October 1st marks the true start of spooky season for everyone, including the fans of actual play shows. Critical Role has returned to the forboding world of Candela Obscura for a second chapter, highlighting more of the in-house horror rules system developed by Rowan Hall and Spenser Starke. This chapter features new members of the mysterious organization exploring gothic mysteries played by a mix of classic cast members and fabulous guest stars.
“Candela Obscura as an IP came first back before the Pandemic,” said Marisha Ray, one of the cast members in the current season. “We quickly went on the hunt for a system that would make sense for this project, and while there were many strong candidates, there just wasn’t a magical Goldilocks system that was just right. As time went on, and with us pumping the breaks on the show while in lockdown, that allowed time for Darrington Press (our game publishing branch) to get off the ground. Critical Role Productions is in a very unique position to be able to build the perfect game systems for the types of stories we want to tell. However, I am incredibly excited for the other worlds that Illuminated Worlds can host.”
When last we spoke with Marisha Ray she was preparing to do battle in Creator Clash 2 to raise money for charity. Now she’s exploring the darkness of Candela Obscura with a high powered crew of guest stars. Many Critters are excited by this show as one of many crossovers with Dimension 20, the powerhouse actual play at the heart of the Dropout streaming network.
Brennan Lee Mulligan, the Dungeon Master on Dimension 20, joined Marisha on the players’ side of the table for Candela Obscura. Brennan plays Sean Finnerty, a soldier haunted by the deaths of his brothers. Marisha plays Beatrix Monroe, a criminal who promised Sean’s mother to keep him safe no matter what.
“We’re so spoiled for talent,” said Ray. “Really a lot of casting comes down to balance and chemistry. Being familiar with most of our talent’s play styles allows us to match-make and build an investigator group that highlights different pillars, archetypes, and representations.”
“Critical Role need only fire up the almond shaped spotlight atop their studio and I shall appear!” added Mulligan.
These characters all have secrets they are trying to keep while uncovering the truth behind the strange happenings in the story. Beatrix, for example, uses the criminal archetype but portrays herself as a humble seamstress. Some players have their secrets ready to reveal ahead of time while others prefer to make decisions in play.
“I always write a couple of pages at the least when it comes to developing out my backstories,” said Ray. “But it’s important to be flexible and open to allow yourself to continue to grow and discover more about your character as you play. Sometimes a character can surprise you with certain choice or viewpoints that you might not have expected when they just lived in your head. But these types of characters always end up taking on a life of their own outside of the player.”
Horror games offer an excellent opportunity for character work like this. Even with psychic powers or being able to see dead people, the protagonists have relatable flaws at their core. There are plenty of joys to be had telling scary stories with friends at a table.
“I love getting scared and scaring others,” said Mulligan.
“Playing in a horror setting allows you to go to the deepest and darkest parts of your brain in the best way possible,” said Ray. “It allows you to explore certain themes and narratives that other genres might not grant you as easily. Beyond that, horror games fall right into the concept that whatever you are imagining in your head is probably way worse than anything you can physically see. Especially when you have a GM with killer descriptions (no pun intended).”
The first two parts of this chapter of Candela Obscura are available on podcast and VOD. The first chapter, with a different cast and story, is also available though it is not required to enjoy this story. The last part of this chapter will premiere on November 2nd, 2023.
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