Worlds Beyond Number - WWW #27: The Agenda

Episode Date: May 21, 2024

Our deliberations begin. You're probably wondering why I've called you all here today. Or maybe you're not. Maybe you already know. How could anyone tell with that mask on your face? Let's do it again, but this time: with stakes, a bird on my shoulder, my breath on your neck. Take a break, sure, but then, (if it is the right thing to do, and only then): have at me. 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. Expressionless white mask, a crown of midnight black, needle-sharp spines, emerging like a crown from her head. The witch of the waning moon, Marara, sits in her throne in the chamber of the coven of elders. A crow stands on her shoulder preening itself, as she has called the coven to attention. injury looks to you, Ame, and says, My dear, are you feeling calm and ready? A moment, if you will.

And I turn over to my friends. Suvi is fully convinced that her heart might simply stop from how fast it is beating. And I think the expression you get back is that full open-eyed, like the fuck do you think I can offer in this moment? Oh, my God. I think Ursulaan is desperately looking at you because it means he doesn't have to look at anything else in the room

and how it might be looking at him. It's like I'm giving you my attention, but it's because I don't want to give it, I don't want to put it anywhere else. My mind is not with you, but my, I am looking at you. I hold their hands. And breathe with me. Okay, ready?

A four count in. One, two, three, four. Hold it for four. One, two, three, four. Out. One, two, three, four. And we repeat this three times. And in that, I use calm emotions.

Oh, beautiful. And what are the effects of calm emotions? Well, we can choose to fail. And on a failure, you can suppress the effects of charm or frighten. It does say when spell ends, effect resumes. Unless it has expired. Okay, copy that. For a moment, Ami leads you through the breathing that means

the smitteness with the Witch of the Wind and Stars and the blinding terror of the Witch of the Wild Hunt, you do recover your senses. It's not a sharp return to control. It's like a calming thing, but you feel yourself no longer gripped by panic nor addled by desire in this moment. Okay. We're going to be all right. This is my family. You watch and see that Gromor is slowly leading Hakea into the council chamber. As she does so, you see that the sort of the plant life in the room follows sort of rolling itself up like a carpet behind Hakea as she moves. And Inri is speaking to Costa and Aara very quickly as she sort of helps people, you know, the huge. horde of animals and other beings that are here now in the space. And watch as Hakea is now being seated in her throne with a hand from Gromor.

Does it look like I have time to give a quick rundown of the witches to my friends? Yes, you do have a moment. All right. So the one up there in the don't, it's okay, it's okay, just keep breathing, Suvie. the witch up there with crow Marara, Witch of the Waning Moon, she represents nothing and entropy and darkness. Hakea of the woodland green.

Growth, creation, creating something from that nothing. Grimor is the Witch of the Wild Hunt. She represents conflict and destruction and death but not in a sort of just nothing way. Injury is wind and stars. She's fine. And she represents the self and solitude and being on your own. I am the witch of the world's heart.

And my job is bringing together the things that the world wishes to see separate. And now I'm going to go do that. Thank you both so much for being here with me. Really quickly, can I do an insight check on you? Yes. Please, please. Nine. All I'm looking for is just a little bit of a sense of like what are you,

if there's any way to kind of check out what you are most worried about in walking and entering into conversation with them. I am not so much worried about the witches themselves. I do not fear them or their power. I never have. I am not even scared of the prophecy. I just really want to make Grandmother Wren proud. I think I can see a little bit that parallel of like struggling with legacy.

A look and a vibe that Suvie understands very well. And since I understand that I'm not going to be able to be in the room with you to lend my intellect, the thing that I am valuable for to you, I will do my best to send it along with you. And I'm going to cast enhanceability on you. And give you Fox's Cunning, which will be advantage on intelligence checks for the next out. I'll remind you too, Amé, you are currently addled by the sweet blossom smell in the room in this moment and have your first level of exhaustion, which gives you a disadvantage on skill checks while you are in the presence of the witch of the woodland green. But the enhanceability is still fucking, it's canceling out disadvantage.

Sort of returning the physical gesture, like Suvi grabbing, or Amé grabbing Suvi's hand, And then as you were giving the rundown, you, like, released and are explaining and gesticulating as you do when you talk. Stevie will just, like, find a point to touch your shoulder. And I think there is warmth in the casting that feels not like the warmth, the warmth of a hearth, but that, like, irulian sand. And now you know what it feels like, that, like, dry sun that asks something and just so, codifies in Suvie's mind is it's inextricably linked with what wizards are and then what wizards are is like their intellect, their intelligence. And she sends that. And I think there's just maybe a little bit of like the sensory thing that she passes on isn't just wind and sand and

heat and the desert, but like small fox's paws running quickly across a dune. I square my shoulders, and I open my arms for the fox. The fox leaps into your arms. And we walk up into the room with the conclave. You walk into the room. The doors close behind you. Out in the Great Hall, what do Ursula and Suvich do in the moment that Ame walks away? Do we just have to hang out?

with... I'm... The other retinous? Yeah. You know, I was actually going to... One of them was making eyes at me. Like, we could... We would fight.

Oh. And I'm gonna head that off at the pass, actually. I'm gonna go chat with him. To do it or to not do it? I mean, I think... I think the reason we're squaring up is because we're not communicating. Mm-hmm.

So I'm gonna go have a word with him to suggest we're all... We're all here to support the other... Our witches. You know? If we know that they are here to destroy Amme and her station, that's probably us along with it. So do you think they're going to be cool? Well, it's in my head, they're going to be cool now.

Okay. Maybe we, you mean, it's like when we were at the citadel, gossip, you know? Oh, yeah. Yeah, this is just like this. This is just, you know, I'm going to, we're going to go. see if there's some scuttle butt. Yeah, go get that hot goss. Yes.

Oh, my God. I'll report back. Okay, good luck. I'm going to go, I'd like to approach the, uh, I was it a, it's a man who turned into a wolf. Yes. Who then made eyes with me. So you walk over and you see that the wolf spirit turns around to you. You see that he does, this is, appears to be like a glamour he's wearing.

He's another wild. Okay. I'm going to try and stand up as tall as I can. Hello? Hello. I am Ursulaan, guardian of the witch of the world's heart, and protector of the sky, the wizard sky, of the citadel. Sky's just doing like a neck cut, like, uh-uh.

Guard both. Uh, I do, yes. We are true friends. What if some conflict should split the two where then would your loyalty lie? Uh, we see between two friends. There can be conflict, but beneath that there is always camaraderie and trust. You see that the Firefly Spirit speaks and says, Trust unbreakable.

Yes, in many ways. The tree spirit turns to look at her flirtatiously and says, Strong and deep. I would agree with that. What are your names? The wolf spirit turns soon and says, I am Heinrull. The staff carrying a firefly spirit just looks at you and says,

Badez. And then the tree spirit goes. And Badezai and Heinrul seem to be kind of in Grimor's retinue. Only Heinrull is in Gromor's retinue. Most of Gromor's retinue, most of Grimor's retinue appears to be animals, just straight up animals. And Heinle is one of Rune rule is one. of the only things that was like he was with the pack of wolves. And you kind of almost think the pack of wolves is with Heinruel and Heinr was with Gromor. And then all the other singular predators are with Gromor as well. So that like the lion and the panther and the hawk and the eagle and all these other things are following grommore. And Heinrull is following as well. And he's some kind of wolf king spirit that is like a paramour or lover of grimors.

All right Well, well met all How strong are you Well Some have said I'm the strongest Man in Silbury And I look over my shoulder at the wizard sky What if we wrestled

I take off my shield And undo My sword belt Have at me Give me an athletics check. 23 from Heinruh. Buck, 21. Oh, no.

Heinrule flies into a rage and peens you to the ground and puts his jaws over your neck and says, and you see, you just feel hot breath on your throat, saliva dropping into your fur, and he snarls, and you can tell is possessed by some wild thing that he wants to snap your neck and eat you here. I yield, I yield, I yield. He gets off, stands back up again, goes back into his human form,

wrestled again. Well, well done on that first round, you are a man possessed of some power, some power, and what would this stakes be if we went again? What?

If you will? win, would you ask? Oh, if I won, what would, what boon would I request? Yes. It's a good question. You see, Badeze smiles and says, ask him for a boon. Just, just a boon. A boon?

Yes. I, I, if, if we were to wrestle again, I would ask for a boon. And if I win, I kill you. Socorro says, To the tombs. Um, uh, no, but... Then you agree. Uh, I, um, I did, I did not say that I agreed. It's just, well, I would not feel comfortable agreeing to said terms without first confirming with the leader of our retinue.

You see, Badezai says, is that the only thing you want from him, Heinro? His life's blood? You see, Heinrich stares at you for a second and says, Too steep then Not a boom But a favor And not your life You will come and drink with me In my chambers

Until all of the liquor is gone That's what you want If I win If you win That's right Those terms are more agriop He leaves at you We can be an athletics check

He got a 22 God damn. Well, I need... Bro. To beat that, I need an 18. That's a 3 plus 4, 4, 7. Heinrule puts you on your back, drops down, claps your head under one of his arms,

and turns back into that wolf in form, and it once again has your head in his jaws rolling on the ground with you, and then stops and goes slowly back. Slowly back into the man. Not as good assuring as your first time. I believe I... I think I burned some of my energy on the first.

I wish the first one had been... It's... Good match you in. You see, he looks at you, uh, and goes... It smells. Soft, soft, soft cushioned. Strength of you. I'll see you in my chambers.

And we will drink. until we are sick. Yes, you've earned it. He stalks off. When he barked, I think the hand around Suv's like normal looking staff,

it was beginning to turn back into the glass staff. Yeah. And then I'm like, come, come, come. I'm gonna get up and. Badeh turns, looks at you and smiles. And as she smiles, you see that her mouth glows with that firefly by a luminescence.

And she says, He likes you. He's a very friendly. He looks you and says, Ercelain. Do you like riddles? Do I like riddles? I enjoy a puzzle.

She, you see Banzai licks her lips? Oh, God. And we're going to come inside the concrete. I see chamber. The deep shadows still. dull blue with the presence of the icy walls, but the brightness, the pillar of light descending from the northern star above, on five black thrones on the pure white ice. Marara sits in hers, the crow astride her shoulder. To her left is entry which of the wind and stars in her

regal, beautiful attire. She holds the scepter of ice in her hand, and her entire throne is encircled by the resting form of Costa, the polar bear, large enough to give her a mantle of his own body completely encircling her throne. To Marara's right, sits grimoor in her throne, the hawk on the back of her chair. She has pulled her antlers down to reveal the matted, dirt-caped, bloody locks that surround her, adorned with bones and cord of hide and leather, her claws tapping on the black stone.

To her right, the black throne cannot be seen as the stone cracks and forms. moss and vine and a mound of verdant green and warmth that begins to erupt in actual spring water that comes out of it, that cascades away from the moss and turns to ice as it pulls out of the moss and down the steps of the platform behind her. Hakea sits blanketed by moss and flowering violets, the serpent resting in the green around. her, its head lying over her heart, its tongue flicking, its ancient eyes observing. In between Hakea and Injury, sits Amé, bear and hawk, crow, and serpent. And then the little witch of the world's heart with her fox. Ami, how are you sitting in your throne and what's the fox doing? I have my feet tucked up under me.

I walked in holding the fox, but of course if he'd like to jump out, I know he gets restless sometimes. He's free to do that. I'm sitting in an armchair. It's comfortable and it smells like old dust and lilac. And... Lelac. Seated in the chair. Injury, spum, sisters all, to the palace here, under the point of the northern star,

at the very top of our world. It is a particular honor and an auspicious one to host our conclave twice within the same century. I have our newest member to thank for this honor. And here she smiles, the other witches remain, sort of neutral at this. We have been called here, as every time before, to acknowledge and rejoice in person at the coming of a new sister. Let us then let go within our hearts. All grudges and debts, all feelings of hurt, pride, or reproach for the world's heart. has lost its former shepherd.

We say goodbye to Wren and remember her as she was in truth. And you see that sort of reverberates out through the chamber here. And each witch takes a moment to themselves to remember Grandma Wren. I think back to the cottage. And how Grandma Wren was the first person, to really ever see me and to care for me and to tell me that the things that I was were right. The way she taught me so patiently and gently with humor and kindness.

I remember Grameran as the person, but then I think of her as the witch. of the world's heart, that station, the great power that she wielded. And for just a moment, I feel in that chair, it's not just a humble armchair. It is of power. The power to not need ostentation. It was the power to be who she was. and still garner the respect and even fear of these sisters of hers. The witches take a moment, and injury turns to you and says, as host of this conclave, I welcome into our sisterhood of the Coven of Elders. The witch of the world's heart.

There is a feeling in the room suddenly of the presence of the... that station, each which bows their head in deference to that station. You hear in the distance almost sound of feet and wheels on roads, the buzz of bees, the hum of turning, of hands on hands and hands on backs, the embrace of long-lost friends, the smells of home and hearth, crackling fires, the smell of fresh-baked bread, the sound of a crowing rooster, the beginning of a day of work in the fields of a cottage, to see a life made whole by the togetherness of those you love. Once again in the icy chamber here in the frozen north.

Inj returns to you and says, welcome, Amé. It is an honor to be your sister. we would ask you then, what is the state of the world's heart? And the four which is here turned to regard you. The world's heart, as ever, needs tending. I remember once, long ago, Grandma Ren, saying that almost dismissively, ah yes, dire times.

They're always dire times. There are movements, celestial shifts. In past, I am given to understand, that have affected the world and its heart and the way that humans and the spirits connect with one another. Now there is something amiss as well. I believe that the relations between the spirit world and the human world

are not as carefully tended as they can be and furthermore there are powers within both worlds that seek to harm the other Marara speaks and says

that seek to harm the other I'm certain that some of you may have what at one time or another encountered the stranger in black the king of night I look around. The witches regard each other.

You see, Hakeas says, The world's heart, to make some your responsibility. Instead, precious little, you have already offered some worries about the witch of the waning

moon's realm, which is none of your concern. Sister Marara, the stranger in black, is in your realm? Are you asking me a question? I am merely broaching a topic which... So! Make your report the world's heart.

But you wish to broach the topic. The home's business. Do you have some insight into the hunt itself? Your introduction? is some thoughts you have on our dominions. I do not have a dominion. I have a responsibility. To the towns and the cities, to the mortals, to the spirits.

And if the things which enter into those responsibilities are matters of yours, that I wish to collaborate with you, injury smiles and says, Sister, which of the world's heart? I believe you are attempting to do as we have asked, which is to make your report on your knowledge of the status

of your responsibility, the nature of the world's heart, as you understand it upon this, the first coming of a conversation, enclave to you in your new station. And it sounds as if you are saying that your station is being touched upon by something and though it may abut another witch's domain that fundamentally they are connected. Do I understand? That's correct. Very well. Tell us then how the world's heart has been so changed by these forces. Marara, my sister of the waning moon, there is a darkness that spreads over

the lands of mortals. Once upon a time, there was ways for them to explore and build and connect all through Umorea. Now that is no longer the case. They have lost many opportunities. They have lost many places. due to this lack of light that guides all of them. Hechea, sister of the woodland green, a great spirit that I had the honor of encountering. Orima of the reaching green was frustrated, forgotten by humans who did not know the proper ways

to pay her obeisance. Grimor, you know that this warring world, it tears and eats away at its heart and injury. What is solitude and self, if not the opposite of what I do? Grimor snorts into her sinuses and spits blood on the center of the dais and says, Do I understand that some supplication is being made,

to us in this moment. Correct me if I'm wrong. Is our newest sister spreading in our eye? Are you telling us that there is something we have misdone in the moment of your arrival? Loud, loud, loud, loud. Chirping bird, chirp, no. You have been asked of your responsibilities. Your, your, your, your responsibilities. and have introduced in the moment of your own introduction the topic which you deem most important without first conferring with any of your elders as to what our realms might be troubled by. As is often the case with the world's heart,

togetherness so seldom means each dominion. concerns are valued equally. But it seems that often in the cause of togetherness, the cause of togetherness will have its demands heard first, my sister. Do you wish to continue to tell us what we have missed? I mean no disrespect when I tell you the things which encroach upon the world's heart. I say these things which trouble me, not because they are an accusation of guilt, but because there are ways in which I know that your realms could benefit by my service

and by the service of those who I represent. Marara leans towards injury and says, Our sister, which of the world's heart has concluded, her report on the status of the world's heart and is attempting to introduce to us a topic of conversation and debate. Is it true, sister, that you wish to move from statements of information to statements of persuasion? We're already speaking of what needs doing, so I assume the report is concluded and that your advices are now the topic you wish to put forward. Not advices, no. In the realm of the heart, one cannot solve things simply by telling others what to do

or advising them. I ask, I invite. What is it that you wish to know about the heart of the world? The witches turn to look at each other, and you see, Hakea turns and says, things of your dominion most removed from our focus and attention. We wish to know how goes your steward.

of your responsibilities. Can I do a history check? Yeah, give me history check with disadvantage. It's you sleeping in here. 11. Cool. What's the question you're asking? I try to remember back. In my 15 years of training with Grandmother Wren,

what is it that is most our responsibility? What were her concerns, those nights that she went, away, to fight battles that I did not know about or to investigate things of which I wasn't fully aware under the curse. Did I find those out? Largely her responsibilities were the world of people, the world of thinking beings, of feeling beings, beings of the heart, the world of mortals and of spirits and of those who made common cause and community. together were her concerns. So you see in this moment that essentially you are being asked by the coven here to kind of

give a report about the things that they don't dwell on. Also, you can give me an insight check if you want. You're rolling with disadvantage, but you can't give one to me. I got a natural 20 and a one. Oh, my God. Well, that's a nat one. You have no idea what's going on with your sisters in this moment. You are so sleepy.

They're so mean. You don't know what's happening. What has appeared to draw their ire is essentially that they were in the like, okay, recite the minutes, give the report. We're doing the thing. And you used their request to you to opine. And I think that that is the thing that has cloned. clearly, like, crossed a line here in your drowsiness was basically like, they were like, and tell us about your job.

I don't know, man. I just, it's, it sucks. It sucks and you've made it suck. Yeah. It's sort of like, how's my job going? Well, I can't fucking do my job. You know, like that's sort of the vibe, right? So you see that the wishes turn to look at you.

There is a curiosity and a hunger. in the world's heart that has caused unrest because the heart does not know how to interact with the other parts that turn the world. And I am doing my best, just as myself, with my humble retinue, and the tools at my disposal, as a young witch to heal it. Do I understand by your words, Ami, that this injury to the world's heart

comes from it not fitting into place with the other domains. Yes. Is as I have said. Thank you for the report, Ami. You had introduced a topic of discussion. Would you like me to add that to our register that we may discuss it in time? Yes.

That's yes. Very well. Having made her report, we will turn now to our first order of discussion. Which of the waning moon? As we have heard in our report, great injury to the world's heart is done by her. its presence in the space of our domains. The passing of her predecessor has left the witch, Ami, precious little time to tend to the injuries of the world.

Great action is called for. Ami, may I ask a question of you in the broaching of this topic of my discussion. Yes, yes, you may. and actually any of you may broach a question to me I might not always have an answer for you but you may, yes Injri smiles at a corner of her mouth

and says you are asking that we not ask permission to ask you questions in the future I am saying you need not very well Of Grandmother Wren's judgments during the time of her living and of her tutelage, how well do you feel she acquitted her position as which of the world's heart? Did you find her judgment true, or did she fall short of her station? Grandmother Wren was the wisest creature of,

of mortal or spirit that I have ever met. And I think that all of you recognized that in your wisdom. I didn't. Well, I think of what I knew of Grandmother Wren. She would have not put herself above those sisters of her coven in terms of wisdom, my dear witch of the world's heart. But, if she was the truest which you knew, then it is, exactly as I feared. Wren's predecessor is in her truest mold.

The world's heart falls to one who follows in Wren's footsteps. She is untested and unready. Of her retinue, the citadel now strides the halls of this place. and she has come here to tell us that the world's heart can only suffer in our presence. Put forward a motion that the witch a may be killed, and that the world's heart be left beyond the confines of this coven. I ask that this be considered at once. Are there any that oppose a swift and immediate decision?

You see Grimor shakes her head no side to side. And you see Hakea turns to look at you, Amé, and goes, I disappoint you, sister of the waning moon. I am not so easily disappointed, sister. How could anybody tell with that mask on your face? I heard. We should discuss the killing of the young witch. On the morrow, sister of the world's heart.

Tomorrow we will begin discussions as to your death and the destruction of your seat upon this council. Is there any clarity that may be provided such that your remarks might be... And she yawns and some mods fly out of her mouth. such that your remarks might be better prepared tomorrow than they were today. Sister Indry, as both our host and an observer of celestial bodies, I would ask to confer with you perhaps to have some better insight into some of the past, records of a conclave, the better to prepare.

Of course. I will provide all the wisdom I can, my sister. You see, she leans over and squeezes your arm and says, we would only kill you if we genuinely believed it was the right thing to do. It was a 20 and a 2. No, for your insight check. You see that she smiles. and says, and turns to Marara and says, perhaps hasty to jump into conclave on the arrival of our sisters.

And you see Marara is expressionless and silent in response to this. Asa Kea already starts to stand up and goes, I will retire. Grimor stands up and says, Okaia, do you need help? No, no, little magic. and falls forward into the moss and vanishes as a bed of moss just rests there

and the throne remains verdant. As she disappears, I suddenly get a second wind. I look at my sister's around me. Insight check for a 16. Okay. Marara is expressionless and cannot be read. Injury is smiling.

Injury does the first somewhat, she has been so poised, but this huge bed of moss in this ice chamber, she has to do the first kind of funny thing you've seen, which is walk around moss to get out of the room. She's like, I'm not going to walk on that. And you see, Grimor is the only one you can read. Grimor is looking at you, seeing that you come out of the effect of Hakea's pollen. The second you look at Gromor, Marara, is already gone.

but Grimor is still there with the hawk on the antlers of her headpiece. And she, you beat her deception check. What are you trying to glean from her? Where is this coming from? Why would she so readily agree to the destruction? Are you asking this verbally? You know what? I ask.

Say, sister, you've just met me moments ago. And yet you would so. readily agreed to my death in the elimination of this station which Grandmother Ran has tended to for so many. She gets in your face and says, I don't like how much you, it's not your station. You either run. I think I want you gone because I think slow. Having beaten her deception, you see in her eye fear.

And she leaves the room. Completely isolated in this chamber as Grimor, stalking. out. You are left alone in the circle of Thrones with you and the Fox. Fox? Fox looks up and says, I didn't see a great spot for me to jump in in that hole. I'm sure you're mad at me right now, but I didn't see any angle in that whole talk. It's just so funny because it's just impossible to get you to shut their mouth sometimes and yet. When our existence is threatened?

Like, nothing? Nothing. Well, here's, talk can't work right now. Talk is fun. It's not anywhere near as good as run. Run is what we should do. We should run. We should run.

It worked in Portellan. It worked in the Citadel. It's going to work again. It works every time. Okay, well, actually, literally the magical rules for that scary lady that just walked out. If you run in her presence, she has the right to eat you. Okay. I'm not ever worried.

Almost everything has... She will catch you. She will. Who the hell are you talking to? Nobody can catch her. Who are you talking to? Who's caught me so far? I'm talking to a little guy

in presence of a whole wolf pack. The only... Oh, wolf pack. How many foxes you think these wolves eat? Not a lot? I bet dozens. I've only been caught one time. Who's about you?

Oh. We're going to be all right. Don't tell Suvi and Ursulae. They'll blab. We jump out the window. We go into the mountains. Okay? We go into the mountains and we hide until this whole thing blows over.

You can take those things off, right? That thing on your head and these clothes and stuff, you can take them off? No. Well, I mean, yes. But what? Yes. We'll stuff them full of meat. And we'll leave it in the chair.

Uh-huh. And then we'll jump out the window and then we'll run away. Okay, well, first of all, I tried that as a preteen and eventually you get found out. Second of all, sometimes being caught doesn't necessarily mean somebody running after you and catching you by the tail. It means that you want to stay for something. And you can't. You can't leave. You can't leave because if you leave, there are things that are worse than being caught and eaten.

Why won't you just run away and leave me then? Hmm? You could go. You can just step out the window. I won't tell Arsenal and Suvi. I don't want to. Why? Because I don't know how to get back without you.

He smiles here. You want to know why? Because I think we have a little bit of time left for me to convince you to run away. Okay. I bet you a whole bowl of fish slurry. That is not going to work this time. You're on. I hold out and shake his little paw.

He puts his little black paw in your hand and a little fluffy paw. Okay. Let's go. Is there a way that I can help you other than not talking during that? Oh. What do you need me to do if we're trying to keep you from dying? You said we're going to talk to the tall crown lady. Oh, yes.

You have to go meet with injury. Maybe if you want to scamper off and find out some more about the other witches. But be careful, okay? You got it. I'll scaper off. Moments before the conclave exits back out in the Great Hall, Badezé is looking at Ursulaan and says, What always runs but never walks, often murmurs, never talks,

has a bed but never sleeps, an open mouth that never eats. Oh, is it a, I believe I know this one. Is it a river? Her bioluminescent eyes go wide and he applauds. Well, I had to get one. Sube's just like, yeah! You see that the doors open and Gromor stalks out, and the various retinues leave this place.

As they do so, it is just the four wizards and Ursulaan, remain as the Fox scampers down a hallway quite quickly. Amé, you finish your conversation with the Fox and emerge from the council chambers. Okay, let's go somewhere that we can talk. Great. I do have to say, I've made an arrangement for this evening, Amé, I'm sorry. I'm not sure. I hope everything went well, but somebody has, I lost a wrestling match and

am obligated to drink until I'm sick with a member of Gromor's retinue. Yeah. Have fun? I mean, I believe I have some time, but I think after dinner, I will be... Is this like a date? I don't know. Is this how wild wants to date? I'm not...

Okay, that, I mean, I... How did the conclave go? Oh, they want to destroy me in my station. Do you want to go somewhere and talk? Yes. You have time before you're... I do. I'll join him after dinner. Okay.

We adjourn to the keep of the world's heart, where a small fire is stoked. You have some food in front of you. Is the fox here with you, or is he out scampering? I think he's scampering, unless he has come back yet. Give me a little investigation check for him. Five. Every once in a while, the fox checks in and it's like,

I'm on to something. There's a hallway. It's covered in ice. Is this anything? Oh, well, what's in the hallway? Doors, torches, windows. Nothing. That's nothing.

Okay, I'll keep going. Okay, thank you. So he's still off scampering. I've told we're sitting in one of, in the assortment of chairs around the fire, and I have told you everything, everything, like beat for beat what happened in the meeting. Okay, so the two sitting across from you,

Marara and Grimor are the ones leading the charge, and the ones that defended you or remained the most neutral Hekea and Indry are on your side. And it sounds like their alliances fall on those lines, the ones in proximity to them they seem to be in collaboration with, and the ones across from them seem to be strained. And I know that's not off of a lot of data, but we don't have a lot to go off of.

When I think back to when there were seven, and then when they were 13, yeah. Do I know other configurations or alliances, or has grandmother runs said, Ooh, give me a history check. We'll call it DC20, but you're a witch so you can roll with advantage. Let's go.

Thank you, Brennan. You got it. 12. Okay. On a 12, you remember which of the watching fire, which of the White Sea. Obviously, you would have been curious as a little kid about the Covenant of Elders, but I think it depends. what would the questions Ame have dwelt on about the Coven of Elders been with Grandmother Ran at that time?

Oh, what did they look like? And are you friends with any of them? Yeah. So from childhood, like, she basically would have told you that Aruna was an incredibly beautiful, profound, you know, wonderful, wise witch. And would have said that Aruna was closest with Hakea out of anybody. that Hecaya, Oruna, and Grimor were all sort of like, of a like kind to each other, and would have said that Scalvi, the Witch of the Watching Fire, was actually closest to grandmother Wren and Indry.

And that, like, she was part of a little, it was almost like there were two triads that Mara, that Maraara was, like, left out of. And it sounded like Ren had a personal fondness for Uruis. But her station was more involved with the station of the watching fire. Have you told us about seven coming down to five? When you make the observation about the five and the alliances, I do mention yes, it was once seven. One died without a successor.

And the other. So one died without a successor just from age. And like everyone knew that Aruna had essentially like waited for too long. And it was sort of a sorrowful, bad, sad thing. And then for Scalvey, Scalvey had an apprentice who betrayed her. It's unclear what the nature of her fall was. But it sounds like in the betrayal of the apprentice, Scalvee died shortly thereafter, or maybe related or maybe unrelated,

but then in the betrayal of the apprentice, the apprentice removed themselves from the succession. And you remember Wren talking to you about not needing to accept the position of the world's heart, right? She's like, I would love you just the same, even if you turn this responsibility aside. And it sounds like the apprentice that betrayed Scalvey in the betrayal refused the station of the watching fire.

So left Scalvey unprepared, essentially. And maybe even like some hint of like, well, did the, it's weird to say that someone that killed Scalvey betrayed them. Like the headline would be murdered them, which was a betrayal. But you almost wonder if the betrayal had to do with the imminent death of Scalvey and the apprentice abandoning the station when Scalvee was advanced enough in age that she didn't have time to find and train a new apprentice. Maybe that was the betrayal. I relay all of this, and then I say that, and originally it was 13. Y'all argue too much. That's, no, that's what it is.

That's how we get, I kept trying to figure out, why would you have to advocate for the loss of another one? They're not in unison. They always need, if it was just four, if you were gone and dispelled, there would be four, and that's an even split, and... Who's the tiebreaker? Exactly. So it has to be three because they always require a majority to move towards unanimity. So it's not even someone specific. It's just the very nature of it being impossible for it to be four.

Something like that. But also it seems like it, okay, you said watching fire and something, ocean. Water and fire. It seems like you can make a case for someone that is the opposite of you having to go with you. balance which is talking about balance all the time that feels like a thing my direct to opposites could be conceivably

Marara because nothing she's nothing or grimoor because she's conflict

and what am I but resolution I think you will have a harder time making a case for Marrara she's the one that level charges against you. But I think you have a very strong case that where cooperation goes, conflict goes to. Didn't you also say that injury itself? Is there something there?

Something to togetherness and vis-à-vis and then on the other side, solitude? Great, there really could be a case made for almost any of them. Give me an insight check as you say that. Um, me. 23. As you say, you can almost make a case for any of them. You remember suddenly the words of sly saying, like, that his words were something along the lines of, um, they can't get rid of you without getting rid of another.

And you suddenly sort of realize like, oh, it doesn't fall to you to make a specific. case for a specific which. Because the point isn't for you to argue. It's for them to argue. If you can make the point that someone else has got to go, right? Like, as, as Suve just said, it's about tiebreaking. So it's not incumbent on you to argue for which wish you think should follow behind you. What's incumbent on you is to say a four-person counsel doesn't work.

So kill me and you guys decide amongst yourself. You know, like, it's that idea, right? Yeah. Well, that's definitely something. Did you say anything in your defense when they were like, let's vote to kill you, or were you just very chill? Well, Hekea kind of said, I disagree and then disappeared, and that was the end of that moment. Okay. But I do have further questions that I would like to have answered before.

I make a case, including an audience with injury to find out about some of the past dealings of the Coven. Fox? Anything? Give me any other investigation, chair? Thirteen. Okay. I don't know if this is anything. There's a window. I'm looking out at a courtyard, and there's two tall ladies. talking next to a fountain, but the fountain doesn't have water. It's got, like, snow coming out of it.

I don't think, and can you hear what they're saying? I'd have to get a little bit closer, but they're not close to the ground. They're both super tall. Tall to you and me, or tall to, like, Sue? Oh, definitely tall to me, but also tall to you. And even a little tall to Suvi. Hang on a second. And I pop into his eyes really quickly.

You pop into his eyes and see that the Witch of the Wind and Stars has Marara pushed up against an archway and is putting a finger into the face. He goes, I don't know. They're talking about something. Okay, I need you to get down there. I need to hear it. What? No, I need you to get down there and hear it. Hear it?

Yeah. Okay, you're the boss, boss. I'm going. Wait, actually? No, wait. Wait, wait, wait. And I squint through the fox's eyes. I can read lips.

You have the observant feat. I can't believe it's become... Best feet. Relevant. Their best feet. There it is. Okay. So, right now, because she has Marara

pushed up against the arch, you see Injri is like pointing a finger, sort of like under Marara's chin. Marrara has no lips for you to read. So the Fox quickly has to run around a hallway to get to a vantage point to see Injri's lips. And as you go over, you can see Injory's lips pointed, and you see that you have an injury has been so sweet to you the entire time. And Marara in this moment, they're looking at each other and it is a testament to how terrifying Marara is that she is not withered by the cold expression on Injri's face.

You haven't seen injury angry yet, but seeing it through your foxes as I. not even directed at you. You don't know how you could withstand it if she turned her cold gaze on you. And you see the last thing she's saying going, give you any pause at all? Obviously, she had some idea. It caught her not at all by surprise.

You don't think a squawk, a chirp, a squeak would have escaped her lips. Something you can't hear coming from Marara whose face is expressionless. The mask betrays nothing. And then there's a, you know, she speaks for a lot of, while and then injury responds and says who can say perhaps ren gave her some more warning or she's come

with these citadel wizards in tow you see that marara speaks for a second and injury says yes my sister of course a hundred years ago their tricks were paltry and 50 years ago their tricks were paltry and 20 years ago their tricks were paltry but i don't know if you've noticed every Every so often I look behind me and see these paltry tricks getting a little bit closer than they were before. I think your entire point, sister, is that time is running out. Whether from the Citadel or the cottage, some knowledge she gleaned. That much is clear. And you see she balls her beautiful ice blue fingernails into a fist and says,

And your impatience, sister, and your disdain for the requirements of our sister, Hakea, saw this opportunity lost. Think more in the future, not solely of your own domain, but of all of ours. And she turns and walks away. The fox in your head goes, she's walking away. Do you want me on spike head or do you want me on, well, they both have spikes on their heads kind of in different ways. There's black with white and there's blue with silver. Um, um, um, go after, uh, uh, uh. I also do smell food nearby.

No, no, not the food, though. I will give you so much fish stew when you get back if you go after the one in silver and blue. You got it, boss. All right. Thank you. I snap back to the tower. I was really proud of, like, Rayford. That was a good man.

Thank you. Also, I haven't said anything. I like the new color. Oh, my God, thank you. What? It's a conspiracy. Huh? It's a good sparracy.

It's a goodseveracy. I know. I look around and I make gesture. I gesture at my ears and then in circles around my head. And I'm going to try and see if I can. do anything to see if there's any listening or any way to ward against being heard. I'll pop a detect magic right now to help. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Passive Investigation, 21. You pop a detect magic. Divination magic, something for listening in. Yeah, there is something in the room with you. you that is listening in on Ame. Your passive investigation knows that you are being listened to.

Something in this room. If you, but it's a DC-25 to pinpoint it exactly and I'll let you roll for it. Can I help with another detect magic? Yes, you can. Guidance. I, you know, I tap my ears, I gesture around

and I poke sui. Wizardry, Witchcraft and the world of spirits come together to find safety in this moment of dire consequence. It's a DC-25. What did you go to your D-4? One plus one. And what do you add? I add six.

So right now I'm adding seven total. So you get an 18 or higher on the die to get the roll. Here we go. 17 plus seven is 24. One shy of the dip. But you know there's something in this room listening to you in this moment. Yeah. Then I'm immediately going to reach down to my spellbook and just sort of like opening it without like pulling it all the way off and like tearing a sheet.

And I will write onto the sheet. There's something listening on you. Divination magic, but I can't find it to dispel it. Do you know who would have done so? And then pass the paper and continue and like not trying to like fully change the subject. But try to pick up some like light. patter with Ursula on. With that 24 investigation, I will allow you to glean a little bit more here, too, which is

just that there is what you are aware of is the words in this room are being heard. You can, with your spell, you hear echoes of the lingua archana. Like, as you speak in Imperial, you hear, it's almost like what would be the clack of a stenographer's key, but just momentary vibration. in the sound waves themselves that you pick up as them registering on a piece of magic that's listening. Almost like

if a bat's ear could hear a sound landing on an eardrum somewhere and you know how to recognize that sound. Can I write on the piece of paper? If it was gone, Suvi, if it was gone, could you tell?

Yes. I'm going to take Suvie's scarf off and throw it out a window. The sound goes away. Shit, Lou. Stone cold fucking got me. Stone cold got me. Fuck.

That's all for this episode of the Wizard, the Witch, and the Wild One. God damn it. That was Lou Wilson as Ursulaan, Erica Ishii as Amay, Abria Ayangar as Suvi, and Brennan Lee Mulligan as everyone and everything else. 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.