Podcast of the Five Rings

Podcast of the Five Rings, Nick Burdine, Zachariah Sierra, Logan Jensen, Heath Zwiefler
  • 5.0 (14)
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Podcast of the Five Rings is an actual-play show of four friends playing through the official adventures of the 5th Edition Legend of the Five Rings Role Playing Game released by Fantasy Flight Games. We aim to put out high-quality, entertaining episodes that bring attention to the L5R RPG. Support the show at patreon.com/pot5r to gain access to extra Pot5R content like bonus shows, original music, Discord perks, and more!

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  1. S3E1: Shipwrecked!

    EPISODE 1

    S3E1: Shipwrecked!

    A terrible storm rolled in from the bay, wreaking havoc upon the land. Wind and rain battered the landscape while distant thunder warned wayward travelers.  Upon some forgotten road in some distant valley walked two figures, each baring vestiges of a former life. There was Naoki, once a reputable merchant of decent wealth living in the capital city, now a peddler of mundane wares traveling from shrine to shrine. And there was his bodyguard, Boa, a castaway from the Crane clan. Once a student in the arts of sword and brush, now a master in the arts of plow and ox.  The two followed the muddy bank of a raging river when suddenly a small boat lost control in the rapids and crashed into an outcrop of jagged rocks. The boat’s two passengers were flung from the boat and into the rocks below. Steering the ship was the deckhand-turned-pirate, Kaizoku. A man whose ambitions are only outnumbered by his enemies. His passenger was the rogue, Shiroi Tsume. Born a hinin butcher, Tsume turned to a life grave robbing and treasure hunting in order to support his family after the death of his father. Seeing the incident unfold before them, Naoki and Boa jumped into action, helping to pull Kaizoku and Tsume to shore, as well salvaging as much of their equipment as possible. Assessing the damage, Kaizoku realized that his ship was in need of considerable repair. A couple of items had gone missing too: his father’s fishing net, and a vial of Liquid Void-- a substance to which he had become fiercely addicted. Once on shore, Tsume got a closer look at his rescuers. His heart sank when he made a startling revelation. The peddler, Naoki, was a man to whom he owed a great deal of money, and who has blackmail on Tsume, knowing all about his criminal lifestyle. Luckily for him though, it had been years since they last saw each other, and Naoki did not seem to recognize him. Naoki recommended they all travel downriver to the nearby town of Twin Blessings Village. He and Boa were traveling there already, and he suspected that Kaizoku and Tsume could find their lost equipment there as well. Upon walking into town, they the noticed the crops of the village had all seemed to either wither and die, or become flooded by the rain and river. Then they heard shouting and the hoof beats of horses. It sounded like the village was under attack. They found two drunk samurai clad in teal and purple, wearing the mon of a family they did not recognize. These two samurai were demanding a tribute of sake from the villagers. When the villagers insisted that they did not have any more sake to give, the samurai grew belligerent and began assaulting the peasants. When Kaizoku tried to intervene, he was intimidated and told to step down. Once the samurai got tired of berating the villagers, they rode off. Afterward, the party was greeted by the head of the village, an elderly man named Setsuo. He thanked the party for trying to stand up for them, but insisted that confronting the samurai would only anger them, and make them come back in force. Setuso welcomed the party as guests in his home and showed them what meager hospitality he could afford: a fire and a warm bowl of rice. Setsuo explained that those samurai were in the service of a new lord who had recently taken power in the region. His name was Reju Jikai. He was cruel and abusive, and has been hiring large numbers of ronin to bolster his ranks—a resource which there was no short supply of these days after two consecutive wars and a huge shift in power. Setsuo asked the party to stay as long as they need. He felt they have much to talk about. Credits Art by Dylon Munoz Music by Brandon Spain and Podcast of the Five Rings Artwork by Dylon Munoz Music by Brandon Spain & Podcast of the Five Rings

    52 min
  2. S3E2: Current Events

    EPISODE 2

    S3E2: Current Events

    Tsume, Kaizoku, and Boa were held as guests in Setsuo, the village elder’s house. The townsfolk crowded into Setsuo’s house to catch a glimpse of the ronin as they ate their evening meal. The party was introduced to the other community leaders. There was Natsumi, an outspoken and strong young woman, who seemed to act as Setsuo’s second in command. Next was Shinichi, a wiry and lithe man, stablemaster and previous owner of the waystation which operated on the outskirts of town. After him was Daizo, the enlightened spiritual head of the village. Finally, there was Hiroto, the large and boisterous sake brewer-- his sake was the pride of the village. During their introductions to the village leaders, Naoki remembered where he knew Tsume from. And he remembered just how much he owed him. The shrewd man said nothing, but you could see the gears begin to work in his head. The village leaders began to explain the many problems which had befallen their village in recent months. Foremost was the new lord who took up residence in Closed Shell Castle, Reju Jikai. Aside from being a callous and cruel man, his rice tax had become astronomical, and the village was struggling to keep up with it. He went so far as to even forbid the villagers from brewing sake. To him, the sake was a waste of the rice which was rightfully his. To make matters worse, the new lord had started over hunting the forest, making food and resources even scarcer in the region. It had also become apparent that Jikai had begun hiring a small army of ronin to serve him in the castle, and now these thugs terrorize the local villages. Worst of all though-- the water kami seemed to be very upset with the village. Daizo had done all he could to subdue the river’s unceasing anger, but to no avail. The river slows to a trickle so the crops may wither and die, and when it comes time to harvest what remains, the river bursts with energy, flooding the village and destroying what’s salvageable.  As a result of the villages being thrown into poverty and the forests becoming overhunted, bandits had started robbing people on the roads, and packs of wolves had started becoming more aggressive in their search for food. The bandits have become so bold, they’ve even kidnapped Setsuo’s son, Ichiro. Never letting an opportunity go to waste, Kaizoku pledged to find and return Ichiro in exchange for the village’s help in repairing his boat. The village asked another favor of the ronin. Just a few days ago, Jikai’s thugs burned down the village way station, burning many alive, including Shinichi’s late wife. Being too afraid to sully themselves with the flesh of those who died such grizzly deaths, they asked the ronin to help. Feeling he had heard enough, Kaizoku went for a walk by the river. Dying for a sip of his Liquid Void, the pirate began searching the banks of the river for his lost vial. Desperate, he waded into the river, searching every snag and stone for the precious substance. But the water kami had other plans for this intrepid fool. The storm surged and the river swelled. Kaizoku lost his footing and was swept away by a torrent of water. After some time, Tsume and Boa began to look for their new friend. Following his tracks in the fresh mud, they found where he walked into the river. Tracks went in, but none came out. Anxious, they followed the river downstream, onto the outskirts of town, the darkened forest looming ahead of them. Then they heard a deafening yell. The sound of a man teetering on the precipice and clinging onto dear life. Following the sound, Tsume and Boa found an imprint of where Kaizoku’s body must have been, and tracks leading deeper into the forest, as if he had been dragged. Following the tracks, they began to see the orange flicker of fire, and the sound of raucous voices. Peering through the bushes, Tsume and Boa found an old, ruined monastery which had become an encampment for a large gang of bandits. Laying beside the fire was Kaizoku-- as his body and belongings were pilfered by thieves. Credits Art by Dylon Munoz Music by Brandon Spain and Podcast of the Five Rings Artwork by Dylon Munoz Music by Brandon Spain & Podcast of the Five Rings

    1h 27m
  3. S3E3: Lost Sons

    EPISODE 3

    S3E3: Lost Sons

    Tsume and Boa infiltrated the camp by pretending to be bandits. After speaking to a group of the thugs, they discovered that Setsuo’s son, Ichiro, had not been kidnapped at all, but had willingly joined the bandits and is now their leader. They decided to speak with Ichiro-- but not before waking up Kaizoku and bringing him along. Ichiro was a charismatic and passionate young man who believed wholeheartedly in the teachings of Shinsei and the Perfect Land Sect. He took great pleasure in teaching Tsume, Boa, and Kaizoku about his beliefs. The Perfect Land Sect was a branch of Shinseism which taught that an individual could reach heaven through a strict interpretation of Shinsei’s writings. This school of thought taught that there was no karma, no wheel of judgment, and no reincarnation. The people who subscribe to this philosophy do not recognize the authority of samurai or the emperor, as their divine rule over the lower classes is traditionally viewed as a result of their superior karma. The Perfect Land Sect is a heretical interpretation of Shinsei’s teachings, and is outlawed in most of Rokugan. Ichiro explained that he and his “order” were plotting to attack Closed Shell Castle, and overthrow the oppressors ruling from there. With Reju Jikai and his warriors defeated, he plans to build a new society based on equality without the oppressive rule of samurai, and he wants to inspire neighboring regions to do the same. When the ronin pointed out the hypocrisy of stealing from the very people he was claiming to liberate, Ichiro justified his actions by stating that he was answering to higher calling, and that the people of the villages will join him once they see the light. While Ichiro was talking, Kaizoku noticed his father’s fishing net and his lost Liquid Void sitting beside the bandit leader-- they must have washed up here when his ship crashed. Kaizoku pointed out that the items belonged to him, so Ichiro suggested a trade. He’d happily give Kaizoku his possessions back if the three ronin could retrieve a young boy who recently went missing from their ranks. The young boy was named Kai, a runaway from Nestled Village. He was a stubborn boy of 12 with a need for adventure, who claimed he would grow up one day to be a samurai. Ichiro wanted him back because he has reason to believe that he is the bastard child of Otomo Nobu, the steward of Closed Shell Castle. He wants to blackmail Reju Jikai, and force him to bend to his demands. Tsume, Boa, and Kaizoku agreed to retrieve the child, though they were apprehensive of Ichiro’s plans and motives. They decided it was best to be in the bandit leader’s favor for now. Before turning in for the night, Ichiro promised the ronin that he would pay a visit to his father to settle his concerns. The next day, the ronin returned to Twin Blessings Village. Kaizoku informed Setsuo that his son was alive and that he’ll be paying a visit soon. Setsuo deduced that he was living with the bandits and was deeply ashamed. Upholding his side of the deal, Setsuo promised that members of his village would help repair Kaizoku’s ship. Tsume traveled to the way station on the edge of town to bury the bodies as a favor to Shinichi. Appearing from the trees lining the way station was Naoki. “I remember you,” he said. He demanded Tsume pay him the money he was owed, 50 koku. He then threatened Tsume by reminding him that he still has some very powerful contacts in the area. Tsume refused. He remembered his family at home and thought about how 50 koku would change their lives forever. He remembered where his debts lie-- and they weren’t with this bottom-feeding trinket salesman. “I challenge you to a duel,” Tsume declared. Artwork by Dylon Munoz Music by Brandon Spain & Podcast of the Five Rings

    1h 15m
  4. S3E4: Paid in Full

    EPISODE 4

    S3E4: Paid in Full

    The merchant scoffed at Tsume. “Very well,” he said. “If you want a duel, you can face my bodyguard, Boa. If you defeat him, I will consider your debt repaid.” But that wasn’t what Tsume had in mind. This wasn’t a test of honor. He didn’t want his fate decided by the kami. He wanted Naoki dead. “No,” Tsume said, “I’ll face you.” Naoki suddenly recognized the danger he was in, and turned to run, but Tsume was quicker. The rogue drew his sword and attacked Naoki. Trying desperately to defend himself, the merchant spotted a sword resting in the ashes of the waystation. He grabbed it and unsheathed it. It was an exquisite blade, carried in an ornately decorated scabbard. Naoki tried to fight, but Tsume easily outclassed him.  Incapacitated, Naoki pleaded for his life. He promised that Tsume’s debt would be forgiven if he simply let him live. Tsume considered the groveling man. He was a poor, down-on-his luck merchant, trying his best to get by and atone for a life of crime. But he was also dangerous and unpredictable. Tsume decided he couldn’t allow this threat to go unchecked. He killed Naoki, and buried him with the rest of the corpses from the waystation. Tsume took the wakizashi Naoki found in the ashes. “Spoils,” he told himself. Looking at it more closely, he recognized the mon of the Miya family on the finely crafted blade. What was it doing here in Twin Blessings Village? Afterward, he told Kaizoku and Boa what happened. Boa was apprehensive at the news, feeling like he should have been there to defend Naoki. But after hearing more about the merchant’s past life, he realized how little he actually knew about Naoki, and decided that maybe it was for the best that he was dead. The three ronin took Naoki’s cart of wares and headed to the bandit encampment, where the raiders quickly pilfered through the items like locust through a field of wheat. Ichiro thanked the ronin for their generous contribution to his cause, but he seemed sad about something. He told them about his meeting with his father, Setsuo. His father was ashamed of his decision to run away from the village and turn to a life of banditry, despite the holy rhetoric that Ichiro used to describe his beliefs. It seemed that the two had irreconcilable differences, and would not be speaking to each other anymore. That night, Tsume was haunted by nightmares and unable to get any sleep. He had dreams of his family slipping away from him and turning to ash in his very hands. All the money he worked so hard to provide for them melted away into nothingness. It was as if all the hopes and dreams and motivations that kept him grounded were leaving him. He woke up feeling extremely unsettled. The next morning, the ronin took off from the bandit camp in search of the missing child, Kai. They followed the tracks through the woods until they made a surprising discovery. The tracks seemed to link up with another pair of tracks of roughly equal size. Continuing deeper into the forest, the two sets of tracks lead to a strange hut atop a treeless hill. A woman greeted the ronin as they approached. “I am Aguri,” she said. “Welcome to my home.” Artwork by Dylon Munoz Music by Brandon Spain & Podcast of the Five Rings

    1h 16m
  5. S3E5: Reunion

    EPISODE 5

    S3E5: Reunion

    The woman, Aguri, beckoned the ronin to have rice and tea with her. Suspicious of her, the ronin began to question Aguri. All of her answers seemed strangely convenient. Kaizoku pretended to eat the rice and Tsume flat out refused. Boa on the other hand graciously accepted the food, and hungrily bit into one of the rice balls. He immediately began to feel exhausted and his limbs grew heavy. Ignoring the old woman’s pleas, Tsume peeked inside her hut. Against the distant wall, he saw two figures, a boy and a girl roughly 12 years old, bound and knocked out.  Aguri shrieked in anger and unwrapped the towel she had wrapped around her head, revealing a large second mouth on her forehead with rows of snake-like fangs. She ran to Tsume and bit him, wounding him. Kaizoku unslung his yumi, but couldn’t line up a shot due to Aguri’s surprising agility. Meanwhile, Boa struck her, forcing her onto the defensive. Tsume drew his katana and struck her, cutting through layers of thick robes to reveal a hardened carapace of scales growing across Aguri’s body. Tsume’s sword bounced off her monstrous hide, chipping the blade. The old snake woman withdrew into her shack with Kaizoku, Tsume, and Boa in pursuit. Their assault overtook Aguri when one of Kaizoku’s arrows sliced off a section of her scaly hide, opening her up to attacks. She lashed out one final time, striking Boa and wounding him, but the three ronin soon defeated her. Coming to the aid of the two children, the boy was quick to claim that he would have easily beaten the monster if he just had his bokken. Stubborn and bullheaded, it was definitely the missing child, Kai. The ronin discovered the girl’s name was Sora. She was Kai’s best friend and the two children, unhappy with life in the village, decided to run away together to live in the forest.  As Kaizoku, Tsume, and Boa were talking to the children, a small mob of peasants led by a willful ronin congregated outside Aguri’s hut. The ronin, a woman named Ryoko, explained that she was hired by the leader of Nestled Village to return Sora. Ryoko was not expecting to find Kai, a latchkey kid who ran away some time ago to live with bandits, but she figured she should return him too, saying that his mother, Hina, would be happy to see him. Suddenly, everything clicked. Hina. It was a name Boa hadn’t heard in a very long time. But when he did hear it, it confirmed his every suspicion. The boy looked just like him. Bullheaded and strong like him too. With rumors of his father being a samurai? A half-truth. Because it wasn’t Otomo Nobu who was the father-- it was him. Never turning down the promise of an even greater reward, Kaizoku suggested taking the children home, abandoning his commitment to Ichiro. Upon returning to Nestled Village, the village leader, Sayaka, graciously paid each of the ronin for the danger they faced rescuing the children. The parents of the children were soon brought in. Sora embraced her parents, crying, while Kai refused to speak to his mother, Hina. “I don’t want to be here, there’s nothing for me here,” Kai protested. Seeing an opportunity, Boa suggested that Kai could come with them. Hina’s face went ghost-white as she recognized the man she was looking at. They made eye contact, neither one saying a word. Finally, Hina spoke, “I will not allow my child to run off with strange men from the forest.” Artwork by Dylon Munoz Music by Brandon Spain & Podcast of the Five Rings

    1h 20m
  6. S3E6: Curses, Bastards, & Forgotten Fathers

    EPISODE 6

    S3E6: Curses, Bastards, & Forgotten Fathers

    Boa, Tsume, and Kaizoku dropped the issue of the child in front of the rest of the village, but Boa suggested speaking more about it in private with Kai’s mother, Hina. After their audience with the village elder, Boa and Tsume sought aid for the wounds. Their search brought them to the priest, Akira. Concerned about the troubling dreams he’s been having, Tsume asked what they meant. Akira communed with the kami and attuned himself to Tsume. He was troubled with what he found. Tsume was afflicted, haunted by a vengeful ghost. When someone dies a violent, needless death and their body is not properly cared for, their spirit can become angry and terrorize the living. Akira concluded that it was the sword he found in the ashes of the waystation that was disturbing him. The owner of the sword must be living on through the sword, haunting whoever wields it. Akira recommended Tsume complete the ghost’s final mission: deliver the sword to its recipient. Then the spirit may rest. He warned Tsume though, if gone too long without treatment, his affliction can turn into the taint of Jigoku. Meanwhile, Kaizoku searched Nestled Village for a fishing net to replace his lost one. He came to terms with the fact that with Kai staying with his mother, he’ll probably never get to see his father’s net again. The next morning, Boa confronted Hina. He told her that Kai should be able to follow his hopes and dreams of becoming a samurai, and that he had no future in Nestled Village. Hina replied that following their hopes and dreams didn’t help them at all. Following their passions only lead to shame and isolation. They both had to give up their homes and their lives because of how they shamed themselves. They lost everything trying to pursue what they wanted. She believed it was best that Kai stayed in Nestled Village, learned discipline, and understood that it was where he belonged. His dreams of becoming a samurai were naive and silly. Boa wouldn’t hear it. He saw the trouble his son was getting into, and he wanted to be there to help him. He suggested that if he had some strong role models, maybe he could change his ways. Hina became angry, replying that she hardly believed Boa would be a good role model for Kai. Boa lost his temper and unmasked, storming out of Hina’s house, and giving up on convincing her to let the boy come with him. On the outskirts of town, Boa, Tsume, and Kaizoku discussed what had just happened and considered their next steps. They were interrupted when a messenger came running into town with an urgent message: Setsuo had been arrested and is being held at Closed Shell Castle. Artwork by Dylon Munoz Music by Brandon Spain & Podcast of the Five Rings

    1h 14m
  7. S3E7: The Hungry

    EPISODE 7

    S3E7: The Hungry

    With the news of Setsuo's arrest, Boa, Tsume, and Kaizoku decided to travel to Closed Shell Castle. Traveling north, the ronin discovered just how pervasive the elemental blight was upon the region. It seemed that the very land itself was protesting against something.  Camping out beside the road, they encountered a strange, grey wolf, staring at them with yellow eyes in the darkness. After letting out an otherworldly howl, the ronin were surrounded by a pack of wolves. The wolf pack seemed to yield to the strange alpha which was significantly larger than the rest. With razor sharp fangs, the alpha attacked the ronin, but delivered no serious wounds. Tsume struck at the wolf, but noticed his blade seemed to be swayed by the hands of misfortune, turning even a sure strike into a miss. Kaizoku thrust at the wolf in retaliation and dealt a flesh wound, shaving off fur from the wolf's flanks and bruising its thick hide. That was enough for the wolf. With another howl, the wolves dispersed back into the forest. That night, Kaizoku reached his limit. Reeling from withdrawals, Kaizoku told Tsume and Boa about his addiction. It had been days since he last drank Liquid Void and his body was now screaming in agony. Between the pirate's startling revelation, the dissatisfied spirits of the land, and the fear of what lurks in the forest, no one slept that night. Exhausted, the ronin continued their journey the next day. Sitting beside the road, the ronin encountered a jovial monk dressed in the robes of the Dragon clan. The monk introduced himself as Dzhud. He was headed to Closed Shell Castle to help the inhabitants on their path toward spiritual enlightenment. Skeptical of the monk and in no mood to entertain outsiders, the ronin quickly parted ways with him. Before long, Boa, Tsume, and Kaizoku finished their trek to the castle. It was a remarkably unimpressive place. Very little thought had been put into its aesthetic beauty, and the land surrounding it had been cleared. Once at the gate, the ronin tried to convince the guard to let them through, saying they had important information for Lord Reju Jikai. But the guard was unmoved. They tried a second approach by telling the guard that they wanted to fight for Jikai. The guard sized them up and saw they had serious weapons and could tell they knew how to use them. Within moments, the gate was open. Artwork by Dylon Munoz Music by Brandon Spain & Podcast of the Five Rings

    1h 18m
  8. S3E8: Ronin in the Shell

    EPISODE 8

    S3E8: Ronin in the Shell

    The ronin were brought into the castle and taken to the training yard. After an hour, the castle taisa appeared. Reju Masaru welcomed the ronin into his ranks and explained the regimen at Closed Shell Castle. They would be brought in as new recruits, trained and mentored, and eventually given an assignment as a permanent member of the castle garrison. In exchange for their service, they would be given a place to sleep, three meals a day, and once they completed their training, they would be paid 1 koku a week. It would seem that Closed Shell Castle was serious about raising an army of well trained soldiers. The ronin convinced Masaru to let them begin their training the following day, so they could spend the rest of the day settling in and getting a feel for the castle. Kaizoku staged himself in the mess hall, playing games with the other hired ronin and getting to know them. He discovered that Masaru’s promise of gainful employment was legit. The other ronin seemed quite content with life at Closed Shell Castle. For many, it felt good to wake up every morning with a purpose, and it was the only opportunity for reliable pay in the region. Meanwhile, Tsume and Boa spoke with the castle shugenja, an eccentric young man named Reju Tetsuya. Tsume told the priest about his affliction as well as the circumstances that lead to it. Tetsuya performed a Cleansing Rite, dispelling Tsume’s affliction, but was sure to take careful note of the fight with Naoki. He didn’t quite seem to believe that the merchant’s death was in self defense. Tetsuya then recommended that Tsume bring the cursed wakizashi to Miya Shinkako, a guest of Lord Reju Jikai who had been staying at Closed Shell Castle for a couple weeks. Boa asked the priest about the wolves they encountered on the road the previous night. Tetsuya claimed he didn’t know anything about it, but Boa felt like he was hiding something. He pressed the shugenja, commanding him that something needs to be done about the balance in the forest. Tetsuya seemed ashamed of himself, stating that he had done things which he could never be forgiven for. He then fled the room. Tsume trailed him to see where he was going. The priest fled the keep, traveled across the bailey to the exterior wall where a derelict tower stood. He climbed through a half-hidden hole in the tower, and traversed the dry moat surrounding the castle. He then rested at a rock outcropping, shaded by the only tree visible near the castle. It appeared the place was a common meeting place. Tetsuya sat there, clearly troubled by inner turmoil. As the sun set, the priest began to meditate. As Tsume trailed Tetsuya, Boa searched the priest’s private quarters. Hidden away behind a pile of books and scrolls, Boa found a small leather pouch. It contained a series of cryptic messages on folded and crumpled pieces of paper. Each one had a date and time written on it. Boa was a thorough and methodical investigator, but he was not a sneaky one. As he was going through the hidden notes, he knocked over a glass case, alerting the servants outside. They ran to investigate the sound and immediately called for the guards. Artwork by Dylon Munoz Music by Brandon Spain & Podcast of the Five Rings

    1h 5m
See All Season 3 (19)

5
out of 5
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About

Podcast of the Five Rings is an actual-play show of four friends playing through the official adventures of the 5th Edition Legend of the Five Rings Role Playing Game released by Fantasy Flight Games. We aim to put out high-quality, entertaining episodes that bring attention to the L5R RPG. Support the show at patreon.com/pot5r to gain access to extra Pot5R content like bonus shows, original music, Discord perks, and more!

Information

  • Creator
    Podcast of the Five Rings, Nick Burdine, Zachariah Sierra, Logan Jensen, Heath Zwiefler
  • Episodes
    72
  • Seasons
    3
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2020 Podcast of the Five Rings
  • Show Website
    Podcast of the Five Rings