Episode Transcript
[00:00:05] Speaker A: You are listening to an atomic broadcasting production. So sit back, relax and enjoy the feature presentation. And remember, do your part. Such as like comment rate and don't forget to tell a friend to tune in for an atomic time.
[00:00:29] Speaker B: Hey guys. GM Geordi here with a quick announcement for you. We've got a great episode for you today, as well as one more next week. But then we are going to be starting our holiday hiatus at that point. So we've got our episode coming out today and then on the 23rd, and then we will be gone over Christmas and New Year's and we'll be back the next year. Now, that being said, we are going to be starting our new release schedule. Then we're still going to be coming out every Monday. Except. Except we will not be releasing an episode on the first Monday of the month. So after that hiatus begins on the 23rd, we will be seeing you on the 13th of January. So mark your calendars and we'll see you there. Now, onto today's episode.
Now, where did we leave off?
Ah, yes.
The party reported their victory over the Wolf's warriors to town, then set out for Tom Grove.
On the road, they came across a strange pair of individuals searching the area where they had fought the icy Dwarven figure weeks prior.
[00:01:42] Speaker C: So, Sven, you might know the answer to this.
[00:01:44] Speaker A: Possibly. What you got?
[00:01:46] Speaker C: Why, why does energy produce light? Like why does when things get hot make light?
[00:01:53] Speaker A: So that question is slightly flawed and that's not a bad thing. Just because of how. How it sounds.
[00:02:02] Speaker C: I should mention I have done no research. I've just been like, based off what I know about light and energy, it's good.
[00:02:08] Speaker A: I definitely didn't do.
So it's less of why does energy produce light and more of how is light produced in certain situations. So when you heat up an object or when you provide. Specifically when you provide energy to an object, you're actually exciting the electrons and the different orbits. So when an electron goes from a higher orbit to a lower orbit, because each orbit can only hold so many electrons, right, it releases a photon of light.
[00:02:43] Speaker C: Okay, now see, that's very interesting, but I guess the more accurate question that I'm trying to get at is why? Like, yeah, like why light?
[00:02:54] Speaker A: Why light? Because it actually deals with the laws of thermodynamics.
Energy has to be conserved, right? We're in a closed system. It cannot be lost or destroyed.
So what's happening is when the electron goes from the higher orbit because it's gained enough energy to jump orbits, right?
[00:03:16] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:03:17] Speaker A: Well, when it goes down. It's going down to a lower energy. Well, energy can't be lost, so that energy is released as a photon of light. Photon is energy. Light is energy.
[00:03:29] Speaker C: Right.
[00:03:31] Speaker A: So that is the excess energy being expelled from the electron.
What you see as light.
[00:03:42] Speaker C: Hmm.
[00:03:44] Speaker A: Thermodynamics, man.
[00:03:45] Speaker C: Yeah. This somehow answers my question and doesn't at the same time. And I don't know how.
[00:03:49] Speaker A: Welcome. Welcome to physics, man. Because that is a very, very. No pun intended. High level.
[00:03:55] Speaker C: This is why I didn't do any research.
Because I was like, I don't. I feel like the answer is not.
[00:04:00] Speaker A: It's a deep rabbit hole. I love physics, though. Actually one of my favorite aspects of physics is actually less of like high temperatures than actually super cold temperatures. Because I love the idea of absolute zero, which we can't get. But the universe is actually slowly cooling down to in theory.
And how when we cool things down to super super, like millionths of a degree above absolute zero, the physical states change and how quantum mechanics usually reacts in the world. Not that we know all that much, but it changes even further down at super cold temperatures.
[00:04:47] Speaker D: That's why in the flash, Captain Colt doesn't have an ice gun. It's an absolute zero gun.
[00:04:52] Speaker C: That's cool.
[00:04:52] Speaker D: He has a gun that use absolute zero.
[00:04:55] Speaker A: It's also why it's super shit. Yeah. That's why it's a comic book.
[00:05:02] Speaker D: Most people treat it like an ice skin.
[00:05:04] Speaker C: I want a cube of solid oxygen now.
[00:05:08] Speaker A: Wah.
[00:05:10] Speaker C: I want a cube of solid oxygen. What is.
[00:05:12] Speaker B: What about.
[00:05:13] Speaker A: You want to freeze oxygen?
[00:05:14] Speaker C: Yes, I want a cube of solid oxygen.
[00:05:16] Speaker A: You need liquid helium first.
[00:05:17] Speaker C: I don't care what I need. I just want it.
[00:05:20] Speaker B: Sven, is adding things onto your quest.
[00:05:22] Speaker C: Log such a big quest log already.
[00:05:26] Speaker A: When you hit liquid helium, you'll be able to freeze oxygen.
[00:05:28] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:05:30] Speaker A: Actually, you'll be able to do it a little bit before that, but you.
[00:05:32] Speaker C: Know, that's a for sure.
[00:05:35] Speaker B: My hung apprentice. When you hit liquid helium.
[00:05:43] Speaker C: People say science isn't magic.
[00:05:47] Speaker A: Some people say magic is just science we don't understand.
[00:05:50] Speaker C: I feel like that's more accurate.
[00:05:52] Speaker E: Speaking of magic we don't understand, did.
[00:05:55] Speaker D: You know that that ice golem was made of frozen helium?
[00:05:59] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:06:03] Speaker A: That's terrifying.
[00:06:05] Speaker D: You stab into it and then you call out to your allies. It's just.
[00:06:08] Speaker C: It just.
[00:06:08] Speaker F: Hey guys, I got it.
[00:06:13] Speaker C: It's just floating.
[00:06:14] Speaker D: What's up with all?
[00:06:18] Speaker B: As Sam has alluded to, you have all been on the way to Tom Grove and we're just approaching the same Point of the road where you had encountered that ice sculpture that attacked you when you got too close to the rocks that it was setting up along the path. And you see along the way two figures that seem to be sifting through the dirt, almost as if they're like canning for gold. There is a pale man dressed in, like, nice clothing and attire. And there is a short plant shaped creature, but it appears to be made out of various types of metal.
I think I broke.
[00:07:04] Speaker E: Sven, also, I have a question.
[00:07:06] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:07:07] Speaker E: I thought the ice golem was coming out of Joel, not Tom Griv.
[00:07:10] Speaker D: In between Joel and Tom Griv.
[00:07:12] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:07:12] Speaker E: Okay.
[00:07:13] Speaker C: Are you good, Sven?
[00:07:14] Speaker A: I forgot all of this.
[00:07:16] Speaker C: Oh, yeah.
[00:07:19] Speaker D: That'S fair.
[00:07:20] Speaker C: Man, what are these guys doing?
[00:07:22] Speaker B: So they each look like they're, like, sifting through the dirt as if they're trying to find something in there, but neither of them seem like they're finding whatever that is they're looking for.
So, you know, the old timey prospectors and how they'll have, like, the pan, like, they're panning for gold. They're kind of doing that, but with just, like, the dirt and dust near the road. And they seem to be being disappointed with whatever they're finding or with the lack of whatever they're looking for.
[00:07:49] Speaker C: Should we just pass them by?
[00:07:51] Speaker F: I mean, they seem to be significant enough that the GM Overlord has indicated their presence, so.
[00:07:59] Speaker B: So the only.
The only way that they stand out to you as being notable is, first off, their activity is a little bit odd. You know, panning through the dirt by the side of the road. But more significantly and more, why your party would be potentially interested is because, you know, you were recognizing, hey, this is where we fought that ice sculpture creature. And then you see these guys doing something weird there.
[00:08:25] Speaker A: I mean, Einar has no idea that you guys fought an ice golem here.
[00:08:30] Speaker C: Mm.
[00:08:30] Speaker D: Val also doesn't have too much investment in this situation.
[00:08:34] Speaker A: Yeah. It's just you three.
[00:08:35] Speaker C: The only thing that I find interesting is the metal plant man.
[00:08:38] Speaker F: I think I'm gonna walk up to them.
[00:08:40] Speaker C: You mean gallop Nice.
[00:08:42] Speaker D: And hop off his horse.
[00:08:43] Speaker A: Pony, you trot. He's gonna trot.
[00:08:45] Speaker F: I'm gonna try up to them. Dressage pony or without pony.
Holo.
Non travelers.
Ah.
[00:08:59] Speaker A: Zafir's way with words.
[00:09:01] Speaker B: And the metal, like, plant person looks up and goes, oh, hello. What are you doing here?
[00:09:09] Speaker F: We are travelers and we're traveling.
What are you doing? There's no gold here.
[00:09:17] Speaker B: Oh, I know. We're just looking for something.
[00:09:21] Speaker F: Like what?
[00:09:23] Speaker B: Well, and the. The paler guy is just like, I don't know if we should tell you.
[00:09:30] Speaker F: Well, why not?
Maybe I could help you.
[00:09:35] Speaker B: Well, you know what?
[00:09:37] Speaker F: Never mind. I start walking off.
[00:09:43] Speaker B: And the two of them look somewhat relieved, although a little confused. You know, like, oh, we thought he'd push harder, but they go back to what they're doing.
[00:09:50] Speaker D: He's playing hard to get.
[00:09:53] Speaker F: And I turn back around and go, well, you know, there was an ice golem around here.
Stories say they can contain mystical, magical elements.
[00:10:08] Speaker B: Oh, you heard about that.
[00:10:12] Speaker F: Friend? I lived it.
[00:10:18] Speaker B: Petite.
[00:10:18] Speaker C: Doing his best to make me do a spit take. It's fine.
[00:10:23] Speaker B: So at that remark, the metallic plant creature looks at the other and is like, well, I mean, he knows about the golem, and he knows that it could have left something. Maybe. Maybe he can help us.
[00:10:38] Speaker D: We have those icicles that we got from this icicle.
[00:10:41] Speaker F: I didn't know if I wanted to reveal my hand just yet.
[00:10:44] Speaker D: That's fair.
[00:10:45] Speaker C: What? Fear. Keeping something secret.
[00:10:49] Speaker D: It's a reminder to everyone who probably forgot we have those bicycles.
[00:10:53] Speaker E: I did forget that.
[00:10:55] Speaker A: I have now remembered.
[00:10:57] Speaker F: So Zafir kind of reaches down to his side and, like, traces the outside of the ice shard.
[00:11:04] Speaker C: Oh, I have them. And Zafir has them. Why do I have them?
[00:11:09] Speaker F: He goes, so, are you looking for these mystical, magical things?
[00:11:17] Speaker C: It didn't last long.
[00:11:23] Speaker B: You're breaking me, Michael.
[00:11:27] Speaker A: Wow.
[00:11:30] Speaker B: The paler guy, like, puts his hand on the plant man's shoulder and is like, wait, wait. You said you were here, but you haven't proved anything.
[00:11:42] Speaker F: Well, look at me. I'm right here.
[00:11:44] Speaker B: No, I mean, you said you were here when the sculpture attacked.
[00:11:48] Speaker F: Oh, yes. It was an ice column. Is that not proof enough?
[00:11:51] Speaker B: Well, I mean, rocks all over the place.
[00:11:54] Speaker F: Are they still there?
[00:11:55] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:11:56] Speaker F: See?
[00:11:58] Speaker B: I mean, I could have told you.
[00:11:59] Speaker F: That he was putting them there. And he stopped when we killed him. I mean, I don't know what we were doing. He was doing.
I kind of looked back at the others.
[00:12:09] Speaker E: Neros is just shaking her head at you.
[00:12:11] Speaker D: Val is sticking her tongue through the now gap in her teeth.
[00:12:19] Speaker A: Einar just leans over to Alward. I scol.
[00:12:23] Speaker C: It's.
I'll explain later, once we are more in town. It was a. It was a thing. It's fine.
It's dealt with. It's gone.
[00:12:34] Speaker A: Cola, help him out.
[00:12:36] Speaker C: Help with what? They're just.
Oh, you mean Sophia.
[00:12:44] Speaker D: Excuse me.
[00:12:47] Speaker B: Hold on.
[00:12:47] Speaker F: I've got this handled.
[00:12:48] Speaker D: Oh, all right.
[00:12:50] Speaker C: He needs to do this on his own, I think.
[00:12:54] Speaker E: I don't Know what he's doing?
[00:12:56] Speaker C: I don't either, but I trust him.
[00:12:59] Speaker A: Ainar reaches into his pack and pulls out a piece of dried meat and just starts chewing on it, watching.
[00:13:07] Speaker D: Do you have any extra?
[00:13:10] Speaker A: Without looking away from Zafir, he pulls out another one.
[00:13:13] Speaker D: And Val takes it and then just leans back like she's laying on her horse and just starts looking at the sky and chewing on this.
[00:13:22] Speaker F: Zafir turns back around to the two men after kind of looking at the rest of them, thinking, I don't know what I'm saying, but I've got this.
He didn't actually say that, so don't respond to that. But what are your names? Fellows, I promise I'm not trying to seduce you.
I just want to throw that out.
[00:13:45] Speaker A: There to our other party.
[00:13:48] Speaker B: The metal plant guy is like, well, my name is. And the paler guy just like, puts his hand on his shoulder and is like, maybe, maybe, maybe. No.
[00:14:01] Speaker F: Well, what if I told you my name first? Would that help?
[00:14:05] Speaker B: I mean, sure, you can tell us your name.
[00:14:09] Speaker F: My name is Zephyr.
Your turn.
[00:14:20] Speaker D: He gave his real name.
[00:14:22] Speaker B: Okay, I don't. I don't know a Zephyr.
[00:14:30] Speaker F: I don't know you.
That's why we're introducing each other. I just hit the mic. That's why we're introducing each other.
[00:14:41] Speaker B: There's no need to be so hesitant. Careful, Lucien. My name's Ferris Root.
[00:14:47] Speaker F: Zephyr reaches up and shakes his hand. Nice to meet you. Now, bye.
[00:14:56] Speaker E: Is that. Was that your entire plan?
[00:14:59] Speaker F: You're talking to me?
[00:15:01] Speaker E: Yes.
[00:15:01] Speaker F: I didn't have a plan. Okay, Saying this loud enough for them to hear.
He turns back around.
Actually, Ferris.
Lucien.
[00:15:14] Speaker B: Was it the pale man, just like. Yes, that's my name.
[00:15:19] Speaker F: I may have something that interest you, but not at the present time. Are you looking for ice shards?
[00:15:27] Speaker B: No.
[00:15:28] Speaker F: Oh. Then what are you looking for?
[00:15:31] Speaker B: They look at each other again. Look at you.
Well, what we're looking for in Lucien's just like, Ferris. No, I don't think Bran would appreciate that.
[00:15:42] Speaker C: Oh, you guys know Bran?
[00:15:45] Speaker F: It's okay. I've got this handled.
[00:15:47] Speaker C: Okay. Zafir, you. You go get it.
[00:15:49] Speaker F: You guys know Bran?
[00:15:54] Speaker B: Yes, we're working for him.
[00:15:56] Speaker F: Oh. Are you looking for something?
[00:16:02] Speaker B: Yes. I mean, obviously, yes.
[00:16:04] Speaker F: What are you looking for?
[00:16:05] Speaker B: I don't think Bran would appreciate.
[00:16:08] Speaker F: I might be able to help. As stated earlier, that name sounds familiar. I feel.
I think Zafir kind of like side eyes over to Albert a little bit.
[00:16:22] Speaker C: Albert just nods yes.
[00:16:26] Speaker F: Yeah, I. Yes, we know him. We could go talk to him.
[00:16:32] Speaker B: All right, well, can we give you a message to give Bran if you do talk to him?
[00:16:37] Speaker F: Yes, sure. Absolutely.
[00:16:40] Speaker B: Tell him we haven't found anything.
The paler guy just kind of cuts in and says, tell him this is a terrible waste of time. We haven't found anything. It's just dirt and rocks.
[00:16:56] Speaker F: I'm writing it all down.
[00:16:58] Speaker D: How are you writing it down?
[00:17:01] Speaker F: I use pictures.
[00:17:04] Speaker A: You can read hieroglyphs.
[00:17:07] Speaker D: He's gonna draw time.
[00:17:08] Speaker C: It's like shorthand.
[00:17:09] Speaker F: I draw a clock and then I cross out the clock. I draw a magnifying glass, and then I cross that out, and then I draw rocks and dirt.
[00:17:20] Speaker D: There you go.
[00:17:21] Speaker A: Wow.
[00:17:21] Speaker F: Don't cross that out.
[00:17:22] Speaker D: I appreciate it.
[00:17:24] Speaker F: Yes, I can definitely deliver that message to Bran.
[00:17:28] Speaker B: Fine. Well, Lucien, I think we should go get a drink.
[00:17:32] Speaker F: But hold on. What are you looking for?
[00:17:36] Speaker B: They kind of look at each other.
Lucien just crosses his arms and is like, you know what? I don't care. We're looking for spirit stones.
[00:17:46] Speaker F: That sounds pretty cool. If you find any, let me know. That would be neat.
[00:17:51] Speaker D: Our val's just laying down and says that.
[00:17:56] Speaker C: Yes.
[00:17:57] Speaker D: Didn't we sell a bunch of spirit stones?
[00:18:00] Speaker C: I mean, we gave them back to Bran. They're his property. And then he rewarded us with money.
[00:18:07] Speaker D: Okay.
Sounded familiar.
[00:18:11] Speaker C: So, Jordy, I wanna. I wanna do the thing.
[00:18:14] Speaker B: The thing?
[00:18:15] Speaker C: I rolled a 37.
[00:18:16] Speaker B: Oh, that thing.
[00:18:17] Speaker C: Yeah. Okay.
[00:18:18] Speaker D: I don't know what this thing is.
[00:18:20] Speaker C: Good.
[00:18:20] Speaker D: But you did it well.
[00:18:21] Speaker A: You did it very well.
[00:18:22] Speaker B: Do you want me to answer you openly or do you want me to message you?
[00:18:26] Speaker C: Can everyone put their fingers in their ears? We haven't done that in a minute.
[00:18:29] Speaker B: We haven't.
All right, so, Jenkins, you're using your new ability that lets you do a biographical eye and basically Sherlock Holmes these people and see what their history was.
And with your total of a 37, that will be a success. So what you will learn about them is, if I'm remembering correctly, it's the. Their profession and specialty within the profession and where they usually live.
[00:18:57] Speaker C: Yeah. So it's for a success. It's. You learn their profession, like you said, specialty, and then their nation or settlement where they normally live.
[00:19:06] Speaker B: Gotcha. So both of them, you recognize them as being wanderers and adventurers would be like their profession.
They both are from the land of the Linor Kings. But trying to pin down the exact settlement where they live, you actually get more of the sense that they don't have a permanent dwelling and they're more drifters.
It does stand out to you as odd that them being adventurers, as you are deeming from your reading of them, that they're here doing menial labor.
[00:19:37] Speaker C: That's what I wanted.
[00:19:39] Speaker B: And you all can come back. Put your headphones back on.
[00:19:42] Speaker F: And all my glasses started to fog up. There was creating so much heat next to my face.
[00:19:49] Speaker D: It's creating light, which is energy.
[00:19:53] Speaker F: I am turning another color.
[00:19:57] Speaker E: Don't die.
[00:19:59] Speaker C: No.
[00:20:00] Speaker B: So that's all. What was happening with Alward during Zafir's conversation.
[00:20:05] Speaker F: Can you repeat all that?
[00:20:08] Speaker A: I didn't quite catch it.
[00:20:09] Speaker E: Yeah, I don't know exactly what was going on.
[00:20:11] Speaker B: That's what was happening in Alward's mind.
[00:20:15] Speaker F: Well, Faris and Lucien, I'm glad to make your acquaintance. I hope we run into each other very soon. I may be able to deliver a message. If.
I mean, I don't. Are you going to stop or. Like, how is this. Do I just deliver the message and just expect them to send a messenger to get. We're talking here, Zofia.
[00:20:33] Speaker C: I don't know if we'll have time to go visit Bran right now.
[00:20:36] Speaker F: I can do whatever I want.
[00:20:37] Speaker C: You can. I'm just saying.
[00:20:40] Speaker D: Oh, yeah. We can go talk to Brian while you all are dealing with the other thing. I've never met him. He sounds nice.
[00:20:47] Speaker F: So, are you guys going to the miner's Pick?
[00:20:51] Speaker B: Well, eventually, but I thought we'd get something more. You know, Joel has better drinking, so.
[00:21:00] Speaker F: You're going to Joel? Is that where Bran is?
[00:21:03] Speaker B: I. Lucien's, like, if. If you don't know where Bran is, I don't think I should tell you.
[00:21:10] Speaker F: Well, I can't deliver a message to someone I do not know their location.
[00:21:14] Speaker B: Well, that's why I'm starting to get worried. Is because you don't know where he is?
[00:21:18] Speaker F: Well, I was just saying, if I run into him, you still got this.
I. I think we're done here.
[00:21:28] Speaker B: Right? Well, it was good meeting you. And Ferris reaches out to shake your hand one last time. He barely reaches because he is also small. Trying to reach up to you on your pony.
[00:21:38] Speaker D: Is he small or tiny?
[00:21:39] Speaker B: He is small.
[00:21:40] Speaker D: Okay.
[00:21:41] Speaker F: I should not have stayed on my pony.
Whatever. It's all right.
Yes, nice to meet you as well. I look forward to trading stories that people do.
[00:21:55] Speaker C: I don't. I don't know if we'll see these people again, Zafir.
[00:21:59] Speaker B: Well, if we do meet you back in town, I would love to swap stories with me.
If we do see you back in town, I would love to stop stories, swap.
[00:22:10] Speaker C: Just roll with it.
[00:22:13] Speaker B: You know what I'm trying to say. I would love to share stories with you.
[00:22:16] Speaker F: So when you say back in town, do you mean Joel or Tom Grove?
Where can I find you?
[00:22:22] Speaker B: I don't plan on going to Tom Grove and Lucien's. Like, I don't. Is. Is there work in Tom Grove?
[00:22:28] Speaker F: Sure, that's where we're going.
[00:22:29] Speaker C: That doesn't mean petite. They're travelers. They go around.
[00:22:34] Speaker F: I do not know who this petite person is.
[00:22:37] Speaker C: Sophia, they're travelers. They go around and around.
I'm fine guys, I promise.
[00:22:49] Speaker A: You just hear they said what they were going to.
[00:22:53] Speaker D: What?
[00:22:54] Speaker B: Joel, he's eating food.
[00:22:56] Speaker F: Oh, yes.
[00:22:57] Speaker A: I don't like that.
[00:23:04] Speaker F: All right, well, I guess we'll see if we see you. I've got you in my mental notes now.
[00:23:12] Speaker B: Well, that was a really ominous way to end the conversation, but goodbye.
[00:23:17] Speaker F: I'll keep an eye out for ghost rocks. Whatever you were looking for.
[00:23:23] Speaker D: Let's just head to town.
[00:23:26] Speaker C: Night on the town.
[00:23:28] Speaker F: Yeah, day on the town.
[00:23:31] Speaker D: So when we are getting closer to Tom Grub, Val is sketching while we're going. She's got these musical notes that she keeps putting in different patterns. Like she's testing out a design.
It's like the same notes every time and she kind of has a sudden. Wait, guys.
Did everyone else see Alward get eaten by a dog?
[00:23:59] Speaker B: What?
[00:23:59] Speaker C: Wait, we're gonna talk about that? Normally we just ignore that you got.
[00:24:04] Speaker D: Your throat was ripped off and that thing did not show up afterwards.
[00:24:07] Speaker C: It was terrifying.
[00:24:08] Speaker E: Hold on, hang on, dog.
[00:24:10] Speaker F: What? I've mentioned it before, but this was a different instance.
[00:24:13] Speaker D: That weird six legged creature thing.
[00:24:15] Speaker C: Wait, you mentioned the dog?
[00:24:17] Speaker F: Oh, yes. I heard them barking past the flower.
You look like you're about to jump out of your.
[00:24:23] Speaker E: What are you guys. What are you talking about?
[00:24:25] Speaker C: Did you see me?
[00:24:27] Speaker E: No, there was a lot of blood. When have you been. What? You're. You've never been eaten by. You're fine.
[00:24:34] Speaker C: Wait, do you not know.
[00:24:36] Speaker E: Not know what?
[00:24:39] Speaker C: Our taken aback and kind of confused. He thought everyone in the party knew. Just kind of like. Hold on.
[00:24:45] Speaker E: What do I not know, dog?
[00:24:48] Speaker D: I think she was asleep last time.
[00:24:49] Speaker A: Was it golden retriever?
[00:24:51] Speaker C: No, it was a.
[00:24:52] Speaker E: What's a golden retriever?
[00:24:53] Speaker D: It was like a six legged slimy creature thing.
[00:24:56] Speaker C: It was weird.
[00:24:58] Speaker D: It howled a lot.
[00:24:59] Speaker C: Huh? I don't know how to tell you this, Neros.
[00:25:02] Speaker F: I do. It's pretty simple actually.
[00:25:05] Speaker C: Oh, well, I lack of better judgment. Go ahead.
[00:25:09] Speaker F: So there's these Dogs.
And one time they killed Alwood.
[00:25:17] Speaker C: Okay, so he was not the way to go. He's alive.
Yeah.
[00:25:20] Speaker E: He's what? You've never been dead, as far as I know.
[00:25:26] Speaker F: It was a different time.
[00:25:27] Speaker D: He's been dead a lot, actually.
[00:25:29] Speaker C: Yeah. I've died a couple times now.
[00:25:31] Speaker F: I kind of just disregarded when.
[00:25:33] Speaker C: Oh, there was that one time when we were fixing the bridge in Troll Forge. The other time with the dogs, another time with the flower bed.
[00:25:40] Speaker F: But I don't think you actually died that time. I think you just fell asleep.
[00:25:42] Speaker C: Oh, no. I would have been entrapped by the flowers.
[00:25:45] Speaker D: We might have saved you, Albert.
[00:25:46] Speaker A: Just.
[00:25:47] Speaker D: Do you have such little.
[00:25:48] Speaker A: Curious. Little curious? You said dog.
Dog. More than one dog.
[00:25:56] Speaker C: This was the first time I'd seen it. So I presume it's just one dog trying to answer.
[00:26:00] Speaker E: You've never died before.
[00:26:04] Speaker C: Yes.
[00:26:04] Speaker F: That's. When?
[00:26:05] Speaker D: A while back. The flowers.
[00:26:08] Speaker E: Okay, can someone please tell me why he's died?
[00:26:13] Speaker F: So there's.
[00:26:13] Speaker E: Why are you all telling me that he's died? He's never died.
[00:26:17] Speaker A: I mean, not yet.
[00:26:18] Speaker C: I think it'd just be easier if I showed you.
[00:26:22] Speaker D: You want me to kill you?
[00:26:24] Speaker C: No. It doesn't have to be me dying.
[00:26:26] Speaker D: Oh, right.
[00:26:26] Speaker F: I could slap you.
[00:26:28] Speaker C: That wouldn't work. I've explained this to you many times on how it works.
[00:26:32] Speaker D: Oh, what if you flipped a coin?
[00:26:33] Speaker C: That's typically. That's how I showed up. Thank you.
[00:26:37] Speaker E: Neros is just looking more and more concerned and confused.
[00:26:42] Speaker A: Okay, so can I get on this?
[00:26:46] Speaker C: It's not really an act. Well, yeah. I mean, sure. Just.
Anyway.
[00:26:51] Speaker F: Well, hold on. How do we know these dogs aren't going to come and kill us?
[00:26:55] Speaker D: Now that's a fair. That's a fair point, Zafir. Look at you.
[00:27:00] Speaker C: I mean, they haven't shown up too often.
[00:27:04] Speaker F: Just about every time you've done this.
[00:27:07] Speaker A: The one time you said, I do this a lot.
[00:27:09] Speaker D: I'll pull out my glaive just in case.
[00:27:11] Speaker A: How often do you do.
[00:27:12] Speaker C: A lot.
[00:27:13] Speaker A: A lot.
[00:27:14] Speaker C: At least once a day.
[00:27:15] Speaker F: What do you.
[00:27:17] Speaker D: What?
[00:27:18] Speaker E: What are you doing?
[00:27:18] Speaker C: I'm trying to show you, but people keep interrupting.
[00:27:21] Speaker E: Everyone shut up.
[00:27:23] Speaker C: Okay, the two of you, I'm going to flip this coin, and you need to remember what it lands on. If you want, you can call it out before I flip it. That's up to you. That's just fun.
So Howard's going to flip a coin and it's going to land eds. It's gonna land on tails, and then both of you Make a will. Save.
[00:27:53] Speaker E: 32.
[00:27:57] Speaker C: I'm gonna give you. Cause I kind of under. Like, you get a plus one.
I feel like that's fair. Okay. Even though I don't know. But I have a guess as to things going on with you.
[00:28:10] Speaker A: 31.
[00:28:11] Speaker C: Okay.
Both of you passed.
[00:28:14] Speaker E: Finally.
[00:28:15] Speaker D: Yay.
[00:28:17] Speaker C: Took forever.
[00:28:19] Speaker E: I.
[00:28:22] Speaker C: Almost as though a different thing has placed. When you look at the coin now, instead of it being tails, Aeonar is now correct. And it is heads.
[00:28:32] Speaker E: What just happened?
[00:28:34] Speaker C: I don't fully understand it, but I have the ability to impose my will on time is what I've come to understand.
[00:28:50] Speaker E: I'm sorry, you have the ability to what?
[00:28:52] Speaker C: I can alter the time in very minute ways.
[00:28:55] Speaker F: You just hear from the background. Time.
[00:29:01] Speaker C: And that's what his deal is.
[00:29:03] Speaker D: Val's looking around with her glaive. How long do we know, like, if it's gonna show up?
[00:29:08] Speaker C: The Hound?
[00:29:08] Speaker D: Yeah, like, are we safe now?
[00:29:10] Speaker C: So, like I say, I do this a lot, and it.
[00:29:12] Speaker E: What about. What about the Hound?
[00:29:14] Speaker C: I don't. It was new. I don't. Apparently it's been following me since the flowers.
[00:29:18] Speaker A: Are you certain that it's not something like, I don't know, a time?
Like, time's not supposed to be messed with too much?
[00:29:29] Speaker C: Well, I mean, there are countless spells that mess with. I mean, I know they're a little bit beyond our grasp right now, but, I mean, it's a common place.
[00:29:38] Speaker F: My theory is that they're eating the old timeline and not letting it continue while the correct one can keep going.
[00:29:47] Speaker D: Oh, like trimming a bush.
[00:29:51] Speaker F: Or more like a tree.
[00:29:53] Speaker E: Howard, you've died before.
[00:29:56] Speaker C: Oh, several times, yes. It's awful every time. Every time it's awful. I do my best not to think about it.
[00:30:02] Speaker D: Sorry. Owd.
[00:30:03] Speaker C: It's fine.
[00:30:03] Speaker D: Val puts her hand on your shoulder.
[00:30:05] Speaker C: One time, I didn't get to feel the sensation of death. I reversed it before I hit the bottom of the chasm.
[00:30:11] Speaker D: Oh, that must have been quite the adrenaline rush.
[00:30:14] Speaker C: Yes.
[00:30:15] Speaker D: I'm gonna put. I think we're good. And she puts her weapon away, gets back on her horse.
[00:30:19] Speaker F: You know, I've killed a lot of people, but I wonder if in any other timeline, they've reversed it.
[00:30:27] Speaker D: You're wondering if they reverse killed you.
[00:30:29] Speaker F: Well, no. Reverse the time other people. Well, I don't know who has this ability.
[00:30:34] Speaker E: I need a drink.
[00:30:36] Speaker C: I mean, you have your Stein.
[00:30:38] Speaker B: That's true.
[00:30:39] Speaker D: We're almost a town. Neros.
[00:30:42] Speaker A: I.
I think that perhaps maybe you should not use it as much.
[00:30:52] Speaker B: Just.
[00:30:52] Speaker C: I Mean, I have cut back quite a bit from.
[00:30:55] Speaker E: You do it every day.
[00:30:56] Speaker C: Almost every day.
[00:30:57] Speaker A: Well, like I said, now it comes in handy.
[00:30:59] Speaker C: You know, every now and again I do something and it messes up. And I don't want to mess up.
[00:31:03] Speaker E: Have you guys known about this?
[00:31:05] Speaker D: I think it was the flower patch for me.
[00:31:07] Speaker F: I feel like I was aware of. I mean, I didn't know about the.
[00:31:11] Speaker E: Dogs until the flowers, so how did I not know?
[00:31:14] Speaker F: Well, some of us have stronger minds.
[00:31:17] Speaker E: You shut up.
[00:31:19] Speaker C: If I'd known you didn't, I would have said something. But I thought you did. I didn't know ina enough to.
[00:31:24] Speaker D: You were really tired when I found out, so that could have been part of it.
[00:31:29] Speaker E: Okay.
[00:31:30] Speaker F: I am curious. Everything's a lie with the. I mean, the dogs seem to only be in the one that we're not in it.
[00:31:38] Speaker A: It seems that it's. Less of everything's a lie and more of no, everything's flux.
[00:31:44] Speaker C: It's. This has been going on for a long time.
[00:31:48] Speaker A: Like we're on the precipice of something.
[00:31:51] Speaker C: Perhaps sort of after we got out of the mines. Things have been happening like this that long?
[00:31:57] Speaker F: Wait, it sense the mines?
[00:31:59] Speaker E: Since the mines?
[00:32:00] Speaker C: Yeah. I mean, not to you guys, but to me. And then shortly after the ice golem.
[00:32:04] Speaker F: I think for the everything else, that's where we.
[00:32:07] Speaker A: I.
[00:32:08] Speaker F: Do you think the helmet has anything to do with it?
[00:32:10] Speaker C: No. Maybe. I don't know.
[00:32:12] Speaker D: What about all those runes?
[00:32:14] Speaker F: That's true.
[00:32:15] Speaker E: So ever since I've known you, essentially, I've. This has been happening?
[00:32:20] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:32:22] Speaker E: Elwood Volden.
[00:32:27] Speaker C: To be fair. To be fair. When it was first happening, I thought it was just, you know, my thinking ahead and planning things out and working.
It was just. It became more obvious as time moved on.
[00:32:40] Speaker A: What didn't?
[00:32:41] Speaker C: You've died multiple times. Can we please move on past that? No, that's like thinking about it.
[00:32:47] Speaker F: I mean, it's kind of.
[00:32:49] Speaker E: But you're still here.
[00:32:51] Speaker C: Please don't. Don't tell my mom.
[00:32:54] Speaker A: I have a problem. No, I want to point out a very important problem. You've been doing this for a while.
[00:33:03] Speaker C: Couple.
[00:33:04] Speaker E: Like a month.
[00:33:05] Speaker A: A month or two, yeah. And a couple months you've experienced unpleasantness in different times, so to speak. Yeah, but you've recently been hearing and then seeing a dog thing.
[00:33:21] Speaker F: It may not also dog. It could just be a beast.
[00:33:24] Speaker A: It now what? Maybe reaching for something. But it sounds like you're being hunted.
[00:33:34] Speaker F: That makes two of us.
[00:33:39] Speaker C: I mean. Yeah, I don't. I don't really know, because they don't really. They're not here right now.
[00:33:48] Speaker A: It sounds like it only happens when you do your time.
[00:33:52] Speaker D: Well, what if it's, like, a thing that exists on a plane of time, so, like, they just walk around, and sometimes you do it when you're near them?
[00:33:59] Speaker E: This is all over my head.
[00:34:00] Speaker C: That makes sense. I like. I. I like her theory. I mean, your theory is probably valid as well, but I just. I don't know.
[00:34:06] Speaker D: Do you think the Joel library might have something information about this?
[00:34:09] Speaker C: No, but maybe.
[00:34:10] Speaker F: Wait, could this have happened to Uwair?
Because when we found Aonar, we were in the forest, and he seems to think it was in the past or in the future.
Could he have been attacked by the dogs?
[00:34:23] Speaker C: Wait, are you saying that Uver died by the dogs? And Einar?
What are you saying?
[00:34:29] Speaker F: Well, see, Einar seems to be from the past.
You knew him. Yeah, but he didn't know us at the time you knew him.
Yeah, or maybe the other way around. Time.
[00:34:41] Speaker D: He is a bit older than us.
[00:34:44] Speaker F: But could that dogs have had anything to do with his disappearance?
[00:34:50] Speaker C: I mean, wouldn't we have heard them?
[00:34:52] Speaker F: I mean, unless he somehow slipped into their timeline.
[00:34:56] Speaker C: Also, Uber doesn't mess with time. He hasn't. He doesn't.
I mean, he was the first of.
[00:35:01] Speaker A: Everyone I haven't known he was aware of time. At least not that he's told me.
[00:35:06] Speaker F: Okay, maybe he put you in his place.
[00:35:10] Speaker D: Val's gonna go try and comfort near us.
[00:35:17] Speaker E: She is very distressed.
[00:35:18] Speaker C: Are you, like. Do you want to talk? Not about me dying, but I don't.
[00:35:22] Speaker E: Know that I want to talk about. It's confusing.
[00:35:25] Speaker C: It's very confusing.
[00:35:27] Speaker E: I'm not smart enough for that.
[00:35:29] Speaker C: If it helps, I typically do it for, like, social faux pas.
[00:35:33] Speaker E: Do what?
[00:35:35] Speaker C: Reverse time.
[00:35:37] Speaker A: That's worse.
[00:35:40] Speaker F: I'm not exactly sure what faux pas means.
[00:35:42] Speaker E: It doesn't make me feel better, but.
[00:35:44] Speaker D: Feels a little vain.
[00:35:46] Speaker C: It is a little vain, but it causes me a lot of stress.
[00:35:49] Speaker D: That's understandable.
[00:35:50] Speaker C: And I don't like that.
[00:35:51] Speaker A: I mean, so just causing something, doing something that might make you hunted.
[00:35:56] Speaker C: I mean, I haven't thought about. Like I said, I've cut back a lot.
[00:36:00] Speaker A: Maybe more. More?
[00:36:02] Speaker C: If I cut back anymore, then I can't do it, period.
[00:36:06] Speaker A: Only in dire situations.
[00:36:08] Speaker F: I mean, he kind of uses it.
[00:36:09] Speaker A: Like that when you're gonna die.
[00:36:11] Speaker F: It's when he does it.
[00:36:12] Speaker C: Well, I don't get to control that.
[00:36:16] Speaker A: I Be careful, I guess, is what I'm trying.
[00:36:20] Speaker C: I'm always careful.
That's why I've cut back.
[00:36:28] Speaker E: It's like an addict.
[00:36:29] Speaker C: I.
Look, this. I know it's unsettling and. But I'm able to help you all with it. And it's. It's been useful.
[00:36:40] Speaker F: Honestly, I think it's you that needs the help.
[00:36:43] Speaker C: I mean, I also need help.
[00:36:45] Speaker F: You are the one who dies most of the time. Time with it.
[00:36:48] Speaker C: That's just.
The first time was just on accident. I misstepped on. Please stop bringing up the fact that I've died. I.
I don't know how much clearer I can make that.
[00:37:02] Speaker F: I think about time a lot.
[00:37:03] Speaker A: Just.
[00:37:04] Speaker B: Just.
[00:37:04] Speaker A: It gives. I don't.
It gives me an unsettled feeling and.
And this group can't afford to lose you, so just be careful.
[00:37:18] Speaker C: On a different note, but slightly related. Don't tell my mom you mentioned that. Yeah, please. I know. Just don't bring it up.
I don't know if she can take the fact that I'm dying or have died.
[00:37:33] Speaker F: I thought we weren't supposed to talk about that.
[00:37:35] Speaker C: You're not. But in this, it had to be said.
[00:37:39] Speaker D: Okay.
[00:37:41] Speaker C: I don't like how you said okay, Val.
[00:37:42] Speaker D: Oh, I'm just thinking.
[00:37:44] Speaker F: I mean, I won't say anything to her. I won't even be near her.
[00:37:47] Speaker C: That's fair.
I'm glad we finally talked about this. Normally it gets ignored.
[00:37:52] Speaker E: I'm not. I feel like I could have gone without knowing this.
[00:37:56] Speaker C: I'm sorry, Nero.
[00:37:57] Speaker E: No, it's fine.
[00:37:58] Speaker A: I guess just knowing about possible dangers is. Those are inching things. I'm sure.
[00:38:05] Speaker C: I didn't know it was a danger until recently.
[00:38:09] Speaker E: My brain hurt.
[00:38:11] Speaker A: Let's go get a drink.
[00:38:13] Speaker B: So, as you all are approaching the outskirts of Tom Grove, I know you had discussed splitting the party up a little bit. How exactly are you going to do that?
[00:38:23] Speaker F: I believe Val and I are going to go off on our. We're going to split up from the others.
You guys go see Alward's family.
[00:38:34] Speaker E: I'm getting a drinky.
[00:38:36] Speaker F: That. So Alward's going by himself?
[00:38:37] Speaker C: I mean, it's my family.
[00:38:38] Speaker E: It's his family. He can go by himself in the creepy house.
[00:38:42] Speaker D: Surely it's all still normal and fine.
[00:38:44] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:38:46] Speaker E: Do you want us to come with you?
[00:38:48] Speaker C: I mean, our does not care if you come or not to his family. I mean, I know you wanted to speak with my mother.
[00:38:54] Speaker E: Yeah, but I don't know how that's fair. Sick she is.
[00:38:57] Speaker C: That's also fair. I don't either.
[00:38:59] Speaker E: I don't want to bother her if she's not feeling good.
[00:39:02] Speaker A: Yeah, Einars will be happy to stay with heroes.
[00:39:08] Speaker C: When is my meeting with my friend?
[00:39:10] Speaker B: It hasn't been scheduled because he hasn't been aware of when you would be in town. Similar to how you have not been aware of when you will be in town.
[00:39:17] Speaker C: Well, then I think that would be the first thing I do is make him aware that I am in town.
[00:39:21] Speaker F: Hold on. You have friends?
[00:39:22] Speaker C: Yes.
[00:39:23] Speaker A: Mm.
[00:39:24] Speaker C: Be on the lookout for, like, houses for sale, I guess. Just in case. That's the last option.
[00:39:29] Speaker E: Oh, and in this town, any town.
[00:39:32] Speaker F: Oh, that's not.
[00:39:32] Speaker C: Joel.
[00:39:33] Speaker E: Okay.
[00:39:34] Speaker D: Okay. Sure.
[00:39:35] Speaker E: Aina.
[00:39:37] Speaker A: Yes?
[00:39:38] Speaker E: Can you be my designated horse driver?
[00:39:41] Speaker A: Probably not a good idea, but I'll do it.
[00:39:43] Speaker C: You'd be my designated buggy man.
[00:39:45] Speaker D: If you guys both get too drunk to stumble.
[00:39:48] Speaker E: I'm not intending to, but you never know.
[00:39:51] Speaker D: I'll try to check in on you you at some point. Then I'll keep an eye on her.
[00:39:56] Speaker F: You could sleep at the tavern.
[00:39:59] Speaker E: That is true.
[00:40:00] Speaker F: I mean, that's. That's what I'm kind of thinking about.
[00:40:03] Speaker D: Do they have rooms?
[00:40:04] Speaker F: I'm sure they do.
[00:40:05] Speaker E: It's a tavern.
[00:40:06] Speaker F: I think we've stayed there before. Not you, of course.
[00:40:10] Speaker D: Right. I can't. Yeah. Okay, well, lead ons of here. I'll follow you.
[00:40:17] Speaker F: They also have a fighting ring.
[00:40:20] Speaker E: We don't talk about fight club.
[00:40:23] Speaker B: All right, so you split up. Alward, you're heading to meet with your family. Neros and Einar were heading over to the tavern, presumably to get drunk.
And where were Zafir and Val going?
[00:40:38] Speaker F: Zafir would like to head to the populated marketplace of Tom Grove with Val.
[00:40:46] Speaker D: There's a little boy. Extry. Extry. Read all about it.
[00:40:51] Speaker B: Diedrich has a side job.
[00:40:53] Speaker C: Diedrich does all of the side jobs.
[00:40:56] Speaker F: He's the side character.
[00:40:58] Speaker B: All right. So, as Zafir and Val are heading off into the bustling marketplace of Tom Grove, if I could get Jenkins, Abby and Sven to go ahead and leave the table.
[00:41:10] Speaker C: I had to go to the restroom.
[00:41:14] Speaker F: Val, I'm going to meet with someone. You're welcome to hang along, but.
[00:41:22] Speaker D: No, I mean, like, I like to spend time with you. We haven't gotten much opportunities to speak, so you.
[00:41:28] Speaker F: Well, we. I mean, we have, but you were kind of out of your mind at the point.
[00:41:32] Speaker D: Well, that's fair.
[00:41:35] Speaker F: I'm going to.
This may not make sense, what I'm about to do, but just be open minded.
[00:41:46] Speaker D: Okay.
[00:41:47] Speaker F: I just start walking into the center of the Crowd, and he just starts looking around.
[00:41:54] Speaker B: Zafir, as you're scanning the crowd and just trying to see who all is there, you notice one familiar face on a man who seems to be waiting for the right opportunity to liberate a purse from someone's belt.
[00:42:11] Speaker F: I make a beeline for the person with the purse.
[00:42:18] Speaker B: It's a woman wearing a nice red dress. Like.
[00:42:21] Speaker F: Like the Matrix?
[00:42:23] Speaker B: No, more like a dress that would indicate that she is high in society.
As in, it is a dress that is red. It is also nice.
[00:42:36] Speaker F: How tall is she?
[00:42:38] Speaker B: Five foot two.
[00:42:39] Speaker F: She's not much taller than me. That's interesting. I look up at her as I get right to her, and I look up at her and I go, ma'am, are you aware that you're about to be relieved?
[00:42:56] Speaker B: No. Do you have good news for me?
[00:42:58] Speaker F: No, not that kind of revelation.
Relevation, Relievance.
[00:43:04] Speaker B: Is this a religious thing? Because I'm not interested in changing my religion.
[00:43:09] Speaker F: I kind of just look at her go.
I think you're good. You can just go, please.
[00:43:16] Speaker B: All right, I'll just keep shopping.
[00:43:20] Speaker D: Wow. Zafir, you're right. I really don't understand what's going on.
What was that? Was that some sort of, like, secret code?
[00:43:28] Speaker F: Yes, it was extremely secret.
[00:43:30] Speaker D: Why?
[00:43:30] Speaker F: Tradesman secret.
[00:43:32] Speaker D: She seemed to really not know who you were or what you're talking about.
[00:43:35] Speaker F: I mean, it's exactly how it should have gone.
[00:43:40] Speaker B: As she walks off, the guy who was preparing to alleviate the purse is just standing there, and he's just like. It's been a long time since I've seen that code used.
[00:43:54] Speaker F: Well, I.
Hello.
[00:43:59] Speaker D: Oh, wow.
[00:44:00] Speaker F: I never actually got your name.
[00:44:03] Speaker B: That was intentional.
[00:44:05] Speaker F: Yes. So you remember me, right?
[00:44:09] Speaker B: Oh, of course I do. And you remember me?
[00:44:12] Speaker F: Yes, I do believe.
He didn't get the purse, did he? No, I think that you should not do that.
I found that there's. I know this is crazy, but there's actually a lot of money in other things.
[00:44:33] Speaker B: Look, I appreciate it, but I just don't know if I have the guts for your line of work.
[00:44:38] Speaker F: Well, I didn't mean that.
[00:44:40] Speaker D: In fact, that's probably a good thing. There shouldn't be a lot of people in his line of work. It's very dangerous.
[00:44:45] Speaker F: Also a lot of guts.
[00:44:46] Speaker B: You have a new apprentice.
[00:44:48] Speaker F: No, actually. So that's.
[00:44:50] Speaker D: I don't kill people. Not on purpose, at least.
[00:44:53] Speaker F: So.
[00:44:55] Speaker B: I'm sorry. You're going to find this job really hard.
[00:44:58] Speaker F: Can we speak somewhere less fishy?
[00:45:01] Speaker B: The camera zooms out and we are standing right next to, like, a fish merchant stall. And he's like, good point.
[00:45:09] Speaker F: This is where I found you last time.
[00:45:11] Speaker B: It is.
It's good pickings here.
[00:45:15] Speaker F: How about that dark back spooky alley over there?
[00:45:20] Speaker B: Oh, yeah, that's where we went last time.
[00:45:22] Speaker F: Yeah, I like that alley.
[00:45:24] Speaker B: Well, it's a good spot.
[00:45:25] Speaker D: There's a hopscotch.
[00:45:27] Speaker F: It's right next to the school.
[00:45:29] Speaker B: Val starts hopscotching as you walk in. He, like, walks around behind a crate that's like, you know, a very suspicious looking crate. And he just pulls out these, like, two stools and he's like, I got us stools.
[00:45:41] Speaker F: Oh.
[00:45:41] Speaker B: Because last time we were just standing there. Well, sorry, miss, I don't. I only have two stools. I guess you can take mine.
[00:45:48] Speaker F: No, she can have mine.
[00:45:49] Speaker D: No, I'll just stand. It's fine. I'll be over here. Having fun? I'm listening.
[00:45:53] Speaker F: So I don't know how to address you.
I'm learning to.
[00:46:00] Speaker B: You could call me your Graciousness.
[00:46:02] Speaker F: No, I'm trying to learn people's names. Well, attempting to learn people without killing them first.
[00:46:08] Speaker D: Oh, don't people in your guys's line of work have, like, code names, like secret names?
[00:46:14] Speaker F: Oh, do you have a code name.
[00:46:15] Speaker D: Like Ace or Trivel?
[00:46:19] Speaker B: Okay, I liked the first one better. Let's go down that sort of trail of thought.
[00:46:25] Speaker F: All right. Can I call you Club or Spade?
[00:46:29] Speaker D: Lurk. You were lurking on the side.
[00:46:31] Speaker B: I like Spade.
Spade.
[00:46:33] Speaker F: I hope you're not a female cat.
[00:46:36] Speaker D: Do you want to be like Spade or like Ace of Spades or King of Spades or.
[00:46:40] Speaker B: Oh, let's. Let's go with. Let's go with King of Spades. And I'll just be Spade for short.
[00:46:45] Speaker D: You could be Queen of Spades.
[00:46:47] Speaker B: I'm. I don't want to be the queen.
[00:46:49] Speaker D: That's fair. It's a lot of responsibility.
[00:46:51] Speaker F: Anyway. Spade.
[00:46:54] Speaker D: That's cool.
[00:46:55] Speaker F: I've gathered you here today because I have a bit of an announcement, which may be a little bit disappointing that I don't really know how to say it, so I'll just get right into it.
I am no longer for hire.
[00:47:13] Speaker B: My man. And he puts a hand on your shoulder. I can't believe that you got a court position.
[00:47:21] Speaker F: I did not.
[00:47:25] Speaker D: Desk work wouldn't be good for him.
[00:47:28] Speaker F: I made the decision that it's wrong to kill people.
[00:47:37] Speaker B: He, like, looks confused, glances down the alleyway both ways, and he goes.
So I don't get it.
[00:47:48] Speaker F: I mean, it has been Taking some getting used to. But it has occurred to me that it may affect people in a negative way.
Not just the person that's dying.
And I figured it might be better for me to not do that anymore.
[00:48:12] Speaker D: Wow, that's really great, Zafir. It takes a lot of courage and bravery to change yourself in some way like that.
[00:48:22] Speaker B: He glances over his shoulder again, pulls up a curtain and looks into the schoolhouse behind him.
So this isn't a prank or anything, is it?
[00:48:30] Speaker F: Oh, no, no, I.
Well, my friend here has showed me the error of my ways as well as the.
[00:48:44] Speaker B: Oh, no.
[00:48:45] Speaker F: Corrective actions.
[00:48:48] Speaker B: Oh no, Zafir, Corrective actions.
[00:48:51] Speaker D: You make it sound like I did something to you.
[00:48:54] Speaker B: Did you get pulled into a cult?
[00:48:57] Speaker D: No, no cults. I'm anti cult. I don't like cults.
[00:49:00] Speaker F: Well, we did do a ritual just the other day.
[00:49:02] Speaker D: That was not. That was religious. This is not cultish.
[00:49:06] Speaker B: That sounds really bad. Did you help him with this ritual?
[00:49:10] Speaker D: No, he helped me.
[00:49:11] Speaker B: Oh no, that's worse.
[00:49:13] Speaker F: Well, I mean, she was throwing up a lot of blackness before, so it was kind of for the better.
[00:49:18] Speaker B: It sounds really bad. Are you think. Do you hear yourself?
[00:49:22] Speaker D: No, listen.
[00:49:23] Speaker B: He like, puts his arms around Zafir, protectively looking at.
[00:49:27] Speaker D: Oh, listen. A cult did something to me and then I did something religious with my God Phrasma and Shalen and got rid of the thing the cult did.
[00:49:35] Speaker B: I think she's an occult.
[00:49:37] Speaker D: I'm not a cult.
[00:49:39] Speaker F: Well, my friend has the amulet that has the darkness inside.
[00:49:42] Speaker D: I don't have it.
[00:49:43] Speaker F: No, not you. I meant my other friend.
[00:49:46] Speaker D: That's fair.
[00:49:47] Speaker F: So, yeah, just think.
[00:49:50] Speaker B: Wait a minute. They did a ritual to take your assassin ness and put it in a pendant?
[00:49:56] Speaker D: Is that something we could have done?
[00:49:58] Speaker B: I can't believe you.
[00:50:00] Speaker D: That's not what we did. He has to make his own choices here.
He's not going to be forced to.
[00:50:07] Speaker F: Do something like, I mean, you could have did. Were you being forced to do the things you did?
[00:50:11] Speaker D: What do you mean? What things?
[00:50:13] Speaker F: Like. Well, I mean, you tried to kill me.
[00:50:14] Speaker D: Well, yeah, I was. Not me. That wasn't me.
[00:50:17] Speaker F: Oh, so you weren't forced. You were.
[00:50:18] Speaker B: I thought you said you didn't kill people on purpose.
[00:50:22] Speaker D: That was not me. That was a thing inside of me taking control.
[00:50:25] Speaker B: See, this sounds like a really bad cult. Like on the list of cults, this one sounds really bad.
[00:50:30] Speaker F: Well, it's not her cult. It's the thing that did it to her.
[00:50:33] Speaker B: Okay, so who's in charge of this cult that you're both in now.
[00:50:36] Speaker F: Okay.
[00:50:36] Speaker D: Well, actually, it's an evil religion, though I typically.
[00:50:39] Speaker B: You are.
[00:50:40] Speaker D: No, mine's not evil. There was an evil cult here in Legion that did this to me.
[00:50:45] Speaker B: He starts, like, backing up a little bit speed.
[00:50:48] Speaker F: Look, the point is, I cannot. Can no longer be contacted for chops.
[00:51:00] Speaker B: I have to respect your decisions.
I'm worried about you, man.
[00:51:05] Speaker F: I am all right?
In fact, I just made a lot of gold by doing a good thing.
[00:51:14] Speaker D: Wait, is that why you change your mind? It's because you're making money, not killing people?
[00:51:18] Speaker F: Well, no, I was just explaining to.
[00:51:20] Speaker D: Him earlier that I thought it was a moral thing. Are you just doing this for money?
[00:51:24] Speaker F: No, it is.
[00:51:26] Speaker B: Spade is getting now just like a grin is growing on his face, and he's like, hold on.
[00:51:30] Speaker D: If you. If you killed someone and they gave you, like, what's amount a 10 gold. That's a lot of gold, right? If they give you a 10 gold and then like. But if you did, if you didn't kill him, you'd get one gold. Would you kill a man?
Is that worth. Is some money more worth it to you?
[00:51:46] Speaker F: Before I would say that anyone has a price, but no, that's not how that. No.
[00:51:54] Speaker D: Okay.
[00:51:54] Speaker F: You often get paid more for doing bad things? No, to do good things.
[00:51:59] Speaker D: Oh, well, actually, usually on the path of the good, it's often a lot more narrow than the path of evil. So you actually might not see as much of a payment increase. Being good.
[00:52:11] Speaker F: Being good does not sound great.
[00:52:15] Speaker D: It is great. You get to do good things. Help other people. You get to, you know, be good.
[00:52:25] Speaker F: Well, Spade.
[00:52:28] Speaker B: I don't know if I want to do an intervention or if I'm being like, evangelized.
[00:52:34] Speaker D: Killing is morally wrong, and I think we can all agree on that.
And some people like to live in the morally wrong. Like you, sir Spade. Assuming you kill people for money.
[00:52:46] Speaker B: I don't.
[00:52:48] Speaker F: He's the one that gets the contracts out.
[00:52:50] Speaker D: So he's an accomplice to every murder?
[00:52:52] Speaker F: No, not necessarily.
[00:52:53] Speaker B: Not every murder. My business is not that big.
[00:52:57] Speaker F: I mean, he also does other things, like thieving contracts, and I desperately want to arrest you. Well, you have no authority.
[00:53:05] Speaker D: But I don't have authority to do that.
[00:53:08] Speaker B: You know, if you did, I wouldn't have offered you my stool.
[00:53:12] Speaker D: I don't need your stool. I have hopscotch. Ouch.
Itchy hops. One more scotch.
[00:53:20] Speaker F: I don't know how to get out of this conversation.
[00:53:23] Speaker B: He walks up and puts a hand on your shoulder. Zafir. If you ever need me, if you just need somewhere to crash, I've got a safe house.
[00:53:33] Speaker F: Okay, that's a good point. Also, don't call me Zafir anymore.
Oh, no, you may call me Zephyr.
[00:53:43] Speaker D: Wait, am I supposed to call you that? Tina?
Are you changing your name?
[00:53:48] Speaker F: We don't See. I have taken the archetype vigilante. Yes.
[00:53:55] Speaker D: Oh, my God.
[00:53:55] Speaker F: Vigilante dedication.
Now I have two identities.
[00:53:59] Speaker D: Zafir and Zephyr.
[00:54:00] Speaker F: Exactly.
[00:54:03] Speaker D: Oh, my God.
[00:54:05] Speaker F: And that's where I'm at.
You may all know me as Zephyr.
I'll be Zafir on their team.
[00:54:15] Speaker D: Val steps in between the two of them and leans real close to Zafir. Am I supposed to call you Zephyr9?
[00:54:21] Speaker F: No, you can call me Zafir.
[00:54:23] Speaker D: Okay, cool. And then she steps away.
[00:54:27] Speaker B: I could hear that. I mean, I'm right here.
[00:54:29] Speaker F: Oh, I didn't say anything that you shouldn't hear. You would call me Zephyr. Okay, at least in the public space, that is my name now.
[00:54:37] Speaker B: All right, well, Zephyr, if you ever need just, like, to get out, like a safe place, come find me.
[00:54:47] Speaker F: As long as there can be good to be done.
[00:54:52] Speaker D: I recommend to you, sir, that you take a look at your life and think about making changes.
There's a. The.
[00:55:00] Speaker F: Val. Val. Val. We.
We can only do so much.
[00:55:04] Speaker D: It's true, but I'm giving him. I'm just letting him know you can't be too far gone. There's always time for you to turn your moral compass around.
[00:55:15] Speaker B: He looks at you, looks down at his two stools, watches you hop another scotch, and is just like.
I will take that into consideration.
[00:55:27] Speaker D: That's great. Yeah, I'm all about redemption. And I like to make sure people know that they've got opportunities to do that.
[00:55:34] Speaker F: Now, Spade, I am curious. Do you happen to know where Bran is?
[00:55:40] Speaker B: Who?
[00:55:41] Speaker F: Bran the.
[00:55:42] Speaker D: He's a dwarf.
[00:55:43] Speaker B: Are you talking about that. That. That guy in Copper Burgit?
[00:55:47] Speaker F: Oh, is he in Kopper Burgit?
[00:55:48] Speaker B: I mean, the brand I know of.
[00:55:50] Speaker F: The last time I saw him, he was talking to his sister, and I don't remember what town we were in. For the life of me, Michael, I.
[00:55:58] Speaker B: Think you're thinking about Dolvin.
[00:56:04] Speaker D: That works, though.
[00:56:06] Speaker F: I get all dwarves mixed up. He's a dwarf, right?
[00:56:09] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:56:09] Speaker F: Ah, yeah, they all look the same to me.
[00:56:11] Speaker D: Sophia, that's a mean thing to say.
[00:56:15] Speaker F: Oh, I'm sorry. They all look very similar.
[00:56:18] Speaker D: You think Uvert looks just like those.
[00:56:20] Speaker F: Other two well, he did. Before he disappeared.
[00:56:22] Speaker D: Well, that's fair. Wait, no, that's not fair.
[00:56:28] Speaker F: So Bran, he's in Copper Burkitt, you.
[00:56:31] Speaker B: Said last I knew.
[00:56:33] Speaker F: I wonder if I could send Rusterford Spade. I think we have things to talk about.
[00:56:39] Speaker D: But not with you.
[00:56:41] Speaker B: All right.
[00:56:42] Speaker D: I mean, you said you. You looked at him and said we have things to talk about. I was trying to.
[00:56:47] Speaker B: Oh, I understand, I understand. I mean, I don't want to be pushy or unhospitable, but if you. Our business is done. If you would like to leave my office.
[00:56:58] Speaker F: Oh, I was wondering if you could leave.
[00:56:59] Speaker B: Just gestures to the exit of the alley.
[00:57:02] Speaker F: I was wondering if you could leave and we could use the stools for a moment.
[00:57:05] Speaker B: I mean it's, it's. It's available for rent.
[00:57:08] Speaker F: How much?
[00:57:09] Speaker B: Two copper.
[00:57:10] Speaker F: That's horrible. Get out of my face.
[00:57:12] Speaker B: All right, fine.
One copper.
[00:57:15] Speaker F: That you're.
[00:57:16] Speaker C: This is.
[00:57:17] Speaker F: This is terrible. You're. You're highway robbery.
[00:57:20] Speaker B: These are my stools.
[00:57:21] Speaker D: I don't even have any copper. I've just got all this gold.
[00:57:24] Speaker B: I mean, I could take a gold.
[00:57:26] Speaker F: We will take our business elsewhere, sir.
He gives him a wink.
[00:57:33] Speaker B: I mean, okay, I know you're like turning over a new leaf, but I like. I don't feel that way about you.
[00:57:40] Speaker F: Not that kind of wink, sir.
I slap him with my glove that I pulled out of my cloak. A shadow glove.
[00:57:48] Speaker D: Oh my gosh, what's happening?
[00:57:50] Speaker F: We are out of here, Val.
[00:57:53] Speaker D: Okay.
[00:57:54] Speaker F: And he marches off in a little four foot hissy fit.
[00:57:58] Speaker D: I'm sorry, sir, Mr. Spade, but again, maybe don't do bad things. Goodbye.
[00:58:07] Speaker B: And with that we will go ahead and change our perspective over to the tavern.
All right, Neros and Einar, the two of you enter the tavern here in Tom Grove, which is called the Company Tavern. A lot of the folks here in town call it the Drunken Imp, but that is just what the locals call it. It's not an official name. Neros. You see a figure you recognize sitting at one of the tables? It's Sir Dire Torin.
[00:58:40] Speaker C: Oh, why does that name sound familiar?
[00:58:42] Speaker E: Uvir's friend, Sierra.
[00:58:44] Speaker D: I thought he was.
[00:58:45] Speaker C: Oh, I wasn't part of that.
[00:58:46] Speaker D: I thought he was in Joel. He was in Tom Grove.
[00:58:49] Speaker B: Last you saw him, he was in Joel.
[00:58:51] Speaker E: Okay, I'm scared.
[00:58:54] Speaker A: Oh, you can do with that information.
[00:58:56] Speaker D: Does Einar know him? It's interesting question.
[00:58:59] Speaker B: Einar hasn't noticed him, apparently. And Neros hasn't pointed him out yet.
[00:59:06] Speaker A: Well, they have that good around here.
[00:59:08] Speaker E: To drink I'm gonna put a pin in that. And I walk over to Cere Dire.
[00:59:15] Speaker B: As you approach, he looks up from the papers that he's working on, sees you, and he's like. The look on his face is first surprise, and then, like, a little bit of frustration. And he's like, neros, there you are. You are one full day late.
And that's where we'll end this episode.
[00:59:34] Speaker C: What?
What did we. Did you guys set up a meeting? No.
What?
How are you late to a meeting? You don't know?
[00:59:46] Speaker D: I mean, that happens to me all the time.
[00:59:48] Speaker C: That's fair.
What?
One more time and I'll believe you.
[00:59:55] Speaker B: What?
[00:59:58] Speaker F: Had to turn down my volume for that one, huh?
[01:00:01] Speaker B: All right, so the hero point for this episode goes to Petit for his pushing things forward, bringing some cool scenes together. And honestly, just that ending bit with him and Val. I had a great time.
[01:00:15] Speaker D: So fun.
[01:00:16] Speaker C: I want to know.
[01:00:17] Speaker F: I appreciate that. Thank you for this. For this hero point. I'm.
I've really got to go find some ways to come up with better nicknames.
[01:00:27] Speaker C: What?
[01:00:27] Speaker D: I thought King of Spades was pretty cool.
[01:00:29] Speaker F: I didn't come up with that one.
[01:00:30] Speaker D: That's true.
[01:00:31] Speaker B: And we'll see you all in the next episode.
This has been an Atomic Broadcasting production. If you enjoyed the show, make sure to give us some support by liking, commenting and following. These things really do make a difference in getting the word out and helping our community grow. Also, make sure to check us out on threads and check out the Discord server where you can chat with other fans and discuss all the recent developments and happenings. Links to all these good things in the description below. The Written and the Lost is an original story that uses trademarks and or copyrights owned by Paizo, Inc. Used under Paizo's Fan Content Policy. Atomic Broadcasting and the Written and the Lost are not published, endorsed, or specifically approved by Paizo. For more information about Paizo, Inc. And paizo products, visit paizo.com. hope to see you all in the next episode. Until then, have an atomic time.
[01:01:23] Speaker F: Anyway, my wrist itches.
[01:01:27] Speaker D: Maybe use a fingernail.
[01:01:29] Speaker B: I can't help you with that.
