[PUBLIC EPISODE] The Wizard, the Witch and the Wild One: ep043 "Speak With Animals"
The road is a door, and it beckons wide and open. Turns out, you can, in fact, get there from here. If there is a town, a bag, the throat of the ravening beast, the back room of a humble butcher's shop, your end at the bottom of the mighty Lydwyn. Towns are like Empires, they are made of people and promises. Roads are like graves, they are made of dirt and the space you fill. And along the road, like pallbearers: wild, wild things.
Catch the public feed to hear the episode with these links, or anywhere you get your podcasts:
YouTube (in a few days)
We recommend listening to Worlds Beyond Number (and the Fireside Feed) on a "podcatching" app like Overcast or Pocket Casts. For more help getting the right audio in the right place, check out our friendly instruction guide.
We are
Produced, designed, and scored by Taylor Moore at Fortunate Horse with exquisite design and editing help from Jared Olson.
SPECIAL THANKS TO: Amanda Fredberg and of course, Shannon.
Album art by the great Corey Brickley
Comments (497)
I'm in love with the music AND the stings sometimes make me think of the west wing for some reason and it's VERY DISTRACTING
This episode is where I shouted “Oh Shit” the most times and in the most variety of tones to date while listening to this podcast. BANGER OF AN EPISODE!!!
This is my first comment on any Patreon ever bc OH. MY. GOD. WHAT THE HECK. WHAT THE HECK.
HOLY SHIT. A deeply instinctual, animal sound of fired up manic relief/joy/adrenaline came out if me in those last two sentences from Eioghorain and Suvi HOLY SHIT ahhhhhhhhh
YES
Anyone else already deeply excited and anxious about the upcoming episode??
I’ve been saving these past 2 eps for when I felt better (stomach flu sucks) and now idk how yall who kept up in time have handled the wait bc I don’t think I can wait till Tuesday
YES
I don’t usually comment but HOLY CRAP this episode was INCREDIBLE
NEVER BEEN SO VINDICATEDDDD I KNEW THAT MF WASNT A STONE COLD PAPPY KILLER
I have listened to the last chunk of this multiple times in the last few days because it hits so damn hard.
Same.
let it be known that the ending moment of Suvi's "yes" and the horns was also the time I burst into tears in a Taco Bell in Delaware
Y’ALL HAD ME STIMMING IN PUBLIC THE EPISODE IS THAT. GOOD. I am in awe of this story and you all for making it. Thank you so much
Had to physically restrain myself from screaming on the train
HOLY FUCK! WHAT AN EPISODE! Like other's I'm seeing in here, I don't usually come in to comment but I absolutely had to give you guys the props you deserve on this one. Can't wait to hear the fireside for this.
This was the week I caught up with the podcast. What a great week to do so.
SAME! I have been savoring it for a while and trying not to binge so that I have had something to look forward to but I just caught up. Now im excited to join in on the comments!
My voice has still not recovered from SCREAMING SO LOUDLY at the reveal and then SCREAMING SO LOULDY at the last 4 words and that was 3 days ago
i NEVER come here to comment but OH. MY. GOD??? i was practically screaming constantly for the whole last half hour. i don’t know if i can cope with the wait. I AM SO FUCKING EXCITED
SPOILERS Suvi speaking and laughing with Yoren of all people definitely was NOT on my WWW bingo card!
Brennan, thank you for the Wizard Keen. I love hating Keen. Keen is a bastard. "I don't like how you don't give me what I want" is such a loathsome sentence. He is perfect and I hate him. Thank you. Also damn Taylor, perfect end music.
From the Wizard Solace: Was the imagery of Baptism, and dragging Suvi underwater - rising into a new life, the old her dead, intentional? Or are the tropes just inescapable?
My first time commenting on the Patreon: to answer your question, this is the first time I’m drawing this parallel. The tropes are inescapable! The forms!!! THE FORMS!!! THEY’RE EVERYWHERE!!!!
I'M THIRTY-FIVE MINUTES IN AND HAD TO COME HERE AND BE LOUD THAT IS ALL
ME TOOOOOO
Such a fantastic episode! One little loose end I’d like some info on before we get to comfortable with Yorin (sp) is an answer to why Ame’s curse had the same scent that Suvj associated with him.
I'm assuming it is similar kinds of magic: that of shapechangers, which is probably closely related to that of witches. I'm working under the theory that one of the witches (or The Stranger) put that curse on Ame to prevent/procrastinate her station being taken.
Holy fucking shit.
I appreciate how important language is in this epic. (That said, forgive my loose quotes in the remainder of this comment 🤦♀️) "... I'll keep them on ice..." - Guild Mage Pain That is Steel's favorite phrase... It made me yell out loud at work. Brennan's use of "the animal" instead of "the fox" felt like it could mean a severance of Ame's connection to fox, rather than them being put in mute. Pain's use of "this creature" to refer to Ame and "put that bear on a leash" feels like more examples of the racism in this world. (Witch is a class but I don't think people in the setting see it that way. Witches are so infused with magic that I'm sure they're seen as "other" in a way that may or may not recognize their humanity.) For me personally, the clarification that Pain would be perfectly comfortable having the soldiers club Ame down in a public square and attack others that may intervene made me remember a scene from a book by Gabriel Garcia Marquez in which the banana company committed mass homicide in a public square. For some reason, THAT is what told me how serious that moment was, rather than it being "just another" DnD fight. Vandal is the embodiment of the analgesic effect of profanity and I love him so much for it. Has Brennan specified how "Steel" is spelled? I've been assuming it was like the metal, because of her sword, but I just realized I don't actually know. Lastly, that moment when Your-in (sorry) tells Suvi that she's alive and has the ability to fight felt like it was directed to those of us in the USA who are burning out but still alive. EDIT: i cannot keep Keen and Pain straight and that doesn't even make sense.
Prediction for WWW since we know they're moving to a different setting: we'll finish with Suvi and the gang officially disconnecting from the citadel and the big war within Ruv and the empire officially starts. Then if they were ever wanting to come back it'll be a time skip;)
That final blast of music after the “Yes”…tingles…all over!
Simply sensational storytelling xxx
Shapechangers are a metaphor for NB and trans ppls and the raid on twelve brooks is a metaphor for protecting trans kids, anyone else getting that or just me?
I think that’s a valid interpretation but it can also extend to many marginalized groups.
I don't know if I can handle this being the last WWW season honestly. It's kinda the glue holding my sanity together given [vague gesture at everything].
FWIW, I don’t think it’s the last we’ll see of WWW, just a little break.
The screaming at about 1hr 2min was 100% me through this whole episode OMG
Yup. Me too. Plus i was jogging out in public when I yelled and started laughing 😆
Need a Man in Black Sticker
Oh, 100%
Thank god I'm the only one home right now or everyone would be concerned about the non-stop screaming that I've been doing. I haven't been able to stop pacing and stimming for the last 10 minutes after finishing. Such a good ep!
My housemate has been my best friend for the last 12 years, housemate for the last 10, and we've both made the promise to warn the other of loudness (if needed while stimming), but he now just knows Wednesday mornings are drop day and I'll likely be laugh/ scream/ crying and clicking my fingers with my earbuds in/ seemingly nothing 😂 and I've put a reminder in our shared calendar of episode weeks (which are traditionally the louder ones)
Spoiler spoiler spoiler Idk how questions get into the fireside but here goes…. Brennan how does it feel to get to give the same energy as the story you told about the party that made a bunch of con checks to escape the wyvern? 😂
Genuinely one of the most breathtaking and incredible performances and story telling I have every heard. My dog is concerned after all my gasping and screaming but fuck. FUCK it was amazing
I don't think there's a world where Steel didn't kill Suvis parents
I don’t know about that. I think the initial interaction with Suvi and Steel at Grandmother Wren’s cottage is foreshadowing a far more complex aspect of their whole plot, and I don’t think that Steel’s character could have raised Suvi with those deaths *by her hand specifically* on her conscience.
Did anyone else think all the animals in the water were Hakea at first? Especially with the huge snake grabbing Suvi, I was sure it was her familiar.
Yeah, I thought the snake was hakea at least for a second
How Aabria is able to emote rage, grief, pain, resolve, determination and 40 other emotions into one final word... Incredible. (Those aren't tears, it's just eye sweat...)
Incredible episode. Loooooooved that deep brass on a certain call for initiative. Was the reveal at the end something Brennan has been holding onto since E1 of the Children's Adventure? Absolutely flabbergasted.
This episode was WILD. I never screamed so much. I don’t know if Keen is my terrible ex husband or just creepy but surprise HOT EIOGJORAIN. Time to defect and get a partner who can turn themselves into an octopus
Omg how is this alliance about to swing the incoming war of the Witches?!
Literally whisper screaming on my apartment balcony listening to this!!!!!!!!! That last scene?! GAME. CHANGER.
I am SCREAMINGAAAAAAAAA
HOW DARE
SCREAMING CRYING THROWING UP OMG THAT ENDING
This episode had me SCREAMING
full out loud screaming and hollering throughout this episode holy SHIT also literal trojan horses lmao
The way I replayed this episode for that Aabria nat 20
Mind blown with the acting and storytelling on display here. Also I 100% needed Eioghorain’s “bad world speech”. Man was this timely
Yeah that speech hit HARD
Every episode summary is poetry. "Roads are like graves, they are made of dirt and the space you fill" WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THAT?? CRY?? And then I got hit with maybe one of THEE most fun/funny ->immediately gut clenchingly nerve-wracking episodes that STILL managed to, at the end, pull out something even MORE wild to top the episode off. My jaw was on the FLOOR the whole time as I was stress cleaning my bedroom at 10pm. Every single episode of this show is a 15/10. No notes, except that if anything happens to the Fox I will rage.
I'm gonna puke this episode was insane
We’re right upon the 2 year anniversary of this podcast and the episodes are STILL getting better! Absolutely wonderful episode and I’m even more excited for what’s to come after having our beloved wizard’s entire foundation absolutely rocked
Curious for the Fireside - if Suvi hadn’t told Silver the truth, would Keen still have been waiting for them?
THIS. I NEED ANSWERS.
This is seriously one of the best episodes I’ve ever heard. I listened to it twice in a row to fully process. That was INCREDIBLE. LETS. EFFING. GOOOOOOOOO!!!!
About to go down the same thing
What is happening? How am I supposed to sleep after that? Thank you all for such a fantastic story!!!
literally my heart might never slow down
Brennan, if Keen is Jasper's name cloak, so help me
Remind me who is Jasper?
This episode sooooo good 🥰
ngl i’ve been trying to make a “eioghorainn luck” joke but aint shit funny forreal
<3 someone link me the fan discord please. it's gotta be going bonkers rn
Sign me up too
Gods a “You want some help” moment is honestly the DREAM. The RESPECT for these creatives I have is unparrelled I just got goosebumps at the level of “Assemble” in Endgame God DAMN
Also let us not gloss over the fact that suvi was referred to as a PRINCESS!
Omg this. I flipped out.
WOW I am so deeply inspired by you all. The artistry, the storytelling, the music! Everything! I am SO EXCITED to see what suvi does with all of this insane information. Listening to these episodes has made me a better and more confident player in my own campaign. Gratitude to you all, let's keep this train rolling!
Taylor edited his ass off on this one gang
He really put his tots into this one! 💖
HOLY SHIT
Same
Omg the amount of SCREAMING I DID THROUGHOUT THIS EPISODE
Me too
Episode Spoilers in this comment I didn't understand suvie's reaction to the secret citadel org. What do we know they did? I'm assuming the spirit capture stuff, and kidnapping those kids. ADHD girlie here trying to figure out what she forgot from past episodes
Are you referring to when she rolled to see if Eioghorain was lying? If so, I think her reaction to it was “if this is correct then everything I’ve been told to believe about the citadel has been lies / brainwashing” and she didn’t want it to be true.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay WHO writes these episode descriptions because every time they are ACTUALLY POETRY and it makes me want to write essays about the descriptions alone, never mind the whole art of the whole episode!!
I have a fan theory: I think Steel is evil, you don’t get to the top of the Citadel (as sword of the citadel) and not know about the shady shit that the League of Whispers is up to if it truly is just a regular arm of the Citadel I think Steel has been spending as much time as possible trying to locate Eioghorain because he is the last person who knows a little bit on the shady happenings of the Citadel. If Eioghorain connected some dots, he might find out that Steel has been behind some of the machinations of the League of Whispers. I think Steel is trying to dispatch of Eioghorain before anything comes out. Additionally, I think Steel is trying to kill Eioghorain before Suvi ever gets a chance to meet him so that she never finds out some of the truth around her parents’ deaths (which she eventually does this episode). Since season 2, Steel has been putting in Suvi’s mind that “oh Eioghorain is too powerful and would kill you do not try and look for him” and I feel like that Steel has been doing this explicitly so that Suvi doesn’t try and find Eioghorain (and then subsequently learn more of the truth). I’m predicting that when Suvi and Eioghorain and others go to save the Gra-know (I’m sorry I don’t know how it is spelled) children and they run into Steel who will try to kill Eioghorain, bing-bang-boom Steel is the BBEG bing-bang-boom we’ll explore that sometime in the future but for now new setting! If I have forgotten key info that makes this theory blatantly incorrect or if you have opinions let me know! (Also if anyone else has already theorized this let me know)
Ok as I was typing this theory I realized this might be an intense reaction to the end of the episode. I for example forgot about the fact that Grandma Wren personally questioned Eioghorain’s loyalty to the Accadator. So maybe Eioghorain isn’t the most trustworthy. However, that nat 20 insight Suvi had suggests to me that he was being truthful. Maybe this is a strong reaction still.
So my assumption now is that Yorin is not only a spirit but a great spirit because the amulet protect the wizard Sky from great spirits
I thought that too, but great spirits couldn't even see Suvi with the amulet. Maybe he's half great spirit? Or a Descent of a great spirt?
Upset over how babygirl Eioghorain is
you get me
can i send aabria and brennan my therapy bill
I'm curious if as we follow Suvi's arc if the brass of the Citadel will turn into a mix of instruments to signal moving away from the system. Gahhh this episode had everything and all kudos and credit to the cast and team. It feels each episode gains more and more speed. Truly breathtaking work ❤️❤️❤️
Nothing "just happens" in post! I'd love to know this too, have you submitted it as a question?
I feel like i got lead on the most insane emotional roller coaster all at the cost of hitting the play button
Full. Body. Goosebumps.
the words I want to say to the whole cast are unkind words in the most kind way......what the ACTUAL fuck guys. Also Steel is dead to me. Silver is dead to me. The Wizard Keen can die slowly being tortured by violence over the course of a year.
To the people being mad at the witch for doing witch stuff. Literally what? The fact that this was a trap for Ame and it worked perfectly is amazing narrative storytelling. If a DM puts a giant red button with your name on it in front of you, you don’t just ignore it.
She even did the careful thing sending in The Fox. Ame wasn't dumb, Keen is just smart and horrible.
My jaw on the damn floor! I love it
People ripping on Ame have not been paying attention. Expecting a witch to not do her sworn duty is wild.
I get that, I think there's also doing your duty in a way that makes sense (Eursalon does it later in the episode when he doesn't go head first into the trap that's meant for him)
My new neighbors definitely heard me yelling and gasping with this one. Thanks for the new dad, Brennan!
Ame is the absolute worst. If she ever trusted Suvi even a little bit everything would go so much smoother.
Damn the hits really kept comign and did NOT STOP COMING THIS EP WAS INSANE
YEEEEAAAAHHHHG
god. i've been waiting for years for that reveal. Well, hoping. and now i have a new blorbo. HELL yeah. there are so many fantastic things about this episode (as with every episode) but i just don't have the words for them right now.
1) holy shit, this episode!!!! I caught up on the last few months of episodes this past week and of course This One is the one i have to deal with the full cliffhanger effect on 😭 i was whooping and hollering for the whole last half from such wildly different ends of the emotional spectrum, and didn't stop until like 10 min after it was over 2) fantastic soundwork as always 💜 i'm not very good at (consciously) picking up on the subtleties of things, esp on my first listen, but the underwater effects when Suvi was pulled into the water were amazing! so immersive, and i just know that the swells of emotion that i felt were fed and supported by Taylor's amazing work <3 3) the Eioghorain reveal!! i love how much complexity this immediately adds, both to the characters and the plot. like, it always pinged me as weird that the One (1) plot-relevant character from Gaothmai was painted as an Objectively Bad Guy from day one, esp with Brennan's style of storytelling, and i'm so happy to have that vindicated! Also, i had forgotten that was how his name is spelt, and now looking at that Gaelic As Fuck spelling, along with the Welsh/Gaelic placenames... is Eioghorain in the Fantasy IRA??? bc i would fuck with that so hard, holy shit 4) i'm seeing a lot of "Steel killed Suvi's parents" and while that plot angle would be hella juicy for the emotional impact, my occam's razor lands on it mostly likely being a case of dis/misinformation. Either Steel genuinely believes that Eioghorain is responsible for Soft and Stone's deaths through logical leaps and/or the Citadel feeding her false info to secure her loyalty, or she could have lied to Suvi to keep this child/fresh adult who doesn't have the juice (yet) to be fighting the CITADEL from throwing hands with the whole-ass empire to avenge her parents, esp with how Not Good At Lying she historically is. I could be wrong, but that seems like a perfectly logical thing for someone as embedded in the system as Steel to do, esp if in the wake of the LoW reveal, she went the reformer route rather than the revolutionary route that i'm guessing Suvi's parents did. 5) What The Hell, Brennan?? why are you so good at playing evil characters?!? it's crazy and you're so talented (i mean, this whole team is but) how do you make me hate someone so much in just 5 sentences, wtf. Keen is such a fucking bastard and if the fox dies, i'm throwing hands!! (also, that gd namecloak Hits Different bc i was thinking of 'keen' as in clever and observant, but now i'm remembering that there's also 'keen' as in a whine or high-pitched wail, usually of grief, pain, or distress. just... 🖕🖕🖕 6) Aabria in that last scene was fucking incredible and i love her. "I thought she told you not to frighten her child" to "welp, I'm dead, might as well say what's in my heart" to "they're keeping CHILDREN" "...would you like some help?" "Yes." Amazing, 11/10, no notes
To 4): You put into words what I've been feeling about that theory so well, this is the path I think is at least as likely as her being full-blooded evil(tm), because it just doesn't fit with the genuine care and love she has shown our characters and the world (e.g. naram). I think that she is convinced she's a good guy and can change the system from within that there's "too much good to throw it all away" inthe citadel -- which I think is likely bullshit but a much more nuanced position and emotional complexity than just "I lied to you your whole life and actually killed your parents" 😂 but it's all just speculation and I cannot wait to find out the truth of this brilliant fucking story--it's going to give us all emotional whiplash no matter what it is I'm certain 😂😂🥰
I was waiting for that reveal!!! I knew it couldn't be so black and white! SAVE THEM KIDS!!
So do we think the Citadel will blame Suvi for all those soldiers ending up dead or will she be presumed dead along with them
It’s a powerful war motivator to have a person to blame… and it helps them redouble their loyalty learning about a “traitor,” my guess is absolutely
My god. I love this story so much.
Catastrophic level of goosebumps after that ending
Kids, this is the episode where the strategy of "Kill the confirmed evil character, it just saves time." is validated. A.G.
incredible work! absolutely darstadly that i have to wait two weeks for the next part!
Goosebumps
THAT ENDING
SCREAMING. DEAD. Mourn me.
HELL YEAH
Taylor/Brennan once I stop crying I'll fight you for making me hear the little fox whimper, I'll fight you
You won't have to fight alone
had to pause & take a lil break cause of the stress. amazing episode as always yall ✨ edit: my gods, im glad i restarted 😭 this feels like a very intense religious deconstruction in a way
Ok, so the musical theme at the end I have always associated with the Citadel. Idk, others can validate or disagree, but it's what I have associated it with, even if it has been mostly played around Suvi, too. With this in mind, it is absolutely BRILLIANT that this theme is now played only for Suvi when she makes a call that goes directly against the Citadel. What an awesome way to portray that all the training and raising (and brainwashing?) the Citadel has given Suvi she is now making her own. CINEMATIC!
The Citadel has several different themes. I think of this as the Captain Sky theme. They also have the Eyrian theme, with the staccato trumpets and the bell tones, which is more "behold the wonders what magic can work at the hands of mortal wizards!" Energy. But Captain Sky can be a captain in any force. Just needs a team and an objective.
I would love Ame to be a little more wise. Given the huge journey Eursolon and Suvi have been on since the start of the main campaign it feels like she’s suffering from arrested development. I’m scared to think what it might take for her to finally learn from her mistakes…
Suvi being presumed dead after coming home wreathed in laurels will be so galling for Silver. Fuck you dude!
I've been catching up for months, and oh my god what an episode to reach at the end of my feed 😭 Eioghorain went from being the final boss of some later arc to the most dangerous estranged uncle Suvi has ever had. I love how quickly she went "fuck it, let's ball" even with the caveat she thought she was already dead at the bottom of a river. The way she's so rapidly sprinting down this new road, I'm half expecting Suvi to multi class as a witch at 5th level and join the Coven of Elders just so she can vote in favor of knocking down the Tower that got her parents killed and lied to her about it for her entire life. I don't think that will actually happen, but I also didn't expect her to buddy up with Eioghorain within 10 minutes of meeting him again as an adult, so anything's possible now
I think it really came down to that nat 20 insight, otherwise I suspect Aabria would have held on to Suvi’s self deception much longer.
WHAT NOW CITADEL DEFENDERS? BOOMSHAKALAKA. EIOGHORAIN WAS WAY TOO COOL IN EPISODE 1 TO BE EVIL! loved loved loved this episode! this is what i pay 5$ a month for!
Not a great fan of the citadel, but it's not just made up of leadership and therefore I try to give case-by-case considerations (can you tell I work as a public servant & I have great colleagues? 😂) AND! AAANNNDDDD... Keen is an Emperium?sp wizard 😉
I feel I need to go back to my original hunch on what actually happened that summer...
SPOILERS Re-listening to Eioghorain’s description of leaving Soft and Stone… the way he said “ I separated from them… and realized that they lost their minds… I realized it was a lost cause” this part is not as detailed as his other recollections, and sounds off for a man who has dedicated his life to fighting as the underdog against powerful forces. Something feels unsaid here, but not intentionally, if that makes sense (Brennan so shifty). I think it’s possible Eioghorain’s had his memory Modified.
I wonder if that's why the iron and bile scent Suvi associated Eioghorain with was the same scent Ame smelt when her curse was broken. They both had their memories tampered with.
The way the end had me cackling and going bonkers. Amazing work from everyone!!!
Just want to shout out the sound design for this episode. Incredible work. It's so easy for me to just picture the environments and atmosphere of a scene.
If this has been covered in a fireside chat can someone point me in the right direction? What class are the shape shifters and Eighorain? And is the latter home brewed?
Breenan going out of his way to describe the Garran shape that Eioghorain assumes as a beast, rather than a spirit, leads me to assume that if he has class levels, that he would be a druid. The other shape changers are almost certainly druids as well, given their abilities to assume animal form as well as communicate with and through animals (likely representing spells such as speak with animals, animal friendship, and animal messenger; all being druid spells.)
I get everyone being upset with Ame, but if Suvi hadn't told Silver their plans, there wouldn't have been a trap in the first place. I personally completely understand both of them doing what they did, but I'm seeing a lot of "wtf Ame" and none for Suvi. They both could've made better decisions frankly.
THANK YOU
The end of the episode ... just wow.
I yelled so much listening to this episode! So many crazy moments
Ame really is that one messy friend in every group who asks for your advice, does not take it, then expects you to get her out of the mess she made. It’s giving drunk sorority girl
She’s witch of the world’s heart, it’s her obligation to show respect to spirits as well as mortals, especially to be respectful to the victim when one has transgressed upon the other.
I feel like this is the lowest low and the highest high that I've felt listening to this goddamn podcast
The (honorary) wizard of the tower votes YES. Let's tear that tower down
I screamed. Let's go shapeshifters!
why r people thinking steel maybe killed suvi's parents?
She may have fully lied about her parents death. She may have been mistaken. There probably isn't an in between.
One of your best episodes yet
Keen giving big Jafar vibes this ep. Also AAAAAAAAAHHHHH! My mouth literally hung open for, I believe, a full minute post reveal. WOO!!
1. I haven’t trusted Steel since the end of arc one!!! 2. Taylor, the score, my guy ❤️👏❤️👏 3. I’m so glad I listened to this in my car so I could scream and cheer without people staring 4. For gods sake, Ame, in what world was that going to be anything but a trap????
I full on punched the air at the end of this one. Incredible
Won't pretend that I've thought through every interaction perfectly before saying this, but: The only reason I'm not giving up on Steele yet is because why would she dangle Eioghorain's presence in the area in front of Suvi if she would never want them to actually meet. Maybe she thinks Suvi would blast first, ask questions later, or maybe she didn't believe they would meet, but that feels pretty flimsy for such an intelligent person. I'm holding out hope that she's presented with the choice of her daughter or the Citadel and chooses her daughter, bringing her adorable husband and other kids with her.
I agree! I just don’t think it’s as simple as Steel being a moustache twirling baddie the whole time. She Loves Suvi.
Had to pause this episode so I could tell Brennan to go fuck himself. Fuck you, Brennan! You are an outstanding storyteller you utter monster.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Is anyone else on Team PLEASE Make Ame Learn Restraint yet? Suvi gave her SO MANY REASONS to leave the dingdong Shrine alone. Pretty sure freeing the Bullfrogs chosen children would be more than enough of an offering to the spirit, and TRULY how foolish can you be to instruct a creature to sing ALOUD in a situation that requires stealth???? L's across the board for our girl, and the excuse of naivete isn't cutting it anymore. GET CANNY MY GOOD BITCH 🤬
What would the point have even been? Awaken/summon a great spirit who's been recently very publicly wounded/rebuked/banished? Utterly wasting all the stealth that you did to get to that point, By announcing that the only person who the citadel/ Empire knows within several thousand miles, a witch- The Witch is clearly doing something in town, While you know that there are probably people looking for you and your best friend? Ugh
To be FAIR to Ame, asking the spirits for help and using the Fox to be sneaky has been incredibly successful the last 100 times
Suvi was going to be right eventually.. She didn’t know it was a trap but Suvi did ask Ame not to stick her (fox’s) nose into it.
Every single episode tops the last one. How is that even possible?
Still concerned about the deadline for Ame to get a gift of equal value to Indri - like I know that’s not a priority but still concerned 😬 Also Suvi now being presumed dead is probably going to be so helpful Also Silver is a frickin narc and I’m not surprised 🙄 I cried when Yoren recognized Suvi as the daughter of his old friends and still took care of her
OH I forgot about Indri’s gift!
THIS. IS. CINEMA!!!
Oh my God that ending! Also, Steel potentially being the bad guy, damn give Suvi a break lol
What. An. Episode!!!!!!!!!
Yes ....yes....YEEEEESSSS!!! The growl in suvis voice right at the end??? I'm gonna scream
That ending had me screaming “LETS FUCKING GOOOOO”
SAME!
1st, the pause between rolls was gut wrenching. 2nd. Keen is extra disgusting and the original interactions of the cast was spot on. 3rd. Glad Eursulon saw that trap. That ending…. WILD
Oh boy I can’t wait for the fan art of Yoren (Joren? I don’t know how to spell) now.
you aren’t going to like this, its Eioghorain
Idk if anyone else clocked this, but based on Brennan’s description of Eioghorain Lou’s illustration was 100% accurate and he deserves his flowers.
🤣
So freaking goood!!!!!!
Just wanna say my 'Steel wants Eighoren dead because she doesn't want Suvi to find out she killed her parents' theory is looking pretty good right now.
They’re keeping CHILDREN!
If Steel killed Suvi’s parents I’m gonna lose my mind…
I think you might be right
Absolute Cinema 🤯❤️🩹
Screaming, crying, throwing the fuck up. WHAT WAS THIS EPISODE. I love it so much I can barely contain myself.
Ooohoohoooo the amount of d3@d that is gonna happen to Keen is gonna be bigger than the Sky DO NOT MESS WITH MY LITTLE FOX GUY Jaysus, this plot is twistier than a contortionist. Feeling that emotional whiplash right alongside Suvi.
“Plot is twister than a contortionist” 😂
Had to literally pause because fuck Keen. I'll go back but right now BRENNAN HOW DARE YOU HE'S JUST A BABY.
HAVE WE FORGOTTEN “I’m gonna kill that dog!” ?
Build up the Spirit Army!!!
Omg! I have chills and I'm late to work because of this episode!! 😂
while Steel is extremely unhappy to be in a DnD campaign, Keen has the core manual, wiki, and everyone’s character sheet memorized
why does Keen feel like the most cruel DM you read reddit stories about
Wow, I don't ever leave comments but this is probably the most insane TTRPG podcast episode that I've ever heard, goddamn
After this ep, anybody else thinking maybe, maaaaaaybe Suvi's parents are alive out there somewhere?
I think they're either trapped or hiding in the Near-Spirit
Brennan is getting ready to serve us a reverse Darth Vader with Steele. “You’re not my mother you killed my mother!” Loving every minute of this ride no matter where it takes us. Thank you!
Omg this episode was INCREDIBLE. I felt terror and rage and all the things. And the music was simply KILLING IT. Holy SHITBALZ.
CHILLLS!!!!
also, using the Jawbone Voice for any character is a good way to make people fall for them. i could see Brennan using it for evil....
🤣
"The animal." HUH?? WUH???? DID KEEN SEVER THEIR CONNECTION?? "THE ANIMAL" IS PARALYZED, UNABLE TO TALK TO AME, BUT AWAKE AND AWARE... BRENNAN WHY ISN'T HE "THE FOX" WHY IS HE "THE ANIMAL"?!? BRENNAN!!!
I did not even consider this!!!!! Anxiety just bumped waaaayyyyy up
Not even finished the ep yet but Goddamn i love Ame and i know its true to character but WHY did you need to look under the tarp? Why couldnt you have cast invisibility first even? Not that the wouldve done anything given that it was a obvious trap and they mightve been looking for it but AGH
SPOILERS Okay I know it's been leading to Suvis mistrust of the Citadel but does anyone think she sided with Eioghorain a bit quickly?
Nat 20 insight check ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Woke up this morning and my brain said, “Eioghorain kinda sounds like Eeyore” And pop Eioghorain now occupies a soft spot in my heart.
Honestly, that’s just some damn fine storytelling. The highs and lows were at the extreme ends of the spectrum, all with a thrilling score at every new scene. I feel like I didn’t catch a breath until the end of the episode.
So glad I was listening in my car so I could SCREAM.
Brennan is the master of making me utterly loathe him in one part of the ep and loudly cheer for him in a different part of the ep.
The paradox of me being furious with Brennan as evil Keen threatening himself as innocent cute buddy Fox…
Finished the last 20 mins getting ready for work this morning, yelling "FUCK" "CHRIST" "SHITE" "AABRIA" "BRENNAN" etc etc. Have pity on my partner and my neighbours.
Brennan: Eioghorain Erika: GAHHHHHHHH Aabria: GAHHHHHHHH Me: GAHHHHHHHH
I spent the first half of the episode feeling so defeated and like nonono this is the worst what are we going to do now and then by the end I was like yesyesyesyeyesyesyesyesyehsyehshesssss
I was SCREAMING by the end of the episode. Mostly "I FRICKIN CALLED IT" but also howling at how hot you made Suves uncle. Pun intended. There is NO WAY he makes it out this alive #justiceforsirius
How the hell am I meant to wait two weeks for another episode?? Welp, time to relisten to the children's adventure
I hate being caught up 😭
When will Ame ever learn??? That shrine under a tarp IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GATHERING GROUNDS you’ve got to be kidding me. She has a motherfricking map, Suvi begging her to be chill, and nothing but red flags…
Every gosh darn time every time. You always ALWAYS end when I want the most Now I need to wait another 2 weeks for this masterpiece of story telling. You are so cruel
I just remembered that it doesn’t matter what Steele says to Suvi, because all she has to do is ask Task to show her what the stars saw the night her parents were betrayed. Yes, bring it on!!!
She won't have that, because she didn't ask the library for it, and Eioghorain wasn't there.
IIIIIIIII KNNNEEEEEEEWWWWWWWW IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTUHHHH YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS I’VE BEEN WAITING SO LONG FOR A EIOGHORAIN COLLAB BITCHHHHHHHHHHH LET’S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Got me punching the air at 4am at work y'all
You..you..you… i’m in tears as the fox is frozen and his neck is being squished by Keen (grrr) my mind scrambles as Ame begins to bargain…part of me wants her to call out to Hakaya. Eursolon, waiting, time IS on his side. The wizard Sky (our dear Suvi) holding nothing back breaks bread with Yuron, starting a quest..continuing her parents rebellion of the Citadel. It is now 2:06 PM and I just literally screamed at the top of my lungs at the end of this episode. There’s no way I can fall asleep now. OMG…you did it again.. another AMAZING, emotional roller coaster episode. ❤️❤️🤗🔥
SCREAMING. too good guys. 10s, 10s, 10s across the board
Also +++++++++1 to everyone who said they can’t wait for the conversation with Mama Steel, during Eiorghorain’s lore drop I was like okay so Steel was in the extralegal group but now she’s the Sword of the Citadel, how’d you manage that hunny 👀
I fear that conversation, for Suvi sake, though part of me still believes Steele was fed lies also.
Okay I’m so relieved and honestly vindicated that Eiorghorain became empathetic finally because from EPISODE ONE I felt so deeply uncomfortable at how flatly and like bizarrely uncreatively Brennan painted him as monstrous and evil and foul smelling etc etc. I was like this doesn’t match the rest of the rich storytelling we’re doing here and I’m really not about a character who is flagged as bad because their body is different and they have a big deep voice. So tgod that was a red herring, although a little basic. We love nuanced and more interesting and cool Eiorghorain!! Pop off king Alsooo I can’t track and remember lore for the life of me, do we already have info about the League of Whispers? When Suvi had such a major reaction and threw up I was like okay I get that this is the final dagger in her citadel heart but couldn’t quite catch why that info had such a huge impact on her
I think Suvi found out a little bit about the LOW when she did reeearxh in the citadel — might need to relisten to remember the whole story.
Listened to this right after finishing episode 2 of EXU Divergence, and let me just say this has been an emotionally devastating day for lovers of BLeeM and friends' fantasy storytelling. *affectionate*
That ending made me shout F*** YEAH while driving by myself. Damn, this foe to ally flip is so deserved and satisfying 👨🍳
Me too.
Goddammit! I still suspect that her parents are still alive but are in the near spirit. I think there is going to be some messing around with time because that is something Brennan would do the incredible monster!
So true
The fact the yoren sounds and talks pretty similar to jawbone got me on side straight away even if it’s totally different cannon. Cross over when ??
NEED the pod to release a list of characters so i can internalize the spellings of the names MY GOD
I've only screamed that much for dice rolls in this podcast. Nat. Fucking. 20. Also, Brennan - "he believes what he is saying"!? NO, YOU NASTY, NASTY MAN. TELL US IF IT'S CORRECT OR NOT 😭
I frickin' KNEW there was something going on with Yoren! Also I think this episode was one that really highlighted the lack of depth Ame's and Suvi's relationship has. I really feel that if it had been Eursulon that had asked Ame to do "literally anything but touch the tarp" she would have listened because they've got years of bonding between them. Ame and Suvi knew each other for a few months as small children and it SHOWS with how often Suvi has practically begged Ame to not do something and Ame turns around to do it the second Suvi turns around. Suvi hasn't been perfect by any means, but at least she's trying to be better. Them calling themselves "true friends" has been absolutely WILD to me from the start because, imo, they've barely been normal friends. I'm curious and looking forward to seeing how, if at all, this might get addressed in near future episodes. Loved this episode! But on God if Fox gets hurt I'll riot
Using the Fox to look under the tarp was being discreet.
Hey I am BACK to say I LOVED THAT REVERSE BEAUTY AND THE BEAST MOMENT FOR SUVI. "*Step in to the light.*" And then SUCKER PUNCHING Yoren for all the years of long repressed *everything*. Yoren is hot as Flaming Hot cheetos- Brennan took Tolkiens "Looks foul, Feels Fair" and RAN WITH IT. How dare he be this hot. Love it, 11/10. There is always another side to the story, love getting the scalding tea - BUT FIRST: SUVI HERE GETTING HER PRINCESS MONONOKE ARC. - SEND IN THE SHAPECHANGERS TO DISTRACT WHILST YOU GO IN TO SAVE THE CHILDREN. NOTHING gets a group of hot, shape-changing vigilantes on board like "They're KEEPING CHILDREN." What else really matters when there are kids in danger? Even the Great Bullfrog has those morals. Brennan knows his group so well. He had Erika/Ame dead to rights with the trap in the square. The traps were set up to perfectly hit each point that should be an immediate trigger to the character - and depending on who fell for the trap, it would of course force Suvi to give herself up to even ATTEMPT to lessen the consequences for her friends. If only Ame had listened! Then again, Ame has yet to be caught until now, but never did I think the universe would roll it back in such a way - Clever Girl, Brennan/Keen. It was painfully poetic and sinister and - AH, Keen has become the GRADE A Current Main Villain of the arc. especially for Ame (very curious, especially if Keen manages to ESCAPE this arc alive, if Ame may fall to a bit of wickedness after such events happened for her and Fox.) Eursulon, 11/10, learn from the wizards: if you wait, you will win. He's expecting you to be impatient, and when you do not proceed as he plans, he will mess up! NOW - about that tea... "I deny it." What a guy, you have to appreciate his brevity. No rolls needed, that man did not kill those parents. And from my spine erupts a black, marbled tower. As Orthanc emerges, my singular, red-eyed gaze sweeps across the land to fixate squarely upon the Wizard Steele. "*MA'AM, I WOULD LIKE AN EXPLANATION.*" Now I wait, feral and giddy, for the eventual Mother/ Daughter face off in a Mustaphar-like scenario of fire and lava (but instead is mud and water, shout out 12-Brooks) where I am (hopefully) vindicated of my suspicion of Steele with a heart-shattering reveal where she DID have a hand in Soft and Stones demise, OR Brennan continues to death-by-1000-cuts me and Steele tells us NOTHING and we are all INFURIATED at her and will have to search for the truth a different way. Either way, shout-out to Brennan especially - I learned so much. You took us to an impossible, dead to rights lowpoint and I was here like "It's good Eursulon is locked in and playing it careful, but how TF are they going overcome THIS?" And there you were, waiting in the wings with Madonnas "Like a Prayer" on standby with Yoren like "Don't you even worry." Please dont let this be the last episode of the Arc, I need to know how this ends.
twelve… Sixteen… NINETEEN on the die
Brennan is so good. The Fox giving Ame advantage is gorgeous.
Best. Episode. Ever.
Also I am so pumped to re-listen from the beginning (for the 3rd time LOL) for all of the context and clues that I missed the first time.
I LOVE THIS DAMN STORY. Another ep that made me feel every emotion. Brennan is truly flexing his narrative muscles with this pod, and our players are expertly in step, and even switching our who is leading who at every turn. Such clutch moves all around. SPOILERS: I am so glad we got a Eioghorain reveal AND he seems... good? I haven't trusted Steel for a whiiiiiiiile now and this ep pushed me to believe we have a Mother Gothel situation. She could even be in the league of whispers at this point, since of course the citadel would want to keep an asset like her that once worked with troublemakers under their hand. IDK what I will do waiting two weeks for this chapter to continue. Keen needs punching asap!
How do you actually spell Yorens name again?
Eiorghorain (I had to look it up)
Brennan as the Fox: “can I sing louder?” Me on my second listen: BRENNAN YOU BITCH!
I was yelling at Brennan so many times on my second listen!
As a firm and avid believer of uncle yoren from the beginning, let me just say hahaha HAHA ha. thank you very much
Another episode leaving me in tears :) awesome :) keep it up
YOOOOOOOO
Why yes I have listened to this episode all the way through twice today and am contemplating a third. I thought I was all chill about the upcoming pause on this story but I can see the cliff coming fast and I know this crew is going to take us all right over it! 🫣🤯💥
Holy crap.
Banger episode - I also screamed "LETS go" into the void at the final line - but for some reason that I can't articulate, part of me is a little sad that Yoren isn't a bad guy? I truly don't know why that disappoints me
I hope that once they're able to save the children things are a bit more complicated than "he's a good guy now all the way". I imagine that their paths will diverge after 12 brooks and he might choose a more violent route than Suvi or Ame is willing to stomach in terms of the empire, which would still be really interesting.
YES! LET’S GO!
I was listening to this in my cubical and said out loud “oh no oh no!” When they were like “your senses are no longer in the fox” and my coworkers were really concerned. Had to resort to sending my friend “fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck”
HEY. I'D LIKE SILVER TO FIND A SHORT BRIDGE. AND WALK. this episode was amazing im broken inside but also yayyyyyy we have the new hottest character
Did we expect him to be any different though? Suvi took a risk that was bad :(
God fucking damn it, l hadn't paid attention to the spelling of Lydwyn, have you straight up called the river "Magic Sound"!?
The fox whine got me! It got me so bad the poor fox!!!! I have a lot of feelings about Ame falling into the trap. I wanna be mad, but it WAS a good trap. But I'm so proud of Eursolon NOT falling for his. Quest fever is potent but it's not always what's needed.
Idk it was a bad trap that Suvi/ Aabriya caught right away and I’m still mad about it lol
HEY WHAT THE FUCK
Listened to the episode walking through Edinburgh’s Old Town to meet a friend up at the parade ground/carpark/lookout outside the Castle so we could try to see however much of the planetary parade that was visible with the city’s light pollution. (Turns out everything visible to the naked eye could be seen!) But it felt very magical and mysterious to walk through, whilst listening to WBN, when the whole place was nearly devoid of other people. Started imagining it was the approach to the ruined castle above Twelvebrooks. Or that the square with the shrine stand off was just down a little from the ground we were sitting on. It’s very cool when the place you live in lends itself so readily to the fantasy stories that you’re drinking 🥹🏰🌌💙🤍
That sounds amazing 🤗
EIOGHORAIN IS A GOOD GUY AND HE’S HOT, W FOR THE HORNER CORNER
he's SO hot!!!!!!!
I was almost broken, yet here I stand. Great episode again.
I laughed with tears in my eyes and goosebumps all over my body, “Want some help?” “Yes.” And then shouted out loud, “LET’S GO!”
The choice for the score (not sure what the track would be called, but it's what plays when big moves in dire straits start happening, I'm not skilled enough to know what kind of brass instruments they are) is what gave me the goosebumps 😭
HOLY CRAP THIS IS INSANE
I gotta say I'm absolutely gagged rn lol
Loooove when Brennan gets to play just an out and out villain. DELICIOUS
Keen is my new least favorite villain
Screaming
Also, very happy Ame, and at least on a physical level only Ame, is feeling personal consequences for her actions, especially after Suvi’s warning. It feels like every other time Ame has done something that isn’t strategically wise/was unnecessarily risky and it blows up, other people suffer the brunt of the consequences.
That is A point that I hadn't considered yet and honestly it makes me a little less furious at her/ about the episode.... Hopefully in the aftermath of consequences , she'll stop doing stupid things.... or at least such blatantly reckless ones
Today’s tinfoil conspiracy: Soft & Stone placed gaeses on each other! When they realised how truly fucked the Citadel is, they vowed to hunt down those responsible, no matter what
I want them to still be alive real bad. I have a feeling Teffmet knows them.
All I can picture for Jorren is Jeffery Dean Morgan Edit: I forgot brennan described him as east Asian in the prologe, but I stand by personality wise Jeffery Dean Morgan style of character Edit 2: also Found out his name is spelled Eioghorain, which my American ass was never gonna be able to guess in 1000 years.
FYI, brennan said that he kinda looks like Toshiro Mifune. Ofc you can imagine him however you'd like, I certainly do for a lot of characters!
My brain is stuck on figuring out Keen’s inane comment. Is he saying generally the stuff she spoke about, the children, was inane, which tracks cause he is a horrible person. Or is he saying those things were inane towards the empire, meaning high ups know about the children and either directed it or don’t care.
I don’t know whether to blame Brennan or Taylor for having to hear the fox’s whine but I’m VERY UPSET with one of them 😭😭😭
the whine was one thing, but the subtle *CRACKING SOUND* was SO brutal 😭😭😭
I am losing my MINDDDDD over here!
So, anyone else wondering if Soft and Stone have been bound in some way and aren’t even dead?
Last 3 minutes, gripping my counter top jaw slack into immediate fist pumping screaming hell yeah!! What a fucking RIDE!!
It is midnight and I just screamed ‘LET’S GOOOO’ into the darkness
What an incredible episode! Also really enjoying the Eursulon and Vandal dynamic haha. Dreamteam. I hope they get up to shenanigans together next episode.
1st off "You want some help?" Me- shivers, then cackles "Suvie is no longer a wizard of the citadel, she is a wizard of the spirit!" 2nd off Need to hear the fireside chat after this one!!!!!
What the fuck, I am mentally and emotionally and spiritually overwhelmed right now in the best way possible
Keen is a Jason Isaacs character.
Yeah, full Lucius Malfoy fr
Holy crap. This episode. So good.
AMAZING episode 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾!! I'm totally speechless; I'm so freaking excited for the next episode AND the Fireside Chat for this one!! ((Also, can't wait for the fox plushie to be safe and sound in my arms because what the hell Brennan 😭😭????))
Fr I need my fox plushie 😩
Id love to be a fly on the wall next time suvi and Steel talk :D
Suddenly that speaking mirror setup feels very different
I am howling. OH MY GOD WHAT A TURN IF EVENTS. How, we, yep. All of that, all of that just happened! I can’t wait for the talk back because woooooooow. Brennan on so many levels woooooooow. Also, Taylor the second the music started playing in the final scene with Suvi I had goose bumps until the closing music started playing. (I am so mind blown that I think I need a nap.)
*tinfoil hat* the leadership of the Citadel (possibly Silence himself) ordered the hit on Soft and Stone. Compromised Steel to carry it out, though to what extent and by what means remains to be seen. Could be that she actually turned, could be that she was placed under a Geas. Could be that her head/eye wound was a result of being coerced and/or having her memory wiped, or that the wound was inflicted by Soft and/or Stone. Either way, if Soft and Stone were that compromised, I think the Citadel's decisions regarding fast-tracking Suvi to the leadership track, not to mention everything that earned the "princess" comments from several others, was equally a reflection of Suvi's talent as it was a means of keeping her as close as possible and trying to out-condition any rebellious instincts/tendencies she may have picked up from her parents.
I'm definitely thinking about all of the compulsion spells available to wizards - interesting idea about the wound. Maybe they popped a magic doodad in there to keep a spell on her. I was also thinking about the Chalices, wondering if the wizards would have their own version.
Taylor/ Jared... you are nasty, nasty sound editors 🤣 THE. STRESS. OF. LUCK. ROLLS. HURTS. DMS. WHO. ARE. PLAYERS. AS. WELL.
Man, I love it when a MC is like “whelp, I’m dead now, there’s no use in maintaining the facade of propriety anymore”. The joy I derived from that whole interaction almost makes up for the horror at the traps Keen set up for Ame and Eursalon. I swear, if the fox dies, I’m throwing hands. And oh boy, it was so cathartic to see Suvi finally go “They’re stealing CHILDREN.” Her justification machine is fully broken, there’s no excuse or filter left to see the Citadel as anything other than exactly what it is.
Another Banger!!!!! Congratulations, Congratulations, Good Game, Good Game, Good Game, .... Literally another 11 out of 10? like wtf?! 11/10 Hello, dearest Taylor and Jared, guess what? I am having *This-episode-is-too-short* syndrome. PS: This is a very very good thing! What ever is going on... I am happy to support it. - One Happy Fan!
I knew Brennan was going to get that dog
Oh, and Steel killed Suvi's parents
Can somebody please make a big detailed fan wiki I do not remember a fucking thing about the League of Whispers
The fandom wiki is pretty good, it has lots of useful time stamps.
holy moly. i cried when eioghorain gave suvi some water; i love that he turned out to be super kind!!! this episode is SO GOOD YALL
also. unrelated but does anybody know where we can submit questions for the fireside chats?
Anyone else thinking Steel is the reason Soft & Stone are dead now....
Yes and i am NOT WELL about it 🤢
Also, get your theories in now: what undercover cold war is Eioghorain fighting? My current guess is he’s liberating and recruiting Grenau to come help the Shapechangers unseat the Great Gaothmai Houses
I think Gaothmai have been subjugating spirits or banishing them as well in order to get a leg up on war, and Eioghorain is a full on Spirit Knight and is trying to come to defense of the Spirit world, and protect the balance. Bet you that he knows Grimoire.
Wooo, Brennan definitely brought his A-game this time around! Multiple moments in the second half of the ‘sode left me straight up with my mouth agape. Also Taylor? More like Tay-LORD! The score was fucking phenomenal!
This was such a brilliant episode! I loved Aabria's voice acting at the end 🐅 That "Yes." felt like such a war-cry, ferocious and determined. Beyond hyped for 12 Brooks 🤩
there are many things to say about this ep but it feels covered by the many (justified) screams. stellar work taylor, as usual. you nailed the dread and fear vibes so well i felt physically ill! (complimentary) however, i’ve gotta say the 12 y/o horse girl in me got heavily distracted when brennan said they were at a canter but the horse sfx was a trot (disappointed)
this is so damn niche and so funny, you're so right for this. I was wondering what felt off about that small fragment, I genuinely thought I was crazy. The 12 y/o horse girl and stablehand in me just reached through time when I read this comment like, OF COURSE! You're so rad for noticing this.
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, how dare you make something this good!?!? ahhhhhh
Holy $!&@‘ Taylor. The music on the button. What an ep.
The triumphant laugh I just let out at the end. Holy shit, this one was stellar.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Losing my MIND
SCREAMING
OMGODS this was sooo good! I'm so worried about the fox!
I’m so worried about Fox. I love him
Steel is super sus still
This episode had me feeling like I'd been at the movies watching the epic of the decade. So. Many. Feelings. The moves, the stakes, the scoring, the revelations. The last fucking "you want some help?". I litterally jumped and shouted.
IM SCREAMING WWWWWAAAAAAAATTTTTTT
This is the one of the most tense pieces of media I have ever experienced. Wizard Keen is horrifying and such an amazing villain. You all knocked it out of the park with this one. I imagine the quality of work from everyone listening collectively dipped to zero because we were so engrossed in this episode.
Insane peak episode all around. Congratulations to all involved
This episode was soooo good, also new DILF acquired at the end!?
dilf unlocked
Keen is so grossss oh my gosh I just want to see Suvi utterly squash him
I was doing dishes while listening and I kept yelling “kill him!” “Kill him!” And my partner had to come check on me.
Oh my god, what an episode. I reacted loudly so many time, couldn’t help it! People around me, looking at me like “what is happening to that girl?” World beyond numbers is what is it !!?
also the Society of Whispers being a total red herring for agents working against the Citadel is some FBI operation shit. The conspiracy is to make a fake conspiracy to hide the fact that there is actually no conspiracy and all the bad stuff is just part of the institution without the influence of outside actors.
🙃 truly
Well, dammit (affectionate), that made me cry. I didn't realize how hard a reunion with Eioghorain was gonna hit me
3 moments that made me yelp with excitement! "Why can't I hurt you" hit so hard and I definitely screamed before everyone else screamed! Amazing audio engineering btw
GASPED AND SCREAMED truly perfect ahhhh
HOLY FUCK THIS SHIT IS TOOOOO GOOOOOD. Fucking Keene being just an utter piece of shit, and Suvi meeting a BLAST from the Past, fuck two weeks is too damn long, I look forward to this pod more than I do my damn paycheck!
Trying not to cry in this Uber going to class. I LOVE THIS PODCAST SO FUCKING MUCH
HOOOOOLYYYY SHIIIIIIIIIT
Keane is maybe the creepiest most chilling villian ive met in a LONG time, thought I may throw up from excitment and fear. Y'all are TOO GOOD! The acting, the sound design, the soundtrack! I'm so not normal about this episode
MY JAW IS ON THE FLOOR omg screaming!!!
I knew Suvie would have to go against the empire at some point because Brennan hates organized structures of power and could never create something like the citadel without making his plays goals be to take it down, but holy
Me hours later: OH FUCK the TITLE
The way I screamed "YEAH!" and jumped up with a fist at the end. Also you don't FUCK WITH WITCHES. That man fucked around and is gonna find out so fucking hard.
I want him to understand just who he fucked with before he’s ripped apart. Also, while typing this I’m remembering the wizard that Grimoire just straight up ATE that one time and now I feel zero guilt…
I am being so normal about this episode!!!!! What?!?!? I’m not screaming?!?!? You’re screaming!!!!! 😱
I'm on minute 44 and I'm physically shaking. Everything up till now was stressful and terrifying but this moment is just different. My rage right now... oh no, honey.
oh i am so happy they are allying with the Shapeshifters. they are so fucked up and eat people but they are by far my favorite faction. they generally oppose/and are by the monarchies of Gaoth and the ongoing colonial encroachment of the Citadel on the Spirit. They remind me of historical terrorist freedom fighters like the IRA? Instead of car bombs they turn into monsters and that is just so so rad. I fucking knew Eioghorain didn’t kill her parents. He was simply too rad to be a straight up villain.
I’m literally screaming!!! The fox in the grasp of this awful wizard. Brennan WHYYYYYYYYY……. This is such prestigious storytelling.
Guys, if Brennan kills this fox I'm gonna throw up right now
This episode was NOT good for my blood pressure, lol. We love some unexpected allies! Let's go, Suvi! BLAZE DOWN THE REBEL PATH!
🗣️ I LOVE YOU ALL AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL BRAINS 😭😭😭 I literally screamed out loud when Eioghorain said "Want some help?" Very good
I was driving home with my dog and I screamed so loudly I think I scared her. Holy shit. And that was after I was cursing Brennan in for giving me the feelings about "you’re not dead yet and every day you get to figure out how you’re gonna do something in the horrible world that’s out there" ... which felt really trenchant right now. Oh my Gods. I was not prepared for that many feelings over the course of that episode. Wow
TAYLOR THE ENDING NOTE
I cannot stress this enough but I hate keane more than anything
He is an amazing antagonist. I hate him SO MUCH, and we've really only had two scenes with him.
GOOSEBUMPS CHILLS Multiple times but wow at the end too… And the emotional rollercoaster of the trap sprung… the threatened death of the fox… Silver’s betrayal…
REBEL SUVI HAS BEEN AWAKENED!!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 oh man, this confrontation in Twelve Brooks is gonna be so great, whenever it happens. I guess it kinda confirms Suvi’s worldview, the way she’s always harping on Ame not to trust people, that the moment Suvi opens up to someone other than her true friends, she gets totally burned. I want to believe that Silver was magically compelled to snitch when the prince or whoever realized Suvi and Ame and Eursulon were missing, but I’m not optimistic after his reaction to Suvi’s confession at the end of last ep. 😕 Also Taylor those little puppy whining noises under the fox being choked out by Keen were SO MEAN HOW DARE YOU 😭😭😭 if he’s not OK by five minutes into the next ep I think Ame is well within her rights to blow up the butcher shop and everyone in it js
Silver's a company man, I feel quite sure he reported out of his own volition
Wait but Eioghorain was the one who cursed Ame in chapter one! Why would he want Ame to forget about being the witch of the world’s heart?!? Ep. 14
This makes me wonder if the spell smell(tm) is indicating the source of the curse, or the nature of the curse. Is it possible Eioghorain is cursed in the same way as ame?
“I’m dead so why don’t we have every fun conversation simultaneously.” Damn Aabria!
The end of every single episode that has released in this chapter has given me chills
I am absolutely freaking out! So much new information to process including the detail - Stone and Soft split up. Steel one hundred percent lied about how they died - maybe one of them got away?
I thought he was saying that Soft & Stone split ways with Eighoran, not with each other?
WHAT IS THIS WHY IS THIS HOW IS THIS WHERE IS THIS WHEN IS THIS WHY ARE WE DOING THIS WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS
"It's okay, we broke up."
I hope Joren and the werefolk rip Keen to pieces. When he get's punched on the chest by a bear that will show him some humility.
Oh my god, this episode wrecked me in the best possible way! Well done to everyone, and I can’t wait for next week’s Fireside!
What spell do we think Keen put on the Fox when he started singing A Wandering We Will Go? We know the effect (paralysis), and presumably the trigger (voice/proximity to the trap), but what's the spell?
Hold Monster perhaps.
I want it on record that If steel killed soft and stone i will be Very Upset !!!!!!!! (Ive never wanted to be wrong more in my life)
You and me both.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAA (and I can’t stress this enough) AAAAAAH!!!!
Seconded
G O D S THAT ENDING !!! i s t g i Could Not Breathe that was so cool!!!
OB-fucking-SESSED not me internally screaming with impatience to hear more. this arc is so damn good!!! Suvi’s growth/radicalization! Getting closure! Ame’s increased patience and Eursulan’s clarity is just so so so so good makes me wonder if part of the ritual at 12 brooks is about creating another desert? to expand the empire?
Suvi's rebel arc has been like: 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 2, 9999999
I SWEAR TO ALL THE GODS, if STEEL ends up being the bad guy, I WILL SOB so fucking hard. Amazing episode!
Y'ALL ATE THAT! I'm not over exaggerating when I say this is my favorite story of all time. I love that we're getting Suvi's evolution in this arc and it's SO good. "You want some help?", I can't help but picture a camera panning around Suvi's head. Every memory about her parents, Wren, Steel, and Eioghorain replays in her head. The camera settles, focusing up in a super tight shot. She has absolute wolf eyes. "...Yes."
every part of this episode has me SCREAMING
"I don't like when you don't give me what I want" is such a shamelessly evil little-shit response! I loved it. All the worst things for Keen forever and ever, amen
I came here to point out this exact moment!
Is there something implied that if Eioghorain can't hurt Suvi then Steal can't hurt Suvi? Would that be why Steal raised Suvi to be a super soldier in her image?
i think its the pendant her mom made her
Fist pumping the air at the end of the episode. Why does the other wizard sound like Hans from inglorious basterds lol
Good Evening Madame Suvi !
I always knew the story steel told Suvi was not the full, or hell even accurate one. Citadel wizards in their majority have been gaslit by this institution since their induction. Silvers remarks about not knowing what he would do with other relationships and obligations was so telling. I’ve also secretly thought that Steel became the Sword because she perhaps killed Suvi’s parents for their treason. That’s worst case scenario but to me it makes sense. A sword is a symbol of justice. And the citadels idea of justice solely protects them as an institution.
I hate you all (complimentary) got me emotional out in public, yet again. gave a much too loud gasp at the fox's bone-crunch & whimper (how dare you Taylor). literally fist-pumping at the "you want some help?...... YES" exchange. thankfully I'm so keyed in on the story I can only perceive a few of the crazed head turns I create. can't wait to do it again in 2 weeks 🙃
This. Precisely.
My neighbors must be concerned about me because the way I kept yelling at this episode and I'm not even halfway through
I started listening at work and nearly shrieked when Brennan had them rolling luck. Fortunately I was in the car when Keen showed up so my very loud profanity was not heard by anyone.
Okay Aabria was right, motherfuckers with harpsichord solos when they walk in the room are bad news.
🤣
Spec-TACULAR. The storytelling chops you all have. I'm in awe. It's like experiencing the plot of an Oscar-winning movie but fully improvised as it's being shot. There is nothing else like this show on the face of this Earth.
NAH MAN THIS SHOW GOES HARD
Full predator handshake moment between Suvi and Eioghorain is so good haha
every episode that comes out becomes my new favorite as soon as i listen, oh my god this was fantastic!!!
Oh man that horn blast after "YES" knocked my fucking socks off. Hell yeah Taylor!
The Wizard Keen's cover-my-drink energy SKYROCKETED in the most disturbing, distressing way. He bound, gagged, and magically drugged Ame after threatening to have her killed or beaten to unconsciousness. Truly vomit-worthy.
Fingers crossed that someone can drag him to the Spirit Realm and hand him off to Orima or the like.
The way I screamed YES! at the end, right before Suvi did 😭 I'm going to have to learn to spell Eioghorain without googling it every time now, aren't I?
I did the same thing
I just wandered around my house, headphones on, slack jawed the whole hour and a half! And that final music was🤌
By the Great Bear soo much frustration and boondongling on how good this is!
These episodes always leave me in tears, its so epic!!!!!!
This episode felt so short! The pure joy and excitement on my face as he said, "Want some help?" Ahhhhhh! (Also, short time listener, first time commenter... One of my partners introduced me to WBN in November, I immediately fell in love, joined the Patreon [my first time on Patreon too], and listened to nothing else until I caught up sometime in January, and for a while, I noticed that my internal monologue was in Brennan's voice. That was fun.)
Screaming, crying, and throwing up. The end of this episode fueled me with the power to punch through 10 concrete walls. 10/10
It's been so interesting watching Suvi go from mildly subversive choices to straight up betrayal of the empire's cause, allying with enemies of the citadel because there's more important things than the rules. I genuinely love it. That's growth
OH MY GOD!
I say this with love, and loving the move but AME PLZ CHILL ONCE
AND LISTEN TO SUVI!! PLEASE.
FIRE!! God damn!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Thank y'all for this brilliant series.
Eioghorain truthers unite! Hot Old Man Revolutionary Fighter!?!?
even my aggressively aroace brain was like "...oh? [eyebrow waggle] okay, handsome..." when he showed up
If anything happens to our cinnamon rolls I will riot!! Also image the bad guy nor actually being the bad guy.
My face also made lots of fun expressions listening to this which my colleagues were probably worried about
I literally screamed as soon as Brennan said "You want some help." The vibe, the score, chills ran up my arms like electricity. SO good!
Somehow laughing and crying at the same time
Yep. Whooo, they do work that magic!
This was a baller episode, my heart rate is through the roof but this was such a baller episode
This was fucked up
"Want help?" Enemies to allies! Enemies to allies! ENEMIES TO ALLIES!!!
I AM SCREEEEEAAAAAAMING. The lore drop this episode was JUICY AF. Once again, thank you most sincerely for sharing your skills, giving of your time, and talents as storytellers with us.
"It's okay, we broke up" SCREAMING, AAAAAAAAAAAAHA
Aabria's affect on that line... :: Chef's kiss::
With (affectionate) feeling: FUCK YOU BRENNAN
Again, with (affectionate) feeling: FUCK YOU
This episode was an attempt on my life, I’m on the FLOOR
Cannot wait to hear this episodes Fireside!🐆💯🖖😎
I KNEW IT. Steel you have so much to answer for! Also WBN soundtrack for sale when?? I kept getting deep into it and thinking I was in RoTK. Absolutely incredible.
God this episode made me wanna throw up from all the anxiety😂😂😂
Being in a public place and not able to stand up and cheer at the end is the hardest thing I’ll do this week. YES TEAM!
EVERY EPISODE IS THE NEW BEST EPISODE HOLY SHIT AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAH fuck yes let's fuckin go Suvi (so worried for Ame) - also what happened to the shield that Eurselon cast? Maybe Keene overcame it?
Sleep is a spell with no attack roll or saving throw
“Speak with Animals” WHAT A TITLE
I AM CHEWING ON THE WALLS
Wow wow wow y’all are excellent. How does this story continue getting better and better each week wow
Also Eioghorain capturing her but not recognizing her is so fucking funny
What the actual fuck my dudes!!!
The griddle was HOT for this one
Yo can anyone remind me what the league of whispers deal was? Been a little while lol
The League of Whispers was thought to be a group of wizards trying to undermine the Citadel from within and cause its downfall. As we've learned today they were trying to shift the focus unto presumably less ethical magical endeavors. Soft, Stone and Steel were part of a group that called themselves the Acadator, who secretly tried to root out the League and basically undermine the underminers. Most of the lore info on this comes from Ame's flashback with Grandma Wren in episode 15, if I remember correctly.
TAYLOR MOTHERFUCKING MOORE
The wizard Keen is such a creep. I'm so happy to see Brennan pointing out Ursulon not rushing in after Ame as a huge point of growth he was clearly not expecting. Kick his ass next week
Oh my God that was so good. I thought the dramatic pauses were going to kill me but it just kept getting better . Two killer endings in a row. Amazing job by Taylor and the team for making the ending of the last 2 episodes make me jump and cheer.
Keen sucks. Count frolo type behavior
Judge
HE SAID "YOU WANT SOME HELP"??!!! TAKE ME TO TWO WEEKS FROM RIGHT NOW IMMEDIATELY
"YES", we love you Aabria!
FUCK THAT WAS SO GOOD
now the hard part is waiting 2 WEEKS😭😭😭😭😭😭
Brennan you son of a bitch I'm in
Love Erika's pause, "whimsically throwing up!" Lolol
This has nothing to do with anything right now but I'm gonna lose it if Soft & Stone's deaths were Citadel coverups that Steel knew about the whole time
Theres no way she doesn't know!
God I love an episode where I'm cussing Brennan out every 10 minutes. Fantastic work as always team!💛👏🏾
Wow. What a twist! I’m excited for this unusual and unexpected team up. This does increase my suspicion of steel even more.
MIND BLOWN! This is AMAZING! I need more! How am I supposed to wait two weeks for the next episode?
I can’t stop screaming!!!!!!
Just finished the ep- screaming into my pillow
Eioghorain!!!!!!!!!!!
Holy moly this episode!!!! This episode. I can't even.
"I thought she told you not to frighten her child" !?!?!?!? QUEEN SHIT QUEEN SHIT QUEEN SHIT
Why does Erika always do this…
Agreed. And, it seems characteristic of the young Witch of the World's Heart. I would love for Ame to play a bit more strategically, but I do think it's realistic for someone so trusting of the world. It does pose some very interest character and relationship development between Ame and Suvi.
Ame thought she was still in her ghibli movie having the fox sing like that 🤦🏾♂️
Once again Ame, this is not a place of breakfast!
BRENNAN.
OH MY GOD.
'Roads are like graves, they are made of dirt and the space you fill'?!?!? jeeeeezus chrisps,I'm excited AND scared to listen. That sentence is the hardest thing I've ever heard.
I'm only 40 minutes in and I am SO STRESSED WTF 😭😅
You spoil us😭we don’t deserve this level of quality so consistently😭❤️
Yay💯🦋😻
Players creating their own whimsical moments to push back against the pressure applied by the GM! 🤌 OMGOMGOMGOMG!!! What an episode! I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING. NONE OF IT. Episodes like this are why this crew is understood to be the best in the game.
I haven’t been this enthralled by a podcast since TAZ Balance— and this goes harder and deeper by far. I’m not even reading fantasy novels right now because this is the best fantasy series out right now.
Let's go get these kids, y'all.
Holding my breath and closing my eyes like a kid trying to handle a vaccine shot every goddamn roll. Jesus Christ that is torture
I guess I'm just holding my breath and closing my eyes yeah... it's summer where i live, and my hands are hella cold
'I'm gonna Keen that Fox!' Brennan you monster! (I love you)
Let's goo! Also whoever writes the episode descriptions, 10/10.
Ooo I’m excited!
Taylor. Taylor. STAHP. You’re making the rest of the pod production world look like hacks.
Time for whimsy
Umm....
Well I WAS going to go to bed but....
Preemptively saying WHAT AN AMAZING EPISODE I WAS ABSOLUTELY FLOORED BY TAYLOR’S EDITING
And allow me to preemptively say BRENNAN, WHAT THE FUCK? Just need a comment about dice rolls and I think we have everything covered. 🤣