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In the frozen hills of Rhuv, the Sigrunsgjalfi Children’s Home sits silent beneath a sky of unfamiliar stars. No lights glow in the windows and no signs of celebration mark the coming of Alf Gappen’s Day. Yet in the stillness, a single sleeping child hums a quiet tune that carries impossibly far across the snow. Three spirits hear it and cross the tundra to a place stripped of joy, determined to bring warmth and wonder.

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We are

Brennan Lee Mulligan

Erika Ishii

Aabria Iyengar

Lou Wilson

Produced by Taylor Moore at Fortunate Horse. Editing and sound design by Jared Olson. Original score by Will Savino.

Album art by the great Corey Brickley.

Files

Comments

Sage deGaia

I was about to do something but NOPE we're doing this

Charlie Foxleigh

I knew today was going to be a nicer day than usual

Sven the Scribe

Also huge kudos to transcript release at the same time of the episode.

Sean Britcher

The description of the Patchwork Mittens and the Glory Hats and the Cauldron Father... aaah someone's got a sneak attack with a bowl of onions i swear.

Sean Britcher

Also i LOVE the kind of world building present here, holidays and traditions and celebrations say a lot about a culture. Also clocked that Rhuv is very Germanic/Nordic coded. I wonder how much interaction the Rhuvians have with the Witch of Wind and Stars, with her domain at the Utmost North. SIDE NOTE: Someone please put a copy of "Polaris: Chivalric Tragedy at the Utmost North" into Aabria's hands. I know she's got a lot with her campaign coming soon, but i think she'd be interested in it.

Emily R

Was not ready for Lou's voice🤣🤣🤣

Seasquidley

This sounds so lovely, can't wait to listen

Kimball

My heart 🥹 this is so beautiful! It’s an Alf Gappen miracle

Bob Chapman

I love that Erika's contribution to the holiday was basically the Mari Lwyd because I love the Mari Lwyd

Erin Morse

The description of the building immediately made me think of Bolvangar from The Golden Compass

Gingie

THIS is the pinnacle of Holiday DnD. Weeping at work now 😭 it's so pretty y'all!!

confusedtealseal

The music is as per usual, absolutely incredible. This was such a joy to listen to over a cup of tea this morning

Bestplin

This is my new religion.

Michelle Spurgeon

I loved everything about this interlude. Thank you for making me sad but then making it better at the end. Indri (sp) gave, spider in a web, vibes.

Mia Mac-Pry

I have had so much loss in the last two months that it’s been hard to even think about the holidays, and this really is a balm for my soul. Thank you all for the stories you tell.

brokenallbroken

Y'all always make me glad Tuesday is my WFH day, so I can yell and cry as needed. This is my new favorite wintermas story. Thank you.

xatlern

Who else initially read "Alf Gappen" with very broad short A sounds like ALF the alien and had to recalibrate to the pronunciation? Also: Níf 😭😭😭 I wonder if this was going to always be her story, or if Brennan found that along the way. Their joy at realizing they got to play avenging spirits instead of sad orphans was so beautiful.

GC

strap in, we're doing a magi and i am probably going to weep

Jo Carter

Wishing a Happy Alf Gappens Day to you all! May you remember the gifts of the year behind us and receive the gifts you will need, my friends. 🥰

The Wizard Sparrow

You…sonofabtch…Brandon Lee Muliigan.. you pull at my heartstrings and make my nose all snotty as tears stream down my face (multiple times). You are a brilliant, brilliant man and you have created the greatest Alf Gappen’s Day of all times. No wonder Neil’s familiar is an elk. By the way, this story this episode must be an animation or made into a book or we must celebrate this day. I want to make leppy-teppies and krymzcram and tea leaf cookies. I think it’s time for some fan art and annual Alf Gappen Day surprises in the merch store. Thank you for warming soul and reminding me there is a witch inside just waiting to be let out❤️🔥🤗🦊

The Wizard Sparrow

Same. We need Alf Gappen merch, animation, story books. We need it all❤️❤️

The Wizard Sparrow

Sending virtual hugs to my fellow crackle-crackle family member. ❤️🤗🦊🔥

The Wizard Sparrow

Agree. Your response was much shorter than mine but I think we have the same response lol

The Wizard Sparrow

Me too. I want to make mittens (leppy-teppies) and giant red rats (krymzcam). Spelling to be determined.

The Wizard Sparrow

Beautiful and I will be listening to the episode multiple times as I those details are engraved in my soul

The Wizard Sparrow

Had to look up your offering of the Polaris campaign and it looks intriguing. 😊

tay

i am sobbing

theoddhobbyist

Oh my god you bastards I love you so much. I’m not crying, you’re crying. 😭

Olivia K-T

brennan is inventing a new sort of heinous act im going to call crimes for humanity where he uses biological warfare by weaponizing my own mind against myself by reminding me of true joy and childish whimsy with a few words leaving me to cry at work until i am severely dehydrated

brainrockets

Drop the sad orphans you were preparing to play! 😜 This was so good! It very much felt like one of the better Christmas movies for kids. I would watch the hell out of it.

Alyssa

Visualizing Potto as a tiny 3 foot version of the Ghost of Christmas Present from Muppet Christmas Carol…a little absent minded spirit!

Emily C

You goddamn motherfuckers got me crying at work!!! Not even grocery shopping and holding a lettuce!!! But for real this was delightful and I love it so much. The amount of times I've heard Lou Wilson do a high pitched voice for a character is really something, gotta use that acting training.

Kate

So, I sat down to listen while working on knitting holiday mittens for my father, immediately burst into tears from pure human connection to a story, and gently wept for the rest of the episode. Thanks y’all!

Maggie M

I am filled with holiday cheer!

Stephanie Godin

So good! Brennan that was such an amazing tie in with the representation of the elk and a certain witch. Did you plan this from the start or did you choose to tie it in after Erika made that animal choice?

zkbeeblebrox

I could smell the stab coming and kept saying to my self "don't do it, don't do it..." and they Brennan did it 😭😭😭

Alyssa

Yes!!! Thought the same thing! So fun

Alyssa

Lou is a chicken at some point in 2 interludes now! 🐓 Winter and summer (Matsuri), biannual chicken!! 🐔

Bryan Phillips

I didn't know I was getting this, but damned if I didn't need it rn.

robo

Lou went full Pinocchio this session and I am Here For It

RuviGaPo

Ooh christmas special ?? Fun ?? (I Hope XD)

Joe W

Wow….just wow….thats all I got…thank you

Molly Sisson

I've had a weird mental health year and this was such a nice way to round out 2025. And only a few days after I got a The Wizard, The Witch, and The Wild One tattoo. Thank you to the entire team!

KamasiFitzgerald

Mannnn I read “Alf Gappens” and was ready for something so deeply silly 😭 now here I am WEEPING ffs…

PriscillaG

Watch out Hallmark. THIS is holiday magic.

Alyssa

Ziva’s descriptor as an approximation of a beautiful woman with a smile that’s too wide and is like a LITTLE bit scary is very in line with the mask Suvi chose in Matsuri!! Loving a little winter/summer interlude parallel ☀️❄️

Alyssa

Erika posted on bluesky that it was not planned by either of them! Masterful storytellers, I am in such awe of their ability to tie things in and it’s gosh darn IMPROV 🤩

Stephanie Godin

They are so amazing!!! I am in awe of how easily they tie things together and give things purpose. I will never not enjoy listening to their genius.

Alyssa

Same! Every episode is my favorite episode, they don’t miss!!

irisilmaril

i cheered at the Nif reveal

clara

I cannot stress enough how much i appreciate the happy and hopeful holiday vibes for this time of year. What a perfect perfect interlude!

Shreyas Joshi

Love how collaborative the interludes are, makes it feel like everyone at the table is shaping the distant lore of Umora even without their main characters being there.

Claudia

I was pretty certain who the little girl was going to be but the reveal still had me punching and kicking the air triumphantly in my kitchen. A happy Alf Gappen's day to all!

The Wizard Subjudice

Ahem. Excuse me. Stars we haven't seen? WHAT DO YOU MEAN, BRENNAN!? HAVE WE NOT SEEN PLACES IN BOTH HEMISPHERES? WHAT SPACE CHICANERY IS THIS

Georgia Moos

Is this orphanage run by the Church of the Man in Black or something? It’s designed for lack of light, warmth, and forgetting? The caretakers are actively trying to be neglectful?

The Wizard Subjudice

As much as a frozen Alf Gappen is foreign to me, I didn't realise how much I needed this kind of hope, even if it was only for an hour and a half. Thank you everyone, and a happy upcoming Litha from the South. The song "Pocket full of Thyme" by Adelaide band Spiral Dance is well worth a listen 🍒🌻🌊🍯🍹

Lulu

I am fully sobbing, this story was so touching and the sounds design was so good, I think i'll make it a tradition to listen to this episode every December ❤️❤️❤️

The Wizard Subjudice

Man in Black isn't a deity so to speak, nor a spirit of malice. I think the "invited reading" is "men are cruel and neglectful by their own accord"

Georgia Moos

Haha my use of the word “church” was flippant, though I believe they have said he is “worshiped” in some places. We also know that there are many Rhuvian warlocks who serve him. Additionally, I specifically said “lack” and “forgetting” because these things seem to belong in his realm. I didn’t mean to imply that he’s a spirit OF malice. Also I don’t know where you are in the story, but I think certain interactions he has with certain characters show that he does have malice in his heart for mortals. To your point though, I think the intended message is still that men are cruel and neglectful of their own accord. What do you think of the implications that the stranger is somehow associated with things that are “man-made” (remember the magical definition of roads, the watch, etc.)

Friday the Fierce

UGH 😭😭😭 I love ALL of this. The wonder and hope and heart. I often listen while I’m doing other things but this one I sat down and just listened like a little kid at story time.

Lee Chirtel

I don't know if this was done purposely, but "neif" is anglo-french for serf.

eve

oh my heart <3<3

Cole Sarar

Meanwhile, we've accumulated 6" of snow today and it intends to keep on falling through the night. What a perfect winter's tale.

The Wizard Subjudice

You've given me a bit to think on 🤩 let me come back to this shortly with a proper answer!

rio

I’m fully convinced forever that Suvi’s Beautiful Woman mask from the Summer Matsuri was based on Zivah.

Witch of the widening horizons

Just a simple thank you from the grateful little girl inside my heart who needed that and loved it 🥰

Saoirse

I'm so delighted again and again by the potent magic of collaborative storytelling the four of you bring. The lepitepi, crimskram, and glory hats each brought a crackle crackle to my heart. I agree with others: I want to make this a winter solstice tradition to listen to. 🫶

Saoirse

I love being able to scroll through a comments section that's just love ❤️

Jonathan Larson

I'm so glad the little pistachio farmer's voice came to visit again in such a wholesome way. ❤️

adumb.s

I just NEED yall to know that "krims krams" is an actual swedish word for decorative trinkets and tschatskis and "lappvantar" is a word for a kind of mitten....

Alyssa

I’ve listened to this episode like 3 times already and it is so healing ❤️ I feel like a little kid experiencing some holiday magic for the first time I also love that Aabria’s holiday contribution was knit mittens because I remember someone brought her mittens when she was in NYC during December for Twenty-Sided Tavern. I just love the thought of how someone’s act of kindness years ago not only influenced our world, but potentially influenced Umora. HUMANS ARE SO COOL AND I LOVE BEING INTERCONNECTED (even if this is a headcanon 😂) ❤️❤️❤️

TheWizardSloth

I'm crying inside a gas station cooler. I love these nerds! Happy Holidays ya'll!!!

susan tiss

This came exactly when I needed it. So, quite simply, thank you!

Gabriel Cole-Brant

Good thing I didn’t listen to this at the grocery store. Instead I’m crying in my house before going to work.

Kaitlyn Julia

cannot describe the sound i made when we find out the child’s name.

sylvie

i love how the players’ descriptions of the setting reflect their PCs in the campaign: the trick of light, the heavy door, and the strange tree

El Jefe

I am so glad that Brennan didn’t have them play sad little orphans. This was delightful and heartwarming. I too was crying at the end of it when the spirits’ gifts were described. Beautiful storytelling.

the wizard subpar

I'm thinking her witch name should be "the witch of winter song"

El Jefe

Oh! Also! I shouldn’t be surprised at this point, but I am once again awed at Brennan’s ability to create lore and backstory (including linguistic drift) at the drop of a hat. But then he also surgically applies perfect character descriptors such as, “a shiver of a smile.” What a wordsmith.

VforVenlee

I was screaming before the moment, I screamed during the moment, I screamed at the end 10/10 happy Alf gappens day

Andrew Robbins

NOT THE FULL CIRCLE MOMENT OF THE DREAM!!!! 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

RiGlos

Thank you, guys. This brought more Christmas spirit and delight then I have experienced since I was a child. I love you, enjoy the holidays.

June Walker

I started listening to this today on my way home through some unexpected winter weather - absolutely the best way to hear this tale 😁 It was surprisingly not traumatic, but I still cried at least a handful of times 💚💚💚 I can't believe Erika chose an Elk spirit!!!!!

Cameron Barrett

I can't wait till Brennan has The Citadel seal the Queen of Coins in a penny or something...

Kaitlyn S

So….when are we getting a Poto plushie to comfort me with biscuits while sobbing through this episode???

June Walker

I totally assumed it was going to be some weird NPC creature/dude, then we got awesome PC spirits instead - it was very unexpected 😀

Leo Burn'd

Oooh, I really like that

Leo Burn'd

This is so beautiful and nice, but also gutwrenching thinking what the next years were gonna look like for her...

Mike Chapman

I love the idea that The Final Visitor was suddenly assaulted by 40 small children singing a song that they had not rehearsed and only half of them even knew.

Susannah B.

SPOILERS . . . . . . . . . I feel so spoiled with all our Indri snippets, thank you for the crumbs of my queen

Charlie Foxleigh

OMG I love these things they made up more than the original ones we have now! ❤️❤️❤️

Coolclaytony

I gotta say, I've gotta say, of all the interludes we've had, this one's probably the strongest. Twelve Brooks Midsummer Festival felt a bit directionless and seemed to end just as the plot was starting to happen. The Clearing didn't have very strong characters in my opinion. Summer Masturi was cute, but just kind of ok. Fortune Found barely managed to create a story. Though Abria salvaged that trainwreck at the last minute. But this, Alf Gappen Was Here, now here's a quality improvised short story. Every character was fully realized and compelling, every dice roll and every decision pushed the story forward, the ideas thus presented were exciting, and it had a satisfying conclusion. 10/10 best interlude so far.

jbyrd

I needed this. Thank you.

Joshua

Im actively weeping! This story was so beautiful!!! 😍😭

RahneFace

I was holding it together by a thread, but when the sleeping child said their name I lost it 😭😭😭

The Wizard Subjudice

Sorry it's taken me the better part of 24hrs! I'm up to date with the story, and it's interesting, bc (unsure if intentional or accidental slip?) Brennan as the Queen of Coins calls herself a "God" in this interlude, however has specified previously that there are no clerics in Umora 🤔 so perhaps there's something more to spirits as deities. I see what you mean re. "Lack of" and "forgotten/ lack of memory," and am absolutely inclined to agree, and you're absolutely right re. A kind of malice for mortals, or in Curran's case, spirits born in what they call Kadani and not within their realm. Your last qu — I've stewed on that longer than I'm proud to admit 😅 but I think the Man in Black, a spirit of "fell things" (Wren in Episode "Hold On Tight") and the antithesis to Eursalon as said by Brennan in "No Loose Ends" ("the most opposing force you could know" at about 1hr 5min). A deep truth of Man is fear of what we cannot know, and thus feel the need to control it. Humans need to control where things can go (roads,) time is spent (watch,) and often if we can't control our environment, we lash out in fear and become destructive. Curran, though human, didn't act in a way that this truth expected (with honour,) which correlates really nicely and interestingly with another moment in the "Hold On Tight" episode where Wren says "Witchcraft and magic itself flourish when we understand. There is value in the truthes that we are all able to speak to," and goes on to speak about how we don't have to like them for them to have value and be true. I don't think the Man in Black CAN grasp the lesson that "having different truthes is OK." And directly following that, where bby!Ame asks "How can two things be truthes if people disagree that they're truthes?" Wren responds with "Because our world cares about what is true, and people care about what they want." (Also leads into my favourite thing to now scream in philosophical conversations that children start unintentionally... BENEFICENT WISDOM!!) I believe that the Man in Black cannot understand the truthes of others, and needs domination and control, which is intrinsic to HIS being a spirit of Men. I cannot wait to see how Brennan pulls the lore together for him.

CarpeBootium

For Potto to just give that woman “the Itis”, we need another Lou and Aabria “Black moment”. One nation under a gRhuv”

sleepysappie

I haven't even finished the episode, and I'm sure it's been said before... but just beginning this episode (and relistening to the podcast) brings me such whimsical, childlike joy! (Perfect for Alf Gappen) I often listen to it while going on walks and I find myself laughing out loud in the street, or giggling, or jumping happily. I love it so much! Also I absolutely adore Aabria's character/concept off the bat in this interlude, I jumped up and down and squealed when she described her character speaking only in reflections of lines of the other characters...

Wizard Siam

Question : I heard Erika gasp at Nif’s name and though OF COURSE, THE GIANT ELK FFS. So, Erika, was it premeditated to play Nif’s familiar or was it Brennan pushing our/your buttons as usual? Thank you. Love you all to death. Absolutely howled of laughter at Lou’s falsetto, good job!

Witch of Wayward Wizards

Am I the only one who initially thought the little girl was Ame before Grandma Wren picked her up? It wasn’t until I heard the girls age that I knew it was someone else

Haley S

I believe they once talked about how they record these between chapter breaks! I think maybe Erika’s playing an elk inspired Brennan to choose that as Nif’s familiar!

The Wizard Seek

I am CRYING with laughter- the visitor would be so unimpressed

Ch1pp3dH34rt

I’m trying desperately not cry at work. Thank you ❤️

Juniper Taylor

I’m not crying, you’re crying 😭

Adam D.

This is so freaking delightful It should be an actual holiday movie

Wizard Siam

Aww 🥰 the magic of making stories. Love this, thanks Haley!

Viv

When the little girl told the elk her name, I fully teared up

Celine Ibsen

What a DELIGHT! Brennan, was the idea of the cauldron father a little bit inspired by the Dagda in Celtic mythology? I've never considered the similarity between the Dagda and Santa before, but there's definitely some shared vibes. Also, Potto for President!!!

Alyssa

Erika posted on bluesky that it was not preplanned by either of them! Just absolute geniuses when it comes to weaving together a story 🤩

Lily Cole

Some of your finest work team

Amy Elizabeth Reinhart

I thought at one point it was Ghost and Erika’s elk was going to shift into Flicker and follow her… this was waaaaaay better

Clint Shook

How eldritch, yet cozy…

Ms Bam

Good DAMMIT! Y'all need to stop making me ugly cry!

Ashley Teatum

I STG I screamed I knew it 😭❤️

Kyle Watkins

Masterful. This is why we tell the story!!!!!

annemjw

Happy Alf Gappen’s Day everyone! What a delight ❤️

PeteSpaz

This was so heartwarming!! Literally warmed me while I walked through the bitter cold today

David Morales Boroff

Dude, the Queen of Coins transforming the gold and jewels into “treasure true” . . . forgive me if I take a moment, I need to tape together the exploded chunks of what once was my heart

Jane

Did not expect to BURST INTO TEARS during the Christmas interlude episode

null

A true spiritual embodiment of many solstice holidays. Finding warmth and delight in the coldest, darkest time of the year.

Frankimer

But Brennan it's incredibly dangerous for them to be cooking with gas in that kitchen!

fern

thank you for sharing!!

fern

100%

Lucas Copeland-Nguyen

When Erika asked as Gallop "Why does this child sleep alone?" I half-expected Brennan to say something like "Cause her vibes are real off, just a bad kid" like that one story from LARP camp But the actual reveal of who she was made me BURST INTO TEARS

Evelina Meiklejohn

This was so cute and festive and I absolutely loved it!!! 😭💖👑

Erica B

That was so wonderful and magical.

Wondering wonder

That's cool to learn; I was thinking of it as close in sound to 'naive'

Mary Freelove

That was the truest essence of a midwinter tale as ever I've heard 🥹 thank you as always for sharing it with us

Darcy Barlow

Goddammit, Brennan. God fucking dammit. You can’t fucking do this to us. You can’t keep getting away with it!

Virtual Spaceman

*In therapy chair* And then it was Neif and Brennan made the happy sad again

Ammar Khalid

Goddammit I was so prepared for the players to be sad orphans that when Brennan said three spirits come to the orphanage I almost started to sob on my walk

Jordan T. Maxwell

I sometimes struggle to get into the holiday spirit, and try to find that one thing that will cut through all the noise to remind me...and oooh, wow, did this do the trick for me this year! 🥰😂😭❄️

AbbeyRandom

1:12:30 realizing and crying hard 1:15:00 mostly collected 1:16:30 sobbbbbbbbing

Issy (the Wizard Scramble)

There's no fucking way! I had a feeling in my gut and was sure you wouldn't punch it!

Ammar Khalid

My mind is going crazy that Erika chose to be an elk spirit without knowing the reveal would happen. I am losing it over the unintended but still apt and amazing connections

El

I'm not crying you are crying 😭

Wild Thing

[tears STREAMING down my cheeks] HE CAN’T KEEP GETTING AWAY WITH THIS!

Beanz

I love that one of the spirits bringing warmth and love to this winter night was a murderous crabwalking nightmare. A spirit after my own heart. I could go on at length about my heart, but the creative use of magic, the lovely holiday traditions, the magic of a young witch calling out to spirits in her sleep... while knowing Nif's story gives us an extra emotional insight and knowing how witches interact with spirits gives us context, this is a gorgeous addition to winter lore on its own.

Erinn Nelson

Album art by the great Corey Brickley? I cannot find it! Can anyone tell me where it is posted?

Johnathan Arriola

It felt good to hear you all out this story together. Lou making the choice with that voice *chefs kiss* Laughed pretty good at the "This is a terrible place" also just watched EP 6 of Mighty Nein and had that "OH SHIT THAT NIDAS PIRATE MAN OH SHIT".

Ewizabeth Herd

Whelp, this made me tear up like 5 times at the gym!

Sara Casper

My favorite interlude so far!

Theo Vařák

I think all the Rhuvian words are just vaguely scandinavian but that's a cool coincidence

Georgia Moos

BENEFICENT WISDOM!!!! I see witches as taking on the cleric role in Umora (not clear on whether Druids and shape-changers are the same). I totally agree with your points about The Stranger. To yes-and you, I also think of the hatred he represents as the distance people put between themselves and what they fear because of lack of understanding. It’s what makes the elements that Ame would see come together separate. I’m taking my cue there from Brendan’s description of what the chalice’s attack felt like — that dissolution or “de-composition,” as he calls it. Somewhat in line with your original point — I want to stress that these universal principles may or may not be intrinsically “good” or “evil.” Marara does have a point when she says the World’s Heart is the realm of “boots marching to war” — as we see in things like the creation of Task — entities like The Citadel (and the Empire) cannot reach a certain level of power without mass cooperation. That’s why I don’t think that it’s a throwaway line when Sworn tells Ame something like “things don’t work unless everyone gets in line,” and that it is significant he says that to Ame specifically (contrast that with Indri’s comment about how the WH will place it’s domain of cooperation ahead of everyone else’s). I think it’s just that the cooperation that the World’s Heart would see is more conducive to a world that works for everyone, while the dissolution that The Stranger wants is more conducive to a world that works for no one. Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Sil!! You are extremely cool 😎

Beth

This episode was the most wonderful holiday gift for all of us. Thank you so much!

GC

OK off topic anyone who is in or can get to LA needs to run to Twenty-Sided Tavern while Aabria and Erika are still there, it's simply unbelievable how good it is--the two of them but also the whole production, just the most wonderful time (also ssssssorry about Ssssssuuuuuveye, Aabria, I didn't foresee the consequences please forgive me)

LVK

Up there with Muppets Christmas Carol. No joke.

Derek Davidson

Another example of why these four amazing humans tell the best stories on the planet.

Jesse MacNett

Got me right in the heart with that ending. Damn. Just damn. Well done

Daveyzones

It is 7°F, I'm clearing snow in the dim of a quiet winter morning and the tears are freezing to my face as I listen to this. God damn it Brennan!!!

Daveyzones

"There are few things like winter that marry the feelings of wonder and joy with sorrow and solitude." Me outside shovelling snow: Fuck.

Heather Jackson

Listened while shoveling snow. 10000% recommend the experience. You absolute units of storytellers, I just canNOT. Thank you for sharing. Beautiful.

Kay

Oooh I want to listen to this when seasonally appropriate but I'm still on episode 48 in the main story. Can anyone let me know if that will be a problem?

TrashPanda

What did I get for Alf Gappens Day? Activated. I got activated. Thank you for this masterpiece of storytelling.

GC

others may disagree (and i should say that i haven't finished Alf Gappen's Day yet--i'm savoring it in small bites) but from what i know i think you're ok if you're on 48; it might even be a good time in the sequence for it actually!

Alyssa

Listened to this with my family while driving in the snow ❄️ kiddo loved it. I might finally hook my partner onto WBN Magical, whimsical, perfection 🧤❄️🌨️

Witch of the Widdle Wiggly Guys

I love using the geas spell to get these orphanage workers to do their damn job lmao. Ughhh justice for Neef.

Bog Station: Remembrance

It’s perfect. Also, each of the gifts they bestowed upon Nif were really beautiful. It made me so happy to think that in a way, she was protected until she could meet Ame. Just the right amount of bitter with the sweet. Best fairytale.

Bog Station: Remembrance

Like—I think we all really needed a good Midwinter faery tale this holiday season, and y’all delivered: magic as fuck, whimsy, mystery, justice for children, penance for cruel adults, and a favorite NPC from the main storyline… I’d love to see this animated in an old 1980’s Topcraft style. Thank you a million times from the center of my witch heart .

Katie Butler

This was the sweet, festive morsal -nay- crumb! ;) that I needed for the holidays. A very Merry Alf Gappen's Day to you all!!

CarpeBootium

For real question, not meant as a gotcha. In main story Nief said she nearly aged out of the orphanage when Indri came for her. Per this interlude, she is seven years old. Did she stay there for many more years? Or is Rhuv kicking 8 year olds out like they’re full adults?

Zahl

Krimskrams is an oldtimy word for junk or hodgepodge in german. I think some version of it exists in danish, too.

Robin

So I'm actually not only a knitter, I'm a knitter who sometimes knits mittens, specifically for donation to Knit the Rainbow (an org that focuses on LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness). Among other things, they give out handknit and crocheted accessories to youth who are unhoused. I've already knit a few pairs for this year's donation, but when Aabria described holiday scrappy mittens and then Brennan came in with the brutally cute name lepitepi, I knew what I had to do. In honor of Nief, Gallop, and the whole Worlds Beyond Number crew, I knit an extra pair of scrappy elk lepitepi. I've just finished them, and soon they'll be going to Knit the Rainbow, in the spirit of Alf Gappen.

BunSum

I JUST FINISHED THE EP AND NOW I'M GONNA CRY FOR THE 4TH TIME TONIGHT THAT'S SO SWEET

BunSum

THAT WOULD BE SO COOL

Andrew Rothardt

Nief is a treasure, the witch who sings to the spirits. What a lovely holiday story, I really enjoyed this one. Teared up a few times, too.

Ellis

It does sound like the kind of orphanage that would kick an 8 year old out, the way he described it

Jay

Was actually sobbing when I heard it was Nief - and to think when Erika talked about Gallop I thought of Nief immediately, but this story means her familiar mightve been inspired by Gallop 🥹 NIEF MY BABY

expandingnebula

listening to this every winter is going to turn into a holiday tradition! i loved this story so much. i wish that Nief had a better time with Indri than the orphanage though! but luckily the wish came true with Ame and Ren’s cottage and the spirits there

Koi Boi Tracy

I’ll have you know that Alf Gappen was here is my favorite holiday story and the Holiday isn’t even real (except in our hearts)

sonmoss

For last 3 years I didn’t have any celebration of Christmas bc of war at my home. And this year will be the same. I sobbed for a whole 1,5 hours bc I yearn that next year will be much better and kinder. Thank you that was beautiful.

CarpeBootium

Now I’m picturing Oliver Twist meets Gangs of New York

Freya

I've just started the episode and my little scandi heart is so happy! All of our words are in this one and it feels so nice 🥰

Patrishish

I keep listening to this over and over. It’s perfect.

oToastTv

Had me in tears dammit 😭😭😭

Valentine Wiggin

Ok. I’m so late to this conversation. 1. Of course I absolutely sobbed that it was Nief. Neef. Nif. I love how I have no idea how to spell it. 2. As the reveal was about to happen of who it was, I ALSO really thought how beautiful and wonderful it would have been to be Wren Morningsong (Grandma Wren). 3. I did a teeny dnd game with my nibblings this year at our annual cookie decorating. My body was inhabited by the Cookie Witch who hates Christmas and is pissed we’ve done cookies every year and never invited her. My oldest nibbling painted her portrait and made me a dnd character card of the Cookie Witch as a gift. 3b. I will only be celebrating Alf Gappen’s day now. No joke. Cookie Witch will weave her way into the lore, probably as a kindred spirit to the Queen of Coins. I will be making a large Pato stuffy. All gifts will be hand made. Each year there will be a story folded into origami and each person will awake with one page. It’s too good to ever let it go. 4. Also? I know how much these things mean to all of us, so it feels weird to say why it means so much to me. It feels awkward and a bit small. But—last year at this time, I was doing heavy caregiving for one of my dogs who had dementia. I was up all hours and exhausted. We said goodbye after a month and I was really grieving. It was hard to do chores or do work for my fledgling garden. I started WBN in my headphones while working outside and would listen to hours on end. The joy and healing and tears was a real balm. When it ended I just started again. This year, I need to say goodbye to my other dog, Falkor. I made a blanket fort by his bed, and I’m reading him children’s books at night. It was really special to have this gift again at another time grief is feeling so close again. Thank you.

One Punch Max

Niefs age was always a bit weird to me. When we first met her I assumed she was not older than 10 but at the end of book one she says she's almost 18. But whatever, I guess she is simply a very small person, who's low self esteem made her seem younger than she is and gained confidence by the end of book one.

One Punch Max

I would be perfectly fine if Brennan told them beforehand that someone should play an Elk. But if he didn't and Erika actually picked an Elk in the moment fully improvised I am convinced that there is actual magic at play here.

One Punch Max

I truly love me some germanic representation.

Jay Reich

I finally got around to watching this and the reveal at the end genuinely snapped me out a really intense depressive episode and gave me back my will to live. Truly wild, forever thankful 🙏

Tallulah M.E. Grey

(Nief shows up) Me, dropping my knitting and yelling at my phone: BRENNAN YOU SHIT (Two minutes later) Me: OH AND HE’S AN ELK?!?!?!?

Uncle Arson

Slow on the draw, dreams of a song. Tears of joy in a work truck, journey home feels less long.

Witch of the Well Stocked Snack Cabinet

Finally started listening to this today and nearly did a full spit take in the middle of the supermarket when Lou introduced his character. - 'poto' means 'butt' in Spanish. (eg. 'caro de poto' = 'buttface') - It's also the stupid pet name my partner and I have used for each other for the last seven years and I was NOT expecting to hear it here. 💀💀 Edit: I have now finished the episode and despite *dying* everytime Poto's name was said, I am now weeping at the bittersweet perfection of this entire story. Aabria ATE with that character concept and I will never ever recover from the Nif and the Elk of it all. Pure magic.

Jenn with two Ns

Brennan you asshole! 😭😭😭 How could you drop that little witch shaped bomb on us?! *Full Aabria sobs*

Rob Pate

Listening in July it was hard for me to hook into the goofy winter solstice vibes, but then the Nif tie-in hits and suddenly I’m applauding alone in my car. Well done.