Ep. 7 - The Hands That Wield The Knife

Regrouping after the chase, the group trades information and makes new plans. Morin goes home. Rook, Chrys, and Orion have a sleepover.

Content Warnings

• This episode contains a depiction of grief, consumption of alcohol-coded substance, allusions to sobriety and addiction, discussions of violence, allusions to police violence, description of minor injury (broken/sprained bone, bruises), smoking, and minor body horror (played humorously).

For full The Drifting City content warnings, please reference the Show Notes & Disclaimers linked at the bottom of the episode description.

A Dungeons & Dragons Actual Play Podcast. The Drifting City is not affiliated with Wizards of the Coast.

Cast & Credits
Chrys: Lily Bell
Morin Wreaver: Aspen Langford
Orion Amaros: Porter Hurst
Rook Aarden: Victor Thorne
Valentine Bellana: Marilyn David
The Narrator: Ray Hamilton

Class & Subclass
Chrys: Coven of the Green Witch (find the class at: Worlds Beyond Number Patreon)
Morin Wreaver: Floater Ranger (Homebrew)
Orion Amaros: Echo Knight Fighter (find the subclass in Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount)
Rook Aarden: College of Spirits Bard (find the subclass in Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft)
Valentine Bellana: College of Hard Knocks Bard (Homebrew)

Editing, sound design, episode titles and descriptions by everyone at The Rolling Waves.

Intro & Outro Theme
“The Drifting City (Theme)”
Composed by Porter Hurst.
Performed by Porter Hurst, Victor Thorne, and the friends and family of The Rolling Waves.

S1E7 Music Credits:
Das Hotel by Sugoi
As the Shadows Waltzed by Trevor Kowalski
parlemor by bomull
A Little Journey by Shuta Yasukochi
ebb by bomull
Hara Noda by Nagisa
All courtesy of Epidemic Sound.

S1E7 Sound Effect and Ambience Credits:
All courtesy of Epidemic Sound.

Show Notes and Disclaimers

Socials and More!
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Transcript

SPEAKER_05 0:03

The rolling waves present the drifting city. The streets run dry here in Risen. Children emerge from shanty homes onto shady streets, released by tired parents who just needed their kids' bare feet to stay dry long enough to ward away the wilt. Someone's crying somewhere, but that's just this city for you. No bookies taking odds on the likelihood of lost souls and drowned out tears. There's just no profit in it. There's no sun to set, but the streets look darker anyway. A piecemeal cloak rustles in the hands of a fixer, stark white hair almost matching the bleached-out pallor of her skin beneath a halo of light that only seems to make her features more shadowed. A box laden with potential weighs down the soul of a muscle who has only ever been able to watch tragedy pass him by. A smuggler's hand twitches by a grappling hook that wants to get her out of there. But she feels tethered by more than just gravity to the events of the day. A play that isn't quite at curtain call. A witch clutches at the corners of a borrowed cloak and feels the fading warmth of arms that taught her how to hug. And remembers suddenly that he has no heat of their own to give away. And a detective muses. He recovers from one of his ghosts, finally deciding that it's time to stop playing dead. The fixer, the muscle, and the smuggler are called by soft music and thick wispweed smoke of the fading light. They sit in relative silence as the sobs of an abandoned woman worm their way through their skulls in time to the saxophone's wails. The witch and the detective arrive not long after. And the scene is yours. What's top of mind for everyone in this moment?

SPEAKER_10 2:58

Valentine's still thinking about the look of fear and resignation on Ateria's face. And I think that there's still some amount of guilt and anguish associated with that, but part of her mind is already starting to turn on the payment and what she's going to do with that.

SPEAKER_05 3:26

Let's say what's top of mind for Orion in this moment?

SPEAKER_02 3:32

As everybody kind of sits for a minute and catches their breath, Orion, for the most part, is trying to take in his surroundings, the scene, and just kind of process everything that happened. If he closes his eyes for a moment too long, he can still hear the thundering footsteps of the shape as it chases him. In this moment, it's a brief but welcome reprise. And I think it's starting to sink in that this was much more than just a simple job that he has ever worked. Normally his jobs are one and done deals. He tags along as muscle as the brawn. He fulfills his mission, he gets paid, and he moves on to the next one. But here, with these people, he knows the job is not done, and someone has been lost today. And he doesn't know he doesn't quite know what to do with himself, and he's partially disguising it with an absurd amount of wispweed cigarettes.

SPEAKER_06 4:52

What about Moran? What's most top of mind is the disappointment of a job incomplete. There's a bit of relief there that at least we've all made it out safely, but she had a job to do, and regardless of whether they get paid or not, it didn't happen. And then while sitting and thinking about how we're sitting here safe after being chased, there's concern creeping up about NX as well. That she hasn't seen him since the day or two before when he was chased away.

SPEAKER_05 5:37

As they come in, let's start with Chris. What what what is he thinking about?

SPEAKER_08 5:42

Aside from the general just nervousness and fear that is just kind of there now, it's not left because Chris is still in a place that she is unfamiliar with, and something really scary just happened that they don't fully understand. But other than that, Chris wants their cloak, Chris wants to find Chanterelle, and Chris wants to go home.

SPEAKER_05 6:13

Finally, what about Rick?

SPEAKER_03 6:18

Constant, pervasive, sheer disbelief that he is in fact still alive. Is the number one thing on his mind. Followed by kind of the utter embarrassment that he did have to leave the apartment in the state that he left it in, which will come with a price tag that will be a future him problem. And at this point, he kind of just starts unspooling like yarn mentally, because like he's used to having some high stress situations. He's not used to having that high stress situation. So like very much exhaustion is starting to set in, and kind of mentally the thing on the forefront of the mind is just I need a break. You want a cigarette? Uh uh, no, I brought my own stuff from home, which I'm glad was the right call, but um, no, I think I just need a seat. Oh, yeah, uh, they were uh all at my apartment. Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_07 7:35

They were very scary.

SPEAKER_03 7:39

Um yeah, so they were all there, um, which I kinda saw coming, but I was like hoping wasn't the case, you know. Yeah. Kinda miraculous that either Chris or I are actually able to be here right now.

SPEAKER_10 7:57

You talk your way out of it?

SPEAKER_03 8:01

As much as I would love to lie and say yes and put on that kind of air of that's the person that I somehow am. Um no, no, they were feeling particularly kind, and were mostly doing it to keep an eye on me in the future.

SPEAKER_07 8:21

They didn't seem very kind.

SPEAKER_03 8:26

Even unkind folk can have acts well, rather, not really kindness, more mercy. Um yeah, so lost them for now, but uh don't know how long that's gonna keep up.

SPEAKER_02 8:44

Well well damn, if this is because of the suit thing, I I'm I'm real sorry about your apartment rook. Is that why you've got all that stuff?

SPEAKER_03 8:55

Oh, yeah. I mean I just uh I took what I needed. A lot of that was just temporary possession. It's fine, the job pays alright. I it's really just a bunch of clothing. I wore a bunch of the exact same outfit. It's practical, it's comfortable.

SPEAKER_02 9:10

I I know, but all all the same. No, I also move around a lot, so it it's it still can be kind of annoying. So um I need a place to crash at, my my place isn't much, but hey.

SPEAKER_10 9:24

Better than being speaking of payment, Terya gave me some names for you.

SPEAKER_03 9:36

Well that's helpful. Before you give me that, um I'm in uh a a state of extreme confusion here. So you remember when I when I first ran into you two? Ran into I was tailing you. Anyway, um when I first encountered you two and uh I was asking situations and trying to clear up about the fact that there's the murder case going on.

SPEAKER_10 10:06

Sure.

SPEAKER_03 10:07

Mm-hmm. Um well it seems like that murder case was temporary.

SPEAKER_10 10:17

What are you murder like you closed it? Isn't every case temporary?

SPEAKER_03 10:24

Uh no, uh as in the um the the the victim being murdered seems to have been temporary. Like you thought she was dead and she isn't like her corpse was in that room before I investigated it and I saw the bloodstain on the floor and she was at the apartment up and walking. And I'm gonna be completely honest with you. I've seen some pretty awful, awful nonsense. But this kind of takes the cake.

SPEAKER_10 11:14

Um, does the idea of vampires exist in this world?

SPEAKER_05 11:20

I would think that basically Risen has been separate from the material plane for so long that a lot of the things that may have been known for a fact to exist on the material plane have faded into legend and myth. There would be stories of nighttime stalkers, blood drinkers, those sorts of things, maybe even the word vampire, but none of it would have the sort of real-world, oh yeah, this is a fantasy setting kind of thing that elves or dwarves or whatnot do in the city.

SPEAKER_10 12:08

Okay. Makes total sense. So she came back to life.

SPEAKER_03 12:18

Is this um like Chris or um I was actually about to add, um, the fact that we have met Chris and have become acquainted is probably the only reason why I didn't completely lose my composure and a sense of confusion and panic that can be only described uh as a desperate frenzy to remain somewhat perceiving the world around me correctly.

SPEAKER_01 12:48

Huh?

SPEAKER_03 12:51

You're the only reason I wasn't in complete disbelief at what my eyes saw as they were leaving.

SPEAKER_07 12:58

Because I am dead. Sugar. Dead, but not dead Precisely, yes.

SPEAKER_02 13:08

Okay, well but they're not they're not Chris dead. Because we saw them or a summer Chris, do you do you remember like was this like a process? Like did was there some like ritualistic spooky thing that was going on and you were caught in the middle of it? Like I know you don't remember much, but it's like I I do not know how or why.

SPEAKER_07 13:47

All I remember is waking up down there in the dark. There was some water, and I was surrounded by glowing flowers, but that's all I remember. I don't remember why. I don't remember how it happened because I was dead.

SPEAKER_10 14:16

Huh. Well, do you think they didn't follow you here, Brooke?

SPEAKER_03 14:25

Um I'm pretty sure. They were at my apartment because they knew that they'd be able to find me there. It really felt more like a courtesy call than anything, which is a very strange thing to say. But uh yeah, uh, Chris.

SPEAKER_08 14:44

Would I have noticed anything? Can I like roll like a past perception check? Because I feel like Chris was very alert the entire time we were coming here because they were very scared.

SPEAKER_05 14:55

Oh, to like know if anybody followed you?

SPEAKER_08 14:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 14:59

Oh, sure. I mean your passive perception is 16, which is pretty high. And I'll say you didn't get any buzzes other than with a passive perception of 16, sort of everything stands out to you, like people looking through their windows out at the street, you know, people taking a smoke break in an alley, all these different things would have all stood out to you, but none of it stood out to you as, oh, this is a recurring figure I am seeing multiple times, or anything like that, uh, with your passive perception 16 as you were moving through. Gotcha.

SPEAKER_03 15:38

Yeah, it um it honestly really felt more like j just kind of fear tactics, just kind of establishing that they knew where to find me, which again, we were very bad at being subtle with the giant box and all. Um but they saw me be packing up my belongings and figured that their stake on where I am is no longer valid, so was more just them making themselves known, trying to posture, put up a threat.

SPEAKER_02 16:13

Well, regardless, I am very much less settled knowing that apparently people can just uh w walk back, walk their way back from uh being dead.

SPEAKER_03 16:25

So yeah, like I I've seen some folks do like near like near dead, almost dead, fully dead, like throat gone, and then back again. That's that's a new one. Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 16:42

She did not look like me.

SPEAKER_03 16:50

Correct.

SPEAKER_07 16:51

I do not this, I mean, and Chris like gestures to like their arm, which is very like purplish blue, like rotted, there's like bone peeking out a little bit, that sort of thing.

SPEAKER_05 17:07

I will say, Chris, as you lift your arm, you were so focused on the conversation, you did not notice that like a little sloth, Chantarelle had wormed her way up your body and onto your arm. So as you lift to show your arm clinging like a sloth in a tree, is Chantarelle to your arm. Just sort of like not aggressively, but just sort of playfully gnawing on the little bit of exposed bone that you have in the way that she likes to do. Um and you know, just showing you a fact. I'm looking at the horrified faces of this very adorable. I love it. It's just like how a cat nips at your fingers. She just money with exposed bone.

SPEAKER_08 17:53

It doesn't hurt. Like weird.

SPEAKER_03 17:56

The gentle fungal gumming of exposed people is insane.

SPEAKER_02 18:03

I am personally, I'm personally obsessed with the fact that Chris has, I think, the highest perception of our entire group and yet has to roll like active perception checks because their arm is so dead it cannot register.

SPEAKER_05 18:18

No, Chantrell just has expertise and stealth. No.

SPEAKER_07 18:24

Oh, hello, Chantrelle.

SPEAKER_11 18:27

Hi. I am glad to see you. You're you're pretty cool too. Thank you. I missed you.

SPEAKER_08 18:39

I missed you as well. And Chris pats her on the head. Like where her head would be, the top of her mushroom.

SPEAKER_05 18:48

Uh the the fungus vibrates in a sort of bodily purr.

SPEAKER_02 18:56

Chanterelle, what did we say earlier? I thought you were gonna tell Chris when you saw him. What were we gonna say?

SPEAKER_11 19:03

I fully and completely had forgotten.

SPEAKER_02 19:07

Okay, one more time. We did not die, and you had no right to say it.

SPEAKER_11 19:16

We did not die, and I had no right to say it.

SPEAKER_07 19:20

Thank you. I believe I see you are not dead. That is good.

SPEAKER_11 19:27

I don't know. It was a pretty pretty important for this guy that I say that, and I don't know why.

SPEAKER_10 19:33

In fairness to Chantaral, it did seem like we were going to die. I certainly thought so.

SPEAKER_07 19:41

She said a very big thing was chasing you.

SPEAKER_03 19:47

Remember, we we saw that very big thing back at the apartment.

SPEAKER_00 19:52

Oh, very apartment. That was the same thing.

SPEAKER_02 19:55

Yeah. Orion fully knows this, that like one misstep, and they very well could have been pancakes, but like at the just Chantarell immediately just being we are dead. I just feel like he has this air of do you have so little faith in me?

SPEAKER_11 20:14

Chanterell doesn't know you, so I I don't know you, guy. I don't know you.

SPEAKER_10 20:20

Do we we know that he was called Truncheon, right?

SPEAKER_05 20:25

Like the mage who I don't think you heard the name, but I think you could put together two and two from Ataria that Bluefinger is the mage that cast ice knife at you, yelled out for Truncheon, and then you know, the the shape came after you.

SPEAKER_10 20:45

It was part of your payment, actually. Truncheon was the shape. He was involved in your murder that I suppose wasn't a murder?

SPEAKER_03 21:00

Yeah, I need to. Is it even ethical for me to get paid for that? Because like I found who did it, but at the same time it's no longer done anymore.

SPEAKER_10 21:13

If you don't want the names, I can keep them.

SPEAKER_03 21:16

No, I mean like my physical payment for my like my job, like like like the m like the the the the money that I that I need.

SPEAKER_07 21:25

What is your job?

SPEAKER_03 21:28

Oh, I mean, uh I go around and I solve problems for folks. If someone has an issue and they don't know who did something or where something is, they talk to me about it.

SPEAKER_06 21:40

I figure if there's someone out there ripping throats out, you probably don't want them to do it to any more people. I mean, not all of us can hop right back up.

SPEAKER_03 21:52

Pretty sure that was a terrier.

SPEAKER_07 21:56

I thought that she did what? The throat ripping?

SPEAKER_03 22:03

I still only got one culprit. And I don't know about the connection of the other three. You said there were name W what did you say that my pay payment was? Did Atari tell you something?

SPEAKER_10 22:18

She gave me names. This payment for you. Truncheon, Bluefingers, a mage. I think I came in contact with her as well. Squeak and break-in.

SPEAKER_03 22:33

Cool. How many figures did show up at the apartment when they did actually get there?

SPEAKER_05 22:39

There were five total. There was the mysterious figure who was revealed to be Phyllis Brent. Truncheon was the incredibly large uh Ant Lynn Itith Kai. And there was a water genasi woman who had more of a arcanic build to her, like essentially wizard-like robes. And then there were two thugs. The tall one was a Cirxtian Elven woman. And then there was a slightly shorter and stockier Earth Genasi man.

SPEAKER_10 23:18

And the mage was disguised as the kid.

SPEAKER_05 23:21

Yeah, originally.

SPEAKER_03 23:26

Yep. Okay, well, I'm glad I got those names to all those faces. So sorry, I'm gonna I'm gonna think out loud for a sec here if if none of y'all mind. Um person then I will go somewhere else to do this. Never mind, I don't want to deal with this right now. Uh who wants a drink? You had me a drink. Great. One, two, one. One, two, three.

SPEAKER_06 24:07

Water, please.

SPEAKER_03 24:09

Nice. Do you Chris ever had a drink? Do you par do you partake in anything?

SPEAKER_07 24:14

But I do not need to eat or drink.

SPEAKER_03 24:19

Can you?

SPEAKER_07 24:20

So no.

SPEAKER_03 24:21

Does it just like do you well if you don't need to can you though, or does it just like stay like in in your bits? Never say that again.

SPEAKER_01 24:31

No.

SPEAKER_08 24:32

Narrator, would do you think Chris would have ever tried that tried eating or drinking anything before?

SPEAKER_05 24:38

I think it would be it would be up to you, I think. I you know, would would Chris have I mean I think unless and until Chris had seen other people do it, Chris maybe would never have considered the option since they never had that natural hunger or thirst. But you've been around people enough, you know how to make tea. It seems like you have imbibed tea and whatnot. You would know from your imbibing of tea that, you know, you partake of it, you feel warm inside until you don't anymore, and then eventually the feeling just goes away. And depending on how much you want to have decided how that works digestively or not, we can just say that it just, you know, whatever happens, happens. Or you can decide if there's more detail there.

SPEAKER_06 25:30

Check on the mechanics of Chris's bowels. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 25:37

Yeah, you have had tea and it has not like dribbled out of you or anything like that.

SPEAKER_03 25:42

Chris, roll for digestion.

SPEAKER_05 25:44

Right. Constitution saving throat.

SPEAKER_02 25:47

Every time Chris needs something, they had they have to roll constitution.

SPEAKER_03 25:51

You gotta manually contract your stomach.

SPEAKER_08 25:54

You know, I'm a living corpse. Like, I feel like that's a lot of what's the word, um suspension of disbelief anyway.

SPEAKER_05 26:04

Yeah. So we can say Chris has a fairly functioning digestive system. It just doesn't need to be used.

SPEAKER_08 26:11

It it sort of works, but it doesn't really do its job right. Like it just kind of evaporates. Glad we established this.

SPEAKER_01 26:23

I don't know.

SPEAKER_08 26:24

I don't know.

SPEAKER_07 26:25

I've had tea before, I guess.

SPEAKER_02 26:30

We should get Chris a drink.

SPEAKER_03 26:32

Uh Chris, you're also getting some water.

SPEAKER_07 26:35

I am getting water. Yes. I do not need water.

SPEAKER_03 26:39

That's okay. It's a it's it's a social partaking, you know.

SPEAKER_07 26:45

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 26:46

Okay, I'll just I'll I'll I'll just go up and deal with that. And he just walks up, goes up to the bar. Oh wait, is it the same dude?

SPEAKER_05 26:56

Oh yeah, no. You go up and you immediately see the older grizzled uh you know, dwarven man with the big white beard who looks you up and down and just goes, Oh, hails.

SPEAKER_10 27:10

From the table, Valentine will just kind of wave at him and hold up four fingers and give a thumbs up for good stuff, and then turn back to the table.

SPEAKER_05 27:23

Yeah. He still looks at Rook up and down, and you can tell he just does not like you. No insight check required.

SPEAKER_03 27:34

Um I'm gonna be completely straightforward. Last time I was here, let's you're on business. I really just want a drink for me and my friends. Just three of whatever the whatever the strongest you have is, and two waters, please.

SPEAKER_05 27:52

Friends.

SPEAKER_03 27:55

Compatriots. People that I am acquainted with. People at the table.

SPEAKER_09 28:05

Alright. There's four people drinking at the table, just so you know. Lauren's drinking water. Oh, okay. I thought he was getting a drink.

SPEAKER_03 28:16

I know my orders. Excuse you, do.

SPEAKER_05 28:20

And so, I mean, Steffi's gonna go by what Valentine indicated. Oops. Two for me. Put four, you know, glasses of what appears to be a far deeper, almost puch kind of borderline red colored rads. It's not like the best stuff out there, but it's certainly you imagine to be the best stuff this bar has, and sets them on the counter, and then also takes out a like tankard that you would put something more like ale in and just fills that with water because they don't really have glasses that you would put water into. And after seeing maybe some like hearing your order, also puts another tankard of water. So now you've got six drinks that you're taking back to the table. And as you're walking away, Sefi will just give a a nod to Valentine, and he's just going to give you a little hand signal. And as that hand signal goes by, you see Kyro, who who was on break when you guys were here before, but who's now back on shift. This Itithkai, who is waiting around, waiting tables. It must be Della's break. He's going to just start, you notice, hovering slightly in a more of a ring around you, more frequently than he might normally, just kind of staying a little closer to you, keeping an eye out.

SPEAKER_02 29:57

Can I sleight of hand the extra glass of rads to Chris?

SPEAKER_06 30:04

What? You don't have to slide of hand it.

SPEAKER_03 30:10

How are you gonna do that stealthily?

SPEAKER_08 30:11

Just like slip it and just like, whoops, boom, boom, boom, because Orion has shown to be so stealthy before this.

SPEAKER_02 30:18

Well, literally, I'm not I'm not slide of handing it for Chris to like, I'm not feeding it to Chris, I'm just like sliding it across the table.

SPEAKER_04 30:28

Sure, you can try to do that.

SPEAKER_06 30:33

If it is if it's been set in front of Morin, Orion, if you're moving to go grab it, Morin will easily give it to you. So you just have to get it in front of Chris. What'd you roll?

SPEAKER_02 30:48

What I get an advantage?

SPEAKER_06 30:50

No, I said what'd you roll?

SPEAKER_02 30:52

Oh, I uh plus.

SPEAKER_08 30:55

You could just give it to Chris. Why are we slide advantage? I just want to know.

SPEAKER_05 31:01

A 15, uh dexterously in full view of everyone, you pick up the glass with a s with a Battlemaster's grace, even though that's not your subclass, and slide it over to Chris.

SPEAKER_10 31:18

Instilling healthy habits, I see.

SPEAKER_02 31:22

I I don't I think out of all of us, Chris would gain the least liver damage.

SPEAKER_03 31:31

Well d would it even do anything to g it the uh it's a thing in your body. Don't think too hard about it. You might start feeling it.

SPEAKER_02 31:40

That's why I gave it to him.

SPEAKER_03 31:43

So you you gave it to him as an experiment to see what it would do.

SPEAKER_06 31:49

Chris, don't drink that if you don't want to. Please. Is it bad?

SPEAKER_10 31:55

Sometimes. Frequently.

SPEAKER_03 31:59

In excess. And in emotional reliance.

SPEAKER_07 32:05

Then why do people drink it?

SPEAKER_03 32:08

Because of having it in excess and emotional reliance.

SPEAKER_02 32:14

I feel like Orion just shrugs. It's just like, I mean, you know, in moderation, it just kind of makes you forget that you know shit sucks for a few hours. Um, but you know, not forcing your hand. But worst that could happen is probably nothing happens, so come on, this is not the worst that can happen.

SPEAKER_08 32:39

Hey narrator. Out of curiosity, because Chris has what is it? Resistance to be advantage against disease and poison checks. If I were to drink this, would I have advantage on the con save? Yeah. Hell yeah. Okay. Because Chris Chris is down to learn new things. And Chris hasn't ever been poisoned before, so like Chris just tilts their head and drinks it.

SPEAKER_05 33:11

It tastes like what you imagine stardust must taste like. It has a ground-up earthiness to it that should be unpleasant, but you find goes down easy.

unknown 33:33

Okay.

SPEAKER_05 33:34

That's what it tastes like.

SPEAKER_07 33:38

It tastes like sparkles.

SPEAKER_10 33:43

That's what it does to you too. You drink too much of it, you start to shine.

SPEAKER_02 33:48

Yeah, well, that's why we only get the glass.

SPEAKER_05 33:54

How's Morin doing?

SPEAKER_06 33:58

Morin, after suggesting to Chris that they shouldn't drink it if they don't want to, has gone a bit quiet. Um, and she's sitting back a bit, just looking into the bottom of her water cup, distanced from the conversation a little bit.

SPEAKER_05 34:17

Go ahead and roll wisdom saving throw for me.

SPEAKER_08 34:20

No. Not again.

SPEAKER_05 34:23

I will say I'm so good at wisdom saving throw. I I'm going to let you roll it with advantage.

SPEAKER_02 34:31

Thank God. Go, go, Moran, you can do it.

SPEAKER_05 34:36

With advantages of 14. The DC was just 10. As you are sitting here watching everyone else drink, you're enjoying your water, you're distant, you're quiet, it's uncomfortable, but you're okay. And as you're sitting here, you feel sort of good about that. It feels good to be okay in this environment, even if it is a little bit uncomfortable. And you have inspiration, you have advantage on your next role.

SPEAKER_08 35:21

Aww. Nice. Love that for her. Morrence had a bad day.

SPEAKER_10 35:30

As we're sitting here drinking our drinks, can I make some kind of check to see if I remember meeting anyone named Rex and Rolane or like where in the city that person would be, or anything I know?

SPEAKER_05 35:48

Yeah, because all you have is the name right now in the abstract. So that would be a history check.

SPEAKER_10 35:56

Okay. Not my best. Oh, and that's a two.

SPEAKER_05 36:01

Four. Four? The name really doesn't call anything to mind.

SPEAKER_10 36:09

Okay.

SPEAKER_05 36:10

Not in the circles you've been running in.

SPEAKER_03 36:13

In a similar vein of things, do any of those kind of names or street names that I was just told by Valentine would any of those ring a bells as something I've heard before?

SPEAKER_05 36:27

I'll say that'd be a history check as well.

SPEAKER_03 36:30

Take it.

SPEAKER_10 36:30

You're probably way better at those than I am.

SPEAKER_03 36:33

Oh. Not bad, not bad. That is a 16 for a total of a 21.

SPEAKER_00 36:40

Woo!

SPEAKER_03 36:41

Well, there's a two in there somewhere.

SPEAKER_02 36:44

That's an attens digit.

SPEAKER_05 36:47

With an above a 20, you would think to yourself, okay, you have a pretty good working knowledge of the various criminal enterprises, criminal elements here in the lower decks. You've solved a lot of petty murders, a lot of thefts, a lot of things sort of on the outskirts of the real big stuff, but it's given you a working knowledge of how these different groups operate. And you know that it is strange for there to be open mage craft in a group that's not associated with the Sparks. They try to have a monopoly on that sort of thing. And the name Bluefingers strikes you as familiar because you've heard that there's been some defectors from the Sparks over the last few years joining other groups. The Sparks have been losing their hold on Magecraft in the lower decks. Something fierce. And it's been something they've been fighting very, very hard against, but something that is actively causing instability in that group and in others as people defect to groups that are willing to give them better deals. And so it doesn't necessarily surprise you that there is a mage working in a group that might not be affiliated with the sparks. Of course, you don't know that for certain about this group, but it seems to sort of fit with a trend. And you seem to think, okay, Bluefinger seems like a name I've heard in affiliation with the Sparks before, but if they weren't with the Sparks anymore, that wouldn't be too crazy. That doesn't strike you as too strange. So you're thinking that, okay, maybe that's how a mage with like a bit of training is actually not in that group anymore. And then what I'll also give you with above a 20 is that Anlin, Itath Kai are not incredibly common. In fact, in a given generation of Itath Kai, there might be 30 in a generation. Of course, Femlin are way less common. Maybe there would be three, but Anlin are still far less common than the general Lin of the Itath Kai. And so you saw one, and of course they leave quite the impression when they're around. And so you know that while you don't necessarily know about this one, the name Truncheon doesn't necessarily immediately call anything to mind. And in fact, it doesn't sound like a very Itathkaian name. It could just be a name that, you know, is his street name. In fact, you think most of these are probably their street names. But you know, pretty easily you could probably track down some significant information about this guy. You don't have it on top of mind, but there's not very many of them. So it would probably be a little bit easier to track down than these other two. A Cirxian Elf and an Earth Genasi guy are a dime a dozen here in the lower decks, but those two are the ones that you're like, okay, though those have a little bit more solid connection and leads associated with them.

SPEAKER_03 40:10

Fair enough.

SPEAKER_10 40:14

Does anyone know someone named Rexham Rolain?

SPEAKER_03 40:18

Would I have heard that name before?

SPEAKER_11 40:20

Oh, Rook, you know him.

SPEAKER_03 40:26

Go on. Go on, dearest narrator.

SPEAKER_04 40:31

We messaged about this briefly. Um it was way back.

SPEAKER_03 40:37

Uh by um Oh shoot, hold on. Okay, let me just like briefly ever just see if I'm not a total bad at my job here.

SPEAKER_06 40:46

Let me enter my mind palette.

SPEAKER_03 40:50

How is it spelled?

SPEAKER_05 40:52

R-E-X-I-M is the first name.

SPEAKER_03 40:57

Change the spelling of the last name. Thank you. That makes sense more. Cool, cool, cool. Yeah. Okay, sorry. It's it's the it's the curse of not being able to remember names for anything.

SPEAKER_05 41:09

All good. All good.

SPEAKER_03 41:11

Okay, so ignoring the confusion and the initial Do I know this person? As soon as you say that name, there's like an immediate Where'd you get that name?

SPEAKER_10 41:27

Not your business. You know?

SPEAKER_03 41:31

Well, you just asked if we know him, so that does kind of make him my business if I do. Don't you think?

SPEAKER_10 41:39

It was my payment from Ataria.

SPEAKER_03 41:43

Great. Well, to answer your question, I do know him. However, I don't know if I should match your energy of the same Kurt Closed offness, or if I should be a bit more open about it.

SPEAKER_10 41:59

I would appreciate it if you were a bit more open about it.

SPEAKER_01 42:05

Hmm.

SPEAKER_06 42:08

Do we need to all hold hands or something? I can't stand this.

SPEAKER_03 42:13

See, I'm in the same boat. I'm just like baffled at how much of a like dichotomy one person can have between what they give to other people and what they expi, you know? Like is that just sorry, I'm talking about you like you're not right here. Full disclosure, this is about you.

SPEAKER_10 42:32

I picked up on that. Thank you so much, Rook.

SPEAKER_02 42:35

Oh, I know, Anna, just a deer. I think we should all take another sip and then go from there.

SPEAKER_10 42:44

I'm gonna pound mine and order another.

SPEAKER_05 42:49

You see, like, the moment you start throwing your drink back, Kylo sweeps in and has another, like, in front of you in a moment.

SPEAKER_10 42:58

Thank you. I'm gonna blow him a little kiss.

SPEAKER_05 43:02

He nods. He's a bit quiet and moves away.

SPEAKER_10 43:09

So you know him.

SPEAKER_03 43:13

And if I'm gonna ask why did a Teria give you that name? Do you know why?

SPEAKER_10 43:25

I know why. If it's really your business, I have another job with a client who needs to find someone. Rexham Roland is supposed to be able to get me in.

SPEAKER_03 43:42

That would make sense.

SPEAKER_10 43:44

I thought so.

SPEAKER_03 43:45

Well, if you must know a relationship with me would help you in that regard a bit more, or rather a rapport with me, considering Rexham is an old mentor of mine.

SPEAKER_10 43:56

Goodness. I guess I'll have to start being a lot more. Polite.

SPEAKER_03 44:01

Hmm. Whether it's genuine or not is up to you, but that's just talking to you makes me need to smoke.

SPEAKER_02 44:09

I I'm starting to feel like Chris over here, so who are we talking about?

SPEAKER_03 44:15

Um okay. And he's gonna take out his pipe and just start packing some of his herb mix in it as he's saying this. Essentially He's kinda who I learned my whole trade from. Um pretty seasoned in the profession, even as far as they come. Kinda what you think of when you think of like an old man in a profession where people usually either drop out before they hit middle age or you know. So he's um he's pretty serious business. Um granted, that also made learning from him quite a uh experience. But you know, um might be able to find I don't would I know where he is actually? Like around where?

SPEAKER_05 45:17

Um I'd say give me a history check. The DC's gonna be low for you, but just to kind of give you like how much you've been keeping tabs on him in the past few years.

SPEAKER_03 45:30

Great. Thank you.

SPEAKER_05 45:31

It's gonna be a fairly low DC. I'm just trying to see like how much have you been keeping tabs versus is it just sort of general you remember stuff?

SPEAKER_03 45:38

That's a 13.

SPEAKER_05 45:40

Okay. Um, I'll say generally, like you know where his office is, and you haven't heard of him moving offices or anything. So you know where he works, and because you know him, that means you also know where he lives, because the office and the home are one and the same when you are that deep into being a private eye. And so that's generally what you remember. You have not since a while, you have not spoken to him or talked to him or really kept much of an eye out for him at all. I'd say with a 13, you think maybe you should have heard about him more, but you just haven't. Not in a while.

SPEAKER_03 46:25

Gotcha. Um I can't say like exactly where he is at all times, but I know where he works from. Um, he's also pretty hard to miss. He's a uh tiefling.

SPEAKER_10 46:42

Wow.

SPEAKER_03 46:44

Bit of the opposite uh aesthetic as you got going on.

SPEAKER_10 46:49

And he's trustworthy?

SPEAKER_03 46:54

I would say so. Considering he picked me up when I was just let's say times were tough and he gave me a chance to get some work in and get my foot in the door. So I'd say that I trust him, but you know, life gets busy and people move on, and he's got his own things, I've got mine, so I haven't kept up with him much. But yeah, I'd say he's trustworthy.

SPEAKER_10 47:23

And I suppose he won't just point me to his office and let me go on my merry way.

SPEAKER_03 47:29

Why wouldn't I? I mean you're not planning on doing anything negative to him.

SPEAKER_10 47:36

I don't think I could if I wanted to. Um, no, I just figured you're the nosy type. Once you've heard about it, you think it's your business.

unknown 47:51

No.

SPEAKER_10 47:51

It's not always a bad thing.

SPEAKER_03 47:55

I leave people's business to their business. I butt my nose into what is my business, because that's unfortunately the job. Just like you, you know, push your nose into other people's business to get what you want. Quick buck, people to look at you nice, people to do things for you. Whatever.

SPEAKER_02 48:20

Orion is starting to contemplate if he should start ordering like Risen's version of nachos while this is happening.

SPEAKER_06 48:28

Morin is non-verbally communicating with him and like staring at the nachos while hiding behind her cup.

SPEAKER_02 48:38

Can I slip chanterella nachos?

SPEAKER_10 48:41

Um order seven. Order seven.

SPEAKER_05 48:45

I will say nachos and risen. I will say if you would like nachos, you'll have to go to like a real nice bar in like the hawk or the upper decks.

SPEAKER_03 48:57

It's so much funnier to imagine Orion just having a bag of like dead old nachos from the previous day that he just pulls out.

SPEAKER_10 49:06

Also, where are we? No one has nachos. We have goop.

SPEAKER_05 49:14

I'm like, do you want some like pan-fried goop with like a little bit of saucy goop on top?

SPEAKER_03 49:19

I was about to say, you can make like if you dehydrate the goop.

SPEAKER_08 49:23

We've got boiled goop, we've got dehydrated goop, we've got pan-fried goop, and we've got jelloed goop. Take your poison. Like your poison.

SPEAKER_03 49:32

You dehydrate the goop in a bunch of triangle shapes, and then you put them in a like a plate or a bowl. And then you put the liquid goop in the back on top of them.

SPEAKER_02 49:44

But just like tortilla and creative with it. Oh my god. I'm gonna make it big.

SPEAKER_05 49:51

I'm gonna make it big, I promise you, I'm gonna have the triangle shape goop. And everybody's gonna want and everyone's gonna want my goop.

SPEAKER_03 49:58

Would it still be called goop if it's then a solid?

SPEAKER_08 50:02

Yes. I mean, is it even call it goop? No, like what do they call it again? Provision provisions, that's right. Or sometimes they just call them reserves.

SPEAKER_03 50:14

I feel I feel like at that point you could call it like crunch provisions, dried provisions.

SPEAKER_05 50:21

Crunch provisions. It's all the different names of cheese hits, but it has applied to go.

SPEAKER_03 50:28

Extreme provisions.

SPEAKER_09 50:32

Taco belly, extra goopy provisions or extreme provisions.

SPEAKER_05 50:37

Oh gosh, just the thickest. Um anyway, a liquid. So sorry. Where were we? What was that? Okay.

SPEAKER_03 50:49

Um I believe tension's so thick you could cut it with a knife.

SPEAKER_04 50:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 50:57

Not unlike the goop.

SPEAKER_05 50:58

Not unlike the goop. I'll say, um, Orion, it's actually easy for you to flag the you wouldn't know his name like Valentine does, but to flag the Idithcayan who is waiting on tables and to put in an order in places like this, you can pay a bit of money to have provisions that have been juzged up a little bit. Spices are a very well sought after and uh significant commodity here. So even if something like a vegetable would be too expensive, you might be able to get provisions that have had a seasoning mixed in or something like that. People have figured out how to make them more palatable over time. So you pay a bit of money and you can have something that maybe has like a spice in it just to take the edge off, and you can order.

SPEAKER_08 51:58

So, like, I have like all my little goodie bags with me. Would I have like any of the edible mushrooms that I've grown?

SPEAKER_05 52:09

Well, oh, I'll say, has Valentine given Chris back Chris's cloak?

SPEAKER_10 52:15

Oh yeah, sure.

SPEAKER_07 52:21

Um you have I see my cloak. Can I have it, please? Oh, I'm sorry, dear. Here you are. Thank you.

SPEAKER_08 52:31

And Chris puts it on over the cloak they have before they take the cloak that they borrowed off because they don't want to cause a ruckus in the middle of this place where people are like, what the heck is like happening over there? But like he's been talking and stuff, but he's still very clearly very shaken up. He seems to calm down a little bit when the when he puts the cloak on, though.

SPEAKER_05 52:56

And I'll say, as you put the cloak back on, it's almost like you have access to your inventory again. Because I imagine lots of little pockets and hidden things. And I'll say, Chris, you know the inside of your cloak very well, all the little hidden nooks and crannies and pockets and little places that it connects to what you're wearing underneath. And as you're feeling through it, you're like, okay, do I have mushrooms?

SPEAKER_08 53:22

And you so you you feel the mushroom pouch that you keep, and you think, okay, I probably have a few different ones because there's different kinds of like ones for medical purposes and ones for this and that.

SPEAKER_05 53:33

You're feeling the different places, and you're like, okay, I maybe do have one or two that would be good for dropping into some goop soup or whatnot. But as you're sort of feeling, you feel something that is unfamiliar to you. There is something in your cloak that you don't recognize as something that you had put in your cloak.

SPEAKER_08 53:53

Huh. May I look at it?

SPEAKER_05 53:57

Yeah. You pull it out, and it does not hold any significance to you, really, but I would say Valentine and Rook immediately recognize it as a year chip. In fact, it might just be the year chip that Ateria had promised as payment.

SPEAKER_10 54:20

Have either of us ever seen that much money in our lives?

SPEAKER_05 54:27

I will say, Valentine, you have seen year chips before. But it's been a very, very long time.

SPEAKER_01 54:34

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_07 54:35

Chris just kind of blinks at it. I didn't put that in there. What is this?

SPEAKER_03 54:41

Put it back in there, put it back in there.

SPEAKER_07 54:43

Yeah, I would put that away.

SPEAKER_10 54:44

Back in that is it bad? No, it's nope. It's m money. It's a lot of money.

SPEAKER_07 54:55

Why is it in my cloak?

SPEAKER_10 54:58

It's prometaria. She must have put it in there before we left. Well I suppose we'll split this up and then where will you all go?

SPEAKER_07 55:23

I would like to go home for a while, I think. I I think that's been enough excitement for a while.

SPEAKER_02 55:41

Oh. Well, back to work, I suppose. Um it's kind of like he he had been pretty eager to be like, oh, like the this is kind of ending on a really sour vibe. And so I'm kind of eager to get this job done with. And then he realizes that he has to go back to the office, and he's just like, you know, actually this doesn't seem that bad.

SPEAKER_06 56:12

Um I have a I have a kid to check on. Not not my own, but might as well be, I suppose.

SPEAKER_08 56:25

Chris remembers that word that they learned like eight sessions ago.

SPEAKER_07 56:33

Oh, are you like a mother, Morin?

SPEAKER_06 56:37

Um big sister, maybe? Mentor. Uh what is a sister? Well, when two people have the same mother. I don't really know what context you have and don't have for this a protector. I learned the word mother a while ago. A sister is a protector. I see.

SPEAKER_05 57:19

Chris, I want you to make an intelligent saving throw for me.

unknown 57:22

You will.

SPEAKER_05 57:22

Oh no!

SPEAKER_08 57:24

Oh, that could only be good. Oh, fantastic.

SPEAKER_02 57:30

Like a new branch on the skill tree unlocked.

SPEAKER_08 57:32

Hmm.

SPEAKER_05 57:33

That's a 14. Okay. Failing is the good outcome. You failed. Okay. Nothing happens. Nothing? Nothing. Nothing. No. That's the good outcome.

SPEAKER_02 57:52

I feel like everyone happens, we are dodging a tactical nuke. That's what it feels like every time.

SPEAKER_08 58:01

I, meanwhile, I Lily, I'm like, wait, I want to know what happens.

SPEAKER_06 58:06

Pris learns too much about the family tree and just explodes.

SPEAKER_07 58:09

Oh my god. So then a sister is a protector and a mother fixes the patches on your pants. I see.

SPEAKER_03 58:23

You're getting there. You're getting there. It's definition's a little spotty, but those are associated contexts. I I really hate to break this to you, Valentine, um, in a very unfortunate twist of timing. Um I'm probably gonna be going the same place you are, which would be to see Rexham. Cause I don't know what to do about this case, and I have my own thing to check in with him about.

SPEAKER_10 59:01

I don't know why you would hate to break that to me. It's not bad news. I enjoy your company. She smiles really, really wide.

SPEAKER_04 59:13

All teeth.

SPEAKER_02 59:16

For the people who can't see this, it's just the way that Ray is like absolutely like silently losing their mind.

SPEAKER_08 59:26

Look, uh Does Chris does Chris have the passive insight to realize that she's being kind of fake with him right now?

SPEAKER_05 59:35

Oh gosh. You know, I don't think so. I think that Valentine's good enough. Yeah, I think that I was I'm literally looking at your sheet. I was like, I think Valentine's good enough. The charisma is high enough.

SPEAKER_08 59:50

And and Chris is not good with people, so Chris is just like, oh good, we're getting along now. Fantastic.

SPEAKER_02 59:56

This beef is everything to me.

SPEAKER_08 59:58

No, literally. Sorry, continue.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:04

Look, I've already apologized for the circumstances with which we met. And ultimately, you don't have to keep putting up the front of niceties with me. It's clear that it's a strain even on your social talents to do so. I really much rather prefer that you be curt with me and just like actually say what's on in your mind.

SPEAKER_10 1:00:33

Okay, Rook. It's been a a long day. I nearly died. I had to promise to kill my client the next time I see her. But yeah, that was when we left Teria. She made me promise that I would kill her when I saw her again.

SPEAKER_07 1:01:03

Why would she say something like that?

SPEAKER_02 1:01:10

Well, now knowing that death isn't so permanent, I'm not sure what to think.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:15

Probably an indication that she's gonna be a returning figure, if I had to guess. Just like the five people who were staking out the place where I previously lived.

SPEAKER_10 1:01:32

I don't know that it's going to be safe for any of us to go back to the way things were.

unknown 1:01:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:39

I think we've all gotten a target placed on each one of our sequential foreheads, so to speak.

SPEAKER_02 1:01:46

I mean, employee benefits definitely don't cover this.

SPEAKER_05 1:01:51

Yeah, you have to fill out the like 035 form and you gotta do it.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:56

Yeah, you gotta be in the union for like at least 60 days for that one to kick in.

SPEAKER_05 1:02:01

That one's only for like the upper echelon, like both of you to assume Risen allows unions.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:09

You're so right, it's just oligarchical company towns.

SPEAKER_07 1:02:14

True. Well, I live far away, so I'll be fine.

SPEAKER_06 1:02:23

Maybe I figure it's at least good for us to know where we're all gonna be if we have the same group of people potentially following us. I I mean we've been to Chris's place, we've I've been to Orion's work, we've all been here the fading light. Rook, are you going back to your apartment at any point or are you out of there?

SPEAKER_03 1:02:51

Nope, I'm never entering that place again. Luckily I go month to month, so you know. Not like there was not like there was there was a lease going on. Ooh, learned that lesson the hard way a couple couple years back. I don't want to talk about it. Yeah.

unknown 1:03:08

No.

SPEAKER_07 1:03:09

What did you mean by that?

SPEAKER_03 1:03:13

It means we just walked into a whole tangled mess with a whole lot of unsavory people. And unfortunately, with this new information from Valentine here about what her ex-client instructed her to do upon seeing her next. Said person knows where you live. Said person was at your house briefly.

SPEAKER_07 1:03:40

Okay. Why is that a problem?

SPEAKER_10 1:03:46

Whoever told her to stay has some kind of hold over her, some kind of compulsion. I think if she was told by this person to divulge where you live or to lead him there, she would have no choice.

SPEAKER_07 1:04:09

Why would anyone want to go to where I live? I'm nobody.

SPEAKER_03 1:04:18

But you're someone who saw something.

SPEAKER_07 1:04:21

What did I see?

SPEAKER_02 1:04:22

And Rook, we can't I mean, like we can't just get rid of them.

SPEAKER_08 1:04:36

Chris's face is scrunched up very s just tensely.

SPEAKER_03 1:04:42

There are means to make people float on the city, so Yeah, but I have a sinking feeling where these people came from, there's dozens more. Cause um yeah, these these kind of groups aren't usually standalone. And Chris, for context, um only only real thing there is to it is there are there are people in this world, um, and some people do bad things to other people around them. And some people do those in organized groups where they are able to do so more effectively. And this was one such group, most likely. And they don't like when people see what they're doing.

SPEAKER_10 1:05:39

In this city, that knowledge is like it's like a dagger. It can keep you safe, but it can also put you further at risk. I don't think we have the kind of knowledge that keeps us safe.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:56

So either we continue diving Into this until we do get the count of knowledge that keeps us safe. Or we try to get rid of the proverbial knowledge dagger that's pointed directly at each one of our necks.

SPEAKER_07 1:06:14

Rookie promised you'd take me home.

SPEAKER_03 1:06:21

Yep. I still can, but I'm gonna give you the disclaimer, it might not be safe for you. But I did give you that promise, and if that is still what you want, then I will uphold that word. However, a change in plans might be more beneficial for your continued existence.

SPEAKER_02 1:06:50

If it makes you feel any better, I suppose we're all on the same boat now. I mean, none of us can really go back to doing whatever it is that we were doing until this proverbial dagger is pointed away from us. Um yeah, I'm sorry that you know we can't get you home immediately, but for what it's worth, I would like to have the peace of mind of knowing that you're gonna be alive for after this. Or as alive as you are, I guess. Still not quite sure what's happening. But y you know what I mean.

SPEAKER_07 1:07:34

That is alright. I do not know either. So I have to stay here then.

SPEAKER_02 1:07:42

Well, probably not here.

SPEAKER_03 1:07:46

Yeah. We'll we'll find somewhere to be.

SPEAKER_10 1:07:52

Speaking of, I think I'm going to turn in for the night. So you can stay here drinking, but I think sooner or later Seffy will intercede, whether I want him to or not. It's the bartender, by the way, the one who dislikes you, Rook.

SPEAKER_03 1:08:19

Yeah, uh I gathered. I'm I will say at least he's honest about it. Yeah, I guess I'll find some kind of comfortable alley. If you'd still like, Chris, I can still escort you back home. But that's up to you. And that word only gets rescinded if that is no longer what they want.

SPEAKER_07 1:09:08

That is what I want, but you said you can't.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:12

I'm not trying to force your hand, Chris. I'm really not. But I mean, clearly, we've all seen what some people are capable of, so I know you want to be home. We want you to be alive.

SPEAKER_07 1:09:33

But home is where I was okay. I can't be okay up here. People don't like me up here.

SPEAKER_06 1:09:49

We like you.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:51

We do. What they said. Yeah. But Chris, you're gonna find that there's a lot of that going on around up here. I'm sorry that this is the way that you had to be introduced to it, but um well I guess I'll scope out this place, see if they're for what good it does, if there's anything still lurking. Um, and think I'm probably gonna head out too.

SPEAKER_03 1:10:24

Yeah. Um the alleyway comment was mostly a joke. Um but I'm gonna find a place to crash for the night. Um Chris, you are more than welcome to join. I'll cover whatever costs you need. My place is open. Uh you you sure?

SPEAKER_02 1:10:44

Oh yeah. No, I like I said, I I hop around pretty pretty often. Not as often as you do. That is a brutal r brutal rotation to upkeep, but um I don't know. I would say my average shelf life of of any place that I live in is like two, three months. So if you if you wanna, you know, I'm not particularly sad to see it go. My offer stands for the next 45 seconds as I make my way out the door.

SPEAKER_07 1:11:13

I will go with whoever because I do not know this place.

SPEAKER_03 1:11:19

More, you got a place to crash?

SPEAKER_06 1:11:23

I do.

SPEAKER_02 1:11:25

Okay. Alright.

SPEAKER_10 1:11:27

And tomorrow, maybe we'll go to this Wrexham Relane and see.

SPEAKER_02 1:11:33

Yep. Before we split, I just want a rendezvous point. You know, like if someone doesn't show up at the at a time, we should go looking for them, you know, like if people from beyond the wake are coming back to drag us out of our beds or something. What are we thinking?

SPEAKER_03 1:11:50

Um narrator real quick. How far are we here from where I know I can find uh Rexham's office?

SPEAKER_05 1:12:00

Yeah, I'll say the fading light is near the bottom level of the lower decks, kind of midship. And where Rex and Renee's office is is in the vertical neighborhood, known as Border Town, that literally is on the edge of where the Haven decks meet the deep city. And so it's pretty far towards the prowl, but it's pretty much of the two central gondolas that lead up in between all the different levels of the Haven decks, the forward ship gondola is about halfway between where you are and where Rexham's office is. They're situated right in between forward and midship and midship and the aft part of the ship.

SPEAKER_03 1:12:47

Okay. We just want to reconvene at one of those gondolas.

SPEAKER_10 1:12:53

Great.

SPEAKER_03 1:12:55

Great. Um second shift? Because what what shift is it right now?

SPEAKER_05 1:13:01

We've ticked around to, I believe we're back around to the very end of first shift, if I recall correctly, how the timings worked out.

SPEAKER_10 1:13:13

And each shift is eight hours?

SPEAKER_05 1:13:15

Yes.

SPEAKER_10 1:13:16

Okay. Third shift?

SPEAKER_02 1:13:20

I'm cool at third shift. Yeah, third shift sounds good. Are we setting out from here or anywhere else?

SPEAKER_10 1:13:27

The gondolas.

SPEAKER_02 1:13:28

Gondolas. That's right. Yeah.

SPEAKER_10 1:13:31

What is a gondola?

SPEAKER_02 1:13:32

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 1:13:33

Oh, we'll show you. Come third shift. Big thing that carries people a decent way so that they don't gotta walk there. Very useful.

SPEAKER_07 1:13:42

That seems very convenient.

SPEAKER_05 1:13:48

Speaking of Chantarelle, you feel a tugging at the edge of your cloak. Chantarelle looks up at you and goes, uh, can we uh talk in private?

SPEAKER_07 1:13:59

Oh, yes, of course.

SPEAKER_08 1:14:02

How would I go about that?

SPEAKER_05 1:14:04

Could our other party members mute their devices or take off their headphones and I'll just give you like a frantic wave when we're ready for you again?

SPEAKER_08 1:14:14

Julio. Oh boy. So like would would mean like Chanterell just go to the the corner or something?

SPEAKER_05 1:14:21

Yes. Uh or to go stand by the door and Chanterell will look up at you and go.

SPEAKER_11 1:14:26

I don't know that I uh I don't know that I trust these people. Oh. Why not? We've always been better on our own. We've never meted other people before.

SPEAKER_07 1:14:42

I know, but we do not know up here very well.

SPEAKER_11 1:14:46

Well, why do we need to go up here? Why can't we go back home? They're saying all these things, but I miss I miss home.

SPEAKER_07 1:14:58

I I also miss home. I would like to go there. Well, why don't we just go? Like ask them to take us there.

SPEAKER_11 1:15:17

Why don't we just leave?

SPEAKER_07 1:15:20

Because I don't know how to get there from here.

SPEAKER_11 1:15:25

Oh, we remember, you just go down to the the staircase. It's by that warehouse, it's just down the street, right? And then you know your way through the hold. We don't need anybody, Chris.

SPEAKER_07 1:15:42

Leaving without saying goodbye would be rude.

SPEAKER_11 1:15:47

Well left without saying goodbye.

SPEAKER_07 1:15:55

Well we we didn't get to her before that.

SPEAKER_11 1:16:02

Um Yeah, well, our circumstances required it. They don't seem to want to let us leave. And we don't answer to anybody.

SPEAKER_07 1:16:19

So what do you s do you just want to leave?

SPEAKER_11 1:16:26

Well, Chris, I guess it's your choice. But they also said that it's your choice, but then, you know, they kind of said something and and they made it seem like there was a right answer, even though they said that it was your choice. I guess it's not fair that I'm doing the same thing, but I want you to know that it really is your choice. And uh you don't have to go with them. We can do it on our own. If you want.

SPEAKER_07 1:17:11

Perhaps fixing the problem won't take very long, and then we can go. If if it takes too long though, I might just leave.

SPEAKER_11 1:17:21

Okay.

SPEAKER_07 1:17:23

Whatever you say, Chris. It looks like they're coming over anyway. Is that an okay um what's the word? Compromise?

SPEAKER_11 1:17:32

Sure. Whatever you say.

SPEAKER_07 1:17:41

Hello. Hello. Hello. I would like to go home as soon as possible, if that is possible. So like today? As soon as quicker than less quick would be good. Um if we can fix the problem quickly, so that I can go.

SPEAKER_02 1:18:10

Yeah. We can make that happen. Alright.

SPEAKER_05 1:18:19

And you all parted. Valentine goes back up to her apartment near the fading light. Rook and Orion and Chris go to Orion's apartment, which is a bit of a jaunt away. Orion's almost like staying in the middle decks area towards one of the far sides of the ship. Which side of the ship we decided, I have already forgotten. But one of them, left or right, port or starboard, that's where it is, and we'll figure that out. And Morin. Are you heading home?

SPEAKER_06 1:19:02

Well, as much of a home as any place can be inside of the city for Morin.

SPEAKER_01 1:19:08

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_05 1:19:09

So we'll follow Morin for a moment as she travels through the city, going the farthest distance of anyone, all the way up through the lower decks, taking side passageways and ladders through to the middle decks, and then finally to the edge of Border Town and through it into the labyrinthine caverns and narrow hallways that make up the majority of the deep city. And as you travel, eventually these hallways open up more and more into a giant central cavern with a huge domed roof. There are massive pillars that stretch from the bottom of the cavern all the way to the domed ceiling, making up a city almost unto themselves of layered housing, almost fully vertical. And as you're moving through, you see people grabbing onto handles and yanking and being pulled far into the air to various places in this highly vertical area of the city. And looking up, you see crystals that have condensed on the roof of the dome, forming an almost eternal glittering faux night sky, like what you've heard about in stories and seen in picture books of the land from the time before. And you're able to make your way to your apartment, probably 120, 130 feet in the air in one of these pillars, the northwesternmost pillar in the hawk, this big open area. And you're able to make your way there, of course, being fairly stealthy as you go until you reach that apartment. Does Morin just walk on in, or is there anything else that she does before she enters?

SPEAKER_06 1:21:22

Morin has definitely closed off any other potential entrances to the place, any other potential ways for people to look in. So really there's only the door. And as she's coming up to it, she is thinking to herself, Gods, I hope that he's here. I hope that he's okay. And the city feels a little bit lonelier right now than it usually does. And so she will quietly open and make her way inside.

SPEAKER_05 1:22:01

As you walk in, you have to step over the tripwire line of old provision cans that has been put directly in front of the doorway as an amateur alert system for when someone is home alone. And as you close the door behind you, you look and you see there is an old holy fluff stick coming out of it couch that takes up the entirety of your tiny little living room. The only other furniture is an ottoman you use as a table. And you know, you typically just sleep on the sofa in this space. And as you walk in, you see passed out stone cold, unconscious, drool dribbling out of the corner of his mouth, taking up the entirety of the couch in as close to a starfish pose as one can do on a narrow, narrow bit of cushion. Enix is asleep. And as you you know look him over, he does not wake up, which is uh a little disappointing. You've been working on him with his instincts in situations like this, but you do see that he has two black eyes. It looks like his jaw from the bruising was dislocated but has been re-affixed in place, and he has what appears to be a very rudimentary, sort of makeshift cast on his arm from where it looks like one of his bones in his forearm was shattered uh as he is laying with it sort of on his chest in a sort of protective pose, the other limbs played out, uh, and Enix is there in your apartment just sleeping it off.

SPEAKER_06 1:24:11

I'm gonna go over to the line of cans by the door and try to very quietly tap some of them and see. I'll start quiet just to see if he'll wake up. And if he doesn't, I'll kick it a little harder.

SPEAKER_05 1:24:29

You know what? I'll roll a perception check with disadvantage for NX since he's asleep. We'll say since you're doing it quietly, we'll say the first one is a 15 DC for him. Yeah, no, that's two threes. He's still so asleep.

SPEAKER_02 1:24:49

Okay, getting your arm shattered would do that to you.

SPEAKER_06 1:24:52

I'm I kick him a little harder.

SPEAKER_05 1:24:54

Okay, we'll say this one. Okay, that's two eights. He's still not quite asleep. Uh, unfortunately, Enix is not wise yet. He's young and dumb. My baby boy. Um also it's amazing.

SPEAKER_06 1:25:16

These rolled the same number twice. That's crazy. That's magnificent. I kick them all over.

SPEAKER_05 1:25:23

Okay, we're gonna say DC five. Okay, that's a 10 and a 16. Now Enix bolts awake and is like, oh, immediately looks over at you and just goes. Oh man.

SPEAKER_06 1:25:45

I immediately am going to run over and give him a very tight hug while being mindful of his broken arm in between us. And then while I'm hugging him, that was the stupidest thing I've ever seen in my life. I cannot believe that you are not dead. I can't believe that you did do that. I can't believe that you'd do that to yourself, I can't believe you would do that to me. You could have been anyone walking in the door. Did you know that? I had to kick over the whole thing in order to wake you up. And I just anyone could have come in here and anyone could have gotten to you, and did you rap that yourself?

SPEAKER_05 1:26:20

And he just looks at you and he looks down at like the very like clearly done with one hand and a mouth style of rapping, and looks up at you and like sees how you're holding on to him, and he goes, Alright, alright. Love you too more, and whatever. I just you know, the big one got me real good uh with with his um baton. I I blocked with my forearm like an idiot and think and uh the other stuff. I was running away and I I went face first down a bolt hole. So the rest of this was my fault. But uh I didn't got away though. Didn't get caught they didn't follow you. I think uh going face first like 20 feet down, uh, you know, I didn't I didn't the well the thing is, you know, there's no ladders, right? Because you're supposed to use the hook to go down the ball hole, but uh I didn't think that far. I wasn't really thinking. A little dumb, but uh I got it. I did it. So no lessons learned, it works.

SPEAKER_06 1:27:51

She'll pat him on the shoulder of the non-injured arm. Um good man. I Tell me what you're gonna do next time before you do it. I had no idea if I would find you here. I Can I rewrap this up for you?

SPEAKER_05 1:28:17

Sure if you have if it makes you feel better, but uh I don't know, I was y you say you gotta go on instinct, you gotta just act sometimes, you know? Hesitation is is uh disadvantage, right? Whatever you gotta have initiative or I don't know. You say all these things all the time, like they're self-explanatory, like they're just things that you you figure out. I'm not really figuring them out. I'm just kind of falling on my face literally a lot.

SPEAKER_06 1:28:58

No, you you are, you are. You're I mean I would prefer that the moving into action didn't get you killed. I just you haven't done anything to break the creed, and I know there's uh a lot of other things that it feels like rules that I talk to you about, but it's just like if you put a couple more fences up it's easier to be safe. I'm not gonna happen fences. We're working on it. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I know it's hard. And just because it makes sense for me doesn't mean that it makes sense for you, but I just I want I want you to be safe. I want you to be safe, and I I want you to do good. I know what it's like to fail, and I don't want that for you.

SPEAKER_05 1:30:14

I don't you're literally trying to get me to join this group that like regularly goes and free-floats in the void and like kills people for hire, smuggles highly elusive contraband between decks that is actively antagonistic to the militaristic policing force of this city, who like is a member of the Federation, and like you're telling me you want me to be safe, but like the only thing you seem to know how to do is get yourself into trouble. You look absolutely like provisions left at the bottom of a print for too long, by the way. You you you need sleep.

SPEAKER_06 1:31:09

I've had a long I've had a long day.

unknown 1:31:13

Okay.

SPEAKER_05 1:31:13

Yeah, you tell me. I may have a broken arm, but you've I've broken something else.

SPEAKER_06 1:31:22

I know that I know that you're right. I know that you're right, and I know that I'm being a hypocrite. But I just I can't understand how you expect me to be normal about the fact that your arm is like in pieces in my hands right now. I I'm going somewhere tomorrow, third shift. There's enough excitement in it. It's not me coddling you, but also should not mean immediate death. If you would like to come with me on this one, you can.

unknown 1:32:05

Oh.

SPEAKER_05 1:32:06

Yeah. Sure. I I probably can't float because of my arm, but like if it's in the city, then yeah, I'd I'd love to come.

SPEAKER_06 1:32:18

We're on the inside. We'll be taking a gondola, by the way. Don't say anything about it. I know that it's like it's exhausting. It's so slow. It's such a horrible way to get around, but everyone else loves it.

SPEAKER_05 1:32:30

So I know people seem to love the gondola. They go on the gondola and they're like, it's a magical thing, and I'm like, no, it's just a gondola, but they're like, ah, the gondola, and they're it's like cool. And it's like maybe it's just because the word is kind of fun to say, gondola, but like I don't know. It like loses its luster if you say it enough, right? Like gondola, gondola, gondola. Like, what are you even saying? Like nothing, nothing means nothing anymore. And then, you know, you just kind of go with a and he falls asleep, mid-sentence.

SPEAKER_06 1:33:01

Moran gently kind of positions his arm so it's back in the safe cradled position on his chest, and then curls up on the floor of the apartment next to the sofa. She sets the tins of the cans back up by the door first and then goes to sleep right by the couch.

SPEAKER_10 1:33:23

And everyone gets a long rest. I would also like to re-dye my hair.

SPEAKER_05 1:33:31

Okay. I'll say you can take some time to do that because you have a little bit of leeway at the end of first shift so that you can sleep for second ship and get your long rest. So, yeah, you can definitely do that. How did Valentine feel rocking rocking the white hair for a while?

SPEAKER_10 1:33:54

Really not great. And I think as she like dyeing her hair probably takes a little bit of extra time and is a little bit messier because she's doing it without looking in a mirror.

SPEAKER_05 1:34:13

Normally she's just like touching up the roots, she hasn't had to do the whole thing in a long time.

SPEAKER_10 1:34:19

Yeah, it's been oh gosh, like 10 or 15 years since she's been full white blonde. And I think that she has never gone full white blonde as like a full adult.

SPEAKER_05 1:34:39

And I'll say to wrap up this day with everyone, we have Orion's apartment. What's that like bringing Chris and Rook into it? How's the sleeping arrangement?

SPEAKER_02 1:34:54

I mean, Chris doesn't sleep, Chris just kind of zones out for four hours, but so the way that I envision Orion's apartment is like, you know those like this style of meme video that was really popular a while ago where it's like a really, really small room, and then they're like, I want to fit a bed in here, but I can't, so I'm gonna use galvanized square steel to like make it a frame. You know, I feel like Orion's current, I guess I can we can call it an apartment. It's kind of galvanized square steel-esque. It's a very tight living space. The bed is kind of this like bunk type situation going on, and then underneath it is where like you would store things like cupboards and like maybe stuff. There's like a little tiny closet-sized bathroom situation going on. It's not much. When Orion opens a door, I think the first thing that you would notice is that it's a far cry from Rook's apartment. It's kind of unkempt. It's not unkempt in the way that like someone doesn't care about. How do I put this? It's not unkempt in the way that it's just like, oh, like I'll eat provisions and then I'll just like leave the plate there. You know what I mean? It's unkempt in the way that it's unkempt in the way that someone doesn't want something to change, I think. Where things are scattered about and bits and bobs are everywhere, but it's there for a reason, and you can clearly tell because there are certain items in his apartment that are fairly well taken care of, like his bed is made. I don't know if he would have dishes, like he just has like random things that he eats off of, but like those are clean and put away. But then there would be like a jacket sprawled over the corner of a piece of furniture that's gathering dust, like it hasn't been touched since he moved in, you know. So Orion kind of opens the door and it's just like so there's only one bed, and it's it's up for grabs for whoever wants it, because I'm not sharing a bed.

SPEAKER_03 1:37:21

Your place your bed just automatically. That's all yours.

SPEAKER_07 1:37:27

I do not sleep, so Rook gets the bed.

SPEAKER_02 1:37:34

I What Listen man, I listen, I I can just conk out anywhere, okay? Like I don't it's like everything's gone sideways so quickly. Be comfortable for a night, dude. Your your bags are growing bags under your eyes. It's just it's it's spectacular.

SPEAKER_03 1:37:55

Please take the bed Okay, one not a remotely fair call out to make. Two. Thank you. I'm not gonna reject your hospitality. However, and from his bag he has already produced like kind of like a somewhat padded sleeping bag that he just keeps because some days he has had to actually just sleep in an alleyway. So he just like is already unrolling that and has just like has like set it up.

SPEAKER_02 1:38:37

Oh, oh perfect, perfect. Oh, Orion, who has also been homeless on many an occasion, he has his own, but it's like kind of ratty at this point. He doesn't like to use it. So he pulls it out and is he's like, oh okay, cool. He takes he takes Rook's sleeping bag and kind of gestures over at Chris. Um, hey, there's a you know, there's like a couple chairs over there. If you want to. I know you don't sleep, but maybe you also don't, you know, stand the whole night. And I have a spare uh bedroll you can uh at least make like a little spot, you know, get some semblance of comfort.

SPEAKER_07 1:39:21

Well then uh I will take the chair because you need to sleep.

SPEAKER_02 1:39:26

So thank you. Um I don't I don't the food situation's kind of weird right now. Um yeah, I don't really have anything to offer. Um, so my proposition is that for uh for food we just go to bed.

SPEAKER_03 1:39:48

I mean pretty useful money saving tip, so yeah. I was kind of thinking the same thing.

SPEAKER_07 1:39:55

Um, does does sleeping also give sustenance?

SPEAKER_02 1:40:00

You know, Chris, it doesn't give you the nutritional benefits. But you sure as hell aren't hungry when you're unconscious. I suppose that makes sense.

SPEAKER_03 1:40:11

Mm-hmm. Sleep for dinner is a very very commonplace thing. And it is simultaneously so uncomfortable, but also kinda homey. And I it's like uh I can't really explain that one. I'm gonna go outside and have a bit of a smoke. Um just like wake me up if I start coughing or sounding awful in my sleep. Uh don't be a bother. If that happens, like wake me up so I can, you know, go outside again. Alright. What were you gonna say?

SPEAKER_02 1:40:47

I'll keep that man. No, no, no, yeah, because I'm assuming like Chris is kind of settling into the corner.

SPEAKER_07 1:40:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:40:55

Um, Chris, like everything's okay over here? You you're good? I know it's not quite your house, but you know.

SPEAKER_07 1:41:04

Um It is it is alright, yes.

SPEAKER_02 1:41:09

Okay, cool. Um, I'm just gonna scooch in here really quick and grab this. And next to the chairs, there's like just the most It's just like the most dilapidated little cabinet. Like it looks like it's been here since the beginning of time. There's like a horrifically old lamp on it. You're not sure if the lamp works. The lamp doesn't work, but on the lampstand there is a little wrapped notebook type thing. It's not really a notebook, it's really like a sheaf of papers that's bound together with string. But on the thick layer of dust that is present on the little lamp stand, there is a smeared section on the edge where it's very clear that this notebook has been placed on and off very frequently. Orion slips that into the side of Rook's bedroll um before settling down. And dinner was not had that night. And you all I have water. So true.

SPEAKER_08 1:42:24

Chris only needs to just kinda chill for like four hours. And my uh what are they called? Uh my tokens were the the charms on them were used.

SPEAKER_05 1:42:36

Technically, Atarias was not used.

SPEAKER_08 1:42:39

That's right. I like I could I could technically take that down, but I just Chris hasn't thought to do that yet. Well, with the one that has been used, can I make another?

SPEAKER_05 1:42:51

Yeah, sure. What are you going to make?

SPEAKER_08 1:42:54

I'm gonna make just a s like a little scarf.

SPEAKER_05 1:42:58

And what is the spell that's gonna be associated with it?

SPEAKER_08 1:43:02

I'm just gonna go basic again and do uh a cure wounds on there. And I'm gonna I have to I have to roll a d20, the it's 10 plus the spells level, which is level one. Oh yeah, I got it. I rolled a 16 and then I have a plus four to wisdom.

SPEAKER_05 1:43:21

So nice.

SPEAKER_08 1:43:22

Yeah, we're good. I I make it wonderful.

SPEAKER_05 1:43:27

And so with the clack of knitting needles, the telltale cough of a lifelong smoker, the heavy breath of a sleeping host, as well as I think the fitful sleep of a protector and a woman with black stains beneath her nails. The light fades on this episode. The Drifting City is a production of the Rolling Waves, a group of friends who want to make a creative project together. Your drifters are Lily Bell as Chris, Aspen Langford as Morin, Porter Hurst as Orion, Victor Thorne as Rook, Marilyn David as Valentine, and Ray Hamilton as the narrator. Editing and sound design by everyone at the Rolling Waves. Episode titles and descriptions by everyone at the Rolling Waves. Music, sound effect, class, subclass, and other credits can be found in the episode description. Thank you for listening to our story.

SPEAKER_06 1:45:02

She had a job to do, and regardless of whether they get paid or not, it didn't happen. Um it's okay. I'm sorry, my dog is drinking water.

SPEAKER_02 1:45:20

Cameo.

SPEAKER_05 1:45:22

It's just chanterelle in a puddle.

SPEAKER_02 1:45:26

Can we just do that? Anytime we hear this thing's gone, it's just chanterelle like like oh my god.

SPEAKER_03 1:45:34

I thought it would be funnier to imagine it's sh it's chanterelle, and that's the noise that it makes as they drink from a cup of water.