#guild mage morrow

[fireproofheart]

I have a real problem with learning new skills. The first thing I crocheted was a patterned queen size blanket. The first animation I make is a wholeass person twerking in full colour. I👏🏻Have👏🏻A👏🏻Problem👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[hypahfixations]

You know there was something extra delightful for me when Brennan gave Dominic Nuntz the same voice as Guild Mage Morrow because all I could imagine in the moment was that lil marzipan candle of a man getting utterly walloped by national treasure Mike Trapp

[lunarleylines]

When two young adults ruin your big day and set free the god you had trapped, what's a Guild-mage to do?

[thebardbullseye]

www ep 32 spoilers // mini essay below

goddamnit @worldsbeyondpod you can't keep doing this to me

there has been, not quite a burning question, but rather a smoldering one, since the conclusion of arc 1:

How did Morrow build that derrick?

this question raises several other questions/points (outlined in more detail below the gif):

Has Steel truly been the BBEG all along?

Um, why should we believe Tefmet?

How do you verify this information?

We're on top of the world! It's WitchCon(clave) baby and we got decisions to make now that Ame's not dead!!

Tefmet poured some gasoline and the spark is ✨quest fever✨

Who could possibly dissent given this testimony?

How did Morrow stumble upon some of the greatest conjurative and abjurative magic (per Tefmet) the world of Umora has ever seen --on his own-- in dinky little Port Talon-- at the edges of the empire?

and not an archmage (or one's apprentice) of the citadel, no no. a guild mage who isn't even namecloaked. flunked the citadel.

did he build the derrick all on his own with the misappropriated funds from guild mage Pane? it probably helped, but i doubt he invented the technology himself.

of course, i could put up red string as to how steel was secretly funding the derrick or knew about it already or was never going to free Naram or killed suvi's parents and stole the technology (as i'm sure many already have-- joking). and i could paint the citadel as the truly evil villains we all know them to be (mwuahahahahaha). but I'd like to be the devil's *cough* Citadel's advocate for a moment here:

Why should we believe Tefmet?

how do we know what they are saying is true?

they are in direct opposition to the citadel, and like it or not, citadel magic just saved Ame's station, and we wouldn't even be hearing their presentation if not for their (Suvi's) intercession. moreover, they are part of Indri's retinue, aka the witch who just attempted to destroy her.

they bring objects that they purport to be of great magical significance and paint a circumstantial picture of the citadel (implied at-large) to be abusing magic to the point of 1) creating NEW "spirits" not of the spirit world??? 2) destroying a magical artifact of such great significance to their enemies in Gaothmai as part of an (alleged) attempt to bring forth a great spirit??? and 3) focusing discs that were last seen by our heroes to have bound and wounded a great spirit???

further, how would you verify it at the north pole? Tefmet speaks of protection from scrying, so surely even the witch of the wind and stars herself cannot verify it from her library.

and, apart from the discs which were identified on sight, how do you verify or fact check these artifacts against the source, where the other wizards (who just might have An Opinion on this) have been dismissed or retreated to the skyship?

So, with all of that in mind, what happens next?

in case you're just joining us, welcome to witch-con(clave)! the witches are in conclave and are, if not magically required, then at least magically incentivized, to make decisions based on discussions and debates held during said conclave. Tefmet starts by announcing a window is closing and urging swift action.

Tefmet's allegations are gleaned from reading between the lines of the citadel's activities, their footprint. even if they are presenting in good faith and only with the most robust evidence, this is only part of the story.

and, to read between the lines of This Presentation, they speak calmly, but-

it pushes ALL the quest fever buttons. urgency. a ticking clock. a closing window. threat to magic itself. honor and duty and deference and reverence to spirits. and to the in between-- to the greater binding. an abomination. rebel against the empire. reject control. stop the (bad) wizards. end the citadel. it's happening too fast-- no, it's been happening too fast.*

Suvi Sky is not here. Pane burned the evidence. Tefmet burned their notes.

Who could possibly dissent given this testimony?

oh. shit.

*it's been happening too fast-- meaning that the escalation of citadel magic/empire/etc has ramped up dramatically not just recently given these discoveries but also that wizardry didn't exist until 200 years ago-- and it is currently 1670.

[knittedkikwi]

I’m so glad that Suvi finally said everything that’s been stewing in her mind about how Ame handles problems. I love Ame, but I really don’t think that presentation was enough to say for certain that the Citadel is trying to summon and control spirits. We don’t have timelines for anything, first of all. Tefmet said the lenses were recovered from a shipwreck or something, which I suppose we could take to mean they washed ashore after the derrick was destroyed. But what if they actually meant a shipwreck? Those lenses could have been on their way to Guild Mage Morrow BEFORE the party met him. Plus what were the missives that Tefmet kept referring too?? Everyone just kind of accepted them as fact but no one actually read them. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t trust the Citadel, but I also don’t think the situation is as simple as the witches seem to believe or as Tefmet portrayed. There’s going to be factions within factions within factions all going after their own goals. Some good, some bad, most probably somewhere in between. The question is which faction is in control of the citadel at any one moment and what is their goal.

I got off track a bit there. I think the real issue here is that Ame’s not had the same training Suvi has in critically analyzing an argument. That’s WHY Ame needs Suvi to act as her advisor. Ame’s also impulsive, very clearly shown in this episode when she follows her gut reaction of lying to the council. Ame needs to confront those facts about herself in order to make the best choices and Suvi is finally exposing them to the light of day.

At the same time, Suvi is eventually going to have to face that the Citadel isn’t the shining beacon of knowledge and justice that she thinks it is. The process has started already though. After all, what’s with all the scrying?? That identify spell was a LOT to process and I don’t know which way Suvi is gonna go after that. I do have one wish, though. I desperately want Suvi’s faith in Steel to be right. I’m hoping that Steel is trying to do the whole dismantle it from the inside thing. Usually an act of futility, but someone who is incredibly clever and willing to listen to the counsel of Grandma Wren just might be able to pull it off.

Anyway, all of this was just to say that I love this podcast. I love this story. I can’t wait to see what sort of shit they have to work through after the conclave and how Suvi’s going to react when she gets her memories back.

[mambadou]

Okay, if there's anything I really want to know about the lore of Umora right now -cause I'm a word nerd - why is the S so significant?

And, as well as that, what do individual letters mean? Morrow was just a guild mage, sure, but he was strong, although, his name beginning with something "less than" an S is really interesting.

Then you have Gallani, insanely powerful, a citadel wizard through and through, tossing banishment at a great spirit, commanding the respect of the azure battalion. And yet, no S name?

Then there's the ones that do have it. The council of Archmages is easy, they're the best of the best, and then you have Soft, Stone and Steel, who're well respected heroes amongst the citadel.

Sky and Silver's ages denote the 2 young mages to be almost prodigal compared to the rest. But what does it mean to put them a cut above someone like Gallani?

And now the most interesting one. Suvirin. She's not even been given her name cloak yet, but what's there? Our good buddy the S. Ooh boy is this cool, cause now we consider "Is it an honour thing? Is it high expectations on this child? Is it the arcanocracy's way of showing hey don't fuck with her cause her whole family could rocket your ass to the moon?" God it's amazing.

Might submit to the Q&A for the next fireside, cause hoo boy, I have a lot of questions about this? Why? Cause this is Dnd, who do you think you're talking to, someone who doesn't want that sweet sweet lore?

[tin-tweezers]

The Sword of the Citadel is on her way to Port Talon.

Guild Mage Morrow has imprisoned Naram below the bay of Port Talon, with the intention of channeling Naram’s essence into a weapon of mass destruction for the war effort.

The Sword of the Citadel is arriving in an airship, which is likely extremely visible and recognizable, and which Morrow will surely see from the Guild Spire.

Morrow knows Suvi now. He knows that Suvi’s guardian is The Sword of the Citadel. He could easily assume that Suvi (visibly enthusiastic about the imperial implications of his work) contacted her guardian, and summoned her to see the project in person. Even if he didn’t leverage that connection, as a high ranking official in Port Talon, he’ll likely be invited to greet The Sword of the Citadel anyway.

The Sword of the Citadel is the head of the Citadel’s military. She’ll also understand the implications of this project.

Brennan’s telling a story about friendship and love, but he’s also telling a story about imperialism.

This isn’t just going to be about Suvi.

[madamegoodparty]

Okay no I have to complain about this for a bit because I saw a post that genuinely pissed me off. Rant under the cut

Sorry to be one of those "media literacy is dead" bitches but it does actually worry me just how many people are missing the giant flashing neon signs that the Citadel is one of the military branches of a fascist empire

Like yeah yeah it's a podcast set in a fantasy world and at the end of the day I don't really want to spend my valuable time on this earth getting spun up over fiction

But jesus CHRIST

THEY'RE STEALING KIDS. YOU STILL WANNA DEFEND THE CITADEL AFTER YOU FOUND OUT THE EMPIRE STEALS KIDS???

And I know the retort would be "well, the Citadel's not doing that!" And okay fine. At this point, we don't know how involved the Citadel is with that specific thing, I'll grant you.

BUT

Do we wanna forget about the Kasov Collection? About Suvi in Chapter 1 donning a badge to show she's killed for the Empire, and being proud of it? How the Citadel has done nighttime raids pulling people from their homes and jailing them, often enough that Suvi has become desensitized to it? That Steel, Suvi's MOM, cast a Geas (something that could KILL HER) on Suvi and then wiped her memory?

When you point out how fucked up Naram's imprisonment was, people will say "but that was Guild Mage Morrow, and he's not part of the Citadel!" Never mind that he was trained there but fine okay -- then comes episode 32, where we see the Citadel is continuing his research!

The Citadel is not a separate entity from the Kehmsarazn Empire!! It's part of their military!!!!!!! People that can't hack it at the Citadel instead go on to join the Azure Battalion (grunt soldiers for the empire) or the Scepter's Chorus (imperial artificers)

Like????? What's not clicking??????? You can't say "oh well the empire is bad sure but the Citadel is still cool" WHEN THE CITADEL ENFORCES THE WILL OF THE EMPIRE. Who's on the front lines fighting the empire's battles? Fully namecloaked Citadel wizards!!!!!!!

Your love for Suvi, Steel, Silver, Sly, Mr. Callum etc should not blind you to the reality of the empire. Just because they're good people doesn't mean the Citadel is therefore good by extension. I think Brennan is actually doing a fucking stellar job at showing the complexities of how otherwise kind decent people end up doing the work of fascism. The double-think and cognitive dissonance that goes into it. Shit, Aabria has literally said Suvi has a "justification machine".

I do not know how much clearer the cast could be!!!!!!!!

[brainrockets]

I wonder... how did guild mage Morrow get her parents' spellbook?

Is this some 'you don't own things the citadel grants them'?

Like.

Did they auction off her parents' shit? Like... did she only get to keep the things she had on her person?

This is some bullshit.

[afragmentcastadrift]

Speculation (really, wishful thinking): A Guild Mage Morrow limited edition bathroom candle will be the first WBN merch item to be released.

[mjrkime]

I love TES series. Especially Morrowind, Oblivion and Skyrim.

Cyrodiil is comfy. Almost fairytale-like.

Warning: a long and unreasonably emotional post about a videogame

I always find myself being quite bitter whilst coming back to TES IV: Oblivion despite being overall nostalgic. Morrowing felt different and it still does. The emotional baggage that I have for TES III usually relates to my unbearable wish for an escapism which this title provided. Yet, TES IV has a significant flavour to it.

The home of pristinely clean streets, white towers, wine and beautiful pastoral scenery, it hides and nourishes bloody cults, horrific murderers, undercover intrigues and tragedies. Vvanderfell is grey and it's grey in every sense of the way. The morals, the people, the story. It's hard to be and feel heroic when you find yourself amidst a thousand years-long intrigue. Skyrim is bloody. It shows its guts to you because it can. It wants you to bathe in blood while crossing this cold and harsh land.

Oblivion doesn't want you to bathe in blood, it doesn't throw you into the web of intrigues. It gives you a simple story about a hero who finds themselves at the end of the old man's wish. Emperor Uriel Septim gives you his amulet before his inevitable demise. And after that it just goes as it always does.

Cyrodiil hides its very essence under everyone's nose. It pretends to be an idyllic place. In fact, I can absolutely feel the need to slow down and take a stroll through the beautiful cities. Together with the soundtrack, the atmosphere brings you a taste of Tamika's fine wine. Going through the vast landscapes I felt like I finally understood why sometimes we just need to stop and just stare at the sky while the sun sets. Everything feels perfect But it's oh so far away from being perfect. There's, in fact, a necromancer living under that hill. A dangerous cult of ritualistic murderers prospers under the guise of Night Mother, housing their cozy hideout in the middle of the city. A menacing entity is plotting against the mages guild, the mercenaries and bandits watch the roads, thieves are spreading their curiosity amidst the city streets. There are dark mysteries in the ancient ruins and ugly secrets among the people of Cyrodiil. The daedra shrines await their chosen puppet to fulfill their sinister purposes. Also, there's a gate to the literal daedra hellish realm right there.

The realm of Mehrunes Dagon feels like a cruel joke, an attraction in the house of horrors. There are spikes everywhere, the small islands of soil are surrounded by lava, the blood of countless victims soaks the walls of menacing towers and even the damn flora wants to murder you. It mocks the heavenly peaceful land of Cyrodiil perfectly.

What's that? Oh, a sudden realisation.

Cyrodiil seems... Stereotypical. Oae wae!

But the stereotype or not, I quite enjoy this heroic fairytale which is, in fact way darker than it may seem at first.

Every time I come back to this land I can feel the underlying bitter sweet feeling. I know and love these characters, this story and this land. But also I know how each string ends. And it hurts. Sitting in front of Martin while he reads inside the Cloud Ruler Temple, training next to Agronak in the Arena, resting and enjoying the stay inside the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary. It all brings me as much misery as it does joy, because I KNOW that the ending is inevitable. I might delay it, I might never become a Champion of Cyrodiil, Arena Grand Champion or a Speaker, but it's only a fool's relief. Reading the interpretation of what might've happened to the Hero of Cyrodiil, honestly clicks to me. In my mind, my protagonist lost a good chunk of people she cared about no matter where she tried to go and what she tried to do. Strolling through Cyrodiil after the main plot always felt excruciatingly lonely and bitter. It's only logical that she would lose herself to a maddening corruption.

Every time I ride through the Colovian Highlands or stroll through the Nibenay Valley, I feel at ease and comfortable. But something inside me aches and feels like crying. Alone.

P.S. I know this feels too melancholic and d33p for a game that's basically a meme now, but I'm a person who cherishes videogame experiences way more than the real ones. Also I can't deny the emotional baggage that I have attached to it. However, I genuinely think that people kind of forgot how nice it felt to play this game. The memes are funny, yes, but I genuinely feel that the province of Cyrodiil holds way more depth than just that.

[talldarkandroguesome]

11th of Sun’s Dawn, Loredas

It has been such a joy to be out of Mournhold. And spending some time with Tel away from world ending situations and just the two of us was very pleasant.

Part of me had been rather worried about how Tel often sees Dunmeri culture as inherently better, more correct. I did not wish to appear ignorant or to be the sort of mer that travels abroad only to make themself feel more secure in the notion of their own correctness or to see others as lesser. Yet I knew that there was no way to help expand Tel’s views if they are simply to remain in their isolated little circle of Armigers there on Vvardenfell.

I hoped to expand their world a little. As a friend, I could see the curiosity and interest in other peoples and their culture and I did not wish to take Tel to Shadowfen, which in many places has a history of being under the sway of Morrowind. I did not want anything which might confirm to Tel any of their misguided notions of Dunmeri superiority in any way.

Yet there was a great fear that they might do or say something which would prove that I had only worsened this viewpoint or that I, too, might be judged for their words or actions.

There was really only one incident of the sort, which happened very early on. As we left the Mages Guild building there in Lilmoth and began to wind our way through the beautiful street that rose and fell over the ground, Tel called the architecture of the place quaint.

I was very on edge that my fear should be realized so soon and I told them there was nothing quaint about it and should they like to see precisely the reason for it. I give Tel credit for their curiosity and I showed them the few stone building of the city. Their slanted stature, the stones half sunk into the ground that was far too saturated with water to withstand the weight of such a structure, stood as a contrast to the rest of the town built up upon grand stilts. I explained the failed attempts of the Imperials to bring their culture to Murkmire and establish themselves as the superior culture. In a place like this, if you did not learn from those who knew it best, you were doomed to failure.

Tel looked very thoughtful, but said little, looking to the rest of the city with eyes wide with excitement. They said nothing more, other than to ask a bit about the stilts themselves. I had to plead ignorance to much of their questions, but assured them that I had hired a guide to take us around on the morrow who would no doubt be far more able to answer any questions they had.

We explored the various shops and got ourselves acquainted with the city. Despite the time of year, it was already rather balmy and I was glad to have changed into some locally appropriate attire before we arrived. The winds were still cool, but felt great against my skin as I sweat lightly from our jaunt up and down the raised streets. I thought fondly of the scolding that Qau-dar would have given me for having my torso so exposed. Of how he would get so upset about it. How I miss him dearly.

We stopped so that we could get Tel some appropriate clothing as well. Green is a popular color for attire here and it was easy to find many things which suited Tel’s hair and complexion. And I did not mind being able to glance over and see quite so much of them.

We stopped to eat and had a delightful meal of some of the local catfish, fried in a fragrant oil, served with stewed, spiced vegetables, and stone baked plantain cakes. The whole meal was delightful and refreshing concluded with fresh local fruits dusted with roasted cocoa nibs and vanilla seeds, and the slightly touch of salt. Tel seemed so enthralled by the cooking that I may have let out an audible sigh of relief. I had been worried that they would not enjoy it, but the way they gobbled the whole thing up, I was able to relax a bit.

We spent a bit of time at the music shop, mostly so that we could hear some of the instruments particular to that part of Black Marsh. They are such a delight to hear, including the vossa-satl, which I have only ever seen sitting unplayed before. The frogs needed to induce the delightful tones of the instrument are very particular and native to Murkmire, so to have the chance to hear one was a particular treat. I had so much to do when last I was in Murkmire, more than fifty years ago, that I never had the opportunity.

We took in some street performances and then retired to our inn, the amusingly named Lusty Argonian Footman. Clearly a nod to the famous book series, but in a cheeky way. The proprietress, Jasudei, was a very wise and spiritual sort and would say the most profound things as though they were merely small talk. She was a great source of information about the city and put us up in a delightful little suite. Tel and I spent most of the evening catching up about things and speaking of subjects from our letters. We had another delightful meal of spiced meat and vegetables with some form of grain I have never known the name of before, but that has a delightful bit of crunch to it. Again, the meal was finished with those delightful local fruits and we retired early, that we might be able to rise with the dawn and begin our explorations.

Tel kept trying to get me to go to sleep right away, but I wanted to catch up in a more intimate manner before slumber. It is a good thing the bed was so sturdy, for we surely had made up for lost time. And soon enough we found ourselves spent and exhausted.

Tel stroked my hair and I found it rather easy to drift off to sleep, though I knew to stay somewhat alert, we were in a strange place and I can never trust a place that I knew inside and out, let alone one I do not. We were at disadvantage should any assassins or robbers be wishing to make their attempts.

And yet, it was not some outside force that caused me to jolt from my rest, but those fetching nightmares. Damn Luayl and his stupid training course. I knew when I was going to lay down that I could not simply shut off my dreams  in a single night, it takes a couple of days to manage it one way or the other. And so I had to consign myself to having the dreams, and the full force of the memory of them.

So there I was, the fading vision of those golden hands, bloodied with my son’s blood, trembling, trying to will away the thoughts. Knowing that they were not real, yet still feeling the grip of the terror on my heart. I knew Sildras was safe. There was no way the Thalmor could slip into Mournhold so easily, let alone my home. My son was fine. He was. I knew it in my mind.

Yet the visions continued to play over and over again, even as they were fading.

Then a hand came up and pressed to my back. I started, not expecting someone to be there. Tel asked me if I was alright, what was wrong. I told them that it was nothing, I had been awoken from a deep sleep by a noise, but that it was gone now and I was just clearing my head.

Tel’s arm wrapped around me, they asked if I had a bad dream. I felt like a child, still trembling in their arms. Was I so obvious? I told them it was fine, truly.

They asked if I should like to talk about it. I said no, the dream was already fading. That did little to change their concerned look. One not so dissimilar to the one that Luayl gives me at times. They asked if this was because of the Planemeld and our time spent in Coldharbour.

Coldharbour? No, I said. And the tone seemed to put them at ease. They tried to coax me to speak about it, but I declined, saying that I had someone whose job it was to deal with these things. that he had deemed it proper for me to explore these dreams and that otherwise I would not be burdened with them at all. It was something I would report when I got back home.

Tel did not seem overly sure, but they said no more of it. I promised myself to be extra careful not to wake Tel the next time. I did not wish to have their mind on anything but our reason for coming. For the fun we were to have together.

They laid back down, pulling me with them, and held me. It was... well, it helped. I hate to admit that such a simple gesture could, given how tight a grip those dreams get upon me. But it was a comfort.

We had another wonderful meal and then met with our guide. He took us around and showed us the art and architecture of the city. Tel asked many questions and I just enjoyed the freedom of being away from the House, the responsibilities, and constant watching eyes. It was a miracle I timed things as I did so that my birthgift would free me of constant Houseguard. I am sure the efforts will redouble when I return.

We purchased a great deal of art and art supplies. We took a short boat ride around the city and up the river a bit. Tel using the opportunity to do some painting. I spoke with our guide, Chuxu, about local business and politics. How the weather had been affecting their city. Lilmoth is a merchant city, something a bit unusual for Black Marsh, particularly Murkmire. He explained about what it was like to farm here instead of in his village and how much he enjoys the opportunity to meet so many new people and learn so many new things. I told him we were much alike, for it was curiosity and a desire for knowledge that had brought us so far from home.

Chuxu had a delightful sense of humor and we talked easily for a great while. He offered to take us to the Bright Throat tribe’s village, a half a day’s travel from the city. I asked Tel if they would be interested, I was quite eager to have the chance, but Tel said that we would use the remainder of our allotted time to do so and that they would rather get to know the city better.

I promised Chuxu that our next time coming here we would take him up on the offer, planning more time than our current trip. He said he would welcome us back any time we wished, so long as he was not busy tending to the fields.

I bought everything Tel said they had any interest or liking of. I know that they were upset about not being able to get all their things back, but I said I was more than happy to pay for someone to assist us, as I am always happy to share the House’s coin with those who have more need of it.

When we were back to our room and Chuxu handsomely provided for, even beyond what the agreed upon rate was, I told Tel how sad I was to be leaving. I shared about just how awful the House was making things with this whole nonsense about a mistress and providing them more approved heirs. I lamented how they would not let me see Qau-dar or the other spouses, yet I would not be able to enter into any arrangement without the permissions of my spouses as it was.

Tel did not understand why they would not simply wait until after the lifespan of my husband had drawn to an end. It was a morbid thought, that I might only have another five or six decades within which to spend with my beloved Qau-dar. A period of time in which I may continue to remain separated from him. 

I had to push that feeling to the pit of my stomach. To repress such sad notions. I am too much drawn to periods of melancholy as it is. I did not wish to begin a new one.

I explained that the House was anxious with how quickly they had jumped two spots down the succession line already and that they were worried that uncle Urnel was not ready enough to be Grandmaster, let alone find a suitable wife and sire heirs. And depending on when he died, the next in line was either Mother, only six years his junior in age, or myself. They did not wish to risk having a half Bosmer heir take over, they hated Nabine and put those feelings on poor Kuna, assuming she would be identical in demeanor to her mother. So as it stood, they only truly saw Sildras as my heir and I knew they would attempt to keep my from Grandmastery as much as possible. It meant that they might try to go straight from uncle Urnel to Sildras. So if something were to happen to him, they had no one. They wanted their spare heirs and they wanted them now.

Tel told me they were sorry and they helped me to find distractions afterwards.

I had a new set of nightmares, brought on by that horrible realization of how little time Qau-dar and I have left. This time I was very careful upon waking, sliding gently to the far edge of the bed and then getting up and sitting on the floor in the corner of the room. I pressed a pillow to my face and let the emotions pour out of me through my breath and into that pillow until I had nothing left. Then I rejoined Tel as if I had simply gotten up to go to the privy. They stirred slightly when I climbed back in besides them, but only pulled me close and continued slumbering peacefully.

I am sad to say it is our last day now. Although I miss my son terribly, I am otherwise happy to be far from home. If only I could have just one more day. Just one.

[wilderebellion]

Notes I took from re-watching episode 1:

"Breath is yours but also a stranger's. Like someone is using your body to breathe."

"Something is wrong in the spirit."

Explosions so fast, and then slow down

"Moments in time, disconnected."

Everything else is momentarily subsided.

"Are you there now, Ghor Dranas?"

"My child I fear I am too late. There are secrets they did not tell you."

Secret about evandrin? Or secret Evandrin kept?

Amulet

Tree

Falls to his knees - a sacrifice? Tricked into giving his life? 'Something's wrong' and looking up

Cathmoíra

Toramundan Nexus

Celestial Solstice will be an Apogee solstice.

20-30 yrs 100-150 yrs

Powerful enough to re-shape/shift leylines

"I clock that we are super magic right now"

Ring of a city - Cathmoira

Mountain peak - Avalir

Librarium Incantatum

Golden Scythe - order of merchants

Sailor-Marines of the Harvest Moon

The dragon of Avalir

Stormbringers helped with that 'thing on the coast of Issylra'. Business there is not completely resolved so it would be nice to use them again.

Magister Milus Phren

Octorthurge

Archsept

Guardian of the Seventh

Continent of Dominas/Domunas

Archsept, home of the Septarion, seven mages of Avalir

Toramunda became Avalir and Cathmoíra

Loras of the Weaver's Mask

Ring of gold = 14 apprentices to the Septarion

Eldamir the Wise, one of the Septarion. One of the "true" seven, from the beginning of Avalir.

Druids of Old Toramunda - Gau Drashari, who argued with Imyr Por'Co about his intentions to tear the city in half (brumestone also likely part of the contention?)

Volucia of the Heart's Emblem - to retire to Cael Morrow in Marquet, means an

Eldamir concern: Aeor planning an attack on Lathras to test their weapon

Hall of Prophecy is shut down. Issues with return to Domunas, great amount of output from there.

Eldamir concern about Vespin Chloras and recreating ritual. Loras asks Patia to bring Cerrit's findings in the Chloras case to him first.

Seriously wtf is an Octothurge

7 - Silver

14 - Gold

6 - Brass (the PCs)

Avalir and Cathmoíra were once one city, known as Toramunda and located on the continent of Domunas.

Rosohna was once Ghor Dranas, Tal'Dorei was once Gwessar....Issylra is still Issylra.

Domunas now is ???

For one month every seven years Avalir reconnects and releases its store of ether (raw magical energy) rejuvenating the continent and fulfilling a promise made to the druids of Old Toramunda, that a new age will come, a flourishing of magic. (THE REPLENISHMENT)

Crops, magical children, fey will flourish, portals and doors to other lands. (Important to the MANY cultures Domunas)

Reuniting the mountain that once was a very historically important mountain

Octothurge=guildmasters? Signjficant chairs of the Magisterium

Court of Workings, Court of Owls

Hierophants of the Eight Guilds

Mentions Sun setting "behind thr continent of Domunas" indicating it's in the west

Imyr is the mage who finished the enchantment on the brumestone that made Avalir take flight

Xerxez

Hypatia

Midas

Seelie

Laerryn is doubly employed in the Abjuration Guild and the Court of Working

Bolo the Black Widow of Aeor

This is Zerxus's first return as The First Knight

Eadaleus and Irmé

Romar and Ramira

"Evandrin should be here in this place, in this position of honor" - was Evandrin originally part of the Brass circle of friends and was betrayed

Founding of Toramunda is rooted in The Schism

Emperor of Fire, Empress of Earth (primordials

Mount Ygora

Gau Drashari

Zerxus last saw his son (briefly) when Elias was 7, but seems like 5 was the age when

Maya 7

Kir 5

Speaker of the Fourth

First Knight serves the Septarion directly

Dean Hollow states that the Matron of Ravens

Knowledge won by my mistress was hers and hers alone

Patia has a planetary/celestial theme, Hypatia was a an astronomer/mathmetican/philosopher from Alexandria. "wisdom exceeding all bounds...especially in things concerning astronomy." Widespread misconception that she existed or had any connection to the Library of Alexandria.

[thebardbullseye]

On the Purpose and Appreciation of Compelling Recaps: “Of the Reaching Green” (WWW Episode 10)

From the desk of TheBardBullseye

“Previously on “The Wizard, The Witch, and The Wild One.” Naram, spirit of the gentle sea, lies bound at the base of the Calabel Nautomantic Apparatus by Guild Mage Morrow of the Scepter’s Chorus. Our heroes stand divided. Having re-established contact with The Citadel, a castigated Suvi now has direct orders to do nothing until Steel arrives in Port Talon three days hence. Eursulon, having returned to the Ace of Wands alone, once again wields Wavebreaker, the sword that legend says belonged to Naram himself, with the power to break the spells and curses of his foes. And Ame, with just such a curse still clouding her mind and concealing crucial memories of Grandmother Wren and her most important lessons, now rushes forth to find her fox familiar, chasing him beyond the walls of Port Talon into the wasteland of witch fire and ash that stand between the city and the wrath of creeping kudzu beyond. We now return to Port Talon in the wee hours, as a tall and tipsy traveler ambles contentedly down a cobblestone street, a gleaming sword swinging at his side. [music swells] (0:00:18-0:01:30)”*

tl;dr below the fold- I’m captivated by the "Previously On" at the start of episode 10, and I wrote a whole damn essay discussing it. The recap is a brilliant piece of writing and a fascinating snapshot showcasing why this particular actual play podcast is So. Damn. Good. They didn’t have to go this hard!

// Spoilers (both direct and indirect) for Arc 1 // (but honestly I think if you don't already listen to this show, then hopefully this essay convinces you to.)

I’ve been relistening to “The Wizard, the Witch, and the Wild One” (WWW) from the beginning (starting with the Children’s Adventure). My work life has gotten super crazy in the last month (yay promotion!), and I’ve found the first arc (and firesides) to be a great boon during a stressful time. As I already know the story, I’m less concerned about missing something and will listen to it whenever I need to—note that when I listen to a new episode, I allocate free time to listen and do only that (and play solitaire so I don’t scroll social media). Anyways, when I got around to episode 10, I was reminded by how much I loved the “Previously On” recap at the start. I don’t know if it was written separately or improvised, and although I suspect the former, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was the latter (1).

Before I get into it, y’all, this podcast is so fucking good. I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it. There have been numerous moments, developments, episodes, etc. that have grabbed me by the shoulders and shouted in my face, “HEY! STUFF IS HAPPENNING! PAY ATTENTION TO THIS! MAKE THE HAPPY BRAIN CHEMICALS!” (in the Fox’s cadence and voice, of course). And sometimes, that voice compels me, perhaps as a Geas, to Do Something creatively (much like what you’re reading now). Early on, this was mostly a ramble to a friend, or word dump in a doc or group chat. Then, I wrote some music and some lyrics and some poetry, and then a full-length academic essay (…5k words long), and then designed a magazine cover, and on and on. (I don’t know why this podcast has my brain in a vice, but also, I sort of do, which is another essay in the drafts.) Regardless, the first instance of Creative Compulsion that manifested in a more structured manner was when episode 10 debuted and is in fact this very essay (that has since been rewritten and fleshed out). I didn’t have a Tumblr at that time, so my thoughts on this recap have just been collecting dust in my documents folder for more than a year. But, upon my relisten, I realized this episode introduction was significant and that there was more I wanted to say and praise, since I haven’t heard another one like it since.

When the episode first aired, I heard the first 90 seconds (2) of “Of the Reaching Green” and instantly replayed it three times before moving on to the rest of the episode because I was so captivated. After I finished the episode, I listened to it again. The episode had just come out, so the transcript was not yet available, and I wanted to see the recap as well as hear it. *Above, you will find my transcript of the recap, preserved as it was on that day, so my apologies for any unintentional spelling or grammar mistakes (3). Then, I stared at it and reread it, and started to piece together my thoughts on why the hell I’m so enamored by this. It’s 90 seconds of an hour and twenty-minute podcast, and not only that, it’s not even technically part of the diegetic episode, since it’s a recap! (What the hell, Brennan?!)

I promise I’ll get to those specific thoughts soon, but I think it’s important to alight briefly on the nature and necessity of recaps. In serialized storytelling mediums, most notably television shows, the audience often requires a recap of the previous events to refresh one’s memory since it’s been a week (or more) since the previous episode (TV Tropes). I think these may have fallen out of favor as of late, especially in the advent of prestige television, DVRs, and streaming—most producers probably assume that their audience is either binge-watching the show, has access to the previous episode, or can just look up a summary. Or if not done well, it may further confuse the viewer if too much or too little information is included (4). Further, recaps are NOT synopses of the previous episode—they serve to highlight the main points of the previous episode/storyline and specifically underscore what the audience needs to know for this episode. Additionally, these don’t necessarily show up before every episode; for some shows, these only happen for mid or end of season finales, when major storylines conclude. These are not just for returning viewers- in the bygone age of broadcast tv (I jest, kind of), people didn’t always catch every episode every week, so recaps also needed to be compelling. They needed give any random channel surfer the general gist so that they could watch the episode and convince them to not change the channel. Recaps don't need to execute on these all of these elements, nor do them perfectly, but a good recap communicates all of these things well in a very short time frame (usually around 1 minute). Essentially, "Previously On" segments say, 'pay attention to this.'

For actual play shows (a catch-all term for recorded or streamed TTRPG games), recaps serve this same purpose of reminding the audience of previous events, but these also do the additional duty of reminding the player characters themselves at time of recording of what is important in the story they’re telling and game they're playing. Often, the GM will recap the previous session so that everyone’s on the same page, and this is often improvised (as most things are). Needless to say these aren’t usually the most compelling part of the episode (though they don't have to be), and often devolve into synopses of the previous session (i.e., “Last time you guys did XYZ, Timmy fell down a well, ok let’s start…”). Or, if the GM does recap the most important points to know, it’s not usually that compelling to listen to—and honestly, why would one spend extra effort on something that insignificant anyway? Moreover, recaps in most actual plays serve the purpose of recapping for the players first and the audience second (5). The GM can remind, and players can ask questions, so the burden of this segment is lessened.

Ok, so back to our regularly scheduled essay about WWW. I mentioned earlier that I thought that the recap in episode 10 was not improvised at the start of the session and instead was written and recorded separately. While (to my knowledge) this hasn't been discussed publicly, there is some evidence in the structure, cadence, and delivery that lends credence to this assertion. On the whole, I don't think it particularly matters whether it was written or improvised; I merely mention it because the choice to script is significant when every other introduction is improvised (just look at much people love the "Fire" introduction for Calamity). This creative choice makes a lot of sense both in narrative and in production.

WWW first debuted in March 2023, releasing biweekly, so episode 10 aired in early July 2023. I would wager that most listeners don’t relisten to each episode in the intervening weeks, so most episodes start with an informal recap or general scene setting. However by this point, the story had just reached its major turning point at the end of episode 9—the recovery of Wavebreaker. This sword is the MacGuffin of the first arc, and each character is connected to it in some way—it breaks curses (one of which Ame is under), Eursulon was the last one with it but parted with it years ago in Port Talon (he also needs a weapon), and Suvi was the one that gave it to him in childhood. The previous episode also focused on Naram, a great spirit trapped in the harbor of Port Talon, who up until then seemed tangential to the protagonists—but then Ame discovered on her own that Wavebreaker originally belonged to Naram. This pivotal moment is what propels the story to the conclusion of the first arc, thus the need arose for a moment to remind the audience of the stakes and current landscape.

From a production standpoint, this podcast has a lot of love and care poured into it, especially with the marriage of masterful improv and immersive sound design. It’s clear (and has been explicitly stated) that this crew prioritizes the quality of the final episode through little details and extra effort. So, whereas with other APs, fewer resources would be allocated to a recap simply because it’s not necessary, Worlds Beyond Number finds the use-case where it becomes necessary to put a little extra mustard on it.

That said, it’s a really good recap, excellent even. It contains everything a good recap should have: it paints the big picture, snapshots the major players, flows perfectly into the opening scene of the episode, and above all, is compelling. To further support the theory that this was written and recorded separately, it also lacks the filler words, pauses, and direct address to the players (i.e., Suvi, you did X, and Ame, you did Y) that are typical of an improvised introduction and recap—and thus it has the tone akin to the opening crawl of Star Wars. It is eloquently written, with so much information communicated by inference in just seven sentences, so let’s analyze line by line:

“Previously on “The Wizard, The Witch, and The Wild One.” Naram, spirit of the gentle sea, lies bound at the base of the Calabel Nautomantic Apparatus by Guild Mage Morrow of the Scepter’s Chorus. Our heroes stand divided.”

Translation: It all starts with Naram. Naram is a gentle spirit held captive by another wizard and his fancy machine. “Our heroes stand divided”—they had an argument in the last episode about whether or not to free Naram (and how). Needless to say, the situation with Naram is more complicated, but those four words express that succinctly.

NB: Naram is alone.

In the context of the previous episode, the listener is reminded of this quandary—what to do about Naram. But, there is an ingenious double meaning here. That last line not only alludes to the philosophical division amongst the party, but a physical one as well.

“Having re-established contact with The Citadel, a castigated Suvi now has direct orders to do nothing until Steel arrives in Port Talon three days hence.”

Translation: Suvi has been reprimanded by Steel after unintentionally going AWOL (“re-established contact”) and now she has to keep the situation with Naram locked down until Steel arrives. The audience is reminded that Port Talon is remote from The Citadel since it will take three days to get there.

NB: Suvi is alone.

Steel, Suvi’s adoptive mother, is flying by airship because the travelling door is broken, but since this is extraneous information to the immediate situation, it is left unsaid. As Suvi is the party member with the least connection (relatively speaking) to Wavebreaker and Naram, I think it makes sense that Suvi is mentioned first and has the least airtime in the recap.

“Eursulon, having returned to the Ace of Wands alone, once again wields Wavebreaker, the sword that legend says belonged to Naram himself, with the power to break the spells and curses of his foes.”

Translation: Eursulon ran off to see Will Gallows (proprietor of the Ace of Wands) but got his sword back (“once again” wields Wavebreaker), and it is a legendary sword belonging to Naram that can break curses.

NB: Eursulon is alone.

This section is also brief but sets up the pattern for a clever sequence that subtly shows the movement of the sword over time. First, Naram (who owns the sword), Suvi (who gave Eursulon the sword), Eursulon (who got the sword back), and then finally Ame (who needs the sword). The last phrase, “with the power to break the spells and curse of his foes,” neatly sets up the next line.

“And Ame, with just such a curse still clouding her mind and concealing crucial memories of Grandmother Wren and her most important lessons, now rushes forth to find her fox familiar, chasing him beyond the walls of Port Talon into the wasteland of witch fire and ash that stand between the city and the wrath of creeping kudzu beyond.”

Translation: Ame is cursed and because of that, she is lacking crucial knowledge (but the sword can break the curse). Now, she has left Port Talon and is chasing after her fox into the dangerous wasteland choked with smoke and treacherous forest outside the city.

NB: Ame is alone (do you see the through-line?).

Now, with the major characters introduced and with the stakes increasing, the segment concludes as it introduces the present moment and establishes the opening scene:

“We now return to Port Talon in the wee hours, as a tall and tipsy traveler ambles contentedly down a cobblestone street, a gleaming sword swinging at his side.”

Translation: It’s the middle of the night and Eursulon is triumphantly (and drunkenly) wandering the streets of Port Talon.

It’s notable that Eursulon is not mentioned by name at the end but trusts the listener to have been paying attention, though the next spoken word as the recap fades is “Eursulon.” The opening scene transitions seamlessly to him arriving at the Chantry—now we've come full circle. (This is Morrow's HQ, who trapped Naram in the first place).

Thus, it’s clear that this recap is descriptive yet not needlessly verbose or rambling (unlike this essay), due to its well-formed sentences and syntax.

But beyond that, it’s pleasing to the ear. There is ample use of consonance throughout (e.g., “bound at the base,” “wields Wavebreaker,” “curse… clouding… concealing crucial,” “rushes forth to find her fox familiar,” "walls... wasteland... witch fire," "creeping kudzu," and “tall and tipsy traveler ambles contentedly down a cobblestone street, a sword swinging at his side”). There’s also an interesting alternating alliterative and rhythmic pattern of k and s sounds with “contact with the Citadel, a castigated Suvi”. There's just enough to be noticeable but not too much to become annoying, and the brevity certainly helps. It's poetic.

In the sound quality and design, there’s an air and cadence in Brennan’s voice of being read a bedtime story, and he speaks clearly and with purpose. Further, the musical motifs of the chorus signifying the spirit world at the start transitions to a carefree, plucky tune during the last line that embodies Eursulon’s mood and instills it in the listener. As it ends, this musical transition is reminiscent of waking up and slowly starting to hear the ambient noise around.

When analyzing any kind of creative choice in any medium, I tend to remind myself that the creator(s) could have simply chosen to not make that choice, for any number of reasons or limitations (6). The "Previously On" in episode 10 could have been unremarkable, rambling and verbose, it could have had no music or sound effects, it could have been written and structured in an entirely different way, or it could have simply not existed at all. But it does exist, so I look at what is there. Now, this analysis is not intended to be prescriptive for future recaps in WWW or other APs. As is evident, this recap is one-of-a-kind and serves a greater purpose overall in the first arc of the story. In writing this, I spot-checked a handful of other opening moments of WWW, and while those introductions were improvised, Brennan is so adept at it that I would not expect to hear another a written recap unless the narrative and production calls for it again.

These seven sentences are truly brilliant. There are plenty of moments that have stuck with me since WWW started in March 2023, but it speaks volumes that something this insignificant spawned a ~3000-word analytical essay (7). Damn.

Footnotes:

(1) I elaborate on this later in the essay, but I suspect it was written and recorded separately solely because of how concise it is, both in word choice and in delivery (the lack of filler words or pauses), as well as the difference in tenor/tone as it transitions to the opening scene. We’ve also heard plenty a recap from Brennan in WWW and other shows, and I have yet to hear one as crafted and, dare I say, perfect as this one. Not to knock other improvised (or otherwise) recaps of course, as those fulfill their purpose well and fine. I just appreciate the extra mustard on this one (no shit, I just wrote a whole damn essay with footnotes). I suppose I could submit a Fireside question and ask (lol) but I think that (sky)ship has sailed, since we're now on episode 35. (If for some godforsaken reason someone involved with WBN reads this... let me know if I'm right, I guess? If I'm wrong, I don't want to know /j)

(2) I refer to the recap as 90 seconds as shorthand throughout, but it technically just ends at 90 seconds. And I think that’s neat. It's also easier to just say 90 seconds—a nice, distinct chunk of time—than its true length, which is 72 seconds (due to the WBN theme).

(3) Formatting the quote in this way also neatly organizes my analysis of it later in the essay, which is not exactly reflected in the transcript (but that’s because it’s for readability).

(4) Complete tangent to the podcast discussed here is that I’ve seen DougDoug (internet streamer) do a blind reaction to just the “Previously On” recaps for "One Tree Hill" and "24" (without knowing the plot of either show) to hilarious and baffling results. It further demonstrates my point that recaps are not synopses, and you can’t fully grasp the plot of something through these. Because that’s not their purpose—which is to make clear to the audience what they need to know for that next episode-- not necessarily explain what happened in the last episode (and clips can be from earlier episodes as well).

(5) Something that I think is often discussed by WBN et al. (among others) is the distinction between an actual play and a home game. In a home game of D&D, the sole audience is the people playing the game. In actual play, the audience is BOTH the players and the viewer, and (good) actual play has to balance the two—you want to make sure the people playing are having a good time but also that it makes for a good viewing/listening experience. This tension between the two audiences can be balanced for- either in the moment of recording or in post-production, and I think WBN does an excellent job at this balance. However, I make the point that players come first and audience comes second specifically for recaps, because if your players don’t know what’s going on beforehand, then the whole shoot/recording could be in jeopardy, and it may simply not be worth the time, effort, or resources to craft an outstanding recap. So, there’s fundamentally going to be less effort put into the recap from viewer’s perspective in actual plays, and they just don’t matter that much, since players can just ask questions/GM can remind players of things.

(6) Might be a hot take, but I find it counterproductive and uninteresting to engage in editorializing player and DM choice in APs when it is presented as critique or literary analysis (i.e., "they should/could have done this instead" or "XYZ would have made for a more interesting story"). I've noticed this sentiment crop up in AP spaces/fandoms, but there isn't a writer's room to edit and revise the story being told (well there is one, and it's happening in the moment). To me, it's more interesting to look at the story that is being told and the choices made, and ask, why? Which is the point of this whole essay—to look at those seven sentences and go, "why is this here and what does it mean?"

(7) Or I'm just a nerd. Or both. Don't mind me, I'm just over here building my donut house. (I reblogged a post about fandom and donuts recently—it makes sense in context I promise.)

[the-real-nerevar]

For my first post, I’ll introduce my Elder Scrolls ocs.

Starting with Skyrim, my first oc is Robin. A mischievous khajiit who leads the Thieves Guild, Dark Brotherhood and Volkihar Vampires. She’s truely evil most of the time but has a soft spot for beggars on the street and always provides them gold. Her name is actually a play on words, with “Robin” meaning “Robbing” because she was originally made for the thieves guild. She proceeded to join the Dark Brotherhood (Nazir, Babette, and Cicero are basically family now) and then the Volkihar Vampires. She is working on defeating Alduin and already killed Miraak.

Now my Morrowind oc. His name is Morrow Windmoon, referring to Morrowind as another play on words. He stumbled upon house Hlaalu and joined after leaving Cyrodiil on a boat back to Morrowind. Morrow also joined the Mages Guild and mastered most schools of magic. He progressed in the main quest line and now lives in Curio Manor in the Hlaalu Canton. Morrow also really hates Almalexia for no reason.

Now my Oblivion oc, Summer (or Fantasia) Settles! Yes, another play on words. Settles and Set isles. She is the half sibling of Morrow and is a high elf who is secretly against the Aldemeri Dominion. She is allied with the Dark Brotherhood and takes the Role of Sheograth. There isn’t much to say about her, actually. So that’s all for now

Byeeee

[tamrieldrifter]

Silent goodbyes

We arrive somewhat dispirited back in the Hollow City. How swiftly the sweet taste of victory had turned sour In the Black Forge with the revelation that we were too late to prevent the Planar Vortex. However, returning to see the rebirth of this ancient city, albeit in a different era, a different realm, and with a different people, is heartening to us all.

From all across this accursed realm, the lost, the forsaken, the captured, the foolish, and the betrayed have been drawn like moths to Merida’s lights, and to what is perhaps mortals last safe haven in all of Coldharbour. And with the mages guild now opening their portals, fresh supplies, traders, tradesmen, and the foolhardy seeking fame, fortune and adventure, have began to arrive from Tamriel.

A meeting is held in the opulent Chapel of Light to discuss how we are to proceed upon the morrow. It is the kind “officer’s tent” meeting on the eve of battles that the common soldiery would usually scoff at around our campfires. For at this too late an hour there is nothing new that can be learnt, and nothing more that can be resolved; we know too well our duty. Once more we must set our faces towards the danger, bulwark our spirits with courage, and buttress our hearts for sacrifice.

Yet what I discover is there really is little difference between the officers tent and the soldiers campfire. For none of us expect to see sunset on the morrow. Those who will aim to keep alive will find nowt but a wretched and dishonourable death, whilst those that accept the convicted fate of the mortal, will make it their endeavour to die with honour. This is all but a final chance to say our silent goodbyes.

S.K