Live and Drink! In this extra-special two-part episode, we first examine the deep story, lore, and soundrack to Caves of Qud. Winner of the 2025 Hugo Award for Best Game or Interactive Work, as well as the 2025 Independent Games Festival for Excellence in Narrative, it only made sense for us to break this absolutely massive game out into two parts. We are also joined by special guest and Qud streamer BigSimple! Listen in as we set the stage via the incredible soundtrack brought to us by Craig Hamilton. While there will be heavy spoilers up to a certain point (don’t worry, the ending is safe), simply hearing the story can’t prepare you for experiencing it first hand. Part 2 will be the usual GROGPOD format, focusing more on the gameplay and systems in Caves of Qud, and also back to our closer to 90 minute length. Until then, strap into that ejector seat and get ready to inject some Eater’s nectar!

You can find the in depth tutorial series we did with BigSimple to learn this massive game here!

• 00:00 - Pilgrim’s Path (guest intro, title screen)
• 11:11 - Mehmet’s Morning (Joppa, Resheph, the gyre plagues, the signal)
• 26:30 - Overworld (Meeting the Barathrumites)
• 37:30 - Golgotha (First dungeon)
• 47:30 - Stoic Porridge (Acceptance into the order, the Baetyl)
• 56:40 - Lazarus (Bethesda Susa, the trolls, Saad Amus the Sky-Bear, Temple of The Rock)
• 1:12:30 - Onward (Ezra, Mayor Haddas, Sixshrew, Yla Haj, Zothom the Penitent, Rebekah’s grave, the Earl of Omonporch)
• 1:26:11 - Imminent II (Ereskigal the sentient computer, the Putus Templar)
• 1:33:10 - Attack on Grit Gate (Qud tower defense, NPC permadeath)
• 1:40:40 - Barathrum’s Study (Leader of the order, the mystery of the signal, the Spindle)
• 1:44:00 - Substrate (Rainbow Wood, scroll bound by a strand of kelp, Pax Klanq, Barathrum’s gamble)
• 1:59:34 - Among the Tomb of the Eaters (Qud crypts)
• 2:09:10 - Deeper Eaters (Sultan crypts, Resheph’s sarcophogus, Herododicus, entombment)
• 2:16:12 - Attenuated Signals, Fractals (Brightsheol, Rainwater Shomer, the Seraph’s dream, the golem)
• 2:23:20 - Moonstair (Eyn Roj, Ayog-No-Longer)
• 2:36:10 - Arrival of the Official Party (Final battle with Putus Templar, Girsh Nephilim, ascension)
• 2:49:10 - Similar stories
• 2:54:23 - Arrival (Part 1 wind down, preview for part 2)

Next episode: Caves of Qud Part 2: Gameplay and Mechanics

Contact us at grogpodzone@gmail.com!

https://grogpod.zone

Intro music: Caves of Qud OST - Pilgrim’s Path

Outro music: Caves of Qud OST - Arrival