RQ Network Feed Drop – Planet Arcana: Episode 1 – Welcome to Riskotheque
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There is a place beyond the world that should not exist. A place where nightmares and reality are one and the same. Sometimes people fall through the cracks. This is their story. Magnus Live. The Hilltop. A nightmare you'll never remember. A show you'll never forget.

Hi, Lowri here, voice of Celia, and I'm here to tell you about Magnus Live! The Hilltop, a new dramatic ensemble production from the creators of the internationally acclaimed Magnus Archives. After phenomenal demand sold out our October 30th 2025 date at London's 700-seat Clapham Grand in minutes, we are excited to announce a third and

Final date for the first performances of Magnus Live! The Hilltop on November 5th, 2025. Written by Jonathan Sims and Alexander J. Newell and directed by Alexander J. Newell, Magnus Live! The Hilltop brings surreal cosmic horrors to life in front of a terrified audience.

Featuring iconic Magnus characters alongside new original work, this spine-chilling masterclass of atmosphere, illusion and suspense explores the warped depths that lurk between the pages of one of the most popular horror stories in the world. Whether you're a terrific fan or just a fan of terror, we guarantee that this will haunt your dreams for years to come.

Head to rustyquill.com forward slash event forward slash the dash hilltop or www.aegpresents.co.uk forward slash event forward slash magnus dash live to grab tickets now. Hi everyone, it's Lowri here. Today we are bringing you the first episode from one of the brilliant podcasts that has launched on the RQ 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 RiscoTech 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.planetarcana.com for more information. Enjoy the episode. ♪

Good evening, and thank you for tuning into our broadcast as we enter the summer of Fool 182. I'm your host, Sholda Paz. 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 Fool 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 Rae is set to begin her grand tour, starting from the Crownlands to the Good on Wilds, the Coldbreaks, the Thoroughlush, 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 Ray'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 creation points are seen as well 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 and advisor, Troponio 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 this spin closely, as many believe it sets the tone for the entire 22-year cycle. As for this broadcaster, I'll be there live and up close, reporting from the top of Risco Tech Tower. See it here first, folks. See it here first, in Troponia 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. Specters 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 cugs come to showcase their technological wonders and to woo wealthy investors. The diplos come to provide an illusion of order. And the analogs, well...

They say every analog runaway ends up in Trobo-Neovega. 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 Vegas 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 Risco Tech Casino, but you can hear the birds.

You find yourself in a Risco Tech suite. The room you've been put up in is almost unbearably swank, as all top floor Risco Tech 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.

do you think of the three of you arrived first in the room? I feel like I feel like Crater is pretty punctual. Yeah, I don't feel like I'm very punctual. Celestine wouldn't be going anywhere around here first, not without Crater. Well, Crater, as you enter the room, what do we see? So what you see is a seven foot six 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. If I were to lick my finger and put it on a crater, would it make a like... It would do that, and then you'd have an annoying blister on your finger for like two months afterwards. Golly. Spicy.

Okay. So you arrive and you check out the room. It is, it's maybe you're arriving after going out briefly. Um, it is the night of the event. Um, so maybe you were in here before 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. Holy shit. This is swanky bud. Great. That's perfect. Uh,

We got it. We got it. As you say that, who wants to go next? If Celestine arrives a little after Crater, I definitely think that he arrives with the assistance of some hotel staff because he's definitely gotten lost. Yeah.

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 really do appreciate you taking the time to help me here today. And, you know, I feel mighty embarrassed if I'm honest. You know, I've been here before and then, well, 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. Exactly how much? I'm sorry. All I've got on me here is about 15 gold. But 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. Most generous of you, sir. 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. It's still comfy. 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, seven foot six, 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, but

and he's only about 5'6", makes him tall for a Gears android, but significantly shorter than Crater and most other people. His joints move smoothly, 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 mall. 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 strapped to his back, he typically would carry around a rusted old machete from the farm and a surprisingly like fancy looking shiny chrome hubcap. 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. Yeah, y'all are have been given temporary platinum patron status, so you can have your weapons on you. All right. Well, that's Celestine. I think he sits down and tries to get himself as comfortable as he can in this too soft kind of room.

and just goes to Crater, like, Crater, I...

As I said, 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 probably wouldn't be alive without you. I owe you everything. Nobody's been kind to me like you have since I left my own 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, you know, some things that I'm not aware of because of the trouble with my thinker. But your your thinker is just fine, man. 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? 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? 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... I didn't say that, 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. Yeah. No, and like, I don't know. I'm pretty sure there's insurance and this kind of thing, you know? Insurance, right. Yeah. Right. Insurance. Okay. Yeah. No, you know what, Crater? I plumb forgot about the insurance and I feel a lot better now that you've reminded me. Thank you very much. I think as you're sort of having this conversation, our last character walks down the hall and then enters the room. 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. And then she ignores them all and walks right into the room. LAUGHTER

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 dress

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

That's badass. Yeah. Yeah. I was going to say, it's not only your mind that she is unbelievably hot. Yeah.

I will just clarify that this is your, it's like your sleeping quarters at Briscoe Tag. So there aren't other people in here. It's just the three of you. Yeah, so that was just a show for Celestine and I, pretty much. Yeah, totally. That was quite the show. How's it going, lover boys? Oh, you know, hanging loose. It's good to see you again. Thanks for showing up on time. As Critter looks down at his wrist. Sorry. Sorry.

celestine immediately stands up the moment she enters the room on his feet hat off the gentleman who's this one ma'am my name is uh celestine wanderoff i expect you are riot crater has told me a a great deal about you and uh i

I just want to say it is a, it is an absolute pleasure to make your acquaintance and that, uh, any friend of craters is a friend of mine. So I'm at your service. 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. It has been a while. Has it not?

I haven't really known this young 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? He's got a great face. I feel good about this. I have no intention of betraying you with my face or any other part of my body.

That's the attitude, son. I think Celestine sits up a little straighter when Crater calls him son. Riot, do we have a timetable we need to be following for tonight? 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? I mean, I'm sure it'd be useful information for sure. 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 Risk Attack with it, and we'll be taking it to Demands Jr. in Aquacatch 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. Sorry, forgive me. This is my first time really at a big event here in Triple Neo Vega. What exactly is the spinning of the Wheel of Fortune? That's a good question. DMs.

So the spinning of the wheel of fortune is basically, it's just a symbolic gesture at the top of every year. It's done at like 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 like harvest and things like that. However, at the beginning of the cycle, which is where you are now, you're in the Fool year, this spin also is thought to dictate how the whole cycle is going to go. So it's an especially clutch spin this year. Why don't you make a history check for us? First roll. Yeah, anybody who wants to. First roll of the campaign.

History is not my strong suit. Natural one. Are you kidding? Wow. You're kidding. Your first roll. The first roll. The first roll of the campaign is a natural one.

Pro boating. I got a 19, so that's better. That is significantly better. So Riot, 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, big party vibes in the last cycle. And all of these spins could very much be attributed to like science, like, you know, good harvest happen. People go into war, people party a lot, you know, it's almost like a superstition.

With a lot of coincidences. Amazing. So everybody will be there watching that. Yeah, there's going to be like a sort of a there's going to be like a watch party and then it's also broadcast like over PIP. 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 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 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. That should be no problem. The chamber containing the main item is much more precarious. Laser force fields, the whole 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. A dog? Yes. What, may I ask, is so valuable about this statue of this little dog? Like, is it like a really cute dog? I mean, if it's a really cute dog, then I'm going to have trouble giving it up. 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...

So I guess we should take this moment to steel ourselves because our moment's coming up pretty quick.

Speaking of your vehicle, you all notice that there is a small wrapped box with like a little piece of twine on it in the center table of this room. I'm assuming this present is for one of us, eh? I think you should open it. Be my guest. Ryan, how about you do the honors? You're the one who got us into this situation. 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. You open it up.

And you find enclosed three earpieces. Oh, dope. 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? Like a valet? 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. Drop Silver. It's sort of a variant of Quicksilver, which is 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. Sick. Oh, sweet. Okay, cool. Just in case.

And like Quicksilver, it is applied by, it's like a sticker and you put it on your body. Amazing, amazing, 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. You better make sure you go easy on that stuff, bud. Like, we do have a big night. Ms. Riot said we were meant to steal ourselves for what's to come, so that is what I intend to do. Atta boy. Would y'all like some?

Well, that's crickets. Sounds like more for me. While we're all talking here, Crater, I must admit that what Miss Riot has just described is 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 makes some sense to me, but...

the rest of this, this is, this is terribly complex. 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 a riot to go up and steal a key card and like fancy her way through some, 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 greater. If you're confident, then of course, naturally I trust you. Uh,

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. We could always use a little extra muscle. So, come along, you'll learn some things. Muscle? Sure. Muscle. Absolutely.

Absolutely, ma'am. Muscle. So how long do we have until the wheel happens, the spinning? It's like maybe like 4 p.m.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 else.

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 specter preacher. This information has been given to you as two people who are, have histories of like 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, like that sort of thing.

I feel like our first move is getting that key card. Are we expecting the MC who's wearing this fop to be like already in action by the time we get downstairs? Or do you think we should hit him before he gets up on stage and is visible to everybody? I think probably before. I think he'll be milling around. I've seen him before. Crater, when you say hit him, are we...

Are you gonna hit him? Hit him? Because I've seen you hit people and it's, well, it's dramatic. Yeah, no, no, no. Like, no, no, no. 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 Bizkit used to say, like, I'm not scared to break shit. Yeah.

Bless you. Celestine sort of under his breath is just like, Limp Bizkit. Limp Bizkit. Interesting. Limp Bizkit. All right. This philosopher Limp Bizkit is very interesting. Is there a place that I can find one of his books? I'm sure there's an HMV somewhere in town here. Celestine looks more confused, but like in a way that's like, other people know a lot of things that I don't. Celestine, roll a d20 for me. Don't add anything to it.

That's a six. Okay. So if it were an 11 or higher, Sir Limp Bizkit would have been in attendance at this party. But unfortunately, he couldn't make it for this event. He's busy. Well, that is a shame. I will have to make my way back to Tropo New York Vega to bend the ear of Mr. Bizkit at some point. He's got HMVs to run. Okay.

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. No problem. Potentially, we could cause a distraction if need be, but you seem like you're pretty good with your hands. It won't be an issue. I love the confidence, kid.

Do we have access to a map by chance? 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. So we head to the casino floor. We have these chips. We might as well use them. Well, I mean, I suppose...

If y'all are willing to show me how to play what they play here. No problem. I feel like you're going to get a kick out of this. Yeah. 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 on black and just see what happens. All on black. Interesting. Interesting. Sir, this is poker. Exactly. Exactly. Exactly.

Either of you have any fancy ideas about dealing with this, what did you call the pentadrone in this hallway? That's going to probably give us some trouble. Well, I do have one major thought and I am kind of like, I'm

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. So this is my go-to. All my stars. I have never seen the like. All right. I think, I think we're in good hands here then. That is exceptional. Ms. Ryan, you, you continue to surprise and impress. I've known you for all five minutes and I am, you know, 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. So perhaps we take a tour around the casino, get the lay of the land, as it were, and, I don't know, see what our exits look like. Y'all seem to have this well in hand without me, but if you need some sort of lookout or whatnot, I'm, of course, at your disposal. I feel like there might be some interesting folks to meet down there as well. Salistine, if you want to be learning this lifestyle, I'm glad to take you on a real wing here. This is a big first job, but...

We'll get your feet wet. 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, but you should never open those packages. And I never have.

And I never will. Well, should we have at her then there, Phyllis? Follow your lead, Ms. Riot. Yeah, let's do it. Beautiful. I'm going to pop my earpiece in, too. Oh, yeah, let's do that first. Yeah, Celestine puts his earpiece in and his rolled joint behind his ear, and we'll save it for later. The earpieces are, once they get put in your ear, and they...

they work in androids just you don't have to worry about it i'm assuming there's an ear hole on the side of my head that's fine yeah in any case once you put them in they become nearly invisible perfect you can tell that once you move up to big distances you'll be able to hear each other and communicate um even when you're far away all right let's oceans 11 this bitch let's go downstairs

Y'all exit your suite and make your way to the elevator, which is a clear 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 piece is moving constantly as they hurdle guests from one end of Risco Tech to another. But this is but one of Risco Tech'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. To Risco Tech.

Welcome to your big win. Our accepted currencies and daily exchange rates are available at the guest services kiosk. Today's lucky numbers are 11, 47, the first seven digits of unless registered in our platinum patrons program. Please leave your weapons with the master of arms. Welcome to Risco Tech. We are not liable. Risco Tech. We have no limit.

Play to win it. Welcome to Risco Tech. 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. Deco drones 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 emcee, 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. So would you say that we could assume that most of these people are royals?

too or is this like common folk at this event as well? 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. I think Celestine is just like just 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 want to take a take a walk around here see if we see anybody of note yeah are you looking for anything in particular i think we're looking for mc first off yeah and then like in our in our docket for this keeping an eye out for those two people that we said were of importance why doesn't everybody give me a perception roll please not a natural one

damn, I'm rolling quite well. I want to play D&D. That's a 23 for Celestine. Shit. 19 for me. Oh my god. That's an 11 for Crater.

Don't you worry, buddy. I got your back. Let's start with you, Celestine. What is it that you're in particular looking for? I don't know that Celestine's got like a thing that he's looking for. I think he's just trying to like take it all in and make some sense of it. 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 like...

way bigger than yours um somehow sitting on top of a human's head although their back is to you but they seem to be like gesticulating somewhat drunkenly from the bar another thing that catches your eye i mean the wheel right like it's it's floating like above the crowd it looks like super majestic that's a majestic wheel up there

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

And she's doing her rounds, she's schmoozing, and her rose gold color 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 big rush of noise and sound, basically. It's loud. Yeah.

This Harley Highstakes, is this someone who's kind of an authoritative figure? Oh, sorry. Yes. Harley Highstakes is the emcee. Oh, okay. Gotcha. Okay. Awesome. Can't you tell from the name? What other job would she have? 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 Harley Highstakes 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 bettor. So everybody keep their eye out for that person and keep an eye as well on Harley High Stakes. Do I know what I'm looking for? What does this analog person look like? Good question. They'll probably not have anything too...

you know, geary or fancy on. With your 20 whatever perception from earlier, you realize that when you saw the cowboy hat person, you also heard them yell out like, Yeah!

So we had nailed it on our first try and we're just standing here twiddling our thumbs. I feel like Celestine, you might have a bit of a connection here. If you think so, 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 Crater. And I just saunter right off to the bar. I think as Celestine walks off, I might just turn to Riot real quick. God, he's such a sweet little boy, eh? He's a gentle bot. You know, I think he's so green-ish.

But I think it's a good gamble. I think he's, you know, he's going to be good. 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. Right. Because he's so naive. I think probably the less he knows, probably for the better for everybody. Absolutely. I mean, I'm fine to just keep it between you and me if that's okay with you. I think it's the best plan of action for now. Yeah. All right.

No problem. Lips are sealed. So for now, I'm going to keep an eye on Harley High Stakes. I'm just going to do a little bit of a mill, but keep me updated in the earpiece. For sure. 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. Okay, so Riot, you're going to sort of like low-key tail Harley. Crater, you're doing like a sweep of the room trying to sort of get a read on security. And Celestine's going over to chat with Cowboy Hat. That's right. 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. Pardon me, sir, but that is an extremely large hat. I'm quite impressed. Where did you get a hat like that? Turns around really slowly and then spits on the ground, like right in front of you. It's some hat you got there. Well, I thank you. It was a gift. It was a gift from my ma. So, uh,

Just two hat lovers here, huh? 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 much to talk about. So I figured I'd come on over and introduce myself, Celestine Wanderoff. How do you do? Name's Yeehaw McGraw.

Now that, that is a name I will not soon forget. Spits on the ground again. Mr. McGraw, do you have some sort of malfunction with your salivary glands? You seem to be spitting on the floor of this place. 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 get what I'm putting down. I feel like I do. I've had a few beverages since I've landed myself in Troponio Vega, and none of them quite have the same earthiness, that same dirty bite, I should say, of Ma and Paul's moonshine. So I feel like I do understand your predicament. Make a persuasion check with advantage.

14. 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? Oh, well, I mean, I'm not from around here. I haven't been in Troponnia Vega very long. I

I was staying with my mom and Paul in the, you know, little farm out in a 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. Now you say you're from the Good on Wilds. Well, that is where I was when I before I came here. Yes. Mm hmm.

He, like, looks up and down, kind of clocks that you're a Gears android. Interesting. And, uh, well, what have you come here to find? 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. Oh.

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. Well, sir, that is mighty kind of you here. Let me, allow me to reimburse you for your kindness. And I take one of my chips and give it to him. I'm sad.

This is... I think it's worth a bit more... You know what? Never mind. So your ma and pa, did they give you this whatever you came with to find yourself? Give me... I'm sorry. Give me what? Well, you got some chips there. Obviously, you came with something. 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. Well...

I must say it was just a delight speaking with you. Maybe we'll see each other at a table, play a game. Oh, uh, okay. All right. I, I'm getting the sense that this conversation is over for you. And, uh, I,

I respect that. And before it becomes awkward, I will take my leave. He doesn't say anything more, but he just does turn back to the bar. Celestine tips his hat to him, even though he's not looking at him and then wanders away. Just hands in his pockets, just wanders away looking at stuff. 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 as her expression like cycles through

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 stuff and taking care of the guests. Okay. I tap on my, or I get my earpiece going. Uh,

I feel like the time might be right to move sooner rather than later. How does everybody feel about that? The only thing that we really need to be worried about is if she notices that the card's missing. So we have to move fast. 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. 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 we bet it all on black? I mean, why not? Celestine, I saw that you made a friend over there, too. So why don't we bring him involved, maybe try and get some of his money? 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.

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? It's not unkind if it's true. So is there a table somewhat close to where he was sitting? He was at a bar, 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. I was more asking that to see if there's one in earshot of him. Oh, I see. I gotcha. Okay, yeah, I would say that, like, there's definitely a blackjack table with an earshot of Yeehaw. Like, he'd have his back facing it, but... Okay. Well, guys, it looks like there's a table over there that has a few open spots. Why don't we just...

meet up over there. Sounds good to me. 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 do I do with all of these? Where do I put them?

And I think 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 going to do with all of this? Okay. So you're making a huge noise of like 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? Yeah, please. Table for three seats, two seats. 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? 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, 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 I give the person who stacked my chips a tip. Thank you very much, sir.

Hits it, puts it in the tip chip drip tray. What's the minimum bet here? 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. Oh, damn. I'm in too. I put two down.

I feel like I've been overpaying the staff. All right. So we're going to engage in a game of heads up blackjack. Yeah. Okay. 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 is my specialty. Tonight I'm dealing blackjack. Okay.

And as he says that, he like looks over at 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. Yeah, definitely put my bet in. All right.

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. Nine, seven, eight.

12. 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. I'll put 50. Woo, okay. 50 to call. Celestine definitely looks at Crater and is like, what should I do? Is this good? Do I have a good card? Should I spend the money? Crater, what should I do? You'll be fine. Trust your gut.

I throw it in. Yes, that is a fantastic strategy. I'll call as well. Three calls at $50. And so we're all going to roll another d12, everybody. Second card.

Six. Five. It's a one. Okay, so a one in this case is an ace or an 11. So one or 11. It's totally up to you. It's actually a really excellent card to get. Boy, Baccarat is just like, uh, 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? I guess...

25? A minimum bet from the lady. 25 to call to you. Any points, Mr. Celestine? I just immediately look at Crater. I nod. Throw it in. To you, sir. 500.

okay so you're going all in you don't have 500 left because 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 like really turn around and start to like watch the hand and maybe even like walk up a little bit behind y'all yeah yeah the yeehaw of awe this game is so fun i have no idea what i'm doing we have an all-in bet of 500 uh madam do you call no

All right. Madam is folding the 15. An excellent call, madam. And you, sir? Well, I mean, I've never played this game before, but I've 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 as Pa says, when you're beat, just try.

chuck in the cards and cry. And so I think I will do that. The philosophizing was very welcome, sir. Thank you. Excellent hand. And the pot goes to you, sir, 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. Oh, wow. This game is fun. We should keep playing this.

Is Yeehaw looking like he wants to join at any point? He moved closer and he's standing behind the table. It almost looks like he's like waiting for you guys to like finish up your hand. And a very exciting hand. Shall we play another, my friends? I'm in. Yeah, I'm in if you're in, Butts. This is fun. Let's, uh, sure, of course. Well, this looks like the most fun that I've seen in this entire party. So, uh, I think I'll be joining as well. Well, it is mighty nice to see you again, Yeehaw. And yourself.

Are you addressing me?

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. Can I roll some sort of insight check to see what the deal is between the dealer and Yeehaw? Yeah, roll me an insight. It's a nine. Even with a nine, you recognize the look of a service industry employee who's just not excited to see an overzealous patron. All right. Why don't you just settle down and deal them cards? Yes, that is...

That is what I am being paid to do. Thank you, sir. Mr. Yeehaw, they're just doing a job. There's no need for that kind of attitude. We're all here to have some fun. You know, let's play some cards. And I assume that you're the caretaker of this young gentleman? Oh, is that what he called me? Oh, that's selling it short. This is a very good friend of mine. Mr. Yeehaw, this is the friend I was telling you about. This is Craig. Yes, yes. He is...

Yes, yes. He's looking out for me. Yes, that is my real name. Yes. Thank you, Celestine. Yes. Yeah, no, of course. Of course it is. Why? I wouldn't. I don't understand. Oh, of course. Yes, we all don't understand, says Boy Baccarat and lays down the first card. So we're all putting in 25 more? Yeah, 25 to start.

Four for me. I also got a four. That's an 11, so I guess that's a 10. Yeehaw got a three. Okay, first betting round starts with Riot. 50. Bet of 50. Well, I mean, this 10 here is better than my seven was the last time, and I

I paid 50 for that. So I think by that logic, I should pay 50 for this. And so I shall. All right. Mini cowboy has called crater, which is your name? Mini cowboy. You are the biggest cowboy to me, but, um, uh, yeah, I'll call it 50. And Mr. McGraw. Well, uh, I know that you feel a little uncomfortable when I get excited, so I'm just going to keep it at 50 for now. Yes. I, I wouldn't say uncomfortable, sir, but I do appreciate it. Uh,

And then we're going to deal the second cards. Everybody's called for 50. Everybody roll another d12. Four for Celestine. Eight for Riot. That's a six for Crater. And Yeehaw got a six as well. Okay. Riot's at 12. Celestine's at 14. Crater's at 10. And Yeehaw's at nine. All right. Betting round starts with Riot. Call 50. 50.

50 bucks in a pot. I mean, we're all having fun here. I don't want to spoil the party. Here we go, 50. Yes, that is how gambling works. We have another call. I'll do 50 as well. Creator, I think the fella dealing the cards is making fun of me. Is that true? Yeah, that's kind of standard around here too. As long as it's acceptable. I wouldn't want to feel out of place, but if everyone's being made fun of, then I suppose that's all right. Nobody is being made fun of, and he looks very swaddly over at Harley. Yeah.

Uh, before, before looking at Yeehaw. 200. And we have a raise to 200. Thank you, Mr. McGraw. Uh, Riot, would you like to put another 150 in the pot? Yeah, why not? I like lean over the table alluringly at Yeehaw. He, uh, looks at you with thirst. Oh, that's terrible. That is a, that is a terrible thing to say. I'm sorry. Um,

So seeing Riot's display there, I think Celestine gets nervous and spills the drink that Yeehaw had bought him all over the table. Just gets all flustered by Riot and knocks over his drink onto the chips into the cards. I am so very sorry. I suppose I'm out for this one. I do apologize. Okay, good.

mini cowboy has folded and he like gestures for a deco drone to come over and the deco drone like 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 so much

Crater, you gonna call that 150? I'm gonna give Yeehaw like an up and down look. All right, buds. You wanna play big? It's the only way. I will raise it $25. Yeah.

Crater, are you sure? That is a bold move, Crater. So Yeehaw has put in 150 more. Crater has raised it. Yeehaw, would you like to commit 25 more? I mean, yeah, I don't... Sure, why not? Okay.

All right. I didn't know if you fall for that. And Riot, 25 more? Sure. Three handed. Very good. And then we're going to all do the 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. I will roll again, I think. Okay. Yeah, I'm going to roll as well.

Ooh, that's a nine. I got a two. Yeehaw rolled an 11. Oh my God. So Yeehaw is sitting at... 20. 20. And betting is on you, Riot. Damn. So I don't really play blackjack. Like...

Where do we go from here? Madam, I would recommend checking, not making any bet at this stage. All right. You could do that if you don't want to be any fun. Mr. McGraw, Mr. McGraw, please. I got this. Don't worry about it. Please. Miss, the name's Yeehaw McGraw. I come here for a little bit of fun and you look like you might need a little infusion. Yeah, I think I need some help. You want...

You want my help? You seem like a guy who knows what he's doing. Madam, may I just point out that Mr. McGraw... Boy, Baccarat, just don't worry about it. I got this. Now, listen, miss. You got yourself no bad hand. You could take another cart if you're feeling dangerous. Maybe I will. Why don't you just slide a little bit of extra money in that pot and make it interesting? I really must step in, Mr. McGraw. Madam, Mr. McGraw is sitting with a 20... Are you challenging the word of this man?

He seems to know. Well, no, no, no, of course not. Yeah, that's right. I'm a man. Oh, God. You know what? Do what you like. I'm going to listen to you. Yeehaw, is it? It is. And, sweetheart, listen, if things go a little sour for you here at this hand, don't worry. I can cover you for the rest of the night. Oh.

Such a gentleman. Okay, I will call 50, I guess. All right, boy, Baccarat is like freaking just like, a bet of 50. Mr. Crater. So, Mr. Baccarat, just so I understand, if I go over 21, I lose, correct? It's one of these kind of games? That is correct. You are not obligated to take another card, but you may call the bet, which...

without taking another card in the next round. What say you, Yeehaw? I will say that Yeehaw is beating you right now. No, I do understand that. Mr. McGraw over there. 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. No, 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.

Make a persuasion check. Celestine is just looking back and forth here like it's a tennis match and this is very complicated. I did not realize that cards could be so serious. That's a 14. 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 convoluted, I'm sorry, I've had a

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

All right, Mr. McGraw. I think you won this round, right? Wouldn't be my money back, please? And I pulled. Yeehaw. Would you like to call 50? I would. Okay, so we're at the rolling for another card part. Miss Riot, would you like another card? I would. Oh, damn it.

I got nine. Oh, it's a Buster Rooney. Buster Roon. Oh, what a pity. And the pot gets pushed to Yeehaw. 1125 for Yeehaw. As it is, Yeehaw has the hand and...

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, yee-haw, 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 specter? Well, I thought that you were never going to quit talking to that other table. Were you lecturing them? Well, yes. I mean, of course they were asking me questions about, you know, my purpose, my journey and

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 at the table. Were they asking you or did you just hear someone say that in your ear? 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 do we have here? Celestine Wanderoth, pleased to meet you. And I just reach out my hand. 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? Do I hear what? Never mind. Never mind.

And then he takes a seat next to you. He says, well, I believe I will join the next hand. You're getting here just in time for some fun. Yes, it was very nice to meet you. This is Celestine. And you good, sir? This is my friend Crater Wayne. It's Crater. Hi. Yes. Nice to meet you, sir. I am most enchanted by you, Mr. Crater. And the lady down at the end. Hello. Hi, I'm Riot. And you? Well, I'm surprised that none of you recognize me. And he just sort of waits.

Do we recognize him? Everybody roll a history check. Okay.

13. 12. 13. Okay, I would say that everybody vaguely recognizes this voice from over the pip. This is Uncle Edict, who is a specter preacher, basically. Unky. Sorry. What is pip exactly? Ah, yes. He sets up for the podcast? 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. 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?

It plays at the same time as Maury. Say no more. I know exactly what you mean. I take my hat off. Oh, my stars. I am so sorry, Uncle Enic, that I did not recognize you immediately. I now recognize you from all the programs that Ma and 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. 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, yee-haw. You're beefing up his whole head there, if you're picking up what I'm putting down. Well, beef is the most wholesome food, sir, and I accept your compliment. And boy, Baccarat's like, shall we play a game of blackjack?

Friends. Let's do it, folks. Hell yeah. 25 in, everybody. Yeah, 25 if you're feeling boring, but I think we ought to make this one interesting. Would you say 200? What else you got? I've got some mighty fine weed, if you like. If that's your flavor. Uncle Edith turns to you, Celestine, and is like, you say you brought some weed with you? Well, yes, of course. Yeah, I mean, mom, pa, dad.

grow the greatest cannabis in the fifth collide. I'm going to put a hand on Celestine's shoulder and then just like shake my head. Oh, uh, I have no weed. I apologize. Well, that is a real shame because it has been exceptionally hard to, uh, sneak in libations this year. Not that I have ever done so, but I did notice that, uh, uh, many a fewer people seem to be carrying as the kids call it. Yeah. So, uh, really hoping you got something interesting here because well,

I mean, I also heard that it was hard to get some stuff in, but, uh, well, some of us just find a way, I suppose. We do, don't we? Pointed look at Yeehaw. And boy, Baccarat is like, very good, very good. Yes, uh, here we go. And deals the first cards. Everybody, oh, sorry, no shit, we didn't do the first betting round. So we're all...

Oh boy, you are rusty. I mean, to be fair, this is not how actual blackjack works. It's true. But we're meant to have a full betting round before we ever see a card. Is that the thing? It's not just a straight up Annie? Yeah, everyone has to put at 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. 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. Okay.

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. Ten. Three. I got a 12, which I think is a ten. Seven for Yeehaw. Edict got a five, which is a very good place to start for any hand. Betting round is on you, Riot. I'll raise it a hundred. It's a hundred to call. Well, I mean, I suppose...

I can only go up from here, so sure, here's my hundred. That's an easy call. Now, let's talk for a minute. So, uh, miss. Sorry, did I get your name? I'm not sure. I don't know that you did. It's Riot. I thought so. I thought I recognized you from the pit machine. So, you know me. 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, but... This isn't THE riot, is it? Surely not. Surely not. Why don't you take another look there, Edic? Edic, like, turns a dial on the side of his eyes that focuses his eyes. He's like, oh my goodness. Now...

I could put in another hundred chips and just play the game as Mr. Boy Baccarat would have us do, but I think... I would just absolutely love that if we could just do that. I mean, Riot, surely you're here for a little more, right? You could say that. What did you have in mind? Well, actually, I'm interested in what you had in mind.

He reaches into a similar, like 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? 13. Plus zero, that's a 17. 15. 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. Creator's eyes turn green when he sees this item up on the table. Oh my god. Okay.

Interesting, interesting, interesting. That is a fine piece of equipment you have. What are you looking for exactly for me in return? What do you got? I think you've heard what I got. I don't know if I can put it on the table. What am I missing? I feel like I am out of the loop on this, my friends. I don't... What...

What is everyone talking about? I just want to remind everybody that I am only liable and responsible for the chips on the table. Anything happening outside of that, Risco Tech is not liable. 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 just nods as though he understands. Well, if I am not mistaken, betting round 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 like... Yeehaw! Now we're talking. Yeah, could have used one of these last month, couldn't you? Haha.

And anybody who wants to roll another history check for me can do so. I got six. Oh, that's a nat 20. Oh, shit. So these tokens are passage tokens, right? They allow passage like into and out of things.

sort of like restricted zones. Are they are they hard to come by? Are they expensive? Like what what what would I know about these tokens? 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. These are also like specter made tokens, like they're four specters.

Yeah, and I think with a nat 20, you would also understand that a restricted zone currently is Troponio Vega with how big of an event there is going on right now. Okay, so a person...

would need one of these tokens to easily get out of Troponia Vega right now. Well, one could assume that with an at 20. It would make it a little easier. Okay. That is a surprising cache of coins that you've got there. I'm shocked that you just carry that around. Well, I don't know why you would be shocked if you know who I am. I think you'll find plenty of things shock me. 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 do better the world. Does anybody else hear that? Does anybody hear that? Anyway, never mind. Yes, this is my contribution. And with that, we're going to take our second guards. Things are already spicy. All right.

Four. Celestine got an 11, so 10 more for Celestine. I rolled a one. Oh my god! Crater just hit a blackjack. Freaking Edict's like, oh my goodness, you're joking me. Sorry, is that good? Did I win? Oh, is that good? Did you win? Edict...

Got a 10, so he's at 15. Yeehaw. Yeehaw got a 3, so he's at 10. Now, normally in normal blackjack rules, 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. Gotta try. All right, so betting round. We got Riot 14, Celestine 13, Crater with a blackjack.

yeehaw with a 10 and edict with a 15 and round is on riot i'm gonna put in everything all my chips all in and let's pretend that we count it and we know exactly how much it is well i must confess i find this game incredibly confusing uh but if i do understand the math correctly it seems that crater has the winning hand so i will sit this one out

Celestine is folded. Crater, Riot's all in with a 14, would you like to call? I am all in as well. Crater's all in. Mr. Yeehaw. Well, that is very interesting. And I am... Well, surely you're not going to back out of this hand now. You're sitting with a 10. I thought you were the ballsiest gambler this side of the jaggedy jacks. Oh!

Uncle Edict, that is some colorful language that I did not expect to hear from you. I have the balls that need, that are, I have the biggest balls on this side of the Jaggedy Jacks. You are correct, Edict. I'm just trying to figure out what an appropriate addition to this table is. You can see that boy Baccarat is just sort of like looking across the room at MC Harley High Stakes, just like shaking his head and like lifting his hands, like, like mouthing, like, I don't know. I don't know. Well, if it's chips you're after, then no problem. I can match you. Unless.

Unless you got anything else that's interesting. Well, I'm afraid I put my most interesting items into the pot already. Money is going in. Fine. Whatever. 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. I'm going to go with another card. Okay.

Three. Okay, you're sitting at a 17. And I'm gonna pull an ace from this here dick. I pulled two aces in the form of an 11, so... Well, Crater's sitting at 20. This is getting sweaty. We're all in, so we're just right back around to Riot. Fuck it.

And I got an eight, so. All right. A valiant effort for Riot to hit that 21. Yeehaw, there is one card that will save you, my friend. I'm going to pull an ace from the stick. Whoops. Dropped an ace on the floor. Let me try again right into my dash box. That's on top of my dash. I rolled a nine. And shit. What a shame. Oh my god, I did roll a one on the floor. Oh!

I'm sorry, Mr. McGraw, but floor cards do not count as we discussed last year. Oh, damn it, boy, Baccarat. You gotta give me one one of 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.

Yeah, I did. It's 400 plus all the all-ins. So you'll have, let's just call it... 1900. 1900. 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 we? I mean, we don't need to take anything. We just want it all. Are you saying that out loud? Like very quietly. Make a stealth check. Yeah.

well i'm i'm helping because my i put like my arm up on the table to like shield our conversation a little bit sure make a stealth check with advantage i do appreciate the advantage there it was a five and now it's a dirty 20 okay we are looking pretty rich at the moment but i don't think it's really enough to really jump ship i think what we have waiting for us probably a little bit more money than what's currently in our hands more money oh my stars well uh

I mean, all right. Well, if you say so, Crater. You know best. I'm with you, buddy. All right. And I clap my hands and I disrupt the huddle and I'm back at attention to the table. 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 there.

So marvelous to see all these familiar faces here at Erisco Tech Casino. I hope you've all been enjoying yourselves this evening and not getting into too much trouble. But if I may... Sorry, that was amazing.

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. Well, folks, I think that's our cue to leave. Slash go talk to Harley Highstakes before she gets up on stage. But I think I can do it pretty quickly. Or, you know, just maybe get up and go for a washroom break. That's right. Right.

Right? I don't know. This is all very exciting. Okay, gentlemen, it was a pleasure to meet you. Hopefully we'll see you around town sometime soon. As you turn around, you notice that Uncle Edict is already gone. Oh, okay. It was a pleasure to meet you in person, Uncle Edict. From actually immediately behind you, he's just like,

Well, it was a pleasure to meet you too, my friend. Oh my stars. You just, you just appeared there. My goodness. I was, I was looking in the entire wrong direction. Oh my. Well, I tend to come wherever I am needed. And at that moment I felt I was needed by you. And in fact, my boy. Oh my.

He just, like, gives a look at Crater real quick. He's like, my boy, would you mind, could we have a word privately for one minute? Uh, privately? Well, I mean, I suppose anything you can say to me, you can say in front of my friend Crater here. 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. All right, well, if it's just a quick word, I suppose. As everybody's sort of milling towards the wheel, Uncle Edic 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...

Well, Uncle Edict, I...

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. 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... Can you hear it? Can you hear the... Bum.

Bum, bum, bum. No, I'm afraid I don't hear a bum. Well, surely you must. But 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. Uncle Edict, actually, can I roll an insight check? Hell yeah. Not that Celestine's particularly insightful. That's a 12. He seems to be very certain that the message he is receiving is correct. 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. Uncle Edict, 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...

I bid you a good evening, sir. Do as you will, my son. And he sort of just like stands under the slot machine and watches you go. All right. Celestine is deeply troubled. As you sort of break away from Uncle Edict, everyone else is crowding around the Wheel of Fortune and actually roll me a history check.

Oh, that's a nat 20. That's a nat 20. Another one. 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 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 in

that is pre-oop. So this thing is like ancient and that's sort of like a piece of knowledge that like you recall as you look at the wheel. Okay. Greater, I had a very odd conversation with Uncle Edith there and it seems like he

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 Edith 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 it doesn't feel right 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 a blackjack game and now he's all of a sudden trying to get in on the action I wouldn't pay too much mind to that 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? Hmm.

No, I don't think so. I knew it. Thank you so much, Crater. You made me feel so much better. I'll just put a hand on his shoulder and give him a good nod and then turn to watch Riot. So Riot is making her way towards the MC, yes? That's right. So as you do, a hand reaches out from the crowd and an older human woman who looks to be about midget

mid-80s dark skin tall and very long-legged with long black hair uh she's wearing an elaborate silk red robe that hangs open in layers of drapery revealing a short matching silk negligee oh my well well well they do say that it's not a party unless riot crashes it you know what they say riot

Sweetheart, of course you remember me. Mesmera? Mesmera! So good to see all of you. Likewise. It's okay. It's been several parties since we've last interacted, but I'm just so relieved that you're here. I mean, I was kind of hoping that someone might bring some excitement, and I know what you're known for. 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. Make a deception check. Uh, alright, I got a 19 plus 2, 21. Oh, hell yeah. So, I'm just to understand that you're here to just party? That's right. I'm in the process of incarnating some chaos in the upcoming events to follow. Uh, but tonight...

You know, just riding under the radar, enjoying the events, looking at your beautiful face. Well, I can't say I'm not disappointed, but I guess I'll also tell you that I'm in Troponio 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. That would be...

Unbelievable. I'd be over the moon. Tonight, I do feel like I'm otherwise engaged, but I'm yours next time I have. Is that a promise? You know it is. All right, Riot, roll me a history check. All right.

Uh, 21. Oh, wow. You for sure have been around Mismara. In fact, you know that the hot and heavy family, which Mismara 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. Mera for sure. Amazing. Do I think that she would appreciate like a small libation? Oh, for sure she would. Like, you know, Ms. Mera is down for a good time. Okay, cool. So I like reach down to my like bare skin. That's 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 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. Did I notice that from afar? I'm assuming perception. Yeah, do it. Okay. Ooh, that's pretty good. What's a new character? Don't know my stats off by heart. Minus one. It's a 15. 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.

Noted. Thank you. Okay, so I think I continue on towards the emcee at this point. Assuming I can get to her before she gets on stage. Yeah, are you trying to like be sneaky or are you trying just like running up like, hey, I know she's going to 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 you come up, she's like 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 like flip face is like very focused. And as soon as she sees you, it turns to like the widest smile possible.

And she's like, well, oh my goodness, what a marvelous delight it is to see you here tonight. Harley Highstakes, you look fetching. You know I do pride myself on knowing all the gossip, and yet I had no idea that you were an entrepreneur, Vega. Well, I'm kind of everywhere. That is what they say. Well, you also look marvelous, although it would be...

quite a shock if you didn't. You're too kind. This is an extraordinary event. You really outdone yourself with this one. Oh, thank you. 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 remember something and goes like fucking running back away. And she's just like, like,

Don't worry about that. I 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. The biggest, darling. Well, so good to see you. It's marvellous to see you too. And don't forget, when you post about this on Pip, be sure to give a little shout out to Harley. You know I will.

Can I use a sleight of hand to try to get the card from her as I leave? Yes, you can. All right. Skye, 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. Jesus.

I think as I kind of see Riot starting to, like, say goodbye, I might notice, 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. You're perfect. To try and maybe...

help out with this. This is great. Give me some kind of role for that. Give me like a... Performance. Performance role, yeah. Can I give him the help action? I'll make a scene with him. Sure. You can give the help action to give the help action.

Oh, boy. I rolled double 13s. So it's a 14. Okay. There is a moment where Harley High Stakes gives one of her sharp face expression flips over in your direction. And in that moment, Riot, roll your sleight of hand with advantage. All right. All right. All right.

I got the same each time, which was... Oh, God. 24. Oh! Oh! God, I love Rhodes so much. Man, I was sweating. Just barely do you get the Ski Card. Oh.

Also, as you go to get it, Mesmera kind of like wanders up near Harley and she like 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. Mesmera. Yeah.

Amazing. Okay, well, I'll be like, all right, well, toodaloo, gotta go, won't keep you from the stage. So good to see you. Well, thank you so much for coming to pay us back, darling. And do keep your fingers crossed for your favorite archetype when we spin the wheel. You know I will.

Goodbye, darling. Goodbye, darling. This man up. Amazing. Crater is like over top of this, this waiter. Like, oh my God, but I'm so sorry. Here, here. I'll start like scooping up some glass and putting it back on the tray. Celestine is...

is like trying to help like clean clean the the champagne off of the waiter's uh outfit is just like with his sleeve just like oh we're gonna get that out don't you worry boy bakara has been pulled from the blackjack table after that freaking fiasco and is now serving drinks which you've uh poured all over oh

Oh, Mr. Boy. Oh, I'm so sorry for the trouble here. Here's 750 coins. Gentlemen. Oh, God. Thank you. This will buy me.

many new uniforms do you ever ever feel like you just want to get away you know leave his life behind you find find what's what else is out there past the horizon find a new life for yourself he puts a hand on your shoulder and leans in he's just like take me with you oh yeah he i kind of recoil a little bit

As you all deal with the downed boy bakara and spilled drinks everywhere 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 wheels lever. When she arrives, she raises her hand with a flourish and after a dramatic pause,

pulls the lever down with a practice 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 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. Oh, well, thank...

What a marvellous 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.

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