Transcribed by Michelle Kelly (@Michellicopter).
##Intro
Rhi: Welcome back to Duskwall. As always, thank you so much for joining us. I know for some folks funds are tight coming out of the holidays, but if you are able, consider heading to our Patreon and backing us. For just $2 a month you get access to our whole secret archive. There are entire bonus episodes in there, plus art and blog posts and deleted scenes and lots more. If you can’t do a monthly payment, check out our Shapeways store for a Magpies pin, currently the only official Magpies merch available. It’s very exclusive and very neat. If you can’t do financial support, then leave us a review or talk us up on Twitter. We love all the support we get from all of you.
A few notes about this episode. First, it is an emotionally intense one overall. People end up in very dangerous situations and there’s some pretty intense inter-party conflict. Also, Setarra is around, so her relationship with Blaire comes into play again at a few points. It’s all mixed into the episode so I can’t give specific timestamps for scenes to skip. If this doesn’t sound like something you can listen to, there is a summary on the episode page on MagpiesPodcast.net and there will be a link to that specific page in the show notes.
In nine days, the Kickstarter for Descent into Midnight goes live. Descent into Midnight is a Powered by the Apocalypse game about hope and community, about corruption and despair, all set in an aquatic alien world of psionics and biotechnology. I have been in games where people have played such characters as a globe-spanning plankton hivemind, a trans-dimensional whale, and an iridesce-ing dancing creature of tendrils and light. Every game I’ve played has been incredibly creative and deeply emotional. I’m the accessibility consultant on the project and I am truly honored to be involved in it. Check the link in the episode description to subscribe to the Kickstarter page so you can be notified as soon as it goes live. You’re not gonna wanna miss this. Next, Kim is going to tell us about this month’s featured charities.
Kim: There’s a lot of misinformation circulating around the Coronavirus outbreak right now, but I think one thing that’s definitely true is that doctors and hospitals are rapidly running out of supplies. I wanted to feature a way to help Wuhan this month because the outbreak is absolutely a crisis in China right now, and I haven’t seen any charities or fundraisers boosted, or seen any way at all people outside of China can help. In my research, I found a GoFundMe page to raise money for medical supplies to send to Wuhan. I believe it to be legitimate, the page has been organized by the Canadian Society for Virology, Dalhousie University and other members of the Canadian medical community. The money being raised will be going to purchasing and sending supplies like protective suits, masks, goggles, etc to hospitals in need over in China. As of this recording they’ve raised nearly $23,000 out of a $50,000 goal and I think it would be a great cause to give to.
I’m not sure how these organizers will be ensuring that these supplies will actually reach the hospitals that need them and I understand if you feel wary about giving to a cause like this at this time. If you feel at all apprehensive, I encourage our US listeners to simply donate to your presidential and/or senatorial candidates instead. If you’re in a red state and there’s a candidate for senate that’s challenging your current representative, I am actually begging you to donate to them, support them and vote for them, because I want as many of these 51 traitors out of a job as we possibly can. Please, please, please, please do that for me. And for those of us in blue states who already have democratic representatives, or if you live in a state where your senator isn’t up for re-election, I encourage you to find your own ways to pitch in and help turn the tide in November. Thank you.
Rhi: The political news recently has been bleak and it can be very hard to keep fighting and hoping. If you can’t manage to be hopeful, and sometimes, I can’t – I’m sure that other people have probably felt the same – there’s always spite. These people in power, these hateful, greedy, corrupt people, they want us to stop fighting. They want us to lay down so that it is easier for them to grind us under their heels, and fuck them. Keep fighting. If for no other reason than to make their lives difficult, even a little bit. Continue to do what you can, donate money, call, write letters. Voter registration is going to be critically important this year, so look for places in your community where you can help. They’re out there. There’s so many causes that need you. Especially now.
Now then. Let’s get started, shall we?
##Story continues [0.05.34]
Rhi: The back door creaks open. You’re out of sight of it, you’re kind of down the hall and around a corner, so whatever has just opened the door cannot see you, but the door just opened. You are no longer alone in the basement.
Minna: [whines]
Josie: [grumbles]
Rhi: And I think we’re gonna cut back upstairs.
Josie: Cool. [laughs] Awesome.
Rhi: Yeah. So, you are being escorted down a hall by these two guards, and the difference between the lower levels of the clinic and this level is pretty stark. The rest of the clinic has been, like, it’s cheap. Kinda cracked, dingy paint, the lighting is, you know, pretty weak. Not a lot has been invested in, sort of, structurally, those levels. Up here though, the walls are painted a very, like, nice, rich green. The floors are still, I think, basically concrete, but they have nice rugs laid out on them. It’s just a nicer space to be in.
Even with that, though, it’s still unsettling. Maybe even more unsettling because of the contrast in how this place looks and what you’re getting from the rest of your senses. That sort of sickly smell that you noticed downstairs is gone and it’s replaced with… it’s the same way that the air kinda smells when you’re near the lightning barriers. It just kinda has that sort of, like, electric tinge to it. It’s mostly quiet. There’s some occasionally kinda pained moans that you can hear, sort of muffled and distant. And at one point you hear a sudden, sharp scream that cuts off very abruptly.
Josie: Oh dear. Minx is gonna try and keep her composure.
Rhi: Yeah. You know, I almost wanna have you roll resistance to keep your composure.
Josie: Yeah.
Rhi: Because this is something that, like, Minx has been shaken up and startled by this sort of thing before. So I’m gonna say, yeah, roll Resolve to see if you can maintain your cool, because you work here. You’re supposed to be used to this sort of thing.
Josie: Right. 4, 4, 4.
Rhi: Okay. [laughs] So in exchange for two points of stress, you can keep your composure.
Josie: I think I’m gonna look freaked out and deal with the consequences.
Rhi: Okay. I think one of the guards kind of side-eyes you and is like:
Rhi (as Guard): What’s the matter?
Josie (as Minx): Nothing. Nothing. It’s just— not used to the night shift.
Rhi (as Guard): Hmph. You must not be used to the third floor.
Josie (as Minx): That either. I’m not up here often.
Rhi (as Guard): Well, it doesn’t usually have much need for the nursing staff up on this level, anyway.
Rhi: And they, like, turn a corner and there’s a, you know, large, wooden door that one of the guards will knock on. There’s a muffled:
Rhi: (as Voice): Just a moment.
Rhi: From inside. And then after a few moments, the door opens and Dr Hagen is standing there. He’s Akorosi, pale skin, dark hair that’s kind of starting to thin, I think. And looks like he’s probably in his mid-50s or so. And he is wearing, you know, like one of those leather smocks that— well, none of the bloodstains on it are fresh, at least.
Josie: Uh huh…
Rhi: He glances at the guards and then looks at you and is like:
Rhi (as Dr Hagen): I don’t believe we’ve met.
Josie (as Minx): Oh, pardon me, Doctor. I’m Elizabeth. Um, I’m not usually working nights.
Josie: I won’t offer my hand, instead I’ll just sort of gently bow a little bit.
Rhi: Yeah.
Josie (as Minx): Pardon the interruption, but I just received a distressing message regarding your husband.
Rhi: He kind of, like, his eyes widen a little bit and is like:
Rhi (as Dr Hagen): Yes, what is it?
Josie (as Minx): Uh, well, the page was rather frazzled, but it appears he may have had a heart attack. Just judging by the symptoms described.
Rhi: Gimme a roll. [laughs]
Josie: Uh huh. Um… do I wanna push myself here? What does a Devil’s Bargain look like?
Rhi and Minna: Ooh!
Rhi: Where are you trying to get him to go? Cause your friends are all down in the basement.
Josie: Right. I am trying to get him to go home and I have a plan for that.
Rhi: Okay.
Josie: But I need to see if he takes the bait first.
Rhi: Okay. Uh, I think for lack of better options, I’m gonna say that just sort of the, like, stress of this whole situation, of being in this place and not knowing what’s going on is somehow worse than knowing, that you’re gonna take level 1 harm, Exhaustion, basically.
Josie: I think I will do that.
Rhi: Okay. Yeah, you’re just, you yourself are becoming a little frazzled. [laughs]
Josie: Yeah. But I do get that die. 6.
Rhi: Okay. So yeah, he, like, swears under his breath and is like:
Rhi (as Dr Hagen): Alright, did they say where he is? Was he at his office?
Josie (as Minx): I believe he had just arrived home.
Rhi (as Dr Hagen): Alright. Uh—
Josie (as Minx): I’ve summoned a carriage if you need it.
Rhi (as Dr Hagen): Good, thank you.
Rhi: And he like, you know, starts kind of unlacing the back of the smock and is like:
Rhi (as Dr Hagen): I’ll need the three of you to lock up in here. I will— I have to get going.
Josie: As you wish.
Josie: Now I kinda wanna do a flashback here.
Rhi: Okay.
Josie: I want to have paid a Cabbie friend of ours to have shown up, to show up to be the carriage.
Rhi: Uh huh.
Josie: And then have it take him on a ride.
Rhi: Oh. [laughs]
Josie: And end up somewhere secluded.
Kim: Mm…
Rhi: So, just take him, got it, take him somewhere.
Josie: Like, get him out, take him on a ride, and then we can meet up with the Cabbie friend to off him somewhere secluded he doesn’t know.
Rhi: Okay. Everybody else cool with that plan?
Kim: Yeah, that totally works.
Minna: Yes, I love it.
Waffles: Mm hmm.
Rhi: Okay. Yeah, and I mean, it’s like— great, so yeah, I think he, you know, kind of rushes back inside and is grabbing his coat and stuff, and the guards kind of look to you expectantly as if you are supposed to lead the way into this lab, as he did ask you to lock up in here.
Josie: Yeah. Yeah, I’ll do what they expect.
Rhi: Alright. Well, we’ll see, because you’re gonna have to figure this out. So, you step into this room and it’s a very well-lit, clean lab. There’s counters with lots of beakers and vials of various colored liquid. There’s some stuff that kind of from talking to Blaire you recognize as, like, alchemical things. That doesn’t really hold your attention quite as much as the cages in the back of the room.
Josie: The cages.
Rhi: There are cages. There are four of them. One is empty.
Kim: Mom, pick me up, I’m scared.
[laughter]
Rhi: Each of them contains basically, like, a chamber pot and a cot and that’s it. And then there is a person—
Minna: [gasps]
Rhi: —standing in each cage. Vacant eyes, slack-jawed, kind of standing there limp. They don’t react when you come in, and there is a fourth person kind of strapped down to an operating table, basically.
Kim: What…?
Rhi: And Minx, you’ve spent your whole life in Duskwall. You have heard of these things. Maybe not ever encountered them, but you have heard stories about things that are called hollows. They are the opposite of a ghost, you could think of it. A ghost is a spirit without a body, a hollow is a body without a spirit. They are alive, but they do not have a soul anymore.
Josie: Oh heavens.
Rhi: And Hagen rushes out of the room, leaving you and these two guards to deal with the hollow that is just strapped to this bed, staring dead-eyed up at the ceiling.
Josie: Mm hmm. And I can imagine that’s the only thing he wants locked up here.
Rhi: You’re guessing.
Josie: Yeah.
Rhi: Yeah. And so I think— man, I just keep creating cliffhangers here tonight, we’re gonna leave Minx in that situation with two guards standing behind her expecting her to know what to do here, and head back down to the basement, where the three of you have started breaking up some of these wards and the back door just opened.
Minna: Mm hmm.
Rhi: And what do you wanna do about that?
Minna: Hide?
Kim: Probably hide.
Waffles: Yeah, probably hide.
Rhi: That sounds like probably, do you all wanna do, like, a group something?
Kim: A group something sounds great.
Waffles: A group something.
Kim: Would it be a group Prowl to hide?
Minna: Yeah.
Rhi: Alright, who is gonna lead it?
Waffles: I can lead a Prowl. I’m here for one session and have none of the stress.
Rhi: [laughs] Alright, yeah, everybody go ahead and make those rolls. This is risky.
Kim: It’s a 4 and a 3 from me.
Waffles: 6!
Minna: 6 as well.
Rhi: Okay, so result is a 6. So, you all, I think, go back to that vault room, because there’s a lot of, like, crates and stuff and that door is open, so you don’t have to worry about it making noise. You all duck back in there. And I think, Myra, you’re the one with the line of sight to the door. You’re, like, peeking over the top of a crate and you see— you hear the footsteps first. They’re heavy and metallic. And then, you see, initially because of the poor lighting you think it’s a person just walking by, but then they step into the light a little better, and the light is glinting off of a humanoid figure that appears to be made entirely of brass.
Minna: Mm!
Rhi: And it is slowly stalking the hall, head swiveling back and forth. It doesn’t seem to notice you in this vault, and it goes past. You can kinda hear the footsteps continuing down the hall. What are you gonna do?
Minna: Um…what are we gonna do? God, what do you do with a hull stalking down a hallway and you’re hiding from them?
Rhi: Yeah.
Minna: This is just that Jurassic park scene with the raptor in the kitchen.
Rhi: [laughs]
Kim: Pretty much.
Rhi: Mm hmm, yeah.
Waffles: I’m going to stage whisper:
Waffles (as Seeks): Do we blow it up?
Kim (as Blaire): [whispers] I don’t think that’s a good idea.
Waffles: I put the thing of, just a comical clock around TNT, back into the bag. [laughs]
[laughter]
Rhi: Alright, so explosions have been vetoed for the moment. You can hear, like, now that you know what to listen for, you can hear it kind of pacing around out there and starting to open doors.
Minna: Ah.
Kim: I don’t like this at all.
Waffles: Let’s see… what cool tools do we have?
Kim: I don’t know what tools would be useful, honestly.
Waffles: I got fine wrecking tools, uh… I’ve got an electroplasm battery in this. We could probably short-circuit it.
Minna: Yes!
Waffles: We just have to pry it open.
Kim: That’s not a bad idea.
Minna: Let’s set up an ambush by the door.
Rhi: I think I’ll need some kind of roll for the effectiveness of this ambush.
Waffles: Group Prowl.
Rhi: To see how well you all hide.
Minna: Yeah, probably another Prowl.
Rhi: Okay.
Minna: I can lead this time, if you want.
Kim: Okay.
Waffles: Alright. Got a 6.
Rhi: Good lord.
Kim: 2 and a 6.
Rhi: Okay. Okay, so result is a 6, Waffles you’re gonna take— or Minna, you’re gonna take one point of stress, because Myra was leading that one. You all, like, find places to crouch down and hide. You hear the footsteps coming back, pause, door opens, footsteps coming closer, pause, door opens, footsteps get even closer, and then the door to the room you’re in swings open. It’s, you know, the vault that you’re in is— the lights are off in here, so it’s just silhouetted from behind. And Myra, there’s something about the way that it’s standing and looking around the room that it, like, niggles at the back of your mind.
Minna: Oh no!
Rhi: It feels familiar but you can’t quite place it. And it comes into the room, kind of into whatever— it hits the mark of, like, ambush time! And yeah, who’s gonna do what?
Waffles: I’mma Wreck it.
Rhi: Okay.
Waffles: I’ve got these fine wrecking tools.
Rhi: Okay.
Waffles: I’ll go ahead and push myself.
Rhi: Okay. Is this gonna be— so you’re coming up on it at close range, hand to hand?
Waffles: Yeah, I think what this looks like is I have attached some manner of, like, metal prod to the end of the battery and I’m just gonna try and get it up under its metal carapace and just poke it where the wires are.
Rhi: Okay. It’s reduced effect and, since you’re engaging it at close range, desperate.
Waffles: Alright, so I’m gonna push myself to get better effect and do my fine wrecking tools do anything there, or are they already applied?
Rhi: No, actually, no. So, for you it would be desperate, standard effect, with the fine wrecking tools. I forgot about that.
Waffles: Alright. Then I will push myself for even better effect. 5s.
Rhi: All of them?
Waffles: Yep.
Rhi and Waffles: [laugh]
Minna: [laughs]
Rhi: Alright. So, Seeks, describe what this looks like as you lunge in.
Waffles: Yeah, I think Seeks just comes up from below, out of the darkness, with, like, it looks like an electrical baton, and just shoves it. I imagine it’s got, like, a barrel chest where its armored but there’s, like, a bunch of wiring underneath. And just sticks it in its torso and we just see a flash of electroplasm light that comes out of all the cracks and then it just starts smoking.
Rhi: Okay. It’s not— you didn’t take it out.
Waffles: Okay.
Rhi: [laughs] So like, that happens, it is smoking, it is harmed, but you haven’t dealt with it entirely. Because you got a 5, like, as you do that one of the arms— the shoulder twists back in a way that a human’s can’t, like, the muscles just don’t allow it. But it just rotates fully around, and as it does that a blade shoots out of the arm and just stabs you.
Kim: Oh no!
Rhi: Level 3 harm.
Waffles: I’m gonna mark armor.
Rhi: Okay. [laughs] That will reduce it to level 2.
Waffles: Can I roll to resist?
Rhi: Yeah.
Waffles: 3. So I take three stress.
Rhi: Okay. Three stress and that’ll knock it down to a 1. So, I think it’s like, this blow that would have, you know, gutted you, instead it’s partially deadened by the armor and then you manage to twist so instead of this going, like, straight through your stomach, it’s a shallow gash along your ribs. Yeah, so it is kind of still, like, twitching and sparking and smoking a bit and as it turns, another blade snaps out of its other arm.
Kim: What?
Waffles: There’s this brief moment where Seeks goes from “I did it!” to “Oh gosh, no”. [laughs]
Rhi: [laughs] Yeah. Myra? Blaire?
Minna: Uh….
Kim: Blaire’s just screaming.
Minna and Waffles: [laugh]
Rhi: Okay. [laughs] Blaire is valid. Myra?
Kim and Waffles: [laugh]
Minna: Um, is there anything I could tell that looks like… I don’t know. What do I know about hulls?
Rhi: You know that hulls are mechanical creations that are powered by a spirit. They are sparkcraft creations with a spirit powering them. So, there is something in a hull that has a spirit, a human spirit, in it. They don’t really have a lot of, like, independent will of their own. They are given an order and they will carry it out to the best of their ability. You don’t know what this thing’s orders are. The hulls you dealt with previously were horse-like hulls and they’re order was “go”, so that was pretty simple. But hulls can be given more complex commands. But you’re not sure what this one’s is. You don’t know if it’s here to, like, look for you specifically.
Minna: Well, it was pretty clearly searching for something earlier. And, you know, it’s not a hard leap to guess that at least it’s looking for the intruders here. Do I know if there’s a way to, like, release the spirit or stop it or anything? Is there something I can roll?
Rhi: No. You would not know that off the top of your head.
Minna: Okay, that’s fair.
Rhi: No, this was not Myra’s area of study. Blaire might not even know this.
Kim: Really?
Rhi: I don’t know how much Blaire has really looked into hulls.
Josie: Hulls are a hull ‘nother thing?
Kim and Minna: [laugh]
Rhi: My life is suffering.
Kim: I feel like she probably only knows the basics and that’s really it, if I’m being honest.
Rhi: Yeah. This is not something that Blaire would ever want to do.
Kim: Right.
Rhi: She would never want to create a hull.
Minna: This is gonna end poorly, but I’m gonna jump on it and try and pull off the head.
Kim: Oh.
Rhi: I like where your— I like this. It’s desperate, reduced effect. Go for it!
Kim: I like where your head’s at?
Josie: [laughs]
Rhi: I didn’t say it, I stopped myself.
Minna: I’m gonna push myself.
Rhi: Okay.
Minna: For effect.
Rhi: Okay, so desperate, standard effect.
Minna: That’s a 5.
Rhi: 5. Okay.
Minna: So, I’m probably gonna take harm.
Rhi: Oh, yeah. Again, I don’t think you manage to get the— you don’t get its head off, but you do, like—
Waffles: Oh, I have a horrifying suggestion.
Rhi: For?
Kim: Go on?
Minna: Yes?
Waffles: She does get the head off and it doesn’t matter. [laughs]
Minna: Yes!
Rhi: Actually, hang on, let me look at my notes, let me look at my notes.
Waffles: [laughs]
Rhi: Yes, actually, that’s what happens.
Minna: Yes!
Rhi: Thanks for reminding me to check my notes, Waffles.
Kim: Mom, please pick me up, I’m scared.
Waffles: [laughs]
Rhi: You tear the head of this thing off and there’s sparks and a bit more smoke, and you’re like “Ha! I got it!” and then again, both arms circle back around and stab into your back.
Minna: Ah!
Rhi: Level 3 harm.
Minna: Level 3?!
Rhi: Level 3, this is a desperate position. And you hear, not from the head, you’re not sure where it’s coming from, maybe its through the ghost field, but you hear a tinny, echoey, but familiar voice say:
Rhi (as Hull): So nice to see you again, Myra.
Minna: Fuck!
Rhi: And it is Ojal’s voice.
Kim: What the fuck?
Rhi: Ojal was previously seen being hurled off of a speeding carriage into the path of a pursuing Bluecoat wagon.
Kim: Oh no! Oh shit!
Rhi: After trying to kill Myra in the season 2 finale.
Josie: Uh oh.
Rhi: [laughs]
Minna: Okay. So, Myra—
Rhi: Her fate was unclear, and now it is clear.
Minna: So, Myra freezes, her arms looked in place around this hull’s shoulders.
Minna (as Myra): Ojal…
Rhi: Also, you’ve been very badly stabbed, I don’t know if you wanna resist that harm.
Minna: I do wanna resist. I think I actually wanna use armor, maybe?
Rhi: Okay. Mark two and that’ll know it down to level 2 harm.
Minna: I’m marking it as stabbed in back?
Rhi: Yes. And I think that, like, as the knives retract it grabs you and kinda like does that throwing you up and over where its head was. And like, that doesn’t do additional harm, you kind of hit the ground but manage to mostly catch yourself, so you’re no longer on it. And I think at this point all three of you hear this voice coming through the ghost field that just says:
Rhi (as Ojal): Salia sends her regards.
Waffles (as Seeks): Who?
Kim: Can Blaire be crying and also screaming now?
Josie: [laughs]
Rhi: Yeah. Crying is a free action.
[laughter]
Kim: In that case, Blaire is also crying on top of screaming.
Rhi: [laughs] Blaire hates everything about this. Let’s go back upstairs to Minx. Minx, how ya doin? How’s life?
Josie: Um, well. Real quick.
Rhi: Yeah.
Josie: Um, is the sound of screaming heard?
Rhi: No…
Josie: There’s a lot of floors.
Rhi: There’s, yeah, screaming is in the basement, you’re on the third floor, and I don’t think Blaire can project quite that much.
Josie: Mm hmm.
Waffles: Also, this place was designed with screaming in mind.
Kim: I think it definitely was.
Minna: [laughs]
Kim: I think if definitely was, now that you bring it up.
Rhi: Mm hmm. Yeah, so no, you don’t hear screaming.
Josie: Okay.
Rhi: Yeah. The guards are both looking at you expectantly.
Josie: I’m trying to rationalize what I can get away with in the span of an action. Um…
Rhi: Yah, well tell me what you’re thinking.
Josie: Alright. I want to somehow cast off my disguise, granting me the initiative.
Rhi: Mm hmm.
Josie: And do something— alright, what I’m thinking is I just sort of sigh a little bit and just sort of move to adjust my hat, but then I toss the hat off, take a step back between the two of them and try to do that thing in movies where you just smash the bad guys’ heads together?
Rhi: Oh yeah, you can absolutely try and do that.
Josie: Okay. Yeah, I wanna do that. [laughs]
Rhi: [laughs] I like throwing the hat off a lot better than what I was picturing—
Josie: Yes.
Rhi: Was that Minx just had a tearaway nurse costume. [laughs]
Josie: I mean…
Rhi: I don’t think that makes sense, but…
Josie: No.
Rhi: Yeah. So, you can definitely give that a shot.
Josie: What are my position and effect on this thing?
Rhi: Hoo, that is a good question. I mean, two to one… are you doing this unarmed?
Josie: Uh… I mean, yeah, for now.
Rhi: Okay. You know what, there’s only two of them, that’s not terrible, so it’s gonna be risky. It is gonna be reduced effect, because they are guards that are kind of trained to deal with people attacking them.
Josie: Gotcha.
Rhi: Risky, reduced effect.
Josie: Well, what if I push myself and use Not To Be Trifled With to make it so I can engage multiple opponents without reduced effect?
Rhi: Uh, yeah. You will get pushed up to standard effect automatically because of the “engage a small gang on equal footing” element.
Josie: Gotcha.
Rhi: So, you can take it as the plus one die.
Josie: Although I kinda wanna push it up to greater effect.
Rhi: Yeah, go for it.
Josie: [laughs] I got a 6.
Rhi: Good lord. But everything else was really terrible on that roll. Okay.
Josie: For the audience’s reference, I have four dots in both Skirmish and Sway and that’s what I’ve been rolling tonight, so.
Rhi: Okay. Yeah, so I think on great effect, yeah, you just whip around and they kind of like are looking at the hat like, “Wha…?” and then just pow! Knock their heads together. They both crumple to the floor, maybe unconscious, maybe just dazed, but they’re not in a position to stop you. The hollows don’t react at all. But yeah, you can make an exit.
Josie: Can I take one of their keys first?
Rhi: Yeah.
Josie: Cool.
Rhi: You take off. Are you— well, what is the manner of your exit? Are you walking, are you running?
Josie: See, that’s the thing, because I don’t know how to get past the gate and back down safely without the two of them accompanying me.
Rhi: There’s only one guard left on the gate.
Josie: In that case I’m just gonna try and get out as quick as possible.
Rhi: Okay. I think that the guard who was down by the gate probably hears you running and will, like, turn around and kinda be halfway up the stairs when you get there and they’re like:
Rhi (as Guard): What’s going on?
Josie (as Minx): I don’t know. Some of them just went berserk. I didn’t know they could do that.
Rhi (as Guard): Wait, what went berserk?
Josie (as Minx): The… some of the hollows. I don’t know, I’ve never seen its like before.
Rhi: Gimme a roll.
Josie: Yeah. [laughs]
Rhi: Still gonna be risky.
Josie: And I don’t have the stress to be pushing myself right now, so— actually, what does a Devil’s Bargain look like here?
Rhi: The key that you need to get through this gate, for some reason is not on the keyring that you grabbed off this guard. For some reason, maybe he dropped it, maybe he never had it, he just doesn’t have the key that you need. That’s the bargain.
Josie: Yeah. I think I can take that.
Rhi: Okay.
Josie: 6.
Rhi: [laughs] Good God.
Kim: Some nights, the dice are on our side.
Rhi: Yeah.
Josie (as Minx): I did not sign up for them to strike back, they’re not supposed to do anything. It’s supposed to be warded up here.
Rhi (as Guard): Oh, oh, uh, okay.
Rhi: And I think he’s gonna start running up the stairs, like:
Rhi (as Guard): Wait here, I’m gonna go see what’s going on.
Josie (as Minx): Okay.
Rhi: And he’s gonna start running down the hall to go investigate.
Josie: Is he shutting the gate behind him?
Rhi: He’s on the same side as you.
Josie: Okay.
Rhi: So you two— like, the gate is still closed. He’s just running off down the hall to go investigate.
Josie (as Minx): As he’s running off, can I like, make a pickpocket attempt to just sort of… hyup?
Rhi: Yeah. [laughs] You can try.
Josie: That’s like a Prowl or something, right?
Rhi: Um…
Josie: Or is it, like…
Kim: Could be Finesse too, I feel like.
Rhi: Probably Finesse.
Josie: Okay. I’m gonna give it a shot.
Rhi: Okay. Still gonna be risky. If you get a 6…
Josie: 5.
Rhi: Okay. [laughs] I was gonna throw my Blades in the Dark book across the room.
Josie: [laughs]
Rhi: You do it, but there’s a consequence. So, you get the keys, you just lift them off his belt, but they jingle jangle as you’re doing that and he hears it and spins around and is like:
Rhi (as Guard): What are you doing?
Josie (as Minx): W—well…
Josie: So, I’m just like:
Josie (as Minx): Well, you see, I—
Josie: Trance powder to the face. [laughs]
Rhi: [laughs] Yeah, go ahead and roll that.
Josie: Only got a four on that one.
Rhi: Oh no. I mean, it was about time.
Josie: Yeah. [laughs]
Rhi: Okay, so that was still risky. You do it, but there’s a consequence.
Josie: Maybe since he’s really close, like, I’m not able to get out immediately because I kinda have to shake off some backlash?
Rhi: Yeah, yeah, that makes sense. I like that. Yeah, you don’t get, like, a full dose of it, but you are a little woozy and I think have to, like, sit down and put your head between your knees and take deep breaths for a little bit before you’re able to move on. Yeah, so you’re just like “Ooh,” but he ends up, kinda like, sliding down to just sit on the floor and is just sorta staring vacantly off into space. You eventually are able to— I think what it is, is that the kind of complication there is…
Josie: Well, I was thinking it’s like, I take longer, I take much longer to get down to my friends?
Rhi: Okay, yeah. Yeah, that makes sense. Okay, yeah, so you are gonna, yeah. You’re slowed. So, we will leave Minx sitting on the stairs and head back down to the basement. Seeks is bleeding slightly. Myra is bleeding more significantly. Blaire is still having a bit of a screaming fit.
Kim: Screaming, crying, panic attack, whatever you wanna call it. She’s just having a bad time.
Rhi: Yeah, it’s a very bad time. Would you, to calm, to have Blaire kind of calm herself down and put all those feelings in a box where they will hurt her later…
Kim: [laughs] Like a true Jedi would.
Rhi: Yeah. [laughs]
Minna: [laughs]
Rhi: You can, similarly to what we had Minx do previously, you can roll Resolve to have Blaire kinda get herself under control and be able to start acting again against this thing.
Kim: That works for me because I actually have a full four in Resolve. So, yeah. This might be successful despite what I actually want to happen. I want Blaire to be freaked out for the rest of the night, [laughs], but…
Rhi: I mean, she can still be freaked out, but, like…
Kim: Focused freaked out? I dunno.
Rhi: Focused, yeah.
Kim: Whatever. I’ll still roll Resolve, I don’t care.
Rhi: Yeah, go for it.
Kim: Uh, 4, 2, 3, 6.
Rhi: 6. Okay, so you can do it and take no stress.
Kim: I’m curious to know what this looks like, because I feel like Blaire can’t really compartmentalize right now. She can’t really— her friend got stabbed, both of her friends present right now have been stabbed, and one of them is in the hands of a murder robot of someone that we killed, and it’s just a bad time. She’s scared and sad and freaking out, so…
Rhi: Yeah. You don’t have to. Or if you’d like, you can kind of— I will let you sort of bank this. I think we’ve done this previously where like, you’ve got this resistance banked, so like if you want to have Blaire resist it later you can do that, but if you want her to still be very distraught right now, I’m okay with that.
Kim: I think that’s kind of how I wanna do that, and just bring up this resistance when I need her to actually focus. But right now she’s just kinda freaking out.
Rhi: Yeah, she’s not at a point where she can…
Kim: I feel like that just makes the most sense to me, honestly.
Rhi: Yeah, no. I am—listen. One of the key themes of Blades in the Dark is making decisions that are terrible for your character but good for the story, so I support this 100%.
[laughter]
Kim: Isn’t that just my whole character? [laughs]
Rhi: It’s a lot of, I mean… Minna is also kinda the patron saint of “Can I have a Devil’s Bargain? I have an idea for the horrible thing you can do to me!”
Minna: I already have an idea for the next Devil’s Bargain I ask for.
Rhi: Great! [laughs]
Kim: Minna!
[laughter]
Kim: No!
Rhi: Excellent.
Kim: Minna, you’re dying! Stop!
Rhi: She’s fine.
Kim: Is she?!
Rhi: Yeah, so Seeks and/or Myra, what do you wanna do?
Waffles: I have an idea that doesn’t involve hand grenades, surprising enough.
Minna and Rhi: It doesn’t?
Waffles: I was looking through my many, many alchemical concoctions and I have binding oil.
Minna: [gasps]
Rhi: Mm.
Waffles: And I wanna pour a bottle of binding oil into its chassis and then its gears won’t move.
Rhi: Huh.
Waffles: That’s my plan.
Rhi: Okay.
Waffles: What do I— is this a Wreck? This sounds like a Wreck.
Rhi: That sound like a Wreck. I think it’s still gonna be desperate.
Waffles: Alright.
Rhi: What is the effect level on that gonna be? Man, lemme think about this. Hang on, lemme…
Waffles: Binding oil is Tier III. Permanently fuses two surfaces until dissolved by alcahest or electroplasm.
Rhi: Oh, that’s interesting. Okay. So it’s Tier III, but you’re pouring it into an electroplasmically powered creation.
Waffles: Yeah. I’m hoping, like, that are tubes? I don’t know. [laughs]
Rhi: Okay. So, I’m looking at the tiers on a hull, and they are much higher than Tier III, so it’s still gonna be reduced effect, unfortunately.
Waffles: Okey dokey.
Rhi: Specifically, like, it actually has the inner gears and systems that allow the Hull to move, the clockwork actuators, that’s a Tier IV, so…
Josie: Oh dear.
Rhi: Yeah. So there’s a chance it’ll work, but it’ll be desperate and reduced effect.
Waffles: Do my fine wrecking tools apply? I have a needle thing that could be in there. The fanciest of spray bottles.
Rhi and Josie: [laugh]
Rhi: Yeah, I will allow that to apply. I can push it up to standard effect with the wrecking tools. Yeah, go ahead. So, yeah, desperate, standard effect.
Waffles: Huh.
Rhi: Ooh. I don’t— that’s not a good sound.
Waffles: Right. So, what’s a number less than 4…
Kim: Oh no!
Waffles: And less than 3…
Rhi: Ooh, 2?
Waffles: And less than 1?
Minna: [laughs]
Waffles: Because I rolled three 1s.
[shouting and laughter]
Kim: No!
Rhi: You rolled three 1s?! Oh…
Josie: [laughs]
Rhi: Oh Seeks, honey…
Kim: No! [laughs]
Rhi: Oh no, okay. Well…
Kim: Why did things go bad so quick?
Minna: Because we rolled well so early.
Rhi: Mm hmm. Mm hmm. You rolled out all the 6s.
Kim: Well, to be fair, Josie took most of them. She hogged the 6s.
Josie and Rhi: [laugh]
Josie: Sorry.
Minna: I did roll two as well when I really shouldn’t have.
Rhi: Oh, I feel bad doing this to our guest, but, like… you got a 1.
Waffles: No, I got three 1s.
Rhi: On a desperate. You got so many 1s.
Waffles: Yeah, this is fate.
Rhi: You don’t even get up to, like, close enough to spray it. It runs you through. It’s gonna be level 4 harm.
Minna and Kim: [gasp]
Josie: [exhales]
Waffles: Well, gonna have to resist that real quick.
Kim: Oh my God!
Rhi: Yep.
Josie: Oh God.
Kim: Waffles, don’t die.
Rhi: Well.
Waffles: I’m in.
Rhi: They’re rolling to resist, so they’re not going to.
Waffles: Yeah, no, I’m not gonna die. I’m just gonna max out my stress bar. I can take no more stress. And I’m gonna take level 3 harm, stabbed through the chest.
Kim: But!
Josie: Wait—
Rhi: How much, what did you roll on your resistance?
Kim: [freaking out]
Waffles: 2.
Rhi: Really?
Waffles: Yep. So, I take 4 stress, will max out that bar.
Rhi: Okay.
Minna: Oh my God!
Rhi: Yeah…
Josie: So that’s a trauma.
Kim: Does this mean Seeks takes a trauma and is out?
Minna: I mean, she’d already be out because level 3 harm is “need help”.
Waffles: Yeah, I can do nothing without help. But that’s okay.
Rhi: But she’s alive. We will— so, I’m gonna implement the same rules that we did for Minx, where even though she had taken trauma she came back into the score. Seeks probably can’t do a lot, because she has taken level 3 harm and cannot act without assistance. And she can’t take any actions that would cost stress. But she’s still here. Seeks is very badly injured.
Waffles: [short gurgle]
Rhi: Myra and/or— yeah— oh no, is that the noise?
Waffles: Yup.
Minna: Can I steal a grenade from Seeks?
Rhi: Um, I mean, yeah. I think Seeks will probably allow that.
Waffles: Yeah, no.
Rhi: It’s probably not stealing.
Minna: Oh no, I just meant can I take one and use it? Is that going to fuck things up mechanically?
Rhi: No, I’ve allowed you all to swap equipment like that before, I’m fine with it.
Waffles: I’ve already marked them on my load, so I have—
Minna: Yeah. I think Myra kinda bends over Seeks and she kinda like is trying to be gentle, but also they have a lot to deal with, and is like:
Minna (as Myra): Seeks? Can I— do you have a grenade handy?
Waffles: Pulls up hem of dress. Grenades.
[laughter]
Kim: Yep.
Minna: She just, she takes one and she turns and runs at Ojal.
Kim (as Blaire): What the fuck! What is happening?
Rhi: Okay, what was your plan here?
Minna: Huh?
Josie: Shove it down her neck hole.
Minna: Hopefully to shove Ojal out the door and then shove a grenade down the neck hole.
Rhi: Okay, so [laughs] get back to that plan, I like it.
Minna: For the listeners, this is Waffles’ plan, not mine. I can’t take credit.
Josie and Rhi: [laugh]
Rhi: It’s gonna be desperate and reduced effect. Unless you wanna do something to change.
Minna: Um, I would like a Devil’s Bargain.
Kim: Minna.
Josie: [laughs]
Rhi: Oh man.
Kim: Minna!
Rhi: Ojal, in one form or another, is going to make it out of this and get back to Salia.
Minna: Oh, fuck yeah. [laughs]
Rhi: [laughs]
Josie: Yeah.
Minna: I want that.
Kim: Minna!
Waffles: We were planning on that from the beginning.
Rhi: Just wanna be sure. I mean, this means that also, like, Blaire can’t get her in a spirit jar or anything, like, even if you destroy the stuff. Are you using— do you wanna use that for an extra die or for increased effect?
Minna: For increased effect.
Rhi: Okay.
Minna: Ah, fuck me.
Rhi: Mm hmm.
Minna: It’s a 2.
Rhi: Oh boy.
Kim: I hate tonight. I hate it.
Waffles: [laughs]
Josie: Aww.
Rhi: Um…
Minna: [whines]
Kim: We were supposed to do good tonight.
Rhi: Where did you get that idea?
Kim: I had a feeling since we would have a friend that tonight would go well.
Rhi: Well…
Waffles: Listen, it was all going well until the terminator showed up.
Minna: [laughs]
Kim: This is true.
Rhi: I think it’s basically the same thing. You charge it and it whips, like, faster than a human can move, it whips its arms out. And I think Seeks got run through, you almost get cut in half, and are also gonna take level 4 harm.
Minna: Okay, well I’m definitely resisting that.
Josie: Uh huh.
Kim: What the fuck!
Rhi: Have you used your armor yet? Yeah, you have used it.
Minna: I have. Wait, I haven’t actually used that much… I could take heavy and max out my gear. I haven’t used any of my own gear yet.
Rhi: You are welcome to do that.
Minna: I’m only three away from a trauma. I don’t want to immediately leave Blaire alone.
Kim: I mean, I’m not against that if that’s what you wanna do. [laughs] Blaire can be alone and be having a bad time.
Minna: Let’s risk it, let’s risk it. We’re living dangerous lives.
Kim: Oh my God!
Minna: [laughs]
Rhi: Yeah, do it.
Kim: Alright. I like it. I’m scared, but I like it.
Minna: Fuck yes, I got a 5. So, I only take one stress.
Rhi: You take one point of stress, but you are still at level 3 harm, so.
Minna: Uh, that’s true.
Rhi: Seeks and Myra are both almost, like, side-by-side, crumpled and bleeding heavily.
Kim: You can just say dying.
Rhi: They’re not dying. They’re just…
Kim: They’re dying.
Rhi: In extr— they’re dying, yeah.
Josie: Mm hmm.
Rhi: Blaire.
Kim: Yes.
Rhi: You have that resistance roll banked to calm down, or at least pull yourself together enough to act. You were also given a way to summon a demon.
Kim: This is true.
Rhi: Just wanna remind you, you have that. This is not where you were supposed to do that thing.
Josie: Yeah, Setarra’s not gonna like that.
Kim: But I do like the implications.
Rhi: [laughs]
Kim: That is meaty.
Rhi: Yeah.
Josie: That’s a really badass scene, is fucking water demon versus cyber-terminator.
Rhi: Yeah. [laughs]
Josie: [laughs]
Kim: I do like the implications of this. Do I have to roll anything to smash the vial onto the ground and summon Setarra?
Rhi: You already rolled the resistance to calm yourself down.
Kim: Do I have to be calm to throw something on the ground, though?
Rhi: I think you need to— I think you have to do that to have the presence of mind to remember that it’s an option.
Kim: I think now’s the time to just use that resistance roll and then, again, do I have to roll anything to smash the vial on the ground and summon Setarra? [laughs]
Rhi: I’m gonna say no, because Setarra prepped this specifically to summon herself.
Kim: Right.
Rhi: So yeah, I think you can, yeah. So, describe how that looks.
Kim: I imagine Blaire is just glancing back and forth between two of her fallen friends and sees— she probably locks eyes with this Hull and realize—
Rhi: Well, you don’t lock eyes with the Hull, because Myra is holding its head. [laughs]
Kim: Okay, so lemme take that back.
Rhi: Yeah. [laughs]
Kim: So, Blaire is glancing back and forth between two of her fallen friends and her eyes eventually just land on the Hull. And she realizes, you know, “Fuck. I can’t fight this on my own, I can’t do this alone. I need help.” And that’s the moment when she remembers I have a means of bringing Setarra here. She takes the vial out of her pocket, raises it above her head and very forcefully slams it onto the ground. The glass shatters. And whatever happens to summon Setarra just happens.
Rhi: Yeah. So, I think the glass shatters and the water splashes out, and like, it was a, you know, like a whiskey flask full of water. It wasn’t that much. But as it splashes out it keeps going and going, like, way more water than should have been there. And it goes up and forms the silhouette of Setarra and then kind of like crashes back down and she’s standing there. And she looks around, clearly sees the Hull, sees two bleeding people, looks to Blaire:
Rhi (as Setarra): Where is the demon blood?
Kim (as Blaire): [stammers] I— it’s upstairs, but I— please, please, I’ll get you there as soon as this is taken care of, but— I— mm—
Kim: And she just points at the hull.
Rhi: Yeah, she just, she looks back over at it, kinda sizes it up and then raises an eyebrow and is like:
Rhi (as Setarra): Very well.
Rhi: And the hull doesn’t quite seem to know what is happening, initially. Cause Setarra looks more of less like a Tycherosi person.
Kim: Right.
Rhi: Setarra charges it, again, in sort of that, you know, the way that a wave crashes on to shore. It raises the blades again. Blades? Not terribly effective against water. So, they do cut through her, but they don’t do anything, and Setarra slams into the hull. The hull goes flying back out the door into the hall. Setarra stalks after it. And I think that there’s just crashing sounds, some sparking, some electroplasmic flashes, but the sound of the fight is kind of moving back through the hall. You, kind of, as the sounds of it are moving further away, Blaire, you can hear Setarra saying things sharply in the demonic speech. You can’t understand it exactly, but from the sound of it, it seems like, you know, most of the time when you’ve seen Setarra fight people in the past, it’s over in an instant. Like, if she is fighting a human, the human is so much wet tissue paper.
Kim: Right.
Rhi: This hull is not going down instantly. Like, it’s holding its own. Which is alarming.
Kim: Yeah.
Rhi: Blaire is, I think, still kinda standing there frozen for a second and we’re gonna go back to Minx, who has gathered herself and is— are you just making your way back downstairs?
Josie: Yup.
Rhi: Okay.
Josie: Like, I’m not bolting, but I’m kind of like, light jogging.
Rhi: Yeah. I’m gonna say that a nurse moving quickly in a hospital isn’t gonna draw suspicion, particularly since you kinda, you successfully talked your way past the guards that you saw previously, so nobody really stops you. You hustle back to the stairs down to the basement and I think that’s the point where you start to get the impression that something is wrong. Because you can hear the sound of some kind of fight happening. There’s like, metal crashing, there’s like electric pops, there’s what sounds like water slammming into things? It’s very confusing. And very alarming.
Josie (as Minx): Oh heavens.
Rhi: Do with that as you will.
Josie: I’m gonna speed up.
Rhi: You basically at this point, like, once you hit the basement stairs you’re out of sight of anybody, so you can start, like, full-on running.
Rhi: So, I think you kind of round the corner and you see that big, heavy, metal door is standing open where the vault was previously. I don’t know what kinda noise is coming from in there, I don’t know how much noise Seeks and Myra are making while they’re in pain. Or if Blaire is still crying.
Kim: Yeah.
Rhi: So, if nothing else, you hear Blaire crying in that room and then the combat, fight sounds, are coming from down closer to the door.
Josie: I mean, I’m gonna go towards the sound of Blaire crying first.
Rhi: So Minx, you burst into the room. I think that it’s probably only been, like, ten seconds or so since Setarra and the hull went barreling out into the hall. What is the— Seeks, Myra, Blaire, each of you tell me kind of what— how do each of you look at this point, where are you, what are you doing?
Waffles: I think Seeks is doing a scoot along the floor, attempting to get to Myra, but has moved, like, two feet. With just a blood trail.
Minna: Honestly, I think propped up against the wall, like sitting on the ground against the wall that Ojal threw me into.
Rhi: Yeah.
Minna: Like, trying to stop the bleeding with, like, probably ripped-off bits of skirt.
Kim: Blaire immediately realizes that Minx is into the room and she runs over to her into a hug.
Josie (as Minx): Oof, Blaire, gods, what happened?
Kim (as Blaire): [through tears] I’m sorry, I— there’s a hull here and I knew I couldn’t do it myself and Myra and Seeks, they’re— I’m sorry.
Josie (as Minx): We need to get them out of here.
Kim (as Blaire): I know, I know, but as soon as this is done I have to do something for Setarra, but then—
Josie (as Minx): Blaire… you know what? Questions for later. We need to get out, right now.
Kim (as Blaire): But—
Josie (as Minx): Which one of them can you carry?
Rhi: The back door crashes open. It sounds like from this side like the fight has moved through that door.
Josie (as Minx): We need to go now.
Kim (as Blaire): But—
Josie (as Minx): While the door’s open.
Kim (as Blaire): But—
Josie (as Minx): Which one can you carry? Can you carry Seeks?
Kim (as Blaire): I— I don’t know. I don’t know. But I can’t leave now, I—
Josie (as Minx): Blaire!
Josie: Minx is gonna put both her hands on Blaire’s shoulders and lean down a bit.
Josie (as Minx): We need to leave. Right now. You can do it. I know you can. But we need to go.
Kim: Blaire is going to, um, reach for Minx’s hands and just kinda take them off her shoulders, but still holding Minx’s hand, and just look at her squarely and be like:
Kim (as Blaire): I will meet you outside as soon as I can, but I have to see this through. I promised.
Rhi: [sucks air through teeth] Oof.
Josie (as Minx): What happened to not splitting up?
Kim (as Blaire): I… this isn’t splitting up. I’m— I just need to do this one thing. And then I’ll be— I’ll come back, I promise.
Josie (as Minx): Blaire. Is it for Setarra? Are you choosing Setarra over us right now?
Kim (as Blaire): No—
Josie (as Minx): Is that what’s happening?
Kim (as Blaire): No, that— that’s not what this is, I promise. But she wouldn’t be helping us if I didn’t promise this to her, so please, please just get them out and I promise as soon as this is done I’ll meet you there. Please.
Josie: Minx is gonna just turn away without saying anything.
Kim: Oof.
Josie: Um, and she’s gonna try and find in the hallway, like, I dunno, maybe a gurney?
Rhi: Um, yeah. There’s a lot of, like, medical supply type things down here, so yeah, you could find something with wheels that you could get them onto.
Josie: Yeah. That’s what I wanna do.
Rhi: Okay.
Josie: I think as Blaire is exiting the door, Minx will remember something and toss Blaire one of the smoke bombs I got from my acquire asset action last time.
Rhi: Oh yeah, yeah.
Kim (as Blaire): What’s this for?
Josie (as Minx): If you need to bail out.
Kim (as Blaire): Minx— I don’t really think this is gonna help if I have to do that.
Josie (as Minx): Well I don’t have much else! And they need help. So, make it quick.
Kim (as Blaire): I promise. I promise I will.
Rhi: So, you’re dealing with two conscious people who are able to kind of help you. Like, you’re not lifting dead weight, Minx, so you’re able to get them onto, yeah, I’m gonna say that there’s a gurney that they can, kind of like, both sort of sit, lay, lean on.
Waffles: Um, I don’t know if I’m out of action, but if I’m not I can have an ability if Minx helps, because I need help to do anything. I can roll Tinkers to have us ignore our harm for the next hour.
Rhi: As long as it doesn’t cost stress, you can do it.
Waffles: It would cost stress for me to do it on me.
Rhi: Okay, yeah, so you can patch up Myra with Minx’s help, yeah. You can take the time to do that here.
Waffles: Yeah, I think I have just enough weird alchemical things to stop the bleeding on one person.
Rhi: Okay, yeah. Then Myra is, well, we’re not gonna say fine, but not actively bleeding out. And so I think Minx and Myra, the two of you can kind of carry Seeks out.
Josie: Alright.
Rhi: I think we see the two of you, like, sorry, we see the three of you slowly leaving this vault and, like, following the trail of water out to the— towards the back door. Blaire.
Kim: Yes.
Rhi: You are not in disguise.
Kim: Mm hmm.
Rhi: You are actively distressed.
Kim: Yes.
Rhi: Look like you’ve been crying. And you’re running up into this hospital.
Kim: Yep.
Rhi: What is your plan?
Kim: Get up to the third floor. [laughs] With Setarra.
Rhi: Okay. There are— well, Setarra went out the back door.
Kim: So, Setarra’s gone?
Rhi: You don’t know.
Kim: Oh, fuck. Um. Um. What do I have to roll to find her again?
Rhi: Uh, go to the back door? [laughs]
Kim: Okay, okay, Blaire goes to the back door.
Rhi: And then, I mean, if Blaire is running down there, you’re going to pass your friends.
Kim: Okay. I mean, she needs to get— she needs to get to Setarra and bring her to the third floor. That was the deal. So yeah, she’s gonna do that.
Rhi: Okay. So, you sprint past your friends to the back door, and you see— there’s basically water all the way down the hall and out the door. The back door is just gone.
Kim: Okay.
Rhi: There’s water down the stairs. There’s also a lot of blood from the dead guard.
Kim: Okay.
Rhi: Sucks for his twins and his husband that you all created earlier in this session.
Kim: [laughs] I knew that was gonna come back to haunt us, but it was worth it. Anyway…
Rhi: And if you run down the stairs, the dock is kinda smashed up, but there’s no sign of either the hull or Setarra down there.
Kim (as Blaire): Oh fuck. Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck. Um.
Kim: Blaire’s just gonna call out Setarra’s name and just do whatever she can to find her.
Rhi: I mean, calling to her does not get any kind of response.
Kim: And me looking into the ghost field wouldn’t do anything either, because they don’t have a signature in the ghost field.
Rhi: Nope. [laughs] They specifically do not show up in the ghost field.
Kim: Blaire is just gonna stand at the dock, just staring out at a loss for just a few minutes, and then she’s going to run back to the rest of the crew.
Rhi: I think that by the time you run back they’re basically at the top of the stairs and you can help them with the stairs. And I think that Kay had said she was gonna be going up and down the river, she saw Blaire standing there and started coming over, so I think by the time everybody gets down to the back stairs she is there and is like:
Rhi (as Kay): Oh, that’s a lot of blood. Okay, let’s get you in here.
Rhi: And will help you all load up and take you all wherever you need to go.
Josie (as Minx): Yes. Drop me off as close to blah blah blah, rendezvous point as possible. Get these back to Seeks’s place.
Rhi: Okay. Yeah, let’s say that it’s like somewhere in Barrowcleft.
Josie: Mm hmm.
Rhi: So yeah, she will drop you off, Minx, and take the rest of you, like, she will tie off the gondola and help carry Seeks back to the place and will, like, stick around to help patch people up. She is not a trained physicker, but she can, you know, follow directions and will help kinda get the bleeding stabilized, at least.
When Minx comes across the cab, the carriage is parked, the goats are just sort of standing there chewing on something thoughtfully, the Cabbie is leaning against the cab, smoking something. And when you come up is like:
Rhi (as Cabbie): Uh, you didn’t really specify what condition you wanted him in. I had to knock him out, cause he kept trying to make a run for it. I’m sorry about that, if that’s a—
Josie (as Minx): Perfect, thank you.
Rhi (as Cabbie): Okay.
Josie (as Minx): Let me get him out so this is cleaner.
Rhi (as Cabbie): Oh, I see.
Josie (as Minx): You may wish to leave.
Rhi (as Cabbie): Yep. Yeah, I… yep. Uh…
Josie: Yeah, I think Minx is just gonna open one of the doors to the cab, yank Hagen down onto the cobblestones by the collar, bullet in the forehead.
Rhi: Okay. And just gonna leave him on the street?
Josie: Yep.
Rhi: Alright.
Josie: Full-on execution.
Waffles: The single sound of a deathseeker crow overhead. [laughs]
Rhi: Yeah, like, I think what it is, is that there’s the echo of the gunshot that then turns into the clanging of the death bell ringing out over the city. So, that is that score. [laughs]
Josie: Uh huh.
Kim: That is certainly a thing that happened.
Rhi: Yeah. That— Blaire has some shit to deal with now.
Kim: [laughs] Oh yes.
Josie: Uh, yeah!
Rhi: From all sides.
Kim: Oh yes. Blaire’s in trouble [laughs]
Rhi: Blaire is in trouble from basically everybody.
Kim: [laughs] I had to make in-character decisions, I’m sorry!
Rhi: No, absolutely.
Waffles: No, it’s good.
Rhi: Absolutely. It’s very good, but like, this is gonna get real rough for her.
Kim: That was the point of the season.
Rhi: So, let’s get into our downtime scenes. I think we’re gonna start at the clinic, pretty much shortly after everyone has gotten in there. Kay is still there, kind of being an orderly, more or less, fetching bandages and potions and things. What are the three of you who are there right now, how are you all looking?
Waffles: I have busted out the secret stash of painkillers for everyone involved.
[laughter]
Rhi: Blaire, was not injured, is being offered painkillers.
Waffles (as Seeks): [slurred] Are ya sure? They’re really good.
Rhi: Kay. Kay wasn’t on the score and is getting offered painkillers.
Minna: Myra is probably lying on a bed, getting tended to. [laughs]
Rhi: Yeah.
Kim: Blaire’s just crying.
Rhi: Aww.
Kim: And probably hugging Myra.
Minna: Yeah, I think Myra would have been like:
Minna (as Myra): Come here, come here, come here.
Minna: And she’s kinda like holding Blaire’s hand, and…
Kim: Yeah, Blaire’s just crying and hugging Myra, honestly.
Rhi: Okay.
Kim: That’s what she’s doing.
Minna (as Myra): It’s okay, it’s okay. I’m here. I’ll be fine.
Rhi: Making all the appropriate soothing noises.
Kim: Yeah.
Rhi: So, did Myra partake of any of the painkillers?
Minna: Absolutely.
Rhi: Okay. [laughs] So Myra is slowly getting high as a kite. Seeks—
Minna: I mean, she’s already a frequent drug user. She’s not gonna turn it down. But also, painkillers good right now.
Rhi: Yeah. [laughs] Seeks is pretty spacey at this point, I imagine.
Waffles (as Seeks): Oh, everyone, I was gonna tell you when we were done. I’m doing a marriage. Parris and I are doing marr— I need bridesmaids! Is the thing I need.
Kim (as Blaire): What? Wh— what?
Waffles (as Seeks): I need bridesmaids.
Kim (as Blaire): Why?
Waffles (as Seeks): For marriage.
Minna (as Myra): Are you asking us? Were you asking for recommendations?
Waffles (as Seeks): Well that’s what I ask.
Minna (as Myra): [amused] Okay.
Kim (as Blaire): Seeks, you know that I love you, but you really thought now was the best time to do this?
Minna: [laughs]
[laughter]
Waffles (as Seeks): I had planned on it. I dunno.
Waffles: And passes out.
Rhi: Seeks is unconscious.
[laughter]
Rhi: And I think that is when the— Kay is sorta standing there like, “Is—is it okay that she’s unconscious?” Like, she not saying this, but her face is very much like, “Is that okay? Is it okay that she passed out? She’s the doctor! Oh God!”
Josie and Waffles: [laugh]
Rhi: Like, mildly panicking. And I think that’s the point at which… I think a little while ago you all heard, kind of muffled, the tolling of the death bell. And it has since stopped ringing. And the door swings open and Minx walks in.
Josie: Well, I imagine Kay is closest to the door.
Rhi: Yeah.
Josie: So, she first kind of just like gently brushes her arm and says:
Josie (as Minx): Thank you, dear, for all of your help once again.
Rhi (as Kay): Of course. Um… she’s the physicker and she’s unconscious, do you know somebody else I should grab to maybe help? I don’t…
Josie (as Minx): It’s my understanding this is… she’s like this frequently due to the medication.
Rhi (as Kay): Okay. Do you need anything else? Do you need me to pick anybody or anything up?
Josie (as Minx): No. No, the business is handled.
Rhi (as Kay): Okay.
Josie (as Minx): Although I may be catching a ride home early, if you want some company this evening.
Ri (as Kay): Yeah. I can, uh, I can wait outside.
Josie (as Minx): Alright. Thank you.
Rhi: I think she kinda looks back around the room at the three of you and is like:
Rhi (as Kay): Be as safe as you all can, alright? I don’t wanna have to do another trip like that.
Rhi: I think she kinda squeezes Minx on the shoulder and then is gonna head back outside. Yeah, she’ll hang out in her boat until…
Josie: Minx sort of smiles wearily and then goes over to check on Myra.
Josie (as Minx): How are things with you?
Minna (as Myra): I… will live.
Josie (as Minx): Well, that is more certain than earlier.
Minna (as Myra): [laughs] Oh… don’t make me laugh.
Kim (as Blaire): You really scared us, Myra.
Minna (as Myra): I know. But she was coming after you and Seeks as well as me, and it’s my fault that she was there for me in the first place.
Josie (as Minx): Who?
Kim (as Blaire): No.
Minna (as Myra): So I wasn’t a—
Kim (as Blaire): Myra, Myra this was not—
Josie (as Minx): Who was there?
Minna (as Myra): Ojal’s a hull now.
Josie (as Minx): A hull?
Minna (as Myra): Her spirit was captured in a crystal and put in a metal body that has blades for hands and can… [sighs] did this to us.
Josie (as Minx): There really is no limit to depths Salia will sink to, is there?
Minna (as Myra): There really isn’t.
Josie (as Minx): Well, I’m just glad you survived.
Kim (as Blaire): How do we stop Ojal?
Minna (as Myra): I don’t know if that’s a question about how hulls work… I don’t know how to answer that question right now. We have to do research.
Kim (as Blaire): Myra… okay, I’ll research that, but Myra, we can’t… we can’t do this again. This has to stop.
Josie: While Blaire is talking, Minx will just go over to Seeks. Like, check her forehead temperature, make sure she’s breathing, and just blatantly turn away whenever Blaire speaks up.
Minna (as Myra): I did not want to do this in the first place, and if I could avoid fighting her like that again, that would be great, but I don’t think she’s going to stop and I really don’t think Salia’s going to stop.
Kim (as Blaire): So we—s o we destroy the Hull and we kill Salia, I don’t care what it takes, but I— I don’t want this happening again. To any of us. That was—
Minna (as Myra): I’m not disagreeing with you, Blaire.
Kim (as Blaire): Myra, it was too close.
Minna (as Myra): I know. That was frankly terrifying. I’ve never dealt with anything with that kind of strength or will to kill me. Frankly.
Kim (as Blaire): Mm hmm.
Josie (as Minx): Of course, it being that close didn’t make you want to stay any more.
Josie: And then I think Minx is gonna walk out and meet Kay.
Kim: Oof. [laughs] Oof.
Minna (as Myra): Blaire? Next time Setarra asks something from you, let us know. It’ll become our mutual priority, but it can’t split us up.
Kim (as Blaire): It didn’t even matter by the end of that, because— because by the time I tried to find her, she was gone. So, it doesn’t matter. Of course it won’t happen again.
Minna (as Myra): I just want you to know that your problems are our problems too.
Kim (as Blaire): Setarra isn’t a problem.
Minna (as Myra): [sighs] I meant your responsibilities, your goals, your debts. They affect us and-
Kim (as Blaire): I don’t have a debt to her. What are you talking about?
Minna (as Myra): Whatever drove you to go alone up to the third floor. We would have liked to have known about it and been able to help you with it.
Kim (as Blaire): She showed up on the score. I didn’t get a chance to tell any of you. She just kinda showed up.
Minna (as Myra): And that’s fair. She does that. Just, I don’t want you to go alone because I don’t want you to get hurt either. We made a promise—
Kim (as Blaire): Setarra wouldn’t hurt me— I know. I know. But Setarra wouldn’t hurt me.
Minna (as Myra): Whatever obstacles you would have faced trying to do that would hurt you.
Kim (as Blaire): You don’t know that. I just had to go up to the third floor and show Setarra something, that was all. And in the end, she bailed out on me. So it would have been fine either way.
Minna (as Myra): I understand the thought process behind it and I’m sorry that Setarra didn’t show up like you wanted her to. I’m just saying that I think we should try and let each other know about things that we need to do and not go alone. There are three of us against this whole city, it feels like sometimes. One against the whole city is too small, too small an odds.
Rhi: I think from there we kinda fade out and we’ll fade back in on the common room of the nest. I think Blaire is gonna kind of trudge in.
Kim: Yeah.
Josie: Minx is at the dining table. She has placed some candles about so as to create the most severe lighting.
Kim: Of course.
Josie: Cause she had some time to plan this.
Rhi: I love that even at her most angry and disappointed, the commitment to the aesthetic is unwavering.
[laughter]
Josie: Yes.
Kim: It also just kind of has the same energy of, like, a child sneaking back home late at night past curfew and a parent being awake, being like, “So where have you been?”
Rhi: Yeah, that’s the exact energy of this moment.
Minna: What I was gonna say is that Minx is just a walking anime.
Kim: That too, but that goes without saying.
Rhi: There’s also that.
Waffles: One fear.
Josie: Minx would love an anime convention, let’s be real.
Kim: This is true.
Rhi: Yeah. So yeah, Minx is at the table, dramatic candles.
Josie: She’s still done up. She’s got her hands, one of her hands in her lap and is kind of resting her cheek on the other one.
Josie (as Minx): You were going to leave.
Kim (as Blaire): What are you talking about?
Josie (as Minx): When our roommates and our family were bleeding out, as soon as I showed up you were going to leave them.
Kim (as Blaire): That’s not what that was about. The reason that all of you were able to get out in the first place was because of Setarra and she wouldn’t have done that if I didn’t promise something to her. So I had to see that through, because if I didn’t, something could have happened to me or to all of us.
Josie (as Minx): When did you promise something to her?
Kim (as Blaire): She showed up to me during the score and I didn’t have time to tell all of you afterwards. And I’m sorry that happened—
Josie (as Minx): Bullshit, Blaire. It was silent, we were all there, it was a very controlled situation. You couldn’t have told us that Setarra requested something of you? And instead you decided to try and do it after foisting our bleeding compatriots off on me.
Kim (as Blaire): If I had gone with you then Setarra would have thought that I was bailing on her and then something could have happened to all of us.
Josie (as Minx): Blaire.
Kim (as Blaire): I didn’t want that to happen.
Josie (as Minx): For the record, I don’t mind that Setarra showed up. It saved our arses. But do you really think you couldn’t have at least helped them to safety?
Kim (as Blaire): I don’t know. I don’t— I wasn’t thinking and I—
Josie (as Minx): Clearly not.
Kim (as Blaire): I was scared.
Josie (as Minx): And yet, in that fear, instead of even running for your own life, you sought to obey Setarra.
Kim (as Blaire): Minx, it’s not that simple.
Josie (as Minx): Here’s the situation. You assured us that Setarra is no problem. We worry about you sometimes, but we trusted that. But in the direst of situations, you chose her over us.
Kim (as Blaire): I didn’t. I— Minx, I was going to come back for all of you. I did what I said I was going to do and I had to do because I was choosing all of you.
Josie (as Minx): Then why did you accept this task from Setarra, not tell anyone, and then we wind up in this situation?
Kim (as Blaire): I don’t know how we wound up in this situation, but I— you know how it was the last time I tried to introduce all of you to Setarra. She didn’t like it. So, I— I just thought that—
Josie (as Minx): No. And then we spent hours looking for you. And even after all that, you couldn’t even find it in yourself to be forthright with us about it.
Kim (as Blaire): Minx… I’m sorry.
Josie (as Minx): Are you?
Kim (as Blaire): Yes!
Josie (as Minx): Let me ask another question then. If it does come down to Setarra or us, who are you choosing?
Kim (as Blaire): You.
Josie: What is the look in Blaire’s eye like when she says that?
Kim: I mean, she’s probably been crying this whole time, so her eyes are very watery, but the look in her eyes are very determined and fierce, to the point where I think it’s immediately apparent that anyone can tell that she is not lying and she fiercely believes this to be true.
Josie: It’ll have to do for now. Minx sort of leans back in her chair a little bit like she’s kind of exhausted. Because honestly, she is. She pulls her hand out of her lap and she’s just sort of gently holding a piece of thin blue fabric that looks like the end of a scarf.
Josie (as Minx): You know I’m going to hold you to that.
Kim (as Blaire): Yes. Yes, I… I wouldn’t expect anything less.
Josie (as Minx): Because normally I treat things like this very differently. But—
Kim (as Blaire): How differently?
Josie (as Minx): Very differently. But you’re crew and you’re my friend. So I don’t know where we go from here.
Kim (as Blaire): I was a bad friend to you and I failed the crew, so I don’t know either.
Josie (as Minx): I think what with The Circle and everything else, we just need to move forward.
Kim (as Blaire): How?
Josie (as Minx): I don’t know. I’m a bit of a hypocrite for chastising you for this given how I’ve treated Bazso. So, perhaps it’s just we sleep on it and we figure it out as we go.
Kim (as Blaire): This doesn’t feel like the kind of thing we sleep off, Minx.
Josie (as Minx): I know, but it’s not the sort of thing that gets solved in a night either, I don’t think. I believe you when you say you are going to prioritize us. And that’s really all I can ask for right now.
Kim (as Blaire): You know I’m gonna keep seeing her, don’t you?
Josie (as Minx): I know.
Kim (as Blaire): I have to.
Josie (as Minx): Why do you have to?
Kim (as Blaire): I made a promise.
Josie (as Minx): What did you promise her?
Kim (as Blaire): I was the one who brought her here in the first place, so… I don’t know.
Josie (as Minx): Well, you’re going to have to fill Myra and I in on all the details eventually. You know that, right?
Kim (as Blaire): Yeah.
Josie (as Minx): Because you know Setarra is dangerous.
Kim (as Blaire): I mean, she has to be.
Josie (as Minx): I don’t know her and I can’t trust her judgement on that, so… and I can’t really stop you from doing this, but please, please, if she starts to drive another wedge or starts asking bad things of you, you come to us. Right? We can’t really fight a demon, but we can help you.
Kim (as Blaire): Okay.
Josie (as Minx): Okay. You know this isn’t reallu the kind of stuff I signed up for, but it’s… I suppose it’s to be expected.
Josie: She kind of looks down at the piece of scarf meaningfully and then gets up and goes to her room.
Kim: So yeah, Blaire just… she’s just standing there frozen for, I would say, a good five minutes before she remembers she has somewhere she needs to be and heads out.
[silence]
Kim: Yeah, she’s probably gonna head for the docks.
Rhi: Okay. Um, so I think we see Blaire still very upset, pacing along the docks. You know, the waves coming in, crashing against the pier. Again, there’s that same where a larger wave crashes and then Setarra is standing there. Doesn’t say anything. Just has her arms folded and eyebrows raised and is looking at Blaire very expectantly.
Kim (as Blaire): I would have brought you to third floor if you’d just stayed.
Rhi (as Setarra): Well, you threw a rather difficult obstacle in my path.
Kim (as Blaire): But you still cleared it. We could have gone up to the third floor together. Were you hurt?
Rhi: I think that like… yeah, when you say that, she kind of looks at her arm and the water, like, dark stain on her bicep. You can’t tell if it’s… it doesn’t look like regular blood, but it’s a dark stain there. She’s like:
Rhi (as Setarra): Nothing that won’t recover, given time.
Kim (as Blaire): Is that why you retreated after it was taken care of?
Rhi (as Setarra): You seemed to have other priorities than upholding our bargain.
Kim (as Blaire): That’s not true. I was trying— I— I’ll admit I had multiple things going on, but I was going to take care of you first, before I—
Rhi (as Setarra): You can’t have it both ways, Blaire. Some day, some day soon, you are going to have to choose where your loyalty lies. And you are going to have to remember who has helped you, who has offered you all of the knowledge that you seek. You want to bring ghosts back. You want to uncover the secrets of the universe. Do you think they’re going to help you? Will they be able to give you what you need to accomplish all that you dream of?
Kim (as Blaire): They have so far.
Rhi: And she sort of narrows her eyes and is like:
Rhi (as Setarra): Well. If you don’t need me then…
Rhi: And then kind of very ostentatiously, like, turns and makes to walk towards the end of the dock.
Kim: Blaire’s just gonna let her.
Rhi: Interesting. Alright. So, Setarra kinda slows down as she gets to end of the dock, doesn’t look back, but is kind of like, her steps slow a little bit, but she does not stop before she just sort of disappears back into the water. And then I think we will return to the clinic. It’s a few days later. Seeks and Myra are both still recovering, but doing a little better. Seeks can kind of hobble around and make tea. And I think Minx is going to come in accompanying Liege Greer Evermar. They are wearing a very, like, nice, sharply-tailored, dark red suit with gold trim and buttons and stuff. And they step inside and sort of look around a little bit.
Waffles (as Seeks): Uh, hello!
Josie (as Minx): Good evening.
Rhi (as Liege Greer): Hello. I’d heard that you all ran into a bit of trouble. Are you alright?
Josie (as Minx): Yes, well, trouble is somewhat what we do, but we’re glad you could make it.
Rhi (as Liege Greer): Yes. Well, it was really quite tragic to hear of Dr Hagen’s untimely demise, but the streets can be ever so dangerous after dark. [clears throat]
Rhi: And like, it’s very just kind of like, rote.
Kim: Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.
Rhi: [laughs] Yeah.
Josie (as Minx): Of course. But at least the clinic will stay open to help the people of Duskwall.
Rhi (as Liege Greer): Yes, and uh…
Josie (as Minx): Speaking of…
Rhi (as Liege Greer): Yes.
Josie (as Minx): Liege Greer, this is Seeks.
Waffles (as Seeks): Greetings. Would you like some tea?
Rhi (as Liege Greer): Um, certainly. I’ve heard a bit about you, but I’m looking forward to getting to know you better. And hopefully this will be a good partnership going forward.
Rhi: And they will, like, sit down and accept some tea. And I think that they and Seeks will kind of start discussing some details about the clinic. And I think, kind of, just before we fade out, Greer will set a piece of paper on the table and you can see the name “The Teagen Welker Clinic” at the top.
Minna: Oh…
Josie: Aww.
##Outro [1.17.31]
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.
##Blooper [1.18.52]
Rhi: I’ve been sitting on this for so long!
Minna: I’ve known about this, but I didn’t know when it would turn up.
Kim: I knew— yeah, I knew this was coming, but tonight? Really?
Rhi: Now! Now is when it turns up! [laughs]
[groaning]