This episode sees our hosts and guests dive into a TTRPG called Dog Eat Dog by Liam Liwanag Burke, exploring themes of colonialism and occupation set in a future East Village neighborhood of Des Moines, Iowa. Using the game's mechanics, our storytellers create rich character traits and backstories, and collaboratively build a tense narrative about the struggle between the occupying Demeter Group factions and the local residents of Des Moines who resist them or comply. This is the last prologue episode to set the stage for the narrative of 235 bloom.

Content Warnings:

• Colonialism and its consequences, including themes of occupation and assimilation
• Violence, including gunshots, injury, and potential death
• Surveillance and restrictions on movement
• Medical procedures and blood donation (bio exchange)

Produced by Paul Privitera and Jordan Lee Thompson. Featuring Annelise Tarnowski and Tony Tandeski from The Rook Room.

Edited by Jordan Lee Thompson.

Music by Javier Lopez of Goatfoam.

Cover Art by Maddy Fusco.

Voice over by LIPING VONG.

235 bloom is a collaboration between Des Moines & Dragonsand The Institute for Manufactured Futures. It is a work of speculative fiction taking place in the year 2089. The locations may be real, but any similarity to actual persons or their descendants is unintentional.