⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains strong language and dark themes, including references to violence involving children, graphic crime scenes, and ritualistic murder. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

Following the aftermath of Meadowbrook, the team welcome a new agent into the fold before receiving what sounds like the easiest Delta Green assignment imaginable.

Travel to the frozen town of Lafontaine under the cover of a FEMA inspection. Meet the caretaker of Green Box 0171. Take stock of its contents. Report back. Job done.

Simple.

Except the power is failing, communications are down, the caretaker has vanished, and the town is gripped by an unnatural cold that nobody can explain.

As the agents begin piecing together Skip Mills’ final movements, they uncover increasingly unsettling clues: disturbing browser history, strange CCTV footage, and a Green Box filled with the sort of objects that raise far more questions than answers. But perhaps the most unnerving discovery of all is a dossier cataloguing people’s hands… including those of the agents themselves.

Who’s been watching them? Why has the temperature collapsed? Where did that accent come from? And just what is waiting beneath the snow?

The G.I.A. finally discover what has been lurking beneath the docks.

And it isn’t a fish.

When two guards investigate rumours of the party’s mysterious fishing competition, they’re unceremoniously thrown into the water as bait. Their screams reveal the truth: a small, tentacled horror has been hiding beneath the town.

Darvin responds by throwing his entire fishing rod into the water. Blud manages to spear Olgrim. Eventually, the party abandon fishing altogether and resort to the tried-and-tested method of hitting things with weapons.

Beneath the dock they discover an ancient flooded dwarven chamber, complete with an elaborate water puzzle which somehow falls victim to the combined intelligence of the G.I.A.

But draining the chamber reveals something considerably worse.

A huge tentacled creature, cultists and their captain await them, and a bloody battle follows. With the monster slain and the captain refusing to talk, the party discover something far more disturbing beneath the ruins: mysterious obelisks, more of the strange white powder and unmistakable Trade Office markings.

The summoning circle is destroyed and the entrance sealed.

But one thing is now painfully clear.

The Trade Office isn’t just involved in Gallowmere’s problems.

They’re building something.

And whatever it is, it certainly isn’t a fishing boat.

Gallowmere is beginning to prosper again, but there’s still trouble down at the docks. Goods are disappearing, nobody wants to work and rumours of something lurking beneath the water have sent the dockworkers running for the hills.

The G.I.A. investigate, with Darvin delivering an official HR pep talk to the terrified dockworkers before the party decide to lure whatever is hiding below into the open. Unfortunately, none of them know the first thing about fishing.

After making peace with the previously offended blacksmith, the party acquire some fishing equipment and hatch a plan involving a fishing tournament, the town bell and a very stealthy raccoon.

Olgrim’s attempt to sneak beneath the Trade Office goes spectacularly wrong when an anti-magic field drops him into the river and leaves him standing there as a very wet and confused dwarf.

With the town placed under curfew and the bell ringing out across Gallowmere, the party retreat to the docks to wait for nightfall.

Whatever is lurking beneath them is about to discover that the G.I.A. have absolutely no idea what they’re doing.

But they do have fishing rods.

The party finally arrive at Rhosgobel, where they’re greeted by a beautiful woodland settlement, friendly faces and some much-needed healing. After their recent adventures, a little rest is very welcome indeed.

The companions meet with the council and finally have a chance to share everything they’ve uncovered: strange orcs from the Misty Mountains, the mysterious Valtir, a talking head, a horribly corrupted rabbit and the armed group pursuing Beren.

As the pieces begin to come together, a worrying picture emerges. Orcs are gathering at Castle Fenbridge, north of Dol Guldur, and with the Spring Folkmoot approaching, the leaders of the region could be walking straight into danger.

Once Beren recovers, he shares what little he knows about Mogdread and his plans. But it is their meeting with Radagast the Brown that leaves the party with perhaps the most troubling information yet. The corruption they found in the forest may be connected to something ancient and evil, while the Necromancer’s influence and the growing orc presence continue to spread.

Radagast believes the party should seek the counsel of someone far wiser than himself.

An elf.

A name is given.

Lady Irime.

And suddenly, the party’s little investigation has become something considerably more concerning..

The journey to Rhosgobel takes an unexpected turn when the party encounter a wounded traveller fleeing from the woods. He’s been bitten by a spider, but whatever is chasing him isn’t quite what they expected.

Three armed men emerge from the trees, led by the mysterious and formidable woman called Dagmar, demanding the return of something their victim has stolen. With Beren barely clinging to life, Haldir attempts some delicate diplomacy while The Lonely takes the slightly less diplomatic approach of hiding the stolen map down his pants.

A tense agreement sees the two groups travel together towards Rhosgobel, though neither side trusts the other. Their mysterious leader reveals she works for a man called Mogdread, but offers little else before the groups eventually part ways.

It isn’t long before the party discover they’ve been followed.

With Beren still in their care, the companions find themselves ambushed by the gang’s remaining men and vicious dogs. The Lonely takes a beating, but the party manage to fight their way through and make a hasty retreat towards Rhosgobel.

Fortunately, there’s still one obstacle that brings them safety.

The Brown Hay.

An impenetrable magical barrier surrounds Rhosgobel, so The Lonely and Haldir use Beren as a seesaw.

And a picnic table.

At this point, the dignity of the fellowship has officially left the building.

Whilst Harry commissions perhaps the most discreet firearm in Weird West history, the rest of the gang head to Denver’s magnificent Union Station, only to witness a mysterious man known only as Mr. Cogs sprinting through the streets.

Moments later, an enormous mechanical spider erupts from beneath the city and begins laying waste to Denver, showering buildings with acid and sending thousands fleeing for their lives.

Naturally, Philippe’s solution is dynamite.

As elite X-Squad enforcers attempt to contain the disaster, Philippe decides to “help”, with predictably catastrophic consequences. Separated from the rest of the posse and riddled with Gatling gun fire, he pays a terrible price for his enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, Red and Ruby decide a quiet drink sounds preferable to battling giant mechanical spiders…

…and Harry does what Harry does best.

Runs.

As Denver burns, the posse uncover the true architect behind the attack, but some secrets are lost forever beneath the rubble.

Returning to the cattle drive battered, bruised and one arm lighter, Sutter surprises the posse with unexpected news. The herd has grown, new hands are arriving, and the drive north is back on.

But amongst the new faces is a curious stranger with an unusual interest in Roswell.

And just when the posse think they’ve seen the last of the past…

A familiar face returns from the dead.

The posse meet the mysterious Hattie Lawton—a woman who somehow knows far more about them than she really should—the gang are offered a simple job: investigate some strange disturbances beneath the Land Basin Office and, if possible, deal with them discreetly.

Naturally, that discretion lasts all of five minutes.

What begins as a routine investigation soon uncovers a nest of tunnelling critters running wild beneath the city. Thankfully, Philippe has a plan.

With one bizarre adventure behind them, the gang settle in for a relaxing evening at Denver’s finest hotel.

Unfortunately, midnight has other plans.

Ghostly gunfights, terrified cowboys, flying furniture, one spectacularly ill-timed heart attack, and perhaps the least dignified piano incident in Weird West history leave the posse wondering if Denver might be trying to kill them after all.

And just when they think things can’t possibly get worse… Philippe receives word that someone is actually willing to build his latest invention.

May whatever higher powers still care about humanity have mercy on us all.

The road south proves anything but peaceful as the companions are ambushed by a band of orcs lurking amongst the trees.

With arrows flying and spears finding their mark, the party soon gain the upper hand, but something about these attackers doesn’t sit right. They aren’t Mirkwood orcs at all.

They’re from the Misty Mountains.

What they’re doing this far south is anybody’s guess.

After leaving a rather pointed warning for any would-be raiders, the company presses onwards, only for an uneasy night and a grim discovery the following morning to raise even more questions. A rabbit, dead without explanation, its body twisted by a strange corruption, suggests something sinister is spreading through the forest.

Knowing they’re out of answers, the companions continue to Woodland Hall to report everything they’ve uncovered. There are reunions, council meetings and welcome hospitality before the journey continues once more, this time by river towards Rhosgobel.

Arminas dreams of fresh fish.

The Lonely… catches fresh disappointment.

Back at Beorn’s Hall, the fate of Oderick finally hangs in the balance as the trial begins. With the party presenting everything they’ve uncovered on their journey, Beorn must decide whether justice lies in punishment… or mercy.

With the verdict delivered and old debts settled, the adventurers find themselves with an unexpected ally in the mighty skin-changer himself. Beorn even extends a remarkable offer to The Lonely: stay a while, and he’ll teach him to understand Lurch, opening the door to conversations with his faithful hound.

Sadly, there isn’t time for lessons just yet.

The road calls once more.

Armed with Farran’s head, troubling news for Radagast the Brown, and the growing threat of Valtir’s talking head-schemes, the companions head south towards Woodland Hall.

As night falls and camp is made beneath the trees, the journey continues… though somehow carrying a severed head is beginning to feel surprisingly normal.

The waiting is over.

As Valtir’s bandit army reaches the Old Ford, Beorn’s carefully prepared ambush is sprung. Arrows darken the sky, shield walls clash, and the company find themselves fighting for the future of Stonyford.

While Arminas rains death from afar and The Lonely carves a bloody path through the enemy ranks, Haldir pays a heavy price for holding the line. Just when the battle threatens to turn, an unlikely hero steps into the breach, proving that first impressions can be very, very misleading.

And then… Beorn unleashes his secret weapon.

With the bandits defeated and Valtir slain, the victory should be complete. Instead, a grisly discovery on the fallen warlord hints that a far darker power has been pulling the strings all along. When the cursed relic is destroyed, Haldir hears a chilling message from beyond…

“This is not the end… but the beginning.”

With questions mounting and an ancient evil stirring, Beorn offers only one course of action.

Seek the legendary wizard… Radagast the Brown.