#Bill Lobley

[chadfallout76podcast]

"Deah Shroud!: A Nick Valentine Mystery" EXPLAINED and AMA

It never occurred to me to do this last year, but a lot of people have asked me questions about our Fallout 4 play in the last year in the Discord, so I wanted to open an AMA but also explain "Death Shroud!" and some of the broader themes involved in it.

**SPOILERS AHEAD**

Part 1: Pre-production

Before I get into the story, I wanted to explain how this production even came about. Over the years after working together on some official community projects with Wes Johnson through Bethesda, we became good friends. I took a couple of his acting classes and he talked about the Fallout For Hope charity initiative I started and asked for help in organizing the gaming community for his Alzheimer's Association fundraiser. The idea was to host a month-long digital event of discussion panels, game shows, improv and a play with as many different voices of video games, film and TV as we could round up. In our second year of his VoiceAPalooza fundraiser, I wanted to do an original old time radio show and see if could bring back as many of the cast that we could from Fallout 4. It was Wes who first suggested an adventure with his Silver Shroud character (that he voiced in Fallout 4's radio plays) teaming up with Nick Valentine (voiced by the amazing Stephen Russell). Valentine is, for me, one of the best written, unique companions in Fallout lore.

So, I reached out to Stephen Russell who had joined us before for charity work and he was all in on bringing Nick Valentine back to life! After that things moved fast with Bethesda's Pete Hines and Emil Pagliarulo joining us to have some fun for a good cause. We tried to get EVERY companion from Fallout 4 that we could, but schedule wrangling is tough, and some people are just impossible to track down or find. Matt Mercer would've loved to have joined us as Macready, but unfortunately scheduling didn't work, so the best we could manage would be a holotape (the only reason our snarky gun running merc had to take the big sleep in the story).

After having everyone plugged in to reprise characters, it was time to put fingers to keys and find the story...

Part 2: The Deep Lore

The origin of this story started with a thought: how would the NPC's and characters we love perceive modification of their universe by us? We, as players aren't the true creators of this universe or these characters (Bethesda is). If anything, we the players are the equivalent of "lesser gods", reshaping it in new ways, unexpected and subjective ways, and sometimes even chaotic ways (I'm looking at you avalanche of adult mods with realistic jiggle physics and Thomas the Tank Engine Vertibird).

It started with a mental image of the small ways in which we start out modding games, or even the first mods we (using the "Engine of Creation) actually create. I had a mental image of Magnolia doing her thing, singing away sultry in a crowded and smoky third rail when she looks one way, back the next and sees new curtains. A subtle thing, something a little startling, but in a universe where recreational drug use is met with a YEEE YEEEE WHEEEE...a change you simply dismiss as being overtired or a little too juiced.

I'm a sucker for old time radio. I grew up listening to classic radio horrors like The Whistler, Suspense, and Lights Out on vinyl records and cassette tapes when I'd spend summers with my grandmother on a little island off the coast of Canada. Getting the tone, feeling and sound to stage an old-time radio show was the easiest part of this whole process...it's baked into my brain lol. The key of course is finding the right narrative voice.

Enter: Bill Lobley. If you play Fallout 76, he is the announcer for the "Tales from the West Virginia Hills" holotapes, but before that he's a prolific voice actor, maybe best known for his role as the truly vile Jeremiah Fink in Bioshock: Infinite. He has a FANTASTIC transatlantic voice for old time radio and was perfect as narrator in the script.

Part 3: What Is Going On?!?!

I had the base idea, the voices to pull it off, but what was the meaning and message of the whole thing? I always start there. From a meta experience level, the story is about dealing with subjective reality that’s being torn apart. After Fallout 4 launched in vanilla, we the players changed that world and reshaped it with mods. The small changes in perceived reality are meant for the omniscient player (us) and are not meant to be perceived by the characters themselves...and yet, what if they were? And if they were...WHY?! The answer was right in front of me: there's a difference between something born into a world and something MADE into a world.

You take someone like Magnolia or Nick, both synths, that obviously weren’t naturally born from two people. They were conceived as an idea...a human idea sure, but still they were made, not born. Without even needing to say in the script, the Trickster from the Grognak comic books who shouldn't exist yet does IS also an idea. Some MADE into a world but not born...a different world sure, but still the creation of it. Nick, Magnolia, any synth as ideas themselves would sense that the world was wrong and being changed in a way no one else would because of fundamentally who they are and what they represent.

Everything that unfolds is because Nora as a keystone event in the Commonwealth, a focal point of the causal nexus making her a unique entity in that world. A causal nexus is the link between a cause and its resulting effects and ignore the science mumbo jumbo, because here's an example of how that works:

The Sole Survivor, Nora, listened to Kent's message, chose to answer him and put on the outfit of the Silver Shroud. As a unique figure she shifted perceived reality of everyone in the Commonwealth by becoming the Silver Shroud, acting like him and making people believe that a fictional character exists.

Unfettered belief and faith in an idea = manifested reality.

Rejected belief and faith in the idea = dispels that reality.

This HAS happened before in Fallout lore in the instance of people with horrifying backstories and personal tragedies choosing to become someone else such as the Mechanist (Fallout 3 and Fallout 4) or even the Ant-Agonizer (Fallout 3). This time however it was a unique figure who did this, a figure fated and meant to reshape the Commonwealth for good, bad or ugly.

This opened a door, the door through which another figure could influence and enter a new universe provided it take the form of something already in it...a reality side-step into the form of the Mechanist. Concurrently, the moment that happened, reality counterbalanced by making the Silver Shroud who was already believed to be real BECOME real as the ying to the Mechanist/Trickster's yang.

Now at home in reality, the Trickster found himself very much alive and unbound by story but had very little power to do much at all. He needed something more, an idea and faith that already existed in the Commonwealth with the infinite universe of ideas made, but not born like himself. His goal wasn't power, it was to sow chaos, reshaping reality into a realm for any and every idea despite the consequences to reality itself.

So what did he need? The belief in the Old Gods and a focus point of belief in the idea: a staff. The universe is as adaptive as it is remarkable and where the Mechanist had its opposite: the Silver Shroud, the Trickster needed its twin: enter Sheogorath...because what better staff to tear apart and reshape reality than the Staff of Sheogorath. There is a quest added in the new Skyrim Anniversary Edition in which you can build it for yourself with a few items: Branch of the Tree of Shades, Ciirta's Eye, Fork of Horripilation. In this universe it would have to fashioned with things FROM this universe.

Two eyes were needed:

The eye of a True Believer: Kent Connolly

The eye of a True Seer: Mama Murphy

Affixed to the top of a staff of the purest heartwood from a Twice Born Tree. Living wood from Harold, born a man who eventually mutated into a living tree.

Lastly, it had to be soaked in the tears of ages end: barrels of radiated blessed waters courtesy of the Cult of Atom.

The Trickster had no magic of his own in this universe in which to act, but thankfully courtesy of some powerful allies, he was able to make contact with shadowy cults and worshippers of the old gods who gave him the name of someone truly of faith in the old magic to make all of this work: Jebediah Blackhall, who in this spin of the universe did unfortunately get his hands on the cursed book: the Krivbeknah.

Finding allies was all too easy, as the events post main quest left the Commonwealth changed. To many, the Sole Survivor and his/her companions would be hailed as heroes. To others, they would be villains, particularly in light of what Nora CHOSE to do to the Railroad to end the synth threat for good. That's a lot of blood on the hands of heroes...

As the Mechanist/Trickster, Blackall and the Lombardos began using the staff, its changes and shifts in reality rippled backwards through time, as changing one specific thing would change its entire existence. You change some curtains and the manufacturer of those curtains only every made one pattern...the world object becomes changed universally. Tapping into the Engine of Creation to make these changes, leaves anyone MADE not born aware of them as they don't fit into the design as it shifts around them. Nick, Danse, Magnolia would all feel and see it, be thrown off for a bit before settling into the changed reality state.

At the climax when everything starts falling apart and you get everyone from GlaDOS and the Joker strolling on in, the only way to end it all is to separate the Trickster from the Staff and restore the saved intended state of reality. The Silver Shroud finds himself powerless against the Trickster...only someone from this universe would be able to intercede, hard wired into the Engine of Creation itself as an existing element connected throughout its framework and history. After sending the Trickster off packing to the moon (thanks GlaDOS), but its a little too late for reality. It collapses around them, finding themselves elsewhere...the point between the mind, creation and the outcome of reality.

After the Shroud fades away, Nick has the power and choice to roll the universe, his universe back along the tapestry of choices that led him here. They all were haunted by the choices they made the first time around, something Nora couldn't live with...that ultimately led her relationship with Danse to fall apart. So Nick decides to go back further, as far back as he can go and he finds himself back in his office with Ellie waking him up.

There are consequences to what he's done, that he's not yet aware of, ones that will become clear in our next episode. The synths remember, as he remembers...Danse, Magnolia and everyone else remembers the fall of the Institute. They all find themselves at their starting point, moving towards their intended fated position to encounter the Sole Survivor. For Nick? He's starting down the path that will led him to be held prisoner and meet the Sole Survivor for the first time.

As he'll soon discover however, things don't play out the same way this time. Moreover, while he was rolling back reality to an early saved state, he made a huge mistake and completely forgot about something and someone so incredibly important...

You'll have to wait to see what that is...

[desertmile]

I seriously can't read any posts on tumblr now without mentally hearing it as @chadfallout76podcast 's "Death Shroud" announcer, Bill Lobley.

"This just in, the Death Shroud podcast by Kenneth Vigue has enraptured the mind and hearts of many! It has been proven as such multiple times over! People will be talking about this one for ages to come!"

[abs0luteb4stard]

W٭A٭T٭C٭H٭I٭N٭G

[beautifulballad]

Watch the Trailer for Kiernan Shipka's New Podcast, Treat

Watch the Trailer for Kiernan Shipka’s New Podcast, Treat

The trailer for Kiernan Shipka’s new podcast, Treat has been released. Shipka is joined in the podcast by David Shih, Noah Robbins, Marin Ireland, Marc Menchaca, Kyle Beltran, Peggy J. Scott, Christa Scott-Reed, Ryan Buggle, Sara Escheagaray, Bill Lobley, Renata Friedmab and Wayne Knight. The podcast follows “…the story of a seemingly perfect American town whose residents make a deal with a…

[eyjuzv02-blog]

best audiobooks for kids : Geronimo Stilton Books #20 by Geronimo Stilton | Kids

Listen to Geronimo Stilton Books #20 new releases best audiobooks for kids on your iPhone, iPad, or Android. Get any BOOKS by Geronimo Stilton Kids FREE during your Free Trial

Written By: Geronimo Stilton Narrated By: Bill Lobley Publisher: Scholastic Inc. Date: October 2010 Duration: 2 hours 33 minutes

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best audiobooks for kids : Geronimo Stilton Books #22 by Geronimo Stilton | Kids

Listen to Geronimo Stilton Books #22 new releases best audiobooks for kids on your iPhone, iPad, or Android. Get any BOOK by Geronimo Stilton Kids FREE during your Free Trial

Written By: Geronimo Stilton Narrated By: Bill Lobley Publisher: Scholastic Inc. Date: February 2011 Duration: 2 hours 39 minutes

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best audiobooks for kids : Geronimo Stilton Books #17 by Geronimo Stilton | Kids

Listen to Geronimo Stilton Books #17 new releases best audiobooks for kids on your iPhone, iPad, or Android. Get any AUDIOBOOK by Geronimo Stilton Kids FREE during your Free Trial

Written By: Geronimo Stilton Narrated By: Bill Lobley Publisher: Scholastic Inc. Date: November 2009 Duration: 2 hours 29 minutes

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best audiobooks for kids : Geronimo Stilton #25 by Geronimo Stilton | Kids

Listen to Geronimo Stilton #25 new releases best audiobooks for kids on your iPhone, iPad, or Android. Get any BOOKS by Geronimo Stilton Kids FREE during your Free Trial

Written By: Geronimo Stilton Narrated By: Bill Lobley Publisher: Scholastic Inc. Date: February 2012 Duration: 2 hours 20 minutes

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children's short stories audiobooks : Geronimo Stilton Books #20 by Geronimo Stilton | Kids

Listen to Geronimo Stilton Books #20 new releases children's short stories audiobooks on your iPhone, iPad, or Android. Get any AUDIOBOOK by Geronimo Stilton Kids FREE during your Free Trial

Written By: Geronimo Stilton Narrated By: Bill Lobley Publisher: Scholastic Inc. Date: October 2010 Duration: 2 hours 33 minutes

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children's short stories audiobooks : Geronimo Stilton Books #11 by Geronimo Stilton | Kids

Listen to Geronimo Stilton Books #11 new releases children's short stories audiobooks on your iPhone, iPad, or Android. Get any AUDIOBOOK by Geronimo Stilton Kids FREE during your Free Trial

Written By: Geronimo Stilton Narrated By: Bill Lobley Publisher: Scholastic Inc. Date: August 2008 Duration: 2 hours 22 minutes

[chadfallout76podcast]

Hey cheers for such an amazing podcast.

One question, two actually

Is that Duke 3d Duke Nukem or DNF Duke Nukem? Also. I kinda feel like DOOMguy would've been a great addition to that multiverse fight lol. If you guys could add any character to that fray who would it have been? Just hypothetically

Thank you! Duke Nukem was one of the first PC games I owned...so for my head canon it was old school Duke. lol

Bill Lobley was our announcer (who voiced truly evil businessman Jermiah Fink in Bioshock Infinite). At one point I was going to have him be the person gutted by Sheogorath. lol I left the line in there about Sheo playing with entrails but didn't say whose.

We also were going to have Zack Ward who was Skut Farkus in A Christmas Story come through a portal AS Skut Farkus, but it would've been weird introducing movie characters in addition to video game ones.

[jomoxaje665974]

children's short stories audiobooks : Geronimo Stilton Books #22 by Geronimo Stilton | Kids

Listen to Geronimo Stilton Books #22 new releases children's short stories audiobooks on your iPhone, iPad, or Android. Get any BOOKAUDIO by Geronimo Stilton Kids FREE during your Free Trial

Written By: Geronimo Stilton Narrated By: Bill Lobley Publisher: Scholastic Inc. Date: February 2011 Duration: 2 hours 39 minutes

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children's short stories audiobooks : Geronimo Stilton #25 by Geronimo Stilton | Kids

Listen to Geronimo Stilton #25 new releases children's short stories audiobooks on your iPhone, iPad, or Android. Get any BOOKS by Geronimo Stilton Kids FREE during your Free Trial

Written By: Geronimo Stilton Narrated By: Bill Lobley Publisher: Scholastic Inc. Date: February 2012 Duration: 2 hours 20 minutes

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children's short stories audiobooks : Geronimo Stilton Books #15 by Geronimo Stilton | Kids

Listen to Geronimo Stilton Books #15 new releases children's short stories audiobooks on your iPhone, iPad, or Android. Get any BOOKS AUDIO by Geronimo Stilton Kids FREE during your Free Trial

Written By: Geronimo Stilton Narrated By: Bill Lobley Publisher: Scholastic Inc. Date: February 2008 Duration: 2 hours 37 minutes

[nivabepam131272-blog]

children's short stories audiobooks : Geronimo Stilton Books #17 by Geronimo Stilton | Kids

Listen to Geronimo Stilton Books #17 new releases children's short stories audiobooks on your iPhone, iPad, or Android. Get any AUDIOBOOK by Geronimo Stilton Kids FREE during your Free Trial

Written By: Geronimo Stilton Narrated By: Bill Lobley Publisher: Scholastic Inc. Date: November 2009 Duration: 2 hours 29 minutes

[mikurulucky]

Speaking on Audible books, there are some Geronimo Stilton audiobooks on there with at least two voice actors. One narrator is Edward Herrmann who’s known for being in Gilmore Girls and Annie. The other is Bill Lobley who’s done a lot of video game voice acting.

Honestly, Bill Lobley is my favorite out of the two of them. He’s up there with Brian Drummond’s voice for Geronimo. He’s got a sort of fatherly sound going on and captures his timid and overwhelmed nature very well.

I enjoy his narration of the books so much. ^w^