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Friends at the Table

Friends at the Tablefriendsatthetable.net
Friends at the Table is an actual play podcast about critical worldbuilding, smart characterization, and fun interaction between good friends. Find us (and a listener guide) @Friends_Table on Twitter.

Episodes

Perpetua Prelude 05

With new knowledge about the state—and future—of their world, the group of travelers take up their exploration again. Some learn first hand about this continent’s fauna—majestic, mighty, and mystifying. One finds more evidence of the Valte Empire’s violent search for their own answers. And some, in search of peace and quiet, finds himself facing evidence not of some dark future to come, but of a puzzling past. This week on Friends at the Table: Perpetua Prelude 05 PERPETUA PRELUDE - GUIDE Enemie...

Apr 12, 20252 hr 44 min

Perpetua Prelude 04

With supplies in their packs and an increasingly detailed map, the explorers travel further through Perpetua’s western continent. While some learn more about local nature and culture, others stumble towards larger truths. A star descending from the heavens. A fleet across the blue. The striking of a clock… the ringing of a bell… This week on Friends at the table: Perpetua Prelude 04 PERPETUA PRELUDE - GUIDE Factions - [PPFC] Not much is known about these groups because the demo cuts off so early...

Apr 05, 20252 hr 3 min

Perpetua Prelude 04

With supplies in their packs and an increasingly detailed map, the explorers travel further through Perpetua’s western continent. While some learn more about local nature and culture, others stumble towards larger truths. A star descending from the heavens. A fleet across the blue. The striking of a clock… the ringing of a bell… This week on Friends at the table: Perpetua Prelude 04 PERPETUA PRELUDE - GUIDE Factions - [PPFC] Not much is known about these groups because the demo cuts off so early...

Apr 03, 20252 hr 8 min

Perpetua Prelude 03

After making emergency landings all across Perpetua’s western continent, Glesi, Yukai, Harlow, Tomor, and Arley have begun to find their footing—if not each other. Now, they leave where they landed, and begin to make their way across this mysterious land in search of answers to the question that brought them here to begin with: What is the Altar of Perpetua? This week on Friends at the Table: Perpetua Prelude 03 PERPETUA PRELUDE - GUIDE ITEMS AND MATERIALS - [PPIM] Sheldonica Ore [IMSO]: An incr...

Mar 26, 20252 hr 6 min

Perpetua Prelude 02

Minds driven by curiosity and hearts filled with hope, the expedition group sets off across the sea that separates their homeland from the rest of the world. From the perspective offered by their airship, they get a taste of what is to come: Palaces and plazas! Mountains and rivers! Strange, draconic towers! A land of life and lore, filled with knowledge yet unknown to them! But first… there’s the matter of the smoke coming from the engine room. This week: Perpetua Prelude 02 PERPETUA PRELUDE - ...

Mar 20, 20252 hr 53 min

Perpetua Prelude 01

A CLOCK STRIKES. A BELL RINGS. Welcome to Perpetua: Prelude, a short, six episode prologue to Perpetua, our next full season of Friends at the Table. For Perpetua proper, we’ll be playing Fabula Ultima, following two groups of unlikely heroes as they investigate ancient mysteries, confront rivals and villains, and grow together as friends and allies. But first… we have to set the stage and build the world—or at least some of it. So, we’re kicking things off with Cartograph: Atlas Edition to help...

Mar 13, 20251 hr 25 min

A tiny announcement!

Hello all! This is a short announcement to make sure everyone is aware THE NEXT SEASON OF FRIENDS AT THE TABLE IS STARTING TOMORROW(/TODAY MOST LIKELY AT THE TIME YOU ARE READING THIS! IT'S MIDNIGHT SOMEWHERE! IT'S MIDNIGHT EASTERN TIME AT THE TIME THAT I'M POSTING THIS, ACTUALLY!) ...ahem. Let me break from the caps to make this post actually readable. Thursday, March 13th 7 PM EST we will be debuting our next season Perpetua. We'll be starting the season with the Perpetua Prelude playing a wor...

Mar 13, 20255 min

Realis: Nextlander Preview

Hey everyone! To make the wait for next week's premier of Perpetua just a little bit easier, we decided to share a recent session of Realis Austin ran with the Nextlander crew! Enjoy! Hosted by Austin Walker ( @austinwalker on bluesky) Featuring V inny Caravella, Brad Shoemaker, and Alex Navarro Music by Jack de Quidt ( available on bandcamp ) Cover Art by by Oddesque With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Aster Maragos, Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, E...

Mar 07, 20254 hr 44 min

Realis 05: Feast at the Citadel Bein 04

This episode carries content warnings for body horror and military violence On a moon of muddy histories, none is as unclear as that of the Citadel Bein. There are, in fact, no records of a fortress ever being raised on the hill above the lake. But when you cannot find the roots, find the branches: Date the changes in county-wide taxes. Track the yearly increase in travel during the harvest season. Re-read the stories of the pigs and the soil and cross-reference the lyrics of the major rondeaux....

Feb 28, 20252 hr 42 min

Realis 04: Feast at the Citadel Bein 03

This episode carries content warnings for body horror, injury and magical intoxication Like many of the truths of Realis, the nature of the Creature—conceptually—is contingent on context and subjectivity. In illustration: For the Child, the Dog may be First a companion, Second a responsibility, and Third a curious sliver of raw wilderness. For the Parent, the Dog may be First a living lesson, Second a dutiful guard, and Third, a fellow Caregiver, capable of providing food, shelter, and spiritual...

Feb 21, 20252 hr 53 min

Realis 03: Feast at the Citadel Bein 02

As far as traveling spectacles go, the Krinsky Family Circus has it good. Because it only operates on the four moons of the Tetraspherica, which orbit close enough for low orbit shuttles to traverse, it does not need to rely on the mercurial whims of an Orphan Vessel. And because of the variety of cultures encountered on its circuit, there is always the opportunity to find new hires and encounter fellow showmen from which new techniques. Most of all, because the route is short and reliable, Thos...

Feb 14, 20252 hr 8 min

Realis 02: Feast at the Citadel Bein 01

Ulled is a pocked and placid-seeming agricultural moon. But as the saying goes, be wary the still lake. Yes, farmers speak softly and tend to their crops with loving cultivation. Yes, life is quiet and late afternoons are restful. Yes, harvest work brings reward. But then there is underneath. There is underneath. But Those Nerveless Chancers, The Krinsky Family Circus And Travelling Curiosity, they know only what is above. They know they step on fertile soil and soft grass, perfect for staking t...

Feb 07, 20252 hr 9 min

Realis 01: Those Nerveless Chancers

I want you to close your eyes and imagine with me: Imagine Realis Itself, the Radiant Planet at the heart of the Thousand Moons, that orb which lights the cosmos entire. Above it, the betrayer star, the Corpse Sun, red and sick and pulsing ill, small and fainter by the day. Below it, hungry and roiling, the Great Void, an abyss of voracious clouds. And in between, those thousand moons, countless except you know their number. Varied eternally, yet all dwarfed by the azure orb around which they gl...

Jan 30, 20252 hr 12 min

An Introduction to Realis

Two and a half years ago, towards the end of our NNAFN fundraiser , I announced that I was making a game called Realis. That game is now here—at least in Ashcan form. So, what is Realis? Realis is a cursed orbital sphere of 1,000 mystical moons filled with mystery, magic, and impossible technology. Realis is a game of diceless storytelling, where characters deploy powerful Sentences, which are rewritten over the course of their saga. And it’s available right now. This Ashcan version is being pub...

Jan 24, 20252 hr 55 min

Bonus: Live at the Table: Shooting the Moon Pt. 4

Hey everyone, here's the audio for the Shooting the Moon finale! Ali, Jack and Janine played Shooting the Moon by Emily Care Boss (which you can find here: http://www.blackgreengames.com/shop ). Join us as we return to a far away toy shop in a snow covered down as the beloved toymaker and her suitors chase their dreams and their hearts~ We'll be back very soon with brand new episodes.

Jan 17, 20252 hr 43 min

Bonus: Live at the Table: Shooting the Moon Pt. 2

Here's part two of Shooting The Moon featuring Jack, Janine and Ali! The suitors meet their beloved and with her, an opportunity to achieve their dreams. Will they be able to overcome the hurdles that stand in their way? Will the beloved find a partner on her path to achieve her own dreams? A transcription is available for this episode here....

Jan 03, 20252 hr 51 min

Bonus: Live at the Table: Shooting the Moon Pt. 1

This epsiode was originally recorded as an exclusive for the Friends at the Table Patreon in December 2018. To support us and get access to the rest of our Patreon-only catalog, you can go to friendsatthetable.cash . Here's part one of Shooting The Moon featuring Jack, Janine and Ali! This part is just character creation before a real break we took on air and the next post will be the rest of the stream! Come get to know our humble toymakers and see if sparks will fly........!!...

Dec 25, 20241 hr 28 min

Palisade Post-Mortem

Hello! Welcome to the Palisade post-mortem! I struggle to find something to write here that isn't covered in this nearly five hour episode so let's just go over the important announcements. New Merch! We've added some new merch to friendsattetable.shop to celebrate our 10th year anniversary and the end of Palisade! The hat and shirt will be available for as long as possible but the poster is a limited edition item only being sold until October 1st! Based on some potential issues with getting a g...

Sep 20, 20245 hr 51 min

Palisade Post-mortem TONIGHT 6:30 PM ET ON TWITCH!

Hullo! Just a short announcement confirming the post mortem for anyone who isn't subscribed to our socials or our patreon newsletter--but I DO think you should do that hitting join for free right here! Our Palisade post-mortem WILL be streaming tonight over at twitch.tv/friendsatthetable! And here are some things I'm copying and pasting from our last post that you might be interested in :) To celebrate our anniversary, we're doing a giveaway!! You can enter into the giveaway by going to https://...

Sep 12, 20243 min

Goodbye Palisade! Upcoming Twitch Stream + Giveaway September 12th!!

HELLO! WELCOME TO THE END OF PALISADE! THERE ARE A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS IN THIS POST! Right now the date of the Palisade Post mortem isn't 100% decided. OUR PLAN AT THE MOMENT IS TO STREAM ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH. Odds are very high that this will be the Palisade post mortem but if it isn't, we'll still be streaming to celebrate our anniversary Yes that's right!! September 12th is the 10th anniversary of the first episode of Seasons of Hieron....................... wow. Did you know we only cal...

Sep 04, 202414 min

PALISADE 62: Above the Earth Pt. 6

This episode carries content warnings for mental manipulation and body horror ////ACTIVE RECORD PERSPECTIVE: ASEPSIS ////DATE: 01.01.0001 [category pending] ////LOCATION: STATION PERENNIAL - PERENNIAL SHARD - BLUE CHANNEL | STRAND COORDINATE 00.00.0127236 ///RECORD TYPE: PARTIAL INVENTORY OF ITEMS RATED ESSENTIAL NON-ESSENTIALS (OVERRIDE K.B.99) 1x Framed Photograph [Young woman with three pairs of wings, standing above the wreckage of an altar, signed with rushed, curving signature] 12x 'Bing32...

Aug 30, 20242 hr 19 min

PALISADE 61: Above the Earth Pt. 5

This episode carries content warnings for mental manipulation, body horror, and death. Hours after defeating Artifice, and hours before Motion's flagship breaches the far end of the battlefield, an uncomfortable buzz runs through the air. Even with the reinforcements from Millennium Break and the Apostolosians loyal to Cas'alear Rizah, the defenders of Perennial are outnumbered. Worse: Great heroics on the battlefield might fell a Divine or rout a batallion, but how do you stop a machine god who...

Aug 24, 20242 hr 57 min

PALISADE 60: Above the Earth Pt. 4

This episode carries content warnings for mental manipulation, body horror, and death. Though Motion and her fleet remain at a distance, Levi, Brnine, Thisbe, and Cori find themselves facing overwhelming odds against the Pact’s forward operating unit, led by Passiflora, elect of the divine Artifice. Meanwhile, as Exeter Leap looks for a way to help Cas’alear Rizah with their address to the galaxy, Motion’s grip on their minds begins to tighten. Thankfully, unexpected guidance could be right arou...

Aug 16, 20243 hr 56 min

PALISADE 59: Above the Earth Pt. 3

This episode carries content warnings for mental manipulation. At the center of the galaxy, the battle rages. Outnumbered, Cori and Thisbe turn to powers divine and profane in order to turn the tide, while Levi goes toe to toe with foes ten times his size. Brnine, Hunting--along with the the crews of the Blue Channel, Starcrossed, and Stolen Cameo--support their forces on the ground below. And in the depths of the station, Exeter Leap leads Cas'alear Rizah deeper into the maze, where the scion o...

Aug 09, 20242 hr 44 min

PALISADE 58: Above the Earth Pt. 2

Under the command of Levitation Cascabel-Gardner, and supported by an ad-hoc alliance with Millennium Break, the pirate crew of the Precipice, and the dedicated loyalists of exiled Apokine Cas'alear Rizah, an operation at the center of the galaxy begins. At the center: A strip of metal as long as a city and as deep as a geological straum, which produces and spreads an endless wave of nanomachiens across the Milky Way. To its relative north, the supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy...

Aug 02, 20242 hr 12 min

PALISADE 57: Above the Earth Pt. 1

With a fleet of Pact vessels heading towards Perennial’s station at the center of the Milky Way, Levi Cascabel-Gardner, Exeter Leap, and the reunited crew of the Blue Channel join with their allies on the beaches of the nearest world. There, they prepare for what is to come: Searching for new tools, drawing formations in the sand, and connecting with the very currents of reality. It is a place they know well, a time of preparation and planning. One last, long held breath under blue skies. This w...

Jul 26, 20242 hr 59 min

PALISADE 56: Some New Thing Found in the Light, Or: A Year in Nine Parts

This episode carries content warnings for death and severe isolation. It happened without much fanfare: They'd scattered—like the so-called shards of Divinity itself—all across the Milky Way. Searching. Fleeing. Exploring. Building. Fighting. A year apart. Not their year apart, because there was no "them" anymore, not by affinity or proximity, not through collaboration or communication, not in duty, not in friendship. And around them, the Divine Principality seemed to be slowly splintering too. ...

Jul 19, 20243 hr 45 min

PALISADE 55: A Palette of Colors Pt. 10

There, on the edge of the Twilight Mirage, after a period of rapid revolution, the world of Palisade seems to find a slower rate of turn. Objects that hung in the air find their place on the ground—or commit to leaving the world, carrying their outward momentum with them. But even a world at peace exists in a broader orbit. This week on PALISADE: A Palette of Colors Pt. 10 Hey, just look at us now / Time made fools of us all Hosted by Austin Walker ( @austin_walker ) Featuring Janine Hawkins ( @...

Jul 05, 20242 hr 6 min

PALISADE 54: A Palette of Colors Pt. 9

The Twilight Mirage is known for its captivating color, its endless light, its ever-shifting shape, and its penchant for blurring the physical and digital into a poetic reality impossible to deny. But along with these things, it is marked by a unique distance, separated from the galaxy through tumultuous time. In this way, its sunset skies might be better understood to be storm clouds. And as the members of the Blue Channel will come to learn, there are many ways out of a tempest, but all of the...

Jun 28, 20242 hr 52 min