Wars and rumors of wars. Thrilling new weapons to titillate the thanatos urge of even the most inured imperial citizen. Heroes-to-be assemble and depart. While the Citadel mobilizes for battle, the gang hits the books. Names ancient and new swim to the sun dappled surface of understanding, the grand picture ever clearer. Careful though: the books do, occasionally, hit back.

Names are great. They let people know what to call things. You can read them, write them, put them on a list. If you know someone's name you can send them things, invite them places, say it quietly, in wonder or fear. A name can stick in your mouth like butter or blood. You can make one up, get a new name, do whatever you want. No downsides. None.

Reunited, the gang must now face, waste, and taste the avalanche of revelation and experience that the Citadel provides. This is why we run.

Everything that rises must converge, and baby, we are FLYING. It's good to be back.

The cast gathers to answer questions and look back at Chapter One of The Wizard, The Witch and the Wild One. If you want to taste this chatty magic for every single episode, and even more "bone cone," subscribe to the Fireside Feed by joining us on Patreon!

I love it when a plan comes together. Or when a ferris wheel falls apart. GUNS. MAGIC. PINK MIST. CONSPIRACIES WITHIN CONSPIRACIES. MAYHEM. MURDER. And of course: LAST MINUTE BETRAYALS that will make you LAY A DAMN EGG. Welcome to the rapturous, apocalyptic, felonious conclusion to Erika Ishii's A COUNTY AFFAIR. No. Loose. Ends.

Talk is cheap and life in the barnyard is nasty, brutish, and short. You either eat or get ate, and if you ain't the cock of the walk, you're in the next pot of coq au vin. So you tell me, are you satisfied with the quiet life of pastoral servitude, or do you have the rocky mountain oysters to grab the tractor by the wheel and, just maybe, reap what you sow? I just so happen to know where we can get enough corn to put us on easy street till the cows come home. What do you say old timer, how...

Nothing ends. Everything begins.

Balance in all things. The great Machine above you. A leaf in the water. After years of being asleep, you are awake again. We need each other now: The fish has a wife.

The sword comes down.

Here we are, at the altar, and who could object to these sacred vows? Promises promises. Easy to break'em easy to make'em. What's your word worth, anyway? Do you mean what you say? Can we forgive those who trespass against us, or do they, like us, deserve what they get? And who's gonna give it to em, you? It's bad over here, sure, but the only way out is through. Any volunteers?

Into the woods, to find the fox, to save the friend, to break the rules. Over the wall and into the woods, to Grandmother's house we go.

What can't you get used to? What can't you learn to ignore? What, you think you can save every starfish? Not my circus, not my monkey, pal. It is what it is. Gotta take care of yourself first. Take a look in the mirror, love what you see. Speaking of monkeys, you seen my fox anywhere? He was right here a second ago. Hey where are you going? Wait. Come back. [BREAKING NEWS: Our first mini-campaign drops on the Patreon NEXT WEEK! Erika's running their first game ever! Not all the characters...

Welcome to the apparatus. Have a cigar. Or maybe a matchstick. Want a drink of water? Some new clothes? No? What's the matter, you don't like it down here? Don't be silly. Lie down. Stay a while. We've got a lot of catching up to do. There ya go. That's the spirit.