002 - Bounty Hunters - Fix What’s Broken

Content Warnings
- Alcohol Consumption
- Missing People/Disappearances
- Memory Loss
- Grief
- Guns (mentioned)

[Show intro plays]

ROVER

Hello everyone, and welcome back to Remains To Be Seen, the DnD show where one group's past could determine the other group's future. I am your host and DM, Rover Elliott, and today I am here with...

ANNIE

Annie Ruby, she/her pronouns.

ELIZABETH

Elizabeth Simpson, she/her pronouns.

Jo Mendacium, he/they/she.

MIRA

And Mira G, with pronouns she/her.

ROVER

And you guys are playing...

ANNIE

Josie, one episode and two-and-a-half beers already in.

ELIZABETH

Corwin annoy-them-until-you-get-the-job Duvall

Viktor unfortunately-stone-cold-sober Valthayne.

MIRA

And, I guess, Una, who might have already stabbed someone.

ROVER

(Laughing) Wonderful. Now, Mira can you give us kind of, like, a recap of what happened in the last episode?

MIRA

(Clears throat and flips through notebook) Let's see.

[Laughter]

Amazing.

ELIZABETH

Incredible.

ROVER

Amazing. For the listeners, Mira just opened a notebook, and I've seen the notes...it's insane. It's...long. (Laughs)

MIRA

(Laughing) It's long!

ROVER

Short, quick recap!

MIRA

Just a very quick recap! I mean, it’s bold of you to assume I was actually taking notes of valid information, but here we go.

So we have met our...well, the whole team, kind of, met up in a bounty hunting...lair? I don't want to call it "lair." It was a bar. We got a chance to learn a little bit more about Corwin, Viktor, and Josie, who were discussing...or were to discuss their next mission, with Corwin being the newbie taken under the wing of Viktor and Josie. Which I don't think they were too happy about. But, you know, the boss, called Safra, said so, and that's what they're gonna do.

And this is when...they also came across a trinket found by, and/or acquired by, Urd—what was his name?

ROVER

Urd.

ANNIE

Urd.

MIRA

Urd, Urd! His name was Urd. Who really didn't like it, passed it over to Viktor. Viktor was saying that it might be a cursed object, but they didn't delve into that because they were a bit preoccupied learning about the newbie and the potential mission.

And the trinket broke, and everyone was very confused. This is where Una made an appearance and decided to stab Safra, which Safra then actually made Una another supervisor, based on the skills shown in that very quick interaction.

ROVER

Instead of, you know, the normal reaction you get to someone stabbing you, Safra was like, "Oh, I like you."

MIRA

Yeah, "Oh I like you. You're capable." And Una is like, "I don't know where I am. I don't know who I am. What's going on?"

[Laughter]

And we've been given a little bit of an intel about the situation. We are due to learn a bit more, I presume. But what we have gathered so far is that we need to investigate the disappearance of a crown smith called Jonny, who went missing. And that we will be traveling to Oxford, because this whole thing that I didn't specify was happening in London up until that point.

ROVER

So we're picking it up right where we left off. We are in Safra's office. Safra's at the desk. She just gave you guys the newspaper where the big headline "CROWN SMITH AMONG THE DISAPPEARANCES CAUSES UPROAR IN THE COUNTRY" is on, like, the very, very head of the journal.

And in the room, we have Safra at her desk. We have Brian standing in a corner—the old, Orcish monk. And we have our four party members in the room as well.

So, we're picking it right up from,

ROVER [as SAFRA]

So I would like to get you guys to Oxford, cause Jonny's gone.

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

How long before we leave?

ROVER [as SAFRA]

Rather as soon as possible. I would like you guys to at least make a plan, because I have no idea what happened. As you guys may have heard in the newspapers, Jonny's not the only person who has gone missing.

The radios keep talking only about, I don't know, some...some prisoner in some bastion who got taken out of something. I don't know. Disappeared. Whatever. There's this architect in Paris who's gone, um...

ELIZABETH

Corwin is going to go a little bit pale. And I believe she was standing, and she's going to step back. Um, and then try to shake it off. But she,

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

(Stammering) I-I would like it if we could find all of the people. Um, in particular the architect. She's...I know that there's not a bounty out on her quite yet, but...Alea, is the architect. She's my sister. And I...would hope that by finding Jonny, we will maybe find her too?

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

Lofty ambitions, princess, for day one.

MIRA

Ooooh.

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

But let's stick to what pays for now, maybe?

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

You gotta have goals.

ROVER [as SAFRA]

You gotta have goals indeed. However, this is not the goal for right now. I hope you understand that.

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

I—

ROVER [as SAFRA]

We are not going to help you with your stuff. You're going to help us.

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

I do understand that, and I-I'm good at this job, I can be good at this job. But...Safra, everything goes through you. If anyone is going to hear anything about Alea, or about any of those missing people, it's going to go through you. So I would hope that you would keep an ear to the ground.

ROVER [as SAFRA]

Of course. And I'm pretty sure the people in Paris will be already looking for their...other princess, I guess I will call her now.

So, what we know is that Jonny was most likely still in his own shop in Oxford. So I'm gonna need you guys to go over there, at some point, rather sooner than later. I...I need you guys to deal with Nyx. For like, a split second.

JO [as VIKTOR]

Oh.

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

Oh.

JO [as VIKTOR]

Does she not know?

MIRA [as UNA]

Who?

ROVER [as SAFRA]

Oh, she knows. Oh, she knows (laughs non-humerously).

MIRA [as UNA]

Who?

ROVER [as SAFRA]

It's kind of difficult to communicate with someone who is mute and in very much distress. So, I mean, I know Viktor you speak sign language, right?

JO [as VIKTOR]

Yeah.

ROVER [as SAFRA]

Alright, good. You're on that job.

MIRA [as UNA]

I feel like I'm going to turn into an owl with the amount of times I said, "who?" Who?

ROVER [as SAFRA]

Who? Who what?

MIRA [as UNA]

Who is Nyx? Who is Jonny? Why...what?

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

Plenty of time for all that. We'll bring you up to speed. We have time to travel.

JO [as VIKTOR]

We-we are going to walk. Ah, but—we can walk and talk.

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

Yeah, exactly.

ROVER [as SAFRA]

You guys can walk and talk, absolutely.

MIRA [as UNA]

Can I get some shoes? Please?

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

That was why I was asking when we leave. We should probably equip our party first.

ROVER [as SAFRA]

You know what? You guys go do that. I will...once you've got a plan, or want to know more things, ask Brian. Don't come to me.

ROVER

Brian just visibly, also just nods, like it's the most normal thing that he has been assigned to help you guys along.

JO [as VIKTOR]

Alright.

ROVER

And she's just like,

ROVER [as SAFRA]

Alright. I will hopefully see you guys before you leave. I will make sure that I can get you tickets for the train to Oxford. Um...next to that, don't bother me, please.

JO [as VIKTOR]

Yeah.

ROVER [as SAFRA]

I am...very busy.

JO [as VIKTOR]

(Huffs a laugh) You sure are.

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

Water's wet, Boss Lady. See you around.

ROVER [as SAFRA]

Thank you.

JO [as VIKTOR]

Boss?

MIRA

As Una leaves the room, following everyone, stumbling a little bit, still shaking, she would turn to Safra going like,

MIRA [as UNA]

About the lasting effects. Maybe...take a nap.

MIRA

And then she just walks out.

ROVER

From inside your head, not out loud, you can just hear,

ROVER [as SAFRA]

We are going to have to have a talk about what is going on with you. Later.

MIRA

Is it a voice I recognize?

ROVER

It is very much the voice of Safra...

MIRA

(At the same time) Safra's.

ROVER

Who you can clearly see is not talking out loud.

MIRA

Yeah.

ROVER

But she is clearly, eyes on you.

MIRA

Can I respond?

And this is what I would call the inner voice of lesbianism.

[Laughter]

ELIZABETH

This is your conscience speaking.

Attention! Attention!

MIRA

Please hold.

[Laughter]

ROVER

So Brian follows you guys along.

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

I gotta stop by the Don't Go to turn these mugs back into Teresa. Princess, you got anywhere to leave your personal effects? If not, you can drop them in my room for now.

ELIZABETH [decidedly not as Corwin]

Don't have much, but thanks—agfhg. Sorry, wrong voice.

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

Don't have much with me, but yeah, thanks.

I'm so sorry. I need to get used to the fact that this is now your name. And I need to stop laughing. (Laughter)

ANNIE

Mmmhmm.

[Laughter]

I need to stop laughing about Princess Bubblegum.

ANNIE

Josie has that one locked in!

Ooof. No, yeah! So does Viktor.

ELIZABETH

(Laughing) Incredible.

ANNIE

That is your only name until you give me reason to call you something else!

MIRA

I'm sorry, I've contributed to that. (Laughs)

This is—

ELIZABETH

Incredible, I'm so here for it.

—beautiful. I love this.

ROVER

So, what is the plan? Or should I just leave you guys to have a chat for a moment?

MIRA

I would like to acquire shoes, a coat, and food, please.

ANNIE

Yeah, I say—I feel like we can montage this a bit.

ROVER

Alright.

ANNIE

Get back to the inn. Drop stuff off. Get...some food for those who need it, and then go get, you know, shoes, clothes, or, like, weapons if people need them. And then…regroup.

ROVER

Wonderful. You guys...so who's gonna do what?

MIRA

I'm just going to follow whoever takes me under their wing.

ELIZABETH

Yeah, I was gonna say—Corwin will drop her stuff off, I think, at Josie's room? And probably follow either Josie or Vik, since she is not familiar with the area.

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

I figure we can go into the Don't Go to also get food, cause Teresa will be happy I'm bringing more business through, as well. So you will all have to get used to her talking at us.

MIRA [as UNA]

Oh, I can't wait.

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

Then, from there, we can go and stock up on provisions, but I just wanted to go through the Don't Go, first.

ROVER

Okay.

Yeah, I feel like Viktor is not going to let a split-up happen right now.

ANNIE

Yeah.

Because we have two unknown people in this thing, and he's not...like, he's not going to leave Josie alone with them. (Laughs)

ROVER

So indeed, as you go to the Don't Go Inn, you immediately are seen by Teresa. Now, from the side you can kind of see, she has quite a flowy, long skirt, but also a flowy, white blouse on. Her skirt has small, little, pink/blue flowers on the edge of it. And the moment she sees you guys, she's immediately like,

ROVER [as TERESA]

(Gasps) Oh my god! Really? Are we—? Are you—? You're taking people in here? Ohhh, that's so fun.

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

Don't…don't say I never do anything for you, Teresa.

ROVER [as TERESA]

Oh, I'm so, so happy! Do you want anything to drink? It's on the house.

JO [as VIKTOR]

Yeah, sure.

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

You have to charge money at some point! But...get them a round.

JO [as VIKTOR]

Shhh! Josie, Josie please, please, please let me have this!

[Laughter]

ROVER [as TERESA]

Do you guys want anything to drink?

MIRA [as UNA]

Tea.

ROVER [as TERESA]

Tea?

MIRA [as UNA]

Something warm.

ROVER [as TERESA]

(Incredulous) Tea?

MIRA [as UNA]

I feel so...cold.

ROVER [as TERESA]

(Resigned) Tea.

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

Long story with that one.

MIRA [as UNA]

I'm cold.

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

Tea's probably good.

MIRA [as UNA]

Yes, please.

ROVER [as TERESA]

Okay, so a tea. And for the rest?

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

You know my usual.

ROVER [as TERESA]

(With an audible smile) I know your usual.

JO [as VIKTOR]

I'll take the same. But not three cups of it. One is enough.

ROVER [as TERESA]

The same of what? Tea?

JO [as VIKTOR]

But, Josie, no—

ROVER [as TERESA]

I can get you tea as well.

JO [as VIKTOR]

I don't need you to make me tea. I'm so sorry, but I can make tea on my own perfectly fine. Ah—a beer.

ROVER [as TERESA]

(Cheerily) Okay. And you?

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

Princess?

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

A-a cider, if you have it?

ROVER [as TERESA]

Yeah sure, absolutely!

ROVER

So she turns around, starts grabbing all the drinks. And puts it down all on the counter of the bar. It takes a bit longer before she has the tea. She's kind of looking if she has the supplies for it, kind of like a little bit of a frown back up, like,

ROVER [as TERESA]

Are you—are you sure you want tea? I mean, I—

MIRA [as UNA]

Honestly, anything warm. I'd take anything warm.

ROVER [as TERESA]

Okay, we'll just stick with tea, then.

ROVER

And she grabs the tea, makes tea, and puts it back on the counter.

[Mug thunks lightly on the counter]

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

Ah, while we're here...Una, I know you say you don't remember much, but why don't we talk about what you do remember and try to get you up to speed?

MIRA [as UNA]

Ah...(sighs). Well, Oxford...

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

Mmmhmm.

MIRA [as UNA]

...seems like a familiar place.

[Soft sounds of glasses clinking in the background]

That's why I felt confused when we've been told we need to travel to Oxford.

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

Oh.

MIRA [as UNA]

I was under the impression we were already here.

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

Oh, we're dealing with the level of forgetting where you just feel like Oxford is familiar? You don't know Oxford for sure.

MIRA [as UNA]

(Sighs) I recall some names of the streets, or...

JO [as VIKTOR]

Well, that's not bad.

[Gentle clinking of ice in glasses continues]

MIRA [as UNA]

...flashes of places I don't remember names of. I guess they will come together when I see them.

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

Una, does this...does this feel like an injury? Is this something that could be healed? Do you want to try to be healed?

MIRA [as UNA]

I think I'm just...confused. I, well, for starters I didn't expect to find myself in...here.

MIRA

And she kind of pointedly just waves.

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

No one does.

JO [as VIKTOR]

It's London, by the way. I know Safra can be, a bit...it's hard to get a clear answer out of her. It's normal. Don't worry about it.

MIRA [as UNA]

Oh.

JO [as VIKTOR]

It's good that you stabbed her. That's usually how you get her being impressed.

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

Pretty funny.

JO [as VIKTOR]

Well, yeah.

MIRA [as UNA]

Oh.

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

Very impressive.

MIRA [as UNA]

Oh! Thanks. I'm glad that that gave me pointers, rather than...a wanted letter. (Laughs)

JO [as VIKTOR]

Oh, I didn't say that. I mean, she might still kill you. But if you're useful, she usually doesn't.

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

She likes a person with self-preservation instincts and good reflexes.

(Laughing) Gives Corwin a quick side glance.

JO [as VIKTOR]

Yep!

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

(Laughs) Yep.

MIRA

(Laughing) About that.

ELIZABETH

Oblivious. Completely oblivious, not a thought in her head.

MIRA

I mean, is it fair to say I would notice that pointed look that Corwin would have got?

Viktor...unless I say otherwise, and roll for it or something like that, Viktor is not hiding that he sometimes is being an asshole.

ANNIE

Mmmhmm. Josie likewise.

MIRA

Right, well...fair.

MIRA [as UNA]

I mean...I wouldn't want to be number 23 if I were you.

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

As it happens, I don't think numbers 1 through 22 wanted to be there either. (Sighs) But...

MIRA [as UNA]

They never do. They never do. I guess that's what I remember. I know how to use weapons, clearly. Although...hmm.

[Soft clinking of ice in glasses continues in the background]

I didn't realize I can make them appear and disappear before...it happened.

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

Yeah, neat trick that.

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

Handy.

MIRA [as UNA]

Mmhmm, in a pinch.

ROVER

The blue in Una's eyes has now, also, by the way, disappeared. It was mostly a side effect from the figurine.

Amazing.

JO [as VIKTOR]

Well...

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

Well...

JO [as VIKTOR]

So...

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

If we've all had enough to drink here.

ROVER

From the stairs leading up into the rooms, you can see, there is a small ginger cat coming down from the top of the stairs, followed by Brian who also went to drop his stuff off, which, for Viktor and Josie, is known as Sir Peaches, Brian's cat. Brian's ginger cat, who basically stays mostly in the room all the damn time, except for when Brian's like, alright come on. And he will stay on his shoulder a lot.

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

Afternoon, Peachy.

[Sir Peaches meows and begins to purr softly]

ROVER

Brian is definitely following along, and is just like,

ROVER [as BRIAN]

So, plan? Did we at least get the two newbies to...to speed?

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

You could say that. One of them barely remembers how to be human, the other one's at least got some kills under her belt. That's...about where we're at.

ROVER [as BRIAN]

Wonderful.

[Laughter]

ROVER

Brian walks past and puts, at some point, a hand on Corwin's shoulder, and is like,

ROVER [as BRIAN]

Remind me of your name again. I do not want to be calling you princess the entire time.

(Whispering) Princess Bubblegum!

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

Appreciated. Corwin.

ROVER [as BRIAN]

Corwin.

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

Just Corwin.

ROVER [as BRIAN]

Got it.

ROVER

And he, without looking or saying anything, he walks out of the room. For a better description of Brian, by the way, he is...we know his height is about 5 foot 8 (175). And he is wearing some kind of robe around him, tucked, with one extending pole arm. And he has dark, almost—it looks like it should kind of be like greasy, dark hair. It is not. It is not fully greasy, it's just the way he does not really take care of how his hair looks.

And he, for Viktor and Josie's knowing, he is a retired monk. Class specifics, we are looking at the Warrior of Mercy, which is a Dungeons and Dragons 2024 subclass where...it's a lot of healing and harming magic that is together with the monk.

So that is kind of what you can get from Brian. Yeah. So what's the plan after?

MIRA

Eyes fixed on the cat.

[Sir Peaches meows. Purring begins again]

(Laughs) I like someone who has their priorities straight.

ANNIE

Mmhmm.

ROVER

So instead of following along with Brian, Sir Peaches just kind of jumps up from one bar chair to the counter, kind of purring along Josie's arm.

[Sir Peaches continues to purr]

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

How ya doing, bud? Afternoon to you.

JO [as VIKTOR]

Sir Peaches is, by the way, the best killer you can find around here.

MIRA [as UNA]

Oh, I don't doubt that.

[Sir Peaches meows, presumably in agreement]

JO [as VIKTOR]

Yeah. Very specifically mice and birds, but we all have hobbies.

MIRA [as UNA]

A kill is a kill.

[Purring increases]

ROVER

The moment Sir Peaches looks upon Corwin, it is just...eyes, first wide out of curiosity, and then kind of just a very small stretch with the claws exactly extracted out. Being like...

Naaaaah...give me an Animal Handling, Corwin.

ELIZABETH

Dun, dun, dun.

For the listeners’ benefit, we rolled off screen whether the cat will like us, because we are that kind of party.

MIRA

All the cats.

ANNIE

It's important information.

ELIZABETH

I would like the listeners to know that I rolled extraordinarily poorly off-screen, and I rolled worse today.

(Gasps) Yeah!

[Laughter]

ANNIE

Yes!

MIRA

No!

ELIZABETH

This is a 5. I do—I do want to say, Corwin is a bit dense at times, but I think that she would recognize and probably give the cat a bit of a wide berth. She might reach out a hand, and then after a bad reaction, would be like, alright, I'm gonna let you live your life. I'll live my life, it's alright.

[Laughter]

ROVER

He absolutely hisses at you for, like, a small moment.

[Sir Peaches hisses]

JO [as VIKTOR]

Oh, well. Guess we got a dog person in here.

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

Ah, it's okay.

JO [as VIKTOR]

So, important before we do anything else, if I may...I mean, Josie, I know the answer to the question for you. But what the hell can you do? Like, what's your thing?

He's very pointedly looking at Corwin.

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

What can I do? I...well, good with a halberd. Decent in a fight. Uh, generally pleasant to be around. And I can heal, so...save us on healing potions if we need them.

JO [as VIKTOR]

That's actually not half bad. So.

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

I do my best, thanks.

JO [as VIKTOR]

Any other...?

He does, like...he tries to mimic magic with his hands. (Laughs)

JO [as VIKTOR]

Like, any other...magic thingies?

ANNIE

Woo-y, woo-y woo!

MIRA

The finger shaking.

ELIZABETH

Corwin says,

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

Oh! Oh, magic?

ELIZABETH

And she kind of does a little hand flourish and does Prestidigitation to send up sparks.

[Sparkly chime]

Ah! The soap smell.

[Laughter]

ELIZABETH

The soap smell is overwhelming.

[Transcriber’s note: Prestidigitation canonically, in this universe, smells like soap. Yes, all uses of Prestidigitation. No, we don’t regret it yet. Maybe one day we’ll release the pre-session improv exercise where this came into existence.]

ANNIE

Josie is rolling her eyes so hard it's almost audible.

(Coughs) Well, thanks for that demonstration. Jesus.

ELIZABETH

Corwin just smiles at her.

MIRA

I do have a question. What is the order that we’re sitting at? Cause I feel like that would be quite funny. Are we sitting, like, at the bar?

ANNIE

Yeah, I'd say we'd be at the bar.

Oh, you can call it. I don't care how and where we're sitting.

MIRA

I would just love to see Una being, like, right in the middle of this whole thing. Just like, sitting there at the bar just enjoying her tea. And there's like, Josie on the left, Viktor on the right, maybe Corwin at the far end.

ANNIE

Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah.

MIRA

And I'm just sitting there like, taking notes mentally, like, (muffled, as if behind a glass) "Oh, ok! Oooh, ok!"

Oh I like that. Yeah, that's a good one.

MIRA [as UNA]

(Coughs and splutters) Soap!

ANNIE

As things happen across you, yeah.

MIRA

Yeah, just like—

Yeah, everyone chokes on the soap. It's like having this, ah, air freshener spray, but you accidentally inhale it.

[Laughter]

JO [as VIKTOR]

Well, thanks for that.

ELIZABETH

As it happens, soap and beer don't go great together, it's fine.

JO [as VIKTOR]

I happen to know—

MIRA [as UNA]

At least it's a pleasant scent.

JO [as VIKTOR]

Yeah, I mean...I'm not saying it's unpleasant. It's just a bit much, really.

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

You did ask.

JO [as VIKTOR]

If...yeah...I mean, you're—yeah. Yeah yeah, I did ask. That's true. I did not necessarily ask for a demonstration. But...while we are demonstrating.

I don't know if I can actually do that, above the table, but...just for flavor purposes, he's going to, like, cast Eldritch Blast. But what it looks for him is way cooler than just the sprinkle of soap (laughing).

While he kind of, like...while still sitting, grabs the air around his head. And as his hand comes up, there's just an arrow made, fully made out of shadow that looks a little bit like smoke. And he gestures too, as if he would fire an arrow through a bow. And just hits the distant wall behind the bar, I guess, where it just explodes into glittery shadow magic, I guess.

[Resonant whoosh rises and ends with an impact]

ROVER

Teresa just really quickly goes,

ROVER [as TERESA]

Oh no-no-no-no! Don't—

Are we good? Are we good? Please tell me—

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

Hey, hey, hey. Woah woah woah woah woah.

JO [as VIKTOR]

It does not—it does not physically leave a dent anywhere.

ROVER [as TERESA]

(Sighing) Oh, thank god. Okay.

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

That's a neat trick.

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

See Teresa? I brought people as I could, but hey, be careful what you wish for.

ROVER [as TERESA]

Ahhh, I know...

ELIZABETH

Corwin is going to look completely, just very happily in awe.

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

That's a neat trick! What, do you...get your power from a god? From a source? Are you a...sorcerer?

JO [as VIKTOR]

I think you would call my trait a Warlock.

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

Ah.

Pats the book on her hip.

MIRA [as UNA]

Does the book have a name?

JO [as VIKTOR]

Ah—

MIRA [as UNA]

Or like, there's like...the written something on the book? Like the spine?

No. There's nothing on the book. It's literally just, like...it looks like something that has burned but not gotten destroyed by the burning. It's just, like, maybe like soot or something on it? But also, very clearly, faded, and all the pages are black as well. He's very emo. (Laughs)

JO [as VIKTOR]

No. No name, no no. I mean, I guess people would call it a Book of Shadows. We-we don't...it's a bit embarrassing, okay?

MIRA

Una would actually let out a slight giggle, but not mocking, but kind of like,

MIRA [as UNA]

(Giggles) Okay, fine.

JO [as VIKTOR]

Well I’m happy to be amusing.

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

Is all of your magic shadow-themed? That's a hell of an aesthetic.

JO [as VIKTOR]

Yep. It's not necessarily...it, like, it kind of...(sighs). As these things go, they are kind of your choice, but also not. It's a bit like kissing someone when you're drunk. You know? It's kind of your choice, and then you wake up the next morning being like, Ooooh shit.

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

Understandable, I—

MIRA [as UNA]

That's...oddly specific.

JO [as VIKTOR]

Mmhmm.

[Lovely awkward silence. Then we all simultaneously lose it.]

MIRA

Just a silence, I'm so sorry!

ROVER

The pure silence!

As we're sitting there in one line, like…there might be something flashy about Viktor as a person, probably. But once he's somewhere amongst people, my girl's very awkward. It's like, yeah yeah, I know how to say cool stuff, but it's more like play pretend.

ELIZABETH

I love that for him.

MIRA [as UNA]

Listen, Book of Shadows is a strong name. In my opinion, every book deserves a name, cause every book tells a story.

JO [as VIKTOR]

I mean, I...most of them have a name. It's called a book title?

MIRA [as UNA]

Exactly.

JO [as VIKTOR]

Right. This one doesn't...it's...we should get into that sometime later, I feel like. So, what are you doing—Una, was it, right? So, apart from being a figurine?

MIRA [as UNA]

You guys keep on saying that. I don't even know what figurine that was.

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

Oh yeah, that's right. We never explained that to you. When we found you, or someone, one of our associates...found a black ram figurine. You know, one of them Hades...Hades figures that, you know, they do really well on antiques markets? Anyway. Brian over here smashed it and you appeared. So...

MIRA [as UNA]

How big was it?

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

Pretty small.

MIRA [as UNA]

Like...okay, I know I'm small, but...?

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

Oh, no no! Like handheld small. Like a figurine.

ROVER

It's, yeah, like a handheld figurine. And for that, Una can I have a Religion check from you?

MIRA

Meep, meep, meep, meep. Yes you can.

Una can you please think a little harder?

[Laughter]

MIRA

I can, if I can find my character sheet all of the sudden.

ROVER

With Disadvantage.

MIRA

Oh!

ANNIE

Oop! Womp womp.

ELIZABETH

Rude.

What's, like, hand-sized in...it would be about 15, 20 centimeters? Whatever the fuck that is in inches? Me trying to make sure that we explain the theater of the mind. Because we can all see each other, but people using their ears listening to that cannot.

ANNIE

The listeners cannot.

MIRA

Kind of like a chess pawn kind of thing. Yeah, like a chess…

ANNIE

Yeah.

Mmmhmm.

ANNIE

Chess piece.

MIRA

Yeah. Chess piece.

[Dice thunks]

With Disadvantage, yeah?

ROVER

Mmhmm.

MIRA

Religion?

ROVER

Mmhmm.

[More dice ASMR]

MIRA

I rolled twice the same number, and it was a 6.

ANNIE

Yeah!

MIRA

Which would give me a 9 on both rolls. (Laughs)

Damn, yeah.

ROVER

Lovely. So what you know about Hades is that he is the god of the underworld. That's about it. There is nothing that really flashes your mind. However...can I have a Constitution save?

MIRA

Yep.

ANNIE

Whoop!

ELIZABETH

Ooh-ho-ho!

[Good dice clacks]

MIRA

Constitution saving throw, you said? That is a 19.

ROVER

So, for everyone by the way, a saving throw...if I would ask for a Constitution throw, it would be just your normal modifier that you would get. And for the saving throw, it is really an effect that could be happening to someone, and you are trying to save against that.

So, remind me of the number?

MIRA

17, I said, I think?

ROVER

17, okay.

MIRA

Yep, 2 plus—

ROVER

You can feel the slightest pulse when they're telling you about this Hades figurine. You feel, kind of, the small...you know when you have a headache, that your head just kind of starts pulsing?

Throbbing.

ROVER

Throbbing, yeah. You kind of feel, like, the very, very slight hint of that. It's not like you are actually getting a headache. It's like something inside your head is triggered by it. You can't determine what.

MIRA [as UNA]

Ah. That was unpleasant. I think I'm dehydrated.

JO [as VIKTOR]

I'm sorry, what's unpleasant?

MIRA [as UNA]

Just...ache, in my head. I don't know…

JO [as VIKTOR]

Ah, right.

MIRA [as UNA]

Given the condition you guys found me in, I think I just still need some time to regain, well, I wouldn't say my strength, but...

JO [as VIKTOR]

Ah, I mean—I'm not the healer of this party, but, maybe someone has something against headaches? Like a princess here?

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

(Exasperated noise)

MIRA [as UNA]

Corwin.

JO [as VIKTOR]

I'm sorry. Corwin.

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

I'd be happy to, Una, if you think it would help?

MIRA [as UNA]

I...I think it will just pass. I think...I genuinely, well, can we even call it a...I...

MIRA

Una would literally just do that, the parentheses with her fingers, like,

MIRA [as UNA]

I just "woke up" not long ago. I think it will just pass. Maybe it will come with some benefits of me figuring the heck out what happened before meeting you guys?

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

Well...at least drink a little water or something. Ah—Teresa, do you mind if we just get a glass of water?

ROVER [as TERESA]

Oh! Yep, yeah yeah yeah, go—

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

Thank you so much.

ROVER

She grabs a class of water and immediately places it, and is like,

ROVER [as TERESA]

(Whispers) Still on the house, don't worry.

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

Thank you, thank you so much.

I like that she who's living in the UK is questioning the tea, but not the water.

[Laughter]

ANNIE

Yeah, right?

ROVER

Mmhmm.

ELIZABETH

My American hydration fascination's coming through.

[Laughter]

MIRA

It will have two ice cubes…

ROVER
No, Teresa has seen the way that people can go when things get a little bit, you know—

Rowdy?

ROVER

—drunkenly...she knows, she knows what's going on. She might be a little bit dim, but she very much...she will be like,

ROVER [as TERESA]

Okay, here you go! Get some water. Make sure you take enough time to, kind of, rest up.

ROVER

She's very caring. And from the door, we get Brian opening it again, being like,

ROVER [as BRIAN]

So, princesses. C'mon. Hurry up.

JO [as VIKTOR]

They—did they multiply? How many did we—?

ELIZABETH

Corwin is going to smile really big at Brian, but she's not going to like work to maintain eye contact. She is—

ROVER

He does not do eye contact at all.

ELIZABETH

Yeah, she's vibing with the, like, no eye contact, no pressure kind of thing. But if she walks past him, she's just gonna kind of, not look at him and say,

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

Thanks.

[Soft crowd noises and music begins in the background]

ROVER

So, you guys still wanted to go get stuff for...ah...oh wow, names. You guys still wanted to go get stuff for Una. You can go to Goode's and Services, which is run by Alward Goode, provides with basic needs. And yeah, you can get, kind of, everything that you need. Enough...basic needs. Enough food, enough water. All kinds of stuff there.

And if you're looking for weapons, you will have to go to Nyx, who you guys were going to go to at some point anyway.

ELIZABETH

As we walk, I would love to—cause I don't think we got to Josie. So I would love to turn to say,

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

So Josie, what is your thing? What do you do here in the Bounty Hunters?

ANNIE

Ah...I wish that I knew for a fact that we were gonna have time to take a rest before we left. I don't think we are. But I so want to burn a Wild Shape right there.

MIRA

Oh!

ANNIE

But I—I don't get enough of them at this point!

ELIZABETH

(Whispering) Do it, do it.

Do it, do it, do it.

MIRA

Do it.

MIRA, JO, and ELIZABETH in chorus

Do it, do it.

ELIZABETH

Burn your spell slots top to bottom, let's go!

MIRA

We will force a short rest! (Laughs) We will collapse, it's fine.

I don't think we are going to get into combat. I feel like you can burn it.

ANNIE

That's true! In fairness, we have the whole travel to Oxford before anything's likely to happen.

True. That's more than a short rest. Yeah.

ANNIE

So, I guess, in that case—

MIRA

Live your best life, do it.

ANNIE

—yeah, Josie is going to...now the question is, do I want...How, how—

MIRA

How big is the space? (Laughs)

ANNIE

We're underground. How like...yeah, yeah, yeah. How tight quarters are we? I'm not, like, saying I'm going to fill a whole hallway, but like...is it like...are we going anywhere low ceilings or anything?

ROVER

No, definitely not. You're, like, in a big grand hall where there's just bars, inns, everything kind of around the space. It's like a whole plaza.

It's like an inside mall, kind of, deal.

ROVER

Yeah.

ANNIE

Okay. Then in that case, Josie is going to just smile and transform into an elk.

[A haunting, echoing elk noise]

ROVER

So how does...how does her transform kind of look like? Is it just, I mean, like, poof, doonk! Or is it kind of a more warp-ish, kind of look? (Laughs)

ANNIE

Definitely closer to Animorphs...

(Gasps) Yeah!

ANNIE

...than just a poof.

ELIZABETH

Incredible.

ANNIE

Probably not quite as body horror and significantly faster. But definitely just like...she's gonna, like, hunch down a bit and like, you know, so her hands are close to the ground and stuff. And then within the space of a couple steps, her hands are going to become hooves as she's going forward.

And just kind of this smooth, vhoomp up to elk. Like that.

ROVER

As you do that, you can kind of see some of the bounty hunters in that space all just look and be like, kind of a side-eye glance of, "Excuse me....that's ah—"

"In public?!"

ROVER

"What?!"

ANNIE

"Incredibly rude!"

"Right in front of my salad?"

ROVER

"Rude."

[Laughter]

MIRA [as UNA]

I'm glad I wasn't standing any closer to you!

JO [as VIKTOR]

Damn, I like when you do that.

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

Yeah, incredible.

MIRA [as UNA]

So, can you still understand us?

ANNIE

Yeah, so, I nod. This was a thing I'm actually, Ro, I'm confused about. Because I was pretty sure that I can't speak under beast form, but it said...I was reading an article earlier talking about how I retain my languages. I guess that's just comprehensions?

ROVER

I think it's comprehensions, yeah. Not speech.

Wait, did they not change that?

ANNIE

Okay, so, I nod at Una.

ROVER

Did they change that? Sorry, hold up.

I'm—I'm so sorry.

ANNIE

Oh!

I feel like, I feel like somewhere in the back of the mind, they changed that in the...

ANNIE

I was reading in the '24 rules, so...oh yeah, so actually, hold on!

Rule pitstop!

ELIZABETH

Ayyyy.

ANNIE

Yup, I have the whole hymnbook here. So—

ROVER

(Muffled) Same personality, memories, and ability—oh! And ability to speak!

Yeah!

ANNIE

Oh, I do?

ROVER

Oh! That's fun! Okay, you do.

MIRA

Yeah, druids can now speak while in Wild Shape, retaining their personality and memories.

Yay!

ROVER

Oh my god, that's—

ANNIE

Oh, amazing! Okay! Alright well in that case—

ROVER

Cool!

Okay.

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

Yeah, absolutely.

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

Wow, ah—can you...is it all animals? Is it just—elk's an incredible one.

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

No. I've got a few here and there. You know, I tend to stick with my, with my, ah...with a small repertoire for now.

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

Incredible.

MIRA [as UNA]

May I?

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

You should just...feel lucky I didn't choose the giant spider.

JO [as VIKTOR]

I like spiders.

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

You know what, I do feel lucky. Thanks for that.

MIRA [as UNA]

I mean...it would mean you would be on our side, right? Right?

ANNIE

Sorry, I didn't catch that. What was that?

MIRA

Oh, I—Una was just butting in, going like, well, about a spider:

MIRA [as UNA]

But it would mean you would be on our side anyway. Right? (Laughs) Right??

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

Hypothetically.

MIRA [as UNA]

May I?

MIRA

And she extends a hand to basically, like, pet.

ANNIE

Oh! There is one thing I did forget to mention about the transformation, which is—this is so key to Josie—is that if you look at the face of the elk, the right eye of the elk is still all black.

ELIZABETH

Nice!

ANNIE

Still solid black. My eye does not change.

I love this.

MIRA

Oh, it's black! Okay.

ELIZABETH

Thank goodness, so we won't just go up to, like, random elk trying to say hi.

ANNIE

Yeah, you can find me pretty easy!

MIRA

Can you imagine?

ROVER

That's how Corwin dies.

(Transcriber's note: You heard it here first, folks!)

MIRA

If you approach it from the wrong side, different profile.

(Laughing) Yeah!

MIRA

Like, "Oh, I finally found you!" And like Josie's behind like, "Ahhhhh, no? Turn around!"

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

They don't like it when you do that, usually!

ELIZABETH

Josie's like, "Are you kidding?"

MIRA

(Laughing) Trampled.

[Soft crowd noises and music continue in the background]

ROVER

Right, so, you guys can get the stuff there, at least some food, water. And you, he, will make sure that you also get actual shoes. And he also offers, if you, he also offers a jacket, if that would be something Una would want.

MIRA [as UNA]

I would appreciate that, thank you.

ROVER

It is very much a kind of worn, leather-ish jacket with, on the back of it, the actual symbol of The Wanted Dead, which is an upright dagger through a skull.

MIRA

Okay. Woah.

ELIZABETH

Good vibes.

MIRA

Merchandise.

ROVER

Merchandise!

JO [as VIKTOR]

Yeah we like, we like the vibes. I feel—

ELIZABETH

Merch drop at midnight guys!

MIRA [as UNA]

Well, functional, warm. Thank you, I appreciate that.

ROVER

Before you guys head to Nyx, Brian stops you and is like,

ROVER [as BRIAN]

Okay, so...(deep breath). She is, um...not doing great. And with "not doing great," I mean...

ROVER

He kind of, at some point, walks in front of the shop window, which...the shop, by the way, has no name. It is just a, kind of a black and red, small corner shop. And as you look inside, you cannot see someone, however the entire place is trashed.

Oh.

ROVER

The desk is the only thing standing. You can see mechanical stuff on the ground. Some of the shelves are broken. There's a hole in the wall. Stuff like that. The door is still intact, though, and closed.

JO [as VIKTOR]

I feel like that might require a gentle approach.

MIRA [as UNA]

I still don't know who Nyx is, so I will leave it to you guys.

ANNIE

So, clarification question. You said Nyx is mute.

ROVER

Nyx is mute.

ANNIE

Is Nyx deaf?

ROVER

Nyx is not deaf.

ANNIE

Okay, so...okay, so we can at least all speak…

ROVER

You can all speak to her, and if you know sign language, you will be able to talk, ah, to communicate with her.

Yeah, like we will understand what she is signing back.

ROVER

Yep, exactly.

Yeah, yeah.

ANNIE

Yeah.

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

Is this, ah, what—

ELIZABETH

Corwin is gonna look at, probably...I don't know, either Vik or Josie, and say,

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

Is this what Nyx's shop usually looks like? Is this normal?

JO [as VIKTOR]

Ah, no no. Absolutely, no. No no. No. She's...she's very, like, everything is...I feel like, I think she might have some emotional struggles with...Jonny and her were, were pretty close? Are. So. (Sighs)

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

Mmm.

JO [as VIKTOR]

I really don't want to do that.

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

Well—

MIRA [as UNA]

What's their relation then?

ANNIE

So yeah, what is their relation?

MIRA

You know, I'm walking into this completely blind, I don't want to say something.

ROVER

What is their relation?

ANNIE

That we know of.

ROVER

Their relation is very much, for what Josie and Viktor know, as kind of Jonny being older than Nyx, however Nyx is very much very motherly over Jonny.

ANNIE

Hmm, okay.

ROVER

That's kind of their whole thing. What you guys also know is...actually I'm not gonna mention that yet. I'll mention it when we see her.

ANNIE

Okay.

JO [as VIKTOR]

Alright. Should I go in first, or?

MIRA [as UNA]

Yeah, lead the way, please. By all means.

ELIZABETH [as CORWIN]

After you.

ANNIE

Well actually, I—I'm still in moose form here.

MIRA

(Laughing) You're still an elk?

ANNIE

So it might do well for me to step out in front so I can absorb the blows if she's still in the middle of it.

To be honest...

ROVER

I don't think you're gonna be able to fit through the door as a moose.

A moose.

ROVER

As a moose? As an elk.

ANNIE

Ahhh, damn!

Um, I mean—

ROVER

Sorry.

MIRA

Do you have the horns? You might be able to fit through if you—

ANNIE

Alright, well, then,

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

Yeah, Vik, you should probably go first.

ANNIE

And then, yeah, and then I'll shift back while you go first through the door.

Alright, Viktor is going to, sort of like, roll his shoulders, like crack his neck a little. And as he does that, you can see him visibly shrink. Because Viktor's not just a human being...dun dun DUN.

ANNIE

Dun dun DUN!

He's going to use his Changeling ability to take on a form that he personally sees as less threatening than his female-presenting appearance. Not that Viktor is like, "Oh! Women are scary!" It's more like, you know—

[Laughter]

A little smaller.

ELIZABETH

Women are scary.

A little smaller, so he...I have a description somewhere. I'm so sorry. Everything is everywhere. So, what he looks like now is—(with a British accent) he also became more British. What he looks like now is, he shrinks down to about, ah, 5 foot something. It's like 165 centimeters?

[Transcriber's note: 5'4", ish]

ROVER

60-ish?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. He become tiny. Short kings, we love them. His skin color remains the same. His hair's still this silvery-gray, but it's way shorter. It's kind of tied up in a half-up do, into a little ponytail. His eye color remains the same; that doesn't change. The same thing goes for the blackened nail on his left hand. That's why I was hyping up Josie with all the black eye stuff, because I was like, "My stuff doesn't change too! Isn't that cool!"

[Laughter]

I think the starkest contrast, apart from looking more androgynous, I guess, and also smaller, is that he grows little horns. He has four little horns on his head. They're rather short and of a dark gray, so that...and his ears grow pointy. So that, if it wasn't for his skin color and the missing tail, he could be mistaken as a very short Tiefling.

And as he like, kind of, like, changes, he goes,

JO [as VIKTOR]

(Sighs) Alright, here goes nothing.

[The door opens with a clunk, and a small bell rings]

And opens the door. Which I hope isn't locked, because otherwise that would be very...

ROVER

The door isn't—the door is not locked, no.

Okay. Cool.

[Laughter]

ROVER

So, yeah, as you walk in, you enter that trashed shop, and you do not have any sight upon Nyx yet.

I just follow the trail of destruction, I guess. (Laughs)

[Crinkling and crunching, as though of someone walking over debris]

ROVER

The trail of destruction is basically everywhere. If there is something still, like, completely untouched, you're lucky. So as you, kind of, maybe even try not to step on every single shard that is still there, at some point from behind her small desk, she stands up.

There's this really tall, like 190...190 Tiefling woman, red Tiefling woman with almost gold in her horns, pure fiery red hair. And she crosses her arms. She is bulk. She is a big, bulk woman. With one of her arms, her left arm, is full mechanical...like bronze, golden-looking arm. If you want a reference, think of the Arcane show Sevika.

And she just stands there arms crossed, like, staring daggers at Viktor.

(Laughing) I feel like the staring daggers just follows Viktor around.

[Laughter]

ROVER

If we were talking about intimidating woman—she definitely is one intimidating woman.

Oh, oh. I want this on the record. Canonically, Viktor respects Nyx more than he respects Safra. Because he's, like, "Yeah but I feel like Nyx is going to actually snap my neck (laughs) if I'm not being careful."

ROVER

Absolutely. So she kind of just stares at you. Can I have an Insight check from you, Viktor?

Okay. I'm trying. Jo is trying very hard to not roll shit.

[Soft dice thumps]

MIRA

I believe in you.

Because it's always nicer if you have some—(gasps). Oh, oh, oh, oh! That was 19! Ah, I'm sorry, Insight?

MIRA

Woo! (Claps)

ELIZABETH

Ayyy let's go!

Insight, insight, insight. Ooh, that brings me up to a 19. (Laughs)

MIRA

Woah! Let's go!

[Laughter]

ROVER

So what you can tell with a 19 is, she may look very intimidating, and she looks very angry. You can see straight through that. Her eyes are, like, almost...like they're the same kind of red, to the point where it would look like she has just been crying the entire time.

Oh!

ROVER

Next to the fact that her almost-brown, like, her very vibe is brown and gold, but her eyes are also that kind of color. You know that, also, in her right eye, she has...it's a mechanical one as well. So that brown-gold really shines in her right eye. And she looks tired. Eye bags are...she has very heavy eye bags. And yeah, that is what you kind of see of her.

Viktor's not moving any closer. He's trying to look...not necessarily, like, not-intimidating, but like, you know. You know when you're like, your friend is grieving, but you don't really know if they need a pat on the back, so you're kind of standing there and being like,

JO [as VIKTOR]

Alright. (Sighs) Um, Nyx, I'm—I'm going to make this very short. We are going to go for Jonny, or trying to find out where he is, getting him back home. And I feel like we need some help with that, if there's anything in here that's not mysteriously trashed, that we could take with us?

ROVER

It takes a moment before she nods, like once, turns around…

[Faint crunching as Nyx walks]

…and goes through a door at the very back of her shop, and comes back a bit later with a box of just...daggers. There's rapiers coming out of it. Some parts look like they were supposed to become guns, which also have the actual signature with—

Oh.

ROVER

—JDR on it. And she immediately grabs those and pulls them out and puts them on her desk.

I will just talk. As in, if she is saying something, she will obviously be doing this in sign language.

Yeah, yeah. I'm going to like, let everyone know, what—I'm going to be translating. Just for the sake of ease, because I don't speak sign language IRL, so I can't even fake that.

ANNIE

It's also an audio medium, so—

Yeah.

ROVER

Yeah, exactly.

I mean, it would have been funny to just sit here in 15 minutes of silence while we use sign language at each other.

ANNIE

And just have everyone...you hear us giggling about things, but no context.

ROVER

So she will sign something along the lines of,

ROVER [signing, as NYX]

He has not been responding to anything for the past month.

Oh, damn.

ROVER [signing, as NYX]

He has not shown up.

ROVER

And she has tried to send letters to him. She has already gone past his shop once, together with someone else. And she was unable to find something. She has talked to Miguel as well—

Oh.

ROVER

—who...ah, I want, actually, a History check from everyone about Miguel.

Oh, Una, you're doing well buddy. Good luck! (Laughs)

ROVER

A History check, yes.

MIRA

How would I know anything about Miguel?

[Dice clacks]

Exactly, that's why I'm saying that!

MIRA

I could be a fucking menace, as well.

ANNIE

Natural! 20!

Woooo! (Claps)

ELIZABETH

Ayyyyy!

ROVER

We got our first! Our first natural 20 there!

Ah, okay. I can do math. This is a 24.

MIRA

I rolled a natural 1, and I'm more than happy for Una to have a natural 1.

Yeah.

ROVER

Perfect. Fits, yeah.

ANNIE

Yeah, the dice know.

ELIZABETH

The dice know. Um, Corwin got a 6.

The dice know. (Laughs)

ELIZABETH

Yeah, which makes sense, she's new to the industry.

ROVER

Natural 1, basically—

MIRA

I mean, it would make it a 6, but still it's a nat 1.

ROVER

It's still a...you know, many people are called Miguel. Many people are called Miguel. It...could be talking about Miguel from around the corner, or, ah, who knows.

MIRA

Yeah, well.

ROVER

Ah, with a 6. You've heard something about a Miguel, but once again, it's not like there's only one Miguel in the world.

Ro, you know what it is for Corwin? Safra, like about 20 minutes ago, just mentioned Miguel.

MIRA

That's the only Miguel.

[Laughter]

ANNIE

Yeah.

ROVER

Yes, yeah!

ELIZABETH

She's like, "Okay I've heard this name. I have no context."

ROVER

Now the context—

ELIZABETH

"Apparently we hate him?"

ROVER

The context for Josie and for Viktor, and Josie gets extra stuff with a nat 20. So, Miguel has been working here for almost a decade. Miguel is also part of the government, officially. For what officially is for the world, is for you guys as a spy. Safra has sent him in to make sure that things, kind of, keep on track there and definitely focus on the fact that, with Tobias, Tobias Isworth, the president of the UK in this world. He has been wanting the Bounty Hunters out the moment since he…kind of got in place as president.

And Miguel has been sent there, also, because his sister has been assigned assistant to Tobias. So Miguel has kind of been helping his sister, Xana Ortiz, out for some kind of small things, mostly, while also doing his own job as being a bounty hunter. Not just a bounty hunter, but a tier-3 bounty hunter, which means...those are the actual assassins. The ones that most likely have a bounty on themselves. They are assigned for a lot of the big issues. There's like some form of mafia; he would be going after that.

And what you know with a natural 20, Josie, is that there is history between Safra and Miguel's sister. And that...let's just say that did not end very well, and Safra and Miguel do not have a good bond, because Miguel is very much a traitor to both sides.

Oh. Is he free on Friday? I mean, what?

[Laughter]

ROVER

So that's, kind of, the knowledge that you know about Miguel. But Miguel is quite the big name in the UK, but also mostly bounty hunter stuff.

MIRA

Question. Cause now you've mentioned the name of his sister…would Una know of his sister?

ROVER

Ah...Xana.

MIRA

So, my specific question is, is his surname being mentioned and her name being mentioned as well? Like, in what...cause Una's just coming into this, like, names are floating around. Would—Miguel is a popular name, but the surname, it's different. And the name of his sister?

ROVER

Yeah so, only his first name is mentioned in the conversation.

MIRA

Ok. But not the name of his sister?

ROVER

Not the name of his sister, no.

MIRA

Fair.

ANNIE

No, that's just stuff that we know, yeah.

ROVER

Yeah.

ELIZABETH

Yeah, that's just knowledge that Josie has.

MIRA

Cool, cool, cool, just wanted to—

ROVER

So, yeah, Nyx mentioned, being like, I already asked Miguel. Miguel doesn't know much other than the fact that the government also is setting up a search party to go find Jonny. Since Jonny has been very much known in the public eye, also in the bounty hunter eye.

He is, for description-wise, a small halfling. Kind of 80s/90s. Black. Kind of curly, brownish hair. And has been one of the main artificers in the sector. He knows magic, so they can't—no one's really been able to kind of place him. Could be some kind of clockwork sorcerer. But it's not fully confirmed.

Now...yeah, so...ah, I forgot her name. So Nyx keeps kind of talking about, like,

ROVER [signing, as NYX]

We already asked so many people. People are already searching for him. I don't know what to do. Help.

ELIZABETH

Ro, while this conversation is happening, um...is it ok, you can say no, if Corwin kind of drifts a little, like, toward just a different part of the store? And she...I want her to stay in Nyx's sight, and starts casting...she has Mending as a cantrip, so starts casting Mending on some of the stuff that's broken.

Specifically doing this in Nyx's sight, so that if Nyx responds negatively, she will stop immediately. But if Nyx sees it and doesn't say anything, then Corwin is going to just go through and mend as much as she can during this conversation.

ROVER

Corwin—ah, Corwin—Nyx will not mention upon it. Viktor can kind of see, definitely with the 19 on Insight stuff...

Viktor takes a mental note. (Laughs)

ROVER

...yeah, kind of like softens a little bit. Her gaze softens a little bit on just what is going on. She is just incredibly exhausted in general. She also just does not have the energy to go for it. The energy has been put into destroying her own store.

Yeah.

ANNIE

Mmhmm.

MIRA

Mmm.

ELIZABETH

Fair. So yeah, so Corwin's not going to interrupt the conversation. She'll be doing this very quietly, and she will be listening, but she's just gonna...it's a cantrip, so she's just gonna cast it as many times as she needs to to mend whatever she can.

[Quiet scrapes and thunks]

ROVER

Mmhmm.

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

Nyx, listen. I know you say that there's already been people out there looking for him, but you know that if anybody is gonna be able to find Jonny, we can do it. I mean that.

ROVER

She kind of nods for a moment before she kind of looks past you guys at Una. Like, she also has done a quite frown to Corwin, but Corwin is mending her stuff. She's like, "Okay, this is fine."

Her eyes fall upon Una, and she just raises a single eyebrow, kind of looking at Josie and Viktor. In more of the sense of, "Who. What. Why."

[Laughter]

Well, if we had answers dude.

ELIZABETH

Valid.

Ah, no. He's not going to say that.

ANNIE [as JOSIE]

Mmhmm. Yeah. Long story, Nyx. But um, she's definitely capable enough. Oh, ah—Una, and Corwin, by the way. They certainly seem capable enough and, ah, worst case scenario, you know that we're not gonna let them get in our way. So, you can count on us.

JO [as VIKTOR]

Also, Una managed to...

Viktor cannot hide his fucking grin.

ANNIE

(Laughing) Yeah, yeah, yeah!

JO [as VIKTOR]

Una managed to actually stab Safra, so...kind of agreeing on the capable part.

ROVER

Her eyebrows raise, and she just, the smallest of smiles kind of, slides onto her face. Like, very small communication signal of like...

"Hey."

ROVER

"We like her, then."

[Laughter]

Yes, we do like her!

MIRA

Una would just bow her head, you know, like gently down, kind of like taking in the praise. As in...

Yep.

MIRA

...and then help out Corwin to, like, pick stuff up off the floor.

Oh my god, that's so cute actually.

ROVER

She does a small signal for Una to kind of come closer to her.

MIRA

Yeah.

ROVER

Now, I would like you to remind me of the weapons you chose for your character.

MIRA

Ah, it is—what, the physical weapons, to call them? A rapier and a shortbow.

ROVER

Alright. Then she will also give those to you, so that you have them on your person now, officially.

MIRA [as UNA]

I kindly appreciate that.

ROVER

So, she goes to the back. She will give you the weapons, and kind of gives a very hesitant pat on the shoulder and then a kind of confused small bow forward?

MIRA

Is it like the pat on the shoulder as she is facing Una?

ROVER

Yeah, she's facing you. And then just being like, very hesitant doing like, pat pat, I guess.

MIRA

And that's with the metal hand, or is it the normal one? Cause Una would just—

ROVER

Ah, definitely with the mechanical hand, yeah.

ELIZABETH

Valid question.

MIRA

The mechanical hand. So if that's the mechanical hand, Una would reach out to the hand that's not mechanical, with both hands, and just, like, squeeze it. Just gently squeeze it. And just be like,

MIRA [as UNA]

Thank you.

MIRA

One of the very few signs that she actually knows herself. I know she can obviously hear, but.

ROVER

She kind of freezes at that gesture for a moment and then pulls her hand back and kind of takes a couple steps back. She clearly does...tries to be a bit more affectionate in touch, since she's unable to do it with her own words. But she's not the most comfortable with it yet, definitely not with people at the start, the ones that she doesn't know yet.

She grabs a bit of paper, starts writing it down, and slides it over to Viktor and Josie. And it's just...on the paper is written "Mechanics Incarnate," and then an address in Oxford.

Oh it's his shop, then?

MIRA

Mechanics Incarnate?

ROVER

Yes, let me write it down.

That's such a cool name! Dude, what the fuck.

ANNIE

Yeah, it's great!

ELIZABETH

It's a great name! Well done.

All the metal names. I also like that we...the fantasy part of this version of Europe is, ah, that actually everyone's socially awkward. I love this. This is great. Great place.

MIRA

We've been through stuff!

ELIZABETH

We are all different flavors of socially awkward.

Yeah, no, for real!

ANNIE

Mmhmm!

(Laughing) It's a part I don't need to play.

MIRA

How long has that shop been around? That's my question.

ROVER

Hmm? What is your question?

ELIZABETH

Say again?

MIRA

Sorry, how long would that shop have been around in Oxford?

ROVER

Oooh! Give me another History check.

Yeah, Una. Do that.

[Satisfying dice thunks]

ROVER

I kind of hope you make this.

MIRA

It's a 9 plus...it's a 14. Rolled a 9, modifier 5.

ROVER

14?

MIRA

For History? Yeah.

ROVER

Okay! So what you do kind of remember is that there is indeed an artificer shop by the name Mechanics Incarnate, which used to be under the de Rolo family. But you do not recognize the name Jonny de Rolo.

MIRA

Fair. Small wins. Chipping away. (Laughs)

ROVER

Small wins. So many History checks for Una.

ANNIE

Mmhmm.

Is Una hiding that she's remembering stuff? Or would she, have like, I don't know, audibly go, "Ooooh!" (Laughing) Or something like that?

MIRA

No. I mean, she would read...because it's Oxford, and she remembered, like, as she told you guys, she feels like she's familiar with that place. When, obviously, anything is mentioned in that area, she will be, like, constantly thinking like, "Do I know this place? Do I know this person? Do I—"

Ah, I see. Okay.

MIRA

Kind of, like, searching herself, going like, "Do I know? Do I know? No. What do I know?"

Yeah. It's more like an internal process, than anything other than like, you're not like, "Oh yeah, right! That's…” I don't know.

MIRA

Yeah. Oh my god! (Laughing) Yeah, kind of like that.

[Laughter]

Yes. Whenever Una remembers something, we can see in the bottom right corner, we just see the autosave.

[Laughter]

ROVER

Yeah, the autosave.

MIRA

Yeah, just like, she just boots it up.

ELIZABETH

I'm imagining like, bad 90s public television. Like the big star, like "Now you know!"

Oh, yes!

ANNIE

"The more you know!"

ELIZABETH

There we go, "The more you know!"

MIRA

She's...if she gets those moments, you guys will definitely hear about it. Just like, (gasps) putting it together!

[Laughter]

Corwin could Prestidigitate that above your head, or something like that.

MIRA

The rainbow!

ELIZABETH

Yes. Yes.

MIRA

Like, dun ding dun ding. Um, that's fine.

Okay. Amazing.

MIRA

Beautiful. Um, I would just fasten those weapons kind of, like, weigh them out, do all of those bits, testing them for myself.

ROVER

So yeah, she slides that across the table. With that, also kind of, Brian, who has been outside of the shop the entire time, kind of comes in and just does a small mention of, like,

ROVER [as BRIAN]

We'll find him. Do not worry about that. We'll find him.

ROVER

And she does a small, kind of, salute to him. So yeah, that is what you guys now have. And I think with that, that would be a good closer for episode 2, with a little bit more information before you guys plan to head to Oxford.

MIRA

Yay!

ANNIE

Yeah, perfect!

Horray!

ELIZABETH

Ayyyyy!

ROVER

Alright.

At least someone got shoes.

[Laughter]

ROVER

At least (laughs) someone got shoes!

MIRA

I was walking—

ELIZABETH

We went shoe shopping!

MIRA

—through London barefoot—

ANNIE

Oh my god, shoes!

MIRA

—this whole time! Guys!

[Laughter]

ELIZABETH

You got shoes, you got a leather jacket. You're just—

MIRA

I'm decked out now! I got weapons. Nobody's asking for cash. Beautiful!

ELIZABETH

You're doing great!

We still have to say bye.

ALL

Bye!

[Laughter]

Oh, beautiful.

ROVER

Amazing.

[Show outro plays]

ROVER

Remains To Be Seen is an original podcast created by Dyaflame Studios and licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution non-commercial share-alike 4.0 international license.

Today’s episode was produced by Anusia Battersby and edited by Rover Elliott and Jo Mendacium. It starred:

Elizabeth Simpson as Corwin Duvall
Jo Mendacium as Viktor Valthayne
Annie Ruby as Josie
Mirah Fae as Una
and Rover Elliott as the Dungeon Master

The intro and outro was composed by We Talk of Dreams, and the transcript was written by Elizabeth Simpson.

To get in touch with us and keep up to date with our antics, follow us on Instagram, BlueSky and TikTok @ DyaflameStudios or view our website at www.dyaflame.com

Check our show notes for additional credits, links and transcripts.