The gods are dying. More specifically, they are killing them. The world is on the other side of the cataclysmic Great Divine War, losing its magic as it awaits its prophesied savior. But that's not this story. This is the story before that. The story of Ever and Rake, two Godkillers lost in their own pain as they try to find answers in a world that offers none, until they meet.
This is the story of Godslayer: balance. First premiere in August 2024, Godslayer: balance is a prestige drama podcast that explores how we cope with grief, often to our detriment. The limited series features a pantheon of guest artists playing the gods themselves, including Brennan Lee Mulligan, Matt Mercer, Arabia Iyengar, Anjali Bhimani, Luis Carazo and Christian Navarro. While these big names bring to the table some of the most emotionally resonant performances of their actual careers, the heart of the series lies in its three main cast members: Gina Susanna as Ever, Jannes Wessels as Rake, and Em Carlson as everyone. the others. .
Over the course of 20 episodes, audiences hear the parallel journeys of the tender, obsessive Ever and the cynically numb Rake. Ever, searching for a cure for the illness that claimed her father figure, and Rake, obediently following the violent whims of her divine mother, find mirror images in each other as they discover that pursuing redemption can save or destroy us. .
A cast member of BlackwaterDND's main campaign, Wessels' portrayal of Rake's tortured submission evokes Theon Greyjoy's Reek from game of Thrones. An up-and-coming performer in the live-action space, Susanna offers a nuanced range of hope and despair in her portrayal of Ever, moving from tender, gentle love to bottomless despair with a level of skill that allows her to hold her own. alongside the titans of the real gaming medium.
The series is facilitated by BlackwaterDND cast member Carlson, who wields his experience as a mental health professional as shield and sword, creating space for some of the most emotionally powerful RPGs I've encountered as an actual game reviewer. Carlson's editing and sound design, while subtle, support the cast by balancing gameplay with performance, leaving room for heartbreaking silences in between.
However, this series is not for everyone. godslayera dark fantasy Holypunk game designed by Connie Chang of transplanter renown, it is not a fast-paced, action-packed comedy vehicle. The series takes its time developing these arcs, reveling in the weight of the world it's built, though you'll be rewarded if you slow down enough to bear that weight. It doesn't shy away from navigating the reality of its chosen topic, weaving emotional abuse, substance use, and derealization into its narrative web (with corresponding content warnings before each episode).
Episodes of Godslayer: balance premiering bi-weekly on BlackwaterDND, or wherever podcasts are found.