013 - Protectors - Allies and Enemies
013 - Protectors - Allies and Enemies
Content Warnings
- Guns
- Missing people/disappearances
- Being restrained
[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 Elliot, 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 I don't know what the fuck's going on. (Chuckles)
RIK [as PIERRE]
Pierre Ardoise, he/him, and I'm glad we have a plan, cause right now we're in the lion's den and I don't like it here.
ZOE [as ALEKS]
Aleks, he/him, I think I could really use another one of Greta's hugs.
MIKE [as KOL]
Koltrast, he/him, and I just hope we get out of here alive.
ROVER
There's a weird energy in the room today!
[Zoe groans and laughs]
(Laughing) There's a weird energy. And the weird energy is kinda coming from a lot of humor, even though we didn't have a lot of humor in the previous episode, did we, Alyssa?
ALYSSA
No, we did not. So basically what happened the previous episode is we get off the train. We’re on the train, we get off, we're going to find Miguel and lo and behold! He's trying to get on another train. So we get... Yitri Fey Steps... Oh, before we do anything, we have to talk about the awesome way Bardic Inspiration was given with the backflip. A sick backflip that was so sick, we all got inspired.
[Laughter]
My notes are doodles and one of my biggest notes is just a drawing of Aleks doing a backflip and says, "Bardic Inspiration." So I'm just looking at that reference.
[Laughter]
So anyway, we Fey Step into Miguel, they talk, they get hoverboards cause that's a thing here, they go to the Wanted Dead. Oh my god! Crossover! But also scary cause they definitely don't like us. We kinda ask Miguel like, "Hey, did you know that we were gonna almost.. or in Aleks' case die when we went there?" And he was like, "No." And no one really trusted that, but we did a bunch of Insight checks. And now they gotta talk to Nyx and we were warned that Nyx might throw shit at us, and I'm prepared for that. Maybe.
ROVER
I really hope you are.
[Alyssa laughs]
ZOE
I don't know if I should be offended that you did not mention my double natural 20.
ALYSSA
Oh! Oh my god! That's also... That's the other thing on my doodle page. The biggest things are.. I'm showing you guys in the... You can't see. Are the backflip and the double nat 20, and we all lost our fucking shit and like, "Oh my god, imagine if Zoe rolls another nat 20." *Click*. Another nat 20. Crazy shit, okay. Recap, I think that's good.
MIKE
Listen, you have the best energy, man.
[Laughter]
It's so good.
ALYSSA
(Laughing) Thank you! Thank you!
MIKE
"I'm showing you guys, but you can't see! So listen to my description of what I'm currently showing everyone else visually in this audio format."
ALYSSA
You guys can't even see it visually, cause my brightness is up on my iPad, (laughing) so you can't even fucking see.
MIKE
We did just see the sun when you turned your iPad around, yeah. (Laughs)
[Alyssa laughs]
ROVER
So, for the funny energy that is in the room, we are going to a not-so-funny scene, because you guys are gonna go into Nyx's shop.
ALYSSA
Mmhmm.
RIK
Yippie.
[Calm music starts playing and crowd noises begin in the background]
ROVER
And Miguel's still with you guys. And Miguel leads you guys through Waterloo Station to the small cornershop that is there. It is... slightly... What is the right word for it? Trashed? It seems like it has been worse and things are being fixed up currently. And through the window you can see a red Tiefling woman with a mechanical arm sat at the workbench of the shop. Miguel stands there and says,
ROVER [as MIGUEL]
So. (Sighs) What is the plan? You guys want me to... I will probably go in to make sure that she doesn't immediately try to kill you guys. What is your plan on talking to her?
RIK
Pierre looks over to Yitri and Koltrast.
ALYSSA
Yitri looks at Koltrast and is very much avoiding eye contact with Pierre and is like,
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Uhm... Well... Let's test the waters first. We walk in and if she doesn't immediately kill us, we.. I mean, she clearly doesn't know where Jonny is, because I mean... Maybe she does, we don't know. But it's a touchy subject, so we're gonna have to go in with reserve and with patience and all that. Yeah.
ALYSSA
And she looks at Koltrast like, (laughing)"Please help me. Please help me. Please help me."
MIKE
If Kol could raise an eyebrow, he would 100% raise an eyebrow at Yitri of all people saying, "Reserve and patience."
[Alyssa laughs]
And he looks over at Yitri, looks at the rest of the party and is like,
MIKE [as KOL]
We need to get this information and this place is dangerous. Let's be careful.
MIKE
And looks back at Yitri and over to Pierre. And then finally at Aleks and is like,
MIKE [as KOL]
After you.
ZOE
I will go in first. I knock.
[Knocking]
ROVER
Miguel is going to stand with you and as you… When you knock, you can see Nyx look up when you open the door.
[Shop door opens and bell chimes. Music and crowd noises stop as soft ticking quiet shop ambience begins in the background]
And you can see that she puts her hand on the gun and one hand goes to, like, a spear behind her. Before Miguel is like,
ROVER [as MIGUEL]
Easy. They are not here to hurt any of you. They're gonna have a conversation. I'll... I know I'm not the person you probably also like to see, but hey, I can at least give a little bit of credibility.
ROVER
And she... She takes the hand of the spear and then looks at the group.
ALYSSA
This is going great, guys! Yitri's just gonna go like,
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Hey, uh, we're not here to hurt you. This is unofficial... Uh, we're not... This is not on any records or anything. This is just us as people talking to you. And I know you're probably going through a lot and I don't want to worsen anything. But I know this is really rough on you and I'm sorry.
MIKE
Kol notices, I guess, that he... he recognizes this person, right?
ROVER
Mmhmm.
MIKE
It's a weird coincidence, but he thinks that he knows this person from somewhere in his history.
ROVER
Mmhmm.
MIKE
And, uhm, after Yitri finishes, he looks at Nyx and doesn't step forward, but says sort of next to her,
MIKE [as KOL]
It's been a long time.
[Light-hearted guitar music starts playing]
ROVER
Let's see if she recognizes you.
[Dice thumps]
Hmm. She looks at you and you can indeed see the hint of recognition in her eyes and she nods once. And she signs something along the lines of, "Good to see you again, Hunter."
MIKE [as KOL]
It's good to see you again, too. I'm guessing, uh, in slightly worse for wear times, though.
MIKE
As Kol points at her arm. Or gestures towards it.
MIKE [as KOL]
Seems like we've all lost something.
ROVER
She looks down at her arm and there is a slight hint of vulnerability as she tries to hide it more behind her. Even though that doesn't really work.
MIKE
Kol notices this and.. Yeah, Kol notices this and looks at her kind of in an understanding way and says,
MIKE [as KOL]
Don't worry. We've all got them.
MIKE
And he unbuttons his leather armor and you can see scratches and scars and bald patches where there's nothing there anymore. And then buttons it back up. And is like,
MIKE [as KOL]
We're just here because we want some information. And we think that you're the best person. If you could help us, you might save a lot of people.
ROVER
Give me a Persuasion check with advantage.
MIKE
Ooh! (Singsong) A Persuasion check!
ROVER
(Singsong) With advantage! Because you are kind of hitting a weak spot! (Laughs)
MIKE
With advantage!
[Zoe sings a note]
Cause you're nice to me! Thank you, humble DM! I love you very much. Waaah!
ALYSSA
(Joining in on the singing) "Because you are kind of hitting a weak spot!" (Laughs)
ROVER
Hihi!
ZOE
God is merciful today.
ROVER
This is a conversation!
ALYSSA
When is the fucking Remains To Be Seen soundtrack dropping?
ROVER
Yes.
MIKE
It's a 19.
ALYSSA
Ooh!
ROVER
Ooh! You guys rolling 19's on Persuasion the entire time. Look at you guys go!
MIKE
(Strained) I don't know how. (Laughs)
ZOE
(Whispering) We're just good like that. We're really persuasive.
MIKE
(Whispering) We're really persuasive.
RIK
Don't ruin it, guys.
ALYSSA
(Laughing) Don't say that.
ROVER
She.... pushes the weapon that he had first was holding, or at least had her hands near. She kinda pushed that to the side and nods at Kol before looking/kind of more glaring at the other party members. Miguel is stood at the door not interfering with you guys.
MIKE
Kol looks over at Aleks and nods.
ZOE
I'm probably gonna take a look at Yitri , cause Yitri has the gun currently.
ALYSSA
Mmhmm.
ZOE
And I feel like the least we could do is give it back.
ALYSSA
Mmhmm.
ZOE
Cause that's very much not ours. We've been using that as evidence so far, and I feel like...
ALYSSA
It's not gonna help, yeah. It's not helping.
ZOE
No, first of all; it doesn't help. And second of all; the person who this probably belongs to is right in front of us.
ALYSSA
Yeah.
ZOE
We should probably just give it back. So Aleks is gonna... Is gonna look at Yitri and kinda gesture to his own pockets and just hope that she understands.
ALYSSA
She does. And she's gonna be like,
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Oh! Uhm... I... This is not 100% percent relevant to what's going on, but I think we have something that's yours.
ALYSSA
And she goes into her little pouch, pocket, whatever the hell. And she pulls out the unfinished gun that was pointed at her a few episodes ago. I'm not over that. (Laughs)
[Laughter]
Mike, you're looking confused. Dude, that was you! You did that!
MIKE
I know. It was empty! It was empty!
ROVER
Mmhmm.
ALYSSA
I know! But that doesn't mean... It was funny. It was really funny. She's not mad. Alyssa thinks it's hilarious!
MIKE
You're funny. (Mumbles)
ALYSSA
But anyway. (Laughs) So she's gonna take it out very carefully and kind of walk over with caution, cause you know, again, she did take her hands off of the stuff, but that doesn't mean she can't grab it again and fucking kill Yitri. And she's gonna...
ROVER
Yeah. To explain to Yitri; this is a... if we're talking meters, because I don't know what it is in feet, we're looking at, like, 1.92. Like, buff woman!
ALYSSA
Oh! Uhuh. Uhuh. Uhuh. Uhuh.
ROVER
And I feel like she's like, quite tall.
[Alyssa continues to 'uhuh']
[Laughter]
Even if she's not trying to be intimidating, I'm sure she'll look intimidating to people who aren't in the…
ALYSSA
Yeah.
ROVER
… the workfield. And apparently also Alyssa.
[Laughter]
ALYSSA
(Laughing) This is not an intimidating...
ZOE
No, that was... That was "She's hot", okay? That was...
ALYSSA
Yes! Here's the thing, no one...
MIKE
Yeah, man. Mmhmm.
ROVER
Alyssa's twirling her hair. (Laughs)
ALYSSA
Yeah, you can't... (Laughing) I'm twirling my hair right now. Okay, so Yitwi, with caution and also not wanting to crowd her. Yitri doesn't understand much, but she understands what the situation at hand is. And she places it down and she's like,
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
I think this belongs to you. It has your name on it.
ALYSSA
And she slides it towards her. And... Is she at her desk or is she standing?
ROVER
She's standing behind her desk, yeah.
ALYSSA
Okay, so she's gonna go on her tiptoes a little bit, even though she is on the desk, but she's gonna slide it over to be a little more level. But that doesn't help, but, uhm... She's just gonna do it anyway.
[Laughter]
ROVER
Question.
ALYSSA
Uhuh?
ROVER
Did you guys take the note that was with the gun?
ALYSSA
(Whispering) I think so.
RIK
Yeah, we did, I believe. That's the paper we pocketed.
MIKE
I'm gonna say yeah. I think so. Yeah.
ALYSSA
Yeah, we pocketed a lot of papers, though. Like, we've been pocketing papers.
RIK
The pocketed paper.
ROVER
Are you guys also showing that note?
ALYSSA
I think we should. Who has it? Do I have it? Fuck, do I have it?
ZOE
That's a... Let me.. let me get out my notes.
ALYSSA
Yeah, if anyone's gonna know who has it, it's gonna be Zoe.
MIKE
Was just gonna say it's Zoe, yeah.
RIK
It was either Aleks or Yitri.
ALYSSA
Yeah.
MIKE
While that's happening…
ROVER
Mmhmm.
MIKE
… as Yitri slides the weapon across the table, Kol will say,
MIKE [as KOL]
That thing's not gonna shoot again. It's pretty badly damaged, and I think the firing pin's missing.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Thanks for telling me that now!
[Laughter]
ROVER
She grabs the gun. Mmhmm, yes?
ZOE
No, finish your sentence first. That was just me being like, "I found it."
ALYSSA
Eureka!
ROVER
Yeah, tell me before I say anything else.
ZOE
Okay, so I have the note and Yitri had the gun.
ALYSSA
Yeah. Cause that was the best course of action.
[Mike laughs]
ZOE
Yeah, Aleks just does not want to have the gun.
ALYSSA
Yeah, no one wanted to hold the gun. I was like, "I'll take it!"
[Laughter]
ZOE
Oh, it's... I feel like it's only fair that we give it to her.
ALYSSA
Yeah.
ZOE
As a reminder, if I'm looking at the correct note right now, it said, "I will return soon. Wait for me."
ROVER
Yeah.
ZOE
You know, if we're being nice people we'd be like, "Hey, we also found this note on the gun that was very obviously for you." But also, with the recent events, that's kinda sad.
ALYSSA
Yeah.
MIKE
Yeah. Yeah, for real.
RIK
Yeah.
ZOE
No, it would be, but it would be very unfair to keep it.
MIKE
So, you'll gonna give it back then, I assume?
ZOE
Yeah, while…
ROVER
Take it away!
ZOE
Alright, so then when Yitri handed over the gun and was like... It was like Aleks just remembered that he had this note, because I forgot that I had this note.
[Chuckles]
So, he pulls the note out of his pocket and he looks at it for a second before looking at Nyx.
ZOE [as ALEKS]
We also found a note with the gun.
ZOE
And he steps forward and holds it out to her.
[Guitar music continues playing in the background]
ROVER
She hesitantly grabs the paper from your hand, looks down at the gun before opening the paper looking at it. And... I think definitely Kol can see that she starts... shaking a little bit. And then she puts the paper on the workshop. And she signs, "Where did you get this?"
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
It was in his workshop, I think. We were told to look through it. We didn't, like, touch or break anything. We just, uhm, (chuckles) we just were looking around for anything that would help and we thought this would. And then learned a little bit more information and we realized it's better in your hands than ours.
ZOE
Do we still have the photo?
RIK
We didn't take that one. I don't think we took the photo of Nyx and Jonny.
ALYSSA
I don't think so, either.
ZOE
But didn't we show that to Ms. Williams? Mrs. Williams?
ALYSSA
Oh, we did, yeah. We have the photo.
ROVER
Yeah. And you showed it to Xana, as well.
ZOE
So it's like, maybe once again that is something we should just, uh... Give Nyx.
ALYSSA
Yeah, Yitri's gonna also... I think Yitri sees Aleks take out the paper and goes, "Oh, I also pocketed a paper!" And takes out the picture. And holds it out instead of putting it on the table. And kind of holds it out for Nyx.
MIKE
The rest of this scene is just each one of us carefully handing over bits of paper that have varying degrees of meaning. (Laughs)
ROVER
Yeah. (Laughs) She...
[Laughter]
ZOE
"Wait! We still got something for you!"
ROVER
She grabs the photo and... she looks at it, starts shaking a little bit more. And then puts the photo on the workbench and starts pacing through the shop. And then she signs to Pierre, "What information do you need?"
RIK
So, she signs this towards me, right?
ROVER
Mmhmm.
RIK
I assume that it's kind of meant to be as like a one-to-one, or is it...?
ROVER
No, it's more as in; because you are the one doing all the translating and the signing, she makes sure that you can see exactly what she's signing.
RIK
Oh, I see. Also, she was mute, not deaf, right?
ROVER
Yeah.
RIK
Okay, just making sure.
ROVER
Yeah.
RIK
So Pierre says out loud back to her,
RIK [as PIERRE]
We went to Manchester and we tried to get some information regarding his whereabouts. We don't have too much. We know a little bit about what his plans were. He might have wanted to go to the Solar Bastion.
ROVER
She nods quickly.
RIK [as PIERRE]
We were wondering if you knew more. Why... why does he want to go there?
ROVER
She starts signing pretty quickly. “He got a card and he wasn't... He was certain it was from someone he's met before. And he, for some reason, could not remember the person that it could've been. He wanted to check if he recognized the handwriting, and he couldn't. And since the card was apparently a tarot card, he desperately wanted to go to the Solar Bastion, because they have a lot of research at the Solar Bastion about magical cards and magical card sets. And Jonny thought that he would learn more from professionals than in London.”
RIK [as PIERRE]
Uhm, you two are close, I assume. Did he ever tell you what the card said?
ROVER
She signs that she never was able to see the card. That he was quite distant, because he was more focused on his research than making weapons and that she kinda focused more on the work that needed to be done here, rather than worry about a new hyperfixation that he had.
[Rik laughs]
No, no, she actually continues on and is like, "You know, he's always on about something and if it isn't the weapons, it's chips. And if it isn't chips, than it's something for a railway station. If it isn't a railway station, there's something else." Like, you can clearly tell that from all of the conversations that you guys have had, currently, there is so much stuff that he was working and this was not one of them. And this was something he was really unprepared for and had no knowledge about. And she will also continue signing about the fact that he... Jonny always desperately wanted knowledge.
ALYSSA
Mmhmm. Over the table question; where is the Solar Bastion? Like, I forgot.
ROVER
The Solar Bastion is... If we look at the Europe map, it's where in Europe is Mont-Saint-Michel. Basically there is almost like a castle on that small island that is guarded by the water around it and only in certain times, the water's low enough that you can walk over it.
ALYSSA
Oh, wow!
ROVER
That... We have changed that entire Mont-Saint-Michel into the Solar Bastion. So it is northwest of France.
ALYSSA
Got it, okay.
RIK
In more recent times, there is actually a stone bridge to go towards Mont-Saint-Michel.
ROVER
Okay!
RIK
I've been there. It's pretty cool.
ROVER
Okay. Nice!
ZOE
Also, when Pierre translates the part that Jonny is someone who is always in pursuit of knowledge...
ROVER
Mmhmm.
ZOE
Aleks' hand kinda subconsciously goes to his pocket where, at least Yitri knows, that he is keeping a piece of paper. But obviously she doesn't know what it is.
ROVER
Mmhmm.
ALYSSA
We just pocketed a paper, man. (Chuckles) So, Yitri's gonna go,
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Thank you for all that. I know it probably was really hard and you didn't have to do that for us, but we really appreciate it.
ROVER
She signs... to everyone, but obviously more leaning towards Pierre so he can do the translating. And she signs, "I assume you are working... If Miguel trusts you to the point of leading me here, then I can assume that the information won't be used against us in court."
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Not at all. None...
ZOE [as ALEKS]
No.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
This is gonna go with all of us to our graves, elsewhere right now.
ALYSSA
She puts her hand on her heart and holds her other hand up.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
I'll swear right now. Like, if you want... If you need it, I'll do it. But it won't go anywhere, I promise. This is just for us so we can find him. Cause we do really want to help you find your friend. Cause I assume you're looking as well. I mean, if I were in your shoes, I would be too.
ROVER
She nods and she says... or she signs, "We have a team of our own looking for him and the missing people. So if I ever have knowledge that you guys would need, and we still have the opportunity to be in contact, I will see if I can provide that for you.
ZOE
How do we, as characters, give someone our contact information? How does that work?
RIK
(Laughing) That's a good-ass question.
[Mike laughs]
ZOE
Cause I would like to give Nyx my contact information.
ALYSSA
Gonna be like, "Hey, Nyx, call me!"
ZOE
What do I write on that piece of paper?
RIK
The Sending Stone address.
MIKE
Wait, no, we have phones, right? Technically.
ROVER
We have phones, yeah.
RIK
But not mobile ones.
ROVER
I would say, at least, they're...There's at least a...
MIKE
Just send us a Snap, man. Just dive into my Insta.
ROVER
Yeah, man.
[Laughter]
There would be a phone booth in the Wanted Dead. There would also be a phone booth in Darlington Palace. However, obviously, it is not just used for the Protectors. There are letterboxes, so you can just do mail addresses as well. Mail addresses. You can just do mail, as well. And you technically still have Miguel being able to sneak into the places that you can't easily sneak into. I... How could you do that easily with... without immediately Tobias or Xana knowing about it?
ZOE
Yeah… Yeah. Cause I want to give her a safe way of doing that.
ROVER
Mmhmm.
ZOE
Cause I don't want her to get in trouble just by reaching out.
ROVER
If you mention something about it, she will put up a hand and then walk to behind her workbench. And she crouches and she starts looking... rummaging through some of the boxes. And then she takes out this, kind of... grey, silver-ish stone. And it is traced with these more golden and red lines. And she has two of them and she hands one to you. I will say, you can identify it as a Sending Stone.
ZOE
Mmhmm.
MIKE
Okay.
ZOE
Aleks takes it and he looks... He looks at Nyx.
ZOE [as ALEKS]
I cannot promise you that we will find Jonny. That would be very unfair. But, it is now literally in our job description to protect people. And no one has told us that we're supposed to exclude anyone from that. So... we can do our best to try and find and protect Jonny and also you.
ROVER
She signs, "I have no idea what is going to happen when the Bounty Hunters are outlawed. Be careful with the Wanted Dead. Because they will hunt you down if necessary."
ZOE [as ALEKS]
That is fair.
ROVER
"And if you do anything wrong, I will be part of that team."
ZOE [as ALEKS]
And that is also very understandable.
MIKE [as KOL]
Hmm. Well, of that, I have no doubt.
ZOE [as ALEKS]
We do not want to get on your bad side. I can promise you that.
ZOE
And he takes a step back with the stone and puts it in his pocket.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Yeah, we're not planning on doing anything like that. And anything we want... We're working for the same goal. We wanna find Jonny. We wanna find the other missing people.
ROVER
"If things really go wrong, I will be able to cut the connection. Trust me, I can break a stone easily." And then she kinda shows off the mechanical arm that he has, it's like...
[Mike chuckles]
ALYSSA
Yitri nods, is like, "Yeah, you can." (Laughing) And then twirls her hair a little bit.
RIK
Oh, Yitri! Yo!
[Laughter]
ROVER
She has never heard of what flirting is, because she rolled a 2.
[Laughter]
MIKE
Okay, wow!
RIK
Oblivious lesbian, let's go.
MIKE
Stone. Cold.
ROVER
So, she looks... She looks down at you and is like, nodding, being like, "Yeah."
ZOE
Aleks facepalms in the background.
[Laughter]
ALYSSA
(Laughs) Look, you miss 100% of the shots you don't take.
MIKE
It's true.
ZOE
That's true.
MIKE
Ain't that the truth.
RIK
So, Pierre takes a little clockwork doll out of his pouch and signs, "You're not too bad, huh?" And gives it to Nyx.
ROVER
So, I have to explain this for the listeners. We had an improv question, which was about "What do you like as a compliment that isn't really a compliment in your eyes?" I'm gonna see what she thinks of that specific compliment.
RIK
(Laughs) Oh god.
[Dice thumps]
ALYSSA
Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. Oh no.
ROVER
Her smile drops. And she takes the clockwork figurine, looks at it before she puts it down on her workbench, and signs, "And you are one of them? Great."
MIKE
As we walk out the door, Kol purposely goes last. And just as he's putting his hand on the doorknob, he turns around and says,
MIKE [as KOL]
It's good to see you again, Nyx. I hope that, uh, in future it's... in safer places. You're a hell of a gunsmith.
MIKE
As he flashes one of his... Like, the edge of his revolver to her.
ROVER
Mmhmm.
MIKE
And is like,
MIKE [as KOL]
Stay safe out there.
ROVER
She nods and then she signs, knowing that only Pierre can translate it, being like, "Make sure you don't trust the wrong people."
MIKE
Kol, in return, flashes her the Hunter's mark symbol and walks out the door.
[Door opens and bell chimes as the guitar music stops and the calm music and crowd noises return]
ROVER
Okay.
MIKE
Mmhmm.
ROVER
Miguel follows.
ALYSSA
Okay, while they're walking out, I have one thing I wanna do.
[Mike laughs]
As Pierre walks out...
ROVER
Alright, so Pierre walks out, Kol walks out... (Laughs)
ALYSSA
Yitri... Okay, no, they're out of the door. They're outside. They're outside, they left. And Yitri's gonna be like,
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Hey, where did you... where did you learn that language? Where'd you learn how to sign like that? (Chuckles)
RIK [as PIERRE]
Oh, uh, one of my kids is deaf.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Aw.
RIK [as PIERRE]
I, uh, learnt that for them.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Oh, wow. That's really sweet of... Or I mean, yeah that's really sweet of you.
RIK [as PIERRE]
Actually, uh, everyone in my family knows it, because of... Just wanna make sure that, uh, we can, you know, communicate properly with each other. And also comes in useful, now and again.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Yeah. Yeah! I can see, yeah, it's been pretty useful for you, so far. It's really cool.
RIK [as PIERRE]
(Chuckles) Yeah. (Clears throat) Useful.
MIKE
*Click*. Kol shuts the door behind him and is like,
MIKE [as KOL]
That was difficult, hey? Oh my god. It's been so long since I've seen her. Hey, what are you guys talking about?
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Nothing! Don't worry about it. (Chuckles) I mean, it's not that big of a deal. We were just talking about signing. Sign language.
RIK [as PIERRE]
Yeah. Yeah.
ROVER
I'm gonna have to say something. Just above table. So, I've been using Constitution saving throws and I know I've learned that that is the wrong skill to use. I'm sorry, everyone. So, let me change that right now. Hey, Pierre, can you give me an Intelligence saving throw?
ALYSSA
Oh no, what the... (Laughs)
[Laughter]
RIK
What the fuck? Okay. Okay, okay. Let's see.
[Dice clacks]
18.
ROVER
18. Okay, good to know.
ALYSSA
Damn.
ROVER
Thank you, Pierre.
[Rik exhales and laughs]
MIKE
Yeah, well, what happened?
ROVER
You're all good.
RIK
I don't know. I don't know what happened!
MIKE
What... just happened? (Laughs)
ZOE
I don't think we're gonna find out, honestly.
MIKE
No, I don't think we're gonna find out, either.
ZOE
While we're outside, Aleks is gonna look at Miguel and is like... It's not that he is whispering it, but it's also not being said to the entire group, but like...
ROVER
Mmhmm.
ZOE
... can hear it, so it's like, "neh". He looks at Miguel.
ZOE [as ALEKS]
Thank you for coming with us. You did not have to do that. And I appreciate it.
ROVER [as MIGUEL]
Well... What else can I do?
ZOE [as ALEKS]
You could've said no.
ROVER [as MIGUEL]
I could've. I didn't.
ZOE [as ALEKS]
That's true. And that, I appreciate.
ROVER [as MIGUEL]
Good. Well, I... Anything else you need me for? I... don't think people would like it if I'm here that long and I also personally don't like being here that often. I think if Safra sees me here, she might kill me.
ZOE [as ALEKS]
Well, then, you should probably take your leave.
ROVER [as MIGUEL]
I probably should. Make sure you guys don't get killed by her.
RIK [as PIERRE]
I think we should go, as well.
ROVER [as MIGUEL]
Yeah, I was about to say.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Yeah, I think we should get outta here, yeah. Let's... Let's go.
ZOE [as ALEKS]
We should just all take our leave.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Yes. Yes.
ROVER
Can I have a Perception check from everyone?
MIKE
Ooh.
ZOE
You... You're killing us, Ro.
[Dice ASMR]
ALYSSA
Fucking shit.
RIK
Nat fucking 20!p
ZOE
Nat fucking 1!
RIK
Oh. Oh no.
[Laughter]
Well, you know, we got two ends of the spectrum, you know?
ROVER
How about Kol and Yitri?
ALYSSA
12.
MIKE
I got a dirty 22.
ZOE
You guys are doing great!
[Mike laughs]
ROVER
So, while Aleks is talking to Miguel and is very much getting lost in his eyes.
[Chuckles]
All of you can notice that the Bounty Hunters have started to notice you and there are stares coming your way. With the natural 20, you can see a specific person in the crowd that is... a male gnome. And is like in a full plate armor. And was just about to eat what you think is this piece of cake, or something. And he stopped. And it actively drops from his hand and he is staring at all of you.
RIK
I don't like this, guys.
MIKE
Oh.
ROVER
He is holding an axe by his side that is, kinda the same size as Yitri's. And he is glaring at all of you. Like, hand-gripping the handle of the axe tighter. Hey. Hey, lovelies.
[Laughter]
You cannot sign in an audio podcast.
RIK
I know, I know.
ROVER
Okay.
ALYSSA
Yeah, I feel like we're just mouthing, "We gotta go."
RIK
Yes.
ALYSSA
And we just get up and go. Hopefully. (Laughing) Hopefully we go.
MIKE
Yeah, Kol is ushering people towards wherever we're going with a little bit of gusto.
ALYSSA
Yeah, Yitri's gonna start jogging.
ROVER
Kol with a 22…
[Eerie electronic music starts playing]
… can also see a specific person in between the group. And there's this, kind of almost shadowy aura around them. And they have a cloak far enough over their head that you can't really see a face under it. It's just pure shadow. And they do seem to nod at Kol before tilting their head to the side and leaving around a corner.
MIKE
When they nod, Kol subtly nods back and continues ushering everyone out of this area.
[Music slowly quiets down as the calm music and crowd noises come back]
ROVER
Alright. Do you guys just wanna go outside? Do you wanna go back to the station you guys are at? Where do you guys wanna go?
ALYSSA
Just leave. I just wanna go out. I don't care where we go. We just gotta go.
ROVER
Leave to the streets? Alright. You go out to the street.
RIK
Yes, please.
MIKE
Yeah, definitely out to the street. That's for sure.
ZOE
Just the quickest and safest way out, I would say.
ALYSSA
Yeah.
ROVER
Yeah. So, what is the plan? Streets seem to be quite crowded, you can still see the people getting ready for Will'o'ween. There are illusionists trying to use their magic trying to give kids a couple of illusionary wings. There are bakeries open. It's pretty cloudy and there isn't a lot of sunshine, but that sounds like a regular day in the UK.
[Laughter]
MIKE
(Sighs) You're not wrong.
ROVER
(Laughs) What's the plan? Let me know.
[Music stops]
MIKE
Well, we've got quite a lot of information now, haven't we? I mean, we know that Jonny's gone to the Solar Bastion.
ROVER
Mmhmm.
MIKE
Which is in France. We don't have the weapon or any of the evidence anymore, but we know that he's probably our best lead, right? Is that kind of where we're at?
RIK
Solar Bastion is our best lead, yeah. I think that is where we left off.
[Soft birdsong and outdoor ambience begins]
ALYSSA
Yeah, pretty much, I think.
ZOE
And the good thing is, since Mrs. Williams also mentioned the Solar Bastion, we don't even have to lie about where we got the information from.
MIKE
Yeah, right.
ZOE
We just can not mention the Wanted Dead, but we can say that we got that lead from Mrs. Williams as well.
MIKE
Yeah. So...
ALYSSA
Yeah, I think we should go back and say what we've got, yeah.
ROVER
Miguel will also mention, like,
ROVER [as MIGUEL]
If you guys ever need anything from the Solar Bastion; you know, you are in the lucky scenario where you can just talk with the people there. There is the option to have a meeting with them, possibly.
MIKE
Kol, after knowing that Miguel read the newspaper report about how they broke into the University…
ROVER
Mmhmm.
MIKE
… internally feels like this is a little bit targeted. And kind of shoots him a bit of a look and is, like, inquisitive. Like... "Okay, thanks. I think."
ROVER
He glances at you and is like,
ROVER [as MIGUEL]
We wouldn't want... another break-in. Do we, Kol?
MIKE
Kol glares at him silently.
ROVER
He winks.
MIKE
Kol doesn't.
[Laughter]
ZOE [as ALEKS]
Then how about we go to the palace? And rest. And then we make our way to the Solar Bastion. And if we're... if we're lucky, maybe we can get our coffee a bit quicker this time.
[Laughter]
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
That's a good idea. We should maybe also come up with a more solid plan, maybe? Instead of just, "Hey, let's go to the Solar Bastion." Cause I'm surprised the thing with Nyx went as well as it did. Cause, (Groans) that was… I'm surprised that went as well as it did.
MIKE [as KOL]
Well...
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
But it did go well, and I'm not complaining.
RIK [as PIERRE]
And also, do we want to let Xana know what we've learned? And what do we want to omit?
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Everything with the Wanted Dead we do not tell her. Everything else we found out, we can let her know.
ZOE [as ALEKS]
Agreed.
MIKE [as KOL]
Fully agreed.
RIK [as PIERRE]
I agree.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
We don't wanna keep her in the dark completely, but we did swear. And also, just for everyone's safety, we don't talk about the Wanted Dead.
RIK [as PIERRE]
Yeah, yeah, we can't...
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
For everyone, I'm not even just saying "ours" or "Nyx."
RIK [as PIERRE]
Yeah.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Just the entire world. I feel like Xana would go on a rampage. (Mumbling) I don't wanna deal with that.
RIK [as PIERRE]
But we cannot come back empty-handed.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
Nope.
ZOE [as ALEKS]
I mean, we have a lead to the Solar Bastion.
ALYSSA [as YITRI]
We have that book!
[Mike grunts]
We have a lead to the Solar Bastion, we have that book that Mrs. Williams gave Kol. You know, the tarot book. And that could be something.
MIKE [as KOL]
Right now it feels like we are a little bit empty-handed, but this is the best we've got. And I agree. We should go and rest. And then head on.
ROVER
Pierre.
RIK
Hmm?
ROVER
The gnome is still following you guys.
[Rik laughs nervously]
They're staying far enough away that he's not really... like, actively getting near you guys, but you can definitely tell that he's tracking where you guys are going.
RIK
(Sighs) And he kinda glances behind him, just briskly.
RIK [as PIERRE]
Should we head back to the palace, then? Uhm... You know, just rest up and, uh...You know, think about what we've learned.
ZOE
Should we go shopping? Cause we did not get the health potions last time.
[Laughter]
ALYSSA
Yes! Health potions!
ZOE
And we still need health. We are currently in the city.
ALYSSA
We are going shopping!
ZOE
Why don't we get some health potions on our way to the palace?
MIKE
That's a good idea.
ROVER
Smart.
MIKE
That's a very, very good idea. (Laughs)
ROVER
That's very smart. Yeah, you guys can do that. Above table, I feel like we already did the math for all of that before.
ZOE
Yeah. I also did not reverse it, so I can just keep my inventory the way it was.
ROVER
Okay, perfect.
RIK
We did, I reversed it.
MIKE
I will admit, I did a silly. I though I had saved my character sheet into the cloud and I didn't. So I'm currently using a character sheet that we built, Ro, when we first started talking. (Laughs) So I have everything reversed back to that point.
ROVER
So we are all looking at Zoe, once again. Hey, Zoe, you're the note-taker of the group. (Laughs)
ZOE
I took note of my shopping.
MIKE
Yeah. I had a feeling everyone else would know.
ALYSSA
I know my shopping. I took note of my own. I didn't take note of anyone else's. So I know how much money I have.
ROVER
Okay. Let me know what you got from your shopping trip. We're obviously doing all of this behind the scenes, because you guys don't wanna listen to the math of this. It is just yapping about how much money things cost. How much... It's looking things up. You don't wanna listen to it, trust me. What did you guys buy?
MIKE
It's just gonna be a shopping montage. Where we just say the names of things and there's a *cha ching* after it. (Laughs)
RIK
(In a valley-girl voice) Shopping!
ZOE
Whoo!
RIK
Ka-ching!
ALYSSA
Shopping!
MIKE
Health potion! *Cha ching*.
[Cash register dings]
Superior health potion! *Cha ching*. (Laughs)
[Register dings again]
RIK
Superior.
ZOE
Should I start with what I got last time?
ROVER
Yes. Yeah.
ZOE
Okay, so I got two normal Potions of Healing and one Greater Potion of Healing.
ALYSSA
Yitri got the same. Two regular, one Superior.
ROVER
I feel like Pierre also got two regular ones.
RIK
I thought I got one.
ROVER
Oh, one. Okay. Okay.
RIK
I thought I only bought one. How much was that again?
ROVER
50 gold.
MIKE
(Blows raspberries) I think I bought a Greater Health Potion. I think.
ROVER
Yeah.
MIKE
Because I remember we looked up the stats for that.
ROVER
Yeah.
MIKE
So I think I got a Greater Health Potion. And I don't... Did I buy anything else? I honestly can't remember. I don't think that I did. I think I just bought one Greater Health Potion.
ALYSSA
I think we just got potions.
ROVER
I think that's it, yeah. Alright, so we all got healing potions.
ZOE
Did Miguel go shopping with us?
ROVER
Miguel can go shopping with you guys, if you want to. Yeah, absolutely!
[Mike laughs]
ZOE
(Laughing) Sure, cause I was like, "Is Miguel still there?"
RIK
Miguel was just standing outside the shop. You know, with the bags.
MIKE
Yeah. Miguel is straight into Ancient Starbucks and is like, "I'm just not myself without my mocha whip."
ROVER
(Laughs) Yeah, no, he's... I will say he can stay with you guys, if that's what you want.
ZOE
Yay!
ALYSSA
Yay!
ZOE
Don't ask me if that's what I want, Ro. That is always what I want.
ALYSSA
Of course that's what Zoe wants.
MIKE
Miguel is there like, "I'm gonna get some Nike Jordan's." *Cha ching*.
[Cash register dings]
He's going to the Starbey's and, like, chatting with all his besties. *Cha ching*.
[Another register ding]
ROVER
Yeah. (Laughs). I will say since Miguel is with you; if you want something that is a little bit more overpriced, Miguel will pay for it.
MIKE
(Gasps) What? What?
[Rik laughs]
ZOE
(Laughing) Hey, so much was the Greater Healing Potion again?
MIKE
I was gonna say, how much was the plus one...? (Laughs)
RIK
Did someone say Sugar Daddy?
ALYSSA
(Singing) Cha ching!
[Cast register dings]
MIKE
I was gonna say, how much was the plus one studded leather armor? (Laughs)
[Alyssa laughs]
ZOE
Alright!
ROVER
I think it was 100, 150 bucks, something like that.
MIKE
I was gonna say, cause we looked at that last time, didn't we?
ROVER
is gonna be one lovely episode of just looking shit up.
MIKE
Cha ching!
[Register dings again]
We’re going to get some lunch and just have some really nice sushi while we're sat by the river? Cha ching.
RIK
(Laughs) What the fu...?
ROVER
So, Greater Healing Potion is 200 to 250 bucks.
ZOE
Damn. Yeah, hey, uh, Miguel. (Laughs)
ROVER
He can see that you're hesitating and he leans on the.. the desk. And he grabs money from his pocket, puts it down, gives a glare to the person behind the desk. And he buys you the healing potion before you can even think about it.
MIKE
Aw. Aw!
ZOE
Oh, that's so hot. Okay. (Laughs)
MIKE
(Laughs) Oh my god. When you're just out with your bestie, shopping for, like, the Ring of the Ram. Oops, did I say that out loud?
ROVER
Oh!
RIK
The thought has crossed my mind.
[Mike laughs]
ROVER
So while the shopping trip is happening, is there anyone that would like to do something else? Now that you guys... Cause I can see you guys splitting up for a moment to kind of get the stuff that you need.
RIK
So, Pierre wants to go just to see if there's a store that sells spices. Like exotic spices.
ZOE
(Laughing) Maybe some art supplies.
RIK
Just a little check.
ROVER
Yeah. Yeah, sure.
RIK
(Laughing) Maybe some art supplies! Cha ching! (Laughs)
[Mike laughs and register dings]
ROVER
Cha ching. Okay, you get art supplies. Just tell me what you wanna get. I will say you can buy whatever you want. You are in the middle of London. There's probably literally everything.
RIK
Hmm. Yeah, so currently Pierre only has just some basic-ass pencils. So he just wants to look for some way to add some color. A little splash of color. With splash I mean watercolors.
ROVER
Would Pierre be looking at something a little bit more fancy? It's not like... A little more high up. Alright.
RIK
He wants to give it a whirl, yeah. Yeah!
ROVER
Alright. So there is this lovely art supply of like 50 bucks.
RIK
He's eyeing that real nicely and he's buying it.
ROVER
Okay. Give me another Perception check, Pierre.
ZOE
Wasn't Yitri also supposed to do one?
ROVER
Yes, I'll get to Yitri and Kol later.
RIK
That's a 9.
ROVER
Okay.
ZOE
He's very distracted by those nice art supplies.
[Mike chuckles]
RIK
Oh, they're so... It even has a purple!
[Mike laughs]
ROVER
So, you're looking through these art supplies. And what you don't notice is the little bell..
[Door opens and bell chimes]
… from the door opening. And while he's looking at stuff... You hear a voice next to you saying,
ROVER [as URD]
So you're with the… the good guys, aren't you?
RIK
(Stammers) Pierre immediately fucking turns around.
ROVER
You can see, leaning against one of the shelves, you can see the gnome with the big axe and the full plate armor.
RIK [as PIERRE]
Oh, uh, hello! Uh, I don't think we've met. Yeah, uh, I'm with the Protectors. Can I help you with something?
ROVER [as URD]
I wonder how long you guys are gonna keep your shitty name.
[Laughter]
RIK [as PIERRE]
Yeah, we haven't exactly workshopped that.
[Laughter]
If you... We're taking suggestions. (Chuckles)
RIK
He does a stupid little laugh. (Fake laughs)
ROVER
He gets closer and says,
ROVER [as URD]
How about this; you guys stay the fuck away from my place. Otherwise your head will be rolling like a bowling ball.
RIK
Pierre's smile immediately drops. (Laughs)
ROVER
You can now… Now that you've been threatened, you can notice the dagger with the skull on it, which is the sign of the Wanted Dead, engraved in the armor that he has.
RIK [as PIERRE]
I don't know who you are. But it's not a good idea to threaten us.
ROVER [as URD]
Oh really?
RIK [as PIERRE]
But listen. We are not here to cause any trouble with you. You're not helping your case, but we're not here to cause any trouble with you guys. Just here to find someone for the Crown.
ROVER [as URD]
And you guys can... You guys think you can do a better job than... Well... actual hunters?
MIKE
Somewhere, somehow, Kol shudders. (Laughs)
ROVER
(Laughing) Kol just feels it.
ALYSSA
(Laughs) Somewhere he's like, "There's a disturbance."
MIKE
Kol senses a disturbance in the Force and is like,
MIKE [as KOL]
I was looking at flowers, what is this?
ROVER [as URD]
You stay the fuck away from me and my people.
RIK [as PIERRE]
Listen, we’ll do what is necessary, alright? I don't want any trouble.
ROVER [as URD]
No, no, no, no.
ROVER
And he grabs you by the sleeve of your arm and tries to pull you with him outside. I will say this is after you bought your supplies.
RIK
Can I resist?
ROVER
You can try to resist. Give me a Strength check. I'm gonna do an opposed Strength check.
[Dice thumps]
MIKE
(Laughing) What would happen if Ro said no when you said, "Can I resist? (Laughing) What would... "Can I resist?" "No."
RIK
I'm gonna fucking resist. Okay, let's go. Let's fucking Strength this out, huh? This is probably someone who's stronger than me, but hey.
ROVER
You have to beat a 19.
RIK
(Laughs) With a 4? No. (Laughs)
MIKE
Oh my god. Oh my god.
ALYSSA
You are fucking getting dragged by the ear!
RIK
Yeah, so... Oh god.
ROVER
Yeah, so you are being dragged out of the shop. Kol and Yitri, give me a Perception check while you guys are doing your shopping. A dirty 24, and Yitri was 16?
ALYSSA
15.
ROVER
15. Alright. And he pulls you outside and he's like,
ROVER [as URD]
So. I don't know what you guys are gonna be on about, but I don't care what you're going to say. You are gonna make sure that this is fixed, right?
ROVER
And Kol, it is... You've had the feeling more often where you know something's up. You know something's wrong just for an instinct feeling. And while you guys are doing your shopping... Are Yitri and Kol both on their own paths? Or have they gone shopping together, possibly?
MIKE
I think so.
ALYSSA
Uhm, what do you think? I think it'd be.. Yeah, they can go together. Yeah. They just had a...
MIKE
No, no, I was gonna say we're separated.
ALYSSA
Oh, separated? Yeah. You're separate– Yeah, okay.
RIK
Damn, okay!
[Zoe laughs]
ALYSSA
Wait, question. I remember from the last episode. We lost the Fey-bubu, right?
ROVER
You picked it back up.
ZOE
Yeah, you picked it back up!
ALYSSA
Oh, I picked it back up? Okay! I was gonna say I was gonna buy another one.
MIKE
I was gonna say.
ALYSSA
But I don’t need to.
MIKE
But you could!
ALYSSA
I could buy two, but she's just kind of more…
ROVER
You could buy a second one.
ALYSSA
She could buy a second one. I don't know where I'm gonna put it, but she could buy a second one. But she's kind of just looking for other health potions and stuff like that and yeah.
ROVER
Okay.
ALYSSA
So then Kol, probably on the other side, being like...
ROVER
Yeah.
ALYSSA
… getting armor or something like that.
MIKE
Kol was like,
MIKE [as KOL]
I've got something that I need to go and do, uhm, alone.
MIKE
As he walks down the street and around a corner to a florists. \
ALYSSA
Aaw!
MIKE
Cause he's really interested in plants and he wanted to go and see what they had for sale. But he didn't want anyone else seeing where he went.
ALYSSA
Aaw!
RIK
Oh that's so cute! Oh my goodness.
ROVER
You've given me a fucking amazing opportunity. Pierre, you can see that the grip on your clothes by this gnome is getting tighter and you can feel there's actual tension now.
[Eerie electric music starts playing again]
And Kol has that feeling of things going wrong. And the plant that he's currently holding slowly starts withering in a way. From a very vibrant to dull, dead looking plant, as shadow casts upon the ground. And casts further over on the road, And as you follow the side of it, you can see as if you're... Even if you're streets away from where this incident's happening, it is like a sharp gaze that you have through all the streets, through all the buildings. And you can see Pierre being threatened by someone in full plate armor with an axe ready to destroy this man.
[Music stops]
And that is where we're going to end this episode of Remains To Be Seen.
ALYSSA
Wait, what do I see? What do I see?
MIKE
What?!
[Rik yelps]
Are you being serious?!
ZOE
I have an idea what's going on and I don't like the idea of what's going on.
RIK
Oh no!
[Mike groans]
ROVER
Thank you all so much for listening. And what happens next remains to be seen. Bye bye, everyone.
ZOE
Buh-bye.
MIKE
Goodbye! (Laughs)
ALYSSA
Bye!
RIK
Bye! Help.
[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.