Chapter One: It's Just a Camping Trip | Sagas of Sundry: Dread

Summary

Critical Role & Sagas of Sundry Episode Summary: Chapter One: It's Just a Camping Trip | Sagas of Sundry: Dread

Release Date: June 30, 2025

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Introduction

In the premiere episode of Sagas of Sundry: Dread, titled "Chapter One: It's Just a Camping Trip," a group of estranged friends reunites for what is intended to be a nostalgic return to their previous camping adventure. However, old demons and unresolved tensions threaten to unravel their camaraderie as supernatural forces emerge from the shadows of their past.

Character Introductions

The story centers around five main characters, each grappling with personal struggles and the haunting memories of their last expedition:

• Sat (03:42): The self-proclaimed ringleader, eager to reconnect with his friends and revisit the events that have kept them apart.

• Kaden (04:48): A reclusive individual who has distanced himself from others over the past year, harboring resentment and mistrust.

• Darby Trellis (05:20): Recently found purpose through a spiritual connection with the "spirit of the goat," leading to estrangement from his ex-girlfriend.

• Raina (06:05): An art student torn between her academic dreams and concern for her girlfriend's deteriorating mental state following a mysterious camping trip.

• Tanner (04:48): A photographer struggling to rationalize the inexplicable events of last year, plagued by nightmares and seeking solace through his art.

Returning to the Mountain

The friends embark on their journey back to the mountain on June 13th, eight hours into their hike. The familiar sights quickly become ominous as they approach a fenced-off government area marked "No Camping, Alcoholic Beverages, Open Fire" (08:10). Upon inspecting the barrier, they discover signs of tampering, indicating prior attempts to breach it.

Sat expresses nostalgia:

“Thank God. I haven't seen my friends in a while, so I got them all together for a little bit of revisiting of what happened a year ago.” (04:18)

Unearthing Clues

Their exploration leads them to the old burnt-out cabin where their last adventure took a dark turn. Here, Darby uncovers a mysterious folded note attached to a wilting tree (11:30). The note, addressed to "Agatha," warns her not to trust her father and mentions "540," sparking curiosity and fear among the group.

Darby reveals his newfound beliefs:

“I have found what I think are ways to communicate with this spirit and gain his aid or his power... I am excited to be here. And I'm here for a fucking purpose.” (05:14)

Rising Tensions and Supernatural Rituals

As the friends delve deeper into the woods, personal tensions resurface. Darby suggests performing a protective ritual to fend off lingering negative energies. Skepticism meets desperation as Raina and others grapple with their beliefs.

Tanner remains doubtful:

“I still don't fucking trust Kaden. I have a firm theory that he's largely responsible for what we all saw...” (13:38)

The ritual, however, backfires disastrously. Darby's actions cause the cabin's roof to collapse during a sudden storm, causing chaos and escalating conflicts.

Sat confronts Darby:

“That was it. That's all I have left right there, and it's gone. Because you stupid, stupid thing that you did.” (41:31)

Descent into Darkness

Amidst the turmoil, the group discovers a letter from 1924 revealing Tobias's troubled relationship with Agatha and cryptic references to "540." This discovery leads them to a secluded house illuminated by eerie orange lights and an unsettling presence.

Raina uncovers the letter:

“June 5, 1924. My dear Agatha, it is with the deepest regret that I leave you to render services...” (47:13)

Climactic Confrontations

As the friends navigate the cursed house, the supernatural elements intensify. The storm worsens, and the structural integrity of their shelter continues to fail, pushing them to confront both external horrors and internal conflicts.

Darby attempts to assert control:

“We were awesome. There’s nothing wrong with this. We were awesome.” (32:25)

Conclusion and Cliffhanger

The episode culminates with Raina unlocking the mysterious house door, only to face unexpected horrors within. The abrupt ending leaves listeners on a cliffhanger, eagerly anticipating the unfolding of the group's fate as they confront the malevolent forces tied to their past.

Raina expresses determination:

“I am gonna get us inside where we will be warm and safe.” (50:20)

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Notable Quotes

• Sat on reuniting:

  “[04:18] Sat: Thank God. I haven't seen my friends in a while, so I got them all together for a little bit of revisiting of what happened a year ago.”

• Darby on his purpose:

  “[05:14] Darby: I am excited to be here. And I'm here for a fucking purpose.”

• Tanner expressing distrust:

  “[13:38] Tanner: I still don't fucking trust Kaden. I have a firm theory that he's largely responsible for what we all saw...”

• Sat confronting Darby:

  “[41:31] Sat: That was it. That's all I have left right there, and it's gone. Because you stupid, stupid thing that you did.”

• Raina on protection:

  “[50:20] Raina: I am gonna get us inside where we will be warm and safe.”

Themes and Insights

• Friendship and Trust: The episode delves into the complexities of rekindling friendships strained by past traumas and secrets.

• Belief vs. Skepticism: Characters like Darby and Tanner embody the clash between supernatural belief and rational skepticism.

• Confronting the Past: The group's return to the mountain symbolizes a journey to confront and possibly redeem past mistakes.

Conclusion

"Chapter One: It's Just a Camping Trip" sets the stage for a gripping horror narrative intertwined with deep character development. As the friends navigate both external supernatural threats and internal discord, listeners are left anticipating the next chapter in their perilous saga.

Transcript

[Raina]

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[Mr. Ren]

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[Raina]

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[Mr. Ren]

Shop today in stores [e-mail] or download the Nordstrom app.

[Raina]

I think you're on mute.

[Darby]

Workday starting to sound the same. I think you're on mute. Find something that sounds better for your career on LinkedIn. With LinkedIn job collections, you can browse curated collections by relevant industries and benefits like Flexpto or Hybrid Workplaces, so you can find the right job for you. Get [e-mail] jobs finding where you fit.

[Mr. Ren]

LinkedIn knows how stories they are what bind us together. Since the dawn of humankind, we've been telling stories, sitting around the dancing light of campfires, making shapes and spinning original tales of mystery, love, intrigue, and triumph. People are, in fact, just walking stories waiting to be read. I just so happen to collect stories, but not always the happy kind. You see, I am a bit of a curator ideal in Tales of Terror. Now, my darlings, it is time to explore another macabre story, one in which a dreadful tower will decide the fate of our heroes. These are the sagas of Sundry. I am Mr. Ren, and this is dreadful.

[Darby]

It.

[Mr. Ren]

Last year, five friends came into the mountain for one last adventure, where they found something that would haunt them forever. Now, estranged, they're back to deal with the demons inside. This is their story. Welcome, everyone, to Dread. Before we jump in, before I declare, the setting and everything of what you are in actions that you commit will be declared through a pull from the tower. Now, the tower, should it fall, and it may, and it likely will, whoever last touched the tower will be the person who is removed from the story. All right, I think we need a little refresher on who and what and where you are and why you're here today. But in the spirit of playing Dread, the way that dread should be played, I would like you to tell me who you are, why you make a pull from the tower. We have to start this thing off right. It wouldn't be fair if you had a clean tower at the beginning of the story. Sat, would you begin for us?

[Darby]

Yes. Oh, man.

[Mr. Ren]

This is.

[Darby]

You got this.

[Sat]

I'm Sat, and I am the ringleader of. Oh. Oh, that was nice. I'm the ringleader of this band of misfits. Oh, gosh. Can I change my mind about it?

[Mr. Ren]

Okay, couple small ground rules for the pulling. You can feel it, you can touch it, you can tap it, you can move it. But as soon as a block is in your hand and you're pulling it the way she is, you must own that block.

[Sat]

I'm owning it. I'm already nervous.

[Mr. Ren]

It's the first pull of the night. You've got a long road ahead of you. Sat.

[Sat]

All right.

[Darby]

Okay.

[Sat]

Thank God. I haven't seen my friends in a while, so I got them all together for a little bit of revisiting of what happened a year ago. I just want to re experience them with my friends. And also, I miss my friends a lot because we haven't seen each other in a while. But, you know, whatever, it's cool. They're here now.

[Mr. Ren]

They are here now. They've all answered the call and they're with you. Mr. Caden.

[Tanner]

Ah.

[Kaden]

I'm Caden. I haven't really talked to anybody in the last year. And as for the rest, it's none of your fucking business.

[Mr. Ren]

Great. Darby.

[Darby]

I'm Darby. And.

[Mr. Ren]

Ah. So you found our first hidden clue. We will read it. Save it for now.

[Darby]

I'm Darby Trellis, and I had what other people would consider a freak out. I found a purpose with the spirit of the goat and kind of dove a little deeper and realized he might have been trying to help us. And as much as people think I've gone off the deep end, I feel like I'm more sane than I've ever been. And I have found what I think are ways to communicate with this spirit and gain his aid or his power. And in doing that, I have become estranged with my, you know, now ex girlfriend. But I am excited to be here. And I'm here for a fucking purpose.

[Mr. Ren]

Raina, would you please?

[Raina]

Yeah. My name is Raina, and the girl I love is losing her mind. And really, I went away to my first year of art school, which had always been my dream, but after this weird camping trip we took last year, she's gone down this road and I'm so worried about her. But I've been 3,000 miles away, so I haven't had a chance to even see her. This is gonna prove that, like, it's just a camping trip. We're gonna make it through, everything's gonna be fine, and I'm gonna help bring her back to earth.

[Mr. Ren]

Great. Tanner.

[Tanner]

I'm Tanner. And getting to pool last, which is very fitting for me. Seems to be a theme in a lot of my life. The experience that we had together last year was unexpected and I'm still trying to process exactly what happened. My rational mind tells me that what happened was absurd and either a shared hallucination or something that this asshole slipped into our water. But at the same time, there is some semblance of recurring nightmares that continue to follow and plague me. So I think there may be something to it that's caused me to focus my photography on occasionally. Not the subject, but the dark space around them. For every photograph of darkness that I take and develop and there's nothing there helps soothe me and know that whatever it is that we encounter isn't following me still.

[Mr. Ren]

Alright. It is June 13th. After eight hours of hiking. From your car, the crunching of gravel underneath your feet tells you that your destination is near the familiar sign of government property. No camping, alcoholic beverages, open fire comes into your view, completely fenced and barbed off. You have an intense desire to say something. Darby, what is it?

[Darby]

Let's get a picture. I think that's really a good idea.

[Mr. Ren]

All right. So, Tanner, are you going to indulge them with a photo?

[Darby]

Ah, come on.

[Tanner]

I mean, of course, of course, of course.

[Mr. Ren]

Come on, guys.

[Tanner]

Lighting's a little bad from this angle. Let me just.

[Mr. Ren]

And.

[Darby]

Okay, you done now?

[Tanner]

There we go.

[Sat]

Yay.

[Mr. Ren]

Great, Kaden. As you look towards the heavy fence in front of you, you notice a few of the poles holding the barbed wires seem to be bending in a more of an EAS the direction you're going than before. And you actually even notice a bit of torn fabric from when you and Tanner used your sleeping bags as buffers.

[Kaden]

No fucking way.

[Mr. Ren]

How are you all getting over this time?

[Tanner]

I'd say based on just the memory of the fact that we had scaled this fence last time. In my general nature of trying to be the prepared one, I brought some wire cutters to try and clamp through from the bottom this time.

[Sat]

Oh, you don't want to jump up like last time?

[Tanner]

No, I do not. Distinctly want to do that.

[Kaden]

You want to damage property or should I damage property? I mean, if you're going to, that's fine.

[Mr. Ren]

All right, Kaden, as you come in.

[Kaden]

With the clippers, clipping right up one of the poles and right to the side so the whole thing just leans in. So we can kind of fake it back up. I can use the cloth to fake it back up and we can pop it down super easy.

[Mr. Ren]

Make a pole.

[Kaden]

I hate you.

[Tanner]

You offered.

[Kaden]

Oh, my God. These are beautiful, man.

[Darby]

We have Four in a row. Oh, yeah. Fuck me.

[Raina]

Liv.

[Mr. Ren]

Oh, great. So, Kaden, you trim the barbed wire all the way up. And you watch as the fence, first straining for a moment, suddenly snaps and pulls itself back to eastwardly. And you watch as the large pole that keeps the barbed wire and fence fly some dirt up in the midst of the area.

[Darby]

Come on, let's go. Set. We are going back to the house.

[Sat]

Yeah, totally. I think that we should just like retrace our steps, right? Because I have these notes and I was thinking that if we take pictures while we're there and then we'll be able to prove that. Like Elvis. Depends. Of course. Stuff happened. You were there. It all happened. I mean, you were.

[Darby]

You checked. That's right.

[Sat]

We just didn't get the pictures.

[Darby]

Thank you.

[Raina]

Do encourage her. We're just gonna go camping.

[Darby]

Wait, are you my mom now? Don't encourage her. Like, I need like some patronizing. What is going.

[Sat]

Okay, guys, come on. Like, we're just. We just got together. We haven't seen each other in forever. Let's just go. And then, you know, like.

[Darby]

Well, just remember not to encourage me, I guess.

[Mr. Ren]

As you move farther into the woods, you actually begin to follow the pathway that led you to the old burnt out cabin that you remember from one year ago. Darby, as you're walk wandering through the pathway, you out of nowhere seem to see a piece of paper folded up and braced against the side of one of the old rotten willowy trees that are in the area. Yes, you pick it up and it seems to be an old note.

[Darby]

He's speaking.

[Mr. Ren]

He's speaking.

[Darby]

He's speaking.

[Mr. Ren]

Would you like to open it up?

[Darby]

Simon, do not listen to your father. The devil is in 5, 4, 0. My dear Agatha, sadly, despite my best efforts, I can only find something of value on 540. The mountains are quite dense, you see, and I can find no better positioning while there is a bit of interference. I hope you can enjoy what you can in your downtime. This is a beacon. This is a beacon for us.

[Kaden]

Let me see.

[Darby]

It means we're in the right spot and we're on the right track.

[Kaden]

Right track to.

[Tanner]

To what precisely?

[Darby]

To achieving our goal for being here. We don't know. We don't know if it's the father we should be trusting or Agatha. But don't tease her why you're doing it.

[Mr. Ren]

As you all begin to read the note, a familiar scent purses into your nostrils. It's that old copper smell that was part of the first signs and the first comings of what you remember before things started to get odd. And it's there, fleeting, briefly, for a moment, but then it's gone again. Would you like to purse forward?

[Sat]

Come on, guys, let's get there. Cause it gets pretty crazy when it's dark here.

[Tanner]

Are you feeling all right? Been okay.

[Darby]

You know, I've been through a year of this, of everyone literally asking me that same question, and I don't need this right now. Tanner, I am very cool.

[Tanner]

We all had a very interesting experience together, and I've spent a lot of time, just as you have, trying to come to terms with what it is that we all saw. And there are actually a number of very, very prominent possibilities as to why these things happen. Things that I hope we all can talk about and discuss.

[Darby]

I've been trying to talk to someone this entire time, and no one has come forward. And I gave up. And so I leaned in and that was the only thing I could do. I don't want to be persecuted for that.

[Tanner]

I'm not persecuting you. I would never persecute you for this. But I also. I don't want to see us lose each other over this.

[Mr. Ren]

Nevermind, Tanner, make a poll. In the midst of. While you're talking, you realize that the forest is getting more dense around you, and you've begun to wander off trail with Darby a little bit. In fact, you're pursing out from the side of the woodlands and you feel something at the bottom of your foot as you kick a rotting carcass. You look down below and you see a deer that has fresh blood laid out in front of it, and it seems to have giant gashing wounds opening it. A half eaten deer is laid out in front of, um.

[Darby]

Oh my God. He's here. He's here.

[Mr. Ren]

It's clearly a ripped apart animal. You can see that it looks like it may have been attacked by a bear or a coyote. It definitely doesn't look like it was killed for sport. It was certainly killed to be eaten.

[Darby]

Is there a heart left?

[Mr. Ren]

There is absolutely no heart left. It has absolutely been torn apart and eaten with everything else that's inside of it. There's mostly bone, skin, and blood.

[Darby]

Is there anything higher up, like any remains higher up in the trees?

[Mr. Ren]

Most of the trees are actually really high, branched pine trees that cover a vast canopy above you. Because of that, the darkness is much more pressing upon all of you. It seems more like twilight than day. And that seems to be maybe a manifestation of your own mind. Or is it just the lack of light from the trees above. It doesn't matter because as you begin to walk forward more, you start to see a clearing in front of you as the forest breaks. And yes, you see the withered single story frame still barely holding its tattered roof after this long year laid out in front of you. And you can see the old campfire that you made back then and all of your gear, the things that you left.

[Darby]

Oh, there's definitely like a. Like my half of the be together forever heart necklace. I get that real quick. Put it away.

[Caden]

Do I see that?

[Tanner]

Probably go and check and see if any of the film I had in my old pack is all still functional. If it's been like waterlogged and ruined.

[Mr. Ren]

Waterlogged would probably be in the circumstances. Unless Tanner was smart enough to put it inside of plastic baggies, he would.

[Tanner]

Have had them probably in little plastic containers and probably sealed away.

[Mr. Ren]

But would you like to make a pull for it? Go for it, go for it. Have some fresh film beyond what you brought. Maybe develop something that you haven't seen from that first trip.

[Darby]

You know exactly what to say.

[Tanner]

All right guys, I did bring some supplies. I can do some quick. You can develop that film with some time. I mean, it's not like a fast thing. I have to just set up a small dark space in here, run some batteries.

[Kaden]

Darkness. How will we find it out here?

[Tanner]

Oh God, shut up. You know what I mean?

[Caden]

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[Darby]

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[Mr. Ren]

You can use your balance in so many ways.

[Darby]

You can Venmo everything. Need gas? You can Venmo how about snacks? You can Venmo that. Your favorite band's merch. You can Venmo this or their next show.

[Mr. Ren]

You can Venmo that.

[Darby]

Visit Venmo Me Debit to learn more. The Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp bank and a pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated Card may be used everywhere. MasterCard is accepted. Venmo purchase restrictions apply.

[Mr. Ren]

As you open up the beautiful solid looking plastic, the wonderful containers and it smells like perfectly undeveloped film. Damn. Is that something you want to do now is set up a dark room in this area?

[Tanner]

I'm looking for a good space to get that started.

[Mr. Ren]

Once the sun sets, there is always the dried out burnt. Other than that, you did remember your conversations from the old prospector who had mentioned that there was caves in this area. And with a little bit of looking and finding, you may be able to find something.

[Tanner]

Based on the previous experience in that house, I'd probably be a little more comfortable in like a shallow cave.

[Mr. Ren]

Great. So you want to start looking around?

[Tanner]

Probably. Yeah.

[Mr. Ren]

For a little cave.

[Raina]

Is my sketchbook still here?

[Mr. Ren]

Yes, it is. It's waterlogged, it's stained, but you can still tell they're Darby and you can still tell they're Darby.

[Raina]

And it's covered in. It's just weird for me to look through cause like I don't doodle dragons anymore.

[Mr. Ren]

And it's the ink is running and you can watch as actually the line drawings of your original artwork. These menacing.

[Raina]

It was like half my portfolio for art school, you know.

[Mr. Ren]

Yeah. These beautiful depictions of some of your best work, Reina, literally. Even with the running dripping lines that make these creatures far more menacing than you ever intended, it is still some of your best work. What about the rest of you? Are you going to be setting up camp or are you going to help Tanner find a shadow cave somewhere?

[Sat]

Hey Kayden, did you bring any of the stuff so we can kind of relive last time?

[Mr. Ren]

Remember that fun stuff?

[Kaden]

I didn't I brought this.

[Sat]

Yeah, that works. That totally works.

[Kaden]

I figured, you know, how else am I gonna drug you all?

[Sat]

Is that not funny? He didn't do that.

[Kaden]

I really didn't do that.

[Sat]

He didn't. Only that was a consensual thing that we did.

[Darby]

Are you trying to, like, get us all riled up? Are you trying to push all of our buttons? Is this fun? Is this a fun thing?

[Kaden]

Look at where we are. We are pushing a giant fucking button.

[Darby]

Yeah, but it's better if we're all in it together, man.

[Kaden]

We are all in it together.

[Darby]

Are we?

[Kaden]

I'm here for you.

[Sat]

Just because we weren't around each other for the last year, which is fine, doesn't mean we're not here right now. Right?

[Mr. Ren]

Yes.

[Sat]

Yeah. We're here together again.

[Raina]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Tanner]

Darby.

[Darby]

What?

[Tanner]

Glad you're figuring out Kayden finally. Do you want to help me find the cave?

[Darby]

Yeah, I'm in.

[Mr. Ren]

All right.

[Darby]

God. All right. As Tanner and I are walking. Tanner, man, I'm sorry. I'm on edge. But, like, that shit you're talking about, us talking and, like, being real people, that's all I've wanted and no one has been around to do that. And I had to, you know, like, I'm a person. Like, I have to do something. And that this thing of, oh, Darby freaked out. Darby got naked on campus. Like that. That is less crazy than you think. That was deliberate, actually, and it had nothing to do with anybody else and it had everything to do with me. And it accomplished something.

[Tanner]

I'm not judging you for anything you've done. Look, I've. You know, we've all had our weird shit we've dealt with over this past year. And we've all done our. Had our own methods of doing so. I just. I just want to make sure that you understand, you know, that there are a lot of possibilities as to what happened. I still don't fucking trust Kaden. I have a firm theory that he's largely responsible for what we all saw and is just enjoying this year long wait for it to come to a second. Sequel to the Delightful little Joke.

[Mr. Ren]

As you wander around, you can actually start to see a small dirt trail come into view. In fact, on the side of this small dirt trail, you can see the cornered edge of a brown and white sign that seems to be close to what is now the foothills of the Black Mountain sheer scape that is coming close to you. Arby, would you like to clear it off to see what it says?

[Darby]

Yeah.

[Mr. Ren]

Makeable.

[Darby]

Okay. I mean, the weird thing is, I trust all of you guys. You know, I want all of us to be really protected. And I think the best way to do that is to open up. I mean, my expectations when we got on this trip was for everyone to be like, hey, we're back. We're doing this. And instead, it's just been so.

[Tanner]

It's also been a year since we've seen each other, and in that year, we've all had time to think about whatever happened last time we were here. Give it some time. Just give it some time, Darby.

[Darby]

I hope we don't try to kill this thing.

[Tanner]

If there is a thing.

[Mr. Ren]

Darby. As you pull the moss from the black and white sign, you can see an old campground sign that seems to have the archetypical tent with the man in a backpack holding a stick that shows that this is a hiking trail somewhere nearby. And a lot of the name of the trail, as well as how far it is, has seemed to have been rusted or worn out with time. But you can see that the sheer mountainscape is not far by. In fact, it's just over the horizon.

[Tanner]

If we're looking for a cave, that might be the best bet we're going to find.

[Darby]

Yeah. All right.

[Mr. Ren]

Now, as you get closer to the side of the mountain, you look around and you can actually see an old trail. In fact, you can barely tell that there was even a trail there. It's so pathed over that it looks like it hasn't been maintained for years, maybe even decades. And more importantly, that smell comes back. That dark, coppery stink, ozone, that seems to purse into your nostrils for just a second, and this time it is rich. It is thick. Darby, for you, it is pure ecstasy. Tanner, what does it make you feel like?

[Tanner]

I immediately begin taking pictures of every single dark shadow or space where there is no light in our immediate vicinity.

[Mr. Ren]

You take photo after photo, and as you pull your camera down, you see something. It's on the floor next to the trail. It wasn't there before. It seems to be leading up to that trail, which is so distinctly blocked from overgrowth and various nasty amenities that nature has given it over the years. Would you like to come get it?

[Tanner]

Uh, no, I'd like to stare at it for a minute, please.

[Mr. Ren]

Stare at it. It seems to have an unlatched hinge in the front. And a tiny little tortoise.

[Tanner]

Darby.

[Darby]

What?

[Tanner]

Darby, do you see that?

[Darby]

Oh, yeah. See, Taylor? It is real. And I'm not insane. Like our goat spirit is leaving us hints. Okay, he wants Something from us, but it's fine. Like, it's not. I mean, there's no such thing as evil.

[Tanner]

I beg to differ.

[Darby]

And I know a lot about goats. I don't know anything about the spirit animal of a turtle, but I imagine its stability, its sturdiness and. And protection.

[Mr. Ren]

Darby, are you gonna come get it?

[Sat]

Yeah.

[Darby]

Oh, my God. Oh, it's separate. He's speaking to us. It's a protective totem. You should keep it. I'm fine.

[Tanner]

I don't. Just open the box.

[Darby]

Oh, man. Jackpot City.

[Mr. Ren]

Seems to be old twine cord wrapped in a piece of rolled, dried and hided leather.

[Darby]

Pick it up. Put it down. Pick it up. Put it down. Pick it up. Put it down. Pick it up. Put it down. Pick it up. Put it down. 5. Pick it up. Put it down.

[Tanner]

Debbie.

[Darby]

Pick it up. Put it down. Six. What?

[Tanner]

Nothing.

[Mr. Ren]

So, Tanner, you look around and you can see that it is getting dark.

[Tanner]

Darby, I think it's probably not safe to continue. I was hoping we'd find something closer by.

[Mr. Ren]

But we're okay?

[Darby]

Yeah, we can go. We can go. I think this is all we needed. We don't need. Well, we'll get the film developed later. But this is important.

[Tanner]

Okay, well, let's pick up the pace and head back in the giggle. I'll see if I can set something up in the.

[Mr. Ren]

Okay, so as you wander back, how are our three at camp holding?

[Kaden]

I have been taking my moldy, old, fucked up clothing and tearing it into strips and trying to make a couple torches just in case.

[Mr. Ren]

Why don't you make a pull and make a torch for us?

[Kaden]

I hate you. You are the worst person. Where are we gonna go? What am I gonna do?

[Mr. Ren]

But wouldn't it be wonderful, Caden, to have a ton torch? The comfort and security of dark, warm lights.

[Kaden]

I feel like I want to deal with this base, man.

[Mr. Ren]

What is it you're afraid of, Kaiden? That you feel like you need to make a torch out of the things that were once yours?

[Kaden]

Fuck yourself is what I'm afraid of. You can go fuck yourself.

[Mr. Ren]

That's what I thought. Reina and sat. How about you?

[Sat]

I go up to you like, hey, so how's art school? What's art school like?

[Raina]

It's good. It's really good.

[Sat]

You're learning, like, you know. I mean, I know I used to teach you and all, but, like, you're learning more, right?

[Raina]

Yeah, a lot of buildings and still lifes and stuff.

[Sat]

That sounds super boring. I'm glad I didn't go. Yeah. I just. I kind of gave it up. I've been. It's not a big deal.

[Kaden]

Anything to show?

[Darby]

No.

[Kaden]

If you got something to show, I'd love to see it.

[Darby]

I don't.

[Sat]

She doesn't want to show it. You can't pressure her into doing things she doesn't want to do.

[Kaden]

Pressure people into doing things they don't want to do all the time.

[Sat]

That's true.

[Kaden]

It's kind of. It's practically half my point.

[Darby]

Fuck.

[Sat]

You should totally quit and just, like, travel, you know, because, like, there's so much out there that you could draw, you know? I mean, it's just art school.

[Raina]

Real, like, stuff.

[Sat]

Yeah. Real life experience, but what have you guys.

[Raina]

I called, you didn't answer.

[Kaden]

Yeah. Oh, did you call?

[Mr. Ren]

Yeah.

[Kaden]

You called?

[Tanner]

Yeah.

[Sat]

You called him and you didn't call me?

[Raina]

It's fine. I told you guys to come visit me.

[Kaden]

Shit. Got real busy and just got distracted.

[Mr. Ren]

Sorry.

[Sat]

I moved out. I live on my own now. Yeah, I got a couple friends that, like, hang out with sometimes. I mean, they're not like you guys, but, you know, like, I tried to tell some people about all this stuff that we experienced here, and they totally didn't believe me. Yeah, it was weird.

[Kaden]

I don't talk about what happened last year.

[Sat]

I really wish you guys would have answered my phone calls because I was like, you know, only you guys can prove all this stuff that we experienced. But it was. My parents didn't even believe me.

[Mr. Ren]

As you look down, Reina not making the eye contact with SAT that she's so desperately looking for at this moment. You actually see somewhere scattered in the brush, a set of three. Well, take a look.

[Raina]

Wow, guys, these are, like, totally old arrowheads. Wow, these are so cool.

[Sat]

Oh, yeah, those are totally, like. You find them everywhere here because of the battle that happened a couple hundred years ago. Hey, this is, like. Maybe this land is, like, haunted. Like that movie that just came out with, like, you know, like, the houses that were built on the linn with, like, the Indian burial grounds and stuff.

[Kaden]

I don't think it's haunted.

[Raina]

That's not funny. But this is.

[Darby]

What?

[Raina]

What battle?

[Sat]

Oh, there was just, like, neighboring tribes that were trying to fight for land.

[Mr. Ren]

Touching SAT is bringing this history lesson into Bear. Darby and Tanner walk back to the camp.

[Darby]

Hey, this looks like fun.

[Raina]

Look, we found arrowheads.

[Sat]

What were you guys doing out there? You guys were gone for a while.

[Tanner]

We tried to find some caves, but most of the paths are pretty overgrown. We figured before it got too dark. It'd be safe to just come back and camp here with you guys. We found something.

[Raina]

Yeah, what is that?

[Darby]

What the fuck? It was in this box that. I mean, like. Can I just put the cards on the table that our spirit is speaking to us, Darby.

[Raina]

No, it's not.

[Sat]

Anything's possible because what we experienced last year was for real. Real. Like, really real. And if she has been doing research and has been looking up some, maybe she's right.

[Darby]

Raina, I'm just asking you to try.

[Raina]

Okay, guys, if it were real, why would we want it to talk to us?

[Darby]

It is talking to us. The Goat man was real. We fought him. You were awesome. You were awesome. You were especially awesome. You were awesome. There's nothing wrong with this. We were awesome.

[Mr. Ren]

You look up and you see a large lightning bolt strike down from the land as you look up, and in the midst of your arguing, you see dark storm clouds start to move across the entire skyline.

[Sat]

Grab your stuff. Get a safety.

[Darby]

We should not.

[Tanner]

Hampton, how's the roof of the house?

[Mr. Ren]

It's stable. It has load bearing beams. Right.

[Tanner]

Does it look like it would be any protection to a storm's rain?

[Mr. Ren]

Better than being out in the middle of.

[Tanner]

Agreed. All right.

[Kaden]

There's also a cave in the house.

[Darby]

As I run into the house, this falls on the ground.

[Raina]

You dropped your.

[Darby]

You want to comment on that, too?

[Raina]

Can I see it?

[Darby]

Yeah. All right.

[Mr. Ren]

So, as you all run into the house, you look into it and see the familiar broken, disheveled floor that was once there. And the hole of which Caden was referencing that originally led you down this rabbit hole in the first place seems to very much not be there. In fact, there wasn't any sign that there was ever a hole in the first place.

[Tanner]

Okay.

[Kaden]

Fuck you.

[Tanner]

This actually helps me with one of my fucking theories about last year. And now that we're here, I want us to talk openly about this.

[Darby]

Hallelujah. Thank you.

[Tanner]

Kaden.

[Mr. Ren]

Yeah.

[Tanner]

Look me in the eye and please be honest if there is any sense of salvaging any of these relationships. Did you, under any circumstances, dose any of us last time we were here?

[Mr. Ren]

Nope.

[Sat]

He didn't even have enough. Cause he knew you guys weren't gonna do it.

[Kaden]

I only had 10 bucks worth.

[Darby]

What drugs were you on last year?

[Kaden]

A little bit of lsd, A little something something.

[Darby]

Okay.

[Raina]

You sure you didn't think it was funny?

[Tanner]

I think a lot of things were funny.

[Kaden]

It doesn't sound funny. And it certainly didn't work out to be funny, so, no.

[Sat]

I have done enough LSD in the last year to know that you don't just LSD yourself into a hole.

[Tanner]

That's obviously not.

[Kaden]

There's drug.

[Mr. Ren]

Real and real.

[Kaden]

Real. And that was not. I don't know what the fuck that was. I don't know what happened. Wasn't fucking me. It was some sort of drug induced bullshit. It was nothing. I have. I have nothing that fucking good.

[Darby]

Darby, do you remember?

[Kaden]

I still have burns on the inside of my arms from that crazy fucking shit.

[Darby]

You can't.

[Sat]

That's not.

[Kaden]

Did they fucking hallucinate that shit?

[Sat]

Oh, my God.

[Darby]

And the same laughter. Remember the laughter?

[Sat]

Oh, my God.

[Darby]

See here? I mean, we weren't imagining this. I.

[Mr. Ren]

You can actually start to hear the sound of the wood creaking around you as the wind begins to pick up. It actually begins to bend and creak the wood.

[Raina]

You have to stop. You have to stop this.

[Sat]

Hey, stop. Leave this stuff alone.

[Darby]

God damn it.

[Mr. Ren]

This is not important.

[Darby]

This is happening.

[Kaden]

Okay, Tanner, you want to be practical? Entrances, exits, windows. You guys. Fuck, not now. What are the entrances? What are the exits? What do we have in here?

[Darby]

I have a ritual that we could do that would protect us.

[Mr. Ren]

The bending of the wood created creaks even more. And you can actually hear the splintering of wood underneath you, above you, around you, to the side of you.

[Tanner]

Is it beginning to rain?

[Mr. Ren]

Yes, it is beginning to rain.

[Tanner]

I'm taking my pack that has all of my film and my camera, and I'm taking off my jacket and billowing it inside to protect it.

[Mr. Ren]

So you wrap everything together and you can actually start to hear the small. Pat, pat, pat, pat, pat, pat, pat, co. Thunder hits you and the base fills you as you continue just to look around you, as you frantically start setting up tents and putting things together. The only thing besides the padding of rain that is the comfort in your silence at the moment is this creaking, bending wood of this old, rotten house that you're currently bedding underneath.

[Kaden]

So where'd you find this ritual?

[Darby]

In a book. What? In a book, in the library.

[Kaden]

All right. What have you. What have you been looking for?

[Darby]

It's very logical. We were attacked by something spiritual, of the other world, of another realm, which, I'm sorry, sad. I should have reached out to you. Obviously, we were on the same page. Yeah.

[Sat]

You don't know what I went through trying to convince everybody else. All I needed was you guys to.

[Darby]

Like, well, brick wall, brick wall. I stopped. Anyway, there is a ritual. It's a protection ritual. And I think we should do it absolutely not.

[Tanner]

Reina. If it makes her feel more comfortable, let her do it. There's no harm in that.

[Darby]

It would help if all of us participated. Everyone will get a mirror and everyone will get a candle. Everyone. The reason we're doing this is to protect us from the negative energy immediately after doing this ritual. So something bad will happen. But because there's so many of us, like, absorbing the negative energy, it'll be a little bit diluted. The more people there are, the more diluted it'll be. The. Thank you. The first thing we have to do is send our essence into the mirror. Once you're sure that you have your essence in the mirror, you're gonna breathe and make a fog on the mirror. Then you're gonna light your candle and make a scorch mark on the mirror. Then you've set it on the ground. We all hold hand, we chant, pick it up, put it down. Until we are all on the same page, that we have sent away the negativity. And then we all stomp and break our mirrors.

[Sat]

But isn't breaking mirrors bad?

[Darby]

Yes. That's the point.

[Mr. Ren]

The thunder hits again.

[Sat]

Yes.

[Kaden]

For everybody's sanity, I just want you to just take one second and acknowledge that you may be crazy, but you may be right.

[Darby]

Thank you for acknowledging that I might be right. Everyone, send your essence into the mirror. This is real. This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Knowing you could be saving money for the things you really want is a great feeling. Talk to a State Farm agent today to learn how you can choose to bundle and save with the personal price plan. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts, and savings and eligibility vary by state.

[Mr. Ren]

You know that feeling when someone shows up for you just when you need it most? That's what Uber is all about. Not just a ride or dinner at your door. It's how Uber helps you show up for the moments that matter. Because showing up can turn a tough day around or make a good one even better. Whatever it is, big or small, Uber is on the way. So you can be on yours. Uber on our way.

[Darby]

Now light your candles and make a scorch mark. It can be as big or small as you want. When you're done, set it in front of you. Blow out your candles. Pick it up, put it down.

[Tanner]

Pick it up.

[Darby]

Put it down.

[Mr. Ren]

Pick it up.

[Tanner]

Put it down. Pick it up, put it down.

[Darby]

No doubts. Pick it up, put it Down. Pick it up. Put it down. Pick it up. Put it down.

[Mr. Ren]

Pick it up.

[Darby]

Put it down. No doubts. Pick it up. Put it down. Pick it up. Put it down. Pick it up. Put it down. Pick it up. Put it down. Pick it up.

[Sat]

Put it down.

[Darby]

Pick it up. Put it down. Pick it up. Put it down. Pick it up. Put it down.

[Mr. Ren]

Pick it up.

[Tanner]

Put it down.

[Mr. Ren]

Pick it up. Put it down.

[Darby]

Mine didn't break.

[Mr. Ren]

There's a splintering of wood as you start to feel that large bits of debris are starting to fall down around you. In fact, you hear a large crack as the roof above you starts to give away. And you can see rain starting to pour through. As Darby make a pull. The roof is falling on you and everyone around you. The splintering of the wood is pure and essenceful as it essentially is bearing down on you. This small, flimsy wood, this wind and this thunder and this rain is pushing all around you as this ritual that you just performed as you invoke something bad to happen. And by God, if the roof falling down you isn't one of the worst things. You could literally kill every single one of your friends right here and right now, unless you get them out. But you grab your friends and you pull them all out amidst the side of this cabin and you watch as the roof collapses down upon you, crushing your equipment. Everything except for Tanner's bundle as it falls and breaks and scatters across the floor.

[Darby]

That was all my stuff.

[Sat]

That was it. That's all I had left right there, and it's gone. Because you stupid, stupid thing that you did.

[Darby]

This was meant to happen. This is part of it, something I didn't. You don't know these things. You don't know what's gonna happen. All you.

[Raina]

What do you mean? That was all you have left.

[Sat]

It's all I have. I've just.

[Raina]

You said you moved in with someone.

[Sat]

I said I was living alone and in that tent and I'm not allowed to go home. And that was all I had left. Thanks a lot. Not cool. Nobody asked, nobody called me. It's not funny.

[Kaden]

Holy fuck, yes, it is.

[Mr. Ren]

Zat as you look out across it, staring at all of everything that you've ever owned laying out right there in front of you. You look out and you can see an orange light. It seems to be in between, between the trees somewhere, but it's deep in the forest. And your mascara and your eyeliner is running down your face as you are sopping wet, all of you, as the wind and the rain is pouring onto you deeper and stronger. It's starting to chill your bones.

[Sat]

Just go. Maybe there's a building over there.

[Kaden]

Salvage any of our shit? Can we get anything out of the cabin?

[Mr. Ren]

What would you like to get, Kayden?

[Kaden]

My pack.

[Mr. Ren]

Only the tower will tell you. Do you want it that bad?

[Kaden]

Yes, I do.

[Mr. Ren]

As you begin to dig through the various debris, these memories are coming back to you of looking through the debris before the roof had fallen down and just all of the things that were inside. And surprisingly enough, amidst the rubble, you can see the small bit of military green pack that you brought with you. And you pull on it and you pull on it and though you rip a strap off in the process, you manage to recover your pack. Are we all heading towards the light?

[Tanner]

So out of the darkness I just.

[Sat]

Start walking off towards it.

[Mr. Ren]

Coming?

[Darby]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Mr. Ren]

As you begin to walk into the treeline yet again, there's a small bit of comfort in knowing that when you go through the treeline, the rain ceases to be so intense. In fact, it feels much more like a gentle, pleasant drizzle. As you go through this forest, you start to feel the presence of the trees begin to get tighter and tighter. In fact, the straight, branched, safe trees that you were using cover for ever so briefly now seem to be more gnarled and their branches are twisted and they seem to be reaching out for you with their small clipping, clasping tiny little twigs.

[Tanner]

Seeing as how the rain isn't quite as bad as it was, I'm going to take my photography pack out and put the strap over my shoulder and I'm going to come up behind sat. I want you to get cut up by the trees.

[Mr. Ren]

As you get closer and closer to the orange light that is inviting you, you start to see that the trees are breaking a little, the area's becoming open, and very quickly you actually come across an over patched dirt road that then leads to the porch of a house that you see in the distance. And the two glowing porch lights seem to be the two guiding beacons that led you through the forest to this one house seems to have been built centuries a century ago.

[Raina]

Guys, there are people. Let's go knock on the door. They can let us inside.

[Sat]

Yeah, we should just ask.

[Darby]

But on the off chance that again, maybe I'm right, this is easily haunted.

[Tanner]

At the very least, I think we should go carefully, look into the interior and see what we're dealing with before we knock on the door.

[Kaden]

You don't build a door all the way out here. If you want people knocking in the first place.

[Tanner]

This is true.

[Mr. Ren]

All right, so who's going to the front of the house? Reyna? You?

[Tanner]

I'm probably gonna follow quickly behind her to make sure.

[Raina]

I'll be careful.

[Tanner]

I know.

[Mr. Ren]

Just.

[Tanner]

Let's have a look and see what we're dealing with before we actually.

[Mr. Ren]

Well, why don't you both go to the house then? Yes, there is a house. As you two walk up to the midst of the porch, you can see the white light. And now the moon start to bear its own light down upon you. And as you look, you can see that though there is light in the house, the heavy curtains seem to be restricting any detail of what you could see behind it. Something scurries across the side of the window. There's a giant cockroach. So Tanner. As you reach your hands out, you realize that the rain is picking up.

[Raina]

There's something on the door.

[Mr. Ren]

As you all gather up into the top of the porch, you can feel the occasional drip, drip, dripping of the water as it comes down through the various cracks.

[Raina]

Guys, this is crazy. There's a letter stuck in the door. And it's dated June 5, 1924.

[Mr. Ren]

Do you want to read it?

[Raina]

June 5, 1924. My dear Agatha, it is with the deepest regret that I leave you to render services to those who see my efforts as something of value. While those I work with are all underneath me, I am forced to leave my retirement to play mediator to their bickerings. However, the continued payment I receive keeps both our coffers full and a porch in our house for our remaining child. I want you to understand, my Agatha, that I do not blame you. And while things have been difficult, there can be no others in my life. It is with great regret to leave you in such grief as the wounds are still far too fresh. I hope the radio I installed can provide a small amount of comfort while I'm away. We were lucky to find such a remote location where my head can be clear. And my work allows me to lease this land so I can spend my spare moments alone with, you know. Forever. Dear Agatha, that you will forever hold the key to my heart. Love, Tobias.

[Sat]

Well, I guess he never got the note.

[Raina]

I guess not.

[Kaden]

Or she doesn't care.

[Caden]

Or.

[Darby]

Or. No, I mean. I mean, he said he can only find something of value on 540.

[Kaden]

I mean, 540.

[Darby]

On 540.

[Raina]

Simon, do not listen to your father. This is her. The remaining child. Or not.

[Sat]

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. So who's Simon?

[Darby]

Their son, I think it's. Tobias and Agatha are married or have a kid together. And the son is Simon. And Agatha is warning against 540. But Tobias is saying that there's something of value on 540.

[Kaden]

I think 540 is a radio station.

[Darby]

Thank you. Wait.

[Mr. Ren]

Those are yours?

[Darby]

They're ours.

[Kaden]

Hold on.

[Raina]

Oh, cool.

[Tanner]

What does it say?

[Darby]

Underneath the porch there is spare key.

[Sat]

Oh my goodness. Okay.

[Kaden]

It's raining.

[Sat]

No, it's porch.

[Darby]

Whoa. What the.

[Sat]

What are you doing?

[Tanner]

Trying to live down all the things out.

[Kaden]

You want to get attacked by something?

[Tanner]

Well, I guess you don't have to worry about knocking. Thanks.

[Mr. Ren]

You can feel the heavy rain torrent down upon you as you dig around and look and you are pushing away old cobwebs and spiders.

[Darby]

Guys, we found it.

[Sat]

That's pretty gross.

[Darby]

That is really gross.

[Sat]

I'm covered in mud now. I dropped down to the ground.

[Mr. Ren]

This box represents the small open chasm that is underneath the porch that you could very easily reach your hand into in order to acquire the spare key. Raina, if you would like to reach your hand under the porch to grab it, tell me now.

[Raina]

Yes.

[Mr. Ren]

Then what I would like you to do, as slowly or as quickly as you like, plunge your hand in there and grab the key. And just for my own purposes, would you mind telling me what you're feeling and how you're doing while you do it? Oh God. Oh my God.

[Raina]

I have spent so much time trying to act like this doesn't exist, but the truth is that I wake up with nightmares about it all the time. But I love these people. And you are brilliant. We'd be stuck out here friggin get eaten by monsters in the rain if you hadn't put that piece of paper on the other thing. And I am gonna get us inside where we will be warm and safe.

[Mr. Ren]

What's going on in there, Raina?

[Raina]

I don't know what it is.

[Sat]

Dried bug.

[Kaden]

I had a funny feeling.

[Sat]

Was it actually dried bugs?

[Kaden]

No, they're not dry.

[Mr. Ren]

Yeah. Where? Reina, you've got the key. You can go unlock the door. Don't you want to go inside and get away from the porch of which all the wiggly squigglies are in?

[Raina]

Let's go inside.

[Tanner]

Not a bad plan.

[Mr. Ren]

As you approach and come around the side of the porch, you can feel as the wind and the rain are continuing to bear down upon upon you. And it is not letting up. It is getting cold and it is chilly and you can still feel the things wiggling in your hands as you now walk up to the door and place the key upon the keyhole. Legendary stories, awe inspiring sound and endless adventure. Welcome to the Realms of Peril and Glory. Explore the mechanically magical vistas of Vale, the paranormal mysteries of liminal London, and the cyberpunk chaos of Cyborg. With breathtaking sound design and enchanting original music, you'll be immersed into unforgettable campaigns and heart pounding one shots ignite your imagination and discover the realms of peril and glory today. Go to realmspod.com or search realms of Peril and Glory wherever you listen to podcasts. Two 1. You win. Can you actually change your personality if you want to? How does peer pressure work and why is it so powerful? Should you ever really trust your gut.

[Tanner]

When you make a big decision?

[Mr. Ren]

These are just a few of the topics we've recently covered on my podcast, Something youg Should Know. I'm the host, Micah Ruthers, and each episode of Something youg Should Know covers multiple topics that are likely relevant to you. You'll discover things you can use in your life today, right now, like how to have a great conversation, how to be more courageous, the anatomy of the perfect apology, and much, much more. To date there are over 1000 episodes of something youg Should Know and we've gotten over 44,000, mostly five star reviews. I invite you to check out something you should know. Look for the bright yellow light bulb on the blue background. Something you should know wherever you listen to podcasts. Hey folks, we're the hosts of Comic Sans, the podcast about comics for those who are sans knowledge. I'm Yen, a reader, writer, liver and breather of comic books. And I'm Nat. I used to know absolutely nothing about comics, but now. So actually I've got a quiz for you. I still have a lot to learn about comics. Thank you. On Comic Hans, I make Nat read some of my favorite works in the medium, including Saga, Daredevil and the Flintstones. And Yen talks about what makes that comic special. Sometimes it's a story, sometimes it's channeling, gutters, page turns, colorings, lettering, semiotics, juxtaposition. Okay professor, save it for the episodes. You can listen to Comic Sans on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can BINGE Our first two seasons. That's over 20 episodes on 20 different comics and we just launched season three new episodes every two weeks.