Critical Role’s Candela Obscura series, explained
Earlier this week, Critical Role released a trailer the unveiling of a brand new series of true horror-themed plays, Candela Obscura. The monthly show will debut on Twitch on May 25, 2023 and will not only feature beloved recurring guests Anjali Bhimani (Mrs. Marvel) and Robbie Daymond (Exandria unlimited), but will also showcase Illuminated Worlds, a brand new tabletop role-playing game system from Critical Role’s publishing house Darrington Press.
Candela Obscura follows a group of characters ranging from criminals and professors to mediums and magicians as they come together to battle a mysterious, chaotic magical force. The series was announced in a suitably atmospheric trailer, led by the eldritch daddy Taliesin Jaffe (whose creepier Critical Role credits include running the Thursday at night two shots Vampire: the masquerade to play Call of Cthulhu: Shadow of the Crystal Palace). Jaffe will serve as the game’s Lightkeeper (see below), with Matthew Mercer as the game master. The series’ first arc spans multiple episodes and takes players through a world tinged with monsters and the mysterious.
What is a lightkeeper?
According to a blog post on the Critical Role website, a Lightkeeper is an “enlightened veteran” of the game world whose role is to guide the other players through the twists and turns of the world. Co-stars Bhimani and Daymond will be joined by Critical Role regulars Laura Bailey and Ashley Johnson. Together, the cast will serve as a group of researchers associated with the Candela Obscura, an esoteric order fighting back against various sinister magical threats. As Lightkeeper, Jaffe appears at the beginning of each episode, with prologues to help viewers get started.
Candela Obscura is set in the fictional world of the Fairelands, a coastal valley in the land of Hale. Hale, on the other side of a long war, is overrun by “spiritualism and raucous debauchery” and “the sudden influx of technology and wealth” in the central city, Newfaire. The series was originally created by Jaffe and Chris Lockey, with Spenser Starke (Alice is missing) and mountain ash (Willing & fable) as chief designer and writer respectively. Steve Failows directed the series and co-produced with Maxwell James.
What is the Illuminated Worlds System?
Illuminated Worlds is Darrington Press’ proprietary D6-based RPG system, designed to allow for shorter, narrative campaign arcs. Created by Stras Acimovic and Layla Adelman, the system should allow players to use the system in virtually any environment, with Critical Role set to demonstrate the system via Candela Obscura. The game was announced by Darrington Press in late April, alongside other upcoming releases such as Daggerheart And Queen at midnight.
If you head to Gen Con this year, you’ll have the chance to watch gameplay sessions from the system for yourself. Along with the release of the actual play, Darrington Press said it will release the Candela Obscura Quick Start Guidewhich allows readers to view associated materials Candela Obscura and get a taste of how the Illuminated Worlds system fits into the game. Expect to be able to download it for free on Thursday, May 25, and get started with a how-to video debuting on the same day.
The Illuminated Worlds system isn’t Critical Role’s first foray into new systems, but Candela Obscura reflects his remarkable investment in moving beyond Dungeons & Dragons with a longer-running real-play production. Candela Obscura will eventually get its own rulebook from Darrington Press, though an official release date later this year has yet to be announced.
In the meantime, you can watch new episodes from Candela Obscura on the last Thursday of every month, starting May 25 on Critical Roles Twitch And YouTube channels. Podcast episodes and YouTube VOD are rolling out with a slight delay compared to typical Critical Role videos, two weeks after the initial broadcast.