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Remember this when you wake up: The greedy, hungry awful things. Some small part of you will miss them. The lost letters, the old home movies, the people you put on the same path as you, the dumb and silent stars of the southern sky. One last show, and then I can't be here. Don't ever let me forget this: who to kiss, and who to kill.

[We STRONGLY recommend you avoid spoilers for this episode until you can hear it for yourself.]

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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: Amanda Fredberg and of course, Shannon.

Album art by the great Corey Brickley.

Files

Comments

Zoe Dukach

First - eagerly refreshing pocketcasts!

Alyssa

OMGGGG IM SO EXCITED AND SO TERRIFIED

Chris

I’m gonna shit my balls dude

Jaz

TO SKY! TO BROOM! TO BREATH!

Rachel Kleine

The title literally made me scream out loud at work 😱

Pauraic

BRING ITTTT

The Wizard star

Refreshing- trying not to scream at my job

stuart gaither

I guess it takes a minute to load to Spotify

Júlia Vincent Rubiolo

Too nervous to start... Too anxious not too... I am not ready for book 1 to end🥹

MFingWhiterunGuard

Oh god, they put up a spoiler thingy. This is gonna be intense

Xavier!

I'm at jury duty & can't listen—perhaps this is the real crime

Aabria Iyengar

"Don't ever let me forget this: who to kiss, and who to kill." Taylor's crazy for this one.

Faye Core

The double nat 1

The Wizard Spring

If you’ve had your heart broken by Aabria’s dice rolls, YOU may be entitled to legal compensation! Call 1-800-NAT1 today!

flyingwriter

I want to listen to this right now but I’m not ready for the emotional torment I’ll feel because of this. I’ve got work to do! 😫😭

The Wizard Socialist

I have more than an hour left and I am out of breath already

Rachel Kleine

Suvi's whole convo with Sworn hurt SO BAD 😭💔

Chelsea Lynn

Saying “don’t look up spoilers” makes me want spoilers EVEN MORE

Colleen Brenner

Anyone else waiting until the last episode to be able to listen to them together?

Audge

I have not started. I read the title and wailed. Oh no

aaron drew

Me waiting for Ciril to finish “goodbye fox, goodbye room, goodbye hallway… goodbye moon”. Ehhhhhhhhh???

Sven the Scribe

That fucking cliffhanger! Not even the mercy of an outro! Two weeks... two more weeks....

Ron Ron

I truly think being drunk should give your who ever advantage on charisma checks!

Ryan

OH. MY.GOD. WHAT AN EPISODE!!!!!!!

Beau R.

I need to speak with Suvi’s dice cause fuck you with those 2 nat 1’s! I needed Sworn to be safe (and sexy) for all time

MFingWhiterunGuard

I know. It killed me inside. I'm listening at work and just audibly went "oh fuck... no..."

bluebluebutton

Called it five months ago! https://www.reddit.com/r/WorldsBeyondNumber/comments/1j8kbf4/steel_and_witches/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button "While I can understand the explanation that Steel wants to be present for the management of the breaking of the curse, the lack of inquiry into the curse itself is suspicious to me, as is the depth of inquiry into Wren’s passing and the items brought to Wren’s cottage from the Citadel by Suvi." & "Knowing what we now know about seemingly innocuous items brought to the domains of witches by wizards of the Citadel, it seems possible to me that the Eioghorain anatomical scroll and the Stars of the Southern Sky book (whose gifting to Wren has never been explained by Steel) may be similar artifacts intended for spying upon or otherwise manipulating the witch to whom they were given." Only part of the way through the episode, but I'm now very curious to see if the rest of my theory re: Steel and the witches bears out.

Bor

Hey, the Queen of Swords could only be 1 person, so I saw the writing that was gonna happen. But how the fuck does chapter 4 end in 2 weeks?

lucie

ohhhhh myyy goooood

Rover Bernhard

My heart… Sworn’s fate is sadder than Silver’s IMO

Barcadia Bameer

Was this the final episode of book 1?? Please tell me it wasn't I am not ready this can't be happening!!

Caroline

I didn't *use to be* someone who screamed in public listening to podcasts. But goddamn am I one now. Those nat 1s. Sworn. The ending. The Stars of the Southern Sky. THE. ENDING.

The Wizard Spring

I was bouldering and on the wall I involuntarily said “NO!”

Myka Ozlynn

BRENNAN. WHY. 😭😭😭

Tara

YESSS!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MEEEE NEW EPISODEEEE 🎂

Amber Cekander

That cliffhanger was the cruelest thing y'all have ever done to us

Jonah

This is my favourite story, holy fuck what an episode

Clairodactyl

I think I speak for everyone here when I say what the fuck!

Rachel Kleine

Literally, the first Nat 1 hurt, but the 2nd one broke my heart 😭

cowabungholio

extremely lou voice: come on, man

Bennett Martin

There is one more episode left in this book

NickSavage Eursulon’s Brother in arms

Steel is the BBEG you can’t prove to me otherwise every time we learn new stuff about her she makes the man in black seem even more right

TPK_light

VINDICATIOOOOOOON! Also, goddamn this episode was a wild ride. And a great reminder that a cop is always, first and foremost, a cop.

TPK_light

There should be one more episode to end the Umora campaign until they come back someday

Pat & Heather

I am so glad I did not listen to this at work because the *screams* I let out..

Bennett Martin

The amount of times I had to pause to stand up and walk around is honestly hilarious Also the vindication I'm feeling is unreal and I'm so psyched for the next book in however many years it takes to get a Book 2

One Punch Max

My God. I feel like I'm gonna need therapy after the final episode.

eve

hey man what the hell

eve

i love the exploration of wizardry in these last few episodes a lot. The description of it being a love letter to the world is exactlt how i feel about math and science and it is so easy to forget that feeling sometimes

Ellen Page

I gasped so loudly my mum yelled “what” from fully downstairs

Molly Hebert-Wilson

I’m 30 minutes in and I’ve already yelled ‘NO!’ angrily out loud in my home 3 times in the best possible way, aaaaaaahhhhhh

embraceweird

omgomgomgomgongomgomgomgomgomg 😱

Bob Chapman

That second nat1 hurt my soul. The dice telling a very sad story

Xaj

My heart cannot take this

danielle

LET MY GIRL SUVI HAVE ONE GOOD DAY PLEASEEEEE

Kate Mitchell

It is 98 degrees, I have heat intolerance, and I got chills from this episode

Sasha

Hey Aabria, we're gonna need you to throw those dice away😌

Wondering wonder

I made the mistake of eating my dinner while listening to this... What I learned is that, unsurprisingly, it's really hard to eat while crying, and hard to cry while eating 😳

Stiltpuppy

We're closing in on what might have happened to cause that child's pose picture

Jenny

This episode demanded that I focus completely on it and not multitask

Maddie Moreland

This has been exactly what I needed during a really difficult week. No matter how bad of a day I’m having, I can rest easy knowing that Suvi’s having a worse one!

Raquel Blacken

OH MY GOD!!! I can't even talk about it! (Unintelligible nosies) . Once again great ep! Look.... just.... I...wow

Ellis

I...just.....what.... I knew it, but also how could you?

mossymi

Steel!!! I'm so sorry queen I should have always doubted you. I gave her too much grace. Everyone was right, you are that bitch!

tonytoestep

Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler If Steel survives the finale they might be able to pull a hat trick on killing the party’s parents by killing the Great Bear

Ellis

real

Udoka

I can’t breathe, Brennan you are WICKED

Eioghorain My Heart

Grateful to be working from home because I can't stop screaming. Time is going to drag so badly until the next episode releases 😭😭😭

MarineraSauce

The greatest Nat 1 story telling ever!

Ellis

i second this

Ellis

THE ENDING?!?!?!?!?!

Tina Cassell

I hate cliffhangers sooooooooo much.

Pauraic

HO. LY. SHIT................

Pauraic

Right?! I was just staring at the wall, never been more focused

Manifesting Good Posture

Yeah, that was what had my hackles up. "Avoid spoilers for this episode" WHAT WAS I DOING BEFORE???

brokenallbroken

Forget child's pose, I am full on fetal position here.

Lillet_ Blue

So the real reason they end it there and continue with another campaign is that everyone is just going to die, got it. But jokes (jokes?) Aside, this was insane. That cliffhanger is brutal. Those nat 1s were brutal. The book was brutal. Every new revelation felt like finally untangling a knot but realising too late that that very knot was keeping you from falling down into the abyss. Amazing episode guys

Bria A.

Caught up just in time to be utterly obliterated. Thanks guys. (But seriously, genuinely, thank you. Always.)

flyingwriter

I’m thinking I might hold off for two weeks until the last episode rolls out so I can listen to them back to back and only have to grieve for whatever is coming one time…. Probably won’t, but it’s a current consideration.

flyingwriter

We need to set up a fund to get Aabria new dice! I haven’t even listened to the ep yet!

Clairodactyl

Or burn them! (Do dice burn? They should!)

THEY Agenda Productions

HOLY FUCKING MOLY. The agony of this whole episode 😭 My stomach was in knots the whole time! 🗣️ I KNEW IT

Misty Lore

I swear i called it day 1, and then circled back to maybe i was wrong, and here we are, goddamn it

DarkElysium

OH MY GOD ITS ALWAYS STEEL

Manifesting Good Posture

"Whew that was a RIDE. That is an IMMEDIATE re-listen." ["Sworn has 5 glasses in front of him, only one of which is filled with beer"] "Hmm you know maybe I can let this one sit for a while"

Ajax

Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Question for Erika and (Ursulon's Actor): Who do you think will win in a fight. Not Steel and Suvi, Brennan and Aabria. I assume this season ends with the table being flipped. I feel like Aabria's got reach...

Manifesting Good Posture

personally I'd side with the D1 athlete against [person] but I am open to other arguments

BreAnna Gibson

I also called it immediately and couldn’t get it out of my head because she’s an agent of the citadel and the citadel bad. I wanted so badly for it not to be true. Very heartbroken for Suvi taking so many losses 😭

Ajax

I know I'd be intimidated by either, and I have two seasons of amateur ccma/mma under my belt. Can truly see it going either way.

Raquel Blacken

I want to also say since the start, Steel gave me Ambessa Vibes. So while I didn't know specifics of manipulation and betrayal untill this episode i am not at all surprised. I knew something was coming. Umm... they're both my favorites still.

Misty Lore

Ngl tho i feel like this is exactly what suvi needed, its a clean break you know, no more beating around the bush 😭

halfstraight

BRENNAN LEE MULLIGAN WHEN I FUCKING CATCH YOU

Ghostboy

Sworn noooooooooooooooooo!!! My man better have a second chance in book 2 I stg

Stiltpuppy

It's a very melty burn that requires a respirator

Ghostboy

Didn’t Ame take Swineskin? And she can deliver spells through the fox, AND Steel’s got a big retributive curse coming….

missie.mani

PLEASE CAN SUVI HAVE A GOOD DAY MY GOD

Bria A.

"This is who I was before the Sky shone brightly." Brennan. Just know. I will commit crimes.

The Witch of Words and Lore

That interaction with Sworn was devastating! The dice pulled no punches. Also, WHY did I listen to this at work where I can’t jump up and shout in sympathetic fury at the ending???

xatlern

Happy birthday to me! Can't wait for the emotional damage 🥰

MsAlleyCat

All I gotta say is, I know how to clock 'em. I had that feeling about that bad bitch since the beginning. But also: I love Sworn? OH my god please do not kill Sworn let him be okay. I did not expect to get kneecaped with how much his devotion and pain sundered me. Dying for the final. Excited for the confrontation, excited to see what is next.

Molly Hebert-Wilson

Little prompt for the comments section says “share your thoughts” and having just finished my only thought is ‘AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!’

Raquel Albert

the audible "fuck you" i said for aabria's dices i'm pretty sure someone here must've heard it

Jack Flynn

Aww the ending!!!!! I had a feeling it was coming but it was so so so good

Dirk Puge

I have never, in my life, audibly freaked out over a podcast, nor have I ever left a comment but the ending of this episode????? WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK??? Incredible, no notes

Júlia Vincent Rubiolo

Am I the only one who would still forgive Steel??? I seriously have mommy issues...

Lavellan

Silence deff caught on to what Steel is cooking. He covered for Suvi when he checked the letter on Silver. It might not be for the same reason, but Silence has turned against Steel. Oh man, internal collapse of the Citadel via infighting? History loves repeating itself.

Braddie

I don’t even know where to start! Amazing episode, thank you all for blessing our ears!! And Brennan please bring Sworn back to us in Book Two, I’m begging

Jo Carter

As soon as I saw the title of the Episode....

Sasha

I fully support this, let's get that gofundme started 😂

Sasha

Or cast them into a volcano like the one ring

Luke

I HAVE NO ONE TO TALK ABOUT THIS WITH. I HAVE TO SIT IN THIS FEELING FOR ANOTHER TWO WEEKS??

Puricodraws

Crying pissing shitting and cumming, another great ep guys!

Luke

All joking aside, SUCH a good episode. I know people say that for every episode but credit where credit is due ya know.

Felix

was he sworn to the previous sky?

Luke

I feel a little bit sick rn. This show is so cool

DanTheNinjaMan

YOU ARE KIDDING ME?! I'm building a whole damn conspiracy board now!

Michelle

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! H O W DO WE ONLY HAVE ONE EPISODE OF THIS BOOK LEFT AFTER THIS????!?!?! Oh my fucking GOD I am unwell, I am sweating, I need to just lie down.... Right here............

missie.mani

I agree! 😭 I just want Sworn to be okay but that does not seem like it’s in the cards at all

Sasha

Suvi won't kill Steel... cause I'm gonna kill her first

Bria A.

Happy birthday! This was me Sunday and now I suddenly regret catching up lol.

Luke

Looking at the bright side, I guess Inflict Wounds is a perfect title for my Suvi / Steel playlist

Emily R

Holy shit that shit rocked

Jamie Gobking

Noooo I'm crying so much for Sworn😭 And Soft and Stone😭😭

Lavellan

No but what is Steel's endgame? Baby Girl, they're gunna for sure kill you now, you went after your boss and he lived. (Granted, he may not know who he can trust now but still) Also! You can end bloodlines! Royalty famously doesn't like that.

Shannon Brooks

Brennan Lee Mulligan is the king of cliffhangers and I HATE HIM FOR IT!! I can’t even imagine how long the last episode will be to tie all of this up in a bow 😞👀👀

Felix

"the fox is so quiet" YES YES YES WHAT'S WRONG WITH HIMMMM?!

Shannon Brooks

Júlia you shut your mouth and take it back!! 😫😫😫😂😂

Michelle Spurgeon

Finally!!!! I never trusted her. I just pray we have a wizard in the next book.

Olive_NQaKa

I love this story so much ! I've been here since the beginning and will stay. I'm heartbroken and moved by the poetry of your choices. Thank you for being an anchor in these dark times Thank you.

Olive_NQaKa

You have a whole community right here 🥰

Liz

Brennan: [describes the details of the curse from Reverie and the scars left on the wall by inflict wounds] Me, hunched over my desk, hands in my hair, thousand-yard stare: 🫠 I really didn’t want to believe Steel was capable of all the awful shit she’s clearly been behind all this time. What kind of monster murders her friends, takes in their child, and raises her as her own (and honestly treats/views her better than her biological children)??? Thinking back to how kindly she spoke to Suvi at the end of the children’s adventure… god, I feel sick. Suvi is in so much danger right now. And the fox, too!!! My god, there’s no way Steel isn’t going to try to kill him straight away so Ame won’t have eyes/ears on the situation… 😣

Olive_NQaKa

Right ?!?! I'm heartbroken and feel so betrayed, one because of what she DID ; two because I have been seeing my mother in her so it's pretty gut-wrenching 😭

Daniel Fielding

So how much of a lone actor is Steel in this whole scheme? Is the entire citadel council on board from the beginning? AAAAAAAAGGHHHHHHH

the Wizard Silly

Had to listen to the later of this episode 3 times before everything registered. anyways, what the FUCK

Manifesting Good Posture

SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER Ok we should be good Inshallah Steel does not survive another disappointment

Shannon Brooks

Yeah I really don’t have a good feeling about this 😭😭😭 he stayed too quiet during this time too

Júlia Vincent Rubiolo

And the signals were there, I just didn't want to see them... And I KNOW I would fall for any explanation she had... Mum's power 😭

clafford

Ame can channel through the fox, and has free retributive curses on Steel. Let's hope he's first.

clafford

Wow. Wow wow wow.

Cackle Cackle

spoilers Spoilers The biggest spoilers GO AWAY, THERE ARE SPOILERS GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHSHDHDHEHAHAHDHJWMASK I FUCKKN KNEW IT I ONEW IT I KNEW IT FUCK YEAHHHHHHHHHHH SHE’S EVIL SHE KILLED THEM I KNEWWWWWWWWWWW IIIIIT

Cackle Cackle

I’ll say more later but I’m freaking out at work and I have NO TIME. BUT YESSSSSS SYESS I KNEW ITTTTT

spirit of sumthin sumthin

The back to back nat 1s prove that Aabriya’s dice are telling a very specific story and they want it to hurt

topher mehlhoff

Sworn's drunken buzzer sound when Suvi tries to guess his hometown implies that game shows are a ubiquitous form of entertainment in Umora or at least the Citadel. Can anyone involved in the podcast confirm or deny?

topher mehlhoff

Somewhere a chuckling Wizard Sam says, "I've been here the whole time..."

topher mehlhoff

Inflicting Wounds is what parenting is all about

AkoyaRose

I feel UNWELL after this episode ...

Luke

Remember the bit they did about how there must be wizard improv classes? You might very well be on the right track

MagnaniMel

This episode was so good. Ame and Eursalon always breaking in and stealing...love it. I hope Steel's bad guy speech is top tier because I need answers.

Alyssa

Same 😂 the amount of times I read that book to my kiddo when they were younger…I was having flashbacks

Laxly

OH MY GOD ALL OF YOU YOURE KILLING ME

topher mehlhoff

Do you think Steel really wants Silence dead? I had assumed sending someone to assassinate THE most powerful wizard was just a creative way to kill someone.

topher mehlhoff

Parents do a lot of crazy things in the name of love

topher mehlhoff

The dice tell a story and in this case they commandeered the typewriter

topher mehlhoff

I mean... There's no way Sworn can die after that right? It's like when a background character says, "NO ONE could've survived that!"

Gotholi

For Suvi, I wanted it not to be true. For Aabria though, I know you're having SO much fun with this.

Lavellan

If she just wanted Silver dead, she could have just compelled him to drop off the edge of a court, sent him away on a stealth mission to never return, or even killed him herself. Why involve Silence at all? A failed assassination attempt is still an attempt. Silence also knew that Silver and Suvi were involve, he said as much. I think Steel did it to get Suvi in line. The classic "Look what you made me do because I love you so much."

abardnamedkate

Talk about closing out the book with a bang. I am so glad I was done at the gym before I heard that ending because I would have dropped my weights. I had to text “I WAS WRONG” to a friend and swear not to give any context. This book is thrilling and heart breaking at the same time. Our girl needs a vacation! I do feel very sad about Sworn, that message cantrip was brutal. All those loose ends just tightening into a noose. What a tale. 👏

MissNtrope Rachel

I’m inclined to agree, but I can see an argument for disadvantage, too. Drunks can be wiley 😵‍💫

Tanesha R

I need Sworn to make it out of this. No heroic sacrifice. Spartan kick him thru a door into Grandma Ren’s cottage.

Krystine W.

How dare all of you. Nobody makes me cry my own tears.

The Quiet Footpath

Ok, so I see yall went to combo me during the last minute of the episode.

Stephanie Godin

I've been waiting for this to happen since the end of the Children's Adventure! I had a gut feeling ever since the beginning! What an ending of an episode! How you holding up Aabria?

Alyssa

YEAH I DIDNT LIKE THAT! Brennan dropping some sort of hint about something?? And then Task saying “Fox no work”?! WHY FOX NO WORK and not just like “Fox, help get books” hmmmm 🤔 suspicious shit

The Wizard Sojourn

I swear that interaction with Sworn ruined me. Brennan Lee Mulligan and Aabria's dice owe me an apology.

Bladeless Knife Productions

Wonderfully executed heel turn. Given how loving and normal the rest of Steel's family is, it must be kind of like finding out that your dad has been a notorious serial killer all along.

Bladeless Knife Productions

Yes. Steel seems to be a creature of vast but well-hidden ambitions. She killed Soft and Stone to further them.

Alyssa

I could not wait so that means I was listening to this while roadtripping with my young child in their “why” era 🤨❓ I had to explain why a 1 is kind of like if Steve or Josh couldn’t find any clues on Blue’s Clues 🔍 which is why mommy screamed NOOOOO while driving about the number 1 and the number 1 isn’t a bad number and there’s nothing to be worried about while driving… And “yeah, bud, you’re right…they shouldn’t be squabbling and he should listen to her, you’re right!” was also added to that conversation 🙃🙃🙃

Lauren

i have never come so close to fully screaming in a closed public space in my LIFE

AL2VAR .

We know that if familiar dies, it can be resurrected, if the worst happens.

bexcx

Thank you so much for this beautiful Episode. I Gasped so loud my friend thought I had hurt myself lol. Thank you all so so much. Thank you for the incredible music and sounds Taylor and thank you for the most beautiful gutwrenching heartaching Story/game of all freaking time! I feel very stabbed in the heart in a good way lol

AL2VAR .

I just wanted to remind everyone that's the woman who guilt tripped Suvi by saying "oh no, there is so many secrets in this place, we must be truthful to each other not like these other schemers" in book two

Erin R

Now that we have confirmed that one person ain’t shit, they better watch their backs because once Suvi is at her full potential they got a big storm coming. All of this AND The Coven is coming with the rest of Spirits as well. So much to wrap up kinda nicely in a week or so. I hope our True Friends can make it out of The Citadel as unscathed as they can.

Sean Britcher

She's smart enough to know she shouldn't monologue, but i dont think she's going to be able to avoid it. Fuck, Steel would have an amazing villain song if this were a Disney movie.

Stephanie Godin

No idea really. Just a gut feeling of what if she was the one who betrayed them and then came and collected Suvi. Just that hyper-vigilant what if paranoia I guess. And there were just moments that kept making me think it throughout. Especially when I did a third re-listen to the entire podcast. Just a little obsessed and I'm always looking for that route in DnD. Plus Crown of Candy scarred me with the betrayal in Candia reveal against Lou's character. So a little jaded from that too?

Katie Fesenmeyer

I screamed several times during the episode. So many "maybe..." things answered!

Sean Britcher

I think at best they think they're in on it, but i think Steel is pulling the strings. Conspiracies inside Conspiracies inside Conspiracies.

Witch of the western waves

I was just catching up on the fireside for the king of cups episode back in arc one and had tarot on the brain so I especially appreciated how this episode’s title works on multiple levels. Steel as queen and literal sword, and also queen of swords representing seeing through illusion, discernment, and boundary-setting, fitting for an episode with some colossal reveals that lead to new discernment and boundary realignment between characters.

Alyssa

Machiavelli is as Machiavelli does, am I right? been suspicious af since the beginning, but Aabria’s incredible character choices as Suvi made me not be quite as suspicious of her. Curses!

Sean Britcher

Yoooo for real i'm in the same boat. I have a friend who is catching up. She just listened to 12 brooks and the rescue of Silver and i told her that they campaign will return to 12 brooks. Waiting for the angry texts later.

Julia Whitmore

Nothing will compare to hearing this story for the first time, but relistening with this newfound knowledge and screaming at all the clues I missed along the way is a good runner up.

The Wizard Subjudice

27:21... Taylor 🥺😭 I need the sheet music for piano so badly. One of my favourite pieces you've created.

Chloe Scott

SWORN IS SO HOT WHATS WRONG WITH ME

wysterlyn

I’m going to scream and cry and throw up

Liz

Was that 100% established for Ame? Because he isn’t a product of the find familiar spell, he’s a real fox. I know they discussed this a looooong time ago (like early in ch. 1) but I can’t remember what they landed on re: what happens if Fox dies.

Sean Britcher

Honestly the best Villains or Antagonists /are/ right. But the Man in Black and Steel feels like Godzilla and King Ghidorah squaring up. Just because they are opposed to one another does not mean either of them are on /your/ side.

gillanegun

WHAT THE FUCK. WHAT THE FUCK.

Sean Britcher

.... gahd damnit. And the Wand... just need the knight of Pentacles.

Liz

I feel like Steel might be playing the long game, based on that spell she cast on the sorcerer at Twelve Brooks—something tells me her end goal is to obliterate the empire by taking out the emperor’s entire bloodline, maybe for some past misdeed they committed against her family? And she doesn’t care who she takes down in the process if they’re in the way of her end goal. I don’t think the Citadel necessarily knows what she’s been up to all this time, though it’s possible that some of the archmagi are in on it.

Liz

Those nat 1s were maybe the most brutal pair of rolls I’ve seen/heard in actual play outside of A Crown of Candy, good god

Mallory

AAAAAH!!!! BRENNAN, THE DEVIOUS AND AMAZING BASTARD!!! I want to scream so badly!! My trust for steel has been on and off through the whole series and now.. oh boy!

Kelly Kunze

SPOILERS I KNEW IT!!! Steel has always stunk of treachery. The tiniest cracks and breaks in that motherly facade all compiled into the reveal of a true villain.

Kelly Kunze

I had the same suspicion as Stephanie. Kind of just slotted in to make sense that she put the blame on Yorin and started rewriting history. But the moment that convinced me was when she sent the curse with Suvi. Brennan narrated her sending Suvi off in the teleport circle and a whisp of magic behind her as she disappeared. I haven’t re-listened in a long time, so I don’t remember all the specifics. But I remember that description resembling his description of offensive magic in an earlier episode.

Tin Kan

THE SCARS!

Tin Kan

And her story. Together they make you question things, but so much interference is run by eeeeeeverything else!

Tin Kan

At a certain point, mechanically, witches can revive their familiars yeah. Like PCs having access to revivify etc

MunchMan

I simply must see a video recording of brennan making task’s sounds

Tin Kan

There's a discord too

Castermane

Screaming “SUVERIN KEDBERIKET” as I stride up and down my hallway listening this episode

rio

This is exactly why I’ve been suspicious of Steel from the first mirror conversation in Port Talon. She constantly preaches freedom and clarity of information, as though that isn’t a direct contradiction of “A Wizard is known by their secrets.” Three guesses who benefits from a system of secrecy, censorship, and surveillance, while simultaneously demanding clarity and trust from all others…

Tin Kan

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

rio

Brennan, I need you to know that every two weeks I’m absolutely fucking FURIOUS at you for ending the episode. How dare you make us wait another 2 weeks!!! 🤬🤬🤬

Ann

YOU MANIACS!!! YOU BELOVED PERFECT MANIACS!! I think Aabria's dice need to take a long sabbatical or perhaps get a massage because WOOF my man Sworn, god so sad but so impactful. Love love love to see so many (not all!) of the pieces come together. What an absolute blast.

The Witch of Whys and Y’s

Burning question I have for Aabria- Did you have a talk with your dice after this episode?????Cause TWOOOO natty ones read to me that those dice really said “Naw, fuck Sworn.” Those dice need a life sentence in dice prison. 😭

Witch of the Whispered Word

To me it just read as him being respectful and giving her space because she does have a history of lashing out when she’s upset (as all of us can do), which is why when Suvi asked him to joint her he popped right up. If anything I think he’s a manifestation of the kitsune spirit. If fox is bad I would never recover

Queen Motoko

So that’s what happened in the clearing, explains the music too

Ali Brown

IF THE COVEN OF ELDERS HAD WAITED ANOTHER 3 WEEKS THEY WOULDA HAD A VERY DIFFERENT VOTE!!! IVE BEEN SAYING IT SINCE KEEN AND I STAND BY IT

Brandon Carbaugh

Thinking back to Steel saying something like "Someday you're gonna see how not-nice I am" as a joke in like episode 1. Talk about a called shot in the corner pocket.

Witch of the Whispered Word

Suvi needs a VACATION GODDDDD!!!!!!!! SPOILERS I gotta believe that because it’s assumed Sworn will die that he’ll live somehow and Suvi will find him. I also have no clue how Suvi is gonna get out of this, Steel is so SCARY, she can wipe out an entire bloodline with a name and she knows Suvi’s true name. I think the only thing that may keep her alive is that Steel has some fuckin plan for her and may not want to kill her outright

Witch of the Whispered Word

SPOILERS Like the Man In Black wants Suvi for some reason too, right? There’s a reason Grandma Wren never wanted her to touch the road to hide her from the MIB. Suvi is really JUST coming in to her true power, Steel needs to keep her alive for some reason

Witch of the Whispered Word

I think she only treated Suvi better is because Suvi is a means to further Steels own ambition, and her children don’t further her agenda. I don’t think Steel has any love other than power- Suvi is just a means to some end for her. But what end??

MsAlleyCat

I am manifesting. Suvi has yet to realize how her way of Wizarding inspires others.

OpheliaHeine

God if Sworn doesn't get some kind of happy ending I'm going to be devastated ;w; but damn, with those two nat 1s he certainly feels all but doomed 😭.

Manifesting Good Posture

THUS SPAKE RELISTEN SPOILERS don't Read MORE SPOILERS!!!!! I've posted a lot, and I'm going to post more. -That Nat20 Insight from Ame when she decides to give Eursulon the path and then save Suvi seems truly, truly prescient now, to the point that it totally justifies Brennan's ultra-rare TripleFuck. It has allowed her to save Gault, understand the truth of the curse, and gives Suvi FAR more support as a fight with The Scariest Fucking Wizard Alive seems imminent (still rolling with disadvantage though!!! maybe her movement is even halved!!! party has that going for them!) -Suvi, if she is saved, most likely will be saved by her friends and by her liberation of the ink demons. Or Silence? -Speaking of silence: I don't know what Silence is thinking. Burning the letter is operator-like & cunning, but he wouldn't have burned it if it didn't contain some damning stuff (which we don't know for certain, but I am speculating). So what is this guy's moral code? Protecting the children of the Greneaux and killing the Great Bullfrog are both all good if your apprentice is the one who does it? Does it reflect badly on him? Is Suvi's scheming against the Citadel just commonplace license of Archmages?

Samantha Cross

I would like to be friends with an ink demon. Can we get a one shot of their fun adventures? I really wanna see Enzo bring down the kasov collection!

rio

SPOILERS Okay, so first of all, obviously getting into a fight with Steel is generally a bad idea, but right now might be one of the best chances Suvi has until she’s much higher level. If Steel still has the Heart-Seeking Curse on her, and Suvi can dispel Steel’s protections against it, it might be enough for Suvi to get away. Suvi’s power doesn’t hold a candle to Steel’s, but her cunning might outplay this fucking fascist. Secondly, Steel has said a LOT of things that suggest that Suvi might be some kind of Chosen One. Back in Chapter 2, Steel suggested that Shandri and Aman might have left Suvi some magical ability to find Eighorain. This theme was doubled down on when we saw that Stone had protected Suvi from Eighorain, and of course the sapphire pendant. Throughout Lucent, Steel put a lot of emphasis on how she needed Suvi to take over the Great Endeavor when she couldn’t carry it anymore. Let’s be clear, Suvi’s a really bad agent of the Citadel, constantly insubordinate and unpredictable. Maybe Steel has some dynastic ambitions, that her goal is to have her daughter take over, but that doesn’t fully add up to me. Add on top of that that there was something special about Suvi that she was the trigger to break Grandma Wren’s curse on the Pilgrim Under Stars, and there’s a lot of things pointing us in that direction. And of course, if Steel and Stone tried to kill each other, why would Steel adopt Suvi rather than killing her too? I’m not certain, but all of it screams to me that there’s always been something inherent about Suvi that Steel has been trying to exploit from the beginning.

Ron Ron

After finishing the episode I am glad he wasn't there to get in the way of the show down

Ron Ron

Does anyone have some fan art of Sworn or know the tumblr tag to look under. Cause I want he him the so fucking Bara and swarty from like Turkey hot!

Ron Ron

Just put in a request for fan art. Like why does drunk rambling about being assassinated make me want to marry a man?

Ron Ron

Still made Suvi didn't have advantage. But if he did follow her. Would we got the intense ending we did. He probably would of been skewered my a Sword

RuviGaPo

WELP IM FUCKED UP THIS FUCKED ME UP SO MUCH

Ron Ron

What is Steel motivations? Like she doesn't like the Empire i gather. Is it just wizard superiority?

thebillmm

I had the same suspicion since ep 1! For me, it was more a process of elimination because I didn’t believe Eioghorain was bad. It seemed too easy for the monstrous-looking character to actually be a monster (Brennan wouldn’t do that imo). So I started thinking maybe he was set up as her parents’ killer/the origin of the curse. And so suspicion for me fell on the only one giving Suvi answers.

Bog Station: Remembrance

I’m thinking that Fox is Fox, and he’s just being a support guy and Brennan is focusing more of his intention on helping Aabria tell Suvi’s story. But you know who’d be great in this scenario? A shapeshifter. But I don’t think that’s Fox. We can only hope a release of spirits means Steel’s attention gets fractured.

Elsa

AH oh my GOD

Zaki

FUCK ME AND THE GROCERIES IN MY CART (falling to my knees in the supermarket etc)

Alex H.

yeah there's no shot Steel or Silence would believe that Silver could kill or even seriously wound an Archmage. Attacking Silence pretty much ensures Silver's death in a way that other methods might not. That being said, Brennan's version on the Geas spell is kind of weird, since Silver would still generally be himself by normal 5e rules for the spell in a way that he clearly wasn't here, so feels like there's maybe more going on with what his orders were/some extra sauce Steel was able to put on it? I also don't think Steel thinks Silence is so stupid as to not investigate Silver's actions, so I suspect that she is, for whatever reason, fine with him figuring out some aspect of what was going on, just not the whole of it. I think she might just be hoping that her family bullshit is not going to be particularly important to the Archmages and he'll just leave it alone?

Bog Station: Remembrance

I AM SPOILERS, COME FROM THE END OF MY LISTEN Some thoughts: 1. Suvi gotta roll initiative and she’s hopefully all out of Nat 1s 2. Fox gotta tell Ame the sitch STAT 3. Ame + Eursulon cavalry HARDEST 4. What ELSE that Sapphire Do??? 5. The safe house is burnt, y’all 😭 6. RETIRIBUTE THAT CURSE, Ame 7. Enzo bringeth the Wrath of all Art sooner rather than Later 8. Let’s see that Acid Dragon again 9. Nothing like a glass disk to Carrow as an escape plan 10. “THE QUEST STANDS UPON THE EDGE OF A KNIFE” but somehow even more 😩

Alex H.

I still suspect she has her own not entirely selfish reasons for what she did; I also think those reasons are probably ultimately still in service of fascism whether Steel believes that or not.

Alex H.

I don't think Sworn will die but I sure don't think he's gonna be okay!

Beanz

Always shut the door after you. Always always always. I don't care where the door goes. No, it wouldn't stop Steel going wherever tf she wants but still. Shut the door.

Beanz

How dare

Beanz

The silence hit perfectly for my gut dropping.

theoddhobbyist

SPOILERS BELOW: OR MAYBE JUST HOPEFUL SPOILER-ISH WISHES: ARE WE DOWN FAR ENOUGH YET? Okay, how old is Suvi because I am hardcore shipping her and Sworn. PLEASE let these hyper-competent, tall, super smart hotties who have their guards up love each other omg. Suvi-worn, Swuvi, whatever - this is me shipping 🚢🛳️🛸🚀⛴️ P.S. And honestly, I low-key hope/think that Suvi rolling those two natty 1’s might have saved Sworn’s life, because they were def being watched. And if Sworn somehow followed her and ends up taking a bolt from Steel and saves Suvi I will lose it. Swuvi needs to happen, come on now, they both deserve to be happy! I am screaming this at Aabria’s dice!

Olivia K-T

the WHIPLASH this episode gave me…you can know (assume) something is coming but this reveal still hit me like a ton of bricks to the face. Brennan and Taylor really teamed up on this emotional curb stomping, I feel battered (in the best way) I am DISTRAUGHT (i wouldnt have it any differently) I CANT BELIEVE THERE IS ONLY ONE MORE EPISODE BEFORE THE END OF THIS BOOK

Beanz

That music from the sunrise... it reminded me of the conductor in The Phantom Tollbooth. This and a previous episode about wizardry working in concert (NOT A PUN) with the natural world opened me up to respecting wizardry and actually feeling a connection to it. I loved your description of geometry in nature previously and all of these things reflect the nature of my love for science.

Bog Station: Remembrance

Sworn is about 10 years older than Suvi… which is kind of borderline since she’s 20. But if he survives and is more like 35, I can get into it. I really hope he survives.

blinsterplurblebop

Y'all need to up your merch game. Stuff is sold out and there are no, like, t-shirts and hats and stuff. Let me pay to advertise for you in public! #takemymoney

Maddie Moreland

Competence is sexy, and an otherwise competent man hitting rock bottom is even sexier.

golove.

EXCUSE ME!?!?!?)!!?????!

robo

oppa wicked stepmother style

Lavellan

Yeah, I'm interested to hear the reasoning Steel has for fucking up an assassination attempt in which she could be tangentially implicated. The only thing that makes sense to me is Steel using the event as a manipulation tactic for Suvi by threatening to pin the whole thing on Suvi? Like Suvi was an upset lover, cursed her ex to kill her boss in order to take Silence's position on the Triumvirate? But it's kind of weak so idk. Maybe pin it on witchy influence? It's just so bonkers lol.

robo

🗡️: YOUR TAKING TOO LONG

Evil Anagram

I lost my job today and that scene with Sworn is still the most traumatic shit that happened to me

Khayroh

it’s just simply and objectively unfair that i have to wait two weeks

The Wizard Stream

SWORNNNNNNN PLEASE BABESSSS ITS TOO REALLLLL 😭😭😭

DiamondPWrites

How am I supposed to be normal now?????? WHAT AN EPISODE

Jules

not sure why (yes i am) but I have Mitski's "I'm Your Man" playing on a loop in my head after that episode. ough. argh. ouch. psychic damage. friendship ended with mama warcrimes, i'm ride or die for sworn now. 🫡

worldsbeyondnumber

I was thinking of the conductor from phantom tollbooth!!! Amazing! -t

rio

The thing that did it for me was when Brennan described how Soft and Stone handled disagreements, and that when Shandri soured on a relationship it didn’t come back. Also, considering that Steel didn’t know about the sapphire pendant, it seemed like Stone was already hiding things from Steel

Heliks

Aabriya's choice to cast Identify on Silver and not Detect Magic, marking the target as an object - an enchantment on a corpse - and not a person with a spell cast on him seemed so deliberate. A+ storytelling with the mechanics.

Cameron Barrett

My mom died in November, my Dad died in May. Listening to Suvi experience the beginning of her parent's relationship hurts in such a delightful way. Like sore muscles after a day of playing outside.

Pendergreens’ Sick Ibanez

Steel always used 100% of Brennan’s brain just to choose words super carefully, which you don’t need when you’re acting in good faith

James

OH THIS IS GOOD FOOD. THIS IS SOME FUCKING GOOD FOOD.

The Wizard Sparrow

I’m trying not to look at the post because I started listening to this podcast at about 5 PM which is when I went on lunch from my job. And right around the time stamp 32:54. I started to cry and then when there were two rolls of the number one, I started to scream, and then I had to hit pause and in an hour at 9 PM I will be able to continue this episode

The Wizard Sparrow

Oh Cameron, I am sorry to hear of your losses…sending virtual hugs

Shreyas Joshi

It was frankly rude to end the episode there.

Seamstrix

wow the mercury retrograde is fierce in this episode

Felix

it could also just be a difference from episodes being recorded in different camps. BUT I AM. WATCHING.

Justin Richter

There are many big things that showcase brennan’s genius this episode, but my favorite little one might be “Caterwaul lane”

Cisik Veil

The only question left is, "Why?"

Gwen and Nox

BRENNAN SET THIS UP IN THE FIRST EPISODE GO BACK AND LISTEN HE'S A BAD BAD MAN

Felix

it has been said that the problems in the witches' execution of their plan were mostly due to impatience lol (u right)

rio

Okay y’all, wild theory time. I’ve been sitting on this one for a while: What if Aman or Shandri is still alive? I don’t think Brennan would pull a deus ex machina like that, or contradict a character’s backstory like that, so I very much doubt that they’ve just been running around in Rhuv or something. But we know that the Citadel is only just beginning to truly delve into the Spirit World, and Soft was a teleportation specialist with a secret hideout built inside of Citadel teleportation magic. Stone was an abjurer and diviner, if anyone was going to foresee and have a solid emergency escape plan, it would be her. So, what if one or both (but probably just one to preserve the tragedy of Suvi’s childhood, from a storytelling perspective) basically jumped into the Near Spirit, or even took a one-way trip to the whole ass World of Spirits, and have been hiding there, essentially in “cryosleep” due to fey time bullshit? It wouldn’t make sense for them to be alive in the World of Mortals, the Citadel would have been able to find them, and they would have come looking for Suvi. But if they’re stuck in the Spirit World, the last 15 years could easily have been just a couple minutes for them. They might have only just got their bearings and begun working on a way back to their daughter. We only learned about their deaths from Steel in the first place, and based on the fact that they seem celebrated by all the Citadel as war heroes and incredible academics even though we know they died acting against the Citadel’s interests, it would seem that maybe the rest of the Citadel learned about their deaths from Steel too… So say, when they realized that Steel had betrayed them they fled to their safehouse. Steel tracked them there and fought Shandri, receiving the Inflict Wounds scars. Shandri held her off as Aman dove out the window into the Forest of Flame and used it to teleport deeper into the Spirit World…

JoelleDFTBA

I have a theory that Tefmet was going to ask "do you know who her parents are?" Before they stopped and said "that would be rude." Implying to me that they worked with the Antivalists. Suvi also read in their letters jokes about "that would be as hard as finding the antivalian"

Adarsh Nednur

I literally screamed so loud and repeatedly and wanted to leave basically this same comment while also avoiding looking at any other comments, and the only thing that stopped me was that I was driving, but goddamn do the dice tell a story sometimes, that second nat 1 hit me harder than actual heartbreaks I've felt I my real life and it wasn't even thaaat plot critical

Alex H.

otoh, what if Steel lied about their deaths to protect them? not saying they didn't fight since the inflict wounds makes it seem like they probably did, but maybe Steel couldn't bring herself to kill them (or failed as you suggest) and said they died in battle so that nobody else would know they were Citadel traitors and go after them.

The Wizard Strike

Things i want to see in the final episode: Suvi/steel showdown, that probably ends with suvi fleeing or steel letting her go- because steel is 20th level and also we need her as a villain in book 2 (maybe some final reveal about what happened to suvis parents that night?) Definently want to see the drama and emotional warfare on full display The gang freeing ghost. How will ghost respond to suvi after suvi’s advice got her jailed and tortured? will she be angry or jaded, or just relieved to be rescued? i feel like ghost and nief could be good friends the characters deciding on their next steps/direction/quest and wrapping up their emotional arcs with some final scenes as they prepare for whatever the next step is maybe a nice bookend with them together at kalia’s house - oor some kind of cliffhanger ending that serves as a plot hook/inciting incident for whatever arc 4s eventual plot will be i hope there’s enough time for these things to have the space they deserve in the final episode. im sure it will be great no matter what - but i hope i don’t have to wait three years to see what happens to ghost!

Sam

This is my favorite story ❤️

kaguya_yoru

I immediately had to screenshot my friend that I had called the fate of Suvi's parents almost two months ago but that little vignette of how her parents got together made the reveal even more poignant. I can't even begin to imagine how this next episode will go but I can't wait to find out! ❤️

Lee Chirtel

I mean, the episode itself confirmed that the Man in Black is wrong. Like, it point blank said that wizardry can be in tune with nature and sunlight and whatever. His plan is to wipe all mortal magic, not just the Citadel. He'd use its death throws (and those of the many normal people there) to do that. Steel is certianly a powerful mortal, but The Man in Black has been holding his breath for aeons probably exactly for this opportunity.

The Wizard Stream

OMG THAT FINAL REVEAL IN THE END I CANT!!! Need to relisten to the whole campaign now

Rebekah

I’VE BEEN SWORN THE WHOLE TIME!!!

Gordon

Haven’t finished the ep just stopped at the revelation of the curse on Grandma Wren and went back and listened to the 1st ep (also Brennan can’t believe you’ve been setting this up since episode 1!!)… how do we think the Man In Black would’ve been released if Suvi hadn’t stepped on the road or rolled better on the luck check? Also the timestamp is 1:57:20 in the first episode for reference of that scene

topher mehlhoff

As I would say to my kids in their why era, "He's had too many grown up drinks."

Adarsh Nednur

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS Okay, as someone who, since the beginning of the campaign, was in the camp of "Look, I'm not saying Steel isn't secretly bad, I'm just saying we don't have enough evidence to actually say that yet, and I just personally really like her and also I really do believe that she loves Suvi," I know my camp is gonna get a lot of "I told you so's" thrown our way. But I just wanna say I stand by the fact that all of that was reasonable to say at the time that I said it, and also I do still think that she really loves Suvi in some twisted way, and also I still do honestly love her so much as a character, truly an all-time great NPC. All that being said, now that I've heard this episode, FUCK STEEL, I HOPE SUVI KILLS THAT WOMAN DEAD.

Lee Chirtel

Hmn, I think there is at least another big twist or two. Because, given how powerful Steel is and the memory magic, why couldn't she just capture and mind wipe Soft and Stone? They were obviously extremely useful, and unless Suvi was somehow summoned into existence, why not let them live and have more kids? I mean, The Citadel would not be above a little "Morty" farming, so to speak. I wonder if Soft and Stone in desperation did summon a very great demon, which possessed or did something to them so Steel "had to do it". Of course, Steel may also have pushed them into that situation, but I do think the "cute summoning memory" is to make the final act more terrifying.

Rebekah

UGH, got so sucked into the parent meet-cute, it set me up for the one-two-punch ending of the (somewhat expected) revelation and the (completely unexpected) surprise guest. This is like a horror movie jump scare. I’M SO STRESSED RIGHT NOW. 😫

Adarsh Nednur

Also I said this elsewhere but those two nat 1s with Sworn really got me fuuuuuuuucked up, the amount of screaming I did out loud alone in my car to no one while driving was crazy

topher mehlhoff

As a 90s child, I will never not chuckle at the Man in Black being shortened to MIB.

Adarsh Nednur

Well, this certainly isn't a full answer, but clearly Steel is fully bought in on the Lucent Court Spirit Factory scheme as The End of WarTM, and if the memory we saw in this episode tells us anything, it's that there's no world where Soft (and presumably also Stone) would stomach that. My working theory is that Soft and Stone wanted to leave and fight the Citadel from the outside, Steel tried to convince them that the Lucent Court dream being offered was the answer they needed and they should stay and build it together, and the argument escalated into violence as each realized the other wasn't going to come around.

Ren Challacombe

Aabria asking to give Ersulon a bardic inspiration really made me chuckle

The Wizard Savvy

I deeply deeply deeply resonate with these stories and I feel very lucky to have them in my life. Thank you for letting this story grow as I also let myself grow in life. Much love!

NickSavage Eursulon’s Brother in arms

The citadel has confirmed been planning the destruction of every other major power in umora since before the campaign even started. So yes they need to go. The sorcerers seem like power hungry douchebags that we have seen using trapped spirits for personal gain (the house illusion that was really a lefge). Trapping of spirits is a no go and the dreadnaughts yea they should go The only reasonable people with magic in umora we’ve seen are the shapechangers and they’re on the bottom of the totem pole There isn’t to many good systems of magic in umora. We’ve seen good individuals and yes magic can very much be used for good things BUT it isn’t being used for good especially right now So I’ll say it plain ALOT of these mfs have to go now do i agree all of humanity seems like a stretch BUT he is the only one that is making a good point

Ellie

I always thought she was bad, but I hoped that her love for Suvi was genuine. I don’t like I told you sos because it doesn’t matter. We’re all here to enjoy the ride! Why argue about who saw the drop on the roller coaster first? Let’s just all go down screaming together!

Ellie

I’m so sorry for your losses. I hope their memories are a blessing to you.

Ellie

Aabria’s dice are telling a story today! A VERY SAD STORY. I’m so sad and worried about Sworn! 😭

flyingwriter

OMG!!!! “Who are you going to kill Suvi” I’m dead

icesquirrel

was steel’s arc always evil stepmother? maybe it’s supposed to be a combination of that with the trope of ‘mentee has to kill the mentor in order to surpass them.’ regardless, I am in awe

Tucker Wilson

"Surely Suvi's day can't get worse after those rolls," I said to myself Events: *occur* "Oh! Shit, and also fuck!"

Ren Challacombe

Oh I absolutely believe she loves Suvi in the sort of fucked up approximation of love that is the closest that Empire can get to real love. Steel believes she loves Suvi. I’ve always been suspicious of Steel, but confident in that. I don’t think she’s a Machiavellian villain, her moral compass just point her to imperialism and she thinks obeying Empire is true love for Suvi.

Ren Challacombe

big yes to Ghost and Neif being friends! the both could use a good bud.

PinkGuy

The way that when the episode ended I immediately got that fucking McDonald’s snack wrap commercial.

Fitter

What the FUCK

rio

I do think Suvi’s parents absolutely worked with Antivalists, and were seeking out the Antivale for insight into fighting the Citadel. I had assumed Tefmet’s question was going to be “Do you know who to trust?”

Catloaf

SPOILER: If Sworn had the antidote for the modify memory potion, does that mean Sworn was in on the plan to mind wipe Suvi and send her in with the music box?

Phoenix Vizva’i

Beyond words ❤️‍🔥 Taylor, where’s that theme from at 27:20, when Sworn asks “Why didn’t you think I’d come with you?” It’s so hauntingly familiar, like pulling back to some truth I can’t remember (also sidenote I started making my own music after the remix competition, and now I have my first live show this weekend! ☺️🙏)

Catloaf

Unrelated but on my mind: was access to Suvi's parents hideaway why Steel was so obsessed with her?

Shreyas Joshi

He was part of the crew of the ship, and they seemed to be buddy buddy with steel.

The Spirit of Vicious Inspiration

honestly, as a DM that just felt like "oh whoops I forgot you brought that NPC with you moment" that Brennan only realized when Aabria asked about him lol

Shreyas Joshi

Spoiler: Listened to this episode twice now, my god the amount of torment Suvi has gone through so fast. Silver dead at her doorstep, Sworn drowning himself in alcohol and refusing her help. Only to be capped off with (seemingly) straightforward confirmation that Steel did indeed kill her parents. She is in a different genre than Ame and Ursalon. I hope that in the next book she has an episode to chill out.

Manifesting Good Posture

I think it does, and Sworn's character probably be aware of a bunch of other information, as well, that he has no compulsion to do anything with. Even so, I don't know there's anything uniquely nefarious to it - Suvi herself was in on that plan, after all.

Ellie

Yeah that’s the vibe I got too, but I was taken aback by the final reveal of the episode. Now I’m not sure. For some reason, I thought maybe she didn’t actually hurt Soft and Stone, but she just was more loyal to the Citadel than they were. And like, maybe her badness began after they died? When she had to return without them and get her justification machine going. Whatever it is, she’s definitely more nuanced than a cackling villain.

The Wizard Subjudice

It's from "Something to Remember You By," which is ep34, and it starts at 2:37. The first time I listened to that episode, I had to relisten multiple times because I couldn't listen to Aabria's exposition b/c of what you've said right here. And also b/c tears, but you know... Brennan is a monster that way.

The Spirit of Vicious Inspiration

Steel is still tapped for spells, right? I know she could dip into the aerith but I don't think she's had a chance to rest yet, so that's at least a tiny bit of good news for Suvi at the moment

Udoka

I want to relisten but I don’t think I can put myself through that again. My body needs time to recover.

mguin

It's not like the sounds or music are ever NOT amazing, but this was gorgeous - that sparkle-zap sound sounded so much like Dragon's Lair 💜

The Wizard Subjudice

It appears so, as he admits that what he is giving her, he considers treason. But what's not to say he wasn't also spun a web/ spin dr'd?

lassus

i keep wanting to joke that "brennan HATES stem students" but almost everytime he has the citadel do atrocities theres some cutscene about how True Wizardry is about the love of the game, so i'm not able to bully him. another day another loss for me

The Wizard Subjudice

Taylor, please consider; renaming the episode "Queen of Swords (r)"

The Wizard Sparrow

Taking a deep breath…OH MY GAWD…you ended that episode like a SMACK in the face. I have never screamed so loud and gasped and cried and every other frickin emotion conjured in this episode…i…don’t know where to begin. Sworn in the tavern? Reunited in the kitchen? The book of illusions? Ame levitating? The dream keys Eursolon took? The hidden nook inside the apartment? Memories of Suvi’s Parents projected by Task? The anger and disappointment in Steele’s voice? I’m gonna have to read the other comments and piggyback on them and then I will go to bed and then I’ll listen to it again and then I’ll post some more. My brain will work tomorrow.

The Wizard Sparrow

That’s so cool. Good luck this weekend🎶🎼🎵

ModernDruid

You know this is really great example of how to do the twist villain right. And also the morally ambiguous one. Giving us the chance to see all of steels good qualities -> her compromises-> her sympathetic goal -> her true villainy. Like instead of having her go full villian and then later figuring out her reasonings we get walked straight to hell by her good intentions.

The Wizard Sparrow

I got the …. welcome to worlds beyond number; a podcast where we use games to tell stories….

Elijah Peters

I feel like he hates STEM students that start working for the military . loves STEM students in general.

ModernDruid

I mean dnd itself I think that spell modifies a single event. So in order to do that you would have to just spent a lot of spell slots to basically rewrite their whole lives. It’s not a realist solution unless Brennan says they have more advance version of the spell and honestly he’s been very constant in working within dnd spell limitation

Elijah Peters

Modified memory can be removed by a simple "Remove Curse" or greater restoration. So it was probably one of those. I don't think he had a specific antidote, but he did know she was missing her memory. so idk

Phoenix Vizva’i

Thanks so much Sparrow!! 💖🎶 And on a relisten to the song in ep34, the connection in the theme feels like an existential sense of home, or memory—protecting that feeling of home, or losing sight of where it is, or longing to create a home in others, against all instinct? So cool thanks Sil 😊

Ellie

I got misty eyed at the gym! Those nat 1’s were so brutal. I wanted so badly for him to follow her! And then Brennan twisting the knife with those muddled messages. Poor Sworn is a tender soul in a soulless place! 😭😭😭

The Wizard Sparrow

I love where your mind is going. I too thought, just maybe, one or both her parents are stuck in the spirit world.

The Wizard Cass

I HAVE BEEN RELISTENING TO THE LAST 35 MINUTES OVER AND OVER AGAIN I FEEL CRAZY I NEED TO HEAR THIS SUVI-STEEL CONVO OH MY GOD

The Wizard Sparrow

I think all six planets that are in retrograde basically sums up this episode 🦊🔥

The Wizard Sparrow

The mechanics of storytelling makes my brain all tingly🦊🔥

The Wizard Subjudice

OK, I will scream my overall theories about the meaty part of the episodes in like, a subreddit or something. But I have to groan with the same satisfaction you feel after a really good meal after that description of Reverie. I live there or the Enchantment court. I'm waiting for more lore, but yea... that's me done right now with the info I have, that's my court.

Bog Station: Remembrance

Hell yeah Sparrow, your way of processing this episode is 100% a Vibe. I see you.

flyingwriter

Omg right! Two weeks is far too long!

The Wizard Sparrow

Welcome to the WWW Book 1 Support Group ❤️🦊🔥

rio

Oh yeah, I could see that, although I think it’s less likely (knowing full well that what I’m suggesting is pretty damn unlikely) because it would conflict with what I understand Steel’s current motive to be. If she understood that Soft and Stone were threats to the Citadel, why would she let them go and cover for them? Of course, her motives could be much more complicated then we understand yet, so it’s definitely possible

Bog Station: Remembrance

^ this convo right here is why our Fireside community is my favorite fan community ✨

Witch of the Wanton Wontons

Insane work here, my god! I don’t know if I’ll ever be over Sworn saying “I don’t want to be here. I wanted my mom and dad to know my name.”

The Wizard Seek

To say this punched me in the gut would be an understatement

Cody Tucker

I NEED to stop listening to these episodes late at night!!! Sadly, w kids it's the only time I can do it and I'm SOMEHOW supposed to get some sleep!!!??? Sooooooo goooood!!!!!

Bog Station: Remembrance

The killer for me is Suvi has been a pawn for citadel machinations since jump. Steel sent her because she was the only one who could get past Wren’s wards with her “open heart.” Steel is a broken, evil thing.

The Wizard Seek

I want y'all to know I had to take antinausea meds halfway through this because the leap from "the book isnt a book" took me straight to, "oh, Steel killed them" and the rest was just waiting for the impact and hey? Hey? This is my *favourite* story.

Lee Chirtel

I mean, the version with Suvi was quite complex, so it seemed like you could make the event an entire plot (that didn't happen), or carefully edit the outcome of a meeting that did happen. It's a line item veto in your memory for what seems to be many paragraphs/pages of a plan. There has to be some reason Steel had to resort to brute magical force we don't know yet.

flyingwriter

I know this is my third post but I can’t stop thinking about this episode and what might come next. Who gets killed? Does Suvi get mind controlled! How do we come back from this hell Steele has brought us too.?! I’m legitimately scared for our PCs and favorite NPCS like BRENNAN! Be nice. Aabria please get new dice that are nicer to you! Do we need to start a dice gofundme?! I’m begging you. Though, it is epic story telling, and I really appreciate that aspect of those nat ones. Ahh okay time for sleep.

The Wizard Sparrow

Now there’s a memory you won’t forget ❤️🤗🔥🦊

Mac

i just wanna know what each of them drop as loot upon perishing

The Wizard Sparrow

A minute after the episode ended, I thought to myself… where is Ame and those door knobs…Sworn needs a first class shove into the cottage 🔥🦊🤗

The Wizard Sparrow

If something happens to the Fox the same week I get the talking plushie Fox…I will never recover 😭🦊🔥

Bladeless Knife Productions

I didn't suspect Steel for some time, in part because the Law & Order approach, where it has to be the big guest star from the first 10 minutes, is lazy, but also because Suvi's parents dying at the hands of a nebulous conspiracy meant that there were plenty of alternatives who weren't loving step moms.

Bog Station: Remembrance

Thank you for sharing this so we might hold the three of you in our hearts for a while.

Witch of the Weird

Two nat ones in a row and that’s NOT the most heartbreaking moment of the episode HOW.

Júlia Vincent Rubiolo

Grant O'Brien is a genius. He had not heard the story, yet he still knew not to trust Steel from just a description. Perception +10

irisilmaril

i don’t think so, Ame still probably wouldn’t vote for the probable death and destruction of the innocents of the Citadel. they spent an arc establishing there were- its more than just a magic military compound, it is home to many

Bog Station: Remembrance

I sure hope he lives and I’d love to see him really join our side and begin broadening the coalition working to save humanity from Citadel v Spirit Witches. The True Friends need a Sworn in the mix.

irisilmaril

I have seen this coming from a million miles away bit still it doesn’t hit any less hard. We still hadn’t seen Steel at full scary and we literally witnessed her do a genocide. At the end of this episode. now she’s fucking scary

Friday the Fierce

I’ve been saying since the end of chapter one that I don’t trust Steel! Ever since she was so insistent that she be there to break Ame’s curse! We’ve seen it slowly leaking through for ages. And STILL the reveal of the scars and Suvi’s last line had me sure that was where the episode was going to end - BUT THEN STEEL SHOWED UP!!!! I’m glad I didn’t listen to this episode in the car, I would have had a full on accident

Mike Bailey

I had 6mins left on the episode when I read this, so imagine my shock when giddy delight became heartbreak and betrayal, became terror. And that silent outro - truly, jazz is as much about the notes you DONT play.

Mike Bailey

WHEEEEEEEEELP, now begins the relisten of this last arc - no way I make it through the next TWO WEEKS Without anything to sooth THAT cliffhanger

KamasiFitzgerald

So that scene with sworn was truly the saddest thing we’ve seen in this story so far. Jesus Christ, Brennan.

Ashe

Do you all at WBN know when you leave an episode ending like that I sit in stunned silence for a few seconds before… “The McElroy Brothers are not experts” and it jump scares me Every Time!!

Ashe

Those rolls 😭😭 I literally shouted out NO on the second one

Warlock

Same, I was devastated 💔

Felix

that one i could understand, as well as gaps between recordings, but it was the fox's idea to go with sky. so to me it feels like he was just letting everyone *else* forget he was there.

Felix

the citadel might have only perfected memory modification after their death

The Witch of the Written Word

100%! A beach episode or a shopping episode, please! Our girl needs it! I don't think she's relaxed since the last time the gang was in Haverward.

Júlia Vincent Rubiolo

Sir Curran, resurrected and cry-fighting Eursulon matches the sadness and ill-fated destiny energy imo

The Witch of the Written Word

I'm also wondering if they were on the same level, technically speaking. I mean, yes, Steele is now lvl 20 Sword of the Citadel, but 13 years ago (or however long), Steele was not as powerful as she is now (most likely). And weren't she and Stone in school together? I know there are different skill lvls among the same class, but they all graduated and got name cloaked, and Suvi's parents were made spies and had their own special ways of casting. Just a theory, but I think Steele had to work hard to kill these two, and came out on top because of the benefit of surprise and betrayl on her side. Although I would love if Soft and Stone were actually alive and imprisoned somewhere and Suvi gets a bit of a happy ending after all this tragedy.

The Witch of the Written Word

The image Brennan gave us was of a single room with windows surrounded by a rainbow fire forest. That room was LIT! And with the Witching hour-dark, empty, CREEPY, abandonned spies apartment behind her, I don't know how Suvi doesn't shut that door, like even a little bit. Which made the jumpscare (both mental and physical, thanks Brennan and Taylor) of Steele's boots in the apartment and her glowering face appearing in the pitch black doorway with the light from the Near Spirit glinting off the white of her scars absolutely all the more terrifying. But yes. CLOSE THE DOOR!

Splashie Ashie

I had Emily Axford start laughing at me from the middle of Dungeon Court.

The Witch of the Written Word

I am absolutely not a artsy person (at least when it comes to drawing), but I am very visually oriented and so when Brennan paints these word pictures, I just want someone to draw what I'm envision with better skill than I have. Or one of those wonderful animations people have been doing. I just... when Brennan started pulling out the little vignettes of the 3 all their lives, showing that they always work best together, after they were finally reunited (1st time since 12 Brooks) and in a great big hug, each scene played out beautifully, framing their hug in the evidence that made the truth of Suvi's relief at the presence of her True Friends all the more real. I pictured stain glass, (or a glass spiderweb? 🤔), connecting all these scenes with the hug in the middle. Can someone please draw this? I would be forever grateful!

TheWizardSloth

The Spirited Away vs Mononoke comparison continues. My god!

The Witch of the Written Word

END OF EP SPOILERS KINDA Also, I know nothing of tarot, but from the 30 secs of googling, Im also gonna need a Queen of Swords tarot card with Suvi in the upright position and Steele im the downwards position (shhhh, I dont even know if Im saying that right 😬) Maybe Suvi's new inflict wounds is still glowing in her hand and little swords rest over/on top/ are(?) her fingertips while Steele's scars glow with the same color and possibly also have the sword motif through them? ARTISTS I BEG YOU! 😭

Kanna Nakamura

I knew Steel was fishy!!! Too many red flags from the beginning with this woman! Red flag 1: In what world would my best friend who's close enough to be my sister have lived through something that killed me and my significant other? Red flag 2: No way would my bestfriend/sister/protector let me go into danger with some random dude (Eioghorain) we barely knew as the only back up Red flag 3: How the hell did Steel get pardoned but Soft and Stone didn't? Red flag 4: Steel was way too insistent on Ame waiting to break her curse without giving better/stronger reasons for why knowing more about the curse itself is more important than the information its obscuring. Red flag 5: Every freaking time she wanted Suvi to not help her friends. Red flag 6: The whole plan with the music box was super shady. There was no way Steel knew as little about the witches as she convinced Suvi that she did while concocting that plan. She 1000% knew what she was doing and what Suvi was walking into and didn't warn her.

Beanz

I didn't know where she was going to show up but I knew she was going to hit us with a confrontation and I love/hate that that's where it had to happen. I thought she was going to nab Ame and Eusalon (I need to put a note on my phone somewhere for spellings, I'm sorry!) so many times or swipe a piece of information from them, but no, this is the right place. The 4 scar realization is the *correct* place.

Carter Nason

Me with 2 minutes left in the episode: "Oh! This is so nice. It's weird that the stakes aren't being raised for the finale right now though." Me with 1 minute left in the episode: "ooooooooooOOOOOOHHHNOOOO-" Me at the end of the episode: "wait she prepared Dimension Door right"

Carter Nason

I love your optimism that it's gonna be a conversation... 😨

The Wizard Sound

“It Killed Me” - that’s when i knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Steel was responsible. But it’s still a gut punch to know that it was in direct combat - the scar as the hallmark was a great choice. However, I did not guess that she and the citadel were the source of the memory curses and that they specifically used the unwitting Suvi to curse them - that is diabolical.

Carter Nason

Count me in, where do I sign

The Wizard Subjudice

Oh, and with reference to the theme, I think of this score as what a quiet and understated version of The Tower (tarot) feels like. That shattered feeling when the feedback/ input you receive begins to fundamentally change the narrative/s you tell yourself. You're falling and just grasping for some (or) any semblance of something you knew you could rely on, and you don't know if you're going to find it in the dark.

Lee Chirtel

The Man in Black is the most human of the Great Spirits, though. He may also literally be a Spirit of Kingship and sovereignty, depending on how "Odin like" he is. Like, Roads, crossroads, clock time, boots, shadows are his things: he could be the Lord of Division and Borders also. Magic is the play of the spirit and the real, and actually exists any time that humans (or possibly other speaking beings) use words to attempt to alter reality. Like when the person stubbed their toe and cursed to try to make it better. It cannot be eliminated without destroying fundamental parts of humanity, or humanity itself. He probably wants everyone to be a chalice, or at least anyone with magical potential.

CLJ

Jaw. Dropped. And I literally held my hand out with Suvi as though I was in a hypnotic state. Steel has always been an energetic wrongun but I need the details of when and in what circumstances that wound was inflicted, right now. Twistier than a twisty thing. Brennan, your mind elicits wonder. What a gift to us all.

KamasiFitzgerald

She doesn’t have fourth level spells yet 🙃 I really hope ame shows up to hit her with that curse of the leaden shoes cuz otherwise things are gonna go so poorly 😭

Lee Chirtel

I think that is the best guess: Steel underestimated them, or they hid powers to try and get one over on her. It also explains why she now uses talented, but obviously lower level, agents to do stuff. Or maybe Steel's task was just "quiet stab slash in the back", but she tried to get Soft and Stone to come over/flee and Obi Wan it up. But they didn't want to leave Suvi to Steel to raise as a Citadel agent in turn.

KamasiFitzgerald

The stuff with Curran was cosmically tragic, but the stuff Sworn was sad in a way that is so viscerally relatable to so many people I’ve known - absolutely gut punched me lol

Nina

Well the group chat was right about Steel all along and I just didn't wanna believe y'all

Bastian Mills

Holy shit holy shit holy shit holy shit holy shit

Nicholas Johnson

I called it! I began to suspect when we met guild mates trapping great spirits, they were confirmed when we saw how the citadel works and I called it for sure when Suvi went through memory modification! And it /still/ surprised me.

theoddhobbyist

I’m a sucker for a competent, undercover hottie. I need the character art, lol. Like, even if this happens in a time jump forward in some future arc, I’ll be here with my dreamily hopeful Suvorn eyes. 💕

Amy Larson

Maybe developing the memory changing skills was inspired by her only having more blunt means at her disposal on that occasion.

Bog Station: Remembrance

She’s the perfect emblem of the Hegemony of the Citadel and the Empire— her strength and swagger creates this desire to be a part of something and protected by it but it’s so cruel and dehumanizing and it upholds the worst of humanity’s avarice. To have Suvi have to cut this [white supremacy metaphor tbh] out of her very heart is the heroes journey we all need to witness right now. This IS the best story. I am so grateful to this group for telling it.

Alex H.

Suvi has pretty clearly been a threat to the Citadel, but Steel has blinders on for a person she loves. I wouldn't be shocked if that was true for Soft & Steel as well

Adrien Knox

Everyone out there clutching lettuce

Viv

Screamed so many times while listening to this episode

Viv

(Spoiler) … and she used Suvi’s real name in her question at the end. Feels like a reminder of power. Oof!

Brandon R

MY GOD. ALL FUCKING TIMER OF AN EPISODE. SO MUCH GOOD SHIT IM GONNA DIE WAITING FOR THE NEXT ONE.

Zack Koval

"Welcome to the magic mirror podcast!"

Erik Koch

Oh fuck, I did not catch that, thank you for rocking my world first thing into the comments!

Erik Koch

See, the modify memory made sense to me tho? Like on a covert mission, any wizard who entered that conclave knowing they intended to steal from the witches would have been sensed and killed, but also it’s a sketchy way to use Suvi

Vendrette, The Postalmech

Taylor, your sound design with the various instruments accenting plot developments as we get near the end has been wonderful. Thank you for going the extra mile by adding them!

Erik Koch

I also went right into Trinivale 🤣

Nicholas Johnson

It did it absolutely did make sense, but it also illustrated how willing Steel is to endanger the people close to her in service to the mission

Erik Koch

I’ve read over 1000 fantasy novels. This genre is my absolute favorite thing in the entire world, and I’ve read some of the best works of fantasy of all time. This story is in my top 3, edging towards taking the #1 spot for me.

Queen Motoko

I’d go back to “WWW Interlude 2”, skip to 1:47:00 and it will all hit a little different after this episode

Queen Motoko

But it feels like the sun was “invited” into that forest

SmilingKelly

ALL THE LETTUCE HAS BEEN CLUTCHED

SmilingKelly

I spent so much of this episode yelling and rewinding cause I was yelling too loud and then screaming some more.. AAAHHHH BRENNAN!

Val

aabria brings it every episode

Emily C

the whole time? THE WHOLE TIME??!?! (this is specifically about the curse, not steel being evil in general)

SmileyGuy

Someone should have told me to wear my artificer’s gloves because that episode was HOTT!!

Emily C

also the music from the sun and stained glass, and soft and stone, made my heart swell and want to dance and go on a quest and vibrate out of my SKIN it was so good edit: and contrasted with steel killing all the sun sorcerers???

bluebluebutton

And she knows Eursulon's true name fjekwa;lfjeaw

BexXZilla

I am screaming 💀

Uday Prakhya

Been waiting for the other shoe to drop on Steel forever. Incredible episode

Sea Moose

I AM NOT OK WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK!!! I’m in my truck at work and just finished the ep and I need to scream about this at someone!!!!!!

Stephen Bannasch

Steel’s definitely a big bad right now. What puzzles me is that I expect soft and stone both were extremely good judges of character and their differences and how well they processed the world as a team made them even more perceptive. They had known Steel for a long time before the story starts and makes me think that the probability of steel being this evil before the story starts seems quite low. The Lucent court as the end game of the league of whispers is so far outside any reality soft and stone would consider — I have a hard time seeing someone who was their best friend moving into that belief system without some external influence.0

Urte

ABSOLUTELY FUCKING NOT OH MY GOD

The Wizard Synth

the music on the "old home movie" that was soft and stone's first kiss was INSANE

The Wizard Synth

oh my god i need to listen to those side by side what

The Wizard Synth

I can't find the comment but whoever said Steel absolutely knew more about the witches than she let on when she was giving Suvi the music box with such specific spirit-like instructions?? genius. this show is so crazy i can't connect every detail bc there's so much, but that's insane to think about. what the hell is Suvi gonna do with this new knowledge???

Emily C

emotional damage

Kyle Watkins

This is a such a niche experience that I also just had 😂😂

Robert Burke

Cliffhanger aside: I love that Suvi's spellcraft is now developing an affect for sand. The citadel is glass, a refined, specific treatment of sand. Suvi's now sourcing magic from a more raw, primal place.

Kat

That cliffhanger was INCREDIBLE, and having the class action episode immediately start after it had me thinking lou was cutting in to cut the tension of the moment. 😅😂

Emily C

Ooooh, yes, back to the basics, wizardry is free!!! Let the basic elements of the world be what they are!!!

Duchess

So just a small editing mistake I noticed: you left out the part where Brennan let Aabria re-roll as many times as was necessary to convince Sworn to come with her? I mean, obviously it happened and Sworn will get to live and have more adventures with Suvi, but maybe the audio was scuffed or something? I'm sure we'll hear about how everything is fine and nothing bad will happen to him on the next Storytime Cleanup, nbd.

Sean Case

Um, WOWWWWWW, WOW!!

Amy Davidson

I called it, I called it, I called it!!!!! I called it back in arc 2! No spoilers here, just know when you hear it... I called it.

Liz

Everything about that interaction was so, so sad, not least that devastating pair of nat 1s. 😭 I wanted her to save him so badly. That garbled message cantrip at the end CRUSHED me.

PriscillaG

Wizard Steel? More like Wizard Steal! Steal your bloodline, steal your life, steal your memory? The party reunion and the fulfillment of a promise between true friends felt so earned. Taylor, from here on out I will think of the music at the xiao court scene as the music of the magic of falling in love (and not just romantically). You combined the themes of all 3 of our heroes and even got the rain road in there?! When will there be sheet music so I can convince someone to play this live in person?

Liz

I’m not sure Steel likes the empire at all, judging from that bloodline-obliterating spell she cast on the sun sorcerer… that could definitely be used to wipe out the entire imperial family and free the Citadel from its control.

Eve

OH

B

me on public transport listening to the last few minutes 😬😬😬

Stephen Bannasch

Also seems strange that the main intent of the curse on wren and ame was to destroy the station of the witch of the worlds heart. Didn’t succeed but certainly seemed to be the intent. And the main obvious character that would benefit is the MiB. So what connects Steep to the MiB? How does destr

Júlia Vincent Rubiolo

I thout it was Indri, for sure, when they found the door knockers with a black lace...

Liz

Oh yeah, Enzo is absolutely going to be raising hell in the Kasov Collection, possibly giving our heroes an opportunity to escape?

Liz

I wonder if Silence burned the letter because it would taint him by association if his own apprentice was committing treason?

Incite Astrology and Tarot

Grandmother Wren: "Steel is someone that you can trust to do what she considers honorable and just. But if you try to talk to her about something that does not benefit the Citadel, you are going to meet a very, forgive the pun, steely presence." So much to talk about but I'm mostly SO happy we got to see so many NPCs before we presumably leave the Citadel. IDK what it says about me that I'm more alarmed about Sworn's fate than Silver's, but can someone please save that man!!! The message spell was HEARTBREAKING. Also: Cyril, Vandal and Enzo are about to provide a MUCH needed distraction at the Kassov collection. (I'm telling my grandchildren they are the Saja Boys.)

Liz

I thought it was just a very task-oriented little guy complaining that the other little guy is unfocused and unserious, lol. I hope it’s nothing sinister!

Kelly Hauenstein

My jaw hit the floor at the last minute. This story has been told SO well. I love hearing everyone just flex their storytelling muscles so much. This is amazing. I'm so glad this is being made.

Abel Strictly

Years of suspicion,. VINDICATED!

Abel Strictly

Brennan signalled pretty hard with the fox to Flee Her Grasp in Arc 2, for sure

Wizard Sencha

I root with all my heart for everybody, but the two most emotional moments this book - a) Nif finding her familiar b) Sworn and the two bloody 1's. Fuuuck that was hertbreaking. Dude, please pull through.

Manifesting Good Posture

That's definitely the first thing I thought of. Still a few questions I can't answer, though - He knew about the kidnapping of the Grinnot children, that was part of what summoned the Great Bullfrog. Why does the guy who killed the Great Bullfrog need to worry about treason? Why does the guy who falls asleep at celebrations of the citadel's heroes (Ep1) need to worry about lowered esteem? What Silence knows is that the letter did not motivate Silver to attack him - it was unopened. So Suvi did not incite Silver to this. If the contents of that unopened letter have a 'per our conversation, the Grenauld children have been kidnapped and I will attack the castle and free them, and I asked you to join me', or some less silly/more coded implication of that, then it could be that he understands that this attack is nonsensical. And if we have a buttoned-up Citadel soldier doing something insane, then the conclusion 'he is not in his right mind' has a very specific meaning in this episode. So it could be that Silence correctly reads the situation - from the letter, he knows that Silver knows something compromising to Suvi, and from Silver's madness, he knows that the Citadel has tampered with his mind. Connecting those two, the correct read is 'Silver was killed in a coverup by the Citadel.' It'd be pretty remarkable to connect all that if you're seeing it for the first time. But it would not be all that remarkable if this exact scenario - getting rid of someone by having them do something treasonous under geas - played out before. What did Eiogharan say about Suvi's parents? "I betrayed them because they lost their minds", as Silver also lost his mind. And we now have evidence that Soft attacked Steel. Half of this I cooked up while typing this out, so there may be holes, but this is the theory I am running with now.

Emma41420

I know it was lightly confirmed in previous conversations, but the specific details shared in this episode really emphasize the horror of Suvi having been *trafficked* by Steel. There were so many moments throughout the story pointing toward this in hindsight, not least of which were the Children trapped at Twelve Brooks and Steel's rabid justification when confronted. I've always been immensely impressed by the nuance and care with which this show presents various experiences on inter/trans-generational trauma across all 3 main PCs, including how dynamics of power and control can shift over time under imperial influence. (I haven't been able to read through comments here yet, so please excuse me if this is redundant.)

Bog Station: Remembrance

This is my hope— the fight begins, and perhaps Ame can use the retributive curse against Steel to buy them time before the release of Kasov spirits helps the friends either close the study door with Steel on the other side, or use that glass disk to move to Carrow. With Steel so hot on their trail, escaping into the near spirit feels safer rather than moving right to Carrow, tbh. They definitely don’t have time for the doorknobs, though.

Emma41420

I wonder if Steel considered it an ingenious cover-up to refuse aesthetic repair of her white scars, remnants of a spell she believed no known wizard could cast. How could she be responsible for the death of Stone & Soft if her wounds signaled an assumed interference by only other types of casters? No one but those with knowledge of their research into witchcraft & the near-spirit would even think to consider the possibility of self-defense. Steel likely relied on the Citadel's precedent for crushing curiosity, only to be taken off-guard by Suvi's sudden (or not-so-sudden) propensity for asking questions previously left unspoken.

Petalgust

I need someone to grab by the shoulders and shake as hard as I can while I scream or perhaps do a mournful, scared howl.

Wizard Sencha

SPOILERS Do I get this right - Steel not only killed Suvi's parents, she also fabricated an illusory evidence to blame it on Eioghorain?? So this was all premeditated by the Citadel? And the curse - did this curse kill Wren? So the Citadel could control Ame? AAAAA, panic, I need an explainer!!!

Mathias

Hey Abria those double nat 1’s for Sworn was not okay. You need to have a serious chat with your dice

thia

I KNEWWWWWWW ITTTTTTTTTTTTT

spirit of sumthin sumthin

Ok, here’s my wild swing. I think there is a prophesy about Suvi and her decision/ allegiance will determine the fate of the citadel. Kinda like Disney’s Hercules. I think that is why the MiB was looking for her specifically, why Steel wants her fully integrated into the citadel as her legacy, and why her parents and Wren went through such great lengths to keep her hidden from great spirits and the citadel. Wider swing, I have questions about where Suvi was born. If the MiB is a spirit born in the world of mortals and her parents had studio apartment in the near spirit, what if Suvi is a mortal who was born in the world of spirit?

Sofia marcelli

Okay so I have so many questions for this episode and I want to write them all to the FAQ but I’m very afraid of being perceived as annoying. Does anyone have advice/perspective? Also, the Fireside chat comes out on my birthday, which is super cool! Is it bad if I mention that in the FAQ form? I don’t want to be cringe or annoying. I’m pretty sure all of this is based in the parasocial relationship I’ve developed with these people, but also because I don’t want to get blocked from the channel. I’m sorry for anyone who reads this in advance

The Wizard Strike

The curse didn’t kill wren. wren was dying already and that was the excuse steel used to send suvi to her with the book

The Wizard Strike

what if it literally killed her, because there’s evidence that she’s a lich?

Stefanucci Mozzarella

Wow WBN, ya'll doing great! comments list is huge! 10 times bigger since season 2. Congratulations on delivering, WBN!

lichen

im gonna throw up

Gill

My fox plushie arrived literally seconds after finishing this episode and I have never hugged a toy harder in my entire life

The Wizard Sound

Holy crap! That deserves a dramatic music sting. Wait - if she’s a lich, could she be working WITH the Man in Black (draws Pepe Silvia conspiracy board) For real though - that would be NUTS

sageandsesameoiel

the screams I scrumed at those double nat 1s, that moment almost moved me more than the revelation at the end

Isabella Doukas

Agreed! I so wanted sworn to go with her

Phoenix Vizva’i

Great take, yea I love that!! Also nice work bringing tarot in, we know Taylor loves his cards 😋 in fact, I have to imagine ep 173 when it finally falls will be called “The Tower” 😯

Stephen Bannasch

At the end of the episode … it seems Steel is in the bedroom and at the doorway/threshold, not through it. Suvi, the Fox, and Task are in her parents near-spirit room. Maybe Suvi can close the door ???

PriscillaG

Her dice are telling a good story. The hope I had that she'd get a roll that would mean Sworn would go with her was so high I gasped outloud on that second one. Those failures create a rich background to pull from in Book 2 but man oh man it hurts to go through it.

K

TRULYYYYY😤

Lo

Every time I think it cant get more intense or I cannot possibly be more surprised the next episode proves me wrong. I absolutely love this and could not contain the variety of emotions I went through. I look forward to the fireside for this one ❤️❤️❤️

Talia JM

I’m SO MAD that I have to WAIT for the next ep!!!!!!!!!!

Alyssa

The form for questions has very limited space, so you kind of have to separate most questions into separate forms and fill it out over and over again. You will probably annoy yourself before you annoy whoever filters through the questions, haha

Alyssa

Ohhhh, the being born in the near spirit is a cool theory! I’m into it

Gone Fawn It

WHAT?!!!! Damn this story is soooo good!

Alex

Feeling pretty silly now about screaming at the gang when quest fever took over in port talon

Wizard Sencha

But there was black smoke coming out of her mouth? And she was one of "targets"? Or was it to prevent Ame to receiving all power before the Citadel would control her?

Alex

I always thought it was a combo of guilt/mourning

Wizard Sencha

The Wizard Sworn and Wizard Sober are def two different Wizards

Aadil Patel

My ass has been full stonished.

The wizard Sober

Haha, y’know, my parents know my real name so I think it’s been easier over here😅

Alec

I think it was more so that Steel was trying to disorient that crew and get Suvi to rely on Steel for her help. That whole narrative Suvi pushed early on that "Steel is always there and always helps, why aren't you relying on her?" is a result of that. I fully think Steel wasn't trying to kill or destroy the station, Steel really didn't understand how witches worked within the coven and I believe that was genuine. I think it was just a way to make things more situationally dire so that Suvi learned to lean on Steel so heavily and then had her closest allies believe that Eigohren (I'm sorry I never remember how to spell it correctly) was the true culprit behind everything. It ties up the loose ends and makes Suvi attached at Steel's side and gets allies for the citadel in one fell swoop.

Alec

I understand that two nat one's might mean Sworn is gone. Please give him more of a chance. Suvi and Aabria did everything she could and did everything right. I understand if that is what happens and it will be a terrible tragedy, and a compelling one. But *please*...😭

Alec

Cameron, that description...like sore muscles after a day of playing outside...that is a perfect and equally aching way to describe the bittersweet joy and pain of memory. Thank you for sharing your story, friend. I hope you are well.

Jill K.

Literally if Suvi does not say “mother… or should I even call you that?” in the next ep, I will be so disappointed

Jill K.

That might’ve been the Nat 1s

Jill K.

She’s Suvi’s big bad. I think the Man in Black is Eursalon’s big bad and Indri is Ame’s.

Fafnir

I have no one in my life i can share this with i am vibrating

The Wizard Seeker

Wait I’m OOTL. What evidence that she’s a lich????

The Wizard Seeker

Witch of the Wanton Wontons is perhaps the best witch name I’ve seen so far. Kudos to you, stranger!

else

my question is— would Wren not have immediately known what happened when she saw Steel’s face after that summer? did Steel simply refuse to ever speak face-to-face with her again? i have to go back and relisten to the end of the children’s adventure

Claire

HOLY SHIT

Claire

100% same

Joey Grasso

I called that twist from really early on, so I'm feeling really accomplished right now.

Ashley

NOOOOOOOOOOO 😭

Crits

STRAIGHT TO JAIL BRENNAN

Tempest200

Occam’s razor. What’s the simplest explanation for why a heart seeker curse would fail? Because there is no functioning heart to seek

Catloaf

Not sure the goal was to destroy the station. It was a memory altering curse that when broken tried to kill the target and take the knowledge. I think the goal may have been to get the knowledge. Killing the witches if they were found out before the Citadel could retrieve the knowledge was the failsafe (cause the retributive curse will/would be massive). What I wonder about is Wren’s weakened state before Suvi arrived. I wonder if Wren was doubled cursed; cursed before Suvi arrived and cursed when she arrived. If there was a pre-existing curse that was murdering Wren before she should have naturally passed, who sent the first curse?

The Wizard Seek

"I wanted my mom and dad to know my name," kill me, actually, all the way dead completely 100% murked

Catloaf

Gault is my favorite whimsy killjoy

ceeg

HOLD ON! Suvi has the sea glass she doesn’t have to get merced by Steel

The Wizard Seek

She JUST has to wait long enough for Eursulon and Ame to arrive, which is what I assume she wants to do... As much as I know she would trust them to find their way out with the doorknobs, they would be separated, and I think Suvi knows well enough that she cannot get Ghost on her own. If that is even still a goal right now, god, the situation is changing faster than they can control.

Ciara Caines

I need an animatic of Suvi to 'All I Ever Wanted' from the Prince of Egypt NOW

The Wizard Seek

It looks like Steel at least led to the death of Stone, for sure. The project was to fabricate evidence on Eioghorain, so that any efforts that Ame or Wren might drive at would be in his direction and not that of the citadel. My best guess is that the Citadel wanted to nerf Ame due to the direction Wren took her loyalties in the end. She did not side with the Citadel, and was known to be working with Soft and Stone. To me, it is clear Steel either wanted Ame to be placatable/incapable of accessing her full power, or dead due to what information she may have gleaned from Wren, since the curse made the memories of her training inaccessible. I shudder to think what may have happened if they went to the Citadel to break her curse as Steel offered. Wren was dying from the blow the man in black landed, and similarly, I think the curse also did its awful work at the end to speed things up by maybe a day at most. It was meant, I think, to ensure her death and subdue Ame.

The Spirit of Vicious Inspiration

while relistening just moments ago I went out to our terrace after a summer rainstorm passed through, and the inflict wounds description began. the wind whipped around me, finally bringing relief to the scorching weather, while the golden rays of the setting sun illuminated the tree and building tops, and it was so incredibly wonderful and beautiful and apt as the reveal built and built to the final truth of what all Steel has wrought. and then the sound of her footsteps, with a literal chill being blown upon me, just was too perfect. y'all are so good at this and I know you know but I still need you to know

KitsudeRose

OH I FUCKIN KNEW IT!!!- oh, shit.

Richard Smith

Who are you going to kill, Suvi?

Richard Smith

I need Sworn to get out of book one alive.

Emcortez

The way Aabria portrays ache and grief and longing as Suvi yearns for her parents GUTS ME every time!!!!!!!!! I need my girl to be okay!!!!!! Twin be safe girl!

witch of wild novels

roll call for a seance/exorcism for Aabria’s dice? I’ll bring the candles

Beanz

Could it have been Suvi's foot on the road that triggered Grandmother Wren's and Ame's curse? I feel like that ties Steel and the King of Night together but I've forgotten my train of logic while typing this... Well, anyway, I find it very interesting that Julia came up with so much information about a purposefully disguised book. I said it elsewhere but the silence at the end of the episode was *very* appropriate for the reveal about the scars. It also meant I panicked, thinking that it was the end of Book 1.

Heydon Hensley

(In best Vandal impression) YOU GASEOUS FART MONSTERS! We have to wait a whole two weeks to learn what happens next?! This incredible storytelling is helping make survival in a different empire more manageable. Time to deliver some mutual aid Refried Black Beans to folks! Thanks for y'all's beautiful and emotionally wide ranging work. 💜

Kate Paisley

WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE FUCK

The Wizard Scalpel

" I shudder to think what may have happened if they went to the Citadel to break her curse as Steel offered." ... what do you think was happening while Ame was in a coma? Do you really believe that the memories she currently has are 'unmodified'? What do you think Wren 'really' told her about Steel? Go relisten to episode 1 of arc 2, this episode really adds some context to how it opens.

TisWhatSheSaid

“You have to apologize when you’re not at your best?…Oh No, that would be so many apologies.” -Fox

Catloaf

SPOILERS: Is Suvi’s “open heart” what Wren couldn’t protect against re: MIB? Is that “open heart” why the MIB wants her soul?

Nick Valadez

Definitely got my $5 worth on this one and also I am deceased now

Manifesting Good Posture

"How many counterspell tomori you got? Zeroooooo" is still rattling around in my brain and, despite the grave context, I can't stop giggling.

Z

wait fuck can some kind soul remind me of the origin of the stars of the southern sky book?? my brain is made of cheese

Jovan Ko

I THOUGHT THIS WAS THE EPILOGUE BRENNAN WHY IS EVERYTHING STILL HAPPENING???

Liz

Oh, this is a very cool idea I had never considered—thank you for this wild swing!!

Jovan Ko

Unrelated worldbuilding question while I'm still dissociating from this episode: The Citadel's obsession with using glass in their magic was always fun for my nerdy engineer brain to think about. In material science, the word glass refers to any solid with a randomly arranged atomic structure, whereas a crystal is a solid where the atoms form some sort of ordered pattern. The silica glass we usually think of can also be made into silica crystals just by changing the molecular structure. Which makes it so interesting that wizards, who care so much about creating order out of the chaos of the Spirit, seem to prefer to use glass rather than crystal. Unless its because they cannot? That the Spirit is so hard to bind and control that wizards simply have to use chaotic glass rather than the more "perfect" crystals?

Sage

The sworn was so devasting i really hope he survives and we get to see his character more. Also aaaah the ink demons gonna stage a breakout? Or somehow help other spirits in the citadel i love that for them, so much happened in this episode

Kris

OMG! That ending had my arms covered in goosebumps! And poor Sworn just broke my heart. Also the little squeal I let out when the trio was reunited. Amazing job as always yall 💙

Jessica Story-Johnson

RESPECTFULLY THAT WAS RUDE AND I WOKE UP MY HUSBAND WITH MY GASPS ughhhhhhhh I cannot wait 2 weeks for this it's gonna give me a heart attack

Alexander Rispoli

Wait Silver is dead??? Im so confused about this, I listened to the end again what about this confirms the death of silver??

Danielle Olmoguez

Holy SHIT HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT I had to listen to that ending like 3 times

Peter J Evans

All I can say is, THAT is the type of episode that makes you want to re-listen to the whole show before the finale next week

Felix

spoiler for others: he died at the end of the previous episode. he attacked one of his own leaders in broad daylight, he was blasted by every other mage in the vicinity.

Felix

in the first public episode, steel sends the book with suvi to give to grandma wren. as an extra errand while suvi is visiting wren at her deathbed.

Felix

she was out of commission in their clutches for an ENTIRE MONTH. scream

Sean Boyce

I think, narratively, the point is the fragility of glass. And while plenty of glass is very resilient and plenty of crystal is very fragile, we don’t think of crystals in the modern sense as “shattering” or cracking. I think most people think of something more like an amethyst or a rose quartz, sorta woo-woo magic healing crystal. But to your point, in a medieval fantasy context, the recipe for glass is much simpler and more repeatable than any recipe for equivalent synthetic crystal, and the citadel’s purpose is to bring mundanity to magic. If your magical process still requires years of forming from a seed crystal maintained under heat and pressure, you can’t make as many of those If all it takes to make glass is silica and heat, you can do that on an industrial scale. It stands to reason that if the mundane process for something is relatively simple the magical process is commensurately simple, by magical standards. Equally, if the mundane process for creating something is difficult, then the magical process thereof is probably commensurately difficult.

Sean Boyce

Oh shit I just got that. Worth.

Sean Boyce

Couldn’t help but notice the Queen of Swords and the King of Cups both have ominous footfalls with the sound of jingling spurs.

The Wizard Subjudice

Both due to this & the OP comment, I am apparently... buttstonished?

Sean Boyce

Or she wanted to remember the "cost" she paid, perceiving murdering Stone as being something bad she had to do for something righteous. The justification engine that runs in these wizards' minds didn't start with Suvi.

Sean Boyce

There is a spell in 3.5 called Heart of Stone. And one from 2e called Hide Heart. Heart of Stone's effects don't make much sense since it makes you immune to fatigue and Brennan has explicitly said Steel was exhausted, mechanically, upon returning to the Citadel. But the name is...well. If Steel had to replace her hearf with a Heart of Stone in order to kill Stone, metaphorically , that kicks ass. But "Hide Heart" makes as much sense as Lichdom for the heartseeker curse "failing to find it." Now, in this world. I thibk moving your heart out your body would have spiritual and magical consequences that the Wizards wouldn't necessarily consider or worry about.

Sean Boyce

That's familiar. But not too familiar. But ah, you know. Life is better with them.

annemjw

I LOVE TASK 😍😭

annemjw

Having now finished the episode: omg omgomg 😱

Liv Tealeaf

I think we feel more for Sworn than Silver for three reasons; one, we’ve had more time with him. He’s been “on screen” way more often than Silver. Two- we don’t know if sworn would have ratted Suvi out (seems like he wouldn’t have), but Silver def did. It’s hard not to feel betrayed on behalf of our dear wizard Sky. Third reason, this episode gave us a really heartbreaking scenario - Suvi already lost silver, and we see her double nat 1 her last chance to save an utterly defeated sworn, who is broken and has given up. It’s hard to watch a guy that’s been so loyal in the past so down in the dumps.

The Witch of the Written Word

Okay, today I went back and listened to Ep 1 to hear Steele nonchalantly 😒 give Suvi the book and scroll for Grandma Wren, and then to hear the moment when the curse first affected Wren and Ame, BUT then i remembered we at the fireside have been gifted (cursed?) with earlier Steele and Suvi moments. So i decided to torture myself and listen back to ep. 8 of the Children's Adventure when Steele comes to pick Suvi up from Wren's cottage. When I tell you I have never felt more angry at a fictional character after knowing the context! She cries! And Suvi comforts her! And then she tells Suvi her parents died IN SERVICE TO THE CITADEL, SAVING THE PEOPLE THEY LOVE. i wanted to tear my own guts out and shove them down her throat 😠😡🤬 BRENNAN! YOUR CHARACTERS! ARE LIKE ONIONS! THEY HAVE LAYERS AND MAKE ME CRY! 😭😠😭

Connor

I knew bad mom was going to be the big bad evil mom. I thought the scars were from Soft's lightning, I had an idea that she killed them back in episode 44

Kate Olive Art

Yes! It was there the whole time! The whole time!

KamasiFitzgerald

I think there’s a good chance steel was a double agent even before Suvi was born, and had been reporting on Soft and Stone since the beginning of their friendship

Witch of the Warren of Words

"Love kills", yeah, my love for this history will sure kill me Omg that nat 1... Aabria's dice really don't relax OKAY, one Modify Memory down, now do the Geas that still is on the back of Suvi's mind The Spirit of the door, Brennan?? OMG OMG OMG OMG STONE'S INFLICT WOUNDS

The Spirit of Vicious Inspiration

yep, two sides of the same ultimately evil coin. one fighting to control/kill spirits and one fighting to kill/control mortals. both are manipulative and charismatic in pursuit of their goals, hiding details of their true aim even from allies on their side, and are willing to take out anyone and anything that gets in their way. and the main thing standing in both their ways are those who wish to see spirits' & mortals' hands clasping each other and not instruments of war. both have tried to eliminate the Witch of the World's Heart for that very reason. they couldn't be more different, yet are one and the same

Cha Cha Rae

I WAITED TO LISTEN COZ I WASNT PREPARED AND I AM **STILL** NOT OKAY IM SCREAMING

Sammi Jacobs

“My name is Suviran Cabaricus, you killed my father, prepare to die!” iykyk

Sammi Jacobs

“Who are you gonna kill?” YOU B**** PUT ‘EM UP!

Sammi Jacobs

Awesome episode overall but Aabria…TELL YOUR DICE TO LOCK TF IN!!!!!

TisWhatSheSaid

“WIZARDRY IS FREE!” Really a lovely moment.

Sammi Jacobs

Felt that one in my soul 😭

Kronk

Damn. I guess we got to blow up the citadel with nukes. 😞

Tara

Jesus Christ, let Aabria and Suvi catch a single break, I beg you Brennan 😭

Brovura

Nasty work Brennan, Nasty work 🅰️+

The Wizard Sparrow

OK, so it’s been a couple of days. I have not gone back and listen to the episode. Because I’ve been haunted with dreams about sworn and the curse Steele sent with Suvi? Didn’t she know that Suvi would help her best friend? I just don’t get it and maybe it’s posted in the messages down below, but it just has been plaguing heart and my mind. I’ve not had a story affect me so much that this last episode did.

The Wizard Sparrow

As much as it pains me, I’m gonna have to go back and listen also and ask your explaining it right now, but I just gotta hear it myself again. But I don’t want to because I know how much it’s gonna hurt. Welcome to WWW Support Group 🔥🦊

Amelia Tedesco

The movement from a perfect description of the chaos of falling in love seamlessly into the chaos of your heart falling through the floor because of betrayal into complete and utter danger was unbelievable. Thank you for this entire episode, top of the line stuff, now if you’ll kindly excuse me I must go be violently sick 🙃

PT MacKim

Yeah, the long game here is impressive. And Steel lies best when she convinces herself of the grain of truth tucked within her lies. I’m sure she actually did love Suvi’s parents, and she wants Suvi to make the same kind of choice regarding the friends she loves: to sacrifice them for a higher purpose.

Devora

Mood

Devora

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Devora

LOVE this

Matthew Donaldson

Oh, so I guess the next episode is the finale 'cause EVERYBODY DIES. Cool, cool, cool, cool, cool. Hashtag TPK.

Amelia Tedesco

As Whoopi Goldberg said in Ghost (ish) — Suvi, you in danger girl.

Zack Koval

I think Steel thought Suvi would go to her for help, at which point she controls the situation. Steel did not know about wave breaker/that they would be able to access dispel magic/remove curse, as that is a higher level spell than the party could access at that time. With the sword, Steel/The Citadel was not strictly necessary for the fixing it anymore.

Zack Koval

Though that level of betrayal I was also blindsided by.

The Wizard Sparrow

Thank you for the explanation. I only have a droplet of D&D character level knowledge but this now makes sense🔥🦊🤗

Ashley Teatum

This is physically possible right?? We have enough hours?? (Earnestly though, trying to decide where in the recent arc is a good idea to dip back to and relisten forward...)

Zanna

Perceptive! I kept feeling mistrust for Steel, but then she'd do something so nice, and I'd hush that suspicious part of me... Guess I need to listen to it more.

Connor

I was in denial for a while Steel is just too cool. Eioghorain's reaction to being accused of killing Suvi's parents, made me 2nd guess Steel's intentions and motives.

iain scoular

Damn. Steel since the beginning has always been one of my favorite characters and since the back half of arc 4 I started to wonder how much of the antagonist she would end up being but DAMN THIS SHIT SUCKS! Props to Aabria for doing an incredible job of truly running just the gauntlet of getting emotionally mugged seemingly every episode 😂

kayteebaybee

Shew doggy I am stressed. And worried. And so so sad (Sworn). And I hate Steel. She can go rot somewhere.

K C

OMG STEEL

Jazz

SUVI ARE YOU KIDDING ME TWO NAT ONES AABRIA IM BEGGING YOU TO THROW THOSE DICE INTO THE OCEAN

Obsequious Diphthong

Well, Steel obviously needs a living Suvi for some reason, which is why I think she survives. Getting away with memories intact may be more of a problem. Is Steel there to learn the contents of a room she couldn't access? Was she following Sky or did she get an alarm tripped at some point? Enchantment really is the nastiest school of wizardry.

Erok VanRocksalot (The Wizard Story)

TRANSCRIPTION ERROR NEEDS ADDRESSING: Hello, I noticed a big ol’ error that anybody & everybody at WBN will want to correct ASAP: Accidentally turned on the Transcription mode on Apple Podcast app… about 5:30, spoilers: When Vandal and Ame meet and hug, Brennan says, as Vandal: “Ah, You mother rugahyou” Brennan purposefully didn’t say any actual word just a non-verbal expletive… well the transcription turned it into a very real derogatory word considered hate speech against LGBTQ Men, (but also means a bundle of sticks used for fuel.) yeah that word. Figured they’d want to issue some kinda order to the AI that creates transcription to change that word… even “mother fucker” would be better. Ok thanks, and thanks to The Aerith for assistance in reporting said error.

Kenny Silver

I just looked and found the same issue. I submitted a report with Apple Podcasts to hopefully get it fixed as well.

CarpeBootium

Ok, so all you Steel apologists can bite me. Many of us had her pegged from the jump. Though I still want to know what makes Suvi so special…to Grandma Wren’s trap, to Steel’s plans, to the Mercenary Hedge Mages?

CarpeBootium

If Steele has six fingers I will lose my shit

Rae 🚀

“An Open Heart is required….” foreshadowinnnnnnggg 👻

CarpeBootium

I’m going to need Steele’s boots in the next American Girl Dolls shoe collection…Brennan, order up!

Az Snarkrifice

Dammit y’all, now I’m going to have to discuss this with my therapist. So many emotions at once! Y’ALL ARE AWESOME! Thank you again and as always for sharing these stories with us!

Luke

Or Sir Curran’s! I’ve heard they’re a steal and to die for :)

worldsbeyondnumber

Hey there Erok, unfortunately we do not control the auto captions generated by the Apple Podcast app, or any other podcatching app. But we have filed a complaint with them about this. Thanks for letting us know. For any future stuff like this feel free to DM us here on patreon, as it is very easy for issues that require attention like this to get lost in the hundreds of comments beneath an episode post. -t

Catloaf

My worry is the MIB has already been to the Citadel near spirit forest of fire. So can he reach Suvi while she is in the room?

Catloaf

I want to assume alarm on house given how “scrubbed” it was but I wouldn’t put it past either following Suvi or tracking the Fox

Ty6260

What's your other favorites? This one is really special for sure

The Wizard Subjudice

How do I cast banishment on someone else's comment? You go and sit in the crossroads for 20+ years and think about what you've done!

The Wizard Subjudice

Ooooh, here's a Wizards debate/argument I'm here for *slams stein down in Gavreel biergarten* Pls my good man; justify your thesis on enchantment being the nastiest school. I counter with the School of Illusion! 🍻🗣

The Wizard Subjudice

What are you doing!? Don't wish that curse on the ocean before we get the Witch of it back!!

Forager

Oh. My. Gosh.

The Wizard Subjudice

I believe this deserves a "You nasty, nasty man!" (A fireside ep that lives rent free in my head is when Brennan realised listening back to when he had Sworn offer to go inspect the wraith-sorcereress house what he'd tried to do and called himself out as such, because I remember screaming "THE OFFENDER CONFESSES!" and my housemate of ten years yelled back across the house not knowing what I was actually listening to "Scream at Brennan's betrayal more quietly!")

The Wizard Subjudice

What is a Wizard nuke? 🤔 like a Wizard nuke, not one they annexed/liberated from Artificers?

The Wizard Subjudice

Gave heavy Wizard equivalent to Ame's broom/ Wicked moment (as did Suvi levelling up to 5, for that matter)

Grace Holland

Screaming crying throwing up pissing my pants wallowing on the ground (fr tho screaming in my car)

Grace Holland

Legit was like "awe there's my girl" cause Suvi would roll back to back nat 1s in a crucial moment

Obsequious Diphthong

I will give an example. Geas "You must go kill the prince" then Modify Memory "Forget having Geas cast on you, and remember the day when the prince killed your whole family (or any other justification memory)." If you upcast a dominate person spell you can take control of their body and force them to do anything for hours so long as it doesn't cause them to take damage. So the enchanter can make you do actions against your will, or make you think you are doing actions under your own will because you don't know that your mind has been manipulated at all. You can lose bodily autonomy and/or mental autonomy. An evil enchanter in a horror campaign? Shudder.

Kurt Anderson

I just want to say that I called the twist 8 months ago to my friend

CarpeBootium

See you at the Crossroads crossroads crossroads

Genna

Just... My dearest cherished cast and crew of Worlds Beyond Number. I always panic and say "words cant express how much y'all rock at storytelling"... But this time I'm gonna try. I hope one of y'all read this cause I really hope you all get to bask in the juicy sunbeams of joy that you bring to each and every one of us who have the privilege of listening to your story telling. Over the years, you have crafted characters, music, places, friends, family, adversaries, foods, cultures, an entire WORLD that we all care so deeply about. Exploring it and unraveling it slowly. The literal years of character growth (individually and as a trio) is richer than anything I've ever been a part of. And every corner and crevasse of this world has a wonderful new creature to meet, an incredible landscape to word paint, and songs and melodies that will forever live in my heart. Getting to hear the cast experience this story in real time as they listen to the others solo journey's with the rest of us has been incredibly rad. Getting to listen to y'all each episode is truly such a great joy of my life. I could truly gush on and on but I feel like I will start swimming in love fueled nonsensical circles, so I'm gonna leave it there. So just please know, from the most whimsical, fierce, heart wrenched, wild parts of my heart... Y'all have changed me with your words and your music. It's one of the most magical things I've experienced. I'm so grateful to be here with you all 🥰💜🫶🏽✨

Samantha Mills

Relistened to the episode today and godddddd!!!!!!!!! That scene with Sworn is so heartbreaking I had to pause the episode to go pace around my house.

Genna

BAH 🤣

Tony C

On second nat one I said out loud with true despair “ohhh nooo” which wouldn’t have been weird if I wasn’t listening on headphones and in line at a coffee house.

Bryan

THIS? THIS IS WHERE YOU LEAVE ME? Pardon me while I vomit on the floor from stress. I cannot imagine how people went ANY TIME without episodes. I think of the show when I’m awake. I dream of it when I’m asleep. I tell everyone I meet about it, even people I don’t know. I’m certain I’m about to get a reputation about being the weird person who tells everyone about a podcast about imaginary things that they HAVE to listen to. And what makes it all work is the incredible love, trust, and respect you have for each other, your characters, the world, and everyone in it. I’m so thankful every day that I came back to this after signing up and doing nothing with it for months. I can’t decide if I was lucky or unlucky because I got to binge for like A MONTH. But now I’m just begging for more every moment inside my heart. Thank you for making a word even more vibrant that the one we live in that nevertheless calls us to be more vibrant in our daily lives.

Tony C

All those nat 20s last episode shoulda been a warning sign for us. Devastated.

Tony C

Or maybe they skipped where suvi gets bear and ame to immediately go find sworn to convince him to get out of there

Max Myers

I called that shit from the get go!!!! I knew I didn’t vibe with that bitch 🤣🤣🤣

James O'Dwyer

Two nat 1s in a row are proof the story wants Suvi to suffer.

Trent Jeffery

Wizards are known by their secrets

Marco

For the purposes of cursing Wren & Ame they needed someone who they would welcome without reservation. Someone who spent a summer there and became true friends, perhaps.

Marco

I imagine it needed Suvi to be unaware as well. A trick Steel hoped worked a second time against another witch with a fake contract this time. Tho Indri probably has different wards up

NotSoSuperNova

Sometimes it pays to be a hater cause I KNEW IT! Her vibe? Rancid from day one. Cannot wait to see how this story wraps up!

NotSoSuperNova

Never would’ve guessed Brennan would take one of the nearest and dearest NPCs of our beloved heroes and have made them a traitor the whole—oh wait a damn minute.

Marco

I think it’s possible that Stone’s inflict wounds is unique as a combination of witchs’ (Wren’s) and wizards’. Since it seems like it was one of the last things Stone worked on Wren might have never seen that spell.

Marcus

Well I needed a good cry. Sworn breaks my heart. I love this story so much

Lucas Bowman

I just got here, and if anything happens to Task I’m starting a riot.

Jack Jones

"I wanted my mom and dad to know my name" is so heartbreaking

Suzanne Landig

Keep the cash I paid tonight but tell me is there a#53?

El Yami dios

I'm not going to say I knew it cuz again but I had a feeling

Genna

💕

Rachel Purcell (edited)

Comment edits

2026-09-08 21:00 GUYS GUYS HEAR ME OUT. She knew the room was somewhere there. She couldn’t ever find it or get it open because it was meant for Suvi. So she was keeping tabs on Suvi so that when she found it steel would know. And Suvi found it and steel KNEW what was in there. Evidence against her.
2025-08-01 13:02

The Wizard Seek

Lethal, honestly. Shattered me for a second.

astro

I KNEW SHE WAS TO BLAME, BUT I NEVER IMAGINED WHERE HER SCAR CAME FROM. THE PROOF OF THE BETRAYAL, IN FRONT OF SUVI THE WHOLE TIME. LITERALLY EVIL. WHAT EXACTLY DID THEY FIND OUT THAT MADE THEM ENEMIES, WHEN THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE AS CLOSE AS SISTERS?

astro

I WAS HOPING I WAS WRONG, THAT MAYBE SHE JUST CHANGED SIDES. THAT SHE DIDN'T ACTUALLY DO THE DEED. oh my gods. introduced as basically SISTERS. Steel killed her SISTER and then raised her daughter. IM ILL!!!!

astro

I'm hoping this is far enough down so no spoilers now, but omg I thought Steel was sus the second she put the geas on Suvi, it just felt Wrong. you don't do that! And the evidence (or, bad vibes) kept mounting but I was just like "okay maybe thats why she came back earlier, and Soft and Stone kept being rebels. She just changed sides. She didn't want them DEAD, she didn't kill them, she just... did politics. That would make her awful, but maybe redeemable. but THIS!!! She KILLED her honourary sister!!! How many of the sages know?? Did Silent know?? WHAT DID SHE GET OUT OF THIS?? Wasn't she already the sword of the citadel.... what could tempt you to kill your best friend, your sister. omg SUVI WAS RAISED BY HER PARENTS' KILLER!!!! IM DYING HERE!!

Claire Wilson

*screaming* *more screaming* *even more screaming*

Kar_bear17

My GOD! Can we please please please next book (because ain’t no way it’s happing in this last ep) get a little more than a few minutes of light and whimsy for our girl Suvi? Ame and Urselon get super cool spy moments and Suvi gets her bf killed in front of her never having read her last message to him, the realization it’s because of her in a way, her wizard homie drinking himself into a coma knowing he’s next, and then finding out her adopted mom is her biggest opp and killed her parents. Give this woman a break Brennan!!!

Coliopod

How dare you finish the episode like that ? Almost 2 weeks to know what happens next, it's cruelty

Pendergreens’ Sick Ibanez

Suvi did a thing with her hands on the Meridian that means the next time her memory is modified, she’ll be able to tell

Hayley Aronson

I'm screaming!!! Everything about this episode is so amazing! My heart is never ready for this story. Can't wait to hear the Fireside for more details! I know the chances are low, but it would be so cool to have this story as a physical book one day! Thanks WBN cast and crew for adding so much light to my world with your work 🥰

Elise Grabda

Justice for Suvie, honestly so psyched to watch Ame kill Steel

tcjs

The way the origin of Steel’s scars was revealed was so artful. Just so good. And having her be there to answer Suvi, god. Just chefs kiss all around, such a good episode!

tcjs

Also Sworn was so heartbreaking, curse/bless the dice for that moment

Emmeline May

This is so smart. I hate it.

The Wizard Subjudice

Apologies, work and time difference be a hindrance. My argument is that the school of illusion is only limited by your imagination, and a good eg of an equivalent sorcery were the zhotzarah (sp?) (openings into nightmare) from House Bhahathi. Best spell example I think I've got is Phantasmal Force, which is horrifying for a level 2 spell. It includes sensory input and "The target rationalises any illogical outcomes from interacting with the phantasm. For example, a target attempting to walk across a phantasmal bridge that spans a chasm falls once it steps onto the bridge. An affected target is so convinced of the phantasm’s reality that it can even take damage from the illusion." I absolutely agree that Enchantment has all the capacity to be incredibly nasty, but the absolute terror I can imagine the Illusionists can wreak is... chilling. A bad enough experience would lend itself to CPTSD, maybe resulting in persistent hallucinations/ delusions that something is or isn't real with no spell work required. Thoughts?

Catloaf

I'm sorry this is so long. I'm trying to figure this out and this feels like a safe space to ask. In letting Enzo leave while knowing he has malicious plans and Ame giving Pamulroy's (sp?) true name, Ame/Eursalon are once again putting spirit freedom above the lives of people who are working for the Citadel/Empire but have nothing to do with the spirit's capture/imprisonment. Not everyone in the Citadel is a member of Xiao court, or knows anything about the Cassov collection, or is even a wizard. Yet the spirits, some of whom should probably be kept away from the mortal world, will be indiscriminate in their harm. They won't just focus on Xiao and the destructive ones who aren't just trying to leave will probably try to tear everything down. Even if they just focus on Xiao, not everyone who is an conjuror is involved with or into the Cassov collection or the capture of spirits (Soft can't be the only outlier). It's Nuram/Orima all over again. So, why is this okay? Is it that the concept of "freedom" is so important that any harm caused by forces working towards it is justified? Is it that because the Empire/Citadel is "evil," working for them, ignoring all the indoctrination, economic, cultural, and other reasons why someone would stay there, means you are "evil" as well and, as Suvi said, "you get what you get"? Is it that we see this as unfortunate but necessary collateral damage? I keep bumping up against the problem of why actions are bad when some people do it but justified when others do the same or similar actions. This story is incredible and as we've progressed, more context has been added which complicates the simple "good" vs "evil" narrative many people/stories use to explain things, which is awesome. But I keep coming back to when Aabria said something along the lines of "Suvi believes she is the only one who cares about humans." While Ame contested that in episode 33 (I think), in action, it feels like unless the humans are directly connected to spirits, like the Graneau children, used to worship spirits, like the people in Port Talon, or are friends of Grandmother Wren, Ame, Suvi, or Eursalon, like Gault, Hanna, and Silver/his battallion, Ame is fine with/encourages massive harm/death to humans as a result of spirits being free. Eursalon seems the same. This is very rambley, but I guess the core question is: if Ame/Eursalon keep doing things/fail to stop forces that will result in the indiscriminate murder of people, why are they the "good" guys? Why is spirit mass murder/harm okay?

Kit

HAHAHA ohmygod

Kit

You're right and you should say it!!

Mareinth Au Utanis

Mmm I don't believe they condone mass murder done by a spirit, as we saw with "He of the gentle sea." (I cannot begin to spell his name) They do try to mitigate harm when it comes down to it. That being said the potential for harm coming from Enzo I believe is rather low, and hear me out on this. He took the traitor spirits name to potentially control him as the witches do. He could do anything of course but what I believe, and more importantly what I believe Ame/Eursalon believes is that his intent is to free spirits. Now could he do it in a way that does great harm to the citadel, absolutely he could. He could release them during the upcoming attack and sow chaos within the citidel itself while the armies clash. However it's more of a question of Enzo's goal. If his goal is to free spirits and have them safe as they leave, then it would be way more beneficial to have them do so in a slow far more stealthy fashion. We will just have to see.

Catloaf

I don't doubt that Enzo will try to be stealthy about it. But his warning to Eursalon seems to predict chaos and/or harm. Especially given some of the spirits stored there, an acid dragon and the demon that tried to manipulate Eursalon, I don't think Enzo will have much control over what some of the spirits will do. Hence the concern about mass murder

Ammar Khalid

1) Did I, when Aabria rolled that second nat 1, scream OHMYGOD out loud while walking in street with passersby nearby? Maybe 2) As expected when the trio reunites my heart becomes full 3) I’m sure others picked up on it but oh Brennan gave Ame such delicious and terrifying ammo. 4) Aww what a sweet memory of Suvi’s parents and then her finding her mum’s spell what a nice way to end the epi… wait what Brennan WHAT BRENNAN God what a good episode

nk

IT IS BAD HERE.

Stephen Bannasch

I thinks it’s more likely that she had an alarm spell on the apartment in Caterwaul Lane and showed up after it was tripped — because whoever tripped it would be someone Steel would be very interested in.

Kasey

Finished the ep in the parking lot before work. This was NOT the way to begin the first day at my new job. Pretty sure I need a new one, those people must think I’m emotionally unstable.

Lindsey C

I JUST need to know about all the various curses on Grandma Wren, because I feel like there have been at least 3. I need to know what they specifically were, who made them, and when. I'm so confused!!! Please halp!

Devon

I thought it was too conspiratorial, or it would be too obvious to blame the death of Suvis parents on her but i had a feeling she did that from the beginning. What an absolute sociopath.

Obsequious Diphthong

Illusion magic is definitely a great school for those who like to use magic creatively and can wreak some havok when used cleverly. Both schools tend to be mentally affecting as well. But illusion magic can make you unsure of the reality of your own senses and the things around you, but enchantment magic can alter the reality of your past through modify memory, can set time bombs for the future with the right geas, as well as making you lose control of the present. I used an evil bard as a BBEG for a 3.5 campaign I worked on and he never even had to be there for most of his escapades because he just needed to be in a town the day before the party arrived to convince some key people that these incoming strangers were a threat.

Sydney Shermer

The section where Suvi is at the crime scene, the background music was giving early “House of Cards” and I’m loving it. Taylor is a genius

Lux ❤︎

Presumably something on the magnitude of what created the Irian Desert?

Lux ❤︎

I’ve always felt like her vibes were off but confirmed RANCID since the “don’t say that…” episode — morally bankrupt, no integrity, manipulative as hell. This abuser must perish

Lux ❤︎

they must simply be thrown into the fires of mt.doom

Lux ❤︎

He gives me real NYC MTA Engineer vibes

Lux ❤︎

Join us in the fan discordddd

Lux ❤︎

YES this is the word.

Lux ❤︎

“a demon… boy band?”

Lux ❤︎

I really hope they all use that train ticket to meet with the Antivolists and Suvi gets to spend time just book shopping

Lux ❤︎

Join the fan discord!

nk

yes, that will be the last episode in "Book 1" of this story. There's a release schedule for the series in an earlier patreon post.

Lena

Suvi: “I need a win before I leave” Also Suvi: Immediately gets into deep shit

Ry of Maroon

Hi Puppymaster! Thank you for this important question. To me, the question isn’t “why does Ame, Eursulon and Enzo not consider the potential damage and death caused by spirits” but why is the citadel capturing and incarcerating highly dangerous spirits and holding them in large civilian areas? They have a whole desert. Does the citadel provide any means for these spirits to reform or leave peacefully? In this story and in our world, empires function quite similarly where peaceful options to resolving oppression aren’t always given. There were some enslaved people who killed the families of the people who owned them so no one could inherit them as property. That’s sad, but one of the few options that the system left people. Now and through the centuries, settlers would build towns on stolen land and use that place to further the genocide of Indigenous people. When the Indigenous people destroyed those places families would get caught in the cross fire. When it comes to Port Talon, absolutely it was messed up that Orima killed all those villagers, but that happened after the wizards captured Naram for military purposes (Side note, on a relisten it was horrifying to hear Marrow’s plan was to cause famines and droughts around the world to destroy the empire’s enemies with Naram.) Not trying to justify her actions but just saying that trying to control the ocean without a thought or care how it could affect anything is a terrible idea. To the collection itself, I think about prison abolition. Does the collection existing actually make the world of mortals safer? Not really. The Man in Black (and fuck the Man in Black) is using the citadel’s treatment of spirits to gain aid in his war. In this episode Soft talked about not summoning dangerous spirits and trying to control them. But ultimately, if the collection was about safety and not controlling spirits and using their gifts for progress or to wage war (the dragon with chains in their mouth) they would simply banish them back to the spirit world. We saw the sorcerers do it earlier and if the citadel can try to create a great spirit they can figure out a banishment spell. To me, it isn’t the ends justify the means or that the people hurt are collateral but that things tend to get messy when freedom is denied with no options otherwise. I also think Ame and Eursulon have their flaws, limits and can’t always find a solution in which no one gets hurt. I hope this provided a different perspective to your question! I appreciate the curiosity and openness of it!

The wizard Sober

Hi, internet stranger! I want to thank you for the nostalgia trip I’ve been experiencing this week, sincerely. I watched this movie so much as a kid, hadn’t thought about for years and I went to bed on Tuesday listening to this song and fondly remembered sitting on a big couch with my siblings watching this. Even more fun is the fact that I don’t think I’ve ever heard the songs in English. So my recollection of the lyrics was translated to dutch and it’s been surprising revisiting the original text. Ralph Fiennes is in this movie?? Anyways, thank you! And regarding your demand, where’s the Kickstarter? Yes, yes, yes! This fits perfectly. I can’t stop seeing it.

Amelia Tedesco

“I need a win” and then Aabria’s dice begin a quiet evil chuckle.

Joseph O'Toole

this episode was a symphony, both of music and of story. unreal, thank you

Ciara Caines

Aww, I love that! The soundtrack is a nostalgic banger for sure

Carrie Mook Bridgman

What he first said was 40--which is what I was thinking and old enough to be her father. I don't want Sworn fanboying over Suvi. It's just weird. Deciding she's worth following, sure.

Bog Station: Remembrance

Ry, this is a great response. PM, your concerns are valid, but the root reasoning for Enzo’s character, based on his life and those of his kin, has to be liberation of those enslaved. Ame and Eursulon are also committed to a free ecosystem of human and spirit. The citadel is not that ecosystem. It is built on slaves—their magic language is itself in shackles in order to siphon magic back to the hierarchy of wizards in control. The other thing that comes to mind for me, is what /could/ break this system if not the people it is built on? Let’s remember the Test that Sworn brought up to Suvi— rich kids don’t get sent to the citadel because most of the wizards there are magical poor children trained to die in war. There is a huge collateral damage problem with the Citadel and yet it will continue to eat up the lives of human and spirit alike to support a very small few. Enzo is, like Eursulon and Eioghorain, a freedom fighter. Suvi is as well. The Citadel has been revealed to be a war machine. It would eat all inside eventually, perhaps if it falls some will survive and find more prosperity through liberation? In the end, these characters can only do what they feel is the most right or what their hearts’ seek. Enzo was born into slavery and understands the Citadel for what it truly is. Pomeroy is just getting karmic retribution, imo.

Bog Station: Remembrance

^ This is to the melody of that bridge part of “Rock me Amadeus,” right??

Bog Station: Remembrance

What if it’s in Lucent and that’s what Steel sacrificed for The New World? They hold her heart, made it glass, but in turn she can do horrible things like murder her best friends, etc?

Bog Station: Remembrance

This is a better move, tbh. I think Suvi is so young, she should not waste her time on a too-older alcoholic sad boi, as much as I am fond of Sworn.

Virtual Spaceman

What a heartbreakingly tragic yet poetic and powerful moment with Sworn I truly hope he is able to survive

Welibwe

God I'm so glad that my immediate suspicion of Steel from all the way back in the children's story has borne out. I wish I had posted a comment then. I knew she had done the deed to the parents and I knew that book and scroll were suspect

Welibwe

Same!!! Those nat 1's were devastating!!

Carrie Mook Bridgman

I don't think Steel fabricated illusory evidence. I think Stone gave her those scars in self-defense.

Carrie Mook Bridgman

Must be, because otherwise else is right--Wren would have hit Steel with a retributive curse so fast....although that might have been hard with Suvi already in her arms.

Carrie Mook Bridgman

I'm guessing the geas dispelled once her task was complete. The modify memory gave her *knowledge* of the geas she had been under.

Carrie Mook Bridgman

Is that why he waited ten years before taking his namecloak?

Carrie Mook Bridgman

I can see this with birth siblings--you don't choose your birth family, and there might have been jealousy, rivalry, even abuse there--or maybe you just had nothing in common. Doing it to chosen family is the ultimate betrayal.

astro

ooooo omg what gave you the bad vibes in the children's story? I might have to go and relisten to it... was it before Suvi went into the carriage, or when she picked her up at the end of summer? (if you remember!)

astro

oh you're so right... because the one on Ame was to forget everything... but Grandma Wren was saying "and you remember everything I taught you" so she didn't forget she had taught it... but the wisps came out when she tried to say more so it was a curse to prevent her from giving Ame any more knowledge? and then the other two....?

Carrie Mook Bridgman

Exactly. What are they supposed to do--allow those spirits to remain imprisoned/enslaved? The consequences of freeing them are on the Citadel. The Citadel is to blame for "collateral damage." I have spent a long time thinking like PM, and it is in part this story that has changed my mind. What it comes down to, unintentionally, is saying we mustn't change unjust conditions because we would be responsible for any "collateral damage"--but allowing the people who benefit from the damage of the *current* system (sometimes US) to plead "What can I do?" Brennan said this once in an interview. His response to the hypothetical question was, "And then you say, 'Do *something*!' And then you punch them with a utilitarian smite." I am currently trying to figure out what "something!" I can do.

Kit

Everyone keeps commenting in here like "I KNEW IT, I HATED HER ALL ALONG" and I just want y'all to know: I am genuinely delighted for all of you & your healthy relationships with your moms &/or all the high-quality therapy you've gotten (climbing back into my trash can where I am unfortunately still lowkey fond of War Crimes Mommy 🙃)

larkermouse

Spoilers: . Knowing what we now know about Stars of the Southern Sky, do we suppose there's a reason that Steel was upset that the gang used Wavebreaker to break Ame's curse? My theory is that when Steel offered to deal with it, she had a method in mind already that would secretly reveal the information to herself, as well as Ame. Given that some of the info was about Wren's contacts in the citadel, Steel would want that info.

Emergency Santa

I know saying “I called it” is a crass practice, but “I fucking called it!” I feel so vindicated! Not because anyone was denying my theory, just because I sometimes doubted myself, because I felt like a conspiracy theorist;) but it feels nice to have guessed something like that so far back, now I get to feel all clever;) (Also I can just see next episode where it turns out I am completely wrong😂)

Joe

Have to say that as the series progresses, it's becoming increasingly risky to listen to episodes in public

Joe

Might sound crazy but this is genuinely my favourite story of all time at the moment

Ink Wings

OMG she WAS the evil stepmother! and she kept the princess trapped in a tower!!! Oh god, I wonder how it's gonna go with Suvi (à la Rapunzel) letting down her hair (so to speak).. I shudder to think if it's remotely reflective of the Brothers Grimm version of that tale

The Witch of Warp 9.9

Can someone please remind me (or point me to the episode that will remind me) of where the book Stars of the Southern Skies came from? Like how Suvi said when talking to Yulia she knew it wasn’t at the citadel but knew something was important about it?

Catloaf

I think it was that but also the knowledge that the curse tried to kill Ame and take the knowledge from her. If she was there to remove the curse in the Citadel, it’s entirely possible that she had a way of removing the curse without triggering the spell behind the curse that tried to murder Ame. That way she would be able to control the narrative and just say that all the curse did was try to remove or keep information from Ame, which looks better for the Citadel in the event that it is discovered that the Citadel are the ones who gave her the curse. Because they removed the curse themselves, all of them learned immediately that behind the curse was an effort to murder Ame and possibly Wren. Steel can’t control that narrative anymore. Because how do you explain that your effort to get information had a failsafe to murder your daughter’s best friend and your daughter’s grandmother?

Catloaf

Steel gave the book and the scroll to Suvi before she left to see Grandmother Wren. I think she said it was specifically for Wren without explaining what it was for

Lee Chirtel

I think other people have brought up some of the reasoning, but I think it is worth considering that spirits are non human intelligences. They can reason and feel, and have flaws, much like humans, but are also much more abstract beings connected to fundamental forces and concepts. In other words, Eursulon already was reaching torwards the human world by wanting to get the children in his care to their actual homes, rather than technical freedom (which was all that was required by his savior function). Enzo's writing the other way is just his thing, its what he does: he is the counter-hegemoic writing. It doesn't matter whether the result is good or pleasant to us, or if instead the spirit version of Solzhenitsyn gets to wreak havoc. Its the same way that the nice spirits, like Naram, don't interfere in the Spirit world with predatory or cruel spirits. The concept of cruelty and the concept of kindness have no fundamental angagoism as concepts. Its plausible to understand both of them at the same time without any sort of logical contradiction. Its only in a practical situation that they become opposite actions or states. Ame's problem is different, in that she is trying to balance this relationship between humans and spirits on a planetary level. And the various big power, The Citadel, The Witches, and The Man in Black, are highly revisionist and agresssive. She's left trying to almost be a one person bulletin of atomic scientists and keep everything barely functional. So that is why she wouldn't vote to attack the Citadel: that would strengthen the Witches/The Man in Black too much. And it is also why she is weakening the Citadel now, because it seems ascendent, or close to it, if the Spirit Factory works out. She, whatever her personal actions or beliefs (which do tend towards rescuing as many as she can) has to interact politely and treasonably with the various powers precisely to balance them. Any other course of action will make it more likely that whatever side loses triggers their "dead hand" equivalent of a retaliatory nuclear strike.

Mary Josberger

Can anyone help me try to find the explanation about “the test” the citadel gives to all the kids but the rich kids “pass”? I thought the citadel took all kids with magical ability.

TachiGamer

The Citadel tests all kids within the Empire but if your family has means and doesn't need to be supported by the Citadel then you get a trophy that says you're smart enough to be a wizard

Vice Versailles

Sighted, sent and scored, absolutely incredible landing on this reveal. Excited for a proper villainous monologue from Steel as she explains why she thought any of this was okay. Is she under a Geas herself, or did she truly betray her closest friends over institutional loyalty? Or is it a circular ends-justifying-means, where the Lucent project is so important everything to make it happen is permitted? Excited to find out!

Katie Roberts

All I can think about is the moment after Steel killed Soft and Stone. She cannot believe what she has done, what they MADE her do. If only they could see it her way, how much good they could do with her, none of this would have had to happen. She rages for a moment, feeling the loss of the future they could have had. Once it was all done, and they could rest, their children inheriting utopia. She pauses. Suvi. She's so young. Guilt prickles at the edges of her mind, just briefly. She did not deserve this. Despite everything, they were the best of parents. But they could not be allowed to continue along their path. And Suvi would have been caught up in it too. No, she could not allow such a bright child to fall as well. She would raise her, of course. Wren couldn't give her what the Citadel offered. She would give her everything. It was only right, to honour her parents' memory. Suvi would become the best of wizards, reach heights they could not. She would stay the course. Steel would make sure of it.

Olivia Buse

Thank you!! It took me until the very end of the episode to really let go of Steel and realize the extent of the betrayal. I just pictured baby suvi like tugging on her cloak going “mom? momma bad? mom stop being bad!” And I was in denial thinking there could be other explanations or rationalizations. The BOMB that she killed soft and stone was….wow. I’m still very confused about it tbh. I want like a throwback about it or going through her thoughts and actions. I feel like something is tripping me up, I want an intense lore drop explanation to explain to my silly brain

Olivia Buse

What happened at the end of the episode? I feel like I missed something or misunderstood. Was there another (third) wizard coming through a door/portal? If so, do we have an idea of who that could be? And then suvi was magically transported somewhere else (we’ll see next ep I assume)

Jaz

Is this where we hang out and wait for the new fireside?

Cackle Cackle

OH. Oops. No. Sorry! I have a potent mix of parental trauma and neurodivergence that helps me recognize patterns of manipulative behavior. …yayyy? PS: I’m reading through the comments and lol didn’t realize celebrating my vindication was crass. Blarp!! Apologies, everyone.

Cackle Cackle

I mean, I threw a comment up on Discord about my suspicions back in October. Then last week posted to the spoilers channel with a link to it saying “OMG you guys I guessed the exact twist I’m so excited!” Then no one said anything and I’m a little sad. 😂😂

NightBorne sorcerer of freedom

I just came here to say we all knew it in our hearts that Steel killed Suvi's parents....but she also cursed Grandma Ren!?!??!!!!!!! Lol at some point Brennan just decided that Steel is the biggest bad in the campaign

Devon

Me: tells non listener bf what happened w/ Steal Bf: “she is a fugly slut, do not trust her!!!”

Kit

LMAO, no, don't worry, I didn't find y'all's celebrations crass - it feels good to be dialed into a story & be right on a call like that! I was mostly self-roasting with my comment 😂

Alyssa

Relistened to episode 12 “Prisoner’s Dilemma” after this episode and I had to pause it to cuss Steal out cause FUCK ALL THE WAY OFF!! Out here talking about “did you know there was a curse before the MiB got there or can I pin the curse on him?” and the “restoration of the memories is of utmost priority TO ME AND THE CITADEL, you can get fucking bent…Witch of Whatever” This story slaps but I wanna slap Steal so damn bad!

The Wizard Subjudice

Update; I've been planning to buy a keyboard for a while, and I'm getting one soon. Let's see if I can take after my grandmother and learn this particular bit of score by ear

Hayden

I must have missed it. What did Sworn mean when he said "What did you think Slate was going to do?" Is he referring to when Slate went after Ame after the Battle of Twelve Brooks? Is it intentionally unclear?

Phoenix Vizva’i

Haha sick, kudos if you can by ear!! Update on my end too, the show went phenomenal 🥰🔥 was sooo fun, didn’t realize how much I’d love performing!! and the crowd was really electric and dancing and clapping along too 🥰💖

Michael Munene

This episode was a roller-coaster, so many twists and turns, with the big reveal at the end. Brennan! You madman! How dare you pull a Hamlet with Suvi!! (All seriousness that was a fantastic reveal).

SmileyGuy

Unfortunately, those dice are on a mission. They demand such great info when needed, but refuse desires to tell their story. Aabria: “Can I bring Sworn?” Dice: “No.” Aabria: “I’m taking Sworn!” Dice: “I said ‘No.’”

SmileyGuy

Oh, the MiB was right! The Citadel put a dagger, made of Steel, in the (Witch of the) World’s Heart.

Catloaf

SPOILER So, is Suvi/Suvi's heart actually or connected to the "World's Heart"? Just a random thought/worried theory that popped into my head.

Genna

It was my understanding that Steel just showed up behind Suvi, but I'm not sure if she was there the whole time or when she arrived. I don't think anyone else is there (other than Task and the Fox of course)

Noah Sam

I knew she was truly fucked up from the moment Brennan gave her his normal voice

Noah Sam

This gave me chills. Great writing!

Genna

Can't help it, more love to share. Taylor... On my eighth listen of this episode, I continue to be so deeply moved by the music of this ep. The way you evoke sorrow and heartbreak (that first piano note after Sworn says "why didn't you think I'd come with you" is utterly shattering), honestly the entirety of the music and sound design through beerhall scene is unforgettable. The swell as the trio is completed... Somehow I feel the warmth and struggle and trials of friendship that bonds these three. The epicness of the "book" (not-a-book) discovery and the group banding together to get epic plans in motion. The musical theme of the court of Revery... GAH it's PERFECT. And my god the sun magic ritual scene... It simultaneously makes me want to weep and jump with joy. I don't know if this ep is one the ones you're most proud of, but damn Taylor. This is an all time audio fav for me, not just from WBN but of all stories I've heard. So so much love and gratitude to you and your team ✨🫶🏽☀️

Jenny

Spoiler Is it just me or is anyone now wondering if Steel is really bad or playing a very long undercover game to keep Suvi safe and uncover who really killed Stone and Soft? IE Stone damaged Steel when she was dying as a strategy to give Steel a chance “prove” she is with the people who actually did kill Stone and Soft. Why yes, I’m just always suspicious of Brennan’s twisty mind 😎

Yarl

Can someone help me, what’s the context/backstory for when Sworn says what did you expect Slate to do with them?

Carrie Mook Bridgman

I saw your link. Sorry, you're coming in late; it's just that the Discord has been debating whether Steel was a villain and how much of one for two years. I'm sure you saw several other people saying more or less the same thing: "Called it!" I had just finished a Dimension 20 season involving a betrayal when the Children's Adventure started, and I distrusted Steel immediately for no other reason than that we had so clearly been set up to trust her and suspect Eioghorain. I was hoping she was redeemable until we met Eioghorain. And I do still remember Brennan's carefully worded statement that "Eioghorain believes every word he's said." So even now I am sure there's a lot more to find out.

Carrie Mook Bridgman

Lots of people are feeling vindicated, or sad, or both. No apology needed.

Carrie Mook Bridgman

I'm sure some/a lot of powerful families are proud to send their kids to the Citadel--but if you have clout, you don't get your kid drafted whether you like it or not. You can keep them home and get the trophy.

Carrie Mook Bridgman

I thought he meant Silver, but it wasn't clear to me either.

Nym

If Suvi ever has a wizard child, they need to be named Snow 😭

Nym

Oh shit. 😳

Yarl

I have the same q!

SmileyGuy

Now I have to listen to it again. Not a complaint, just taking what you said and realizing it’s totally possible so I want to re-comb for minuscule details.

theoddhobbyist

Well, I’ve just re-binged the whole series in anticipation of tomorrow, and I forgot about Sworn’s problematic points on the first listen through 😂 but he could have a redemption arc…maybe? Or maybe I was getting in touch with the me when I was Suvi’s age and attracted to men with toxic traits. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Who can say, lol.

S'Morgan

Thanks for the callback! I'm excited to listen from the beginning again and pick up all the breadcrumbs..

Charlie

It's me. I'm the guy standing in the grocery store flabbergasted and holding a lettuce.

Dezzi

before I say this please know I am slash j and not slash serious but I am so DISTRAUGHT and my emotions are so high Sworns scene in the bar broke me. It broke me! I like to listen while I'm winding down at work and I had to just. Stop working and hold my face in my hands. I wanted to cry. Like Jesus dude. Two Nat 1s and Sworn saying he'd do their job and drink himself to death in a bar. Jesus. Like what the fuck????? THATS SO TRAGIC. I could stomach Sir Curran being forced to attack, I could stomach the Man in Black's hatred for humanity, I could stomach Naram being forced to march, I could stomach Hakea being down to tear to down the tower, I could stomach a million little nicks and cuts on my heart that have happened but I think if Sworn drinks himself to death, or if Steel has him Taken Care Of I will simply lay down in a ditch and die. Because that's so tragic. It's not a larger than life metaphor, or some powerful force come to bear. It's just a man who tried his best, to follow his own instincts, and then to put his trust into someone else who knew better, drinking himself to death in a bar. And becoming collateral damage in something he barely understands, but knows well enough to know he's disposable and his time is borrowed. That shit happens every day. God, and Steel. Who over a decade prior goes to young Suvi. A young Suvi who bodily pulls her two friends forward and names them her True Friends, "Just like you and mom!" while Steel bears those scars on her face????? Fuck Calroy, man, Steel is the...just the!!! Oooh Steel is a piece of work. Good job, Brennan, I'm devastated and enraged by the imaginary people you made, TAKE MY FIVE DOLLARS A MONTH YOU EARNED IT DUDE WHAT THE FUCK??

Fxd Gear Queer

Good catch! He did it again 😅 Then again, the Fox also has his normal voice 😨

Margarida Baptista

Spoilers but also not really - Between WBN and A Crown of Candy, Brennan is never allowed to complain about people not trusting his NPCs again. I am DAMAGED.