Champions of the Earth

Safely home from the Fae Realm, the Champions of the Earth complete their mission to rescue Esmond... only to discover the emotional fallout from their last adventure might be greater than they might have anticipated. Mel gets an admirer. Nico gets cold feet. Olive gets a cuddle. Martha gets some one on one...on one. Huxley gets... honest.  Champions of the Earth sends a big hello and all our love and prayers to each and every one of you during this crisis. We hope our voices make an hour of your time in isolation a little brighter. Thanks for being there. If you want to talk about the show, tweet @ChampionsCast and stay tuned for more. We're going to be back for as long as we've got spare content in the can.

King Summersquall is dead. A ghost army wreaks havoc in the Fae Court. The trial of Esmond Chong and the Champions of the Earth has become open combat. As the Champions reckon the worst of their actions and with continued changes to how their mecha steeds operate in this realm, the sky darkens... and the Fae Ultimate Champion arrives. Huxley takes responsibility. Mel goes on the attack. Nico holds it together. Martha lets go of more than just command. Olive places her faith. Hyde gives a gift.

We're (almost) back! In anticipation of the show's return from hiatus, we're releasing the complete LIVE SHOW from last fall's IndieCade...and with GOOD REASON. The events of that show greatly enhance Episode 29 which hits your feeds NEXT WEEK. After a year as an exclusive reward for supporting Nerdsmith, we're ready for everyone to hear this prequel. Enjoy and GET READY. Can't wait to be back.

The Royal Guards caught the Champions sneaking into the White Castle, but thanks to Olive, our heroes were escorted directly to the Fae Court. Now comes the moment of truth. The Champions found Esmond Chong, but rescuing him—and themselves—is now a matter for trial. Reeling from the shock they are not the first Champions to visit this court, can they make their case? And what of Hyde? Mel contemplates a trade. Nico drops a mask. Martha digs in. Olive drops a big weight. Huxley strikes a chord…and then strikes back. Reminder that this month, Reserve Champion can do it for the graham (wait, no, not s’mores!) – and rec the show on Instagram tagging @wearenerdsmith and using #ChampionsCast. Share the show, share art you made, share a favorite clip, and we’ll draw for some prototype swag as we enter production in this Summer of Zines!

On the run with the castle guard almost certainly alerted to their presence, the Champions take a chance on intel from Shadra the Black and search for the hidden back entrance…even though they’ve been warned of many dangers and potentially fatal terrors waiting that way. That is… if the Champions don’t take a shortcut. Nico makes a jump. Martha catches a wave. Huxley visits jail. Mel makes some noise. Olive makes a new friend. Nerdsmith is a diverse network of free content entirely supported by listeners like you. During our annual subscription drive, you have a chance to support your favorite shows and the entire network of creators—and get some great stuff in the process. To join the network’s members, visit nerdsmith.org/subdrive and use #WeAreNerdsmith to discover, share, and create with us.

Rested and recovered after their escape from the Giant’s Rest, the Champions find themselves in sight of the Castle—and the end of their quest. But before they can rescue Esmond, they need a plan of attack…and a way out. Nico gets a cuddle. Olive stands too tall. Huxley talks to trees. Martha’s in the middle. Mel changes outfits. Hyde recalls the castle. Someone gets knifed. Enter to win your own set of gorgeous dice courtesy of Die Hard Dice! The March giveaway winner will be chosen from the list of everyone who tweets or otherwise posts about their favorite NPC. Use #ChampionsCast

Sleepover games are over. While the fae tavern’s diminutive mouselike servant Paws leads Martha, Olive, and Mel on a “night walk” through the walls of The Giant’s Rest…something that seems a lot like acid fills the boys’ room. As Hux, Nico, and a reluctant Hyde struggle to free themselves, the girls learn the secrets of the tavern…and all the Champions might make some sacrifices to set things right. Mel says “I told you so.” Martha makes a friend. Olive gets thorny. Nico burns it down. Huxley gets a souvenir. Hyde keeps his secrets. Talk about the show using #ChampionsCast and be sure to find us on Facebook, Twitter, or Tumblr at @ChampionsCast! EPIC THANKS to everyone who’s shared the Kickstarter. Remember that our Die Hard Dice giveaway for February is open to everyone who shares the kickstarter. At the end of the campaign, we’ll pick a winner and you’ll get to pick your own set of 7 premium dice from our wicked cool sponsor! Here’s the link: Bit.ly/championszine

Ep.24: "Esmonds All the Way Down" Laughing Corpse Man brought the Giant's Rest tavern to its feet, but the Champions are now dead on theirs. Eager to get some rest, they're sequestered in their hard-earned rooms for the night and find themselves each having an impromptu sleepover. While Olive, Martha, and Mel share secrets, Hux and Nico must buddy up to Hyde and learn what they can. But no sleepover would be complete without a few games and tricks, a late-night sneak, and maybe... an unpleasant twist. Mel shrinks. Olive bleeds. Martha makes a friend. Hux doesn't sleep. Nico makes a deal. WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE the Game is in OPEN BETA! The Core rules are ready to be tested by you, our loyal listeners at your own gaming table--and they're coming as part of Kickstarter's Zine Quest, a special drive in the month of February to showcase some awesome RPG zines. To pay for printing costs and shipping, we're running a modest Kickstarter. Backers will receive not ONE but maybe as many as THREE zines over the course of the summer, each scaling the game up from teen to Mecha to Ultimate Mecha. Plus there are some other goodies and surprises planned for our incredible community. To check it out for yourselves, visit bit.ly/championszine

Inside The Giant's Rest, our heroes find themselves about to literally sing for their supper... but no one knows the tune. As Mel concludes her encounter with a dark stranger, Olive trues to buy some breathing room while it's up to Hux and Nico to plan the gig of their lives. Nico makes a drum kit. Olive makes a friend. Mel makes an overture. Martha makes Hux turn. Huxley... makes some deals. Champions of the Earth is proud to announce our first sponsor: Die Hard Die! Watch @ChampionsCast on Twitter each week to see our players and DM's shiny new dice we're rolling from now on! Listen to the episode for a promo code that will save you 15% on your own set of gorgeous dice -- and remember to tweet at us, maybe share your favorite episode. We're giving away a set from DHD this month, and it could be yours for engaging!

Ep. 22: "Obsidian" Mel's had enough. With a weapon trained on Hyde and the Fae Lands already taking a deep toll on the team, the Champions might first have to reckon with something that's simmered for far too long. Hyde's warning to Olive looms large, but so does a new sight on the horizon: a magic tavern. Hyde talks. Olive has regrets. Nico refuses to use a name. Huxley gets in the middle. Mel plays a game. Martha plays along. A dark figure recognizes a kindred spirit. A pivotal moment arrives for one Champion. As Jesse notes at the start, a catastrophic equipment failure disrupted the audio for the session which begins after the Middle Bit. We do apologize for the drop in vocal quality during parts of the second act and thank you for your support. HAPPY HOLIDAYS from everyone at Champions of the Earth- we'll see you in 2019 for some exciting announcements and events. STAY TUNED.

The Fae Realm awaits, but as the Champions take their first steps into an unfamiliar world, some of their troubles are very familiar. Esmond is still out there. No one knows what to make of the bird Hyde, and Olive's acting very strangely. Meanwhile, the team struggles to find unity while the very deadly world quite literally tries to pull them apart... if their own secrets don't do it first. Hyde squawks. Olive drops hints. Martha blurts something out. Huxley blurts something out, too. Nico breaks something. Mel nears a breaking point. Hux and Martha's code can be found somewhere known but forgotten.

Olive, Martha, Hux, Nico, and Mel arrive at Bumblebee Ridge in search of answers about the missing Esmond Chong. What they find instead triggers consequences that have been waiting in the wings since the start of their adventure. What happens next changes everything. Mel charges ahead. Martha puts up her shield. Hux slows a roll. Nico crits a whole forest. And... ...Olive meets Hyde. Cross over with us if you dare, Reserve Champions. Remember to keep spoilers away from the cast until we give the all-clear! Use the spoiler hashtags like #BeachBayLive and talk to the GM and Producer over on Nerdsmirth's shiny new #COTE-Spoilers Discord if you want to talk about what happens inside the circle. Vote for Martzi in the AudioVerse Awards! Watch the Facebook for some big changes! Have yourselves an adventure.

On their own and tortured by dreams* of their failure to save the day at Homecoming, the Champions find themselves more or less under house arrest while the town picks up the pieces in the aftermath of another catastrophic event. Who were the white-armored invaders? Where is Esmond Chong? And most importantly... where do the teen's complicated romances stand in light of all this destruction? Nico hears a voice. Mel gets a drum lesson. Olive gives her present. Hux is the dad. Martha has a three-way. During the break, Collin explains the changes to the system after the last playtest round. We also thank our AMAZING Reserve Champions who have come out in force to support The Trevor Project and Nerds Giving. If you want the live show and to know more about what went wrong after a trip to the juice bar, just visit give.thetrevorproject.org/championscast and donate as little or as much as you can. We'll announce a second tier of BONUS swag soon as we try to hit a NEW GOAL. Chapter Three begins now. (And that's also the shift.) *The whole story unfolds in the COTE IndieCade One-Shot!-Ed

Greetings, Reserve Champions! Remember the LIVE show at IndieCade? Want a little sneak preview? We're launching Chapter Three THIS WEEK - but before the ride begins, the cast has a special message about the Nerdsmith Charity Drive benefiting The Trevor Project. As a special incentive, anyone who gives ANYTHING to our drive gets the COMPLETE IndieCade Live Show (and prequel to Chapter Three) as one of MANY gifts. Just visit our page at https://give.theTrevorTroject.org/ChampionsCast and join the team! Final touches on the start of Chapter Three are happening. Get ready. You'll never guess what happens next.

Greetings, Reserve Champions! As we prepare for the start of Chapter Three and recover from our FIRST LIVE SHOW, we present you with a rare peek behind the scenes to hear us in our natural environment. That's right, this episode is RAW. It's the bits that got cut out, the tabletalk, and all the silliness that's part of our table we're now inviting you to sit at and enjoy. It's presented with no serious postproduction. This is what it's like to be in the room with us. Basically, Jesse was sleeping and Collin snuck in and did an episode himself. Enjoy. Have yourselves an adventure!

The Second Arc of Champions has ended (?) on a cliffhanger! That cliffhanger will hang off this cliff a while longer! Per the rules of this podcast, at the end of each arc, the cast gathers to give feedback about the rules and system changes in the arc to improve the beta. In this episode, join the cast at the table as they break down some of the new mechanics, riff on some of the social moves, and of course discuss if Nico is OP. In the second half of the episode, we answer some of your questions and promise to answer more. Remember to come see us at IndieCade for our first ever LIVE SHOW as well as to see Jesse and Collin talk at the conference, or to experience Jesse and Martzi's interactive audio drama THE KLAXO RADIO HOUR. If you want to share any other feedback in advance of Chapter Three's launch, be sure to use the #ChampionsCast hashtag or submit via our tumblr on championscast.com. The Nerdsmith discord is another great place to say hi, ask a question and get in touch. Our special shoutout this week is for http://www.reconwebseries.com/ - check them out on Youtube today!

The big night has finally arrived. As Nico and Mel get some quality time, the unlikely trio of Martha, Olive, and Hux make a fashionably late appearance. After hard battles and shocking revelations, it's a chance to finally be ordinary teens. After all, nothing that out of the ordinary ever happens on Homecoming... Nico listens to the devil on his shoulder. Mel sees someone unexpected. Olive gets popular. Martha charges ahead. Hux is a little too slow all night long. Something new arrives. Big exciting announcements including our FIRST LIVE SHOW - come see everyone at IndieCade 2018 in Santa Monica, CA October 11-13. Also be sure to watch Twitter and the website for some amazing fanart and details on how to join the Nerdsmith Discord and chat on the Champions channel.

In the wake of Icosagon’s stunning revelations, the Champions find themselves with little to do but wait… and get ready for Homecoming. As Nico and Mel make more traditional arrangements, Huxley, Olive, and Martha also prepare—but perhaps none of them fully understands what the evening has come to mean for the other two. Olive gets crafty. Martha blows it up. Nico talks family. Mel finally does it. Huxley shares a secret. The homecoming dance begins. And the moon… still shines. We are so pleased to announce we’ve joined the Nerdsmith network! Check out all the great content they’ve put together on nerdsmith.org, and be sure to give @wearenerdsmith a follow on Twitter. As always #ReserveChampions and #BeachBayLive are where the spoilers and fan talk live – but we love hearing from you on #ChampionsCast. If you drew or made cool fan art… submit it to the site! We’re going to start collecting it. Some of you out there found a transmission. But you’ll need a key for what’s next.

Ep 14: "You Have to Try" After saving the school and fighting back the Dessicated, the Champions flee Beach Bay High aboard Huxley's mecha raccoon. Destination? Icosagon. But as the teen warriors seek answers for how and why the threat is not ended, none are prepared for the revelations found in Icosagon's chambers. Olive gets nervous. Huxley gets philosophical. Nico gets serious. Mel gets angry. Martha gets quiet...at first. Homecoming is just a day away. The Champions may have survived the attack on the football field, but their friendships remain in jeopardy. At the half, Collin and Jesse reveal a new business plan and tease an announcement we swear we're making before the next episode. This is a GREAT WEEK to rate and review the show. Meanwhile, join the conversation with #ChampionsCast on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr, or join the spoiler-ific chat on Twitter with #BeachBayLive.

The Champions remain divided on whether they should go public with their powers, but the debate will have to wait. The spire of quartz and gold in the center of the football field has been cracked open... and it turns out the dead were waiting beneath it! As hordes of undead creatures of all shapes and sizes swarm the school, the Champions must face down the menace and come to terms with a terrible truth: whatever gave them their powers isn't done with these teens just yet. The dead rise, and they may have no choice but to stand united against them. Nico's blood boils. Martha takes some hits. Hux calls for help. Olive makes like a tree. Mel takes aim. It's Thursday. Homecoming and the answers some of the Champions seek are not far away... assuming they survive this. During the half, Colling and Jesse enjoy a relaxing afternoon. Because we all deserve that. July marks our most listens ever. Thank you to all the new Reserve Champions out there and for all of your spreading the word, drawing art, and making this so much fun. Remember to leave a review! It's been helping a lot. Big announcement soon! Be sure to tweet with #ChampionsCast for the cast to interact with you, or talk spoilers on the fan-run #BeachBayLive. Have yourselves an adventure!