* High Circle Troubadour

* Review of Troubadour themes and concepts.

* Ninth Circle Discipline Ability: Unnatural Charm.

* Warden Tier abilities and Discipline talents.

* Warden Tier talent options

* Thirteenth Circle Discipline Ability: Encore

* Master Tier abilities and Discipline talents.

* Master Tier talent options.

* Build options and commentary for high circle Troubadours.

* Email from Aaron: Adventure inspired by “Needful Things” without using a Horror?

* Email from Andy: Update on new group. Questions about becoming an adept.

* Legend Point costs involved with increasing Circle.

* Email from Chris: Permanent pattern threads and Mystic Paths.

* Secret Societies: The Hand of Corruption

* Great villainous organization for just about any campaign.

* Excellent thematic foil for heroic player characters.

* Dedicated to worshipping oblivion.

* Comparisons to Keys of Death.

* Philosophy that the Horrors are part of the natural cycle to cleanse the earth.

* Believe the Theran rites interrupted that cycle.

* Pop culture reference: Harrow from Moon Knight TV series.

* Three branches.

* The Brokers: Agents and informants in society.

* Wide-spanning, difficult to eliminate entirely.

* The Assassins: Enact specific (murderous) plots to further goals of destabilizing society.

* Often Journeyman-tier or higher adepts.

* Ritualistic methods in contrast to Keys of Death.

* Importance of the message delivered by their killings.

* The Nihilists: Fanatics and planners.

* Convert or subvert others into the cult (sometimes through magical means).

* Motivations are important for all cults, not just this one.

* Pop culture references: Ozymandias from Watchmen.

* The Operative from Serenity.

* Moriarty from Robert Downey Jr Sherlock Holmes films.

* Magneto or Lex Luthor

* Develop a specific character to build as a long-term rival or antagonist.

* The Hand of Corruption are suitable for any number of foul plots for your campaign and make a great long-term enemy organization.

* High Circle Cavalryman.

* Review of Cavalryman concepts and early Circles.

* Check out Episode 24 for more in-depth Cavalryman discussion.

* Ninth Circle Discipline Ability: Shared Strength

* Warden tier bonuses and Discipline talents.

* Warden talent options.

* Discussion of lower Circle talents in Cavalryman Warden tier.

* Thirteenth Circle Discipline Ability: Shared Spirit

* Master tier bonuses and Discipline talents.

* Master talent options.

* Josh’s thoughts on the high Circle options.

* Design sidebar about talents versus Discipline abilities.

* In April, leave a review for us on Podchaser.com to raise money for charity.

* Listener questions

* Voice message from Chris: Question about Wood Skin.

* Email from William: Horror Stalker references and inspirations.

* Learning Craftsman or Entertainer through Versatility.

* Email from Jesse: Tisoara and source material discrepancies.

* Secret Societies in Depth: The Keys of Death

* Cult dedicated to the belief that Death can be freed with enough blood being spilled.

* “Questors” of Death

* Can be hired or employed as assassins.

* Long standing cult; dating back to centuries before the Scourge.

* Other death cults exist in other parts of the Theran Empire.

* Death has been a figure in myth, legend, and religious beliefs in numerous real-world cultures

* Cult’s strength in Barsaive likely due to proximity to Death’s Sea.

* Legend of Death’s Capture by the Passions.

* Undead and the Keys of Death.

* Preferred targets include those who mock or defy Death in some way.

* Sources of inspiration for members of the cult.

* Highly secretive.

* Death Robes

* Using the Keys of Death in adventures in campaigns.

* Josh recommends against strongly tying the cult to the Horrors.

* Warden and Master Tier Warrior

* Recap of the Warrior themes and focus.

* Ninth Circle Ability: Battlefield Awareness

* Warden Tier Discipline Talents

* Warden Tier Talent Options

* Thirteenth Circle Ability: Elemental Warrior

* Master Tier Discipline Talents

* Master Tier Talent Options

* Discussion and recommendations

* Email from K Scott: How do you get to Throal?

* Email from Andy: Returning to Earthdawn, several questions

* How many kaers remain sealed? (Ardanyan’s Revenge)

* How to avoid treading on other characters’ toes as a Wizard?

* When will Deeper Secrets come out?

* Legend Point cost for magician spells in Fourth Edition?

* Secret Societies in Depth: The Whisperers

* Devoted to the Mad Passion Vestrial.

* Rumor artists and gossip mongers dedicated to deceit.

* Very informal organization.

* Common feature: Lidded eye tattoo

* Anonymous, decentralized

* Driven by their acts of devotion, with occasional larger guidance from their patron.

* Advice for using the Whisperers in adventures and campaigns.

* Thematic ideas and connections for the Whisperers.

* Unlike some secret societies, their presence doesn’t necessarily define what the campaign or adventure is about.

* High Circle Beastmaster

* Recap of the Discipline concepts and themes.

* Ninth Circle Discipline Ability: Tough Hide

* Warden Tier Bonuses and Discipline Talents

* Warden Tier Talent Options

* New talents in Companion: Bloodhound Form, Burning Vigor, Chameleon, Defensive Posture, Eagle Eye, Goring Attack

* Thirteenth Circle Discipline Ability: Bestial War Form

* Master Tier Bonuses and Discipline Talents

* Master Tier Talent Options

* New talents in Companion: Alley Cat Approach, Animal Leadership, Aura Armor, Echolocation, Lion Spirit, Second Chance, Vital Strike, Vital Ward

* Straightforward, not especially complex progression, just more stuff to make them better at what they do.

* Go back to Episode 19 for more Beastmaster discussion!

* Email from Nick Lowe: Naaman’s Hand, Vasgothia, and Parlainth.

* Some insight from Lou Prosperi about the design goals of books like Secret Societies.

* Quick discussion about Forge-related knacks for the Weaponsmith.

* Secret Societies in depth: Force of the Eye

* History of Kratas and how Garlthik came to power.

* Crime syndicate that acts as a legal and enforcement power in Kratas.

* Garlthik and the line he walks as a “Selfish Thief”

* The Eyes’ reach beyond Kratas.

* Brocher’s Brood

* More about Garlthik’s personality and history.

* Terricia, Garlthik’s top lieutenant.

* Membership of the Force.

* Fourth Edition status

* Minor spoiler discussion for Empty Thrones

* Amulets of the Force of the Eye

* Using the Force in adventures and campaigns

* Pop culture inspirations for Force-related stories.

* Warden and Master Weaponsmith

* Check out Episode 16 for Novice and Journeyman

* Quick recap of Weaponsmith themes and focus

* Warden Discipline Ability: Blood Bound Forge

* Warden Tier Discipline Talents

* Sidebar about First Edition Weaponsmith access to Elementalist spells

* Warden Talent Options

* New from the Companion: Lion Spirit, Matrix Sight, Relentless Recovery, Spirit Strike, Unflinching Fortitude

* Master Discipline Ability: Mystic Grounding

* Errata: 13thCircle Bonus should be Physical Defense

* Master Tier Discipline Talents

* Master Talent Options

* New from the Companion: Burning Vigor, Ethereal Weapon, Resist Pain, Vital Strike, Vital Ward, Weapon Breaker

* Analysis of high tier talent choices

* Secret Societies: Naaman’s Hand

* Living Legend Cult

* First appeared in Barsaive Boxed Set

* Devoted to the pre-Scourge hero Naaman Y’ross

* Multiple cults, conflicting beliefs about his fate

* Overview of mentions in the published works.

* History of Naaman’s Hand as presented in Secret Societies

* Some background spoilers

* Weird magical theorizing

* Example of early seed being brought back later.

* Not presented as a setting-shaking group.

* Ideas for using the cult in adventures and campaigns.