Post "[PUBLIC EPISODE] The Wizard, the Witch and the Wild One: ep043 "Speak With Animals"" by "worldsbeyondnumber"

Emma Runswick

Remind me who is Jasper?

Kate H.

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

Jessica

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!!!

Sofia marcelli

This is my first comment on any Patreon ever bc OH. MY. GOD. WHAT THE HECK. WHAT THE HECK.

Sil

I believed Gramore (sp?), but yes!

Sil

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)

Sil

Damn even my media studies ass didn't pick this one

Gill

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

Gill

YES

Joanna Szabo

Anyone else already deeply excited and anxious about the upcoming episode??

David Giannetti

Re-listening to old episode. Abria does an amazing job but so glad we no longer have to hear from “sanctimonious Suivi” and her weilding“rationalization” against her friends. Great foil to the other characters but honestly would not want to hang out or be “true friends” with Suivi until this episode

Adrianna Veloz

Sammmmmeeeeee

Adrianna Veloz

About to go down the same thing

Adrianna Veloz

SAME

Julia Thompson

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

Deborah

YES

lxwles

!!!!!!!!!!

Kelsey Killoran

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.

Kelsey Killoran

Oh, 100%

Kelsey Killoran

SAME

Kelsey Killoran

There’s a truth hidden in all tropes, and boy oh boy are we feeling some truth in this Podcast. The tropes are bound to follow the truth in ways that feel utterly natural ✨

Kelsey Killoran

ME TOOOOOO

Kelsey Killoran

I don’t usually comment but HOLY CRAP this episode was INCREDIBLE

Kelsey Killoran

Saaaaaame

Kenn Murphy

It gives me goosebumps every time I listen to it. SO GOOD!

yusuf

NEVER BEEN SO VINDICATEDDDD I KNEW THAT MF WASNT A STONE COLD PAPPY KILLER

Cur

RIOT

Carrie Mook Bridgman

Same.

Carrie Mook Bridgman

A big break, actually. I hope it isn't two years' worth of break while they do the space adventure. If Brennan ends on a major cliffhanger and then says, "See you in a couple of years," I will riot.

Reid Bathgate

I have listened to the last chunk of this multiple times in the last few days because it hits so damn hard.

Clint Shook

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!

Johnathan Arriola

Vindication!

Lucas Nguyen

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

Anouk

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

Emma Jones-Phillipson

Had to physically restrain myself from screaming on the train

Tom Flynn

Well welcome to the Patreon ya goof! I hear that for just five bucks a month you can get quality...

Ben Rohrbaugh

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.

Josh Grey

This was the week I caught up with the podcast. What a great week to do so.

Erin Hopkins

YES! I feel validated lmfao

Erin Hopkins

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

Olive 🌲🇵🇸

Nah I think (hope) keen will take the fall for sending her off carelessly. Or they will assume ambush and double down on gauthmie being the enemy (sp?). Suvi still has legacy that I think would protect her even with all that she’s done to go her own way. Big daddy steel and silence will want to deal with her in house.

Olive 🌲🇵🇸

Ah SHAPES AND FORMS

Brennan Mulligan

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!!!!

Deyla

literally my heart might never slow down

Deyla

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

Alexander

SPOILERS Suvi speaking and laughing with Yoren of all people definitely was NOT on my WWW bingo card!

Chantalleke

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.

GrumpyTrees

She even did the careful thing sending in The Fox. Ame wasn't dumb, Keen is just smart and horrible.

GrumpyTrees

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.

Tom Flynn

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?

Alicia

Whether it's D20 or WBN, if the people love the animal familiar, Brennan will try to kill it. RIP and justice for Peppermint Preston....

Alicia

Omg this. I flipped out.

lxwles

I'M THIRTY-FIVE MINUTES IN AND HAD TO COME HERE AND BE LOUD THAT IS ALL

irisilmaril

her methods of manipulation fit with the citadel’s modus operandi of having a monopoly on the spread and control of information.

Melissa Anderson

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.

Melissa Anderson

So glad I saw the most recent Um Actually so I can understand this reference. Learning!

Melissa Anderson

FWIW, I don’t think it’s the last we’ll see of WWW, just a little break.

Aurus

Holy fucking shit.

Bean Planter

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.

I Davis

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;)

Neil Alton

That final blast of music after the “Yes”…tingles…all over!

HaliCait

I figured out how to submit a question after I posted this 😅

Joanne Moody

Simply sensational storytelling xxx

Joanne Moody

Yup. Me too. Plus i was jogging out in public when I yelled and started laughing 😆

Benny Bee

Always solidarity by the fireside! 💛✨️

Puppymaster

I thought the same thing

Mubeen Khan

I think that’s a valid interpretation but it can also extend to many marginalized groups.

Esther Moss

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?

Cur

I'm not upset that she did her duty. I'm upset that she had the fox sing out loud.

Cur

I will back you up if you promise not to permanently damage his voice box. The fox does not deserve this. He's just a little guy and he rolled great! Ame did him so dirty knowing the singing would draw attention, honestly.

Cur

I thought Suvi's amulet glowed blue. I think it might be different magic. Maybe something to do with the iron. (He is bound, how is he bound? But the scent of bile and pain scream "bound against his will" to me)

Cur

THIS. I NEED ANSWERS.

Cur

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].

Cur

Yeah that speech hit HARD

Jayden Hurst

Yeah, I thought the snake was hakea at least for a second

Pat & Heather

The screaming at about 1hr 2min was 100% me through this whole episode OMG

Joelle A Godfrey

Need a Man in Black Sticker

Danielle St John

And my axe

Madeline Weyer

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!

tonytoestep

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? 😂

Jessica Franklin

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

Jerrome Lovelock

Your right my brain is not a fan 😂

Jayden Hurst

I don't think there's a world where Steel didn't kill Suvis parents

Kathryn Gleaves

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.

Karen

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...)

The Wizard Saison

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.

K C

Yes

K C

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

PaperPanda

AAAAAHHHHH! My dog is concerned and I probably woke the neighbors. Such an amazing episode!!!! Episode spoilers below: I was blown away by the storytelling here, like the comparison between Soft and Stone not being able to be there for Suvi because of, probably optimism, and maybe the Citadel's betrayal (please don't let mama Steele be evil) and Eioghorain, the parental figure who is still here for Suvi because he understands how to survive this shitty reality. It's also not lost on me that even if Eioghorain believes everything he said, that doesn't mean it's the whole truth, and he is definitely leaving some stuff out! I can't wait for more!!!

Amelia Tedesco

Omg how is this alliance about to swing the incoming war of the Witches?!

Megs

Literally whisper screaming on my apartment balcony listening to this!!!!!!!!! That last scene?! GAME. CHANGER.

Puppymaster

I also think part of Suvi getting grace is that she warned her friends of what she did and what the consequences would be. So nobody was shocked or surprised that there was an imperial presence for them or that people were looking out for her because she told them about the situation. Ame, however, decided to do something incredibly risky, even with the warning and understanding of the situation beforehand. Her reaction didn’t come from emotional vulnerability in a long-term relationship with someone. It came from impulsivity, a flawed and/or one-dimensional sense of duty, and a feeling of invincibility because of being a witch. And like you just said, this isn’t the first time she’s done something like this. She did this in the North Pole with the wand, she did this in the citadel when she escaped, she did this in Port Talon with Nuram, she did this with Will Gallows, etc. Suvi has one moment of doing something unnecessarily risky while Ame has so many of these moments, it’s kinda hard to keep track.

Puppymaster

I am worried that the “gift” will end up being Suvi or Task

Nic Stull

I am SCREAMINGAAAAAAAAA

Renée Reynolds

Shut up!!

Renée Reynolds

HOW DARE

Rahne

SCREAMING CRYING THROWING UP OMG THAT ENDING

Brianna LaBelle

This episode had me SCREAMING

Arbor Hoff

full out loud screaming and hollering throughout this episode holy SHIT also literal trojan horses lmao

lil guy

They can't just do that

Renee Korgood

you get me

Melina

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 😂😂🥰

GenderAnarchist

The way I replayed this episode for that Aabria nat 20

elw48

Took this quote from the episode at 1:15:30 “…and learned that the league of whispers was acknowledged and accommodated by the leadership of the citadel. No rot, no cabal, just another name for another compartment for another task.” So what was supposed to be a secret to citadel leadership was actually being run by them from the get go, hence Suvi wanting to know if it’s true and why her parents wanted to separate from the league of whispers after that I believe.

Jim DeSanto

Mind blown with the acting and storytelling on display here. Also I 100% needed Eioghorain’s “bad world speech”. Man was this timely

Carrie Mook Bridgman

She won't have that, because she didn't ask the library for it, and Eioghorain wasn't there.

Carrie Mook Bridgman

EIO GHO RAIN

Colibri

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.

Carrie Mook Bridgman

I have given up trying to figure out Steel. I am positive she loves Suvi. I think her reaction to Naram's capture was sincere. But she has held back so much, from the very beginning. We still don't know how she got that scar, and it's most definitely a Chekov's gun that's been sitting there since the Children's Adventure. I don't want her to be a Villain, and I trust Brennan not to make her one. Even in this episode, Brennan carefully did not say, "Eioghorain is telling the truth." He says "Eioghorain believes every word he is saying." So I give up. I am just waiting for the reveal(s), fully understanding that I will be waiting several more years. I doubt that's getting solved by the end of the chapter.

Carrie Mook Bridgman

I got 8 minutes from the end just as I pulled up to work, and had to wait 8 hours. Then, driving home at 10pm, I had to go back and re-listen to the prior 10 minutes of leadup about 3 times, so I didn't actually finish til the next morning.

Carrie Mook Bridgman

Which is funny, because there was literally no description other than "older man, salt and pepper hair" and the detail of walking past Suvi as a beast, transforming into a naked man, and putting his pants on before turning around. And I thought "shirtless and has to be muscled and lean," and I am *not* a denizen of Horny Jail. How does Brennan do this?

Carrie Mook Bridgman

I made a memory chant like the Mickey Mouse one: E-I-O G-H-O R-A-I-N.

Carrie Mook Bridgman

I do not understand how we're on Episode 43 and that has been my reaction to every single one.

Carrie Mook Bridgman

Umm....

Emily Rieser

I'm gonna puke this episode was insane

Josh Harris

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

Vivid Weasel

Yeah! I got that but what did the secret citadel org do that she would react that way, this is what I've forgotten/didn't pick up from prior episodes

Aabria Iyengar

He really put his tots into this one! 💖

HaliCait

Curious for the Fireside - if Suvi hadn’t told Silver the truth, would Keen still have been waiting for them?

Sean Boyce

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.

Sean Boyce

BRENNAN YOU DIRTY DOG. Also, if he ever gives Taylor cause to put a whimpering Fox in the audio like that again, it's Dennys Parking Lot time. I don't care if he's a daddy now.

Sable

Oh yeah when she gave Fox the go ahead to sing aloud I was straight up flummoxed

Sable

I agree that, in hindsight, Suvi telling Silver about her lie was a bad move and really screwed them over. However, I think there's a couple reasons why Suvi's getting a little more grace than Ame in this episode: 1. Suvi opening up to someone like that is VERY rare for her, and 2. She and Silver had both confessed to each other, had shared their true names with each other, and Silver was being completely open with Suvi. She (rightfully) felt having a relationship based on lies was something she didn't want and with the info she had in that moment thought he would accept her truths. Like, yeah, as a listener I was thinking "Oh man, Suvi, you done gone goofed" but it was a realistic mistake to make that I also think will add to the interest of the story. Ame, on the other hand, pulls that kind of stunt almost every time the opportunity arises. Suvi's mistake had me thinking "Oh my God, I can't believe she told him! Especially NOW!" While Ame's mistake was just "Yep, here we go again, this tracks." Suvi gets more grace than Ame right now, I think, because her perceived mistake is a new thing while Ame's been stuck in this rut from the beginning.

Amelia Tedesco

Permanent invite link! https://discord.gg/worldsbeyondpod

Amelia Tedesco

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!!!!

Sarah Hoppe-Savage

Add me in too, please!

Tony C

Oh walking into that obvious trap annoyed me so bad. Also it was exactly perfectly right for Ame’s character and the story. So I was annoyed but loved it.

The Wizard Sparrow

Sign me up too

The Wizard Sparrow

Same

The Wizard Sparrow

Me too

Safyre Black

What is happening? How am I supposed to sleep after that? Thank you all for such a fantastic story!!!

Sil

Brennan, if Keen is Jasper's name cloak, so help me

K80

Have you met Ame? She's the real wild card of the group

Lauren

oh my GOD

bluebluebutton

As a child of the 90s, I was reminded viscerally of Count Frollo's treatment of Esmeralda. The othering "creature," the intimate touch, the use of physical restraint to reinforce his position of power. Truly vile.

Ed

This episode sooooo good 🥰

dengdengdeng

ngl i’ve been trying to make a “eioghorainn luck” joke but aint shit funny forreal

Nana J

<3 someone link me the fan discord please. it's gotta be going bonkers rn

Devon

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.

Kevin Turner

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

Antareeksh Deb

End of season 4 boom cliffhanger boom

Antareeksh Deb

Final prediction: Eursulon, Ame, and Suvi take the train ticket to see tefmet and meet up with Antivolists

Antareeksh Deb

WHY DID THE WIZARD KEEN SAY “KEEP IT ON ICE” YEAH ITS A REGULAR PHRASE BUT THE ONLY CHARACTER WE KNOW WHO SAYS THAY IS STEEL ITS COOKED YALL SHES EVIL

Marji

Also let us not gloss over the fact that suvi was referred to as a PRINCESS!

Marji

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!

Andrew Freeman

Taylor edited his ass off on this one gang

Michael Yong

HOLY SHIT

Danielle Olmoguez

Omg the amount of SCREAMING I DID THROUGHOUT THIS EPISODE

Kellie O Edwards

I'm not saying that she didn't have a good reason to try, there's exactly zero dispute about that. Everyone involved has every reason to believe the great bullfrog is injured or even possibly in danger.... but that doesn't mean that taking the riskiest public option is something to risk the mission on! Ame doesn't need a Shrine to commune with spirits and deciding to once again throw caution to the Wind, right after someone BEGS you not to..... it's just inconsiderate and foolish, regardless of how warranted her concerns are

Verity Johnson

I’m so glad someone else is still thinking about the new gift for Indri! I’ve been getting more and more stressed each episode worrying that Ame has completely forgotten it!

Mubarak Abdi

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)

Antareeksh Deb

Part 2 of things I totally forgot about: The bile smell when wavebreaker was applied to Ame and the bile smelling of Eioghorain. I don’t know how to explain that

Charlotte

Hi! As a fellow Edinburgher I couldn't agree more! 😁

Erin Copland

Harm will befall that fictional fox over our collective dead bodies

Vivid Weasel

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

Brandi Tambasco

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Antareeksh Deb

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.

Nick Calderone

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?

The Wizard Scam

I felt she was trying to communicate with the bull frog akin to at Orimas shrine, she wanted to know if it was alive and capable of communication with the material world

Megan Murphy

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!!

Antareeksh Deb

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)

Witch of the Remembering Bog

Sil, we must prepare ourselves for hard things. Take heart, I could be full of shit ✨❤️‍🩹

Sil

I reckon Keen is deliberately being vague to get Skye to step in it/ catch her in admitting treason... but 🤷🏼 as Brennan said, even if Silver didn't say anything, Skye is not in Bracken, and Steele is arriving this same day

Sil

Goddamn it why. Why would you do this 😭

Sil

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 😉

Sil

Nothing "just happens" in post! I'd love to know this too, have you submitted it as a question?

The Wizard Scam

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

lil guy

You won't have to fight alone

lil guy

Upset over how babygirl Eioghorain is

Crits

can i send aabria and brennan my therapy bill

iain scoular

No I didn’t but that is such a great parallel!

Wren

YES. absolutely that and a couple "you bastard"

RT

The way I kept yelling BITCH at different points and then shouted YES with Suvi was everything.

RT

Anyone clock how it was a witch (wren) a wild one (yorin) and a wizard (soft and stone) and now it’s a witch a wizard and a wild one…. Brennan you dog.

Wren

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 ❤️❤️❤️

Shannon

Thank you for acknowledging this truth

Panda

I feel like i got lead on the most insane emotional roller coaster all at the cost of hitting the play button

Kael McDonald

Full. Body. Goosebumps.

GR Girlie

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.

Noah Jeans

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.

Witch of the Remembering Bog

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

Witch of the Remembering Bog

This iron and bile scent is visually present in Eioghorain’s physicality too. I think iron might be a Gaothmai “shackle” to keep a spirit way-shadowed. Which does not mean that Eioghorain made the curse, but maybe that magic is from another iron-bound spirit. I feel like Man in Black is also connected to iron… am I mixing my stories?

Deidra Brown

My jaw on the damn floor! I love it

Krissi Carson

People ripping on Ame have not been paying attention. Expecting a witch to not do her sworn duty is wild.

Ches

My new neighbors definitely heard me yelling and gasping with this one. Thanks for the new dad, Brennan!

Gregg Csikos

Ame is the absolute worst. If she ever trusted Suvi even a little bit everything would go so much smoother.

Liz Chop

Damn the hits really kept comign and did NOT STOP COMING THIS EP WAS INSANE

Jules O

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.

Jules O

YEEEEAAAAHHHHG

Witch of Words and Wandering

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

Joel Hicks

Yeah when Aabria said "I need this to be a lie" before discovering undeniably that it wasn't - that felt like one of the most impactful rolls of the entire campaign

Domtext

Sure, but I think she could have done that in a way that didn’t blow their cover and accounted for the context they were in. Her domain is also mortal people and connecting or understanding them. I get that she was trying to get a sense of how truly gone the great bullfrog was, but she could have connected into that without having her fox sing loudly in a place full of people. The way to repair the transgression between the great bullfrog and mortals would be to free the trapped children of his chosen people and she really stopped that goal by being impulsive.

Bizarre Little Star Creations

I was waiting for that reveal!!! I knew it couldn't be so black and white! SAVE THEM KIDS!!

Chelsea Brown

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

Kam Alyse

My god. I love this story so much.

Ben Fogle

Catastrophic level of goosebumps after that ending

Aussie Griffin

Kids, this is the episode where the strategy of "Kill the confirmed evil character, it just saves time." is validated. A.G.

Phi

incredible work! absolutely darstadly that i have to wait two weeks for the next part!

Mona Handa

Ooooo! Interesting…

Dan Walker

Goosebumps

Dan Walker

THAT ENDING

Victometron

SCREAMING. DEAD. Mourn me.

Aaron Fu

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.

Josie

HELL YEAH

Erin Copland

Taylor/Brennan once I stop crying I'll fight you for making me hear the little fox whimper, I'll fight you

WizardScorch

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

The Witch of the Weeping Rain

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!

Nick

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.

Nick

In the fireside for episode 38 (I just listened to it again, so I'm not an encyclopedia of WBN knowledge), Brennan talks about some of the shape changers in the battle not shifting, and instead focusing on druidic spells, specifically the vines that were going to catch as many soldiers in the river as possible. So, I'd say they're mostly druids. It fits in with the vibe and what they're capable of doing. Maybe Eighorain specifically is circle of the moon, so he can change into a wider array of creatures, while a lot of others are more focused on druidic spells, so they have a different subclass that's unable to wildshape into something as fierce as a Garran?

Valerie Richardson

Both of them have faults. It speaks to how good the acting on this show is that it causes such strong reactions. I love them all!

Udoka

I think with Suvi it was a gamble based in what she thought was a deep and loving connection. With Ame, especially considering Suvi’s pleading warning, it was just daft.

Udoka

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…

Udoka

Suvi being presumed dead after coming home wreathed in laurels will be so galling for Silver. Fuck you dude!

Udoka

I agree! I just don’t think it’s as simple as Steel being a moustache twirling baddie the whole time. She Loves Suvi.

Iryn

Oh so any alternative recommendations? I get the general idea, just a bit sad I can no longer follow the plot and join the enthusiasm cos of game mechanics

Joel Hicks

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

Sid Richey

Hold Monster 5 enchantment Casting Time: 1 action Range: 90 feet Target: A creature that you can see within range Components: V S M (A small, straight piece of iron) Duration: Up to 1 minute Classes: Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard Choose a creature that you can see within range. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be paralyzed for the duration. This spell has no effect on undead. At the end of each of its turns, the target can make another Wisdom saving throw. On a success, the spell ends on the target.

Sid Richey

HAVE WE FORGOTTEN “I’m gonna kill that dog!” ?

Sid Richey

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.

Sid Richey

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.)

WizardScorch

THANK YOU

Sid Richey

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!

Rose Kitsude

I feel I need to go back to my original hunch on what actually happened that summer...

Witch of the Remembering Bog

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.

Kayzar

I was not even remotely prepared for the emotional rollercoaster that this episode put me through. I had tears at both ends of the emotional spectrum. I’m spent.

Hat

The way the end had me cackling and going bonkers. Amazing work from everyone!!!

Witch of the Remembering Bog

The paradox of me being furious with Brennan as evil Keen threatening himself as innocent cute buddy Fox…

Witch of the Remembering Bog

It’s that wounded inner child god complex, baybee

Evil Bart

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.

David Giannetti

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?

The Wizard Cyan

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.

J. Diego Caporale

The end of the episode ... just wow.

nico

I yelled so much listening to this episode! So many crazy moments

Domtext

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

Krisse S

I feel like this is the lowest low and the highest high that I've felt listening to this goddamn podcast

Domtext

Totally agree, it’s so frustrating to see this character who is supposed to be wise and diplomatic and people-centered make bad impulsive calls and never really have to field the consequences. I do think Eusalon and Suvi are gonna get her out of this too and worry that means the character growth just doesn’t happen for Ame. So confused why Erika is playing her like this

Domtext

Right??! It’s so frustrating and honestly doesn’t make sense if she’s supposed to be the witch of the worlds heart - it’s a complete lack of attention or empathy for anyone but herself and her own curiosity and activity botches all their work on this mission to help people. It actively takes me out of character believability. At a certain point she’s not listening to Suvi’s better calls just for the sake of it

Tempest200

I’ve suspected Steel killed them for a while. The fact she was in the extralegal squad acting outside the citadel’s order before and is now Sword of the Citadel in the present day, I wonder how she managed to clean her ledger and elevate to such a high status so quickly? Also she is super duper loyal to the Citadel, and Suvi’s parents were objectively traitors, so…

Aunty Kristin

I’ve now written it three times to help remember it. I may need to look into Irish? Gaelic? pronunciation guides

Ty6260

The (honorary) wizard of the tower votes YES. Let's tear that tower down

Genna

Do we know for a fact it's a lie? It could be something she wholeheartedly believes is true (even if I'm really it's factually wrong)

Daniel Stevens

I screamed. Let's go shapeshifters!

Daniel Stevens

She may have fully lied about her parents death. She may have been mistaken. There probably isn't an in between.

Bee Barton-Biegelsen

why r people thinking steel maybe killed suvi's parents?

Eli

One of your best episodes yet

Casey Furtado

Keen giving big Jafar vibes this ep. Also AAAAAAAAAHHHHH! My mouth literally hung open for, I believe, a full minute post reveal. WOO!!

Jordan Charles

Brennan reminding Amé to use her familiar for advantage while she still has him! 😬😭

Friday the Fierce

I’ve been suspicious of her since the end of arc one. Why was she SO insistent that she be there to break Ame’s curse??? Every step of the way she’s been hiding information to control the narrative

Lojaan

I hope so

Friday the Fierce

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????

Lojaan

I think part of it may be Erika intentionally pushing the "this will be a good story" buttons

Karen Hainstock

I full on punched the air at the end of this one. Incredible

Kalyn

Maybe Steel DIDN’T kill them and just couldn’t find them herself, saw some clues, went with blaming Yorin so Suvi wouldn’t feel any hope and go looking? OR… Steel hid them? that would somehow feel even more sinister.

Kalyn

“Plot is twister than a contortionist” 😂

Kalyn

OH I forgot about Indri’s gift!

Kellie O Edwards

🤣

Kellie O Edwards

This is the best possible outcome at this point in the story and it is what I am firmly attaching all of my happy ending hopes too

Kellie O Edwards

Oh, fuck I totally forgot that steel did that 😭😭😭

Ryan

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.

Mike Chapman

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.

Kellie O Edwards

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

Kellie O Edwards

Was telling him to start singing, out loud, In a place where no one is supposed to Know that he's there, that is also the Town Square also discreet?

Kellie O Edwards

What my brain understands: Steel is , absolutely, at least an antagonist and very Probably a whole ass villain What my heart wants: Steel is absolutely somehow blameless and Suvi gets the 2 most bad ass surrogate parents ever who maybe can't stand each other, but that's Okay because they live on opposite sides of continent

Sable

It's very possible I'm misremembering stuff but I thought after Suvi, left Eursulon stayed for a bit longer (those few extra months) but then started roaming off and on for a while (some number of years), then finally stopped coming back altogether? It's been a hot minute since I listened to that bit of info so.

Kellie O Edwards

The wiki is mad outdated, and possibly abandoned

Kellie O Edwards

🤣

Kellie O Edwards

The ONLY good thing that happened/came out of this ep.... If no one saw the bodies.....🤞🏿

Kellie O Edwards

SAME!

Kellie O Edwards

Suvi *Explicitly Explained* why that was not an option this time and Ame went and did it anyways, fair went our the window after that

Kellie O Edwards

🤣

Kellie O Edwards

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

Caleb Jinright

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Kellie O Edwards

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 🤬

Alex

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.

ceeg

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

ceeg

Eursulon and Ame had I think 3 more months together as children than Suvi? Definitely not years. I don’t think any combination of the three are “normal friends” lmao

One Punch Max

Every single episode tops the last one. How is that even possible?

Annie A

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

Lauren

thank you!

Quint James

THIS. IS. CINEMA!!!

Amrita Chakraborty

Yes totally agreed — there’s also something off-putting about Steel as a white woman + Citadel leader framing Eioghorain (an Asian man + outsider to the Citadel) as being so blatantly monstrous and evil when she speaks about him to Suvi. Always felt caricaturish to me and I’m glad that our first actual meeting with the man in the current timeline shows him in a very different light

Chameleon

Oh my God that ending! Also, Steel potentially being the bad guy, damn give Suvi a break lol

PriscillaG

Right?! Because Keen's the one with the dispel magic correct?

PriscillaG

Which of his friends do you think are depicted in the Chapter 4 preview art?

irisilmaril

he seems pretty eager to murder and eat his enemies but personally i think thats understandable and resource efficient

irisilmaril

Suvi has entered “fuck it” mode, I believe. Her bridges have started to burn- her ex immediately ratted her out then the Empire sent a psychopath after her. I get the sense from her attitude that she maybe still thinks she’s dead. I don’t think receiving help from him means joining him. Her own people are actively working against her mission.

Cecilia Ruigrok

What. An. Episode!!!!!!!!!

Gotholi

Yes ....yes....YEEEEESSSS!!! The growl in suvis voice right at the end??? I'm gonna scream

irisilmaril

you aren’t going to like this, its Eioghorain

Katie Kat Artist

That ending had me screaming “LETS FUCKING GOOOOO”

Austin

Very true, overall I'm glad that she did. All I'm thinking of is that its a big oversight in how the Citadel will view their alliance. Which will definitely lead to some exciting draammaaa between Steel and Suvi

The Wizard Scam

To be fair she didn’t necessarily side with him, but rather knew he wasn’t lying and is allowing him to join her efforts in saving the kids

Austin

Yeaaah I guess, still the only thing Brennan said was "He believes everything he's saying." Idk, to me that just doesn't give enough to immediately start working alongside them.

Nathaniel Levy

Nat 20 insight check ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Stone Pengelly

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

Jerrome Lovelock

Oh boy I can’t wait for the fan art of Yoren (Joren? I don’t know how to spell) now.

Melina

And how Brennan described him stroking her cheek,whispering in her ear after the sleep spell? I fucking gagged visibly--while in public

Like a bat out of The 9 Hells I’ll be gone when the morning comes

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.

Katie

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.

Stephanie Fofi

So freaking goood!!!!!!

Jacob Moore

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.

Jacob Moore

Been thinking this for a while. Better get your mind a GPS tracker XD

Terrence Jackson

They’re keeping CHILDREN!

Terrence Jackson

I think you might be right

PharaohNoir

If Steel killed Suvi’s parents I’m gonna lose my mind…

The Sandman

Absolute Cinema 🤯❤️‍🩹

Urte

Screaming, crying, throwing the fuck up. WHAT WAS THIS EPISODE. I love it so much I can barely contain myself.

Sara

I think they're either trapped or hiding in the Near-Spirit

Danielle St John

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.

Krystine W.

Had to literally pause because fuck Keen. I'll go back but right now BRENNAN HOW DARE YOU HE'S JUST A BABY.

Jenny

I did not even consider this!!!!! Anxiety just bumped waaaayyyyy up

atomic

Build up the Spirit Army!!!

Michelle Aigner

Omg! I have chills and I'm late to work because of this episode!! 😂

kragonaught

why does Keen feel like the most cruel DM you read reddit stories about

kragonaught

while Steel is extremely unhappy to be in a DnD campaign, Keen has the core manual, wiki, and everyone’s character sheet memorized

Elsper

Wow, I don't ever leave comments but this is probably the most insane TTRPG podcast episode that I've ever heard, goddamn

Michael Landes

After this ep, anybody else thinking maybe, maaaaaaybe Suvi's parents are alive out there somewhere?

Joe Wolnik

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!

Mythic Geekdom

Omg this episode was INCREDIBLE. I felt terror and rage and all the things. And the music was simply KILLING IT. Holy SHITBALZ.

Thomas Moberg

CHILLLS!!!!

Iryn

This one? https://worldsbeyondnumber.miraheze.org/wiki/Main_Page

Felix

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....

Felix

"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!!!

Ro Lara

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

Austin

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?

Jenny

Woke up this morning and my brain said, “Eioghorain kinda sounds like Eeyore” And pop Eioghorain now occupies a soft spot in my heart.

E l i j a h

there's a wiki

E l i j a h

I hate being caught up 😭

Alex Barnes

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.

Jess Rogers

So glad I was listening in my car so I could SCREAM.

John Lancaster

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.

Johnathan Arriola

And perhaps that's all we have is impressions. Eventually this will be played out and more definition will add to the the character's traits. Until then we speculate.

Lynn O'Reilly

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.

Ale

Yeah there were so many things Steel said that with all this new information are such overt lies i cannot fathom how she is not responsible for killing soft and stone. Girl even called Eiorghorain a psychopath and unless bro really chilled out over the past decade i have no idea how you get there.

João Padinha

Brennan: Eioghorain Erika: GAHHHHHHHH Aabria: GAHHHHHHHH Me: GAHHHHHHHH

The Witch of the Wandering Ways

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

William Hansen

Ya good point! I need to give it a second listen to hear what Taylor & Co are doing to puppet my subconscious.

Mike Bailey

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

Sable

The Fox was an immediate loophole for Ame to get what she wanted. The soldiers know Ame has a fox familiar, so if someone had seen a random fox running around town while it was busy it would've raised alarms. Discreet would, at the very least, have involved the Invisibility spell given how extremely risky their situation was.

Dom Pickston

How the hell am I meant to wait two weeks for another episode?? Welp, time to relisten to the children's adventure

Katja Gallagher

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…

Cackle Cackle

I have the same theory!

Cackle Cackle

Lol like Wickham vibes?

Iryn

It’s in the transcripts

Iryn

Hey dnd folks: is anyone here mapping the Umora lore? New to dnd so I keep losing the plot on this arc as it gets more dicey pun intended 😶‍🌫️

Cackle Cackle

I mean, we don’t have proof yet that Silver leaked. I wouldn’t be surprised if Keen was up to some sneaky shit. If I was Suvi I would work very hard not to confirm ANYTHING.

Cackle Cackle

Ooooooooh!!! I love this idea

Adam D.

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

KamasiFitzgerald

Thank you for articulating it for me - it feels like a loss of complexity. But knowing Brennan and knowing this story, I have plenty of faith that it'll get plenty more complicated as things go on 😌🙏

The Wizard Sparrow

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!!!

The Wizard Sparrow

That sounds amazing 🤗

Brandon Carbaugh

Andrew Scott lacks the reptilian nastiness. Keen has "bad guy suitor in a Jane Austen adaptation who's actually just after the estate" vibes.

Cackle Cackle

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.

Cackle Cackle

I’m so positive of Steel’s ethically oblivious, absolutely calculated evilness. Maybe I’m wrong but I’m so down for a Suvi / Eioghorain buddy cop movie 🤣🥰

Cackle Cackle

IIIIIIIII KNNNEEEEEEEWWWWWWWW IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTUHHHH YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS I’VE BEEN WAITING SO LONG FOR A EIOGHORAIN COLLAB BITCHHHHHHHHHHH LET’S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The Wizard Sparrow

Using the Fox to look under the tarp was being discreet.

The Wizard Sparrow

So true

The Wizard Sparrow

Me too.

The Wizard Sparrow

I fear that conversation, for Suvi sake, though part of me still believes Steele was fed lies also.

Erin

Got me punching the air at 4am at work y'all

The Wizard Sparrow

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. ❤️❤️🤗🔥

Maddison King

SCREAMING. too good guys. 10s, 10s, 10s across the board

Yarl

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 👀

Yarl

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

Yarl

😂

rocket-flash

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*

chopstuck

This was something that struck me as well—Suvi has an understanding and often explains that her companions will "do what they do" and that Suvi has no sway over their decision making, but damn do the consequences come rushing in this time when Ame goes off on her own again and does not listen to Suvi when she tells Ame "please be discreet do the discreet thing we are in a situation where we need to be discrete"

rocket-flash

This is a really cool take! I don't know if I fully agree, but I too believe that Steel exists in a grey area in terms of citadel loyalty (like I don't think she would have ratted Suvi out immediately like Silver did). I'm personally hoping her brand of grey is influenced by some genuine brainwashing/indoctrination, coupled with a gaes/memory spell that has clouded her recollection of Suvi's parents' death, and a genuine love for the parts of Suvi that are rebellious. Steel doesn't come across to me as the most manipulative parent figure all things considered, so I would guess that if she's made Suvi into a rebellious protege, it was mostly because that's the kind of person both she and Suvi's parents were and less with any expectation that Suvi would rebel as far as she has against the citadel. Maybe I'm naive, but I've taken Steel at her word in all of her feelings about Suvi's rebellion, which is to say I think Steele respects Suvi's choices but still wishes she made different ones a lot of the time.

Ori Ganani

That ending made me shout F*** YEAH while driving by myself. Damn, this foe to ally flip is so deserved and satisfying 👨‍🍳

rocket-flash

Even though I think Silver ratted her out 100%, I'm hoping that maybe they use some extra compulsion to get more details out of him and that he didn't just spill all the beans immediately. I would love for him to be more redeemable than that because it would make it so much sadder, but I guess we'll see if we catch him on the front lines in his new promotion.

rocket-flash

He gives me freedom fighter vibes like fighting in general against tyranny with whoever is cool enough to join him. I would love to know more about the Gaothmai rulers and the kind of issues he had with them that make them different than the empire.

Jordan Charles

Yeah I’m convinced at least one of them (probably Soft? Less compulsive? More likely to survive?) is at the Library with Tephmet

rocket-flash

The prince gave me the impression that he would be the kind of person who prefers if other people get their hands dirty, and isn't interested in knowing any specific brutalities that aren't relevant to his politics. I imagine having people like Keen around is very useful when you just want something done without blood directly on your hands.

Glen Petrofski

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!

rocket-flash

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.

Trina McDaniel

I was yelling at Brennan so many times on my second listen!

Angus Smith

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 ??

Renoku

this is true. but see, my bar was already so low and then silver went EVEN LOWER 😭

Lily Lechler

NEED the pod to release a list of characters so i can internalize the spellings of the names MY GOD

Sil

Ooooff - what about Andrew Scott?

Sil

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 😭

Sil

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 😭

Sable

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

Lojaan

It's a magical compulsion

Pyrohydriscence

I know the character is in no way French, but with Brennan describing him as looking like Sam Reid my brain is overwriting and line and hearing it in Lestat's voice. It's such a him line

Pyrohydriscence

Well that's not going to stop the swooning over Eioghorain any time soon!

JB

Guys oh my god this episode

Jordan Youssef

Finally listened to the episode and GOD DAMN I WAS RIGHT

JB

Brennan is so good. The Fox giving Ame advantage is gorgeous.

MsAlleyCat

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.

Devon

Wow that’s quite a hot take that I want so desperately to be real.

JB

twelve… Sixteen… NINETEEN on the die

Devon

Thank you, I didn’t want to look it up 😂

KRMorris

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.

KRMorris

Yep. Whooo, they do work that magic!

Katie

My husband has been saying that since the very beginning and I was like um no that’s ridiculous. 😩😩

Katie

Fr I need my fox plushie 😩

KRMorris

@agiddysea—Nah my good Dude, I think you’re right. This theory is so solid and I love it. I truly hope you’ve “stone cold guessed” what Brennan is doing with Steel.

Katie

Best. Episode. Ever.

KRMorris

That’s why they had to lay traps. Because they couldn’t scry her

KRMorris

Whoa. This is such an important point to remember. I’m getting some wild-bad “So what I told you was true” glowing-Obi-Wan-in-Empire Strikes-Back vibes. Two weeks can’t come soon enough

Aunty Kristin

Eiorghorain (I had to look it up)

Lauren

could you remind me what a gaes is?

thedragonllama

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!

KRMorris

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…

Devon

Keen is my new least favorite villain

Devon

How do you actually spell Yorens name again?

Devon

Idk it was a bad trap that Suvi/ Aabriya caught right away and I’m still mad about it lol

Jenny

I missed this detail but thank you for giving a reason to replay the episode again

Devon

Did we expect him to be any different though? Suvi took a risk that was bad :(

KRMorris

I was doing dishes while listening and I kept yelling “kill him!” “Kill him!” And my partner had to come check on me.

Devon

Brennan as the Fox: “can I sing louder?” Me on my second listen: BRENNAN YOU BITCH!

Zackary Kirk

As a firm and avid believer of uncle yoren from the beginning, let me just say hahaha HAHA ha. thank you very much

KRMorris

I’m so worried about Fox. I love him

KRMorris

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.

Molly Gould

Another episode leaving me in tears :) awesome :) keep it up

Emily

YOOOOOOOO

KRMorris

Yes and i am NOT WELL about it 🤢

Jenny

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! 🫣🤯💥

KRMorris

This. ^^ i think you’re spot on. I hope Suvi’s parents, at least one of them, is still alive. I want Suvi to still love and trust some part of her past.

Ben East

Holy crap.

KamasiFitzgerald

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

KRMorris

I want them to still be alive real bad. I have a feeling Teffmet knows them.

KamasiFitzgerald

the whine was one thing, but the subtle *CRACKING SOUND* was SO brutal 😭😭😭

KRMorris

YES! LET’S GO!

Mad Jax

Oh I forgot he described him as East Asian in the prologe my bad. But like personality wise, I still think it works.

Bingus2277

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!

River Pruitt

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”

Renoku

he's SO hot!!!!!!!

Renoku

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

Paul Barkley

Came here specifically to post exactly that. Holy crap, what a way to end the episode. I don't want to wait for the fireside chat ep.

Emma41420

If you come into a space with disrespect, don't be surprised when people point it out or question that. idk what rhetoric you're talking about tbh, feel however you want! I'm asking you to consider being more intentional about what you say on this forum. Your personal frustrations aren't a justification for acting nasty. If it wouldn't be appropriate or fair to say to someone's face, keep it off their page! Not hard. 🫠

Sil

God fucking damn it, l hadn't paid attention to the spelling of Lydwyn, have you straight up called the river "Magic Sound"!?

Dezzi

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.

Ren Challacombe

HEY WHAT THE FUCK

Beth Fraser

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 🥹🏰🌌💙🤍

bails 🌀 witch of the what the fuck

EIOGHORAIN IS A GOOD GUY AND HE’S HOT, W FOR THE HORNER CORNER

Ryan Higgins

I was almost broken, yet here I stand. Great episode again.

William Hansen

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!”

disastersappho

wait noooo keen cant be hot 😭

disastersappho

HOLY CRAP THIS IS INSANE

Whitney Avalon

Helluva episode! (I mean, they all are, but...)

Joey Sawyers

I gotta say I'm absolutely gagged rn lol

Susannah B.

Loooove when Brennan gets to play just an out and out villain. DELICIOUS

Susannah B.

Couldn't stop picturing Sam Reid's Lestat

Cristobal Cruz-Garcia

Screaming

Puppymaster

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.

Jordan Charles

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

Mad Jax

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.

Puppymaster

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.

Shannon Leimbach

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 😭😭😭

Jordan Charles

Suddenly that speaking mirror setup feels very different

Jordan Charles

Yeah, full Lucius Malfoy fr

Jordan Charles

It is midnight and I just screamed ‘LET’S GOOOO’ into the darkness

Jordan Charles

I am losing my MINDDDDD over here!

Beth Fraser

So, anyone else wondering if Soft and Stone have been bound in some way and aren’t even dead?

FatherNature

Absolute peak

ceeg

Really! Last time I checked it was pretty bare , I gotta look again

Julie

Last 3 minutes, gripping my counter top jaw slack into immediate fist pumping screaming hell yeah!! What a fucking RIDE!!

Charlotte

What an incredible episode! Also really enjoying the Eursulon and Vandal dynamic haha. Dreamteam. I hope they get up to shenanigans together next episode.

Gabriel Madera

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!!!!!

Adarsh Nednur

What the fuck, I am mentally and emotionally and spiritually overwhelmed right now in the best way possible

Brandon Carbaugh

Keen is a Jason Isaacs character.

Gone Fawn It

Holy crap. This episode. So good.

Sydney Jay

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 😭😭????))

Pyrohydriscence

The fandom wiki is pretty good, it has lots of useful time stamps.

Pyrohydriscence

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.

I Davis

Id love to be a fly on the wall next time suvi and Steel talk :D

Sydney Jay

So glad it's not just me that thought that 🤣🤣🤣

Benny Bee

Brennan has talked at length about how he feels re; morality on a scale of black to white, and how he feels you do have to represent those shades in their extremities. I agree with you in that I think Steel is an *excellent* example of a grey area, even missing so many pieces of the truth that all we can make are collages and guesses. Perhaps putting too much stock in the wisdom of Grandmother Wren in a changing world, the quote (paraphrasing) she says about Steel that insists she will always do the right thing- within the confines of her loyalty to the Citadel- seems to be the read with the most weight to it thus far. I genuinely believe she was conflicted when she compelled Suvi, and we have seen her struggle to wrap both hands around the *good* of the Citadel. The hellbent march for progress, innovation, to become more than a single person ever could alone- just like Suvi's parents, she risked everything (with the same conditioning Suvi had) to root out the danger in her home and found out it was sanctioned. I can't help but be unable to decide if she genuinely believes Eioghorain was in on their disappearance, if someone perhaps steered her down that trail, or if she is simply someone who has fought so hard for the betterment of her home and thus embedded herself so deep within it that all she could do as a love letter to her lost sister was make sure her daughter never fell prey to the same lumbering machine of Empire. Either way, a big goddamn bravo to the gang for this one. Steel is one of my favorites because she has always struck me as too classically good as a mentor- not that we haven't seen complexity from her, but safe to say that the only reason she hasn't proven that her money is where her mouth is happens to be because she's always three or four days behind her wayward daughter. I love Suvi deeply, but I think if I were Steel, my hair would be all white by now- no matter which way her ethical obligations swing her.

Pyrohydriscence

Interestingly, she never actually said "he killed them". She said he was responsible for their deaths, and Eioghoran himself said he betrayed them. Steel said that if he had been fighting at their side there was no way he would have walked away without them. He bailed because he thought they were just going to get themselves killed and didn't know when to walk away. I don't trust Steel at this point, but I'm wondering if they both describing their own version of the same event.

abardnamedkate

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.)

deirdre

thank you! i had to stop my walk to text my friend about it, and all i got back from her was “NNNNERRRRRRDDDDDDD” which was not the solidarity i was looking for. i’m glad to find it here!

Andrew Winstead

*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.

Benny Bee

I'm curious if Steel did lie or if she was lied to. If the group was made, I can't help but wonder if Steel knew what happened to Suvi's parents and turned their daughter's rage and blame to Eioghorain, or if this was a "clean up" job from higher ups in the Citadel and Steel was also manipulated? I have a sinking feeling it's the first, especially with Grandmother Wren's slight warning about her (paraphrasing, but something like, "you can always trust her to do the right thing, within the confines and limitations of her loyalty to the Citadel,") at the beginning of the story.

Senseless Fool

thank you so much 🙏

Sil

Taylor/ Jared... you are nasty, nasty sound editors 🤣 THE. STRESS. OF. LUCK. ROLLS. HURTS. DMS. WHO. ARE. PLAYERS. AS. WELL.

Shannon

yeah

Shannon

Hello! The Google form for submitting q's is pinned to the front page FAQ :)

Jake

First of all I wrote this without the benefit of hindsight so don’t come at me with that Monday-morning-quarterback rhetoric. Second of all I can be as satisfied or dissatisfied with the premise as I want, just because you love 100% of it doesn’t mean I can’t hope for more from the characters and these very experienced players 1% of the time. This episode was unquestionably a banger, and in the heat of the moment of first listening I was just a little distraught.

Benny Bee

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.

Pyrohydriscence

I heard it as them splitting up both from Eioghoran and each other to chase leads but I guess it was ambiguous

Maddie Moreland

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.

Joshua rassier

Oh, and Steel killed Suvi's parents

Stefanucci Mozzarella

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!

Joshua rassier

I knew Brennan was going to get that dog

Senseless Fool

also. unrelated but does anybody know where we can submit questions for the fireside chats?

ceeg

Can somebody please make a big detailed fan wiki I do not remember a fucking thing about the League of Whispers

ceeg

dilf unlocked

Senseless Fool

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

The Wizard Spite

Anyone else thinking Steel is the reason Soft & Stone are dead now....

Johnathan Arriola

The baddy is appropriately bad. " I don't like you not doing what I want. " Concise words for definitive evil. It also makes me reevaluate the Prince for maintaining such a creature amongst his entourage. Though perhaps such details are not up to the Prince. It is highly likely if not assured that Keen would make himself indespenseable in that he could not be gotten rid of without unacceptable collateral damage, if not out right someone that would be impossible to remove. I can imagine the kinds of contingencies the man has in place to maintain his power and privilege. Yeowch

The Wizard Scourge

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

The Wizard Scourge

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!

Emma41420

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 🤩

deirdre

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)

Emma41420

Do what?? Make brave, in-character, interesting, cooperative storytelling choices that progress the story forward 🤔 Would you have preferred an episode where they're not intercepted and Suvi didn't have the opportunity to converse with the shape-changers, thus getting more help to liberate the children being trafficked? Y'all know the team reads these comments right, so there's no good reason to make weird snide passive-aggressive remarks about players consistently delivering on the premise of the podcast 🙄

Kit

I thought he was saying that Soft & Stone split ways with Eighoran, not with each other?

Kit

Also yeah the puppy whining noises, horrifying

Kit

Silver's a company man, I feel quite sure he reported out of his own volition

the witch of weft and warp

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, how dare you make something this good!?!? ahhhhhh

Kit

🙃 truly

Shalea Rhodes

AND LISTEN TO SUVI!! PLEASE.

Kit

The triumphant laugh I just let out at the end. Holy shit, this one was stellar.

Patrick

Holy $!&@‘ Taylor. The music on the button. What an ep.

TētēKura

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Losing my MIND

Zaki

SCREAMING

Sara Elizabeth Nesbit

OMGODS this was sooo good! I'm so worried about the fox!

Jack

Steel is super sus still

litenkolgrill

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.

Moss V

IM SCREAMING WWWWWAAAAAAAATTTTTTT

Shaggy GM

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.

Beau Rydman

Insane peak episode all around. Congratulations to all involved

Tea

This episode was soooo good, also new DILF acquired at the end!?

Ashley

Keen is so grossss oh my gosh I just want to see Suvi utterly squash him

bluebluebutton

I'd love for that to happen expeditiously.

Amer

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 !!?

Ashley Teatum

GASPED AND SCREAMED truly perfect ahhhh

Agiddysea

Steel has already shown that she’s willing to operate outside of the Citadel’s strict structure, so I don’t see how it makes sense to assume she’s a strict loyalist to the institution. The biggest example is the Acadator—she, Soft, Stone, and Grandmother Wren formed their own group to root out what they thought was corruption inside the Citadel. That’s not the action of someone who trusts the system completely. And then the Court of Whispers revelation? After years of working in secret, they finally brought these so-called criminals in, only to find out the Citadel had sanctioned the whole thing. That had to be a moment of massive disillusionment for all of them. Steel might be loyal, but it seems more like she’s loyal to the idea of what the Citadel is supposed to be, rather than the actual institution as it stands. That’s a pretty big distinction, and one that makes me think she’s not as rigidly devoted to the Citadel as some people assume.

irisilmaril

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.

SapphoDyl

Well, dammit (affectionate), that made me cry. I didn't realize how hard a reunion with Eioghorain was gonna hit me

Alayna Wiggins Steffy

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

Sean Britcher

Fingers crossed that someone can drag him to the Spirit Realm and hand him off to Orima or the like.

Sean Britcher

I dont think that Steel killed Soft and Stone, but i absolutely believe that her loyalties, especially now, lies with the Citadel first and foremost. She'll bend the rules to protect Suvi to be sure. But she is an instrument of the Citadel.

DaShawn Coleman

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!

Sean Britcher

Also protects her from Great Spirits and scrying from the Citadel iirc.

Liu

Trying not to cry in this Uber going to class. I LOVE THIS PODCAST SO FUCKING MUCH

Liu

HOOOOOLYYYY SHIIIIIIIIIT

cnidarian casper

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

Sean Britcher

He is an amazing antagonist. I hate him SO MUCH, and we've really only had two scenes with him.

cnidarian casper

MY JAW IS ON THE FLOOR omg screaming!!!

The BepBop

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

Joshua Jones

Me hours later: OH FUCK the TITLE

Jazz

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.

Taylorea

I am being so normal about this episode!!!!! What?!?!? I’m not screaming?!?!? You’re screaming!!!!! 😱

Nandi Kayyy

Not. At. All 🥵

Elizabeth Boskey

She got the nat 20 when she needed it!

Amaya Booker

This will remain true in my heart even if it's proven false. I can't take it otherwise

Bean Planter

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.

Elizabeth Boskey

The sheer number of intonations one can scream fuck!!!!! in during this episode....

Elizabeth Boskey

Aabria's affect on that line... :: Chef's kiss::

Amaya Booker

Steel playing the long game will be what keeps me sane. As far as how long she's waited without telling her, it seems like they're very often ships passing in the night. Like if she wanted to tell her after the name cloaking, she got immediately deployed. They were gonna talk when she was back and available and then Ame and Eursulon fled. And yet another 'keep it on ice' went out the window lol. It would definitely make sense for Steel to wait until she'd gotten some experience outside the Citadel to tell her the truth given how much Suvi has matured and become more calculating since getting in the field

Elizabeth Boskey

This. Precisely.

Elizabeth Boskey

Same here too. That was my horrifying thought

Halestorm

LMAOOOOO

Elizabeth Boskey

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

irisilmaril

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.

rio

We don't know for certain that Eioghoran cursed Ame, just that the curse smelled the same as Eioghoran. I think that's probably another mage practicing a similar discipline to Eioghoran. I will point out tho that Steel was able to fabricate that smell, and her story about it being to remind Grandma Wren doesn't make a lot of sense. Why a perfume on the page rather than an illusory script note? I personally don't trust Steel a single millimeter...

Cocomoose

I’m literally screaming!!! The fox in the grasp of this awful wizard. Brennan WHYYYYYYYYY……. This is such prestigious storytelling.

Ciara Caines

Guys, if Brennan kills this fox I'm gonna throw up right now

Brandon Carbaugh

Suvi's rebel arc has been like: 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 2, 9999999

Brandon Brewer

This episode was NOT good for my blood pressure, lol. We love some unexpected allies! Let's go, Suvi! BLAZE DOWN THE REBEL PATH!

Gillian Moser

Maybe! Suvi identified the bile and asked for the source - Brennan described Eioghorain

Nandi Kayyy

🗣️ I LOVE YOU ALL AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL BRAINS 😭😭😭 I literally screamed out loud when Eioghorain said "Want some help?" Very good

Elizabeth Agresta

Was it Eioghorain?? I assumed it was the Man in Black but maybe I missed something along the way

clafford

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?

Elizabeth Agresta

The only way it would SORT OF be OK is if (as someone suggested upthread) Steel knew it was a cover-up and has been quietly biding her time and molding Suvi into a sleeper agent who will eventually be activated/radicalized into avenging her parents’ deaths and destroying the empire. But Suvi still deserves to flip out on Steel for hiding that from her for so long if that is indeed the case.

clafford

TAYLOR THE ENDING NOTE

James

even my aggressively aroace brain was like "...oh? [eyebrow waggle] okay, handsome..." when he showed up

Elizabeth Agresta

Yeah, I think Brennan spelled it out in one of the Fireside Chats in arc 2 (don’t quote me on that, may have been in an actual campaign ep)? There’s just a lot of Es and Is where you aren’t expecting them. 😂

Kpapi

I cannot stress this enough but I hate keane more than anything

AyunderfillVonScotchguerd

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…

Elizabeth Agresta

Yeah, to follow up on the other commenter—the way the sleep spell works is you roll a number of d8s (5d8 at 1st level) and whatever number you get is the amount of hit points’ worth of enemies that are knocked out, no saving throw required. I’m guessing he upcast it (additional 1d8 per level) to ensure he would definitely hit Ame’s hit point total (because the odds of rolling 23+ on 5d8 are slightly below average). That’s why Brennan asked Erika how many hit points Ame had.

Elizabeth Agresta

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

Gillian Moser

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

Elizabeth Agresta

Oh man, I so want this to be true because if Steel was the one who betrayed Soft and Stone it’s gonna break my friggin’ heart. At any rate, a very difficult confrontation is definitely in the cards for Suvi and Steel, regardless of whether Steel is the good or bad guy here…

Matthew B

Hold Monster would be the obvious choice but it could just ne a house rule or spell reskin to allow Hold Person to work on animals.

Katherine Rose

“I’m dead so why don’t we have every fun conversation simultaneously.” Damn Aabria!

Cole

The end of every single episode that has released in this chapter has given me chills

Pyrohydriscence

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?

Katherine Rose

Same!!!!

Antareeksh Deb

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

Felix

"It's okay, we broke up."

Archon of Commoragh

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.

Brennen Hilgendorf

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!

Archon of Commoragh

You and me both.

Archon of Commoragh

Hold Monster perhaps.

Cordial

Seconded

Chelsie K

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?

Ruvi

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)

Saïda Siam

AAAAAAAAAAAAAA (and I can’t stress this enough) AAAAAAH!!!!

Ruvi

G O D S THAT ENDING !!! i s t g i Could Not Breathe that was so cool!!!

expandingnebula

i think its the pendant her mom made her

expandingnebula

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?

LuChiChi4

I SWEAR TO ALL THE GODS, if STEEL ends up being the bad guy, I WILL SOB so fucking hard. Amazing episode!

Jo Lee

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."

Safa Ashkan

Good Evening Madame Suvi !

Nandi Kayyy

I'm halfway through and I'm shaking, my stomach is in knots , my heart is RACING 😭

Nathan Spring

I came here to point out this exact moment!

Lauren

every part of this episode has me SCREAMING

Pyrohydriscence

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.

Tish.Tosh

"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

Kate Fisher

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?

J

Fist pumping the air at the end of the episode. Why does the other wizard sound like Hans from inglorious basterds lol

Devon

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.

Agiddysea

Then again I tend to be wrong about much of this. So take all this with a grain of salt I suppose.

Agiddysea

Okay, I admit it—I'm a Steel apologist. For a long time, I genuinely believed she was just a strict but loving mentor, guiding Suvi with the best of intentions. I thought the whole "Steel is a manipulator" angle was overblown, a misreading of a complex but ultimately kind character. But now? I think Steel has been playing a long game this entire time. What if Steel has been deliberately nudging Suvi toward rebellion, subtly setting her up to turn against the Empire while keeping the Citadel’s watchful eyes off her? What if every "kind" act—every piece of encouragement, every hard truth—was carefully placed to push Suvi toward questioning everything she’s been raised to believe? Think about it: Steel let Suvi go see Grandmother Wren, even though she had every reason to keep her away. That’s a thread pulling Suvi toward the other side of magic. Steel told Suvi that Eoighorain—the man she believes is responsible for her parents’ deaths—is on the battlefield, knowing full well Suvi would chase that down. That’s not just information. That’s direction. Steel sent Suvi to company with Ame and Eursalon, two people who were never going to reinforce Citadel loyalty. When Suvi ended up on the battlefield instead of following orders, Steel didn’t chide her. No reprimand, no consequences—just a quiet acceptance of where Suvi had placed herself. Keen outright pointed out that Suvi was treated like the princess of the Citadel, allowed to act however she wanted. What if that wasn’t just nepotism? What if that was intentional leeway Steel carved out for her, so Suvi could make mistakes, make choices, and forge her own path without immediate consequences? What if this wasn’t just Steel being a tough-but-fair mentor? What if this was Steel making a choice, years ago, that to protect the child of the woman she considered her sister, she had to play the long game? She couldn’t openly defy the Citadel—not without getting herself killed. So instead, she created space. She fed Suvi just enough information, gave her just enough freedom, knowing that one day it might pay off. Steel has always trained Suvi to be the perfect Citadel wizard—disciplined, loyal, powerful. But what if that was just the cover? What if the real goal was to prepare her to survive defecting? Steel knows how dangerous the Empire is. She’s high-ranking enough to understand what happens to those who break away. So what if her entire approach has been about covertly radicalizing Suvi, all while making sure it looks like she’s just doing her job? Maybe Steel isn’t a monster, and maybe she isn’t just a loyal soldier either. Maybe she’s something in between—someone playing the longest con, raising a girl into the perfect Citadel war mage, all so that when the time comes, Suvi has everything she needs to burn it all down. I thought people were wrong about Steel being manipulative. Now, I think they were right—just not in the way they thought.

Bardic Mockery vs. Vicious Inspiration

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 🙃

James

My neighbors must be concerned about me because the way I kept yelling at this episode and I'm not even halfway through

Brandon Carbaugh

Okay Aabria was right, motherfuckers with harpsichord solos when they walk in the room are bad news.

Jack Jones

Full predator handshake moment between Suvi and Eioghorain is so good haha

Joe Camberwell

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.

Jack Jones

NAH MAN THIS SHOW GOES HARD

Trish K

every episode that comes out becomes my new favorite as soon as i listen, oh my god this was fantastic!!!

Oliver Denny

I did the same thing

Sarah Neima

Oh man that horn blast after "YES" knocked my fucking socks off. Hell yeah Taylor!

Adrienne

And now, with vindication, and sheer DELIGHT: FUCK. YOU.

bluebluebutton

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.

xatlern

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?

Molly Sisson

I just wandered around my house, headphones on, slack jawed the whole hour and a half! And that final music was🤌

Amaya Booker

The only way I can stomach such betrayal is if at least one parent is secretly alive and imprisoned somewhere. I can't have her lose literally all of her family. I'd never recover!

Chelsie K

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.

Ron Ron

By the Great Bear soo much frustration and boondongling on how good this is!

Trina McDaniel

Thank you!

Bubbles

These episodes always leave me in tears, its so epic!!!!!!

Trina McDaniel

I said the same thing, out loud in my kitchen, to no one but my cats.

Trina McDaniel

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.)

Cade Mackey

Screaming, crying, and throwing up. The end of this episode fueled me with the power to punch through 10 concrete walls. 10/10

TPK_light

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

Aydris Drake

OH MY GOD!

Matthew Grossman

I say this with love, and loving the move but AME PLZ CHILL ONCE

Myka Ozlynn

Theres no way she doesn't know!

Chris Lindgren

FIRE!! God damn!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Thank y'all for this brilliant series.

Myka Ozlynn

Eioghorain truthers unite! Hot Old Man Revolutionary Fighter!?!?

Michelle Spurgeon

If anything happens to our cinnamon rolls I will riot!! Also image the bad guy nor actually being the bad guy.

L J

Once again Ame, this is not a place of breakfast!

Emily C

My face also made lots of fun expressions listening to this which my colleagues were probably worried about

Stephanie Godin

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!

Emily C

Ah dang, okay

Shelby Welby

Somehow laughing and crying at the same time

Kevin Goodwin

So does Erika

Rafi

This was a baller episode, my heart rate is through the roof but this was such a baller episode

Anondo Banerjee

This was fucked up

Bob Chapman

"Want help?" Enemies to allies! Enemies to allies! ENEMIES TO ALLIES!!!

Erin

Bless you! I need to listen to the episode again for details and the info I was looking for is right here. Thank you!

Erin

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.

Corey Lynn

LFGOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!💜💜💜💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯

Adrienne

Again, with (affectionate) feeling: FUCK YOU

Claire

"It's okay, we broke up" SCREAMING, AAAAAAAAAAAAHA

Marije

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.

Adrienne

With (affectionate) feeling: FUCK YOU BRENNAN

Maya Duffy

This episode was an attempt on my life, I’m on the FLOOR

Ryan L.

Cannot wait to hear this episodes Fireside!🐆💯🖖😎

Mack Whaley

Yes! The spelling is seemingly relevant to both where he comes from and his lineage but also has roots in I believe Irish and Gaelic language/history!

Ari Crossby

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.

Rina the Floof

Is that how you spell his name???? I thought this whole time it was Yorin

Emily R

God this episode made me wanna throw up from all the anxiety😂😂😂

Mari and James Holt

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!

Rover Bernhard

Sleep is a spell with no attack roll or saving throw

Rina the Floof

EVERY EPISODE IS THE NEW BEST EPISODE HOLY SHIT AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Mack Whaley

Also Eioghorain capturing her but not recognizing her is so fucking funny

Emily C

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?

Rover Bernhard

“Speak with Animals” WHAT A TITLE

Rover Bernhard

I AM CHEWING ON THE WALLS

Mack Whaley

Wow wow wow y’all are excellent. How does this story continue getting better and better each week wow

PhillyMoe

What the actual fuck my dudes!!!

Swaff

The griddle was HOT for this one

The jowler

Yo can anyone remind me what the league of whispers deal was? Been a little while lol

Wizard Susurrus

Judge

Wizard Susurrus

TAYLOR MOTHERFUCKING MOORE

Isabella Theodoratou

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

Isabella Theodoratou

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.

Nicholas Savage AKA Eursulon’s knight in training

now the hard part is waiting 2 WEEKS😭😭😭😭😭😭

Zachary Burkhalter

Keen sucks. Count frolo type behavior

Emma R Jorgensen

HE SAID "YOU WANT SOME HELP"??!!! TAKE ME TO TWO WEEKS FROM RIGHT NOW IMMEDIATELY

Jack Flynn

"YES", we love you Aabria!

Nicholas Savage AKA Eursulon’s knight in training

FUCK THAT WAS SO GOOD

Udoka

Maybe the best episode so far? I’m going to listen again from the start bc what???

Bill Butler

Brennan you son of a bitch I'm in

ScoutHooligan

Love Erika's pause, "whimsically throwing up!" Lolol

Amaya Booker

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

Jasmine A Golphin

God I love an episode where I'm cussing Brennan out every 10 minutes. Fantastic work as always team!💛👏🏾

Joshua

Wow. What a twist! I’m excited for this unusual and unexpected team up. This does increase my suspicion of steel even more.

Treowyn

MIND BLOWN! This is AMAZING! I need more! How am I supposed to wait two weeks for the next episode?

Mack Whaley

I can’t stop screaming!!!!!!

Alethea

Just finished the ep- screaming into my pillow

Corey Lynn

I'm only 40 minutes in and I am SO STRESSED WTF 😭😅

Nicholas Savage AKA Eursulon’s knight in training

Eioghorain!!!!!!!!!!!

Udoka

OH MY GOD.

Laura DW

Holy moly this episode!!!! This episode. I can't even.

Amaya Booker

"I thought she told you not to frighten her child" !?!?!?!? QUEEN SHIT QUEEN SHIT QUEEN SHIT

Jake

Why does Erika always do this…

Raquel Albert

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

Nicholas Savage AKA Eursulon’s knight in training

Ame thought she was still in her ghibli movie having the fox sing like that 🤦🏾‍♂️

Udoka

BRENNAN.

Corey Lynn

'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.

Gary Sifuentes

You spoil us😭we don’t deserve this level of quality so consistently😭❤️

Ryan L.

Yay💯🦋😻

Matthew B

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.