Listen to The Silt Verses
"Isn't this great? We each get to choose the one thing that eats us."
In this horror/fantasy serial drama, Carpenter and Faulkner, two worshippers of an outlawed god, travel up the length of their deity’s great black river, searching for holy revelations.
As their pilgrimage lengthens and the river’s mysteries deepen, the two acolytes find themselves under threat from a police manhunt, but also come into conflict with the weirder gods that have flourished in these forgotten rural territories. From Gods that bend flesh and mind to their wits, to authorities that want to hunt them down, our two worshippers try to stay alive and ahead.
This podcast is planned for two seasons, with a global cast and straddles the dark place between horror and weird fiction. Subscribe today to listen!
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Read on for other chapters
Chapter 1: Let Me Speak First Of Revelations
We encounter Carpenter and Faulkner, two agents of a forbidden river-god, as they make their way upwater in search of miracles and other members of their scattered faith.
Content warnings
Contains frequent religious references, human sacrifice, suicide, and some body horror.
Cast and crew
In order of their appearance:
B. Narr as Faulkner
Méabh de Brún as Carpenter
Jamie Stewart as Mason
David S Dear as Sid Wright
Calder Dougherty as Stanton
Audio production by Espii Studios
Written by Jon Ware and produced by Muna Hussen
Chapter 2: And Next Of Dark Deceit
As Carpenter and Faulkner attempt to track down a hidden church, Carpenter dwells on the miracle of the fishing boat and its meaning - while Faulkner reflects on his childhood.
Content warnings
Contains frequent religious references, human sacrifice, body horror, drowning, and child death.
Cast and crew
In order of their appearance:
B. Narr as Faulkner
Méabh de Brún as Carpenter
Calder Dougherty as Stanton
Jamie Stewart as Mason
Jonah Knight as Peterson
David S Dear as Sid Wright
Audio production by Espii Studios
Written by Jon Ware and produced by Muna Hussen
Chapter 3: Then I'll Speak Of Champions
Elsewhere on the Peninsula, Investigating Officer Hayward checks out a tip regarding a nearly-derelict farm, and a set of curious deaths that may be linked to religious activity.
Content warnings
Contains scenes of animal death and pain, as well as references to police corruption and violence, parental death, starvation, hunger, and auto-cannibalism.
Cast and crew
In order of their appearance:
David S Dear as Sid Wright
Jimmie Yamaguchi as Hayward
Mintaka Angell as Felix
Derrick Hill as Mr Finch
Audio production by Sammy Holden
Written by Jon Ware and produced by Muna Hussen
Chapter 4: Of Lovers, Gods and Beasts
Carpenter attempts to locate the Trawler-Man's church in the woods of Penda's Slake - but runs into trouble instead.
Content warnings
This episode contains scenes of animal death, ritual sacrifice and intense body horror.
Cast and crew
In order of their appearance:
Méabh de Brún as Carpenter
Daisy Bilenkin as Charity
Gordon Houston as Gareth
B. Narr as Faulkner
Audio production by Sammy Holden
Written by Jon Ware and produced by Muna Hussen
Chapter 5: My Song Is Long And Twisted
Faulkner takes the initiative, and learns the location of a fellow member of the faith in the process. Carpenter, recovering from her injuries, makes a new acquaintance.
Content warnings
This episode contains scenes of drowning and torture, as well as references to mutilation, murder and implied animal death.
Cast and crew
In order of their appearance:
Daisy Bilenkin as Charity
David S. Dear as Sid Wright
B. Narr as Faulkner
Calder Dougherty as Stanton
Méabh de Brún as Carpenter
Jimmie Yamaguchi as Hayward
Audio production by Sammy Holden
Written by Jon Ware and produced by Muna Hussen
Chapter 6: It Winds, It Worms, It Wends
We learn more about the origins of the Trawler-man's faith, as well as the upbringing of our protagonists.
Cast and crew
In order of their appearance:
Jamie Stewart as Mason
Méabh de Brún as Carpenter
Damien Niesewand as Vaughan
B. Narr as Faulkner
Jimmie Yamaguchi as Hayward
Calder Dougherty as Stanton
Audio production by Sammy Holden
Written by Jon Ware and produced by Muna Hussen
Chapter 7: It Carries Few, It Drowns Many
Across the border, a young advertising executive finds herself at odds with her company's new direction.
Cast and crew
In order of their appearance:
Lucille Valentine as Paige
Damien Niesewand as Vaughan
Parley Cook as Hooper
B. Narr as Faulkner
Méabh de Brún as Carpenter
Audio production by Sammy Holden
Written by Jon Ware and produced by Muna Hussen
Chapter 8: And Those I Love, It Rends
Paige, Faulkner and Carpenter investigate the home of a suspected fellow worshipper - and find more than they bargained for.
Cast and crew
In order of their appearance:
Lucille Valentine as Paige
Méabh de Brún as Carpenter
B. Narr as Faulkner
Jon Ware as Roake
Audio production by Sammy Holden
Written by Jon Ware and produced by Muna Hussen
Chapter 9:
As Hayward deals with the aftermath of Marcel's Crossing, he finds his investigation leading him heading northwards - with a new partner on his side.
Content warnings: contains scenes of death, gun violence, police violence and intimidation
Cast and crew
In order of their appearance:
Jimmie Yamaguchi
Mintaka Angell
Calder Dougherty
David S Dear
Jonah Knight
Audio production by Sammy Holden
Written by Jon Ware and produced by Muna Hussen
Chapter 10:
Carpenter, Paige and Faulkner find refuge for the night in an abandoned call centre - but they're not alone there. Something is looking for them...
Content warnings: contains scenes of body horror and violence
Cast and crew credits
In order of their appearance:
Méabh de Brún
Lucille Valentine
B Narr
Audio production by Sammy Holden
Written by Jon Ware and produced by Muna Hussen
Chapter 11
As Faulkner's injuries worsen, Carpenter and Paige take him to seek help. Will he survive this quest?
Content warnings: contains scenes of body horror and sickness and self-mutilation
Cast and crew credits
In order of their appearance:
B Narr
Méabh de Brún
Lucille Valentine
And Caleb Del Rio
Audio production by Sammy Holden
Written by Jon Ware and produced by Muna Hussen
Chapter 12
As the town of Bellwethers draws near and the police chase draws in, Carpenter, Faulkner and Paige make an unexpected stop for breakfast.
Content warnings: contains scenes of body horror, death, violence.
Cast and crew credits
In order of their appearance:
B Narr
Méabh de Brún
Lucille Valentine
Gordon Houston,
Mintaka Angell
Jimmie Yamaguchi
Calder Dougherty.
Audio production by Sammy Holden
Written by Jon Ware and produced by Muna Hussen
Chapter 13
Carpenter and Faulkner arrive at Bellwethers - and witness the miracle of the Wither Mark.
Content warnings: contains scenes of body horror, intense violence and scenes of threat.
Cast and crew credits
In order of their appearance:
B Narr
Méabh de Brún
Lucille Valentin
Jimmie Yamaguchi
Calder Dougherty
David S. Dear
Audio production by Sammy Holden
Written by Jon Ware and produced by Muna Hussen
Chapter 14
As a new God of Sleep wreaks havoc across the Peninsula, Faulkner comes to a crossroads. Carpenter and Hayward have a frank exchange.
Content warning: This episode contains scenes of roadside self-endangerment near the start.
Cast and crew credits
In order of their appearance:
B. Narr
Jamie Stewart
Aud Andrews
David S Dear
Méabh de Brún
Jimmie Yamaguchi
Lucille Valentine
Audio production by Sammy Holden
Written by Jon Ware and produced by Muna Hussen
Chapter 15
Season finale: with the police manhunt closing in, Carpenter and Faulkner have one final meeting at the river's edge.
Cast and crew credits
In order of their appearance:
Méabh de Brún
Lucille Valentine
Mintaka Angell
B. Narr
Jimmie Yamaguchi
Jamie Stewart
Daisy Bilenkin
David S Dear
Jimmie Yamaguchi
Outro music: 'River Chant' by Skip Kent-Davy.