The crew files some paperwork.
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--
Find more about Stillfleet at https://stillfleet.com
--
@funcityventures is the show on twitter
@funcityventures is the show on instagram
@bijanstephen is Remy, the Sleeper (human) Blooder
@randwiches is Merkis, the Jalasti Banshee
@nicholasguercio is Vynos, the Conscript (human) Tremulant
and @shodell is Beta, the Shoodtha Pir
@taylordotbiz is Oat (Harajoon recruit) and Brandish Tamm (Brandish Tamm!)
@mikerugnetta is everything else
--
This episode of Float City was recorded in various locations across Brooklyn New York. It was produced, edited and sound designed by Mike Rugnetta.
... like birds in their nest are ready for Pixlriffs, and sport no more seen on the darkening green.
Our music is by Sam Tyndall - https://arpline.bandcamp.com/
Remy's flute playing is by Jake Fridkis - https://instagram.com/flutebros
Our art is by Tess Stone - http://notdrunkenough.com/
Our Discord mods are Olivia Gulin, Kit Pulliam and Kestrel
The voice of Artemis is Molly Templeton
Transcript by Aaron H (@armahillo / https://armahillo.dev ) and Eóin Dooley [00:00:00] [ Intro Theme begins ]
> Molly Templeton / "Artemis": [ IC ] In the far future, faster-than-light travel is possible, via portals called “stiffworks”. Human and alien civilizations travelled this way for millennia. Trade, war and technology proliferate. Countless societies rise, thrive, fall, and vanish. Eventually, almost everyone forgets the secrets of the stiffworks. Almost.
Three hundred years ago, the Worshipful Company of Stillfleeters is formed on Spindle, a space station of unknown origin. They send fleeters into the void using stiffworks in search of profit. It is one hundred million years in the future. Welcome to Float City.
[ Intro Theme ends ]
[ Main Theme begins ]
> Mike Rugnetta / G.M.: Previously on Float City, the crew collects the mysterious, ever-shifting vasular multiobject and a bunch more plunder from the estate of the Baas Aanverder Aseh Lehrer. In the process, they release a bevy of terrifying goons from the Aanverder’s own prison, and also Oat a Harajoon in a tuxedo. A freed Illithnari warrior fights the Aanverder to mutual death, and a freed Void Elf transports early 21st century pharmacies into a nearby town. He is dispatched for such savagery.
The team is then told the Saffron Anax, the planet’s trade lord, would like an audience on account of the mayhem they’ve caused. The Anax, who has a partnership with the Company, tells the team a Co. Archivist - Zeshdano Navell - is blocking a trade agreement of his with Kakudun. He asks them to find out why. Otherwise he’ll break his three century contract with the Worshipful Company and blame their meddling excursion. They’re led away from the Anax’s court, and tacked home by his reverent Deva, Shashō. We join the team now as they arrive in the Near Bays of Spindle, much worse for wear, carrying more mysterious alien goods than they’ve ever seen before, and knowing they need to figure out what, if anything, they’re gonna tell their boss Algar.
[ Main Theme ends ]
> Jenn de la Vega / "Merkis Imeldar": [ IC ] Merkis is uh touching his fingers to- to each other and going “Hrmm. Hrmmmm. Ahhh. Should we meet up in the morning, somewhere? ‘Cause I’m not very good at lying!”
> Shannon Odell / “Beta Combot”: [ IC ] Yeah we should probably be- meet up in the morning and ah figure out a plan.
> Nick Guercio / “Vynos” : [ IC ] That sounds reasonable to me.
> Jenn / Merkis : [ IC ] Where should we go? I live with my brother Markos.
> Nick / Vynos : [ IC ] Okay, well we can meet in the canteen. That seems also rrrreasonable...
[Professorial Puling] ... yes.
> Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] Sounds good to me. Canteen in uh twelve hours?
> Nick / Vynos : [ IC ] Canteen in twelve hours.
> Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] O-kay!
> Nick / Vynos : [ IC ] Grreat. [ OOC ]: Mike, how - how is Grit recovered again?
> Mike / G.M.: Yeah so if you guys all go on a rest, and you chill out, you can roll dWill plus dMove plus your level, which is one, and you get to distribute that number however you like between Grit and Health.
> Jenn / Merkis : [ OOC ] Oooo! > Nick / Vynos : [ OOC ] Okay.
> Mike / G.M.: This is called regaining Pool, and Pool is just like your points that determine how healthy you are. Uhm, and Oat should do the same, Taylor.
> Taylor Moore / "The Bad Boys": Uh yeah sure and ahh... no-one asked what Oat was doing uh but uh, but... I’ll tell you. He just vanished. One second here’s there-
> Jenn / Merkis : [ OOC ] Yeah.
> Taylor / Oat [ IC ]: -and the next, perhaps, you see a little bit of his wings or fur flit around a
corner and he’s gone.
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] Beta’s still assuming that Oat is going to move in with her,uhm, so she does kind of set up an area for him in her, in her pod, just in case.
> Mike / G.M. [ laughing ]: The Oat Area. You’re all going back to your room blobs to have a little rest before you meet up and talk about the things that you have. Could everybody describe what their room blob is like? Uhm, and to just give you a sense generally what uh like Stillfleet room blobs are like - they’re like tiny caves that are carved into this weird black rock that is Spin. It is very hard to install doors in uh Spin, because the rock is so hard and all of the walls are carved, so most rooms are separated by like plastic sheet, or coloured rope, or like other things like that, and they’re probably, y’know about the size of, I dunno, small office?
> Bijan Stephen / “Remy Tester”: [ OOC ] Remy just has like uh some opaque plastic sheeting that he’s - he’s dragged up from somewhere. Uhm.. but uh basically the only features - the only notable features of his room are, like a small bed and a small desk, uhm but like he’s - he’s a tonne of trinkets, like just a bunch of random shit from the missions that he’s gone on. It’s like it’s like- it’s almost like uh hoarder stuff, because it’s like every - every time he goes out he takes
something and brings it back. But it’s also like, it’s also very neatly organised so you can tell - like y’know an old pistol that doesn’t work from one thing, you see like uhm like-
[00:05:10]
> Mike / G.M.: Sure.
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] -a wooden shield from another world. You see uhm knobs from spaceships uh that - y’know that he used a stiffworks to get to. Like you see a bunch of stuff that like - it’s just like - he just has a bunch of trinkets because he doesn’t want to forget again like sort of who he is. Uh, he also, y’know, he has some books, uhm but mostly just like, he has things and it’s clear that he doesn’t want to forget things anymore.
> Mike / G.M.: Uhm, and let’s say, Bijan, just before Remy takes his long rest and his nap uhm, y’know, he’s going through his bag and is maybe just taking stock in some from of things he has from Rigamont B, and there are two things of note that you’re not sure what they do, but they’re definitely more important than most of the other artsy trinkets that you got uh from the Aanverder’s gallery-slash-treasury, and I’m just gonna describe those things right now so that you know what they are when you meet everybody in the morning, and I’ll do this for everybody as they’re sort of settling in to their room. Uh, so are you- are you ready to take some notes?
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] I have- I have Excel- er- Google Sheets open. I’m ready. > Mike / G.M.: Nice. Okay so-
> Taylor / Bad Boy: No brand names! Until Alphabet pays us the big bucks [Mike and Shannon laugh].
> Mike / G.M.: You have- it’s four pairs of Nike sneakers [Bijan and Taylor laugh, Jenn inhales with a shocked breath].
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] Don’t tell Merkis!
> Mike / G.M.: Sorry, Airforce- Airforce Ones, new in box... > Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Damn.
> Mike / G.M.: No, uhm. Uh, so the first thing of note that you see is a small metal box, with uh a button on it, and the button is not lighted, it’s just also metal, and uhm out of the top of the small box, pointing forward, are curved antenna that form an open circle and at the end of the either of the pieces of antenna there’s like a little sort of... looks like stone marbles, almost. So there’s like empty space between the curved antenna and y’know sort of uh... this is hard to describe. It sort of looks like big callipers, if that makes sense.
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Unfortunately. Callipers for one’s head, perhaps.
> Mike / G.M.: But with a box attached to it. You don’t know what it does. Uhm, and there is a leather bag that is attached semi-permanently to a hook that’s underneath the box. And then, the
second thing, is uh an ornate silver gift box with a latch, and the box is covered in a- a relief of what looks like a bunch of little demons, and like y’know like fish with arms legs, uhm and birds with antennas and octopus tentacles, dancing around a bonfire. The latch is not locked, so you could open it if you wannna see what’s inside of it.
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Yeah Remy opens it.
[sound of latch unlocking]
> Mike / G.M.: When you open it, the very dense red jelly that is inside of it jiggles a little bit.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Sick [Shannon laughs].
> Mike / G.M.: Yeah those are the two- those are the two sort of notable things that you managed to swipe from the Aanverder’s gallery.
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Cool yeah Remy’s like, mildly interested but he’s much more interested in the ah Illithnari archaetech, uh, if that’s one of the- is that one of those things?
> Mike / G.M.: Uh lemme look, lemme see...
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] But he’s interested in the visor that he has.
> Mike / G.M.: One of those things is the Illi- is Illithnari archaetech.
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Yeah he’s much more interested in the Aanverder’s pistol, that he got instead. He’s like “yeah this stuff is cool, probably don’t need it.”
> Mike / G.M.: Yeah so you also have the visor, and the Aanverder’s pistol.
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Yeah he’s much more- Remy’s much more interested in those two
things. And his- his souvenir for this run is... I think it’s a machete that he picked up?
> Mike / G.M. [ laughing ]: Oh sure yeah right. That you pried out of the hands of the dead person.
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Yep.
> Mike / G.M.: Nice.
> Nick / Vynos : [ OOC ] Vynos’s room actually always changes because Vynos has the power to go back in time, and so one way that Vynos can have multiple rooms is to just have different rooms every few weeks [ Mike laughs ]. Right now- and then he can travel as he likes to the Room of Requirement... I wonder if that’s patented. So right now, it looks very much like a science lab [ electrical crackling, bubbling ]. There’s no bed, it’s just uhm little shelves carved into the rock, unless Mike you know something about this rock that I don’t know, and -
> Mike / G.M. Yeah you could - someone would have some sort of technology that allows you to hang shelves-
> Nick / Vynos : [ OOC ] Okay.
> Mike / G.M. -on this otherwise, yeah, extremely hard to cut uhm, to cut into- > Nick / Vynos : [ OOC ] Okay.
> Mike / G.M.: -yeah, substrate.
> Nick / Vynos : [ OOC ] Well they were- they were designed perfectly to look like they were carved from the rock even though they weren’t [ Mike laughs ] uh and uh there’s just little bottles obviously, little - maybe little experiments, twin experiments of time travel and multiple ways to see how two identical grapes handle the various trips. Things like that. Some of them are glowing jars, some of them are pipettes and various types of strange science equipment, uhm some of it looks a bit more uhh bespoke than the kind of very modern clean science experiments that we - sorry, equipment - that we are maybe used to seeing in film and television.
[00:10:30]
> Mike / G.M.: Nice. It’s like uh pieces of hand blown glass?
> Nick / Vynos : [ OOC ] Yes, very much. Very twisty and uh gnarly.
> Mike / G.M. Yeah so you- you also spy- uh you spy in your bag two- two pieces that look sort- that sort of stand out from all the other knick-knacks that you have.
> Nick / Vynos : [ OOC ] Yes.
> Mike / G.M.: The first is... there’s kinda no other way to describe it besides... like other than
the type of sunglasses that macho man Randy Savage would wear [ Nick laughs ]. > Taylor / Bad Boy: Jesus Christ.
> Mike / G.M.: But they’re - but they’re much, much bigger, and it looks like they have built-in headphones.
> Nick / Vynos : [ OOC ] Mhmm. So it looks like a - it looks like a piece of like aftermarket SEGA gear that you would put on [ Mike laughs ] to simulate VR in the 90s.
> Taylor / Bad Boy: Yeah, from SEGA.
> Mike / G.M.: I mean yeah, you- you don’t- you don’t know- > Nick / Vynos : [ OOC ] From SEGA.
> Taylor / Bad Boy: SEGA.
> Nick / Vynos : [ OOC, confused ] SEGA. What would- who would be making this? Taylor, you know these things, you’re supposed to chime in.
> Taylor / Bad Boy [ laughing ]: You called it "segga"! > Nick / Vynos : [ OOC ] Yeah, SEGA.
> Taylor / Bad Boy [ laughing ]: It’s "say-ga"! > Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Can we get the uh- > Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] What?
> Nick / Vynos : [ OOC ] I call it "segga".
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Mike, Mike. Can we get the- the SEGA noise bumper thing put in right here?
[ SEGA noise bumper thing ]
> Nick / Vynos : [ OOC ] SE-GA!
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Just right here.
> Mike / G.M.: You don’t know what it is, but to us, if we saw it, it would be something that you would think Oakley made.
> Nick / Vynos : [ OOC ] Mh-mm. Okay.
> Mike / G.M.: And the other thing that you have is a... harness? You can’t tell if the straps are
like, the straps are maybe leather-
> Nick / Vynos : [ OOC ] Mhmm.
> Mike / G.M.: - but then in the centre where all the straps meet, and there’s some buckles and there’s some other sort of like attachment bits, there’s a heavy metal something. It’s kind of like the size of a small book and when you look at it closely, it looks like many small pieces of steel that are held in to some case or some frame, and you can see like a bunch of hinges and there are a few springs, and there is a tiny little latch on the bottom of it.
> Nick / Vynos : [ OOC ] Mm.
> Mike / G.M.: Uh and that’s- that’s the stuff that you see in your bag that seems sort of more
noteworthy than anything else.
> Nick / Vynos : [ IC ] Okay. I hold- I hold the big glasses, the macho man Randy Savage glasses with earpiece accessory kit up to my face but I do not actually put them on.
> Mike / G.M.: You can see that there is some sort of ill- like animation or heads-up display or something that’s- that’s sort of flickering showing on the glasses, but you can’t tell exactly what it is.
> Nick / Vynos : [ IC ] Mm. “Well, well, what’ll they think of next? Ah!” [ OOC ] I throw them back in the bag [ Jenn and Taylor laugh ], uhm and I go back to tinkering with some of my baubles and glass beads [ Shannon laughs ].
> Taylor / Bad Boy: Jesus. > Mike / G.M.: Very nice.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] Merkis is walking down the hallway uh talking to the stylophone and uh just saying briefly, [ Electronic Whirring and Tapping ] [ IC ] “And then she didn’t let me drive! And now I’m back home.” [ OOC ] And he’s just mumbling to himself and pushes through some tarp to get into his shared room-blob, with his brother Markos, who’s asleep, so Merkis is taking off the riot gear and hanging it like very carefully on like a peg-board that’s to the right of the door.
All of their gear is just like kind of knolled like nicely on a peg-board, but you’ll notice on the left side of the room, lining the entire wall, is just a collection of shoes, just in threes [ Mike laughs ] and so he’s kicking off the duck boots puts them back very gingerly, very carefully but just sighs really heavily at the empty spot for the baby duck boot [ Mike and Jenn awww ]. He has - instead of beds they have more like horizontal bars that are hanging from the ceiling, and uh they like to sleep uhm with their bodies leaning on a bar horizontally and their arms kind of - and tail kind of like laying- falling down.
> Mike / G.M.: Sure I can imagine that.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] If you can imagine that. But uh he has a little peg for- for his uh
rucksack and uhm notices that it’s open as he’s getting ready to go to sleep.
> Mike / G.M.: You have, I believe, three things that are of interest. You lost some things when the Saffron Anax decided to take - to empty your bag, but you managed to keep, kind of I think the three most important things. You have the very heavy disc with the lighted purple button that you pulled off of the Illithnari. Again, you don’t know what it does, but it’s- uh yeah it’s a heavy disc with a lightly glowing purple button.
[00:15:12]
Uhm, you have the Illithinari’s blood-cloak, which, yeah, kinda is what it sounds like. It’s uh a long slick cloak covered in a blood-like substance, and you also have amongst all the little trinkets that you- that you swiped it’s- it’s kinda like a small shiny silver blimp shape, and it’s got a very long ergonomic handle on it. It’s got what looks like a plunger coming out of the back of it, and this object is very well made, very shiny, very smooth it’s- I think you would perceive it as being like very pleasing, like there’s something about it very nice, that it like looks clean and well-designed and manufactured in a way you don’t normally see things on Spin. Uh so it’s just like kind of cool and pretty, though again, you have no idea what it does.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] And he just doesn’t touch any of it, he just closes the flap on the bag, and uh crawls or does a pull-up into bed and on the ceiling there is a portrait of all twenty-six of his brothers, who are all y’know just standing in front of a stiffwork like doing a silly picture.
> Mike / G.M.: Sure, right. ‘Let’s- let’s do a fun one’.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] Yeah. And he’s just like [ IC ] “Good night Markos, night Markis, night, Mark... Good night Markeese, good night Markese, Markeso...” [ OOC ] And just falls asleep saying all of his brothers’ names.
> Mike / G.M.: It’s like counting sheep, but counting brothers. > Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] Yeah.
> Mike / G.M.: It’s adorable.
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] Upon entering her uh- her little room, you’ll- you would notice that this place is a mess. It’s- it’s - it’s a complete mess. It looks like a bomb went off. There’s paper strewn all about, uhm, there are some books laid clearly from the Archives, y’know part of her work, and then there’s a legal note that she wrote uhm from previous books that she took out and-
> Mike / G.M.: Oh yeah no you can’t copy those passages! What are you doing?
> Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] Yeah, she did it. There are notes all over. There are little pieces of paper everywhere, y’know, scribbled little notes and- of people answering the question ‘what’s the oldest thing you remember’.
Uhm you also notice in one of the corners there seem to be like little dioramas of famous rom com scenes [ Harp Strings ], y’know like a little scene from When Harry Met Sally, and a little scene from Love Actually, there’s also random pictures of swords kind of like taped to the wall [ Harp Strings End ]. There’s little pieces of metal everywhere like she clearly was eating little knobs and em little nails fell to the ground ‘cause those are like chips to her.
Yeah it’s kind of a crazy space but she clears some paper - some of the papers in one part of the room - and she’s like [ IC ] “Well if Oat does take me up on the offer, this will be for him. ”
> Mike / G.M.: You look in your bag and you have uh three items that seem interesting. > Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] Okay.
> Mike / G.M.: The first kind of looks like a fish bowl, but it’s upside down, so there’s an- like an- a glass or glass-ish bulb, uhm, large, maybe about like ten inches across and it has a game- something that looks like a Gameboy attached to it, uhm into the- into the centre of it. And the Gameboy has a uh a big dial in the centre with a- with an arrow on it, and uh around the dial are a bunch of symbols that you don’t recognise. And then it’s got, y’know like a Gameboy, it’s got a screen but above the screen there are what- what looks like cartoon eyebrows.
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] O-kay. Interesting.
> Mike / G.M.: The second thing is- it fits- it fits in the palm of your hand, might be like a little bit bigger. It’s very heavy, and it - it looks like a two-sided dart. There’s a- there’s a long point on either end uh it’s kinda like brass or, or some kind of metal, like knurled uh pattern on it. Uhm, and it looks like it’s screwed together at the centre, like you could separate it into two pieces.
[00:19:39]
And the third is a big, heavy, weird helmet, that’s kind of got a bunch of bulbous shapes on it, and the viewport is a weird size, and kind of asymmetric. It’s very heavy, it’s very old, some parts of it are rusted or kind of uhm decayin, but if you turn it upside down, and you look into it, you can see that the inside is pretty well maintained, uh like the padding has been refurbished, uhm and inside the viewport there’s - uhm the piece of glass that’s there - it kinda like blinks every once in a while, uh like there’s- there’s some sort of piece of - there’s some sort of information that it is communicating, and it seems like it’s powered and is functional. It will do whatever it does.
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] Interesting. Beta has the three items and she kind of like puts it in a corner of the room, but then she takes NTS and she gently lays NTS in the Where Harry Met Sally restaurant scene diorama, uhm, and says-
> Mike / G.M.: Yeah he just - he just floats lightly above the table.
> Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] Yeah. And says “You’ll sleep here”, and of course gives it a little kiss
on the top [ Taylor laughs ].
> Mike / G.M.: Alright. All of you head to bed, and take a rest, and you can regain Pool.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] Yesss.
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Sick.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] Merkis did not regain full Grit, but a good amount.
> Taylor / Bad Boy: Merkis worked hard.
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] Also uhm Beta: she absorbs one Grit per hour from her surroundings. Can I uhm add twelve Grit?
> Mike / G.M.: I would say - I dunno that you slept for twelve hours. I would say you could probably add six?
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] We’ll take it. [00:21:24] [ Interlude / Ad roll ] [00:22:34] [ Interlude Ends ]
> Mike / G.M.: And so, after two long days, the members of this newly-formed crew rest. Remy amongst his mementos. Vynos amongst this particular set of instruments. Beta, with her papers and ambitions. Merkis, his shoes, and brothers. Below them, stiffworks silently shift fleeters from here to there, and back on their worshipful business. Above them, the archivists toil in their labs and comb their chanceries. The directorate plots. The refactors sleep. Algar sleeps in his sizeable, inherited room blob, amongst his clocks, his long-in-progress memoir and of course,
another long mossy wall. Spindle does not sleep. There’s always some business to be done, some code remnant to be deciphered, some long-last gizmo to be prodded. The Flats, the Basilikon, they may be barren, but the Canteen is dotted at all hours with fleeters, drinking, scheming, drawing maps for each other on discarded leaflets, telling tales of this migo encounter, or that bout of time-sickness. A large collection of blobs partitioned and demarcated by handmade signage, coloured rope and an ever-shifting decor, the Canteen is where fleeters go to relax, to cause trouble, to do deals, and to see deals be done. In the morning, each member of the team arises, and one-by-one, they file to the Canteen, to the far portion, near the tavern blob with the phytonutrient nanoreplicators, that printout the closest thing to a passable breakfast here, wherever we are, in space.
[00:25:08]
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] Merkis is- is rubbing his, his eyes, and is shuffling in some ooggs, which are from Ooggstralia, uh they’re very comfortable boots and now has a baby oogg on his tail, and is making his way to a table.
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Yeah, Remy spots the boot and is like [ IC ] ‘oh I know that boot’, [ OOC ] and joins.
> Nick / Vynos : [ OOC ] Vynos is already half-way done. His phytonutrie- phytonutrient meal-form is shaped like a uh happy turtle [ Shannon and Jenn laugh ]. And he’s- he’s started with the back half ‘cause he doesn’t wanna lose that smile.
> Mike / G.M.: Happy Turtle Special - very popular this season.
> Nick / Vynos : [ OOC ] Yes it is! Yes it is. Now you know why I was up early [ Mike laughs ]. And uh Vynos is uh very cheerful and he sees the two approaching uhm and he gives them a little, a little wave.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Yo big V! How’s the... how’s- how’s the turtle?
> Nick / Vynos : [ IC ] Oh! You’ve seen my turtle? Yes. Delicious as always. I recommend you
getting one yourself, if they still have it.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] What does it taste like today? I feel like it changes every time I - every time I look at it. Every time I look at the menu it’s different.
> Nick / Vynos : [ IC ] Well, you know, you ask a thousand fools and each one will tell you a tale, m-hmm? But, I would say, have you ever tasted the sumptuous spice of Rraskul-Nari? [ Mike & Taylor laugh ].
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] Wow.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Can’t say that I have.
> Nick / Vynos : [ IC ] That’s not the first time Vynos has gotten this look, which is ‘No’ and waiting. And he says, “Well I think it’s a bit akin to that, if I do say so myself, but don’t tell the chef I said so!”
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Thanks, thanks Vynos. > Nick / Vynos : [ IC ] And it’s a compliment! > Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Thanks Vynos.
> Nick / Vynos : [ IC ] You’re welcome.
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Yeah, Remy goes and gets- he goes for a turtle, and then heads back to the table.
> Mike / G.M.: Yeah, you are- you extruded a turtle from -- > Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] ugh
> Mike / G.M.: -- one of the uh nano- nano-food extruders behind uh - behind the bar. The - the cactoid bartender hands it to you.
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] Beta heads over to the table. She’s not eating any of the phytonutrients. She’s gnawing on what looks to be ah bicycle handlebars, and sits down next to Vynos.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] Hey Remy, how do you feel?
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] “Much better, thank you for asking Merkis! I appreci- look, I appreciate you asking.” [ OOC ] And Remy takes a huge bite of the turtle, and starts coughing because it’s very dry [ Bijan coughs ].
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] I mean, I’ve never worked with you before. I’d never seen anyone jump on a grenade like that.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Don’t get used to it! Won’t happen again.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] Oh, okay [ Mike laughs ].
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] I love - I- I- you know, it’s nice to show off, you understand? Sometimes. > Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] Show off?
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] “Jump on metaphorical grenades” [ Remy laughs ]. [ OOC ] And he slams down the pistol [ Slam ], the box [ Zipper sound ], and the other box [ Rustling noise ], and he’s like [ IC ] “I’m ready to give these up. I don’t want any of this stuff. Keeping the visor though. What about you guys - you bring anything? Or do you not carry your illicit tech with you?”
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] “Oh, I just don’t know what it is! I have this big purple button I want to press, but I feel like I probably shouldn’t, and I also have this very scary looking sheet-” [ OOC ] it’s the blood cloak.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Press the button. Press the button, I wanna see what it does.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] “I... don’t think we should press the button” [ Merkis whimpers ]. [ OOC ] And so he’s holding the blood cloak with like the end of the pen he was gonna give Algar, ‘cause it looks scary. [ IC ] “I have this, and then also this. It’s a silver blimp? I don’t know what I should keep or what we should give back. I guess it depends on what we tell them.”
> Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] Yeah, I think uh... just for me, I don’t know about you guys, what you guys are feeling... but, you know... I would like to keep NTS. I just think NTS’ll be a little bit more comfortable if uh he’s just- he’s- he’s- he wouldn’t really like the Archives. That’s just my opinion.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Yeah Beta, I think you’re right.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] Why, I thought it ate you back there. Ohh... [ Clink of cutlery ]
> Nick / Vynos : [ IC ] “Well I’m very disappointed in all of you. I must say I intend to return every piece. Except for a couple that I seem to have misplaced.” [ OOC ] And then he winks at each and every one of them, and then he winks at his turtle [ Bijan and Jenn laugh ].
> Mike / G.M.: Uh, the turtle does not wink back.
> Nick / Vynos : [ OOC ] I know...
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] I’d be scared if it did.
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Remy says [ IC ] “So how are you eating this? I was following your lead, it looked cool, I wanted to eat a turtle.”
> Nick / Vynos : [ IC ] It’s very good. [00:29:54]
> Mike / G.M.: If you would like to, before you decide, you can get your gear appraised, in the Canteen. And I think like, if you wanted to do that, amongst the group of you, you would probably know a couple people who might be willing to take a look at your technology - take a look at the things that you have and, for a price, tell you what they are. You don’t have to do that, but if you would like to have more information about what you have, then those people could provide it.
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] Then Beta is definitely gonna. She’s - she’s curious so she’s definitely get them at least appraised. The three items, not- not NTS, obviously.
> Mike / G.M.: So Beta I think uhm, I think of the group, you would probably know Grey-Cloud-Eater.
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] Okay.
> Mike / G.M.: And Grey-Cloud-Eater is a Weytan engineer and former archivist who has a
shop that is uhm in the Canteen, y’know, probably about a five minute walk away. > Taylor / Bad Boy: Mike, are former archivists common?
> Mike / G.M.: Yeah, it’s like, I would not say common, but there are definitely people who are on Spin who, y’know, have just left the Archive, or been kicked out of the Archive but have managed to kinda stay around.
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] So Beta leans into the team and says [ IC ] “Hey just, y’know, between us all, since we’re such great friends now, I know... I know someone who may be able to get us some information about this tech.”
> Mike / G.M.: Remy, you would probably know Brandish Tamm. > Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Yeah, oh yeah Big T! B.T.
> Mike / G.M.: Brandish Tamm is kind of like a jack-of-all-trades. He just kind of deals in items.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Yeah we could take- yeah, yeah yeah yeah.
> Mike / G.M.: Brandish Tamm is the kinda guy that - that knows people. Y’know?
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Yeah, he’s a guy that he - so Remy likes Brandish Tamm, ‘cause Brandish Tamm is like the kinda guy that Remy was like, back - back - back in the day. So he’s like yeah, Brandish Tamm. I kn- B.T. Let’s take a- let’s take him our stuff, we’ll figure it out. He knows a guy who knows a guy.
> Mike / G.M.: So just to be clear, these are -it’s two different people. It’s Grey-Cloud-Eater- > Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Yep.
> Mike / G.M.: -is the person. Okay, great. Perfect.
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] No it’s just... Remy’s like obviously gonna ride for his guy, ‘cause like obviously, he gets a cut, and Remy may get a cut of the cut, because it’s... y’know. Nobody works for free.
> Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] Beta’s gonna be a little bit... She wants to meet this - this other guy, but she does think Grey-Cloud-Eater will know more information about it, and that’s really what she’s after. So, she’s kind of- but she’s not saying anything really. She’s [ IC ] “Oh I guess, yeah, I guess we can- we can go with your guy-”
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] I mean- > Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] -Remy.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Look, Beta, look. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. I’m taking my stuff to this guy - I’ve worked with him before - he’s good. B.T.’s a good guy. Uh, I’m not gonna lie to you, if you take your stuff there, you’re gonna have to pay a little bit, because obviously this is a service.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] I don’t have a lot of uh... what do you call it? > Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] It is a nominal fee!
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] ...moolah?
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] It’s a nominal fee. It’s a - it’s uh it’s uh appraised on the value of the good, and you only have to pay whenever you give the good to the Archive and you get your bonus. He knows guys! He knows guys who know guys.
> Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] Alright, let’s- Beta’s gonna-
> Mike / G.M.: To be clear, Brandish Tamm is definitely gonna charge you up front. > Bijan / Remy: [ OOC, laughing ] They don’t know that.
> Mike / G.M.: That’s acc- I guess maybe that’s true.
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] But also yeah Remy - Remy’s like - he’s been- I think, can I say this Mike? He’s been promised a cut of whatever comes through that he recommends, like it’s an affiliate link program [ Mike and Jenn laugh ].
> Mike / G.M.: Pass a Charm check.
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Okay.
> Mike / G.M.: And if you pass a Charm check, yes.
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Five?
[ Jenn: incorrect buzzer sound]
> Mike / G.M.: Yeah, you can tell- you can tell people that you can get a cut, but you don’t. > Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] Aww.
[ Bijan and Jenn laugh ]
> Mike / G.M.: Or - or - or, you can- you can think that you have an arrangement with Brandish Tamm, or that one is in the works, but it does not exist yet.
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Okay, yeah, yeah that- yeah. Remy’s like [ IC ] “I don’t know your guy Beta, but my guy? I know him, he knows me, we’re working out some deals together. He’s a good guy.”
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] Beta can see that Remy really ah wants to take it to his guy and she’s thinking back that Remy... he did a lot in this last mission so she’s like [ IC ] “Alright, let’s take it to your guy.”
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Vynos? Merkis? What do you guys think?
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] Mm, I don’t have a lot of money to spend. But I will go with you. > Nick / Vynos : [ IC ] Well it sounds good to me.
[ Transition Music ]
> Mike / G.M.: So y’all have decided you are going to visit Brandish Tamm. Maybe we’ll meet Grey-Cloud-Eater later, but for now, you are heading across the Canteen to Brandish Tamm’s shop. He has a shop that is sort of on the edge of the Canteen, closer to the Bays. As you approach, you can see that the- the black curtain that hangs over the front of it is drawn, and it’s open. You can see, on the other side of it, there’s just tonnes of stuff. He- his- his shop blob is packed to the brim with things. Small boxes, weird pieces of technology, uh weapons, swords, books, uh various materials, building materials, things- you don’t even know what they are, and sitting at a small desk, sort of barely perceivable because of the crowdedness of the space is Brandish Tamm.
[00:35:23]
And Brandish Tamm is a- he’s a small gnome-like man with huge, thick, black eyebrows, and a knot of dense, shiny and wavy black hair that’s tied into a like a huge bun on the top of his head. He’s sitting at the desk writing. You can see he’s got these like huge arms, he’s very muscular, he’s got a wide nose and this dimpled chin that’s pointing down, uhm and there’s a single light that’s kind of floating above him, not appearing attached to anything, and just illuminating the space. Uh yeah, he’s just working quietly in his office as you approach.
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Mike, can I just say, you just described Eugene Levy but with long hair [ Shannon chuckles ].
> Mike / G.M.: He’s kinda like - he’s kinda like hot - not that Eugene Levy’s not hot - hot tiny Eugene Levy.
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Siiick [ Jenn laughs ].
> Mike / G.M.: With uh- with like maybe a little Henry Rollins. > Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Sick.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] Wow.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Yeah, so uh Remy’s in front, he’s like “Yo B.T.!” ‘Cause he doesn’t see him at first. “Yo B.T., you there?”
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ]: No! > Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] There he is!
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm [ IC ] Oh I’m- I’m so sorry I didn’t see you walk in. Oh hello Remy it’s you.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] It’s me.
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm [ IC ]: Now your friends - your friends are new. Your friends, are
they okay?
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] They’re cool, they’re cool, they’re cool. They- I told them that you know guys, that we know guys, and also that you give a fair price on appraisals. You’re the guy to know, and they were like ‘hey’.
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] You are not gonna find- you’re not gonna find a single price that’s fair anywhere on Spin, on any hulk planetside, and from me, Brandish Tamm!
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] That’s what I like about you B.T.; I know that I’m not getting that ripped off. Just a little bit, y’know? Just the fair amount.
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC, chuckling ] He’s joking!
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] I am, I am. That’s why we work so well together. So I got some stuff for
you. I got some stuff- I got some stuff to show you.
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] Hey, you know that you do not get a cut. This is yes, correct?
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Who said I got a cut? I didn’t say that.
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] Every time you’re in here, you ask for a cut of everything you bring in, and the answer is, today, the same as it was yesterday: No.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] I didn’t - I did not say a single thing. I walk in here and you accuse me of something immediately? Brandish Tamm, you should be-
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] This is not an accusation. > Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] -you should be ashamed.
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] This is merely-
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Ashamed!
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] Uh let’s see what you brought Brandish Tamm!
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Today is different than the other days. I brought my friends this time! Be cool, Brandish Tamm.
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] It gets no cooler than Brandish Tamm. > Mike / G.M.: He does finger - he does finger guns.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Remy- Remy slams the pistol on his table.
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] Ho-ly shit.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Yeah right? You like? Don’t fucking touch it. > Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] Now where did you get this?
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] She’s dead.
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] Who?
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] The- the- the- the- the person who had this gun. I took it off a dead body! C’mon man.
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] I don’t even have to touch this to know that this is really serious stuff.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] It’s serious stuff. And we’re turning it over. It’s too serious for me. > Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] And uh, you, ugh-
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Above my paygrade.
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] Yeah, you better turn this over.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Yeah so what do you- what do you think? How much is this worth?
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] Ah okay, look, look look look. This is an extraordinary but uh standard deal I think. Mm, ah, I’ll appraise any item for fifty Guilder, and it’ll take one standard Spin hour.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] One standard Spin hour huh?
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] You said it, not me.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] No, you said it first! We talked-
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] I said it first. But the second time was, Remy? All you. > Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Okay, okay. That’s fair.
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] Fifty Guilder, one hour, and I will take a look at this beautiful object that you have put down in front of me.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] “Okay,” [ OOC ] and Remy turns to the rest of the group. [ IC ] “What do you guys think? Fifty Guilder, one hour.”
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] Merkis is whispering into the stylophone [ bleeping ], “Remy said I’m cool.”
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] Awww.
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Mike uh separate question for you, the D.M.: How much money did
we start with? What’s the calculation again?
> Mike / G.M.: Your starting money is ten times max will plus max charisma.
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] Mm.
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] So Remy has one-forty Guilder on him, eyyy. What do you guys think?
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] So the rate is to... We give him fifty- fifty Guilder per item, or per- to look at everything?
> Mike / G.M.: Seems like the standard rate is fifty Guilder per item.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] Oooh.
> Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] I think I will have Mr. B.T.... I will have you look at one of my items.
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] “I’m sorry, are you- are you- are you addressing me?” [ OOC ] He was- he was absolutely absorbed in the pistol on the surface.
> Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] Uhm yes, uhm... > Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] Ah!
> Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] “If you have some moments, maybe after you- after you look at that one...” [ OOC ] And then Beta props on the desk the big heavy helmet.
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] Sweet maw of the void! You people are walking, rolling and flying heavy into my place today. What fantastic invention has yielded such a bounty?
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Can’t talk about it.
> Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] You know that we- we- we are sworn, to secret- secrecy! > Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] No you’re not.
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Remy looks at Beta and is like “Yeah”. Nods like [ IC ] “Yeah. Yeah yeah yeah.”
> Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] Yeah. Yeah, we are sworn to secrecy, and we cannot speak of our adventures.
[00:40:08]
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] Listen it’s been a long time, I don’t remember the five rules or promises or whatever, okay? Maybe you’re sworn now, I don’t remember getting sworn, but uhm fine.”
> Mike / G.M.: Uh, this one is called- this one is called The Cloak of Lies.
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ OOC ] Okay, right, okay. [ IC ] “Fine, fine, fine! I’m not gonna ask where you got these incredible objects anymore, but I’ll tell you the same thing I told him. Fifty Guilder per item, and it will take one hour.”
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] Beta throws the money on the table. She doesn’t care about money.
> Mike / G.M.: Beta, do you think that it is likely that you have had something appraised by Grey-Cloud-Eater before, or do you think Grey-Cloud-Eater is someone who you just talk to about old memories?
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] I think Beta would have. Anytime she would have gotten an item, she probably would have had it appraised, just to get more information on it. So yeah, I think she- she has.
> Mike / G.M.: So you would- you would know, and I think like you can keep this to yourself- > Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] Yeah.
> Mike / G.M.: -Uh like you know I think maybe you’re like testing the waters here to see what Brandish Tamm’s deal is, but Grey-Cloud-Eater tends to charge thirty Guilder.
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] Mm. Yeah Beta’s not gonna say anything. She’s just- she’s just going with the flow.
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] Are you going to go to Grey-Cloud-Eater? > Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] Hm, what? Who?
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] Are you gonna go to Grey-Cloud-Eater? [ Beta: Embarrassed Consternation ]. I can see it in your eyes, or... that stuff. Up there.
> Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] I mean-
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] On your head.
> Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] I mean. Yeah. I mean yes, yes, I’m going to. > Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] Don’t.
> Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] Why?
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] I’ll cut you a deal.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] & Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] A deal?
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] I’ll cut you a deal. You tell me- > Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] I’m listening.
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] You tell me what the job was that gave you these items, and I’ll appraise them for free. But it will still take me an hour. I am not a hell scientist. I am not crazy magic man. I have normal things, you understand? An hour, I cannot scrimp on, but I will cut you a deal for a little thing I call ‘secrets and knowledge’.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] Hmmm.
> Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] Alright, let me discuss with my team. [ Whispering ] Hey team, that
seems like a pretty good deal.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC, whimpering in a manner reminiscent of a boiling kettle] Merkis is dancing like from one foot to the other like [ IC ] “Hmmmmm! I don’t knooooow! Hnnnnnggg. I don’t know if we should tell secrets like that!”
> Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] I’m thinking we do it.
> Nick / Vynos : [ IC ] I have no problem with it whatsoever.
> Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] Remy?
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Yes?
> Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] Should we do it?
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] Well then it’s uh- that means I can afford it too, if it’s free. > Nick / Vynos : [ IC ] Yes.
> Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] There we go.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC, whimpering ] Okay.
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] I see acceptance in your visage. Now, dish!
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Dish?
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] Merkis is pulling the uh, the Blood Cloak out of his bag with like- holding the end of it with the pen, just like holding it in the air, not putting it down on the table, ‘cause he’s afraid of what it’ll do.
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] Oh. Oh wow. Wo-ow.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Yeah that’s right. That’s right.
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] You. You. Ho-oh! Uhm. Alright. You know the deal. You tell me where and why, and the appraisal comes to you, from this little guy, for no money. Ha ha ha. I’m Brandish Tamm!
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Sounds like a deal to me B.T.: B.T., we met the Aanverder. > Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] Tell me. Every. Detail.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Well a lotta - there were a lot of dead people in her front yard. Lot of them. The house was weird too, it was like a lotta moving panels, there was a dead tree, we found an Illithnari...
[ Ominous Transition Music ]
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] ... And then I, y’know, I got some hands, I got some feet, they’re still on my bag if you wanna take a look at those. We took our- We took our- We took our mounts back, we narrowly escaped death, and now we’re here. After a nap.
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] And I mean of course you would come to me, Brandish Tamm, before uhm-
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Brandish, we-
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] Before you- Yes, before-
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Brandish, I bring you-
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] Acquisitions, yes of course. Is t-t-t-t-t-there an Archivist that knows that you are here?
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Uh, Remy looks around at the group, and then looks back at Brandish Tamm, and it’s very obvious that no, the answer is no. [ IC ] “Yes.” [ Mike laughs ].
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] Oh, well then. Uh. Huh. I will look and appraise all these items, free of charge for you.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Because that’s your job.
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] Mhmm. And then you are to come back no more than three standard Spin hours from now, and I will give these items back to you, to return as you have sworn to, uh, Acquisitions.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Excellent.
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] This is clear?
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] “Excellent B.T.”, [ OOC ] and uh Remy takes the pistol back and drops the weird box with the calipers instead and says, [ IC ] “Take care of that.”
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] Wait. No no no. Give me that back.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] No.
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] But that’s- But that’s- But that’s the best one [ Mike laughs ]. > Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] You said you’d appraise anything.
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] I- I will.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] So appraise this!
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] I’m happy to appraise these delicious calipers you have brought in front of me, but you want to be very very careful with that, ah, hand-cannon you’ve got, young man.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC, laughing ] That’s fine. Keeping it on me, and my finger away from the trigger.
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] No you need- I need to look at that.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] No you don’t.
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] You are walking around with something very dangerous in your pocket, and you do not know how dangerous it is, until Brandish Tamm tells you how so.
[00:45:05]
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] No no no. Screw it, I’ll talk to the Archive, they’ll do it for free. > Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC, sighing ] A deal’s a deal.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] A deal is a deal, thank you B.T. Love doing business with you.
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] Beta was, y’know, impressed by the whole interaction, ‘cause she’s pretty straightforward with people, and she just puts the fishbowl on the table and also the two-sided dart.
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Yeah, I guess Remy- Remy drops his other- his other Illithnari tech. Uh, the uhm- not the one with the callipers- the- the silver box covered in a relief of demons with jelly inside.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] Merkis lowers the Blood Cloak back into his bag, ‘cause he’s just too afraid to leave it anywhere [ Bijan & Jenn laugh ]. And pulls out the shiny blimp, and puts it on the table.
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] Fine.
> Nick / Vynos : [ OOC ] Vynos also leaves the glasses and harness, uhm, at the thing. He doesn’t leave the multi-object, just because he is going to be returning that anyway, and doesn’t want to risk losing it.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Thank you B.T.; we love doing business with you. We’ll be back. We’ll bring you- we’ll bring you more cool stuff. We got more cool stuff.
> Nick / Vynos : [ IC ] Yes.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] Oh yeah! Hmm.
> Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] Yes.
> Taylor / Brandish Tamm: [ IC ] It can’t wait [ Remy laughs ]. Thank you for your custom here at Brandish Tamm’s!
> Nick / Vynos : [ IC ] It was a pleasure meeting you, Brandish.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] I think- I think that’s enough wheeling and dealing for me for one day. If you guys wanna go see G.C.E, that’s all you. I for one think we should go talk to Algar, uh figure out we’re gonna say, ‘cause I don’t think anything went totally wrong, I mean we almost got killed by the big uh spaceship alien thing.
> Nick / Vynos : [ IC ] The Saffron Anax?
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] No, the uh... was it the Illithnari? It was the Illith-
> Mike / G.M.: The Void Elf.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] The Void Elf.
> Nick / Vynos : [ IC ] Oh, the Void Elf.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Oh right the Void Elf, different thing.
> Nick / Vynos : [ IC ] Mm, yes.
> Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] Yeah, we should probably get our story straight on where ah, the story ends.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] Yeah.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] I think the story ends with the Void Elf.
> Nick / Vynos : [ IC ] I don’t see why it shouldn’t.
> Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] The Void Elf? We should say that the- that we fought off the Void Elf?
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] Yes.
> Nick / Vynos : [ IC ] Yes.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Yes.
> Nick / Vynos : [ IC ] And we came straight home.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] ‘Cause that’s badass.
> Nick / Vynos : [ IC ] Yes.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] Did we --
> Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] Alright - Sounds good to me
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] Wait...a minute -- should we omit details about Mr. Oat?
> Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] Hmm..
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Who?
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] Oat?
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Who?
> Nick / Vynos: [ IC ] Oat!
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] The person who saved us from the second grenade!
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Remy's just winking
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] Merkis doesn't get it, Merkis just doesn't get it, he's too earnest
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] Beta goes to Merkis, kinda like whispers "He knows who Oat is, he's just, we're pretending we don't know"
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] Oooooookie-dokie, ....got it. I would like it on record that I tacked us back!
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Sure, for sure!
> Nick / Vynos: [ IC ] Noted, noted, yes! > Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] Oh! I like lying!
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Don't get used to it, lying is hard... because you have to remember what you said.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] Uh-oh.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] The truth is always easiest to remember.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] Merkis is taking out the stylophone and pretending to erase [sound of plastic scraping on plastic] it's not really doing anything
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] See Merkis? You get it -- you're getting it. Shall we see Algar?
> Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] I'm wondering if I can like, stop by my... you know, I would like to
freshen up a little bit -- I guess we can go now.
> Mike / G.M.: You guys headed to the Basilikon?
> Nick / Vynos: [ IC ] Yes
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Yeah
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Beta I don't know what he doesn't see in you, I don't get it. I just don't understand
> Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] Thank you! That's so sweet of you, Remyyyyy!
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] I think he's just gossiping with Beta the whole way over. [ Transition Music ]
> Mike / G.M.: The team makes their way from Brandish's shop-blob back across the edge of the Canteen. It's just clearing out after breakfast; the shop owners are opening for the day, the Phytonutrient-nano-replicators are being set to their lunch-shapes. Those arriving back on Spin from various ventures discuss their reports over Kelp Lager and plates of hard brown crackers, called "Dark Pan." Between the Canteen and the Basilikon is the closest thing Spindle has to open public space. Fleeters call it "The Green," though of course, it is entirely matte-black rock. The Green is a continuous blob, taller than most, and much wider than it is long. This is where public meetings are held; where children play games; where The Veiling, a kind of quarterly job auction, takes place. Today, as the crew makes their way across a number of vendors visiting from Darasan have set up an impromptu market, complete with the covered stalls needed to protect goods on their cool, perpetually rainy, planet. They sit quietly by colorful robes, intricate baskets, and strange-looking clank firearms adorned with leaves and flowers.
The Basilikon is a warren-like arrangement of countless offices. Home to refactors and, of course, Acquisitions. The team passes the front...desk... a large slab of Spindle rock, behind which stands a single wetan, and makes their way through the maze of hallways to Algar's office. When they enter, he is present with his beetle beard, four watches, and mossy jacket.
[00:50:33]
> Mike / Algar: [IC] Oh! Ah! You've returned! It is so nice to see you! Please tell me it went
well.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] Oh yeah.
> Mike / Algar: [IC] Please, have a seat, have a seat. Sorry, sorry. > Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] Merkis--
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Remy slams the pistol down, and just... > Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] Oh! [surprised and disappointed]
> Mike / Algar: [ IC ] Oh.... my... word... [ OOC ] And he reaches into his desk, tugs at some drawers and makes this terrible screeching noise because it's this awful, old, metal desk. He pulls out a monocle. It's a big monocle; it's almost like a magnifying glass without a handle. It's got a little tab on it that he holds onto, and he picks up the pistol very carefully, passes the monocle over it; gets close to it. He sort of looks at it, and sets it down on his desk, [ IC ] Do... tell!
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] Merkis has that giant pen he took from the library, in both hands, and he wanted to give it to him first, [ IC, meekly] I also got you this pen
> Mike / Algar: [ IC ] Oh! Um. This is very nice, thank you. [ OOC ] And you can tell when you hand it to him that his hand dips a little bit, because it is much heavier than he thought it was going to be.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] Yeah, I was carrying that this whole time!
> Mike /Algar: [ IC ] Well that must have been quite a feat for you! [ Nick laughs ] [ OOC ] He opens up another drawer and takes out the standard Refactor set of forms, and begins arranging them very carefully on his desk, [ IC ] Oh, and did you get the vasular multiObject?"
> Nick / Vynos: [ OOC ] Vynos pulls it out and he says, [ IC ] You tell me.... Young man. [ Shannon & Jenn laugh ]
> Mike / Algar: [ IC ] It is quite strange, isn't it?
> Nick / Vynos: [ IC ] It is. I've never seen anything quite like it in all the times I've been
to...and from.
> Mike / Algar: [ IC ] Bearing in mind all the remits and the defenses and the honorings and the promises, um, what... what happened? What would you like me to put in the report?
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] Beta's like [ IC, laughing ] Oh! Um! Ha, ha ha! [ Nick & Jenn laugh ] [ OOC ] She has kind of used her foot to push, as she's going to sit down, push the chair out so that she falls on the ground. [ Mike laughs ] [ IC ] Whoops! I'm so clumsy. Well, maybe you could put that we completed the mission?
> Nick / Vynos: [ IC ] They usually need a bit more detail than that, Beta; please, go on!
> Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] Oh, um! [nervous laughter] We, um... uhhhhhhh [audibly blushing] [
OOC ] -- and she is just facing the other way, towards the wall.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] Merkis pulls out the Stylophone [ IC ] After we met the Factor out there, we jumped on some Zogs and made it to the estate, and the Boss-woman was there, the Aanverder was there, to greet us.
> Mike / Algar: [ IC ] Did she give you her... I mean, I've read the report...this is her pistol, she gave you this?
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] Well a few other things happened first
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] You know, Doc, she's uh.... [ OOC ] and he throws something in his mouth, and he's chewing, [ IC, speaking while chewing ] she's not, she's not alive anymore. So we just took it. I just took it.
> Mike / Algar: [ IC ] Oh, interesting.
> Nick / Vynos: [ IC ] Yes, the place was picked pretty clean, except for a few trinkets and oddities we found, that we have in these bags... but, the reason we were able to secure this... was that we actually witnessed the Aanverder's death.
> Mike / Algar: [ IC ] Oh, my.....what happened?
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] It was a valiant battle with an Illithinari
> Mike / Algar: [ IC ] [Gasping, hushed] Say no more. [ Nick & Shannon laugh ] [Speaking normally] We will find a way to explain this in the contract, but this is -- you have the vasular multiobject, the Aanverder's own pistol... and you said you managed to gather other items?
> Nick / Vynos: [ IC ] Yes, we have a few bags here. We also must report that her armor was left at the scene of her death. It was too heavy for us to carry, unfortunately. My apologies a thousand times, today and tomorrow.
> Mike / Algar: [ IC ] Well the Directorate loves to follow up, though, so I'll make sure we keep that in the report.
> Nick / Vynos: [ IC ] Yes. [00:54:57]
> Mike / Algar: [IC] Ah...This, [stammering] this is... an astounding, find. The Archive will study this item for decades, if not centuries! This is a Baas pistol, that is crafted specifically for the Aanverder. There are things about the construction of this item that The Archive likely has wanted to know for as long as it's existed!
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] Merkis raises a tiny bulbous finger, and says [ IC ] Actually...may I have that pen back very quickly?
> Mike / Algar: [IC] Uh, yeah! [ OOC ] He gets a quizzical look on his face and reaches behind him and grabs the pen, where he had put it on a small filing cabinet, and hands it to you.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] Very carefully, out of his bag, Merkis is shaking, his little arm is shaking, pulling out, with the pen, this Blood Cloak--
> Mike / Algar: [IC] Oh my, no...
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] -- trying not to look at it [whimpering]
> Mike / Algar: [IC] So I take it the Illithinari did not make it, either. > Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] No... the Aanverder, uh... killed it.
> Bijan / Remy: [IC] Look, Doc, we did our best.
> Mike / Algar: [IC] I can tell. [ Nick laughs] OK, give me a moment. [ OOC ] He starts scribbling in the papers that he has, piled all around his desk; he's moving from form to form; he's checking boxes; writing little pieces of notes here and there; flipping through all this paperwork and basically doing bureaucracy in front of you. After a couple minutes of doing this, he reaches into a drawer behind him, pulls out two flat-pack boxes, and he assembles them into these little open containers. He very gingerly, and with reverence, puts the Aanverder's pistol into it; and it barely fits, it hangs over the side because it's so big. He reaches into his desk and pulls out some pincers and grabs the Cloak with it, and puts the Cloak into another. He places one box on top of the other, and he stands from his desk and says [ IC ] If you don't mind, I'm going to go remit these to The Archive right now, just so that, you know, they're taken care of. I'm just going to just have the briefest conversation with my Factor and then we'll have a bit of a conversation about your...payment...yes?
> Bijan / Remy: [IC] So we're getting a bonus right?
> Mike / Algar: [IC] I think that is...likely...the case, yes. I think it's likely that I, as well, am
getting a bonus. [ Jenn laughs ]
> Jenn / Merkis: [IC] Oh, sounds good, Algar!
> Bijan / Remy: [IC] Bonuses for everyone!
> Mike / Algar: [IC] So please just hold tight for a moment, [ OOC ] and he leaves the room.
> Mike / G.M.: You're alone in Algar's office for a little while, you can touch the moss if you want.
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC, immediately, firmly ] Remy touches the moss. > Mike / G.M.: It's great! Very soft, and kinda cool!
> Nick / Vynos: [ OOC ] Vynos goes and joins him immediately
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Yeah I guess we're both, Vynos and Remy are both...humans, right?
Technically speaking? --
> Mike / Algar: [ OOC ] yeah
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] -- so green things do calm us down?
> Mike / G.M.: It is very soft, and slightly moist. It's like an echo of an outside world.
> Mike / Algar: [ OOC ] As you're petting the moss, Algar, with a little look of disappointment on his face, pops back in through the plastic curtain that separates his office-blob from the hallway, and he sees you petting the moss and he goes [ IC ] Oh! It is enjoyable isn't it? [ OOC ] He puts his hands around the vasular multiobject, and he says [ IC ] Ah! I was so enthused about your other unexpected deliveries, that I completely forgot about your...central MacGuffin! [ OOC ] He looks at it, and holds it. It's weird, looking at someone else holding it, because depending on the shape, sometimes it looks like they're not holding it, but it's still levitating between his hands as it turns into something long and skinny. It looks like he shouldn't be able to be holding it aloft, but he is; He's sort of looking at it quizzically, and he says [ IC ] The Directorate will of course be very pleased that you've returned this as well. It's apparently a very, very valuable and highly sought-after item, you see. Its purpose is completely beyond me, but this is often the case with the Vile Fi-- I mean, [stammering] the Founding Five, the Founding Five.....uh... [audibly staring blankly] Excuse me a moment! [ OOC ] And he leaves again. [ Everyone laughs ]
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] That was weird!
> Nick / Vynos: [ IC ] Yes, he definitely said "Vile," we all heard it.
> Mike / Algar: [ OOC ] This is a nickname for the Directorate, the five people that started the Company, that you've probably never seen, but you know are....you know... they run a Trading Company, they're not great people.
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] Beta takes out the book, The Life and Times of Professor...whatever...that she got from the library?
> Mike / G.M.: Oh yeah! Nibble...I forget... Zizzlebith Nibblelbottom?
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] Yes! She writes a cryptic note in it, like "Got this for you!" does not
sign who. She's not signing it "Beta," she just puts a little heart, and she puts it in Algar's desk.
[01:00:07]
> Mike / G.M.: The drawer is kind of hard to open, and when you get it open there's a bunch of weird stuff in there. A bunch of disassembled pens and what looks like pipe tobacco. It fits, and you close it.
> Mike / Algar: [ OOC ] After a few minutes, he comes back. He's got this big grin on his face and he sits down. He straightens the lapels on his jacket and he says [ IC ] Okay, so! First things first, each of you will get the standard rate of 25 Guilder, so you can plan on having that.
> Mike / G.M.: And you guys should, in our world, you can write these things in your character sheet.
> Mike / Algar: [ IC ] Each of you gets the standard rate of 25 Guilder; we'll award you an extra 50 Guilder for the various small art objects that you were able to acquire at the Aanverder's estate.
> Mike / G.M.: Vynos, and everyone else: I'm assuming you handed over all the little knick-knacks that you got too, right?.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] Yeah, the little babies, yeah
> Mike / Algar: [ IC ] Each of you may split, amongst you, a 500 Guilder bonus for the pistol.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Oh wow. [ Group murmuring hushed and awed approval ]
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Very good. Doc, that's great!
> Mike / Algar: [ IC ] The news gets better. It seems as though you are all in line for a promotion --
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] Ooh!
> Mike / Algar: [ IC ] -- and with a promotion, you may all, also, make use of a Recruit. [ OOC
] He sits up a little bit and goes [ IC ] Ahm! Recruit! Eh, you may enter! > Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] Hello!
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] Ohh!
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Who are you?
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] Hi, everyone! Hello! It's nice to... [conspicuously clearing throat] Hello, it's nice to meet you [audibly staring directly at the party] for the first time.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Doc, who the fuck is this? What is this? [ Shannon laughing ]
> Mike / Algar: [ IC ] This gentleman was just hired by The Company, he is a new arrival who has requested a local assignment. So if there is anything you should need on Spin, you can come to me, always of course, but you could also make use of this gentleman here -- sorry, what did you say your name was?
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] My name is Oat, and you know, a lot of Stillfleeters used to believe that Harajoon were lucky to have in their companionship, [suggestively] if I might remind everyone.
> Mike / Algar: [ IC ] Ah yes, that is, that is true!
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] So we used to call people like this interns, back on Earth. But this was a long time, this was thousands of years ago; Millenia! Millenia upon millenia, but that was the last thing I remember before the whole thing -- but we had interns!
> Mike / Algar: [ IC ] It's been a long time since I've done my studies of the old cultures, but wasn't "Internment" also a word for prison?
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Yes...yes... it was similar.
> Mike / Algar: [ IC ] Ah... ... ...well this is nothing like that!
> Taylor / Oat: [ OOC ] Remy, when you say "Yes," Oat looks at you and is shooting daggers with his eyes. [ Mike & Jenn laugh ]
> Nick / Vynos: [ IC ] Well it's a pleasure making your acquaintance, Oat! -- > Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] very nice to meet you
> Nick / Vynos: [ IC ] -- I'm Vynos, and I hope you will also ask me if you have any need of anything in the Science of Hell.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] Merkis is rubbing his tummy and going [ IC, nervously ] HRM.... HNGG... [ OOC ] extending a hand. [ IC, meekly ] Hello...
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] And it's a pleasure to meet you, as well!
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC, meekly, almost a whisper ] I'm Merkis [whimpering]
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Merkis, you're so shy today! [ OOC ] Remy sticks out his hand. [ IC ] Oat! It's so nice to meet you. Glad you're gonna be working with us.
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] Remy... we are... I am meeting you, as well!
> Mike /Algar: [ OOC ] Algar looks at Oat and says, [ IC ] Now um... Mr. Oat -- is it, ehm,
remind me, have you been sworn in?
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] Uhm...Well of course, once, a very long time ago! But uh... [chuckling] my little thinker up here is not exactly what it used to be. So, you know, I guess we should probably do it again; make sure this one takes, right?
> Mike / Algar: [ OOC ] He flips through some pieces of paper on his desk. Anybody who is up close to the desk, like Merkis, if you're front and center, you can see that he's flipping through Oat's file. He's got a bunch of papers that describe this person's position, their physiology, their sapient, and all this other stuff. [ IC ] Oat, yeah, it doesn't seem like, er, the box has been checked, so if everybody doesn't mind, we have to - I have to swear in a new recruit.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] Please do!
[quiet, but somewhat tense background music plays during the Oath]
> Mike / Algar: [ IC ] Mr. Oat, the principles are as follows: (1) The Cloak of Lies and the Decretum of Obscurity: Thou shalt never speak without the express approval of the Directors Prime to colonials, or Terrans, or aliens of any variety of the Co., nor Spindle, nor stiffworks, nor the Draadmijners, nor the Archive nor Ordo Pallida, nor any colony unknown to them, nor the existence of the stillfleet, nor that of any hulk, nor the deep void, nor Dread Enshaga, nor the Cursèd Pazūzūn, nor Vile Djannaj, nor any secret of the Co., nor the Directorate nor Basilikon, nor any banality of The Co., nor any operational nor logistic nor strategic element whatsoever nor...and so on, and so on, and so on... Do this you swear?
[01:05:00]
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC, tentatively ] okay..... I guess?
> Mike / Algar: [ IC ] (2)! [ OOC ] and he makes a big "check" motion on the piece of paper. [ IC ] (2)! The Remit of Enigmas: Thou shalt ever repair unto the Directorate, all things large and small, taken out of the void, whether from the up in the iron halls of the stillfleet or from down upon the alien worlds, or from deep within the redsteel cathedrals of Tephnii that stand bottom-side up beneath the terrene wastelands, without exception, so that thine employers may perform their vocation and ensure the Company remains fiscally and socially solvent, and even grows, and so that all manner of ancient arts may be one day understood by the Archive and revived. Those who withhold the spoils of the void from the directorate shall be punishèd, as is our custom most severely, depending on the nature of the thing withheld, either by the bla-blah-blah, et cetera, et cetera. Do this....you swear?
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC, warmly ] With my whole snout!
> Mike / Algar: [ OOC ] He makes a big "check" mark again. [ IC ] (3)! The Remit of Banalities: And so, too, thou shalt return to thine home all full and accurate descriptions of those events witnessed in the void, in the halls of the stillfleet, or on alien worlds, or Terra Mater, no matter how seemingly small in import or strange in character. No secret, no drunken whisper, no cad-like declaration of amorous intent, no grocer's list, no statement of chemical composition of alien soil, no file of names of long-dead shall be withheld -- Do this you swear?
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC] I do!
> Mike / Algar: [ IC ] [clears throat] Great. [ OOC ] He makes a check, and he says: [ IC ] Almost done. [ OOC ] He reaches and takes a big swig of water; clears his throat. [ IC ] Principle the fourth: The Defence of Home. And as we cloak ourselves in lies when we are away from our home, so do we cloak our home itself in darkness and errors so that none might find the arcane paths to it, and if any find these, or even learn of our home, they must be disposed of by all company miners of the void, who should none of them, like to lose their one true home to meddling and fractious and barbarous terrene queens, unhuman kommisars, overreaching colonial governors, the elfin, and most cruel Tnínish, other diverse aliens, and the great malevolent intelligences within the hulking bodies of the stillfleet. Do this you swear?
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC] Yikes! Erm... Yes!
> Mike / Algar: [ IC ] Check! And finally, The Chain of Authority: At last, each miner in the void shall know her rank in the Company, and her place in the venture: The factor shall stand above the others, and ensure each rule is known to every, and each made by good by, and every knows her duties to the Co., and to every other. And should this factor fall, dismembered by aliens, or hanged by terrene ignoramuses, it matters not, the witness shall stand up and carry on for her. And if she too shall fall: the draadmijner whom they call "banshee", shall stand. And then, if she falls, the most senior stillrijder. And then, if no leader, reporter, stiffworker, or defender be standing, shall any local miner of the void carry on until that venture be accomplished to full completeness, so that all members of the Co. shall take pride in the sacrifice of a few, for the benefit of so many, -- and especially for the benefit of the Directorate, whose bold and supple strategies have allowed our home to flourish in the darkness between unthinkably impoverished past and unknowably fragile future for three centuries and more years. Do this, you, Recruit Oat, swear?
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC] Algar, I gotta tell you, you keep talking to me like this you're gonna make it sound like we're having fun over here! [ Nick laughs] [ OOC ] Oat looks at the group and he winks, and he looks back at Algar and he says [ IC ] I swear.
> Mike / Algar: [ OOC ] He makes a big check, gets a big grin on his face, shuffles all of the papers together and says [ IC ] By gum, we've done it! Fabulous! I'm going to go file all this paperwork immediately. Oh! This is going to be such an immensely fun time! I think that it is very safe to say that the company is going to have more work for this particular arrangement of Voidminers very, very, soon. So please, go take some time off, you deserve it, and I will be in touch, post-haste, with your next Venture, [ OOC ] and he stands up and gives you a little salute.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] Merkis's ear flaps flap out in salute
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Sounds good to me, Doc! [ OOC ] Remy salutes.
> Nick / Vynos: [ OOC ] Vynos is petting the moss again.
> Mike / Algar: [ IC ] It's quite relaxing!
> Nick / Vynos: [ IC ] It is, it is! Well anyways, thank you!
> Taylor / Oat: [ OOC ] Oat spreads his wings to attention, and also salutes.
> Mike / GM: The other thing to note is that, now that you've filed paperwork, you get to level up.
[Group collectively "Ooohs"]
[01:10:00]
> Bijan / Remy: [IC] Let's get Oat a drink, he's the newest member of the team -- > Nick / Vynos: [ IC ] Yes
> Bijan / Remy: [IC] We did this together
> Shannon / Beta: [OOC ] Beta is kind of whispering through her teeth, again, she doesn't have
a face, but [ IC ] You know, I left the light on for you... allll night.... Oat! [ Nick laughs ]
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC] Yeah, listen, I'm so sorry about that, there's a bunch of errands, a lot of loose ends that I had to, y'know, figure out; I didn't want anyone to know that we were together, so that I could apply for a job, you know. But look, I'm so sorry to leave you hanging, but hey -- I hope you don't have standard ear-holes that appreciate acoustic vibrations because I snore in a way that is indescribable in common tongue. [ group laughs ] So we both have that to look forward to!
> Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] Sounds great! [ Nick laughs ]
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC] I know just the place for a drink! Yes?
> Shannon / Beta & Jenn / Merkis: [ IC, in unison ] Yes!
> Nick / Vynos: [ IC ] Yes, lead the way, lead the way, a celebration is in order!
> Shannon / Beta: [OOC ] On the way there, Beta is kind of whispering to Merkis [ IC ] I couldn't help, I don't know if you know this, but when Algar was saying how proud he was of all of us, it felt like his eyes were on me most of the time -- did you... did you feel that?
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] Oh.... uh.... Yeaaaaaah, Beta! [ OOC, laughing ] Merkis was not paying attention.
> Mike / GM: If you want to roll will to see if you perceived anything like that, then, you know, I will let you, but... [ Jenn laughs ]
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] My will is d8... oh! I don't have what's-it-called open...
> Mike / GM: I can roll it for you if you want -- oh! You rolled an 8! Beta's not entirely wrong!
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] Oh! He might have been lookin' at ya, Beta!
> Shannon / Beta: [OOC ] [melting sigh] She blushes [ Mike & Nick laugh ]
[ brief meta-game digression ]
> Mike: Wait, I have just a clerical question, inspired by some fan art of Beta that we got: Is Beta wearing clothing?
> Shannon: You know, um.... That's a great question. [ group laughs ] > Taylor: We get that a lot, thanks for asking.
> Mike: Because the Shoodtha is a box-headed, human form --
> Shannon: mhm -- human form
> Mike: -- covered in metal duct tape
> Shannon: Yes.
> Mike: But...is Beta wearing clothing over that?
> Shannon: Yes, what I had originally written for Beta is that she's wearing -- so I guess.. Yeah, this is happening. [ Mike laughs ] So she's wearing a recreation of... oh what is...
> Mike: I'm so excited about where this is going
> Shannon: It's a recreation of the dress on How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, [ Jenn laughs ] the
dress she's wearing on the cover.
> Mike: Is that that white frilly thing?
> Shannon: I think it's like a yellow dress... [muttering] How to lose....
> Mike: Hold on [Group muttering, each individually searching the Internet] > Jenn: Oh wow...
> Mike: Oh this is not what I was expecting, but I... get it, yeah!
> Jenn: So slinky!
> Shannon: It sorta looks like that? But kind of not at all. Because it's homemade from, you know, pieces of algae, things she found around. I would say, yeah, I don't know if she wears it on the mission, but she was definitely wearing it when she goes into the office.
> Mike: So it's like gold, skinny...silky...long... straps
> Shannon: Straps
> Mike: Straps.
> Shannon: And it doesn't really fit her well, not at all, she doesn't really have the body for it. [ Jenn laughs ] But she's trying...to be --
> Mike: Sure!
> Shannon: -- a protagonist in a RomCom! What can we say.
> Mike: I get it. Right. I mean really, it was going to be "slinky gold dress," or "bright red, leading lady dress," --
> Shannon: Right
> Mike: -- I feel like those are the two dresses you're allowed to wear in those movies?
> Shannon: Exactly, in those RomComs, yeah. She's wearing that. I don't know if it really fits
on her little robot body, [ laughing ] but it does. [ Mike laughs ]
> Mike: We'll let the people who can render things visually figure it out. [ end digression ]
[Transition Music]
> Taylor / Oat: [ OOC ] Oat leads you through the tunnels and the hacked out hallways; the floor becomes uneven, and even again, and more uneven. Then you come to a medium-sized notch of a room-blob, cut into the middle of the back-wall of The Canteen. It's nestled between a Tailor and what looks like a Tinker? Anyways, it's got a hand-written sign advertising "Scissor sharpening, metal bending, plate-armor smoothing," stuff like that. But, the blob, the one that's nestled in between there: is rectangular, one short-side is its entrance, and you go inside. It is a hallways of a bar, with the bar on the left-side and long blue-gray, plasticky sort of substance, bar running right down the middle. There's a long, bench-like, seat attached to the floor, made of the same material running down its length, with small gaps to enter, and slide-in. Snug, as a bug, in a very large, spinning, space-station. [ Mike laughs ] There's maybe, total room in here? 8 Patrons. If they're all human-sized; and occasionally, often, they're not. Oat says [ IC ] Haaa!! [ OOC ] and he greets the bartender -- Mike, it's Stephen Patrick, right?
[01:15:21]
> Mike / G.M.: Yes, it is [ enunciating ] Stephen Patrick Morrissey
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] Please! Everyone, meet my oldest, and as far as I can tell in my last few hours on Spin, only surviving friend, Stephen Patrick Morrissey. [ addressing Stephen Patrick Morrissey ] Say "hello," Stephen Patrick Morrissey!
> Mike / Stephen Patrick Morrissey: [ IC, very deep and gravelly voice ] Oat, stop shouting in my bar.
> Taylor / Oat: [ OOC ] Stephen Patrick Morrissey is an...impressive...presence behind the bar. The wall that is cluttered with mostly empty bottles; a showcase of liquors past, future; and various knick-knacks brought to him throughout the years: there's helmets, old photos, paper posters, little baubles, a few weird esoteric or dead weapons. He's serving kelp lager, black kelp lager, a house specialty called DRONK: [ others laugh quietly ] He will not tell you what's in it, but it's cheap, delicious, it's intoxicating, and Oat recommends it immediately. Now, I will also say that Stephen Patrick Morrissey, one of the reasons that he is so big, is that he is a mongrel. Mike, do you want to tell us what mongrels are?
> Mike / G.M.: Yeah! He's basically an 8-foot-tall..just...massive...sort of human-shape? Very, very strong, very wide, very broad, but he's got a tiny little bear-face, right in the middle of his huge head. [ Jenn & Nick laugh ] The skin is bright white, and he's got big, sort of bushy, brown hair all around the rest of his head. You can tell he's older, his eyes are kind of wrinkled, his face
is kind of leathery, his eyes are sort of sunken; he just always has this sort of permanent frown on his face. He looks very tired, or "over it." [ explaining ] This is a pretty common thing for mongrels. There's a lot of questions about what they are, but the current understanding or guess is that they were sent from the future to stop humanity from killing itself. [ emphatically despondent ] Good luck! [ Jenn, Nick laugh ] So given this impossible task, the idea that they're all just kind of fatalists. This guy runs a bar on Spin called "Zona." He is wearing a jean vest with a bunch of sigils on it, a bunch of religious symbols or old glyphs that to us, in 2020, you would immediately recognize these as the logos of bands from the 70s and 80s.
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] Whoa. I love that the way to keep humanity from destroying itself is to open a bar. [ Nick, Jenn & Mike laugh ]
> Mike / G.M.: I'm sure he would talk your ear off, at length, if you were to ask about that plan. But yeah, as Oat is ushering you all in, gesturing at the bar and telling you to sit down, Morrissey looks at Oat and says:
> Mike / Stephen Patrick Morrissey: [ IC ] To what do I owe the pleasure?
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] Ah.... I'm a member of the Co. now, my friend! Once and future King:
Oat, at your service!
> Mike / Stephen Patrick Morrissey: [ IC, nonplussed ] Should I...congratulate you, for this?
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] Yes!, Stephen Patrick Morissey, yes.
> Mike / Stephen Patrick Morrissey: [ IC ] Are you sure?
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] I... [ OOC ] he looks at the group. [ IC ] you know what? [ Mike laughs ] you go with your gut on this, my friend.
> Mike / Stephen Patrick Morrissey: [ OOC ] He silently starts pouring out a bunch of dark kelp lagers, and he looks down the table and says [ IC ] Anybody want any DRONK?
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] Yes! Five DRONKs, please! [ laughter ] > Mike / Stephen Patrick Morrissey: [ IC ] O.K.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Oh, you're buyin', right?
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] I am buyin'. Listen to this: this place? I love it, the DRONK is fantastic...ah... [ stammering ] there's just so much, dynamism around here. This place, Zona, has not changed one bit since I left. Look! Look-it, Look at that, behind the bar! [ OOC ] Oat is pointing at a shelf full of knick-knacks, and sure enough you notice that amongst some weird thimbles and a knife that seems to be both sharp and dull at the same time --
> Mike / G.M.: [ laughing ] Very Stillfleet.
> Taylor / Oat: [ OOC ] Yeah, thank you -- I put that in there because I'm obligated to have something that is two things --
> Mike / G.M.: [ laughing ] -- that is the opposite of itself [ Mike & Taylor laughing ]
> Taylor / Oat: [ OOC ] -- yeah, yeah! And there's also a little galaxy suspended in a pocket universe on a keychain [ Mike laughs ], and there's a little... I guess the only way to describe it is a Polaroid. And it's a Polaroid of a group of people and they're all in tuxedos and what appears to be different cultures' formal wear, probably, and they're all holding up clear glasses, "Cheers"ing to the camera, and the figure down in the front is a sixty-year-younger Oat.
[01:20:16]
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC, quietly ] Wow.
> Mike / G.M.: Stephen Patrick Morrissey is also in the picture and he looks exactly the same. [ Jenn laughs ]
> Nick / Vynos : [ OOC ] Vynos smiles at that picture but he doesn't tell anybody why he's smiling at it. [ Laughter ]
> Mike / G.M.: Vynos thinks quietly to himself: "Good one." [ Nick laughs ]
> Nick / Vynos : [ OOC ] There's a pair of bunny ears that someone is putting on someone else
in the picture that he knows something about. [ laughter ]
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] Merkis is very slowly spelling "Zona" in the stylophone. [ vocalizing
] wuuuuuuuhhhh...
> Mike / Stephen Patrick Morrissey: [ OOC ] Morrissey pours you out five dark kelp lagers, and distributes them to the crew. He reaches into a refrigerator underneath the set of shelves that all the knick-knacks are on, and amongst all of the knick-knacks are all of these liquor bottles from various fallen civilizations. They're all covered in dust, some of the labels are half-ripped off. It's like when someone's out in the world, out in the universe, collecting things and they find an empty liquor bottle it seems like Zona, and Morrissey, is the place and person they bring them to; so this is like part of his collection. He reaches into the refrigerator and pulls out a Carlo Rossi jug -- [ Taylor laughs ]
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] Wow. [ Mike laughs ]
> Mike / Stephen Patrick Morrissey: [ OOC ] -- and puts out five mismatched tiny shot glasses; we would recognize these as: one of these is a shot glass, one of these is a candle holder, one of them is a Sake glass, one of them is a particularly small teacup; he just puts them all out. He very carefully, with his giant hands, pours out little droplets of this...bluuuuuee...slurry almost? It's kind of like oatmeal or gruel? But it's bright, bright blue, and you can smell the liquor -- you can smell some chemical -- as soon as he's pouring it into these containers. He looks at Oat and says [ IC ] At the risk of having you be a...good customer...for a second lifetime, it's on the house.
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] Ha-hoooooh! Stephen Patrick Morrissey, you have not changed at all!
> Mike / Stephen Patrick Morrissey: [ OOC ] He turns around and puts everything back and
he just stands there.
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] Beta grabs for the, ah...candlestick?...um..holder-one? --
> Mike / G.M.: Sure
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] -- and says [ IC ] oooh! A drink and a snack! [laughter]
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Remy grabs the Sake glass, because he sort of recognizes it, and he holds it up: [ IC ] Cheers everybody!
> Nick / Vynos : [ OOC ] Vynos grabs a glass and follows suit.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] Merkis grabs a DRONK with both hands, and lifts it above his head,
because he's short. [ Mike laughs ]
> Mike / G.M.: Yeah! Do you all take a...do you do a shot of DRONK?
> Everyone: [ OOC ] Yeah!
> Mike / G.M.: Alright! It tastes kind of like...grain alcohol...mixed with wasabi. > Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC, grimacing ] Ohhhhhhhhhh
> Mike / G.M.: If any of you had any sinus problems before this moment: once you regain your sight, they're gone. [ Nick chuckles ] It's very, very strong; you all immediately feel slightly intoxicated. If you have it, and this is the only way you can avoid not burning it (is not having it), if you have 2 grit you must burn it. And you all, if you concentrate (and we would do this with a Will roll), you all feel like you can hear each other talking without moving your mouths. [ Jenn laughs ]
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC, approvingly ] Awww..... siiiiiiiick
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC, laughing ] Hahaha, yeah, right?!
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Oat, you madman
> Mike / G.M.: So if you want to lean into it, you can roll your Will and if you get a 6 or higher --
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] whoa
> Mike / G.M.: -- you can drunkenly telepathically communicate. > Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] Yee-aahhhhhh [ laughing ]
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] Merkis got an 8. [ laughing ]
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] Yeah, Beta also got an 8. [ laughing ]
> Mike / G.M.: Yeah so you guys....there's no more secrets [ chuckling ] you can't lie to each other.
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Well... Remy doesn't have enough will so... [ laughing ] > Taylor / Oat: [ OOC ] Oh no! I rolled a 1! Oat cannot.
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Yeah... Remy has a d4 for will, and rolled a 1 anyways. > Nick / Vynos: [ OOC ] Vynos got a 4.
> Mike / G.M.: So Beta and Merkis, you both feel very connected to your friends, and if there's a thing you would like to know about what they are thinking, you would essentially know. The way we're going to play this is you would have to just ask that character; you have to ask that player what they're character is thinking and they have to be truthful --
[01:25:06]
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] Okay! --
> Mike / G.M.: Or you can just --
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] -- Shannon? [ laughing ]
> Mike / G.M.: Yeah! So, just to set the scene: you're at the bar! You are now at the bar having drinks, and you have 5 dark kelp lager chasers in front of you.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] Merkis has overturned the shot glass onto his head, like a little fez, and he's waving his tiny short arms and wondering -- out loud -- to Beta: [IC, ethereal voice] Have you planned your wedding to Algar??
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] And she would be thinking: [ IC, ethereal voice ] Which wedding? You know, [stammering] we're going to be living millenia ... millenia together, there's going to be so many weddings and re-wed -- the first wedding? Sure. That I planned a while ago.
> Jenn / Merkis: [IC, quietly] tell me about it
> Mike / G.M.: But the ten anniversary wedding, where you re-assert your vows... that one's still
in the works [laughing]
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] Exactly.
> Taylor / Oat: [ OOC ] Is this conversation happening telepathically? > Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] Yeah
> Taylor / Oat: [ OOC ] Oh great [laughing] I look at Remy and Vynos and I say [IC] So... Every once in a while, DRONK lets you hear the thoughts of whoever is drinking DRONK with you. We did not win, but it looks like those two are having a conversation. [Shannon and Mike laugh]
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Oh so that's what's happening!
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] yeah
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Oat you are a very useful...what are you again?
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC, with an audibly raised eyebrow ] ...Harajoon?
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Harajoon! Harajoon... --
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] Pretty common well-known race around here. [group laughs] You know what --
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Yeah, yeah ...
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] You're a sleeper right?
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Yeah, my brain is...isn't good
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] Ah don't worry about it! All is forgiven! Water under the bridge, you get a pass, Remy, my friend.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] I appreciate you. [addressing Stephen Patrick Morrissey] So how do you make DRONK? [stammering] What is... why is it -- What's the deal -- how is it made -- why does it sound like an old word that I used to know?
> Mike / Stephen Patrick Morrissey: [ IC ] Oh...that is a... trade secret. > Bijan / Remy: [ IC, yielding ] Okay.
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] Wait, does it -- uh! -- Patrick Stephen [sic]!!
> Mike / Stephen Patrick Morrissey: [ IC ] What?
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] Does it come from the future??
> Mike / Stephen Patrick Morrissey: [ IC ] What did I saaaaaay? [Taylor laughs]
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] I think it comes from the future. [Mike laughs]
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Siiiiiick
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] He gets so mad when I ask that, so I think it's -- I'm striking a chord!
> Mike / Stephen Patrick Morrissey: [ IC ] In a... In a way, because I come from the future, it also comes from the future.
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] Yeah... He's not very good at keeping secrets [group laughing] If you ask him twice he just sort of ... dishes. [group laughing] Will not drink DRONK -- Will not drink DRONK though!
> Mike / Stephen Patrick Morrissey: [ IC ] Hmm... > Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] I'll get him there one day!
> Mike / Stephen Patrick Morrissey: [ IC ] It's like putting a mirror across from another mirror.
> Nick / Vynos: [IC] Well that seems wise to me. I'm curious to know...how you two met?
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] Oh.... that was so long ago, I almost don't remember! [Mike laughs] That
was a long time ago!
> Nick / Vynos: [IC] Well, let me ask again. I'm always curious about... how you two met?
> Mike / Stephen Patrick Morrissey: [ IC ] Uh...you don't remember, because of how drunk you were.
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] Ah..yeah that scans...yeah, I believe it.
> Mike / Stephen Patrick Morrissey: [ IC ] Several decades ago, Oat was my best customer.
And then, one day, he kinda just stopped showing up.
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC, muttering ] I could think I was more than a customer... [loudly] But look, that's -- that's not the lede here -- that's not the big story. The big story is: how did we meet...today! [Mike laughs] I don't mean that... literally, I just mean like.. We're meeting, now I'm on the team! I'm part of your squad! What do we do next? Do I -- Are you going to let me help you - aren't you -- we gotta find ... Vi-shash-tinuh..or whatever the...thing... is? We got a secret mission, let's do it!
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Why are you so excited about this? [Nick laughs]
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] Because earlier today I thought I was going to die without food and water in a weird prison I didn't understand [group laughs] I'm still kind of running -- I'm still kind of riding the high of being rescued and having my life saved. Which is weird, I aged sixty years; I found out a lot of my friends and family died in a plague while I was in the prison... and I'm handling it great, so don't...don't worry about me! I'm doing fine.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Oat it sounds like you're just putting off these feelings, and processing them..but you know what, that's what I like about you: you have no regard for the future.
> Shannon / Beta: [IC, ethereally] Oat. [ OOC ] and Beta's having a little hard time with, with the...
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] Use your words...move your mouth. No, you don't have a mouth, do ya? [Taylor laugh]
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC, laughing] No [Jenn laughs] > Mike / G.M.: Rude, Oat...Rude [laughs]
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] She's not really understanding who she can mind speak with and show she can't [ IC, speaking aloud ] Oat, have you...
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] Ah, there you go, I can hear you now > Shannon / Beta: [IC] Have you been a Stillfleeter before?
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] Verrryy briefly. You know it used to be that every time a squad went out...through... the stiffworks or whatever ... they always took a Harajoon -- we were considered good luck! I look around, I see that that tradition has maybe changed in the last few decades. But I... was I official...member of the honorable Co? [ waffling ] Nuhhh... you know... I don't want to put names on it...But nah, I've been on jobs... I was on a lot of jobs. I've freelanced stuff, I've worked with groups... yeah I think that answers your question [ nervous loudness ] does anyone else have a question on a different subject? [ Nick laughs ]
> Mike / G.M.: Most of you would be familiar..and not to... I might cut this part out.. Most of you would be familiar with the fact that, on Spin, there is a... population of people who are not supposed to be there, but are basically hiding in plain sight.
[01:30:12]
> Nick / Vynos: [ OOC ] Right
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] Merkis doesn't really drink [ laughs ] ...and is basically a child. [ group laughter ]
> Bijan / Remy: [IC] Merkis, you doin' alright? --
> Nick / Vynos: [ OOC ] Merkis is wasted.
> Bijan / Remy: [IC] -- you look a little wobbly over there, bud.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] But usually his whole body is mucousy to keep him cool, but because of the wasabi effect of the DRONK, he's sort of like...his whole body sneezed? Just sort of flared up -- pores have flared up, and he just feels like his whole body is on fire. So he's just fanning himself, and his little lizard tongue is long and just kind of sticking out like a thirsty dog. [IC, nervous panting] Heyyy.... Ahh.... what did what did...what did I drink?? [IC nervous laughter]
> Mike / Stephen Patrick Morrissey: [ OOC ] Morrissey sees this happening and he goes [IC] Oh. We have something for this. [ Bijan laughs ] [ OOC ] And he reaches into another cabinet and he pulls out what looks like a large toothpaste container [ Jenn laughs ] and hands it to you without explaining anything.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] Merkis just starts, with both hands, squeezing it over his head, which still has the shot glass, so he's just ... whatever it is!
> Mike / GM: A bunch of clear goop comes out and it feels very cooling. > Jenn / Merkis: [IC] [ muttering sounds of relief ]
> Mike / Stephen Patrick Morrissey: [ IC ] It is an unfortunate stereotype, but ... Jalasti can't hold their liquor. [ Bijan laughs ]
> Jenn / Merkis: [IC, slurring] What're you guys talking about --
> Bijan / Remy: [IC, laughing] Morrissey!
> Jenn / Merkis: [IC, slurring] I don't know what you're talking about
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] Merkis, you're doin' great! You're doin' fine. --
> Bijan / Remy: [IC] You're doin' great bud, you're doing great. You're doing great.
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] You're safe here, with us... your team!
> Jenn / Merkis: [IC, ethereally, though still slurring] Beta! When you marry Algar...can I help? [very meekly] Can I carry the rings?
> Shannon / Beta: [IC, ethereally] Oh! Well it's not reeeeeally in the diagram right now... it's y'know...it's not really in the plan. But, you know.. Maybeeee...... and... Yeah, sure, sure! [ OOC ] Beta is lying. [ Mike, Bijan, and Nick laugh ] Beta kind of leans over the bar, to Morrissey, and is like: [ IC ] I normally ask people what the oldest thing they remember is, but ... maybe you could tell me the ... newest ... thing you remember? [ Nick laughs ]
> Mike / Stephen Patrick Morrissey: [ IC ] It would be the moment I was sent back, from my time, to search for demons...in your time.
> Bijan / Remy: [IC] Did you find any, bud?
> Mike / Stephen Patrick Morrissey: [ OOC ] He looks at you with very narrow eyes and he
says [ IC ] .... Maybe.
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Siiiiick....I wanna hear all about it! -- > Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] No
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] -- what do they look like?
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] No you don't! [Mike, Nick laugh]
> Mike / Stephen Patrick Morrissey: [ IC ] Let me tell you about the demons.
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC, resigned ] Oh boy...
> Mike / Stephen Patrick Morrissey: [ IC ] They are all around us. Anyone and everything could be a demon. You must be very, very ... [ so quiet it's almost inaudible ] careful.
> Bijan / Remy: [IC] But how...like how do you tell?
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] No, don't! He's... GAH. [ Mike, Jenn laugh ] He's reached a natural
stopping point, don't egg him on, we'll be here for six cycles!
> Bijan / Remy: [IC] I just wanna know! Look, I wanna know things!
> Mike / Stephen Patrick Morrissey: [ IC ] There is a short, thirty-six part process, in identifying the demon... unless you are a mongrel, in which case it comes very naturally.
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] Ahh! Morrissey, I, you know what? [ Mike laughs ] I think I have some of that literature you gave me about seventy years ago, your time.
> Mike / GM: [laughing] He pulls down a chart that's [ all laughing ] on a projector screen
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] Yeah.... I got this... I got a smaller version of this. I'll just give it to these
folks.
> Mike / GM: [laughing] There's a bunch of boxes connected by lines [ Jenn laughs ]
> Jenn / Merkis: [ OOC ] With that, Merkis falls backwards, his eyes rolling back into his head [ Jenn laughs ].
> Taylor / Oat: [ OOC ] Oh no! I want to catch Merkis!
> Bijan / Remy: [ OOC ] Can I do a movement check to catch Merkis?
> Mike / GM: Yeah, you can all successfully catch Merkis.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] [murmuring drunken groans]
> Mike / Stephen Patrick Morrissey: [ OOC ] Stephen Patrick Morrissey collects all of your empty glasses, and says: [ IC ] I think you've had enough.
> Jenn / Merkis: [ IC ] Oh... calamaris!....
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC ] Thank you, Morrissey, we'll take this little one to bed.
> Mike / Stephen Patrick Morrissey: [ IC ] Oat. Whenever you need something to do with your time, you are more than welcome to tend bar at Zona --
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] *gasp*
> Mike / Stephen Patrick Morrissey: [ IC ] -- I could use the break.
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC, whispering at first ] ...so the answer's yes? You can give me a job?? [Mike laughs]
> Mike / GM: You can't tell because they're so high up, but if you were a foot and a half taller, you'd be able to see Morrissey slightly roll his eyes and go [ IC ] ... Yes.
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] Awwwww... Morrissey thank you so much! You have no idea, this is such a huge help for me! I've got a place to live -- [ OOC ] he winks at Combot
[ IC ] -- I got a job -- [ OOC ] he winks at Morrissey
[ IC ] -- I got a better job I'm more excited about -- [group laughs] [ OOC ] he winks at the gang. [ IC ] And everybody who remembers all the trouble I was in is dead! [ group laughs] Everything is coming up Oat!
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] Awww... [01:35:06]
> Bijan / Remy: [IC] You have a new lease on life, my friend. You know they used to call that: "born again."
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] Huh. I like the sound of that! ... Born again. [ Mike laughs ] That's me! Born again Oat!
> Bijan / Remy: [ IC, happily ] Oat born twice. Twice-born Oat.
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] So, uh ... look.... I'm just going to cut straight with you, since I know that you're kinda doing a secret mission in with the Co. and on Spin and everything... I also used to get up to a little...uh...let's say uh... darker market ...than is strictly passable in the polite society of Spin and other ...eh... locations, if you understand what I'm saying?
> Nick / Vynos: [ IC ] Quite clearly, yes.
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] Yeah! [ Taylor and Mike laugh ] So..uh...you know, if you were to need...help... I don't want to say stealing anything... but I was known to be quite the Jackal in my day.
> Nick / Vynos: [ IC ] Nimble fingers can be quite, quite, quite the gift, to a team such as ours... [trailing off]
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] That is exactly what I was hoping to hear. So, you know! Just because I am an assistant, I am here at your discretion, and pleasure. If you need me, come on by, I'll be right here...you know...wiping uh... glasses down, and um.... [ more loudly, addressing Stephen Patrick Morrissey ] Not to sound, er...ungrateful, Morrissey! [ normal volume, to the gang ] But
uh, please come get me, please get me out of here, I want to go on adventures and make a lot of money with you. [ Mike laughs ]
> Nick / Vynos: [ IC ] Oh believe us, we will be in touch.
> Shannon / Beta: [ OOC ] And Beta hands Oat the key that she made for him, and also says: [ IC, sing-song voice ] And you're going to need to check the chore-chart, when you get home... And believe me the chores are not what you think they're going to be, I don't care if things are clean. [ Jenn laughs ]
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] Give me one example...of a chore.
> Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] You gotta, um... re-arrange my diorama! [ Mike, Jenn laugh ]
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC, hesitantly ] ...okay!
> Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] I feel like it's almost, like in the diorama, it's almost like I'm experiencing it. If I act it out -- Sometimes, we'll have to act out scenes [trailing off]
> Taylor / Oat: [ IC ] This is going to be great. You're going to be a great roommate, I can tell. > Shannon / Beta: [ IC ] Mmhmm! [ suddenly remembering ] Don't touch my paper.
[ Musical interlude, light harp playing, fades out and Float City theme begins ]
> Mike / GM: You are now leaving: Float City. Thanks for listening, if you want to support the show, get access to bonus one-off episodes, our bi-weekly post-episode chat show "Fun Chatty," and our discord: head on over to patreon.com/funcityventures And of course, thanks to all our current patrons for keeping this ship afloat. We'd also love it if you told your pals about the show, shared it on social media, drew us some fan art, give us a rating on iTunes, or just came by to say "Hey," on Twitter.
[Music fades out]
> Bijan / Remy: Hi, I'm Bijan Stephen, and I play Remy Tester on Float City. You can find me online: On Twitter, @bijanstephen, on Twitch, at the same name, and on Instagram @bijancakes
> Jenn / Merkis: I'm Jenn De La Vega, I play Merkis Imeldar. You can find me on Twitter and Instagram: @randwiches That's the word "sandwiches" but replace the "s" with an "r"!
> Shannon / Beta: This is Shannon O'Dell, I play Beta Combot. You can find me on social: @shodell
> Nick / Vynos: Hello! This is Nick Guercio, and I play Luxe on Fun City and Vynos on Float City. You can find me @nicholasguercio on Twitter and @nguercio on Instagram.
> Taylor / All The Cool, Interesting Characters : I'm Taylor Moore and I play all of the cool, interesting characters, you can follow me @taylordotbiz [ evil chuckling ]
> Mike / GM: My name is Mike Rugnetta, I am your G.M., and you can find me on Twitter and Instagram: @mikerugnetta You can find the show on Twitter and Instagram: @funcityventures Float City is played in a soon-to-be-released system called Stillfleet, which you can find on Twitter, Instagram and Patreon: @stillfleet This episode of Float City was recorded at various locations around Brooklyn, New York, and was produced, edited and sound designed by me, Mike Rugnetta. "Like the birds in their nest, Are ready for Pixelriffs; And sport no more seen, On the darkening Green."
[01:40:00]
> Mike / GM: Fun City's music is by Sam Tyndall, who has just released a treasure trove of old work from his project "ArpLine," that I highly recommend: find it on streaming services and at the link in the show notes. Remy's flute-playing is by Jake Fridkis. Our art is by Tess Stone. Our Discord mods are Olivia Gulin, Kitt Pulliam, and Kestrel; and the voice of Artemis is Molly Templeton.