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[PUBLIC EPISODE] The Wizard, the Witch and the Wild One: ep031 "The Souvenir"

Everyone comes together in the Keep of the Woodland Green. But time keeps on slipping into the future, like a tree slips towards the sky, with hours left until Ame's judgement day, and still so many muddy rivers to cross. What wouldn't you do to save your true friend? To keep the big guys from knowing what you're up to? Would you look in a place you've never looked before? Yeah? You would? Then a wandering we will go.

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We recommend listening to Worlds Beyond Number (and the Fireside Feed) on a "podcatching" app like Overcast or Pocket Casts. We opposite-of-recommend listening on Youtube Music, which is bad. For more help getting the right audio in the right place, check out our friendly instruction guide.

We are

Brennan Lee Mulligan

Erika Ishii

Aabria Iyengar

Lou Wilson

Produced, designed, and scored by Taylor Moore  at Fortunate Horse with exquisite design and editing help from Jared Olson.

SPECIAL THANKS TO: Tazer Army, Shannon, and Amanda Freberg.

Album art by the great Corey Brickley

Comments

25:20, I relistened to this episode and I finally remembered what the audio cue ambiance music of the spirits reminded me of!! In the movie Brother Bear whenever the spirits appears with the Aurora lights, you can hear such a profound magical choir!! Such a beautiful thing… there’s a YouTube video just called “Brother Bear Transformation song” that is what I’m thinking of!

Ami C

I honestly had the same thought I can’t wait to see what form she takes not that she’s changing up her plants. Does it effect her personality and speech as well or just the fit I can’t waaaaaait

BigMomma

I wonder if Hakea is going to rock up to the council tomorrow in a twenty year old body, veil of beads, longbow slung over her shoulder and say, "Let's do this, bitches!"

Joshua rassier

🤯

OneGirlPainting

👆🏼

Aviva

Thanks for the cackle, Brandon. I hope BLeeM saw that.

Aviva

Gods save the chowder!

Aviva

Or maybe it’s the best response. Depends on your end game, I suppose.

Aviva

I figure not knowing the spelling of words you only hear is like not knowing the pronunciation of words you learned by reading in context. Anyone who judges you for it is the asshole, and there are no apologies necessary. And yeah. Mirara is scary AF.

Aviva

Yeah, I do a *lot* of rewinding if I listen in the car.

Aviva

Time to craft some drapes.

Aviva

She absolutely used the juice, but she didn’t use the reflexive indicative. That might mean the Citadel and Steel don’t know it was Suvi who cast it.

Aviva

Eursulon: *teleports behind Sokoro* Nothing personal, kid

Jack Barlow

Right on!

OneGirlPainting

Maybe, as a deal-sweetener of sorts, maybe agreeing to enter into covenant grants some boon on its own?

TheloniousPunkyBrewster

I love that her verbal component was simply the word "No".

TheloniousPunkyBrewster

There's a moment in this episode that implies you can use the wand to replace an existing witch. That means they could use the wand to replace another witch on the council with someone else.

Kurt Anderson

I was worried that Suvi pulled power from the citadel when she cast the abbrev spell to get all the source info on the spider box so I figure Steel knows… scary! This is such good storytelling! I listened to this episode 3 times it was so rich in detail ❤️

OneGirlPainting

I'm wondering if the fact that everyone's room has windows with stars outside will prove to be a problem at some point...

Iridium

I’m right there with you

The Wizard Sparrow

She called it a quest, but her tone had the underlying effect of a challenge

The Wizard Sparrow

I started listening to this in my car while I drove home then quickly realized. There’s too much going on so when I got home I started over and cheered at the right moments. Such a good episode. I want more

The Wizard Sparrow

I nearly always re-listen to the last 5 minutes of the previous episode before starting a new one.

Carrie Mook Bridgman

We'll have to find out, but there was probably a mix of both. They probably made the pilgrimages individually

Bingus2277

Lore question: In this episode it’s revealed that Hakea was the first Great Witch and she had the power to bring other “Great Witches” into the Coven. Did she initiate all the first Great Witches or did other Great Witches help her with finding and initiating people?

Sammi Jacobs

The Myrara and Suvi scene was so good! It actually got me scared lol. (Sorry I don’t know how to properly spell the characters’ names 😭)

Sammi Jacobs

Endlessly intrigued by the exit scene in which Hakea begins summoning the will to take on another challenge. The idea that she's willing her magic and herself to regrow a new self is incredibly cool for a sort of mortal mother nature character. So thematic for the domain she represents, too.

Tanner Pace

"I want to snuggle a dire wolf" is probably not the right response

Elizabeth Boskey

Such amazing story telling! Cannot wait for the fireside and next episode! Way to go Wizard Sky!

Ryan L.

Another amazing episode! Just wondering if we could maybe get some recaps of where we left off each episode because my mind is such a muddle and I forget 😅

Robin Hayward

That great hall scene was sooo good, it hit so different after seeing the character art 😭💀 Brennan is too good at horror. The first fight, the story telling, ugh the feelings i feel when each episode ends. This is just so good.

KSolstice

This has nothing to do with the episode, just sharing fanart based on last week's Fireside. https://www.instagram.com/p/C9lSygDRMqv/?igsh=MXZwd3ZhcnQ0cWx4NQ==

LSky670

This was an incredible.episode, how it ties things together and brings the story forward. An answer given that is true to the past of the story.

Daniel Stevens

We didn't get to hear enough of Hakea's voice in other episodes, and I must say, her voice is one of my favourites in this story so far, Brennan 🩵💐🌿

Sil

Not a whirlwind of external plot events, but a metric shitload of worldbuilding, and nearly constant, massive character growth and progression.

Brandon Carbaugh

Every time Steel pulls up a memory in that thing there's a bluescreen FBI warning from the coven that the dvd menu won't let her skip past.

Brandon Carbaugh

That flashback was incredible. The richness of this setting is like bathing in a pool of molten chocolate. And it's not just a bunch of high fantasy proper nouns -- it all has such deep thematic heft and resonance, because it's so rooted in characters and ethics and emotion. UGH. So good. Also, it is the most Brennan Lee Mulligan ass worldbuilding ever that the magic talking tree's foremost concern is the perils of partisan gridlock.

Brandon Carbaugh

Every episode I listen to, I'm grateful to hear such great storytelling! So beautiful and so awesome to be along for this rollercoaster.

TM King

I haven’t been so emotionally invested in fictional characters since I first read Harry Potter, 25 years ago. You all do such an incredible job, thank you so much for bringing these beautiful characters to life.

Sheila

Excuse me but, how? Just how. This is so good.

Paul Barkley

Opening combat felt like an anime fight! Great episode!

Caleb Nee

I love this story so much

cloudy

gaaahwjeidfsnethfisl more mysteries!!! another amazing ep - thank you!

expandingnebula

"Wren chose well" iirc

NewtonHorse

OH IS THAT WHAT SHE SAID???

1man2hands

What did Hakea say that they all went awww to? Sounded like "ranchos hrhfjaksjdkdm"

1man2hands

I wondered if they wanted to use the wand name new witches who are sworn to aid the Man in Black. Getting rid of those against it, Ame is the easiest target and Hakea is definitely the OP so I think they’re just waiting for her to pass.

Ren Dara

Of they do not take the star map Steel gave them to the library I will scream

Glen Petrofski

This design gave me rogue vibes

Glen Petrofski

Who else is thinking the different wells are the roots of the worlds tree being tended to?

Glen Petrofski

It would be Ame if anyone. Because she’s an actual witch, and also the witch of “connections.” Who better to rebuild the coven? Tho I could also see them deciding to break the wand at the end of this arc too

Jet Magetti

So many incredible moments in this episode, and so many incredible soundscapes! Hakea was absolutely pitch perfect, and Heinrule! And Suvi being so clever in not fighting, and Eursulon so brave in fighting, and Ame and cackling and the Fox absolutely understanding a metaphor and and and!!! As always, thank you so much for sharing this astonishing art of story with us <3

annemjw

Mirara is trying to help... honest. Though it's interesting to think that she was able to warp light, not because she's a witch, yet because she's from an outter plane. Gives me an interesting take on a bard who wears a changing mask (thanks Pointy Hat). A.G.

Aussie Griffin

Weird thing? I think that's her natural way of dealing with people and I think I know what she meant by being willing to open and close doors. A.G.

Aussie Griffin

I think it was just accidentally skipped. The discussion around it made it pretty clear that they just needed an odd number. Now if Brennan has skipped 9 instead, there might be an argument for prime numbers.

Zengief

With Aabria being a DM as well, I am sure she knew what Brennan was doing. To me it read more as a negotiation between Brennan and Aabria, covered in story tellinging. Brennan: I need you to share the music box with the others. Aabria: I don't want to, but if you are going to make me, then don't f me over for doing it.

Zengief

Just GOTTA say I love the Fox's yelps as he runs across a floor COVERED in predators like every one of my stress dreams lol. 😅 Also, does anyone get Avatar Kyoshi vibes from young Hakea?? Just the earlier generation doing what she has to do and completely changing the world/earth connection/bluntness idk. Also ALSO, I've been wondering since they introduced the coven numbers whether there was a straightforward way to reinstate old stations of witches/grow the coven back to its original number, and it's such a relief to know that that's possible! I really hope that that's part of Ame's Arc somehow because right now it seems like the world needs more witches keeping the balance instead of a few monopolizing their power! (Feeling extra relevant right now with all the supreme court decisions that having a small number of people in power forever maybe is not good) Maybe there's also some greater punishment for breaking the wand than just ending the conclave, otherwise I feel like Indry would have done it already? Also Also ALSO, an incredible episode all around and even though the Citadel sketches me out, I'm absolutely in love with this spy plot and all of its complications!! Thank you to everyone for all your hard work on production/ post-production!!

rocket-flash

Suvi taking her first baby steps outside her citadel programming… you go girl.

Sid Richey

I’m just wondering if the Citadel plans to understand witches as an enemy, or plans to make witch covens of their own…

Sid Richey

I love this show so much. I listen on multiple players to juice the numbers.

Shelby Welby

You ever finish an episode and then immediately hit replay to make sure you got everything? This episode is fantastic, echoing what a few people have said here I think it is one of my favourites, i just have such a soft spot for ancient powerful witches who Do Not want to be in a DnD campaign 😅

Ro Lara

Curious to know why eleven is a bad number for a coven. There used to be thirteen I think, so I wonder if at one point, four stations had to be destroyed instead of just two. Also I wonder if the witch of the world’s heart, which is rooted in the concept of bringing people together, might prevent the wand of covenant from being snapped until her station is destroyed and that’s why Indri, who is the witch of NOT being around people, is acting against her

Connor

Once again. I NEED A SOUNDTRACK TAYLOR!! I NEEED IT

Zach Turner

Absolute perfection. Thank you guys for giving us this amazing episode. I felt like so much was happening that I needed to listen to it a second time immediately.

Melissa Bravo

The traitor spirits were playing checkers and Hakaia was playing Pokemon

Bigzaddy42069

The laughing in the background during Ame's cackle is like something I need more of just in my life, I don't know why but I loved the sound of it so much

Pastel

That imprisonment moment gave me actual goosebumps. That was crazy.

BingusBongos

This episode had me losing my mind. Arc 3 is easily the best arc yet imo. Every episode is insane, so much happens, and yet somehow so little that it leaves me craving more. So… you guys have made narrative crack. Congratulations

Jet Magetti

Suvi and the Fox bonding I’m soft

Makenzie

I greatly appreciate Brennan’s judo move of blocking Suvi’s path to the airship: her momentum is redirected back to the group. Trust to share comes slowly, but like the teleportation location at the cottage, it only takes a few times for a groove to form.

Katrina Lombardi

“She made it dark and then her face was by my face.” 😂😂😂

✨ Marlee ✨

full verklempt misty eyes at 12:45. “why she has so disappointed the order of the world”? IM SORRY? ⚰️

Em

Imma need tree of worlds and Tracy the talking tree fan art expeditiously, also the effects on Brendan’s vocals for the Tree were awesome sounding in the car

Jon O

I heard warp and weft, so I’m thinking weaving things together

Chelsie K

You wouldn’t download a [STARBORNE RECOLLECTIONS BEYOND COUNTING]

dain saint

This ep was SOOO GOOD. Lore craving has been satisfied so well in this arc

Haepenny

Hi gang! Around 1:12:40 Suvi mentions something about the secret of [blank]. Something about a warping waft? For the life of me I can't understand it. Can someone give me a hand (or an ear really lol) thanks!!

Franco Muscellini

She and Suvi will definitely demand wanting to be at the next "drink naked till we're sick " party

FooldiverDX

I think Hakaia's surliness is less about age, and more about watching Indree kill her sisters and there's nothing Hakaia can do.

FooldiverDX

GOD DAMN THIS ONE HITS SO GOOD. We are SPOILED for both lore and action- seeing the gang in combat now versus the fight against Captain Emlass (warlock of the Pilgrim Under Stars?) Or against the corrupt wizard. They are in sync, and they understand how to respect each other's strengths and it's so well earned after their strife as a group of young people under incredible odds, expectations, and various levels of power and perceptions of the world writ large. The world lore! The way Suvi and Ame immediately cast protection spells on one another! Heinrule and Eursulon's embrace! YEWOLA! I have a notes app conspiracy board for the first time in years and I have to thank everyone that works on this project for that unbelievable gift.

Benny Bee

One of my favorite episodes so far!

Tommy Deibel

i HAVE to re-listen to this thick ‘sode because there is SO much to unpack, i am spoiled for lore, etc. but!! i would be remiss if i didn’t mention the bud of hope that tentatively bloomed when Brennan described the Tree of Worlds as, “its roots and branches reach into the world of the real” … is this a path for Eursulon to find his way home?? either for the gang to travel there during their journey or an opportunity for him to return at the end of his adventure? 🥺😭🫠 and hey y’all? hey. gang? what’s the significance of Suvi/the Citadel training/encouraging the murder any Chalice versus the Tree of Worlds speaking about chalices in a more holistic sense? AND the stitching of the Man in Black’s vest from the last episode? cuz i’m pretty sure Brennan’s got some freaky lil Irish tricks up his sleeve and “chalice” is one of those words that holds power in this world simply in the ways it can have multiple meanings. not to mention the importance the Citadel places on those words which can be intentionally misconstrued or interpreted in their favor. another example being Namecloaks wielding their own power in the chosen word itself. is it all just fear-mongering? is the Citadel at large AWARE of the Man in Black (i know Steel is), even indirectly, and do they believe Chalices serve him? DO they serve him specifically? i know they are Rhuvian in origin. they both want the downfall of the Citadel, but would the Man in Black waste his time with mortals? and we know so little about the Dominion of Rhuv… which is giving very much “history is written by the victors” 👀 there seemed to be so much weight in Steel’s previous advice to “let them underestimate you” that feels so dangerously Citadellian (?) at its core, BUT also feels very in line with my theory that i’ve had since the Children’s Adventure: that Soft and Stone were triple agents. “undercover” for the Citadel in Rhuv, and also working alongside Rhuv to either bring down the Citadel or restructure it to prune the imperialist corruption. could Suvi’s parents be alive in hiding? if any of my rambling is even true, how much does Steel know?? with Suvi having just undergone Geas, if they implement some form of Greater Geas in this game… DOES STEEL EVEN KNOW THAT SHE KNOWS? 😫 i feel like that Always Sunny Pepe Silvia meme right now. ‘bout to pull a Riz Gukgak and get a bunch of Memento tattoos of conspiracy clues fr speaking of freaky fae nonsense, the Tree of World’s phrasing of the contract for the Wand of Covenant could either really benefit the gang or break SO VERY BAD and i have to wonder whether Indri knows the full extent of her actions. she can’t know about breaking the wand or i think she would have done that already. unlesssss she thinks she can take Hakea’s place as the “first” witch of the coven and appoint only those who bend to her will. all in all, this D&D Deku Tree has got me scared and horny! 😀 and another thing!! ☝🏻 HEY, WBN&CO., EACH ONE OF YOU IS A TRULY BREATHTAKING, LIFE-CHANGING STORYTELLER (YES THAT INCLUDES YOU, TAYLOR) AND I SIMPLY COULD NOT BE MORE GRATEFUL AND AWE-INSPIRED IF I TRIED (imagine i’m saying this with all of the frantic, earnest egodeath of the Fox because that is my intent). sorry for yelling. as you were.

bails 🌀 witch of the what the fuck

Knowing that indri has the wand and can snap it anytime she likes makes me wonder why she needs Ame and her station gone and what could be the end goal. Love this show so much I just can’t

BigMomma

Times I screamed: Ame's Nat 20. When Heinrule embraces Eursolon (except it was KISS HIM. KISS HIMMMM). And "Wren chose well" 😭❤️

Ashley Teatum

Erika yelling, "coward" when eursalon put his clothes back on was so funny 😂

Christopher Anselmi

Piracy confirmed fine and cool by magical law

Pendergreens’ Sick Ibanez

Wow. One of the best episodes so far.

Ace game reviews

Amazing EP! When will the wizard subclass be out???

KirbyTheDevourer

Oh my god I can’t believe I nailed it! I knew the music box was a copying device! The description Brennan gave was so epically cool. Man what I great episode, we got combat, lore, and secrets. Knowing what the wand does and how important their numbers are makes me think that there is a MUCH deeper plot than to simply destroy Ame and her station. That now feels like just the spark to light the fuse. Wow, so freaking psyched!!!!!

abardnamedkate

I think this episode was my favorite thus far. Sooooo much happened, and the lore of this world is just delicious( well fucking done Brennan👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼)You guys just always hit a home run. But. For. The. Love. Of. All the Gods!! I need more!!! Too short. But fantastic nonetheless.

LuChiChi4

I mean he did lick Eursulon's face - it technically counts if you believe it in your heart

Esotericrow

That OwlCatBear do be swangin

Esotericrow

Everyone say thank you grandma

Julia Whitmore

I actually wonder if The Man in Black isn't working with another witch at all. I just can't see a fellow witch sending a Great Spirit after the witch who is the best at working with, around, and against spirits. The King of Night seems to have made a deal - one in which he takes two lives, and I think the one for sorrow is the one he bargained for in exchange for some kind of permission or benefit to strike down the wizards of the Citadel. So who would want/need Grandma Wren (or specifically the Witch of the World's Heart) dead, and also be able and willing to sacrifice the Citadel? I have my guesses, but I'll leave my theorycrafting at that~

Esotericrow

We coulda had it all https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/033/487/rick.jpg

Esotericrow

This show makes me feel absolutely feral - so MUCH happens in every episode and yet I'm left starving for more by the end. This entire SEASON has taken place over the course of what? Two days?? And I am losing my mind at how much has happened and how little time has passed. Even this time, I'm like "Okay, next episode is the Vote, for SURE" and in all likelihood in two weeks I'm gonna listen to Ame, Suvi, Eursulon, and the Fox skip sleeping altogether so they can perform a heist on the tower with the wand with like an hour left before the meeting, and I'll burst into frustrated tears as Taylor's voice tells me that was Lou Wilson as Eursulon, Erika Ishii as Ame, Aabria Iyengar as Suvi, and Brennan Lee Mulligan as everyone - and everything - else... This story is so unbelievably good I can't stand it.

Esotericrow

1 hour and 29 minutes in my guy had an opportunity to say worlds beyond number and didn't

Kurt Anderson

"No response, echoes from Mirara's masked face" ok goddamn Brennan I'm still recovering from The Stranger's bars from last episode, I'm gonna need a minute here

I cast Vicious Inspiration

in this case, Cackle Cackle!

I cast Vicious Inspiration

this is up there as one of the absolute best episodes so far, thank y'all so much for these gifts <3

Jack Phelps

Who has domain of the spirits? Is it Mirara or Indri that is directing the King of Night? It sure feels like Mirara, but I could see Brennan doing a fakeout and making Indri the real problem.

Zengief

You can heart it now. It is well into the 70s

Zengief

OOOOOH

Sarah

I am in love with everything in this episode but I don't want to heart it bc it's at 69 hearts.

Theo Lee

Does... does the Reflexive Indicative allow the Citadel to track spellcasting? Is that the real reason Stone and Soft started casting that way? Because they were working behind the Citadel's back??

Ari Crossby

🤩

Shelby Welby

The possibilities with the wand are wrinkling my brain

Sam Thomas

….could Suvi become the new Hakea…?

Melissa Shilale

god this one slaps any reservations i had about this arc, it's probably gone pls land this gang

Bill Posters

I 1000% thought Heinerule was goin in for the kiss to eursulon

Natatta

OH MY GOD HAKEA IS SO COOOOOOOL!!!!!!!!!

Lonoran

Lore dump! Lore dump! Gotta update all my notes and theories!!! Badze and her bae in timeout Suvi 1v1 with Mirara Suvi showing the fam something she is pretty sure is risky Odd numbers of old The treeeeee of worlds!!! I love grumpy old witches

Emily C

The cackle!! Yes!

Nandi Kayyy

When Eursulon was putting his clothes back on after the fight I thought Brennan said, “You sheath your Wavebreaker”. Lol

BurpBiter

Love waking up to a new episode. Thank you to WBN for making my morning easier

CommodoreBlue

The roots and branches intertwine - pentacles The chalice holds - cups The basket weaves - ?? ... I thought it can't be swords, but the element of air... The Web connects - wands, fire, the connection of the fireside... I THINK I SEE WHAT YOU'RE DOING, FAM

Sil

Love a good riddle

Glen Petrofski

Finally, a new episode to listen to while at work.

Michael Munene

Just the title makes me wonder if it is a 'Suvi'-nir.

Zengief

Yaaaay 🎉

Ryan L.

Hurry up noisy children and fall asleep so I can listen!

Michael Mills

Hot damn that fight!

SvenTS

Crackle, crackle!

Whyse Wytch

Mom come pick me up I'm scared

Moss


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