With the guards out of the way, the Heroes needed only to claim their prize. They found an exit from the arena and made their way down a tunnel. As they emerged into a hallway, they saw the fantastically dressed man making his escape with the large red jewel. He turned his head to see the Heroes and their party, and let out a loud yelp before sprinting away.

They chased after him, not willing to let him escape with their hard earned prize. A few guards step into the hallway from a side passage, but were quickly dispatched. A Young Man wielding a spear and a Young Woman wearing spiked gauntlets knocked two of them aside, while the third was pummeled by one of the villagers who appeared to have developed some vampiric features in his face.

They continued on, much faster the fantastically dressed man who wore a horrified look as he saw them gaining on him. As he rounded a corner, he screamed loudly as he realized he had run into a dead end. He entered a door, finding himself in a small bedroom reserved for their most lauded fighters. He saw an armoire and quickly his himself inside.

He peered out through a small crack in the door, hoping the Heroes would lose track of him. He held his breath in fear as the door to the room opened. He saw the sinister look on the Jester 's face as he grinned from the doorway. To the fantastically dressed man's surprise, the Jester closed the door without entering the room and seemingly left. The fantastically dressed man let out a small sigh of relief.

It was short lived - the doors to the armoire suddenly swung open as if on their own, and the the man let out a loud scream. He looked out, but saw nobody in the room with him. A small motion caught his eye, and he looked down at his feet. A small skeleton stood looking up at him. This disturbing creature had opened the doors.

The fantastically dressed man kicked the skeleton away, and its bones scattered across the room. He panicked, and ran for the door. Opening it, all of the air left his lungs as he was face to face with the Jester. Before he could react, the Jester grabbed him by his throat and dragged him into the hallway.

Throwing the fantastically dressed man to the ground, the Jester glanced around at the group behind him. They all watched on as the man begged for his life. He sobbed uncontrollably, finally offering up the giant red jewel. The Jester ripped it from his hands and handed it to the Female Combatant. Struck by the sudden generosity, she couldn't contain her emotions. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she repeatedly thanked the Heroes. She would be able to provide the orphanage with the lives the deserved.

Looking back at the fantastically dressed man, the Swordsman Hero crouched down to meet him eye to eye. The man had soiled himself, and continued to sob as he begged them to let him go free. The Swordsman Hero turned to the Warrior Hero, asking for his input. The Warrior Hero made a motion of pointing his thumb down, which only served to cause the man to cry out further.

The Swordsman Hero nodded to the Warrior Hero, then waved the Jester to the man. The Jester grabbed the man by his arm and pulled him back down the hallway toward the arena. The man screamed out, flailing around wildly in an attempt to break free. But it was no use.

They made their way onto the balcony that they had observed the fantastically dressed man on earlier, presenting him to what remained of the crowd. From where they stood, they were high above where the battle had taken place. A fall from this height would do wonders at changing one's appearance.

The crowd watched on nervously, unsure of what the Heroes were planning to do. The man grips the Jester's arms tightly, not wanting to fall. He begs the Jester to spare him, but only receives a terrifying grin in return.

The Heroes address the audience, telling them that such treachery cannot be allowed. They gesture to the rema

Episode 250 - The End?

Once the Heroes had regrouped, they looked up to the large seating platform. The fantastically dressed man looked down at them with utter disdain. Their antics had removed all of the other competitors. Not only that, the creatures in the cages had been subdued by the small skeletons before they could even be set loose. The entire spectacle had been thrown into chaos. There could be no further rounds of competition.

The Jester pointed at the fantastically dressed man, as if asking for him to award them their prize. What he received in response was not the large red jewel, but the fantastically dressed man storming away shouting. This was immediately followed up by the sound of loud horns. These were not triumphant, but rather a gathering of guards. They flooded the arena, quickly surrounding the Heroes.

The Heroes readied their weapons once more, facing down dozens of guards. The Female Combatant nervously readied her damaged axes, unsure of how they would get through this new predicament. She knew the Heroes were strong, but fighting an unorganized group of mercenaries and arena hopefuls was much different than an organized royal guard.

As the guards began to close in on the Heroes, a loud cracking sound could be heard from just outside the arena. The crowd erupted in a wave of panic, their joyous cheers for the battle turning into terrified screams as the first signs of danger rippled through the arena. Spectators in the stands scrambled to their feet, pushing and shoving, desperate to escape the impending catastrophe.

As they made way, a large blast shot through the stands sending pieces of debris falling onto the arena. One unfortunate combatant was hit across the face with. piece of stone, sending blood and the remainder of both of his teeth flying into the dirt. A massive hole had been blown into the arena from the outside.

As the dust cleared, the Heroes saw a figure standing in the newly formed gap. The Warrior Hero triumphantly walked into the arena, happy to see his old friends again. As he did so, other shadows emerged behind him. Old friends that the Heroes had met on their journey had joined the Warrior Hero on his trek, eager to assist those that had helped them.

It was a sight to behold, and the crowd watched on in terror. Though they feared for their safety, they could not look away. The ragtag gang made their way into the arena behind the royal guards, ready for combat. The royal guards had been sure of their position, but now found themselves outnumbered. They threw down their weapons in defeat.

 

Thank you so much to Jerry for the conversation! Please go check out his work using the links below:

The CloakRoom #1-3 -HOLIDAY ANTHOLOGY Kickstarter [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thornycomics/scott-snyder-presents-the-cloakroom-1-3-holiday-anthology?ref=nav_search&result=project&term=Scott%20snyder&total_hits=11]

His Substack [https://jerrycarita.substack.com/]

Episode 249 With Jerry Carita - Choosing Anthologies, British Entertainment, and The Cloak Room

The Swordsman Hero turned to the Female Combatant while offering a faint smile, one that seemed more playful than anything. The Woman nodded at her, adjusting the strap of her quiver. It was as if to say that there was always another fight and not to dwell on one victory. The Jester cackled loudly again, giving the Female Combatant a playful wink.

The Female Combatant blinked, her awe slowly turning into admiration. These weren’t just fighters - they were legends in the making, and they carried the weight of their battles with a quiet grace she had never seen before. She realized then that she had much to learn, not just about fighting, but about the calmness, the confidence, and the camaraderie that came with being part of something greater. Then she remembered the bizarre demeanor they had shown and wondered if they were really the Heroes they seemed to be.

 

A many thanks to Philip for a fantastic conversation! Please go check out his work using the links below:

Future Tales on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0646890166?ref=cm_sw_r_cso_cp_apin_dp_501AS6XD9BJYRWJ83F17&ref_=cm_sw_r_cso_cp_apin_dp_501AS6XD9BJYRWJ83F17&social_share=cm_sw_r_cso_cp_apin_dp_501AS6XD9BJYRWJ83F17&starsLeft=1&skipTwisterOG=1]

Wild North Comics [https://www.wildnorthcomics.com/]

Outlore Comics on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/outlore_comics/]

Episode 248 With Philip Tarl Denson - Future Tales, Creating a World, and Beautiful Languages

The Jester, nursing his bruised ribs from the large man’s final strike, cackled under his breath. He struggled to his feet, wincing but grinning all the same. He cradled his mandolin like an old friend, strumming a soft tune that seemed to mock the intensity of the fight they had just endured. His eyes danced with mischief, as if to mock the effort put forth by their competitors.

But it was their ally, the Female Combatant, who stood frozen in awe. She had been watching from the sidelines, her heart pounding with every clash of weapons, every arrow loosed, every spell cast. Now, as the three warriors brushed off the dirt and blood like it was nothing, she found herself struggling to find words.

 

A big thanks to Phoebe for popping in to the show! Please go check out 123Go! Publications using the links below:

123Go! on Indyplanet [https://www.indyplanet.com/123go]

13th Moon Volume 3 Kickstarter [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/drawingluci/13th-moon-volume-three]

 

Episode 247 With Phoebe A. Xavier - Comic Books, Anthologies, and Nostalgia

As the dust settled, the crowd’s roar continued to echo through the arena. Yet, amid the cheers, The Swordsman Hero, The Woman, and The Jester remained calm, their victory feeling almost inevitable. For them, this was just another battle in a long line of skirmishes they had faced together.

The Swordsman Hero wiped the blood from his blades with a casual flick, then sheathed them without a word. His eyes swept over the arena, checking to see if any other combatants would dare stand in their way. He saw only defeated opponents. He nodded once to The Woman and The Jester, a quiet acknowledgment of their teamwork.

The Woman bent to retrieve an arrow that had landed in the dirt. She inspected it briefly, ensuring it was still usable, then tucked it back into her quiver. Her expression remained calm and composed as she moved with practiced ease. It was as though she had just completed another day’s work, rather than helping take down a giant foe in front of thousands of spectators.

 

Thanks to Pamela for a captivating conversation! Please go check out her work using the link below:

Her Linktree [https://linktr.ee/PamelaTopjian]

Episode 246 With Pamela Topjian - Hypnotherapy, Pet Sitting, and Capybaras

The Woman saw her opening. She fired another arrow, this time aiming for the large man’s exposed neck. The arrow flew true, sinking deep into his flesh. He staggered back, clutching at the wound, but he wasn’t done yet. With a final, desperate roar, the large man swung his hammer in a wide arc. It caught The Jester off guard, sending him flying across the arena. The Jester laughed as he crumpled to the ground, his music falling silent.

The distraction was enough. The Swordsman Hero lunged forward, his swords a blur as he delivered the final strike. The large man fell to his knees, his hammer slipping from his grasp and thudding into the dirt. The Woman lowered her bow, breathing hard, and walked over to the fallen Jester. He grinned up at her, despite the pain.

The Female Combatant watched as the Swordsman Hero stood tall over the large man, his swords dripping with blood. The crowd erupted in cheers, but she didn’t hear them. Her eyes were on the Heroes, awestruck by the skill that had carried them through the fight.

 

A huge thank you to Rachel for being part of our show! Please go check out her work and get started on your career change today using the link below:

Her Website [https://rachelgaddiscoaching.com/start-career-change-today/]

Episode 245 With Rachel Gaddis - Changing Careers, Good V Bad Choices, and Sad Pudding

The Woman moved swiftly to the side, releasing arrows with deadly precision. They whizzed through the air, aiming for the gaps in the large man’s movements. He swatted them away with his hammer, but one slipped through and grazed his arm. He growled in pain, his attention splitting between the relentless swordsman and the sharp-eyed archer.

The Jester cackled from the sidelines, his fingers plucking a haunting melody on his mandolin. Dark magic swirled around him, and shadows seemed to crawl across the ground, reaching out like tentacles to grasp at the large man. The magic caught his attention, giving The Swordsman Hero a chance to slip behind him and land a clean cut across his back.

The large man howled in rage, spinning around with a massive sweep of his hammer. The Swordsman Hero narrowly dodged, rolling away just in time as the hammer slammed into the dirt, leaving a crater where he had stood moments before.

 

It was an honor to have Brett on the podcast! Please go check out his work using the links below:

His Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bkartworks/]

His Kickstarter [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bkartmerc/gourdfolk-fest-2024-artbook]

Episode 244 With Brett Kelley of BKArtWorks - Becoming an Adult, Stunt Work, and Talking to People

Rolling back to his feet, the large man shook off the charred remains of his shirt. As it fell to the ground, it revealed the burns covering the man's torso. Blood dripped from the wounds, staining the dirt at his feet. The tension grew, with the crowd falling silent as they were entranced in the spectacle.

The audience watched on as the large man roared and charged forward, his hammer raised high. The Swordsman Hero met him head-on, his swords dancing in a flurry of strikes that clanged against the massive hammer. Each blow sent shockwaves through the arena, dust rising from the impact of metal on metal.

 

Deep gratitude to David for sharing his time with us! Please go check out his work using the link below:

His Website [https://shonenflop.com/]

Episode 243 With David of Shonen Flop - Failed Anime, Favorite Manga, and Building an Audience

The Swordsman Hero motioned to the Jester, who muttered something to himself. The Woman readied an arrow, aiming it at the large man. As he gathered his composure, the large man looked at the Heroes around him to plot his next move. He slowly inched forward in attempt to not give away his plan of attack, but the Heroes weren't concerned. They launched their assault before the large man could make his move.

The Woman let loose her arrow, forcing a reactionary dodge out of the large man. This caused him to duck directly into the path of the Swordsman Hero's blades. The large man brought his giant hammer up to block them, but was hit from the side by a small fireball. He tumbled to the ground, rolling to the ground to put out the flame gripping his clothes.

 

Shoutout to Brian for a great conversation! Please go check out his work using the links below:

His Linktree [https://linktr.ee/anyanyposi]

His Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/anythinganythingradio]

His Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/any.any.posi]

His Twitter [https://x.com/anyanyposi]

Episode 242 With Brian Black of Anything Anything Posi - Positive Music, Spirituality, and Inconsistencies in Thought

As he gasped for air, the large man brought his hands up to the bowstring in an effort to pull it off of his neck. He tugged with all his might, pulling the bow back over his head, along with the Woman still holding on. She flew over him, landing on her feet in front of him. He swung a fist at her, and she ducked aside. Regaining his composure, he readied a follow up before being caught across the face with a kick from the Swordsman Hero.

The large man had quickly grown tired of dealing with the three heroes. He charged at the Swordsman Hero, causing him to leap out of the way. The large man rolled while picking his hammer back up, bringing it up in a sweeping motion as he continued his flowing movement. The Swordsman Hero narrowly avoided the strike, realizing that they could no longer keep playing with the large man.

 

A big thank you to Thomas for joining us! Please go check out his work using the links below:

His Website [https://paranoidamerican.com/]

His YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@paranoidamerican]

On Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/stores/Paranoid-American/author/B09N2W1JPN]

His Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/paranoidamerican/]

His Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/ParanoidAmerican]

His Comic [https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/never-a-straight-answer-a-40-page-comic-book#/]

Episode 241 With Thomas of Paranoid American Inc. - Spreading Misinformation, AI Ethics, and Spy Kitties

The DJP Podcast is a wide-variety topic podcast hosted by jmoskers, iiFatee, and a range of co-hosts and guests. Conversations are random, and can often turn downright insane. Uploaded weekly, and feel free to stop by the Patreon page to be in-the-know!

Josh

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