S1E17 - Bound in Shadow

Where We Left OffSam (Sky), Jim (DK), and Raven (Mac) left Hope behind and drifted south down the Ohio river. The Free Radicals at the West Virginia Lumber Mill wanted a new feudal contract — bend the knee or keep drifting. The crew kept drifting.At Tyler County Fairgrounds, they found Reuben mid-brawl with a Scorched. He pointed them to the Grove Family Cabins — more good folk holding the line: Ted, Marlene, Reuben, and Chop. Chop’s new. Eight feet of super mutant muscle, half-sane, dragging dead Protectrons like toys.What Happened This TimeMorning comes — Sam’s gone. Chop’s gone. Reuben too. Sam’s gear’s still in his bunk except the sidearm. Footprints run east, toward the old Aaronholt Farm — and too close to Clancy Manor for Raven’s comfort. She’d dreamt it: a Mothman cult forming up, one of them looking back at her through the vision like a crack in the glass.Jim and Raven track the prints to the farm. Dusty barns, old silos, signs of settlers passing through. They find ammo, stew, a powder charge — and then the ambush hits. Raiders or cultists — doesn’t matter. Shotgun blasts in the dark. A Molotov sails in — barn’s burning. Second Molotov misfires — their hideout’s burning too.Underground, Sam wakes blindfolded. Chop’s chained. Reuben’s roped to a post. A cultist in the dark tries to break him — but Sam breaks free first. They wrestle. Chop rips the manacles out of the wall and snaps the cultist’s neck like dry driftwood.The Dreamer’s PriceRaven reaches for the Wise One. Instead, the Red-Eyed Mothman finds her first. She’s pulled backward through her vision as the barn comes down — gone when Jim hits the door.They Escape — But Not All TogetherSam, Jim, Reuben, and Chop drag each other out of the burning farmhouse as timbers crash in. The barn’s collapsed. Raven’s trail ends at scorched earth and fluttering ash.Next?The Mothman cult has eyes in the dark. The town of Hope is a beacon now — and Raven’s gone with the Red-Eyed one. Jim, Sam, Chop, and Reuben walk out alive, but they’re far from safe.💭 Want the debrief? The CASE Review drops Thursday on Substack.💬 What would YOU do if the Mothman stared back?🗣️ Tell us your tale → voicecast.app/tftfallout💻 Watch & listen → OverseerKyle.com📜 Join the Founders Wall → Ko-fi🔦 Join the Adventure* 🎥 Watch us live every Sunday at 7:30 PM ET on Twitch* 📺 Catch up on episodes via our main YouTube channel* 📺 Watch Fallout prop reviews & deep dives on Overseer Kyle’s channel* 💬 Join our Discord for behind-the-scenes content and community discussions* 🎙️ Listen to Tales From Tomorrow – our story-driven Fallout TTRPG podcast* 🎙️ Tune into Vault Broadcast – our Fallout creator interview series* 💰 Support us on Ko-fi for behind-the-scenes content & shoutouts → ko-fi.com/overseerkyle* 📱 Follow us on TikTok and Instagram🛒 Use Our Affiliate Codes* 🧢 20% Off Bethesda Gear Shop* Use any of the following codes: BTALES37* (If one doesn’t work, try the next — they expire regularly)* 👉 gear.bethesda.net* 📚 10% Off Fallout TTRPG at Modiphius* Use code: BTALES* 👉 modiphius.net* 🛍️ Shop Amazon (Support Us)* 👉 amzn.to/4buk0Er This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tftfallout.substack.com/subscribe