Episode 12 - Aster

Summary

Hymns for the Road: Episode 12 - Aster

Release Date: November 23, 2024
Host/Author: Hodgepodge Audio
Starring:

• Maurice Thomas as Silver
• Pau Panganibon as Glass
• Grizz Siebenek as Amber
• Tabitha Bardal as Copper
• Featuring Tom Schalk as the Bog Monster
• Justice Washington as Astor
  Written and Produced by: Anna McGuire
  Original Music by: Joshua David Met Mitchell

---

Introduction

In Episode 12, titled "Aster," of the "Hymns for the Road" podcast, listeners are immersed deeper into the perilous journey of four survivors navigating a post-apocalyptic America transformed into a fantastical wasteland. As they traverse this dangerous landscape, the group encounters mystical challenges, enigmatic creatures, and internal conflicts, all while striving to survive and reach their elusive goal—the summer.

---

Journey Through the Swamp

The episode opens with the group driving through a treacherous swamp. Amber spots a billboard signaling a "rain ritual," which sparks curiosity and concern among the survivors.

Amber (01:10): "There's a billboard up ahead."
Copper (01:22): "It. It says rain ritual."

The billboard lists various components necessary for the ritual, prompting the group to consider its implications. Glass notes they already possess some items like swamp moss and mud, but much of the needed ingredients are likely inaccessible without venturing deeper into the swamp.

Amber (01:28): "I think it's mostly stuff we'll have to drive through here to get anyway."

Silver questions the purpose of the ritual—whether it's to initiate or cease the rain—highlighting the group's uncertainty about the ritual's intent.

Silver (01:36): "Is it a ritual to make it start raining or to make it stop raining?"

Creative Tensions and Light-Hearted Moments

As the rain intensifies, the group's morale dips. In an attempt to lighten the mood, Copper suggests singing to "clear the energy," leading Glass to recite a thoughtful sonnet they've been working on. This creative interlude showcases Glass's introspective nature and provides a brief respite from the tension.

Glass (02:11): "Ghosts. Morning is alive beyond the towers… I cannot see the sun, but I see you."

Silver praises Glass's poetry, only to be met with a playful jab from Amber, hinting at underlying tensions and differing personalities within the group.

Silver (02:58): "Ooo, beautiful glass. Nice work."
Amber (03:02): "You're turning into a SAP."

The Swamp's Deadly Grip

The group's journey takes a dire turn as they find themselves stuck in deep mud, exacerbated by the relentless rain. The situation heightens the stakes, pushing each member to contribute towards a solution.

Amber (03:30): "Damn it. I hate driving in the rain."
Silver (04:00): "I'll check my cards. Maybe I can see if it's gonna light up soon."

Glass attempts to use their divinatory abilities to gain insight, but the results are cryptic, leading Amber to criticize the vagueness of Glass's powers.

Amber (04:17): "Love that very convenient precognitive ability you've got."

As the mud thickens, the team debates whether to stop and dig out or press on, reflecting their differing priorities and survival strategies.

Amber (06:02): "Could you. Could you reach them?"

Their efforts to free the vehicle include attempting a fire spell, which unfortunately attracts the attention of a menacing creature—a Bog Monster.

Confrontation with the Bog Monster

The swamp reveals its dangers when a grotesque Bog Monster emerges, blending mud with flesh, presenting a formidable threat to the group. The monster's appearance is described in vivid, horrifying detail, emphasizing the constant life-threatening peril they face.

Silver (05:01): "There's these big boulders all over, covered up in mud, scattered around…"

As the monster approaches, Glass maintains composure, attempting to communicate and negotiate their passage.

Glass (08:52): "Stay in the car. I know this is part of it, but I could use some backup."

The confrontation escalates until another character, Astor, intervenes. Astor, revealed to be a benevolent figure, identifies himself and diffuses the situation, demonstrating the complexities of the world they inhabit where not all supernatural beings are hostile.

Astor (15:03): "I don't mean to hurt any of you. I am Astor. I've been looking forward to meeting."

The Aftermath and Internal Conflict

Astor's intervention allows the group to escape the immediate threat, but it also introduces new dynamics, particularly concerning Glass's recently revealed pact. As the group resumes their journey, Silver confronts Glass about their deal with Astor, expressing deep concern over the personal cost and potential dangers of such agreements.

Silver (22:15): "You're giving them parts of you. Don't you understand that? I would expect you to know better."

Glass defends their actions as necessary for survival, rationalizing that the divinations aid the group's efforts to navigate the perilous environment.

Glass (22:24): "I'm buying it. Well, no. I'm buying it."

This confrontation underscores themes of sacrifice, trust, and the moral ambiguities faced in their quest for survival.

---

Themes and Insights

**1. Survival vs. Morality: The episode delves into the murky waters of survival ethics. Glass's deal with Astor raises questions about the lengths one should go to ensure the group's safety and success, highlighting the internal conflicts that arise when personal sacrifices are made for the greater good.

**2. Trust and Leadership: Silver's skepticism towards Glass's decision reflects the fragile trust within the group. Leadership dynamics are tested as each member's strengths and weaknesses come to the fore, emphasizing the importance of mutual trust and communication in survival scenarios.

**3. Humanity Amidst Desolation: The creative expressions, such as Glass's sonnet, provide a glimpse of humanity and culture persisting even in the bleakest circumstances. These moments serve as beacons of hope and normalcy, contrasting sharply with the surrounding chaos.

**4. Encounters with the Supernatural: The interaction with the Bog Monster and Astor introduces the supernatural elements of the world, blending horror with unexpected alliances. These encounters highlight the unpredictable nature of the wasteland and the varied intentions of its inhabitants.

---

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Amber (03:30): "Damn it. I hate driving in the rain."
  Expresses frustration and sets the tone for the challenges ahead.

• Glass (02:11): "Ghosts. Morning is alive beyond the towers… I cannot see the sun, but I see you."
  Showcases Glass's poetic side and their way of coping with the harsh environment.

• Silver (05:01): "There's these big boulders all over, covered up in mud, scattered around…"
  Illustrates the treacherous terrain and the constant physical dangers.

• Astor (15:03): "I don't mean to hurt any of you. I am Astor. I've been looking forward to meeting."
  Introduces a pivotal character whose intentions shift the episode's direction.

• Silver (22:15): "You're giving them parts of you. Don't you understand that? I would expect you to know better."
  Highlights the emotional and ethical stakes within the group dynamic.

---

Conclusion

"Aster" serves as a pivotal episode in the "Hymns for the Road" series, deepening the lore of the magical apocalypse and the complex interpersonal relationships among the survivors. Through intense challenges, supernatural encounters, and moral dilemmas, the episode enriches the narrative, setting the stage for future developments. The introduction of Astor and the revelation of Glass's pact add layers of intrigue and tension, ensuring listeners remain invested in the group's perilous journey toward the elusive summer.

---

Stay Connected:
Sign up for the newsletter at hodgepodgeaudio.com or support the podcast on Patreon. Follow "Hymns for the Road" on your preferred podcast platform to continue following the survivors' harrowing adventure through a world where beauty and danger intertwine seamlessly.

Transcript

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[Narrator]

Hymns for the Road is a fiction podcast that often takes place inside a moving vehicle. Listener discretion is advised while driving. General content warnings are listed in the show notes.

[Amber]

There's a billboard up ahead.

[Copper]

Oh.

[Silver]

Is it readable?

[Amber]

Yeah, it seems normal. No headache or double vision or anything.

[Copper]

It. It says rain ritual.

[Amber]

It's got a list of components and stuff.

[Glass]

Anything we've already got swamp moss, mud, algae.

[Amber]

I think it's mostly stuff we'll have to drive through here to get anyway.

[Silver]

Is it a ritual to make it start raining or to make it stop raining?

[Amber]

If it does, doesn't say. Just rain. Ritual seems real enthusiastic about it too.

[Copper]

I'm. I'm writing it down.

[Glass]

Kind of spooky out here.

[Silver]

Those clouds ain't looking good.

[Copper]

Wanna sing something? Clear. Clear the energy a little.

[Silver]

Not a bad idea.

[Glass]

I've been working on a sonnet.

[Silver]

Can we hear it?

[Glass]

Sure. It's not my usual stuff, though.

[Copper]

Show us anyway.

[Glass]

Okay. Here. Ghosts. Morning is alive beyond the towers. Another night of concrete chaos gone despite the bracing bright of early hours. The city looms between me and the sun. But in the shadows I can see a trail, A stem of green, A path of three or more, the hinting of a golden future hailed. I can't resist the calling to explore. I chase the flowers far as I can go to somewhere hidden deep within the maze A holy shrine where wild and soft things grow. I meet my love and light has filled this place. My feet on earth I stare into the blue. I cannot see the sun, but I see you.

[Silver]

Ooo, beautiful glass. Nice work.

[Amber]

You're turning into a SAP.

[Glass]

It's a poem, Amber. It's not about me.

[Amber]

Since when do you write love poems?

[Glass]

I don't know. I thought I'd give it a try. It's good to try new things.

[Amber]

You gonna try falling in love sometime too?

[Glass]

No. More trouble than it's worth, if you ask me.

[Amber]

We could find someone for you. There's probably a mirror around here somewhere.

[Glass]

Hey. Oh, guys.

[Copper]

Just listen. Listen.

[Amber]

Damn it. I hate driving in the rain.

[Silver]

I knew this was gonna happen.

[Amber]

Got any spells that can change the weather, Copper?

[Copper]

No. I can't even get a wind spell to work.

[Amber]

I was kidding.

[Glass]

Oh.

[Silver]

Outside the car, skies turn a kinda yellow gray. The roads propped up from the swamp on this slim little sandbar of dirt. I'd feel better about the whole thing if it was Pa.

[Glass]

I'll check my cards. Maybe I can see if it's gonna light up soon.

[Silver]

Sure.

[Glass]

Okay. All I'm getting is those components we saw on the billboard back there. Huh. I don't know what that means.

[Amber]

Love that very convenient precognitive ability you've got.

[Glass]

Yeah, sure would be great if I could maybe get a little bit of help. Maybe a tiny bit of specificity would be nice.

[Amber]

Yell louder. I heard it makes cards grow ears.

[Glass]

I don't know. Thought it might help.

[Copper]

It's getting really muddy out there.

[Silver]

Model switch. Amber.

[Amber]

There's no way in hell I'm stopping in the middle of this.

[Glass]

Besides, if anyone's switching in, it's me. I'm the best driver. Bull I am.

[Amber]

No, you're not. You can just drive the longest.

[Glass]

Considering our whole goal in life is to drive the longest, I'd say that makes me the best.

[Copper]

Look at all those rocks.

[Silver]

Huh. I didn't quite notice until Copper pointed it out. There's these big boulders all over, covered up in mud, scattered around. Like something dropped them out of its pocket while it was passing through. Big as our car. Sometimes bigger. They make my skin crawl. The rest of the swamp is flat, muddy water far as the eye could see. I can't help but think if I squeeze one of those rocks, it pop like a blister.

[Glass]

Hey, if we get stuck, at least we'll have something to stand on.

[Amber]

Don't say if we get stuck. Damn it.

[Copper]

Come on, Glass.

[Glass]

I'm sorry.

[Amber]

We're stuck. The mud's too deep.

[Silver]

We have carpets, don't we?

[Glass]

They're at the bottom of the trunk.

[Copper]

Could you. Could you reach them?

[Glass]

I'm gonna have to hurry.

[Silver]

And be careful. Glass. Sinks to the ankles, but they got their good boots on. I trust them. Of course I do. But I got one hand on the door handle in case I gotta reach out and grab them away from something.

[Glass]

Ah, it's pouring out here.

[Amber]

Yeah, I can see that and hear it.

[Glass]

Aha. Found the carpets.

[Amber]

Both of them?

[Glass]

Both of them.

[Amber]

Then hurry up. Hurry.

[Copper]

Silver, can you reach the salt? I've got the mosquito Candle wax, eye drops and wood chips already.

[Silver]

What are those for?

[Copper]

The fire spell.

[Silver]

What's the fire spell gonna do out here?

[Copper]

Maybe it could help harden the mud a little.

[Amber]

Worth a try.

[Silver]

Here's your salt. Give it a shot. Be careful out there.

[Copper]

I will.

[Silver]

Wait. Copper. How loud is it going to be?

[Copper]

Not too loud.

[Silver]

What about how bright?

[Glass]

Try now, Amber. Damn it.

[Silver]

Don't cuss. Doors are open.

[Copper]

Let me try.

[Glass]

Okay. Okay. Okay. Let me grab the carpets first. All yours.

[Copper]

Ready, Amber?

[Glass]

Ready.

[Amber]

Ready for what?

[Copper]

Three, two.

[Glass]

Nice.

[Amber]

Is it working?

[Glass]

Maybe a little.

[Silver]

It's too bright. Darling. We're drawing too much attention.

[Glass]

Copper. Get in the car.

[Silver]

All four doors are shut. Now the driver side window's open. But glass is still outside. And something. Something made of mud and blood comes lurching out of the swamp as it moves. I can see inside it. The mud maybe mixed with flesh or gore. Sloths off of it in places. I could see bones underneath. Too many bones. Different sizes. All joints visible for just a little before. More of its never ending cascade of slop falls in to cover the holes. Oh.

[Glass]

Snow.

[Amber]

Glass. You should also get in the car.

[Glass]

We're gonna have to talk our way out of this. Amber. We can't.

[Bog Monster]

T inside the little shell.

[Glass]

Stay in the car. I know this is part of it, but I could use some backup. What?

[Copper]

We can't hear you.

[Silver]

Boss.

[Amber]

Are you out of your mind?

[Glass]

It's fine. I have a plan. Pardon, friend. The party would like to know if the swamp denizen has interest in a talk.

[Bog Monster]

I have not.

[Silver]

No rhyming. Not a summer. First person. Not a fall. Could be a spring.

[Glass]

Lowly human here. I'd like to negotiate the terms of our passage.

[Bog Monster]

You have already agreed to my terms.

[Glass]

I don't remember doing any such thing.

[Bog Monster]

You passed the sign. Did not complete the ritual. The rain came now.

[Glass]

Stop.

[Bog Monster]

Are you. The rain always brings out the snails.

[Copper]

They're not boulders.

[Bog Monster]

Soft and delicious. They are.

[Amber]

Wait.

[Glass]

Hold on. We couldn't complete the ritual because most of the components were inside your swamp. But that isn't fair. There's no way we could get your materials without getting stuck.

[Bog Monster]

Perhaps not. I do not much care for the rules. And you outside yourself. Lapse.

[Silver]

Get back in the car.

[Bog Monster]

You look. The perfect appetizer.

[Silver]

It picks them up too easily.

[Amber]

Glass.

[Silver]

Like they weigh nothing.

[Copper]

Grab them.

[Silver]

I can't get the door open.

[Glass]

Help.

[Astor]

On your knees, wretch.

[Bog Monster]

No fair. This is my property.

[Astor]

You've no business complaining about fairness. Let the human go.

[Glass]

No.

[Bog Monster]

I'm hungry.

[Astor]

I will not repeat myself again.

[Bog Monster]

You don't belong here.

[Astor]

Perhaps not. But your attempt at a riddle is in violation of house rules.

[Bog Monster]

I'm not in a force. I don't need the rules.

[Astor]

The reason you're so hungry is because you're not hunting properly.

[Bog Monster]

It's not even your season. What do you have to do with it?

[Astor]

Was that a question?

[Bog Monster]

Your answers cannot hurt me.

[Astor]

Are you certain? Would you like to stay and find out?

[Bog Monster]

Meddlesome wildflower.

[Astor]

Revolting boar.

[Silver]

One folk leaves, but the other doesn't. They stay there, hovering over the mud, all soft greens and tiny spots of color. Wildflowers. Even this close to winter. The spring.

[Astor]

That was rather unpleasant. I reckon they won't be coming back. Not unless they want me to answer their question. I. I'm sorry. I. I didn't mean to scare you.

[Glass]

It's.

[Silver]

I don't know if I should be looking right at them like other folk. They looked human in most ways. Maybe their eyes were a little too big. Maybe their fingers were a little too long. Maybe their color shifted round. But when I was looking right at them, something else stood there. Something that was much larger and much less human. Something that disappeared when I turned my eyes right on it. And outside the car, Glass stood up, covered in mud, looking up at their face.

[Astor]

Yes? It's me. I hope that's all right.

[Glass]

Yeah. Yeah, I just. I just wasn't expecting this.

[Astor]

You called?

[Glass]

I. I did, yeah.

[Silver]

They turned their violet eyes towards the windows. Tore the rest of us. I thought I smelled something sweet and green.

[Astor]

I don't mean to hurt any of you. I am aster. I've been looking forward to meeting.

[Amber]

Glass.

[Glass]

Oh, this is a big surprise for all of us. I think.

[Astor]

Oh, I think I should have been a bit more subtle about all this. I think I was a bit overeager.

[Glass]

No. Thank you for saving me. Or us.

[Astor]

I. I know I should go. I feel I've overstepped. Stayed my welcome.

[Glass]

No, you don't have to wait.

[Amber]

So what in the hell was that, Glass?

[Glass]

Well, I did call for help.

[Copper]

Do they usually answer when you call for help?

[Glass]

I guess this time one of them did.

[Amber]

Why a spring? We're not even in spring.

[Copper]

I have a really bad feeling about all this.

[Silver]

Look up ahead, y'all. The road's drying up.

[Amber]

Pack it in, guys. Silver thinks everything is fine.

[Silver]

Don't think everything's fine. But everyone's alive. And we need to get out of this swamp as soon as we can. Are the wheels stuck?

[Narrator]

Feels good.

[Silver]

Get going. Then we can talk Once we get out of here.

[Glass]

Yep.

[Copper]

How did it dry back up all of a sudden?

[Glass]

Maybe since that unclean thing left, it could have took the storm with it.

[Amber]

Or maybe it's divine intervention.

[Silver]

They ain't gods, Amber.

[Amber]

Same difference.

[Glass]

Or maybe we're just lucky. And would you look at that. I think we're all the way out.

[Silver]

Awful easy, wasn't it?

[Amber]

Why do you say that like it's a bad thing?

[Silver]

We should think about how we're going to pay if this was that Springs doing.

[Glass]

I have a feeling they won't ask for anything.

[Silver]

Don't be naive, Glass. That ain't how it works.

[Glass]

Amber. Do you want to switch? I've got a pee, so I'm pulling over.

[Amber]

Absolutely. But you better be back in five minutes or I'm leaving without you.

[Copper]

I actually have to go too.

[Amber]

Seriously, neither of you could hold it until we were a little farther from the carnivorous swamp.

[Glass]

I'll be quick.

[Silver]

You better.

[Glass]

I'm pretty sure you've been watching, so I know you can hear me. Oh. Hello again.

[Astor]

Hello again. I suppose you've a lot of questions.

[Glass]

I wouldn't dream of asking any.

[Astor]

That's not really what I meant.

[Glass]

I do have a lot of confusion, though.

[Astor]

Then I'll try my best to clarify.

[Glass]

So I found a wildflower field and a mysterious voice. Something like a voice. That was you?

[Astor]

That was me.

[Glass]

I made a deal with a mysterious voice. I trade pieces of my writing for glimpses into the future.

[Astor]

A fair trade, I thought.

[Glass]

I think so, too.

[Astor]

I'm hoping it's still fair.

[Glass]

It's still fair to me. I just don't know why you chose me.

[Astor]

You said you liked my flowers.

[Glass]

But that's so simple.

[Astor]

I like your writing too. I can't make stories like that myself.

[Glass]

And your spring. I know how much your house loves arts.

[Astor]

It really is our favorite. Yes.

[Glass]

I could write you some jokes, too. The rest of the party says I'm very bad at it.

[Astor]

Perhaps together we can discover entire disciplines of art that I won't like.

[Glass]

I can make a list of everything I'm worst at. And you can pick which one you want to dislike first.

[Astor]

I don't think your friends like me very much.

[Glass]

I think they're just afraid of you. Your folk are really dangerous. You can't exactly blame them.

[Astor]

I would really rather they liked me. I don't think I understand why that's funny.

[Glass]

I just haven't ever seen one of your folk worried about humans opinions of them.

[Astor]

Oh, well, I tried to be an amiable fellow. I don't want them thinking I mean them any harm.

[Glass]

You're maybe one of the amiablest fellows we've encountered. Probably.

[Astor]

I think it would be most amiable.

[Glass]

You seem interested in human behaviors.

[Astor]

I am.

[Glass]

Yes, well, it's a very human behavior to mess up birds on purpose.

[Astor]

I don't know why you would do that.

[Glass]

I don't know either. We just like doing it.

[Astor]

That might get you into trouble these days.

[Glass]

At least not with fellows on the amiabler side of things.

[Astor]

Oh, I get it.

[Glass]

Maybe you'll tolerate my bad jokes after all.

[Astor]

Worse, I might even like them.

[Glass]

I have to go. Oh, will I? I'm wondering if I'll see you again.

[Astor]

If you would like to.

[Glass]

I. I don't know if I would like to or not. This is new for me.

[Astor]

Then I won't bother you any further.

[Glass]

Oh, wait. Maybe I would want you to bother me later.

[Silver]

The others are waiting for you.

[Glass]

Hi. How long have you been standing right there?

[Silver]

Just walked up. You didn't come back when Copper called.

[Glass]

Oh, yeah, sorry. I'm coming back.

[Silver]

What's going on, Glass? What's going on with you and that one?

[Glass]

Nothing. There's nothing going on.

[Silver]

Okay.

[Glass]

Okay.

[Silver]

I'm taking you at your word. If you're lying to me, that's on you.

[Glass]

Fine. They're giving me divinations.

[Silver]

They're giving it to you.

[Glass]

Well, no. I'm buying it.

[Silver]

You made a deal.

[Glass]

A small one.

[Silver]

What are you paying with?

[Glass]

Stories. Things I write down.

[Silver]

Real stories or stories you made up?

[Glass]

Both. Glass, look, I thought about it. We need all the help we can get. And being able to see a little bit in the future, it helps. Just like your sigils and Copper's little bag of tricks. Isn't it worth it if it helps us stay alive out here?

[Silver]

You're giving them parts of you. Don't you understand that? I would expected you to know better.

[Glass]

I'm not giving them parts of me. Unless you're giving away parts of you with your art.

[Silver]

That's different. What you're doing is personal.

[Glass]

It's not. It's not. Silver, it's not personal.

[Silver]

I just don't want you getting attached.

[Glass]

Of course I'm not gonna get attached. I like my unattached self too much. Besides, anything that helps us get to the summer better, right?

[Silver]

I suppose. I hope you know what you're doing.

[Glass]

I always know what I'm doing. Silver. Come on. We gotta go. Amber and Copper are gonna think we died.

[Silver]

You'll need to tell them too. They deserve to know.

[Glass]

I know I will.

[Narrator]

Hymns for the Road is a podcast written and Produced by Anna McGuire, starring Maurice Thomas as Silver, Pau Panganibon as Glass, Grizz Siebenek as Amber, Tabitha Bardal as Copper, and featuring Tom Schalk as the Bog Monster and Justice Washington as Astor. Original music by Joshua David Met Mitchell Sign up for our [e-mail] or support our work on Patreon.com Hodgepodgeaudio thank you for listening.

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