These Flimsy Rituals

C/W: upsetting scenes “I knew then that if I was to do this right, I would need to get close. I would have to map the full extent of Venz’s influence - find out whether it spread elsewhere, to see whether the two children might be redeemed under the Conclave’s tutelage. And only then, I would strike. I would destroy the stem of weed, but destroy it right down to the roots. Yours in faithful service, Rugate Ullun Bakkal”

 *** 

Challa and Bris gather people, ready to go camping. First though there are permissions to be asked and conversations to be had, Secrets unfurl, spreading their shadow over the whole trip. Belka investigates Strael, Challa gets a ghostly surprise, Venz hides behind a secret and Bris loses her temper. 

***

 Hosted by Adam Dixon (@adtidixon).  

Featuring Ryan Evans (@brainxray), Steve Martin (@purple_steve), Thryn Henderson (@thairyn) and Ziz Simoens (@seasylphgames).   

Produced by Thryn Henderson and Adam Dixon.   

 Cover art by Beck Michalak (@r_michalak). Tiding art by Allissa Chan (@formyths).   

Rules are available at adtidi.itch.io/ryne.     

Sound clips from Kyster and Matucha at freesound.org

C/W: Mention of family death

"When a remnant demands beauty, give your eyes so it can see its land.

When a remnant demands expression, give your tongue so it can speak.

When a remnant demands knowledge, give your thoughts so it can understand.

When a remnant demands service, give your body so it can act.

When a remnant demands certainty, give your spirit so it can judge.

When a remnant demands death, give your life so it can be put to a higher purpose."

- a prayer recorded on a Voek grave, Cenja

***

Amongst the stone and root of Cenja, Belka meets envoys of the remnant Duier. They barter for the caravan's right to cross its land. Meanwhile, at the caravan, Strael repeats their demands.

***

Featuring Ryan Evans (@brainxray), Steve Martin (@purple_steve), Thryn Henderson (@thairyn) and Ziz Simoens (@seasylphgames).  

Produced by Thryn Henderson and Adam Dixon.  

 Cover art by Beck Michalak (@r_michalak). Tiding art by Allissa Chan (@formyths).   

Rules are available at adtidi.itch.io/ryne.    

Sound clips from Kyster and Daenerys at freesound.org

C/W: discussion of grief 

“Vassan, Lef. My hope is that you’ll never have to go through this. That we’ll find a home you’ll never have to leave unless you choose to.”  - Jeddah Assum 

*** 

The caravan continues its journey through the grave-strewn landscape of Cenja. They head towards Eulogy, following the trail of a scientist who was seen fleeing Carn Veskl. There an order of monks, devoted to capturing memory and assuaging grief, make their home. But, there is much road still to cover between here and there. 

Venz shares his burdens, Bris hears harsh truths, Challa demands Strael's attention and Belka investigates a grave. 

*** 

Hosted by Adam Dixon (@adtidixon). Featuring Ryan Evans (@brainxray), Steve Martin (@purple_steve), Thryn Henderson (@thairyn) and Ziz Simoens (@seasylphgames). 

Produced by Thryn Henderson and Adam Dixon.  

 Cover art by Beck Michalak (@r_michalak). Tiding art by Allissa Chan (@formyths).   

Rules are available at adtidi.itch.io/ryne.    

Sound clips from SteeLManure, daenerys and mcharchenko at freesound.org

“Your book is an incredible thing. I recognise so much of my home in it, even a few things I didn’t know. I’d been planning to keep it, but as you’re still around, I thought you might like it back. I hope you continue to work on it. I fear that the place we both know is lost with the Sharrow’s death. The book is a fitting tribute.”  -Venz 

*** 

Having decided to head East the survivors of Carn Veskl gather their belongings. Soon they’ll climb the steep path out of the valley into Cenja, a territory devoted to mourning. A forested landscape dotted with graves, tombs and graves from a thousand cultures; where fruit grows bland and grief lingers like a thick fog. As the caravan prepares to leave there are a few moments - to heal wounds, to make plans, to catch-up with old friends. Venz returns a book, Belka reunites with Vilte, Bris shares unwelcome wisdom and Challa sees a bird. 

*** 

As mentioned in the episode we recently created a Discord - a place where you can chat about the podcast. You can join at https://discord.gg/bTQdKmU. We’ve also released the draft rules for Ryne, the game we play on the podcast. You can get the playtest version at adtidi.itch.io/ryne.   

*** 

Hosted by Adam Dixon (@adtidixon). Featuring Ryan Evans (@brainxray), Steve Martin (@purple_steve), Thryn Henderson (@thairyn) and Ziz Simoens (@seasylphgames). 

Produced by Thryn Henderson and Adam Dixon. 

Cover art by Beck Michalak (@r_michalak). Tiding art by Allissa Chan (@formyths).   

Rules are available at adtidi.itch.io/ryne.    

Sound clips from bbcsfx.acropolis.org.uk and mcharchenko at freesound.org

C/W: NPC death

“But my eyes were drawn to another figure, who sat in their midst. An anathema, the monster I'd come to know as Venz. From the moment I set eye on him I knew I had to act. That if I didn't, all of these people would be doomed.” 

-Ullun Bakkal

***

Having escaped the strange remnant Corpus, the people of Ninut gather at the confluence of three territories. They rest, shocked by the dark events under the mountain, waiting to see if all of their loved ones make it out of Carn Veskl.

A small group, gathered by Jeddah and the now-awakened Vilte, are asked to make a decision about where to go next. Do they go north into Irravence’s untamed forests, or east into the grief-touched Cenja?

Venz shares news of the Sharrow’s fate, Belka puts their foot down, Bris gets emotional and Challa climbs a tree.

If you want to chat about the rules or podcast, we also have a new Discord server - https://discord.gg/bTQdKmU. Come and discuss the episodes, share your non-canon remnants and argue about which character is the best.

***

Produced by Thryn Henderson and Adam Dixon.

Cover art by Beck Michalak (@r_michalak). Tiding art by Allissa Chan (@formyths). 

Sound clips from bbcsfx.acropolis.org.uk.

 C/W: violence, death “The instructors taught us this trick. When a remnants influence begins to cause things to slip, build constants. Mark the world, use them to observe and comprehend. That’s the purpose of this record. This is waking 11 or 12.” - Oken nim Sharif *** This is the final part of our special Shards & Fragments: Eolith - focusing on the Jackal’s attempts to bring down Relict. We’re playing The Harder They Fall, a game of final battles for the fate of the world, by Jay Iles and UFO Press. 

*** 

Finally united at the edge of Eolith’s petrified forest, the Tender’s Oken and Flint launch their assault on Relict. Its envoys, the gestalt consciousness led by Mell, swarm to protect their remnant.  Sensing the threat that the Jackal’s pose, the envoys petition Relict to release their fearsome sibling, Hongeo. A gigantic fermented stingray, with a dangerous relationship with entropy. 

*** 

Featuring special guests Beck Michalak (@R_Michalak) and Nate Crowley (@FrogCroakley), alongside Thryn Henderson (@thairyn).

Cover art by Allissa Chan (@formyths). Sound clips from kangaroovindaloo, Benboncan and Yuval on Freesound.org 

C/W: trypophobia, discussion of butchery and preservation, violence and horror “Scur, 1502. Relict: leaching of time from surrounding territories Lead agents: Oken nim Shalif, expunged” - Excerpt from Index of Assignments of the Tenders of the Dawn’s Embers

 *** 

This is part two of our three-part special focusing on the Jackal’s attempts to bring down Relict. We’re playing The Harder They Fall, a game of final battles for the fate of the world, by Jay Iles and UFO Press. The game has just released, it’s available here: https://ufo-jay.itch.io/harder-they-fall. 

 *** 

Eolith. A stoppered landscape, shielded from entropy and decay by the remnant Relict. Here things are detached from the rhythms time - trees grow already petrified, corpses are preserved overnight by a salt wind, insects burst from the ground centuries after their last appearance. With the aid of its envoys - a kind of gestalt hive-mind led by the fearsome Mell - Relict collects rarities from the neighbouring world. It preserves the extinct and the endangered, the fragile and the unique. However, entropy has entered Eolith. Relict’s wunderkammer has created a curio-led gold-rush. Archaeologists, treasure hunters and prospectors flock to the wheeled town of Rush. There they hope to get rich off of the preserved bodies and alien artifacts craned from the argon river.  Relict responds by pulling time from its neighbours. A trickle at first, but that stream widens. To the South, two enter. Flint and Oken. Agents of the Tenders of the Dawn’s Embers - stewards, god-killers, jackals. Their plant-read prophecies show the dark outcome of Relict’s thievery. They have come to stop it. 

***

Featuring special guests Beck Michalak (@R_Michalak) and Nate Crowley (@FrogCroakley), alongside Thryn Henderson (@thairyn).

Cover art by Allissa Chan (@formyths). Sound clips from kangaroovindaloo, Benboncan and Yuval on Freesound.org 

 C/W: Trypophobia, discussion of death

“Eolith whispers slow.

This is the first of a three-part special focusing on the Jackal’s attempts to bring down Relict. We play the game The Harder They Fall, a game of final battles for the fate of the world, by Jay Iles and UFO Press.

In this episode we build the landscape of Eolith, a preserved landscape of amber mountains, tar pits and salt flats. We share the characters we’ll be playing - the remnant Relict, its envoys led by Mell, and the Tenders Flint and Oaken. 

It’s set in the same world as Tiding, but is a stand-alone story. If you’re new to These Flimsy Rituals, this might be a good entry point.

Featuring special guests Beck Michalak (@R_Michalak) and Nate Crowley (@FrogCroakley), alongside Thryn Henderson (@thairyn). Hosted by Adam Dixon (@adtidixon).

Episode produced by Thryn Henderson (@thairyn).

Cover art by Allissa Chan (@formyths).

Sound clips from kangaroovindaloo and Yuval on Freesound.org 

C/W: horror, gore, dead bodies, possession

After Challa's attempts to stop Corpus fail, the caravan are trapped in Carn Veskl. There they must fight for their lives. Bris attempts to guide people to relative safety, while Belka desperately hunts for another way out of the caves.

Venz flees a bear, Belka rows a boat, Challa welcomes a storm and Bris, well... Bris makes some choices.

This is the final episode of Tiding's first arc. We'll be picking up the story of Belka, Bris, Challa and Venz again in a few weeks - but before that we'll be taking a quick break from their story to share some special episodes.

Hosted by Adam Dixon (@adtidixon). Featuring Ryan Evans (@brainxray), Steve Martin (@purple_steve), Thryn Henderson (@thairyn) and Ziz Simoens (@seasylphgames).

"We shouldn't have gone into the caves." - Challa

C/W: horror, violence

Venz and Shu leave the Sharrow's resting place changed men. Meanwhile, the caravan reaches Carn Veskl and, seeing the kite Venz left them, they decide to head into the caves. Inside, the scouting party investigate the screams and find something monstrous at the barricades.

Bris reunites with Korrin, Challa makes a pact, Venz resolves to help Ninut and Belka hears a poem.

Hosted by Adam Dixon (@adtidixon). Featuring Ryan Evans (@brainxray), Steve Martin (@purple_steve), Thryn Henderson (@thairyn) and Ziz Simoens (@seasylphgames).

Episode produced by Thryn Henderson.

Cover art by Allissa Chan (@formyths).

Sound clips from juilius_galla and sheepfilms on freesound.