In the luminescent glow of studio lights and the soft clatter of polyhedral dice, worlds are born. The sprawling, untamed lands of Avowed recently found a new dimension, not within the confines of a console, but around a table. When the architects of fantasy at Obsidian joined hands with the legendary storytellers of Critical Role, a spark was struck. Anjali Bhimani, the voice behind the vivacious orlan companion Yatzli, stepped into a different kind of role as an elven mage named Ylva, weaving a tale of magical intrigue and mafia connections alongside fellow luminaries. This was more than a promotional venture; it was a testament to the living, breathing soul of role-playing, where characters leap from scripted dialogue into the unpredictable, glorious chaos of collaborative imagination.
The Alchemist's Touch: Forging New Legends
For Bhimani, the invitation was a dream spun into reality. The masterful Matthew Mercer, she notes, is a true alchemist of the craft. He did not merely reskin an existing system but distilled the essence of Avowed into a wholly new gaming framework, a delicate tapestry of skills and lore presented in a mere few pages. This act of creation set the stage for something organic. The process of birthing Ylva was a dance of conscious choice and delightful serendipity. Having already breathed life into the cheerful orlan Yatzli, Bhimani sought uncharted territory. She chose an elf, a race she had always playfully considered 'a little bit boring,' and proceeded to craft anything but.
Ylva was envisioned as the brains behind the brawn, a squishy intellectual whose power lay in wit rather than might. Yet, the fickle nature of fortune, embodied by uncooperative dice, became its own storyteller. "Even when the dice are not cooperating," Bhimani reflects with a poetic sigh, "it's always great for telling a good story." This embrace of failure, of the unexpected hero and the foiled plan, lies at the very heart of the RPG spirit. It is in these unscripted moments that characters truly come alive, their flaws and fortunes written not by a single author, but by fate itself.
A Symphony of Souls: Dynamics and Double Entendres
The one-shot blossomed into a vibrant ecosystem of personalities. The pre-planned connection between Ylva and SungWon Cho's character, Hasporo—two souls entwined in the shadowy world of 'family business'—provided a rich soil for improvisation. Their dynamic, decided in the flurry of last-minute creation, felt lived-in and real. Similarly, the juxtaposition of Ylva's worldly wisdom against Whitney Moore's delightfully naive orlan, Lady Minette, created a magnetic 'opposites attract' energy that Bhimani adored.
This interplay offers a fascinating mirror to her work on Avowed. As Yatzli, Bhimani channels a very specific energy: the saucy and sassy companion whose every line dances with double meaning. "She's surely trying," Bhimani laughs, referring to Yatzli's flirtatious nature, even if full romance isn't a gameplay option. The challenge, and the joy, was vocal alchemy—blending the youthful, spunky energy of a character not weighed down by her many years with the profound, hard-won wisdom that only centuries of experience can bestow. It is a delicate balance, a voice that sparkles with mischief yet resonates with ancient knowing.
The Companion's Chorus: Humor and Heart
When asked how Yatzli would view the innocent Minette, Bhimani's answer is immediate and full of affectionate mischief: a full makeover project, a mission to instill self-worth. This encapsulates Yatzli's role within Avowed's party—a vital source of comic relief and positive energy, a bright flame beside the more solemn intensities of companions like Giatta and Kai. Bhimani muses that a character like Marisha Ray's creation from the one-shot, brimming with unfiltered humor, would be a perfect 'partner in crime' for Yatzli, further offsetting the party's gravity.
The one-shot, in its brief, brilliant life, demonstrated the beautiful, emergent narrative of tabletop play. Bhimani observes that such stories often organically center around one character's journey, much like Hasporo's unexpected and adorable romance with an enemy aumaua became the emotional core of their adventure. It is this collaborative magic, this willingness to let a story find its own heart, that defines the art form.
From Studio to Table: A Natural Progression
The line between digital and analog role-playing grows ever thinner. Bhimani's desire to one day play Yatzli in a tabletop setting feels like a natural progression, a homecoming for a character who has lived so fully in her creator's heart. Just as the companions of Baldur's Gate 3 have found new life on actual play streams, so too do the fully-fledged souls of Avowed yearn for that freedom. "They are companions because they are these fully-fledged characters that we have lived with in the recording studio for so long," she says, her voice tinged with hope for future collaborations.
Looking beyond Avowed, Bhimani's passion for communal storytelling shines through her excitement for upcoming projects like Sunderfolk. This hybrid of tabletop and video game promises the cherished experience of gathering friends on a couch, sharing snacks and stories in real space—a poetic return to the communal roots of gaming.
In the end, this fusion of Obsidian's crafted world and Critical Role's improvisational genius is more than marketing. It is a celebration. A celebration of character, not as a set of stats or pre-recorded lines, but as a living essence that can surprise even its own creator. It is a reminder that behind every pixelated companion, there is a voice, a heart, and a player ready to roll the dice and see where the story leads next. In the quiet moments between recordings and the roaring laughter around a game table, the soul of Eora continues to grow, boundless and evergreen. ✨