An Announcement and a Goodbye

*This five-page letter was posted on the DDAEN Twitter on 5/22/2022 (*https://twitter.com/dungeonsdice/status/1528445352424026113?s=20&t=fZvTxrM1QkaJi33IoJk4pw)

## Cast Statement (Alt Text)

*Source document: https://t.co/wFlPdXzlsV , as posted on twitter*

It is with heavy hearts that we’d like to announce the official end of *Dungeons, Dice, and Everything Nice*. In the years we’ve done this show, we’ve all grown up so much and in doing so that’s led us in different directions in our lives as we come into adulthood. Between that and general scheduling issues - it isn’t feasible for us to continue producing the show. We’re sure this feels like a long time coming for you all as we’ve not released episodes in a while, but we wanted to give you an official statement and let you know how much your support has meant to us over the years. All of the kind words, the art, the stories, the things you’ve all created alongside us has brought us an immense amount of joy and this show would not have been what it was without all of you. Thank you.

*Playing Griana and being a part of DDEN will always be something that I am so proud of. Most importantly, being a part of this community and connecting with so many kind, smart, and creative listeners throughout these transformative years has changed me for the better. It’s truly an honor to have grown alongside these amazing people…even though maybe I didn’t grow because I still don’t know how to play DnD that well. Thank you to everyone who has laughed, cried, and cringed with us. While I am sad as this chapter comes to an end, I am proud of my cast mates and the incredible things I know they are going to do.*

*As for Griana, please know that she becomes an international superstar, wins an Emmy, is cast in the latest version of A Planet is Birthed (wow…was this the last joke I’ll ever tell?), and then ditches it all to live on a farm with Dylan. That’s right…Dylan :)*

*All my love,*

*Carly*

Howdy-ho, everyone, what a wild journey we've been on! I feel like I've been sitting here for 3 hours when it's really been 2 minutes. It's not that saying goodbye feels daunting, it's sad. Zil was a bit character that transformed in a way I never anticipated. I loved being able to create stories and goof around with everyone ever since we were crammed inside a dorm room in 2016. Not to mention that I'm so, so, thankful only one person got waterboarded in the process.

As for Zil? They definitely kept getting more tattoos, and were able to reconnect  with Amanda. Turns out reconnecting with the woman who practically raised them was something they really needed, who knew! They also stuck around with Griana until she looked at them one day, over an endless Goblerita brunch, and said, "Zil, my little rat, you quit." They still talk with everyone, currently planning a trip down under ;o. AND for those of you wondering... Zil has two hands. SllllllllllllluuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrRRRRRRRRRRRRRPPPPPPPPSSSS UP!!!

*Hey! It’s Molly.*

*I cannot begin to describe the love I have for this show, the characters, the world, and most importantly all of you and the people I have done this with – but I’ll certainly try.*

*My first time playing dungeons and dragons was Episode 1 of this show. Phibi was my first PC ever – and as many people do with their first characters, I felt like I had just made a weird, magical little version of myself that I got to watch explore the world of DDEN. She grew to be so much more than that, and I will always be sad we won’t get to see exactly which dark corners of the universe she explored – but I know she got there. I love this goofy, sweet character who used bone chilling eldritch magic to carve out some good in the world wherever she could manage. I imagine her on her airship with Gwen, the Forsaken Sea, and any other misfits they could find along the way, constantly fighting for a world they wanted to see outside of the constraints of loyalty to a country, gods, or anyone but themselves.*

*As for Cyrine, I truly did not think I could love another PC as much as I loved Phibi, but hey! She surprised me. I was so nervous to play this ancient, complicated, beautiful vampire and do her justice, but it was some of the most fun I have ever had in a TTRPG campaign. There are lots of facets to her we never got to explore - her disloyalty to the country (and ultimate plan to escape her fated death before turning 300), her scheme to join Lyco as a potential Pantheon member in the Despara only to betray him and aid our party, and mostly my dream for her to dedicate her life to helping our heroes save the world. I imagine her retiring someday, living life with her loved ones - possibly aging again like normal. Everything has to end eventually - even vampires.*

*Thank you all so much for the love you have given us over the years. I cannot describe how excited I was to rejoin the cast all the way from LA when the pandemic gave us the opportunity to record remotely. My life has been forever touched by this show and the love you have all poured into it, and I could not be more grateful.*

–

McKenzie here. I joined a few years in and instantly felt a part of the family. Over these years Dylan has meant the absolute world to me. She’s in part a reflection of the best parts of myself in addition to being all of the things I’d like to be - brave, kind through and through, and deeply loving. It warms my heart to know that Dylan has been a source of warmth and light for so many people as she has been for me. Her, this cast, and this show will always have a place in my heart for the years we spent creating this story together. In my dreams, Dylan goes on to retire very early in order to begin healing people all across Caerleon with her bright smile, gets married, has many (quarter orc) little ones and grows very old.  In a perfect world, level 20 Dylan would bring back The Red Dagger Division, making right one of the biggest losses of her life. Thank you all for the care you’ve held Dylan and myself with over these years. I can’t thank you enough for all of the beautiful words, art, and inspiration. I love you all.

**Closing/Love/Farewells/Final Info:**

For the housecleaning portion, we will be shutting down our Patreon, our Merch Page, and our Discord effective June 6, 2022. Individually we are still around on social media and always available to say hi - we’re not going too far! Many of the cast are still playing games and telling stories for you to enjoy. We’re all still friends, and will also consider you all the DDEN family.

All of our love,

The Cast of DDEN

***DM’S  STATEMENT*** —

Hi Friends,

It is never easy to greet someone with a goodbye. Especially a goodbye we must say together- as we bid farewell to DD&EN. This show started as part of a list in a margins during a college course, a list of creative projects that I felt could matter to others as much as they would matter to me. I didn't know at the time that something I made in my dorm room with some of my closest friends could matter this much.

In so many ways it was exactly what we all needed: A vibrantly queer place to hold a gentle heart, to tell stories, and to let the heroes win. The core narrative was one that aimed to challenge nationalism, evaluate humanity's relationship to divinity, examine the nature of making changes from within a system and from the outside of it. For those reasons, it is hard to let this story go as it is. Now it lives in the hundreds of pages of notes, the places I will never get to take you or my players. That is what attempts to leave me with a heavy heart- but the cast and I tried our hardest to stay while the world continued to pull us in different directions. Months would go by without a single availability for all of us to meet. Truly, this is the thing that thwarts most D&D tables: the real world.

And while those things try to weigh down my heart: it is still impossibly light. I have cherished every moment, every community member, every piece of art. You have changed my life. I still cherish notes from years ago from listeners saying DD&EN has helped them come out, or that thanks to our game you went and found a table and adventure of your own to tell. That, dear friend, is why our adventure mattered. It was never the end, it was always the journey. It was your journey, as much as it was ours.

Of course, the love of the journey doesn't help all the unanswered plot questions. I will probably do a catch up stream in a few weeks and answer any pressing plot questions you have there! Not all of the questions may have an answer you like, however, because now I can take some of my more devilish plans and use them in other divinity concerned places.

Here's this, though:

As for me, I'm around! The last year has been a reckoning for me, but if DD&EN has taught me anything: it's to fight for the future you're looking for.

Thank you for sharing this journey with me. I hope to go on many more with you, and at the very least, I hope to see the future you're fighting for. I'm so grateful. I'm so proud. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Always,

KM the DM