In less than a week “The Mighty Nein” will introduce the motley crew of chaos goblins to the world. This gritty political espionage thriller is a darker series. It features protagonists that wouldn’t necessarily be classified as the traditional fantasy heroes. A perfect example of this being Yasha Nydoorin, played by Ashley Johnson.

Yasha has a dark past full of trauma and tragedy from a young age. Throughout Campaign 2, especially early Campaign 2, Yasha would mysteriously disappear. This was because Johnson was still filming in New York, as she was in Campaign 1. “The Legend of Vox Machina” brought Pike into storylines she wasn’t a part of the first time. Now, “The Mighty Nein” has an opportunity to incorporate Yasha more fully into every aspect of the narrative.

However, fans have been especially curious about how Yasha plays into “The Mighty Nein.” When early art was released, the barbarian woman was noticeably absent. In mid-August Prime Video’s official “Mighty Nein” Instagram posted a picture of Yasha with the caption “We hear you…she’s coming.” Many fans are curious about how she plays into this season. Especially given the sparsity of Yasha in many of the clips released.

Yasha’s Introduction To The Mighty Nein Is Different

In an exclusive interview with Temple of Geek, Johnson discussed how working on “The Legend of Vox Machina” prepared them for “The Mighty Nein.” She also revealed a key adjustment in Yasha’s story. Specifically how she is introduced to the other members of the titular group. Johnson did reveal that the Mighty Nein “will eventually save her.”

Ashley Johnson 

“I think we have learned overall lessons, first from “Vox Machina” and now getting to “Mighty Nein,” of transferring your tabletop game into a show. And you know some things are not gonna stay. Some things are gonna stay. There’s gonna be a different way that you can tell it. What works at the table may not necessarily work on screen. So, I feel like the biggest difference, I think, with Yasha’s story is just her introduction into the group. And then as we get into her story, her story is still the same, but it’s how she meets this group of people. I think that was our adjustment.

From using that as the time that I was away working in New York, we’re not gonna have that be a part of the show, that Yasha keeps just disappearing for some reason. So, we get to just retell from watching her mid-path of what she’s going through, which people who have seen campaign two know, but if they don’t, I don’t wanna give anything away. But she ends up meeting this group of people that eventually will save her in many ways. But I love how we’ve been able to tell it.”

In Campaign 2 each of the characters was introduced as a duo or group, with the party coming together in a tavern. While this is a very traditional start to a Dungeons & Dragons campaign, “The Mighty Nein” is taking a different approach. Each member of the Mighty Nein will be explored individually before coming together, likely apprehensively.

This could mean that Yasha’s trauma, especially that suffered before the events of the campaign, will play a larger role in her story early on. Much of Yasha’s story remains a mystery even years after the campaign. “The Mighty Nein” has the opportunity to fully flesh it out and interweave it into the larger story of the world. In our interview with showrunner Tasha Huo, she teased the importance of Yasha’s “Mighty Nein Origins” graphic novel.

Yasha’s Mighty Nein Origins Comic Is Key To Her Story

Tasha Huo

“I think it was actually kind of easy to know the story we want to tell with Yasha. And the reason for that is because we have the comic book, and we have all these questions as fans of the show. So, when you read the comic book, you’re like, Oh, all of this was going on. This is what she was reacting to. This is where this person came from. Let’s see more of that. Let’s dive into whatever that was. And then also, because of all the questions we asked as we were watching the live show, now is the chance to start answering some of those questions. I don’t want to say it’s easy, but it was clear what [Yasha’s story] needed to be as we started coming into thinking about the show itself.”

In the graphic novel Yasha’s childhood and early adulthood are on full display. She is the muscle of the Mighty Nein as the powerful sword-wielding barbarian. But the graphic novel shows a softer side and the tragedy that haunts her. By bringing in elements of the graphic novel and her backstory before the events of the campaign, Yasha can be an even more developed character from the start.

Yasha’s journey through trauma as she slowly grows to accept and become a part of the Mighty Nein touched many fans’ hearts. The duality of her intensity as a fighter and her softer, more sensitive side make Yasha an engaging character. “The Mighty Nein” is the perfect way to explore every facet and layer of Yasha especially as they bring her more fully into the story.

The first three episodes of “The Mighty Nein” premiere on Prime Video November 19.