9 of the Most Notable Critical Role NPCs in Exandria

In the world of tabletop gaming, the players are (usually) the heroes. They adventure through a vast world full of monsters, mysteries, and occasional mayhem. But who controls the world they inhabit? And who else lives in that world?

NPCs, or non-player characters, are typically the entities controlled by the game master or lead storyteller. These are figures with rich inner lives, their own motivations, and names that were definitely thought of in advance and not just made up on the spot when the players decided they wanted to talk to the generic goblin sitting at the bar instead of the notable old man with a quest to give the party.

In Exandria, the NPCs of Critical Role range from glorious shopkeepers to undying villains, and everything in between. Some come from the backstories of player characters and others are invented to make travel from town to town feel richer and more inhabited. With hundreds upon hundreds to choose from, let’s look at 9 of the most notable Critical Role NPCs from their three campaigns so far.

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Vox Machina NPCS:

Shaun Gilmore

While it may seem mundane, stocking up on supplies is an essential part of many an adventure, in Exandria or otherwise. In fact, fans and players alike love “the shopping episodes,” which provide a break from the action and tension while characters acquire new magical artifacts and healing potions. And in Tal’Dorei, there is one purveyor of glorious goods who stands above the rest: Shaun Gilmore.

A handsome and quite theatrical mage himself, Shaun is a friend and patron to the adventurers of Vox Machina. He is extremely charming and a keen businessman, allowing our heroes to open a line of credit with his store (although he’s serious about being repaid). His flirtatious nature, entrepreneurial spirit, and magical know-how have been a boon to the legends-in-the-making since their earliest days. And he even netted himself an invitation to Percy and Vex’ahlia’s wedding!

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Allura Vysoren

Many NPCs in tabletop games can feel like they solely exist to give quests and information for the players. However, the best of these world-inhabiting individuals have their own deep histories and could be readily playable as a hero character if needed. Master of Arcana Allura Vysoren is a member of the Council of Tal’Dorei when Vox Machina first encounter her, but she was a young adventurer just as they were once.

Along with Lady Kima of Vord and several other allies, Allura and her adventuring party are perhaps most known for sealing Thordak, the Cinder King, in his elemental prison of fire. Sadly, as is wont to happen on such a perilous quest, many of her allies died. She and Kima also defeated the Scourged Rider, and the two remained friends and later romantic partners after their party disbanded. As an ally of Vox Machina, Allura has proven extremely kind and loyal, and possesses immense magical ability.

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Sylas and Delilah Briarwood

Of course, in a world so vast and densely populated, not every NPC will be an ally. And while there are occasional creatures and minor threats that need eliminating, it takes a truly special type of enemy to become a proper nemesis – or BBEG (Big Bad Evil Guy). The undying necromantic duo of Lord Sylas and Lady Delilah Briarwood may perhaps be the most memorable of all of Vox Machina’s foes.

Usurpers to the de Rolo seat ruling Whitestone, this powerful necromancer and her vampiric husband served as conduits for the return of the Whispered One. But even on their own, their villainy was widely influential, giving Critters one of the scariest moments in Critical Role history as well as paving the way for disaster as far forward as Campaign 3: Bells Hells. And whenever you mess with death magic, terrifying threats have a way of coming back when you least want them to…

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Mighty Nein NPCs:

Essek Thelyss

One of the major themes of the Mighty Nein’s adventures is redemption. With a new dynamic mix of heroes in the party, there are different personalities, goals, and beliefs driving their quest across Wildemount. This can lead to some surprising reactions to encountering mysterious new NPCs. Essek Thelyss evoked thematic sympathy from the party and was reformed from a dangerous entity into a stalwart ally to the Mighty Nein.

A powerful mage of the Kryn Dynasty, known as the Shadowhand, Essek was a private, distrusting individual before his encounter with the player party. He had committed many crimes on behalf of the Dynasty, though the heroes of the Mighty Nein wore down his resistances with their friendship, forgiveness, and understanding – especially through his friendship with Jester and romantic partnership with Caleb.

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Lucien Tavelle

In the inverse of Essek, where a potential foe was reformed into a friend, Lucien represents the death of a hero and the rise of an unexpected villain. Lucien Tavelle returned to his body after the demise of Mollymauk Tealeaf, whose soul was fragmented from Lucien’s own self after a botched ritual of power. And his quest to reach that power put him in direct contention with the Mighty Nein, who greatly missed their friend.

Lucien led a group called the Tombtakers in their pursuit of awakening the Somnovem, the leaders of the Cognouza Ward of Aeor who betrayed their city. Theirs was an immense metaphysical and arcane power, and Lucien’s ascent led the Mighty Nein to a faceoff with the devilkin wearing their friend’s face as he became Cognouza incarnate in the Astral Sea. Even as they defeated him, the Mighty Nein begged their friend Mollymauk to return to them, making every encounter with this villain fraught with emotion.

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The Traveler

Many magically inclined adventurers pray to a specific deity for their power. And magical patrons come in all forms. In the case of the Mighty Nein, Jester’s faith in a trickster named the Traveler bestowed her with arcane abilities and put her party on some amusing adventures. And, as it turns out, the Traveler had actually appeared in Vox Machina’s journeys prior to Campaign 2!

It was eventually revealed that the Traveler was Artagan (also known as Garmelie the Faun), an archfey with a penchant for pranks and chaos. Jester’s faith in him as a deity actually boosted his own ability to grant boons and spells, creating a unique relationship with the blue devilkin and other worshippers of his alternate persona. Culminating in the ridiculous Traveler Con on the isle of Rumblecusp, Artagan’s ultimate deception was eventually revealed and his cult lost much of its conviction.

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Bells Hells NPCs:

Lord Ariks Eshteross

Like Allura Vysoren in Tal’Dorei, the heroes of Marquet have their own patron and former adventurer in Lord Ariks Eshteross, a noble orc retired from mercenary life. While Bertrand Bell’s own demise is the catalyst for Bells Hells banding together for vengeance, it is Lord Eshteross’ employment that initially tests their mettle as adventurers.

An essential ally for their lower level exploits in Jrusar, Lord Eshteross assisted Bells Hells in getting Imogen access to the library of the Starpoint Conservatory, aiding them in arriving at the big masquerade ball to further investigate House Treshi, and he even baked them maple ginger cookies and left a portion of his estate to them in his will. It was discovered he was killed by Otohan Thull, propelling Bells Hells out of the spired city to further chase the early threads of villainy in Marquet.

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Nana Morri

Sometimes, NPCs come from a player character’s own history, whether related by blood or brought together by circumstance. In the case of Fearne Calloway, her adoptive grandmother “Nana Morri” happens to be known to others in Exandria as Morrigan the Fatestitcher, a great and powerful hag capable of changing people’s fates.

Morri lives in the fey realm in Ligament Manor. Bells Hells first encounter her (and her terrifying two faces) in their pursuit of sabotaging the Unseelie Court’s plans to harness the power of the apogee solstice. The party is surprised by the terrifying look and unsettling demeanor of Fearne’s beloved Nana, though she proves protective of them and aids them in trust exercises (utilizing her own fey trickery).

Orym and Chetney both privately approached the hag to make bargains of their own, the brawler offering his servitude in exchange for the safe return of all his teammates from Ruidus, and the toymaker asking for youth and notoriety for his woodwork.

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Imahara Joe

In tabletop roleplay settings, players often bring very personal elements of themselves into their characters. In similar ways, game masters can bring real-world inspiration into their NPCs. Matt Mercer chose to honor the untimely passing of his friend Grant Imahara by immortalizing him within the world of Exandria during Campaign 3: Bells Hells.

Imahara Joe, a tinkerer in the desert city of Bassuras, pays homage to the late Imahara, who was himself a roboticist and engineer. The NPC assists the party with Crawler bike alterations and with learning more about Fresh Cut Grass’ mechanics and origins, among other technologically complex tasks. Though claiming to be leery of strangers, Imahara Joe warms up to the party quickly and keeps their spirit of curiosity alive for a touching tribute in true TTRPG style.

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There are hundreds more NPCs throughout every corner of Exandria — friends, foes, beasts, and deities. Every single one of them makes the world more exciting (and sometimes more dangerous) for our intrepid heroes.

Who is your favorite Critical Role NPC? Did we miss someone important? Join the conversation with other Critters over at Sideshow Social Network or in side.show/geekgroup, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!