Vaesen - This Too is a Gift, Episode 1

[00:00:01] Speaker A: Hello friends, and welcome to another single surfing tabletop adventure from Queen's court games. I am Aaron, and tonight I am stepping out from behind the GM screen and trying to remember what it's like to be a player as we strike out into the frozen north on a quest to solve some mythical mysteries. Tonight we're playing. This too is a gift, an original scenario for Vezin written by our very special guest GM. I'll be introducing that GM in just a moment, but first I intend to procrastinate by introducing the rest of the cast. You know who I am, which means I can skip directly to our social media menace. Tonight. Playing outdoor occultist Elizabeth Jensen, it's Laura Tutu. [00:00:40] Speaker B: Hello. [00:00:42] Speaker A: Next up, part time producer, full time fiend playing the dashing detective Axl Rowlin. It's Katoace. [00:00:50] Speaker C: Oh, hello. [00:00:52] Speaker A: We have two incredible special guests tonight. The first playing probably a doctor, Draco Markovich. We know him as Jonathan. You know him as Latinos against spooky shit. And lastly, but not leastly, our special guest GM. Drawing on his deep expertise of the frozen north, its bleak season bolshois, you can find links to their assorted social media accounts by sending exclamation point in chat or use exclamation point scenario if youre interested in exploring Vezin for yourself. Also, tonights story may include topics certain viewers find uncomfortable or objectionable, including insects, occultism, self harm and violence. You can use exclamation point safety to see a complete list in the chat or check the show notes below if you're getting whistle on podcast or on YouTube. The cast and I have discussed our lines and veils in advance via session zero and have agreed to a code of conduct to ensure a safe and respectful environment where we want everyone at home to stay safe as well. The chat is buzzing about everyone being multilingual and at this point I have not ever found a good time in gaming to show off the fact that I speak Arabic, because that's a very specific kind of game that you don't generally get to introduce those words into. We'll come back to that later. For now, it is my forever Gm honor to give the reins to bleak season. Bleak season. Will you tell us a story? [00:03:21] Speaker D: Amazing, my friends, this too is a gift. First short poem the uses of sorrow by Mary Oliver in my sleep I dreamed this poem. Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too was a gift. Well, some gifts come from tenderness, and others still from cruelty or even indifference. They all have the power to heal us or destroy us. The act of giving, to take from what we have and to give to someone else, is an act of sacrifice that should never be undertaken lightly. Even a gift made in love can turn to poison in the mouth of the receiver if time plays its usual destructive role. Once gods were worshipped through the act of sacrifice, it was fitting tribute to those who held dominion over us. Power of life and death could turn crops to dust, wine to ash in our mouths, love to burning hatred. The mistake to avoid is thinking that only gods have that power over us, that power to upend our world with but the gift of a careless word or action. To know ourselves loved and cherish is a gift. To know ourselves as infinitely vulnerable and to welcome pain as a long lost friend. This, too, is a gift. It is 1841. We find ourselves in Uppsala, Sweden. The city, much like the rest of the country, is a most interesting and challenging period. The past clashes with the future as the old ways are abandoned, along with farms, forests, and the rural lifestyle. A great number of people who choose instead the grimy comforts of the quickly industrializing cities. But we may believe we abandoned the old ways behind in our rush to the cobblestones and the smokestacks and the tight quarters of city living. But the old ways never truly abandoned us. In the shadowy corners, beneath stone steps, in the hush of hesitant conversation, in the hearts and minds of those who remember the old ways. Old sway still and watch us, and in some cases, haunt and stalk us. But it is rarely as simple as a case of us versus them. Too often, it's the age old song of us versus ourselves. And the sounds of folk and myth are but the echoes of our own fears and uncertainties in the face of change. The monster, as they say, often slumbers within us. The four of you are members of the Hellstrom Society, a fairly recent convocation of people who have special gift, a special ability to see. Creatures known as Vasen, who have the ability to hide themselves from human eyes. You, or most of you in any case, can see them, can interact with them. And so the lawyer, Bertholdt Gerrard, has brought you together in the hopes of lending assistance to the citizens who perhaps may not be able to defend themselves as well against these creatures, but also to unravel the mysteries that come behind them. You've been summoned in this particular night to attend the lawyer at his home office in Uppsala. The four of you will arrive at different times. I would assume, perhaps, that we will start with the colonel. As the colonel. Perhaps this afternoon, uh, was taking weekly tea with his friend, um, Bertolt, um, when Bertholdt made perhaps an unexpected offer to the colonel. But if you would, Aaron, tell us a little bit about the colonel. Who he is, what he looks like, perhaps, and what we should know about them. [00:07:58] Speaker A: I dont think I have to tell too many people about Colonel Johann Berglund, or as he is more commonly known, the thunder of Karlstad, because you are all in the presence of a genuine war hero. In the last 30 years, there have been countless skirmishes between the various scandinavian countries, occasionally Germans getting a little too german on the border, and it falls upon men like Colonel Berglund to turn the tide back in the favor of the swedish people. He is an artillery commander, most famous for a daring and reckless, the kind of thing you get court martialed for if it doesn't work. A strike against an oncoming enemy. Where it was his cannons that kept firing, despite the call to retreat that turned the tide. He's an older man. Those glory days are a bit behind him. He is in his mid fifties, standing probably about 510, 511, possessed of the mandatory military hairstyle at the time, which is to say giant wavy locks, enormous mutton chops, a kind of beard that will be very fashionable when World War one aviation comes around. But absolutely nothing in the chin region. Inverse of me. Take all this hair and then put it somewhere else, then you've got it. He has very weather worn features. Many, many nights spent out in the frost, in the wind, so it's almost like a rock face that has been chiseled by the elements and eyes sunken in by someone who has seen the true horrors of war in this era. Of course, now that he's not a soldier, he's had time to spend more of his evenings with food and drink, so that that young, athletic build has given way to a bit of a paunch. He's starting to resemble the cannonballs he's hauled, more than he probably wants to. But that said, after this many years in uniform, this many years as a hero of the swedish people, so he would say, you can never shake that statue or the gate. The way that he holds himself as he enters this office. What is that relationship? I suppose the afternoon tea that we were having is about Colonel Berglin's desire for adventure. There is something awful about having gone, living a million miles an hour in a world full of smoke and powder to then what? You sit down and you write your memoirs. That is how old men die. And Colonel Bergland is not ready to die quite yet. It was over that conversation that our mutual acquaintance said, hey, if you need something to keep your skills sharp, to keep your brain moving, I have someone you should meet. [00:10:46] Speaker D: And indeed, as you return to the office from your afternoon, t Haven discussed the things that older gentlemen do, as the lawyer himself is quite advanced in age, a scrawny but still quite energetic man with receding hair and a monocle and an impeccably tailored white suit. As you climb the stairs up to his office, he says, I'm glad that you have an interest in this proposition. Well, the people that I've managed to gather so far are all quite well meaning. Very, very smart, very educated, very courageous, all of them. But they lack a little of that, you know, that sometimes is necessary. And I find that more and more, these little investigations I send them on, well, let's just say that the amount of physical violence they've begun encountering a little too much. And I fear that some of them, due to the lack of experience with such matter, May. Well, then we may have to deal with a tragedy sooner rather than later. And it would be a great comfort to me to have someone of your experience, of course, in your caliber, out there on the field, keeping a good eye on them. [00:12:10] Speaker A: I appreciate absolutely more than happy. Look, I haven't spent the last 30 or 40 years of my life turning young swedish men and women into warriors. To have forgotten it all, left it aside. No one in this country that is more capable of turning these folk into fine specimens of outdoorsmanship. And, you know, if they need a good hand with a rifle or a crack across the back with a sword, I'll be right there. [00:12:34] Speaker D: Or, of course, with a magic wand. And as he says this, he opens the door and he reveals a young woman sitting at his desk, waiting for the two of you. And Laura, could you introduce us to who this person is? [00:12:55] Speaker B: Upon entering, the two gentlemen will see a young woman, no older than late twenties, with a fair amount of very curly black hair that is braided down her back and covered with a kerchief. The best way to describe her countenance would be country. She wears a lot of layers which would be appropriate for this area of the world. Skirts, scarves, cardigan, a jacket and gloves. She has a number of. Of medallions around her neck, trinkets of varying sizes, shapes with different symbology on them, and they match the. The rings that you can see peeking out from the gloves that have their fingertips cut off. She's toying with a small trinket, little beads and a little bell that just sort of jingle as she twists it in between her fingers. This would be Elisabet Jensen, occultist, spellworker. She doesn't talk about it much. [00:14:17] Speaker D: Colonel. Colonel Berglin, if I may introduce Elizabeth Jensen. Elizabeth, this is the colonel I was speaking of yesterday. He has agreed to accompany you and the rest of the group to Stavanger this week. Please, have a seat, colonel. We're expecting a few more people. And he goes around and he calls out for his man to start bringing in some tea and some cognac to drink, whatever. So, giving two of you a few moments to introduce yourselves. [00:14:55] Speaker A: Well, delightful to meet you. Extending a hand, that is. It's it. Bear's paw. [00:15:03] Speaker B: Hello. It's, um. It's nice to meet you, Colonel. I've heard much about your exploits. [00:15:12] Speaker A: I will, uh. I appreciate to be known, but, of course, modesty is. Is a great thing to have, so I hope all of it was good. I can't believe everything you read in the papers. And, uh. I'm sorry, I don't mean to cut past anything, but our friend, he said a magic wand, right? [00:15:33] Speaker B: Oh, yes. And I'll take from the. The folds of my skirt. It's a simple wand. It's carved wood with a leather wrapped handle. Just sort of gesture with it and put it back on its little leather thong. [00:15:55] Speaker A: Whether or not Colonel Berglund is a believer in that kind of thing, whether or not he's encouraged it, there's a certain. Not incredulity. It's not mean spirited. It's temporary. We'll see what happens. That there are lots of people who call themselves wizards and are charlatans, so you never really know until. Until actual spells are flying. But he's not dismissive or mean about it, just a little cautious. [00:16:20] Speaker B: Oh, of course. That's understandable. You never know who claims to have the sight. [00:16:28] Speaker A: Well, if our good friend is capable, as he says, about bringing true talents together, I have no doubt in your abilities. Pleasure to be alongside you. [00:16:40] Speaker B: Pleasure is mine. [00:16:43] Speaker D: Berdolt arrives with a little tray on. I just got several bottles and some tea. I myself am quite all teed out right now, but I do have some cognac and some vodka here. But, of course, tea also. What? May I. And he's about to serve you. There's a discreet knock at the door, and the door opens, and this burly, redheaded man with this big, thick, red mustache kind of pokes his head in and goes, the others are here, sir. Should I show them in? Oh, yes. Greg, Howard, please. Please, let them in tea or something a little stronger for you, Miss Jensen? [00:17:22] Speaker B: Tea will be fine. [00:17:24] Speaker D: There you are. And he starts pouring, and you hear clomping up the stairs. A couple more sets of feet may climb up outside in the hall. Rollin, you. I've been here several times before. You've worked for the lawyer several times. Perhaps not so much in the same capacity as you're expecting to work now, but you've been here. So the carpeted stairwell, stairways, the little oil lamps on either side, the art on the wall. All this is very familiar to you, however, doctor. It is for you, perhaps the first time that you visit with lawyer Bertholdt Gerhard. The place is, of course, immaculate, impeccable, fine, nice taste. But there is something about the place that to your more, let's call them open senses, you feel a certain kind of like a nexus of possibilities. This is a place where decisions are made and actions are taken that alter the course of things. You do feel, to a certain degree, the sort of importance here. And you feel like you're now part of it. Difficulties you've been having in sorting out everything in your head about what's happened and what's going on in all these things that you remember. The sort of conflicted feeling you felt, the chaos you felt, if it doesn't abate completely, at least suddenly feels like this might be a place for answers, or at least be a conduit for these answers. And so it feels good to be here. And the man at the door upstairs, the burly gem I described before, opens the door and motions you inside. You find the lawyer serving some tea. You find the colonel, and you find Miss Jensen sitting near the desk, who steps into the office. And let's go with Rollin first, who probably would lead the way, being more familiar with the grounds. [00:20:00] Speaker C: Rollin kind of glides into the room. He's a tall, willowy, thin man with dark black hair with a streak of white going through it. And he's got probably the most noticeable thing on his face is that he has a massive scar that runs from kind of his forehead down to his cheek, and his left eye is entirely white. And upon looking at him, you realize that he's entirely blind in that eye. He stands in a fine black suit with a waistcoat and tie at his hip. He has a revolver in his kind of overcoat. You see his kind of laden with various items. He wears a gold braided band on his left fourth finger. And he surveys the room with sort of a. Perhaps not haughtiness, but scrutinizing every minor detail in the space and looks at the two that he does not recognize. Kurt nods to both of them and looks to the lawyer and says, ah, lovely to see you again. [00:21:25] Speaker D: Ah, hola, mon Ami. C'est un plaisir de vrevoir. And he comes over and shakes your hand. I see you've brought a friend with you. [00:21:35] Speaker C: Yes, I'd like to introduce you to my friend. He's a doctor. I think you'd find him to be very useful. [00:21:43] Speaker D: Doctor. Please come in. [00:21:47] Speaker E: Doctor Drago steps. Whereas was following Roland before. Steps around them. Now to be shoulder to shoulder with him. Not a very tall person. Five five average, stout, pot bellied. Life as a doctor has been good to them. A lot of hair on his beard, bald, balding. He's got just hair on the sides there, noticeably. Just standard house visiting doctor attire. He's got his trench coat from being out in the harsh winters. He's got a suit, always carrying his medical bag, which is a combination of partially medical equipment and then documents and files and folders and everything else that he needs for keeping track of medical records when he travels. Ring on his thumb, no other jewelry. And then, of course, he's always got his handkerchief, which has been dabbed in some tinctures and different oils that he's gotten accustomed to carrying around for when visiting the ill. He has something to cover himself with and smell through, but he steps to the side, instinctually sniffs his handkerchief and pockets it away really quickly, realizing that he's in formal company, and extends a hand. Yes, Doctor Drago, it's a pleasure. Roland has mentioned you in passing, but this is the first time I've been here. [00:23:14] Speaker D: Hopefully it won't be the last. Please step in. Help yourselves. There's tea and other libations there. My friends, I realize you don't necessarily all know each other, but you will have time to get to know each other very shortly. I am very grateful for you all to have made the time to come here today and to agree to hear me out. As some of you know, perhaps more than others, we are engaged in a type of work here that is perhaps outside the bounds of what you might normally expect a lawyer's office to be involved in. In fact, perhaps outside the bounds of you that you would expect anybody to be involved with. All of you are here because in some way, shape or form, your lives have been touched at some point by. Well, let's just call them the ones from the other side. The. The spirits, the ancient powers, the ancient forces that live here. Some of you perhaps have not necessarily seen them very concretely, but if you do not, at the mention of such creatures, run away in the other direction, laughing and calling for the nearest sanitarium to come and pick me up, then I will take that to mean that while you may not perhaps be fully prepared to believe in all of this, you are at least not prepared to disbelieve either. We have been engaged for some time in several investigations throughout all of Scandinavia that have opened our eyes to what is really out there and what really exists and how the forces that perhaps we think have long gone by and removed themselves to the deepest forests, the deepest holes in the earth, still very much around and still very much have touch our lives from day to day. A real problem, however, has been one of a more traditional sort. What I would like from you, my friends, and you will, of course, be compensated for this. What I would like from you is to embark on a small diplomatic and fact finding mission for me. There is a company called Loch Spindler Industries. They are engaged in all sorts of businesses, from logging to fisheries to mining, etcetera, etcetera. And we have found them inextricably linked to several of the cases that we've investigated in the past few years. We've become aware of them as a player that perhaps also recognizes the power of, well, the older ways, the older stories, the older folk, and have either found ways to use and abuse them, or have come across them and fell, felt their wrath. We received a letter a few days ago from the dockmaster at Stevanger, and there's a nice big map of Scandinavia behind this desk that you can see. And Stavanger is on the northeast, northern west coast. It appears that this shipyard, which is owned by Loch Spindler, has recently suffered several mishaps, including some form of disease that has spread very quickly throughout the ranks of the workers, several accidents of unexplainable nature. We believe that there are some of these powers at work there opposing Locke Spindler. Now, as I've said, we found Loch Spindler to be enmeshed in a lot of these investigations, and we do not consider them friends. We do not yet 100% understand exactly where they stand. We do know they are not friends, but the people who work for them, for the most part, are innocents, simply people trying to go about their day doing their jobs, and, well, they shouldn't be suffering because their bosses are, well, unlikable. If you agree, what I would like you to do is tomorrow to get on a train to Stavanger they're to meet the dock master, investigate the area, see if indeed there is the presence of those we call the vasin there, or if these are just natural byproduct of the type of industry they are engaged in, but also to use the opportunity to get a look at their operations. And the people who are there perhaps try to find a bit of more information about exactly what Locke Spindler has been up to. This is a mission that will require tradecraft, of course, but also a lot of diplomacy and also perhaps a touch of, well, touch of powers that are not from our realm, as we might understand it. In short, you would be the perfect group to do this. I know this is short notice, and I know some of you have not worked for us before, but I would very much, very much like it if you were to accept this particular mission of mine. Do you have any questions? Perhaps we could go to see if there's anything I can answer that might help you make your minds up. Drago. [00:29:43] Speaker C: What say you? [00:29:46] Speaker E: Drago is eep in a second cup of tea with biscuits in his mouth. He's up. Slurps it down. So this conglomerate of people here, looking towards Elizabeth and the colonel, they've been able to see. They have what you guys refer to as the site, then, as he kind of looks towards each one of them for confirmation. Okay, and the site is a recent thing that you all and have found, or. [00:30:44] Speaker B: I've been. I've been able to see things as they are since I was a little girl. [00:30:58] Speaker A: I've come later than most, you see. Strange enough things on the battlefield. Some things stranger even than those. [00:31:10] Speaker E: And then, Rowland, you've been very adamant before in times that we've spoken, that you're investigating things outside of the normal. When you've asked me for help, as it were. [00:31:29] Speaker C: I certainly have. And I just stare deep into your eyes. [00:31:40] Speaker A: I'm sorry, we seem to be talking around the matter. Are you asking because you can't have. [00:31:48] Speaker C: Very perceptive, Colonel. [00:31:54] Speaker E: The sight seems to be a gift yet to be bestowed on me, it would seem. But not to say that I'm not piqued in curiosity. [00:32:12] Speaker A: We'll see if that survives our. Our first trek. But I've no worries. Obviously, if you've been invited to this meeting, it's because you have skills that are finely honed and deeply necessary for the work that we'll be able to do. [00:32:25] Speaker D: Given the reports indicate a disease spreading through the town, I thought it would be imprudent to send a lot of you out there without at least one medical specialist to keep you safe. And as it happens, the doctor here is a specialist in, well, post mortem examinations. And, well, I would assume there would be a number of bodies to investigate out there. So with my good friend doctor Oscar Ackerman unavailable for this particular jaunt, I asked Roland if they knew anyone that they would recommend. And, well, they recommended a good doctor here. I have full confidence in his ability to find more than one ways to be useful in this trip. [00:33:14] Speaker C: I clap Drago on the shoulder and I say, entrust him with my life. I have in the past. [00:33:23] Speaker E: Drago turns to you to acknowledge you and give you a look in earnest, and he finds himself with a hanker again in his hand, covering his nose. He looks at it disapprovingly, puts it back away, and almost an old habit that he's picked up that he's trying to stop from doing. Roland, I appreciate that. It's true I've been dismissive in the past, but. Well, unless this is one giant farce, I suppose that I am almost forced to believe that there is something beyond. I don't think the colonel would lie, having been a man of renown. So that would be. Not that I don't trust you, Rowdyn. But you understand when you tell me that. [00:34:09] Speaker D: Yeah, such an opinion is always a good thing. [00:34:12] Speaker C: Yes, indeed. [00:34:16] Speaker A: And perhaps it's given my background, but a few logistical questions. Do we have transportation to the site arranged? Are there accommodations waiting for us? We'll be scrounging from the field, as it were. [00:34:29] Speaker D: I've made arrangements for you to travel by train to Stavanger tomorrow, overnight. The trip is a little over 15 hours. I do believe you will do most of that overnight so that you arrive in the morning ready to take to the field, as it were. I have been assured that there will be lodging available for you at Stavanger. You will, of course, be given enough funds to secure your own if they are not to your liking, or if they prove to be lack in any way, shape or form beyond that, Krakauer. And the door opens and this man comes in. Yes, sir. If you will, before my friends leave here, if you will take down any details about any particular equipment they feel they might need and provide it for them. Absolutely, sir. Before you leave, do, do let my man Krakauer here know what you may need. He will also, if you need, be ready tomorrow to take you to the train station and to pick you up once you return. Beyond that, are there any other concerns that you have. [00:35:49] Speaker E: Drago? Kind of addresses everybody. He's like, you know, if we're not traveling till tomorrow, I feel if we're going to be embarking on this journey together, it'd be best that we at least get to know one another. Well tonight, before diving headfirst into whatever chaos awaits us, I'd like to know that the people that I'm with will have my back. I'm not much of a fighter, but I promise to keep us all healthy at the very least. So I think some base level trust would be nice. [00:36:29] Speaker D: I think that's probably a good idea. [00:36:33] Speaker C: Rowland is leaning along the sideboard, just watching the room. [00:36:38] Speaker D: Miss Jensen, you've not spoken much. [00:36:42] Speaker B: I. I suppose. Do we have any inkling of what it is we could be facing? There are so many different creatures that can be stirred up in instances like this. [00:37:01] Speaker D: The last two investigations that our society has performed that involved Loch Spindler and retribution against Loch Spindler. And I'm sorry if what I'm about to say may be perhaps a little bit outside the canon for some of you, but I'm sure you will come to have experience enough soon enough. But in both cases, we were dealing with different types of revenants that had the ability to propagate disease, both at the logging camp and at the fisheries. We were dealing with ancient norse spirits. A wo na draga. Another one, a spirit of some sort of lanvit here, a vice who had not been engaged by Locke Spindler and not necessarily meant to target Lock Spindler, but had found themselves reacting to Locke Spindler's presence in the area. Everyone at the fishery camp was found dead by Marguerite and some of the others from the society. They eventually were able to banish the spirit who was called Scotty in the logging camp. They were dealing with a Draugr who had been receiving regular sacrifices to appease him. And when these sacrifices went well, stopped happening. The Draugr retaliated by simply taking the lives that he needed to sustain himself. And he did this by spreading a disease that was, by doctor Ackerman's accounts, not unlike a form of pestilence. In this particular case, the draugr was also stopped in extremis, not by us, but by a group of people that are connected to us, but also a few outsiders who lent a hand. We were very lucky. In both instances, both these enemies were quite terrible and their power quite far reaching. I suspect that it is something similar. Locksmith has awakened something, perhaps without meaning to, that is not retaliating against them. I would certainly that close to the water. I would certainly look to the water for answers, first and foremost. [00:40:09] Speaker B: Well, if that is the case, I would appreciate use of the libraries. At the very least, I might be able to narrow down what we could be dealing with and prepare accordingly. [00:40:21] Speaker D: Absolutely. I will have Elias cobbled together a little traveling kit for you, with all the most useful books that may be of use in this particular instance. [00:40:33] Speaker B: Lovely. And whatever implements we might require, I imagine the colonel can handle the arms and the like, but there are some things that will not respond to simple bullets. [00:40:54] Speaker D: I would like to stress that. Well, both in the case of the draga and the Lanvatir, these are foes of remarkable power, and our people only prevailed through a fair dose of luck. I would strongly urge you to avoid confrontation if you can. It seems that more and more things that are awakening, especially in response to Locke Spindler, are of a very powerful variety, as you well know. Guns and such often don't have much impact on these creatures. I would strongly. Strongly urge caution and discretion. [00:41:49] Speaker B: Oh, I don't intend to run headlong into battle by any means, but I. The. The ability to hold or banish would likely be something to look into. [00:42:06] Speaker D: Absolutely. [00:42:07] Speaker C: Elizabeth. [00:42:08] Speaker D: I'm sorry. My. My recommendations were perhaps more for other people than for you, Miss Janssen. I know that you are not the type to rush heedlessly into danger. I'm sorry, Roland. You were going to say? [00:42:23] Speaker C: I wanted to ask. Elizabeth, if you wouldn't mind. I'd love to be part of the research. I think perhaps our insights combined could provide useful information to each other in this. [00:42:43] Speaker B: Very well. I imagine the two heads are better than one, as they say. [00:42:49] Speaker C: Certainly. And there are guaranteed to be things that I do not know, that you know, and perhaps that I know, that you do not know. [00:42:59] Speaker A: I suppose that leaves the doctor and I to provision ourselves and secure the necessary medical prophylactics for any foulness we might be experiencing. [00:43:09] Speaker E: That IO had been kind of just pacing back and forth near the little. I imagine they have one of those little fancy multi tiered trays with the different desserts and different. He's note taking, would walk by, snag a piece. Walk by, snag a piece, keep note taking. A little bit of crumbs on his. On his. In his beard as he scruffs it up. He's like, well, Colonel, I do think that that does leave the both of us. And I think that's a great idea. Clash's little journal puts it away. He's like, well, we can take inventory. Count on what we need and hopefully put something together. And then if Athenae and Rowland need anything specific, we can double check with them and see if we can procure it. Although I haven't the foggiest on what they might need and how we might procure it. So I look at the redheaded, bearded gentleman, or mustache gentleman, and be like, that would be you. [00:44:01] Speaker C: We'll make a list. [00:44:03] Speaker D: Yes, provide me a list of what you need. We do have quite. Quite a good store of things at the house at Hellstrom House. I will be able to find what it is that you need, and I will make sure that it's on board the train with you all tomorrow. Bertolt will chime in. Perhaps it might be a good idea then, for. I'm sorry, Miss Janssen, to take the rest of you to Hellstrom Manor, perhaps, where you can take a look at our inventories of things and have a little bit of time to get to know each other and discuss if you wish. You may find accommodations there also for tonight, if you want. But if you prefer to go back to your own beds, of course. It's quite understandable. My man Krakauer will take you if you wish. And if there's anything else that you need, please do not hesitate to ask him. He has my full confidence and well accessed to my coin purse. Um, he will provide whatever you feel is necessary. I do want to extend my personal thanks for undertaking this mission. I know that for some of you, it's perhaps a little strange to embark in on this. And, uh, I'm sure some of you, uh, feel a bit of trepidation at it. But as I was saying earlier, we've not yet had anything happen to our agents that they've not been able to walk away from. So I have full confidence that you will be able to not only solve this particular mystery, but, um, come out of it perfectly fine on the other side. [00:45:37] Speaker B: Well, it's been a bit quiet around here, to be perfectly honest. [00:45:40] Speaker D: That it has. That it has. [00:45:43] Speaker B: But, yes, Bertold, I would be happy to guide the others to the house, and we can begin our research. [00:45:52] Speaker D: Splendid. Splendid. [00:45:53] Speaker C: Much obliged. [00:45:56] Speaker D: Crack hour, like. If you are. I'll be downstairs getting the carriage ready. Just come down when you're ready. And he steps out. What would you like to do? [00:46:13] Speaker B: Well, if a lot of you are ready. [00:46:21] Speaker C: I should say. Drago, shall we? [00:46:25] Speaker E: Uh, yeah. Yes. No, that'd be. That'd be fine. If. If y'all could permit me a moment with the lawyer. [00:46:39] Speaker B: Of course. We'll certainly be downstairs. [00:46:43] Speaker C: I appreciate that I take my own handkerchief out. Out. And just dust the crumbs off of your chest. Go. There you go, Robin. [00:46:52] Speaker E: Always, always a dear. Thank you. [00:46:55] Speaker D: As you. The rest of you step outside, Elizabeth, you will hear the familiar voice of your companion say, would you like me to stay behind and see what this strange little man has to say to Bertholdt? [00:47:16] Speaker B: Yes, please. [00:47:19] Speaker E: Very well. [00:47:23] Speaker D: There are closes behind you. The three of you go downstairs. You will wait in the foyer with the secretary, who's a bright young man who is very chipper and always, always way too happy and too positive for, you know, the type of business that goes on here. Meanwhile, back in the office. Is everything okay, doctor? No. [00:47:47] Speaker E: Yes. Yes. I just wanted to give proper thanks for including me in this endeavor. And I had just a couple questions regarding the site. With me being one of those people that does not have it, and given circumstances, I understand the need for the colonel falling into and falling into an accent. I realize it's so easy for me to want to switch into it. But. [00:48:23] Speaker D: With these. [00:48:26] Speaker E: They sin. [00:48:28] Speaker D: Yes. [00:48:30] Speaker E: Is the objective to destroy? Or are you looking more for us to appease? What is the appropriate dealing with of these? Or is it on a circumstantial basis? [00:48:51] Speaker D: My good doctor, you could as soon destroy the whole of nature, then destroy some of these creatures. Many of them are an intrinsic part of the world around us, much more so than even we are. Some of them are aberrations, things that should have been dead a long time ago and have stayed dead for sure. Many of them simply cannot be destroyed. They can simply be convinced to remove themselves for a certain amount of time or to go off somewhere else. In some cases, it may be possible to banish them using complex rituals. This is something you may wish to speak with Elizabeth about. She is very knowledgeable about these things. Our number one objective is always the protection of innocent human lives, first and foremost. Second, to gain a deeper understanding of the forces at work, but also the relationships between these forces and us. Because very often what we find is that it is not a case of them being malicious. It is other problems. And the more we understand, the better it becomes. But at the end of the day, as long as no one is suffering, we've avoided catastrophes. That is what we seek to do, whether that takes banishment, confrontation, or simply sometimes diplomacy, or. Many of these. Many of these basin have, especially the ones that linger behind after they should have moved on, usually do so for a very specific reason. There is something they've not yet been able to accomplish or there is something that's holding them back. And very often, simply discovering what this thing is and helping them with it can send them on their way. It is often the easiest way to approach this. We all want something, and they're no different. [00:51:13] Speaker E: And have you found that most of these different ways in that you've encountered lately have been of the diplomatic mind? It's nice to see that the organization favors this kind of approach versus the let's see whose stick is bigger approach, which is something that I wanted to make sure would align with my own. [00:51:39] Speaker D: Moral first, do no harm. [00:51:42] Speaker E: Right. [00:51:47] Speaker D: The ones we've seen recently. Loch Spindler seems to have a very adverse impact on nature. And what we're seeing often now are some of these creatures who have become corrupted by the touch of Loch Spindler and so are behaving outside the bounds of their normal habits. [00:52:10] Speaker E: It's reactionary, almost like loxpindler is a. I don't know, say, disease that the nature is trying to get rid of. [00:52:17] Speaker D: Exactly. And so sometimes you have to put the horse down, but sometimes it can be nursed back to him. [00:52:28] Speaker E: Sure. I mean, it is. It's understood that, you know, sometimes animals will gnaw off their own arm before they let it fester the rest of the body. So. [00:52:41] Speaker D: Curious. I assure you that I do not expect you to. I do not expect you to do anything that would be outside of what you would consider to be the bounds of your moral co. [00:52:53] Speaker E: I appreciate you putting my mind at ease in that regard. I did not want to be part of an execution squad. Of course. [00:53:04] Speaker D: May I ask you a question of my own? [00:53:07] Speaker E: Of course. [00:53:08] Speaker D: You may feel free not to answer because in May, well, it may step over the line a little bit. As far as your personal relationship with Rollin, I've long been concerned a little bit about our friend's state of mind. When I. When I met Rollin, he was rather obsessed with certain things. And while I think he's managed to find some even keel, I do still sometimes fret that he may be. His mind may not be quite at ease. Would you say that I have grounds for worry, or would you say that I'm simply being too much of a mother hen? [00:53:57] Speaker E: Well, I will address this by saying that first and foremost, I am a physician, not a therapist. [00:54:02] Speaker D: Yes, I appreciate that, doctor, but as. [00:54:06] Speaker E: Such, you should not take my advice as legitimate medical advice. But as a friend of Rowlin, sometimes it is nice to be in love with what you do, and I don't think there's any harm in that, and I don't see Rowland being possessed or obsessed by their current. Should we call that a job description, their current affairs? They seem to be sound of mine to me, and that is from an unbiased friend that, uh, currently sees no. No issue with them. [00:54:44] Speaker D: Well, it is your turn to reassure me. I appreciate it greatly, daka. [00:54:48] Speaker E: Of course. It's. It's my job to keep everybody healthy. And if I felt like somebody was a problem, I think I'd let you know if that was going to be. [00:54:55] Speaker D: A. Oh, I don't want you to be, uh, to feel like you have to keep tabs on people for me. But, uh, perhaps if you do see that someone is in some sort of difficulty, perhaps take it up with them, just to make sure that. [00:55:07] Speaker E: Of course, I will address it with them before. You know. I'm not going to run off to mom and tell her so. [00:55:13] Speaker D: Oh, mom. I've not been called that in a long time. Thank you, doctor. He shakes your hand tell me, are you wearing the ring? [00:55:21] Speaker E: Yes. [00:55:23] Speaker D: Oh, that's a beautiful ring. I did not know you were a former military doctor. [00:55:29] Speaker E: Um. Oof. [00:55:32] Speaker A: Oof. [00:55:34] Speaker E: It's, uh. Yeah, it is a relic from a past life, if you will. [00:55:44] Speaker D: Yes, we all have those. I remember when I worked as a scullery boy so long ago. [00:55:52] Speaker E: Oh, I was about to ask if you had served, but you were okay. Everybody has their past. No judgment. [00:55:59] Speaker D: I just want to. Do you feel that he would impress on that? So I was just wondering if you felt that your character would have been caught short a little bit. [00:56:12] Speaker E: I think there is a moment of hesitation as they're grasping hands and he kind of turns the doctor's hand a little bit to get a better glance at the ring. The mention of it does kind of startle him. And I think I will press, actually, after and be like, you recognize the ring? Have you seen. Do you have a lot of members with former military experience besides the colonel? [00:56:42] Speaker D: Oh, no, but it's because it's exactly the same as the colonels. That's why I drew my attention. [00:56:50] Speaker E: I hadn't even noticed that he was wearing his. So does. [00:56:55] Speaker D: That's a question for Aaron then. Does the colonel regularly wear his academy ring or does it get lost amongst all the other bling? [00:57:04] Speaker A: No, I will tell you this. In any military academy, having the ring is the thing. Personal experience. We call them ring knockers, brackets. Derogatory because they always have it on and it's always smashing into things. So not having, like. Yeah. The only way that that ring is coming off is if the finger is already off too, and then you just put it on different finger. [00:57:32] Speaker D: All right, so, um. So then. So, yeah, so, yeah, yeah. See, uh, he is quite proud of it. In fact, uh, very rare that he manages to get ahold of his glass without it making quite a nice. You would know. But perhaps. And you can see that now that he's thinking about that, you know, he's got a little bit of a thing in his eye, but he's like. You might wish to speak with the colonel about it. Perhaps the two of you could reminisce. [00:58:06] Speaker E: Always a good conversational piece for. For new friends. I squeeze the hand back. And again, thank you for taking the time for reassuring me of. [00:58:18] Speaker D: Oh, please, I'm in your debt for accepting to travel with my people here and take good care of them. [00:58:25] Speaker E: So you said it. I'll bill you for it as I walk out. [00:58:31] Speaker D: Don't worry. I know all the tricks. I do the same. [00:58:36] Speaker E: And I'll meet everybody back downstairs. [00:58:40] Speaker D: Where you will be met by Krakauer, who has brought forth the Bertoltz carriage. Very nicely appointed, yet sober carriage in some ways. The lot of you will climb aboard, and you will ask if you have any stops you wish to make before heading to, um, Alstrom house or whether you're ready to go there. [00:59:09] Speaker A: Not on my head. [00:59:10] Speaker E: Yeah. Doctor Drago keeps most of his stuff in his back. [00:59:14] Speaker B: Everything I need that. [00:59:16] Speaker D: Okay, so he will take you across town quite rapidly. The lawyer's offices are not too far from the manor. The manor itself is built on a bit of a hill. Now, how about everyone gives me a. [00:59:28] Speaker E: Learning role, a first roll of the. [00:59:34] Speaker A: Game, and you pick something I'm bad at? [00:59:37] Speaker E: Yeah. [00:59:38] Speaker D: Remember to roll your logic and your. [00:59:42] Speaker A: Learning crystal of the game. [00:59:45] Speaker E: Are you rolling separately? [00:59:46] Speaker A: I'm okay. One success from me. [00:59:54] Speaker C: Whose success is for Rowland? [00:59:58] Speaker E: Hold on. Numbers are hard. There's gonna be two successes. [01:00:13] Speaker D: Anyone with at least the one success, we'll know a little bit of the history of Hellstrom House, where it was in many cases, the first official case of the Hellstrom society a long time ago. The family that lived there, the Hellstrom family, who were a family who had made their fortune in the logging industry. One night several years ago, like 20 years ago, the entire family had ended up dying. All except for Astrid, the youngest daughter, who had managed to escape the house before the murder sort of happened. And this was the first real case. Astrid was the first one to summon four people with the site to her. She had seen them in a dream. And she had had letters written to them, and they'd come, and they had investigated the situation and had found that there was an ancient family curse that was at play. They solved the situation. They banished. There was a ghost involved, a couple other things. And in the wake of this, Astrid, who lives, is blind and lives in a special home, had donated the house to the Hellstrom society as a thanks for solving the situation. And since then, it's become the official headquarters of the Hellstrom society. People come and go. There are some people who live here year round and so on forth. But it's more of a, you know, it's like the continental, but for. For, you know, scandinavian occult investigators. The house itself is that traditional old style gothic mansion on top of a hill, surrounded by a forest of trees that seem to have no leaves, regardless of what time of year it is. And an iron gate fence that goes around it. It's definitely been spruced up a little bit since the hell storm, since the Hellstrom society took over. But they kind of like the character of it. So they've maintained, you know, that sort of Tim Burton esque kind of feel to the place. As you are driven up to the front, there are a couple of servants that come out. There's a matri D and not a metre D, but what would you call that? [01:02:47] Speaker E: Butler. [01:02:48] Speaker D: The butler. That's the word I was looking for. Need an english teacher here, the butler and some of the other people who come out and will greet you. You will see a little bit of activity around the house. As Bertholdt was saying, a lot of the agents of the society are currently off on putting out a bunch of different fires. So there's not a lot of agents here. But there's still always a little bit of activity around the house as you step into the fire of the place. It is exactly as you would imagine it, with the, you know, big chandelier atop this beautiful double wide staircase that goes up with, you know, the polished wood banister and the deep red carpet and doors that leads everywhere. Art everywhere around the place. A big roaring fireplace. You will be given a just in the interest of time here. You will be given a brief tour of the place. You will be shown, if you want them, to, lodgings for the night, if you want. Krakauer will take you home after, if you want, also. But we'll say that after a little bit of time and kind of seeing the house, you will sort of be left to your own devices. So I would guess the way to go about this is at the beginning of every vase in game, there is a period in the travel where you get to tell me something that your character does or that happens to your character and that nets them an advantage later on. So we'll sort of fold that into this particular section here. I would like each of you to tell me what your character does for the first few hours there. What kind of room or research or equipment are like. What would your character sort of get up to? Tell me about a little something that happens to them in there that maybe gives them a little bit of an insight on things or, you know, a little bit of. A little bit, you know, gives them a little bit of energy, a little bit of courage. And then after that, we can have a late evening. They'll sit around cocktails so that you can get to know each other a little bit. And then before each of you goes to where you're supposed to go. Does that sound sound good for everybody? [01:04:58] Speaker E: Imagine we all said, no. [01:04:59] Speaker D: Well, you were getting this anyways. No, please go ahead. I was just going to say, so who does what? [01:05:09] Speaker A: I can. I can get mine out of the way because I think immediately there are two things I want to accomplish. One is not being caught up in the creepy research part, because my relationship with these creatures is entirely different than Elizabeth's relationship with these creatures. We have very different goals and very different purposes and very different roles on this exercise expedition. She is definitely the Ridley and I am the bishop, I think, when it comes to how we handle these things. I don't know if it's a perfect metaphor, but you get what I'm going for. So might make a show of helping move bags or whatever, performing some scandinavian masculinity. But the moment that has cleared, the colonel will excuse himself for a moment to light a pipe. And that is a ruse to let other people start to filter through the home. And then he can. He can move on, or I can move on my own accord. The goal there would be to find. I don't want to go to the library for a book. I'm hoping there's, like the equivalent of, like, a coffee table book. I don't need to go learn the entire history of Vezin, but I do want to look up the two specific ones that were mentioned, the Draugr and the land, to learn more about either the signs of their presence, like you think, the typical ghost in a movie, like the room gets colder, other things like that. Or, if that's nothing readily available, the ways that they hunt their prey so I can avoid being hunted, whichever of those is more likely to be not where Elizabeth is. [01:07:07] Speaker D: So my question to you is, will you ask for help or will you kind of try to? [01:07:11] Speaker A: Absolutely not. No, I've never asked for help in my entire life. [01:07:15] Speaker D: No problem. [01:07:17] Speaker A: The canon can be pointed the wrong way. When I was in school, and I'm not. No, I meant to shoot it that way. It wasn't backwards like that. [01:07:23] Speaker D: Sorry. All intentional. Okay, so I'll go around and take what everyone wants to do, and then we'll address all of these. Does anybody else know what they want to accomplish? [01:07:33] Speaker B: Well, there would be a level of research, obviously, ensuring that I know exactly what we could be encountering and specifically looking up the sorts of vasin that would be prevalent in that particular area. So coastal town, anywhere where there would be fisheries and log and logging. So what manner of Vasen reside in the water, especially, like I said, in like a sea, off the sea. And what sort of basin reside in and around the forests to that, what can be done for one to ingratiate oneself to those creatures and what can be done to repel them? And if we're going to go farther down that rabbit hole. Rituals, banishing, calling, binding. [01:08:54] Speaker D: Excellent. So you'll be heading to the library. [01:09:01] Speaker C: Then? [01:09:01] Speaker B: If there's in that research, after I have what feels like would be prudent, I would like to go to whatever there is as like an inventory to collect herbs, salts, tinctures. Not so much the sorts that the good doctor would use, but something that would be definitely more in the occult range. [01:09:27] Speaker D: There's totally a little greenhouse in the back that's manned or not manned, but with a, you know, a specialist in there that can help you and answer some questions for you and get you what you need. Excellent. Next. [01:09:47] Speaker C: I believe that Rowland, with Elizabeth's permission, would be sort of following suit, almost in a schoolboy sort of way of. Here is someone who is heavily researched in the ways of investigation and crime, and, you know, why humans do what they do. And now I'm being thrown into a world that I know next to nothing about. So I am assuming the role of the student, and with Elizabeth's permission, would like to be sort of following suit, asking questions where it feels appropriate to without being invasive, letting her take the lead and kind of gleaning whatever information I'm able to glean and sort of building up the courage to ask her some questions that I have about the site and basin in general. Things that are kind of pressing at the corners of my mind at the moment. [01:11:03] Speaker D: Perfect. And, yes. So the doctor, does the doctor remove the ring? [01:11:16] Speaker E: Yes. Yeah. In the privacy of his room, now that it's been brought up by the lawyer, having realized it takes it off, pockets it, and in the ventures of helping, the doctor wants to look at the different files of different investigations that have happened. And he wants to go through the dossiers to look at medical reports to familiarize themselves with the different types of a instruments that have been used to do these investigations, because he's wondering if they use different medical equipment than he might have access to currently, and then also wants to look at the different medical lacerations and whatnot that these creatures can leave so he can familiarize himself to be able to determine a bear attack from a basin or getting, you know, just anything else that'll help him with investigating bodies, essentially. [01:12:23] Speaker D: Okay. [01:12:24] Speaker E: And then if he does need supplies, then he'll go. Whereas Elisabeth and Rowland went to the horticultural and I would be going more to, like, the storehouse or the warehouse that we have and looking for hardware and supplies. [01:12:38] Speaker D: So this is what's going to shake down mine. Friends, the first thing I will ask you to call out for each of you to make a specific role. You will make that role. For each success you have in that role, there will be an advantage that you can use later. Go into a group advantage pool that you can use later when trying to make roles that pertain to any of these things you've talked about today. Okay, so, for. For Aaron, I would say to give me. Give me a logic and vigilance. For the good doctor, it will be precision in medicine. For Laura, it will be your empathy and observation. And for Cato, it'll be your logic and learning. Once that's rolled, tell me how many sixes you got. [01:13:54] Speaker A: That is three from me. [01:13:58] Speaker E: Proud of you, son. [01:14:02] Speaker A: Then two fives and a four. I kind of wish we were playing Yahtzee instead of Vezin for a second. [01:14:06] Speaker D: Well, it's not too late. [01:14:10] Speaker B: That is also three for me. [01:14:12] Speaker D: Nice. [01:14:15] Speaker C: Sadly, just one for me. [01:14:17] Speaker E: Okay, doctor, your boy got a big old goose egg. [01:14:23] Speaker D: Does anyone want to push? [01:14:26] Speaker E: Oh, I forgot about pushing. [01:14:28] Speaker C: I would like to push. [01:14:29] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:14:30] Speaker D: All right, so when you push, you have to give yourself a condition that is connected to the type of ability you were using. You can choose which one you want, except broken, because you don't want to go from zero to broken in a second. [01:14:44] Speaker E: Fine. [01:14:46] Speaker C: I would probably go with angry. [01:14:50] Speaker D: These are meant to be role playing guides a little bit also of, like, how your character is feeling in that moment. [01:14:55] Speaker C: Yeah, I think it's more so frustration and distraction, presuming time of year, and for the push, we reroll all of that. [01:15:09] Speaker D: Reroll anything that wasn't a six. [01:15:12] Speaker C: Oh, great. [01:15:14] Speaker D: Anybody else pushing? [01:15:17] Speaker C: There we go. [01:15:19] Speaker B: I'm gonna save it. [01:15:21] Speaker E: I'm gonna push and I'm gonna take hopeless. [01:15:24] Speaker D: Okay. [01:15:28] Speaker C: I got four sixes. [01:15:29] Speaker D: Oh. [01:15:32] Speaker C: I love that for me. [01:15:35] Speaker E: Big old goose egg. [01:15:37] Speaker D: All right. The doctor completely out of his death. Hopeless is a good one to take a yes, exactly. So that's 710 eleven. So if you want to note that somewhere on your card sheets you have a dice pool of eleven advantages that you can use over the course of this adventure. As long as you're making a roll that pertains to some of the things you researched today. Since me going through and just reading the book entry on land vettirs, it's just not gonna really do anything for us. Very specifically, I would like the doctor to make me a logic and learning role. [01:16:20] Speaker E: Math is hard. Three for three, baby. Nothing. [01:16:33] Speaker D: Would you like to push? [01:16:35] Speaker E: I'm gonna take angry now. [01:16:37] Speaker D: Yeah. By the end of this evening, you're like completely frazzled and. [01:16:40] Speaker E: Yeah, I've never been so disappointed in a handful of d sixes in my life. Like. [01:16:50] Speaker A: You never played shadow run? [01:16:52] Speaker E: It's two. I have not, actually. [01:16:54] Speaker D: But you wish you were rolling on the VTT now, you know. So the two. I'm going to dm you something. [01:17:03] Speaker E: No, I still would have taken the one submit. [01:17:07] Speaker D: I'll dm you something in a second. [01:17:08] Speaker E: Okay. [01:17:09] Speaker D: Something that does happen as you're all kind of wandering off to your own things and at a moment perhaps, where the detective is not too close to. Elizabeth. Elizabeth, you'll hear. Mmm. They, uh. The lawyer was a little bit worried about your friend with the scar, wondering how they're doing, and, well, the doctor seems to think that they're doing just fine. And then they talked about the doctor's choice of jewelry. [01:17:58] Speaker B: His choice of jewelry. And Rowland, you just see I've been thumbing through a volume. I'll just sort of stop and tip my head. [01:18:13] Speaker D: The lawyer was quite taken by the a ring the doctor is wearing on his hand. Something about a past life, he said. [01:18:26] Speaker B: Oh, well, I mean, that's reasonable. We all come from different places and all have things that we were doing before we came to here. [01:18:38] Speaker D: The doctor also snuck two pastries in his pocket before he left. [01:18:43] Speaker B: That's entirely reasonable. They're very good pastries. [01:18:49] Speaker D: Um, how are you doing? [01:18:53] Speaker B: Oh, I'm well. Bergamot, thank you did, um. Did they give any specifics about our scarred friend. [01:19:07] Speaker D: Berto Washington? Worried about some obsession he said your friend here had, but that the doctor feels is no longer much of a problem. It seems the Mister Roland had a problem with. Well, being hyperfocused about something. But that doctor thinks he's doing better. I don't know. They're talking a lot of words I don't understand. [01:19:49] Speaker B: What do you think of the doctor? [01:19:58] Speaker D: I haven't made up my mind yet. [01:20:05] Speaker B: All right. Well, if it changes, or if you sense something concerning, do let me know. [01:20:16] Speaker E: Of course. [01:20:20] Speaker D: You know I always watch over you. [01:20:23] Speaker B: I know. And I appreciate you for it. [01:20:26] Speaker D: The other one's looking at you kind of funny. [01:20:31] Speaker B: Shit. [01:20:38] Speaker C: Are you alright? [01:20:41] Speaker B: What? [01:20:45] Speaker C: Never mind. And as I'm pulling a book off the bookshelf that I have found snapped shut and tucked away into my inner coat pocket, you seemed a bit distracted. [01:20:59] Speaker B: Oh, I have been called scatterbrained before. [01:21:06] Speaker C: Scatterbrained? [01:21:08] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:21:08] Speaker C: Hardly. Based on the things I've learned from you this evening, I would say you're probably one of the smartest people I've ever met. [01:21:16] Speaker B: Oh, you can be highly intelligent and still have a head full of cotton. I always wonder if it's what I do and what we see. Maybe it lingers. [01:21:33] Speaker C: A touch of the sight in your day to day life. [01:21:39] Speaker B: Distracting, that's all. [01:21:45] Speaker C: Suddenly. [01:21:49] Speaker B: And when did you first discover your site? [01:21:58] Speaker C: Just about a year ago, actually. I was working a particularly gruesome case, and on a night in the woods, I was attacked. Presumably by a mason. Difficult to tell. I don't remember much of anything except waking in my bed with no vision in my left eye. And once the bandages were removed, I realized that was permanent. [01:22:36] Speaker B: It's always a night in the woods, isn't it? [01:22:40] Speaker C: It always is. Can I trust you with something? [01:22:49] Speaker B: Yes. [01:22:53] Speaker C: You see, the eye does more for me than it did before. I may not be able to see out of it, but I can certainly see out of it. [01:23:14] Speaker B: Well, I think you may be the first to which the site is literal, at least to my knowledge. But I am only one person and I can only do so much research. [01:23:29] Speaker C: You know a lot. You've never heard of anything like this happening before? [01:23:41] Speaker B: It's, um. Hmm. As I said, my sight has been with me for quite some time. So it's, um. It's hard for me to tell what is an oddity and what is just the life that I lead. [01:24:06] Speaker C: Sounds quite literally magical. [01:24:11] Speaker B: We'll see. [01:24:17] Speaker C: By now, Roland has taken off his overcoat and slung it over the back of the chair. And it's just kind of near her without trying to intimidate her in any capacity or make her feel uncomfortable. [01:24:28] Speaker D: This is. [01:24:29] Speaker C: He acknowledges this as her realm. I'm a student. I'm here to learn. [01:24:44] Speaker B: As long as you are open and willing to. To listen. That is all I ask. [01:24:51] Speaker C: Anything. Truly. [01:24:57] Speaker B: Very well. Now tap the seat beside me. [01:25:00] Speaker D: Sit. [01:25:01] Speaker B: Sit. [01:25:03] Speaker C: Promptly sit. [01:25:06] Speaker B: And I will take the volume that I am looking at and slowly start to give Rowland the rundown, specifically of the potential vessen that we could be dealing with. We'll start with some of the coastal varietals and move on from there. [01:25:31] Speaker C: Sounds great. Rowland pulls out a notebook that has just a small calendar at the top with a sun in one corner and kind of like a moon cycle across it. And he just is taking notes in his shorthand that is very particular. Excellent. [01:25:53] Speaker D: The other end of the mansion, the colonel is walking back from one of the rooms that he, I guess, perhaps wandered in just out of curiosity, sort of trying to find something to do that's, you know, doesn't involve being the. Or the occultist and so on, so forth, but could still be useful. [01:26:20] Speaker A: Can I suggest that there's. There's the library, formal, but there's also like a parlor, the kind of room that has some bookcases but is mostly devoted to smoking and drinking and having animal heads. [01:26:33] Speaker D: Yeah, there's absolutely. Absolutely. A drawing room of some sort. [01:26:38] Speaker E: Yes. [01:26:38] Speaker D: With nice big, you know, club chairs and nice little fireplace. Go in and. Yeah, absolutely. And a nice selection of liqueurs. [01:26:46] Speaker E: Give it to the colonel to find a country club here. [01:26:50] Speaker A: I know it's surprising. Sometimes they just pop up around me. [01:26:56] Speaker D: Yeah, you can totally find that. She will go and kick back there. [01:27:04] Speaker A: Yeah, I feel like that's what there's. There's. There's got to be books there without having to go the full east wing of the beauty and the beast Castle experience. Right. [01:27:18] Speaker D: Speaking of the beauty and the beast, the doctor having we finished what he was doing over in the. In the infirmary, it's coming back hands full of bandages and medicines and onions and all sorts of things. And as you pass by, you hear the sounds of a. What kind of music would the colonel listen to when left to his own device in a room that has, you know, a gramophone and a bunch of good records? [01:27:51] Speaker A: Oh, God. What was music in the. In the mid 18 hundreds? [01:27:54] Speaker D: I don't even. [01:27:55] Speaker E: Hello, my darling. Hello, my sweetheart. [01:27:57] Speaker A: I think I actually like. [01:28:00] Speaker D: I don't even sure you might have still been on wax cylinders at that point, to be honest. [01:28:05] Speaker A: I think so it's just got classic and opera, right? So, like, it's. If you have two stations, you've got Mozart and you've got Wagner, and then we haven't invented anything else. Right. [01:28:17] Speaker E: Metallica's right around the corner. [01:28:19] Speaker D: So there's no. Yeah, so let's say there's no. There's no music, because we're a little bit early for the thing. But as you walk by, you do see a fireplace roaring. You hear the clinking, distinct clinking of a big ass ring clinking on the crystal decanter of some sort of nice beverage being poured. And when you look in, you see the colonel pouring himself a nice libation there in this. In this nice little. You know, what really resembles a social club room. [01:28:51] Speaker E: Yeah, a den. The doctor definitely stops and does the whole rewind, back step and look, and walks in. Is the colonel facing towards the door? Does he have his back too? [01:29:11] Speaker A: No, I think it's a. It's definitely more cinematic if he can't see you. And for the music piece, I think that he is tapping the ring in time to him humming, whatever, like the swedish equivalent of the british gunner or the british grenadiers is okay. So it's like a peppy little swedish march, the kind of thing that they send, you know, young mouth to war with. And he's just tapping the ring, not like super loud, just tapping it in tune with. With the beat. [01:29:42] Speaker E: I definitely approach. I put down all the supplies I'm carrying in my arms and I put them down on a nearby table and I rack my brain really quickly, trying to figure out, do I approach immediately? He's a colonel. Do I startle him? No. So I just kind of, from 10ft back, just colonel. [01:30:08] Speaker A: Oh, the good doctor. Kind of like turning that, like doing, like the look around the chair. [01:30:14] Speaker E: Yeah, yeah, the old man look, the. [01:30:18] Speaker A: Not. Not the full 90, but like the kid has popped up and like, dad, can I have a chocolate milk? And he's like, what do you want? That kind of. [01:30:23] Speaker E: Yeah, yeah. [01:30:25] Speaker A: And then Budweiser in your hand. What the hell? Please, please. [01:30:28] Speaker C: No. [01:30:28] Speaker A: Come join me, join me, join me. [01:30:30] Speaker E: Of course, of course. Please stay, stay seated. Do you need a. Do you need a refill? [01:30:35] Speaker D: A top off? [01:30:36] Speaker E: As I grab the. [01:30:37] Speaker A: Offer it to you, please. Absolutely. They have literally everything here. And it's a little unsettling. [01:30:45] Speaker E: It's incredible. It's truly uncanny. I pour your drink first before pouring myself one out of respect grab the glass and while still standing, kind of gesture for a. For a, you know, clink. And I'm like, so, colonel, you are retired. How has that been for you? [01:31:08] Speaker A: Well, that depends. Are you asking as a fellow soldier or are you asking as a friend? [01:31:13] Speaker E: I. I ask as a friend. [01:31:18] Speaker A: Say, it's dreadfully boring. [01:31:21] Speaker E: Kind of clawing at the walls, are you? [01:31:24] Speaker A: Oh, there's waking up at six in the morning, but there's no drill to march, there's no barrel to clean, there's no parade to oversee. And then what? I'm supposed to go to the opera at the end of the. Like this hearing? No, there's nothing for old men in this world. [01:31:42] Speaker E: Oh, I don't know, I think there's. There's plenty of things you could do, Colonel. You could. You could recant the stories of your travels and of your heroics. I mean, so much knowledge in that head of yours. [01:31:53] Speaker A: The last thing this world needs is another old soldier writing a book. [01:31:58] Speaker E: Not just any old soldier, though. I mean, come on, colonel, your. Your name precedes you. [01:32:05] Speaker A: That story, I. I feel, has been told by. By wiser men than I. But suffice it to say, I find myself with an excess of. Of exuberance and an insufficient amount of places to spend it on. [01:32:20] Speaker E: So this must be a breath of fresh air for you. But I noticed your ring, and I could hear the tapping, which is what caught my attention as I walked by. In my field of work, I've met a few men from the academy. Which academy did you attend? [01:32:40] Speaker D: Fucking. [01:32:41] Speaker A: What is the Swedish Military academy? [01:32:45] Speaker E: Yes, the swedish military academy. That one. [01:32:47] Speaker A: I mean, every country has one. This one happens to be the military academy Karlberg, which is where they actually train the officers of these police armed forces. And it's been there since a million years ago, so, yeah, it would be Karlberg. [01:33:06] Speaker E: Interesting. That's on our map. It's not? No. I had to look at our map to be like, is that anywhere near us? It is not. [01:33:12] Speaker A: I think it's named after somebody. But that's just GM reflex kicking in. [01:33:17] Speaker E: 16 taps open. Doing immediate research. Um, fascinating. That. That must feel like a lifetime ago at this rate. [01:33:26] Speaker A: Oh, quite literally. Take you in at 17, and then it's nothing but polishing brass, and next thing you know. [01:33:38] Speaker E: Well, you seem like you're still in your prime, colonel. [01:33:41] Speaker A: It's kind of you to say, but I'm sure you didn't come all the way to this end of the house just to flatter me and tell war stories. [01:33:49] Speaker E: No, I had a curiosity, a question regarding this, uh, this expedition. Have you been on one prior? [01:34:06] Speaker A: No. I'm not too proud of it. First with the society, I said I've been looking for ways to pass my time aside from sitting around waiting to die. And this appears to be the kind of place that is full of adventures that my bones still have room for. [01:34:23] Speaker E: Sure, sure. Like I said, still in your prime. I'm curious, with, with the stories that you've heard, having joined the society and being a part of it now, what's your take on this invasive business? Are you. Do you believe that diplomacy is the best option for these creatures? These spirits, these fae? What's, what's your take on all that? As I sip on my scotch. [01:34:59] Speaker A: You know, they, they tell us that war is just diplomacy through other means. That all force exists on a spectrum. And sometimes you can do it with a pen, and sometimes you can do it with a, with a twelve gun battery. I have heard stories of people who commune with or consort with these creatures. But there are two things that have always stuck in my mind. One, each is so different in its goals and their wiles. At least that's what they tell me. That you would never know which you could trust and which nothing. And second, most people who get that close to one of these creatures don't have the chance to make a conversation. I am sure there are those in this house, those in this society, who believe that, yes, if only we were able to peel open the mysteries and see what desires these creatures had. That ours and theirs could coexist. But, and I'll gesture towards the window with the glass and you can hear again the clinking of crystal on, on the ring. You look out there at this city and tell me there's enough room for both of us. [01:36:30] Speaker E: It is ever growing, isn't it? The expanse of the new world, as it were. This new industrialized era that we live in. So you really don't think that there's a space for both? [01:36:49] Speaker A: I'm not going to be so bold saying the man who has all the answers, but my life, by people wanting to expand and bumping up into, to other people. Sometimes it's a village and sometimes it's a nation, but it always ends a certain way. [01:37:10] Speaker E: Well, I hope for our sakes that you are, uh, and I say this with the utmost respect. Wrong. This time. I definitely hope that we can reach peaceful resolution. But I will say, if it comes to the latter, then there's nobody we'd rather have than Colonel Johann Berglund on. [01:37:37] Speaker A: Our side, my good doctor, there is nothing that would bring me more joy than to be on this journey and of absolutely no use. [01:37:49] Speaker E: Oh, well, only time will tell, of course. But tell me about your. Oh, go ahead, please. [01:37:57] Speaker A: Ah, well, no, you've. You mentioned you're a doctor who. Whose experience is mostly within identifying the deceased, if I recall. If I'd heard correctly. Right. [01:38:06] Speaker E: Yes, yes, yes. A mortician, a new. New word that they've. They've come up with for us, instead of just cadaver doctors, which doesn't really sound too palatable doctors, if you will. But yeah, it's an interesting field of study to identify the cause of death for folks and how we could perhaps prevent it. Or we can perhaps distinguish the crime that caused it. [01:38:40] Speaker A: See? Like another form of evidence. [01:38:44] Speaker E: Yes, I'm. I'm just like Rowland, but on the opposite side of the spectrum when it comes to life and death, of course. [01:38:52] Speaker A: Chronology, some prevention, some cure. [01:38:55] Speaker D: Yes. [01:38:55] Speaker E: Yeah, he's preventative. I'm reactive when it comes to investigation. [01:39:02] Speaker A: You said it's new words, so it's a new field. Obviously, I'm not an expert in many of these matters, medical, but I never heard of this. [01:39:11] Speaker E: It's newer, that's for sure. You know, I think even the. Perhaps the military academy must have themselves a new doctor on hand, you know, with all these. These new technologies. And people in war always determining how best to treat a wound or how best to stop, you know, infection from spreading. So it's studying the dead to help the living. [01:39:37] Speaker A: And that's where does one train for this kind of work? [01:39:44] Speaker E: Wherever there's dead bodies. Oh, so anywhere, really? Honestly? In this time and day? [01:39:52] Speaker D: Yeah. [01:39:53] Speaker A: Well, the colonel's making a face. It's not judgmental. It's like, shit. I guess you're right. Like, his worldview is such that you'd have to go to school for it. And you're like, bruh, there are dead bodies everywhere. So he's like, really? All right? [01:40:04] Speaker E: Yeah. I mean, nothing's a science until you start just putting it in a journal and telling people about it. If you think about it, you know? [01:40:11] Speaker A: And that's why. [01:40:12] Speaker D: I'm sorry. Just 1 second. I will interrupt you a little bit to say that as you're discussing dead bodies, the both Elizabeth and Rollin are lured by the sound of conversation. The clinking of glasses are approaching. So make your entrance whenever you wish, gentlemen. [01:40:30] Speaker C: Are we interrupting? [01:40:35] Speaker E: Zach does. He doesn't turn like he keeps trying to look over the chair. That's obviously way too large. For him to be able to tilt his head over. So he just kind of keeps bumping awkwardly. He's like, Rowland, is that you? Good boy. [01:40:49] Speaker C: Of course it is. And I come around to the chair where I'm hearing his voice come from. And I just. Once again, that very familiar clap on his shoulder goes, wow. Into the brandy. I see. [01:40:59] Speaker E: Scratch this time, actually. Good God, Rollin, you. Told you announce yourself, man. [01:41:04] Speaker C: Sorry. I've been told I'm light. A footstep. [01:41:06] Speaker E: Yes. I'm gonna have to put a bell on you at this rate. [01:41:10] Speaker C: No, no. No bells, no collars. [01:41:13] Speaker E: But yes. The colonel and I were just sharing stories. Elizabeth. We haven't formally been able to introduce ourselves, but it is an absolute pleasure. [01:41:23] Speaker B: It is a pleasure to meet you as well, doctor. [01:41:26] Speaker E: He stands and kind of gestures for one of you to take the seat as he goes and grabs another one and pulls it closer so that we all kind of have a little half circle of chairs. [01:41:37] Speaker C: Rowland stays standing behind the back of his chair and says, colonel, I'm so sorry I was so terribly rude before. I didn't introduce myself to you either. [01:41:46] Speaker A: Ah. Busier times for all us. And you seem to have more experience in these matters than I. [01:41:54] Speaker D: So. [01:41:54] Speaker A: Senior already not a factor. Can I get you a drink while you. [01:42:01] Speaker C: Oh, I prefer to pour my own. Just an old superstition. [01:42:07] Speaker A: Of course. [01:42:14] Speaker E: You were all doing some research on the area we're going to be going into. Anything? Anything of interest? [01:42:23] Speaker C: Gesture to Elizabeth? [01:42:27] Speaker B: Well, there can be different creatures depending on the region. Creatures that prefer the water, creatures that prefer the forest. I imagine, given what we will be encountering in the area, we could see a little bit of both. Hopefully nothing that a brief banishment couldn't handle. But I suppose prepare for the worst and hope for the best. [01:43:03] Speaker E: I suppose that's why we have bones. [01:43:04] Speaker C: Like a life lesson, I was gonna say. [01:43:07] Speaker E: I suppose that's why we have both you, Elizabeth and the colonel. [01:43:14] Speaker A: Two sides of the same sword. [01:43:21] Speaker B: I don't think anyone's ever decided to refer to me as any sort of a weapon, colonel. [01:43:30] Speaker A: Is that not what you do here? It's my job to deal with the things that can be exploded. And it's yours to deal with things that can't. [01:43:39] Speaker B: I suppose I. There are some things that are more dangerous than others, yes, but I grew up in a very small village outside of Bergenous. Things run differently in a village like that. There's a level of deference to the old ways. It is what I was taught and what my mother was taught and her mother before her. And it could be that I am just a strange little medicine woman, but, well, not everything needs to be managed with steel and lead. Nature has given us specific things to take care of ourselves outside of this. And I'll gesture out the window to the smog and the smokestacks, what we have so hastily created. [01:45:06] Speaker A: Now, you have quite fortuitous timing. The doctor was just having this conversation with me, wondering if there's a peaceful coexistence possible with the various creatures of myth and legend. [01:45:19] Speaker E: Cool. [01:45:23] Speaker B: Depends on the creature. [01:45:28] Speaker C: Elizabeth, if I may, how long have you been with the society? [01:45:34] Speaker B: Oh, um, a handful of years at this point. [01:45:43] Speaker C: And what sorts of things have you seen? [01:45:51] Speaker B: I have seen things that would move a man to tears and things that would send you screaming for the hills. [01:46:04] Speaker C: Now, with that knowledge, then I would ask the grass question of is there a world? Or this symbiosis can exist? [01:46:17] Speaker B: I haven't decided yet. I understand that we move ever forward, but sometimes I worry about what we are leaving behind and what we are destroying for the sake of progress, but. Well, this very manner would be an example. There's a spirit here. [01:46:59] Speaker C: Who'S there. [01:47:01] Speaker B: She's called Raina. And she. She simply exists. She will occasionally knock things off of dressers. And if you put your tee down, it might end up at the other corner of the table. [01:47:25] Speaker E: You see me pick up my scotch glass. [01:47:27] Speaker D: After you say that, as you pick up your scotch glass, you feel that it's covered in frost as you pick it up. [01:47:39] Speaker C: I would like to focus on my left eye if I can. [01:47:43] Speaker D: You surely may. You don't even have to make a roll. But standing just behind the doctor and laughing with the finger in his drink is what appears to be a ghostly young woman dressed in a very simple maid's garb, with long, flowing hair tied in the bun behind her, with this tail that just. The ponytail just kind of floats behind her. And she just has a finger in his drink and sort of giggles as she pulls the finger on, then looks at you and winks at you. [01:48:20] Speaker C: All in good fun. And I raised my glass tour. [01:48:23] Speaker B: Hello, Reina. [01:48:26] Speaker D: And when you say, hello, Raina, the light in the room dims and you all feel a bit of a chill. But then the fire in the fireplace sort of raises up and you feel the warmth that just sort of wafts over as if someone had just blown air right into it. And then the lights come back up slowly. [01:48:46] Speaker C: She's lovely, really. [01:48:48] Speaker E: Cheers. I hate ice because it waters down my drink. This is perfect. Do we tip her? [01:48:58] Speaker B: Uh, well, I imagine you could leave out a biscuit and see what happens. [01:49:06] Speaker E: Reach into my pocket. I take out a biscuit from earlier, and I just put it back on the, on the thing, and I just tap it, like, right. [01:49:18] Speaker D: The biscuit lifts up. Slowly, your jacket pocket opens. The biscuit goes right back into it. Behind him, you can see her go. [01:49:38] Speaker C: I don't think that's her taste. [01:49:40] Speaker A: Perhaps pocket lint, perhaps coexistence. More difficult than we imagined. [01:49:49] Speaker C: People are particular about their sweets, Colonel. [01:49:54] Speaker D: The door to the room opens. Krakauer steps in, sees his breath as he starts to talk, goes, good evening, Raina. Um, I came to see if any of you wish to be taken back to your lodgings for this evening. [01:50:13] Speaker C: Gm. What time of month is it? [01:50:15] Speaker D: Like? [01:50:15] Speaker C: What, where are we? [01:50:17] Speaker D: Uh, you would be. [01:50:18] Speaker C: What time of year is it, too? [01:50:20] Speaker D: It's 1841. And what time? [01:50:23] Speaker C: Like what season? [01:50:24] Speaker D: Oh, yeah. So I would say you were like, start of summer. So you'd be like, in May. [01:50:30] Speaker E: Oh, okay. [01:50:37] Speaker B: I'll remain here. Crack out, if that's all right. I have lodgings. [01:50:41] Speaker D: Absolutely. [01:50:43] Speaker A: Well, it's all the same. I imagine the doctor and I will be up well into the morning. Wouldn't be well to waste a few moments traveling home at that point, that is. Uh, Doctor Markovich, if you will accept my invitation. [01:50:57] Speaker E: Yeah, I would love to. [01:51:00] Speaker D: I will refresh the decanters and bring you some water. [01:51:07] Speaker E: Mini, the little sandwiches, the little triangle with the. With the toothpick. [01:51:13] Speaker D: I will see what I can forage from the kitchen. [01:51:15] Speaker E: Thank you. [01:51:17] Speaker D: And Sir Rollins. [01:51:19] Speaker C: I pull my notebook out of the. Out of my breast pocket, in her breast pocket, and I look and I flip to a page and I snap it shut and go. I think I shall. Thank you. [01:51:34] Speaker D: I am very sorry. Was that. I think I shall leave. Or I think I shall stay. [01:51:37] Speaker C: No, I'm sorry. I shall stay. It's not too much trouble. I am assuming we would all have private quarters. [01:51:45] Speaker D: Absolutely. I will have chambers prepared, see what I can scrounge up in a kitchen, and bring you all some more refreshments. Please enjoy your evening. If there's anything you require, simply ask Raina to come and tell me. As we are nearing a good point for a little bit of a break here, I will say that you prousty up a little bit into the night, drinking, eating cucumber sandwiches and getting to know each other a little better. Eventually, you will each be taken to your own rooms. It will go to bed. And before we go on, break during the night, you will all experience a bit of a dream, a bit of a. Just not so much a dream as a bit of a sensation. But at various points throughout the night, each of you will have the same kind of vision or dream. I guess you are walking down a set of spiral stairs that goes down and down and down. And when you look over and the handrail and look down, it just looks like it keeps going forever. And as you're walking down this carpeted spiral stair, Elizabeth, you will start hearing a voice calling for you, calling for help. And as you get a little bit further down, you will recognize it as that of your sister calling your name, telling you to hurry. And as you keep running and try to go faster and keep trying to get down there faster, it just seems like there are more and more and more stairs. And your sister's voice remains consistently as distant as it was before. Colonel, as you are having the same kind of dream, going down these spiral stairs keeps going down. You will hear the distant sound of battle. You will hear cannon fire. You will hear rifles being fired, men screaming, dying. As you approach it, this. These sounds will echo up the well that is at the center of this spiral stair. And you will be struck with a moment of indecision, whether to keep going back down and help the men that are absolutely in need of your guidance and your counsel and are depending on you and have full confidence in your. Whether you should just turn around and walk back upstairs and leave all of this behind. And at the moment when you think you're about to make a decision is when your character will awaken in his bed. Doctor, as you are walking down the stairs, you feel steps behind you as if someone is following you. When you turn around, you don't see anything. But when you keep going down, you hear a voice behind you. It's the voice of the doctor saying, where are we going? Where are you taking us? Why are we going there? Why would you take me there? I don't want to go there. Just let me go. Leave me be. Why am I here? I don't want to be here. And this voice, which the voice of the Doctor continues to follow you as you keep going down and down and down this unending set of stairs. Roland, you will go down these set of stairs, these spiraling staircase. You will hear nothing for the longest time. At some point, you will catch a faint, lingering smell. Smell. You know very well, the smell of his hair. And as you stop and try to more fully experience this scent, you will hear coming from somewhere not too sure, but perhaps from the bottom of the staircase, you will hear the voice. And as you look down the set of stairs, you notice your hands. Your hands are gnarled, almost like claws. And for a moment, you fear what you would do if you did find them. And you hesitate on that set of stairs. And that's when you will wake up. And, my friends, as you take all of these little dreams into account, as your characters wake up in a bit of a sweat, having still managed to get a rest enough that your mental conditions from earlier are gone, and as you will have your breakfast and embark on a carriage and head for the train station, the dream will linger with you for a little while at least, the sense of going down, down. And with that, I think this is a good point to take a break. We will be back very shortly because we don't take long breaks, because otherwise we turn into frogs. Thanks so much for watching. Thanks so much for everybody. Wonderful cat. We'll see you in just a few. [01:57:51] Speaker E: Moments. [01:57:55] Speaker D: After your dreams. You're not quite restful, but not too, too unrestful night. You wake up early. I served a nice little breakfast. Um, all the things you've wanted, all the equipment you needed, um, has been piled up in the carriage. Um, basically, the way we're going to treat this is that if you need something during the ride, and it makes sense that you would have brought it, you'll have it. You are then taken, uh, via carriage to the train station, where krakauer gets, first of all, your stuff on board a train gets all tickets. There are a number of sleeper carts on this train. You each have one assigned to you. If you look at Albert rodeo, you will see the map. If you scroll in to the sleeper carts, you will see that I've placed your tokens in, and I will sync your view so that you're all there. I've placed your tokens in the rooms that are yours. So for the duration of this trip, which is 17 hours, reliance here. The doctor is here. Elizabeth's here, and the colonel is over here. So these are sleeping quarters. But before we get to that, you arrive at the station, imagine yourselves standing on the bustling platform of a victorian era train station. The area is thick with the scent of coal and the echoes of bustling passengers. You hear the rhythmic chugging of the steam engine drawing closer, its whistle announcing its imminent arrival. As a train steams into view, youre struck by its majestic appearance. The locomotive stands tall and proud, adorned with polished brass and gleaming steel. Enormous wheels turn with mesmerizing rhythm, the pistons driving the train forward with a powerful, rhythmic beat as you step aboard. The wooden floors creak under your weight. Worn with the passage of countless travelers, the interior is a scene straight out of a novel. Velvet curtains hang by the windows, the sunlight streaming through them casting a warm golden glow. The polished wood panels gleam in the light. Given the cabin's cozy yet regal ambiance, the seating is plushed, upholstered in rich, deep colors with ornate patterns adorning the fabric. The brass fittings and intricate woodwork speak of an era when craftsmanship was celebrated. The soft hum of conversations mixes with the clinking of teacups and the rustling of newspapers. Through the windows, you catch fleeting glances of the picturesque countryside rushing by. Fields of green stretch out, interrupted only by quaint villages and charming bridges. The landscape seems to dance to the rhythm of the train, a sight that never fails to draw you back to it. The train lurches and sways gently, embracing you in its rhythmic sway. You can feel the gentle vibrations of the engines power through the tracks. As you are lulled almost back to sleep. You are startled back awake just as you were about to perhaps be able to catch a couple of Z's after the last night by a gruff voice that says dig it. You look up to see Stern looking fellow in a railway officer uniform. Well come on then. I ain't got all day. [02:01:44] Speaker E: Did we get tickets? This was arranged for us. [02:01:47] Speaker D: Yeah. You have tickets. [02:01:49] Speaker E: Okay. [02:01:49] Speaker D: All of this was just a movie. So you are on the train. The train is moving forward. You show your ticket to the rail and master who punches it for you and moves on. You wouldn't have be in your sleeper cart. I would assume you would have settled in but then probably have moved to the club cart to mix and mingle, see what it's about, perhaps get a spot of tea. Most of the ride, at least the first few hours are quite comfortable, quite pleasant. The countryside is beautiful this time of year. It's really kind of coming alive. We are in May. As I was saying earlier, it's very kind of coming alive. The, you know, outside that the trees are really starting to get in there with the foliage and the sunlight is just beautiful quality of the light outside. I would like to ask each of you as we begin here to give me a role. Now you will get to choose. You can either give me and empathy and observation are logic and vigilance. Dealer shores. [02:03:06] Speaker A: Well one of those is two dice and the other is six. So I will be taking logic and vigilance thank you. [02:03:13] Speaker E: Just my luck. They're both five for me. [02:03:15] Speaker B: No, one of those is seven for me. [02:03:18] Speaker C: So we're gonna take Van six for both of them. [02:03:22] Speaker A: Well, I dumped a bucket of dice on the table and came back with nothing. So I think over the break, I accidentally picked up Jonathan's dice. [02:03:29] Speaker E: Good. [02:03:30] Speaker C: Oh, boy. I got two successes. [02:03:33] Speaker B: Okay, I've got three. And for me, that was empathy, observation. [02:03:39] Speaker D: Okay. [02:03:40] Speaker A: Yes. [02:03:41] Speaker C: Same. [02:03:43] Speaker E: Perfect. I did logic, and I got four out of five sixes. [02:03:48] Speaker D: I did your dice and Aaron Guzek. All right, tell me, what would your characters be doing? So you've planned a board settled into your, um, cabin. By this point, with everything's going on, it's like just late afternoon before dinner time. So you've gone in, settled in, probably gone to the club cart, had a bit of a afternoon tea, and now you have another, you know, 14 hours, 15 hours of traveling to do. If things go well, what would your characters do at this point? [02:04:38] Speaker E: I have a question for one of our players, Colonel. When I met you in the Dendeene, you hadn't asked if I wanted to just talk or share war stories. Did you notice that I was wearing the ring in our first meeting at. With. With the lawyer? [02:04:59] Speaker A: I don't. I don't think I made a decision on that. Which is more narratively interesting choice, I think then we'll say, uh, yes. [02:05:13] Speaker E: Okay. [02:05:14] Speaker A: Um, but I am interpreting the. The colonel as a bit, like, fame weary. [02:05:22] Speaker E: Sure. [02:05:23] Speaker A: Um, having failed the role now, I would say probably the reason is that, uh, the character is actually famous. I have that on the sheet, so people know. Uh, and I. I'm not going to be able to observe fuck all, because every proud swedish citizen recognizes who on the train. So I'm just surrounded by people. But in the context of our conversation, he's very acutely aware of people who are, like, trying to get. You want to be associated with the famous person so that you too, can be famous. I'm sure this is a metaphor that has no use in actual play whatsoever. And he's wondering, like, what's your angle? I'm not gonna bring it up because I want to see what kind of person you are before I start putting myself out anywhere. [02:06:12] Speaker D: Have you taken to wearing the ring again, doctor? [02:06:17] Speaker E: No. So, worn it the first night, which is why I was wondering if the colonel clocked it the first time we met and that he wasn't wearing it when we met in the den. So I'm not sure if the colonel would have noticed that difference at all. He might have not. But again, I leave it up to the colonel to see if that's something he would have minded. [02:06:36] Speaker A: I, oh, I would have made a deal about it at the time if it were a thing. But we can wrap that together and say that, yeah, he's clocked it. And it has put you, like, that's two demerits in the colonel's book for Doctor Markovich. [02:06:48] Speaker E: Sure. [02:06:49] Speaker A: But it's also like, there's got to be a reason, right? And among all the things, he is an officer and a gentleman. So you don't meet someone for the first time and then pry immediately. So why did you disgrace your uniform? And you're not wearing a ring anymore, right? You wouldn't do that. [02:07:03] Speaker E: Sure, sure. [02:07:04] Speaker A: I'll keep my pocket in case it becomes a thing we can, we can wrestle with later, but I think he has to call attention to it. [02:07:10] Speaker E: Okay, then. Yeah, I think, I think the doctor then, in that regard, is getting his things in order, making sure that he's got all the provisions that he her when they hop off the train, um, and then just going about his, his business, uh, mingling with, with the folks. I don't think he has anybody specifically that he wants to mingle with at the moment. [02:07:35] Speaker D: All right, so where would he be found? Like, uh, in the club car, or would he be found in one of the passenger areas? [02:07:42] Speaker E: Or he'd be found probably in the club car. Just lounging, just, just kind of taking in the sights of, of, with, with everything going on with him. I think there's a part of him that doesn't recall the last time he got to travel leisurely. And so he's really enjoying that moment anytime that he's done. Trouble has been, any travel that he's done has usually been business oriented in some way, shape, or form. [02:08:12] Speaker D: Excellent. [02:08:13] Speaker A: If it's helpful to you, I'm currently holding court with, with people, so if you're eavesdropping or participating, that's totally fine. [02:08:21] Speaker E: Yeah, I think I'll listen from afar, but I don't want to be with knowing your, and he has no interest, I think, in your notoriety regarding, like, oh, I want to be known as the colonel's friend because he's the colonel. He'll listen politely, but in no way, shape or form does he want to be confused as like, oh, I'm also part of the crowd trying to mingle with you. [02:08:48] Speaker D: All right. So you are indeed surrounded, colonel, by a number of admirers. Triplets, pretty much male. Well, I'm just gonna. It's just easier to do this. Meanwhile, the good doctor is Illinois table. Perhaps reading today's newspapers and Eve's dropping in. What about Elizabeth and Roland? [02:09:19] Speaker B: I imagine I would have also made my way to the club car, walk in and see that the colonel, as he said, is holding court. And I'm not about to stick my nose into that, to be perfectly honest, being from where I'm from, there are other things that concern me. [02:09:43] Speaker D: Have you ever been on a train before? [02:09:46] Speaker B: Yes. It's been a while, but it's nice. So I think I would enjoy a seat by the window. And watching the countryside roll by. It's a bit of a relief to be out of the city and away from the smoke and the noise. [02:10:07] Speaker D: Excellent. [02:10:08] Speaker C: And Roland, I would probably be taking a bit of time in the morning, not having seen anybody yet, kind of still in my quarters and with my notebook out and my pen and just kind of palming my memento and just gently caressing it. And eventually, it's in. Staring out the window, realizing that I should probably get it together and go socialize a little. But I would pocket both of those items and then move to the club car as well. To see. [02:10:55] Speaker D: As you're moving, you are walking down the second, the first car, so still in the same. You come out of your room, basically, and you see someone down the corridor who your years of experience would sort of teach you that this person was doing something. And you suddenly stepping out of your room right now, it looks like they're just walking away, but they have that kind of feeling of they were doing something and then you were coming out. And so they kind of just took off, sort of thing. And they are currently sort of heel toeing it back in that direction with a, you know, that kind of suspicious energy. [02:11:56] Speaker C: Could I have they. Have they taken notice of me? I'm gonna move as quickly as I can without startling them more and go, um, excuse me. [02:12:10] Speaker A: And just for the sake of the audience, who can't see the VTT we're talking about, uh, someone was creeping around the sleeper cars, where, uh, two of our rooms are. [02:12:21] Speaker D: That's right. Sorry. I have it. Um, the figure stops, pulls their hat down, derby a little bit and turns around. Roland, fancy meeting you here. [02:12:40] Speaker C: Oh, you son of a bitch. And I should shake his hand. [02:12:44] Speaker D: Well, well, well. I thought I saw you earlier in the club car, but I wasn't too sure. Not that you were quite inconspicuous or anything, but you seem to be with friends, and I, you know, want to intrude or anything. [02:12:59] Speaker C: Please, it's no trouble whatsoever. What were you doing? [02:13:04] Speaker D: Oh, you know me, always working. How have you been? [02:13:08] Speaker C: No, no, don't skirt my question. What were you doing? [02:13:12] Speaker D: I'm not doing, Erling. [02:13:13] Speaker C: Don't lie. [02:13:14] Speaker D: I'm just, uh, interested. [02:13:18] Speaker C: Can I intimidate him in the hallway? I'd like to kind of like pin. I'd like to pin him up. [02:13:24] Speaker D: Oh, you want to go physical with him? [02:13:26] Speaker C: Yeah, I want to pin him up against the wall. [02:13:28] Speaker D: Go for it. He's not going to resist. He's not going to resist. You're going to grab him and kind of slam him like, hey. [02:13:34] Speaker C: And I hold him very closely. I know, I know. And I just kind of, like, grab his cheek. [02:13:43] Speaker D: You're not. [02:13:44] Speaker C: I hold him like, oh, Madden, I'm furious. What are you doing? [02:13:55] Speaker D: I'm working. [02:13:58] Speaker C: What were you doing near the good doctor's room is my good question. [02:14:04] Speaker D: Bringing him room service? I was trying to break in, all right? I was trying to break in. [02:14:11] Speaker C: Look, now, why would you be trying to break into my friends? [02:14:15] Speaker D: First of all, I didn't know he was your friend. Second of all, I'm working. Can you put me down? Can we have a civilized discussion about this? [02:14:24] Speaker C: No tricks, no lies, or I will throw you out the window. [02:14:32] Speaker D: I absolutely believe you would. [02:14:35] Speaker C: And they just lower him down to the ground and kind of flatten out his lapels. [02:14:40] Speaker D: Is that really necessary with you? [02:14:44] Speaker C: Yes. [02:14:45] Speaker D: Well, you know, I would have given you professional courtesy. Come on, you're hurting my feelings now. [02:14:51] Speaker C: Well, then give us the professional courtesy. [02:14:55] Speaker D: Yeah, well, you want to do this here? What do you want to do? [02:14:59] Speaker C: Come with me. I go back to my quarters. [02:15:02] Speaker D: Okay? You walk in, you're like, well, traveling in luxury. [02:15:10] Speaker C: Well, I'm on a job myself. [02:15:15] Speaker D: Very nice. Who's footing the bill for this? [02:15:19] Speaker C: I don't see how that's any of your concern. [02:15:21] Speaker D: Oh, you want me to give you a professional courtesy, but you won't give it to me? That seems very nice. [02:15:29] Speaker C: I think you perhaps owe me first before I owe you. Do you understand what I'm saying? [02:15:34] Speaker D: The old quid pro quo. [02:15:38] Speaker C: Hey, you've scratched my back before. [02:15:44] Speaker D: Well, since you are being so polite and professional, you have anything to drink in this palace of yours here? [02:15:59] Speaker C: Of course. And I cross over to the sideboard and kind of futz around with the bottles until I find a bottle of kind of deep green liquid. I go pop it, say, for old times sake. I start pouring out language, and I place the silver spoons on, on top, put a sugar cube on and pour just a little bit of water over top, swill it a little bit, and hand it to him and go. [02:16:31] Speaker D: Well, you know, I don't usually indulge on the job, but then again, I'm always on the job, so. Salute. [02:16:39] Speaker C: Really wish you'd stop lying to me. [02:16:41] Speaker D: I'm just getting warmed up here. All right, look, like you kind of surprised me there, but just let me, you know, skull and, uh, he'll take his drink. [02:16:53] Speaker C: To your health. [02:16:56] Speaker D: What's left of it. How you been? It's been, like, a good six months. [02:17:03] Speaker C: Well, uh, a lot can happen in six months. [02:17:07] Speaker D: Mm hmm. You still in the, uh, forgery business? [02:17:21] Speaker C: No. And I think you would know that. [02:17:24] Speaker D: Oh, well, you know, I don't really pay attention to scuttle, but I like facts. [02:17:30] Speaker C: No, I, first of all, was never the one in the biz, as it were. And second of all, no, I'm nothing. [02:17:41] Speaker D: Well, no story was ever written that didn't end sadly. I guess. [02:17:50] Speaker C: You could say that again and take a sip. [02:17:53] Speaker D: Are you okay? [02:17:56] Speaker C: A lot on my mind. Well, have you heard anything? [02:18:06] Speaker D: No. Well, aside from the fact that there are apparently no good art forgeries to be found anywhere in Sweden. [02:18:21] Speaker C: I sort of figured that might be the case. [02:18:27] Speaker D: You know? None of my business, really, I guess, but, um. Well, my grandmother used to say, things happen for a reason, you know? [02:18:47] Speaker C: Yes. Things happen for a reason. I'm sorry. What did you say you were doing here? [02:19:00] Speaker D: Um. Yeah, look, yeah, um. Thanks, verde. What's the last word? How well do you know the doctor? [02:19:14] Speaker C: Worked on a number of cases with him. [02:19:16] Speaker D: Mm hmm. [02:19:16] Speaker C: He was the one who helped me out about a year ago after the injury. [02:19:19] Speaker D: Mm hmm. You get the feeling you're not telling him any. Anything he doesn't know? Like. [02:19:29] Speaker C: I found him to be. By no means a brilliant surgeon, but quite adept at navigating anatomy, understanding of cadavers, which I find incredibly useful of work. We see a lot of those. I would say he's rather humbling, but sweet. I've grown rather fond of him. And I am assuming you are asking me this because you know something I don't know. [02:20:08] Speaker D: Don't go so far as to say I know something you don't know, necessarily. But I may have suspicions that, you know, we're involved in a case that he was involved in recently. Apparently, there was a. Well, it's called a colleague of ours, although he was nowhere near as refined as we are, who was caught breaking into the army barracks at Uppsala and was summarily shot and killed. [02:20:40] Speaker C: Interesting. [02:20:43] Speaker D: This colleague of ours, his name is Jacob ask. You would have heard of him. Small time, kind of borderline criminal detective, kind of opping the fence a lot. [02:20:59] Speaker E: Sure. [02:21:04] Speaker D: Well, story is, he ended up on the slab in your friend's medical examination room. And did he? Certain of his effects went missing. And there are people who are very concerned about this and would very much enjoy finding out where these effects went. Now, I, of course, did nothing suspect the doctor at first. I thought perhaps, you know, some of the people that handle the bodies beforehand and so on, so forth. So I've been kind of going upriver, following the trail, trying to figure out where these things might have gone. And the only person that I am not fairly certain did not take it is your friend. [02:21:59] Speaker C: That is troubling news, isn't it? [02:22:02] Speaker D: Well, you know, in the grand scheme of crimes, it's fairly petty. But, you know, certainly there are people who would like to get these effects back. Um, I thought maybe I'd take a look in his room, see if they were there. If they were, I'd confront him. But like the wolfhound that you are, you sniffed me out just in time, just before I got to get in there. [02:22:38] Speaker C: I do have a knack for that, don't I? [02:22:41] Speaker D: Well, you know, it's kind of made your career. [02:22:51] Speaker C: How about this? I will do my own brand of sleuthing, see what I can find out. If drago trusts me, then maybe he'd be willing to divulge where he received certain items from. [02:23:09] Speaker D: A ring very specifically is what I'm looking for. [02:23:13] Speaker C: A ring. Go on. [02:23:17] Speaker D: Um, from military academy. I have a drawing that I got from the people who are interested in this. It's kind of, you know, gaudy and ram like in its size and ostentatiousness, but they like that sort of thing. I guess it's so they can use it as a weapon if they run out of bullets. [02:23:43] Speaker C: I think you might be right. Yeah. And I fold it up and I tuck it into my vest or my waistcoat pocket, and I say, I. [02:23:59] Speaker B: I. [02:23:59] Speaker C: Can'T say that I've seen this ring specifically. [02:24:05] Speaker D: Allow me to make it. [02:24:07] Speaker C: But, um. [02:24:09] Speaker D: Allow me to make a roll to see if he feels that you're perhaps being disingenuous. As far as you're concerned, is your character lying? [02:24:21] Speaker C: As far as I'm concerned, is my character line, yeah. Oh, yes. My character's absolutely lying. [02:24:27] Speaker D: Right. So you may go ahead and make an empathy and manipulation role. [02:24:45] Speaker C: I want to make a push. Can I push? I'm going to push. [02:24:52] Speaker D: You can push. It'll take a. [02:24:58] Speaker C: Mental condition. Yeah, I'm gonna take. Frightened is probably the closest, but I think it's anxious about being called out. I only had one success on my push. [02:25:11] Speaker D: Okay, well, if you do see it, or if you do, you know, obliquely approach it, approach the subject with him, and, you know, sometimes. Look, the people I work for are not interested in prosecution. They just want the item back. And obviously, if you help me with this, you know, throw your finder's fee. [02:25:47] Speaker C: Well, Erling, I will see what I can do, but not really keen on betraying anybody's trust again anytime soon. [02:26:04] Speaker D: Leave it up to you. He gets up, puts his hat on. I'm on this trip until the end of it. So if ever there's anything I can do for you. [02:26:14] Speaker C: If I find you breaking into any of my colleagues rooms, I will throw you out. [02:26:21] Speaker D: How many people are you on the. On this train with? [02:26:25] Speaker C: There are four of us in total, including myself. The good doctor there is a rather bombastic colonel I'm sure is holding court in the club car. [02:26:33] Speaker D: Oh, yes, I've heard of this colonel. [02:26:37] Speaker C: Hard to miss. [02:26:38] Speaker D: Hero. [02:26:39] Speaker C: Yes, yes, indeed. And a young woman, she would be sort of dressed in country style clothing. [02:26:48] Speaker D: Oh, yeah, she was very interesting when I saw you with her. What's her name? [02:26:56] Speaker C: Elizabeth. [02:27:00] Speaker D: Bit of a country pumpkin, is she? [02:27:04] Speaker C: I certainly would not use those words. [02:27:06] Speaker D: No, I would just professionals talk in here. [02:27:10] Speaker C: Sure. She is probably smarter than the two of us combined. Although if I were combining you to me, it really wouldn't boost the score very much. But you are certainly to leave her alone. And I mean alone. I mean, do not talk to her. You are invisible to her. You don't exist to. [02:27:39] Speaker D: So protective. [02:27:44] Speaker C: You know me. [02:27:48] Speaker D: I do know you. No worries. I have no interest in your groups beyond what the doctor may or may not have in his possession. And I'm content at this point to let you handle that. I don't feel the need to go and, you know, muddle things, so. [02:28:07] Speaker C: Sure. [02:28:08] Speaker D: I'll give you until the end of the ride to figure it out. And if we get to where we're going, and. Well, then I'll pick up the trail again if I need to. I promise to be discreet. [02:28:22] Speaker C: Okay. And, uh, sorry about that. [02:28:26] Speaker D: Yeah, you know, I kind of enjoyed it actually, so. No worries. [02:28:31] Speaker C: You flatter me. [02:28:35] Speaker D: Sorry. [02:28:35] Speaker C: Yes, erling, if you hear of anything in the forgery business. [02:28:47] Speaker D: Well, would you, you know, just keep me posted. You know, Axel, at the end of the day, a forger is someone who specializes in what is fake. You should do well to remember that you deserve something that is true and honest. Thanks for the absinthe. I might come back later, break into your room and steal the bottle. [02:29:18] Speaker C: But if that happens, you'll never swear to God. [02:29:21] Speaker D: I know, I know. And he exits and closes the door behind. [02:29:27] Speaker C: I'm gonna stay in my room. [02:29:32] Speaker D: There you are. Meanwhile, in the club car, Laura, you are sitting there, pointedly ignoring the captain and everybody else's terror outside. You feel that presence near you again. And the voice says, that one's interesting. Reminds me of you in many ways. What? The woman there, sitting alone in the back. [02:30:16] Speaker B: Take a look. [02:30:17] Speaker D: Casually. Casually. Take a look. You see, sitting alone at the table in the back is a woman who, by reminds me of you a little bit, means that she's got kind of that country rustic look about her clothes a little bit and whatnot. She seems a little bit out of place in here. But one look at her, one look at some of her things, and you recognize that she's someone who, like you, is well versed in the old ways. [02:31:04] Speaker C: Hmm. [02:31:09] Speaker B: Game master. Is there anything in particular on her person that would stand out? Talisman. [02:31:15] Speaker D: So you can always do a magic roll if you want. [02:31:19] Speaker B: Sure. I will do a magic roll. That's a lot of dice. I'm gonna push. That was only two. [02:31:35] Speaker D: Pushing is like a drug too. Start. You can't stop. [02:31:44] Speaker B: Okay, that brings it to three. [02:31:49] Speaker A: Three. [02:31:50] Speaker D: Wow. Triple six. The devil's luck. You can clearly tell that she has a few trinkets about her that are certainly of a magical nature. And furthermore, your eye, your gift, your sight, reveals that she's a little bit more than a simple human being. [02:32:23] Speaker B: It's probably a bad idea. I'm gonna get up and go say hello. [02:32:28] Speaker D: It was a good idea. When it's a bad idea, I will say the doctor and the colonel can each make vigilance rolls to see if they notice. [02:32:40] Speaker A: Maybe it'll go better this time. [02:32:42] Speaker D: Maybe. [02:32:48] Speaker E: What do can. What do we roll? [02:32:50] Speaker D: If there's a zero to vigilance, you roll. Just the stat. The ability. Okay. If you get at least one success, you know, it's all set. You approach. You approach the table. She looks like she's trying to avoid eye contact. Like, she. She's pointedly, like, kind of very similar to you looking out the window, she's got a little cup of tea in front of her. [02:33:26] Speaker B: I will gesture to the empty seat in front of her and just ask simply, is the seat taken? [02:33:39] Speaker D: Oh, um, she kind of looks at you, and you kind of get the feeling she's probably doing what you just did to her. And her brows fur a little bit, and she says, no, please. I'm sorry for being rude. Please. I see. Would you like some tea? I can ask for another. Another cup. She starts looking around for. [02:34:02] Speaker B: No, that's, that's very kind, but thank you. [02:34:08] Speaker D: Um, uh, do, do we know each other? [02:34:13] Speaker B: No, I just, um. We seem to have a little something in common. We're out of our depth, I suppose. [02:34:28] Speaker D: First time on the train? Also. [02:34:31] Speaker B: Not my first, but it's, it's not something I do unless it is absolutely necessary. [02:34:38] Speaker D: It is kind of overwhelming, a little bit. The, the noise and the movement and the, the sheer speed of it. It's quite incredible. You can't really see if you're looking at the trees, but if you look at the. Oh, just look at the ground there. It's. [02:34:54] Speaker A: Hmm. [02:34:56] Speaker B: Oh, no, I can't. I will be monstrously sick. It's the, it's the coal dust for me. I feel like it's everywhere. That sort of gritty but oily. What do they call you? [02:35:25] Speaker D: My name is thea. [02:35:27] Speaker A: Thea. [02:35:30] Speaker D: And you? [02:35:31] Speaker B: You can call me Lisa. [02:35:33] Speaker D: Lisa. It's a pleasure to meet you. [02:35:37] Speaker B: It's a pleasure to meet you as well. Where, if you don't mind my asking, where are you traveling from? [02:35:43] Speaker D: I'm coming from, well, I got on a train at Uppsala, but I'm from a little village further up along the coast. You wouldn't have heard of it. I'm traveling to Stavanger. My. Unfortunately, my sister works there, and she's fallen ill, apparently. [02:36:08] Speaker B: I'm so sorry to hear that. [02:36:11] Speaker D: Apparently, it's a. It's turning bad. They ask for someone from the family to, to travel and come and see to her. To be honest, I don't even know she'll still be with us when, when we get there. I I hope so. [02:36:28] Speaker A: I. [02:36:31] Speaker D: I would like to see her again, but, um, I'm sorry. And then. And you, where are you going? [02:36:40] Speaker B: Remarkably enough, we are headed to the same spot. [02:36:43] Speaker D: Oh. Not for the same reasons, I hope. [02:36:46] Speaker B: No, no, I do not have those same family connections any longer. But work, I suppose you could say. [02:37:02] Speaker D: What kind of work do you do? [02:37:06] Speaker B: Investigation. [02:37:09] Speaker D: Oh, not quite what I was expecting, but, um, that, that sounds fascinating. Uh, like a criminal investigation. Are you a police officer? [02:37:24] Speaker B: Oh, decidedly not. Um, I work for. I work for a group that monitors goings on in the world. Things that are interesting, strange. We keep record. [02:37:47] Speaker D: Well, that sounds no less fascinating. And that's why you're going to Stavanger? [02:38:01] Speaker B: Yes. [02:38:03] Speaker D: Oh. Is there something wrong in Stavanger? [02:38:07] Speaker B: Can't be sure, but that's why I'm going. [02:38:13] Speaker D: So you're. I'm sorry, but are you, like, an official government person? Is government taking an interest in these things now? [02:38:22] Speaker B: Not necessarily. But I I can't help but notice, and I'll point to one of the. The talismans that she has on her. We seem to have common interests. And I'll hold up my little worry beads. [02:38:40] Speaker D: Indeed we do. It's very rare to meet. Tell to me, meet someone who has the same interests, I guess. Where did you learn? [02:38:54] Speaker B: My mother. And her mother. Before her. Runs in the family, I suppose you could say. Grew up in a little village where things run much slower. [02:39:13] Speaker C: Hmm. [02:39:16] Speaker D: Sounds like where I come from. Let me ask you a personal question. [02:39:23] Speaker B: Yes. [02:39:26] Speaker D: Are you aware that you're not alone? And while you ponder that, doctor, uh, colonel, did either of you roll any successes? [02:39:39] Speaker A: Two. Three. [02:39:42] Speaker D: Wow. So even from your throne, surrounded by your sick fans, you. I've noticed that Elizabeth has moved on to talk to somebody else. Same with you, doctor. And you will notice this next thing also, colonel, doctor, as you're sitting there, kind of keeping an eye on the discussion, keeping an ear on the discussion, trying to look like you're reading your newspaper and enjoying your scone, there's a tapping at the window behind you. [02:40:26] Speaker E: I look over, I fold my paper back, and I look over my shoulder. [02:40:32] Speaker D: The curtains are mostly drawn. There's just a little bit of a thing. You don't see anything. You just see a little bit of the scenery passing by. [02:40:45] Speaker E: Is it still daytime at this point? Yeah, it's mid afternoon. [02:40:48] Speaker D: Yeah, it's like late afternoon getting on to dinner. So at this point, you know, it is Scandinavia, so it's probably getting a little darker than we would expect around, but it would still be daylight. [02:40:57] Speaker E: Yeah. I fold my newspaper up, I take the last bite of my scone really quickly, brush it off, readjust my seat, and I pull back the curtain, confused for a moment. [02:41:09] Speaker D: There's nothing there. And then very suddenly, just sort of appearing out of nowhere is what you would only be able to describe as a skeletal face with remnants of flesh hanging off of it, wearing a kind of dark cowl that reaches a bony, sharp finger, taps at the window again at you, and points at you and then disappears. Roll me a fear check. You get to roll either your logic or your empathy. Dealer's choice, but no skill, just that now, the captain is near you, so I will give you the bonus for having a ally in the area. So you'll get an extra die. Do you have any. Do you have any mental conditions? [02:42:00] Speaker E: Nope, because we've rested, so they should be gone, right? [02:42:05] Speaker D: Yeah. [02:42:10] Speaker E: Devil's luck. [02:42:12] Speaker D: Excellent. You absolutely, absolutely, completely managed to keep your cool, even as the very sight of this thing suddenly sends this shot of fear right through you. Do you rea. You don't, I will completely leave in your hand. Are you right? Because with the three successes, you were super cool as a cucumber. When this thing appears, looks at you, points at you, and then disappears, Drago. [02:42:38] Speaker E: Closes the curtain, I turns back, holds his newspaper, finishes his scone, cleans himself off, and then promptly walks to go find Rollin. [02:42:50] Speaker D: Uh, Colonel, are you still holding court? What are you doing at this particular point? [02:42:56] Speaker A: Well, one telling the same fucking story for the 7000th time. We thought the line was gonna hold, and then it didn't. And I said, no, we're not. And then everyone always cheers and gasps at the same time. [02:43:10] Speaker D: And then I yelled, freedom. [02:43:14] Speaker A: I'll shoot any man who lets them take this hell. Now open the cannons and give them hell, boys. It's the speech. I just made up my head, but I think it's because, like, that speech is on autopilot. Like, they're literally just, like, I can flip a switch and have the. The wax cylinder recording as we described, play it out of my mouth. That may be why I've noticed that things going on, but I'm right in the throes of it. We're talking about the enemies to the. [02:43:42] Speaker D: Right of them, cannons to the left. [02:43:45] Speaker A: Yeah, we're talking about the enemy charge making its way up the hill and loading the grape shot into the cannons and then just buried. Not until the whites of their eyes kind of stuff. [02:43:58] Speaker D: So what are you doing? Do you continue, or do you want to do something? I just want to check in to see if you want to. [02:44:04] Speaker A: Oh, I was setting the tone there. So, chronologically, then, I have. I have not seen the glass tapping, but I have seen Draco take off. Drago, would you rate, like, in your face scale from one to ten? Like, creepy urgency factorization? [02:44:25] Speaker D: No. [02:44:28] Speaker E: Viewers, I apologize for this. This vision that I'm about to create in your. In your mind here. But, you know, when. When no pun intended, somebody rolls the dice on some flatulence and they lost the game. You know, that. [02:44:43] Speaker A: That. [02:44:43] Speaker E: Oh, crap. Look again. No pun intended. That's kind of the look that he's getting. That just went from. To. [02:44:52] Speaker A: I have to leave then I think it's 100% like that. I can see Lispet, like. And as far as I know, she's just communicating with a stranger. And I see Drago gamble and miss. [02:45:07] Speaker E: Because you've seen Drago, I don't think at this point you've seen him eat anything other than scones, biscuits, and little cucumber sandwiches, tons of coffee and tea. So your boys. [02:45:18] Speaker A: Yeah, dietarily, you can stand for some cheese would probably help count. [02:45:26] Speaker E: Protein would go a long way, and fiber some roughage. Some rough, honestly. [02:45:31] Speaker A: Yeah, but. So, yeah, the point, like, all of this looks, I don't want to say normal, because I don't want to give Elizabeth, like, creepy bonding with strangers or draco possibly shitting his pants the label of normal. But it's not so far out of the realm of possibility for the. For the colonel that, like, I'm filing that away as, like, okay, these are the people I'm working with. I mean, I knew I was getting myself into something, but this is a bit much. And then once. Once that's, like, been clocked, then it's back into the story, because I have to be on for. Not the fans, but, you know, for the people. [02:46:09] Speaker D: Okay, so you're heading for Rollin doctor. Hi. On your way there, you'll. You'll. You'll pass a man who tips his hat at you and smells faintly of absinthe. [02:46:23] Speaker E: I clock it, but. But I just clock the smell as I put up the handkerchief again, which I always put the handkerchief away, and it finds its. Its way into my hand without me realizing it. And again, I clock it, and once again, that look of disapproval as I stuff it deeper into my pocket this time and keep making my way down. [02:46:44] Speaker D: All right, no problem. I'll get back to Laura in a second. Here. You get to the room, you knock. What is Rollin doing? [02:46:53] Speaker C: Come in. [02:46:54] Speaker E: It's a very frantic. It's almost like a big bang theory. Rollin Roland, Rollin. [02:47:05] Speaker C: Drago push the door. [02:47:08] Speaker E: Open, turn, and immediately shut it, like, both hands on it. And now I'm breathing heavy. I went from breathing calmly to. Okay, all right, Ron, you believe in this. This freaky. I mean, you've seen the things, right? [02:47:28] Speaker C: Yes. [02:47:29] Speaker E: Okay. Okay, so I wouldn't be crazy to tell you things that I've seen. [02:47:38] Speaker C: No, by no means, please sit. And I get up and I pour another two glasses of absinthe. [02:47:44] Speaker E: He takes both. [02:47:45] Speaker C: I don't know what type it is he takes. [02:47:47] Speaker E: He takes both of them from you and downs both. [02:47:50] Speaker C: And I just go back to the sideboard and pour myself one. [02:47:53] Speaker E: He's like, thank you. That was. God, that was nice. [02:47:57] Speaker D: Ooh. [02:47:59] Speaker E: So I'm sitting there eating a scone. They've got these amazing peach scones, by the way. This place. Incredible. [02:48:06] Speaker C: Respectfully, get on with it. [02:48:08] Speaker E: Sorry. Yeah, no, a little bit of scone left. There's a tapping. There's a tapping. And at first I thought, oh, it's. It's the colonel with his ring finger on the table. And then it's behind me and I look. And. Don't think I'm crazy. Please don't think I'm crazy. It's not crazy. There was a skeleton. There was a thing pointing at me and then it was gone. [02:48:42] Speaker C: In the train car. [02:48:44] Speaker E: On the outside of the train car. [02:48:48] Speaker C: Outside of the train car. Do you mean out the window? [02:48:51] Speaker E: Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. I think I was trying to find the funnies in my newspaper. [02:49:01] Speaker C: At this. I pause and I just back very casually up against the door and I lean on it with my drink and I go. Finding the funnies, huh? Did it look like anybody or anything you recognized? [02:49:25] Speaker E: Well, here's the thing about skeletons, Roland. We all have one, and they all look just about the same. [02:49:32] Speaker C: Yes. Yes. [02:49:33] Speaker E: So, no, I can't. Can't imagine that it looked like grandmama. [02:49:41] Speaker C: Well, I want to first express to you that I believe you. And secondly, I wanted to ask, where did you get that ring? [02:49:57] Speaker D: And on that bombshell back in the club, Cardinal, um, she just asks you if you know that you're not alone. [02:50:15] Speaker B: It depends on what you mean by not alone. [02:50:22] Speaker D: There's someone with you. I can't see him very clearly now, but he's clearly very protective of you. The others just there, just. Just beyond my ability to see him. But I believe he made a point to let me know that he was there. [02:50:48] Speaker B: About 4ft tall, little horns. He carrying a pipe? [02:50:58] Speaker D: He's not carrying it so much as he's just using it for all it's worth right now. But. [02:51:07] Speaker B: That makes. No, no, I am aware, but thank you. [02:51:13] Speaker D: Okay. [02:51:15] Speaker B: Yes, he is very protective. [02:51:18] Speaker D: Very rare to see this. [02:51:22] Speaker B: I have come to understand that. [02:51:29] Speaker E: She. [02:51:29] Speaker B: Has been very helpful to me. [02:51:38] Speaker D: Does he have a name? [02:51:41] Speaker B: Bergamot. [02:51:47] Speaker D: Well, he's like no troll I've ever seen. [02:51:55] Speaker B: No, he was always a bit of an unusual one. [02:52:01] Speaker D: Um, Elizabeth, you're sitting alone at the table. It's dark. Night has fallen. The train is moving on. Kind of silent. Captain, you sort of sorry colonel, you sort of come to. You must have dozed off. Everyone's gone. It's dark in the club. Cardinal. You hear glasses clinking behind the bar as the train rolls on. The oil lamps around the club car, half of them are out, the other half are at lower. It's kind of dark and quiet and peaceful in the room. You notice Elizabeth sitting alone, a dead end. [02:53:14] Speaker A: Stop drinking on the train. It's very rare. It's been a long time since I got so indulged with the fans that I lost track of it. But it looks like I'm not the only one. So I'll do the quick breathe into the hand, make sure I don't reek of booze or I only like a little bit of booze. And then I guess start walking in that direction. Because if I'm in this state and she's here, then obviously we both need to be hitting sleeper car. So I will not going to raise my voice. I'm not a barbarian. I will wait until I get closer to say a little bit. Are you maybe to bed? [02:53:59] Speaker B: Uh, GM, do I realize that we've just lost time? [02:54:09] Speaker A: I do like this better. If the colonel's oblivious and you're the one who knows. [02:54:17] Speaker B: Do I know what can cause such things? [02:54:22] Speaker D: You can make a learning check. [02:54:24] Speaker C: Shit. [02:54:26] Speaker D: Meanwhile, back at the ranch, where did you get this ring? [02:54:31] Speaker E: Doctor, first of all, question for Rowland. Are you. Did you clock the ring in the past? [02:54:42] Speaker C: Bingo. [02:54:43] Speaker E: Okay. [02:54:50] Speaker C: I'm still leaning with my back up against the door. [02:54:52] Speaker E: Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, I locked myself in with the lion. Sweet. Um. He stops. Still holding two classes of empty absinthe. It's like rollin my boy. What? What, what wings we're talking about. The skeleton puts him down somewhere. [02:55:16] Speaker C: Drago, if you tell me the truth, I might be able to tell you where I think this skeleton came from. Now I know you're not a military man. Why are you wearing a military ring? [02:55:33] Speaker E: Drago at this point, stands up and it's kind of pacing small circles. Roland, how long have we known each other? [02:55:46] Speaker C: I'd say long enough. [02:55:49] Speaker E: Long enough. [02:55:53] Speaker C: Several years on the job. [02:56:03] Speaker E: Then I will ask you, Rollin, when. When did you start noticing that I've been a little different. [02:56:21] Speaker C: Question to the GM. When would have I noticed Drago acting differently? Was it before or after my own accident? [02:56:32] Speaker E: Muted. [02:56:34] Speaker C: Muted? [02:56:35] Speaker D: Yeah, it was after. It was fairly recent. A couple of weeks maybe. [02:56:41] Speaker C: Okay, I know we are in a little bit of a shifty line of work, but it's even shifty for you. If it's coming down to money, you know you can always ask. [02:56:59] Speaker E: I'm not broke, Rowland. Look at. I grabbed my belly. I was like, look at me, I'm eating well. I'm fine. [02:57:11] Speaker C: Then what is it? [02:57:12] Speaker E: He sits again at the foot of the bed. I will answer your question. But first, another question. You've been doing this for a bit. You've seen some things, solved some cases within this. This realm. Do you share Elizabeth's view or the colonel view regarding our place with the mason? [02:57:55] Speaker C: Now, I hope it certainly wouldn't get back to any of them, but I'm more inclined to be on Elizabeth's side about it. I think that she knows things that we do not. And while the colonel. Strategic, calculating, terribly intelligent, I think seeks to destroy when perhaps we could learn. Diplomatic enough for you? [02:58:20] Speaker E: I would hope so. And I will have to trust and the doctor's memories to trust you. I. I need help. And I need your discretion. [02:58:43] Speaker C: Anything. [02:58:48] Speaker E: I hate to use the word hijack, but that is the best way that I can describe. And I stand and I kind of do a little twirl. What? This is. [02:59:05] Speaker C: What? [02:59:07] Speaker E: Doc. He's alive. [02:59:14] Speaker C: Oh, fuck. Can I activate my eye? [02:59:19] Speaker D: You can. And just as you do, you hear the unmistakable sound of a gunshot ringing out throughout the train, followed by a screen. [02:59:35] Speaker E: This is murder on the Orient Express. [02:59:40] Speaker C: I don't know. Are you alive? [02:59:45] Speaker E: Any bullet holes? [02:59:47] Speaker A: Cute. Interested in whether I hear that, that gunshot? [02:59:49] Speaker D: Any. [02:59:50] Speaker A: Any ladder? [02:59:51] Speaker D: Get to that momentarily. What do you do? You turn on your eye. As you turn on your eye and you look at the doctor. You see, for lack of a better word or better description, rather a body with three souls fighting amongst each other. [03:00:15] Speaker C: Oh, Drago, what did you do? [03:00:22] Speaker E: Okay, first of all, Drago is. I. We. He. I got jumped. It's an autopsy. And he. We. I, me. There was a ring. [03:00:45] Speaker D: Just to be sure. You're just ignoring the gunshot. [03:00:49] Speaker C: Just for a second. [03:00:51] Speaker E: Just for a second. We're gonna get back to that. [03:00:52] Speaker C: Told me he's full of ghosts. [03:00:55] Speaker D: I'm just saying, like, you know, like. [03:00:58] Speaker E: First of all, I do. When I hear the gunshot, I do do a quick check. Am I shot? [03:01:03] Speaker D: No, you seem okay. [03:01:04] Speaker E: Okay. I'm like, all right, we'll address this. [03:01:07] Speaker D: No, you seem fine. [03:01:08] Speaker E: Okay, we. I'm gonna acknowledge it. Like, can. We're gonna do. And then the gunshot. Right? [03:01:16] Speaker C: Put a pin in this. I'm sorry, we need order of operations. [03:01:19] Speaker E: Let's. Yeah. [03:01:20] Speaker C: Oh, my God. Full of ghosts. And I open the door and I throw it open and, like, peer out into the hall. [03:01:25] Speaker D: We scooby Doo. [03:01:26] Speaker E: Stack each other as we look out the hall. [03:01:28] Speaker D: Yeah, you see nothing down the hall except that it's dark. Like it's the middle of the night. [03:01:36] Speaker C: I call out Elizabeth. [03:01:39] Speaker E: Colonel, do I clock that we just skipped from it being kind of dark to now? [03:01:47] Speaker D: Yeah. Roland. [03:01:49] Speaker C: Yes. [03:01:50] Speaker E: Roland. It shouldn't be this dark. [03:01:52] Speaker C: I know, but we are in Scandinavia. [03:01:55] Speaker E: No. Yes, but not this dark. [03:01:59] Speaker D: Hmm. [03:02:01] Speaker C: I don't like it. [03:02:03] Speaker E: You should go check it out. [03:02:04] Speaker C: I'm gonna try, and I think we need to. Yes. [03:02:07] Speaker E: Wait. Sure. Yeah, you should go check it out. That's what I said. [03:02:12] Speaker C: I grab him by the wrist, and I just start marching down the hall, trying to find the other two. [03:02:17] Speaker D: As you start going down the hall, every window you pass. Doctor, you hear a tapping. Tuck, tuck, tuck, tuck, tuck, tuck, tuck, tuck, tuck. Every window. [03:02:29] Speaker E: Yeah. [03:02:29] Speaker D: You pass by. You don't hear that Rollin do I see him reacting? [03:02:35] Speaker E: I do. Every time we get through a window. I look at it every time. [03:02:39] Speaker C: What are you seeing? [03:02:41] Speaker E: Are the windows open or they close as well? [03:02:45] Speaker D: They. All the windows here, the. They're. They're open. All the curtains are open. And you can see outside it's night. Landscape passing by. [03:02:55] Speaker C: But they're not, like, open fair. [03:02:57] Speaker D: Not open. [03:02:58] Speaker E: Just the blinds are pulled. [03:02:59] Speaker D: Yeah. Yeah, the landscape is going by super slowly. Like, if you got out and crawled, you'd move faster than this train is moving. [03:03:09] Speaker E: Oh, do I see that white again? No, I call it a white because it's closest thing I can. [03:03:17] Speaker D: Yeah. No, no, you don't say anything. You just hear the tapping. [03:03:21] Speaker E: I can hear the tapping again, but I don't see the thing. [03:03:26] Speaker C: Well, you might yet see the thing. I think you might have the sight, friend. And I keep walking and trying to find Elizabeth and the colonel. [03:03:36] Speaker D: As you turn to continue down the hallway, you see standing in front of you, a man wearing a long, dark coat, a derby hat. He's got kind of a mask around his mouth and little round, dark glasses. And as you turn and see him there, he stops, sees you, and brings up a revolver. Back in the club cart, you. Colonel. Gotten up? I've gone to Elizabeth. Elizabeth, you realize something's weird. What are you doing? [03:04:18] Speaker A: I will say there was a part of me that thought you were just narratively skipping time and, like, as in, like, fast forward to the next thing that happened, not like, snap fingers snap time. So I've been on a real roller coaster the last couple minutes. I'm catching up now. [03:04:32] Speaker B: We've lost time, my love. [03:04:34] Speaker A: I just. [03:04:35] Speaker C: In game. We have lost time. [03:04:37] Speaker A: I thought we were just skipping past the boring part. [03:04:39] Speaker E: Like, you gotta check in between the cushions. That's where you lose. [03:04:41] Speaker A: Okay, so I will keep the confusion there. That delirium is important, but I wanted to clarify that there was an out of character snafu there. Not that the colonel is a bumbling fucking idiot. [03:04:51] Speaker D: So one doesn't necessarily prevent the other, but thank you for clarifying. [03:04:55] Speaker A: That's true. So, yeah, but, like, he's, like, he hasn't gotten there yet. As he's approaching GM. [03:05:03] Speaker B: I believe you said I needed to make a learning role. [03:05:06] Speaker D: Yep. [03:05:08] Speaker B: And that is two successes on that. [03:05:11] Speaker D: Excellent. Remind me what your question was. [03:05:15] Speaker B: Do I know of things that can make time go fucking? [03:05:20] Speaker D: Oh, yes, absolutely. It is a power that some basin possessed to mess with time. I've put a picture on the, on the albert of the person that's in front of the, in front of you in the hall. [03:05:35] Speaker B: That's delightful. So, colonel, you walk up, and I pushed earlier, so we're going to go with frightened on that. Because initially it was just anxiety. And the little bell chime on my worry beads was going a little faster, and now it's just really going until it stops and I go, oh, no. [03:06:02] Speaker A: If I can make it even worse. I think that we've established the colonel at the time snap happens, and he doesn't quite, like, the default is to what rational things can happen. Because this is the first time he's gone out. Right? Like, you are all deeply more intimately familiar with these things. So it's not just the colonel walking over. It's like in the dark, kind of bleary, like a little stumbling, trying to figure out, like, not. Not a warm gate. So if it's dark and a little odd, like, you would see someone kind of shambling towards you, wearing the colonel's face, right? Like, so you start freaking out, and now I'm like, Elizabeth, what? Hey, hey. [03:06:44] Speaker D: Snap. Snapdein. [03:06:46] Speaker B: Um. Oh. Oh, dear, oh, dear, oh, dear. [03:06:49] Speaker A: Don't, don't. Oh, dear. No, no, no. Look, soldier, do not oh, dear me. You are the one who knows spooky stuff. So if you're afraid, I'm afraid. Tell me what's going on. [03:06:59] Speaker B: We just lost time. And there are things that can pull and spend time to their will, which means there's something on this train and we should find the others. [03:07:17] Speaker D: The door to the card opens, and you see, um. You see, uh, thea sort of come, come in. And she looks agash. She's, like, sweating. Her eyes are wild. It's like. You feel it too, don't you? [03:07:34] Speaker B: Yes. Well, what's the last thing you remember? [03:07:37] Speaker D: Um. Uh, I. We were talking, but I. I know it is. I know it is. It's. And then you hear a gunshot, and you see her chest explodes with blood. And it's almost kind of like she falls in slow motion. And you see the blood eject out of her chest as she reaches out to you, colonel, you see the troll that we saw earlier manifesting? Reach around Lisbeth and wrap his arms around her. And he grows to be, like, 7ft tall as he wraps around her and pulls her down. And, colonel, as you, with your reaction and your training, a gunshot is nothing to you if not just a sign that it's time to do stuff, whereas I'm just screaming. You turn your head in the direction of the shot which came from the other end where the piano is. And you see this figure standing there with the revolver out, smoke coming out of the revolver. He tips his hat at you and turns over. [03:08:44] Speaker A: Is he? [03:08:45] Speaker D: And on that note, my friends. [03:08:51] Speaker A: I was gonna hit him with a table, but now I have to wait a whole week. [03:08:54] Speaker D: Yeah. [03:08:57] Speaker C: Damn it. [03:09:00] Speaker D: Oh, you have to wait all week. Hit him with the table. Just hold that thought. [03:09:06] Speaker C: Oh, boy. [03:09:11] Speaker E: A lot of bombshells. [03:09:13] Speaker A: Yeah, I was along for the ride. Thought we were skipping, and, like, shit was actually happening. So I'm guessing there's a point where bleak is, like, you are really, like, cool with this happening? And I'm like, yeah, I'm. Oh. [03:09:29] Speaker D: No, I. Honestly, in my head, it was just. You were playing a guy who was playing off of what I said that, you know, it's like, you just wake up. [03:09:37] Speaker A: There was a little bit of that. [03:09:39] Speaker D: And so I was like, okay, that's cool. [03:09:41] Speaker A: Yeah. And I. Well, we can. We can talk more about this a ton, because we have this episode. There'd be two or three more, and we invite the entire audience to come along with us as we continue our adventures in mythical mysteries. With Vezin, I have been occasionally bumbling, but always braggadocious Colonel Johan Brugelund. But there are several more important people here who you have gotten to know and will continue to get to know as this adventure continues. Oh, I have made a decision last time I started doing this, that I am in Cape Town of choosing the correct order. So, in general, I just use the worst die in the set to determine who goes next. Uh, that spares me from having me, like, person who's not prepared with their spiel. You have to go. I can outsource that responsibility to fate, and it belongs to Laura Tutu. So, Laura bringing Elizabeth along. Board, worry beads. Occultism. Um, I think in the. The current who gets which sidekick contest, you've drawn the short straw. How are you enjoying Bezen so far? Where can people find more of what you are doing? Yeah. Yeah. You work here. You know the deal. Go nuts. [03:10:52] Speaker B: Fucking work here. Aaron. Jesus. Hi, folks. Good evening. You can call me Laura or Tutu or Laura Tutu. You can find me on the Internet at most places under some iteration of Laura Tutu. You might just have to throw an underscore at beginning, the end of that. I have been your occultist. Dear, sweet Elizabeth Jensen, who's apparently got a little tag along, buddy. She knew that. It's fine. This is fine. Everything's fine when I'm not here, learning new systems that are truly delightful. Honest to God, I'm so glad I'm in on this game. This is such a fucking blast. When I'm not learning new systems and running along on haunted trains, I'm being the social media menace over at Queen's court games. So if you see things on the Internet that tell you when shit's going up, it's probably because either I did it or I reminded Aaron that we should probably tell people when our shit's going up so they can watch it. When I'm not hanging out at the court, you can find me hanging out with the folks over at Obsidian Brews, the all black tabletop collective with Bendy and Rob. And for the most part, that's. That's it. That's me. [03:12:07] Speaker A: Not mentioning the world of darkness streams that you've been on, not mentioning a lot of other things there. That's okay, because I'm here to talk about it. Moving on from New Jersey Webfest best player character winner Laura Tutu to our newest member of the court, Kato AC, bringing Axl Rowland onto the table. First of all, shame on you for making us all lose the makeup game. [03:12:33] Speaker C: That's why I messaged, and I was like, how far are we going? Because the only thing that I could actually do is this, because I own nothing of what else he owns. [03:12:43] Speaker A: I have the uniform pieces, but that just feels like a lot. But now that I know that the level has been set, now that we all know what we have to aspire to, it'll be great. But you are, Cato. [03:12:55] Speaker D: You're. [03:12:56] Speaker A: You're making games for us, but you're also up to plenty of other things. Tell me about them. I demand it. [03:13:04] Speaker C: I am on the Internet, on the instagrams, at the Helena handbasket. I am on TikTok and Twitter at only handbasket because apparently there are a lot of people, people trying to steal my stage name of hell in a hand basket out there. You can catch me doing burlesque and various other things under my moniker, hell in a handbasket. You can also catch one of several movies that I've been in. This one in particular that I'm plugging is called revealer. It's on shutter. It is a 1980s neon soaked thrill ride, and it has a lot of TTRPG references in it and comic book references. So that's for you nerds. That's me. And I will always wear contacts on games. [03:13:57] Speaker A: Next up on the list, I'm. I feel like this is. It's a bit meta because our good friend Latinos against Spooky shit is showing us what happens if you don't follow his advice. You end up on a haunted ghost train getting shot by ghost monsters. Jonathan, do you regret the choices you've made showing up on this train every. [03:14:17] Speaker E: Time, every day, every one of them? [03:14:20] Speaker A: Well, if you don't hesitation, if people wanted to not make that mistake, where could they find you giving advice that you will not take yourself? [03:14:27] Speaker E: You can find me. And first, how dare you set me up like this. First of all, you can find me everywhere as Latinos against spooky shit. Except Twitter, which is against Spooky because my name is way too long and they have a character limit and it's dumb and I hate it. But everything else, threads, twitch, Instagram, TikTok threads, MySpace, probably, I don't know. Latinos against spooky shit. You can find me there. You can also find me at Tabletop Tempest, the newest, latest acquisition. Founded by myself four by and to express stories from children of immigrants and immigrants themselves. An AP company to bring you some incredible stories. And that's all I got for you. [03:15:14] Speaker A: I'm more than happy to promote that. Also, just let us know when it's happening. We will amplify that as best we can. We are all about elevating those kind of voices, either here or where other people are doing it. Oh, boy. Speaking of elevation, Jonathan, elevating the voices of children of immigrants. Bleak season. Elevating my heart rate. You are our guest, GM. I am incredibly grateful. I notice every time I play, it is so hard to get out of the GM mindset because you're like, what do you do I'm like, I don't know what would facilitate your plot the best. That's what I would want me to do as a GM, and it's very difficult dance to do, but you have handled it well and expertly. I think we can all agree on that. If people want to see more of your GM skills on display. [03:16:05] Speaker D: Well, if you haven't gotten enough of me yet, you can find me everywhere, pretty much as usually as the bleak season. Because a lot of places some guy came up before me and took bleak season, they never used it. My website is bleak season gaming and you can find me streaming on my Twitch channel, which is called folk and myth, usually every Fridays, occasionally on other nights. Playing a lot of vampire to masquerade these days, game of my own making, american gods, and of course all the free league publishing stuff I can get my hands on because I love this. I do want to say huge thank you to Aaron and Vy and everyone that Queen Square gaming for the invite to come and do this because this is kind of a dream job situation for me here right now. And that was before they threw this cast at me, which I was like, get the f out. Fantastic. Like I was floored and I am still floored and I'm in awe. So I stand here among giants and I thank you all and I appreciate you all. So looking forward to the next game. [03:17:16] Speaker A: There was actually a small fight in the room because we had to decide very carefully which people we could build a schedule around. And I'm not ashamed to say it, I invoked executive privilege and I'm like, okay, first of all, mine. Then second of all, Jonathan and whoever can make those two things work gets to play. That was the casting process. Well, we are thrilled to have you here. Your work has always been excellent. This is a meeting of all the great things all in one room. If you would like to see more great things back in focus, you can see us YouTube, Queen's court games, literally everywhere on the Internet. Queen's Court games website, Queen's Court doc games, except Twitter. That's Queenscore RPG's for the same reason, or RPG for the same reason that Latinos against spooky shit has to shorten theirs. You can also, if you like this kind of stuff. Turns out it is not for free. And as much as we appreciate the Twitch subs and the bits and stuff, we do not like sharing your money with Jeff Bezos. He's got plenty. Doesn't need it. You know what you could do? You can go to Patreon. We still have to share it because we live in late stage capitalism, but we can share less of it. And then you'll use that money to do things like compensate Jonathan for his time because no one here works for free to compensate bleak season for his creative effort. And then also pay for Adobe Premiere Pro because it gets kind of expensive. In exchange for that, you will get bonus games, you will get art, you will get all kinds of stuff. Head on over to patreon.com queensportgames. You can see all the kind of stuff that's available there. In the meantime, I have to hit someone with a chair. Jonathan has to figure out where the ghosts came from. Axel has to decide if they're gonna be friends with a new girl's infested body, and Elizabeth has some questions to answer about your goblin friend, who is, as far as I can tell, consuming corpses. [03:19:13] Speaker B: Troll. Thank you. [03:19:15] Speaker A: That's my mistake. [03:19:16] Speaker E: Hate crying, Elizabeth. [03:19:18] Speaker A: All of just a little guy. [03:19:19] Speaker D: He's just a little guy. [03:19:20] Speaker A: He's a, bigger now. And b, you know, the only people who are like, he's a little guy. That is always what people say when they've done something wrong. Like, can't blame me. I'm just a little guy. As I subsume a corpse into me and grow four sizes, right? I know that energy. I'm not falling for it. Well, you can see if that sentence ends up to be true or not one week from now, but about 3 hours ago. And we return with episode two. In the meantime, bye for now. [03:19:59] Speaker B: Sadeena. Sadeena.