The Color Pillars Quest (T.A.L.E. Tour Rewind & Giveaway)

Welcome back to the T.A.L.E. Tour Rewind! Jonathan and Redge revisit their climb into the Cliffhanger Mountains and their unforgettable visit to the Color Pillars. What starts as a search for ancient, shimmering ruins takes a surprising turn, leaving you on a cliffhanger before revealing a special kind of magic hidden in the natural world.

Find the full Color Pillars Episode: https://jonincharacter.com/the-color-pillars/

We’re having a special Dorktales Storytime merch giveaway!

• Where would your child like to go with us on a future T.A.L.E. Tour? Grownups, you can submit that idea on their behalf for a chance to win a Dorktales Storytime merch prize pack.
• The giveaway is open to families in the USA, Canada, the UK, and Australia. If you live outside those regions and have a child who would love to participate, please reach out and we’ll be happy to share a digital reward option.
• Last day to submit: Wednesday, February 25, 2026. 
• Seven winners will be randomly selected and announced in a Mr. Redge Hotline episode on March 5.
• Learn more and submit your child’s idea here: https://jonincharacter.com/tale-tour-adventure-playlist/

CREDITS: This episode is a Jonincharacter production. It was produced by Molly Murphy and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Pacific Grove Soundworks.

DORKTALES MERCH PRIZE PACK GIVEAWAY! Enter by February 25, 2026. Find all the details about the giveaway here: https://jonincharacter.com/tale-tour-adventures-rewind/

Transcript

JONATHAN CORMUR: Hello Dork Squad. I'm Jonathan Cormur and you're listening to Dorktales Storytime, the podcast for kids and their pop culture-loving grown-ups.

THEME SONG: It's a beautiful day for a story, adventure and glory, new friends and old ones too. It's an excellent day to get swept away in a tail, so let us regale you.

JONATHAN: Hello Friends! As we get everything ready for our brand new Season Seven… 

REDGE: Seven!! The luckiest, loveliest, number in all the land!

JONATHAN: That’s what you said about season six…you know what, nevermind. 

We’re here again to  look back on one of the stops from ourThrilling and Astounding Lore Expedition.

REDGE: (cheerfully) Or T.A.L.E. Tour, for short!

JONATHAN: Each stop brought us new friends and surprising discoveries we’re still thinking about.

REDGE: Today, we’re revisiting the climb up the Cliffhanger Mountains to a place of ecological mysteries and ancient magic where you’ll find - 

JONATHAN: The glimmering, shimmering artifacts known as-

BOTH: The Color Pillars!

INSERT CLIP 1: “Packing for the Cliffhangers” 

(From EP108 “The Color Pillars” — begin with Redge saying “Jonathan, Jonathan…” and end with “REDGE: I’ve been studying up on all the wonderful things to see and do at The Cliffhangers. This way we’ll be a step ahead on collecting stories!”)

REDGE: Jonathan! Jonathan!

JONATHAN: Yes, Redge?

REDGE: Have you seen where I put my winter scarf? I can’t find it anywhere!

JONATHAN: Is it on the chair near the door?

REDGE: No, no. I looked there.

JONATHAN: In your bedroom?

REDGE: No!

JONATHAN: In that massive pile of scarves sitting right there on the table?

REDGE: Those are my autumnal scarves. I need my winter scarf! It gets quite frigid at the Cliffhangers, you know?

JONATHAN: It’s here, Redge!

REDGE: Where?

JONATHAN: In the pantry. By the–.

REDGE: Snacks! Of course. Oh thank goodness, we found it. Even though it’s spring here in the Folktale Forest, we’ll be traveling to high altitudes where temperatures can stay near zero year round!

JONATHAN: Always good to be prepared!

REDGE: I’ve been looking forward to stopping at the Cliffhangers on our T.A.L.E. tour.

JONATHAN: The Thrilling and Astounding Lore Expedition! I also can’t wait to visit and collect more important lore from Once Upon a Time. What else do we need?

REDGE: I’ve got it all I think. Warm clothes, hiking boots, notebook, quill, extra socks, snacks, snacks, and more snacks. Oh, and our travel guides!

JONATHAN: Travel guides?

REDGE: I’ve been studying up on all the wonderful things to see and do at The Cliffhangers. This way we’ll be a step ahead on collecting stories!

END CLIP

JONATHAN: I still can’t believe your winter scarf was in the pantry, Redge! 

REDGE: Where all essential items belong! Snacks… spices… fashion accessories…

JONATHAN: And it was right next to your favorite snack-selling dolphins’ granola bars too! 

REDGE: Donna & Greta’s Oat-of-This-World Crunchy Bars! Like they always say, “when it comes to snacks, we’re RAISIN the BAR”. Get it? Because raisins?? (Laughs) 

JONATHAN: That’s a good one! (Sighs) We were so excited for this adventure!. The Cliffhangers are unlike anything else in Once Upon a Time.

REDGE: High peaks! Frosty breezes! And mysterious ancient ruins waiting for us just outside the village of Symbol Ism.

JONATHAN: Which brings us to what happened next - the news that stopped us in our tracks…

CLIP 2: “Covered in Muck” 

(From EP108 — begin with “MONTY: Good evening and welcome to Symbol Ism…” and end with “MONTY: Tell me about it. Here are your keys. Have a nice stay.”)

MONTY: Good evening and welcome to Symbol Ism, the best little village in all the Cliffhangers. I’m so happy you’ve decided to stay at Billy Goat Mountain Top Bed and Breakfast where at every turn you’ll be left in wild (whispers echo) wild wild wild (full volume again) anticipation. My name’s Monty. Monty Mountain Goat. Do you have a reservation with us?

JONATHAN: Hello, yes, Reginald T. Hedgehog and Jonathan Cormur checking in for the night.

REDGE: Good evening! I made our reservations months ago. I know how busy it can get here during the Spring Equinox.

JONATHAN: Everyone must want to get a glimpse of the Color Pillars at their most vibrant.

REDGE: And shimmeriest!

MONTY: Nope. You’re the only visitors here.

JONATHAN: Huh?

REDGE: My travel guides say people come from all over Once Upon a Time to see the mystical light transformation of the Color Pillars at the Spring Equinox.

MONTY: Not anymore.

JONATHAN: Why?

REDGE: What do you mean?

MONTY: Oh. You haven’t heard. Ok. Well, the Color Pillars are all covered in muck. Their colors don’t shine. At all.

JONATHAN: Don’t shine?

MONTY: Nope.

REDGE: Not even a glimmer?

MONTY: Not anymore.

REDGE: Covered in muck, you say?

MONTY: Yup. Disgusting. Leafy brown, crusty, yucky muck.

JONATHAN: What’s it from?

MONTY: Don’t know. Nobody does. Won’t come off. Can’t be fixed. And nobody’s checked in here since.

REDGE: This is terrible news.

MONTY: Tell me about it. Here are your keys. Have a nice stay.

END CLIP

REDGE: My heart dropped right into my hiking boots.

JONATHAN: The Color Pillars, the oldest ruins in Once Upon a Time… completely…well… ruined!

REDGE: And then Benny Bison attempted to ruin the ruins even further…

JONATHAN: That’s right, Redge! Claiming it was a sign from the cosmos.

REDGE: Poppycock! He just used it as his excuse to bulldoze them down for a theme park.

JONATHAN: The Cliffhangers – Extreme Heights, Wild Suspense!

REDGE: I mean, catchy name, but not as clever as Oat-of-This-World Crunchy Bars. No thank you, Benny Bison!

JONATHAN: Luckily, Monty Mountain Goat had wisdom, his fellow mountain goat pals, and you and I on his side. We were ready to thwart Benny’s plans!
 

CLIP 3: “Mountain Goat Protest” 

(From EP108 — begin with BENNY: This way team… and end with “MONTY: Would you look at that!” 

BENNY: This way team! This way! Just over the ridge there. Keep up the pace. With any luck, we can break ground before sunrise. Hey! Hey! Why’d we stop? What’s happening? Why’d we stop?

WORKER: Sorry, boss. But there’s something on the pillars.

BENNY: What? Something on the pillars? What could be on the pillars? Wait-What are those? Are those…mountain goats? How’d they get up there?

MONTY: You should know Mountain Goats are well-trained experts in climbing, Benny. Something that sets them apart from the grazing Bison of the prairies.

BENNY: Monty. I should have known you were behind this. You know this isn’t going to stop us. You’re only stalling the inevitable. We have the paperwork to do our work. We’ve been cleared. 

REDGE: You know what I found very interesting, Jonathan?

JONATHAN: What’s that, Redge?

REDGE: It’s really true what they say: Goats will eat anything. Here you are, Monty. The paperwork Benny handed over to you last night.

MONTY: Yum.

(Monty gobbles and crunches the paper.)

MONTY: What a treat.

BENNY: Very cute. But just because you’ve fed our paperwork to your goat friend doesn’t change any facts. You can’t stop the future. It’s coming no matter what. Just embrace iiiiiiiiit.

REDGE: Do you see that Jonathan?

JONATHAN: Truly incredible, Redge!

BENNY: Could it be true?

MONTY: Would you look at that!

END CLIP

JONATHAN: And that’s when things got… interesting.

REDGE: Oh yes, Jonathan… very interesting. Hold on! Did we just do it again?

JONATHAN: What do you mean?

REDGE: Did we just leave everyone hanging - you know, on a cliffhanger at the Cliffhanger Mountains?

JONATHAN: Uh oh, you’re right!

REDGE: Should we spoil the surprise and tell our listeners what happened?

JONATHAN: Hmm… I’m torn, Redge. What if someone listening hasn’t heard the full Color Pillars episode yet? We can’t ruin that moment. 

REDGE: Good point. But maybe… a teensy hint?

JONATHAN: Teeny tiny.

REDGE: Let’s just say the Color Pillars were alive!

JONATHAN: And what they turned into? Truly a sight to behold.

REDGE: If you know, you know. And if you don’t…

JONATHAN: Oh, you’re going to want to find out. Trust me.

REDGE: You’ll find a link to The Color Pillars in the show notes.

JONATHAN: But before we flutter away…

REDGE: Hahaha! I see what you did there! Another hint!

JONATHAN: We have something extra exciting to share - you have a chance to win a Dorktales Storytime merch prize pack!

REDGE: All you have to do is be your cool, creative self! Imagine climbing aboard our Magical Minivan - Where do you want to go with us?

JONATHAN: A swim in Glitter Cove? A visit to Slumberland’s Shut Eye Shopping District? A trip to the Quotatious Period where dinosaurs roam?

REDGE: Or a brand new place dreamed up by you?

JONATHAN: Grownups, send in your child’s idea to us at dorktalesstorytime@gmail.com no later than Wednesday, February 25th.

REDGE: And because we’re gearing up for Season 7, we’ll randomly choose 7 lucky listeners from those who submit their ideas to win the Dorktales merch prize pack!

JONATHAN: We can’t wait to explore your ideas. Until next time…

REDGE: Go be the hero of your own story,

JONATHAN: and we’ll see you next, once-upon-a-time!

No credits - go straight into theme song closer.

JONATHAN: Redge and I look forward to hearing your ideas. Until then, go be the hero of your own story, and we’ll see you next once-upon-a-time!

THEME SONG: So gather your squad for all to see. It's a universe that we've imagined. There's twists and turns and lessons learned. This is where the unexpected happens. Join our humble hosts and hit the trails of the wonderful, wacky, wild world of Dorktales.

© Dorktales Storytime 2026