“Critical Role: Der Katzenprinz & Other Zemnian Tales” offers a window into Exandria like never before. An artifact from Exandria brought into the real world, this book shares three iconic Zemnian fairytales. While Liam O’Brien, as a performer and player, is often in the mind of his “Critical Role” characters, Vax’ildan Vessar, Caleb Widogast, and Orym Tarrintel. However, with “Critical Role: Der Katzenprinz & Other Zemnian Tales,” he approached it as an author.

In an exclusive interview with Temple of Geek, O’Brien discussed this difference. He revealed that it was easy for him to get into the mindset of someone in Exandria as he crafted these fairytales. Living in this space for so long has brought Exandria to life for countless people.

Liam O’Brien:

“We have been plunking around Exandria so long that it really does feel real to all of us. Probably a lot of our audience too. But this is what we do every day: talking about the characters and the places within Exandria. So, it has taken on a life of its own, and it doesn’t really, sometimes it doesn’t even really feel like we’re making anything. We are just opening up little windows to see what exists up in here. It’s so gratifying, and Exandria’s is real to me now as Middle Earth or Narnia or all the places that I fell in love with and I’m still in love with.”

“Critical Role: Der Katzenprinz & Other Zemnian Tales” was inspired by a moment in Campaign 2 of “Critical Role.” When O’Brien’s character Caleb Widogast brought the Mighty Nein to his magical tower this book was in each of their bedrooms. “Der Katzenprinz” was the story that held a special place in Caleb’s heart.

Liam O’Brien Explains How Tales Of Magic Influenced Caleb Widogast

Sharing this memento from his childhood was a major show of trust and love for Caleb. O’Brien was able to bring this storybook to life with “Critical Role: Der Katzenprinz & Other Zemnian Tales.” It included two more tales, “Die Waldhexe” and “Himmelsschloss.” O’Brien explained how Caleb played a role in inspiring these stories and how they played a role in his life.

Liam O’Brien:

“For Caleb, I definitely imagine him, especially young Bren as someone driven by imagination. Now that got bent and twisted away from, its true better angels, but it’s pure self. But he eventually got back there and I think that for all of the emotional struggle that he went through, he was still a person of expansive imagination.

And I always tried to communicate that with casting spells and his use of magic in the world. And so it just makes sense to me that he was, I think I’ve also, in different places, you can see this in Caleb’s graphic novel, and I think it’s come up at the table, but definitely in behind the scenes discussions that his mother read to him a ton.

“Der Katzenprinz” was on his shelf in his family home. And I think that it was his mother’s encouragement and exploring stories of magic and adventure that led him to be the kind of man, the kind of creator he ultimately became.”

The Throughling Of “Der Katzenprinz” In Caleb Widogast’s Life

These stories offer insight not just into Exandria, but Caleb. These are the stories that shaped his young understanding and perspective of the world. The love he has for his mother is tied to the nostalgia wrapped in “Der Katzeprinz.” He is the mage he is in part because of the wonder and lessons of these fairytales.

Fairytales are how children learn huge lessons about life and the world through the lens of wonder and magic. These can be whimsical or scary, depending on the tale. However, they are a key part of teaching them about the civilization in which they live. “Critical Role: Der Katzenprinz & Other Zemnian Tales” is no different. These stories helped shape Caleb Widogast into the hero he became.

“Critical Role: Der Katzenprinz & Other Zemnian Tales” is available now for purchase.