Transcript - WWW Ep 39 - Into the Woods .pdf 679.4 KB
December 10, 2024

[PUBLIC EPISODE] The Wizard, the Witch and the Wild One: ep039 "Into the Woods"

 The Battle of Abassin is won, but the escape, and the peace are anyone's game. Into the woods, we go, where the tall trees blind us and we cannot see the forest. The mask slips. We make monsters of men, and speak with animals. The chain of command is thus: hunger, water, music. Each family of sad adventurers is sad in its own way.

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We are

Brennan Lee Mulligan

Erika Ishii

Aabria Iyengar

Lou Wilson

Produced, designed, and scored by Taylor Moore  at Fortunate Horse with exquisite design and editing help from Jared Olson.

SPECIAL THANKS TO: Tazer Army, Shannon, and Amanda Freberg.

Album art by the great Corey Brickley

Comments (132)

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Sophie Rivers · January 9, 2025

"Lets Turn this Doing into a Did" has to be one of the best one liners omg-

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Zamp · January 6, 2025

So when the infantry is asking if Eursalon can fly, I interpreted that as a threat to throw him off the side of the cliff. And I can't stop wondering if everybody else was as tense as me during that scene

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Liuba M · December 24, 2024

I feel like there’s a fragment missing at around 56 minutes mark, after they decide to trade horses and before they meet the villagers. There’s also a reference to a stealth check at 59:57, which I don’t remember having happened.

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Jason Ross · April 30, 2025

Glad it wasn't just mee thinking they missed a chunk of the episode. Brennan mentioned they were following farmers and I thought he misspoke. I was like, "squirrels, they were following squirrels, weren't they?"

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Nina · December 18, 2024

Ame is giving Kronk

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Kayla · December 17, 2024

Taylor my man, if Silver says “I love you too” back you gotta stop editing it out, the girlies are so SUS of him rn 🤣🤣🤣

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Melissa Shilale · December 17, 2024

SILVER, BAD

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Wilhelm Bulathsinhala · December 14, 2024

The "why aren't you bound" line just hit me so hard, it made me cry. It's so much like my life right now and I can't identify with Eursulon more.

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DefyAllLogic · December 17, 2024

I forgot, how do sprits get bound? Is that what they did to the ocean spirit in arc one?

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Emmmmok · December 13, 2024

"I need you to know that my name is Suvi" OMGGG MY HEART 😭😭

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Lojaan · December 13, 2024

"cause I really liked the way you said my name" dammmmn Abria. You just come out with that emotional devestation? Drop it like it's no thing? You are peak at this. Aspire. Also I'm a little bit tipsy. Usually I do more sentence

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Alex · December 13, 2024

HE STILL DIDNT SAY IT BACK!!

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Amy Baker · December 17, 2024

THANK YOU! Silver is 100% gaezed (sp?)

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Lóre Stevens · December 12, 2024

Silver wanting to know Suvi's name is so sus

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Alex · December 16, 2024

I think we are collectively projecting our mistrust of Brennan onto Silver. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop.

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Matthew · December 12, 2024

Well, if there are any Silver-haters still out there after this then I don't know what to say. I pity those poor lost souls.

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Elijah Peters · December 15, 2024

Honestly like what has he ever done wrong.

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kragonaught · December 12, 2024

usually I re-listen to episodes 20 times while waiting for the next, but the social anxiety in this one gmfu. spectacularly awful vibes

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kragonaught · December 12, 2024

that line from the coven arc that’s like “Is the witch of the world’s heart truly someone who bakes sew in a small cottage?” it feels so true with every social friction Ame crosses. what is heart? is her heart the only kind she represents? in their own way, do the wizards and soldiers have heart?

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Jordan Charles · December 14, 2024

“That the station of the world’s heart is not one of armchairs and baked goods…but of tramping boots and machines of war” Or smth like that

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Kellie O Edwards · December 12, 2024

WHAT DO YOU MEAN "THEY USED TO WORSHIP NIGHT HERE"!?!??!??!!! WHAT DO YOU MEAN "CORED OUT"?!??!?! PLEASE STOP RUNNING MR. MULLIGAN!!!! I JUST WANT SOME ANSWERS!!!!!

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kragonaught · December 12, 2024

THE NIGHT?? MIRARA?????

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EisKat · December 12, 2024

Now that they are out of immediate peril I cannot help but think that any further action by Ursulon and Ame would no longer be just helping their true friend, but helping her agenda and the agenda of the citadel. Will Ame continue on as if Suvi is their commander?!

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Kael McDonald · December 12, 2024

The single most stressful episode of "You're safe in a defensive position with food and rest" I've ever heard in my LIFE

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Arwen · December 12, 2024

The Ame apologists! Erika bringing their own brand of chaos to a truly adorable character has people bending over backwards to excuse Ame's missteps.

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Gotholi · December 12, 2024

Can we talk about the conversations Ame was having this episode in the same context as Brennan's talk about it being a blessing to be someone who does not shy away from what is deep and meaningful? Ame has been running into this wall with the soldiers, with the citadel wizards, even with Mr Callum, and I'm so happy she keeps doing it, because while it's uncomfortable for a lot of people, asking those questions is so important. Maybe right now that soldier isn't comfortable thinking of home, but maybe that's also pulled up a thread of thought that will let them engage with themselves more deeply, and change them much further into the future. And it's SO in character for her to keep trying.

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Lojaan · December 13, 2024

I don't know. It feels like the hard conversations are to make Ame feel better, rather than any greater goal. Which, incidentally, would be an awesome character arc

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ConcreteDog · December 12, 2024

I really want to know Ame's thoughts during the conversation with Silver. He claimed ownership of her in the service of the Citadel in general or Suvi in specific so many times and she didn't contradict him at all. Is it a mismatch of what each person believes service is? Is she letting him think whatever he likes in order to to not rock the boat? Does she actually consider herself in the service of the Citadel in the same way she is in the service of all humans as witch of the world's heart?

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Ryan · December 12, 2024

I cannot, for the life of me explain the choke hold this show has on me

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Grace Bee · December 12, 2024

It's giving Castrima Under

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One Punch Max · December 11, 2024

My God that final line was so epic. How do they keep doing that?

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PocketNyx · December 11, 2024

Almost hesitant to listen because don't want to come down from the high of Abassin and *anything* can happen in the woods.

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Aaron W · December 11, 2024

At one point I thought Sky said "Horse case scenario".

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NickSavage Eursulon’s Brother in arms · December 11, 2024

Omg i think ame was the only one that had good rolls all episode shit was bad for everybody and silver is on thin ice with me first i haven’t heard an i love you too from him and that convo with ame had me like yea it’s the whole citadel not just select few and lastly eursulon only good check was the forest that worships night that forest has the man in black written all over it Brennan is setting up some evil in that forest i can see it now a lot of citadel we’re with now are gonna die if suvi decides to go into the forest even after hearing the other troops went around. i only care about the core 3 and sworn sliver on thin ice

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Norah Clous · December 12, 2024

If it make you feel better- they do confirm that Silver said it back in the last fireside chat. Taylor just edited it out for drama.

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Harry Dayantis · December 11, 2024

So good. Just incredible.

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Annie A · December 11, 2024

Suvi shared her name and Silver didn’t say I love you back unless I missed it - I don’t trust Silver at all especially after his conversation with Ame and I think he’s going to break Suvi’s heart into a million pieces and use her true name against her

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Annie A · December 11, 2024

Also Eursalon saying this village smelled of soap gave me super bad vibes because a bath is what trapped Eursalon in the beginning

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Elizabeth U · December 11, 2024

God this episode was anxiety inducing. I keep waiting for some red wedding shit, I don’t trust ANYONE 😅

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Aussie Griffin · December 11, 2024

The squirils saved the horses? Who told Brennan to bring a level of druid?! A.G.

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Lojaan · December 13, 2024

What is the back half of an Aussie griffin? Are you half wedge-tail and half quoll? Awesome

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TheCat · December 11, 2024

I’m so curious to see how the conversation between Suvi and Steel will go after all of this O.o

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Lee M · December 11, 2024

Is anybody else having trouble accessing this episode on the native iOS Podcasts app? I hate to poison this lovely public forum with a technical question but I also can't figure out if it's a me issue or a platform issue.

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Jordanne Stahl · December 11, 2024

A million miles from the most important thing but my Canadian ass was so thrown when Brennan said the temperature dropped by 8 degrees going into the woods. Right. Fahrenheit.

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Glen Petrofski · December 11, 2024

The stories that are going to be told about the witch and spirit when the soldiers go home are going to be epic. It could almost turn biblical. Are they going to ask about the Rok? They are high up, maybe these people may know a way to get them back and ensure they can go home.

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Adarsh Nednur · December 11, 2024

The vibes in this one were absolutely RANCID, folks, and I mean that in the best way possible. So few pieces of art really accurately capture the feeling of a conversation where the parties involved see each others' perspectives as the poison at the heart of society—not just anger, but also that slowly mounting sense of your hackles being raised and that feeling of pure moral panic. It's a testament to WBN's emotional verisimilitude that it absolutely nailed that feeling for me at least 5 times in this one episode.

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Joey Sawyers · December 11, 2024

If I was Ame, I would have absolutely ripped Silver a new asshole after the way he spoke to her lol...

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Johnystoo · December 11, 2024

Is the artificer's name Rust or Rusty?

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irisilmaril · December 12, 2024

Rust, Rusty is a nickname

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Bernard · December 11, 2024

I wouldn't mind seeing more of Worth in the future

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Evelina Meiklejohn · December 11, 2024

Damn, Ame getting under everybody's skin with these "No, but..." conversations. 😆

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bluebluebutton · December 14, 2024

Silver and then Sworn approaching her to treat her like their inferior qualifies as them getting under her skin, I think.

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Michelle Spurgeon · December 11, 2024

Listening to this had me in a constant state of anxiety because I was waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop because Brennan.

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Kael McDonald · December 12, 2024

Tune in next time! *jazz hands*

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ceeg · December 11, 2024

If I was a horse, would I want to know I was about to be eaten. NO

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OogaBooga · December 11, 2024

SHAPE CHANGER

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OogaBooga · December 11, 2024

I don't like that they were considering eating the horses although I get it. But I don't like that the horses know it was considered even more omg

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Liz · December 11, 2024

I legit thought they might bolt in panic when Ame decided to talk to them about it. I was about to be reallllly worried for her safety if she’d spooked the horses and left their party with no food. 😬 (Not that they’d eat her! But I sure wouldn’t want to be around that many hungry, frustrated soldiers packing magical weaponry.)

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Olivia Buse · December 11, 2024

BRENNAN. You made me talk to myself on public transit I was so outraged and devastated by your narration of the horses. I’m not finished (just got to the squirrels and possible barn with seeds!!) but gosh darn it if you make me, former (who are we kidding, current) horse girl, cry in public, I will haunt you. They’re just babies! I know it’s realistic and desperate but you made them people! We can’t eat sentient beings!!

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Liz · December 11, 2024

Lmao I was listening to that part at the bus stop this morning and actually made a sad little noise out loud when the horse said all they ever wanted was to be heroes 😭 thank christ for those squirrels, I tell ya

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ceeg · December 11, 2024

Silver stop being such a BITCH challenge

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Olivia Buse · December 11, 2024

Failed miserably lol. Not us discovering the flaws of suvi’s so while she’s offscreen lol.

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Gary Sifuentes · December 11, 2024

The episode uploaded to Overcast is only like 6 min I think there might have been an error, it cut me off right when Suvi pulled silver behind a tree. UGH WORST TIMING

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robo · December 11, 2024

JUST WALK OUT. you can leave!!! IF IT SUCKS… HIT DA BRICKS!! real winners quit.

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Witch of the Widdle Wiggly Guys · December 10, 2024

Honestly, I was never really that attached to Silver (truly, Suvi and him weren't seeing each other for THAT long??) and now especially after he tries dressing down Ame to put her in her place and imply that she serves under Suvi, I REALLY don't mind if his death is The Bad Thing that happens this arc 🤷‍♀️

c
ceeg · December 11, 2024

I care about Silver bc I care about Suvi, truly

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TheCat · December 10, 2024

Have we been given any information about the kinds of spells that can be cast on a wizard if their true name is known to someone? One part of me wants to trust Silver, but his conversation with Ame makes the other part of me worry that if ordered to make a decision, he would prioritize the Citadel and the Empire over Suvi. I’m starting to feel really similarly about him as I feel about Steel. For Suvi’s sake I want them both to be on “her” side in the face of authority, but I don’t know if they would be. Also, I know in the last fireside Aabria said that Silver certainly said “I love you” back and it was just edited out, so it stuck out to me that Silver didn’t say it in this episode either.

b
bluebluebutton · December 11, 2024

RAW: Gate, which can be used to summon a person to another plane

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flyingwriter · December 10, 2024

I cannot believe we are only five episodes in, and I’m still trying to catch my breath! Whew! 😅

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Worlds Beyond Number · December 11, 2024

You ain’t seen nothing yet

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TētēKura · December 10, 2024

Um, excuse me Mr Mulligan. What do you mean "they used to worship night, in this place"?? that, worries me.

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OogaBooga · December 11, 2024

Eursulon bout to embrace the man in black's mission and equip that badass sword

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Julia Whitmore · December 10, 2024

Not sure whether I was just not listening but how did we get from the squirrels talking about the farm and the gang discussing whether to go to the town straight to being led by two farmers to the town? Not sure if there was something missing or it was just logical that they sought out people, didn't get attacked, and then got permission to bring their entire group to a secret place? Legit asking, not sure if there was an editing error or we just skipped a bunch of boring stuff on purpose

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Tanner Nield · December 10, 2024

I had the same moment of confusion. I thought they were led by squirrels only, and then suddenly there were farmers. I thought it was my own attentional problem, and I had just missed it somehow. If you had the same experience, however, perhaps there was something amiss.

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Antarctus · December 10, 2024

Finally a long episode! Yesss!

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The Spirit of Vicious Inspiration · December 10, 2024

Brennan trying to break Ame with Shelter's view of the lowest rungs of the imperial army... and Ame sending Shelter into a guilt-trip existential crisis in response is a thing of beauty

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The Spirit of Vicious Inspiration · December 10, 2024

plus the "respectfully, sir, I can do alright just by myself" to Sworn. fuck

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Amaya · December 10, 2024

All the dominoes are being placed for an absolutely devastating end for Silver. "I wish I still knew her name." and "Suverine, lie down." felt like the kiss of death and that the fates are hungry for the death of another person Suvi loves to get magic number 3 before the book ends. I had concerns that we were gonna find out that that wasn't the real Silver and that it was an elaborate ruse. But now it's like "here's real Silver and all his real feelings; treasure it while you can".

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Amaya · December 10, 2024

You're correct. Sworn is who felt like he failed his mentor

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Beanz · December 10, 2024

INTERNALLY SCREAMING AT MY WORK COMPUTER

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Beanz · December 10, 2024

Excuse me, how many brooks was that?

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Barron Botts · December 10, 2024

Rahoaan and Chestnut forever.

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Jeremy Barrios · December 10, 2024

I am so thoroughly impressed by how each episode of this show keeps getting better and better. showing world building, pearing into class dynamics, messy characters navigating a messy world that doesnt offer consise moral choices. WOW. but week after week of horner courner i am suprised silver and sky didnt frick.

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Bill Willson · December 10, 2024

Brennan was like “yeah, I’m not narrating this Artax shit, time for Squirrels Ex Machina”

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Morgana Evenstar · December 10, 2024

Squox Machina

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Lily Lechler · December 10, 2024

why did the alleged "regroup and downtime" episode give me SO MUCH more anxiety than the battle episode. Listening to Eursolon almost get hate-crimed had me white knuckling

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Witch of the Widdle Wiggly Guys · December 10, 2024

I couldn't put my finger on exactly why that scene truly sickened me in such a way but you've reallllly hit the nail on the head. The Hate Crime Formula to a T.

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Emily C · December 10, 2024

I had been keeping this question in my mind about how family works for citadel wizards who are removed at a young age. Is their family vulnerable because they know the wizards' true names? Or they erase their names from family as well? Edit: I understand what name cloaks do and the erasing, I'm more asking of the relationship citadel wizards have with a family they may have last seen when they were a child. Given that we were told to not trust animals because they serve Gauthmai - does that still apply and should they have trusted the squirrels? I know we did a check on Yule but ehhh. And the throw away line about soldiers 5 days ago, if Abassin fell, who was there 5 days ago? The worship of night makes me think of either Mirara or MiB or both. Please Eurselon don't run.

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Emily C · December 10, 2024

If the wizard gave the person their name, sure, but do they go back and give their family a written artifact?

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Lily Lechler · December 10, 2024

ame and silver's "service" conversation gave me flashbacks to every time a friend's man decided to overstep in a convo. truly a "girl you better get your man before i hurt his feelings" situation.

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bluebluebutton · December 11, 2024

Same. I had to rewind to catch Ame's response because I snapped, "I'll take that under advisement, bub" reflexively.

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Brandon Carbaugh · December 10, 2024

Little word fun-fact for the group: I recently learned (to my great shock as a lifelong fantasy reader) that the technical definition of the word "libation" actually refers to the ritual practice of spilling a toast for fallen homies. The secondary meaning most of us are more familiar with (a fancy word for any alcoholic drink) was originally sort of ironic/humorous. Like "Hey Aecbert, let's go make an offering to the fallen, if you know what I mean ;)"

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TheloniousPunkyBrewster · December 11, 2024

You have improved my life this day

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Liz · December 10, 2024

The way my hackles raised on Ame’s behalf when Silver insinuated that she “serves” Suvi, and the turn her convo with Sworn took… man, she’s got her work cut out for her with these wizards!!

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The Spirit of Vicious Inspiration · December 10, 2024

sending the wizard Shelter into a guilt-trip spiral, and a well-deserved one if you ask me!

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Chris Kagamine · December 10, 2024

I'm surprised that the witch class doesn't have the goodberry spell. I guess Brennan didn't want an easy way to eat on the road, lol

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Gillian Moser · December 11, 2024

I thought the same! But I looked it up and Goodberry is a Druid/ranger spell. Witch of the Wild Green subclass gets it though

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xatlern · December 10, 2024

Damn, I can't believe a couple of squirrels led them to Helm's Deep.

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Lojaan · December 13, 2024

It was very entertaining listening to Brennan *not* say "Helms Deep" 😂

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Christopher Anselmi · December 10, 2024

Oh yay a long boy todaaaayyyy

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Marcus · December 10, 2024

Another incredible episode. The confrontation with Eursolon was heartbreaking and really hard to listen to. Amazing story telling.

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Erin · December 10, 2024

BRENNAN!!!! I was fine until the freaking LAST sentence!

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Jasmine A. Golphin · December 10, 2024

His nose??? Alright my guy, alright😒 (If you need me I'll be pouting in the horner corner)

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Nobody · December 10, 2024

Also did Silver get edited out of saying I love you to Suvi again or is this intentional the whole wanting to know her true name and still no returned "I love you" has me nervous

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Lauren · December 10, 2024

i! dont! like it!!!!

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Nobody · December 10, 2024

I feel like Aabria's warning is fast approaching. I am excited and scared for the next episode. There was a lot of flags set up in this one...

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Roy Ernster · December 10, 2024

There’s a good 30 seconds of silence at the end of this episode that absolutely left me waiting for a little post credits clip from Brennan and I cried when I realized it was just silence ngl

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Lauren · December 10, 2024

I haven't even started it but the title has my theatre-kid butthole CLENCHED

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Alyssa · December 10, 2024

omg "let's turn this doing into a did!" so good

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Jack Flynn · December 10, 2024

Rollercoaster of emotions throughout and love that familiar haunting musical sting at the end!

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Maggie M · December 10, 2024

Oof silver I feel your need to be somthing foe somone who is gone, but was great

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bluebluebutton · December 10, 2024

Poor Eursulon 😥

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Brandon Brewer · December 10, 2024

You can't fool me, Brennan Lee Mulligan! I know a Helm's Deep expy when I see one!

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Shannon Leimbach · December 10, 2024

Them visiting the Western Air Temple 😂

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Austin · December 10, 2024

I AM SO STOKED

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Leah Frey · December 10, 2024

Eeeeeeeee, can't wait to listen

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sylvie · December 10, 2024

LOVE hearing the empathy witch in the warzone. you guys play these characters fantastically and it is so fun to hear :)

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bluebluebutton · December 10, 2024

SAME. It's heartbreaking hearing "I'm afraid some of the cohort are viewed as disposable" being translated in to "you're sad we're not hugging."

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Dandley · December 10, 2024

Got the notification just at the end of my shift, great spirits above I love an episode tuesday

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Glen Petrofski · December 10, 2024

So excited I could almost pee

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Legate Bratt · December 10, 2024

Just a heads up that Brennan's social link is sending to a dead account on Twitter and Aabria's is currently restricted.

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Worlds Beyond Number · December 10, 2024

Oh wow, yeah I guess it’s time to update those “bad boys”

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Sven the Scribe · December 10, 2024

Thicc 'sode!

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OminousOwl · December 10, 2024

Ahhh much appreciate the early drop !! It's gonna help me calibrate all these dang torque wrenches lol love yall so much! Erika I hope your enjoying your time at the tavern!

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YaBoiDavi · December 10, 2024

Wait actually? I just finished a 600ftlb one and I've got like 3 more rip

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Brandon Brewer · December 10, 2024

Doesn't seem to be up on Spotify yet. Is there a problem, or am I just impatient? Lol

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1man2hands · December 10, 2024

Same, it's up now for me

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1man2hands · December 10, 2024

I'm not seeing it on spotify rn but I'm sure I'm just jumpin the gun

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1man2hands · December 10, 2024

Yeah I just had to wait a minute lol

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The Sandman · December 10, 2024

Why you gotta drop at 5 am lol now I can forget about sleep for a little while. Absolutely love the story and all you guys.

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The wizard Sober · December 10, 2024

Woohooo

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SapphoDyl · December 10, 2024

Ahhh! I'm so excited but also scared!! 🙈