Campaign 2 of Critical Role does not follow traditional fantasy heroes or a classic fantasy epic. The story of the Mighty Nein is much darker, playing in the greys of morality and the nuance of politics, espionage, war, and complicated relationship dynamics. The Mighty Nein themselves grew into heroes not just through large actions of heroism but also smaller gestures of kindness and compassion.
One of the touchstones of the Mighty Nein is to leave things better than how they found them. Throughout this campaign this relates to people, places, and more. Essek is a prime example of one of the people that the Mighty Nein impacted in a surprisingly positive way. Through the Mighty Nein’s kindness, affection, and care Essek slowly grows and changes into a better version of himself.
In an exclusive interview with Temple of Geek, Dani Carr reflects on Essek’s connection with the Mighty Nein. She explains why Jester is the first member he connects with and cares for. Carr also shares insight into why Essek and Caleb are drawn to each other. She also teases what fans can look forward to in “Children of the Empire.”
“Jester’s Everybody’s First Friend”
Dani Carr:
There’s a reason that he and Caleb saw each other in themselves, and again, saw this guy across the room and went, “I see you. I see you.” And to have that connection of, “Oh, I understand you in a way that other people can’t.” It is one thing for someone to see your light. It is another for someone to see your darkness and go, “I see your darkness and I understand it, and that makes me love your light more.” And that to me is that relationship. I think it’s really beautiful in that aspect of you can do better. I know you can. I have seen your darkness because I’ve seen it in myself. And the only way that you’re going to do better is the only way that I did better. And it was through friendship, and it was through knowing that people loved you and were going to call you out for whenever you were not doing well and help you on your way and not just be like, “Hey, you messed up,” but also, “And here’s how we’re going to fix it together.” Here’s how we’re going to make amends,” that kind of thing.
Temple of Geek: We got hints of that with this in the short story, but I think my favorite part was that Jester was the character out of everyone in the Nein that he focused on. Why was that the dynamic you really wanted to highlight of all of the characters in the Mighty Nein that he could have, sort of, not championed, but really had a touchstone during this night of panic?
Dani Carr:
Because Jester’s everybody’s first friend. She was the bridge. It’s Jester who is the one who reaches out and who makes the phone calls and who makes it clear, like, “No, you’re part of our friendship. She’s the one who invited him over for dinner. She’s the one who always made sure to talk to him and to not just treat him like a tool to be used. She treated him like a friend.” And that was the thing more than these kind of simmering feelings where he’s like, “I don’t really know how I feel about that yet. There’s an attraction, but I’m not really letting myself touch on that or anything like that.” That was still too big in this moment and too in the future in this moment for me to really play with.
This is still very early in his friendship with the Nein. But Jester was for sure the one that he most had felt like, “Oh, she cares about me and really wants to be my friend.” And through her, everybody else was like, “Yeah, you can be our friend. We want to be your friend.” But Jester was the bridge. Jester was the one who first held out her hand and was like, “I’m going to go in for a handshake, but I’m going to hug you.” And that sort of vibe. It makes me think of the nicest person that you know and the idea of disappointing them, and you’re just like, “Oh God, I can’t make her sad. I can’t make that person sad. Oh no.”
Because she was the person who. I was really bummed that my choice to set this in that moment meant that I couldn’t have him reflect on the parasol because, to me, that was one of the most touching moments where she makes him this parasol. And I really, really wanted to be able to have him be like, “Oh.” But unfortunately it was still too early. But still, she’s the one who was always trying to reach out and be kind.
And again, didn’t treat him like a threat or like he was somebody that had ulterior motives; didn’t treat him like he was somebody with an agenda. And that it was very refreshing for him. That was something that he was genuinely touched by. And without that offer of friendship, the rest of it could never have happened. And so yeah, there was only one choice. It had to be that he didn’t want to disappoint Jester. He knew that she’d be so sad.
Critical Role: The Mighty Nein – Children Of The Empire Details Teased By Dani Carr
Dani Carr:
I’m really excited for folks to get their hands on “Children of Empire.” Nibedita Sen has crushed it. It’s so good! People are really going to get to see how Beau handles the day-to-day of her job when she’s also trying to fight bad guys. And they’re like, “Well, you have to write this report.” And she’s like, “Oh my God.” She’s like “Bureaucracy? What do you mean I have a boss?”
Temple of Geek: You are a Monk Librarian. “Librarian” is in the title.
Dani Carr:
Exactly. So yeah, it’s so good. I cannot wait for people to read it. It’s just, it’s so good. So proud of the deal. What I will say, my one tease, I think this has been teased before; I’m not sure, but I will tease that you will get to learn the names of the cats in “Children of Empire.” You will get to learn the names of the cats.
Temple of Geek: I love that our teases for “Children of Empire” are Beau dealing with bureaucracy and the names of the cats. I’m like, perfect.
Dani Carr:
Yes. It’s also really, really interesting, and there’s lots of intrigue and spy stuff and things like that.
“Critical Role: The Mighty Nein – Stories Untold” is available now. The book includes stories written by Betsy Aoki, Kiri Callaghan, Dani Carr, Mae Catt, Mike Chen, Rin Chupeco, Nino Cipri, Nadia El-Fassi, and Chase K with a foreword penned by Taliesin Jaffe.
