With their todo list completed, the Patina and Foundlings are free to mingle and continue trying not to die.
With their todo list completed, the Patina and Foundlings are free to mingle and continue trying not to die.
Cast:
- Marathon Messenger is played by Penn Van Batavia. She can be found on Twitter at @acquiredchaste and in drag as horror king JOHN on Instagram at @john.is.risen. Penn is an indie TTRPG designer whose most recent work includes SLICE *IT* OUT, a grisly carving RPG about cutting pieces of yourself out to fit in. Check out faer other work at pennharper.itch.io.
- Cassidy Shard is played by Sydney Whittington. She is our wonderful editor. She’s also a contributing editor and occasional guest player for the Orpheus Protocol, a cosmic horror espionage actual play podcast. Find her on Twitter at @sydney_whitt.
- Emma Blackwood is played by Cameron Robertson. Find her on Twitter at @midnightmusic13 and on Instagram at @reading_and_dreaming. Cameron is also a player on Tabletop Squadron, a Star Wars Edge of the Empire actual play podcast.
- Birdie Foundling is played by Kit Adames. Find her on Twitter at @venusvultures. Kit is also a voice actor and writer on Elevator Pitch Podcast, a queer genre-hopping anthology podcast that can be accessed on Spotify and YouTube.
- Our GM and narrator is Nick Robertson. Find him on Twitter at @alias58. Nick is also the GM for Tabletop Squadron and can also be found as a player on the Orpheus Protocol.
Music & Sound Credits:
- This podcast features the musical talents of Dora Violet and Arne Parrott. You can find Dora at facebook.com/doraviolett. You can find Arne at atptunes.com.
- old radio Channel search sound effect by Garuda1982. Link & License.
- Splashing a cup of soda in someone’s face by pfranzen. Link & License
- Bouncing heineken glass by jorickhoofd. Lin k & License.
- Chopin - Grande Valse Brillante, Opus 18 - Arranged for Strings.mp3 by Gregor Quendel. License.
- United Voyagers by Sergey Chereminisov. Link & License.
- Powerful Stylish Stomp Rock (Lets Go) by MarkJuly. Link & License.
- Easy - Easy by Crowander. Link & License.
Art Credits:
- The official artwork for this podcast was created by Rashed AlAkroka, who can be found on Instagram and Artstation @rashedjrs.
Find Us Online:
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A Knight of Shreds and Patches Transcript
Season 3 Episode 15: Uncontrolled Descent
Transcript by Cameron Robertson
Intro:
[hurdy gurdy music begins]
Nick: Welcome, listeners, to A Knight of Shreds and Patches. An immersive actual play podcast. This episode features the talents of –
Penn: Penn Van Batavia as Marathon Messenger and Gwendolyn Rozenthall.
Kit: Kit Adames as Birdie Foundling and Vaus Foundling.
Cameron: Cameron Robertson as Emma Blackwood and Janus Foundling.
Sydney: Sydney Whittington as Cassidy Shard and Winifred Foundling.
Nick: Nick Robertson as GM and Narrator.
Sydney: Hello listeners, this is your editor, Sydney, with today’s messages:
By the powers granted to me as editor of this podcast, I hereby grant you the privilege and responsibility to aspire. Dream big, dream small, dream of changing the world, dream of taking the world’s coziest nap, dream while you’re napping. Imagine good things, and then feel the freedom to pursue them. You got this.
And if you need to shake up that snowglobe that is your dreamscape, consider backing our Patreon, which gives you access to bonus episodes, campfire conversations, and other fun rewards, and which will soon include the first of a new “icy” miniseries.
And with that, we wrap up today’s announcements and head into Season 3, Episode 15: Uncontrolled Descent. And so…
“Join us, for now our tale to yours attaches
To carry hope: a Knight of Shreds and Patches.”
[hurdy gurdy music ends]
[electronic beeping]
[robotic powerup noise begins]
Distorted Robotic Voice: Power restored. Systems online. Reconfiguring audio connection.
[robotic powerup noise fades to radio frequency static]
[over radio]
Cameron (as Emma): Last time on a Knight of Shreds and Patches, I got the honor of breaking the no fighting rule that Winifred & Janus gave us and ended up fighting this huge man with an ax - which was rude cause I feel like I could have easily crushed the rich dude who challenged me to this ridiculous duel, but whatever. Fight is going surprisingly well against the scary guy, although he did disarm me, which once again - rude, but he also dropped his ax in the process and it landed behind me sooooooo now I have an ax. Birdie is being a great hype person and there’s a chance this could help the Patina’s reputation if I win. We’ll see I guess. Hopefully Marathon & Cassidy are getting some quality alone time and have no idea that this duel is taking place so Cassidy can’t get mad.
Cameron (as Janus): Speaking of getting mad that you’re dueling…
Cameron (as Emma): Holy shit! Where did you come from, Janus?
Cameron (as Janus): I’m here cause I’m sneaky, remember? Anyway, Winifred and I finished up our job successfully, even though Juno tried to get me trapped in the vents, and we were shocked to see you fighting freaking Atlas Bloodfeast. You, who we thought was the responsible one. Emma I’m disappointed.
Cameron (as Emma): I didn’t do anything! A rich guy ran into me and spilled his drink on me and then challenged me to a duel! And then he tapped in that giant to fight for him and I’m just trying not to die!
Cameron (as Janus): Oh, well in that case - fuck the rich. Kick his ass.
Cameron (as Emma): Wait - Juno tried to trap you in the vents?
Cameron (as Janus): Let’s focus on you not dying, okay?
[radio static]
Episode Start:
Nick: The bloodthirsty cheers of the crowd drown out the remnants of the string music playing by the dance floor. People who minutes ago were refined and reserved, are now screaming for violence, crammed shoulder to shoulder, as we see Emma sliding beneath the legs of a massive mountain of a man holding a battle ax and preparing to defend herself and her honor. Janus and Winifred, you have just made your way back to the room after successfully planting your data gathering device. This is the scene that you find yourselves observing from the doorway.
Cameron (as Janus): Wow.
Sydney (as Winifred): This looks like chaos.
Cameron (as Janus): What the hell?
Sydney (as Winifred): Is that Emma?
Cameron (as Janus): Uh huh. Yep.
Sydney (as Winifred): [sigh] Okay.
Cameron (as Janus): And that [concerned noise] - that that's Atlas Bloodfeast.
Sydney (as Winifred): Well, she looks like she's doing okay. Shall we -
Cameron (as Janus): Fucking Aubergine. God.
Sydney (as Winifred): Yeah. Maybe - I don't know,
Cameron (as Janus): [sigh]
Sydney (as Winifred): Go steal his shoe laces or something.
Cameron (as Janus): I mean at least, probably no one noticed that we were gone.
Sydney (as Winifred): Yeah. Upsides.
Cameron (as Janus): So
Sydney (as Winifred): They are making an impact.
Cameron (as Janus): [strained] Mhm.
Sydney (as Winifred): I see Marathon kind of looking lost in the crowd over there. I'm gonna go give her some company.
Cameron (as Janus): All right, cool. Yeah, I should, I should probably go check in on the book club ladies, especially because I definitely just abandoned our guest author over there with them.
Sydney (as Winifred): Enjoy your social time.
Sydney: And Winifred gives a curtsy.
Sydney (as Winifred): Gotta go be visible.
Cameron (as Janus): [sigh] That is kind of the goal of the wings, and it will definitely be talked about if I am not with them at some point this evening. So yeah, have fun. Take care of Marathon.
Sydney (as Winifred): Will do.
Cameron (as Janus): Not like that.
Sydney (as Winifred): I can't hear you.
Sydney: Winifred is gone.
Cameron (as Janus): Uh huh. Okay.
Sydney: Walking away, throwing a hand of goodbye over her shoulder.
Cameron (as Janus): Poor Birdie.
Nick: As Janus and Winifred make their way through the ballroom, Emma, how's the fight going?
Cameron: Emma is spending most of her time currently keeping out of Atlas' way, as he makes weirder and weirder decisions while fighting based on the directions being called out by Aubergine. It's making it more difficult, because it's not good advice at all and while she can hear the advice, she still is trying not to get hurt and not to terribly hurt Atlas. So it's just a lot of dodging and sliding around while trying to keep in between Atlas and her sword so that he can't rearm himself.
Nick: Emma, you keep hearing shouts from the sidelines saying,
Nick (as Aubergine): Grab her!
Nick: From Aubergine and Atlas is following instructions, attempting to grab you over and over again, putting himself within reach of the ax, which you know is not a great idea, and you can see him roll his eyes as he is being told to grab you over and over again. Janus, as this fight continues, you make your way over to the book club that has been waiting in the corner next to the guest author. They are like so many proud hens discussing both the violence nearby and their most recent read.
Nick (as book club member): [annoying rich voice] Ah Janus, it's so good to see you. We were wondering when you'd come back.
Cameron: As Janus was walking over, she signaled to several waiters so that they bring additional champagne to the group to make their memories just a little bit less reliable.
Cameron (as Janus): Yes, terribly sorry for the delay. I [quiet laugh] I always forget when I'm designing these costumes that if you have to go to the bathroom, it's like, I don't know, like, just the level of challenge is, it's a bit much, and
Penn (as book club member): [annoying rich voice] Go piss girl.
Cameron (as Janus): I did. I'm saying, I'm back.
Nick (as book club member): [annoying rich voice] She was saying pissing is hard.
Penn (as book club member): [annoying rich voice] I see. I'm consumed by Bloodfeast right now. I have Bloodfeasts of blood lust, if you will. [laugh]
Nick (as book club member): [annoying rich voice] Oh, Matilda, you're so bad.
Cameron (as Janus): I suppose, um, he does resemble a fair amount of the love interests in our books.
Penn (as book club member): [annoying rich voice] Minthis Portacall from our latest book read, I think.
Cameron (as Janus): He's definitely tall enough. Anyway -
Sydney (as book club member): [annoying rich voice] Now there only needs to be a bad dragon and we'll be set. An evil dragon.
Cameron (as Janus): I don't think that - any anyway, I hope you've all been keeping our guest entertained.
Cameron: Janus looks tired already from just being here for like 10 seconds.
Kit (as book club member): [annoying rich voice] But is his chest wet enough?
Cameron (as Janus): [sigh]
Penn (as book club member): [annoying rich voice] Good call, my dear.
Nick (as book club member): [annoying rich voice] Oh, good champagne. I could go fix that. Excuse me, ladies.
Cameron: Janus is just staring, slightly open mouthed after this woman.
Nick: So seated amongst these romance novel enthusiasts is a very famous author Janus, that was one of the bigger successes of your bookstore to get her to come to this party and meet with your book club. Her name is Fern. Her masquerade outfit is a very complex ball gown and mask that comes across as looking like a very sultry bumblebee, and she is watching these readers discuss what is going on with just a look of excited amusement on her face, like she can't believe these are the people that she's socializing with right now.
Cameron: Janus casts her a commiserating glance as she'd met Fern prior to this party and had given a warning on the seriousness of the book club, we'll say.
Nick: A very tall and thin man with a drooping mustache who is standing in the back of the group says,
Nick (as book club member): [annoying rich voice] Oh, there she goes.
Nick: As you hear the clink of crystal and the splash of champagne as your other reader has hucked several glasses of champagne at Atlas Bloodfeast.
Cameron (as Janus): [said on a sigh] Oh, my gosh.
Sydney (as book club member): [annoying rich voice] I'm surprised she made it there without tripping.
Cameron (as Janus): I'm surprised she threw the bloody glasses, not just the champagne. [sounds close to tears]
Sydney (as book club member): [annoying rich voice] And she hit him.
Cameron (as Janus): Mhm.
Penn (as book club member): [annoying rich voice] And my is his chest wet.
Cameron (as Janus): That is not what's important right now.
Nick (as book club member): [annoying rich voice] I think it's the most important thing. It's the best kind of chest. [annoying rich laugh]
Penn (as book club member): [annoying rich laugh]
Nick: And Fern the author politely chuckles, but also looks a little concerned about the way this conversation has gone.
Cameron (as Janus): Hmm.
Cameron: Janus recenters herself.
Cameron (as Janus): [sigh] I assume everyone brought their questions for Fern about her books. Can we go through some of those?
Sydney (as book club member): [annoying rich voice] How did you decide how big to make it?
Cameron (as Janus): [pained noise]
Cameron: Janus face palms.
Nick (as book club member): [annoying rich voice] Does anal sex really work like that?
Cameron (as Janus): [choking noises]
Cameron: Janus grabs a glass of champagne.
Nick (as book club member): [annoying rich voice] How come none of your heroines have lower back pain?
Penn (as book club member): [annoying rich voice] On a scale of warmth to sheath, where would you place dipping pool?
Sydney (as book club member): [annoying rich voice] Do you think they could have used dragon's tears as lube?
Cameron (as Janus): Um.
Nick (as book club member): [annoying rich voice] Now, when you write that they were tied in knots, do you mean literally or figuratively?
Penn (as book club member): [annoying rich voice] Could you give me on the Blanton scale, how tight was Tabitha in Tabitha's Revenge?
Nick (as book club member): [annoying rich voice] In chapter seven of Burning Chests, would you say that the orgasm represents man's inhumanity to man?
Cameron (as book club member): [annoying rich voice] I just don't understand how biologically it fits. Sounds terribly uncomfortable.
Nick: Fern, the bumblebee author, is taking notes at some of the suggestions as though they are giving her ideas, nodding thoughtfully at some of the discussion that spawned and succinctly answering some of the more specific physical questions, especially the one about dragon's tears.
Cameron: Janus finds herself looking forward to the normal book club the next day, where she'll get to talk with Fern like a normal person.
Nick: So as that conversation continues, Cassidy- very near to the circle of the duel, you see that Gwendolyn has set up to watch in an official capacity, and people have given her enough of a perimeter that she has a clear view and nobody is jostling her, and you're able to break that perimeter pretty easily and make your way over to her.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Gwendolyn, what the hell happened?
Penn (as Gwendolyn): It's a duel. This is how it works. A citizen challenged your friend to a duel.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Why?
Penn (as Gwendolyn): Some stupid shit. I don't really - it's not my place. It's just my place to be here for the duel. Your friend looks like she's kicking ass, though, so
Sydney (as Cassidy): Yeah, I mean, her ability to fight is not - like but we're, we're just gonna throw down in the middle of the party with strangers to Sasnak?
Penn (as Gwendolyn): Look, I don't make the rules. I'm just here to make sure everything goes according to plan, that nothing horribly big and awful is gonna happen. This is, honestly, I was hoping this wouldn't happen, but this is pretty mild.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Oh, because there's not blood getting splattered all over all of the guests.
Penn (as Gwendolyn): Yes, actually.. The bloodlust in these people.
Sydney: Cassidy shakes her head.
Penn (as Gwendolyn): I'm sorry, Cassidy, but you just gonna - this is just how it's gonna go.
Penn: And Gwendolyn has not taken her eyes off of the duelers this whole time.
Sydney: Cassidy is, just from her body language, anyone around could tell that she is scowling inside her mask, and she stalks off into the crowd in search of something else she can do, because she knows that it's a duel and so it's a one on one. But that doesn't mean that she doesn't want to do something.
Penn (as Gwendolyn): If you have a problem, take it up with Aubergine over there. That's the guy that started up this duel.
Sydney: Cassidy turns and immediately sees where Gwendolyn is pointing, and points at the same thing, looking for confirmation.
Penn: Gwendolyn hasn't taken her eyes off.
Penn (as Gwendolyn): Uh, like a horse mask or something.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Thank you.
Sydney: And Cassidy sets off towards Mr. Aubergine.
Nick: Emma, the current exchange with Atlas is going pretty well in that he hasn't managed to grab you and you haven't been forced to kill him, but you are being herded towards the edge of the ring of rich people watching, and you know you're going to have to try a different technique before you run out of energy.
Cameron: As Emma is planning her next move, the multiple glasses of champagne hit Atlas in the chest and sparkling crystal glass falls and scatters across the floor. Emma quickly looks over her shoulder and sees the book club lady standing there looking triumphant, then turns back to Atlas,
Cameron (as Emma): What the heck?
Nick (as Atlas): Ugh. The book club. Sometimes they get excited at these things. I'm used to it.
Cameron (as Emma): They just throw stuff at you?
Nick (as Atlas): Uh specifically liquids.
Cameron (as Emma): Oh my gosh, is this the fucking wet chest thing?
Nick (as Atlas): It's the fucking wet chest thing. Yeah.
Cameron (as Emma): No~.
Penn (as book club member): [yelling] [annoying rich voice] Ravage her then ravage me~!
Nick (as Atlas): See?
Cameron (as Emma): Oh my gosh. That is awful.
Nick (as Atlas): I take hazard pay anyway. It's just sort of part of it. And that trope is, it's overused now, but in some of the books, it really did add to the story, I think.
Cameron (as Emma): Oh, sure. Well, when it when it's purposeful, but like I would say, this is a situation where it makes no sense for your chest to be wet, besides the fact that a terrible rich lady just threw champagne and glass at you.
Nick (as Atlas): You can't judge her too harshly because you're currently waving my own battle ax at me. So if we're looking at -
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah, because your boss challenged me to a duel after he ran into me and spilled his drink on me. Wow, we're getting a lot of drinks spilt on us today.
Nick (as Atlas): It's a job hazard.
Nick: And as you and Atlas are having this conversation, he's been swinging punches at you, and you've been warding him off. You're talking as you continue to fight.
Nick (as Atlas): So as long as we're exchanging a conversation here, if you could just put the ax down, I could just knock you out, and then you don't have to die, which would be pretty good for both of us, really.
Cameron (as Emma): I mean, I really don't want either one of us to die, but I also don't want to get punched.
Nick (as Atlas): Then we are at an impasse.
Nick: And he goes for a double handed overhead swing at you.
Cameron: When he says this and makes the next punches, Emma sidesteps, and since this is a fully crescent battleax, I want to as I'm stepping past, hook it on his left foot, the leg with the injured knee, and yank as I'm passing to pull him down.
Nick: Okay. So go ahead and roll me a Melee attack. It is upgraded because he's an Adversary, and there will be two black die, because this is a complicated maneuver. You can have a blue die because you've been beating that leg up pretty bad.
Cameron: I gonna flip a Story Point so I can look cool. So I am rolling three yellows, a blue, a purple, a red, and two blacks.
[dice rolling]
Cameron: Three successes, an advantage, and a triumph.
Nick: So are you wanting to do non lethal damage to him as well?
Cameron: Yeah. Basically, I'm trying to tire out his knee enough to where he cannot continue fighting. So like I want him to tap out because he can no longer stand.
Nick: So how much damage is that total? The ax has the same damage as your sword.
Cameron: So four, plus the three successes, plus my three Brawn, so 10. And can I do a crit with the triumph?
Nick: You can, in fact, do a crit with the triumph. That ax is Vicious 2, so it is plus 20.
[dice rolling]
Cameron: All right, so I rolled a 73, so if it's plus 20, then it's a 93 which is 'At the Brink: The target suffers two Strain each time they perform an action until this critical injury is healed.' That is actually amazingly applicable.
Nick: Well, good thing he hasn't been spending Strain yet.
Cameron: Besides all the non lethal damage I've done so far.
Nick: Yeah. And then, since you called it out ahead of time, you can use that advantage to knock him prone as well.
Cameron: Whoo!
Nick: You hook the back of his ankle, kick at his leg, and pull his weight out from under him. Atlas falls onto the flat of his back, grunts in pain and hits the back of his head on the ground and is looking a bit discombobulated. And now that it is his turn, he is going to spend his maneuver to get back onto his feet. He does one of those cool fighting ways of regaining your feet, where he plants his palms down and then runs in a circle on the ground to get his feet back under him, but while doing that, you can see it's pretty painful to do that with his leg in the shape it is. And he is going to use his action to try to get past you and pick up your sword to use it. This bare handed fighting isn't working, and Aubergine has fallen mostly silent, so he takes that as permission to actually fight more strategically now.
Let's do a contested Brawl check to see if you're able to keep him from getting past you. I am going to flip a Story point to upgrade this for him because he needs a win. So he is three yellow and two green with that upgrade, and he will have two blue die on this - one for his Defense, because I'm going to say that gets in the way of what you're doing, and one because he's not trying to fight you at all. He's just trying to get past you.
Cameron: All right and I'm going to suffer a Strain for Dodge to upgrade the difficulty of the combat check - to upgrade mine?
Nick: Sure.
Cameron: To be more in his way. Cause it is a combat check, since it's Brawl, so,
Nick: Yeah, I think that makes sense.
Cameron: And then I have two Melee Defense. So this is three yellows, two greens, two blues, against three reds and two blacks.
[dice rolling]
Cameron: Two failures and four advantages.
Nick: Huh. Okay, so he does take two Strain because he took an action, thanks to his crit. So he is starting to sweat heavily and breathe heavily, and is looking pretty tired. He's not able to get past you, but halfway through him trying to get past you and you stopping him, Atlas realizes that you are putting everything into keeping him from getting the sword, and so he starts moving in such a way that your options are to leave yourself open for an attack or let him have the sword. So with those advantages, he is going to have four blue die on his next roll, because he is going to put everything into one last all out chance to try to hit you back. But we'll have to see how that goes in just a minute.
Birdie, this fight has been a pretty big distraction to everybody attending this masquerade. Even Wander has stopped giving orders to his assistant and dismissed the assistant from the staircase. You are standing on the opposite staircase, a little bit behind him as you were listening, but you have the opportunity to get this very rich and powerful man's undivided attention, if you wish.
Kit: Birdie will steel her nerves and realize that she did grab an extra flute of champagne for the ruse of waiting for another person and decides to use that to her advantage, and she'll approach Wander and giving personal space, but a conversational distance away, offer the second flute of champagne that she hasn't drunk from. Before he can say anything, Birdie will tilt her head to the duel happening.
Kit (as Birdie): Nice to have a drink for some entertainment.
Nick: He glances at the flute and does not move to take it.
Nick (as Wander): I don't think we've had the pleasure of being introduced.
Kit (as Birdie): We haven't. Um. This is a masquerade ball, but I suppose since you're a higher up, it's fine. I go by Birdie.
Nick (as Wander): Well, I would say that it's a pleasure to meet you, but I usually only enjoy meeting people who have something to offer. People don't approach me without needing something. Let's get to that part and skip the pleasantries, shall we?
Kit (as Birdie): All right, straight to business then.
Kit: And she'll set the - are they near like a railing or table or something?
Nick: Yeah, there's one of those big bougie marble staircase railings on the side.
Kit: She'll place the flute down between them so that he can still take it if he wishes to.
Kit (as Birdie): Well, I do have an offer for you, if you'd be interested.
Nick: He makes a wave at you to keep talking. He is half paying attention to you and half still watching the fight with some interest.
Kit (as Birdie): I work with the woman who's fighting Atlas Bloodfeast.
Nick (as Wander): Now that is interesting.
Kit (as Birdie): It is. And we recently, as in just about, [thinking noise] 20-30 minutes ago, found ourselves in cahoots with Councilor Opal.
Nick (as Wander): That would make you somewhat of an enemy asset I'm afraid. I don't follow your point.
Kit (as Birdie): Wouldn't it be useful?
Nick (as Wander): The problem with betrayal is once you've done it once it's so easy to keep going. Have you ever seen an alligator fighting others of its kind?
Kit (as Birdie): Haven't had the pleasure.
Nick (as Wander): Oftentimes they will lock jaws on prey or each other and death roll, trying to drown the other or pull pieces apart. That's how double crossing tends to go. Betrayal after betrayal comes down to a coin flip as to who ends up on top. You don't get to where I am for as long as I have been by settling for a coin flip for your odds.
Kit (as Birdie): Well, whatever your intention is with the buying out of Carbon, Opal has seemingly bought us out - my group - and I'd say it would be smart of you to work with us.
Nick: Go ahead and make me a Negotiation check at hard difficulty. You can have a blue die because you said Opal's name.
Kit: Alrighty. That will be two yellow, one green, three purple and one blue. That is a success and two advantages.
Nick: Okay, so he is interested in what you are offering.
Nick (as Wander): It is always nice to have information from those on the other side. And Opal is quick to change her plans - it's what makes her so dangerous. She's one of the more fun councilors to interact with, I will admit. What exactly are you proposing, Birdie, compatriot of the duelist?
Kit (as Birdie): I don't know if I'm proposing a full betrayal, as you say, but I would be willing to consider an exchange of information between the two of us. I think that to explain my reasoning why it would be wise of you to put this trust in me, is that I've seen Carbon racing for quite a long time, and I would be absolutely happy to inform my team of all of him and his team's weak points, and then you'll never get what you want.
Nick: He smiles faintly.
Nick (as Wander): I am well aware that my new friend Carbon has many weak points, and yet he is the reigning champion, and yet his other competitors already know of these voibles and somehow the little idiot comes out on top. I would be willing to learn more of Opal's plans. I would be willing to establish some sort of contact with you.
Nick: And he turns and faces you fully.
Nick (as Wander): If you have something to offer, if you have contact to make, or information to sell, I would accept that, and I am willing to pay handsomely, but don't expect that this is a mutual relationship. I have nothing to offer you in return, besides money.
Kit (as Birdie): Hm.
Nick (as Wander): And if you want something else, I'm afraid you're wasting your time.
Kit (as Birdie): I'll make an interim agreement with you to exchange information as my team and I receive it, but I'll have to make sure that everyone on my end is all right with this as well.
Nick (as Wander): If you want to continue our discussion, make your way to my office and tell the receptionist that you have something to discuss regarding 'Lunaria'. That will get you past the initial screeners and to at least an agent of mine, if not me myself. I'm a busy man.
Kit (as Birdie): And your offices are nowhere near Opal's, I'm assuming?
Nick (as Wander): Hmm that would be entertaining, but no. I keep a much smaller, less ostentatious center of work near the primary entrance to the Guts.
Kit (as Birdie): Hm. All right.
Nick (as Wander): Either way, it is no longer advantageous for anyone to see us talking, so I suggest you go support your friend. It looks like the duel is going well for her.
Kit (as Birdie): Yes, I do believe that she'll win. Pleasure doing business with you. I'll leave that flute with you.
Nick (as Wander): Whether this business is a pleasure is yet to be seen, but I am intrigued.
Nick: And he grabs the flute off the railing and raises it towards you in a small salute.
Kit: Birdie will give a small smile and will turn to leave.
Nick: We see Birdie stepping carefully down the stairs as Wander watches her go. The angle of his head would make it look like to most he's watching the duel, but Birdie, you can feel his cold eyes on the back of your head as you walk away. As you enter the crowd, you're too far away to hear Wander say to himself,
Nick (as Wander): I never expected to work directly with a Foundling. This is interesting.
Sydney: As Birdie goes down the stairs and disappears back into the crowd, the camera pulls out to reveal Karma on the edge of the fighting space ostensibly keeping the crowd back, but she is looking up at that platform with Wander still remaining on it, with that same bird-like head tilt before sticking an arm out to keep an unruly crowd member back.
Nick: As Birdie vanishes into the crowd and the duel continues, Winifred, you have managed to find your way over to Marathon who was alone in the sea of bystanders.
Penn (as Marathon): [yelling] Let's go Emma!
Sydney (as Winifred): Marathon - do you have an idea of what's going on?
Penn (as Marathon): Uh, not really. Cassidy said she was going to take care of it or something. I know Emma's fighting and - just glad it's not me this time, you know? Uh, look- looking great, by the way. I don't know if I got that out.
Sydney (as Winifred): No, but I'll accept the compliment. Thank you.
Penn (as Marathon): The dress uh accentuates your uh -
Sydney (as Winifred): My lots of things.
Penn (as Marathon): - streak.
Sydney (as Winifred): Can you -
Penn (as Marathon): Yes.
Sydney (as Winifred): - enumerate them?
Penn (as Marathon): I well - oh. [yelling] Go, go, Emma! Um. Yeah, of course. Uh.
Sydney (as Winifred): You're very sharply dressed too.
Penn (as Marathon): Yeah, well, I lost my jacket to miss Cassidy earlier, but
Sydney (as Winifred): But your suspenders are accentuating things too.
Penn (as Marathon): Yeah, yeah, thank you. Yeah. I couldn't help but uh uh notice how, how good of a dancer you are out there, you know? Very, very crisp, you know, obviously Miss Cassidy has got got some pretty flashy moves.
Sydney (as Winifred): Ah yes of course.
Penn (as Marathon): But very, very traditional-ly attractive dancer. Dancing. Yes.
Sydney (as Winifred): Well I'm more of a lead than Cassidy, so,
Penn (as Marathon): Oh.
Sydney (as Winifred): Maybe after the duel, after Emma wipes the floor with this guy,
Penn (as Marathon): Uh yeah. I mean, if the floor is open, I'm usually a lead, but I'm always happy to try following. I'm pretty good at following directions, so
Sydney (as Winifred): I'm glad to hear. How's the rest of the party been?
Penn: Marathon's face has gotten very flush and the sweat has started even though she's lost a layer.
Penn (as Marathon): [yelling] Go Emma! Yeah! You got this! [normal] um, yeah, it's been, uh, it's been, it's been good. Just kind of hanging back. We, we accomplished our mission, Miss Winifred, so
Sydney (as Winifred): Good.
Penn (as Marathon): Yeah.
Sydney (as Winifred): That makes two of us.
Penn (as Marathon): We're in with Opal. It sounds like we might be X Bike racing for her, possibly against Carbon.
Sydney (as Winifred): Interesting.
Penn (as Marathon): Yes, uh.
Sydney (as Winifred): I mean as long as you can do it, sounds great.
Penn (as Marathon): Yeah. Well, Cassidy will be the one driving so,
Sydney (as Winifred): Well I'm sure she can figure out how to work a pair of handle bars.
Penn (as Marathon): No, I would love find out. [clears throat] I'm sure you're pretty, pretty good at handling -
Sydney (as Winifred): Oh I'm -
Penn (as Marathon): - heavy machinery as well.
Sydney (as Winifred): Yeah, I, you know, I'm really good with my hands. If you ever need tips, I can show you some time.
Penn (as Marathon): You know, I would be so lucky.
Sydney (as Winifred): And you know, if your mission's done, there's no reason not to have another drink.
Penn (as Marathon): It's very true.
Penn: Marathon looks around for Birdie, peeking up over people's heads, realizes she can't see her, and then settles down.
Penn (as Marathon): Yeah, you know what? I've been avoiding the drinks so far, but one couldn't hurt, right? Right? Sharing with one of the loveliest ladies here, if I can say so.
Sydney (as Winifred): Well, it's true.
Penn (as Marathon): Oh uh [yelling] You got this, Emma! [normal] Yeah anyway uh
Sydney: Winifred flags down a waiter and gets a couple of champagne flutes. She has not had a chance to consume much because she was working. So
Penn (as Marathon): How did uh, your half of the night go?
Sydney (as Winifred): All according to plan, except for the parts that weren't.
Penn (as Marathon): Well I hope that the parts that weren't still smoothed out. You seem like a woman who's got a good handle on things. So
Sydney: Winifred puts an arm up on Marathon's shoulder to squeeze a step closer to see around her, to be able to watch Emma fight.
Penn: Marathon has finally gotten fully distracted and tosses out a half hearted
Penn (as Marathon): Go, go, Emma!
Sydney (as Winifred):
It's a good night to cut loose.
Penn (as Marathon):
Yeah, I agree. It seems, well if we've all got our jobs done, but, uh, you - Winfred, it is very nice.
Penn: A chill of clarity seems to come down Marathon's back.
Penn (as Marathon): It's been very nice talking with you, Miss Winfred, but I, I best - I, you know, I'm feeling a little cold, and I best be getting my jacket back for Miss Cassidy. And, you know, talking to Birdie, catching up with Birdie. I'm sure, sure Birdie did something important, and I want to be very respectful Birdie's relationship, you know?
Sydney (as Winifred): Yeah, you look really cold, all that sweat.
Penn (as Marathon): I uh [clears throat uncomfortably]
Sydney: Winifred bites her lip suggestively.
Sydney (as Winifred): Oh, but if you need to go, I understand.
Penn: Marathon's breath catches.
Penn (as Marathon): I~ would love to catch a dance with you later, Miss Winifred. If the opportunity arises.
Sydney (as Winifred): I'll be sure to make time for you, Marathon.
Sydney: And she drags her hand down Marathon's back as she moves away to let Marathon do something else.
Penn: Marathon stands a little stiffly and quickly finishes the rest of her first flute of champagne before racing off after the direction that Cassidy disappeared into the crowd, trying to find the gleam off the iridescence of her former jacket.
Nick: The duel between Emma and Atlas continues as Cassidy finds her way through the crowd to where Aubergine, the rich Domer who started this duel and then swapped himself out for Atlas Bloodfeast, is still trying to yell instructions over the screaming of the crowd. He looks very frustrated and very drunk.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Hi, I understand that you're the one who started this duel.
Nick (as Aubergine): No, that would be the woman out there who is so full of herself that she knocked my drink over.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Yeah. Could you uh, tell me how that happened?
Nick (as Aubergine): Of course, she wasn't watching where she was going, and smashed into me and caused me considerable physical harm.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Yeah, you look really beat up. That must be why you're not fighting.
Nick (as Aubergine): You can't talk to me like that. I am the biggest grain trader in Sasnak. Nobody talks to me like that.
Nick: And he takes a big drink.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Well, you're not as big as Atlas right now. You're like a foot and a half shorter and 100 pounds heavier.
Nick (as Aubergine): My wife tells me all the time, size isn't everything. Wait, no - you can't ruin this. I am considering firing him on the spot. He should have already cut this woman in twain.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Well, you know, if you did that, maybe it would end this fight, and you you'd be able to get back to enjoying the party.
Nick (as Aubergine): You're going to be next if you don't go away and leave me alone.
Sydney (as Cassidy): With oh - do you have another second?
Nick (as Aubergine): You're ruining my party. [pause] Well, you're ruining the party I'm attending. No, I don't have another second. I have Atlas. He's the biggest of them all. Don't need two of those.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Well then it'd be a sure a shame if something were to happen while you were unprotected.
Nick (as Aubergine): No, no, no, no, no, no, that's not the rules. Only one duel at a time, you can ask Gwendolyn, the First Sword over there. So Atlas could just cut you in half after he's done cutting her in half. Why are you being so aggressive? I don't even know you. You should really just be happy to be here. Why don't you be more appreciative?
Sydney (as Cassidy): I'm so happy to be here. Yeah, you know you're right here, let me get you a drink.
Sydney: Cassidy reaches to get another flute of champagne, and then goes,
Sydney (as Cassidy): [drama queen] Oh!
Sydney: And fake trips on the ground and dumps it on him.
Nick: He is so drunk it takes him a minute to notice that he is freshly wet. He stops what he's doing and slowly turns his head to look at Cassidy.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Sorry, I was just trying to have fun. Oh, I'm so sorry. I hope I didn't ruin any of your night.
Nick (as Aubergine): Well, I was already moistened, but your night is the night that will be ruined because I challenge you to a duel.
Nick: And he takes another glove out of his pocket and throws it at you. He misses. It's nowhere close.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Oh well, it looks like you're actually in violation of dual decorum, because you can't declare a second duel.
Nick (as Aubergine): You're not -
Sydney (as Cassidy): It's gotta be bad social standing for you.
Nick (as Aubergine): Clearly you're not from here. There's a queue. This duel will happen after that duel. Ha! I went to law school.
Penn: Marathon finally catches a glimpse of the jacket as it's slipping off of Cassidy's shoulders and rushes over.
Penn (as Marathon): Whoa! Hey, hey, hey, Miss Cassidy uh uh and horse guy, what - wha- let's, let's cool. It looks like we don't, we don't want any trouble here. Emma's got a handled, right Miss Cassidy?
Sydney (as Cassidy): Oh, I was just making sure he understood the gravity of the lack of social decorum that he's showing.
Penn (as Marathon): I'm sure he -
Nick (as Aubergine): I'm not horse guy. My name is Lord Aubergine and you should take your friend away.
Penn (as Marathon): Apologies, Lord Aubergine. And it looks like -
Nick (as Aubergine): She's going to die next, right after Atlas -
Nick: And he snaps his fingers.
Nick (as Aubergine): - kills her on the spot in front of all of my best friends.
Penn (as Marathon): Okay, well.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Yeah, all your best friends that are currently helping you up right now? Oooh.
Penn (as Marathon): Let's get you out of here, Miss Cassidy. I'm sure the gravity will hit this guy pretty soon.
Nick (as Aubergine): Yeah, you better run. Coward. Fearing Atlas Bloodfeast, the greatest fighter on Sasnak Traveling.
Penn (as Marathon): Ah. So tempting to punch this guy.
Sydney: Cassidy allows herself to be led away, because she kind of let her temper get to her and probably shouldn't have had this confrontation.
Penn (as Marathon): [focusing breath] Trying to be the bigger person. I wanted to take that guy's legs out so bad, Miss Cassidy.
Sydney (as Cassidy): I really wish we could both punch him.
Penn (as Marathon): I'm trying to grow. [laugh]
Nick: As they walk away, Aubergine pushes the horse mask up and puts his hand over his mouth and clearly throws up in his mouth quite a bit. It balloons out his cheeks, and he starts looking around before he sees one of the men next to him has set a top hat down on the ground, and he empties out his mouth into the top hat and then stumbles away to a different part of the ring that is formed around this duel.
Penn (as Marathon): Let's get back to the shrimp, Miss Cassidy.
Sydney (as Cassidy): [sigh] Yeah, let's go do something else and make sure Emma's okay.
Penn (as Marathon): I'm sure Emma's got this completely handled.
Nick: So with that, we make our way back to the duel. Emma has kept Atlas from making his way to the sword. I am going to flip the only Story Point that's on the GM side right now to let Atlas go first instead of Emma, and he is going to, at great personal risk to himself, try to punch Emma out with one blow. All or nothing, sacrificing his Defense, he is bum rushing her trying to get inside the swing of the ax. So he is going to take a pretty big minus to his defenses in exchange for two upgrades to this check, and then he also has four blue die because of all those advantages on his last check. So he will be rolling four yellows, one green, and four blues.
Cameron: Yep, so I'm gonna take a Strain for Dodge to upgrade the check.
Nick: Oh, that means he takes two more Strain too. He is so close to just falling unconscious from exhaustion and concussionness.
Cameron: Okay, so got four yellows, a green, four blues, two black and two red.
[dice rolling]
Cameron: Three successes, a threat, and a despair.
Nick: What!? He was trying to punch you, so that's 8 damage plus 2 for the fact that he's basically doing a modified Berserk right now, so that is 10 Strain damage coming at you, Emma, minus your Soak.
Cameron: My Soak is 3.
Nick: 7. How much Strain do you have left? Just so I know.
Cameron: 2.
Nick: So he gets inside your reach, Emma, and plants a punch into your stomach and then an uppercut under your chin, following all the way through, putting all of his strength into it. The Despair is that the force of this blow knocks Emma stumbling back multiple steps and Emma, you look down and see that you are now standing over your sword where it fell, and he is gasping, weight mostly on one leg. His eyes are unfocused. He is very close to pure exhaustion at this point, but he keeps his hands raised gamely.
Cameron: Emma does the dramatic side toss of the ax. After tossing the ax, Emma reaches down and picks up her sword and immediately looks slightly more comfortable with the sword than she did with an ax. Then walks menacingly towards Atlas, where he's kind of listing to one side, and when she's still about two and a half- three feet away, she puts the sword tip down in front of her and then swings it up quickly with the flat of the blade to hit him in the balls. And he's seven feet tall, so she's got a decent amount of time to get up to speed.
Nick: Roll me that Melee attack. It is upgraded twice, and you have two blue die on this because of how damaged his leg is and how much of everything he put into that last blow.
Cameron: So my roll is upgraded twice?
Nick: Yep. It does still have one upgrade to the difficulty, because he's Adversary 1, and you have one black die because he has one Defense.
Cameron: So just because I look so cool, I'm going to flip a Story Point, just so that I have four yellows. So that's four yellows, two blues, a red, a purple and a black.
[dice rolling]
Cameron: Four successes, two advantages, and a triumph.
Nick: Yeah. So you are able to completely disable Atlas with this testicular attack. What does it look like as you finish him off?
Cameron: So as the sword comes up, Atlas has just reached a point that his eyes go wide for a second, and then he just passes out and just falls to the left towards his weakened leg and just collapses into a giant heap of very tall, scary man. And it leaves Emma standing, looking quite tired, but still standing and with very minimal damage and she just calmly reaches down and untucks her dress back out so it's a full ball gown again, and is just trying to look as nonplussed as possible. And what this achieves, with the triumph, is that Emma is terrifying and every man in this room is going to question challenging her to a duel while she's on Sasnak, because if Atlas can't beat her, then they're pretty much screwed and she looks scary.
Penn: Gwendolyn, who had been holding her breath as Emma approached Atlas with the sword and had given a relieved sigh along with a wince seeing Emma take him down, steps out from the crowd that's become pretty quiet with Atlas' fall.
Penn (as Gwendolyn): [announcing to crowd] Congratulations to Emma~ - [just to Emma] What was your last name?
Cameron (as Emma): Blackwood.
Penn (as Gwendolyn): [announcing to crowd] Blackwood. Emma Blackwood!
Penn: And as Gwendolyn puts her giant sword back onto her back, she comes over to raise Emma's arm.
Penn (as Gwendolyn): [announcing to crowd] Give it up everyone! Happy you had your blood? Or not blood? [just to Emma] Congrats. That was, that was, that's pretty cool, actually.
Cameron (as Emma): [winded] Thank you. I'm gonna go sit down.
Penn (as Gwendolyn): Good idea. Thank you for not killing him.
Cameron (as Emma): I mean it, it wasn't him that challenged me. He's just, he's just doing a job.
Penn: As this crowd remains in this circle, she shouts,
Penn (as Gwendolyn): All right, duel over. Disband. Dance. Make sure this circle is gone in the next two minutes.
Nick: The crowd is grumbling in dissatisfaction that both duelists are still alive and they grumble as they start to wander off to go find refreshments.
Penn (as book club member): [annoying rich voice] Bloodfeast, more like Bloodleast.
Sydney: Cassidy's waiting to see if the challenge gets reissued out above the crowd, but figures with Atlas laying on the ground in the middle of the room, it probably won't.
Nick: No, it won't. And you actually see that Lord Aubergine is sitting off to the side at a table and is clearly passed out sitting up.
Penn (as Marathon): Cass let's uh hook around Emma.
Cameron: Emma has made her way over to where Rye is standing holding her mask and gloves, and not quite shakily, but definitely not as steady as she was when she was first trying out the sword, she holds out the sword to him to exchange it for her mask and gloves.
Nick: His mouth is hanging open below his mask and he accepts the sword back and trades with Emma almost automatically, and is staring at her and says,
Nick (as Rye): That was - that was amazing. You are amazing.
Cameron (as Emma): I -
Nick (as Rye): I don't even have fancy words to say.
Cameron (as Emma): I need to sit- I need to sit down.
Nick (as Rye): Oh yeah, right away.
Nick: And he jogs off a couple of steps and brings back a chair and puts it behind Emma so she can sit without having to move.
Cameron: Emma doesn't quite collapse into the chair, but it's a pretty uncontrolled descent.
Kit: Birdie, at this point, will have spotted Emma, as she walks from where she was with Wander a few minutes before and is excitedly approaching Emma with her hands sort of raised in like where you're shaking maracas.
Kit (as Birdie): You were amazing. You did so good. I was so proud of you. You survived your first Sasnak duel. How was it?
Cameron (as Emma): Um.
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah?
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah, can't say it's an experience that I would like to soon repeat, but -
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah.
Cameron (as Emma): - not as bad as it could have been, I guess.
Kit (as Birdie): Oh.
Nick: There is a shiner starting to grow just under Emma's eye where she took one of the punches from Atlas.
Kit (as Birdie): Ooh.
Kit: And she'll hold up the chilled glass of champagne and gently offer it to Emma to press against her temple.
Cameron (as Emma): Ooh, yes, thank you.
Cameron: Emma just leans her head against the champagne glass very gently.
Sydney: Cassidy and Marathon finished clearing their way through the crowd.
Penn: Marathon has her arm around Cassidy's shoulders just - while Cassidy isn't super drunk, is just maybe a little influenced right now.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Good work, Emma.
Penn (as Marathon): Yeah, nice job.
Cameron (as Emma): [tired] Thank you.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Glad you -
Cameron (as Emma): [fading fast] Thank you.
Sydney (as Cassidy): - beat the shit out of that guy.
Cameron (as Emma): Mhm.
Penn (as Marathon): I was surprised it was you who got in the fight.
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah. So [sigh] funny story -
Kit (as Birdie): Wasn't her fault.
Cameron (as Emma): I was dancing with Birdie's crush.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Oh?
Kit (as Birdie): Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!
Penn (as Marathon): Oh Karma?
Kit (as Birdie): Whoa!
Cameron: Emma looks up slightly through the champagne glass at Birdie.
Cameron (as Emma): So I was dancing with Birdie's crush and then Aubergine ran into me while I was curtseying, and spilt his drink all over himself and me, and then challenged me to a duel.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Okay, good. That's - I confronted him and that's about the opposite of what he said, so I figured he deserved it when I dumped another glass on him.
Cameron (as Emma): Oh, nice.
Penn (as Marathon): Cassidy gave him a good talking to and a good dousing.
Kit (as Birdie): Good job, Cassidy.
Penn (as Marathon): And that's all that needed to happen.
Sydney (as Cassidy): He might have tried to challenge me to a duel that he couldn't have because you were too busy fighting his person already.
Cameron (as Emma): [despairing at society sigh] From, from what - from what Gwendolyn was saying when she initially showed up, he seems to do this a lot.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Well, maybe he will have learned a lesson, because his pet slaughter beast.
Penn (as Marathon): I mean, doubtful. [laugh] I don't think he, I don't think he'll even remember tonight, let alone learn a lesson.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Yeah.
Penn (as Marathon): But, uh, honestly, hey, it sounds like we got all our objectives done. I checked in with Winifred. She said she got her objectives done.
Kit (as Birdie): Oh, we might be able to -
Kit: She starts her sentence, and then her eyes track to Rye, and she goes,
Kit (as Birdie): [awkward laugh] And this is Emma's guy.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Let's - we don't need to talk about this now.
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah!
Penn (as Marathon): Yeah yeah.
Kit (as Birdie): We don't. This is Emma's guy. Dude.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Hello, Emma's guy.
Nick (as Rye): Hi, I'm Rye. I - if you all don't want me around to discuss, I can, I can just go.
Kit (as Birdie): [overlapping] No~.
Nick (as Rye): [overlapping] I just wanted to make sure Emma was okay.
Kit (as Birdie): [overlapping] No no, no, no, no, no, you're fine.
Penn (as Marathon): Are you cool?
Nick (as Rye): I think I'm pretty cool. Uh
Penn (as Marathon): You would say that. Hm.
Nick (as Rye): Oh. I feel like I failed some sort of test.
Cameron (as Emma): I I think he's pretty cool.
Nick (as Rye): [gasp]
Penn (as Marathon): Okay, Emma, Emma says you're cool. Okay, okay.
Kit (as Birdie): Yeah, if Emma says you're cool...
Cameron (as Emma): He got me a sword so I didn't die.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Yeah well.
Cameron (as Emma): So
Sydney (as Cassidy): Good.
Nick: He gasps a little and that tries to cover it by coughing into his hand and trying to regain some sort of manly demeanor. He wasn't expecting the pretty, strong lady to say nice things about him.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Well, thank you for being noble for our dear Emma.
Penn (as Marathon): Yeah, thanks for arming her.
Nick (as Rye): Yeah. Um. Well I'm not gonna let that fucking dick weasel get -
Penn (as Marathon): Yeah!
Nick (as Rye): - somebody killed at a party.
Penn (as Marathon): Yeah use your choice words!
Kit (as Birdie): [cackling] Yeah~!
Nick (as Rye): I don't -
Sydney (as Cassidy): His name is so fitting.
Nick (as Rye): What do you mean?
Penn (as Marathon): Aubergine.
Kit (as Birdie): What's an Aubergine?
Sydney (as Cassidy): Do you imagine what a like -
Sydney: And Cassidy makes a gesture to imply an aubergine.
Nick (as Rye): I don't get it.
Penn (as Marathon): Like a, like an eggplant. Like a, like a phallic-like feature.
Sydney (as Cassidy): Yeah Rye -
Nick (as Rye): Ohhh~.
Kit (as Birdie): [giggle] His name is Lord dick?
Sydney (as Cassidy): I don't - maybe this is new to you. So
Sydney: Cassidy shakes her head.
Sydney (as Cassidy): You'll find out when you're older.
Nick (as Rye): Oh, okay. Well, I'm, I'm glad that Emma appears to be in good hands. Um. This is a little awkward to ask in front of everyone, but uh
Kit (as Birdie): We can turn around.
Penn (as Marathon): I can turn around.
Kit (as Birdie): [laugh]
Penn (as Marathon): Yeah I was - Birdie we're on the same wavelength.
Cameron (as Emma): [too tired for this nonsense] Oh my gosh.
Kit: [laughing] Birdie and Marathon both turn around.
Nick (as Rye): This is getting worse. Um
Sydney: Cassidy does not turn around.
Nick (as Rye): Emma, I had a really good time tonight, and I would like to see you again, if that's something you might be interested in.
Cameron (as Emma): Yeah, sure.
Nick (as Rye): I'd buy you a tea, -
Cameron (as Emma): Mhm.
Nick (as Rye): - a sandwich or something?
Cameron (as Emma): Sure.
Nick (as Rye): Oh, okay. Yeah. That great. Yeah, I'll, uh, I'll reach out. We'll get in touch. Is - cool.
Cameron: Emma doesn't look unenthusiastic, but she does look very tired. [laugh]
Nick: He looks very excited, but also realizes that he asked that question now because he didn't know if he would see her again, but he knows it's not the best, so he's just kind of standing there awkwardly. He does that thing where he snaps his fingers into the palm of his hand, and we cut away from that conversation to a certain air vent with a laser grid in it. The vent that Janus had scrambled down in the attempt to put data monitoring hardware into the server, and we see the panel that they used to disable the laser grid, the one designed by Juno. You see that there are scorch marks spreading out from the metal around the panel and it starts to smoke, and then a small blue electrical fire starts to emanate as this piece of hardware catches on fire. And as we cut back to the ballroom, at a lull in the conversation with the Patina and friends, a whooping alarm starts to go off and lights outside of the ballroom start to flash.
There is a moment of stunned silence as these loud alarms go off, and then before anyone can react, a deluge of water from fire sprinklers begins to pelt down from the ceiling of the ballroom, extinguishing the candles of the chandeliers and plunging the room into darkness lit only by the strobing alarm lights. You hear women scream and then a hustling crowd pushing everyone towards the doors as everyone attempts to leave and get out of the sprinklers. The next thing we see is a very soggy crowd of affluent people standing in the front lawn of this mansion as people are grumpily filing into the carriages that brought them there in the first place.
Sydney: Winifred, contrary to the general trend, is preparing to climb into an unfamiliar carriage, a comforting arm wrapped around the woman from earlier in the night. The slick black of her orca dress looking right at home with the water beading up on it.
Nick: You all wait in sodden silence with little spattering of conversation, and your carriage makes it to the front of the line. Janus, Marathon, Birdie, Cassidy, and Emma all file into the carriage. Birdie, as you were the last one to get in, you see Karma watching from the doorway of the still raining ballroom.
Kit: Birdie perks up enough to almost elbow whoever's walking right next to her, and she'll give another glance over her shoulder to see if Karma is looking at someone behind her, and then will wave at Karma and be very grateful that she hasn't taken off her mask, because she's blushing from nose to ear.
Sydney: On the far side of the waiting area, Karma gives a short sharp wave back.
Nick: And Birdie, you enter the carriage, shut the door, and the Patina and the Foundlings have gotten away from this masquerade ball scot free.
Sydney: Inside Karma's mask, we see they're making a squint of concentration, or perhaps suspicion, as Birdie's carriage is loaded up and leaves.
[hurdy gurdy music swells]
Outro:
Penn (as Marathon): Welcome back folks, you’re tuned to Going the Distance: Traveler’s Guide on road dial 1558. That’s a wrap on today’s log and we’re set to loop after these considerations. Further detail for the following is cataloged in the show notes.
This has been A Knight of Shreds and Patches, an actual play podcast using the Genesys game system from Fantasy Flight Games. The show is edited by Sydney Whittington, and features the talents of:
Kit Adames as Birdie. Kit can be found on Twitter and Instagram @ venusvultures. Kit is also a voice actor for Elevator Pitch Podcast, a queer genre-hopping anthology podcast that can be accessed on Spotify and YouTube.
Penn Van Batavia as Marathon. She can be found on Twitter @ acquiredchaste and in drag as horror king JOHN on Instagram @ john.is.risen. Penn is an indie TTRPG designer whose most recent work includes SLICE IT OUT, a grisly carving RPG about cutting pieces of yourself out to fit in. Check out faer other work at pennharper.itch.io.
Sydney Whittington as Cassidy. Sydney can be found on our Discord server, which is linked in the show notes, and on Twitter @ sydney_whitt. She’s also a contributing editor and occasional guest player for the Orpheus Protocol, a cosmic horror espionage actual play podcast.
Cameron Robertson as Emma. Cameron can be found on Twitter @ midnightmusic13 and on Instagram @ reading_and_dreaming. Cameron is also a player on Tabletop Squadron, a Star Wars Edge of the Empire actual play podcast.
And Nick Robertson as narrator. Nick can be found on Twitter @ alias58. Nick is also the GM for Tabletop Squadron. Nick can also be found as a player on the Orpheus Protocol.
This podcast features the musical talents of Dora Violet and Arne Parrott. You can find Dora at facebook.com/doraviolett. You can find Arne at atptunes.com.
The official artwork for this podcast was created by Rashed AlAkroka, who can be found on Instagram and Artstation @ rashedjrs.
You can follow the Patina on Twitter @ akosap_podcast or visit the website: www.akosap.com. To further support the show, consider joining the Patreon at www.patreon.com/AKoSaP, where we’ll be bringing you weekly content including bonus episodes, campfire conversations, and other fun rewards.
Until you tune back…
…stay bold and stay kind