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For the first time in its history, Critical Role is soon to take the storytelling and into a new, mysterious world called Aramán. Details of Aramán's history are being kept under lock and key, but recently, Popverse was able to get a little bit of a picture of the Brennan Lee Mulligan-GM'd universe by asking what it's not like. Specifically, how it's not like the usual home for Critical Role tales: Exandria.

The news comes from a recent conversation Popverse was lucky enough to have with some key cast members of Campaign 4 (specifically, Laura Bailey, Robbie Daymond, Matthew Mercer, Aabria Iyengar, Marisha Ray, Alexander Ward, and Sam Riegel). While there was a great deal of discussion during that conversation about the specific characters we'll see populating Aramán, we did get at least one window into the world's larger history, courtesy of not-quite-forever-DM Matt Mercer.

"Aramán's historical narrative conflict," Mercer said when asked about the differences between the two worlds, "is a reflection of where Exandria's story was at the end of Campaign 3."

(You may know that Campaign as Bells Hells, loyal Critter.)

"So even in that stage," Mercer continued, "We were having a conversation - about where there are similarities, where there are differences - very meaningfully, so that in some ways it can feel familiar, but also extremely unique in how [the story] sets out. And then Brennan [Lee Mulligan, C4's GM] just ran into his dark corner for months, and built what he is so excited to show you all."

With that much time to plan a whole new world, you can bet that its history is going to diverge wildly from what's come before, and Mercer confirmed that was the case. In fact, Mercer specifically said that a main difference lies in the fact that Aramán's history is, well, shorter.

"Exandria has had a strong breath of history for the peoples of the world," the voice actor and TTRPG icon told us, "The cultures have had a long period of time to establish themselves as unique entities, culturally and historically, from the mythology of the gods. Aramán, as you've seen in the story trailers, has only recently divorced itself from that direct impact, and as opposed to it being a part of history that we hear about, we get to live the ramifications of this drastic change [...] for better or for worse."

"That strong division between the two worlds," Mercer concludes, "Leads to a very intriguing, unique flavor that we have not yet been able to wade into [in Critical Role]. And that is super exciting for me as a player."

You and us both, Mark.

Critical Role's Campaign 4 debuts on October 2 on Critical Role's Beacon, YouTube, and Twitch channels. 

From the lands of Exandria to your very own smartscreens, Popverse has everything you need to know about the TTRPG phenomenon that is Critical Role. Here you'll find:

• Popverse's Critical Role watch order
• An interview with GM Brennan Lee Mulligan
• The cast's appearance at C2E2 '25

...and more. Roll initiative, player. Adventure awaits.