008 - Protectors - Left In Fear
008 - Protectors - Left In Fear
Content Warnings
Guns
Shellshock
Mention of frostbite
[Show intro plays]
ROVER
Hello everyone and welcome back to Remains To Be Seen. The DnD show where one group's past can determine the other group's future. I am your host and DM Rover Elliott, he/they pronouns, and today I am here with...
ALYSSA
Alyssa, she/her.
RIK
Rik, he/him.
ZOE
Zoe, she/they.
MIKE
Mike, he/him.
ROVER
And who are you guys playing?
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Yitri, she/her, and what the fuck?
RIK [as PIERE]
Pierre, he/him. Uhm.. (Stammers) My jaw is just dropped to the floor, and uh, (stammers) bones?!
ZOE [as ALEKS]
Aleks, he/him, do not talk to me right now.
MIKE [as KOL]
Kol, he/him, and uh... yeah. Yeah.
ROVER
In need to by the way say I misused Aleks' pronouns and kept calling him “they”. We'll be calling him “him” from now, because I keep forgetting. Oops, sorry. So, recap time. Who wants to... Let's see, Mike. Would you like to give us a bit of a recap of the previous episodes?
MIKE
Aaw! I get to do the recap.
ROVER
So fun! You know, it's a great... It's a great time!
MIKE
Aw, thank you. Thank you. Love it. I love doing re–. Ok, alright. Dear listener, last episode; if you weren't listening, you missed a lot. You missed an extreme round of intense combat. As all of us four friends... well, were put up against one of the biggest, baddest enemies that this game has to throw at us. They've got a sword like you've never seen. It's a sword that's definitely not an allegory for a dick. And we did a combination of throwing, catching, flying to be able to defeat this enemy before they disappeared into nothingness. One of our allies went down. Spider arms grew from the wounds on their back and we were forced back inside. On the last episode of Remains To Be Seen. Was that okay? Did I do it okay?
RIK
Mike, yes. Yes.
ROVER
You know what? Perfect, 10 outta 10. This is fantastic. So we left with Yitri giving everyone healing potions. Or well, Aleks’ one was on the floor next to him. We are currently standing in the Bard College. There's a trembling security guard with you who realised his other friend security guard died in this fight. Not really that they put up a fight, but yeah. RIP.
[Laughter]
ALYSSA
They didn't do shit.
ROVER
RIP, the security guard.
RIK
Ripperonies.
ZOE
They tried their best.
MIKE
They are the worst security I've ever seen.
ROVER
They are the worst security, indeed. And that is where we pick up. Who drinks their healing potions, by the way?
[Sounds of nighttime begin in the background as crickets start chirping]
MIKE
Uh, not me, actually. I'm gonna pocket mine.
ROVER
Kol doesn't.
ZOE
No.
ROVER
Aleks doesn't. Pierre?
RIK
Pierre doesn't either.
ALYSSA
What the –? Ok, pocketing is is actually the better bet. (Laughs)
ZOE
Yeah, we... we're hopefully about to long rest.
ROVER
Ok, so Yitri, you had another healing potion. Do 2D4 plus 2 to your hitpoints again. I don't know if you already did that.
ALYSSA
I did not, I kinda forgot.
ROVER
Ok.
[Dice clacks]
In the meantime, yeah, you guys are standing with the kind of scared security guard
MIKE
I'm gonna put an arm on the scared security guard.
ROVER
Mmhmm.
MIKE
Or more, Kol is gonna put an arm on the scared security guard. And just look them dead in the eyes with, like, this eagle-like stare. And just be like,
MIKE [as KOL]
Listen. That was a lot. But you have to pull it together. Ok?
ROVER [as MALE SECURITY GUARD]
(Nervously) Ok. Ok.
MIKE [as KOL]
Ok?
ROVER [as MALE SECURITY GUARD]
Uh... we... there's people in...
MIKE [as KOL]
Now. Stay with me. Breath in through the nose. Out through the mouth.
ROVER
(Takes a deep breath) And they do. They try to catch their breath again.
MIKE [as KOL]
Good.
ROVER
And they start to talk again.
ROVER [as MALE SECURITY GUARD]
There should be three or four people in the University building. There is our librarian. She should still be there. She stays here a lot of nights. The... the students... I don't know how much of them are, like... how much they... I don't know how much they got... they saw. I don't know if they were awake. We might have to evacuate everyone until everything's cleared.
MIKE [as KOL]
I think that's a very good idea.
ROVER [as MALE SECURITY GUARD]
Ok.
MIKE [as KOL]
Get everyone out of here right now.
ROVER [as MALE SECURITY GUARD]
Ok. I need, uhm... I need someone to go get Greta. I-I can go… I can go to the dormitory to start waking up people. There... I need two people at the main building. I need two people to go to the library. And I will find someone else and go do our normal rounds.
MIKE [as KOL]
Alright.
MIKE
Kol wheels around and gestures to the rest of the party, like, "who's going with who?"
ROVER
The security guard, by the way, walks out and goes to the dormitory.
ALYSSA
Ok. Alright. He's gone.
RIK
Oh, ok. I guess not. (Chuckles)
ROVER
You can grab him and turn him around.
ALYSSA
Yeah, no, it's fine. It's funnier to just leave him.
[Laughter]
RIK
I was gonna tell him. I was gonna tell him that there's another guard in the other infirmary. Guess not. Guess not.
ROVER
If you still... If you still wanna shout it, I will roll a Perception check if he hears it.
RIK
I... Ok. Will do that. I run out.
RIK [as PIERRE]
There's still another guard in the other infirmary!
ROVER
He puts a thumb up towards you and just keeps walking to the dormitory. You can't determine if he's fully caught the entire sentence, but he caught enough.
MIKE
Alright.
ROVER
Ok, who's going... who's going where? Actually, you guys are here. Kol's heard this, everyone's kind of heard this.
ALYSSA
Ok.
ROVER
What's the plan?
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Ok, so, who... So we have to go to the main building or the library. We gotta split up in groups of two.
ZOE [as ALEKS]
Take me to the library.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Ok.
ZOE [as ALEKS]
With anyone but Pierre.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
I'll go to the library with you if you want. And you two go to the main building.
MIKE
Pierre... oh my god. Kol. I'm not Pierre. (Laughs)
[Laughter]
RIK
You are... you are Kol.
MIKE
Fuck me!
ALYSSA
You are now!
RIK
This is correct. This is the truth.
MIKE
I am Kol. That's me! I'm Pierre. Apparently I'm all things to all people. And some people just love that. Uhm, no, Kol turns to Pierre and looks between Pierre and Aleks, like,
MIKE [as KOL]
Ok.
MIKE
And then will silently take Pierre by the shoulder and sort of usher him out the door.
ROVER
Ok, so we got Pierre and Kol going to the main building and... just real quick, Pierre and Kol going to the main building and Aleks and Yitri going to the library. Good to know. I’ll stay with Kol and Pierre. Continue.
ALYSSA
Mmhmm.
MIKE [as KOL]
What happened?
RIK
Pierre kinda looks downward. Very puzzled and, well, shot down and he comes with you.
MIKE [as KOL]
Pierre, what happened?
RIK [as PIERRE]
I think it's my fault.
MIKE [as KOL]
Which part?
RIK [as PIERRE]
All of it. I shouldn't... I shouldn't have told you to go after him.
MIKE [as KOL]
What's your fault, Pierre?
RIK [as PIERRE]
I should– I shouldn't have told you to go after him
MIKE [as KOL]
Pierre, you can't blame yourself for things like this. It was a stupid call by Yitri.
RIK [as PIERRE]
(Stammers) Yitri was protecting everyone. You were protecting everyone.
MIKE [as KOL]
Yes, we were. And we were supposed to get out of that situation.
RIK [as PIERRE]
I guess you're right.
MIKE [as KOL]
It's not your fault. Now, come on. You look worse than usual. What happened?
RIK [as PIERRE]
Hmm. Like I said, I-I think... I think he blames it on me and I can only agree.
MIKE [as KOL]
Hmm. Something's really got to you, huh?
RIK [as PIERRE]
Well, I mean... The whole thing with Aleks... He went down and... He doesn't look too great. I'm worried.
MIKE [as KOL]
Yeah, I saw him hit the ground. But he got back up. What did you do?
RIK [as PIERRE]
(Stammers) Well, I tried to help him.
MIKE [as KOL]
And?
RIK [as PIERRE]
He... He didn't want me to.
MIKE [as KOL]
Listen, Pierre. Whatever just happened, we're okay. Alright? It's going to be okay. We've just gotta get to the building and we're gonna get everyone out of here. But then you and me are going to have a proper talk about this.
RIK [as PIERRE]
Alright. Where to?
MIKE [as KOL]
I think it's around this corner.
MIKE
As Kol gestures to a sign on the wall.
[Laughter]
ROVER
Cool. Perfect. Alright. Yeah, as you guys go back to the main hall. There is a security guard now also with the Halfling woman that was already in the infirmary. And their flashlight shines before you guys, and says,
ROVER [as SECURITY GUARD #3]
You guys are... What has happened here? Why are you guys in the University? What is going on?
MIKE
Who's this one, sorry?
ROVER
Some other security guard that is with. Now currently has joined the person in the infirmary that was incapacitated. One of the security guards who was also in the building.
MIKE
Oh, ok.
ROVER
He's just like,
ROVER [as SECURITY GUARD #3]
What are you guys doing here? We're gonna have to... You guys are gonna have to go out.
ROVER
And she's gonna step towards you guys and try and push you guys towards the exit of the building.
MIKE
When you say "you guys", sorry, me and Pierre?
ROVER
You guys, you and Pierre, yeah.
RIK
Oh! Oh, I thought this w–
MIKE
Oh, ok. No, I should be clearer. I gestured Pierre out the door and we were walking down a corridor during that interaction.
RIK
Yeah, I was under that assumption too.
MIKE
So, we've walked away from the infirmary. Like, this person said "You need to go to this place", so we were... we were walking.
ZOE
No, but you guys went to the main building.
ROVER
Yeah.
ZOE
To the other infirmary.
ROVER
Yeah.
MIKE
Yeah, yeah. We're going to the other one. Yeah.
ZOE
Yeah.
MIKE
Have we got there? Are we there?
ROVER
Yeah. Yeah!
MIKE
Oh, shit!
ROVER
Speedrun! Speedrun!
MIKE
Oh, Pierre! Up top, man, let's go! We didn't have a clue where we're going! Whapoosh!
[Laughter]
We found this infirmary, let's freaking go!
ROVER
(Laughs) So, as you guys enter the main building and you guys walk through the building.
MIKE
Thank you. Sorry.
ROVER
All good. And you guys walk past the infirmary, there is a security guard at the infirmary with the person that got “incapacitated”, in-between quotation marks. There's someone at the door to the exit of the building and, yeah, they're gonna try and move you guys out of the building. Unless... if you guys don't say anything. They don't know who you are, what your plan is, what you guys are gonna try to do.
RIK [as PIERRE]
We were ordered to evacuate everyone. Uhm, there's trouble here on campus. The other guard in the Bard College, he told us to get everyone out.
ROVER [as SECURITY GUARD #3]
There should be two of them. Where's the other one?
RIK [as PIERRE]
Uhm, now there's only one.
ROVER
It just... she stops for a moment and it is just this look of...
ROVER [as SECURITY GUARD #3]
You guys need to identify yourself before I'm gonna get some others to get you guys out of here.
RIK [as PIERRE]
We're here on business of the Crown. We are the Protectors. We've been sent here by the Crown.
ROVER
Give me a Persuasion check with advantage.
MIKE
While you're rolling the Persuasion check, Kol gently turns to you a little bit closer, and sort of leans in and is like,
MIKE [as KOL]
Is that what you called yourselves? It's such an unimaginative name.
[Everyone loses it]
ROVER
(Laughs) And Rik's dead. Rik's gone.
[More laughter]
RIK
Ok, sorry. Rolling dice.
[Dice clacks]
ROVER
With advantage. So 2D20 and take the highest one.
RIK
Oh, ok.
[Dice clacks]
That's a nat 20.
MIKE
(Claps) Let's go! Let's go! Ah! Ah! Boys are at it! Boys are at it, let's go!
RIK
Let's go, let's go! We're in business for the Crown, huh!
ROVER
Good job, guys. And she's like,
ROVER [as SECURITY GUARD #3]
Oh. Oh, they sent you here? Ok, good to know. Uhm... Oh, we're gonna have… We’re gonna have to call people. Uhm...
RIK [as PIERRE]
Sorry you have to find this way. We have a contact here.
ROVER
She kinda rubs her forehead.
ROVER [as SECURITY GUARD #3]
I-I.. We... Not currently. There should be... there should be a... a phone-cell outside of the building. Uhm... This entire area needs to be cleared. Make sure all of the security guards know what's happening. Everyone needs to clear the building. I'm gonna call... Who is your boss currently?
RIK [as PIERRE]
Xana Ortiz.
ROVER [as SECURITY GUARD #3]
Xana Ortiz. Xana Ortiz, ok, understood. Stay here, clear the building. We might have to get the Paladins in here. Alright.
ROVER
And she walks past you guys and out of the building towards the street.
MIKE [as KOL]
Well handled, Pierre.
RIK [as PIERRE]
I have my moments.
MIKE [as KOL]
Hmm. Right.
RIK [as Pierre]
I was quite shaken, though. I'm gonna try to get back to business. We're all business from here, yeah.
ROVER
And with that, we're gonna skip over to Aleks and Yitri going to the library.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Ok, do you know where the library is? Cause everyone kinda left and I have no idea where everything is.
ZOE [as ALEKS]
Yitri?
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Uhuh?
ZOE [as ALEKS]
Did you miss the part where I said that I was a student here?
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
That's why I'm asking you.
ZOE [as ALEKS]
Of course I know where the library is.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
I know, I know, I'm asking you to let us right to, you know... Lead the way! (Chuckles) I know now's not the time.
ZOE [as ALEKS]
Right. No, it is not.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Yeah.
ZOE
And he just, like, you know, kinda shakily just walks to the library. Does not look back if Yitri's following. He's just like... he's going.
ROVER
Ok.
ALYSSA
She follows.
ROVER
So, as you guys walk towards the library, it is for Aleks still incredibly cold out. And you can't hear the violins anymore, but as you're walking here, you can still feel that almost dreading feeling you felt the moment you went down. And you guys walk towards the library. Do you have a specific description of what the library looks like, Zoe?
ZOE
So, it is quite big with very high ceilings, right?
[Cricket sounds stop]
And huge windows for the most natural light as possible. Just rows of, like, also insanely tall bookshelves, obviously all just filled with books. On the side with the windows there are tables on the wall. Like a few chairs on them for students to be able to sit down, to study. And, yeah, there's also... just gonna call it like an area for the librarian with a bigger table where she can do all the organisation and stuff, but just imagine; really big room, really high ceilings, stuff like that.
[Bright harp music starts playing in the background]
ROVER
Give me a Perception check, Aleks.
ZOE
Sure. Uh, Perception, right there.
[Dice clacks]
That is a 13.
ROVER
13. You look around and as your eyes focus upon the table where the librarian would be sitting, she is there. She seems to be asleep. You're looking... Yitri, you can also see her, but Aleks knows what she looks like. I'm gonna, out of character, say that this is a description that Jo wrote, so if anything changed...
RIK
Oh!
MIKE
Aaah!
ROVER
That's on them. So, you see this older, brown, human lady and she's wearing this mossy green, kind of like, ugly mossy green cardigan with a white shirt under it. And she has these large, kind of, old, golden hoop earrings and kind of a bleached, but not redone in a while, short hair, darker roots and pink edges. And she seems to be asleep on... she seems to be asleep with her head on a book that she probably was reading at the table.
ZOE
You can see that when Aleks spots her, something changes in his face, and like... or in his gaze, more like. There is a very short moment where he seems to be less stressed, less tense. It's just like a very short moment of relaxation before he's back to being like, "Oh, no, fuck, wait. This is a super bad situation." And he looks at Yitri, points to the librarian.
ZOE [as ALEKS]
Go wake her. Her name is Greta, I... I need to sit down.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Yeah, of course, of course.
ZOE
And he goes, for you, pretty straight forward to just one of the tables. But he seems to be skipping a few rows of different tables. It's like he very specifically wants to go to that table. And he just sits down very heavily and does not move.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Oh, ok.
ROVER
Is it the table that I think it is?
ZOE
Of course it's the table that you think it is, Ro.
ROVER
Ok, good.
MIKE
Why would –? Ro.
ROVER
I need to double check.
MIKE
Ro. (Sighs)
ALYSSA
Yitri is gonna go up to the librarian whose name I forgot, so I'm... I did not...
ROVER
Greta.
ALYSSA
Greta?
ROVER
Greta.
ZOE
Greta.
ALYSSA
Greta, ok. So Yitri's is gonna start quiet, cause library. She's like,
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
(Quietly) Greta? Greta? Greta?
ZOE
That's so scary.
ROVER
She's just like, (half-asleep grumble). She kind of slaps your hand away and is like,
ROVER [as GRETA]
(Mumbling still half asleep) What is...?
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Greta?
ROVER
She's still half asleep.
ALYSSA
Yitri's gonna step back for a bit and then be like... Hmm, she's evaluating whether or not touching her is gonna get her ass beat. (Laughs)
ROVER
Mmhmm.
ALYSSA
So, she's like, "Ok, if I shake her, will she kick my ass?" And she's kind of looking at her and she's like, "I can take her, if anything. But also, this is a library. And also, we just fought."
MIKE
Yeah, these are questions we all ask ourselves in a library.
RIK
(Laughing) Can I take the librarian?
ALYSSA
(Laughing) "Can I take the librarian in a fight?" She's gonna start snapping, and be like,
MIKE
Classic.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
(Snapping her fingers) Greta? Greta? Greta?
ALYSSA
Her voice is getting a little louder.
ROVER
She kind of has a moment of.
ROVER [as GRETA]
Huh! I'm gonna... I'm gonna... I'm gonna cut your arm. Ow!
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Oh!
ROVER
And she looks like she's reaching back for something that isn't there, and she sits up.
ALYSSA
Yitri is reaching back for something that is there, just in case.
[Laughter]
ROVER
And you guys are both looking at each other, and it's just…
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Hi!
ROVER [as GRETA]
Uhm…
[More laughter]
ROVER
It's just that stare of, like, "What is going on here?"
ROVER [as GRETA]
(Mumbles) Who are you?
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
I'm not here to fight you. No, no, no, no, no!
ROVER [as GRETA]
Ok, good, I will beat your ass.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Oh! Oh, I-I... I like to…
[Laughter]
ZOE
Oh, I love her!
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Uhm, that's not what I meant for you to do. Uhm... I was told by him over there –
ALYSSA
She points behind to Aleks in the corner.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
– to wake you up and we're also told to find you. A lot of stuff just happened outside and... in any other circumstance, I would absolutely beat your ass. But, right now, we're not here to do that. So, we're here to... We need your help and I... Yeah, I-I don't... I wasn't briefed on anything else. Just knowing that.
ROVER
Give me an Insight check.
ALYSSA
I'm gonna use this dice cause it was nice to me,
RIK
Oh, Yitri is an absolute gem!
"Oh yeah, I can beat you, by the way!"
[Mike chuckles]
[Dice clacks]
"Oh yeah! Totally!"
ALYSSA
I got a 10. I got a 10! (Laughs)
ROVER
A 10. She... You can't really determine the emotion from her look as her eyes reach Aleks. And she keeps looking at him, and then she slowly stands. And is just, even while you're still talking, even when you're saying "I will still beat your ass", she ignores you and she walks very slowly. Like, this is quite an older woman. I'd say she's like sixties-ish. And she very slowly walks over to Aleks. Does Aleks... Has Aleks... Blergh. Does Aleks look at her or is he focused on anything else?
ZOE
He's just kinda staring at the table. I don't think he even, like, registered that someone approached him.
ROVER
Ok. She... I'm gonna have her roll an Insight check if she's...
[Dice thumps]
[Chuckles]
No, that's a natural 1.
[Laughter]
ZOE
She tried.
ROVER
She walks closer to you and puts her hand on your shoulder.
ZOE
He flinches away from that, like, hard.
ROVER
She pulls her hand back. And she... You get this first look of her. Give me an Insight check. With advantage, because you know her.
[Dice clacks]
ZOE
No need for advantage, that's a natural 20. Ok.
ROVER
You guys are doing well at natural 20s when it's not necessary. (Laughs)
ALYSSA
Always. Always!
ZOE
So, technically it's a 24. No!
MIKE
(Laughing) Yeah, when it's not combat we're doing great!
ALYSSA
That's always how it goes.
ZOE
I know that woman, ok Rover? I know her!
ROVER
She looks at you as if she's... seen a ghost, but also in a way where she... You can tell that she genuinely thinks that this is a dream. And she, very slowly, puts her hand back on your shoulder and sits down on a chair next to you. And her hands kinda come up to cradle your face.
ROVER [as GRETA]
Oh, you're... you're... save? Is that the right...? You... You're alive. That's good to know. Hello, Aleksander.
ZOE [as ALEKS]
Don't call me that.
ROVER
And she gives a very, very, sad-looking smile before she pulls you into a hug.
ALYSSA
Yitri's just in... She probably followed Greta and she's just kinda watching, like "What the fuck is happening?". Like, she's just really confused. But she's not gonna ruin the moment. This is a beautiful moment. She's just kinda staring and watching.
ROVER
Moving back to the other building. (Laughs)
[Harp music stops and the cricket sounds come back]
RIK
You can't do this to us! I'm invested!
[Laughter]
ALYSSA
Me too!
MIKE
I was so... Yeah! Rik was literally sat there open mouthed and quiet the entire time.
ALYSSA
Yeah!
[Laughter]
ROVER
Alright, Pierre and Kol. What's the plan?
MIKE
(Sighs) Well, I – What where we doing?
[Laughter]
I've literally forgotten everything because of that scene. Where are we right now?
RIK
I think we were trying to evacuate the… What was it? The university part?
MIKE
Yeah, we’re evacuating people, right?
ROVER
Getting the security people out.
RIK
Yeah.
MIKE
Yeah. Where were we supposed to go? We went to the infirmary. And then what?
RIK
Yeah, the other infirmary where we initially came from.
MIKE
We're gonna go to the... Yeah, we've gone to the other infirmary. Now what do we do? Where did they say we needed to go? Like I say; head empty.
ROVER
Get the security guards out of the building.
RIK
Ok.
MIKE
Fuck, ok. (Laughs)
RIK
So...
MIKE
Where are they? (Laughs) Oh god.
RIK
So, is there still that one security guard that's paralyzed?
ROVER
Yeah, she's still there.
RIK
Hmm. She tiny, right? (Laughs)
ZOE
Is she tiny?
ROVER
She's tiny. You can carry her.
ALYSSA
She tiny!
ROVER
She's a Halfling. Yeah.
RIK
Ok. I can carry her. I’ll gently…
ROVER
Where do you wanna carry her?
RIK
Well, I don't know. (Laughs) I don't know! I'm getting to that! I don't know yet.
MIKE
Kol is just looking at you like,
MIKE [as KOL]
What are you doing?
RIK [as PIERRE]
We need to get everyone out.
MIKE [as KOL]
Hmm. Yeah. You know what? You're right. Take her with us.
RIK [as PIERRE]
Maybe get an ambulance?
MIKE [as KOL]
Maybe. If we have time. Bring her with. We need to find the other security guards.
RIK [as PIERRE]
Alright. Will do.
RIK
And Pierre moves in to pick her up. Pick her up. (Chuckles)
ROVER
As you start to pick her up, it is like she, for a split second, snaps out of that trance. And she starts hitting your arms away, and says,
ROVER [as SECURITY GUARD]
Don't... don't touch me! Don't touch me! Don't... don't touch me!
RIK [as PIERRE]
Hey. Hey!
ROVER
Before it's just back again; stare. And it's the moment you try to pick her up that, again, she keeps going.
MIKE
Oh my god. Oh my god.
RIK
I, uh… I gently put my hand on her shoulder and say,
RIK [as PIERRE]
You're alright. You're alright.
ROVER
She pushes it away again and you can see that even, like, her eyes aren't focused on you. And with one of her hands, she's trying to find something. Like, anything that she can hurt you with.
MIKE
Kol's got one hand on... (Laughs) Kol's got one hand on the handle of his shotgun.
RIK
Ooh! Oof.
MIKE
While he's watching this scene unfold.
[Dice thumps]
ROVER
Gonna see if she finds anything. Oh, she does.
MIKE [as KOL]
Pierre, you need to step away.
ROVER
So, she's like...
MIKE [as KOL]
She's gonna hurt you, Pierre.
ROVER
Patting the desk.
RIK [as PIERRE]
But... but...
ROVER
She grabs scissors.
MIKE [as KOL]
We'll come back for her, Pierre. Put her down.
RIK [as PIERRE]
Ok, ok, ok.
RIK
And he lets go. And walks back.
[Dice thumps]
ROVER
What is your AC?
RIK
Uh, that is a 15.
ROVER
Nevermind, that's 2 5's. That's 2 5's. And she swings with her hand with the scissors past you and as it does, the scissors drop to the floor, and it's just a moment you indeed stop touching her, it's back to staring at nothing.
MIKE
Kol grabs you by the arm and pulls you away from her.
MIKE [as KOL]
Come on, Pierre, we need to get out of here.
RIK [as PIERRE]
Alright.
MIKE [as KOL]
Leave her for now, we can come back.
RIK
Pierre nods.
RIK [as PIERRE]
We'll get the others. Yeah.
MIKE [as KOL]
Listen, I've got no idea what's going on here. either.
RIK [as PIERRE]
We'll come back for her.
MIKE [as KOL]
But we'll... Yes, we'll come back for her.
RIK [as PIERRE]
Yeah.
MIKE [as KOL]
Right. Let's go find these other security guards. Do you remember where they said they were?
RIK [as PIERRE]
I mean, there must be a security room somewhere. They must have come from somewhere.
MIKE
Yeah, Kol's gonna stick his head out of the infirmary and look around to see if there's any signs for, like, security or anything that would point in the right direction.
ROVER
Yeah. There... on the floor that you guys are at, there is in the... at the far back, there should be a security room. There's a sign for that as well. Where you can go to.
MIKE
Then I guess we'll walk towards that, then. Yeah, we just walk out like nothing happened. Like no one got attacked with scissors. And we'll just walk down this long, deserted corridor and hope that nothing happens to us! Right, Pierre?
RIK
(Laughing) What scissors?
ROVER
What scissors? What scissors?
RIK
What are they?
[Laughter]
I don't know what that is!
ROVER
Yeah, inside you can see two other security guards who... one of them, has this, uhm... I forgot the word for it. I love English. It's great.
MIKE
What are you reaching for? What does it look like?
ROVER
That thing that you use to communicate with others in the same building.
MIKE
A walkie-talkie? Radio?
ALYSSA
Walkie-talkie?
ROVER
Walkie-talkie, thank you! Yes, radio.
MIKE
Yeah.
ROVER
Probably a better word.
RIK
A tele-stone.
[Laughter]
MIKE
Well, actually, that does exist.
ROVER
Phones exist in this world!
RIK
Oh, they do? Oh!
MIKE
Yeah, phones also exist.
ROVER
They do! (Laughs) Yes! But they're only not in the building. They are outside in the telephone booth. And he has one of the radios and seems to be talking to someone on the radio.
[Radio beeps]
ROVER [as SECURITY GUARD #4]
How many... how long until the entire place is cleared?
[Static sounds while someone speaks]
ROVER
Can't hear anything.
[Radio beeps]
ROVER [as SECURITY GUARD #4]
Good, if you need back-up, let me know.
ROVER
Puts it back in his pocket.
MIKE
Is the door just open, then? Are we just walking up to the security – ?
ROVER
The door is open.
MIKE
Oh, the door's open. Oh, well, not very secure for a security office.
[Laughter]
Ok, I think Kol and Pierre, I assume, are gonna walk up to the security room and politely knock on the door.
ROVER
They turn to look at you, and is like,
ROVER [as SECURITY GUARD #4]
What do you want?
MIKE [as KOL]
The security team ordered a full evacuation of this building. Are you guys aware?
ROVER [as SECURITY GUARD #4]
(Sighs) Yeah. Sure. Whatever.
ROVER
And one of them already walks out. The other one is still sat at a desk. They are just staring at the papers on the desk itself. They seem to also have, like, not the exact same look of 'fading away' as the person in the infirmary has, but they are... they have not even looked up at someone being at the door. And they are still sat.
MIKE [as KOL]
Hey. Are you okay?
ROVER
There's no response.
MIKE
Kol's gonna tentatively walk towards this person and, like, sort of, get down onto their level and really look at them.
MIKE [as KOL]
What's going on here?
ROVER
Give me an Insight check.
MIKE
An Insight check, you say?
[Dice thunks]
Uh, 17.
ROVER
It's similar, again, to the person that is in the infirmary. But he is... zoning out in a way that you can still see his eyes, kinda, dart from side to side. And it's just the grabbing of the side of the desk. He's just mumbling.
ROVER [as SECURITY GUARD #5]
We need to... We need to go... We need to go. We need to...
MIKE [as KOL]
Listen. Yes. We need to go. Come with us. We will keep you safe.
ROVER
And they very slowly start to stand up. And they look up and then blink for a moment, and that look kind of fades from their eyes. And it's just like,
ROVER [as SECURITY GUARD #4]
(Clears throat) Understood. Uhm... the area should be cleared in about, hopefully, 15 minutes. Thank you.
MIKE [as KOL]
Are you gonna be okay? You don't look so good.
ROVER
He is not... He is gonna try to walk past you and not answer.
MIKE
I'll let him.
ROVER
Ok. And he walks out.
MIKE
Ok, well, I turn around to Pierre, with a look of real confusion and just,
MIKE [as KOL]
Something really weird is going on here. We need to make sure these people get the hell out of here.
RIK [as PIERRE]
Yeah. It's not just the one guard. It's... it's more of them?
MIKE [as KOL]
Pierre, it could be all of them by now. We don't know. But we need to make sure that these innocent people get out of here. Now. Let's follow him.
RIK [as PIERRE]
Yes. Uh, the other one was checking the dorms, right?
MIKE [as KOL]
That's right.
RIK
Do we see which direction he's going in?
ROVER
He seems to be headed towards the exit of the building and then before he turns left to exit, he stops. And it's that very slow movement of the head looking towards the right, towards the way to the plaza, and then walks to the plaza.
RIK
Hmm.
RIK [as PIERRE]
Yeah, let's go with him.
MIKE [as KOL]
Yeah.
MIKE
As we walk on behind him, sort of a near, safe distance. And I think we would be stealthing. Or Kol would certainly be stealthing.
RIK
Hmm. Yeah.
ROVER
Give me a Stealth check. Pierre too? Give me a Stealth check.
RIK
Yeah, yeah. I'm just gonna try to not make my presence known, per se. But, you know, if he looks around (laughing) he'd be like, "Ok, fine. We're following."
MIKE
Yeah. That is a dirty 20 for me.
[Dice clacks]
ROVER
Dirty 20, alright. As quiet as the night.
MIKE
Faster than blasphemy.
RIK
Oh there's my... that's my Stealth, ok. Uh, that is a 9.
[Alyssa laughs]
ZOE
Also, quick question. Are they stealthing in the dark?
RIK
It's still dark, right?
ROVER
They are stealthing in the dark.
MIKE
We are stealthing in the dark.
ROVER
Yeah.
ZOE
Yeah, and Kol does not have night-vision. Last time he wanted to, you gave him disadvantage for that.
RIK
Oh!
ROVER
I did, didn't I?
RIK
Observant!
MIKE
That's true.
[Alyssa laughs]
ROVER
I forgot. Well... Give me disadvantage.
MIKE
The call is coming from inside the building, everyone! Alright, ok, I see how it is.
ALYSSA
Damn!
ROVER
Not like it's gonna work much with Pierre rolling a 9, but you know?
[Mike laughs]
ZOE
Yeah, that's also the only reason I said that.
ALYSSA
If Pierre is going down, you're going down with him.
ZOE
But for the... Yeah, for the continuity.
MIKE
Uhuh! Uhuh, yeah, yeah, no that's... you know what? That's fair. That's fair. Mike will remember this.
RIK
All together, guys. All together!
MIKE
(Laughs) All together now!
ROVER
So roll me with disadvantage.
MIKE
On the Stealth check, or on like, you know?
ROVER
Yeah. The Stealth check, yeah
MIKE
Aw man, disadvantage in the dark. Oh, d'you know what? It's the same.
ROVER
Aye!
MIKE
Cause I rolled an 18 that time.
ZOE
(Claps) Nice! Very nice!
MIKE
Which would take it up to a 25, I think. (Laughs)
ZOE
Nice!
ROVER
Ok, so it's 20 – Ok cool, amazing. What is your Perception? Is it plus 6?
MIKE
It's pretty bloody good. Wait, this is a Perception check, not a Stealth check?
RIK
No, it was a Stealth.
ROVER
Oh, sorry, a Stealth check, sorry, yeah.
MIKE
I was gonna say, my Stealth is plus 5. So I rolled an 18.
ROVER
That would be a 23 and 21.
MIKE
So yeah, it'd be 23, sorry.
ROVER
Yeah, that's good. So...
MIKE
Silent as the night.
ROVER
Silent as the night, and Pierre – (Laughs)
ZOE
"Silent as the night, and Pierre." (Laughs)
RIK
(Laughing) And Pierre's just clanging along, you know?
MIKE
Yeah, literally. Yeah!
ROVER
Pierre tries to be stealthy and is just not working. You can see the security guard, who is walking towards the plaza. He stops, does the same thing. Very slowly looks back, definitely notices you. Does not notice Kol.
[Rik laughs]
MIKE
Who you don't realize is tailing you very closely. Because he can't see!
[Laughter]
RIK
He's just walking right behind me.
MIKE
Yup!
ROVER
And he continues walking towards the plaza. You can see from the windows, students are exiting the building of the dormitory. And, yeah, he walks out. He walks out into the plaza.
RIK [as PIERRE]
Alright, so the students are gonna be safe. Seems like most of it's handled. Should we meet back up with the others?
MIKE [as KOL]
Uhm. Well...
[Laughter]
RIK
I mean –
MIKE
In my mind, Pierre turns around to try and talk to Kol, and is talking into the darkness, and Kol's like,
MIKE [as KOL]
Pierre, I'm... I'm over here.
[Laughter]
ROVER
Yes! That's perfect!
RIK [as PIERRE]
Oh!
RIK
Oh, ok, ok, alright.
RIK [as PIERRE]
Oh, uh, sorry, I-I thought you were...
MIKE [as KOL]
No, that's a lamp stand.
RIK [as PIERRE]
Yeah, y-you heard me. Ok. Great.
[Laughter]
MIKE [as KOL]
Yes, I think we should meet back with the others if you think that they're safe, but this feels wrong to me.
RIK [as PIERRE]
Everyone is walking out, though. They're trying to get to safety.
MIKE [as KOL]
Hmm. There's something off about that guy.
RIK [as PIERRE]
What do you suppose we do?
MIKE [as KOL]
Hmm. I think you're right. We should go and meet up with the others and check that they're safe. Hopefully some of these security guards haven't been affected by whatever this is. And we'll be stronger as a team. So, let's go to the library.
RIK [as PIERRE]
Alright.
MIKE [as KOL]
Where is the library?
[Laughter]
RIK [as PIERRE]
Uhm...
ROVER
Speaking off the library. (Laughs) Let's pan back over to the emotional damage that's happening over there.
[Cricket sounds stop and the harp music begins again]
[Laughter]
Yeah, Greta stops hugging Aleks, and is just like...
ZOE
Before she stops, one thing I do want to say.
ROVER
Oh, yeah?
ZOE
I wanted to say how Aleks reacts to that hug.
ROVER
Yeah, absolutely.
ZOE
He does not hug her back, but he kinda... falls against her with all the strength of the most tired man in the world, and she can feel small wet spots on her shoulder while she hugs him.
ROVER
Mmhmm.
ALYSSA
Aaaaww!
ROVER
She then definitely does not let go of the hug.
[Zoe chuckles]
[Alyssa squeaks]
She kind of, very quietly says,
ROVER [as GRETA]
I see you made a new friend.
ROVER
Like, a hand slowly rubbing your hair.
ALYSSA
Aaaaw! They’re so cute!
ZOE
She's not my friend.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Fair enough. I've known you for, like, what? 5? 6 hours?
ROVER
Something like that, almost 12.
[Laughter]
ZOE
Oh, well, then; besties!
ALYSSA
(Laughs) Almost a full day!
ROVER
And she sits quiet for a moment, and before she whispered... very quietly whispers,
ROVER [as GRETA]
Where's... Where's Viktor?
ZOE [as ALEKS]
(Crying) I don't know. I don't think he wants to know where I am. I... Greta, I don't know what to do.
ROVER [as GRETA]
Do you... Do you need a place to stay tonight?
ZOE [as ALEKS]
(Crying) Yeah. Yeah, if you have that.
ROVER [as GRETA]
I should have place for 2. As long as, I mean...
ZOE [as ALEKS]
4.
ROVER [as GRETA]
4? Oh. Oh, I'm gonna have to... Ok, we'll figure something out.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
I mean, if you can't find anything, I can figure something out, it's okay. I don't really need sleep, so it's fine.
ROVER [as GRETA]
No! No, it's okay! As long as you do not try to kill me, I will kill you.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Oh, I have no intention of doing so.
ZOE [as ALEKS]
She will.
ROVER [as GRETA]
Ok.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
What? Oh, she'll kill me? Oh, yeah, no.. I would not even for a second doubt that.
ROVER
She slowly lets you go and is once again cradling your face, wipes tears away. And it's the moment of,
ROVER [as GRETA]
Do you need anything from here? Why are you even here in the middle of the night?
ZOE [as ALEKS]
That... That story's too long, I think.
ROVER [as GRETA]
We'll keep that for breakfast?
ZOE [as ALEKS]
We'll keep that for breakfast.
ROVER [as GRETA]
Ok. I-I have something to share with you, too, but we'll, again, do that by breakfast. You getting sleep is all that's important.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Do you want me to... I can, like, leave. I can give you guys some privacy. I can walk over there.
ROVER [as GRETA]
No. No, you can come with us.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
It's a big library, I can, like...
ROVER [as GRETA]
No, I think it's time for us to go.
ROVER
And she lets go of your face, she stands up. And she walks to the table she was sitting at. She grabs this bag, puts it over her shoulder. In my head, I feel like - and I'm gonna have to look at Zoe and at Jo here - I feel like she'd have a totebag.
ZOE
Yeah, 100%.
ROVER
Absolutely.
ALYSSA
Yeah.
[Laughter]
That's a girl that rocks a totebag! I know nothing about her, but she rocks a totebag!
MIKE
Oh yeah, that person gives totebag energy!
ZOE
Yeah. Yeah. 100%.
ROVER
Yeah, so she grabs her totebag**.** And she puts the book that she was reading... she closes it, she puts it in her bag. And she claps once in her hands, like,
ROVER [as GRETA]
Alright. You said 4. Where are the others?
ROVER
Greta will put, like... pats Yitri's shoulder before she moves over to Aleks and puts an arm around him before guiding him with Yitri out to the plaza. What happens at the plaza?
[Harp music switches to cricket sounds again]
[Laughter]
RIK
No. No!
MIKE
When you guys get out to the plaza, me and Pierre are stood there like,
MIKE [as KOL]
No, we took a left turn down that corridor.
RIK [as PIERRE]
I thought it was a right!
[More laughter]
MIKE [as KOL]
And I don't know where we ended up after that. I think we ended up back at the infirmary.
RIK [as PIERRE]
Oh. N-no, wait, wait, wait. I thought we were supposed to take a right.
MIKE [as KOL]
No. No, no, we went right the first time. (Sighs)
RIK [as PIERRE]
That was... That was the second time, Koltrast.
MIKE [as KOL]
Oh my god. There they are! Over there!
RIK [as PIERRE]
That was the second time.
MIKE [as KOL]
Look!
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Oh, there they are! They're right there! They're the two guys over there that look really confused right now. Those are the two we're with.
[Laughter]
ROVER
And she looks at them and it's just this sigh of,
ROVER [as GRETA]
Oh, these are the people you – Ok, we're gonna have to talk about this.
[Everyone loses it]
ROVER
And she... it's like rolling up the sleeves of the cardigan. And she starts walking up to them. And it's the whole thing, like,
[Mike laughs]
ROVER [as GRETA]
So. You two. Friends of Aleks?
MIKE [as KOL]
Who are you?
ROVER [as GRETA]
A friend of Aleks.
MIKE [as KOL]
Hmm. Ok.
ROVER [as GRETA]
And if I learn that you hurt him, I have no problem beating your asses.
MIKE [as KOL]
If I learn that you hurt him, I have no problem beating yours. So, let's drop this, shall we? If you're a friend of theirs, then great.
RIK [as PIERRE]
I think we're on the same page here, guys. Please don't fight.
[Laughter]
ROVER
(Laughing) I'm sorry. Pierre's voice.
MIKE [as KOL]
Stand behind me now. Pierre.
RIK [as PIERRE]
(Very high-pitched right now) I think we're fine. Don't fight. Not again.
ROVER [as GRETA]
Oh, I will fight you anytime.
MIKE [as KOL]
Listen. We just want to make sure everybody's...
[Laughter]
We just want to make sure everybody's safe. So if you're a friend of Aleks', then I'll believe you.
ROVER
And she does the literal 'point at her eyes with two fingers, point at his eyes with two fingers' and she turns around back to Aleks like,
ROVER [as GRETA]
Right. Ready to go?
ZOE [as ALEKS]
Yeah.
ROVER
And she looks back at Pierre and Koltrast and is just,
ROVER [as GRETA]
You guys are staying at mine. No questions asked.
RIK [as PIERRE]
Oh!
ROVER [as GRETA]
You too, by the way, little girl.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Huh, hi?
[Laughter]
ROVER [as GRETA]
Question mark. Hello.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Hi!
ROVER [as GRETA]
Y-you guys are going with me. Come on.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Uh, sure, ok.
MIKE [as KOL]
Ok.
ROVER [as GRETA]
We'll talk about what happened later.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Yeah, alright.
MIKE [as KOL]
Yeah.
ROVER
And yeah, she's going to lead you guys away from the University to, like, a small house a couple streets down the... A couple streets down the road, yes.
[Laughter]
A couple streets away.
MIKE
"A couple streets down the road" works as well. It's up to you, man. Whichever you prefer.
ROVER
Yes! Couple roads down the street. Perfect. And yeah, you guys now also have a place to stay.
[Cricket sounds stop]
And she leads you guys inside and she's like,
ROVER [as GRETA]
I'm gonna have to see if I can make space for myself and four, but that should be fine.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
You don't have to worry about me. I actually don't need to – I can just take a chair.
MIKE [as KOL]
What?
ROVER [as GRETA]
A-a chair?
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
I don't... I don't really, necessarily, need sleep. I...
ROVER
She looks at Aleks, is like,
ROVER [as GRETA]
Do you think we should give them beds?
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
No, you give them beds! Me, I'm a different story. I don't need –
ROVER [as GRETA]
Shut up.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Ok.
ROVER [as GRETA]
Do you think we give them beds?
ZOE [as ALEKS]
We give them beds.
ROVER [as GRETA]
Ok, good. You're getting a bed. Stop whining about the chair.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
I-I wasn't...
MIKE [as KOL]
Alright. Just point me in the right direction. Where are we going?
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Mmhmm. Yes.
ROVER
Uh, it's a... She has a downstairs and upstairs. There is... She makes space on the couch. She kind of is able to, like, it's a sleeping couch. She's able to make space there for two people. And there is a smaller room and she immediately points that to Aleks and it is a bunk bed. And that's all you can get. It's like one living room, kitchen, her room, and the bedroom with 2 bunk beds. It’s not a bigger room, it's good enough for now. And yeah, she will look at Aleks again, and once again puts a hand on his back. And is like,
ROVER [as GRETA]
Ok. Anything I need to know about... these people here that... I should be worried about? Do I need to grab my axe from the basement?
ALYSSA
When she says that, Yitri, like, lizard-blinks.
[Laughter]
MIKE [as KOL]
And Kol starts unsheathing his two weapons and starts laying them out on the bed.
[Alyssa laughs]
ZOE [as ALEKS]
It... It might be better if you grab your axe. I-I cannot confidently say that they won't do anything.
ROVER [as GRETA]
Oh, Aleks, what trouble have you gotten yourself into?
ROVER
And she... she goes to the kitchen, opens a side door and walks into the basement to grab her axe, and comes back out with this large axe. Yitri, you can see that on her axe, there's also a small keychain.
ALYSSA
No way!
ROVER
Of this, kind of –
[Mike laughs]
ROVER
– furry, little creature.
ALYSSA
No way!
[Laughter]
ROVER
Yeah, we call it the "Fey-bubu", I guess.
[Laughter]
ZOE
Oh no!
RIK
The Fey-bubu?!
MIKE
For legal reasons.
ALYSSA
It's like a little acorn-shaped little guy.
[Mike laughs]
ROVER
Yes.
ALYSSA
So, it's a little furry guy, acorn-shaped, with a little face.
ROVER
Yeah.
MIKE
Amazing.
ALYSSA
And one eye is bigger than the other, that's how I designed it.
MIKE
Amazing.
ALYSSA
Very... I actually...
MIKE
I love that.
ALYSSA
The other... realised I can crochet. I might make the Fey-bubu at some point. (Laughs)
ROVER
Make it. Fantastic.
RIK
Yes! Yes!
[Laughter]
ROVER
We need them.
ALYSSA
So, Yitri sees this, and she's like,
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
No fucking way!
ALYSSA
And then she takes her axe out, and she's like,
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
You got one too?
ROVER [as GRETA]
(Gasps) Oh...
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
No?! No!
ROVER [as GRETA]
Oh my god, you know what?
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Oh my god, I didn't think I --
ROVER [as GRETA]
The boys can sleep on the couch. You're getting the bed.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Oh, no, no, no! You don't... I promise, you don't need to do that. But, like, I appreciate --
ROVER [as GRETA]
Y-you're... You and Aleks... No, no, (shushes)
[Alyssa laughs]
You and Aleks get the bed. You guys are my favorites. The boys can go sleep on the couch.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Oh, thank you! But, also, I love your.. besides the...
ROVER [as GRETA]
(Whispering) It's not that comfortable. I don't know what to do with it.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
(Whispering) That's fair. (Normal volume) Besides the... our fun little matching thing we got going on, I also love your axe. This is, like, a very well-made one. This is really pretty!
ROVER [as GRETA]
(Gasps) Thank you! Oh, thank you. Her name is Bertha.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
You named yours too?! Shut up!
ROVER [as GRETA]
Of course, I did. Oh my god. Oh, girl, we're gonna have to talk about this.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Oh my god, are we best friends now?
ROVER [as GRETA]
We're best friends now. I like you.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Oh my god, we're best friends now. Oh my god, that's so cool.
MIKE
Kol walks back in from the other room, holding his weapons by the barrels, not by the handles, and goes,
MIKE [as KOL]
So. Where are we sleeping exactly?
ROVER
And she looks up at you and it's imme– the big smile that she had on her face, just kinda, slightly drops, and it's just like,
ROVER [as GRETA]
Couch.
MIKE [as KOL]
Perfect.
ROVER [as GRETA]
Put those guns away. I will kick you out of my house.
[Alyssa laughs and claps]
MIKE
And Kol just walks over to the couch, chucks both the guns down on the sofa, and takes his position. He just lays down on the sofa.
ROVER
Alright. Ok.
RIK
Is there no space for two? (Laughs)
ROVER
She will point Pierre also to... there's two spaces on the couch. And she's like,
ROVER [as GRETA]
If you don't like it, sleep on the floor. I don't care.
RIK
Pierre will assume position on the floor.
[Laughter]
ROVER
Pierre sits on the floor like a child who just had a temper tantrum. (Laughs)
RIK
No! No, no, he's just sitting cross-legged. Kinda just putting his bag down and takes a deep sigh.
ROVER
Is there anything people wanna talk about before they sleep?
ZOE
Yes.
ALYSSA
Yitri's gonna go to Pierre. It's like,
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
If you wanna take the bed, I-I swear, I genuinely don't need sleep. I-I mean, it's comfy, I'm gonna take it, I’ll down on it, but like, if you feel uncomfortable. Like, I genuinely...
RIK [as PIERRE]
Oh, Yitri. You're all good. You're all good. I'm fine sleeping here.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
I'm also.. I was... I also want you to know, I'm not trying to be, like, selfless, like, "oh my god, I don't need..." I genuinely do not need to sleep. That's just a thing.
RIK [as PIERRE]
It... I-I don't understand how. H-how can you not sleep? Do you also not dream?
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Well... I mean, if I don't... huh.
ALYSSA
Wait, out of game, actually. I have a question.
ROVER
Yeah.
ALYSSA
If I'm in a meditative trance, can I dream?
RIK
Meditative trance?
ROVER
So, out of... very, fully out of character. We do that 'cause Corwin is a Half-Elf and also has the meditative trance. I know that Corwin does sleep. I think it's more of a character decision for yourself if you sleep, or dream.
ALYSSA
Ok.
ROVER
If you're like, does Yitri dream often? Not at all?
ALYSSA
Yeah.
ROVER
I will say, it is a possibility.
ALYSSA
Yeah.
ROVER
I think they are a little bit different than normal sleep dreams.
ALYSSA
Yeah.
ROVER
But yeah.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
I mean, I kinda dream. But it's like... I also never remember it anyways, so I don't even really get it.
RIK [as PIERRE]
Hmm.
ZOE
Do we hear that conversation? Yeah, right?
ROVER
I think currently, if Yitri and Pierre are downstairs, it depends if Aleks is downstairs., then yes. And yeah, Kol would also hear it.
MIKE
Mmhmm.
ZOE
Ok.
RIK [as PIERRE]
Well, Yitri, you're a good kid. I-I cannot take your spot in the bed.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Oh, o-ok.
RIK [as PIERRE]
It's alright, it's alright. I've slept on plenty of hard floors, man. It's.. it's all good.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Alright, I got ya, I got ya, I got ya. Just.. just wanted to offer. Just wanted to offer.
ALYSSA
And she then kinda just positions herself on the bed and then, like... Ro, how comfortable is this bed?
ROVER
So she goes upstairs. Do you take the top bed, or the bottom bed?
RIK
It's a bunk, ooh.
ROVER
It's a bunk.
ALYSSA
Oh, I'll take the top one.
ROVER
Ok, cool. Give me... Roll me.. Roll me a D10.
ALYSSA
A D10, ok.
ROVER
One is like, "what... what is this? This is terrible. Ten is "the best night's sleep you've ever had."
[Dice clacks]
ALYSSA
I got a 10! (Laughs)
ZOE
Nice!
[Chuckles]
ROVER
This bunk bed is genuinely the best bed you've ever slept in. No hate to where you lived in Spain, but like... This is perfect. Best bunk bed you've ever slept in. I will also count the 10 for the bottom bed for where Aleks will sleep.
ZOE
Oh, you let me come into that room. I'm not sleeping on the bottom bed.
ROVER
Ok.
ZOE
Just gotta finish my note.
MIKE
Kol's just sat on the sofa.
ROVER
Mmhmm.
MIKE
He breaks the shotgun open, does a quick ammo check, puts it back again, breaks open the cylinder on his revolver, clicks it back into place, and then lays then down beside him in arm's reach, and pretends to fall asleep.
ROVER
Ok. Is there anything that people still wanna do? I think that...
ZOE
Yes.
ROVER
Yeah, Aleks, go for it. Take it away.
ZOE
I have written down an evening routine. (Laughs)
ROVER
Oh, tell me!
ZOE
Ok, before we get to that, first Aleks is... before he goes upstairs, he's going to, like, kinda shoot a glare in Pierre's direction, he goes upstairs, he sees that Yitri has taken the top bed, and he looks at her.
ZOE [as ALEKS]
Yitri?
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Hmm?
ZOE [as ALEKS]
Is it fine for you if we switch?
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Oh, not... that's perfectly fine. Sure! I just usually tend to go to the top, cause when I was younger... it's just a habit.
ZOE [as ALEKS]
Yitri.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Mmhmm?
ZOE [as ALEKS]
I do not care for you bunk bed habits.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
I know, I'm getting down. I'm getting down.
ZOE [as ALEKS]
Thank you.
ALYSSA
And as she was talking, she was getting down. She was about to start explaining herself, and she's like "I don't owe you shit." And then just kinda goes down and changes.
ZOE
Alright. Ok.
MIKE
Dang. Oof.
ZOE
So. (Laughing) Let me pull up.
RIK
Ah, yes, the negotiator.
ZOE
Let me pull up my notes.
MIKE
Oooh....
ZOE
So. He puts away his big stuff, right? Like, instrument, short bow, stuff like that. Takes off the cloak. Yitri, you can, like, see a bunch of tattoos. Like, technically you could've seen them before, but he was always wearing his cloak. And the fabric on his sleeves is see-through. So, on his hands and completely on his arms, you just see lines of ink. They don't seem to be forming any pattern, it's just like... It's just lines, basically. Right, he takes off his jewelry, cause that is just not comfortable to sleep with. What you do note, though, there are two things he does not take off. One is kinda like a claw-like ring that goes over his entire finger. And the other is a combination of two rings. One is gold with a little sun symbol, and the other is silver with a little moon symbol. Does not take those off. He goes to the window. I'm assuming there is a window in that room?
ROVER
Yeah, there... I would say there's a window, yeah.
ZOE
Perfect. And he goes to the window and he just kneels down and he appears to be praying. You kinda can see that there is probably another tattoo on the back of his neck, but because of the way his hair is flowing, you can't really see what it's supposed to be, but you can tell that there is something there. So, he prays. He's done praying. He goes to his bag, he picks out a little notebook and then he climbs into bed. What you can't see, which I'm just saying cause that's part of his routine…
[Piano music starts playing]
He opens the notebook and there is a piece of paper, like, folded inside with the other pages. And he reads that piece of paper very slowly, just kinda, like, to calm himself, before he sets it to the side, starts writing just some tiny notes in his notebook. Closes the book and he lays down and kinda like... How do I say that? Like, cuddles with the piece of paper, I guess? I'm not quite sure how to ex--
ROVER
Like very... Holds it close to him. Hold it close to him. Yeah, yeah.
ZOE
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. That was the short version.
[Piano music stops]
ALYSSA
Yitri just kinda watch-- Just, like, from the corner of her eye, like, she's trying really hard to not make it look like she's looking, because she doesn't wanna make it awkward. Cause this is his nightly routine, she's not gonna interfere with that. So she's kind of trying to look... She's kinda staring at the ceiling, but every once in a while, corner of her eye, but she's not gonna say or interrupt anything.
ZOE
One thing I forgot. He keeps one of his daggers on him. In bed.
ROVER
Ok. Is there anything else people would like to do before heading to bed? Yes. Yes, Pierre.
RIK
Can I go to the bathroom?
[Laughter]
ROVER
Yes, I think we... Yeah, go for it. Go!
RIK
No, no! No, no, Pierre! Not me.
ROVER
Oh! (Laughing) I was about to say!
[More laughter]
RIK [as PIERRE]
Uh, Mr. DM. Mr. God.
ROVER
Yeah?
RIK [as PIERRE]
Can I go to the bathroom?
[Mike chuckles]
ROVER
Yes. Mr. God says you can go to the bathroom. Go for it.
[Zoe laughs]
RIK
Ok. (Laughs)
MIKE
Yeah, man.
RIK
(Laughing) The intermission hits too hard.
ROVER
The immersion.
MIKE
I guess...
RIK
Oh, the immersion! (Laughs)
[Rover laughs]
MIKE
(Laughing) "The intermission hits too hard."
[Laughter]
ZOE
No, we’re about to do an intermission!
MIKE
Man, that is a hardcore... That is a fire intermission!
RIK
Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!
ALYSSA
Intermission is just the sounds of him pissing.
MIKE
Damn!
RIK
(Laughing) No. No, no, no.
[Laughter]
ROVER
Alright, Pierre goes to the bathroom.
ALYSSA
Sorry. Sorry!
ROVER
Pierre goes to the bathroom, yeah.
RIK
Uhm...
MIKE
There's one more thing that I can do, potentially, but I'll wait till you're done, Rik.
ROVER
Ok, cool.
RIK
Oh, yeah. So, I want to go to, like... Is there a sink in there?
ROVER
There is a sink, yes.
RIK
Ok. I close the door behind me.
ROVER
A sink with a mirror.
RIK
Yeah. (Sighs deeply) Pierre goes and takes off his gloves. Turns on a hot tap of water.
[Sounds of water running from the tap]
Puts them underneath. When he pulls of his gloves you see... frostbite on his fingertips. He puts them under and he doesn't feel a thing. Hmm.
ROVER
Does Kol still wanna do something? Oh, cause I hear a "Hmm?"
MIKE
Yeah, y-you all done?
ROVER
Yeah, I'm hearing a "Hmm".
RIK
I-I'm thunking on it for a second. But you guys go ahead. You guys go ahead.
ROVER
You're thunking.
MIKE
Ok. Alright. Kol's is very simple. He waits until everyone else has gone to sleep and he's confident that they're actually sleeping. He takes his shotgun off the floor, and injects both of the shells and closes it again. He opens the cylinder on the revolver and takes out all but one bullet. Revolves it so that the next 5... Blergh. Revolves it so the next 5 trigger pulls are blanks and then clicks it back in and puts it back on the floor. And then actually falls asleep.
ROVER
And with that, I think that is where we're going to end the episode. (Gasps) Interesting one.
[Rik laughs]
We got a little bit of Aleks lore, and I think we'll get into that more with the next episode.
ZOE
Yay!
MIKE
Yeah! I can't wait to hear this! Oh my goodness.
RIK
Aw, man! Yes!
ALYSSA
This is gonna be really good, yeah!
MIKE
Yeah!
RIK
The Aleks lore's so good!
ROVER
Thank you all so much for listening. I will see you with the Bounty Hunters on Sunday. And next week with the Protectors, what happens next remains to be seen. Buh-bye, everyone!
ALYSSA
Buh-bye!
RIK
Buh-bye!
MIKE
Bye!
ZOE
Buh-bye!
[Show outro plays]
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 Jo Mendacium and edited by Mees Verkade and Jo Mendacium. It starred:
Rik den Breejen as Pierre Ardoise
Mike LeBeau as Koltrast
Alyssa Roldan as Yitri Meadowtwirls
Zoe Emily as Aleksander Aintsworth
And Rover Elliott as the Dungeon Master
The intro and outro were composed by We Talk of Dreams, and the transcript was written by Kim van Teeffelen.
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.