Vigilance | Ep. 13 | Just Rewards

Summary

Dark Dice: Vigilance | Ep. 13 | Just Rewards – Detailed Summary

Introduction

In the gripping finale of the first season of Dark Dice, titled "Vigilance | Ep. 13 | Just Rewards," listeners are taken on a high-stakes journey as the adventurers navigate the perilous depths of a cultist tower. This episode marks the culmination of the Liberty Vigilance campaign, where each character faces intense challenges, moral dilemmas, and unexpected alliances. Hosted by Fool and Scholar Productions, this horror actual play podcast masterfully blends suspense, strategy, and rich storytelling to deliver an unforgettable conclusion.

Descent into the Cultist Tower (00:59 – 05:05)

The episode begins with the team—junior engineer Horatius McBride, investigator Sylvanus Clairhout, and Flick the scavenger—preparing to descend into the lowest basement level of a cultist tower. Narrated by Travis Vengrof, the setting is vividly described:

“The floor is easily three stories in height, making the descent by ladder through the sickeningly thick haze...six large cylinders that expand outward the lower they drop.” (03:52)

As they reach the basement, the environment is sparse and eerie, with dirt floors and steel mesh dividers creating an atmosphere of confinement and danger.

Encounter with Soldiers and Discovery of the Hidden Door (05:04 – 09:15)

Upon reaching their destination, the team encounters six unassuming soldiers seated around a table, unaware of the intruders. The soldiers are armed with close combat weapons, not firearms, heightening the tension. The team swiftly bars the door using Paul Scheer’s character’s trusty metal pipe:

“I'll use the bad club to bar the door. That way they can't get out.” (05:59)

This strategic move showcases the team's quick thinking and resourcefulness. Flick notices a strange hexagonal outline in the dirt, leading them to uncover a hidden door. Sylvanus Clairhout successfully hacks the door's security, revealing a dark, cramped room housing seven large plastic canisters. Two contain decaying corpses, and one holds a young man in cryostasis:

“A young man of indeterminate age rests behind glass...appears to be asleep.” (09:15)

Interaction with the Hologram (10:34 – 14:00)

As the team investigates, a motion-activated holographic display projects a three-dimensional representation of the resting man, Jocqui Julien Rather:

“Greetings, comrade. Complete then?” (10:34)

The hologram explains his mission to return the team to the Atrius Corporation sites on Melia or Earth. However, suspicions arise as Claire Houghton McBride detects a Class 6 explosive on one of their members:

“I detect a Class 6 explosive on one of your persons.” (12:32)

This revelation intensifies the urgency, pushing the team to devise a plan to neutralize the threat and escape the tower.

The Escape Plan and Building Collapse (14:00 – 25:57)

With the situation deteriorating due to increasing gas leaks, Amy Nicholson’s character suggests opening the ventilation system to disperse the gas and set a timed explosive. After meticulous planning and the deployment of explosives, the team faces the critical moment of detonation. However, Wayne June's character, Thracious Wyatt, ingeniously reverses time to prevent an immediate explosion, buying the team precious seconds to execute their escape:

“I have precisely such an implement. It's called a pick-ended club.” (22:29)

The final moments involve a tense sequence of actions where the team successfully detonates the grenade, causing the tower to crumble and an awe-inspiring explosion that obliterates the building:

“The tower crumbles inwardly, toppling as large segments dislodge and crash into nearby buildings.” (19:34)

Deception and Return to Atreus (26:00 – 43:20)

Escaping the collapsing tower, the team disguises themselves as regular citizens to avoid detection. They interact with various characters, including private investigator Atos Drez, and navigate through multiple security checkpoints. Amy Nicholson’s character meticulously crafts a classified message to Director West, alerting him to the dangers and their mission:

“Message to send to Director west. Classified safety of Archon and Atreus at risk...” (38:52)

Upon reaching the underground facility and successfully passing through security, the team is escorted to meet Director Romulus West. This pivotal meeting results in the team being officially recognized and appointed as senior officers tasked with eliminating the Children of Melkor, the antagonistic cult:

“Your family will be given extra allocation and you will be promoted to be a senior officer...” (61:24)

Final Confrontation and Resolution (43:20 – 68:35)

Director West expresses sincere gratitude and commissions the team to continue their fight against the Children of Melkor. In a climactic turn, as Amy Nicholson’s character presents their dossier, an armored figure—Reeve—appears and immediately executes the Archon, signaling a shift in leadership and validating the team’s sacrifices:

“The Archon is a person... she is a person who has ascended to the highest level of being the hero of our people.” (54:23)

The team receives commendations and is reassigned to new roles within the Department of Special Services, ensuring their dedication and bravery are officially recognized:

“You will unify the segmented science divisions and create a better future for all. Atreus.” (61:24)

Conclusion and Future Plans (68:35 – End)

As the episode concludes, the team reflects on their harrowing journey and the immense changes they have undergone. Their successful mission not only saves Atreus but also secures their positions as key operatives in the ongoing battle against the cult. The closing moments hint at future adventures and the promise of maintaining vigilance to protect their world:

“We destroyed the children of Melkor and saved Atreus. So what more could we really want besides an afternoon off with our families?” (69:21)

Notable Quotes

1. Paul Scheer as [Character Name]:
   “I'll use the bad club to bar the door. That way they can't get out.” (05:59)

2. Hologram Jocqui Julien Rather:
   “Greetings, comrade. Complete then?” (10:34)

3. Wayne June as Thracious Wyatt:
   “I detect a Class 6 explosive on one of your persons.” (12:32)

4. Amy Nicholson as [Character Name]:
   “Because they were planning to overthrow the Archon.” (35:09)

5. Ashley Burch as Director Romulus West:
   “You shall lead them in the pursuit and elimination of the children of Melakor.” (61:36)

Final Thoughts

Vigilance | Ep. 13 | Just Rewards serves as a thrilling conclusion to the Liberty Vigilance arc, expertly balancing intense action sequences with deep character development and intricate plot twists. The episode not only resolves long-standing conflicts but also sets the stage for future narratives, ensuring that listeners remain eagerly anticipating the next season of Dark Dice. Through its compelling storytelling and immersive world-building, Dark Dice continues to solidify its place as a premier horror actual play podcast.

Transcript

[Amy Nicholson]

I'm Amy Nicholson, the film critic for the LA Times.

[Paul Scheer]

And I'm Paul Scheer, an actor, writer and director. You might know me from the League, Veep, or my non eligible for Academy Award role in Twisters.

[Amy Nicholson]

We come together to host Unspooled, a podcast where we talk about good movies.

[Paul Scheer]

Critical hits, fan favorites, must sees, and in case you missed ems, we're talking the Home Alone from Grease to the Dark Knight.

[Amy Nicholson]

So if you love movies like we do, come along on our cinematic adventure.

[Miles Tridle]

Listen to Unspooled wherever you get your.

[Amy Nicholson]

Podcasts and don't forget to hit the follow button. The Warning woods has haunting horror stories.

[Miles Tridle]

That are sure to linger with you long after listening. I'm Miles Tridle, writer and narrator of the Warning Woods.

[Amy Nicholson]

Each week I write an original scary story and share it with you. If you're into scary stories, you need.

[Miles Tridle]

To check out the Warning Woods Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Wayne June]

Just search for the Warning woods and.

[Miles Tridle]

Click Play at your own risk. Welcome citizens, to the series conclusion of Liberty Vigilance. It's been a fun adventure and despite the players dodging my best attempts to murder them, well, most of them anyway, they've made it to the final session. Before we get to the conclusion though, we'd like to let you know what we, the creators of the show, will be working on in the future. First, we are working on season two of Dark Dice. We want to bring this story to its conclusion and have been working toward that for a very long time. We return on August 26, 2025. In the meantime, we will be releasing episodes of Don't Mind Sealskin Rock every two weeks as part of the Don't Mind podcast feed. Additionally, we will be wrapping up the final touches on the Unnatural Horrors book, which will be printing in August. If you have enjoyed Liberty Vigilance, you will also be pleased to know that Liberty after is available on Quest Portal in a totally new and updated format as well as on libertyendures.com so go check it out either at libertyendures.com for a PD or questportal.com as your virtual tabletop of choice. Finally, we just wanted to say a sincere thanks to Wayne June for bringing this story to life. It would not be the same without him and you'll be missed. Thank you again for listening to the show. It means a lot to us and we hope that Atreus will endure through you until August. Season two of Dark Dice. We hope you'll continue to listen to our other shows in the meantime and that we are able to continue to keep you entertained. So what is in store for our finale? We can only hope that Atreus endures.

[Travis Vengrof]

Liberty Vigilance episode 13 just rewards junior engineer Horatius McBride, investigator Sylvanus Clairhout and Flick the scavenger descend the ladder into the lowest basement level of the cultist tower. The floor is easily three stories in height, making the descent by ladder through the sickeningly thick haze. Uncomfortable. Visible on the descent are six large cylinders that expand outward the lower they drop. One of these large canisters hisses loudly, indicating the site of the chemical leak. Upon reaching the bottom, the room appears fairly sparse. The dirt floor, steel mesh dividers separating the cylinders, and additional mesh walls not listed on the map, further bisecting the room. Only two such walls lie between the group and their destination, the excavation site.

[Wayne June]

Okay, I'll draw these new details to the map in hot pink. That's the color of everything. I'll draw them in hot yellow. That's even less visible with the cat shifting to hot baby blue.

[Amy Nicholson]

Man, why do they choose such really difficult things to see?

[Wayne June]

So those are the extra rooms we can't quite see from where we are in the staircase, which. Which is where we are right now. And this is the location of the hidden door. I say we head right there.

[Paul Scheer]

All right, I'm down. I mean, I approve of this directive.

[Travis Vengrof]

The team approaches the second mesh fence. It looks to have been intentionally yet haphazardly covered in glass and various plastics to obscure visibility and partially soundproof the other side. With calm awareness, they pass through the fence's door immediately seeing six unassuming soldiers. The soldiers are seated around a table, leaning in to listen to soft sounds coming from an old data pad.

[Wayne June]

Vaguely familiar.

[Travis Vengrof]

While the soldiers thwart holsters for potential firearms, none can be seen. They are instead armed with close combat weapons, a mix of batons, large knives and short swords.

[Paul Scheer]

So could we. Do we. Do we see anything other than the soldiers and what they're listening like? I'm sorry.

[Travis Vengrof]

As far as the limited visibility allows the team to see, the room is otherwise sparse, and no entrance to any sort of excavation site is visible. The soldiers, wearing masks and engrossed in whatever they're listening to, have yet to notice the open door.

[Paul Scheer]

Hey, listen, does anybody have anything? Maybe we could bar the door. Just leave. Bar the door and they can't get out.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Club, maybe?

[Paul Scheer]

Well, yeah, but I use that to hit people.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Don't you have two weapons?

[Paul Scheer]

No, I had to give up the Other one. No, no, no. I do have two clubs. Yeah, I'll use the bad club. I'll use the bad club to bar the door. That way they can't get out.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Okay.

[Paul Scheer]

All right. Let's go.

[Travis Vengrof]

Flick begins to quietly close the door as McBride's grip on his trusty metal pipe tightens.

[Wayne June]

Is there anything I could get off a perception check?

[Travis Vengrof]

That would require a successful perception check.

[Wayne June]

Just as it's closing, though.

[Travis Vengrof]

Claire Houghton McBride. See? Nothing suspicious. Flick, with the focused eye of a lifelong scavenger, notices a strange hexagonal outline in the dirt floor just beyond the soldiers.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Oh, hold on a sec, Clubmaster.

[Wayne June]

Okay.

[Ashley Burch]

What?

[Paul Scheer]

Don't call me Clubmaster.

[Kaitlin Stats]

I was just trying it out. I don't think that it's gonna stick.

[Travis Vengrof]

Okay, so.

[Kaitlin Stats]

I think there's more to this room than we think.

[Paul Scheer]

What does that mean?

[Kaitlin Stats]

Hidden door. Hidden door on the floor.

[Wayne June]

Oh, darn.

[Paul Scheer]

How will we get there? When those guys are there, they'll think it's suspicious. Well, they're soldiers. Maybe if we just act like whatever we have to fix is down there, then we can just go down there.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Oh, yeah, yeah. We're cleaning crew. Clean it crew.

[Paul Scheer]

Right, right.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Okay.

[Travis Vengrof]

After quietly closing the door, Flick kicks the door in loudly.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Okay, everybody out.

[Travis Vengrof]

The soldiers all look up. This Flick must now roll a deception.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Okay, no, don't.

[Amy Nicholson]

All right, so one of you guys is wearing a privacy hood, and I can hear you talking.

[Paul Scheer]

Yes, I know that I am.

[Amy Nicholson]

Okay, so I'm literally gonna say, don't make them leave. If you send them up these stairs, they're gonna see the dead scientist body.

[Travis Vengrof]

With the role of a natural 20. The soldiers regrettably follow Flick's orders without question.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Okay.

[Paul Scheer]

Hey, I'm sorry about that, my friend.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Was everybody out of the way? We. Everybody in the room. But out of our general space, this is a critical area. The gas problem is getting very bad. And where should we go? Uh, let's.

[Paul Scheer]

You don't need to explain if there's no time. Just tell us where to go.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Okay, Just wait outside this door. Let's. You don't need to go any farther than that. But we just need to investigate the situation with as few bodies as possible. So get out. Get out of this room.

[Paul Scheer]

Yes, sir.

[Kaitlin Stats]

But don't go upstairs.

[Amy Nicholson]

Come on, guys.

[Travis Vengrof]

The six Halden soldiers take the data pad and leave the room. Blind obedience. An assumed ingrained tenet of the cult.

[Paul Scheer]

Hey, that was pretty good. Look at you, using big words like critical.

[Kaitlin Stats]

All right, then. Then hanging with you joker is a Little too much, I think. Okay, let's just open this fucking door up.

[Travis Vengrof]

The team investigates the outline Flick located and brushes dirt away, revealing a glistening metallic surface that Clairhout and McBride both suspect as smart material.

[Wayne June]

Can I see what I can do? Investigation.

[Travis Vengrof]

Using his hacking tool, Investigator, Clairhout bypasses the door's dated security. An image based puzzle. The holographic projections of the puzzle rapidly merge to form a utopian cityscape under an alien blue sky with no moon.

[Wayne June]

Got it.

[Travis Vengrof]

The door slowly slides open, revealing a short set of stairs engulfed in darkness. Glancing back to check for followers, the team slowly descends the staircase into a dark, cramped room entirely clear of gas. The room houses seven large plastic canisters, six of which are leaning upright on the walls. Four erect canisters are empty, and two house decaying corpses, clearly visible through the frosted glass window topping each canister. The final canister, lying on the floor in the room's center, is connected to a jumble of wires and tubes within. A young man of indeterminate age rests behind glass. He notably lacks the mark, but his skin looks too clear to be that of a Fringer. He appears to be asleep. And as the team steps in for closer examination, a motion activated holographic display projects a three dimensional representation of the resting man.

[H]

Greetings, comrade. Complete then?

[Kaitlin Stats]

Ah, yes.

[H]

Excellent. Now, Mat, I'll be your service.

[Travis Vengrof]

The hologram smiles.

[Paul Scheer]

I'm gonna let my friend here answer that question. Take it away, friend.

[Wayne June]

Sorry, we've been breathing in a lot of toxic gas. Who are you?

[H]

Oui, je suis jocqui. Julien Rather. I am representing myself on digital form as. My body is still on Cryoshi?

[Wayne June]

Absolutely. We're cleaning crew. We got sent down here to clean up a spill. Hence the gas, hence the fuzziness. Which one of these cylinders is your body?

[H]

The one directly behind me.

[Wayne June]

And the rest of these. These bodies? Who are they?

[H]

They are the remnants of the crew of the Resplendor.

[Wayne June]

The Resplendent. What's that?

[H]

The Resplendor is the vessel designed to take the off world terraforming specially, and the families back home after the initial colonization of the planet is complete. Individuals like Dr. Thorn, Dr. Patel and Dr. Song, myself and the other crew members were placed in creative sleep in preparation for a mission over 700 years ago to ensure that we did not meet a premature death prior to our mission. However, the individuals we intend to take off world are now long dead. Are now long dead.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Long dead.

[H]

And the core crew of the Respiratory did not survive the looting that took place in the centuries following. Here's our action. I only became activated by chance thanks to the efforts of your leader, Director Yale. Yale has made me aware this part of me aware of the current situation. It is now my duty to. How you say, Return all those who would allow it back to the Atrius Corporation sites on either Melia or Earth, pending a cursory inspection of both sites. Perhaps you don't understand though. So, as you say, I will awaken once the Resplendent is repaired and navigate you through the stars back to your real home.

[Paul Scheer]

Listen guys, I'm starting to think I'm really being affected by this gas. For real. This is really.

[H]

What.

[Paul Scheer]

What is he talking about? Maybe we should just go. Should we just go?

[H]

Based on the information I have received, it is clear that the falsely named Archon is a tyrant who has committed many crimes punishable by death. I will continue to advise that she be left to the proper authorities because I am a system that's programmed to follow all laws and bylaws. However, the actual body and mind I represent would likely disagree with my stated course of action. Excuse me, but I detect a Class 6 explosive on one of your person. I must advise that you do not bring such devices close to the Resplendor's rockets in the future. It is an unnecessary risk that could endanger many lives, as well as the success of the mission.

[Paul Scheer]

Of course, that was our mistake. It won't happen again. We have to go and fix. We gotta finish cleaning this spill. So just sit tight and we'll be back to help you execute the plans later.

[H]

This is for the best. Have a nice day.

[Paul Scheer]

Great.

[Travis Vengrof]

The hologram dissipates, sending the team back into the silent darkness of the room.

[Wayne June]

Is there anything else in the room I can see?

[Travis Vengrof]

Flareheart can see that the canisters were each previously hooked up to a space that housed them.

[Kaitlin Stats]

He said close to the rockets, right?

[Wayne June]

That's what he said. The rockets, those giant fuel canister looking things on the previous floor. Could be what he was referring to.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Hmm.

[Wayne June]

Out of character. I have no idea how to feel about this. Because he seems like a nice guy who wants to get us home and everyone else just wants to destroy Atreus.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Yeah, yeah, he doesn't seem very culty.

[Paul Scheer]

Nah, nah, seems like a normal guy in hologram land. Okay, maybe he isn't a normal guy, but you know what I mean.

[Travis Vengrof]

Meanwhile, senior officer Thracious Wyatt stands sentinel over the ladder leading down while lab technician Diana Azad examines the goptum controls.

[Amy Nicholson]

Someone's coming.

[Travis Vengrof]

Assad watches anxiously as three individuals hauling bulky technical gear begin to slowly descend the staircase.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Then we need to find out what's happening. We cannot afford any additional delays.

[Travis Vengrof]

Despite wearing a large glass breathing apparatus, Azad easily recognizes the face of the center figure to be Tongs, the original bad guy.

[Amy Nicholson]

I would like to note that I am also in my breather and wearing a hood and am not recognizable just from like, looking at me.

[Travis Vengrof]

Normally, this is true. However, the two corpses at Izod's feet might be seen as suspicious.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Yeah, there's that. There's that.

[Amy Nicholson]

Yeah. And as far as they know, I'm the one that's keeping everything running because these two people have. One of them has gone insane and attacked the other because of the gases, and then the other one finally went unconscious. I don't know.

[Paul Scheer]

We'll see how that goes.

[Amy Nicholson]

You guys are like, oh, let's leave the scientist up here and then take a really long time.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Well, I don't know how much time we have left to talk this out, but my stance in the fringe, we would consider these guys to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and execute our mission anyway. Uh, however you touchy feely types you are, you Atrians. Yeah, you innies are. Are you interested in finding a way to bring these people with us or something? Or are we just doing this?

[Paul Scheer]

I don't know if we have enough time. Ah, smithereens. Maybe if we just seal the door super tight and then leave. You know, leave and then seal the door super tight. If we detonate the stuff above, you know, it wouldn't be. Maybe they'll leave.

[Wayne June]

Yeah, it's a Reeve. Damn shame, but we should get out of here.

[H]

Yep.

[Paul Scheer]

Let's go.

[Travis Vengrof]

The team closes the door to the excavation site and returns to the main room. The soldiers from earlier are standing in a circle listening to the data pad. One of them notices the open door.

[Paul Scheer]

Is it safe to return?

[Wayne June]

For now. Get on back in there. Finish your program.

[Paul Scheer]

Yep.

[Ashley Burch]

Nice.

[Paul Scheer]

Come on, boys. Let's catch the end of Tales from the Tower.

[Wayne June]

Still feel like giving up that other cane?

[Paul Scheer]

Ah, sure. Let's do it.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Okay, so we bar the door.

[Paul Scheer]

Yeah. Regretfully, I use my normal pipe, metal pipe to bar the door.

[Travis Vengrof]

With the door barred, the team heads back up the main ladder. As the team reaches the top of the ladder, they see two guards and a man in scientific garbage, easily recognizable as Tongs. The figures appear stuck to the ground at the base of the staircase. And Thracius Wyatt has a gun Aimed on them. While Diana Azad is interfacing with various holograms that the Gobtam controls.

[Amy Nicholson]

I asked him if they were on the stairs and he said yes. And I was like, okay, the gravity on the stairs is now really, really heavy. They are stuck to the ground.

[Travis Vengrof]

It appears that one of the guards was severely injured on his fall down the staircase.

[Amy Nicholson]

Good for them. I'm gonna turn to them like, what did you find, guys? What am I doing?

[Paul Scheer]

Ah, we found a guy who was in some kind of stasis, came out of a hologram, started talking about flying us to our true home. And there were definitely some rockets in there. You know, we were concerned that we were taking a little too long, so we left. But he's in there now.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Yeah. This is a spaceship. This is a space spaceship.

[Paul Scheer]

Yep. All of those things are true that I just said.

[Amy Nicholson]

So you're telling me that we're in something that can connect the people here on Atreus with the horrible creatures that exist in the rest of the universe?

[Paul Scheer]

Yes, that is. That is exactly what I'm saying. Gas get into you Just a little bit.

[Amy Nicholson]

So are we still with the whole idea of blowing it up?

[Kaitlin Stats]

Apparently.

[Paul Scheer]

Well, you know, someone might want to show you. That weird guy seemed, and he did seem like a nice weird guy. I am concerned about the possibility that linking up with those outsiders could put my family in danger. As such, I think we should blow this place to smithereens.

[Amy Nicholson]

To smithereens. That's a vote for smithereens. I am also voting for smithereens. Do we have additional votes for smithereens?

[Kaitlin Stats]

Voting for smithereens.

[Amy Nicholson]

That's three. Five on smithereens. All right, anybody else? Three out of five so far. Okay, smithereens. Okay, can I shoot them now?

[Kaitlin Stats]

Okay.

[Travis Vengrof]

Wyatt pulls the trigger, igniting the densely packed rocket fuel. Moments later, a loud explosion rocks the area, followed by the chaos of shattering glass, groaning metal, and roaring, relentless fire. The tower crumbles inwardly, toppling as large segments dislodge and crash into nearby buildings.

[Amy Nicholson]

Oh, sorry.

[Travis Vengrof]

Wyatt uses an inspiration point to reverse time by six seconds, and instead of pulling the trigger, opts to click the safety into place.

[Amy Nicholson]

Okay, smithereens. Okay, can I shoot them now? Utilize a large, heavy object like these men do. Okay. No, don't kill them yet. I guess they want to talk to.

[Wayne June]

Just so it's clear, will shooting set off the gas?

[Amy Nicholson]

It definitely would, yeah.

[Travis Vengrof]

Okay.

[Amy Nicholson]

Yeah, so here's the plan. I'm going to open up the ventilation system for the entirety of this tower and Just keep pumping this gas as far up and across the entirety of this tower as possible. And then we will have to set some kind of timed small explosive and then get out of here.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Or any type of fire. Right. Can we rig up the blowtorch to something?

[Amy Nicholson]

You could rig up the blowtorch, you could rig a grenade to go off. You could do anything.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Yeah.

[Amy Nicholson]

Do we still have that Iolas grenade?

[Wayne June]

Yeah, I've got it.

[Amy Nicholson]

I kind of have an idea.

[Paul Scheer]

Do tell.

[Amy Nicholson]

So what if we put this on tongs, set it for four minutes, a suitable time for us to leave the building. And we have to get up the stairs. It's only two flights. No, I mean the stairs are currently at seven times gravity. We could undo the gravity, tie them.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Up and why don't we just take the engineering ladder up instead?

[Amy Nicholson]

Yeah, that works. Okay, so we can use that. And I can also rig up something that will cause a fire suitable enough to set off the gas, which will be activated by the kinetic energy of the eyeless grenade. Now that I'm thinking about it, with a few adjustments, the eyeless will probably cause the same desired effect without being so needlessly complicated.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Sure. I like that. It's like ya, it's like you're wrapping a paper bag with a plastic bag.

[Amy Nicholson]

Oh wait, I have a question.

[Kaitlin Stats]

I don't know where I was going with that. Anyway.

[Amy Nicholson]

If the gases that I'm pumping throughout everything now you said they're getting worse and worse and they're becoming, like you said, kind of cloudy.

[Travis Vengrof]

Visibility has reduced to 15ft.

[Amy Nicholson]

Okay, so if we didn't have our gas masks on in this cloud, would we be like asphyxiating?

[Travis Vengrof]

Azad doesn't need to roll to determine that breathing in the gas would be fatal within a very short time frame.

[Amy Nicholson]

All right, can we just take off the gas masks of the people that are in front of us currently?

[Kaitlin Stats]

We could maybe throw something to try and knock them off.

[Amy Nicholson]

As soon as it enters the gravity section, it would just fall to the ground. If someone has a long pole or something that's got a spike on the end, we could just put it on their foreheads and then hammer it. And that would still work?

[Paul Scheer]

As a matter of fact, I have precisely such an implement. It's called a pick ended club. And I've been using it to hit people for the past 12 hours.

[Amy Nicholson]

Okay, perfect. So are we disposing of these people now or am I still not allowed to say kill them?

[Paul Scheer]

Better to dispose them now than to have to dispose them later when they're standing up.

[Amy Nicholson]

Well, if you kill them now, we can use the stairs.

[Paul Scheer]

Yeah, that's what I mean. That's also good. All right, I'll kill him now.

[Travis Vengrof]

Tongs is glaring at the group, trying to speak.

[Paul Scheer]

Sorry, Tongs. Hope you're not trying to say anything important. Can you Kill you.

[Travis Vengrof]

With strained concentration, McBride removes the gas mask from the burst guard.

[Paul Scheer]

So I guess I'll go ahead and ping ping. You know, knock him dead.

[Travis Vengrof]

His pick ended club gets caught under the weight of the mask.

[Paul Scheer]

Hey, can somebody help me pull this thing out? I pinged too hard the gravity.

[Travis Vengrof]

McBride removes the mask of the second guard.

[Paul Scheer]

Never mind. I got it myself. Oh, thanks, wyatt. Appreciate it.

[Travis Vengrof]

McBride removes the gas mask.

[Paul Scheer]

Sorry, Tongs. Goodbye tolerance ping.

[Amy Nicholson]

Until we're absolutely ready to leave. Having seven times gravity in the stairwell is protecting us. So I want to make sure that we're completely ready to get out of this building. So I'm beep beep booping at the computer and somebody needs to be thinking of how to make it fire.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Beep boop.

[Amy Nicholson]

I'm a demolition specialist. Just hand me the explosives and I'll set it all up. I believe Sylvanas can vouch that I'm great with explosives. Right.

[Wayne June]

Gonna pull out the ionis grenade and throw it to Thracious Sweet archon.

[Travis Vengrof]

Wyatt panics, but somehow manages to catch the grenade after it bounces off her shoulder.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Holy.

[Amy Nicholson]

You're lucky I caught that.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Did you throw that?

[Amy Nicholson]

Don't throw those things around.

[Travis Vengrof]

Regaining her composure, Senior officer Wyatt sets up the grenade at the center console, disabling all of its fail safes and begins to rig a timer.

[Amy Nicholson]

How much time do we want? Can you put it in a less conspicuous area so that when we leave, if someone comes down here, they can't just like remove it? No one will touch it or it'll explode anyway.

[Paul Scheer]

Oh yeah.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Okay.

[Amy Nicholson]

All right, so best options. Best options. Best options. 4 minutes. 8. Wait, wait. Should we. Okay. Where does the. The security hatch go? Does it go all the way up to the first floor?

[Travis Vengrof]

Hazard concludes that the security hatch will only lead up to the immediate basement level above B1.

[Amy Nicholson]

Alright, okay. So my plan wouldn't work anyways, unless I just wanted to collapse this singular room. So we're just gonna have to turn off the seven times gravity, get out here as soon as possible and just. Yeah, just hope. But can I do a diagnostic to see if the entirety of the building is filled with enough gas to explode.

[Wayne June]

If any one of those rockets or fuel canisters or Whatever were triggered, the entire building would go.

[Amy Nicholson]

All right, so let's. Let's just leave, guys. You know, let's just go.

[Wayne June]

At the very least, it would destroy the base of the tower, causing the rest to fall down.

[Amy Nicholson]

And if by the time we get out of here and the. The. The thing doesn't go off, we'll just shoot at the building a bunch until something sets off a spark because.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Shoot in the building. I like this plan.

[Paul Scheer]

All right, five minutes. Sound good, everybody? I don't want it to be too long.

[Amy Nicholson]

Well, there's guards at the front door, so.

[Paul Scheer]

Oh, yeah, how about 10?

[Amy Nicholson]

10? 10. And even 8?

[Kaitlin Stats]

8. 8. I like 8.

[Amy Nicholson]

Lucky number. Let's go.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Good. Good compromise. All right.

[Travis Vengrof]

Wyatt starts the timer as Azad releases the enhanced gravity on the stairwell.

[Amy Nicholson]

I don't get to play with my Dragonfly.

[Travis Vengrof]

The team runs up to the first basement level, now overly occupied by more individuals with gas masks who appear occupied in a search. They allow the unassuming group to hurry by in a power walk.

[Paul Scheer]

Fair enough.

[Travis Vengrof]

On the first floor, a minute and a half has already elapsed and the group reaches the entrance checkpoint. The leader of the Bloody Skull Chewers sees the group walking toward him and a wide grin crosses his face.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Ah, the Bloody Skull Chewers.

[Amy Nicholson]

Remember, we are on an assignment from the guy. We have the thing. We have to do the thing.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Oh, hey, hey. Bloody Skulltu. Ers.

[Paul Scheer]

Yeah, yeah. Hey, we got your stuff.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Nice.

[Paul Scheer]

Great.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Grab that real quick and we're on our way to. To fuck up some minis, am I right?

[Paul Scheer]

Yeah, yeah, that sounds awesome.

[Kaitlin Stats]

We miss media guys. Till now.

[Travis Vengrof]

Anyway, we'll get it for you. Hicks, the Fringer. The team assumes to be Hicks, slowly approaches one of the lockers. While fumbling with a large set of magnetic keys, he opens a locker which is revealed to be empty.

[Miles Tridle]

Ah, I think it's in the other locker.

[Kaitlin Stats]

I'll go get it.

[Travis Vengrof]

Hicks disappears behind the massive stack of lockers.

[Wayne June]

I'm just gonna walk out.

[Amy Nicholson]

I'm gonna pretend to be like a drug user like I was when I walked in, and just like, twitch and follow him out. Like I'm itching my arms and stuff.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Hey, you forgot your shit. Yeah. Yeah, they just. They just, you know, they. They need the fix. We'll. We'll. I'll grab their stuff for them.

[Miles Tridle]

I gotta check the basement ones. Give me a minute.

[Amy Nicholson]

We shouldn't let them get too far away.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Yeah, we'll be back.

[H]

Okay.

[Travis Vengrof]

Later.

[Paul Scheer]

Yeah. I also follow. I don't say anything, though the team.

[Travis Vengrof]

Is now outside the tower.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Um, how much time do we have left?

[Travis Vengrof]

No one was keeping track of the timer, so it's unclear how much time remains.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Right.

[Amy Nicholson]

So can I. Does anybody have anything on them? That's like a ball.

[Wayne June]

I have three more grenades.

[Amy Nicholson]

A ball that we could like throw. That way it looks like we're playing a game and running. Instead of like running away from the building. I don't care if you throw a grenade, let's just do it.

[Travis Vengrof]

Throwing more explosives around, Wyatt pulls out a meal canister.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Here.

[Amy Nicholson]

Go long. Going long. She just runs out towards any building that isn't going to explode.

[Travis Vengrof]

After a minute and a half of tossing the meal canister, the team reaches the territorial edge for the children of Mellicor. The perimeter is guarded by a checkpoint. However, with a successful deception roll, the guards don't even glance at the team as they run by, happily tossing the meal canister.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Cool.

[Paul Scheer]

Let's keep going.

[Amy Nicholson]

All right, which way should we go?

[Wayne June]

Two blocks west.

[Amy Nicholson]

Ha ha ha.

[Travis Vengrof]

The team runs west of the Melachor controlled territory by about two blocks, when suddenly the ground shakes beneath their feet. Moments later, a loud explosion rocks the area, Followed by the chaos of shattering glass, groaning metal, and roaring relentless fire. As the team turns to look on in awe, the tower crumbles inwardly, toppling as large segments dislodge and crash into nearby buildings. A few blocks from the tower, fire erupts from the ground itself, Destroying nearby buildings with a devastating luck to be placed upon connected underground pipes or tunnels.

[Paul Scheer]

Rest in peace, bloody skull crushers. I'm sorry. You never got to give us the stuff.

[Travis Vengrof]

In seconds, a wave of heat and dust rushes by and small particles of ash and debris slowly rain from above. From their position blocks away, the demolition is frightening. An awe inspiring display of power. At a safe distance from the team.

[Paul Scheer]

Also rest in peace. Strange man. Who said he was gonna fly me home. You seemed pretty nice. I'm sorry. Anyway, what do we do now?

[Amy Nicholson]

Get back to Atreus. Report to somebody who's worth reporting to.

[Paul Scheer]

Sounds great.

[Amy Nicholson]

Someone who's not on the dossier.

[Paul Scheer]

Yep.

[Travis Vengrof]

The team walks to the nearby base disguised as an apartment building.

[Wayne June]

Should we stop being fringers now, guys?

[Kaitlin Stats]

I guess you guys can.

[Paul Scheer]

Oh, yeah. Hey, Right? I guess. Flick. Flick. What happened now?

[Kaitlin Stats]

Ah, well, I guess you guys give me a shitload of meal is what happens.

[Paul Scheer]

Oh yeah. Excuse me. Okay. Who has all the meal? There was one of one. One of us has a lot of meal that they grabbed, right? Yes.

[Amy Nicholson]

Somebody does. Yes.

[Paul Scheer]

Who was that? It wasn't me, I've got less meal than that. But not because I'm bad with money or anything. Just because circumstance.

[Amy Nicholson]

I remember that I was saying that I didn't want to grab it, and then somebody else said, no, we should take it. And then they grabbed it all and I was like, that's a lot of freaky meal. And then we left with it and, and the slave women. Anyways, so Claire, how.

[Wayne June]

What meal are we talking about? I have Cassius's meal. But I wasn't there for the 300 you looted.

[Amy Nicholson]

It was 500.

[Wayne June]

Oh my rave. Okay, I've got it.

[Paul Scheer]

All right, well, let's give our butt, let's give our socks, let's give our associate here lots of meal because boy, does he deserve it. Archon, does he deserve it.

[Wayne June]

What were you promised, Flick?

[Kaitlin Stats]

Just give me what you got, man.

[Wayne June]

Just a quote unquote shitload of meal. Yeah, how does 300 sound?

[Kaitlin Stats]

I believe that sounds pretty good, Right?

[Wayne June]

Open your pockets, my friend.

[Kaitlin Stats]

I, I, I believe, I believe we have a deal.

[Paul Scheer]

All right.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Yeah. Just opens his bag and puts all that stuff in there. Ah, pleasure doing business with you folks.

[Amy Nicholson]

I guess you're not gonna see us to the atrium terminal.

[Kaitlin Stats]

I guess I can walk you guys there if you want. Why not? Why not? Let's, let's see how this weird fucking show ends. Yeah. This, this has been a trip. Might as well see what happens next.

[Amy Nicholson]

Why don't we say he's an undercover agent for the dfs? Because he doesn't have a mark. Just say he. You don't have a mark either, from what I can see. Maybe the chemical scent got worn away by acid or something. We can be creative. Would you be okay with us chopping your hand off?

[Kaitlin Stats]

Not really. I used that.

[Amy Nicholson]

Would you be okay with us cutting a section of your skin away from your hand? We could just say that maybe he's lost it over time. That doesn't happen. I'll, I'll vouch for him as an ally of Atreus.

[Paul Scheer]

So will I. For whatever that's worth.

[Amy Nicholson]

Yes, you are a Fringer who smells less Fringer like than most Fringers.

[Wayne June]

I'm on board with the vouching, thanks.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Well, you guys have bluffed your way out of more ridiculous situations. So let's do this.

[Wayne June]

Remember that Small Hand gang?

[Paul Scheer]

That was one of my favorite parts from our whole little adventure.

[Travis Vengrof]

The team changes into their normal clothing just outside the door. They now are starting to look like true citizens again.

[Wayne June]

Dirty, dirty citizens.

[Travis Vengrof]

Before they can completely finish changing the door Quickly opens and A soldier taps McBride's shoulder.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Come inside quickly.

[Amy Nicholson]

Okay, so I want to set a parameter on my privacy hood to automatically identify and cross reference identities that I see with those in the dossier to make sure that we're not giving information to anybody who's in the dossier.

[Travis Vengrof]

24 Hazard runs through her stolen database, concluding that the rad officer in front of her, Officer Mogoro, is not on the list. And neither are the other two officers in the room.

[Kaitlin Stats]

What are you doing out here? I mean, I know what you're doing, but what brings you this way? You do speak, right?

[Amy Nicholson]

Yeah, lots, lots of things. Do you have a commanding officer that we could speak to?

[Kaitlin Stats]

She's out on patrol right now.

[Amy Nicholson]

And what is their name?

[Kaitlin Stats]

Officer Yardawa.

[Amy Nicholson]

Cross reference.

[Travis Vengrof]

Officer Yardawa is not on Assad's list.

[Amy Nicholson]

All right, all right. So we just blew up that big thing. Did you see the big thing explode?

[Kaitlin Stats]

No, we were wondering what was happening. Was that the tower collapsing?

[Paul Scheer]

Yep, that was the tower.

[Travis Vengrof]

Officer Mogoro looks out the window at the devastation.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Why the fringe did you blow it up?

[Amy Nicholson]

Because they were planning to overthrow the Archon.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Well, that's the fringe, but no shit.

[Amy Nicholson]

Yes, that smoke to smithereens. I'm so happy I introduced the worst.

[Paul Scheer]

Wait, no, actually that was me.

[Kaitlin Stats]

This is wonderful. So why are you here specifically at my outpost, if you don't mind my asking?

[Wayne June]

We need to get back to Atreus.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Yes, well, we do have a tunnel, if that's what you're asking.

[Paul Scheer]

That's the goal.

[Kaitlin Stats]

That is what we're asking. Please follow me quickly. If you cause that someone will certainly be looking for you.

[Amy Nicholson]

Uh, please give me a quick rundown of the names of the other people in your unit.

[Travis Vengrof]

While Officer Mogoro leads the team to the tunnel, Azad confirms the names of his unit as not being on the list.

[Amy Nicholson]

Okay, I'm just checking all the time.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Well, this is the way back.

[Paul Scheer]

Okay, sounds good.

[Kaitlin Stats]

It'll be about a six hour walk if you keep a brisk pace.

[Wayne June]

Do you know a West? We need to meet up with him.

[Kaitlin Stats]

You mean Director west or his son from the broadcast?

[Amy Nicholson]

Director West.

[Kaitlin Stats]

I think he has a daughter as well. Huh. But yes, Director west works in the central city. Fairly close to the main tower itself, I think. Reeven doors. May the Archon watch over you.

[Amy Nicholson]

May the Archon watch over you too.

[Travis Vengrof]

And.

[Paul Scheer]

Yep, and also you.

[Travis Vengrof]

Officer Magoro closes the door.

[Amy Nicholson]

Okay, so here's the problem. If we get into the city and Tongs has told anybody who's on the dossier, who's still in the city about us. Then if someone who's at the checkpoint sees that we're coming in, or someone is pinged that we're coming in, then they're gonna know, obviously. I just said that a million times, but Tongs thought we were dead. But what I'm trying to say is, should we try to get a message to west before we even enter the city?

[Wayne June]

That sounds reasonable.

[Paul Scheer]

So you. So you want to get a message out to who?

[Amy Nicholson]

Director west of the Department of Internal Affairs.

[Paul Scheer]

I don't see there being any harm in it.

[Travis Vengrof]

The team passes through a pressure chamber and walks for several hours down a long, dark tunnel.

[Wayne June]

Do you. Do you want to stay in my apartment with me for a while? Have some meal, watch some broadcasts?

[Paul Scheer]

You might never get a chance like that again.

[Wayne June]

Got a lot of money to spend.

[Kaitlin Stats]

I'd love to see what your Ennis call broadcast.

[Amy Nicholson]

So Yale is on the dossier.

[Travis Vengrof]

Assad confirms that Director Yale is not only on the dossier, but is one of the leaders of the Children of Melacor.

[Kaitlin Stats]

You got one of them fancy pots that got water in them, and then after you in it in the pot, the water, like, takes care of the shit.

[Wayne June]

Not where I usually shit, but yeah, I've got one of those.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Wow.

[Wayne June]

If you can ask him, because Quinn said he's the only one we can trust. It might be worth asking if there's anyone else we might meet along the way that we could trust.

[Paul Scheer]

Sure. Seems reasonable.

[Wayne June]

Despite what Quinn said.

[Amy Nicholson]

Let me run this by you guys. All right. I'm writing it. For some reason my head is. I have to write this all in caps. I think it's because when I used to get like those emails that were like classified, it was always like declassified in capital. All right, so, message to send to Director West. Classified safety of Archon and Atreus at risk. Compromised atriums inside the city and in powerful positions. Director Yale, the DRD is working for a Fringer gang known as the Children of Melachor. Please send trusted security detail to see the check in of DRD officer Diana Azad and others bringing info about the Betrayer's to the Archon.

[Wayne June]

Could you hit the enter button just so it.

[Amy Nicholson]

Yeah, I was. I wanted to make sure these guys said that it was okay before I said okay.

[Paul Scheer]

That does seem okay to me.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Yeah, that does sound pretty.

[Paul Scheer]

I mean, that. That does seem okay to me.

[Amy Nicholson]

All right, hitting send. Wait, wait, wait. For some reason it only sent the part about sending message to Director west classified.

[Paul Scheer]

Ah, you used an ellipse.

[Travis Vengrof]

That's why the team continues their walk and eventually reaches an intranet hotspot that allows Azad's message to send.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Oh, fun fact. While we're walking, I have so much meal now that it doesn't fit on the digital character sheet. Like, I tried to type 368 meal into the little, little tab, and it only lets me type 36. There isn't room for three digits.

[Amy Nicholson]

You had 68 meal before we gave you that 300?

[Kaitlin Stats]

Yeah.

[Amy Nicholson]

How are you more wealthy than I am?

[Paul Scheer]

He looted all the corpses. I was watching him do it. He took a bunch of stuff off.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Yeah, I'm in a lot of debt. Getting meals. Kind of my thing.

[Wayne June]

Yeah, you're almost out of debt now.

[Kaitlin Stats]

I'm. I'm almost halfway there. After getting 368meal, not including interest. Oh, God.

[Amy Nicholson]

Looking through my privacy hood, research history. I always have the weirdest tabs open. Like lists of flammable, odorless gases. And like, what. What's the name of the drug that makes people tell the truth?

[Paul Scheer]

Yeah, I was. While we were resting at the throb, flick, ran a murder mystery game with me and some fringers. And at one point, I got to plan the murder. So it was like, what kind of poison paralyzes you? How long does it take a person to drown if you push them into a pool?

[Kaitlin Stats]

Yep.

[Wayne June]

All the fun without me.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Yeah. Yeah. As the guy that was running that murder mystery game, my search history has to be on a watch list somewhere. It has to be at this point point.

[Amy Nicholson]

I wonder if there's, like, a game people play where it's like, so is this guy a terrorist or a novel writer? Terrorist or novel writer? Okay, so we're just montage walking.

[Travis Vengrof]

After a few more hours, the team reaches the entrance to an underground facility. Three R officers are present and wave the team over as Azad receives a message on her privacy hood.

[Paul Scheer]

Team, meet me in the grand chamber.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Of the Atreus Tower.

[Travis Vengrof]

Agent Dress will escort you from the entrance.

[Amy Nicholson]

I'm going to ping that name through the dossier.

[Travis Vengrof]

Agent Drez does not appear to be on Azad's list.

[Amy Nicholson]

Okay.

[Travis Vengrof]

The closest officer speaks while placing a mark scanner over her hand.

[Amy Nicholson]

Identify yourselves. I am Officer Diana Azad. Well, Azad, I'm going to be scanning your mark with this device. Yep. So please just remain calm and refrain from any sudden movements until after I can verify your identities. She is literally. She has her hood up, and she is literally checking every single person she.

[Travis Vengrof]

Sees assad notes that one of the three officers present, the brunette guard in the back, is on her list.

[Amy Nicholson]

Well, she's gonna send a visual message to anyone in our group who's wearing a privacy hood, including the two that she knows are not on the dossier. And say that the brunette guard is a traitor to Atrius. I just need to scan your mark. You can finish your message after typing again. Sorry. Okay. Yeah. She puts out her hand in like the. The way that you do when you're doing these, I guess.

[Travis Vengrof]

The officer scans the marks of Azad, McBride, and Wyatt.

[Wayne June]

I'm investigator Claire Hout, and this is Agent Tongue.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Aha. That's me. Tongs.

[Amy Nicholson]

I trust you. Welcome home.

[Paul Scheer]

Thanks.

[Amy Nicholson]

You're free to return to your homes, but when you get some time, please stop by and see your superior within the Department of Special Services about getting the visual techings for your marks reapplied.

[Paul Scheer]

All right.

[Amy Nicholson]

There'll be a new set of clothes for you on the other side of the showers.

[Travis Vengrof]

The team quickly showers, an awkward process for Flik. And all are fitted into Atrian day clothes.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Oh, my, oh, my. Reeve. I look as sharp as a blade to the guards.

[Paul Scheer]

Sharp as the edge of an improperly open meal canister.

[Wayne June]

Stop drawing attention to it.

[Amy Nicholson]

Do you have a pair of gloves we can wear for now? Yes. I'll help you get fitted.

[Travis Vengrof]

Despite the officer's best attempt, the gloves she gives us odd. Are a few sizes too big.

[Amy Nicholson]

It's the baggy clothing. It makes me look bigger than I am. Sorry about that. I don't care. Let's just go. Reeve endures.

[Wayne June]

Reeve endures.

[Travis Vengrof]

The team is forced to relieve themselves of any weaponry they acquired while in the Fringe. Although Flik, Azad, and Clarhout are able.

[Amy Nicholson]

To smuggle their weapons, she turns to Sylvanas and she's like, you know what? Just in case. And she pings over the dossier to you. So that if something happens to hers, we still have the dossier.

[Wayne June]

Got it.

[Travis Vengrof]

After dressing, the team takes the elevator to the surface, passing two additional checkpoints that allow them to pass after a brief verbal interaction. About 20 minutes later, the team finds themselves within District 2. The light of the Atreus Tower glows in the distance, illuminating the city's center against the night.

[Amy Nicholson]

All right, so we need to go to where? I guess Weaver said that we should meet up with him. Everybody in agreement with that?

[Paul Scheer]

Sounds like a plan to me.

[Amy Nicholson]

Yeah, I know we're home, but we're not home yet.

[Travis Vengrof]

So the walk to the Atreus Tower Takes an additional hour and a half as the team hits a few additional security checkpoints in the central city district. At the foot of the substantially massive tower. The team notes that the tall, open double door entryway passage is well guarded by the gray and black garbed soldiers of the Department of Special Services.

[Amy Nicholson]

Do any of them ping as being in the dossier?

[Travis Vengrof]

Their faces are obscured by face shields, preventing Azad from properly scanning them. As she approaches, the team recalls that Creed was wearing the same gray and black armor. A soldier with black lipstick lifts his face shield and motions for the group to approach. Hazad quickly confirms that he's not on the list before the man even has time to speak.

[Paul Scheer]

Next group, please. We're closing in just over an hour, so we need to keep the line moving.

[Wayne June]

Thank you.

[Paul Scheer]

Yep, yep, we're coming in.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Yeah, yeah.

[Travis Vengrof]

The officer scans his odds. Mark, you have a meeting.

[Paul Scheer]

You should have mentioned that earlier. And you could have skipped the line.

[Travis Vengrof]

One moment. Let me ping dress.

[Paul Scheer]

Your guests are at the north entrance. I'll wait with them.

[Travis Vengrof]

A few moments later, a soldier wearing a Civil Defense Force uniform exits the tower and approaches. Here they are. A quick scan of his face reveals him to be private investigator Atos Drez. His background indicates that he's a gspi. A private investigator with the second tier lethality mark.

[Paul Scheer]

Just like Sylvanas.

[Amy Nicholson]

Oh, that's what you do.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Greetings. Please follow me.

[Wayne June]

I Drez. Absolutely. We're here to see Director Wes.

[Paul Scheer]

Yep.

[H]

Yes.

[Paul Scheer]

Please follow me and try not to.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Tell me anything classified.

[Paul Scheer]

I don't want to know too much.

[Travis Vengrof]

Sure.

[Paul Scheer]

Fair enough.

[Kaitlin Stats]

All right.

[Travis Vengrof]

Drez escorts the team to a side hallway away from the north entrance. He guides them past a security checkpoint toward a series of private elevators. He motions for the team to walk into the elevator and follows shortly after.

[Wayne June]

I will go in.

[Travis Vengrof]

As the doors close, the wall behind the team becomes transparent. Grand Chamber investigator Drez enters a quick yet complex password into the smart glass panel, and the elevator begins to rise. The sun is slowly rising in the deep scarlet sky over the colony, turning the atmosphere a yellowed heat. In the distance, looking over the structures below. The great yet distant outer wall dividing Atreus from the fringe casts visible shadows over the edges of civilization. The elevator opens, revealing a large hallway ended by a set of tall double doors. A dozen soldiers in the gray and black Special Services garb stand at ease in the hallway, and two massive armored figures flank the doorway. The massive armored men open at the doors as the team approaches, revealing a vast chamber filled with rows and Tables of technological marvels. At a glance, the team suspects these devices may monitor all of Atreus. The room also contains a large window spanning the entirety of the left wall, displaying diagnostics, maps and video feeds that obscure the breathtaking view Beyond. A long 30 foot hollow table ringed with chairs stretches through the center of the room. At the end is a seated figure assumed to be a guard. And near the middle sits Director Romulus west, who's talking with a helmeted soldier. Director west turns to face the group, presenting an expression of sincere gratitude.

[Paul Scheer]

I was beginning to fear that you wouldn't succeed.

[Travis Vengrof]

His expression shifts to one of disappointment as he walks closer.

[Paul Scheer]

Tertullius isn't with you? Oh, no.

[Travis Vengrof]

Thank you.

[Paul Scheer]

Drez.

[Travis Vengrof]

Drez silently leaves the room and the massive doors close.

[Paul Scheer]

Okay, please explain who each of you are.

[Amy Nicholson]

Did you receive my message, Director West?

[Paul Scheer]

I did, but I assumed that Tertullius.

[Amy Nicholson]

Would be with you. No, we ended up in this mess. And we knew that it would be possible to trust anybody. It would have been you, Director West. So we came with the information as soon as we were able. Agent Quinn must have sacrificed himself to destroy the leaders of the cult, which included Director Yale.

[Travis Vengrof]

The female soldier standing behind west perks up. So what can you tell me?

[Amy Nicholson]

First of all, can I see if the two guard like. Are the two guards able to be identified?

[Travis Vengrof]

The faces of both guards are not currently visible.

[Wayne June]

Okay, can I do a basic perception check, just for anything in the room?

[Travis Vengrof]

With the present abundance of technological marvels, Clairhaut isn't sure what to focus on. It appears to be a DEFCON style room designed to control Atreus. The female soldier speaks.

[Amy Nicholson]

Leave us, West.

[Ashley Burch]

I desire to speak with them alone.

[Travis Vengrof]

As you wish, Argon. The woman takes off her helmet as she approaches. Visually, she appears to be in her 50s, healthy, athletic in build, with short gray hair, and marked with a distinct scar over her left eye. West's posture shifts nervously and he seems reluctant to depart. But he exits hastily through a side door. As the Archon looks over the team. Her face is stern with an almost hostile expression.

[Amy Nicholson]

It doesn't matter if she looks so stern. Diana has the biggest smile on her face, like the ultimate fangirl moment.

[Ashley Burch]

Well, what are you waiting for?

[Amy Nicholson]

Tell me what happened to the tower.

[Travis Vengrof]

Hello?

[Amy Nicholson]

Ma'am. Yes, ma'am.

[Paul Scheer]

Oh wow. It.

[Amy Nicholson]

Ma'am.

[Paul Scheer]

Archon. It exploded. We made it explode. Archon man.

[Amy Nicholson]

Okay, let's try and be better at this guys, all right? I'm not prepared for this. Hello. I am. I am Agent Diana Azad. I work for the drd. I was on a mission with these wonderful men. Do you have the dossier? Yes. Here you go. And she pings it to the table. Because I'm assuming the table is smart glass.

[Travis Vengrof]

As the Archon slowly brings the list up on the table's holograms, she casually places a hand on her sidearm.

[Amy Nicholson]

I. Is it hostile?

[Travis Vengrof]

Simultaneously, the seated figure rises and extends an arm toward the Archon. The team is briefly deafened by gunfire as the Archon is shot through the chest, her famous form falling lifeless at their feet. The bulky figure who shot the Archon lowers her arm slowly and walks toward the group. The glass over her face becomes less and less opaque with each slow and deliberate step. She appears to be a significantly older woman, with a similar haircut and the same distinct scar. Her body is being braced by an assortment of metals and plastics to help her remain standing.

[Ashley Burch]

I just finished scanning the list sent by Tertullius Quinn and noticed the name.

[Travis Vengrof]

Of my assistant, unmistakably the real Archon. Reeve steps forward, exuding a far more commanding presence, even in her older age, than the young body double on the ground before her. Her weapon, the fabled Basilisk rifle, the one the Archon has been depicted with across posters and propaganda for generations, is smoking in its attachment on her arm.

[Amy Nicholson]

Holy shit.

[Kaitlin Stats]

So.

[Ashley Burch]

You are the citizens I have heard so much about.

[Amy Nicholson]

Can fangirling get more fangirling?

[Ashley Burch]

Loyalty is something I do not undervalue. I respect the sacrifices you made to accomplish your mission and return to me and wish to kill them. Understand exactly what you experienced. Do not leave out any details you feel, or do not attempt to hide any misconduct from me. We might miss a vital detail in doing so. Now, please give me a clear and concise account what has transpired from the beginning.

[Kaitlin Stats]

So, before we start. The Archon is a person. I always thought it was like a God or like a spooky ghost you guys talked about all the time.

[Amy Nicholson]

No, the Archon is a person. She is a person who has ascended to the highest level of being the hero of our people. So just. Yes, she.

[Paul Scheer]

Maybe you should say what it is we did. Yes, you say I stay. I stay here.

[Ashley Burch]

That is amusing that you are humbled by my presence, but we do not have the luxury of time. Lives are in your hands.

[Amy Nicholson]

All right. So did Tertullius never come back?

[Ashley Burch]

Tertullius Quinn perished defending Atreus.

[Amy Nicholson]

But you were able to receive. You were able to receive the secondary dossier.

[Ashley Burch]

Transmitted it to west along with a video feed Intended for you. I sent resources to recover his body. And it seems that he was able to cripple the leadership of the Children of Melachor.

[Amy Nicholson]

Alright, so let's go back to the beginning, guys.

[Paul Scheer]

Right.

[Amy Nicholson]

Were working part time for the DCO and were sent to find some people who were missing.

[Paul Scheer]

Right?

[Amy Nicholson]

Oh man, that sounds like so long ago. So we were looking for citizen Hadrian Baker, which led us eventually to find that he had been kidnapped by a fringe gang called the Sargs. So for some really quite silly reasons. Tongs, who you know, now I'm sure Grand Archon, that Tongs was a betrayer to the Atrium people. And he decided, actually, it's quite an interesting idea now to send us incompetent people out into the Fringe, assuming we would die. Yes. So eventually we found out that a group of people called the Children of Melkor were planning. I'm sorry, I don't usually say, oh, this much. I'm just. I'm very much.

[Paul Scheer]

You.

[Amy Nicholson]

You are the Archon.

[Ashley Burch]

Yes, this is true. So explain the involvement of the Sarks in the end.

[Amy Nicholson]

They weren't. Except some of the people who were marked as Sarks belonged to the Children of Melachor, I think. Eventually it got kind of confusing. A lot of the Fringers looked the same. Sorry.

[Paul Scheer]

Yes, it was a fairly. Fairly mixed cult. There seem to be both Fringers and former Atrians together inside of it in. In a good number. There are actually quite a few of them and they were a large. In a large tower. And we were advised after running into some Atrian, some Atrian cultists who were disguised as actual helpful and loyal Atrians, we were advised that we should go to the tower and destroy it. So we headed there. It was quite a large tower with many people in it. Some of them atriums, some of them Fringers, some of them quite intelligent scientist types. And we explored it from top to bottom. They seemed to be living in a sort of society where instead of things being paid for with meal, they just handed it out, which was very strange. And they had some sort of flying machine on the roof.

[Amy Nicholson]

Ma'am. Archon, ma'am?

[Ashley Burch]

Yes.

[Amy Nicholson]

The entire building that we blew up, ma'am. It was a spaceship, ma'am.

[Paul Scheer]

Also that there was a very strange man in the basement.

[Amy Nicholson]

There was a holographic projection of Jacques Couilleon. He said that he was in a. What's it called?

[Kaitlin Stats]

A psyrostasis.

[Amy Nicholson]

Cryostasis. Thank you. Cryostasis.

[Kaitlin Stats]

I was close.

[Amy Nicholson]

You were very close. It jogged my memory. Thank you. He was in cryostasis. But he was being projected as a hologram and giving orders to these people. So that's why they believed him to be some kind of God. Because he wasn't physically there. I guess.

[Ashley Burch]

What did he say?

[Amy Nicholson]

You guys were down there. What did he say?

[Kaitlin Stats]

He said. He said something about finishing the preparations so that. So that we can take the ship back to our true home. Which I'm assuming is in space. We lied and said that the preparations were still complete because lion is how we're all still alive right now.

[Amy Nicholson]

And then we proceeded to blow him up. Man.

[Ashley Burch]

Yes. Did he mention any names?

[Wayne June]

He did. He mentioned the name of the ship and the name of the planet he intended to take us to. Which were the resplendent? Ma'am. And Meridia.

[Ashley Burch]

Most interesting. And she died in the explosion?

[Amy Nicholson]

We assume so, yeah.

[Ashley Burch]

How did you accomplish this?

[Amy Nicholson]

There was a gas leak that we were able to kill and trick our way into getting to fill the entirety of the building. Or I mean the spaceship. And after it had filled the spaceship to such a point that the entirety of the air was flammable to some extent, we set an explosive time bomb and left. And by the time that we were several blocks away, the entire building blew up. With all of the people still remaining inside. Ma'am.

[Ashley Burch]

Most amusing.

[Amy Nicholson]

I have blueprints of the building if you would like them. I also have the files that they utilized to try to create their flying contraptions, Ma'am. If you would like to hand them over to your scientists for future construction. Ma'am.

[Ashley Burch]

I like this one. Well, I must truly thank you for your diligence during these past few. I suppose things are in order. Azad, was it?

[Amy Nicholson]

Yes, ma'am. Agent. Agent Azad. Ma'am.

[Ashley Burch]

There appears to be an opening. You will replace Director Yale. Oh, the Department of Research and Development. You will unify the segmented science divisions and create a better future for all. Atreus.

[Amy Nicholson]

For the better of Atreus. I can certainly do that, ma'am. Thank you very much for this opportunity.

[Ashley Burch]

McBride.

[Paul Scheer]

Yes, my archon.

[Ashley Burch]

I have looked into your past.

[Paul Scheer]

My?

[Travis Vengrof]

Wow.

[Ashley Burch]

Your family will be given extra allocation and you will be promoted to be a senior officer of the special Defense Force. You shall lead them in the pursuit and elimination of the children of Melakor. You're seeing these lists?

[Paul Scheer]

Nothing would bring me a higher honor, Ma'am. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[Ashley Burch]

Clairhaut. You will be given an allocation of meal for the duration of your life and reinstated as a private investigator. All Duvernis on your record shall be expunged and your name shall be cleared.

[Wayne June]

I'd like to look at Thrasius for a little while, and then. Thank you, my archon, Wyatt.

[Amy Nicholson]

Oh, that's me.

[Ashley Burch]

I have looked into your past as well, and you shall join McBride in the hunt for the children of Melachor.

[Amy Nicholson]

Yes. They will die by my hand, Archon.

[Ashley Burch]

Should anyone under or over your command vanish, so shall you.

[Amy Nicholson]

Yes, my archon.

[Ashley Burch]

A pity about Quinn. Perhaps Cain will have an idea on how to commemorate his sacrifice. A pity about so got as well. What you all accomplished was admirable, and we are sorely lacking in such heroics of late, so I shall also create a holiday to commemorate your bravery. The bravery of simple citizens who rose up to defend Atreus from unseen dangers on this day of vigilance. You have served me well, citizens. You have served.

[Kaitlin Stats]

You were. You were handing out awards and whatnot. I didn't hear myself mentioned.

[Paul Scheer]

Oh, please don't kill him.

[Kaitlin Stats]

I. I like the one you said about meal for life. I'll take one of those. And if you have any places with, like, those watery shit pots in them, just some. Just some ideas throwing out there.

[Ashley Burch]

What's your name? Fringer.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Ah, I go by Flick Man.

[Wayne June]

He's been very helpful.

[Travis Vengrof]

Truly.

[Ashley Burch]

Then you shall be given a stipend, a regular income of meal and water and resources, if you agree to follow my will and work with the Department of Fringer relations. Are these terms agreeable? We will also cover whatever debts you might have accrued as a down payment.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Yes. Yes, I agree to these times. Thank you for this opportunity.

[Ashley Burch]

I do not know if I can trust you to hunt down the children of Melkor. But I am looking for another traitor. Who you can assist in the location and destruction of. It is an unrelated matter. You will be briefed on when the timing is appropriate.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Sure. I'm good at locating. And I'm good at destroying.

[Ashley Burch]

Fantastic. You have all served Atreus well and may return to your homes and enjoy the rest of the day with your families. They will each be given the day off as well. However, we will have much to do when the sun rises tomorrow. There is so much work to be done. But for now, I believe you have gone above and beyond your regular the Dirties.

[Amy Nicholson]

Would it be possible for us to get some kind of protective detail for ourselves and our family? For as long as it takes to get rid of anybody who might know about the fact that we betrayed the children of Melachor in the city?

[Ashley Burch]

You will have one for the duration of the day. And I will move to kill all of the children of Melacor inside my walls tonight. This list is extensive and will require some time to fully analyze.

[Kaitlin Stats]

That's. That's a quick job.

[Amy Nicholson]

That is so efficient, Ma'am. It's wonderful.

[Ashley Burch]

You may see yourselves out. Director west will speak to you on my behalf. Going forward. You again have my thanks.

[Paul Scheer]

Yes, ma'am. Thank you, ma'am. Once again, ma'am. Have an excellent time, Ma'am.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Yes, Reeve.

[Amy Nicholson]

Endorsing. May you endure and protect our city. Thank you, ma'am.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Yes. Lots of thanks. Miss. Miss Akon. Lady.

[Amy Nicholson]

Ma'am.

[Paul Scheer]

Atreus endures.

[Ashley Burch]

Atreus indoors.

[Wayne June]

Atreus indoors.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Right, ma'am. Mamarone.

[Amy Nicholson]

Oh, my God.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Thanks a bunch.

[Paul Scheer]

Okay, let's go.

[Travis Vengrof]

McBride nervously pulls the fringer from the room and the team is escorted to the ground level of the tower.

[Wayne June]

He just barely avoided a mammogram. And Flick has his own shit pop.

[Kaitlin Stats]

This is fantastic. I'm so happy.

[Amy Nicholson]

Who's the fucking archon? The archon.

[Paul Scheer]

My parents will never believe this happened. I should have taken a cell phi or whatever these kids these days do with the privacy hood. So they. Oh, wait. This meeting was probably classified. We can never talk about it again.

[Wayne June]

Dang.

[Paul Scheer]

Dang it. To smithereens. But hey, we destroyed the children of Melkor and saved Atreus. So what more could we really want besides an afternoon off with our families?

[Wayne June]

I'm so proud of you guys. Thank you for not dying.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Yay.

[Paul Scheer]

We did our best.

[Amy Nicholson]

I literally thought I was gonna die when they all left me up there and they all went downstairs and they said they were gonna send those guys up, and I was like, what the hell do you think you're doing? What those smithereens do what you're doing.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Yeah. Oops.

[Paul Scheer]

So, any big plans in that head of yours, Director Azad?

[Amy Nicholson]

I am going to implement so many freaking things. Agreed, Director. Now, efficiency. It was sincerely a pleasure working with you. All of you.

[Wayne June]

I'm inclined to agree with Wyatt.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Yeah.

[Wayne June]

Well, Flick, let's go find you a shitpod. And a real bed.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Racoi's balls. And any bed with any pillows. That's gotta be amazing.

[Amy Nicholson]

And on that note, Reef endures. Guys. Reeven doors.

[Wayne June]

Reeve endures.

[Paul Scheer]

Reeve endures.

[Kaitlin Stats]

And how she does not look that ugly for a woman of her age. Let's go, sky. We got sights to see.

[Paul Scheer]

Blood skulls. Let's have a damn good afternoon.

[Travis Vengrof]

The team says their goodbyes, eager to go their separate ways to enjoy their day of well earned rest and their new positions in the grand colony of Atreus.

[Paul Scheer]

Liberty.

[Miles Tridle]

Vigilance Created and produced by Travis Vengrof with editing and writing assistance from KA Stats. Starring Peter Lewis, Shawn Francis, Kaitlin Stats, Daniel Thoresen, Kaitlin Buckley and Ashley Burch, with narration by Wayne June. Guest voices include Chris Maynard, Michael Hall, Alan Sisto, Erik Nelson, Karine Cromfli, Graham Rawat, Shannon Bladow, Andrew Spittle and Joseph Teagle. The music was created by Ryan McQuinn and Stephen Malin. Vigilance was mixed and mastered by Brandon Strader with COVID art by Dan Stanek. The original game master was Travis Ben Grof with assistance by KA Stats. This episode is brought to you by our Patreon team. If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please consider supporting us on Patreon or by liking and reviewing our show on itunes. We'd especially like to thank citizens Zach Israel, Fallon Gannon, Adam Farber, Scott Morrison, Christian Treat, Maria Berglund, Matthew Shaluga and Jonathan Wade. Please also be sure to subscribe to our new show, Dark Dice, coming out later this year, and to the White Vault. This broadcast is a creation of Voulen Scholar Productions. Thank you for listening. May the Archon watch over you.

[Paul Scheer]

Can you actually change your personality if you want to?

[Travis Vengrof]

How does peer pressure work and why.

[Paul Scheer]

Is it so powerful? Should you ever really trust your gut when you make a big decision? These are just a few of the topics we've recently covered on my podcast, Something youg Should Know. I'm the host, Mike Carruthers, and each episode of Something youg Should Know covers multiple topics that are likely relevant to you. You'll discover things you can use in your life today, right now, like how to have a great conversation, how to be more courageous, the anatomy of the perfect apology, and much, much more. To date, there are over 1000 episodes of something you should Know and we've gotten over 4,000, mostly five star reviews. I invite you to check out something you should know. Look for the bright yellow light bulb on the blue background. Something you should know. Wherever you listen to podcasts.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Nothing is.

[Paul Scheer]

As it seems in liminal London. Hidden amongst everyday people are werewolves.

[Kaitlin Stats]

You'll be the werewolf then. Yeah?

[Amy Nicholson]

And Mags Wizards Montgomery Archibald Barker at your bloody service.

[Paul Scheer]

And those cursed by the fey monarchs.

[Kaitlin Stats]

Of the city, Declan Buchanan, PI he has quite a large pair of antlers growing out of his forehead.

[Paul Scheer]

Join the unlikely misfits of Liminal London as they work to take down the powers that that claim to rule the city.

[Kaitlin Stats]

I think the queen doesn't like you very much.

[Paul Scheer]

With incredible guest players like Johnny Chiadini.

[Kaitlin Stats]

You say there's sludge?

[Paul Scheer]

Yeah.

[Wayne June]

Sludge.

[Paul Scheer]

Yeah. I'm the sludge boy.

[Amy Nicholson]

F ing love. Sludge boy.

[Paul Scheer]

No, again, I'm not that sludge boy. Grant. Howitt.

[Amy Nicholson]

Isaac Newton didn't study in f ing Putney, did he? Who's Isaac?

[Kaitlin Stats]

Oh, my God.

[Paul Scheer]

And Sharmony Bundell.

[Kaitlin Stats]

There's a magic community.

[Paul Scheer]

There is.

[Amy Nicholson]

Yay. I'm in a magic community community.

[Paul Scheer]

Go to realmspod.com or search realms of Peril and Glory wherever you listen to podcasts to find this mysteriously magical actual play series.