Dark Dice – Season 2, Episode 35: “The Darkened Ginkgo”

Release Date: April 14, 2026
Podcast by Fool and Scholar Productions

Episode Overview

This episode plunges the party—Sorin Arkwright, Father Sindri Westpike, and Glowy West Pike—deeper into the nightmarish, shifting landscapes of the Roaming Forest and the mysterious "Darkened Ginkgo." After the unsettling events of previous chapters, the group deals with the aftermath of Sorin’s risky decisions, faces new horrors, and navigates both external and internal threats. With themes of trust, regret, and looming danger, the party’s dynamic continues to evolve as they struggle to survive a reality shaped by capricious gods and eldritch magic.

Key Discussion Points & Story Beats

Tension and Distrust After “The Lantern Incident”

(00:45–06:44)

• The three protagonists quickly depart from the chaos of the Soulites, tension tangible in their silence.
• Glowy and Sindri vent their anger toward Sorin for his recklessness in the previous scene involving a mysterious lantern.
• Sindri’s confrontation:
  • “Soren, what the. What is wrong with you?” (02:35, Father Sindri)
  • Sorin sheepishly admits, “I thought it would look cool.” (02:39)
• Glowy lambasts Sorin for endangering the group with magical items:
  • “Your lantern is the farthest thing from cool that we have ever fucking seen. That thing is terrifying.” (02:43)
• Sindri demands answers regarding Sorin’s connection to the Cult of the Silent One, questioning his loyalty and threatening violence before catching himself and apologizing (“I'm not gonna kill you. I'm sorry. That was…” 03:36)
• The group conducts a “magical trinket inventory,” turning over the lantern, a teacup, and a cursed pie to Sindri for inspection and blessing.
• Sindri's practical approach: “I'm not leaving a cursed item here. We should dispose of this thing in some flames when we get home.” (05:27)

Examining Strange Magic and Faith

(06:44–11:18)

• With magical objects assembled, Sindri performs a ritual for their safety, noting: “The cup is probably just a cup, but let's not make any vicious near the goblin paw thing.” (07:51)
• Sindri discovers the altar box he rescued previously is filled with strange white ash. When Sindri touches it, his hand turns invisible.
• Glowy proposes: “Maybe it's like ash of invisibility or something. I think I've read about magical Shite like that before.” (09:09)
• Sindri expresses a blend of faith and paranoia:
  • “I love my God. And I believe in him… But I also believe there are forces out there that look to subvert us, to deceive us. … Believe, but verify.” (09:57)
• In a memorable moment, Glowy licks the invisible ash:
  • “I was so also thinking that I lick my hand. Why would you do that?” (10:24, Glowy/Sorin)
• Result: some magical properties granted, such as invisibility or light permeability (11:12).
• The group prepares to proceed, noting their daunting quest: “We have a long day ahead of us and a big tree to climb.” (11:18, Sindri)

Into Battle: The Chromatic Tongue

(12:01–15:08)

• Navigating through endless sunflowers, the party encounters a monstrous, chromatic red-and-blue tongue emerging from a portal (12:01–12:56).
• The fight is frantic but coordinated:
  • Sorin: “Something's coming.” (12:56)
  • Sorin’s quick response: “Sorin raised his bow… for 18 damage as it got within 10 meters.” (13:12)
  • Glowy uses magical daggers: “There's gonna be a five foot cube of daggers that's gonna appear and start slicing this tongue dude, for like 44 slashing damage every round.” (13:37)
  • Sindri invokes sacred flame and deals with the sticky, repulsive nature of the creature.
• Memorable battle banter:
  • “Oh, fuck that.” (14:48, Sorin)
  • “And. Stay gone, you disgusting thing.” (15:08, Sindri)
  • Glowy jokes about practicing "vicious mockery" at Sorin's expense.

The Climb to the Ginkgo: Bonding and Banter

(15:33–22:38)

• The group locates the “darkened ginkgo”—a massive ancient tree, its shade an oasis from the oppressive sun.
• Teamwork in climbing:
  • Glowy helps boost the others: “I'm gonna help boost them up to the first branch.” (16:33)
  • Sindri admits weakness: “I'm not exactly the best climber… I would appreciate any kind of support or guidance.” (16:56)
  • Glowy wryly remarks about cursed items: “Both of you have my coolest stuff now. Funny how that worked out.” (17:50, Sorin)
• The party fumbles the first attempts but eventually ascends via shared effort, humor, and mutual guidance.
• When they reach a resting spot, Glowy spots that “the branches looming furthest at the top seemed a lot darker… a slow, gentle, refreshing fog…” (21:12)
• The party speculates about the cause (“Why is it wet?” asks Sorin, 21:46) and tests the tree’s nature.

Dream Sequences, Shadows of the Past

(22:40–26:36)

• The team unknowingly falls asleep in the ginkgo’s upper branches, slipping into a dreamlike state (22:40).
• Glowy dreams she’s back in a ruined elven village, coldly and efficiently eliminating familiar mutated foes—a haunting, mechanical sequence:
  • “[Her] movements felt familiar and practiced, mechanical like buttoning a shirt…” (24:14)
• Sorin and Sindri, within the same dream, mistake Glowy for a threat, initiating a fear-driven retreat.
• Confusion reigns as Glowy returns to “camp,” waiting for her friends to awaken—both restful and unsettling, demonstrating how trauma and past violence haunt the party even in sleep.
• The group wakes refreshed, though only Glowy recalls the grisly dream.

Ascent and Realization: The Roaming Forest Below

(26:36–30:21)

• Climbing higher, the party observes a surreal shift: the sunflowers below have transformed into the twisted Roaming Forest, signaling they have traversed planes or time (“So beneath us, where we just came from now appears to be the Roaming Forest.” 27:13, Sorin)
• Glowy’s sharp perception reveals their proximity to their goal and a version of themselves running toward the Bastion (“Looks like we're actually quite close to the bastion… I think we're not getting anywhere near the path. And I'm pretty sure I see the party already. Us, I mean, we're running through one of the gates a bit away.” 27:48)
• A race against time to reunite with their destinies; the group rapidly descends the Ginkgo to reach the Bastion.
• Light-hearted frustration and party chatter continue during descent and as they try to recall allies in the forest.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Father Sindri Westpike: “I've met rocks with more brains than you.” (03:02)
• Glowy West Pike: “It's only us three. It's us three versus a fucking God, okay? We have to be better than this.” (04:21)
• Father Sindri Westpike: “Believe, but verify.” (09:57)
• Glowy West Pike: “I was so also thinking that I lick my hand. Why would you do that?” (10:24)
• Sorin Arkwright: “Both of you have my coolest stuff now. Funny how that worked out.” (17:50)
• Sorin’s deadpan: “Oh, yeah, I struck tree.” (22:24)
• Glowy West Pike: “Literally. About to teleport to the bastion.” (28:10)

Timeline of Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Event | |-------------|--------------------------------------------------| | 00:45-06:44 | Tense group confrontation over magical lantern & trust issues | | 06:44-11:18 | Rituals, mysterious invisible ash, and Sindri’s faith/wariness | | 12:01-15:08 | Combat with chromatic tongue; teamwork in real-time danger | | 15:33-22:38 | Locating and climbing the Ginkgo tree; party banter and mutual support | | 22:40-26:36 | Dream-world sequence; existential horror and surreal violence | | 26:36-30:21 | Realities merge; urgent need to descend and catch up to destiny |

Episode Tone & Style

The episode is both grim and laced with dark humor. Banter masks trauma, trust fractures are explored with biting sarcasm, and ever-present supernatural dread keeps both characters and audience on edge. The roleplay is natural, sharply in-character, and balances bleakness with levity.

Conclusion

“The Darkened Ginkgo” sees the Dark Dice party battered, soul-weary, and often at odds, but ultimately pressing onward through shifting perils—physical, magical, and psychological. Their journey through the enchanted, deadly landscape, punctuated by monster fights, dream logic, inner doubts, and snark, drives their story toward the next mysterious confrontation at the Bastion of the Nameless God.