The Glass Cannon Podcast - Gatewalkers Episode 78 – Dinner Monologues

Episode Date: March 28, 2025

Nine Gatewalkers try to get to the bottom of things. Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/zdobtiR7Swg This episode was sponsored by Foundry VTT and Norse Foundry. See why tabletop gamers everywhere have made the switch to Foundry Virtual Tabletop at https://foundryvtt.com/gcp For all your random number-generating needs, visit Norse Foundry at https://norsefoundry.com Head to https://shopremi.com/GCN and use code "GCN" to save up to 50%. Give your teeth a break without breaking the bank with Remi. Access exclusive podcasts, ad-free episodes, and livestreams with a 30-day free trial with code "GCN30" at jointhenaish.com. Join Troy Lavallee, Joe O'Brien, Skid Maher, Matthew Capodicasa, Sydney Amanuel, and Kate Stamas as they tour the country. Get your tickets today at https://hubs.li/Q03cn8wr0. For more podcasts and livestreams, visit https://hubs.li/Q03cmY380. Watch new episodes when they premiere every Thursday at 8PM ET on youtube.com/theglasscannon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the Fizz loyalty program, you get rewarded just for having a mobile plan. You know, for texting and stuff. And if you're not getting rewards like extra data and dollars off with your mobile plan, you're not with Fizz. Switch today. Conditions apply. Details at fizz.ca. You are listening to the Glass Cannon Network, the premier source for role-playing game entertainment. Last week on the Glass Cannon podcast. At Rittleson Manor, there are other Gatewalkers here.

Guggles, you come out of your room, you see a gnome with bright yellow hair. Uh, hello? Hey, quiet, quiet, quiet, quiet. This place is haunted. I wonder if the Rittlesons, when they passed away, came back here. My name is Vax Sterven. Pleasure to meet you. This place is haunted. I wonder if the Rittlesons, when they passed away, came back here. My name is Vax Stereven.

Pleasure to meet you. It's a pleasure, my pleasure. Brother Ramius, so you limp along down the stairs, follow the servant, and you hear a whimpering. Has something been happening? It's really not a hard place to say, but I know that Dr. Rittleson is spending a lot of resources on his research. He's had to let some people go, but he's obsessed with these moonstones that he's been purchasing.

Gek, Mark, you hear a voice, an elf. My name is Sandin. I consider myself a bit of a cartographer. One evening, Dr. Riddleson, I think I caught him unaware as He was looking at a map and he covered it up as I came in. Curiosity got the better of me. I went back in afterwards and I saw this map of a gate called Lichgate. It's somewhere in the nearby Shudderwood. Isn't that weird? How well do you know this Dr. Riddleson? Those of you who have been here before,, you know where he might have kept these maps

as he had an office. We're not in a terrible violation of trust. Ding-a-ling-a-ling-a-ling-a-ling. Everyone sits around the table. Owen comes out and says, Time for dinner. The adventure continues... now. You Welcome back everybody to Four Beards and the Two Porn Girls.

Sydney and Kate were just watching hardcore pornography. Don't say that and then immediately say our names. It was really bad pornography and there wasn't even any penetration. It's inappropriate though, let's talk about it. My word. Poor Skid was traumatized,

he looked right over at your computer and you were just blasting intercourse. I got tricked, I got tricked and Joe was like, look up the scene from this movie. I never said that. I was like, look up the scene. It's like a bad, it's not even a sex scene. It's like a bad makeout 70s scene. I was like, okay.

So I typed it into my work computer. This is such weird revisionist history from what actually happened. And I clicked on the very first link, which of course when you type in the word like movie, sex scene, it goes to porn. So I turned the computer to Kate and it said it was the movie and it just popped up this huge porn website. Kate and I went, oh no. Kate was like, oh my God.

I was like, that's not it. There's all like the sidebars and like the banner ads and it was like, close, close, close. Don't click on anything. Bookmark, bookmark. Bookmark, bookmark. Save for later. There's all like the sidebars and like the banner ads and it was like But yeah, it just goes to show that I obviously don't watch a lot of porn at least on this computer cuz Now how did you know it was porn? How did you immediately know this is porn and not a movie sex scene? What did it say in big letters? It said, make you cum.

With your fingers only. Write letters. And then it was just like a woman. And she was like laying down and her underwear was on. Yeah. It was about to not be. And we were like, x, x, x, x. You got that sense that it was coming off?

Yeah. That's how they get you. Let's dig into this a little further. Who would make you cum? This was the ad? Yeah, I'm not sure if they were like, it's about you, the viewer. Like me, the viewer, want to make me cum?

Or like, me, like. Teaching her how to cum? With only your fingers. It is a confusing copy. Ah, that makes sense. The copy's a little bit confusing. Honestly, that's something that drives me crazy when watching pornography.

It's like bad grammar and syntax, mispellings in like captions. It really takes you out of it. You pause. I'm like, what the fuck? Put a little bit of fucking effort into proofreading your fucking captions. It takes me out of it completely.

Surely you could pay someone there, someone involved, to just read it. Also, my whole thing with porn is like, I skip through everything to the end. Because don't you just wanna see the end? Isn't it the whole point? What's the end? I'll be spoiled.

What's the end? What's the end? You make it seem like they all end the same way? When they're happy, like everything's good. When it's done. I thought you meant the climax. It's just the end, because the whole middle, it takes too long.

You just want to see them relax. You just want to watch people recline. So no foreplay. You just want to go straight to the... It sounds like she doesn't even want the sex. No story? You want the fate out. Skip it, skip it.

It's like not important to the story. The story is at the end, they're like- Sounds like what she wants is the refractory period. That's yeah, I want to see them sharing a coffee afterwards. What I want is like- Discussing what went right, what went wrong. Are we gonna do this again? Do you want to come over again? Was that good for you? Yeah, was that good for you? I did actually, I was watching one a while ago. It was sort of,

it was outside of my comfort zone, I would say. I was like watching, I was just like, oh my god, like I can't believe that they're doing this. And it was very, very, you know, and then at the end, I was just like, I can't believe this is happening. And at the end, if you just get to the end, the guy got down on one knee and proposed to the woman. That's what I'm talking about. I was just like, I did not see that coming. Wow, what a twist.

And admittedly, would you say the story was important at all to that end? I think it was informative of what I eventually witnessed. It sounds like it was for the female gaze. Yeah. They get married at the end of the port. That's what they want. It was a veritable rom-chop. She married the pizza delivery guy?

I, yeah. Wait, that's so fast. I married him on the spot. The spot? All straight female port at the end of the game. They get married. It was very sweet. It was a Jared's commercial.

It was the most even more offensive one. I was really impressed at the romance. What was the port? Straight female porn at the end of the game. They get married. It was very sweet. It was a Jareds commercial. I was really impressed with the romance. It was the poor. I'm going to need that link, kid. I'll try to find it.

You shouldn't have been watching that at work, though. I close it really, in my defense, I close it really fast and now I have all my TTRPG stuff up. Very professional. Now would you delete your history or you don't care if somebody sees like that you were looking at that? She just you just outed her on for all of our listeners. What did she care about her history? I'll send him the link to make With your fingers whatever it's called. Yeah. Yeah

I Can't wait for all of the 14 to 17 year olds that you meet at the live shows. Maybe that's what this network needs. We need like a real hard R borderline X show. We like describe in detail role playing sex and like really uncomfortable. Sorry, you did do that.

You want that. Yeah, and maybe nudity. Maybe nudity. You as the GM. I'm just spitballing. I may not be involved. The moment we do this to Troy, he backs out. Let's unpack it a little bit. So you want to role-play. Wants a strong word. We're just having a meeting. We're just pitching ideas here, Matthew.

Well, this is the same place. For the business, I just want to be clear about what we're pitching here. You want to role play a hardcore sex scene that includes graphic details with me and Joe. Well, it doesn't have to be you two. That's my story a little bit. I think you're right.

I think Glass Cannon, the gritty reboot, every TV show does it. Why not us? Every TV show reboots. Nudity. Has there been any nudity in Tabletop? I think there needs to be some more nudity. Sorry, like the players? Yeah.

Do you think I'd get in trouble if I just came out on a Glass Cannon Live and ran down stage and whipped out my penis? Yes. Would you get in trouble for that just came out on a glass cannon live and like ran downstage and whipped out my penis? Yes. Would I get, you'd get in trouble for that? Depends on what state, but probably yeah. But like I'm on, it's part of the show. It's part of the show. Part of the show.

Oh, like an art thing. You're talking about like, like legal trouble? I think you have to I come around, I like do like Jason Segel and This is an honest question. Like if there's some Johnson's in place, which this happens, do they have to put like a little disclaimer on the play? Like there is nudity in this play, which this happens, do they have to put like a little disclaimer on the play?

Like there is nudity in this play so that people know going in? No, there'll be like an age guidance. There's usually that on every play, but usually no one really looks at it. But if it's like, yeah, there's nudity in the play, they will say. Usually we play at venues that serve alcohol. So we might get naked already. In grad school at Columbia, nudity was all over the place. In like scene work, we'd be doing scene work and people would be getting naked left and right.

Penises, boobs, as far as the eye can see. It was very common. I saw some horrible things and just acting class. Just like stuff is like, don't talk about this. And it was like, I don't want to. Yeah. And here you are. Theater's different though,

because that's experiential for the audience in that moment. Video lives forever. Yeah, I guess just running downstage and whipping it out, not effectual. But if there was a scene where I was playing a young Duke who his penis was a part of the scene and I decided to get really into character. And I went downstage to deliver this heartbreaking monologue, and then gently unfurled my penis. Don't say unfurled. Gently. Gently.

Gently. And the front row. Oh, so sorry. It's not all. I think that could be artistic. Is it rolled up? I don't understand. I also wonder if you rewind,

because you mentioned the Duke, and that his penis is an important part of the scene. It is, I haven't finished the monologue, but yeah. For some reason, it's artistic. What I'm saying is we get to the point where any of us doing full frontal nudity during a live show is an artistic moment. Do you think we'd get in trouble?

I think I'm understanding your God and setting choice now with that campaign. Oh yeah, for Ascension? I feel like you're setting this up. Sorry, I need to back up just for a minute. I think I'm understanding your God and setting choice now with that campaign. Oh yeah, for Ascension? I feel like you're setting this up. Sorry, I need to back up just for a minute. Okay. Is your penis a fruit roll-up or a flag of some kind?

Or a flag. Like a blanket at the beach. In this analogy, I was thinking flag. Flag, okay. Unfragile. In this end. I'm trying to think of a fun verb. Don't think about it too much.

Don't talk over it. We're workshopping it. We're workshopping it. I think the important thing is. Don't talk over it. We're workshopping it. We're workshopping it. I think the important thing is no one wants to see it. Right, well, it did not have to be my penis. We could hire a penis. I would venture to say that people who come to our shows don't want to see any penises at all.

Okay, well. Yeah, I think that's. Take a poll. I think that's an accurate statement. Call in. What about a boob? One. Or an ass.

Okay. I'm not doing nudity. It's in my contract. Okay. I've seen your contract and it is not. If you'd like to add that addendum. That's what he said. Add that addendum?

We can talk about it. My writer says, have to be nude in the green room. That's what my writer says for the tour. I redlined that out. Green room nudity was a big deal. It was like, it happened a lot when I was coming up. People would just. Wait, really? Yeah, when I was coming up. People would just...

Wait, really? Yeah, there was always naked women, I remember, from a very early age. There were some women that just didn't care. Like rock star lifestyle. I guess, yeah. Like they're changing their clothes? I did a production of Dracula,

and yeah, it was just like everyone was just naked like in the dressing room. That's different. Again, that's theater. That's like theater kid, I don't know. When I was in theater too, just naked like in the dressing room. That's different. That's again. That's theater That's like theater kid. I don't know when I was in theater too. You got changed in front of people It didn't matter. It wasn't it wasn't weird I remember being a freshman in high school and being backstage and the Women who were juniors or seniors in high school just taking their shirts off. They had bras on but me being like this is

crazy And then you get to like your 20s. And that's where the dream was born. Well, you get, I was in my 20s. Now I'm in my 20s and I'm backstage off off-Broadway and they're just taking it all off. It wasn't all the time, not all the time, Joe. But I just thought that was very bold of people.

I don't know. I'm fine with nudity. I'm cool. I say- Matthew was not. Well, not for Glass Cannon. That's in his contract. Not for us. But if you did like, what was.

I was doing porn, obviously. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. That would be. That was the thing, like doing that show and similar shows was just like, initially, cause I barely knew most of these people,

you know, they're naked and everything. And I was just like, this is crazy. And then after a couple of days, it just ceased to register at all. Yeah, just seems normal. It's like at a gym. I really noticed it. Yeah, yeah, it's like, it's not sexual.

It's just, it's just. I don't like getting naked at the gym either. I think it's a little weird, a little inappropriate. Have some modesty. Locker room. Yeah, in the locker room. Okay. And then while I'm lifting.

I don't know, I don't know. This is cool. I don't know. Just letting it breathe. What you do. But you please wipe down your pants. For the last time. We needed to do some curls. I don't know. Just letting it breathe. That's what you do. But you, please wipe down your bed. Ah! For the last time.

We needed to do some curls. Curl. Curl. Curl. Pardon me while I unfurl this. Oh, no. Let us know. I meant to furl it back up.

Let us know in the chat if you want to see any of us naked. Actually, don't. Don't. Please don't. Don't. Please don't. Don't. Please don't.

Don't. Please just forget we had this discussion. Please don't. Please don't. Please don't. Just forget we had this discussion. Nailed it. Ever. Millions of Americans grind or clench their teeth at night and most don't even know that they're doing it. And I'm one of them, so you're in good company.

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Head to shopremy.com slash GCN and use code GCN to save up to 50%. That's 50% off at shopremi.com slash GCN. Give your teeth a break without breaking the bank with Remy. And thank you Remy for sponsoring this episode. For the first time ever, we have had to stop airing this live to delete what I can only imagine is a horrible chat. We have not played together or hung out together. I guess you guys see each other legacy online. We play almost every day.

Okay. Yeah. You guys play a lot, but yet never get ahead. Almost every day of the week. You never get ahead on any of these shows. It's crazy. Play every day. We release episodes every day of the week. You never get ahead on any of these shows. It's crazy. Play every day. We release episodes every day.

What a desperate battle against time every week. I literally had food poisoning and could barely sit in a chair and we were debating whether or not to cancel a legacy recording. Well, I haven't seen you in a while. How long has it been since we've done Gay Walkers? Oh, five weeks. Four weeks? Has it really been that long?

A hot minute. Yeah. That's crazy. It is St. Patrick's Day today. We normally don't tell you what time it is, but I can remember St. Patrick's Day in Astoria a lot different than it is now being in my mid-40s with three children. Joe has to ride the train home today and I do not envy him. No, it's gonna be bad. You have to, you can't make eye contact.

You can't accidentally bump into anyone. And, um. Like a zombie train. It's like. And you always have to, and I always keep my hands in a fist. Like all the time. With like your keys in between the fingers.

Exactly, you're just ready, Freddie, you're like, you just never know. When you have to. My New Jersey train is rough. I feel like the Metro North is gonna be fine. Oh, the Metro North is gonna be perfect. Use your class stanzas. You can drink on the Metro North.

It's gonna be a hell show. Oh no. You can drink on New Jersey Transit. Really? You should just get a Guinness in like a bag and sit like alone. Just be like, Grrr.

Yes, exactly, exactly. You have to act. He's scary first. Crazy, yes. You have to start saying. Preactively. What did you say to me? Just like say that to a guy that's sitting there. Nothing, I didn't say anything.

Don't even, I don't think you even need to say it to anyone in particular. Just have your eyes closed, sit there, take a nap, and then every night, just have an alarm set, so every 20 minutes or so you just wake up to shout to no one. What did you say? Yeah, exactly.

Then you just go back to sleep. Exactly, it's a good strategy. Good strategy to get them. Put a little green like like, on your shirt, and just sit there, as if you've been growing up, ruling unknown. Yeah. You used to have to do that when I was taking, like,

the Chinatown bus with the gray island between Boston and New York. The cheap one? I would take cheap one. The one they don't make anymore? Yeah, they don't make that one. I had a black button fenghuai. I mean, I used to take the one that was a van with just three seats.

Oh my God. That was old school fenghuai. But the, what should we call it? On a slow day, you had a chance of sitting alone and it was glorious. And so I would just like sit on the aisle and pretend to be asleep spread out like this. Keep one eye open. They close the bus door, close the bus door, and then you make it. Or you look really crazy, you know.

You could make it. I get so much anxiety from flights and buses. Like unnecessary anxiety. Like sitting in a seat with an open seat next to you. And it's always gonna get filled, you know what I mean? But then when it starts getting real late in the order of boarding, you're like, is this really gonna happen?

And then you start just being like, oh my God, like watching the door, like please, please no, please no, please no, like nobody come in here, nobody come in here, and it just, it seems to linger, and like, did she just close the door? I think they just closed the door. I'm not 100% sure. Then you're, the door opens back up,

God damn it, one guy gets on. Like just somehow someone materializes from inside the plane and shows up in your seat. It's like, where did you come from? It's funny, you go through all these like scenarios in your head and they almost always end up with like, the worst thing will happen, you know, someone takes up three seats, sits next to you, have to wait. There was one time I was waiting and I was sitting and then there was like a woman here and no one between us.

I was like, this is great. How can we lose this? How can we lose? And more people started coming on, more people started coming on. And then some woman came up to both of us and said, are you two together? And we said, no, no. They said, would you guys be interested in sitting in first class? We have two extra seats.

And it was the first time I ever flew first class. I was like, this is the greatest day of my life. What? It's the only time I never flew. Are you, I don't actually know the answer to this question. Window or aisle? Cause I think actually there's some surprises. Isle.

Isle. Window. Wow. I don't care. I like window, but like aisle, I get less car sick during takeoff and landing. I do aisle and Joe. I want control.

I want control over my life. That's a pretty, I want control over the window. Oh yeah, Joe feels very strong. What is it about the window? Oh, the up and down. Yeah. Blazing sun comes blazing in to your screen.

And so now you can't see anything, can't watch the movie. And the asshole in the window seat is just sleeping. Yep. With sun, just like honestly. And you don't wanna do that? No, you can't like reach across somebody and close their window.

I've done that. Yes you can, I've done that. Well somebody's in the middle. Oh, well then no. That's what I'm saying. But if you wanna get up, you wanna keep, I like how you get extra leg room, you can keep it out in the aisle.

Here's the other thing I don't like, being forced to get up. I don't like it. Cause other people have to. On the window't like, being forced to get up. I don't like it. Because other people have to get up. On the window, you're never forced to get up. You really want to be an enforcer. You want to control the window. You want to tell everybody when they get up for you.

I don't get up during a flight. Ever? You never have to be. On a six hour flight, I manage my water and food intake. On a Hawaii flight, I pee in my pants. You wear a diaper. I wear a flight, I pee in my pants. You wear a diaper. I wear a diaper. I wear my plane diaper.

No, I almost never get up during a flight. That's crazy. Even a six hour flight. I don't know anyone, I didn't think I knew anyone who liked the window in this lot of window filter. There's some surprising answers here. I like the window.

And you learned something today. The lack of choice though might be the surprising, most surprising answer of all. I mean, they're both bad in different ways. So, it doesn't matter. The only thing is, no middle seat. I was gonna say, does anyone love a middle seat? Is there someone like, oh, give me a middle?

I'll sacrifice myself if I know the people next to me. I'll be like, fine, I'll do the middle. Really? That's so sweet of you. Yeah. I did it once and I moved my seat to sit next to Skid. Oh. Yeah.

And then Skid got upgraded minutes before the flight. I remember this. And you said it stuck. I remember that. I remember that. That was really funny. I was like, what? No!

Ha ha ha. Ha ha ha. Ha ha ha. Ha ha ha. That's amazing. My hands were tied. Whether you're sitting in the aisle, the middle or the window, be sure to check out our subscription

service where you can get 30 days for free with the code GCN30. Why am I telling you? You've already done it. Or have you? GCN30jointheniche.com. See it? And of course, I want to thank our sponsors, Foundry Virtual Tabletop and Norse Foundry. We're going to use some of these dice today? Maybe.

It's been a while. Who re- I was going to say who re-listened to the episode, but I don't want to call you guys out. I did. Teacher? Teacher? I think we all did. Okay, good. I didn't. We were really good about notes during that. Oh good, well then you guys do the recap. This is really extensive. There's a lot going on. There's a lot going on and that's why I don't want to do the recap because I don't want

to give pointed information, but I will do the sort of broad strokes thing. You are at Riddleson Manor. You have diverged from the quest of Sakawachi. Sakawachi and his crew continued north with a group known as the Reclaimers heading north to northern Mendev. And so Sakawachi believes that their quest needs to go this way and that if you're meant to be back together, then your roads will connect again in the future. It was an unamicable breakup.

But you, having received a letter from Dr. Riddleson, changed course and went about a week and a half, I think. You traveled sometime on the river, sometime overland to Ustalov, to the town of Lepestad, to return to Riddleson Manor. You come to Riddleson Manor and you are greeted by the Major Domo, Alwin Kivaras, I believe his name is, and he says, he's so sorry, but Dr. Riddlesund is away at the moment. He will be back within the week. Please make yourselves comfortable. He's said to make yourselves at home. Riddlesund Manor is your home. There are other gate walkers here as well. You should take some time to get to know them, make yourselves comfortable.

Mikasa Tsukasa. He shows you to your rooms and then you start exploring and you meet these other gate walkers. What I'll tell you is there is one, a Gurundi woman named Lundja, this astronomer. There is a gnome like ghost hunter named Vex Terven. There is a half-elf cartographer named Ayesandin. I can't remember how I pronounced it last time. Then there is... Senden.

Senden. Then there is another male, a Tian man, an older Tian man who was a librarian at some point. His name is Takuzo, way into books. You speak with them and you start to realize things may be a little strange here. Now you fill in the blanks from there. So I think the last thing we were kind of struggling with was whether to break into Riddleson's room and go through his things.

Which came from weird information. We all just met up for dinner and for instance, like, Gick talked to Ascendin and he was basically saying, Riddleson was looking at maps of the Shutterwood with Lichgate. We know he had bodyguards with him. It seemed like he was sort of doing his own thing that he's not talking about, nobody really knows about it. So that was weird and I wanna look at those maps.

Hoarding money to buy moonstones and firing staff and the upkeep of the manor isn't that great, which is all weird. Right. I think it's like, the idea is, the impression I was left with is that he's taking all of this money, like his family money, and investing it in these moonstones while letting the estate, like, kind of go to hell. And that was another kind of discussion we were having is whether he's trying, what he's doing with these memories, if he's trying to, like, if he was stealing them from us, or if he's trying to recover them. But either way, he's being secretive about it, so we weren't sure what his motivations were. Also, I don't know if we knew, like, when we first set out, like, now that we're

back and it's more prevalent, like there's a lot of Gatewalker groups that he sends out on missions. I kind of felt like we were special. Yeah. And it seems like we're not. I had a little bit of like Harry Potter syndrome where I was like our group, the Gatewalkers.

And now there's like a lot of Gatewalkers and he continually seems to like do rounds, like sends them out for different stuff. What's the other thing where he's bringing people in, doing something to them behind closed doors. That was in the game. And they leave like. And they come back different.

And they're like all out of sorts or something. Yeah. Remember this, who said that? I can't remember which NPC said it, but it was, they said something about like. Was it the help, like you like ran down the hallway? I don't think so. I think it was Vicksturven. Yeah, I think it was Vicksturven. Yeah, I think it was Vick Sturven.

It was like the ghost hunter was saying that like people are coming, they talk to Riddleson for a bit, and then they leave like all like, I don't know. I got the sense that they were like zombies almost. Yeah, he said, I believe he said that when he, you know, Dr. Riddleson met with these other gate walkers and then when they left the manor, they just seemed a little out of character from when they had spent time with them before. They were friendly, they were amicable, and when they left, they just seemed weird. And so there have been several groups that have just been coming,

meeting with Riddleson and going and thendle-son goes off, and then he comes back. And yeah, so that's what you know. SONIA DARA-MARGOLIS We also spoke to a few of these different people who are part of different groups, and they mentioned that they don't do any fighting. They've had very different experiences than our group, and they're not really being sent out on missions like ours, which is interesting. Because it's like— MARK FIORINA They haven't faced a single random encounter that killed a party member.

Isn't that interesting? No cabinets. No deadly cabinets. A single bit of furniture. Yeah, no mythical killer cats. No traveling to different planets. Well, the four people that are there right now, you also get the sense that they received a letter, not unlike what you received or some of you did not. Obviously, you were found along the way that called them to Riddleson Manor. So they have not been sent out on a mission yet, but having talked to them, they don't

seem like the fighting type. The old Tian Man doesn't seem magical at all. Strong Wind would knock him over. Yeah. Oh, and Alwyn is kind of a dick. So discovered. Yeah, or under a lot of pressure. The notes say he may be a bit of a penis.

He didn't- You were trying to figure that out. He didn't treat his staff- Detect penis. Oh, detect penis. Did you pass detect penis? No. He didn't memorize it.

Missed opportunity. I'm also reading the notes here. I was not able to confirm penis. You're not trained in that. I'm not trained in penis. Damn it. I'm also really I was not able to confirm penis. You're not trained in that penis Wasn't gonna do it. Thank you. A little penis dip. I've been sitting on penis dip for so long.

Oh man, what do you guys serve it at the Super Bowl party? Yes. Yes. Just a little, we'll have my three together. We'll have my three together. Eat it first and then I'll tell you what's in it. PENIS. It's in that dip.

I just wanna read one of Joe's other notes here that I didn't see until now, which is in the notes on the cartographer. It reads, found a map of Lichgate found somewhere in the Shutterwood open parentheses, which I Joe will not be exploring. Yeah, as soon as I heard that name, the Lich Gate in Shutterwood, it was like hard pass. Send somebody else. Which I, Joe. Yeah, so lots going on here.

Anything else jumping out that you want to discuss beforehand? We end the episode with all of you about to eat. We're about to have dinner. I don't know, do you guys wanna talk a little bit more about the whole mystery, since we've had some time to ruminate on it, or do you just wanna continue? One more player thing.

I wanna continue the story. I think we need more information. Wouldn't it be crazy if we like Scooby-Doo style found the Yeti mask in Riddleson's room? Yeah. That's why I wanna look for it. I know, so do I, but Ramius was so against it. He doesn't wanna break in and steal.

Buggles is also. Buggles was really, Buggles is against it too. Dick felt bad, cause Buggles was like, we really can't do that. I really like Riddleson and he's a good person. Kickin' Barnes do not have that attachment. No. Right.

Where is Zephyr on the issue? I think Kate was like, yeah, let's fucking go. And then I forgot I was playing a character that probably wouldn't be into that. Zephyr, like Kate, is in the middle seat. Yeah. Yeah. But I think I agree with, Dick agrees with Buggles

that we should go to dinner, play it cool. As a player, I would love to break into his room and just like find all this stuff. But I just don't think that Buggles would, he doesn't have any reason to mistrust Riddleson yet. Yeah. And he, in fact, he feels like he owes him quite a bit and likewise. Yeah. See what happens at dinner. Uh, yeah, yeah. I'm starting to come around though, a little bit on the, on the Riddleson thing.

The more you think that he's maybe not on the up and up. Maybe. The more you think that he's maybe not on the up and up? Maybe. I think my personal theory is that he's not, like he's, everything is mostly above board, but he's like, there's been a bunch, but he's spending all his money on these moonstones and creating this situation and he might be in trouble and we're gonna have to go find him.

But I think Barnes, like hearing all this information and the way you all talk about him is kind of like, this seems, this guy does not seem like he's a good person. Yeah, I don't know. I mean, for me, it's a little bit like, as I was again, relisting and thinking about everything, well, there's two things that popped up, because I'm trying to think of the whole adventure, right?

And like, one thing is, remember the art? I had forgotten the art. Oh, in the beginning? Of Riddleson? In the planer? He looks like the big boss. He's a little-

He is a horrifying visage. I don't remember. He's got like blue veins. He has like purple growing eyes and he's like, ah! He looks evil. Like in the artwork, it's got a lot of vascularity. He has like purple, glowing eyes, and he's like, ah! That looks evil. Like in the artwork. It's very strange.

I don't remember. I remember when we saw it. Early on, when he brought it up, and I was like, that is not at all what I was expecting to see when you said Dr. Riddleson. I thought this like old academic, and he looks like a sorcerer or something. And then I started thinking less of a meta and more of a... Ego? Yes.

Come on. He's an intense dude. Yeah, look at that. He looks like Professor X turned evil. One of the times he turns evil. Right. So then I was thinking maybe he is evil. And then I was thinking less meta, more actual story.

Like, there was frustration from the players, but also I think from the characters a little bit about some of the nonsense that we've been doing. Particularly when it came to the first book and the seven arches stuff, and I thought it made no sense looking back. I was like, why is he sending us into this place to determine if these arches are fake or not? When they knew they were fake. Multiple people did.

I don't know that Riddleson did, but like in the town they knew, like they knew. And they were just like, oh, the real ones are over here. I was like, this is, at first I thought it was bad adventure writing. Now I'm starting to think like, I wonder if he is sending people out on things that like are, I haven't, I can't put it together yet, but it but it rose my suspicion level about this guy because I was just like Maybe he had us do something that he already knew but we were guinea pigs for something You know and he's using people now being used doesn't necessarily mean evil But like it is it's interesting to think that maybe that was by design that first

You know sort of adventure challenge which to me made no logical story sense. Yeah. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. It's interesting. What's for dinner? Yeah.

Well, you are all seated in the dining room here, the five of you, and the four gate walkers. It's a skeleton crew here at the manor. This Alwyn, looks like there's a chef. You've seen the chef coming in and out. There's a couple of other servants, one of which was yelled at in front of Brother Ray. By Alwyn. Yes, you spoke to these people and that's where you learn that like, oh yeah, he's been very busy. He's very intense with his work and the place has kind of fallen into disrepair. Someone got fired, an older woman. Amber's mom.

Amber's mother, Maple. Maple. Maple, right, who had been working there ever since Dr. Risland's parents ran the show. And it is those parents that we start in on today, we see a painting on the wall of like a riverboat called the Mossmaid. And on the boat, there are a bunch of revelers toasting, having drinks. Beer bong.

Just beer bongs. Artistic keg stands. Storing coke And Standing sort of on the dock about to board the boat are What you would know just by looking at stock to riddle since parents and they're both standing with their hands on the shoulders of a child, the child being Dr. Riddleson. Soterios Johnson Do we can coke off of this prematurely bald

head? Dr. Michael Riddleson Yeah, they're just doing lines off of this oddly veiny bald head, and they're just standing in front of this riverboat smiling. We come back from that and see Barnes just staring at this painting in the dining room here. Paul Wynn says, he snaps or claps and a chef and a servant or two come out and start putting plates in front of you. I hope you will find the dinner acceptable I don't know what you've been eating on your travels, but we've spared no expense to make sure that at least tonight's dinner is

is good How many people are there is it just us? Yeah, it's the nine of you and then the servants and all win and the nine that so us and yeah And the only people seated at the gate walker NPCs that were also invited here by letter. Yeah That's the nine of you and then the servants and all win. The nine, so us and the other. The only people seated at the table. The Gatewalker NPCs that were also invited here by letter. Yeah.

If you need anything, please just let us know. There is some wine we've brought up from the cellar. Please if you need anything, just we will be nearby. What's the chef's name? Chef. Oh, chef. Roderique.? Chef, Chef Roderique. Roderique? Roderique?

Roderique, yes. Roderique. You can just call him Rick. Chef Rick. Chef Rick, yes. I'd like to know who prepared my meals so I can thank them afterwards. What is the meal?

It is a little like Cornish gay men, seasonal vegetables, and a consomme. It smells fantastic. Thank you, Orwin. Oh, I didn't make it. Chef Riek. I'll send the regards to Chef Riek. Please, my compliments to Chef Riek.

Are we starting? I'll leave it to it. If you need it, need me, I'll be around to it if you need it. I'll need me I'll be I'll be around and he leaves and it's just the nine of you in there But you never know if there are other servants buzzing about servants get commotion to the wine Anybody want me to pull okay?

She starts to pour the wine. She looks at the other gatewalkers wine please the Grundy woman She starts to pour the wine. She looks at the other gate walkers. Wine? Please. The Gurundi woman waves a hand, but Vex'churvin, Isandon, and Takuzo all partake. I assume there's like a big lazy Susan, so she puts it on and spins it towards us. There is now.

And the bottle falls. No. Lands right in the Gurundi woman's lap. Sorry. Wow, that was a waste. My name is Brother Ramius from Arthria the Shadow Isle.

I am summoned here by Dr. Riddle-son. It's a pleasure to meet all of you. Those of you I haven't yet. And he looks toward Lunjaja and Vex'Turvan. He hasn't met them before. Yes, Lundja says, yes, I've had the pleasure of meeting some of you. Others, no, it's nice to make your acquaintance. And Vex'Turvan says, ah, yes, pleasure.

He's kind of looking all around. Have all of you met Dr. Riddleson before? Um, the old man says, um, we saw him briefly. I think I speak for the much before he left for his assignment. He said that he would get to know us more when he returned. Did he say when he would return? I believe it within the week. And did you... Feeding each other.

She needed her meat cut up for her. I'm sorry. You needed to cut her meat and then feed it to her? She was having some trouble, so I offered to cut it and then she opened her mouth like a baby bird. Is she a child or some kind of bird? I don't know, we've never done this before. But I'm happy to oblige.

We're doing it for you as well, if you want. No, no, it's fine, I can cut my own meat and feed myself. We've been hanging out together for a little while, so. We're really close now. We went to an alien planet together. Ah, yes. Go on. No, I've lost my train of thought. Wait, so you're all.

So sorry, so sorry, brother. I thought we were making progress together. It's been. Moving the story. Y'all know each other direction Everything's been ruined instead of back the wine the dinner. This was this adventure. It was a character moment You all know each other then a nonsense character moment Only meant to make us think less of Zephyr

Well done bonds Yeah, it's definitely all your fault It's of Zephyr and Matt. I was just saying you're having trouble with the food. Thickness of Zephyr and Matt. Bonds, you're like... ... ...

... Visual humor. Our podcast. Do you all know each other is what I was asking. We all know each other is what I was asking like we all know each other now. We just we just met here yes we all arrived at the same time we've had some time to get to know each other but there's a lot to do here in Riddleson Manor and we've kind of just been biding our time waiting for the doctor to return. It is interesting that you have already

been sent out on a mission. I can only wonder what the Doctor will have in store for us. So this group of people, they have not gone out, they've not gone adventuring the way we have. They're waiting for the assignment. No, they received a letter, came here, saw Dr. Riddle-son briefly. So they weren't out adventuring on Riddle-son's behalf when they got the letter? No. Which was their first contact. These are just gay walkers that hadn't come to this cause yet and Riddle-son's research found them. Yeah how'd he find y'all? We yeah we asked them. Yeah one of them before

was like he has means, he has ways. I had told some people of my experience. It was not exactly hidden knowledge, so perhaps word got around. But the others, Lundger, you said that you had kept it a secret. Yes, I had not spoken to anyone about my experience, so I was quite surprised to receive a letter from the doctor. But I think it is a worthy cause. We were all affected by this strange event that seemed to be worldwide from as far as we know. I'm glad that we have someone like the doctor to bring us together and try to seek answers as to what happened to us and what it may mean for the future. Yes.

Forgive me for a personal question, but you all have the Gatewalker mark, I'm assuming. Yes. Yes. Yes. Uh-huh. This might be interesting to you, but we learned something interesting about that mark. Oh, please, do tell. This might be interesting to you, but we learned something interesting about that mark. Oh, please, do tell.

And then we'll tell her about how Sakawatchi, what we discovered in Sakawatchi, like he had as a tattoo, right? That it was something from his grandmother. His grandmother just tattooed it on him. It's the mark of a soya, isn't it? A soya, mark of a soya. Lundja especially is fascinated by that.

That is fascinating. You see, the grandmother had a vision, a dream, and then branded it on her grandson, in a way. They're oracles. They know all about a Soyo and the Black Frost Whale. They read the stars. They say within them are the prophecies of the future. Yes, I must admit I study the stars, but I do not. You do? Read them the same way. Yes, I'm a bit of an astronomer. Do you know of a... Sorry, quick perception check before you go on.

Yes. When we talked about, when I mentioned the Gatewalker Mark, did everyone kind of gesture to, like did we see any of them or did anyone hide? Some of them showed their necks, whereas the Isandon and Takuzo did not reveal it and you don't see it on their necks. Interesting, go on, sorry.

Here's a good setup, like what if Sandance is on his penis? Yeah, ah, okay. Then you would have to. Please, let me show you. Perfect. Give me a minute. I can make it to Lachlan's. Remy, Remy.

Remy is the same. Remy is the same. Do you ever heard of a constellation by the name of a Soyo? A constellation? No. But this Soyo, I feel as if I'm familiar with the legend. It has something to do with the elves that first inhabited Galarian. Yes, yes. Studied much of that in my study of astronomy. It's a myth, a legend we came across in our travels trying to learn of the Gatewalkers.

What happened in the missing moment, and it kept tying back to this myth of a creature that would take in these elves and poison their minds, turn them into thralls, send them out to do its bidding. The elves rose up, fought against it, imprisoned it, the crown of the world, as the story goes. And then how may this be connected to us? Well, Aquascaping was one of the oracles, was part of it, kind of thought.

Gigg. Please. Thought like. That was gravy. What's wrong with you? What's wrong with you? Really good. That was for all of us, kids.

It was gravy for the table. You didn't know we have our personal gravies? It's the table gravy. What? I'm really ruining table etiquette tonight. I have not eaten at a proper table in a long time. I'll get more gravy. Pardon me, freak. I'll get them.

The sakawatchi. This is horrifying. Sakawatchi seemed to think that it was us who was the problem. Like we were leading a Soyo back out. Like we were the ones who were thralled and gonna break a Soyo out and ruin everything. Well, there was a theory, yes, that perhaps, I assume all of you have not connected yet

with what happened to you after you passed through the gate. The memories you've lost. No, no, we... And neither have we. But... There was an interesting bit of information from the legend that became rather relevant. Takuzo leans forward the old Tian Man home, pleased do tell. That those elves enthrall to a soil who breath in the vapors develop strange and strange powers. Powers?

Yes. One might say a deviant ability. I feel changed by the event. It is not something I have spoken of, but I do feel as if I have been imbued with certain powers. I have not used them. I have no reason to, but my arms sometimes I feel as if I could think them to be longer. Yes, as can I.

You can. It is the same. So, well this is starting to make a little more sense while also becoming more confusing. We walked through this gate, we lost time, and we came back with powers, and perhaps similar to these elves that imprisoned the whale, they inhaled vapors that made them thralls but also gave them powers? How are we connected to the elves and why would this Sakawatche believe

that you were on the side of the whale? God just didn't like us. Well, he saw visions. We saw hallucinations as well. Could not tell if they were memories from our time beyond the gates, or if they were merely projections of our subconscious, but we potentially could have had something to do with freeing this ancient monster. I have no memory of it.

Neither do I. It's possible. This is just a theory. There is someone or a group of someones who wants to free the whale, activated the Ayudara, were our captors for those three months. It's funny, this hadn't occurred to me yet, but this really reminds me of the Inhumans. The Marvel, with the pteridgen mists, like inhaling them and providing them with these mutations and everything.

Oh, interesting. I forgot about that. I feel like they have different powers. And then, of course, you have Lockjaw, like you can kind of travel, like teleport through. The dog? Yeah. So, I don't know. Maybe there's a hint to be found somewhere in one of Paul Jenkins' fronts.

How does Dr. Riddleson then tie into all of this? Do you think he is aware of the soil and all of this? We've been unable to speak with him. We hurried back here when he summoned us to give him this information. So we are eager to speak with him upon his arrival. He, I don't think, knows about this yet. Or perhaps he knows a lot more than he's letting on. Door swings open and it's chef, Reek. Is everything... Oh, I see you're out of gravy. One more gravy. Well, could we get... There's enough gravy for many of you. Could we all get our own gravy? We all're out of gravy. One more gravy. Well, can we get it? Is there enough gravy for many of you?

Could we all get our own gravy? We all need our own gravy. That would be highly unusual. I don't think I have that many ramekins. Oh. You don't have, you don't have, I think perhaps two ramekins would suffice. One for Gek and one for the rest of us.

We'll come back with two troughs of gravy. Is there anything else? Oh, I spilled the wine all over the floor. Could I have another wine? That was a very fine vintage. Yes, I will send someone to the cellars to- Two. Two, oh yes, of course. Two troughs of gravy, two more expensive bottles of wine.

Thank you, Garcon. And maybe a new fork, for Zef. A new- Something's wrong with my fork. I just, Garsal. And maybe a new fork, for Zefina. A new fork. Something's wrong with my fork. I just, I don't know how to use it. Okay, yes, it's a traditional fork. A weird fork. It's like a spork.

I'll get you an identical fork that hopefully you'll be able to figure out. I'm gonna do a quick perception. Is anything wrong with the fork? Or is it a normal ass fork? Actually, I wanna know what you got. It's a natural one. It's a natural one. Brother in Me a natural one. It's a spoon.

See, I was supposed to eat with this. Round fork. Did he bring it from beyond the gate? Was it a ghost fork? I don't know. Does the fork bear the mark of the gate? What did I say? There's the mark of the soil!

The great beast! Unhand me else! Ah! Is this like an awkward dinner? I'd say it's a little awkward. You're getting to know each other a little bit and sharing information with them that they haven't been out adventuring,

they haven't been to Castrovel, they don't know anything about a soya until you even told them. Chef Rieck leaves. The staff, they still have this kind of nervous vibe about them? Yeah, when you saw them putting the plates down, their hands were shaking a little bit. Forgive me, I have another question. We'll be happy to share our answers as well.

But do any of you have families you left behind loved ones you've you you you during your missing time during the missing moment you felt it was abandoned by you. Takusa says I did have a family once but they are no longer with us. I have my books, and so it made it easier for me to jump at the letter, for I do not have much anymore, besides a search for knowledge. Lundger says I'm divorced, and I never had children, so while I do not share to kuzo's Look loneliness I Was very interested in this Vaxchervin says now I don't have anybody just

The spirits around me of which I feel many in this room right now You feel many in this room right now. Yes. many in this room right now? Yes, yes. It's as if the Riddlesons are here with us watching. Can you imagine? They must have eaten at this table. Hosted guests from all around, guests like on this party boat here. Do you feel as if they are happy?

Do you feel as if they find this place of comfort or are they tortured? It's funny you say that. They feel angry. Angry. That's the vibe that I get perhaps. It's because we are intruding in their place but their son invited us here

but getting a very angry feel. And, uh. Which one of the guests? I sand in his leg. Which one is this? This is, uh. Gnome. The gnome. Baxter.

The one you talked to. Yeah, the one you talked to. Is there any, does anyone know how they passed on? Oh my. Dr. Wilson's parents. He's kind of living. I sand in his head. It was it was a boat fire, I believe. I was going to ask if anyone knew of this boat.

No, that boat caught fire with them on it. So they died when he was a boy? Yes, yes. I think the majordomo basically raised him. He was orphaned from a young age. Roswain. He is Rosphaned from a young age. Bruce Wayne. He is Bruce Wayne.

He kept the painting the moss made. Why would you hang a painting like that after what happened? Well, I imagine they hung it before they died. Why would you keep it? Why would you get rid of all the paintings of your parents after they died? Yes. Could we roll a society on the road? Literally how they died. I want to roll a vibe check while you guys are all talking.

I feel like Zephyr is being quiet and watching the wait staff. When we were here before, were they as nervous? Do I notice them doing or saying anything? Roll a perception and you roll society. Can I roll society untrained? No. Stop it. So I don't know about your untrained whatever. Oh, untrained power station.

Oh, I could do it, yeah. But I mean, I roll society untrained all the time in real life. So... I have society as well. I'll do my boar. Okay. 28. 28. 28.

You've never heard of it. It wasn't a big tragedy. It wasn't a big tragedy that was world news, I should say. If you were here in Ustalov, you might have heard about it, certainly if you lived in Lepestock, but yeah. Gordon Lightfoot didn't write any songs. It wasn't a night to remember, as you mentioned. Yeah, I mean, it never gets up or down.

They're rich socialites. They had this looks like this party boat, this river boat and burned down with them on it. So very sad. And then vibe check. 26. 26. They're kind of coming in and out and not making eye contact with anyone.

Having talked to Ramious, you probably just think they're just nervous about screwing up. They don't get fired Here's a question I've not met the man in any of your time with dr. Riddleson have any of you as he discussed or shown you His his power We barely spoke with him Is he gatewalker? Hmm, and did he discuss or share with us his power? But you do see purple veins on his head,

so you think it probably has something to do with that. I believe he shoots purple beams out of his eyes. It's based on the artwork. I think it was rude to ask for some reason, so he never did. What would be the etiquette in Galarian? Like asking, what can you do? Like what's your character class?

Yeah, you know? What's your secret power? What do you do? What level are you? Looking at the deviant abilities, let's see if there's one. What do you have to offer me? I wonder if he has lost loved one.

Maybe he chose that path. Well yeah, I mean it's possible that he saw his parents, he's trying desperately to get them back. Or if he's working against us, and he's gonna use our deviant abilities, or Soyo to bring his parents back. What if he turned on the gates? I think that's something Barnes is not considered.

I mean, it's definitely possible that all of this could just be because he wants to bring his parents back. Or if he killed them. he burned the book down. Yeah, maybe he was just mad or something as a kid did something stupid. A lot of different potential things here. Shephry comes in, snaps his fingers. Two servants come in with a huge trough of gravy. Ugh! The second one.

The second one. Oh, some of it slips onto the table. And two bottles of wine. If you need anything else, think about it during this quick break. No? All right, enjoy the gravy. Enjoy the literal gravy boats. My wine goblin. The gravy boat, there are troughs in the shape of the moss maize.

It's very strange. Yeah, for sure. They're like a river boat. The boat stuff is kind of weird. Gravy river boats. That is kind of weird. They're kind of tinted. The boat stuff is kinda weird. Gravy, riverboats. That is kind of weird. They're kinda tinted red. It feels insensitive.

I also love that we have all this gravy for fucking Cornish game heads. And you're done. You're basically done eating it. There was this much meat. Get chugged. Just telling Cuth. We were like, barely into our mixed mixed vegetables and chugged the gravy. All the gravy.

Yeah, I mean let's be clear, we did invite a raider to join our part. I'm gonna be honest, I did think the gravy was the consomme and I did drink it like a soup. I was off, but it was good. Chef Rick, two thumbs up. The half elf, the cartographer,

who hasn't spoken that much, he's just been listening similar to Zephyr, maybe it's an elf thing. He says, forgive me for being so forward, but I get the sense that you are concerned about things that may be going on. In the world?

No, things that may be going on here. Sandrin, you told me that Rilsin was looking at that. Told you that in confidence. Bap, Bap. Yes, I mentioned this to Lundger, Vex Terven, and Tukuzo, I have not said this to you yet, but I came upon Dr. Riddleson, unaware, before he left, and he had hastily covered up some maps that he was looking at. Of course, being a cartographer.

He knows what it is. He was very interested, yes. And so I snuck back in and looked and... ...he was looking at some gateway in the nearby Shutterwood. Have you ever been in the Shutterwood? No, no, it's a dangerous place. I would not go out in there without a guide or without knowing exactly where I was going. This is what I'm saying, though. Riddleson sends us out and tells us

piecemeal information. It doesn't make sense. Why would he hide potential gate information if we're supposedly the Gatewalkers? If it's our whole deal? Information isn't important and you don't... Sometimes it can do someone more harm than good sharing everything with them. Yeah, but you sow discord by not telling people Important information that it could be dangerous. You said it shutter woods are dangerous Yes, I mean he does have his his bodyguards with him. So he's obviously taken that precaution But certainly not intentionally sewing discord It may have been accidental. He was interrupted by whatever your name is.

Sand. Is Sand in there? Thank you for taking the time to learn it. I can't pronounce it. I can barely pronounce it. Is Sand in there? It's in the Elf tongue, it's very easy. Whoever typed it, typed it wrong.

It's a, I said. Right, so in the Elf tongue, the name is easily pronounceable. Yes, it's a Jim. But when Anglicized to comment, it became less pronounceable. Yes, it's Jim to us, but to you it's Iosandon. Even that sounds silly. Iosandon. Yes, may have been an accident, but Iosandon stumbled upon this thing.

Yes, perhaps we should stumble upon something else. You're making me nervous. General, it's... What are you suggesting, sir? I just... If you're concerned, you're making me concerned. Perhaps we... Look together? Use this opportunity while the doctor's away to assuage our fears. Our concerns. Fears sounds like a lot, but... You're suggesting we return to his office.

I don't think... Jake looks at Buggles. I will have no part of this. Buggles. Are there any staff in the room right now? No. Buggles. We should not discuss this.

The door opens. Everything good? So good. Wine? No, growl. Wine? Oh, the wine, yes. We'll get more. Alright.

How many... How many giblets went into this gravy? Giblets'll get more. All right. How many giblets went into this gravy? Giblets? Giblets. Giblets. How many giblets can you make from this gravy? I leave. Perhaps we should not discuss this here. We can be heard.

I'm inclined to agree with you. Yes. Where should we speak where it doesn't look strange? Perhaps the library. It's all gathered in one of our bedrooms. That won't be strange at all. Perhaps the library. We've spoke there before.

It seems to make sense for all of us to be researching and reading. Yes. This is a holy place for sharing knowledge. I want to make it clear we're not stealing nothing we're not taking we're just looking. Okay. Right Buggles? We're not gonna take anything we're not being bad. It's not my concern. Breaking into someone's bedroom and going through their things. No one's doing anything yet. We're just talking, just talking. Alwyn comes in.

Oh, is everything good? Can I get you anything else? Oh, as someone who's not from around here, I would ask the doctor when he returned, but perhaps might be more polite to ask you, but could you tell us the story of this painting and what happened to poor Dr. Riddleson's parents? He looks at the painting.

Yes, it's quite sad. The Riddlesons, they had this riverboat that would entertain dignitaries and scholars from Ustav and beyond for most of their life. They were great, great humanitarians. And often they would have these parties and young Dr. Riddleson, when he was just at it, would stay here under my care. And one such party, thank the gods, the doctor was not present on the boat as it burned, lit up the entire river. They perished along with several other prominent members of the scholarly community. It was a tragedy. What was the nature of the scholarly community was a tragedy. What was the nature of the fire?

It's unclear. By the time the wreckage was found, there was barely anything left. This is really similar to events that take place in Rise of the Rune Lords. They use a lot of the same writers. That's true. In fact, I believe the writer of this book wrote one of the books of Rise of the Runelords. He has a folder. Three story ideas, no.

I'm not accusing anyone of. He's got like used story ideas and unused and he accidentally drug one. No, I'm kidding. I believe when you were here previously after Asta's death, we flashed back. You talked to Riddleson and I think he told you this story if I'm remembering correctly. Maybe. I do remember- You asked him what he saw through the gate.

Yeah, I do remember having a flashback and I don't remember the details him what he saw through the gate. Yeah, I do remember having a flashback And I don't remember the details of what he said. Yeah That's my memory of it, but I could be making this up Yeah, I do remember a flashback though where we talked about this stuff because of Ramious's you know his fire situation and everything and his sort of PTSD from that I think was Riddleson sort of keyed into and maybe opened up to him about this. Anyhow, would you would you like coffee or dessert?

I'm full. I'm full. Thank you. I'm sloshing full of gravy. It was excellent. Please give sloshing full of gravy. Oh It was excellent, please you've done in that chef Rika compliments sure very well then Continue to make yourself at home. If you need anything, we'll be around. We'll just be cleaning the plates Snaps servants come in just start gathering plates. You're done? You're done? Grabbing plates and you all...

Perhaps... Inconspicuously retire to the library. I was gonna say perhaps if anyone would like to join me in the library, going to continue some research before turning in this evening. I would like to go to the library. Excellent, Vexter, it would be a pleasure to see you there. Sounds delightful. Good night.

Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. And I walk in a different direction from everyone to circle back around the library. I'm going to the powder room. And then head to the library. Head to the library. And yeah, you're all just kind of walking around the library. Oh, hmm.

There's a little lounge connected off to the library. You can enter it from the hallway to get into the lounge, or you can go into the lounge from the library. It's like a little sitting, a quiet sitting room you could take a book into. But those two rooms are available to you. And maybe Takuzo just grabs a book and sits in the lounge reading it, looking up at all of you. I may as well sit down. I'll take one of his books that he's been reading through and sit down next to Takuzo and pull out some flea leaf. You smoking the library?

Be careful around the place. It's incredibly dangerous to have an open flame in the library. Once, you're not in the scene. We're all in the library. We're all in the library. We're in the lounge. You suggested we all go to the library. We're in the lounge, we're in the smoking lounge.

Sefer's looking for a book about the boat or like a news article in the paper about the boat. Microfiche. Yeah, you're on the Microfiche. They would have some. It's just a magnifier. They could have that. He's just going to sit down and say, would you like any Flayleaf?

Oh, no, thank you. I, um, experimented with it after my wife passed. It wasn't for me. Please, don't, uh, let that stop you. I didn't. I understand. Get it right after us. And I'm...and I am sorry about your wife. My... condolences thank you it was many years ago but pain never never lessens did you see her in the gate yes I did may I ask why you would say that? Forgive this question. I don't mean to...

You're sure that she is dead, right? You saw her body, and at the time that she died, you were certain that she passed? Yes, yes, I am... Sadly, quite certain. She had a wasting disease that finally got the better of her. I buried her myself at our home. I am very sorry to hear that. And I am sorry to even ask. But, if you ask why I I ask it is because my...

I saw my brother in the gate. And you? And I thought he... Brother perished? ...passed when we were children, yes, but he was swept out to sea. I never saw his body, and now only within the last several days I've come to find that he may be alive he may be walking Galarian as we speak and I don't know if it's because of the gates or in spite of the gates some I don't mean to be flib, but as some undead

Creature That is not what it appears. We were in a town Chesset. It's called in the north I'm familiar people spoke of him being there and I'm sure he would have caused quite a stir if he was An undead monstrosity, but he was apparently rather charming. And virile. And virile. Oh, hello, Vance. That was me.

That was Matthew. And you believed him dead, but never saw him dead. Correct, yes. But I mean, everyone thought he was dead. Strange that these gates would tempt us so with things we desire. Yes, and I keep coming back to this idea that we were taken in, duped into doing something,

something terrible, releasing this creature, whatever it might be. And what would you do? How would you get someone to come and become a thrall without them knowing or without their consent? You'd lure them, like you'd lure a fish with bait. You'd bait them with someone they love, someone they... or some dream. Something they wish they could have. It all makes perfect sense. Yes. Trap.

Yes. But how could they know? How could they know the deepest workings of our mind. That is the frightening thing, to know our desires and be able to make them manifest in such specific ways. I walked through, assuming I would be reunited with her, but in truth I believed I would perish when I stepped through, and I willingly did so if it meant reuniting. All the more horror to return and have it all be trick. And when you did return, you returned from the gate you passed through? Yes.

As did I. That didn't happen to our colleague. The Armicus Barnes. Yes, I believe. He never passed... he never returned to the gate he walked into. I believe Vex Terven had a similar... Really? Yes, he... Oh...

If I'm remembering correctly, appeared on the other side of the world essentially. Thousands of miles from when he walked through. Bonds appeared on another planet. That's fucking crazy. I didn't see. Oh god, he's so high. Think about that. I'm getting a contact eye.

Never really look at your hand. This is forever. This is probably forever. You'll never feel normal again. While this is happening, Buggles turns invisible and he's going to break into Riddleson's room. Buggles? Oh. Buggles! Buggles, you son of a... You stole Sydney's roleplay.

I wasn't going to do it alone. You're talking, Buggles goes invisible. He's up the stairs. It's his speed sound like... Wait, with my yellow eyes, do I see invisible... Oh, busted! You are standing there and we're like, where the hell is Buggles? You look around and you just see Buggles walk out the door.

And like I see you sneaking maybe? So I follow him stealthily Okay, let's just play this out. All right, so Buggles dips into the hallway you go up the stairs And then Zephyr's head just kind of peeks out Back down the library. We're like, all right, so if anyone can get can turn invisible that would be choice, but Stay with Zephyr's perspective. Zephyr, you sneak up the stairs,

and you see Bugles going to a far room away from where your rooms are, up to the door. Bugles, you get to the door, and it's locked. Okay, I'm gonna do a thievery. Okay. You little sneak. I'm gonna use a bottle cap. Okay 22. 22.

You Unlock what seems like one of multiple locks. You realize this is very complicated. Zephyr, at this point, you see Buggles openly picking this lock. What do you do? Psst.

Buggles, what are you doing? What are you doing? And Buggles, like you see, he turns and... What are you doing? What are you doing? And... Buggles, like you see, he turns and... You can see, it's not Buggles. Like he turns and like looks at you.

He's like with this snarl. She puts her hands up and she realizes oops, um, and instead turns to being like, maybe I can help. Seems like you have trouble with the locks. I can try to help. I have tools.

And he like kind of kind of stalks backwards from the door and it's like, just like points, like points at the lock, points at you, points at the lock and just like sort of hunches back, like to let you work. Okay. It's like she knows Akula Khan likes when we're useful to it, so. All right, thievery check. Back in the library.

Does anyone have to? Natural 20. Oh, critical job! Two successes. Two successes. Nice. To Kunk. You unlock the library. Natural 20. Critical John! Two successes. Two successes. Nice. To conk. Huge. You unlock the door. Back in the library.

Does anyone have thieves to work with? I believe I brought some with me, yes. Nick is just reading a book quietly. What are you guys talking about? Lun just says, back to the upstairs. Door unlocks. Here you go. It's unlocked. And yeah, Buggles, or the Kulakan,

kind of, with this like silent, because he's still invisible, still trying to stay invisible to everybody, but didn't realize that Zephyr would be able to see him. And it's kind of like, like almost on all fours, just kind of like, just crawls into the room and just starts looking around for whatever kind of intel we can get in here. Okay, both of you give me a perception check. 18. 15.

Okay, looking around, I mean you're probably not trying to make a mess. His bed is neatly made, looks like it hasn't been slept in in a while. There's a chest of drawers and a cabinet. Peek in the cabinet. Push some suits around. Lift up some shoes. Nothing. Check the end table. Nothing. Give me another perception check. Seems clean as a whistle in here. 24. Yeah, no, I will list you.

I was wondering if I should use a bottle cap. I don't think I'll get higher. 24. You hear a sound in the hallway. Zephyr tries to hide stealth. Coming closer to the door. Walking away, Buggles, you see an outline on the floor right near the edge of a carpet that looks like a piece of the floor has been like carved.

Like a, that you could lift a chunk of the floor out. Yeah, I go up and just like feels along the seam and like tries to like lift it on any kind of hinge or whatever. Yeah, moving the carpet out of the way. Sure enough, there seems to be like a little trap door. You open that up and inside are like rolled up papers. Looks like blueprints. Pull those out, you open them up,

Zephyr, you're looking over his shoulder, and there's just these massive blueprints, I guess, for like an addition to the mansion. But you've seen the mansion from outside, you don't see anything, but it looks like very specifically, all these strange rooms. And then you look further,

and you're going through these papers, and you see something that says, entrance in library. It's like a House of Leaves situation. Yeah! Oh my gosh. I love that shit. And also, that's where we are right now. Gic leans against a bookcase.

What the fuck is going on? What happens? She just starts pulling books out of her. Hey, how's the leaves? Yeah, you lean on a bookcase and it's a recipe for gravy. The gravy's of the world. You see, now you look further and you see exactly like some sort of hidden entrance was built in the library and you know exactly where it is.

We got back to the library and the rest of you are talking about breaking into Riddleson's office and we just see the back wall where there's a secret door. And we'll see in a second. Oh my god! I'm so excited. That was the best case scenario. Perfect. Thank you, Kulika. Perfect. Thank you, Kulika. Awesome. That was the best case scenario.

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