It's just about as normal a week as we get around here. Bowling dates, long shifts at work, and quality time with loved ones. But someone with familiar glowing tattoos seems to be following our heroes around the city. Is this who we think it is? Or is it—somehow—even worse?

Content Warning: Reference to Self-Harm

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If you liked this episode, please leave a rating and review to help us spread the word and don't forget to share with your friends. We love friends!

Subscribe to our Patreon: Head to our Patreon for bonus content you won’t want to miss out on. 

Support the Show: Follow us on social media, buy some merch, support us on Ko-fi, and check out our Wiki by heading to our DirectMe Profile. 

Join us on Discord! Come hang out with the cast on The Monster's Playbook Discord server where we can discuss the latest episodes, trade theories, answer questions, and get to know you, our listeners, a little better. 

This week we're also featuring a promo for the podcast Ghosts on a Train. Be sure to check them out on their website, and listen to them wherever you get your podcasts. 

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Cast:

Jonny Grubb as the Keeper

John Wander as Mark Clayton (The Divine)

Lauren Johnson as Kira Ashwood (The Initiate) and Anna Ashwood (The Apprentice)

Miah Detjen as Theo Nessos (The Searcher)

This episode was edited by Miah Detjen and Lauren Johnson.

Theme song by Jonny Grubb.

Cover art by Gabe Schmidt.

Incidental music from Epidemic Sound.

A child’s imagination brings a toy to life, helping them forget the world as it is and protecting the child from what lurks in the shadows. Like many kids, they grow up and unfortunately lose or outgrow their toys. Some lost toys are not always unloved toys. Sometimes they are misplaced. This may be the case for Polly the lost Polly Pocket, Commander Midnight the lost GI Joe, Mikey the lost Mr. Mike Rockin' Robot and Queen Wildberry Empress of Shadow aka Snuggles the lost Furby. Growing up is tough, but nostalgia is forever.

Join us for this special one-shot of Goons in Toyland GM'd by Miah!

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If you liked this episode, please leave a rating and review to help us spread the word and don't forget to share with your friends. We love friends!

Subscribe to our Patreon: Head to our Patreon for bonus content you won’t want to miss out on. 

Support the Show: Follow us on social media, buy some merch, support us on Ko-fi, and check out our Wiki by heading to our DirectMe Profile. 

Join us on Discord! Come hang out with the cast on The Monster's Playbook Discord server where we can discuss the latest episodes, trade theories, answer questions, and get to know you, our listeners, a little better. 

Be sure to check out Goons in Toyland by Mr. Ray over on his Itchio page and support other game creators this International Tabletop Day!

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Cast:

Miah Detjen as The GM

Jonny Grubb as Commander Midnight

Sarah Baker as Polly Pocket

Brittney as Queen Wildberry Empress of Shadow (Storyteller Squad)

Pat as Mr. Mike Rockin' Robot (Trials of the Apocalypse)

This episode was edited by Miah Detjen.

Theme song by Jonny Grubb.

Cover art by Gabe Schmidt.

Incidental music from Epidemic Sound.

Welcome back to Book Club! This one is a must for anyone looking to level up their roleplaying. Lauren had the absolute pleasure to speak with fellow podcasters and self-proclaimed "theater kids" Allard (The Dice Crisis), Cap (Shrimp and Crits), Ghost (Dungeons and Pop), and Heather (Nameless Monsters). Come listen as we discuss the highs and lows of roleplaying, tips for getting into character, and advice for better roleplaying with others around the table.-------

If you liked this episode, please leave a rating and review to help us spread the word and don't forget to share with your friends. We love friends!

Subscribe to our Patreon: Head to our Patreon for bonus content you won’t want to miss out on. 

Support the Show: Follow us on social media, buy some merch, support us on Ko-fi, and check out our Wiki by heading to our DirectMe Profile. 

Join us on Discord! Come hang out with the cast on The Monster's Playbook Discord server where we can discuss the latest episodes, trade theories, answer questions, and get to know you, our listeners, a little better. 

Thank you to Allard, Cap, Ghost and Heather for joining us for this episode. Be sure to check out their show links below!

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Cast and Special Guests:

Lauren Johnson

Allard (The Dice Crisis)

Cap (Shrimp and Crits)

Ghost (Dungeons and Pop)

Heather (Nameless Monsters)

This episode was edited by Lauren Johnson.

Theme song by Jonny Grubb.

Cover art by Gabe Schmidt.

Incidental music from Epidemic Sound.

The team is out of the Dead Sea, but they're not out of the woods yet! The first steps back on solid ground are shaky. Obviously, they've wound up in the last place on Earth they want to be. Plus, something is wrong with Mark's "brother" Lowry. And who's that sneaking around? It's The Invisible Family. And they do not like being interrupted.

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If you liked this episode, please leave a rating and review to help us spread the word and don't forget to share with your friends. We love friends!

Subscribe to our Patreon: Head to our Patreon for bonus content you won’t want to miss out on. 

Support the Show: Follow us on social media, buy some merch, support us on Ko-fi, and check out our Wiki by heading to our DirectMe Profile. 

Join us on Discord! Come hang out with the cast on The Monster's Playbook Discord server where we can discuss the latest episodes, trade theories, answer questions, and get to know you, our listeners, a little better. 

This week we're also featuring a promo for the podcast, Pest Control. Check out this fellow Monster of the Week pod on their website, and be sure to listen to them wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Cast:

Jonny Grubb as the Keeper

John Wander as Mark Clayton (The Divine)

Lauren Johnson as Kira Ashwood (The Initiate) and Anna Ashwood (The Protector)

Miah Detjen as Theo Nessos (The Hex)

This episode was edited by Miah Detjen and Lauren Johnson.

Theme song by Jonny Grubb.

Cover art by Gabe Schmidt.

Incidental music from Epidemic Sound.

It's a return to THERE. But this time, they have a couple of advantages. First, they already have a guide. But more than that, with Mark's history returned, he can fully navigate the mysterious Kingdom of the Sky. That advantage will only take them so far, because Kira Ashwood is in the Sea Kingdom. And you know what they say about the Sea

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If you liked this episode, please leave a rating and review to help us spread the word and don't forget to share with your friends. We love friends!

Subscribe to our Patreon: Head to our Patreon for bonus content you won’t want to miss out on. 

Support the Show: Follow us on social media, buy some merch, support us on Ko-fi, and check out our Wiki by heading to our DirectMe Profile. 

Join us on Discord! Come hang out with the cast on The Monster's Playbook Discord server where we can discuss the latest episodes, trade theories, answer questions, and get to know you, our listeners, a little better. 

This week we're also featuring a promo for another actual-play podcast, Cybertopia. Be sure to check them out on their Itchio website, and be sure to listen to them wherever you listen to podcasts. 

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Cast:

Jonny Grubb as the Keeper

John Wander as Mark Clayton (The Divine)

Lauren Johnson as Kira Ashwood (The Initiate) and Anna Ashwood (The Apprentice)

Miah Detjen as Theo Nessos (The Hex)

This episode was edited by Miah Detjen and Lauren Johnson.

Theme song by Jonny Grubb.

Cover art by Gabe Schmidt.

Incidental music from Epidemic Sound.

Kira Ashwood is missing. Her hunt for The Tower sent her somewhere Anna, Theo and Mark cannot follow. The good news is, they have an ally who will know how to track her down. The bad news is, they might not like what they find.

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If you liked this episode, please leave a rating and review to help us spread the word and don't forget to share with your friends. We love friends!

Subscribe to our Patreon: Head to our Patreon for bonus content you won’t want to miss out on. 

Support the Show: Follow us on social media, buy some merch, support us on Ko-fi, and check out our Wiki by heading to our DirectMe Profile. 

Join us on Discord! Come hang out with the cast on The Monster's Playbook Discord server where we can discuss the latest episodes, trade theories, answer questions, and get to know you, our listeners, a little better. 

This week we're also featuring a promo for another actual-play podcast, Raven's Realm. Check out this Dungeons and Dragons 5e pod on their LinkTree and be sure to listen to them wherever you listen to podcasts. 

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Cast:

Jonny Grubb as the Keeper

John Wander as Mark Clayton (The Divine)

Lauren Johnson as Kira Ashwood (The Initiate) and Anna Ashwood (The Apprentice)

Miah Detjen as Theo Nessos (The Hex)

This episode was edited by Miah Detjen and Lauren Johnson.

Theme song by Jonny Grubb.

Cover art by Gabe Schmidt.

Incidental music from Epidemic Sound.

The true culprit has been sussed out, but what is she up to? Kira, Anna, Mark and Theo track down the villainous Tower, and do what they can to get to the bottom of her sinister plans. What they find will take them deeper than they may want to go…

Content warning: Substance abuse

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If you liked this episode, please leave a rating and review to help us spread the word and don't forget to share with your friends. We love friends!

Subscribe to our Patreon: Head to our Patreon for bonus content you won’t want to miss out on. 

Support the Show: Follow us on social media, buy some merch, support us on Ko-fi, and check out our Wiki by heading to our DirectMe Profile. 

Join us on Discord! Come hang out with the cast on The Monster's Playbook Discord server where we can discuss the latest episodes, trade theories, answer questions, and get to know you, our listeners, a little better. 

This week's promo is for the actual-play podcast, A Fools Quest. Be sure to check them out on their website, and wherever you listen to podcasts. 

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Cast:

Jonny Grubb as the Keeper

John Wander as Mark Clayton (The Divine)

Lauren Johnson as Kira Ashwood (The Initiate) and Anna Ashwood (The Protector)

Miah Detjen as Theo Nessos (The Hex)

This episode was edited by Miah Detjen and Lauren Johnson.

Theme song by Jonny Grubb.

Cover art by Gabe Schmidt.

Incidental music from Epidemic Sound.

Content Warning: Self-harm

"I'm Quatraile!" Mark, Theo, Kira, and Anna meet a mysterious captive with more secrets than she knows what to do with. But getting her free isn't going to be easy. And not just because of the horde of monsters descending on the team. There's something odd going on with the girl. Something… not quite alive. 

In Memory of Betsy: This episode is dedicated to our dear friend Betsy, who recently passed away from Stage 4 Cholangiocarcinoma. Betsy was a badass, a talented writer, and a wonderful human being who we miss greatly. If you're able, please join us in donating to Betsy's ⁠⁠Go Fund Me⁠⁠ or to the ⁠⁠Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation⁠⁠. Thank you for being our friend, Betsy. -------

If you liked this episode, please leave a rating and review to help us spread the word and don't forget to share with your friends. We love friends!

Subscribe to our Patreon: Head to our Patreon for bonus content you won’t want to miss out on.

Support the Show: Follow us on social media, buy some merch, support us on Ko-fi, and check out our Wiki by heading to our DirectMe Profile.

Join us on Discord! Come hang out with the cast on The Monster's Playbook Discord server where we can discuss the latest episodes, trade theories, answer questions, and get to know you, our listeners, a little better.

This week we're also featuring a promo for another actual-play podcast, The Dice Collectors. Be sure to check them out wherever you listen to podcasts.

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Cast:

Jonny Grubb as the Keeper

John Wander as Mark Clayton (The Divine)

Lauren Johnson as Kira Ashwood (The Initiate) and Anna Ashwood (The Protector)

Miah Detjen as Theo Nessos (The Hex)

This episode was edited by Miah Detjen and Lauren Johnson.

Theme song by Jonny Grubb.

Cover art by Gabe Schmidt.

Incidental music from Epidemic Sound.

Welcome back to BOOK CLUB! The fictional worlds we build in TTRPGs can get pretty dangerous, but the people at the table should always feel safe. Jonny talks with Natalie, Keeper of the Storyteller Squad and Zoe, GM of The Writer’s Room to talk about what makes roleplaying a uniquely vulnerable experience for players and GMs alike, how to make your table welcoming to all, and how working with your players to build and maintain a safe space to game can make your stories so much better

In Memory of Betsy: This episode is dedicated to our dear friend Betsy, who recently passed away from Stage 4 Cholangiocarcinoma. Betsy was a badass, a talented writer, and a wonderful human being who we miss greatly. If you're able, please join us in donating to Betsy's ⁠Go Fund Me⁠ or to the ⁠Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation⁠. Thank you for being our friend, Betsy.

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Safety Tools Resources:

• X-Card by John Stavropoulos
• The Digital RPG Consent Checklist
• Toolkit: The OK Check-In
• TTRPG Safety Toolkit by Kienna Shaw and Lauren Bryant-Monk

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If you liked this episode, please leave a rating and review to help us spread the word and don't forget to share with your friends. We love friends!

Support the Show: Follow us on social media, subscribe to our Patreon, and check out our Wiki by heading to our DirectMe Profile.

Join us on Discord! Come hang out with the cast on The Monster's Playbook Discord server where we can discuss the latest episodes, trade theories, answer questions, and get to know you, our listeners, a little better.

Special thanks to our guests Natalie and Zoe for joining us. Be sure to check out The Storyteller Squad and The Writer's Room wherever you get your podcasts. 

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Cast:

Jonny Grubb as the Keeper 

Natalie: Keeper, The Storyteller Squad

Zoe: Narrator, The Writer's Room

This episode was edited by Miah Detjen and Lauren Johnson.

Theme song by Jonny Grubb.

Cover art by Gabe Schmidt.

SEASON THREE PREMIERE!! Life has gone back to what passes for normal for Mark, Theo, Kira and Anna. But a new mystery comes knocking—literally. Mark is summoned to take on an investigation for a familiar client: Rex Crook. But what does it mean to go into business with the city's pre-eminent supernatural crime lord? And what could he possibly need help with?

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If you liked this episode, please leave a rating and review to help us spread the word and don't forget to share with your friends. We love friends!

Subscribe to our Patreon: Head to our Patreon for bonus content you won’t want to miss out on.

Support the Show: Follow us on social media, buy some merch, support us on Ko-fi, and check out our Wiki by heading to our DirectMe Profile.

Join us on Discord! Come hang out with the cast on The Monster's Playbook Discord server where we can discuss the latest episodes, trade theories, answer questions, and get to know you, our listeners, a little better.

This week we're also featuring a promo for another actual-play podcast, Dice Populi. Be sure to check them out on their website, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

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Cast:

Jonny Grubb as the Keeper

John Wander as Mark Clayton (The Divine)

Lauren Johnson as Kira Ashwood (The Initiate) and Anna Ashwood (The Protector)

Miah Detjen as Theo Nessos (The Hex)

This episode was edited by Miah Detjen and Lauren Johnson.

Theme song by Jonny Grubb.

Cover art by Gabe Schmidt.

Incidental music from Epidemic Sound.