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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

Twilight Mirage 11: What We're Capable Of

With the Contrition’s Figure rehabilitation facility safe and secured, the Beloved Dust are left to attend to matters personal*, professional, and spiritual. After slipping through the data stream, Fourteen Fifteen makes a brand new debut. Elsewhere, Tender Sky takes the first step in a long project of self-fulfillment, while ⸢Signet⸣ fulfills something else: a promise. We got so familiar... This week on Twilight Mirage: What We're Capable Of The Living Library of Memorious // VOLUME 001:A Conce...

Sep 08, 20171 hr 30 min

Twilight Mirage 10: Looking To Land

In the virtual confines of the Contrition's Figure rehabilitation center, it has come time for the Beloved Dust to face their foes! The bounty hunter Fourteen Fifteen frees the convict Aura Antigua and places her in the care of protege Sho Salon, taking her place in the strange vise which had trapped her. Elsewhere, Signet and Tender Sky climb to great heights to confront the Iconoclasts... and to investigate the mysterious White Cloud entity. Do you have room for...? This week on Friends at the...

Sep 01, 20171 hr 14 min

Twilight Mirage 09: The Sound of Strings

Driven into a corrupted, digital city by a mysterious foe, the Beloved Dust set up to rescue the inhabitants of the rehabilitation center called Contrition’s Figure. Tender Sky and ⸢Signet⸣ chase the iconoclasts* as they heads towards skyscraper (and a mysterious, living cloud above). Sho Salon and Fourteen Fifteen, meanwhile, contend with streets packed with furious simulacra as they seek the source of a strange song. Watch for traffic! This week on Twilight Mirage: The Sound of Strings The Liv...

Aug 25, 20171 hr 24 min

Twilight Mirage 08: We are the River, And it is the Sea

In the heart of Contrition’s Figure, the Beloved Dust continue to investigate a strange disturbance that is displacing the inhabitants of the rehabilitation facility. Fourteen Fifteen interrogates Declan’s Corrective, unrepentant member of the New Earth Hegemony*. Sho Salon lectures on the divines, while Tender Sky comes face to face with the past. Signet meets a group of the facility’s residents…. and someone else meets them, too. They’re here… This week on Twilight Mirage: We Are the River and...

Aug 18, 20171 hr 36 min

Twilight Mirage 07: Second Street Drifting

Following a distress call from the Vice-Warden of Contrition's Figure, Seance's correctional facility, the Beloved Dust prepare to enter the building under special circumstances. The gunslinger Fourteen Fifteen checks in with an old friend at The Signal*, and manages to only talk of work, while the Excerpt ⸢Signet⸣ spends time thinking of a past so different from, and yet so close to, the present. Tender Sky, an architect utterly familiar with The Mesh, considers herself ready for what awaits in...

Aug 11, 20171 hr 23 min

Twilight Mirage 06: We Want You To Come Home

Days after the crew of the Myriad establishes a connection between Quire and the Divine Fleet, the Beloved* Dust meet at the digital club called The Steady to relax and catch up. But before Tender Sky, Fourteen Fifteen, and ⸢Signet⸣ can really unwind, they’re called back to base… where they meet supposed allies, a young recruit, and someone who they hope can offer answers about the murder of Gumption. It started from nothing... This week on Twilight Mirage: We Want You To Come Home The Living Li...

Aug 04, 20171 hr 40 min

Twilight Mirage 05: The Sunlight of Knowing

With the sounds of conflict guiding them into action, the crew of the Myriad prepares for battle. Grand Magnificent tests his ability to work under pressure while Gig Kep-hart sends a message to the masses. Echo Reverie sets out to save the day, and Even Gardner makes a grand debut. Are you ready to audition? This week on Friends at the Table: The Sunlight of Knowing The Remaining Records of Curiosity // Reference Code: M-Qu75-4:53N-SV Silica-Vitrus The sprawling dunes. Dust under foot. Churning...

Jul 27, 20171 hr 22 min

Bluff City Teaser

A teaser for the first episode of our new patreon exclusive monthly campaign, Bluff City! Get access and listen at friendsatthetable.cash!

Jul 27, 20175 min

Twilight Mirage 04: Birds of Prey

The crew from the ship Myriad continue to explore the planet Quire. Grand Magnificent (Arthur Martinez-Tebbel) explains the strange experience that he had in the canyon, but Echo Reverie (Andi Clare) is less interested in chasing shadows than in leading them towards their destination: A church* on the north side of the plateau. Gig Kep-hart (Keith J. Carberry) meets a new friend, and in the face of danger, Even Gardner (Andrew Lee Swan) offers his expert guidance. This week on Friends at the Tab...

Jul 20, 20171 hr 14 min

Twilight Mirage 03: The Planet of Quire

In the wake of Gumption's death, and with the killer at large, the divine fleet dispatches a group to prepare the planet of Quire for refugees. The living vessel named Myriad carries six (including herself) individuals to a clearing south of the Painted Plateaux*. Included on the crew are the ship's mind herself, a diplomat authorized to negotiate with the civilizations of Quire, a bio-mechanical cyborg with extensive military experience (Andrew Lee Swan), a martial artist with a commuted prison...

Jul 14, 20171 hr 36 min

Twilight Mirage 02: The Last Divine

After receiving word that the city-ship of Seance* would come under attack, the Beloved Dust move to intercept the threat. Fourteen Fifteen (Jack de Quidt) tracks their quarry into the mechanical guts of a giant coliseum, while above, ⸢Signet⸣ (Janine Hawkins) protects the human leader of the Divine Fleet’s faith. And deep inside “the Mysteries,” an interactive historical simulation, Tender Sky (Alicia Acampora) confronts a would-be killer. No more time for games This week on Friends at the Tabl...

Jul 07, 20171 hr 46 min

Twilight Mirage 01: The Beloved Dust

The Beloved Dust, a group of investigators and operatives with Divine mandate, learns that there is an imminent threat targeting Composure's Coliseum* during a important (and highly populated) ritual. Former excerpt and pilot of the Divine Belgard, ⸢Signet⸣ , trades favors religious and mundane. The dilapidating assassin Fourteen Fifteen blends into the audience to see things from a higher ground. And Tender Sky, a highly skilled digital architect, enters the event directly in order to protect i...

Jun 30, 20171 hr 55 min

Twilight Mirage 00: The Final Eight Divines

Heads up: This is our world building episode for our new season, where we describe the setting and some major components. If you're less interested in hearing us chat about that and more interested in getting to the action, you can wait (or skip ahead) to episode 01! The first half hour is us defining our aesthetics for the season, the next hour and a half is us building and explaining different city ships, and the last hour is some basic details about our characters if you want to skip around! ...

Jun 29, 20173 hr 16 min

Winter in Hieron & Marielda Post Mortem

Hey Everyone! Here's the audio from our live post mortem for Winter in Hieron! We looked back at the season together, spoke about our motivations and feelings, and answered your questions! It was a lot of fun and we love doing this every year, so thank you for joining us and for sending in your questions! We also made some pretty big announcements! If you're excited for that sweet patreon content, head over to https://friendsatthetable.cash . If you just can't wait for that Twilight Mirage, you'...

Jun 28, 20173 hr 18 min

Twilight Mirage and Patreon Announcement!

Hey everyone! Yesterday's live post mortem was a big day for us, and since the turn around time for getting that full episode up for you is longer than just a day, we wanted to be able to bring the announcements we made here as soon as possible. So here it is! Twilight Mirage! Patreon! New games! New shows! Cool Rewards!!!! I talked too much in this announcement so I'm gonna keep from rambling here, but I just want to take the time to say thank you, thank you, thank you. ANYWAY, here's all the l...

Jun 25, 201726 min

Winter in Hieron 29: Slow Justice

I write this with no knowledge of where you are, or if you are. Yet, still, I write. And as I write, my words are overtaken by memories. Your finger pointing at verse in some ancient text—I have forgotten the book’s name in favor of remembering your eyes, bright. Your voluminous generosity, as you led me into inquiry I dared not pursue. Your voice, angry, confused, and honest in the face of terror. And then, for the last time, your stark figure silhouetted against early moonlight on that hill so...

Jun 22, 20171 hr 44 min

Winter in Hieron 28: What Life Looks Like

Living Blood of Fire, I had reservations, but your so-called ‘Fel anchor’ captured the curator Havelton after my own scouts could not. I am a proud man, but not too proud to see utility in action. Despite their effectiveness, I plead with you to not yet move on the island. It is imperative that we know exactly what is on in that place before we attack, and my interrogation of the witch scholar provides is already providing answers. For instance: That blade of the Queenkiller’s is not of Ordennan...

Jun 15, 20172 hr 2 min

Winter in Hieron 27: A Good Metaphor

I swear on my life and on the pattern, Collector-Curator, it was a mistake! A tragedy! A deception! I was misled! Tel bewitched me. He is a hexer and a conniver, and he put me in step with his quick words and devious gestures. I thought only that the “bard” was providing components for the pattern, not that he would be the traveler himself. If I helped, it was only to remain in my role as your agent and not too quickly reveal my true allegiance. I thought that the gate would remain open long eno...

Jun 08, 20171 hr 32 min

Winter in Hieron 26: A Shattering Note

Archivist van der Dawes, Thank you for your interest, and the letter you sent. Your inquiries are extensive , and I’ve always thought of that as a good thing. Find enclosed the requested index of names of the principal figures of The Illustrated Concordance of Marielda. Please know that this isn’t an index for the book itself, as writing one of those would effectively only be a reproduction of the Concordance itself. Also find inside a copy of the figures missing from the earlier edition that yo...

Jun 01, 20171 hr 58 min

Winter in Hieron 25: Twenty Two Brown Birds

I don’t know if this device will transmit over this distance, so I’m gonna be brief. This place is just like you said it would be. The Sonorous Academy still stands. The Paladin and the Ranger are here. Phantasmo, no, the Wizard is not, but I must confirm what they claim. I don’t understand. I’m closer to the Original Pattern than any archivist or mage has been in ages, but I cannot close the distance. The nearer I get, the more twisted the route. This place is a maze even when it is straight. D...

May 25, 20171 hr 32 min

Winter in Hieron 24: An Open Mind

Prelate, I do not understand. The Northern Exarch and the Paladin walk only on the Surface Path. Why did we not educate them? Why did we not bring them into the Warm Shade of the Son? If we had brought them into His Mystery, they would be able to better sew the north for His return. I defer to you here, in your parish, but do not forget that Exarchs and Prelates are equals under His Eyes. I have every right to begin the initiation that you do. And if I sense hesitation instead of Confidence, I w...

May 19, 20171 hr 55 min

Winter in Hieron 23: Make the Library Smile

Collector-Curator They pursue two patterns. They showed me only the first until today, but I’ve finally gained their trust! I’ve marked what I understand with an X, and seek your guidance on the rest. Brackets are lacunic markers, as in Roak’s Notation. A Lukewarm Sun, Bowing - X A Room of Seeded Prisms Two lodestars that carries [the banner of the queen of death] - X One which sees [the old world] - X One which destroys [the old world] The Second Face of the [Bright Boy] A tower of [tomorrow’s ...

May 12, 20171 hr 35 min

Winter in Hieron 22: A Holy Place

Jer, I write to you in fear. “To be Justiciar,” I was told “is to be unwavering in loyalty, determined in diligence, and zealous in the pursuit of justice.” I was not told that it would be like herding lions. Couriers come and go with reports and notes. Blood of Fire and Blood of Steel bicker over what I ought do with what I’ve found: A world, underground. No, not a world. Worlds. They reflect a eerie past I do not know, but echo beauty, too, the beauty of irregularity, of uneven possibility. I ...

May 05, 20171 hr 45 min

Winter in Hieron 21: The Shield of Our Will

Semiotician-Emeritus, Something is wrong. I am no great pattern worker. I know a few techniques that aid me in my duty: How to lower the light of an already dim bar room; how to sharpen a blade without a whetstone; how to make voice twice itself. Even to call these ‘techniques,’ feels false: They are tricks. I know that. But I also know this: The world is askew. There is a simple pattern I do when trying to find mirrors: I break an egg onto a large, north-facing rock and then break the yolk with...

Apr 27, 20171 hr 6 min

Winter in Hieron 20: Pulling You Further Down

Prelate Springe, Thank you for the hospitality on my visit. Thus far, it has been the only trustworthy thing in this gnarled subterrane. This place confounds me, brother. On my trip to our Lord, I saw things I know have never been true: A vision of the Fallow Traitor’s cold city spread far and wide thru the continent whole, except it bore a symbol akin to our Warm Sun’s. In another, the sky had been covered, or… no, it was if it had fallen in , as if pieces of the heavens had collapsed and crowd...

Apr 20, 20171 hr 38 min

Winter in Hieron 19: Make The Spring Last Forever

Collector-Curator, It took two months, but I’ve finally convinced Tel and Havelton to see things my way. For weeks, the old man spent the day attending to his dandelions, and dismissing me whenever I ran new apparitive patterns by him. He’d shake his head, cough out a grumble, and rattle on about some absurd, missing component: A “tower of tomorrow’s light.” The “speaking sands of Rosemerrow.” A new archive of “broken, whole mirrors.” A “stolen fiddle in its home.” But I did it. He asked me for ...

Apr 14, 20171 hr 32 min

Winter in Hieron 18: Try to Live Normally

Living Blood of Fire, As my second reported, and I have confirmed, the first threshold has been sealed. I have walked the remains of that twisted museum myself, through the wing of turned mirrors, under the second sky, past the... chaos. It was chaos there, Fire, nonsense, impossible to comprehend. I reached for a goblet that caught my eye, and when I lifted it, it turned to a leaf. Whatever the star-fiend did there burned more than just wood and brick. It put torch to the real. I tell you this ...

Apr 06, 20171 hr 21 min

Winter in Hieron 17: Undelivered Resignations

Archivist-Collector, Please read this week’s classification updates carefully. For the next month, it is imperative that “textile” carpets be subdivided by specific material (“wool,” “hair,” and “fur” are not interchangeable.) The ban on the classification of actors has been lifted, and new categories have been established. Use “living,” for traditionally sentient lives, “breathing” for those who retain material form despite mortal wounds, and “being” for those who have lost bodies but not selve...

Mar 31, 20172 hr 13 min

Winter in Hieron 16: Is There Anyone Else?

Aloysha, War is coming to Velas. Ordenna is coming to Velas. And while I believe in the strength of the velasian people and in the resolve of the church and, as much as I would hate to admit it, in the benevolence of Ordenan occupation, I cannot continue to serve our lord if I need to worry about my family, about Rosana and Benajamin living under the heel of Ordenan rule. Of my actions potentially impacting them, of them not getting to see me come home. I know this is a big ask, I need you to ge...

Mar 24, 20171 hr 34 min

Winter in Hieron 15: Settle Your Matters

TO: Impetor Fela Malle Living Blood of Steel, I have it. It is at the top of the tower, in a room my soldiers cleared of tables and chairs and old shelves. The room is bare, and it stands in the centre. Forgive me if my handwriting reveals my tiredness, I will set the words alone for clarity: I have it. I spent the last night, awake, watching it and its light was so bright. It did not burn my eyes. One of my soldiers tried to draw it, and when they were finished I looked down at the paper and th...

Mar 16, 20171 hr 19 min
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