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When Critical Role wants to get into a character's backstory, they call Marieke Nijkamp.

Author of prose novel Kith & Kin and Dark Horse's prequel graphic novel trilogy The Whitestone Chronicles, Nijkamp has expanded and expounded upon some of the fandom's favorite Legend of Vox Machina characters - everyone from the heroic Vex & Vax to the villainous Briarwoods have gotten the Nijkamp treatment, but still, there's at least one lesser-known Critical Role character they'd still like to write.

That is, tiefling daughter of Percy de Rolo and Vex'ahlia, Gwendolyn de Rolo.

We learned as much when we got the chance to speak with Nijkamp ahead of their next Critical Role project, The Legend of Vox Machina: The Whitestone Chronicles Volume 3--The Briarwoods. Since the OGN is their final entry into the Prime Video prequel series, we wanted to know - which other characters or evnts in the world of Exandria would you write about, if given the choice?

"One of the things I would love to write," the author admitted, "Is a Gwendolyn de Rolo chapter book. Or graphic novel, three part series, I don't know. But I think that would be, I think that would be just amazing."

In case you don't already know, Gwendolyn is the fifth and youngest child of Vox Machina couple Vex'ahlia and Percy de Rolo. Unlike her siblings, who have human and elven genes, Gwendolyn is born a tiefling due to a deal her father made with an infernal deal her father made. You can imagine how this kind of character would be appealing to a fantasy author.

Which is not to say Nijkamp's interest in writing more Critical Role ends there.

"I've been super lucky getting to do Whitestone Chronicles and Kith & Kin," the author said, "And I really enjoy writing prequels because it's basically taking like this fixed point in time and and then peeling back the layers/ Why does this happen or why did this character turn out the way they are? There are definitely characters in later campaigns that appeal to me. I really love Ashton [Greymoore] in in Campaign 3, because I'm also a non-binary person who deals with chronic pain. That feels that felt very relevant to me as a person." 

"Like I said," Nijkamp concluded, "I've felt very lucky to get to play in it with several books now. I would love to continue to do it, but it's also been, as a fan, really fun to see other people take on characters and perspectives that I may have never thought about. So I'm honestly just really excited to see what comes next. I would love to write more [...] We'll see what happens."

I won't lie to you, Critter, the way Nijkamp talks about the future here, I wouldn't be surprised to see their name on the cover of more Critical Role novels/comics in the future. Let's hope at least one of those covers features a certain tiefling.

The Legend of Vox Machina season 4 is streaming now on Prime Video. The Legend of Vox Machina: The Whitestone Chronicles Volume 3--The Briarwoods comes to bookstores everywhere June 30.

With two animated series on Prime Video, Campaign 4 in full swing, and so much more Exandrian lore to come, Critical Role is showing no signs of slowing down. That's why the adventuring party at Popverse are here to bring you everything we can from those nerdy-ass voice actors & Bo., including:

• Critical Role release schedule
• Critical Role's Campaign 4 characters ranked
• How to watch Critical Role in order
• Ways for you to relive the Critical Role panel from ECCC '26
• Taliesin Jaffe on playing Mollymauk Tealeaf for Campaign 2 vs. playing him for Prime Video
• Matt Mercer's homebrew warrior class (created originally for Vin Diesel)

...and much, much more. Roll initiative, player. Magic awaits.