[peregaming] Bert says, "Log on."

Cuddlepaws has connected.

GM pets Cuddlepaws.

Cuddlepaws purrs.

GM says, "Remember, folks: Lovecraftian horror is always cat-friendly."

Cuddlepaws says, "I kind of settled on Cairo Ace Duke, even if it's not a particular hipsterish name"

Cuddlepaws says, "the third Duke brother"

GM says, "It's a particular name."

[peregaming] GM asks, "All ready?"

Louisa asks, "Do people call you 'Cai', pronounced 'Kye'?"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "I'm ready."

[peregaming] Cairo_Ace_Duke asks, "Can you truly be ready for Lovecraftian horror?"

Cairo_Ace_Duke says, "Of course"

[peregaming] GM says, "Hehe"

GM says, "Ladies and gentlemen, the following case was reconstructed from a series of recordings, for reason which will shortly become evident. This is the story of... 'The Dancer in the Light' *static*"

[Crows-Nest] Cairo_Ace_Duke says, "good thing there's only light static"

[Crows-Nest] Louisa says, "Yeah, with only two of us to carry it."

[peregaming] GM exclaims (at Louisa&Cairo), "You guys have recently become internet sensations after the success of your latest podcast investigation! Describe yourselves and what you are up to in the wake of popularity!"

[peregaming] GM says, "(Who will go first?)"

Cairo_Ace_Duke says, "Cairo ("like the city") is a tall, gym-fit due who wears ironic tweed suits and has a man bun. He nominally reads Bakery Science at college but really he spends his time at the local pubs explaining how his podcast is "special" and "not like the other podcasts.""

Cairo_Ace_Duke says, "s/due/dude"

[Crows-Nest] GM asks, "Did he bake his own man bun?"

Louisa Merriweather is dressed in her teaching clothes, which basically means trading her comfy jeans and sweater for slacks and a sweater. She has her hair up and her classes have chalk dust on them. She's just finishing up teaching a history class. So far, two of the students have made veiled references to the podcast, followed by giggling. A stern look her Ms. Merriweather made it abundantly clear that there will be none of that disruption in the classroom. But she's secretly pleased that they've found the podcast and apparently seem to like it.

[Crows-Nest] Cairo_Ace_Duke says, "No, but he will explain to you how "it's not a man but but a samurai topknot" and that's okay for him to wear it because his mother spend 2 years in Tokyo"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "Er, s/classes have chalk/glasses have chalk/"

[peregaming] Cairo_Ace_Duke says, "ha ha, was about to say that's some serious chalking"

[peregaming] GM says, "indeed"

[peregaming] GM asks, "By the way, quick question: how do fans usually contact you guys?"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "Twitter."

[peregaming] GM asks, "And who's most likely to be checking the podcast's Twitter right now?"

[peregaming] Cairo_Ace_Duke says, "Ace probably."

GM says (to Ace), "You were checking the podcast's Twitter and you see that there's a message from a 'Martha Bloch'! It goes a bit like this: 'Hello! I'm a huge fan of your podcast, it makes for great listening on long hikes :) The reason I'm contacting you guys is that I live in this town in the middle of nowhere with a curious history and lately weird things have been happening! Probably nothing, but it could be right up your alley!""

GM says, "There's a picture which appears to have been taken on a smartphone. It shows an old house with dozens of magpies on the roof."

Cairo_Ace_Duke calls Louisa. "Hey, Miss Merriweather, we might have something here. Some lady called Bloch and strange happenings in her hick town! Could be a multi-parter."

Cairo says, "Look at this weird pic with all the sparrows."

Louisa asks (of Cairo), "Great! Want to check it out this weekend?"

Louisa says, "And those are magpies, Cairo."

Cairo says, "Sure, I'll set up a date with this Bloch lady."

Cairo DMs Martha Bloch, saying we'll come this weekend and can she shows us around and maybe suggest a hotel.

GM exclaims (at Cairo), "She DMs you back: the place in question is an old fishing town called Hook Point and there's basically just one B&B in the whole place, for tourists. And that she's thrilled to be able to meet you guys in person!"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "Let's drive out there Friday night and meet her first thing Saturday morning."

[peregaming] GM asks, "And now, for an important question: what sort of equipment do you guys have? What metallic objects or shiny things would you be carrying?"

[peregaming] GM says, "Doesn't have to be detailed"

[peregaming] GM says, "If you have no idea, it's fine too"

[peregaming] Cairo asks, "Probaly a decent videocamera and microphone?"

[peregaming] GM says, "OK"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "Binoculars, compass, area maps (printed out), sheafs of paper notes she's printed out but hasn't gotten aroudn to reading yet from old books..."

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Noted!"

[peregaming] (from Cairo) Cairo say, "Elder Sign and a copy of de vermiis mysteriis"

[peregaming] GM says, "hehe"

[peregaming] Cairo says, "Some overpriced journalist notepad"

[peregaming] GM says, "Heh"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "Good hiking boots."

[peregaming] Cairo says, "Laptop, etc. I guess the GM means something special"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "(Second hand.)"

[peregaming] GM says, "Mainly if there's something shiny or metallic"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "Oh, a flashlight, of course."

[peregaming] Cairo asks, "Second hand hiking boots? Or good hiking boots?"

[peregaming] GM says, "let's not nitpick"

[peregaming] GM says, "I think you guys are good."

[peregaming] Louisa says (to Cairo), "Good second hand hiking boots. The kind that will last you for decades if you take good care of them, that someone decided to donate as soon as they got too scuffed up to look brand new."

GM says, "So, having prepped to the max, you guys set off in Louisa's car (I assume?) towards Hook Point on Friday night. The only vehicle you encounter is an ambulance going the other way."

[peregaming] Louisa says, "I think Louisa's car might be an old, used two-door compact thing that's about 25 years old. But she keeps it maintained, so it still runs. Barely."

[peregaming] Cairo says, "Vintage."

GM says, "It's quite dark when you reach Hook Point. The moon is hidden behind the clouds."

Louisa asks (of Cairo), "Check the map -- where's the B&B we're looking for?"

Cairo checks Apple Maps on his phone. "Right over there."

Louisa pulls into the parking area.

Louisa says, "I can go get us checked in if you want to get the gear out of the trunk."

Cairo steps out and gets loaded with a huge number of bags. "*muffled* Sure."

GM says, "The B&B is like the rest of Hook Point: old and with narrow windows that squint down on you, with a faint light coming from the reception."

[peregaming] Louisa asks, "Is Duke Cairo's last name, or one of his several first names?"

Louisa goes inside to find the deks clerk.

[peregaming] Cairo says (to louisa), "People often wonder that, and the answer is unclear."

GM says (to Louisa), "The reception desk is empty. There's a plastic bottle on the floor, which has leaked a small puddle of water into the carpet."

Louisa looks around for a bell? Or a door leading somewhere that they might be hiding?

[peregaming] Louisa asks, "Did we ever decide on a name for the podcast?"

[peregaming] GM says, "I'll let you go with whatever suits you"

[peregaming] Louisa asks, "And if not, is 'The ODD-Cast' taken?"

[peregaming] Cairo says, "With our fans being called Odd Squad, or Squadders"

[peregaming] GM says, "Yay"

Louisa asks, "Hello? Is there anybody here?"

Cairo comes in and drops all her bags.

Cairo says, "s/her/our"

Louisa says (to Cairo), "Looks like we're alone."

[peregaming] Louisa says, "Is there a key board? (I.e., a board with keys hanging from it.)"

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "There is!"

[peregaming] Louisa asks, "Are the keys for the room number on our reservation there?"

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "They are!"

Louisa says (to Cairo), "They must be on break. We've already reserved our room. Let's just grab the keys and leave them a note."

Cairo says, "Hm, okay. I'm gonna leave them a bad review though."

Louisa says, "Fair."

Cairo writes a note.

Louisa grabs the keys and goes to find the rooms.

GM says (to Louisa), "You go up the spiral staircase and find your rooms! They are quite narrow and smell faintly of mothballs. The light flickers a bit when you first turn it on."

GM says, "They do have a view on the harbour, though, which is nice."

Cairo says, "Hm, this place is kind of crap."

Louisa says (to Cairo), "It's still better than that place in Forthbank."

Cairo sets up a meeting with Bloch in the morning.

Cairo says (to louisa), "I told you that tub would leak."

GM says, "I assume you all go to bed? (Unless there's anything else you want to check)"

Louisa unpacks in her room and takes out two stacks of paper: one of printouts related to the area that she was hoping to read before they go exploring tomorrow, and one of homework assignments she needs to grade by Monday.

[peregaming] Louisa says, "I assume Louisa will get about a quarter of the way through *one* of those stacks before tomorrow. Which one, I couldn't say."

[peregaming] GM says, "Hehe"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "(But that's it for me before bed.)"

Cairo just checks instagram for an hour in bed and then tweets about how he can't sleep.

GM says (to Louisa), "You struggle to read the words. It's like the light is too harsh, reflecting off the paper as though it were water."

Louisa . o O ( OK, I'll just set my alarm early and look at this tomorrow... )

[peregaming] Louisa says, "(Spoiler: her alarm has a snooze button.)"

GM says (to Cairo), "The screen of your smarphone seems like it's stuck on white mode, and no matter how much you blink, it seems to be too white for words."

GM says, "You all sleep restfully and dreamless. There is something comforting about the dark."

GM says (to Cairo), "You are awakened by tapping at the window."

GM says, "Daylight is streaming through the window."

Cairo answers the door in his kimono. "Yes?"

GM says (to Cairo), "There is no one at the door. The tapping continues. You realize that it is coming from the window."

Cairo says, "What the..."

Cairo looks out the window.

GM asks (of Cairo), "You see several magpies flapping around, pecking at the glass. Do you open the window?"

Cairo calls Louisa on his cellphone. "Hey, Miss Merriweather, do you also see this weird magpies outside? Like on the picture?

[peregaming] Louisa asks, "Am I awake?"

[peregaming] Louisa asks, "Or does this call wake me up?"

[peregaming] GM says, "You were still asleep (having hit the snooze button repeatedly)"

[peregaming] GM says, "So yes, the call wakes you up"

Louisa asks (of Cairo), "Ugh. What time is it, Cairo?"

Cairo says, "8 am."

Louisa says, "Oh."

Louisa squints at the window.

GM says (to Louisa), "There's one rather large magpie on the windowsill. It's just sort of staring into the room. There's something odd about it, but only a deeper examination might reveal why."

Louisa says, "I see one, yes."

Louisa stumbles out of bed and toward the window.

[peregaming] Louisa asks, "Does the magpie interact in any particular way?"

GM says (to Louisa), "The magpie looks you right in the eye. And you realize something which unsettles you..."

GM says, "...its eyes aren't black. They're a sort of very pure white."

GM says, "No iris."

Louisa waves her hand in front of the window -- does it follow the movement?

[Setting the zoned flag.]

GM says (to Louise), "It ignore the movement and just keeps looking you right in the eye."

Louisa says (to Cairo), "Oh! I think it's blind."

Cairo says, "Huh."

Cairo checks out the magpies on his end.

Louisa opens the window, because why not.

GM says (to Cairo), "You notice that they all have white eyes."

[peregaming] Cairo says, "At her age, Louisa should've seen Hitchcocks The Birds."

Cairo says, "Huh, they're all blinds."

GM exclaims (at Louisa), "The magpie utters a really strange sound, not at all like a bird, and suddenly a dozen magpies comes flying in response to the call, pouring in through the window!"

Louisa exclaims, "Hey, hey, hold it!"

Louisa tries to usher them back out again!

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "I'm going to require a roll!"

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "This is within the realm of human capacity!"

[peregaming] Louisa exclaims, "And I believe that managing unrily mobs is right in my wheelhouse!"

[peregaming] Louisa asks, "Does that mean I roll 2d6?"

[peregaming] GM says, "Yep"

Louisa rolls 2 6-sided dice: 1 5 | 6

[peregaming] Louisa asks, "I do brilliantly?"

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Yes!"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "(As I quickly try to remind myself of the rules.)"

[peregaming] Cairo asks, "I think you take the higher one, IIRC?"

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Unless Cairo wants to contest that with some fun complication!"

[peregaming] Cairo says, "No, I'm good."

[peregaming] GM says, "OK"

[peregaming] Cairo says, "And eyeless Louisa won't be much use."

Louisa scoots the big one out first, closing the window behind it. She she scoops up the little ones in her arms and does a quick open/shove/close thing all in one motion.

Louisa says, "Cairo, don't open the window! They're trying to get inside to get warm."

GM exclaims (at Louisa), "Not only did you succeed, you managed to not get injured in the process!"

Cairo says, "Aw, poor things. Weird they're all blind, though."

[peregaming] Louisa exclaims, "Woo!"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "If only Cairo were here with his camera, this would probably get a ton of likes."

GM says, "What next? Your meeting with Martha is quite soon, I think"

Cairo tries to take photo out the window of the blind birds.

Cairo asks (of gm), "Is the reception staffed now?"

GM says (to Cairo), "All your photos are over-exposed"

GM says (to Cairo), "The B&B appears to be deserted."

Louisa gets dressed for the appointment! She also looks regretfully at the stack of papers she never got around to reading and decides to just fold them up and tuck them in her sweater pocket for later.

GM says (to Cairo), "And as you look at the over-exposed pictures you took... make a sanity roll"

Cairo rolls 1 6-sided die: 2 | 2

[peregaming] Cairo says, "Phew, close."

Louisa will make it downstairs eventually, with her satchel properly packed with investigating gear.

[peregaming] GM says, "Your sanity starts at 1"

[peregaming] GM says, "So that was actually high enough to increase it to 2"

[peregaming] Cairo says, "Oh."

[peregaming] GM says, "RP your fear as you think you see distorted, dancing shapes in the patterns of white over-exposed images you took of the magpies"

[peregaming] GM says, "(And I meant Insanity, not Sanity, btw)"

Louisa checks the reception desk while Cairo is looking at his phone. Is the note still there? Is there any sign that anyone has been there at all?

Cairo swipes through his photos. "What ... is that some sort of over -exposure..." *squints at the pictures* "there is ... there is something else out there. Oh shit. We might be really on to something here. But I don't like it. At all."

GM says (to Louisa), "The note is still there, as is the puddle of water."

Louisa asks (of Cairo), "Really? You've got a lead?"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "I mean, with a comment like that, of course she'd be intrigued."

Cairo says, "No, there's just-" *rubs eyes* "these shapes. They're moving, dancing---""

Cairo shows her the pics.

[peregaming] GM says, "Insanity roll! for Louisa"

Louisa rolls 1 6-sided die: 6 | 6

Louisa stares, rapt.

[peregaming] GM says, "Louisa's Insanity has increased to 2 *ding*"

Louisa says, "They're... they're beautiful."

Louisa asks, "How did you get this effect?"

Cairo asks, "I don't know. Maybe it's ... the light here is weird, isn't it?"

Louisa asks, "And you're sure this isn't just some filter you had turned on?"

Cairo says, "M...Maybe"

Cairo stares at the picture, transfixed.

Cairo says, "Let's contact Miss Bloch"

Louisa asks, "Good idea. Where did you say we were meeting her?"

[peregaming] GM says, "Options are: the harbour, her house, the tourist office..."

Cairo says, "The harbour. Let's walk there."

Louisa says, "Sounds good. We can get a look at the area on the way."

[peregaming] Louisa says, "So we walk to the harbor, and take a look at the neighborhood as we walk."

[peregaming] Cairo says, "Wrong game! oh."

GM says, "So you walk to the harbour. Nobody else appears to be out, but there are magpies here and there. You notice that the town appears to be divided into two halves, which have completely different architecture but are both quite old. As you turn towards the harbour, you notice a sort of heap hidden under a tarpaulin, just sort of there in the middle of the street."

Cairo asks, "Huh, that's weird. Roadwork, maybe?"

Cairo takes a picture of it.

Louisa peeks under the tarp, holding it up enough for Cairo to see too.

GM says (to Louisa), "You see a jagged mess of what appear to be dozens of broken mirrors."

GM says, "Many of which look like antiques, judging from the frames."

Cairo takes a picture of that as well.

Louisa says, "Huh. Someone could get hurt on these."

[peregaming] Cairo asks, "Were there mirrors in our rooms?"

Louisa says, "I guess that's why the tarp."

Louisa covers them back up again.

[peregaming] GM says, "No."

[peregaming] GM says, "Wait a second, I need to check my notes"

[peregaming] GM says, "...yes, there were mirrors, actually. Small ones, kind of old."

[peregaming] GM says, "Sorry for the confusion."

[peregaming] GM says, "So, yep, mirrors in the B&B rooms."

Cairo says (to louisa), "This will make an awesome episode."

Louisa exclaims, "And we haven't even heard the main hook yet!"

Cairo asks, "Part 1 - The city of broken mirrors. What do you think?"

GM says, "You make it to the harbour, where a middle-aged woman dressed in hikers' gear is staring at the sea."

Louisa asks (of Woman), "Martha Bloch?"

Martha is startled. She turns around. 'Yes? Who are you?'

Cairo says, "Nice boots. Did you buy them new or used? Miss Merriweather and me have this argument ..."

Martha says, "Merriwether? Oh! It's you guys!"

Martha says, "I'd know that voice anywhere."

Cairo says, "Thanks. Always nice to meet a Squadder."

Louisa says, "Yes, we're from the ODD Cast. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Martha says, "Likewise! Can we walk a bit? I've been staring at the sea a bit too long. Gets a bit dizzying."

Louisa says, "Of course! Please, tell us all about what's been going on."

Cairo says, "Yeah. *gets out his microphone.""

Louisa sits down next to Martha and takes out her notebook. It's a plain spiral-bound, college-ruled school-style notepad.

Martha says, "Can't believe I'm being recorded as I speak... Should I say my name or anything?"

Martha says, "Present myself or...?"

Louisa says, "Whatever you're comfortable with. Cairo will edit it together so it flows nicely for the listeners."

Cairo says, "Just try to ignore the mike and speak freely."

Martha says, "Oh, good. So, my name's Martha Bloch, I moved to Hook Point after my husband died a few years back, wanting to get away from it all."

Martha says, "I'm a writer, you see. And this place felt inspirational somehow."

Louisa nods in agreement but doesn't interrupt.

Cairo gives Martha an encouraging smile.

Martha says, "So anyway, this place has quite the history. You know that half the town was wiped out in a freak storm several hundred years ago? And then they had to rebuild it, but they didn't get it quite right."

Louisa scribble scribble note note

Martha says, "The McEwans were one of the families who helped rebuild-- oh, but I'm getting ahead of myself there."

Louisa . o O ( I'm *must* have something about that storm in one of my printouts... )

Martha says, "That house in the picture I sent you, that's the old McEwan place. That's where most of those magpies have been flocking in the last couple of weeks."

Cairo asks, "Can you tell us more about the magpies?"

Martha says, "So, ahem, yes. The magpies. They feature in a lot of town legends, usually as a sign of ill omen. They just appeared out of nowhere, acting weirdly, scaring the locals."

Louisa asks, "Is there usually anything special about their eyes?"

Martha says, "They have these white eyes, but they don't seem to be as blind as you'd think. I've seen one up close."

Louisa makes a note to research non-blind white-eyed magpies online later.

GM says, "I don't think I've seen them eat anything or try to pick in the garbage. They're like ghosts, it's quite freaky, actually."

Cairo says, "Yeah, we saw a few this morning."

Louisa asks, "And you say they've been acting even odder than usual lately?"

Martha says, "That reminds me, how was the B&B? It's a bit small but the owner's a lovely man."

Cairo says, "That was weird. We didn't see anyone."

Martha frowns. 'That's not possible. I spoke to him just yesterday. Did-- Did he leave a note explaining why?'

Louisa says, "No. We left one for him, but I don't think he's seen it yet."

Cairo says, "Maybe something happened to him? Maybe we should check his rooms."

Martha says, "Or the cellar. Maybe he slipped and fell..."

Louisa says, "Ooh. If he's hurt, maybe we should go now."

[peregaming] GM asks, "So you all head to the B&B with Martha?"

Roger has arrived.

[peregaming] Louisa exclaims, "Right!"

Louisa says (to Cairo), "Keep recording -- we can talk on the way there."

Cairo says, "Of course"

Louisa asks (of Martha), "So what happened at the McEwan house?"

Martha starts walking briskly. She talks on the way: 'The McEwans were a very old family. Incredibly reclusive, kept to themselves, got quite the reputation of being vampires or sorcerers. There was a legend that they didn't have reflections and that they hated light.

Cairo says, "huh, that sounds very vampiric"

Louisa asks (of Martha), "Speaking of reflections," as they pass by the tarp on the way back, "do you know why there's a large pile of broken mirrors in the street?"

Martha says, "People have been acting weirdly. I'm not sure who broke those mirrors, though..."

Cairo says, "Odder and odder ..."

GM says, "And you make it back to the B&B with Martha taking the lead. She makes a beeline for a door which leads down a dark flight of stairs. She tries to turn on the light but it doesn't work."

Martha says, "We need a flashlight or something..."

Cairo switches on the flashlight function on his phone.

Louisa has one in her satchel! She lights it and will lead the way.

GM says, "Louisa leads the way, followed by Martha and Cairo."

GM says, "You go down into an old wine cellar with empty barrels. There are some wet footprints in the dust."

Cairo says, "The spilled water bottle..."

Louisa says, "Those prints look fresh."

[peregaming] Louisa asks, "Hmm. If they're still wet, is it plausible that they were made last night or earlier, or should we conclude that they must have been more recent than that?"

Martha is breathing quite fast.

[peregaming] GM asks, "They're shining as if they're wet. Do you want to touch them?"

[peregaming] GM asks, "just to be sure?"

Louisa says (to Cairo), "Get some photos of those prints."

Louisa says, "They might be evidence if the police get involved. And if not, they'll be great promotional material on twitter."

Cairo says, "*click*"

Cairo says, "Yeah, they'll make a nice thumbnail"

[peregaming] Louisa asks, "Is this the only room we see? Where do the prints lead?"

[peregaming] GM says, "They lead to one of the barrels."

Louisa goes to investigate the barrel the prints lead to. Do they just stop there? Is it open?

Louisa carefully avoids disturbing the prints themselves in the process, though.

GM says (to Louisa), "The barrel is upright with a lid closed on it, but it appears to have been disturbed."

Cairo asks, "Huh, this is ... weird. Should we open it?"

Louisa says (to Cairo), "Turn on the camera, too -- I'm going to try to open this. Not sure what's inside."

[peregaming] Louisa says, "(Timing.)"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "(We'll just pretend what I said made sense as a response to you...)"

Louisa tries to pry up the lid of the barrel.

GM asks (of Louisa), "You pry open the lid... do you shine the flashlight on what's inside?"

[peregaming] Louisa exclaims, "I do!"

Cairo films this. "So this is the barrel the footprints lead to. Louisa will open it.

GM exclaims (at Louisa), "Inside the barrel is a man curled up in fetal position -- who screams as you shine the light on him!"

Cairo says, "Yikes!""

Louisa drops the flashlight!

Cairo drops the phone.

GM says, "His cries are horrible to hear, like he's being burned alive. The screaming stops as soon as the light is taken off him."

[Crows-Nest] (from Louisa) Martha drops some phat beats as we segue into a musical segment.

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Insanity roll!"

Louisa asks, "What the @&#^?"

Louisa rolls 1 6-sided die: 2 | 2

Cairo exclaims, "Holy hell!"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "Aw, I'm still sane."

Cairo rolls 1 6-sided die: 3 | 3

[peregaming] GM says (to Louisa), "You keep it together, barely"

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Cairo's insanity goes up! RP!"

Cairo shuffles away from the barrel. "What the FUCK is going on in this CRAZY city?

Louisa fumbles for the light, but keeps it pointed away from the top of the barrel.

Louisa asks, "It's alright... calm down. Sir, do you need us to call you an ambulance?"

Martha says, "Marc? Is that you?"

Cairo asks, "Why is there a man in a barrel?"

GM says, "The man in the barrel is whimpering."

Louisa takes out her own phone and dials 911.

Cairo takes a few deep breaths and tries to get it together.

GM says (to Louisa), "They're coming, but it'll take them some time. It's a faily remote town."

Martha says, "Marc... talk to me..."

Louisa asks, "We probably shouldn't try to move him out of the barrel in case he's injured. But maybe we should carry the barrel upstairs at least, where the light's better?"

Marc says, "(whimper) no... not the light..."

Louisa asks (of Marc), "What is it... what's wrong with the light?"

Cairo asks (of marc), "Did you ... did you see shapes in the light?"

Marc says, "...leave me in the dark... please... there's something in the light..."

Marc says, "...it's hungry... so hungry..."

Louisa raises an eyebrow. She gives a glance to Cairo. Score?

Louisa mouths, 'you'd better be recording this'.

Louisa says (to Marc), "Tell us about the thing in the light."

Cairo grabs his phone off the floor, turns off the flashlight and checks that it's still recording.

Marc says, "...it gnaws away at you... so bright... so cold... like tendrils..."

Louisa asks, "Where is this thing now? Is it in my flashlight?"

Marc says, "...it is in the light... everywhere... in their eyes..."

Cairo asks, "The magpies?"

Louisa looks into the beam of her flashlight. Nothing strange there, right?

[peregaming] GM exclaims (at Louisa), "Insanity roll!"

[peregaming] GM says, "And Cairo too, if he's looking at Louisa"

Louisa rolls 1 6-sided die: 5 | 5

[peregaming] Louisa says, "++"

[peregaming] GM says, "Louisa's Insanity increases to 3! Ding"

[peregaming] Louisa asks, "What wonderful visions do I see?"

Cairo rolls 1 6-sided die: 3 | 3

[peregaming] Cairo says, "phew"

GM says (to Louisa), "You see a sort of tree, with roots made of single rays of light, existing in an impossible space. Upon that space, like shadows, you see the real world of Hook Point, with the old McEwan house at the center of it all. You feel like the main body of this tree-like creature is trapped somehow, thrashing its irisdescent limbs wildly."

GM says, "And even you... are but a tiny shadow in its light."

Louisa keeps the flashlight pointing directly at her face. Her gaze doesn't waver from the beam.

Cairo asks, "Miss Merriweather, are you okay?"

Louisa says, "It needs our help..."

Cairo asks, "The thing ... the thing in the light?"

Louisa exclaims (at Cairo), "Do you see, Cairo? The great world tree! An Yggdrasil of light!"

Cairo films her.

Cairo asks, "Does it speak to you? You said we should help it?"

Martha says, "This is freaking me out... What are we going to do?"

Louisa eventually turns the beam away from her face. Colorful blobs dance in her vision. "It's trapped somehow. And the house from the photo -- the McEwan house -- it's at the center of this. We need to go there."

Cairo says, "Then we need to go there."

Louisa says (to Marc), "Don't fight the light, my friend."

Marc says, "...only the dark can save me... only the dark... *whimpers*"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "I'm OK with cutting to the house, unless anything else wants to happen first."

Cairo asks (of martha), "Will you wait with Marc for the police?"

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "I'm good with that!"

[peregaming] Cairo exclaims, "Me too!"

Martha says, "I won't leave him alone, you can be sure of that."

Martha says, "Be careful!"

[peregaming] Louisa exclaims, "OK!"

GM says, "You find yourselves before the old McEwan house. The magpies are swarming around it in droves."

[peregaming] GM asks, "I assume you keep narrating for the podcast?"

Cairo asks (of louisa), "What do you want to do, if we find this world tree of light?"

[peregaming] Cairo says, "You betcha"

Louisa says (to Cairo), "It was struggling, Cairo. Something has trapped it. We need to set it free."

[peregaming] GM says, "Also, breaking into the house will require a roll (but you'll get inside regardless of the roll itself, it just alters certain things)"

Cairo says, "Okay then. So, do we knock? Wouldn't want to wake the vampires. Okay, maybe we'll break in."

GM says, "You'll notice that there is nothing metallic on the outside of the house. The doorknob has been removed and so has the brass knocker."

GM says, "It appears to be barricaded from within."

Louisa looks for the hole where the doorknob should be.

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Roll it!"

Louisa rolls 1 6-sided die: 1 | 1

[peregaming] Cairo says, "Lousia gets her finger stuck in the hole."

GM says (to Louisa), "You manage to open the door, but you cut your hand badly and make a lot of noise. If there's anyone inside, they know you're coming."

Louisa says, "Well, we're in."

[peregaming] Louisa asks, "Hmm. Do I probably have first aid stuff in my satchel, do you think?"

[peregaming] GM says, "I'd say so"

Cairo asks, "I'm sure nobody heard that. Is, is your hand okay?"

Cairo asks, "I mean vampires ... and blood?"

Louisa wraps her hand in gazue. "I'll get it checked out when we're all done, but I don't think it's too serious."

Cairo says, "Stay behind me."

Cairo goes in!

Louisa nods.

Louisa follows.

GM says, "You find yourselves in the main hall. Everything is covered in black velvet, and there is absolutely nothing that would cast a reflection."

Louisa shines her flashlight around, disappointed at how little it helps.

GM says, "Stairs lead up, and a corridor leads to the back of the house with a cellar door to the side."

Louisa says, "If the people here are like Marc, we'll find them downstairs."

Cairo says, "Yeah, best place to hide a giant tree."

GM says, "Dead rats, sucked dry and headless, litter the ground."

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Insanity roll!"

Louisa says, "On the other hand, maybe we'd be better off *not* finding them."

Cairo rolls 1 6-sided die: 3 | 3

Louisa rolls 1 6-sided die: 1 | 1

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "You both keep it together!"

[peregaming] Cairo says, "We are unfazed senior investigators"

Louisa says, "...and there may be more rats in the basement. Let's go upstairs."

Cairo says, "Eww, gross."

Cairo sneaks up the stairs.

[peregaming] Louisa says, "I believe that according to the official rules, we are *fazed but still competent*."

GM exclaims, "As you begin to ascend the stairs, you hear the cellar door creak open!"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "Because, uh. Dead rats, sucked dry and headless."

[peregaming] Cairo says, "That also describes us IRL, I think."

Louisa shines her light at it!

[peregaming] Louisa says (to Cairo), "I thought that IRL we were unfazed but still incompetent."

[peregaming] Cairo says, "Yeah, I messed up. ... Wait."

GM exclaims (at Louisa), "An old man leaps out at you and tries to stab you in the neck with what appears to be a wooden stake!"

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Roll to fend him off!"

[peregaming] Louisa exclaims, "I don't think my skills are relevant, but to save my life, I'll add an insanity die!"

Louisa rolls 2 6-sided dice: 4 5 | 9

[peregaming] Louisa says, "(Is the insanity die assumed to be the last one?)"

[peregaming] GM says, "Yeah"

[peregaming] Louisa asks, "Then I succeed pretty well but make an insanity roll?"

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Yep!"

Louisa rolls 1 6-sided die: 2 | 2

[peregaming] Louisa exclaims, "And I hold it together!"

[peregaming] GM says, "You manage not only to fend off his attack but also disarm him! He scurries back into the shadows."

Cairo picks up the stake.

Louisa struggles with the man. "Get off of me, you... you..."

Cairo says, "... the hell"

Louisa asks, "What was *that* all about? Did he think *we* were the vampires?"

Cairo asks, "M...Maybe? Maybe he was some sort of prisoner?"

GM exclaims, "The cellar door creaks again, and there is the sound of... people? Scrambling up the steps on all fours? Looks like you may need to run up the stairs!"

Louisa asks, "A prisoner who's free to jump out of the basement and attack people with a pointy little spear thing?"

Cairo exclaims, "RUN!"

Cairo runs upstairs!

Louisa exclaims, "Running!"

Louisa follows!

[peregaming] GM says, "Haha, you did the thing"

[peregaming] Cairo says, "As you do in horror stories."

[peregaming] Louisa says, "I have the feeling Louisa was probably heading for the stairs already when the first guy came out."

[peregaming] Louisa exclaims, "Plus: Insanity 3!"

GM exclaims, "You find yourselves on the upper floor, running down a corridor. As you stop to catch your breath in front of a door, you hear whispering... whispering which sounds a lot like your own voices! Coming from behind the door!"

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Insanity roll!"

Cairo rolls 1 6-sided die: 6 | 6

[peregaming] GM says, "Cairo's Insanity increases to 4! Ding"

Louisa rolls 1 6-sided die: 5 | 5

[peregaming] GM says, "Louisa's insanity increases to 4 also! Ding"

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Narrate!"

Cairo exclaims, "Wait, is that us? What it is happening? What is going on? I don't can't do this anymore! This is all too weird!"

Louisa, completely irrationally, flings open the door!

[Crows-Nest] Cairo says, "Someone's listening to our podcast and we feel very silly."

GM says, "The door swings open to reveal a deserted room. In the middle of it is a circle of old mirrors with their backs turned away from you, and some sort of circle of symbols painted on the floor. No one seems to have been here in ages, and you roll another Insanity roll."

Louisa rolls 1 6-sided die: 4 | 4

Cairo rolls 1 6-sided die: 4 | 4

Louisa shouts, "Who's in here?"

[peregaming] Louisa asks, "So the mirrors are facing the center of the circle?"

[peregaming] Cairo says, "If the ... timing"

[peregaming] GM says, "yes"

[peregaming] Louisa asks, "Or... in that case, *some* of them would be facing us, no? The ones on the other side?"

GM asks (of Louisa), "There is no answer, but now the 'people' are scurrying right behind you! Can you close the door in time?"

[peregaming] Cairo asks, "We can work together, right?"

[peregaming] GM says (to Louisa), "Yeah, but you can't see the front of those ones. They're tall standing mirrors"

[peregaming] Louisa says (to Cairo), "That depends on which side of the door you're on."

[peregaming] Louisa asks (of Cairo), "I went *into* the room where the strange whispers were. Did you?"

[peregaming] GM says, "I think he was still right outside and being weirded out"

[peregaming] GM says, "He'll roll to get inside safely."

[peregaming] Louisa exclaims, "In that case, I'm apparently closing the door in his face!"

[peregaming] GM says, "While Louisa rolls to close the door"

[peregaming] GM says, "So you both roll, but for different actions."

Louisa rolls 1 6-sided die: 6 | 6

Cairo rolls 1 6-sided die: 1 | 1

[peregaming] Cairo says, "Well, I'm boned."

Louisa slams the door shut! She's inside with the mirrors and the flashlight!

[peregaming] GM says (to Cairo), "unless you want to be inside but with your foot gruesomely slammed in on"

Cairo asks, "No! Let me in! Are you crazy?"

[peregaming] Cairo says, "I think outside is more interesting."

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "OK!"

[peregaming] GM says, "Also Louisa rolled a 6 so she will see Things"

Louisa asks (of Cairo), "Are you the real Cairo or are you the voices?"

[peregaming] Louisa asks, "Excellent! What do I see?"

GM says (to Louisa), "You slammed the door in time. In fact, it feels like the door actually forced itself closed as your flashlight shone on it, as if pushed by some titanic unseen force."

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Insanity roll!"

Louisa rolls 1 6-sided die: 6 | 6

[peregaming] GM says, "(also, photon pressure)"

[peregaming] GM says, "Louisa's Insanity increases to 5! Ding"

[peregaming] GM says, "Narrate"

Louisa keeps her light beam focused on the door as she backs toward the mirrors! She has the power! She holds all the power!

[peregaming] GM says, "(Also Cairo should roll to fight off the crazed house people)"

Cairo bangs on the door. "I'm reall! Miss Merri-

[peregaming] GM says, "(He can use his Insanity die)"

Cairo rolls 2 6-sided dice: 1 2 | 3

[peregaming] Cairo asks, "Um, so how does using your insanity die work?"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "You add an extra die when you roll. It's the last one in the list."

[peregaming] Louisa says, "And if it rolls higher than your other dice, you roll an Insanity check."

[peregaming] GM says, "You can also reroll if you included your insanity roll"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "You're allowed to include it on any roll that you're willing to sacrifice your sanity to roll higher on."

[peregaming] GM says, "by rerolling all the dice"

[peregaming] Cairo asks, "So, this roll was crap because a) i failed and b) rolled higher than my SAN?"

[peregaming] Cairo says, "higher than the first one, I mean"

[peregaming] GM says, "Rolls on which you wagered your sanity are rerollable! So you can reroll both dice now"

[peregaming] Louisa asks, "But first, the Sanity check?"

[peregaming] GM says, "yep"

Cairo rolls 1 6-sided die: 4 | 4

[peregaming] GM says, "he keeps it together"

[peregaming] Cairo exclaims, "Reroll time!"

Cairo rolls 2 6-sided dice: 4 1 | 5

[peregaming] Cairo exclaims, "better!"

[peregaming] Louisa exclaims, "And this time you didn't endanger your sanity!"

[peregaming] Cairo says, "Always good, or so the voices tell me"

GM says (to Cairo), "You find that these 'people' are scared of the light of your phone! And you manage to scare some of them away."

Cairo exclaims, "Fear the light!"

Louisa keeps her flashlight beam on the door while she backs up. She's looking over her shoulder, trying to see into the circle of mirrors.

Cairo tries to get in the door again, while holding his flashlight on the people.

GM says (to Louisa), "You catch the faintest glint of light from the circle of mirrors. It stays in the same part of your mirror even when you turn away, like an afterimage. Only this one grows and grows until you can only see bright white light through one eye, with the other one still normal. (Insanity roll!)"

Louisa rolls 1 6-sided die: 5 | 5

[peregaming] Louisa asks, "'Same part of your mirror'?"

[peregaming] GM says, "I mean vision"

[peregaming] GM says, "field of view"

[peregaming] GM says, "clearly I am being possessed by the mirror mirror mirror"

Louisa closes one eye, then opens it and closes the other, testing what she sees now.

[peregaming] Louisa says, "(But I should let you respond to Cairo before I keep doing things.)"

[peregaming] GM says, "yeah"

GM exclaims (at Cairo), "The door seems to be held shut by a titanic force!"

[Crows-Nest] Cairo exclaims (at Louisa), "The statue is closer now!"

[peregaming] GM says, "Roll for it"

Cairo rolls 1 6-sided die: 5 | 5

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Your insanity increases to 5!"

[peregaming] GM says, "Since the only die that could help with something like this was your Insanity one"

[peregaming] Cairo asks, "But I do get the door open?"

[peregaming] GM says, "RP how you open the door using the light you have which pushes against it"

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "It looks no longer like a beam of light but like a deformed tentacle or tendril!"

[peregaming] Cairo asks, "So the light is helping me?"

[peregaming] GM says, "Yes"

[peregaming] Louisa asks, "Cairo uses his light to push the door open from the other side?"

[peregaming] GM says, "yeah"

[peregaming] Louisa exclaims, "That means that when the door opens, his light is shining at me, and mine is shining at him!"

[peregaming] GM says, "Yep"

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "more insanity rolls!"

Louisa rolls 1 6-sided die: 1 | 1

[peregaming] GM asks, "Cairo? Your insanity roll?"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "(Waiting for Cairo to RP entering the room...)"

Cairo shines his light on the door and it opens, reluctantly. He pushes, more with his mind than his strength, and the door flies open! He shines his light at Louisa.

Cairo rolls 1 6-sided die: 2 | 2

[peregaming] GM says, "You keep it together! barely"

Louisa exclaims (at Cairo), "Come here! There's something in the mirrors!"

Louisa, now that Cairo's inside and the door's open anyway, turns her light to point into the circle.

Cairo stumbles closer and looks at the mirrors.

GM says, "The light reflected starts getting brighter and brighter. The mirrors start vibrating. Shapes are dancing in the light."

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Insanity rolls for all!"

Louisa rolls 1 6-sided die: 4 | 4

Cairo rolls 1 6-sided die: 6 | 6

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Cairo goes mad!"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "We're both at 5 now, r-- oh."

[peregaming] GM says, "This is a very special moment, so take your time to RP how you go completely insane, Cairo"

Louisa exclaims (at Cairo), "Hold the light! I think we're helping!"

Cairo says, "The light, Miss Merriweather ... the light - it's so beautiful. The dancing - You can dance in there eternally!" *Cairo moves towards a mirror. There is a flash. He is gone."

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Insanity roll for Louisa!"

Louisa rolls 1 6-sided die: 3 | 3

Louisa exclaims, "Don't go! Don't leave me behind!"

[peregaming] Louisa asks, "Do his phone and microphone clatter to the floor as he vanishes, to be recovered later?"

[peregaming] GM says, "Yes"

[peregaming] Cairo says, "... still recording ..."

[peregaming] Louisa says, "Phew."

GM says, "The light is getting brighter and brighter all the while."

[peregaming] Louisa asks (of GM), "*Do* I see the tree in the light...?"

[peregaming] GM asks (of Louisa), "You can see its branches whipping out, but it's still trapped. Something's still left to be done. Do you roll your insanity die to figure it out, or do you have a plan?"

Louisa picks up Cairo's phone, and she also takes her phone and turns on its flashlight mode as well. With the phones in her hands and her own flashlight under her arm, she has three beams pointing at the mirrors now.

[peregaming] Louisa exclaims, "But I do want to see if I can think of anything more!"

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Roll it!"

[peregaming] GM says, "You can use an expertise die, since you're used to weird things"

[peregaming] Louisa asks, "I assume it's not humanly possible, but making plans to keep struggling teenagers focused seems plausibly similar to making a plan to save this struggling entity?"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "Timing."

Louisa rolls 2 6-sided dice: 3 6 | 9

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "So you figure it out AND go mad!"

Louisa rolls 1 6-sided die: 5 | 5

[peregaming] GM says, "Wait, no, you're still sane"

[peregaming] GM says, "sort of"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "Aw."

[peregaming] Louisa asks, "What do I figure out?"

GM exclaims (at Louisa), "In a flash, you realize that if you could break the circle of mirrors by moving one of them, then the light would be able to be free!"

Louisa exclaims, "Of course!"

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "I assume you do so! And it doesn't require a roll!"

Louisa opens a gap in the circle of mirrors -- a gap which at the moment it's opened, she would presumably still be standing in herself.

[peregaming] Louisa says, "At this point, I'm almost hoping *not* to go fully insane."

GM says (to Louisa), "You are flooded by pure white light which pours through the gap like a flood. The entire house shakes to its foundations, and cracks open in the roof."

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Insanity roll!"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "Because I want an epilog of my own."

Louisa rolls 1 6-sided die: 2 | 2

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "You stay sane!"

[peregaming] GM says, "And will have an epilog."

[peregaming] Cairo says, "The one's who stay sane are the sorriest ones."

GM says, "Everywhere in Hook Point, the houses are flooded with the same white light. And one by one, they all fade, like shadows in the noonday sun."

GM says, "When Louisa comes to her senses, she is in a featureless plain near the sea, where the town once was. No traces of it remain."

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Narrate your epilog!"

Louisa says, "TWO WEEKS LATER:"

Louisa exclaims, "Hey, Odd Squad! We've got a very special edition of the ODD Cast for you this time around. Sorry about the delay, but I had to edit this one all on my own -- and you'll find out why!"

Louisa says, "It all started with a message from one of our loyal Squaddies a couple of weeks ago. So sit back, and I'm going to tell you all about the story of the Dancer in the Light. Starting with Part 1: The City of Broken Mirrors..."

[peregaming] Louisa exclaims, "And everyone in the Odd Squad gets to make their own Insanity roll!"

Louisa says, "</epilogue>"

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Woo!"

[peregaming] GM says, "Great job."

[peregaming] Cairo exclaims, "Woo!"

[peregaming] GM says, "It's almost as if Louisa had prior GM experience"

[peregaming] Cairo exclaims, "spooky!"

[peregaming] Roger asks, "neat! Was this Cthulu Dark?"

[peregaming] GM says, "Yep"

[peregaming] Louisa exclaims, "It was!"

[peregaming] GM says, "One player went mad, the other barely survived."

[peregaming] Roger says, "cool beans"

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Anyhow, this was exciting!"

[peregaming] GM asks, "How did you all like it?"

[peregaming] Louisa exclaims, "It was fun!"

[peregaming] GM says, "Yay"

[peregaming] Cairo asks, "I think the last time most of us went crazy?"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "I was starting to worry it wouldn't fit in one session, but it worked out just fine."

[peregaming] GM says (to Cairo), "actually we all stayed completely sane, no one went to 6"

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "I only went 20 minutes over!"

[peregaming] Cairo exclaims, "Woo!"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "Last time, I think some people actually suppressed mythos knowledge to keep sane."

[peregaming] Cairo says, "So now Cairo is the Dancer in the Light"

[peregaming] GM says, "indeed"

[peregaming] GM says, "very poetic"

[peregaming] GM says, "he did it before it was cool"

[peregaming] Louisa asks, "I take it the scary people in the basement were the 'good guys' trying to stop the Dancer?"

[peregaming] GM says, "Yep"

[peregaming] GM says, "Descendants of the McEwans who had trapped it"

[peregaming] GM says, "staying out of the light took its toll on them"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "How did the magpies fit in? I'll admit I was surprised when it turned out that the fat magpie *wasn't* the innkeeper."

[peregaming] Cairo says, "heh"

[peregaming] GM says, "The magpies got possessed by tendrils of the Dancer when they got attracted by the shiny reflections"

[peregaming] GM says, "it was their love for shiny things that DROVE THEM MAD"

[peregaming] Cairo says, "ohhh. All the cats were probably possessed to."

[peregaming] Louisa says, "Ah, makes sense."

[peregaming] GM says (to Cairo), "Probably! You just never met them"

[peregaming] Louisa exclaims (at Cairo), "Good game! Thank you for running it!"

[peregaming] GM says, "uh"

[peregaming] Cairo exclaims, "I didn't!"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "Er."

[peregaming] Cairo exclaims, "I was just enabaling!"

[peregaming] Louisa exclaims (at GM), "Good game! Thank you for running it!"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "Sorry, all you Europeans look alike."

[peregaming] GM says, "It is the sort of game that Cairo would run though, very moody and cool like the Necromancer stuff"

[peregaming] Cairo says, "It's the moustache and the striped shirt"

[peregaming] GM says, "honh honh honh"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "He wouldn't run the regular CoC, though. That's too mainstream. But Cthlulhu Dark is retro."

[peregaming] GM says, "so anyway, I'm really happy this worked out. Turns out writing out your oneshot as if it were a prepublished campaign is handy"

[peregaming] GM says, "as opposed to chaotic notes crawling with Nyarlathopy ooze"

[peregaming] Cairo says, "A round of regular CoC could be fun"

[peregaming] GM says (to Cairo), "I probably wouldn't have the skill to run it, though"

[peregaming] Cairo says, "Just TPK and call it horror"

[peregaming] GM says, "LOL"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "Hmm. Was it Jeff who ran CoC here once? Or Ender? Or... hmm. I don't remember."

[peregaming] Cairo says (to Louisa), "I think it was ... Ender's Game."

[peregaming] GM says, "hah"

[peregaming] GM says, "Anyway, I'm going to bed; I really enjoyed GMing for you guys! That ending was awesome."

[peregaming] Louisa exclaims, "Yay. I enjoyed playing it!"

[peregaming] GM says, "Squee"

Roger goes home.

[peregaming] Cairo exclaims, "Yes, this was great! I like for my characters to go mad!"

[peregaming] Cairo says, "um, did we transcript?`"

[peregaming] GM asks (of Cairo), "I would quote you but you are alas in costume?"

[peregaming] GM says, "Bert should have the transcript normally"

[peregaming] Cairo says, "You can add the quote to my quotebook"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "'quote GM'"

[peregaming] Louisa says, "(And yes, Bert's logging.)"

[peregaming] Cairo says, "Hah, this has some great ones"

[peregaming] GM says, "Quoted! the raven, nevermore"