Transcribed by Michelle Kelly.

Rhi: Welcome back to Duskwall. Thank you so much for listening. And if I saw you at GenCon this past weekend, thank you for taking the time to come up and say hello. I was probably very awkward about accepting your compliments, but meeting fans in person is always amazing. Thanks to everyone who said hi to Minna and I.

September is International Podcast Month. I’m going to be on a couple episodes, one as a player in Good Society, and the other as the host of a discussion about accessibility in RPGs. I’m really proud of both and I can’t wait for you to hear them. And there will be so many more awesome non-fiction, audio drama and actual play episodes posted. Visit InternationalPodcastMonth.com to learn more.

We are coming up on the end of Season Two. This is the second-to-last episode of the season and I do need to give a content warning for it. The Magpies end up allying with a pretty terrible person in this episode and while it doesn’t happen on screen, there are references to torture and murder. The exact time stamps will be in the show notes [and marked in this transcript] and you can pretty safely skip over that section and still understand what happened in the episode without it.

Next, I’d like to tell you about this month’s featured charity.

The Trans Language Primer is a resource that compiles information around the language used by and about LGBTQ+ communities. It’s a historical record and a living document, continually updated so that people within the community can dig deeper into identities and labels and people without, especially medical professionals, social service workers and those in the media, can learn the accepted terminology to address and refer to people in these communities. You can support their future work, which includes plans for translations into other languages, by supporting their Patreon. Or, if you prefer a one-time donation, you can visit editor-in-chief Greyson’s Ko-Fi. Links will be in the show notes.

For our US listeners, please continue to contact your representatives. There are so many issues that need to be addressed, but if you’re not sure where to start, contacting your congress-person in the House of Representatives about impeachment hearings, or your senators about gun control bills and election security is a good place to start.

Now then. Let’s get started, shall we?

##Story continues [00.02.46]

Rhi: We open up on a street in Nightmarket. It’s early afternoon. Who has normally been going to pick up messages from The Hound’s Paw?

Kim: You know, I’m down for being the one to do it, just to switch it up a little. I feel like Myra does a lot of the correspondence stuff, I think it would neat to have Blaire do it for Rigney.

Minna: Yeah, and I think Blaire’s, like, super attached to Rigney.

Rhi: Yes.

Kim: She loves Rigney so much.

Minna: Yeah, not that Myra doesn’t, but I think Blaire, it would do her good to see him more.

Kim: Yeah, Blaire’s a softie.

Rhi: So, Blaire is making her way down this street towards Nightmarket. You turn onto the street that The Hound’s Paw is on, and as soon as you step onto the street, somebody darts out in front of you and you kinda jump back. It takes you a second to recognise that it is Sophia.

Kim (as Blaire): Oh!

Rhi (as Sophia): Oh good, I’m glad that I caught you. Come here, come here.

Rhi: And she herds you off back around the corner.

Kim (as Blaire): What’s this about?

Rhi (as Sophia): Rigney sent me out to watch for whoever was coming today.

Kim (as Blaire): Is he okay?

Rhi (as Sophia): He’ll be fine. The Bluecoats are doing a raid and he didn’t want you to get caught.

Kim (as Blaire): No, we gotta go! What do you mean–

Rhi (as Sophia): No.

Kim (as Blaire): Sophia!

Rhi (as Sophia): He didn’t want you to get in trouble. They’re just looking for information about you and he didn’t want you to get in trouble or get caught.

Kim (as Blaire): But what if they hurt him?

Rhi (as Sophia):  They’re not going to hurt him. They’re just… [sighs] making a point.

Kim (as Blaire): So what can we do?

Rhi (as Sophia): Come back in a few hours?

Kim (as Blaire): I’ll get the rest of the gang and we’ll meet back here, okay?

Rhi (as Sophia): Alright.

Kim (as Blaire): Stay out of sight.

Rhi (as Sophia): I’ll be fine. You are the one that needs to be careful going back.

Kim (as Blaire): Don’t worry about it.

Kim: And Blaire puts up her hood to hide her face.

Rhi: Yeah. Blaire gets back, like, Blaire has been gone for ten minutes when she comes back in, which is way too short of a time for her to have actually completed the errand of collecting messages.

Josie (as Minx): Blaire, is there a travel spell we need to know about?

Kim (as Blaire): No. The Bluecoats are doing a raid at The Hound’s Paw.

Josie (as Minx): Again?

Kim (as Blaire): Yeah. They’re trying to find some dirt about us and I’m worried about them harassing Rigney. We need to meet her back there so she can tell us what’s going on.

Josie (as Minx): Alright. It is not a full raid? They’re just looking?

Kim (as Blaire): From what Sophia told me, but I’m not holding my breath. It could turn into a full raid if they wanted to.

Minna (as Myra): It’s still other people getting caught up in a search that’s ultimately for us.

Josie (as Minx): Yes.

Kim (as Blaire): Exactly. So we gotta put a stop to it.

Minna (as Myra): I agree.

Josie (as Minx): I didn’t think we had garnered so much heat again.

Minna (as Myra): Are you kidding me?

Josie (as Minx): We had been pretty clean. We were worrying about The Circle. I was looking forward to having a break with them off our back, rather than just replacing them with The Bluecoats again.

Kim (as Blaire): Well, beggars can’t be choosers. Let’s go.

Josie (as Minx): Are you certain it is clear enough that it is safe for us to go back?

Josie: While she’s clearly getting ready to go back. [laughs]

Kim (as Blaire): In the proximity. I still wouldn’t get too close.

Josie (as Minx): Yes, and it wouldn’t do to engage The Bluecoats where they expect to find us.

Kim (as Blaire): Exactly.

Josie (as Minx): Still, I suppose we can watch and scheme.

Minna (as Myra): Perhaps we can direct their attention elsewhere.

Kim (as Blaire): That’s what I’m hoping.

Rhi: So, the three of you gear up and troop off down into the streets. When you get back to the corner where Sophia was, she’s not there anymore. She’s expecting you back in a few hours, so she’s not gonna stand there the whole time. But you can from that corner peer down the street and you can see a couple, like, paddy wagons, basically, parked outside of The Hound’s Paw. There’s a number of Bluecoats milling around outside. It looks like they’re doing a search of the place.

Kim (as Blaire): Won’t be good for business if they stay much longer.

Josie (as Minx): Forgive me if this is juvenile, but I have a strong desire to mess with their paddy wagons in some capacity.

Minna: [laughs]

Kim (as Blaire): Minx–

Josie (as Minx): I realise that it’s unwise, since that will only keep them here longer, but…

Kim (as Blaire): I wanna mess them up real bad too, but we gotta keep our heads down, considering.

Minna (as Myra): Considering that they’re here looking for us.

Kim (as Blaire): Yes.

Josie (as Minx): Yes. Suppose they do get rougher with Rigney or the patrons?

Kim (as Blaire): If anything happens I won’t hesitate to go in there. They hurt Rigney, it’s over. But for now we just have to watch.

Josie (as Minx): Very well. Let’s watch.

Rhi: So, about ten minutes pass. More Bluecoats file out of The Hound’s Paw, one of the wagons leaves. Eventually, you see several more Bluecoats climb into the remaining wagon and then one is standing in front of the door. Looks like they’re talking to someone inside. Then they climb into the wagon and it rumbles away. And, yeah, it goes down to the far end of the street and it turns out of sight.

Kim: Blaire is gonna rush into The Hound’s Paw.

Josie: Aww.

Rhi: So, you rush inside and it’s not great. You know, it’s a bar, it always kinda smells like alcohol, but this is thick with the smell of booze because there’s a bunch of broken bottles. There’s alcohol spilled all over the floor, there’s a lot of broken glass. Several of the tables and chairs have been knocked over. Rigney is leaning against the bar, pinching the bridge of his nose, and is giving orders to his staff that’s there. Sophia is coming out of the back room with a mop and bucket and a couple others are starting to sweep up the broken glass. And he raises his head when Blaire comes running in.

Kim (as Blaire): Rigney!

Kim: Blaire’s gonna go round the counter and hug him.

Rhi (as Rigney): Oh, uh, hey kid.

Rhi: He looks over to Sophia.

Rhi (as Rigney): I thought… were you supposed to tell them to wait a few hours?

Rhi: She’s like:

Rhi (as Sophia): I did!

Minna: [laughs]

Rhi: He’s still just patting Blaire.

Kim (as Blaire): I…

Josie (as Minx): Blaire’s not one to wait.

Kim (as Blaire): Are you okay?

Rhi (as Rigney): I’m fine, I’m fine. Just a few coin worth of damage. They didn’t hurt any of us, just broke a bunch of shit.

Kim (as Blaire): [mutters] Motherfuckers.

[laughter]

Rhi: He ruffles your hair and is like:

Rhi (as Rigney): I’m afraid I’m not gonna be able to get you all your usual today.

Kim (as Blaire): Forget about that. We’re here to help.

Rhi (as Rigney): I mean, it’s just The Bluecoats, you know. This is what they do.

Josie (as Minx): Yes.

Rhi (as Rigney): Unfortunately I think you all may have to continue to keep your distance. You haven’t been back here in a while and they still came and trashed the place looking for information.

Josie (as Minx): Indeed.

Kim (as Blaire): What if we can make them stop? You know, throw off our scent somewhere? Send them on a different lead.

Rhi (as Rigney): I mean, that would help.

Kim (as Blaire): Minx, Myra, any ideas?

Josie (as Minx): Not off-hand. Was there any particular issues they cited for their search? Or just looking for us?

Rhi (as Rigney): Uh, I mean, looking for you. Let’s see. They mentioned that clinic you all hit, the Ironhook thing, some break-in up in Brightstone, apparently?

Kim (as Blaire): Er… yeah, that was us.

Rhi: [laughs] He’s just, like, ticking off on his fingers your many high crimes and misdemeanors.

Minna (as Myra): Are they trying to get you for conspiracy, or abetting?

Rhi (as Rigney): Nah, this was just a shakedown to try and scare me to cough up information on you.

Minna (as Myra): So they don’t have anything on you.

Kim (as Blaire): Not yet, but if they keep pressing him, who knows what they’ll do? It’s just a few bottles of alcohol now, what happens next time?

Rhi (as Rigney): What are you talking about? I’m an upstanding citizen with a perfectly clean record.

Josie (as Minx): But as we know, The Bluecoats are not actually for the upstanding citizen.

Rhi (as Rigney): Yeah.

Rhi: He steps out from around the bar as Sophia comes in to mop back there, and I think he’s actually gonna go to the front door and flip the sign around to closed. He’s like:

Rhi (as Rigney): Probably not opening up tonight. [sighs]

Minna: I think if there’s work to be done, Myra’s just automatically helping out with it.

Rhi: Yeah, righting tables and chairs and stuff.

Minna: Yeah, she’s definitely just kind of doing that while they talk.

Rhi: Yeah.

Kim (as Blaire): If they keep doing shakedowns like this and you lose business, I’m worried about The Hound’s Paw being able to stay afloat.

Rhi (as Rigney): Don’t worry about me, Blaire. I will be fine. I have–

Kim (as Blaire): Well I’m gonna worry! Sorry, but I’m gonna worry. This isn’t okay and it’s because of us. So we have to do something to fix it.

Rhi (as Rigney): Well,

Rhi: And I think he’s gonna push himself up to sit on the bar,

Rhi (as Rigney): You said you wanted to pin it on somebody else, right?

Kim (as Blaire): Yes.

Rhi (as Rigney): And stick it to The Bluecoats.

Kim (as Blaire): Always.

Rhi (as Rigney): I’m not exactly sure which of your many crimes you could pin on him, but there’s a Bluecoat Lieutenant by the name of Norris Boyd. He’s the guy who framed Nevan.

Minna (as Myra): Hmm.

Kim (as Blaire): Really?

Josie (as Minx): I see.

Rhi (as Rigney): Yeah.

Minna (as Myra): So you’re thinking we could get the heat off Nevan as well.

Rhi (as Rigney): I mean, that was several years ago. I think that ship has sailed. But, you know, if you can implicate him in something that you were doing. Now, it would have to be something pretty substantial, because he’s known to be pretty corrupt and the powers that be just sorta let him do what he wants. So, it wouldn’t have to be something that, you know–

Kim (as Blaire): Well, we do have a diversified portfolio. I don’t think we’ll have any trouble with that.

[laughter]

Minna: I love the idea that Blaire just picked up a lot of lingo during the Langdon Imports score.

Rhi: Yeah.

Kim: Yes she did.

Rhi: Oh God.

Rhi (as Rigney): I mean, that is true, you do have a lot of crimes to pick from that you could try to pin on this guy, but yeah, it’s gonna have to be something pretty big to get the Bluecoat higher-ups to turn on him.

Kim (as Blaire): What about our Ironhook break-in? Do you think that would be enough?

Rhi (as Rigney): Yeah, that would probably do the trick, if you could somehow connect him to it.

Josie (as Minx): That would be fairly easy to set up. It’s simply a matter of he is corrupt and we gained information and passage from him.

Minna (as Myra): Yeah, does he sell information?

Rhi (as Rigney): I don’t know the specifics of what he gets up to. I mean, he might sell information on the side. He’s got a reputation as more of an extortion, smash-and-grab, terrorize the neighborhood sort, but…

Kim (as Blaire): But it isn’t hard to frame that a Bluecoat would be in Ironhook. They’re there all the time.

Rhi (as Rigney): Yeah, I mean that’s possible.

Kim (as Blaire): We just need convincing evidence.

Minna (as Myra): Pretty tall order, but we can look into it.

Josie (as Minx): Yes.

Kim (as Blaire): I really do think it’s doable.

Minna (as Myra): I think that’s the easiest hook in for us.

Josie (as Minx): This is all, of course, based on the assumption that Rigney is putting us after this fellow of his own will, and not on the strings of another.

Rhi: Rigney just kinda goes very, very still and looks at Minx. Yeah, I think he just slides off the bar and is like:

Rhi (as Rigney): It’s your choice if you wanna follow up on this or not. I gotta clean up my bar.

Kim (as Blaire): We’re following up, no matter what.

Josie (as Minx): It does seem like a good target and we thank you, Rigney, for it. I just wanna make sure all concerns are covered from now on.

Rhi: He’s heading into the back and he just says over his shoulder:

Rhi (as Rigney): I’ve kept an eye on this guy for a while. I’m not doing this because anybody’s making me, Minx.

Josie (as Minx): I assumed as much.

Rhi: You can tell he’s not lying. Your lie detection radar does not go off.

Josie: Yay!

Rhi: But yeah, he goes into the back without really saying bye. You kinda hurt his feelings.

Kim (as Blaire): Be careful.

Rhi: I think he just kinda waves a hand over his shoulder and goes through the door.

Josie: Now, we do have some connections within The Bluecoats, right, who may be able to get us more information?

Kim: We have Jeren.

Rhi: I don’t remember if I actually had Rigney say it, but this guy operates in Crow’s Foot primarily, so you might be able to poke around there. But yeah, where do you wanna start?

Kim: I think we should start with the Bluecoat connections.

Josie: Yeah.

Rhi: Alright. So, Myra?

Minna: I guess once they’ve decided on this course of action she kinda peels off from them as they’re walking back through the city and says:

Minna (as Myra): I’m gonna try and get some information, I’ll be back.

Kim (as Blaire): Where are you going?

Minna (as Myra): I’m going to meet a contact.

Kim (as Blaire): Okay. And if we don’t hear from you? Where do meet you? Where do we find you, what time?

Minna: She’s not used to being asked this because I think they’ve only recently kind of got to this point.

Kim (as Blaire): I’m playing into my trauma of being paranoid.

Minna: Oh, bless.

Josie: Aww.

Minna: I love it, it’s perfect.

Minna (as Myra): Uh… let’s see. We probably should set up.

Kim (as Blaire): Like, if we don’t hear from you in, I don’t know, two hours, where do we find you?

Josie (as Minx): Well, sundown is approaching. So I think we should set, perhaps, meeting back at The Nest soon after sundown? It wouldn’t do to be out at a dangerous time. We can gather more tomorrow if need be.

Minna: Also that’s a good question, if I need to see him immediately I don’t know where I go. Because I can’t just drop in on him anymore.

Rhi: Yeah, I mean you’d basically have to send him a note and be like, ‘I need to talk to you ASAP’.

Minna: Yeah, I think I pay a small child to bring him a note, basically.

Rhi: Yeah.

Minna: I think we’ve been meeting at, like, the lunch spot.

Rhi: You’ve met in a few different places. You could ask to meet somewhere closer to his office, so it doesn’t take him as long. Because the lunch spot is in Nightmarket and he works in Charterhall. So you could–

Minna: Let me look at the map and find a spot in Charterhall. She could just be like meet me here.

Rhi: Yeah. There could be a little park or something on the river.

Minna: Yeah, I think we’ll do that. We’ll meet in… give me a park name.

Rhi: Mistway Park. So, Jeren shows up, I think pretty quickly. I assume your note conveyed a great deal of urgency. And he’s still in his blue coat, because he came straight from work. He comes hustling over.

Rhi (as Jeren): Hi. I got here as fast as I could. What’s going on?

Minna (as Myra): I just need some information. We’ve got trouble with a friend that I’m hoping to solve.

Rhi (as Jeren): [hesitantly] Okay.

Rhi: he sits down on the bench next to you.

Rhi (as Jeren): Um, okay. Well, what sort of information?

Minna (as Myra): So how much do you know about Lieutenant Norris Boyd?

Rhi: Gimme a roll and let’s find out. Almost certainly Consort.

Minna: Because I am talking to a friend and I am being fairly honest with him.

Rhi: As honest as Myra ever is with Jeren.

Minna: She’s honest. Just selectively.

Rhi: Fairly honest with him.

Kim: More honest than she probably should be to any Bluecoat. I’ll just put that out there.

Minna: Yeah, I think her friends would be super uncomfortable with all of this.

Rhi: Yep.

Minna: For the record, I think she did tell her friends, ‘If I’m not back in two hours, I should be at Mistway Park’.

Rhi: Okay.

Minna: 6.

Rhi: Okay.

Minna (as Myra): How much do you know about Lieutenant Norris Boyd?

Rhi (as Jeren): He runs a few squads in Crow’s Foot. Doesn’t have the best reputation, from what I understand.

Minna (as Myra): Believably a criminal?

Rhi (as Jeren): There’s a few, you know, disciplinary marks in his file. Got too rough bringing in suspects, that sort of thing.

Rhi: At this point, with a 6 you can just ask a bunch of follow-up questions.

Minna: Yeah.

Minna (as Myra): Could you see him passing information to people who pay enough?

Rhi (as Jeren): Er… maybe? I don’t, I mean, maybe. Lieutenant salaries are better than what I make, but, you know, for the amount of work that they have to do, it’s a little on the low side. Yeah. He might.

Minna (as Myra): This Lieutenant, does he have connections in Ironhook?

Rhi (as Jeren): Yeah, I think he did a rotation there a couple months ago and just got cycled back into Crow’s Foot.

Minna: Out of character, a couple months ago. That does coincide with our–

Rhi: Yeah, that lines up pretty neatly.

Kim: Ooh!

Minna: So I think Myra, like, her lips twitch like she’s suppressing a smile.

Minna (as Myra): Very interesting.

Rhi (as Jeren): Why do you wanna know?

Minna (as Myra): He’s bad news. We just wanna make people see it.

Rhi (as Jeren): [sighs]

Minna (as Myra): You told me yourself he’s not got a good reputation and that’s saying something.

Rhi (as Jeren): Yeah, I mean, he’s got like I said, some disciplinary notes in his file. But a lot of Bluecoats do.

Minna (as Myra): Disciplinary notes? You have to do something noisy to get a disciplinary note as a Bluecoat, from what I understand.

Rhi (as Jeren): I mean…

Minna (as Myra): This guy’s also known for other pursuits besides being a Bluecoat, to people who know about that kind of thing. It’s just that nobody’s cared up ‘til now.

Rhi (as Jeren): I mean, I… [sighs]

Minna (as Myra): And if it helps anything, it’s about our safety and the safety of our friends.

Rhi (as Jeren): I mean, that helps a little. And you’ve mostly been right about people so far, so just don’t get me mixed up in it.

Minna (as Myra): I’m not gonna get you mixed up in it. I would never give your name.

Rhi (as Jeren): Alright. There wasn’t anything else, was there?

Minna (as Myra): Just be careful. I might be a little scarce around the regular visits, just because… well, I’ll be a little scarce around the regular visits. But I’ll try and keep up when I can. I just wanna keep you out of this.

Rhi (as Jeren): Alright. Um. Are you gonna be okay?

Minna (as Myra): I am going to be as okay as I possibly can be. I’m going to do my best. [laughs] That’s all I can promise you, Jeren.

Rhi (as Jeren): That is probably not as reassuring are you were hoping.

Minna (as Myra): No, I know it’s not reassuring, but I don’t have anything true to tell you that is reassuring. Things are dangerous right now. I’ll be smart and do my best.

Rhi: Alright. I think he’s gonna, like, stand up and brush off his coat, and be like:

Rhi (as Jeren): Well, I should get back. I’ll see ya when I see ya, I guess.

Minna (as Myra): See ya when I see ya.

Rhi: So off he goes. So you’ve got a bit of information on this Lieutenant. Minx? You had an idea that involved an Inspector’s disguise.

Josie: Yes. But honestly I think talking to Severin might be a better idea. He, despite being a possessor ghost, is pretty good at his job and reasonably honest, right?

Rhi: Previously established, in a group of people who are known for being incorruptible, he is kind of a paladin type. Like, he’s this poor lawful good bastard in this godforsaken city.

Josie: [laughs]

Kim: God bless lawful good characters.

Rhi: So yeah, if you wanted to chat with Severin, you could definitely do that.

Josie: Yeah, I’m trying to think of my angle here, because I think my angle might just be, like, ‘Hey, what would you need to put this guy away?’

Rhi: Yeah.

Josie: Because why not, right? He’s already kinda corrupt, there’s just not a lot there.

Rhi: Yeah.

Kim: Right.

Josie: Now I’m just thinking if Minx would be too afraid to talk to Severin about it.

Kim: I can come and hold your hand.

Josie: That would be adorable.

Kim: Let’s do it.

Josie: Yep.

Rhi: Alright. His apartment is probably the best place to track him down, I think.

Josie: Yes.

Rhi: Yeah. So, the two of you head over to Severin’s apartment. From your previous investigations you know which one is his.

Josie: Mm-hmm.

Rhi: Head upstairs, knock on the door and you hear, like, footsteps inside and the door opens. It’s got a chain across, and it’s just open a crack, and he peers out and sees the two of you. And is just like:

Rhi (as Severin): Um… hello?

Josie (as Minx): Good evening. Sorry to bother you, but we do have some urgent work-related business.

Rhi: I think he peers past the two of you to see that the hallway is clear and is like:

Rhi (as Severin): Alright.

Rhi: Opens up the door and lets you in. Man, what does Severin’s apartment look like?

Kim: I think it is very bare. I think it’s only like the bare essentials kind of thing. A very basic desk, you know, not a lot in terms of decoration or personality. Just very hardy and humble.

Rhi: Yeah. I think he does have a couple, like, personal touches. But the fact that there’s only a few makes them stand out a lot more.

Kim: Yeah.

Rhi: I think he’s got a pretty nice braided rug on the floor by his desk. I think that it’s a very neat and orderly space. He keeps his place pretty clean.

Kim: Yeah.

Rhi: He lets you in, closes the door behind you and then kinda moves to stand in the center of the room. Sort of preventing you from moving more than a few feet into the apartment. He’s like, ‘I will let you in, but this is a little weird’. He’s like:

Rhi (as Severin): Uh… I didn’t really get a chance to thank you properly. I’m still on administrative leave, but it’s looking like I’ll actually get my job back, which is impressive. So thanks for that.

Josie (as Minx): It is not issue, and thank you for doing your job, I suppose.

Kim (as Blaire): And not selling us out in the process.

Rhi (as Severin): Well, I mean, selling you out wouldn’t have helped me any.  So, what can I do for ya?

Josie (as Minx): There’s a Lieutenant, one Norris Boyd. You know of him?

Rhi: Gimme a roll and let’s find out.

Josie: Alright.

Kim: Would you like an assist?

Josie: If you’re willing to give it.

Kim: Yeah, I’ve got the stress to spare.

Rhi: Doing a Consort?

Josie: Yep. I got a 5.

Rhi (as Severin): Norris Boyd… yeah, he’s a Bluecoat Lieutenant. Kind of a piece of shit, I think. But that’s most of them, so…

Kim (as Blaire): Well. We’re looking for a specific brand of shit.

Josie (as Minx): As much as I don’t care for that metaphor, he has been very loud, made a bit of a stink around things–

Kim (as Blaire): [giggles] Sorry.

Josie (as Minx): Yes, Blaire, you are welcome.

Kim (as Blaire): Poop.

[laughter]

Josie: Hold on, I’m gonna need a second.

Rhi: I have to say I’m impressed that it took us until almost the end of Season Two to get to a bunch of poop jokes, so good on us.

Kim: I’m so happy.

Minna: Better than most of our RPG groups, if we’re being real here.

Josie (as Minx): He’s been very loud and, even given the profession, has only been marked for minor disciplinary action. And frankly we are tired of it and we are wondering what you would need to find to put him away finally.

Rhi (as Severin): Oh, interesting. Can you narrow it down any in terms of what he’s done?

Josie (as Minx): Outright brutalizing citizens.

Kim (as Blaire): And even more so than that, we’re looking to see if he had any connection with that Ironhook break-in that happened a couple months ago.

Josie (as Minx): Yes.

Rhi: I think he looks at the two of you for a second and arches an eyebrow and is like:

Rhi (as Severin): I think that you would know if he was involved in that better than I would.

Kim (as Blaire): We’re trying to frame the guy. That’s what we’re doing here.

Rhi (as Severin): Ah.

Josie (as Minx): Well, if we are simply coming right out with it, then yes. That is what we are trying to do.

Rhi (as Severin): I mean, look, sometimes you know someone’s guilty, you just don’t have the evidence for it, and you maybe have to fabricate a few things. Happens.

Josie (as Minx): Are you sure you wouldn’t be more inclined to our kind of work, with that attitude?

Rhi (as Severin): Eh. Nah. The Inspectors suit me just fine. Alright, connecting him to that. You’d need some kind of paper trail connecting him to the criminals who did this break-in. I think if you could swing it, evidence that he had been paid off, that he’d gotten kind of an influx of coin. Witnesses would be good, if you had people who could connect him to any of you, or to the scene of the crime.

Kim (as Blaire): Stabby girl could vouch for us.

Rhi: Stabby girl?

Kim: Do you remember the girl with the knife?

Rhi: Oh shit, you’re right.

Kim and Minna: Yeah!

Rhi: Damn. What a callback! Holy shit. I don’t remember her name.

Josie: I still don’t remember. Oh, her!

Rhi: Yeah. Did she ever give you a name?

Minna: I don’t know if she ever gave us a name.

Rhi: Holy shit. Okay. That’s okay, if she didn’t give you a name that means I don’t have to try and remember it.

Kim: Um… was it Frosty?

Rhi: Wow, what a blast from the past. Yeah, I think it might have been.

Kim: Because I remember making a joke about ‘stay frosty’.

Rhi: Yes. Yes! You’re right, the name she gave you…

Minna: Yeah, she was offended.

Rhi: I’m looking, because I know I just pulled her name off the alias list. Frost.

Kim: Frost. Yep. Yeah, if we could find her, and say, like, ‘Hey you owe us for us breaking you out,’ she might be down. If we can convince her.

Rhi (as Severin): If you’ve got somebody who was there the night of the breakout, I mean, if it’s somebody who broke out, getting her to testify.

Minna: Testify in exchange?

Rhi (as Severin): If I’m the one running this case, I could be willing to cut a deal with her.

Kim: Well, first we have to track her down. She kinda, you know, disappeared into the night.

Rhi (as Severin): Well, if you are able to find her, let her know that as long as she doesn’t confess to any other crimes in my presence, I’ll cut a deal.

Kim (as Blaire): We may have a deal on our hands.

Josie (as Minx): Yes, this sounds like a sound plan.

Rhi (as Severin): Yeah, if you can get me any evidence, hopefully I’ll be back from leave soon and I can start on this case. But, yeah, you’ll need to make it pretty ironclad so when I start working on it I can put all the pieces together.

Kim (as Blaire): We’ll do everything we can.

Josie (as Minx): Indeed.

Rhi (as Severin): Alright. Well, good luck.

Kim (as Blaire): Thank you!

Rhi: He still seems a little bit like, ‘Well, this is a little odd, this is not how I normally operate, but okay’.

Kim: Adult life is already so goddamn weird.

Rhi: [laughs] Yep. So he’ll see the two of you out.

Josie: Actually, as we’re leaving, Minx is gonna kinda pause for a second and say:

Minna (as Myra): No need to answer this one if it is prying. But recently this one shared a condition similar to yours willingly. Is that the same with you?

Rhi (as Severin): Willingly?

Josie (as Minx): Yes.

Rhi (as Severin): Nope.

Josie (as Minx): [sharp inhale]

Josie: Minx is kinda gonna get a little bit of fear in her eyes and say:

Josie (as Minx): Okay.

Kim (as Blaire): Well, thank you very much Mr. Severin, we’ll be taking our leave now. It was so nice catching up with you, and good luck with your… everything. Bye!

Josie (as Minx): Yes, quite. Good evening.

Kim: I’m pulling Minx through the door.

Rhi: Yeah.

Josie and Rhi: [laugh]

Rhi: Yeah, because I don’t think you’ve ever actually asked him how the situation came about.

Josie: Yeah.

Rhi: And every time he gets close to explaining, you’re like, ‘Oh never mind, bye!’

Kim: Oh, I’m gonna ask him someday.

Rhi: Yeah.

Josie: I wasn’t gonna ask specifics, she just wanted to know whether it was like, a willing situation or not.

Rhi: It’s super duper not. The ghost is piloting around the body of the guy who killed him.

Josie: Oh. Interesting.

Rhi: It’s a revenge thing. Yeah.

Josie: Gotcha.

Rhi: So you’ve hit upon the idea of tracking down Frost. You don’t really know where she is or what she’s up to. So yeah, where do you wanna start in terms of tracking her down?

Josie: Who would we know that knows a stabby girl?

Rhi: You have connections with both The Gondoliers and The Cabbies, and they kinda get all over the city.

Kim: Are we in the good graces of any kind of faction or group that is a little bit seedier?

Josie: Are we in the good graces of any faction?

Kim: True.

Minna: [laughs]

Rhi: Yeah that’s a better question. No.

Josie: [laughs]

Rhi: Well, actually no. I take that back. You and The Silver Nails have an accord.

Minna: As long as we don’t burn down The Lost District.

Josie: I do like asking The Gondoliers. Like, our gang and theirs isn’t an exclusive partnership, right?

Rhi: No.

Josie: Like, they do work for other groups. So they might just have, I dunno, done a getaway for Frost before, or something like that.

Rhi: Yeah. Both of those are completely plausible options.

Josie: Yeah. I think Minx is probably gonna ask through Kay to speak with… who was the person in charge again? It’s been a while.

Rhi: Eisele.

Josie: To speak with Eisele, and then of course on the way there’s much flirting to be had.

Josie and Rhi: [laugh]

Rhi: Go ahead and make your roll.

Josie: 5.

Rhi: It probably takes about a day. You have to go and ask her, like, ‘Hey, we’re looking for this specific person. Can you help us out?’ and she’s like:

Rhi (as Eisele): I will put out the word, but it’s gonna take a little while.

Rhi: But she does come back to you eventually with information that they’ve given her some rides around the city. She’s been doing a lot of work over in Silkshore and they suspect that she’s been doing work with The Wraiths. They’re kind of one of the bigger players in Silkshore specifically right now.

Josie: Okay.

Rhi: So Myra and Blaire, we’re gonna go chat with The Silver Nails.

Kim: Yeah.

Minna: Sounds good.

Rhi: So, yeah, the two of you head up to The Mustang. Go ahead and one of you make a roll, see how this goes.

Minna: That is a 6.

Kim: Nice.

Rhi: So I think Tuhan just spots you across the bar and makes her way over, you know, checking in. And when you tell her what you’re looking for, they actually were looking to hire Frost for different work, but she is currently occupied doing something for The Wraiths that involves breaking in to… what’s the name of the hotel?

Kim: The…

Josie: The Duskwall Sheraton.

Kim: Spooky (? 35.

Rhi: [pause] Minna, would you like to try?

[laughter]

Rhi: Minna, I am placing all my hopes on you.

Minna: One second, you’ll have to give me a second. The Karstas Arms? (? 35.24)

Rhi: Sure. She is apparently doing some work for The Wraiths down at The Karstas Arms Hotel. Near Gaddoc Rail. They don’t know the specifics of what she’s doing. Tuhan guesses it probably involves stabbing someone.

Kim (as Blaire): That sounds on brand.

Rhi: And I think she’ll also tell you that it was happening pretty soon, like in the next couple nights. So sometime in the next couple days, Frost is going to be at this hotel to do a stabbing.

Kim (as Blaire):  Well, we could always stay at the inn for the next couple days while we wait for her.

Rhi: You could, yeah.

Josie (as Minx):  That’s true.

Kim (as Blaire): But do we have the coin for it?

Josie (as Minx): I mean, I have money.

Minna (as Myra): That’s true.

Rhi: Yeah, if Minx wants to.

Josie: Minx blowing a bunch of money on a few nights in an expensive hotel is honestly perfectly in character and I would do that.

Rhi: I think it is a pretty nice hotel.

Minna: [giggles] But there’s only one bed.

[laughter]

Kim: Yes! Playing into the trope! My fan fiction!

Josie: Yup, doing it.

Rhi: Here’s the thing; I think that even a couple–, so let’s say that it’s two nights.

Kim: We are sharing a bed. There are not enough beds, whatever we do.

Rhi: I think that it’s probably only gonna be one coin.

Josie: I think Minx is gonna bankroll it, because as soon as someone says The Karstas Arms to her, she’s just gonna slap a piece of paper and pen out of her purse or something and start doing the math about it.

Rhi: [laughs]

Josie: Yeah, so, Minx is like:

Minna (as Myra): Regrettably the penthouse was already booked on such short notice, perhaps while we are there we shall leave a reservation for next year.

Kim (as Blaire): Next year?

Josie (as Minx): But I bought a room for a few nights. This is still The Karstas Arms, it will suffice. And yes, next year. You do need to think ahead on vacations, generally. This is a business trip, but–

Kim (as Blaire): Yeah, this is business for us. We’re not taking a vacation.

Josie (as Minx): My conscience is trying to lead me towards doing both, but business first, business first, Minx.

Kim (as Blaire): Well, it doesn’t have to be a vacation, but you can mix business with pleasure.

Josie (as Minx): You may wish to revise that, since the best I could do was a single bed.

Kim (as Blaire): [double take]

Rhi: I think we cut to all of you walking into this hotel.

Kim: With our little bags.

Rhi: Yeah, with your little overnight bags. Tell me about the lobby of this place. What’s it look like? Everybody give me a detail.

Kim: Ooh, I have one.

Rhi: Yes.

Kim: There is a statue in the center that is part of a fountain, and it looks alarmingly similar to Kevin.

Rhi: [laughs]

Josie (as Minx): Hmm. Feels like home.

Josie: It’s not, like, a gauche place. It almost kind of has a lodge quality to it.

Kim: Ooh.

Rhi: Oh, interesting.

Josie: It’s still a big hotel, but something that’ll appeal to the more rugged sort of people while still being super upscale.

Kim: Right.

Rhi: Okay.

Kim: So kind of like a ski lodge kind of thing.

Josie: Yeah, exactly.

Rhi: A really high-end ski lodge in a place where there is no skiing whatsoever.

Josie: Exactly.

Rhi: I love it.

Josie: Hey, I mean, hunting Deathlands beasts might be a thing for the people who are way too rich to have anything better to do.

Rhi: Yeah, that actually makes a lot of sense, yeah.

Kim: There’s a game room.

Rhi: Yeah, like a hunting lodge. There’s a taxidermy ash bear in the smoking lounge.

Minna: [laughs]

Kim (as Blaire): Who did this to you?

Minna: Aww.

Rhi: Minna, what’s your addition?

Minna: I feel like there’s a shuttle service, with like goat-pulled carts, that’s included in the fee.

Josie: [bleats]

Rhi: Yes, so there’s a station outside where the carriages can–

Minna: This is an airport hotel as well.

Kim: It is!

Rhi: It is. But it’s a really, really nice one. This is where rich people stay. Cool. I love this. This is great. The three of you enter this hotel. Minx checks you in under whatever flowery pseudonyms she selected for you.

Josie: Right.

Rhi: And you head up to your room, which is on the fifth floor. I think it’s a six-storey hotel, so you’re just under the penthouse.

Josie: Okay.

Rhi: And it’s a very nice room. There’s a big window with a nice view of the rail station. There’s a mini-bar, there’s a little seating area with a couch and couple armchairs and a little table, there’s a desk and there is indeed one king-size bed.

Kim (as Blaire): Okay, so… I’ll be on the floor, and–

Rhi: There’s a couch, Blaire! [laughs]

Kim (as Blaire): Yeah, but Myra will take the couch, Minx will take the bed because she paid for it, she checked us in and also she’s tallest and likes nice things. And I can sleep on the floor.

Josie (as Minx): That’s true, but… no.

Rhi: [laughs] The bed is like 18 feet across. It’s not actually that big, but it’s a huge bed.

Josie (as Minx): Blaire, there is space for all three of us. You know that, yes?

Kim (as Blaire): [hesitantly] I’m a kicker… I kinda…

Minna (as Myra): Would you be comfortable on the couch?

Kim (as Blaire): … I’d be comfortable on the floor…

Minna (as Myra): Do you want to sleep on the floor?

Kim (as Blaire): No, but if I got into a bed with you guys, I don’t want you waking up with bruises.

Josie (as Minx): Blaire, we are gonna be up a good portion of the night anyway.

Kim (as Blaire): Well can we at least get room service?

Minna and Rhi: [laugh]

Josie (as Minx): Of course we can get room service. Are you kidding? Yes, of course we are getting room service, Blaire.

Kim (as Blaire): Okay.

Kim: And Blaire’s gonna flop onto the bed.

Josie (as Minx): Me enjoying nice things does not mean you two do not get to enjoy nice things.

Kim (as Blaire): Myra, Myra, come here.

Minna (as Myra): Yes?

Kim (as Blaire): Come on, come on the bed.

Minna (as Myra): Okay, okay.

Minna: [laughs] Wait, she’s sitting on the bed and telling me to sit on the bed?

Kim: Yeah, Blaire’s gonna pull you down until you’re lying down next to her.

Minna: Okay.

Josie and Minna: [laugh]

Kim (as Blaire): Ah, isn’t it soft?

Rhi: It’s a really nice, soft bed.

Kim (as Blaire): We could just fall asleep here forever.

Minna (as Myra): Yeah.

Josie (as Minx): See? Isn’t it better to choose the bed?

Kim (as Blaire): Minx, come here! You won’t know it until you’re lying on it.

Josie: I think Minx will try to, like, daintily sit down and then Blaire just pulls her flat. And she’s like:

Josie (as Minx): Ah!

Minna: I feel like Blaire’s in the center.

Kim and Rhi: Yeah.

Kim (as Blaire): [sighs] Okay, so let’s take a nap, we’ll get some room service and then we’ll have a little, you know, stay up all night thing. Yeah.

Rhi: Yeah, you have some free time right now to just sort of chill out in this hotel.

Josie (as Minx): Well, of course we’re gonna get room service.

Kim: [sing-song] What is on the menu?

Rhi: Let’s see… there’s a goat cheese and mushroom risotto.

Kim (as Blaire): Ah, yes.

Josie (as Minx): Mm.

Rhi: I think there is a squid-ink pasta with squid and some other seafood in it.

Kim (as Blaire): [gasps]

Josie (as Minx): Oh, I’ve had that, it’s really good.

Kim (as Blaire): That sounds really yummy.

Josie (as Minx): But you look like a demon after eating it.

[laughter]

Kim (as Blaire): I look like a demon all the time!

Rhi: And maybe like a goat stew. A rich goat stew that actually has some vegetables in it. Some radiant energy veggies.

Minna: Ooh, fancy.

Kim: Very fancy.

Josie: Minx is gonna go for the risotto.

Kim (as Blaire): I want the squiddy bowl.

Rhi: What’s Myra gonna get?

Minna: The goat stew.

Rhi: Alright. And I think there is also a dessert option. I think there is goat’s milk ice cream and there’s also sweet potato cookies.

Kim: Ooh.

Rhi: Like, spiced sweet potato cookies.

Josie: I think Minx is gonna go for the ice cream.

Kim: Cookies please.

Rhi: So I think we fade out on the room with the three of you sprawled out on this big bed and we fade back in to, like, the little table in the middle of the seating area just covered in dishes and glasses, as the three of you are sprawled out post-meal.

Kim (as Blaire): I never want to eat anything again in my life. I’m so happy.

Rhi: Blaire’s mouth is in fact stained completely black.

Kim: Yup.

Josie (as Minx): We will see about that at tomorrow’s dinner.

Kim (as Blaire): Are we doing this again?

Josie (as Minx): I mean, I imagine we may go to a restaurant if we are still here tomorrow evening.

Kim (as Blaire): Alright!

Rhi: I think when you all set out to look for Frost is gonna be the start of the score. Ooh! Good for you, I got a 6.

Kim (as Blaire): Woo!

Rhi: Where do you set up shop?

Josie: One thing Minx wants to do is under the guise of checking her own entry in the guest registry try and see if there’s any names she might recognise as potential targets.

Rhi: Okay. So let’s say that the three of you head down to the lobby to start scouting for information. Minx, you ask to see the guest registry. Myra and Blaire are, I think, hanging out by the fountain.

Kim: Yep.

Rhi: With Kevin’s sibling.

Kim: Kevina.

Josie and Rhi: [laugh]

Rhi: And you see out of the corner of your eye, coming out of the bar that’s attached to the hotel, you see a fairly familiar-looking woman carrying a tray in her hands, wearing a uniform of the hotel staff, heading for the stairs. And you’re like, ‘Is that… yeah, that’s her’. So, Frost is on her way to the stairs with a disguise and a tray.

Minna (as Myra): [whispers] Minx.

Josie (as Minx): Minx is gonna start a little bit, thank the people at the counter and go over to the other two.

Josie (as Minx): Yes dears?

Kim (as Blaire): Waitress, four o’clock.

Josie (as Minx): I see.

Josie: Where is she heading to again? She’s heading up the stairs?

Rhi: Yeah, she’s heading to the stairs, leading up. Would they have elevators?

Kim: Huh.

Rhi: Let me do a quick Google. Yeah, no, 1853. Let me revise that. See, we’re an educational podcast.

Kim: Yes.

Minna: [laughs]

Rhi: So yeah, I think she’s heading for the elevators then.

Josie: She says on the episode with all the poop jokes.

Rhi: Mm-hmm.

Kim: We contain multitudes.

Josie: [laughs]

Rhi: Yeah. So Frost is disguised as a waiter, carrying a tray, heading for the elevators.

Kim (as Blaire): Pardon me, waitress? Hors d’oeuvres!

Rhi: She turns around and does a double take when she sees the three of you. She has that moment of surprise and then, like, puts her face back to neutral and is like:

Rhi (as Frost): I’m terribly sorry Miss, I am getting this upstairs to a customer, but I’m sure that they can help you in the bar.

Kim (as Blaire): Oh, we’re on the fifth floor, we can follow you on the way.

Kim: And Blaire’s just gonna head for the elevator.

[laughter]

Minna: Myra follows.

Josie: [laughs] Wow. Okay, I was gonna try and be subtle.

Rhi: She gets into the elevator and positions herself in front of the call buttons. So the doors close, and as soon they’re closed she’s like:

Rhi (as Frost): What the hell are you doing here?

Josie (as Minx): You have made yourself rather hard to make contact with.

Rhi (as Frost): I didn’t wanna have contact with you all again. Like, I appreciate you getting me out of there, but what the hell are you doing here? I’m working.

Kim (as Blaire): So are we.

Josie (as Minx): Yes, it is a business matter. And it may be a bit of a mutual back-scratching situation.

Rhi (as Frost): Okay, what do you want?

Josie (as Minx): Simply put, we are trying to ensure justice is served properly. So, if you could recall in your memory a testimony for someone–

Kim (as Blaire): We’re trying to frame a Bluecoat who–

Rhi (as Frost): Oh, okay.

Josie (as Minx): Yes, I was trying to make absolutely certain, but yes. Alright.

Rhi (as Frost): Okay. I mean, I like screwing over The Bluecoats, but wait. Testimony? You don’t want me to testify, do you? I’m not going back to Ironhook.

Kim (as Blaire): We know an Inspector who is trustworthy and is on our side.

Rhi (as Frost): [snorts] Right. Listen.

Josie (as Minx): And by trustworthy, I mean open to business.

Rhi (as Frost): Okay, look, I’m kind of in the middle of something right now.

Rhi: And she’s gonna, like, hit the sixth floor button behind her and the elevator shudders a little bit and starts to rise.

Rhi (as Frost): Look, I don’t have time right now to deal with whatever your little thing is. So if you all can just, I don’t know, wait in the hall while I take care of this.

Rhi: And she lifts the lid off of the tray and… well, you’re pretty sure you know what the knives are for.

Josie: [laughs]

Rhi: The corkscrew’s a little worrying.

Kim: [laughs]

Rhi: There’s some vials on there that Blaire, you’re pretty sure is acid.

Kim: Yup.

Rhi: And then there’s a few little doodads that none of you have really seen before and you’re not sure what they’d be used for, but they’re covered in pointy bits and would probably be painful.

Kim (as Blaire): Well then, what if we help you make the time. We don’t have the time, let’s speed things up for you.

Rhi (as Frost): No, no, no. this isn’t gonna be a fast thing here that I’m doing. I need to make an example of somebody.

Kim (as Blaire): Well then how can we assist?

Rhi (as Frost): Um…

Josie (as Minx): I imagine keeping people from discovering the example before it is properly prepared.

Rhi (as Frost): I mean, yeah, that would help, if you can keep security away. There’s gonna be some screaming.

Kim (as Blaire): We could look into that.

Rhi (as Frost): You know, I think there’s some security systems on this floor that maybe you could shut down if they start doing anything wonky, because I have a feeling this person’s gonna try and run as soon as I see ‘em. Oh, if they run, can you stop ‘em?

Kim (as Blaire): Oh, we’re pretty good at stopping.

Rhi (as Frost): Okay, great.

Rhi: Ding! You reach the sixth floor. The doors slide open and she puts the lid back on tray and kinda straightens up and is like:

Rhi (as Frost): Alright, well, I guess you just wanna wait out here and keep an eye on things.

Minna (as Myra): Are you willing to make deal on it?

Rhi (as Frost): [frustrated] I gotta work here, you all wait out here and deal with things, I got a job to do!

Minna (as Myra): It will only take a moment.

Rhi (as Frost): What?

Minna: I think she holds her hand out and there’s like sort of a glowy rune forming on it.

Rhi: Um, you’re gonna need to make some sort of check to convince her to shake your spooky ghost hand.

Minna: Listen, she doesn’t trust her to keep her end of the bargain and she really wants to have payoff for this.

Kim: That’s fair. Give us some insurance.

Minna: Can it be a Consort? Or does it have to be a Sway?

Rhi: I think it’s probably Sway, because you are kinda trying to manipulate her here.

Minna: Okay. Yeah, I’m gonna push myself.

Rhi: Okay. You’re in a controlled position at least.

Minna: That’s a 6.

Rhi: Okay.

Minna (as Myra): If we keep this operation of yours quiet, you’ll help us with that testimony. Your choice.

Rhi (as Frost): I think she’d been standing there with a hand raised to knock on this door, and lowers her hand and is just like:

Rhi (as Frost): Well, aren’t you conniving. Fine.

Rhi: And shakes your hand.

Minna: There’s the whole, like, flash and a rune gets marked on her hand.

Rhi (as Frost): Oh, cool. That’s subtle. Fine. All of you keep the hallway quiet and clear of security and if this person here tries to make a run for it, just shove ‘em back in the room. Kay?

Kim (as Blaire): Okey dokey.

Josie (as Minx): Alright.

Minna (as Myra): Will do.

Rhi (as Frost): Alright. Now move.

Rhi: And she shoos you off further down the hall and then knocks on the door.

## [00.51.42] Content warning: non-graphic discussion of/implication of torture and murder (happens off-screen). To skip, go to the next timestamp.

Rhi (as Frost): [clears throat] Room service!

Rhi: And then I think there’s a pause and the door cracks open, and she just like shoulders into the door and barrels in. And then there’s a lot of shouting and clattering and the door slams.

Kim (as Blaire): Well, she’s good at what she does.

Rhi: Some screaming and pleas for mercy happening.

Minna: Which Myra is looking very uneasy about.

Rhi: Yeah.

Josie: Okay, possible to do in a flashback.

Rhi: Mm-hmm?

Josie: First of all, is there any other rooms on this floor, or is it just the penthouse?

Rhi: There’s the penthouse and then I think there is probably doors to the stairs on either end of the hall, and then there’s probably a maintenance closet or a linen closet type thing, so they don’t have to go down a floor to clean up in the penthouse, because that’s gonna be a big enough job already.

Josie: I have a flashback for Minx to have a disguise. What is the housekeeping garb around here like?

Rhi: Um…

Josie: Point is, I’m wondering if a maid outfit is period appropriate.

Kim: Oh my God.

Josie: [laughs]

Rhi: It is now. Yep.

Kim: We are uncontrollable.

Minna: I think it would be a maid outfit with a long skirt, maybe?

Rhi: Yes.

Minna: But I could definitely see that being period appropriate.

Josie: Oh, yeah. Like, this is an actual maid outfit, not the kind that probably was conjured in Kim’s head.

Kim: Thank you for putting me on blast.

Rhi: A maid’s outfit would work.

Josie: Okay. Would I take any stress from that?

Rhi: I think one stress to acquire it.

Kim: And another one for making me sound horny.

Rhi: No. That’s free. I feel like I should give her bonus points for that.

[laughter]

Josie: So, I think Minx is calmly gonna return to the room and emerge in a maid’s outfit and try and get into that linen closet.

Rhi: Okay. I think it is probably locked. And you probably do not have keys. You got the outfit, you didn’t get keys.

Josie: Mm-hmm.

Josie (as Minx): Would anyone be willing to help me pick the lock on this?

Kim: I can help with that. I will roll a Tinker. Oh no. That’s a 1.

Rhi: Okay. So this was still controlled.

Kim: Right.

Rhi: So I think you crouch down to start picking the lock and like, as you get the picks in there, there’s a blood-curdling scream from inside the penthouse. And it startles you and that was not quiet. People probably heard that. So if you keep trying to pick this lock, you’re gonna drop down into risky, or you can try something else.

Kim: I dunno, I think it’s worth the gamble if I push myself. What do you folks think?

Minna (as Myra): I think so.

Josie: Yeah.

Kim: Alright, let me try again. Okay, that’s better. That’s a 6.

Rhi: Alright. So yeah, this time you manage to get the lock open. So the linen closet is now open to you.

Josie: Okay. In there I’m going to take some linens and things, press them at the bottom of the door, so try and press them in to limit the sound that gets out.

Rhi: Oh, okay.

Josie: And do they have one of those little housekeeping carts that I can load things onto?

Rhi: Yeah.

Josie: Okay. What I’m gonna do is head down to the floor below us, right by the stairs, so I can see and maybe hear with my little cart and look like I’m preparing things. So I can keep watch.

Rhi: Okay, so you’re going down a floor to keep watch. Okay.

Josie: And then if I, like, see the elevator moving I can press the call button on the floor down here or something.

Rhi: There was that blood-curdling scream, Minx goes downstairs to keep an eye on things, on the elevator. Myra and Blaire are hanging out in this hallway. You can hear more struggling sounds coming from inside the room. And then the door crashes open and a man in his, we’ll say late 20s, dark hair, light skin, fairly typical Akorosian features, who is bleeding heavily from multiple stab wounds and has this horrible gash down the side of his face comes staggering out and sees Blaire and kind of lurches towards you and is like:

Rhi (as Man): [yells] You have to help me! You have to help me! She’s trying to kill me!

Kim (as Blaire): Wha… I… Myra? Stop him?

Minna: Oh no, how do I do this? We have partnered with somebody who is not great.

Rhi: Who is a really bad person, but you made a deal to keep this quiet.

Kim: We did make a deal.

Minna: I did make a deal.

Josie: Mm-hmm. You mystically locked yourself into it.

Rhi: What happens if you renege on your deal?

Minna: Let me look at Ghost Contract really quick.

Rhi: Level 3 harm, Cursed. That’s vague and enticing.

Minna: Yeah, but I’m not gonna do that because I made a fucking deal.

Rhi: I mean, your consciences might start–

Minna: So has he come up to… he went up to Blaire, has he seen me?

Rhi: Yeah, he rushed to Blaire.

Kim: However, I’m thinking I might want to engage him.

Rhi: Okay.

Kim: I want to check off my fine lightning hooks and roll a Skirmish. Just to see how that goes.

Rhi: Okay, yeah.

Kim: Devil’s Bargain?

Rhi: Okay. So this Devil’s Bargain comes to us from Prism Phoenix and the offer is, ‘They like you more than you’re comfortable with’. The ‘they’ in question here is Frost. Frost is going to–

Kim: Like Blaire?

Rhi: Not in a romantic sense.

Kim: Right.

Rhi: But in a, you know, you have this blood-thirsty assassin approving of what you do and, you know, is going to remember your assistance in this matter.

Kim: I kinda wanna accept that.

Josie: That is fucking perfect.

Kim: Yeah.

Rhi: Do it.

Kim: I accept.

Rhi: Alright. Okay.

Josie: Character moment!

Kim: Okay. That’s a 5.

Rhi: You do it, but there’s a consequence. So this guy is rushing at you, and is screaming for help. And you whip out your lightning hooks and swing at him, but there’s a lot of flailing. And eventually you hit him with one of them and he falls against the wall. Your other one goes into the wall and punches through the drywall, and hits something in the wiring.

Kim (as Blaire): Uh oh.

Rhi: And I think a bell starts ringing.

Minna: [gasps]

Kim: What kind of bell? Is it the bell I’m thinking of?

Rhi: No, no, it’s not the death bell.

Kim: [relieved] Oh, okay.

Rhi: I think what it is, is it’s trying to get an order from the bar.

Kim: Oh, okay.

Rhi: So it’s alerting the staff downstairs that this person wants something brought to their room. So, there’s a service bell chiming and then as this guy hits the wall and is shaking with having been electrocuted, Frost steps out and is like:

Rhi (as Frost): Ooh, electrocution. Hadn’t thought of that one.

Rhi: And she comes over, grabs this guy by the wrist and starts dragging him back and is like:

Rhi (as Frost): Good thinking, kid!

Kim (as Blaire): I… it’s for getting to the Deathlands. It’s for emergencies only.

Rhi: She just drags him back into the room and kicks the door shut.

Kim (as Blaire): Uh…

Josie: Your approval fills me with shame.

Rhi: Yeah, basically.

Kim: She panicked. Blaire panicked.

Josie: What of that did I hear?

Rhi: I think you heard some thumps and stuff upstairs. I don’t know that you heard the bell necessarily, because it’s going downstairs.

Josie: I think I am going to call the elevator to my floor.

Rhi: Okay. It’ll take a minute to get there. Myra, what are you doing in all of this?

Minna: So I think Myra just watched that shit go down with Blaire and the guy and Frost. Now there’s a bell ringing. So somebody going to come up the elevator shaft?

Rhi: Probably. That seems like the most efficient way. Like, it’s on the sixth floor. Nobody wants to walk up six flights of stairs.

Minna: Myra’s gonna wait there and I think her plan is to, like, if somebody comes up, pretend to be the lady-friend of the person up there, who wanted a drink.

Rhi: Okay. So I think when the elevator reaches your floor, Minx, the fifth floor, there’s a person in the hotel staff uniform standing there looking kinda bored. And when he sees you there he puts his arm on the door and is like:

Rhi (as Staff Member): Come on. You going up?

Josie: I’m gonna look back and forth and kind of shrug and shake my head.

Rhi (as Staff Member): Oh. Alright.

Rhi: He takes his hand off the door and… so you’re not getting on the elevator?

Josie: I’m not getting on the elevator.

Rhi: Okay. So ding! The doors open on the sixth floor. Myra, you’ve got a dude in hotel uniform stepping off the elevator.

Minna: I think she’s kind of like, giggling a little and fixing her hair and is like:

Minna (as Myra): I’m so sorry, we didn’t mean to press the button. It’s fine.

Rhi: Gimme a roll.

Minna: Okay, this is a Sway.

Rhi: Mm-hmm. Risky, because there’s a grisly murder happening about six feet behind you, behind that door.

Minna: Yeah, I think I’m gonna push myself again. 6.

Rhi: God.

Minna: The dice are loving me tonight.

Josie: Nice.

Minna (as Myra): We would really rather not be disturbed, if you know what I mean.

Rhi (as Staff Member): Oh. Oh, sorry about, okay. Right. I’ll just go back downstairs.

Minna (as Myra): Thank you. I’m gonna go back there.

Rhi (as Staff Member): Okay.

Rhi: Steps back on the elevator and doors close.

Minna: I hate that I just potentially provided an excuse for screaming sounds.

Rhi: Yep. No, you definitely did.

Josie: Yeah. I mean, how is the time when we decide to assist a fairly evil murderer in an assassination, that is the score where we roll consistently well?

## [01.02.00] End of content warning.

Rhi: Yeah, that’s the thing. Right now, unless you all do something else, this is just gonna kind of… resolve.

Josie: Yeah, like, honestly.

Rhi: Yeah. So I think a really uncomfortable twenty minutes, which is more uncomfortable for Myra and Blaire because it’s gone fairly quiet in the room, and then the door opens and Frost comes out, peeling off gloves. She’s like:

Rhi (as Frost): Well, I dunno what you all did, but good work.

Rhi: Shuts the door very firmly behind her. Is like:

Rhi (as Frost): We should go.

Kim (as Blaire): Yes, we should.

Rhi (as Frost): I need to throw these in something.

Rhi: And as she’s gesturing with the gloves, you can see, I’m picturing this as black slacks, white shirt, black vest getup for the hotel staff and there’s just a couple flecks of red on the collar.

Kim (as Blaire): All things considered, you work pretty clean.

Rhi (as Frost): Yeah, I’ve got experience. Seems like you may have a little bit of a knack for this too, huh?

Rhi: And slings an arm around your shoulders.

Kim (as Blaire): Uh…

Rhi (as Frost): Come on, let’s take the stairs down. Where’d your friend go?

Josie: And I think that’s when Minx comes up to calmly replace the linen cart.

Kim (as Blaire): My thing is more taking apart dead things and not the actual killing.

Rhi (as Frost): Ah, but if you start killing yourself then you’ll know the quality of the dead things you’re getting.

Kim (as Blaire): Mm… I buy from good supp–

Rhi (as Frost): I could provide you with bodies! We could work out an arrangement.

Kim (as Blaire): I don’t need human bodies right now.

Rhi (as Frost): I charge very reasonable rates.

Rhi: And I think she’s, like, walking Blaire to the stairs to head downstairs.

Kim: She is giving ‘help me’ eyes to both of you.

Josie: Yeah, Minx is gonna follow, concerned.

Rhi: The four of you head downstairs and she leads you down the stairs and back out the staff entrance into an alley, and then is like:

Rhi (as Frost): What do you…

Rhi: And holds up her hand and is pointing at the rune and is like:

Rhi (as Frost): What am I testifying about and to who?

Josie (as Minx): When you were released from Ironhook, you are to pin some of that on Norris Boyd.

Rhi (as Frost): Uh huh. And this is the Bluecoat?

Josie (as Minx) and Kim (as Blaire): Yes.

Rhi (as Frost): Okay.

Josie (as Minx): Simply put, you were a witness. Make it condemning.

Rhi (as Frost): Okay, I can do that. And what’s gonna happen to this guy?

Kim (as Blaire): We’re hoping to put him behind bars.

Rhi (as Frost): Hmm.

Kim (as Blaire): Hope that the dirt on him is enough for The Bluecoats to actually, you know, take note of it. But the real big point we’re trying to drive home is that we’re trying to make it look like he was our point of contact that got us into Ironhook in the first place.

Rhi (as Frost): Oh, okay. Yeah, I can probably swing that. I mean, I guess I kinda… what happens if I don’t?

Rhi: Pointing at the rune again and looking at Myra.

Minna (as Myra): Oh, if you leave and disappear into the dark?

Rhi (as Frost): Yeah.

Minna (as Myra): You’ll be cursed.

Rhi (as Frost): What’s that mean?

Minna (as Myra): Well, it could mean any number of things, I don’t have that much control over the execution. It’s been a long time since somebody broke that promise.

Rhi: Gimme a roll.

Minna: [laughs] I think it’s the coercion one.

Rhi: Yeah, it’s Command.

Minna: 4.

Rhi (as Frost): Alright, well I guess I don’t wanna particularly find out. I’ll make it over to your Inspector guy eventually. Well, pleasure working with you all, surprisingly enough. And,

Rhi: Points at Blaire,

Rhi (as Frost): You let me know about those bodies. I have very reasonable rates.

Kim (as Blaire): [squirms]

Rhi: Finger guns at you and strolls off into the night.

Kim (as Blaire): [whispers] I really don’t want her bodies.

Josie (as Minx): Nor do I. That was a fairly dramatic change in attitude for her. What happened?

Kim (as Blaire): I… look, the guy came at me, I panicked, I used my lightning hooks to zap him a little. And apparently that was enough to impress her.

Josie (as Minx): Well, that is a function of her own sadistic mind. Although I must admit, this whole arrangement was unsavory. But I suppose it was either that asshole who we did not know, or Rigney.

Kim (as Blaire): About to say the same thing. Anything to get this off of Rigney’s back. It’ll be worth it.

Minna (as Myra): That said, I don’t want to work with this person again in the future if we can avoid it.

Kim (as Blaire): Neither do I.

Josie (as Minx): Then we shall not.

Kim (as Blaire): Great, let’s go.

Rhi: Okay, so let’s go into downtime. And I think we are gonna start with Blaire and Myra.

Minna: Hi.

Rhi: Hi.

Kim: Sup.

Rhi: Where do the two of you arrange to meet with Severin, do you think?

Kim: I think it might be one of the cafés that Myra meets Jeren at occasionally.

Minna: [laughs]

Rhi: Myra just off-hand suggests it?

Kim: Yep.

Josie: [laughs]

Rhi: It’s like, ‘This is a good private place…’

Minna: It’s a good place to meet.

Rhi: Yeah. So, I think the two of you get there pretty early, being the paranoid criminal types that you are.

Kim: Yep.

Rhi: So yeah, you’ve got a nice corner table, clear view of all windows and exits. And what are you two up to here?

Minna: Myra’s reading the paper. I think she’s picked it up on the way, and she hasn’t looked at the headline yet. She opens it and kind of still face, reading it.

Rhi: The headline is something to the effect of, ‘Grisly Murder in Karstas Arms Hotel’. And there’s an artist’s rendering of the front of the hotel as the picture in the article, but the article starts describing the crime scene in pretty lurid detail.

Minna: She gets a paragraph into it and folds up the paper and pushes it aside.

Kim (as Blaire): What, is it about us?

Minna (as Myra): It’s about the hotel.

Kim (as Blaire): Oh.

Minna (as Myra): That man came running to us for help and we sent him right back in.

Kim (as Blaire): There was nothing we could do. If we helped him then, you know, Frost would have turned on us.

Minna (as Myra): I know. But I don’t think we should be making deals with people like that, or that’s what’s at stake.

Kim (as Blaire): Well, no, of course not. This was an exception to our rule. We’re not gonna go seeking out someone like this again unless we really, really have to. And frankly, I don’t see that being the case.

Minna (as Myra): I’m not used to… it’s fine.

Kim (as Blaire): What? No, you’re clearly not fine, Myra. What’s going on?

Minna (as Myra): Violence isn’t usually my answer, and senseless violence like this… I mean, it’s just to prove a point. I guess I haven’t had to be as thoroughly involved with something that felt like this before.

Kim (as Blaire): That’s fair.

Minna (as Myra): The kind of violence I’m used to is a little bit more distanced.

Kim (as Blaire): Mm.

Minna (as Myra): Self-defense, or killing people that we think are horrible, and I’m not even the person who does that. It’s harder.

Kim (as Blaire): Yeah, no, I hear ya. That was definitely the closest I’ve ever been to a guy that was, you know, bleeding out of every orifice he could be bleeding out of.

Minna (as Myra): [grimace] That’s an apt description.

Kim (as Blaire): Yeah.

Minna (as Myra): I don’t like that feeling and I don’t want it again.

Kim (as Blaire): No. No, I don’t either. The whole thing with the lightning hooks, that was a reflex on my part. I didn’t know how else to really shut him up, you know?

Minna (as Myra): I understand. It was a difficult situation and we put ourselves in it, but we can learn better for next time.

Kim (as Blaire): Yeah. I’m not gonna be seeking her out or anything, and if she tries finding me I’m definitely gonna distance myself.

Minna (as Myra): That sounds good.

Rhi: I think the bell over the door chimes and Severin walks in. He kinda glances around and spots the two of you and walks over to the table.

Kim (as Blaire): Well, good Inspector, hello.

Rhi (as Severin): Please, don’t use my title. I’m trying to be a little incognito right now.

Kim (as Blaire): Oh! Okay, sorry. So, Gilbert.

Rhi (as Severin): I spoke with your contact.

Kim (as Blaire): Mm-hmm.

Rhi (as Severin): Who gave a very vivid statement of Lieutenant Boyd’s involvement in the jailbreak. I can work with what she gave me. And you all got the papers planted at his place, I assume?

Minna (as Myra): Yes.

Rhi (as Severin): I wouldn’t imagine that would be too difficult. Well, I think between the papers and a witness statement, that should be a decent start. It’ll probably take me a little bit to get a conviction, but I’m pretty confident I can pull it off.

Kim (as Blaire): Thank you. It means a lot, because this is all for a friend.

Rhi (as Severin): I’ll keep you all-, well I suppose you can just keep an eye on the papers.

Rhi: And he gestures at the paper that Myra shoved aside.

Rhi (as Severin): I’m sure you’ll see soon enough some news about it.

Kim (as Blaire): Thank you.

Rhi (as Severin): I officially start back at work in two days.

Kim (as Blaire): That’s great.

Rhi (as Severin): Yeah. Yeah, it’ll be good to be back. And this’ll be, I think, a good way to start things off. Take down a Lieutenant.

Kim (as Blaire): Good luck.

Rhi (as Severin): Thanks, and I guess good luck to you too. I don’t wanna know what you’re going to be up to, but–

Minna (as Myra): [laughs] We’d rather not tell you.

Rhi (as Severin): Yeah. I don’t know if we’re exactly on the same side, but I think we’ve at least got similar goals.

Minna (as Myra): I think I can agree to that.

Rhi: So I think we kind of pan out from this café and zoom across the city, over to Silkshore and The Red Lamp.

Josie: I think Minx is waiting in the lobby of The Red Lamp. She’s femme-ing it up a bit more since she was a little bit butch and military on the score. She too is just putting down the paper and kind of digesting things a little bit clearly.

Rhi: The lobby, I think we’ve talked about this a little bit, it’s a nice space. There’s a fireplace and a bar and some very nice plush furniture. So I think Minx is sitting kind of off by herself in an armchair.

Josie: Mm-hmm.

Rhi: And you hear a voice behind you say:

Rhi (as Voice): It’s Minx, isn’t it?

Josie: I turn to look before answering.

Rhi: And you see a woman who you’ve only seen a couple times before. Light skin, dark hair cut short in a very fashionable bob, stunning beautiful gown in the latest fashions. This is Madame Tesslyn, the owner of The Red Lamp and Nyryx’s employer.

Josie: Oh. Yes, Minx will stand up and give a little bow.

Josie (as Minx): Yes, Miss Tesslyn.

Rhi (as Madame Tesslyn): Aren’t you gallant? Please, have a seat. You’re Nyryx’s partner, aren’t you?

Josie (as Minx): Uh, yes. Is there something the matter?

Rhi (as Madame Tesslyn): Oh no, not at all. On the contrary, quite frankly. She seems to be much happier these days and it’s really very impressive of you that you would be so understanding. Most people wouldn’t, with her situation.

Josie (as Minx): Well, I’m hardly one to judge for profession. You do good work here.

Rhi (as Madame Tesslyn): Oh no, not her job, dear. The spirit.

Minna: [gasps]

Josie: Minx is kind of working her mouth a little bit, like, trying to say something. Nothing comes out. She works a little bit more before finally squeaking out:

Josie (as Minx): What?

Rhi (as Madame Tesslyn): Oh. You didn’t know? Oh.

Josie (as Minx): I don’t… I… I’m sorry madam, I have no idea what you’re speaking about.

Rhi (as Madame Tesslyn): Oh, I’m terribly sorry.

Rhi: She’s lying, she’s not sorry.

Rhi (as Madame Tesslyn): I’m sorry, I assumed that you knew. I shouldn’t say any more. You should probably talk to Nyryx about it.

Rhi: And she starts to stand up to leave.

Josie: Minx is kind of staring off and thinking, and doesn’t say goodbye and doesn’t even really notice her leave. She’s just gonna drum her fingers on the top of her cane a little bit, waiting for Nyryx to show up.

Rhi: Yeah. So I think you wait for probably another ten, fifteen minutes, I think you got here pretty close to the end of her shift. And Nyryx comes down the stairs, she’s obviously just put on her coat. She’s pulling her hair out from under the collar and waves to the receptionist as she passes and then gives a big, bright smile when she sees you and comes bounding over.

Josie: I think as she’s coming over Minx rushes to her and pulls her into a hug, kind of desperately.

Rhi (as Nyryx): [surprised laugh] Hi!

Josie (as Minx): Dear are you–, hold on, we need to get outside for the moment.

Rhi (as Nyryx): Um, alright. Is everything okay?

Josie: Minx is kinda gonna hurry them outside.

Josie (as Minx): You are safe here, right? They’re not bringing in specters?

Rhi (as Nyryx): No.

Josie (as Minx): Your boss said something about a spirit.

Rhi (as Nyryx): What?

Josie (as Minx): She said something about understanding and a spirit. I don’t know if that’s a weird clientele that is catered to here, I do not know all the intricacies of your job, but if there are loose spirits, that’s not something that can be–

Rhi (as Nyryx): [stammering] I don’t know what she’s talking about.

Rhi: She’s lying.

Minna: [excited murmur]

Josie (as Minx): Nyryx, it’s okay. You can tell me.

Rhi (as Nyryx): I don’t think there’s anything to tell. I really don’t know what she’s talking about.

Rhi: Lying.

Josie: Minx is going to look down and just stare in her eyes, dead on. She’s not mad, but she’s trying to make it clear that she’s deathly serious right now and didn’t believe that.

Rhi: She rubs her forehead.

Rhi (as Nyryx):  I don’t really want to have this conversation on the street.

Josie (as Minx): You know, that is fair. Your place is closest, I think perhaps behind closed doors might be the best place to discuss something like this.

Rhi: Yeah. So I think the two of you make this walk fairly quickly and in absolute silence.

Josie: Yep.

Rhi: She is not talking.

Josie: And Minx is kind of like, paranoidly looking back a few times.

Rhi: So she unlocks the door and lets you in and closes the door and is kind of pacing a little bit and wringing her hands. Looks very nervous. And is like:

Rhi (as Nyryx): I don’t… I don’t even know how to explain this to you.

Josie (as Minx): Is it something to do with work?

Rhi (as Nyryx): No.

Josie (as Minx): Alright. Are you safe? That is what concerns me.

Rhi (as Nyryx): Yeah, I’m perfectly safe.

Josie (as Minx): Are you certain? Because, I mean, I’ve spent some time around spirits. I work with Blaire, after all. Do you think it’s something she can help you with?

Rhi (as Nyryx): I don’t need help. I’m trying to help someone else.

Josie (as Minx): What do you mean?

Rhi (as Nyryx): [sighs]

Josie (as Minx): Nyry.

Rhi: She paces away from you and has her back to you as she starts talking. And she says:

Rhi (as Nyryx): A while ago this spirit showed up here in my apartment. I think she was lost. She was lost. She was definitely lost. She was so young and she died in this trash heap in the places that we used to live. And she was lost and she was scared, and it could have been me that ended up like that. It could have been you. And I just, I had to help her somehow.

Rhi: And I think as she turns around you can tell that there’s somebody else looking out through Nyryx’s eyes.

Josie: Minx is gonna straighten up. Her eyes go wide a little bit. She’s not gonna, like, scream or panic or run for the door, but she is gonna take half a step back before maybe thinking better of it. But she’ll keep looking right at Nyryx.

Rhi: This other person says with Nyryx’s voice:

Rhi (as Spirit via Nyryx): I made her keep it a secret. I was afraid of what would happen if you found out.

Rhi: And she’s lying.

Josie: Now Minx is starting to look angry.

Josie (as Minx): I would rather hear of her actions from her. Thank you.

Rhi: Nyryx blinks and it’s her again.

Rhi (as Nyryx): I’m sorry–

Josie (as Minx): You’re possessed?

Rhi: She just nods.

Rhi (as Nyryx): I didn’t know how to tell you.

Josie (as Minx): I mean, again, do you need help removing her?

Rhi (as Nyryx): No. I let her in.

Josie (as Minx): Why? How long?

Rhi (as Nyryx): A while.

Josie (as Minx): I see. I take it it’s not viewed as a temporary arrangement.

Rhi (as Nyryx): I don’t think it’s forever.

Josie (as Minx): You don’t think?

Rhi: She shrugs.

Rhi (as Nyryx): It’s working for now. And if she wants to move on or if I want her to move on, then we’ll figure out what happens. But she had the kinda life we did so much to escape. And if I can help this person who could have… she reminds me so much of you.

Josie (as Minx): Nyry, I understand that. Not going to lie, I’m afraid. I’m still afraid of ghosts, as I’ve always been. I don’t like thinking about what comes after. But, working with The Magpies I’ve seen a few situations up to and including a willing possession. You’re so kind and caring and generous and this makes perfect sense. I mean, these are all further reasons I love you, after all. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?

Rhi: She looks like she’s just barely holding back tears and just shakes her head.

Rhi (as Nyryx): I was scared. I didn’t know how. I’m sorry.

Josie: I think Minx has started silently crying at some point, and she’ll take the foot that took a step back and place it forward and move slowly towards her and gauge her reaction to that.

Rhi: She’s just kind of watching you and blinking a lot to try to keep her own tears from falling.

Josie (as Minx): I think Minx is going to go right up to her and very clearly reach for her, hesitate, pull back, and give a gentle hug and soft kiss to the forehead.

Josie (as Minx): I think… I don’t know what I think. Has the other one been privy to everything?

Rhi (as Nyryx): No, I can send her away. She’s still tied to me, but she’s not present or aware of what’s going on when I’m with you or any of my clients. It’s not like that.

Josie: Minx sort of nods in reassurance to herself, if anything.

Josie (as Minx): Good. Good, I shudder to think of the other possibility. So, were you ever planning on telling me?

Rhi (as Nyryx): I don’t know. There just didn’t seem to be a good way to bring it up.

Josie (as Minx): I am uncertain how to process this myself, frankly. What’s her name?

Rhi (as Nyryx): She doesn’t remember.

Josie (as Minx): What should I call her?

Rhi: Nyryx kind of frowns and is like:

Rhi (as Nyryx): She’s mostly been using my name.

Josie (as Minx): That is confusing.

Rhi (as Nyryx): Yes, I suppose it is. I hadn’t really thought about this. I guess I’ll have to now.

Josie (as Minx): I suppose. Can I speak to her for a moment?

Rhi: She nods and in the span of a blink that look in her eyes changes. And the spirit looking out at you looks pretty nervous, just sort of waiting.

Josie (as Minx): So this is truthful, what you have told her?

Rhi (as Spirit via Nyryx): Yes. It is.

Josie (as Minx): How long do you intend to stay?

Rhi (as Spirit via Nyryx): I’m not sure. She’s very kind and her life is so much nicer than mine was. But I won’t stay longer than she wants me.

Josie: Minx still looks suspicious, but nods. She can tell when someone’s lying to her.

Rhi: Yeah.

Josie (as Minx): And you are not… your presence doesn’t drain her?

Rhi: She shakes her head.

Josie (as Minx): I suppose I better ask you what I should call you.

Rhi (as Spirit via Nyryx): Um…

Rhi: God, I think she’s gonna do, like, a line of sight name where she’s just gonna look for something in the apartment and pick a random object.

Josie: [laughs] Excellent.

Rhi: You can see her eyes kind of dart past you and look around and she’s like:

Rhi (as Spirit via Nyryx): Um… Kettle? No, that’s not really a name, is it? Um…

Rhi: And I think her eyes land on a painting that Nyryx has.

Rhi (as Spirit via Nyryx): Um… ah… Lilac? Is that a name?

Josie (as Minx): Lilac. I don’t know if it’s a name, but it’s pretty.

Rhi (as Lilac via Nyryx): Let’s go with that.

Josie (as Minx): How old are you, Lilac?

Rhi (as Lilac via Nyryx): I’m not sure exactly. More than eighteen, less than twenty or so, I guess? Around there?

Josie (as Minx): I see.

Rhi (as Lilac via Nyryx): I’m not sure exactly how old I was.

Josie (as Minx): Goodness. I’m sorry you had to go so long with a similar upbringing to us.

Rhi (as Lilac via Nyryx): It’s a little better now, actually. [nervous laugh]

Josie (as Minx): I’m glad of that, at least. Well it was a pleasure meeting you, Lilac.

Rhi (as Lilac via Nyryx): It’s good to officially meet you, too. Nyryx, she loves you very much. You know that, right?

Josie (as Minx): Yes. I love her too.

Rhi (as Lilac via Nyryx): Good.

Rhi: And Nyryx blinks and it’s her again.

Josie: Now that Lilac is gone I think Minx is gonna rush in for a deeper hug.

Rhi: Aww. Yeah, she hugs you back and it’s a very clinging, desperate hug.

Josie: Mm-hmm. And Minx was holding herself together for that for a little bit, so she’s crying too.

Rhi: Aww. Yeah, I think Nyryx had pretty much been holding back tears the whole conversation, now is also crying into your shoulder.

Josie (as Minx): Nyry, it will take some time for me, but I don’t wanna leave.

Rhi (as Nyryx): Okay, I understand. However much time you need.

Josie (as Minx): I love you, and I wanna be here.

Rhi (as Nyryx): I love you too.

Rhi: So I think we fade out on that and fade back in on a familiar Bluecoat precinct station in Charterhall. We see Jeren walking down the steps, his satchel over his shoulder, looking kind of tired.

Minna: [worried gasp]

Rhi: He waves goodbye to the officers posted outside and they wave back and he starts walking through Charterhall. It seems like it’s probably pretty late. There’s not a lot of people out on the street. And he turns a corner down a narrow side street and we see in the shadows cast by the street lamp nearby someone move up behind him. And then Jeren gets hit in the back of the head with something and he staggers forward with a cry of pain.

Minna: [moans]

Rhi: And then gets hit again and we see him fall face first, unconscious, onto the street.

Minna: [upset] Uh huh.

Rhi: End of episode.

## Outro [01.27.36]

Rhi: Thanks for listening. The Magpies will be back in two weeks. In the meantime, follow us on Twitter @magpies_pod and visit our Patreon at patreon.com/magpiespodcast.

The Magpies podcast is GMed and produced by Rhi. Follow me on Twitter @rhiannon42 and check out rpgskillcheck.net for my copy editing and accessibility freelance site.

Blaire Culhane is played by Kim Kogut. Follow her on Twitter @kimdianajones.

Minx is played by Josie. Follow her on Twitter @DragonGirlJosie and watch her art streams at picarto.tv/DragonGirlJosie.

Myra Keel is played by Minna. Follow her on Twitter @mynaminnarr.

The opening and closing theme music is from ‘Trio for Piano, Violin and Viola’ by Kevin MacLeod and is used under a Creative Commons license.

The Blades in the Dark roleplay system is the creation of John Harper and is published by Evil Hat Productions.

## Blooper [01.28.49]

Josie: The Suite Life of Magpies and Frost.

Kim: Yes!

Rhi: [laughs]

Josie: There we go.

Kim: [sings] And it’s bad guys in the house.

Rhi: [laughing] Guys I’m crying.

Kim: [sings tune]

Rhi: Oh no.

Minna: Is it sad that the instant you said ‘inn’, and ‘staying’–, [giggles]

Rhi: Okay. Alright. I’m fine. Jesus Christ, okay.

Kim: It’s okay, we’re just attacking Rhi with all of her favorite things.