Quests N’ Answers | Inside Sagas of Sundry: Goblin Mode Ep. 12

Summary

Podcast Summary: Critical Role & Sagas of Sundry – "Quests N’ Answers | Inside Sagas of Sundry: Goblin Mode Ep. 12"

Release Date: January 8, 2025

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Introduction

In Episode 12 of Sagas of Sundry: Goblin Mode, hosted by Geek & Sundry, the discussion centers around pivotal moments from the latest installment of the Goblin Mode campaign. Gamemaster Amy Vorpahl, along with cast members Jason Nguyen, Danielle Radford, Dan Casey, and guest Ross Bryant, delve deep into the narrative developments, character arcs, and thematic elements that have captivated their audience. This episode offers an insightful analysis for both long-time followers and newcomers to the series.

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Plot Discussion

The episode opens with a significant plot twist: the death of Tippi, a central goblin character. Dan Casey introduces the conversation with a spoiler warning, emphasizing the emotional weight of recent developments.

Dan Casey [04:02]: "We're dead. Tippy's dead."

Amy Vorpahl reflects on the challenges and triumphs of integrating Ross Bryant into the campaign, portraying an alternate version of Fibs, a character deeply invested in the pursuit of knowledge.

Amy Vorpahl [02:16]: "We have got Rice Bryant on the show. Yes. Holy cow. What has it been like playing the alter version of Fibs a total blast."

Ross Bryant shares his experience embodying Fibs, highlighting the character's depth and the fun he had bringing him to life.

Ross Bryant [02:26]: "I really only had the information you gave me about what this character was, but I really didn't have an idea until I saw it brought to life just sitting across the room. But, yeah, that is great fun."

The conversation shifts to significant plot devices, including statues with circlets that play a role in the unfolding story. Danielle Radford discusses the concept of a "true love's kiss" potentially reviving a stone-turned character.

Danielle Radford [03:38]: "A dwarf statue with a circlet on it. And Tippi had my first kiss. The idea that maybe it was alive that had been turned to stone. True love's kiss would wake up."

The group explores the implications of these plot elements, connecting them to past episodes and character motivations. They also touch upon callbacks to earlier storylines, such as the introduction of Maxwell, adding layers to the ongoing narrative.

Dan Casey [05:00]: "He was a Maxwell apologist to you guys. And then it was just like, okay, good. Well, thank goodness he's dead and I won't have to ever be that character."

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Character Development

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to character dynamics and development. Amy Vorpahl praises Ross Bryant's portrayal of Fibs, highlighting how he embraced the character's quirks and depth.

Amy Vorpahl [06:08]: "When I knew that Ross was coming on, I was like, well, I've got to prove. Pretty tall order for him, but I can't. Like, there's nothing more fun to me than seeing, like, we've had. I mean, we've had a really strong moment the last episode."

Danielle Radford delves into Busy's character arc, emphasizing her struggle against cultural expectations and her ambition to transcend imposed roles.

Danielle Radford [11:20]: "Busy's ambition. The fact that, you know, it's culturally expected for her to do a certain role, but that isn't what she wants to do. And of course, being demoted is like her nightmare. Absolute nightmare."

The interplay between Tippi and other characters is examined, particularly his search for love and connection, which drives many of his actions and decisions within the story.

Danielle Radford [17:18]: "Tippi has really, like, so much of his search has been just for, like, love in various different forms, whether it comes from your horrible dad, a problematic ooze, or a possibly Medusa statue."

Jason Nguyen reflects on the emotional connections between characters, particularly Picara's growing concern for Tippi, adding depth to their relationships.

Jason Nguyen [18:20]: "I was touched that everybody cares so much about this little goblin and Picara. It's good that his attempts aren't lost on her and that she feels maybe some attraction are being drawn to him."

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Themes and Insights

The episode delves into several overarching themes, including memory, trauma, and the impact of past experiences on present actions. Ross Bryant articulates how the narrative explores the chaotic nature of emotions and memories, likening it to the literary device of the "Madeleine moment."

Ross Bryant [14:02]: "People are defined by the trauma of their childhood. These people are finding out and negotiating this story from their past that they're unearthing and how bad memories come at you when you're not looking for them."

Amy Vorpahl expands on the meta-narrative of the campaign, discussing how the storytelling mirrors real-life experiences of memory and emotional processing.

Amy Vorpahl [14:46]: "Every single one of you has experienced some real, real stuff with your character. It's like the number one question you always want to ask a role player is, are you okay?"

The discussion also touches upon the fluidity of character roles within the game, especially with the introduction of complex relationships like polycules, adding modern relational dynamics to the fantasy setting.

Danielle Radford [17:18]: "There's the desperate wait for Switch 2 and GTA 6. And that's just 2024."

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Dan Casey [02:08]: "Wow is right."

• Amy Vorpahl [03:16]: "We have copies of yourself."

• Dan Casey [12:26]: "I might ask Fleshbizzy if I can see her clipboard."

• Amy Vorpahl [09:27]: "In the ethereal realm, everything you know about fantasy doesn't exist here."

• Jason Nguyen [10:20]: "It's cool for us. Cause as the characters, we don't remember this and we're learning it for the first time."

• Ross Bryant [14:46]: "It's very cool how we're telling this sort of meta story about memory affecting the present."

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Conclusion

Episode 12 of Sagas of Sundry: Goblin Mode offers a compelling deep dive into the intricate storytelling and character development that defines the series. Through thoughtful discussion and insightful analysis, the cast and Gamemaster Amy Vorpahl provide listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the narrative's complexities and emotional depth. As the campaign progresses, audiences can anticipate further exploration of themes like memory, trauma, and the enduring quest for connection amidst fantastical turmoil.

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Additional Resources

For more adventures and to watch past episodes, visit Geek & Sundry. Stay tuned for the exclusive after-show, Quests N’ Answers, for weekly insights and discussions.

Transcript

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[Ross Bryant]

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[Dan Casey]

A lot was hiding in plain sight this episode. We're gonna get into it in just a moment. I'm Dan Casey and this is Sagas of Quests and Answers. We're gonna talk about the latest episode of Goblin Mode in just a moment, but first, let me introduce my amazing cast.

[Danielle Radford]

I'm Danielle Radford.

[Amy Vorpahl]

Amy Vorpahl.

[Jason Nguyen]

Jason Nguyen.

[Ross Bryant]

Hey. Ross Bryant.

[Dan Casey]

And folks, folks, we have so much to talk about. But first, I do need to remind you this is going to be full spoilers. So if you haven't seen the latest episode of Goblin Mode yet, go back, listen to it, watch it, whatever you do, but proceed at your own peril. Okay, with that out of the way. Wow.

[Amy Vorpahl]

Wow is right.

[Dan Casey]

We're dead. Tippy's dead.

[Amy Vorpahl]

Tippy's dead.

[Dan Casey]

We're dead inside. Or maybe outside, depending on how you look at it.

[Amy Vorpahl]

I think the first place I want to start this is. We've got Rice Bryant on the show. Yes. Holy cow. What has it been like playing the.

[Ross Bryant]

Alter version of Fibs a total blast. I really only had the. You gave me some information about what this character was, but I really didn't have an idea until I saw it brought to life just sitting across the room. But, yeah, that is great fun.

[Amy Vorpahl]

It was so masterful the way you wove in Weird Philosophy. I can't stress enough how much I was just like, it's gonna be weird. Maybe lean.

[Dan Casey]

You said lean into weird. It felt very fitting because Fibs is a character who's, like, deep in the pursuit of knowledge. And if they've been here for a long time, clearly Phil Verrell would be increasingly ponderous. So it played fantastically for me.

[Amy Vorpahl]

What was going through Yalls head when I described, like, literally who I'm sure you knew were copies of yourself at.

[Dan Casey]

First, like, shock, joy. Then, oh, no. As I realized I was about to happen.

[Danielle Radford]

That's like, one. Cause the only way that I could express it with myself was like, every time you start singing, the only thing I could think of is how much you hate hearing the sound of your own voice. And so that's why every time there's a mention of the singing, Busy's always.

[Amy Vorpahl]

Like, yeah, that's great.

[Danielle Radford]

Because it's like, oh, right, that's me. Oh, and I hate me. Or, like, hearing, like, me do that. And so, yeah, just like having that outside mirror, like, feeling thrown up and seeing it, and then getting to see live Rani and getting a little bit of that going back for those. Just Kind of reminding folks who'd seen the earlier episodes. And then for us who wasn't here when we were escaping the lair, there was a goblin statue with a circlet on it and a dwarf statue.

[Jason Nguyen]

A dwarf.

[Danielle Radford]

A dwarf statue.

[Amy Vorpahl]

Sorry.

[Danielle Radford]

A dwarf statue with a circlet on it. And Tippi had my first kiss. There idea that maybe it was an alive that had been turned to stone. True love's kiss would wake up.

[Dan Casey]

I think I asked if it had been Medusa'd and you're like, oh, I should kiss it.

[Amy Vorpahl]

The other thing that happened in that I remember distinctly. Cause y'all were like, ronnie is this dwarf you. Do you remember that? And Ronnie's like, I don't know.

[Jason Nguyen]

Yeah, I had a feeling.

[Amy Vorpahl]

And it wound up being true.

[Jason Nguyen]

And it wound up being true.

[Dan Casey]

We had another callback to episode one and or two, I believe, in the form of Maxwell.

[Jason Nguyen]

Oh, my God, Amy.

[Dan Casey]

A character I never thought we'd get to.

[Jason Nguyen]

I didn't think you'd do it.

[Amy Vorpahl]

Well, I know, yeah. If you remember, Jason painted him as problematic.

[Dan Casey]

Oh, he's from a different time is what Jason says.

[Amy Vorpahl]

He was a Maxwell apologist to you guys. And then it was just like, okay, good. Well, thank goodness he's dead and I won't have to ever be that character. And then I thought, the ethereal realm. You did pocket him. You brought him back with you, so.

[Danielle Radford]

And it makes so much sense, like, especially we got to see a flashback of Tippi's and the way that he was with, like, his dad being a douche and, like, this, like, absence of that, you know, dad, like, figure. Of course, Tippi is like, I'm gonna go and impress the problematic ooze, you know, and replace his crappy dad with this crappy ooze.

[Ross Bryant]

Just keeps having relationships with these. Emotionally withholding.

[Jason Nguyen]

That's all I care about.

[Ross Bryant]

Tina, you really need to work on, so.

[Jason Nguyen]

I know, I know. I'm working on it, but I'm dead. Oh, no, we'll work on that. I mean, I would have just, like, round of applause for both Ross and all of you guys for, like, just how, like, I was in it. Like, I was in it, in it. You know, you came in and you guessed it, but, like, it felt like because you were being fibs, it felt like we were playing with you, like, the whole time.

[Ross Bryant]

That's so sweet.

[Amy Vorpahl]

I knew it was a tall ask. Like, I knew it was so good, though. When I knew that Ross was coming on, I was like, well, I've got to prove. Pretty tall order for him, but I can't. Like, there's nothing more fun to me than seeing, like, we've had. I mean, like, busy. Had a really strong moment the last episode. So did Tippi, and I was like, what if we give this weird moment, it's not, you know, two literally fibs, and have, like, a professional improviser go nuts on this character. But I know it was a tall order, but you fucking crushed it.

[Danielle Radford]

I so happy.

[Ross Bryant]

I mean, yeah, you set the table so, so well, for as, like, weird and complicated and surreal as the system it dropped into.

[Amy Vorpahl]

Okay, Ross, we're going to the ethereal realm. Everything you know about fantasy doesn't exist here. Memories are balls. Okay?

[Ross Bryant]

Memories is balls. Plane is goo. That's really all you need to know.

[Amy Vorpahl]

And the skin is goo and weather is goo, and the ground is goo, and your thoughts are goo. Ready? Go.

[Jason Nguyen]

What a moment between you two. When you guys. When we learned how they died. That was wild.

[Amy Vorpahl]

So let me tell you about that, Ross. When I knew you were coming on. I was like it's time for me to be self indulgent. I'm gonna do an improv scene with Ross, Brian and y'all are gonna watch it.

[Jason Nguyen]

That's why we were just trying to catch your guys scene. We were like wait, get the scene.

[Dan Casey]

Just need one traumatic memory to get started.

[Amy Vorpahl]

Yeah but I knew I have these flashbacks. I've written them from before we even started episode one of what I im which thank you to you to you two for giving me full reign to do whatever I wanted with this. I knew I didn't want it to be romantic, but I was like, well what could it be?

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[Jason Nguyen]

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[Amy Vorpahl]

And then I knew in the ethereal realm, where it is a land of spirits and memories, that I wanted it to be a massive okay, regardless of all the lore that we've experienced before we have real answers. And then you are able to make decisions on your own. But the best way to do that is. I felt. I don't know if this was always the case, but, yeah, when I knew Ross was coming out, I was like, well, why don't we play it out? And since it actually isn't fibs and busy, like it technically is Fil, Varel and Berygneus, then, yeah, why don't I give myself a little present?

[Ross Bryant]

Yeah.

[Danielle Radford]

Yeah.

[Dan Casey]

Well, it's cool for us. Cause as the characters, we don't remember this and we're learning it for the first time.

[Amy Vorpahl]

That's right.

[Dan Casey]

And it's just, like, really thrilling to see that play out because it is like an echo of what you might have imagined.

[Amy Vorpahl]

Yeah.

[Danielle Radford]

And you did fantastic job, by the way. Y'all nailed. That scene was so good. Again, it was one of those moments. I'm like, oh, right, I'm in this. I'm in this show. I should remember. I'm in this TV show.

[Amy Vorpahl]

I did, like, yeah. Want your character to be an extension of the Dungeon Master. Like, there's not. You know what I mean? And that's really tricky to be. Like, you're kind of an npc, but also kind of a player that has agency at the moment.

[Ross Bryant]

I thought you did it very. I felt so comfortable.

[Amy Vorpahl]

Oh, good.

[Ross Bryant]

But it is that thing of, like, in the home game when, like, my friend from out of town is going to be here on Saturday. Can you, like, come in and play this character?

[Amy Vorpahl]

Someone who's very important, by the way.

[Ross Bryant]

You just felt very embraced and taken care of. It seems good. Yeah.

[Amy Vorpahl]

What was it like for y'all? Did y'all have any inkling that you were connected in that way?

[Danielle Radford]

Not. I mean, I knew, obviously, we both knew that we were like Skellies. I was wondering if, because we'd done so much joking about, like, no one knows what Eunzuk looks like. No one's seen the wizard of Ung's. So I had this moment where I was thinking that that was going to be what that was. But then when you. This thing about running away and being chased, and that's how you deal with problems, as we've spoke about with. He became an adventurer. But also, it's the running away. That was when it started to hit that maybe that those were a connected, connected thing, like the running and the chasing. And then, of course, we got to see more of Busy's ambition. The fact that, you know, it's culturally expected for her to do a Certain role, but that isn't what she wants to do. And of course, being demoted is like her nightmare. Absolute nightmare. I'm. You know, at one point I might ask. I might ask Fleshbizzy if I can see her clipboard. We'll see. I do. I kept being like, when can I see the clipboard, though? I want to see that clipboard.

[Amy Vorpahl]

Amazing.

[Danielle Radford]

What was it like for you?

[Dan Casey]

It was. Yeah. I had an inkling that we might be connected. Mostly it was during Busy's most recent flashback prior to this episode. And I was like, okay, I feel like our paths are going to intersect somehow because we're both having these sort of shocking out of body flashbacks. And it really hit home when I felt like I might have been onto something. When I asked earlier in the episode that, oh, is it gonna be about how you guys died?

[Danielle Radford]

Yeah.

[Dan Casey]

And I was like that. Cause that's the biggest question of fibs. Life or his un. Life. So it was just. It was very satisfying because I don't think I would have put it together like that. I love that it spans decades, this game of cat and mouse.

[Amy Vorpahl]

You know, the weird inspiration for that comes from Minority Report.

[Jason Nguyen]

Love that movie.

[Dan Casey]

I was gonna ask if it was this is how you lose the time war. Cause it reminded me of that a little bit.

[Amy Vorpahl]

Oh, interesting. Just the idea that this guy's gonna be responsible for something bad, which means he's gotta go.

[Dan Casey]

Yeah.

[Amy Vorpahl]

But also, why, like, this is a fun, you know, job to do and without him, there's not, you know, Busy's not challenged at all.

[Dan Casey]

Yeah, it's gonna be fun to process. Cause I was feverishly, I was paying attention, but at a certain point I was just like, so enwrapped in the scene. I stopped taking notes. But I'm going to have to go back and write down a bunch of notes. I'm like, oh, that was. What they mentioned was very important. If I go back and look at all the lore we've built up so far.

[Amy Vorpahl]

Yeah, a lot of lore. Oh, my God.

[Ross Bryant]

Just coming in as an outsider who's never. Who's engaging with this story for the first time. Just seeing all the little rhyming motifs of how people are defined by, like, the trauma of the childhood. These people are finding out and negotiating this story from their past that they're unearthing and how bad memories come at you when you're not looking for them, that they ambush you, that it's not something that you can kind of seek to process. That emotions are chaotic and they'll Hit you when you least expect them in this kind of like Proust, Eaton, the Madeleine kind of way. And so, yeah, it's very cool how we're telling this sort of meta story about memory affecting the present. And are you trapped by it or can you.

[Amy Vorpahl]

That's one of the things I love about this game. Dungeons and Dragons or just role playing games in general. It's like the number one question you always want to ask a role player is, are you okay? You decided these things on some level. So yeah, it rings true for this too, that every single one of you has experienced some real, real stuff with your character.

[Ross Bryant]

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[Dan Casey]

No, it's easy.

[Ross Bryant]

I installed these and then got some from my mom.

[Dan Casey]

She talked to a design consultant for free and scheduled a professional measure and install.

[Ross Bryant]

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[Dan Casey]

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[Ross Bryant]

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[Dan Casey]

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[Amy Vorpahl]

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[Jason Nguyen]

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[Ross Bryant]

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[Dan Casey]

I did. Also, at the same time, like, speaking of meta, I liked the moment when Phil Varel's like, is that all this takes? We could have just had a trekkly conversation.

[Jason Nguyen]

Our friendship.

[Dan Casey]

I hate that this is.

[Jason Nguyen]

I love that we did that.

[Ross Bryant]

I was like, love.

[Amy Vorpahl]

So close. But then also, also, I love, like, there's a big part of me that actually loves that Tippi was the one who, like, really hit it, you know, because that is Tippi's character. Like, there wasn't gonna be this thing happening without him even.

[Jason Nguyen]

It's like, there's no. I honestly didn't think that would be the case. Cause I almost threw it in as a bit. Like, well, I just got hit by this orb. Surely standing there doing nothing isn't gonna bring this thing down. And then it did. And then we got to have a little funny bit.

[Amy Vorpahl]

Funny bit. Jason.

[Dan Casey]

To be fair, Occam's Razor does sound like a D And D spell.

[Danielle Radford]

So, yeah, when I had that moment where I was like, no, I was like, it's not love.

[Jason Nguyen]

Yeah, that's what it was right there.

[Ross Bryant]

Yeah.

[Amy Vorpahl]

I was like, no, no, your dungeon master. No, your dungeon.

[Dan Casey]

Yeah, true.

[Danielle Radford]

It makes so much sense because if we're going through, obviously. Ha ha, ha, ha. We joke. Tippi has really, like, so much of his search has been just for, like, love in various different forms, whether it comes from your horrible dad, a problematic ooze, or a possibly Medusa statue. Like, Tippi is looking for that connection and for that, like, love. And again, whether platonic or polycule.

[Jason Nguyen]

Yeah, or polycule.

[Amy Vorpahl]

No, but Tibby's. No, Tibby doesn't want to join the Polygon.

[Jason Nguyen]

No, he doesn't. He does not want to join the poly. There's a polycule, by the way.

[Amy Vorpahl]

Yeah.

[Jason Nguyen]

And by the way, was that in your notes, too?

[Amy Vorpahl]

It wasn't of our making. Ify Wadi Wa came in and established.

[Ross Bryant]

If you said shocking.

[Amy Vorpahl]

There was a polycule, which is amazing. I know we're about to wrap up. But one last thing for Tippi, learning about that Picara. I mean, I know you're. This is meta.

[Jason Nguyen]

Yeah.

[Amy Vorpahl]

But, like, what was it like for you, Jason, to see Picara actually giving a. Caring about Tippi?

[Jason Nguyen]

I think it was, you know, I had the same feeling, like, after I died in the last episode and was listening to everybody talk, I was like, I care about. I was touched that everybody cares so much about this little goblin and pakora pakara, you know, tomato, tomato. It's good that his attempts aren't lost on her and that she feels maybe some attraction are being drawn to him. And I hope it works out, you know, that's all I'll say.

[Dan Casey]

Well, we'll find out what works out and how we get worked over when we go from self love to self loathing on the next episode of Goblin Mode, because we're about to throw down with ourselves. And make sure you tune in to find out exactly how that plays out on Geek and Sundry or if refined podcasts are served. Thank you so much and we'll see you next time. Bye.

[Amy Vorpahl]

Bye.

[Unknown Host]

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[Rob Benedict]

Hi, this is Rob Benedict and I am Richard Speight.

[Amy Vorpahl]

We were both on a little show.

[Jason Nguyen]

You might know called Supernatural.

[Rob Benedict]

It had a pretty good run. 15 seasons, 327 episodes.

[Jason Nguyen]

And though we have seen of course every episode many times, we figured, hey.

[Amy Vorpahl]

Now that we're wrapped, let's watch it all again.

[Rob Benedict]

And we can't do that alone. So we're inviting the cast and crew that made the show along for the ride. We've got writers, producers, composers, directors, and we'll of course have some actors on as well, including some certain guys that play some certain pretty iconic brothers.

[Ross Bryant]

It was kind of a little bit.

[Jason Nguyen]

Of a left field choice in the best way possible.

[Ross Bryant]

The note from Kripke was he's great, we love him, but we're looking for like a really intelligent Duchovny type with.

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[Amy Vorpahl]

London.

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[Jason Nguyen]

You'll be the werewolf then, yeah.

[Danielle Radford]

I'm Mags Wizards Montgomery Archibald Barker at your bloody service.

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And those cursed by the fey monarchs of the city.

[Jason Nguyen]

Declan Buchanan PI he has quite a large pair of antlers growing out of his forehead.

[Unknown Host]

Join the unlikely misfits of liminal London as they work to take down the powers that claim to rule the city. I think the Queen doesn't like you very much. With incredible guest players like Johnny Chiadini.

[Amy Vorpahl]

You say there's sludge?

[Ross Bryant]

Yeah, Sludge. Yeah, I'm the sludge boy.

[Danielle Radford]

F ing love Sludge boy.

[Ross Bryant]

No, again, I'm not that sludge.

[Unknown Host]

Boy, Grant Howard.

[Jason Nguyen]

Isaac Newton didn't study in f ing Putney, did he? Who's Isaac?

[Unknown Host]

Oh, my God.

And Sharmini Bundell.

[Amy Vorpahl]

There's a magic community. There is.

[Unknown Host]

Yay.

[Amy Vorpahl]

I'm in a magic community.

[Unknown Host]

Go to realmspod.com or search realms of peril and glory wherever you listen to podcasts to find this mysteriously magical actual play series.