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Our deliberations begin. You're probably wondering why I've called you all here today. Or maybe you're not. Maybe you already know. How could anyone tell with that mask on your face? Let's do it again, but this time: with stakes, a bird on my shoulder, my breath on your neck. Take a break, sure, but then, (if it is the right thing to do, and only then): have at me.

Catch the public feed to hear the episode with these links, or anywhere you get your podcasts:

Simplecast

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

YouTube (in a few days)

We recommend listening to Worlds Beyond Number (and the Fireside Feed) on a "podcatching" app like Overcast or Pocket Casts. For more help getting the right audio in the right place, check out our friendly instruction guide.

We are

Brennan Lee Mulligan

Erika Ishii

Aabria Iyengar

Lou Wilson

Produced, designed, and scored by Taylor Moore  at Fortunate Horse with exquisite design and editing help from Jared Olson.

SPECIAL THANKS TO: Tazer Army, Shannon, and Amanda Freberg.

Album art by the great Corey Brickley

Files

Comments

The Wizard Syntax

First to comment? The episode hasn't even shown up in my feed yet. Guess I have nothing to say.

The Wizard Scumbling

Recently convinced my husband to start listening to WBN and he’s all caught up as of yesterday. This is the first new episode we’ll get to listen to together and I’m so excited aaaahhhhhhhhh

Daniel Puck

I’m infinitely happy I work graveyard so I can see the newly added ep and immediately listen while at work

C. A. Whyse

I feel that-- I work weekends, though, so I catch a nap and usually by the time I wake up, the ep is posted.

C. A. Whyse

Were Aabria or [Lou's guest here] even in the room for the meeting, or was this a solo moment like the Gaes? (I just answered my own question when Aabria's sympathy frustration came out.) When that savage voice lashed out at Ame, my whole body went rigid. It's incredible how immersive this show is.

WWMSudoku

damn that whole meeting is just a certified bruh moment

Ellen Hubbard

I don't know how every episode of WWW gets better every time but I am SO here for it. I cannot wait for the next one!

WWMSudoku

LOU GOD DAMN WILSON WHAT AN ENDING

Glen Petrofski

Well great! Yelling "No" when Ame confirmed the world heart does not fit in with the rest of the domains gave lefty a jump start.

Amit Khandhadia

I KNEW (insert spoiler here) WAS CONSPIRICIZING! I KNEW IT FROM THE MOMENT SHE SPOKE! I NEVER GET THESE THINGS BUT I CALLED IT HERE!

The Wizard Scumbling

I am SWEATING with anxiety listening to the witches questioning Ame. “You’re so sleepy and they’re so mean” 😭

Abigail M

Oh my god, what an episode! So tense the whole time! I adore the mental gymnastics of politeness that the coven dances through constantly

Glen Petrofski

Without the world's heart all stations will go until there is no-one left but nothing (Mirara). Which would also be the end to Umora. Seems they are doing what all others with power do and make a grab bag for it with fear without realising it will be their own undoing.

MagnaniMel

Group synergy! Yesss! Thanks for the external conflict. I don't like when mommy and mommy are fighting. Also damn, Lou! Bravo!👏

Glen Petrofski

This is one of the few American releases I am glad being in Australia. I can listen as I get ready for bed. I do then have to calm myself down a bit afterwards, but the relisten on the way to work means I get to pick up on things I missed.

Riga

Ohmgawd that meeting was beyond scary and I teared up cause that's exactly how it feels like being the youngest in a meeting room and trying to bring up new ideas or bring up constructive criticism to how things have always been run and damn, that making you feel small and stupid and twisting your words, dehumanising vibe captured spot on, this is too real, I'm gonna go lay down and try to breath now ohmagwd

THEY Agenda Productions

PocketCasts is always a little late IMO. So I usually listen to this on Spotify

BethKF

Aaaargh! Every episode leaves me desperate for the next! You could absolutely feel every ounce of tension. So brilliant.

Viola Helmers

That conclave mean girls scene makes me want to scream in anger. Fuck this.

Smitsel

Fuckin sniped by Lou, goddamn. It needs to be 2 weeks from now, I need more of that

Nick

Me, an Injuri mistruster fr day 1: well, Well, WELL Also, calling it now, Mirara is Wicked and is going to pick away at other stations until she's the last left. And I can't wait for this backstabbing witches to meet Steel

Mackie Bee

The witches follow Roberts Rules

Johnystoo

Ame made her history check with disadvantage but she had fox's cunning that should've canceled it out! 😟

Maggie M

Lou fuckn' GOTTEM

Michelle Spurgeon

So much intrigue!! Everyone is wearing masks! Please don't kill Ame!

worldsbeyondnumber

Brennan will be punished and his pay docked accordingly. Writing the ukulele part for his apology video as we speak. -t

Anonymous Developer

I wonder what every station baring its teeth at the world's heart itself means for the actual world itself Does wielding a domain against another have a tangible effect in the world? If Mask-Face Horchata succeeds do the shadows grow a little darker? Do these witches have great-spirit like effects beyond their person? So many lore q's.

Leo Burn'd

These last couple episodes were all over so quickly! I need moooore

Tommy Battaglia

I have never been so outraged on behalf of a character in my LIFE. Asking Ame to present her domain FIRST when she has no example for how these meetings are conducted is infuriating. Picking on the new kid in a situation with high-stakes invisible rules is gutless

Teddy Lewis

Me and that spooky slim Jim maraca what's her face are gonna fight behind a Dennys parking lot I swear😭

Steve Accounting

None of the other witches were suprised by the call to end the worlds heart. they all know the plan.

bluebluebutton

Ame saying "this is...my family" and being promptly rejected by family, just as we learned she was in the Children's Adventure, broke my heart.

Warlock Fulltime

Nothing can hurt me when there’s a new Worlds Beyond Number to listen to. 💕

Atlas

Somehow I just KNEW it was gonna be the scarf. Listened to the episode twice already… I need more

Casey Carson

This episode was amazing. I mean every episode is amazing, but this episode in particular seems especially amazing.

The Spirit of Vicious Inspiration

after the previous episode it clicked for me that The Stranger was somehow tied to Marara (so the confirmation in this episode made me audibly “ah-ha!!” to myself lol). between his titles and what he said to Eursolon in the portal, he just seemed too similar with what Marara was going for. I even thought maybe he would show up in Marara’s retinue! when Eursolon was in the jungle and went to Orema for Haliman, there was another direction where it was implied The Stranger was there… I thought if Eursolon went that direction then The Stranger would guide him to the coven meeting because he was headed there anyways. god what an excellent story, played by such excellent players!

Emergency Santa

Ooh I really enjoyed this episode! So interesting how the other witches kept twisteing Armes words. Like how she mentions the man in black, presumably in order to speek on her incounter with him, and then she is accused of speaking for other domains, by the mere mention of his name, and the intire conversation shifts to whether she is being rude or not. Later Mirara says Ame has said her station is incabable of coexisting with all of theirs, but she never said that, she said hers and their stations were communicating poorly at the moment.

Emergency Santa

Also my theory of what the conflict is right now is that, what the witches accused Ame of saying is what they themselves are actually feeling i.e. they accused Ame of saying their domains were incroaching on hers, but really it is them who believe her domain is incroaching on all of theirs. Especially them deem the wizards a growing threat and maybe even abomination, and want to go to war, but Grandmother Wren seemingly veetoed that plan, and so they sought to destoy her station. Going so far as to curse her and her apprentice, so that the apprentice would not remember her teachings and would be easier to remove, once Wren died. In case you couldn't tell, I am so invested guys! Theorizing all over the place ;)

xatlern

After a whole episode of everyone trying to make checks against the witches and their retinues, that ending felt like Lou just rolled up and made a nat 20 insight check against Brennan 😂

Emergency Santa

I so want them to be called out on their strawman argument bullcrap though... But also yes.. maybe running is better..

Emergency Santa

I was so convinced Ames curse was from the stranger, but now I think it might be one of the witches directly..? if not then maybe the stranger in agreement with Mirara... and more?

Jacob B.

Lous Wilson the Puzzle Prince out here being absolutely BRILLIANT

Jason

Loved Lou just destroying Brennan at end

Kamuraki

Huh, so the middle school and high school lesson of "Don't trust the pretty popular girl who seems too perfect" continues to stand.

David Dyson

Yet another great episode

Michael Munene

This episode was just chock-full of politicking and intrigue. Absolutely love it! Also, Indri being the quintessential narcissist is just wild. Ame's description of her station should have clued me in. Really makes her sweet actions stand out when you see the "mask" off in her talking with Mirara.

Josie

My GUY what an EPISODE it’s gonna be my first ever immediate re listen because fucking hell it was hard to keep up during that meeting. Which I think was kind of the point. The witches were intentionally trying to catch Ame out and twist her words. There’s no grace for her, they are trying to find offence and missteps. Plus! Lou Wilson the man you are !!! Phenomenal!!!!

sylvie

CRAZY

Susan Gray

❤️ 🔥 ❤️ Lou Wilson, you absolute legend!!!! 🔥 ❤️ 🔥

Mehmet

Ok so it took listening to this episode for me to realize that Indri and Mirara were different witches… I guess both having 1 dark plus 1 very light color confused me. Also both seem very dark and mysterious. Is anyone else in the same boat?

Hannah

Ame’s throne smells like lilac?? 😭😭 isn’t that the flower Ame chose for “what day is it?” back in Children’s Adventure?

Mehmet

Yeah it definitely seems that multiple Witches were involved with the very weird way that the end of Grandma Wrens life played out… the mysterious curse that Ame wasn’t able to remember Wren’s teachings (don’t know who that is but the only ones that we know of that can curse someone are witches), the Stranger appearing right as Wren passes away (they seem to be under Mirara’s domain), Grimore thinking Ame is too slow/weak, and there might be more that I am forgetting. Almost all of them are very sus right now.

Connor

Kinda wanna see what happens if Suvi casts fox’s cunning on the fox 😂

Mike Histon

Damn, this episode was incredible!

kram1032

Lou with the last second MVP play wow

FooldiverDX

This is one of the best episodes in the series, that ending alone! But I have something to say, in my ongoing campaign a player - Barbarian - gained control of a Wolf after killing its former master, and took on Animal Totem Warrior subclass to speak to the Wolf. Now my player asked the Wolf his name and the me, the Wolf said: "I will answer to anything, like my previous master, but we have no name." And the Wolf had been called the Wolf since. And I've been wondering "why did I say that?" Then I realized it while listening to this episode - The show is influencing my storytelling!!!

Justin

So damn good and that ending wow

lil guy

Today I'm just here to say that I love Hacaea

Julia Whitmore

coven of elders meeting giving real "nightmare where I have to present on a topic I didn't prepare for oh and also my teeth are falling out" energy

Brandon Carbaugh

Look man, you can't fool me. This is just Act 1 of My Cousin Vinny, but with witches. Marara over here with a southern drawl like "Mister Gambini, for the final time, *how do your clients plead?* If I hear anything come out of your mouth other than guilty or not guilty, you will be held in contempt."

Sam Murray

Not to mention when Grandmother Wren was attacked at the grove. He had asked to be invited into the cottage. I would assume he would need an invitation into some place as sacred to the witches as the grove. So my thinking was someone extended an invitation to the grove to the man in black and this episode made it click for me too that that was probably Marara.

Jax Davis

LOU!!! MVP, MVP 👏👏👏

Faith Price

Stone Cold Fucking GOT YOU!

Ben Fogle

So I'm a lawyer, and I just gotta say, Indri's "cross examination" of Ame made my lawyer neurons go electric--her manipulation was masterful, getting Ame to inadvertently admit all the points Indri needed to make to justify getting rid of the station of the World's Heart.

d2k

1. AAAAHHHHHHHHH 2. Lou is officially mayor of Clutch City 3. I'm just floored how Brennan is able to act as 4 different, insanely powerful, nefarious witches and make them all unique and feel as large of characters as their stations suggest. The storyteller of an age 👏👏👏

Emergency Santa

Will Brennan be the one having to play the ukulele as part of the punishment?

Arien Crossby

Gods I'm only halfway into this and I am 150% anxiety. 😰

Emergency Santa

Super sus. Also I feel like in one of the flashback Wren said something to Mirara about knowing all the rest of the witches were in agreement, but that she would still not budge. Witch adds to my suspicion that all the rest of them are in agreement.

Emergency Santa

Oh yeah, they were making all the strawmen, and I want them to be called out on it so bad...

PharaohNoir

Incredible episode! I really hope Ame feels more empowered to speak her mind in the next meeting. You are the Witch of the World’s Heart! Raised and trained by Grandmother Wren. Very old and powerful magic sits in the palm of your hand. Granted, I understand that they are all very old witches, but think about the fact that TWO of the other witches have to plot against you for even a chance of taking you out! You belong there, and you deserve the same amount of respect that you have been showing them every step of the way and if they don’t like it hit them with the, “WITCH PLEASE! I’M THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE SPIRIT AND HUMAN WORLD! I HAVE THE SON OF THE GREAT BEAR AND THE CITADEL ON SPEED DIAL!” (I’m saying all of this fully knowing that if she said that she would be killed immediately. I’m just tired of Ame being so respectful and it never being reciprocated.)

Liu

HOOOOOLY SHIIIIIT

Jonathon carr

Screaming. Screaming at that ending! What an episode!!

Emergency Santa

My favorite describtion/lore on what animals choose to name themselves is from Terry Pratchetts Equal Rites, where the witch apprentice asks what the names of the goats are to wich the older witch answers that they have no names, or at least no human names. She can tell them apart and the goats can tell each other apart, so she sees no need. And then in her head she reflects on the fact that it also feels rude to give them names, when they already have the names they give each other. Names like Goat-who-is-mother or Goat-who-is-child, Goat-who-is-friend, or Goat-who-is-goat.

Emergency Santa

Yeah, and then later Mirara saying Ame admitted that her station could not coexist with the others, when what she said was that her station was comunnicating poorly with with the other stations, and since her station is all about communication, that would need to be rectified.

Mr Calwell

Great episode, but did I miss something regarding the Enhance Ability? In the history check regarding what Grandma Wren told Ame about her station, shouldn’t that have been a straight roll rather than at disadvantage?

Emergency Santa

I forgot to mention how great the sound design were(as it always is), but this time what really stood out to me was both the sound design on each witch's voice but also the timing of them sometimes overlapping or cutting each other of, so they really felt like 5 different people having a conversation even though there were only two performers.

mariocartdui

I related *heavy* to ame during the conclave scene. Being asked to give an honest personal answer to something and giving what you think to be the kind, safe, respectful response > immediately met with friction and accusations from the people that just asked you to explain yourself. man, that hit hard. I also think it's very funny that there were some parallels between that aspect of the scene and Brennan's defense of eating the soupnel with his finger

Britt Anderson

The way I SCREAMED when Lou was right and the scarf was tossed away! Oh my god 👏

Fxd Gear Queer

Damn, these comments give me anxiety about listening to the episode. But I gotta know. AAAH! *pulls hair*

mumbo

Just imagine the cast’s faces when that final moment of the episode hit

Rachel Ann Harding

Did anyone else notice the clicking?typing?in the background of the final conversation when they discover there is a listening device? It seems like it could be interpreted as crackling fire but it seems rather crisp. I could be over listening. Awesome episode!

Ajax

The growl from Heinrhul during the wrestling match. Incredible.

argylsocks

Everyone can get it!

princessdaedae09 .

No AME!!!! Omg that was rough, 😩 these fictional aunties were knee deep in her bushes and I CANT! 😭

Glen Petrofski

I just see this playing out as these situations always do until there is nothing (Mirara) left. Which would mean, Umora would be no more with only nothing being tended to. I so wonder about other witch covens, if they would pick up the mantle or if once the coven of Elders is gone the last would move to the next. Given how the coven affect the world, how does the world of spirits feel about them manipulating their world like so because they are part of the world only seperated by a veil. Without the world's heart being tended to all of spirits and mortals will lose heart and the faie could possibly lose their breath while in faerie? Yes, there are far too many lore uncertainties for sure.

Glen Petrofski

It would have been cool if Hacaea had the actual rainbow serpent considering it's representation of nature and spirit throughout the dreaming in every Australian Aboriginal nation, it makes sense if that is why the serpent in general was chosen as her familiar. That would be an awesome spirit to encounter and not just because hearing other people (but mainly Americans) do an Australian accent is so horrible it adds to the entertainment.

Jack Jones

not only that but "I didn't prepare and the teacher literally said she wanted to kill me type dream" hahahah

Jack Jones

Something deeply funny and unexpected about Hakea faceplanting through moss to fast travel.

Glen Petrofski

Isn't the conclave a magical compulsion? Can't they also destroy her station if she runs and is no longer part of the conclave? Given the gifts Kalaya gave Eursulon running may well be required

Ben Fogle

I think Ame was ready for anything except Model UN

Glen Petrofski

It seems Brennan is continuing to show he would make too good a Mean Girl

Luke 'Punquillity' Elias

Probably forgot and I'm guessing they separated the pcs to record that scene so Aabria wasn't there to remind.

Glen Petrofski

I dunno, do people in the world monitor the fires and oceans as they once did? Maintaining fires is no longer as important to mortals as they are easier to create. Look what happened to Naram. Do you think it could have been prevented? Possibly, but without a station monitoring the oceans it was more by chance that this was found.

Glen Petrofski

But that feeling of exhaustion where you just fall and melt into bed!

Mubarak Abdi

Man I knew there was something funny about Indri after the fireside chat last week but Brennan managed to juuuuuuuuust convince me that maybe she was okay and then BAM. I need to stop trusting the man 😭

Ajax

The last line from Lou sounded familiar in its tone and inflection. Then I remembered "Can I ram the ship into the building?"

Glen Petrofski

The opening of the meeting where Brennan emphasised the witches bowed their heads in deference to the station but not the witch/Ame. There are many layers I am screaming internally but not externally as I'm about to start work.

Allen Mark CA

Taylor!! That sound design during the conclave!!! Felt like I was *in there* 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Matt Mayhem

I had legit the same thought in the episode

Conor Steinke

59:05 Hakaea, Aruna, come on pretty mama

Chelsie K

The biggest thing that doesn’t seem to reconcile with this is that when Ame beats Grimore’s deception check, the look in Grimore’s eyes was fear. Not rage, not intimidation, but fear. Makes me wonder if Grimore is afraid of Mirara for some reason?

Urthril

Incredible, I'd very much like a list of the 13 original stations of the coven.

Jonathan Travers

Mad props to Erika. Being thrust into a social minefield of a council chamber without knowing the rules or proper protocols is a nightmare scenario. They did so good trying to keep up though. Hoping round 2 goes more in Ame’s favor though! Otherwise the Fox’s plan is sounding pretty good

Lena

My guess was that was her underlying fear of the wizards of the citadel & their growing threat. Hiding her fear with intimidation?

Beanz

Thank you, Suvi, for observing the MTG color dynamic of that conclave table. 👏

Beanz

I was wondering about that 🖤

Elizabeth Boskey

I think I'm with Chelsie on this one. Maybe she thinks if Ame doesn't go, it will be her

Beanz

Hakea- White (green is tempting but the creation aspect is pretty white) Ame- Red (from a warmth, hearth, and embracing aspect) Grimora- Green, baby (get that beastly aggro out there) Indri- BLUE AF (straight up MTG style manipulation magic) Mirara- Black (nothingness and I honestly don't think she requires more explaination) I don't want to lean in super hard on the MTG comparison because the concept isn't unique to Wizards of the Coast. But as soon as Suvi said it, I was like, "ohmygod, INDRI IS THAT BLUE CONTROL BULLSHIT!"

Beanz

I need a spelling guide for all these names... >.> I love that Ursalon's a social butterfly at this meeting. Even though I'm pretty sure this is like when the cool kids "notice" you and you don't know if they are enjoying your presence as their peer or as their entertainment. I can't wait to hear the Fireside on this episode and Ursalon's hot date. OOF

TJ

LISTEN, BRENNAN. I tuned in, to my cute lil dnd podcast, wanting to hear fun stories about adorable little Eursulon, Suvi, and Ame. And I get THIS SHIT; witches high on their own farts interrogating the most wholesome little witch of the world's heart there ever was. I HAVE ANXIETY, OKAY. It's going to take me a week to get through this episode without falling to pieces. (pls note this is sarcasm and this is masterfully done bc this is way more anxiety producing than expected).

The Wizard Snoop

I like Grimore's point about invoking grandma ren's name. if there's one group of people who wouldn't look up to ren, it's her former peer group, so of course their gonna bristle at that

Erika Iverson

And doesn’t BleeM say that the magic listening is like a stenographer?

Robert Burke

"Thank you for your report" a sinister phrase if there ever was one.

Lojaan

Hot damn Ame being set up to fail so bad at the start of this gave me flashbacks to my last job

Lojaan

Agreed. Respectful is one thing, but I'm ready for Ame to stop being 'nice'.

Jack Jones

Mossy Beds are definitely the new in

Bryan Holt

What's more in opposition to the worlds heart but the isolation of the wind and stars

Divanté Malachi

Saying that the injury of the world's heart is due to it's not fitting in felt like a big mistake immediately

Divanté Malachi

Also I knew the fucking Waning Moon would be a fucking problem

Meghan Lewis

Listen, it’s a good thing I took the observant feat too, because I KNOW Erika and Aabria were very “jokes on you, IM INTO THAT SHIT” in that moment

Glen Petrofski

No clerics but there are Paladins. There are also healers. A world doesn't require divinity for either really depending on world building. In a way the reverence of the spirits seems to have taken the place of divinity worship in this world. The terms "Good and Evil" are always subjective. One could say witches come under the umbrella of the appointed by the way people treat them. It was mentioned earlier that they are in the one world, just one is seperated by a veil from the other. Ren freed what she could get away with. Not all spirits are going to be peaceful before or after being put in a painting.

Glen Petrofski

Know that feeling well *Bloody autocorrect

Glen Petrofski

Completely! As Ame responded I let out an audible "No". Ame should have known better on that front, especially as she knew going in they would all look to ending her and her position. But then again, no matter how masterfully she walked through the set up, they would have found one way or another to push the topic

Glen Petrofski

Could imagine the Waning mood tending to the hearts of those within her domain?

Abigail W

This arc is a freaking Jenga tower of heightened stakes! PVP conflict is unresolved. The music box is still out there. Eursulon might be too drunk to protect Ame. Indri’s intentions are exposed. The man in black is under Mirara’s domain. The fox is running about with like 5HP! But above all else, my kingdom for a glossary.

Dan

In that case, I can’t wait for Lou’s “positraction” moment next episode.

Emergency Santa

I thought the exact same thing as you, Lena. That her fear comes from what she perceives to be the growing threat of wizards, and maybe even humanity as a whole. It could also explain a little of her comments on Ame being slow and weak. If what she really thinks is not tha Ame is the real threat, but is standing in the way of what she perceives to be the solution to the real threat.

Katie Lemelin

I listen to these with headphones while cleaning a huge dark building. This episode made me scream STOP TALKING and NO into the abyss. Also the layered talking gave me a HUGE jumpscare. Loved it!

Amber Prophet

I'm was sitting by a pool listening to the episode amidst lots of strangers who were astonished at my loud reaction to the end of the episode. Lou, you genius!

Sophie Rivers

1. Taylor moore is a national treasure and the score for this episode was unlike anything we've heard yet, fantastic job. 2. OMFG THE END OF THE EPISODE WAS CRAZY IM FREAKING OUT AHHHHHHHHH LOU WILSON IS A GENIUS!!!

Sophie Rivers

FOR REAL Bleem's reaction was my favorite part honestly~

Sophie Rivers

she did so well navigating it too- that level of exhaustion really messed shit up

Sil

I, for one, would scream to see a FN Australian in any kind of fictional work like this

Tyrat

Dear listeners, if any of you are team wizards, and anyone would ask what radicalized you, just point to this episode. Damn, I am very calm person irl, but this “meeting” made my blood boil, so I had take breaks just listening to it.

Al

On Ame's history check within the coven, Fox's cunning would have cancelled out Ame's disadvantage, no?

Fxd Gear Queer

Can anyone help me and point out how Ame figured out that they were bugged? I re-listened to the passage, but I wasn't able to pinpoint what prompted that realization.

Al

Understand it would not have affected Insight checks as that is wisdom based, which Fox's Cunning would not affect. But History checks are Intelligence based.

John

The ending had me grinning from ear to ear.

Emily C

1. I just imagine a city council meeting that's like, the parks director (Ame) giving a report on how people love parks, they need more funding, and the rest of government has to interact with it. Then a different council member saying "First order of business, destroy all parks and pave over them. All in favor?" I just absolutely went "ehh????" when "Let's just fucking kill her" was proposed. My face was just all surprised Pikachu bc like, we already knew this was going to happen but not how it was going to happen. 2. The rolls were really not helping Ame with the pollen/sleepiness and not really knowing what report to give. Very much in-crowd like, oh let's start with the new person!!! They have no idea what's going on so let's let them faceplant and say we told you so. 3. Why is it the loss of a station means the loss of the person? I wonder how the magic of the universe ties into that. How much the title is tied to the life force of a person. 4. I re-listened to the last minute of this over and over because it made me laugh so hard.

Cristina

LOU NOT MISSING A BEAT WITH THE SCARF GOT ME! THAT WAS SO IMPRESSIVE. god you just love to see it

Carrie Suzanne @ Petit Valais

I think you summed up how a lot of us anxious, tender-hearted folks feel. I was SQUIRMING and PACING

Carrie Suzanne @ Petit Valais

I think an escape from the ice palace caper lead by the fox could provide a lot of comedic relief

Johnystoo

Brennan is going to come out with a press-conference apology. Ukulele music is being written.

LuChiChi4

How dare you make such a short episode. lol This was Fucking Epic and wonderful!! Lou deserves a Hero Point for the divination scarf find.

Mike S

Love me some "God dammit you got me!" moments.

E. Jason Davis

"Who the hell are you talking to?" Goddamn I love fox.

LuckyFalkor

Yep, that nat 1 shouldn't have been rolled. Oops!

Brandon Carbaugh

*Marisa Tomei voice* "That spell needs concentration. Can't cast that spell without concentration."

Erika Iverson

I think Ame’s just a sharp cookie and realized that if Indri wasn’t actually on her side, she was probably finding a way to listen.

Spencer W

Actually ironically enough I think Ame should have gotten the help action from the fox and completely negated the effects of exhaustion for every ability check during the conclave.

PharaohNoir

Right! She’s just as intimidating as everyone else in that room. *Cue the flashback of the look Ame gave Suvi when Suvi grabbed her*

bluebluebutton

Thank you for "witches high on their own farts" 🤣

Zamp

I had to pause and remind myself that there was no sequence of words that Ame could have said that would have made things work out okay

Katie

Yes was wondering the same thing!!

Katie

LOU!!!! I screamed. How does it just get better and better?!!

Jasmine Smith

The music this episode was SO good! Especially during the wrestling scene.

Fxd Gear Queer

Thank you, that's what I somewhat suspected as well. It'll help me stop obsessing about this detail I might have missed 😅

Kiera Faye

give us the glossary! please! my little brain needs to see the names to remember them!

Bladeless Knife Productions

re: #3: It's the reverse. Getting rid of the person doesn't eliminate the office unless there's no one left in the order of succession, which in Ame's case is no one. I shall be interested to see if she starts working to recruit witches to fill the dormant seats in the coven.

Lorelorelore

I was screaming and crying and throwing up when they didn't cancel out the disadvantage on history. But granting the Fox's Cunning was still a great story moment, so it wasn't a waste in that sense.

Darcy Barlow

And it’s Lou Wilson with the steel chair!

Darcy Barlow

Holy shit that called shot with the scarf was incredible. I *never* wouldn’t remembered that.

Dan

Amazing.

Stephanie

When Brennan described the sitting order of the coven, and then Suvi made the observation that Ame's opposition is across from her in the circle, I was reminded of Magic: The Gathering a bit and the color pie philosophies. Wondering if this was intentional or if maybe I'm reading too much into it ^^;

John

I probably listened to that ending a dozen times already

Mika Zuki

That scarf move was a 10/10 play

Mika Zuki

I'm starting to feel upset when I see a new episode cause I know I'll finish it in less than 24hrs.

Mika Zuki

I feel like Ame is leaning on grandma ren a bit too much but I'm just impatient for Ame to stand proud like the rest of the coven

Adarsh Nednur

I think it's also just like, if you ever catch yourself saying, "It's a conspiracy that goes all the way to the top!" out loud, then that's probably a really good cue to be extra paranoid about your surroundings regardless of the circumstances haha

Cocomoose

My understanding is she figured it out when she was looking through the fox eyes and using the observant feat to read indiri lips and was like shit we are bugged

Sean Hutchinson

The Observant Feat: Never worth it until it's totally worth it.

Witch of the widening horizons

Oh Âme! I found myself frantically talking at my phone trying to guide you to ‘say this….try that…’ as we took the long slide into the inevitable. Truly well done for perfectly capturing the stress of an impossibly difficult conversation. As a person who has led and facilitated decision making groups and committees I felt very triggered - I may need a lie down and a cup of cocoa and a biscuit 😂. Such fun! Also, incredible intelligence from Suvi when the three regathered and the clutch move from Ursulon at the end had me cheering out loud on the bus to work and once again explaining my weird behaviour to my neighbour (hopefully they’ll try the podcast though…). What an exhilarating ride!

Sil

"There were more like me, and I am the last." "What is mine I will to you. I guarded the heart of this world, and there will be Witch of The World's Heart after me..." "Ame, we have been robbed..." Ame has these traitorous coven members exactly where she wants them, because they have trifled with her. GET THEM, ERIKA. CAST THE COVEN INTO THE FIRE. DESTROY IT.

Brendan

I love it when a player just takes a blind shot and guesses the DMs trick

Rachel

LOUUUUUUUUU

RNietzsche

Today I realized that one of the names of The Stranger is The Wanderer Under the Stars. Working for Indri?

Riley Crowder

I wondered if perhaps this episode would be where Brennan brings in Guest Stars to play the other Elders, but it was a blast. ;)

Nina

That's a cool guess, but I don't think Indri would EVER disguise as someone as shabby as Niemph, she's just too extra

Riley Crowder

Also current conspiracy... The Apprentice that betrayed Scalvi of the Watching Fire....is the one that founded the CItadel. And some element of her power is what she used to build the Citadel up so quickly.

Lojaan

Oh boy that's clever

Kelly

Does anyone else listen to this and watch Drag Race? Every time a coven member said “sister” in my head I heard Plain Jane going “Sisteeeerrrrr” sarcastically / rudely 😂. Incredible episode as always, I just couldn’t get this parallel out of my head.

Beanz

!!! I hadn't been there! That Eursulon art is challenging my mental image of Little John from the Disney animated Robin Hood. Oh no!

Beanz

I was having one of those "fanning myself, because oh lawd the vapors" moments >.>

Beanz

Also, the artwork for child Ame is SO PERFECT for those Studio Ghibli vibes.

Sil

Hacaea identified The Stranger as Mirara's domain, but I think this is a really good counter to the "Only report on what your station does, and what is most removed from ours." The manipulation by the older witches is so realistic

Sil

I think Skye's investigation was too high for this not to be spotted in the moment 😔

Sil

Legit my routine now! Bedtime story, then commute audiobook!

Jack Hall

In this episode, Ame learns about Robert's Rules of Order

Paige

I have listened to the last 10 minutes of the episode, about 15 times by now - and it makes me smile so wide, and cackle every time.

Glen Petrofski

When Ame mentioned the stranger she got on trouble for talking on another's domain. To me that indicates the world of spirits is not just the world's hearts problem but all of theirs. It seems to me more like they have each neglected the heart within their own domain which has caused further division between them instead of resolving issues for better coexistence. As the domains become more isolated they become weaker. The only one that seems to be going to thrive with all of this is the one witch that shows up without a coven.

Glen Petrofski

It's so rare that it occurs in such a large platform, especially when the full cast aren't Australian where they aren't doing so in a mocking way. I still remember so many stories from the different nations where I went to school (went to about 6 primary school growing up closest main country people know is Meanjin). Can't tell if my favourite it about wombats, platypus or the dessert lake ones.

Clam Daniels

I wasn’t until just now. But now I’m half remembering Wren telling Ame about the Coven and didn’t only one of the witches actually have an apprentice? Grimoire? I’m 100% sold on this theory.

susan tiss

Sitting in my backyard, drinking coffee, listening to the ending of this week's episode... cheering out loud. My dog and my neighbors are confused. Brilliant!

Grombotron

Gotta say, I wish that the wrestling in the beginning was multiple contested athletics checks.

eileen

OH MY GODDDDDDD

Sanna G.

I was so irritated at the witches’ willful misunderstanding of anything Ame said.

Gordon

TLDR: Grandma Ren is the shit! Long rant coming up: I know these last few episodes have been highlighting the other witches of the coven, but for me it has put into perspective how cool and powerful Grandmother Ren was! You have all these witches with their effects and intimidating familiars: Murara (who is just freaky I feel like she should have a saving throw) and her crow. Hakea and her sleepy magic and her giant serpent. Gramore who stinks but will also murder you, plus her hawk. Indri, freaking all that you could desire ice queen, and her 15FT POLAR BEAR… and then you got Grandma Ren, no saving throws no nothing. And you know who she came with? She pulled up with a fucking chicken. A fucking chicken 😂! Just her and Taro keeping all these other witches at bay from destroying all of humankind. She’s so cool and I miss her so much. I’m gonna head back to the children’s story, see yall✌🏿

Hilary Willett

So good!! I love this show so much! Does anyone else get Jadis/White Witch (Narnia) vibes from Indri? I remember first reading about Jadis and the city of Charn as a child and getting similar "ooh, she's evil" shivers.

Pres Brown

Big Charn Energy 100%

C. A. Whyse

Oh, there is Mean Girl culture embedded deep. I can totally see Indri being the Regina George of it all.

Spodal

she knows at least one deplorable word

Essie Ruth

Erika playing that fragile poise and unshakable determination in the face of the overwhelmingly out-of-her-depth situation Ame is in? Masterful. Aabria’s ability to let Suvi’s love and vulnerability show through juuuuuust enough to remind us they’re there in spite of how much she hates everything about this situation and how they got here? Perfection. Lou’s commitment to Ersulon’s guilelessness and lingering unfamiliarity with most forms of deception, intrigue and subtext while never sacrificing his true intelligence and insight? Glorious. Every word the fox utters? My favourite. Love you guys and this story so much 🩵

Luka M

Do you think you guys would ever release the statblocks of powerful/important npcs, like the coven of elders?

Kael McDonald

And with that, I've caught up after losing track of this beautiful show after listening to the Children's Story so long ago. I couldn't stop listening, knew I'd be sitting on a terrible cliffhanger, and here we are. This has so quickly become my favorite AP I've ever listened to, and I'm in awe of the raw talent y'all bring to every moment. Anyway I vote to elect the Fox as the new Witch of the Watching Fire, thus further throwing the Coven into chaos and I think he'd do a really good job watching that fire.

Ashley Teatum

Oh my God I am SO FRUSTRATED for Ame during this conclave. This is great. (35 min. in)

vvitch

god almighty do i love pratchett

Beanz

Oh, or maybe green Hakea, red Grimoire, and white for Ame. For the spirit and healing.

Bree M

That incredible ending aside; why was Grimore scared?? WHY WAS SHE SCARED?!?

Sil

This!!

Lana Kole

I feel so frustrated for Ame!!! Bless. She's having to word everything so carefully when it doesn't matter because everything is a TRAP and then for the other witch to just "put forth her motion" so plainly. UGH (it's so good)

Jacob Estler

Did I misunderstand the casting of enhance ability by Suvi and then Ames nat 1 history check that she rolled with disadvantage should that have been rolled straight?? I’m sorry if this is a silly question, I need to do more studying of spells and 5e 😅

Bria A.

Pay no mind to my series of extremely late comments as I once again shake off the dust on my brain to do another catchup binge. 😅

Walter Wyrmslayer

I managed to get to minute 32 of this episode before the anxiety of the conclave overtook me to the extent I had to stop, I'll be reading the transcript for the rest of it. This is a compliment! Extremely good tension here I am just a weenie. Thank you for the transcripts so I don't have to give myself an anxiety attack seeing what happens next lol