Transcribed by Michelle Kelly (@Michellicopter)
##Intro
Rhi: Welcome back to Duskwall. As always, thank you so much for joining us and thank you for your ongoing support. We’ve had great reviews, new patrons, kind messages and, incredibly, more than 1,000 followers on Twitter. It’s all a great way to help new fans find the show and your support always brightens our days.
This week’s episode is a very different one and it’s one that I’ve been wanting to do for a while. Game designer Matthew Balousek has published Doskvol Interstitials, a zine of solo microgames and prompts all inspired by Blades in the Dark, and in this episode we used those games as the basis for a series of small vignettes featuring The Magpies and many of their friends in the city and beyond. It was a lot of fun and I hope that you all enjoy these little glimpses into the lives of the characters beyond the drama and tension of a score. There’s a link to Matthew’s website in the show notes if you would like to pick up a copy of Doskvol Interstitials for yourself.
## [00.01.21] Content warning: Discussion of COVID-19. To skip, go to next timestamp.
In place of a featured charity this episode, I want to quickly highlight some opportunities for donating or supporting each other during this pandemic. First, as you are no doubt aware, medical professionals are rapidly running out of personal protective equipment, PPE. At the same time, many people are raising funds to purchase and donate this much-needed equipment to local hospitals. In Chicago, you can donate funds at the site Get Me PPE Chicago, which is linked in the show notes. To look for places to help in your area, google your city, state or local hospital plus ‘PPE donations’.
Second, lots of artists and small business are really struggling right now. If you are financially able, try to purchase books, games or gift certificates from local places and independent creatives. In particular, it can be really helpful to buy gift cards. The business will get much-needed cash to stay afloat now, and future you can get something fun.
Third, please continue to reach out to your elected officials. We must demand protection and support for everyone right now, but especially medical professionals, the essential workers who are putting themselves at risk so that we as a society can still get food and utilities and garbage pick-ups, and the millions of people who have suddenly found themselves out of work.
Finally, do what you can to take care of yourself. Stay informed, but don’t drown in news and data. Don’t pressure yourself to use your time stuck inside your home productively, if that’s your situation. Everyone’s sense of normal has been completely uprooted and we all need extra care now. We are living in very scary, very chaotic times, and it’s causing anxiety, fear and stress around the globe. But what I’m holding onto, what is giving me some hope right now, are all the stories of people taking care of each other. Scientists and authors and artists hosting online lessons for kids who are suddenly homebound. People picking up groceries for neighbors who can’t safely go outside. Restaurants who are donating meals to people in need. There are more moments of kindness than I can list here.
It’s important to remember those things. It’s important to remember that yes, there is greed and cruelty, but most people are reaching out to each other with kindness and support and love. It’s so many of us as humans saying, “We might be isolated but we’re not alone.”
Now then. Let’s get started, shall we?
##[00.04.25] End of content warning.
Rhi: We open up high above Duskwall, the lights glimmering in the eternal darkness, clouds shifting overhead. We zoom down into the city through the crowded streets, past people on their way to work, to home, and we find Nessa Ericks as she makes her way down a Charhollow street, her arms laden with packages and bags. It would have been easier to take a carriage home, but somehow that’s the expense she couldn’t justify today. She fends off a supposedly helpful passer-by who’s just as likely to run off with her packages as carry them to her door. At least there’s not stairs to climb to reach her apartment. She gets the front door open and half-stumbles inside.
Rhi (as Voice): Nessa? Is that you behind all that stuff?
Rhi: The floorboards creak under her mother’s wheelchair as she rolls over. But that’s about the only sound it makes. Her old chair was rusted and busted and clattered something terrible. The first big payout Nessa got, she bought her mother a new one. It’s one of the finest things the family owns.
Rhi (as Nessa): Yeah, Ma, it is.
Rhi: Nessa drops the packages on the table and leans down to hug her mother hello.
Rhi (as Nessa): Sold another painting to The Magpies, and I saved most of it, but I was coming back through Nightmarket and I thought I’d pick up a few treats.
Rhi (as Ma): [laughs] More than a few!
Rhi: Nessa smiles and picks up a wrapped package.
Rhi (as Nessa): Here. A lot of it’s for the boys, but this is for you.
Rhi: Her mother makes all the required noises about not needing anything, Nessa didn’t have to, all while unwrapping the brown paper. Inside is a small, soft quilt, just the right size to drape over a lap without catching in wheels. Their apartment can get awful drafty, and even with the money she makes from selling forgeries to Minx, it’s not enough to pay for a new place. But she can still buy things that’ll make the place they have a little nicer.
Rhi (as Ma): Thank you, Ness.
Rhi: Her mother runs her hand over the quilt and smiles.
Rhi (as Ma): It’s lovely.
##Music plays [00.06.41]
Rhi: We see Blaire with an armful of spirit jars that she’s taken out of her bag and I think that she has, uh, the place that she’s gone to this time is near an old watchtower out in the Deathlands outside the city. It’s half-crumbled, probably used to be along some trade road. And I think as you’re, like, probably getting ready to open up these jars you hear some, like, clattering inside the tower.
Kim: I— well, let me ask this. What is the nature of the clattering? Does it sound like it could be a human, or does it sound like it could be a creature? I know that’s kind of a specific question, but…
Rhi: It’s hard to tell. It sounds like some rocks falling, like something kicked them over.
Kim: Mm.
Rhi: So, it could be anything.
Kim: Okay. In that case, I think Blaire is just going to, like, whirl around, and one of her hands is going to immediately fly to one of her lightning hooks.
Rhi: So, I think there’s some more clattering, and then you hear, like, a thud and an “Oof!” And you see a surprisingly familiar figure stride out of the tower holding a bunch of what look like just rocks in his arms. Taller man, light skin, dark hair that’s kinda starting to get touched with grey. He’s got a lot of kind of runic tattoos up both arms. And he comes out and, like, stops and does a double-take and is like:
Rhi (as Man): Blaire? Right? Blaire?
Kim (as Blaire): Dowler?
Rhi (as Dowler): Yeah. Damn. It’s been a while.
Kim (as Blaire): Yeah!
Rhi (as Dowler): Don’t get up to Barrowcleft much these days, I take it?
Kim (as Blaire): Uh… no, no I’m uh… I’m running with a crew now.
Rhi (as Dowler): Oh.
Kim (as Blaire): Yeah. Uh, hi!
Rhi (as Dowler): Hi. Er…
Rhi: He kinda looks down and notes the jars and is like:
Rhi (as Dowler): Ah. Still doing that?
Kim (as Blaire): Uh, yes. Yes. No, I’ve always been doing this, Dowler, you know me.
Rhi (as Dowler): Well, uh, I would be grateful if you would wait until I get out of here with…
Rhi: He kinda looks down at the rocks and is like:
Rhi (as Dowler): Ancient Deathlands crystals.
Kim (as Blaire): I’m sorry, what?
Rhi (as Dowler): I’ll polish these up some and put some labels on them. People will pay a decent amount of coin.
Kim (as Blaire): Wait, can I see?
Rhi: [laughs] Yeah, he’s like:
Rhi (as Dowler): They’re not really anything special, Blaire, they’re just—
Kim (as Blaire): No, but I wanna see!
Rhi (as Dowler): Okay…
Kim (as Blaire): I don’t know, I’ve never seen these before!
Rhi: He holds one out to you. They are literally just, like, rocks he’s picked up. [laughs]
Kim: [laughs] I think Blaire’s gonna clock that immediately. She’s gonna, like, glance a few times between the rocks and Dowler and she’s gonna be like:
Kim (as Blaire): These are just rocks.
Rhi (as Dowler): They are ancient Deathlands crystals that hold mystical powers.
Kim (as Blaire): These are not crystals. I own a few crystals. These are not crystals. You’re scamming people.
Rhi (as Dowler): Gotta earn your coin, right?
Rhi: He starts putting them into his bag.
Kim (as Blaire): I mean, yeah, I can’t blame you for that. But also, these are, like… are you, like, selling these telling people that they’re, like, magic? Or…
Rhi (as Dowler): I mean… yes?
Kim (as Blaire): But that’s… but they’re not. They’re rocks.
Rhi (as Dowler): Correct.
Kim (as Blaire): People are gonna know if they’re not magic.
Rhi (as Dowler): Most won’t. I sell you the legit stuff because you know.
Kim (as Blaire): Mm… listen, I—[sighs] I’m just trying to watch out for your skin. What if you accidentally try to sell this to someone who knows their shit, you know?
Rhi (as Dowler): Well then, they won’t buy them, will they?
Kim (as Blaire): Or they’ll hurt you, or try to kill you or… you know, tell—
Rhi (as Dowler): Eh, people have tried to kill me before. I usually get better.
Kim (as Blaire): Dowler!
Rhi (as Dowler): [amused] Oh, like you’re one to talk, Miss Wandering Into The Deathlands Alone With Five Jars Full Of Ghosts!
Kim (as Blaire): I do this all the time!
Rhi (as Dowler): And I do this all the time!
Rhi: He’s, like, grinning at you as he says this. He’s just like:
Rhi (as Dowler): I appreciate the concern, Blaire, but I can handle myself and I trust that you can handle yourself too.
Kim (as Blaire): [long sigh]
Rhi (as Dowler): And you should stop by more often.
Kim (as Blaire): You should stop by more often.
Rhi (as Dowler): I don’t know where to stop by.
Kim (as Blaire): Hound’s Paw. I’m there all the time.
Rhi (as Dowler): Oh. Alright. Is that over in Nightmarket?
Kim (as Blaire): Yeah.
Rhi (as Dowler): If I happen to be in that part of the city, I’ll look you up.
Kim (as Blaire): Thanks. I missed you.
Rhi (as Dowler): [laughs] Well, my stall hasn’t moved, still over in the Barrowcleft Market. And I do have some legit things you could buy.
Kim (as Blaire): I know, it’s just that… for the past couple of months I haven’t had any money.
Rhi (as Dowler): I thought you were running with a group of thieves?
Kim (as Blaire): Yeah, and they take care of me, like, they feed me and stuff, but I didn’t have— we don’t really keep any money.
Rhi (as Dowler): So, you’re not very good thieves, then.
Kim (as Blaire): No, we’re really not.
Rhi (as Dowler): I guess if you’re, uh… good with that?
Kim (as Blaire): I mean, yeah. They feed me, so it’s fine.
Rhi (as Dowler): Well, I will leave you to your ghosts. Seriously, give me like, count to 500 so I can get good clearance—
Kim (as Blaire): Yeah, no, no, no, I would never. I would never, Dowler. You’re too good to be possessed, I would never.
Rhi (as Dowler): I appreciate it.
Rhi: I think he kinda like, you know, starts to walk past and pats you on the shoulder.
Rhi (as Dowler): See you around, kid.
Kim (as Blaire): Mm… mm… can I have a hug? I missed you.
Rhi (as Dowler): [laughs]
Rhi: Yeah, he’ll hold out an arm.
Kim: Yay. Blaire hugs him.
Rhi: Yep. It’s kind of just a one-armed, like, pat-pat hug from him.
Kim: Yeah.
Rhi: I think he does the little, like, two-finger salute thing and then strolls off.
Kim: Yeah, I think Blaire is just gonna watch him leave and make sure that he is far away enough before she opens the jars. That’s really it.
Rhi: Okay.
##Music plays [00.12.38]
Josie: With Minx, I think she’s on her way back from getting groceries or something. She has a basket over her arm when suddenly she catches sight of something across the street and says:
Josie (as Minx): No way!
Josie: And across the street is a tiny little bookstore wedged between two tenements called The Morning Crow. And she hurries across the street, and has to dodge a carriage, and into the little shop, but she immediately rifles through what is essentially the magazine stand. Like, it’s a normal bookstore, but the magazine stand in front she’s rifling through until she finds the latest issue of a line that she doesn’t read anymore. And I think at that point we get a flashback of tiny baby Minx and tiny Bazso and Nyryx getting bodily dragged into the bookstore by tiny Minx, like:
Josie (as Minx): Come on! The new issue is out!
Rhi: Aww!
Josie: And she’s picking up one of her first fashion magazines. And I think she’s scrounged together enough coin to buy one, but after much, much cajoling to an annoyed Bazso and politely bemused Nyryx, she goes to pay for it and while the shopkeeper is distracted making change they slip a few more into their clothes.
Rhi: [laughs]
Josie: And then they leave with magazines for all of them.
Rhi: And so, does Minx buy the one here today?
Josie: Yes.
##Music plays [00.14.18]
Rhi: Tycheros isn’t bad, exactly. People here are kinder than in Duskwall. Even if they look all manner of strange. They’re more willing to help each other out without trying to take advantage. The scavengers were like that too, though that was more for survival than anything. The Culhanes have been nothing but generous to him. Got him a job, set him up in a little apartment not far from their hotel. The tonics here are better quality than what he could get in Duskwall, too. They keep him feeling more stable. He’s managed to grow a decent beard for the first time. It’s nice. It’s peaceful. It’s safe. Nevan Rigney is damn near bored out of his mind.
He hasn’t stolen anything in months, a fact than Caelan would be overjoyed to hear. “Itchy fingers,” their mom always said. Itchy fingers that made him a decent amount of coin, and that landed him in prison. He doesn’t want to take advantage of these people and their kindness, so he’s keeping his fingers to himself. He tried to study alchemy a bit, but the math didn’t stick. Putting things together and getting something nice at the end did though, so he’s been trying his hand at cooking. Caelan did most of it when he was home, and there was a dish he used to make with mushrooms and goat butter and crab meat that was always Nevan’s favorite.
Nevan gives the pan a shake to toss the mushrooms, filling the air with a delicious scent. He grabs one out of the pan with his fingers, curses when he burns himself, and pops it into his mouth. It tastes close. But not quite right. Maybe a dash more pepper will do the trick.
##Music plays [00.16.05]
Minna: Myra has been spending a lot of time outside of The Nest lately. Helping out at the clinic and checking in at The Docks. Catching up with contacts she hasn’t been able to speak to as much. She comes back from drinking some very strange tea and telling Amancio about the latest antics, looks at the clock and sighs. She was up late last night, and Myra rarely is able to sleep past local dawn, even if the brief hazy appearance of the sun isn’t visible through her window. She’s exhausted.
For a few minutes, she pokes around the common areas, tidying little things away. She finds a scarf draped across the back of a chair and goes to put it around Kevin’s neck. He’s currently standing next to bathroom window, which has a crack that lets in a chilly draft. She makes a note that they still have to fix that crack. She contemplates cleaning the bathroom, which probably needs it…
Minna (as Myra): [yawns]
Minna: And a big yawn interrupts. There’s noting to do that can’t wait, and she’s been pushing herself hard for weeks. She pauses in the doorway to her bedroom. The bed looks very inviting.
Minna (as Myra): [sighs] Okay. Fine.
Minna: And it’s nap time.
## Music plays [00.17.16]
Rhi: So, we find Blaire at Scurlock Manor in the still fairly dusty sitting room. The only pieces of furniture that have been recently cleaned are the ones in immediate use, which means it’s a pair of armchairs and the small table between them. Sitting on the table is a beautifully polished antique silver tea service and Blaire has one cup of tea. There is a second cup of tea sitting untouched beside the occupant of the other armchair, which is one Lord Scurlock, who I think is probably listening to Blaire with an expression somewhere between bemusement and vaguely entertained.
Kim (as Blaire): So, I’ve been working really hard in the past couple of months just trying to figure this out, trying to just pull the ghosts out of what they’re trying to be forced to become, and I— I don’t know, I’ve just kind of hit a roadblock and I… I mean, I kind of know you. Do you have— you’ve probably looked into stuff like this, right? You have some idea of how to go about this?
Rhi: I think he kind of studies you for a long moment and leans back into his chair and:
Rhi (as Lord Scurlock): I can honestly say, no. I haven’t. You’re quite ambitious. Possibly foolishly so. But certainly don’t lack for innovation, I suppose.
Kim (as Blaire): Well, you’re ambitious too. That’s why I asked.
Rhi: He smirks faintly.
Rhi (as Lord Scurlock): You’re attempting to reconstitute ghosts that have been processed into various alchemicals.
Kim (as Blaire): Yeah…
Rhi: He sort of— it seems like initially it looks like he’s gonna be kind of dismissive and then he actually sorta like frowns and seems to be thinking about it.
Rhi (as Lord Scurlock): I am… I am skeptical that you would be able to return a spirit to the state it was prior to processing. Spirits are fragile things. More fragile, I think, than most realize. Particularly when they don’t have something to inhabit. That’s why they seek bodies. It is possible that you could create a sort of gestalt entity, taking the fragmentary remains of multiple spirits and combining them into a single unit and putting that spirit into some sort of corporeal form.
Kim (as Blaire): That’s not what I’m trying to do. I’m trying to save the individual, not create something new.
Rhi (as Lord Scurlock): Well. I am not certain if that is within anyone’s means.
Kim (as Blaire): Lord Scurlock, with all due respect, please, you have to know something about this.
Rhi (as Lord Scurlock): As I said, it is not something that I have given much consideration to. I have had greater concerns than the spirit trafficking and drug trade in the city.
Kim (as Blaire): What greater concerns?
Rhi: He just sort of stares at you.
Kim: Blaire stares back.
Rhi: [laughs] There’s a long pause. How— does Blaire just not break on this one?
Kim: Yeah.
Rhi: Yeah, so I think it’s like— it’s a long and uncomfortable silence as, like, they’re both just… they’re both just sitting there waiting for the other to break. [laughs] And neither of them does. So, I think eventually Scurlock, again, does that very faint smirk and says:
Rhi (as Lord Scurlock): Things that I have no inclination to discuss with you at present.
Kim (as Blaire): Wh… why not? I thought we were friends.
Rhi: He gives Blaire, like, a frankly baffled look and says:
Rhi (as Lord Scurlock): What gave you that idea?
Kim: I think Blaire’s just gonna be, like, quiet, for just a minute, and then she’s gonna look at him and say:
Kim (as Blaire): Do you remember when we met, when I was at Charterhall?
Rhi (as Lord Scurlock): Vaguely.
Kim (as Blaire): Everybody else was scared of you, but I wasn’t. And this is the second time I’ve been to your manor. I know you don’t let a lot of people here.
Rhi (as Lord Scurlock): You’re very persistent. Friendship is a strong word.
Kim: Blaire’s gonna look a little defeated.
Rhi: Aww.
Kim: And she’s gonna say:
Kim (as Blaire): So… what would you call us? If not friends?
Rhi: I think, again, he just sort of gives Blaire a long look and finally says:
Rhi (as Lord Scurlock): You are an intriguing and persistent acquaintance with a great many ambitious ideas.
Kim (as Blaire): Okay. Okay, I… [sighs] I can work with acquaintance for now.
Rhi: I think he has the decency to wait until Blaire looks away before he rolls his eyes. [laughs]
Kim: Yeah, yeah.
Rhi: I think after sort of a long, awkward silence he says:
Rhi (as Lord Scurlock): I am not certain that your research will bear any results, but I am intrigued to see where you go with it. If you return in a week or so, Oskar will give you some tomes that may be of interest.
Kim (as Blaire): You mean it? Really?
Rhi (as Lord Scurlock): Yes.
Kim (as Blaire): Thank you so much. I knew you had something about this.
Rhi (as Lord Scurlock): It is not specifically about this particular task, but it does relate to the properties of spirits. Some older research that is more difficult to find these days.
Kim (as Blaire): No, but that’s exactly what I need. Thank you!
Rhi: He just shakes his head, is like:
Rhi (as Lord Scurlock): You’re welcome. Don’t damage them, I need them returned.
Kim (as Blaire): I would— I would never dream of it. No, no, no, no, no.
Rhi: I think somewhere a clock chimes in the house and Scurlock is very abruptly on his feet and is like:
Rhi (as Lord Scurlock): If you’ll excuse me, Miss Culhane, I have another appointment to attend to.
Kim (as Blaire): Oh… okay. Um… it was nice seeing you!
Rhi: He just gives you sort of a curt nod and exits. And then, like, the door swings shut and then instantly it swings back open and Oskar is standing there. He’s like:
Rhi (as Oskar): Hello, Miss Culhane. Once you’ve finished your tea, I can escort you out.
Kim (as Blaire): Do you know if I’ll see your uncle again in a week?
Rhi (as Oskar): Uh, I don’t know, he doesn’t tell me his schedule.
Kim (as Blaire): Mm. Okay. Thank you in advance for the books, I really, really appreciate it.
Rhi: He just sorta looks at you blankly. He doesn’t know what you’re talking about. [laughs]
Kim: No, not yet.
Rhi: Yeah. Just like:
Rhi (as Oskar): Uh… very well. Um, I’m sure that my uncle will fill me in on the details.
Kim (as Blaire): Okay. Um, thank you once again for having me in your lovely home.
Rhi: [laughs] This home is, like, the most crumbling, decrepit, gothic-ass Victorian manor.
Kim: And it’s lovely!
Rhi: [laughs] So, he just says:
Rhi (as Oskar): Thank you for stopping by.
Rhi: And he will walk you out to the front door.
##Music plays [00.24.30]
Rhi: We see Seeks seated on a low, crumbling wall beside a toppled tower, gently scratching a goat on the head. It’s a calm, peaceful evening. The breeze is blowing gently through her hair, rustling her clothes, and as she is scratching the goat’s head it looks up at her with its many starry eyes and asks:
Rhi (as Goat): [otherworldly voice] What if I don’t like it later?
Waffles: Seeks shrugs.
Waffles (as Seeks): Well, if you don’t like it later, I mean, there’s lots of names you might not like, and you can always change it.
Rhi: A second goat walks along the dilapidated, mossy tower, climbing along the crumbled bricks as goats are wont to do, and it looks back at Seeks and asks:
Rhi (as Goat): Well, what names don’t you like?
Waffles (as Seeks): Hmm…
Waffles: Seeks scrunches the grass beneath her toes and does a little wiggle with her nose and goes:
Waffles (as Seeks): Hmm… Chowder. And Spidersnot and, um, Archibald. Archibald is terrible name.
Rhi: A third goat goes tumbling gently through the warm summer air and blinking its many eyes down at Seeks:
Rhi (as Goat): Do you think Summer is a good name?
Waffles (as Seeks): I think it’s a lovely name.
Rhi: The goat continues drifting on, nodding thoughtfully as it continues. And from behind a tree, a tall oak tree with bright green leaves drifting gently in the summer sunlight, a small figure emerges and approaches Seeks.
Waffles: Summer is a fourteen-year-old-sized individual wearing patchwork shepherd clothes, a tiny newsboy cap, and they have many shifting, shapeless, starry tentacles for hair and a variable number of eyes, depending on their particular mood at any second, and a wide smile filled with sharp teeth.
Rhi (as Summer): Well, what if I don’t like me later?
Waffles (as Seeks): Well, you can change that, too.
Waffles: And Seeks will embrace them in a hug.
Rhi: Summer will nod at that and hug Seeks back. And when Seeks opens her eyes, she is sitting in one of the many catacombs underneath Duskwall, her hand dangling into a deep, dark pool, the last ripples of the pool’s occupant fading away.
Waffles (as Seeks): Good night, sweet bean. I’ll see you tomorrow.
##Music plays [00.27.20]
Josie: So, in the wake of even more strife in Ink Row, I think there’s a— I don’t know how to describe it, but like a volunteer soup kitchen set up at the boundary of the district, run by the Weeping Lady. And Minx has been spending her shifts there recently. So, she’s kind of in her serving outfit and her hair kind of done back with a handkerchief, and she’s obviously pretty down, because no one’s happy to have to come here and it’s obviously still in a bad way, but she’s, like, tapping her foot a little bit.
Rhi: Yeah. I think from sort of the conversations that you’re hearing, there’s been a lot of upheaval in the Ink Row neighborhood. The process of establishing the boundaries of this community, running it for themselves, kicking out the gangs, the Bluecoats, is not a smooth one. But most people in the neighborhood are sort of united, moving in the same direction. So, it’s hard work but most people are supporting it. And I’m imagining that this is not necessarily in a formal, like, closed-off building. I’m thinking that it’s maybe just kind of like, you know, on the street. They have some tables set up off kind of an empty lot.
Josie: Mm hmm.
Rhi: So Minx, while you’re filling up bowls of probably some kind of kelp and mushroom soup, you see across the street a familiar figure. Bazso Baz is walking past with a pair of his guards and he glances over, does a very visible double-take and then, like, looks to his guards and holds up a hand indicating for them to stop. And he strolls across the street, hands shoved in his pockets, and when he’s within speaking distance is just like:
Rhi (as Bazso): Have you been possessed?
Josie: Minx startles out of whatever she’s doing and turns round to see him and says:
Josie (as Minx): What? No. What? I mean, why would you ask that?
Rhi (as Bazso): Well, the Ellie that I grew up with would not be caught dead wearing…
Rhi: And he kind of gestures at what I imagine is like, dressed-down plus the handkerchief plus an apron, like…
Josie: [laughs] Minx sort of coughs to herself and puts back on her Minx voice, which I imagine is very weird for the other people in the kitchen around her. The quote-unquote ‘kitchen’.
Rhi: Yeah.
Josie (as Minx): Perhaps not, but I think I make it work, dear. I try to keep them clean.
Rhi (as Bazso): What are you doing?
Josie (as Minx): I’m helping.
Rhi: And he just kinda like, looks around the space and is like:
Rhi (as Bazso): This isn’t like you.
Josie (as Minx): Heh, well I suppose not, but, I mean, people need help. And I wasn’t helping. And that needed to change, I think.
Rhi: He just kind of stares at you, and it’s that look of, like, you’re speaking a language that he understands, and he understands the individual words you’re saying, but put together in that order just doesn’t make sense to him.
Josie: [laughs] Right.
Rhi: He’s just like:
Rhi (as Bazso): What are you… I mean, what are you getting out of this? What’s the angle?
Josie: I think at that point she kind of looks to her coworkers then just sort of nods like she’s gonna step away for a second.
Rhi: A couple of the other coworkers are like, yeah, clearly you’ve got some stuff to deal with. One of them looks disappointed because he was absorbing some serious gossip here. [laughs]
Josie: [laughs] Aww.
Rhi: He’s just like, “Wait, no, don’t walk out of earshot!” [laughs]
Josie: [laughs]
Josie (as Minx): Well, there’s no… there’s no angle, Bazso. This is… I’m off-duty, as it were. I did have an angle when I finally got to go into the Centuralia Club.
Rhi (as Bazso): Huh.
Josie (as Minx): But it wasn’t as good as I was hoping.
Rhi (as Bazso): Eh, those things usually aren’t.
Josie (as Minx): Yeah.
Rhi (as Bazso): And so now you do this.
Josie (as Minx): In short, yes. But, I mean, all three of us kind of changed tracks as to what we were doing after…
Josie: She gestures to the rubble of Ink Row.
Rhi: [laughs]
Rhi (as Bazso): I mean, there’s changed tracks and then there’s…
Josie (as Minx): Don’t you worry, Bazso. I’m stull doing everything the magnificent Ellie you know has been doing. Just, a bit more fruitful efforts.
Rhi (as Bazso): Well, I hope not everything Ellie did.
Rhi: Pointed look.
Josie: She kind of blanches at that and puts her gesturing arm down.
Josie (as Minx): Well… yes. Not that.
Rhi (as Bazso): [laughs] Well, I guess I shouldn’t keep you.
Josie (as Minx): I mean, you are free to hang around and speak to me, it doesn’t require all of my attention.
Rhi (as Bazso): I’ve got places to be. People to meet with.
Josie (as Minx): As you say, dear. I’ll get back to it then. It was good to see you.
Rhi: I think he hesitates for a second and then is like.
Rhi (as Bazso): Yeah. Yeah, it was good seeing ya.
Rhi: Like it’s just occurred to him that it was nice to talk to you again. And I think he kinda gives you a nod and then will walk back to his guards and they continue on their way. And I think right before they turn the corner he kinda glances back and like, looks at you again, still a little confused, and just sorta shakes his head and then they walk out of sight.
Josie: And Minx returns to her coworkers, slipping back into Ellie voice.
Rhi: There’s definitely a— Minx fields a few questions about like, wait, so how do you know the leader of The Lampblacks? [laughs]
Josie: [laughs]
Rhi: People are very curious. But if she doesn’t wanna talk about it, they don’t pry.
Josie: I… there’s no doubt gonna be the suggestion of lovers thrown out at some point.
Rhi: [laughs]
Josie: And she will speak up to quash that.
Rhi: Yeah. [laughs]
Josie: Firmly. [laughs]
Rhi: No.
Josie: No!
Rhi: I think actually— I haven’t really— it hasn’t come up, but I think Bazso’s gay. I don’t think Bazso has an interest in women at all.
Josie: Aw, yay. Well that rounds out, because we have gay Bazso, lesbian Minx and bi Nyryx.
Rhi: Yeah.
Josie: Yay!
Rhi: By their power combined, they are…
Josie: We are Captain Queer!
Rhi: [bursts out laughing]
##Music plays [00.33.56]
Rhi: Myra, I think that kind of during this calm stretch you stop by The Hound’s Paw to pick up your messages, as you do, and among these messages is a note in a very familiar hand inviting you to meet at a particular day and time at, ‘the usual place in the library’, is what it says.
Minna: Oh. She takes the note and, like, kind of holds it for a second, then is like:
Minna (as Myra): Okay. Let’s do this.
Rhi: So, at the appointed day and time you head up to Doskvol Academy and the library, over to the little private study rom that you and Jeren would always hang out in when he was a student here and you were pretending to be.
Minna: [laughs]
Rhi: And he is sitting there, not wearing his blue coat. Just wearing sort of a—
Minna: Baby! [laughs]
Rhi: A plain jacket. When you come in, I think it’s one of those things where— I’m picturing just a door with, like, a glass window in the top half. And you can see that he’s, like, bouncing his leg and drumming his fingers on the table. He’s clearly very nervous.
Minna: [whines] I think Myra just, like, quietly opens the door and come in and settles down in the usual seat. Kind of pretending this is normal.
Rhi: Yeah. I think as soon as the door opens Jeren looks up and is kinda like:
Rhi (as Jeren): Uh… hi.
Minna (as Myra): Hi.
Rhi (as Jeren): Thanks for, uh, coming.
Minna (as Myra): I was happy to see the note. How are you doing?
Rhi (as Jeren): Better. Uh… been seeing a physicker, it’s kinda helping with some of the recovery. Leg still bothers me sometimes, but…
Rhi: He just shrugs.
Minna (as Myra): That’s good.
Rhi (as Jeren): They’re, uh, moving me to a station in Brightstone, so…
Minna (as Myra): That’ll be pretty safe.
Rhi (as Jeren): Yeah. I think that was the… that was the thinking. I’m pretty sure my father put some pressure on some people.
Minna (as Myra): He would.
Rhi (as Jeren): How do you think I got admitted here in the first place?
Minna (as Myra): Oh, don’t— if you hadn’t had a brain, they wouldn’t’ve let you in.
Rhi (as Jeren): I thought you were supposed to be the cynic, Myra.
Minna (as Myra): No. No, listen to me. Your father isn’t high enough up to pressure the dean of Doskvol Academy. That was what you were for, remember?
Rhi (as Jeren): Heh. [sighs] Alright, I guess that’s true.
Rhi: He kinda looks down for a second, is just, uh, he does that thing where he opens his mouth like he’s gonna start to talk a couple times, but nothing comes out. And then finally, he just goes:
Rhi (as Jeren): You’re never gonna stop doing this stuff, are you?
Minna (as Myra): No, I can’t foresee a world where that’s possible.
Rhi (as Jeren): You know we’re probably never gonna agree on most of this?
Minna (as Myra): I do know that. It didn’t matter for years what either of us thought about politics beyond a good debate, but… it matters to me now. At least enough that I need to be able to be clear about what I feel.
Rhi (as Jeren): I don’t think you ever said what happened. Like, when it changed. You just… stuff that you’d ignored or been fine with, all of a sudden you couldn’t stand.
Minna (as Myra): I met a woman and it changed everything. At first it was just jobs, and then we started building this gang, and then I had this family and they were all starting to make me see things that I’d had my eyes closed to for so many years because it was all about surviving. But then suddenly, it was more than survival. I could do something about it. Wouldn’t you? I mean, I don’t mean to phrase it that way. Just, there’s so much bad that I’ve seen. It is so freeing to feel that I can do something about it, anything about it.
Rhi: He frowns thoughtfully.
Rhi (as Jeren): I still… the way you do things is dangerous. Not just for you and your friends, but everybody around you.
Minna (as Myra): I know that. It’s— yeah, it’s become really clear that that’s true and that anybody who associates with us needs to understand that.
Rhi (as Jeren): [sighs]
Minna (as Myra): We’ve just gotten too big for them to ignore us, or the people around us.
Rhi (as Jeren): So, I guess it’s… you know where you stand and you’re not moving.
Minna (as Myra): I’m not moving back.
Rhi (as Jeren): So, I just have to decide if it’s worth the risk then, huh?
Minna (as Myra): Jeren, everybody grows as they get older. If we’re growing irreparably apart and this isn’t something you can do anymore, it’s fair and valid of you to choose to stop being friends with me.
Rhi: He makes a pained face at that and is like:
Rhi (as Jeren): I don’t— I’ve missed you. You’re pretty much my oldest friend.
Minna (as Myra): I’ve missed you too. You’re also my oldest friend.
Rhi (as Jeren): I just… it’s hard, knowing that even setting this up was taking a risk. But I think… I think it’s a risk I’m willing to take for now.
Minna (as Myra): Okay. I can live with that.
Rhi (as Jeren): If I get kidnapped again…
Minna (as Myra): [dry laugh] You get kidnapped again and… I don’t even know what to say about that beyond that I will try and get you out again.
Rhi (as Jeren): I know. I, uh, I think that, um, restaurant we would go to sometimes on the bridge? I think that’s still open. If you wanted to maybe grab lunch.
Minna (as Myra): Yeah, I’d love that. Um, yeah, leave a note when’s a good time and—
Rhi (as Jeren): Well, I mean, I was… I got today off, if you’re not busy.
Minna (as Myra): Oh! Oh, yeah. Let’s do that.
Rhi: So yeah, he looks kinda relieved and stands up and you can head out to have a friendly lunch.
Minna: I think they stand up and, like, Myra kind of stops him with a hand on his shoulder.
Minna (as Myra): Do you— is it okay if I hug you?
Rhi: He looks surprised and then will nod.
Minna: And she goes for a hug. I think it’s a short hug, like, one of those one-armed hugs. But a good, tight hug.
Rhi: Yeah. It’s a little awkward on Jeren’s side because he’s just not used to this.
Minna: [laughs] I think he’s taller than her, so she has to, like, reach up.
Rhi: Yeah. But he will hug you back. Good friendly hug and then a good friendly lunch.
Minna: Mm hmm!
##Music plays [00.40.36]
Rhi: The dark spiral on the wall is well worn as Kay runs her fingers over it in a familiar loop. It’s bad luck to go out on the water without seeking the favor of the father of the abyss first. The ritual completed, she heads for her gondola. Halfway there, she stops and snaps her fingers, then strides back to the boathouse. Bad luck to go out without the blessing, just plain foolish to go out without the package. Especially after all the trouble she went to to get it. She gets the package from her locker, then crosses the dock and steps into her gondola, quickly pulling away down the canal. She’ll make for her usual Nightmarket dock soon, but first, she has a delivery to make.
The water around Dunslough stinks, but Kay’s expression doesn’t change. It’s a familiar stench after all her days in Ironhook, and in a way it feels like coming home. Not a good home, mind, but home nonetheless. She ties her gondola off and climbs into a dark, narrow cleft in the canal wall, following the familiar tunnels into the catacombs.
Rhi (as Kay): Hey, Fishhook. Brought you a snack.
Rhi: For a while, nothing happens. Then Kay’s breath starts to mist in the cold air, and a spirit drifts through the wall. It’s slender, fragmented, not all there, but the prison tattoos on its arms burn bright, a ghostly match to the ones that Kay bears. She smiles grimly and sets down the package, a jar brimming with raw leviathan blood. The spirit surges towards it.
Rhi (as Kay): [sighs] Eat up, buddy. Only way to keep up your strength.
##Music plays [00.42.21]
Rhi: I think we see kind of the back area of The Reconciled compound, their hidden underground lair, and there is a very tall, kind of broad-shouldered woman with long dark hair, dark skin, sitting in a comfortable chair. And at first, she appears to be having a very animated conversation with thin air, but then the view kind of shifts to the ghost field and you can see that who she’s actually talking to is Tira, and this woman is also glowing with a possessor ghost. And the two of them are chatting away as Blaire, I think, enters the space. And as soon as Blaire comes in, Tira whips around as is like:
Rhi (as Tira): [gasps] Blaire! Oh, you’re here, you’re here, you’re here! That’s great! I have someone I need to introduce you to!
Kim (as Blaire): What, really? Yeah?
Rhi (as Tira): Yes! Yes, yes, yes, come here!
Kim (as Blaire): Okay, I’m coming.
Rhi: And like, she tries— she goes to grab at you and you just feel cold on your arm.
Kim: I mean, Blaire offers her wrist anyway. She knows.
Rhi: Aww. Yeah, so yeah, [laughs] Tira will lead you over to the woman who’s sitting in the chair and Tira very proudly is like:
Rhi (as Tira): Blaire Culhane, this is Zenovia.
Kim (as Blaire): Zenovia?
Rhi: Zenovia kind of inclines her head and is like:
Rhi (as Zenovia): It’s very good to meet you, Blaire. Tira has said a lot of very interesting things about you.
Kim (as Blaire): It’s wonderful to meet you, That’s a gorgeous name.
Rhi: And I think, Blaire, as you’re thinking about it, that name, like, it sounds kinda familiar.
Kim: Okay.
Rhi: And after a couple seconds it clicks that your family has some, like, alchemical research books written by Zenovia. This is an alchemist from Tycheros who died about a hundred years ago.
Kim: Oh. So, so if I may, in the middle of this conversation Blaire is just gonna be like:
Kim (as Blaire): Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait, wait, wait. Wait. I’m sorry, I need to ask, you don’t mean to tell me that you’re The Zenvoia?
Rhi: And she gives this big grin, clearly pleased to be talking to someone who recognizes her and is like:
Rhi (as Zenovia): In the flesh.
Kim (as Blaire): [gasps]
Rhi (as Zenovia): For the moment.
Kim (as Blaire): Oh my gods! I would ask for a hug if I could, oh my gods!
Rhi (as Zenovia): [laughs]
Kim (as Blaire): Oh my gods! Can you sign my books? Please?
Rhi (as Zenovia): I would be happy to, especially since it sounds like you are engaged in some very fascinating research. Tira has been telling me about it.
Kim (as Blaire): Oh my gods, oh my gods. I’m sorry, I don’t mean to freak out, I know that you’re just like a normal person, but oh my gods, you’re like my idol.
Rhi (as Zenovia): [laughs] Well, that’s very flattering.
Rhi: And she will, like, gesture at a nearby seat. And I think Tira just like sits down cross-legged, but hovering in mid-air.
Kim: Aww!
Rhi: [laughs] And Zenovia is like:
Rhi (as Zenovia): So, Tira has told me about your work with trying to extract ghosts from spirit drugs?
Kim (as Blaire): Uh huh! Mm hmm, mm hmm, mm hmm.
Rhi (as Zenovia): It’s very bold research.
Kim (as Blaire): Do you really think so?
Rhi (as Zenovia): I think that you have taken on a very difficult challenge and I’m very interested to see if you are able to accomplish this. What sort of progress have you made so far?
Kim (as Blaire): [getting emotional] I’m sorry, it’s just— [clears throat] sorry, you’re the first person I’ve talked to who’s ever believed in me about this. Um… [clears throat]
Rhi: Oh no… [laughs]
Kim (as Blaire): Um… uh… no, no I— I— I haven’t… I haven’t made a ton of progress yet. Um, yeah.
Rhi (as Zenovia): Well, what have you gotten so far? Have you moved out of anything theoretical, are you in a testing stage, or is it still working out formulas?
Kim (as Blaire): Yeah— still working out formulas, but going to be moving into testing stage very soon.
Rhi: And I think that, like, she’ll pull out a book and ask to see Blaire’s notebooks, which she will sign.
Kim (as Blaire): [delighted gasp]
Rhi: And they, you know, she’ll kind of like start going over some notes and sharing some details and things, giving some suggestions for things that you could try. So, yeah, I think that— and the three of you, because Tira also pitches in occasionally, or Tira sometimes will ask questions. Because she was an alchemy student. She hadn’t finished her education yet, but sometimes she asks questions that will inspire one or the other of you to go off on some tangent of like, “Oh! Well, thinking about that, you know, combining those reagents in this way will do,” yada, yada, yada. You know, the three of you end up working together and I think that, you know, it’s several hours.
Kim: Oh, yeah.
Rhi: Other people kind of pass through and are just like, “Okay, they’re doing something. Alright. More power to ya.”
Kim: Yeah. Yeah!
Rhi: And I think that by the time that you kind of start getting to a point where, like, your eyes are blurring because you’ve been looking at books for so long, you have what feels like a potential path to making this work and some processes in mind for how to actually test this.
Kim: Yeah,
Rhi: You know, there’s still a little bit of work to be done, but you’re getting there. Tira, I think, is like… not napping, cause ghosts don’t really need to sleep, but she’s kind of just wandered off at some point.
Kim: Yeah.
Rhi: So, I think that Zenovia will kinda stretch her shoulders back and be like:
Rhi (as Zenovia): Oof, I forgot what having a body felt like. It’s been a little while. [sighs] I think that I may need to eat something.
Kim (as Blaire): I have a little bit of electroplasm, if you want it to hold you over?
Rhi: She’s just kinda like:
Rhi (as Zenovia): Um, sure, yeah, that’ll be something until I can find something better. That’d be appreciated, thank you.
Kim (as Blaire): Yeah, absolutely, absolutely!
Kim: And Blaire’s just gonna hand over all the electroplasm that she has.
Rhi: [laughs] Yeah, so she kinda like holds the jar in her hands and the glow drains out of it and she kind of, like, seems to perk up a little bit, sits up a little bit and is like:
Rhi (as Zenovia): [sighs] Thanks. Appreciate that.
Rhi: And will set it aside.
Kim (as Blaire): No, no, thank you. I cannot thank you enough for this.
Rhi (as Zenovia): I’m glad I could help. And I hope this works out. I’m passing through on my way down to Imperial City, but I had some old contacts here and thought I’d stop in and see how they were getting on.
Kim (as Blaire): So, does this mean I’m never gonna see you again?
Rhi (as Zenovia): Oh, I wouldn’t say that. I intend to be around for quite a long time, and you look very young.
Kim (as Blaire): [gasps] I am very young!
Rhi: [laughs] Blaire says as if this is an accomplishment she’s proud of.
Kim: I mean, she’s nineteen. [laughs]
Rhi: Oh no, she’s a tiny baby.
Kim: She’s baby.
Rhi: Yeah, I think Zenovia will just kinda laugh and be like:
Rhi (as Zenovia): So, you never know. There’s a lot happening here in Duskwall, I’m sure I’ll pass through again.
Kim (as Blaire): Whoa, yay!
Rhi (as Zenovia): And if I do, where should I look you up?
Kim (as Blaire): Um, you can always find me at Nightmarket, in The Hound’s Paw.
Rhi (as Zenovia): Hound’s Paw. Alright, I’ll keep that in mind. But, uh—
Kim (as Blaire): Um… um… can I ask one more thing of you before you go?
Rhi (as Zenovia): Uh, yes.
Kim (as Blaire): Can I have a hug?
Rhi: She kinda smiles and is like:
Rhi (as Zenovia): Yes, yes, you may have a hug.
Kim (as Blaire): [gasp of joy]
Rhi: And she will give you a hug. Pat pat.
Kim (as Blaire): [happy laugh]
Rhi (as Zenovia): Okay, please don’t—
Kim: Blaire’s crying.
Rhi (as Zenovia): Oh, please don’t cry, oh no, oh… please don’t cry.
Kim (as Blaire): [through tears] I’m sorry, I can’t help it, I… [sobs] You’re my favorite.
Rhi (as Zenovia): Oh… um… uh…
Rhi: [laughs] She seemed fine before, but as soon as crying starts, she gets very flustered. It’s like:
Rhi (as Zenovia): Um… uh, here.
Rhi: She will hand you a handkerchief. [laughs]
Kim (as Blaire): Oh… [sobs] thank you.
Rhi: Awkward shoulder pat.
Kim (as Blaire): Um, do you want this back?
Rhi (as Zenovia): Uh, no. I have other ones. You can—
Rhi: Because I imagine Blaire dabbing at her eyes meaning that she’s gotten it smudged with black. [laughs]
Kim: I mean, she’s also blown her nose, too, so… [laughs]
Rhi: Oh, yeah.
Rhi (as Zenovia): No, you can keep that. That’s fine.
Kim (as Blaire): Really? You mean it?
Rhi (as Zenovia): Yes… yes. I’m gonna… I need to—
Kim (as Blaire): Oh my gods!
Rhi (as Zenovia): Okay. Uh… are you gonna be alright?
Kim (as Blaire): Mm hmm, I’ll be okay!
Rhi (as Zenovia): Okay.
Kim (as Blaire): I’m gonna—
Rhi (as Zenovia): Tira? Could you…
Kim (as Blaire): I’m gonna keep this forever!
Rhi (as Zenovia): Okay, I think Tira’s gonna make sure that you get settled and see you out, but it was really good meeting you and I hope that this works out for you. I look forward to hearing about it.
Kim (as Blaire): Thank you so much…
Rhi: And then she’s gonna just kind of sidle out of the room. [laughs] And Tira’s just like:
Rhi (as Tira): Are you okay?
Kim (as Blaire): [sniffs] Mm hmm. Mm hmm, yeah, I’m good.
Rhi (as Tira): Okay.
Kim (as Blaire): I’ll be good.
Rhi (as Tira): Are you sure?
Kim (as Blaire): Mm hmm. I just…
Rhi (as Tira): You’re leaking. Like, a lot.
Kim (as Blaire): I know! It’s fine.
Rhi (as Tira): Okay…
Kim (as Blaire): It’s good leaking, I promise.
Rhi (as Tira): Okay.
Rhi: [laughs]
Kim (as Blaire): I got to hug my idol and she gave me her handkerchief and… it’s just a very good day!
Rhi (as Tira): It was pretty cool.
Kim (as Blaire): Yeah…
Rhi (as Tira): She’s nice.
Kim (as Blaire): Yeah, she’s super nice!
Rhi: So, I think Tira will kind of talk to you until Blaire has calmed down enough to be able to safely walk the streets of Duskwall. [laughs] But yeah, Tira will see you to the door and send you on your way, and Blaire just, like, leaves with all kinds of notebooks and ideas and tears and a handkerchief.
Kim: Mm hmm. Mm hmm.
Rhi: [laughs quietly]
##Music plays [00.53.12]
Minna: So, Myra walks into Silkshore. There’s this neighborhood called Fogcrest that’s full of bohemians, basically, and students and stuff like that.
Rhi: The arts— the starving artist district.
Minna: Uh huh. Anyway, so she climbs up into Fogcrest. It’s on a hill and usually kind of, I mean, foggy, which gives it name. And there’s, I think, a narrow house up there that the Historical Society is based in. This is, I think, Kit’s house, but he keeps the bottom floor open for this kind of thing. They’ve got a small printing thing going, but mostly it’s just a meeting room that she finds herself in on the bottom floor.
Rhi: So, I’m picturing that it’s kind of a small meeting room, but lined with bookshelves.
Minna: Yeah. And, you know, there’s some chairs, but I think they’re pushed back against the wall right now. This is the headquarters of the Society for Northern Void Sea History. They have major meetings probably once a month where people kind of talk about what they’re working on and sometimes present stuff. But right now, it’s not a meeting. She’s just coming in to see Kit specifically.
Rhi: How did Myra get involved with this group? How did she meet Kit?
Minna: So, I don’t know if she’s actually met Kit face to face, necessarily, but these meetings, the monthly meetings that the society holds, are actually open to the public so that people can, you know, hear what’s going on. This is an academic society, but they’re not based in the university and they don’t wanna gatekeep like that. So yeah, she’s probably attended meetings and, like, listened to stuff and read some stuff, but she has not actually met Kit.
Rhi: Okay.
Minna: I think the way she encountered it was probably… she probably read some of Mhairi Markelson’s work. She’s a— fuck. I have so much lore on these kids. Mhairi Markleson is a visiting professor up at, I think, Charterhall University, and she’s done a lot of work in this area. But she probably read some of Mhairi’s work and somehow followed it back to, oh, there’s this society that’s putting this cool stuff out.
Rhi: Okay, cool. Yeah, I think Myra is maybe kind of skimming the shelves looking at some of the books that are up there and then the door swings open and this man comes bustling in. He’s fairly short. I’m picturing him as having, like, kind of a neatly trimmed beard and glasses.
Minna: Oh, I love that. Yes.
Rhi: Yeah. Comes bustling in, has a notebook tucked under one arm, and is like:
Rhi (as Kit): Uh, Miss Keel, right?
Minna (as Myra): Yes, that’s me.
Rhi (as Kit): Ah. Wonderful to meet you! I am Christopher Sutton. You can call me Kit.
Minna (as Myra): Thank you for meeting with me on such short notice, Kit.
Rhi (as Kit): Oh, I’m happy to, happy to. I’ve just been working on editing an essay and I could use the break.
Minna (as Myra): [laughs]
Rhi (as Kit): You look familiar, have you been to some of our past meetings?
Rhi: And he kind of gestures for you to sit.
Minna (as Myra): Yes, I’ve attended a few. I haven’t spoken up or anything, I’m just interested.
Rhi (as Kit): Oh, wonderful!
Minna (as Myra): Yes.
Rhi (as Kit): What brings you here today?
Minna (as Myra): I actually had a bit of a proposal for you. Not trying to put more work on your desk, this is mostly my work, I just wanted your blessing. Um, I have some friends who’ve recently acquired a printing press, and I was thinking about sort of writing up some summaries, some reviews of the work that your society is doing, for a different audience.
Rhi (as Kit): Hmm. What sort of audience?
Minna (as Myra): Well, the major aim would be kind of more of a working-class audience. So much of your work is about kind of decentralizing history away from the universities, and I think that people learning more about it could be useful. At least educational.
Rhi (as Kit): Mm…
Rhi: He looks very thoughtful and is like:
Rhi (as Kit): Uh, I mean, I’m always looking to broaden our reach and I certainly think that there’s a great deal that can be learned from many of our histories. But as you said, I am rather busy myself. This would be an undertaking that you would be able to handle?
Minna (as Myra): Yes, absolutely. I’ve been reading these things for a little while now, I think really more the difficulty will be trying to write it in a way that does justice to the ideas that people put forth here.
Rhi (as Kit): I think that’s an excellent idea. And I think that it might be a good challenge for some of our more verbose authors here to see if they can’t be a little more succinct.
Minna (as Myra): [laughs] I’m not necessarily asking them to be more succinct. I mean, if you’d be interested in asking authors to contribute, that would be fantastic. I had been more— I didn’t want to put more on anybody’s plate, I had planning to sort of write reviews, I guess. But absolutely, if you’d be willing to connect me with people.
Rhi (as Kit): I can think of a few who might be interested in this. And yes, let’s—
Minna: Myra screams internally. [laughs]
Rhi: Yeah. [laughs] Myra’s gonna, like, walk out very calmly and then just be like, “Yes!” I think Kit is like:
Rhi (as Kit): I think there might be a few people I know who could be interested and, you know, I’d be definitely interested to see what you put together for your first couple editions. And if it seems like that’s getting some traction, then I think it would be a good collaboration. Especially since it doesn’t really add any more work to my desk. That’s my favorite kind of collaboration.
Minna (as Myra): I do… there’s one small— well, not small. There’s one aspect to this that I would like to discuss with you before we decide whether I’m putting my name on this or not.
Rhi (as Kit): Mm. I thought you were going to ask about funding, which—
Minna (as Myra): [laughs]
Rhi (as Kit): I can tell you right out, no.
Minna (as Myra): No. I did not believe that I could strain the society’s funds like that. Well, I’ve given you my real name. I am a member of a gang called The Magpies.
Rhi: Let me— pause for a second. I’m gonna do a fortune roll to find out if he knows who you are.
Minna: [laughs] Listen. She’s being better about putting people in danger without telling them.
Rhi: Yeah.
Rhi (as Kit): Um… Magpies… sounds familiar. I think maybe there were some news articles about that group a while back?
Minna (as Myra): Yes.
Rhi (as Kit): I admit I really only tend to focus on current events in that they relate to the past, where I can sort of draw upon those lines.
Minna (as Myra): Mm. We’re getting a little bit notorious. If you heard about what happened at The Docks, we had a hand in that.
Rhi (as Kit): Oh. Oh my.
Minna (as Myra): Yeah. So, whether or not I put my name on this, there’s always the possibility that you’ll be known to be friends with me.
Rhi (as Kit): Ah… hmm.
Minna (as Myra): I can…
Rhi (as Kit): I… think, for the time being, it might be best if you publish anonymously, or under a pseudonym.
Minna (as Myra): Yes. That is what I had suspected was the best idea. I just thought I would let you know that there is that possibility. Mind you, Duskwall being what it is, it’s already a risk being up here doing this, and I applaud you for it.
Rhi (as Kit): Well, I think usually not that kind of risk. Goodness.
Minna (as Myra): [laughs]
Rhi (as Kit): Can I ask— I mean, you said a gang. Like, criminal gang? Is that correct?
Minna (as Myra): I mean, if you’ve read Tom Melling’s meditations on what it means to follow the law and what it means to follow— you know what, this is not going to work out. Yes, criminals.
Rhi (as Kit): Hmm. How… alright. Well, I suppose that is not exactly the reach I expected to have, but I’m glad that you’re interested and so enthusiastic about our work. I suppose maybe I should read up a bit more about what you are… what sort of… what sort of criminal? I need to— because are you, like… oh, you know… the sort of…
Minna (as Myra): We’re closer to revolutionaries than, say, the Billhooks.
Rhi (as Kit): Oh…
Rhi: [laughs] He’s swinging wildly between confused and intrigued. He’s having a day. He’s like:
Rhi (as Kit): Oh. Are you, like, affiliated with any of the Skovlan work, or…?
Minna (as Myra): Not precisely. But certainly, I mean, certainly I think that— I mean, I’m quite intrigued by them. We haven’t had as much dealing with that as I would like.
Rhi (as Kit): I see. Alright. I’ll have to, I guess, look into what sort of things you’ve been up to more. Although, god, I suppose whatever is in the Daily is going to be useless.
Minna (as Myra): Yeah, don’t read about us in the Daily. [laughs]
Rhi (as Kit): [laughs]
Minna (as Myra): If you— have you ever— well, actually, I’ll bring this up. The printing press in question that I’m going to be using belongs to a pair of independent journalists named Lani and Roxanne Sathiri. I don’t know if you remember their work from—
Rhi (as Kit): Lani Sathiri! Yes, yes! Oh, she does incredible work.
Minna (as Myra): She does! They both do. So, that is why I thought that their work would actually mesh very well with your work.
Rhi (as Kit): Oh. Yes, yes. Yes, she did some excellent deep investigative pieces before the North Hook burned down.
Minna (as Myra): Which is why they have their own printing press now.
Rhi (as Kit): Oh, that’s wonderful.
Minna (as Myra): In case you’re wondering what The Magpies do, we did help them with that.
Rhi (as Kit): Oh. That’s good to hear. I will say this: You have my blessing to produce this publication as a collaboration with our society. I request that you publish either anonymously or under pseudonyms and try to avoid affiliation with any sort of criminal activity, as we are not equipped to handle such entanglements.
Minna (as Myra): That is what I thought was best as well.
Rhi (as Kit): Wonderful. And do send along some copies once you have your first edition printed. I will be interested to see it.
Minna (as Myra): I certainly will. Thank you for meeting with me.
Rhi (as Kit): Yes, well thank you for coming by. This was a far more interesting meeting than I anticipated.
Minna (as Myra): [laughs] Well, I think trying to lie to a historian has to be some kind of crime, right?
Rhi (as Kit): It certainly should be.
##Music plays [01.04.06]
Rhi: And so I think at this same time, elsewhere in Silkshore, in Ankhayat Park, which is the largest open space in the city, it’s home to a lot of festivals, public events, and we see sitting under a petrified tree, we see Nyryx sitting on a blanket that is spread out on the ground. There’s a basket next to her and she is looking around, clearly waiting for someone to arrive. And I think she spots someone approaching and brightens up and waves.
Josie: Yeah, it’s Minx.
Rhi: Yeah. [laughs]
Josie: Despite the hour, she’s wearing a wide-brimmed… I guess they wouldn’t call them sunhats, but—
Rhi: Maybe like a day-hat.
Josie: Yeah. She is wearing very stereotypical picnic garb, but with just, like, puffy coat on outside. Like, a nice sundress and sunhat and honestly showing a bit more skin than usual, which means some of her scars are showing. But whatever, she’s just rocking it.
Rhi: Oh. Yeah!
Josie: And she rushes up to meet her girlfriend.
Rhi: She stands up and will give you a kiss hello and is like:
Rhi (as Nyryx): You’re a little bit late, I was starting to worry you got lost.
Josie (as Minx): Well, I just need to be fashionably late. Savor the moment, you see.
Rhi (as Nyryx): [laughs] Well come on, sit down.
Rhi: And she will open up the picnic basket and pulls out a small bottle of wine and the bottle opener. Or the, not bottle opener, corkscrew. And will just hand both of those to you. And then she starts kind of unpacking the rest of the picnic. And I think there’s… let’s see. Definitely some goat cheese and probably some crackers.
Josie: Yay.
Rhi: And… let’s see… I’m trying to think of what else. What are some other… what’s some foods that Minx would like?
Josie: I feel like… well, it’s also a matter of what actually fuckin’ exists to be liked.
Rhi: Yeah, what’s available? Yeah…
Josie: I know. Minx really likes dip. Like, we already have cheese and crackers, so there’s gonna be a lot of things, like, chips and other things to dip and dip in.
Rhi: Okay.
Josie: Whatever that looks like in this universe.
Rhi: Yeah. Um, maybe there’s some kind of, like, mushroom dip and yeah, there’s like some— a couple different varieties of crackers. I think, yeah, so there’s goat cheese, there’s a couple, like, probably, honestly, some kind of seaweed dip and a mushroom dip and some crackers. And I think, kind of as you’re getting what is honestly probably a mushroom wine, you get that open, Nyryx, like, very proudly reaches into the bag and pulls out a small, hand-sized basket and holds it out to you and is just grinning. And is like:
Rhi (as Nyryx): Open it.
Josie: Minx will gingerly take a peek inside.
Rhi: It is filled to the brim with fresh strawberries.
Josie: Minx will look to Nyryx and back to the strawberries, and then rush in for a deep kiss on Nyryx. [laughs]
Rhi: [laughs] Yeah, cause that’s the kind of thing that, like, she saved up for this.
Josie: Mm hmm. [laughs]
Rhi: Yeah, so Nyryx is like:
Rhi (as Nyryx): I just, I wanted to do something special for you. You keep doing so many— you always surprise me with things. I wanted to surprise you with something.
Josie (as Minx): Thank you, Nyry.
Rhi: So, she will pull out a couple glasses and hold one out, or hold them both out so you can fill them. And then pass you one.
Josie: Clinky.
Rhi: Yeah. Well, what do they toast to?
Josie: Hmm. I think Minx would just say:
Josie (as Minx): To us.
Rhi: Yeah. Clink!
Josie: Clink! And Minx is leaning on Nyryx a little bit the whole time and sort of happily humming while she eats the strawberries.
Rhi: Aww! Yeah, I think they just have a nice picnic in the park. People-watch and enjoy their wine and, like, savor over those strawberries. And yeah, and just have a really nice, happy time in the park.
Josie: Yeah.
##Music plays [01.08.41]
Rhi: Elsewhere in Silkshore, we see Lani Sathiri hurrying through the narrow streets. Her thoughts are racing with what she’s uncovered. The Magpies are going to be devastated. Minx is going to be horrified. But they have to know. The ugliness of the city never gets easier to look at, but pretending it’s not there won’t make a difference.
Movement catches her eye and she looks up at the bridge expecting the worst, roaming spirits or armed thugs or lurking Bluecoats. But there’s nothing so dreadful here today. There’s a trio of acrobats performing on the side of the bridge, doing dramatic flips and leaps and tumbles, all above the slow-moving but still treacherous waters of the river Dosk.
There’s a small crowd gathered to watch and Lani drifts closer to join them. The three acrobats look similar enough that they could be siblings. It’s impossible to tell for sure, because they never hold still. The tallest of the three arcs over backwards, hands and feet planted on the bridge so his back forms an arch. One of the others tumbles under him while the other takes a running start and does a dramatic twisting dive over him. The pair come to their feet side by side and go into a series of leaps and flips. Lani grins at the performance and raises her hands in applause when the three of them come back together and take a bow. She doesn’t have much coin on her, but she tosses a few pieces of silver into their box before she continues on her way.
There’s ugliness in the city, yes, but there’s also moments of beauty and joy. It’s good to be reminded of that sometimes.
##Music plays [01.10.26]
Rhi: In any city, in any life, there are always moments to breathe. They may be hard to find sometimes, or feel few and far between, but when they come to you, take them. You’ll need them in the days ahead. After a couple weeks of moments to breathe, The Magpies have once again come together at The Hound’s Paw. Rigney delivers their drinks and a sealed envelope.
Rhi (as Rigney): That’s from Lani. Uh, she didn’t say what was in it but, um, well… she said that Minx, just try and think things through before you do anything?
Josie (as Minx): Um, I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything more ominous in my whole life. Okay.
Rhi (as Rigney): I know. I’m a little worried.
Rhi: So, yeah, he’ll hand over the envelope.
Josie (as Minx): Shall… should I open it, or should one of you two open it?
Minna (as Myra): Would you like me to?
Josie (as Minx): Yes, please.
Minna: Alright, Myra takes it and she opens it very quickly and shakes out the letter.
Rhi: It’s a single sentence in Lani’s handwriting. It says, “The final member of The Circle of Flame is the owner of The Red Lamp, Madame Tesslyn.”
Minna: I think Myra’s eyes widen. She hasn’t read it out loud yet. And she, like, looks up at Minx and she says:
Minna (as Myra): What’s the name of the owner of The Red Lamp again?
Josie (as Minx): Uh, Madame Tesslyn, I believe?
Minna (as Myra): That’s what I thought.
Kim (as Blaire): What does it say?
Minna (as Myra): She’s the last member of The Circle of Flame.
Josie: At that point there’s a—
Minna: Myra grabs Minx’s wrist—
Josie: Thud as Minx is two palms down on the table, standing up, ready to go.
Kim (as Blaire): Wh—
Minna: Myra has—
Kim (as Blaire): Minx, where are you going?
Minna: [laughs] Myra has grabbed one of her arms the second she moved.
Rhi: [laughs]
Josie (as Minx): Myra, if that’s true, we don’t have time.
Minna (as Myra): She’s been there and a member of The Circle of Flame for who knows how long already. It will keep until we can think this through and not do it in a way that will endanger Nyryx.
Josie (as Minx): [groans]
Josie: Hmm. Can I— I think I might need to make a roll. I think I need to, like…
Minna: Mm hmm…
Rhi: Yeah, yeah. I think that checks out.
Josie: Make a resistance roll.
Kim: Yeah.
Rhi: Yeah. I think Resolve.
Josie: Okay. Okay, I got a 6. So, Minx just— [humph] and sits down with her arms crossed.
Minna: [whines]
Josie: She’s tapping her foot and ready to go, but she’s waiting.
Josie (as Minx): What plan do we need, other than kill her?
##Outro [01.13.12]
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 Rivers Lost But Seeking was played by Waffles. Follow them on Twitter @Mahaffay.
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.
Next, I’d like to thank our wonderful Patreon backers.
Shannon McGuire, thank you.
##Blooper [01.14.42]
Kim: I know, I’m sorry, but I needed to get it out.
Rhi: No. No, this is just— this, this, I didn’t realize this episode was gonna be a such a goldmine for the blooper reel, but here we are.
Kim: [laughs] I mean, are they even— is the blooper reel even gonna make sense? Because… the Discord chat isn’t in audio form. People don’t know what I’m reacting to.
Rhi: Just you screaming is sufficient. It’ll be a nice clip. Maybe that’ll be the stinger, just… [laughs]
Kim: [laughs]
Rhi: Kim giving a distant scream.
Kim: That’s a good stinger. Anyway. [clears throat]