Post "[PUBLIC EPISODE] The Wizard, the Witch and the Wild One: ep013 “Of the Gentle Sea”" by "worldsbeyondnumber"

writeathome

Immediate chills. This is insane

Iryn

Also the crying 😭 😭 😭 No episode yet where there’s no crying heart breaking and mending breaking and mending Heart magic this is❤️‍🔥

Iryn

Wow! The names of the gang sum up to the acronym of S E A 🌊

Jonesey

Suvi in her room, and the quiet strength of A three legged stool

Jules Vance

On a second listen, the choral samples taylor uses for Naram’s anger/power are really evocative— reminds me vaguely of the Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices women’s chorus?

clara

i started crying like 5 minutes in THIS IS MAGICAL WTF

Brendan Dixon

Whoever writes the episode synopses always delivers pure gold. It's referential without spoilers, and both snappy and poetic in equal measure. Thanks for making me smile every episode!

Cipactli

Eursolon's moments at the start of this episode give the powerful energy of what it is to have some recovery from trauma. Thanks to all of you, for this amazing and special story.

Brianna M

I see Taylor went off on the sound design again. :)

Eric Bennett

I’ve listened to the first 6.5 minutes of this episode 30+ times. It’s one of the most immersive, honest, and beautiful moments of self-realization that I’ve heard or seen in a long time. The entire episode is good, but kudos to everyone involved for these few moments of storytelling… of reminding us what it’s like to find that thing inside that we thought was lost forever, but was really just waiting for us to be bold enough to reclaim it, and through it, ourselves. This story slaps so hard.

Aberdeen Bowman

This is one of the best episodes of D&D I have ever heard. Which I feel like I say after many of these WBN episodes 😂 but this just enraptured me and shook me to my core and everyone was incredible and the SOUND DESIGN was AMAZING. Thank you all so much for making this absolutely world-rocking, beautiful art and sharing it with us.

YakisobaBaby

The sound design of this episode are absolutely breathtaking, gut wrenching, bone shakingly good. I have had chills every 15 seconds it feels like

JC Wihardja

this episode was just like. just adrenaline. i'm going feral. ALSO THE LITTLE OVEN DONE NOISE TAYLOR PUT IN FOR MORROW IS UNREAL

K C

Taylor triggering my claustrophobia there at the outro 💀

Carla D.

nah this stuff is like gold or ichor. I was screaming when this stuff was happening and just wow thank you for these stories

Squirrelly Girlie the not very girlie squirrel

Yes yes yesssss. I second this

Jack Jones

Taylor just darn out did himself on the sound in this ep truly spectacular the breaching of the water is unreal, mixed with the amazing performances by the gang ugh so good

Christen Bushie

Immediate tears when he leveled up. Most emotional mechanical change I’ve ever heard haha

Fireflux

Like for real, the whole episode was insanely cool but going straight from one moment of dramatic self-sacrifice right into another??? After being so timid and scared for the rest of the arc??? It's enough to give a guy questing fever

Fireflux

I am so deeply moved by Eursolon's quest for honor that I may never be the same person again

David Stanley

absolutely amazing everything that is happening here.

Tom

I listened to this on the plane today and the people around me just have wondered why tastes started rolling down my face. What an absolute treat the whole podcast is!

Megan Gass

I have got to stop listening to these at work because I find myself not doing anything and just transfixed. Amazing!!!!!!

Nahda

Wtf this is si good. The sound design, the ending with the waves and the microphone going under them, everything so beautiful omagaaaaad <3

Ashton

When I'm listening to these episodes, it truly feels like I'm tapping into some primal part of the human condition; like this is how stories are supposed to be told. You folks are really doing something special and amazing. Will never stop absolutely SHOUTING this series' praises. This entire production from the characterization, performances, narrative, and sound design really sets an industry standard for me.

Victometron

Ugh. Out of control. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

Merissa McClure

"The fish has a wife"..." FUCKING RUN!" has been playing non stop in my head all week

Heyyitsphil

hey. what the fuck?

Foxglove_Dreams

TAYLOR MOORE YOU GENIUS every time I have to listen to these with the good headphones so I can truly relish every auditory morsel, or sound bite if you will. Truly astounding work

Ted Meredith

How y'all continue to top yourselves with the most thrilling, engaging, captivating, delighting, illuminating, pulse-wrecking narrative astonishes me more and more each week (yes, even & especially you, Taylor - over there with your sounds, musics, & whatnot)

Christie Joesbury

I loved this episode, I listened s bunch of times. I listened on a long flight and it was so entertaining, reminded me of scenes in studio Ghibli movies.

Nolan Childerhose

Y'all are truly magical. Literal "overwhelmed by story and emotion" goosebumps.

Jay Harris

I enjoyed seeing the gods flex on the Wizards. I enjoyed a bit more of Suvi this episode as all previous episodes she's been out of pocket to people she calls her friends. Seeing Eursulon (sp?) flex and grow has been fantastic.

Sebastian Moran

Listening to this episode in my car in the middle of a thunderstorm is an absolute experience I cannot put into words

L C

A bunch of people already said it but this ep was some of the great story telling I’ve ever heard. I’m excited to hear more.

StWindsor

I got goosebumps during this episode. The story and the audio magic were absolutely phenomenal!

Zach Lee

Yall fucking killed it on this! I don't usually comment but I need you all to know that every single member of the team nailed it with the culmination of this arc!

Brick Ingle

That Akira/Ghost in the Shell women's choir motif for Naram in his god form was an inspired choice. That whole section had me weeping.

Mateusz Leszczyński

holy. the sound effects in Suvi's POV, the ominous, dangerous choir of chaos - it made me weep. my god.

Gregory Davis

"The sea explodes.. " literally breathless and transfixed by this episode. Fantastic stuff, team!

FooldiverDX

This series is now in my top 3. That's how good the last episode of the arc was. And now is a good time to catch up on the prequel!

Ecceptable

I was thinking that they could go to Galani who may know little or nothing about the project and would abide by what Steel wanted. And it's crazy for Suvi not to tell her once the fight started! But you're right that waiting until Steel arrived was no guarantee that everything would work. (Knowing stories have to make things hard for the protagonists it's possible that it would have been one more day, and then another, then another.)

Julianne Hughes

I was absolutely glued to this whole episode. And now I have to replay it because it's just so good!

R Walker

This was so satisfying to listen to and completely transported/calmed this stressed out teacher's brain. Thank you all so much. Shout out to fox for self-care priorities.

Catrick

I got SO MANY chills!!!!

Andrew Garcia

This episode in its entirety was done very well and is extremely entertaining and enjoyable!

Lojaan

We are definitely listening to different podcasts

Arelena Savic

This is a fair point. The only thing I would say is we don't know what the consequences would be had they waited or shared information. Morrow had capabilities to actually hurt Naram, what would he do when confronted with consequences for his actions? I don't think this hasty decision on the part of Eursulon and Ame will go unaddressed. Suvi had a lecture about taking things into her own hands to play the part of a hero, but perhaps that lesson needed to extend to the group as a whole. Yet, on the other hand, do you allow a terrible thing to continue to happen because there might be a more peaceful resolution, or do you do everything you can to stop it then and there if it is within your power? What happened to Naram was an injustice and a sacrilege. I can't say I'm team Wizard because they are wholly to blame for the situation, but our heroes are flawed and their actions have big consequences in the world.

Lojaan

So ah. Yeah. Should probably have waited a day there Ursulon buddy. Amazing ep people! Taylor - the end credits were INSPIRED 👍👍

Madison Beske-Somers

Oh my goodness this episode!!!! this is truly my favorite podcast, what you guys are accomplishing is magnificent. I am so enthralled by this story omgggggggggg

Dana Wheeler

Amazing!! I have no words but give you all massive applause! I gasped so many times about the choices, the consequences and the music and sounds. 👏🏽 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

Kelly

This episode was INCREDIBLE on LITERALLY all fronts!

Emily Stetson

Fully wrecked by this whole episode, but especially the outro, worth the wait

Ecceptable

I agree that they're too experienced to do simple Empire/Citadel Bad, Spirits/Witches Good morality tale. But even when the dumbest and most avaricious wizard captures the Great Cinnamon Roll Spirit, I'm horrified by the mass death that came about because the characters couldn’t wait a few more hours or share a little more information.

Julianna Richie

This episode had no right to hit me so hard with the music. Absolutely stunning. Ridiculous. Unhinged. Immediately listened to it again with my cat. Amazing work crew.

Amanda Flicop

THE OUTROOOOO

Andrew Cabrera

Not me dancing around the 33 minute mark while unthinkable horrors befall the city because Taylor’s music editing is so good

Tyler Quijada

Hands down one of the best episodes of anything ever. I would listen to this story regardless, Taylor Moore your sounds design truly puts it head and shoulders above anything else I’ve heard. Wishing you all the best from the Bay of Rest.

Max Moran

holy shit guys. HOLY SHIT GUYS.

Nicole Wong

Omg omg omg. The sound design on this one???? The whole episode!!! And then we get that bonus closing credits sound design??? This was EVERYTHINGGGGG

melanee

INcredible 🌊

Renoku

I'm halfway through the episode so far and the question just occured to me: WHAT HAPPENED TO GHOST AND FLICKER???? Please remember our collective daughter she's so precious 😭

Brennan Holtzclaw

BLM: do you want to kill an innocent elder spirit or possibly hundreds of innocent people? ME: Jesus man, that's dark! AME WITH ZERO HESITATION: F$#K them wizards!

Kat Roy

Just joining the chorus screaming about the sound design because I absolutely CANNOT handle it's brilliance ♥️♥️♥️

Katie P.

TAYLOR! GOD!!! Popping off yet again, incredible work. Oof what a great episode

Erika Iverson

I think our storytellers know that they aren’t in a black and white world- Eursalon felt compelled to honor his quest.

Jamie M Light

The audio in this episode is freaking epic!!!! Well done Taylor!!!

Katie Butler

As someone whose last D&D char died from drowning, I was worried for a hot second when Eursulon was trapped underwater (thank god for water breathing.)

Ignacio Segura Montero

The ABSOLUTE flex at the end with the credits coming in and out of the water. You maniacs!!

Katie Butler

"It hurts living things to grow this fast, and they do it greedily" (lovvvvveeeeeee)

Alex Reid

Incredible, I can't wait to hear it again

Han

Cannot explain how visceral my reaction was to this episode. Absolutely the best to date. Obviously got to join the chorus yelling Taylor’s praise for sound design as well. Holy hells gang, what an incredible episode.

Worlds Beyond Number

Excellent ear to notice the Bulgarian choir! I wrote it for this episode and really enjoyed playing around with it. Expect to hear it again for sure. -t

Alex Reid

I very much need to know where you got the Bulgarian choir music from

Alex Reid

I'm team wizard against Orima but team Naram against wizards

skipclarke

Let’s go water bear!!!

Joshua J.

perfect story, hilarious and touching and cinematic, all in the right ways and right times.

Adam Curtis

Yes yes, amazing episode, of course, the pinnacle of audio storytelling, can we all just acknowledge that Lionfish Leviathan is a fucking sick band name??!?!?

BubbleFog

That freaking outro. LOL Taylor you are truly magical. The great spirit of sound.

Ecceptable

I don't like Morrow, but Galani and Steel could be great if people got them the right information at the right time. (It was wild seeing Suvi not tell Galani that the Sword of the Citadel wanted Naram set free OR that kudzu threat would stop if Naram was let go.) And hundreds of people dying because an immortal being couldn't sit at the bottom of the ocean for around 18 more hours seems like an unfair trade.

Suvi Häkli

THE OUTRO!!!!! Oh my god Taylor you magnificent mermaid

Theo Vařák

I know the whole day was spent on the outro

David Paterson

Release the Kraken!

Kitty Stryker

God I was like "yessss Ame the fox taught you to bare your teeth!"

Doctor Quixote

Taylor's immersive effects over the end credits gave me such Monkey Island vibes.

Ruvi

Ho boi that got me in my queer feelings

Nigel Fullerton

Holy cow, worth the wait.

DocFumbles

I cannot overrstate how spectacular this arc has been, my goodness.

LookItsLyrica

This particular arc is only 14 episodes so next is the finale and then onto the next arc!

Lena

the number of references in this show to other media properties that I absolutely adore is insane. extra fingers as tools for more complex somatic components in spells? the magicians. everything about this first arc, obviously, as you've pointed out, the titular kingkiller chronicles parable. the whole children's adventure was SO studio ghibli, and there's so many real world mythological premises (especially shinto and celtic pagan) woven in and I'm just. I love it so much I'm over the moon about this episode

Damien Kirby

Season 2!? Is this the end of season 1!?

Ignacio Segura Montero

If your purpose was to just cliffhanger me so hard I have to immediately know what happens in Season 2, we’ll… Mission Accomplished

Ignacio Segura Montero

Kinda? A bit?

Brendon Speed

Taylor the sound design was sublime, the storytelling as always gorgeous and fulfilling.

Pip Tarou

“There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.”

Melani

Happy to be the approximately 195th person to point out that the sound design on this episode was STELLAR. Ye gods - literally. I drove back to work to get my over the ear headphones for my second listen!

Rafael C

HOLY FUCKING SHIT I'M OBSESSED, THIS IS INCREDIBLE. this ending was insane. i'm a sucker for fictional stories getting intense enough to break formalities of the 4th wall, sort of. like the credits in this episode. delicious. (must say that the whole sound design this episode was INSANE!!! from the musical honey to the transitions of Galani going into the battlefield, to Naram's whole deal, everything was incredibly insane, Taylor.) and holy hell Brennan knows how to end a season huh. marvelous. everything in this episode. incredibly showstopping.

Ecceptable

I don't blame her.

Ecceptable

Is it weird that I'm team wizard?

Taliyah IDK

Ahhhhh!! I know we always rave about the sound design, but this episode. I’m absolutely floored by how amazing it was!

Alana Turnbull

sound design was extra incredible!!!

Lee Philips

Incredible. Simply incredible! What an episode! The sound design! The decisions! I don't think I've ever seen an encounter where level one characters are essentially in a level 15+ encounter and be so impactful. Ame making the decision to harm the wizards (YES!) and being an incredible witch! Suvi reading a book and deciding to try to persuade Orima! Eursolon attacking a high level wizard because he's level 2 now! It's just so good!!!

biblioprincess

THE SOUND DESIGN. I am DECEASED.

Andy Gonzalez

Just gorgeous storytelling time and time again. LOVED this episode

Levi Dettling

Amazing episode. Can't wait to see how the story turns out. Shout out to Taylor for the phenomenal sound design. Every moment waited for this episode to come out was more than worth it.

Amelia Tedesco

I have SO much respect for this crew, both actors/players and production!! Absolute Magic.

Emily Saunders

That was absolute MAGIC. Wow. Wow wow wow. What a captivating, cinematic, and powerful episode. I'm going to be riding this high for a WHILE. Thank you for creating and sharing this story with us!

Arelena Savic

I rediscovered Can't Stop by the Red Hot Chili Peppers today on the same day I listened to this episode and now I've got a WWW music video in my head.

Kyle Rudy

Oh no! The fireside Q&A is closed, but I have so many questions.

Jennifer Williams

Fabulous.

Thomas Hegarty

Worth the wait y’all!!!! So well done thank you so much!

Timothy Clark

I openly wept over my cava bowl for thirty minutes on my lunch break today listening to today's episode.

Josh Harris

Gasped screamed and cried in the car! Well done everyone! The sound design was incredible!!

Ladyrwhen85

I don't even have words. I am in shock, in awe, flabbergasted. I immediately started listening to it a second time. I was crying within the first 10 minutes and the emotional rollercoaster continued until the end. Bravo, everyone. Seriously, this episode was masterful from beginning to end. Standing ovation for Brennan, Lou, Aabria, Erika, Taylor. ❤️❤️❤️

Dream

Taylor and the rest of the sound design team really outdid themselves on this one

syftr

Wow. Woooooooooooow.

Elin

Oh it's so goooooood

Dijonna Terry

This episode almost made me scream on the bus. The roleplaying/music/sound design/etc were so gooooddd! Kudos to everyone!♡

RIchard Vegas

Electrifying!!!

Charlie Karls

"This wild world is filled with things you needn't have done but you chose to." That hit me really hard

Masochismet

Holy shit the outro being drowned out was so fucking cool what the hell

Raine

Absolutely FANTASTIC!!!!!!

GingyGinger

I’m on the edge of my seat screaming in my car! People probably think I’m crazy. This episode was so good!

Alistair Quinn

TAYLOR!!! OH MY GOD!!! What a maestro. Your talent knows no bounds. This episode is phenomenal. Every. Single. Performance. STUNNING. And the atmosphere to match just felt so vivid. It's thrilling to listen to these master storytellers go SO HARD. This podcast is my happy place.

Vi

absolutely worth the wait! the sound design on this ep was outstanding, Taylor you are amazing!

Schwa

(24:40) Ame: I pluck a leaf — a kudzu leaf — from my bag, and I gently let it float onto the waves. "In all things there must be balance. For those that do not abide by the balance of the universe. Must. Pay. The. Price." The whole world (beyond number) became technicolor vivid in my mind in this moment of choice.

geansai

This is by far the best episode of this series so far. This podcast showcases why this team deserve everything they've gotten and more - the talent is awe-inspiring and something to behold!

Kiera Faye

I truly cannot imagine.

J. Marshall Smith

such an incredible episode!

Kiera Faye

THAT OUTRO. I listened to this while "working" in a coworking space... I can't imagine what everyone else made of my shocked and haunted expression. I'm just gonna sit here for a bit while my heart rate slows down.

Sarah Lunow

The contrast between the absolute desperate and vengeful franticness of Orima and the chorus of the sheer power of Naram unchained was so... so incredibly conveyed. I swear I felt my heart stop like three times And AME'S CHOICE??? This feels like it will sincerely go down as one of the best moments in DND history.

Daylynnrey

Stunning work. I laughed, I cried, I gasped. Well worth the wait as always

Kiera Faye

YES YES YES! Taylor of the Glorious Mustard!

abardnamedkate

Oh my god, shit got so real! Epic, truly epic. What a banger of an episode! Totally worth the wait!!!!!!

Demelza Walkden

Oh my god this was some biblical shit!! Taylor fucking killed it and Brennan?!? WHAT THE FUCK!?

Ben Perry

Top notch

Dolphin

I'm starting to feel like there is no media better than this podcast. Lou's speech at the beginning, connecting to his home and family and breath, completing this quest, it had me crying right from the start, and filled with emotion through all of the action and choices that came after - Ame's choice especially.

Sarah Beyeler

This episode was amazing and the sound effects/editing is getting better and better each week! Top-notch crew! Thanks for such great content!

Brad Barnes

I tend to want to listen on my desktop during work and unfortunately my new company firewall is blocking everything but YouTube, could we get the public episodes up on the Youtube channel sooner than a week after?

Maddie Clark

OMG it's sooooo good. And the editing is beautiful! Totally worth the extra time to get it done right, even if I was refreshing my browser like a mad woman for 2 days lol.

Sarah H

TAYLOR YOU DID IT AGAIN AND I HAD SO MANY GOOSBUMPS. 100% you have our trust and we fully stand behind you when you need extra time to do things like this!!!

CJ

I am so thoroughly enjoying the slower pace of this campaign. Counting the children's adventure, we're at 21 episodes and just now getting to level 2?! It's wonderful for you to have the space to really flesh out these characters.

Tyler Gob

Another incredible episode gang!

Ruben Bernal

THE GHOST IN THE SHELL STYLE CHOIR WAS SO PERFECT

Kiera Faye

RIGHT?!

mguin

The audio, the gameplay decisions, the voice work. Everything just sparkles on this podcast. Thanks, folks.

Barry Pender

OMG that was a fantastic finale!

Fen Petrichor

Absolutely 100000% loving the outro under the ocean, also absolutely loving everything about the sound design, AND THE DECISIONS

Extra Crispy

Damn no wonder these take a little longer to get out the sound production on this was crazy! Please Take your time; it was fine to take your time before obviously but now we see how it’s being spent it’s double fine!

B Dunks

SO GOOD! So worth the wait. But how will I survive until the next one?

Jason Nino

Oh. My. God. Absolutely worth the wait if it was to get the sound design and production to where it was. And then you had to go and just flex at the end with the credits? Wow.

The Overthinker

Steele is going to be pissed.

The Overthinker

Ursulon is a water bear now.

Samuel Strecker

Every episode I think this is it it’s peak can’t get better than this and every new episode it gets better

Ecceptable

I enjoyed it a lot! Also, oof, lot of bad decisions. Is there a Spoiler Zone for this patreon?

Matt Kilsby

Incredible episode - the sound design and music was absolutely off the charts. This is the best actual play D&D that’s there has ever been. I can’t believe we’re just getting started 😍

Marjorie Askins

Genuinely it blows my mind that y'all put these episodes out into the world FOR FREE. Incredible. Beautiful. Thank you. <3

Griffin

OH MY GOD THE CREDITS IN AND OUT OF THE WATER 🌊🌊😭😭

Gabriela Medina

the editing of the end credits omfg

CJ

I'm listening with a nice pair of noise canceling over-ear headphones and OMG the sound editing. Please always take however long you need for an episode (within the bounds of your own mental health and not burning out, ofc).

Louis Magallanes Jr.

Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhh another cliffhanger?!?!??

Lauren Schofield

My god, the gloriously mustard. The cast yeah yeah beyond the discription of words and my favourite actors ever- blah blah old news. Taylor, you are a god of sound wtf, so so so worth the extra day for that sound design Divine work 50/10, you are my new favourite cast member

Kiera Faye

Oh Eursulon !!!!! I'm just beginning this episode and already heart-swellingly transported. Thank you for this. Thank you thank you thank you all. Honey with song.

Launchpad

I had chills for the whole fucking episode. I don't know enough words to adequately describe how amazing it is to listen to this story.

Adam Hodel

Taylor Moore, you MAGNFICENT bastard. That soundscape hit SO hard.

Richard

I had to stop this episode multiple times to pace around my house until I calmed down. A+ 5 Stars

Seth Carter

OH MY GOD. SOUND DESIGN TEAM PLEASE TAKE ALL THE TIME YOU EVER NEED FOREVER. THIS IS INSANE.

Tiniqua P

TAYLOR THE OUTRO!!! THE FLIPPING OUTRO!?!!!! I can’t! Y’all didn’t have to go that hard but I’m glad you did! Truly the character growth this season has been wild! Also, how can I marry a Noram (?) in real life! This episode might be in my top two so far..and it’s not two!!! I can’t wait to listen again! CANNNTTT WAIT!! Thank you soo much!

KB2020

Oh shit never realized cuz I’m always dumbfounded at the end and not paying attention

Wizard Susurrus

That’s Taylor’s voice

Awkwurd

5⭐️ 10/10 no notes

Mia Mac-Pry

Truly the sound design of this show is pure ASMR to me.

Jessica Batty

the first half of this ep did things to my emotions jfc

Jordan Tompkins

Biggest swerve in the ep was finding out Taylor was one of the bad baby magicians at the very end!

Rachael

I wanted to just say that this group of storytellers is absolutely magnificent. I eagerly await for the next installment of the Wizard, the Witch, and the Wild One every week. I am in awe of this story and world you have created together. The sound design is immaculate and completely immerses you within Umora. I literally sat and listened, completely riveted, to this episode. All my actual work forgotten as I was caught up in the events of Port Talon and the clash between humanity and the great ones. I had goosebumps more than once during this episode and gasped out loud to so many moments. This group is amazing. Thank you for sharing this with us. ❤️

Patrick

I have never needed a Lo Fi beats studying meme more - suvi just reading while in the background everything happening is happening

Cold Punk

Can we get the OST sometime? It's all so beautiful

Tina Cassell

OMG was that worth the wait or what.

Leo Burn'd

Loved everything about the editing and sound design. Made everything feel appropriately fast paced and dramatic - Can't wait for the next one! Much love

argylsocks

"I think, at this point, it's time to roll initiative. [...] you hear a thundering mountain [rain splattering, wind blowing]" and at this point I was already amazed by the sound design in this episode but it was actually an afternoon storm but the fact that I couldn't tell...amazing tension Time to finish the episode lol

mads

Extremely banger episode, well worth the wait!! Thanks Taylor and team!

Elaine

Fabulous. Magical. WORTH THE WAIT. Also, Taylor, buddy, I hope your swimming skills are up to snuff…sounded like you were struggling a bit there at the end! Hahaha!

Asher Berghoff

That was worth every second of the wait. Taylor, the audio was spectacular

Matthew B

Brennan definitely knows how to break things in big and satisfying ways.

Rowan Sauer

Wow. Just everything is wow. The action, the story. Taylor went OFF on the scoring and sounds. What an incredible job you are all doing.

1man2hands

I don't appreciate that the editing keeps cutting Brennan off and muting him. Also the music and sfx are still way too loud compared to the talking (although it was less bad this ep since there was less whispering). Great ep tho! Looking forward to what comes next!

Katie Melsheimer

This was pure insanity, seriously amazing work all!

MKP

Gentle sea my ass

Sara

Taylor, I hope today you have a good nap and like, some cake.

Am3thystFlam3

I want a shirt that saids "Fucking Run" -Suvie 🤣

Andrew Hicks

The entire episode was fantastic, but I especially appreciated the sound design at the end. *Chef's Kiss*

Joos

Everyone just OUTDID themselves on this episode!! What an absolute joy and privilege to listen to. The sound design, the narration, the choices... Im so glad I gst to listen to this.

David Brady

Amazing amazing penultimate episode for this arc!! Floored by all the sound design Taylor did for this one! Was incredible to listen to while walking the beach on a cloudy day. One eye on the sea one eye on the green grass of the dunes lol

Dave

Killer episode.

FootnoteLovenote

THIS WAS SUCH A GOOD EPISODE. Everybody had those major characters beats, and the story -- even with a split party!!! -- came together so beautifully. Also gold star to Gallani for dealing with (as Erika said) a whining mad baby of a man who somehow has more people listening to him than a sensible, powerful person trying to retrench to a defensive position. Cool. (Also, Erika's line about how the Port Talon lack of community was so stark to Ame—"But they need each other now." This is what the politics of so many disaster/zombie/apocalypse fictions don't get. In real life when disasters strike, people tend to band together and help out, to aid even strangers.) Amazing story, amazing sound, amazing editing, another terrific cliffhanger. Ahoo hoo!

Jonathan Turberfield

Taylor... did your sound design imply there was still people clinging onto the derrick as it was flung into the sea? ... brilliant

Randolph McGurrin

God damn was that worth the wait. Taylor, you are both an evil mastermind and a beautiful genius.

Cassandra Cordova

THE FISH HAS A WIFE?!?! I'm dying

Matthew B

"It's not a witch's job to make perfect choices; just right ones." If this is the kind of production we get, you're never going to hear me complaining about delays. Worth any wait.

Spencer from Canada

Holy fuck Taylor, you're a god damn artist

Taylorea

Let’s goooooooo

Jonah Klein-Barton

Sound design on the outro alone made the delay more than worth it

Diamondarrel

I'd bet it is! They talked about how Avatar heavily contributed to the "Spirit World" vibe together with Ghibli's animations!

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

Taylor! Taylor! Taylor! Taylor!

Noah Mendell

Haven't finished yet but this is giving heavy Avatar "Siege of the North" vibes. Would love to hear from the cast if that was at all an influence, like what would have happened if Aang truly wiped the fire navy off the map in that finale.

Lilith Evenstar

No but seriously, would pay the gewd monies for a soundtrack. Truly spectacular.

AcesAreHigh

I’m only 45 minutes but I gotta say. I just can’t listen to these at work anymore. They’re too good I can’t get anything done

lunarsummer

2 ' 30" in and I've already got GOOSEBUMPS. almost in tears, you GUYS I LOVE THIS.

M. E. Johnson

Has anyone checked on Taylor and his family’s floatation situation. I’m pretty worried after this last one (just a lil joke for those who like end credits)

KneesBees

Just incredible. Favorite episode. Every entry finds a way to sound better than the last!

d2k

So uh, when's the Kickstarter to make this cartoon dropping 👉👈

codemonkeyquilts

I am once again speechless over how good this is. Amazing. I love this so much.

Just a Fox

I was like "Taaaayloooorr!"

Amy Colgan

That mustard fucked me up

Dooby cooby

The mustard made me cry

Brian Sexton

Wow. Just. Wow. How does each episode just keep getting better?

d2k

Welp, this episode now holds the record for fastest to make me cry. GotDAMN it's so good 💖

KB2020

Taylor water boarding Brennan at the end of the episode is truly a masterpiece

Miriam Meeks

i’m 26 minutes in and SHAKING TAYLOR YOU MASTERFUL GENIUS BRENNAN YOU MASTERFUL DUNGEON MASTER ERIKA YOU MASTERFUL WITCH LOU YOU MASTERFUL WILD ONE AABRIA YOU MASTERFUL WIZARD

Stephen Laster

Taylor, the last 2 eps were 100% worth the wait. Don't kill yourself getting them out. A craftsman must take care of themselves, and we know you and the rest of the gang are pushing quality content each and every release. That being said... You've gotta tell me where you get your mustard, because it is POTENT.

Diamondarrel

As of now, even after Calamity, this is the entire cast's MASTERPIECE. It has no business being this good. Damn you Brennan and Taylor! DAMN YOU!

RoadDietsRule

OMG!!!!!!!

KB2020

Yes, high quality too. I’m definitely getting hints of Grey Poupon Dijon, maybe a bit of black truffle

Sean Ryan

Taylor continues laying that mustard on thick

Jonathan Wolfe

I thought they were using milestone?

Christian Paul D. Barrera

THIS IS A LEVEL 1-2 STORY. WHAT THE HECK YOU GUYS YOU COMPLETELY SHIFTED MY VIEW ON THAT PARADIGM AS A DM. "Let' start in a nice little village." Brennan "The Goat" Lee Mulligan "DID I HEAR YOU CORRECTLY???"

Saleibriel

We're playing by XP rules, right? How many levels worth do you think Eursalon gets from that last move?

Liam Egan

It’s amazing how 90 minutes just flew by… I can’t believe it

Matthew Rowe

This installment was really quite incredible - a real journey for the minds eye. Soundscape really put it over the edge. Mad props!

BardicDesperation

I keep being floored by how seemingly effortlessly Brennan and the players manage to weave a story that is so tonally consistent and powerful in a goddamn TTRPG. Both as a DM and a player, to craft an adventure in a homebrew world that manages to convey a sense of scale, to honour setting and characters with realism, complexity, depth, to consistently highlight powerful moral positions with applicability to the real world, while preserving the organic, improvisational flow of the story, and making it entertaining as all hell on top of that?? The number of plates that have to be kept spinning simultaneously, the number of different threads that need to be woven together – we’re witnessing the highest levels of mastery at work here, and I’m so, so grateful, week after week (well, not quite – that bimonthly schedule is deliciously painful) to be able to witness and experience it.

Casey Furtado

I haven’t even listened yet but - The fish has a wife!!!! Ofk!

Jenny

What an amazing episode! The storytelling is so fresh and the production quality is so high. Thanks to everyone involved in this creation!

Liam Egan

I’ve decided: gonna be on the exercise bike the entire this episode is going. I’m 15 minutes in - if Eursolon can handle it, I will

Honey.fairys

That ending! Wow just wow!

Dream Wizard Kyle Arca

OH. MY. GOD! THIS SOUND DESIGN! TAYLOR! AAH! 😍

Jonathan Laury

I haven't quite finished it yet, but this is just sensational from all involved. Absolutely incredible. Make more stuff I can throw money at you for.

Pat & Heather

4:26am, just finished. No regrets for the zombie self I will be in the morning. Holy forking shirtballs. This is a masterpiece.

Welibwe

Amazing ep!! I cackled at the outro

fearne

thank you!!! 😭😭😭i would wait any amount of time to hear more of this story and beautiful score

David Dyson

So good!

Chris Rzepa

SO GORGEOUS!!!!!!!! I just sat in the cool dark and listened, this is the only podcast I can't do chores to, it's too cinematic and lovely.

Miriam Maina

Brennan's narrative style layered by Taylor's sound design is absolute cinematic magic. Felt like I was watching a movie!

Laura DW

SO worth the wait. I'm in love with this show.

Taliesin Breen

The chanting and the drums when Ame made her choice. Holy shit. I also imagine Orima being so proud of her sweet man doing the murders. Haven’t finished the ep yet, I’ve rewound this section several times.

jdthetugboat

Stop releasing while I’m at work 😭

bushpusherr

I can imagine multiple reasons all living under the umbrella of "marketing/advertising." Having listener metrics available on these given services will give them ammunition to pitch to eventual advertisers for the show, and I'd anticipate by having higher numbers on those given services they would be more likely to recommend the show to other listeners on that service. Hopefully after a time things could eventually settle into a NADDPOD-like model where I could get absolutely everything here in one feed, but I get it.

Philmeanslove

Rad

Courtney Seebadri

Masterpiece

Alex Yee

When you notice the update and go to your car so that Taylor's work hits different

Alyn Spector

Chef's kiss on the "being pulled below the water under the weight of your own hubris" ASMR in the closing credits.

James Goss

Thank you for getting it ready in time for the weekly work commute my wife and I take together! That's always Taylor's true deadline 😉

Manny A

wow. Wow. WOW

Erin R

Just finished it and it was more than worth the wait. That was the best thing I have ever heard and I’m now eagerly waiting for the last one of this story ❤️ Thank you thank you thank you for the hard work! It was magnificent!

jbyrd

Fuuuuuuck yes! This is the shit... And if I'm honest,at my weakest moments I have been a petty man screaming and crying at a god

The Wizard Spice

Worth every second

Adrian Suthaharan

God damn Taylor! You didn't have to go that hard! Was worth the wait!

Jack Hall

An entire masterpiece of sound design and editing accompanied by possibly the best piece of emergent storytelling I've seen in ten years of being a dungeon master.

Katlynn

Holy cow you guys that was absolutely captivating. I could listen to Brennan describe wizard/spirit battles forever. All of the amazing and brilliant choices of the PCs were so cool. Taylor you outdid yourself once again with the sound. I especially liked the effect at the end. I can’t wait for the fireside chat on this one!

Joanne Moody

I’m literally shaking from the excitement and tension. Yay let’s go!!!

Saga Nadow

This one is a true masterpiece of storytelling, score and overall sound design. Team WaterBear for life and justice for Naram!

Aunty Kristin

Worth missing some sleep for this! So good!

Vincent

HOLY SHIT! I was literally screaming all episode! JUSTICE FOR NARAM!

Lori Otis

I stayed up until 1:40 in the morning to listen to this and I'M NOT SORRY!

Simon Pena

Absolutely incredible, amazingly worth the wait. I had no less than 15 moments where I yelled “holy shit that’s so cool”

Dave Thomer

Great episode. I hope Taylor gets some well-earned rest.

Simon Pena

Listen

Robert J Kennedy

What a tremendous episode... I have been viewing/listening to actual play content since the beginning of Critical Role and I am convinced that this was the hieght of this genre can be. From the phenomenal character play of our Wizard, Witch, and Wild One to the editing of Taylor Moore and the world/story telling of Brennan Lee Mulligan. It is most auspicious that I am alive to contribute & witness this story be told in this manner.

sam z

I require elaboration. Why a pod catcher? To what benefit? Whom does it serve?

Ignacio Segura Montero

Listen or Sleep? Listen or Sleep?? Listen or Sleep??? LISTEN OR SLEEP????

Raquel Blacken

Worth the fucking wait!!!!!

Justin

WOOOOOOOOOO! GREAT JOB EVERYBODY!

Joe Hodge

Guess I'll be tired at work because there's no way I'm waiting til tomorrow

JT Gwozdz

My god Taylor the wait was so incredibly my worth it for the emergence alone, good lord.

Rosemary Richardson

Sleep now, sweet prince

MeatyTamale

Joy! Just in time to be a nice bedtime story.

jbyrd

Haven't even hit play,... I'm pumped

Jennifer Hirliman

Thank yoooooou!! And here I thought I was going to go to sleep. 😅

Brian Reardon

He Said it would be out by Wednesday and he got it out with 2 mins to spare. At least accordingto the only time zone that matters, Eastern Standard Time. Suck it other time zones.