Transcribed by Tyler (Twitter: @Tyler_MoonSage)
## Intro
Rhi: Welcome back to Duskwall. As always, thank you so much for joining us.
We’re only four episodes away from the series finale which is a very strange, bittersweet feeling, but at the same time we’re continuing to gear up for Project Bluejay. We’re planning to have our new cast member join us in July, so keep an eye out for an announcement about that next month.
No other announcements right now, so we’ll go straight to Kim telling us about this month’s Featured Charity.
Kim: The news cycle may have moved on but the crisis in Gaza is still ongoing and Palestinian people continue to suffer. All of us here at Clever Corvids stand with Palestine, and this month we have chosen to feature the United Palestinian Appeal.
The UPA works to assist in the long-term recovery of areas being brutalized by Israeli occupation through healthcare services, socioeconomic development, outreach programs, and so much more. To donate visit UPAConnect.org/support/donate-now, and if you live in the US please consider calling your representatives about reconsidering our countries complicity with Israel. Thank you.
Rhi: And, as always, if you’re in the US, please continue to contact your representatives about passing the critical legislation we need to defend voting rights, among many other rights, across our country. The bills are overwhelmingly popular. It’s simply Senate procedure that’s holding it up, and we need to pressure our representatives to take action immediately.
Now then, let’s get started. Shall we?
## Story Continues [0:01:42]
Rhi: It is mid-afternoon, the usual time when the Magpies make their way down to Nightmarket and The Hound’s Paw. We find the trio making their way through the eternally dark streets of Duskwall. What is the general mood of the group right now?
It’s been a handful of days, maybe about a week, since your escapade with the Cult of the Maw of the Void where you liberated some arcane and occult relics including the leviathan bone fishhook that will be at the center of a ritual to bind Setarra. How are you all feeling about things? Just, what’s the general mood?
Kim: Hmm. I’m trying to think if Blaire has anything to research right now.
Rhi: Heh.
Kim: Because I know that for the ritual that’s mostly on Scurlock’s end, so I’m not sure if there’s much she can do other than just be a fretful ball of anxiety.
Rhi: Aww.
Minna: [smiling] Oh buddy.
Josie: Aw!
Kim: And just, like, aimlessly? She’s probably functioning and fine but kinda stressed, like a little on edge.
Rhi: Yeah.
Josie: Minx is hopeful but kind of tired. Like, I think it’s hitting her a little bit now that they’re kind of looking to confront some long-standing problems that they’ve come a long way and are capable of a lot more now. I don’t think at the beginning Minx would have thought they could pull off that cult job, but she was able to just go off on her own and handle it so she’s just sort of like:
Josie (as Minx): [relieved] Oh wow, we’ve been at this a long time, haven’t we?
Rhi: Yeah, which is both kind of a good thing, because like you said the group has grown so much, but also like… [weary] man, we’ve been at this a long time.
Josie: Mm-hmm.
Kim: Yeah.
Minna: I feel like she’s been having a harder time than usual turning off. She always has trouble resting instead of just doing work, all the time, and I think she’s been having more trouble than usual. Even when she’s supposed to be resting she’ll have a thought and get up to jot it down, or she’ll be cleaning something… She’s just been very restless.
Rhi: Yeah. [laughing] I’m about to make all these emotional states so much worse and I feel really bad.
Josie: Mm-hmm!
Minna: That’s your job!
Kim: Oh no. What are you doing?
Rhi: Yeah… So you get to The Hound’s Paw and open the door, and the first thing that strikes you is that it’s a lot more crowded than it normally is this time of day. Usually you all get here kind of after lunch time and have the place almost to yourselves for most of the afternoon. There’s a lot of people clustered around the bar. The general vibe is unhappy. I think the first thing that you realize is that Rigney is not the one standing behind the bar.
Kim: [gasps] What?
Rhi: Or at least it’s not the Rigney that you’re used to. Nevan is standing behind the bar.
Minna: [pinched] Where’s Rigney?
Josie: Aww!
Rhi: There’s a couple bags of groceries sitting on the bar. One of them has toppled over. He is trying to talk to the crowd of people here that is also clearly—like everybody’s very agitated, and you can hear him being like:
Rhi (as Nevan): [shouting] I don’t know! Okay? I don’t know what happened! I don’t know how to get in touch with them. Caelan is the one who always gets in touch with them. I don’t know how!
Minna: [laughing] Oh buddy!
Rhi: As you look over the crowd here you realize this is a lot of people that you all know. Lani is here. Remira from the Lampblacks is here. The teen boy that you’ve seen with Briggs the last few times kind of helping him navigate is here with Mallory. The boy is kind of sitting off to the side in a chair and Mallory is sitting next to him with her head in his lap looking just as sad as a giant dog can.
There’s a woman that you recognize as being a member of the Silver Nails. There’s another young boy here, younger than the teenager—this kid looks like he’s probably 11 or 12, who looks vaguely familiar but you can’t quite place him. And there’s also a person, another sort of “you look familiar but I don’t know your name.” You think you’ve seen them around the Historical Society.
They’re all clustered around the bar and Nevan, shouting, and in Lani’s case signing, pretty urgently. Everybody seems worried and upset.
Kim: Blaire pushes through the crowd and tries to get to Nevan near the front.
Kim (as Blaire): Hey! Nevan!
Rhi (as Nevan): Oh! Thank God you’re here. Oh, you’re all here. Okay. [inhales]
Kim (as Blaire): What’s going on?
Josie: Minx flips her hair and preens a little bit.
Rhi: Yeah. Everyone kind of turns to look at the three of you and Nevan says:
Rhi (as Nevan): [exhales] There was a Bluecoat sweep this morning and they arrested Caelan.
Kim (as Blaire): What?!
Rhi (as Nevan): I was out getting groceries—
Rhi: And then everyone else starts chiming in.
Josie: Oh…
Rhi (as Remira): yeah, they picked up Bazso! Off the fucking street. We had a deal!
Rhi: Lani is signing that they got Roxanne. The boy with Mallory says that Briggs and several members of his network got scooped up. The Silver Nail says that Tuhan and several Silver Nails got picked up.
Minna: [uncomfortable whine]
Rhi: The familiar-looking historian doesn’t give a name, but they say that Kit was arrested and was very distraught about it, and then as the fervor starts to die down the young boy steps forward and says:
Rhi (as boy): I’m Felix Ericks. I’m Nessa’s brother.
Minna: [as a sad groan] No~
Rhi (as Felix): They picked her up too.
Kim (as Blaire): [wound up] They—
Josie: [growls]
Kim: Blaire turns to Nevan.
Kim (as Blaire): On what grounds did all of these people get arrested?!
Rhi (as Nevan): I don’t—I mean… A lot of us only made it out or aren’t in jail ourselves because we weren’t here. I don’t know, and I’m not exactly keen to go to the Bluecoats to get an answer.
Rhi: Then he kinda stops and snaps his finger and points at Minx.
Rhi (as Nevan): I have, I have—For you. Here.
Josie (as Minx): Oh?
Rhi: He pushes himself up on the bar and leans across so you can grab this envelope.
Josie: Mm-hmm.
Rhi: It’s an envelope that’s like The Red Lamp stationary. It’s not sealed.
Josie: Oh no.
Rhi: When you pull it out the paper looks like it was not folded with much care. It was just folded and shoved in there. It’s Nyryx’s handwriting. It’s very fast and sloppy. It just says: “Blues are here. Going to ground in one of the old hideouts. Send word when it’s safe. N.”
Josie: Minx lets out a deeply-held sigh because she was worried Nyryx had gotten taken.
Kim (as Blaire): Minx, you okay?
Josie (as Minx): [exhales] I think I will be fine.
Kim (as Blaire): What did it say?
Josie (as Minx): Nyryx is in hiding. She didn’t get taken, but…
Kim (as Blaire): They came for her too.
Josie (as Minx): Yes, the fact that they tried. Although I don’t know how they got Bazso. I wonder how many patrols died trying to do that.
[laughter]
Rhi: Remira kinda laughs awkwardly.
Rhi (as Remira): Uh… yeah, we’ve been throwing a lot into the canals this morning.
Josie (as Minx): That’s strangely reassuring. Thank you.
[laughter]
Rhi (as Remira): Yeah. Well, boss wasn’t gonna go back without a fight.
Josie (as Minx): So, it sounds like we have a collective issue here.
Rhi: I think there’s a brief pause and then the door of the bar bangs open and everyone kind of jumps and the people who are armed reach for weapons.
Josie: [as a chuckle] Uh-huh.
Rhi: But it is Kay, who looks like she’s just been in a brawl.
Minna: [laughs]
Rhi: There’s water splashed on her clothes, knuckles are bloodied. She’s got a black eye, hair is mussed, and just kind of looks around.
Rhi (as Kay): Oh. All right, so they didn’t just come after me.
Minna: [laughs]
Josie (as Minx): Oh, thank goodness, dear, you’re all right. Let me patch you up a bit.
Josie: Minx is gonna immediately start fretting. [giggles]
Rhi: Yeah. She’ll come in and hop up on a stool, and trotting in behind her is Shrimp…
Josie: [delighted] Shrimp!
Minna: [delighted squeak]
Rhi: …who is carrying a Bluecoat nightstick in his mouth like it’s a chewing toy.
Josie: Aw!
Kim: [smiling] Oh my gosh. Good boy!
Minna: I love Shrimp!
Josie: What a good boy.
Rhi: And does in fact immediately—he sits down and starts whirring at it.
Josie: [sweetly] Good boy Shrimp says fuck the police.
Kim: [giggles]
Minna: I feel like Shrimp is the Baby Yoda.
Rhi: [baby talk] Yes he does! Shrimp says ACAB! Who’s a good little Shrimpy?
[laughter]
Rhi: So yeah, Kay will sit down and consent to the fussing. Nevan looks at the three of you.
Rhi (as Nevan): [exasperated] What do we do?
Kim (as Blaire): [exhales] Well, we get all of these people out of holding, that’s what we do.
Josie (as Minx): Well, my immediate thought is—you know how there’s Ironhook and it’s a prison and it’s… there?
Rhi (as Nevan): Yeah?
Josie (as Minx): I’m starting to think it needs to not be there anymore.
Minna (as Myra): You’re talking a massive demolition that would catch a lot of people up in it.
Josie (as Minx): I’m not saying blow it up, I’m saying bust it open. But it’s a first draft. It’s what first came to mind. Don’t judge it too harshly.
Kim (as Blaire): We barely got one person out of there last time we went to Ironhook.
Josie (as Minx): But that was just the four of us, basically.
Kim (as Blaire): I don’t know how many people we want to drag into this, Minx. It seems like they already got arrested on our behalf.
Josie (as Minx): It sounds like everyone’s dragged in whether they want to or not.
Rhi: Remira sort of raises a hand.
Rhi (as Remira): As a point of order, a lot of them aren’t going to be in Ironhook just yet. They might be in local holding cells at the different precincts. It depends on what the charges are. I know that, you know, when they scoop up our people they just hold us for a few nights at the precinct stations, they don’t bother with Ironhook, but I think finding out what they were charged with is gonna tell you how big of a problem this is and if busting into Ironhook is necessary.
Kim (as Blaire): All right. We’ll start there. Let’s ask around, scour all the places that these arrests happened, and then we’ll figure out a plan from there.
Rhi: Remira will chime in again.
Rhi (as Remira): I’ll tell you that whatever you end up doing, if you need backup, we’ll be there.
Kim (as Blaire): Thanks.
Josie (as Minx): I think regardless of how we go about this everyone here needs to… Well, here’s an opportunity. If you don’t want to be involved with a plan to rescue those dear to you, now is probably a good time to go home and not be out on the streets for a while.
Minna (as Myra): Agreed.
Josie (as Minx): If you do want to help, remain here.
Rhi: I think the two younger boys sort of look at each other and then look back. Felix, the youngest one, is like:
Rhi (as Felix): I… I wanna help, but… I don’t want to leave my mom and little brother.
Minna (as Myra): You should go home and be safe. We’ll take care of this.
Kim (as Blaire): You should protect your mom.
Josie (as Minx): That is helping.
Rhi (as Felix): Okay. You promise you’ll get her back?
Kim (as Blaire): We promise.
Josie (as Minx): Mm-hmm.
Rhi (as Felix): Okay.
Rhi: I think before he can go Kay will catch him gently by the shoulder.
Rhi (as Kay): Why don’t you wait here for a few minutes and I’ll see that you get home safe.
Rhi: He looks up at Kay who’s probably twice his height. He hasn’t hit his growth spurt yet.
Rhi (as Felix): [dazed] Okay.
[laughter]
Rhi: So he’s gonna wait and then Kay will walk him home.
Josie: Aw.
Rhi: The Silver Nail member, who will introduce herself as Orsella, says:
Rhi (as Orsella): The Silver Nails will do what we can.
Rhi: Shoots a look at Remira, like damn it, I gotta—I can’t let the fucking Lampblacks outdo us.
[laughter]
Rhi (as Orsella): We’ll help as much as we can, but we’re stretched a little thin right now. A lot of our people are outside the lightning barrier.
Josie (as Minx): Mm-hmm.
Rhi: Kinclathe, the historian, is gonna stand up and scratch the back of their head and be like:
Rhi (as Kinclathe): Um… as much as I’d like to be of assistance, I suspect that I will get in the way more than provide any actual help.
Josie (as Minx): Up to you. However, we do exploit oft-forgotten passages of the city, so perhaps any records you can furnish us that would be helpful. Not everyone needs to be out on the front lines.
Rhi: They look like they hadn’t considered that and sort of furrow their brow and nod.
Rhi (as Kinclathe): All right. Well, I’ll head back to the library. I need to put things into order there anyway. I’ll see what I can dig up.
Rhi: So they’re gonna head off. I think everybody else is gonna stay put. Yeah, they’re all sort of looking at the three of you rather expectantly.
Josie (as Minx): So, it occurs to us that between us we have the aid of two other major gangs. I’ve made inroads with a third. We have no doubt the sympathy of the Gondoliers and all our existing contacts.
Rhi: Kay gives you a thumbs up.
Josie (as Minx): As well as access to multiple disgruntled populations that have been willing to resort to violence in the past. We do have some experience with riots.
Kim (as Blaire): We do.
Rhi: [laughs] Lani I think has been… Minx knows Imperial Sign. Have you been signing along with this for Lani?
Josie: Yes.
Rhi: Okay. Yeah, so Lani has been watching you and as you say that just rubs her forehead. [laughs] Like, oh no, not again.
Josie (as Minx): I know truly the city hasn’t entirely recovered from the first time, but clearly they have not gotten the message. Perhaps it’s just the temper I am attempting to restrain, but I don’t think there’s a way to do this subtly.
Kim (as Blaire): Well, that’s only if we have to actually cause a riot at Ironhook again. All these people are still in holding. They haven’t exactly been shipped off to Ironhook just yet. If we move fast enough, maybe we won’t have to do something that drastic.
Josie (as Minx): Well no, that’s why we need to do something that drastic. We need a lot of the city hitting many different locations at once. Unless they’ve condensed them to like two holding cells, we’re gonna need to be able to hit a great many places without giving them time to fortify.
Minna (as Myra): Well if we’re gonna do some kind of quick coordinated strike we need to get information as fast as possible.
Josie (as Minx): Mm-hmm.
Kim (as Blaire): Yeah.
Rhi (as Nevan): And not to put too fine a point on it…
Rhi: Nevan will chime in.
Rhi (as Nevan): What is your plan after you get them out? Because they’ve all still been charged with various crimes, and the Bluecoats will just—
Minna (as Myra): Hmm…
Kim (as Blaire): They go into hiding? I don’t know.
Rhi: He gestures at the bar.
Rhi (as Nevan): I can’t run this place by myself.
Josie (as Minx): Simply put, we need to remove the people levying the charges.
Rhi (as Nevan): Which we don’t know who that is.
Kim (as Blaire): So let’s find out.
Minna (as Myra): I should be able to find out both of those things at the same time.
Josie (as Minx): Is your contact willing, Myra?
Minna (as Myra): There’s only one way to find out.
Rhi: Oh boy! [laughs]
Josie (as Minx): Uh-huh…
Minna: [smiling] Listen, we need info fast! [laughs]
Rhi: Mm-hmm.
Kim: Yeah.
Josie: [laughs]
Rhi: Yeah.
Minna: One friend weighed against like 12 friends.
Rhi: So, are the three of you gonna head off?
Kim: Yeah. Blaire just real quick is gonna put a hand on Nevan’s shoulder.
Kim (as Blaire): We’ll get him back.
Rhi (as Nevan): Thanks.
Rhi: I think as you’re heading out Remira and Orsella both leave as well to go talk to their respective gangs and Kay says that she’s gonna see Felix home and then she’ll come back and basically be muscle. Everybody else is just gonna hunker down at The Hound’s Paw so that they’re all in the same place and won’t have to wait for news. As the three of you leave the bar a Cypher comes jogging over, clearly a little winded.
Rhi (as Cypher): [out of breath] Oh, um… Magpies, right?
Kim (as Blaire): Uh… yeah, that’s us.
Rhi (as Cypher): Okay. You match the description. The physicker, Seeks, over at the clinic…
Minna: [gasps] No~!
Rhi (as Cypher): …said to tell you, uh, that she’s gonna have to close up shop for a little bit and not bring anybody else in new because a bunch of Bluecoats came in and tried to bust up the place. They, uh… How did she put it? They were very rude and, um, uh… took the same retirement plan as the property manager at her old place?
Josie: [giggles]
Rhi: You all would know from talking to Seeks that she straight-up murdered the old property manager.
Kim (as Blaire): Oh…
[laughter]
Kim: Right.
Minna (as Myra): Mm-hmm?
Rhi (as Cypher): And I was told to deliver this message as fast as I could.
Josie (as Minx): Well, thank you.
Rhi (as Cypher): So, it’s been delivered… Phew. All right, I’m gonna go sit down. Is this place open?
Rhi: Gesturing at The Hound’s Paw.
Kim (as Blaire): Uh, yeah, but it’s uh… it’s kinda rush hour right now in there.
Rhi (as Cypher): All right. I’ll go somewhere else.
Rhi: And they’ll head off. So yeah, Myra, how are you gonna get in touch with Jeren?
Minna: [smiling] I guess I can’t walk into his police station the way I used to.
Rhi: No, no you can’t, and he’s kind of partly on administrative leave still due to suspicions about his association with you.
Minna: Ah… Oh, I forgot about that. [laughs]
Rhi: Mm-hmm!
Kim: Do you know where he lives?
Minna: Do I know where he lives…?
Rhi: I think you know where he lives. Yeah. He’s got an apartment in Charterhall.
Minna: Ah, fun.
Rhi: Mm-hmm.
Minna: I think she knows where it is in case she needs to send a letter. Like, she’s probably sent a letter or something, like a message there, but she’s never been because they just don’t do that.
Rhi: Yeah. Yeah! This will be fun. First time for everything.
Minna: Hmm!
Rhi: So are the three of you gonna troop over to Jeren’s place?
Minna: Is it the three of us or is it one of us?
Rhi: Yeah, that’s a good question.
Josie: I think Minx has to hit up some various locations around the city, so she’s probably not going to Jeren.
Rhi: Okay.
Minna: I think Myra doesn’t need emotional support. I think she would more allow them to come if they’re like “we cannot split up!” But if they’re going to split up anyway.
Rhi: Yeah. Blaire, are you gonna stick with Myra on this?
Kim: I kinda wanna cover more ground. I probably talk to another faction and see if I can get more information about who made these arrests.
Rhi: Yeah. I’ll mention, you all also have a friend who is a lawyer.
Kim: Yes.
Minna: [laughs] Who would be very mad that his boyfriend’s in jail.
Rhi: Yeah. Yeah. You have a friend who’s a lawyer whose boyfriend got arrested in this sweep, so…
So let’s start with Myra then. You make your way over to the address that Jeren has given you. He lives in a nice… we’ll say it’s a six-flat brick building, fairly new construction. It’s expensive but in an understated sort of way. You know just from being around that the rent or lease on this place would be a ton but it’s not like ostentatious the way that places up in Brightstone are. I think there is a doorman at this building.
Minna: Hmm.
Rhi: I think it’s a setup where you can come in and there’s a little front area with a desk and then you have to be permitted further into the building.
Minna: Okay, so she goes up to the doorman.
Rhi: It’s a kindly-looking old man who’s reading a book and looks up with a smile as you come in.
Rhi (as old man): Ah, hello miss. What can I do for you today?
Minna (as Myra): I’ve come to visit a friend. It’s kind of a surprise visit. If you could let him know that I’m here? My name is Lizete Booker.
Rhi (as old man): Ah, certainly. Who’s your friend?
Rhi: And he will sort of…
Minna (as Myra): Jeren in Apartment 2B.
Rhi (as old man): Okay.
Rhi: So yeah, he’ll flip a few switches and push a button and I think you hear a distant chime. I think that he kind of strikes up a conversation with you as you’re standing there, waiting, about the book he’s reading. It’s like a history of the Unity War.
Minna: [giggling] Oh, so she’s able to make conversation in return although she’s probably keeping a clamp on her political opinions.
Rhi: And yeah, after a few minutes of idle conversation about this book he’s reading the door into the building proper swings open and Jeren comes out and spots you, and his eyes go big. I think he just kind of freezes in the door. [laughs]
Minna: [laughs] I think she goes up to him.
Minna (as Myra): [cheerily] Hi! I’m so sorry I didn’t send ahead. I thought it would be a nice surprise for you.
Minna: Making eyes at him like “please let us not do this in public.”
Rhi: Yeah.
Rhi (as Jeren): Oh yeah. Yeah! It’s been a while… and it’s a very pleasant surprise. I was just about to put on tea. Why don’t you come up?
Minna (as Myra): Thank you!
Rhi: He’ll wave past you to the doorman who waves back and then goes back to his book. Jeren has known you long enough to be able to read your looks, so he doesn’t say anything until you get up to his apartment. You notice the one flight of stairs you have to go, he’s a little slow going up it. He’s still kind of favoring that bad leg.
Minna: [whines] I feel so bad for asking this of him. [laughs]
Rhi: Then yeah, you get back to his apartment. He unlocks the door. I’ll ask this. What is a detail that stands out to Myra? What’s something that Myra notices right away about his living space?
Minna: I am torn between empty mugs everywhere…
Josie: [laughs]
Minna: Like, everything else is neat, he just does not wash a mug. Or like some kind of big art piece on his wall that she didn’t really expect to be there.
Rhi: I mean, why not both?
Minna: Yeah.
Rhi: [laughs] So yes, there are mugs everywhere, every flat surface, and maybe two of them are actually empty. He is one of those make mug of tea, drink half of it, set it down, make fresh mug of tea, drink half of it, set it down somewhere else types.
Minna: Mood.
Rhi: And then I think he has in the living room area a… I think it’s just a big cityscape.
Minna: I’m kind of picturing that one picture of is it Paris in the rain with the streetlights shining on it?
Rhi: Yeah! Yeah. Kinda that vibe. And it’s large, like it’s an expensive piece. So yeah, he will usher you in and shut the door.
Rhi (as Jeren): [severe] What the hell are you doing here?
Minna (as Myra): I would not normally dream of doing this, but it is very serious and I need your help.
Rhi (as Jeren): Okay…
Minna (as Myra): Something like a dozen of our friends have been picked up and are presumably in holding, many of them innocent of anything other than helping us out on occasion.
Rhi: Um, let me see here. I think at this point give me a roll to see what Jeren knows.
Minna: I’m gonna assume it’s a Consort.
Rhi: Yeah, yeah.
Minna: That’s one 6.
Rhi: You say that and Jeren’s eyes go wide and he swears under his breath.
Rhi (as Jeren): It wasn’t—! Ugh… I knew something was coming, but I thought it wasn’t… I thought there was more time. I was trying to get more information together. [stammers] Lady Drake is the one behind it, I can tell you that for sure.
Minna (as Myra): [exhales] Not a surprise.
Rhi (as Jeren): They’ve been keeping me off of anything to have to do with you, but I still hear things. I’m only really working a few days a week at this point, but she was digging and putting pressure on people. I don’t have a list of names or anything, I was trying to get what information I could, but she must have had them move on it faster. I thought that… I thought I had a couple more weeks. I was trying to get more to give you so that the risk of meeting with you was a little less.
Minna (as Myra): That’s okay.
Rhi (as Jeren): Ugh, shit!
Rhi: He sits down and rubs his forehead.
Rhi (as Jeren): It’s definitely Lady Drake, though. I know that for sure.
Minna (as Myra): Do you have any way of knowing where they’re being held?
Rhi (as Jeren): The charges that I heard that they were talking about, um… sedition was one of them.
Minna (as Myra): Sedition?
Rhi (as Jeren): Yeah. They don’t put you in holding for sedition. They are probably all in Ironhook.
Minna (as Myra): Wow. Okay. Well that’s good to know. All of them?
Rhi (as Jeren): I don’t know the details. Um…
Minna (as Myra): No, I’m sorry. I’m…
Rhi (as Jeren): Conspiracy I think might have been another one. I don’t know the specifics, but I know that sedition was being batted around.
Minna (as Myra): All right. Well, frankly I’m amazed that you wanted to talk to me at all.
Rhi (as Jeren): I know that people that they were talking about, they’re not criminals. They don’t deserve to be arrested. They sure as hell don’t deserve to be in Ironhook.
Minna (as Myra): Yeah.
Rhi (as Jeren): I’m sorry. I should have…
Minna (as Myra): No.
Rhi (as Jeren): I should have warned you, but I was just—I was… ugh.
Minna (as Myra): You had no way of knowing they’d act this fast, and it’s not your fault.
Rhi (as Jeren): I just didn’t want to end up in Ironhook too, you know?
Minna (as Myra): And I’m glad you didn’t. This is a lot more useful to us than you in Ironhook, even putting aside my personal feelings on the matter.
Rhi (as Jeren): Yeah… yeah. Um, you should probably go out the back way. I’ll show you.
Rhi: So yeah, he’ll walk you to the back of the building. It’s basically like a fire escape. You’re gonna have to hang from the bottom of the ladder and drop onto a trash can at the bottom. [laughs]
Minna: Oh, that’s fine.
Rhi: So yeah, I think… Unfortunately, Jeren can’t give you a ton of specifics because of his limited info right now, his limited access, but he can confirm some larger facts for you. So, Myra sets off with this knowledge in hand and let’s cut over to, uh, let’s do Blaire next.
Kim: Okay. Blaire is headed over to Nicholas Firebird’s office to try to get some insight as to what’s going on.
Rhi: Okay. Yeah. You head up to his office, which I believe is in Brightstone, and you get up to the front door and try to open it, and it is locked.
Kim: Oh?
Rhi: The lights are on inside, and you look through the window and you can see his assistant gets up and comes to the door and unlocks it and pokes her head out. She looks frazzled.
Rhi (as assistant): Um, I’m so sorry, miss. Mr. Firebird isn’t taking any walk-ins today.
Kim (as Blaire): Is he busy, or…?
Rhi (as assistant): Yes, he’s very busy.
Rhi: And then a door bangs open behind her and you just hear:
Rhi (as Nicholas): Wait! Is that—Is that Blaire?! Is that…?
Kim (as Blaire): Hi! Yeah, it’s me.
Rhi (as Nicholas): Let her in! Let her in.
Rhi: So she’ll be like:
Rhi (as assistant): [skeptical] All right, you’re the boss.
Rhi: So she will let you in. Nick is a mess.
Kim: Oh no.
Rhi: He is very disheveled. His hair is all floofed up like he’s been running his hands through it.
Kim: Oh my gosh. He’s so cute. [giggles]
Rhi: It looks like he’s just been… I think he’s got ink smudged on his hands.
Rhi (as Nicholas): All right, well this saves me a trip down to Nightmarket. Come in.
Rhi: And he’ll just wave you into his office. There’s just papers everywhere he has to clear.
Kim (as Blaire): What’s going on?
Rhi (as Nicholas): You haven’t heard?! They arrested Caelan and a whole bunch of others!
Kim (as Blaire): No. [stammers] I know that, but like… Hang on. Are you okay? What are you doing right now?
Rhi (as Nicholas): I am trying to figure out what to do about this.
Kim (as Blaire): Okay. Well, we’re on the same team. We just stopped by The Hound’s paw and found out what happened, so I’m here to help. Okay?
Rhi (as Nicholas): Okay. [exhales] This has been a very stressful morning.
Kim (as Blaire): Would you like a hug?
Rhi (as Nicholas): I’m good, but I appreciate the offer.
Kim (as Blaire): Okay. We’re all… I’m worried about Rigney too, but we’re gonna get him. Okay?
Rhi (as Nicholas): Based on your past exploits and what Caelan has told me, that is reassuring to hear.
Kim (as Blaire): Okay.
Rhi (as Nicholas): [exhales] All right. Let me see what I can tell you.
Rhi: Go ahead and give me a roll for your conversation with him. That’ll kind of determine what he has figured out so far.
Kim: Okay. I’m gonna roll Consort.
Rhi: Yeah. I feel like almost all your Gather Infos are Consort these days. You all just have so many friends. [cheerily] You have so many friends!
Kim: Okay, that’s a 6.
Rhi: Okay, great. He shuffles through his papers.
Rhi (as Nicholas): All right, so I am not a trial attorney, so I do not have a lot of connections to the magistrates, but I do know a lot of the other lawyers. We all spent enough time in school together. That forges some unbreakable bonds. I got some details about the charges.
The majority of them have been charged with sedition or conspiracy to commit sedition. One of them, a Roxanne Elpis, had distribution of elicit materials. A few other minor charges of petty theft and things like that I think they may have just had hanging around from past investigations, but most of these charges are quite serious and come with extensive sentences in Ironhook. They are not eligible for bail. Charges like this, they will likely be in Ironhook for the rest of their lives if we cannot figure out a way to get them out of this.
Kim (as Blaire): Do you know who leveled these charges against all these people?
Rhi (as Nicholas): Lady Drake was behind it and she also…
Rhi: He kinda shuffles up some other papers.
Rhi (as Nicholas): …is going to be the magistrate at every single one of their hearings.
Kim (as Blaire): [sighs] Of course. All right, well…
Rhi (as Nicholas): I assume you have some sort of rivalry or enmity with her.
Kim (as Blaire): Yeah, she’s um… she’s a Circle member, the Circle of Flame. We’ve kind of had beef with them for a while. These people probably all got arrested because of us, so.
Rhi (as Nicholas): I’m glad that I’m high-profile enough that they didn’t see fit to come after me, I suppose.
Kim (as Blaire): I’m sorry.
Rhi (as Nicholas): I can be of some use out here. Like I said, I’m not a trial attorney. I don’t think I’ll be able to argue any of their cases in court. It’s going to be quite difficult to get them out of this.
Kim (as Blaire): But not impossible. We have a plan.
Rhi (as Nicholas): What is the plan?
Kim (as Blaire): Minx had visions of us causing another riot at Ironhook.
Rhi (as Nicholas): Another? Never mind. I don’t… I don’t want I think.
[laughter]
Kim (as Blaire): Anyways. We’ve broken into Ironhook before to bail out a friend. This will be a little bit more difficult because it’s multiple people, but that might have to be what we have to do.
Rhi (as Nicholas): I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that. I would say, from my position as a lawyer, getting the charges dropped may be more important than getting them out, because if you break them out that’s all well and good but they still will have warrants out on them and will still have these charges and they will be picked up again.
Kim (as Blaire): Right. You’re right.
Rhi (as Nicholas): You may need to take a two-pronged approach here.
Kim (as Blaire): Taking out Drake will probably be the easiest thing for us to do.
Rhi (as Nicholas): I didn’t hear that.
Kim (as Blaire): Sorry. Taking out Drake will probably be the easiest thing for us to do.
Rhi: No-no-no! No! He’s saying “I didn’t hear that” as in “you’re talking about assassinating a magistrate in my office!”
Kim: Oh! Oh, I’m sorry.
[laughter]
Minna: It’s still funny if Blaire does that.
Rhi: Yeah.
Rhi (as Nicholas): No, I didn’t—I… Please stop describing the crimes that you’re planning in my office.
Kim (as Blaire): I’m sorry. Habit. I’m just thinking out loud. I’m… I’m worried and stressed. I… [exhales]
Rhi (as Nicholas): It’s perfectly all right. So am I. I just need at least one thin layer of plausible deniability here.
Kim (as Blaire): Okay! I will do my best to give that to you, and that means I will be leaving now.
[laughter]
Kim (as Blaire): Thank you for your help. I don’t think you want to hear the rest of this.
Rhi (as Nicholas): Uh… I do not, but I may—Is anyone keeping an eye on the bar?
Kim (as Blaire): Yeah. Yeah… Nevan is. Rigney’s brother. He’s there.
Rhi (as Nicholas): Yes. Yes, we’ve met.
Kim (as Blaire): Oh, you have.
Rhi (as Nicholas): I may… I may relocate down there just so that I can find out what’s happening sooner.
Kim (as Blaire): [gasps] Oh, you’re not moving in. Okay. [laughs]
Rhi (as Nicholas): Oh goodness. Oh goodness, no. Oh, I do not want to rehash that particular conversation.
Kim (as Blaire): Oh—
Rhi (as Nicholas): No, I’m just going to work down there for the time being.
Kim (as Blaire): Mm-hmm. Okay.
Rhi (as Nicholas): Until we get news of everyone’s safety.
Kim (as Blaire): Yeah. We’re gonna get him back no matter what, because Rigney’s one of our best friends. We’re not gonna let him sit around there. Just don’t worry. At the very least we’ll get him.
Rhi (as Nicholas): I will do my best to limit my worrying.
Kim (as Blaire): [sympathetic groan]
Kim: Blaire just pats him on the arm.
Rhi: Yeah. He just kind of nods and goes back to his papers. Blaire can head out.
Kim: Yeah, Blaire leaves.
Rhi: And yeah, then let’s cut over to Minx.
Josie: Okay. I am gonna go to… Just because we’re hitting old contacts I don’t want to just say I go socialize. I’m gonna go talk to the Greers?
Rhi: Oh! Yeah, yeah, yeah!
Josie: One, to make sure that none of them got taken.
Rhi: Err, the Evermars, is the last name.
Josie: Evermars, right.
Rhi: Yeah. I was like wait, that doesn’t sound right. I knew who you were talking about, but… [chuckles]
Josie: All right. Yes. I’m gonna go talk to the Evermars to one, make sure they’re okay, and two, try to figure out some stuff about Lady Drake.
Rhi: Okay. Yeah, that makes sense. You can head up into Brightstone. You are able to make it to the Evermar estate. There’s a butler who will let you in and will go to fetch Liege Greer. And yeah, they will come down looking a little confused. I think the past times when you’ve met with them you’ve set up a specific time to come over for tea.
Rhi (as Greer): Um… hello, Minx. I wasn’t expecting to see you today.
Josie (as Minx): [relieved] Oh, okay. Good. I take it that means that both of you are all right?
Rhi (as Greer): [confused] Yes…?
Rhi: They’ll usher you off into a side parlor [laughs] to continue this conversation.
Rhi (as Greer): Yes, we’re fine.
Josie (as Minx): Yes. Well, the authorities have been making sweeps this morning and taking a good many people that we know, so I’m going around checking to make sure… to make sure.
Rhi (as Greer): Ah, I see. Well, we are too highly positioned for that sort of thing, but I’m familiar with the sweeps.
Josie (as Minx): Even when those ordering the arrests are as high as Lady Drake?
Rhi: Makes a face at the name.
Rhi (as Greer): No. Usually it was Bluecoats trying to hit their quotas.
Josie (as Minx): Mm-hmm.
Rhi (as Greer): I, uh…
Rhi: Well, actually, at this point, yeah. Go ahead and make your roll to see what they know about the magistrate.
Josie: This is a Consort most likely.
Rhi: Yep.
Josie: I’m up to four dice in that now plus the one from our ability.
Rhi: Nice!
Josie: Somehow didn’t get a 6. I got a 5. [laughs]
Rhi: Okay. So I think Greer will sit down and gesture for you to take a seat on this couch as well.
Rhi (as Greer): Lady Drake doesn’t really move in our circles. She’s very dedicated to her work.
Josie (as Minx): Mm-hmm.
Rhi: Kind of glances at the door to make sure nobody’s immediately outside.
Rhi (as Greer): She’s utterly corrupt. Her verdicts are based entirely on how deep your pockets are and how much of that wealth you’re willing to transmit to her.
Josie (as Minx): Yes. The last time, rather the only time I’ve had the misfortune of interacting with her she was treating her profession as a game.
Rhi (as Greer): That doesn’t surprise me much.
Rhi: I think at this point just if you can tell me what kind of stuff you’d like to know, we can just kind of… that’ll be how the conversation goes. But yeah, what would be useful for you all to know about her?
Josie: Well, if she’s dedicated to her job, does that mean she just spends all day in the courthouse or is there a place where people like that go?
Rhi: I think she spends a lot of her time at the courthouse and most of the people she socializes with are in that sphere, so like other magistrates, lawyers, Bluecoat captains. Her work friends are her only friends. She’s just generally, like… everybody in the noble class to a certain degree is pretty classist. She takes it to kind of an extreme. She just really doesn’t want to see any evidence of poverty or working class people other than if she’s putting them into jail.
Josie: Mm-hmm.
Kim: Ooh.
Josie: So if she’s anywhere when she’s not in the courthouse she’s probably in Brightstone or something.
Rhi: Mm-hmm. Yeah. I think that attitude is exactly why Greer dislikes her so profoundly, because Greer was working class before they married into money.
Josie: Mm-hmm.
Josie (as Minx): I see. Thank you, Liege Greer. I think this will help, and know you can come to us if the Bluecoats come knocking or if there’s any trouble, anything like that.
Rhi (as Greer): That’s good to know. I appreciate it. We should be all right by virtue of my wife’s station, but…
Josie (as Minx): Mm-hmm.
Rhi (as Greer): …I’m not going to make any assumptions, I suppose.
Josie (as Minx): Yes. She’s out for herself. I’d likely don’t think… There are maybe two people I think she would spare at this point.
Rhi (as Greer): Well… we’ll keep an eye out. I’ll maybe slip a word to our staff to be cautious about who they let in.
Josie (as Minx): All right. Well thank you, I would love to stay for tea but busy day. [chuckles]
Rhi (as Greer): Yes. Yes. Be safe, and if there’s anything that we can do to assist just send word.
Josie (as Minx): Thank you.
Rhi: And Minx heads back out into the streets and exits Brightstone as quickly as possible.
## Pre-Score [0:41:49]
Rhi: Let’s talk about plans and engagement. What do y’all wanna do?
Minna: My pitch is that we meet in the back room of the Hound’s Paw or something.
Rhi: Yeah. Nevan will get you all set up back there, get you some drinks and some snacks. Nevan had been learning how to cook while in Tycheros and will bring you some… I’ll say some goat cheese garlic bread.
Kim: Ooh.
Rhi: He’s been stress cooking. [laughs]
Kim: Buddy.
Rhi: Everyone who is still there has lots of food.
Kim: Aw.
Josie: So, one way for us to have leverage is last time she spoke of the trial as a game. Maybe we could lure her into something.
Kim: Hmm. Maybe.
Josie: Get her to commit to something that’s ultimately against her best interests.
Kim: I’m trying to think of what that could be, though. We could turn ourselves in, like deceptively, as a way to get close to her.
Josie: But you’re banking on the fact that she’ll come by to gloat in some fashion.
Kim: Yeah, which I think she might do, honestly. Because she’s the dramatic type, and it’s obvious that she’s doing this to get to us.
Josie: Right, but if she comes to gloat and we kill her, does that actually do anything about the charges? I don’t think so.
Kim: Hmm. Do we want to kill her? Is that the plan here? Or are we just trying to push her somewhere else?
Josie: We just need to stop her.
Kim: Okay.
Minna: Yeah. I think we need to remove her from power. I don’t think killing her actually accomplishes that.
Kim: Okay.
Minna: I mean, it does, but it doesn’t stop somebody else doing the exact same thing she does in her place.
Kim: Yeah.
Minna: Do we know who takes over her job after her?
Rhi: The City Council would appoint another magistrate.
Josie: [gasps] What if we implicate her as being involved with us?
Kim: Oh~
Josie: And get her locked up, and then that would mean that the prior charges are suspect.
Rhi: Mm-hmm.
Kim: I really like that idea, I’m just not sure how we would do that.
Josie: Last time we talked with her we were clearly escorted out by her.
Kim: Mm-hmm.
Josie: And then the trial ended in our favor.
Rhi: That is true.
Kim: That is… yeah.
Josie: We have a time and witnesses for her making a deal with us, which is what she did.
Kim: Yeah. Is there anything else that we could forge or do, though, to report to the magistrate that she’s one of us?
Josie: Well, we have a whole ton of people over the town all ready to give testimonies.
Kim: Hmm.
Minna: We have an inspector who might be able to submit some kind of affidavit or something.
Kim: Yeah.
Minna: [grinning] What if we actually tried to rely on the law to do its job? I know that sounds incorrect, but…
Josie: It is deliciously ironic.
Rhi: It is.
Josie: If we lock her into a quote-unquote “fair trial…”
Rhi: Hmm!
Josie: …banking off her getting excitement from the game, we can simply prove her crimes, as the Circle of Flames has racked up quite a good many.
Kim: Hmm.
Minna: [laughing] This is very complicated as a plan!
Kim: But I like it. I like it a lot.
Josie: And it also lets us have Nicholas Firebird in with us.
Minna: [laughs]
Kim: Yeah.
Josie: Oh no, he’s a real estate lawyer. Right?
Rhi: Yeah, but you know… his boyfriend’s in jail. He’ll make exceptions.
Minna: Listen.
Josie: We can have him be prosecutor.
Rhi: So, it sounds like the plan is to bargain with Lady Drake to treat this as another game.
Josie: Uh-huh.
Kim: Mm-hmm.
Rhi: You will have to put up some kind of stakes in this, you know, because I assume that what you are asking for is if we win, the charges are dropped, but if she wins, what does she get?
Josie: Mm-hmm.
Rhi: Is she the one on trial…?
Josie: Yes.
Kim: Yeah.
Rhi: Okay, so you’re going to assemble the evidence of her crimes.
Josie: Mm-hmm.
Rhi: Yeah… Yeah, I like that. Okay! [laughs]
Minna: We’re throwing down the gauntlet for a legal duel.
Rhi: Basically. Oh man, this is gonna be a weird one.
Josie: Uh-huh.
Minna: [giggling] It’s gonna be a weird one, but it’s kind of a fun plan.
Rhi: Oh yeah, I love this plan! I’m just sitting here like ooh, how is this gonna work mechanically? I feel like this trial itself will be the actual score.
Josie: Mm-hmm.
Rhi: But I feel like there’s gonna be a lot of lead-up to that of, one, proposing this to her, and two, getting all your evidence and setting up your chess board, metaphorically. So yeah, then let’s start with you have to get in contact with Lady Drake somehow.
Josie: Mm-hmm.
Kim: Do we send her a note?
Josie: Yes.
Rhi: I like that the last couple Circle members – and it’s playing out differently – but basically you’re just baiting them into public showdowns. Yeah, so what do you ask for in this note? What do you say?
Josie: I think it says something like “ah, the game is on, we need to meet to discuss the rules.”
Minna: [laughs]
Josie: “We’re both civilized women. We wouldn’t want this to take place beyond the laws of society, now would we?”
Rhi: Okay, so… this isn’t Gather Info. This is kind of setup for the score. So I think give me some kind of roll to see how she responds to this. I think…
Josie: I’m gonna roll Sway.
Rhi: Yeah, that makes sense. I think this will basically be—We’ve done setup actions before. This will basically improve your engagement roll.
Josie: Mm-hmm. I got a 6.
Rhi: These arrogant motherfuckers are so easily baited.
[laughter]
Josie: Get jebaited.
Rhi: So you send this note, and I think in surprisingly short order, like within a few hours, you get a reply.
Kim: Oh, hours.
Rhi: I’m trying to think of what would constitute neutral territory.
Josie: Maybe a fancy restaurant uptown.
Rhi: Yeah, I think a ritzy restaurant in Charterhall that you can—and I think it’s like in a couple hours to join her for dinner. [laughs] How are you dressed for the occasion?
Josie: I think Minx is dressed fairly normally.
Kim: Yeah.
Rhi: Yeah. I like the idea that you all just show up in your normal clothes which is totally out of place for this place. [laughs]
Josie: Mm-hmm.
Kim: Yeah.
Rhi: So you show up and clearly the wait staff have been told to expect you. You are immediately escorted to a back room, a private room, where Lady Drake is waiting, sitting at a table. Fine white tablecloth, four place settings. She’s already got a glass of wine in her hand.
Rhi (as Drake): It’s lovely to see all three of you again, this time without any pretense.
Josie (as Minx): Much the same to you, although we hope to establish some.
Rhi (as Drake): [giggles] Please, have a seat.
Josie: Minx calmly sits.
Kim: Blaire sits.
Rhi (as Drake): So, I assume this is about all your little friends, fellow criminals.
Josie (as Minx): I would request that we restrain our language a bit, but yes.
Rhi (as Drake): Ah, right, you prefer “vigilantes” don’t you? So much more, hmm, romantic?
Josie (as Minx): It does sound more romantic, doesn’t it?
Minna (as Myra): I won’t deny being a criminal, but some of those friends did not deserve to be swept up in this.
Rhi (as Drake): Ah. That is not for you to decide, is it? That is for the law to judge.
Rhi: Takes a sip.
Josie (as Minx): But whose law, “the” law or yours?
Rhi (as Drake): I’m a magistrate of the Empire. There’s no difference, my dear.
Josie (as Minx): Come now. We found out last time that is decidedly untrue. Though, to be frank, I much prefer yours. I believe we need to engage on those grounds.
Rhi (as Drake): Interesting.
Josie (as Minx): Because frankly the alternatives are unpleasant. We can both come out of this with a minimal of fuss.
Rhi (as Drake): What is your proposal?
Josie (as Minx): We have charges to bring of our own. We ask we be allowed to bring a trial, a fair trial, with you on one side and us on the other and see who gets put away.
Rhi (as Drake): Interesting.
Josie (as Minx): Now of course, if we were to lose, it would do no good if we simply did our vigilante thing and left, so we do promise to surrender ourselves if such a thing happens, but if we win the people you arrested are let go.
Rhi (as Drake): And I’m the one on trial in your proposal?
Josie (as Minx): Yes. Surely your reputation is impeccable.
Minna (as Myra): We want a fair trial. No cheating, no bribery, no leaning on people to make them testify.
Rhi (as Drake): Well that goes both ways.
Josie (as Minx): Yes it does.
Rhi: Give me… I feel like a group something, probably a group Sway.
Josie: I’ll lead that. [laughs] I got a 6.
Kim: I got a 3.
Minna: Three.
Rhi: Yeah, so 2 stress, but you do it. She kind of swirls the wine in her glass for a moment and studies the three of you but is mostly focused on Minx because I think she recognizes something of a kindred spirit in Minx in the flair for the dramatic.
Josie: [smiling] Yay.
Rhi (as Drake): You realize I could have all three of you arrested right now?
Josie (as Minx): That is potentially true, but you also realize that not two weeks ago I did best your, um, “empowered” friend in single combat, so it would be a bit of a pyrrhic victory, don’t you think?
Rhi (as Drake): From what I understand you didn’t “best” Mora, you simply goaded him into revealing his true form, which… he really was a bit of a dead weight I suppose on our operations. Unwilling to collaborate.
Josie (as Minx): Much like a stone around the neck. Point is, I somehow… I survived that, you would not have. I hope you don’t need me to be more blatant.
Rhi (as Drake): No. No. I have been around long enough to understand when I’m being threatened. I will agree to this, to being put on trial. I will have my own defense. I assume you will have yours.
Josie (as Minx): Mm-hmm.
Rhi (as Drake): And if I win, the three of you surrender.
Josie (as Minx): Correct.
Rhi (as Drake): And you will turn over the location of your base to us as well as part of the conditions of your surrender to the lawful authorities.
Josie: [nervous noise]
Rhi (as Drake): We’ve been looking for it for quite a long time. I’m very curious to see what you have tucked away in there.
Josie: Minx looks a little pained but says:
Josie (as Minx): Well, we wouldn’t have much need for it anymore at that point, would we?
Rhi (as Drake): And if you win, I let all your friends go?
Josie (as Minx): Mm-hmm!
Rhi (as Drake): Very well. Why not. This will be a lot more fun anyway.
Rhi: She will drain her glass, set it down, and stand up to leave.
Josie (as Minx): I sincerely hope so.
## Outro [0:52:46]
Rhi: Thanks for listening. The Magpies will be back in two weeks. In the meantime, follow us on Twitter at @magpies_pod, and visit our Patreon at patreon.com/magpiespodcast.
The Magpies podcast is GMed and produced by Rhi. Follow me on Twitter at @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 at @kimdianajones.
Minx is played by Josie. Follow her on Twitter at @DragonGirlJosie, and watch her art streams at picarto.tv/DragonGirlJosie.
Myra Keel is played by Minna. Follow her on Twitter at @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 splendid Patreon backers. Kathleen Jones, thank you.
## Blooper [0:54:03]
Rhi: Silkshore, I think. I think the—
Minna: No-no-no, my notes. Where do my notes live? You can’t answer this.
[laughter]
Rhi: Oh.
Kim: They live in Silkshore.
Rhi: Yeah, Silkshore, obviously. You mean you don’t have your notes organized by districts in Duskwall?
Kim: Mmm. Kind of fake of you, Minna.
Rhi: That would be… [laughs]
Kim: Kinda seems like you’re not a real Blades in the Dark fan.
Josie: Wow.
Minna: [laughs]
Josie: Kim the gatekeeper.
Kim: [giggles] No, I’m the gay keeper. I make everything gay.
Josie: And I am the key master.
Kim: I make everything gay and if you don’t like it then you’re not a real fan.