Daniel [GM]  0:30  
Welcome to Explorers Wanted. We are a weekly Numenera actual play podcast. I will be your humble GM, Daniel Andrlik. With me today is Sampson Davis. 

Sampson [Dili]  0:41  
Hey what's up? How's it going? Cool. 

Daniel Andrlik  0:44  
Marietta Jones.

Marietta [Atalia]  0:45  
Oh hello! 

Sampson [Dili]  0:47  
Stace Babcock 

Stace [Nix]  0:48  
Hello. 

Daniel [GM]  0:49  
And definitely Alex. 

Alex [ChaCha]  0:51  
Hello. 

Sampson [Dili]  0:56  
If Alex sounds a little bit different it's because she's experimenting with it new mic setup. Which should be fun. 

Alex [ChaCha]  1:03  
It'll be the best. 

Daniel [GM]  1:06  
So let's see who remembers what happened last time. I am going to pick on Stace. 

Stace [Nix]  1:12  
I knew it was gonna be my turn and I still didn't prepare for this. Okay, so last time on the Explorers Wanted Podcast, the gang went to the Queen's Spittoon to continue to investigate this downright puzzling mystery, Daniel, that you have presented us with. So Nix's strategy was to go there and talk to Karfa, a fence that she had previously done a job for, and see what Karfa knew about the stolen artifacts from the ruins of Kamathan and the Guardians of Night's Hope. 

Daniel [GM]  1:58  
Mmmhmm.

Stace [Nix]  1:58  
So we roll up to the Queen's Spittoon. Nix goes to talk to Karfa. Meanwhile, ChaCha decides to go to Nix's apparent nemesis, Loan Shark Guy, also known as Loan Shark Man, also known as Mr. Loan Shark, and chat him up and and she's likes sweet and come up with an outstanding puppet show using several day old scorps that were starting to stink. Nevertheless, her artisticness was overwhelming and persuaded him to answer three questions. And I can't remember two out of the three, but I do remember ChaCha asked him if they were best friends or if she should punch him in the face. The answer was they were besties, I think? The other two questions were irrelevant.

Sampson [Dili]  2:51  
Irrelevant plot focused.

Stace [Nix]  2:54  
No guys seriously can't remember.

Stace [Nix]  2:59  
Nix talked to Karfa and found out that he had heard of the Guardians of Night's Hope, but they were like spoken of in vague whispers and that he had no one source for them and they seem to be I think collectors of some kind or did I make that up? We don't know. And also directed Nix to a Wright that was examining the snake brooch. Am I doing good? I feel like I'm doing good. Snake brooch that had bitten Nix, thus possibly turning her into a snake, we think. And so the gang heads over there, to the Wright, and the Wright, plot twist, had established himself in Dili's old shop. On the way there, Atalia scanned Nix to see what was going on with the snake bite, which was turning black and the scorpions tasted weird which is really the real loss. Like, Nix turns into a snake, that's one thing. Nix can no longer enjoy delicious scorps, Daniel, you've gone too far.

And so Atalia discovers that whatever the snake bite is it is slowly transforming Nix in some way, and that the bite itself is swollen, but that's more like the body manifesting the transformation in a physical sense, but every area of Nix's body's being infected. Affected, including apparently her sense of taste and the pH balance of her saliva.

So, with that heartening news, the gang heads over to Dili's old shop and Dilli is disguised as a performer. Clever disguise. And we go in. Nix gets examined by the Wright, who was examining the snake brooch. The Wright doesn't really know anything, but we find out that the snake brooch, which had been made up of three snakes, was now made up of the remaining dominant snake, which had consumed the other two snakes. Which is a real mystery and it didn't help me at all. 

While that's going on, Dili and - No, ChaCha stands on top of the counter and starts singing to cover Dili and Atalia's attempted robbery of Dili's safe, which is underneath a heavy object in the store. And ChaCha, or Nix is not successful in deflecting the Wright's curiosity - I'm saying the Wright over and over again, because I don't remember their name. But I'm sorry?

Daniel [GM]  5:33  
Pollos.

Stace [Nix]  5:34  
Oh, Pollos. So Pollos goes out, kicks ChaCha out, because ChaCha was frankly rude and insulting of his work, kicks ChaCha out, ChaCha steps outside and starts busking with a puppet performance. Meanwhile, Dili throws up an illusion. They do manage to rob the safe despite intentionally scraping it, scraping the heavy object along the ground.

Daniel [GM]  5:59  
Mistakes were made for sure.

Stace [Nix]  6:00  
Mistakes were made for sure, but nonetheless it was successful. And they got out of there, Nix got out of there just fine, ChaCha made like 11 shins or something on her busking. We're walking away and inside the safe instead of what Dili was expecting, which was apparently like a vase of ashes, there was an envelope. And Dili opened the envelope, got glitter bombed, and it said, "See you soon, Dili. Heart, Aces." And that's where we ended the episode.

Daniel [GM]  6:37  
That's good. Yeah and the Wright had also given you some of his notes so far on the snake to take back to Karfa.

Stace [Nix]  6:43  
Yes.

Daniel [GM]  6:44  
Yeah, so you guys have been walking down the street, you've been reunited with ChaCha, and yeah. Dilli you've just been sprayed with this glittery substance and found this note from Aces. 

Sampson [Dili]  6:59  
[As Dili] [coughing]

[As Dili] Asshole.

Marietta [Atalia]  7:01  
That's a lot of glitter.

Sampson [Dili]  7:02  
[As Dili] Yeah. 

Can I do an Understanding Numenera. Mostly just to see like, is this him being an asshole or is this like a tracer powder if such a thing exists? 

Daniel [GM]  7:13  
It'd be a 12. 

Sampson [Dili]  7:14  
I will hopefully roll that. Oh my stats are so low at the moment. I'm just gonna try a straight roll.

Daniel [GM]  7:15  
You could ask for help. 

Sampson [Dili]  7:22  
I could roll 17 instead. 

Daniel [GM]  7:24  
Okay, so glitter is always hard to get rid of. So one of the things he knows is you try to scrape it off. It seems like the glitter is moving around deliberately to avoid your fingers. And in fact, if you had to guess you're not sure. But this reminds you of something you saw a design about. It was a design that a Sidra had been working on for a distributed transmitter.

Sampson [Dili]  7:54  
[As Dili] Haha! *pause* Ut oh.

Alex [ChaCha]  8:00  
Herpes of crafts. 

Daniel [GM]  8:02  
It's then that you'd remember seeing notes about it, since you have a skill and remembering details, that had something to do with location transmission. 

Sampson [Dili]  8:13  
[As Dili] Okay, so I think this is a transmitter that's tracking my location. So that's great. Although I'm not sure how it's going to interact with my still field that's still up for a few more hours.

Marietta [Atalia]  8:27  
[As Atalia] So it's Numenera based? 

Sampson [Dili]  8:29  
Yes. 

Daniel [GM]  8:30  
Mmhmm. 

Marietta [Atalia]  8:30  
Can I see if there's any way to like deactivate it?

Daniel [GM]  8:33  
Sure. So this will be an 18. But you're trained. So it's a 15. And then if you want to, you can spend effort, and if say, ChaCha wants to assist, you could get an asset there. 

Sampson [Dili]  8:48  
Can I assist with my half-baked knowledge of what this is? 

Daniel [GM]  8:52  
Yeah, I guess the three of you could work together, if you're all wanting to do that, and that would give her two assets. So that would bring it down to a nine. 

Stace [Nix]  8:59  
[As Nix] Guys. What are you doing? We got them where we want them. They're gonna come to us! 

Sampson [Dili]  9:06  
[As Dili] That's bad. 

Stace [Nix]  9:07  
[As Ni] No, that's good.

Sampson [Dili]  9:08  
[As Dili] They'll kill me. 

Marietta [Atalia]  9:08  
[As Atalia] They're the really bad guys. They're like worse than my guys. My not guys. They're not my guys.

Stace [Nix]  9:14  
[As Nix] Listen, we have been all over this city looking for clues to figure this stuff out and they are gonna come to us, we could set them up!

Sampson [Dili]  9:24  
[As Dili] We don't know if the Knyxos is involved with uh...

Marietta [Atalia]  9:29  
[As Atalia] My dude, that's not a fight we know we can win. 

Sampson [Dili]  9:31  
[As Dili] Yeah.

Alex [ChaCha]  9:32  
[As ChaCha] Yeah. 

Stace [Nix]  9:33  
[As Nix] I mean we'll find out. 

Marietta [Atalia]  9:35  
[As Atalia] Did you see my grandmother? She was terrified. That is not a lady who's scared easily.

Stace [Nix]  9:40  
[As Nix] Unlike you guys.

Sampson [Dili]  9:43  
[As Dili] If the Knyxos find us, we're basically almost kaput with our main quest.

Alex [ChaCha]  9:48  
[As ChaCha] Yeah.

Marietta [Atalia]  9:48  
[As Atalia] You also need to stay alive for I don't know, your mother. I don't know who else is gonna pay those bills. So maybe we shouldn't go fucking with the baddest guy in town.

Stace [Nix]  9:55  
[As Nix] Umm, I have a pretty hardy life insurance policy. It's offered to all travelers.

Marietta [Atalia]  10:01  
[As Atalia] Oh, so would it help if I just killed you then?

Sampson [Dili]  10:03  
[As Dili] OK! We are getting off track. I'm sorry to interrupt. 

Daniel [GM]  10:09  
There's a lot of clauses in that life insurance plan.

Daniel [GM]  10:16  
Even in the Benevolent Society, all insurance claims are designed to on some level be denied.

Stace [Nix]  10:23  
It has never been granted. It's a wonderful comfort

Daniel [GM]  10:28  
It's flexible about the due date of when they actually have to submit the payment. Okay, so Atalia, what did you roll?

Marietta [Atalia]  10:38  
I rolled 16

Daniel [GM]  10:40  
Okay. Then if your goal was to - you think you could deactivate this. 

Marietta [Atalia]  10:45  
Okay. 

Daniel [GM]  10:46  
You can't necessarily easily clean it off of him, he would have to do that himself. But you think you can render it inert.

Marietta [Atalia]  10:52  
Okay, I would like to render it inert.

Daniel [GM]  10:55  
Okay. So you figure out how to do that. It takes a little bit of work and involves some of your, it's sort of new twists on your esoteries that you hadn't tried before. But you manage to the deactivate this and Dili, you now notice that where this glitter is sitting on you, it no longer can run away from your hands. Now it's just as annoying as any other glitter that's dropped on you. 

Sampson [Dili]  11:20  
[As Dili] Oh, all right.

Marietta [Atalia]  11:22  
[As Atalia] Yeah, so maybe we should like go to a different neighborhood?

Sampson [Dili]  11:25  
[As Dili] I agree. Also, thank you, Atalia and ChaCha. For possibly saving my life.

Marietta [Atalia]  11:31  
[As Atalia] Well, yeah, maybe you could study it and see how it works.

Sampson [Dili] 11:36
[As Dili] Maybe.

Stace [Nix] 11:37
[As Nix] Hereís the thing, is we couldíve picked the time and the place and now we can just continue investigating and hope they donít jump us in an alley on a dark night, so thatís cool.

Daniel [GM] 11:48
I will say this. Atalia, you think you could turn it back on if you wanted to. You didnít break it, you just turned if off.

Marietta [Atalia] 12:00
[As Atalia] So, yeah. I think we can turn it back on if you want to. Just maybe not here.

Iíll kind of look around. I presume we ducked into an alley for this or something.

Daniel [GM] 12:12
Iíve just got this image now, of you guys setting up a scene with Dili tied to a post. Like youíre waiting for the dragon to come out so you can attack it.

Stace [Nix] 12:24
[As Nix] What if we put it on a cog courier? And then watched the courier and see what happens?

Marietta [Atalia] 12:33
[As Atalia] Yeah, thatís a plan we could flesh out more.

Sampson [Dili] 12:37
[As Dili] I first need to get the glitter off, which might be impossible.

Marietta [Atalia] 12:39
[As Atalia] Yeah, you can touch it now. It doesnít run away anymore.

Sampson [Dili] 12:43
[As Dili] Yeah, but itís still glitter. Look at this. Somehow Iím just moving it around. Iím scraping it off.

Marietta [Atalia] 12:49
[As Atalia] No, thereís definitely more on your hands now.

Daniel [GM] 12:53
Yeah. Youíre looking rather sparkly.

Sampson [Dili] 12:56
[As Dili] This is my hell.

Marietta [Atalia] 12:57
[As Atalia] You look like a vampire.

Stace [Nix] 13:00
I want to see if the weird pH balance of Nixís spit helps with-.

Alex [ChaCha] 13:04
So Nix is gonna lick Dili?

Stace [Nix] 13:08
Nix would not actually lick Dili.

Daniel [GM] 13:12
Is Nix gonna spit on Dili then? Is that whatís gonna happen?

Stace [Nix] 13:14
No, she would lick her own hand.

Daniel [GM] 13:17
Okay. It does not seem to affect the glitter any more than normal saliva would.

Alex [ChaCha] 13:21
So are we just gonna spit on Dili until heís clean?

Sampson [Dili] 13:24
[As Dili] Ugh. Ugh.

Marietta [Atalia] 13:27
Now sheís got glitter hand.

Daniel [GM] 13:29
Her thumb now has glitter on it.

Stace [Nix] 13:30
[As Nix] Aw, sweet. Activate this Atalia, theyíll run right into my fist.

Alex [ChaCha] 13:35
Take a bath.

Sampson [Dili] 13:37
[As Dili] What?

Stace [Nix] 13:37
[As Nix] No?

Sampson [Dili] 13:39
[As Dili] Why are you trying to get them involved?

Alex [ChaCha] 13:39
Just donít get it in your hair.

Stace [Nix] 13:41
[As Nix] Weíre looking for them arenít we?

Sampson [Dili] 13:44
[As Dili] No.

Marietta [Atalia] 13:44
[As Atalia] I think weíre trying to avoid them.

Sampson [Dili] 13:46
[As Dili] Yeah.

Stace [Nix] 13:48
[As Nix] All right, guys.

Marietta [Atalia] 13:49
[As Atalia] I mean, we need to get this item back from The Handlers, and apparently theyíre not as threatening as the Knyxos? So maybe we should just start with the smaller fish and work our way up?

Alex [ChaCha] 13:57
[As ChaCha] Or we could beat up the bigger fish and then become the big fish, and then we eat the little fish. Or we trigger it when we have them in a bottleneck and kill them slowly.

Stace [Nix] 14:14
[As Nix] ChaCha always making sense.

Marietta [Atalia] 14:16
[As Atalia] I just, you remember the lady? The Tamara lady? I presume sheís not even the strongest member of The Handlers and Iím pretty sure she could fuck us up if she wanted to. And thatís not as bad as these other guys and she could kick our asses. It just doesnít make sense to goÖI donít know. I feel like there are other methods whereabouts we could take.

Daniel [GM] 14:42
Remember, you guys have three approaches that you could take right now. Youíve got this glitter tracker, youíve got the notes to return to Karfa with, and youíve got the information on the realtor that got Pollos the shop.

Sampson [Dili] 15:02
[As Dili] Can I take a look at those notes?

Daniel [GM] 15:03
Yeah, actually Stace gave them to you in the last session.

Sampson [Dili] 15:06
[As Dili] Oh, great. Iíll try not to get too much glitter on them.

Marietta [Atalia] 15:10
[As Atalia] Iíll hold them for you.

Daniel [GM] 15:14
You look through it. Thereís not a whole lot of details here. He has, basically, the snakes were in some sort of weird, his suspicion was that the snakes may have been alive on that brooch or whatever it is that they are for approximately, he was estimating that it might even be more than one world old. Like it might be an Eighth World artifact or oddity or whatever it was. He also noted that there is a description of the snake killing the other snakes by biting them as it grew more green. And that it ate them and that it hibernated for, it started resting. The time when it finished eating the other snakes, the time and day is marked there. Dili, because youíre good at remembering pertinent details, that aligns with when Nix started feeling her bite more strongly.

Sampson [Dili] 16:24
[As Dili] Oh. So Nix it looks like youíve been connected to this thing ever since your bite. Ever since you got bitten, I guess. It looks like it ate and went into hibernation at the same time that your hand started acting up a little bit.

Stace [Nix] 16:41
[As Nix] So what do you think? Do you think we gotta kill it?

Sampson [Dili] 16:43
Do the notes say anything further?

Daniel [GM] 16:47
Pollos doesnít know any more. You reached the part where he stopped.

Marietta [Atalia] 16:51
[As Atalia] Would that Karfa guy know more? Or is that a lost cause?

Stace [Nix] 16:56
[As Nix] Karfa gave it to Pollos because he doesnít know, he doesnít know enough about it to study it himself.

Sampson [Dili] 17:03
[As Dili] Where did Karfa get it originally?

Stace [Nix] 17:05
[As Nix] I got it for him. Well, Iím not sure where he got it like, originally originally. But then it got stolen from him and then I went and got it back.

Right, Daniel? Is that what I did?

Daniel [GM] 17:16
Thatís correct. Because Latrine had stolen it.

Stace [Nix] 17:18
[As Nix] Yeah. You guys remember Latrine? I was telliní you about him? His real nameís Donald?

Sampson [Dili] 17:26
[As Dili] Oh, yeah.

Stace [Nix] 17:25
[As Nix] Yeah.

Marietta [Atalia] 17:27
[As Atalia] I do remember that actually.

Stace [Nix] 17:28
[As Nix] Why they call him Latrine, you know.

Marietta [Atalia] 17:31
[As Atalia] Yeah. Anyway. So do we take these back to Karfa and on our way we maybe scope out that guy, see if we can find out where the real estate agent dude is.

Stace [Nix] 17:48
Is that on the way?

Daniel [GM] 17:49
Ish, yeah. I donít know if it really matters which one you hit first. Thereís not a direct path between the two, theyíre kind of the same vicinity and it would probably take the same amount of time either way, so it just depends on which stop you want to make first.

Sampson [Dili] 18:05
[As Dili] ChaCha, you got a look on your face like youíve got something.

Alex [ChaCha] 18:10
ChaChaís plan, which is a bad plan, is,

[As ChaCha] Why donít we split up and we can go interrogate the real estate agent and we can, you know, do like we did in the shop and we can just go in there and break their stuff, and then theyíll help us.

Marietta [Atalia] 18:25
[As Atalia] Yeah, you know, the real estate agent is probably connected to the Knyxos so maybe threatening might not be the best start.

Stace [Nix] 18:34
[As Nix] I say it is.

Marietta [Atalia] 18:36
[As Atalia] Have you guys like ever run a job before?

Sampson [Dili] 18:39
[As Dili] No, I had a legitimate business.

Alex [ChaCha] 18:43
[As ChaCha] I have towns I donít go back to.

Marietta [Atalia] 18:47
[As Atalia] Exactly, and you want this to be one that maybe you can come back to. Well, I would like to come back to this one. Personally. Anyway. Yeah. I donít know. Okay, okay.

Stace [Nix] 18:58
[As Nix] I just want us to, I mean we are already in danger. I just want to let you guys know that. So, like, the degree of danger, it isnít reallyÖ.

Marietta [Atalia] 19:10
[As Atalia] Also we need to find the item.

Stace [Nix] 19:11
[As Nix] Under our control. So I say we do something and take some action.

Marietta [Atalia] 19:15
[As Atalia] Yeah, letís go finish our jobs. Like finding that item, remember? Wasnít that like ourÖ.

Stace [Nix] 19:21
[As Nix] To the library it is then.

Sampson [Dili] 19:24
Quick question. Mamma Jerrun gave us a description of the item that was in the ruins, right?

Daniel [GM] 19:29
No, she didnít.

Sampson [Dili] 19:33
Is the snake brooch the item?

Daniel [GM] 19:36
You donít know. The only thing that was recorded in that journal that you found was the pyramid-shaped artifact. So, now youíre suggesting going to the library for it?

Stace [Nix] 19:44
To research it.

Daniel [GM] 19:46
I will say this, by the way. At this point you are talking about it beingÖ. Youíve been going around. Itís the early afternoon at this point. You know you have to do whatever you have to do, and Atalia has to get to her meeting with Tamara.

Marietta [Atalia] 20:03
[As Atalia] Shit, that lady.

Sampson [Dili] 20:05
So how much, if this was a Persona game, how much time do we have? How many activities can we fit?

Daniel [GM] 20:13
I never played Persona. I canít answer that question. If you didnít delay yourself at all, you could probably make a couple stops relatively quickly and get it done before Atalia had to split off. But that wouldnít leave you any time to plan for anything else. You donít have infinite time. Hitting both of those, if youíre relatively swift about it is probably about the limit you have before Atalia would have to leave you guys to enter her meeting.

Marietta [Atalia] 20:44
[As Atalia] So letís drop off the papers.

Sampson [Dili] 20:47
[As Dili] Maybe we should probably do that.

Marietta [Atalia] 20:49
[As Atalia] I think thatís the one thing that we can do, relatively easily.

Sampson [Dili] 20:53
[As Dili] Should we do that first and then see if we get any info from that, and make a decision after that?

Stace [Nix] 20:59
[As Nix] I mean we can see if he heard anything since then but this isnít progressing us toward the object. Which I do agree is important, but I kind of want to also wrap upÖ. So hereís the way I kind of look at it, you guys, like, yes the Knyxos isnít going to help us actively find the object and neither maybe are the Handlers, although they know more. But theyíre shady underground people, so if we take care of them we might find out more related to this item.

Sampson [Dili] 21:31
[As Dili] Nix, I canít get close to the Knyxos, they want to kill me. So Iím kind of, uh, whatís the word?

Alex [ChaCha] 21:38
[As ChaCha] Shit out of luck?

Sampson [Dili] 21:42
[As Dili] Well, thatís not what Iím thinking. No, the f word.

Stace [Nix] 21:45
[As Nix] No, Dili, see, hereís the thing. I promise that when we run into the Knyxos, I will try to kill them before they kill you.

Marietta [Atalia] 21:54
What happens if they kill you?

Stace [Nix] 21:57
[As Nix] I die, man, I donít know. Thatís, like, the next step in the Journey.

Marietta [Atalia] 22:04
[As Atalia] Is that what you went to school for?

Sampson [Dili] 22:08
[As Dili] Next step, I thinkÖ.

Marietta [Atalia] 22:10
[As Atalia] Oh, man.

Stace [Nix] 22:13
[As Nix] Yeah, I mean weíre not sure our Journey ends when we die. But, probably.

Marietta [Atalia] 22:19
[As Atalia] Thereís one way to find out.

Alex [ChaCha] 22:24
Do the horrors say anything about the afterlife?

Daniel [GM] 22:27
As you would imagine, that conversation is very confusing. I donít think ChaCha has a clear feeling about that. She probably gets conflicting answers depending on which one she asks.

Alex [ChaCha] 22:39
Sure.

[As ChaCha] Mommy and Daddy Horror are always fighting.

Daniel [GM] 22:49
Which route are you guys gonna take?

Alex [ChaCha] 22:49
To the bar!

Sampson [Dili] 22:51
Yeah, Karfa first at least.

Stace [Nix] 22:55
We should change the name of this podcast to ìThe Queenís Spittoon.î

Alex [ChaCha] 22:57
Daniel will have to burn it down so we stop going back to it.

Stace [Nix] 23:02
No.

Sampson [Dili] 23:05
Every good campaign needs an inn to center around, right? Or a bar?

Alex [ChaCha] 23:09
Just one we never use the bathroom in.

Stace [Nix] 23:13
Pretty soon weíre going to be regulars and people are going to come see us.

Daniel [GM] 23:19
You guys get back to the Queenís Spittoon. And as expected, Karfa is over there in his usual booth. Loan Shark Guy is in his usual booth. Loan Shark Guys barely looks at Nix, although he does do a little ësup nod at ChaCha.

Alex [ChaCha] 23:34
ChaCha gives him the ësup nod back.

[As ChaCha] What up, pal?

Stace [Nix] 23:38
Dili actually has the notes, so.

Sampson [Dili] 23:41
I give them back to Nix.

Stace [Nix] 23:41
All right.

[As Nix] Do you want to come with me, Dili, to talk to Karfa cuz you understand them better than, I mean, I havenít even read them.

Sampson [Dili] 23:53
What was the disguise again? I think ChaCha disguised me?

Daniel [GM] 23:55
Bunch of performance makeup.

Stace [Nix] 23:59
Potentially youíre a clown.

Alex [ChaCha] 24:02
Yep. Just google Pietro from Animal Crossing.

Marietta [Atalia] 24:05
Oh my god.

Alex [ChaCha] 24:05
Youíre that.

Sampson [Dili] 24:07
[As Dili] I feel like thatís risky because, again, my face is everywhere even though ChaCha did a really good job with my cheekbones. I never had cheekbones before but now look at this.

Daniel [GM] 24:19
Yep. She also worked some moisturizer in there so youíre probably feeling better than you have in a long time.

Stace [Nix] 24:23
[As Nix] Dili, you are positively glowing.

Sampson [Dili] 24:27
[As Dili] Is that good?

Marietta [Atalia] 24:30
[As Atalia] Did you glow in your former life?

Sampson [Dili] 24:31
[As Dili] I donít remember? My former life? Oh, before. The before times. Yes. When everything was normal.

Daniel [GM] 24:42
Nix is going to Karfa.

Stace [Nix] 24:43
Yeah Nix is just, I guess, heading over there by herself.

Daniel [GM] 24:46
Karfa looks up and is like,

[As Karfa] Oh, youíre back so soon.

Stace [Nix] 24:49
[As Nix] Yeah, man, I mean, this whole snake thing is really high up there on my priorities list because, did I mention this? I might be turning into a snake.

Daniel [GM] 24:58
[As Karfa] yeah, you did, you did mention that before.

Stace [Nix] 25:01
[As Nix] Yeah. 

Daniel [GM] 25:04
[As Karfa] I take it you talked to the Wright?

Stace [Nix] 25:05
[As Nix] I did, and I gotta say, like, he really got a nice shop.

Daniel [GM] 25:09
[As Karfa] Yeah, yeah itís really weird. I was surprised by that as well.

Stace [Nix] 25:14
[As Nix] Yeah, you-.

Daniel [GM] 25:16
[As Karfa] I actually sent somebody there looking for somebody else but they had apparently pulled up stakes and left.

Stace [Nix] 25:23
[As Nix] Yeah, weird how fast thing change.

Daniel [GM] 25:31
[As Karfa] Have you heard about the guy who used to be there?

Stace [Nix] 25:31
[As Nix] Yeah, Iíve heard a couple things.

Daniel [GM] 25:35
[As Karfa] Heís got some crazy bounty on his head. 500 shins. Thatís almost unheard of.

Stace [Nix] 25:41
[As Nix] Yeah, but, uh, boy, if he knows whatís good for him heís in hiding, you know?

Daniel [GM] 25:47
[As Karfa] Yeah, well, sure thing. I mean Iím not really interested in bounties usually, but, whew, a number that high, people might work outside their comfort zone on that one.

Stace [Nix] 25:47
[As Nix] Yeah, I definitely get that.

Daniel [GM] [As Nix]
[As Karfa] One hopes heís hiding somewhere far, far away from the folks that might come after him.

Stace [Nix] 26:09
[As Nix] I know. If he had half a brain, heíd be outside Charmonde, you know? Heíd be, pshew, gone.

Daniel [GM] 26:14
[As Karfa] Yeah, heíd be running as fast as he can toward another place, maybe heíd head towards the Beyond. I mean, only an idiot would stick around here with a bounty like that on their head.

Stace [Nix] 26:23
[As Nix] Oh, yeah. Youíre right, the Beyond. Although, you know, someone soft like a Wright, Iím not sure.

Daniel [GM] 26:30
[As Karfa] I donít know, Wrights are useful. Somebody might work with him. Hopefully heís, itís not clear, butÖ.

And he kind of looks both ways and lowers his voice like,

[As Karfa] Read between the lines on that bounty, I think itís Minos that put that bounty out, Iím not sure, but I think Minos put it out.

Stace [Nix] 26:52
[As Nix] Whoís Minos?

Daniel [GM] 26:54
[As Karfa} Heís the head of the Knyxos. The Knyxos is his crew.

Stace [Nix] 27:01
[As Nix] Thatís pretty cool, like, really. If youíre going to have a bounty put out on youÖ. I understand.

Daniel [GM] 27:09
[As Karfa] A bounty for somebody in the town? Thatís insane. 500 shins is generous enough if you have to head out to other parts of Navarene to track somebody down.

Stace [Nix] 27:21
[As Nix] They must really want him. He must be really good at his job.

Daniel [GM] 27:25
[As Karfa] Or he pissed somebody off, one of the two.

Stace [Nix] 27:25
[As Nix] Yeah, I could definitely-. Yeah, nope. So. I guess the place went on the market with this Kal guy. You heard of Kal?

She shows him the card.

Daniel [GM] 27:41
[As Karfa] Oh, K-A-L.

Stace [Nix] 27:42
[As Nix] Kal.

Daniel [GM] 27:44
[As Karfa] No, itís a, sorry, these are initials. Itís Kalla Assets Liquidated. Theyíre a realty brokerage out of Ward Kalla. Theyíre as you would guess, are a little bit dirty. They do legitimate business, too, but they also deal in dirty transfers. Liquidating assets that are tainted, that kind of thing.

Stace [Nix] 28:14
[As Nix] Oh, yeah, that makes sense, man, if they moved that shop, right?

Daniel [GM] 28:19
[As Karfa] Mhmm.

Stace [Nix] 28:22
[As Nix] Anyway. Oh, the snake notes! Thatís why I came here. Ah, here they are, yeah.

Daniel [GM] 28:28
[As Karfa] Yes, thank you. Did he say how much longer itís going to be?

Stace [Nix] 28:33
[As Nix] Yeah, heís stuck. He has no idea what else is going on with this thing or how itís related to my bite. But one of the snakes ate the other snakes thatís bananas. You can read the rest for yourself. I wonít repeat it.

Daniel [GM] 28:46
[As Karfa] Okay.

Stace [Nix] 28:48
[As Nix] But, apparently it is related to my bite, that snake eating the other snakes.

Daniel [GM] 28:55
[As Karfa] Thatís wild.

Stace [Nix] 28:55
[As Nix] Yeah. I was kind of wondering if I could kill it.

Daniel [GM] 28:59
[As Karfa] I would prefer we know more before you do that.

Stace [Nix] 29:02
[As Nix] I just donít want to turn into a snake, man.

Daniel [GM] 29:04
[As Karfa] I donít want you turn into a snake, either, but. Tell you what, letís see what I can figure out over the next 24 hours.

Stace [Nix] 29:16
[As Nix] Okay.

Marietta [Atalia] 29:16
Awfully suspicious, Daniel.

Stace [Nix] 29:20
The next day Nix wakes up, is a snek.

Daniel [GM] 29:23
[As Karfa] Because I think youíre going to be a little bit busy for the next 24 hours.

Stace [Nix] 29:27
[As Nix] Why do you think that?

Daniel [GM] 29:30
[As Karfa] Because I think I have a lead on that sale. I was actually just getting ready to send someone over to the wayhouse to let Jen know to pass this on to you. Sheís the best, isnít she, Jen?

Stace [Nix] 29:46
[As Nix] Oh, yeah, Pathfinder Jen is real cool. She likes to do what she wants, thatís for sure.

Daniel [GM] 29:52
[As Karfa] Yeah, yeah, I love that about her. Thatís what I like about your entire Society, youíre not, youíre sort of free in a way that a lot of people arenít. Anyway, I donít know who the buyer is, but I know the Handlers are getting ready for something big. I think they may have been paid to get this item, but I think the intention is to auction it off.

Stace [Nix] 29:52
A secret auction! You can edit that out, Daniel.

[As Nix] Do you know, like, how we can get invited?

Daniel [GM] 30:29
[As Karfa] I donít unfortunately. Itís definitely for people that are above my level. Donít get me wrong, I do a lot dealing and what not. But the people there are going to be brokers with more capital than I have. You need capital to get in there, or you need to be in some way associated with the event, and the event is going to be all Handler personnel. Or contractors, I suppose.

Stace [Nix] 30:54
[As Nix] Oh. I wonder if theyíre bringing in outside security.

Daniel [GM] 30:59
[As Karfa] Donít know. Like I said, the Handlers kind of do whatever they need to do to fulfill the contract. Depending on how much they were offered up front that will depend on what their budget was to start with for the project.

Stace [Nix] 31:13
[As Nix] Yes.

Daniel [GM] 31:12
[As Karfa] Because they have to deliver the project within budget if they can.

Stace [Nix] 31:16
[As Nix] That is so fiscally responsible of them. Their shareholders must beÖ.

Daniel [GM] 31:21
[As Karfa] I mean, honestly, for criminals and murderers theyíre actually pretty straight shooters when it comes to business.

Stace [Nix] 31:32
[As Nix] I can respect that, like, I mean, why else would you do it?

Daniel [GM] 31:36
[As Karfa] Yeah, yeah. Probably because they use a lot of freelancers, they have to be relatively good about handling invoices and whatnot.

Stace [Nix] 31:46
[As Nix] So you think itís going down within the next 24?

Daniel [GM] 31:50
[As Karfa] Yeah, Iím pretty sure of it. Obviously, 24 hours is a rough guess. I mean sometime within the next 28 hours, I donít know exactly when, but my understanding is sometime tomorrow night. Not tonight, but tomorrow night is when the auction is going down. I donít know where, because they donít send invitations to somebody like me, but itís definitely going to be invitation-only.

Stace [Nix] 32:17
[As Nix] Yeah. All right. Well, thank you, glad I got these notes so quick, saved you a trip. Good info.

Daniel [GM] 32:26
[As Karfa] Yeah.

Stace [Nix] 32:26
[As Nix] I wonít forget you and what youíve done, but I will forget where I heard this, you know what Iím sayiní?

Daniel [GM] 32:32
[As Karfa] For sure, for sure.

And he raises his drink.

[As Karfa] Do you have time for a drink? Iíll buy you a drink.

Stace [Nix] 32:37
[As Nix] Yeah, I got time for a drink.

Daniel [GM] [As Nix]
He waves a hand. There isnít table service here, normally. But somebody comes over and brings a drink for Karfa. Itís the bartender from before.

Alex [ChaCha] 32:51
Oh no.

Daniel [GM] 32:51
I never really described her before, but sheís about 5í7î, black hair, sort of brown-toned skin. Purple irises for her eyes. She comes up to you, sheís like,

[As Bartender] Oh, hey. Whereís your friend? I havenít seen your buddy for a while. What did you say his name was? The desperate one.

Stace [Nix] 33:18
[As Nix] Oh, yeah. I mean, if I see him again I will definitely let him know heís got a good thing going over here.

Daniel [GM] 33:29
[As Bartender] I mean, I just want to repay him for his generosity.

Stace [Nix] 33:32
[As Nix] And thatís a good thing so I will definitely remind him. When I see him.

Daniel [GM] 33:40
[As Bartender] Okay, okay, sounds good. Sounds good. Need anything else? Any scorpions or anything like that?

Stace [Nix] 33:48
[As Nix] Nah, I got a medical condition thatís really interfering with the enjoyment of scorps.

Daniel [GM] 33:55
[As Bartender] I hope itís contagious.

Stace [Nix] 33:55
[As Nix] Itís not, you gotta get bit by a snake.

Daniel [GM] 34:00
[As Bartender] Oh. Okay.

Stace [Nix] 34:01
[As Nix] Yeah. Oh, man, if a snake comes rolling in here, like, outrageously large, maybe like wearing my belt or something? Just put some scorps on the ground, okay? Itís me.

Daniel [GM] 34:13
[As Bartender] Okay.

And she takes a couple steps back and goes back to the bar. And Karfa kind of looks at you and heís like,

[As Karfa] Well, um, okay.

And he raises his glass and says,

[As Karfa] To not being a snake.

Stace [Nix] 34:26
[As Nix] Oh, man, I hope. To not be a snake.

Daniel [GM] 34:29
You have your drink. Iím assuming you have it relatively quickly or do you take your time and shoot the shit with Karfa?

Stace [Nix] 34:38
She would shoot shit, but she would keep an eye on the rest of the crew to see if theyíre, if the rest of the crewís looking like they want to go, sheíll not take her time. But if ChaChaís puppeteering or somethingÖ.

Daniel [GM] 34:53
What is the rest of the group doing?

Alex [ChaCha] 34:53
Has anyone bought scorps for ChaCha to puppeteer with?

Daniel [GM] 35:01
No, you still have that whole bag of them that Nix gave you in the academic area.

Alex [ChaCha] 35:07
Then we are puppeteering.

Daniel [GM] 35:08
Do me a favor, though. For the three of you who arenít talking to Karfa, please roll perception for me. Your target is a 9.

Marietta [Atalia] 35:18
12.

Sampson [Dili] 35:19
3.

Alex [ChaCha] 35:20
11.

Daniel [GM] 35:22
ChaCha and Atalia, you overhear a couple of patrons talking and one of them says,

[As Patron 1] Did you hear about the fire at the palace?

[As Patron 2] What fire?

[As Patron 1] There was a fire. I heard it was an accident.

And then somebody from another table leans over and says,

[As Patron 3] I donít think it was an accident, I heard it was an attack. Maybe assassins from Qi.

[As Patron 1] Are you sure? That seems odd, I think we wouldíve heard about any kind of terrorist attack at this point.

[As Patron 3] Word is the Queen wants to keep it quiet, but yeah. Somebody attacked the palace, set something on fire.

[As Patron 1] Thatís terrible, thatís terrible.

Marietta [Atalia] 36:03
I just deadpan look at ChaCha during that conversation.

Sampson [Dili] 36:11
Does that slow head turn.

Marietta [Atalia] 36:12
Very slow blinking.

Alex [ChaCha] 36:18
ChaCha is going through the bag of scorps to pick out the two best scorps to do Episode 2 of ìMy Horror Friend and Me.î

Stace [Nix] 36:27
I thought this was Episode 3.

Daniel [GM] 36:30
It would be Episode 3.

Alex [ChaCha] 36:31
No, she did three episodes of the ìDili and Nixî show. So ìBuddy Copî was only the one time wasnít it? Or did we do ìBuddy Copî last time, too?

Daniel [GM] 36:42
You did ìBuddy Copî in Ward Kalla, and you did ìBuddy Copî in front of the shop. So youíve done two of the ìMocking Nix and Dili,î and-.

Stace [Nix] 36:53
Iím sure it was reverent.

Daniel [GM] 36:57
I donít know, Loan Shark Guy really liked it, though.

Stace [Nix] 36:58
Thatís true.

Daniel [GM] 37:04
And youíve done two of the ìBuddy Copî one.

Alex [ChaCha] 37:05
Oh. Hmm. I guess Iíll do Episode 3 of ìBuddy Cops.î

Daniel [GM] 37:14
Okay. Okay. Give me a performance roll.

Alex [ChaCha] 37:17
Mmkay.

Daniel [GM] 37:19
Target is a 9.

Alex [ChaCha] 37:24
We got a 19.

Alex [ChaCha] 37:25
It really is easier to read dice.

Daniel [GM] 37:30
Once you start with scorps people are like, ìOh, oh, itís her, itís her!î A couple people crowd around, uncomfortably close, Dili, by the way. Theyíre watching ChaCha and people are clapping and hooting at the Buddy Cop theme. As you finish at the end of the performance, one of the drunks comes up to ChaCha, kneels down so he can put his hand over her shoulders, and is like,

[As Drunk] I love you, man, like, that, I didnít understand a fucking thing about that, but I loved it. It touched me. Can I get you a drink? Or some scorps? To eat with?

Stace [Nix] 38:13
Eat with.

Alex [ChaCha] 38:15
[As ChaCha] Scorps for eating will be fine.

Daniel [GM] 38:17
[As Drunk] Sure thing, sure thing.

He stumbles up to the bar to order some scorps. I would say, if youíre doing a performance, thatís about how much time it took Nix to bullshit with Karfa. Nix, you probably wouldíve noticed thereís a large crowd around ChaCha, which means by extension, around Atalia and Dili.

Alex [ChaCha] 38:40
Itís fine, donít worry.

Marietta [Atalia] 38:42
I think if itís possible, Atalia will try to be so falsely enthusiastic about ChaChaís puppet story that sheís distracting from Dili, or that people will be paying attention to her and not Dili.

Daniel [GM] 39:01
Give me a Deception or Performance-based roll of 9.

Marietta [Atalia] 39:08
Thatís a 2.

Daniel [GM] 39:11
You look conspicuous, youíre very odd in this. People keep on looking at you weird like, ìWhatís going on?î Since Dili was with you guys, they keep looking at his hooded figure, and theyíre like, ìWhatís wrong with her?î

Marietta [Atalia] 39:24
Itís like the shop all over again.

Sampson [Dili] 39:27
Since Dili got a three on his perception, heís not paying attention. Heís actually trying to, heís pulled out one of his crafting tools, like a straight edge, and is trying to scrape off the glitter, trying to collect it. And around his head little clouds of glitter kind of form and occasionally snap into a rough diagram of a cypher that would be this. Heís not really paying attention.

Daniel [GM] 39:52
Somebody is going to come over if theyíre seeing that illusion. Theyíre going to be like,

[As Somebody] Dude! Thatís awesome, what are you doing?

Sampson [Dili] 39:58
[As Dili] What? What? What? Ah! Oh my god. What? Iím not doing anything. [Clears throat and lowers voice] Iím not doing anything, Citizen.

Daniel [GM] 40:07
[As Somebody] I thought it was part of the play.

Give me a Deception roll. This personís very drunk, so itís going to be a six.

Alex [ChaCha] 40:14
Oh no.

Sampson [Dili] 40:15
Iím going to put a bit of Effort into this. 12.

Alex [ChaCha] 40:19
Yay!

Daniel [GM] 40:19
Theyíre like,

[As Somebody] Oh, cool.

They step back. Around this time Nix would be coming back to you guys.

Marietta [Atalia] 40:29
[As Atalia] I think itís time to go.

Stace [Nix] 40:32
[As Nix] Guys, letís roll, like, got appointments to keep.

Daniel [GM] 40:37
Anybody need to hit the bathroom before you go?

Alex [ChaCha] 40:38
No.

Sampson [Dili] 40:38
No.

Stace [Nix] 40:40
[As Nix] Oh.

Marietta [Atalia] 40:39
Negatory.

Stace [Nix] 40:42
[As Nix] I actually, kinda. Hold on.

Daniel [GM] 40:50
Does Nix actually go to the bathroom? Okay. So, when you went in the bathroom there will still the same two creatures there. One of them has a bit more of a distant stare to his eyes.

Alex [ChaCha] 41:00
Oh.

Daniel [GM] 41:03
They are both still there and functioning properly.

Stace [Nix] 41:08
The one with the distant stare is the one thatÖ.

Daniel [GM] 41:11
Tamara.

Stace [Nix] 41:11
Tamara went into. Nix pats it and says,

[As Nix] Hang in there, champ.

Daniel [GM] 41:19
You hear this [whoa sound].

Stace [Nix] 41:26
[As Nix] Would it help or hurt if you just had a normal, you know, interaction?

Daniel [GM] 41:32
A single tear rolls down the side of its face.

Stace [Nix] 41:36
[As Nix] Thatís all right, buddy. I get it, youíre not ready.

Nix goes in the other one.

Daniel [GM] 41:47
Itís a perfectly fine transactional experience.

Stace [Nix] 41:51
Reuse, renew, recycle.

Daniel [GM] 41:54
When you go in and do your thing, you hear that sound from the back of its gullet like a horse walking through a stream before you can get back with the rest of the group.

Stace [Nix] 41:54
Nix comes back.

Sampson [Dili] 42:05
[As Dili] Now can we leave?

Stace [Nix] 42:06
[As Nix] Ah, yeah, thatís better. Whew.

Daniel [GM] 42:10
Where are you guys going?

Sampson [Dili] 42:11
[As Dili] Nix what did you find out?

Stace [Nix] 42:13
[As Nix] Oh, right, so that artifact-.

And are they, likeÖ. She pulls them intoÖ.

[As Nix] Oh, shit. We should tell Mamma Jerrun this, why didnít I think of that? We should go there.

Sampson [Dili] 42:28
[As Dili] Tell her what?

Stace [Nix] 42:31
[As Nix] Dili. Boy, for someone whoís-.

Sampson [Dili] 42:33
[As Dili] You havenít told us anything.

Stace [Nix] 42:35
[As Nix] For someone whoís in hiding youíre being kind of loud.

Sampson [Dili] 42:37
[As Dili] Itís a stage whisper!

Stace [Nix] 42:41
[As Nix] So she told us, uh. No, wait, Karfa told us that, Karfa told me specifically that that item is going on auction from the Handlers within the next 28 hours. Probably. So weíre gonna have to get tuxedos guys!

Marietta [Atalia] 43:07
[As Atalia] Yeah, cuz we definitely have invites.

Stace [Nix] [As Atalia]
[As Nix] Oh, weíll get ëem. Mamma Jerrunís got the hookup, Iím sure. Thatís what we should go there.

Marietta [Atalia] 43:14
[As Atalia] Well, she doesnít know where the item is, so.

Alex [ChaCha] 43:18
[As ChaCha] She will.

Sampson [Dili] 43:19
[As Dili] It would be good to update her.

Stace [Nix] 43:21
[As Nix] Yeah, I feel like this is a pretty crucial development and honestly, weíre kind of lucky we got this because otherwise we have really made no other progress in the last-.

Marietta [Atalia] 43:32
[As Atalia] Okay, so we should go see her. Letís do that.

Do we have time to do that before my meeting?

Daniel [GM] 43:36
Youíre very close to where she is, yeah. Youíre in Ward Ana and she is also there.

Stace [Nix] 43:45
[As Nix] Yeah, I know the way guys. This is the way I took to get there the first time.

Sampson [Dili] 43:51
[As Dili] All right.

Stace [Nix] 43:53
So Nix takes ëem.

Daniel [GM] 43:54
Actually, Dili and ChaCha would know as well because they went from her place to the Spittoon. Yeah, so you are into Mamma Jerrunís. I think the whole time, if this was a comic book there would be bubbles above Nixís head in increasing sizes that just said, ìHeist! Heist! Heist!î

Alex [ChaCha] 44:16
Oh yeah.

Daniel [GM] 44:17
So you reach Mamma Jerrunís door and I assume you knock on it. A moment passes and she opens it. And that same fire that you remember is blazing in the hearth. And she says,

[As Mamma Jerrun] Nix! ChaCha! Atalia! Dili! Itís good to see you again. Do you have the item?

Stace [Nix] 44:39
[As Nix] No, and how could you tell that was Dili?

Daniel [GM] 44:45
She leans in close to you and whispers, Nix, like into your, like,

[As Mamma Jerrun] The smell, dear. The sweat. The desperation.

Stace [Nix] 44:56
[As Nix] Oh my god, youíre right. So we donít have it, but we found out information about what the Handlers are going to do with it.

Daniel [GM] 45:09
[As Mamma Jerrun] Mmkay.

Stace [Nix] 45:10
[As Nix] Do you want us to come inside to tell you or?

Daniel [GM] 45:13
[As Mamma Jerrun] Yeah, please come in.

Stace [Nix] 45:16
[As Nix] Are there cookies?

Daniel [GM] 45:17
[As Mamma Jerrun] Iím sure I can find something in the cupboard.

Stace [Nix] 45:22
All right, so Nix just tells her theÖ.

Daniel [GM] 45:26
Okay. You fill her in. Sheís like,

[As Mamma Jerrun] Very interesting. And how do you intend to retrieve the object?

Stace [Nix] 45:33
[As Nix] Karfa was saying that sometimes the Handlers will bring in independent contractors for big events like this, so I thought maybe we could see if theyíre looking for security personnel. Also, Atalia, tonightís got a meeting with someone thatís high-ish up in their organization, so kind of taking the opportunities we can get there. But honestly if you have any suggestions we would take them.

Daniel [GM] 46:04
[As Mamma Jerrun] Well, thatís good to know what youíve learned. Like you said, Atalia does have a connection to the Handlers. The news of this auction has not reached me, as of yet. I can try to see what I can find out about it, but I canít guarantee anything. I mean, ultimately,

And she kind of looks at you with this grandmotherly gaze like,

[As Mamma Jerrun] As much as I want to provide a way to help you here, I think you guys are going to be a little bit on your own to fulfill your contracts for the 70 shins offered.

Stace [Nix] 46:44
[As Nix] I was kind of thinking with a big job like this and an artifact of this value, that information-sharing would be the way to go? You know, a little bit of collaboration. I understand the nature of our relationship, but arenít we really here to help each other?

Roll Persuasion!

Daniel [GM] 47:06
So youíre rolling Persuasion against Mamma Jerrun, so itís an 18.

Stace [Nix] 47:09
Now we know what level she is, guys.

Marietta [Atalia] 47:12
Ataliaís just slinking into a shadow, like, oh my gosh.

Stace [Nix] 47:17
Okay.

Marietta [Atalia] 47:17
I think as soon as she walked in she knew this was how to conversation was gonna go.

Stace [Nix] 47:21
Yeah, she wasnít very welcoming, was she? All right, Iím trained-.

Sampson [Dili] 47:23
You asked for cookies immediately.

Stace [Nix] 47:27
Nix must be fed! All of her acquaintances know. All right, so 18. Iím trained, itís a 15. Iíll expend Intellect Effort on this one.

Daniel [GM] 47:38
So thatís a 12.

Alex [ChaCha] 47:39
Can I help?

Daniel [GM] 47:41
Youíd have to describe how ChaCha would help in that scenario.

Alex [ChaCha] 47:43
Puppy dog eyes. Quite clearly that would be helpful. Tiny little ChaCha being like, ìPlease help us. We want some more help. Please. Sir.î

Daniel [GM] 47:56
I would actually make ChaCha roll for this. Roll and beat a 12 to see if your puppy eyes are enough to give Nix an asset.

Alex [ChaCha] 48:04
Thatís a 16.

Daniel [GM] 48:06
Okay, so Nix has another asset. So now itís down to a 9.

Stace [Nix] 48:06
Oh. I hate to, but I think thatís just a 12, right?

Daniel [GM] 48:15
No, because you already were trained, so that brought that down to a 15. Then you were expending effort, that brought it down to a 12. Then ChaChaís provided you an asset, which brings it down to a 9.

Stace [Nix] 48:25
Thanks for showing your work, Daniel. Always helpful.

Daniel [GM] 48:32
I grew up in the age of New Math.

Stace [Nix] 48:36
I got a 6.

Alex [ChaCha] 48:37
I canít do this. No!

Daniel [GM] 48:40
Mamma Jerrun looks at you and says,

[As Mamma Jerrun] Information-sharing I appreciate. Itís good that you reported in with what you know, donít get me wrong. I just donít think thereís a way I can help you with a next step. I can make inquiries, but I donít know how quickly I can retrieve that information. And I guess, the questions is, Iím asking you, are you saying that I need to put this job out to bid again? Or do you think you can fulfill it for the original quote?

Stace [Nix] 49:15
[As Nix] Wow, I didnít realize there was a bidding process. I donít think I engaged in it, but no, like, we got it. Just kinda seeing, you know, if you had any insight, but if you donít, like, thatís fine.

Daniel [GM] 49:29
[As Mamma Jerrun] Youíre very capable, Nix. Iíve been very impressed with you.

Stace [Nix] 49:33
[As Nix] Oh, thanks.

Daniel [GM] 49:35
[As Mamma Jerrun] And Iím very excited to see what you all can achieve together. But I donít think I can help you directly, now.

Stace [Nix] 49:45
[As Nix] Yeah, all right, well, you know. Now you know where weíre at and thanks for the cookies.

Daniel [GM] 49:54
Does anyone want to roll Insight?

Stace [Nix] 49:58
Oh, I actually do.

Daniel [GM] 49:58
Except for Marietta, because you actually already know the answer to this. So, it is an 18.

Sampson [Dili] 50:06
I got a 6.

Alex [ChaCha] 50:08
I got an 18.

Stace [Nix] 50:08
I got a 4. Okay. Starbuck, eat this.

Daniel [GM] 50:13
So ChaCha, you notice that when Mamma Jerrun earlier said 70 shins each, there was something in there. She was saying it, but she was very deliberately looking at Nix, like that kind of look like youíre hiding something.

Stace [Nix] 50:31
Like Nix is hiding domwthing?

Marietta [Atalia] 50:33
No, like sheís hiding something.

Alex [ChaCha] 50:35
No, like sheís not telling you something. Clearly by staring more at you, she will not reveal what she is hiding.

Stace [Nix] 50:44
Well, Nix got a 4 so Nix is like,

[As Nix] Man, that Mamma Jerrun is a straight shooter.

Daniel [GM] 50:51
Yeah. So, basically, ChaCha, you donít know what it is, but thereís something about that amount thatís off. I think ChaCha, given your role as a nano and stuff like that, I think you can piece together that it means that somebody is getting a different amount. And thereís only one person that negotiated with Mamma Jerrun separately.

Alex [ChaCha] 51:16
I think ChaCha, knowing that one of her 3-4 friends needs the money, and that one of her other 3-4 friends is getting more money, sheís not gonna be cool with that. So sheís gonna look at Mamma Jerrun and be like,

[As ChaCha] Are you sure weíre all getting 70, because I think youíre lying to our face. I think we should just take the item and go and leave you high and dry.

Daniel [GM] 51:50
Staceís face.

Sampson [Dili] 51:51
Dili will look up from his glitter collecting like,

[As Dili] What? What?

Daniel [GM] 51:54
Mamma Jerrun flicks her eyes over to you ChaCha. Itís really strange. ChaCha had a really positive experience with Mamma Jerrun at first. In fact, when she first came back, she came in and hugged Mamma Jerrun. Mamma Jerrun, when she initially greeted all of you, it was very grandmotherly and kind. Even now, thereís a little bit of that, sheís a bit more business, but thereís still that aspect to it. When she looks at you, ChaCha, thereís none of that.

There is cold stone and iron and strong glass. And honestly, even though she looks like any other person, no different than anybody else who doesnít see the horrors, for a moment you feel goosebumps and she says in a low voice, that if you were listening to it say, on a recording, would not sound in any way out of the ordinary. Rather matter of fact. But it almost feels to the rest of you, that despite the fire in the hearth the temperature drops some degrees and she says,

[As Mamma Jerrun] That would be unwise, Chauncey.

Alex [ChaCha] 53:19
[As ChaCha] You canít pay us differently, weíre all doing the work.

Daniel [GM] 53:22
[As Mamma Jerrun] Some of you are being asked to do something different.

Alex [ChaCha] 53:26
[As ChaCha] Well, those people are going to get our help no matter what, so you pay us all the same that theyíre getting.

Stace [Nix] [As ChaCha]
[As Nix] Unless itís less.

Alex [ChaCha] 53:35
[As ChaCha] No, everybody gets the same.

Stace [Nix] 53:36
[As Nix] All right.

Alex [ChaCha] 53:38
Equal.

Daniel [GM] 53:38
She leans back, and she-. ChaCha, give me a social roll, Persuasion-based, of 18.

Stace [Nix] 53:49
Nix is gonna stand in solidarity with ChaCha and look tough.

Sampson [Dili] 53:56
Diliís-.

Daniel [GM] 53:56
Then ChaCha will have an asset, so 15.

Sampson [Dili] 53:58
Dili hides in a illusory shadow.

Stace [Nix] 54:01
Diliís in the corner filling out union paperwork.

Daniel [GM] 54:07
Whatíd you get?

Alex [ChaCha] 54:08
Nat 20, bitches. This is for when ChaCha gets angry she gets good.

Daniel [GM] 54:14
Mamma Jerrun watches very closely and she looks over at Atalia and says,

[As Mamma Jerrun] Did you say something? Not very professional if you did.

Marietta [Atalia] 54:25
[As Atalia] Youíre the one who just gave it away so congratulations.

And Atalia will [slow clapping].

Stace [Nix] 54:35
You all were scared of the Knyxos and now you are provoking Mamma Jerrun?

Marietta [Atalia] 54:41
[Inaudible].

Stace [Nix] 54:43
My god.

Daniel [GM] 54:46
Mamma Jerrun looks at you very coldly Atalia. Honestly, you can choose how Atalia responds to it emotionally, but her gaze feels more heavy and terrifying than the meeting you had with the Handlers. You feel more weighed in the moment than Murric was.

Marietta [Atalia] 55:10
I think Atalia is physically startled by it.

Daniel [GM] 55:15
It almost feels like a physical slap, itís so intensely different than what you had before. Itís very much triggering sort of a deep mammalian fight or flight response. Then she turns back to ChaCha and sheís like,

[As Mamma Jerrun] Fine, I agree, ChaCha. You all bring the item back to this spot and hand it to me, 140 shins each.

Stace [Nix] 55:41
[As Nix] Damn, we will definitely do it on our own for that.

Daniel [GM] 55:47
[As Mamma Jerrun] Iím glad to hear that. Now, without being improper, I will say that Iím somewhat unsettled and I think it would be wise for you to get about your business before I have time to think about this any further.

Stace [Nix] 56:01
[As Nix] Yeah.

Sampson [Dili] 56:01
Dili leaves.

Marietta [Atalia] 56:02
[As Atalia] Weíll leave. Weíll get out of here.

Sampson [Dili] 56:05
Dili gets out.

Stace [Nix] 56:08
[As Nix] Cookies are great as usual. Peace.

Alex [ChaCha] 56:12
I think ChaCha leaves and sheís making that face of that snotty lamb meme. Where sheís like, ìMm.î

Marietta [Atalia] 56:22
I smack her arm as weíre walking away.

Stace [Nix] 56:26
You guys remember when we had characters?

Alex [ChaCha] 56:31
You havenít already rolled your new one?

Stace [Nix] 56:32
Never.

Alex [ChaCha] 56:34
What? Well I guess yours is getting snake powers, so.

Daniel [GM] 56:38
Atalia, by the way, it is probably about time that you would need to head to your meeting if youíre going to make it in time.

Marietta [Atalia] 56:43
[As Atalia] I gotta go.

Stace [Nix] 56:45
[As Nix] Oh, yeah, weíre going with you. So, like, letís go.

Marietta [Atalia] 56:48
[As Atalia] Letís go. L-E-T-S-G-O.

Daniel [GM] 56:54
Atalia, one thing you will know is that if you are seen approaching your meeting spot with other people, itís going to be a problem.

Marietta [Atalia] 57:02
Iíll try to set it up with them beforehand like I did before if I have enough time.

Daniel [GM] 57:10
Thereís not enough time to stake it out but they would have to hide a ways away.

Marietta [Atalia] 57:13
Okay. Iím gonna let you guys hide, because I donít have enough time to hide you. I want you guys to work together and donít be seen within the house, blocks, you know.

Sampson [Dili] 57:30
[As Dili] Are we, is this-.

Marietta [Atalia] [As Dili]
[As Atalia] You got this! You can do it.

And then sheís like,

[As Atalia] Goodbye.

And sheíll sneak away.

Sampson [Dili] 57:36
[As Dili] Okay.

Daniel [GM] 57:38
Atalia just fades into the shadows. You guys lose track of her almost immediately. Itís Batman-level annoying.

Alex [ChaCha] 57:48
Fuckiní Batman.

Sampson [Dili] 57:50
[As Dili] Another one. Merrick did the same thing.

Stace [Nix] [As Dili]
[As Nix] Guys. I like surprises but Iím a little bit concerned about the rational thinking of this group. Thatís it.

Alex [ChaCha] 58:04
[As ChaCha] You need the money. She was lying about the money. Also sheís probably evil.

Daniel [GM] 58:12
Thatís actually super sweet, ChaCha was looking after you and getting the money you need.

Stace [Nix] 58:17
I know, oh my god.

Alex [ChaCha] 58:19
Sweet in a horrible way of where someone thinks theyíre helping, but really, there was a 50/50 chance of it going horribly wrong and then she would go, ìWell, I guess youíre all indentured servants now.î Get it for free.

Daniel [GM] 58:33
Mhmm.

Stace [Nix] 58:34
Nix starts planning to clean out some scorpion shells ñ husks? And make some legitimate puppets that wouldnít be stinky.

Alex [ChaCha] 58:45
No more stinky puppets.

Stace [Nix] 58:45
Just contemplating that. Sheís not doing it.

Daniel [GM] 58:52
You go to that familiar bar.

Marietta [Atalia] 58:55
I leave the seskii with them.

Daniel [GM] 58:57
Okay, so Jeskiiís still with them. Okay?

Marietta [Atalia] 59:00
Yeah, Jeskiiís with them.

Daniel [GM] 59:00
Okay.

Marietta [Atalia] 59:02
Sheís been with us the whole time. She is such a good stealth dog, by the way. Sheís so sneaky.

Daniel [GM] 59:05
She is. Almost as if sheís meant for you.

Marietta [Atalia] 59:10
Aww.

Daniel [GM] 59:11
You go down the stairs and you go to that room. Tamara is waiting at that same table that James does. And she has that same large glass bottle of yellow-brown liquor.

[As Tamara] Have a seat, Atalia.

Marietta [Atalia] 59:32
[As Atalia] Yeah. Iíll sit right here.

Daniel [GM] 59:36
[As Tamara] Iím glad you made it on time. Things worked out well for you at the meeting. Itís too bad about James, though, he was a good guy.

Marietta [Atalia] 59:49
[As Atalia] Yeah, I appreciated him.

Daniel [GM] 59:52
[As Tamara] Good. Thatís good. It seems that your talents are in high demand. I have three different contracts to offer you.

Marietta [Atalia] 60:01
[As Atalia] Oh, wow. Okay.

Daniel [GM] 60:02
[As Tamara] Yeah. Obviously Iím not going to give them all to you, because that would be insane to ask one operative to handle all three.

Marietta [Atalia] 60:12
[As Atalia] But I could at least do one and see.

Daniel [GM] 60:15
[As Tamara] For sure, for sure. But I figured Iíd offer you some choices.

Marietta [Atalia] 60:19
[As Atalia] Options.

Daniel [GM] 60:21
[As Tamara] Yeah.

Marietta [Atalia] 60:21
[As Atalia] The spice of life.

Daniel [GM] 60:22
[As Tamara] This first one is a little bit out of your usual, but itís pretty compelling. And itís a pretty big deal. Theyíre offering 400 shins for it. Letís just say it involved eliminating a certain troublesome individual. Itís, letís just say, a realtor that got in over his head. But it is a straightforward assassination. Itís expected to look like an accident. I know itís out of your usual, but itís something.

Marietta [Atalia] 61:01
[As Atalia] Itís a lot of money.

Daniel [GM] 61:02
[As Tamara] Itís a fair amount of money, yeah. So thatís one option. The other option we have is, well, itís a 600-shin thing and that is a little bit more your usual gambit. Itís pure acquisitions. Not for an item, though. Weíre looking for a person.

Marietta [Atalia] 61:23
[As Atalia] Oh. Who are you looking for?

Daniel [GM] 61:26
[As Tamara] Some Wright from the academic ward.

And they donít have the bounty listed there, but they show you the same drawing of Dili.

Marietta [Atalia] 61:35
[As Atalia] Seems like a little pipsqueak.

Daniel [GM] 61:37
[As Tamara] Yeah, should be easy to find, right? Canít put up much of a fight. Once again, itís not about eliminating him, itís about bringing him in. I know youíre usually acquiring items, but once again, itís just bringing in a person. Itís not that big a deal, weíre not asking you to hurt him. Just asking you to bring him in.

Marietta [Atalia] 61:58
[As Atalia] Okay.

Daniel [GM] 62:00
[As Tamara] The third contract, thereís less to go on but itís worth more. Iíve been authorized to offer 650 shins to find a terrorist. Someone who attempted to set fire to the palace. We donít know much about them. We know first name Chauncey. Not sure if theyíre young or if theyíre a smaller person or whatever, but all we know is somebody named Chauncey tried to set fire to the palace.

Marietta [Atalia] 62:37
[As Atalia] Wow.

Daniel [GM] 62:37
[As Tamara] As you can probably guess, our client is highly placed here. And wants this resolved quickly and quietly, so I would say this is once again, itís acquisitions because I know thatís what you prefer. But I will say in this particular case that the client is not particular on the ìdead or aliveî part.

Marietta [Atalia] 63:01
[As Atalia] Hmm.

Daniel [GM] 63:01
[As Tamara] So, three contracts. Theyíre all worth a fair amount of money, probably more than youíve been offered before by James, but after our meeting Murric decided that it was time to bring you up to the next level of contracts. Iíll be curious to know what approach you want to take.

She sets down three pieces of paper in front of you. One thatís information about a realtor at some firm called K-A-L, a drawing of Dili, and a very vague sketch of a very small woman in a bright cloak. And thatís where weíll end the episode.

Sampson [Dili] 63:50
Oh my god. Uh.

Alex [ChaCha] 63:53
Suck it Dili, Iím worth more! Iím worth more, Dili.

Marietta [Atalia] 63:59
Well, okay, then.

Sampson [Dili] 64:01
Holy shit.

Daniel [GM] 64:03
Iíve been waiting to drop that for a couple episodes.

Alex [ChaCha] 64:06
That ChaChaís worth more than Dili?

Daniel [GM] 64:07
Yeah, yeah.

Sampson [Dili] 64:10
You pissed off the Queen, I only pissed off a powerful organization. An illegal organization, I should say.

Daniel [GM] 64:17
Yeah. We have a segment we do each week called Player Intrusions where we suggest something that you should absolutely check out because itís frankly awesome. This week it is Staceís turn. Stace, what would you give our learners an XP to check out?

Stace [Nix] 64:34
All right. Iím gonna give our listeners an XP to check out one of my favorite book series of all time, and that is the Honor Harrington series, also known as the Honorverse. Itís by David Weber, itís a series of, I think, dozens of books right now? Iím going to just talk about the first book because I think it kind of encapsulates whatís cool about the series.

The first book is called ìOn Basilisk Station,î which is frankly a cool name for a book. The series follows Honor Harrington, who is in the Navy of a planet called Manticore. The planet Manticore is pretty clearly based on Great Britain and their parliamentary system, and all that. She gets caught up in some political shenanigans after taking command of the HMS Fearless, and gets sent out to the punishment detail on Basilisk Station. While sheís out there, and kind of pretty actively undermined, the longtime rivals and enemies of Manticore, Haven, start to get up to some shenanigans.









I donít want to spoil anything so Iím going to kind of leave it at that, but the series has a competent, female naval captain of a military vessel and a treecat, her companion. Her faithful companion that is a cat with six legs, guys.

Marietta [Atalia] 66:10
Oh, man. Whatís better than a cat with four legs?

Stace [Nix] 66:12
A cat with six. Itís just a really well-written series. Oh, the best part is the first book is available on, let me get the website right, because I donít want to send you guys to the wrong place. And Daniel Iím sure youíll link this in the notes.

Daniel [GM] 66:31
As long as you send me the link to it.

Stace [Nix] 66:31
Oh, you got it, Daniel. Right now Iím sending it. On baen.com the first one is available for free download. So, ìOn Basilisk Stationî is available for free from the publisherís website, so you can try without any risk, you know, try before you buy. And then of course, the rest of the series is available for sale as well. Iíd give listeners an XP to dip their toe in the Honorverse with ìOn Basilisk Stationî by David Weber.

Daniel [GM] 67:01
Very cool. Very cool. Sounds great. We are a new podcast and we desperately crave your attention and validation because thatís who we are inside. In fact, one thing you should understand is that anybody who performs for you in life, whether itís an actor, a comedian, or a podcaster, desperately needs your validation. Otherwise we would not do this crazy thing that we do.

If people wanted to reach out and talk to us, how would the do that, Marietta?

Marietta [Atalia] 67:32
Oh, man, we have all the social medias. We have Twitter, weíre @explorerswanted, and Instagram, weíre at explorerswantedpodcast. Weíre Explorers Wanted Podcast on Facebook, and we have our very own website, explorerswanted.fm. If you really want to hang out with us, I really recommend checking out our Discord server which is getting a little more popular, weíre having more people come talk to us, and thatís really nice. We like the interaction. Yeah, so you can find us out there on the internet for sure. Weíre for sure there.

Daniel [GM] 68:07
And you can find links to our Discord on our Twitter profile as well as on our website. Like I mentioned, weíre a new podcast and one of the most important things for us is to build an audience. Thatís what will enable us to continue doing what weíre doing. If you liked this podcast, the best thing you can do for us is tell your friends, preferable all of them about what you like about the podcast, why they should listen to it, that kind of thing.

The second-best thing you can do is leave us a five-star rating and review on the podcast directory of your choice, particularly Apple Podcasts, that is particularly helpful for people finding us. If you donít have Apple devices, go to-. Well, weíre in quarantine so you canít just go into an Apple Store, but steal somebody elseís iOS device or Apple device, or borrow it and leave us a five-star rating and review. Preferable a full review because the ratings are great, but if you have some text in there about what you like about it that really helps. You can also leave reviews for us on Stitcher or Podchaser or any of those things.

If you didnít like the podcast, if you hated it, or if you just felt it was okay, there are also alternatives for you. The thing that I would recommend in that case is to position yourself in front of a blank wall, seated in full lotus position. Concentrate on a single spot on that wall. It could take a few minutes, or a few hours. Maybe days, in which case, you might want to break it up. Eventually, youíll see some strange movement. Donít blink. Once you see that movement, after a short moment you will see a part of the wall start to bend inward. Again, donít blink. That bulge will form into the outline of an outward-stretched palm. This could take a couple minutes, or it could take a half hour. Again, I cannot emphasize enough, donít blink. When the palm is fully formed, and not a moment before, give it a high five. You will feel so much better.

If you want to find us individually on social media, you can. I am on Twitter @andrlik, A-N-D-R-L-I-K.

Stace [Nix] 70:33
If I ever get back on Twitter after staring at the wall, you can find me @StaceWindu.

Sampson [Dili] 70:40
If the wall thing doesnít work, you can come give me a high five @slampotato.

Alex [ChaCha] 70:46
If youíre not giving high fives or staring at walls, yet, I am posting random shit on Twitter @realteaunicorn.

Marietta [Atalia] 70:56
And I guess Iím on Twitter, too, @imonahike.

Stace [Nix] 71:00
Yes, you are.

Marietta [Atalia] 71:01
And I could really use some followers at this point in my Twitter experience.

Daniel [GM] 71:10
Feel free to reach out, weíd love to hear from you, get your feedback about what you like, what we could do better, those kinds of things, because weíre very excited to be sharing this story with you all.

Thatís all for us, have a good night. We hope you enjoyed it and we will see you next week as we will for every week for the foreseeable future.

Multiple Speakers 71:29
Bye!