Brennan Lee Mulligan and Matt Mercer Effortlessly Craft Fantasy Deities

Back in 1768, Voltaire famously penned the words, “If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him,” and when it comes to the realm of role-playing fantasy worlds, he couldn’t have been more on point. J.R.R. Tolkien, the pioneer of modern fantasy fiction, crafted a universe where gods were as real as the myths and legends that fueled his inspiration. These divine beings had voices, desires, and at times, even physical forms. They influenced the world directly, making any need for faith obsolete—you could simply see their handiwork with your own eyes.

Jumping on this concept, Dungeons & Dragons loaded its Dungeon Masters’ guides with an array of deities. Today, the game’s divine landscape resembles a theological Fortnite. Creating pantheons and origin stories has become a staple of fantasy world-building. Yet, folks like Matt Mercer and Brennan Lee Mulligan are taking this to another level. In their Exandria Unlimited Critical Role campaign, they delve into the chaotic aftermath of a divine war, exploring how mortals navigate and challenge these seemingly omnipotent forces.

Given their expertise, I put them to the test with a fun little challenge. I presented them with brief overviews of various fantasy worlds and asked them to dream up the gods these lands would revere. They rose to the occasion with flair! If you’re curious, make sure to watch the video where you’ll be introduced to “Mouth World”—a peculiar place where we, as mere bacteria, worship the gracious goddess SO’DAA within a giant mouth.