek, she discussed how Exandria doesn’t just belong to Critical Role.

“[Exandria] Belongs To Everyone”

Dani Carr:

“I always tell GMs and players when they come in, especially if they’re working in the past, what we have is freedom. You have a lot of freedom because the way that I was actually describing it to Celia [Rose Gooding] and Jasmine [Don] for Divergence, was think of this as a star scape that is in the sky, but you’re going to tell me what the constellations are. We’re seeing these stars, but you tell me how they connect and then I will tell everybody else.

That’s how you sort of allow people to realize, because I feel like a lot of people come in and there’s a fear of [being] overwhelmed. But I need everybody to know that what matters right now is their story. What matters is the story that they’re telling. We will make it work. There are certain things yes, you do need to not kill Grog before he shows up with Vox Machina, that kind of thing. But even then, it’s like, well, we just had his resurrection dcs wrong, and that’s okay.

I think one of my gifts as a creative is being able to work through and fill plot holes pretty easily. I can usually figure out the path that we should take, but even then, it’s been a gift to work with such brilliant creatives as Brennan and Aabria and every player that has sat at that table because they all get it. That’s the thing about Exandria: it is a collaborative world. Its story is constantly being written.

Exandria doesn’t belong to Matt, it doesn’t belong to Liam [O’Brien.] It certainly doesn’t belong to me. It belongs to everyone who plays, everyone who comes in. Whether it be in a home game, whether that be by themselves writing or drawing, whether it be on stream, it belongs to everyone. Those perspectives that are brought to the table, it’s why we always say there are only four known continents because we never want to [stimey creativity], and who knows, maybe we’ll add another in the future.

The future is a big place, but for now, it’s very important to us that whatever stories people tell, Exandria is there for them because it is a map that can never be finished. It’s very Disneyland in that aspect of just, we are never going to stop building because it doesn’t belong to us. It belongs to everyone. It is collaborative, and it has been from day one.”

Critical Role is rare in how it expands the world of Exandria. This is not a world or narrative held by one creator. This world was built first by Mercer before the founding players inhabited it. This further fleshed out the world, bringing true life to the locations and story he wove. From there, new GMs and players have brought the past to life like never before with Calamity, Downfall, and Divergence. “Critical Role” doesn’t simply share the past through exposition. Instead, the show allows the freedom of players to play it out in real time.

The publishing arm of Critical Role similarly brings an element to the stories that isn’t available in TTRPG. The books and comics go deeper into the heads and perspectives of the characters. Critters have a deeper understanding of the Mighty Nein, Laudna, Vex, Vax, and many other beloved characters.

However, the truly unique aspect of the comics and books is how they examine NPCs. “Critical Role: Vox Machina – Stories Untold” shares insight into ten NPCs from the Vox Machina era. “Critical Role: The Mighty Nein – Nine Eyes of Lucien” shows the history of one of their most terrifying adversaries. During Temple of Geek’s exclusive interview with Iyengar, she shared her thoughts on building out Exandria.

“[Exandria Has] Engendered So Much Love For Every Little Corner]

Aabria Iyengar:

“It’s just a testament to the level of incredible world-building that we lay primarily at Matt’s feet because he is the holder of Exandria. Everyone at that table and everyone behind the scenes. Everyone that’s worked on the lore books and the tie-in books. Everyone that has touched this is deeply aware of and a part of making this world feel so real.

You’re like, yeah, that guy I met one time for a two-minute scene, I want to know their whole deal. That’s not true universally. I think there has to be a special shout-out to a world and a story and a cycle of stories that have just engendered so much love for every little corner. It’s looking at a little diamond, and every facet is fascinating.”

Every corner of Exandria is worth deeper exploration. This has been achieved through numerous mediums. Critical Role continues to break new ground in how they further flesh out Exandria. “Critical Role: Vox Machina – Stories Untold” shared ten new perspectives and stories of NPCs. This hopefully is just the start, with NPCs from the other campaigns also getting their turn in the spotlight.

Iyengar is right in how creators who touch this world view it. Every aspect of Exandria is worth exploring. This has been shown through prequel campaigns, novels, and comics. Now Exandria is being fleshed out with new mini campaigns like Sam Riegel’s “Wildemount Wildlings,” which takes place at his Campaign Two character’s summer camp. It can also mean books from Exandria brought to life in the real world.

Critical Role is taking a new approach to how they invite Critters into Exandria with “Critical Role: Der Katzenprinz & Other Zemnian Tales” and “Tusk Love.” These books are from the world of Exandria. This means that readers will be able to understand it more deeply. The authors will tell these stories as citizens of Exandria. With “Tusk Love,” this means the propaganda of the Empire is ingrained into the text even when the author attempts to push against it.

Authors Of “Critical Role: Vox Machina – Stories Untold” Have More Stories

Many of the authors of “Critical Role: Vox Machina – Stories Untold” have more they want to explore in Exandria. Martin Cahill has expressed a desire to write a novel set in the Calamity, perhaps digging further into Predathos. Iyengar wants to see Vasselheim through the ages and has many thoughts on a Ring of Brass prequel.

Sam Maggs hopes to continue Artagan’s story and pen an Essek novel. Nibedita Sen, who wrote the Kevdak short story “Bend the Knee,” revealed in an interview with Temple of Geek that she would love to bring her experience in horror to Exandria. Sen explained what she believes would be the perfect setting for an Exandria horror story, “Aeor. Oh my God. Creepy ruins with weird experimentation and science experiment monsters roaming about. Eldridge beings and advanced civilization from ages past.” Sen also shared which character she’d like to focus on next.

Nibedita Sen:

“I love the fey, and I love the duality of the creepiness of the fey, where it’s like life and death. Oh, Morrigan, I would love to see Morrigan, Nana Mori. She is terrifying but also amazing. That’s what I love about just the idea of faerie with capital F-A-E-R-I-E is it’s life, it’s abundance. It’s also depth and horror and beautiful horror and beauty in equal measure.”

Many of these writers have discussed NPCs or eras outside the main campaigns. However, some want to delve into the beloved characters established by the founders. This has been done with “The Mighty Nein Origins” and “Vox Machina Origins” comics. “Critical Role: Vox Machina – Kith & Kin” shares an early adventure of Vex and Vax, while “Critical Role: Bells Hells – What Doesn’t Break” digs into Laudna’s past. In an interview with Temple of Geek, Rebecca Coffindaffer shared that she would love to delve further into some of the Mighty Nein’s stories.

The Mighty Nein Continue To Be Fan Favorites

Rebecca Coffindaffer:

“I have a soft spot for the Mighty Nein. I would love to write about Caduceus Clay. I am ace, he brought out asexual representation that I just loved. Taliesin, I don’t know how he does it. We lost Mollymauk, and you’re like, who is going to compete? And then he brings Caduceus and you’re just like, oh, I love him too. I have a soft spot for Caduceus. That would be amazing.

I also have a soft spot for Jester. I mostly focus on the characters. Obviously, Jester’s, hands down, one of the most iconic moments in any campaign was the Cupcake. So those are characters I would be absolutely interested in writing for.”

Mercer is the architect of Exandria. The tapestry has become more intricate over the decade with new voices bringing a different perspective. Exandria is a world like no other, having been built by a group through a combination of world-building and improvisational storytelling. It continues to grow and change as new pieces of the puzzle are revealed and added. As these new voices join in crafting this world, Critical Role has created one of the most engaging and enchanting worlds in fiction.

“Critical Role: Vox Machina – Stories Untold” is available for purchase now.