Session Zero Heroes - A TTRPG Actual Play Podcast
Episode 3
Speaker A: Uh, Jasmine, oolong, green and white. Long ago, these four teas were skilfully brewed at the blissful Brew. Then everything changed when the shop's popularity threatened its existence. All Mr. Okuron, the shop's owner and tea master, could do was to recruit four teenage orphans to learn his trade and staff his shop. A year has passed since the orphans were hired, and although their skills have progressed, they still have a lot to learn before they can brew anything. But I believe that they have the potential to make the blissful brew the greatest tea shop in the world. Last time on Benders and Brews, an Avatar Legends podcast.
Speaker B: What in the world is going on?
Speaker C: We kicked out a drunken.
Speaker B: This, uh, young man, so he steps into the shop. I need to have a word with you outside, old man. The guy says you owed us the money for the whole month and you haven't paid up yet. You have until tomorrow. Please, that's not going to be enough time to get the money together. Okay, fine. I'll give you to this weekend. But if you don't pay me by then, I'm trashing the tea shop and taking whatever I want. Wild Coyote boars. Let's roll out. They're a group that offers, uh, protection services. I've always been able to make the payments, but this month, a customer called in a fairly large and expensive order. It was going to be a catering job for a very wealthy individual here in town. They bailed on the order and canceled it, and now I'm stuck with all these incredibly expensive ingredients. I don't know what else to do.
Speaker C: I want to talk to the rich.
Speaker B: Hello, everyone.
Speaker A: Welcome to Benders and Brews Podcast, a.
Speaker B: Non canonical avatar Legends real play podcast. My name is Skylar Gorset, and as always, I am the game master, creating the story alongside my co writer, Nick Van Parson. Yeah. And then bringing it to you and of course, these fantastic players around me. And today's question, as the players go around and introduce themselves, is at a festival, what activity does your character gravitate to? Connor, tell us a little bit about what Brock Lee would gravitate to. Yeah, uh, Brock, um, Lee, the strapping young earthbender he is, would take his talents over to the dunk tank, where he would be chucking rocks. He really likes Chuck's and rocks. He loves Chuck's and rocks. He will be chucking rocks at that dunk tank all day long until the water is absolutely disgusting. Whether it's seagulls or targets. He's hucking rocks. He is hucking rocks all day. Does he, uh, often accidentally or purposely miss the target to hit the person in the dunk tank? Uh, on occasion, but I think he gets enough satisfaction on dunking them into disgusting water. Something about that just. Yeah, that definitely seems more satisfying, for sure. Oh, yeah. Dave, tell us a little bit about. He would. He's had a lot of experience with festivals, uh, carnivals. Um, so he would probably go to the kissing booth. You know, that makes a lot of sense because as someone that grew up in the carnival, like you mentioned before, he knows that game. A lot of them are just scammed. They're just scams. So it's like, you know what? At least with a kissing booth, I'm getting something for my money. Exactly. Uh, that makes so much sense. That's so great. Friggin love, Guohan. I feel like he's the Chubby kid, but he also has a lot of built up confidence, and I love that. I love that about him. Uh, Cameron, with what, what, uh, does he do at festivals? Uh, Bill door goes to the ring. Okay. Okay. And spends many hours tossing rings. Tossing rings. Is there a prize that he's really trying to get? Success. Success. Just wants to prove himself. He just wants to make one that's fair. They're pretty much impossible. So slippery. They're so slippery. And he gets sweatier the more he throws the bed. Right. Gets more into it and only gets more brow arches. Um, it's like that meme of that kid where his veins are popping. Yeah. Uh, it's basically that, but with the ring tossing, and he loses a lot of money on it. That's understandable. Ring toss. And the one where you try to get the ping pong ball in the bottles or whatever, but he usually uses up all his money and then they feel bad for him, uh, because he's out of money, but he really wants to get it. So they just let him keep going because it's not about the prize. They're like, I don't care, just keep playing. Very angry. He's got something about it. And, uh, he wants to get that ring on that bottle eventually. Yes. So 5 hours later. Awesome. Um, Mika, what do you do at festivals? Has Mika ever gone to a festival?
Speaker C: Sorry, Michaela playing, but you know, she's gone to more know, just kind of know the ones where you have to wear like masks or whatever.
Speaker B: Sure.
Speaker C: Or. I don't know. I guess. I suppose if they were in the Earth kingdom, then she probably would visit one without a mask, but.
Speaker B: Right.
Speaker C: I'm going to say that she have, like, rides.
Speaker B: Sure.
Speaker C: Yeah, she does that. She likes the thrill.
Speaker B: Sure. I would be interesting to come up. How do people in this era kind of create rides? How would they run? Um, them. But I'm sure there's a way, there's got to be a way if vendors are actively bending as the little roller coaster goes down the tracks because, like, the delivery system.
Speaker C: Yeah.
Speaker B: Oh, yeah. So it'd be kind of sort of like that.
Speaker C: That were like carnival games, because she has a couple of tricks up her.
Speaker B: Sleeve, so she likes to scam back.
Speaker C: Yeah.
Speaker B: Okay, cool. Very cool. That makes sense, given that she's a so awesome, awesome, cool. All right, let's jump into things, amiga. Ah. Like I said, as you pass through kind of like this marketplace district and things like that, pretty, um, much almost immediately afterwards, the houses that start popping up are pretty nice houses. Um, you've kind of entered, like, if not middle, upper middle class, like the upper class section. So you're looking around and eventually, sure enough, you do find a, um, very large, nice house. Not a mansion necessarily, but it's a big, nice house. And on the decorative mailbox, that looks exactly like the house itself, just like a mini version of it with a little door in the front that a mailman could put the Mail into. It says Shifu family.
Speaker C: Um, I'm going to roll my eyes at that. And then, um, there's a gate or something. I'm going to knock on it.
Speaker B: It's a small gate.
Speaker C: I'm going to open it.
Speaker B: You do that, and you step inside and you make your way up the path to the door of this fine house. They're fairly large, ornate doors.
Speaker C: Then I knock on a door.
Speaker B: All right, you knock on the door, and the door opens. And a man dressed in a long robe, holding his hands in kind of almost like a prayer like position as he steps up to the door and he says, yes, welcome to the Shifu residence. How, um, can I help you? It's rude. Don't just stare at him, just start laughing. Laughing at his butthole. Is the robe pink or something? Do I have something in my teeth? He starts, like, picking into his teeth with his tongue. Did I get it?
Speaker C: Yes, you got it, sir.
Speaker B: Good.
Speaker C: Um, I was just wondering if I could speak to the head of the household. And I kind of give him, like, a curtsy, but it's kind of wobbly because I don't do it very often.
Speaker B: Oh, well, Wesley, they're not taking any visitors at this time because the master of the house is actually not, uh, here at the moment.
Speaker C: What about the madam of the house?
Speaker B: She's with him. They are both attending, uh, a party today. They're out shopping, uh, I believe, getting their attire ready.
Speaker C: Do you know how, um, long they're going to be out?
Speaker B: I would say until roughly. Well, I believe the master typically likes to eat out at a very particular restaurant in town. So I assume he will do that with the mistress for lunch. Take her out to a nice little sit down and then post that. Uh, they will probably maybe do a couple more little bits of.
Speaker C: Okay, I get it. Uh, do they have, like, a little master or madam of the house? Uh, child, per se?
Speaker B: Well, no, the master and mistress. How do you say this? Um, Baron, you're getting a lot of information about this family. This guy doesn't talk to many people.
Speaker C: Well, you see, um, I was just hoping to talk to somebody. I work at a tea shop in town, and, um, I just wanted to talk to somebody who would maybe give me some information about it.
Speaker B: He puts his hand on your shoulder and he says, I know what it feels like to not have many friends to talk to.
Speaker C: I wanted to talk to him about a tea deal. Then, um, I kind of pat his hand.
Speaker B: He removes it.
Speaker C: Awkward.
Speaker B: Kind of embarrassed. Well, they did discuss something about a, uh, tea deal. Uh, something for tonight's Padre, I believe. Um, I don't quite remember the details. Are you catering tonight? Is, uh, this a situation in which there's an error with the catering deal?
Speaker C: Yes.
Speaker B: Oh. What seems to be the problem? I can send a messenger.
Speaker C: Well, uh, do you mind if I just come in and rest my feet on the sofa? I'm feeling a little parched. Just a long walk. Uh, we could sit and have a chat.
Speaker B: Normally, I don't roll a plead.
Speaker C: He wants a friend.
Speaker B: Uh, yeah. And you're pleading to have him let you into the house and be his friend.
Speaker C: I'm going to use my roguish charm.
Speaker B: Okay.
Speaker C: Why? I'm ortle.
Speaker B: That fits really well. What was the beginning of that? The roguish charm.
Speaker C: Um, so if I can plead with an NPC or guide and comfort someone by flattering them and empathizing with them. Mark one, fatigue to roll with creativity instead of harmony.
Speaker B: You are definitely empathizing with his desire for a friend.
Speaker C: Exactly.
Speaker B: You rolled two dice.
Speaker C: Oh, I rolled two.
Speaker B: What did you roll with the first one?
Speaker C: A six. So I got an eight.
Speaker B: And then you rolled with creativity.
Speaker C: Yeah.
Speaker B: All right. On a seven to nine, they need assurance or something extra before helping. Well, normally. Normally the family, uh, doesn't allow, uh, guests when they are not at home.
Speaker C: Well, I'm a guest for you right now. Um, I just hoping.
Speaker B: Hoping.
Speaker C: We could just sit and check, because like you said, I don't have a lot of friends, and you probably have lots of friends, but I just thought maybe we could just have a little bit of conversation. Maybe you could cheer me up some.
Speaker B: A tear drips down his eye, and he says, it may come as a surprise, but I, in fact, do not have a lot of friends, and I would be absolutely honored to have you, uh, come in and chat with me. And he sort of does a very. Butler steps to the side of the door with it open and kind of bows with his hand outstretched into the building to allow you entrance.
Speaker C: I slide my arm into his folded arm, and I walk him into the house.
Speaker B: Look back out the door.
Speaker C: Yeah, I'll look back at the door, and I'll wink at them.
Speaker B: Okay. Bill's flashing teeth on dropping. Uh, okay. So he closes the door as you two step inside. Um, he leads you into sort of. There's, like, the big foyer, main area, very decorative, set up in such a way to really accentuate the decorative and fineness, uh, of their house, I suppose. And then he leads you, uh, to the left, where there's sort of like a sitting room, kind of, um, not a dining area, but sort of just like a congregating room. Man, I've been in enough, like, old house museums. I feel like I should know these terms, but m it's not really my thing. Uh, but anyway, so there's a fireplace, and it's not lit at the moment. Um, gathering room. Yeah. A gathering room. Yeah, that might be it. And then there's some fine chairs and some couches, maybe, like, one or two bookshelves, but nothing, like, substantial. It's mostly just decorative to make it look nice and things like that. Um, obviously, there's a large, ornate crystal chandelier hanging above you, things like that. So he offers you a seat, and there is a nice little teapot and tea set sitting there. He immediately pours some tea, and he hands you one of the cups, and then he sits across you and crosses over his legs. He says, this is almost feel naughty having guests in the house without the master here. So tell me, what's your name?
Speaker C: First of all, my, um, name is Nika.
Speaker B: Nika. That's with an yes.
Speaker C: Yep.
Speaker B: Oh, Nika. Very nice to meet you. My name is Sebastian. That's the worst alias I've ever heard.
Speaker C: You're supposed to pick something that's close to your name.
Speaker B: Yeah, but not like if someone mispronounces your name normally as. So, Nika, please tell me, what is it you do? You said you work for tea shop. Please tell me about that. I hope that the tea that I prepared is up to standard.
Speaker C: It's delicious.
Speaker B: Thank you. That means so much coming from you, Nico.
Speaker C: Uh, yeah, I do work at a tea shop. Sometimes I'm making the tea, sometimes. Uh, um, uh, I do the dishes. Sometimes I serve the customers a little bit of everything.
Speaker B: He leans forward, he puts his hand on, uh, your knee. Not in a weird way. And he just looks you in the eye and he says, I do all of those things here, too. We have so much in common.
Speaker C: We're going to be the best of friends.
Speaker B: I would like to think so. Pardon me. Pardon me. I am just so emotional. I don't get to show all this. Normally in front of the master and the mistress, I have to keep a straight face, and I have to always come across as professional at all times.
Speaker C: I kind of pat his hand and I say, they're there. Let it all out.
Speaker B: Thank you. He takes out a hank. He kind of dabs away, uh, just below his eyes at the tears that are starting to form and things like that. And he says, so you've mentioned something about some sort of tea deal that the master and the mistress have ordered for the party tonight.
Speaker C: Yeah. Well, uh, we had some really the finest of tea set up for them, and it's just really great tea. But, um, there was a miscommunication and when we're supposed to deliver it and payment and stuff. And I was just kind of wondering, uh, if I could talk to him about that.
Speaker B: Um, as I mentioned before, uh, maybe I could retrieve the order form, uh, and if you want to write notes on it, and I could have it sent off to the master, wherever he's at. Like I said, I can send a footman, a messenger who can rush it over to him. That way, he has all the information that he needs.
Speaker C: Uh, yeah, that would be great.
Speaker B: Okay, so he rushes off, um, and he quickly brings back a sheet of paper. Uh, wait, hold on.
Speaker C: Yeah. Why? He's out of the room. I'm pickpotticking their couch cushion.
Speaker B: Okay. Yeah. You find, um, a handful of copper pieces between the cushions.
Speaker C: Okay.
Speaker B: I'm going to say five.
Speaker C: Okay.
Speaker B: And you find one silver piece hidden amongst them. These guys counting money on their couch, that is equivalent. It would. 1% of what we need. Yes. Oh, wow. Uh, I guess it would probably be from the. They have guests over, they bring them into the guest room for everybody to talk and chat. And then, uh, every once in a while, the money slips out of your pocket, as it does in our day, in our time, into the cushion seat. Um, they never have to look for.
Speaker C: A spare change because they always got it.
Speaker B: Maybe they had a party recently, and Sebastian just hasn't had a chance to really dig under the seats. Know, maybe that's the one flaw in this butler's routine, is he just relaxed to do that.
Speaker C: He sounds like he does a lot.
Speaker B: He does. He does, like, cry.
Speaker C: He doesn't get to do that very often.
Speaker B: Is there anything else that you do, uh, before he returns?
Speaker C: Um, no, because I don't feel like I have enough time.
Speaker B: Yeah, that makes sense. I was going to say you might be pushing your luck at that point. Um. Okay, cool. So you manage to scrounge that up, and then you quickly sit back down, as you can hear his feet squeaking, the floorboards under his feet squeaking as he makes his way back. Clown shoes. And, uh, he comes in and he hands you a sheet of paper, and you open it. And it is not an tea order catering form from, uh, the blissful brew. It is a tea ordering form from some company called Hot Leaf juice.
Speaker C: Hot leaf juice. Betrayal.
Speaker B: And it talks about, uh, the catering for a party tonight with tea and ingredients that seem similar to what Mr. Okaron had been describing previously. Um, but obviously, again, this is not the blissful brew that is providing it.
Speaker C: Um, okay, so this is, like, an order form. M so does it have the hot leaf juice address and information for payment, or it's just the name and what they order?
Speaker B: Yeah, it has their information on it, too.
Speaker C: Can I, um, write down the blisterful bruise information instead?
Speaker B: Yes.
Speaker C: Is it eraseables or in ink?
Speaker B: Probably it's in ink. Yeah.
Speaker C: I can't forge a document. What is the address?
Speaker B: Um, so it is from out of town? It is actually from the capital, but it looks like that they are traveling. They're sending kind of a mobile unit to this town, uh, for this special order.
Speaker C: Does it say anything about payment, how that's going to be made or processed or anything?
Speaker B: It says that it's already been paid in half, and then the other half will be after the party tonight.
Speaker C: Okay.
Speaker B: Yeah.
Speaker C: Um.
Speaker B: As you look it over, he kind of says, well, what is it that you will need to edit on this or any notes like I said that you needed? I can write it, or you can write it. Um, and then, uh, like I said, I can have it sent off, uh, to the master and the mistress and, uh, let them know that there was a change in it. And they can probably stop by your establishment or whatever the case, to, uh, handle that during their day. Like I said, probably after brunch or lunch or whatever meals come after that. Meanwhile, outside of the house, three men stand awkwardly at the front gate. I'm in a bush. Three men or two men, stand awkwardly at the gate, while one man stands awkwardly in a bush. I like to think that you're literally just, like, your feet up to your waist or just in a bush, but you're just standing there with your arms, like, just slightly out at angle. I'm invisible. They can't see me, guys, but I can see them. Are we able to see Mika or Nika in the house from where we're at? Um, you might just be able to catch, like, a glimpse, at least at some point of them, walk past one of the windows to show which room that she's in. Is he crying? He's been crying a lot, if that's what. That's his. That he's really happy. Well, she's not dead yet. I can't believe she made it into the parlor, honestly. Same parlor. Wow. So we don't need to go in to help her, do we? She seemed to have it on her own. Probably not. I mean, what else could happen? She goes in, she steals money. Now, obviously, you can't hear anything that's. That's being said inside of there, but at, uh, one point, you do see him lean forward in what looks like he puts his hand on her. And then we got a great view. Apparently, she seems to lean forward as weLl. Whatever that means to you guys. That dude's, like, three times her age. What's she doing? She's 14.
Speaker C: I'm 17.
Speaker B: That's still not legal. You can catch a case with that guy, get him in court, and that's how we get our money, bro. I don't think he's got the money, though. Uh, I don't know. Maybe she needs a distraction. Thank you. She's the distraction. No, maybe she needs a distraction. Remember, she wanted to look through, like, couch cushions or something? That's what she said. Uh, maybe we need one of us to go to the door and be like, uh, delivery. Got squid. Squid. Fresh squid. You ordered, like, a door to door squid sale. These rich people, they order a lot of weird things. Keep getting better and better. Honestly, I always take a squid with me wherever I go. But what other situations do we find ourselves in where we might need a squid? Like the Bob episode where he gets a banjo and he's like, I'm just waiting for my banjo moment. Linda, uh, this is the squid moment. If it's the squid moment, I'm with you. I'll go up with you to deliver a squid. She needs a distraction, like a group of door to door missionaries with your squid. I didn't think three of us were going to. You already went. Okay, well, uh, Mika, as you're sitting there looking over the knock on the door, he's, uh, still in the bush. And, uh, Sebastian says, oh, you must excuse me, it seems that we have other guests at the house. And he rushes off over to the door. Lohan, are you the only one that went and knocked on the door? Broccoli. I didn't go with them. You didn't go in the bush? So you two are still kind of in the bush? Yeah. And then just go, okay, I need to be clear. I'm in the bush, he's in the bush. Got it. So when they were having a conversation earlier about plans. Right. It was a bush talking to them. Good. Got it. Just like Moses in the desert, except I'm a man inside of a bush, not an actual bush. Um, it may look like that. It may look like a talking bush at first glance, but it's actually just Bildor in. Got it. Okay. Talking. UH, okay. So, Gohan, the door opens and there's a man, fairly, ah, older man, like I said, in the long robes with the sort of prayer hand symbol going on. And he says, yes, how can I help you? Oh, hey there, Mr. We got, uh, a squid delivery for, uh, seafood family. Oh, I believe you mean to say seafood. Yes. May I? Did you order squid? I did. Not personally, but, uh, I'm not 100% knowledgeable about the affairs of my master and mistress. I am simply the butler here. But I suppose if they ordered a squid, I can take the squid. Well, you don't want to take a look at it first? Oh, yes, of course. Uh, may I see the squid to make sure that it is, uh, alive? Midworder? Yeah. I pull out the box, I do some earth bending, open it up, there it is sloshing around, its little tentacles, kind of plopping out and back into the water here and there. Yes. This looks like a very fine squid specimen. Did they specify what this specimen was for? I don't know what you rich people do. I just deliver the squid yes, of course. Is there anything I need to do in order to keep the squid alive or, uh. Uh, what are these squids typically used for? Well, I'm not sure exactly. I mean, I usually just eat squid, but they ask for it alive. Right? I don't know what weirdo would ask for alive squid. Maybe this is for the party tonight. It's not hosted here, but it would be something maybe they're taking with them. They were in charge of the tea order. Well, all right, so what we want to do, keep this squid alive. Until then, we got to find a nice, cool, uh, area to keep this in. So if you allow me in, I'll come and find such an area here. Yeah, I'll have you roll a plead as well. It's harmony. I got an eight. Okay. Uh, well, cool place. Uh, I probably could take it myself and, uh, figure it out. Well, I don't know. You didn't seem to know anything about this squid here, I suppose. And you hail from the actual establishment, right? You're not, like, just a footman delivering squids everywhere or other things, right? No, this is my full time. You work for the squid distributor? Simply pod service. Yes, I've heard of them. Yes. Okay. Uh, yes, of course. Follow me. I'll take you, uh, yeah, it'd be a real shame if it would. Something happened to it. Yes, of course. I'll take you to, uh, the basement. Uh, that seems like a cool, uh. Did you say dock or not dock? Well, it's got to have, uh, a decent amount of airflow. Of course, the basement, so it doesn't suffocate. Well, yes. I mean, there's plenty of space in the basement. Yes. Uh, good with me. And, uh, he starts to lead you inside the house towards a stairwell, kind, uh, of off into the back. Like, you have to go through the kitchen, and then there's a stairwell past the kitchen. Um, and as you're going, he's asking you questions. Sue, is this a particularly rare squid, by chance? Oh, yes. Well, maybe that would explain why they wanted to keep it alive for, uh. Like I said, maybe it's the party tonight that they are planning on having. Uh, that would make a lot of sense. I think I've heard the ink from this squid is, uh, what sets it apart. Oh, interesting. Well, um. Man, look at me. I'm making friends. I'm learning about squids today. I tell you what, I wasn't expecting to wake up on a Saturday morning and have just so much of my life changed. Oh, making friends, was I? Interrupting something? No, just, ah, a wonderful new acquaintance stopped by and, uh, we were getting to know each other and, uh, it's not a problem at all. I mean, if this is, this is my job, after all, to make sure that the, uh, master and mistress's business is in order. So as long as I'm getting that done and I personally don't see a problem with a new friend stopping by.
Speaker B: Yes. No, no problem at all. Anyways, uh, here's the basement. Yes. Uh, is there a space in here that seems adequate? And he shows you around. I mean, it's not like dark dark, it's just dimmer because it's underground. But there are obviously some sconces along the walls that are lit. Running. He goes and lights up a couple more. Not with firebending. He's not a firebender. He's just, uh, lighting them with like matches or something like that. And, um, it's a pretty open space. There's a couple of small rooms here and there, um, which he says you're welcome to use. Um, all of them. There's one that's like a bathroom esque room. It's got some facilities in there. Um, just kind of like, uh, some general spaces for the most part. It doesn't look like they use it too much down here. It's usually not like, just Open to anybody if they were to have guests over. Okay, do I see any doors or stairs leading out of the basement to a sub basement? Um, like I said, there's some doors to some smaller rooms, but I don't think there's anything that leads to a second basement or anything like that. He says, uh, well, uh, I suppose, uh, they probably, for something like this, if we needed to, we could, uh, create a stone tub of swords if we wanted to, and I could go fetch some water and we could fill it and maybe the squid would be all right in there. Yeah, that would be perfect, actually, on top of it. Uh, maybe you do know a few things about square. Well, uh, if you wouldn't mind, uh, I myself am not an earthbender, but, uh, feel free to, uh, perhaps this corner right here. And he points at one corner, and he kind of like holds his hands out in such a way to kind of suggest a sort of containment space that you could. He's like, if you wouldn't mind, uh, if you could just got to check few things here. Yes. Guohan licks his finger and sticks it up into the air. Yeah, we got some decent airflow here. Good lighting. Lighting good. All right. Yeah, this should work here. Um, and then he'll do some fancy footwork and lift up with his palms, create a little basin for the water. Basin. Yeah, that's another good word. All right. Yeah, perfect. All right. And then he says, oh, wonderful. Um, if you don't mind, I'll run upstairs, if you don't mind waiting here and I can, uh, grab some water. Or I suppose if you wanted to come with me. I know you'll have your hands a little bit, uh, um, taken by, uh, this container. Or if you want to put the container into the larger basin, I'll come help you. Okay. Faster. We get this done, I can be on my way to my other delivery. Oh, yes, of course. Uh, both of you rush upstairs. And do you set the squid down in the basement or in the basin downstairs? Okay, so you set it in there and then, yeah, like I said, you both run upstairs and you start fetching water. Um, in some kind of large pools or buckets even. Tape down and fill the basin up. Um, I'm looking around for any signs of Mika, like, looking in the parlor as we go past. Sure. You would definitely see her, especially if you had a chance to glimpse into the parlor. Mika, what are you doing while this is all going down?
Speaker C: Um, drinking my.
Speaker B: Oh, okay. Okay. So at one point, you see Guohan actually, uh, peek around the corner into the parlor where you're at.
Speaker C: I wink at him.
Speaker B: Okay. You give him a wink. How does, uh, Han handle that? He just winks back. Okay. I guess that means it's going good. Actually, Guohan would probably be like, try to secretly sign, like, point at her and be like you, and then make the okay symbol. Mika. He's signaling the old. Are you okay? She nods.
Speaker C: Yeah.
Speaker B: Okay. She nods. Uh, what are the two outside in the bush? What are you two doing? Sure, I hope, uh, um, Guao's plan works because we're out of, uh, squid. Yeah, we don't really, uh, have any reason to go up there. We have no backup squid. No, we should have bought two. The second squid has arrived in case if the first squid didn't go well. Can I walk around the house to try and find any sort of houses have, like, storm doors that lead down to a basement type area? Yeah. Um, you take a look around and sure enough, yeah, you do find kind of a storm cellar that leads or, um, doorway to a cellar or something that probably leads to the basement. I want to go in there. Okay. Um, it is locked. It just has a basic, like, bolt lock on it. Basic bolt lock. But you say bolt lock. Are there any windows around where I would be able to see Gua han or Mika from here? From this side, I don't think you'd be able to see anybody. Um, the basement, obviously being underground, isn't going to be visible. And then you know where Mika is. So that's kind of around to the side of the house. But there were windows there because you were watching some interaction between her and Sebastian. Mika, are you keen on sign language at all?
Speaker C: I wish.
Speaker B: Okay, so could I try to frantically, since I know she can't sign, make the key turning hand gesture and say, uh, like, just, I need a key or something, and maybe point to the. You. Okay, so you run around to the side of the house where you can see her. She can see you through the way you get her attention through the window. And then you just start doing this. And then, I don't know, however, Mika would, uh, interpret that.
Speaker C: Um, I'm interpreting that he wants me to stab somebody. Remember, I was a survivalist pointing to.
Speaker B: The butler, his key butler. So interpret that however you please.
Speaker C: Shake my head no.
Speaker B: Okay, so she's no health. No. The butler does not have a key. Okay. Butler does not have a key.
Speaker C: That's what you interpreted. I'm just saying, I'm not going to kill my new friend.
Speaker B: She doesn't want to get the key. You don't want to stab a butler. Okay, fine. All right, so I'll go back to the storm cellar area. Is anybody else around with an earshot? Not that you can see. Just this bush. Just the bush. So I don't mind me, just the bush. I conjure up a softball, um, sized rock, and I try to just smash the lock.
Speaker C: Okay.
Speaker B: All right. Skills. Yeah, probably rely on your skills and training. Uh, so I need seven to nine. So I roll with focus. That is no additional talking, um, to the ghost writer approach. Yeah. It says, accept those consequences. Which is what? Sorry. It says, accept those consequences. If you were to roll seven to nine and you do it imperfectly, which is going to cause an unexpected consequence, you can either accept those consequences or mark one fatigue. Okay. In seven to nine, I do it perfectly, but I need a seven to nine for it to be successful. Right. Ten plus is successful. Ten plus. Seven and nine, you can do it, but you have to have something happen. So seven or higher, it's successful. Seven and nine is just with consequences. Right. Nine. Awesome. Okay. Uh, so you break the lock. And what do you do immediately after that? I peek my head in through the door, see that it leads somewhere. And I try to go in through and close the door behind. Okay. Okay. So, uh, as you break the lock and you peek inside the bush. Ears. Uh, uh, Guohan. From inside, you hear it because you and Sebastian are both downstairs when it snaps. And so both of you kind of freeze. And Sebastian says, what was that? I'm going to go check that out. Give me just a moment, sir. Uh, I'm sorry, I didn't get your name by the, uh. Steve. Steve, yes, yes, Steve. Quite a strong, young, earthbending, uh, man's name. Yes. Very good, very good. All right, Steve. Give me just a moment. And he walks towards the room. So your head is in there as you hear him say, give me just a moment. What are the floors made of? Is it stone, Wood? Uh, at this point, it would probably be stone. I feel like the basement itself would probably be stone. Okay, so when I hear him, I go back out, close the door and put my ear up to it until I hear his footsteps on the stone floor walk away. So you hear his footsteps as they make their way towards it. And then you hear him stop, and you can hear muttering, say, like, through the door, say, well, huh, that's strange. The lock seems to be broken on the door. And you hear reaching up, and you hear, like, I guess it would be the contact of hands on the handles from the inside of the door. And as the door starts to open, I'm watching with amazement from both as the door begins to open. Oh, can I take this chance to just run from the front door? Sure. Uh, I want to see who comes out of the basement, because if it's the butler, I'll hand for the door. And what are you doing? I'm, um, thinking. Okay, so he's opening the door. I'm pressed up right on it. Right. That is our sitch right now. That's your sitch. That's the stitch. Okay. I'm glad you got the reference. What type of door? You said he reached up. Yeah. So he has handles from the inside, because normally that's where it would be. Well, it could be open from either side, I suppose. Got you those stone. So the storm doors, they would open towards the outside? Yes. I'm a pretty beefy boy. I'll just sit on top of the doors so he can't open it and assume that the lock may have just shifted in the wind. Sure. Um, I'm going to have you mark one fatigue. Oh, right. So this will basically be you not accepting the kind of consequences, because you instead kind of make your own path. So you sit on top of the door and kind of hold yourself down as best as you can. So he starts moving the door, and he goes, well, maybe the lock's not broken or maybe it must be jammed from the outside. Well, I guess it works. Either way, I'll have a maintenance person come look at this video. My apologies, Steve. And you hear him scuttle his way back to, uh. Uh, Steve. Uh, back to Steve. Back to Steve. So is this my move? Uh, well, Steve and Sebastian are just kind of filling up this tub, so it's whatever you want to do at this point. All right, so I'll go back in all sneaky like. Yes. And I'll follow. Can I hear their voice echo through there? Yeah, a little bit. Okay, so I will try to find any sort of passage that leads in a direction away from them. Is there any sort of passage, or is it a one way like I said, uh, there's a number of rooms, sort of small rooms, but nothing seems to be a passage that leads out of the basement, except for the one that leads out of the basement, um, to any other room. So the only way you'd get out of the basement to somewhere else would be going up the stairs. Okay. So I'll stow away in one of those rooms. Okay. Until I feel that the coast is clear. Okay, sounds good. And then Bill Dore, are you doing anything while, uh, he went inside? Yeah, he went inside the door. You are just a, uh, Bush. Can I pick up the bush? You, uh, would have to break the stem that holds it into the ground. That's very conspicuous. He's going to leave the bush and then dust off. Bush. Dust the bush off of him. Yeah. And then he's going to head inside through the basement doors. Or he's going to go to the front door. Front door. Okay, sounds good. So you rush over to the front door. You open it. Sure enough, it's currently open because the last person to go in was Steve. And Sebastian was a bit distracted to lock the door or anything. So you're, um, able to creep the door open. And as you do this, Mika, you, uh, hear the door being opened. Since you're in the parlor, which is not too far from the front of the house.
Speaker C: What? I'm sorry. Your ghost rider was distracting me.
Speaker B: It's okay. You hear the door being opened at the front of the house from the outside?
Speaker C: I, um, walk to the door.
Speaker B: Okay. And in steps Bill. Door. Through a door, steps a door. And he, uh, wipes his feet, straightens his vest and his tie, and says, oh, hey, Mika.
Speaker C: Oh, hey, Eldor.
Speaker B: Nice place you got here.
Speaker C: Thanks, I just got.
Speaker B: Uh. Uh, uh.
Speaker C: I don't know, Johan came in and they're in the basement.
Speaker B: Yeah, no, I figured that out. There's a lot, like, motions to the side, says, yeah, I saw him just sitting on a basement, uh, door. And I, uh, saw, like, movement under it. I figured they're in the basement, maybe trapped him down there. I don't know. I figured there's a little hustle bustle going on.
Speaker C: Oh, well, I was just talking to the butler about this, and I show him the document. Tea trade that's going on.
Speaker B: Tea trade, huh.
Speaker C: So you offer a big party tonight.
Speaker B: Scan it over and get an overview of tea. Hot leaf juice. Hot leaf juice, yeah. That sounds worse than.
Speaker C: I know. It says here that they paid him half already, but if we could somehow.
Speaker B: Sure that half the other half somewhere, somehow.
Speaker C: Destroy the tea. Destroy. We could just hop in with the blissful boom. Be like, oh, hey, we got your back. No worries.
Speaker B: Do you think, bro, this has gone. So America versus Britain. Where is this TV stored?
Speaker C: Um, well, I didn't know if they were already in town. We could just break their car.
Speaker B: Okay, let me hear this correctly. You weren't fine with us going to go and beat people up, but you're totally fine with us going and just breaking a bunch of.
Speaker C: Yeah, so, um, Mr. Okra can get money for our tea. We're trying to save the tea shop here, bro.
Speaker B: Just change the order.
Speaker C: It's in ink. Well, you just want me to cross it off?
Speaker B: Why don't you just write a new one?
Speaker C: BecaUse they have already seen it. They'll know that I replaced it.
Speaker B: Would they?
Speaker C: Well, I mean, the butler.
Speaker B: Is there official stamp on it?
Speaker C: The butler is pretty sad. Have a friend. He's emotional.
Speaker B: Their family stamp is on it. Yeah. Okay, well, it's very official now, so, uh, if you touch that, it'll be illegal.
Speaker C: Who follows the rule?
Speaker B: I don't even know how you got this. Uh, how dumb is this butler?
Speaker C: Well, he gave it to me because I said that I needed to get an important message and he said I could write a note on it.
Speaker B: Oh, okay, you got the. Oh, wait, hold up, hold up, hold up. So you're going to write a note. It's going to go to the family. How's he going to get to the family?
Speaker C: He's going to send a messenger.
Speaker B: What if I'm the messenger? And what if this letter just never shows up?
Speaker C: How will that be beneficial?
Speaker B: Well, you see, if there's no official documentation, well, then it'll be hearsay.
Speaker C: So we show up with our tea.
Speaker B: Exactly. Mr. Okron has an argument.
Speaker C: There's probably some other kind of official document. We're both going to show up with all of our tea.
Speaker B: We don't even know where to show.
Speaker C: Up with our tea.
Speaker B: Well, it doesn't have a SEAL. It just has, like, the family. I mean, it would kind of be basically the same thing, but it's not sealing the letter, obviously, because the letter is open. It would just be stamped. Yeah, well, the outside of the letter would have the seal on it. Uh, he just brought paper. You wonder if maybe it was a situation where they sat down, they made the order, and then he signed it with his. Well, that's what he would assume if he didn't see a SEAL. Yeah, it didn't get mailed to anybody. So it didn't have to be sealed, closed, or. Uh. Yeah, okay, well, that was one idea. Other ideas?
Speaker C: I'm just saying, we ruin their tea and they have to go to the blissful brew.
Speaker B: But this is all tonight, right?
Speaker C: Yeah, we just forged it. Well, we don't have to forge document, because he said he'll either write on it or I could write on it and we can just say, hey, uh, the capital shipment tea. Uh, there was miscommunication. They don't have it all, so the blissful brew has to bring what they have, since we're a pretty popular tea shop.
Speaker B: Like a co tea job.
Speaker C: Yeah, except we get all the money and they.
Speaker B: The second half of the payment goes to blissful Brew. Yeah, that's not a bad idea. You need to deliver that message.
Speaker C: No, I just need the butler to come back so he can write the note.
Speaker B: Uh, so is there anything I can do?
Speaker C: Um.
Speaker B: Or should I just go back and.
Speaker C: The butler needs a friend.
Speaker B: There's a nice bush outside.
Speaker C: Why can't you talk to.
Speaker B: I don't want to be friends with him.
Speaker C: Why can't you?
Speaker B: I don't even like friends to begin with, so. Yeah, I guess I have nothing to do here. Do you have any food in the kitchen?
Speaker C: I've not been in the kitchen.
Speaker B: I'm going to go check out the kitchen.
Speaker C: Okay.
Speaker B: All right. As you make your way towards the kitchen, you can hear two sets of footsteps making their way up from the basement to the kitchen. And you hear, uh, an older voice that I guess technically you haven't been introduced to yet. Um, says, well, I have to say, Stephen, we did quite a good job there, setting up an entire aquarium setup for this fine specimen of, uh, squid that you have brought us in. Uh, only, uh, probably about 510 minutes. Yeah, we did a pretty good job. Now the only thing left is the matter of payment. Oh, uh, the master didn't set anything aside. I assumed that they had already paid for the squid. I have a number of coins set aside for tipping. Any delivery services or anything like that, uh, by the master and mistress's, uh, orders. But I didn't do. Yeah, that's what I meant. Of course, my boy, that didn't mean to be too forward. Yes. No, sometimes it's good to be forward, because some people just. They don't get it. Yes. Uh, of course. There you go. And he, uh, hands you five copper pieces. Okay, you made it. Three copper. As he leads you to the door. All right? Yeah, I just go with him. All right, sounds good. He says, well, I truly appreciate, uh, your assistance, and you have done a fantastic job, and I will be sure to, uh, let the master of the house know that. What was it again that you said you were from? Seplopod service. Seplopod service, yes. I will be sure to let him know that you are an absolute asset to their company. And I'm sure he, uh, and his name will carry quite an impressive review for you. And you'll notice, um, so the ink from this squid. Yes. If you collect it, it's darker than usual ink. Really? Yeah. I always assumed that black was black. I didn't know there was a darker black color for ink. Oh, there are shades upon shades. Shades of black. Well, I did not. There's levels. Well, um, that is fine. As I said before, I have learned so much today. Made new friend. I, uh, will have to share this information with her. I'm sure she would be intrigued at this incredible, vast knowledge of, uh, squids that I've learned today. All right, well, you take care of what Sebastian was. It's fine. It happened off screen. Yes, of course. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. And, uh, you have a wonderful day, Steven. Will do. And, uh, he gives you one last wave as he closes the door, and then he turns back and heads back into the parlor and, uh, walks into where Nika is sitting, and he says, absolutely intriguing, the amount of information I just learned about squids. Squids, of all things. I was not expecting. It's such a delivery to come to the house. I sincerely apologize for making you sit here all by yourself.
Speaker C: Uh, you know, no worries. I was really enjoying this tea you provided.
Speaker B: I'm so glad you did. So where were we? Where were we?
Speaker C: Oh, yeah. Um, so I was just going to have you write on this note here that, um, there was a problem with the hot leaf juice, um, not having all the proper tea that they needed, so that, um, they needed our help, the blissful brew, to kind of restock what they have. And you guys give us the rest of the payment?
Speaker B: Oh, yeah. So you are not with hot leaf juice.
Speaker C: We're like partners, you know what I'm saying?
Speaker B: Like sister companies.
Speaker C: Yeah, in a sense.
Speaker B: Okay, interesting.
Speaker C: They can't go back to the capital and get the rest of the teas that they need. Since we're a pretty popular tea company in town, they asked for our help.
Speaker B: Uh, I'm going to have you roll a. Push your luck on this one, because it seems like you're kind, uh, of throwing some information that he definitely wasn't expecting. And it's with, uh, passion. Yeah, passion ten. Oh, okay. Yes, of course. Sister companies. Yes, that makes sense. Uh, and based on the address, they're from the capital and you're from here locally, so it makes sense that you would collaborate, especially in order such as big as this. Absolutely. That makes sense. Uh, okay, so, uh, what did you want me to write on there? And he takes a note, and he pulls out a quill pen, and he gets ready to, uh, write.
Speaker C: Um, I repeat what I just said.
Speaker B: There is some missing teas from the hot leaf juice, and the blissful brew would be attending to accept the payment and to provide the teas that, uh, were unavailable.
Speaker C: Yes.
Speaker B: Okay. So he writes that down, and, uh, he says, I will have this, uh, mailed off right away. Uh, what do you plan for the rest of your day, then?
Speaker C: Well, I suppose I got to get ready for this party coming up.
Speaker B: Of course, because you'll be.
Speaker C: Will I see you there?
Speaker B: I will not know. I will probably be here taking care of the house.
Speaker C: Um, I'll bring you by some of this fancy tea.
Speaker B: That's wonderful. Thank you so much. I really appreciate that. Well, um, I'll lead you to the door. Uh, I don't want to have to keep you any longer. I'm sure you are. Busy, busy, busy, busy.
Speaker C: Thank you so much for your time and so much. I really enjoyed it.
Speaker B: Yes. Thank you so much for stopping by. I really appreciate it.
Speaker C: You're welcome anytime.
Speaker B: All right. And he opens up the door for you, and he gives you a bow, and he says, it's always good to have more friends. I truly appreciate it. Have a wonderful day.
Speaker C: You too. Bye.
Speaker B: And he waves. And, uh, I mean, he's got the note, but he's going to call for somebody to have it delivered ASAP. Am I just stuck in the basement? Who is hot Leaf juice? How will the master and mistress use this squid? And then the real question.
Speaker C: Will Brock Lee ever get out of the basement? He's stuck there to enjoy his time with his new friend, the Squid.
Speaker B: Find out next time on Benders and.
Speaker A: Brews, an Avatar Legends podcast. Thank you so much for listening to our show. Of course, don't forget to follow or subscribe to our podcast through whatever podcast site that you're using, such as iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, and others. Additionally, you can follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Just look for the social media icons following us on social media gives you access to all news, announcements, and, of course, new episodes as they are released. You can check out our website, bendersoandbrews.com which will feature all of our episodes as well as news, announcements, and even cool character and player profiles. It's a great hub of information for.
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