[PUBLIC EPISODE] The Wizard, the Witch and the Wild One: ep042 "Match My Breath and Walk in My Footsteps"

Mandy Guerra

Hoooooo weeeeee..... I purchased the membership and have been hammering my way through the backlog and just got to this episode. Had to stop it, to talk to my husband, who's background is in philosophy, about the layers of subtext I'm picking apart. And it all comes down to, who're actually the baddies? Not who you'd assume on face value. And maaaaaan, the Indigenous American residential schools backed by the Catholic church vibes I'm getting...... make my stomach turn. Apropos of nothing, I often do wonder what the neighbors must think when they see me on my run, crying.

Hannah Radenkova

This just in: Local man shocked when woman on leadership track considers how best to lead

The Wizard Seatang

upon re-listen in the light of day... uncontrollable crying at the conclusion of the episode T_T

Dana Swithenbank

The fact Suvi said she is thankful that when a heart breaks, it breaks in silence? Hi, my whole heart shattered. What a beautiful description.

Jordan T. Maxwell

Fantastic throughout, but fuuuuuck, y'all broke my damn heart with that ending! 😭

Em

GOD Brennan ripped my heart out

kaguya_yoru

I'm sure it's already been said but can we please get merch that says, "Match my breath and walk in my footsteps" ? 🙏🏾

Clint Shook

I got chills when Eursalon said, we will not be seeking the ideal outcome, simply one in which they are free. Hachichachi that got me.

Carrie Mook Bridgman

Yes, yes, and yes.

Vanessa Seatang

[breathes fire] BURN IT ALL DOWN

gavriellian

sobbing at the end of this one. wth guys.

irisilmaril

when you find, also, that you have been a cop this whole time.

Genna

My throat hurts from those sobs

Genna

I will never recover from "Thank god heartbreak is quiet, and I can do it on my own " Aabria forever

The Wizard Symphony

I think so. Like how Oroum (sp?) blood created wands that control the ocean maybe her blood can used to make strong dispelling agents.

kiki✨

oh fuck. oh fuck oh fuck it's ghost's blood isn't it...

Sil

I'm going to chime in with post WWI, rather than WWII. The British sent so many of its colonials to fight for Britain, not for the place the colonisers invaded. But the nationalism machine was impeccable. The most recent example I can think of is the movie Gallipoli. Even now, ANZAC is a revered phrase in AU/NZ, and mostly no one will hear a word against them, no matter how justified it might be.

Sil

Relisten to "Something to remember you by" at about 2:30. If I think on how it feels for too long, i cry again. First time I heard the episode, I had to rewind multiple times because I couldn't hear Aabria over the music.

Sil

"A reptilian abacus of power" and "a simple purveyor of artifacts?" If this scene could be flip and not chillingly sinister, he reminds me of Piniet the Editor from Owl House. But also, kill him. Kill him now.

Sukriti Sharma (Nyn)

You guys are absolutely masterful. Your commitment to your characters so incredible and heartbreaking. Have loved every episode of this journey. Thank you so much for coming together and making this for us.

Benjamin Dumas

That song after Suvi says "I don't think there's any chance of sleep" is so beautiful and I want it on its own please and thank you

josepha

yeah no it was always the empire taking kids, brennan confirmed it in the fireside after the episode as well

RT

I forgot about the best and worst day but it has to be

Casey Furtado

Me too!! 💅

The Wizard Stethoscope

I love the sound design in this show so much and I adore TASK but I will never forgive Taylor for the grating sound TASK’s body parts make as it moves (not the scuttling tho, that’s cool) - the grating makes me want to rip my skin off and jump into a pool of lemon juice. I love you all so much tho

GR Girlie

Yall made me weep on my day off I hope you're happy

Bo0gie

I hope ghost is alive

disastersappho

oh dear i did not plan to ugly sob

TimWeary

I'll make you a deal, Agiddysea. I'll treat soldiers with the same nuance with which they treat their victims. I'll match all the nuance in the torture chambers of Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo. All the nuance in the mass graves of Palestine and Iraq. Would you call that fair? If not, tell me why you think you deserve nuance and the benefit of the doubt, while war's victims faced a binary judgement: life or death, at the hand of the soldier. The reason people here don't have any sympathy for soldiers is because most of the people here are American, and most of them are literate. America has a volunteer army that has done almost nothing but evil for 80 years. I would bet that many people here came of age or were young children during the invasions and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan. And recently we have all seen what the American war apparatus (and yes there were US boots on the ground) did in Palestine. How could we see what we have seen and not make an obvious moral judgement? We would have to be monsters. Or soldiers. A soldier's regret does not cleanse him. His "questioning" does not exculpate him. His doubt does not acquit him. These are not my own ideas, but the findings of the Nuremberg Trials. If you want to see all the nuance I am willing to give volunteer soldiers of empire, I'd suggest you go look there, Nuremberg, Germany, in 1949, and you'll find it all, swinging at the end of a rope.

Danielle St John

What a ride this episode was. I feel like I have emotional whiplash 😵‍💫

Sface

Ugh, The moment you find out, your boyfriend is a cop. But at least you have a pet spider

Larger Clam

Yeah, you bet! You can probably tell I've been thinking about it way too much. Its an interesting question because the creation of a singular purpose to the conflict is I think kind of what the story is about. The Man in Black definitely has a purpose beyond just territorial expansion, and he's now the puppet master behind Rhuv. So where it was once a general territorial/resource conflict, we're watching it become something more, and more specific: stop the Citadel and the Empire from doing whatever it is they're doing with the spirits. Which I guess could be framed as an anti-colonial insurgency on behalf of the spirit world.

cnidarian casper

Hey thanks for this! You're right in that the idea of going to war over a clear moral standing is inaccurate and was a misuse and over-simplification on my part. My question was more wondering if there was any particular moments of competition over control, territory etc that happened and I may've missed, was interested in if there were any parts of the lore I'd missed around establishment of the empire and what they set out to achieve. But I see that it's unlikely there is really a clear easily digestible answer, as I've come used to hearing in fictional stories, and thats actually a great interesting thing and a big reason why I love wbn that it explores things with nuance and from varying perspectives. Thanks for your reply appreciate it :)

Larger Clam

The idea that countries go to war over what they "stand for" is post-WWII western propaganda. Nations fight over resources, territory, control over financial markets, and in the case of invasion or occupation, their own survival and self determination (which could be defined as a combination of the previous three). Given what we know about Gauthmai, Rhuv, and the Empire, it sounds like they are long established, roughly comparable, neighboring nations, with ever-present hostilities, but only occasional bursts of violence, mostly along contested borders, much like western Europe from the middle ages through the early modern period. In other words, there might not be a singular casus belli, but rather the ever-present violent competition for control, territory, and resources.

Ranger Ren

Im melting for Task

KRMorris

It wouldn’t sit well with me either, were I in your position. I live in a rural area, with a lot of veterans. Some have remarked to me that nuance was an avenue to doubt when they were in combat zones, so the binary was safer. Only after did they open up. In my work, I help parents who are trying to reunite with their kids after having them removed due to drug addiction. Nuance is the only way to see how True Change can happen with a parent who has neglected a child. We must be able to accept change, and rewrite our stories. I think that’s why I love this show, and its community. We’re all going to get someplace together, and Brennan, Aabria, Lou, Erika, and Taylor are getting us there, but what we value about the journey gets to be our own. I can’t fault too many people for trying to protect their peace, even when I think this story is about the price of that binary way of thinking ✨

cnidarian casper

Oh this episode was so good. God Suvi's 'heartbreak is quiet' so saddening. Slightly unrelated but anyone able to explain some citadel lore? It feels silly to not know this kinda basic thing after listening for so long, but has it been explained why are the Kehmsarazan Empire is at war with Rhuve and Gaothmai ? What does the empire actively kinda stand for and aim to achieve both in general and with the war?

KRMorris

I think expecting most of our fan community to show the same empathy and appreciation for nuance that this story includes (and many of us do have) is a lot to ask. Most fan communities are filled with people who come to these stories for the type of escape and over identification that acts as a balm to whatever IRL struggles and grey area problems people are having. There is going to be a gut instinct toward the simplicity of a binary, not unlike what we saw in some Imperial soldiers when they reduce it to “us or them” in order to to protect their own lives. I think, as we find out more about the history and political structure of the Citadel vs the Empire, we’ll learn the many perspectives people are holding, I think. For my part, as a fan, I don’t see Silver as being too much a product of indoctrination, rather that he is the type of person who truly does believe in duty, who sees clear-eyed the practical implications of disobedience on the scale Suvi is doing. He also deeply understands the difference between them w/r/t privilege. If Silver were to begin to act on the grey area in the way Suvi has, his comrades lives would be greatly endangered. Suvi’s privileged status allows her to move more freely. So, as a fan, I know this, and yet I also think that macro-politically the Empire has shown it has little respect for Great Spirits (see Naram abuse), and sees them as a resource and their free will as an impediment to that resource. The Citadel is the Empire’s greatest resource. When the fans react, I think many of us want to superimpose the ideology we see onto all Citadel and Empire operatives. So some times I’m going to reduce it to Spirits vs Empire, and I’m going to side with Spirits. Just like the main characters, it’s hard for any of us to know who to trust. I hope this comment helps you know that I also see what you see, and maybe it’s just all part of the juice.

Kellie O Edwards

I need it to be this and not PurposefullyEvil! Steel

Kellie O Edwards

That harpsicord had me feeling massive EVIL VIZIER VIBES

Kellie O Edwards

It's where your tongue is supposed to be at rest!!

Kellie O Edwards

"Thank God heartbreak is quiet"- ????????????? *GYATDAMN AABRIAAAAAA!!!* fuck

Ryan

Please listen to Fireside 41, roughly starting at 27:27. Brennan discusses this nuance exactly.

The Wizard Spicy 🌶️

Wtf Lou I didn’t know that “match my breath and walk in my footsteps” would be one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever heard Also, Task 🕷️❤️

irisilmaril

Gaothmai i think. the granoe man said that Gaothmai shapeshifters came to them trying to get the family to join them in some way, telling them that they could save their kids from the Empire’s abductions. He also said that people with the gift have been being abducted for 3 years, long before Gauthmai was ever in that area. In Twelve Brooks there is a little Granoe boy whose family got abducted and they left him behind to save him. What he said was a little muddled because Brennan is very intent on NPCs speaking as their character would and only knowing what the character would know. so the exposition wasn’t very clean.

Quint James

I thought it was Gouthmye (I have no idea how it's actually spelled) that was taking the kids? Could someone clarify for me?

xelamorph

"You don't want this" 🦊

Jesse Young

bravi and bravé and brav*! the most authentic and heart wrenching breakup I've ever witnessed. The hidden roll was such a perfect touch, and then a perfectly bittersweet ending to a capstone episode. brav*!!

Agiddysea

Brandon Carbaugh

"Hey guys, what if we all build a neat gun together? Haha let's hang it on the mantelpiece. Go off? No, no, it'll never go off. Why would any of us shoot our friends?"

joanie

i have now finished the episode and i just want to say: masterful. i am crying again. y'all are incredible. i am a mess of emotions

Joseph David Spence

Anybody else now hyper aware of how much their tongue is pressed into the roof of their mouth?

Adarsh Nednur

I dunno, I do definitely see what you're saying, and I think it's fair to say that if Suvi's worldview could be shaped so dramatically by the things she's seen then Silver's could too with similar information. But the thing is that Silver wasn't just saying that he thought Suvi was making the wrong decision; he was saying that it wasn't their place to make decisions at all. He was saying that decisions get made above their pay grade and that that's the way it should be, which is a sentiment that was stated earlier by Sworn. I think Silver could still change his mind over time, but that's a much more deeply rooted kind of faith and loyalty, and that's a lot harder to question.

MsAlleyCat

I am so happy this episode has happened. Standing ovation to Aabria for getting us here with Suvi's story. Waking up from any form of indoctrination is hard. IT's a whole life and community of its own that is, in it's own way, a support network. It's even harder to remove yourself from that environment; seeing the people you love, that you still love using that thought Machine to keep the narrative going. Suvi will be the wizard that will remind the Citadel that it needs to be held accountable for all the actions it does. VERY CURIOUS NOW IF MY SUSPICIONS ON STEELE WILL BE PROVED CORRECT. WHAT DID YOU DO LEADING UP TO THE DEATHS OF SOFT AND STONE *I know you had some sort of hand in it* - Still believe that Soft and Stone tried to get their dear friend to see that the Citadel was doing some messed up stuff, and, similar to Silver, Steele went "Above my paygrade, I take orders of the Citadel" It'll be like history repeating itself for Steele, and I sincerely hope for Steele (and by extent, Silver honestly) that seeing Suvi stand up and say "no" will force them to decide what side they are on.

Ethan Dibeh

Pain, just pain. I'd say "I'm not crying you're crying" but I'm definitely crying and so are all of you and I know that so y'all can't lie to me. Also, Brennan just out and describing Wizard Keen as basically a ball of pure evil is wonderfully out of pocket on a nat 20 and the harpsichord behind him makes me so psyched to see what he does from here.

KRMorris

I’m really rooting for Steel to be on the “Spirits Side” of things—quietly allied with Ame’s worldview and trying to control the Citadel from within. I will admit, I want this because I want found family to be upheld as a trusted bond, because I don’t want Suvi to loose all of her parent figures. I think it might wound Suvi too deeply, and I would hate to see her go bitter and vengeful.

KRMorris

I think Steel is trying to “Secret Third Way” through the Citadel’s bad actions and is trying to find a way for as many wizards to make it through the Empire’s power grabs alive. Of course she knows about Great Spirit Binding, but believes that there’s a way to stop the practice from within without breaking the Citadel. It feels like she is trying to thread a very fine needle, especially since she lost two of her comrades (Suvi’s parents). Of course this is only assuming she respects and understands the actual magical ecosystem of Umora— spirits and witches and the wizards like Teffmet (Tephmet?) but I believe she does, or she would not have sent Suvi to Wren in the first place…

KRMorris

Because So Much is stacked against them, but it feels like that’s all they need to be Heroes.

RT

Mannnnnnnnn. Fuck that guy

Evelina Meiklejohn

Love Poor Man's Poison. ❤️

joanie

fully started crying when eursulon said "i only ask that you match my breath and walk in my footsteps" LOU WILSON!!!!!!!!!!! YOU ABSOLUTE WORDSMITH. THE ACTING

Dan Walker

Right??

Dan Walker

And then also experiencing empathy for her dear friends who have been on the receiving end of that from her in the past??? Incredible

Puppymaster

The moments with Task and her comments earlier about Silence’s defense statues are starting to make me wonder: is Suvi like a witch but for Citadel/wizard made constructs and entities? I really want to see her interact with the Brass Wizard or one of his automatons now

TheloniousPunkyBrewster

Lying about the Greneau was light treason, This is full bodied, full flavor, full calories treason 💁🏻‍♀️

Mubeen Khan

Amazing how Suvi continues to misplace her trust and Silver’s reaction is sad and naive, but also reasonable and understandable. Great choices by our writer-actors.

Ash

Suvi repurposing her own justification machine, then seeing it used back on her by someone she loves and truly trusts. Seeing the skepticism and fear channeled into the hounding for answers and instilling of doubt, but being strong enough and true to herself enough to withstand it??? Aabria and Brennan, absolutely incredible.

DaphneDawn

Wow thanks now that’s my head cannon forever

DaphneDawn

Thank you, crew! That makes sense

Antonia Canosa

The day after I listened to this episode, my girlfriend and I broke up. Seeing how Suvi accepted Silver for the limited person he is, even though she loved him, gave me a lot of strength that I really needed in that moment. Thank you WBN team ❤️

Dan Walker

WAAAAH. God I needed that release between ame and suvi. And I knew it could only come through pain, pain of going through the door of citadel-doubt that Suvi’s love for Silver opened. Urgh. So many feelings.

Matt Kilsby

The fact that all four of these humans can improvise dialogue more profound and beautiful than anything I could ever write, even if I was given months, makes me literally sick with envy and wonder. Supremely talented minds and hearts.

Tegan Bink

Literally sobbing 😭 😭 as they snuggled up together!!!

Clare Jones

Me too. Oof.

Witpending

Oh Suvi ❤️

Adarsh Nednur

I think it's one of those things where we all hope he'll come around eventually, but 1) it can't be Suvi's job to change him, and 2) even if he comes around, if I were Suvi I don't know if I could ever forget how lonely he made me feel and what he revealed about his character and his loyalties in this moment when I put everything on the line for him.

Amelia Tedesco

This is it, right? Suvi’s best and worst day? 😭

KT

Damn that scene between Suvi and Silver hit especially hard as a queer person with loved ones who also can’t find a way to love me quite enough to even begin to question the brainwashing of their fundamentalist upbringing, even if it is harming the most vulnerable/innocent among us. Thanks Aabria and Brennan for such a beautifully acted and quietly heartbreaking moment

Crits

jesus christ i need a cigarette and i don’t even smoke

Rahne

Oh okay I guess I'll cry at work then 😭😭

Bardic Mockery vs. Vicious Inspiration

Eursulon used it to find the Roc at Indri's palace when he was fleeing with Ame, so she at least saw it then

BunSum

😭 Y'all were there for me on a hard day. Having the gang back together lifts me up. Thank you

María Lozano

Need Suvie to listen to “For better or Worse” from The Great Gatsby i’m crying

irisilmaril

they only started the abductions three years ago, buckles would be at maximum 3 years older.

irisilmaril

no, theres a lot more to go. they just finished recording even more episodes of it and this isn’t even the end of the first recording session.

GrumpyTrees

Don't mind me, just crying with Suvi on my drive home. Decuding to trust hurts like hell sometimes.

Julia Whitmore

"Match my breath and walk in my footsteps" are you kidding me???? Why does this hit so hard

Jason Leigh

is this the end of the chapter? Not looking forward to the hiatus :(

kragonaught

if an adult buckles is down there protecting the children I’ll do a backflip

kragonaught

honestly so satisfying for suvi to face the same “rationality machine” that she’s inflicted on her friends. I feel like meeting that family was a major turning point for suvi.

The Wizard Sound

Aabria mentioned Suvi’s best and worst days being in the same 24 hours. I think going from: accomplishing an impossible task, saving her man, getting praised by her mom and meeting a prince all in one day, and the next day breaking up with said man and ugly crying in a stable before going with her friends to commit some light treason fits the criteria

Ro Lara

Driving home from work white knuckling the steering while and gasping outloud listening to Suvi and Silvers conversation Holy shit And the masterful way Aabria is weaving in, her understanding of them leaving the citadel changing, her understanding of her arguments with her friends... ahhhhh this is her best and worst day isnt it??? Its gotta be

Matt Kilsby

3 Horses 3 Friends and a Fox Out of all the beautiful lines in this episode, why did this simple triad obliterate me at the end?

melodies-of-old

Are we giving up on Silver? It was just one conversation! He doesn't know everything Suvi does. He hasn't seen everything Suvi has. Don't get rid of the root already! Y'all can talk it out....give it a try. 😢😢😭😭 Also, this episode was fantastic.

irisilmaril

i knew there was something i must’ve forgotten. i feel like in consistency would’ve been caught by brennan while recording if it was there

irisilmaril

yes. no question. steel is incredibly manipulative and only really lets things suvi does go when they benefit her to do so. her affection for suvi i think is genuine but its only way someone dead-set on maintaining military conspiracies can love a child

Renoku

to be clear Will Gallows is not a *better* man, but he'd be an amazing rebound

Renoku

Suvi deserves better!! She's always deserved better!!! Someone check on Will Gallows IMMEDIATELY and bring him to her!!!!

Devon

This episode was such a good balance of sweet and sad. As much as I love the group together I can’t wait to see more of Ame in her domain. The way she comforted Nief, hearing the deep breathing in my head phones even comforted me 😭💗 Also Task the glass spider and its little clinking sound effects was so good Taylor!

Nathan Spring

“Understood, wizard sky.” GUT-WRENCHING. Ughhhhh

Nandi Kayyy

Meeee 🥹🥹🥹

Nandi Kayyy

Wow!! What an episode! Suvi, my heart. Eursalon & Amé 🥹 so beautiful to see true friends back on the same path

Matthew Bruce

Possible it was part of the session that was cut? They'll iron it out.

Matthew Bruce

Inhumanly cold, alien and calculating. Without conscience. Its a metaphor usually attributed to cosmic and occult horror like Lovecraft or Machen.

Jack Jones

I'd say there some Interesting parallels to her mother being drummed out of the citadel after calling out an injustice, we don't know the conditions of her return but I'd say there's something to be found d there if they meet with Eoghrainn and talk about the acadator

Dominic Corbin

So it is written, so shall it be done, the ritual continues evermore...

bluebluebutton

Eursulon used the pocketwatch to find Fifi. Ame was with him.

KRMorris

I should be used to it by now after listening to his stories for years.

Dominic Corbin

Always has been. Brennan says his plan wasn't to make us feel things just to twist the knife, but you gotta wonder.

Aina Love

Lets go!

dain saint

What a masterclass in character work… hats off to the whole cast, goddamn ❤️

JUST anxious

I came here to say that!!!!!!

Kali Berg

cackles off the charts this ep, nice work team

Jesper P.R.L

"Thank God hearbreak is quiet, and I can do it on my own"...! Ma'am! MA'AM! PLEASE!

Jesper P.R.L

I can't say that I've heard the expression before, but I would assume it's a description of someone who is very slithering and snake-lile who collects power and authority in a very measured and calculated way.

Dolphin

Yes seems very possible. As I listened to this scene, I kept thinking what a great villain he could be several season from now...

Dolphin

I wondered about this too. I can't recall him sharing it, so my first impression was that Erika forgot that he kept it quiet. It happens. Though maybe I've just forgotten.

Zachary Schwendemann-Whitman

Can anyone elaborate on ‘reptilian abacus of power’ ? I’ve never heard that used before.

Claire Wilson

I was picking my nails as Ame said not to and got weirdly scared :D

Linda Urban

So, if Silence really is Silence and there's no Brennan trickery afoot, then Steel HAS to know about Great Spirit binding, right? And possibly has all along?

Raquel Albert

I don't think he'd out her for that reason, he didn't read me as that sort of character, but I'm afraid that he would if he was pressed about Suvi's goings by an out ranking officer like Steel

Fafnir

I might've missed it, but how does Ame know of Eursulon's stopwatch? Was he not keeping it a secret?

Kevin Turner

Oh my word my brain just fed me Andre De Shields for the Wizard Sly, I’m deceased

Katie Roberts

She said there was adayc coming up which was the best day of Suvi's life, until it was the worst day - I think we just witnessed it.

Adarsh Nednur

I want to make some kind of jokey glib comment about how much this episode fucked me up but I'm actually too overwhelmed by thoughts and feelings to find the words, so let me just say you are all absolute fucking geniuses and this continues to be the best story being told in any medium right now.

annemjw

‘Speak friendship and enter’???? Delightful. Though not delightful enough to sustain me through my feeeeeeliiiings 😭 I can only hope Silver one day manages to understand the nuance (and think of things above his pay grade!) but god, that nuance will break your heart every time. (Mind you I love a relationship issue where it comes from *more open* communication than it does miscommunication.) I adored the sound effects of Task, and the voices when describing The Great Bullfrog and his children. I love how much strength Suvi and Ame get from Eursulon, even when they challenge each other, how they can comfort one another without having to explain. The ending horns!!!!!!

Adam D.

MY HEART YOU BASTARDS TOOK MY HEART AGAIN!

thedragonllama

I forgot to mention in my initial comment that this ep made me cry, but not from THAT scene... but much ealier, throughout the scene with Task lol. I am so happy Suvi is getting her own secret special experience and connection with a spirit, which is a nice parallel to her opening herself up to new ideas and leaving some old ideas and traditions behind. Time for Suvi to enter a nicer Ghibli movie lol. Also: Task is cute!

thedragonllama

Could def be the case. In this ep I thought he might go run to the scrying mirror to rat on Suvi to her mom, even out of thinking he is doing the "right thing", or maybe so Steel could "talk sense into Suvi" or something, with his citadel-washed mind... No matter what tho, I think someway, somehow: he is snitching lol

Susannah B.

That hidden insight roll for Silver was MEAN. Genius, and MEAN

Susannah B.

He was mentioning Steel a LOT. I get the feeling he's been spying on Suvi for her since the scrying didn't work

Kevin Turner

I made a silly comment about Slain not being talked about in the previous fireside chat and we got MORE and it FURTHER cemented the J.K Simmons vibes for me and now I want to know if any of the WBN team have fan castings for any of the iconic NPCs Brennan has created

The Wizard Sparrow

Sign me up for this adventure

The Wizard Sparrow

Whaaaat

The Wizard Sparrow

Agree

The Wizard Sparrow

Tears wiped. Okay, now for the rest of the episode…Suvi has a familiar of her own Task the spider (childish glee). My curiosity about Wizard Silent grows… part of me thinks it wasn’t him, maybe a shapeshifter, led to believe that the rivers will dry up and the soldiers head into a trap. Ame using the door knob was splendid. Finding the secret map in the library (please post images). This new journey is going to be pins and needles. Oh, the comment of Nief and Tefmat meeting in one room was spot on. And with that being said, I want The Fox to meet Task. So many twists and turns in this episode I’m gonna have to listen to it all again like the last 10 episodes all again and of course re-listen to 12 Brooks.

The Wizard Sparrow

Anyone sobbing while listening to the credits?!

KRMorris

I want this to become a club call out REAL BAD

KRMorris

You’re ruthless geniuses, the lot of you!

KRMorris

Me too, man. I’m pretty worried. But— one of the great things about the way this team is telling this story is that they can create ways to change minds… and a good dice roll could make the difference between fuckboy and true love

KRMorris

I’m really worried he’ll out Suvi for betraying the Citadel in order to advance in rank.

KRMorris

Perhaps this is why Suvi was made Archmage Apprentice to Silence in the first place— Steel was setting up her most trusted agent under a very powerful wizard she suspects of having dangerous ideas about using Great Spirits for Citadel power

thedragonllama

Spoilers and Hunch.... I don't know about yall but I am getting some strong Rolfe from Sound of Music vibes from Silver and I feel like he might and go tell his new boss about Suvi's plans...

KRMorris

It’s bad for me to have made this connection because I will not stop thinking about it and I’m so afraid for Ghost

KRMorris

I think Eursulon explained it when they were headed to Gauthmai on the Roc… or before then when they were thinking about the train ticket? Those are my guesses.

Masami H-S

Ohhhh my god. This episode made me cry so hard that I scared my cat. You guys are making just the best story. But Task, though! Task and Nif! Adorable.

Joanna Szabo

apologies to my roommates for how many times they had to check on me when I made noises during this one.

KRMorris

NOT TWELVE BROOKS BEING *THAT* TWELVE BROOKS 😬😱

irisilmaril

when you think about it what is an organ but the most ominous form of piano

KRMorris

“Cause I’m a-a-always, sad…”

Erin R

I truly said Suvi’s full government name in my car when I listened to that part with her and Silver 🤣 I then cried because dang girl I get it 😭 and that last image at the end just ugh. It feels like they have found each other again.

Marlowe19

Not the most on topic, but I’ve been thinking a lot about the Man and Black these last few episodes, plus music thanks to Taylor’s incredibleness. The song I keep coming back to when thinking about the MiB is “Hell’s Comin’ With Me” by Poor Man’s Poison. More on topic: killer episode, team.

Mr. Callum

“Thank God heartbreak is quiet” tore me to pieces

Kalyn

TASK 🕷️💜 I love that Suvi gets something whimsical and lovely and pure.

The Wizard Symphony

I’m also scared about what happened to the few wizards and Maddie that were left at Fort Marlawn because if there is one thing we know BLeeM doesn’t forget about stuff from previous arcs.

Kalyn

That makes so much sense!

Kalyn

Waaaaiiitttttt

Thomas Flott

Killer!!!

Josh

God DAMN

Chappy Hall

This one hurt so good, y'all are too talented, the whole team

Lauren

that move on brennan's part was equal parts incredible and agonizing

Lauren

oh NO

Worlds Beyond Number

No Synths in Umora! Those are piano samples! Fun right? -t

bluebluebutton

I read this in Silence's voice

Brandon Carbaugh

Aabria talking about Suvi being battered by the same weapon she has leveled at her friends so many times--and being unable to prove something with the tools of logic even as you know it to be true with every fiber of your being--was such wonderful roleplay.

Brandon Carbaugh

I mean let's be real, a guy like Silver is one bad commander away from being a jaded old veteran who realizes all the institutions are bullshit. All that jump takes for a dude like that is seeing good soldiers suffer at the hands of some sadistic idiot superior.

Thomas Flott

Taylor!!!!!!! Is the music for Suvi's new friend a composition or a modular synth patch???

Puppymaster

Suvi has piano, Keen has the harpsichord, and organ has been used when Suvi said “bring them to me.” Does the organ = the empire or something else

DaphneDawn

First, all the performers are incredible period. I absolutely love the story they are all co-writing in real time. Question- when did Ame learn about the pocket watch? I feel like whoever played Eursulon nailed my exact reaction which was, wait what? It has been intentionally hidden and I don’t remember a reveal. Not a gotcha! Genuinely curious other reactions to this. Totally fine if it was a brain fart because Erika the human being has known about this detail for like 15 months

The Wizard Symphony

This might be a bit out there but I feel like the Wizard Keen (the one who took credit for the dispelling agent) might have something to do with Ghost from Arc 1 because she had the ability to dispel others magic and she went to the Glass Corinet.

Agiddysea

Cody Hasselbring

HELL YEAH BABY WE’RE SO BACK (together). Feels like the FELLOWSHIP SETTING OUT FROM RIVENDELL

Sean Endress

"Thank God heartbreak is quiet, and I can do it on my own." Ma'am how absolutely dare you

ceeg

SUVI DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DID THE BRAVE THING AWARD!!!!!!!

bails 🌀 witch of the what the fuck

Aabria absolutely kicking my ass as usual

Kendall MacKay

Also, the fact that Ames’ anger manifested in the pettiness of choosing not to reinstall the door knob was excellent. A true polite queen claps back by making her enemies slightly inconvenienced

Jordan Charles

“Please…don’t call it juice”

Taylor Davies

What a fabulous episode ❤️

Kendall MacKay

I have been thinking about Suvi’s aha moment when faced with Silver’s version of her justification machine & oh damn its too real

Puppymaster

I thought of that ad when Suvi said the heartbreak line and I started giggling

Pyrohydriscence

Ok, who should get to kick Silver's ass on Suvi's behalf - Eursulon (brother rights), Ame (witches be cursing) or the Fox (it will be funny and Silver will never see it coming)

Olivia Cook.

I can't even I was literally about to write this.

Pyrohydriscence

Oh no! Next on the to do list, save Ghost! She can be Nief's roommate!

Charlie Best

Heartbreak feels good in a place like this.

Braeden N.

Aabria said on one of the firesides something like "I'd feel happy for us if I didn't know what else was waiting for us" and I'm so afraid that this is the start of it. Also returning to the hay bale with everyone was so lovely. You all have truely made a world where I feel connected to every moment

Ajax

Spoilers... "Thank God heartbreak is quiet, and I can do it on my own."

Julie

The week of Valentine’s Day!?! The week of!?! God damn, I’m emotionally wrecked! This episode was beautiful start to end with so many payoffs from the story and world we have come from and taken breaks to explore.

Emma41420

This episode felt miltiple arcs in the making, even as far back as the children's adventure. It gave me so much relief, despite the painful circumstances or perhaps highlighted by them, to witness these three true friends returning to a place of comfort in eachother's arms💞. I'm delighted that all these years later after the friends exchanged a music box as children and later rescued it from the carnival when reuniting, Suvi has acquired Task from the reflective device as her companion and this party now travels seeking to aid the Great Bullfrog a guardian of music & flow 🌿

Raquel Albert

I never heard anything so disheartening as Silver saying that he didn't envy Suvi for having so many roots. It is very insidious how in the Empire they don't incentivese trying to make deep connections between peers. I have hopes that maybe Silver may understand what he lost and see himself unhappy to contemplate that his whole life is about being a happy little pawn. Not high hopes but would be fun if he did.

Michelle Spurgeon

This episode was fabulous! I loved the spider choosing to be with Suvi! So cute! I'm so very proud of Suvi for choosing the hard thing over the easy thing. Lou with such a banger of a line that it's the episode title. I loved this episode so much! Chef's kiss all around

Justin S.

AABRIYA IYENGAR. THE WOMAN AND PLAYER THAT YOU ARE! Not you having me in tears from Laerryn to Suvi. Ugh, I love your wizards and their arcs SO much T~T

Henry McParland

Oh no, oh no. He turned Ghost into juice

Cristina

“thank god heartbreak is quiet and i can do it on my own?!” okay jesus Aabria, just shoot me next time it’ll hurt less.

Caleb Jinright

might be my favorite episode yet, certainly one of the most cathartic. i got lightheaded with the amount of screaming i did and i cried several times. unbelievable masterclass in character work—the relief, satisfaction, and elation of hearing Suvi finally realize the true intent of the justification machine now that it’s being used against her, followed by the inevitable and unavoidable sorrow of knowing what her own heart is asking to let go of, mixed evenly with the joy of finally knowing for sure that she’s on the right path, the path towards purpose with her true friends. just a magical, alchemical feat of storytelling that fills me with feeling and inspires me to no end. what an honor to be able to listen to this show.

Justin Smith (Barbarossa Builds, LLC)

I hope we get Lou Wilson by the fireside.....cause holyfuckinshit!

Molly Gould

PERFECT AS ALWAYS! this might be my all time favorite episode so far. Suvi’s realizations, the heart break, the Cottage trip, a new bad guy, AND THE CUDDLE AT NIGHT!!!!! ;-;

Glen Petrofski

Make me cry! Fine! Not the best to listen to the ending just as I'm about to start work on one of my office days. But also, who isn't that surprised with such a staunch believer.

Michael

I've never had a piece of media/art resonate with my grief at having to turn my family away because they chose to follow the wrong side of what is right and just in this world. The heartbreak of loving someone so much and watching them shut their heart to you while they are blind to it themselves is devastating. Thank you for helping me heal a piece of my soul today.

Elizabeth Boskey

Life is much easier with fewer attachments and no need to make decisions, it’s true.

Samantha Bruce

Somebody red pill Silver now!

Joe Camberwell

THIS episode feels like the turning point of the whole damn story, and it's so beautiful and sad and brave and a whole soup of other emotions I can't even name properly. What a wonderful ride this is.

bluebluebutton

Especially since Keen procured the dispelling agent Suvi was given before heading on the rescue mission...

irisilmaril

yeah telling Silver was a big mistake. Her love for him is detrimental to her new purpose, but she can’t help it. These characters are quite young and impulsive. I think Aabria established right out the bat from Arc 1 how entitled Suvi can be as one of her primary vices. She’s shooting herself in the leg again because she is used to getting what she wants. I think it shows that as her internal struggle comes to a head, this doesn’t mean a hard break from her patterns. I think it is a nuanced choice on Aabria’s part.

Antonia Canosa

Absolutely LOVE Suvi, her arc is so cool and she’s so heroic and willing to sacrifice to try to find the right path forward

Antonia Canosa

Isn’t the glass coronet where Ghost was sent? I don’t like the evil guy who produces anti magic jelly being around our sweet anti magic girl one bit

Lauren

this scene with Suvi and the spider has me in TEARS the scoring, the salutes, "i am always better with a Task" Brenna please tell us the little guy is level 20

Camille Alexander

what an absolute amazing episode. the part where suvi and eursulon talking and reaching understanding and I am crying????

irisilmaril

The door knob sound effect. Straight outta Howl’s Moving Castle. Loved.

Alena

Nif and Tefmet omg 😂😂😂 I need to see that happen

Brandon Brewer

"You are not immune to wizard propaganda."

Rover Bernhard

Especially now 😔😔😔

Matthew B

Suvi deserves and needs whimsy too!

MG

So many incredible things in this episode but I was amazed at the very specific and well crafted sound design of Suvi screaming underwater

irisilmaril

Suvi is projecting her internal journey here, I believe. She now understands the true horrors of the Empire and her justification machine is breaking down. She is seeing Silver as what he is and what she is in the process of unbecoming. Someone completely indoctrinated to the point that when they hear a horror of the institution that they are a part of from someone they love, they immediately reach for “is there proof of this”- rather than receiving what their partner is saying. I think it is valid to try to ask for proof. Suvi’s point is to herself rather than Silver. She knows she can’t deprogram Silver and that would only get in the way of her new direction in life. She is sort of yelling at her self, mostly. I think it’s a normal part of self transformation during a tipping point in your life to be filled with anger, shame, and volatility. Silver “everything good we have is because of the Citadel” (despite the only reason him being alive is because of a group of rogue soldiers and some childhood friends of Suvi)Asea is representative of the mindset she is divorcing.

robo

another outstanding ep! I can’t wait for frog heist

Rover Bernhard

S/o to Task tho… Suvi deserves another little guy

Jamie M Light

Her line "The kind people find each other much like the cold people push them away." killed me!

Cody Zimmer

The part where Suvi hears how she's sounded to her friends this whole time is WAAAAY to close to home. Maybe in a healing way

Cody Zimmer

Fuuuuuuck. My heart.

Adrienne

HOLLARING, I TELL YA'LL.

Adrienne

I am HOLLARING

Jack Jones

Also forgot to mention but is that a new theme?? The glass coronet theme with the ringing glass is so good

Liz Chop

I texted my friends after it ended just saying "I need to bite Aabria" (affectionate, to be clear lol)

Bob Chapman

When Brennan goes hard, Brennan goes HARD! That description of the wizard with (from memory) a soul of a reptile and an abacus? Not since the stepmother in Neverafter

Liz Chop

Hey AABRIA????? HEY????? H E Y???????

Bizarre Little Star Creations

Crying at work cause stuff hitting too close to home this episode 😭

icesquirrel

utterly devastated, i am dying to know what aabria rolled for that perception check

Raquel Albert

god what an amazing episode, what a heartbreak, what a line delivery from Lou, what heart warming feel to go home for just a minute. What an episode

flyingwriter

I was not prepared to sob this morning. Thank you for the gift that is every single one of y’all’s story telling ❤️

Josh Johnson

I don’t think it’s fair to characterize her reaction to Silver as dismissive or petulant. Suvi has spent the entire campaign seeing the Citadel and the Empire teetering on the edge of horror. I think it may have been Tefmet who said something along the lines of “you really think the citadel doesn’t know everything that’s going on?” in regards to the binding of Naram. It makes sense to start to question if the hierarchy and structure of the Citadel and the Empire can be trusted to make the right choices. And so when forced into a situation where trusting the Empire when she shouldn’t could tear apart this family, it makes sense for that to not “simply order her soldiers to stand down” because if she shares that information and they don’t, or then go behind her back later, she is directly responsible for snitching on this civilian family. And I thinks it’s less of a dismissive thing of “Oh Silver is STILL defending the Citadel even though I’ve given him no evidence” and more of realizing how the Citadel and the Empire can twist “logic and reason” to constrict people to the status quo. She’s realized that Silver is not willing to question the Empire, and is more blindly loyal to the institution than to her. Him talking about paradox and how they SHOULD be saying goodbye knowing they might die makes her realize that he is always going to accept that if the Empire asks him to die for the Empire, he will do so, and Suvi can no longer be with someone who values that glory and loyalty to the state more than he values himself and her.

bluebluebutton

The most powerful magics, Chronomancy and Aabria-giving-a-character's-internal-monologue, aligned 💔

Cosmic Flare

Ugh😔 it must be so hard to find out the name of the person you love only to find out it’s the name of someone who’s leaving you Oh and pointing out that Suvi finally hears how she sounded to her friends?? Ooooof. Crazy pull Aabria (I hope subbing and silver’s relationship survive but it doesn’t seem like it’ll be the same after this, though I have hope that Silver will learn, if he’s given the chance to)

Jack Jones

You guys are making a beautiful story, truly inspirational

Oscar Swanson

Ayda but instead of great power, it’s all just anxiety.

The Wizard Spear

What a terrible day for rain…

Katrina

WHAT AN EPISODE 😭😭 emotionally wrecked and loving it ❤️

Urte

Not me crying for 30 min at a Podcast. Exceptional work everyone.

Ari Crossby

Okay, the whole conversation and chapter-end with Silver was deliciously (though inevitably) heartbreaking, but mostly I was just punching the air and dancing around with joy in the last few minutes at the fact that yes, we're all here, it's ON. ♥️

Aabria Iyengar

I truly couldn't be happier about the timing on this episode! Happy Valentine's Day, indeed 💔

Lilith Evenstar

I felt that line from Suvi in the barn harder than I'd care to admit. Ruthless, Aabria, ruthless and perfect.

Dezzi

First, AUGH what heartbreak!! Suvi trying to explain to Silver what she herself has only recently come to understand and him parroting back similar things she said to her friends. It was a good choice to have Suvi fall in love with someone whose guzzling the Kool aid. As she moves further and further away from Justifying things, it makes sense to have someone she (and the audience) cares about to show the contrast of someone the system is Working As Intended upon. Second, something is up with the Arch mage Silence. My theory is it wasn't actually him, it was a sorcerer but what reason would a sorcerer have to pretend to be the Archmade and vanish a great spirit? To galvanize the citizens against the empire? Maybe. It felt Off last episode and it continues to feel Off this one, too

Heliks

Taylor... Is the sound effect you're using for opening the door with the knocker on it the sound of the spinner chosing a destination from Howell's Moving Castle?

Agiddysea

wingedheart

12:40 pm gmt every 2 weeks unless delayed

Archon of Commoragh

Oh god. Did I watch a whole romance season in 30 minutes. Damn.

Rochelle

This one was just astoundingly beautiful and heartbreaking 😭 always making me feel things thank you 🩷🩷

xatlern

Oof, the sharing of true names definitely feels less romantic and more like mutually assured destruction at this point in time. We're definitely in Suvi's Best and Worst 24 hour period now, aren't we?

Bill Butler

Couple of weeks ago Aabria said the best and worst days of suvi's life were back to back in this ark... is it me or is this cliff edge getting closer

LuChiChi4

A) oh my god Suvi let me give you a hug B) Taylor the music was fucking gorgeous WELL DONE! C) Eursolon I don’t know how you can keep your cool man. Beautiful session and I need more.

Amaya Booker

I just got sneak attacked and took a surprise round of psychic damage. Shoutout to Nif cause I too am always sad but tongue to the roof of the mouth was an unnecessary detail 😭 I thought that was perfectly normal!!!

Sean Britcher

😭😭😭

Rina the Floof

Neif is so precious 😭 need an interlude about Neif learning valuable lessons from the people of Toma

Felix

18:36 - i LOVE the music that happens when they're trying to carefully share info, opinions, and percieved threats in regards to the actions of any of their respective factions. trying to be diplomatic to their friend that Works Here, keep cool while they figure out if anything is misinterpreted, super tense... and THEN feeling out the situation. growth! 32:12 - THE FOX TIPPY CLAW TAPS 57:29 - "Would you qualify that as 'banter?'" Too Real Oh No.

BurpBiter

Heartbreak DOES NOT feel good in a place like this.

bluebluebutton

I don't know if anyone else feels this way at the end of the episode, but I am sobbing. Suvi's been recognized for her heroism, yes, but the most heroic thing she's done in my eyes happens at the end of this episode: she leaves her love and perhaps what she's been working toward her entire life to pursue what she knows, with no spin of a justification machine, is right. And not for the first time, Ame is there to hold Suvi. Not for the first time, beds are foregone so that Ame and Suvi can remain with Eursulon through the night. Maybe for the first time, the three ride off with shared purpose on a shared quest.

SvenTS

I said 'split the party' not 'bring them together in a way they have not been since the Children's Adventure and warm my heart'. Tsk

cai cedeño

is anybody gonna match my breath??

Alesha S.

The spider reminds me of Ralph the beetle from spy kids! Cute!

Amaya Booker

Off rip, the episode title has hit me with a deep sense of foreboding

Anthony Mineghino

Nothing but love from here but i really wish there was a reliably consistent scheduled upload time every week. I dont mind if its at a late time but itd be nice to not have to keep checking the page every hour from the moment i wake

bluebluebutton

Suvi screaming because "it's all a lot, and it's been a lot, and it's over now, and her best friends - her true friends - asked her to keep her eyes and ears and senses open to something foul in the Citadel and the Empire, and she cannot get the stench out of her nose" is so real and heartbreaking. It's a huge and important step, while simultaneously I also long for the day when Suvi can have a victory unmitigated by the complexities of the place she calls home. Maybe that's an impossibility, but I still want it for her.

Antonella

Can't wait to listen!

SvenTS

'So many doors' - Split! The! Party!

Michael Mills

Oh man, I haven't been this excited for an episode since 2 weeks ago.

Molly Gould

only 10 minutes in and I’m crying already :(