Sticker-style text “Chthonic E1: Maiden Voyage” in deep blue font with white outline.
Arc 1: The Chthonic – Episode 1: Maiden Voyage

Arc 1: The Chthonic – Episode 1: Maiden Voyage

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The Chthonic sets sail. And the sea does not forget.

Welcome to the Deep Dream State — a conspiracy audio drama about power, pleasure, and the beyond.

Plot Summary

The luxury cruise ship Chthonic embarks on a voyage overseen by the Dagon Dream Group. As passengers settle into their cabins and experience disturbing dreams, the ship’s leadership begins orchestrating something far more sinister. Behind the scenes, the captain and his associates identify vulnerable travelers and execute a methodical plan to target and manipulate them. What appears to be a luxury getaway conceals a coordinated conspiracy with mysterious depths.

CAST

Ship’s Crew

Guests

  • Alistair, CEO of Neuroplex – Jericho Caine
  • Holly, His Girlfriend – Dizzy Dollie
  • Emma, The Bride-to-Be – Pipp
  • Brittany, Bridesmaid – Kitten Azazel
  • Kara, Bridesmaid – Tender Confusion
  • Sarah, Bridesmaid – Ring of Kees
  • Tiffany, Bridesmaid – Britt Reprogrammed

Plot Synopsis (with spoilers)

The cruise begins with Cruise Director Olivia Naylor greeting passengers and outlining the itinerary under the Dagon Dream Group banner. She promotes nightly bells, a wellness center managed by Mairead, and the Dagon app controlled by crew member Nikita. Captain Will Dyer, Chief Engineer Fion Morgan, and Chief Purser Selene round out the leadership presented to guests. The atmosphere appears welcoming and professionally managed.

In their cabin, bachelorette party guests Emma, Tiffany, Brittany, Kara, and Sarah share unsettling nocturnal experiences. Strange sounds emanate through the ship’s walls, and their collective nightmares involve tentacles and the sensation of being observed. When Captain Dyer and Olivia briefly check on them, the passengers mention nothing specific, and the leadership departs without investigation. The moments of connection and concern prove superficial.

Behind closed doors, the captain confronts Olivia with explicit demands for absolute obedience tied to “the tank” and entities called the Old Ones, specifically invoking Abyssrath. Olivia submits without resistance. Later, Alistair Howell, owner of Neuroplex and the ship’s true architect, uses Olivia for control exercises and instructs her to identify new targets. Meanwhile, crew members Nikita, Mairead, and Fion witness the ship’s darker reality. Nikita emerges from Room 203 visibly harmed. Selene reveals that she has worked such vessels before and that formal complaints are deliberately ignored. She performs a cryptic shanty referencing judgment from the waters.

The conspiracy unfolds through calculated moves. A casino night attracts Mairead, who is financially desperate and mathematically convinced she can gain advantage through high-stakes poker. She loses to Alistair and accumulates debt. Captain Dyer reviews surveillance footage and identifies Mairead as the perfect mark: vulnerable, broke, and isolated. Olivia agrees to leverage the ship’s systems, the nightly bell, and the Dagon app as tools for entrapment. The episode concludes with the machine set in motion to deliver Mairead into the hands of those orchestrating the voyage.

All performances are scripted works of fiction in which consent is clearly stated.  This series contains adult themes. Listener discretion is advised.

Production Credits

Deep Dream State is written and produced by Neural Nets and Pretty Patterns, with co-production by Bliss Blank.
Sound design, editing, and scoring by Neural Nets and Pretty Patterns.

Support & Bonus Content

Patreon

For high-quality downloads, early access, and exclusive behind-the-scenes content from Neural Nets & Pretty Patterns, visit our Patreon:

🔗 patreon.com/minderaser

Your support helps sustain independent storytelling that explores the psychology of trance, transformation, and desire through
dream technology and immersive sound design.

Deep Dream Site

For additional lore, please check out the Deep Dream Site, a archive of more show information.  Start with this episode’s entry.

Read the Scripts

The scripts for Deep Dream State are now being published season by season to improve accessibility and in response to fan interest. Season 1: The Chthonic is now available.

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