Critical Role has pulled back the curtain on the five protagonists headlining their upcoming Daggerheart miniseries, Age of Umbra: Sallowlands. This reveal offers fans an initial glimpse at the group tasked with braving the desolate, shadow-drenched reaches of the Halcyon Domain. Notably, the six-part series arrives during a pivotal transition for the franchise, premiering just days after the latest scheduled segment of Campaign 4.
Announced via social media on Tuesday, the spotlight falls on a quintet of “sun-warped” survivors: Dillwyn and Badger, Sister, Caguama, Alphonse, and Mercy. Following the structure of last year’s debut Age of Umbra, Sallowlands is slated for a six-episode run beginning July 9. The ensemble cast features Critical Role veteran Laura Bailey alongside Jennifer English, Abubakar Salim, Vico Ortiz, and Zachery Renauldo. While English and Ortiz are newcomers to the table, both bring a wealth of tabletop roleplaying expertise to the series.
According to the official Daggerheart project page, this desolate landscape holds secrets that could offer redemption or result in a grisly demise. The series promises a heavy, emotionally charged atmosphere, centering on themes of love, survival, and the persistent struggle against overwhelming, apocalyptic odds.
When the inaugural Age of Umbra was first unveiled, it was framed as a somber departure from the whimsy found in the lighthearted Menagerie one-shots. The aesthetics of these new characters suggest that Sallowlands will lean even further into that grim, haunting territory.
Image: Darrington PressIn the Halcyon Domain, the gods have long since abandoned the realm, leaving behind a world where the afterlife is a cycle of corruption fueled by an ethereal substance known as the Umbra. The remaining vestiges of civilization cling to “Sacred Pyres” for safety. Given the setting’s decay and the visceral character designs, Sallowlands shares more DNA with a dark fantasy action RPG like Elden Ring than a classic heroic adventure. Matthew Mercer himself has characterized the setting as “Soulsborne-esque, super dark and deadly.”
While official character assignments haven’t been finalized, visual cues suggest Laura Bailey may be portraying Dillwyn, a goblin ranger accompanied by a badger. Jennifer English appears to be playing Sister, a towering, spectral wizard, while Abubakar Salim likely takes on the role of Caguama, a turtle-like Galapa druid. The mysterious Alphonse, presumably portrayed by Vico Ortiz, evokes a Bloodborne aesthetic complete with a fractured ram skull and worn leather, while the blade-wielding, undead giant known as Mercy may be the character played by Renauldo.
Critical Role’s current schedule lists the concluding chapters of Campaign 4, episode 31, for July 2 and July 7. With no further episodes confirmed beyond these dates, the debut of Sallowlands suggests that this high-stakes miniseries will occupy the spotlight throughout the remainder of the summer.
Source: Polygon
