Age of Umbra is an eight-part dark, survival fantasy Daggerheart miniseries set in the Halcyon Domain in a non-Exandrian universe. Five inhabitants of the small community of Desperloch there "must band together to fight for hope for their community, risking it all for those they love."[1] Lethal and foreboding, the world of the Halcyon Domain was abandoned a century ago by the gods,[2] and the souls of the dead are cursed and reborn into twisted, nightmarish forms. "A dark, ethereal mass known as the Umbra roams and holds these fiendish monstrosities, further corrupting anything it touches. But flickers of hope remain—Sacred Pyres keep the Umbra at bay, with small communities enduring and surviving through cooperation. Out in the beyond, whispers speak of ancient secrets and powers, wonders of a lost age, ready for discovery to those brave enough (or foolish enough) to seek them."[3]
Cast[]
| Actor | Character | Ancestry | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laura Bailey | Adelia | Human | Sorcerer (Primal Origin) |
| Taliesin Jaffe | August | Underborne faerie | Wizard (School of Knowledge) |
| Ashley Johnson | Misty | Highborne clank | Bard (Troubadour) |
| Liam O'Brien | Skreev | Slyborne human | Rogue (Nightwalker) |
| Marisha Ray | Brixton | Orderborne orc | Guardian (Stalwart) |
| Sam Riegel | Snyx | Ridgeborne faun | Ranger (Wayfinder) |
| Travis Willingham | Idyl | Slyborne human | Seraph (Divine Wielder) |
| Matthew Mercer | Game Master | ||
Production[]
Map of the Halcyon Domain with Desperloch as the circle in the lower right. See also the revised map showing several of the locations customized for this miniseries, by "Marcomaps" Bernardini.[art 2]
Development[]
The Age of Umbra is a campaign frame designed by Matthew Mercer and first presented in the Daggerheart core rule book. It is described there as "ancient, daunting, epic, grim, ominous, terrifying, and tragic," with themes of "apocalypse, corruption, darkness vs. light, hope, redemption, and survival." In a panel during Pax Unplugged 2024 in December 2024, Matt revealed that the setting, in contrast to the Menagerie Daggerheart specials aired previously, was dark, challenging, and grim.[4] During a Fireside Chat very shortly following the conclusion of Campaign Three: Bells Hells, Matt revealed that the Age of Umbra would be the campaign frame utilized for an upcoming miniseries which he described as "Soulsborne-esque, super dark and deadly".[5]
Character creation[]
Fan art of the adventurers from Desperloch, by teallinum.[art 3]
Five of the seven player characters (not including those played by Laura Bailey and Liam O'Brien) were created in a Session Zero which was recorded and and broadcast as the initial episode of the series. In it, the players create the adventure hooks, locations, and campaign elements that will be incorporated into the campaign as it unfolds.[3]
Broadcast schedule[]
The show aired weekly in Critical Role's normal Thursday time slot during the break following the conclusion of Campaign Three: Bells Hells. It ran from May 22 through July 24, 2025, starting with the Session Zero and taking a brief hiatus the week of July 3rd.
Episodes[]
| No. | Title | Original airdate | Link | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | "Creating Characters Matt Wants to Kill: Age of Umbra Session Zero" (AUx00) | 2025-05-22 | VOD | 2:06:10 |
| Join Game Master Matthew Mercer and the cast of Age of Umbra as they roll up their characters for the upcoming Critical Role Daggerheart miniseries! | ||||
| 1 | "Age of Umbra: Desperloch" (AUx01) | 2025-05-29 | VOD | 3:42:19 |
| The Enduring, safe beneath the pyre fire of Desperloch, brace against the harsh realities of their world all while holding onto hope for a brighter future... | ||||
| 2 | "Age of Umbra: The Lost Monastery" (AUx02) | 2025-06-05 | VOD | 3:28:28 |
| A desire to both protect and to learn has led to terror in Firmament's Harrow - but can that terror be contained? | ||||
| 3 | "Age of Umbra: What Is Gained, What Is Lost" (AUx03) | 2025-06-12 | VOD | 3:05:42 |
| Consequences overwhelm the group, but they are determined to do the right thing and reignite hope in Desperloch, no matter what... | ||||
| 4 | "Age of Umbra: The Rampart and Beyond" (AUx04) | 2025-06-19 | VOD | 3:31:35 |
| Foes and friends await the group as they journey through the ruined landscape of the Halcyon Domain, destiny guiding their steps... | ||||
| 5 | "Age of Umbra: Ages of Pain" (AUx05) | 2025-06-26 | VOD | 3:57:46 |
| Past horrors call upon August and Misty in the Screaming Forest and hard decisions come to all as they approach the Amber Gate... | ||||
| 6 | "Age of Umbra: Episode 6" (AUx06) | 2025-07-10 | Forthcoming | Forthcoming |
| 7 | "Age of Umbra: Episode 7" (AUx07) | 2025-07-17 | Forthcoming | Forthcoming |
| 8 | "Age of Umbra: Episode 8" (AUx08) | 2025-07-24 | Forthcoming | Forthcoming |
Related articles and links[]
Age of Umbra | Official Trailer | A Daggerheart Miniseries on the Critical Role YouTube channel- Age of Umbra | Opening Titles on the Critical Role YouTube channel
- Level Up! | Age of Umbra on the Critical Role YouTube channel
- Hype: Age of Umbra, a New Daggerheart Mini-series, Coming May 29th! on CritRole.com
- Daggerheart Age of Umbra Mini-series Coming to Critical Role May 29th! on the Darrington Press official website
- Age of Umbra, a new Daggerheart mini-series, coming May 29th! (subscription required)
- Age of Umbra - New Daggerheart Series from the Critical Role Founders Coming Soon... on the Darrington Press YouTube channel
Trivia[]
- In this setting, "Umbra-touched" beasts crit on a 19 or 20.[6]
- The umbra is the darkest part of a shadow, where the light source is fully blocked.
- The set was designed and created by Shaun Ellis and Noxweiler Berf.[7]
References[]
- ↑
Hype: Age of Umbra, a New Daggerheart Mini-series, Coming May 29th! on CritRole.com
- ↑ See "Creating Characters Matt Wants to Kill: Age of Umbra Session Zero" (AUx00) at 0:01:35.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1
Daggerheart Age of Umbra Mini-series Coming to Critical Role May 29th! on the Darrington Press official website
- ↑ See "Age Of Umbra: Matt Mercer's DREAM Campaign?! Critical Role's Soulsborne Series Explained!" at 0:01:27.
- ↑
Fireside Chat LIVE With Matthew Mercer| Campaign 3: Bells Hells Finale at 0:16:38 (subscription required).
- ↑ See "Age of Umbra: The Rampart and Beyond" (AUx04) at 0:51:42.
- ↑ Age of Umbra Cooldown | E3 at 04:39 (subscription required) (Transcript).
Art:
- ↑ Key art for Age of Umbra, by Critical Role (source). This file is a copyrighted work. Its use in this article is asserted to qualify as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.
- ↑ Map of the Halcyon Domain with Desperloch as the circle in the lower right. See also the revised map showing several of the locations customized for this miniseries, by "Marcomaps" Bernardini (source). This file is a copyrighted work. Its use in this article is asserted to qualify as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.
- ↑ Fan art of the adventurers from Desperloch, by teallinum (source). Used with permission.
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