Chapter One: Madness Prologue | Sagas of Sundry: Madness

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Chapter One: Madness Prologue" | Sagas of Sundry: Madness

Geek & Sundry | Release Date: March 30, 2026

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Episode Overview

"Madness Prologue" begins the eerie, psychological horror tale of Sagas of Sundry: Madness, led by storyteller Ivan Van Norman and co-GMs. This actual-play episode uses the TTRPG system Dread—its infamous block tower—themes of existential anxiety, secrets, and reality-twisting horror. Five tenants in a derelict, historical city building are set on personal journeys confronting both past trauma and uncanny forces lurking within their home. The prologue intimately introduces each character, their troubled backgrounds, and the supernatural energy stirring in the building, setting an ominous tone for the season.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to the Dread System and Setting

• [01:04] Mr. Ren introduces himself as a “gardener of stories,” promising seeds of madness to come.
• [03:13] The Game Masters explain the rules of Dread: perform risky actions by pulling from a block tower—if it falls, your character is removed from the game.
  • Quote – Game Master:
    “Inspiration doesn’t come without sacrifice.” (07:23)
• The setting: A historic, derelict four-story building in an industrial part of a major city. Each tenant has their own reason for moving in, and the building itself seems alive, full of secrets.

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2. Character Prologues

Bentley – The Struggling Artist

• [05:47–16:59] Bentley has just moved in after a controlling relationship, seeking creative inspiration and community.
  • Uses found objects and even coffee grounds for his art.
  • Haunted by the idea of "stealing" inspiration from the building's energy.
  • Discovers a strange, archaic device hidden in the apartment’s wall, triggering a surreal vision and a voice thanking him:
    • Quote (16:24) – Eerie Voice:
      “Child, child, thank you. You are my salvation. I thank you.”
  • Throws a party hoping to connect and sell art.
  • Memorable Moment: The DJ's old tape blending real-world noises and supernatural ambiance.
• Themes: Guilt, survival, reclaiming self, the haunted nature of creativity.

Abigail – The New Arrival with a Past

• [17:27–26:27] Abigail applies to live in the building, hiding both her real identity and economic struggles.
  • The Landlord interrogates her about her authenticity and criminal past; tension reveals the building’s strict, almost paranoid rules.
  • Name change reflects struggle to escape past trauma:
    • Quote (23:30) – Abigail:
      “Me changing my name ... that's nothing to do other than the fact that I fucking hate the name Kathy.”
  • The application process surreally stretches, with time dilating and sensations becoming dreamlike and oppressive.
• Themes: Reinvention, truth versus lies, the burden of secrets.

Jude – The Jaded Hotel Director

• [32:17–43:16] Jude returns home after a draining day managing a hotel and reflects on his own choices.
  • Feels he "deserves" a rundown life, out of guilt and caretaking of family.
  • Encounters bizarre phenomena: keys vanishing, seeing an impossible, chained black door in a previously unnoticed hallway.
  • Quote (41:22) – Jude:
    “I'm going in.”
  • Realizes his apartment is directly above this mysterious, freezing door.
• Themes: Sacrifice, guilt, denial, the creeping intrusion of the uncanny.

Selena – The Hacker Haunted by Voices

• [43:50–55:05] Selena, a talented infiltrator, is unnerved by her apartment’s increasingly strange atmosphere.
  • Interlude with her boyfriend via coded digital chat turns sinister as repeated "HELP" messages flash on her secure connection.
  • Hears voices—real and spectral—begging for help and denigrating her.
  • Forced to confront fears of memory loss—a family legacy she dreads:
    • Quote (54:09) – Selena:
      “I know it’s coming for me. I know that I’m gonna forget. Or at least, it’s what happens in my family.”
  • Ritual mantras, the tactile feel of sand (that vanishes), and the lure of code act as tenuous anchors to reality.
• Themes: Paranoia, tech vs. supernatural, memory loss, isolation.

Emmett Markham – The Writer Facing Guilt

• [56:43–68:05] Emmett, a writer and accidental confidant, reflects on mistakes, abandonment, and a relationship with a dead friend, McMillan.
  • Haunted by guilt over McMillan's overdose death.
  • Has increasingly nightmarish visions: dark towers, purple skies, accusatory ghostly voices.
  • Quote (62:58) – McMillan (Ghost):
    “You did this. You know that, right? You made this happen. Was it satisfying? Were you happy? ... Did it feel good to kill me?”
  • Confronts the possibility that the haunting is both literal and a manifestation of inner turmoil.
• Themes: Survivor’s guilt, responsibility, inescapable past, the thin veil between real and unreal.

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Notable Quotes

| Speaker | Quote | Timestamp | |----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------| | Mr. Ren (Narrator) | “Consider this prologue. A seed that will grow into a twisted tree...” | 01:04 | | Game Master | “Inspiration doesn’t come without sacrifice.” | 07:23 | | Bentley (Struggling Artist)| “I feel like I’m on the verge of something ... I’m just waiting to get discovered.” | 06:16 | | Abigail (New Tenant) | “Me changing my name has... that’s nothing to do other than the fact that I fucking hate the name Kathy.” | 23:30 | | Jude (Hotel Director) | “It makes me feel like it’s what I deserve.” | 34:01 | | Eerie Voice (to Bentley) | “Child, child, thank you. You are my salvation.” | 16:24 | | McMillan (Ghost) | “You did this. You know that, right? ... Did it feel good to kill me?” | 62:58 | | Selena (Hacker) | “I know it’s coming for me. I know that I’m gonna forget. Or at least, it’s what happens in my family.” | 54:09 |

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Memorable Moments & Highlights

• The Block Tower – Anxiety is palpable every time a player must tease a block from the tower, foreshadowing their fate.
• The Black Door Revelation ([41:22]) – Jude’s chilling discovery of a chained black door correlating spatially with strange cold spots in his room, deepening the supernatural mystery.
• Selena’s Techno-Paranoia ([46:43–54:09]) – A hacking session veers into terror as code becomes corrupted by cries for help, blurring lines between digital and spectral.
• Emmett’s Haunting ([62:58]) – Direct confrontation with the literal or hallucinated ghost of McMillan, dredging up intense emotional baggage and guilt.

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Important Timestamps

• [01:04] – Mr. Ren's poetic framing of the narrative.
• [05:47–16:59] – Bentley’s introduction and supernatural encounter.
• [17:27–26:27] – Abigail’s loaded conversation with the Landlord.
• [32:17–43:16] – Jude’s journey home, discovery of the mysterious door, and supernatural cold spot.
• [43:50–55:05] – Selena’s paranoid digital exchange and mental struggle.
• [56:43–68:05] – Emmett’s examinations of guilt and confrontation with McMillan’s ghost.

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Tone & Atmosphere

The episode is suffused with dread and psychological tension. Conversations fluctuate between casual, confessional realism and dreamlike unreality, mirroring both the everyday difficulties and creeping horror each tenant feels. The game system’s use of the pull tower keeps anxiety present, and the GM’s narration is evocative and poetic, with an undertone of impending doom.

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Conclusion

"Chapter One: Madness Prologue" establishes an ensemble of broken, relatable characters, each hiding pain and secrets, and drops them in a haunted building with sentient, possibly malevolent intent. The interplay between personal trauma and cosmic horror teases a season where psychological and supernatural challenges will intertwine, and survival isn’t guaranteed—for body or mind.

For fans of atmospheric, character-driven horror with a meta twist, this episode is a gripping, chilling introduction.

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Transcript

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[Mr. Ren (Narrator)]

of peace and tranquility. And yet there is always darkness to be found. Like a cockroach hiding in a rose. I am a bit of a gardener myself. A gardener of stories. I tend them, give them just enough light so that they bloom. But before you get a garden, you need a seed. A beginning, A start to the story that will sprout and blossom. Consider this prologue. A seed that will grow into a twisted tree whose branches will scrape in the night against the windows of your mind. From seed to scray. These are the sagas of Sundry. I am Mr. Ren and there will be madness.

[Sam]

Sam.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Hello everybody and welcome to Madness. I I'm so happy, so honored and so excited to have all of you join me for this little role playing adventure. And I apologize profusely for everything that is going to happen from now until the end of this story is in place.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

As you can see, we are still

[Game Master / Narrator]

playing with the dreadful Dread Tower that

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

will determine the fate of one or

[Game Master / Narrator]

all of you as the story progresses. And as we said before, Dread is based off of every time you want to do an action or do something

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

that involves risk, you will make a

[Game Master / Narrator]

pull from the tower and if you're successful, well great you are successful. If the tower should fall, that character will be removed from the game.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Now in Dread, everyone needs to make a pre pull.

[Game Master / Narrator]

But I thought instead of taking this

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

opportunity to learn about your characters while

[Game Master / Narrator]

you make a pull that we take an individual session with every single one of you and play a regular tower and have a one on one game of dread.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Depending on how well you do during

[Game Master / Narrator]

your prologue adventure, you will either make

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

the pre designated single pre pull, but

[Game Master / Narrator]

if it falls, you will make three pulls.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

So before we take you off, let me tell you a little bit about where we are.

[Game Master / Narrator]

This is your building.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

You all live here.

[Game Master / Narrator]

And our story starts with you, the

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

five tenants living in a historical building

[Game Master / Narrator]

in the middle of an industrial complex inside of a major city.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

This building, it's old. It's very old, maybe 70 to 80 years old. Old enough that it's been classified as

[Game Master / Narrator]

a historical landmark by the city.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Now, this building was once maybe a

[Game Master / Narrator]

workshop or a warehouse, maybe a hotel.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Maybe it was a granary, nobody remembers.

[Game Master / Narrator]

But whatever it was, it's now a

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

set of loft apartments that take up about four stories of the crappiest part

[Game Master / Narrator]

of town that any of you have ever imagined. So let's all discover who you are and what you're bringing to the tower.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Hey, buddy. Hey.

[Game Master / Narrator]

How's it going? Bentley? Your story begins here in your apartment.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

You've just moved in.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

Yeah.

[Game Master / Narrator]

All right. This is a new place. You've recently come from a troubled background.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Things have been difficult, and really, this

[Game Master / Narrator]

is about all you own.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Really. What's important is what you're able to make. Your most recent work is sitting right there standing in front of you.

[Game Master / Narrator]

So how are you feeling right now?

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

How are you feeling about that?

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

Yeah, well, I mean, it's a reflection of what I have to deal with. I'm a barista to. I mean, I'm an artist. I'm a painter. But we all have to have day jobs, so a lot of the times, they don't even know that I'm taking the coffee grounds from the shop and working with them and working with them. I feel like I'm on the verge of something. You know, this is a new movement in art, and I'm just waiting to get discovered.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Well, I have to say, that's looking really good. And more importantly, but at the same time, I feel like there's something missing.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

This is representing a new experience, like moving into this place and starting out on my own. And so I'm looking for inspiration. I'm looking for the next thing on my path. Whatever that is, it'll be represented in here.

[Game Master / Narrator]

How about we find some inspiration? Yeah, make a pull.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Let's pull for some inspiration.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

All right, all right, all right.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Okay, now remember, if this falls during our little prologue story, you will have to make three pre pulls.

[Sam]

Oh, my goodness.

[Game Master / Narrator]

During the beginning of our story, I

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

really Want to use two hands.

[Game Master / Narrator]

I know you do, but that's.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Inspiration doesn't come easy.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

Yeah.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Inspiration doesn't come without sacrifice. So.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

So much pressure already with this kind

[Game Master / Narrator]

of gleaming burst of inspirational, like, wonder that comes into it. You look in this house and you

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

realize this place is magical. Yeah.

[Game Master / Narrator]

All right.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

It was built in the 30s, all right. And it has so many things that are around it that are so interesting. First of all, it's a four story building. It has a rooftop patio. It also has elements that are like. It's this old elevator that hasn't been ever in use. But it's so interesting and grungy and, you know, there's just something that speaks to it. Like this piece, for example. It's just so kind of this hair choice of being able to make this interesting white fractal movement. It was so simple to kind of just take that simple movement and then just have it starburst across everything that I think is what this. It just needs something a little more representative. Geometrical.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Mr. Ren (Narrator)]

Yes.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Because that kind of came from the head, but this comes from the soul.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Yeah.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Does that make sense?

[Game Master / Narrator]

Yeah. So why don't you, why don't you take it? Why don't you start working with it a little bit?

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Yeah.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Okay.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

All right.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Why don't you grab it?

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Why don't you feel it a little bit? Like, take that.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

Just be very careful around the tower,

[Game Master / Narrator]

you know?

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

And how is this place? Like, how are you feeling settling into

[Game Master / Narrator]

this kind of unique area?

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

Yeah. This is the struggling artist. This is what I need. This is my muse.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

The crappy walls, the, like, old buildings.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

You know, I see it in the movies. Like, this is what I'm supposed to be doing.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Right. I like that. You're also painting it on your bed. Like if you want to feel free, like if you want to put it on your lap.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Game Master / Narrator]

You know,

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

and with this kind of

[Game Master / Narrator]

new place that you've been and how are you feeling about coming into a new social group?

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

I mean, I'm excited for the prospect because of the situation that I'm coming from. I didn't have a lot of friends because I wasn't allowed to. My ex boyfriend was very controlling.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

It was all about his friends. It was never about your friends.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And he didn't support me in my art and he thought it was too gay, and that's not what he was about. And so I'm here to discover myself and make my own community.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Yeah.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Well, I'm already liking what's going on here? This is the pulse.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

It's the pulse of it.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Yeah.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

And I like the contrast of as soon as I saw that blue of like, you know, Boop.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Yeah.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

It's my heartbeat. Yeah. And so I hear it ticking.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Yeah. No, there's something definitely in this room. Now. You've been in here for a while, and this building is old and the

[Game Master / Narrator]

beams creak and groan a little bit, but this is a new sound for sure.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

It's funny. The person that lived here before me was a dj.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Oh, okay.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

And she was sharing with me that she would record kind of the sounds that would happen with the building, and she would make music out of the sounds.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

That's interesting. Actually.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Do you still have that tape?

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

Yeah, yeah. Cause she had left some, I think you remember.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

It's still inside of the cassette player,

[Game Master / Narrator]

if I remember correctly. Right.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Why don't you play it? Yeah, go ahead.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

I think.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Cool.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Yeah, it's. It's delightful.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

Yeah.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

It's not.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

But it wouldn't be delightful to everyone.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

No.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

You know, I see that. Inspirational. And it's.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

But it does something for you, doesn't it?

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

It's almost like something or someone composed

[Game Master / Narrator]

this and the DJ just took that

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

information and made it into a medium that other people could hear.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

It's the same thing as what I do with a painting. You know, I'm taking minerals, I'm taking the earth and the different shades and molding it into something else.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

But if that's the case, then you don't own this.

[Game Master / Narrator]

This isn't yours.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

This is something that you stole. You stole it. I think you need to make a pull to kind of come to terms with this weird sense and feeling like you're stealing something. Ok? This house. And you are turning it into your own selfish devices. You're grieving because you're pulling something from this house that you don't deserve.

[Game Master / Narrator]

And that's tough.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

That's tough because you're finally starting to have your own world. You're finally starting to have your own life. And for something like this house to tell you that you're being selfish and that you're being an egotistical prick by holding onto your own space. And that ticking, It just keeps perching inside of your head. It's like you can't get it out of there. But you managed to at least push it out for the moment, because that's fine. You're not selfish. No, you're not. This is yours.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

I created it.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

You created. Right. And even if it's taken from parts of this world. That's okay, because every artist is allowed their right for expression.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

Yeah.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Okay. So there's a big thing happening tonight. You're hosting this party.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Yeah. Right?

[Game Master / Narrator]

Yeah.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

Yeah.

[Game Master / Narrator]

And why did you do that?

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

Cause I'm here, and I haven't had a chance to meet anybody in the building. I'm feeling a little secluded, and that's not healthy for me right now. Okay.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

I need to get out.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

I need to get out. I need to meet people. I need to.

[Game Master / Narrator]

This is a recent breakup.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

This is.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Is something that you have to do.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

And it was a very sheltered relationship, too. Like I said, I was cut off from the world, and that was under his control. And now I'm taking control.

[Game Master / Narrator]

You want to host a party?

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

I want to host a party. Maybe sell a painting, Let everybody know. It's marketing, you know? And then I'll have friends in the building, too. You know, the best way to make friends is to have a party.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

It's gotta be somewhere here. There's something. Yeah, that's. At least that's this. And it kind of sounds like, you know, when a light bulb's about to go out, and it kind of ticks a little bit and it flicks. Yeah, it just feels like there's like. There's some bad electric. Like a bad electrical work going on or something. And it feels like as you're looking around with it, that maybe it's a little more to the right of you.

[Game Master / Narrator]

That's kind of.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Over here.

[Sam]

Over here.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Here. Ish. Somewhere

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

in some of my other paintings or in the. Maybe in the walls.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Yeah.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

No, that sounds close.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

In here.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Yeah, Somewhere here. Yeah, but it's lower.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Okay.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

Aha.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Is it coming from in there? Oh, yeah. It's definitely coming from inside of there.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

All right. Oh, no. It's so big. I'm sorry, Wal. Okay, so there's some sort of device in here.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

It's a little warm to the touch. It was just on. What the hell is it some sort

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

of, like, light bulb or lamp or.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Yeah. When you touch it, when you feel it, Finley, it feels very much like it.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Glass.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

It's cold metal, but it's also glass. Warm to the touch. And it was mounted in there. It definitely was affixed into the wall somewhere. But as you hold it, as you look at it, it's so old, Fenli.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

It's like a circuit or something. It looks like it plugs into something.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

And you pulled it out of the wall. What is the one thing the landlord told you not to do to this building.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

You're not supposed to mess up the walls.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

You're not supposed to touch the walls. You're not supposed to hang anything on the walls. You're not supposed to be thinking you

[Voice of a Ghost / Spirit]

just cut into the wall.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Friendly.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

But to be fair, someone else cut into this wall before me.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

How do you know that?

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

Because this is here. This doesn't go in a wall.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Who put that there then? Who's gonna believe you that some random tube was stuck into the wall? Is the landlord going to say, oh, yeah, yeah, there was a tube inside of the wall there.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

I can fix it. I can fix this.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Okay, fix it then.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Yeah, fix it.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Because your security deposit, you've got paint. Can you get it back in there?

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

Yeah.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Can you touch it up to make it look like it never happened? Because at least it's not popping. But who would put. Who would put something so archaic and odd as a fuse inside of the bulb there?

[Game Master / Narrator]

Oh, no.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Is that really gonna work?

[Sponsor Announcer (Chime / Quince)]

Yeah.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

He doesn't know.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Make a pull. Make a pull for that detestable amount of covering up.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

I put it back in.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

And, family, as you touched that thing, as you looked into it.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

I'm a master of deception.

[Game Master / Narrator]

This is into it. But more importantly, you feel your consciousness

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

just out of your head. You watch as your brain suddenly go somewhere. Somewhere else, Somewhere with a purple sky, somewhere with a barren wasteland, something that is just filled with voidless nothing. And you sit and you hold that in your hand. And it feels so. And it feels powerful. But suddenly there's an eye looking at you, and it's staring at you with a single slit.

[Sam]

And it goes.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Child, child, thank you.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Give it.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

You are my salvation. I thank you. And it pops out of your head just as quickly as it's there and it's gone. You're sitting, looking at this tube, and you're staring at it, and it's quiet. O. All right, that's the alarm. It's time for the party. You have to go. I mean, everyone's waiting for you now. I mean, what are you gonna take

[Game Master / Narrator]

with you to this thing?

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

I'm bringing paintings, okay?

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

So get some paintings. You have to go. Everyone's upstairs right now, so waiting. Okay, go.

[Game Master / Narrator]

What tangled webs will we weave? Hi.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

I'm so sorry I'm late.

[Game Master / Narrator]

I apologize.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

I was just fixing a few things around.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Thank you so much for coming. Why do you want to live here?

[Abigail (New Tenant)]

Oh, you know, I was walking through this neighborhood, and I just saw this building, and it kind of like, it just Kind of jumped out at me, you know, it just kind of has this vibe to it. And then, lo and behold, I saw the sign in the window.

[Game Master / Narrator]

The place has an interesting energy to it, doesn't it? It has a little bit of a. Well, it's a special place. Why do you think it's so special?

[Abigail (New Tenant)]

I like interesting things, and I'd like to think I'm an interesting thing.

[Game Master / Narrator]

You certainly present yourself in an interesting way. Do you have a criminal background?

[Abigail (New Tenant)]

No, no, no, of course not.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

Okay.

[Game Master / Narrator]

You've never had any difficulties with the law?

[Abigail (New Tenant)]

No.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Okay.

[Abigail (New Tenant)]

I mean, you know, aside from some rowdy teenage shit, but, you know, who hasn't, right?

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Right.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Do you have a lot of contact with. With law enforcement in this area?

[Abigail (New Tenant)]

Considering I just moved here, I don't know a damn person.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

When did you move here?

[Abigail (New Tenant)]

Two weeks ago.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Why did you move here?

[Abigail (New Tenant)]

You know, I just thought a change of scenery would really do me good. Where I come from, people, you know, didn't take kindly to someone maybe exploring new options.

[Game Master / Narrator]

And so you're coming to discover who you are, like so many others to this great city?

[Abigail (New Tenant)]

Oh, no. The problem is I've always known who I am. It is.

[Game Master / Narrator]

You always know who you were. Make a goddamn poll. I want to see who this person is. Oh, I'm so sorry. I should probably be calling you by your name, and I didn't even get a chance to hear your name. What is your name?

[Abigail (New Tenant)]

Abigail.

[Sam]

Abigail.

[Emmett Markham (Writer)]

Abigail.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Pleasure to meet you, Abigail. Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Just call me the Landlord.

[Abigail (New Tenant)]

Pleasure to meet you, Mr. The Landlord.

[Game Master / Narrator]

And I should probably go back in a little bit and describe who this man is. Now, this man is of clear Middle Eastern descent. He seems to be in his 40s to mid-50s, and he has a commanding presence to him that seems to show authority, even though he is not a man who normally you would expect to have authority. I'll make a poll real quick. Let me see if you can reach deeper into his psyche and understand the kind of man that this human is, since you are so good at reading people. Excellent. You can see he's nervous. A man like this shouldn't be nervous. Interviewing now, maybe it's your proposed image and charm and this appeal that you bring into it, but you can actually see there's some fear, some real fear in his eyes as he's talking to you, as if this interview is actually just as important to him as it is to you. Now, I need you to be honest

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

with me, and I don't feel like

[Game Master / Narrator]

you've Been honest with me, Abigail.

[Abigail (New Tenant)]

All right, lay it on me.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

Jeez.

[Game Master / Narrator]

What are you hiding?

[McMillan (Former Tenant / Ghost)]

Look, I'm broke.

[Abigail (New Tenant)]

I don't know anybody, and I've been living under a goddamn overpass since I've

[Game Master / Narrator]

gotten here, which has been a week. You said two weeks.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Two weeks.

[Game Master / Narrator]

This place is affordable, and this place is.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

But I need you to know.

[Game Master / Narrator]

I need to know from you that you aren't going to do anything to screw up.

[Abigail (New Tenant)]

I. I don't have anything to screw up right now, man. I am just. This place was affordable. I don't have any credit. I've got what I have in my pocket right now, and I promise you, you won't hear a damn word from me.

[Game Master / Narrator]

I'm not worried about your credit. What I'm worried is that you pay rent on time, that you don't go

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

snooping around, that you don't hang anything

[Game Master / Narrator]

in the walls, and that you don't

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

mess with the building.

[Abigail (New Tenant)]

Okay, when you say don't hang things on walls, do you mean thumbtack?

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Nothing in the walls.

[McMillan (Former Tenant / Ghost)]

Okay.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

I think I need to make that abundantly clear. If you put a tack. If I put a wall, if I see anything in there, I will kick your ass to the curb so fast it will make your head spin.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Make a pull. See if you can keep your composure

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

amongst this guy who has went from being a kindly, gentle Middle Eastern man

[Game Master / Narrator]

who was just trying to get to know you, but he's clearly not buying what you're selling.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

And why is that? Why is he getting like this?

[Game Master / Narrator]

He clearly has a chip on his. That needs to be explored. And I don't know, Abigail, you tell me. What's this guy's problem?

[Abigail (New Tenant)]

Look, mister, if you have asbestos in the walls or something like that, it's fine. I am not gonna blow your cover under this shithole, all right? It's fine. You have a shitty place. I'm a shitty person. I just need a shitty place.

[Game Master / Narrator]

All right, that. That's fine. But there's still one thing you're not telling me. Let's put it this way. This building has a lot of secrets, and I don't need any more of them inside of it. And if there's one thing I should know, is. Is that. Abigail. Why are you coming to me with another name? Yeah, I'm not going to tell anybody. I won't throw you under the bus the same way that you don't mind. But that's only under the circumstances that we are clear.

[Abigail (New Tenant)]

Look, you've always dreamt about being another person Too right. No one likes who they're born as. Me changing my name has. That's nothing to do other than the fact that I fucking hate the name Kathy.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Make a pull. Convince him, Abigail, that you are not a threat.

[Abigail (New Tenant)]

Look, mister, do you ever hear someone else's voice when you hear your original name? It's just a memory that you don't want to remember anymore. I'm just trying to get away from bad memories. That's all Abigail means.

[Game Master / Narrator]

I do. I do know what it means to have someone else's voice say your name and hate it. But that's. That's what I'm afraid.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Great.

[Game Master / Narrator]

As you're watching him, Abigail, he starts to talk to you. But have you ever had a dream in which you felt like lasted forever? There's a moment right now in which you're watching this man. And you can see his head move millimeters at a time as he's trying

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

to get out one single word. But it's seems to take forever. And it's agonizing. Watching him talk and seeing the look on his face as his eyes. This single eyebrow, just seems to just last. It won't move. It can't move. And part of you just wants to take his face and just rip it right out. Make a pull.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Hold on to your sanity as well.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

You're seeing this man's face slowly turn. And all you want to do is just slap it to get it back right to the place.

[Abigail (New Tenant)]

This was a bad choice.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

This was a bad choice.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Thank you.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Thank you so much for your time.

[Game Master / Narrator]

It has really meant a lot to me.

[Voice of a Ghost / Spirit]

Yeah.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Yeah. And welcome to the building.

[Selena (Hacker / Infiltrator)]

Yeah.

[Abigail (New Tenant)]

Oh, really? Yeah.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Mm. Thank. Don't screw this up. I'll have the keys later this afternoon, but you can head up onto 403.

[Abigail (New Tenant)]

Okay. Um,

[Game Master / Narrator]

trash is on Tuesdays.

[Abigail (New Tenant)]

Thank you.

[Game Master / Narrator]

She'll do.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

June Marley.

[Sponsor Announcer (Chime / Quince)]

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[Sponsor Announcer (Chime / Quince)]

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[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Your story starts with you coming home.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

Yeah.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

After a very long day working.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Yeah.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

You know, very long.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Reminds me. What do you do?

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

Director Operations, Hotel Fig.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Ok great.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

So you work with people all day?

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

Yeah.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Yeah.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

Annoying people.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Annoying people.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Is that how you feel about them?

[Game Master / Narrator]

Or customers?

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Just pretty much just. Are they just a means to me?

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

We don't call them customers, we call them guests.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Guests. Yeah. I see.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

Yeah, they annoy the shit out of me.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Great.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Well, at least home is familiar, right? Yeah. So these are the familiar steps of the landing that lead you up to the first floor.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

And you know, I have to say you've always really wondered about the first floor, Right? The first set of apartments were actually

[Game Master / Narrator]

on the second floor.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

So really the first floor is just a bunch of male rooms and then a stairway leading up.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

Pretty much, yeah.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

You know, have you ever thought about that? I mean you've been here for five years and every once in a while

[Game Master / Narrator]

you may hear a gunshot because that is part of living in urban living.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Yeah, but you've also heard screams and sometimes they're outside, but you swear that

[Game Master / Narrator]

every once in a while they've been inside of the building and maybe those screams are coming to mind. So why don't you make a poll?

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Your first pull of the game.

[Sam]

Oh.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Is all right. Why do you smoke, Jude?

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

I get anxiety. I get it pretty bad. Ever since I was about to 15 actually some crazy stuff happened in my life and.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Anything you want to talk about? Does this house make that better? Does this place make that feel better?

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

It makes me feel like it's what I deserve.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Like it's what you deserve. Okay. You deserve a run down apartment building filled with 1930s decor, unkempt up electricians, running water that barely works often and when it does, it's zero pressure at all. And the rickety old twin bed. That's what you deserve.

[Sam]

Uh,

[Game Master / Narrator]

yeah. Okay. Make a pull.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

I Mean, there's a lot to think about while you're here, Jude.

[Game Master / Narrator]

I mean, the fact that you're now

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

looking at this place, and at first it was beautiful and exciting and interesting. Now it's something that you deserve. That's a lot to carry on your

[Game Master / Narrator]

shoulders for one man.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

One man who is perfectly in his right to handle and have a nice smoke when he's coming home after a long day.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Yeah.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

All right. Why don't you just head upstairs? Because this place is still your home.

[Game Master / Narrator]

This is what you've done. You. You've made it your own place.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

And you've had some good memories here too.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

I've had a lot of good memories, actually.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

See, that's what's important as well.

[Game Master / Narrator]

So the old bones of the stairs

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

creak as you make your way up

[Game Master / Narrator]

to the first floor.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Now the elevator's been out since what, five years? As long as you've been here.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

Yeah, I don't even remember it ever working.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Exactly. And you've been putting in a lot of hours lately. A lot of people have gone home sick.

[Game Master / Narrator]

You know what they're really doing?

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

You know what? They're accidentally.

[Game Master / Narrator]

They're all doing the music festival right now.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

Yeah. Yeah, they're all having a fucking blast.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Right.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

And you're here.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

Well, I'm, you know, listening to these people bitch at me about the dumbest shit every fucking day.

[Game Master / Narrator]

And how does that make you feel?

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

It's like, hey, I mean, I guess that's what I signed up for, you

[Game Master / Narrator]

know, but you could be out. You could be out doing something if

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

you had not taken that responsibility. You could be out, the one calling in sick right now, going out and

[Game Master / Narrator]

having a good time.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

So why'd you take a job like this where you actually had the responsibility of all of these gets upon you.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

I get paid a lot, man.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Right, you get paid a lot?

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

Yeah.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

That's important.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

I get paid a lot.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Then why live here?

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

I own another home.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Okay.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

This is. It's my primary residence for me.

[Game Master / Narrator]

I see.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

But I have a someone else.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

I have a mother.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Got it. Who is maybe living in your house right now.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

I bought a house, you know, thinking that, hey, you know what? It's time for me to grow up. It's time for me to have a family, do all these things that normal guys do.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Right, right, right. Respectable suit wearing gentleman.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

Hey, I'm in a suit. I'm that guy.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Right?

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

So she got sick. She can't afford to pay for, you know, the place she was in. So place gets foreclosed on. I said, I have this. Mm. Why don't you take it? Not shit going for me, you know, I don't have a fucking lady, you know.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Right.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

Well, I do, but.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Time, Right.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

Abigail. Abigail.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Abigail.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

Abigail. Well, she's a pretty girl.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Mm.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

Yeah, she's a real pretty girl. You know, we met one time, you know, living in the building. I came in, you know, she was down at the mailbox, and I was like, okay. I could see myself there, you know, and, you know, she was.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

She was.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

She's dramatic, she's fun, she's sexy. You know, she's an actress. So she's got that, like, energy about her.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Right.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

You know, and I like that.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Well, let's go home, man.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

This is a long time.

[Game Master / Narrator]

We've been talking about this for too long. This is just.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

It's nice to come home after a

[Game Master / Narrator]

long day and feel like there's a

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

place that you can call your own.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Except for something just ran across the window.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

A shadow. And you know what?

[Game Master / Narrator]

It wasn't small.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

In fact, there is again. There's something out there, and it wasn't even really a full shape. Someone's in the building, but you didn't hear the door open. This door has a very distinct sound when it opens and has a buzzer for when the magnetic lock goes off and it goes.

[Game Master / Narrator]

But that didn't happen.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

And there's something moving around in the main part of the common. This house has a lot of odd things, but you've never really seen someone just wandering around the building before. And certainly not running, because that was someone who was running.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

That was a run. That was definitely a run.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Why don't you check your keys? Because, you know, have your keys, man. The door.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

The front door. The key to your front door.

[Game Master / Narrator]

It's not with you right now.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

What the fuck, dude?

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Yeah, you mean, obviously you opened the door to get in here right now, but you don't have your keys and someone's out there.

[Game Master / Narrator]

What do you want to do?

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

I mean, I need to find out

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

who the fuck that was.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

Okay, well, then he's obviously got my keys.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Do they.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

How am I supposed to get into my place?

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

I don't know. I mean, they either have your keys or someone's just wandering around. Let's have you go down to the first floor now. You run down to the. To the first floor and you take the steps. The loud thumping of your foot comes down as you're just double checking, triple checking, making sure that you really, really, really don't have your Keys. Right now.

[Game Master / Narrator]

And you go to the mail room.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

It's right there. It's sitting just in the middle of the floor.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

I didn't put that there.

[Game Master / Narrator]

No, no, of course not.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Who would just leave a single key

[Game Master / Narrator]

for floating right down there on the floor, standing up?

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

And your mind, as your head just goes out and black comes across your entire vision as you suddenly see a giant purple sky in front of you. And suddenly the whole feeling of the building is cold. And your body begins to shiver as sweat starts to pour down your head. And you see something. It is staring right at you, but it's not. It's looking at you, but it's not. It's staring at you. Make a pult, Jude. There's something in your mind and it's trying to find its way in. Get it out of your head. Get it out.

[Game Master / Narrator]

And you can hear it. Come to me.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Come to me. Let it be open, Jude. The brain just comes across you. The visions of this mindlessness, this thing comes about you. And you hold onto the key and

[Game Master / Narrator]

you look up and you're holding it in your hand.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

There's nothing there, Jude. There's nothing there. There's nothing there. You're just holding your key. It's just fine. There's nothing there.

[Game Master / Narrator]

It's not.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Go home. Go home, man. Go home. Go home.

[Game Master / Narrator]

It's okay. As you walk, you look down to the left, a passageway you've never noticed before. Here on the first floor. You look down and there's an endless hallway. And as you look up, holding your house key and staring ahead of you,

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

you see a black door. You've never seen this door before, Jude. It's onyx. Black. Has chains on it. Chains and locks. More locks than you've ever seen. And as you look down at this key in your hand, all you see is black.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

I'm going in.

[Game Master / Narrator]

You walk up, you take the key, and you look at it and you hold it. And one key isn't gonna open this door, Jude. There's 12 locks on it. There's 12 locks on this thing.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

And they seem to be in an erratic combination. Alphanumeric combination, directional. Every type of lock that you could possibly imagine is on this door.

[Game Master / Narrator]

What the fuck?

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

That's your house key.

[Game Master / Narrator]

The purse is out at you.

[Voice of a Ghost / Spirit]

Boom.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Are you staying here? Are you going to go to that door?

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

I mean, something's dragging me to it. I don't know why. I just feel this, like. Feel this energy drawing me to it. And I don't. I don't know why.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Why it's thick. It's thick. It's heavy. It's in with you for sure.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Go to it.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Walk it. Touch it. Feel it. You purse, and you look at the locks and you stare at them. You hold them.

[Game Master / Narrator]

And there.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

It's. The metal is cold. The metal is cold, but the door is warm. Shoot. The door is warm.

[Game Master / Narrator]

What is this?

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

It feels alive and as if someone

[Game Master / Narrator]

dropped nitroglycerin onto it.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

The entire door goes cold, ice cold. And you can feel the wet sweat from your hands slightly stick as icicles, purse across the top of your hand.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

There's a spot. In my apartment. It's cold like that.

[Game Master / Narrator]

If you look.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

Think about it.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

Yeah.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

If you think about where you are

[Game Master / Narrator]

in the position, your room is right above.

[Emmett Markham (Writer)]

Holy shit.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Your room is right above this door.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

That's what that is.

[Game Master / Narrator]

But just as easily as it's there, it's gone.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

You need to get ready, June. I mean, come on. This is your night. Your home. Go freshen up. Get up to the party. Unfortunately, this black door will be with

[Game Master / Narrator]

you now, and it will come when we get to the tower. See you later, Jude. Now, there's a reason that you are out here in the lobby tonight versus

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

in your room, which you would normally

[Game Master / Narrator]

do when you're gonna be doing a. Well, a big infiltration like you're gonna be doing tonight.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Why is that?

[Selena (Hacker / Infiltrator)]

Things are getting weird in the room.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Things are getting weird in the room.

[Selena (Hacker / Infiltrator)]

Things are. Things are getting weird in the room. They've been getting weird for the past two weeks.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Okay.

[Selena (Hacker / Infiltrator)]

And I just can't be in there right now.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Like, it feels like the walls are breathing. Maybe you're hearing some voices that are unfamiliar to you.

[Sam]

Yeah.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

You've been planning this for a while.

[Game Master / Narrator]

This infiltration that you're going to do

[Selena (Hacker / Infiltrator)]

tonight, it's a big one tonight. Probably the biggest one that I. Oh, really? Now, there's a former tenant, McMillan, actually, and he has been stealing from his company for quite some time.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Okay.

[Selena (Hacker / Infiltrator)]

It's not a good company, necessarily, but he's not a good person, either.

[Game Master / Narrator]

All right, then what are you gonna do to it tonight?

[Selena (Hacker / Infiltrator)]

I mean, whose money is that, really?

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Is it the people's money? Is it Selena's money?

[Selena (Hacker / Infiltrator)]

Yeah.

[Game Master / Narrator]

All right.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

But more importantly, there's a rush to

[Game Master / Narrator]

it as well, too.

[Selena (Hacker / Infiltrator)]

This is for me?

[Game Master / Narrator]

It's for you? Yeah.

[Selena (Hacker / Infiltrator)]

I feel like when I'm dancing in the code, I'm really alive and, oh,

[Game Master / Narrator]

what a delicate dancer you are.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

But it looks like there's a little

[Game Master / Narrator]

bit of an issue Here, the screen's

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

flickering a bit, which is odd. It's an old computer.

[Game Master / Narrator]

But at the same time, you knew that this connection was secure. So would you make a poll for me?

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Real quick? Let's make sure that your tools are

[Game Master / Narrator]

in perfect order here. There it is. It's hard.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

You definitely have to get whatever you can get.

[Game Master / Narrator]

And there's something about making sure that you're buying the right kind of hardware

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

that isn't traceable, it isn't manageable, and you do your best to cover your tracks. But it's fine. It's top of the line, and it's certainly not going to fail you.

[Selena (Hacker / Infiltrator)]

Now, I know my equipment and I know myself.

[Jude (Hotel Director of Operations)]

Good.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Well, then, let's get into it. This is a time blink. Oh, looks like you've got some mail at the moment. Here, too. It actually seems to be an email. Oh, look, your boyfriend's emailing you.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

Yeah.

[Game Master / Narrator]

That's nice.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Isn't that great? What's he saying?

[Selena (Hacker / Infiltrator)]

He says he misses me.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

Yeah.

[Game Master / Narrator]

And how are you gonna reply to him?

[Selena (Hacker / Infiltrator)]

We talk in command prompts. And there's a way to open up a direct line of chat to each other.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Right? Cause what's important is that you have

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

a direct line of communication. Why is that?

[Game Master / Narrator]

Is it to make sure that no one else is watching?

[Selena (Hacker / Infiltrator)]

Would you want somebody listening in on your private conversations with your soulmate?

[Game Master / Narrator]

It's not about what I want, Selena. It's about what you are okay with. And it sounds like you're not okay with people listening in on your private conversations.

[Sam]

No.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Which is a little ironic, because you seem to know a lot about everyone else in this building.

[Selena (Hacker / Infiltrator)]

I do.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

I think it's about time.

[Game Master / Narrator]

You need to get into this thing

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

before it gets too late.

[Selena (Hacker / Infiltrator)]

Yeah. Let's get cracking.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Now, this building creaks and it groans

[Game Master / Narrator]

and it moves and it looks into it.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

But at the same time, this building has character.

[Game Master / Narrator]

And this character is something that has been a safe haven for your activities.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

It's very off the grid.

[Game Master / Narrator]

The rent was incredibly frugal.

[Selena (Hacker / Infiltrator)]

Yeah.

[Game Master / Narrator]

And more importantly, you're not nervous at all that at any time someone could find you or the things that you do?

[Selena (Hacker / Infiltrator)]

No. No one. I'm extremely good at covering my trash.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Help.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Help. Help.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Help. Help. These words seem to be appearing on your screen over and over again.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Help. Help. It's actually from a second window.

[Game Master / Narrator]

That's the one that you use the secure line with your boyfriend. Help.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Help. Help.

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

There's.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

He's typing it over and over again. And it seems to Every single line. Open up a new one. Help. Help.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Selena.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

They have me.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Selena.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Help.

[Sam]

Help.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Help. Help.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Help.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Make a pull.

[Sam]

No, he's not.

[Voice of a Ghost / Spirit]

He's not.

[Sam]

Why is he there? Is there something possible?

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

The voice will stop.

[Game Master / Narrator]

They clean out everything is fine.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Your moments of pressing, you tell them. You tell them, Selena. You tell them something when you want

[Voice of a Ghost / Spirit]

them to be fine.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Okay. He's fine.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Go back to your computer and notice briefly, for a moment, that your hand is on the keyboard and it has

[Game Master / Narrator]

been placed in the H, E L, P tags. What are you feeling right now?

[Selena (Hacker / Infiltrator)]

I'm scared. Is he okay?

[Game Master / Narrator]

You watch as it pops up. The same secure connection comes up. I'm fine, sweetie. He's with me. And the connection ends. And you've seen him recently, right? I mean, you know, he's okay?

[McMillan (Former Tenant / Ghost)]

Yeah.

[Game Master / Narrator]

And there's no problems?

[Abigail (New Tenant)]

No.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

But this happened. Why would he say, help, Selina? Why would he do that to you? Why would he hurt you like that?

[Game Master / Narrator]

Was he testing you?

[Sam]

Maybe.

[Selena (Hacker / Infiltrator)]

I mean, he knows that I'm running an infiltration tonight. He's just.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Was he maybe trying to troll you a little bit?

[Game Master / Narrator]

Just to kind of see, keep you on your toes? To see if you could go and trace him as quick as you can when you're going out to things tonight.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

That's probably what it is, right? That's fine.

[Selena (Hacker / Infiltrator)]

It's fine.

[Game Master / Narrator]

It's okay. So.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Well, you said it yourself. You have an infiltration tonight, so get into it.

[Sam]

Okay?

[Bentley (Struggling Artist)]

Mats.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Matt's.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Miss, please, can you help me?

[Voice of a Ghost / Spirit]

Miss? They've taken my baby. Miss, please. Someone's out here and they've taken my child. My baby is gone. Why aren't you doing anything?

[Selena (Hacker / Infiltrator)]

Who is it?

[Sam]

Me.

[Voice of a Ghost / Spirit]

I have no sou.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Make a pull, Selina. Make a pull right now. Something's outside. And you've never heard anything like this before. It doesn't sound like something that normally comes inside of your head, but there is something pursing in through this. And in fact, out of nowhere, this seems to be this pulsing, this undulating, this moving energy that makes you feel nauseous. It's giving you a bit of a breath. It's as if your body is moving at 1,000 miles per hour. And yet you stop suddenly. And you can feel sweat dripping down your body as suddenly, out of nowhere, you start to just feel this tense coming up.

[Game Master / Narrator]

And you're watching your prompt.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Sit there and wait.

[Game Master / Narrator]

And you can watch the time passing by.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

But also, all you can hear is,

[Sam]

What is it? What is it? Is it there? There is Something there. I can hear it. There's something on the feet. Why is she crying? Is she weak? Selena, there's something under the couch.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

No, it's not.

[Sam]

Don't go. Don't.

[Voice of a Ghost / Spirit]

You're not real. You've never been real. No, the couch.

[Sam]

Your boyfriend's there. Sits there, waiting for you.

[Game Master / Narrator]

You look under the couch?

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Or do you not tell me? Selina, are you going to resist coming out from underneath the couch right now?

[Game Master / Narrator]

Do you not want to look under there?

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Do you not want to see what is under

[Selena (Hacker / Infiltrator)]

every moment? I know it's coming. I can try to fight it all I want, but it's gonna come. I know it. I know it.

[Game Master / Narrator]

If you're not going to fight it, then no.

[Sam]

See, it's there.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

It's there.

[Sam]

Don't worry. But worry. No, you don't do it. Don't do it. Don't you dare do it. There will only be a problem. There will only be pain if you look under there. But. No. It's fine.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Everything's good.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Everything should be fine.

[Voice of a Ghost / Spirit]

You don't scare me.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Make a poll.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Stop the voices, Selena. Stop them from encroaching into your mind.

[Sam]

Is that the good? Is that the easy one? She's always going to take the easy one. She always wants the easy one. You always get.

[Voice of a Ghost / Spirit]

Shut up. Shut up.

[Game Master / Narrator]

The voices stop just as quickly as you tell them to bat out of your mind. And you feel safe, you feel comforted, and everything is okay. Tell yourself. What mantra do you use, Selina, to get the voices out of your head?

[Selena (Hacker / Infiltrator)]

The walls are real. He is real.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Make it real, Selena. Place it on there. Look under the couch.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

It is real. It is real. Selena, as you pull from under, you realize that you've grabbed a fistful of sand. White, bleached sand. Something straight from the Bone Desert. And it's fluid, it's safe. It's free.

[Game Master / Narrator]

And you look down, and just as quickly as you thought the sand was there, you find that you've been holding nothing. Selina. You find that the sand, not a grain of itself, is in your gloves, in the wrinkles of your folds, or even in your fingers.

[Selena (Hacker / Infiltrator)]

Can I tell you something?

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Of course.

[Selena (Hacker / Infiltrator)]

I've only ever told him. But I know it's coming for me. I know that I'm gonna forget. Or at least it's what happens in my family.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Who are you going to forget, Selena?

[McMillan (Former Tenant / Ghost)]

Everything.

[Selena (Hacker / Infiltrator)]

Me? Him?

[Game Master / Narrator]

Are you going to forget who you are?

[Selena (Hacker / Infiltrator)]

And in the last two weeks

[McMillan (Former Tenant / Ghost)]

before

[Selena (Hacker / Infiltrator)]

this, I thought I was safe. I could always explain things away. But in the past two weeks,

[McMillan (Former Tenant / Ghost)]

I think it might be happening.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

And I was scared.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Sylvia, I'm not here to tell you whether it's going to be okay or not. But the tower will provide a sense of security, even if just for a moment. If you would only make a pull, That long, warm feeling of recognition that you hope for. Maybe it's the reason you do code, because it abides by laws that cannot be broken. And there is a mnemonic element to it that ensures that you're constantly challenging your brain. And, Selena, for the moment, you do not forget you know who you are. You know who your boyfriend is. You know the person who you hope to become. So what do you want to do?

[Selena (Hacker / Infiltrator)]

I'm gonna finish the infiltration. Maybe I'll do it while there are some people.

[Sam]

Okay.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Well, let's take your laptop up and see if you can finish what you started where there's a little more security around.

[Sam]

I'm real.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Emmett Markham.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

You've had a long day.

[Game Master / Narrator]

I mean, you've been living here for about a year.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

And one of the things that's been

[Game Master / Narrator]

interesting about being in this space is that it's had a certain weird emotional impact on you because you chose to be here.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Why did you choose to live here?

[Emmett Markham (Writer)]

My work and writing has gotten me sort of into a nightlife that I've never really been accustomed to. And I feel like it kind of clouds my judgment with writing. So in la, I've picked a place which won't be distracting and won't, you know, cloud who I am for what I do.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Would you make a pull for me?

[Emmett Markham (Writer)]

Okay.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Your first pull.

[Emmett Markham (Writer)]

Wow. I have zero experience.

[Game Master / Narrator]

This is just a lot to process. This is a lot of self reflection that you're thinking about coming back to

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

this reason that you came to this building.

[Game Master / Narrator]

In general, there are a lot of

[Emmett Markham (Writer)]

interesting voices in this city and in the building in particular. I go for long walks, but I don't often have to leave the building to hear something unique.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Mm, gnar. Definitely whispers. It definitely feels like this place has a voice. Would you mind putting it on the top for me there?

[Sam]

Yes.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Well, you feel like you can quell the pain a little bit.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Like, that's.

[Game Master / Narrator]

I mean, headaches are not uncommon. Yeah. And, you know, you've definitely gone through

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

the process a little bit to be

[Game Master / Narrator]

able to clear out the headache.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

So you said you. I mean, you told me that you do a lot of walks.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Why do you walk around this building?

[Emmett Markham (Writer)]

I like talking to people, and I like listening even more than talking. And I like the people that I meet on the street more than I like the ones that I meet at parties.

[Game Master / Narrator]

It sounds like you are a fan of people. What kind of people are you a fan of?

[Emmett Markham (Writer)]

Um, I like regular people.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Regular people? The starlet at a party who is coming out in order to make a conversation to find out who the next most important person they need to talk to is. When you look at that person, what do you see?

[Emmett Markham (Writer)]

I see someone who's trying to be something else for someone else.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Something else for someone else.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

That's really potent.

[Game Master / Narrator]

And it's also interesting because, Emmett, you came out here to LA for someone, right?

[Emmett Markham (Writer)]

That's. That's true.

[Game Master / Narrator]

You came out here in order to find and help someone who you put stock into.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Were you. Were you trying to be someone else

[Game Master / Narrator]

other than who you were?

[Emmett Markham (Writer)]

I made a mistake here.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Being here is a mistake. Is that what you're telling me?

[Emmett Markham (Writer)]

Probably coming in the first place was a mistake.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Make a poll.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

You came here, you drove all the way out from your home state of New New York just so that you could follow somebody else's dream.

[Game Master / Narrator]

What are you trying to find?

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

This is all very painful. That headache that you thought that you had quashed it, had put away, it's starting to come back, but it's even more painful than it was before. It's starting to pain. It's starting to dig at your head as you manage to breathe and take it out and hold that space and

[Game Master / Narrator]

be able to say, no. No.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

You had other reasons to be here

[Game Master / Narrator]

other than just her. You said it. You said it yourself. There were other things here that were not a mistake. What were those things?

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Um.

[Emmett Markham (Writer)]

I'm. I'm writing again. And I'm finding where I started again.

[Game Master / Narrator]

And. How is it?

[Emmett Markham (Writer)]

It's good. It's. I mean, I'm kind of alone.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Are you alone?

[Emmett Markham (Writer)]

I am now.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Emmett, this is not something you were

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

hoping to deal with today.

[Game Master / Narrator]

You wanted to get some writing done and out of nowhere.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Maybe it's just how you're doing right now, but it feels like someone just

[Game Master / Narrator]

turned on a switch inside of your body. And a wave of nausea. Just not crippling, but definitely bending over.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Difficult clutch knot in your just stomach

[Game Master / Narrator]

just kind of comes into you. I don't know, maybe you should wash

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

your face or do something like try to get a little bit of water in there. Just because it's so much right now

[Game Master / Narrator]

and

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

it's in there. It's kind of in your stomach as if someone just took you and you just went 1,000 miles and you just popped out of a speed rail.

[Game Master / Narrator]

And you look up into the mirror

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

and something in the mirror looking at you backwards is a dark purple sky leaving out. And you see a giant tall tower looming out in the middle of nothing. Pink purple skyline comes about you as clouds wander and wave. And you can feel vision start to distort and bend and move around.

[Game Master / Narrator]

You make a pull em. And make a pull.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

The. There is something happening in here right now. And it is not safe. And it is certainly not conducive.

[Game Master / Narrator]

It hurts. It hurts.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

And things are moving so incredibly fast. This pull. Are you able to hold it? Is this still in your brain? Are you really seeing this tower right now? Or are you seeing something from beyond this world?

[Game Master / Narrator]

That is fine. The tower did not fall.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

A single blow. Link fell. Go back to that mirror. Look into that tower and tell yourself that what is there isn't real.

[McMillan (Former Tenant / Ghost)]

You did this.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

You know that, right?

[McMillan (Former Tenant / Ghost)]

You made this happen. Was it satisfying? Were you happy?

[Voice of a Ghost / Spirit]

Did it feel good to kill me?

[McMillan (Former Tenant / Ghost)]

I trusted you. I can't believe that I did, but I trusted you. You made me feel. Feel so safe. Like I had some other choice in my life. I'll never forget it. I was sitting on the concrete wall at the Denny's. And I was enjoying a cigarette. And you stumbled by it. Do you remember. Remember what we talked about?

[Sam]

Right? You're. You're. You're. You're. You're dead. You're dead.

[McMillan (Former Tenant / Ghost)]

We were walking and we chatted. And I made you my offer. And then you offered something else. Breakfast. If it had been any other night, I would have just told you to fuck off. But I was so tired and hungry and I. I was okay. I could play therapist for a little while. Just for a free meal. We didn't do that. We talked about everything else. We talked about music in theater. See, I came out here just to find my place among the stars. Like everyone else.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Emmett. Make a pol.

[Sam]

It. It's not for you.

[McMillan (Former Tenant / Ghost)]

That night was the first night in a lot of late night breakfasts. You didn't talk about yourself too much. But that was okay. That was okay because for the first time I felt like someone was listening to me. And then you abandoned me. You stopped coming around as much. I thought maybe you were bored of me. But then you just stopped completely.

[Voice of a Ghost / Spirit]

Why?

[Emmett Markham (Writer)]

You're dead, Sam. I saw you.

[McMillan (Former Tenant / Ghost)]

You know what I did? I hit up a regular john. He was hooking me up. But I wasn't looking for sex. I was looking for you.

[Voice of a Ghost / Spirit]

I wanted breakfast.

[McMillan (Former Tenant / Ghost)]

One night he. He got a bad batch and we both OD'd. As I was fading out of consciousness, I thought to call you. And then I realized I don't have your number.

[Voice of a Ghost / Spirit]

I gave you my number and you never called me. Now I'm here with him and he showed me. He showed me what you're doing

[Sam]

absolutely nothing. I died and you were doing nothing.

[Voice of a Ghost / Spirit]

I trusted you and you did nothing.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Make a pull. Admit.

[Sam]

You're not primitive.

[Co-Game Master / Narrator]

Then who is he?

[Abigail (New Tenant)]

I'm watching you, Emmett.

[McMillan (Former Tenant / Ghost)]

In this wakeful nightmare where all dreams come true. I'll see you on the other.

[Game Master / Narrator]

Was that real? Was it something you hallucinated? I don't know. But there is cold peace in the floor that you're on now. And maybe a party doesn't sound like such a bad idea right now.

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[McMillan (Former Tenant / Ghost)]

Experian

[Glass Cannon Podcast Announcer]

the war is over and both sides lost. Kingdoms were reduced to cinders and armies scattered like bones in the dust. Now the surveillance survivors claw to what's left of a broken world, praying the Darkness chooses someone else tonight. But in the shadowdark, the Darkness always wins. This is old school adventuring at its most cruel. Your torch ticks down in real time and when that flame dies, something else rises to finish the job. This is a brutal rules light nightmare with a story that emerges organically based on the decisions that the characters make. This is what it felt like to play RPGs in the 80s. And man, it is so good to be back. Join the Glass Cannon podcast as we plunge into The Shadow Dark every Thursday night at 8pm Eastern on YouTube.com theglasscanon with the podcast version dropping the next day. See what everybody's talking about and join us in the Dark.