Friends at the Table

Friends at the Table is an actual play podcast about critical worldbuilding, smart characterization, and fun interaction between good friends. Find us (and a listener guide) @Friends_Table on Twitter.

Perpetua 14: On Track to Iron Chains Pt. 03 08/15/2025

Perpetua 14: On Track to Iron Chains Pt. 03 Aboard the Argent Wind, Caoimhe Wake, Antistrophe Landrace, and Brontë Adelvys settle in for a peaceful journey east. But to live the life of the traveler is to dare fate, as all journeys are invitations to encounter the forgotten and the unexpected both. And for this group of adventurers, they find themselves faced with one and then the other: First, the sudden appearance of a childhood friend. Next, a rumbling of what might be amiss in the City of Iron Chains… This week on Perpetua: On Track to Iron Chains Pt. 03 Perpetua Guide [In Progress v.03] Town Maps [TNMP] Cenn, City of Iron Chains [CNMP] The Ironclad Parade The creepy statues surrounding all of Cenn. Nothing happens if you walk through here when you first arrive, besides the occasional tremor. I thought there’d be ghosts to fight or something, but just these statues for now. Pilgrim’s Quarter The western border of Cenn, home to hotels, campgrounds, and a general store where you can get IP and other basic items. This is where you arrive if you end up taking the train route to the city. Digsite West This used to be one of the two big dig sites in Cenn, where they were trying to pull up the weird object buried underground, plus all the strange relics and equipment they could find. That latter part is why it turned into a huge shopping zone, and once it was a shopping zone, it was also a food zone. Definitely stop in here before pushing too far in Cenn. Here’s what you can buy there: Weapons Siegebreaker - 750 asta DEX + INS -【HR + 12】physical damage - Two-handed / Ranged Damage dealt by this weapon ignores Resistances. Spell Sever - 850 asta DEX + INS+1 -【HR + 4】dark - One-handed / Melee When you hit a creature with this weapon, if the attack had a single target, you may choose a single spell with a duration of Scene affecting the target and end its effects on that creature. Armor Archeologist’s Boots - 900 Asta When your group makes a discovery while traveling, you may immediately gain 1 Fabula Point. Securibot Armor - martial 1250 11 Def / INS +1 Mdef / -3 initiative You have Immunity to earth and poison damage, but Vulnerability to bolt damage. Accessories Digsite Helmet - 700 Asta Grants Resistance to Physical damage. Broken after the third time physical damage is resisted. Other Strange Device - 2500 Asta Recovered from the digsite. Has a keyboard like a typewriter, attached to a darkened mirror. (I have NO idea what this is, but I bought it IMMEDIATELY) Castine’s Moon The huge moon that was lifted out from the earth’s crust. Only the top part of it is above ground, but that’s still huge. I love when you can see it in the background! Before Caoimhe gets her mission, you can just walk on its surface and get some lore from some little shrines and the big temple in the middle. One thing I like is that Castine really does walk around it with various NPCs! It seems like it just randomly pulls in one of the other Cenn NPC models for him to hang out with. Digsite East The dig actually continues here. It’s all locked down with security, probably because they’re still actively digging.Travelers (and the party) have to go around. Believe it or not, you can actually do some low level grinding here! Groundbreak This is where the digging first started, and because of that it’s become important to the city culturally. Both the Hexcloak office AND the City Hall are here. And PLEASE remember, you have to go to the latter to actually start the main quest here. YOUR GAME IS NOT BROKEN JUST BECAUSE THE HEXCLOAK OFFICE IS EMPTY. Seawalk Da beach. The most important thing is that you can play Beachminton here, which is a pretty stupid minigame but the prizes are great. Breeze Boulevard An elevated area filled with fancy houses. This is where the hoity-toity types of Cenn live. At first I thought this was weird, because it seems like this town shouldn’t even have them, since Castine’s priests seem to be the most important people. But if you talk to some of the NPCs in town, you can learn that before Castine showed up, the people who made the most money off the archeological dig (and the inventions that came out of it) got rich and wanted to live further away from (and higher up than) the dig sites. Sutcliffe Street The industrial district, where various engineers and blacksmiths and factory-runners try to reverse engineer the stuff that gets found in the digsite. Hosted by Austin Walker () Featuring Janine Hawkins (), Sylvi Bullet (), and Keith J Carberry () Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt () Cover Art by Ben McEntee ( With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Aster Maragos, Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to . /episode/index/show/friendsatthetable/id/37837060

Perpetua 13: On Track to Iron Chains 02 08/09/2025

Perpetua 13: On Track to Iron Chains 02 From the roof of the restricted Hexcloak train station, Caoimhe Wake, Antistrophe Landrace, and Brontë Adelvys can hear the approach of a train. It is a train that will take them east, towards the coastline, towards Cenn, City of Iron Chains, and towards a brush with deity and destiny both. But if they are to board this train, they must first overcome a foe equal parts cryptic and cunning: The Fleggus! This week on Perpetua: On Track to Iron Chains Pt. 02 Perpetua Guide [In Progress v.03] NPCs & Monsters [PNMS] Fleggus [NMFG] Typical Traits: Territorial, Cackling, Experimental Stats: DEX 6, INS 10, MIG 6, WLP 8 Attacks: Fleggus Staff, Feathershell, Chain Lightning Special Abilities: Final Act: Stoneshell In-Game Description: A green, speckled megga flegg with a black, feathery cloak, wielding a staff topped by what looks like a smaller version of its own green, speckled egg form. It’s a Wizard Flegg!!! Honestly, as far as I can tell, it seems like this guy is more bark than bite. (Do Fleggs bark? Wait, do Fleggs bite?) He’s a miniboss, but he doesn’t have a ton of HP, and while Chain Lightning can be annoying if it hits, once you get the dazed debuff, it’s not like he has a way of taking advantage of you with that. Maybe if he had more than just a pair of regular old Fleggs ot back him up. (Also: It’s not clear to me if a “megga flegg” is a special class of Flegg or not, but it definitely makes me think that we’ll be seeing more of these guys.) Starter Tip: Unlike regular Fleggs, he’s weak to ICE instead of FIRE. What’s up with that? Flegg [see NMFL] Conductor Chend (he/him) [NMCC] Traits: Pacifistic, Protective, Warweary Stats: ??? Attacks: Get Off My Train Spells: ??? In-Game Descriptions: Conductor of The Argent Wind, this birdkind engineer has put his past of fighting behind him. In one of the preview screenshots, this guy is CLEARLY a Dove, but in game I think he’s meant to be one of the Seagulls from the western continent? Not sure why they’d change that. Starter Tip: DO NOT try to start a fight on the train. He will interrupt the fight and basically wipe your whole party! Attendant Sono (he/him) [NMSN] Traits: Enthusiastic, Modest, Acquiescent Stats: ??? Attacks: ??? Spells: ??? In-Game Descriptions: Attendant of the Argent Wind. This Lobble is something of a pushover. Not much to say about this dude. I do like how he’s basically a rubber band ball though. It’s probably pretty cool to be a living rubber band ball. Starter Tip: I can’t confirm this, but I’ve heard that if you manage to pickpocket Sono, you get a free drink ticket for the dining car, and that you can do this repeatedly. If you fail, though, it starts a fight and Chend will show up and lay the smacketh down on you, so be careful! Hosted by Austin Walker () Featuring Janine Hawkins (), Sylvi Bullet (), and Keith J Carberry () Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt () Cover Art by Ben McEntee ( With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Aster Maragos, Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to . /episode/index/show/friendsatthetable/id/37743365

Perpetua 12: On Track to Iron Chains Pt. 01 07/31/2025

Perpetua 12: On Track to Iron Chains Pt. 01 Drawn together by mystery, circumstance, and burgeoning camaraderie, the trio of Caoimhe Wake, Antristrophe Landrace, and Brontë Adelvys (plus the young prince’s loyal servants) have already made their mark on Perpetua. The fires of Burzin have been quenched, and the town glows again under sacred light. Now they are called east, towards new mystery, old friends, and a city of Iron. To get there, they must decide: Travel the long, but safe path by foot out of the desert and into the savannah, where the high grass teems with charming life? Or rush north, across dangerous terrain, towards a restricted, Hexcloak-only train station, in hopes of catching a ride by rail to their destination: Cenn, the City of Iron Chains, whose inhabitants have spent millennia digging for clues about Perpetua’s past. But they aren’t the only ones traveling to Cenn: Every day, devotees of Castine, Living Metal, make their way towards the Ironclad Parade, hearts beating with emotion. Curiosity. Faith. Compassion. Awe. Anger. Fear. Pride. Love. One day, our heroes may think back on this journey to Cenn, and realize it was their last normal week, the final days before their lives changed forever, one more simple quest before they’d need to face new truths, before fated confrontations with hated rivals, eternal beings, and the only member of the Ennead who chooses to walk amongst his people. So gather round, and listen, as they step out beyond the little town where you first met them and, if they can catch their train on time, take their first strides… towards destiny. This week on Perpetua: Perpetua Guide [In Progress v.03] - Some Feedback [Page 08 of 11] TheUnforgivenIII GO BACK AND REREAD MY POST, UNLESS THAT’S TOO HARD FOR YOU. BECAUSE THAT ISN’T WHAT I SAID AT ALL. HERE, I’LL QUOTE THE SIXTH PARAGRAPH, SO THAT YOUR LAZY ASS DOENS’T NEED TO HIT THE FCKNGI BACK BUTTON! > And like I said before, that’s because you took too long to get there. If you actually take it seriously and get there quickly, you don’t get into any fights and you just get all the loot for free. Definitely the best way to do it. GET IT NOW? Alukard83 No I don’t “get it’ because there’s nothing to be “gotten.” Maybe YOU should go back and re-read the Walkthrough, because FoN lays it all out in the loot table. Don’t worry, I’ll wait, I’m patient. CarlsSr l o l appeal to authority much? Alukard83 That’s not an appeal to authority! I’m telling you where you can go get the answer for yourself! If you had read the guide, you would know what the guide said! CarlSr begging the question XD WolfOConner Is this forum always like this or did I just come on a bad day? Anyway, I'm saved right before leaving Burzin, so what exactly should I do? XxZelgadyskXx Wolf, don't leave! We need more good posters! (Love your StarFox guide by the way!) Anyway, I’m not up to date on the guide, but my little brother lost my save file so i had to personally replay the whole game through this point over the weekend, and I think I can give some insight. Unforgiven is right that if you get to Springsong fast enough, there’s no fight at all, and all the environmental loot is just there waiting for you to find it. But that’s only the ENVIRONMENTAL LOOT, the chests, the fishing point, and the little interactable points. What you lose out on getting is anything from the enemies that would be here if you took too long. You can steal from them, and the boss has something that is (so far) totally unique in the game. So yes, you CAN get loot without any risk by going fast, but you miss out on the rewards from the fight (plus anything you can steal from the boss, if you took the Soul Steal ability from Rogue.) FriendofNei Haha whoops, didn’t mean to cause all this chaos guys! Zel is totally right, and I thought I was making that clear with the loot tables attached to the fights. I’ll be sure to make a note in the area description if this happens again! Btw, does anyone understand why the fight only happens if you take a longer time to get there? Shouldn’t getting there first mean that it’s still an unpurified echo or whatever? Hosted by Austin Walker () Featuring Janine Hawkins (), Sylvi Bullet (), and Keith J Carberry () Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt () Cover Art by Ben McEntee ( With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Aster Maragos, Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to . /episode/index/show/friendsatthetable/id/37629200

Perpetua 11: Journey to the Bay Pt. 03 07/25/2025

Perpetua 11: Journey to the Bay Pt. 03 With Redolencia behind them and a new friend on board, the crew of the Little Snail powers forward towards Calstega Bay. Unfortunately, as a familiar crack sounds in the distance, they find that the home of the Manakin is less welcoming than they’d hoped! Now, the ad hoc adventurers must find their way past the blockades and between the sniper’s bullets if they hope to make it into the seaside town. This week on Perpetua: Journey to the Bay Pt. 03 Perpetua Guide [In Progress v.03] Town Maps [TNMP] Calstega Bay [CBMP] While smaller towns and villages are set up in a single, scrolling screen, larger cities like Calstega Bay are broken up into different “district” zones. Each one has a bunch of stuff in it, so for the sake of speed (this is an IN PROGRESS FAQ after all!) I’m going to just list the basics and I’ll come back later if more detail is needed. Anyway, without further to do: Northcrook A.K.A. “Crookville,” this is the primary way of entering during the opening scenario. There’s a hospital here (with a doctor who has some very funny dialog). You can grind here for a little bit against both Valtese Guards and “Cheetahs.” (They’re not Cheetahs, they’re Manakin Gang Members that have Cheetah Spots on them. I don’t know that the developers know what gangs are like in real life.). The Free Quarter This is the big central square of town that connects most of the other districts to one another. So you know what that means: You’ll be running through it CONSTANTLY, especially after you get the disguise and the pass that let you move around freely. You can also go into the palace to learn some lore about the Manakin and Grand Sonnerie and the noble who used to rule here. And the clocktower at the top of the palace is the first of three places you can choose to have the big boss fight at at the end of the main quest chapter here! Westgate Markets This is where the big cooking competition happens, technically, but let me just focus on what you care about most here. The GEAR! Here’s what’s available: Weapons Inventor's Screwdriver - 600 asta DEX+DEX+1 - [HR+4] physical - 1 handed / melee Damage dealt by this weapon ignores Resistances. Inventor's Hammer - 800 Asta MIG+MIG - [HR+10] bolt damage - 2 handed / melee Do an extra 5 damage to Constructs. Gatling Crossbow - 1350 asta, martial DEX+INS - [HR+12] physical damage - 2 handed Attacks with this weapon always have multi (2) Encyclopedia - 600 asta INS+INS - [HR+6] physical - two handed / melee You are immune to dazed. Armor Inventor's Garb - 800 asta DEX die +1 Def / INS die +1 Mdef/ -1 Init You gain +1 IP maximum. Bandit Jacket - 900 asta DEX die +1 Def / INS die +1 Mdef /-1 Initiative You gain +1 bonus to Accuracy Checks with Daggers. Cheetah Jacket - 650 asta, martial 10 Def / INS die +1 MDef/ +2 Initiative Automaton Suit - 1250 asta, martial 11 Def / INS die +1 MDef / -3 Init You have Immunity to Earth and Poison Damage, but vulnerability to bolt damage. Inventor's Shield - 1600 asta +2 Def You have immunity to bolt damage. Accessories Springloaded Boots - 1200 asta Spend 3IP to launch yourself into the air, allowing you to attack a single flying enemy with a melee attack, or giving you a +2 on an appropriate skill check. Inventor's Gloves - 500 asta You are immune to shaken Sharpshooter's Lenses - 1000 asta You gain a +1 bonus to your Accuracy Checks. Cornergate This is one of the main ways in/out of the town after you complete the main quest stuff here. There are a handful of random encounters here, but nowhere near as many as in Crookville. It’s sort of just a weird corner of the city with nothing going on besides the gate. I don’t know why it got its own zone. Maybe I’m missing something. Highrail This is where the train to the north comes. You’ll walk past this place a BUNCH and go “why can’t I just get on a train and get out of here.” BE PATIENT! It’s also a great place to grind, especially against the modified Loader Bots. The second of three places you could have the boss fight at, depending on your dialog options. Night Docks I haven’t been able to get into this place yet except for the cutscene where you go to the nearby hotel. It gets closed off after that. But before you go, definitely make sure to buy up as much IP as you can. Atelier Road This is what I’d call the “fancy shop” part of town. Later on in the game you can get mage equipment here plus some pretty good accessories, but for now it seems to be locked off by the Valtean Empire and the locals having staredowns. Roseshore Despite all the signage warning about a sea monster, this is the fancy beach of the town. It’s also the third possible boss fight location—I wonder if the monster gets involved with the fight if you have it there instead of the other places? Hosted by Austin Walker () Featuring Ali Acampora (), Art Martinez-Tebbel (), Jack de Quidt (), and Andrew Lee Swan () Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt () Cover Art by Ben McEntee ( With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Aster Maragos, Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to . /episode/index/show/friendsatthetable/id/37529440

Perpetua 10: Journey to the Bay Pt. 02 07/20/2025

Perpetua 10: Journey to the Bay Pt. 02 Led by the cries of someone in danger, the crew of the Little Snail have charged into the Celestial Echo of Redolencia, an otherworldly swampland where magic works differently and shadowy creatures flit between trees. The source of those screams was a Manakin scholar who’d wandered too far into the Echo and who now found himself face-to-face with a maneating orchid. Can these humble adventurers, still recovering from their own recent stumbles into danger, save this wandering researcher before he becomes plantfood?, This week on Perpetua: Perpetua 09: Journey to the Bay Pt. 01 Perpetua Guide [In Progress v.03] Ongoing Mysteries - Ancient Passikan Megadungeons [OMMD] I haven’t actually been to any of these yet, but if you’re able to get a perfect result on the big Redolencia puzzle, these all get marked on your map. What’s really weird is that if you have a separate East campaign save going at the same time, they get marked on that save’s map too! In any case, I don’t know specifics about them as dungeons yet (or even if you actually go to each of these in this game), but here’s some bullet points on what I DO know some details about them based on the Prelude, item descriptions, and other world exploration I’ve done. So I’ve collected those details here. The Hanging Gardens of Rillspur This is obviously where Elena is from. Towards the center of the western continent (aka Tidaline). Three rivers run out of it, west, east, and south. In the Prelude, Harlow went here and met some people in the “pleasure gardens” and maybe saved a kid’s life, it wasn’t really clear during the vignette. She’s referenced it having a ton of floors in dialog, and the top floors are easy and her family runs a restaurant there. It’s a water dungeon (or an ice dungeon?), really not clear, especially after Redolencia’s revelations about the Ennead. The Passikan people/creatures there water (or ice?) magic while inside. There are some sort of magical mosaics. Milsource, Fallen Capital Was the capital of a huge empire on the eastern continent before the rise of the Elevana League and the Hundred Burroughs. Apparently a really important river used to run out of here but it all dried up, or somehow “left” the capital? And that was the beginning of a huge downturn in the empire. If this is the place that Glesi and Yukai’s culture was originally from (or near) in the Prelude, Maybe the place where Sourcerot, the curse that the Eastern party is investigating, is from. Definitely what it’s named for. Duriel, The Splintered Colosseum In the Holy Protectorate of Placidia, which is the area north of the mountains on Tidaline. But it ISN’T the capital of that place, which is a city called Verus. Also came up during the Prelude. Harlow went here and saw a bunch of people acting out conflicts between various gods and spirits and ancient heroes? There wasn’t really any clear structure that looked like a dungeon there, though. Very close to the the Addled Shore, which was like some sort of major fog monster? Not Clear!!! The Gleaming Fortress, Lumai One of the major city-states of the Elevana League. West of the big mountain range there. Presumably tied to the Light-blessed Elves and/or Lucena. Right on the big river that runs down the whole continent in like a boomerang shape. Mysterious Southern Continent The icon for the dungeon is dead in the middle of the southern continent. We don’t know jack diddly squat about this place. Not the name, not who lives there, not what sort of weapons they have, nothing. All we know from the demo is that they grow some sort of special flower or something near the “Capnae Mountains,” but they’re all the way in the northwest and far from the dungeon icon. Hosted by Austin Walker () Featuring Ali Acampora (), Art Martinez-Tebbel (), Jack de Quidt (), and Andrew Lee Swan () Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt () Cover Art by Ben McEntee ( With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Aster Maragos, Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to . /episode/index/show/friendsatthetable/id/37464000

Perpetua 09: Journey to the Bay Pt, 01 07/13/2025

Perpetua 09: Journey to the Bay Pt, 01 The humble crew of the LIttle Snail could not have known what they were getting into. A simple, kindness had led them towards danger and mystery unknwon. A fallen tower. Undead dragon cultists descending on them in the dark. An ancient prophecy written by the light. And a sanctimonious solivagant stolen into shadow Yet faced with this chaos, they continued. Making their way north, first to the bridge they’d rebuilt only days ago and then turning towards the seaside city of Calstega Bay in search fo answers. All around them, Perpetua awed with its beauty. The sea breeze sweeping across Tidaline’s plains. Life all around them, blossoming and chirping. And the daytime sky giving way to the stars. And so they were on the cusp of unexpected discovery: Because though they did not know yet, what we do about the Stars, they would soon find out just how they echo…. Redolencia. Alteros. Ichoria. Springsong. Armidirge. Imago. Genesika. KosmoKairosis. It would be the first of these—Redolencia, announcing itself with buzzes and yelps—that they would encounter on that journey to Calstega Bay. On its face, it may have seemed like a distraction from their primary task—but in truth, it was their first glimpse into a world beyond—or a world before—the Perpetua they knew. A lesson here, for those who study their journey: It is only a fool that sticks to the charted course. One never knows when a hill is worth the climb, a dance is worth a stumble, or a rose is worth its thorns. This week on Perpetua: Journey to the Bay Pt. 1 Perpetua Guide [In Progress v.03] Celestial Echoes [CECH] So far, Celestial Echoes seems like they’re a series of side quests, but I have a feeling they’re actually really important—like either late in the campaign you’ll have to go around to do all of them or else maybe the true ending is locked behind doing them? In any case, they come in two versions: Unstable and Stable. Both are a part of the map affected by “Celestial Laws,” which change some basic gameplay rules in BIG ways. What separates them, then? Well, Unstable Echoes are normally mini-dungeons or miniboss fights, while Stable Echoes (which you can make by completing the “Ritual of Stellar Restoration” in an Unstable Echo), tend to just be lore-focused map locations. Both offer a lot of unique loot, plus unique music and character interactions! Oh, also, supposedly if you don’t do the ritual, Unstable Echoes can “spread” across more of the map, but I haven’t tried to let that happen during this first playthrough (obviously). While I’m including the basic stat blocks for all the Celestial Echo enemies, NPCs, and bosses in the NPC & Monsters section (search for PNMS but with brackets around it!), I’m keeping their longer entries here because I think most people will turn here to learn about the Echoes! Redolencia [CERD] Redolencia is probably the first celestial echo you’ll find (though you could go around it and reach Capstone from the Prelude if you were willing to grind a little). As such, it’s got a mix of combat (a pretty cool boss fight) and dungeon/puzzle gameplay. And its Celestial Laws are pretty basic. It’s sort of like playing a game with wayyy less focus on spells. The level and enemy design here is so weird It’s like someone swapped the game palette with a sicker one. All the colors are like *too* colorful, but also too dim? I don’t know anything about art, I just know it feels weird. And the music is SO intense given that it’s just a bunch of flowers and bugs. Anyway, here’s what you’ve got in store: Celestial Law: Alchemical Tilt: Spells heal half damage. Skills and Items heal twice as much. Celestial Law: Unstable Magic: When casting a spell, you fumble when 1s or 2s are rolled as a pair (i.e. rolls of 2 or 4, but not 1+2 or 2+1) Scalewings [NMSCW] Typical Traits: fluttering, territorial, lover of beauty, scientific Stats: DEX 10, INS 8, MIG 8, WLP 6 Attacks: Beetlehorn Spear Special Abilities: Scale Shower, Flying In-Game Description: An echo of a butterfly-like person, attendant to the Vampire Orchid. Flutters like a stuttering shadow. They’re more like colorful moths than butterflies, in this FAQ-writer’s opinion. They have big gross wings, and can spread poison with their Scale Shower ability. I’d love to know what the rest of their world was like, given that they use a huge beetle horn as a spear! Do you think the whole world was smaller or that everything small on it was bigger? Did humans even exist there? Starter Tip: Simple! Use fire! Vampire Orchid [NMVOR] Typical Traits: Rapacious, Hungry, Gorgeous, Fragrant Stats: DEX 8, INS 6, MIG 10, WLP 8 Attacks: Vine Drain, Pollen Dusting Special Abilities: Plant: The Vampire Orchid is immune to dazed, enraged, and shaken. In-Game Description: Tendrils of green, petals of black and yellow, and a column of deep red. Though one might wonder where the latter color comes from. A giant hungry plant—where have I seen that one before! On one hand, its weakness to both ice and fire means that your party should be able to do great damage to it! On the other hand, the Celestial Echo that increases the chance of spellcasting fumbles means that it’s easier to have things go totally off the rails all at once. Starter Tip: Remember: Elemental Shards don’t require any sort of spell casting roll! A cheap way to get a TON of damage during this fight. Hosted by Austin Walker () Featuring Ali Acampora (), Art Martinez-Tebbel (), Jack de Quidt (), and Andrew Lee Swan () Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt () Cover Art by Ben McEntee ( With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Aster Maragos, Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to . /episode/index/show/friendsatthetable/id/37381635

Perpetua 08: The Flames of Burzin Pt. 4 07/04/2025

Perpetua 08: The Flames of Burzin Pt. 4 Why has Burzin been burning? All the clues point back to one place: Lady Teribald’s House of Chance. If they’re going to solve this mystery—and find out if it’s connected to the greater afflictions of the continent—the investigation team must find their way past the gambling hall’s many distractions and to Teribald’s office in search of answers. And then there will simply be the matter of a final confrontation… This week on Perpetua: The Flames of Burzin Pt. 4 Perpetua Guide [In Progress v.02] NPCs & Monsters [PNMS] Kalsi’s Lantern [NMKLN] Typical Traits: Glowing, Inconspicuous, Magical Stats: DEX 8, INS 8, MIG 6, WLP 10 Attacks: Flicker Shot Special Abilities: Burn Out In-Game Description: Paper lamps filled with the lively fire of a forgotten god. Also known as “Mysterious Lanterns” before you get deep into the main quest in Burzin, these are super easy to grind against . Sure, Burn Out means that your whole party takes 10 damage every time you kill one, but that’s still way less damage than you’d potentially get in a longer fight against some other low level monsters. Starter Tip: They’re one of the only enemies that are straight up WEAK to regular physical damage! Kind of obvious, but this IS labeled “starter tip” after all. Mr. Crumb [NMCRM] Traits: Loyal, Gullible Stats: DEX 10, INS 8, MIG 6, WLP 8 Attacks: Jab, Revolver Blast, Quickshot (Reaction), Special Abilities: Elemental Bullet, Deadeye In-Game Description: Lady Teribald’s loyal henchman. A crackshot with his elemental revolver. Mr. Crumb and Mr. Crust (below) are obviously designed to complement one another. Crust is the close up combatant, which makes Crumb the long ranged sniper. (Can you be a sniper if you just have a revolver?) That said, if you do get into his face, his counterattacks will make you pay for it… unless you’ve got a high defense score! My advice: Send Antistrophe in there and count on his ability to avoid incoming damage! Starter Tip: Don’t worry too much about his Elemental Bullet attack. It’s so unlikely that the magical damage he happens to hit is going to be important to you. But it might be worth grabbing his gun after the fight before you leave the scene and it despawns! Mr. Crust [NMCRU] Traits: Cocky, Brutal, Great Smile Stats: DEX 8, INS 6, MIG 12, WLP 6 Attacks: Wide Swing, Croupier’s Rake Special Abilities: Bodyguard (Reaction), Improved Defenses, Improved HP In-Game Description: Lady Teribald’s personal bodyguard. He’s died for her before. Crust is the designed to look like the heavy hitter in the fight, but mostly he’s the “hard to hit”-er. He’s got better physical defense than an Embear and the same magical defense as a Flarie, so if you get a stroke of bad luck, you might end up missing him a bunch. But, because of his bodyguard ability, you’re gonna just have to power through, because it’s not like you can ignore him! Starter Tip: If you give him the Slow status effect, it drops his defense score by 2, which makes this fight so much easier! Kalsi, Lantern’s Flame [NMKLF] Traits: Furious, Bright, Lonely Stats: DEX 6, INS 6, MIG 10, WLP 10 Attacks: Flaming Smash, Flameburst Special Abilities: Lantern’s Light, Lantern’s Heat, Flying In-Game Description: Forgotten God who once called Burzin his home. Led astray. Okay, the way I beat this fight means I only briefly had to contend with Kalsi directly. But if you try to fight him straight up, it’s gonna be tough! He’s a Champion class enemy, so he’s got a TON of HP, and not only is he immune to Fire and Poison, but by default he has no elemental weaknesses, and he’s flying, so you can’t melee attack him. Yowch! Talk about a GOD. Starter Tip: The best way to beat Kalsi is to not have to fight him directly in the first place! The “Objective” move is SO powerful in this game, I wish more Roleplaying Games had something like it! Lady Teribald [NMLTB] Traits: ??? Stats: DEX ??, INS ??, MIG ??, WLP ?? Attacks: ??? Special Abilities: Mysterious Necklace In-Game Description: Drawn into a tragic fate by an alluring, otherworldly power. Teribald sucks so bad! I hate her so much, and what’s worse is I can’t figure out how to ACTUALLY FIGHT HER. Every time I run the fight, I have to either take too long to beat Crust and Crumb (so Kalsi emerges, and the fight is with him instead) OR I win via Objective and the fight with her never happens! If I could take Crust and Crumb out quicker, maybe I could get to go against her? Does anyone know if she has any unique loot? Starter Tip: No idea! Hosted by Austin Walker () Featuring Janine Hawkins (), Sylvi Bullet (), and Keith J Carberry () Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt () Cover Art by Ben McEntee () With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Aster Maragos, Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to . /episode/index/show/friendsatthetable/id/37281190

Perpetua 07: The Flames of Burzin Pt 03 06/28/2025

Perpetua 07: The Flames of Burzin Pt 03 Caoimhe, Antistrophe, Brontë arrived to Burzin with a clear goal: Find out whether the catastrophe in Burzin is tied to the mysterious malediction known only as Sourcerot. But seeing the town in ashes makes another objective clear: Stopping the fires from continuing, no matter what is causing them. Now, they seek answers that will lead them to investigate not only into the town’s history, but into the lives of some of its oldest residents… This week on Perpetua: The Flames of Burzin Pt. 03 Perpetua Guide [In Progress v.02] Town Maps [TNMP] Burzin Main Scenario Teribald’s House of Chance This is where the main story route I took kicked off, but it’s also where I lost a TON of asta. Wurdzin doesn’t make any sense to me, but if you can get a lucky streak with your guesses, I guess you could really break the game economy here! House M’Shalia LOTS of lore here. There are way more things in the upstairs rooms and attics that you interact with than you might think. Make sure to turn on the option that makes interactables shiny! House of Benediction Obviously this is where the big showdown is, but did you know that if you go here during the day time you can get healed, get your debuffs cleansed, and get a buff! Town Hall & Jail & House Burzin I think you can advance through the main plot here instead of through the House of Chance/M’Shalia route, but I haven’t had a chance to load my old save and try it yet. Let me know on the forum and I’l update this! Burned Down Buildings You can check for clues at each of these locations, but the most important one is in the southwest. That’s where the Saloon burned down. Shops Mining Supplies This is basically a “tool store” from other towns, so if you need any consumables from those, you can get them here. Clean Water Lodge & Crebbs Potions & Poultices I listed these together because they share the same interior on screen, just with a door between the two front desks. You get to stay here for free as long as the main story is ongoing (assuming you rescued Frenk), so make sure to use it before you leave town. The next time you come back, he’ll charge you!. Wilfer’s Wits and Weaponry If you happen to have the asta, there are some pretty great weapons here! The Solium Bow (Dex+Dex, HR+8 Fire Damage, gives you Resistance to Fire) is especially great! Also, if you interact with the third bookcase three times, you can find “An Accounting of Spiritual Matters,” which gives you a huge bonus when fighting the boss here, plus can be used afterwards as a mage weapon. Serah’s Surcoats I think the flame resistant armor is overpriced, but the Sungleam Shield is GREAT for Antistrophe. It’s a big upgrade for both of his defenses, plus you can basically give people a solar flare from DBZ XD Side Quests / Other Residential District Mostly just NPCs to talk to about things here. I love the two brothers who hate each other. First Bank of Burzin Always remember to deposit any extra asta you have into the bank. Not only will it prevent you from losing some if you die in combat, it also actually slowly gains in value! I guess they have interest in Perpetua! Post Office This probably deserves its whole own entry, but did you know that if you have both East and West saves, you can actually transfer items between them? You just choose the “Send a Gift to a Random Person” option and pay the fee. The “random person” is actually a character in your other save game! It does take a little while to get there though. Abandoned Buildings Just a good place to grind against lanterns! Hosted by Austin Walker () Featuring Janine Hawkins (), Sylvi Bullet (), and Keith J Carberry () Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt () Cover Art by Ben McEntee () With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Aster Maragos, Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to . /episode/index/show/friendsatthetable/id/37185275

Perpetua 06: The Flames of Burzin Pt 02 06/20/2025

Perpetua 06: The Flames of Burzin Pt 02 Hexcloak justiciar Caoimhe Wake and her two ad hoc assistant investigators, Antistrophe Landrace and Brontë Adelvys, have their work cut out for them. First and foremost, there’s the matter of these strange, flaming creatures attacking a traveling Lobble and his stagecoach full of supplies. And then there’s there’s the matter of Burzin, the small desert township on the horizon. After generations of simplicity and stability, the town has faced a sudden wave of inexplicable destruction as a phenomenon that can only be described as “invisible fire” has razed much of the town to ash. Will Caoimhe, Antistrophe, and Brontë find who—or what—is behind the blaze? Or will what remains of Burzin soon be burned away? This week on Perpetua: The Flames of Burzin Pt. 2 Perpetua Guide [In Progress v.02] NPCs & Monsters [PNMS] Flarie [NMFLR] Typical Traits: Curious, Fickle, Scornful, Superior Stats: DEX 8, INS 10, MIG 6, WLP 8 Attacks: Flame Dart Special Abilities: Flying, Crisis: Wildfire In-Game Description: A devious flying flame, vaguely int he shape of a fairy. Flaries are cute, but they’re also dangerous, especially early on! They’re ranged attackers who hover just out of melee reach, so you’ll need to either hit crit them or get them down to half health with ranged or magic attacks, or hit their elemental weakness. And remember, Perpetua doesn’t have water magic for some reason, and Fire often Melts Ice! Any guesses on what that leaves as a natural vulnerability? That’s right: EARTH. Toss some dirt on these little jerks and you’ll bring ‘em down to ground level. Starter Tip: Get ready to heal once you knock them into crisis! Their Wildfire move is devastating! Embear [NMEMB] Typical Traits: Pround, Hungry, Scorching, Territorial Stats: DEX 8, INS 8, MIG 10, WLP 6 Attacks: Flame Claw Special Abilities: Burn Back (Reaction) In-Game Description: A large, ursine figure of fire looking for something to eat. These guys are the brawn to the Flaries’... well, not quite brains, but fla(i)r, I guess? At the start of the game, they really pack a wallop, so try to keep your weaker characters away from their Flame Claw strikes. I wonder what type of bear they’re supposed to be? Do any bears really live in the dessert??? Starter Tip: At first blush, their Burn Back reaction attack seems totally broken. But remember, it only hits melee attackers! Aisling Revanj (she/her) [NMAR] Traits: Ambitious, Mean Spirited, Envious, Loyal Stats: ??? Attacks: ??? Spells: ??? In-Game Descriptions: Fiery Hexcloak who oversees Burzin and the surrounding region. When I first saw concept art of her during previous, I thought she’d be one of my favorite characters, but it turns out that she’s an ABSOLUTE B**! She’s so superior and “holier-than-thou,” if that’s the right phrase. And it’s not like she solves ANYTHING, she’s just always getting int he way. I cannot WAIT to fight her later on in the game. Starter Tip: You can basically button through all of her dialog, she doesn’t say anything important IMO! Hosted by Austin Walker () Featuring Janine Hawkins (), Sylvi Bullet (), and Keith J Carberry () Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt () Cover Art by Ben McEntee () With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Aster Maragos, Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to . /episode/index/show/friendsatthetable/id/37085640

Perpetua 05: The Flames of Burzin Pt 01 06/13/2025

Perpetua 05: The Flames of Burzin Pt 01 For millennia, the eastern continent of Perpetua was ruled by a sprawling empire centered on the capital city of Milsource, where a living river sprung from nothing, and flowed to all the edges of the land. The empire’s reach followed the running water, stretching north across the territory of the clannish Elevana and south, where the empire put leash to the fractious burroughs. It was a time of Tyranny.. But one day, a thousand years ago, the river was mysteriously pulled away into the sea, leaving the empire as dry and cracked as the riverbeds it left behind. Soon, it passed into dust, and the future opened wide with possibility. In the south, the once-squabbling burroughs found themselves re-aligned towards freedom—a state they guaranteed bywith their impressive magic. And in the north, the once quarrelsome elven clans forged themselves into a powerful coalition of independent city states… By now, you have heard of Salix, the Balming Willow, home to adventurer Arley Bates… but do you know the rest of the Elevana League? Cenn, City of Iron Chains. Lumai, the Gleaming Fortress. Glaishora, Frosted Port Town. Billough, the Floating Isle. Fulmin, Storm-brushed Bay. Marl, Bustling Mountain Pass. Parisolia, Sun Scorched Mine. Shadow-Spired Umbexia. It is here, in the Elevana League, that our second group of heroes takes the stage. A wizard of the boroughs, drained of his magic. A rakish princeling far from home. And an arcane investigator who cares more for justice than peace. Hiking down the hills days south of Parisolia, towards a little town in the brush, where they’ve heard rumor that an entropic curse called Sourcerot has taken hold. Whether it’s empty talk, a mundane threat to people’s lives, or a grand premonition of Perpetua’s end, they may be the only ones able or willing to confront it. This week on Perpetua: Perpetua Guide [In Progress v.02] Playable Characters - Eastern Scenario [PPCE] Antistrophe Landrace (he/him) [ALPC] Identity: Troubled, eccentric career pathfinder Theme: Doubt Origin: One of The Hundred Burroughs Classes: Guardian, Loremaster, Tinkerer Stats: DEX 6, INS 8, MIG 10, WLP 8 At the start of the game, Antistrophe is exactly what he looks like: A Huge Walking Fortress. With two shields and a ton of HP, he’s going to be the guy you want taking hits for your team. He’s ultra resilient and believe it or not, his high Might means that he can really do damage with those shields too! He also has a ton of utility in investigation scenes! Starter Tip: Antistrophe’s Potion Rain ability is really random BUT it can give you effects that you cannot get from regular consumables from shops. If there’s nothing to do (and no one needs to be defended that round) give it a shot! Brontë Adelvys (he/him) [BAPC] Identity: Dissipated Sixth Scion of the First Line Theme: Scintillation Origin: Terroir, Grande Sonnerie Classes: Sharpshooter, Rogue, Dancer Stats: DEX 10, INS 8, MIG 6, WLP 8 Brontë is a huge horndog, but he’s also super powerful in combat. It’s not just the ranged damage he does, and it’s not even the bonus attacks he can get off, it’s also all the negative status effects he can apply! In Perpetua, status effects are really powerful because of how they lower stats directly. Once you get over his quips and flirtations, you’ll fall for his combat power. Plus he starts with a TON of extra asta. Starter Tip: Brontë isn’t anywhere as tough as Antistrophe, BUT he does have a pair of cute bodyguards who can take hits for him. So he can be your defender in a pinch! Caoimhe Wake (she/her) [CWPC] Identity: Caoimhe Wake Theme: Doubt Origin: Billough, the Floating Isle Classes: Elementalist, Weaponmaster Stats: DEX 10, INS 8, MIG 6, WLP 8 Caoimhe (pronounced KEE-VAH, apparently) definitely feels like THE main character of the Eastern campaign. Not just because she’s a badass Justiciar, but also because she’s the classic Spellsword archetype that everyone loves. (I’m guilty too!) She’s the party’s main source of elemental damage, so definitely consider expanding her magical repertoire as you get her leveled up! Starter Tip: Ventus is an incredible spell, not least of all because it can hit flying targets and on a critical hit, ground them (allowing Caoimhe to follow up with melee attacks before they can get flying again!) Hosted by Austin Walker () Featuring Janine Hawkins (), Sylvi Bullet (), and Keith J Carberry () Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt () Cover Art by Ben McEntee () With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Aster Maragos, Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to . /episode/index/show/friendsatthetable/id/36898840

Perpetua 04: The Shadow of the Dragon Tower Pt. 4 05/30/2025

Perpetua 04: The Shadow of the Dragon Tower Pt. 4 In the ruins of a fallen tower, the crew of the Little Snail found themselves (and their egos) battered and bruised. Worse, Elena, Veile, and Nicky found themselves missing one ingredient to the special stew that was their group: Jonathan! Where had he been taken? And could it, perhaps, lead them towards the eternal flame which they were sent to retrieve? This week on Perpetua: The Shadow of the Dragon Tower Pt. 4 Perpetua Guide [In Progress v.01] - Some Feedback [Page 01 of 03] Alukard83 Hey, this FAQ rules! Normally I buy the official guide but they want FIFTY dollars for this one, and I just don't have that sorta cash right now, so this is a lifesaver. HOWEVER, your map on the final puzzle area in the Dragon Tower isn't right at ALL. Not sure what you were on when you made it, but it's totally wrong. Otherwise, keep up the good work XD TheUnforgivenIII Yeah I was coming here to post the same thing. This guide sucks bigtime. In my opinion, it's PROOF you should not be releasing this guide without finishing the full game first, because you're going to be in such a hurry that you're going to make stupid mistakes like this (or maybe even make things up entirely, which is my guess.) Take the FAQ down because it doesn't have any REAL answers in it. CarlsSr That's not what OP said, Unforgiveniii. Your bias is showing. FriendOfNei Thanks for the kudos Alukard, but listen, I loaded the save FIVE TIMES and checked it again and again and it's right. I don't know what YOU'RE on but maybe you're the one who is mistaken. As for you, Unforgiven, you're not even worth my keystrokes. XxZelgadyskXx I'm not OP or the FAQ writer but we did some testing over in the IRC channel it turns out that the bomb placement is RANDOMIZED for every player. So the FAQ isn't *wrong* it's just not right for anyone except for Nei. n.n;;;; Hosted by Austin Walker () Featuring Ali Acampora (), Art Martinez-Tebbel (), Jack de Quidt (), and Andrew Lee Swan () Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt () Cover Art by Ben McEntee () With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Aster Maragos, Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to . /episode/index/show/friendsatthetable/id/36794830

Perpetua 03: The Shadow of the Dragon Tower Pt. 3 05/23/2025

Perpetua 03: The Shadow of the Dragon Tower Pt. 3 “Oh, how did we get here!?” That’s what the staff of the Little Snail Food Truck might be wondering. After all, just a week ago, they were living the good life: traveling from town to town, seeing the sights, and serving delicious, memory-making meals. Now where are they? The depths (or heights?) of a ruined Dragon Tower? Separated in the dark? Confounded by its hallways and stairwells? Was this what people meant when they said ‘adventure’? This week on Perpetua: The Shadow of the Dragon Tower Pt. 3 Perpetua Guide [In Progress v.01] Dragon Tower Map (IN PROGRESS) [PMDT] I’m going to try to save most of the maps until I get the text done, but I wanted to put at least this starter one in so I could start getting feedback. (Dotted lines are secret hallways/doors.) There are 10 rooms in the Dragon Tower dungeon, eight main ones and two secret side rooms. Entry Hall [DTEH] You obviously can’t skip the first room of the dungeon, but it’s pretty straight forward. There’s an optional boss fight here (see [NMCH]), and you can get some lore about what happened here. I think it’s connected to the events from the Prelude (this is the same tower, if you didn’t notice) but I’m not 100% sure yet. Downward Stairwell [DTDS] Technically this is an upward stairwell that goes downward, but whatever, that’s what it says it’s called on the save game file. This is again pretty straight forward, so I won’t bother spelling out which platforms and stairs to jump between Squire Training Hall [DTTH] There’s a chance to encounter a Dragon Squire here, but depending on how you enter, it’s normally just filled with little bits of loot and some clues for solving puzzles (both in the dungeon and later in the game, from what I can tell). Scryer Library [DTSL] There are a bunch of books you can interact with here to get some lore about the world, though a few of them are written in weird runes. You can also aggro a Scryer here. She’s not as tough as Chelik, but can still give early parties some trouble, so be careful!. Magic characters can find some early gear upgrades here. Plus, check the eastern wall for a secret passageway to… Magic Pantry [DTMP] This is sort of a “rest stop” or “check point” in the dungeon. Everyone gets +1 IP and chefs can find rare ingredients. It’s a bit of a schlep to get here if you chose the western route through the dungeon, but definitely worth it! Observation Deck [DTOD] Some more jumping puzzles, one of which has a kind of brutal timer. But there’s potentially a really interesting cutscene with BIG implications here. I’ll leave you to see if you can figure it out. Flaming Tunnel Tunnel [DTFT] Trying to pass through this place without having at LEAST fire resistance on your whole party is extremely risky. I haven’t figured out how to get through here without taking any damage, so I much prefer going through the Observation Deck to get to the final part of the dungeon. BUT you can get access to the Squire Armory through here. Squire Armory [DTSA] There is a real tough physical enemy type in here (I’ll post the stats on them later), and it shouldn’t be too hard—at least if you’re not facing it alone. But make sure to heal up before you come in, and be extra careful about dragging in mobs from elsewhere in the dungeon. Make sure to poke around this place for some gear upgrades for your melee damage dealers! Shimmering Ruins [DTSR] You’ll find out first hand what the “shimmering” in this room is via a cutscene when you first enter it. My advice is that if you don’t have someone with very high Insight or some Tinker abilities, do not try to interact with the objects. Eternal Flame [DTEF] This is technically the end of the dungeon (though you can obviously still explore if you want to). I won’t get too deep into spoilers, but there’s a cutscene that will play when you get here, AND (thanks to DragonFang86 on the forum) we know that if you rush to the end quickly, you can actually get an early encounter with one of the villains that’s all over all the ads for the game! I bet you could even fight her, if you move fast enough, but no one’s done it yet. Hosted by Austin Walker () FeaturingAli Acampora (), Art Martinez-Tebbel (), Jack de Quidt (), and Andrew Lee Swan () Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt () Cover Art by Ben McEntee () With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Aster Maragos, Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to . /episode/index/show/friendsatthetable/id/36588600

Perpetua 02: The Shadow of the Dragon Tower Pt. 2 05/09/2025

Perpetua 02: The Shadow of the Dragon Tower Pt. 2 The crew of the Little Snail, traveling food truck and makeshift HQ for this band of equally makeshift adventurers, has agreed to escort a young priestess named Veile to a mysterious destination. Within days, they met their first obstacle: a group of mischievous Fleggs who’ve vandalized the Little Snail and sabotaged the way forward… This week on Perpetua: The Shadow of the Dragon Tower Pt. 02 Perpetua Guide [In Progress v.01] NPCs & Monsters [PNMS] Flegg [NMFL] Typical Traits: Mischievous, Anxious, Clever, Family Oriented Stats: DEX 8, INS 8, MIG 8, WLP 8 Attacks: Flegg Strike, Infuriate, Flegg Blast Special Abilities: Final Act: Stoneshell In-Game Description: A living egg. It comes up to your shins. It has a beak!? These guys must be a little different than they were in the demo, because they definitely didn’t have the ability to turn into a stone when you killed them in Prelude. I wonder if something happened to them between the game or if the designers just rebalanced them? Anyway, they’re a basic enemy type, pretty good for grinding, but don’t underestimate how they can overwhelm you in a group. Starter Tip: Even though they’re “monsters” you can actually try to use Persuasion on them! Vinnor Jekk (he/him) [NMVJ] Traits: Devoted, Optimistic, Pedantic, Arrogant Stats: ??? Attacks: ??? Spells: ??? In-Game Description: Solivigant of the Way of Fearless Truth who seeks to enact a world-saving prophecy. I can’t tell what I think about this guy. Either he’s going to betray the party and become a mid-game boss or he’s just one of those guys you hate to talk to even though he’s technically right about everything. No clue about stats/attacks/spells (because let’s be real, this guy DEFINITELY has spells). Starter Tip: Depending on your dialog choices you can get a chance to snoop through his stuff to get more lore. Chelik, Awakened Dragon Watcher (she/her) [NMCH] Traits: Wise, Focused, Out-of-Her-Time, Melancholy Stats: DEX 6, INS 10, MIG 6, WLP 10 Attacks: Elemental Charge Spells: Ice Beam, Flame Breath In-Game Description: Recently revived scryer of the Dragon Watchers. I can’t stress this enough: Chelik is an optional boss. Unless you have done a bunch of grinding, she’s probably out of your range when you first meet her. Yes, you can get some really decent gear if you manage to knock her out, but I think it’s probably worth trying to avoid the fight all together (or else use the Persuade command to try to escape it). Starter Tip: If she’s using Elemental Charge, that means she’s low on MP and you can probably push the advantage a little! Hosted by Austin Walker () FeaturingAli Acampora (), Art Martinez-Tebbel (), Jack de Quidt (), and Andrew Lee Swan () Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt () Cover Art by Ben McEntee () With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Aster Maragos, Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to . /episode/index/show/friendsatthetable/id/36502625

Perpetua 01: The Shadow of the Dragon Tower Pt. 1 05/02/2025

Perpetua 01: The Shadow of the Dragon Tower Pt. 1 Bastion Blaque, battle-hardened ranger and erstwhile captain of the Sonnerian royal guard. Canary Shye, Placid Guardian and master of the Cyclic Hand School of Combat. Quarter Tomm, high arcanist of the hundred burroughs and virtuoso conductor of the elements.Powerful alone, together they were the famed adventurers known as the IRON TRIGON. Which is why, Vinnor Jekk, heterodox cleric of the Way of Fearless Truth hired them when he needed protection for his would-be-protege, the girl of prophecy. Setting out from Verus, capital of the Holy Protectorate, they eschewed train and carriage, traveling surreptitiously across the savannah, hidden in mountains’ shadow, towards the seaside village of Salann where their wide-eyed charge awaited And as they learned, with ward in tow, she was not alone in awaiting them. Just halfway to their destination, in moonbright night, AMBUSH. Exhaustion. Blinding light. Confusion. Blades unsheathing. The sound of shouting. Magic unfettered. A poisonous air. The cry of death. Was it simple luck or evidence of the prophecy that the young novice they were sheltering escaped that night? That she stumbled forward, alive, into the warm dark. That her protectors had not failed her, in the end, and that she moved now towards new bodyguards, unlikely bodyguards. Not quite heroes, but fellow travelers, if from worlds so unlike her own. And with death behind her, and rendezvous with a fated future ahead, she wondered if that wasn’t better, maybe? To spend some time not with champions of virtue or mythic figures, but with regular Perpetuans just like her. This week on Perpetua: The Shadow of the Dragon Tower Pt. 1 Perpetua Guide [In Progress v.01] Hey everyone, we made it to release! Welcome to this new FAQ for Perpetua. Because the site’s system is Biased towards walkthroughs that are A) oldest B) most updated, I’m releasing this guide on day 1 even though it’s pretty slim right now! And unlike some other FAQ writers, I’m not just copying whatever they say in the “official guide.” So that means you can actually TRUST what’s here. Anyway, on to the good stuff! Playable Characters - Western Scenario [PPCW] Elena Millefiori (she/her) [EMPC] Identity: Megadungeon Hostess Theme: Tourism Origin: Passika Megadungeon Rillspur Classes: Chanter, Spiritualist, Elementalist Stats: DEX 6, INS 10, MIG 6, WLP 10 The Prelude did NOT make me think that the Passikan dungeons had "hostesses" but whatever! Elena is the western party's de facto combat mage. Don't be fooled by her looks, she's one of the hardest hitting members in the party for SURE. Yes, she has those bard-like chants, and those are cool, but let me tell you, her elementalism spells pack a punch. Starter Tip: Her BARRIER spell is essential in the early game before you start to get better armor. Always keep it up! Jonathan (he/him) [JNPC] Identity: An elderly Terrapine gear-head Theme: Curiosity Origin: Clay Ridge Classes: Tinkerer, Loremaster Stats: DEX 8, INS 10, MIG 6, WLP 8 Remember this guy from Prelude!? Everyone was debating whether any of the demo characters were gonna show up in the full game, and basically NO ONE thought about the weird turtle man. But here he is! He's a "gear head," which means he can make magical gadgets and devices. Yes that means to use him right, you really have to learn how to craft and how to manage your IP. BUT if you do, it really pays off. Starter Tip: Jonathan is MORE THAN JUST HIS MAGICANNON. Yes it's powerful. But his Magispheres are great too. Remember to use Acceleration! "Uncle Nicky" Nikolas "Niko Da Shark" Dashiell (he/him) [UNPC] Identity: Redeemed Scoundrel Chef Theme: Anger Origin: Sonnerean Classes: Dark Blade, Gourmet Stats: Dex 10, INS 8, MIG 8, WLP 6 I have to say I did NOT expect this guy’s backstory (mobster turned traveling chef? Cool!)! I also really didn’t expect how much his unique cooking mechanics change every layer of the game. Unlike in the East scenario, traveling with this group always has a benefit because you’re constantly finding new ingredients. He’s also definitely the best physical damage dealer this party has. Plus, the way he gets furious in combat is hilarious. Starter tip: Give him the best armor you can, because even though he isn’t a tank, a lot of his abilities are based on getting hit. Veile Lynndel (she/her) [VLPC] Identity: Chosen Priestess Theme: Duty Origin: Pastoral Chapel of Salann Classes: Orator, Entropist Stats: DEX 6, INS 10, MIG 6, WLP 10 I guess I can’t say for sure, but this “girl of prophecy” is definitely one of those high potential characters who will get way, way better as you level her up. That doesn’t mean her starting skill set is weak, it’s just that she’s very support focused in the early game. Interestingly: She has the same starting stats as Elena—and I think it’s funny that they keep having scenes together where they’re sort of compared/contrasted. Starter tip: The ability Lucky 7 is BROKEN. Don’t forget that if you have a low number “saved” in your Lucky slot, you can use it on a great roll just to cycle it out and put something better in! Hosted by Austin Walker () Featuring Janine Hawkins () Sylvi Bullet (), Ali Acampora (), Art Martinez-Tebbel (), Jack de Quidt (), Keith J Carberry () and Andrew Lee Swan () Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt () Cover Art by Ben McEntee () With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Aster Maragos, Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to . /episode/index/show/friendsatthetable/id/36407350

Perpetua 00 - Character Select 04/29/2025

Perpetua 00 - Character Select The gale of history rattles across vast Perpetua today. Skyfairing armadas glide towards battle on warm winds. Lines of succession are cynically drawn in breezy, courtly halls, while an ill, stagnant air settles onto once vibrant arcanic academies. It is the year 401 BE, just over four centuries BEFORE the END. But the skies remain blue above Perpetua, and today’s wind also carries new heroes into history’s current. Heroes drawn up from across the wide world, bringing their unique knowledge, skill, experience, curiosity, passion, strength, and spirit with them. Heroes who carry the best qualities of their people—and in some cases, their most desperate hopes! After all, regardless of what the wind carries, it flows in one direction, as it always has, as—it is said—it always will.. Despair. Authority. Hunger. Grief. Violence. Inevitability. Malevolence. Doom It is in the face of these that our heroes yet rise on the air. In fact, it is towards them which they fly, riding Perpetua’s cyclonic winds! Lifting up from Grand Sonnerie, from the Hundred Burroughs, from ancient Rilspur and blustery Bilough, from the simple seaside town of Salaan… and even from the dark underbelly of Calstega Bay. Drawn together by something not yet clear—freedom or fate or intervention into either—but held together by their own bonds, growing ever deeper, even as the clock ticks towards a final confrontation. Hosted by Austin Walker () Featuring Janine Hawkins () Sylvi Bullet (), Ali Acampora (), Art Martinez-Tebbel (), Jack de Quidt (), Keith J Carberry () and Andrew Lee Swan () Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt () Cover Art by Ben McEntee () With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Aster Maragos, Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to . /episode/index/show/friendsatthetable/id/36306635

Perpetua Prelude 06 04/26/2025

Perpetua Prelude 06 With the information they need secured, the adventurers sent by the Hundred Burroughs begin to gather together and make their final survey of Perpetua’s western continent before returning east. But some of the most dangerous creatures (and people) are yet to be discovered. This week on Friends at the Table: Perpetua Prelude 06 PERPETUA PRELUDE - GUIDE Random Encounters - [PPRE] If you’ve reached the world map, you know that during travel there’s always a chance of hitting a “Journey Event” (aka a random encounter if you’re using regular words). Most of these are just fights against the enemies tied to that area (go to ‘Enemy Locations [PPEL]’ for more on that), but there’s a low percentage chance that you’ll get either an NPC dialog encounter, a mini-location/dungeon, or a special fight that’s different than the normal enemy ones. We haven’t figured out all of these yet, so make sure to add any you find on the pinned post on the forum! Dog Chase [REDL]: I don’t know why it’s called this given that it isn’t really a dog at all, BUT it is really a chase. If you’re trying to trigger this event, try to stay near the plains or hills, and MAKE SURE your party is led by someone with high Dex so that you have a good shot of succeeding. Hexcloak Interrogation [REHC]: This can happen even before you make it to their secret base. There are a TON of random questions they can ask you, and I’m still working on building a guide for all the answers. The short version is that you should always choose the options that admit that you’re a little bit guilty of something. If you try to plead innocence, it’ll turn into a fight EVEN IF YOU ARE INNOCENT! But if you tell them you’re a little guilty, you can get out of the encounter with just a bribe or even scott free. BTW: Arley cannot trigger this event, maybe because he’s an elf! The Clock Tolls [REGC]: At the end of every week when traveling near Grand Sonnerie, the bell attached to that big clock they have rings, and there’s a random buff or debuff applied to your WHOLE PARTY. You can get various elemental resistances or weaknesses, debuffs like enraged or confused, or even major boons like being fully healed. Be careful though because there’s a really small chance that one of your party members will just die. Hosted by Austin Walker () Featuring Janine Hawkins () Sylvi Bullet (), Ali Acampora (), Art Martinez-Tebbel (), Jack de Quidt (), Keith J Carberry () and Andrew Lee Swan () Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt () Cover Art by Ben McEntee () With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Aster Maragos, Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to . /episode/index/show/friendsatthetable/id/36216465

Perpetua Prelude 05 04/12/2025

Perpetua Prelude 05 With new knowledge about the state—and future—of their world, the group of travelers take up their exploration again. Some learn first hand about this continent’s fauna—majestic, mighty, and mystifying. One finds more evidence of the Valte Empire’s violent search for their own answers. And some, in search of peace and quiet, finds himself facing evidence not of some dark future to come, but of a puzzling past. This week on Friends at the Table: Perpetua Prelude 05 PERPETUA PRELUDE - GUIDE Enemies - [PPEN] Valte Soldier [ENVS]: You’ll fight a lot of these guys. Depending on the 3d model they’re a bat or a dove, but at least in the demo, that doesn’t seem to make much of a difference. They’re flying, so you have to knock them down before you can do melee damage to them. Basic grunts. Valte Commander [ENVC]: The Valtese (Valtean? Valtican?) Commanders are a lot of tougher than the basic grunts are, and unfortunately, they can also summon the regular soldiers too. Knock them out of the air and then try to stun or debuff them quick! Mysterious Seaslimes [ENMS]: I love the way these enemies are actually each a SWARM of little weird gecko-y slime guys. They focus on debuffs like Slow and Enraged, so be sure to have Tonics on hand when you’re passing through their forest. The Dragon-Fish [ENDF]: I can’t stress this enough: This is an optional boss in Prelude, and it’s hard as hell. Maybe in the full game you can beat it or maybe there’s a quest related to it, but for now, it’ll just kick your ass. Someone on the forum claims they beat it and only got like 5 XP and a quest item called “Strange Scale” that you can’t use anywhere. NOT WORTH IT. Lobble Traveler [ENLT]: Just kidding. But I DO wish you could fight this ANNOYING freak. Hexcloak [ENHC]: Did you know that if you grind in the southern tip of the demo, there’s like a .5% chance you’ll run into a Hexcloak? You learn their deal towards the end of the demo, but this is the only way you can actually see them in action. They’re strong, but if you’ve maxed out your party (or at least hit the level 10 max in the demo), you can probably win this fight! And if you do, you’ll get a random elemental cloak drop from them. Of course, if you can win this fight, you probably don’t need better gear anyway! Hosted by Austin Walker () Featuring Janine Hawkins () Sylvi Bullet (), Ali Acampora (), Art Martinez-Tebbel (), Jack de Quidt (), Keith J Carberry () and Andrew Lee Swan () Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt () Cover Art by Ben McEntee () With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Aster Maragos, Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to . /episode/index/show/friendsatthetable/id/36087405

Perpetua Prelude 04 04/03/2025

Perpetua Prelude 04 With supplies in their packs and an increasingly detailed map, the explorers travel further through Perpetua’s western continent. While some learn more about local nature and culture, others stumble towards larger truths. A star descending from the heavens. A fleet across the blue. The striking of a clock… the ringing of a bell… This week on Friends at the table: Perpetua Prelude 04 PERPETUA PRELUDE - GUIDE Factions - [PPFC] Not much is known about these groups because the demo cuts off so early, but between some dialog, that one cutscene, and some screenshots, here’s what I think is going on with them: Grande Sonnerie [FCGS]: That’s the big city at the end of Prelude. It’s a big city but also maybe a kingdom? Not sure if it has other cities and stuff, but it definitely has the four big districts (including the root magic school). Seems like a traditional fantasy kingdom, but I don’t know if it has a king or a princess or what. The Elevana League [FCEL]: This is where Arley is from originally. It’s like a bunch of elven (stupid) city-states (cool). One for each element/god. Not clear if they get along or not, but they do have those special warrior mages. The Dragon Watchers [FCDW]: The demo basically starts with these guys. They have both dragon “squires” and dragon “scryers,” and I know they worship the dragons, but it’s not clear what that means. I hope they can ride them and that you can recruit one, but we’ll see. The Holy Protectorate of Placidia [FCPP]: From what I can tell, Duriel, the one arena-based god city, is tied to this faction. Maybe they worship the gods? I remember an interview where someone said that the full game has a whole story about a prophecy, so maybe they’re tied to that. The Hundred Burroughs [FCHB]: Even though Prelude sometimes says “burroughs” and sometimes says “burrows,” I’m saying BURROUGHS. Harlow sucks but he isn’t a mole or something, so why would it be “burrows”? Anyway, it’s all schools and stuff over there. Again: they say it’s magic but neither of the two characters we’ve seen from there (from the Prelude or in the screenshots) actually USE MAGIC so wtf? Valte, the Winged Empire of the Blue Hour [FCVL]: These guys are my favorite. Why? Three reasons: 1. They can fly. 2. They have cool military stuff. 3. They’re basically the ONLY ONES actually DOING ANYTHING about stuff. Yeah, yeah, they’re probably the “bad guys” but the coolest characters are. The Passikan Remnants [FCPR]: There’s that one water dungeon in Prelude that’s tied to them, but that’s IT. I don’t know what their deal is at all, but it’s probably cool because the dungeon is cool. The Ennead [FCEN]: Okay so I think those are the “The Ennead” which is a word that means “a group of nine gods.” I’ll be honest, I TOTALLY missed them but JesseSetGo pointed the word in the background in Duriel out on the forums, and I went back and looked and saw it not only there but also in Grand Sonnerie, so it’s not just the same church as the Placidia or whatever. Hosted by Austin Walker () Featuring Janine Hawkins () Sylvi Bullet (), Ali Acampora (), Art Martinez-Tebbel (), Jack de Quidt (), Keith J Carberry () and Andrew Lee Swan () Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt () Cover Art by Ben McEntee () With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Aster Maragos, Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to . /episode/index/show/friendsatthetable/id/36018230

Perpetua Prelude 03 03/26/2025

Perpetua Prelude 03 After making emergency landings all across Perpetua’s western continent, Glesi, Yukai, Harlow, Tomor, and Arley have begun to find their footing—if not each other. Now, they leave where they landed, and begin to make their way across this mysterious land in search of answers to the question that brought them here to begin with: What is the Altar of Perpetua? This week on Friends at the Table: Perpetua Prelude 03 PERPETUA PRELUDE - GUIDE ITEMS AND MATERIALS - [PPIM] Sheldonica Ore [IMSO]: An incredible mat used to upgrade your gear. If you put it on a weapon, it gets bonus Fire damage. If you slot it onto armor, you get major fire resistance. That said, there’s only one piece of this in Perpetua Prelude, which means you should plan ahead about how you want to use it. Hopefully there will be more in the full game. Invernal Branch [IMIB]: The bonus it gives you to navigation and floral communication is not worth the fact that it adds a CONSTANT running commentary during every fight. They did not record enough lines for this one. It will get on your nerves, I PROMISE. Stitchscore Bouncer [IMSB]: No, not a bouncer like the guy who stands out in front of the club and looks scary. It’s a bouncing ball. You can use it on a few puzzles in the Adventure Fields, but it can also be used as a ranged weapon that will do a random number of bounces (read: attacks) per turn. It does low damage but the number of attacks it does is an OPEN ENDED COIN FLIP, which means that theoretically it could do infinite damage. It’s just not very likely! Encyclopaedia Catastrophica [IMEC]: Not only does this unmissable item—which you get during the Grand Academy of the Collapse chapter—unlock a TON of lore in the Codex, it’s also the most powerful ranged magic weapon in the demo. If you’re scratching your head because you didn’t find it, that’s because you can’t find it on your first playthrough for obvious reasons that would be obvious if you already DID beat it. But on Re-Prelude Mode, you’ll get it early on. Since this is obviously a No Spoilers guide, that’s all I’ll say about THAT. Hosted by Austin Walker () Featuring Janine Hawkins () Sylvi Bullet (), Ali Acampora (), Art Martinez-Tebbel (), Jack de Quidt (), Keith J Carberry () and Andrew Lee Swan () Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt () Cover Art by Ben McEntee () With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Aster Maragos, Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to . /episode/index/show/friendsatthetable/id/35877510

Perpetua Prelude 02 03/20/2025

Perpetua Prelude 02 Minds driven by curiosity and hearts filled with hope, the expedition group sets off across the sea that separates their homeland from the rest of the world. From the perspective offered by their airship, they get a taste of what is to come: Palaces and plazas! Mountains and rivers! Strange, draconic towers! A land of life and lore, filled with knowledge yet unknown to them! But first… there’s the matter of the smoke coming from the engine room. This week: Perpetua Prelude 02 PERPETUA PRELUDE - BASICS GUIDE EXPEDITION MEMBER INFO - [PPEMI] ARLEY BATES [EAB] Specialization: Collector Value: Thrill Disposition: Jovial The Prince of Salix, one of the major elven city states on the eastern continent of Perpetua. Great all around pick! While you should definitely use his cooking skills, he’s more than just a chef! Because he starts with a walking staff and lantern, he excels when exploring. TOMOR PRESH [ETP] Specialization: Explorer Value: Curious Disposition: Challenge Forged in the heat of the Parisolian Mines, Tomor Presh is a hot-blooded champion of justice who likes to stick his nose into problems even when he isn’t invited. Good thing he’s tough enough to win when he does! He really has “developer assigned protagonist” energy, so if that’s your thing, give him a shot. GLESI SYDNEY & YUKAI [EMGY] Specialization: Nomand Value: Beauty Disposition: Focused / Defensive An exiled nomad and her cursed (?) pet. As the only “paired hero” in Perpetua Prelude, Glesi & Yukai offer a unique—and advanced—style of play. If you’re willing to put in the work to understand the game’s systems and their eccentric design, then you’ll be rewarded with one of the coolest character stories in the game. Plus, you get to look cooler than anyone else! HARLOW PRESH [EMHP] Specialization: Scientist Value: Safety Disposition: Awkward A mage from the academy of the Hundred Burroughs. This guy stinks. It’s cool that he starts with four extra coin, but once you blow through that you’re stuck with all his annoying voice and animations. He doesn’t even do any real magic. SKIP HIM! Find the game we're playing, Cartographer: Atlas edition at Hosted by Austin Walker () Featuring Janine Hawkins () Sylvi Bullet (), Ali Acampora (), Art Martinez-Tebbel (), Jack de Quidt (), Keith J Carberry () and Andrew Lee Swan () Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt () Cover Art by Ben McEntee () With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Aster Maragos, Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to . /episode/index/show/friendsatthetable/id/35797245

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Realis 03: Feast at the Citadel Bein 02 02/14/2025

Realis 02: Feast at the Citadel Bein 01 02/07/2025

Realis 02: Feast at the Citadel Bein 01 Ulled is a pocked and placid-seeming agricultural moon. But as the saying goes, be wary the still lake. Yes, farmers speak softly and tend to their crops with loving cultivation. Yes, life is quiet and late afternoons are restful. Yes, harvest work brings reward. But then there is underneath. There is underneath. But Those Nerveless Chancers, The Krinsky Family Circus And Travelling Curiosity, they know only what is above. They know they step on fertile soil and soft grass, perfect for staking their tents and stands. They know they walk through fields under the lights and shadows of the Citadel Bein, a fortress layered with history so visible that it is seemingly built from the accretion of time itself. They know that they stand above a castle village sonorous with the sounds of marketplaces and buskers and craftshops—a circus of a different type than their own, but not altogether unfamiliar. They know they stand on a geological shelf, the shore of a vast, shimmering lake beyond—open like a sea, polished as a mirror, reflecting the sky above, reflecting the Thousand Moons in conlunation, reflecting Realis-itself, and in its light The Tetraspherica: Three more marble-like moons. Cousin orbs. Neighbor spheres dominating the heavens above. So is it any wonder they do not consider what might be below? What might move in that fertile soil or between the blades of that soft grass? What else might have staked a claim on Placid Ulled? Or who else might move in the shadows of the citadel Bein? What else might hover above the echoes of the castle town? Who else might stare out onto the lake’s horizon, might witness the impossible beauty of the dancing lunar quartet, might bathe in the bluelight of Realis-Itself, and radiating with pure possibility, dream!? It is no wonder at all. Such is life on the Thousand Moons. Such is life for those Nerveless Chancers, that circus caught in gravity. At least, for now. Hosted by Austin Walker ( on bluesky) Featuring Jack de Quidt ( on bluesky) Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt () Cover Art by by With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Nich Maragos, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to . /episode/index/show/friendsatthetable/id/35187900

Realis 01: Those Nerveless Chancers 01/30/2025

Realis 01: Those Nerveless Chancers I want you to close your eyes and imagine with me: Imagine Realis Itself, the Radiant Planet at the heart of the Thousand Moons, that orb which lights the cosmos entire. Above it, the betrayer star, the Corpse Sun, red and sick and pulsing ill, small and fainter by the day. Below it, hungry and roiling, the Great Void, an abyss of voracious clouds. And in between, those thousand moons, countless except you know their number. Varied eternally, yet all dwarfed by the azure orb around which they glide. And there, bring them to mind too: Four colorful moons, spinning and buzzing and twirling around each other. Do you remember their names? The names of the Tetraspherica? The Speckled Quartet, the Marbled Quartenion? Those spinning, glorious jewels—unique even among all thousand of the moons of Realis? Let me tell remind you: Placid Ulled. World of farms, of cultivation, of soil—and of what lies beneath it. The Crux. A vast colosseum world where victory, glory, and power have been rendered equivalent. Prismatic Principia: Home to the Endless Academy, whose halls house famed philosophers, eager alchemists, mages, and—it seems—the occasional ghost as well. And Hypnotic Dokine, where mists mystify, clouds corrode, and the light always reveals a new truth. For as Long as Long had been, these four vibrant moons have swung with dancer’s rhythm around one another. Long before the great Powers spread their influence across the orbital sphere, long before the founders of Sphenic Polytechnic revived the Orphan Vessels, LONG BEFORE THE MOONFOLK UNDERSTOOD THEY WERE THE MOONFOLK, those who lived on the worlds of the Tetraspherica knew each other as neighbors, traveling through orbital shuttle, exchanging supplies and stories, marrying and moving and making lives together. “True as the tetrad,” the saying goes. A stable waltz. Four marbles in alignment. Eternal. Reliable. Unshakeable. But today… in the shadow of an Ulledd mountain, in the keep of the Citadel Bein, where negotiators bicker and showmen entertain and lords gather for a feast, a treacherous conspiracy unfolds… Hosted by Austin Walker ( on bluesky) Featuring Ali Acampora, Keith J Carberry and Art Martinez-Tebbel Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt () Cover Art by by With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Nich Maragos, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint, This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to . /episode/index/show/friendsatthetable/id/35085230

An Introduction to Realis 01/24/2025

An Introduction to Realis Two and a half years ago, towards the end of , I announced that I was making a game called Realis. That game is now here—at least in Ashcan form. So, what is Realis? Realis is a cursed orbital sphere of 1,000 mystical moons filled with mystery, magic, and impossible technology. Realis is a game of diceless storytelling, where characters deploy powerful Sentences, which are rewritten over the course of their saga. This Ashcan version is being published by . This version has 20 Playable Classes and 40 NPC Classes (both of which are less than half of what will be available in the final edition), three Grand Factions, two Example Moons, art by and , and layout by Tyler Crumrine. It has some additional design and writing by Friends at the Table’s own Jack de Quidt and Janine Hawkins. So, that is Realis. And today, we start our campaign of the game, beginning with this introduction to the game featuring me and Jack, free for all listeners of Friends at the Table. Then, tomorrow, all $5 members of will get access to the character creation for our ongoing, Patreon-exclusive Realis campaign—and will receive a new episode every week for the first couple of months, as we catch up with our overdue Patreon episodes. And guess what: The whole first arc of that campaign will also be free, available here in this feed, just one week behind the Patreon release. Once that’s over, we’ll begin our next full, main feed season, Perpetua, where we’ll be playing Fabula Ultima. We’ve already begun recording that, too, and it’s been a blast. I can’t wait for y’all to hear what we’ve been cooking up. (Oh, and definitely go listen to . We’re headed into the most exciting and dramatic part of the Chimera Ant Arc, and now is the best time to catch up with us!) Thanks as always for your support. -Austin Hosted by Austin Walker ( on bluesky) Featuring Jack de Quidt ( on bluesky) Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt () Cover Art by by With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Nich Maragos, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint, This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to . /episode/index/show/friendsatthetable/id/34908225

Bonus: Live at the Table: Shooting the Moon Pt. 4 01/17/2025

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