The ongoing fourth campaign of Critical Role, despite being only 31 episodes in, has already delivered significant emotional weight for its players and viewers. Dungeon Master Brennan Lee Mulligan established a somber tone from the outset of the new world of Aramán, with early episodes featuring scenes of execution and funeral rites. This pervasive melancholy has been consistently reflected in the campaign's maps, which have depicted desolate forests, underground lairs, and ominous dungeons.
Designing Obrimus Manor
The most recent wave of sadness crested during the exploration of House Tachonis' ancestral home, Obrimus Manor, by a team comprising Thimble (Laura Bailey), Occtis Tachonis (Alexander Ward), Sir Julien Davinos (Matthew Mercer), Teor Pridesire (Travis Willingham), and Teor's brother, Cyd. After splitting up within the manor, a series of unfortunate dice rolls led to Teor and Cyd being overwhelmed and perishing.
Details about the creation of the map where this pivotal event occurred were shared in The Lore Keeper’s Ledger, an exclusive newsletter for Beacon members penned by Lore Keepers Dani Carr and Jared Deiro. In their discussion with Critical Role's mapmaker Keo Lacebal, the design challenges and creative choices behind Obrimus Manor were explored. While players and viewers saw three distinct maps for the manor—the crypts, the aviary, and the mortuary—Lacebal revealed that a total of eight maps were initially created for the location.
Lacebal began the design process by conceptualizing the overall appearance of Obrimus Manor, aiming to emphasize its connection to death and the power of House Tachonis. The color palette was deliberately muted, favoring grays and browns, accented by splashes of red and green to signify necromantic influence. Each room was designed to be unique while also visually reinforcing the house's ties to the Tenebral Reaches, the underworld. This involved incorporating elements like skulls and skeletons, and using deep purples and greens to represent House Tachonis' mastery over necromancy.
The mortuary, the site of Teor and Cyd's demise, was described by Lacebal as a "bloody chamber," fitting for the creation of undead monstrosities. This was visually conveyed through the emergence of numerous skeletons during the characters' final stand. In contrast, the aviary map, located on the manor's upper floors and thus removed from the subterranean themes, featured fewer skeletal elements.
With the maps complete, Mulligan then brought these environments to life through descriptive narration and the introduction of undead threats. The meticulous design of Obrimus Manor, particularly its necromantic themes, underscores the significance of Thimble's subsequent effort to recover the bodies of Teor and Cyd. Lacebal's dedication to creating authentic and evocative maps significantly enhances the actual-play experience for both the players at the table and the audience at home, highlighting the substantial behind-the-scenes effort that goes into the acclaimed Dungeons & Dragons series.