Shaun Gilmore is one of the most beloved NPCs not just of Vox Machina, but of “Critical Role.” The charming magical shopkeeper proved himself to be a powerful ally to heroes of many ages. He has been a staple of Exandria both in Campaign One and in “The Legend of Vox Machina.” However, “Critical Role: Vox Machina – Stories Untold” is the first deep character study. “Shaun” explores his feelings in the immediate aftermath of Vax admitting he has fallen in love with Keyleth.

The story explores not only Gilmore’s pain but also his inner conflict. The duality of his private self of Shaun and his public persona of Gilmore is on full display. “Shaun” shows that his disappointment isn’t tied just to Vax’s rejection but to the loss of a potential future. This story is a true examination of the character in a pivotal moment of his life.

Who Is Shaun & Who Is Gilmore?

Aabria Iyengar has a unique perspective that she can bring to Gilmore’s story in “Shaun.” The short story digs into Shaun Gilmore’s struggle between the public persona of Gilmore and who he is as Shaun in private. Iyengar, as a public personality, has a true understanding of this dichotomy both through her own experiences and her friends in the actual play space. Iyengar broke down not only Gilmore’s struggle but also how her understanding played into how she wrote him as well.

Aabria Iyengar: 

“There’s something absolutely sitting inside of it as a person who, in large part because of EXU, became known publicly in a way, and you’re like, oh, there’s now a slight difference between the Aabria I call myself and the sort of Aabria that exists publicly. The thing that is shaped like me that stands six inches in front of me. That people know as a brand to interact with, and that is very close to who I am, but not necessarily who I think of myself as all the time. Getting to live inside of the, oh, what if we don’t go to therapy this week and instead we write about it?

I can see from my perspective internally that @quiddie is a little different than Aabria’s actual reaction to something. Those quiet moments where you’re like, I’m a little bit in conflict with myself. I don’t think I’ve ever walked around an empty room yelling into mirrors, but it does feel very close to that feeling of the fear that a lot of us feel.

Especially when we become intimately known by people and not just romantically. It’s a lot of times just deep friendships and those people that stick around and are very good at getting under your skin. Living inside of that fear of, oh, you don’t know me. The thing I keep throwing in front of myself to be like, this is a safer version. This is a more likable version. It is a false version, but it’s more palatable. That is the devastating fear of being known. The fear that being known means that all of the little lies you tell to be the best version of yourself will always be more appealing than the actual version of yourself and just getting to live in that anxiety.

I think that’s very humanizing again for a very big character. There’s something inside of how big and broad, and he’s so jovial and so flirty and so unaffected, and you’re like, oh, I know exactly who you are. I am not going to say it’s me, but it’s a lot of people with big personalities in this space where you’re like, got it. Got it. That’s a big safety measure. And it’s not false, but it’s a pufferfish a little bit bigger for protection.

So getting to go like, okay, I do see you, and I see enough of myself in you, Gilmore, that we can have a frank conversation about a thing that if you were a real person in this world, I know you would go through it. Because I go through it and my friends, who are all doing things like this, go through it. We all have those conversations too. It felt like a really nice way to tie him to humanity that is personal to me.”

Shaun Gilmore’s Past Plays A Part In Who He Has Become

Beyond the duality of Shaun Glimore’s public persona and private self, “Shaun” also touches on his past. Shaun Gilmore has always been shown to be a powerful sorcerer. His abilities have saved lives numerous times. Although his origins haven’t been fully revealed. Iyengar touched on Gilmore’s past and how it fits into his present.

Aabria Iyengar:

“There was definitely an earlier draft that dug into that more, because I’m obsessed with Marquet. I love it as a continent. I love it as a vibe. This is just one of those things where every new setting I’m like, put it in my veins. There was an earlier draft where I dug way more into Gilmore’s family life and upbringing. Then realizing that’s not the point. The point of it is, it’s not just about how you got here; it’s about what this specific moment means and where you’ll go next. So, it was nice to just look back a little bit and say, how did your tie to these people that love you but don’t quite understand you?

There’s something about a rune keeper or a runechild sorcerer. We don’t talk about that enough and what that means, and the little bit of snippets of lore and mechanics that we know about it is like, oh, this is a strange thing and isn’t well understood. So how can that sense of profound ability and gift and the inherent isolation within it drive a sorcerer to cross the world, start a new life, and be this different thing over here? What does that mean for the pivot point? Because there is something about the Spider-Man of it all: with great power comes great responsibility.

He was given this great gift, and now he’s a successful businessman. Does that feel like a failure of the promise that was entrusted to you? And can that be a part of the thing pushing you forward to seek more heroic action and integration into the greater plot of the world as it dovetails with Campaign 1? So, it was nice to just do a little hint to say, here’s how you get to this thought. Here’s how the beginnings of that are from when he was a child, and now let’s see here in this moment in the store, in the storm, how will he be different at the end of the story versus who he was at the beginning of it?”

Gilmore is a fascinating character that deserves to have his story told. Much of his past and what it means to be a runechild remain a mystery. The expectations that go with this have shaped his life in part because he ran from it. There is much more story to tell for Shaun Gilmore, and hopefully it will be. Iyengar has proven to be the perfect author to share Gilmore’s perspective.

Shaun Gilmore is a rich and complicated character. The depth of his magic, compassion, and wisdom shines through in “Shaun.” “Critical Role: Vox Machina – Stories Untold” has been the first opportunity to truly dive into who he is beyond the fantastical magic of Gilmore. “Shaun” shows the complexities of this character while also making clear why he is the hero Critters know him to be.

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