Étude of the Storm
An Epic Mythological RPG Audio Drama
Listen on Patreon | Free Streaming Events on the Omniverse Discord Server
Étude of the Storm is a historical fantasy audio drama podcast set in 18th century Norway – in the twilight of gods and the old ways. A harrowing and heartrending journey woven through a tapestry of Norse mythology, transgender pagan magick, and the powerful improvised audio drama storytelling that Omniverse is known for.
The Plot
Elea Torillsdótter is one of the völva, an order of transgender wise women trained in the arts of magic and healing. For the past five years she's served the community of a small village, but when unprecedented climate disasters occur across the world, the völva are called back to their home of Seidrhöfn to find the cause.
There, Elea finds herself at the epicenter of a ritual that grants her strange powers and embarks on an adventure far beyond the world that she knows.
The Details
Étude of the Storm is a Surprise RPG – Omniverse's special brand of dynamic, collaborative narrative experiences that leave players (and listeners) shaken to their core. In addition to a tale of magic and adventure, Elea's journey offers tear-jerking stories of queer love and family, explorations of the trans experience within a historical setting - never seen before in audio drama, and certainly never in mainstream fiction, as well as a depiction of witchcraft rooted in real world experience.
It's a 21 episode maxi-series written and performed by Jessica Mudd (“MOTHER,” She Wrote, Midnight Burger) as the Game Master and Tess Tanenbaum (City of Daemons) as the story's central character, Elea, with Cat Blackard (The Call of Cthulhu Mystery Program, Midnight Burger) and Alessa Catterall making special appearances as supporting characters. It features original score by Tanenbaum with Catterall (who contributed to the score of Camlann).
Étude of the Storm debuts August 10th, 2025 via a live streaming event on the Omniverse Discord. New episodes release on Patreon every Wednesday through the end of 2025, with live Discord events (open to all) at the end of every story arc.
What's a "Surprise RPG"?
In Surprise RPGs, roleplayers step into the lives of regular people caught up in their own narratives until they're suddenly side-swiped by an even bigger adventure. It's like living inside a movie, but the emotions and consequences feel more real and more personal than you might suspect. We debuted these experiments in roleplaying here on Patreon with K8 Was Here, The Extermination, and City of Daemons. (All of which you can listen to right now on YouTube, or subscribe on Patreon at the Initiate level to get access to the podcast feeds.)
Étude of the Storm uses Open D6, our favorite system for Surprise RPGs.
Where and When to Listen to Étude of the Storm
All episodes will be released as podcasts on the Omniverse Patreon for subscribers at the Initiate level, with the first two episodes available to all Patrons. Episodes release Wednesdays.
Étude of the Storm debuted in a live streaming event on the Omniverse Discord and future public listening parties will continue through the series' release – join the Discord, and RSVP to add the events to your calendar!
Why Not Release This Podcast Via Major Podcast Platforms?
This étude is, in fact, just a prelude. This is the first iteration of this story. An even bigger storm will roll in when the time is right.