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C3 Episode 43 Little Boxes on the Hillside Chapter Five
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A Meeting with the Mayor
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Transcript
Introduction to the Everon Campaign
00:00:04
Speaker
the Everon campaign setting. I am game
00:00:19
Speaker
master, Eric. I'm Mia. I'm Mia. and welcome debor onm your new actual play podcast at the everon campaign setting i and your game master eric i'm mia I'm Phillip.
00:00:30
Speaker
I'm Madison. I'm Jeff. And welcome to another
Orphanage Visit and Suspicion of Kidnappings
00:00:33
Speaker
episode. Folks, what happened last time? Went to an orphanage and a community center. Nyx is ready to adopt 42 orphans. kill one person of indeterminate state.
00:00:48
Speaker
We got freaked out by a bunch of orphans, but we don't think it's the orphans' fault. We're not sure if they're orphans. They may be kidnapping victims. And everyone's kind of on autopilot on a script. Yeah. part And super charitable, except when it comes to adoption.
00:01:00
Speaker
that And, and the show may have not been coerced into giving all of their wealth into a community pool. Yep. That's what we learned. So what are you doing now?
Debate on Seeking External Help
00:01:15
Speaker
Okay, that's above the table. What are we doing now? We need to use icon die to it bring in another outsider just so there's somebody else. I mean, we could bring in a whole bunch. We could just have agent agents and all of these agencies descend on Pella's watch.
00:01:35
Speaker
Because you also have Archean Congress as well. I do, yeah. Just everything. Throw it all. Well, who do who do we want to... who do we want also investigating this? We've got Lady Vol available, so... Yeah, some necromancy and fun stuff.
Investigation Strategies for the Strange Town
00:01:50
Speaker
Is there pathway to a way in, I guess, like one pathway would be, they were just in Bathron and they heard about something about this thing that we missed. One pathway is they're just also here to be freaked out.
00:02:04
Speaker
Like we might have, um, I think it moved. Once again, it's it's on your terms. Like you get to say what what they're bringing to the table. We might we not have goals aligned in in some way or another that they would be able to aid us with.
00:02:21
Speaker
They might be able aid us in finding out answers to some of the questions outside of the town that we have. For example, are there a bunch of missing kids from Batheron? Right.
00:02:31
Speaker
Like that sort of thing. Or if it's someone from Vole, they may know where or this potential mausoleum cache of stuff is. And if it's under City Hall, then it sounds like we've got some serious motive to... They may have... Crash into City Hall. They may have additional clues. Yeah, I was going to say. Previously investigated.
00:02:50
Speaker
So... I'm going to go with that one. Somebody from Vole of Vole who's here on that... so i they me Yes. Yes, we will use them on it. Talking to you, man. I don't know. We're just...
00:03:01
Speaker
It seems like that's what we're settling in, and I offer up mine to people. All right. So, given that this is for a narrative function, roll a d20 for me, Valk.
00:03:14
Speaker
and Where did it go? I'm too spank. That's my clunk. It's my shiny one. 20! So there's no twist or complication.
00:03:26
Speaker
Yay! You can't roll better. Okie dokie. Yeah, you better roll good, you expensive liquid corn die. Mm-hmm. So you all head back to the ordered hearth, which is where somebody from out of town
Arrival at Ordered Hearth and Observing Cult-like Behavior
00:03:41
Speaker
would be. Yes.
00:03:42
Speaker
Given that it is kind of the height of winter at this point, the sun is beginning to set as part of your investigation. So the lights, the lanterns on the streets are starting to get lit and come on.
00:03:54
Speaker
You all arrive at the ordered hearth and you see that people are gathering for dinner. And, yeah. Does whole town eat here? Does this place function like like a common mess for the town? No, because people have kitchens and stuff like that in their homes. Yeah. So is there like a food repository they can go to pick like a food bank to go pick things up? do We would have just now just interested how this town works. It's blowing my mind.
00:04:20
Speaker
It works well. Well, Jeff, it's a cult. As someone who has socialist leanings, like, i don't know why I'm off-put by it. Except for the fact that it's fictional. Because brainwashing. Are there orphans in here If they're not a commune, it wouldn't wouldn't be a problem for an agency.
00:04:40
Speaker
Oh, yes, the there' there's a will involved. Right. Agency. Sorry, I'm just trying to get to the ah icon thing in the new book.
00:04:51
Speaker
Here we go. Mm-hmm.
Encounter with Lady Giselle of the Emerald Claw
00:04:56
Speaker
Yeah. Okay. So as you all enter, you see Yosef is behind the bar chatting with a few people. um But everyone give me a wisdom check. 12. 25. 15.
00:05:09
Speaker
twenty five like fifteen 12 okay this works selena as as you are walking in and you kind of scan the room your blood runs cold for a second because you see someone that you recognize um you see a because you have a negative relationship with yes you see yeah a woman sitting by herself at a table.
00:05:40
Speaker
There's a goblet in front of her and she has like a small journal that she's flipping through. Um, and you recognize her as lady Giselle to rock to Ross, J E S E L T A or R A apostrophe A Z.
00:06:07
Speaker
Okay. You recognize her as a member of the Emerald Claw, who you've had a couple of run-ins with, with your relationship with Lady Vol in the past. Vauk, explain to me, because with your Icon Chandler thing, like you get a different icon every arc, essentially, ah which speaks to Vauk's crazy he past.
00:06:31
Speaker
um So explain to me your connection with this person. I think this would be ands not
Giselle's Search for Ancient Relics
00:06:41
Speaker
necessarily a direct connection of Valk's, but a connection of his former employer. Okay. What color is this person?
00:06:51
Speaker
You can ask him if you would like. But I think almost in the same instance, like Valk would also kind of sense up just from channeling. Mm-hmm. um having that like the connection of course like the color connections and just being like this person should not there's something in here because i don't think he has seen it yet but there's something in here that should not be in here um but yeah this is a connection of his old employer okay nice but you you both know this person definitely does not live in pillow's watch they're not from here and yep
00:07:30
Speaker
Selena's gonna turn to the others and just very quickly fill them in on who this is. ah and that she does not, she's not from here. She does not belong here. Is this a problem?
00:07:42
Speaker
Could be. think we need to find out why she's here. i want Valk to start physically... not in changeling but just physically making himself smaller which is very tough to do yeah um as a silver-haired six something man but valk dresses so you know unassumingly like but ah easy to blend into a crowd wearing all purple it's just like do you point her out yes okay ah valk's just gonna shake his head i uh very uncomfortable
00:08:21
Speaker
I think I have to go over. Why? i know her of her. I'm also worried she might report bagging. She's... Oh, miss my old boss?
00:08:35
Speaker
The one with the colors. With the colors. Okay. But I think we'll be okay. I will be okay. As your old employer.
00:08:47
Speaker
looking for you? Not in a way that she's concerned, but just the general location poppin' probably would be nice for her. Okay. Is she going to do something with that information that we need to prevent? Maybe? No.
00:09:05
Speaker
Do we need to be worried about your old boss finding you? She might like you. oh What a weird way to answer that question. Does this person need to not report back?
00:09:17
Speaker
Yes.
00:09:20
Speaker
But if we need someone to, ah i mean, person of interest, I feel my semi-familiar face would probably be allow her to open up a bit more about why she's here. Sure. so I just meant that she needs to not be able to report back.
00:09:37
Speaker
Is she looking at us? Not in a sense of like, the she works for my boss, but it's information. Information, you know, information is is valuable. Yes.
00:09:48
Speaker
yeah She's gonna notice us eventually, guys. I'm sure she's already seen me. I'm hard to miss. So... She is reading. Oh, okay.
00:10:00
Speaker
In my head, we're the only ones not walking in the movie in lockstep, so we stand out. Also, you all did get, like, eight feet into the tower. Yeah, we're also in the door, and the only non-humans we've seen so far are not humans or halflings.
00:10:14
Speaker
So... If she's already clocked you, then the reporting's either going to happen or not. And if you think we need to go talk to her, then... And if we need to stop the reporting from happening... ah Well, don't kill her.
Suspicions of Magical Influence
00:10:27
Speaker
At least I don't think. I think we should all go over there and you guys handle this. Alk says he's... Alk says he's... Alk says he's... Let me know when you're sure. Okay.
00:10:42
Speaker
I will... Do you want all of us to come with you? Yes, you want. Okay. Selena does not want to go. Okay. Grubb does, though. Selena will send Grubb, actually. Yes. Grubb starts cracking knuckles.
00:10:56
Speaker
No. So Valk's going over. I will approach. Selena is not. you will Is anyone going with Valk? I'm a big boy. It's okay. I'm certainly not going to help anything. I'll go. Okay.
00:11:06
Speaker
So Valk and Nix approach the table. The woman looks up from her journal. So were you saying that like Valk and this woman have never had direct contact?
00:11:18
Speaker
He would not have been the person that she was dealing with, but would definitely be as part of like the plus one of the employer effectively. So always. recognize Yes. Yeah. Yeah.
00:11:32
Speaker
She looks up from a rope, like, sensing you all approaching and kind of eyes nixed initially and then looks over like, Val. Funny running into you here. Yeah, I've been doing my best to not run in into people.
00:11:47
Speaker
the hell is watching. Seems like a good place to do that. Have a seat. Okay. He's going to sit down. yeah Ix will sit down. Takes a sip from her goblet.
00:11:59
Speaker
So, what brings you out in the middle of nowhere? I was going to ask you the same. This usually isn't your place of dealing. to Yes, I'm looking for some items of note for an employee. Seeing see what I can find. You know how it is, investigating and what's not.
00:12:22
Speaker
Are you running with a new crew now? What items are you looking four Always the chatter. um Just seeing if there's murmurings that this town has relics and artifacts under it. It was built on something ancient, potentially, so just trying to find a way underground.
00:12:42
Speaker
Have you been here before that? Or is this your first to visit? i had reason to come to Pelzwatch a couple times in the past for various reasons, although they have quite, done quite the facelift.
00:12:57
Speaker
So you've noticed they're not normal as well.
00:13:03
Speaker
I mean, if by not normal you mean pleasant, then certainly, but the town is strange enough. Not my concern, though. Well, it is partially my concern. It seems like every cellar and mausoleum in this place has been shut up, but hard to find a way to underground.
00:13:24
Speaker
They've let you see the locations that were ordered? No, way I have my ways of getting around. good Sorry. Takes another sip.
00:13:36
Speaker
I'm just... Do you all want anything? I could wait the... yeah ah Servants over. No, I... We have a table, but I think... there's more that you're traveling with now. no yeah Are you you... The items that you're looking for, is that... oh Is there a specific list?
00:14:04
Speaker
No, there's no specific list. It's just, you know, trying to ah potentially items um of a the two destructive persuasion.
00:14:18
Speaker
like Like blow up or like mental meltdown? More than mental meltdown. Okay. That's not good.
00:14:31
Speaker
yeah Do you think that there these items were are of imminent danger? No, I'm sure they're in danger.
00:14:41
Speaker
You just want them. Sorry, wait, sorry. There's an underground? ah Allegedly. Allegedly. Also, something that you all would know, since you're talking with member of the Emerald Claw, except for Kaz, about less than 10 years ago, the nation of Karnath disavowed the Emerald Claw. Right.
00:15:07
Speaker
And a lot of the members and leadership were tried with war crimes and they have since gone under underground into like much more guerrilla cells across the continent. So they used to be an official part of one of the nation's military until that they were disavowed. And so they are typically rather dangerous people.
00:15:28
Speaker
Just so And just, I'm good curious, have you ran into the Mayor Jim yet? Oh, Mayor Jim Johnson.
00:15:39
Speaker
No, I have not. Have dam have you known of him before? I mean, these people start talking about him, so yes. I'm just curious, because everyone just says he kind of showed up, but i no one's really talking about.
00:15:57
Speaker
No, apparently he's made things very official around here. My typical cover when trying to get into people's homes of being an inspector from the national government did not work. Takes another sip from her Where have you looked to find entrances to the underground? I've poked around here, um been into a couple of the houses, could not find anything.
00:16:18
Speaker
Note. um The only large building that I still need to find a way into is the town hall, but I still need to wait another hour or so before
Conversations with Giselle and Hidden Agendas
00:16:27
Speaker
it's safe. We need to go out. For people to start heading to bed or for town hall to clear? Basically, I said, I'm a goblin.
00:16:33
Speaker
What's she drinking? Looks red. Mm-hmm. Nyx has a really good nose for that. Yeah. What's she drinking? Blood. Man! just Curious, have you spoken to Zarya recently?
00:16:47
Speaker
Not since things went south, no. Okay. Have you? No. Nyx shifts to brace her heel against one of the, like, cross braces of the chair legs so that she can break it quickly if she needs to.
00:17:06
Speaker
A little spawning.
00:17:13
Speaker
i i guess that's it for me. ah get that oh no He's going to slowly inch away.
00:17:24
Speaker
where are you working out of now? Places.
00:17:29
Speaker
Areas. Things. Traveling. Traveling? Where to go? You know, here and there. And everywhere in between?
00:17:41
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. Sometimes over and over. Well, Vank, as usual, I'll probably figure this conversation ever happened. Good.
00:17:52
Speaker
and Thank you. I think. Who's your friend? I don't have friends. Who's companion? Partner? Partner? I'm just going to look at Nyx. Do you want me to introduce yourself or do I continue to age away? Nyx has been doing a really strong impression of mu i've hired muscle. Yeah. Like this whole time. Nyx.
00:18:15
Speaker
Nyx. Nyx. So what are you all doing in Pillars Watch? Investigating stuff and... Such as? Behavioral and changes. Behavioral changes.
00:18:26
Speaker
Yeah. You're interested in why the town changed so rapidly. Yes. Good. Yeah. To what end? You know, just... Can't it be just academic curiosity?
00:18:37
Speaker
It is. It was a request of a friend. I thought you didn't have friends. That I don't have. but not my Not my friend. It's... Nix's friend?
00:18:48
Speaker
I... No. Not Nix's friend. you he Sometimes you just need cash and it's better to call them friends than employers.
00:18:58
Speaker
Fascinating. Yeah. Yeah. What you drinking there? Unusual. Is that fresh? Yes. From where?
00:19:11
Speaker
do you want to know? It's not one of the children. so Okay. but Not a monster. They got really weird stuff happening with the children.
00:19:22
Speaker
Just making sure. Was it someone here? No, it's someone from the nearby base. Out on patrol. Oh.
00:19:33
Speaker
Were they also acting very orderly? they're military. More orderly? Not more than usual. Okay, they were just really weird and making us shout our actions and commands and... What?
00:19:51
Speaker
There's been some strange behavior around here. Very strange. Have you actually been by the military base?
00:20:01
Speaker
Not recently, though no. No. All of them.
00:20:05
Speaker
Is there a reason I should? but I'm just wondering how far this strange behavior is reaching. We haven't been to the military base, so.
00:20:16
Speaker
No, the the patrol that I found just seemed to be operating as normal. Nothing odd. Okay. It seems to be only the people that live here that are being impacted in that way. I've been here for a couple days now and feel perfectly fine.
00:20:30
Speaker
Okay. But then again, certain magics don't work for to begin with. That's true. Do you suspect that there is magic? Do you feel anything more arcane as an influence here? i mean, not the kind of magic i'm looking for, unfortunately, which is annoying. But I mean, this kind of turnaround for a town, i mean, even the layout of the streets are slightly different. So it has to be some kind of magic.
00:20:54
Speaker
and but I don't sense any magic in terms of like the reconstruction or anything like that.
00:21:00
Speaker
It's not a... Illusory. It seems to be something more such than that. Like... Moving at a glacial pace. Have you seen anything your time?
00:21:15
Speaker
ah no I can't find a way underground. It's quite annoying. Well, I just mean more broadly as... People being influenced by ah single person or or object similar in this...
00:21:29
Speaker
You make sure. Nothing on this scale. Obviously you have certain schools of magic that have the an ability to override someone's free will entirely.
00:21:41
Speaker
and you know, I have the ability of, I need to bend people to my persuasion, but nothing on this scale. ah Do you know what kind of magic, though? Just asking, you know. you know No.
00:21:56
Speaker
Sorry. I don't know why you would mention it. no i'm I'm actually going to leave now. To your table. I'm going go. to go You can stay if you want. It extends up with pity.
00:22:09
Speaker
but It's been something. It has.
00:22:15
Speaker
Thank you for chatting. clean Were y'all doing anything? Yeah. Kaz goes, hey, why do we stay over here?
00:22:22
Speaker
I met her before and don't really have a desire to see her again. That's all? Okay. Okay. Sure.
Planning an Investigation Strategy
00:22:31
Speaker
she She's scary? Is she mean? Are they in trouble?
00:22:34
Speaker
No, they'll be fine. But scary and mean, yes. I mean, I'm kind of used to scary and mean at this point, but more they're they're they're not in trouble. Okay.
00:22:46
Speaker
Are you in trouble? No, I don't think so. I'd just rather not be seen.
00:22:54
Speaker
Okay. I think she saw you, so. Well, I'm hoping the distance will make it okay. I just didn't want to go up to the table.
00:23:06
Speaker
You got it. And then you take them over at that point, I guess. Sure. like we Do I believe that she's not, that she's going actually forget said conversation?
00:23:17
Speaker
I think she was just in implying the fact that like you literally told her nothing of value during that whole conversation. So it's not like I'll forget that I ever talked to you, but rather just you you have been immensely unhelpful. Yeah.
00:23:29
Speaker
As we walk away, say, ah you are terrible at that. Yeah, I'm usually not the one talking, so... I'm there for presence and status, the... communications.
00:23:44
Speaker
It's really a hole in our organization. Yeah. Yeah, and me I tend to do fine with anyone who's not powerful magical women.
00:24:00
Speaker
So, right you know. As they get in earshot, I want to say, so you don't want to work with her is what you're saying. Not really. No. not really no As they turn to look at them, as they rejoin you, Selina, you probably like look past them slightly and see Lady Giselle like watching where they were walking and then seeing you and she just goes and waves at you.
00:24:27
Speaker
Selina just nods slightly and turns away. That is a vampire. Yes. Ghost fight. What? That is a vampire.
00:24:41
Speaker
She has drinking blood. I can't gag.
Speculation on Vampire Influence
00:24:46
Speaker
There's no way I've come and caught up with vampire report. I understand. I know they're real. Yeah. good like Not a world. at least I've taken it with one ever.
00:24:55
Speaker
Yeah, she's she's here looking for the relics and the cash underground so there isn't underground. Mentioned that she hadn't had the opportunity to check under the town hall, right? So, I mean… Oh, yeah. Remember the lady Bathuron?
00:25:13
Speaker
yes that Yes. I was just talking about how we as a group are really bad at That's true. I intend to get better. Before I lied about who I was and then told her to go talk to our boss if she wanted to, she also mentioned that her interest in the town was potentially because of relics and things. I'm sorry that that got lost in my personal crisis. but So we know what organization she was a part of, right?
00:25:42
Speaker
Yes, she was a part of the Orem. So the Orem. And does your former employer's organization have a name?
00:25:56
Speaker
Which, well, Giselle is not and part of my old group. Oh. It's just another contact. I see. Yeah. Right. So the Aurum and a vampire.
00:26:10
Speaker
Of the Emerald Claw. emal class the Order of the Emerald Claw are both looking for powerful artifacts. but are likely dormant.
00:26:22
Speaker
chin bellad dr I mean, that's strange. I would say it's more that the Aurum's aware of them. I don't know that they're priority for them, but she knew of them. She told me that that's kind of something that How does she word it? Like that's, that's just one of the things that makes Pella's watch worth existing kind of thing. Like, but you know, that I would assume yeah the Order of the Emerald Claw is looking for something, it's got to be something if they're going to send vampires out here.
00:26:57
Speaker
i Would really not like to find myself at cross purposes with a vampire today or this week. As much as I trust all of you and I feel like we might be okay, I don't... think you would provide enough nutrients.
00:27:14
Speaker
If you're worried about that, you're kind of small. She did explicitly tell you she doesn't feed on kids. I'm terribly worried about that. She doesn't drink from kids. Do you think that's somewhere between 16 and 30-something? you look 16. Yeah, I do. And at some point, possibly 70. Yeah, I've seen my memories. i Up to hundreds? i'm not sure. Well, don't say that out loud. andt I've seen my memories as a crazy person. I've been recently reacquainted with my memories.
00:27:47
Speaker
I wonder if the traditional prohibition against one of her kind entering a domicile without permission includes the individual rooms it it in it. You can ask her. She's still there.
00:28:03
Speaker
She seemed interested in you, though. I probably wouldn't go back there personally, but... Unless you're into that. Uh, yeah. Right? She's pretty polite. She's just kind of intimidating. Yeah.
00:28:17
Speaker
Yeah. Well. and So I wonder also if, um, Jim is also interested in at least controlling artifacts. Surely they're under City Hall, right? Oh.
00:28:30
Speaker
Yeah. Well, I'm not sure if that building already existed there or if he helped like... It was the first thing that was renovated. Renovated. And she did, ah just to make sure that all the information, you're recalling all the information, she, like Lady Giselle talked about, it seems like they have shut up every mausoleum and cellar in town.
00:28:51
Speaker
I was about to get to that. Sorry. I'll shut up. I'll be here when you need to. take good notes. And the town is moving. The streets. She said the streets are realigning themselves at a very slow pace.
00:29:06
Speaker
The grid is real. like it's the The town is... We noticed that the streets were extremely orderly. It isn't just that they have rebuilt things.
00:29:18
Speaker
It's changing itself? Or something
Magical Realignment of the Town
00:29:22
Speaker
has changed? I think it's more of the the original pathways when she had been here before has changed. yeah So I almost wonder if they're
00:29:31
Speaker
mimicking the underground? I don't know. Something is moving the path, the throughways of this town very slowly. it Creasier and creepier.
00:29:43
Speaker
Yes. Now there's a vampire here with us. You know, I... Remind me, like vampires in D&D or in Eberron, I think, can thrall. Like, yeah. No, yeah. Just in any other vampire. Yeah.
00:29:56
Speaker
Is there like a cross-purposes if she tried to... Thrall someone who was already Jim Johnson? i don't know. ah It could either totally break a brain or maybe just break the original thrall. I don't want to volunteer someone to have their brain broken, though.
00:30:14
Speaker
also want to ask her for any favors. Yeah, let's not involve her in our... I guess this is more of an academic pursuit then. Sorry. So we need to get into City Hall and under City Hall, I think. Yes. think you're right.
00:30:26
Speaker
When would we like to do that? She said she had an hour. So we have about an hour. I'm also not sure she would appreciate us being there before she was after I just got all of that information out of her.
00:30:41
Speaker
Are we adjusting our schedule to be courteous to the vampire? No, I'm just them saying man i don't know what she's going to do. either I'm much less inclined to go to sleep in this inn if there's a vampire here. Yes.
00:30:55
Speaker
which yeah which she Would she be here if she's leaving to go to the town hall so you technically could sleep? You would just kind of miss out on what she's doing. She'll do i know how long she's going to stay gone.
00:31:06
Speaker
Oh, that's fair. my experience, you don't sleep in these places anyway. I do sleep. I sleep lightly, but I do sleep. I do on the stairs, equipped and drawn. Yes, and I feel now that I have been validated in.
00:31:22
Speaker
Certainly not to practice. so i need a different weapon. Technically, your room now belongs to you, so ah you would still need permission to enter the room that has been assigned to you. Did we just ask for a house to give us one?
00:31:41
Speaker
They might. Give me a paranormal investigator. Yes. Intelligence-based paranormal. You know the rules for... yeah Like, subletting? yeah Rented rooms and vampires.
00:31:55
Speaker
Intelligence? Yep.
00:31:58
Speaker
that's ah That's a chapter in the vampire. Rented room. 21. 21. Someone's got to know the rules. You, like, it would be I just had a thought. it would be hilarious if that book was written by vampires. Be like, no vampires can't enter rooms that are rented. You're Just go to sleep.
00:32:18
Speaker
If you have garlic on you, a vampire can't touch you. Steaks simply enrage vampires. you know that once there's any kind of like transfer of ownership, even for a knight, then the rules of entering domiciles are applicable to vampires. So, yeah.
00:32:37
Speaker
Yeah, you're fine. and but don't talk, but I do have to know about the people that we came in contact with. so So now is the idea that we're going to just wait and let her do her thing under City Hall and then we'll go see what's there? No, nauseous that was mostly just saying that we could sleep and she would not attack us. Okay. okay I mean, that is great news. Unless sleep in the hallway. Unless you sleep in the hallway. Sorry, Nyx. You've got to sleep in your room.
00:33:09
Speaker
This is a nightmare. You can sleep just inside the doorway. That's still your that's still your space now. It's an open door. She can just stand outside and and stare at you. but and should That's almost worse. I hate this conversation.
00:33:26
Speaker
I'm very awake right now. Should we go? i mean, we have an hour. we can it is also like 7.30. seven thirty like it it was nick got touch It's a little early for B&E, but we have an hour because that's when the sun will be down. No, I know.
00:33:41
Speaker
No, I understand that. I'm saying we have an hour to beat her to... I don't know whether our goals and hers are across Like, i she is after some sort of artifact, we are interested in what's wrong with the town.
00:34:03
Speaker
That artifact that she is assuming is dormant ornate is also of the mind-altering capabilities or general magic. And if the only access is under Town Hall where Jim stays where he could be,
00:34:22
Speaker
no no we would have to and radiating it yeah i'm trying to give you that opportunity i'm good to go what did she say for whom she is searching for this artifact when you guys did she say who she's looking for this thing for no i know it's not my old employer so i'm assuming it's for the emerald yeah Now, I don't know the thing about the Emerald Clause. As far as i know, Emerald Clause is a legitimate military organization right now. that is Because I had not researched that since I've been back.
00:34:53
Speaker
it it I mean, is that the sort of thing that we want them to have? I don't... I'm not saying we... would say probably not. not saying we have to fight her off of it either, but we also probably shouldn't just let her grab it to keep us on our track.
00:35:11
Speaker
Does that make sense? Well, then we should probably go sooner than later. I think we should go. ah with I can't believe. Yeah. Are you okay?
00:35:23
Speaker
I'm terrified of everything. That i was Jeff. I mean, not lately. No, but this is what we do, right? Trying to be as brave seeming as possible.
00:35:35
Speaker
Is it still the vampire? Among the things that it is, the vampire is on the list. yeah You're safe from the vampire. Okay. You specifically. Only you.
00:35:46
Speaker
Okay. And the children. We are going to circle back to why you think your old boss would find me interesting, by the way. i think I think she would find everyone interesting in their own ways. Yes. really Don't like that. The way you answer questions invites so many more questions. I think we should go.
00:36:01
Speaker
Let's go to City Hall. okay Okay. and way i steal them up is the intention to, like, go into City Hall? this guy Are you all going to, like, go around City Hall to see if you can find, like, a back way in? Like, what what is your approach?
00:36:16
Speaker
I do think the right move is proper channels till pushback. Like, make Jim Johnson be the first inhospitable person that we met and see what happens. It's evening, though, right? So, there may be nobody at City Hall.
00:36:29
Speaker
Guess we'll find out. Yep. I think first do an external. loop. Yeah. take To try to see if there's an outside entrance and if there is, if has that been sealed up to where you can't find out get through it. so We could send Grub ahead.
00:36:45
Speaker
Do you want to do that? Let's do that. Okay. Can you climb a drain pipe and see if there's any hatch on the roof? Grub probably can. I mean, you a real raccoon can, so I assume Grub can. So with it growing darker outside, Grub hops out of the satchel and immediately dives into the darkness and disappears.
00:37:05
Speaker
while While we're waiting for Grub, Nyx steps around a corner and breaks a mop handle into several roughly even pieces. Nice. And begins sharpening them. Do I know if that will work?
00:37:18
Speaker
So the stakes will paralyze a vampire. Okay. Yeah. Doesn't kill them outright, but um unless you stake them in their coffin. So she has a coffin here. Is there a river nearby?
00:37:29
Speaker
Yeah. then Yeah. You wanted to take the the kids down to the river. Imagine if they had agreed. imagine if they had agreed So yeah, after a couple of minutes Grub returns and is able to communicate that Jim Johnson is at town hall still.
00:37:50
Speaker
Okay. Anybody else? No, he is alone. Cool. There is one door going into town hall and it is the front door and all the windows have locks on them and they're locked. How? Oh, do they have like the iron bars too? Okay.
00:38:09
Speaker
I would just like to point out, as Nick's hands each of you a steak, just like to point out that I said we should go kill Jim Johnson right at the beginning, and we spent an entire day being creeped out by this town.
00:38:22
Speaker
And we're all on the same page now. so Killing someone doesn't also guarantee that things will revert. That would just be murder and shouldn without cause. and don' So without cause.
00:38:34
Speaker
Well, I mean, there's cause, but it's not like for our cause. Well, there's cause of death, but there's not cause for killing. There is also cause of death. Just disagree. This entire town is cause. i think let's go talk to him and see what happens.
00:38:49
Speaker
All right. Okay. I put my steak in my dagger sheath and it somehow fits. It's just the weirdest little thing. She's just carrying a knife. And I actually lose. There
Confrontation with Mayor Jim Johnson
00:39:01
Speaker
you go.
00:39:02
Speaker
It's too long now. I don't know what's going on. Look, you could have just put the steak in and the and keep the dagger in the sheath so that you're not cutting your... We can all question each other's choices all day.
00:39:14
Speaker
So you all approach Town Hall. It is the largest building in town. A set of double doors are at the front. And as you all enter, you see a small reception area. There's no one at the receiving desk, but the doors behind the desk are open.
00:39:31
Speaker
And you see a human man sitting behind the desk, and just looking like the most... The most human man you've ever seen. ah The frame of reference that I came up with in my head is this might be a stretch of a reference for a lot of people. Martin O'Malley, the Democratic primary opponent of Hillary and Bernie back in 2016. It was just the mo most salt and pepper roll up the white button down sleeves. like you that That kind of dude.
00:40:02
Speaker
so Oh, yeah. just looked him For sure. they fair there an internal lock on the main front door? Yes. Cool. Nick turns that latch. Okay.
00:40:14
Speaker
So, who's luck to hear with you? Do you all enter his office? Wait, is there his office? Because the way it was described, I thought he was just like... So there's like a sub-set area, and then an office with the doors. okay. Okay, I thought the double doors were our doors. Are there any other doors off this room?
00:40:30
Speaker
Just hallways that go off of the main room. Has he noticed us walking in yet? Yes, he he heard you all walk in and is looked up.
00:40:39
Speaker
What does he do when he looks up? Smiles. Can I... And, like, is looking you all expectantly, presumably if you walked into town while you're here to meet with him. commission Can I slink off to try to see if there's floor hatches underground entrances in this immediate area? Not, like...
00:40:57
Speaker
You can give me dexterity-based check to try and sneak away as the rest. are Are the rest of you entering the office? Well, Nick certainly isn't sneaking anywhere successfully here. I think we have to, yeah.
00:41:10
Speaker
Yeah, I was kind of thinking about letting them go to the office door and I kind of stay towards a hallway maybe yeah to run away or investigate is what you would say.
00:41:21
Speaker
What'd you get? 20. 20? Yeah. As the rest approach the door, you're able to just kind of like... Block line of sight long enough to step down one of the halls and start investigating.
00:41:34
Speaker
So we will come back yep to you. Apparently it's Nixon sling. like thisla I'm also there. I'm just ready to. Ready to run. So he looks at the three of you like, hello.
00:41:47
Speaker
Always nice see fresh faces in town. What can I do for you? most should have play We really should have so prepared for this conversation. ah We're new here and we were just kind of curious about about the changes in the town, the new things that you were doing.
00:42:03
Speaker
Yes. Always happy to talk about how we've managed to turn Pillow's Watch around. what What are you curious about? What started this? I hear that you're from out of town. So kind of what was the the motivation behind coming here and turning it around?
00:42:16
Speaker
Yeah, of course. So I am from Rowat originally and you know, Pell's watch has always had a bit of a reputation, especially in the region. And i I got a little bit tired of the bureaucracy in Roat and it's all very prescriptive there. You know, we sit in this large town and decide what is best for everyone regardless of individual circumstances of smaller towns such as Pellas Watch. And so I decided to
00:42:54
Speaker
leave my station there and come to what I regarded as one of the most challenging towns in the nation to see if I could help these folks turn things around. And I feel like we're doing a good job. What was your position in the government? a rowa I was an aide to members, various members of parliament over the course of my career.
00:43:13
Speaker
What part of Road are you from? The nice part.
00:43:18
Speaker
I did this. He gave us a nice town. Yeah. Okay. Upper by the river. Glistening meadows that you heard with the nice brick. How did you come to be mayor?
00:43:31
Speaker
Well, when we were discussing as a town how something like this could work, it was determined that having a central figure of leadership would be the best approach to ensure that there could be a sense of order.
00:43:45
Speaker
And ah so mayor was the title that we agreed fit best. Sure. How did, how was it determined, to Jim?
00:43:57
Speaker
We had a meeting with the town and then there was, after after the initial meeting, it was determined that we would form a committee ah note of notable people in the town who could speak on behalf of the town. I didn't want to come in.
00:44:12
Speaker
The whole function of me leaving Roat is that I could actually talk with people and learn what they wanted needed. So I didn't want to come in be prescriptive of here's how we do things in Roat. So here's how you must do things. So I wanted to learn from the town. So we had, uh,
00:44:27
Speaker
The elder, former head of the town, um, Marcus, the man who ran the gambling hall, um, the just various notable people of the town.
00:44:41
Speaker
You managed to talk the most strong-willed, angriest, richest people in town, just kind of give it up with a conversation. I guess don't understand the premise of your question. What what do you mean? Well, Matilda ah green way way way mits Greenway has a ah reputation.
00:45:01
Speaker
and People who have come before and suggested that maybe her way of leading the town was in best tent to leave in several small pieces um after being fed to pigs. Well, and Marcus Oliver owned the gambling hall of the most like illicit rich place in the world. And that I know of, and yeah you, you, I mean, you don't, you don't have that without being pretty strong willed and what's the word I should say, tenuous grasp on morality.
00:45:33
Speaker
And you managed to just talk them into it quickly and everyone else in town. Well, I wouldn't say it was a quick thing to do, but no, it it became very clear after talking with them that while people were, some people were in positions to take advantage of the situation, very few people were actually happy with the situation.
00:45:54
Speaker
And so by talking with them and working through their concerns, we were able to reach a conclusion that made sense for the town and how Pella's watch could thrive.
00:46:07
Speaker
and Is he a fiend? There's no answer. 14 plus Javarath touched plus intelligence. or So nine plus level 21. No.
00:46:18
Speaker
Okay. I would like to do the same thing for a powerful archfey. 15 plus fay touched plus, what'd say, intelligence? No. twenty 23. No. three Okay. okay Checking something off. It's good. just Just a dude. Sure can. How come no one's adopting the orphans?
00:46:34
Speaker
How come you're encouraging people to take these kids into their homes instead of just in some large group thing, like this town of charity and and goodness? And especially, how are these people not being convinced that How do I put this without sounding like monster?
Questioning the Orphanage's Role
00:46:49
Speaker
and If the orphanage is making enough money from donations and let's call them grants by housing them individually, how are you not able to convince people to take a child into their own home with a potential of, of being able to take care of that kid with some of that financial help as well? How come no one's helping these kids?
00:47:14
Speaker
It's a very weird thing you're doing, sir, and with the orphanage instead of trying to encourage people to take them into their homes. I mean, 42 kids is a lot of children and Coast Watch is not that large of a town.
00:47:25
Speaker
um and Why did you bring them all here? Well, because we we had the the space. Marcus was willing to... to bring them here Right? you know It was a gambling call that you turned into an orphanage with the intent of bringing children here.
00:47:41
Speaker
seems like you're angry that there's an orphanage here. I feel I'm angry that children are being hoarded, if that makes sense. I mean, what what would you have had happen to the children?
00:47:53
Speaker
house them next of kin. We are. Come on, man. I'm not going to ball that up. but Yeah, we are. No, you've placed them somewhere. They're not in a home. They're not with people there that can care for them in a family environment. Not yet. We're hopeful that people will begin taking them into their homes. What are any efforts what are the efforts to accomplish that?
00:48:14
Speaker
ah We are in contact with nearby towns trying to find families that are willing. I can't compel anyone in Pell's Watch to take a child into their home. i You've compelled them to do so much, though. I've i've compelled no no one to do anything. No one here has their own thoughts.
00:48:30
Speaker
Of course they do. No, they don't. They're hollow. They're repeating memorized phrases. they have no There's nothing behind anything that they're saying. Not a thought in their heads. Not their own thoughts in their heads.
00:48:43
Speaker
What's led you to this conclusion? Talking to the people in this town extensively. How long have you been in town? I've been in town all day. One day. Yes. Okay. It's all the time it took.
00:48:56
Speaker
Because it's really obvious.
Conclusion on Town's Controlled Residents
00:48:59
Speaker
The children don't prank. The children don't go have fun. the children There are no recreational activities at your community center.
00:49:08
Speaker
The town is soulless, Jim. Well, I'm sorry that you feel that way. This man's a politician. i don't like it. I hate everything about this man.
00:49:20
Speaker
It seems like the the premise of you all coming here was to learn more about the town. And it seems like you've learned all that you really care to learn about the town.
00:49:32
Speaker
And you don't like it. So if Fellows Watch doesn't have anything for you, then that is unfortunate. But the people here enjoy it. Is his speech different from everyone else's?
00:49:45
Speaker
Give me an intelligent or wisdom channel. I can do it. Please? eighteen 18. He seems to be speaking from rote. Oh, man.
00:49:58
Speaker
All right. Peel off that some hallways or something? I don't like being alone anymore. I mean, dude. Can the hot vampire lady show?
00:50:11
Speaker
Protect me. I didn't write out. I assumed. She is. Her name's Giselle. That's a point. I've never met a hot vampire. We didn't refer to her as a Nosferatu. She's had an ancient vampire desire. And brought her own goblet.
00:50:32
Speaker
I wasn't sure he didn't say goblet at first time. She might have brought her own goblin with her own. Stop drinking goblin. It's casual. That's only if you go visit her at home.
00:50:43
Speaker
Now, give me a... So you're you're looking for a theory hatches and, like, you break hidden doorways, things like that. so Also very ominous underground entrance of all kinds. Yes. yeah Give me a wisdom check, and you can use investigator. Oh...
00:51:04
Speaker
Is that a 10 or is sixteen okay ah you
00:51:13
Speaker
So you're walking down one of the hallways and you take a right and you're walking more towards like what you would guess is like the center of the building. And you find yourself looking at a
00:51:27
Speaker
a a reinforced wood door. So like it's got like metal bands across it and stuff like that. Does it look ancient? Unlike the buildings. This is like all the old door covered in a strange looking leather. But you when you get close to it, you hear kind of a low thrum noise.
00:51:48
Speaker
And it's definitely like lower. Like the noise is coming like up to the door. So this is the second time I've Soundy underground.
00:51:59
Speaker
Scary. And we'll call it an episode there. End of episode. Thank you all so much for listening. If you want to be part of the conversation starting this episode, you can head on over to our Discord, the link to which is in the description of this podcast, as well as all over our YouTube channel, youtube.com slash the Geek Pantheon. If you want to check out some TTRPG videos made by me, Philip.
00:52:17
Speaker
Also on YouTube and Spotify, Tales from the the Laughing Tree, Blades and Banners, and their actual play we have there, it's Pirates of Nebron. With on Patreon, patreon.com slash keeppancant. If you want to financially support the show, you can do so over there. Thank you all so much for listening. I have been your Game Master, Gary. And Mia. And Madison. We'll you next time.