"Kith & Kin Fireside Chat Q&A" (Sx63) is the 63rd special episode from Critical Role. Mica Burton hosts a Q&A about Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, the first Critical Role novel, with Laura Bailey, Liam O'Brien and author Marieke Nijkamp.
This Q&A was first available on 29 November 2021 to people who had preordered the book and was hosted on Vimeo. It released to the general public on YouTube on 14 December 2021.
Synopsis[]
Announcements[]
Mica Burton says that Kith & Kin is available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats, and is available wherever books are sold. The audiobook is narrated by Robbie Daymond, along with Laura Bailey, and Liam O'Brien reprising their roles as Vex'ahlia and Vax'ildan. More information at criticalrolebooks.com.
Q&A[]
- Are there any new characters that you're especially excited for the readers to meet in this book?
- Yes, 100%, but can't say much about it. Laura was really excited about one character that she had to text Liam about it. The only safe thing to talk about is Syldor Vessar, we can see him more with the twins and things have been made canonical.
- When is Kith & Kin set?
- It takes place about three years before Campaign One: Vox Machina happens. In addition to that, there are numerous flashbacks throughout different periods in the twins' lives.
- Marieke, how much influence did Laura & Liam have over the story?
- They were involved in every stage of the process, from Marieke's initially pitching the book, to the first draft, and the edits that came after. It was a delight.
- What was the process like for writing a book that already had so much history?
- Marieke was used to writing other people's character before, but usually you just write other people's interpretations of certain characters. There's a direction going on but slightly less direct. In this case, it didn't take long for Marieke to get use to have full communication with the characters themselves, you just want to make them right at the end of the day. Every bit of feedback was super helpful. Also, Marieke watched all of campaign one, so she was already familiar with the context, and fully understood the mindset the twins had in different situations.
- Was it intimidating to write a story with characters Laura & Liam created?
- A little bit. Marieke had to turn off her fan-brain and see this as any other books, otherwise she would freak out and stare blankly at her sreen for an hour.
- What was your favorite part about working on this project?
- Exploring bits and pieces that have only been mentioned so far, and wanting to incorporate them into the story. In terms of hardest part, there wasn't really any outside of getting the voices right and find the right balance between early stages twins before Vox Machina. Figuring out details can be challenging. Trying to tell a complete story with a satisfying ending, but also teeing them up for a future that everybody already know.
- How did it feel to turn your characters over to Marieke?
- It was a different experience to finally crystallize the thoughts and feelings, because so far, it was just up to the audience's interpretation on what Vax and Vex could think on different situations. That felt right for Laura to have those memories written down.
- What was it like to get into the mindset of the twins?
- Marieke had so much fun taking everything she'd seen during the campaign, and taking those puzzle pieces, fit them all together in the book. Adding things to the global story, but not having contradictions at the same. A lot of rewatching and searching to the source material was needed.
- How collaborative was the entire process?
- Most of it came from Marieke. Laura & Liam would read what she wrote, and just add notes in or give suggestions about thought patterns. There's a mix of stuff that has been said during the camapaign, and stuff created by Marieke.
- How much backstory was developped for the game, and how much was created for the book?
- There was a lot discussions between Laura & Liam for both the pre-stream home game and for the live campaign, also their backgrounds fleshed out as they were playing the game. It's a collaborative storytelling over a period of 10 years, including the book.
- How has it felt coming back to these characters?
- It doesn't feel like jumping back into the characters of Vax and Vex. They live in Laura and Liam forever, so when they do anything as the twins, it's like opening a door. It's a part of themselves coming out again. A lot of the twins is just how Laura and Liam are together, which is probably how they ring so true. There's echoes of the twins all the time, even when they're playing as Caleb Widogast and Jester Lavorre, Vex and Vax are just beneath the surface.
- Will Trinket be in this book?
- Yes, he is. It wouldn't be a twin tale without Trinket.
- What are Trinket's hobbies & favorite foods?
- He loves berries.
- What Vex & Vax backstory moments can we look forward to?
- We do get to see a little bit of Trinket's origin, and we might see small glimpses of Byroden.
- How did it feel when you finally read the book?
- Liam can't believe there's a novel that exist now. It's just unreal. The thought that somebody could pick up this novel, having zero knowledge of Vox Machina or even Critical Role in general makes Laura so happy that they might fall in love with these characters.
- How accessible is this book for new fans?
- If you like fantasy stories in general, it is awesome. It's easy and it would be a great precursor to watching anything. There's also some things for long time viewers of the show.
- How many "Easter eggs" for Critical Role fans can we expect?
- Marieke approach Kith & Kin the same way she would approach any fantasy stories and universe. There's a dual side, working of the book as its own story, but also being very aware of the broader universe around it, and wanting to throw in as many references, Easter eggs, and small details as possible.
- What was your planning process for writing this story?
- It was a bit of a challenge, but mostly in a good way. Usually you write a book towards an ending, but this book feels it is working towards a beginning. Knowing already the "ending", it was more a process of peeling back and turning this into a good novel arc, and where the actual beginning of the book need to be. It's like rewinding from the start of Vox Machina where everyone is familiar.
- How different is it doing an audiobook compared to voice over?
- An audiobook is a very different kind of voice over. Thankfully, Liam and Laura did it together, there's a lot of back and forth in their dialogue, so it made sense they were both there. Liam didn't do a lot of audiobook, but they have a cadence to them, and you want something that is there and steady the entire time. Whereas an animated series is very dynamic, and private and quite moments the characters do together. It's basically a different focus for the same thing. Laura was feeling awesome saying the lines out loud, and not just in her head.
- How would Vex & Vax promote a book about themselves?
- They'll show up in front of Syngorn and dropping books in a very "I don't care" mood. Vex would drop hundreds of copies in every major town tha she could, because she would want them all to know. They'll also leave just one copy in Byroden.
- Would the rest of Vox Machina read Kith & Kin?
- Grog Strongjaw would use it as toilet paper, Scanlan Shorthalt would look for the juicy parts, Pike Trickfoot and Keyleth would read it, Percy de Rolo would read a part then act like he read it all or he wouldn't read his wife's book, and Trinket will of course read it.
References[]
Art:
- ↑ Thumbnail, featuring the cover of Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin from "Kith & Kin Fireside Chat Q&A" (Sx63). 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.