The Final Rule(s)
Completely Improvised DnD campaigns! Prepare nothing for anything.
The Final Rule(s)
The Final Rules: Order | Hey, great job. (S3E5)
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After a five-year hiatus a cast reunites as The Final Rule returns! Bigger, better, and improvier than ever - The Final Rules manifests now as two simultaneously occurring and, as always, completely improvised campaigns.
Devoid of other options, Michael (Vincent Bianca,) Ssssssylvia (Sophia Brazda,) and Virgil (Chase Bernard) try to find answers where it all started to go wrong: the old bridge to the Suburbs. This City has agents seemingly everywhere enforcing their strange laws, and Naraaksi (played by Very Special Guest Spencer Bogran) would give almost anything to keep the rules enforced. After all, the City wouldn't do anything that wasn't right... right?
TFRs: Order is DMed by Justin Haflich.
Please enjoy!
The Final Rule(s) is a livestream and edited podcast produced by Arcadian Renaissance Theatre Creatives (ART-C,) a nonprofit organization from Livingston Parish, LA. Please visit us at https://www.art-c.org to learn more, and please consider donating to help us realize our goal of fair pay for our artists and collaborators.
We are ART-C.
Long ago, in a distant land, far beyond the reaches of common sense, a band of merry adventurers are stuck between order and chaos. So hang on to your data slab. And welcome to the final rule.
SPEAKER_03Hello everyone, and welcome to Mid-Conversation Podcast. Chase, you just uh were mid-sentence.
SPEAKER_02I've completely forgot what I was talking about, not gonna lie. Oh my goodness. I know. It's just like what a way to swim.
SPEAKER_15We're talking about how you wanted to swim the Barren Strait? Yeah, I wanted to swim.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I was just gonna swim the Bering Strait. You know, it's been my lifelong dream to swim this straight. Uh been training for it my entire life. Uh he has a really fast pace too. He's like, he's he's cranking through those meters.
SPEAKER_18What? What?
SPEAKER_07Don't do that. You can't do it this weekend. You promised to help me move.
SPEAKER_18Listen, uh if it's between moving and the Bering Strait, I gotta go with the Bering Strait. I'm sorry.
SPEAKER_03It's been his life dream. He's trained for it forever.
SPEAKER_02Listen, a promise is a promise.
SPEAKER_07If you've been training your whole life.
SPEAKER_02Well, because you pressured me, okay? Alright? You want me to say it on the stream?
SPEAKER_08You have a truck.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, everyone that has the truck. But you know what I also have? The strength to ride the waves on the Bering Strait. Ride the waves.
SPEAKER_03Welcome everyone to the Final Rule Order campaign. I am your dungeon master Justin Hayflick, and uh I will uh have our guests introduce themselves. I guess it is opposite of what uh I see. Yeah. We'll start, we'll start right here. Sophia.
SPEAKER_08Oh I wanted it to seem natural. Like the thought occurred to me to introduce myself. Uh hey, what's up, guys? Sophia Brasda here. I play Sis Sylvia in the order campaign.
SPEAKER_07Um doing a lot of fun things. It's gonna be super great, super fun. If anyone here wants to help me move, I would love that.
SPEAKER_02Sorry, you got a wedding this weekend. Sorry, I'm uh doing I'm busy. I have two jobs. Uh I'm doing nothing.
SPEAKER_08You're in. Okay. Oh.
SPEAKER_02Hi, I'm I'm Vincent Bianca. I'll be playing Michael today and every day uh that we're on this stream. God willing in the creek don't rise. Uh I'm not moving this weekend, so. Really?
SPEAKER_18You're not moving this weekend?
SPEAKER_02No crazy.
SPEAKER_18Um hi there, I'm Chase Bernard, and I play Virgil in the Order campaign.
SPEAKER_02Super excited to be back once again to corral this crazy situation that we've been put in, and by God, we we living in it.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, and then we have one well, I I would say a new maybe a new face, but not a new person. Um, wow. You want to introduce yourself?
SPEAKER_15Hey everyone. Um, my name is Spencer Bogran. Uh, I'm also the stream manager for the final rule and for both chaos and order, and I am also the stream manager that it uh is for Artsy.
SPEAKER_18He's cracked.
SPEAKER_15Yeah.
SPEAKER_18Excellent. Excellent. So, Justin, why why is there a fourth person here with us?
SPEAKER_03Oh, well, it's I'm glad you asked. So, um here on the final rule, we love to um uh showcase different artists and creators that um you know we we we we know and we'd like to uh we want to improv with them uh and you know kind of give them uh have some fun with them. Let them uh kind of bring a little bit more uh unknown into our campaigns. Because even if we are, let's say that the our party is improving and I'm doing no prep throughout an entire campaign, it's going to uh you know, ever we're gonna all find our groove, and there's not gonna be as much uh chaos, really, or uh you know, new things to kind of go off of. And so we like to to you know salt in some uh some guests to kind of spice things up.
SPEAKER_02Spice it up. Spice it up.
SPEAKER_17So you're telling me we got a spin spice today. Spencer's a spice. So we got a special spice. What kind of spice are you, Spencer? Spicy. Yeah, what spice are you?
SPEAKER_03What spice are you? Um oregano. Oregano, oregano. Ooh, I like it.
SPEAKER_18Wow. Really insightful.
SPEAKER_03Hell yeah. So uh yeah. Um at one point during uh tonight's session, hopefully uh before the last 15 minutes, um we'll uh spend the whole time. We'll hop in. We uh sitting here waving.
SPEAKER_18Uh you're just waving, yeah. Hey buddy. Um but as as a note, we've uh we've actually created a character generator so that right before the stream, Spencer has rolled a character that only him and the DM Justin know. Uh and it's all and he knows. Um and it's only it's only the stats, it's only the spells, it's nothing about backstory or anything. So Spencer is still having to improvise who this character is in this session today. So again, it's gonna be throwing a little spice into what we're doing, throwing in a character. We're gonna see what what what he's generated and what he's gonna become from that generation.
SPEAKER_03And it's oregano, so so loosen up y'all's wrists here.
SPEAKER_15We're getting I have no experience with improv before.
SPEAKER_17Um but you do have experience with D D. Yes, and that's all you need, baby. All you need. Yeah, all right.
SPEAKER_12Um it's been a month. Let me oh try to remember how to get a prompt. Which channel do I put it in?
SPEAKER_02Uh put it in uh the spoiler chat. Spoilers chat.
SPEAKER_12Spoiler chat. Hashtag such a spoiler.
SPEAKER_02Pull?
SPEAKER_18Yeah, it's like uh it should be pull underscore suggestion.
SPEAKER_02Yes. Oh. What do we do?
SPEAKER_18Yeah, the nude from Discord bots now all use slash, so you don't do a tilde anymore.
SPEAKER_03Oh slash pull. Okay, there it is. I'm here from the OG days. We had to do tilde.
SPEAKER_18Right? Well, man, what a what a time.
SPEAKER_02Right?
SPEAKER_10Are you kidding me? I'm not sure.
SPEAKER_03Don't help me. We don't have our suggestions.
SPEAKER_02This is no this is unprecedented. I don't know why this box keeps pulling Casey's suggestions. She is not the only one with suggestions.
SPEAKER_03She's on a roll. All right, so we have a suggestion from Casey. Uh we may we may just have to may just have to ban her from the buckets, Jim. No, no, you know what? You know what? You know what?
SPEAKER_17You know, Justin, do you want to pull a second suggestion too, just to really see what see what happens?
SPEAKER_03I'll I'll I'll pull it mid-session, but I I kind of like I kind of like this one. Um so this suggestion is from Casey on our Discord. Again, if you want to put suggestions in, join our Discord. Uh and it is an uncomfortable meat cute. Um man, I feel like we talked about this a few weeks ago, but the meat cute. Oh. Um I can't I can't think of what it's it's uh, you know, it's like uh, you know, whenever you use happenstances.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, you know where you meet you've got mail. That's his wedding.
SPEAKER_02I go to reach over for the same thing you reach over for. You turn the corner. Our hands both touch briefly. We pull back, but we look at each other, and we write there's a recognition there.
SPEAKER_08You're in a used bookstore.
SPEAKER_02Oh usually.
SPEAKER_16That important piece of paper flies off in the wind and they catch it for you.
SPEAKER_18Oh, there's a spark, and it's there, and you just feel the intensity of the moment between the but it's passing.
SPEAKER_07And then usually you are immediately separated and you spend the rest of the amount of time trying to find each other.
SPEAKER_02Like, think about who was this person that helped me pick up all my limes. Will I see them?
SPEAKER_03Can we just do like reverse DD session where you guys all are dungeon mastering for me? I wanna I want to be in this world. Oh, dude. You go into a meat cute.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_02Justin walks into a meat cute.
SPEAKER_03Roll initiative.
SPEAKER_02Roll initiative for your meat cute.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. Alright. So uh quick little recap. You guys have uh kind of been pulled into a strange but familiar place. It is it has the same shape, the same form as the city uh that you guys have lived in for an amount of time that you've lived in the city. Uh, I don't know how long most of you guys have lived in the city, actually, any of you guys, but uh the city that you guys uh kind of grown familiar, kind of call home, is strange. The water's green, the people are strange, walking in a rhythm, uh moving in a rhythm, eating in a rhythm. Uh the police are people, and the ducks are flesh ducks. There are flesh ducks. Um we can't forget about the flesh ducks. Um but so important. You guys end up after uh encountering the what was it? Scute duder? Yeah, the scute doer. I'm trying to I'm surprised I remembered that. The scute doer uh that was in the suburbs, you ended up here. Uh unfamiliar. All the buildings are made of glass and steel rather than the industrial feel that your city gives off with the brick and mortar and um and iron. You guys run to the um the bullet train, it's no longer there, replaced by a highway with a single car that you guys get a ride with and are taken to um a little diner. But of course, before you guys go into the diner, Sophia or Sylvia, Sylvia, sorry, thank you forgot proper pronunciation for proper pronunciation, yes, you had a sincere moment kissing your driver, which I think her name was Julia.
SPEAKER_06Yes, Julia.
SPEAKER_03And uh she has kind of this moment, this flicker of joy, but then she goes deadpan again as she says, Have a good day, happy to help, and drives off. Uh, you guys go into the diner, start discussing, trying to figure out what's happening. You can't read the menu because letters are stacked on top of each other. Uh, you can't order a five-eg omelette, they charge you for the honey packets, they charge you for the shakes of salt. Unbelievable. Michael was not happy about that. And all you guys left your money. So you guys have no money. You guys dine and dash, leaving Michael there, run to the back. Michael tries to run through the back door. Uh, it is locked with a keypad. Sylvia um uses witch bolt to start to melt the handle of the door as Virgil assists it with kicking the door down. Michael ripping it off as you guys dart through the alleys of this city with um losing the cops that are going 30 miles an hour. Um coming to a resting point, you guys run into this uh cute black cat who's sitting on a trash bin, an aluminum trash bin, as it's meowing at Michael. Michael kind of looks at it and then sees this glitching happening with it. As it starts uh looks like it starts deforming and multiple forms of itself kind of start separating. Whatever this is spreads to the trash bin underneath it as uh sweet potatoes start falling out and they start glitching in with the cat, as uh the one single cat splits into three panther-sized feline with aluminum uh shoulder uh shoulder blades and a trash bin lid on their heads, and their toes are replaced with sweet potatoes as these feral felines attack you guys. You guys are able to take them down, Virgil taking the front lines, Michael starting uh using the best uh best weapon that uh you know his creator gave him, his teeth, biting down on these things. Sylvia, she's uh wetting the cats down and they're not liking it. Virgil's able to one-shot one of them due to uh that um that them becoming super soggy and soft as uh to as uh then unfortunately Sylvia speaks to her patron again as um she says honey as she faceplants and um feeling a little bit defeated after trying to take the form of a hero. Um but as you guys defeated these cats, you guys see they begin shifting a little bit and back to the cute black cat sitting on the trash bin of sweet potatoes.
SPEAKER_02I want to get out of here as quickly as possible. Yeah, let's I I we d we're going back to the suburbs, right? That that's what we were doing. That's what we were doing.
SPEAKER_00I I don't want to even Sylvia, are you okay?
SPEAKER_08Oh my god, I'm a fucking failure. Oh my god.
SPEAKER_02Sylvia, I don't uh where did where did this come from?
SPEAKER_08You're not a Oh my god Sylvia, Sylvia, where my um sorry, I I don't even feel like an artist right now. I just sort of feel like a fucking like a bag of fucking limbs and in a fucking garbage trash can.
SPEAKER_02No, no.
SPEAKER_08I don't deserve to breathe.
SPEAKER_02No, Michael, does she normally do this? I haven't seen this kind of happen before. You're the most you're the most talented artist I know. I I look up to the physical work you create.
SPEAKER_07I hate the divorce papers. Oh my god. What's so sweet of you, Michael? Michael, that's very sweet. I um I can't seem to access my um well, my my well, my actor's well right now.
SPEAKER_02Oh no, the bubbling well? What is it?
SPEAKER_07That's right, the bubbling well. Are you familiar with the bubbling well metaphor, Virgil?
SPEAKER_02No.
SPEAKER_07You learned about it in day one of acting school.
SPEAKER_02Oh, we have time.
SPEAKER_07In day one of acting school, they sit you down and they show you pictures of everyone who's ever made it, every famous person who ever exists, and they pointed you in the face and they go, listen every actually Jesus says the exact following words. Listen above these ate you. They could be if you go to the well that's in your soul, asshole, and then they spit on your face and they give you a two-minute Shakespearean monologue.
SPEAKER_02Why would you go to acting school? That sounds absolutely like uh terrible. Like like they're they're like demeaning.
SPEAKER_07The highest craft in the world is essentialized uh electricians and coal miners.
SPEAKER_02Uh I wouldn't say that, but uh you know what? You you do your thing. Uh Sylvia, are you fe you feeling better?
SPEAKER_07Um yeah, talking about the well made me feel a little bit better. Thank you.
SPEAKER_02Great. Glad I could help. Glad I could help.
SPEAKER_07I love metaphors. Hooray!
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Yeah, hooray. How about we get out of this alleyway and we start heading toward the suburbs, you know, before the police find us again. No, I'm not. Oh, it's that cat.
SPEAKER_03The cat jumps down, tries to rub it, rub it against your uh leg, Michael.
SPEAKER_02It isn't touch it. They all tasted bad too. Like, I bit all of them. They didn't taste good. But but also this guy, this guy's oh, he's rubbing against my leg. He oh, he really, he's really sorted for attention. I'm gonna go, I'm gonna go.
SPEAKER_07He's not even real.
SPEAKER_02I'ma try to. I'm a I'ma pet him. I'ma pet him. He's one million. Uh yeah, roll me a quick animal handling check.
SPEAKER_03Uh my animal handling is if and again, you do you should still have some free skills that you can uh um That's uh that's a 13 animal handling. Thirteen, okay. Okay. Yeah, the the cat uh lets you pick it up. Seems seems sweet enough. Oh yeah. Alright, I'm cool. Flesh cat. Crazy.
SPEAKER_02This is so very weird that we're seeing a lot of living, breathing animals here. This is You tasted so bad, but you're being so nice to me now.
SPEAKER_07Well just just put it down and and we'll be on our way. Okay.
SPEAKER_02Alright. I'll put it down, but if it follows us, that's all that's on it, alright? That's Michael, please, we don't need to get attached to it to a cat, alright? Let's just keep going. It might become attached to us, though. Who's who's to say? Who's to say who becomes a train? Yeah, Michael, I let's just go and you let the cat do its own thing, alright? The cat can do its own thing wherever it wants to do it. Michael, do you want to bring the cat with us? I can take it or leave it.
SPEAKER_07The cat that just tried to kill us? No, Michael, you cannot bring the cat.
SPEAKER_02It literally I like I I have scratches like all over my body. Like it's like I've I got he is always trying to do this.
SPEAKER_07Whenever we uh lived together last year, Michael tried to bring in three separate gerbils. They were little robotic gerbil type things.
SPEAKER_03Purring against your chest, Michael.
SPEAKER_02Oh my gosh. Okay, okay, okay. If I if I put if I put this cat down and it follows us, I'm not gonna stop that, okay? I'm I'm gonna I I I place it down. I'm like, alright. I will okay. Out of my hands now. I'm just gonna start walking, guys. Yep, me as well. I'm following. I look back at the cat. You see the cat starts following. Oh no, we have a cat.
SPEAKER_09Alright.
SPEAKER_03Oh I guess Michael is a cat. Uh you guys are heading over towards uh the uh trying to head towards the suburbs, you said, right?
SPEAKER_02Absolutely.
SPEAKER_03Alright.
SPEAKER_17We wanna we want to find that old bridge.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, yeah. So you guys uh continue walking uh as probably about it's probably about an hour from where you guys are at. As you look and you see a you kind of get to the spot to where like the bridge is going over the old river that used to go across the um the the the um sands, the the barren wastelands used to be a river that the bridge was. Going over, you see the river that's there, and off in the far distance, you do see the suburbs.
SPEAKER_02Oh, I feel like it took us a very much shorter amount of time to get to the bridge in the well, I guess that was purpose.
SPEAKER_03I well just some clarification the bridge went from the city to the suburbs.
SPEAKER_02Oh, okay, okay, okay. Dang, this was this should be a long bridge.
SPEAKER_03Well, I mean, have you driven Baton Rouge? That's a big old bridge. Fair enough. Or not Baton Rouge, sorry. Uh New Orleans. They got that overpass.
SPEAKER_02I'd say that counts as a big old bridge. They got a big bridge, also. Oh, you're talking about uh they got a big old bridge.
SPEAKER_03You ever get stuck on the bridge heading to laugh yet? That's a big old bridge.
SPEAKER_02I have a big bridge. That bridge was a cosway before. So I guess we start walking on this bridge.
SPEAKER_03As uh you guys begin uh and roll me some perception checks. Oh boy.
SPEAKER_17Let's see what we got here.
SPEAKER_02I got that four I don't see anything as my eyes are closed.
SPEAKER_03Uh Sylvia, um you noticed most of the entire party just the lack of color really in the city. Everything's gray, everything's kind of a dull silver, black, off-white. Everything's been extremely kind of gray. Just past the bridge, however, you see the sparkling water is this uh bright blue color. You see the green grass off in the distance, you see the roofs of the houses uh several miles out that are scattered about, um, and you know, the colorful roofs of the suburbs. Um a very juxtaposition to what you're seeing here in the city.
SPEAKER_07Tell us Yeah, what's up?
SPEAKER_17Yeah, uh huh.
SPEAKER_07Is that a d do you sort of notice a sort of mirage, uh technicolor-esque situation going on past Yay Bridge?
SPEAKER_17Uh you know, now that oh yeah, now that you mention it, it kind of does look a little like we're going into color?
SPEAKER_02That's weird. I thought I already was colored. This is Well, I don't think you say that anymore, but uh No, you know, I guys, please, hold on.
SPEAKER_12Don't you think it's kind of interesting? Wait, wait, wait, please don't cancel me. Please, please. Michael, cancel! It's already funny.
SPEAKER_07But don't you think it's kind of interesting though, that for an entire city that actually has, you could argue, more life, more real animals, more real cops behaving like the real ass people, even though they aren't even in real life. Isn't that all sort of, you know, interesting? The juxtaposition of the two.
SPEAKER_17I mean, I I figured it was just maybe the pollution or something.
SPEAKER_07I don't know. Perhaps. Makes me want to kind of get over the bridge.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, good enough reason. Let's go. All right, we're we're trucking.
SPEAKER_07But fellas, uh w one other thing, and I I kind of stop them again. Like I'm like do-do-do-do, bop. Um did you sort of notice everyone sort of seemed to be sort of in a in a in a fugue state of sorts, in a Bahangalagongas, in a in a trance of sorts, of a choose a what's it's uh an icy mid in the old brain.
SPEAKER_17You don't need to you don't need to keep adding adjectives.
SPEAKER_02I I know what you mean. Oh, all of those things. It made me so uncomfortable. Yeah, I would agree with you there, for sure.
SPEAKER_07It seems like the people say um I feel bad for these people.
SPEAKER_02What do you mean? They all uh sick up their ass. They couldn't relax.
SPEAKER_06Yeah.
SPEAKER_17Maybe that's maybe that's just how they're how they are here.
SPEAKER_02I I mean maybe they don't know any other way.
SPEAKER_07But that that driver, Julia, people with the supple cheeks I kissed.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, where when I was stuffed in the car, yeah, I think I remember that.
SPEAKER_07It was a moment. I I I swear I I saw in her eyes something, um something sort of wake up. And I'm not even that good of a kisser.
SPEAKER_02Wait, what do you mean like you think like maybe there's a spell on them or something?
SPEAKER_07Maybe I I don't really know what we could do about it, but I I I would feel bad to leave while having them still stuck like that.
SPEAKER_02I mean, there's a bridge here, we can always come back if we feel the need to, but I think first we gotta get our bearings and figure out what's going on. I mean, why are we here?
SPEAKER_07Okay. Virgil, can you make me that promise? Uh uh, well, I don't Virgil, please.
SPEAKER_02I mean, we don't know what I I think I know where Sylvia's going with this. We may have a responsibility. Whoa, guys, I don't know if we have a responsibility. To leave this place better than we found it.
SPEAKER_09You're right, Michael. Yes.
SPEAKER_02No, no, no, no. Why do you think we we have no response? We literally are. The artist's way?
SPEAKER_07Yes. Every morning you do 10 minutes of journaling for your artist goals.
SPEAKER_02How do you live like this?
SPEAKER_07It's it's awesome. It's a great way to live, buddy.
SPEAKER_02It's the artist's way, is the only way to live. So wait, no, let me let me stop you there. You wake up in the morning and you fill out a journal and and then that suddenly makes you- Oh, okay. Alright. Alright, my hopes. And what does that do?
SPEAKER_07Makes me an artist.
SPEAKER_02Makes my hand tired. Okay. Well, I um Sylvia, I I we we I don't know where you're getting- I mean, okay, I maybe as an artist you feel uh that you need to be connected to these people that we've just met, but you know, I'm a realist here, and I think that we, you know, need to serve ourselves before we did you ever have a dream? Well of course of course I had a dream. I mean, who hasn't? What was it? Yeah, I want to know.
SPEAKER_07And I I kind of pull Michael down and we sort of we literally on the edge of the bridge sort of like sit like this with our feet up. Tell us!
SPEAKER_02What's your dream? What's your what did you want to do?
SPEAKER_07Tell us before you get boring.
SPEAKER_02Right. Hung out on a bench all the time.
SPEAKER_07Realist! What the fuck?
SPEAKER_02You really want to know what my dream is?
SPEAKER_07Yes, yes, we didn't say it.
SPEAKER_02No, you're gonna think it's stupid if I try to leave the situation.
unknownNo.
SPEAKER_03Virgil starts walking. Uh and actually, Virgil, as you kind of walk uh past them towards uh uh the suburbs, seeing uh, you know, walking past Sylvia and Michael sitting crisscross applesauce, ready for story time, you see a figure off in a distance looking like they're like scratching at something. Uh something just in the middle of the bridge.
SPEAKER_02Do y'all see that on the other end of the bridge? Oh I I go to look.
SPEAKER_03Michael, I would uh tell me, Spencer, would you be wearing like any sort of hood or anything like that?
SPEAKER_15Um No, I'm thinking I'm wearing actually uh pretty bland looking clothes, but like very colorful uh scales.
SPEAKER_03Okay. Yeah, Michael, you immediately notice, I mean, just from their shape, a lizard folk off in the distance. Um Sylvia, you it looks like they're given like a really good, like mime impression. Facing the the suburbs.
SPEAKER_08Oh my goodness.
SPEAKER_03Oh no.
SPEAKER_02Hey, what what's going on? Brother I call out. Guys, I don't think we should call to the mysterious stranger at the other side of the bridge until we know what's girlfriend! Oh god.
SPEAKER_03Oh no. Their backs towards you. Please! I need to hide.
SPEAKER_02I have a couple of things.
SPEAKER_03They're only about uh maybe 100, 150 uh feet away from you. Still like you guys are basically just getting up like the ramp to get on the pro rip bridge proper. They're up at the top, like where the bridge kind of flattens out and starts heading over the river.
SPEAKER_02I'm gotta meet this guy.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, I'd hate to disrupt his artist space, but oh my god. I mean, look at his mime work.
SPEAKER_02We we guys I think I think we should maybe find like a maybe another way around. There's no other way. Another way around? It's a bridge. There's on and then there's off. There's over. Point A. And then there's out. There's all right, you know what? You you two are actors, right?
SPEAKER_07Well, I'm I just artist, theater, artists, performers, mostly physical stuff, you know. Michael's more physical theater, you know.
SPEAKER_02I don't need the specifics, alright? Okay. I sub I uh uh uh I I I I say that we do a little bit of a of an acting exercise.
SPEAKER_06Oh, virtually you are a dreamer!
SPEAKER_02Uh yeah, uh yes I am. I uh I I'm thinking that we, you know, maybe we all together, you know, we we just we act like we don't see them.
SPEAKER_07Kissing.
SPEAKER_02Uh that was not where I was gonna go with this.
SPEAKER_07Um you can't see him because we're falling in love.
SPEAKER_02I I know that uh no, that's not you this was a terrible idea.
SPEAKER_07I should- No, no, no, I I see where your head's at, Virgil. I'm completely on the same page as you. I love it. Um okay. Ooh, I've never been in a th- Okay, it's been a couple of years since my last thruple. Let me try to put myself in the energy of it.
SPEAKER_03Oh, and lovers, I'd say they're definitely making enough ruckus for you to hear. Um you're I mean, you're kind of pounding against this invisible force here.
SPEAKER_16Oh excuse me. Who's there? Uh you guys hear something? Uh hello? You guys down there? That's the lower. Hey, what are you guys doing?
SPEAKER_09Sorry, we were busy having group sex.
SPEAKER_08No, it's up in public?
SPEAKER_00That's not true.
SPEAKER_16That's not true. No, I'm not sure.
SPEAKER_08You're such a good actor. You're so good at this. I love that.
SPEAKER_02He's being so defensive. He's so embarrassed. He's in the character. He's in the this is me.
SPEAKER_16Wait, I'm gonna come down to see you guys. You can't be doing that here. What?
SPEAKER_09Can we can we beat you?
SPEAKER_16Halfway? What? You don't wanna come up here. There's nothing to see. I check this every day and it still doesn't change. I can't leave. What are you checking? I'm I'm trying to leave. There's something blocking my way.
SPEAKER_02I'm gonna go up. I'm not gonna have this yelling. Michael, alright. Alright, I follow reluctantly. Is the cat still following us? Oh, hell yeah. Sweet potato? That's his name. Sweet potato.
SPEAKER_12Sweet potato, I love it.
SPEAKER_17Yeah, we love sweet potato.
SPEAKER_03Uh yeah, so you guys head up uh to this uh yeah, Spencer, do you want to describe your character?
SPEAKER_15See uh my character is a lizard folk. Uh my name is Noratsky. Oh.
SPEAKER_16Um, I am dressed in um like regular business clothes. Um, I have like a little on my belt, I have a little um pin pad of uh like forms and stuff. Uh I'm carrying a clipboard. Um, but my scales are like absolutely colorful as can be, like a rainbow uh uh set of scales, really contrasting between my like very like black and white like uh clothing and with a like a simple just like red tie. Um what are you what are you guys doing here? You're the bridge is off limits. This doesn't go anywhere. Did you not see the signs?
SPEAKER_07But it does go somewhere. We can see where it goes.
SPEAKER_16No, no, no, right there. No, no, no. The city doesn't allow people over here. And is that a cat? Is that a cat I see there? I'm highly allergic.
SPEAKER_02Oh no.
SPEAKER_17I'm gonna whisper to Sylvia and just be like, it doesn't seem like he is in a trance or anything.
SPEAKER_07I was going to say he doesn't really seem to be part of the city.
SPEAKER_02But yet he works for the city, maybe. Hey, dude, is it Are you telling us is it you saying we can't cross, or is it the city saying we can't cross?
SPEAKER_16Um I'm saying you can't cross, but the city has ordinances here that you can't cross too.
SPEAKER_02So you just work for the city?
SPEAKER_16No, no, no. I just enforce their rules. Why?
SPEAKER_02For fun?
SPEAKER_16Well, I like to have things in order, and it it's very satisfying to me that rules are followed, so I'm gonna have to write you a personal citation. Oh I I I I take out my little uh pin pad from my belt and I write a little note.
SPEAKER_02Can I can I try to knock it out of his hand?
SPEAKER_03Um yeah, sure. Uh both of you guys roll a quick uh slide of hand or athletics or acrobatics check.
SPEAKER_17Uh I'm gonna do I'll I'll do athletics. Okay, athletics? Yeah. Okay. That is a Jesus Christ, that's a seven. What is wrong with me? Uh that is a 11.
SPEAKER_16Don't you knock my my pen, my pad. This is I've had this one for years. I just keep refilling it. So yeah, don't do that. That's another citation. I write out another one.
SPEAKER_07Um, and then can I try to eat it? Like rip it out and stuff it out. The new one.
SPEAKER_03Uh give me a quick slide of hand against that 11.
SPEAKER_08Oh no, it's a three. Oh my god.
SPEAKER_03All right, let's see what he you you you don't you like miss on grabbing it and then go to like just bite the notepad as Narah Noroxy uh pulls back.
SPEAKER_16What's wrong with you people? To keep writing you more citations. I have more paper. Don't you fret.
SPEAKER_02Let's we're just try we're we're I I I don't want to interrupt a fellow scale brother. That doesn't seem fair or right. You know what? I'm gonna cross.
SPEAKER_03And I'm gonna I'm gonna actively try to pass noroxy as as I as I go and try to finish out this bridge, since it just seems like this guy is just being you you walk past him, and as you do, straight into what feels like a glass wall as you fall backwards.
SPEAKER_16Oh you can't go anywhere.
SPEAKER_02That was really good. No, I know, wonderful, spectacular. Um performer is in you. I wasn't performing! And some it feels that way sometimes.
SPEAKER_08Very funny, Virgil. And I I'm just walking, and and I also had to wear the same thing.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, you're big attention to snout, really sore.
SPEAKER_08Oh my god. Oh my god.
SPEAKER_02I want to go, I want to go walk up and like I wanna go to it too. I'm not gonna ride into it. I'm gonna like be cautious, poke out to it, feel out to it.
SPEAKER_03You reach out and you feel a solid what feels like a solid cold object in front of you.
SPEAKER_02Smooth. Uh rub it. Wow. Hey, what's the deal with this?
SPEAKER_07Yeah, why doesn't the city let anyone over?
SPEAKER_16Not the city, it just it's just there. It's just the city. The city just knows that it's there. Oh, it's a like the city's just being complacent with it? The city doesn't care about it. The city is only caring about the city, you know.
SPEAKER_07You don't really seem to be part of the city. You're not like anyone else we've met here.
SPEAKER_16I'm kind of outside the city, but like I like the city. Okay. Do you not see how I dress? I'd like to fit in here.
SPEAKER_02Did you like, I don't know, stumble in accidentally or something?
SPEAKER_07Or did you find a weird portal full of water?
SPEAKER_02Oh yeah. Did you happen to find a weird portal, maybe fall into a lake? Did you also dine and dash?
SPEAKER_16I I would never dine and dash. That is neither unheard of. It's scandalous. Yeah, we know what paper is. We'd kill them if we found them.
SPEAKER_17Uh they would. Yeah. No, sorry.
SPEAKER_16I've been checking this this bridge because I thought it was the only way I could leave the city just so I could go on vacation. Um, because I felt like I earned one. And I couldn't leave. And it's been now probably about, I would say, let me let me take a look at my notepad. Almost like 2,000 days of me checking.
SPEAKER_072000.
SPEAKER_164,000 days.
SPEAKER_07Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Maybe a year at best. I don't think that's correct. I think that's more than that. But uh Maximum. Alright.
SPEAKER_16Yeah. I I just kinda check every day just so I can finally go on my vacation, but otherwise I just go and do my job.
SPEAKER_07Uh where do you excuse me, but yeah, where's where's your job?
SPEAKER_16Where yeah. Well, it's more of like a self-appointed job than I I go and I just check to make sure everything is being done properly.
SPEAKER_02So wait, hold on, let me get this straight. You have just decided to take it upon yourself to make sure that people don't cross a barrier that they can't cross anyway. Yeah. And you're doing this out of the kindness of your own heart.
SPEAKER_16No, no, no. That's just one of my tasks. I have more. I gotta make sure that people are uh where they're supposed to be every day. Um everyone kind of operates in this kind of like weird clockwork fashion. It's kind of cool just to see everyone move in like the same pattern every single day.
SPEAKER_07So no one is telling you to do this. You just think it's kinda cool. And so you just sort of walk around and make sure that everything's the same every day?
SPEAKER_16Yeah, exactly. Don't you love like a factory line, just like everything is like a cookie cutter, one after another? I it's just simplicity and perfection. Order at its finest.
SPEAKER_02I am going to quickly like go, uh Noroxy, can you can you uh hold on for just one moment and I'm gonna get Sylvia and Michael into a huddle real quick. I have an idea. So clearly, this person who is somewhat outside the city, inside the city, seems to know how this place operates. I say we get him to spill the beans on what's going on in this city, and maybe just get him to You know, help us get our bearings here until we can figure out how to get out of here.
SPEAKER_07Virgil, I like where your head's at. Um, if you may, follow my lead.
SPEAKER_02Uh all right. Oh, I'm game. Oh no.
SPEAKER_07Why, Mr. Noratsky? I'm reading the name tag, I guess. We didn't realize it was you. We we have long since heard tell of your self-appointed um burden. Um, and we've appreciated the work you've done in the city. We it's our we're first timers, we're tourists, and oh my gosh, you've been doing such a good job.
SPEAKER_16Oh my thank you.
SPEAKER_07We um we came all this way to the bridge for no other reason but to shadow you on your route.
SPEAKER_16They they sent backup the people that enjoy seeing everything just work in perfect order. Fine.
SPEAKER_07Those people who are named uh think of their name.
SPEAKER_02That you clearly would know the name of and say at this point in time.
SPEAKER_07In charge.
SPEAKER_16Wait, are you are you here with the the city, the city's people?
SPEAKER_09Yes. Right, boys?
SPEAKER_02Right! Absolutely.
SPEAKER_09We're the city people.
SPEAKER_02You know Bill? Oh, we love Bill.
SPEAKER_07Bill is my dad.
SPEAKER_16Uh uh in a spiritual sense. You don't look anything like Bill, but I Bill couldn't get up to some things, maybe.
SPEAKER_07Mentor Mentee found me as a baby on the side of the road in a basket like Moses.
SPEAKER_16Oh, okay. I didn't know Bill likes kids, but maybe he has a hidden life. Um, I didn't observe that. Let me check my notes real quick. Sylvia, please tone it down.
SPEAKER_02And she's grown now, so not a kid anymore. Don't have to like kids now. She's a grown-up.
SPEAKER_09Yeah.
SPEAKER_16Well, if Bill sent you here and yes, Yay Bill.
SPEAKER_09Call him Gabil dude.
SPEAKER_02Gay Bill Dad.
SPEAKER_16I'm learning so much stuff that I should probably not know. I probably should contact HR now.
SPEAKER_07Um, actually, HR's here, right, Michael?
SPEAKER_02Yep. You see my cat right here? Sweet potato. It's actually an HR Sentinel.
SPEAKER_16I'm I'm highly allergic to cats. And a lot of other things, actually.
SPEAKER_03Uh the cat begins walking over to June.
SPEAKER_16Oh my god!
SPEAKER_02Sounds like you're offended by the HR Sentinel.
SPEAKER_07We're gonna have to write you up, and then I take out a little notepad and I start writing a little BB written up!
SPEAKER_16Never you can't do that!
SPEAKER_07Responded allergenically to HR Sentinel Cat. I I'm sorry! I I I'm not gonna like this.
SPEAKER_16I quickly go into like a another side pouch and I pull out like a little like uh like potion that's just my this is my allergy medicine, give me a second. Take all the I think I should be fine for a a while now.
SPEAKER_02Dang, you must run into that a lot then.
SPEAKER_16There's there's a lot of alive things here that I'm allergic to. I've noticed.
SPEAKER_07Have you heard of it? Maybe where everything isn't so alive?
SPEAKER_16Yeah, I I think I remember a time when things weren't alive, but it's been a while.
SPEAKER_07Oh, uh and and um again, we're just sort of asking verification questions to make sure that you are who you say you are, so we can continue the uh shadowing. Um how long ago would this have been?
SPEAKER_16Um I think almost like 20 years ago.
SPEAKER_07Good answer. Yes, it was 20 years ago. And I kind of look at Virgil like 20 years ago.
SPEAKER_02Uh no, okay.
SPEAKER_07All right, because because this year is hold on, hold on.
unknownYep.
SPEAKER_02Justin has it written down 2416.
SPEAKER_162416. Don't don't you know? Like, haven't you seen the newspapers?
SPEAKER_02Oh no, wait, this is verification. Verification. No, actually, you know what it is. You know your stuff. Yeah.
SPEAKER_16Yeah. I mean, I was confused when I first arrived, but after like the first five years, I kind of got a hang of things.
SPEAKER_07And how did you arrive?
SPEAKER_16Um, I honestly don't remember much anymore. It's kind of a haze, but I've just kind of accepted being part of the city.
SPEAKER_02Uh oh, great. Uh you know what? We could put a pin in that don't remember thing. Uh glad that you're part of the city now. Uh, we as you know representatives coming to shadow you. Um we don't we don't wanna we don't wanna keep keep you, you know, obviously waiting. We want to see your routine.
SPEAKER_16We want to see where you go, see what, see your tasks. All right. Well, the next thing I have to go see is uh Margaret at the City Hall. She does a wonderful every time at like around like three o'clock, she is always there and she is always uh going to be stamping out the people that are coming outside of City Hall. It's a fantastic sight to see. She just makes sure that everyone is going. Uh, if they're coming out of the building, they have the right paperwork and they're not taking anything they're not supposed to.
SPEAKER_07That's great. We love gay Margaret.
SPEAKER_02Sylvia, but stop putting gay in front of every name.
SPEAKER_07It's not it's a good thing to be. I don't know what's going on.
SPEAKER_02I mean, it's sure, but like I don't we don't want to write ourselves into a hole here.
SPEAKER_07I mean, have you seen these people? I don't know, nothing.
SPEAKER_03You guys uh start heading towards a city hall. Um it's you're heading back towards the park area and um probably about a 30-minute walk across town. Um you see a few um you see a few people out walking, uh again, and you can kind of notice them in the same rhythm. You hear a little like almost sound like a alarm bell going off in one of these buildings as you see a line of people just start uh walking out in single file both directions down the sidewalk. Um you see a group of ten and then another group of ten kind of walking out and going their separate ways, um, all in rhythm as you guys kind of are walking past it's this um this bank. You can see on the clock, it just struck five o'clock.
unknownOkay.
SPEAKER_16Seven, eight, nine, ten. Okay, that one's all in order. Okay. That that that was the right that was the right count. Okay, everything's going good at the bank right now.
SPEAKER_02Great. And uh yeah, great.
SPEAKER_16Uh and again, these people are here leaving the bank for they they they go in there, they kind of stand at the booths, like in front of the booths, like they're exchanging money, but they never take money, and then they kind of just sit there for like almost eight hours. Impressive work. But then they just walk out. And I've I've gone in there a few times just to kind of make sure that whatever they're doing, they're doing it the same time over and over again. Um, and they are, it's it's kind of impressive.
SPEAKER_07You've never thought that was kind of weird, like hypothetically, of course.
SPEAKER_16Yeah, yeah. Well, I I just like the simplicity of it. That they're just willing to sit there and do nothing. It's very exciting to me.
SPEAKER_02Okay. It's great. That's that's great. That's the answer we wanted to hear.
SPEAKER_06Okay, what's next? Yeah, what's next?
SPEAKER_03Uh around the corner, you guys turn and head straight towards uh this large um glass building. It's probably about three stories high, all glass windows up it, and it is just this perfect rectangular building. Um you guys walk towards it, and you can see a uh digital clock strike uh 5.07 as you guys walk in the front door. You see um marble floors on the ground. Uh to your left, you see a few desks where people are writing on some pieces of paper. You see some desks on the right side where some people have some computers that they're working on. Um, but in the very center, there's this round desk here, and in the center of it is uh this older lady, uh this elvish um woman. And it seems like she's um I mean for an elf she seems I mean she seems pretty pretty old. She's she's starting to she looks like probably aged like she's 40, which means she's several hundred years old.
SPEAKER_02Um older than twenty.
SPEAKER_03Older than twenty.
SPEAKER_09Um as uh she is sitting here and yes, yes, yes, your papers, your papers.
SPEAKER_07Well, if it isn't straight, Margaret She looks over, puts her finger up to her lips.
SPEAKER_03What do you mean? As she's talking to this dwarvish this uh dwarvish man that's that's kind of walked up. Um Okay, your papers seem in line. Let me see your pass. Thank you. She takes a pass from her, this big ol' stamp, and then hands it back to him. All right, Mr.
SPEAKER_14Jefferson, you have a pleasant evening. Are you not in a single file?
SPEAKER_02I immediately get behind Naraxy. Yeah, same.
SPEAKER_16Hey Margaret, it's it's me again! I I came to just check to make sure that everything's going fine over here.
SPEAKER_14Um, yes, Naraxie. Um everything's going fine. Um actually, um I'm not supposed to tell you this, but you've actually been banned from the premises.
SPEAKER_16What why would I be banned? I I come here every day. I've come here every day for the last I don't know how long, and I've just For the past five years you haven't been on the list anymore. That would mean I'm in violation.
SPEAKER_14Yeah, I I wanted to tell you you're uh you're a nice fellow but I just you know um if Bill were to see you, he would not be happy.
SPEAKER_07Well, here he is. So maybe Bill should get down here and see him.
SPEAKER_14Sylvia, we don't we don't uh uh him Right, right You have no It's not your turn. You're in line, you're third in line right now, ma'am.
SPEAKER_07Yes, uh just thinking out loud because this guy's holding up the line, right?
SPEAKER_02Oh, ridiculous. I got places to be.
SPEAKER_14I'm sorry, Naraski. It's just you know, um you know what they do with people in violation after third strike. And I mean, your third strike is or your first strike is is a pretty tough one to swallow.
SPEAKER_16I guess it's the next person in line's turn now.
SPEAKER_14Pleasant day in a relaxy. I don't think it's gonna be ever pleasant again.
SPEAKER_07Uh can I can I kind of throw a whisper to Norafsky as he kind of what uh what what uh the third strike of course means that you get you you get like removed removed removed from just from ever What is that?
SPEAKER_14You just don't you're not there You don't exist You never existed You're just gone Oh Um Sir Virgil uh Yes what do you need?
SPEAKER_02Um I um You know what I plain old forgot when I started standing up here. Silly me.
SPEAKER_17Um I'm just gonna get to the back of the line while I reevaluate my priorities.
unknownUh-oh.
SPEAKER_14Okay, yes. Um, it is your turn now.
SPEAKER_07Hello Good day to you.
SPEAKER_14Yeah.
SPEAKER_07Um I I am here to see Bill.
SPEAKER_14Bill, do you have an appointment with Bill?
SPEAKER_07I do. I do, yes. 1215. Oh sorry, 5.15 appointment with Bill.
SPEAKER_14515. Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_07I'm here a little early. I hope that's okay.
SPEAKER_14You're actually a little late. I mean it's it's 512 right now. I mean, you're almost on time, and and if you're on time, you're late.
SPEAKER_07Well, I I would have been, but this this guy was holding up the line, you know, for strike and all that.
SPEAKER_14But it looks like his last appointment was his it it at 5.
SPEAKER_07I'm pretty sure. 515 today, yeah. Um must have been a mix-up.
SPEAKER_14I don't usually mix up on those schedule.
SPEAKER_07Darling, I I I know that. Clearly you're the best at what you do. Um I'm just saying maybe it's a system error.
SPEAKER_03Uh roll me a persuasion or deception check. Oh boy.
SPEAKER_08Oh.
SPEAKER_03Uh, and if you if you do have skills, you're free to. What did we get?
SPEAKER_08That 20!
SPEAKER_03Yeah!
SPEAKER_07Oh my god.
SPEAKER_02Do I need skills? You don't need skills when you got these dice. You got talent.
SPEAKER_14Yeah. Oh my god. All right. Um, actually, you know what?
SPEAKER_03Uh, there was an appointment here, and she uh starts uh clicking on the computer.
SPEAKER_14Oh, it looks like there was an appointment here that was deleted. I wonder if that was I'll have to do an appointment. My assistant oftentimes. I will um well I have to start closing up. Um I just I'm sure that's Roxy, would you be able to show them up to the I I I just I just have so much work I have to do right now. Would you be able to show them up to Bill's office?
SPEAKER_02Oh absolutely.
SPEAKER_07Yes, you're feeling it. Yeah, yes, girl.
SPEAKER_02You're doing it.
SPEAKER_16I can gladly, but what about the first strike?
SPEAKER_14I'll I'll I'll put it in the notes that I that uh I needed your assistance and I called you in, okay?
SPEAKER_16Can I can I get the first strike removed?
SPEAKER_14I was warning you so you wouldn't get the first strike. You don't have a first strike yet. Oh, so I I won't get a first strike.
unknownYes!
SPEAKER_14Not yet. Not yet.
SPEAKER_02Let's not overstay our welcome. Let's continue.
SPEAKER_10Let's get up there.
SPEAKER_14Yes, I can't um head on up to Bill, if you will.
SPEAKER_16I can't believe you actually had an appointment. That's amazing!
SPEAKER_08What what it I mean, it's that's your ass I I did. He's my dad.
SPEAKER_02Spiritually. Emotionally.
SPEAKER_07If he remembers me because he has Alzheimer's. Yes, he does, and he keeps it a secret.
SPEAKER_02He pretends like he doesn't have it. It's really sad. It's an issue of pride, honestly.
SPEAKER_07And for me, actually, I pretend like I don't know him either, so I don't throw off his day.
SPEAKER_02Please don't bring up his Alzheimer's or the fat or the silence or his daughter or the being gay. That that's not any of those things.
SPEAKER_07All of those are secrets. My deeply closeted Alzheimer's riddled mentor father.
SPEAKER_16On the honor of my notepad, I will.
SPEAKER_07Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We appreciate it. Yes. You're gonna hear this.
SPEAKER_03Head up uh the stairs uh on the left side, and Noroxy, you head towards Bill's office. The last door in the hallway that is one of the front corner offices. Um you see uh you see a big nameplate uh Bill Bond.
SPEAKER_07Here we are.
SPEAKER_16A knock on Bill's door, the customary uh one, two, three, one, two, three, one, two, three. Oh. You gotta know the knocks around here.
SPEAKER_07Oh well now, yes, and and you got that right. So uh Virgil, write that down. Ten points to Noratsky for getting that right.
SPEAKER_16Absolutely. Uh come in. Hey, Bill, I I have your appointment, your your your 515 appointment.
SPEAKER_03Uh, Margaret was walking, uh, and you see this large, large figure. Uh shoulders standing probably at about 13 foot high. Uh broad shoulders. You see he is sitting behind this oversized desk. Uh, you guys walk in almost feeling like toddlers into his office. Uh, you see coming, probably one of the first things after seeing his wide shoulders. He is wearing this very slick uh suit, gray suit with a uh black tie on it, white undershirt, and he is you s first thing you see from that is his red skin. He has this large beard and these two giant horns that are reaching straight up towards the sky. Uh and as you guys walk in, umxia.
SPEAKER_14You aren't supposed to be on the premises.
SPEAKER_16Bill, uh Margaret needed help, and I I you know how I am. I I love to help out, and I love to make sure things are running smoothly in the city. I don't even know why I would be not allowed on the premise. You know I come here every day.
SPEAKER_14Yes, but you haven't been on the schedule for five years.
SPEAKER_16I know how that happened. I I would I've always submitted all the forms. I should still be working.
SPEAKER_02Well, no uh not to burst your bubble, Noroxki, but you you did say you were trying to take a vacation, maybe something happened with that.
SPEAKER_16PTO Did HR not approve my my HR's here! It's I I point to the I point to the the cat HR's here! I thought I had my vacation approved.
SPEAKER_14This is your I'm very confused. The cat is your HR.
SPEAKER_16They said it was the city's HR in my HR. That I had to I had to follow the rules for. We forgot to tell them not to talk about it.
SPEAKER_07That is we got you! Didn't we? Didn't we get boys?
SPEAKER_00Just a little office humor.
SPEAKER_07The classic cat works in HR.
SPEAKER_02That's a funny prank.
SPEAKER_07Yes, Bill.
SPEAKER_03Begins eyeing you three.
SPEAKER_07Bill. Hello.
SPEAKER_02I'm gonna slowly whisper. Are you never mind?
SPEAKER_16These are my shadows, my mentees that I'm supposed to be showing around town to follow my schedule. That way I can take my vacation. Yes.
SPEAKER_14The city's people sent them to shadow you.
SPEAKER_16Yes. You you should know this, Bill. Are you forgetting things in your old age? No, no offense.
SPEAKER_14On the council of the city's people, but I don't did not approve of shadows. Hmm.
SPEAKER_16Bill, it's fine. Everyone gets to this point in their age where they start to forget things. No, no, no, no, no.
SPEAKER_02Oh, don't bring it up. Don't bring that up. Don't bring it up.
SPEAKER_16You need a vacation, Bill.
SPEAKER_03As he slams his uh desk and you see like flames start bursting from behind his horns.
SPEAKER_07Um, I I kind of run to the front of the group and I say, uh, uh, Bill, your highness, your unholy one. Um we are here.
SPEAKER_14Holy Mr. Bond.
SPEAKER_07Sorry, uh, Mr. Bond. Um, we're here um to to get on the schedule.
SPEAKER_14To get on the schedule.
SPEAKER_07Yes. Um, we we adore your city. Um and we would we would like to, I'm looking at the boys, I'm like panicked. I'm like, uh to join its ranks.
SPEAKER_02We know that everyone has an ordered place and time and task to do, and we feel out of place without having something to be a part of.
SPEAKER_06Yes. Okvos are too colorful.
SPEAKER_02Uh what?
SPEAKER_03So he uh well um yeah, roll me a persuasion check, Sylvia, and I'll say it's with advantage as the uh Michael gave you the help action there.
SPEAKER_06Hey. Uh-huh.
SPEAKER_02We just trapped ourselves in this place. Yeah, yeah, because we are we are really digging a deep hole right now.
SPEAKER_08I I somebody, I just started talking and I needed somebody.
SPEAKER_02That was the only thing we had to. This is these are our options. We have we have gone from not no one knowing who we are to now we have just like, oh yep, we are here. We met the mayor and said, please include me in your grand plan. Please include me.
SPEAKER_07I guess just to understand the plan. Anyway, I uh 16.
SPEAKER_0316. Okay.
SPEAKER_14Um he kinda Well, these shadows of yours, Naraxy.
SPEAKER_03Hmm, I wonder. He uh goes on to looks at a piece of paper, goes on his computer. Um what kind of skills do you offer?
SPEAKER_07Oh, um well, I at the end of the stance. Uh nine years of vocal training. Um, in a particular four years of studying specifically, more of an Adler-like technique. Um which monologue do you want to see first?
SPEAKER_02I I've been doing a lot of uh wood carving lately, devising, you know, Rasa is where I get a lot of my uh devising from. Oh yeah. The boxes.
SPEAKER_03Never heard of points it uh points a pin at you, Sylvia.
SPEAKER_14Never heard of any of that, but you say carpentry.
SPEAKER_02Uh in an artistic sense.
SPEAKER_07Yes, he's a carpenter, like um like Jesus.
SPEAKER_14He don't work with much wood.
SPEAKER_02Well, it's a beautiful medium for for expression.
SPEAKER_06He can carpenter other.
SPEAKER_02Oh, at the park? You need some trees carpent at the park? I I got you. Uh huh. It's one of my favorite things. Uh looks at you, Virgil.
SPEAKER_00Yes. Um I'm I'm just uh uh He's a philosopher.
SPEAKER_02Uh Philosop philosoph uh philosopher, yeah. I'm uh you know I like to he's a great thinker. Yeah, I I like to think about things and and and come up with ideas and uh thinking for himself.
SPEAKER_07He likes other people to think for him and tell him.
SPEAKER_02New ways that we can communicate opinions for other people.
SPEAKER_14Uh oh, a philosophy enforcer.
SPEAKER_07What I mean, yes, yes. Um I forgot to mention um my my my actual job. Those are just all my hobbies that I listed before. My my real job that I uh I love and skills that I I have. Um I'm really interested in city management.
SPEAKER_03You see his uh his eyes kind of light up a little bit. City management.
SPEAKER_07Yes, I I was an intern uh in in our previous uh cohabitation, and and I I have taken a real interest in the way you specifically are are running things here. I would love to learn every bit.
SPEAKER_03Um Roll me a roll me another. I'm assuming this is deception check.
SPEAKER_02I mean, she was on the city council. She did this. I was on the arts. Or persuasion, either one.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, okay.
SPEAKER_02Which everyone's with a bigger number, I guess. This is okay.
SPEAKER_07Um that is a 21.
SPEAKER_02Dang! Yo, we run this place, Bill. We're in charge here.
SPEAKER_08Well, Mr. Bond.
SPEAKER_14Well, I surely you'd love a mid seat. Assistants did have their third strike. So I could use another assistant.
SPEAKER_07Well, I would be honored.
SPEAKER_14Yes.
SPEAKER_03Well I think after about four hundred pages of paperwork, think we could get you all and looks at you, Noroxy, again as well. Back on the schedule.
SPEAKER_09Thank you, Billy. Great!
SPEAKER_16Yes, yeah, great. Good work, everyone. Guys, don't worry about the paperwork. I'll get it done for you. I'm real good with it.
SPEAKER_07Oh thank you, Noroxy.
SPEAKER_02Thank you, Noroxy. Thank you, Noroxis.
SPEAKER_14And down to Pauline. She will get you your paperwork. Yes, what was your name again looking at you, Sylvia?
SPEAKER_03My name is as he uh stands up and uh like as he kind of walks, you guys can feel like with every step, like he kind of shakes the floor beneath you guys. Um and you said Bertha.
SPEAKER_07Yep, just boring Bertha. That's me. Blah blah blah bertha.
SPEAKER_03We'll stick with Bertha. Okay he sticks a large handout for you.
SPEAKER_14Looking forward to seeing your application.
SPEAKER_06Oh, I I have to apply. I th I thought you just gave me the job.
SPEAKER_14Wouldn't it be nice if it was that easy?
SPEAKER_06Um uh where do I apply?
SPEAKER_14Pamela will get for you.
SPEAKER_07Pamela and Pauline gotcha.
SPEAKER_14Yes.
SPEAKER_07Uh I look forward to sending it to you. It's gonna be competitive.
SPEAKER_16Oh, it certainly is the most competitive.
SPEAKER_03Oh, is it uh so you guys uh he goes to the door uh and well it was Again I You may leave head down the hall I don't usually accept people without an appointment But Was it you, Sylvia?
SPEAKER_14You show some promise Thank you, Mr Bondo I have work to finish Noroxy Yes Bill Finish that paperwork and we will see about getting you back on the schedule Thank you, Bill.
SPEAKER_03Thank you, thank you as he leads you guys out into the hallway.
SPEAKER_02As I'm I'm gonna wait until the he completely shuts the door and we're outside in the hallway, and I'm gonna just oh we were alive.
SPEAKER_05Oh god.
SPEAKER_06Oh god, why did I do that?
SPEAKER_05Why did I why did you do that?
SPEAKER_07I don't know. I I g uh I guess I I I thought I could see what's going on, I could figure it out, I could help people. I don't know.
SPEAKER_02I mean we were done. Right. Uh yes, the best job in the city.
SPEAKER_07Yes, yes. Um I appreciate your help, Naratsky, uh allowing me to be so close to my to my to my dad again. Means a lot.
SPEAKER_16Been a while. I still can't believe he's forgetting things in his old age.
SPEAKER_07Uh yeah.
SPEAKER_16Neither can we.
SPEAKER_07You seem to be forgetting shit too. Like, don't bring it up.
SPEAKER_16It's very, I was just concerned. You know, Bill has a very, very important job. He runs this whole city.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_16Yep, yep, yep, yes.
SPEAKER_07Um, and and how Bill has always run this city?
SPEAKER_16For as long as I known him.
SPEAKER_07Yes. Um, very, very good. Um, and and Bill's uh, you said a member of the board, of course, which we love the board.
SPEAKER_16We love the board. The board is the one that makes all the plans, and then that's how the city runs.
SPEAKER_07And Bill is on the board.
SPEAKER_02Pretty much he is runs the board. Bill is the board, huh? Mm-hmm. Bilba on the board, man. Bilb on the board, boy.
SPEAKER_07Uh I mean, you you were gonna take a vacation. What would happen if Bill took a vacation? You know, like obviously the city could not survive without it.
SPEAKER_16Uh I I've never seen him take he's honestly like he's a better man than me. Because I I finally was like, I need a vacation. I've never seen him take one. Very commendable, very, very much to the job.
SPEAKER_07So commendable, so full of can chem.
SPEAKER_03So strong. Commendation. You you guys head uh down the hall as uh you walk into uh this room with two screens in it. Hello.
SPEAKER_14Hello, hi, I'm Pauline. I am Pamela. We will have your paperwork in a moment.
SPEAKER_03Uh as the screens kind of pop up and um you guys while you guys get through four hundred pages of uh paperwork, we're going to take a break. Um sounds great. Great, lovely. Yeah, that's so much fun.
SPEAKER_09Yes!
SPEAKER_03Uh so we'll be back in about seven or eight minutes. All right.
SPEAKER_14Don't go anywhere.
SPEAKER_02Wish we could, but there's paperwork. Paperwork. So much paperwork to do.
SPEAKER_03Love the paperwork. Hello everyone. And welcome back to paperwork. You guys are clicking. Oh man. Yeah. Uh Noroxy is having a time of his life. Um, clicking he reading every single uh um document that comes on the screen as yeah, I'm I'm I mean, I'm assuming Sylvia's definitely the kind that just clicks the sign button.
SPEAKER_08Yep. You are accurate. Um, autofine, autofill.
SPEAKER_03Are any of you yeah, are any of you guys doing any more further investigation on these papers?
SPEAKER_02Or I'm trying to, but there's just so much legal jargon that like it just it feels like such a Herculean task, yeah. It's like making my brain hurt.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, roll me a history or investigation check.
SPEAKER_17Let's see. Um both don't have a modifier, so let's go. That is a three.
SPEAKER_03A three. Oh my god. Yeah, like you try you try to read the first sentence, and then it's like four words in a row, you have no idea what they mean, and your brain already starts hurting, and you you see Sylvia right next to you, just like humming to herself, probably singing um she singing the song that she's got her uh audition for next week, probably singing that thing called live.
SPEAKER_07Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_03And she's just quickly just click, click, click, click, click auto sign.
unknownI'll sign it.
SPEAKER_02I'm not investigating.
SPEAKER_03There's no about uh two hours later, uh, you guys are finished and are able to leave. Um as you guys are here, uh Pamela and Pauline. Pauline.
SPEAKER_14Thank you very much. Here is your ticket.
SPEAKER_03Uh print out a ticket for you guys all.
SPEAKER_14Oh have a wonderful day.
SPEAKER_07Um excuse me, Pauline or Pamela. Um when will I hear the status of my application?
SPEAKER_14Your application will be reviewed in within forty-eight hours.
SPEAKER_07Do you need a contact or you'll find me. You'll find me.
SPEAKER_14We got your fingerprints.
SPEAKER_07Oh.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, they did. You were going through that really fast. They got your they got all our fingerprints.
SPEAKER_08You know, I thought that was a fingerprint.
SPEAKER_14The very first document you signed said you touching the screen gave us permission to scan your fingerprints.
SPEAKER_07And I knew that. And that is that is good. Great. Good to have that on file.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Yes. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03On file is great. The other screen, uh, Pamela says.
SPEAKER_02You are now all in the system. Exciting.
unknownYay!
SPEAKER_02Welcome to the mainframe. The mainframe. We're in the system. We're in the mainframe. The mainframe?
SPEAKER_07Finally. Um, Pamela or and or um uh Pauline. Uh what happens to those in the city who aren't on the mainframe? Do they uh what happens to them? Where do they go?
SPEAKER_14If they do not immediately report They are not within the system.
SPEAKER_07Right, and and if they're not in the system, they are not in the system.
SPEAKER_02And then they gotta strike or nothing, okay, cool.
SPEAKER_00Okay, I'll be already. We'll just go ahead and leave.
SPEAKER_07Fuck those guys.
SPEAKER_14Alright, outta here. Thank you for registering. You will hear the results within 48 hours. Have a wonderful day.
SPEAKER_02Thank you. Thank you. Let's walk out of here. Let's walk right out of here. Uh okay, guys. What do we do now? I guess. You guess? Uh I mean, we I'm not I don't want to wait 48 hours anymore. I kinda wanna listen, I think that ship is sailed, guys. I mean, they just said that we're in the mainframe.
SPEAKER_07Well, the not being in the mainframe, the moment you're not in the mainframe, you you get it sounds like executed.
SPEAKER_02We weren't in the mainframe for like a while though, and now Well, right, but the the the mainframe, you know, where we in the city that we can uh I realize I like turn to where like and I see Noroxy is like right there.
SPEAKER_16Uh what's this about you guys not being in the mainframe?
SPEAKER_02What?
SPEAKER_07Um we're in the mainframe.
SPEAKER_02The cat's out of the bag. Well, clearly, I mean, uh we cat's HR.
SPEAKER_16Cats HR I don't think the cats HR anymore after what Bill said. Um Noro.
SPEAKER_07Can we can we have a quiet place to talk?
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_07The four of us.
SPEAKER_16Yeah we can go to my my housing. Yes, we can talk there.
SPEAKER_02But hold on, your housing, like publicly assigned housing?
SPEAKER_16Yes.
SPEAKER_02Okay. Is that private? I that doesn't sound like it's very like private.
SPEAKER_03Uh you you guys uh head out of City Hall and head uh just it's probably about a 15-minute walk from City Hall. Noroxy, you were you were lucky enough to get a really nice location. It's got a nice common area in it where uh people usually meet on the hour and usually leave at about uh 30 after, and then it's about empty in the common area, and then people come on the hour, and then after 30 minutes, they leave. Uh you guys are getting there uh probably um just before eight o'clock. Uh as you see it is empty. You see, it's this uh large apartment style building again. All windows, all glass, all steel beams, uh heading up. Uh and in the center of this, it's kind of a U shaped building to where there are two towers there in the front, and then the middle is a shorter kind of an entrance area. There is an outdoor area. That seems to have uh what Noroxy would probably call sculptures, but you guys just see that there's they're just individual like posts just around that are probably about five foot tall.
SPEAKER_16Man, yeah, as you can see, we got wonderful artwork here. This is my favorite piece, actually. Uh-huh. It's the it's like the medium-sized pillar of like all the pillars, and she's like, just just look at how it sits there in the middle of both the like the small and the big, but yet it's perfectly in balance. Just spectacular.
SPEAKER_02Honestly, I kind of see the vision here.
SPEAKER_07Are we seeing the same post? Narotsky. This is not art. That is not art.
SPEAKER_16What do you mean this isn't guys?
SPEAKER_02Let's let's stop with the nomenclature of whatever and and just let's get on with it. Alright, let's get in here so we can talk. Okay, we can talk about the art later.
SPEAKER_03Um you know what? Before we walk in, I'm going to pull. I do have still have a suggestion. That first meet cute. I'm gonna pull another quick suggestion here, real quick. Um let's see what happens. I love the chaos.
SPEAKER_02And oh lord, oh no. Oh no.
SPEAKER_03As you guys see, hey, it's actually our uh suggestion is from Zach. Uh, and it is business-minded orphans. Well, isn't that that all right? Uh you guys head in uh to the um to the main common area, and as you guys do, you guys hear a little alarm bell. Uh as you do, you see there are probably about fifteen mothers that walk in, all in, you know, a business suit with a skirt, uh, all pushing strollers. Uh you see as they all go to each of the tables, each of the couches, and things like that, and uh out of their strollers, they take these children, toddlers, and pull them out of their strollers. You see immaculate suits, probably some of the best suits you've seen. Um, all of them, they kind of sit them there at these uh in the middle of kind of these couches and stuff, as they all just kind of start looking at each other and playing very, very gently, not running around. These kids are just kind of like picking up a block and moving it, picking up a block, moving it. You see as two of them kind of look at each other, one uh holds a block up to them, as the other one kind of looks at it, puts a hand on the chin, looks down at the toys that he has, picks up two Lincoln logs, and puts it over, offers it to the first kid. You see the first kid kind of nod their head, the second kid picks up a third Lincoln log, and then the first kid nods his head as they exchange toys.
SPEAKER_02No, Roxy, are you sure we're in the right place?
SPEAKER_16Oh, yes, this is actually a really cool thing to watch. Like, these kids are already ready to work in the business sector. What? They like come ready. What do you mean come ready? Wait, but the uh there are no child labor laws? Child labor laws? It's more like child must-b and labor law. What? Uh um, ooh. Uh anyway, uh do we get to the small cracked spaces? You think a full-grown adult's going to go in there? No, we have children for that.
SPEAKER_03Uh Noroxy, you do know it is very rude to be like standing up in the common area during the meeting times.
SPEAKER_16Yeah. Guys, we we have to move this to my my my space. So let's let's go down the hall and we'll go to my room. Okay.
unknownAlright. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Um I just look in disillusionment. Uh as you guys uh head towards the um the elevator, you guys um click the button. As uh the button as it opens up, you guys see the elevator opens up. Uh, what floor is it you live on, Noroxy?
SPEAKER_15The third floor.
SPEAKER_03The third floor, okay. Um you guys head up, third floor. Uh as you guys uh head down the hall, you guys see a woman kind of uh brushing past you, Virgil. Um it is a it's a large fur bulg woman. What the as your guys's the backs of your guys' hands kind of brush up against each other. Oh no. As you kind of look, and she kind of looks at you. Roll me a quick um roll me just a D100.
SPEAKER_02I was about to say, you want me to do like a charisma save?
SPEAKER_03No, no, no, no.
SPEAKER_17Not a save, not a save. Roll it, roll it a d100.
SPEAKER_03D100, we'll just see how charismatic just you're presenting right now. I got a 91. Oh god with the socks. You crap.
SPEAKER_02Sorry, guys.
SPEAKER_03Uh percentile or the opposite. High is not very good. No, no, no, Virgil, no. Uh Virgil, you look, and this is the most beautiful verbal you've ever seen in your life. As she brushes her hands, slow motion happens. You see as her hair flips as she comes and turns towards you. Uh as she slaps you across the face.
SPEAKER_07Oh.
SPEAKER_03And then continues walking.
SPEAKER_02Dang.
SPEAKER_07Virgil, what did you do to that woman?
SPEAKER_02I don't I don't know. I just I I looked at her and then she Who is that beautiful woman? What do you mean I'm not supposed to look at women?
SPEAKER_07Everybody did that.
SPEAKER_00Did I look too long?
SPEAKER_16So rude of you.
SPEAKER_00Oh my god, Virgil.
SPEAKER_02Virgil!
SPEAKER_00Oh I I I didn't know.
SPEAKER_02I I it was like the world stopped for a second and it was a slap. What do you mean? Honestly. You're saying I deserve it to get finished. Alright, I'm I I I'm gonna reevaluate my boundaries, I guess, because I'm I'm be careful, dude. I mean, we're new here and we don't we already met the boss. We're late personally.
SPEAKER_07Wait, boys, boys, boys. That woman just slapped Virgil. Is that really city behavior?
SPEAKER_02Oh, wait. That's that's not normal here.
SPEAKER_07I'm gonna double back and try to catch up to her.
SPEAKER_02Okay. Okay.
SPEAKER_03Um, as you see, she's pressing the button, she sees you yelling and running at her, she runs towards the stairs. I bolted her.
SPEAKER_07In pursuit. I'm talking about my friend.
SPEAKER_02I'm just picturing like just this in like very methodic but like quick, like rapid, exaggerated jog towards running in an office, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Alright. Um, so uh are you are you wanting just to do a quick an acrobatics check, or is there a spell that you're wanting to use to in pursuit of her downstairs?
SPEAKER_07Oh, um I think acrobatics.
SPEAKER_03You sure about that? Um I'm I'm looking at my spells.
unknownI don't know. I don't want to hurt her.
SPEAKER_03I just want to remind you your dexterity is a four, so I know your acrobatics would be. I'm not saying you're using the spell against her. If you want to use a spell to assist you in chasing her.
SPEAKER_08Okay, this is great. This is great.
SPEAKER_03Using spells in a creative manner.
SPEAKER_08Very good.
SPEAKER_07Um, I'm gonna use the water again.
SPEAKER_03Use the water, create water.
SPEAKER_07I'll use the water and try to get her to slip.
SPEAKER_03Okay. Oh, banana peel. That's it. Alright. Um what is your spell DC? Your spell save DC?
SPEAKER_08That's a great question.
SPEAKER_03Um, it should be right there at the top. Oh, actually, I'm looking at your spell sheets. 13.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_03Alright, let me roll for her.
unknownThank you.
SPEAKER_03Alright.
SPEAKER_08Big moves, guys.
unknownBig moves.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, we are really trying to.
SPEAKER_03As she's running across the the water, she starts slipping uh as you kind of start running up, but she doesn't slip. She gets to the door of the stairwell. Um, are the rest of you guys just kind of watching this?
SPEAKER_02Uh in horror.
SPEAKER_16Okay. I'm I'm following behind, being like, you guys can't run in the halls.
SPEAKER_02You can't run in the halls. She made the connection. I'm letting I'm letting Sylvia do this. I I already got slapped.
SPEAKER_03You see, she makes it the hall to the stairwell. You guys both get to the stairwell. She's down at the landing below you as you open the door to this stairwell, and she's starting that down that second set of stairs. Uh, you guys are currently on the third floor. What do you want to do?
SPEAKER_08Okay. Um I am wanting to.
SPEAKER_07Um I'm gonna take out my crossbow.
SPEAKER_12Oh my god.
SPEAKER_07Does she what's she wearing? Is she is there anyone?
SPEAKER_03Uh she's wearing a uh she's wearing a pantsuit.
unknownOkay.
SPEAKER_03Is this so she she can actually run, unlike the woman when the skirts downstairs? She could act, she actually can run a little bit.
SPEAKER_07Sure, but is she wearing a wide pant leg as in like circa 2021, or is this a very tight pant leg?
SPEAKER_03They're flared at the bottom.
SPEAKER_07Beautiful. I am going to take my bow and attempt to laser the bottom of her pants to the stair.
SPEAKER_12Okay. This is genius. This is genius. I love this.
SPEAKER_02You couldn't possibly go wrong.
SPEAKER_03Let's see this attack. I think your attack check is a minus one. Yeah. Alright, let's see it.
SPEAKER_08Alright, it's a d20.
SPEAKER_03It is a d20.
SPEAKER_08Thank you. That is a 15.
SPEAKER_03A 15. Alright. You shoot, you pull out, uh, you pull out your crossbow and you shoot. Uh you lead the bolt as she starts running downstairs. You catch the bolt right into one pant leg. Uh her actual left pant leg as she's running down uh and her right foot catches on it. Uh, you see as she like catches herself on the side rail and rolls down uh enough for you to jump down the stairs and catch up to her. Uh she's just on her side up against the door uh for the second floor of the building.
SPEAKER_08Okay, I'm gonna I'm gonna crouch down next to her and say what what do you want?
SPEAKER_03What do you want? She goes she goes to punch you.
SPEAKER_07Oh, hey girl. No.
SPEAKER_03She she rolls a four, she misses.
SPEAKER_07Girlfriend, girl, yeah. So many fucking guy friends. Um, okay. Uh fuck. Um, you look, are are you okay? Uh shit, I just shot at you. Uh uh, you know, um uh you don't really seem like one of them. Does that make sense?
SPEAKER_03Um roll me a quick insight check.
SPEAKER_08I'm like, sir.
SPEAKER_17I think I would just then get to the top of the stairwell, like on the third floor and see down what's happening. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. Okay, I am Yeah, you got you guys were walking, like we're kinda, you know, speed walking up to the the door because Noroxy didn't let you guys run. Um, as you hear the tumbling in the hallway in the stairwell.
SPEAKER_06Okay, I have 14.
SPEAKER_0314. Um you can see a little bit of malice behind her eyes. Um as she then loosens up.
SPEAKER_14You're not one of them.
SPEAKER_07Uh no no. Me either. I just we just arrived.
SPEAKER_03Uh you guys all kind of run up uh seeing a uh a uh a light crossbow bolt in uh this fur bulb's pants as she's on the ground, kinda she's got a few scrapes and bruises from falling down the stairs, and her and Sophia are just like they're probably about this close to each other, just kind of talking and staring like staring intensely into each other's eyes, just kinda you can see they're just they're sizing each other up.
SPEAKER_07But look for a a world that values peace and harmony and accordance, you immediately disrupted it right in front of me. So who are you?
SPEAKER_14Are you are you with one of them?
SPEAKER_07One of who?
SPEAKER_14The mainframe. One with the mainframe. Are you one with the mainframe?
SPEAKER_02No, I mean we we're entered, we're not allied with points at you, Noroxy.
SPEAKER_01I've seen you. He's one of them. He's one of them, I know it.
SPEAKER_02Uh well no, I wouldn't say that.
SPEAKER_01He d he's uh he's a healthy part of it all.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, but I think it's more by choice and not by persuasion.
SPEAKER_07You're not.
SPEAKER_03Uh she keeps her mouth shut and just stares at Noroxy.
SPEAKER_16Yeah, of course I'm with the main frame. Why else would I not want to be with the mainframe? They make everything go in order.
SPEAKER_07Norozki, could you um We'll meet you in your room.
SPEAKER_14In order? Is that what you call it?
SPEAKER_16What would you want? Chaos? That's absurd.
SPEAKER_14It's better than imprisonment.
SPEAKER_16I'm not imprisoned. They gave me a house.
SPEAKER_17It's more like an apartment complex, but uh sure. Are you uh don't don't don't downplay my my house.
SPEAKER_07Sorry, just trying to Roski, we'll meet you in your room.
SPEAKER_16Yeah, we'll see you in a second. Alright. Um just know that we we gotta we got a time schedule, though.
SPEAKER_07Yes, absolutely.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. Absolutely. The itinerary. Alright. Wouldn't miss it.
SPEAKER_07Anything for the mainframe.
SPEAKER_02Anything for the mainframe. Anything or the mainframe. For the mainframe. Mainframe.
SPEAKER_03And I leave. You you you do go back to your room? Yeah. Okay. Oh my gosh.
SPEAKER_07I'm I'm gonna lean down towards her and I'm gonna say Are you a member of some kind of resistance? Are there others? We we just got here and and we don't know where we are. Every everything is horrible, and we're just trying to get home. Can you help us?
SPEAKER_14There is no help for us. What do you mean we can't talk here? We there is something we can do. We can help others.
SPEAKER_03Um you see, as she uh pulls out of her suit pocket, she pulls out a coin for you.
SPEAKER_07What is this?
SPEAKER_14Underneath the bridge. Is this the man there? They will let you in. Charlie's send you. Charlie's send you.
SPEAKER_13Charlie's Charlie is with the mainframe. You must wait. You can't go there now. You're watching it.
SPEAKER_02Always watching. This is what I was afraid of.
SPEAKER_07Thank you. Is there anything we can do for you?
SPEAKER_14Stay away from me.
SPEAKER_03Uh as she stands up and uh she kind of brushes off uh and then stands upright and then starts going as she goes out into the second floor.
SPEAKER_08Oh my god.
SPEAKER_02Alright. So, okay. Mainframe.
SPEAKER_07I guess not everyone is part of the system, huh?
SPEAKER_02Boy, is that a relief, let me tell you. I've just been feeling tense. Yeah, no kidding. Since we ran into Noroxy. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. But we have to think this through, okay? So the mainframe um at in the you know, where we came from in I I don't even know what the placement or what we're doing what here is, but when we were there, I mean the mainframe was the uh uh the the the central system that controlled uh you know all the data. You know, the mainframe is that's what that's what we that's what we said.
SPEAKER_07The mainframe is the mainframe was and will always will will be, but it's but it seems that once you join the mainframe you essentially lose your your free will, your identity, your everything.
SPEAKER_02I don't know what theater is. I'm worried if we couldn't talk with Charlise now. Maybe we can't talk amongst ourselves right now either.
unknownWhat do you mean?
SPEAKER_02I want to look up and see if there are any cameras or anything in this hallway.
SPEAKER_03Uh, you look up and there is a camera just like right above where you guys are cool sitting.
SPEAKER_02Fuck. Um I obviously, you know. Sorry guys, I'm not in my right mind. The mainframe, I'm so excited. I couldn't be more excited to be a part of this amazing team here. Oh I'm so excited about it. Oh man.
SPEAKER_17Oh, let's see. Alright. You set up uh deception check with disadvantage? Yes. Oh boy.
SPEAKER_02We used up all of our nine. That's a nine. Okay, cool. Continue. Great, yep, great. Anyways, we should go. Catch up with Noroxy and figure out what what we need to do to be part of the mainframe to make it better. You know?
SPEAKER_07Right, because this woman is was clearly disturbed.
SPEAKER_02Yes.
SPEAKER_17Very, very disturbed. But like, not enough to like cause disciplinary action against them. I mean, I think it'd be not as main.
SPEAKER_02No, of course not. Probably just needs a nap. Oh, women.
SPEAKER_00Okay, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Oh Women jokes. Alright, you guys head back upstairs. I wouldn't it's necessary as uh I'm a I'm assuming neuroxy. What would you have left uh jet like on your door handle or something just to show that it's your door neuroxy? Or are there like nameplates on each of the doors?
SPEAKER_16Uh for me it shows like uh in order to get to your room, you have to like actually put your name badge. Uh like it's like their check-in. That's pretty good. So that they they know you're in there. Yeah. So I I put my name badge in like it's just on my door.
SPEAKER_03Okay, so so yeah, so it just kind of sits there, there's a little deal there, um, that just holds his name badge. You guys kind of see as several most of the name badges are here, uh, and then you finally find Noroxy's name badge and you head inside. Describe your place, Noroxy.
SPEAKER_15Um, so my place is actually uh it is almost like a um like a studio.
SPEAKER_16It is very like bland.
SPEAKER_15Um you have a uh a coffee table uh right next to uh like a Murphy bed uh drop down, and um there's a singular gray rose um that's just in the the vase on the center of the coffee table. Um I got like a little kitchen kitchenette area.
SPEAKER_16Um and the only thing that's in there is um blando's cereal.
SPEAKER_15Guaranteed to have no taste whatsoever are your money back.
SPEAKER_03Terrible tagline, and they've never had a never had a complaint, never had a return.
SPEAKER_16And then uh on like the only uh like shelf that's in there, there's three little uh like there's like little statues, a small one, a medium one, and a big one. Oh man. The medium one's my favorite one, actually. Yep.
SPEAKER_07Well, what a lovely place you have really the the touch of a man in here.
SPEAKER_16Well, it's all standard issue.
SPEAKER_02I'm gonna is there like a camera in here, or is it just something of like I'm reading, I've literally been reading 1984 right now. Is there like a telescreen here? Like, I feel like I'm Michael's going full like tinfoil hat mode. Like oh no, I feel like I I feel like I'm being watched right now. Like I I it even when the Roxy left, I realized, oh, we're being listened to, so there's no there is no Oh my gosh.
SPEAKER_16Well, of course you're being watched. It's the city. The city watch watches everyone.
SPEAKER_08City watch.
SPEAKER_02Oh the city's watching hence all the glass. Uh if you're not if you got if you're not doing anything wrong, you got nothing to hide, right?
SPEAKER_16Right. Exactly. I I I don't know if we're gonna get like a kind of like a infraction uh for running in the halls there, but um that was very dangerous. I would not do that whatsoever.
SPEAKER_07Sorry, I thought I saw a bee.
SPEAKER_16Oh, well, insects inside are actually a uh excusable offense, actually. Um you're fine there.
SPEAKER_02There's some leniency. I appreciate that. Inside.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, in that case, I think I also said some things to a bee.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_07And boy, was it buzzing.
SPEAKER_02There was a roach that crawled on me, and I freaked out and said some stuff, probably. Like that's I think that roach also crawled on me, and then I started saying stuff. I mean, we were just all having uh psychosis break out of myself.
SPEAKER_03Everyone roll me a deception check.
SPEAKER_08Okay. 18.
SPEAKER_02Solid. Deception is four. I am rolling terrible.
SPEAKER_03Two. Oh, no, Noroxy. You're not deceiving anyone. You're I don't know if you've I think lying probably you at least see that as an infraction, you know?
SPEAKER_02That's a nine for Michael. Okay, gotcha. It's not believable. It was most believable because Sylvia said at first. I think that's what Yeah, yeah. I think I think afterwards it kind of diminishing return.
SPEAKER_03They weren't against you, Noroxy. Those weren't deception checks against you, though. But go on. God.
SPEAKER_16So well something.
SPEAKER_12Oh my god.
SPEAKER_16Since you guys are here and I'm kind of like your mentor, you're my my task to deal with. So you're welcome to stay here till the 48 hours, and we'll be set. Um I know we have we actually do have some scheduled free time coming up where we can kind of go some places if you want. They they do give us free time. Yes, scheduled free time.
SPEAKER_02What do you do with your scheduled free time?
SPEAKER_16You can only go to certain areas in your scheduled free time, and you're kind of required to go to a certain area during your scheduled free time.
SPEAKER_07What is okay doesn't really sound like free time then. Sounds more like go here time.
SPEAKER_02Another scheduled thing. Uh yeah.
SPEAKER_16Why why would I want to go anywhere else other than the way they tell me to go? Right.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_02I you know, I was about to ask what you wanted to do, but I think you just told me what you wanted to do.
SPEAKER_16Of course I want I'm gonna go where they tell me to go.
SPEAKER_02Noroxy.
SPEAKER_18Have you ever thought that um maybe they want you to do what you're not supposed to do?
SPEAKER_16Never thought of it like that.
SPEAKER_07Maybe the city uh doesn't have your best interests at heart.
SPEAKER_16Well, the city will always have my best interests at heart. I think. Have they told you that? They they've never said that before.
SPEAKER_02Do they even give you some kind of report that like tells you, oh hey, you did a great job, pat on the back?
SPEAKER_16Well, I mean, for the past five years I haven't received anything, and I I guess I should have thought that something was up with that. Um well that that was the day I I didn't follow my schedule. And I I I think it it reflected maybe.
SPEAKER_07Where did you go instead of your scheduled place?
SPEAKER_16It's very like static y, I think, uh, my uh thoughts on that day. Something something happened, it distracted me, and I I I I got kind of turned around and I think I missed my schedule.
SPEAKER_02I I have a wor a brief worried look at Sylvia and Michael, trying to be as nonchalant as I can, but being like, oh fuck.
SPEAKER_08Interesting.
SPEAKER_02Well, uh I mean, you you say it's fuzzy. I mean, does that just mean that you can't remember any details, or do you remember anything about what may have distracted you or where you might have gone?
SPEAKER_16I I remember I was I was going through my regular schedule day. I had my breakfast at uh my favorite uh uh diner. I I had I had a five egg omelet. They do what they have a five it we it was it was fantastic. I I could get it every day. Oh, it's very cheap, actually. Oh restaurant.
SPEAKER_02It must have been a lot of money.
SPEAKER_16I just used the credit card that the the system gave me.
unknownThere you go.
SPEAKER_16Yep. Uh I get a five-agg omel every day. Um, and then it was something after that. I uh there there was some kind of figure just out there, and they they kind of bumped into me, and that's they they weren't looking so good. Like they that something was wrong with them, something was off with them, and that's when it starts getting a little hazy.
SPEAKER_06Something was off, can you remember?
SPEAKER_16They they looked like they were glitching. Oh then I felt like I was glitching.
SPEAKER_07The mainframe was glitching.
SPEAKER_16Maybe I I I guess you could say it was like that.
SPEAKER_07But how can the real I mean how can we glitch I mean because he's in the mainframe, but and we just all of us.
SPEAKER_02Are in the mainframe.
SPEAKER_07For the mainframe.
SPEAKER_02Oh my god. I think well we're are we living in a simulation. I think we're in the mainframe. I think we're in the mainframe. We're in the mainframe. We're in the mainframe.
SPEAKER_16Well, you're not in the mainframe yet. You're about to be in the mainframe. Oh semantics. Uh right, right.
SPEAKER_07We have to get out. We have to uh That's why we can't leave the city.
SPEAKER_02That's why we can't leave the city! Michael quick perception check. Who? Michael. Well, Michael Perception check. Oh shit. Wait, wait, hold on, please. We've broken out of the matrix here. Uh the sweet potato. This can only go downhill. I'm just hitting a random plus. Yo, that's a natural 20. Oh shit. That's a 22. Go, Michael!
SPEAKER_03Michael, as you guys are having this conversation, um again, the you're you guys, it is dark outside glass walls. But you see a small figure that looks to be clinging to the glass. And as you kind of like look, you see it like it looks like it crawls and moves. As you see.
SPEAKER_14One of those babies is just staring at you guys. Clinging on the glass.
SPEAKER_02Anyways, guys, I don't know what we're gonna do because I Hey, hey guys, hey, yo, uh there's a baby on the glass. Be chill, be chill, be chill, be chill. Be chill. We're all about to turn, but like then we stop for a second as Michael says, be chill, does the baby stay?
SPEAKER_03Michael. It skitters away.
SPEAKER_02Oh skitters down. Guys, one of those business babies was looking at us.
SPEAKER_06Just outside.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, crawled up the glass. I mean, it's not that high up, considering. It is. Oh. Hey. Noroxy, I'm gonna put a I'm gonna put a shoulder, uh like a hand on Noroxy's shoulder and be like, I'm gonna level with you here. We need your help.
SPEAKER_16What do you need help with?
SPEAKER_03We at this point you see like and you're c you're kind of scanning the the scene outside real quick uh while this is happening. Um and you see as little dots of light, almost looking like stars, look to be rising from some buildings. Virgil, continue.
SPEAKER_02Do you feel appreciated here? Do you feel like you're valued? Truly. Think about it. Think about it. Do you feel like you truly have feel like you belong and that people like you here, or have they or do you feel out of place?
SPEAKER_16I mean, I've always felt out of place here because you know, the colorful scales, they kinda don't like that. I I always try to wear like the the bland clothing to kind of fit in more, um, especially after I got here. And uh Justin, but the lights.
SPEAKER_02Sorry. I feel like this is happening as we're speaking. The lights of the of the uh like the lights of the building lighting up or like lights behind the building, or what they're doing.
SPEAKER_03They're moving away, they move away from the building and they look to start hovering towards those.
SPEAKER_02Wait, they're okay. Uh away from the buildings out there, they're flying toward us. Okay. Gotcha. Gotcha. Um I got this on the road. We get we get we let's let's start with the give me a minute. Give me a minute. All right, Michael? Noroxy? What if I told you I could bring you to a place that would actively love you for what you do? A place that would appreciate you, no, worship you. Could I give go on vacation?
SPEAKER_05And you could go on vacation anytime you wanted.
SPEAKER_16Well, that that seems pretty nice. I am I I kinda am tired. And and they would say, Noroxy, you did a great job.
SPEAKER_02Uh I would love that. Then Noroxy, help us get out of here. We gotta make a break for it.
SPEAKER_03Uh you guys start hearing sirens. Yeah, no, uh as Michael, uh, your your natural 20 is still continuing.
SPEAKER_02You see drones flying towards you guys. Out into the hallway, down the stairs. We're getting the fuck out of here. I'm not, I'm we're booking it. All right, all right.
SPEAKER_07We have to go to the bridge.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, the bridge, the bridge, the bridge. I gotta go.
SPEAKER_03Okay. Uh you guys begin running uh out and down the stairs, down the hallway. Um, I need you all to um roll me initiative.
SPEAKER_02Oh my goodness. Oh boy. Bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum. I'm bringing out the big dice.
SPEAKER_12Some nice some big dice.
SPEAKER_02Oh, this is four twenty-three.
SPEAKER_03Actually, no six. Uh who's above twenty?
SPEAKER_18Me.
SPEAKER_03Twenty-three. Okay. Alright. Uh 15 to 20. Uh 19. 19. Narr. Uh 10 to 15. Oh, and then it was uh Michael, what'd you roll?
SPEAKER_02I rolled like a did I say nine?
SPEAKER_03I think you got like a nine, Sylvia.
SPEAKER_08I rolled a six.
SPEAKER_02Sorry.
SPEAKER_03It was a four. Okay. Alright. You guys begin running down the hall and running down the stairs as uh you all begin uh running uh and uh hearing these sirens off in the distance. Uh Michael, you see one of these drones gets to the building and is uh, you know, um as you're going down the stairwell, uh you see as this thing starts hovering downwards, they start on the top floor and it looks like it starts scanning coming down. Uh Virgil, um as you guys get down to the bottom of the stairs, uh, you see as uh this main back door has a passcode.
SPEAKER_16No, actually, what's the passcode? Um I I think it was uh but it was and it was his pattern. I think it was 1379.
SPEAKER_03Alright, as you do that, it uh it opens up as you guys uh go outside, as you guys see this one drone uh come in front of you guys. Halt! You are in violation of the mainframe. Virgil, it is your turn.
SPEAKER_02Oh crap. Okay, I'm I'm just gonna real quick, as it's saying those words, just I wanna like do do just a uh like where is it at me? Because I'm like eight feet tall.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, it I mean, yeah, I mean it's it stops like head level with all of you guys.
SPEAKER_02Okay, great.
SPEAKER_03I'm just trying to stop you guys from leaving out this back door.
SPEAKER_02I'm gonna try to slam my fist down on it.
SPEAKER_17Okay, that's nice.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, roll me attacks.
SPEAKER_17Yeah, yeah, yeah. So let's 2AP. Alright. Two AP. Let's just slam see, just do as much damage, slam this thing, get this out of the sky. Let's see.
SPEAKER_04Uh does a uh oh wait, crap. Uh yeah, does a 15 hit? A 15 does hit. Oh, thank god. Um your damage. Alright. It's gonna be a four.
SPEAKER_03A four. Four points of damage. Alright, you see as you uh smack this thing, you hit it on the top of its head. Uh use one AP of movement, one to smack this thing. You see this thing drop. You see a quick spark coming off of the top as uh it's still there. Um crap. You have one AP. You uh as a monk, you do have a uh bonus action um attack.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, what do I oh I do? I would like to take my bonus action to attack again.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure.
SPEAKER_02Um just gonna give another give him another like a so he's brought down lower. I'm gonna see if I can then put my foot on top of them and slam it into the ground.
SPEAKER_03Hell yeah, yeah, yeah. Rule attack.
SPEAKER_02Alright, let's see. Uh that's gonna be a nine?
SPEAKER_03A nine is not gonna hit. Dang it. Norox Noroxy, it is your turn. Um, you see as um being in violation of the mainframe is basically an automatic strike three. The terms that they use, uh, they would usually come up and say, Um, you are gaining a strike, but they are saying you were in violation of the mainframe. What do you want to do?
SPEAKER_16I turn to Virgil and be like, Virgil, is there really a place where they'll say I did a good job? They won't just say you did a good job, they'll say you did a great job. I take I take my uh my pin and I click it like a pattern and it just turns into a mace. And I go to swing down at the drone.
SPEAKER_12Let's go, yo.
SPEAKER_15Pin mace, baby. Oh my god. 16 plus 420.
SPEAKER_0320 will definitely hit roll damage.
SPEAKER_15Six.
SPEAKER_03Uh four damage. Uh four damage is enough to finish this thing off as you uh as this thing dies on the ground, but you see as one light continues beeping, blinking. Um, that one on the top, you guys all notice as it stops scanning and it looks like it kind of looks around real quick.
SPEAKER_05They've lost sight.
SPEAKER_03Um, Sylvia and Michael, what do you guys want to do to escape?
SPEAKER_08Can we still book it?
SPEAKER_02Now I have an eye on us. Let's dip.
SPEAKER_00I don't I don't have a I don't have any. I'm just thinking, what if we book it?
SPEAKER_02Crazy idea, guys.
SPEAKER_07Let's see. Um uh okay. Uh can I cast like Thunderwave in a specific direction without it affecting my companions?
SPEAKER_12Yeah, yeah, for sure. Okay.
SPEAKER_07Um can I kind of turn behind us to the general? Like, are the drones sort of ahead of us? Or like they're just gonna be able to do that.
SPEAKER_03They're above the what one of the only one of them is above you. The others, you can kind of hear several others that look to be swarming the building. Okay. Um these two look to be the first ones to get here.
SPEAKER_08Can I cast Thunder Wave like at the building? Like at all that glass.
SPEAKER_03Oh sh. Oh. Hell yeah. Okay. Yeah, yeah. Um great. Yeah, hell yeah. Uh I you won't need to roll anything. You're you're using a spell slot to do this. As you do this, shh, you See as um the the as you guys are running away, you see as the one that was hovering above you guys uh you book it, all the glass shatters uh in this window uh that's leading in towards the stairway, shattering inwards. Uh you see as it comes downstairs, down to the bottom, it looks, you see a second one comes down to it, and you see both of them go into the building as you guys continue darting. Uh you guys continue running. Um are you guys heading towards the the bridge?
SPEAKER_02I mean, I don't see that's the only place we know.
SPEAKER_03You guys book it um and as you guys do, uh you guys um you guys see as um running through again, Michael. I'm assuming leading you guys through these alleys as he knows them at like the back of his hand. Oh yeah um as you guys are running, dipping, diving through. Uh as you see as uh roll me a quick uh athletics or acrobatics check, you guys, your guys' preference.
SPEAKER_0219.
SPEAKER_08That's a 19.
SPEAKER_02I would have two nineteen two nineteen of this big old dynamic? Yeah, Michael. We got a 17 plus two.
SPEAKER_03That's a seven.
SPEAKER_10Yes, me too. 17 plus 10.
SPEAKER_03Oh, we were you were about to be in the 19th squad, Michael. I rolled a seven. I w I I rolled a four plus three seven. But that's that's still good majority success. Uh as you guys continue running. Um Michael, you start running as you see this large figure come bolting down one of the alleys and looks like it it like real quickly misses behind you and turns to your opposite side. You guys see this as Charlize. What the hell did you guys do?
SPEAKER_02We said we said way too much. We said way too much. We figured out what's going on. We're in the main frame. We're in the main frame.
SPEAKER_01Yes, yes, oh my god. Okay, um, you oh, we can't go. We can't go under the bridge. That'll lead us straight. I I have a place we can hide. I have a place.
SPEAKER_03Come, come. Uh, as you guys turn uh to uh turn to the right, she uh are you guys following her?
SPEAKER_02Oh yeah, absolutely Neroxy?
SPEAKER_03Okay, yeah uh you guys turn um as you guys uh go into uh uh cross this four-way street as you see as you guys all hear large buzzing coming from above you guys as you run into this intersection and you see four larger drones. Holt! You are in violation of the mainframe. Sylvia, or no, Virg, or uh sorry, Michael, it is your turn. You see, there are three of them. Uh you guys just entered this intersection. Uh it's it's just a couple blocks away.
unknownOh my god.
SPEAKER_03What do you guys want to do?
SPEAKER_02Wish I had a spell. No, I I guess this is what I wanted to do. I can I can see one of them. Like they they each got like like a camera, an eye somewhere.
SPEAKER_03Like you see, there's one in the center, and then there's about two on the side. Uh, and then it looks like there's also a screen somewhere on the back.
SPEAKER_02Ah man, I wanted to blind it. I can't blind all of them at the same time. Uh can you? I know you. If I could if I can take three arrows and try to shoot them all, I'm that good.
SPEAKER_03Um you know what? Yeah, that'll be four AP. If you're wanting to try that, just hold your ground. Absolutely. I'll I'll say I'll say on your next turn you won't be able to move. Uh, but you can take uh all three of your like shoot three arrows to try to shoot the three eyes of them with your full four AP action.
SPEAKER_02That way they won't see us, and we can just dip on out. Let's see how I am at at shooting arrows. That's a plus two to a uh plus two to shoot. Got bad news. That's a nine.
SPEAKER_03Nine units. I shot three arrows and they all went each a different way. The first one misses. What about your second attack?
SPEAKER_02Oh yes. Thank God.
SPEAKER_03Okay, that's a that's uh that's a nineteen, the second one. That main eye in the center. Uh you see, you shoot an arrow into it. I'm assuming the one on the left side.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Uh to your left. Okay. Um, yeah, the one on your left. Looks like it's uh you take out that main eye. Uh and then your third shot? It's a four. It's a four.
SPEAKER_10Yeah.
SPEAKER_03You're able to take out the main eye, but unfortunately, you're not able to take out the others. Um, all right. We are back up to Virgil.
SPEAKER_17Alright. Uh, so we still got these basic basically all the drones.
SPEAKER_03Yes. Yeah, there are uh there is one drone in front of you. There it's directly in front of you, which is where Charlese was taking you guys. The one to the left is one eye at its main eye out, and then there's one to the right.
SPEAKER_02Are they like eye level with us or are they kind of high up in the middle?
SPEAKER_03Uh they're about they're about head level. Yeah, they're a little bit above uh a little bit over five foot high is the bow.
SPEAKER_17Oh, okay. Hmm. Let's see. Can I can I get creative here? Don't know if I can.
SPEAKER_08Don't tempt us with a good time, Chase.
SPEAKER_02But you know, you know how you know how it'd be. Uh I'm gonna try shooting arrows to blind it. That's that's a fun trick. That's all you know what I just try it like.
SPEAKER_17Don't worry, Michael. I got this.
SPEAKER_02I got this. How do I work this thing again?
SPEAKER_17I mean it. Holds it backwards. I'm just gonna keep doing what I'm doing and like try to punch these guys out of the sky. So I'm gonna go with that one in front.
SPEAKER_03Oh, sorry. Uh Michael, roll your damage real quick for me. Oh, yeah. Um, but yeah, roll your attack, Virgil.
SPEAKER_021d6.
unknownSo D8.
SPEAKER_17Oh, you've gotta be kidding me. Uh let's see. It's a nine. God dog, man.
SPEAKER_0319. Unfortunately, you're not able to uh get you uh you you feel the reverberation back through your bones uh as you're you're punching metal, brother.
SPEAKER_02Ow!
SPEAKER_03How many damage? How much damage, Michael?
SPEAKER_02A one. Michael's not having a good time. He's yeah. He was he can see stuff real good. He clocks a climbing kid. Nobody's business. Damage today, not what's happening.
SPEAKER_03Um, alright. Uh so uh bonus action attack, Virgil. Yeah, I'm just gonna try it again.
SPEAKER_04Okay, oh that's that's better. That's better. 22?
SPEAKER_0322 will hit. Roll damage.
SPEAKER_04Alright, alright, alright. Let's see, let's see.
SPEAKER_03Noroxy, you're next. Up.
SPEAKER_17Okay, that is gonna be six damage.
SPEAKER_03Six damage. Alright, uh, so uh six damage as it's the one that uh Virgil or that Michael hit, right?
SPEAKER_17Let's do it, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Okay, cool. You run up to that one, you kind of stand in its uh you go to try to swing it the first time. Uh as you see the arrow of Michael strike it in the middle of it, you kind of stand in the middle of it and you give a quick little uppercut underneath it as the thing kind of bounces up a little bit. Still looking alright, but um but has a little bit of damage on it, Noroxy.
SPEAKER_15Um I'll go up to the one in that's like directly in front of us in our path. Yeah, and with my mace go to strike that one. Hell yeah. Uh that is definitely not gonna hit. That was a five plus a four, so nine. What is unfortunately?
SPEAKER_03Um do you have anything you can do for one AP or a bonus action?
SPEAKER_15Uh I can bite. Bite? Okay. Hell yeah. Hell yeah.
SPEAKER_02Is biting a bonus action this whole time? I've been using it up. Curse us being level one. Can I use bite as a bonus action? Uh yeah, I'll allow it. Okay. That's valid.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, as a bonus action. Yep.
SPEAKER_02This whole time?
SPEAKER_03Uh attack. Oh, uh, this is the one that gives you temp HP.
SPEAKER_15The bonus action attack, the hungering jaws. Yeah, invalid, you can throw yourself into a feeding frenzy as a bonus action. You make a special attack with your bite. If this attack hits, okay. Uh I rolled a 12. Is there any modifier to this or uh it's your normal strength attack?
SPEAKER_03It'd be like you're attacking with your mace. Okay.
SPEAKER_15A 12 plus a 4?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, that'll hit.
SPEAKER_15Okay.
SPEAKER_03That'll hit uh a d6? Yep, a d6 plus your strength. Okay. Uh five. Five. And what's your uh yeah, five points of damage as uh you get one point of temporary HP from that. Uh hell yeah. Uh so it is Charlese's turn. Uh, you see, as she pulls out this um out of her back pocket, she seems to pull out this uh little um kind of just looks like a little rod here, almost looks like a flashlight, but you see as she extends it out into this baton. That's probably about three or four uh uh about three two or three feet long. As she runs up, you see as she uh and starts uh to uh throw her whole body into this attack. She goes after the one on the right as she will make an attack with rage.
SPEAKER_11Um let's see.
SPEAKER_02A barbarian, eh?
SPEAKER_11A barbarian, you say. I would say more of a street fighter.
SPEAKER_04But oh, yeah, the old fisticuffs, you know what I'm saying.
SPEAKER_11The old fisticuffs, yes, yes, barbarian.
SPEAKER_03The old one, too. Let's see. Alright. Uh she is going to get uh she will hit, uh, and she is going to uh deal seven points of damage on the one on the right. Uh as it is now Sylvia's turn and then Michael. Sylvia.
SPEAKER_06Okay. The one that's directly in our path, how's it doing?
SPEAKER_03Uh the one that's directly in your guys' path is the one that Noroxy hit. Uh it is it's it's still looking fine. It's it took a little bit of damage from the mace, but it's still looking alright.
SPEAKER_08Okay, I'm gonna fire up a witch bolt.
SPEAKER_03Okay, hell yeah. Roll an attack.
SPEAKER_08Yes, and I do that by rolling a d6.
SPEAKER_02D20. A d20 to see if I do.
SPEAKER_08Okay, I was I had to try. I had to test it. She was testing me.
SPEAKER_03She was testing me.
SPEAKER_04Wow, you passed.
SPEAKER_08Okay.
SPEAKER_03I passed. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_08D20. Funny me. Okay. That is a 10. Wait, and then I have do I use a spellcasting modifier?
SPEAKER_03Yep, your spellcasting modifier. 13 will just hit. Um roll that d12 of damage.
SPEAKER_02Nice. Okay. So nice, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Eight points of damage, solid. As uh again, ooh, ooh, uh doing her jazz hands in the back as she casts um uh her witch bolt uh as a um as it's kind of arching and it stays connected with you. Uh you're holding concentration uh on it. If you take any damage, you will have to roll a uh constitution save to uh maintain concentration. Um so m uh anything else on your turn? Uh are you moving? Uh you have two more AP left.
SPEAKER_07Um so interesting. I am going to start. Calling my patron the last attempt to hopefully reclaim some kind of uh I don't know, self-respect from the last time. But I'm I'm trying to hold in my mind the fact that I actually kind of care about these people and they actually kind of want them to be okay. And that I believe in art and I think that art can't exist in this fucking AI world or some heavy metaphor.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, roll me a um roll me a spell your spell casting jack.
SPEAKER_06Okay twenty.
SPEAKER_03Yep.
SPEAKER_06Okay, with a modifier? Seventeen.
SPEAKER_03Seventeen. Uh as you do um you hear a whisper in the back of your mind. You got this, honey. As you see a glit, you see as like the sky kind of rips open slightly. You see as it kind of you get static in the sky as a heel comes down and stomps on that one that you have a witch bolt, roll me another d12 for witch bolt damage.
unknownOkay.
SPEAKER_09That's a six.
SPEAKER_03That's a six, hell yeah. Hell yeah. This thing is looking rough for wear. Uh, that is the end of your turn, Sylvia. Um, as uh you you're fe you're I mean you feel seen. Um Michael.
SPEAKER_09Beat that, Michael.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I know. Okay, we got back to you, Michael. You can't move as you took uh yourself.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I did so much attack. I did so much. Alright, the one in front of us is still.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, the one directly in front of you is hurting real bad. That's the one that Sylvia has her witchbolt uh connected to. Um, you know what? Actually, I forgot to take their turns. It is the drone's turns. Uh-oh. You're welcome. I didn't write them down, thank you.
SPEAKER_02Um man, we really got some good hits on them before. Yeah, I was like, wait a second. They're part of the mainframe. They're only taking turns beating them up. That's what we do.
SPEAKER_03Just taking turns beating them up. You're right. Um, all right. You guys see um as the um the one on you, Noroxy, is going to uh you see as these two these two arms uh kind of come out, uh these uh strict arms as they come and uh both grab at you. Um Noroxy, that is a 22 to hit you. Roll me a strength save or be grappled.
unknownDon't be grappled.
SPEAKER_15Don't do it.
SPEAKER_02Don't get grappled. Please, please don't get grappled.
SPEAKER_15Nine plus strength save.
SPEAKER_03Two. So eleven. Eleven. You fail um as you are going to get grappled uh as you take uh four points of lightning damage. Not good. Um as or four points is piercing damage as you then feel a zap going through the arm as it deals three points of lightning damage to you.
SPEAKER_16Okay, I'm not feeling so good.
SPEAKER_03The one on two not to um the one on the right on Charlice is going to attack at her. Um, that is the d6, not the d20. Um, oh my god, that's a natural 19. Uh Charlize is going to try to not get grappled. She rolled a natural four. Charlize is now grappled. Um, she will take only one point of damage, and she will be shot uh for four points of damage. Um as Charlize looks to be grappled over there, looks to be zapped as well. Um the one on you, Virgil, uh, you see as it uh has these antenna out here as you see this electricity uh kind of uh start arching between both of them as you see it goes to zap at you. Uh I need you to roll me a con save.
SPEAKER_17Oh boy. Con save. Let's see.
SPEAKER_04Here we go. Okay, come on, don't fail me now. Okay, that is a 16.
SPEAKER_03A 16, that will save. You will take half damage. Ah crap. You attack uh three points of damage.
SPEAKER_02I am not doing great. I'm still damaged from the sweet potato incident. Oh god. I am I am down to one H a pointerone.
SPEAKER_03Oh, you could have taken the short rest, so uh you can uh uh d signing the papers, you guys would have taken the short rest. Okay, okay. Then we so you guys can roll a uh one of your hit die to recover that on your short rest uh and have that part of it. Um okay, so it is Michael, your turn.
SPEAKER_02Wow, a lot went down just then. Yeah in that and that's some crazy stuff. I think I'm I think what I'm what I'm gonna do. I want to I guess I want to free Naraski. I wanna I wanna mess up that drone. Okay, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, that one's probably looking worse for wear that that one's uh Sylvia's like consistently doing damage to it as you see is this violation.
SPEAKER_02I'm gonna bite it. This is what I this is what I know best. Bite I I tried to swear off eating some aluminum, it tastes bad, but you know what?
SPEAKER_03I got yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You can run up and bite it. Yeah, but it is it is further ahead of you.
SPEAKER_02This isn't the move action. This is uh this is my my fight. You are firmly planted. Michael knows two things firmly planted and and carving. Yeah, so that's uh that's a uh 22. 22. Um that will hit. Alright, damage 1d6 time 1d6 o'clock. One. Alright.
SPEAKER_03Uh strength modifier.
SPEAKER_02Oh, wait, that's right. Good. You're so right. Oh, I didn't I didn't count that for the arrow, which actually I think my dex is zero.
SPEAKER_03Your dex is zero, so but three, that's four. And honestly, one is enough to take this thing out as you go, you bite it. Uh, as you bite it, you rip the arm off that's uh holding on the Roxy. As you see, as it pulls out some vital uh vital vital circuitry and stuff out of it as it falls to the ground. Uh hell yeah. Uh anything else on your turn, Michael? Can I do another bite? Can I bite another one? Uh the other one is like they're basically in different yeah, they're basically in different uh the other two are in the intersection as this one was kind of in the mid like in the other the side roads, as this one was just kind of in the center of the I'm gonna try to shoot one to get my arrow back out.
SPEAKER_02Okay. If running up to bite isn't an option. Uh I'll try to get the one that's grappling onto uh Charlie's. Okay. I will try to hit uh that that would be a 15.
SPEAKER_03Uh 15 is enough. Roll damage. Nice.
SPEAKER_02Come on, Michael. Oh yeah, I'm I'm it's a five. DD Bianca's rolling my D my D eight so weird. It's just like flying them across and they're already starting on Yeah. Yeah, it's a five. It's a five slide. Yeah, it's sliding them across. They don't actually roll.
SPEAKER_03Alright, that one's starting to starting to l spark up a little bit. Um, it is now Noroxy's turn. You uh Uh uh yeah, Michael just bit the arm off of this one as it is uh it falls to the ground releasing you from being grappled.
SPEAKER_15Okay. Um I'll go for the one for Charlese and with the the the club two.
SPEAKER_16Um I I need you to show these guys the way so that way I can be the best job ever.
SPEAKER_02Hell yeah. Yeah, you're getting a promotion.
SPEAKER_03Roll 17 plus four. That'll definitely hit. Hell yeah.
SPEAKER_15And then a five, uh I rolled a five, and then do I add a strength modifier to that?
SPEAKER_03Uh uh yeah, to your damage, yep, with the max. Okay, then uh seven. Seven. Oh, this thing is so close. Um, you uh you did have to use your movement to move over, so you have one AP left. Okay. Um if you have bonus action or other movement or stuff like that. I guess I'll do the hungry draws again.
SPEAKER_15Okay. Hell yeah. Uh seven plus four.
SPEAKER_03Eleven? Eleven. Unfortunately, that's not enough to take this thing out. Um alright, uh, so with that we are back to Charlese. She is grappled by this thing. Um, she's just going to uh yeah, I mean, she's just gonna attack this thing. Um natural one on the first one. Uh she is uh tries to jab at it as she gets uh the baton in between uh some of the circuits as she takes four points of lightning damage. Um she goes to like jab at it again. Uh oh my god. Natural 20! Charlie! She uh she gets jabbed, she gets uh shocked by it, kind of pulls back, still being held, as she then takes it, um jabs it into its eye. Um she's able to get her right arm loose as she goes and she rips this thing in half. Um with her giant uh meaty fur bold fingers, rips this thing in half um and throws the two pieces on the ground. Uh that's the end of Charlise's turn, Sylvia. Um, let me look at Witchbolt real quick.
unknownThank you.
SPEAKER_03Oh, did it? Is it then my turn again yet? Oh, sorry, Virgil. You were before Neuropsy. My bad.
SPEAKER_02No, it's alright.
SPEAKER_03You know what? Sylvia's turn.
SPEAKER_02Whatever.
SPEAKER_03Who cares about Virgil? Go ahead, Virgil. Um, I just go. Uh the w yeah, the one you're on.
SPEAKER_00Wow, what a woman.
SPEAKER_02Um he was so distracted he delayed his turn. Yeah, I did.
SPEAKER_04I was so distracted.
SPEAKER_02That's that's what happened.
SPEAKER_06I was actually still falling love. She's still in the story.
SPEAKER_17She's still in the story. I can fall in love. Anyways, uh, I'm so there's one more, right?
SPEAKER_03Uh-huh. Yep, there's the one on you.
SPEAKER_17Is there the ones that are on the ground? Are they like kind of sparking and stuff like that?
SPEAKER_03They yes, they are sparking. The one that you're on is the one missing the eye. It's uh main central eye.
SPEAKER_17I want to see if I can grapple this guy and like kind of slam him into one of the ones that are sparking to kind of short circuit it out.
SPEAKER_03Okay. Hell yeah. Yeah. Um, we'll do a competing athletics check with them.
SPEAKER_02Oh, let's go. Alright.
SPEAKER_18Uh, alright. Nine.
SPEAKER_03Another natural 20. What the fuck? No.
SPEAKER_12Do it a row!
SPEAKER_03Oh weighted dice over there. Yeah, something's going on. It's my weighted dice. Uh, as uh yeah, you go up to try to grab this thing, you see as this thing almost throws you to the ground. You're able to catch yourself as it starts hovering back towards you, keep crookedly um s starting going towards you, uh, as its eyes pointing away from you, slightly away from you.
SPEAKER_02Am I still able to, as a bonus action, hit it or no?
SPEAKER_03Uh yeah, uh yeah, yeah, yeah. Grapple is an attack. But you haven't used your movement at all.
SPEAKER_02I oh uh So you have two AP.
SPEAKER_03Because you've been on this one.
SPEAKER_02Well, I I'd like to run up to it and just punch it the old-fashioned way.
SPEAKER_03The old fashioned way. Hell yeah. Hell yeah. Uh you go up and yeah, roll your attack. Alright, come on.
SPEAKER_04Alright. 17.
SPEAKER_0317 will hit, roll damage.
SPEAKER_04Come on. That is a um four plus three.
SPEAKER_17Seven.
SPEAKER_03Seven damage. Solid. It is still up, but this thing is hurting. Um Sylvia, we are to you.
SPEAKER_08Okay, um, anything I should know about Witch Ball as it's happening.
SPEAKER_03Um, oh yeah. Uh I think it I think if the creature dies, I think it's supposed to drop, but I think that's lame, and I think I should be able to move.
SPEAKER_08I'm so glad you think that's lame.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, uh, so you can I'll say for a bonus action, move it to another target. Okay. So for one AP, you can move it to the one that's existing.
SPEAKER_08That's interesting. And then um here's what I'll do then. I will um I'm gonna fire an arrow at the one that's still standing.
SPEAKER_10Okay.
SPEAKER_08For now.
SPEAKER_13Cool.
SPEAKER_08That worked so well last time. Uh roll your attack with a minus one.
SPEAKER_18Minus one. That's a one.
SPEAKER_00One minus one.
SPEAKER_03As you do, uh roll your damage. Total?
SPEAKER_06Wait, no, I roll a d6. Sorry.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, roll a d6, and then it's minus three damage.
SPEAKER_06Okay, so I rolled a four.
SPEAKER_03So one damage to Virgil. Uh as a bolt goes right through your right uh skim in your thigh.
SPEAKER_02Oh god, Sylvia!
unknownSorry.
SPEAKER_07I'm under a lot of pressure.
SPEAKER_14She's very good at that.
SPEAKER_03Charlize says, uh pointing at the the hole in her in her slacks.
SPEAKER_07You know, Charlize, women should be supporting women. Okay.
SPEAKER_03Yes, and you put a hole in my slacks.
SPEAKER_04It's now the time.
SPEAKER_07Do I still have a moment to shift my witchbolt?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, also you can use your two AP to switch it and uh use it. Uh so uh Witchbolt does uh all actually moving it, I'll have it roll a quick. Actually, is it an attack? I g I'm I guess I didn't do it right. Uh yeah, roll a spell range spell attack.
SPEAKER_07That is a uh 15.
SPEAKER_0315 will hit. Uh roll that d12 damage.
SPEAKER_07You got it. That is a three.
SPEAKER_03Unfortunately, this thing is still up and is turn as this thing is going to grab at Virgil.
SPEAKER_02Oh god. I hate this thing.
SPEAKER_03A natural 18. I've oh I'm rolling hot. Uh roll me a uh roll me a strength save, Virgil.
SPEAKER_02Guys, if I get assimilated into the main frame, just remember me, please. Totally. Uh you said a strength saving throw? Strength saving throw, yep. And then we'll just bring Naraski with us. That's gonna be a nine.
SPEAKER_03Nine is not gonna do it. As you're grappled, you take uh five point four points of bludgeoning damage, uh, and one point of lightning damage.
SPEAKER_02I'm I'm not doing so hard.
SPEAKER_03That that short rest saved me.
SPEAKER_11That was that was a that was a low roll on damage. All right.
SPEAKER_03Um as uh that happens, Michael. You can come up and uh finish this thing off.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, man, I'm biting it. Hell yeah.
SPEAKER_03Bite it.
SPEAKER_02I'm biting it.
SPEAKER_03Run up and bite it.
SPEAKER_02Bite it. I love biting stuff. Especially stuff made of metal. Especially when I roll a natural 20, I'm biting stuff.
SPEAKER_05Oh let's go.
SPEAKER_03That's actually uh Michael, finish this thing off. Is that two? I like so so uh we we changed it. It is max damage plus a roll. Okay, cool. So that's maximum, so it's six plus roll normally.
SPEAKER_02That's 12. All right. 12 points of damage. Is this thing like it's like a drone right now? Oh, has it has like kind of arms and stuff? It's about uh it looks like uh Roomba with like fan blades, like you're playing Arc Raiders.
SPEAKER_03No, no, it looks more like uh what's the what's oh my god, why am I forgetting the Pokemon's name? Uh Magnetorb. Yeah Megaton looks like a Voltorb. Oh my campaign. Oh, okay, Megneton. Yes, it looks like US. Yeah, it's got the R UFO with the arms underneath it, yeah.
SPEAKER_02But it's a robot.
SPEAKER_03I mean that it's like I mean it's eye, you already broke its eye, so there is a there is a way in.
SPEAKER_02If I can like You tell me I can like go in and grab and just clutch. Alright, I'm gonna do it that way. I'm gonna do it that way. I want to make it as painful as possible for the mainframe. All right.
SPEAKER_03You jump in uh as you just like you start digging uh if you've ever dropped like a treat or food in the sofa and your dog gets at it, you start just like full on just putting stuff in your your your snout into here as uh the your um what are what are they the fin your fin, your flare, your flare, yeah. Fully like fully flares out and is shimmering right now as he's going inside there. And as you grab something a little bit more solid, you pull it out as you pull out the the main um the main motherboard of this thing as it falls down as it hits the ground. Uh I see you.
SPEAKER_02Oh. I see you, bitch. Spit out the I see you freaking dead.
SPEAKER_03Hell yeah, hell yeah. As you guys start, Shirley's like, come, come on, hurry, hurry.
SPEAKER_06I jet after her.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, we're I'm booking it.
SPEAKER_03As uh she uh books it and takes you guys to this warehouse.
SPEAKER_13Okay, um we need to lay low. We need it seized. We need to lay low for a while.
SPEAKER_03Um, and it you are just uh in this uh kind of empty warehouse here as she's walking you guys through, you guys hear the echoing, clicking of your guys's uh feet as come on I'll take you I'll take you down into the safe room and you We need to talk to you as she's pointing his at Noroxy Me Yeah You Or you a part of the mainframe I mean I She uh like while you're saying that she she picks you up and shoves you uh throws you up against the wall.
SPEAKER_13Are you a part of the mainframe?
SPEAKER_16I don't think I ever actually was. I just wanted to be. Not anymore.
SPEAKER_03She kinda her shoulders uh loosen up a little bit. That's the correct answer.
SPEAKER_13You guys need to lay low, I'll take you down. And you'll have to you'll have to rest for a couple days, lay low a couple days.
SPEAKER_07Um Charlie's what what if we don't have a couple of days? What happens in 48 hours whenever they process our papers or or whatever?
SPEAKER_02That's right.
SPEAKER_13You all sign the the papers?
SPEAKER_07We basically had to.
SPEAKER_02We had to. I mean, we were in the building, they were looking at us. I mean it went Bill.
SPEAKER_14Well um get some rest. If someone that wants to meet you, point at you in the Roxy, rest you. You'll meet him in the morning.
SPEAKER_03Get some rest as she uh opens this hatch down, uh leading you through some uh like uh they almost feel like sewage tunnels, but they are pristine. Um you see some electrical uh components and wires that are running along the sides up above your guys' head. Uh, and she takes you guys to this large um this large door with this uh wheel on the front of it. Cracks it open, opens it up. Alright. Uh you see a few beds in here. Rest here.
SPEAKER_13And we'll talk in the morning.
SPEAKER_02Alright. Okay.
SPEAKER_07Well, I'm gonna sleep well.
SPEAKER_02Couldn't sleep better.
SPEAKER_14Noroxy will uh let's go.
SPEAKER_02Alright. As um, and real quick, before Noroxy leaves the door, I'm gonna again put my hand on his shoulder and go, hey, great job.
SPEAKER_03Thank you. Hell yeah. As uh you guys head uh get some rest. You guys feel pretty secure in here. Um as Norox Noroxy is taken with Charlese, and that is where we will end tonight. Um as uh we see what happens. Um yeah, yeah, that's uh some crazy stuff.
SPEAKER_02That was intense, yeah. That was a saga, intense, and now we have so much lore. Oh my god, the lore is brimming.
SPEAKER_08I was so many notes.
SPEAKER_03Thank you, Spencer, again for being the special guest. That was awesome. Hell yeah. So good. Um hell yeah. Um, but yeah, yeah, no, I mean, uh yeah, everyone, if you guys enjoyed, uh please give us a uh subscribe or follow or whatever subscribe, I think is what it is on YouTube. Yes, give us hit that like button down there. Uh, and stay tuned for more order and chaos. Thank you, guys.
SPEAKER_02See ya. See ya later. Thank you.
SPEAKER_03Hit the button.