Worlds Beyond Number - WWW #25: The Retinue

Episode Date: April 23, 2024

The stars at the top of the world begin to align, and the meeting of the coven draws ever nearer. Old debts are paid and new collateral is put on the line. Ame plays politics, Eursulon plays cowboy, and Suvi's not playing around, not even a little. Remember, the number one rule of hospitality and protocol is never ever tell your host that all your rowdy friends are coming over tonight. They hate that.Worlds Beyond Number is:Brennan Lee MulliganErika IshiiAabria IyengarLou Wilson and is produced, designed, and scored by Taylor Moore at Fortunate Horse with exquisite design and editing help from Jared OlsonSPECIAL THANKS TO: Tazer Army, Shannon, and Amanda Freberg!Transcript of this episode coming soon! You can find transcripts of all our episodes here, for free, on our Patreon.Our album art is by the great Corey BrickleySome additional ambient sound design comes from Michael Ghelfi Studios. You can get their sounds and music for your home games and VTT as well, which we enthusiastically recommend. 

This is the sound of worlds beyond number. The sound of rustling blankets, the chirping of morning songbirds, loud cicadas or crickets or some sort of insect out beyond the tree. And Ursula, you awake with a feeling of something heavy on your chest. I open my eyes. Rowe is sitting on your chest. Good morning, Roro. Good morning.

I had a secret. For me? What is it? He holds your cheeks and whispers right into your mouth. Like, that's where you hear from. And you see, he goes, I, right. I open my eyes very wide.

Go, pancakes. Really? Yeah, not because they didn't tell, because my sister just said that they don't. have as much as many as we had before, but I like to have them. And when they're cold, they're not as good. I like them cold, but I don't like them cold as much. I like them more hot, more hot pancake.

God, yes, more hot pancake is the good pancake. Honey, jam with pancake. Mm-hmm. Is this all the secret? Don't, oh, because. I just want to know what I can say and what I can. You see that Bella says, Roro, you have to come wash your hands.

And you see that Roro rolls off of your chest and goes to skitter under a chair and hide. And Bella comes in and tries to coax him out front of the chair. Immediately there's activity in the living room. And suddenly you're in that position where you're a guy sleeping in the living room as the day is starting. Yes. We've all been there. We've all been there. You see that Adi comes in and helps you clean up some of it.

It was very comfortable night's sleep amongst all these clothes and fabrics and things like that. She smiles and hands you a big thing of pancakes, which you guess is why this was on Roro's mind. And you see there's a big dish. There's like four of them. They're these thick, flappy, hot, steamy pancakes. And there are a bunch of scoops sort of hugging a crescent around one side of the pancakes. that are almost taking up the whole dish.

But it looks like there's a big scoop of some kind of yogurt. There's a big scoop of some kind of marmalade with big chunks of citrus fruit in it. And there's another scoop of a deeper purple berry sauce in it. And she gives you a small little picture of some kind of tree sap syrup, sweet thing, sugar cane syrup, something like that. And says, our mother is waking up and he's going to try to have some pancakes too. Oh, that's good. I look over at Roro Roro.

Roro, I know you're not a fan of pancakes, but which one of these scoops would you, if for some reason you enjoyed pancakes, which would you recommend? You see Adi looks and is like, Rorou likes pancakes, and you see that Roros goes, no! And runs off. She's like, what, Ror, what did I say?

And he starts crying. in the corner, he's like, I didn't tell anyone I like, she's like, you don't have to tell anyone. You eat them. You eat them. Why would that be a secret? And C. Bella's like, he didn't wash his hand. Mom, he didn't wash his hands.

And just the joy, the joy of domestic family life. As odd, he hands you a thing of pancakes. And it's like, it's like, I don't know why he's so upset. I think I betrayed his confidence. What do you betray his confidence about? He confided at me that he enjoys pancakes. You see that Roro in the corner is just sort of sulking and weeping, that his secret is out.

But he sees his mom say, well, I didn't, it's not, it can't be a secret. It's not, why are you keeping that a secret? I've made a mess of things. I'm sorry, everyone. No, no, no, no. It wasn't you. It wasn't you. Dullin comes over to you.

and he actually there's a sort of curtain over a counter. You thought maybe it was like a raised shelf with like a counter at the base. But as he opens it, you actually see there's another curtain on their side and there's some stuff. He asks for a hand moving some boxes. And you see that there's actually a kind of arch over a countertop that looks into Kalaya's bedch chamber so she can kind of see out into the living room without having to get up out of her bed. And she looks and says, Ursula, do you want to come have some pancakes with me?

I would love to. She sits there smiling. Her pancakes have sort of been like cut up already a little bit into slices. She has a little bite. It's like she makes one little perfect bite with like syrup and both jams and a little bit of the yogurt and eats it and then doesn't touch it again. But for you, these things are great. We're going to town. As you're going to work, Calliah takes a look at your shield and says,

I can't believe still that you painted the tree. I mean, when I came upon the tree, I couldn't believe it. But there was something to, when I was painting it, I could feel you. I could feel your presence in the citadel. She smiles and says, It is not, I think, impossible to believe. I left many whispered spells in that place that I wished would find their way to you. She looks at the shield and says,

I think your friend of the witch should take a look at this now that the painting is complete, witches are crafty in their ways, and I think some enchantment might be unlocked in this. It is powerfully magical as it is, but I think its true gift has yet to be discovered and a witch's ways would know. I'll be sure to share it with Alme when we reconnect. By the way, is there a... How will I get from here? Is there away from here to the North Pole? Are we near the North Pole?

Oh, we're quite far from the North Pole. Oh, not there. I mean, I, I, yeah, okay. Well, if you need, so tell me again, you need to go from this place. So, Amé, the witch of the world's heart, and another of my true friends is, is at a conclave of the coven of elders, and my friend Suvi was meant to join us there. and I mean, I, there's part of me that feels like I should be there as well. I'm torn because I want to be here, but I think that, I think I will need to find my way there soon. I understand.

She smiles and looks at you. You're still looking for it, aren't you? Honor? Yes, that's your way. That's your way. That's where your breath is. Yes. So sorry, Ursula.

You know, I was lost for some time, but in finding my friends is what led me to even touch my breath again for the first time in many years. Well, if your breath lies at the end of the path that leads to honor, then far be it from me to keep you from it, brother. though I wish that you had rest you do here in the tree. Yes, I am torn, Kalai. It is so nice here, and there are so many feelings. So many feelings I'm having here with you and your children that I have not known for some time. But as you say, I'm on a path.

Let me think for a moment. And you see that she looks over. at a closet that is just stuffed with boxes and bags and satchels and duffles and all sorts of little haversacks that just, you know, this, this is a family little borough and it is filled with junk. And she looks at it and says, there might be some old trick of some kind, brother, to the other side of the world. How much time do you have? I mean, I believe the conclave starts within a day, but I'm sure there's a... Within a day? I'm sure there's a bit of wiggle room there.

We were already pressing it on in terms of time. This is how I can tell that your time has flowed differently. You're still a young man. You're pushing your luck as early as on time, and on time is late. And you see, she... Wizard's dead. She holds out a hand for some help getting out of the bed. I assist.

She goes over. It takes her quite a while to walk across the room. But as she gets to the mountain of junk, some old vitality springs to her, and she falls forward into the junk and burrows into it. And you see that it just sort of like vanishes into the stuff. I look, is there a hole? left behind or does it close behind her?

It kind of closed. You can see a little bit of an opening, but it does kind of close up behind her. I'm just going to kind of put my eyes to the whatever's left look in. Kalaya? You look through a hole and see her in a 20-foot-long corridor

lined with shelves on all sides that fan out into, it's like this tower of junk has a structure within it. that is holding even more junk. Do I get the sense I could jump in? Give me athletics or acrobatics. I'll give you athletics.

16? You dive in. You enter, enter, and you see everyone goes, you hear Adi be like, no, no, do it! And you go through, and you appear, and you see, you're standing in this mat. It's like sputtering torches lighting it, and there are shelves lined with treasures,

and things of gold and other sort of like, this is a much different vibe than the house. And you see Kalaya looking and say, it's all right, dear. Ursulon is a wild one. When the children climb in here, they get lost in the penumbra, and they sort of, you know, the near spirit.

You see, she looks around, makes a little investigation, and you see she pulls out a little sort of, looking piece of golden rope with like some metal bits on it. Looks like some kind of like harness or bridle or something like that. And you see she says, this might still, I haven't used

this in quite some time, but grab this and some. And you see she gets a big, like, fur-lined cloak. She's in North Pole? Yes. Let's keep you toasty. Okay, all right. Yeah, I think I just have my arms outstretched, kind of carrying

everything. She just loads you up. Most of this stuff is non-magical. Most of this stuff is just like a good idea to have in the Arctic. It's like petons for climbing ice and a big warm cloak and a bunch of other stuff like that. But she does have this little golden bridle. And she eventually emerges from the junk pile with this extra-dimensional sort of like junk, magical storage thing in the junk pile in her room. She says, always good to be able to dig a burrow. And comes back out.

walking out into the living space, she has a little walking stick with her. She looks at the family, says, children, grandchildren, everyone listen. Uncle Ursulaan is going to have to depart. He's running late for a very important meeting. And you see everyone sort of goes,

there's a kind of, it's such a humble, heartfelt response of everyone. Like, Goliah says, your uncle the wild one has to go to the North Pole to a meeting of witches. And a whole family of badger sorcerers all go, oh. It's like, don't go. I, I, I, I, I, it is an obligation, but I, I will try to return as soon as I can afterwards. Uh, a bunch of people come up and, uh, every, you can give hugs and everyone, and everyone, Adi and your sister, so Adi, Mahara, Dullin, all of them.

I'll give you a big hug, your two nieces and your nephew. And little Roro comes up at a certain point and hides a little tiny jar of jam in a pocket. I kneel down to Roro. Roro. Can I tell you a secret? You see, Roro nods very solemnly, eyes wide with the sudden weight of responsibility. You cannot tell us. soul, Roro. Anyone were to find out

it could mean the end of our world. I also like pancakes. As you say it, Roro claps his hands in the air, drops onto the floor, digs a hole in the hard packed earth, and

blows out of his mouth, and you see a little spell goes into the earth, and you see he hides your secret buried in the earth. And you see everyone goes, And Kalaya... I think when he digs, I go,

Did I fuck up again? You see, Kalaya goes, Roro's first spell! Ursula gives everyone their first spells, let's go. You see that Roro looks very happy. His lips are just complete... His whole bottom half of his face is just covered in jam. And everyone lifts him up and celebrates him.

And he looks extremely pleased with himself and both, like, amazed at the... sudden celebration and also with a certain regal toddler gaze of, of course I am being celebrated for my incredible achievement. You see,

everyone smiles, everyone gives you a big hug. Roro gives you a big hug and kind of, it's such a little loving embrace from this toddler that he has to be peeled. He will not let go until he peeled off. And Kalliah steps out

the front door with you. You see, she steps up to the edge of the canyon and says, Ursula, this bridle, in the past, it has served as a means to call upon the aid of some spirits, steeds of our world that may be able to take you swiftly enough to where you need go. But there are none here in the jungles of Gouthmi. It would take some travel to the near spirit. In the attempts that you made to go home, I know this is a sorrowful question. Were you able at least to find the beginning?

beginnings of some paths home. Was it simply that you could not cross the threshold, or were you never able to find a path back to the world of our father? I did not know the word for it until I was at the citadel, but yes, I have touched the near spirit. It is threshold I've been unable to cross. She nods. She says, all right.

Walk with me a little. She takes your hand and walks with you through the foliage of the jungle. Under vines through leaves. And you arrive somewhere. And you see your sister's head turns like she hears something. Do you hear that or something? I listen. You can hear nothing.

Do you hear that song? I do not. I cannot. You see a glimmer of her true form for a moment. For a second, her snout like that of a badger, hands into massive digging paws. She goes, I should venture no further into the wood. What? I'm going to reach up and touch her nose. You touch her nose.

In this moment, what is Ursula? feeling because you see you see the conflict within her this it's something you understand very well yourself for her her honor was her family and this thing she made in the world of mortals but there is a song that she can hear through the forest and there is something endless and eternal beyond. When you touch her nose, what is Ursulaan in touch with in himself? Ursulaan is in touch with the understanding. I think that the part of himself that put his breath in this world and not in the spirit

world and understands what it means that this world is where the things that are most important to you are, even though the infinite and the spirit realm is out there. It's that same feeling of, but everything that means anything to me is here in this plane, in this world. Touch her nose. There's a little, recognized as a part of herself that has been under a glamour for 10 years. And you realized that this same thing could happen to you. If you wore your glamour for this long. She's in such a different position from you because she isn't wayshadowed. She doesn't have a taboo.

She didn't have the thing where she got bathed or ate of mortal food. She did everything the careful way and didn't ever get trapped or caught and managed to trick everybody. And until she got put in the painting in the Kassov collection, she had done everything. Right. It's just that there's so many traps for spirits in this world. And the trap she fell into was she just played the part of a mortal. for so long that it started to be true.

And you see, as you touch her nose, that she remembers what she used to be. But she feels that there is a part of this world, and she looks at you, and even though your situation's been more different, and you have known a heartbreak and a tragedy and a misfortune that your sister has not known, she recognizes in your eyes that there are miracles in this mortal world

that you as two spirits are so lucky to have witnessed. She turns her head from the song, kisses you on both cheeks and puts the bridle in your hands, and says, If I hurry back home another bite of those pancakes before they're all gone. And she smiles, touches your cheek, and says, Come back soon. I will see you again, sister.

Bring that wizard and that witch. And you see, she smiles and turns around to walk slowly back towards the tree. I watched until she's out of sight. She leaves. You are in the jungle, but you're holding this golden bridle, and you see that the jungle extends in all directions, but the direction she looked in and heard song. You don't hear a song,

but you just see branches and the leaves, the vines. Why do those trees, just like little Roro, holding on to such a big secret? I'm going to use divine sense, and even though I can't hear it, begin to smell the air as I move closer. You use divine sense. You arrive where the fronds of jungle ferns leap up, the vines hang low.

Your divine sense picks up. You are bordering the edge of the spirit world here, knowing that you are still forbidden from crossing over, but you are now touching it, touching the outside of that barrier, which you cannot pass. A sensation, like touching that barrier, you could not pass through it, but you could walk along its edge. The strange lines of the near spirit, you smell deep, rich, verdant green, the blush of flowers, the poison of thorns, the rattling of insects, the stalking of jungle creatures, thicket and brush and life and venom and anger and consumption and all the wild things. In another direction, you hear the rushing of water, a smell of deep, rot, and moss, golden shadow in one way, noise of running water, the passing of time, and in another wild and angry life.

These are the two directions you can move in. Do you wish to move in one direction or another with the information you have, or do you wish to focus your divine sense? sense even more. I'd like to focus my divine sense even more. Give me perception and give me insight. 14 perception, 12 insight. On a 14 perception, you don't sense any other beasts or spirits nearby. In the direction of the sort of thicker jungle, you just hear wildlife, but still sense that it is close to the spirit world.

In the direction of that running water, shadows grow a little longer. And you hear shadows on the other side of the stream, there is a road. I'm going to go the other way. Go ahead and give me a survival check. Natural 20. Yay! Thank you, God. You begin to move, and you've never had the feeling that a road was following.

you before. So you move quickly through the jungle. And on a Nat 20, you become a wild one truly, bounding through the underbrush and moving through the trees. You move and move and move. Ferns and jungle, vine, and trees following the edge of spirit, the divine sense moving. You touch your breath in a way that you didn't in your adolescence, in your youth, in the sad and sorrowful days of being a wanderer alone in a calm. You are not without your breath anymore. And even that you cannot pass through, you will not swing wildly in the dark, unaware of the borders of the land of your birth. You stick close to the spirit, close to the home that you were born in that repels you, but it is not eluding you anymore. You stay as close as you can

to that smell, that sensation, that something is coming. And as you move, and as you move, move through. The vines give way. And suddenly you smell not the vine, not the fruit, not the strange citrus of the tree, but you smell pine, pine in a jungle. That can't be right. And you smell rosemary. And all of a sudden, you are standing in a glade. And you look around on all sides and see kudzu. Ercelon, having been running on all fours, stands up. And is is trying to tell if he's in a calm or has crossed, like is looking back over the path he's crossed and trying to figure out if he's, what he has,

what has brought him to this place? You cannot be in a calm. That would be impossible, right? Wouldn't it? It would have to be. And then for a moment, a logic that would infuriate a human, but to a spirit makes perfect sense.

You have not come to Akam. A calm has come to you. And striding from the trees is Orima of the reaching green. She is beautiful, gorgeous. She is a small and fearsome woman. Green leaves tied into her hair that flow from behind her, her green gown from the statue in Port Talon. She smiles and walks with these leaves.

massive eagle-like talons on the ground. And where she steps, the kudzu grows, the green reaches. And you see, moving with her through this place is a horse that follows her with simply a hand on its shoulder. I think Ercelon's breath gets caught in his chest. Uh, uh, uh, I'm gonna bow. She looks up. She is so much shorter than you. Homie is 5'1.

She is like... So I get down on Wendy and we're at eye level? And you're at eye level? 100%. I like try and get even lower. I hope like... She smiles and she weeps. And the tears that run down her cheek

are the flowing of the rain along her cheek. And she pats the horse and she leans over and embraces you so strongly, and you feel that it would be nothing for her to snap your spine like a twig. By much. She leans back, weeping, kisses you on both cheeks, puts your tiny little hands on either side of your head, and holds your face, and goes, you wear my husband's sword well. I am so glad.

to have him home. Thank you for giving me the chance to wield it. The chance was not given to you by me. Were it? Mine, I would have picked up the sword and wrought terrors with it. The witch, the witch of Toma, tell her that my respect is given to precious few.

It is hers. Well, it is her I aim to see now. Is that... Is that for, is the, did you, is that for me? Or do you just happen to have a horse? She smiles. Holliman, this beautiful horse. His business is his own.

But happy to make the introduction. You see that she grins ferociously. And you see that behind her kind of human glamour teeth are rows and rows of razor sharp teeth, and she goes, and she returns to the woods, and you are in a clearing with an enormous white horse. Hollimont. It's nice to meet you. My name is Ursula.

I am headed to the North Pole to support my friends who are meeting at a conclave of witches. Give me animal handling Oh my God 16 Oh The horse steps forward And looks at the sort of like

Nuzzles your chest And the golden bridle in your hand I'll take that as Agreement And I'm going to Go to put it on Yeah You helped

Harness the horses back in the traveling circus For Professor Adelaide You know how to put a bridle in And as you do, you see that as Holliman opens his mouth, that at the back of his throat, you see there is a like bit of light almost as of sunlight. And you realize that this horse has an almost like solar quality. His hooves glow almost like quartz crystal lamps, like light coming through translucent stone. It's a very subtle effect from even 10 feet away.

way. This is just like a very beautiful white horse, but you can tell this is like yourself a being not of the world of Umura. This is a horse that was given perhaps to Ormima as a gift from some lord or lady of the sun itself in ages long past and now stands in this clearing and accepts a golden bridle and a new rider. I'm going to mount up. Hollimont, do you know which way is north? through trees and deserts, mountains and fields. What? They whizz past your face. You are holding on for dear life.

You can barely see objects as they pass with the speed of the stallion that now surges forward underneath you. And we're going to cut back to Sue Vianamo. Amazing. As the meridian, slowly hovering, pulls to dock at its port of calm. Fox at your side,

you look and see a Citadel ship docking. And joining you in the threshold of her palace is Indri, who beholds the ship. The spirit beside her, Ara, who has this sort of, again, sharp, glassy, snowy physique with a sort of crackling Aurora Borealis

atop her head. and Costa, the bear, gathered behind injury as well. Injury looks at the ship docking and goes, my very forward. You see that she turns to you, Amé, and says, did you know that these wizards were coming? Well, I imagine that that would be part of my retinue. Though I did not know what manner they would arrive in, they are certainly ostentatious.

Sufi, describe for me how the Citadel disembarks from the Meridian. Hell yes. Yeah, I think the like sort of door to this like gondola, like the boat. the living quarters opens up. And instead of that like rope ladder, just a series of steps of not bright enough light, where it's just a little bit of dimness in a place that is like dark appears and she just simply walks down a staircase with no railing.

Are you accompanied by, Any other members of the crew, or are you heading out solo for this first? I think five steps behind me. Once it is, I am here, staff in hand, the reason, like, I'm the person that is supposed to be walking out. And then behind me are, let's say, three of my retinue of my squad are going to be following, like, thereafter, but keeping a respectful distance until we are. are all allowed to join Amen.

Give me an archana check in this moment. Easy magical law for you. You were not expecting a pier here, the pier of snow

that has been conjured in the approach of this ship, whether intentionally or no, constitutes an invitation, an extension of hospitality, and by magical law, standing on that pier

were any harm. to come to you. It wouldn't be a violation for a wizard to fuck with you. But as far as witches are concerned, a witch would be able to consider an assault while standing on that peer a violation. Because it was an extended, by even creating it, it is the extension of an invitation. Now, if a witch would extend their sort of rules to a wizard, that is unclear. But fundamentally, you feel like, as long as your crew is standing on this pier, you are standing on terra firma, magically speaking. You're not trespassing. Copy. Then, yeah, I will have them. Like, there's that mixture of respect of, it might be safer to stay on the staircase or stay on the ship, but there's a show of, like,

I acknowledge that this is a act of, like, hospitality, and we will trust you in this moment to stand on the ground you've provided. So they'll stay back at the bottom of the staircase. but not cross over to where I'm going to go, like a meet with amean injury. Your crew of three marches behind you. You descend. There is a moment where the wind whips and the snow curls around Sufi's robes and staff. As you walk down a railingless staircase onto the pier,

the ship of the Citadel behind you, you are the first wizard to bear this mark of the Citadel's, authority to the very top of the world. As you walk along the pier, your wizards stop five paces behind you. As you approach the edge of the pier, do you continue or stop here at the edge? There's probably another 40 paces to the opening door of the palace with entry and Amé within it. I'll stop.

and then just a little bit of like, it's not flashy magic, but just the understanding that it is because it makes things easier and it is effortless for me to do so, I will just magically boost the volume of my voice so I'm not shouting. My name is Sky,

apprentice art mage of the Citadel, an advisor to Amé the Witch of the World's Heart. I'm pleased to meet you. May I come further. Looks out and says, Permission is not granted by me to enter into my home. No invitation to this gathering was extended to the citadel in this regard, and as an emissary of the citadel, I do not offer my permission to you to come.

Amé, give me a arcana or insight check. 14 on insight. There's a very complicated series of magical events happening here. There is no malice in injury's voice. Suvi is bearing the staff of the Citadel. She's here on a Citadel sky ship. Sly told you that permission to come here would be refused. It's a complex thing that's happening here.

Suvi had to ask permission for the host of this, for the mistress of this palace to come here. The mistress cannot extend permission because Suvi is here in the guise of a representative of the citadel, and she cannot permit the citadel to be here. So there's a weird impasse, but it's incumbent on you to find some other way through this in this moment. Like, Injury's got no beef with Suvi, but she can't allow the citadel here.

Suvi's got no beef with injury, but she has to represent the citadel. And she has to ask permission to come because it's the witch's palace. So you're watching a knot of men. magical interactions based on the law of how wizards in which is interact tie itself right in front of you. I think even from that far away, there's just that little bit of a head turn that you know I've gone from looking sort of generally in the direction of the open door to you specifically. Wizard Sky, may I present to you, Injury, which of the Wind and Stars? Um, injury. Sister, I was told that a retinue of mine would be granted permission to join us here at the council.

Is that correct? I cannot deny a sister her retinue. Ah. And yet I do see the delicate position you are in in regards to Suvi. I air quote representing the citadel. Suvi is my oldest friend, a true friend. And I don't believe that she comes here as an emissary of the citadel, but rather as a friend to me.

If you wish to invite your friend, the wizard's sky, to this conclave, then by all means you should invite her. Have I your permission to extend that invitation? She smiles as you've solved the riddle And you see she says, You have my permission to invite your retinue to this conclave. Thank you, sister. You see that injury, uh, see as Amay yells, come on in.

She goes to put two fingers to the bridge of her nose And then adjusts an eyebrow instead. Do I hear? in that invitation and the lack of specificity just for Suvi, that I can extend that to my people too. They can approach the gate safely. You think that there's a follow, the formalities have been observed

and you can actually go talk to injury now. Okay. As you approach, three wizards come behind you. I think probably it's straw is amongst them. Yes, absolutely. As you approach, you walk up and you see Smaya. yelling at you is the witch of the wind and stars. I'm going to need a wisdom saving.

Yeah, dude. 13. Okay. There is nothing about this that is going to be a compelled magical effect. You do fail the saving throw. But all that that effectively means is you were seeing her in silhouette. And as she steps back at your approach, the sconces on either side of the great, doors, illuminate her for the first time, and you see her smiling at your approach, and you see

endless competence, skill, poise, mastery. You see she looks at you and makes eye contact. Her ruby red lips curve into a secret smile made in all the world only for you to say that in this moment, She recognizes something in you that she shares as well. As you approach, your decisions are your own. The magic does not rob you of any ability to comport yourself however you wish. Just simply know that this person holds those qualities that you find most desirous. For 36 hours, Suvee has been a... putting away emotion and building around her and around the like heartbreak and disappointment in the manner of her true friends leaving,

trying to guard emotion and present a colder and starker front than she ever had. Like there's not, the teal is gone from her hair. It is snow white as are her eyebrows, as her eyelashes. Like she is a like a creature of black and white and has been hard and cold up until the moment where she like sees injury. And I think she can like feel that little like, oh, as like emotion leaks through in a way she just absolutely didn't expect. Okay. Go ahead and give me a little deception rule. I have a 15.

I have a 21 passive insight. Down bad, and it's not, yeah. Suvie, as you approach, the down badness, there is nothing about this that is oppressive. It doesn't throw you off your rhythm. Everything about her is an invitation to meet her gaze. So there's a moment as you're approaching. I think, Amay, you can sort of see the stirring of something.

And it's also made the clearer because one of the, behind you rolled a gnat one and is like slightly fucking pitched forward you know like it's basically like every wolf yeah hitting themselves in the head with a fucking hammer uh as snow queen fairy tale witch queen of the fucking north um but you see that uh as you approach and the light the golden light of the fire in the great hall beyond you see that injury regards you, says, Wizard's sky. I am injury, which of the wind and stars.

I have never had a mage of the citadel cross the threshold of my palace. Do you find that I have made a mistake in this regard and I have lost some grand company from my time

here in the frozen north? I think there's that problem of when you first realize, like, like a feeling. And then you spend too much time in your own head. Like, what is, what is going on? She's talked too long. I didn't hear what she said.

And then just by the end, I think she just is smirking and nods. And didn't really catch what was, like, an opportunity for suavness has absolutely been bypassed as Suvee is just like, whatever's happening. I'm, yeah. What? Yes. What? Uh, she, she.

The look for Erica right now. Yeah. He's wild. Oh, me. Does not roll her eyes, but, uh, says, ha ha ha ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, well, the wizard's guy is a very much,

a, a shining example of the kind of company that the Citadel has. I think that's enough, because I'm not going to roll to catch the, like, fade on that one. And I think Suvie just kind of. snaps and looks over and kind of remembers herself again. You see that injury looks at you, Amé, and says, oh, I think that the wizard sky is perfectly capable of speaking for herself, sister, but thank you for your explanation.

And turns to regard you and says, the manner of your ship and the magic of your garments, I find extraordinary. It is a difference in, the retinue of this new witch of the world's heart. Wren, my sister, who has since passed, was a treasured member of this coven, but did not, in her comings and goings in the world,

bring people with such a... I'll be plain, uh, stylish couture. Apologies for the pomp, but there is no universe in which I would try to hide who I was from you. I know better than to attempt to deceive a witch. She smiles and nods. God, Suvi's just like every time she blinks, Suvi just gets that little bit of like, breathe now.

Ami, would you name any other members of your redneau here? Those whom the wizard's sky sees fit to invite in, I trust as well. So you cannot name them. Uh, oh, you meant. These wizards behind the wizard's guy are unfamiliar to you. Oh, oh, you would like an introduction to them, of course. No, my widens her eyes and looks back,

who whips her head back over to Suvie. She turns to you, Sufi, and says, it seems that my sister is unconstitutional. familiar with those who now accompany you. Can you offer me some guarantee of their behavior while guests in my palace? Those that I bring with me would never dare bring harm to you or any of your coven or any of your people here. A beautiful promise. I would ask for some collateral. Should the promise be broken? There's like a brief glance over to Amme.

Less of unsureness and more of Suvi realizing, like, the negotiation happening right now, Suvi would like to meet status with status, but remembers herself as an advisor and secondary to Amme, so is giving time and space for Ami to interject. Apologies, injury, but traditionally where with grandmother Wren, And a promise made to a witch is a binding in more ways than just verbally. It's a promise to our station. Oh, of course. Is that not true for your domain?

No, no, quite true. I am extending a courtesy. The collateral could be collected on my terms, but I'm extending the courtesy to allow the wizard sky, the opportunity to name what I will take if the promise is broken. Ah, I see, I see. That's very generous of you. I'm not sure how much you know about the priorities and predilections of wizards,

but I would offer you a thing that is most precious to me. And I'm going to take off my, uh, my, my, uh, my, father's ring. And very obviously, like an arcane focus, like this is where my magic begins. She

takes the ring, beholds it, sees emerald rings on the hands of your other wizard companions, but meets your gaze and knows that this in a sea of

rings forged in the same furnace that you would find this one. She gives the small kiss upon the gemstone, and frost spreads across the emerald, and vanishes as she hands it back to you. While in my palace, it is mine. But I will it on your finger. Should you break the promise or your companions that you bring to this place, I will come. Understood? And again, thank you.

She smiles. Well, more seats, more cider. Uh, and... At the same time... At the same time, Amay just lets out a breath that she did not know she was holding. In all the ways that you've noticed, Suvi, the effect that injury is,

having on Suvi, you can feel how much Suvi is holding herself away from you and doesn't even look over as you sigh. I hope you did too. I hope it was worth it. And that you are well. You. Thank you. I know how important this is to you.

Telepathically, I start screaming to the fox. Fox! Fox! Sufi's here. Sufi's here. Sufi's here. Sufi's here. Suvi, as you see that

in the moment that that interaction phase, there's a small pause and then you hear off in the distance, what? verbally out loud. And the fox just skids 200 feet. Just, whoo! Across the icy floor.

And you see the fox runs over. He goes, boss, what's up? You talked to him in my mind? Uh, yeah. Um, I gesture towards Suvi. Great. New clothes? Suvi just observes this.

Like, this is a, like, just shut off even on the fox. Uh. What's going on? Um, uh... Do you want to talk in the mind? Because you said something in the mind? Oh, uh, uh, uh, uh, yeah, uh, yeah, uh... Do you mind talk?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, sure. Okay. See, the fox. Sits down on his haunches with his four legs extended and just stares into the middle distance. You don't have... In your mind, you hear the fox go, I'm speaking to you in your mind. You don't have to preface it with that every time we've been over this. Okay.

Yeah, okay. I... I have never felt more out of my element and Coovies still really mad at me and probably at you because she thinks I'm you, you're me, and I don't know what to do, so just acts real cute to Suvie. Maybe that'll soften her up. You think that'll work?

Yeah. Okay. You see the fox, stop staring at the middle distance, looks up at you and says, uh, sky! And he, it's really hard for a quadruped. head, you think he's trying to do a somersault. He goes one, goes two, he goes, ooh, dizzy.

Okay, hold on. Does another one? All right, here you go. I'm having him to throw up. Hold on. Okay, another one. Amay, is you familiar unwell? No, he is, he missed you.

Hmm. May we come inside? Uh, yes, please. Uh, come in. You and your fellow wizards move behind you. You see that Ara, the spirit of the sort of northern ice spirit, appears and looks at all and says, I'm given to understand that your rings are the center of your casting.

Yes. She manifests a beautiful silver stand, almost like a vase or something like that, and gestures and says, for your walking staves. I'm going to look over at Amme. Oh, I believe that they have an importance to them that should be respected, given the due that would be extended to any of my retinue. Our returns to you and says, these staves are to be placed within the receptacle unless it is possible to,

and usually she gestures to the crest of the citadel on top of the staves, which you think is the operative part here. But you also can tell, looking at her, that she's not aware that you have the ability to disguise the staves. Yeah.

Just looking at this stand, can I do any sort of just, like, sizing up to see, is this just a place for these to go or is there any sort of like magical detection about to happen on our, our year? Give me Arcana. 25.

This is not enchanted, the thing in front of you. This is a place to hold your staves. But you do think that some magic has maybe already happened to detect some of the magic on the staves you are carrying. Yeah. The main thing that you think is going on is, and I think right now, no one has any other symbols of the Citadel on their person except for the emblem on the staves, right? You're kind of in the winter gear. Yeah.

It's not like emblems. You're not wearing your standard uniform. There's no like Azure Battalion stuff going on here. So you think it's just about not having the symbol of the Citadel move farther into the palace. Okay. And if mine specifically is the one, yeah. So it's just sort of mine doing it. this. Yes.

Then, with just a little sigh, pushing a little petulance that's not meant at Aura, or Ame specifically, but just sort of, she'll tap very lightly her staff on the ground and have it disguise itself once again as a plain wooden stave. Ara looks at this moment where you have kind of, it was sort of like, here's a polite place to store your walking stick, and you solve the problem that was unspoken. And so there's a moment of Ara kind of being shown up a little bit, and she goes,

ah, my apologies, and takes the, sort of the holding vase and, like, moves it away. and you continue into this place towards the fire. I think before Aura moves all the way away, I'm going to do my best to not be that discreet at looking at the wizard straw and her staff before giving a small shake of our head and then moving past and away. The wizard straw nods and confirms to you

as you guys continue inward. As you venture further inward, you arrive at the table. There are more seats there. And injury smiles looking and says, a handy bit of magic, and I appreciate the understanding. I meant no disrespect.

You offered none. She smiles and says, I am afraid I must withdraw. My study requires, some attention for the moment. However, I would be more than happy to make sure that you are appointed to quarters becoming of your station, Wizard Sky. And for you, my sister, Amé, a room is always kept for the witch of the world's heart in my palace. That is so thoughtful of you. Thank you. Of course. Arra, if you would show

our friends, the retinue of the wizard sky, to the Silver Rampart Chambers, and Costa, I believe that the Archmaid apprentice should be appointed the Tower of the Crescent Moon. And Costa can also show you to the keep of the world's heart. Thank you. If there's any way that we can assist you in your study or help prepare for the rest of our sisters,

please let us know. But of course, my study is not related to the business of the conclave. It is simply that in this hour there are some auspicious movements of the stars that require some recording. Oh, well, even though it does not relate to the conclave at the moment, I still very much enjoy looking at the celestial bodies and myself, the stars. You see she smiles and says, perhaps some conversation when the time is right closer to the arrival of our sisters.

It is a fascinating thing, the movements of the stars. There is an overlap, I think, between the movements of the natural world and the beautiful geometries of your calling, wizard sky. Eye contact, Suvee has a flushed bright red. You see, injury says,

soon enough. Costa, see them taken care of. And she moves away as Costa sort of plods. And now both of you are walking on a sky bridge suspended in between two towers. It's like 150 foot long. There are giant glass windows, golden torches sputtering in between these huge bay windows that overlook a massive courtyards of snow and ice in this multi-teat, multi-tower palace. spanning over these like triple peaks of the highest mountain in the world.

And you're just looking down at snow and wind and endless drops into infinite crevasses as a polar bear walks along this elevated sky bridge, this sort of like tower passageway sky bridge between two towers. And you're like 30 feet behind a polar bear walking side by side, the fox kind of plotting on the other side of Amme. You could have had a bear? I potentially, yes. Although I don't know how I would have been able to summon a polar bear back in Toma. I think the moment you begin speaking, Suvi didn't realize that she, like, said a casual thing out loud. And it's just going to kind of nod at the end of your sentence and remember how she wants to be and feel right now. Are you well, has the rest of your coven arrived?

Quite well. And no, my sisters have yet to arrive. And bear? We are waiting for his arrival as well. Were he separated? Yes. When? Shortly after...

Spit it out. shortly after I, I, uh, we, we, uh, we, uh, we, uh, were separated from you. Hmm. Do you know if he is okay? I don't. I have no way of contacting him. I'm here because I don't want anything dire to happen to you. Because I know it's at stake.

But if in the manner of you're leaving, any harm came to bear. I will never forgive you. And I need you to know that. I have that covered on my own, too, yes. Do you have any idea of what you want to do or how you want this to go? No, no, I don't.

I am, perhaps since you get settled in your chambers, we can convene, And you can help. There's nothing to settle we can speak at your earliest convenience. Then to have an advisory meeting, perhaps. Whatever you need. Witch of the world's heart. You arrive at the Tower of the Crescent Moon,

beautifully appointed tower in the icy palace of the Witch of the Wind and Stars. Costa shows you the double doors inlaid with silver runes, the white of the ice framed in beautiful curling flourishes of magical silver. Here he moves to wait to accompany Ame further to her keep, but leaves you here in this moment to enter your chambers. I will pass through the doors, but immediately turn around and give a small nod of, like, thanks and understanding. how best may I make my way to the apartments of the Witch of the World's Heart?

Costa returns and says, If you wish you can follow the rest of the way, I will show you to the door of her keep. Thank you. Knowing where your quarters are, you follow Amme. Costa shows you to the edge of a walkway. you actually go down a staircase and go back out into the cold and freezing once again to go across sort of an outdoor courtyard to the giant doors of a smaller, more humble

keep of the great keeps of the palace that you see has a little hanging wicker charm with a red ribbon around it on the door that you recognize as the handiwork of Grandmother Wren. Costa says, here I will take my leave. Welcome to the palace. To the snow and you are both in a courtyard. You look around and see in this courtyard a number of icy statues, much like the trees below in the valley. The statues are partially covered in snow. Ranging in size, some small perhaps as children, others enormous, a monolith,

by the side of the keep, covered like the foot of a glacier in snow, but with a sharp overhang in promontory. Some statues farther away in the shadow of the palace's walls and others coming within mere feet of the entrance to the keep of the world's heart. But their postures are extravagant and dramatic. You see, some of them are like warriors leaping forward with like weapons of ice and howls of insane rage and anger. You see others look to be wizards or witches that are covering their face with their hands in fear or panic. You see that there is one statue in the middle

of a beautiful woman, long hair blowing icily in the breeze, frozen statue of ice, who stands gazing straight ahead in a stoic and solemn sorrow. I'd like to do a check on these. Ince. I, perception, perception. Yeah, do perception. I'd like to assist because I think I know what she's trying to glean.

What interestingly specific poses? Shock and terror. Yeah. Classic things that do it. 18. 18. You, statues. statues

statues you both know what you're looking at as you turn to look at each other in this courtyard a garden of frozen figures the fox pipes up and says so we don't know where Ursula is

he's dead now why would you see that look at this freaky look at all this stuff we're so bad here look at all these frozen Frozen, frozen people. Yeah, okay. Let me, okay.

Let me give you a little lesson about first appearances. When you're someone like the witch of the wind that stars, you make yourself a big castle, but might as well be just the outside with a roof on it. And statues of what were clear. people that got turned into ice and um you have a bunch of highfalutin servants and things and just a way about you and that's meant to make you feel a certain way you know like how in the wilds how there are some animals where you're like oh those are really bright feathers i don't want to eat that it's trick

Yes, Fox, it's very important to not judge things before you get to know them or experience them. I don't know what you're referring to. I've made a lot of mistakes in the last week or so, okay? And so you can just... What? Tell it to me. Just tell it to me.

What do you want me to say? I brought you into my home to nurse you back to health after the coma that you put yourself in after Steele offered to assist with the breaking of the... curse, you were down for a month. We had time to talk. And then when you decided it was time to leave, you had no compunction destroying and wreaking havoc in my home in your efforts to leave, even though she was on her way. And you had no reason to believe anything other than that her and my intentions were pure. All we've ever done is help you. And now I am here.

I've crossed the world and risked my life again for you. And you still can't get that smart-ass little tone about wizards out of your fucking mouth. But yes, continue to preach about not judging the witch on first appearances. Is that what you wanted me to say? The fox is so still in this moment that the snow has. a chance to almost fully cover him. As he stares ahead, this is the first time you've ever seen an expression on the witch's familiar of pure admonishment. And while the fox perhaps cannot feel guilt or regret, there is a moment of stunned prey animal silence in Sufi's castigation that rings out

in this place that is broken only by the thunder of hobs and the coming of the sun. Ursula, in a scatter of snow, please describe the manner of your arrival in this courtyard. There's the sound of hooves and then just a... You know, oh man! You see a massive white horse stands before you. Ursulaan astride it, and for the first time, the ice melts, and four hoofprints glow as the stone of the courtyard is revealed underneath, revealing the ancient curls of stone,

written with the words of the very first witch of the world's heart. And that's where we'll end this episode of the Wizard, the Witch, and the Wild One. That was Lou Wilson as Ursulaan, Erica Ishii, as Amé, Abria Ayangar, as Suvi, and Brennan Lee Mulligan, as everyone and everything else. World's Beyond Number is edited, designed, and scored by Taylor Moore at Fortunate Horse, with additional sound designed from Michael Gelfi Studios. For even more like this, join us on our Patreon.

We'll see you there.