#EVEN BRYN WANTED TO ASK ALEX BUT JUST. FORGOT???

[ghostbiie]

i just finished rusty quill gaming and i am ANGRY. HOW DID WILDE GET THAT SCAR???? THEY HAD FOUR QNAS AND NOT ONCE DID THEY SAY HOW HE GOT IT. IM SO MAD. AAAAAAUHGGGH

[commander-diomika]

For the rqg asks 1, 5, 7, 9, 14, 16 (I know you write a lot for the show and I absolutely adore all of what you do but what are you most proud of?) 19?

1. What is that one moment from the show that you will find yourself thinking back to, intermittently, for years to come?

Grizzop's death and afterlife. I listened to the show out of order, jumped in with my partner toward the tail end of the Damascus Arc and when Grizzop took those hit points for Sasha and went down, I shed some genuine tears and again at his epilogue. That was the point where I decided to go back to listen from the beginning and I was truly lost.

5. Pick a character and make a prediction for their epilogue.

Barnes Carter and Cel are going to move to a cabin by the seaside and live their best non monogamous monster fucking lives. (we didn't see REALISTIC predictions for the finale.)

7. What is something you do not at all think will happen in the finale, but is just fun to daydream about?

HONESTLY all the things that I had been daydreaming about have already come to pass: Aphophis turning up with the steel chair, Amelia and the Vengeance getting their smash on Guivres (I still don't know how to fkn spell it), the rest of the NPCs turning up to help!! Like!! This is what narrative satisfaction feels like!

So LBR the thing that I don't think will happen in the finale but is very fun to daydream about is both Zolf and Wilde making it out alive to their soft epilogue because Ben and Alex are gunning for that tragedy.

9. Which was your favourite arc and why?

The Mr Ceiling and Unreality arc in Paris. It's really the first moment in the show where the lid PROPERLY blows off in terms of how steampunk and science fiction this story is despite being set in the Pathfinder/fantasy world, and even though it seemed clear the party was in a fantasy pretty quickly, I am still a sucker for simulation/unreality stories, especially where characters are forced to go back and do the hard thing instead of staying in a blissful illusion.

14. What’s a detail of the show that you always forgot, and when you’re reminded of it it always comes as a shock?

Aziza's death. The fact that Alex did that felt... almost too much. I really hope it was something that was discussed with players but especially Bryn beforehand, because that level of RPing tragedy and grief isn't something that you want to spring on players, and it has the potential to really veer the character off in a new direction in a way that the player doesn't have a lot of agency over.

16. If you’ve ever created fan content for the show, which piece are you most proud of?

THIS IS SUCH A HARD QUESTION AND LIKE MAKING ME PICK MY FAVOURITE CHILD!!! Like I think there's something good about almost everything that I've written for RQG, from the longer-form Strange Company stuff to the oneshots I did for Kinktober. BUT if I have to choose I suppose I would say I'm probably most proud of the most recent installment of Strange Company (It Takes a Great Deal of Courage) because writing the love confessions and culmination of a slowburn is really hard, because you've got the weight of the 20k build up behind it, and doing that justice took a lot of wrangling. I've still got more SC to go, but unfortunately I have missed my initial goal of finishing ti before the series ended. Hopefully the finale doesn't break my heart so badly that I can't keep going with it.

19. Can you try to put into words the crushing nostalgia you now feel when you think back to the prologue episodes, and how you felt listening to them for the first time vs how that would feel now?

I don't carry the weight of crushing nostalgia that some of you might because I foolishly only got into RQG about six months ago! I pounded through all the content within a couple of months and then started in on shovelling fan fiction in my mouth as fast as I could. And whilst listening back definitely makes my heart hurt in a delicate and aching way, I don't have the 6 years worth of feelings that I know some of y'all are currently going through. My life had also changed a lot in the last six months tho (went from studying to new job, Covid tumultuous times, gender and hormone times). So weirdly when I think back to listening to the starting eps I think about me and how much I've changed and ploughed ahead, and how grateful I am that this show and the community around it has inspired me to get back into writing for the first time in years.

[shy-magpie]

RQG 155

Wherein there are unexpected visitors. Live blog under the cut

Pre episode babbling:  there really wasn't any way quarantine was going to last as long as the dungeon crawl, and (for all I joked about it) I really am satisfied with what we got. That was a lot of backstory and character moments in a short amount of time. Now we have a kobold, a mysterious attack on the inn, and an episode title referencing dragons? Nice consolation for them almost certainly being forced out of the basement or having plot come to them. Please be Skraak? Please be Skraak either trying to rescue them or at least be here as an ally? Oh well time to hit play: Weird energy? That’s promising Inevitable locked in a Cel(l) joke Zolf needs to be nicer about the Kobolds Alex needs tell us if this is Skraak or not before Hamid gets the blame Skraak(?) Just unlocked the trap door Nice outfit Alex, is it our Skraak? It seems to be Zolf wants Skraak to join them in quarantine. Cel doesn't see why to bother when Skraak's been in contact with hundreds of Kobolds Skraak gestures for them to leave and Zolf is going to be force the issue. This will go over well. Beats his defense by 1 Hamid is trying to play peacemaker again. Really Zolf? Couldn't have calmly refused to leave and explained through the door? I know you are under stress but you are low charisma, not stupid. Love you Cel, Skraak has been speaking to varying degrees since "My Liege" Hamid tries to explain, Zolf speaks over him to say they didn't explain because they forgot. Hamid apologizes to Skraak. Skraak starts to leave. Azu backs Zolf in preventing him from leaving. Skraak is subdued by Zolf & Azu Skraak is locked in with Hamid? No Zolf has some limits thank goodness. He did call Skraak one of them.  Bound but not gagged as Hamid apologizes. Skraak points out that he just has to wait for the rest (of his team?) Skraak "monitor"ed them!?! Holy... I was merely comparing the situations, did he actually scry and see them held by a human in a small space underground beneath a trap door disguised by a table? If he thinks Wilde is their Shoin then how many pieces is he going to be in when Zolf gets out? Kobold lore please! Hierarchy is important and it was "considered a good idea to keep track of the saviors". Skraak is sarcastic in his tone when he uses the term and it sounds like at least Hamid & Azu object the instant they hear it, possibly others. Cel makes a pitch for quarantining the whole inn. Wilde is in the cupboard Zolf asks about the kobold numbers and makes some unnecessary remarks about the village & Jasper in particular being lost as he writes off Japan. Zolf is far too relatable for some who needs to stand the flame down before someone takes it personal. Deciding you've already doomed yourself along with everything you care about is a crappy way to avoid panic in the face of uncertainty. Cel tries to call him on it, he switches to "everyone else is infected and it will be our job to fight them". Scary thing is, while in the long term it would be a suicide mission, with their combined abilities they could make a serious dent in the numbers. Hope they are aware of the Hiroshima comparison if this is leading to calling for a air strike on Japan. They explain what little they know to Skraak who insists none of the Kobolds were sick but may not understand the symptoms. Possible kobold immunity? Gonna be annoyed if something Shoin did protected them. Skraak seems to be saying that no new people were exposed since his party of 7 followed the route of the party. Zolf wants to send them back under Skraak's guard to prevent any more coming for them. And they're back. Cel points out its better Skraak came since the kobolds didn't know to implement quarantine. They go upstairs. They form a phalanx and draw spear against the party when they don't see either Hamid or Skraak. Alex & Ben are doing the "these lines are already written we have but to speak them" routine while Bryn points out Alex doesn't get to sound like that when he's the one doing it. Very Hamid, if you know how this is going to play out and don't like it, just make another choice. Initiative and a lot of dice. Grapple rules. Not clear where Cel is/if they got grappled but it sounds like Zolf did and is throwing them off so he can check on the inn keeper. Hamid runs upstairs and every one of them kneels like Skraak did at their first meeting. Helen & Bryn both sound distressed. Should have cleaned up that unreadable little ficlet I made of Hamid going bad because he didn't know how to handle Kobold worship and accidentally took over Japan because he thought autonomy meant respecting their decision to look to him as their leader. The innkeeper is bound but fine. Zolf unties him and looks for Wilde. "Wilde is also bound and... Has a look best described as "the bleep? "" Zolf is a stress cooker and Barnes updates Hamid is flustered and embarrassed which buys him some small grace from Skraak who explains Hamid is "the biggest dragon here" Cel: Also you could introduce the concept of democracy. Eh skip em straight to anarcho communism if you ask me. Group decision meetings rather than just vote for the head dragon Hamid tries to side step a bit by suggesting they explain the situation and asks for their names. Hope Alex thought to name all seven before the cast does.  Siggif the kobold might be pushing it. "Hamid the polite tyrant"-Lydia Break Alex skips them to "a large dinner" cooked by Zolf who got a nat 20 on how good it is. Cel speaks draconic. Neither Zolf nor Azu can make out the difference in their names. Because Alex is like that: didn't want to come up with 7 names, did want to block anyone else naming them. Bryn however has all 6 names and is going to give Azu & Zolf their translations. They aren't interested in the rest of the party and "insist on maintaining a guard phalanx around Hamid at all times". Helen points out this is Bryn's fault. Yeah he's been playing with Alex long enough to know "King of the Kobolds" would come back to bite him. Hamid should be embarrassed. Hamid is sat at the head of the table by the Kobolds. Skraak: it'll pass eventually Zolf: good Aw Cel asks about traditional kobold food and Skraak has to struggle to remember. (Cel seems disappointed meal worm burgers would be poisonous to non kobolds) Zolf is a grumpy boy Long story short it seems to be a controlled risk: no contact off the island; no reason to believe the kobolds are infected Kobolds might be immune Oh screw Shoin (sent waves of Kobolds as dungeon monsters) Zolf doesn't think that the level of contact the Kobolds had with infected adventurers without being infected is proof since they don't know how the infection is passed or activated. Hamid says they shouldn't rely on it but its reason to hope. Zolf needs to remember that team moral is a thing and quit taking things from Hamid especially in a way that could piss off their new housemates. Thank you Azu! Hamid is not stupid! You can say there is reason for hope and still be careful Hamid calls him on jumping down his throat at the slightest provocation, reminds him they talked about this and that trying to stay positive is not a crime. God it's weird relating to both sides of this argument. My bias is towards Hamid as being right, but Zolf is so relatable. You have any idea how hard it can be not to snap at some of these kids they are setting themselves up for heart break when they talk about school in the fall or hug piles at cons? Thank you Cel Zolf is going to leave and sit on the coast behind the inn because he considers the quarantine broken not expanded. Backing out of an unproductive conversation, especially one were others have pointed out you are being harmful is valid, giving into "burn it all" moods is not. Hamid moves to stop him because he gets that the inn is now their cell Wilde calls him back and says he was building to them talking to the borb. So there is a reason he's the boss. Zolf declares he wants some time not thinking about this, which is what he should have done several paragraphs ago. Ffs this can not be the first time he's had it strike hot/destructive instead of cold/immobilizing; it sucks but you don't let yourself make any permanent decisions, stay away from the breakables and try not to talk to much, it passes. Cel suggests he go to one of the upstairs rooms instead, he accepts the redirect with ill grace but does accept it. Barnes has pointed out that locking everyone in a small box makes things worse not better before. Aw did Alex not like the fandom begging for the platonic version of the lock em in a closet until they sort out their feelings trope? Azu: I thought we could make friends Cel: he seems quite opposed to that Azu: I feel like he'd be a really good friend but not very friendly if you know what I mean Cel:we I know he hasn't been at all friendly Azu: you're friendly! Cel: well thank you, I do try Azu: I think you are my friend Cel: I am so honored! Thank you so much Azu! That's delightful Carter declares Cel the only friendly one because he is grumpy about Azu stepping on him, stopping him from breaking quarantine, and drank all the good stuff. Barnes suggests they start fresh in the morning. Skraak explains the kobolds are expecting Hamid to step into Shoin's role as tyrant just one they like. Skraak: even if they know you're not a tyrant, neither they nor me will be abandoning you because that's how Kobolds work. Good Hamid is taking this seriously Oh no pressure Skraak The most chill inn keeper in the world Skip to lunch time Zolf is still making himself scarce, which is not the worst way to handle it  dawning on you THAT YOU TRIED TO DESTROY A RELATIONSHIP YOU VALUE BECAUSE YOU WERE IN A MOOD Bryn makes the "he's secretly infected" joke. Bryn spotted the veins in discord avatar thing and Alex sounds so pleased Wilde is fine, stop asking Oh really we needed that insight in how Wilde thinks Brorb on the table Cel asks for a list of stuff to make into a Brorb access device. Between their bags of holding they have enough stuff for them to make do. Azu seeks out Zolf while Hamid & the Kobolds help Cel. No strike that she waits until someone needs to grab him for the Brorb interview. Alex! Ending on Azu finding Zolf staring out the window.

[shy-magpie]

RQG 129

Zolf's back, so unless one of the former hostages shows blue veins, there is nothing this episode can do that won't make me eager for more. Players sound peppy. Did Alex really do that? Gosh he plans everything. Eh Zolf seems to be understanding about them not being happy with him. Hamid has calmed a bit. So much for that. Fair Huh, Zolf is willing to take trust into account enough to spend the quarantine bringing them up to speed on non sensitive matters instead of cooling their heels Thanks Hamid/Bryn! I need to know what Zolf has been doing. Love Azu's work out. And her attitude Alex! Zolf is just as good as I remember about talking about emotions, which is to say he is barely hinting at so much angst, revelations about his family, the whole break up with Poseidon etc, and sticking to a pretty dry account of events Zolf: Meritocrats aren't much better, so much of a muchness Hamid: only 1 of those 2 factions allowed a necromancer to rise in a city leading to the deaths of hundreds of people but sure. Not sure if its my distrust of monarchy/oligarchy speaking but they both have points. Azu has an interesting take, not sure it fits but... Finally! He was looking into the weather side, not a side effect Hamid: Car-ter! He seems so offended that Carter might have actually been competent pre-curse. Ow Zolf finally asked about Sasha See what I mean, Zolf isn't going to be comfortable spelling it out like: "you remember how I was in near full break down before I nearly killed a subordinate making me feel like a sheep killing dog and had to leave because I was a danger to myself and others? Yeah I needed to process for a couple weeks before I tried to keep up with the papers" Hamid is legit not someone who really gets this (as someone who feels the emotions openly at the time, instead of being steady right up until he breaks) but its letting Bryn feed Ben some great openings. Oh Hamid, the pull between the needs of the world and the need of his family/team is just breaking him Zolf is great Oh Hamid and Azu still think they can get Grizzop and Sasha back. Ow Oh I actually forgot Ben knows about the side quest. Big sigh for a little dragon Zolf is understanding but he already mourned the whole team; he is celebrating getting Hamid back after more than a year; while Hamid is stuck between the pain of the loss and holding out hope that someday he will be able to get them back. Poor guy isn't really designed for compartmentalizing where not only has Zolf had more time to cope, being able to separate the threads is a chunk of his personality. Finally some questions that can be answered, non specific world events. Ah but he can only confirm Curie's info not give us more. Wilde is in full "I will treat you as infected until proven otherwise" mode. Touches his scar too, so that's a pretty huge hint as to what his year has been like. Why soot blackened? Did they have to burn the cells to avoid spreading infection? Zolf is trying to help, Hamid is just trying Bless him, Alex is giving us Campbell backstory. Zolf just gave Azu the first in his Bertie send up series. I love it. Ben reads Phillipa Gregory? I read a couple of those ages ago. They know us too well, and and are spending so much time on Campbell. If Hamid didn't hate Campbell books before, Zolf making a Azu a fan would have pushed it over the edge Yes! Hug time! Of course its not the hug I was envisioning but I'll take it. Alex! We needed to know that the strip test was a daily thing, it affects the dynamics a lot. Poor Azu is claustrophobic on top of everything; Hamid is a good friend. This is such a great scene. I actually like that Zolf isn't just popping back in like he hadn't left. It makes so much more sense that the dynamics would be different; even before you factor in that Azu never met him and she & Hamid are all that's left of the LOLOMG Hamid finally gets some of his usual self comforts and is working on a new look. Bless him, Zolf is trying but not good at this emotional stuff Azu holds a grudge, this is surprisingly delightful Love these two, a week stuck in a cell together and they still want to stay at eachother’s side. No macho BS about being vulnerable to each other. So what is Wilde like now that they aren't under suspicion. OK now I understand why people ship Zolf and Wilde. So do I just add the ship to my armada now or wait an episode? Gosh my sympathy to people who can't have multiple conflicting ships. My heart, I did not sign on to care this much about Wilde. Yes I remember Damascus but this is like Ed levels of caring or more. Hamid is a good leader and immediately moves to smooth things over Wow, genuine Wilde is new, no layers of detachment and wit Too funny when we hear the players being just as frustrated with wanting more as us, if not more. Oh good they get to keep recording.

[shy-magpie]

RQG 72

Newt-ralized is Hamid's sister in danger? The lay lines are converging near the opera house Hamid just say you want everyone to see your sister in the opera Oh if Hamid won't talk, does Bertie know why Hamid is ducking Gideon? Bull why is Gideon lying? Why did the check turn up only his name? Good Grizzop, don't let people sniff around the team who lie about their motives Damn was Gideon startled because who expects people hiding in windows or is he alarmed by Hamid specifically? Alex if you knock him out by falling down the stairs before I get backstory I will scream! Grizzop has caught on quick that it's generally safe to assume Bertie is being horrible. Thank you Ben for not having Grizzop spit Why are they disgusted at the idea they are exes? Gideon seems really scared. Memory magic is bad enough but what are they covering for? Quite a sigh,  does Bertie really abuse pomp and pageantry more than Hamid does prestidigitation? Not fooling anyone, Hamid. No breaking my heart, Hamid As someone who likes Hamid, I'm happy they are going to lay off questioning Hamid, having decided they're exes. As a listener I want that backstory. Saying things like "suck it GM" is not keeping the team safe Bryn Quirk of human nature, I thought that Gideon might be Hamid's ex right up until Sasha proposed the theory and I'm not sure why I am now convinced it isn't the explanation. Their show of disgust at the idea isn't why, plenty of people are disgusted by their exes especially when they're trying to hide their connection. As a fan I want them to go to the Opera; as a sensible person I support Grizzop: let's try to stop the evil plan before its far enough along to spring at the climax of the opera. Hamid why aren't you just saying "I want to surprise my sister by being in the front row(box whatever) of her opera with my team" spin it right and Bertie will take it as flattering you want to use your friendship with him to impress her even if he doesn't get wanting to see family. Sasha will probably get wanting to support her (even if you and Alex frustrate me again by ducking out without speaking to her).  As to Grizzop, I got nothing but have you even signed him formally on to the team yet? This informal working together is beginning to make me twitchy even if seeing how you work together then making it official makes sense   5 minutes in Prague and Mr. “Heart on his sleeves” is getting worse about using his words than Sasha "who's asking" Racket.  I am almost as frustrated with him as I am worried he was traumatized. Don't think I forgot that he had a panic attack when Mr Ceiling made him think his parents were going to visit; or that they cut him off; or that the letter with the sleeves that said they were proud was never sent and iirc made him cry! Bertie and Grizzop are arguing whether or not opera is the proper heir to Greek/Roman theater You can't talk Latin around magic, Bertie! Asking for a vote is not discreet team! The Sword possessed Bertie? Also does the sword have a name? Bertie:This is a dangerous sword! Hamid: Most swords are! Thank you for siding with the sword! We don't torture sentient beings! Bertie:It's really annoying! Hamid: So are you but we put up with that The sword's backstory is not the one I wanted to get this easily. Bertie try talking to people if you want information not just trying to bend them to your will. All the sword puns I knew the sword was an enabler "make McGuffingham and heirs look really brilliant" Thank you Hamid, you can do both. How long does it take to get ready for the opera? You can hunt plague pits then hit the opera The team is holding Bertie back!?! Hamid just tell her you'd like her to join you because you like the opera and she's your friend I love how Alex uses smash cuts to skip boring bits and herd the team How much did James bribe Alex for those souvenirs? Flying Bertie sounds like a sea gull.  Loud, annoying, swoops in to do what he wants. Wanna be a bat? What is Lydia planning? See this is what happens when you don't use your words, Hamid. Now Sasha is suspicious Ooh Alex is making Bertie's fear of falling property value  work. It's almost making me sympathize with Bertie. You're in the spooky district