[PUBLIC EPISODE] The Wizard, the Witch and the Wild One: ep049 "The New World"

Returning to Brennan's description of flight today, on the morning of my uncle's funeral. He was a keen paraglider, and I'll be reading High Flight by John Gillespie Magee Jr, a poem he read at the funeral of his father, my Grampo, who was an RAF pilot-in-training at the end of WWII (six weeks from getting his pilot's licence, he would always lament). Grampo in turn was the son of a balloonist with the Royal Naval Air Service in WWI, responsible for keeping watch over the ships from his lofty perch in a hydrogen balloon. My family it seems has only the most tenuous tether to the ground (not to mention a cackle that transcends generations) and I'm honoured to be a descendant of a glorious bunch of witchy aviators.

I knew for a fact that I was very emotionally attached to this story very early on, but it was really reinforced when I full on immediately began weeping at the moment Buckles’ name was mentioned. It hit me like a truck and I had to cover my mouth at work so I wouldn’t make a sound about it. Y’all are doing great work over there

I don't see a transcript on this one. Does it exist somewhere?

Telneket a little too similar in naming conventions to a certain Antivolist we know or is that just me?

"Every inch I move in this Citadel, someone always has a great reason to protect people from accountability, from knowledge and from clarity. Everybody's got a a vested interest in putting up walls and fog in a place who's sole purpose is to bring light to the world..." YOU DON'T SAY... TELL US MORE ABOUT PROTECTING SOMEONE FROM CONSEQUENCES THEY'VE EARNED, STEELE. Ugggghhhh, the hypocrisy in this character is too well woven and infuriates me.

I’m not even done yet and good goddess, I’m crying in the store.

Where do I find the transcript of this episode? Suvi says something I can't quite understand at some point and I want some clarification. I've been directed to the Patreon from multiple sources but cannot find them and links just take me to the Patreon page and not the actual transcripts. I found some transcripts, but they stopped in Chapter 4 as far as I can tell.

On a relisten, that Steele mf'kr fkd with/interpreted Coven of the Wicked curses with all that star knowledge she got Suvi to steal (the poetry when I realised that Skye stole the stars...), and got fkd 3-fold by them, didn't she!? You can't just be ending bloodlines without consequences, my guy! Bonus theory; she's also known Indri all along.

Three things I love: 1) The choices Eursulon was presented with in terms of kids to interact with, it's letting Lou choose his battles and how he wwants to manage the challenge of freedom in light of those unready to embrace it fully. 2) Suvi getting to explore the hypocrasy and favouritism of the Citadel and the delusional goals that fuel it's worst excesses. 3) Ame getting to become the stereotypical witch that makes Erika cackle in real life. ^.- A.G.

also? also!! just Steel saying that they stole the kids from their homes?? that they just didn’t keep track of where they came from??? what the fuck and just the ease at saying those words even in passionate rage like that. I so badly wanted Suvi to say something like “it was wrong when they took you too” even if Steel would have no way to absorb those words

it’s insane that the PCs only really interface with what’s essentially a middle manager of the Citadel other games would have the party go directly against the Big Bad Emperor, but this isn’t other games. their most feared Op being a high-ish ranking individual really gives depth to the power of the Citadel as a whole. I would’ve never thought that holding back a greater power (like the actual dictators) would actually create higher stakes

Taylor I hear your Rhapsody in Blue inspiration in the cottage introduction. Love it!

They made me cry again, these freakin goobers 🥺

Fascinated by Brennan coming in hot with the Emperor giving major Ahashverosh energy

The whole Steel/Suvi conversation takes a new light if you remember that it's a mirror of (the same conversation) they had in after Ame and Eursulon escaped from Citadel where Steel had THE GALL to complain that people (especially Suvi) kept secrets from her "this whole place is full of lies and secrets" while keeping biggest ones for herself.

I find it interesting that Suvi's answer to Steel about killing that guy was "he attacked first," and not, "he was going to kill the kids." I feel like that could show Suvi's similarity of mentality with Steel; that self-defense was a more understandable answer [?].

Was it intentional that Steel calls her Suvi and not Sky? I don't remember Steel receiving Suvi's true name -The Wizard Scamp

Brennannnnnnnnn!!!! Taylorrrrrrrr!!!

Fucking Niamh. Making me cry in the supermarket

Just need to tell you all that I was listening to this ep in my car and when I heard “hey, I’m Buckles!” I fully screeched “BUCKLES” at the top of my lungs like a lunatic and then had to pause and rewind to hear what the heck they were saying

thinking about how Suvi gave her name to someone who has now been banished to the remotest part of the Empire because of her. surely, this will never be a problem

Dammit. I have been saving and saving episodes and abstaining from listening all I can and now I’m finally caught up. What am I supposed to do now?

i need to ask: will any of you ever write a book? i would love to just be immersed in a fantasy novel with this level of incredible storytelling

Steel really said that being taken from her home as a child was so bad that she’s spent the rest of her life fighting to make it worthwhile… and that is why it’s okay if kids are taken from their homes on her watch. You’ve gotta be really smart to be that accomplished a hypocrite. Bravo to Brennan

theres at least one moment an episode this chapter where i have to pause because im screaming, there were multiple this episode but the one currently on repeat in my head is a certain frog boy saying hi. the payoffs from each of these gifted storytellers are so damn satisfying i literally have to scream. my favorite storytellers and podcast

Wizard Steal the show

Just got to this ep. Damn that cackle tho. Erika’s laugh got me again. Tears of joy.

This episode was awesome. I can't wait for the fireside.

The way Steel described THAT future specifically reminded me of their comment about Umura being a dream... idk! The whole thing gives me the vibe that what Steel is planning will lead to breaking the barriers between the Spirit and the "real world" and causing A LOT of death both way... or perhaps I just watched one too many telenovelas with my nona growing up so now I just have a flare for the dramatic

Ok it's taken a few days but I've finally Steeled myself to listen to this episode (pun fully intended). Eeeeeeeek

You guys never miss.

any-mutha-fucken-ways, steel killed suvi's parents. Also, steel's love seems conditional.

This show has the power to make me feel bad for a snitch like Silver

Oh sweet! New ep out! Surely I won’t weep with the weight of the world! /extremely positive

"Cool motive. Still murder"

After every new episode, I have to just sit there for like 5 mins and process what just happened. I can't remember the last time I didn't literally scream out loud during a new episode of this insanely immaculate show, and most of the time I find myself crying as well. The RANGE of this story never ceases to amaze me. I'm so grateful for the chance to witness some of the world's best storytellers at work. Thank you, thank you, thank you, WBN cast and crew!!!!

“I fought like a woman who still had the chance to save her daughter.” Tears spiked in my eyes. I felt that. I could completely place myself there with my own daughter. Unbelievably compelling.

Me at minute 1: Yippee, new ep, let's go! Me at 47 minute mark: Why are my eyes all wet, what the heck?

Mr. Moore, dear Sir, can you please drop the unedited audio of the moment that a certain Grenouille translator is introduced. I would love to hear the spontaneous gasps I assume happened. Thank you.

"The world that comes after is gonna need you- it's not gonna need me". Steel 🤝 Neverafter princesses 🤝 Kelmp. Gets me every time.

Take home message: Steel is one of the most badass characters ever created and it’s going to be real hard to face the fact that she’s got to be stopped because I think she’s planning to take over the whole damn world, bind all the spirits, and kill the emperor. Mage-ocracy utopian apocalypse is real!

is anyone else re-listening to the story from the beginning before the last few episodes of this book to break their own heart or is it just me?

Steel’s “I’m going to tell you everything” speech gave REALLLL “I’m about to die” energy from a show writing perspective. Not accusing of scripting, just a heavy foreshadowing.

The people of Toma gathering supplies for the children has big Come From Away vibes.

If your dream future requires you to kidnap children and steal their powers, I'm not exactly sure that's a good future to dream of. Amazing episode. Can't wait to see how Suvi moves forward knowing that her mother for all intents and purposes is okay being monstrous towards others in the name of empire.

Is Steele saying she would kill Sky if she couldn't cover it up?

Phew! I finally finished the ep and the conversation with Steel at the end reminded me of the bit with The Operative towards the end of Serenity: "I'm a monster. What I do is evil. I have no illusions about it, but it must be done."

Checking to see if there’s any Steel/Jack Nicholson in “a few good men” comparisons here yet

Maybe it's because I was just rewatching Howl's Moving Castle, but the emperor gives big "The King" vibes when he walks in on Howl impersonating him in front of Madame Suliman

There were so many great moments in this episode but my personal favourite was the interaction between Eursalon and Lohan and the following confusion about the "great workings of the Witch of the World's Heart". That realisation that the people of Toma don't know anything about the grand importance of "The Witch of the World's Heart" is such an endearing detail.

The emperor is so "royally removed" in the most comical way, I love it.

Dude I’ve never and will never fuck with steel. Cog of the war machine. I know she’s mom but like … dude she wiped out a bloodline TODAY sew…

Nif has been aged up dramatically. She was initially described as a tiny little girl, then they realize she is older than she looks and probably around 13. Now suddenly she's turning 18, and I wonder if that is because they realized abandoning a traumatized child was a bad look. I mean, she has the spirits, but her attachment is to Ame.

As everyone here is saying, the scene with Suvi and Steel is masterful. Every time we've taken space away from her it feels so clear how evil the citadel is, and as soon as I hear her voice she activates so easily the fear that there was actually a Right Way to do things given The Big Picture that just so happens to include total obedience. What's tragic to me is she may well be the Citadels kindest compromise, as many people who enact terrible policy are- what was supposed to happen to house Raunza? How many more are there like Keen?- and the fact that Suvi gets so much grace and Silver's life is over *is* genuinely unfair. I believe she doesn't want to hurt Suvi and is covering for her out of genuine fear that she'll be made to hurt her. It's mind boggling how no matter what happens, she more than any other npc totally informs a radical perspective shift that is truly human and always entirely outside of what I could imagine.

Big Mama Rose energy from Steel this ep. SING OUT SUVI 🗣️ (on a more serious note, that was one of my favorite scenes in the series so far. Seeing how much Steel has sacrificed of herself, perhaps to the point of literal heartlessness (or heart-over-there-ness), is fascinating in how both human and monstrous the arc of her choices are. She’s the citadel personified: a justification machine running on pressurized orphan trauma fumes. “You have to take this when I can’t carry it anymore” knocked me out!

Was everyone in the room for each scene or is this the first time they're hearing each other's parts?

Thank you 🙏

I'm waiting for the day when grown up Ame calls a re-vote for the coven to move against the citadel

THE BROTHER BUCKLES

Task absolutely needs to learn "Mirror Image" and it has to be called "Multi Task".

BUCKLES!

Brennan's opening cackle/broom monologue was very Pratchett. Very delightful. The spirit of 'discworld' is well and truly still alive.

The Man is Black aka The Pilgrim Under Stars is a travel spirit, and he was going to task Eursalon with freeing the children anyway. Why shouldn’t he be the one to take the children home?

When Ame broke through the cloudtops into the clear night sky all I could think of was Indri. Watching... unaligned and wishing only to be a coven of one. Where is she going to pop up?

The great Bullfrog was a test run. The secret plan is to seperate from the spirit world entirely I think. The lingua arcana is their sanatized and sheltered potion of magic they plan to defend from the atom bomb of whatever it is they are building to unteather the world from the spirit world. Steele sees this as a tool to end the shapeshifters, the sorcerers, and spirits who she sees as the source of all trouble. Heck the Citadel is literally a man made desert. Of course she would call it peace...

Guys I’m pretty sure the first 5 minutes were for me. Right?? RIGHT?!?!?! 🙃

When will the next episode be uploaded to YouTube? It's a few episodes behind and my mom keeps bothering me. 😂

An assortment of thoughts: Steel is so good at conveying her emotion and opinion without giving any information. very good Opsec, also very frustrating. Every time the Pilgrim Under Stars meets Eursalon I get more excited. Will our Knight turn and meet him or walk side by side? Story’s gotta story but how is Ame’s broom keeping up with the Epiphany?

For some bone cone, can we get the cast reaction to Buckles' appearance?

Okay, so I saw a comment suggesting the fly by is a trap of some sorts. What if the witches and man in black don't attack the citadel directly, but attack the empire during the " fly by"... I think steel and the league r planning on overthrowing the empire anyway... So trap for steel , cause the witches know she's weak. The witches break into citadel and free all the spirits including that dragon from twelvebrooks. They then take the spirits on an attack of steel and the empire... That would be crazy af

I cannot understand by the life of me how Steel is talking to Suvi like she needs to keep lying, masquerading, hiding the truth when Suvi JUST FUCKING TOLD HER that she works best with all truths on the table. Steel does not understand the type of person Suvi tells her she is and or wants to be. She doesn’t want to hide her truths or the Citadelles. She just said she NEEDS to know the truth. This is so twisted of Steel. What an amazing conversation! I am so invested and want to stay in Suvis corner for support during all of the stuff that’s gonna come. Also we just need to see the flat of her parents!

I want to trust Steele so badly. But I don’t. I don’t trust her. She’s just…too deep.

So when Brennan does a voice and it’s just his voice that character is ALWAYSBAD. Fuck Steele. Genuinely fuck her. I’m so tired on behalf of Suvi. Isn’t it such a wonderful a feeling when I accomplish things you dreamed of? Isn’t it so great when your irrelevance results in my importance? You know — for you. Because for me this is breaking my soul.

Question for Brennan: how long have you been thinking about this convo between Suvi and Steel? Steels whole dialogue felt so well crafted and thought through but also so deeply emotional and raw (especially for someone without a heart?)

Just came here to say, Its trolleys all the way down! (Both for this episode and because i constantly am thinking about the crazy enlightening and funny things these amazing people say and i don't have people who understand it)

Swag

That fly by is a trap. Steel's "Ill tell you everything when we get home." Comment sealed it.

Does going to Karo mean we get to save Ghost???

I am begging, begging BEGGING you guys to release the Witch's theme music (and the rest of the music <3)

Would be a shame if Ame broke into the Kasov Collection and cause another Soft Incident.

THE MOMENT Steele dangled the carrot and says "I'll tell you everything when we get home" I know for a fact that we are NEVEr hearing her speak of such things ever. There's no way something won't happen so that will never hear her speak about it and I'm so mad.

BUCKLES😭🥺

If the podcast is audio only, how am i supposed to make a Suvi edit to Mayday by Sparkbird :(

BUCKLES!

I love this story so much. Such amazing character arcs! And so happy about buckles!!!

Brennan channeled years of camp counselor for that scene with the Grenaux and Eursalon

I am not done with the episode yet, but I genuinely just teared up when they revealed Buckles was okay 😭

Were the other players in the "room" when each player had their individual scenes?

Steel 😥 pls don't join the league of whispers you're so hot haha

Thank you all. I listened to this episode ON A PLANE! It was exactly the flight time from Venice to London. As I was taking off - wham! - straight into Ame riding her broom for the very first time. Niamh’s story with Eursulon talking about recording the children’s stories and her own experience of being taken had me balling - real, giant, silent tears from both eyeballs. This episode made me feel how young she was. I’m a teacher and I remember being so lost with only six 8 year olds - let alone 80 traumatised and terrified kids! Then Lou doubles down with the feels on how this is home after he was lost and abandoned. Then everyone in Toma pulling together support for Ame - the goodness of humanity never fails to make me cry…! Holy smokes, this was some fine acting from the WWW, & the World. Much love to you all, cheerio & toodle pip from good old Blighty!

Brennan: "Can you please describe the feeling that Ame feels when taking to the sky? Erika: *cackling*

Also, what a way to throw your kids under the bus, Steel. Outright admitting that you play favorites with your kids. I know we talk a lot about empire and industry and capitalism around Suvi character, but I love love the recurring theme of unconditional love around her.

The absolutely heartbreaking moment of steel Flipping sir currans’s monologue about taking danger into oneself so others don’t have to is killing me.

What a ride 😭 the music for Steel always sends a chill down my spine and makes me feel like, to quote Lou Wilson, "I'm gonna throw up" 🥹

I'm very excited to another talk between Eursalon and Orema (forgive me, I haven't seen her name spelled). I wonder what it was that made Eursalon think of requesting her aide and not that of her husband or even perhaps that of his own father, the Great Bear - a conversation I dearly hope is had later on.

oh, my heart. everything with suvi and steel here is so much sadder to me than the sad episodes. it's not so much too close to home as it is deeply true to our world in a way that makes me feel both. dear storytellers, I trust you to show me here how to hold in Umora what is so hard to hold on Earth. 💝

Taylor, we require the scream cut. Assuming all the players were present for at least some of these scenes I know there were some gasps and screams and we must hear them. Especially at “Hi I’m Buckles”

Goddamn, Mr. Moore...that Flying Broom theme knocked me on my ass! What a perfect piece of music for that moment! Also shout out for the Philip Glass-esque opening to the Epiphany!

The gasp and unbidden tears at "Hi, I'm Buckles" oh Brennan how dare you?!

Also the emperor is fully the king from Howl. Canon.

MY HEART HURTS. Also, listening to Steel at the end all I could think of is “You WANT me on that wall! You NEED me on that wall!”

oh steel tooooootally killed soft and stone huh

There are no words, this is such a great story with such amazing people in it! So much love for this group!!

Mommy war crimes has been drinking her imperialist propaganda koolaid

Ya know... Steel is turning out more and more like Ambessa. Problematic generals corrupting their own children..... I know they are bad. But I love them both

I fell down and cried

ONE OF ELEVEN ?!?!

I’m in tears at the goodness of people in Toma

Honestly, I wish Buckles hadn't been there. Before we knew he was there we could believe that the interlude took place in a different time, but now that we know it means other things are true. There IS a rotund man under that pile of bodies. A young spirit working in the weaver's guild suddenly felt the death of the GBF. Young Jay was probably killed in the fighting.

Damn, the wizard steel’s character complexity is so impressive. Way to go wbn team for building such real characters

Also. With everything steel is talking about at the end, I get the feeling that the citadel being a knife in the heart of the world is intentional. They are trying to build a world without spirits, they have some justification for it I'm sure, perhaps they're even trying to replace them.

So..... She's literally heartless... Right? Through some arcane or magic means she has removed her heart from her body, which allows her to be the sword of the citadel. It's the only way she's gotten past the horrible things that she's had to do, and now she can't understand why suvi reacts the way she does. Probably done as a reaction to losing suvi's mother. Who would not return.... Who hell, is probably with the antivali.

The little whoosh-swish sound after "I wanna learn to sword fight!" was so in tune with my imagination at that moment that I had to go back to see if I had imagined it. Just one example of all the little things that add up to pure magic. Bravo!

Yo... I think the finale of this book is the witches and the man in black attacking the citadel... I'm not ready for what kind of damage that will bring. The witches have been silent for too long since Coven arc... I would bet two baguettes

I want to see neif become witch of the wayward souls and spirits. She seems like she’d be great at keeping track and caring for the people and things in life that slip through the cracks.

Is it just me or did anyone else listen to Steel and immediately think of Eioghorain’s conversation with Suvi about how war and fighting for the world you want to see can turn you into a monster? Cause I’m really feeling like Steel and Eioghorain are two sides of the same coin fighting on opposing teams.

Could part of the reason why Suvi is so scared of failing be because failing means she loses her home? Suvi’s biological parents are dead and her adoptive mom is deeply tied to the Citadel. Would that means that while Suvi was growing up, there could have been a deep and legitimate fear that failure means not only disappointing her mom, but also losing all ties to family she has. I know Wren would take her in if asked but it seems clear from the story that failing out means you are immediately shunted to a different, less kind/glamorous part of the empire apparatus for magical people. So Suvi probably wouldn’t have a way or change to get to Wren. And given that non-Citadel imperial forces don’t come on the Citadel grounds outside of a raid, I think there could be a legit chance that she’d never see her family again.

The ending with steel is absolutely minding blowing, pay attention to her words. And the use of possession. It surely seems like steel as switched sides well before suvi’s parents died

I FULL ON believe Silver killed Suvi’s parents

The moment with Eursulon on the porch with the other spirits of the cottage truly seeing each other dam near made me ball my eyes out

Steel is giving big Howl vibes wrt her heart like Ma'am, what did you do with it and did you do it freely or is it being held against you as a way to manipulate you into obedience?? Also her casual dismissal of her own children in order to get Suvi onto an even higher and more precarious pedestal, truly a master class in weaponising guilt and familial loyalty. And she just straight up forgot about 80 civilian children she left in a basement to rot??? Nobody is doing it quite like Steel.

SPOILER: Wait I remember Buckles being 7 in the one shot and Brennan said he was 11 here, meaning he could have spent up to 4 YEARS in captivity??? It's not guaranteed that he was taken right after the events of the one shot but if the shortest lived captives were there for about a month it stands to reason some of the first kids were there much longer....

the lead up and then release of Ame's cackle brought to tears of joy right at the beginning

Question for Brennan: I'm sad.

What are the odds steel has been cursed by the king of night? Like he knew she was going to kill the Lord of house Rownza and sacrifice him to curse her.

Suvi is such a perfect example of how fragile empire is. If only one summer in the home of people who care and a breif reuniting in adulthood can undo years of indoctrination. For steel it all has to be worth it because if the truth is, it isnt, then the amount of suffering, misery, and death is an unbearable weight. Its probably way more complicated than steel killed suvis parents but if her actions lead to their deaths, it definitely solidifies the deep and total buy into the citadel, the desire to prop up suvi as much as possible, and the need for everything to have been "worth it" for this supposed future.

Taylor, ye lord of sounds, I, a humble listener, would like to inquire as to when we may receive a full soundtrack, please 🥹

my tummy hurts oof

Sure, make me cry a couple times and then hit me with “Hi I’m Buckles”? My heart.

Brennan describing the memory of the scullery maid confessing her feelings to the other scullery maid held within the broom… out here pushing the tears out that Ame’s whooping cackle right at the start had brought to my eyes, aaaaa!!!

I fully believe with my whole heart that Taylor had to edit Aabria or Erika snorting/and or making comments about Brennan's description of the broom at the beginning.

I haven’t even finished the episode but had to jump in to say what a banger of a melody when the emperor was announced. Taylor, it scared me but also thrilled me!!!

I don't like Steel's speech at the end. Super ends justify the means vibes. I'm terrified what she's gonna show Suvi.

The entire ame flight with the witches theme I was so distracted by my intense want to just like. Have the music of this campaign to listen to. Like the emotions just from the music and connection there I just ahhhhhhh

Oh my heart, hearing Eursulon try and care for all those traumatized little kids…!

Anyone else getting brainwashed cult leader vibes from Steel? No just me? Also WHERE THE HELL IS HER HEART?

If you guys ever see a grown man on a ladder crying, just know it's probably me listening to WBN.

So good! That Moment when Steel asked Suvi why she could find the Ring now and never before, I audibly gasped... I never understood how Steel or the Citadel could just let Suvi be undetectable without prodding or even questioning that fact. It seems like such a risk regarding Suvi's safety - and also which megalomaniac mageocracy could ignore such a tasty mysterium in their midst? I guess I'm waiting for a sinister boot to drop on why exactly Suvi is handled and groomed so carefully - and why Steel is so hyperfixated on her future role in the Citadel. (Also the Opposition of Wren's unconditional love and Steel's constant pressure... uugghhh. Perfection)

"You have friends everywhere" made me think of Andor

Okay finally listened to the whole episode, and oh man I’m so excited for Eursalon and his path, growing as a spirit of freedom. I’m excited for Ame and her path, and how she is growing as a Witch. I’m so sad for Suvi, and her path. Not just because she’s been groomed to the Wizard way, but because Steel sees that there are other influences in Suvi, and she can’t conceive that they’d be positive. She cannot seem to understand that there would be more choices than the sword of the Citadel for Suvi. And then to put down her own children before even giving them a real chance. *sighs*

I also think now the citadel is going to overthrow the empire in the hopes of "Lasting peace"

Relistening the 42th episode and realising : KEEN MADE THE DISPELLING AGENT ?? That peace of 🤬 mother 🤬... !

incredible ep! the last third was an incredible rendition of Cog Talk and Paprika dream logic

Taylor, I love the music used in moments of levity in Toma or at Eursalon’s family home. It is so playful, whimsical and comforting 💗

The way Steel had to directly face the issue of the kidnapped children and say “yeah, we were kidnapping children, ALRIGHT??” As if it was not a big deal at all in the grand scheme of things. The justification is just institutional narcissism. To dismiss and deny the significance of individual lives is possible for institutions and for people, like Steel, who can unmake an entire blood line of people with a few flicks of her wrist. This does come down to priorities and perspective and things are bad in the Citadel.

Steel is bad 🙃

It's going for her heart but it won't find it???!!! WHERE/WHAT DID STEEL DO TO HER HEART

BUCKLES!!!! The gasp I just let out lol My wife came into make sure everything was ok 🤣

Anyone else feel like Steel killed Sky's parents and that speech was really about that? She has to kill her best friends to save herself and show loyalty

Sweet baby boy Buckles!!

Ahoo hoo cackle cackle 🧹

i don't even know why the citadel has to do any of the weird spirit experimentation to get to their post scarcity utopia, they could just hook a generator up to whatever is powering Steel's justification machine

My head canon is that the informational bits at the beginning of these episodes are told by a professor in a rebuilt Twelve Brooks while teaching his class on the history of the town

Steel's despair is probably the most devastating moment for me since the mirrors were revealed at the Coven (which was a revelation of "Umora is governed by zealous, eager evil everywhere"). I don't know that it's ever been this clear for Steel: all of Steel's hope, which she has clung to through so, so much pain (pain to her, the weight of the subordinates she has sent to her death, the evil she has done), that hope is concentrated in two things: the idea of the Citadel, and the one she has decided is the avatar of its future, Suvi. And her seeing those paths diverge - yeah, makes sense how a woman of steel just comes undone. Steel is a sympathetic really only because of the perspective through which y'all wrote the story, but we are where we are - her despair is genuinely devastating. This is a limitation of audio - everyone involved was so in character and could not tell us anything about what Steel was thinking. Once Suvi confessed to killing a wizard, was she moved at all by her horror at first, or did she just bury it immediately and jump into crisis management mode? Audibly, it sounded like the latter, which makes sense, Brennan is very good at playing an incredibly disciplined Steel, but I'm wondering if/when the folks at the table could start identifying Steel cracking, succumbing even slightly to her grief. This was the scariest episode since the word 'fleshcraft' was first uttered. More than the Battle of 12Brooks. Just tension, fear and adrenaline. Amazing.

I can’t get over the way Steel’s treatment of the doctor, one of the wizards, and the Grand Vizer mirrors Chapter One Suvi, but turned up to 11. A lot of the last three episodes provides so much context.

Bro this Really recontextualized why Steel wanted Suvi to be able to visit Wren on her death bed but was content keeping her from the cottage every other time. (But im sure i don't have all the facts). . . This behaviour feels so strange as well.. i know the mechanism that drives zealotry,, i do.. but that "what did i do wrong?" in response to showing compassion and being curious and determined, as if she genuonelly would prefer a puppet to a daughter, and the way she dismissed her other childred for.. being the children she raised... it gives me pause bc it feels out of character? Steel has been stern and neglectful in the past, but this felt so extremely callous... i'm not sure what to do with it. I can't put it all together... Ofc just bc i see the dissonance doesn't mean steel does.. we do things based on emotion all the time. She may not be able to hear the holes in her own story for her desperation to "make it count" What is a daughter to steel? Just a successor? The despetation and grief and anger would exress itself the same regardless of if she views suvi as merely an extension of herself or as a person she loves beyond utility or personal gain

I love this story so much and one of the most heartbreaking things is that Suvi mentions that she would kill herself (when she said she would walk off the platform at noon) then disappoint Steele

Aaaand a brutal reminder that Suvi is in fact still in a horror film, learning that her surrogate mother is not just in NXIVM but in its inner circle

You know these steel scenes make think maybe i am susceptible to joining a cult

Steele's a true believer, a zealot for the cause and there's few people more dangerous when they perceive you are not.

The use of the coven theme for Ame's broom moment!! The CACKLE!! This show is everything.

The entire Suvi-Steele scene was so well done. It was so fascinating to hear Steele ask Suvi how something other than the citadel found a place in her heart when she just a couple of minutes prior Steele had essentially answered half of that question herself: Suvi Wasn’t stolen from her home or family. And is intimately familiar with the second half of the answer because she’s the one who picked Suvi up from her summer at grandma wrens and she had born direct witness to the continued strength of the community suvi found & bonds she formed there, outside of the citadels influence. And yet even knowing all that and even after very explicitly laying out reasons why she (Steele) is so committed to the citadel-reasons that Suvi neccesarily herself can not share because they are rooted in a reality that as Steele originally pointed out, is that of most citadel wizards but not Suvi- Steele not only still doesn’t understand why Suvi doesn’t hold the same worldview and values as she does, but also asks where it was that SHE, Steele, went wrong. That question to me, indicates a fundamental inability to imagine that any outside influence could, even in the context of Suvis status as never having been stolen from her home, could possibly in it of itself be the cause for the planting and growth of something other than the citadel in Suvis heart-which I think is super neat from a narrative perspective because it highlights the extent to which Steeles dedication to and unwavering faith to the Citadel permeates her understanding of everything and everyone around her. Anyway, super cool and upsetting stuff guys! I look forward, as always to having my heart ripped out of my chest, shoved into the dirt and stomped on in two weeks time!💕

I am sorry - did I just hear correctly at 1:13:00 - A heartseeker curse? That Steele says "It's fine -it wont find it." Did this girl become a lich and remove her heart to avoid mortal curses and blows?

ok coming back to say one more thing about the episode and then bring up something that y’all might find interesting (but it’s LONG so I’m SORRY) that conversation with Steel has made me SO CERTAIN that the reason Soft and Stone did that final mission with Eoighorain and without Steel is because Steel simply gave up. Suvi is beginning the journey of deprogramming her upbringing and biases, but Steel never made it that far. not after all the work they put in to carve out the rot, to save the Citadel from a few bad apples. no, turns out it was business as usual for the Empire. “it destroyed me” — so she let them go off on their own. and I think in Steel’s hopelessness after the Acadator disbanded, she couldn’t help but let the justification machine do its terrible work on her. and there was no going back after that. the Citadel gave Steel a purpose, just like they did Suvi. I think at her lowest, the Citadel gave her a new future to work toward. and I believe, ultimately, Soft and Stone had to pay the price. when Steel returned to Grandma Wren’s to collect Suvi, it was with Soft’s ring… now the next bit… I’m doing a relisten because I’m, y’know, unwell re: this podcast. but also because I wanted to hear these two perspectives side by side. I noticed something very interesting that was hidden in Brennan’s PERVERSE need to casually mention esoteric lore under the guise of a history lesson (*glares in House of Frangus*)… copy and pasting from the transcripts here: ep. 16 (pages 16 - 17 of the transcript if u care) post Port Talon, during the flashback of Steel telling Suvi more about Eoighorain… Steel […] A movement was made in the relationship of the celestial paths to Umora itself that affected every single barrier for teleportation and the creation of gates. Throughout the history of Umora, times have come where magical travel was made more or less difficult. And when you were born, we were in an age of incredible safety, in which teleportation was very easy to abjure. It was very easy to stop. And during the first three or four years of your life, all of that changed as the celestial path shifted ever so m slightly. And that slight, slight shift meant that all of a sudden, you could teleport anywhere, pretty much unstoppably, very easily. So all of a sudden, this world that we had been living in — ‼️➡️ and this is similar to, if you study your history, you'll know that the first Gates of Star and Sun were created by the sorcerer kings of the Gaoth Dynasty, which created the first great travel. Those gates were set up all over the world. ⬅️‼️ […] Steel ‼️➡️ They died from an attack in Gaothmai, searching for a dangerous sorceress named Nahani. ⬅️‼️ This was a type of mission they'd gone on many, many times before. The only difference this time was that instead of me tending to the safety and security of that mission, side by side with Eoighorain, it was left solely to Eoighorain. So the first time that it was just the three of them was their last mission. […] ep. 43 (page 45 of the transcript) Eoighorain’s confession of betraying “but not slaying” Soft and Stone… Eoighorain There were some loose threads left, there was this last mission that was part of my thing, which was ‼️➡️ going after this sorceress, Nahani in Gaothmai. She was preparing a ritual at the Tomb of Urshana the 8th. It's one of the Sun Kings of old Gaothmai ⬅️‼️ […] …so it’s important to note that the Rhuv attack on the Citadel took place BEFORE this ritual by the sorceress Nahani, but interesting that she was specifically doing this ritual for, feasibly, a king directly linked to the creation of teleportation gates. there’s too little information to say anything for certain, especially considering how vastly different practicing magic seems to be from one magical faction to the next. I can’t presume to know how or for what reason a sorcerer does rituals. but INTERESTING nonetheless!!! this is already long enough, but I found another thread I’ve been pulling with a few… coincidences I’ve noticed. so if anyone wants to hear that let me know 👌🏻

I also wanna add that the cruelly funny thing is I bet Suvi more wants to go along with Steel’s BS not for the sake of the Citadel or even her connection to mother… but instead for all that sweet sweet secret history, lore and backstory information!

I apologize but when there was a long pause at the end and the end credits music started all I could say was Fuck You out loud lol another friggin banger ep

You mother fuckers. I cannot wait another two weeks to see what comes next. Aghhhhhhhhhhb

Holy shit. They’re trying to conquer the spirit world.

Something I really love about Suvi's scene with Steel is that, while it may be instinctive, there IS a cunning and a logic to Suvi sort of taking the quiet, passive role once more--as opposed to an angry eruption of argument--which is that it allows her to gather maximum information about the single biggest, most important question mark: what does Steel want, how far is she willing to go to get it, and how deeply mired in the rot of the Citadel is she truly? And now we know.

Jesus the abuse. What a hard turn halfway through the episode

Ugh GOD Steel is such a good fuckin character. Please forgive me for quoting Wreck it Ralph under such an intense ep but man oh man do I love a bad-guy who isn’t a Bad Guy. I’m also such a sucker for intense portrayals of (non-romantic) unconditional love-whether it be parent-child , elder sibling-younger sibling b/w 2 long standing friends..especially when it’s shown to be more powerful then the relationship itself because I think there’s real truth to that. By which I mean that loving someone no matter what doesn’t mean you’ll trust or keep them in you life or maintain the relation you have with them no matter what, it just mean a part of you will always deeply and unaleivably care for them which is a particularly delicious thing to dive in to in such a high stakes scenario as yk, a terrible & gargantuan wat between two imperial superpowers. So I’m excited, hungry even, to see where Suvi and steeles relationship and shared plot threads go. But I’m also terrified bc ultimately both Suvi and Steele are 3 dimensional and complicated enough characters that I genuinely care about them (especially Suvi but ugh Steele has that mom pull on me) and despite everything, my heart, in all its intense and notational desires, desperately want the two of them not to lose each other or the mother-daughter relationship they hold. Ie ya boi j wants everything to be okay b/w Suvi and her mama 🥺 But I know that it can’t be can it? Because Suvi CAN’T return to the citadels side-not now that the cult goggles are off and as much as I want Steele to break away from the citadel and see it for what it truly is, this episode sure did feel like the final piece of damning evidence that Steele is beyond saving. As fucked up as this is, a part of me almost hopes Steele dies before the two of them are (what I worry is inevitably) forced to truly face each other as foes because in a way, messed up as it might be, that would be less painful of an end to their relationship (if that makes any sense)

The way Steel talked about her own kids - with an absolute dearth of love - solidified it for me. It's not actually different with Suvi. The love we might be tempted to see isn't there. Steel doesn't express the unconditional love that Wren expressed in the Arc 2 flashbacks to Ame. Where Wren reassures Ame that she will love her even if Ame rejects the station of the Witch of the World's Heart, Steel's exceptionalist treatment of Suvi is dependent upon Suvi's capacity to carry out Steel's goals.

Seriously …I am supposed to sleep after listening to this amazing episode?? So many good and sly trinkets to listen for on the second round…in the morning 🦊🔥❤️

Finished the episode and vibrating at the possibility of a pile of lore coming soon (i can only hope)

Ah, ok…so that’s a cliffhanger with no resolution, isn’t it…if there’s one thing Steel like to do it’s make promises about a fantasy future where she can do lore dumps without stress that will never happen.

Only this crew could spend DnD creating a children’s refugee camp 🥰💞🇵🇸✊

Yall Suvi’s going to have to fake her death to get out of this TRAP. No way can she double agent this shit… right?? … right…?

49:30…BUCKLES!!!!!!!!

SO, did Steel just hint that the better world is a world without spirits? For a moment I was hoping she was still working from within but that turn at the end… Full Fascist Cult. Heartbreaking. Suvi is fully reorphaned in this moment.

Lifting up four score Grenaux-lings? Strongest man in Silbry right there 💪

I think it is worth saying that everyone drinks a little Kool aid about something, someone, some place… it just wears an off a little quicker for some then others. Steel has her whole family/life invested, I can’t imagine that she will come out of this alive… and that makes my heartbreak 💔, but I do want her too.

Ohhhh Ame's theme in Suvi's instrument

I love the idea of wizards trying to explain first contact with witch magic to each other, like an astrophysicist trying to reckon with a new "Vibes-Based" system of logic. Like "Why didn't you just counterspell it?" "There was no spell. That's what I'm telling you. She literally did not cast. It would be like trying to counterspell a man getting on a bicycle."

Spoiler: BUCKLES IS SAFE 😭😭

Someone please tell aunts to stop joining cults

BUCKLES ♥️😭

I’m getting a Joker-vibe from the newly freed Enzo.

I loveeeee the little “rhapsody in blue”-esque oboe lick as the scene changes and we’re back in toma. It’s so quaint and provincial and immediately communicates the vibe. 10/10

Both Steel and Eioghorain have the same reasoning; be a monster/make hard decisions for a better world. They just disagree on what makes a better world and the scale of Steel’s decisions, as far as we know, are larger and have worse consequences.

Fuuuuck that conversation with Steel was heartbreaking in SO MANY ways

Petition for Nif to become the Witch of the Wayward Waif

I legitimately burst into tears when you introduced Buckles again. I have never commented before but Buckles was so important.

B U C K L E S 😭😭😭💕💕💕💕💕 MY BOYYYYY

Is the emperor just Mike Trapp? Or more specifically Gilchrest Savoy the Wealthiest Man of 1906?

Oof! This episode was so good I just listened and ate my dinner like some old timey cat lady. Then completely forgot to drink my tea and eat my cookie listening to that scene on the Epiphany. I know Suvi can't be taken in this time, she's seen too much, but damn she shouldn't have to go through this. Also, only Ame could turn a rescue mission into a Ghibli film and I love her for it.

God this feels so timely. The propaganda, the blind following, the cult-like faith in a better world on the other side of an eradication. There was so much beauty in this episode but the end has my fight or flight activated and I want to scream at Suvi to just RUN

Niamh (sp?) giving heavy Myne overseeing/ taking on the responsiblity of the orphans in Ascendance of a Bookworm, and I'm living for it 🩵 when we even get to see the minor characters progress their arcs, I know we're spoiled.

Sobbing throughout the whole impromptu festival in Toma. all spirits are great spirits... it's finally been voiced!!!

Steel just obliterated a family tree with one spell and then acquiesced to a fancy man in a beard. Why don't wizards just take over the empire?

… botched the spell on the great bullfrog’s eradication, you say?? We’re so back 🐸🎉🥳🏺

This show is so special ❤️ thank you ✌️

“stop saying that.” heart-ripping.

Uh-oh, Steele's tryna get Suvi to drink the kool-aid again😬

As much as there is to discuss about this episode, all that I want to say is that my heart hurts when my dear sweeties are split up the whole time.

Whew man oh man I do not envy Suvi after that episode. Everything she has struggled with come rushing back with all the weight of Steel's conviction and faith in her mission and conditional love. Steel's disdain for "lesser" guild mages, her own children, and probably all the other little people by extension was SO GROSS too. Steel offers Suvi all the certainty of a coming utopia, justifies every action and atrocity she has committed and will commit with its coming, places the weight of that on her daughter... all is justified to those loftiest of ends, and she knows or expects that Suvi will only agree with her. Their relationship is at once touching and at once so messed up. I was constantly taken away by Steel's conviction too, but after having listened now and thought a bit, I think learning about the citadel's real dream really has me feeling nothing but dread. Something tells me there will be little room in whatever comes for spirits, for witches, for shapechangers, or for anyone else that exists outside of a wizard's perfect artifice, perfect control. A dagger in the heart of the world somehow, now I just wonder how they're trying to accomplish their goals. All is justified for their most "noble" ends.

hey! what the fuck

The amount of Kool aid steel is drinking 😭😭😭 I cannot

What destroyed you Steel? WHAT PRECISELY DESTROYED YOU?

There is such a heavy disconnect between Steel and the means by which the war is done. Truly trying to brush off the fact that they kidnapped 80 children (with no plans for returning them) for 1 spell that did not HAVE to take place.

so hey the difference between Wren’s speech to Ame “if you wished to put that task aside there are none that could blame you and I need you to know that I would love you all the same. my love for you is not built upon what you can do for this world, you have earned it every moment of the day by being just and only yourself” vs. Steel to Suvi “I NEED you to be there. I NEED you to take this when I can’t carry it anymore” has got me FUCKED UP actually

Most badass description of incense I’ve ever heard.

Ah shit ah shit damn, i gotta go to bed but I will be thinking about this all night and re-listening in the morning

My boy Buckles is alive! And he wants to help! 😭😭😭

poor suvi😭

Finally got it on Apple podcast!!!! Excited for the ep <3

Spoilers as I rant about the things I love Wow, Steel just dodging past an “I killed your parents” confession, with a careful emotional jab and barely enough info plant/trap that of course piques Suvi’s curiosity. She’s giving herself enough time to make a big wizard plan/play. I don’t trust her. Not one bit. But man do I want to fix her lol 😝 My heart just about burst over all the kids at Ames cottage. 🥹🥹🥹 God so so good. It’s so easy to portray kids in a way that feels flat, but the nuance and the sense of the tiny universes going on in each of those little guys was just incredible. And Urselons reaction to all the kids and trying to be there for each of them but also not having the experience man, any first time kids camp volunteer knows the feeling, so relatable. And BUCKLES 🥹 And the Ame/ fox/ familiar team up? I thought for sure Cyril had been killed. This story and world are so amazing y’all. I want to be here forever.

another episode, another “holy crow, Taylor the SOUND DESIGN!!!!!!!! Oh my GOD!!!!!” comment

Almost sobbed hearing Buckles name

Why isn’t it working on me apple podcast🥲🥲🥲

TAYLOR YOU ATE WITH THE SOUND DESIGN IN STEEL’S OFFICE THE LEIMOTIF ELABORATION IS HAVING ME CHEWING THE WALLS

TAYLORRRRRRRR OMG THE SOUND PRODUCTION FOR THE- MY STOMACH IS IN KNOTS AND MY EYES ARE BURNING- HELPPPPPPP

"Do you trust me?"

Literally just yelled BUCKLES!!!!! 🥺🥰

Thanks, guys. I really needed this today. 💜

Straight up I need a series soundtrack once WWW wraps up cuz I need to listen to the Parade of Witches every day of my life.

“That’s my boss” sobbing

One of my jobs is shelving books at the library, and you bet that tomorrow while I'm rearranging the JBE [Juvenile Beginner Reader] section of 'Pete the Cat', etc, I'll be listening to this.

Still not on Apple 😫

Still not on Apple. I’m about to just listen on something else. Smh.

Still not on Apple :(

Is anybody else not able to find the episode in the podcast app?

Enso and Cyril! Best/worst allies ever for this task! (Task being the best ally for the task)

1hr 48 mins you sure do spoil us <3

I’M FRANTICALLY REFRESHING APPLE PODCASTS

Fantasy etymology?! Let’s fucking go!

Just in time for dinner 🍽️

THE MUSIC OH MY GOOOOOD

I'VE BEEN WAITING ALL DAY FOR THIS LET'S GOOOO 🙌

Let's freaking GO

Screaming shidding pissing throwing up

I haven’t been this giddy for a notification in such a long time. I feel like my crush just texted back

THE BEST USE OF 'THE PARADE OF WITCHES' EVER, TAYLOR!! I AM ALSO CACKLING WITH JOY

Im not ready for this

Let’s have a good 1h48m gang!

YES LET'S GOOOO (get our feelings hurt, probably. If the last few episodes are anything to go by [said with all the love for the cast and crew])

YAY🔥🦊🧹

❤️🤘

It’s not on apple yet 😭😭😭😭😭😭

To quote Brennan, “Buckle the fuck up, everybody.”

Yessssss

I have butterflies in my tummy im so excited

May the fox spirt bless you all for your cunning and wit.

SO EXCITED LETS GO WITCHY RESCUE 🦊

YESSS

Happiness!

😩

I love this story so much!!!

Yayyyyy

Fuck, I wasn't ready

LETS GOOOOOO