RQ Network Feed Drop – Planet Arcana: Episode 1 – Welcome to Riskotheque

Summary

Episode Summary: RQ Network Feed Drop – Planet Arcana: Episode 1 – Welcome to Riskotheque

1. Episode Overview

"Welcome to Riskotheque," the inaugural episode of Planet Arcana, immerses listeners in a retro-futuristic world where science, magic, and mystery intertwine. Presented by Rusty Quill on The Magnus Archives podcast, this episode sets the stage for a thrilling heist at the opulent Riskotech Casino during the Year of the Fool. As the characters navigate through high-stakes gambling, intricate alliances, and unexpected supernatural encounters, the episode promises a blend of suspense, intrigue, and fantastical elements that pave the way for the upcoming Magnus Protocol slated for January 2024.

2. Setting the Scene: The Neon Jungle of Troponio Vega [02:20 – 05:38]

The episode opens with Loi introducing Planet Arcana as a "science fantasy audio fiction" crafted through a D&D 5E framework. Set in Troponio Vega—a neon-lit, layered metropolis balancing crime, hedonism, and technological marvels—listeners are transported to an environment where humans and androids coexist amidst glowing vines and massive palm fronds. The Riskotech Casino, perched high above the bustling cityscape, serves as the central location where our protagonists' adventure begins.

3. Assembling the Team: Crater Wayne and Celestine [05:38 – 12:16]

Host Shoal Depaze introduces the main characters:

• Crater Wayne ([06:34 – 07:31]): A towering 7'6" steam android with a weathered appearance, possessing a large cylindrical torso and sunken LED eyes.

  Crater Wayne: "It's a large cylindrical shape with some blotchy black marks on it... he looks rather hot to the touch."

• Celestine ([06:36 – 11:22]): A younger, slender Gears Android dressed as a cowboy, embodying a blend of rugged attire and familial sentimentalism.

  Celestine: "Celestine wouldn't be going anywhere around here first. Not without Crater."

The duo is preparing for a covert operation at Riskotech Casino, with Crater exuding confidence and Celestine displaying a mix of nervousness and loyalty.

4. The Heist Plan Unfolds [12:16 – 20:26]

Crater and Celestine converse about the legality and potential benefits of their mission—stealing a small dog statue from the casino's display room. Celestine expresses reservations about theft, prompting Crater to reassure him of the operation's positive outcome.

Crater Wayne: "I think that at the end of the day, this is probably going to help both you and I out more than you can really think."

Their plan involves infiltrating the display room before the critical event—the spinning of the Wheel of Fortune—commencing. To aid them, they receive essential tools: earpieces for communication, complimentary casino chips, a key fob for vehicle access, and Drop Silver doses for safety.

5. The Blackjack Encounter: Yeehaw McGraw’s Entry [20:26 – 61:00]

As the team descends to the casino floor, they encounter Yeehaw McGraw—a charismatic, albeit slightly erratic, gambler who joins them at a blackjack table. Alongside Yeehaw is Uncle Edict, a specter preacher, adding a supernatural layer to the narrative.

During the high-energy blackjack game, tensions rise as Celestine navigates his first gambling experience, inadvertently spilling drinks and creating distractions. Yeehaw and Uncle Edict display questionable intentions, hinting at deeper conspiracies:

Yeehaw McGraw: "Whatever you're here for is of far more importance than you or... I do know that whoever is asking you to do what you came here to do is not to be trusted."

Notable interactions include Celestine receiving cryptic advice from Uncle Edict about the trustworthiness of their mission, adding layers of uncertainty and suspense.

6. The Wheel of Fortune Spins: A Pivotal Moment [61:00 – 86:56]

As the heist progresses, the Wheel of Fortune—central to the casino's grand event—spins and inexplicably lands on "the world," an unprecedented outcome that silences the crowd and shakes the very foundation of Riskotech:

Narrator: "The next moment she is all smiles and addresses the crowd... The Wheel begins to slow. It clicks past the star and then the moon and a hopeful gasp... lands firmly on the world."

This event triggers immediate chaos, with floor supervisors scrambling and the Wheel's magnetic influence suggesting a shift in the cosmic or magical balance within the Planet Arcana universe.

7. Climactic Confrontations and Supernatural Interventions [86:56 – 89:55]

Post-wheel spin, characters confront lingering uncertainties:

• Riot interacts with MC Harley High Stakes, further deepening the plot with potential alliances and undercurrents of betrayal.

  Riot: "Would you like to use a sleight of hand to try to get the card from her as I leave."

• Yeehaw McGraw and Uncle Edict provide pivotal warnings to Celestine, suggesting that their mission might be compromised by distrust and hidden agendas.

  Uncle Edict: "Whoever is asking you to do what you came here to do is not to be trusted."

The episode concludes with heightened tensions and unresolved mysteries, setting the stage for future conflicts and revelations as the Wheel's outcome begins to influence the protagonists' journey.

8. Conclusion: Setting the Stage for The Magnus Protocol [89:55 – End]

As the episode wraps, listeners are left with a tantalizing cliffhanger—the implications of the Wheel landing on "the world" and the enigmatic messages from Uncle Edict. The interactions among Crater, Celestine, Riot, and Yeehaw hint at forthcoming challenges that intertwine technology, magic, and the arcane.

Lori: "Enjoy the episode."

Listeners are encouraged to follow Planet Arcana’s journey through various platforms, with anticipation building for the launch of The Magnus Protocol in January 2024.

Notable Quotes:

• Crater Wayne [12:16]: "You know that I'm on your side no matter what."

• Riot [24:12]: "We could always use a little extra muscle. So come along. You'll learn some things."

• Uncle Edict [77:00]: "Whatever you're here for is of far more importance than you or..."

• Yeehaw McGraw [84:31]: "These are passage tokens... they allow passage into and out of restricted zones."

Final Thoughts

"Welcome to Riskotheque" masterfully blends high-stakes heist elements with rich world-building and complex character dynamics. The interplay between technology and the supernatural, coupled with strategic plot developments, ensures that listeners are hooked and eager for subsequent episodes. As the team delves deeper into Riskotechnical mysteries, the foundations laid in this premiere episode promise an engaging narrative arc filled with suspense, alliances, and unforeseen twists.

Transcript

[Lori]

Hi everyone, it's Lori here. Today we are bringing you the first episode from one of the brilliant podcasts that has launched on the arkoo network. Planet Arcana Planet Arcana is a science fantasy audio fiction presented by two game runners and built through a D&D 5E framework set in a retro futuristic world of humans and androids. An influencer, a drug dealer and a cowboy walk into a casino, then into a vast mystery of science, magic and tarot inspired gods. The world of Planet Arcana is rife with mystery, intrigue and crime and no answer is ever straightforward. What really happened at the riskotech Casino? Who's been stealing Android organs and why? You can listen to more episodes of this series by searching for Planet Arcana wherever you listen to your podcasts by clicking the link in the Show Notes below or visiting rustyquill.com or www.planetarana.com for more. Enjoy the episode.

[Shoal Depaze]

Good evening and thank you for tuning into our broadcast as we enter The Summer of Fool 182. I'm your host, Shoal Depaze. I don't know about you, but this cycle's Year of the fool is shaping up to be a great one all across the fifth collide. We only see a few full years in our lifetimes folks, so make the most of it and have some fun. As always, this cycle marks a year of festivals, competitions and performances honoring newness, folly and marking the first year of our 182nd cycle since the Big Oops. With her coronation festivities in Crown City complete, the Regent Rey is set to begin her grand tour. Starting from the Crown Lands to the good on Wilds, the cold breaks, the thorough lush and finally the Phantom Isles. Across these lands, citizens and factions alike are preparing to receive her with celebration. Speaking of celebration, looks like this year is going to be a popular one for makers, as Years of the fool always are with Regent Rey's devotion to the Sun. Arcana. It is said by many to be an especially auspicious year for makers to impart upon their offspring vitality and joy, and many creatures creation points are seen as swell in applications. Excitingly, this means extra activity in the many towns and cities that run adjacent to the traditional walkabout trail. While each region prepares to host their events and receive the region, an advisor, Choponio Vega, is as always doing the Year of the Fool. Best champions, artists and celebrities are pouring into the city eager to gamble, party and try to get a good view for the spinning of the Wheel of Fortune. As with any Year of the fool the fifth collide will scrutinize the spin closely, as many believe it sets the tone for the entire entire 22 year cycle. As for this broadcaster, I'll be there live and up close, reporting from the top of Riscotech Tower. See it here first, folks.

[Choponio Vega]

See it here first. Introbonia Vega, the neon jungle city that balances crime, luck, hedonism and law on the edge of a coin. Despite its lawless reputation, each faction maintains a presence here. Spectres hold sermons on every street corner, while in every alleyway scrappers sell drugs and muscle to the royals who come to party and gamble. The Cogs come to showcase their technological wonders and to woo wealthy investors. The deep lows come to provide an illusion of order, and the analogues? Well, they say every analog runaway ends up in Trobo Neo Vega. The city feels as though it's stacked in layers, glowing vines and massive palm fronds sprouting from every crack, crevice and skyscraper precipice. Drops of condensation collect on the glass and on the glowing billboard screens, carving glistening paths as they drip down from the canopy level to the pavement far below, refracting the neon lights into a hazy miasma. The androids and humans of Troponio Vega stay up all night, and so do the birds. You're so high up that you can't see the ground from the window of your suite at Riscotec Casino, but you can hear the birds.

[Shoal Depaze]

You find yourself in a Riscotech suite. The room you've been put up in is almost unbearably swank, as all top floor Riscotech suites are three rooms, each with a bed the size of a small swimming pool embedded into the floor. In the bathroom, there is no tub or shower, but an AI powered blob of warm water that disrobes and engulfingly washes you, finishing you off with a spritz of personalized perfume before returning your clothes cleanly pressed. In the common area, a bar in the back rotates into a DJ station and dance floor at the push of a button. On the wall next to a massive window, a panel of ornate knobs and switches allows you to adjust every little detail of your environment. You could turn the walls see through if you choose, or create a marvelous jungle tableau. The room is crowded with many divine floral arrangements, and a small feast of delicacies local to the Phantom Isles has been laid out for you and your party. Your employer spared truly no expense. Who do you think of the three of you arrived first in the Room.

[Crater Wayne]

I don't know. I feel like Crater's pretty punctual.

[Riot]

Yeah, I don't feel like I'm very punctual.

[Celestine]

Celestine wouldn't be going anywhere around here first. Not without Crater.

[Shoal Depaze]

Well, Crater, as you enter the room, what do we see?

[Crater Wayne]

So what you see is a 7 foot 6 steam Android, very tall, very broad shouldered, a very big, menacing looking creature. As you're looking at him more closely, you'll see that he looks rather old, where his bolts that are holding his limbs together are pretty rusted over at this point. His torso is essentially the size of a boiler. It's a large cylindrical shape with some blotchy black marks on it, which makes it look like it has been burned over years and years and years. And he looks rather hot to the touch. His head is most likely the size and general shape of a milk crate. And in there is two sunken LED lights for eyes that are giving off a faint blue color right now.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

If I were to lick my finger and put it on Crater, would it make a like.

[Crater Wayne]

It would do that and then you'd have an annoying blister on your finger for like two months afterwards.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Golly.

[Crater Wayne]

Spicy.

[Shoal Depaze]

Okay, so you arrive and you check out the room. It is, it's maybe you're arriving after going out briefly. It is the night of the event, so maybe you were in here before and you took a quick walk around, or maybe you're arriving here for the first time. But in either case, you find yourself in this incredibly swank room.

[Crater Wayne]

Holy shit. This is swanky, Bud.

[Shoal Depaze]

Great.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

That's perfect. We got it.

[Shoal Depaze]

We got it. As you say that. Who wants to go next?

[Celestine]

If Celestine arrives a little after Crater, I definitely think that like he arrives with the assistance of some hotel staff because he's definitely gotten lost. This is way too big for him. He's never seen anything like this before. And so someone had to show him to his room. Thank you very much. I, I really do appreciate you taking the time to help me here today. And you know, I, I feel mighty embarrassed if I'm honest. You know, I've been here before and then will I. I wandered away and Plum got lost. But here you go. Here's for your time. And then I just like try to give him way too much money as a tip.

[Shoal Depaze]

Exactly how much?

[Celestine]

I'm sorry. All I've got on me here is about 15 gold. But if you, if you'd like it, you can have it. This is a big city and there's not a lot of friendly faces. And you've done me a nice service here. So here you are.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Most generous of you, sir.

[Celestine]

Have yourself a good night. Celestine walks into the room and I think he's sort of like just looks around at all of the swank and is just a little bit uncomfortable. Goes and finds what is probably the least comfortable chair in the room. Just finds like something that's supposed to probably be like a step stool or something like that, not really any cushioning. And sets himself up near the window and sits on it.

[Shoal Depaze]

It's still comfy.

[Celestine]

This is not what I'm used to, Crater. I do thank you for bringing me along here. So Celestine, as he sits down, you see he is as different looking from Crater as he could be. They're both androids, but where crater is huge. 7 foot 6, big and sort of rough and tumble. As a Gears Android and a young Gears Android, Celestine is slender. If he was a human with muscle, you'd call him lean. And he's only about 5 6. Makes him tall for a Gears Android but like significantly shorter than Crater and you know, most other people. His joints move smoothly. He's a, you know, he's a new Android, but he's still got the kind of stiff walk of a cowboy. The kind of cowboy strut. And he dresses the part of a cowboy from the boots up. He's complete cowboy. Brown leather, dusty worn boots with little gears where there should be spurs. Got brown leather chaps over top of faded blue jeans. A belt, brown leather belt with a shiny metal disc as a belt buckle. He's got a vest of worn brown leather. And underneath that vest is a very nicely pressed, very loud floral blouse that belonged to his ma. Around his neck he's got a deep purple bandana with white stars embroidered on it. And he wears a white cowboy hat that's just a bit too big for his head. He wears a pair of gun holsters on his hips. One of them is completely empty and the other one is full of stalks of wheat. For chewing. Of course, for chewing. And strap two is back. He typically would carry around a rusted old machete from the farm and a surprisingly like fancy looking shiny chrome hub cap he sort of straps to his back. But I'm not sure what our situation is in terms of like carrying weapons into the casino.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Yeah, y'all are have been given temporary platinum patron status so you can have your weapons on you.

[Celestine]

All right, well that's Celestine, I think. He sits down and tries to get himself as comfortable as he can in this two soft kind of room and. And just goes to Crater, like Crater. I. As I said, I. I do appreciate you inviting me along. You know, I don't know really anyone else in town, and I'm not sure what I'd be doing tonight if I wasn't here with you, but. Wish I knew why we were doing this. And I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm not ungrateful for all you've done for me. I. I probably wouldn't be alive without you. I owe you everything. Nobody's been kind to me like you have since I. I left Mom Pa's farm. But this. This business that we're doing, I mean, look, I'm young and there are things that I don't know, as you well know, that you know, some things that I'm not aware of because of the trouble with my thinker. But your.

[Crater Wayne]

Your thinker is just fine, man.

[Celestine]

That is very kind of you to say, and that means a great deal to me, I will have you know. But one of the things that I do know is that in most cases, theft is frowned upon. So why are we doing this?

[Crater Wayne]

You know, it's definitely not the most legal of jobs to be doing, but I do think that at the end of the day, this is probably going to help both you and I out more than you can really think. I think at the end of the day, it's going to be a net positive. And I don't know, man, like, it's just some rich people, like, we're not really on their side, are we?

[Celestine]

Crater, you know that I'm on your side no matter what. And if you say that this is just gonna be positive and no one's really gonna get hurt, then.

[Crater Wayne]

I didn't say that.

[Celestine]

But, oh, well, I'm confused and troubled. I would like to think that, you know, if we're just taking something from folk that have a lot, then perhaps they won't miss it.

[Crater Wayne]

Yeah, no, and like, I don't know, I'm pretty sure there's insurance and this kind of thing, you know.

[Celestine]

Insurance. Right. Yeah, right. Insurance. Okay. Yeah. No, you know what, Crater? I plum forgot about the insurance, and I feel a lot better now that you've reminded me. Thank you very much.

[Shoal Depaze]

I think as you're sort of having this conversation. Our last character walks down the hall and then enters the room.

[Riot]

All right, so Riot walks into the room slowly and deliberately, with complete ease of being in this room full of people. She stops at the doorway in A very flattering pose and stretches her body, kind of inviting the eyes of everybody around her. Then she ignores them all and walks right into the room with a very certain and powerful walk, kind of like a lion. This character in my mind is an unbelievably hot modded human with long dark hair done up in a high ponytail with a piece of hair always falling over her one left eye. She has a casual but watchful gaze that misses nothing and a pretty much constant smirk. There are robotic elements permeating her entire left side, including a mechanical left arm. She's currently wearing party attire which involves a purple skin tight floor length dress with a slit up to her hip and a small but heavy duty pack strapped to her thigh. And it's unclear what's in there, but there's a vibe as though there could be ammunition, money, illegal material, who knows what else is in there. And she makes a beeline through the room full of people towards Crater and Celestine.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

So she's got the slit in her dress and you can see the like she's put the pack on the slit side so it pokes through.

[Riot]

Yeah, yeah.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

That's badass. Yeah.

[Shoal Depaze]

I was going to say it's not only your mind that she is unbelievably hot. I will just clarify that this is your. It's like your sleeping quarters at Briscoe. So there aren't, there aren't other people in here. It's just, it's just the three of you?

[Celestine]

Yeah.

[Crater Wayne]

So that was just a show for Celestine and I? Pretty much.

[Riot]

Yeah, totally.

[Celestine]

That was quite the show.

[Riot]

How's it going, lover boys?

[Crater Wayne]

Oh, you know, hanging loose. It's, it's, it's good to see you again. Thanks. Thanks for showing up on time. As Critter looks down at his wrist.

[Riot]

Sorry.

[Celestine]

Celestine immediately stands up the moment she enters the room. On his feet.

[Riot]

Hat off the gentleman. Who is this one?

[Celestine]

Ma'am, My name is Celestine. Wander off. I expect you are riot. Crater has told me a great deal about you and I just want to say it is an absolute pleasure to make your acquaintance and that any friend of Crater's is a friend of mine. So I'm at your service.

[Riot]

Oh, so cute. You're wonderful. I'm so happy that you're here. Thank you for getting this together, Crater. Wayne. It's been a while.

[Crater Wayne]

It has been a while, has it not? I haven't really known this young gentle gentleman for very long at this point, but I think he's going to be a trustworthy little guy for us. Like, he's. He's so loyal. Look at his face. A face like that could never betray us, right?

[Riot]

He's got a great face. I feel good about this.

[Celestine]

I have no intention of betraying you with my face or any other part of my body.

[Crater Wayne]

That's the attitude, son.

[Celestine]

I think Celestine sits up a little straighter when Crater calls him son Riot.

[Crater Wayne]

Do we have a timetable we need to be following for tonight?

[Riot]

So I guess I should tell you about where I got this information, right? Is that something you'd want to know to feel comfortable?

[Crater Wayne]

I mean, I'm sure it'd be useful information. For sure.

[Riot]

Okay, so my person is a very lofty member of the Royal Court by the name of Lux Booker, the Curationist. You know, he gives me all kinds of diplomatic immunity at parties. I'm usually his go to for any kind of sourcing that he needs for parties, for people to have a good time. And he gave me this info on this job that I think will be in all of our best interests to accomplish. And it involves a main item that's going to be at the auction after the spinning of the Wheel of Fortune. We're going to be leaving riscotech with it, and we'll be taking it to Demands Junior in Aqua Catch for our reward. So as far as timetable goes, I feel like possibly getting to the auction area before the spinning of the wheel takes place so that we can get this main item and get the heck out of there would be in our best interest.

[Crater Wayne]

Sorry, forgive me. This is my first. My first time really, at a big event here in Triple Neo Vega. What exactly is the spinning of the Wheel of Fortune?

[Riot]

That's a good question.

[Crater Wayne]

Dms.

[Shoal Depaze]

So the spinning of the Wheel of Fortune. Fortune is basically. It's just a symbolic gesture at the top of every year. It's done at exclusive parties like you're at right now. But the idea is that they spin the wheel and it lands on one of the archetypes. It lays the basis for how the year is going to go. If it's like the Empress or the Lovers, it might be a good year for harvest and things like that. However, at the beginning of the cycle, which is where you are now, you're in the full year. This spin also is thought to dictate how the whole cycle is gonna go.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

So it's an especially clutch spin this year.

[Shoal Depaze]

Why don't you make a history check for us?

[Celestine]

Just anybody first roll?

[Shoal Depaze]

Yeah, yeah.

[Celestine]

Anybody who wants to first roll of the campaign. History's not my strong suit.

[Crater Wayne]

A natural one.

[Riot]

None.

[Celestine]

Are you kidding?

[Riot]

Wow.

[Celestine]

You're kidding.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

The first roll.

[Celestine]

The first roll. The first roll of your campaign is a natural one.

[Riot]

Foreboding. I got a 19.

[Shoal Depaze]

So.

[Crater Wayne]

Okay. There we go.

[Riot]

Better.

[Shoal Depaze]

Significantly better. So riot. You probably like. You probably know this and have been thinking about it since you've known about this event coming up. You know things like a long time ago there was one cycle where it started on the tower and that was some of the worst warfare the world had seen. The last cycle was the fool. So the last 22 years have been like 22 years of revelry. Like basically big party vibes in the last cycle. And all of these spins could very much be attributed to good harvests happen. People go into war. People party a lot. It's almost like a superstition with a lot of coincidences.

[Riot]

Amazing. So everybody will be there watching that.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Yeah. There's gonna be a watch party and then it's also broadcast over Pip.

[Riot]

So I feel like that's our sweet spot to enter the display room from the casino floor. So to get in there we're going to be needing a key card. 001. This key card can be found on a lanyard around the MC's neck. The disabled display room is guarded by a non sentient bot called Pentadrone. So keep an eye out for him. We're going to have to disable key abilities as the best course of action there. I think think watch out for a noisy alarm that I've heard down there as well as possibly some other non sentient smaller bots that are also guarding the area.

[Crater Wayne]

That should be no problem.

[Riot]

The chamber containing the main item is much more precarious. Laser forest fields. The hole works. So we're going to have to figure that out as we go. But I have faith in our little party. The main item that we're looking for is a small statue of a dog.

[Crater Wayne]

A dog?

[Riot]

Yes.

[Celestine]

What may I ask is so valuable about this statue of this little dog?

[Crater Wayne]

Like is it like a really cute dog?

[Celestine]

I mean if it's a really cute dog, then I'm going to have trouble giving it up.

[Riot]

I don't ask questions. I just get the money. So the best case scenario when we get that item is to just walk out of the chamber, walk out of the display case and take the elevator down to the vehicle and get out. But things could go awry. So I guess we should take this moment to steel ourselves because our moment's coming. Up pretty quick.

[Shoal Depaze]

Speaking of your vehicle, you all notice that there is a small wrapped box with a little piece of twine on it in the center table of this room.

[Crater Wayne]

I'm assuming this present is for one of us, eh?

[Riot]

I think you should open it.

[Celestine]

Be my guest.

[Crater Wayne]

Right. How about you do the honors? You're the one who got us into this situation.

[Riot]

Fine. I go over and I reach to the thigh on the other side of my dress and get out a small dagger and open up the package.

[Shoal Depaze]

You open it up and you find enclosed three earpieces.

[Crater Wayne]

Oh, dope.

[Shoal Depaze]

You also have 500 complimentary chips which have been given in this box for the casino. Celestine, you would have the key fob for the vehicle. It basically, once you press it, it acts as a. What's the word I'm looking here for? B.

[Crater Wayne]

Like a valet.

[Shoal Depaze]

Yeah, it's like a valet bot. Sorry. So the key fob activates like a valet bot, which will bring your vehicle close to where you need to be. And you find. Probably Riot and Crater would recognize this. You find three one time doses of Drop Silver.

[Crater Wayne]

Drop Silver?

[Shoal Depaze]

It's sort of a variant of Quicksilver, which is a. It's a common drug found on the fifth collide. Drop Silver has a special property which allows you to basically land safely from a very high fall.

[Riot]

Sick.

[Crater Wayne]

Oh, sweet. Okay, cool.

[Shoal Depaze]

Just in case. And like Quicksilver it is applied by. It's like a sticker and you put it on your body.

[Riot]

Amazing.

[Celestine]

Like a patch, I think. While Riot is opening the package and they're inspecting it, Celestine is sitting there and rolling himself a joint with some of Mom Pa's good weed.

[Crater Wayne]

You better make sure you go easy on that stuff, bud. Like, we do have a big night.

[Celestine]

Ms. Riot said we would. We were meant to steal ourselves for what's to come. So that is. That is what I intend to do. Would y'all like some? Well, that's. That's crickets. Sounds like more for me. While we're all talking here, Crater, I must admit that what. What Ms. Riot has just described as a sight more complicated than I was expecting. I thought we were going to come and take a thing and be on our way. The end bit where we just drive like hell out of town. That. That makes some sense to me. But the rest of this, this is. This is terribly complex.

[Crater Wayne]

Well, I think. I think you'll find out once we get going. It's probably going to be fine. Like at worst we got to fight some robots in a corridor Somewhere. But, like, otherwise, I think we're just going to be leaning on Riot to go up and steal a key card and, like, fancy her way through some conversations with some rich folks, and then we'll grab a dog and be out of here like it's. Like it's nothing.

[Celestine]

Crater, if you're confident, then of course, naturally, I trust you, Ms. Riot. I feel it's only fair to let you know that Crater asked me to come to be your driver, and that I most certainly can do. But the rest of this is quite new to me.

[Riot]

We could always use a little extra muscle. So come along. You'll learn some things.

[Celestine]

Muscle, sure. Muscle, Absolutely, ma'am. Muscle.

[Riot]

So how long do we have until the wheel happens? The spinning?

[Shoal Depaze]

It's like maybe like 4pm ish. Like, early afternoon, early evening, rather. So you definitely have some time. You can use this time to make any plans that you want to. You basically covered everything that is going to happen in the heist. The only extra thing that I'll add that you would all know is that you've been told that there's two people of note that will be attending the event. So that's a prominent analog partier and an old Spectre preacher. This information has been given to you as two people who have histories of bringing interesting things to this sort of party. They might be of use to you if you want to talk to them, want to see what they have to say, want to see what they have, that sort of thing.

[Riot]

I feel like our first move is getting that key card.

[Crater Wayne]

Are we expecting the MC who's wearing this fob, to be already in action by the time we get downstairs? Or you think we should hit him before he gets up on the stage and is visible to everybody?

[Riot]

I think probably before. I think he'll be milling around. I've seen him before.

[Celestine]

Crater, when you say hit him, are we. Are you gonna. Are you gonna hit him? Hit him? Because, like, I've seen you hit people, and it's. Well, it's dramatic. Yeah. No, no.

[Crater Wayne]

Like, no, no, no. I. I'm gonna. I'm gonna contain myself. I'm more here just to help Riot along as she does her sneaky bullshit and maybe lifts a card, I think is probably the best way to go about this. But if anyone causes any trouble, you know, as the great Limp Biscuit used to say, like, I'm not scared.

[Celestine]

Celestine, sort of like under his breath is just like, Limp Biscuit. Interesting. Limp biz, all right. This philosopher, Limp Bisigot, is very Interesting. Is there a place that I can find one of his books?

[Crater Wayne]

I'm sure there's an HMV somewhere in town here.

[Celestine]

Celestine looks more confused, but like in a way that's like. Other people know a lot of things that I don't.

[Shoal Depaze]

Celestine, roll a D20 for me. Don't add anything to it.

[Celestine]

That's a six.

[Shoal Depaze]

Okay, so if it were an 11 or higher, sir, Limp Biscuit would have been in attendance at this party. But unfortunately he couldn't make it for this event. He's busy.

[Celestine]

Well, that is a shame. I will have to make my way back to Troponyo Vega to bend the ear of Mr. Bisgot at some point.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

He's got HMVs to run.

[Crater Wayne]

All right, I'm sorry. Okay, we are getting off topic here. All right? So we go downstairs, we locate the MC Riot, you do your thing, you lift that card off his neck like no problem. Potentially we could cause a distraction if need be. But you seem like you're pretty good with your hands.

[Riot]

It won't be an issue.

[Crater Wayne]

I love the confidence kid. Do we have access to a map by chance?

[Shoal Depaze]

Yeah, you've been given a map. You know the general layout. It's basically a big room where the event is being held. And then the north end of the event is where you need to go to get to the main room. The display room rather.

[Riot]

So we head to the casino floor. We have these chips, we might as well use them.

[Celestine]

Well, I mean, I suppose if y'all are willing to show me how to. How to play what they play here.

[Riot]

No problem. I feel like you're gonna get a kick out of this.

[Crater Wayne]

Yeah. Like, in my experience, kid, you walk up to the first table, you see, get all the money that you own to your life and then bet it all in black and just see what happens.

[Celestine]

All on black. Interesting. Interesting.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Sir, this is poker.

[Crater Wayne]

Exactly.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Exactly.

[Crater Wayne]

Do either of you have any fancy ideas about deal with this? What did you call the pentadrone in this hallway? That's gonna probably give us some trouble.

[Riot]

Well, I do have one major thought and I kind of like unlatch something in my shoulder with the move of my right arm. This is my mechanic arm. And it flips out into a full on what I call my firearm, but it's a double barreled pistol that becomes my left arm.

[Crater Wayne]

What?

[Riot]

So this is my go to.

[Celestine]

Oh my stars. I have never seen the like.

[Crater Wayne]

All right, I think. I think we're in good hands here then.

[Celestine]

That is exceptional. Ms. Riot, you continue to surprise and impress. I've known you for all of five minutes, and I am, you know, floored.

[Riot]

I like this one. It's a good first go to, But I feel like between the three of us, this thing won't be a problem.

[Celestine]

So perhaps we take a tour around the. Around the casino, get the lay of the land, as it were, and, I don't know, see what our exits look like. And y'all seem to have this well in hand without me. But if you. If you need some sort of lookout or whatnot, I'm, of course, at your disposal.

[Riot]

I feel like there might be some interesting folks to meet down there as well.

[Crater Wayne]

Celestine, if you want to be learning this lifestyle, I'm glad to take you on my wing here. This is big. First job, but we'll get your feet wet.

[Celestine]

Well, I mean, Crater, I feel like you've been preparing me for something like this. Having me, you know, make the deliveries that you've been asking me to make. All that medicine that you've been having me deliver to those nice folks who don't feel so well. Packages of medicine that I'm not supposed to open. Of course.

[Crater Wayne]

But you should never open those packages.

[Celestine]

And I'm. And I never have, and I never will.

[Riot]

Well, should we have out of them there, Phyllis?

[Celestine]

Yeah, follow your lead, Ms. Riot.

[Crater Wayne]

Yeah, let's do it.

[Riot]

Beautiful.

[Crater Wayne]

I'm gonna. I'm gonna pop my earpiece in, too.

[Riot]

Oh, yeah, let's do that first.

[Celestine]

Yeah. Celestine puts his earpiece in and his rolled joint behind his ear, and we'll save it for later.

[Shoal Depaze]

The ear pieces are. Once they get put in your ear and they work in androids, you don't have to worry about it.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

It's fine.

[Crater Wayne]

I'm assuming there's an ear hole on the side of my head. That's fine.

[Shoal Depaze]

Yeah. In any case, once you put them in, they become nearly invisible.

[Riot]

Perfect.

[Shoal Depaze]

You can tell that once you move up to big distances, you'll be able to hear each other and communicate even when you're far away.

[Crater Wayne]

Sweet. All right, let's Ocean's Eleven this bitch.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Let's go downstairs, y'all. Exit your suite and make your way to the elevator, which is a clear 2 tube. And in fact, as you enter it, you realize it faces inward towards a massive casino floor far below you. As you descend, you realize the elevators themselves form a complicated network of paths along each wall, traveling not only straight up and down, but horizontally and diagonally as well, the pieces moving constantly as they hurdle guests from one end of riskotek to another. But this is but one of riscotech's many casino floors. And in fact, this is the uppermost level, typically reserved for the wealthiest patrons and most exclusive events like the event you're attending tonight. Finally, the elevator reaches the casino floor and the doors open with a rush of humid tropical air. Welcome to riscotech. Welcome to your big win.

[Choponio Vega]

Our accepted currencies and daily exchange rates.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Are available at the guest services kiosk. Today's lucky numbers are 11, 47 and the first seven digits of PI. Unless registered in our platinum patrons program, please leave your weapons with the master of arms. Welcome to riscotech. We are not liable. We have no limitations. Play to win in it. Welcome to riskotech. Welcome to your big win. So you reach the casino level and disembark and you see that the floors are black and glistening. Though they feel stable under your feet, it appears to be moving in slow, sparkling waves. Like your suite. This place is absolutely dripping with greenery, and real birds fly from vine to vine. Decodrones fly overhead, playing music, doling out compliments, and contributing to the neon mood lighting, yes, but also surveying, recording and reporting every detail to the floor manager and mc. Hardly high stakes. And despite your intel, hardly is a she. And above it all, suspended and rotating on some invisible platform, floats the fabled wheel of fortune. On each segment of the wheel, an image of one of the archetypes glows and casts a soft neon light on the gamblers and revelers below. It's a large room. It's full of people. They look absolutely exceptional, both Android and human alike. The stench of wealth is all around you, as is the stench of hedonism. Yeah, the floor is yours.

[Crater Wayne]

So would you say that we could assume that most of these people are royals too? Or is this common folk at this event as well?

[Yeehaw McGraw]

There are certainly not expected to be a lot of common folk here, but not necessarily all royals, just people who would have business getting an invitation to such an important event. So there's probably some important cogs here who are like, romancing some royal investors with their latest ideas for a technological marvel. But basically anybody who's here, like, is somebody who's who?

[Celestine]

I think Celestine is just, like, just a bit shocked. I don't think he's like, seen this many people with this kind of wealth gathered in one sort of small place in his memory. So he's just sort of like, doesn't really know what to do first and is sticking very close to Crater, you.

[Crater Wayne]

Want to take a walk around here? So you're. If we see anybody of note.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Yeah. Are you looking for anything in particular?

[Riot]

I think we're looking for MC first off.

[Crater Wayne]

Yeah. And then like in our docket for this, keeping an eye out for those two people that we said were of importance.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Why doesn't everybody give me a perception roll, please?

[Crater Wayne]

Not a natural one.

[Riot]

Oh, damn. I'm rolling quite well.

[Crater Wayne]

I want to play D and d.

[Celestine]

That's a 23 for Celestine.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Shit.

[Riot]

19 for me.

[Shoal Depaze]

Oh, my God.

[Crater Wayne]

That's an 11 for Crater.

[Celestine]

Don't you worry, buddy. I got your bag.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Let's start with you, Celeste. What is it that you're in particular looking for?

[Celestine]

I don't know that Celestine's got like a thing that he's looking for. I think he's just trying to take it all in and make some sense of it.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

All right, well, you're looking around the room, Celestine, and a couple of things stick out at you. You do notice one other cowboy hat over at the bar. And you notice it because it is way bigger than yours somehow sitting on top of a human's head. Although their back is to you, but they seem to be gesticulating somewhat drunken from the bar. Another thing that catches your eye, I mean the wheel, right, like it's floating like above the crowd. It looks like super majestic.

[Celestine]

That's a majestic wheel up there.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Riot looking through the room, passing over the tables. There's, you know, gamblers sitting at various poker, blackjack, baccarat tables and making the circuit of the room. You see an Android torso atop a unicycle wheel. On the shorter side, a gears Android. And as she sort of cycles through the room, she's boosting herself a little bit higher and a little bit lower if needed. And her face is on a swivel. And as it swivels, you can see it cycle through a couple of different expressions. So her face like rolls. You see like a super cheerful one and then a really watchful one for a second, then right back to cheerful as she looks to someone and waves. This is Harley high stakes and she's doing her round, she's schmoozing, and her rose gold colored torso and wheel are accented with ornate jewels of all colors. Damn, Crater. It's a little busy in here and intense and you're just getting this like big rush of noise and sound.

[Crater Wayne]

Basically it's loud.

[Riot]

This Harley High stakes. Is this someone who's kind of an authoritative figure?

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Oh, sorry, yes. Harley High Stakes is the mc.

[Riot]

Okay, Gotcha. Okay.

[Celestine]

That's an important.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Can't you tell from the name? What other job would she have?

[Riot]

So I think what I want to do here and I'm turning to, I guess I don't turn to the other two. I speak with my earpiece. I want to keep an eye on hardly high stakes there. But I don't want to act just yet. I feel like if we can time ourselves perfectly, we can bide our time and get comfortable in here so we know the lay of the land. I want to find this one analog partier in here who's a high better. So everybody keep their eye out for that person and keep an eye as well on Harley High stakes.

[Celestine]

Do I know what I'm looking for? What does this analog person look like?

[Riot]

Good question. They'll probably not have anything too geary or fancy on with your 20.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Whatever perception from earlier, you realize that when you saw the cowboy hat person you also heard them yell out woohoo.

[Crater Wayne]

Oh, so, so we had nailed it on our first try and we're just standing here twiddling our thumbs. Okay.

[Riot]

I feel like Celestine, you might have a bit of a connection here if.

[Celestine]

You, if you think so, I, I, I certainly wouldn't mind going to have a chat with a fellow cowboy hat wearing individual. Clearly we have a lot in common and I'm sure that would be a stimulating conversation. Off I go. I tip my hat to Riot and, and Crater and then I, and I, and I just saunter right off.

[Crater Wayne]

I think as Celestine walks off, I might just turn to Riot real quick and be like, God, he's such a, he's such a sweet little boy, eh?

[Riot]

He's a gentle bot. You know, I think he's so green, but I think it's a good gamble. I think he's, you know, he's going to be good.

[Crater Wayne]

I think it's probably best if we don't tell him absolutely everything. Like I didn't, I didn't really disclose to him that every other scrapper had turned down this job before him.

[Riot]

Right.

[Crater Wayne]

Because he's so naive. I think probably the less he knows, probably for the better for everybody.

[Riot]

Absolutely, absolutely. I mean I'm fine to just keep it between you and me, if that's okay with you.

[Crater Wayne]

I think it's the best plan of action for now. Yeah.

[Riot]

All right, no problem. Lips are sealed. So for now I'm gonna keep an eye on Harley High Stakes. I'm just gonna do a little Bit of a mill, but keep me updated in the earpiece for sure.

[Crater Wayne]

I think I'll turn and maybe just take a stroll around the floor here and look for bodyguards or security that might be lurking against the walls and just kind of see where everyone's standing.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Okay, so riot, you're gonna sort of like low Harley Crater, you're doing like a sweep of the room, trying to sort of get a. Get a read on security. And Celestine's going over to chat with Cowboy hat.

[Celestine]

That's right.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Let's follow Celestine first. So you make your way through the room. Occasionally a person will notice you and like look down with a bit of a smile. You make your way up to the bar and this person's got their back to you and they're gesturing.

[Celestine]

Pardon me, sir, but that is an extremely large hat. I'm quite impressed. Where did you get a hat like that?

[Shoal Depaze]

Turns around really slowly and then spits on the ground like right in front of you. It's some hat you got there.

[Celestine]

Well, I thank you. It was a gift. It was a gift from my ma.

[Shoal Depaze]

So just two hat lovers here, huh?

[Celestine]

Well, that's what I figured. I mean, I saw you from across the room. I saw you with that glorious hat and I knew that you and I were, you know, kindred spirits, you know, that we had, we had much to talk about. So I figured I'd come on over and introduce myself. Celestine, wander off. How do you do?

[Shoal Depaze]

Name's Yeehaw McGraw.

[Celestine]

Now that, that is a name I will not soon forget.

[Shoal Depaze]

Spits on the ground again.

[Celestine]

Mr. McGraw, do you have some sort of malfunction with your salivary glands? You seem to be spitting on the floor of this place.

[Shoal Depaze]

Just, just Yeehaw is fine, son, but no, I just, you know, what they serve around here is just. It's not quite what I'm used to. It's a little bit too flowery. If you. If you get what I'm putting down.

[Celestine]

I feel like I do. I've had a few beverages since I've landed myself in Troponya Vega, and none of them quite have the same earthiness. That same dirty bite, I should say, of Mom Paul's moonshine. So I feel like I do understand your predicament.

[Shoal Depaze]

Make a persuasion check with Advantage.

[Celestine]

14.

[Shoal Depaze]

Oh my God. Finally I get to talk to someone who knows what's what around here. Because oh man, everybody's so tight. Everybody's so wound up. Everybody's just like on some sort of high up horse and just it is refreshing to talk to you. So where are you from and who'd you know to get in here?

[Celestine]

Oh, well, I mean I'm. I'm not from. Not from around here. I haven't been in Troponie Vega very long. I was staying with my mom, Paul, in the, you know, little farm out in the small dusty town in the Good on Wilds and you know, found my way here and well, I suppose I came with my friend Crater back there and I just like wildly point to Crater as I'm sure he's trying to not be noticed, but I'm just like right over there. That fellow right there, that's. That's. That's my friend Crater Wayne.

[Shoal Depaze]

Now you say you're from the Good on Wilds?

[Celestine]

Well, that is where I was when I. Before I came here. Yes.

[Shoal Depaze]

He like looks up and down kind of clocks that you're a gears Android. Interesting. And well, what. What have you come here to find?

[Celestine]

Well sir, that. That is a nebulous question. I suppose you could say that I've come here to find myself, if it's not too pretentious to say so.

[Shoal Depaze]

I would say that it is, but I'm still into it. He orders two more drinks and gets one for himself and passes one to you.

[Celestine]

Wilson, that is. That is mighty kind of you. Here, let me. Allow me to reimburse you for your kindness and I. I take one of my chips and give.

[Shoal Depaze]

This is. I think it's worth a bit more. You know what? Never mind. So your. Your mom, Paul, did they give you. Did they give you this? Whatever you came with to. To find yourself?

[Celestine]

Give me. I'm sorry, give me what? Our.

[Shoal Depaze]

Well, you got some chips there. Obviously you came with something.

[Celestine]

Oh, I mean these are. Yeah, these are from Crater. My friend Crater back there, right over there. You see him over there? That big fella right there? You can't miss him. Yeah, no, he gave me the chips.

[Shoal Depaze]

Well, I must say it was just a delight speaking with you. Maybe we'll see each other at a table, play a game.

[Celestine]

Oh, okay. All right. I'm getting the sense that this conversation is over for you. And I respect that. And before it becomes awkward, I will take my leave.

[Shoal Depaze]

He doesn't say anything more, but he just does turn back to the bar.

[Celestine]

Celestine tips his hat to him even though he's not looking at it, and then wanders away, just hands in his pockets, just wanders away looking at stuff.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Okay, let's cut over to riot. So you're sort of given, like, a easy pursuing of Harley high stakes. As she, like, makes her way around the room and as you kind of ease closer and closer, you can hear that, like, every table she passes, she knows somebody. She's giving, like, smiles and salutes and waves and has her expression, like, cycles through from, like, big smile to bigger smile to, like, impressed look. Every now and then it cycles to, like, a shrewd glance across the room at a floor manager who, like, you know, snaps to attention and, like, goes scurrying across the room with, like, a, you know, a tray of chips for somebody. It seems like she's just very busily at work, both minding her staff and taking care of the guests.

[Riot]

Okay, I tap on my or I get my earpiece going. I feel like the time might be right to move sooner rather than later. How does everybody feel about that?

[Crater Wayne]

The only thing that we really need to be worried about is if she notices that the card's missing. So.

[Riot]

So we have to move fast.

[Celestine]

Yeah, well, I've finished my conversation. It was very pleasant. So I am no longer otherwise engaged. I'm ready for whatever you need, Ms. Riot.

[Riot]

Well, listen, I think she's going to be here for a while. She seems to be involved with the guests. Why don't we play a game where.

[Celestine]

We bet it all on black?

[Riot]

I mean, why not?

[Crater Wayne]

Celestine, I saw. I saw that you made a friend over there, too. So why don't. Why don't we bring him involved, maybe try and get some of his money?

[Celestine]

Oh, well, I suppose I could. He did seem to be finished speaking to me, and so perhaps one of y'all would prefer to speak to him yourself. The gentleman's name was Yeehaw McGraw, which I thought was a very colorful name, and he had a colorful personality to match. I. We spoke for a little while and he seemed friendly enough, if a bit, I don't know, judgy. Is that. Is that an unkind thing to say?

[Crater Wayne]

It's not unkind if it's true. So is there a table somewhat close to where he was sitting? Because he was at a bar.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Right. So if you take a look over at where Yeehaw was sitting, there are a few blackjack tables. Two of them are quite full. One of them has, like, two or three people sitting at it. The hands seem to be moving, like, kind of slower at that table because there's one Android that kind of seems to be, like, talking quite a bit.

[Crater Wayne]

I was more asking that to see if there's one in earshot of him.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Oh, I see. I gotcha. Okay. Yeah, I would say that, like, there's definitely a blackjack table within earshot of Yeehaw. He'd have his back facing it, but.

[Crater Wayne]

Okay. Well, guys, it looks like there's a. There's a table over there that has a few open spots. Why don't we just meet up over there?

[Riot]

Sounds good to me.

[Celestine]

Celestine is carrying his chips in his hands in front of him, just like, looking around like an obvious absolute newbie to a casino. Just like, what. What do I. What do I do with all of these? Where do I. Where do I put them?

[Crater Wayne]

And I think, like, as I'm walking closer to the table, I'll follow Celestine's lead and just be like, oh, fuck buds. I don't really know how to play any of these games. I have too much money here. What am I gonna do with all of them?

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Okay, so you're making a huge noise of all of the money that you have as you sit down. And that does kind of like perk up Yeehaw's ears. As you take a seat at what turns out to be a blackjack table, the dealer is like, would you like me to deal you in, sir?

[Crater Wayne]

Yeah, please.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Table three seats. Two seats.

[Celestine]

Oh, I will play as well. And I just like, dump my chips on the table. Is this enough to play? Am I able to sit here?

[Yeehaw McGraw]

The dealer calls the pit boss over and slowly stacks the freaking chips into order for you and pushes them back towards you. Please keep the table clear.

[Celestine]

Sir, I do apologize. I'm so sorry. This is my first time in such a place, and I do not know the customs around here. And then I give the person who stacked my chips a chip as a tip.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Thank you very much, sir. Hits it, puts it in the tip chip drip tray.

[Crater Wayne]

What's the minimum bet here?

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Minimum bet is $25. As your dealer says that, you look down and realize that all of your chips are $25 each. What a fucking surprise.

[Riot]

Oh, damn. I'm in too. I put two down.

[Celestine]

I feel like I've been overpaying the staff.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

All right, all right. So we're going to engage in a game of heads up blackjack. Yeah.

[Crater Wayne]

Okay.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Closest to 21 wins, over 21 busts. Everyone puts in 25 minimum to start and grab yourselves a D12. The dealer as you sit down, is like, thank you for joining me. My name is boy baccarat. Baccarat's my specialty. Tonight I'm dealing blackjack. And as he says, that he like looks over like MC Harley high stakes. And Harley just sort of like sixth sense, like looks over with like a momentary sour flash expression and then flips back to happy. And boy Baccarat sighs and is like, all right, $25 bets in please.

[Celestine]

Yeah, definitely put my bet in.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

All right, so everyone's in for 25. Everyone roll a D12 for your first card and say it out loud. And everybody make sure you're keeping track of this. Everyone else's cards.

[Riot]

9, 7, 12.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Okay, so the 10, 11 and 12 are all going to be worth 10 for this game. Cool. And now we're going to do our first round of betting riot. It starts on you. Minimum bet is 25.

[Riot]

I'll put 50.

[Shoal Depaze]

Woo.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Okay, 50 to call.

[Celestine]

Celestine definitely looks at Crater and is like, what, what should I do? Is this good? Do I have, do I have a good card? Should I spend the money? Crater, what should I do?

[Crater Wayne]

You'll be fine. Trust your guest.

[Celestine]

I throw it in.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Yes, that is a fantastic strategy.

[Crater Wayne]

I'll call as well.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Three calls at $50. And so we're all going to roll another D12 everybody. Second card.

[Riot]

Six, five.

[Crater Wayne]

It's a one.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Okay, so a one in this case is an ace or an eleven. So one or eleven, it's totally up to you, but it's actually a really excellent card to get. Boy Bakra is just like the lady is sitting at 15. We have 13 in the middle seat and 10 or 20 in the anchor seat. Betting action is on you, madam. Any points to riot?

[Riot]

I guess 25.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

A minimum bet from the lady. 25 to call to you. Any point? Says Celestine.

[Celestine]

I just immediately look at Crater.

[Crater Wayne]

I nod.

[Celestine]

Throw it in to you, sir.

[Crater Wayne]

500.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Okay, so you're going all in. You don't have 500 left. Cause that's what you started with. We'll just say that all of your 500 is in the pot now. And with that you see Yeehaw. Really turn around and start to watch the hand and maybe even walk up a little bit behind y'all.

[Shoal Depaze]

Yee haw.

[Riot]

Yeehaw.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

The yeehaw of awe.

[Crater Wayne]

This game is so fun. I have no idea what I'm doing.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

We have an all in bet of 500, madam. Do you call?

[Riot]

No.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

All right. Madam is folding the 15. An excellent call, madam. And you, sir?

[Celestine]

Well, I mean I never played this game before, but I have seen Ma and Pa play bridge with their friends and this seems to me to be to be one of those moments where you need to know when you're beat. And as Paul says, when you're beat, just chuck in the cards and cry. And so I think I will do that.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

The philosophizing was very welcome, sir. Thank you. Excellent hand. And the pot goes to Yuzur and just pushes, like, the chips. Most of the chips are your 500, but you also receive, let's see, 275. 275 extra of your friend's chips.

[Crater Wayne]

Oh. Oh, wow. This game is fun. We should keep playing. This is Yeehaw looking like he wants to join at any point.

[Shoal Depaze]

He moved closer and he's standing behind the table. It almost looks like he's waiting for you guys to finish up your hand.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

In a very exciting hand. Shall we play another, my friends?

[Riot]

I'm in.

[Crater Wayne]

Yeah, I'm in if you're in.

[Celestine]

But this is fun. Let's. Sure, of course.

[Shoal Depaze]

Well, this looks like the most fun that I've seen in this entire party, so I think I'll be joining as well.

[Celestine]

Well, it is mighty nice to see you again. Yeehaw.

[Shoal Depaze]

And yourself.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Boy, Baccarat, like, looks at Yeehaw. Like, a little bit nervous, like. Excellent. Very good. Four players for the next hand. Mr. McGraw, very nice to see you again. Shall we start off on a. On a fresh foot from last time?

[Shoal Depaze]

Are you addressing me?

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Of course not, sir. Of course not. He's been getting a sharp look from Harley across the room, but he does look very sweaty.

[Celestine]

Can I roll some sort of insight check to see what the deal is between the dealer and Yeehaw?

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Yeah, roll me an insight.

[Celestine]

It's a nine.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Even with a nine, you recognize the look of a service industry employee who's just, like, not excited to see an overzealous patron.

[Shoal Depaze]

All right, why don't you just settle down and deal them cards?

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Yes, that is. That is what I am being paid to do. Thank you, sir.

[Crater Wayne]

Mr. Yeehaw. They're just doing a job. There's no. There's no need for that kind of attitude. We're all here to have some fun. You know, let's. Let's play some cards.

[Shoal Depaze]

And I. I assume that you're the caretaker of this young gentleman.

[Crater Wayne]

Oh, is that what he called me? Oh, that's. That's selling it short. This is. It's a very good friend of mine, Mr. Yeehaw.

[Celestine]

This is the friend I was telling you about. This is. This is crazy.

[Crater Wayne]

Yes.

[Celestine]

Yes, he is. He is looking out for me.

[Crater Wayne]

Yes, that is my real name. Yes, thank you, Celestine.

[Celestine]

Yes, well, What? Yeah, no, of course. Of course it is. Why, I wouldn't. I don't understand.

[Crater Wayne]

Oh, of course.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Yes, we all don't understand. Says boy Baccarat and lays down the first card.

[Celestine]

So we're all putting in 25 more.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Yeah, 25 to start.

[Riot]

Four for me.

[Crater Wayne]

I also got a four.

[Celestine]

That's an 11, so I guess that's a 10.

[Shoal Depaze]

Yeehaw got a three.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Okay, first betting round starts with riot. Bet of 50.

[Celestine]

Well, I mean, this 10 here is better than my seven was the last time, and I paid 50 for that. So I think by that logic, I should pay 50 for this, and so I shall.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

All right, Mini Cowboy has called Crater, which is your name?

[Celestine]

Mini Cowboy.

[Crater Wayne]

You are the biggest cowboy to me, bud. Yeah, I'll call it 50.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

And Mr. McGraw.

[Shoal Depaze]

Well, I know that you feel a little uncomfortable when I get. Get excited, so I'm just going to keep it at 50 for now.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Yes, I. I wouldn't say uncomfortable, sir, but I do appreciate it. And then we're going to deal the second cards. Everybody's called for 50. Everybody roll another D12.

[Riot]

4 for Celestine, 8 for Riot.

[Crater Wayne]

That's a 6 for Crater.

[Shoal Depaze]

And Yeehaw got a 6 as well.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Okay, Riot's at 12, Celestines at 14, Crater's at 10, and Yeehaw's at 9. All right, betting round starts with Riot.

[Riot]

Call 50.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

50 bucks in the pot.

[Celestine]

I mean, we're all having fun here. I don't want to spoil the party. Here we go. 50.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Yes, that is how gambling works. We have another call.

[Crater Wayne]

I'll do 50 as well.

[Celestine]

Creator, I think the fella dealing the cards is. Is making fun of me. Is that true?

[Crater Wayne]

Yeah, that's. That's kind of standard around here, too.

[Celestine]

No, it's acceptable. I. I wouldn't want to feel out of place, but if everyone's being made fun of, then I suppose that's all right.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Nobody is being made fun of. And he looks very sweatily over at Harley before. Before looking at yeehaw. 200 and we have a raise to 200. Thank you, Mr. McGraw. Riot, would you like to put another 150 in the pot?

[Riot]

Yeah, why not? I like, lean over the table alluringly at Yeehaw.

[Shoal Depaze]

He looks at you with thirst.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

God.

[Celestine]

Oh, that's terrible. That is a. That is a terrible thing to say. So seeing. Seeing Riot's display there, I think Celestine gets nervous and. And spills the drink that Yeehaw had bought him all over the table. Just. Just Gets all flustered by. By Riot and. And knocks over his drink onto the chips into the cards. I. I am. I am so very sorry. I suppose I'm out for this one. I am. I do apologize.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

O, the mini cowboy has folded and he like gestures for a decodrone to come over and the decodrone flies over and starts like beaming the liquid up while it's just like, wow, great outfit, great hand. You're gonna win big. And then like flies away.

[Riot]

Oh, I love that so much.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Crater, you gonna call that one fitty?

[Crater Wayne]

I'm gonna give Yeehaw an up and down look. All right, buds, you want to play big?

[Shoal Depaze]

It's the only way.

[Crater Wayne]

I will raise at $25.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Yeah.

[Celestine]

Crater, are you sure? That is, that is. That is a bold move, Crater.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

So Yeehaw has put in 150 more craters raised it. Yeehaw. Would you like to commit 25 more?

[Shoal Depaze]

I mean. Yeah, I don't sure. Why not?

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Okay. All right.

[Crater Wayne]

I didn't know.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

If you fall for that and riot, 25 more.

[Shoal Depaze]

Sure.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Okay. Three handed. Very good. And then we're going to all do the nether next D12 round or actually, sorry, at this point, you may choose whether or not to roll again. If you choose to not roll again and not take another card, you're committed. So Riot, if you don't roll again, 12 is your number for the rest of the hand.

[Riot]

I will roll again, I think.

[Crater Wayne]

Okay, yeah, I'm going to roll as well. Ooh, that's a nine.

[Riot]

I got a two.

[Shoal Depaze]

Yeehaw rolled an 11.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Oh my God. So Yeehaw is sitting at 2020 and betting is on you, Riot.

[Riot]

Damn. So I don't really play blackjack. Like where do we go from here?

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Madam, I would recommend checking, not making any bet at this stage.

[Shoal Depaze]

All right, you could do that if you don't want to be any fun.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Mr. McGraw.

[Shoal Depaze]

Mr. McGraw, please, I got this. Don't worry about it. Please, please, miss. The name's Yeehaw McGraw. I come here for bit of fun and you look like you might need a little infusion.

[Riot]

Yeah, I think I need some help.

[Shoal Depaze]

You want. You want my help?

[Riot]

You seem like a guy who knows what he's doing.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Madam, may I just point out that.

[Shoal Depaze]

Mr. McGovern boy bonker. Just don't worry about it. I got this. Now listen, miss, you got yourself not a bad hand. You could, you could take another cart if you're feeling dangerous.

[Riot]

Maybe I will.

[Shoal Depaze]

Why don't you just slide a little bit of extra money in that pot and make it interesting. Interesting.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

I, I, I really, I really must step in. Mr. McGraw. Madam. Mr. McGraw.

[Riot]

Word of this man who seems to know.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

No, no, of course not.

[Shoal Depaze]

I'm, oh, I'm a man.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Oh, God. I, you know what? Do what you like.

[Riot]

I'm gonna listen to you. Yeehaw. Is it?

[Shoal Depaze]

It is. And sweetheart, listen, if, if things go a little sour for you here at this hand, don't worry, I, I can cover you for the rest of the night.

[Riot]

Such a gentleman. Okay, I will call 50, I guess.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

All right. Boy, baccarat is like frickin just like a bet of 50, Mr. Crater.

[Crater Wayne]

So, Mr. Baccarat, just so I understand, if I go over 21, I lose, correct? It's one of these kind of games.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

That is correct. You are not obligated to take another card, but you may call the bet without taking another card in the next round.

[Crater Wayne]

What say you? Yeehaw.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

I will say that yeehaw is beating you right now. You.

[Crater Wayne]

No, no, I do, I do understand that, Mr. McGraw over there.

[Shoal Depaze]

If you're going to ask me if I'm going to take away some of my numbers, I think you're sorely mistaken, mister.

[Crater Wayne]

No, no, I feel like, I feel like. Let's try and make this interesting here. I will go all in again if you promise to take another card. And I will also take another card.

[Shoal Depaze]

Make a persuasion check.

[Celestine]

Holy Celestine is just looking back and forth here like it, like it's a tennis match. And this is very complicated. I did not realize that cards could be so serious.

[Crater Wayne]

That's a 14.

[Shoal Depaze]

I tell you what, son, I'm in a pretty nice position here right now, and I think that I am not going to take another card on top of my 20, but why don't you meet me right back here for another hand after this and we could make it real interesting if you'd like to throw in a little extra. What I'm saying is, if that came across a little convolute, I'm sorry, I've had like a lot of these really weird floral drinks. What I'm saying is, why don't you just have another hand with me after this and I'll collect my winnings from you and this fine young lady here and we'll make it interesting after this.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

As much as I hate to disagree with Mr. McGraw, I would not recommend taking another card or committing any further money to this end.

[Crater Wayne]

All right, Mr. McGraw, I think you won this round, right? Wouldn't be my money back Please. And I fold.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Yeehaw. Would you like to call 50?

[Shoal Depaze]

I would.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Okay, so we're at the rolling for another card part. Ms. Riot, would you like another card?

[Riot]

I would. Ah, damn it. I got nine.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Oh, it's a bustaroonie. Bustaroon. Oh, what a pity. And the pot gets pushed to yeehaw. 11:25 for yeehaw. As it is, Yeehaw has the hand, and y'all have sort of discussed having another one. And as you do, another voice sort of pipes up from behind the table and goes, well, yeehaw. Looks like we found ourselves at yet another exciting blackjack table. And you turn around, and your game has attracted the attention of a very humanoid cloud Android whose eyes glow a warm amber. His body is made of a gray metal with, like, a purplish sheen as it catches the light. And these are, you recognize, sort of like specter robes. They have many elaborate details. Some metal piping on the shoulder, and the fabric falls, like, straight down and obscures his arms within the folds as he, like, appears to glide along the floor towards the blackjack table. And he slides up and he goes, I don't suppose there's room at the table for an old spectre.

[Shoal Depaze]

Well, I thought that you were never going to quit talking to that other table. Were you lecturing them?

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Well, well, yes. I mean, of course, they were asking me questions about, you know, my purpose, my journey. I'm always happy to speak with those curious about the arcana. I remember us having such a conversation the last time we found ourselves.

[Shoal Depaze]

Were they asking you, or did you just hear someone say that in your ear?

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Well, I hear many things in my ear, my friend, and I always answer. And that's all I will say about it. And who. Who do we have here?

[Celestine]

Celestine wander off, pleased to meet you. And I just reach out my hand.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

He reaches out and takes your hand and looks very deeply into your eyes as he shakes it and goes, do you hear that, my boy? Do you hear that?

[Celestine]

Do I? Do I hear what?

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Never mind. Never mind. And then he takes a seat next to you and he says, well, I believe I will join the next hand.

[Crater Wayne]

You're getting here just in time for some fun.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Yes, it was very nice to meet. This is Celestine. And you, good sir.

[Celestine]

This is my friend, Crater Wayne.

[Crater Wayne]

It's Crater. Hi. Yes, nice to meet you, sir.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

I am most enchanted by you, Mr. Crater. And the lady down at the end. Hello.

[Riot]

Hi, I'm Riot. And you?

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Well, I'm surprised that none of you Recognize me? And he just sort of waits.

[Crater Wayne]

Do we recognize him?

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Everybody roll a history check.

[Crater Wayne]

13, 12, 13.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Okay, I would say that everybody vaguely recognizes this voice from over the Pip. This is Uncle Edict, who is a specter preacher, basically. Unki.

[Crater Wayne]

Sorry, what is Pip exactly? Ah, yes, he sets up for the podcast.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

It's the portable combination cell phone, television, social media device that everybody in this world has one. It's for shows, it's for social media. And Uncle Edict has a frequent sermon show on the Pip.

[Crater Wayne]

Is it like a popular show or is it like, kind of like the old folks who are like, at home during the daytime and they have nothing, nothing better to do?

[Yeehaw McGraw]

It plays at the same time as Mori.

[Crater Wayne]

Say no more. I know exactly what you mean.

[Celestine]

I take my hat off. Oh, my stars. I am so sorry, Uncle Enik, that I did not recognize you immediately. I now recognize you from all the programs that Mom Paul used to play. I must say that it is an honor to be in the same room, let alone at the same table as yourself.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

No matter, no matter, no matter. It's always nice to be around pupils and those who are in want of saving. And he looks across the table. Yeehaw.

[Shoal Depaze]

You're beefing up his old head there, if you're picking up what I'm putting down.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Well, beef is a most wholesome food, sir, and I accept your compliment. And boy Bakra is like, shall we play a game of blackjack, friends?

[Crater Wayne]

Let's do it, folks.

[Riot]

Hell yeah.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

25 in everybody.

[Shoal Depaze]

Yeah, 25 if you're feeling boring. But I think we ought to make this one interesting.

[Crater Wayne]

What do you say? 200?

[Shoal Depaze]

What else you got?

[Celestine]

I've got some mighty fine weed, if you like, if that's your flavor.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Uncle Edict turns to you, Celestine, and is like. You say you brought some weed with you.

[Celestine]

Well, yes, of course. Yeah. I mean, Mom Pa grow the greatest cannabis in the fifth collide.

[Crater Wayne]

I'm gonna put a hand on Celestine's shoulder and then just like, shake my head.

[Celestine]

Oh, I have no weed. I apologize.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Well, that is a real shame because it has been exceptionally hard to sneak in libations this year. Not that I have ever done so, but I did notice that many a fewer people seem to be carrying, as the kids call it.

[Shoal Depaze]

Yep. So really hoping you got something interesting here because, well, I mean, also heard that it was hard to get some stuff in, but. Well, some of us just find a.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Way, I suppose we do, don't we? Pointed. Look at Yeehaw and boy Baccarat. Is like. Very good, very good. Yes. Here we go. And deals the first cards, everybody. Oh, sorry. No shit. We didn't do the first betting round, so we're.

[Crater Wayne]

Oh boy, you are rusty.

[Celestine]

I mean, to be fair, this is not how actual blackjack works.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

It's true.

[Celestine]

All right, but we are, we're. We're meant to have a full betting round before we ever see a card. Is that, that the thing where like, it's not just a straight up Annie?

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Yeah, everyone has to put like at.

[Celestine]

Least 25 in, but there could be more. There's an opportunity to raise before we ever see a card is what you're saying.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

This is something I've thought about in advance and the answer is no, you can only put in 25. This is not a betting round. This is the, this is the ante, which I definitely didn't decide just now. Okay? So Everybody roll your D12 for your first cards and holler it.

[Shoal Depaze]

10.

[Celestine]

3.

[Crater Wayne]

I got a 12, which I think is a 107 for.

[Shoal Depaze]

Yeeha.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Edict got a 5, which is a very good place to start for any hand. Betting round is on you, Riot.

[Riot]

I'll raise it 100.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

It's 100 to call.

[Celestine]

Well, I mean, I suppose I can only go up from here, so. Sure. Here's my 100.

[Crater Wayne]

Yeah, that's an easy call.

[Shoal Depaze]

Now let's talk for a minute. So, Mitchell. Sorry, did I get your name? I'm not sure.

[Riot]

I don't know that you did. It's Riot.

[Shoal Depaze]

I thought so. I thought I recognized you from the pit machine.

[Riot]

So you know me?

[Shoal Depaze]

I mean, I've heard of you. Who hasn't? I'm pretty sure that everybody in this place is clocking the fact that you're here.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

But this isn't the Riot, is it? Surely not.

[Riot]

Surely.

[Shoal Depaze]

Why don't take another look there. Edict.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Edict, like turns a dial on the side of his eyes that focuses his eyes. He's like, oh my goodness.

[Shoal Depaze]

Now I. I could put in another hundred chips and just play the game as. As Mr. Boy Baccarat would. Would have us do. But I think just absolutely love that.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

If we could just do that.

[Shoal Depaze]

I mean, Riot. Surely you're here for a little more, Rhett?

[Riot]

You could say that. What did you have in mind?

[Shoal Depaze]

Well, actually I'm interested in what you had in mind. He reaches into a similar, likely a pouch around his leg and he pulls out what looks like a small set of gears that's attached to. It's like a little metal curved piece and he puts it on the table. Why don't you make a history? Check.

[Riot]

13 plus 0.

[Crater Wayne]

That's a 1715.

[Shoal Depaze]

So Crater, you would recognize. You and Riot would certainly recognize that this is a weapon mod. Celestine would as well with that check. But I don't think. Celestine, you've used many of these, but this is a weapon mod that you can add to your weapon with some good tinkering skills and make it, you know, a little bit more interesting.

[Crater Wayne]

Crater's eyes turn green when he sees this item up on the table.

[Riot]

Oh my God.

[Crater Wayne]

Okay. Interesting, interesting, interesting.

[Riot]

That is a fine piece of equipment, equipment you have. What are you looking for exactly? For me in return?

[Shoal Depaze]

What do you got?

[Riot]

I think you've heard what I got. I don't know if I can put it on the table.

[Celestine]

What am I missing? I feel like I am out of the loop on this, my friends. I. I don't. I. What, what is everyone talking about?

[Yeehaw McGraw]

I just want to remind everybody that I am only liable and responsible for the chips on the table. Anything happening outside of that, riscotech is not liable.

[Riot]

I whisper kind of just in a way that only the earpiece could be heard, and I say, don't worry about it, and then kind of lock eyes with Celestine and pat the pouch on my thigh.

[Celestine]

Celestine just nods as though he understands.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Well, if I am not mistaken, betting around is up to me. And if I am aware of what is being discussed here, there is a bit of libations on the line here. And I don't really know what I have to offer except. Oh yes. And he freaking, like, reaches into his pocket, takes out a handful of interesting looking tokens. They're not poker chips and they're not gold. And he sort of like flashes one in his hand and like looks askance at yeehaw and is just sort of.

[Shoal Depaze]

Like, oh, now we're talking.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Yeah. Could have used one of these last month, couldn't you? And anybody who wants to roll another history check for me can do.

[Riot]

So I got six.

[Celestine]

Oh, that's a nat 20.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Oh, so these tokens are passage tokens, right? They, they allow passage, like into and out of sort of like restricted zones.

[Celestine]

Are they, are they hard to come by or are they expensive? Like what, what, what would I know about these tokens?

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Yeah, they're not really like for purchase, really. They have to be like, given to you. And while not rare, they're sort of hard to get your hands on. So yeah, they, they are a good addition to this pot.

[Shoal Depaze]

These are also like Spectre made tokens. Like they're four specters.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Yeah.

[Shoal Depaze]

And I think within NAT20, you would also understand that a restricted zone currently is Troponyo Vega, with how big of an event there is going on right now.

[Celestine]

Okay, so a person would need one of these tokens to easily get out of Tropona Vega right now.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Well, one could assume that with an.

[Shoal Depaze]

At 20, it would make it a little easier.

[Celestine]

Okay.

[Riot]

Hot damn.

[Celestine]

That is a surprise cache of coins that you've got there. I'm shocked that you just carry that around.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Well, I don't know why you would be shocked. If you know who I am, I.

[Celestine]

Think you'll find plenty of things shock me.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Well, I certainly hope to shock you by the end of this hand. And I just want to make it clear I do not have any interest in the unsavory items being offered. I'm merely here to remove them from circulation and to better the world. Does anybody else hear that? Does anybody here that. Anyway, never mind. Yes, this is my contribution. And with that, we're gonna take our second cards. Things are already spicy.

[Riot]

All right, all right. Four.

[Celestine]

Celestine got an 11, so 10 more for Celestine.

[Crater Wayne]

I rolled a one.

[Celestine]

Oh, my God.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Crater just hit a blackjack. Freaking Edict's like. Oh, my goodness, you're joking me.

[Crater Wayne]

Sorry. Is that good? Did I win?

[Celestine]

Go.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Is that good? Did you win? Edict got a 10, so he's at 15. Yeehaw.

[Shoal Depaze]

Yeehaw. Got a three, so he's at 10.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Now, normally in normal, blackjack rolls a 10, and an ace beats any other type of 21, let's say. No, you can still tie Crater for the purposes of good times.

[Shoal Depaze]

Gotta try.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

All right, so betting round, we got riot, 14, celeste, 13, crater with a blackjack yeehaw with a 10. And edict with a 15. And round is on Riot.

[Riot]

I'm gonna put in everything, all my chips.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

All in. And let's pretend that we count it and we know exactly how much it is. Yeah, it's all in.

[Celestine]

Well, I must confess, I find this game incredibly confusing. But if I do understand the math correctly, it seems that Crater has the winning hand. So I will sit this one out.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Celestine is folded. Crater, Riot's all in with a 14. Would you like to call.

[Crater Wayne]

I am all in as Crate is.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

All in, Mr. Yeehaw.

[Shoal Depaze]

Well, that is very interesting, and I am.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Well, surely you're not going to back out of this hand now. You're sitting with a 10. I thought you were. I Thought you were the ballsiest gambler this side of the of the Jaggedy Jacks.

[Celestine]

Uncle Ed, that is some colorful language I did not expect to hear from you.

[Shoal Depaze]

I have the balls that need that are. I have the biggest balls on this side of the Jaggedy Jacks. You are correct, Ed. I'm just trying to figure out what an appropriate addition to this table is.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

You can see that boy Bakra is just sort of like looking across the room at MC Harley High Stakes. Just like shaking his head and lifting his hands, mouthing like, I don't know, I don't know.

[Shoal Depaze]

Well, if it's chips you're after, then no problem. I can match you. Unless you got anything else that's interesting.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Well, I'm afraid I put my most interesting items into the pot already.

[Shoal Depaze]

Although money is going in fine.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

We're Edict looks at yeehaw. You know, Mr. McGraw, I think I will be the better and more holy man. And he folds. We got three all in. So now we're just either taking cards or folding.

[Riot]

I'm gonna go with another card. Fuck it. 3.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Okay, you're sitting at a 17, and.

[Shoal Depaze]

I'm gonna pull an ace from this here dick. I pulled two aces in the form of an 11, so.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Well, Crater's sitting at 20. This is getting sweaty. We're all in. So we're just right back around to Riot it.

[Riot]

And I got an eight, so.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

All right, a valiant effort from Riot to hit that 21. Yeehaw. There is one card that will save you, my friend.

[Shoal Depaze]

I'm going to pull an ace from the stick. Whoops. Dropped an ace on the floor. Let me try again. Right into my DAS box that's on top of my desk. I rolled a nine.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

And what a shame.

[Shoal Depaze]

Oh my God, I did roll a one on the floor.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

I'm sorry, Mr. McGraw, but floor cards do not count. As we discussed last week. Damn it, boy. Baccarat.

[Shoal Depaze]

You gotta give me one one of.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

These days, Mr. McGraw, you know I have no control over what happens at this table. We also talked about this last year. Congratulations, Mr. Wayne. And he pushes like the freaking treat from Yeehaw. The token from Edict, and just a massive pile of coins that I'm assuming Jay kept track of.

[Shoal Depaze]

Yeah, I did. It's 400 plus all the all ins. So.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

So y'all have.

[Crater Wayne]

Let's just call it 1900.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

1900.

[Celestine]

I lean over to Crater and just go, oh, my stars, Crater, you are so wealthy. My goodness. I don't even think we need to do what we came here to do tonight. We can just take this and go. Can't. I mean, we don't need to take anything. We just want it all.

[Shoal Depaze]

Are you saying that out loud, like.

[Celestine]

Very quietly, make a stealth check?

[Crater Wayne]

Well, I'm helping because I put my arm up on the table to shield our conversation a little bit.

[Shoal Depaze]

Sure, sure. Make a stealth check with advantage.

[Celestine]

I do appreciate the advantage there. It was a five, and now it's a dirty 20.

[Crater Wayne]

Okay, we are looking pretty rich at the moment, but I don't think this is really enough to really jump ship. I think what we have waiting for is probably a little bit more money than what's currently in our hands.

[Celestine]

More money? Oh, my stars. Well, I mean. All right, well, if you say so, Crater, if you. You know best. I'm with you, buddy.

[Crater Wayne]

All right. And I clap my hands and I disrupt the huddle, and I'm back at attention to the table.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

All right, well, as you're back at attention to the table, you notice that boy Baccarat and most other people are looking towards the center of the room because MC Hardly High stakes has kind of like, levered herself up a little bit and is now addressing the room. Thank you for coming, everybody. It is so marvelous to see all these familiar faces here at Riskotech Casino. I hope you've all been enjoying yourselves this evening and not getting into too much trouble. But if I may. Sorry.

[Celestine]

That was amazing.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

But if I may interrupt your pretty festivities, I would like to announce the spinning of the wheel of Fortune will take place in the next five minutes. If you would all like to proceed towards the viewing area. And then she sort of does a very elegant scoot off on her unicycle wheel to go talk to important people and make her way up to the front, where indeed everybody is sort of like, moving towards the wheel.

[Crater Wayne]

Well, folks, I think that's our cue to leave.

[Riot]

Go talk to Harley High Stakes before she gets up on stage. But I think I can do it.

[Crater Wayne]

Pretty quickly or, you know, just maybe get up and go for a washroom break.

[Riot]

That's right.

[Crater Wayne]

Right.

[Celestine]

This is all very exciting.

[Crater Wayne]

Okay, gentlemen, it was. It was. It was a pleasure to meet you. Hopefully we'll see you around town sometime.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Soon as you turn around, you notice that Uncle Edict is, like, already gone.

[Crater Wayne]

Oh, okay.

[Celestine]

It was a pleasure to meet you in person. Uncle Edict from.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Actually, like, immediately behind you, he's just like. Well, it was a pleasure to meet you too, my friend.

[Celestine]

Oh, my stars. You just. You just appeared there. My goodness. I was. I. I was looking in the entire wrong direction. Oh, my.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Well, I. I tend to come wherever I am needed. And at that moment, I felt I was needed by you. And in. In fact, my boy.

[Riot]

He just, like.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Gives a look at Crater real quick. He's like, my boy, would you mind. Could we have a word privately for one minute?

[Celestine]

Privately? Well, I mean, I suppose anything you can say to me, you can say in front of my friend Crater here.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Well, no, that's not always the case. And I am a man of God, and I think that you should come with gods, and I think that you should come with me just for a moment.

[Celestine]

All right. Well, if it's. If it's just a quick word, I.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Suppose as everybody's sort of milling towards the wheel, Uncle Edict leads you in somewhat of the opposite direction, you know, just sort of leads you in front of this, like, one of the massive, like, slot machines, so there's lots of lights and colors surrounding you. It's somewhat private. And he just leans in and he says, whatever you're here for is of far more importance than you or. I understand, my boy, and I'm not sure what this feeling means, but I do know that whoever is asking you to do what you came here to do is not to be trusted, and you should come to me after you've completed your task.

[Celestine]

Well, Uncle Edict, I believe you're trying to give me some sagely advice, and I do appreciate the thought, but the implication of your words would suggest that I'm not to trust a friend of mine. And I'm afraid I can't just jump to that conclusion.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

The messages from the Arcana are rarely so clear. In fact, if you listen, you can hear the most unexpected things. And right now I'm hearing hearing. Can you hear it? Can you hear the bum, bum, bum.

[Celestine]

Bum, bum, bum, bum. No, I'm afraid I don't hear a bum.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Well, surely you must. Well, I can hear it. And on top of that, I'm hearing a message about you. And the message is that you need me. And that you need to come to me.

[Celestine]

Uncle Edict, actually, can I roll an inside check?

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Hell yeah.

[Celestine]

Not that Celestine's particularly insightful. That's a.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

He seems to be very certain that the message he is receiving is correct. You notice as you get closer and he's starting to talk about these sorts of things, he's a little bit erratic and maybe even a slight bit twitchy.

[Celestine]

Uncle Edict, I again do appreciate your concern and consideration for one such as myself, and I will give your words Some serious thought. But now I must return to my friends. So I bid you a good evening, sir.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Do as you will, my son. And he sort of just like stands under the slot machine and watches you go.

[Celestine]

All right. Celestine is deeply troubled as you sort.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Of break away from Uncle Edict, Everyone else is crowding around the Wheel of Fortune and actually, roll me a history check.

[Celestine]

Oh, that's a nat 20.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

That's a nat 20.

[Shoal Depaze]

Another one.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

As you look up at the Wheel, having had this conversation with Edict, your guard is kind of down and you're a little bit, like, unsettled. And you look up and you just sort of catch a sight of the Wheel and you feel as though there's something you remember about it. And it comes to you all at once that the Wheel is the only relic that exists that is pre. Oop. So this thing is like, ancient, and that's sort of like a piece of knowledge that you recall as you look at the Wheel.

[Celestine]

Okay. Greater. I had a very odd conversation with Uncle Edict there, and it seems like he knows something about what we're here to do. And he told me that I shouldn't trust the person who brought me here. But of course, you're the person that brought me here. And I mean, as you know, I trust you with my life. And so I'm just very. I'm having a confusing moment here and I'm not sure what to do about it. Uncle Edict. It feels like I should come to him when all this is said and done. And I suppose that would mean not leaving with you, but. Doesn't feel right.

[Crater Wayne]

I will have you know that I've never crossed anybody that's been on my side before in my entire life. Are we gonna believe some celebrity man loses his entire wealth to us in. In a blackjack game and now is all of a sudden trying to get in on the action? I wouldn't pay too much mind to that.

[Celestine]

I suppose there's some sense in that. Is there. Is there anything else about this whole business I should know? Anything you haven't told me yet?

[Crater Wayne]

No, I don't think so.

[Celestine]

I knew it. Thank you so much, Crater. You made me feel so much better.

[Crater Wayne]

I'll just put a hand on his shoulder and give him a good nod and then turn to watch Riot.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

All right, so Riot is making her way towards the mc. Yes, that's right. So as you. You do a hand reaches out from the crowd and an older human woman who looks to be about mid-80s, dark skin, tall and very long legged, with Long black hair. She's wearing an elaborate silk red robe that hangs open in layers of drapery, revealing a short matching silk negligee.

[Riot]

Oh, my.

[Shoal Depaze]

Well, well, well. They do say that it's not a party unless Riot crashes it.

[Riot]

You know what they say. Riot.

[Shoal Depaze]

Sweetheart, of course you remember me. Mesmera.

[Riot]

Mesmera. So good to see all of you.

[Shoal Depaze]

Likewise.

[Riot]

It's.

[Shoal Depaze]

It's okay. It's been several parties since we've last interacted, but I'm just. I'm so relieved that you're here. I mean, I was kind of hoping that someone might bring something. Excitement. And I know what you're known for.

[Riot]

I do deal in excitement. I don't know if tonight's my night, though. You know, I don't want to detract from the importance of the occasion.

[Shoal Depaze]

Make a deception check.

[Riot]

All right. All right. I got a 19 plus 221.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Oh, yeah.

[Shoal Depaze]

So I'm just understand that you're here to just party.

[Riot]

That's right. I am in the process of incarnating some chaos in the upcoming events to follow. But tonight, you know, just riding under the radar, enjoying the events, looking at your beautiful face.

[Shoal Depaze]

Well, I can't say I'm not disappointed. But I guess I'll also tell you that I'm in Troponillo for a little bit if you'd like to get together, if you need anything. And I mean, if you're not planning anything for this get together. You know you're always welcome at my parties. Surely you have something planned for some event coming up, and I would love to be the host.

[Riot]

That would be unbelievable. I'd be over the moon tonight. I do feel like I'm otherwise engaged, but I. I'm yours next time I have.

[Shoal Depaze]

Is that a promise?

[Riot]

You. No, it is.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

All right, Ry, roll me a history check.

[Riot]

All right. 21.

[Shoal Depaze]

Oh, wow.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

You for sure have been around, Ms. Mera. In fact, you know that the Hot and Heavy family, which Mesmera is like the current matriarch of, is, like, known for being these, like, ultra famous legacy family in the royals. They're all of them, like, smoking hot. They're devotees of the Empress and they tend to throw, like, amazing events. So this is like a super fun offer from Ms. Marrow. For sure.

[Riot]

Amazing. Do I think that she would appreciate a small libation?

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Oh, for sure she would. You know, Ms. Merrow is down for a good year.

[Riot]

Okay, cool. So I reach down to my bare skin of the thigh and to my pack and unlatch the side to grab A very small package in my hand. And I grab her hand with both of mine and slip it into her palm and close her hand around it and say, for you, for your night, think of me.

[Shoal Depaze]

Oh, I wish I had something in return, but I do appreciate this. I'm so glad that you brought a little bit of fun with you every time.

[Crater Wayne]

Did I notice that from afar? I'm assuming perception.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Yeah, do it.

[Crater Wayne]

Okay. Ooh. Ooh. That's pretty good. What's a new character? Don't know. My stats off my heart minus one. It's a 15.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

From the corner of your eye, you notice that riot has stopped. And so that catches your attention. And you do see that she's had an exchange with this person.

[Crater Wayne]

Noted. Thank you.

[Riot]

Okay, so I think I continue on towards the MC at this point, assuming I can get to her before she gets on stage.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Yeah. Are you trying to be sneaky or are you trying just running up like.

[Riot]

Hey, I know she's gonna know who I am. So I just go up to be like, you look gorgeous kind of thing. I want her to notice me as.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

You come up, she's sort of making a beeline for the platform. People are gathering, and she sort of sees you coming and does a double take. And you see her flip face is very focused. And as soon as she sees you, it turns to the widest smile possible, and she's like, well, oh, my goodness, what a marvelous delight it is to see you here tonight, Harley.

[Riot]

High stakes. You look fetching.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

You know, I do pride myself on knowing all the gossip, and yet I had no idea that you were in Trouburne or Vega.

[Riot]

Well, I'm kind of everywhere.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

That is what they say. Well, you also look marvelous. Although it would be quite a shock if you didn't.

[Riot]

You're too kind. This is an extraordinary event. You really outdone yourself with this one.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Oh, thank you. Kind. Oh, sorry, one second. And she just, like, turns and just, like, glares randomly at, like, a floor supervisor who just, like, freezes and, like, remembers something and goes, like, fucking running back away. And she's just like, like, sorry about that.

[Riot]

Just wanted to thank you for your hospitality and to, you know, wish you luck. This is a big, big day. Spinning of the wheel.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

The biggest. Darling.

[Riot]

Well, so good to see you.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

It's marvelous to see you too. And don't forget, when you post about this on Pipp T shirt, I should give a little shout out to Harley.

[Riot]

You know I will. Can I use a sleight of hand to try to get the card from her as I leave.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Yes, you can.

[Crater Wayne]

All right, Sky, I'll have you know this whole heist comes down to you at this very moment. If you roll a nat one here, you have killed all of our characters in the first episode.

[Riot]

Jesus.

[Crater Wayne]

I think as I kind of see Riot starting to, like, say goodbye, I might notice like a, like a waiter behind me that's holding like a thing of like a tray of champagne or something like that. I might like back into him, quote unquote, on accident to create a big noise.

[Riot]

You're perfect.

[Crater Wayne]

Maybe help off, Help out with this.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

This is great. Give me some kind of role for that. Give me like a performance. Performance role. Yeah.

[Celestine]

Can I give him the help action? I'll make a scene with him.

[Shoal Depaze]

Sure, you can give the help action. To give the help action.

[Crater Wayne]

Oh, boy. I rolled double 13s, so it's a 14.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Okay. There is a moment where Harley, high stakes, like, gives one of her sharp face face expression, flips over in your direction.

[Shoal Depaze]

And in that moment, Riot roll your sleight of hand with advantage.

[Riot]

All right, all right. I got the same each time, which was.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Oh, God.

[Riot]

24.

[Celestine]

Oh.

[Crater Wayne]

Oh, God, I love rogues so much.

[Celestine]

Oh, man, I was sweating just barely.

[Riot]

Do you get this card also?

[Shoal Depaze]

As you go to get it, Mesmera kind of like wanders up near Harley and she looks at Harley and she's like, don't you know who this is? And she gives you, like, a little moment to grab what you're trying to get.

[Riot]

Mesmera. Amazing. Okay, well, I'll be like, all right. Well, Toodaloo Cargo won't keep you from the stage. So good to see you.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Well, thank you so much for coming to pay Oz Bex, darling. And do keep your fingers crossed for your favorite archetype when we spin the wheel.

[Riot]

You know I will.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Good night, darling. Good night, darling. Ms. Mara.

[Shoal Depaze]

Amazing.

[Crater Wayne]

Crater is like, over top of this waiter, like, oh, my God. But I'm so sorry. Here, I'll start, like, scooping up some glass and putting it back on the tray.

[Celestine]

Celestine is, like, trying to help, like, clean the champagne off of the waiter's outfit. Is just like, with. With his sleeve. Just like, oh, we're gonna get that out, don't you worry.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Boy. Baccarat has been pulled from the blackjack table after that freaking fiasco and is now serving drinks which you've poured all over him.

[Crater Wayne]

Oh, Mr. Boy. Oh, I so sorry for the trouble here. Here's 750 coins, gentlemen.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Oh, God, thank you. This will buy me many new uniforms.

[Crater Wayne]

Do you ever feel like you just want to get away? You know, leave his life behind you? Find what's what else is out there past the horizon. Find a new life for yourself.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

He puts a hand on your shoulder and leans in. He's just like, take me with you.

[Crater Wayne]

Oh yeah. I kind of recoil a little bit from that.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Oh God.

[Shoal Depaze]

As you all deal with the downed boy baccarat and spilled drinks everywhere and and for riot, a keycard in hand, you start to head to the north side of the room, which is easy at this point because the crowd is currently aflutter as Harley Highstakes steps onto a circular disc platform that begins to move, lifting her up to the wheel's lever. When she arrives, she raises her hand with a flourish and after a dramatic pause pulls the lever down with a practiced snap, sending the wheel and the crowd into a spinning frenzy. The partygoers cheer and shout encouragement to the Wheel, entreating it to land on their particular favorite arcana, or pleading for it to avoid the likes of the Tower or the Devil. After a minute or so, the Wheel begins to slow. It clicks past the star and then the moon and a hopeful gasp as it appears to pause on the sun, but no past the sun, and the crowd very suddenly falls silent. As will it. Yes, it is. The hand slides past judgment and for the very first time in recorded history, lands firmly on the world. Everyone is motionless. The normally imperturbable Harley falters for a moment, takes a breath to speak and what sounds like an explosion, distant but alarmingly significant enough to cause a trend tremor and a flickering of the lights. Then all is still. With a couple of sharp, meaningful looks, Harley sends three floor supervisors scampering into action, her orders silently understood. The next moment she is all smiles and addresses the crowd.

[Yeehaw McGraw]

Ho. Well, what a marvelous excitement. Surely just some scrapper overzealous scrapper party going on in the background here. But my goodness, a landmark spinning of the wheel. And if you'll excuse me, I have a couple of things to attend to. And she levers herself down and goes zooming across the floor as everybody sort of like calms down and begins to talk excitedly amongst themselves about the Wheel landing on the world.

[Lori]

To listen to more of Planet Arcana and check out their other content, please search Planet Arcana wherever you get your podcast, podcasts or click the link in the description of this episode. You can also visit www.planetarcana.com for more information or if you want to support Planet Arcana and its creations until November 15th at 10pm PST. Head to rustyquill.com foolserrand that's rustyquill.com F-O-O-L-E-R-R-A-N D thanks for listening.