Podcasts about unfamiliar heroes

Awkward meetings abound as our heroes are drawn together. Gail writes an email. Vanessa is standoffish, but she really cares. Janus decides to not back down. And we are all certain that Gail's shack is not a love shack. Cast and Crew: Game Master: Jordan Green (they/them) Vanessa the Witch (she/her): played by Fay Onyx (ze/hir) Janus the Ghoul (she/her): played by Tobi Hill-Meyer (she/her) Gail the Ghost (she/her): played by William (Billie) Rain (ze/hir) Audio Editing: Ryan Boelter (he/they) Sound Design: Fay Onyx Transcription: Nikki Yager (she/her), with help from Fay Onyx, using Otter.ai Content warnings are listed at the bottom of these show notes. TRANSCRIPT For maximum accessibility, each transcript has four formats. Online transcript: https://writingalchemy.net/2021/11/22/transcript-of-inside-the-first-responders-training-program-part-2/ Word doc with low-vision friendly font Veranda: Writing Alchemy E41 Transcript Pdf with dyslexia friendly font OpenDyslexic3: Writing Alchemy E41 Transcript OpenDyslexic3 Low contrast blue on black pdf: Writing Alchemy E41 Transcript blue on black Main transcripts page: https://writing-alchemy.net/podcast-2/transcripts/ Transcription by: Nikki Yager (she/her), with help from Fay Onyx, using Otter.ai LINKS Game System Monsterhearts 2: https://buriedwithoutceremony.com/monsterhearts Podcast Recommendation Hit the Bricks: https://hitthebricks.com/ Support Writing Alchemy Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/WritingAlchemy Ko-fi donation: https://ko-fi.com/S6S4BFL0 Tee Public Store: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/writing-alchemy?ref_id=8162 Writing Alchemy Links Website: https://writing-alchemy.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/@writing_alchemy Contact Fay: https://writingalchemy.net/about/contact-form/ Podcast RSS feed: https://writing-alchemy.net/feed/podcast Jordan's Link Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/jordonaut Tobi's Link Website: https://tobihillmeyer.com/ William's (Billie's) Links Website: http://www.billierain.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/billierain Ryan's Link Twitter: https://twitter.com/lordneptune Nikki's Link Linktree: https://linktr.ee/BeholdertoNoOne MUSIC AND SOUND EFFECT CREDITS Intro: Kickin' in the Turbo (Alasdair Cooper) / CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Game theme: Levels Of Greatness by Scott Holmes Music is licensed under a Attribution License Light medieval music: Pippin the Hunchback (Kevin MacLeod) / CC BY 3.0 Humorous guitar music: My Lady Carey's Dompe composed by Anonymous and played by Jon Sayles and available at http://www.jsayles.com/familypages/earlymusic.htm Gail's crush wonder music: The Forest and the Trees (Kevin MacLeod) / CC BY 3.0 Tinkly crush music: The Flight of the Lulu by Possimiste from Free Music Archive Soft piano music: Touching Moments Two - Higher (Kevin MacLeod) / CC BY 3.0 Uplifting slow piano music: There Is Romance (Kevin MacLeod) / CC BY 3.0 Optimistic guitar music: Green Fields by Scott Holmes Music is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License Mid-roll music: The Place Where I'll Return To (Alasdair Cooper) / CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Humorous guitar music: Saltarello by Anonymous and played by Jon Sayles and available at http://www.jsayles.com/familypages/earlymusic.htm Sensual jazz music: Isolated (Kevin MacLeod) / CC BY 3.0 Dramatic folk music: Kings of Tara (Kevin MacLeod) / CC BY 3.0 Hip and spooky synthetic track: Spellbound (Kevin MacLeod) / CC BY 3.0 Geiger counter sounds : Radioactive Machine by leonelmail | License: Creative Commons 0 Outro: Everybody's Got Problems That Aren't Mine (Chris Zabriskie) / CC BY 4.0 CONTENT WARNINGS Social awkwardness and anxiety, uncomfortable public displays of affection, discussion of recent violence  

Writing Alchemy Unfamiliar Heroes 21 Summary We return to the First Responder's Training Program to catch up with Vanessa the Witch and Janus the Ghoul. In this sequel adventure, meet Gail the Ghost and follow the drama that swirls around the popular Chaz Drakon, as everyone prepares for another pivotal full moon ritual. Game Master: Jordan Green (they/them) Vanessa the Witch (she/her): played by Fay Onyx (ze/hir) Janus the Ghoul (she/her): played by Tobi Hill-Meyer (she/her) Gail the Ghost (she/her): played by Billie Rain (ze/hir) Audio Editing: Kimberly Loftus (she/her)   Sound Design: Fay Onyx Transcription: Goblin (they/them), with help from Fay Onyx, using Otter.ai Content warnings are listed at the bottom of these show notes. Transcript For maximum accessibility, each transcript has four formats: an online post for access convenience, a word document with a low-vision friendly font (Veranda), a pdf with a dyslexia friendly font (OpenDyslexic3), and a low contrast blue on black pdf for people with migraines (Veranda). Online transcript: https://writingalchemy.net/2021/09/03/transcript-of-inside-the-first-responders-training-program-part-1 Word doc: Writing Alchemy E40 Transcript Pdf: Writing Alchemy E40 Transcript OpenDyslexic3 Blue on black: Writing Alchemy E40 Transcript blue on black Main transcripts page: https://writing-alchemy.net/podcast-2/transcripts/ Transcription by: Goblin and Fay Onyx, with the help of Otter.ai Show Notes Game System Monsterhearts 2: https://buriedwithoutceremony.com/monsterhearts Recommendation Kalila Stormfire's Economical Magick Services: https://www.kalilastormfire.com/ Support Writing Alchemy Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/WritingAlchemy Ko-fi donation: https://ko-fi.com/S6S4BFL0 Tee Public Store: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/writing-alchemy?ref_id=8162 Writing Alchemy Links Website: https://writing-alchemy.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/@writing_alchemy Contact Fay: https://writingalchemy.net/about/contact-form/ Podcast RSS feed: https://writing-alchemy.net/feed/podcast Jordan's Link Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/jordonaut Johnny Tsunami: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Tsunami Tobi's Links Website: https://tobihillmeyer.com/ Consenticle: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/metasynthie/consentacle-a-card-game-of-human-alien-intimacy Billie's Links Website: http://www.billierain.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/billierain Kimberly's Links Twitter: https://twitter.com/kimberloft/ Actor, Audiobook Narrator, and Crocheter: https://linktr.ee/Kimberloft Goblin's Links Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@trashgoblin69420 Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/goblinfroot Music and Sound Credits Intro: Kickin' in the Turbo (Alasdair Cooper) / CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Game theme: Levels Of Greatness by Scott Holmes Music is licensed under a Attribution License. Vanessa's meeting with Profesora de la Cruz: Anamalie (Kevin MacLeod) / CC BY 3.0 Chaz's theme: Pyro Flow (Kevin MacLeod) / CC BY 3.0 Skateboard Sounds: Skateboard Indoor.wav by et_graham | License: Attribution Noncommercial Mid-roll music: The Place Where I'll Return To (Alasdair Cooper) / CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 The Hallway Collision was made up of the following four sounds: Paper slap: Notebook_Drop_Concrete.aif by amszala | License: Sampling+ Paper splat: Notebook_Drop2_Concrete.aif by amszala | License: Sampling+ Paper rustling: Paper Throw Into Air; 3.wav by RossBell | License: Creative Commons 0 Thuds and paper flutter: falling papers.wav by FreqMan | License: Attribution Anxiety music: Target Group (Instrumental) by The Bell is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. Picking up papers individually: 81-Paper Falling.wav by Leoctiurs | License: Attribution Handling a larger quantity of paper: falling papers.wav by FreqMan | License: Attribution Chaz skating into class is the same effect above Chaz skating outside: skateboard_ride.wav by PHetish | License: Creative Commons 0 Janus has something to ask Chaz tension music: Deep Haze (Kevin MacLeod) / CC BY 3.0 Chaz's excited response music: Free Music & Free Beer by Alex (c) copyright 2012 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) Outro: Everybody's Got Problems That Aren't Mine (Chris Zabriskie) / CC BY 4.0 Content Warnings  Sexual references, discussion of historic violence, discussion of trauma and triggers  

This is a special scripted crossover episode between Writing Alchemy and Kalila Stormfire’s Economical Magick Services where we return to Sylvan Community College as Kalila gives Janus her first tarot reading, foreshadowing the events which will take place in the next Unfamiliar Heroes game and revealing Kalila's past. Janus: Tobi Hill-MeyerKalila: Lisette AlvarezAudio Editing and Sound Design: Fay OnyxScript: Lisette Alvarez with collaboration and input from Fay Onyx and Tobi Hill-MeyerTranscription: Fay Onyx based on the script written by Lisette Alvarez   Show Notes Support Kalila Stormfire Fundraising campaign: https://www.seedandspark.com/fund/kalila-stormfires-economical-magick-services-the-final-season#story Website: https://www.kalilastormfire.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/KalilaStormfire Tumblr: https://kalilastormfire.tumblr.com/ Support Writing AlchemyPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/WritingAlchemy Ko-fi: https://writing-alchemy.net/feed/podcast TeePublic store: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/writing-alchemy?ref_id=8162 Social MediaTwitter: https://twitter.com/@writing_alchemy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WritingAlchemy/ Discord: https://t.co/Po52EE9xcB?amp=1 Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/writingalchemy/shared_invite/enQtODUzNjEyNjUzMDI0LWRmZmJiZTRlNTM3ZjZhMWVkMmZiZmUxZDNjMDEwZTJjNzhjZWE2MTk1YThmZmRhYmQ2ZWNhMjEzZTMyOTIwYTk Link to this podcast on Writing Alchemy: https://writingalchemy.net/podcast/unfamiliar-heroes-20-janus-first-tarot-reading/ Link to the online transcript on Writing Alchemy: https://writingalchemy.net/2020/01/31/transcript-of-janus-first-tarot-reading/ Link to the Writing Alchemy announcement post for this podcast: https://writingalchemy.net/2020/01/31/new-podcast-janus-first-tarot-reading/ Music and Sound CreditsIntro: Kickin’ in the Turbo (Alasdair Cooper) / CC BY-NC-SA 4.0Sylvan Community College Theme: Ascension by Scott Holmes is licensed under a Attribution LicenseThe crowded hallway effect was made from the following two sounds:People talking: Office Ambiance.wav by Blu_150058 | License: Attribution NoncommercialBackground murmur: Ambience Convention Crowd by Sheyvan | License: Creative Commons 0Chair scraping: Wooden chair, push in, pull out.wav by SpliceSound | License: Creative Commons 0Chair creak as Janus sits down: Sitting on chair .wav by renatofarabeuf | License: Attribution Cards being shuffled: Shuffling cards 02.WAV by VKProduktion | License: Creative Commons 0Cards being flipped over: Index Card Flips (handle business paper mvmt) 02.wav by cmorris035 | License: Creative Commons 0Tarot reading music: Origin ll by Scott Holmes is licensed under a Attribution License.Pulling out and opening wallet: Wallet pulled out and in the pocket by tripplexis | License: Creative Commons 0Pulling out money: Handle with money by Pashee | License: Attribution NoncommercialThe cards spilling effect was made from the following two sounds:Cards hitting the table: drop-cards.wav by themfish | License: Attribution Cards sliding: cards thrown.wav by khiser83 | License: Creative Commons 0The Tower tension music: Floating Cities (Kevin MacLeod) / CC BY 3.0Passing over money: Original sound recorded by Fay OnyxChair creak as Janus stands up: Sitting on chair .wav by renatofarabeuf | License: Attribution Chair scraping: Wooden chair, push in, pull out.wav by SpliceSound | License: Creative Commons 0Footsteps going away: Walking away and returning boots on hardwood floor.wav by CastIronCarousel | License: Creative Commons 0Kalila theme: Fairitale by Ondrosik is licensed under a Attribution LicenseOutro: Everybody’s Got Problems That Aren’t Mine (Chris Zabriskie) / CC BY 4.0

This is a special scripted crossover episode between Writing Alchemy and Kalila Stormfire’s Economical Magick Services where we return to Sylvan Community College as Kalilia gives Janus her first tarot reading, foreshadowing the events which will take place in the next Unfamiliar Heroes game.

This Bonus Cast features stand up comedy that the amazing Tobi Hill-Meyer did for Thriving While Trans. Afterwards, there are some announcements about upcoming audio and text games.

That creepy feeling is back, Willa is impressed, and a character from a beloved childhood story makes an appearance. Join us for the long-awaited conclusion to the Owlbear Reintroduction Program in the nineteenth game episode of Unfamiliar Heroes! Willa the gecko lizardperson rogue, Tarragon the orc bard, and D’Zân the weredragon druid are participating in The Owlbear Reintroduction Program, a project that is reestablishing owlbears in areas where the owlbear populations have been previously wiped out. Of course, this is not as simple as it sounds, because owlbears are large, ferocious, magical predators. Throw in a group of skilled poachers determined to steal owlbear eggs and things are bound to get interesting. This improvised, tabletop adventure was created with the Magic Goes Awry role-playing system!

Zombies are coming toward our three heroes. Join them in the eighteenth game episode of Unfamiliar Heroes as they struggle to get to the shelter of the Inn on the Bridge! Willa the gecko lizardperson rogue, Tarragon the orc bard, and D’Zân the weredragon druid are participating in The Owlbear Reintroduction Program, a project that is reestablishing owlbears in areas where the owlbear populations have been previously wiped out. Of course, this is not as simple as it sounds, because owlbears are large, ferocious, magical predators. Throw in a group of skilled poachers determined to steal owlbear eggs and things are bound to get interesting. This improvised, tabletop adventure was created with the Magic Goes Awry role-playing system!

Our three heroes begin their negotiations with the owlbears in the seventeenth game episode of Unfamiliar Heroes. Join them for the excitement of river adventures and camping with owlbears! Willa the gecko lizardperson rogue, Tarragon the orc bard, and D’Zân the weredragon druid are participating in The Owlbear Reintroduction Program, a project that is reestablishing owlbears in areas where the owlbear populations have been previously wiped out. Of course, this is not as simple as it sounds, because owlbears are large, ferocious, magical predators. Throw in a group of skilled poachers determined to steal owlbear eggs and things are bound to get interesting. This improvised, tabletop adventure was created with the Magic Goes Awry role-playing system!

My first ever Bonus Cast is on the topic of my favorite LGBTQ+ role-playing game character.

Our three heroes finally reach the owlbear den in the sixteenth game episode of Unfamiliar Heroes. Join them as they have their first encounter with wild owlbears! Willa the gecko lizardperson rogue, Tarragon the orc bard, and D’Zân the weredragon druid are participating in The Owlbear Reintroduction Program, a project that is reestablishing owlbears in areas where the owlbear populations have been previously wiped out. Of course, this is not as simple as it sounds, because owlbears are large, ferocious, magical predators. Throw in a group of skilled poachers determined to steal owlbear eggs and things are bound to get interesting. This improvised, tabletop adventure was created with the Magic Goes Awry role-playing system!

In the fifteenth game episode of Unfamiliar Heroes, our three heroes arrive in Islandtown, the home of the Crossroads Wilderness Keepers. Join them as potions are brewed, paper is shuffled, and a wagon is wreathed in flames! Willa the gecko lizardperson rogue, Tarragon the orc bard, and D’Zân the weredragon druid are participating in The Owlbear Reintroduction Program, a project that is reestablishing owlbears in areas where the owlbear populations have been previously wiped out. Of course, this is not as simple as it sounds, because owlbears are large, ferocious, magical predators. Throw in a group of skilled poachers determined to steal owlbear eggs and things are bound to get interesting. This improvised, tabletop adventure was created with the Magic Goes Awry role-playing system!

In the fourteenth game episode of Unfamiliar Heroes, our three heroes get their first internship assignment from The Adventurers Academy. Join them as they start out on their journey! Willa the gecko lizardperson rogue, Tarragon the orc bard, and D’Zân the weredragon druid are participating in The Owlbear Reintroduction Program, a project that is reestablishing owlbears in areas where the owlbear populations have been previously wiped out. Of course, this is not as simple as it sounds, because owlbears are large, ferocious, magical predators. Throw in a group of skilled poachers determined to steal owlbear eggs and things are bound to get interesting. This improvised, tabletop adventure was created with the Magic Goes Awry role-playing system!

Meet D’Zân the weredragon druid in this character introduction episode of Unfamiliar Heroes. D’Zân is a student at the celebrated Adventurers Academy, and right now xe is studying creative problem-solving. Join xem for a surreal training exercise where xe swims through a sky full of sharks. This character introduction is preparation for The Owlbear Reintroduction Program, a game where the characters participate in a project that is reestablishing owlbears in wilderness areas where the owlbear populations have been previously wiped out. Of course, this is not as simple as it sounds, because owlbears are large, ferocious, magical predators. This improvised, tabletop adventure was created with the Magic Goes Awry role-playing system!

Meet Tarragon Songsteel the orc bard in this character introduction episode of Unfamiliar Heroes. Tarragon is a student at the celebrated Adventurers Academy, and right now they are studying creative problem-solving. Join them for a surreal training exercise where they attempt to retrieve an orb from a mysterious underwater maze. This character introduction is preparation for The Owlbear Reintroduction Program, a game where the characters participate in a project that is reestablishing owlbears in wilderness areas where the owlbear populations have been previously wiped out. Of course, this is not as simple as it sounds, because owlbears are large, ferocious, magical predators. This improvised, tabletop adventure was created with the Magic Goes Awry role-playing system!

Meet Willa the gecko lizardperson rogue in this character introduction episode of Unfamiliar Heroes. Willa is a student at the celebrated Adventurers Academy and right now she is studying creative problem-solving. Join her for a surreal training exercise involving four hostile robots guarding an orb, surrounded by a massive pile of rubble. This character introduction is preparation for The Owlbear Reintroduction Program, a game where the characters participate in a project that is reestablishing owlbears in wilderness areas where the owlbear populations have been previously wiped out. Of course, this is not as simple as it sounds, because owlbears are large, ferocious, magical predators. This improvised, tabletop adventure was created with the Magic Goes Awry role-playing system!

Captured by rebels, our three heroes are fighting back. Malena, Adre, and Mariah have incapacitated the rebel captain and four guards. Now they are taking the fight into the shuttle bay, where they are causing havoc. Join them in the tenth game episode of Unfamiliar Heroes as Malena, Adre, and Mariah attemp to escape the rebel ship! Malena the intellectual scientist, Adre the hot-shot engineer, and Mariah the alien doctor are all officers from the Consortium starship the Raptor. These three surprisingly senior officers were all participating in a test flight of Z-crystals, a revolutionary new type of propulsion crystal, when their shuttle was intercepted by the rebel ship Sojourner. Join them for this improvised, tabletop adventure that was created with the Lasers & Feelings role-playing system!

In the ninth game episode of Unfamiliar Heroes Malena, Adre, and Mariah have been captured by rebels. Join them as they meet the rebel captain and implement their desperate escape plan. Malena the intellectual scientist, Adre the hot-shot engineer, and Mariah the alien doctor are all officers from the Consortium starship the Raptor. These three surprisingly senior officers were all participating in a test flight of Z-crystals, a revolutionary new type of propulsion crystal, when their shuttle was intercepted by the rebel ship Sojourner. Join them for this improvised, tabletop adventure that was created with the Lasers & Feelings role-playing system!

In the eighth game episode of Unfamiliar Heroes meet the crew of the Raptor as they defend their test shuttle from the renegade starship Sojourner. Malena the intellectual scientist, Adre the hot-shot engineer, and Mariah the alien doctor are all officers from the Consortium starship the Raptor. These three surprisingly senior officers were all participating in a test flight of Z-crystals, a revolutionary new type of propulsion crystal, when their shuttle was intercepted by the rebel ship Sojourner. Join them for this improvised, tabletop adventure that was created with the Lasers & Feelings role-playing system!

In the seventh game episode of Unfamiliar Heroes the paranormal detectives of the Cat’s Paw Ghost Control agency investigate some disturbing, supernatural growls that have been plaguing a small Seattle neighborhood. Maybe it is a were-raccoon, or perhaps it is a were-cow. Listen to find out! Tabitha the space alien cat, Jake the fake TV psychic, and Lalla the plant talker botanist are the paranormal detectives of Cat’s Paw Ghost Control. Join them as they solve supernatural problems with cat-themed technology, a shady network of contacts, and plant power in a tabletop game that uses the InSpectres role-playing system!

In the sixth game episode of Unfamiliar Heroes a Seattle grocery store is plagued by mischievous spirits with a special resentment toward lederhosen. Meet the Cat’s Paw Ghost Control team as they tackle this challenge together. Tabitha the space alien cat, Jake the fake TV psychic, and Lalla the plant talker botanist are the paranormal detectives of Cat’s Paw Ghost Control. Join them as they solve supernatural problems with cat-themed technology, a shady network of contacts, and plant power in a tabletop game that uses the InSpectres role-playing system!

In Episode 2 of our daring second season, Quinn and Josh talk with Fay Onyx of Writing Alchemy about Making Gaming Accessible. Together they discuss Unfamiliar Heroes, Magic Goes Awry (with Owlbear Rescues), and about ways to ensure our game tables are accessible in every way to a diverse group of players. There was also mention of post-apocalytic Muppet Babies, and if that isn’t your thing… well… I’m not sure why you listen to our podcast. Lasers and Feelings is discussed: http://www.onesevendesign.com/laserfeelings/   And Monsterhearts 2.   This is a fun filled episode.

This second anniversary special episode includes behind the scenes updates, outtakes, and six very silly bad poems that were composed for a Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Vogon poetry competition in which the goal was to make poems that were as terrible (and funny) as possible.

Fay Onyx, the mastermind behind the Unfamiliar Heroes podcast project, and two of its GMs, Anna Murray and Jordan Green, chat about what it’s like to run an actual play with diverse players and characters at the core. This second part of our conversation focuses on mechanics that aim to recreate or facilitate these diverse experiences, and things to consider when playing a diverse character.

It is finally the day of the Full Moon Ritual, but as the heroes prepare, they discover that something isn’t quite right. This episode is the conclusion to the first game of Unfamiliar Heroes. Underneath the facade of ordinary reality lies a hidden world of monsters and magic. At Sylvan Community College a secret program teaches supernatural teens to deal with this dangerous world as they struggle with the mess and confusion of their own lives. Welcome to the First Responders Training Program, a tabletop game using the Monsterhearts 2 role-playing system!

In this fourth game episode of Unfamiliar Heroes the humor and drama continue as Tamara confronts Vanessa about her spying, Janus tries to figure out what the First Responders Training Program really is, and Vanessa has a vision that leads to an important revelation! Underneath the facade of ordinary reality lies a hidden world of monsters and magic. At Sylvan Community College a secret program teaches supernatural teens to deal with this dangerous world as they struggle with the mess and confusion of their own lives. Welcome to the First Responders Training Program, a tabletop game using the Monsterhearts 2 role-playing system!

Fay Onyx, the mastermind behind the Unfamiliar Heroes podcast project, and two of its GMs, Anna Murray and Jordan Green, chat about what it's like to run an actual play with diverse players and characters at the core. This first part of our conversation focuses on addressing the needs of players, and considering how accessible your game system itself is. Heroes Fay Onyx Anna Murray Jordan Green Mentions Writing Alchemy Magic Goes Awry Lasers and Feelings

In this third game episode of Unfamiliar Heroes the humor and drama continues as Shanda gives Vanessa some subtle guidance and Tamara confronts Janus with an unexpected truth! Underneath the facade of ordinary reality lies a hidden world of monsters and magic. At Sylvan Community College a secret program teaches supernatural teens to deal with this dangerous world as they struggle with the mess and confusion of their own lives. Welcome to the First Responders Training Program, a tabletop game using the Monsterhearts 2 role-playing system!

In this second game episode of Unfamiliar Heroes we learn more about Sylvan Community College, fill in a few key pieces of character background, and then jump into Vanessa and Janus’ awkward first meeting in the Pagan Student Association! Underneath the facade of ordinary reality lies a hidden world of monsters and magic. At Sylvan Community College a secret program teaches supernatural teens to deal with this dangerous world as they struggle with the mess and confusion of their own lives. Welcome to the First Responders Training Program, a tabletop game using the Monsterhearts 2 role-playing system!

In this first game episode of Unfamiliar Heroes we meet Vanessa the judgmental witch and Janus the slacker ghoul, learn about Sylvan Community College, and discover the mysterious event that connects Janus and Vanessa. Underneath the facade of ordinary reality lies a hidden world of monsters and magic. At Sylvan Community College a secret program teaches supernatural teens to deal with this dangerous world as they struggle with the mess and confusion of their own lives. Welcome to the First Responders Training Program, a tabletop game using the Monsterhearts 2 role-playing system!

In this foundational episode of Unfamiliar Heroes, which I’m calling Episode Zero, I start off with a discussion of disability representation and the reasons why I feel that this project is so needed. Next I go over the ways that participants who live at the intersections of oppression are centered in this project. Finally I discuss the eight game ground rules which are designed to keep games accessible and inclusive. Unfamiliar Heroes is a podcast series in which three disabled, neurodiverse, and/or chronically ill players and a game master play story-focused tabletop role-playing games where all of the player characters have disabilities, diverse minds, and/or chronic illnesses. In its core values, this project centers the experiences of people living at the intersections of oppression. Unfamiliar Heroes is part of the Writing Alchemy Podcast.

I created a short teaser for those new listeners wondering what Writing Alchemy is all about. Writing Alchemy is a storytelling podcast that centers intersectional characters, including a fairy tale series that combines humor and magic with serious topics, and a tabletop role-playing series about the adventures of disabled and mentally diverse heroes.