In this week’s Witherwild episode, Richard guides Karl’s character Leroy Von Braun—a disarmingly earnest frogman rogue—through the first harrowing chapters of Call of the Bloom. What starts as a simple scouting mission quickly blooms into something stranger, and more dangerous, than either of them planned.

• Leroy begins the journey to Nernwihr with a refusal to leave, after setting on his new gardener experence he spends his funds at a local carnaval.
• After a series of identify theft related misdemeanors his cart requires repairs not fallling for Richard's Traps he mounts his trusty Hippobear into the wilds.
• At the river crossing, Leroy tries to rescue a mysterious child stranded mid-current. This goes about as well as you’d expect—he’s nearly swept downstream by the undertow, tangles with a glass serpent, and ends up soaking wet, and somehow more determined than ever.
• We discuss how Daggerheart’s countdown mechanics heighten tension without railroading the players
• Upon reaching Nernwihr, Leroy confronts the consequences of delay: half the town is aflame, tangle brambles are everywhere, and the locals are one bad rumor away from riot. He keeps the bloomfields from burning—during his stealthy gardening exploits, but did consider letting the world burn.
• We also share GM tips on balancing environmental threats and combat, how to weave a character’s backstory into Witherwild’s living world, talk about shoe gods and countdowns
• Whether you’re curious about Daggerheart’s collaborative design or just want to watch Leroy try to reason with a sentient tumbleweed, this episode is a heartfelt, occasionally chaotic romp through the opening beats of Call of the Bloom.
• P.S. No frogs were harmed in this session despite true efforts.

Download episode content at https://rajkevis.itch.io/

Richard and Karl return for Session Zero of The Witherwild, crafting a new campaign from the roots up and ending with a froggy foray into adventure!

In our second podcast episode, we dive into character creation using the Witherwild campaign frame for Daggerheart, setting the tone for a sprawling, mythic story full of creeping corruption, fractured alliances, and moss-covered gods who may or may not smell like compost.

• Deep-dive into Daggerheart’s collaborative character creation, with ancestry, community, and class choices inspired by the setting's lore-rich factions
• Karl builds a tragicomic frogman (Half human, half Ribbit,) character who—after being killed as part of a scheme navigates politics, death, and being the lord of the fly's.
• Exploration of key Session Zero tools like crafting Experiences, tying character backstories to the political tensions of Fanewick and Haven, and answering worldbuilding prompts together
• Discussion of tone and themes for The Witherwild: cultural clash, nature’s revenge, divine weirdness, and what it means to survive in a world that’s overgrown and under-cared-for
• GM tips on using the Save the Cat structure, Hope/Fear dice mechanics, and Wither tokens to shape emotional arcs and long-term corruption effects
• Introduction of campaign NPC Kreil Dirn, Haven’s suspiciously charming spymaster who recruits the frogman for a shady job after spotting his potential (and desperation)
• Honest post-game talk about how Daggerheart handles season zeros, how to keep players invested, and the best order to start your games.

Whether you’re prepping your own game or just want to watch a frog dig holes until the government shows up, this episode’s a heartfelt, funny, and lore-rich intro to The Witherwild campaign.

P.S. No frogs were harmed in the making of this episode. Just emotionally destabilized.

Download episode content at https://rajkevis.itch.io/

Richard and Karl venture into the dangerous world of Daggerheart, playing through the official quickstart adventure in a special one-on-one session to test the new game by Darrington Press.

• Comprehensive overview of Daggerheart's core mechanics, including the hope/fear duality dice system, character experiences, and streamlined combat
• Exploration of the Sablewood Forest and its unique hybrid animals like lemur toads and strix wolves
• Encounter with bandit Thistlefolk who attempt to ambush and steal from our hero
• Visit to the peaceful village of Hush with its magical protective barrier and unusual customs
• Meeting with the eccentric Whitefire Arcanist, a fairy-like being with mysterious powers
• Epic final battle to protect a magical ritual that maintains the village's protective wards
• Demonstration of Daggerheart's death and sacrifice mechanics when our hero falls in battle
• Side-by-side comparison of how this system differs from D&D and other traditional TTRPGs

If you're interested in trying Daggerheart, the quickstart adventure we played is available for free on the Darrington Press website!

P.S, I got the crit mechanic wrong!

Follow along at https://rajkevis.itch.io/

Download episode content at https://rajkevis.itch.io/