Daniel [GM] 0:30 So, what we're going to do is we're going to use a mechanic from Invisible S un. So you'll play through it role playing but instead of rolling dice. Whenever there's a challenge, I'll draw a card from the sooth deck. And we'll use its interpretation to determine whether that particular challenge is going to go in your favor or against you, or if it'll add some totally other flavor. So in terms of this Let's think back. Let's pick a scene for this. What would be fun to explore from ChaChas past? Alex [ChaCha] 1:10 I think at least one of the town she got kicked out of. Daniel [GM] 1:15 Okay. Okay, Alex [ChaCha] 1:18 cuz this gotta be down. Daniel [GM] 1:20 Yeah. So let's take a look here. Okay, so this will be let's say this is a small town. It'll be a small that's what's a good name for the small town that you've they're visiting at this point. And this has been happening to you a lot or are you early on in your career? Alex [ChaCha] 1:49 Depends on how depressing we want to get. Like, is she getting tired of this or is she just like, no, I can do it this time. It's fine. Yeah. This is hard. Daniel [GM] 2:04 Well, what do you think would be most most interesting from sort of an exploration of Chacha? Alex [ChaCha] 2:10 I think like this is like a long line of can't go back there again son of a bitch, okay. Daniel [GM] 2:17 Okay. So let's set the scene you are in this town. Let's call this town, Garen. And you've been, you know, you've been kicked out of a few towns you've been traveling but ChaCha has still is determined to, you know, make her way as an entertainer and as an educator. You have you've been in Garen for about a week, and you have managed to get a paying gig. Yeah, it's not exactly what you hoped for. I mean, you would prefer to be doing some sort of like professional education or, or like some sort of like entertainment in that respect, but you have instead been hired for a merchants child's birthday party. Alex [ChaCha] 3:18 Oh, no. are we actually going to set this place on fire? Daniel [GM] 3:20 I don't know. We'll find out. So let's draw a card to see if the kids are enthusiastic about ChaCha to start with. Oh, so maybe we look up the definition of this. This is the Whispering Lover. Alex [ChaCha] 3:42 Hmm. Sooth Deck. We're talking about children. Yeah. Children. Daniel [GM] 3:49 Okay, so this says that it suggests a bond in place or one that will form very soon and that could be positive or negative. I'm gonna say that the kids are like cautiously optimistic. So the father the father, this version is explaining to son like like, [as father] Listen, I know it's not what you wanted, but the jugglers were all booked. So instead, we've got a, you know, a performance to do. We've gotten a special performer for you. She's, she sounds like she's got, you know, a great background in education and she'll be able to give you a you know, a good show for you and your friends. [As child] I don't know, it doesn't look like she juggles. [As father] Well, I don't think she juggles but she does... Alex [ChaCha] 4:52 Juggling's stupid! She's yelling in the background. It's just stupid. No with your juggling. Daniel [GM] 5:01 Oh, okay. That's that's what ChaCha's saying back there.? Alex [ChaCha] 5:06 Yeah. Daniel [GM] 5:11 Wow that's not gonna go well i don't think but we'll see. Alex [ChaCha] 5:14 Ah, I know but she's she's got that passion thing of really you were gonna pass me a for juggling, mother loving jugglers I have nothing against actual jugglers. Daniel [GM] 5:27 [As child] So the kids like um, well I like juggler stuff but I'm I guess I'm okay. Okay dad I'll give it a shot. [As father] That's all I'm asking for. Chacha take it away. It's your show. Alex [ChaCha] 5:46 So she's like in the background just kind of doing that handshake. Trying to like psych yourself. Rocky music playing in her head. Like, Okay, we got this. Okay, and she's gonna turn to the kids and be like, Okay, I'm gonna teach you about the world beyond the invisible things you cannot see. Yes, it's ChaCha. Daniel [GM] 6:10 Kids are all kind of staring at you. Yeah. Let's draw a card. Oh, this is probably exactly how you'd expect it to go. Alex [ChaCha] 6:22 If you're telling them their favorite thing is dumb. Daniel [GM] 6:24 Yeah, so you get banished serpent. Alex [ChaCha] 6:31 Ah, ah. Daniel [GM] 6:34 See? Let's see... yeah, that can be a blessing or a curse depending on who's getting exiled or punished. The card a term suggests the person in question faces this fate. But it may be someone else's involved. So, uh, yeah, the kids are like, I don't know. about this and one of the other, one of the girls at the party goes, this sounds scary, not fun. Alex [ChaCha] 7:08 Only scary if you look too close, Like don't look behind you. It's fine. Daniel [GM] 7:16 [as child] What? And totally one kid looks over his shoulder and doesn't see anything. Alex [ChaCha] 7:23 Let's think about elephants. Daniel [GM] 7:26 What you're seeing behind them are sort of creatures that are, you know, almost out of phase. They're they're almost serpentine but with these stretched, stretched like almost spectral faces, like if you think of like Munch's the Scream except that the faces look spectral. But there is, even though it's not in the real world, you can see things dripping from their mouth, as they kind of curl around these kids. [as child] So, what what do you see ChaCha? Alex [ChaCha] 8:07 I see an opportunity to learn about high knees. Okay, lifting your knees super high. Like we're on adventure. Daniel [GM] 8:17 [as child] Oh, okay. So we need to stand up. Alex [ChaCha] 8:22 Yes. We're going to make a circle and we're going to practice high knees. Daniel [GM] 8:27 Okay. So the kids get up and they form a circle around you. These spectral figures are definitely still moving around. One of them comes up and starts lapping at your foot. Alex [ChaCha] 8:46 Oh no, what's wrong with her foot? She's looking at her foot. Daniel [GM] 8:51 [as child] Chacha Why are you looking at the ground? I thought we were going to do high knees. Alex [ChaCha] 8:58 We are. We're just figuring out how high these knees need to be. And then she kind of does like that monster walk and sees how high she can like, throw her knee up. Daniel [GM] 9:09 Okay, so the kids start trying to do it with you. The parents are kind of like sort of staring confused over by the side. So these kids are stomping, or like doing these knee high kicks with you in the circle and it's been going on for a little bit too long. And, you know, the the birthday boy looks at you and it's like, [as child] um, ChaCha, how many How much longer do we need to do this? Alex [ChaCha] 9:46 Now we can learn the high knee dance. Yes, high knee dance, which is way better than your stupid juggling. Daniel [GM] 9:54 Oh, Alex [ChaCha] 9:56 she's gonna try and make it like a weird Can Can-esque dance Daniel [GM] 9:59 Okay, okay, so let's draw a card for that again Alex [ChaCha] 10:05 Sooth Deck doesn't like ChaCha at all Daniel [GM] 10:07 Oh boy. Alex [ChaCha] 10:10 Oh no, whose gonna get eaten. Daniel [GM] 10:14 Enveloping Darkness It portends an ending something draws to a close endings aren't always bad though so this card could bring relief but it could also mean restriction or denial. Okay, soI would say the kids start doing it with you. But you're going to notice that these creatures are starting to curl around the birthday boy and they raise these long spectral tongues are licking up and down his body as if they're going into him, you don't really know what it's doing, but it's definitely there and it's kind of making its way across his body to where the birthday boy is holding your hand for the dance. Alex [ChaCha] 11:16 I think she's gonna try and like step out of the circle and like, use her hedge magic to create like some fireworks that kind of like, get a little close to the kids but it can't hurt them. It's more like flashing lights scare the snakes. Daniel [GM] 11:33 The kid for sure screams and the snakes seem undisturbed and the parents are like what? What are you doing? Alex [ChaCha] 11:44 It's magic stupid. Daniel [GM] 11:47 We're paying you good money for this. Could you please stop calling us stupid. Alex [ChaCha] 11:53 Don't be stupid. I just loved that line from that one show. Where he just calls that kid stupid and their clarinets stupid. He tries to throw it out the window. Daniel [GM] 12:05 [as child] So, yeah, um, you do have a ChaCha that that was really scary. And these, these snakes, the snake things don't seem any less perturbed and they seem to be starting to roil around all the kids and more of them are starting to slip up with the length of the ground where you're having this party out in their yard, and they're coming closer and closer to you. And you can see it doesn't make sense in this spectral form. But because the mouth is really like with the exception of these weird tongues that come out the mouth is really just sort of this extended black hole, but it's almost like you can see sort of black on black, pointed teeth, glittering in that void of their mouths as they come closer to you. Alex [ChaCha] 13:09 I think she's gonna like lean in to the birthday boy and like, but it didn't hurt you. scary things don't always hurt you. Daniel [GM] 13:18 [as child] Um, oh, okay, Alex [ChaCha] 13:20 She's gonna like drop her persona and be like, it's gonna be okay. Daniel [GM] 13:24 [as child] Um, okay, ChaCha you're starting to scare me. Alex [ChaCha] 13:29 And then she's gonna try and juggle. Okay, this is I'm not sure what she's juggling, but she's gonna be like, Daniel [GM] 13:35 Okay, so let's, let's draw card. It's gonna be something like that. So this is actually the lucky coin. So, um, you've got, you've got an opportunity here. So you tell me with that like what what things does ChaCha find a juggle that she can do in such a way that the kids are all thrilled with it? Alex [ChaCha] 14:01 I feel like there's gonna be like stones on the ground and she starts juggling by starting that. I don't know how into soccer you are or where, but you know how you do that rainbow thing Daniel [GM] 14:13 I don't. Alex [ChaCha] 14:14 You start by bring it up on your foot. Okay, so you start by kicking the ball up, then knee then chest then head then knee, like you bring it over, going over the rainbow. And she's gonna start doing that with the rocks. And then she's gonna transition to like juggling it with her hands and try and do some trick shots. And, like, move in and out of the kids to like disperse them a little so they're not neatly like in a line for things to eat. Daniel [GM] 14:43 Yeah, okay. Um, so yeah, I'd say with this card pull, like, the kids are back on board like they're clapping they're, they're making happy noises like they're like, yeah, juggling! Cuz the ninth world is post-apocalyptic. So juggling is entertainment now. So you're juggling. They're, they're all very excited. And the parents are starting to look a little bit more relieved. So here's a question for you. There are still these creatures milling about now and they're starting to those teeth are starting to become more clear. Ah, one of the kids from the far end complaints and says that says it's like kind of like swinging [as child] I think a bug bit me. and it but they pull our hand away and there's like, a little bit of blood on their hands. And they they go, [as child] Mr. Fairessir, um, I think something bit me. And the the father comes over and takes a look like like [as father] this is a little deep for a bug bite. We'll get you a bandage. And you can see one of these other creatures moving around and there's definitely a red stain on its mouth as it makes its way towards another child. Alex [ChaCha] 16:16 I think ChaCha's just gonna like try and like walk up to the parents and be like, I think there is something here trying to eat the children maybe we should go inside. No more juggling. Inside. Away from here? It's cursed. Daniel [GM] 16:30 [as father] What are you talking about? Alex [ChaCha] 16:34 The kid the kid had had a bite on his arm. His arm is definitely gonna die if we don't get him out of here so I think we should get him out of here right now. Daniel [GM] 16:42 [as father ]What the hell What are you talking about? What what bit them? I didn't see anything. Alex [ChaCha] 16:51 There's like invisible snake monsters here. So I think we should leave. And then she looks back to the kid. Like "Juggling!" They're very nervous. This is what she's actually like. And then she turns around, it's like it's like, "juggling! yes." Daniel [GM] 17:05 Okay, um, so the card and I drew for you. Alex [ChaCha] 17:11 Oh no, the children died! Daniel [GM] 17:14 A Suspicious Hound. It suggests that one is plagued with doubt and indecision. Judgment must be passed and a decision must be made, but there's no clarity as to what you should do. Alex [ChaCha] 17:28 Ah no that's what I'm living right now. Daniel [GM] 17:31 Yeah. So yeah, it seems like there is this is going to turn into a, like a feeding frenzy from your perspective, but at the same time, like you're very aware that like, like, nobody else can see this stuff. And yeah, I mean, what is it? What would ChaCha do in that scenario? The card doesn't say necessarily that you have to do something wrong, but given that you know that cha cha doesn't have enough information to really make the right call here. What do you think ChaCha does? What would be her impulse? Alex [ChaCha] 18:10 I mean. I don't think there's any way to like, make them see what she's seeing. So, like, she would send up, like one of the hedge magic explosions. And be like "Juggling fire!", Oh, this is gonna keep escalating out of control if you don't get the children out of here. Daniel [GM] 18:35 Okay. So the parents are not going to be good with that. No, they're like ,how did we invite you? [as parents] Yeah, this is this is foolish. You are not getting paid for this. Please, please leave. Alex [ChaCha] 18:54 Juggling fire! It's just like trying to make it clear. Like oh no, I'm here. You have to leave. This is my my area now I peed on this. Mine. Daniel [GM] 19:05 So true to the Suspicious Hound both the parents are going to be upset. So the father is upset obviously. And the the mother comes over and she's a very intimidating figure she's very strong and she's been quiet and she literally grabs you by the shoulder and pushes you against the wall the the outside of the house and says [as mother] You. Need. To. Leave. Now. Alex [ChaCha] 19:37 I think like ChaCha is gonna like start crying. But the kids they're in danger we need to get the kids moving. Daniel [GM] 19:45 [as mother] The only thing that's a endangering the children right now is you. Alex [ChaCha] 19:49 But it's hedge magic. Nobody gets hurt with hedge magic. Daniel [GM] 19:52 And you can see like, these these snakes like crawling up like a kid and like the kid is almost Like Like they're there next to the you know next to the figure but it's continually like kind of like swirling around them and tightening up. And the face of this thing looks at you it doesn't really have eyes but it feels like it's meeting your eyes daring you to do something . Alex [ChaCha] 20:24 I don't know what ChaCha can do from a distance. She could onslaught. Daniel [GM] 20:30 She could. Alex [ChaCha] 20:32 She's gonna do that. She gonna save if this baby. I am going to ah probably is going to end up hitting the baby but you know can't win them all. Daniel [GM] 20:45 So I drew the Assassin. Alex [ChaCha] 20:50 Oh fluff. Daniel [GM] 20:52 It doesn't bring death but it does bring an ending. And yeah, so your onslaught of fires off and this snake creature seems completely unfazed by it. The kid however, is knocked backward a short distance. And it is quite clear that like this kid are these are kids obviously they're not they're not hardy. This kid this kid not dead or anything like that but they're pretty hurt. The next thing that you see like the the snakes are kind of like swirling around and watching you and as you turn to try to explain the situation, the mother's fist collides with your cheek and you go down and everything is black. The next thing that you remember is being kind of splashed awake with water and with one of the town elders. Your face is bruised and sore. And you're at the edge of town. And this elder she just points out of the wilds and says, Go that way now. And don't ever come back. Alex [ChaCha] 22:20 Damn. Yeah, she's just gonna kind of start crawling and like running away like I did it again. I hurt a baby, like a werewolf, I'm maul babies. Daniel [GM] 22:33 And as you're walking off into the distance you don't almost hear like that in that sad Incredible Hulk theme playing except as it's playing, it's you kind of heading across the wilds. And in the meantime, it's somebody in town, nailing up a rather adept sketch of you. Listing, basically that, you know, this individuals banned if they are seen here, they should must be brought to the elders immediately. Alex [ChaCha] 23:11 As I say, is it the sound of one of those evil snake creatures playing the world's smallest violin following her? It's like, Daniel [GM] 23:19 Well, no. And that's the that's the funny bit like as you as you go over the hills, you know, you don't see any sign of those creatures now. Just you and the wilds and they pointed you and they made you leave like by a particular direction. And it takes you quite a while to find the road. Alex [ChaCha] 23:44 ChaCha is very hurt, and confused and disappointed in herself. She didn't save the babies. Yeah. People hate her again. And she's just like, couldn't they at least put me on a path. Like this is very clearly GTFO. into that wild. Daniel [GM] 24:02 Yeah, I will say this, um, I just drew another card, and it is the Alchemist. So, um, and I would say what this is, this suggests is that, yeah, you're having difficulty finding the path. But at least initially, but then along the way you bump into another traveler and usually wandering around on your own, through the wilds is a really bad idea. And so this individual who to who actually goes by the name, Halla, they're, they're friendly, and often they they offer to travel with you. And provide like, you know, basically, it's a good survival tactic that if you've got two travelers that are kind of going in the same direction and you don't really have any direction To sort of team out for safety. And you guys traveled together for probably the better part of a month before you before you see in the far distance what looks to be an enormous city and Halla looks you and says, There it is: Charmonde. Alex [ChaCha] 25:28 I just got kicked out of another city who we all thought was decent but then they were just all like no damn save our children and we'd like our children dead. Daniel [GM] 25:38 [as Halla] Yeah, I'm gonna let that slide past again like I have a bunch of other times because I feel like that's a road in this conversation. I don't want to go down. Alex [ChaCha] 25:48 What do you even do in a big city like juggle? Everybody apparently loves juggling, like oh juggling! Daniel [GM] 25:58 [as Halla] Well, I guess there are jugglers there. There's also other kinds of performers and artists and merchants. I am actually seeking work. I'm seeking work at the palace. The Queen, they say it's the Palace of 1000 slaves and you can volunteer to join that group. And after your retention period over is over, you're full citizen of Charmonde. And you have all the rights that go with that. It may seem like a silly plan to some, but I think it's an opportunity. And I've always been fascinated with, you know, how that level of wealth must live. Alex [ChaCha] 26:48 How long is the servitude? Daniel [GM] 26:51 [as Halla] I think it's negotiable. It is my understanding is that most people do five years. Some do more. Alex [ChaCha] 27:00 ChaCha is kind of interested in this. I could do the servitude. They can't kick you out for magic, right? Daniel [GM] 27:10 [as Halla] I don't think so. But you know, they you are kind of expected to do whatever they ask when they ask. Alex [ChaCha] 27:18 But like no juggling. Daniel [GM] 27:22 [as Halla] I don't know. I mean, Last I heard the last. I mean, and I'm not particularly worldly, but you know, I ran into another traveler that said the last person who tried tojuggle in the Queen's court was executed. Alex [ChaCha] 27:39 Let's go we're doing this. We're doing this. Okay. Fuck juggling. Juggling is stupid. Daniel [GM] 27:45 Okay, so uh, yeah, you guys go into Charmonde. There's not really any problem getting in because Charmonde has so much trade going on all the time. And they're definitely travelers that come in and out and all of that fun stuff. So, he goes to eat after asking around he finds out where the where he needs to go for the you know, essentially the recruitment for the the servants of the crown and he finds a desk and there's a rather sort of harried looking manager behind the desk and he looks up and says, [As manager] okay name? And Halla gives his full name. [as manager] Okay and do you have any particular skills or things we need to know about? And Halla explains that he's a good traveler. He's capable of work he's fairly well read. He could, you know, he can read and write things like that. The manager says, okay, and are you looking for a five year term or a 10 year term? He says, [as Halla] What's the difference like? Big? [as manager] Well, the 10 year term comes with a separation bonus of a significantly larger size at the end. [as Halla] I think I will do the five year term. [as manger] Okay, right. Sign here, um, anybody needs to say goodbye to before we fit you for your collar. [As Halla] No, I don't think so. [As manager] Okay, follow my colleague over there. They'll take your things and lock them into storage and provide you with your your clothes and collar and they will seal that appropriately and then you'll be able to start work. [As Halla] Thank you, and he goes off and the manager looks at you and motions you forward. [as manager] Yes. You Young lady. Yes. Alex [ChaCha] 30:03 Signing signing up. Yes, yes. Daniel [GM] 30:06 Okay. Any particular skills we should be aware of? Alex [ChaCha] 30:11 I know about the numenera Daniel [GM] 30:14 That could be useful. Knowledge of Numenera. I must say it seems odd that you'd be looking for this with that kind of background. Most people who come and do this, they don't have that kind of marketable skill. Alex [ChaCha] 30:29 People don't like me. Daniel [GM] 30:33 The manager kind of like, stops where it looks up from where they were taking notes. Why don't they like you? Alex [ChaCha] 30:41 They don't believe in the things out there. Daniel [GM] 30:46 Oh, okay. And he slides the paper to the side. He's like, what kinds of things are those? Alex [ChaCha] 30:55 And then she like, I think she's going to look around and make sure there's no more snake monsters. Daniel [GM] 31:01 You don't see any right now. Alex [ChaCha] 31:03 Like the casual monster trying to eat people they're just like no that's that's not gonna hurt me. No, we're fine. Let's juggle. Daniel [GM] 31:17 Oh so I drew the misremembered dream. It suggests confusion or mistakes they don't necessarily have to be bad but... [as manager] Did you say juggling? Alex [ChaCha] 31:35 Juggling's stupid. Nobody likes juggling I don't know why people want juggling. Daniel [GM] 31:40 Yeah I would suggest you never do juggling around anywhere near the court. That's that's a one way ticket to you know the execution indenture contract me damned. Alex [ChaCha] 31:55 Yeah, that's why I'm here. You guys hate juggling just like me. Daniel [GM] 31:59 Okay. I don't know how to say this, but I'm not getting a great feeling about this. What did you say your name was, again? Alex [ChaCha] 32:14 It's Chauncy. Chauncey, Daniel [GM] 32:19 I'm not sure that you're in a state where you should be making this decision. Alex [ChaCha] 32:26 I'm trying to decide like if she is like wants it to be like public knowledge. Yeah, I see the invisible things. No big deal totally common trait. Daniel [GM] 32:38 I have to say, um, listen, we're not just you know, this isn't just a we don't just collar everybody who comes in here. We have to be someone who's ready for that all and I just, I don't get that feeling. I think you might be better off finding another form of work. within the city. Alex [ChaCha] 33:02 like what? Daniel [GM] 33:03 Oh, I don't know, there's the big city. There's lots of work to be had. Maybe you could work a shop, you've got a background in numenera perhaps somebody needs that. Alex [ChaCha] 33:14 You have guaranteed work. Daniel [GM] 33:16 Yes. I do have guaranteed work. But I think I just, I don't think it's for you. Alex [ChaCha] 33:26 I think she's gonna start getting frustrated and be like, no, it is for me. I'm fine. We can make this decision now. I'm signing up. Daniel [GM] 33:34 So I'm doing my best to be kind here but to you. I'm telling you that we don't want you. Alex [ChaCha] 33:45 I think she's just kind of like try and light his desk on fire and leave. It's like everyone's telling her No, you can't be there. Daniel [GM] 33:52 So you do that he is definitely going to call a guard at that point. One of the palace guard and that palace guard is going to be heading at you. What are you going to do? Alex [ChaCha] 34:04 Oh, she's running. She's running she's just running Daniel [GM] 34:08 Okay, so I drew the revolutionary Alex [ChaCha] 34:11 Ah, light the fire and run! Daniel [GM] 34:14 And there's a lot of fire in this one. Generally considered a positive card indicates sex and sexual energy or alternatively change for the better. However less often it focuses on the destructive nature of change. Alex [ChaCha] 34:33 Ah, buildings going down! Daniel [GM] 34:36 Something of import is coming to an end. So the guards are chasing you. Now, you're short, you are dodging out of the way quite handily, which is pretty impressive considering you don't know the city.But you are making a ruckus and there's a part of you that one that there's a little like that like that rational voice in the back of your mind just wondering, "am I gonna get like a warrant for my arrest? So I set something that's part of the palace on fire." But you you managed to run and you managed to dodge these guards. And, you know, you feel like you've lost them. And at that point, you're still running a little bit longer just to be sure. And you're a nano, right? Alex [ChaCha] 35:30 Mm hmm. Daniel [GM] 35:31 Yeah. So you're not in the best shape to begin with. And so you, you finally like managed to like, screech yourself to a halt. You're this dank alley in just this terrible section of town now, and you're standing there like trying to catch your breath. And that's when you notice a strange door. It doesn't make sense for the door to be in the alley. It looks like a front door but why would a door open up into the alley? But you do see a sign on it. And the sign says "Explorers Wanted: inquire within". Alex [ChaCha] 36:15 She's focused on the wanted part, like somebody might want me! And she's going for it. wheezing... Daniel [GM] 36:28 So you knock on the door. And after a moment, the door opens. And you see an elderly woman and she hit she looks at you and says, [as Momma Jerra] Ah, I was wondering when someone like you would get here. Come on in, Chacha. Let's have a conversation, Momma Jerra will take care of you. And then the scene goes dark and that's where we'll cut it. Transcribed by https://otter.ai