Salutations, traveler. Welcome back to the Sea of Stars.
I'm Tronetotl and this is my bridge.
Today I might have found what is quite possibly the easiest way to generate power that I have ever experienced.
Today was my first day as a substitute teacher.
The power I gained from taking roll call at the beginning of class 11 was enough for me to create a small demie universe
where everyone wears their pants on their heads and walks around with their privates out.
It entertained me for like three seconds and then I got bored and destroyed it, but you know, the potential's there.
So anyway, one, two, three, eyes on me.
Consider your fee paid. Now let us return to our story.
Close your eyes and listen to the sound of my voice.
We find the party playing games with rules they don't understand and stakes they have no way of knowing.
And being completely fine with that, I'm sure it'll go fine. Back to our story.
Oh, God.
Okay, do you guys want to resolve Makepeace first or are you guys gonna do stuff first?
I can go last. I haven't talked a lot today.
Okay, so Makepeace heads off. As he does, the woman that you guys have been talking to walks up behind you guys
and is just fainting herself and goes, Mistress Asari, oh, you are. Just, mwah, just quite the capture.
Well done again. Just, mmm.
Well, thank you, sweetheart. Remind me your name.
She goes, oh, I'm, I'm Selin. I don't expect you to remember my name. That's a new one. You know, after the change.
The change?
Yeah, you know how perception and how we have to present ourselves and all that?
Of course.
I mean, when we first started this thing, we were a traveling band of minstrels and it was great.
That was great fun. You hung out here for a while.
I, yes.
A little deception.
She's like, I did?
Umm, deception.
Twelve?
Okay. She's like, she seems to not really be listening to what you're saying at all.
Fair enough.
Just kind of talking. And she goes, you know, this is probably not my favorite. I don't really like the idea of, you know, women's song.
It's like back in the harem days when we were harem. But without the hot eunuchs, it's, you know, you know how it is.
Which one's been your favorite?
Oh, so far? I like when we just revert back to a normal tavern. That's always a good time.
Besides that, it's hard to say. There's been some good ones.
How often does it switch to a tavern?
No, just usually in times of flux where the world really doesn't know what it's going to be yet. If you look around, you'll notice she starts pointing out spots in the room where it goes from being like this luxurious Victorian ballroom to like just plain wooden slats and stuff.
Starting to switch back a little bit usually takes about a decade.
Though I think it might actually be turning into something immediately after. I'm excited for that. I hope it's something good.
The bartender's a good addition. Before there was just like glasses of wine and fanning yourself. You get cigarettes now? That's good.
Sounds like an upgrade, I suppose. So you must be quite the actress.
Oh, I don't flatter myself, darling.
Well, you have a main role. Really.
I mean, in the role of diplomacy check.
So that'll be a dirty 20.
She looks her flannel and starts flailing herself. You know, darling, he is honing my craft and everything.
And then she starts leading you around and talking to people. And as you talk to more and more people, what are you guys trying to do?
I'm just kind of tagging along. This is really outside my comfort zone.
Because you're just not not saying anything. I feel like it's the safer.
As as she wanders around, she just starts picking at that being like, ah, and what was your name there?
Dwarf. I say in a smallish voice, Thross.
Thross. That's a good dwarf name, I guess. There's been quite a few of the dwarves around here. Why don't you go talk to them?
I look around the room and there's some dwarves. OK.
So for right now, I'll still tag along, but I'll keep my eye on the dwarves. See what. OK. What's what?
She continues to lead you around talking to mostly a sario and just every once in a while dropping hints like maybe you should go talk to this.
I don't know that guy and just just increasingly increasingly blatant.
Like just go away, man. I want to talk to this lady. Can I do a perception check to see if I can pick up on this not so subtle hints? Yep.
Um. Zero. You have no idea. You're just following her around.
As she leads you around, she keeps introducing you to people and having you talk.
And finally, she's like, so, so sorry. Why are you here? There's a few reasons I'm here.
What can you do? You must be. You must know the Queen of Secrets. Of course.
So what do you think of her?
I think she's a fine monarch that rules justly and nobly. Obviously. Obviously.
You are right. Sorry. Yeah, I'm feeling quite fine.
I do feel fine.
So that that's actually twenty four. Twenty four. OK.
Well, you know how she is and how she's got her ears everywhere.
She does. But there's a way of flattering a person while figuring them out.
Anyway, we're looking for someone. I'm hoping you can help me find them.
Who's that?
Well, who would we talk to if we were looking to find somebody who maybe doesn't want to be found?
Probably the Queen. I might know. I got some secrets.
Hmm. What are you looking for?
Well, I need you to keep this between us. Just us girls.
Oh, darling, I am. This is the the the Court of Secrets. Of course I can keep a secret.
We're looking for a man named Howell.
Oh. That's one heck of a look there, darling.
You know him?
Yes, I know him.
Intimately?
Oh, no, nothing like that. More accurate to say that I know of him.
Any idea where we could find him?
I'd like to help you, darling, but that's going to require some payment. You know how it is.
Also, I can't actually give you that one. You're gonna have to talk to the Queen of Secrets for that.
Wonderful. And do you... and how could we get in to see the Queen?
Oh, you need a favor. That I can give you.
Go on.
Well, you have to earn it, but I can certainly get you a favor for an audience with the Queen. I'm surprised you need to ask.
Have you tried just going up there?
Not yet. I probably should try that first.
Hmm.
But I'll come back if I still need one. Thank you so much for the offer.
Yes. Sure, sure. Your friends are gonna need an invite, though, so...
This is true. What do you think, Thross?
I'm up for doing a favor.
Oh, not doing a favor. We're gonna play a game. Are you interested?
What kind of game?
It's called Tell Me Something. It's our favorite game.
I dropped my head like I should have expected it.
Yeah, why not? Let's play.
Oh, excellent. Does your beautiful friend want to play with us?
I'd be so grateful to do.
That's a loaded question.
So, we're gonna switch gears and we're gonna move over to Makepeace.
Makepeace, you go up to the bar.
I go up to the bar and I say, howdy.
He's sitting there polishing his drink and goes, howdy, what can I do for you?
Hopefully a few things. I do need some drinks.
Of course.
So, I'm gonna need an ale for a dwarf.
I'm gonna need something light for a seemingly eternal being.
And for myself, I will take a very strong tea and a very strong whiskey separate.
Fair enough. He turns around and starts getting your drinks.
You know, I've been looking all over this town for a man.
I was told he could help me. It's his brother. I met him in Abrakeshi.
He seems to look around at that.
I was very lucky that his brother liked me. If he didn't, he probably would have ripped me apart.
I don't mean that figuratively. I mean with his teeth.
He then adds and goes, I think I see where this is going.
You must be Makepeace Clover.
I am.
I told to expect you. Took you long enough.
It's kind of hard to actually move around this town in the shifts. I hope you understand that.
Well, that's just because you're used to moving around the real world.
Yeah. Yep. I agree with that.
I was wondering if you could help me out.
Mr. Vazquez was very, well he was pretty confident you could.
His name is Vaz, is that correct?
Yep. That'd be me.
Well, I'm looking for two things. I'm looking for a woman named Shonky who was taken.
I think that we might have some kind of lead of the Bonn-Austerian household.
But out of leery of that actually be the case. I believe that that's not true.
Well, you'd be right to be leery. She ain't there no more.
No more? No more.
No, she was there previously.
She was. She got sent there. A friend of mine did the deal actually.
Who was that?
Gentlemen you might know as Howell.
Oh, that was the second person I'm looking for.
Fortunately, she said screw the bank and ran off with her and a bunch of other people.
So where's Howell?
He's managed to put together quite a phone. He's got his own little secret pocket dimension he hangs out in.
You've got to kid me. Why can't he just be in a goddamn warehouse somewhere?
I mean that's probably what it is. He's not very creative, but to be clear, this is a pocket dimension. You got that, right?
No.
You thought there's a place in the world where swirling mist just changes to whatever you want it to be.
Well, you put it like that. It sounds stupid. But, sure.
No one ever called Judge stupid, huh? Not to their face at least.
How can I find your friend? And can you help me with that?
Finding Howell? I can't help you find Howell. I know where he is, but you can't get there unless you know the way and I don't.
He did proposition me, but I see where that's going. You don't go up against the bank and win.
We'll see. We'll see about that. So how would I go about finding your friend?
Well, he stopped by the Queen and got a favor for him when he came through.
I think that favor was the location of where he was heading. So, I think you gotta talk to her.
I appreciate that. I may talk to you again if that's alright.
Oh, you can come talk to me anytime, son. Just don't do it with your judge's clothes on again. Gives me a bad rep. I'm a criminal, you know. On the run.
Not around me. They like me here.
Oh, yeah. They like the military types. You guys always have good secrets.
I say, well, be seeing you.
Oh, make peace. Word of caution. Don't let them know too much about you here, otherwise you'll never leave. You understand?
I believe I do. And I push him a tail.
He picks it up and flicks it back to you and goes, son, I was a hunter for damn near fifty years. You think I need your money?
I was being polite.
Fair enough.
You get good service. You deserve tip.
Well, the sentiment is appreciated, but money's meaningless here.
I take the whiskey back and I take the tea just as fast.
He did not charge you for those?
No.
Okay.
And then I walk over holding the drink he made for a sorrel that is unspecified in the ALF for a toss. And I go find that. Okay?
That happens.
Okay. You're listening to Risk and Reputation, CSR story. Oh boy, that was an experience.
These kids don't listen. They just run around and scream and spit on things. Gross.
Let's just go to ads.
No, no, you don't put that in your mouth to me. That's not a mouth thing.
Welcome back to the sea of stars. This is this is not what I thought I was setting up for.
These children are evil on the scale of the greatest beings I've ever met. This is insane.
What am I doing here?
Back to our story.
You walk back and you see the woman that first created you walking around introducing the sorrow to people while trying to brush the frost off pretty hard.
Just talking to sorrows ear off and giving occasional.
Yes, you know, you could go get a drink at the bar. You could go get you could go get a drink at the bar, boy.
Push the drink.
Don't roll again. You already failed. You just don't know.
Push the drink to throw us his hand and say no, that's not necessary.
I have one for you. Sorry. I have one for you as well.
Thank you, darling.
You know, I was waiting for you to get back here. Maybe it's your friend agreed to play a game.
It takes three to play.
Is it a game we tell you things by ourselves?
You don't tell you something or tell me something.
I'll tell you first. I'm a terrible liar.
Secondly, I love this place.
I'm glad to hear you appreciate it.
Anyway, so here's the game.
We're going to all stand in a little circle.
It's going to make it so we can't tell a lie.
And we're all going to get we're all going to attempt to get each other's deepest secrets out of them.
Why?
Well, this is the lady solid with trading secrets.
That's how we make our money.
We're trading secrets, but it seems to me that you wind up on the winning end of those exchanges more often than not.
Oh, pretty much all the time. Yeah.
So why don't we just assume that's what happened and we just bargain for the thing that we actually need from you?
Oh, you misunderstand me, Maypiece.
You see, I'm always bored.
This is how I get my entertainment. I don't care about whatever you give me.
I just want the game.
What do we get if we win?
Secrets and a pass to go see the Queen.
Allow me a quick sidebar with my companions, could you please?
I bring you guys in as close as possible to the point where you smell the matcha tea and whiskey out of my breath.
That delightful combination. You know what it is.
And I whisper to both of you, if we reveal too much about ourselves, we will never leave this place.
We couldn't say that.
Roll perception.
It's extremely high.
It's 27.
27. Okay.
You see, you notice that, um, Celene moved up behind you very, like, silently.
But she's now staying, like, pretty much in your group.
Does that happen before or after I say what I said?
That happens before.
So I look at her and I say, it is rude to intrude.
And that's not us giving you secrets. That's you taking them.
Is that the way you do business?
I'm okay with either, to be honest.
Why not?
So we could just leave and find some other way.
Or you could have to, or you could play a game with Osorio.
V, Osorio.
I'd love to play my game with Osorio. That sounds great. Are you up for it, Osorio?
Why don't you go sit down and we'll be with you in just a second. Please, mistress.
Roll the diplomacy.
I got you plus five.
And so that's gonna be a clean up.
You know, Makepeace, if you weren't so cute, I might just need to eat you up.
And then she walks away.
That was literal. Do you understand that?
I keep telling you about this place. I feel like neither of you are listening to me that hard.
I'm shaking my head.
We could go elsewhere to find.
I'm not sure that we could.
Well, what if I go by myself? I might be able to get in with just my, myself.
That's where we're person getting in there. What happens if you have one favor you can ask? What are you gonna ask?
I'm gonna ask for yours. I think we need to go somewhere else for mine.
Oh no, we both need it.
I thought that you needed to see the queen.
I do.
That's the main reason we came here. I got my information mostly already.
You did.
I do. I need to find my secrets dealer.
Well, I don't know that we need to get your favor from her though.
But now we know what we're looking for.
I'm pretty sure I need to talk to her about my favor.
The queen, yes. I mean, selling.
It doesn't need to be her favor.
What about Vazu? Is that who you were talking to?
Yes, that's where I've got some new information. How's your drink, by the way?
I'll smell it. What does it smell like?
How's your ale?
I've already downed it.
The ale was good, the whiskey was good, the tea was good. You got lemonade?
I said something light for a person who is thousands of years old.
Oh, yeah. He gave you a very, very light glass of wine.
Okay.
Half a glass evaporated before you were taken to the tree. That's how light it is.
It's pretty good.
Alright, so what are we doing?
I say to you, who else can grant the favor to see the queen, man?
Well, we had one other location to try, didn't we?
You've been to the port, you've been to the bank, you are at the Lee's Solar right now.
No, we're out of spots.
We're out of options. And this is not something that your man could do for us?
No.
Okay. Doesn't look like we have a lot of options then.
Well, I agree with that, so I'll tell you again.
If we disclose too much about ourselves, we will never leave. Thrust.
Good luck.
Thrust, what do you need from the queen, darling?
Nothing, really. I'm along for the ride. Should I roll a deception for that?
Yep.
Yeah.
So should I? I mean, I have no reason not to trust you.
Yeah, it's going to be a low DC at this point, but go for it.
But do I still have my money?
I would, no.
Who might?
I would definitely be wary. I want to know what Thrust is about.
Okay.
I'm sorry a lot better now, and I know next to nothing about her.
What did you roll?
A nat 20.
Okay.
Whoa!
Yep. That's fine.
So you, yeah, that's, I believe you.
You can try, but you have to roll a nat 20.
No, I don't think that's how it works. I think the contested rolls aren't any in this game.
Oh, I'm sorry. It's...
It's DCs.
Okay.
It would be a 19, sorry, even if it's a nat 20.
Yeah, it's a nat 20 though.
Okay.
That's not a critical success.
Yeah, I'll take that.
Either way, you're the boss.
I'll take that.
Okay. So...
So I want to say to Thrust real quick. So what is your... why are you still with us, darlin'?
Because I have nowhere else to go, and you guys seem to know how to find people.
And you need to find people?
Not Azario.
Not me.
I'm looking at Azario.
So if you're just along for the ride, why are you interested in finding people?
I... I just...
I'd have stepped in the nat 20.
No, I would have stepped in that. I would have stepped in that.
Yeah, that's fine. But respect the nat 20.
I'm looking for a friend.
That's why it's a curious question instead of an accusational question.
Yeah, I'm looking for a friend.
That's why it's diplomacy instead of intimidation.
I think that the Queen of Secrets could help you try to find your friend.
But you've really got to be cagey about how you withhold information here. This is a delicate game.
Good to know.
Okay. I really feel like you don't want to... okay. All right, we're gonna...
I don't really understand. I probably don't understand.
Okay. You guys approach...
Actually, Thrust, if you could. We're up there, my friend at the bar. I'll tell him that I sent you.
I'll tell him you're about to play a game and you're not a very good ally.
Okay.
And I'll tell him you'd appreciate it if you'd give yourself the steal your resolve.
Steal my resolve?
Yeah.
Okay. I'll lead the group and go over there.
Okay. This is a swing of the dark.
Walk over. Make peace. Roll a...
Roll a diplomacy check.
That is a 12 on the dice plus 5 plus 5.
That's 17?
No, that's a 22.
22? Okay. You get a plus 2 circumstance bonus to the diplomacy check you're about to do.
Oh, great.
So you won't use any inspiration.
Yes. Because I would have the negative 4.
Yep.
Right?
For what?
Circumstance bonus.
Oh, because you dress yes. Yes, you would.
Yeah.
Would that apply to even Devozio who sees a lot of this?
No, that's fine.
That's fine.
Yes, it would. Just roll.
Okay.
And then roll your...
Tell him what you're going to use inspiration as.
You said yes, you would.
God damn it.
It's a 3.
That's a 3? Okay.
And then D.
It's a 10.
It's a 10 plus minus 4.
We won't count towards Vazio.
Okay.
But yeah, you...
It's a 12.
Plus 2, so it's a 12.
He looks at you.
Looks over at Makepeace.
I nod to him.
He mouths...
I know.
Tiny.
Really good for radio.
Okay.
Sorry.
For the people at home, we were just making hand signs showing how big of a favorite he's going to be.
I knew it was going to be with a curtain.
That's hilarious.
Okay, so...
Makepeace, he mouths favor at you.
Can you cast a message at me?
Yeah, we'll say he casts his message.
He says, it's going to take a favor, Makepeace.
I'll say a small one.
A small one?
How about a medium sized one?
I'll do medium as long as I have the reserve of the right to say no.
I won't do something I can't abide by.
Sure enough.
I can help you friend out.
Okay.
He takes something out and puts a vial in front of you.
Drink up, kid.
I look at him and I would look over at Makepeace and I'd open the vial and drink it.
Okay, roll a four to two to save.
And this would still be minus?
No, no, no. This is not a charisma check.
15.
15? Okay, good enough.
You feel an immediate pain in your stomach, but it passes.
And then you stand up a little bit straighter.
You feel confident, because if you'd always know the right thing to say.
Ooh, that's awesome.
That's great for Ross.
That's great.
That's going to be a plus four circumstance bonus to diplomacy, deception, and intimidation checks.
That's true.
So you two would be doing a talk.
Okay.
Elbow and upper chest.
So Celine obviously saw that interaction.
Walks over and he goes, hmm.
Oh, darling.
You think you're ready now?
Yes.
All right.
First team to give up a favor with losers.
To us, you get nothing and we get your secrets.
What do you mean our secrets?
You get the secret we get from you, whatever it is.
Okay.
If you get one of our secrets, you win.
And then you'll get your invitations.
And what are the rules of the game?
Oh, not much.
She just snaps her fingers and suddenly a circle forms around you.
People just push out to the outsides of it.
We each we ask each other a series of questions that you're forced to answer.
If you refuse to answer, you lose.
If you tell a lie, you lose.
If you tell a secret, you lose.
Goal is to make it as long as you can without giving up your secrets.
Now, I've got four companions behind me.
There is a man who is dressed in the dark tailcoats.
He's kind of more a little bit disheveled.
He's got his hands in his pockets.
He's kind of slouching.
There's someone wearing a military outfit.
It could be a man or a woman.
I'm standing very erect and looking you guys right in the eyes.
There is a young female who is dressed, dressed very finely.
She's not wearing the hoop skirts.
She's wearing a more Arabian sort of dress.
And there is one more lady or one more gentleman dressed in very fine clothes and like a doublet and a full coat and everything from an older time.
Standing there as well.
You're listening to Risk and Reputation, a CFS Star story.
I'm on my break.
This room smells of sadness and despair and hopelessness.
And for some reason, everyone here is trying to be cheerful and do their jobs.
I just don't understand that this is way more work than is required.
I mean, they could just, I don't know, jump off a building and get the same effect.
Well, hopefully these ads cheer everyone up.
Welcome back to the CFS Star's Traveler.
This has been, well, there's more loneliness and, you know, broken ego in this place than in any adventure I've ever led people on.
It is quite devastating really.
And, you know, I guess at least the coffee is burnt.
It's burnt.
The goddamn coffee is burnt.
Back to our story.
I'd like to roll a, it would be a sense motive in wanting you, but...
Any perception.
I want to roll to see which one of them I think is the easiest to crack.
Okay.
Do you want to make that roll for me?
Sure.
I'm not asking you, I was asking if that was your preference.
Yes.
Okay, that's okay.
I made the roll for you.
Chris, do you want to take a look at that?
Yeah, that's good.
That's a nat 20.
So does he get a point now?
Hell yes.
Yes, he gets a good score.
Nice.
So, you know that the person that's going to be hardest to crack are going to be M and Wick.
So the two easiest are going to be Gene and Jacqueline.
That's why he doesn't separate the two of them?
Well, you need to pick two.
Oh, okay.
So with that nat 20, the ranking is going to be Jacqueline is going to be the easiest to crack.
M is going to be, oh I should have said this, Jacqueline is a dwarf.
Jacqueline is going to be the easiest to crack, M is going to be the hardest to crack, Gene
is going to be the second easiest to crack, and Wick is going to be the second hardest.
So we'll take Gene and Jacqueline, right?
So Makepeace points to those two.
We actually don't know their names.
Okay, sorry.
So Makepeace cat goes rogue and points to them and doesn't consult either, sorry.
Okay, do you guys have a reaction to that?
I give them a look, but I don't do anything else.
Yeah, that's filed for later.
Okay.
So you point to the lady in the, the gentleman that's in the military garb and they step
up.
Oh, excellent choice, excellent choices.
Jacqueline, she's from Cardozoa, was at one point, and this is Gene, he's from Vargenzia,
again, was at one point.
Do I get any additional information beyond that?
Because it is a crit, but that's also 33.
I just ranked them perfectly for you.
So you guys, so Selene steps up and goes, all right, let's get this potty started.
First up, Makepeace Dolly, what's your biggest secret?
For the rules of this, just so you know, you can attempt to lie.
You will have to make a con save followed by a deception check if you want to.
I'm getting the plus fives on all of those though.
And can I attempt to obfuscate?
You can obfuscate as much as you want.
Without lying.
Yes.
That is the game, is to try and tell your secrets without actually telling your secrets.
I say to her, what's your biggest secret?
Well, you know, I never ranked them before.
What kind of ranking system would you prefer?
Oh, you have one in your head, Dolly.
I've got many in my head.
Is that true?
Yes.
Just give me one of them, Dolly.
It's been so hard to choose just one.
Could you give me some kind of direction?
The last question was pretty straightforward.
You can either answer it or not.
It's up to you, Makepeace.
I'm going to say, I'm going to be lying.
But I'm going to lie in a way that I feel skirts the truth.
Alright, let's hear you lie and then I'll tell you what you need to do.
I'm going to say to your...
I can't stand when people call me a hero because I didn't do anything worth noting.
You don't believe that.
No.
But this...
Roll a con save.
Partially very true.
Yep. Roll a con save.
There's no cons. It's 14.
Alright, roll a 14 save.
That is going to be 18.
18 doesn't do it.
I mean, I could use an inspo.
No, you can't.
I didn't think about doing that before.
You cramp up.
And she just looks at you sadly and goes,
Well, Makepeace, you're out.
That sucks.
I guess it's my question again.
Thras, that's your name, right?
It is.
What's your biggest secret?
If a sheep flees the fold, is it to hide from a wolf?
A proverb is your biggest secret.
In other words?
Roll a...
You can either roll...
Because it's not a lie.
It's not. You can either roll performance, or you can roll...
The other one.
I think it would be a no.
Sorry, you can either roll performance, or you can roll diplomacy.
It's your choice.
Okay, let me do diplomacy.
Let me just look it up real quick.
Oh, great.
So I'm going to use one of these as well.
Nat 20.
Whoa!
She goes, That is just...
She goes, Hmm, interestingly put, I'm going to be interested to see where that comes from.
I guess it's your turn.
Great.
Was it the dwarf?
Was the dwarf the easiest one?
Yeah.
It was Jacqueline, right?
So I turned to Jacqueline and asked, What is your biggest secret?
My biggest secret?
My biggest secret is that...
My biggest secret is that I once made something fall on a man.
Okay.
Do I do perception?
Yep.
Okay.
Sorry, the game's straightforward, but it's also a little complicated.
Yep.
Yeah.
You got a Nat 20?
Oh, awesome.
Yes.
Oh, these new dice are helping me.
She is telling the truth.
There is obviously more to it than that to get the full secret, but she is telling the truth.
Okay.
So now it's their turn?
Yep.
She goes, All right.
So he can't ask more?
Nope.
It's one question at a time.
Gotcha.
The reason that yours went on so long is because you kept asking back and forth.
She goes, All right, sorry.
What's your biggest secret?
My biggest secret is a memory lost.
Roll a Diplomacy or Performance check.
So you want a performance.
Okay.
Twenty-three.
Okay.
So now it's your turn?
Where did your biggest secret happen?
Who you talking to?
So I think the gentleman approached me.
He goes, No, Jacqueline asked you.
Oh, Jacqueline?
Asked me?
Okay.
So I'll ask.
You can ask whoever you want.
I'll ask her.
You want to ask Jacqueline, the dwarf?
Sorry.
You want to ask the gentleman?
No, the main check.
Oh, okay.
She goes, Well, darling, my secret happened in Nabokashy.
How does it proceed now?
So she looks back at you and goes, This memory lost.
What was it about?
My family.
And what was your memory about?
Her memory?
You say your family, so she goes, Roll a diplomacy or a performance check?
Twenty-two.
My secret.
Well, darling, my secret involves plants.
Big ones.
Ross.
My turn.
Or actually, it's, or do.
Make pieces of serious.
Yeah, one question out of why.
Make pieces of literally furious.
Why?
Because.
Yeah, because you're out?
Yeah, because he's out.
I thought it was going to be more like that, too, where you just have to keep asking questions.
Yeah, I wish I knew the rules.
I would have done a lot better if I knew the rules.
So this time, Gene goes.
Oi, you, dwarf.
What type of woos were you learning from?
I would say what type of woos were you learning from?
The creature beyond my comprehension.
OK, role persuasion or diplomacy.
OK.
We're just going to call it the role.
It's just standing over my inspiration, but.
Twenty two plus.
Twenty five.
OK, yes.
Interesting.
It's your turn.
I'm going to focus back in on the dwarf and say.
What was the result of your secret?
A man died.
Roll perception.
Seven.
I'm sorry.
It would be a 14.
It's 14.
Perception.
Gene gets it.
Sweet.
She's lying.
So I'm going to call her out on the line.
Call her out on the line.
Yeah.
All right.
You're listening to risking reputation, I see you, Star Story.
I stopped getting power from the children around lunchtime.
Now they don't listen to me at all.
And I just got yelled at by a parent whose child will chair at me.
And somehow that's my fault.
Here's ads.
Oh, God, please.
Let's just call it ads.
You're listening to Welcome Back.
I don't know.
See you, Star.
No, you baby.
So she doesn't flinch from whatever happened.
You call her out in the line.
She narrows her eyes and goes, you got me.
And she steps back.
So that puts it at Thross's turn again.
Oh, you got?
OK.
It was Selene, right?
Or?
Selene is the main lady.
I'm sorry.
And then Jean is the military guy.
So I'm going to ask Selene what her.
So I'm going to say what who was involved in your biggest secret?
A bean so well, darling, it's a bean so vast you could hardly
comprehend the mind.
I know real perception.
Sorry, that was not cox.
And that one.
You believe she's lying.
OK.
So I have to call her out on it.
Yes.
I'm not, darling.
OK.
You lose a tag.
OK.
All right, she was even goes.
So this baby on your your your perception, what type of creature was it?
It was.
Going back to my proverb, it was a wolf who walks in the caves below.
A wolf who walks in the caves below roll a perception check because he's the same the same dodge twice.
I'm going to give you a minus two circumstance bonus to it.
OK.
I thought I was just continuing with the.
You'd be so using the same one twice in a row.
No, no.
So I'm not using the same one.
I'm just using the same metaphor because they already know it's a wolf.
OK.
So I'm continuing with the description.
I mean, it wasn't really a wolf.
Yes, but I'm going with the proverb.
OK.
I'm saying that because because you're because you're using the same allusion to a wolf before it could be like misleading.
So I'm going to give you a minus two circumstance bonus here.
OK.
That's easy.
No, no.
Yeah.
That's not good.
So it's a.
Oh, great.
Eight plus four is twelve.
Fourteen.
She looks at you and goes.
What kind of wolf is what I asked.
A wolf that I don't even understand and I don't use that one already as well.
Oh, I'm sorry.
No, comprehend.
Copy had to understand the same thing.
Oh, that's fair.
So she goes, No, here, do you not wish to answer?
No, no.
I'm just tongue tied.
So.
A being which I cannot walk on the same plane as.
That's a lie.
No, I can't.
Why not?
I can't walk in the abyss or you can walk here, though.
But I can't walk in his home.
OK, so that's how you're phrasing it.
Yeah, yeah, I'm sorry.
I should have phrased it that way.
Give yourself.
Sorry, it's hard to come up with on this.
Give yourself a another perception or another diplomacy or performance check and give yourself a minus four to that.
And I minus four.
OK.
And using another inspo.
Would help if I used to T20 eight.
This for so I'll just it just cancels out.
OK, so it's only an eleven eleven.
OK, so she goes.
I'll take that this time, Ross, but I want some better answers next time.
I'll see what I can do now.
All right, your turn.
You know, you shouldn't be so hot on yourself.
I'm being so fast and powerful.
It's not your fault.
What happened?
What did happen?
Is maybe slow to talk?
Yeah, you talk.
But maybe with China, you are seeing quite would.
Oh, OK.
You're allowed to vote.
You can make that statement.
But I want you to roll a performance check in beat eight twenty.
Or or a or a deception.
You sort of plus five.
OK, so that is.
Possible.
Give me another negative time.
Twenty.
OK, so it only needs to win helping you or trust.
He says you're acting quite wouldn't do either of you understand that reference.
As players.
Yes, can I make a person?
Well, I mean, she hasn't said anything, right?
She hasn't.
Make peace just gave you an answer.
Do either of you understand?
I wouldn't get the reference.
Everything would be in stone for me.
OK, I'm going to have you roll.
I don't think you would get it no matter what.
I'll give you an insight check into what make peace of saying.
I'm going to give you a plus two circumstance bonus because he succeeded on his check.
And I want you to be called an 18.
OK, so it's perception here, right?
Yeah.
So I have to be an 18.
I have the plus two here.
Oh, it's too late.
God, I don't think that's going to make it.
So that's eight.
Don't you have a plus two social stuff?
Anyways, yeah.
From having the 17.
17.
Yeah.
OK, you don't get the reference.
Yeah.
She gives me or she gives me a piece of work.
Stitches my mouth shut magically.
Your question was?
It wasn't her fault what happened.
So what happened?
Oh, what happened?
Oh yeah, she goes, well, Dolly, I took some things from some folks that did want me to take them.
They were pretty mad about it.
That's why I'm here.
Perception?
Yeah.
Not rolling on 12.
You think she's telling the truth?
Mm hmm.
All right, my turn.
You say you can't walk on the same plane on it.
Are we talking angels, demons, outsiders?
What is it?
None.
Huh, interesting.
Very interesting.
Your turn, Thross.
I lost my turn.
You already did.
You lost your turn.
Oh, I'm sorry.
I thought I lost it.
Going to her again.
I'm going to say how large of the secrets did you take from these people?
How large of the secrets?
How big was the secret that you took?
Oh, I didn't take any secrets from them, Dolly.
I just took things.
I'm going to roll an insight on that.
Yeah, it's not great.
It's a, uh, a deperception.
Mm hmm.
So, 15.
You think she's telling the truth.
Okay.
All right.
So, I think we're getting to the meat of it here then, Dolly.
You ran away from a big bad monster, right?
In a way.
Okay.
Um, that was a very unclear answer.
So, she's going to go, you need to give me a little bit more than that, Dolly.
I didn't run from a monster.
Roll deception.
I didn't run from a monster.
I ran from, uh, I'm running from the monastery.
Yeah.
So, it's not a lie.
Oh, not a monster.
Yeah, but.
Because then, idea.
No, no, no.
I think that's well played by Thross.
Yeah.
Because the idea doesn't walk on my plane.
Roll a perception.
Okay.
Perception.
Persuasion.
Diplomacy.
Diplomacy or performance.
There we go.
Okay.
17 plus 4.
21.
21 works.
Yes.
Very interesting.
And just to clarify, it's, while the creature I encountered scared me, it's not what I'm
running from.
That's true.
That's actually very true.
Uh, Isara, it's your turn.
Okay.
But they love you here.
Wouldn't you say, well, I would say you must be one of the most talented women in the joint.
It's an honor to be here.
So, what brought you here?
Roll a diplomacy check.
Okay, I'll cash in.
Diplomacy.
Nice.
27.
27 is a success, but not a critical success.
Well, darling.
I broke what you might call a taboo for my people and did something I shouldn't have.
Roll a...
See, if Maypiece were still playing, he'd know exactly what she did.
I do know exactly what she did.
Yeah.
Maypiece still heard the secret.
He's not giving up his.
He retains the secret when he leaves.
Yeah, that's true.
You're out of the game, so you haven't been able to ask questions.
But you can make statements, right?
But if you want to make a statement, you can make a statement.
You don't have a message, do you?
I do, but...
Maypiece would say, I wonder if we can count on your honesty.
Do you count that the thing you stole is real?
Is it just laying around somewhere where people can just see it?
I don't think either of them are going to get that reference.
It was at her, though.
Oh, you say that to her.
She goes, you can't ask me questions, darling.
I apologize.
That's my misunderstanding of the game.
I feel like I'm doing business on another level, a new bar set, really.
Yes, I bet you do, Maypiece.
Anyway.
Could I roll to see if I can get anything?
A perception check to see if you got that.
23.
Okay.
I mean, it's really hard for, I think, them to get that.
That particular thing. She understands it.
She understands it.
But Maypiece is being intentionally vague because Maypiece keeps his secrets.
And that's close to one of them.
So, you know what I mean?
Yeah, I understand what you're saying.
Maypiece wouldn't break his secret.
I will say I'll give you an inspo dice for that.
But Asario, I'm going to say with that, you do know the biggest taboo in Abukashi.
What is it?
That is taking living ironwood from the trees.
Oh, okay.
And I rolled to 26. I wouldn't understand it.
You wouldn't understand it regardless, yeah.
So do we just have to figure out what their secret is?
Or do we have to get them to admit it?
Well, if you know that taboo, then you should...
You just need to ask her, is this what happened?
Yeah, and then she can...if she lies to them, obviously.
Is it my turn?
No.
Sweet child, did you take living ironwood from the trees in your home?
Of course not, darling.
Dull perception.
Oh, God, you don't need to.
Oh, nice.
94.
I really hate when he pulls a dice on her.
I get anxiety.
For people that hold a jake, roll the dice and then pick it out of the dice tray
and move it away so the cat can see it, which is usually a fuck you at a natural 20.
Yeah.
Okay, so she goes...
I'm gonna do it the day of tomorrow.
She flinches and goes, yes, for the record, the way you do it is you cast compulsion on the tree to make it grow.
And then it hates when it grows so much it falls off.
It'll kill the growth eventually, but you can make some profit while you do it, darling, in case you're interested.
Anyway...
I look completely lost, but...
Well done.
How does Makepeace feel about that?
Makepeace is really happy that he couldn't give up any of his secrets.
He doesn't...
He was able to help, too.
He doesn't really...
How does Makepeace feel about...
Makepeace is furious at himself for not grasping the game earlier.
He is very arrogant about his intelligence. Unlikely.
How does...
Okay.
How does Makepeace feel about the...
You know what?
We'll do this in a callback.
Selene looks at you and goes, all right, I will send over that the three of you are invited to see the Queen.
Have fun.
Thank you for the game.
I literally jump in the air and say, yay!
Full on anime.
Yeah!
And that's where we're gonna end the session.
You've been listening to Whiscam Reputation, a SEA of Stars story.
Please listen after the credits for a sample of Asariospal, one of our Patreon backstories.
Patreon is the main way that we support ourselves on this podcast, so please consider subscribing.
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So anyway, the SEA of Stars is the sole property of Andy Lou's Media.
It may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without our expressed written consent.
The music in this episode was scored and produced by BasementGuy and Katrina Sheets.
We'd like to give a special shout out to our families, who again have been supporting us through all of this,
and making sure we have time to record and do all that fun stuff.
Also, please follow us on our social media to get all the latest updates and to listen to our witty banter.
We are at Andy Lou Media on Facebook, and Andy at Andy Lou Media on X of Twitter, whatever you're calling it these days.
And finally, I'd like to thank our cast.
Thomas, I didn't forget, I just misremembered, Bellinger as Makepeace Clover.
Chris, Saturday's the rugby day.
Meh.
And Katrina, I can play any day because I don't have kids.
Sheets, as a sorrel.
As always, it has been a pleasure to lead you through the SEA of Stars.
Now here's a sorrel's ball.
The pounding rain is thundering off the thatch and terracotta all around you.
The dark seems to close in around you.
Maybe a magical effect?
Your feet slap off the flagstones.
Slap, slap, slap, slap!
And your breath is becoming more and more labored.
Beside you, your trusty familiar flies, keeping pace and calling out directions.
You know those that chase you.
You know that you have no hope of fighting them.
All around you, you hear their taunts.
Come on, Izzy!
It'd be so much less work if you just stopped.
I mean, really.
There's no profit in running a sorrel.
Show some pride, a sorrel, and stand and fight.
As you run.
What are you thinking?
She'll be thinking...
How did I get myself in this situation?
How did I end up here?
Okay.
Yeah, I don't know.
I'm not really sure what the... who's chasing her.
So, are these people she knows?
They are. Maybe.
Roll a will save for me, please.
Okay, here we go.
For these will saves, you can add a 15, a 10, a 3, a 1, or subtract 4 from your roll.
You can do one of those each time, and there will be things that will take away the higher rolls if you fail to do them.
If you fail to do those things?
The DC of your rolls are as follows.
One is a DC 20, one is a DC 15, one is a DC 30, one is a DC 10, and one is a DC 25.
Oh my goodness.
Not in any specific order.
Oh boy.
So, I can add those numbers, the previous numbers, just at any time?
Yep, you pick which one you want to add for.
Right now, you are thinking about people chasing you.
Yeah.
Okay, so I rolled a 7, I have a plus 5.
So, oh gosh.
What if we add, give me those numbers again that I can add.
15, 10, 3, 1, and subtract 4.
And minus 4, okay.
Let's add that 10.
Okay.
Yeah.
What's your total roll?
That'll be 22.
22, okay.
As you run, you begin to realize they're not chasing you for violence.
I mean, that might be in the picture, but that's not why they're doing it.
They could have caught you by now.
Oh gosh, okay.
They're chasing you for distraction.
It's just something that piece of shit, wait, who are you thinking about?
What was his name?
And with that, a lifetime of friends and enemies gets sucked from your mind.
Oh geez.
You approach an intersection, to your right is the edge of town, an area called the Shifts,
which is an interdimensional space where you could flee the city to a different world,
though it can be dangerous.
Straight in front of you is the docks.
You could passage on a ship and get away clean as long as you get them off the shore
before the people chasing you caught up.
To your left is the edge of the city.
This is a part of the city that does not border the Shifts, but the wilderness.
As you approach, you see standing in front of you is a very familiar vision.
Someone you know very well will a wisdom save.
Which one do you want to add to this?
I'm going to, oh so I do it beforehand?
Oh okay, alright.
I will add the one.
Plus one?
Yeah.
Okay.
And wisdom.
So I have a 13 then.
A 13?
Yes.
Okay.
As you run, approaching this very familiar person, you realize how they were able to do this to you.
Because the five, as strong as they are, could not break your mind.
There's only one person in the world that could, and there she is.
You have to find a way to...to what?
Who's that girl?
She looks very familiar.
And then she disappears.
That's strange.
The early part of your life, where you sacrifice so much for this person you loved,
gets pulled from your mind.
Spooky.
Now you're having trouble remembering why you're running at all.
Next to you flies your dragon.
Your dragon and you don't speak.
It can speak, but generally speaking doesn't bother because of your connection.
But it shows you an image of it fighting and you running.
Strongly urging you to go on.
Save yourself.
If you choose to sacrifice your familiar, you will get your plus 10 back.
If you choose to run, you will lose your plus 50.
If you choose to run and save your familiar, you will lose your plus 15.
Which do you want to do?
I will save my familiar because I think at this point it's one of the only things I can be sure of in my mind.
Your familiar fights you.
You guys have a very intense argument that if you were speaking it would have taken hours.
But you two are so close that it happens in seconds.
In the end your familiar huffs, runs off, leaves you with, I love you and I will find you.
Always in safe.
Oh, I need to have...
Which one do you want to use?
All I have left is the 3 and the negative 4.
So I will do the 3.
You have also one that is nothing, so you have a 0.
Oh, and I have a 0, okay.
Yeah, we'll use that 3.
And then wisdom and...
So that will be a 22.
As your familiar flies away...
You begin to feel the joyful hours spent reading in the library, composing songs, playing music,
dragging through your mind, but as it's pulled out you feel your familiar.
What is your familiar's name?
Frederick.
You feel Frederick's presence after your mind one more time and say one power, word of power.
No!
And those memories flood back in with an iron cage around them and you know they are safe.
And they are something you can hold on to.
You will remember that Frederick, as your familiar, what he looks like.
And we'll be able to take aid from that in what comes next.
Okay.
Which way are you going to go?
I'm going to go towards the woods.
The woods, okay.
You turn towards the woods and start running down that way.
The strange people around you are calling more and more and you're losing more and more of your memory.
You're beginning to forget a lot of things.
For instance, while you're there, these people are mocking you with calls of,
you know you deserve it Izzy, you know what you did, she trusted you.
Roll wisdom save.
Okay, I will use my zero.
Five.
So, oh it's a five on the dot.
It's a five?
Gotcha, gotcha.
That's 100% all I have?
As you run, you remember a young girl who you took in as a child, more or less raised,
taught her everything she knows.
A girl who had amazing potential.
You thought maybe she could even surpass you someday if she were tough enough.
And you remember the last moments, eyes filled with horror and fear and betrayal.
You remember cutting her throat.
But you don't know why you did it.
Man.
Alright.
So you've used your 10.
Yep.
What amounts to your 15?
Your one, did you use your one?
Yeah, the only one I didn't use was my negative four.
Okay.
Oh, that's fine.
You get to the edge of the woods.
You sit and you finally run out of energy and you fall to your knees, under your hands.
And the strangers jump down from the roofs around you.
They're not laughing now.
They're looking at you coldly and with very little respect.
And for a life of me, you can't remember why.
We'll always do safe.
My negative four.
So that will be a seven.
A seven.
As you sit there, kneel there as if in supplication.
All you can think is, can't happen again.
I know what they're doing.
They're going to make me do it again.
I can't let it happen.
I just need to remember.
I just need to.
I just need to remember.
It's the sea of stars.
Give us just a piece of your attention.
The sea of stars.
Just a tiny piece of your mortal soul.
The sea of stars.
We'll spin and spin our stories till they're told.
To fulfill your needs, we're here to cash in all our deeds.
We're going to brave our questing side by side.
Orcs and elves and crooks all know that stories aren't just books.
And if you can make them believe, you can saliate your greed.
It's the sea of stars.
Give us just a piece of your attention.
The sea of stars.
Just a tiny piece of your mortal soul.
The sea of stars.
We'll spin and spin our stories till they're told.
Told.
We'll spin and spin our stories till they're told.