Show cover of Moonkarta

Moonkarta

*The Guardian - Best Podcasts of the Week**Radio Times - Pick of the Best Audio On Demand**Winning Silver - Best Audio Production Award, Best Drama or Fiction, Terry Mynott*Moonkarta is an epic family tale of good vs evil, courage and friendship, written and produced by Terry Mynott and Col Howarth.The world is changing. Dark forces are circling, threatening to upset the balance of life and light. Shady characters are turning up on Moonkarta's shores and warning its people of change and revenge.When evil forces arrive off the ancient shores of Moonkarta, the balance of everything is threatened. Can Splott and his friends protect the Tree of All Seeds, the magical Forbidden Forest with its precious stone circles, and more importantly, each other?Join them on an epic tale that takes our gang on a voyage across seas and deserts, and to ancient lands, where astronomers watch the skies and where magic and legends rule.

Tracks

Welcome to Beryl's, Moonkarta's most popular cafe.Here, we meet The Librarian who introduces us to Splott, Jansey Bebop and a host of Moonkarta's residents. We join the gang at the end of Summer, as the wheel turns to usher in a new season. The town is preparing for the annual Flight of the Butternut Babies, who live in the Forbidden Forest with the shy and elusive Moonbears. Every year, vast crowds line the ports, the docks and the boardwalks to watch as the Butternut Babies take flight.While the festival attracts thousands to Moonkarta, The Mayor is hosting two very important guests; Mayor Thrake and Lord Bulag, who are in town to persuade The Mayor to let them excavate the Forbidden Forest.In his attempts to impress his VIPs, The Mayor employs rogue, Splott. Known for his expert sea-faring abilities, Splott agrees to hire a boat and put on some entertainment for The Mayor's guests so they can enjoy the end of summer festival with the best view in town.In exchange for a handsome payment and with help from poet Jansey Bebop and the Sassy Lighthouse Keeper, Splott does the very least he can to help.Elsewhere, new Astronomers are arriving at the dock from the ancient land of Staxis. They are there to protect Moonkarta, and to watch the skies from the Western Forest Observatory. Things are changing, and this time the old Astronomer, named Touv, has his warrior-daughter Gorel with him for protection.Written by Terry Mynott and Col Howarth.Performed and Produced by Terry Mynott.www.moonkarta.com Here you will find news, announcements and previews for Series One, Part Two. You will also find profiles of Moonkarta's characters, interactive maps and more!

12/7/23 • 20:37

Brace yourself, for this was the day that everything changed.Join The Librarian at Beryl's cafe, as he tells us a story about an unwanted visitor to Moonkarta named THE; a shape-shifting fae, or Pwca, who visits from his home deep in the forest. THE spies on a council meeting from the roof of the library, where The Librarian, The Mayor and the Astronomers are deep in discussion about the changing times.THE has been sent by an unkown force, to take Splott and to deliver a warning to the town that revenge will come. He shape-shifts into The Librarian during the re-opening of Moonkarta's museum and attempts to take Splott. But how does THE know the boy?THE makes a run for it, disappearing into the paintings before anyone can catch him. Eventually, with all the paintings covered up or turned around so he can't escape, THE has nowhere left to go. He jumps into a giant skeleton of a Banglejackosaur and wreaks havoc until a hungry Doggy, seizing the opportunity to enjoy a tasty bone, brings the skeleton crashing down.THE is let go, but not until the warning has been passed. Who is THE working for? What revenge does he speak of? And who are the Deermen?Written by Terry Mynott and Col Howarth.Performed and Produced by Terry Mynott.www.moonkarta.com Here you will find news, announcements and previews for Series One, Part Two. You will also find profiles of Moonkarta's characters, interactive maps and more!

12/8/23 • 21:18

Every Autumn the Great Circus Danasko rolls into Moonkarta. We join The Librarian at Beryl's.  The Librarian recalls a time when the circus' arrival meant more than just a passing visit.The Librarian introduces us to the Circus Master, who his also his brother, Esteban and we learn about a past made up of conflict and division, when the brothers, who were once the greatest trapeze act in the land, split to follow different dreams. Since then, they have never seen eye-to-eye.Whilst in town, Esteban hosts a talent contest for the Moonkarta residents, but even in this there is an ulterior motive; to find someone with so little talent that his audience will find them hilarious. Throughout the contest, Splott and Jansey's friendship is tested. Can Splott step up for Jansey in her time of need and prove himself to be a genuine friend? Here, we also meet Potts; a loyal circus member of twenty years who has returned to Moonkarta to retire here. A brave man who has seen the world, Potts becomes a firm ally of The Librarian.As the circus rolls back out of Moonkarta it is revealed that there is more to Esteban's scheming than was first thought, as he meets with Cirrina, Queen of the Octofolk. Esteban has marked Splott in exchange for the protection of his brother against what is to come, showing that their brotherly bond is not yet entirely broken.Written by Terry Mynott and Col Howarth.Performed and Produced by Terry Mynott.www.moonkarta.com Here you will find news, announcements and previews for Series One, Part Two. You will also find profiles of Moonkarta's characters, interactive maps and more!

12/8/23 • 21:19

Join The Librarian at Beryl's for another story. Already, the signs are here: something is happening around Moonkarta. Something bad is coming. THE has warned the people of revenge from dark forces that we have not yet met. The circus has rolled through town, led by The Librarian's brother Esteban, who has struck a deal with Cirrina, the Queen of the Octofolk, to protect The Librarian against whatever is coming.And now for the arrival of Zafiya; a ruthless and formidable pirate from Farfaranese, whose mission is to secure the power of the moon crystals from the stone circle in Moonkarta's Forbidden Forest. Zafiya arrives off Moonkarta's shores in the dead of night with his gang of pirates and the terrifying Brassman.The following morning, Splott and Jansey are out sailing and having fun together. That is until they are spotted by Zafiya and his men, who attack and capture them. Once captured, Splott and Jansey are held hostage.Zafiya's motive is always money and power. He realises that his prisoner Splott, is a valuable asset. Zafiya recognises him as being the last of the Lifans, and as a result, Splott will be worth a fortune. He chooses to keep Splott alive but as the full moon arrives, he decides to throw Jansey into the stone circle, at the mercy of the moon's power.In another place, and another time, Colin is placing road cones along a quiet rainy road in Sydney, Australia. Down on his luck, Colin's boss arrives on site to tell Colin that he has been marking up miles of the wrong road, and that his recent mistakes have been costly. Colin is fired on the spot. As he gets out of his truck to start collecting the cones, he is hit by lightning and transported to the centre of Moonkarta's stone circle where the hi-vis coating on his road cone and jacket deflects the moon's beam.Jansey is saved but wounded. Zafiya is hurt. As Potts and the troops arrive with The Librarian, a stand-off takes place between The Librarian and the pirates, who still have Splott held captive. As chaos ensues, The Librarian is stabbed by one of the pirates. As he is about to finish The Librarian off, he is saved at the last moment by Potts.Splott, Jansey, Gorel and The Librarian return home. Their lives will never be quite the same.Written by Terry Mynott and Col Howarth.Performed and Produced by Terry Mynott.www.moonkarta.com Here you will find news, announcements and previews for Series One, Part Two. You will also find profiles of Moonkarta's characters, interactive maps and more!

12/8/23 • 22:01

In the aftermath of Zafiya's attack on Moonkarta, The Librarian fights for his life in hospital. Jansey has to wear a bandage over her damaged eye and the residents come together to understand the impact of the events.The town council plans their response as Splott and Miss Spray take Jansey home.The backdrop is the Festival of Fire as Autum turns to Winter. The town is preparing for a great celebration, but among the crowds are spies, all looking for valuable little Splott. By the docks, for the first time, we meet Zara; Zafiya's pirate sister from Farfaranese, who is planning to use the stone circle to bring the most powerful weapon of all into her hands; a moonbeast.Splott, Jansey, Gorel, Colin and Sassy Lighthouse Keeper are warned that the attack is going to take place, and are told that they must leave on a boat to the Isles of Fyny, to escape Moonkarta before it's too late. They must also return the Brassman to his home.When the warning sirens sound across the city, the pirate spies turn on Moonkarta, setting parts of the town on fire. The fearsome moonbeast is brought through the moon circle, loaded onto a raft and taken away. It's screams ring out across the sea, spelling mortal danger to anyone who might stand in its, and Zara's way.Written by Terry Mynott and Col Howarth.Performed and Produced by Terry Mynott.www.moonkarta.com Here you will find news, announcements and previews for Series One, Part Two. You will also find profiles of Moonkarta's characters, interactive maps and more!

12/8/23 • 22:09

Zara and Zafiya have brought the battle to Staxxis. They have legions of pirates, a mighty moonbeast and Zafiya's newfound powers. Together, their might far outweighs that of the peaceful Staxxis. Pirates rampage through the city. The moonbeast crushes all before it. Zafiya is turning cannonballs into dust.As the Blood Moon's beam activates the giant crystal shard in the coliseum, Zafiya has the city exactly where he wants it. He stands before the terrified crowd and declares himself the new master and leader of the great nation, ordering his band of outcasts and charlatans to take what's rightfully theirs.At the height of the battle one hero steps up to end things once and for all, but it is at a terrible cost to the gang.In the aftermath, there are losses on both sides. Zara takes what's left of her fleet and flees.In the city court our heroes are recognised for their bravery. They set sail for home with heavy hearts as they remember those they have lost.Once home they fall into the arms of The Librarian. Normality is restored, for now.....but then....Written by Terry Mynott and Col Howarth.Performed and Produced by Terry Mynott.www.moonkarta.com Here you will find news, announcements and previews for Series One, Part Two. You will also find profiles of Moonkarta's characters, interactive maps and more!

3/1/24 • 27:56

At Beryl’s Café The Librarian introduces us to the sweet sweet drink of Staxxparilla. It brings memories of the great nation of Staxxis. We set sail on a story based in Traxzin: the nation's glittering capital, the City of Souls and the homeland of Gorel, Touv, and the great Astronomers.Our friends have been sent here by the Maven at Duna Din as something is brewing. An evil is coming and the presence of positivity is needed more than ever.In Traxzin, the Festival of the Blood Moon – the greatest celestial show in the world - is approaching, and the city is preparing for an almighty celebration around the giant crystal shard which rises up from the ground in the middle of the coliseum.Before the night of the festival, Splott, Colin, Jansey, Gorel, Doggy and the Sassy Lighthouse Keeper are greeted by Touv who has travelled all the way back from Moonkarta to meet them. He invites them to explore the great city and have fun, however in a place built on learning, and science and order, the team get caught up in a serious diplomatic issue.Should Gorel have ever left her Astronomer father Touv in Moonkarta, thus breaking her protectorate oath? Are Jansey’s visions of a great battle in the city of Traxzin really a true vision of things to come or just a strange dream?That night, as the Blood Moon flits between the clouds, and the city rejoices with music and song around the giant crystal shard, somewhere in the distance, from the city harbour, a war siren rings out, signaling the arrival of something terrible.Written by Terry Mynott and Col Howarth.Performed and Produced by Terry Mynott.www.moonkarta.com Here you will find news, announcements and previews for Series One, Part Two. You will also find profiles of Moonkarta's characters, interactive maps and more!

3/1/24 • 18:35

As they leave the Maven Temple at Duna Din the gang are attacked by giant bats. Gorel and Jansey are hurt and Doggy runs away to lead one of the giant bats away from the group.As the friends re-group and head back to the port, Splott tries to piece together the events since the journey started, gaining a greater understanding of his friendships.  Doggy remains missing. Thoughts are of home as the gang miss their friends in Moonkarta.Elsewhere, Zafiya is rallying his pirates as they prepare to set sail.Splott, Gorel, Jansey, the Sassy Lighthouse Keeper, Colin and the Brassman observe a strange gathering of Lexx around a giant orb.Before they leave Duna Din, they return the Brassman to his home and his people.Written by Terry Mynott and Col Howarth.Performed and Produced by Terry Mynott.www.moonkarta.com Here you will find news, announcements and previews for Series One, Part Two. You will also find profiles of Moonkarta's characters, interactive maps and more!

3/1/24 • 18:18

Once a mighty, cruel and immensely-powerful empire, Duna Din is now a vast land of dust and sand, ravaged by the sweltering sun and whipped by the whirlwinds that skip through its abandoned villages. Great domes and temples reach up, pocked and scarred from its shifting dunes.Moonkarta is recovering well from Zara and Zafiya’s attack. Defenses are bolstered, the damage is fixed and morale is rising. New trade routes have been established, allowing supplies into the town.Splott, Doggy, Jansey, Colin, Gorel, Sassy Lighthouse Keeper and the Brassman are arriving at the once-mighty Hakko Hin port of Duna Din. They arrive at a vast pirate ship graveyard; a legacy from the great Lexx Wars. Once on land they encounter a strange group of wandering Lexx who pass through the deserted streets searching for lost souls.They continue on, walking for a day through the desert in search of the Maven Temple. Here they must consult with the Maven to find out the next step in their journey. They discover that they can only activate the Maven's wisdom with something they were given at the very start.The Maven gives them a series of glimpses into a dark and worrying future. She sends the group to Traxxin in Staxxis; the land of the great astronomers to prepare for what is to come. On leaving the temple our friends are attacked by two giant bat-like creatures.Written by Terry Mynott and Col Howarth.Performed and Produced by Terry Mynott.www.moonkarta.com Here you will find news, announcements and previews for Series One, Part Two. You will also find profiles of Moonkarta's characters, interactive maps and more!

3/1/24 • 18:06

The Librarian is in great spirits today as he welcomes us to Beryl’s Cafe for another drinky, and an inspiring little story about adventure and life!We start our journey off the coasts of Y Fyny Isles. The gang’s ship approaches the shore where they have been sent to meet the Father following Zafiya and Zara’s attack on Moonkarta. Shadows in the water tell them that they are being followed, but by who?Back in Moonkarta, The Librarian is recovering. He is joined by The Mayor and Lugvurt who have arranged for General Conky to take charge of the town’s troops and to boost the harbour’s defences against further attack.Elsewhere, Zara is transporting the moonbeast to Farfaranese. She meets her brother, Zafiya as they plan their next move. Zafiya was injured during the attack on Moonkarta, but his injury has given him power, for embedded in his side is a shard of moon crystal. Pain for power. The pirates are amassing a fleet of ships in preparation for another attack, and with Zafiya’s new powers and with the moonbeast under their control, they have become incredibly powerful!On the shores of Y Fyny, the Father tells the gang that things are shifting. Splott has been marked which is what allowed them to be followed. They spend the night camping in the woods with a family of moon bears. Father tells of a dangerous being; a spirit, that is trying to leave its land. He tells Splott about where his people came from and how he came to arrive in Moonkarta. He helps Jansey understand her own emerging powers, and tells her what the next dangerous step of their journey must be.Written by Terry Mynott and Col Howarth.Performed and Produced by Terry Mynott.www.moonkarta.com Here you will find news, announcements and previews for Series One, Part Two. You will also find profiles of Moonkarta's characters, interactive maps and more!

3/1/24 • 18:28