BlackwaterDnD

Em:
Welcome to BlackwaterDnD, where good friends tell better stories. This series, Balance, is a miniseries using the Powered by the Apocalypse system, Godkiller, which was created by Connie Chang, now available on Itch.io for purchase, and is proudly sponsored by Hero Forge and Moonbeam. This tale takes us back, long before the end of the universe, to a time when we begin to explore & understand old divine wounds that run so very deep, and what happens when love is caught in the middle. This story encouraged us as creators to strive for genuine emotion and connection, relish the space we create at the table, and take big swings with the way we approached our narrative. For this story, your GOD, everyone else, and the thrum of the Cradle, is myself, Em Carlson, and my GODKILLERs are played by Gina Susanna & Jannes Wessels. As this game falls within a holypunk and dark fantasy genre, it may contain themes and depictions that are triggering for some listeners. Please take care of yourself and access safe support as you see fit.

Content warnings for this episode include: violence // body horror // police brutality // animal endangerment // death // murder // grief // loss // romance // heartbreak // being chased // ulterior motives

So sit back and relax, heretics. And welcome to Godkiller: Balance.

Episode 5: Running

[BANG BANG BANG]

Em:
At first, you think it's part of the dream, despite the fact that the loud sound is in such contrast to the softness of the Dreamscape, and your time together.

[BANG BANG BANG]

Em:
There's so much that you would rather do, other than waking up. So much of you that would rather drift your way back to the beach, hearing the lap of the waves on the pristine shores, feeling the soft breeze on your face, the company of the other, under the fabric tent. Your hands softly grazing, and then entwining briefly. A moment of true stillness and hope in a world that feels so very far from that.

[BANG BANG BANG]

Em:
But this isn't part of the dream. This is sharp, and you're landing back down in what is real, and tangible. There is a pounding on each of your doors, and you hear it once more, with a strong voice accompaniment.

[BANG BANG BANG]

Em (as Guard Captain):
“Glass Guard, open up!”

Em:
You are each in your beds, in your own room. What would you like to do?

Jannes:
I think having been woken from the first dream that he's had in a long time, it has not put Rake in the best of moods. And I think he takes his time collecting his things and he makes his way to the door.

Jannes (as Rake):
“What's the business of your inquiry?”

Em:
Do you say this through the closed door or do you open the door?

Jannes:
I say through the closed door.

Em:
There is a pause. You hear a whisper, you can't quite make out what the words are. But then you hear,

Em (as Guard Captain):
“We've been ordered to search the rooms.”

Em:
As for your room, it is more well appointed than you know the sparse bedroom that Ever sleeps in next to you, or just across the hall. There is a window that faces out onto the main street, and one that faces out onto the alley. You know you're on the second floor. To your knowledge, there are no other exits in this room. And you have your kit with you entirely. You are rested and awake. You are not groggy, other than having been pulled from sleep, rather than the slow, gentle way that you would have hoped to wake up.

Jannes (as Rake):
“Alright, I'm going to open up the door.”

Jannes:
And I will open the door, and step back. And as I step back, I'll put my hands in my pocket, and sort of lean against the desk that's there.

Em:
Okay. So as you open the door, you see two armoured guards outside of your room. They stand at the threshold. They are wearing Glass Guard armour, and you've seen the Glass Guard before. It is essentially the equivalent of a city watch. They are mostly quite well put together, quite regimented. They never really have to use an excessive show of force. This, mostly the City of Glass doesn't have a lot of, at least, outward crime to it. Most people are just trying to make their way in the world. You see them wearing dark, pewter leather. There are short swords at their hips. They wear like, a dark pewter metal greaves and then there's metal placed in the bracers on their arms. One of them wears a green cloak, and you see the ranking of some insignia on his lapels, potentially a captain, or some kind of elevated officer. You would see this, Rake, I think, with how observant you are and your gifts, how attuned you are to the way that people move. The armour doesn't exactly fit them fully. The one on the left seems to be in armour built for potentially a femme presenting body, but this is a masculine presenting person. There are some dark patches, on the bottom of the boots on the person on the right that don't seem clean nor pristine as they normally are.

Jannes (as Rake):
“I'd have your names if you're going to search my room.”

Em (as Guard Captain):
“We don't have to give you that. Can you step outside, please?”

Jannes (as Rake):
“I thought you were here to check my rooms?”

Em (as Guard Captain):
“You need to be out of the room for us to check it.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“Oh? Am I somehow going to inhibit your search?”

Em (as Guard Captain):
“Likely. Can you step outside the room, please?”

Jannes (as Rake):
“And you're gonna stay in my room by yourselves?”

Em (as Guard Captain):
“We don't have to answer to you. You're not the owner of this establishment.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“So the owner asked you to come by?”

Em (as Guard Captain):
“Can you step out of the room, please? I won't ask again.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“As far as I understand, this is a private residence. Under whose order are you here? I believe as a member of the Glass Guard, you are beholden to the laws of the city.”

Em (as Guard Captain):
“We are, yes, and so are you.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“So, who sent you?”

Em (as Guard Captain):
“And when an officer of the Glass Guard asks you to exit the room you are paying to occupy, we ask that you do so. In accordance with the laws.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“An officer, you say?”

Em (as Guard Captain):
“Yes.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“What's your rank?”

Em:
The one on the right. The one with the darkened splotches on their pants and boots. Wearing the cloak.

Em (as Guard Captain):
“Captain.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“I didn't know they sent captains to search rooms.”

Em (as Guard Captain):
“Step outside.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“Gladly.”

Jannes:
And with that, he would pull his hands out of his pockets, now wearing gloves with fingers that come to points, metal points. You can see that they were once black, but from much use the black has worn off to reveal silver tips. And I'm going to use a move.

Em:
Okay. What would you like to do?

Jannes:
I'm gonna inflict violence.

Em:
Okay. So, when you inflict violence on someone, roll 2d6, and you add one for each true statement. They wish you harm. Yes. You're desperate.
Jannes:
No.

Em:
No. It's personal.

Jannes:
From which end does that statement need to be answered?

Em:
From you.

Jannes:
I think it's always personal for Rake, but no, not in the way that they mean it in the question.

Em:
Okay, so that's a plus one.

Jannes:
I rolled a seven, so plus one is eight.

Em:
Okay, so on a hit, seven to nine, this part of the fight ends on your terms. What would you like to do?

Jannes:
I think as Rake says, ‘gladly’, and the hands come out of the pockets, there's a moment where he lets the glamour slip, and they see before them The Void in Flight in his true form. Big black wings. Almost a shadow that obscures his face in this form. And the tips of those gloves just become ever so slightly longer, almost grotesque in their length. And I think the speed at which he closes that gap to the first one, catches the first one by surprise.

Em:
Mmhmm.

Jannes:
And he gets close. He gets right up against him, and his right hand, claws and all, sink deep into his belly, and the second hand grasps him around the throat and leans in,

Jannes (as Rake):
“You've made a big mistake.”

Jannes:
And then he drops him, and before moving to the second one, Rake will ask again,

Jannes (as Rake):
“Who sent you?”

Em:
You see, in this tense moment, as the captain, bleeding heavily from his stomach, falls to the floor, blood gushing from him, you smell a hint of brimstone. You smell sulphur. And the person, the other guard, takes a step back, readies themselves and says,

Em (as Guard 1):
“The Scion of Perdition.”

Em:
And they are gonna move to attack you. This guard is going to come forward, whip a short sword out, and then also is going to attempt to move in, trip you, and then come down and stab you. What would you like to do?

Jannes:
Now that I've closed the gap towards the door, I assume they hadn't fully stepped in.

Em:
No.

Jannes:
And I'm in the hallway now.

Em:
You are. And there is a clamour as this happens, and you hear a clamouring coming from downstairs as well.

Jannes:
And I know that's where... Ever is staying.

Em:
Ever is in the door just down the hallway.

Jannes:
And do I see anyone outside of her door?

Em:
No, not yet.

Jannes:
I think Rake would hurt them. I'm going to inflict violence.

Em:
Okay.

Jannes:
What I'm going to do with the second one is, seeing that he's going to move to attack me, I think what he does is he… He lets him come in, and trip him. And as he falls onto the body of his companion, I think he's going to wait for that moment where the sword is about to swing down at him. And he will turn, and using his wings, push himself back up from the floor, arms outstretched, skewering him with both hands through the chest, and then proceed to throw him into the room that he just exited.

Em:
Okay. So once more, when you inflict violence, you roll 2d6 and you're gonna add one for each true statement. It hits the same here. Or is it personal now?

Jannes:
Oh, now it's personal.

Em:
Now it's personal, so that's a plus two.

Jannes:
That is going to be a ten.

Em:
Okay, so on an overkill, ten plus, you lose yourself to righteous fury, and the GM will tell you the costs of your divinity. But before I tell you the costs of your divinity, we are going to pan over, to maybe moments before, while you were speaking with the Glass Guard through the door. Ever. You hear the pounding on the door, with the Glass Guard asking you to open up. What would you like to do?

Gina:
I think I would be very confused, and not understanding why there is such a loud interruption so early in the morning. Nothing else feels or sounds like it's wrong? It doesn't sound like there's a commotion or anything like that?

Em:
No, there's no commotion coming from outside. You have two windows in your room as well, one facing the front street, and one facing what you assume is the space between buildings on the other side. There are only, I think, four rooms on the top of this, the second floor of this tavern, this inn. So if you were looking to make a run for it, that would be a valuable option. If you were looking to open the door. There is only one way in and out of this room.

Gina:
I think I would… I would look to Rowan. He's still asleep on the bed or is he awake?

Em:
He has woken up and is sitting kind of bolt upright, looking at the door and looking back at you. He looks nervous. It's a loud sound for a tiny, tiny little fox.

Gina:
I think I would just turn to him and point to my bag that's near the door and just say…

Gina (as Ever): [whispered]
“Hide!”

Em:
He does as requested, and jumps off the bed and goes inside your bag, and you hear him rustle around in there, and settle in next to what you assume are some, something cozy, something comfortable, and he, you just see the last little bit of his, the fur of his tail disappear in the bag, and you can assume that he is in there safe and sound.

Gina:
And I'll make my way to the door. I'll pull Verek's shawl back over my shoulders. And I open it.

Em:
Outside of the room, you see two guards. They are standing at the door. They are wearing dark pewter leather armour, short swords, greaves, and bracers. None of them, neither of them are wearing cloaks or any insignia. They are simply look like members of what you would assume to be the Glass Guard. You have never seen the Glass Guard before. You've never heard about what they are. You assume to be a city watch of some kind.

Gina (as Ever):
“Um… What's going on? Can I help you?”

Em (as Guard 2):
“We're gonna need you to come downstairs. We need to search the rooms.”

Gina (as Ever):
“I'm sorry, it's so early. Search the rooms for... for what?”

Em (as Guard 2):
“That's beyond your concern. This is a tavern, miss. It's part of city property. We need to search the rooms. Will you come downstairs, please?”

Gina (as Ever):
“I, I… Is everything all right? Should I…?”

Em (as Guard 2):
“Just step outside the room, miss, and please come downstairs.”

Gina (as Ever):
“Alright, let me just…”

Gina:
And I'll grab my bag and sling it over my shoulder. Carefully.

Gina (as Ever):
“Alright.”

Gina:
And I will do as I'm told.

Em:
Would you like to use the move, do as you're told?

Gina:
I would.

Em:
Okay, so when you do as you're told, say how you show submission, and answer one. The GM will show you a glimpse of their true intentions as they answer the other. So the two questions are, how are you rewarded, and what vulnerability do you reveal?

Gina:
I would hope that I'm rewarded by… By not being involved in any sort of trouble that's happening here, I would like to be rewarded with… As far as I know, these Glass Guard are here to help. So. I would assume that I would be rewarded with... safety?

Em:
Okay. And what vulnerability do you reveal? As you step out into the hallway, one of the Glass Guard enters the room and starts absolutely tearing it apart. The other looks at you, and looks at your bag, and says,

Em (as Guard 3):
“This way, miss.”

Em:
Puts his hand on your shoulder and begins to walk you downstairs. As you do this, you walk past Rake's room, and you hear the [BANG BANG BANG] on the door. You hear Rake speaking inside, asking them why they're opening up and their short and curt replies, as you are led downstairs, down into the main lobby. As you get downstairs, you see Kian with his hands on the bar, and he looks nervous and scared, as one or two of the other guards who are down here. So now bringing three guards total, one with you, two with Kian. You know one is upstairs in your room and two outside Rake's room. As you know that there are six altogether.

Kian's eyes widen as he stares at you, and flashes a look at one of what looked to be the highest ranking official in the room, standing next to him. This person, however, is not wearing the same armour as the people who opened your door are. You see a dark black, grey metal, almost like gunmetal. You see red insignia, red tunics, red scarves… And you see the symbol of a crown aflame, on a pauldron on this man's shoulder. And the highest ranking of these people is standing in the middle of the room, but one near the bar looks up to the one that is bringing you downstairs and goes,

Em (as Guard 4):
“You'll never guess what we found here. Bit of a two for one. Found ourselves a Void Walker. Could have killed him on sight, but I figured that we'd want the collar, and set him before the high priest. And looky here!”

Em:
And you see the guard who is standing next to Kian place a knife on the bar. It looks a heck of a lot like your knife, but less ornate. The Major smiles.

Em (as Guard Major):
“Well, this is our lucky day indeed. It's been a while since we've had one in the city. Good that we found them before the Nova's Watch did. They have all the fun. They have all the fun, and are way too soft on this kind of filth.”

Em:
Their eyes all then turn to you, Ever. The Major looks at you.

Em (as Guard Major):
“Put her there, empty her bag.”

Em:
The bag is about to be wrenched from your shoulder. What would you like to do?

Gina:
I would try and hold onto it and I just... I think I would just cry out,

Gina (as Ever):
“Please, that's all I have!”

Em (as Guard 4):
“Miss, you need to let us search your bag. If we find what we're looking for, you can go.”

Gina (as Ever):
“What are you looking for? I'll tell you if I have it.”

Em (as Guard 4):
“You need to put any weaponry you have on the table.”

Em:
You also begin to hear crashing upstairs. You hear the sound of what you can only assume to be a body hitting the floor, and you hear scuffling. The guard closest to Kian looks up, the one who is on your shoulder looks up, as the major stands in the room and he goes,

Em (as Guard Major):
“Go, now.”

Em:
Two guards let you go, and they fly upstairs, and the major begins to step towards you, Ever. And we are gonna cut back upstairs, to Rake. As we talk about how you lose yourself to righteous fury, and the GM will tell you the costs of your divinity. I think, Rake, in this moment, you truly lose yourself. You, the you you know, the you she knows, is gone. You are your title. Nothing more. You are everything she made you. And nothing more.

Jannes:
Can I add to that?

Em:
Always.

Jannes:
I think in that moment, after he's thrown the Captain back into the room, and he stands there with the blood dripping from the talons at the end of his fingers, and he looks down the hallway, and he sees the open door of Ever's room… I think that part of him that was his father's son, that was there on that beach with Ever… I think it retreats back to the memory of that dream, and it hides itself so deep… That it lets The Void in Flight take full control in that moment. And I think the only thing that he knows and that he thinks about is about protecting that little… flickering flame that Ever lit the night before. And now everyone else seems so desperate to extinguish. And he just sees them all as obstacles. And I think… Knowing that she's in danger… I think he's going to unleash his divinity.

Em:
Okay, what is your divine trigger?

Jannes:
My divine trigger is, when you hurl yourself into obvious danger to help a mortal, awaken your divinity. Now that I guess becomes a question of, is Ever still mortal?

Em:
Well, let's give it a shot, and you can see. So describe to me how you hurl yourself into danger.

Jannes:
If it's alright with you, maybe he heard her exclaim from downstairs, and then the thudding of boots of guards making their way up the stairs. And I think he just launches himself down the stairs. He's not even running anymore. I think he's being fully borne by his wings as he descends like a bird of prey down the staircase.

Em:
Mmhmm. Okay. So, when you unleash your awakened divinity, you describe how your godhood surges forth as you exert your will upon reality, which you have. Your wings give you flight. You could not be called The Void in Flight if you can't fly. You accomplish a single brilliant feat with one side effect of your choosing. It is brief, it is obvious, or it is unstable.

Jannes:
I think it's one of the first times that Rake has been this obvious about his abilities. He's always been better about… keeping his altercations in this form to places or sizes where no one would live to truly speak of it, or at least know what caused it. And I think in this moment, he doesn't care who sees. So I think, I think for this one is that it's obvious.

Em:
Okay. Ever you hear, you see the guards run upstairs, and you hear a crash as hurtling down the stairs you see a massive black form that you can only assume is Rake, but he has a pair of huge black wings on his back. He lands on the floor in front of you, snd you hear the clamouring of the guards attempting to whirl their way around upstairs. The Major in front of you across the room next to Kian, his eyes go wide, and you see he pulls out a long black metal scimitar. It smells like sulphur. The room immediately smells like someone has lit a match and then extinguished it. The room becomes hotter. It is overwhelming. There are so many sensory things going all at once. The two of you, in this room. Kian takes that moment. He is no longer restrained. He grabs his knife on the bar and he looks to the two of you. What would you like to do?

Jannes:
I think as Rake lands, it is as if you see in front of you a feral beast. His face is scrunched in anger, and just pure aggression. He is snarling, all of his teeth are visible, and he scans the room, seeing the Major draw the scimitar and identifying him as the leader. And in all of this… twisted inhuman version of Rake that you see before you, when his eyes pass over you, you see the expression change. You see that half smile quirk his lips, and his eyes soften ever so slightly. And you hear him speak, but the voice is different than you've heard before. But what he says is not unfamiliar. He says,

Jannes (as Rake):
“Good morning, sunshine.”

Jannes:
And he turns, and he says,

Jannes (as Rake):
“Kian.”

Em:
Kian looks to you, and like, ready to take instruction.

Jannes (as Rake):
“Do for me what your kind did not do for my father. Help me.”

Jannes:
And he's going to launch himself at the Major.

Em:
Kian takes your hint and he runs behind where the bar is, like almost launching himself up over, and throws his full weight in the lower body of this Major, attempting to knock him backwards. Ever, what are you doing in this moment?

Gina:
I think Ever is in shock. I think seeing Rake in this form… And the words of Soevan running through her mind, ‘The Void in Flight’. And I think, I think how close to her, how close to me were you before you, when you landed?

Em:
He's probably about, maybe six to eight feet from you.

Jannes:
Yeah, he would have made sure that he landed between you and the scimitar wielding Major.

Em:
You do have a clear shot at the door.

Gina:
I don't think she'd be able to move. I think she would be still planted in the chair where she was sat. I… I think I would open my bag, and let Rowan out, and tell him to run for the door. And I think I would just stand, and want to run, but not… not feel it in my feet to move just yet.

Em:
As Rowan hears your instruction, your bag still in your hands, he rockets out and he runs out of the door. You see the door has been propped open by the guard, and he runs outside and you lose sight of him. As you go to close the bag, your hands automatically doing something that you do all of the time while this plays out in front of you, and you watch as Kian and Rake begin to start assailing the Major. You look down in your bag, Ever, and you see the knife. You see the knife that Rake showed you last night. It's right there. You didn't put it in your bag last night. Rake had it in his possession.

Gina:
Why would he?

Em:
What would you like to do?

Gina:
I want to… I think I'll… I think I'm going to wait and see what happens, but my hand is inside my bag and it is… close to the knife, that if something starts to go… Wrong, then I'm... If I have to use it, I… If I have to use it, I will.

Em:
The second you put your hand in that bag, your hand wants that knife between its fingers. You remember what it felt like last night. That surge of energy, that rush, that ability to do anything, be anything. Your hand wants to be holding that knife.

Gina:
And I remember the mark on my hand. And how it burned. If I'm not supposed to have this, why do I want it so much? I'm going to grab it.

Em:
As you put your hand on the blade, you automatically feel your arm move to expose it from the bag, and the second you remove it from inside, your hand fully grips around the handle and that pulse comes back. It ripples up your arm and you feel a wave of energy ripple out from you. Rake, you see… It's almost as if it is a small shockwave move through the room. It hits you and you're able to stay steady. It blows Kian backward, blowing the Major down as well. What would you like to do? Ever, you feel divine. You feel an intense surge of power like you have never known. And you feel like this knife was meant to be in your hand. It was meant to take everything you feel, that you have felt for a long time. That anger, that rage, that vengeance. And this is exactly where that knife is supposed to be. Rake, what are you doing right now?

Jannes:
I think when Rake feels that shockwave… he's mid sort of leap at the Major, and I think he stops… Because he wants to behold her, in all of her divinity. And he turns, and he stares at you, Ever. And you see a flicker of the Rake from the night before, and you see that genuine smile as he looks at you. And it's as though… you and your divine presence is somehow… pushing back the dark mist that descends on him when he truly becomes The Void in Flight. And he watches her, just for a second, and he turns, and his posture changes, and he moves to inflict violence.

Em:
Okay. So, you're inflicting violence on the Major.

Jannes:
Yup.

Em:
Kian has given you a hand in this, as he's helped knock the Major to the floor, and you see that Kian is blown backward by this pulse, this divine wave of energy. He is gathering himself. He is trying to find his own knife in the process, and moving in to help you again, Rake. When you inflict violence, you roll 2d6, and you're gonna add one for each true statement. They wish you harm. Yes. Are you desperate?

Jannes:
Yes, in this moment. I think he can tell that something is up with that sword.

Em:
Okay. And it's personal.

Jannes:
Yes.

Em:
That is a plus three.

Jannes:
That's good, because I did roll two twos, for a total of four plus three, which gives me seven, which is just enough.

Em:
Okay, and here I was thinking we were going into overkill again.

Jannes:
Oh, no, I'm very thankful that I even made that one.

Em:
[laughs] On a hit seven to nine, this part of the fight ends on your terms. What do you do here as you move in to inflict violence on the Major?

Jannes:
I think as he falls and his arms sort of go up in the air, before he fully hits the ground, Rake is there, and he catches him by the wrist of the arm that's wielding the scimitar, and I think he grabs his wrist with his left hand, and with his right, he just takes the arm off clean at the elbow, removing the arm and the scimitar from the Major as he stumbles back, and he puts a boot on the Major's chest, and he looks down at him. A truly sadistic, terrifying smile creeping across his face.

Em:
As you do this, the Major knows he's been beat. But there is something uncanny about that smile on your face. There is no mirrors around, but you see almost a reflection of it sit on the Major's face.

Em (as Guard Major):
“The Scion will have your head. This was the easy option. Do what you will.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“He can get in line. How dare you, come here. You obviously know who I am. Are you looking to start a war?”

Em (as Guard Major):
“It's already started.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“No, it's finished for you.”

Jannes:
And I will flip his arm around, and stab him through the chest with his own arm wielding scimitar.

Em:
The blade pierces him, and you hear it burn through the metal. You hear it burn through the mail underneath. You hear it burn through the leathers. Everything, a searing blade through the chest. You hear it singe the floor below and stick into it. And that smell of brimstone as he begins to bleed out. There's a heat that comes from them, this blade particularly, but their bodies. And Rake, you see... on the hilt of the blade, a stone. Deep, deep maroon. There seems to be a fire that dances within it. A crown etched and engraved into the handle engraved into the hilt. A flaming crown. These are soldiers of Ashmedai, who were sent here after the both of you.

Jannes:
As I turn away from him and survey the room, are there any guards left or have they all fled?

Em:
You hear some fumbling upstairs as the ones that you blew past, and down onto the ground, are attempting to right themselves and come down after you. Kian is there. He has himself together. He looks at you.

Em (as Kian):
“We should go. We should go.”

Em:
The door is open.

Jannes:
Rake stalks over to Ever, he still doesn't move quite right. He moves in a way that… is like when you see a bird walking rather than flying. It's clumsy, but it still belies the power that it has. And he gets right in front of you, Ever, wielding that knife.

Jannes (as Rake):
“We should go.”

Gina:
You said that there are guards who are still coming down after us?

Em:
Yeah, as Rake moves towards you, you hear behind him, you see behind him the first guard round the stairs coming down from the upstairs level.

Gina:
And they don't look like they're fleeing, they look like they're coming after us?

Em:
Your sense is from these guards so far that they are here to do a job, and no matter what happens, they will see the job through. You have not seen one ounce of them looking to flee, no matter what the situation is.

Gina:
I think as Rake is standing before me, there's a moment where… I think something just clicks in my mind, seeing him in this form, seeing… everything that he's done. The carnage that is down here. And I think slower than you've ever seen Ever move. Her head just sort of turns to look at the guards coming down the stairs, and I can feel the divinity of this knife coursing through me. And I'd like to try and wield a power, if I can.

Em:
Okay. So, you don't know what powers this knife grants you. You don't fully know who crafted this blade. But I'm curious what you would like to do here.

Gina:
Well… I know how to make things grow.

Em:
You do.

Gina:
I've poured life into things before. I've attempted to do so with Rake. And when I touched him, I felt that coldness, that absence of warmth, the loss of it. A half-life. And I want to see if instead of imbuing it, I can, I can pull some of the life from these guards.

Em:
Hmm. So it's less of, using the power of the knife, but taking the small powers that are gifted to you, that were gifted to you by Thielia, and every other person in Temisset, and using the knife as an amplifier.

Gina:
Yes.

Em:
Okay, I’ll allow it. Let's see. Let's go. So, whew. When you wield a power to do something only a god can, roll 2d6 and add one for each true statement. You've done the specific act before, perfectly. No. You're desperate for this to work. Are you desperate for this to work?

Gina:
No, we have other options.

Em:
Okay, and you're close to a shrine, lair, or domain of the god you took this power from. No. So this is a flat roll.

Gina:
I rolled a six and a five.

Em:
For an eleven.

Gina:
For an eleven.

Em:
Okay, so on an overkill, ten plus, the GM will describe how you also drain, terrify, or wreck what's around you. [exhales] Okay. Which hand do you hold the knife in?

Gina:
My right.

Em:
Your right hand grips the knife, holding it at your side, a white knuckle grip on this blade. You reach your left hand out, forward, and attempt to pull the life, pull that energy, from the one, two, and three guards, who are now running down the stairs. Are your eyes closed? Are you focusing, or are your eyes open at this point? Because I think it's important who sees what.

Gina:
I think my eyes would be open.

Em:
Okay. Rake, you're standing to face Ever, as she reaches out. And Ever, your eyeline pierces just past Rake's shoulder as you reach up and over, and you hear a gasp and a wheeze as you see the colour and pallor drain from the three guards in succession as it's almost like they walk into a wall, and begin to wither. You have seen what lack of sunlight, and lack of water, lack of care and attention do to plants. This is exponentiated and faster. These people are desiccating in front of you. And they collapse in a heap on the floor. One, two, three. They hit the floor. And they do not move. You feel a rush through you like you have never known. It is almost as like you feel vitality, their vitality, available at your fingertips. It courses through you, back through the hand that had taken it, through your arm, through your chest. You feel it pump through your heart, and it settles down into the blade. You watch the runes and the crystal, the red crystal embedded in it, alight. And you feel fucking alive. What would you like to do? Both of you.

Jannes:
I think when Rake sees this… I think when Rake sees Ever... change. When he sees her finally stop wrestling with the… Stop wrestling with the things that were stopping her from truly letting her anger out. Letting her vengeance out. And he sees her accept it and wield it as a weapon. I think it breaks something in him. I think there was a part of him that had believed that that dream was somehow possible. That there was something he could fix in himself, to be able to make that something that could be real. And I think when he realizes that… He's not the only one that's broken. In this moment, he might at some point grow to a point where sharing that experience with someone is a comfort. But in this moment, it's just… It's a loss, of who he... Of who he thought she was. And I think he blames himself for it. Because if he hadn't given her that knife… if he hadn't stepped in… She would never have given herself to that anger, to that vengeance. And I think in that moment his glamour comes back, and he drops to his knees. And he switches out of that Void In Flight persona, and you just see Rake in front of you. And he looks genuinely scared.

Jannes (as Rake):
“Um, We have to go. Now. Please, Ever. Just run with me.”

Gina:
Seeing Rake shift back in the form, the way they looked when they… I think Ever would snap back into… more clarity. Tear my eyes from those bodies and look back at you.

Gina (as Ever):
“I didn't mean to... I only wanted them to stop. I only wanted to slow them down. I didn't mean to…”

Jannes (as Rake):
“It's okay, we can talk about that later.”

Gina (as Ever):
“I didn't mean, I didn’t mean to kill them, I didn't mean to…”

Gina:
Can I, I try and drop the knife, can I drop the knife?

Jannes (as Rake):
“It's alright, we can talk about it later.”

Em:
You can.

Gina:
I let it fall onto the floor.

Em:
And it clatters down.

Jannes:
I think actually before it even gets close to the ground, Rake is still bound by a duty, and he snatches that blade from the air right before it hits the ground, and sheathes it at his side.

Jannes (as Rake):
“We have to go. We can talk about this later.”

Em:
Mmhmm. Kian looks to the both of you.

Em (as Kian):
“I am going to go find the actual Glass Guard, and try and save some face here in the bar that I work at. Go. Run. Go. Now. Don't come back. Go!”

Jannes (as Rake):
“We have to go.”

Gina (as Ever):
“Okay. Okay.”

Em (as Kian):
“Go!”

Jannes:
He reaches his hand towards you, Ever.

Gina:
I take it.

Jannes:
And he pulls you to your feet.

Jannes (as Rake):
“Let's go.”

Gina (as Ever):
“Okay.”

Jannes:
We make our way out the door.

Em:
Okay. So, the two of you take off in one direction. You see Kian run in the other, and he's starting to call for the Glass Guard. It doesn't matter what story he will spin. It doesn't matter. All that matters is you get as far away from this place as possible. Where are you going? Where are you running?

Jannes:
I think in the time that Rake spent in these different places, he must have had… Not necessarily safe houses, but places he knew were difficult to find. Places he knew he could be safe if he was ever discovered or sort of identified as who he was. And I think he would make his way to… What would be in this case, an old bookshop that he had gone to to purchase old religious texts and, sort of, history books in his research, and had discovered that above it was a small unused attic that they didn't really use for much. And he'd figured out a way to come up the back of the building, and use this as a sort of safe house. He probably had some money stashed there and an extra set of clothes. And I think that's where he would lead Ever.

Em:
Okay. So, a bookshop like this would likely be in the Third District. A lot of the more kind of structured artisans are in this district. You are also in the Third District, so that's good. It's not far, far enough that it, around the Ring, so that it's almost on the opposing side, so you're not in the same district, so you're not in the same area of the district where The Wayfarer's Lamp is, but you are still within the same populace, the same types of people, so you know how this district moves. You weave your way through the crowds. Are you running? Are you walking? Are you trying to blend in? What are you doing here?

Jannes:
I think we start by running, and then Rake would slow his pace and,

Jannes (as Rake):
“Cover yourself with your shawl.”

Gina (as Ever):
“Right.”

Gina:
I'll pull it up over my hair like a hood.

Em:
Do you look for Rowan before you run?

Gina:
I would be looking for him the whole time.

Em:
You don't see him, as of this point, but you know he is more than a normal fox. He was gifted to you by a god.

Jannes (as Rake):
“What are you looking for? I see your eyes darting.”

Gina (as Ever):
“Rowan, my kit, my… He's a small fox. He's been with me this whole time, I… I let him go, back at The Lamp, but I can't find him.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“He's lost.”

Gina (as Ever):
“I, he's… He's got to be out here somewhere.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“It's alright. Would you like to find him first?”

Gina (as Ever):
“Do we have time?”

Jannes (as Rake):
“We don't have time for anything anymore. But if he's important to you, we can find him.”

Gina:
Ever just nods.

Jannes (as Rake):
“Alright, I think I might know someone who could help us. He specializes in those who are lost.”

Jannes:
And I would reach in my bag, and I would pull out the map that Tayo gave me.

Em:
Okay. So, it looks... Ever, Rake pulls out this map. It is a beautiful, like waxed canvas. And it... Do you stop? Or are you looking while you're walking?

Jannes:
I think we would look while we're walking, and sort of try and make it look as though we are someone looking for a place, and we're just pulling out a map to sort of get our directions.

Em:
Okay. The map is ornately made, on with what seems to be very high quality ink on like this beautiful, yes, I was saying black, on this beautiful waxed canvas and… For all intents and purposes, it looks like a regular map except there are two dots on it. And if you look around… It is in the same part of the district that you are. And as you move, the dots move. Down the same street you're walking down. You do not see any other moving objects on the map at this point. You might need a bit of time to figure out how this map works, but you are on it.

Jannes:
Do I see anything on it that would indicate Tayo?

Em:
You do not. You do not see any other dots, or, markers moving on the map like yours are. It shows an exceedingly accurate depiction of Glass. You can even see on the map parts of the city that look to be under construction. You see a building that you walked past about half a block before, that was still being built. You see this building only half drawn. Like there is the construction, the scaffolding, the workers are drawn onto this building. Even The Chime in the center does not look fully complete. It is beautifully detailed. Around the border as well, there seems to be a script of some kind, but you can't seem to read it, but you do know it's writing. What would you like to do?

Gina (as Ever):
“What is that? What is that map?”

Jannes (as Rake):
“It was given to me by a very special person. Someone who specializes in... the lost, actually. Um… He said that if I ever need to find him, I would be able to find him using this map. But honestly, I've never used it before, and I'm not quite sure where to look.”

Em: [whispered]
Also, sorry, Tayo uses they/them pronouns.

Jannes: [whispered]
Sorry.

Gina (as Ever):
“And you think we can find Rowan on that map?”

Jannes (as Rake):
“I don't know. I believe that if we find Tayo, they will definitely be able to help us find Rowan.”

Gina (as Ever):
“Right.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“Give me a second.”

Jannes:
And I sort of find a little alley, alcove thing to step into, and I close my eyes, and I would like to pray for guidance.

Em:
Mhmm. Okay. So when you pray for guidance, name the aid you seek and answer one. The GM will describe the aid that actually comes as they answer the other. What kind of god answers your prayers, or what unclear omens or visions besiege you?

Jannes:
I would like clarity on where Tayo is, and the god I would like to have answer my prayers is Tayo. So a little twofer there.

Em:
Mmhmm. So what unclear omens or visions besiege you? As you hold this map and you close your eyes. You see… A kettle whistling as if the water is boiling on on a wood burning stove. You see three teacups set on a low table. You hear someone humming as they shuffle around a room. And as you do this… As you open your eyes slowly, the script seems to become clearer, in a language that you can read of the common tongue. And it says, ‘To show all of humanity and its creation, to find the missing and to recover the lost.’ And from that, you get the sense that you can use this map to find anyone, anywhere. And I truly mean anyone, and anywhere.

Jannes:
And just to clarify, Rake knows this, but Ever does not?

Em:
Yes.

Jannes:
Alright. And do I get an indication that that would be by speaking the person's name?

Em:
Yes, their true name.

Jannes:
Oh, their true name. Do I know Tayo's true name?

Em:
You do. You might need to put their epithet in there as well, but you do know their true name.

Jannes (as Rake):
“I believe that Tayo the Lost will be able to help us. If I can only find him on this map.”

Em:
So as you speak, Tayo the Lost over the paper, over this beautiful canvas map, you see a dot appear on the map in the fourth district. Seems like a pretty normal area of the city with no major landmarks.

Jannes (as Rake):
“Oh, look at that. There he is. If we go there, I believe we will be safe. And then we can also ask about your fox friend.”

Gina:
You would see that Ever's face has just been sort of blank for the majority of the walk, run. She has wet tracks of tears on her cheeks. She just looks, like she's just killed three people for the first time. She looks at you, and down at the map and then back up at you and nods.

Gina (as Ever):
“Let's go someplace safe.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“Ever, are you okay?”

Gina (as Ever):
“No. No. But I will be. I hope.”

Gina:
And she looks at you like she's going to say something else. And then she stops.

Jannes (as Rake):
“I know. I'm sorry that you had to see that.”

Gina (as Ever):
“Let's go someplace safe.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“Alright.”

Gina (as Ever):
“We can talk more about it when we… Get to where we're going. Thank you, for... Thank you.”

Jannes:
I think in that moment he would… reach his hand out and place it on your shoulder, and he would look at you so intently. And he doesn't say it out loud. But in his head, to himself, he says, ‘I can see it. I can touch it. It's real.’ And then he pulls her towards where the map shows Tayo to be.

Em:
You traverse the city, keeping an eye out for guards who might be on your tail. There are no sign of them, at this point. You went far enough away from The Lamp, almost completely across the Ring. But there's no going back there, now. And you have a sense that from this point onward, at least in this city, you are going to continually have to be looking over your shoulder. You make your way over to the Fourth District, following the map. You weave your way through the narrow streets, surrounded on both sides by five floor tenement buildings. You see laundry and washing hung on lines between buildings, and the streets are busy and packed. It's about midday at this point. The time you took, the events of the morning, to make your way over to this side. Not running, but also trying your best to blend in. People are moving their way through the streets, cutting between the two of you, and if you weren't... Are you guys holding hands at this point? Are you holding each other's hands?

Gina:
I think Ever would need guidance. She doesn't know where she's going, and she's just in a daze. So if Rake took her hand, or was leading her by the shoulder, or leading her in any way she would, she would let him.

Em:
Okay, so people are moving their way around you, and if not for the connection between the two of you, you would be separated, lost in the crowd to each other, and maybe that's the point. This district is so busy, it is very easy to see one person and then completely lose sight of them. You feel like you pass the same point three times, but it is very, it is three different buildings that all just look the same. People offer things to you to buy and sell. There are market stalls jutting between the buildings. You see a couple of places to eat, some artisans' workshops opening onto the street. Is there anything you stop and look for as you go through this area, or do you just make a beeline?

Jannes:
I think if it's up to Rake, it would just be a beeline at this point.

Em:
So with Rake guiding you, Ever, there is a hum of the city here, and you're feeling it for the first time. This is your first time in Glass. You are used to the slow, quiet days in Temisset. The busiest, most bustling market days come nowhere close to this. It is like this is like the busiest day in Temisset times fifty. There's a myriad of scents that hit you. You smell herbs and you smell food cooking. You smell even hints of that apotheteke that you know so well. But, amongst this cornucopia of sensation, you smell something so familiar, and it almost bowls you over. You smell something spicy and rich, but with the sharp tang of citrus.

Gina:
I stop.

Gina (as Ever):
“Wait.”

Gina:
I look, do I see where it's coming from?

Em:
You try and follow your nose, which is probably one of your most acute, most perceptive senses, and you see a stall probably about ten feet away from you, and you wouldn't miss them. You couldn't if you tried. Packed amongst fruit, apples, you see mango, you see these big, large, almost yellow looking fruits that look like papaya, which you recognize. You have seen those fruits inside on the trees in Temple Lybica. You don't know what they're called, but they were on the palm trees around the pool. You see a myriad of fruit that looks like it probably wasn't grown here, probably shipped in from far away. And you see about ten blood oranges in a basket.

Gina:
Do I see anyone near them, do I..?

Em:
There is a stall tender behind. They have kind of a bit of gray hair on the sides. Looks to be an older human man, potentially in his sixties or seventies.

Jannes (as Rake):
“Ever, what's the matter?”

Gina (as Ever):
“Those oranges. It just reminds me of home.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“Do you want one?”

Em:
And you clock it now you are so hungry, both of you you haven't eaten. Since last night.”

Gina (as Ever):
“So badly.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“Let's get a couple for our walk.”

Gina (as Ever):
“Okay.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“I'll need you to tell me which ones are good. I'm unfamiliar with this fruit.”

Gina (as Ever):
“Okay.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“Tell me about them.”

Gina (as Ever):
“They are the most wonderful, they are the most wonderful thing I've ever had.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“You've seen where they grow?”

Gina (as Ever):
“I have.”

Gina:
And you'll see, Ever stop to smile, as she thinks about it.

Jannes (as Rake):
“Describe it to me.”

Gina (as Ever):
“They sing to them. They’re grown out of love. There's a flame inside that’s like… that’s like nothing you've ever had before.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“Were you one of the singers?”

Gina (as Ever):
“No, no, no, I'm not much of a singer.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“So just the one they sung to.”

Gina (as Ever):
“I don't know if these are the same ones. They can’t be…”

Jannes (as Rake):
“There's only one way to find out. What are they called?”

Gina:
Do I actually know, Em? If they have a name? They do?

Em:
Verek just called them blood oranges. Do you walk your way over to, or I'll let you answer the question then I'll ask you.

Gina:
I think this conversation is happening as we're slowly walking over to the vendor, and,

Gina (as Ever):
“I don't think they have a name. I... He always just called them... They were just... Blood oranges.”

Em:
As you approach the table, the older gentleman sees the two of you approach.

Em (as Marcus):
“Good morrow, miss. What can I get you today? Hello, sir, what can I get you?”

Em:
He like, grabs a bag like, ready to fill with fruit, whatever you wish.

Gina (as Ever):
“Good morrow, I... I have to say it's been some time since I've... I've missed this smell.”

Em (as Marcus):
“The oranges. Yes, yes, you can't miss them. We ship them in from up north. It's, it's... I don't know how they grow these up there, but the weather's not right for them, but we're very grateful to get them shipped down here. Should be the last shipment of the season, but they are still very fresh.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“Well, you're talking to a local, so I mean, if anyone can tell you if they are any good, it's…”

Em (as Marcus):
“You are from where they are grown? Up in Temisset?”

Gina (as Ever):
“I am. Yes.”

Em (as Marcus):
“Well, then you know the family then.”

Gina (as Ever):
“I do.”

Em (as Marcus):
“Ah, Firesong family, the good folk, good folk. These are the last one before the winter and I.. Callaia makes, always makes sure that there are a box set down for me, I do love them myself. She, I remember her when she was a young lass. She used to come around in this district and do a lot of the healing, with the other priestesses. And then, she stopped coming around. So my, when the oranges started shipping from up north, my sense was then, she moved up there with her family, so.”

Gina (as Ever):
“Yes, they... they... they're wonderful.”

Em (as Marcus):
“Well, please give them my regards. Please tell them. Marcus, Marcus from the market, sends his regards.”

Em:
He looks like quite taken aback that you would know this, the people who create these beautiful fruit. For him as a grower, someone who works in agriculture and food, it's art.

Jannes (as Rake):
“Well, we should definitely try something, right?”

Em (as Marcus):
“Of course, of course. How many can I get you? I have, I have only ten left, but what can I get you? Anything else?”

Jannes (as Rake):
“How much are they?”

Em:
And he would give you the price of them.

Jannes:
I would say,

Jannes (as Rake):
“We take them all, right, Ever? That way, you have a little bit of home with you whenever you need it.”

Gina (as Ever):
“Yes. I would love that. Yes, we'll take all ten, please.”

Em (as Marcus):
“Good, good.”

Em:
He packs all ten in the bag, and he puts one of the larger, kind of yellow papaya shaped fruit in there.

Em:
“Well, if you like what the Firesongs have created, you will probably like this too. This is, well, Kalaya, if you see Kalaya, she will be able to tell you how to prepare this if you are headed back up north. This is Rihla.”

Em:
And he puts the giant fruit in the bag as well.

Em (as Marcus):
“And then that's on me. That's on me for your time.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“Thank you so much, Marcus. It was very nice of you.”

Em (as Marcus):
“Of course, of course.”

Em:
And you exchange the money, and he passes you this like, cloth bag full of beautiful fresh fruit.

Jannes (as Rake):
“So now, Ever, you're gonna have to help me here, I'm not familiar. Do I just… eat it like an apple?”

Gina (as Ever):
“An orange. No…”

Jannes (as Rake):
“I eat it like an orange. It is fire inside. you said?”

Gina (as Ever):
“Here, let me show you.”

Gina:
And I take one of the oranges and I begin to peel it. And as I...

Jannes:
As you peel it, I think he says,

Jannes (as Rake):
“So… The Firesongs, you said, the family…”

Gina (as Ever):
“Yes.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“And how do, how do you know the Firesongs?”

Gina:
I keep peeling the orange and I've peeled back about half of it, and I start to pull out the segment. And as I do you can see while the outside is opalescent, inside there is what looks like a glowing flame inside this orange, and it is beautiful. And I hold out the segment. And I look at it, as I answer you.

Gina (as Ever):
“I met the Firesongs in the, on an ordinary day in the market in Temisset.”

Gina:
And you can see her face starts to change. There's a look of… Almost like she's reliving that moment. Peace. And then she looks back to the orange.

Gina (as Ever):
“I told you they sing to them?”

Jannes (as Rake):
“Yes.”

Gina (as Ever):
“One man in particular who, I fell in love with him. I am, I am in love with him.”

Gina:
And I look back to you, and realize where we are, and what has just happened, and,

Gina (as Ever):
“He’s one of the best people I know.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“Well… I'm sure he's missing you terribly.”

Gina (as Ever):
“Would you like to try?”

Gina:
And I hold out the slice for you. Can I see a difference, a change in him at all, as I say this?

Jannes:
I think you see… I think you see someone who… I think you see someone who… Has always felt as though he might not be someone worthy of love, just get confirmation that maybe he's right. And I don't think it's a sadness. I think it's just… It's just as simple as finding out something that you've always known.

Jannes (as Rake):
“Um, yeah, the orange, yes. Yes, let me try this wonderful Firesong blood orange.”

Em:
And if you'll let me add onto that, as Rake extends his hand to you, Ever to take the piece of orange, I don't know if you've ever seen someone try and put things away that have fallen out of a bag that was very neatly packed. That it’s often rushed, and shoved in, and things kind of stick out, but very very quickly things are put away. I think that's what you see. You see a retreating. Not in words. Maybe in a flicker of a facial expression, or in his body language. But there were things out, and I think they are, you are seeing them being packed away.

Gina (as Ever):
“Rake, I… Hey, let’s let’s… We have some place to be.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“Yes, yes, of course. Yes, yes, of course. Let us find Tayo, and then find your fox friend. and then… we can decide from there what our next step is. I have some thoughts on it, umm... But we must reunite you with your friend first.”

Jannes:
And I think we would at this point sort of arrive at the house shown on the map.

Em:
Mmhmm. Okay.

Jannes (as Rake):
“Now, to warn you, they are a little strange. They have a strange ability to make you feel… As though they've had the conversation before, and you're only having it for the first time. So just, be warned.”

Gina (as Ever):
“Okay.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“They're also very amenable, which is odd for a god. Usually there's a lot of rules, and they seem pretty okay to do whatever. It's not an experience I've had before dealing with divinity, so… You can trust them.”

Gina:
I think this whole time, the walk from the market to this place… in between bites of orange, Ever would have been watching him, and assessing trying to find those places where he's stuffed it all back in. And as he's speaking to her now, she’s nodding, taking in everything he's saying. But there's also that part of her that… feels a loss. And I'll reach out and take your hand.

Jannes:
You see that surprises him. Not in a bad way.

Gina (as Ever):
“I'm sorry if I was… shocked at your appearance before.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“No, it's okay. It is shocking.”

Gina (as Ever):
“Did I say something wrong? Back there?’

Jannes (as Rake):
“No. Have you ever had a dream where you meet someone, and you fall in love. And when you wake… You know it wasn't real. It was only a dream. But you ache for it. It's the only dream I've had in a very long time.”

Jannes:
And he would end the conversation by knocking on the door.

Em:
You knock on the front door of this tenement building. Looks to be about five floors. And… Nobody answers immediately, but there are enough people in this building that if you waited for a couple minutes, someone would come out. It's a busy building, middle of the day. You sneak in as someone leaves, you hold the door open for them as they move themselves and their children out the door. And as you go inside, you pull out the map. And as you're inside this building, the map zooms in. You literally watch the ink move on the page. And you see layers of this apartment building. You see five floors. You see yourselves in the main front lobby. You see a staircase connecting all of them. And you see the dot representing Tayo in a top floor on one of the middle apartments, on the would be north facing side of the building. The map moves and the ink settles back into the page.

Jannes (as Rake):
“Shall we?”

Gina:
She looks at you and you know she wants to say something other than...

Gina (as Ever):
“Let's go.”

Gina:
And she leaves it at that.

Jannes:
I think he sees that, and he knows that they're about to walk into a… a situation that is either gonna… I think he knows they're gonna walk into a situation that's very important and pivotal. So he pauses,

Jannes (as Rake):
“You want to say more. We might not get another chance.”

Gina (as Ever):
“I don't know what's happening, I… I don't know what this is. I came here yesterday, and the biggest question on my mind was, should I take a bath at the Temple Lybica, and… And now… And you… Why do I feel like I know you the way that I do? Why does, why does it feel, why does it feel like I've just… I don't understand this.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“I don't either. But I am… broken. I am… I am sorry. We will find your fox. And then I think it is best that you go back to your singing love. Nothing good will come of this.”

Gina (as Ever):
“Who, who tells you that you're broken?”

Jannes (as Rake):
“You saw me. No one who is whole can do what I do.”

Gina (as Ever):
“What does that mean for me, then? You saw what I did.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“I saw what being around me made you do.”

Gina (as Ever):
“You didn't make me do anything. I took that knife. I grabbed it. I wanted, I wanted to. I don't know why I wanted to, but I wanted to.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“And what is it you want now?”

Gina (as Ever):
“I… I don't know. I don’t know.”

Jannes (as Rake):
“You do know. I don't believe you. I saw you when you held that knife. I saw the certainty. I saw the power. The knife is powerful, but it is not that powerful. That came from you. That person I saw, they weren't uncertain.”

Gina (as Ever):
“I should have been. You saw what I did. What they… They looked just like…”

Jannes (as Rake):
“And that is why I say… I think we find your fox, and you go home.”

Gina (as Ever):
“What if that means I'm broken too? What if I can't go home?”

Jannes (as Rake):
“You asked me why it felt like you knew me. Sometimes, two people meet who are broken in compliment. And though they are both broken, together they are whole. But that does not mean… That does not mean it is a good choice for you to stay here with me. You have a man who can sing fire into oranges waiting for you. You have an out. You have a life. If you come with me. It will just be more of this.”

Gina:
I think Ever, Ever will reach out and take your hand again, and remembering what they looked like before. Do I feel any difference? Is this glamour physical, or can I sense it in any way?

Em:
I'll leave that up to you.

Jannes:
I think in the moment of grabbing his hand you realize that… though he uses the term... glamour, it is not so much a magical concealment of another form, but rather another form altogether. When he is the Rake you see in front of him, he is the Rake you see in front of him. And I think when you think about that, the fact that he uses the Rake you see in front of him as the term glamour, I think you realize which one he believes himself to be truly.

Em:
Mmhmm. But to answer your question, you don't feel those sharp talons. You just feel his hands. They're a bit cold. Colder than they should be.

Gina:
Can I try and warm them?

Em:
How would you like to do that?

Gina:
I don't know what I have available to me if I don't have the knife.

Em:
It's up to you if you choose to grab it. While you do it. You would need to get it from him though. He has it holstered, as far as you know. But you've never actually tried to reach for it. And I don't mean that in the physical term. You've never tried to summon the knife to you.

Gina:
I take his hand in one hand and… with the other, slowly, reach not not to grab it but just in the direction of it where I know he has it.

Gina (as Ever):
“May I?”

Jannes (as Rake):
“Of course.”

Gina:
I'll step in just a little bit closer.

Em:
You're going to have to be quite close to grab the knife off of the hip holster.

Gina:
And I'll reach, just to lay my hand on it. I'm not going to take it, and I would like to wield the power.

Em:
Okay. So, you're trying to wield the power to warm him. The same thing you did last night. When you wield the power to do something only a god can. Roll 2d6 and add one for each true statement. You've done this specific act before, perfectly. I mean you came pretty close. So yeah, I'll give you that one. You're desperate for this to work. Are you desperate for this to work?

Gina:
No. But I would like it to.

Em:
Okay. And you're close to a shrine, lair, domain of the god you took this power from. No. So that's a plus one.

Gina:
Six and a three.

Em:
That's a nine plus one is ten. So on an overkill the GM will describe how you also drain, terrify, or wreck what's around you.

Gina:
It's new. It's a new power.

Em:
It is new. As her hand touches the hilt of the knife. It's like… and she grabs your hand as well. It's as like you become part of a circuit. The two of you connected by your skin touching to this unimaginable power source, and you feel it, you feel the thrum of power, Rake, and it scares you. That is more power thrumming through her than you have ever felt, ever. Even when you are in your other form. It is... it shouldn't feel like that. She should not, as a mortal, be carrying that much power in her. And I think you start to question why. Why is it when she holds this blade, that it feels like she could do what was intended with this without you?
Because you know who this knife is really intended for. It's intended for you, not for her.

Jannes:
I think he thinks back to the very first time he saw her, and he remembers seeing the sunshine. He remember seeing the sunrise. And he looks at her. And he sees her.

Jannes (as Rake):
“I see you. I… I don't know why. But I see you. And you've seen me. And I can tell you, that sometimes… Sometimes it's easier not being seen. Because when someone sees you, and sees you completely, there is nowhere to hide. You are special, and I would do anything to protect you. Even if that means sending you away. This map… This map has brought us to Tayo for a reason. The only person that I have ever known who has loved me was my father. So I'm not very well versed in what love is. But I know I feel the same way about you.”

Jannes:
And I think he would take the hand that she's not holding, and cover, and cover her face with his, with it.

Jannes (as Rake):
“You are real. And this is real.”

Jannes:
And you see that he looks at you, and his eyes glanced down at your lips. And you see he's looking for… some sort of consent, or permission.

Gina:
I think Ever is… I'm feeling the divinity coursing through her, as her hand is still on this knife, as his hand is on her face. She just keeps thinking. Which she hasn't said out loud because she doesn't want to hurt him. She doesn't even know if she believes it, but it feels so true. How could anyone love her if she's so broken? After she's killed three people? After she's here to kill… The one goddess who dedicates his life to… How could he ever love her after that? And she feels this pull toward Rake, and he knows her. They are two halves of the same pain. I let go of the knife. I look at you. I start to lean towards you in the light. I stop, stop myself.

Gina (as Ever):
“I… I can’t…. I’m sorry…”

Gina:
I bring my hand that was on the knife, to cover yours on my face.

Gina (as Ever):
“I can't. I don't think I… I don't think I can.”

Jannes:
He would close the distance, and he would lean his forehead onto Ever’s. And he would just stand there for a moment. Feeling the contact between the two of them. It’s the closest thing he's had to a genuine hug in a very long time. And he would say,

Jannes (as Rake):
“Let's get you home.”

Jannes:
And I think… in his mind, when he's got his forehead pressed to hers, and his eyes are closed. He has… He burns that feeling into his memory. And I think later on when he would… Think back to it, the visual that he would have in his mind is that of their foreheads pressed together, his wings, encircling the both of them, with dark, inky blackness and her glowing like the rising sun from within. And in that moment he knows. He has many commitments. He has many obligations, but he would do anything to protect her.

Jannes (as Rake):
“I think we've kept him waiting long enough.”

Gina:
I wrap my arms around him. And I hug him. Tightly.

Jannes (as Rake):
“Your singer is a very, very lucky man.”

Gina:
After a moment I pull back.

Gina (as Ever):
“You're coming with me, right? In there?”

Jannes (as Rake):
“Of course.”

Gina:
And I take his hand, and we walk in.

Em:
You make it to the top floor, ascending up the stairs hand in hand, and you come to the middle apartment on the fifth floor. There's a window at the end of this hallway, letting in some of the hazy afternoon sun. It's warm up here. And as you walk towards the door, the map shows, as it zooms in once more on this floor specifically, you see in front of you on the map is likely a two room apartment. There's a large room, seems to be a, probably a living, like a living quarters of some description, and then a smaller room. And you see Tayo is in the smaller room, adjacent. Do you knock?

Jannes:
I think I would look to Ever.

Jannes (as Rake):
“Are you ready?”

Gina:
I squeeze his hand.

Jannes:
And I have a question.

Em:
Always.

Jannes:
You know, and our lovely audience knows that I might have ulterior plans for while visiting Tayo.

Em:
Mmhmm. Mmhmm.

Jannes:
But, with what I experienced with Ever's overkill on that wield to power, do I feel certain enough in the knife's ability wielded by her, that it would be redundant to test it further?

Em:
Gina, can you take your headphones off, please? You get the sense that the knife will work in her hands, but you don't know further about the machinations that the Matron has set in place, whether you have to be the one wielding the blade. It was the knife that branded you.

Jannes:
So it would be advantageous to check whether it would work for me.

Em:
The reason that your mother wanted you to find her in the first place, was she had enough vengeance in her, that she had enough vengeance in her heart, that if she wielded the knife, it would still be able to be guided by the Matron's hand. You don't know what will happen if she kills a god with that knife. The main reason that your mother wanted you to test it, was because if it killed the person using that knife, if it killed you, all would be for naught. All of this planning, all of this work would have been for nothing.

Jannes:
And one last question.

Em:
Always.

Jannes:
It is not possible for a mortal to injure a god, right? So if I was to deduce that if I could cut or even prick to make bleed, that that would be proof enough that the knife works? Or do I actually need to… Kill a god?

Em:
You haven't been given that sort of information. You don't know. This is new territory. Your mother's trying to make a Godkiller. She wants you to be her Godkiller. And she has roped Ever into it. You know that a mortal cannot hurt a god. But you know the power that you have as a godling. And you have felt the power in her hands when she carries that knife. And there is a thrum of power to her without the knife.

Jannes:
I saw it that day on the steps.

Em:
You did. You clocked it right away. You know what divinity looks like.

Jannes:
All right. And I knock.

[BANG BANG BANG]

[Light & Dark: Series Theme by Sean McRoberts]
Em:
Godkiller: Balance is performed by Em Carlson, Gina Susanna & Jannes Wessels. This season’s dramaturge is Tim Carlson. Special thanks to our campaign artist, Mischi, who you can find @Mischiart on twitter! Our main theme for this episode, Light & Dark, was composed by Sean McRoberts. Character and location leitmotifs composed by Si Rutherford of Sounds of Adventure. Music and effects by Epidemic Sound. Cartography for this series by Chaim Holtjer of Chaim’s Cartography. For more stories, come follow us everywhere at @blackwaterdnd, and make sure to check out our Main Campaign on Monday nights at 8pm PST at twitch.tv/blackwaterdnd. To play your own campaign of Godkiller and dive into your own divinity, go support Godkiller by purchasing the ashcan on itch.io today, with the print version published soon by Evil Hat Productions. This show is made possible by our sponsors who graciously support us playing pretend and having feelings about it. We are grateful to be sponsored by Heroforge, who offer fully customizable miniatures made with their online 3D character creator! Head on over and design your own Godkiller, and get them printed in a variety of materials, including colour printing options! With new content added each week, check out www.heroforge.com to start bringing your character to life! This show is also proudly sponsored by Moonbeam, a better and safer way to stream! Dive into Realms for vibrant community hubs where creators keep 100% of what they earn while protected by Pyxis, a revolutionary moderation tool that learns and adapts to your boundaries. So check them out and join Moonbeam today! Finally, we’re thankful for our Patrons for joining us on our second journey through the Cradle. You too can come join us on Patreon, where you can check out behind the scenes info, our talkback show Chatwater, as well as exclusive Godkiller bonus content and so much more. Head on over to patreon.com/blackwaterdnd for all the info. See you next time, heretics, and to all the gods out there, be safe!