Critical Role Announces New Original Novel The Mighty Nein: The Nine Eyes Of Lucien Scheduled To Hit Shelves 11/1

Critical Role announces new original novel The Nine Eye Of Lucien scheduled for November 1 release.

Critical Role has once again partnered with Penguin Random House to further expand their story, but this time fans will get a deeper look into the mind of one of Campaign 2’s most infamous characters, Lucien. Critical Role has been fleshing out their characters and stories through the Vox Machina Origins, Mighty Nein Origins, and Tales Of Exandria comics as well as the original novel Kith & Kin which explores Vex & Vax’s origins before joining Vox Machina. Lucien is a perfect addition to the growing list of characters outside of the main PCs who have an entire story centered around them.

Created by Taliesin Jaffe and Matt Mercer the character was first introduced as the Tiefling blood hunter Mollymauk Tealeaf a member of The Mighty Nein adventuring party. After tragedy struck down Mollymauk in battle his story seemed to have ended early in the campaign. However, many episodes later this proved not to be the case. Mollymauk had a very mysterious origin having woken up in a grave with no memory before joining the traveling carnival and later the Mighty Nein.

After Mollymauk’s death, his former personality had taken back over in the form of the menacing Lucien. The Mighty Nein were forced to face off against their former friend who in the final battle took on a monstrous form. Once defeated the body that was formerly Lucien and Mollymauk awoke once again with no memory and decided on the new name Kingsley.

Much of Lucien’s past still remains a mystery, specifically what set him on his dangerous path, but that may not be the case for much longer. Critters will have the chance to learn more about this mysterious character in the new original Critical Role novel, The Nine Eyes Of Lucien. Taliesin Jaffe shared his own excitement about the upcoming novel.

“If there is a single story I’ve been expectantly waiting for from the Mighty Nein, this would be it. The forces that shaped Lucien Nonagon deserve the sort of time and nuance that only a novel can bring. Now I get to join the audience as we uncover his story and learn what could possibly make a person run away so completely from themselves.”

CRITICAL ROLE: THE MIGHTY NEIN – THE NINE EYES OF LUCIEN COVER AND OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS

Written by New York Times bestselling author Madeleine Roux, Critical Role: The Mighty Nein—The Nine Eyes of Lucien explores the meteoric rise and fall of one of Critical Role’s most notorious and tragic figures. Lucien has always been able to spin a bad situation to his advantage. From his childhood on the dangerous streets of Shadycreek Run to his years living off the grid and learning blood magic from the Claret Orders, the charismatic blood hunter will find a way to get the upper hand.

During the second campaign, Taliesin teased the rest of the cast when Lucien was revealed telling them that he knew nothing about this character including his past leaving it up to Dungeon Master Matt Mercer. Out of the many characters introduced in Critical Role’s second season, Lucien was one of the most complicated, enigmatic, and terrifying. The Nine Eyes Of Lucien is the perfect way to not only explore Lucien’s history but to delve into the mind of this villain. The novel will not only explore Lucien’s early days but also his meeting with The Mighty Nein which could give a new and intriguing perspective to the in-game interactions.

Critical Role continues to expand and develop their narrative beyond the flagship live stream through comics, novels, the EXU series, and The Legend Of Vox Machina animated series. Learning Lucien’s story including how he got caught up in the Nonagon, what led him to become Mollymauk, and his own perspective about the Mighty Nein opens up a whole new narrative angle. Now, the question becomes, who will be the next character or characters at the center of another Critical Role original novel?

Critical Role: The Mighty Nein – The Nine Eyes Of Lucien is scheduled to hit shelves on November 1, 2022. Are you excited to learn more about Lucien? What did you think about Kith & Kin? Are you enjoying Vox Machina and The Mighty Nein being further explored in comics and novels? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or on our social media and check back with The Illuminerdi for more Critical Role.