Episode 10: The Pawn Shop

Gather 'Round the Trashfires

Zuse has a quest for the cohort with totally, definitely, no fine print. The cohort goes on a shopping trip and learns they're not alone in the world.

They do NOT, however, learn how to collectively pass the bread test.

As an announcement, this podcast is officially moving to release every other week. Release day will still USUALLY be on Saturday unless, like this week, everything possible goes wrong up to and including having to rerecord 3 hours of raw audio.

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Episode Transcript:

Get your snack and beverage of choice ready. It’s time to “Gather ‘Round the Trashfires” for a tabletop roleplaying story! I’m your host, Bek Andrew Evans.

My current and main running story for this podcast is the misadventures of the cohort from the Deviant: the Renegades chronicle I’ve been playing in since early 2021. And I play Geri.

For those of you unfamiliar with Deviant, it’s a TTRPG about people who were formerly human but were irreparably changed in traumatic ways to the point their very Souls broke and they became something Other. They seek vengeance on those who made them, those who hunt them, those who seek to exploit them for what they are and will never leave them be.

As such, this podcast will feature heavy themes and content throughout. There’s an overall content warning for language, violence, criminality, homelessness, substance use, human experimentation, cults and religious extremism, mentioned torture, kidnapping, implied incest and incest-related comments, and abusive relationships. On episodes where there is a new content warning or a particularly notable instance of one of these, I’ll call it out.

Content warning for: discussion of race-based violence and harm to children.

I hope y’all enjoy hearing about my cohort’s antics and stumbling headfirst into the mysteries of the world as much as I have.

[Music Intro: "_violence" by Avantist]

Green Country Calcination Episode 10: The Pawn Shop

Since the cohort last heard from him, Madison's sometimes-lake boyfriend Lucas has been at work learning to control his form and keeping watch over the region the cohort's made their new home. He first makes his presence known by moving the letter fridge magnets around on the cohort's fridge to spell "Go Bulldogs!" (Cassica Hall's mascot) and signing his name.

After a thunderstorm that frightens Cass, there's a new message that says "No more cameras." Someone else, who doesn't sign or fess up to it, takes another pack of letter magnets to spell out, under Luke's message - "Mad is dating Storm Daddy."

The morning after the Easter egghunt, Robert wakes up early (or stays up very late) to have hangover breakfast ready for the cohort. They find him asleep on the couch by the time they all wake up.

After the explosive egghunt, Zuse leaves the cohort a note about a lead he found on a pawn shop owner with some secret important information about the conspiracy that he tracked down. He wants the cohort to go talk to the owner and make a deal with him for the info.

He insists it's something the cohort needs to do on their own without him there, won't explain why, and says he'll be more than happy to be the getaway vehicle again. He'll totally for sure, actually behave this time. Pinky promise.

The cohort note that Zuse is acting pretty cagey, but agree to go on the mission.

They go out early-mid-morning, several days after Easter. Everyone's fully recovered from their massive hangovers and any bruises and minor burns they may have received. Zuse has instructed the cohort to meet him on the edge of Snowdale Park - the park where the cabin is located - at a little side parking lot off the main entrance. It's a little out of the way of most visitor traffic. Zuse left the cabin before dawn, before any of them - even early bird Madison - woke up.

Before the rest of them go on their trek through the wilderness of the park, Madison uses her costuming skills, honed from years in ballet and cheer, to throw together costumes for everyone. They're not perfect disguises, but none of the cohort are immediately recognizable.

Robert's dressed in his long raincoat, some white gloves, and a mask. With the amount of exercising hes been doing, the raincoat's started to get a little tight around the arms.

Geri's wearing a forgettable tee shirt and jeans, with her hair temporary-dyed a natural-passing dark brown.

Madison had also temp-dyed her hair (dark-brown) and braided it back. She wears cuffed jeans, sneakers, and a loose t-shirt, with dark grunge makeup and brown colored contacts.

AJ is wearing a white tee, with black and green denim jacket with a high collar, and dark blue jeans. He's got some thick-frame hipster glasses and his long hair pulled into a man bun. He has his "infection" on the back of his neck bandaged.

The cohort walk up to that out-of-the-way parking lot and come across a dark green old Dodge Caravan minivan with the windows down. When they get closer, they find that sitting in the back is a familiar face, though it takes a moment to recognize him. Zuse has his platinum blonde hair dyed jet black and wears a black tank top, a black denim-like oversized punk style jacket, dark board shorts, and black ankle-high boots. He cheerfully quotes Mean Girls, telling the cohort to "Get in Losers, We're going Shopping!"

When Geri asks him who showed him that movie, he says Crazy Patty did.

The cohort started their day so early since they were also due for another supply run and decided to go to a shopping center in Tulsa proper while they had to go into town anyway.

Robert insists he's driving his time, after how recklessly Zuse drove before, and Zuse concedes... but says he may decide it's his turn again if he gets too bored.

Robert demands everyone wears seatbelts; this van goes nowhere with an unbuckled seatbelt. Everyone ribs him for how he's acting, Madison calling him 'mom', Geri calling him a Boomer, Zuse muttering that a seatbelt's not gonna stop him, and AJ reminding Robert to chill - but they all buckle in.

The ride's pretty smooth other than a small traffic jam about halfway to Tulsa because of an accident. The side-benefit to the cohort is though it takes them a tiny bit longer than expected to arrive, the chaos out the window keeps Zuse entertained enough to not make his own chaos.

They make it into Tulsa about an hour and a half into the trip, and within another half hour Zuse directs them to the shopping center. It has a Walmart, a hardware store, a toy store, and a craft shop.

AJ immediately brightens up when he sees the hardware store - and the toy store. It's like Christmas and his birthday all at once. Madi, used to much nicer stores, steels herself for having to enter... the Walmart.

The cohort splits up to get whatever they think they need, both for the group and personally.

Madison beefs up her cache of costuming supplies for the cohort, picks out some more clothes for herself, and several bags of groceries.

Geri gets more sets of cheap bedsheets, kitchen supplies, and stocks up on first aid supplies.

Robert finds himself two hammers, a set of kitchen knives, a knife sharpening stone, and some catch-and-release mouse traps, despite the cohort having a cat and no noted sign of mice so far. He claims doesn't want Nacho to leave him furry "presents" on his face.

He's also concerned there might be conspiracy people who can control animals, if some of them also have comic-book-esque superpowers, so the cohort needs to keep any animals that aren't theirs away.

Zuse doesn't come back with bags. Instead, his pockets seem a bit fuller on both his jacket and board shorts. He's approaches the van, whistling innocently a bit after the first three return. Madi side-eyes him.

After Zuse arrives, but before anyone's able to question what trouble he got into this time, AJ captures the other three's attention with his return. The top of his cart's covered with a giant teddy bear that's so big, it makes one question why anyone would buy something like that. AJ has to peek around the cart because he can't see over it. Part of the teddy bear is on him for the walk to the van. He asks for help with the blonde-furred giant bear.

Zuse uses the opportunity to sneak inside the van and start scarfing his probably ill-gotten candy stash. He watches the others from the window with mouth stuffed full like a chipmunk.

AJ has to catch his breath and explains he got prizes for the egg hunt. The Teddy Bear is for Madi because she got the most eggs popped per round. Its name is SnuggLuke.

Madi loves it! She thanks AJ and says its the cutest thing ever.

AJ blushes and reveals he also found Madi a replacement shag rug like he'd promised. It's not the same quality because where they stopped, but it looks similar enough.

The next prize goes to Geri, for most eggs disarmed. He got her a slow-cooker... and then is self conscious because he's not sure if the gift comes off as sexist - but she does really seem to enjoy cooking.

Geri appreciates the gift and gives AJ a half-hug.

They debate for a moment how to transport the giant bear, and ultimately decide to put it in one of the extra seats - but buckle it in so Robert doesn't have a stroke. Robert doesn't appreciate them talking like he's not there.

Zuse offers that the bear can have his seat. He's since crawled under the van's back bench seat.

AJ mentions that he also found someone's lost credit card and asks what they want to do with it. Madi suggests they give it to the police, or try to mail it to the owner. Geri suggests maybe they could trade it to a criminal instead of using it themselves. AJ still thinks a card that can't be tracked to them would be useful for something.

Madison says she plans on getting the cohort cryptocurency for that purpose once she's able to get and set up a computer. That way they don't have to steal.

Geri points out the grocery store doesn't take bitcoin.

Madi laments her internet withdrawals, how she's probably lost SO many followers and she's missed out on all the fun, petty internet drama and doesn't even know if BTS's latest album came out. She asks Zuse if he knows. Zuse reminds her that he doesn't have internet either, but he's heard that it has.

AJ prods Robert to get a move on, already, and off they go to North Tulsa.

The cohort arrives in Greenwood, a historic district - once called Black Wall Street and a center of Black economic growth and success - that was ravaged in fire by white Oklahoman residents and the government during the Tulsa Race Massacre in 1921. It still bears the scars. It never recovered, the area remains impoverished.

As of this recording, there are still two direct, living survivors of the massacre who haven't received any compensation for the horrors they endured or the lost property and opportunities, and their legal case against the city of Tulsa is ongoing. A third survivor died while the case has been pending.

Madison admits she's never been to this part of town and thinks the cohort's gonna stick out some. Geri's not nervous, at least not very. She's not entirely unfamiliar with the area. Robert's also not worried.

When AJ fully realizes where they are, he takes his hipster glasses off and puts his hair into a short, fluffy ponytail. He pulls a baseball cap out of his backpack and puts it on.

The group agrees they need to be careful to not draw extra attention to themselves.

Once there very close, Zuse crawls out from under the back bench seat to point out their destination - Greenwood Antiques and Pawn. The place isn't packed, and even of the people parked in the lot, only some of them are actually inside. Other people are idling around nearby.

Geri and Madison notice the idlers are doing drug deals, but both say nothing and mind their own business.

When they park, Zuse says he'll stay and watch the van.

When they exit the van, Roberts idea of being normal and non-suspicious is... whistling. Geri elbows him in the kidney to get him to knock it off.

The cohort wanders into the pawn shop. It has narrow aisles filled to the brim with all sorts of stuff from weapons to electronics and just about everything in between. It has an old, musty smell. As they walk in, Geri and AJ notice something off, sensing some presence there they otherwise shouldn't.

Geri herself hears indistinct whispers from everywhere, that by all accounts, shouldn't be there from the number of people actually in the shop.

Geri reflexively tries to connect to the unknown entity, with telepathy, to learn more about the potential threat. AJ shakily asks the others if they felt that, too. Madi doesn't know what AJ's talking about and makes a bee-line for the electronics.

Another man steps into the pawn shop. He's a burly fella, at about 6'1 and appears in his early 30s. He has dark hair, a thick but short-trimmed beard and vibrant green eyes. He's wearing a flannel jacket, jeans, work boots, tee shirt, and a baseball cap. His careful gaze flicks around the edges and corners of the shop before even considering any of the wares.

Satisfied with whatever it is he sees, he moves further in to shop.

As the fellowship shop and the newcomer shop, it becomes clear those five are the only white people in the store.

Robert is checking out a set of training weapons. Madi's still in the electronics section. Geri's trying to keep her cool and shop, but is still distracted by... whatever it is she sensed.

The burly stranger selects a pair of binoculars, then some rope, and after starts looking at lengths of chain.

Geri checks on the selection of survival clothes and gear.

AJ isn't shopping at all; he's gone on the hunt for the weirdness he can sense but can't quite place. He's inexplicably brazen like a victim-to-be of a slasher movie.

The stranger doesn't seem to sense the weird. He's adding some zip ties to his loot and starts checking out the racks of guns.

Madison tries to get Geri to decide with her which computer bits she should get and how much they should prioritize portability and budget over computing power. Geri isn't very technically inclined, however, and still distracted by the presence in the store, so she's really not much help. Madison decides she's definitely treating herself to some cat-ear headphones no matter what, though.

Geri does, barely, manage a fleeting connection to the voices. They're ghosts. The place is haunted, for real. And here's one, much more powerful, dark presence she can sense as she tries to feel around with her mind. Geri seeks the information what that presence is, and learns it's "The Daughter Who Burned Alive, Grandmother Greenwood." The answer sends a shiver down her spine and makes her freeze in place. She drops a boot she was looking at.

Robert wonders if Geri's okay, and Geri plays it off as nothing.

Madison wanders off to the cashier and ends up behind the stranger, who's also ready to check out. The stranger chats with the store owner, a young black man with thin dread twists pulled up into a short, tight ponytail and a neatly trimmed short beard. He wears black from head to toe and pairs his warm, friendly smile with a bizarre, cold aura that makes your skin crawl.

The owner welcomes the stranger to town and asks if he's buying or selling. He's doing a bit of both. He puts his shopping on the counter and says he needs all that and whatever kind of gun and knife his wedding ring, watch, and the crumpled bills he has can get him.

AJ pretends to be shopping while trying to get in earshot of the stranger with the concerning cart and the owner with the Weird Vibes.

Robert gets behind Madi in line and chats excitedly, very quietly about how they can train with the practice weapons.... But Madison's distracted by the stranger's selections.

The owner asks the stranger if his wife's gonna be mad about the ring. The Stranger says it doesn't matter, some things are necessary.

Madison is a terrible actress, practically shaking as she asks the stranger if he's going hunting, with an unspoken addition of 'for people.'

Thankfully, the stranger is so in his own head that he barely registers the question and has her repeat it. She's slightly more composed that time. He says yes and that he's visiting from out of town. He asks if she's a local, she says yes.

AJ wanders to Geri and signals to start up the mindcraft network.

The stranger asks Madison if he can get some directions from her - says his phone GPS isn't working right. She agrees and he pulls out a scrap of paper to read off where he'd jotted down the name "Church of Charismatic Virtues."

Madi blinks, asks what he wants there. The stranger assures he's not one of the religious freaks. They took something from him, he's gotta get it back.

Geri and AJ are really scared over the mindcraft. Geri says there's something real fucky going on. AJ thinks they should cut their losses and leave; the owner and the stranger are too suspicious to him.

Madi asks what they have there - or who. Robert starts whistling again. The stranger starts to get very suspicious, looking between Robert and Madison. Madison takes that as confirmation the church has a person.

Geri passes on the info about Grandmother Greenwood and the ghosts. AJ tells Madi over the mindcraft to not share info here and Madi psychically shouts back that the stranger started it. AJ chides her for not playing ignorant.

Robert tries to hint to the Stranger and Madi that maybe this isn't the place or time to talk about such things. The stranger points out the owner hasn't come back with his requested items yet and he needs directions.

Geri says in he mindcraft it's fine to give the stranger the church's address, it's a public location. And hey, maybe he'll throw himself at Derek and weaken him for the cohort.

Madi balks at the idea of letting the stranger getting murdered by demons. She tells him that she should talk with him before he goes... somewhere else. He agrees.

Geri gripes in the mindcraft that the burly stranger totally looks like he could take and dish a hit, and Madi points out the cohort has superpowers and THEY had to flee from Derek. Geri suggests the stranger might be Remade, too, if he's got such a beef with Charismatic Virtues that he's selling his wedding ring.

The pawn shop owner comes back with a knife and a desert eagle pistol. He leans in to whisper that he'll throw in a case of bullets if the stranger will come back to tell him how it worked for his needs. The stranger agrees, and asks if he can pick up a duffel bag while he's there. The owner heads to the back again to get one, but has started giving the cohort some looks.

The cohort, meanwhile, are super on edge and silently sniping at each other in the mindcraft. Accusations of kink and kinkshaming galore, while awkwardly saying nothing aloud.

Geri gets in line with her survival gear and clothes while they're all still silently arguing.

AJ has narrowed the center of the source of the "Heebie Jeebies" to the shopkeep.

Robert out loud mentions wanting a duffel bag, so both girls reply to him to buy one while they're there.

AJ full-on sounds the panic alarm in the mindcraft. He says he thinks the owner is powered and that the cohort's probably caught and they all need to scram while they can. AJ thinks he's probably in the back calling up Camille while they wait.

Madi asks if she can buy her chromebooks and burner phones and kitty cat headphones still, pretty please, she's been waiting.

Robert tries to calm AJ down by saying he could take the shopkeep, or at least bust a new exit if they get locked in. Geri tells AJ to wait, that she wants to check something.

That something she wanted to check? The shop owner's mind... to see if AJ was overreacting.

However, once she connects, she feels her temperature drop and heartbeat quicken. She knows, inately, he isn't a normal mortal but someone who's touched death. Before she can delve deeper, or do anything else, she hears shouting in her mind as The Dark Presence hijacks the connection. The raspy hag voice shouts, "He is not for you!"

Geri sees in her mind's eye the charred remains, moving as if alive, of a little girl wearing her best white dress and shoes.

The store owner returns way too soon to have had much of a phone call, doesn't seem to have a phone with him, and does have a dufel bag for the stranger.

The stranger packs up his stuff and heads toward the door, but lingers, waiting to be able to talk to Madison.

When Geri snaps out of the horrifying flashes of vision she was briefly sucked into before being unceremoniously kicked out of the store owners mind, she drops her things, going ghost-pale and sweaty. A flash of scarlet wisps spill out of her, singing her clothing and arcing like a solar flare into a gun rack, knocking some rifles over. She lets out an incomprehensible scream of terror in the mindcraft. In person, she's too terrified to make a peep, or move.

Robert scoops Geri up and she's too frozen from terror to stop him. Madi's calm and tries to check on Geri.

The store owner calmly looks over to the cohort and asks if everything's alright. And tells them while he's not gonna judge, they can't be doing drugs in line.

AJ... is not calm. Not one bit. As Madi's trying to assure the store owner that her friends are just having a bad trip, it's fine, really, AJ tries to take matters into his own hands and protect his new bestest friend.

He tells the store owner to back off and wills something to work. What actually happens is it backfires and AJ gets flung into some clothing racks like a giant ragdoll.

The stranger has by now seen some prime cut supernatural dipshittery and kinda wants to leave. The store owner himself is deeply confused and taking a step back.

Robert's clothing is getting melted and singed from Geri's Lash being active. He's telling at Madi that they need to leave, he's gonna get Geri out. Madi pleads to the guys to please just let her have the stuff she came here for. And the kitty cat headphones. Pretty please. She doesn't understand why they're all freaking out.

The chaos continues for another moment before the shop owner puts his foot down. Hard. Robert's body freezes in place with a numbing cold. The temperature in the area drops, the blinds all close, the open sign turns off, and all the doors lock. He's pissed about a bunch of random white folk waltzing into Greenwood, acting like fools, and then trying to dip without even cleaning up their mess.

So they're all gonna calm their shit. And sort things out.

Geri's finally able to calm herself out of her panic, and looks around at the chaos the cohort made with a different kind of horror. AJ unburies himself from all the clothes that buried him, disoriented, confused, but has effectively been slapped out of his immediate panic. Madi quietly, cautiously asks the shop owner if he's with the Society or the Church.

The stranger, who's been trapped in the shop, too, shout-asks for someone to PLEASE tell him what the fuck's going on?!

Robert, king of missing the point, thinks what happened is shop owner has superpowers and is mad at the cohort for freaking out about that. Madison reminds him they kiiiinda messed up his shop, and Robert argues that was Geri, not him. AJ

claims that the shop owner attacked Geri.

Geri, in the mindcraft, calls Robert a boomer and tells him to shut it.

The shop owner exasperatedly counters to Robert he's holding a girl who literally sparkled and his clothe are burning off. He says he doesn't know what they're talking about a society or a church, but he does want them to all clean up the mess they made.

Robert continues to be bull-headed, even while saying he'd like to still buy the things he picked out. He accuses the shop owner of flinging AJ across the shop.

Geri apologizes and starts cleaning up, as does Madi. AJ asks Geri what the shop owner did to her.

Geri explains in the mindcraft what happened - the shop owner is... not quite possessed, maybe possessed? She's not totally sure. But the spirit thing in his body's very protective and is what actually lashed out at her. Not the shop owner himself.

The shop owner is muttering and pissed and starts arguing back with Robert how what he's saying makes no sense. Why would he want to wreck his Own Shop?

Robert belligerently tells the shop owner to tell his roommate to calm down, then.

Geri screams in he mindcraft for Robert to shut the fuck up.

That's the last straw. The shop owner straightens his posture and tells Robert to get out and that he can wait for his friends outside.

Geri is just trying to clean things up while making it clear to Robert that she's done with his shit, too. She and Robert also keep bickering in the mindcraft even after Robert gets kicked out. Madi looks positively mortified as she's cleaning.

The owner, now calmer, asks the cohort if Robert is a racist or just an idiot.

AJ finally realizes there's been a GRAVE misunderstanding and explains all the spooky haunted vibes he could could feel coming off the owner, then hearing his friend screaming bloody murder... oops.

Geri quickly says that Robert's just a moron. She's still bickering with him over the mindcraft.

Madi tries to explain he's neither... he's just got a lot going on... but it's super complicated and they're all really sorry about the mess.

The shop owner recommends that AJ's friend (Geri) ought not peek inside people's heads without knocking first.

Madi gives Geri the most disappointed look and demands over he mindcraft she apologize.

The stranger looks increasingly confused, and like he's not sure whether he should try to leave or not. Madi promises she'll explain. The stranger replies that's why he' sticking around, even though his instincts tell him to run.

Robert's shocked to find Geri snooping where she wasn't supposed to caused this mess and finally settles down. Geri (lies and) tries to explain over the mindcraft she was just trying to investigate the big scary ghost and didn't realize it was attached to someone!

The owner is mildly amused at Geri getting that shock from The Grandmother and ribs her a tiny bit about it. He tells the cohort they can let Robert back in if he's chilled out.

Geri apologies to the shop owner and he accepts it.

The stranger lets Robert back in, and Robert immediately apologies to the owner for his earlier behavior, he explains he gets worked up over things that concern his group.

The owner says they're tighter wound than an addict going through withdrawals... but he's interested to know more about them, because they didn't come because of the ghosts, but they're not normal either.

Geri suggests in the mindcraft that Zuse thought it would be funny to send them here.

Madi and Robert explain - the only other powered people they've met have been the ones hunting them down, and when they sensed he was... different, paranoia happened.

It clicks for the shopkeeper how new to being supernatural the cohort are, and he takes some pity on them. He invites them all to the back, including the stranger - and tells the stranger if the knowledge freaks him out too much, The Grandmother can just gnaw the memories out of his head. Fix him right up.

The stranger agrees, and they all head toward the back, employees only area.

The stranger also tells Madi he's not leaving without that address. Madi tells him they gotta tell him stuff about the church first, like the literal demons there! The stranger says he doesn't know anything about demons, but does know this whole region should be avoided like the plague - lot of reasons to stay away and none to come back.

Over the mindcraft, AJ chastises Madi for telling the stranger too much. They don't know if he's trustworthy. Madi says she's not sending him to die, plus he already saw they had powers. Geri figures it can't hurt if he wants to fuck up the church, too.

AJ relents and out loud sarcastically adds that Tulsa also has fake hospitals, rogue national guard, and flesh-eating bacteria in the water - what's not to love? Madi sincerely says the fair and zoo are nice.

The back is a crowded siting room, full of shelved lined with antique. There's a 3D model of Greenwood before the Massacre and several cushioned oak armchairs. Its even more haunted than out front, with everyone able to hear the whispers.

They begin taking their seats, with The Stranger taking the one closest to the exit. Robert and AJ sit on either side of the shop owner. Geri and Madi sit together at a corner.

Madison is fascinated by the 3D model. Geri keeps looking for the source of the whispers, distracted by them all, but the bemused owner tells her she's not gonna find the source - The Gate is on the other side.

Madi asks if he means where the spirits and Angels are, and he shoots that idea down. There's only sorrow and desperation where dead go.

Robert says the owner clearly knows a lot more about the world than the cohort does, and the owner's not sure about that anymore. He knows more about some parts, for sure. He says has has no idea what they are... those that come to him are usually connected with death like Mediums, other Sin-Eaters, Vampires...

He asks about them mentioning being hunted.

The cohort has to take a moment to process the idea that other creatures are real, even though Zuse had told them before. But really, how serious are they taking the chaotic prankster who has to be convinced to wear clothes half the time?

Madi asks if he means like Twilight vampires, which makes the Sin-Eater laugh and tell her not to say that too loudly, lest one hear and want to prove the description wrong. Madi, confused and disappointed, asks if they glitter. The Sin-Eater says the kind called Daeva might, as they're ripping your heart out.

Madi says that sounds kinda like the gory birth scene, wincing and grossed out.

Robert actually answers the Sin-Eater's previous question, about the cohort being hunted. He explains the people for the Green Country in charge of the water are hunting them... and they're also being hunted by that big Church of Fuckheads. He says the bosses have powers like them, and the cohort were experimented on in a hospital, but escaped.

The stranger gets super interested when Robert mentions the Church. He asks why the church is after them AJ warns over the mindcraft, too late, to not tell the stranger about Geri's father- Geri was already telling him the church wants her back. Madi asks why the stranger wants to go there, and he repeats they have something of his. Madi tries to get more information what - or who - it is, but is interrupted.

AJ warns Robert to stop cursing cuz the Sin-Eater's grandma's here and he shouldn't be rude. Robert apologizes politely for his cursing to the entity sharing the Sin-Eater's body. Amused again, the Sin-Eater explains to the two that she isn't his grandmother, she's THE Grandmother - Something called a Geist, like mini death god.

When the cohort's curious, he explains more that The Grandmother was a little girl during the Tulsa Massacre. Farmers tied her to a tree, set her on fire. She died when the bombs fell. He continues that she wants Justice for Greenwood, vengeance.

The story moves everyone. Even, especially, the stranger.

The Sin-Eater finishes his story saying he and The Grandmother are bonded, they made a pact. AJ says that sounds like a warlock, and the Sin-eater corrects him that he doesn't fuck with magic users cuz they're crazy. AJ clarifies he meant the nerd reference 'deal with a patron' way, and the Sin- Eater agrees in that sense, it makes sense.

Madi says it's horrific what as done to The Grandmother. The Sin Eater explains the Gate they all sense is an Avernus Gate - which crop up in places significantly connected to death. He says Greenwood is full of them, and some think the area merged with the underworld because all the death of the Massacre.

Madison asks if there's a Gate at Lake Hudson. As a reminder, that's the same Lake Lucas is now. The Sin-Eater isn't aware of a Gate there.

AJ tries to comfort Madison that ghost movies always say that acts of monstrosity make supernatural stains, not accidents... and then it clicks for the Sin Eater. He says he had a friend check the lake after that big storm and all those rich teens died, but it was weird. There wasn't a single ghost.

Madi asks if spirits are the same as ghosts. And also says that the demon in the church seems like something they should worry about.

For the first part, the Sin-Eater answers no. And then confused, maybe a little exasperated asks what damn church they're talking about - and since when did demons go to church?

Geri clarifies they're not sure if he's really a demon or just has powers.

Madison explains the church is a crazy cult that kidnaps, tortures, and murders people, and maybe also works with demons, like their head of security. AJ is more sure and tells Madi that he was definitely some asshole with powers like the cohort, except awful.

Madison argues that maybe the church security head is a demon, AJ can't prove he isn't. He's super evil and demon-y and they just found out there's other creatures out there.

The stranger is, once more, entirely fascinated with talks of the church and gives the discussion his undivided attention.

AJ asks if the Sin-Eater can tell them anything about Angels, and the true machine.

The Sin-Eater explains that anything that calls itself an Angel is bad news, or at least in no way benevolent.

Madi bickers with Robert about the presence or not presence of demons in the church, with the stranger silently watching. AJ tries to get Madi to calm down by reminding her that they don't even know what all people like them can do.

The Sin-Eater, helpfully, mentions he met a demon once. And he wasn't what you'd expect a demon to be like. He explains the demon looked normal but the soul was just a patchwork of bits of other people cobbled together, and he was somehow more paranoid and edgy than the cohort. The demon had mentioned the 'God-Machine", too.

AJ pauses. Robert has a moment of Deja Vu - the phrase feels oddly familiar to him despite having never heard it.

Madison, meanwhile, asks since the Sin Eater said The Grandmother can eat memories, hypothetically, could she or someone else fix memories taken by a hypothetical crazy teen outreach lady, hypothetically?

The Sin-Eater explains to Madi that she'd need to find a healer of the mind or soul, or whoever stole the memories, and unfortunately he doesn't have anyone to point her to right now.

The stranger is vitally interested in this "hypothetical" memory thief, so the cohort explains who she is and what she does. Geri adds helpfully, and a little frustrated, that you can't light her on fire. The stranger says if she gets in the way... he'll take care of the problem.

AJ asks the Sin-Eater if God could really be a machine in the normal sense, with no one to create it or maintain it. The Sin-Eater responds he doesn't fuckin' know, that's just what the robot-demon-thing kept going on about.

Madi and Geri ask the stranger who he's going after in the church and he has a hard time keeping his cool as he speaks. It's like he's oscillating between breaking down sobbing and tearing off in a murderous rage. He explains Derek kidnapped his kid. He recognized Derek from when they were little, but it was definitely him.

Madi, Geri, and Robert immediately agree to help him, and Madison shares the church stole her best friends' memories. the Stranger asks if Agatha's dead yet, and Geri replies that the... witch just won't die.

AJ's still having his side conversation about robo-demons with the Sin-Eater. He has a hard time wrapping his brain around the idea of a robot demon but then asks if the demon mentioned anything about Antarctica. No Dice, but the Sin-Eater says he has something that might clear something up for the cohort.

But first, his interest piques at the other conversation when they mention Agatha. He says he heard the name before... from children's ghosts.

The stranger, and the others, start asking what the ghosts said, but before the Sin-Eater can answer them, Geri blurts out -

"Shit, does she ACTUALLY bathe in the blood of children?!" Horrified, as she'd previously just been joking.

And that's when hell about breaks loose. The Sin-Eater confirms it. The Stranger's about ready to go raze the church on his own. He demands the address and Geri blurts that out too, about ready to go with him and ditch the cohort if she has to.

Madi yells at Geri for telling him because now they have to go with him immediately to stop him from getting killed.

Robert tries to reason with the Rampaging Papa Bear, and tells him that if he goes now, he'll just look cool and die without ever seeing his kid. They need to do this smart. AJ backs Robert up.

Robert says he has a.... suggestion to give the stranger a chance against the church. In the mindcraft, all pretense of Robert being the sensible one is lost when he says they need to dunk the stranger in the tainted lake water to try to diverge him. Geri and Madison argue with him about why it's a terrible idea.

The Sin-Eater calms things down a notch by offering a little detail he knows about Agatha's ritual that might help them, but in order for him to tell it, they all have to be seated.

Geri, after some thought, mentions in he mindcraft that the Stranger's related to Agatha. Madi asks isn't Geri also related to Agatha? AJ tells them to stop having a third fucking conversation because it's hell on his ADHD. He also, belatedly, explains in detail why they can throw the stranger in the lake: Firstly, they don't know for sure the lake causes this. Second, way more people die than get powers, and lastly, they're not. The Fucking. Society.

Out of the blue, from the Stranger's perspective, Geri asks him if he's related to Agatha. He stares at her for a while, considering before nodding once.

Once all the Remade in the room have sufficiently cooled their jets and sat their asses back in seats, the Sin-Eater has a moment of empathy with the Stranger, saying he gets it, he's got a baby brother. And then he explains he only remembers the detail because The Grandmother despises Agatha - The Grandmother never got to grow up and start a family and here Agatha is, using her descendants as disposable resources. Every fifty years she sacrifices a descendant to steal their life essence, and it's been forty-nine.

The stranger nods at this revelation and says, if he isn't able to kill them, he'll trade. The cohort are immediately on edge, but he clarifies he means himself. He'd trade himself for his daughter, Sophie. He figures they probably actually want him, anyway.

AJ's still stuck on the idea of the Stranger being Agatha's spawn. The stranger corrects he's her grandson, for what little it's worth. He's not seen her since he was a kid.

Geri uncomfortably says that a lot of the Church's inner circle people are related to Agatha. Robert asks what the fuck is this church, the Hapsburgs? AJ says powers can be inherited... so the Stranger my be powered.

The Sin-Eater mutters he didn't know blood bathing was hereditary.

The stranger admits he can do "stuff," and just found out the nigh before. Madison gently prods him to explain, and he continues that after the kidnapping, once he came to, he tore the door and part of the wall off and can... he needs a moment for the words to describe it... become other people. Identically. And his hands can do a weird thing.

Robert, in the mindcraft, says the stranger having powers saves them the trouble. AJ reminds him they were absolutely not going to cause this guy to diverge, shut the fuck up Robert.

Madison explains Robert can transform, but more of a hulk thing than becoming other people.

The stranger asks if they all can get hit by cars and be fine, and they explain that they can't. Geri doesn't want to attempt. The Sin-Eater quips about her being okay with snooping in strangers' brains but not playing chicken with a car. Madi lists her own immunities - fire, cold, and electricity.

AJ says he learned he can get thrown randomly, but that doesn't seem useful. And also that Robert's hulk form is kinda wimpy and not that strong. Madi says she can do stuff with electricity. Geri says she can also read minds and set things on sort-of fire, and get dream info. AJ says the women of the group are the big guns.

When The Stranger's repeating back in his own words what everyone can do, including the Sin-Eater, the Sin-Eater corrects that he's not the same thing as... whatever the rest of them are. He says they sound like living proof that rumors about Project Triton are real. And then he gets annoyed a Nosferatu called Andre is right and going to be smug about it.

They ask what a Nosferatu is, Madi asking if it's like from the silent movie. The Sin-Eater laughs again, amused at the innocent naivety and says... kind of, they're all creepy, but not all ugly. He explains a few months back, Andre showed up wanting to trade some documents he claimed were from a confidential government server. The Sin-Eater didn't believe Andre then, and now owes him money from the bet he just lost.

AJ asks if he can put them in touch with Andre, and the Sin-Eater says they're not ready.

Madi assures the Sin-Eater the documents are super legit. And asks if Andre posted them anywhere because she wants to compare notes. The Sin-Eater says he has a copy still.

Madison asks if she can buy it, and also the computer stuff she was gonna buy from the front. Especially the kitty cat headphones.

The Sin-Eater considers the cohort for a long moment before asking them if they happen to know a 'little nazi-looking twink.' AJ counters, straight-faced, if they say they do, will he take him in?

Geri starts yelling at AJ in the mindcraft that they are NOT. Giving. Zuse. No matter how much of a little shit he is. AJ promises he was joking. Geri threatens that he BETTER have been.

The Sin-Eater laughs and looks over the cohort again. He explains said twink gave him a message that he was sending something of interest and a business opportunity his way.

The cohort decide in the mindcraft they're all okay with throwing Zuse in a dumpster, at least for a time-out.

Madison says that yeah, they're the... business opportunity. The Sin-Eater asks how

Zuse can leap out of cars and the cohort responds, nearly in unison, that he's a troll with trolling powers.

The Sin-Eater says he does have something he'd like the cohort can provide... since it sounds like the cohort plus gun-buying dad are on a bloody warpath, he wants them to bring back items off dead people.

Geri asks Zuse, over the Mindcraft, what he can tell them about a "business opportunity" at the pawn shop. He replies that pawn shops are always full of business opportunities. Geri tells him to try his answer again.

Zuse asks if the owner has the server information.

Madi asks why the Sin-Eater wants the "trophies" from the dead, and he responds that he can use them. AJ asks how many he wants.

Over the mindcraft, AJ tells the others he wants to do the negotiating. Geri still hasn't responded to Zuse.

The Sin-Eater responds that the answer depends whether the cohort just wants the data and Madison's electronics or building a working relationship.

Zuse assumes since Geri hasn't responded that means she's upset. And she must be upset because the pawn shop owner doesn't have the data and exactly no other possible reason.

Geri tells everyone except Zuse in the mindcraft that she's gonna find a dumpster to yeet Zuse into later.

AJ offers that since they don't know what data's being offered, if it checks out, they'll come back to the Sin-Eater for their data brokering needs and trade for dead people's stuff.

Madi starts arguing in the mindcraft that she doesn't want to murder for gain, or at all! AJ promises he won't make her a murderer. And Self-defense isn't murder, anyway. Geri mentions she can try to find out if Blake is dead.

The Sin-Eater makes a counter offer. They can walk out with the info and whatever they were looking to get from the front, but, they will owe him a trinket when, not if, it checks out. And he can trade for more things they need for more death trinkets.

The Stranger asks if telling the Sin-Eater about killing with the gun was like that, and Sin-Eater says it's the lighter version. The Stranger asks if he can get anything special for bringing a trinket, too. The Sin-Eater's more than happy to make that deal.

Geri asks for clarification - does the item have to be from the time of death or the events leading up to death? The Sin-Eater explains the time of death is usually simpler, but any possession of importance works. He says if the ghost says something interesting that'd help them, he'll tell them.

AJ seals the deal. Robert and Geri are aright with it, since they either don't have qualms abut it or understand the nuance.

Madi is quietly furious. She's stuck on the idea that she'll have to murder even though she's had assurances from everyone that she won't. The Sin-Eater even mentions that they could just find items from someone who just happened to recently die - a death they had nothing to do with.

Zuse gets excited when he realizes the mindcraft chatter has indicated the Sin-Eater definitely has the goods. Geri asks Zuse why he wasn't up front with them, why he couldn't tell them they were walking into a haunted pawn shop.

Zuse explains in his inappropriately chipper tone that their reactions needed to be authentic, of course.

While AJ and the Sin-Eater are shaking hands on the deal, AJ asks if it needs to be signed in blood. The Sin-Eater jokes for him to stop being so dramatic, it's like he's never made a deal with a guy brought back from the dead by a little death god before.

The cohort is amazed about the idea of him getting brought back to life. Madi tells him about what Lucas is and asks what he is. The Sin-Eater has no idea, he isn't like the spirits he's heard of before. He thinks the Triton experiments maybe changed rules of things, if it made the cohort. He says it's been a while since he's heard something new.

As they're about to leave, they finally all exchange names. The Sin-Eater's name is D'Vonte and the Stranger's name is Grant.

D'Vonte lets them see themselves out with whatever they were going to get and gives them three days to make good on their deal.

Madison is back to being furious once they exit. Sparks are crackling across her skin.

Geri asks Zuse what needed to be authentic. He says their reactions, of course. He figured a skilled supernatural broker like D'Vonte would go easy on a bunch of frightened obvious newbs.

AJ tries to convince Madison it will all be alright over the mindcraft, that he'll be the one to pay the price if they can't get the trinket, not her, and he's not gonna make her kill anyone. He'll make sure it gets sorted out. Zuse is elated his plan seems to have worked.

Geri makes sure to grab Madi's desired electronics on the way out, along with the stuff she'd picked out earlier, given Madi's sparking.

Once they're all outside, Zuse isn't visible in the van. He probably IS the van. Grant asks how to get in touch with them. Madi tells him to meet at the Denny's in a couple days very early in the morning.

Grant says his goodbyes and heads off in his car.

AJ enters the van silently. Once everyone's inside, the van starts up and heads off with Robert driving. Zuse talks using the radio, telling the cohort he only wanted to ensure mission success. Madison tells him she's going to throw him into a wall and asks him why that is. He doesn't know. He guesses it might be the ghosts.

Madison tells him it's not the ghosts. Zuse asks if there were other things here today besides the ghosts.

AJ softly asks for Madison's attention. Madison is still furious, ready to start sobbing, but boiling with rage. AJ, very softly, and very seriously, tells her that he would never make her do something she doesn't want to if he can help it. And he promises to do whatever he can to spare her from whatever unpleasantness he can.

The radio says he's sorry for deceiving them, it's just that the flash drive as very important. Geri asks why, why to him. He's embarrassed about this and doesn't want to talk about it so much, but it was stolen from his network. He knows the information will be relevant to the current situation... and he really wanted it back.

Madi and AJ have a touching moment, with AJ promising to never treat her as a weapon, to never make a killer out of her. He reminds her she's a good person, a good person who's had horrific things happen to her. He tells her she's made a choice to be a defender, to do her best to save people.

He hugs her as she cries, hiding for her sake the pain she's causing him from the small shocks. Geri notices whats happening and grimaces.

Geri tells Zuse to give them a head's up next time, because it turned into a huge shit-show from them not knowing what they were walking into. Zuse promises to be more up-front with the cohort. He says Dr. Werner was he one who liked hiding things for the patients' own good, he never much preferred that strategy. He likes his friends to not be mad at him.

Madison says she wants to protect AJ from anything evil touching him, changing him. She doesn't want him to have nightmares of death. AJ adds a little lightheartedness to this emotions-fest and says not to worry, he's saving his purity through slapping stickers and googly eyes over his little Home-Alone gadgets. Basically definitely an eternal virgin.

Zuse pipes up about a container of non-machine lubricant in the garage and asks what it's for if that's the case. AJ claims chapped lips, so Zuse plays a chapstick ad on the radio.

The rest of the drive is pretty uneventful. They stop at a rest stop to check the info, in case there's some issues with the flash drive. True to D'Vonte's word, it's a legitimate scan of a classified government document.

The most important sections say: The Appropriate agencies have confirmed there's no quantifiable negative waste product produced by the machine's operation, only energy generation. It concludes Aether is undetectable by modern science and the Society can proceed with zero risk of liability for uncontained Divergences, so long as they are not overly numerous. The document also defines Aether as a byproduct of "The Great Machine" unlike any known substance in the universe. It's purpose is it is capable of inducing Divergence, though the Society hasn't worked out the rate at which it does this. They have evidence it was present in the Antarctic ruins, which was code-named Atlantis.

After they finally get home, Geri has a dream to see if they might already have a trinket to satisfy D’Vonte’s deal - Blake’s (soiled) uniform from the church rescue.

She should have been careful what she wished for.

She dreams she's being buried alive, still bound in duct tape like the cohort left Blake. She knows instinctively she's about to die. She's living out his final moments.

She feels the dirt crushing her body, her chest, forcing the air out of her lungs and preventing her from taking a breath. She starts breathing in dirt.

She struggles until her vision goes out, but it’s not over. Cold hands pull her deeper, further down…

She screams herself, and the cohort, awake.

[Music Outro: "Time Will Fail Us" by Troigo]

Thanks for listening, This has been Gather ‘Round The Trashfires with Bek Andrew Evans. Please subscribe to this podcast for future updates and leave a review or comment, I’d love to hear what you think. You can follow me on a few different social platforms with the username "bekandrew." That's [spells username] on tumblr and bluesky, mainly.

If you'd like to support me, subscribe to my Patreon at Patreon.com/BekAndrewTTRPG and purchase my art prints and tabletop products, including my Deviant: the Renegades community content novella related to this chronicle via my linktree in the description.

AJ is played by Roen,

Geri is played by me,

Madison is played by Syn,

Robert is played by Pandito,

And our Storyteller is Casey Grant.

The intro theme is "_violence by Avantist" from the Free Music Archive, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0.

The end theme is "Time Will Fail Us" by Troigo from the Free Music Archive, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0.

If you like the songs, I encourage you to check out more of their work. I've linked their Bandcamps in the description.

Until next time.

Follow my Patreon at Patreon.com/BekAndrewTTRPG Check out my other work at linktr.ee/bekandrew Check out the Intro and Outro artists' Bandcamps! https://theavantist.bandcamp.com/music https://troigo.bandcamp.com/ Remember to subscribe and see y'all next week!
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