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Fireside Chat for WWW ep53 "The Queen of Swords" (Patreon)

Published:
2025-08-05 11:00:10
Imported:
2026-06

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Romance LIVES! So grab your boombox, space p***y, and heart-shaped box of chocolates and confess your love of big natural ones (1's) and arch villains extraordinaire. It's time to talk about ep53, mi amour. Remember: It's the pods you DON'T cast.

Don't forget: Next week is the big conclusion (TPK, obvs) to Book One of The Wizard the Witch and the Wild One! But don't worry, we WILL be returning to the world of Umora, perhaps even sooner than you might think...

Comments

Elijah Peters

Did Brendan just foreshadow the Critical Role announcement

mettakilla

OMG so excited for the next episode

Spike_worm

LETS GOOOOO CRACKLE CRACKLE BITCH

Genna

It's heeeeeeere 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

Genna

Narrative bombasticness

WWMSudoku

ahoo hoo crackle crackle question for brennan: what the fuck

Fishes

"Suvi inviting the fox in fundamentally changed the trajectory of this story." WHAT DO YOU MEAN 😭 Really giving people the 'Fox isnt the fox' theory fuel. Either that or maybe the fox would've been absolutely blasted by She who shan't be named. Or they will escape into the near spirit together, and She can't enter? So many theories

David Whitty

Is episode 54 really the finale?

Kevin Dingus

Just failed my driving test and needed cheering up and this pops up. Thanks for all you guys do and for the stories you tell ❤️

Amaya

I imagine it's largely because Ame can see through the Fox's eyes and no one would know where she is or that she's in trouble if the Fox wasn't in the room

Izer

Steel pulled a Darth Vader arc, but went, "Not nasty enough. I want to raise Kenobi's daughter"

Amaya

Steel's appearance was very horror movie in the "HE WAS IN THE HOUSE" type of way

Amaya

Shoutout to Laertes who got his day absolutely ruined by Penny Luckstone 😂

TheBQ3

It only took 6 months but Im finally caught up enough to be on time for one if these

Amaya

Came for the psychological warfare, stayed for the immediate and vehement defense of grand romantic gestures

Amaya

"I feel like we moved through Silver pretty quickly" yeah those bolts sure did HEYOO

Vice Versailles

Listening to Sworn’s scene on the bus was the wrong place to do it. I’m right there with Erika, it was truly heartbreaking.

Izer

I'm so sorry to hear that. Hope you have a good day wherever you are

Alexandra Boroff

The fuck marry kill discussion made me spit out my morning protein shake in laughter

Brandon Carbaugh

Sworn's scene was super cool, because it was truly one of those scenes that can only happen in a tabletop RPG, where there were two radically different outcomes to that situation, but the dice made one happen, and the instant it did, the universe of the story retroactively grew up around it like ivy, to be like "This was always the plan, this was always how this was going to go. Of course Suvi rattling the bars of her cage was going to result in damaged relationships."

B

can't listen to the discussion yet but I gotta say, the description is already a delight (as usual)! 👌

Sven the Scribe

'Suvi's not a horse girl she's a Trojan Horse girl.' - Damn it, Aabria! It's too early to laugh this hard

Wira Dwijati

Task as a R2-D2 type character is such a perfect companion for Suvi

Archon of Commoragh

"perhaps even sooner than you might think..." Give me not hope Taylor.

Cody Zimmer

He's DMing season 4 or something, I think. I saw an announcement saying something like that the other day.

Jonah

I didn’t realise how excited I would be about Brennan playing a character/Aabria DMing for wbn

BexXZilla

I have my fox and the Fireside chat came out on my Birthday I am happy 😊

bluebluebutton

I love the commentary on Suvi and Ame shaking hands in tactical snitchery, but beyond that: I love that both Suvi and Ame put agency back into Enzo, Cyril, and Vandal's hands. The ways in which they did were so indicative of who they are: Suvi gave Enzo free reign of the knowledge at her fingertips, and Ame gave him the tools for retribution via Pomeroy's true name. The wizard's wizarding and the witch is witching.

Dodo

I really like Christopher Eccleston for Sworn but in my head he will forever be Jude Law

Logan Farr

You mean I gotta wait a WHOLE WEEK to hear about Steel???

cubë

hearing brennan’s mushy feelings at the beginning was nice and you all should feel proud! i was sharing my love for book one with my friend and while trying to articulate my thoughts and feelings i realised the story you all have created is my favourite story, not just from actual play but novels, video games, film, tv, plays, the lot. and i can’t wait to see how it ends (for now) and where we go from here.

Lauren

SUVI THE TROJAN HORSE GIRL 😭

Violet McDonald

the accident of finding stars of the southern sky because of unrelated witchcraft feels like such a lil kiss back to Eioghorain’s playing it from the gut—the nemesis of wizard fascists eternal will always be playing it freaky

Molly Hebert-Wilson

I’m so with Erika the “I just want my parents to know my name” made me take a deep squat and breathe it hurt so much.

Ashe

The Sworn convo made me So Much Sadder!! I need him to come back, I need him to live, I NEED him 😭😭😭😭😭

Molly Hebert-Wilson

Nooooooooooo I just got 5 minutes further in to the “world building” extra about Sworn’s parents and I had to sit down 😭

hewhocutsdown

I would also add that harm to the Fox counts as harm to a witch

Tish.Tosh

fun fact: While "gay-ahss" is the widely accepted modern english pronunciation of the Word, "geas" is pronouced "gesh" in Irish (like "guess" but with an "sh" at the end instead of an "ss")

Rafi

Took 900 points of psychic damage with additional terribly sad sworn lore

Jahmell Blaise

Suvi is the Captain America of The Citadel

Grace Davis

Re: sworn, Brennan said Aabria played Suvi to “try to be soft first, and then bring bluster” and there was a missed opportunity for him to say “try to be soft first, and then stone.” Suvi really is both of her parents

Queen Motoko

The work boyfriend and bed boyfriend thing is killing me because I feel like I’ve been in that work box before

mageacademydropout

"To what exactly are you sworn?" has been kicking around in my head since I read that letter

Ellis

TWO!!!!!

Ellis

Welcome to the Rabid section

Nela

Oh wow thank you so much for answering my question! I hadn't considered Christopher Eccleson. Doesn't make that scene any less heartbreaking though 😭

The Wizard Sojourn

Gotta say, heavy disagree with Erika and Aabria on Grand gestures!! Everyday romance is everything and if you can buy flowers but you can't be thoughtful in the day to day I don't want it! Marry your work boyfriend who would follow you anywhere.

mageacademydropout

Also, "Suvi kinda has Luke Skywalker vibes but we'll get to that next week" 👀

Alyssa

Aabria: “Watching little hormone people be so down bad” Brennan: “…🫥I wrote an entire series of short stories” Erika and Aabria ganging up on Brennan/random 20 year old who once interned at The Daily Show about grand gestures had me dying 😂💀

Alyssa

“If he was yucky, I guess I’d be fucky…ed” is criminally underrated as a line here 🦊😂

PriscillaG

Let's get a Nif's adventures one shot! Gult and Hana in Toma. More Buckles!

whisp-error

SWORN AS CHRISTOPHER ECCLESTON IS SO GOOOOOOD incredible thank you brennan

zkbeeblebrox

I'm 23 and still feeling my romantic emotions at "the most you've ever felt a thing at one time in your life thus far" levels... hell I started listening to this podcast because of a crush and now I'm on the patreon of my own free will so like sometimes it's not that bad 😂

Jules

wait steel is the citadel's obi-wan & suvi is the citadel's anakin. one man's freedom fighter etc etc. (i paused the episode like 7 minutes in to deliver this hot take fresh off the presses)

Alana Turnbull

"turned up on a blueberry" is that a burrow end reference i spy?! also this ep killed me

CommodoreBlue

STEEL IS CALROY CRULLER!! I’ve been saying it since arc 1

The Wizard Seeker

I interpreted this very differently from Aabria though. I thought that if Fox had still been in the other room he would have gotten merc’d by Steel and Ame would have gone in a VERY different direction. Not sure where his cuteness came in, but maybe we’ll find out next episode?

Alyssa

Erika talking about how accurate Sworn’s internal, layered drunk thoughts are actually blew me away when I remembered that Brennan has never had a drink!!! 🤯 It’s one thing to play villains with depth and sincerity, because that level of imagination and empathy feels more accessible than being able to accurately imagine the internal thoughts of an altered state that you have never experienced!

Alyssa

I think the cuteness comes in with the idea that Suvi would not have invited a yucky familiar into the room/scene with her, but because the Fox is a cutie-patootie that Aabria is obsessed with, Suvi did invite the Fox in and cuddled up with and that plays positive for next episode. Perhaps a bit of accidental foreshadowing on Aabria’s part that the Fox is integral to Suvi not dying in the next episode? Since Aabria already knows what is going to happen since the episodes were recorded a while ago!

Jules

not me crying because Sworn's parents fought to keep him from being drafted

Alyssa

I’ve been cramming a re-listen of the entirety of Book 1 and the Firesides before the finale and I am highly recommend it! The earlier Firesides especially give me such a new appreciation for the depth and breath of character that they have all put into their characters and this story 💜

Bonnie Calderwood Aspinwall

I'm gonna get called out at work for the face journey I'm going on through this Sworn convo, I swear to god

cowabungholio

"just absolutely turned up on a blueberry" 😂

CommodoreBlue

Lou is gone for one FC and Erika and Aabria just absolutely team up on Brennan to give him the harshest verbal lashing over an important lesson he learned in his younger years. Love it.

Genna

As a non-romantic I'm team Jon Stewart 😂 my rational ass brain loved that shit Brennan (as Jon) was saying. Give me consistency baby, you can keep your grand gestures (yes yes I know I'm booooring)

Alyssa

Yeah, this backstory hurts 💔🗡️

clara

Um Actually adventuring academy

zkbeeblebrox

SCREAMING OVER THIS IDEA THAT WOULD BE INSANE

Bonnie Calderwood Aspinwall

Truly same, I'm literally at my standing desk at work and keep having to take a seat and stare into the abyss repeatedly

David Stavis

I am so excited to rewatch Book 1 after the finale. I cannot WAIT to hear Brennan as Steel sound normal and friendly while knowing he is the evilest bitch in all of literature of all time.

David Stavis

I wonder if Brennan is good at playing drunk people BECAUSE he's always sober while watching them behave drunkenly. Maybe drunk people can't remember other drunk people's behavior as clearly!

David Stavis

Shit, CommodoreBlue was right all along and we didn't listen. Shame on us.

Alyssa

I totally think that’s it 100% for external behaviors! He was a bartender in Manhattan at some point of his life, so he had front-row seats to the external behaviors of drunk people. But I still can’t quite wrap my head around how he so successfully transferred that to the internal thoughts of a drunk man!

Alyssa

Maybe he just has a toddler and toddler’s are basically tiny drunk people that verbalize as many thoughts as they are able and also have that overlapping, layered, and conflicting thoughts on different wavelengths at the same time 😂

Julia Whitmore

The Loyal Dog trope is already heartbreaking when the character is allowed to follow their glorious leader anywhere and forgo all other bonds/values in devout service. This was already a loaded trope. But the fact that Sworn wasn't able to fulfil that makes it more heartbreaking than if he had. He would have followed her anywhere. But that's not how things went.

DaphneDawn

She’s been The Wizard Steal this whole time

The Wizard Cass

The null clef is something that is talked about at the end of arc one. the citadel essentially teaches that the “indicative reflective note”is an important part of the somatic components (hand movement) for almost any spell. when reading through her parents’ notes, Suvi finds a version of mending that has a null clef where the indicative reflexive would go, meaning that it can be cast without that particular hand movement.

mitchell branch

I haven't cried because of fire side until today thanks Erika

Ashton Johnson

Just such a wonderful opportunity to have experienced this week by week and now reaching the end. It truly is such an epic tale that is unlike any other piece of media I’ve ever enjoyed. WBN and WWW will forever be apart of me in ways I cannot even put into words. Thank you for such a wonderful experience ❤️

Zachary

The profundity of each of these players and their ability to twist my heart into pieces both light as laughter and heavy as loss makes my morning walks listening to these episodes as emotionally invigorating as they are meant to be physical.

Rachael

The TWIST at the ending of the most recent episode had me FLOORED. You four are the greatest storytellers of our time. Looking forward to the finale next week!!!! ❤️

Molly Swanhorst

I am fully crying over Sworn’s story harder than in the Nat 1 scene. I am distraught.

The Spirit of Vicious Inspiration

Ame could deliver a touch spell to Suvi through the fox, that was my interpretation. not sure which one that'd be, or maybe it was just getting the fox into the "safety" of the near-spirit room, but that's my take on it

Júlia Vincent Rubiolo

Next adventure's name is space p**sy??? LOOOOVE IT! Taylor's descriptions are wild, but this one is incredible.

Erin

I just need hours of your unedited thoughts about Steel. She has been my girl and now my heart is broken.

Cody Hasselbring

The romantic gesture crash out was so funny and important to me 😂😂😂

Charisma Teeth

Oh, I think the gloves are off. Brennan gave us just an itty bitty taste of Steel's malice in that single line, but mommy mad. Mommy is big mad.

The Spirit of Vicious Inspiration

my regular tuesday morning running route includes going over a bridge where the subway trains go by, which drowns out whatever i'm listening to for a few seconds. usually these aren't released that early but they were today, and i was ready to pause the convo when a train rolled by to not miss anything... but it was at the exact moment where Erika went OFF on the "don't do big romantic gestures" point and they were so emphatic and loud i could hear them over the train. well done Erika, well done

David Stavis

Greatest storytellers of our time! Needs to be said!!

CommodoreBlue

Aabria mentions towards the end holding a new conclave for the war vote. But didn’t Hakea say that the coven can’t vote on the same issue again for at least a year? I think she says it’s more protocol than deep magic, but would they be willing to look past that?

Tommy Deibel

For 3 chapters, I was saying: "Why aren't you trusting Steel more?!" ...and now... I...

David Stavis

That is interesting 🤔 like why would he know what drunk thoughts are like if he's never had them. Maybe he's seen drunk people try to SAY 3 things at once, which is very recognizable, and then was like, well if someone did that but it was telepathy, the mouth movements wouldn't get in the way and all 3 sentences would go through. Then it's not him knowing what drunk thoughts are like, but just thinking "what if this but that".

domino

Not sure how I got here from this fireside chat but my fan cast of the fox is gianmarco soresi

The Wizard Stream

Not the "do that little dance you do" to the ink demons 😂

Abigail Agnew

BUT THE HORSE IS OKAY AT THE END, RIGHT?????? WE SEE ATREYU AND THE HORSE IS OKAY AT THE END ISNT IT?????????????

clafford

It's a part of the lingua arcana that is not mechanically necessary, but is taught as such by the citadel. I think it has to do with their ability to track citadel trained wizards' spells being cast.

Name

The Wizard Stream

Speaking of Erika I am also crying over Sworn's lines

Keith Prescott

let's get justin travis and griffin by the fireside!

Louis Magallanes Jr.

Ok so spoilers i guess? So Ami was cursed when Suvi returned the second time as an adult, with the book and scroll that Steel gave them?

confusedtealseal

That's how I have been understanding the situation as well which is TERRIBLE oh my god this show

Carrie Mook Bridgman

"The most important crit I've ever rolled," hmmm, Aabria? You didn't say which kind of crit when you told us it was coming up.

Carrie Mook Bridgman

If you haven't seen this before, run, don't walk, to Dropout.tv and watch Misfits and Magic. It's this cast plus Danielle Radford. The first season starts as a parody of HP but quickly becomes its own thing. We also have Aabria as GM and Brennan as PC in A Court of Fey and Flowers and in Burrow's End. Three wildly different stories, all great.

Felix

Eccleston is a great choice, the "I would have followed you anywhere." line fits so well.

A T

If Suvi didn’t take the fox in would Steel have assumed Ame was in the room and popped off some killing magic before seeing Suvi?

Felix

also i'm dreaming of a one-shot where the 3 players, doesn't matter which, get to be the ink demons. could be set in whatever they do to the collection.

Carrie Mook Bridgman

Unless you're a Nac Mac Feegle, in which case it is pronounced like, and occasionally confused with, "geese."

Kalunyx

Yes! The moment Suvi brought it cross the threshold..

Louis Magallanes Jr.

Evil spells that rely on kindness are really the darkest spells for me…

Raquel Blacken

Do I know Steel is bad? Yes. Do I know how evil she is? No. Am I prepared to still love her once i know the depths of darkness in her heart(or lack there of)? Always.

Velhelm

I didn't know who Christopher Eccleston was before this, but it is *exactly* how I pictured Sworn. And the Man in Black is Clint Eastwood

Alyssa

For real! Homophones were hiding her true nature using the medium of podcasts. Written storytelling would’ve outed her right away

Alyssa

Both protocol and deep magic can also often be easily side stepped with some careful language. They could just change the language of what they’re voting on from “go to war with the Citadel” to “destroy the Citadel tower” or some other such thing. Common fairytale trope, especially in Celtic folklore, which could be used to sidestep the “can’t vote on same issue twice” thing if the next Book of the WWW lands on a Coven of Elders reunion

Kit

THANK YOU I SUPPORT WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND ALSO WOMEN'S WRONGS 😤

Kit

Fellow Steel fans can I get a head count on how many of us are just self-aware mommy issues lesbians 😅

Raquel Blacken

Exactly! I dont need her to love me back. My love is enough for the both of us. Am I Slate? I might be Slate. .... idk...

Kit

Cursed but relatable

Kiera Faye

Brennan as Soft talking about, "Wizardry is free - there's nothing wrong with wizardry. Whatever in this place that there is to be opposed to is not something intrinsic about who we are and the craft we practice. It is the specific choices of people and the systems they have built to serve ends that we don't have to agree with." As someone who has chosen to follow Christ the Liberator but is watching Christian Nationalism strangling the marginalized with chains... this is very important to me.

Kiera Faye

WAIT, do you think C4 is set in Umora?!

Sanja Trinki

For sure Steel will lose a hand. I stand by it.

CarpeBootium

Ok, I want to both thank and curse John Hughes the thirsty gestures that brought out the frenzy of romance that overcame Erika and Aabria. But if Lohan shows up at Ame’s cottage holding a Bard over his head, all is forgiven. Brennan, your call!

Lex Beckley

No she wouldn’t have known Ame was around at all! So fox being there means she has to find Ame and likely Eursulon which keeping Suvi alive expedites.

AL2VAR .

Like, it's kinda obvious who is going to be cleaning Suvi's tower, and she already proved extremely capable researcher.

Josh Grey

“There’s a reason Suvi treats guild mages like this” really elucidated for me why I made some character choices I made as a DM recently that I hadn’t really put into context when playing a PC’s family, where I was putting her character traits into her family but I hadn’t actually thought about the actual process as to why that was important. So good. And to see how deep it goes with Suvi, Steel, Soft, and Stone is awesome.

Aviva

Erika nailed it perfectly. RIP Cyril 🥀

Rebecca Mackintosh

Honestly the thing I’m most intrigued by regarding Steel after everything we now know is why she would choose to marry and have children with Sonder. He seems like a chill, underachieving Wizard, which seems the complete opposite of the kind of man Steel would want to be the father of her kids. My only guess is that she wanted to marry someone that would never challenge or question her work but I would really love to know Brennans answer.

Carrie Mook Bridgman

He is once again exploring the jungles of Panama. Really hope he's back for the final Fireside(s).

PriscillaG

I think there's a world in which Steel understands that Sonder not caring really about Citadel business means he won't ask a lot of questions. And starting a family might also be part of her cover. Suvi's parents had a whole hideout that was also partially in the near spirit! I don't think it's outside the realm of possibility for Steel to create a family as part of her own cover.

Udoka

Had to stop listening to yous talking about Sworn, especially now that I know he looks like my favourite Doctor… you really know how to break my heart 😭

PriscillaG

Hear me out... Jason from The Good Place. Naive but makes sense and comes thru when you least expect.

Udoka

Jude Law gives dirtbag posh boy energy (which Suvi mistook Sworn for so maybe) but Christopher Eccleston? Our Northern, republican, working class hero? He fits.

Muadwho

Sworn=Bearded Eccleston. Heard.

Emily C

I cried so hard during Suvi and Sworn's scene

Aviva

That scene absolutely warrants the devastated child’s pose. Pretty sure I face planted on my bed listening to Suvi and Sworn in that beer hall. Oof.

Stiltpuppy

I'm not worried about Steel. She literally said "i will not survive another disappointment". She's gone done told us how to kill her

Aviva

Oh nooo. That bit about resisting recruitment. Brutal, Brennan. Well done, because that really hurts my heart a lot.

Theo Lee

Not me immediately needing to listen to MCR after aaaaaaaall these heart wrenching facts about Sworn being topped off with the fact that he looks like my favorite Doctor 😭

Sean Boyce

Ladies, gentlemen and friends of all identity, get you the partner that does the grand gesture because the grist of life is worth it with you, not to earn an 8th second chance. I once filled a notepad on my wife’s phone with “YOU GOT GOT” and a whole day spa, museum, and transpo/train itinerary while I painted our kitchen cabinets. I still love just going through the mail with her. 10yrs and counting. You can have both.

Alyssa

Critical Role Campaign 4 announced that Brennan is GMing and also that it’s a new world, presumably not Exandria…and Taylor cryptically writes we’re returning to the world of Umora “perhaps even sooner than you might think…” What are the chances that CR Campaign 4 takes place in Umora? And utilizes Darrington Press to publish more physical print content from the world of Umora?

bails 🌀 witch of the what the fuck

I need someone to make fanart of Vandal behind that scrolling LED “young, dumb, and full of… you know ;)” STAT ‼️‼️

Travis Zimmerman

All groups of three brothers is the same so Which ink demon is which Mcelroy?

Connor Mahoney

Hey wait does Suvi die. Or. Was that a joke. Please say psych.

EternalSongbird

I swear, if we did a vibe check with the three, Ame and Eursalon are inside Howl's Castle while Suvi is literally in the heart of the destruction during the war scenes we only see at a distance in the film, like my gods lol

rayrayswimusic

How am I supposed to be okay after learning more about Sworn. Brennan and Aabriya what have you done to me?!

A Wizard Savannah, certainly not ‘the’

It would be sooooo interesting for book 2 for both Suvi and Steel to walk away from that room having made the choices they’ve made, but who knows how things will go? Also, the kindest and most grateful ‘how dare you’ to Mr Lee Mulligan for the Sworn lore. I was at the gym sir, please warn a girl next time!

Aviva

Guess that would mean it’s finally time for me to plunge into CR. It’s… intimidating. 😬

Aviva

It’ll be the *first* end of a book. He better be! 😩

Brian Sexton

There's also the fact that you can cast a spell through your familiar, so maybe Ame will be able to curse Steel and help Suvi get out of there via the fox

Alyssa

Same. I’ve only watched Calamity and part of Wildemount Wildlings. I’ve been meaning to watch the Exandria Unlimited Prime that Aabria DMed but even that is intimidating with 8 episodes, each being 3-4+ hours long…

Conor Steinke

"and they found you on THE BATHROOM FLOOR"

Aviva

Sean. Tell us your secrets. Or just me. That’s fine too.

Aviva

You win the Internet for me today. 👏🏽

Aviva

Calm down, Kristin Applebees.

MFingWhiterunGuard

So is it confirmed now that Sworn is dead/or going to die? He was one of my favorites. Dammit. 😢

MFingWhiterunGuard

Guess we'll find out. Idk how she can get out of this room with Steel blocking her exit.

Bog Station: Remembrance

I loved every minute of this conversation. Thank you, Erika, Aabria, Brennan, & Taylor, for having these delicious conversations in a manner that we can hear them. My writer brain is so happy.

CW

And I am ROOTING for that treason to be glorious.

Theo Lee

Trust me, I'm nooot oookaaay

Bog Station: Remembrance

I think this is why the fox is key. Putting the fox inside with Suvi (and Task) allows Ame to work magic through him, giving Suvi an ally in the room.

Bog Station: Remembrance

Also, Fox would have been taken out by Steel first if he’d stayed outside. Y’all we are about to see some shit GO DOWN next episode…

TheodoreKnob

Can we pleeease get Taylor on the Fire Side Chat some time?

Bog Station: Remembrance

Even beyond this, let’s think about what the descriptor “indicative reflexive” means— to indicate the spell being conjured and bounce something back to the source. I think they use this language modification to skim Erath (magic power) off each spell for use by archmagi. It also allows them to track it. So it’s not just extra spell slots into the Erath account, it’s a tax on each and every spell.

Rebecca Mackintosh

Yes this is a great point. Also would make sense that she would want it to be someone she could easily manipulate.

CW

Look, I dunno what wrecked me more, hearing about Soft & Stones first date or hearing the Suvism's pop up through out their exchange 🥹🥹🥹

Blaize Gordon

I cant wait for next week's episode! I'll be sure to enjoy it by taking the whole day off work and cuddling/sobbing into my brand new fox plushie! He just came in and is so amazing! Thank you Brennan and gang for all your amazing work!

Bog Station: Remembrance

Cheer up, in just ONE week we get to live and die and weep and shit our pants listening about Steel. And whatever else the fuck Brennan had waiting for the end.

natasha

I love hearing 2 grown adults who are actually attracted to men react to a jaded 20 something straight dudes dating advice. Amazing! Lmfao

Jonah

Funny you should say this misfits and magic was actually my introduction to both Aabria and Brennan as actual play people and I love burrows end and acofaf, I’m specifically excited to see Aabria/Brennan in those roles with the wbn style of actual play. (I also just realised mismag would have been my first time seeing Erika and Lou in anything aswell)

Carrie Mook Bridgman

There was suspicion earlier because Yulia referred to Eursulon as an Honored Friend when she shouldn't have known that. From this episode, I think she's just an eager, enthusiastic assistant. I hope so.

Stephan Krosecz

Legitimately I cannot think of a better way to promote more people joining as Patrons than releasing the segment of Erika and Aabria screaming at "Jon Stewart" for talking Brennan down from a romantic gesture.

The Wizard Smith

For the record I've been picturing a sworn as slimmer Eoin Macken/ Noah Wyle type.

Bog Station: Remembrance

There’s nothing to indicate that C4 will be set in Umora. BUT wouldn’t it be fucking rad if the Critical Role team were by the Fireside with us the whole time and loved this world as much as we do? And when Brennan pitched it, Mercer and Co. were like “Hell yes” and this means we get Matt playing a Rhuvian Chalice Warlock? Cause damn.

Stephan Krosecz

Also "I just want my parents to know my name" hit me hard too, great line with so much emotion packed into such a compact space.

Carrie Mook Bridgman

Not quite confirmed, but it sure sounds like he's done for. Damn and blast.

Lux ❤︎

Nope, Brennan’s campaign is in a setting apart from the rest of CR, no need to slog through their endless unedited backlogs

Ren Challacombe

wait do i now have to picture my literal dad as sworn?? my dad’s always been compared to christopher eccleston. i was thinking a more idris elba type for sworn in my headcanon.

Theo Lee

This was the thought racing through my head nonstop this entire conversation. I'm not ready to lose him 🥲

Theo Lee

Aabria responded to an ask about this on Tumblr. She basically said, Suvi is a tactician who has been punching above her weight class this entire game and she's still here. So I don't think we should count Suvi out. It's going to be one helluva fight, for sure! But I'm excited to see how she (hopefully) gets out of it alive.

KT

Aabria’s “Suvi’s not a horse girl, she’s a Trojan horse girl” killed me 😆

Theo Lee

YEEEESSSSSS this is the energy we needed!!!

Susannah B.

Depends on what happens. If a bunch of rogue spirits get unleashed he may be able to sneak away

Susannah B.

I don't think Steel has it in her to kill Suvi. She's put too much work into her

Bria A.

They are steadily releasing abridged versions, to be fair.

KamasiFitzgerald

Idkk, I can very much see Steel taking the “if I can’t have you no one can” route 🙃

Kat S.

Vandal: Griffin Enzo: Justin Cyril: Travis

Bria A.

I wish with everything in me that we had not gotten this Sworn lore because it is implying, to me, that he's done for. And I don't like that! 😭

The Wizard Subjudice

Your stories have ripped the sinew of my heart out through my ribcage, and I still need to thank you for them because they've saved me from some of the worst days of my life that have happened in the last two years. Your stories give me an out from my life when it gets sh!t that is not unhealthy or permanent (not something I'm at risk of, only meant as a simple statement that stories can save us from the worst parts of what our brains are capable of,) that I had not found in many years. Years ago, Brennan dropped a "go look for Garen daddy and see what happens, we can start Aabria's campaign early!" And it's lived rent free in my head since... I've been excited for what's coming since. Cannot wait to see what you've got planned.

Giovanni Gabriele

We’re gunna be crying next week aren’t we 😢

Kanna Nakamura

I very badly need a Task figure/plushie! I love Task so much. I wish I could say it was a tie between Task and the Fox for which familiar is my favorite but my heart is screaming that its Task. But! The Fox is definitely a very close second favorite.

golove.

I've been picturing a Westworld-era Jeffrey Wright as Sworn this whole time ...

Ana Jones

Cannot wait for Ame to do revenge!

J. Polin

Now THIS is podcasting

Molly mc

I think brennan was going to have steel kill the fox if Suvi didn't call him into her arms, I think that's what he meant by saying it is the most impactful thing in this campaign and dear goddddd that's the worst.

Lee Chirtel

It's actually a very clever move to make the Citadel (or at least Wizardry) have a redeemable core beyond the institutional choices they and the Empire made. This is both because it makes the Man in Black and the Witches not just directly correct (a problem that The Last Ringbearer had), but because the destruction of the Citadel would not be a good ending. The reason is that any great power planning a decisive first strike (a counter force strategy) first makes sure that it has a secure second strike (or dead hand) back up that blows up everyone even if they lose. Like, I'm sure some of that recycled magic goes to make a sort of magical Yelowstone Caldera like thing ready to blow up if the Citadel falls.

TisWhatSheSaid

Looking forward to character gen session where Aabria rolls Jeff for book two.

Beignet Gesserit

Thank you for the clarification of “ big natural ones.” Sometimes the freestyle writing of the episode descriptions takes us…places

Lulu

Sign me up for the emotional rollercoaster of the century!

DaphneDawn

Getting a real Sanderson Sisters vibe from the ink demon brothers. Some Hocus Pocus shit. Brothers, we fly!!! 🌖

DaphneDawn

Stoked for “The witch, the wild one, and Walter”

Adarsh Nednur

I had a much darker thought, which is that she was going to kill Suvi if the fox wasn't in her arms but now she'd have to kill the fox too and then Ame would know something had happened

Adarsh Nednur

Just cuz it's a bad idea in hindsight, doesn't mean it was bad at the time! Our hearts are just too trusting I guess 😢

Adarsh Nednur

I feel very positive they agree and are just kidding lmao

Adarsh Nednur

Soooo I have to ask the group: do we think Sworn x Suvi is romance-coded? 👀 My assumption was that Sworn is quite a bit older than Suvi so maybe not, but I mean... the chemistry is *certainly* there, and Aabria even says something like "Suvi is a true romantic at heart" in reference to Sworn in this fireside chat so... interested what everyone else thinks 🤔 (Hopefully he doesn't die so we can actually get an answer)

The Wizard Seek

My thought was that familiars can deliver touch spells on behalf of their witches, and also, the ability for Ame and Eursulon to know that things at 28 Caterwaul lane just got a *lot* more dangerous. I think the fox calling for help and/or being a conduit for Ame's magic is part of what makes it a big deal move.

The Wizard Squeamish

my take is that if suvi pursues romance with him it would be kind of doomed because the second half of the mission they bonded over was dedicated to saving her dearly departed boyfriend but i do like the way aabria distinguishes between bedroom boyfriend and work boyfriend, sworn might be a good comrade for suvi, even if not a new boyfriend IMMEDIATELY after steel and slate got silver killed

The Wizard Squeamish

you've heard of "gonna kill that dog", but this summer get ready for "gonna kill that cool dog AND you in the same thrust of my sword"

The Wizard Subjudice

What artificer infusion is being ridden, and why is it Cyril riding it?

The Wizard Subjudice

I hope it's so Amé gets a retributive curse off and wrecks Steele's shit... THE SERENDIPITY OF IT

Beanz

Brennan, your comment on the fox's importance in that final scene is poking at an odd discomfort I recently noticed. I guess I could go back and find specific scenes but there has been an episode or two that made me question your playing of the fox. Like, no, you don't have to be a perfect actor all the time, but there have been some scenes where I questioned if the fox was actually the fox. Like, your words and tone. I'm not saying that someone other than Ame can fuck around in the fox's head but I wouldn't be surprised if that can and had happened "recently." And, of course, Task's panic did not help that concern...

Beanz

Has the group finished recording the finale? My brain doesn't entirely understand the recording vs. releasing timeline.

my guy

im fascinated about what would’ve happened if ame and eursulon had waited to “break the curse” with steel instead of doing it on their own with wavebreaker. how radically different the story could be if steel and the citadel continued to manipulate ame in the way they had

Emma

I’m also there’s something up with The Fox theorist. I don’t know what but I don’t currently trust that that’s our Fox (happy to eat my hat in a week though)

Max Myers

If task is r2d2 then the fox is barf from spaceballs

Beanz

Yeah. Something feels bad. I assumed Steel knew where this apartment was but I don't actually know that.

Erica Eather

rip sworn u would’ve loved mcr (if sworn dies im gonna disintegrate)

Carrie Mook Bridgman

I hope not! And I think the relationship works better without that.

Carrie Mook Bridgman

I have been really surprised by the number of people thinking this. To me, the Fox feels like the Fox.

Mari MH

I will fight about big romantic gestures! Brennan's momentary mentor was spot on. Romantic gestures are for when a relationship is already working about you wanna make someone feel special. They aren't for apologies and they aren't for ignoring a No.

Aster

Yeah I have no idea what folks are talking about?? I'm pretty sure Fox being present is going to be pivotal just because it means Steel can safely assume that Ame is not far.

Castermane

To add to the discourse on Sworns appearance, personally love Brennan’s thought of Christopher Eccelson, however may I suggest… Mandy Patinkin.

rio

I had assumed that it was because the Fox has unlimited distance on telepathy and familiar vision, meaning Ame and Eursulon will be alerted immediately At first, I thought that Ame wouldn’t be able to cast a curse through the Fox at first, but checking the rules for the updated witch class, it seems the curse can be placed from any distance if the familiar is *attacked* specifically. But also Brennan’s happy to bend the rules for cool story.

Jimmy Anthon

No! I still have hope Sworn will come out okay and be on Suvi side.

SBTrees

I think you are spot on. I also think that's a part of why she is disappointed in her own children. Sonder won't push or as questions and it sounds like her kids weren't super ambitious either. For Steel that would be a positive in a spouse, but a negative in progeny.

SBTrees

Aabria haa talked about how she is exploring what it means to be a black woman who is also part of a colonizing empire through Suvi. Part of her inspiration was being an American traveling abroad right now. I felt like this quote really rung true about any organization, group, country that is sliding into cruelty.

Shreyas Joshi

Sworn's parents not being allowed to know his name as a punishment for not wanting to be separated from their child breaks my heart a little more every time I think about it. Imagine talking to your parents but never again being able to hear your name from their lips but instead they must speak a title given to you by those that stole that name.

Cumbia Zookeeper

Paper Mario was EXACTLY what my brain did with Reverie

Wizard Sencha

Sworn is whatever you imagine him be

Beanz

To be fair, Brennan has given us lots of reasons to be paranoid about anyone being themselves. But I just realized that now /Ame/ knows where /Steel/ is and Ame's not going to Be Kind when she sees her...

RuviGaPo

Man.. "build a world that justifies the characters" just hit me like a ton of bricks I Love character driven stories but ive always considered it to be about prioritizing focus on the characters Over focus on the world, but this is just reitterating that you can Build a world that not only aligns w the characters but that Justifies their existence. Iunno that just felt So Cool and i don't even think brennan was trying to be profound

Beanz

Bedroom Boyfriend & Work Boyfriend: 😭 great wording for a frustrating concept. How dare.

Milly Farouki

With all the love, grand romantic gestures can be awful. From experience, it's really hard to say no to grand romantic gestures and you can end up in some pretty dark places. It's amazing to express your love for your partner but this 20-something is onto something imo. If it's more about you than the other person, take a minute.

RuviGaPo

IT'S SO VALIDATING BTW that even aabriya was surprised by parts of Steel I Also hate twist villains which is why i held out hope for steel for this whole time and am Absolutely Crushed rn I keep seeing comments like "it's obvious" and I DON'T THINK THAT !! i dont think it was obvious and like Even if it was, i don't think being surprised by a twist means you've interacted w the source matterial wrong. If anything i'm experiencing the story as its own thing, disconnected from tropes and trends, bc it's Just That Immersive, AND IS THAT NOT THE GOAL OF STORIES so Yeah im Crushed. Im Freaked out. And i CANNOT WAIT for next week

RuviGaPo

Hear me out: a ship need not be canon to be romance coded in my heart ♡

RuviGaPo

Like i know shes ended bloodlines but if she killed the fox id've been so inconsolable and freaked tf out

RuviGaPo

As much as Eccleston has the vibe aaalmost just about right (imo) I REFUSE TO BELIEVE HE HAS THAT LITTLE HAIR (this is hyperbole btw)

TheWizardSloth

For my fellow FFXIV players... Estinien.

Witch of the Well Stocked Snack Cabinet

This is the reason I assumed the fox was a pivotal player in that scene - it means Suvi gets back-up. Especially because of the way that Aabria was thanking Ame for having a cute familiar and said that without the fox Suvi would've been fucked. Surely none of those things make sense in a world where Fox is a snitch

Witch of the Well Stocked Snack Cabinet

Well the beauty of them starting the next campaign in a new world is that you can just start with that and not have to worry about getting into the mountains of lore that came before until you're ready!

Beanz

I can think of ways to make it work, but I would prefer not to. I hope the fox is just being a doof.

Witch of the Word and Spark

When Abria says around 29:30 that something pinged for her what is she talking about ? I'm confused help

Ryn

Trojan Horse Girl 🤣😭

Carrietheteam

I had a hunch about steel after the geas that she’s been sculpting Suvi. Like we know. When wizards have time, they win and Steel has spent TIME rewriting Suvi

Ryan

She's saying that she was noticing or "pinging" weird things of note, but only realizing why they were weird later. So noticing Steel has a big reaction to suggesting modifying Silver's memory was "pinged", later realizing that Steel had already done so which caused that reaction. Essentially just identifying puzzle pieces about Steel's actions vs putting them together.

Ellis

I was picturing Nic Cage or Pedro Pascal, but I really like Eccleston as Sworn

Ellis

I've been suspecting Steel since the Children's adventure, I hate that I'm right, but if you're the leader of the fascist army, you're probably fascist, right?

RuviGaPo

Oh this pedro guy is cute! (Love ppl's hcs) I don't have a face hc actually But it is important to me that he has slicked back military hair that flops in his face when he's off duty

Devon

Goosebumps reading this

Rebecca Mackintosh

I don’t think of it as Romantic personally. I think of them more as kindred spirits. I think they recognise parts of themselves in each other so they formed a strong bond through mutual understanding.

Katie

That Sworn backstory drop 😭😭😭

John Folmer

I finally caught up! Just before this book ends too!!

RuviGaPo

I mean yes ?? I suppose ?? but also there was a point made in arc two fireside that they wanted umora to not have direct real world paralells so i haven't Tried to ascribe any real world paralells ?? Steel has been my adopted auntie this entire time im in Shambles 😆

The Wizard Sojourn

Fascist doesn't mean you'd kill your friends and raise their daughter to be a grenade. I also suspected Steel was doing messed up stuff for the Citadel, but really believed she cared about Suvi. It's a well-told story that she can be complex, and we can see her faults the whole time and still be surprised.

The Wizard Sojourn

And putting that credit where it's due- "dancing backwards in heels"- is so right! Building a world that informs the characters that informs the world is such an incredible skill.

Devon

Can we get confirmation on the spelling of Steal? Because this is how I’m spelling it now. When we learned of the wand of covenant and knew there were evil coded motivations beneath the might of wizards I thought “fuck it, make Suvi the Witch of Wizardry, head of her own coven” 😂 she would have a cooler name than that but you get the idea.

The Wizard Sojourn

I'm curious if Steel took a nap like Suvi begged her to or not, because Mama hasn't slept since the battle of twelve brooks, otherwise this wouldn't be much of a fight. Also curious how quickly Ame's curse can get to her, but I'm having a hard time seeing either of them finishing the other off.

RuviGaPo

Yeah, i agree w this i think actually! Thanks for putting it into words. I definitely thought she cared about Suvi as a person at the very least? But it seems now that she's just raised her to be a pawn? Gut wrenching! I feel ill just thinking about it ;;

The Wizard Sojourn

Yeah I'm really curious what she meant by that. Something is chasing her and she's exhausted, I think Suvi and the fox (who I believe Ame can cast spells through) can take her

RuviGaPo

STEEL N O XDD (ty for that im saving it forever)

RuviGaPo

E X A C T L Y the man thinks in four dimensions .. (20? Dimensions?? Ill see myself out)

Witch of What Now

I might be wrong but I think at this level witches can cast spells through their familiars? There's gotta be a big curse brewin'

Witch of What Now

I think even the evil (and I do still carry the assumption that Steel really did care about something that wasn't Citadel power at some point) can want a soft place to go home to. Maybe Sonder predates what she became, and maybe she sees him as a connection to that. Maybe this relationship helps her sleep at night.

Witch of What Now

My partner does the everyday AND the flowers and years in I am insufferably smug and besotted

Witch of What Now

My Irish is... bad, but would it not be 'gyass', like 'go deas'? Could be my half memory or a Mumhan thing tho

Beanz

I haven't read the class info. That would be *insane*.

Lee Chirtel

Also you have to think about what the Curse is. I bet it isn't going to be just at Steel on a personal level, but a professional one. I.E., I bet they'll turn this room in the near spirit into a sort of shrine/sanctuary place that connects to the Cottage, on pain of like magical death and/or voting to unite the Coven. So Steel is all about no loose ends, and this becomes the biggest secret loose end she has to cover up or the the glass liches and other archmages demote her.

Luke

God, I hope that 100-page lore document Brennan was talking about in the fireside chat for chapter 3 drops once the final episode is out. Those lore snippets about the internal workings of the citadel re:names and parents is SO interesting.

Marlowe19

I was thinking back on Brennan's line about how two great workings of magic were done within twenty seconds, both connected to Suvi. We now know what the second was: bestowing a highly technical curse by delivering a highly technical "book." But I find the first particularly fascinating. Though this episode was primarily about Steel, is anyone up for some rampant speculation about the Man in Black? SPOILERS AND SPECULATION BELOW So how did Suvi stepping on a road free the Man in Black? We learned a lot about his nature over the course of the last several episodes. We already knew he was a great spirit, but now we know for sure that he's a spirit of the world of men. A spirit of roads. Specifically, a spirit of (at least in large part) travel on those roads. He cannot leave roads, and he cannot stop traveling - the reason he likes crossroads (including and maybe especially the well) is that it affords him a chance to rest. Brennan even indicated why: because at crossroads it is not yet certain where his destination is, which I interpret to mean that he is compelled by his nature to travel towards a destination. No destination, no need to travel right away. Incidentally, I believe this sheds some light on why he hates wizards so damn much. Great spirits like Naram are tied to extremely powerful natural elements - Naram is a great spirit because his breath, his essence, is tied to the impossibly powerful ocean. He's not going to stop being a great spirit unless you literally drain the sea or, as in the case of the Great Bullfrog, conduct some ritual to sever the connection between a spirit and the spirit's breath. in short, he'd be a great spirit with or without the existence of humans, though humans could theoretically destroy or alter that which makes him a great spirit. But the Man in Black's breath is tied to roads - and, specifically, traveling down them with particular intent. This would mean that the more people are using roads - the more central roads are to life in Umora - the more powerful his breath is. So the more there are things like war with marching soldiers, pilgrimages or visits to family members, and, above all, trade, the more powerful the MIB is. But wizards are fucking with all of that. The most massive trade stream in the world is going not over roads, but through portals. Wizards have found a ton of ways to bypass roads: they can fly, teleport, etc. What happens to the Man in Black if everyone is using a damn hovercar or a teleportation stone to move around? The Citadel represents an existential threat to the Man in Black - it's a dagger through the heart of his world specifically because they threaten to make his very essence obsolete. How does all this tie into Suvi? Well, Suvi, for most of her life, has been magically invisible to great spirits. Presumably, as long as she's not actually in the Man in Black's domain - i.e., on a road - he would not be able to discern her presence. The Man in Black appears to be, by his nature, compelled to keep moving forward with intent - towards a destination. What if Grandmother Wren trapped him by somehow compelling him (perhaps through magic as simple as a cleverly worded bargain) to make his next destination Suvi? If he then could not sense where she was, he had no ability to know where his destination was, meaning he COULDN'T move forward with intent. He'd be trapped. The second Suvi set foot on that road, he knew where she was - and he could move again simply because he now knew where to go. Speculation over. It's worth noting here that I am absolutely in love with this story and this world and I don't give a damn if every single word above is incorrect, because that would mean the existence of yet more fun theories and expert worldbuilding.

Blades Dragonic

Remember when the man in black said “the citadel is a knife plunged into the world’s heart”? Well I think we now know what material the blade is: Steel

Mack Whaley

Thinking about how if Suvi didn’t pick up the Fox, Steel probably would have killed him and Ame wouldn’t have been able to find Suvi again 👀💭

Mack Whaley

I wonder if Aabria had guessed that Steels scars were from Stones hand?

natasha

My brother called Steel being a bad guy after her FIRST appearance! AND I DEFENDED HER!!! Why did yall make me look like a fool???? 😭🤣

natasha

And we ALL know who the world's heart is...

Carrie Mook Bridgman

I will have to go back and listen to the earlier Sworn stuff, because the hopeless drunk just doesn't jive with the very competent, observant leader we saw on the Meridian or in the mountains. Did Brennan's idea of Sworn's background change? If so, when?

PriscillaG

I love your thesis especially around MiB needing a destination! Even if none of it pans out it still makes for great AU fodder.

Manifesting Good Posture

I don't think Silence would have been thinking "thirsty much?" The reason I think this is because he UNDERSTANDS and RESPECTS when people are communicating their HONEST FEELINGS for each other BRENNAN

The Pompous Peasant

Can someone explain to me about the book that has a curse in it, a smell, etc.? How did they know to go there? I also didn't understand the ending where Suvi gets inflicted wounds added on. It was her mom's? Are the scars just floating around in there? I'm assuming her mom fought Steel and gave her those scars? Sorry, brain has been foggy lately. I'm def going to relisten but any insight would be helpful! Oh, also why did Suvi picking up the fox have such an impact?

Trina

The SECOND I finish listening to next week's episode, I'm starting over and listening to the entire thing again. I've wanted to do that already, but now I know it will be required.

Vice Versailles

Steel has been saying that Eioghorain killed Soft and Stone, but after testing out Stone’s Inflict Wounds on some wood, Suvi learned that it deals scars identical to Steel’s scars. So it was Steel that betrayed them, not Eioghorain. An extra juicy lie, knowing that Steel pretty much immediately came back to adopt/kidnap the daughter of the people she just murdered. And it’s okay about forgetting the Stars of the Southern Skies. It was introduced in Episode 1, when Steel gave it to Suvi to give to Ame. This episode, we learned that it carried the curse Ame had on her that made her forget about being the Witch of the World’s Heart, the one the team quested for Wavebreaker to dispel. We can only guess why Steel wanted Ame to be cursed, but I’d guess it was to start a war with the Coven of Elders hamstrung from the start. Steel seems to really want war.

Devon

Ok ok BUT she is stealin’ lives, memories, childhoods, and people’s free will!!!!!

Aaron Fu

The fox can quickly communicate Suvi’s situation to Ame, who can then inflict a powerful retributive curse on Steel.

MccMela

Hello, thank you guys for what you do. I was just wondering if transcripts for the episodes and firesides were still being produced? Thank you again.

Patrick Kearney

I'm still of the opinion that "In another life, I would have loved doing laundry and taxes with you" is one of, if not the most romantic lines in all of cinema

Queen Motoko

We have one week for a big stupid prediction. It would be the funniest thing in the world if Gilled Mage Morrow came as Naraam’s messenger

Quacken

got me sobbing by the fire side

Doonkers

I think he outright said a while back that Sworn used to be an alcoholic. That is why he became “Sworn”, he knows he cannot trust his own judgment when it comes to directing his life, but once he has someone else to point the way he feels like he can go forward with those “guardrails”.

Doonkers

I absolutely love this theory!

Doonkers

I actually thought they might do that when Ame got the wand to make new witches. I thought she would make Suvi and Nief witches to give the coven 7 members. Suvi would be the witch of Wizardry, while Nief would take them mantle of one of the domains that were lost but still remembered by Ame.

Keith Prescott

Brennan Lee “Gonna Kill That Dog” Mulligan

The Pompous Peasant

This was beautiful! I'm going to have to go listen to ep 1, don't remember that at all

The Pompous Peasant

What was the scroll in the Southern Skies cursed book? Were there three components that were part of the book?

Catloaf

Sonder has been Suvi’s father figure most of her life. Maybe having a less rambunctious man than Soft in Suvi’s life had something to do with that choice? Though that’d be dark in a way i don’t want to think about

Muadwho

It's becoming a problem how much I need to hear at least part of this side quest...

Madeline Salter

I got chills thinking about the beautiful witch rage that's about to pop off

DiamondPWrites

I know the official spelling is Steel but I personally have a conspiracy theory that it is also Steal!

Aaron Fu

No, not yet. It could happen very fast at the beginning of the next episode. It is what I expect to happen but there is no guarantee.

Queen Motoko

The scroll of Eioghorain’s anatomy and scent. Third component was an open heart, which cloistered sage Suvi had in abundance

Devon

Im glad i am not alone.My deeper conspiracy theory is that Steel is a prototype tomori for memory loss and alteration spells. But I know that’s not likely. It’s just fun to guess.

DiamondPWrites

Interesting! My theory is her being double name cloaked as both Steel and Steal

Donald Chambliss Jr.

Not going to lie...I knew it was steal since day one ...two many fingers were pointing at the shape changer .

The Pompous Peasant

Oh his anatomy? Why? Also, why the scent? The book is really confounding me 😭

Kit

BEIGNET GESSERIT

WizardScorch

the scene with sworn has broken things in me i didnt know existed. i will never get over the dice's betrayal 😤

DaphneDawn

Soft is kinda Taoist??? The whole Happiness is seeking to understand “the way” of the universe bit is deeply Taoist. A tradition built in opposition to Confucianism which emphasizes forcing the world to conform to our structures, and Buddhism which Taoist see as a pessimistic and suffering forward take on life. It’s almost like this DM studied philosophy

JetstreamSamBestWaifu

funnily, i always pictured this sort of nondescript, 40 year old, east asian man for Sworn. maybe something like Tony Leung Chiu-wai

the tangle system

i wanna see that caked up motherfucker change his ways and worship ocean daddy

Ben

This was my thought as well - Ame is charged with the headiest of retributive curse energy right now. Could she deliver it through the fox at the most critical of moments to save Suvi?

Emma Henson

Nervous laughing at Abria joking about a new character

Alyssa

I wonder if the Chalice thing from the episode where the boat captain attacked will come up at all in the Book 1 finale? I’m about halfway through a re-listen of everything and it’s WILD how many little things foreshadowed Steel and the curse and a million other things, but the Chalice abilities are a thing that I don’t remember coming back up after the boat captain attack?

Carrie Mook Bridgman

The scroll and the book were sent by Steel to Grandma Wren supposedly because Steel thought they might help in finding Eioghorain, which she had been unable to do. The book was to carry the curse. The scroll was to plant the idea of the curse coming from Eioghorain.

a dreck

Wow, I'm blown away by your attention to detail and clarity! This is such a cool theory!

a dreck

Lou as Cyril Erika as Vandal Aabria as Enzo

a dreck

" The Wizard Scoop"!!! Thank you for pointing that out - Steel does give some very "Kill the Indian, save the man" vibes. That's how her brand if expansionism and colonialism can come off as caring at a superficial first glance.

a dreck

Wait I just realised that Ame and Eursulon's heist moment may be what gets Ame out if the bind with the Witch of the Wind and Stars! And if they all survive and get back to the cottage, the next time the MIB comes calling they'll actually have something to negotiate about (how to take down The Citadel without taking down all wizards/humans). AND calling it now, the next chapter will see our heros take the train to the Library... Can't wait :)

The Pompous Peasant

So there was an actual scroll and a book? The heart part is Suvi's? I just got a mental block about this book/scroll/curse/heart :(

The Pompous Peasant

So there was an actual scroll and a book? The heart part is Suvi's? I just got a mental block about this book/scroll/curse/heart :(

Richard

I was unaware of Tony Leung Chiu-wai but on googling him he's also exactly who I was picturing.

Queen Motoko

It’s one of those things I love about rolling dice. Once they’re out of your hands, it’s out of your hands

WizardScorch

very poetic!! i like that a lot!

JetstreamSamBestWaifu

i wonder if they said something describing him like that when he was introduced

Katie Lemelin

Could someone please break down how the curse with Ame and Grandma Wren? I've listened to both the fireside and episode, but it's not sinking into my brain what actually happened. I'm sorry, it anyone could explain I would really appreciate it.

Amirose070714

I. Knew. It! (Spoilers) Steel?!? More like “Steal” cuz she absolutely murdered some parents and stole their kid.

TommyAshwood013

(Spoilers!) It took me a minute to wrap my head around it too! It's pretty confusing and shocking. Grandma Wren and Ame got cursed in Episode 1: The Open Door. We just didn't realize it at the time. When Suvi is given leave from the Citadel to visit Grandma Wren on her deathbed, Steel hands Suvi "Stars of the Southern Sky" and the scroll, saying they're "for Grandma Wren." By that time, the mind-altering curse was already loaded into the book. Later that episode when Suvi walks into Wren's cottage, she carries the book and the scroll inside with her. That moment is when the curse got placed on Ame and Wren. It only worked because Suvi had an open heart and didn't know she was carrying the curse inside. She was an unwitting Trojan Horse. It's a little confusing because the first scene or two with Ame and Wren (before Suvi shows up) seem to suggest that their memories were already altered. However, I believe we were watching Brennan and Erika play-out altered/skewed memories. That way Brennan could obscure the true timeline from all of us, as well as keep Erika in the dark about how much training Ame really had. Regardless of the impression we got in Ame's introduction, Ame actually had all of her memories until Suvi arrived.

Caywood Rider

There’s so much I want to say about this absolute beast of an episode…but let me just start with this: I didn’t realize till now, but this whole time I’ve been picturing Sworn as Lance Reddick (RIP)

Asher

Me too lol

Aviva

I keep reminding myself she’s made the joke about The Witch, The Witch, and The Wild One before. It’s just a joke. It’s just a joke. 😩

Aviva

Gilled Mage Morrow is fucking hilarious. Kudos, Motoko! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

Aviva

No chance! So much better and more engaging when it comes out in drips and bits as needed to understand the narrative.

Aviva

💔

Aviva

Even after all she has done, I’d bet that Steel *does* love Suvi. It’s a twisted, painful, hurtful thing, but Steel has shown profound depth of feeling. Likewise, even after the finale and all it reveals to Suvi, she’ll still mourn the loss of her mom Steel.

Aviva

omfg, that screen name. Phenomenal. Gonna plan a Crown of Candy style costume. Thank you for this gift. 🖤

Kristine K

Then when we meet the shape changer and he's a cool dude doing good work... Seemed like it made it pretty obvious something wasn't lining up with Steal then. I still didn't see her becoming the big boss like this, though.

Donald Chambliss Jr.

Yea Ive been turned against by Brennan and kind characters too often lol

Aviva

I have arachnophobia and I still adore Task. He’s wonderful.

Caywood Rider

Very cool. I have a different theory about the MiB - I need to reassure some time to put it into the right words, but I’m leaving this comment as a bookmark on the meantime (if there’s a way to save or pin comments in Patreon, I haven’t figured it out).

Marlowe19

I’d love to hear it! Can’t wait!

Caywood Rider

This. Even after how this episode ended, I’d be completely shocked if the next one picks up with Steel mustache twirling and boasting about how she tricked Suvi all these years. The character Is still the character: from everything we’ve seen thus far, Steel is first age foremost a military strategist, ruthless pragmatist, & true believer in what she sees as the greater good. My best guess Is that Suvi will get a lot of “end justifies the means” rhetoric, more sunk cost fallacy, “we’re so close and we’ve/I’ve committed too many atrocities to stop now”. As for the soft and stone of it all - I’m expecting some mix of bitter cynicism, genuine sadness, and enough righteous indignant anger (that they didn’t “see the light” and/or “made her do it”) to flood the Irulian desert. In her eyes, “adopting” Suvi was the right thing to do, and it’s not inherently a contradiction that she both loves her as a daughter and heir, and that she coerced and used her (again, for the greater good). If she feels any guilt, she has effectively compartmentalized it and sees it as a distraction to overcome, in order to do what needs to be done. Steel is what happens when the operators of the justification machine get high on their own product.

Jamie Gobking

NO BRENNAN WHY DID YOU HAVE TO MAKE SWORN EVEN MORE SAD😭 WHYYYYYY😭😭😭

Pip Tarou

I am never going to emotionally recover from Sworn. It's going to haunt me to the end of days. My heart truly sank with the second nat 1, and I just felt.. That is a man that has been brutally beaten by the game of life and is just... Tired. Sometimes Chumbawumba is wrong and you just can't get back up again.

Agnatha2

The thing that gets me is the fact that that inflict wounds is a first level spell really reads like a final stand. Like, that's not the spell you're reaching for if you're full on spell slots and you're trying to take out someone like Steel. So it really gives the feeling that Stone was like, "I might not be able to win this, but what I can do is mark this woman so that one day my daughter might discover her true nature." Sends chills down my spine in the best way.

Carrie Mook Bridgman

Eioghorain is described as East Asian. I don't really remember how Sworn was described.

Kimberly W

DREAM KEYS? KEYS RELATED TO THE SECRET LUCENT COURT?? IM SURE IM NOT THE ONLY ONE TO NOTICE THIS BUT ????

Aaron Fu

I should clarify, I expect Steel to be cursed if her confrontation with Suvi becomes a combat encounter, in witch case Ame’s curse is probably the difference between escape and death. Suvi may well delay open hostilities for another day and resolve the confrontation with a clever social interaction.

JetstreamSamBestWaifu

i did remember him being described so. maybe i conflated the two in my head

RuviGaPo

@Aviva i hope so! I think what i'm trying to figure out is wether Steel views her own love as unconditional or not. Like, Aabriya has touched on how unwavering trust/obidience is love to Suvi, that means Steel likely views it that way as well. But whst happens then when that obedience is Not given? When she's lost control of you? Is it memory-whipe-o-clock again? Does she think she can talk it through with Suvi? Is Suvi a lost cause who must be removed like her patents were? Some secret forth thing? Exile? Imprissonment?

RuviGaPo

@Caywood Rider This is why she's so cool as a character, i think. You hit the nail on the head so exactly! I'm Very Anxious what she may do now, though, if Suvi doesn't immediately fall in line.

Alyssa

They said/commented somewhere at some point that they looked into it but it would be too expensive to do. BUUUUUUT if you look up DIY beaded Christmas spider tutorials, a DIY Task is easier to make than you think!! I’ve made like 4 because it’s so fun and trying out different styles A tad expensive to upstart a new hobby if you don’t have any stuff for bead crafts, but if you’re looking for new hobbies it’s definitely worth it!

Alyssa

Another random thread I was thinking of on the re-listen: the Wizard Sonder is Steel’s 2nd husband…so one of her children was conceived during her time doing secret shady shit with Soft, Stone, and Eioghorain with an unknown baby daddy and unknown 1st husband of Steel’s. I THINK this is probably just blended family representation and unrelated to the world other than familial representation…but like who knows with this group of talented story tellers

yimyams

i mean yea ill do romance for an 8th, ill do extra for a half

yimyams

i was in my car screaming during this episode! Sworn and the ending 😫 you all are magic, Spirits gracing the Real with your whimsy

astro

Lou is in the jungle ??

fishbananas

Also re inviting The Fox into the hidden study - I think that no one can cross the threshold uninvited, so Steel is maybe blocked on the other side of the doorway (or not) but so would The Fox have been before Suvi invited him in. The instant that she walked in the apartment and saw The Fox on his own waiting outside the magic door, Steel would have for sure obliterated the him with extreme prejudice, also removing Suvi's fastest means of calling Ame for help. Wizards haven't typically been the kindest to The Fox

Stellar

I'm so glad Brennan explicitly called out/reminded us how Aabria instinctively followed in her fictional parents' footsteps by freeing the ink demons, because it's something I've been thinking about a lot. Like, how much Stone, and especially Soft, would have done the same thing. And then their first date scene....Aaaaauuugghh! He had that teed up THE WHOLE TIME. And Aabria had no idea. Just. The absolute. Best. ✨🎶🕊️

Nym

OMG. I feel so vindicated in finding that moment with Suvi and the Fox the most amazing part of this episode 😭 I don’t know the story consequence, but it was 1) SO sweet and 2) shows how far Fox has come in not only understanding emotions but the HUMAN desire (sometimes) for privacy. I love the little stinker!!!

Nym

Ok which of you was playing with your cat between 19:23 - 19:34? (I heard the characteristic little 🛎️ 😂)

Nym

I was sad it was interrupted, even though it was safer for them. Pop OFF, fox girl!!

astro

I'm thinking if the fox had stayed in the doorway, Steel would have killed him on the way in 😶

Nym

Well that would def be a consequence for Fox and Ame, but Brennan seemed to imply that it changed the whole arc of the story??

505Dude

I am so excited for the final episode of this book and the future Aabria space campaign. I cannot wait for either.

Ellis

oof YES

Ellis

THANK YOU!!!!!

Ellis

It's insane to imagine that the person you call "mom" is the person who killed your own parents. I don't think you're a fool for not wanting to believe Steel was a monster

Ellis

Nice! Welcome to Feral Land

Ellis

YES!!! Floppy hair

John Folmer

Thank you!! I am so hype for the next episode and for the Space Campaign! I've been craving a serious long-form space campaign for a while and the Worlds Beyond Number will answer the call lol

RuviGaPo

Y E S ♡♡♡♡ thank you you understand! He needs to be able to tugg at his hair when he's Going Through It (tm)

Joelith Hamilton

In case no one has made this joke yet: Geas Ex Momina

The Wizard Soothe

This was really beautiful to read. Thank you for extra in depth wonderful content while I sit longing for the finale

Esther Bee

What if I cried! What then!! What then!!

Esther Bee

It is already Tuesday August 12th here in Singapore. Gimme it. Gimme the finale. Gimme it. I know time is wonky but gimme it. Also please don't, I am scared.

Ellis

a hair tug with a pained look? please...let me hold you

RuviGaPo

This Exactly !!!

Leila Pearlman

So are we basically saying that Sworn is done for?? I need him to be okay😭😭

CW

I am undone

Nym

That could happen, but he said this DURING episode 53, before the encounter with Steel resolves, and he can’t know in advance whether Fox’s help with dice will pan out. So I think it has to be a story component

Aviva

Spoiler for episode 54: . . . . . . . . . Nailed it. 🪸

Aviva

That’s it exactly. Suvi has strayed from Steel’s path. More than a decade of carefully sculpting Suvi has been snarled these past few months. Why not rewind and replace that time to salvage all the foundational work? She’s done that and much worse before. Steel has outlined her own planned obsolescence; she’s running her last leg in the relay. If Suvi walks away from “their” path now there won’t be anyone to take the baton, so to speak. Steel is master of and mastered by the justification machine. She’ll do anything to keep Stone 2.0 on board. 💔

Johnathan Arriola

Raise your hand if you heard Brennan say the name of the next series "Star *?!/+?". And heard Star fuckers?

Millie Boulton

Absolutely amazing story. I am full force sobbing on my postal route. Cannot wait for the next one! Thank you ♥️

Aaron Fu

The fox being there means Ame can learn about Suvi’s encounter asap.

Yarl

What is the Resource?

Brady

No but the R2D2 comparison was so apparent I finished the sentence before Brennan did!

Sw

What do I need to do for sworn to live😭 Just modify memory his ass steel, it sucks but like better than dead

Katie Lemelin

Thank you! It's just that they did a bunch of rolls on the curse (only going off memory and not looking back) and got high rolls with no hint towards Steel. I think this is the main thing that makes it feel more random and less of a reveal to me. Hopefully we can hear about how it all worked in the Fireside next week.

White Noise

Brendan is my god. Romance is meaningless. Long term relationships/love are like car maintenance. Regular, very necessary and mostly very boring.

Sam H.

So glad to know I’m not the only person that bursts into tears at the thought/sight of R2 😭🤣

Ainsley Van Howe

Wild thing but it came to mind, if you make a playlist for steel “ Look what you made me do” by Taylor Swift is gonna be on there right? Like it only feel correct lmao

Jenny

I am so heart-broken for Sworn and his parents. A one shot with parents trying to save their child from being taken by the Citadel would be amazing.

Jenny

Also, I can’t help but think of the work forsworn in relation to what has happened to Sworn

Jenny

Thank-you, I was struggling with this too especially how Ame and Wren seemed to be already confused but what you say makes sense. How does the cast keep track of all these threads?!?!!?!

Jenny

I’ve just started over and am having so many “ah ha” moments. I’ve decided not to listen to the fireside’s but to enjoy the story and leave the commentary for a third time through.

Trina

I'm only on the second Children's Adventure episode so far, and I'm having those moments as well! And, I'm actually going to be listening to the fireside chats this time after every episode, because my first time through, I was so engrossed in the story that I forgot the fireside chats existed, and didn't start listening to them until I was on probably episode twenty-something.

Cait Batchelor

Am I the only one afraid Lou is gonna come back with a baby?

Dr. Eggman

Wennan Wee Wulligan is real and he gms this campaign

Lace Elystra

i need good things to happen in Sworn's future when you eventually come back to Umora. Brennan? are you reading this? i NEED good things to happen in Sworn's future. please?

Melissa Shilale

TROJAN HORSE GIIIIIIIIIRL 🚨🚨🚨👏👏👏

Frauke

Been together for over 20 years. We do romantic stuff all the time. It's like this: we're in each others' lives, why not make it really wonderful for each other? Making the person(s) you love feel amazing is the best way to spend your time, when it's reciprocated.

Cody Hood

Sworn’s whole scene and this fireside chat just made me cry. There’s just so much to empathize with

Anyo

I guess I was confused because I thought Sworn was compelled to drink himself to death the way Silver was compelled to commit suicide by wizard.

Coolclaytony

I once tried to flirt with a girl in middle school with a shitty poem. She wasn't impressed. 🤣

Erin Michelotti

“The rich are defined by their ability to expropriate resources from the people around them.” - adding to my list of Brennan quotes.

Natecharodon

Grand romantic gestures don't save good relationships, they prolong toxic ones. Romance isn't dead, it's just getting more realistic.

Nym

The music box, and/or all the information that Task initially stole from the Library of Stars

M DeVries

Yes, but also: as Brennan has stated about wanting to encourage players to take big chances in games (because if they do and always get shot down, they learn not to bother with even attempting such things), when adolescent or early-20's attempts at romantic gestures are tried and met with disdain, distrust, or "what are you doing, don't be weird and creepy", the result is that romantic gestures swiftly get internally categorized as "oh, that thing that partners say they want in theory but don't ACTUALLY like, or I guess I can't do it well enough to actually be appealing, so I shouldn't even try".

The Wizard Sparrow

I need to listen to the closing credits music everyday. It makes me smile. I’ve been re-listening to the fire side chats this past month and I just love all the commentary of each episode. 🤗🔥❤️🦊

Aviva

Bump @ Caywood. 😁

Stefanucci Mozzarella

....jyoooo, Steele had cast Modify Memory on Ame during her coma about Grandma Wren's opinion of Steele... Episode 15

Spectator Moon

I am absolutely in awe of your brain!!! I don't think I even picked up on some of that, but Woah!!!!!