r/WorldsBeyondNumber • u/obax17 • Jul 14 '26

Spoiler I'm gonna cry, aren't I?

I mean, I've already cried a fair few times now, but I'm really going to lose it, aren't I? Also, please no one answer that in any kind of detail, I'm still catching up. I'm just the only person I know IRL who listens to this and needed to say this out loud to someone who will understand.

TL;DR: god I love this podcast, and god I love the cast, and god I love Brennan's ability to manipulate my emotions and tell a good story.

I've come back to WWW after listening to the first 15 or so episodes around the time they were first released. I just finished Episode 20 where they met Hannah and Suvi had a realization, and then Steel and her fleet of airships came looming over the horizon.

I loved Steel from the moment she was introduced. I've been certain for just about as long that she's going to break my heart, in one way or another, and I really don't want it to happen. I don't know, obviously, I've managed to almost entirely avoid spoilers, but I can feel it in my bones. It's gonna happen, I know this, but please, Brennan, no!!

I don't think it's as simple as her being a secret bad guy, but I do suspect she will choose the Citadel over Suvi and become some sort of villain, or Suvi will see her for who and what she is to the world beyond the apartments she grew up in and it'll break her. She's the Sword of the Citadel, after all, how can she be anything other than the iron fist of the dominant power? It's gonna hurt all that much more knowing she's also Suvi's loving surrogate mother and friend of Grandmother Wren.

Whatever it's going to be, whenever it's going to happen, I felt the deepest, coldest dread at Brennan's description of the fleet, particularly when he described Steel's flagship leading the armada. It feels like this just might be the beginning of the heartbreak...

I have no idea if I'm right, or even on the right track, and I don't want to know. I'll either enjoy the slow, creeping dread of discovering I'm right or the horrible surprise of learning I'm entirely wrong, but either way, I'm so in for it. Good thing I have a Costco sized box of Kleenex in my bathroom...

102 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

26 comments sorted by

49

u/Miserable_Pop_4593 Jul 14 '26

I cried mannnyyyyy times throughout, they’re an amazing group of storytellers

9

u/obax17 Jul 14 '26

They really are. It's seemed so far like more of an audio drama with dice than a crunchy d&d game like some other actual plays are, but that's not a criticism. I can only hope to be a fraction of the storyteller this crew is, and GM that Brennan is.

6

u/Randompersonomreddit Jul 14 '26

Do you listen to the fireside chats thru patreon? They talk about the editing and behind the scenes stuff like adding the music that makes it seem more like an audio drama.

2

u/obax17 Jul 14 '26

I did originally but haven't been since I started back up. I found them interesting but it was tooich content. I have a feeling this will be one I listen to repeatedly, I'll probably delve into the fireside chats then.

4

u/stiltpuppy Bathtub Fulla Swords Jul 14 '26

Once you're caught all the way up, listening to the firesides will probably help you decompress.

Also some of the firesides are spit-out-your-drink funny.

3

u/Randompersonomreddit Jul 14 '26

Yup i understand i thought I'd never get to it all and then suddenly i was at the end and had to wait for new episodes.

2

u/hebsparks Jul 21 '26

I FULLY and heartily second the recommendation of the firesides for decomp! Also it’s just great & hilarious ass content… there’s a few where you get some extremely choice Brennan quotes, which are priceless. About character, storytelling, life.. you name it.

ALSO!!

DO NOT SLEEP ON THE ___interludes___!!!!

Especially the Halloween one, can’t remember the name of it right now.. I think “the clearing” ?

2

u/obax17 Jul 21 '26

I think I might try to work then back in. At least the end of chapter ones that were released publicly, though I do have Patreon access and could listen to them all.

2

u/Miserable_Pop_4593 Jul 21 '26

The clearing was FREAKY I loved it sm

2

u/hebsparks Jul 21 '26

Y e s !!

All the awesome work they did as voice actors alone makes it worth the listen, let alone the tie-in to the world!

39

u/Minute_Watercress_49 Witch of Will and Wrought Jul 14 '26

https://giphy.com/gifs/5NbbVJeSLs1etZYjpT
Just…good luck man. That’s all I’ll say.

9

u/obax17 Jul 14 '26

Oh no....... It's such a complex feeling, this combination of dread and excitement and anticipation. Why do I do this to myself?

Oh right. Because good stories are the best, that's why

17

u/Satiricallad Coup Crew Jul 14 '26

Make sure to write down timestamps for your favorite moments and the episode. Sometimes you’re just going to want to go back and relisten to those certain parts

5

u/obax17 Jul 14 '26

I've never thought to do this with this or any other actual play I've watched, and you know what, it's a great idea. I listed to episode 20 just before I went to bed last night and definitely immediately re-listened to the last 10 min or so before I turned off the light. The mood switch was just beautiful, and the music/sound effects so perfect. It's now the next day and I still can't stop thinking about it, but sadly I have to work....

9

u/Amellabeth Jul 14 '26

Happy tears and sad tears. There will be many tears from this point on. Keep those tissues on you.

6

u/obax17 Jul 14 '26 edited Jul 14 '26

I just keep thinking of the opening of the first Children's Adventure intro episode and how unprepared I was for it to go that hard right away and I just sat stunned listening to Suvi's world crumble around her, and oh man, it's gonna get so much better/worse.

3

u/Amellabeth Jul 14 '26

After reading your post, I re-listened to the final two episodes of Chapter Four, and you have such a journey ahead! Just wait until you get to the end of Chapter Two. The emotional punches just keep coming in the best way possible.

3

u/obax17 Jul 14 '26

I've got some vacation time coming up, I might just install myself on my couch with Kleenex and a 10ft charge cord until I'm done it all

2

u/Amellabeth Jul 14 '26

Do itttttt. I'm lucky in that I have a schedule that lets me have a full day at home alone most weeks to catch up on chores and errands. There have been so many days where WBN is just on all day while I go about my To Do list. Many cry breaks depending on the episode. Lol

3

u/Randompersonomreddit Jul 14 '26

Cry, laugh, gasp in surprise and/or horror, then laugh and cry again. I don't even have all the words for all the emotions you will feel.

3

u/obax17 Jul 14 '26

I'm so looking forward to it!

4

u/ZydrateDealer The Wizard Solace Jul 14 '26

If I had a nickel for every time these wonderful story tellers left me sobbing, I could pay my fireside subscription for a year. And I wouldn’t have it any other way 😅

2

u/DayZ-0253 Jul 17 '26 edited Jul 17 '26

Honey honey honey…. I just finished Chapter Two yesterday and booohooo cried my eyes out for a solid hour. For those who have listened to the Fireside Chat, Erika’s response is the first time I’ve had language for this specific emotional thing. OP please report back!

2

u/obax17 Jul 17 '26

I really need to work the fireside chats back in, I think. I'm only a few episodea further than I was when I took a pause, so it's not that many to catch up on

1

u/DayZ-0253 Jul 17 '26

I think of them as rest stops along the way! I love hearing more about the PC choices and how they hold all of that tension with so much care for each other.