[PUBLIC EPISODE] The Wizard, the Witch and the Wild One: ep021 “The Taboo of Passage"
Mom's home.
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Produced, designed, and scored by Taylor Moore at Fortunate Horse with exquisite design and editing help from Jared Olson.
SPECIAL THANKS TO: Tazer Army, Shannon, and Amanda Freberg.
Album art by the great Corey Brickley
Comments (93)
Calling it here steel placed the curse on ame and wren via the star book and applied the Eoghrain smell to the magical effect. Her eyes NARROWED when Ame brings up the smell and chose her response reeeally carefully
Thank you! I posted a whole conspiracy theory about this if you're interested in red stringing with me: https://www.reddit.com/r/WorldsBeyondNumber/comments/1j8kbf4/steel_and_witches/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
Taylor outdid himself on this one (as he does over and over again) I am so tense and nervous!!
And at the end when Eursolon and Brennan are describing the shield, so good. Downright emotional. How dare y’all lol
So, I'm a little late to the party with this story, so I've been binging like whoa. Recently, I listened to the episode where Taylor discussed his intentions behind the instrumentation he chose for the different fractional motifs. I commented on that episode to say that if the Citadel ever gets into religion, the organ would be the perfect instrument for its marriage of the worked metal of the Citadel and the winds of the spirit world. AND WHATS THE FIRST THING I HEAR WHEN THE IMPERIUM SHOWS UP?!?! [screams in music nerd] It's giving Roman Empire. Thanks I hate it. And also FRICKIN' BRILLIANT MY GUY
The first 10 minutes of this episode (especially the transition from the introduction into the scene setting) gave made me smile from ear to ear. It was the kind of smile that comes about when you listen to something, and you realize how special it is. The sound design, music, and absolute brilliant narrative description of the transition from majestic tranquility, to awe-some display of power, to tension and urgency, all wrapped up in the bow of "oh wow, this is improvised." I only had a similar reaction to a podcast production once before, and that was with Mission to Zyx. This is an amazing art form and I appreciate all of your work.
Is there any chance of getting a PDF transcript for these latest episodes? Or are they added afterwards? I missed a few words here and there and would love a chance to double check.
In case you haven't checked back, transcripts have gone up since your post
Ooooooh baby I am worried about Ghost. I'm currently relistening to the series and I'm on episode 5 and I have a growing dread that this half-forgotten subplot is going to end in absolutely soul shattering tragedy. They sent a half-spirit orphan girl to the place with the spirit gulag and they're about to leave and STILL don't know what happened to her and gee wilikers do I have a bad feeling about it.
Any chance the wizard GREY is an homage to Brennan’s Rotating Heroes character? Hmmmm
I hate that I have to wait two weeks for the next one. I haven't been this invested in a story in a long time
"Its okay to have a feeling you want to avoid." Is Ame unintentionally teaching the fox humans deal with depression?
Aabria, please, take a leaf out of Axford's book and put your dice under the moon! This is too much 😂👍🏻
Sorry for the fanboy rave, but: Thank you, thank you, thank you for being the amazing story tellers you are who clearly love and trust each other. Every episode has me in tears one minute and laughing out loud the next. I was already a fan of the four of you before WBN, but oh my, the magic you make together! (Best $5/month I’ve ever spent!)
My goodness, Eursolon making magic with only paint, feeling, and love left to find its way home.
The organ music! I was so stressed! It was great! The whole episode was great! You guys are great! God I love this series so much. Keep up the stellar work, everyone. ❤️
Just full on weeping as Eursulon is painting his shield.
This episode is giving me like Warhammer 40K vibes of the citadel being like Mars' relation to the god emperor. Especially since a lot of newer games based in the universe also have that grand organ music. And dear god, are the music cues in this episode were just stellar. The tension and release of this episode. Everybody is just fire in this. Weird side note: I'm not seeing this episode on YouTube yet. Listened elsewhere, but was just confused for a bit by the link.
At this risk of being a gushing fanboy this podcast is one of my favorite pieces of fantasy fiction I think ever, I love the attention to detail that the world has and how well the players characters interface with the setting and of course the sound design just elevates the whole experience! Great job to the entire team i look forward to each episode so much!!!
I caught up! I love this story so much, and I caught up. I made so much pottery while listening to my favorite storytellers. 😍😍😍
Can somebody explain what Brennan is saying about the Taboo of Passage and how that is effecting things?
In my understanding, the Taboo of Passage is meant to communicate the weight/importance/power that the ability to move, as simple as it may be, holds over the concept of freedom – and specially how it affects the social dynamics in Umora (and irl), with it being weaponized through the creation of borders, which make movement(passage) scarce, in order to take freedom away. And I think the Taboo of Passage may not only express how essential the act of movement is for the existence of freedom (and therefore how it can be interfered with in order to create these societal dynamics of control); I also think [the Taboo of Passage] communicates how the act of movement/passage is essential to living in general, how it permeates and dictates our lives and existence, as we've seen time and time again with Eursulon being wayshadowed from the spirit world, with Naram being trapped under guild mage Morrow's apparatus, with the spirits being trapped in the Kasov(/Cassauv?) Collection, and now with Ame being [perhaps somewhat intentionally?] trapped in the Citadel.. but also in more neutral ways, like when Grandma Wren said (/expressed a similar opinion to the phrase) "An Open Door Is An Invitation", and when she told Ame about the road, and how by stepping on it – from what I gathered – she was also becoming somewhat vulnerable to what the world had to offer, for better or for worse. Anyway, I may be completely missing the point, but from what I know of mr Lee Mulligan's acollades and capabilities, I wouldn't put it past him to be able to feature this amount of knowledge through a story filled with just as much wonder.
Alert for LA fans - Brennan and Izzy have an improv show coming up on 2/25 at Dynasty Typewriter
Taylor my man you gotta be absolutely yanking my chain with the music in this ep
I wonder why Ame didn't name-check the wizard sly when talking to steel?
It seemed deliberate - maybe she was concerned it could somehow get him in trouble down the line?
There is nothing like this that whisks me away so completely, once Brennan starts describing the world in the opening paragraphs This is story and you people producing it are near and dear to my heart and I cannot wait to see how this is all gonna shake out
Taking a moment to revisit the apt choice of terrifying music for the terrifying law enforcement scenes. The explanation of the arrogance trained into them under the guise of "safety," to be able to be violent without fear of punishment was expertly done, Brennan. A perfect job of explaining how most of the world think/ hear about the US as well.
The way to a librarian's heart: discuss the power of an index. Chef's kiss, Aabria.
I just realized that Eursulon gets both his sword AND shield from his two best friends 🥹
THE PIPE ORGAN, TAYLOR
You can't keep making me weep on the commute to work guys.
God the music is absolutely INTENSE today. The big church-y organs coming in with the Imperium's forces and soldiers, the opressive and worrying music while the heroes try to figure out what is going on... man it's so good!!!
This is the most beautiful wonderful breathtaking story I have ever experienced
please someone explain to me how i have such big feelings for a talking fox. i adore that little guy and his big mind
I said it when the previews were the only info we had and nothing has changed my mind yet: I have DEEP respect for Lou, Aabria, and Erika, but the fox is my guy.
i would also like to just appreciate the conversation between fox & ame about being scared & in a trap. i cant even conjure a word to explain how it made me feel? it was full of love & vulnerability but also eery foreshadow vibes or something idk
20 minutes in. This music is giving me all the anxiety. Well done Taylor!
Also, mad scramble to work out what the Sapphire and the silver plate will ACTUALLY bring/summon Ame off to is gonna do my head in this arvo
Music score has me cold flushed with my heartbeat in my ears and about to pounce... DAMN IT, Taylor!!
Just once I wanna hear Lou hop in the intro as a little surprise. "This is the sound of worlds BEYOND NUMBER" in full-throated Jimmy Kimmel voice.
Eursulon: The Lone Tower
Oooh, gave me a slight shiver b/c I was thinking of "The Tower" tarot card
As a protective older sister the closing moments of this episode made me weep
Very cool ep. VERY excited for the Eursolon/tower shield fan art.
What will it cost to animate this series? Like, where's the Kickstart? I need to see Steel's reactions in real time 🤣
Such a beautiful episode that had me incredibly tense throughout. 10/10
wow. just wow. i genuinely feel blessed to be able to hear this story. its probably the most beautiful world building ive ever heard & my favorite story of all time. you guys are true wizards/witches of story telling! thank you for sharing this world with us
My heart at the end of this episode with Eursulon and his shield 🥺❤️💙
I felt all tingly
ORGAN MUSIC?! That's so badass gah!!
Se know that Suvi will not be receiving permission to go on their upcoming quest and leave the citadel, and I imagine this will be a recurring problem in the future. As she is now, would Suvi be willing to jeopardize her position and relationship with the citadel for the sake of her friends?
Sound off if you also cry every episode
Will you eventually be sharing character sheets? I've always been a little curious, but when Lou said "We're making level 10 moves with level 2 stats" it just really piqued my curiosity again; especially with the unique ability score rolling system you all used for the children's adventure. I'm curious to see how things shook out.
Yeah I can't figure out how their passive skills are so high
Was that d10 of inspiration from his sister?? Oh *now* I'm crying 😭
I’m so nervous about Ame walking on paths. Didn’t even cross my mind because I assumed wizards didn’t drive 😭
I’m not seeing e21 on Overcast or YouTube. Good on Apple Podcasts. Me problem or more?
Mine is on overcast, so may be something at your end
Loooove the Empire’s organ theme!
I think the wizard that didn’t look at Suvi must be a spirit in deep cover in the Empire and Suvi’s charm is doing what it did to Orima - preventing them from seeing her.
ohhhh wooowww!!! i didnt even think of that!
The scoring this episode was absolutely exceptional. I had to rewind some parts just so I could focus on the music! While I'm always impressed by and deeply treasure the cast's storytelling abilities, I'm consistently shook by how Taylor's work keeps getting richer. Absolute chef's kiss
The organs as the imperium ships flew in!!! I haven't thought of Ranger Rick in ages, but I used to get those from the library and pour over them with my sisters. What a sudden flashback. The ending has me very curious about how lingering magic works in this world. Here is magic left behind for Eursulon, and Suvi was able to cast the spell without having it release. My imagination is swirling with possibilities. Also exciting to see the first wizard with a non-S name!
Spoilers for the very final scene: Any other heraldry nerds here get a little extra dose of joy from that scene?
Entire shield sequence was a slow beautiful build to me in tears at my desk. Just heart-meltingly gorgeous
Scenes like that just remind me why Brennan is the very best in the game
Good lord! I need a book for this setting! Wednesday used to be my favorite day to watch Dimension 20 but Tuesday has quickly become my new fav!
Tue - WBN Wed - D20 Thu - D20AP Getting us through the week in this dreary january
We need an offical artist to draw Eursulon’s painting please 😭
THIS RIGHT HERE!
WAIT DID AABRIA AND ERIKA SWITCH OFF AT THE INTRO?
Ame conditionally accepting the fruit salad
Yay happy tuesday ♡♡♡♡ i missed this ♡♡
The idea that it’s just the span of time keeping Eursulon and Kalaya apart in the Tower of the Glove breaks me 😭
This is why I’m glad I work in an isolated office because some Tuesday mornings I’m just out here crying in the workplace listening to a podcast’s description of a tree on a shield 😭
the shield, the SHIELD, so amazingly beautiful, it made me tear up
The beauty of the shield has me feeling everything today!
Screaming that Suvi didn't figure out why the deputy didn't acknowledge her.
I didn’t catch why he might not have?
I'm two minutes in, and those organs gave me the best goosebumps. Some Toccata and Fugue vibes hitting haaaaard
I was so worried that somehow our friends were going to be the targets of these arrests 😬 I'm honestly surprised and proud of Ame that we didn't immediately rush into the situation.
I'm not finished with the episode and I don't know if she's bad or not but honestly I don't care I am hella gay for the wizard Slate
I'm halfway through and the vibes are BAD I am so stressed 😥
TAYLOR! What do the organs mean!!! Why the villain music!!
I love that this drops before my commute to work!
Time for my BiMonthly re listen to all of the Wizard the Witch and the Wild One!
What a start! Damn!
Tell me why I've been refreshing since 6:30am (9:30 now) 😂 got spoiled with the early fireside drop!
Time to step away from the mundane for a bit
Good morning! What a lovely way to start the day🥰
AHHHH ITS HERE
Given that it’s 12:40am here I should go to sleep… but I guess that’s not going to happen