“The World Of Critical Role” Book Cover And First Chapter Revealed

Chapter 1 Preview Cont.

“DON’T KILL MY SISTER, WHAT IS GOING ON?!?” Liam calls out to Matt, but he calls out with Vax’s voice. He knows the rules of the game he is playing, though, and neither Liam nor Vax expects an answer. He is holding a rope, clinging for his life as he watches Vex and Percy and Trinket drop below him. He is holding a phone, recording everything, because he already knows that what is happening here is special, is something he never wants to forget. Back and forth, from the table to the tower and back again, faster than the space between his words. His voice is full of terror. His voice is full of joy. This is the wonder of the game. Matt speaks again, weaving the world, describing the fall. “You can see there’s broken portions of stone, the rug that was on the platform is spinning and plummeting on its own . . . What do you guys want to do?”

Taliesin begins to pitch Matt an idea, involving firing his gun. In the meantime, Laura turns to Sam Riegel, sitting next to her. Sam is Scanlan, a bard who has already escaped the tower. Vex can’t talk to Scanlan, but Laura can talk to Sam. “I want to grab the . . . the rug, or something?” she says, the question plain in her voice. Will that help? Why would that help? She and Sam begin to brainstorm, but they’re distracted as Taliesin enacts his plan . . . and rolls badly. Percy’s gun misfires.

“You are plummeting into probably another 120 feet of free fall,” Matt says. “It’s just you guys, the broken platform, and the rug.”

(Listen closely, and you’ll hear it: this time he leans on the word rug. Just a bit. He is very good at his job.)

Everyone freaks out, shouting over each other. “What do I do?” Laura wails amid the tumult. “Take the rug? How can I use the rug?”

“Turn it into a parachute or something!” Travis volleys back.

Laura throws her arms over her head, miming as she turns to Matt. “I grab the rug and I turn it into a parachute.”

(Watch closely, and you’ll see it: Matt’s body language changes in an instant. He stills, draws inward, gathering himself. He has been waiting for this.)

Matt tells Laura to make a check. An unexpected one: he wants her to roll to see if she can use a magical item.

Sam understands immediately. “It’s magic?” he asks, his eyebrows shooting up. “The rug is magic?” He begins to grin, the tension draining out of his face as Travis gets it, too, and they shout together: “IT’S A MAGIC CARPET!”