0:00

Hi Travelers. So, this is it. We're here.

0:02

The Finale's, the Second Citadel, and Adjuna are

0:04

upon us. It is finally time, and I

0:06

don't want to keep you too long from

0:08

the Second Citadel Finale, Part 1. So

0:10

let me jump right into what I have to

0:13

tell you. First off, here is our final, final,

0:15

final release schedule for these Finale's. You are currently

0:17

listening to Second Citadel of the World to Come,

0:19

Part 1. Part 2 will be

0:21

released on Sunday, the 30th of June for $4 patrons,

0:23

and Tuesday, the

0:27

2nd of July for everybody else.

0:30

Part 3, this will be a three-parter,

0:32

will be released on Sunday, the 14th of July

0:34

for patrons, and Tuesday, the 16th

0:36

of July for everybody

0:38

else. Then we get into our

0:41

two-part Juno Steel Finale. Part 1 will

0:43

be released Sunday, the 4th of August

0:45

for $4 plus patrons, and Tuesday,

0:47

the 6th of August for everybody else. And

0:49

the final, final, final episode, the Finale

0:52

Part 2 will be released

0:54

on Sunday, the 18th of

0:57

August for $4 patrons,

0:59

and Tuesday, the 20th of August

1:01

for everybody else. We announced

1:03

all this information on our free

1:05

newsletter on Patreon, so go join

1:07

that for free at patreon.com/the Penumbra

1:09

podcast. As we move on from

1:12

these tales and we do other exciting things, that

1:14

is going to be where you hear from us

1:16

and where you get all your updates from us.

1:18

So now's your chance. Head

1:20

on over, cost you nothing. patreon.com/the

1:22

Penumbra podcast. Just so you know,

1:25

we have recorded an absurd amount of bonus content for

1:27

these finales, so you patrons will not be disappointed. Can't

1:29

wait to show you what we've got, and

1:31

I just want to say thank you for everything.

1:34

We could not have gotten to five

1:37

seasons and these grand finales without you.

1:39

I hope you enjoy these tales.

1:41

We've loved making them for you. Just sit

1:43

back and enjoy the show. Ah,

1:50

good evening, traveler, and welcome

1:53

to the Penumbra. Tonight's

1:56

tale is the

1:59

world to come. What's in

2:01

your eyes? This

2:14

is a waste of time. Where are they? I'm

2:17

sure they're coming as fast as they can, Caroline.

2:19

And while we wait for them, doing nothing, we're

2:21

letting a prime opportunity slip through our fingers. The...

2:24

Ow! Caroline, are you all right? The

2:27

undersea palace containing St. Ferdinand's slingshot is

2:30

but a short walk away. How do

2:32

you justify that, Lemmerach? We're not doing

2:34

nothing. Then... what are we

2:36

doing, Liam? We're waiting.

2:40

Observing. Testing

2:42

a theory. And what theory

2:44

is that? Shh! We'll

2:47

find out if I'm right in... three...

2:50

two... one... right

2:59

on schedule. Wow. The

3:02

center of the universe. No

3:04

wonder no humans live here. With the weather changing so

3:07

violently every ten minutes, I can't imagine

3:09

what kind of shelter you'd need that could survive

3:11

every environment. It's not just the weather, it's the

3:13

region. See, look at the snow. It's

3:15

not melting, it's just... disappearing.

3:18

And it's not ten minutes either. By my

3:20

count, it's half an hour on the dot.

3:23

Well, aren't we learned about a place we've never

3:26

been? I've read about it. Mostly

3:29

in books the Citadel wanted

3:31

burned. This is one of the spots I was thinking about moving

3:33

to when I gave up being a knight. It

3:36

seemed lonely. Peaceful. And

3:40

that's what you wanted? To be alone?

3:42

I didn't know what the hell I wanted to tell you

3:45

the truth. But I tried living around people, and

3:48

it led me to doing a lot of things and

3:50

made me feel sick to think about. So I thought...

3:56

Never mind. The book said

3:58

hostile monster populations were rampant. so

4:00

I never checked it out. I hadn't

4:02

exactly made the best name for myself in those circles.

4:05

Rampant? I haven't seen any

4:07

signs of monsters around here. The books

4:09

were very old. Like, a

4:12

generation before the saints kind of old. Something

4:15

must have happened here in the century since they

4:17

were written. But what that was,

4:21

I don't think anybody's made any record of it. And

4:25

that's not the only thing they're off on. What's

4:27

you say to us if they can't get the basic fact straight? That's

4:29

why we're here early, to

4:32

compare what I've read to the facts. And the

4:35

fact is that this place seems way out of whack. This change in region

4:37

is supposed to happen three or

4:39

four times a day, not twice an hour. Did those

4:41

books say anything about the ocean drying up? What?

4:46

No, I don't think it could have.

4:48

Remember Reaper Kestrel's story? There was an

4:50

undersea palace here. How could they live

4:52

if the ocean dried up? Well, maybe they

4:54

didn't. Because

4:58

if you look at the shore, the water... Vanishing.

5:00

Just like the snow. A

5:03

dry ocean. From the

5:05

temperate weather and birdsong, it seems safe to

5:08

say that this is supposed to be like

5:10

the wayward east. Maybe

5:13

now that Silver Shore has dried up and crumbling, this

5:16

place is too. It's beautiful here. When

5:19

we first arrived, all the trees, leaves

5:21

were so red and crunchy. It was

5:23

like being in the garden of graves again.

5:27

But it won't

5:29

be like this much longer, will it? If those people from over the edge of

5:31

the world manage to suck all the magic out of here with

5:33

their machines, it'll just be

5:36

a wasteland forever. A

5:38

fate we could prevent if we use

5:40

our opening right now. Those offworld invaders

5:42

aren't here yet. The Citadel Knights aren't

5:44

here yet. The Northern Monsters

5:46

aren't here yet. Now could be our only opening.

5:50

Doesn't do us much good if that opening's only a few minutes

5:52

long. You don't know that. And

5:55

you don't know that it won't be. What

5:58

if the offworlders get here before everyone else? What

6:00

if they follow us into the palace? What if

6:02

they get their hands on Zinkfern and Anseling shot?

6:05

If this is our only opening it's not a

6:08

very good one because we don't know anything about

6:10

how long it will be And we

6:12

don't have any control over it We'll

6:15

make a better opening later. That's

6:17

why we called everyone here. Why you've

6:19

called everyone here What's that supposed

6:21

to mean? If Pawnee visited you, you could

6:23

have woken us up. Lamb? Caroline?

6:27

For the hundredth time she asked me not

6:29

to. And you listened? Guys? Caroline?

6:32

Lamb? What? They're

6:35

here! She can't. Do I

6:37

aspire who I think I aspire? Ola-la!

6:40

Caroline? A man I

6:42

did not recognize. It's really you! Angelo!

6:45

And- and Ali? And Sirs

6:47

Mark and Talfren? And Rolodamion Lord Arim?

6:49

And- and- Oh, I

6:51

missed you all so much! But, Pawnee...

6:55

Where is Pawnee? Where did you three just-

6:57

Ola-la! I haven't been so happy

6:59

for so long, so like, I'm just so happy that

7:01

you're all saved! Nearest opportunity! Um,

7:04

Caroline? Are you okay? Where

7:06

is my wife? Um...

7:12

well, uh... Your

7:14

fair witch is... not present

7:17

at the moment. Yes, I can

7:19

see that, Angelo. After giving our

7:21

marching orders, she traveled with us for a time.

7:24

But once we grew closer to the center

7:26

of the universe, and to you and Ola-la,

7:29

she said she couldn't bear to see

7:31

you both again after what she had

7:33

done. Instead, she didn't deserve to. She

7:36

told you what she did? Nope. Wouldn't

7:38

talk about it. But looking at

7:41

Caroline, it's not hard to guess. Stupid.

7:44

In only either the biggest battle of our

7:46

lives. The time that

7:48

any one of us may not return from alive. And at

7:51

a time when her magic could turn the tide of battle in our favor. metal.

8:00

It strikes me that there is very little Quan

8:02

Yu could actually leave you. Very little is not

8:04

nothing. Then where is she? When I might never

8:07

see her again where... Maybe

8:12

you should sit down Caroline.

8:14

Those burns. I can't

8:16

remember too much about field medicine but I do

8:18

know those burns don't look good. Arim, do we

8:20

have something that could... The popping pod we've marked

8:22

with yellow paint should contain a bomb beetle. The

8:24

gel they... I'll try to figure it out on my own. But...

8:28

thank you. Oh,

8:35

I'm sorry. Everyone, this is Sir Lamorac

8:37

of the piercing eye. I don't

8:40

think he's met any of you besides Damien and Sir

8:42

Mark. Hey there. Hey! Captain,

8:45

I need you... Everyone

8:47

needs you to be serious.

8:50

If the oracle we received is accurate,

8:53

the fate of our entire universe is

8:55

at stake in this war. Now is

8:57

not the time for jokes. My

9:00

queen, I don't follow. This

9:02

act you put on, this amiable

9:05

buffoonery, I recognize

9:08

that it endears you to the Knights,

9:10

but right now your forces do not

9:12

need a clown. They need a

9:14

leader. And you must be

9:16

that leader. Buffoonery? My

9:20

queen, I assure you I am

9:22

deadly serious. You're serious? I

9:24

am. And

9:27

your plan is... trebuchets?

9:30

Trebuchets, yes. Full

9:32

stop. Well,

9:35

I thought from there we might move on to... Gadapults?

9:41

Oh, Saints. Oh,

9:43

Saints above, what have I done? My

9:45

queen. For years now,

9:48

ever since Galahad, I

9:51

assumed that I just didn't understand

9:53

our knights well enough to guide

9:55

them. I thought you... Well, from the

9:57

way you spoke to them, the

9:59

way... they gathered to you

10:01

I assumed oh but that's

10:03

the problem then isn't it I

10:05

assumed with little reason a fool

10:11

for years now I've handed

10:13

control of my Citadel to

10:16

a complete fool well

10:20

Mira I hardly think that's what monsters

10:24

our scouts have caught sight of a large organized

10:26

horde of monsters coming for the east

10:29

say to Bob direct the men to

10:31

redirect our trebuchets at once man crushing

10:33

the monsters and those off-world traitors all

10:35

in one day this will

10:38

go down in history as our

10:40

citadel's finest hour trebuchets

10:43

captain captain no absolutely

10:46

not no my

10:48

queen you

10:52

are dismissed captain Mira

10:54

your queen has given you

10:57

an order captain Absalon you

10:59

are not now and perhaps have never

11:01

been in fixed state to command this

11:03

army you are dismissed from duty until

11:05

further notice Sir

11:12

Charles direct our men to prepare an

11:14

assault on the monster camp we'll show

11:16

those beasts what for disregard that order

11:19

Sir Charles captain Absalon is

11:21

not in his right mind can

11:33

you do you hear

11:35

those those voices coming from outside focus

11:38

now sir Charles you are to gather

11:40

the men and tell them to sharpen

11:42

their blades for battle we ride

11:44

against the monster hordes in 20 minutes

11:46

captain this insubordination will not be tolerated

11:49

I'm afraid you'll have to excuse our

11:51

Queens outbursts at the moment she's been

11:53

a bit hysterical since the citadel spire

11:55

fell Absalon tragic of course but heavy

11:57

as the head etc etc And

12:01

I'm afraid her constitution just isn't quite

12:03

at our level now deliver that order

12:05

if you would sir Charles your queen

12:07

forbids you from delivering that order I

12:11

Well Yes

12:17

captain Absalom Hasn't

12:25

been split in years I

12:33

But but first captain I really do think I

12:35

hear people outside the tent is that a horse

12:40

Sir Mark well if it

12:42

isn't the traitor himself Decided

12:44

to return st. Aaron's hammer have you

12:46

not that kind of social call Absalom

12:49

I heard you giving my queen some trouble and

12:52

I'm gonna give you one chance to walk it

12:54

back before I do something to you I'm really

12:57

really gonna enjoy you would

12:59

say that to your own Captain you

13:01

know what it's like to be a knight and

13:03

you know that a queen could never understand it

13:06

Oh, it's nice to have a figurehead of course But

13:08

when the whole shoes hit the road only a man

13:10

of war should be trusted with commanding an army I'm

13:13

gonna take that as a no top speed dumpier We're

13:15

gonna see if mr. The swift can

13:18

handle a one horsepower punch to the

13:20

guts Oh Man

13:29

that felt good Thank

13:31

You sir mark no worries your majesty

13:34

that one was for me You

13:36

can drop the sir though consider this

13:39

my resignation effective immediately. Are

13:41

you certain in the battle ahead?

13:44

Well things look very dire sir Things

13:47

look very dire mark we

13:49

need all the help we can get oh when you'll get

13:51

it your majesty just Not

13:54

from who you'd expect Coast

13:56

is clear come on in Damien,

14:02

Angelo, Sir Talfron,

14:05

Caroline, and... Can't

14:09

be Sir Lamerach. My

14:11

Queen. It's been too long.

14:14

And you? No

14:18

worries, Your Majesty. That one

14:20

was for me. You can

14:22

drop the Sir, though. Consider this

14:24

my resignation. Effective immediately. Are

14:26

you certain? In the

14:28

battle ahead. Well, things look very dire,

14:30

Sir... Things

14:32

look very dire, Mark. We

14:34

need all the help we can get. Oh, and you'll get

14:36

it, Your Majesty. Just not

14:39

from who you'd expect. Coast's

14:41

clear. Come on in. Damien?

14:44

Angelo? Sir Talfron? Caroline?

14:47

And... Can't be Sir Lamerach. My

14:50

Queen. It's been too long.

14:53

And you? I remember you, Sir Charles. You always were a bit of

14:55

a worm, even in my guard. Captain,

14:57

Caroline, I was... I... I... I...

15:01

I... I... Weren't you

15:03

now? Your Queen has given you an order. And what were you intending to

15:05

do about it? I... I... I...

15:09

I... I... I... I...

15:13

I... I... I...

15:16

I... I... I...

15:19

I... I... I... But

15:23

Captain Absalom... Has been dismissed. That is therefore

15:25

no longer your concern. Now let's try a

15:28

simple question, Sir Charles. Whose order are you

15:30

going to deliver to the rest of the

15:32

army? My

15:35

Queen. Good boy. Off

15:39

you go. It's the... Stop the attack!

15:42

Hold your positions. Hold! Thank you,

15:44

Caroline. I... I

15:47

should have heeded your warning more

15:49

seriously, sir. I... I

15:53

am just beginning to realise

15:56

how grave a series of

15:58

mistakes I've made these past...

16:00

several years. I

16:02

hope you, I hope every one of

16:04

you can forgive me. Of

16:06

course, my queen. What? Of course not.

16:08

But... Caroline... The universe is nearly

16:11

at its end, and you expect me

16:13

to give even a second's consideration to

16:15

an apology? If you wish

16:17

to atone for the pathetic state of your leadership, my

16:19

queen, actions are the only things that

16:21

matter. You need allies and quickly, and you can't

16:23

afford to be picky about which allies they are.

16:25

Are we in agreement? I...

16:29

yes, of course. But

16:32

I don't know what you mean. What

16:34

allies? Perhaps it would be best for Sir

16:36

Lamorac to explain his strategy? Sir Lamorac?

16:41

Oh, Sir Lamorac of the Piercing

16:43

Eye! Oh, it's such a great

16:45

honor to meet you, sir. I

16:47

have always aspired to your tactical prowess.

16:50

In fact, I've sort of thought of

16:52

myself as your protege. I hope you don't think

16:54

that's too forward. In fact, I've told a great

16:56

many people already and they've said it reflects well

16:58

on your character. Ooh,

17:01

you're right,

17:03

Mark. I

17:06

don't even know the guy and that felt good. Move

17:09

aside, if anyone has earned this, it's me.

17:12

I think perhaps Captain Absalon has received

17:14

enough punishment for the moment, Caroline. Mmm...

17:20

Yes, my queen. We do have allies. Or...

17:24

potential allies, anyway. We

17:26

didn't have time to ask for help from the

17:28

Western Wastes and the Southern Frosts are broken into

17:30

so many disconnected bands and villages that we wouldn't

17:33

have been able to manage more than a few

17:35

dozen on our side. Then who

17:37

does that leave? It would be our great delight to

17:39

show you, my queen. But you

17:41

must first agree to accept any allies at

17:43

all, no matter how they may

17:45

appear. Of course. Good.

17:49

Ola-la, you may show yourself. Yes!

17:54

Queen Mira, I am happy to

17:56

see you well. That

17:58

fly, that... The Shapeshifter Girl.

18:02

Oh, Lala. Oh, Lala,

18:04

I... am so

18:06

very sorry for how our Citadel has

18:08

treated you these past several

18:11

years to fail to protect a child.

18:13

I appreciate your apology, Queen Mira, but

18:15

I am not a child. I

18:17

am half human and half monster, and... I

18:21

think that may become very important before the day is

18:23

through. It will? If

18:25

you want the help of another force, if

18:27

you want any chance at all of saving the survivors

18:30

of the Second Citadel, you will need to

18:32

come with us... alone. No

18:34

knights, just me and Caroline. Outrageous!

18:39

As if I would ever entrust the

18:41

safety of our Queen to a traitor!

18:45

Yes. If it's the only chance,

18:48

of course I'll come with you. But

18:51

if we're going where I think we are, are

18:53

you certain that this is safe, oh, Lala? I don't think

18:55

anything we do today is going to be safe, but

18:58

that doesn't mean we shouldn't do it. My... you

19:01

are brave, aren't you? She is among the

19:03

very bravest I have ever known. We must

19:05

leave immediately. We'll be meeting with someone along

19:08

the way to help us... facilitate

19:10

the summit. We wish you the

19:12

very best of luck, my Queen. Fellows,

19:15

I believe we should prepare for the battle

19:17

ahead. Even assuming Caroline, oh, Lala and our

19:20

Queen are successful, I fear we must all

19:22

be prepared to fight. I just need to

19:24

borrow Olala for one second before you go.

19:26

Caroline, you and Her Majesty can go ahead.

19:29

I'll catch up, very well. You

19:31

all head back and help Rilla and Alle prep. This

19:33

will just take a second. Very well,

19:36

friends, away! Is

19:44

this when you're going to tell me the secret of your

19:46

plan, Lamb? Because I've been thinking about what you said, about

19:48

how I'm supposed to convince the monsters and humans to work

19:50

together, and I just don't know how that's possible, so I

19:52

know you must have some great secret plan that I would

19:54

very much like to know now. Thank you. That's

19:57

the thing. You

19:59

are my secret. Yes, you've said that,

20:01

but what I mean is, what am I supposed

20:03

to do? What is the secret

20:05

plan for your secret plan? So

20:07

if you could just explain it very quickly... Listen to

20:09

me, Ola-la. I don't know what you're going to do

20:12

out there. Honestly, I don't

20:14

even want to suggest anything, just in case what

20:16

I suggest messes you up somehow. Sometimes

20:19

a plan is just putting the best person for

20:21

the job in the right place to do the

20:23

job, and that's you. If

20:26

anyone has a shot at this, it's you. But... I

20:30

don't understand. I've never

20:32

done anything like this before. You're

20:34

wrong. You do this all the

20:36

time. Just look at all the

20:38

people who came here, me and Caroline and Angelo

20:41

and Ale, Lord Arom, and Rilla

20:43

and Damien, Telferin and Mark. What

20:46

do we all have in common? You're

20:48

all good people. I didn't

20:51

do that. But we're not

20:53

here because we're good. It's

20:55

you, Ola-la. You're what

20:57

we have in common. You're

21:00

definitely why I'm here, and not a pile

21:02

of mulch back in Silver Shore. Listen.

21:08

I think the universe wants a lot out of you. Way

21:11

more than it should want out of any one person. A

21:14

half-human, half-monster in a world where the humans are

21:16

only here in the first place to kill off

21:18

the monsters? That's

21:21

way too much for anyone. But

21:23

hell, Ola-la, you live up to it. Everywhere

21:26

you go, you get people to care about you.

21:29

That group of ex-nights in there, every one of

21:31

them used to be a hardline monster killer, and

21:33

you've got every one of them risking their necks

21:36

for you. But it's not just for

21:38

me. It's for the whole universe.

21:40

Yeah, but not for the universe we have now.

21:43

It's for the kind of universe you could have a

21:45

home in. You

21:47

make people believe in that universe. You

21:49

make them want to make it real. And

21:51

if you could do that for all of us, you

21:54

can do it for the queen and for the monster senators.

21:56

I know you can. Lamb.

22:00

I still don't know what you expect me to do. Neither

22:03

do I. If I

22:05

knew I'd do it. But

22:07

I know you'll figure it out. If you

22:09

say so. I know so. You'd

22:13

better run after Caroline now, though. Don't want

22:15

to piss her off anymore than she already

22:17

is. Yes. You're right. Wish

22:25

I didn't have to add more to your plate, kid. The

22:28

downside of being good at what you do is they never

22:30

let you take a break from doing it. Queen

22:51

Mira, are you alright? I can

22:53

take the form of something to warm you if you need. No,

22:56

Olala. But thank you. Are

22:59

we, are we nearly there? I

23:01

believe I see the man we're looking for now. Up ahead,

23:03

in that cloak. You there.

23:05

Are they ready yet? They will

23:07

be here shortly. There is

23:09

time enough to, well, to grow

23:11

accustomed to the situation. You

23:15

must be Queen Mira. I

23:17

am. It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. I

23:20

wish I could say the same. But

23:22

in the interests of a polite back and forth, I could say, at least, you

23:27

have excellent taste in handkerchiefs. Handkerchiefs?

23:32

Do I know you? I

23:36

doubt that very much. I am the

23:38

leader of a land that abuts your own, but

23:40

we have never been formally acquainted. I

23:47

am Lord Arim, he who rules the

23:49

swamp of Titan's Blooms. And

23:53

I would advise you to restrain that sort of reaction

23:55

when my contemporaries arrive. They

23:57

are not likely to give you the same grace that I have. Lord

24:01

Arim, it

24:03

is a pleasure to meet you. Caroline,

24:08

is he truly a creature we can rely upon?

24:11

Yes. And he can hear you. Queen

24:15

Mira, you said you would accept any allies at

24:17

all. You wouldn't go back on that word,

24:19

would you? No.

24:22

My current means

24:24

of ruling clearly has not worked. In

24:27

this dark hour, I must be open to

24:30

another path, however strange it

24:32

may feel. Lord

24:36

Arim, what is the

24:39

meaning of this? Brace

24:42

yourself then, my queen. It's about

24:45

to become much, much stranger. Senator

24:47

Snout, esteemed colleagues of

24:49

the Northern Senate, I

24:52

have promised you all allies in the war to come.

24:55

Well, here

24:57

they are. Though

24:59

this is an outrage, Arim, you

25:02

can't seriously expect us to ally

25:04

ourselves with the very army we

25:06

are here to destroy. As I've

25:08

explained to you once already, Gunclar,

25:10

there is a far more dangerous

25:12

force present that deserves the monster's

25:14

attention. We are

25:16

under existential threat, a

25:18

fact which Senator Snout's spies in the

25:20

Citadel were certainly aware of. Though

25:23

it does make me wonder, if

25:26

your spies knew of the offworlders and their

25:28

intentions, why did the other members of the

25:30

Senate seem so surprised when I told them

25:32

they would be here as well? Our

25:36

conflict with the humans

25:38

of that Citadel predates

25:41

these new invaders.

25:45

They must be our focus. That's all

25:47

well and good, Snout, but you could

25:49

have given us a little warning. Weapons

25:51

made of anti-magic metal, maybe we can

25:53

clear out humans pretty quick, but what

25:56

are we supposed to do against anti-magic

25:58

weapons? It'll be a slaughter. Perhaps

26:01

a slaughter is exactly what he

26:03

wants. I've seen many monsters holding

26:06

crossbows like yours, Snout. How

26:08

long have the Warhogs been preparing for something like

26:10

this? I

26:13

will not tolerate

26:16

these insinuations, Lord

26:18

Aurim! Where

26:20

magic fails, weaponry

26:22

can succeed our

26:24

weapon! You do know that these invaders

26:27

destroy our universe. That will end your

26:29

little war too. You can't fight

26:31

if you're dead, Snout! Stop! Please! Stop it! All

26:35

alive, this swine is intimidating you.

26:37

You too, Lord Aurim. This is

26:39

wrong. Given what's coming next, this

26:42

is all wrong. And what

26:44

would right look like, little

26:46

human? We find ourselves

26:48

at a loss as will... I'm not

26:50

a human. And

26:55

I'm not a monster either. I'm

26:58

both. I'm...the only one

27:00

who's both. I

27:02

think the universe made me that way. Then

27:05

the rumors are true. This half

27:07

and half creature really does exist.

27:10

Nonsense! Do

27:12

you mean to tell us

27:15

that you've been taken in

27:17

by the burglar tricks of

27:19

this small human charlatan, Lord

27:22

Aurim? Humans have

27:24

been stealing our magic

27:26

for centuries! But

27:29

there are records, Senator Snout.

27:32

Records of a half

27:34

human, half monster hybrid before

27:36

our war with the humans

27:39

that is precedent. We

27:41

don't have time to argue about what I am either. I know

27:44

many of us here have reasons not to like

27:46

each other. Many centuries of reasons. Think

27:48

of how much we'll be lost. If

27:51

we don't work together, if those invaders from

27:53

over the world's edge bring their weapons here

27:55

and suck all the magic out of the

27:57

universe, then what will we- Here's the proof

27:59

that they will- You do set up him!

28:02

Where are the

28:04

soil? Enough

28:07

of your soil! Where

28:09

are these machines?

28:12

Because they are so terrible!

28:16

I would certainly like to

28:18

see them! Caroline,

28:20

Lord Arim, what do we

28:22

do? By the time they have their proof, it will be

28:24

too late. That's

28:30

shot them up, hasn't it?

28:34

Fellow senators, we

28:37

must not be taken in

28:39

by fear and

28:41

pleasant words. The

28:44

humans have tricked us many

28:46

times over. What

28:51

was that? Look, up

28:53

there, on the clouds in the sky! It's

28:55

some sort of image, and what

28:59

a terrible image it is! Ruined

29:01

streets and fallen buildings,

29:05

dust and rubble, people

29:07

and monsters, together

29:10

dead. This could be...

29:14

Juan Yi? It's Silver Shore.

29:17

Silver Shore does not

29:19

exist! It is

29:21

a tale for hatchling, Lisa.

29:28

The image... it's changed.

29:31

It's the siren's cove, but

29:34

the water looks so

29:36

lifeless, empty. The

29:41

main stage! It's in shambles!

29:47

The dumplings! It can't be...

29:50

the mold, the rot. I mean, that'd

29:53

just be crazy, so... Yeah, he's seeing

29:55

it. It's the monsters of the Northern

29:57

Wilds. Oh no, and that's... That's

30:00

Senator Snell leading the way! The

30:02

war hog? Lamerach, what is the

30:04

meaning of this? You

30:07

said you wanted an army. I got

30:09

you too. They're going to rip each other to

30:11

pieces. Caroline, you signed

30:13

off on this? A war requires combatants.

30:15

Unless you have some other plan for

30:18

where we can find several massive organized

30:20

military systems on short notice, this is

30:22

the only choice we have. Saints above.

30:25

The slaughter will be unparalleled. Not if we

30:27

can get them to work together. We

30:30

all have the same enemy here. We just have to

30:32

get them to see things that way. Wow,

30:35

that's amazing! You really think you can get the

30:37

humans and the monsters to join forces? We

30:39

have to. It's the only way

30:42

to hold the invaders off long enough for my

30:44

plan. And how do you plan to do this

30:46

exactly? I won't. She

30:49

will. Oh, Lola? Lamerach, if you plan to

30:51

put her in any danger. Me? Lam,

30:55

really? We didn't talk about

30:57

this and I'm not sure that... We'll talk

30:59

about it later, old Lola, but you're the only one who can

31:01

do it. Trust me. Okay.

31:05

If you say so. Sir Lamerach,

31:07

if I may? Yeah, Damien? Based

31:09

on what you said a moment ago, I was

31:12

under the impression that this war was your

31:14

plan. Now you said it's merely

31:16

a diversion to allow us to conduct your plan,

31:18

but if that's the case, then

31:20

what is your plan precisely? Yeah.

31:24

Well, I guess there's

31:27

no Stalin anymore, is there? Time

31:29

for the big reveal. Okay,

31:34

so I see you all brought

31:37

Saint Aaron's hammer and Saint Damien's spear. We're

31:39

pretty sure we know where Saint Ferdinand's slingshot

31:42

is because... Well,

31:44

I guess to explain that, we've got to give you a

31:46

little context. See, the 10 Gooby

31:49

Talks 2 was there to see all three

31:51

Saints in their day and what really happened

31:53

is this. That's

31:59

it, man! Easy now, easy! A

32:03

great many heroic campaigns have been

32:05

planned at this historic drawing board,

32:07

so treat it with the reverence

32:09

it deserves. Captain Arsalan was transporting

32:12

your desk from the ruins of

32:14

the Citadel Spire. Really the best

32:16

use of our time and resources?

32:19

We should be preparing for the oncoming

32:21

army of offworlders. Oh, this

32:23

is absolutely necessary, Mira. When I

32:25

saw the corner of my strategy

32:27

table poking out from the ruins

32:29

and debris of our once proud

32:31

Spire, I knew that it was a

32:33

miracle, a saint-sent sign, that

32:35

my peerless tactical mind would guide

32:38

us to victory and avenge our

32:40

second Citadel. Captain, the corner of

32:42

that desk was only poking out

32:44

after you had our men dig

32:46

for it for nearly two days.

32:48

A great man is nothing without

32:50

great tools, my queen. Oh

32:53

yes, put it there, fellows. That's it! Very

32:57

good! Dismissed! And

33:00

now, to pen the stratagem that

33:03

will save our Citadel once and

33:05

for all. Captain,

33:08

there is no Citadel left to

33:10

save. The people should

33:12

be our concern, the surviving people.

33:14

Shh, my

33:16

queen. Genius needs

33:19

silence and space to operate. Eureka,

33:28

Trebuchets! Trebuchets?

33:30

They're just the thing against those

33:33

flying contraptions, aren't they? Trebuchets.

33:35

We'll just...choo, choo. Away

33:38

pesky fly. One

33:40

hundred Trebuchets, my queen. We will

33:42

erect one hundred Trebuchets in the

33:44

direction of the offworlders' assault and

33:46

pepper their aeroplanes with blows. We

33:49

will arrange them in five lines of

33:51

twenty-five and on my signal... Captain, our

33:54

forces have been decimated. We

33:57

do not possess one hundred

33:59

Trebuchets. From the supplies

34:01

we've gathered, I doubt we could manage to

34:03

build three. That's a

34:05

quitter's mind, sent Mira. With Citadel

34:07

ingenuity, blasted fly, and a little

34:10

elbow grease, anything buzzing past is

34:13

possible. Yes, one hunk. Arriberry,

34:17

Jonah Steele, an intrepid

34:19

lilac, Andy Bell, the

34:22

Werners weeping wildly about the Citadel's

34:24

captivating conclusion. Jules shows

34:26

up five seasons late with Starbucks, KCO,

34:30

Juno G., Eska, Bettina

34:33

Trevino, Alim Muktadir,

34:36

Brittany Potter, Sophia and

34:38

Juno, Thank you for the

34:40

transgenderism Juno Steele, the emerald date

34:42

to this podcast, haha, with love for the end

34:44

and hope for the beginning. Mr. Me,

34:47

myself and I, Norae,

34:49

Kira, Jack M. Cohen,

34:52

girl in the midnight sky, thank

34:55

you Penumbra team for your amazing work, Braylin,

34:58

Quintessence loves the Penumbra

35:01

fandom this much, Hannah

35:03

and Leah's adventures in gender shenanigans, the

35:06

Lady Guinevere is really nervous about all this,

35:09

Sydney bids a tearful goodbye to second

35:11

Citadel, Shelley Schrod, Jammy,

35:15

Rachel, Ocepete, Evitt

35:17

Connie, Diana Coz, Benjamin

35:20

Fisher, SCP Chloe,

35:23

it has been zero days since Desert

35:25

Willow has referenced Muppet Nureyev, Rachel

35:28

Howard, Jun Goshoku, Skyfire

35:30

Forever, the Lady has

35:32

claimed another one, Jay Hull, James

35:35

Evelyn, grateful for Ola

35:37

La, Liv Allen, Alice

35:40

the Time Lord, in memory

35:42

of Spiral Opal, Eden

35:44

the Gay Bookworm, Michael David

35:46

Smith, Happy Birthday Nicole,

35:49

Kiki's podcast patronage service, Caroline

35:52

Sideman, Shura, Radios

35:54

ulna, Rain and Pippin from

35:56

the Glen Dimension, Karen Z.H., Genetic.

36:00

Kortu, Minchowski, Ash,

36:03

B. Flanagan, and Angel Acevedo for

36:06

their incredibly generous contributions per episode.

36:09

Thank you. This tale,

36:11

The World to Come, was told

36:13

by the following people. Marge

36:15

Dunn as Ola La and Senator Gunckler. Leslie

36:19

Drescher as Caroline. Stuart

36:21

Evan Smith as Sir Lamarek. M

36:24

Sutherland as Angelo. And

36:26

Jimmiele as Ale. Stefano Purdy

36:28

as Mark. Jason Mellon

36:31

as Talfron and Senator Bigshot. Melissa

36:34

Enniolet as Rilla and Senator

36:36

Primadonna. Noah Symes

36:38

as Lord Arom and Senator Ook. Matthew

36:42

Zanzinger as Damien and Senator Snout.

36:45

Cat Buckingham as Queen Mira. Alexander

36:48

Stravinsky as Captain Absalon. And

36:51

Melissa De Jesus as Senator A Big Gross

36:53

Pile of Moss. The

36:55

Penumbra is created and produced by Harley Takagi-Kaner

36:58

and Kevin Vybert. If you wish to

37:00

know more about the full production team, you can read

37:02

about them in the show notes of this episode. I'm

37:05

afraid that is our time for today, dear traveler. We

37:07

hope you will join us again soon. Everyone

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knows therapy is great for solving problems.

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