In this episode, Jared (the author) and Chris (the narrator) of Children of the Cold Moon talk about the story and the process of making the book. They introduce the last four chapters of Part 1 of the book. You get to listen to chapter 2. We hope you enjoy.

We hope you enjoy chapter one of our audiobook. Meet Bren and Tathan/Morias.

Read more on Royal Road:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/88011/children-of-the-cold-moon-the-four-treasures-saga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Reader Compendium:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.longwinded.one/season-5-the-children-of-the-cold-moon/⁠

The world is dying, and everyone knows it. But is the alternative worse? In rust-choked streets and hollowed-out cities, there is only one way out—Terra Mythica, a virtual world so immersive that time warps, hunger vanishes, and even the most broken can live like kings. Jace wasn’t supposed to make it in. He cheated death, and now it’s catching up to him. As the reluctant protégé of Hades, Jace finds himself thrust into Mount Olympus University, where gods manipulate Travelers, and the line between real and digital blurs with every step. Here, survival is about more than just staying alive—it’s about clinging to your mind before it slips away, lost in this strange never-never land. In this mythological LitRPG, follow Jace as he battles deadly trials, navigates treacherous alliances, and uncovers shocking secrets. His fight isn’t just for glory—it’s for his soul. If you crave epic tales of battling impossible odds and finding light in the darkness, Terra Mythica will pull you in and never let go.

Shadow Light Press

https://shadowlightpress.com/

Terra Mythica: A LitRPG Adventure - Volumes 1 and 2

https://mybook.to/qhJCr

Mark Garkusha

https:/x.com/markdmitri

This podcast trilogy has been an amazing experience. I've learned so much and am so thankful for all of my guests and listeners that I wanted to go out in Tolkien fashion... So I wrote a lay. I hope you all enjoy it. Don't forget to check back in a few months when Season 4 kicks off with the Sembia Revival campaign. The road goes ever on...

Shawn and Alan chat with Jared about the Second Prophecy of Mandos and the Dagor Dagorath.  They read parts of the early manuscript containing the prophecy and discuss theories about why Christopher (and his father) abandoned this concept. The trio end by introducing the Jared's original poem, Lay of Angruin. Listen to the Lay in episode 150- the last of the Ingolorion Bastards trilogy.

My double secret guests on this episode are none other than Alan Sisto and Shawn Marchese from the Prancing Pony Podcast. Join us as we learn more about the dynamic duo of the PPP. Come bear witness as we they partake in a "Lightning Round" set of fun question (like they do on their show).

This episode contains the last of the role playing in this campaign. All of the former players came back to play their characters on the Plains of Valinor. It got a little silly and the DM had a little too much whiskey. In the end we learned some off the wall twists of the campaign (including some that will make Tolkien fans enraged). 

Join us as Dr. Andrew Higgins shows us around Warwick and Great Haywood, both of which were early sources of inspiration for the first iteration of the Lord of the Rings legendarium. Come see Warwick Castle, Shugborough Hall, Essex Bridge, and Rock Cottage. After the virtual tour we get a chance to chat a little more with Andy and what he is currently working on (and it is fascinating). 

Visit Andy's blog for more information: http://wotanselvishmusings.blogspot.com

Come on a virtual tour with Mary Moore from Birmingham Tours as we visit Sarehole Mill, Moseley Bog, the new King Edward's School, Edgbaston Waterworks Tower, and Perrott's Folly.

Visit Birmingham Tours for more information: https://www.BirminghamTours.co.uk

Well, the group certainly isn't as quick as Bilbo at solving riddles, but join them in Gundabad as they try to solve an age old Dwarvish riddle... Or in this case, a "Dwarfish" riddle, in order to get the chain, Angainor.

The players bungle their way through the first two traps back in Gundabad. Witness the sheer idiocy of this episode as they attempt to find the chain, Angainor.

Back in Ilmarin, Celebrimbor and Fëanor present Feredir with the black, sister swords reforged into Angwedel, or "Iron of the Bound Star." Mor-lomin experiences the true power of the Flame of Arnor using his staff. Ezellendur is donning all three silmarils in the crown, Angrî. Okrin learns that the Mallet of Tombo, that they rescued from Angband, is essential in making the prophecy of Mandos come to fruition. And Burin learns that he is heading home to Gundabad to find the second binding chain, Angainor.

The party exits the Great Gates of Angband only to find Gothmog, the Lord of Balrogs waiting for them outside. A grand battle ensues, whereby Gothmog finds it easiest to chuck the heroes one by one into lava. Even still, good prevails in the end, and the party heads back to Ilmarin. 

Dungeon Lord is coming back on August 28, 2024! In this interview we get to talk with the creator, Hugo Huesca, and the narrator, Jeff Hays (of Soundbooth Theater fame). We talk about where Hugo has been the last five years, we learn that both of these creators are also into MMA, and we learn that Soundbooth Theater will be hosting their own conference next summer!

Links:

https://hugohuesca.com

https://soundbooththeater.com

https://litrpgcon.com

In what will likely be the last interview with a Tolkien scholar on the podcast, we discuss John's path to Marquette University, where he studied the Tolkien manuscripts. The resulting book is called the History of the Hobbit. John has worked for TSR and Wizards of the Coast, working on Dungeons and Dragons. Listen and learn about his wealth of fantasy knowledge, and the connections he has made over the years.

http://www.sacnothscriptorium.com/ http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/

As the group destroys the balrog looking creature in the altar room, they attempt to fight off the Virtues of Morgoth, and rescue Alatar, Ilfrin, and Imin. They discover the Mallet of Tombo and Angrî and Morgoth's Crown of Iron before coming face to face with Gothmog, the Lord of the Balrogs.

The party discovers that Thangorodrim brings out the worst in a hero. They encounter some long lasting sentries in the once ruined fortress of Melkor. Burin proceeds through the "Anger" threshold and Feredir goes through the "Obedience" threshold. At the end of this episode, the group sees an altar and something that looks like a balrog.

The group enters Thangorodrim and immediately feels "miserable." Exploring the passageways of this accused ancient stronghold, they find remnants of evil and must choose who will enter the thresholds labeled for each virtue of Morgoth.

The heroes learn that Littleheart, Imin, and Alatar the Blue have been kidnapped and taken to Thangorodrim. Varda informs the group that Angband, the home of Thangorodrim, is the most evil part of Arda, and that traveling there will likely change each character permanently. Once at the Great Gate, they are told by the sentry that inside the gate, "Your strengths become your weaknesses, your weaknesses become amplified, and each portal requires one of you to succumb to the virtues of the Dark Lord. They are: Greed, Gluttony, Anger, Vanity, and Obedience."

Join Douglas A. Anderson and I as we discuss how he originally got to know Humphrey Carpenter, Wayne Hammond, and Christopher Tolkien. Learn how his Annotated Hobbit came to be, and hear some truly interesting stories and anecdotes about independent scholarship and fantasy publishing going back 35 years. Doug and I also discuss our D&D characters' pending adventure into Angband...

Journal of Tolkien Research https://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/

Some of Doug's Blogs http://tolkienandfantasy.blogspot.com http://wormwoodiana.blogspot.com http://desturmobed.blogspot.com http://ashiverinthearchives.blogspot.com

Academia.edu http://independent.academia.edu/DouglasAAnderson

The group licks their wounds after the fight against Ungoliant. They decide to head back to Ilmarin and take council. Ingwë has gone to Tirion and collected the Silmarils and used them to set Telperion ablaze. While there, the group rests. Varda and Yavanna make the Miruvórë. Then, a brave Tesoro removes the magical cloak that once saved his life but now has slowly been turning him into Laurelin. Lastly, Fëanor and Celebrimbor join the company in Ilmarin, having been newly released from the Halls of Mandos.

This fight marks the hardest the group has ever had, across all parts of the trilogy. Ungoliant is a force that seems to only get stronger as they fight her. Ezellendur is unconscious at the bottom of a Well of Varda and when the water begins to pour forth from the damaged body of Ungoliant, he begins to drown. Tesoro is unconscious also. Burin is stuck in the well. Just when all hope seems lost, Mor-lómin wields the the Flame Imperishable and becomes the light in the dark against his fellow Avathari.

The heroes make their way to Ezellohar, knowing that Ungoliant is enroute. The battle begins in the darkest part of the night, and it grows ever darker when the ancient Avathari and her minions show up. Quickly the group becomes poisoned and paralyzed from the sting of arguably the most frightening creature in the legendarium.

In this episode, Jared looks back at the previous 130 episodes, talks about what he has learned, and what he would do differently. He talks about how important the Tolkien community has been for him over the last three years. He talks what's left to come in the podcast: Cuiviénen, Angband, and Gundabad. There are interviews with Doug Anderson and John Rateliff. There are virtual tours of some of Tolkien's most important English sites. And last but not least, there is the Last Battle. At the end of this episode, listen to a bit of a preview of Jared's Sembian Revival campaign.

John, known by his pen name Fobywoby, author of Terra Mythica, offers a heartwarming take on how storytelling helped him overcome childhood dyslexia. Reflecting on the emotional power of literature, he describes the impact of works by Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett. He shares his vision of a Blade Runner-esque world that merges futuristic and retro aesthetics in Terra Mythica. John’s reflections on escapism, creativity, and the evolving litRPG genre make this episode a must-listen for sci-fi and fantasy fans.

Shadow Light Press

https://shadowlightpress.com/

Amazon Links:

Terra Mythica: A LitRPG Adventure - Volumes 1 and 2

https://mybook.to/qhJCr

Endless Worlds Online: Elsewhere - Name of the Game

https://www.amazon.com/Endless-Worlds-Online-Elsewhere-GameLitRPG-ebook/dp/B0DL3G3LX2/

Royal Road Links:

Fobywoby: Terra Mythica: A LitRPG Adventure

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/89308/terra-mythica-a-litrpg-adventure

Mostly Dead: A Paranormal Urban Fantasy

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/95671/mostly-dead-a-paranormal-urban-fantasy

Declan Darkmor: Endless Worlds Online: Elsewhere - Name of the Game

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/93761/endless-worlds-online-elsewhere-name-of-the-game

Declan Darkmor: Dungeon Ex-Master: A Reverse Isekai Dungeon Apocalypse

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/97407/dungeon-ex-master-a-reverse-isekei-dungeon-apocalypse

Declan Darkmor: DNA: The Awakened - A Slice of Life Academy Apocalypse

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/97340/dna-the-awakened-a-slice-of-life-academy-apocalypse

Declan Darkmor: Declan Dark: Dark Daze - A Game/LitRPG Vampire Detective

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/97340/dna-the-awakened-a-slice-of-life-academy-apocalypse

EmrysAmbrosius: Rise of the Infernal Paladin: A System Apocalypse

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/91573/rise-of-the-infernal-paladin-a-system-apocalypse

Domr: Return of the Wind Mage

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/87802/return-of-the-wind-mage-check-out-my-new-novel

Fiddlesoup: Penance: Prison of the Gods

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/88661/penance-prison-of-the-gods-check-out-my-new-story

PolinkaP: Into the Deep Wood

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/90105/into-the-deep-wood

D.M. Rook: Hounds of Orion

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/95393/hounds-of-orion

Luke J. Anthony: Devil Kissed: Paranormal Romance

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/93915/devil-kissed

Immersive Ink

https://discord.gg/eYKUctqs8y

A nice break to the combat... The group gets back to Ilmarin and finds an old friend. Okrin is back to help them in the final trials! The group discusses how to get the cloak off of Tesoro without killing him. They discuss the vision Mor-lomín had of the coming of Ungoliant. And they discuss the cordial of the Valar- Miruvórë.

Have you ever wished Treebeard would say the song title of track #6 from The Chronic? If so (or if not), this episode is for you. Join the players as they finish the fight with Queen Berúthiel, claim Dramborleg, and bring the white tree of Meneltarma back to Ilmarin.

If the heroes weren't "cat people" before entering into the inner sanctum of Meneltarma, they certainly aren't now. The cats of the queen grant bad luck to the characters, and the Queen comes out swinging with Dramborleg. Meanwhile, being so close to the white tree of Númenor speeds up Tesoro's tree-bound effect of his cloak.

Few have given so freely of their time and contributed so much to the Tolkien community as David Bratman. Over the past 40 years, he has spent much of his time writing and organizing essays, bibliographies, reader guides about Tolkien and his body of work. Listen as we discuss elven magic, sub-creation, the three different styles of Tolkien's writing, Unfinished Tales, the status of Ungoliant, and whether or not Tolkien was a "cat person."

In this episode, the heroes enter the remains of Meneltarma. They are surprised to find several cats following them around the ruins. In the inner sanctum they find a grand white tree and Queen Berúthiel. She is wielding Dramborleg, the vicious heirloom of Númenor.

Back at Ilmarin, Irmo thanks the heroes and suggests that they do the Trial of Yavanna to get a sapling of Telperion. The players discuss the history of the Númenóreans, the fate of Númenor, the Great Eagles, the artifact called Dramborleg, and the infamous Queen Berúthiel. The players take a short rest and head to Meneltarma.

"Home Land" is the passphrase to summon the portal from Ilmarin. And finally, the party is able to whisper those words and leave the Path of Dreams, having collected the vemon of the Great Glow Worms.

As the group tries to free Mor-lómin from the jaws of a Great Glow Worm, Feredir and Burin are also swallowed. Tesoro and Ezellendur are standing alone battling the guardians of the Path of Dreams.

Dr. Vicki Ronn joins us on this episode to talk about the Mythopoeic Society, their conference, and their awards. She and Jared discuss Tolkien's "old cat lady." Jared asks about the (supposed) newly established Inklings at Oxford. Dr. Ronn mentions what is next on her reading list, the book referred to as the "Chinese LOTR," called Legends of the Condor Heroes. Check out mythsoc.org for more information about the Mythopoeic Society.

There be Glow Worms in this episode... They aren't happy to see the party. Tesoro finds a creative way to collect the venom. The group decides which Trial to do next, and Jared mispronounces Meneltarma.

In a High Fantasy world where Kings and crime lords run rampant due to a miscalculation made by the Adventurer’s Guild long ago, Karsten falls head-first into a fantastically strange forest with only the clothes on his person to his name. He is saved by the Ranger, Medoly, who shows him to the Adventurer’s Guild - unintentionally setting her new friend upon a path of harsh realities, full of fighting, fleeing and navigating his way through the power plays of people far above him. In this world, Karsten meets the cold reality of the inherent chaos of a continent at war, the push-back of the greedy aristocracy and the violent nature of the way-too-organized crime syndicates - all while leveling up in dungeons that seem hell-bent on killing him and his friends with the never-before-seen Abnormals. Even in the midsts of all this chaos, Karsten has one core goal: Getting back to his homeworld. Follow Karsten on his journey to become the most OP Bard this world has ever seen!

EBJ:

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/73069/enigmatic-bards-journey

The group returns the bodies of Eärendil and Arien to the palace of Ilmarin. Ezellendur becomes the Avatar of Eönwë. The group begins the Trial of Irmo and travels to Cerin Amroth. There they encounter Arwen, circa in FA 211. Though there are no more Golden Mallorn trees in Lothlórien, Arwen tells the group that Tesoro's cloak is the key to reviving a Golden Mallorn. She sends them to collect the vemon of the Great Glow Worms on the Olórë Mallë.

The party manages to collect Arien and the last Silmaril before defeating Ancalagon and heading back through the portal to Ilmarin. Find out why Ancalagon destroyed the three peaks of Thangorodrim the first time he died.

The Coronavirus is bad. Thousands of people are sick and dying. Many people are isolated. Governments and economies are suffering. People have had to put their lives on hold, so to speak. And though the Longwinded One is suffering the same fate as millions of others, including a delayed Tolkien pilgrimage to England, there is some good to be found in these strange times. The first good thing is the ability to spend more time with family. And if Jimmy Fallon can do the Tonight show from home, with his children present, so too can the Longwinded One. Enjoy.. this one is fun.

The last of the episodes with audio difficulties, in this episode the players meet their match. Ancalagon begins the beat down, and the group finds the body of Eärendil and his silmaril.

Having been awakened by Gwarthaur, Ancalagon the Black has knocked Eärendil out of the sky. With him fell his Silmaril and the carriers of the sun and moon, Arien and Tilion. While traveling through Oiomúrë, they find Tilion and the great maiar Eönwë. Then the group arrives at the Helcaraxë, where they find the body of Eärendil and his nemesis.

After the Trial of Ulmo, the group is back on Taniquetil reviewing the Octagram of Ilmarin. The DM tries to bring Charlie up to speed on how to run Burin, and after a short rest, the crew braces for an adventure into the frigid Helcaraxë in the Trial of Vana. Having been reinvigorated, Ulmo begins singing the lay of Narsilion. The group learns of Arien, Tilion, and Eönwë.

A treasure trove of fun and interesting stories, listen as Dr. Fimi discusses her written work, her most influential mentors, her favorite interviews, discovering treasures in the Bodleian Library, why The Hobbit is so much fun to read aloud, and the lay called Narsilion.

Tolkien Experience Podcast: https://luke-shelton.com/2020/01/03/tep-1-dimitra-fimi/

Charlie, Burin's new player, joins in this episode. And though we had some technical difficulties (you can't hear the player microphones), the storyline is intact. The group defeats the kraken and takes both the Dragon Helm of Dorlomin and Silmaril of Maglor back to Ilmarin.

Join us as we talk to two fans of the podcast. Liam is from the USA and Bea is from Norway. Together we talk about the campaign, Tolkien, and D&D in general. At around 29 minutes you begin to understand why the podcast is called the "Longwinded One."

Other Podcasts Mentioned: Adventure Zone Realms of Ukodor Tolkien Professor Tolkien Experience Podcast

Join the characters as Maglor leads them into the underwater structure that houses his former Silmaril. Unfortunately, the Silmaril has an angry roommate.

Julie, writing under the pen name B3AM, joins the podcast to discuss her writing journey, from dabbling in light novels to exploring the vibrant Royal Road community. Author of An Enigmatic Bard's Journey, Julie describes how she transitioned from being a manga fan to a litRPG enthusiast. With her signature humor and down-to-earth approach, she talks about embracing her creative side, building connections within the writing community, and navigating her inspirations, including popular titles like He Who Fights With Monsters and Heretical Fishing.

EBJ:

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/73069/enigmatic-bards-journey

Blaire The Human:

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/98047/blaire-the-human

Heading down to the sea from Ered Luin, the party encounters Maglor standing in the waves. Beside him is another Maglor... The group must decide who is the real son of Feanor, defeat the summoned giant minions, then convince the real elf prince to show them into Maglor's Gap (which was part of Beleriand and is now underwater). He eludes to a great sea creature who has taken his former jewel into its underwater lair.

The crew pops out in Mount Dolmed, inside the once great slopes of Nogrod. Here, the spot of awakening for the father of the Firebeards, Burin discovers his true parentage, son of Dain, King Under the Mountain. That puts him in a somewhat unique position in the line of Durin. Afterward, the fellowship sets out west to the coast to find the second son of Fëanor.

On top of Taniquetil there sits the "mansion of the high airs," referred to as Ilmarin. The players find eight Valar inside looking weary and unmoving. There the High King of the Vanyar, Ingwë, teaches the characters how to travel to and from Ilmarin in a portal. The first stop is Ered Luin, the Blue Mountains.