Daniel [GM] 0:30 What we're gonna do is we're going to go through some of the events that lead up to you coming into the campaign. We're going to be doing something slightly different in terms of mechanics. We're going to be borrowing some mechanics from Invisible Sun, another outstanding Monte Cook game, and that is the same thing they do for side scenes. So, if you encounter a challenge or something where you would normally roll for instead I will draw a card from the sooth deck looked up its definition and using it, the interpretation of that card from the sooth deck will determine how the scene plays out. Marietta [Atalia] 1:07 Okay. Daniel [GM] 1:11 to start with, let's let's take a step back. What do you think was the last job that Atalia did? Before she was asked to be contracted out? Marietta [Atalia] 1:21 Um, I think it was some sort of like political espionage type document acquisition. So I think there's some maybe perhaps a lawsuit or something going on and shoot what was my dude's name? Daniel [GM] 1:40 Huh? Yeah, your handler? Marietta [Atalia] 1:43 James. I think we can definitely change that too. But I think I Daniel [GM] 1:51 I think James is fine, especially if we play with it on being that James is obviously ridiculous pseudonym. Marietta [Atalia] 1:58 Yeah, I think he's I changed my name and just like Sure, that's it, that's all it is. And it's so iconic because it's such a classic name, you know, historically speaking. But yeah, okay, so I think my last one was acquiring some sort of, like what sort of evidence I could find a guest some sort of political candidate. What was the dirt I could find on them? Stealing documents? Watergate, I didn't get caught. Daniel [GM] 2:31 Yeah, so let's see how smoothly it went. I'm gonna draw a card. Marietta [Atalia] 2:35 sure it was fine. Daniel [GM] 2:36 Okay, so I drew the Lost Star Marietta [Atalia] 2:40 Pretty cool, Daniel [GM] 2:42 Which is notions, cats, clocks and wins good or bad luck. Great distance, great age, great value. Hmm. So it offers good or bad fortune determine the card turned after it on the path. Whatever this card suggests. is epic in scale, something important to the person in question is a very long way away. Very old, very valuable. So I'm gonna say that that means that you were probably pretty successful in your haul. But I think you may have been perhaps a little too successful. Marietta [Atalia] 3:22 Oh, maybe I found out something I shouldn't have known. Daniel [GM] 3:26 Yeah. Or at the very least... Let's say that James are the route of the people that James are working for. Probably. have identified that your talents are probably better than they originally thought they were. Marietta [Atalia] 3:42 On a good day. Cool. Okay, well, that's good and maybe not good. See? Yeah. Daniel [GM] 3:52 So I think the scene will open with you meeting with James to deliver the item that you have collected. Where do you typically meet James where's the Atalia meet James? Marietta [Atalia] 4:07 I always felt like it was some sort of like basement room and some building. Like, really bad lighting. I don't know it'd be like in a basement of like a bar or just some sort of like fitness. Like under an apartment. I don't know. Daniel [GM] 4:26 Let's say the celler of a bar. I mean, it's something that you have a plausible reason to go Marietta [Atalia] 4:30 I need this pint, behind the counter below the hatch of the house, but downstairs. Daniel [GM] 4:40 So as you go down, down the stairs, sure off the door is open and awaiting you like always, and every time always as if he's been there for a long time is "James" with his feet up on the table. James is a James is essentially sort of a greasy handler who manages all the agents. He's like an agent for you assume he deals with more people than you. He's implied that before, but you've never met them. At the same time. You're not usually like, it kind of goes with your personality. You don't usually like to work with other people like that on these things, or at the very least, that's his interpretation. And as he sees you walk in the door, the motions towards the chair says, [as James ] Atalia Good to see you come on in and shut the door Have a seat. And he pulls up a bottle of some sort of greenish brown liquor. And two glasses this [as James] you need a drink? Marietta [Atalia] 5:58 No, I think I'm okay. The evening. appreciate the sentiment though. Daniel [GM] 6:02 [ as James]That's a shame. I hate drinking alone. Marietta [Atalia] 6:06 I'll pull up my water flask and take a sip hydration or something. Daniel [GM] 6:14 Okay, fair enough. So he still pours himself a pretty big drink. And he takes a sip and there's a moment where he sort of savors it. And then he says, [as James] So you got the item. Hmm, Marietta [Atalia] 6:33 yeah. I'll pull the satchel out. Hand it to him. There's some documents in there too. It's a little conspicuous. Daniel [GM] 6:44 [as james] Yeah, yeah. I'm still impressed with how you did it, though. I mean, you know, we told you to make sure that they knew it was gone because then no one knew it was gone was part of the problem. I mean, you you really threw them for Loop. I mean those those guys are running around that building like crazy. They're they think they're pointing fingers at each other I mean, the Intel's good but then you brought chaos to that group. That's impressive. Marietta [Atalia] 7:15 a knack for getting out of sticky situations. That means I get into them to begin with though, which is maybe the issue but you know, to what you gotta do. Daniel [GM] 7:24 [as James] That's fair, that's fair. But you know who wants to live forever? All right. Marietta [Atalia] 7:30 At least if it's no boring. It's not boring. It's exciting. Anyway, I don't know. I think we might piss off our clients which is fun, but Daniel [GM] 7:45 [as James] on the contrary, you're getting you're getting noticed Atalia. Marietta [Atalia] 7:51 in a good way, or I should be concerned way. Daniel [GM] 7:55 [as James] Sometimes those are one of the thing but let's say that we're, we're in by we, I mean, myself and also the people I represent, are impressed with the work. We think there's things that you could do to kind of take it to the next level. I feel like you might be wasted doing this kind of work. Now. Marietta [Atalia] 8:21 Yeah. Interesting. And what kind of work would that be specifically? Daniel [GM] 8:27 [as James] I'm just saying, you know, if you can get in somewhere so effectively you can get you can cause this much chaos and confusion. I mean, just stealing things for us is pretty, pretty low stakes. I mean, I could easily get you a higher fee if you were willing to do something more along the lines of Well, I mean, I know you've been off about this before. And you said no before but you know, there's if you can get in somewhere, you could have things happen to people, accidents, or I can see from your face that you don't look comfortable with that. But we could also talk about planting evidence, things like that. Marietta [Atalia] 9:12 It just depends on what the causes for i'm i'm a little too invested in that aspect. I do have to admit, it's been troublesome my whole life, but I feel like I can be successful and still do that. And I want to prove that to you. Daniel [GM] 9:27 [as James] I'm just saying, we could both make a lot of money if you were willing to take things to the next level. Marietta [Atalia] 9:33 It just depends on what the next level is, you know. Daniel [GM] 9:37 [as James] I appreciate that. You got values that you got a moral compass, that's all good. But I know there's an opportunity for you to be a little bit more mercenary right now. You know, I certainly I know that things are okay right now. You're getting you're getting Getting paid for your work and you do good work for us. But I can't believe that you want a little bit more for you and your granny. Marietta [Atalia] 10:10 Well, how about we do a trial job and see how it goes. Daniel [GM] 10:14 [as James] That's what I like to hear. Tell you what I do you have something in mind. You know, cares Pharaoh, right? No, he's the guy. He runs one of the. He's a slumlord. Marietta [Atalia] 10:28 Yeah, yeah. Daniel [GM] 10:29 [as James] He has caused some problems for interested parties that I associate with. Oh, we don't necessarily he's got friends. We don't necessarily want to start, you know, some sort of war. Marietta [Atalia] 10:45 You just want to piss him off a little bit.. Daniel [GM] 10:47 [as James] We want him out of the picture. Now, be clear. I'm not asking you be the one to take him out. What we'd like to do is make it so that his assets are gone, as well as him. So here's the deal. Do you take a piece of this incriminating evidence you get into his home, place it at the location that I let you know about. And then you signal us tell you exactly what that is in a minute. Let us know it's done. And one of my many connections with the city guard will choose that moment to raid his home. And we collect the evidence, his assets get seized, we get a finder's fee for reporting it. And our client pays you a healthy share. After my cut, of course, Marietta [Atalia] 11:51 what would t that look like in comparison to the job I just did. Daniel [GM] 11:54 [as James] Well, let's see. I mean, this job is... He holds up a small sashes like this was a this was a good job. This was a difficult job would have been difficult anyway. You know they were offered 20 shins for this and as you know work doesn't come with regularity right now. I'm pretty sure that we could easily get you 40 shins on this one. Marietta [Atalia] 12:21 This is genuinely a bad guy. Daniel [GM] 12:23 [as James] Yeah, I mean he's, you know, maintaining those terrible buildings, charging astronomical, charging astronomical rent i mean he's i mean he's exactly what you think he is. Okay. Yeah he makes Marietta [Atalia] 12:43 I'll do No, why not? But Daniel [GM] 12:46 [as James] okay, good luck. So here's the deal. He reaches into a satchel and he pulls out another small battle. He's like, gonna take this. Go into his home. Obviously, he doesn't live in the same building, that people that rent from him living, go to his home. And I need you to put this in his home office just next to his bedroom. And I need you to place it underneath in one of the one of the drawers underneath the right side of his desk. And then once you've got that there, I need you to leave the building. And relatively quickly, we don't want to give him time to find it, move it or anything like that. So as soon as you've done the job, I need you to walk two blocks. And there'll be somebody sitting on the corner pan handling. Your job will be to come up to them. Drop a shin in there and say, best of luck to you. And then same as always You wait a day and then back here. Marietta [Atalia] 14:03 All right, that sounds fine. [as James] So, obviously, the last little off and he's connected are gonna be, there's gonna be security at a sound, but nothing you can't handle I'd like half upfront, there is a little bit of risk or Daniel [GM] 14:23 [as James] I can give you 10 up front. Okay, so he gives you an extra ten shins Marietta [Atalia] 14:31 I mean I need to shin in order to give the guy one, you know. Daniel [GM] 14:34 [as James] And he says, Okay, I look forward to seeing seeing how this works out Atalia. I assume you've got things you want to do before and things like that. But if at all possible, we'd like to try to have this all go down by the end of the week. Marietta [Atalia] 14:57 Great. I'll check out and maybe Since tomorrow we'll see Daniel [GM] 15:01 [as James] okay sounds good I'll I'll let the client know. You sure you don't want to drink Marietta [Atalia] 15:09 there's a house I have to go check out Daniel [GM] 15:12 [as James] fair enough so I like to you like about you straight to the point on the price. Have a good night Atalia. Good hunting. Marietta [Atalia] 15:21 You too James. Can I just like I get a general impression of what James thinks of me like does he care about my well being whatsoever or? Daniel [GM] 15:32 That sounds like a card draw? Okay, I got the Revealing Knife. Let's see. Okay. When the Revealing Knife card is turned as suggested careful precise action is required for what lies ahead indicates that our secrets to be discovered and whether the revelation of goes ill tidying up to the individual concerned on the cars turn most Assume that the next card indicates the nature of the secret. We're not going to do that in this particular case. I think that what that the impression you get about James is that he is you're an investment for him, right? Like, he's interested, like, it's not so much like our personal care, but he sees that you're like, you are talent that he recruited. And, and he is seeing an opportunity where he could make even more with your talent. So he's not likely to just like throw you to the wolves. But it's not like a personal thing. It's a very like capitalist way of thinking about people. Marietta [Atalia] 16:47 So as long as I'm doing a good job, as long as I'm meeting his investment concerns, there might be a little bit of wiggle room but just a little bit Okay, all right. Um, then. I mean, Daniel [GM] 17:04 I mean, it's an investment. Like if you screw up one job, he's not gonna come after you. He's certainly through. Yeah, and you certainly screwed up jobs before. I mean, everybody makes mistakes, but, but it's more like if you start becoming a liability, that's one of the tone changes. Marietta [Atalia] 17:23 All right. Well, I guess I'll spend the next little bit casing the joint and going over the plan for the next day, and then try to carry out, carry it out based on Daniel [GM] 17:38 okay. So what we'll do then is, you will, as you move, so you'll see the house the house, this guy has an amazing home. By ninth world standards, I mean, you are in Charmonde, just one of the largest cities in the Steadfast but it's very rare. like to see somebody who has all of this space and it's really just a house that are four floors. There are quite obviously some guards. They are not necessarily dressed like with armor or anything like that, but they are there they look like they should just be like footmen out front. But they definitely have to build of guards like somebody like they're these guys are true goons. Marietta [Atalia] 18:32 And, Daniel [GM] 18:34 yeah, and like, it's, it's, you know, there seems to be, the guy seems to keep to a relatively regular schedule. He doesn't seem to leave the house much. And, you know, most of the time, from what you can see outside he spends his time working in his office, he'll have people come to him to meet with him. Marietta [Atalia] 18:54 Now office is where I'm supposed to be. Daniel [GM] 18:57 And when he's not actively working... He's, uh, he's hanging out in the house with his wife and two little kids. Marietta [Atalia] 19:08 What about at night? Daniel [GM] 19:10 Well, his bedroom is attached to the office, he tends to work late. But then he, but you know, his, his office is like, he can go through the door and just get into bed. Marietta [Atalia] 19:21 Okay. Um, I guess I will attempt late at night after he has gone to bed and I feel like he is probably fallen asleep. Which is stressful, but I don't see a better alternative based on observation, so Daniel [GM] 19:39 what path approach you're gonna take. Marietta [Atalia] 19:42 So you said that there's guards at Is it possible? Did you say its fenced around? Daniel [GM] 19:49 It's not fenced around. Okay. Marietta [Atalia] 19:51 Would it be possible to is the path to the office, visible from where the guards are? As far as like where the window Daniel [GM] 20:03 The office is on the third floor. Marietta [Atalia] 20:07 Yes but I have acrobatics kills slash so I was hoping that perhaps I could try to climb it if it was not in direct view Daniel [GM] 20:20 The guards do occasionally walk around the building but you've kind of we'll say that you've been watching long enough you kind of know their pattern for that. So you can absolutely and you can try anything of course so if you want to try to climb the wall we can pull a card Marietta [Atalia] 20:39 um yeah you know if I it looks like there would be a way climb it like if there's other window panes to like go from you know, so So kind of thing. If it looks passable, I am trained in climbing and balancing. Daniel [GM] 20:59 Luckily For you. The card I drew was the Conspirator. So when this card is turned only someone engaging in a conspiratorial action looks at it as a good thing. I mean, cigarettes are kept safe. And it means that at the very least you might be able to see some sort of surprise upheaval. I would say you quite handily climb up the side of the wall without attracting attention. And you reach that third window, third floor window that was there for window opens into sort of a dining area. There's nobody in there right now. Marietta [Atalia] 21:41 Okay, is there a window outside the office? Daniel [GM] 21:46 Yes, but you would probably have to make your way around the building. Marietta [Atalia] 21:51 Okay. I would like to be likely Daniel [GM] 21:55 Because the office window faces out towards the street where the footmen are Marietta [Atalia] 22:01 Oh, okay, well, I will then try to be very sneaky. And stop and listen and see if I can tiptoe through to the office since that's where it needs to be. Okay. I'm like swearing about it in my head and being like. Daniel [GM] 22:24 Okay, so, yeah, you're tip toeing through here, I think. Because of your stealth, I don't think there's going to be an issue of you waking anybody up. I think there's still going to be quite stealthy. And, you know, the kids bedrooms are actually on the floor below. So you know that you're okay there. And you know, that he usually is asleep, or this time. And so, yeah, I think you make your way to the office door. And so you have two ways of approaching you know that you could go through the bedroom door where he's sleeping, and go into the office that way. There's also a door for the office proper. That door is currently locked. Marietta [Atalia] 23:19 Ah, um, I guess I'll try to you know, I have a thing for that. Um, and I think I have like a thing for unlocking doors specifically Daniel [GM] 23:32 doesn't mean you can't try just be so you don't have your skill for it. Marietta [Atalia] 23:37 I guess I'll try to unlock it. Can I use scan to assist me? anyway? Daniel [GM] 23:45 Sure. I mean, I say you could use scan and it will reveal some things about the lock. and I drew for you: the Golden Ship. So it suggests that someone earned wealth, fame or respect. It means a successful endeavor. But only if that endeavor is granted scope. It does not waste its time on petty actions or minor deeds. Alternatively, this card might suggest the intervention of someone wealthy, well respected or influential. I think it means that you unlock the door just fine. Marietta [Atalia] 24:27 Okay. Daniel [GM] 24:29 You open it, and you see the desk. And you see a seskii. A seskii is sort of a dog like creature, except that it has like scaly plates. It's very like similar in shape to a dog and a lot of times people use them as pets or hunting animals, but they are they out definitely like sort. Marietta [Atalia] 24:58 I don't like this. I just found Fido. Great. Grea. I'm so sneaky. Daniel [GM] 25:08 So the seskii is working out and it sees you and it starts wagging its tail, Marietta [Atalia] 25:18 I'm gonna just set down the conspicuous evidence. Wait, was I supposed to put it in a drawer? Daniel [GM] 25:25 Yeah, he's supposed to put it in a drawer underneath his desk. On the right hand side. Marietta [Atalia] 25:29 How far away is that? Daniel [GM] 25:32 Across the room? Next to the seskii. Marietta [Atalia] 25:37 I swore I had another ability, I guess. Right. I don't get any abilities from the first level of explores dark places. I'm going to talk about numenera I guess. Wouldn't explorers pack contain rations? Daniel [GM] 25:56 It would Marietta [Atalia] 25:58 Hey, I think I pull out a little bit of a rant. ration the like, like hold it up for the dog and kind of like toss it away from me and then try to make a mad dash for the desk, while tiptoeing by the way. Daniel [GM] 26:12 Let's see how this is gonna work out for you. Oh, this is unfortunate. unfortunate. It certainly has a title that doesn't sound good. It's the Unwelcome Child. Specifically the Unwelcome Child on welcome because she is a horror. It could involve someone getting something they do not want. Or it could be that the person in question could be the unwanted one. This could suggest a lie or something out of balance. Yeah, so you throw it and the seskii makes this guttural bark and chases after the food, but it's so big. It also whacks its ass into the table as it stands up. And yeah, you hear stirring through the door in the next room. Marietta [Atalia] 27:16 All right, I'm gonna quick tip toe walk and put the evidence in the drawer, like I suppose to okay. Daniel [GM] 27:24 So you go and you put the evidence in the drawer. And also, the seskii is next to you rubbing its head against your leg. Marietta [Atalia] 27:35 I'm going to take another piece of the ration and like, hold it up and have the thing follow me as I back out of the room Daniel [GM] 27:44 Its definitely follow a following and you start to hear footsteps moving towards the door between the bedroom and the office. Marietta [Atalia] 27:53 So as I'm backing out through the door, I'm going to toss the food towards the door that the guy would potentially come into the office room, you know what I mean? Then I'm going to shut the door if that happens, and then I'm going to try to escape. Daniel [GM] 28:09 So because you have the Unwelcome Child card, in effect, You definitely tossed the ration, it lands next door. But the seskii follows you out the door as you're shutting it.And it looks up to you with these sort of like happy eyes and wags his tail. I can't remember if seskii are supposed to have tails in the ninth world that this one does. Marietta [Atalia] 28:43 Now. All right, I'm gonna try to escape. Daniel [GM] 28:47 Okay, how would you like to do that? Marietta [Atalia] 28:49 By tiptoe running, you know where you're like on your toes and like, you've done this before when you don't want to wake someone up and Daniel [GM] 28:57 you're doing this full loss to the gang at this point. Marietta [Atalia] 29:00 Yes, you get off the other window. Daniel [GM] 29:04 The the seskii is following you with this big paws slapping the ground. Marietta [Atalia] 29:11 Okay, and I'm going to just jump out the window. As soon as I can, Daniel [GM] 29:16 you're gonna jump out the window but even to jump to Marietta [Atalia] 29:18 you know, hopefully there's a hedge below. If there's a moat perhaps that would be handy if there's a pond, you know, any of that sort of thing. We could say there's an awning alleged Daniel [GM] 29:32 we can say there's maybe like, you know, something like some sort of low wall it's not like actually like, a security wall more. It's an aesthetic thing for the surrounding the house. Marietta [Atalia] 29:45 I'm trained in climbing and jumping and balancing. I'm so good at just I but it's like, if I do succeed, it's definitely like a fall down success. Like if you watched it happen, you'd be like, Oh shit, there's Going to Oh, she's surprisingly Okay. Okay. Okay. Daniel [GM] 30:04 As you're climbing the window the seskii starts to whine a little bit. And you, you hear a deep voice from back down the hallway like where the hell did that seskii get to? What's this on the floor? Marietta [Atalia] 30:23 And I tried so hard and I felt so good. Yeah, I'm gonna continue trying to escape thing and trying to flee. Daniel [GM] 30:33 I don't know if you can read that card or not. But the title is Inevitable Cataclysm. Marietta [Atalia] 30:40 Hey, see? Much thoughtful. Daniel [GM] 30:45 Yeah, so it's difficult to see this concern as a positive one. Typically, even if it's suggested something unwanted comes to an end. It's usually a violent and costly one. This power might be seen as ill fortune but it could also be the end of a relationship, the end of an ongoing success, or a significant possession like a house might be in danger or destruction. Okay, so you leave out the window, okay. You are going to land and you are probably going to twist your ankle. Great. And there is a bark from behind you on that window barking barking. The seskii is whining and staring at you. And then it is going to get up on the windows sill. And it's gonna try to jump to Marietta [Atalia] 31:47 No, no, no, it's fine. I twist my ankle. It's not fine if the seskii jumps to its death. Daniel [GM] 31:54 It's not going to jump to its death. Hey, yeah, this seskii jumps across to the the wall of the next building and kind of digs its powerful claws into the side and kind of scrapes its way down, making quite a bit of noise in the process when you hear the guards and footman starting to come to investigate that sound here. What's that noise and the seskii kind of comes into a safe place next to you and barks again. You hear more sounds from inside the house like Why is the window open? Guards! Guards! So what do you do? Marietta [Atalia] 32:43 Is there any way I can sneak stealthily?Can I just leave? On my twisted sad ankle. Daniel [GM] 32:55 You can try anything Do you want to try to leave out the front Do you want to try to head for an alley Marietta [Atalia] 33:00 Want to try to go out the back the way that there hopefully aren't any guards? That's good. Try to get rid of this stupid not dog lizard thing. Okay? Daniel [GM] 33:11 I have the line drawn the Sealed Door. Generally a card of ill omen the Sealed Door stands in the way victory keeps one from a goal. Since progressing always involves change it can however simply mean that things don't change. So, yeah, you start heading for the alley, but then you realize that there are more guards coming that way. Marietta [Atalia] 33:34 Is there anywhere I could just hide? Daniel [GM] 33:38 Um, yeah, I mean it's sort of like a, you know, there's lots of places you could try to hide around the buildings. Depends if you're trying to like, hide in the shadows or if you're trying to, like sneak into another building or what you're trying to do. Marietta [Atalia] 33:54 I'm trying to sneak away from anywhere that I could. If there is another building I could duck into Daniel [GM] 34:03 The houses next to another building so I mean that's what the seskii he used to claw its way down. Marietta [Atalia] 34:08 Sure I'll try to duck into one of them especially if one of them is like a public restaurant or bar nice. Like that's a super late Daniel [GM] 34:16 This is a residence that you're going to be next to. Marietta [Atalia] 34:19 Oh, um, there is there if there is an alley I could escape into. Daniel [GM] 34:24 You can't get through an alley because of that card draw. So like your options are the building or you're trying to go out one of the ways where you know guards are coming and either fight your way out or try to charm your way past. Marietta [Atalia] 34:37 Ah, All right, I'll try to duck into one of these homes. Okay. Daniel [GM] 34:41 I'll draw a card. Okay, Enticing Jewel. When the Enticing Jewel is turned everything focuses upon it. Most of the time. This is one of the most positive cards that can be revealed, indicates success in one's endeavors to say, suggest beauty and wealth. At the very least, even if not success. It's the potential for success. So yeah, I think you get into this house and you feel like you've gotten in without leaving a sign. Or at least you think you wouldn't leave a sign, but the problem is, is that the seskii is probably gonna bark at that window unless you let it Marietta [Atalia] 35:13 Did I just get a new pet. Right, I guess I'd let it come with me. Daniel [GM] 35:24 Okay, so it follows you through the building. You know, happily. You know, the guards are definitely like running around outside, you can hear that. By the curfew. There's some point they're gonna think something is stolen. So you really need to tip off your contacts soon before they start looking for things that might bless. Marietta [Atalia] 35:43 Um, I would like to see if I can sneak through to the far side and I'll try to like, pet the creature as I go. Daniel [GM] 35:51 Yeah, I mean, you could try to go out the far side. It's very happy about that. It makes a sort of purring noise. So you you successfully get to the house because you've got this, you know, Enticing Jewel in play. And you get out and yeah, I'd say you can get to your contact and sure enough two blocks down. There's somebody panhandling on the street corner. Marietta [Atalia] 36:22 I'll tip him a shin and say Best of luck to you. And then I'll try to run away because it's like Daniel [GM] 36:32 [as panhandler] thanks so much. And then he as you're walking by he says, "Nice Seskii" Marietta [Atalia] 36:36 thanks now Daniel [GM] 36:41 So you get past. The tip off happens and you do hear about after the fact that like, you know, there's there is a bunch of movement with guards in the area as you're leaving. They're entering the neighborhood you can see more guards like piling up Are the guards that this guy had, but actually members of the city guard. You get home you're coming in and you as you're coming in you hear a voice of your grandma and she's like, "Atalia, is that you?" Marietta [Atalia] 37:17 Oh, yeah, you know this. This has seskii he won't leave me alone. Daniel [GM] 37:26 [as granny] What are you doing back so late? Marietta [Atalia] 37:29 This seskii won't leave me alone. Daniel [GM] 37:30 [as granny] Oh, seskii's are good luck. Oh, look at him. Yeah, he's just a muffin. Or no, she's just a muffin. Or to tell with seskii but look at those eyes. Marietta [Atalia] 37:42 I pet the seskii. Anyway. I don't know who it belongs to. But maybe I'll I think they'll stay here tonight or she'll stay here. Daniel [GM] 37:54 Your grandma looks at you, as you say. I don't know.And she and she's like [as granny] Atalia, are you telling me a fairy tale? Marietta [Atalia] 38:05 No, um, you know, the guys seemed really surprised about it. Sorry, grandma. I'll try to make sure it gets home tomorrow. It won't stop following me. Daniel [GM] 38:16 [as granny] Well. I mean, who wouldn't? You're a nice person, right? I tell you, I mean, I'm your grandmother. I've known you your whole life. I know you sometimes do bad things, but you're a good person down. This animal knew that. So seskii kind of goes over and curls up and sits at your grandma's feet. [as granny] Yeah, she's, she's a good girl. And so are you and she has come on in. You might as well get some sleep, Marietta [Atalia] 38:50 sorry grandma. Daniel [GM] 38:51 So, yeah, get some sleep. And it's the next day when you need to report to James Marietta [Atalia] 39:02 So I take the seskii. And I. Well, first I say, Grandma, what do you think I should do with this seskii? Daniel [GM] 39:13 [as granny] Well, let me ask a question. Is anybody gonna come looking for it? Marietta [Atalia] 39:21 I don't think so. I'll check Daniel [GM] 39:25 [as granny] what, whatever you did last night. Whatever you did. And I don't want to know. Is this somebody? who could? Is anybody dangerous? Marietta [Atalia] 39:37 I would say skeezy. Daniel [GM] 39:39 [as granny] I don't think you could go anywhere with this SP just yet. I think you should let things down. Marietta [Atalia] 39:45 Okay, yeah. Daniel [GM] 39:47 [as granny] I'll keep an eye on it for you. Marietta [Atalia] 39:49 Okay, yeah, this seskii will be here to protect you. Daniel [GM] 39:54 [as granny] Just like when you had that blind mole rat as a kid you want you insisted on having a pet and I let you keep it and I watched it while you were away. Marietta [Atalia] 40:04 Its very kind of you Daniel [GM] 40:05 [as granny] keep an eye on this. Marietta [Atalia] 40:07 All right, I'll go Hey, what's going on? anyway? I'm gonna go to school now. Daniel [GM] 40:16 [as granny] Atalia I love you, dear but you got to get better about lying if you're gonna survive doing what you do. Marietta [Atalia] 40:23 I'm drunk, right? You're not being very nice sorry. Anyways, that was not canon. Daniel [GM] 40:39 so yeah, you make your way back to that bar. And and yeah, James is waiting for you. As usual. As you come in, He kind of looks at you and says, gives you kind of an odd look. And he says, [as James] Come on in. You want to drink? Marietta [Atalia] 40:58 Yes. Daniel [GM] 40:59 [as James] Oh, Excellent and he pours two glasses of the liquor. So you did well there was a little bit more commotion I mean like it was a close thing. There were some lives lost his guards were a little overzealous when the city guards showed up. Not sure what they could have been spooked about you have any idea? Marietta [Atalia] 41:22 Definitely not. a missing pet. I'll say that. Daniel [GM] 41:27 [as James] I was gonna ask you about that because I really wasn't part of the plan. And that just seems cruel. Why? Why would you guys the pet. Marietta [Atalia] 41:39 I didn't realize he had one. It wouldn't stopped following me. It made by escape. Lovely. Grand. Daniel [GM] 41:48 [as James] Where's the seskii now? Marietta [Atalia] 41:51 I drink more of the beverage. Daniel [GM] 41:54 [as James] That's fine. That's fine. You keep your secrets. I keep my secrets. You keep your secrets. Same in case, you know, my tumbling, but maybe not. me he's in custody right now. And my contacts say they found that evidence. And yeah when it's the plot to assassinate the queen.... They look poorly on that. Marietta [Atalia] 42:21 I figured if he wouldn't have been able to take care of it anyway you know what I mean? Daniel [GM] 42:25 [as James] That's probably true. That's probably true. Anyway here's the payment. Marietta [Atalia] 42:34 Thank you. Daniel [GM] 42:35 [as James] You did well. Listen, when it rains it pours, I got another job for you. Marietta [Atalia] 42:42 All right what kind of job Daniel [GM] 42:44 [as James] it's a little different than usual not like this was but occasionally people reach out to us and you know usually they prefer to keep sort of a distance between us and our talent But in rare occasions, sometimes people like to work more directly with the people that are assigned to task. Anyway, I'll cut to the chase, we got an opportunity for you to make some cash. And it seems like it's a pretty straightforward retrieval job. from what we can tell. And you would essentially be, I mean, we would be still, you still, you know, work with me in general, but at least for this one job, you would have a different contact. Think of yourself more like a, say where we're providing contracted talent, and the talent is you. Marietta [Atalia] 43:45 Okay, so, I don't know what the job will be under than acquistion. Daniel [GM] 43:51 I know it's an acquisition and I know it's not in the city. Ah, I know you're interested in strange things and no, it's an opportunity to be free to kind of get outside the walls for a little bit. Marietta [Atalia] 44:03 Yeah, you know that could be good for me. Daniel [GM] 44:06 [as James] Okay, so here's the deal a week from now you need to go to this address and he starts sketching something down. It's gonna be easy to miss the door doesn't it doesn't face the street it's actually the doors at the alley their but you're going to be there you just knock your door and you'll tell them that James sent ya. Marietta [Atalia] 44:34 James sent me. Okay, James. Yeah. Daniel [GM] 44:38 [as james ] And person that you're going to be talking to? Her name is Momma Jerra Marietta [Atalia] 44:47 She sounds cool. I hope, she's cool. Daniel [GM] 44:50 [ as James] Yeah, me too. Marietta [Atalia] 44:51 Nice to work with a badass woman again. I'll just stare at him dead hand as I say that. Okay, Daniel [GM] 44:57 [ as James] Hey, I don't take it personal. We are who we are. Yeah, this one's This one's interesting and we'll see. probably worth a shot anyway and plus I know it's right up your alley. It's the kind of thing you love that's all that all that weird spooky shit that you get into Marietta [Atalia] 45:17 I mean, pursuit of Knowledge. Gotta keep learning point. Daniel [GM] 45:23 [as James] Well, I'm more interested in shins, but what can I say I'm a mercenary. Anyway,this address one week, Momma Jerra. Marietta [Atalia] 45:33 Momma Jerra. I will be there. Daniel [GM] 45:35 [as James] Okay take care kid. Marietta [Atalia] 45:38 See you when I get back Daniel [GM] 45:39 [as James] Yeah, just in case though. you might lay low a bit. Marietta [Atalia] 45:43 Yeah, I think I'm gonna spend some time at home. Oh Daniel [GM] 45:48 He just grins like showing all of his teeth and then he knocks back the rest of his drink Marietta [Atalia] 45:55 She'll also knock back the rest of her drink and then set it down audibly Stand up and look at him and then leave. Daniel [GM] 46:05 So the camera falls you leaving out the bar and you're walking down the street, heading back home and sort of the camera pans away from you. And there is just for a moment along the side of the street that you're walking something or somebody moving in the shadows behind you. And then the camera goes dark. Marietta [Atalia] 46:32 Spooky. All that spooky shit I like cool. Okay, thank you, Dan. Daniel [GM] 46:40 Absolutely. Transcribed by https://otter.ai