Lore'd to Death: Recent Episodes
Brett Hawke
Exploring the lore of your favourite games, books, movies and more to find the answers to questions you didn't know you had!
Ever wondered how a humble adventurer could transform a pirate-infested harbor into a bustling city? Join us in our 40th episode of the Lord to Death podcast as we promise an enthralling journey through the lore of Balduran, the legendary figure behind Baldur's Gate. From his audacious escapades across the Trackless Sea to his philanthropic endeavors that fortified Grey Harbor, Balduran's tale is one of courage, wealth, and unprecedented transformation. Discover how his immense riches and strategic constructions played a pivotal role in turning a criminal haven into a flourishing metropolis. Listen as we piece together Balduran’s relentless pursuit of control and the lasting impact of his legacy on the city he helped build
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If you have an idea for an episode, or just want to say hello, please send it over to loredtodeath@gmail.com or at one of the social media links below!
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This week we dive back into the world of Half Life to dig into the roots of the Combine to figure out who this mysterious inter dimensional entity is and why they are travelling the multiverse committing atrocities.
If you enjoyed this episode, send me a message!
If you have an idea for an episode, or just want to say hello, please send it over to loredtodeath@gmail.com or at one of the social media links below!
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This week we take a bit of a detour from the usual formula to talk about a game that I played recently that had a profound impact on me. It's one of the best games I've played in recent memory, and the best Metroidvania that's been released in quite some time.
Shoutout to Iron Pineapple on Youtube who I heard about this game through. Please go check out their content if you like the Soulsborne games.
If you enjoyed this episode, send me a message!
If you have an idea for an episode, or just want to say hello, please send it over to loredtodeath@gmail.com or at one of the social media links below!
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Once again we have special guest Seth from our friends over at the Overthinking Games Podcast to talk about the recently released Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. This is part 2 of 2 where we discuss the lore, discoveries, and some of our theories about the game. We also talk about Dune for longer than we probably needed to (which was any time at all. Sorry).
If you enjoyed this episode, send me a message!
If you have an idea for an episode, or just want to say hello, please send it over to loredtodeath@gmail.com or at one of the social media links below!
Podcast & Social Media Links:
linktr.ee/loredtodeath
This week we have special guest Seth from our friends over at the Overthinking Games Podcast to talk about the recently released Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. This is part 1 of 2, and we talk about everything from our first impressions, thoughts on the new weapons, and our favourite bosses of FromSoftware's new masterpiece.
If you enjoyed this episode, send me a message!
If you have an idea for an episode, or just want to say hello, please send it over to loredtodeath@gmail.com or at one of the social media links below!
Podcast & Social Media Links:
linktr.ee/loredtodeath
Today we dive into the world of Elder Scrolls to answer the question of what happened to the Falmer and Dwemer, and how were they related? The history of the Elves in the Elder Scrolls is always a roller coaster, so join me on this journey while I read every book from Skyrim to try to figure it out.
If you enjoyed this episode, send me a message!
If you have an idea for an episode, or just want to say hello, please send it over to loredtodeath@gmail.com or at one of the social media links below!
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This week we dive into the history of the Gith, and more specifically the Githyanki and Githzerai tribes. From their time spent enslaved to their newfound freedom and civil war, we have it all covered down to the finest detail. Who are these funky little frog people, and what makes them tick? They're a pretty miserable people, so, everything, actually.
If you enjoyed this episode, send me a message!
If you have an idea for an episode, or just want to say hello, please send it over to loredtodeath@gmail.com or at one of the social media links below!
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Today, we take a leap back into the world of Fallout to talk about the reason that Fallout exists-- Vault Tec industries. Surely, a company who's sole reason for existing was to create fallout shelters to save people from a nuclear apocalypse would be a morally rich company, right? We go over everything from their roots to their end to find out.
If you enjoyed this episode, send me a message!
If you have an idea for an episode, or just want to say hello, please send it over to loredtodeath@gmail.com or at one of the social media links below!
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This week we take a bit of a break to answer some questions that listeners have sent in, and to talk about future content. Thank you for all of the support over the last year and a half of making this podcast, and I look forward to continuing to make content for you.
Please check out my podcast friends mentioned in this video Rival x Reviews (@RivalxReviews) and Overthinking Games (@OverthinkingGames) wherever you can find your podcasts.
If you enjoyed this episode, send me a message!
If you have an idea for an episode, or just want to say hello, please send it over to loredtodeath@gmail.com or at one of the social media links below!
Podcast & Social Media Links:
linktr.ee/loredtodeath
This week we dive into the Horizon universe to get to know the antagonists of Horizon: Forbidden West-- the Far Zenith. Who is this collective, where did they come from, and why are they so powerful? We explore that and more in this episode.
If you enjoyed this episode, send me a message!
If you have an idea for an episode, or just want to say hello, please send it over to loredtodeath@gmail.com or at one of the social media links below!
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This week we talk about the Illithid Race, more well known as Mind Flayers, to find out what makes them tick, and all of the minute details that separate them from octopuses. To cap it all off, we talk about the Illithid Empire, and why no one wants to see that come to fruition.
If you have an idea for an episode, or just want to say hello, please send it over to loredtodeath@gmail.com or at one of the social media links below!
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In this week's episode, we talk about the Martian War from Destroy All Humans between the Furon and the Blisk and the numerous consequences that came from it. I also rant like a madman about the intricacies of space travel and try to make sense of a fictional reality, which is a losing battle (but that will never stop me).
If you have an idea for an episode, or just want to say hello, please send it over to loredtodeath@gmail.com or at one of the social media links below!
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In this episode we explore the mysterious origins and cultural significance of April Fools' Day, delving into various theories and historical practices associated with the holiday. We contrast these with modern-day pranks and how April Fools' Day is celebrated around the world, highlighting the lack of a definitive origin story but embracing the whimsy and unpredictability that define the day. We also give our top 5 favourite April Fools' Day hoaxes throughout history, and things get really weird.
If you have an idea for an episode, or just want to say hello, please send it over to loredtodeath@gmail.com or at one of the social media links below!
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In this episode we explore the Witcher universe, from its origins in Andrzej Sapkowski's novels to its adaptations in games and on Netflix. We also delve into the history, etymology, and detailed lore of witchers, including their training, abilities, and the various schools they come from.
If you have an idea for an episode, or just want to say hello, please send it over to loredtodeath@gmail.com or at one of the social media links below!
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Today I'm joined by RivalxReviews to talk about everything Persona. We go over everything from our favourite parts of the games, why we think that Persona 5 was such a popular entry for the series, and where we think the series will go with Persona 6.
You can find DJ's podcast, RivalxReviews, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts!
If you have an idea for an episode, or just want to say hello, please send it over to loredtodeath@gmail.com or at one of the social media links below!
Podcast & Social Media Links:
linktr.ee/loredtodeath
Today we delve into the deep lore of our skeletal friend, Withers, from Baldur's Gate 3 to try to find out who he is and why he helps the party throughout the game. In doing so, we take a foray into the lore of the Dead Three, the main antagonists of the game, to help us answer these questions. We also learn what the undead do for fun in their free time, which is disturbing but ironic and hilarious.
If you have an idea for an episode, or just want to say hello, please send it over to loredtodeath@gmail.com or at one of the social media links below!
Podcast & Social Media Links:
linktr.ee/loredtodeath
This week we explore the lore behind the stoic protagonist of the Metroid series, Samus Aran, to discover who she is, what drives her, and what her journey was before the events of the games. We go through the manga series, explore a few extra tidbits from another comic, and go over the events of the games in this comprehensive overview of Samus' lore.
If you have an idea for an episode, or just want to say hello, please send it over to loredtodeath@gmail.com or at one of the social media links below!
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Have you ever wondered why it's always the seemingly benevolent pharmaceutical companies that are behind every zombie outbreak? Well, today we go over the events of the Dead Island games to find out why GeoPharm was responsible for this apocalyptic event. We also get into the roots of the Palm Golden Order, as well as the Consortium, to find out who was behind it all and for what reason.
If you have an idea for an episode, or just want to say hello, please send it over to loredtodeath@gmail.com or at one of the social media links below!
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Today we talk about the Blood War; something that comes up time and time again in Baldur's Gate 3, but something that there isn't a whole lot of information about in-game otherwise. In this episode, we go through the who/what/when/where/why of the Blood War, in an attempt to find any and all information about the event since Karlach won't spill the beans about her time in the Nine Hells.
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/moonshine
License code: CKHJJOGWARURVBOO
If you have an idea for an episode, or just want to say hello, please send it over to loredtodeath@gmail.com or at one of the social media links below!
Podcast & Social Media Links:
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This week's episode is all about why I'm taking a break for the remainder of December 2023, and how the show is going to come back on January 10th, 2024.
In the meantime, you can listen to my guest spot on the Overthinking Games podcast who was kind enough to have me on to talk about wordbuilding. You can find them on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you find your podcasts!
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/moonshine
License code: CKHJJOGWARURVBOO
If you have an idea for an episode, or just want to say hello, please send it over to loredtodeath@gmail.com or at one of the social media links below!
Podcast & Social Media Links:
linktr.ee/loredtodeath
Deep in rural Spain, a cult named Los Illuminados was controlling villagers and turning them into monsters. The source of their power was a parasite that they called Las Plagas. Where did it come from, and what was so special about it that a cult dedicated their lives to it? Today, we take a dive into Resident Evil 4 and 5's lore so that we can understand Las Plagas and how it was used in a plot to overthrow the United States government, and the world.
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/moonshine
License code: CKHJJOGWARURVBOO
If you have an idea for an episode, or just want to say hello, please send it over to loredtodeath@gmail.com or at one of the social media links below!
Podcast & Social Media Links:
linktr.ee/loredtodeath
Today we go over the concept of death and immortality, as well as explaining how the afterlife works in Lord of the Rings. If Elves are immortal, can they die? And if they do, what happens to them after that? Is there a heaven, or is there just the void? We answer these questions and more in this episode!
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/moonshine
License code: CKHJJOGWARURVBOO
https://uppbeat.io/t/kevin-macleod/folk-round
License code: X5SWEWBJPIFBGTUA
If you have an idea for an episode, or just want to say hello, please send it over to loredtodeath@gmail.com or at one of the social media links below!
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In honour of the spooky season, I wanted to take some time to make a Halloween special and read a couple of my favourite short stories from H.P. Lovecraft that people might not know about. H.P. Lovecraft is most famous for his stories about Cthulhu-- most namely the Call of Cthulhu and Shadow Over Innsmouth stories-- but I wanted to offer what I think are his two best works. Maybe I just really like cats.
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/weary-pines/open-season
License code: DBWH7BXU1VPPZ7NN
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/kevin-macleod/gathering-darkness
License code: BICEDUTYVXOZLQJN
If you have an idea for an episode, or just want to say hello, please send it over to loredtodeath@gmail.com or at one of the social media links below!
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Today we explore new Horizons and soar into the world of Zero Dawn and Forbidden West to answer the question, who were the ones responsible for bringing about the apocalypse that led to the events of the game? We talk about Elisabet Sobeck and Ted Faro, and also take that information to break down what it might have been like to live in the Horizon universe in the 2060's-- our distant future (but hopefully not actually). I'll take the Focus, though.
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/moonshine
License code: CKHJJOGWARURVBOO
If you have an idea for an episode, or just want to say hello, please send it over to loredtodeath@gmail.com or at one of the social media links below!
Podcast & Social Media Links:
linktr.ee/loredtodeath
This week, I'm taking a break from the regularly scheduled lore dump and taking some time to answer questions and talk about what I've been playing.
Check out Overthinking Games here:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7qylmCFsfTbROLsBft3S14?si=2515875390164226
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/holding-you
License code: FSZFMCAIRCBPLALX
If you have an idea for an episode, or just want to say hello, please send it over to loredtodeath@gmail.com or at one of the social media links below!
Podcast & Social Media Links:
linktr.ee/loredtodeath
Today we talk about the three main factions and interstellar forms of government in Starfield-- the United Colonies, Freestar Collective, and House Va'ruun. We do a deep dive on humanity's journey to the stars and how the three major factions came to power, their struggles, and their strife.
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/moonshine
License code: CKHJJOGWARURVBOO
If you have an idea for an episode, or just want to say hello, please send it over to loredtodeath@gmail.com or at one of the social media links below!
Podcast & Social Media Links:
linktr.ee/loredtodeath
Today we take a journey to a galaxy far, far away to explore some of the lore behind Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Specifically talking about the prelude to KOTOR with the Mandalorian Wars, where the Mandalorians (under the influence of the Sith) tried their hand at dominating the galaxy.
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/moonshine
License code: CKHJJOGWARURVBOO
Podcast & Social Media Links:
linktr.ee/loredtodeath
Today we explore the First Contact War, also known as the Relay 314 Incident, from Mass Effect- both humanity's first contact with an alien race, and also their first intergalactic war. We also dabble in the Rachni War, as well as the events leading up to the war from humanity's first colony on Mars and their discovery of faster-than-light travel.
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/moonshine
License code: CKHJJOGWARURVBOO
Podcast & Social Media Links:
linktr.ee/loredtodeath
The Zonai were a mysterious race that came down from the heavens unto ancient Hyrule, but who and what were they? Today we explore what we know of the Zonai's history from Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom so that we can better understand them by taking a look at the first king of Hyrule, Rauru along with his sister Mineru.
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/moonshine
License code: CKHJJOGWARURVBOO
Podcast & Social Media Links:
linktr.ee/loredtodeath
Today I discuss why I think that Star Wars: Knights of the old Republic is a perfect game, and what makes it so great.
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/moonshine
License code: CKHJJOGWARURVBOO
Podcast & Social Media Links:
linktr.ee/loredtodeath
Today we delve into a distant future that is reminiscent of a distant past to see what life might have been like before the nukes dropped in Fallout.
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/moonshine
License code: CKHJJOGWARURVBOO
Podcast & Social Media Links:
linktr.ee/loredtodeath
Hundreds of years ago, during the era of the High Republic, demons scoured the outer rim for years, took what they wanted, destroyed what they couldn't have, and then left without a trace. Who were the Nihil, and how did they become a force that nearly crippled the galaxy and put a choke hold on the Jedi and the Republic?
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/moonshine
License code: CKHJJOGWARURVBOO
Podcast & Social Media Links:
linktr.ee/loredtodeath
Today, Brett puts on his best impression of Vaati and delves into the cosmic horror that is Bloodborne. Specifically, the fishing hamlet and the hunter's nightmare from the Old Hunter's DLC.
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/peter-cavallo/enchanted
License code: LUIPYBJV8D1WZQ5D
Podcast & Social Media Links:
linktr.ee/loredtodeath
Today we try to unravel the mystery behind the three Golden Goddesses of Hyrule: Din, Nayru, and Farore, to find out who these beings were by exploring the myth of creation told by the Great Deku Tree, the creation of the Triforce, and the Goddess Hylia.
Podcast & Social Media Links:
linktr.ee/loredtodeath
Music used in this video:
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/moonshine
License code: ATDHGELMIJF9YFYF
The year is 1892. A former war veteran and preacher teams up with a renowned physicist to create something that the world has never seen before- a floating city in the sky.
Columbia is a far departure from its predecessor, Rapture, but they are alike in many different ways. Today, we take a dive... or a flight into the origins of the city of Columbia to find out how it started and what it might have been like to live there.
You may know them as the company behind the Raccoon City zombie breakout and the creators of horrors like Nemesis and Tyrant, but who were the faces behind Umbrella Corporation? We dig deep into the story behind Umbrella from their conception to their timely demise.
In the year 993, something in brewing in the Scottish highlands. Four great wizards found a school for witches and wizards and create an unparalleled standard for magical teaching. Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry has existed for centuries, but how did it start and what was it like to be a student there?
The brain of the Covenant, the Prophets, a mysterious race know as the San'Shyuum showed up in Halo 2 with no warning. Just who were these Prophets, and how did they come to rule one of the fiercest military forces and most self destructive religions in the galaxy?
Deep underground, in rural Ohio, a rogue AI has taken a firm grip on a testing facility once created to manufacture shower curtains. Who created Aperture Science, and how did it become a perpetual testing facility seemingly intent on torturing every test subject it could get its cold, metal hands on?
A sprawling research facility in the New Mexico desert is working on a project and suddenly goes nuclear, dropping off the face of the Earth. What exactly was Black Mesa, what did the research and what caused their untimely demise?
With the Republic support waning, and the new Imperialism on the rise, how did the quality of life change for the inhabitants of the galaxy far, far away?
We go deep to unravel the thought of an average citizen in the Star Wars universe to see if we can find out what the majority thought about their new form of government, the Galactic Empire.
Today we are trying to find out how Kratos, the famed Ghost of Sparta, got from ancient Greece to Midgard between the events of God of War 3 and the 2018 reboot.
To unravel the mystery, we need to examine the events of God of War 1 - 3, the 2018 reboot and Ragnarok, as well as the novelization and comic. There is a lot to unfold here!
Today we are exploring Andrew Ryan's Rapture and what it might be like to live there before the events of Bioshock (2007).
In a fictional 1946, Andrew Ryan creates a city at the seafloor of the Atlantic to escape the craze of a post WWII era and create something truly unique- a perfect utopia, where man can reap the rewards of his sown seeds without the hindrance of government or religion.
But was it truly a utopia?
Looking at everything from living situations to the working economy, we are going to challenge Andrew Ryan's ideals and expose what it really lurking at the bottom of the sea.
Welcome to Lore'd to Death!
This episode outlines the general vibe of the podcast and introduces the host, Brett.