The Adventure Zone

Zoox, Devo and Amber take care of some personal business before the start of their next mission. Zoox learns about his birthday. Amber catches up with an old friend. Devo secures an unexpected modeling contract.

Additional music in this episode: "PULL" by Nctrnm https://soundcloud.com/nctrnm; "Morning Motion" by Golden Hits https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Golden_Hits; "Time to Move and Motivate" by Jonah Dempcy https://freemusicarchive.org/music/The_Insider; and "Montmartre" by Jahzzar http://www.betterwithmusic.com/.

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The crew of the Coriolis returns from another pseudo-successful mission to gather up their earnings. Unknown collateral damage surfaces, and initiates a series of most unfortunate events.

Additional music in this episode: "The Whisper" by Pipe Choir III www.pipechoir.com; and "PULL" by Nctrnm https://soundcloud.com/nctrnm.

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The Abyssal Auction: Part Six 

With the auction house's security systems thwarted, the facility's survivors attempt a hasty retreat. Zoox does what Zoox does best: Networking with unidentified, dangerous sea life.

Additional music in this episode: "Night I" by Swelling https://swelling.bandcamp.com; "So sorry little girl" by ROZKOL https://rozkol.bandcamp.com/; and "Fearweaver" by Three Chain Links https://soundcloud.com/beardmont/.

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The Abyssal Auction: Part Five

The Coriolis crew collect their winnings — among other things — and begin their extraction from a doomed deep sea marketplace. A slight complication: The deep sea marketplace is trying to doom them as well.

Additional music in this episode: "Troubadour" by Mirco Cortesi https://cormi57.wordpress.com/musica/; "Night III", "Day II", and "Day I" by Swelling https://swelling.bandcamp.com; "Outsiders in Nome" by Mystery Mammal https://soundcloud.com/mysterymammal; and "Epic Battle Music 01" by Airwolf89 https://freesound.org/people/Airwolf89/.

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The Abyssal Auction: Part Four

Following a tense exchange of money and merchandise, all heck has broken loose. Can the auction's bidders survive an assault from within -- and without?

Additional music in this episode: "Day I", "Day II", and "Night III" by Swelling https://swelling.bandcamp.com

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The Abyssal Auction: Part Three 

Let the money fight commence! As our turquoise heroes bid to claim their quarry, their opponents move against them, mostly because of the many terrible impressions they made in the previous episode.

Additional music in this episode: "Piano Improvisation" by Moon Finger https://soundcloud.com/moonfinger; "The Whisper" by Pipe Choir III www.pipechoir.com; and "Night I" by Swelling https://swelling.bandcamp.com

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The Abyssal Auction: Part Two 

After an unfortunate journey, the Coriolis arrives at a fancy, clandestine deep sea auction house. Time to do what exactly one-third of this party is good at: Shmoozing the room.

Additional music in this episode: "Creepy Bell Music 01" by Magmi Soundtrack https://bit.ly/3aXUcSt; and "Piano" and "Late Jazz Piano" by Szegvari https://freesound.org/people/szegvari/

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The Abyssal Auction: Part One 

The crew of the Coriolis take on a new mission, one that exchanges the slimy hazards of enormous mollusks for the slimy hazards of good old-fashioned capitalism. Let's have a money fight!

Additional music in this episode: "Creepy Bell Music 01" by Magmi Soundtrack https://bit.ly/3aXUcSt

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With their first proper mission under their belt, the crew of the Coriolis attempt a series of negotiations with mixed results. A night at the Cloaca forges new friendships, while morning at the Gills forges new ... enemyships.

Additional music in this episode: "Piano Abstract" by Ubik https://freesound.org/people/yewbic/; and "Intense Horror Music 01" by Magmi Soundtrack https://bit.ly/3aXUcSt

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The Infinite Clam: Part Six 

Amber, Devo and Zoox face off against foes both tangible and cerebral, within and without, ancient and new. The Infinite Clam's power is harnessed at great cost.

Additional music in this episode: "Phased Drops" by Michael Carrier https://freesound.org/people/hello_flowers/

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New to TAZ and not sure where to start? Start right here! A part of the MaxFun Block Party, Griffin, Travis, Justin, and Clint give the 101 on the different TAZ story arcs and give recommendations on which to listen to first!

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The Infinite Clam: Part Five 

The crew of the Coriolis approach the anomaly that has trapped them in their current bivalve environ. Amber takes a dive. Devo exercises surprising restraint. Zoox experiences a metaphysical identity crisis.

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The Infinite Clam: Part Four 

A surprising revelation about their enlarged environment sends Amber on a trip down memory lane. Unstable energies further discombobulate the Coriolis crew's sense of scale.

Additional music in this episode: "PULL" by Nctrnm https://soundcloud.com/nctrnm.

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The Infinite Clam: Part Three 

The heroes fend off a curious lionfish while getting their bearings within a curious bivalve. A slapdash infiltration brings them face-to-face with the Super Captain. We all love the Super Captain!

Additional music in this episode: "Techno Beat" by Kafokafo https://freesound.org/people/kafokafo/; and "Rust Colony" by ROZKOL https://rozkol.bandcamp.com/

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The Infinite Clam: Part Two

The Coriolis is visited by an inscrutable little guy whose name definitely does not appear on the manifest. They reach their destination in the Phytal Flats, and then things go very south, very quickly.

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The Infinite Clam: Part One 

The newly employed crew of the Coriolis take on their first official job with the Bluespan Brokerage. Devo confronts his past as he crosses paths with the leaders of the Benevolent Parish.

Additional music in this episode: "Comic 6" by Phantastonia http://www.hörspiel-werkstatt.de/

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Our heroes take their new ship to a VERY familiar aftermarket vendor, tacking on a few much-needed improvements. We spend a bit of time talking character classes, and finally come up with a name for the crew's new vessel! 

Join us for the start of a new adventure in the undersea metropolis of Founders’ Wake! For more info on this new setting, give a listen to our Prologue mini-series (or our special, abridged recap!) to hear how the Ethersea first took form.

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The Gallery Job: Part Five 

Our three intrepid Etherseafarers have survived their first gig, though, boy howdy, it was a close one. With Lux in hand, they go shopping for a gently used ship to call home. 

Join us for the start of a new adventure in the undersea metropolis of Founders’ Wake! 

For more info on this new setting, give a listen to our Prologue mini-series (or our special, abridged recap!) to hear how the Ethersea first took form. 

Additional music in this episode: "The Elevator Bossa Nova" by Bensound https://www.bensound.com

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The Gallery Job: Part Four

As one crisis interrupts another, the Dreams of Deborah's plucky crew must weigh their priorities. A Brinarr precariously teeters on the brink of death.

From now through the end of September, we’re posting episodes weekly, starting with this episode, right here, today! 

Join us for the start of a new adventure in the undersea metropolis of Founders’ Wake! For more info on this new setting, give a listen to our Prologue mini-series (or our special, abridged recap!) to hear how the Ethersea first took form.

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The Gallery Job: Part Three A brief diversion during their first undersea voyage has proven to be far more arduous (and far more dangerous) than our heroes initially expected. A race for the prize breaks out with a new, well-armed competitor. 

Join us for the start of a new adventure in the undersea metropolis of Founders’ Wake! For more info on this new setting, give a listen to our Prologue mini-series (or our special, abridged recap!) to hear how the Ethersea first took form.

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The Gallery Job: Part Two 

Three prospective contractors for the Bluespan Brokerage embark on their first, questionable voyage in the waters surrounding Founder’s Wake. A lucrative, outrageously spicy opportunity presents itself along the way. 

Join us for the start of a new adventure in the undersea metropolis of Founders’ Wake! For more info on this new setting, give a listen to our Prologue mini-series (or our special, abridged recap!) to hear how the Ethersea first took form.

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The Gallery Job: Part One 

A Finner, an Orator, and a Brinarr walk into a bar. Well, first they walk into a job interview, and it doesn’t go so great, so THEN they walk into a bar. 

Join us for the start of a new adventure in the undersea metropolis of Founders’ Wake! For more info on this new setting, give a listen to our Prologue mini-series (or our special, abridged recap!) to hear how the Ethersea first took form.

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Didn’t have time for all five episodes of our world-building miniseries for the next TAZ campaign? Fear not: This extremely abridged version has everything you need to know about the city of Founders’ Wake, and the magically irradiated ocean that surrounds it. Get caught up now — the adventure begins in earnest next week!

For our Prologue, we played The Quiet Year, a brilliant mapmaking game designed and written by Avery Alder. Learn more about The Quiet Year and purchase it for yourself here: https://buriedwithoutceremony.com/the-quiet-year

See the maps (including a world map and two maps of Founder's Wake) and their alt-text here: http://bit.ly/EtherseaMaps

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Winter arrives. The shoreside community begins the arduous process of migrating to their new undersea home. A suspiciously dormant kingdom plays its final, cataclysmic hand. Our Prologue draws to a close.  

Join us as we build our next campaign while playing The Quiet Year, a brilliant mapmaking game designed and written by Avery Alder. Learn more about The Quiet Year and purchase it for yourself here: https://buriedwithoutceremony.com/the-quiet-year

See the maps and their alt-text here: http://bit.ly/EtherseaMaps

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New dangers loom over the shoreside community as the rest of the mortal world retreats from the storm.

Join us as we build our next campaign while playing The Quiet Year, a brilliant mapmaking game designed and written by Avery Alder. Learn more about The Quiet Year and purchase it for yourself here: https://buriedwithoutceremony.com/the-quiet-year

See the maps and their alt-text here: http://bit.ly/EtherseaMaps

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The shoreside community stands divided over their priorities as the storm looms ever closer. 

Join us as we build our next campaign while playing The Quiet Year, a brilliant mapmaking game designed and written by Avery Alder. Learn more about The Quiet Year and purchase it for yourself here: https://buriedwithoutceremony.com/the-quiet-year 

See the maps and their alt-text here:http://bit.ly/EtherseaMaps

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Forgotten relics from the past are unearthed and put to use as the shoreside community continues plotting their undersea departure.

Join us as we build our next campaign while playing The Quiet Year, a brilliant mapmaking game designed and written by Avery Alder. Learn more about The Quiet Year and purchase it for yourself here: https://buriedwithoutceremony.com/the-quiet-year 

See the maps here: http://bit.ly/EtherseaMaps

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Travelers from four war-torn kingdoms congregate at the edge of a fearsome storm, following a divine invitation emanating from deep within the Ethersea.

Join us as we build our next campaign while playing The Quiet Year, a brilliant mapmaking game designed and written by Avery Alder. Learn more about The Quiet Year and purchase it for yourself here: https://buriedwithoutceremony.com/the-quiet-year

See the end-of-episode map here: https://bit.ly/EtherseaMap1

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We’re answering some questions about The Adventure Zone: Graduation, both listener questions and questions we had for each other. We also talk a little bit about the next season and how we’re changing things up in terms of world-building.

The game we will be playing as the opener to the next season is The Quiet Year, designed by Avery Alder. You can learn more about the game here: https://buriedwithoutceremony.com/the-quiet-year

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Where have all the good folks gone? Where is all of HOG? We need a streetwise thunderman to stop these scheming gods. Isn't there a Firbolg upon a flying steed? Reality is ripping, someone get me Argo Keene!

We need some heroes.

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The Thundermen race to stop the machinations of the gods.  But first, they have to make it past an army of demons and settle some unfinished business. Luckily, they have help. A lot of help.

A paradox is solved. A wrong is righted. A resignation is accepted. It is the beginning of the end.

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With all the hustle and bustle of life, it's so easy to lose touch. That's why it's nice when there's an important life event (two gods trying to open a rift to hell) to bring us all together! So, let's get connected!

Send a g-mail! Visit someone's house! Tear down these walls!

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[CW: Heavy Drug Use] Everyone has questions and no one seems to have the answers. Everyone wants to know what the Thundermen are planning. Including the Thundermen. They need to call in an old friend and go somewhere they've never gone before.

But first, time to party.

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We didn’t get to record at our usual time due to weather and power outages, so in lieu of a regular episode this week, we dug into the archives and found TAZ: Just Us, a live show Travis GM'd in 2019 in Atlanta!

For this show we played SuperNormal (designed by Ursidice), and our crew of super heroes attended just your average, every day company picnic. Of course, trying not to blow your secret identity is tough, especially when you can't control your super-strength enough to squeeze ketchup onto a hotdog.

Super Normal by Ursidice: https://ursidice.com/supernormal/

The music in this episode by audionautix.com.

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Having more or less made it to the Archives, it's time for the Thundermen to get down to business. It's a simple job: do something to the filing cabinets/contracts and then get out! That said, what kind of heist would it be without a few hiccups?

It's great when friends show up to the party, isn't it?

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It's the day of the show y'all. The planning is done, and now it's time to move. The Thundermen are (more or less) ready to infiltrate the Heroic Oversight Guild and wreak havoc on their records. Thankfully, they have their very special trash can.

Time to answer the eternal question: should we start this party right, or start this party quickly?

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Has this ever happened to you? You're in the middle of planning a heist when who should show up, but your mortal enemy? Then, one of your friends has confidence issues in the bathroom? And your other buddy is hiding in your pocket as a mouse? Sure, we've all be there!

Pockets gets ripped. Hairs get cut. Water gets made.

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It's time for the boys to get down to business of planning a heist. Job interviews, eating scones, and getting haircuts. Pretty standard stuff, really.  

Hey, did you know there was a Firbolg here?

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Upon arriving at the Drip n' Sip, the Thundermen have to deal with a very chilly reception. Then, it's time to get high in the HOG. The boys waste no time before slipping a crab and angering a friend.

Sometimes, the facts you find were not the facts you were looking for.

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The enemy of my enemy is REALLY ANGRY. The boys are headed to the principal's office and beyond. Before they head out for adventure, they check in with a few friends and set some plans in motion.

Time to dig deep and find the magic within.

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In lieu of a regular episode this week, we've got something truly buckwild (and almost timely) for you: A live, extra scary Halloween installment of The Adventure Zone: Amnesty! Join Duck, Aubrey and Ned as they muster all the courage they can as they enter Kepler's most perilous hunting grounds: Dave's Dehumidifier Depot!

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Time to answer some questions. Time to make some plans. Time for everything to change.

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The time has come for a climbing adventure! Better yet, a falling adventure. But first, we should check and make sure our allies are okay. Is it just me, or has Argo been acting weird lately?

There's nowhere left to go, but down!

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Fitzroy, Argo and Rainer rush to save the captive students from a pack of hellhounds. Is help on the way? Things look grim, luckily some accessories brighten up everyone's day. Then, the Thundermen meet a new advisor.

Five questions need answered. A mind is poisoned. A painful transformation.

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Fitzroy has been taken to the Crypt and has to rely on some new friends to make it through. Rainer and Argo rush to... save him? Does he need saving? No one is sure. The Firbolg goes home.

Journeys are made.  Alliances are forged. Goodbyes are said.

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This is not an episode of The Adventure Zone! We’ve got a quick trailer for The Besties, a gaming podcast featuring Justin, Griffin, and their pals (and Polygon co-founders) Chris Plante and Russ Frushtick. They’ve been doing the show for a while, but relaunched this year as a Spotify Original! You can listen and follow the show for free at Besties.fan.

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Training has been going smoothly for the Thundermen. Plus, Sabour has some new and important information for them about Gray! Seems like everything is going... oh, spoke too soon!

Friends become enemies. Enemies remain enemies. On top of all that, a surprise visit!

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It's hard to maintain order in the court when a Demon Prince disrupts proceedings. Everyone knows that. The Thundermen have to deal with the uninvited guest and then things just get worse. Like, WAY WORSE.

A perilous journey is executed. A new plan is hatched. A cat eats more jerky.

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The Thundermen have been brought before an Unbroken Chain tribunal. They need to prove that they are worthy of membership or they will lose the chance to win the group's help in the upcoming war. Winning them over might be tricky, especially since the head of the tribunal is Argo's nemesis!

You know what they say: If at first you don't succeed, try tribunal again!

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Thunderman, LLC continue their war efforts. After a tense run-in with the Commodore, Argo spills the beans. Then, he spills the beans about spilling the beans. The Unbroken Chain higher ups are not pleased. The boys also make contact with Rainer in hopes of winning her dad, The Undying Lord, to their cause. To top it all off, it seems the boys have some explaining to do.

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