Season 2 | Ep. 31 | The Wish

Summary

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Dark Dice – Season 2, Episode 31: "The Wish" (Jan 20, 2026)

Overview

This harrowing episode of Dark Dice thrusts listeners into the aftermath of deadly mistakes, devastating loss, and a magical wish that rewrites reality itself. The battered adventuring party, torn apart by murder, betrayal, and manipulation, is presented with a desperate second chance by way of a powerful artifact. As time is rewound, the survivors must navigate the confusion—and opportunity—of being sent back to before disaster struck. But new tensions, old suspicions, and a ticking clock threaten to upend their new lease on life as they face both literal and figurative ghosts from their past. This chapter emphasizes the complexities of trauma, forgiveness, and fate, setting the stage for a high-stakes “do-over” with the fate of the world at stake.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tragedy and Despair in the Opening Moments

• The episode launches at the tragic scene of Rowena's death at Sorin's hands, soaked in regret and horror. Sorin’s shocked state and the party’s grief are palpable.

  • Memorable moment: Sorin’s futile attempts to “push the brains and bones back into her head” (01:03), immediately setting a tone of gruesome despair.

• Quote: "What have I. What have I done?" — Rowena [00:46]

2. The Wish and Reversal of Fate

• Rowena, in her dying moments, produces a mysterious paw (a wish-granting artifact) and wishes the entire party could return to the village of Ilmeter's Hope, before their tragedy began.

  • Quote: "I wish all of us were back in Illmeter's Hope before any of this happened." — Rowena [04:36]

• The metaphysics of the wish hinge humorously on dice rolls—a 0 on percentile dice is realized to mean 100, granting the wish perfectly.

  • Memorable moment: “I seem to have rolled a zero... I'll take the hundred.” — Rowena [05:01], with the DM confirming the wish’s success [05:30]

3. Awakening in a Second Chance

• The party finds themselves in Ilmeter's Hope, unharmed, alive, and aware they've gone back in time. They quickly realize they inhabit a reality just before critical, tragic events unfolded.
  • Sorin’s shock at his returned pink skin; Rowena’s renewed resolve.
  • Quote: "Combat had not concluded, but all seemed reluctant to be the first to attack." [08:11]

4. Confusion, Suspicion and Exposition

• Both old and new party members, some former antagonists, now find themselves forced to cooperate, but mutual distrust initially hampers open dialogue.

  • They question each other’s motives and revisit past misunderstandings:

    • Warrants for arrest are produced, referencing criminal accusations and monstrous acts [11:24–12:44].
    • Discussions reveal that some party members had been possessed or impersonated by malevolent entities (notably, the Silent One and the Neverborn).

  • Quote: “But you are monsters. We saw you eating someone.” — Sindri [11:43]

• The actual villainy is ascribed to supernatural manipulation and mistaken identities, which several members thankfully come to realize.

  • Quote: "Perhaps this has all just been a big misunderstanding. You truly were just murder puppets." — Rowena [18:27]

5. Purpose, Redemption, and New Objectives

• The group debates their next course of action. They decide not to disrupt the timeline directly by encountering their past selves, instead opting for new and improved plans:

  • Split Missions: One group will try to defeat the Neverborn, the other to stop the Nameless God from awakening. (Team assignments and leaders are designated) [29:14–29:38]
    • Memorable moment: “It seems that we're splitting up between one team that will hunt down the Neverborn and another team that will try to stop the Nameless God from awakening.” — Sorin [29:14]
  • They stress the importance of not running into their past selves and triggering paradoxes [23:06+].

• Forgiveness and moving forward: Significant characters, particularly Rowena and Sorin, find a way to forgive betrayals that were a result of outside influences [17:18–18:27].

6. Time Travel Complications and Planning

• As they orient themselves in Ilmeter’s Hope, they realize the risk: their past selves are somewhere nearby, and interacting could doom their timeline [23:06–25:22].
• The party meticulously hashes out how to maneuver so as not to disrupt "the timeline," relying on their new awareness and sharing memories of previous failures (“We are the tracks that let us in the past. We are the one who leave the doll.” — Sorin [42:07]) to guide them more effectively.

7. Team Dynamics, Growth, and Levity

• Despite trauma and danger, banter and gallows humor shine throughout the episode:
  • Multiple references to buddy systems and the difficulties of adventuring with only three party members (“It's just gonna be a three person buddy system now.” — Rowena [34:40]).
  • Elias’s fists, “Thunder and Lightning,” and shared jokes about survival and trust [47:00+].
  • Running jokes about past traumas, party rations, and even the metaphysics of adventuring [36:46–39:46].

8. The Party Sets Out

• Both groups part ways before dawn, with brief, heartfelt exchanges and minimal fanfare to avoid time-travel complications.
  • Quote: "Meet again as friends. I swear." — Sindri [32:33]
• Sorin, Rowena, Sindri, and (eventually) Elias join forces to seek the Great Gate and prevent the Nameless God from manifesting—their path filled with both hope and resignation to possible sacrifice.

9. Closing Reflections: Hope and Doom

• The party, now more self-aware and bonded, weighs the odds of survival and the necessity of focusing on the greater good.

  • Quote: "You both know that we may not make it out of this, right?" — Sindri [38:20]

• Their final preparations involve ration checks, strategic planning, and poignant, self-deprecating humor about repeating tragic events with the hope of making a better future.

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Rowena: "I wish all of us were back in Illmeter's Hope before any of this happened." [04:36]
• Rowena: “I seem to have rolled a zero. ...I'll take the hundred.” [05:01]
• Narrator (on wish fulfillment): "The taunting voice of the Silent One faded...as Sorin’s wish was granted." [05:47]
• Rowena: "You truly were just murder puppets. I...I think I can forgive that." [18:27]
• Sindri: "Look, when I was in the realm of dreams, a sort of evil spirit attached itself to me. A demigod we've come to know as the Neverborn." [13:07]
• Glom: "Any murders on that list of crimes are likely my fault." [20:53]
• Rowena: "It's just gonna be a three person buddy system now." [34:40]
• Sindri: "See, the thing is, if you guys saw him kick that body in there, we can't change that." [36:48]
• Sorin: "We are the tracks that let us in the past. We are the one who leave the doll." [42:07]
• Sindri: "Meet again as friends. I swear." [32:33]
• Sindri: "You both know that we may not make it out of this, right?" [38:20]

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Important Timestamps

• [00:32] — Opening: Aftermath of Rowena's death
• [04:36] — Rowena’s wish and magical dice roll
• [05:47] — Wish granted; party returns to Ilmeter's Hope
• [08:27] — Party regroups, assesses situation, and debates trustworthiness
• [13:07] — Reveal and explanation of the Neverborn
• [17:18] — Forgiveness and uncovering the truth about past betrayals
• [23:06–24:27] — Realization of time-loop complications and need to avoid past selves
• [29:14] — Teams split: Neverborn and Nameless God missions
• [34:40] — Reflective and humorous buddy system banter
• [41:16–42:27] — Puzzle about tracking and realizing their own actions influence the original tracks/events
• [46:47] — Expansion of the party as Elias joins and the buddy system is revisited
• [50:49] — Bell rings; party heads into the Dead Pines to attempt their new mission

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Takeaway

The Wish is a pivotal and emotional episode where the cast grapples with the weight of their past actions and the cost of a chance at redemption. The supernatural “do-over” is both a blessing and a high-pressure moral quandary, as every step risks unraveling both fate and friendship. Heartbreak and black comedy intertwine as the party struggles to change their world’s destiny—if they can get it right this time.

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For listeners, this episode marks a rare crossroads: the convergence of tragedy, myth, and hope, as well as a nuanced look at the responsibilities that come with a second chance, making it a must-listen chapter of Dark Dice’s continuing saga.

Transcript

[Narrator]

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[Sorin]

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[Rowena]

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[Rowena]

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[Narrator]

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[Rowena]

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[Narrator]

Soren, rather shocked with the results of his action, now stood mortified and simply let go of his dagger, laying Rowena, his friend, on his lap. Has it all been a terrible mistake? And he quietly began to sob.

[Rowena]

What have I. What have I done?

[Sindri]

No.

[Rowena]

No. Rowena. No. Come on.

[Elias]

No.

[Rowena]

Row.

[Narrator]

Sorin removed the dagger and tried to push the brains and bones back into her head, but he knew it was already too late for that. Some part of him briefly wondered if this somehow made them even the form of the charmed Human Brawler slowly shaped into something more familiar, the visage that haunted Sorin's dreams, his nightmares.

[Glom]

Please.

[Rowena]

I'm so, so sorry. Ruin. Please be okay. Please come back.

[Elias]

I did.

[Rowena]

So why can't you? She's dead, Soren. Ain't no coming back from that. They're all dead. And it's your fault.

[Narrator]

Sorin looked to the broken forms of his allies. Ildrix had fallen to his death, Gale was nowhere to be seen, and Glom Glom's skin was the rotten, and he was lying face down in a shared pool of bile next to the corpse of the elf woman. Everyone was dead except Sorin. Sorin and Balmer. No, the silent one who was whispering a prayer in Balmer's voice as the three hollow sockets took their proper form.

[Rowena]

The void, Despair whisper for us, please heed our call and replace turmoil with blessed silence through dreamless sleep. He hears you seeing without sight. He hungers. He tastes your scent, consumes your fears. You who shall never be whole. He calls for you, feeling without a body, yearning without a soul. Do you seek him? I do. But I don't.

[Sindri]

But you. Dead once.

[Rowena]

Why was I? Were you the one who raised me from the dead? Cursed me with this? I can't call it life, now can I? Yes. I was the one who brought you back. You were weak, dying, and I couldn't allow that. I gave you my blood, but I didn't change you.

[Elias]

Why?

[Rowena]

I need to bring her back. I need to bring them back.

[Sindri]

Okay.

[Rowena]

I forgot I was here.

[Sorin]

Didn't you?

[Rowena]

What do I have? Let's have a serious conversation okay, okay. I'm. I'm.

[Narrator]

I'm just.

[Rowena]

I'm gonna pull out a. Well, a small, what appears to be paw from my pocket. And almost too quietly for anyone else to hear if they're still alive. But if anyone really cares, go ahead and peek. You know, with your. With your ears. I'm just gonna rub the paw and say I wish. Sorin, you're like a son to me. I'm sorry that it has to end like this. I wish all of us were back in Illmeter's Hope before any of this happened.

[Narrator]

As the Silent One circled Sorin, or perhaps his death itself came for the hunter. As he bled out and his mind hallucinated, Sorin could roll 100 sided dice to see if his wish was granted. The higher the number, the. The more likely his wish would be as he wanted it.

[Rowena]

It's been so much fun haunting you. You share my blood, but not my strength. Well, I seem to have rolled a zero. And since I have only three hit points left, well, it's pretty clear how this story is going to end.

[Narrator]

The Silent One crept closer as the light from the nearby torches began to dim and fade and the shadows grew.

[Rowena]

You had so much potential.

[Narrator]

And the DM realized that Soren said zero because when you roll two ten sided dice, zero and zero, zero actually means 100.

[Rowena]

Well, look at me pulling an alt. I've never been happier not to have a 100 sided dice. I'll take the hundred.

[Sorin]

Okay.

[Narrator]

And the taunting voice of the Silent One faded from audibility, from memory, as Sorin's wish was granted. Magics surrounded Sorin. Dark magics normally intended to betray, to deceive, to trick harm. And as his pain was erased, his memories lingered. Sorin and the rest of the party now stood within the village of Illminer's.

[Ildrix]

Hope, just before sunrise on a particularly cold morning within the bright vale, Sorin Arkwright, questionable and cloaked monster hunter, took a deep breath, examining his lack of wounds and his pale pink skin, visible through a torn patch near his bicep that he had not yet repaired. Yes, pink skin, no longer gray. The surprised Sorin looked up to see the faces of the figures standing before him. Rowena Granite pike, more gaunt perhaps, but brimming with a new conviction. Father Sindri Westpike, who looked decidedly ashamed, though it was unclear why. The human that Soren assumed to be Elias, who'd reached for a hip flask, and the perplexed Delvin woman and her pet, all alive, all standing and confused, fearful even their gear no worse for wear than when their fight had begun, though they were now dressed normally instead of in dwarven disguises. It rapidly became apparent that they too were at least partially aware of what had happened, for their hands twitched towards their weapons, though some primal fear seemed to stay them.

[Narrator]

Sorin looked at the forms beside him and smiled as his eyes met those of his dear half sister, Gael. At least that's how he remembered her. Though with her long red hair and heavy eyeliner, he couldn't quite rectify how they were both familyless monster hunters, yet also children of the failing house Fogelberg. Sorin also saw Glom, who was now something akin to Sorin's overgrown, yet mostly grown up sun figure. And of course, standing by Glom's side was Ildrix, whom nothing could faze at this point, even being blasted off his feet and falling down a shaft toward certain death as a Cyclops. Ildryx, it seemed, had just assumed that the natural course of events had taken place and that the power of friendship had overcome death, which, in a way, it had. The others, Sorin included, all gained stress.

[Elias]

How long was I out for?

[Rowena]

Holy fuck, they're still alive.

[Ildrix]

As Elias raised his fists, Sorin put the paw away and smiled curiously while raising both of his hands in a gesture of peace. Combat had not concluded, but all seemed reluctant to be the first to attack.

[Rowena]

Maybe we should all pause. Perhaps we should refrain for a moment. Glom's looking around wildly. Wow. I was not expecting that to work. Everybody okay?

[Sindri]

First of all, nor I'm gonna.

[Elias]

Okay, hold on, hold on. Before she does.

[Glom]

What.

[Elias]

What happened here? Where are we?

[Rowena]

Ildrix, I'm. Do you remember. Do you remember the rule? Friends are the people that don't attack us.

[Elias]

Yeah. Don't attack you?

[Sindri]

Yeah.

[Rowena]

I'm not attacking you. No, no, no.

[Elias]

You.

[Rowena]

We. We sort of initiated this. Yeah, I mean, that's by we, I mean you.

[Elias]

Yeah, I mean, it's we. We talked about going in and killing everybody and I was like, yeah, kill people. And now we're in.

[Sindri]

Where the baldy hell are we?

[Rowena]

I'm not sure.

[Sindri]

Do we trust them?

[Rowena]

No, I don't.

[Elias]

This is what I'm trying to figure out.

[Sindri]

I don't know if we should trust you.

[Glom]

We certainly don't trust you.

[Rowena]

Okay. Perhaps this rain will cool us all off a little so we can talk first.

[Narrator]

A light rain drizzled for a few moments, almost as if summoned magically, and ended almost as quickly.

[Sindri]

I think that's a really good idea.

[Elias]

But you did flames begin billowing out my nose as I'm like, fine, okay, let's.

[Sindri]

Let's start this afresh. Hi. Nice to meet some of you. So I'll start this again. By the sun's light. You're alive. What the bloody hell?

[Rowena]

Yeah, still, sadly, it was good to see you guys. I'm sorry about that.

[Sindri]

Okay, so what the bloody hell is happening?

[Glom]

Why did.

[Sindri]

Hi. I'll tell you what. How about we go around and introduce who. Who are your companions?

[Rowena]

Absolutely. These are some friends I met after we split up, shall we say? This is Ildrix, my large, large, fiery friend.

[Sindri]

I put my hand out to shake it.

[Rowena]

Ildryx.

[Elias]

I reciprocate hesitantly. Pleasure.

[Sindri]

Cool. It's also a hisstant handshake that becomes very firm. All right, we got this. This is okay.

[Rowena]

Of course we have Gale and Glam.

[Sindri]

I put my hand up to. Is it Gael? Uh, yes. Wait, actually, where did. Where did you come from? Sorry, no, I've always been here. What do you mean?

[Ildrix]

Ildrix could also now see Gale as a form distinct from Glom. And though this briefly confused him, he'd seen far stranger happenings in his travels with Glam and sorin. And so simply smiled, content that the madness of the humans had now infected his own mind like some strange illness or fungus.

[Sindri]

Okay, so you assembled quite a team here. She's gonna shake Glum's hand before quickly turning to ask the important questions. But why the bloody hells were you trying to kill us? We haven't done anything to you.

[Elias]

Can I hold up the warrant for their arrest? Do I have that?

[Sindri]

I pull out one as well. Is this longer than ours? Yeah, okay, but you again. Looking at someone like. But you hunt monsters. What are you doing haunting us? But you are monsters. We saw you eating someone.

[Elias]

Yeah, you're very yucky.

[Rowena]

We saw you, or perhaps someone who stole your appearance, eating someone. Within the dead pines, there was a ring of mutilated mercenaries. Teeth placed in hollowed out eye sockets. I must admit it was a bit weird, even for you. The figure that looked like you was eating the flesh of one of the bodies and just laughing and dwarfish.

[Sindri]

That definitely was not me.

[Sorin]

I'm sorry, what?

[Sindri]

Whoever it was, they looked exactly like you. It was a guard and you had, well, eaten him.

[Rowena]

I couldn't be sure after we split up if you had been completely taken over by the monster or if you were dead. We heard reports of this creature with red hair stalking the countryside, and we've been on its trail.

[Sindri]

How? Okay, Now, I'm not gonna lie. Some things in this arrest weren't we did.

[Rowena]

It was the incest with first cousin, wasn't it? You can be honest. We're all friends here.

[Sindri]

I'm not gonna lie. At one point I did kiss him on the head. But that was it. I promised nothing else.

[Elias]

Can I.

[Rowena]

Can I see the warrant?

[Narrator]

Golom's scowling face studied the paper in front of him.

[Sindri]

Look, some of these things we. We did do, but it was only to, you know, get away from. Well, you see, it's complicated. Look, when I was in the realm of dreams, a sort of evil spirit attached itself to me. A demigod we've come to know as the Neverborn. Well, again, look, we have done some variations, variations, mind, on the things on that list, but it's been in self defense or the deeds have been greatly exaggerated.

[Rowena]

And is this Neverborn demigod still in our presence or.

[Sindri]

No, but it's not exactly defeated either. I mean, despite the name it was in fact born. It no longer hunts us, but it's still out there somewhere. And it's most assuredly going to cause problems for lots of.

[Rowena]

Oh, we're well aware. We saw what it did to a traveling performer. Tasha's Kiss, her name was. Turned her body into like a giant bony spider thing. Extra unhinged jaws, endless rows of teeth, and, you know, dancing, tortured souls trapped beneath her skin. It reacted really well with my lantern. Not that you asked, but it was. It was Chef's Kiss. Anyway. That was one of the creatures said to be a friend or worshipper of the Neverborn, so we can only imagine what happens to its enemies.

[Sindri]

Aye, that sounds rough. And Sorin, do you still hear the call of the Nameless God?

[Rowena]

I. I don't know that I do. Huh.

[Sorin]

Has he not been hunting you as he hunts us?

[Narrator]

Father west pike glanced over at Elias.

[Rowena]

We have had encounters with a certain elf that we've come to realize was the Silent Blum. I mean, Silent One in disguise, earlier in our journey. But yeah, things got a little strange, you know, as they do.

[Elias]

There was a bed dragon and a sheep, definitely. Yeah, and we picked up new jobs.

[Rowena]

As clowns and children. Sounds like we're not gonna talk about that.

[Elias]

I don't remember getting a job as a child.

[Sindri]

I'm gonna need explicit details of all this.

[Sorin]

Sounds like you guys should have a rest warrant of your own. Father west pike is like getting up and he's staring at Glom, who downed him earlier.

[Sindri]

I'm holding Sindri's hand. Like I'm not letting go.

[Narrator]

Reetha's cycloptic lemur chirped with hostility toward Elias.

[Rowena]

Don't look at me. You should be mad at Ildry.

[Sindri]

Anyway, like I said, when I was within the roaming forest, I drank stew. And it was infected by this formless lord, Rowena.

[Sorin]

Rowena got weaker and weaker until she could no longer remain conscious. We brought her to a house of healing of sorts. The old woman priest there offered us to. She told us we either had to kill Rowena and that cursed parasite with her, or to make what time we had left with her pleasant. And like a fool, I told her to help Rowena. And that's when, well, shortly after that accursed abomination rose from her body. It took Rowena's spine and most of her skin.

[Elias]

And I bet the spine popping was the Bell of Bone from the legends.

[Sindri]

Hmm.

[Rowena]

I don't know a lot about prophecy, but you know, Ildrix, that actually makes a lot of sense. The Bell of Bone was Rowena's spine.

[Sorin]

Its words held terrible power, as if each syllable was charged with magics.

[Glom]

In the face of such a horror, we could only flee. And shortly after a bit of shopping, we encountered you within Westman's hold. I was sure that we'd killed one another. But now we find ourselves here. Wherever here is.

[Rowena]

The village of Ilmuder's Hope. Presumably before any of this took place. But I need to know, and this is very important. Rowena. Were you really in control when you stabbed me back at the gate?

[Sindri]

I promise, no, I. Soren, I swear on Sindri's life, it wasn't me in control. It wasn't. You've seen the Silent One. We were all tricked by him.

[Rowena]

Ah, that silent saint of hateful torment. Wily little fellow.

[Sorin]

My own memories have only just recently begun to return from that time. And I can say with certainty that we were under his charm influence real quick. Not sure how to say this in character, but do you remember when we all failed our sanity throws? And Travis was just like, okay, happy ending for all of you. And we all believed him. So somewhere around when we exited the gate, I feared that we were bewitched by the Silent One and his accursed ilk.

[Rowena]

You know, that actually makes a lot of sense when I think about it. Perhaps this has all just been a you big misunderstanding. You truly were just murder puppets. I. Yeah, I think I can forgive that. I do. I forgive you. So tell me, what are your intentions then? If we were all to just be allowed to travel our separate ways as friends. Where would you go?

[Sorin]

Well, it. It's a bit confusing. Someone named Akril was supposed to be working to clear my name. Investments hold while we did him a favor, but it feels like he betrayed us.

[Rowena]

Oh, yeah. Not gonna lie. He certainly did. Clymore paid him pretty handsomely to do so.

[Sorin]

Then I suppose we have two goals. One of them is to find, find and kill the Neverborn, which we helped to release. And also to return to the gate and seal away the Nameless Ghost. As I mentioned, we were tricked by the accursed Silent One. The Great Gate was never truly sealed. And it's only a matter of time before the Nameless God rises to consume our world.

[Sindri]

I. I was under the impression that. I was under the hope that we defeated him in his bastion. But honestly, the more I've actually thought on it, the more I think, the more I realized that we failed. And because of our shortcomings, the world is going to end. It's our fault. I mean, there's little that can be done. But maybe if we seal the gate, that'll buy us time to. I don't know, wrap up our loose ends before the world is consumed.

[Rowena]

By loose ends, you mean murder people, steal money, break into royal vaults.

[Sindri]

I mean finding out what happened to our families.

[Glom]

We are helping Sindri's wife get her memories back by gathering all of her children in one place. I don't fully understand the plan, but in theory, it could help somehow. And we're also trying to help Elias defy his dick of a father while searching for my lost partner, Finley. We know where Finley should be, and we're planning to rescue him. For the record, any murders on that list of crimes are likely my fault.

[Sindri]

Aye, that they are.

[Glom]

Rowena and Sindri are teaching me the ways of the surface, or at least the ways of Dwarven culture. And I'm still learning to overcome the challenges with being me.

[Sindri]

So, look, it seems pretty pointless for us to fight again. I mean, we're. Look, we're trying to do the same things. I suspect you're looking to the right wrongs. And I. I think at this point, Rowena is gonna kind of clutch her hand on a small scrap of cloth that she has from Sister Cavansfall's cloak that she's probably had on her person since the funeral long ago. I. I made a promise to a friend, and I don't think she can rest as long as the Silent One is still out there. And I Need to at least try and seal the Great Gate properly this time. I have to. And even if it just buys l' Rell time with Fimli and Sindri some time with his family before the world ends, that's enough. I think that my mission will be worth it.

[Ildrix]

Sorin rubbed the fur on the back of the paw, slowly pulling it from his satchel.

[Rowena]

Yeah, about that. You know, I'm not exactly sure what this item is. I think it's some sort of a. Like a cursed goblin artifact. I'm not sure exactly how it interpreted my wish, but I believe we have it to thank for all of us being very alive and breathing right now as we all lay dying in Westmanshold. I wished that all of us were back in Ilmuder's Hope before any of this happened. I. I don't know for sure, but I recognize the stars in the sky tonight. And it would appear that we are in Illmeter's Hope on the night that the. The children were kidnapped. The sun is about to rise because it's getting close to twilight, so I suppose no one will be aware that anything is amiss for a few more hours.

[Sindri]

I'm sorry, what? No, no, no. We. We can't be. We can't be here because we might. There's another iteration of us that might be here, and they can't be allowed to see us or it'll change it. It'll make us go crazy. So there are more of you?

[Rowena]

No.

[Sindri]

Well, look, we're already here. Our past selves are already here. Me and Soren and Sindri. But we are also here. A second instance of ourselves. We need to make sure that we don't fuck with the timeline or everything else we know goes out the window, and something even more terrible might happen. Okay. Okay. Think it's through. Think it's through. Soren.

[Elias]

What.

[Sindri]

When do you consider all of. Before all this happened?

[Rowena]

In my head, I was imagining, you know, before we'd even really met for the first time. The day before our first adventure together into the dead pines. But I'm not sure if it's really brought us there. Yeah, the stars could just be the same way they were last time we were here. Because enough time has passed and it looks the same again. I think they're yearly right. You can't really know we traveled back in time just based on that. Well, there is a specific constellation. It was only visible on that night. Says the weird ranger I only just met who just killed most of my friends before wishing us back to life.

[Sorin]

The temple, it's. It's still just as we'd left it. Hasn't been vandalized, so perhaps he's right.

[Rowena]

Also, a guard I recognize, Verkig, is asleep over there in the mud near the entrance to the mayor's house.

[Sindri]

Ah, shite. Right? Yeah. I think he was too drunk to join us the day that we went to go get the kids. And when we got back, he. He'd left. So we're clearly before true. We need to figure out whether our past selves are still here and gonna go deal with that story. Although we need to do it. But the three of us. And I point at myself, Sindri and Soren, we can't do that. Like if I saw myself back then. She's really scared and very nervous and hides behind a lot of things. She's very different from me now. She'd probably freak out and try and kill me. So let's not do that.

[Elias]

Okay? So there's other. There's other yous here.

[Sindri]

Maybe from this time.

[Elias]

From this. From this time, which is pastime. And then. So we have to stop them from doing things.

[Sorin]

What?

[Sindri]

No, no, no. We need to check that they're gonna go do it. So if you go there and we're there, then we're fine. If you go there and we're not.

[Sorin]

There, then we need to do it all over again.

[Rowena]

Then we're screwed and we don't have much time.

[Elias]

Okay.

[Sindri]

No.

[Elias]

So if you're there, it's good. Good. If it's not there, it's bad.

[Sindri]

Aye. And then we have to get through that whole thing again.

[Glom]

Great.

[Sindri]

But at least we have warning this time, right?

[Rowena]

So maybe the three of us will just walk into town. We'll be right back.

[Sindri]

I don't trust that look.

[Elias]

He's not trustworthy. He is very crazy. I am trustworthy.

[Sorin]

You're the one who came out hands and feet punching our friend.

[Elias]

There was a long conversation before and Soren was all like, we need to kill these people. And I'm like, I don't know. I don't know. She seems like a nice person. That's. Anyways, that's what happened.

[Rowena]

That was a direct quote. I. I can attack Soren, can I?

[Sindri]

Insight that. Does he think I might be a nice person?

[Elias]

Sure, go ahead. I'll. I'll roll. Competing deception. Yeah, that's a 20. Not natural.

[Sindri]

Well, I got a 19.

[Elias]

Very honest. I will do. We will do what we need to. Hopefully they have sandwiches.

[Sorin]

Illtrix let us at least for now, assume that our past selves are still present because it would be really weird for them. For us, rather not to be. Especially since we are older than our past selves and bear more scars than we did even a year ago. And with this as a basis, let us discuss our next steps. Do you and your team intend to help us make things better? Or I suppose I should ask you what your plan is, Sorin.

[Rowena]

So, to clarify, if we do nothing at this point, our past selves will continue on and take the actions that we ourselves have taken in the past, eventually meeting all of us, this big party of circus friends, More or less. So to summarize, we don't think that we should help our former self, for better or for worse, because it might cause our heads to explode or perhaps for the world to end in some other time travel paradox y way. So instead, we should just try to get ahead of our past selves somehow and find a way to the Forest of Dreams. And maybe ambush the cultists, rescue the children. Or at the very least, stop the ritual that awakens the Nameless God.

[Sorin]

I think that makes sense. Are you saying that you will help us?

[Rowena]

Of course. Traveling to the realm of dreams has a consequence the loss of time. It took us quite a few months to return the last time. So if we want to accomplish both goals, I.e. stopping the nameless God from awakening, but also defeating the Neverborn, it seems to me that we'll have to do the worst possible thing and split the party. Oh, and since you mentioned magically charged speech, my half sister Gale just so happens to have a relic that counters such effects. A large brass lyre. And since she's the only one who it'll let pluck its strings, I think it would be apt to appoint her as the captain of Team Hunt down the Neverborn. I hope you don't mind, Gayle.

[Sindri]

I think we can manage that.

[Rowena]

Gale, I'm. I'm really lost right now.

[Elias]

Yeah, no, don't worry about it. We'll go get sandwiches after we figure out what's going on.

[Rowena]

Okay.

[Sorin]

It seems that we're splitting up between one team that will hunt down the Neverborn and another team that will try to stop the Nameless God from awakening.

[Rowena]

Okay. Well, I guess I'm on Gale's team. Obviously. You're coming with us, too, right, Ildryx? Yeah, sure.

[Elias]

Why not?

[Sindri]

We're always going north anyway.

[Elias]

I mean, we tried to go south that one time. That was. That was.

[Rowena]

And west. West the other time. Just the once.

[Glom]

Elias and I know where The Neverborn will be the moment that it materializes. So we can not only aid you in finding it when it will be at its weakest, but also setting a trap for this so called demigod. I have contacts. And if we rescue Finley on the way there, I can ensure that we have no shortage of allies to aid in our quest either.

[Rowena]

Yeah, I suppose I'll go with Team Neverborn then.

[Glom]

Bad Wreath. Leave Elias alone. He's suffered enough already.

[Ildrix]

Wreath hissed at Elias one final time before retreating to his nest within Lyrul's backpack.

[Sindri]

Then that just leaves Soren and myself then. You know, with such a small party, we've got a real chance to get ahead of this thing. At least I'm gonna try anyway. I mean. I mean, I can't speak for you, but I'm guessing you'd like a chance to set things right there.

[Rowena]

Absolutely. Would be an insult not to save the world after it's given me my wish.

[Sorin]

You're forgetting about me.

[Sindri]

You need to survive this. You promised that you would see your wife and children again.

[Sorin]

I will. And I'm going to make sure that you make it back as well.

[Sindri]

I. I can't promise that. Sindri.

[Sorin]

I know we can only do our best. And if we're together, I know that we can accomplish so much more than if we're apart.

[Sindri]

Normally I'd argue with you, but I would be grateful if you came. Really. And at this point, I think it's time for us all to walk away from Illmate's Hope in our respective directions before the sun rises, which seems to be coming pretty fast. Now look, you lot head north and we'll head east along the dead pines. Come on now, get. Get moving. It's going to be really bad for us to be found just standing here in a huddle. The morning that small village children get kidnapped.

[Narrator]

The party desperately wanted to say goodbyes, desperately wanted to share long winded speeches on personal growth, friendship, and seeing one another again after their respective missions were complete.

[Ildrix]

But Rowena's fear of being seen by their past selves, or worse, being spotted by a villager and accused of being the kidnappers, pushed her to shoo away the other party with virtually no fanfare. As they separated, Lyrel approached Rowena and handed her the magical shield which had been returned to her possession during their sudden transition to Ilmeter's Hope. The runes and braille running across the masterwork shield that had already saved Sindri's life multiple times seemed to faintly glow.

[Glom]

In the moonlight thank you, Rowena, for everything. I will find Finley. Please bring Sindri back to his family safely.

[Sindri]

Aye, I'll do my best. And good luck with Finley. And. And take care of yourself as well. And remember everything we taught you. We'll meet again as friends. I swear.

[Narrator]

The shield was passed to Rowena, and after a hug, Sindri, Rowena, and Sorin walked east toward the woods as the rest of the party departed north toward Auden. Their adventures would take many months, and the results of their efforts could be gleaned from the various interactions already included in the last 30 episodes of this podcast, such as their friendship with Genevieve and Odyn. These adventures concluded with the events taking place in chapter 28. Meanwhile, Sorin, Rowena, and Sindri walked east through the Hope, echoing footsteps breaking its hallowed silence.

[Sorin]

No, I feel like there's one person we have some questions for, and he.

[Rowena]

Looks over to Soren. So.

[Sorin]

Hunting us for a bounty? Thinking we might be cannibals.

[Rowena]

Sorry, again, there's not a.

[Sorin]

I don't even know what to say to that.

[Glom]

It's.

[Narrator]

It's.

[Sorin]

No, you know what? I have only one thing to say. I'm glad you're alive. I truly am.

[Rowena]

I appreciate that. I'm glad to see you both well. Also, I do apologize for the unpleasantness. We really had no way of knowing if you were still alive or if you were some form of demonic creatures, so we couldn't. We couldn't take the chance. But I do apologize, and I'm glad you are actually yourselves.

[Sindri]

Hey. Super glad you're alive.

[Rowena]

Awfully quiet around here. I'd gotten used to a few more people with me. It was nice, you know, for a day or two.

[Sindri]

Yeah. You just have to remember that we're three and not four. Body system's gonna be really bloody hard.

[Rowena]

It's just gonna be a three person buddy system now.

[Sindri]

I guess so.

[Rowena]

I mean, if it had to be with anyone, I'm glad it's you two.

[Sindri]

I'm sorry I stabbed you. I. I am. I. I'm sorry.

[Rowena]

Oh, so many people have stabbed me. You. I don't mean to be dismissive of your accomplishments, but. No, it's lost in a sea of stabbings, really.

[Sindri]

Okay, good. All right, so if we're really gonna do this, if we're really gonna figure out how to stop the ritual to make sure that the nameless God actually is still bound in there, we are gonna need to rest up. I am fucking knackered. Your companions fought really well, as did yours.

[Sorin]

How long was the journey to the gate again?

[Rowena]

It's probably three, four days by my remembrance through the woods.

[Sindri]

I think it was five days.

[Rowena]

It was a while with Sindri's leg. Yeah, like five days, something like that. Again, no offense intended.

[Sorin]

And I think marching is better than resting. We will have to sleep at some point. We can take a log bomb, set up camp, take it easy a little bit. But we need to be ahead of ourselves if we can make it into the temple. Not to sound too morbid, but I don't have much memory. But there were corpses, but I did not count or tally how many children were murdered before we got there. If we can get any amount of them out there, we might not even have noticed. This could be a chance for us to undo some of the damage that was done. On top of, of course, trying to prevent eyes from his hot headedness.

[Sindri]

See, the thing is, if you guys saw him kick that body in there, we can't change that.

[Sorin]

It was a long way down, was it not?

[Sindri]

I don't know. I never looked. I just heard you guys freaking out so I grabbed the kid and run.

[Rowena]

Are you picturing some sort of like net based demon retrieval system? That sounds really cool.

[Sorin]

I was more thinking smiting the living life out of it before it ever reaches the pool.

[Rowena]

Oh, that's nice too.

[Sorin]

The other thing involves nets and pulleys and understanding leverage and torque and I'm not very good at that.

[Rowena]

Oh, I was really hoping you would have all that knowledge because I did not like while you were explaining it, I. I was hoping. He's not gonna rely on me for this, is he? So I'm glad to hear that.

[Sindri]

The famous tracker hunter doesn't know how to set a trap.

[Rowena]

I don't know anything about leverage. No, it's not really used in the sort of traps I have experience with.

[Sindri]

Okay. Okay, look, I know I'm not the most cheerful person in the world, at least since we went down there, but we have to know what our aim is. It can't be split. We have to know that our plan is either to stop this thing falling in or make sure that the nameless God doesn't awaken and the kids have to be secondary. I'm sorry, but the bigger things are at stake here.

[Rowena]

It's true.

[Sindri]

And you both know that we may not make it out of this, right? Yeah, I'm just.

[Rowena]

You know, I've definitely reached the point in this journey where if death struck me down now, I. I would feel accomplished enough.

[Sorin]

I've I have people to get back to. I do not intend to fall. But the greater good must come first. Alright. I do not have a lot of money on me, but do we wanna pick up a real quick some rations supplies just so we can march without worrying about hunting? Unless Soren thinks he can provide.

[Rowena]

Mmm. Sorin provides. That's my motto. And I can. I can add some berries and small game on the way if we had some. Some spare rations. That's not gonna hurt. Absolutely.

[Sindri]

I think I've got a craplord in my bag. Hang on.

[Rowena]

Ew. We're looking for rations right now. Let me check my bag because I.

[Sorin]

Don'T think I. I shock. I shockingly have 11 in my inventory.

[Elias]

What?

[Ildrix]

Syndra discovered that someone had placed extra rations in his inventory and immediately suspected a certain Delvin culprit.

[Sorin]

All right. We have an osteo. Look at that. The bearish would be very appreciated.

[Sindri]

Yeah, I think if we're trying to get ahead of ourselves, we can grab food and stuff on the run.

[Rowena]

Sure.

[Sindri]

I don't eat much anyway, so I think we'll be all right.

[Rowena]

So I'm trying to remember when we, you know, in quotes left Ilmeter's hope together. The first time we woke up to a bunch of sobbing and bells right around sunrise, the villagers realized that all of the children had been kidnapped. And we were all recruited and working together by around noon. I think most of the day was spent organizing the search party and looking for evidence of where the children had all gone. Until we found the footsteps on the edge of town later in the day near the woods. I think that gives us a fair head start on things.

[Sorin]

Well, we know that gives us like almost a day.

[Sindri]

At least six, seven hours.

[Sorin]

So we do know a lot our past selves didn't know. Soren, do you think you could track a faster path through the forest to the gate?

[Rowena]

I've been there and back and remember the path we took well. So I feel confident that I could at least find and follow the tracks and keep us on track a fair bit faster than last time.

[Sorin]

Fantastic. Then let's start marching.

[Rowena]

Absolutely.

[Narrator]

Sorin studied the ground at his feet.

[Rowena]

Yeah. The start of the path we followed should be. Yeah, just ahead here. This. This isn't right. They.

[Sindri]

It's a doll.

[Rowena]

Yes. But I don't see the tracks we followed. It's crystal clear in my memory. They should be be right here. Footprints, but not at all. Maybe they haven't come through yet. Could. Could we be early? No. They. They should be far into the Dead pines by now. At least that's what Siljal said. Do you recognize this flower? The one in the doll's hair? Either of you?

[Sorin]

I do not.

[Ildrix]

It's a delphinium.

[Sindri]

A green delphinium. You know, I think is the doll you found later in the woods, just before you met the Silent one. Do you remember? What on earth is it doing here? Soren, I think he might need to put that back.

[Sorin]

No, he needs to take it with him.

[Sindri]

No, the other him still needs to find it.

[Sorin]

Are you not seeing the.

[Elias]

The.

[Sorin]

The. The strings here? What's the word? Do you not see the puzzle pieces? There you go. We are the tracks that let us in the past. We are the one who leave the doll.

[Sindri]

Okay, he still needs to put the.

[Sorin]

Doll back in dead pines, not here.

[Rowena]

Why are we whispering?

[Sorin]

Is there?

[Sindri]

We're praying to our gods.

[Rowena]

So, real quick, while you're pondering a fourth dimensional puzzle there with a 12 in survival, I feel confident that I should be able to figure out where to go, even without the footprints, either by instinct, skill, or a, you know, a sort of traumatic deja vu. Either way, I'm confident that I can get us there. But before we talk about that. Someone's coming from over there.

[Ildrix]

As the team lingered at the edge of the dead pines, a tall figure approached from the village.

[Elias]

Hello. Hello, friends.

[Rowena]

Ildry. My friend.

[Sorin]

Sidra has his warhammer out.

[Elias]

Oh, Soren. Good to see you. Yes, I've been trying to catch up. I glad I caught you before you left Elmeter's.

[Rowena]

Hope shocking that you did. Like, literally mere moments on either side of that, and we would have missed each other like ships in the night. And I would have been glad.

[Glom]

Hi.

[Elias]

I'm glad. Well, it's pleasure to see you again. I know.

[Narrator]

Hugging.

[Rowena]

Do we. Do we hug? I don't. I think.

[Elias]

I think we've been through enough that we can. We can. We can embrace. Like friends do. Yes. Yes.

[Rowena]

This is nice. Like friends do.

[Elias]

Yes. What's that smell? Sandalwood.

[Rowena]

I couldn't tell you. It's definitely not coming from me if it's sandalwood, but actually, I think that's just the dead pines. You know, that familiar decaying rot with just a hint of metallic something or other.

[Elias]

Oh, no, that's not sandalwood. It's not sandalwood? No.

[Sindri]

That's a horrible mistake. Horrible olfactory mistake.

[Rowena]

We'll get you to the doctor just as soon as our travels are done. Don't you worry.

[Elias]

Thank you.

[Rowena]

I appreciate that person must have Throat situation.

[Elias]

Taken a quick hit to the head and.

[Rowena]

Oh, probably several.

[Elias]

We'll try and keep it. Keep it down just in case any of my other senses start to go.

[Rowena]

Rowena Sindri. You've met Ildrix, I believe.

[Sorin]

I've been. I'm responsible to one of the blows to the head.

[Elias]

They're the reason I only smell sandalwood now.

[Rowena]

Right. That's where that head blow happened. So you're welcome.

[Sindri]

With a tiny little bit of guilt, I'll reach my hand out to shake yours.

[Narrator]

He tried to kill.

[Sindri]

And I'll cost lesser restoration in case I actually did do something to you.

[Sorin]

Stop that. He tried to kill us. You do not owe him anything.

[Elias]

I jest.

[Sindri]

I just thought we were bad people. It's fair.

[Elias]

You were in our eyes, not great people. But now that you're with Sorn, I. Everything is fine. I, in fact, came to find you because, well, buddy systems don't work well with threes.

[Rowena]

Let me just count on my fingers here. Oh, yeah, it's true.

[Elias]

So I thought perhaps I could be that fourth for you.

[Sorin]

Have you been spying on us? We were talking about this earlier.

[Elias]

No, this is just what Soren and I have discussed at length is traveling.

[Rowena]

In even numbers on many nights spent discussing the body system over a cold fire.

[Elias]

Insight.

[Sorin]

I'm insighting. This motherfucker. Has he ever discussed the body system with anybody before?

[Sindri]

Oh, shit.

[Sorin]

I'm good at that.

[Narrator]

So 24, actually, if I listen to season two, I believe they have discussed the body system.

[Rowena]

Oh, it's all true. I even vaguely remember saying something like, my hands are their own buddy system at one point, too. Such as the depth of my loneliness.

[Elias]

That was before we were friends. Who could embrace in such a hug?

[Rowena]

Ah, yes. What was it? Stewed porcupines and all? That's why we had that whole conversation about whether or not we're at an embracing point in our relationship. It all ties together.

[Elias]

Yeah, look.

[Sorin]

All right, four is better than three. So you seem like a capable fighter from a memory of our fight. What is it that you do?

[Elias]

I. Sorry, what is the meaning of your question? What is it that I do?

[Sorin]

So I pray to Celagon. I provide support and healing for my team, along with the fact that I myself do Strike me with my hammer.

[Rowena]

Oh.

[Elias]

Oh, I see. How do I best my foes in battle with. Well, with these. And he holds up his fists. Thunder and lightning, they come.

[Sorin]

Really?

[Sindri]

They named your fists?

[Elias]

Once you see them in action, you'll understand. They move very fast, just as Sora.

[Glom]

It.

[Rowena]

They do move very fast.

[Sindri]

I think I vaguely remember them moving very fast. Eh? Are you. Do you really want to come and do this potentially very suicidal thing?

[Sorin]

Well.

[Elias]

The way you describe it makes it seem less.

[Rowena]

Nobody mentioned it was suicidal yet.

[Sindri]

Yeah, I was very clear before we split up, like, hey, guys, I don't think we're gonna make it out here. And then you two are like, oh, I'm oddly okay with this, and I will not let you undertake such a task alone. But since you're just living in denial, I want to make sure we don't add another person on our team. Living in denial.

[Sorin]

I'm not in denial. I just do not intend to fail. It's. Just because he's ready to die doesn't. Just because he doesn't have a family doesn't mean that all of us have.

[Rowena]

To die ready to die alone and pitiful. Yeah, those are all accurate statements.

[Sindri]

Cause that was brutal.

[Elias]

Sorry.

[Sorin]

I have a lot to lose, and this nihilism is not doing a lot for me.

[Sindri]

Sorry. So let me rephrase. Instead of suicide mission, it's just a potentially very, very dangerous, very deadly incident encounter with, you know, a nameless God that predates mortal kind.

[Elias]

I understand and note the danger and have been through many trials. There was a bed dragon at one.

[Rowena]

Point, if I do recall such a trial. And what an amazing mattress. Burnt to cinders, sadly.

[Elias]

But I feel like the end goal of what you are trying to succeed in is something that I can assist with. And glam. Gael and Lyrul are well on their way, so I came back to offer my assistance. I understand. And he looks to Sindri that there is some hesitation. We have not worked together, but I hope Sorin can vouch for me in.

[Narrator]

That.

[Elias]

I will do what I can, where I can to make sure we're successful.

[Rowena]

Oh, I'm vouching. I'm vouching hard.

[Sorin]

I believe in believing in the best of people. Even back when we traveled this path the first time with the witch, I may not have trusted her, but I believed her attentions were good. And I hope the same for you.

[Elias]

I appreciate your trust. And I pull out the waterskin and I take a sip and I go to pass it around. It feels like a little warming of the cockles for the morning.

[Sorin]

Mm.

[Rowena]

I do have very cold cockles. Oh, that's good.

[Sorin]

How strong is this water?

[Elias]

It is button, Alex.

[Narrator]

Ah.

[Sorin]

Fair.

[Ildrix]

The team enjoyed their shared drink, one of solidarity. And as they stood looking over the village from the forest's edge. The sun began to slowly rise and the village's bell began to ring out, heralding the tragedy.

[Sindri]

Looks like they're playing our song. We should continue going.

[Ildrix]

Sorin intentionally stepped in the places where he'd remembered first, discovering footsteps from what felt like a lifetime ago, and shivered as he led the team back into the dead pines.

[Narrator]

Dark Dice Chapter 31 the Wish featuring Jeff Goldblum as the Silent One Peter Joseph Lewis, Soarin Arc? Ra, Holly Billinghurst and Shawn Howard as Galen Glam Vogelberg Russ D. Moore as Ildrix Drew Tillman as Elias Hem Brewster as Rowena Granite Pike, Ethor Vitersson as Father Sindri west pike and KA Statz and Travis Fengroff as co Game Masters. This episode was produced and edited with sound design by Travis Vengraf, mixing and mastering by Fenner Nielsen and features executive producers Dennis Greenhill, Mike Ovillegas, AJ Punkin and Carol Vengrof. This episode featured music by Andre Be? Vidonagrov, Travis Fengroff and Stephen Millen. To help support the show, please check out darkdice.com, yes, we have merch. Yes, we have digital books. Dark Dice is a fool in Scholar production. Thank you for listening.

[Ildrix]

Oh the Regency Era. You might know it as the time when Bridgerton takes place or the time when Jane Austen wrote her books, but the Regency era was also an exciting, explosive time of social change, sex scandals, and maybe the worst king in British history. And on the Vulgar History podcast, we're going to be looking at the balls, the gowns and all the scandal of the Regency era. Vulgar History is a women's history podcast, and our Regency Era series will be focusing on the most rebellious women of this time. That includes Jane Austen herself, who is maybe more radical than you might have thought. We'll also be talking about queer icons like Anne Lister, scientists like Mary Anning and Ada Lovelace, as well as other scandalous actresses, royal mistresses, rebellious princesses and other lesser known figures who made history happen in England in the Regency era. Listen to Vulgar History wherever you get Podcasts.

[Rowena]

The war is over and both sides lost. Kingdoms were reduced to cinders and armies scattered like bones in the dust.

[Sorin]

Now the survivors claw to what's left of a broken world, praying the darkness.

[Rowena]

Chooses someone else tonight. But in the shadow dark, the darkness always wins.

[Sorin]

This is old school adventuring at its most cruel.

[Rowena]

Your torch ticks down in real time.

[Sorin]

And when that flame dies, something else rises to finish the job. This is a brutal rules light night with a story that emerges organically based on the decisions that the characters make.

[Rowena]

This is what it felt like to.

[Sorin]

Play RPGs in the 80s.

[Rowena]

And man, it is so good to be back. Join the Glass Cannon Podcast as we.

[Sorin]

Plunge into the Shadowdark every Thursday night at 8pm Eastern on YouTube.com theglasscanon with the podcast version dropping the next day. See what everybody's talking about and join.

[Rowena]

Us in the dark.