Perpetua 14: On Track to Iron Chains Pt. 03

This episode carries content warnings for distorted and layered vocals, discussion of civilian death and mass destruction, description of being bound, tight spaces, compulsive thoughts and mind control After the calamitous encounter at the Isle of the Broken Key, the Bilateral Intercession finds itself on the back foot. Key intelligence assets compromised. A flagship, along with its crew and commander, lost to the sea. Insurgents capturing resources from the Diadem's train lines. A snare closing around on Stargrave Elcessor. Something must be done. Something must be done. This week on PALISADE: How It Always Looks Pt. 1 [instrumental] Dossier Organizations Bilateral Intercession: One of two factions vying for leadership of the Principality, comprised by Stels Kesh and Nideo, and lead by the so-called Peaceful Princept, Cynosure Whitestar-Kesh (he/him), who took control of the faction from the Curtain, a secretive intelligence organization with roots in Kesh's ancient spy operations. The "Bilats" are a conservative and reactionary force, aiming to return the Principality to its roots both literally and figuratively. After a long campaign against the Pact of Free States, they managed to take control of Palisade. Jade Kill: Based in Joyous Guard, this military arm of the Cause is operated by the Delegate liberation faction known as Reunion and supported by Kalar Anakalar's (he/him) Giantkiller unit and a wing of Swordbreakers. Led by August Righteousness (he/him). Violet Cove: The Dim Liturgy claim to have seen the Divine Devotion's arrival coming in their sacred text: A battered and corrupted backup of Crystal Palace's final predictions for the future. Now the two cults work together to oust the Bilats... and perhaps to do more intriguing things, as well. Grey Pond: With members of the Oxblood Clan, the Company of the Spade, and the Shale Belt's Concrete Front, these blue collar revolutionaries are experts at getting the Cause the equipment it needs (and maintaining what it has when that's the only available option). Carmine Bight: From ramshackle additions to the rocky shores of Rifle Island, Captain Skelton Knaggs (he/him) and his fearsome flotilla launch rusted pirate vessels beneath the waves, guided by a coalition of Hyphan navigators. Rose River: Though they are undoubtedly committed to the Cause, this unique research unit (combining Veronique (she/her), her Divine Fealty (any pronouns), and their followers with an out-of-time NEH Sleep Detachment squad) hope for a day when they can be something other than soldiers. The New Asterism: What was once a schism between Received and Progressive Asterism has now been healed by the false prophet Gur Sevraq (he/they), or at least someone in his name and face. The New Asterism claims that to be a citizen of the Principality is to have an obligation to "better the world," in the sense that one invests in property or in the way that a settler "rehabilitates" or "improves" the places they claim by violence. People Stargrave Elcessor (she/her): Leader of the Bilateral Interecession's occupation of Palisade, assigned personally by Cynosure Whitestar-Kesh. As a Stargrave, she has been granted the means and "right" to detonate the star at the center of Palisade's star system if she determines that those here are an existential threat to the Principality. Connadine (he/him): Commander of the BIS on Palisade. An expert in psychological operations and folklore. As a composer, his opus is the Adagio, a plan to get everyone on Palisade operating in ways not only predictable, but scripted. As a conductor, his orchestra now turns towards the second movement. Elle Evensong (she/they) - Elle arrived to Palisade along with the first wave of Devotees, making a name for herself as a cunning combatant and clever commander. She became a poster child for Twilight Mirage's support of Palisade (and, for members of the Dim Liturgy, a prophesied bridge between the past and the future). But as the war began to heat up, she seemed to vanish into the background. Pilot of the Cataphract. Zedd Z. Izzard (he/him): Lovable dirtbag chef. Works in main hall's mess hall. Knows everyone's favorite drink and most people's favorite meal. Satisfactory pilot. BIS Spy. Routine Rennari (he/him): Half-Apostolsian, scion of a minor Kesh noble house, and the Blue Channel's heavy. Saffron Septet (she/her): A doctor from the Twilight Mirage who lives as a digital consciousness, spread across a number of bodily forms including a heavy Torch Unit, a small motorcycle, and a unique and specially-crafted surgeon body. Partial Palisade (he/him): A man who was once a Divine, now living in the shell of a being quite unlike what he once was. Mustard Red (she/her): A cyborg who once served as a member of Brink Proxy, with a speciality in surveillance. Joined the Cause during the Devotees expansion onto Palisade. Stargrave Elcessor (she/her): Leader of the Bilateral Interecession's occupation of Palisade, assigned personally by Cynosure Whitestar-Kesh. As a Stargrave, she has been granted the means and "right" to detonate the star at the center of Palisade's star system if she determines that those here are an existential threat to the Principality. Places Chimera's Lantern: The second moon of Palisade, shaped oddly like a wasp's nest or paper lantern. New arrivals to the world find its occasional glow unnatural and frightening. Bontive Valley: Blessed by the departed divine Bounty, the Valley provides the Bilats with fruit that never rots and hyper-nutritional grain. Diadem Gravtrain: While the vast trench-city on Palisade's equator lays abandoned, Kesh has reactivated its railway via an operations center in Carmathen. The Paint Shop: Sitting atop the central peak of Steeple Catterick, most people assume the Paint Shop to be no more than an artist commune where visiting artists collaborate on eccentric and avant-garde work. In truth, it is both a manufactory and front for the Bilateral Intelligence Service. Divines Asepsis (it/its): The final living remnants of a Divine who pursues its particular vision of purity at the cost of everything else. Kept, studied, and utilized by Captain Kalvin Brnine. Perennial (she/her): The Principality's so-called 'adversary,' who lives at the center of the galaxy and whose chaotic whims spread through her "Perennial Wave," an ever-present nanoparticle that has recently bonded with Kalmeria. Mysteries The Iconoclasts: Something beyond the human, desperate to eradicate subjectivity itself. The Five Afflictions: A group of "monstrous" beings that haunt the dark corners of Palisade. They have been named as follows: Dust a.k.a Pride's Mirror a.k.a. The Looking Glass Refrain a.k.a. Yesterday's Reprise a.k.a. The Ghastly Chorus Ravel a.k.a. Labyrinth's Thread a.k.a. The Hedge Maze Cleave a.k.a. Whetstone's Opposite a.k.a. The Sanguine Hatchet Oversight a.k.a. Hell's Facade a.k.a. The Empty Garden Hosted by Austin Walker (@austin_walker) Featuring Janine Hawkins (@bleatingheart) Sylvi Bullet (@sylvibullet), Ali Acampora (@ali_west), Art Martinez-Tebbel (@atebbel), Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal), Keith J Carberry (@keithjcarberry) and Andrew Lee Swan (@swandre3000) Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt (available on bandcamp) Text by Austin Walker Cover Art by by aurahack (aurahack.jp) With thanks to Arthur B., chocoube, DB, deepFlaw, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, huw, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, K. Morris, Katie Diekhaus, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mike & Ruby, Nich Maragos Olive Perry, Patrick Murray, Robert Lasica, Shawn Hall, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, viviridian, and Voi for their support We are playing Armour Astir: Advent with additional playbooks from Strangers in the Night and 106th Astir Squadron. If you enjoy the show, consider supporting the TTRPG. This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to friendsatthetable.cash.

14 Jul 20232h 8min

This episode carries content warnings for blood, civilian harm and death, parental death, conscription, torture and kidnapping. Under the wings of the Kestrel White, war washes ashore the Isle of the Broken Key. Soon after the crew of the Blue Channel released Kenneth Marian Colver, Bilateral Viceroy to Palisade and convert of the Usher of Truth, he ordered his flagship to return and lay waste to the home of the Dim Liturgy and Devotees. Now, the Cause fights not only for ideals but for survival. A rifle takes aim. A hammer lifts into the air. A cannonade echoes for miles. The monastery burns. and the blaze casts a shadow too long for a single night's contemplation. This week on PALISADE: Upon Our Grace Pt. 4 I'm out / There's nothing here to care about / What's that sound? / What's that song about? / It's nothin' worth me sayin' aloud Dossier Organizations Violet Cove: The Dim Liturgy claim to have seen the Divine Devotion's arrival coming in their sacred text: A battered and corrupted backup of Crystal Palace's final predictions for the future. Now the two cults work together to oust the Bilats... and perhaps to do more intriguing things, as well. The Devotees: A church from the Twilight Mirage that is committed to the worship of the divine Devotion, which they sometimes refer to as Fervor. Common practices include the regular checking of one's pulse and multi-day group picnic outings. People Connadine (he/him): Commander of the BIS on Palisade. An expert in psychological operations and folklore. As a composer, his opus is the Adagio, a plan to get everyone on Palisade operating in ways not only predictable, but scripted. As a conductor, his orchestra now turns towards the second movement. Saint Decario Dicario (he/him): Devoted Devotee warmonger and one-time lover of the Twilight Mirage rockstar Teleos Triton Tanager. Sea Crepuscule (he/him): Master of the Concave Wing of the Dim Liturgy's primary monastery, where he leads the search for specific details and predictions from the Glass Archive's remnants. Additionally, the most highly placed member of the Paint Shop (and thus, most important shield for the BIS spies) inside of Dim Liturgy. Marlon Styx a.k.a. Em (he/him): Undercover BIS agent assigned to infiltrate Violet Cove. Has become enamored with the Dim Liturgy's holy text. Tea Time (she/her): Assistant to the assistant of Dicario St. Dicario. BIS Spy. Queue 1224 (he/him): A non-Columnar synthetic monk who helps with preparing parts of the Thing Itself for movement to Convex or Concave. BIS Spy. Zedd Z. Izzard (he/him): Lovable dirtbag chef. Works in main hall's mess hall. Knows everyone's favorite drink and most people's favorite meal. Satisfactory pilot. BIS Spy. Bea Earlyday (she/her): Young Chariot pilot assigned to the defense of the Isle of the Broken Key. Under Griesel Sunset's command. BIS Spy. Kay (they/them): Cashier of the monastery treasury. BIS Spy. Tenn Alpenglow (he/him): Bodyguard of Kenneth Marian Colver and Knight of the Fabreal Duchy. Resents his assignation to guard the cowardly Viceroy, but takes seriously his sworn oath to serve under the Duchy's new masters. Kenneth Marian Colver (he/him): Former member of the Curtain, now Kesh's Viceroy on the world. Reports up to the Stargrave. Bread concerns have been replaced with violence concerns. Kensley Marlowe Colver (she/her): Sister of Kenneth Marian Colver, pilot of a Gorget, award winning hunter of megafauna, and craven champion of cruelty. Elle Evensong (she/they) - Elle arrived to Palisade along with the first wave of Devotees, making a name for herself as a cunning combatant and clever commander. She became a poster child for Twilight Mirage's support of Palisade (and, for members of the Dim Liturgy, a prophesied bridge between the past and the future). But as the war began to heat up, she seemed to vanish into the background. Pilot of the Cataphract. Midnite Matinee (she/her): Leporine scout and member of the Blue Channel. She and her trusty Pack-model light AutoHollow Popcorn (she/her) used to run a repo company, but now are tentatively committed to the Cause and Millennium Break. Routine Rennari (he/him): Half-Apostolsian, scion of a minor Kesh noble house, and the Blue Channel's heavy. Hunting "Hunt" Tomorrow (he/him): Concretist specialist in communications and technology, assigned to the Blue Channel during its integration into the Cause. Saffron Septet (she/her): A doctor from the Twilight Mirage who lives as a digital consciousness, spread across a number of bodily forms including a heavy Torch Unit, a small motorcycle, and a unique and specially-crafted surgeon body. Places Isle of the Broken Key: Home of the Dim Liturgy since its obscure creation thousands of years ago. Now serves as base for the entire Violet Cove unit of the Cause, including the Devotees and (most recently) additional support teams from the Twilight Mirage. Chimera's Lantern: The second moon of Palisade, shaped oddly like a wasp's nest or paper lantern. New arrivals to the world find its occasional glow unnatural and frightening. Objects The Kestral White: Flagship of Palisade's Viceroy, Kenneth Marrian Colver. Hovers like a hawk on a thermal updraft, searching for its prey. Gambeson: The Gambeson is only about 10 meters tall (less than half an Altar), but it is nevertheless a terrifying scourge of the battlefield. Modeled after an iron maiden, except with it's tortorous doors attached to its back serving as wings. Its head features a metalworked face, twisted into extreme and offputting smile. Its skeletal frame serves not only as body, but cage: pilots are criminal conscripts forced to pay off their "debt" to Kesh by the Divine Plight, earning their freedom through combat achievements. Gorget: When visible, the Gorget is a bright and fashionable machine, its long features clad in golden armor, yet hidden playfully covered by a chic red hunting cape. When walking, it's posture is buoyed by a fashionable walking cane. But at a whim, the Altar's pilot may extend the length of the cape, surrounding the entire body with a layer of magical camouflage, cloaking it from both sensors and plain sight. And at that moment, its cane twists and folds, revealing itself to be a perfectly honed rifle. Cataphract: When the engineers loyal to Devotion studied the data from the Chariot Mk. 1 units, they saw they had a problem: maximum results required a lethal amount of blood from the pilots. One solution to this problem would become the Charoit Mk. 2, which offered more efficient energy exchange per ounce of ichor taken. The Cataphract, which draws on the blood of others to perform unimaginable feats, is the other. Divines Asepsis (it/its): The final living remnants of a Divine who pursues its particular vision of purity at the cost of everything else. Kept, studied, and utilized by Captain Kalvin Brnine. The Reflecting Pool, f.k.a the Divine Past, f.k.a. Crystal Palace (it/its): In the era before the founding of the Divine Principality, Crystal Palace served as the supreme oracle engine of the Rapid Evening and the Principality of Kesh. At the end of that era, it lost its ability to predict the future, but continued as a vast archive of the past, and became canonized as the Divine Past (which now serves as the Reflecting Pool, center of the Witch in Glass' kingdom). The final record of its predictions into the future are stored on Palisade, under protection (and study) of the Dim Liturgy and Violet Cove. Hosted by Austin Walker (@austin_walker) Featuring Janine Hawkins (@bleatingheart) Sylvi Bullet (@sylvibullet), Ali Acampora (@ali_west), Art Martinez-Tebbel (@atebbel), Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal), Keith J Carberry (@keithjcarberry) and Andrew Lee Swan (@swandre3000) Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt (available on bandcamp) Text by Austin Walker Cover Art by by aurahack (aurahack.jp) With thanks to Arthur B., chocoube, DB, deepFlaw, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, huw, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, K. Morris, Katie Diekhaus, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mike & Ruby, Nich Maragos Olive Perry, Patrick Murray, Robert Lasica, Shawn Hall, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, viviridian, and Voi for their support We are playing Armour Astir: Advent with additional playbooks from Strangers in the Night and 106th Astir Squadron. If you enjoy the show, consider supporting the TTRPG. This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to friendsatthetable.cash.

30 Jun 20232h 3min

This episode carries content warnings for civilian harm and death, torture, conscription, and kidnapping. With the list of Bilateral Intelligence Service spies secure and the immediate threat from Fabreal Knight Tenn Alpenglow resolved, the crew of the Blue Channel discusses what to do next. Should they prioritize capturing the BIS agents they've identified, and if so, how would they go about that? Should they turn the list over to the Cause's leadership, deferring the decision to others and winning some points in the process? For each potential option, there seems to be a flaw. And as they debate, the clock keeps ticking… This week on PALISADE: Upon Our Grace Pt. 3 Another turning point / Another point in time Dossier Organizations Violet Cove: The Dim Liturgy claim to have seen the Divine Devotion's arrival coming in their sacred text: A battered and corrupted backup of Crystal Palace's final predictions for the future. Now the two cults work together to oust the Bilats... and perhaps to do more intriguing things, as well. The Devotees: A church from the Twilight Mirage that is committed to the worship of the divine Devotion, which they sometimes refer to as Fervor. Common practices include the regular checking of one's pulse and multi-day group picnic outings. People Connadine (he/him): Commander of the BIS on Palisade. An expert in psychological operations and folklore. As a composer, his opus is the Adagio, a plan to get everyone on Palisade operating in ways not only predictable, but scripted. As a conductor, his orchestra now turns towards the second movement. Saint Decario Dicario (he/him): Devoted Devotee warmonger and one-time lover of the Twilight Mirage rockstar Teleos Triton Tanager. Sea Crepuscule (he/him): Master of the Concave Wing of the Dim Liturgy's primary monastery, where he leads the search for specific details and predictions from the Glass Archive's remnants. Additionally, the most highly placed member of the Paint Shop (and thus, most important shield for the BIS spies) inside of Dim Liturgy. Marlon Styx a.k.a. Em (he/him): Undercover BIS agent assigned to infiltrate Violet Cove. Has become enamored with the Dim Liturgy's holy text. Tea Time (she/her): Assistant to the assistant of Dicario St. Dicario. BIS Spy. Queue 1224 (he/him): A non-Columnar synthetic monk who helps with preparing parts of the Thing Itself for movement to Convex or Concave. BIS Spy. Zedd Z. Izzard (he/him): Lovable dirtbag chef. Works in main hall's mess hall. Knows everyone's favorite drink and most people's favorite meal. Satisfactory pilot. BIS Spy. Bea Earlyday (she/her): Young Chariot pilot assigned to the defense of the Isle of the Broken Key. Under Griesel Sunset's command. BIS Spy. Kay (they/them): Cashier of the monastery treasury. BIS Spy. Tenn Alpenglow (he/him): Bodyguard of Kenneth Marian Colver and Knight of the Fabreal Duchy. Resents his assignation to guard the cowardly Viceroy, but takes seriously his sworn oath to serve under the Duchy's new masters. Kenneth Marian Colver (he/him): Former member of the Curtain, now Kesh's Viceroy on the world. Reports up to the Stargrave. Bread concerns have been replaced with violence concerns. Midnite Matinee (she/her): Leporine scout and member of the Blue Channel. She and her trusty Pack-model light AutoHollow Popcorn (she/her) used to run a repo company, but now are tentatively committed to the Cause and Millennium Break. Routine Rennari (he/him): Half-Apostolsian, scion of a minor Kesh noble house, and the Blue Channel's heavy. Hunting "Hunt" Tomorrow (he/him): Concretist specialist in communications and technology, assigned to the Blue Channel during its integration into the Cause. Saffron Septet (she/her): A doctor from the Twilight Mirage who lives as a digital consciousness, spread across a number of bodily forms including a heavy Torch Unit, a small motorcycle, and a unique and specially-crafted surgeon body. Places Isle of the Broken Key: Home of the Dim Liturgy since its obscure creation thousands of years ago. Now serves as base for the entire Violet Cove unit of the Cause, including the Devotees and (most recently) additional support teams from the Twilight Mirage. Chimera's Lantern: The second moon of Palisade, shaped oddly like a wasp's nest or paper lantern. New arrivals to the world find its occasional glow unnatural and frightening. Objects The Kestral White: Flagship of Palisade's Viceroy, Kenneth Marrian Colver. Hovers like a hawk on a thermal updraft, searching for its prey. Gambeson: The Gambeson is only about 10 meters tall (less than half an Altar), but it is nevertheless a terrifying scourge of the battlefield. Modeled after an iron maiden, except with it's tortorous doors attached to its back serving as wings. Its head features a metalworked face, twisted into extreme and offputting smile. Its skeletal frame serves not only as body, but cage: pilots are criminal conscripts forced to pay off their "debt" to Kesh by the Divine Plight, earning their freedom through combat achievements. Gorget: When visible, the Gorget is a bright and fashionable machine, its long features clad in golden armor, yet hidden playfully covered by a chic red hunting cape. When walking, it's posture is buoyed by a fashionable walking cane. But at a whim, the Altar's pilot may extend the length of the cape, surrounding the entire body with a layer of magical camouflage, cloaking it from both sensors and plain sight. And at that moment, its cane twists and folds, revealing itself to be a perfectly honed rifle. Divines Asepsis (it/its): The final living remnants of a Divine who pursues its particular vision of purity at the cost of everything else. Kept, studied, and utilized by Captain Kalvin Brnine. The Reflecting Pool, f.k.a the Divine Past, f.k.a. Crystal Palace (it/its): In the era before the founding of the Divine Principality, Crystal Palace served as the supreme oracle engine of the Rapid Evening and the Principality of Kesh. At the end of that era, it lost its ability to predict the future, but continued as a vast archive of the past, and became canonized as the Divine Past (which now serves as the Reflecting Pool, center of the Witch in Glass' kingdom). The final record of its predictions into the future are stored on Palisade, under protection (and study) of the Dim Liturgy and Violet Cove. Hosted by Austin Walker (@austin_walker) Featuring Janine Hawkins (@bleatingheart) Sylvi Bullet (@sylvibullet), Ali Acampora (@ali_west), Art Martinez-Tebbel (@atebbel), Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal), Keith J Carberry (@keithjcarberry) and Andrew Lee Swan (@swandre3000) Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt (available on bandcamp) Text by Austin Walker Cover Art by by aurahack (aurahack.jp) With thanks to Arthur B., chocoube, DB, deepFlaw, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, huw, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, K. Morris, Katie Diekhaus, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mike & Ruby, Nich Maragos Olive Perry, Patrick Murray, Robert Lasica, Shawn Hall, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, viviridian, and Voi for their support We are playing Armour Astir: Advent with additional playbooks from Strangers in the Night and 106th Astir Squadron. If you enjoy the show, consider supporting the TTRPG. This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to friendsatthetable.cash.

23 Jun 20232h 39min

This episode carries content warnings for civilian harm and death, torture, conscription, hallucination, uncanny visions, body horror, bodily transformation, kidnapping, and medical experimentation. Having disregarded their official mission in an effort to both help the Figure in Bismuth and spurn Gucci Garantine, the crew of the Blue Channel begin to explore the Dim Liturgy's primary monastery on the Isle of the Broken Key. Brnine and Phrygian corner one spy and develop suspicions about a possible second agent. Thisbe and the Figure in Bismuth search for a new source of power, and discover encounter someone they thought they'd seen the last of already. Cori meets an ancient architect and in the process is either drawn closer to or further from her god, depending on one's perspective… This week on PALISADE: Upon Our Grace Pt. 2 I hurt myself to see if I could feel / (magnificent) / Then I began to pray to see if god was real Dossier Organizations Violet Cove: The Dim Liturgy claim to have seen the Divine Devotion's arrival coming in their sacred text: A battered and corrupted backup of Crystal Palace's final predictions for the future. Now the two cults work together to oust the Bilats... and perhaps to do more intriguing things, as well. The Devotees: A church from the Twilight Mirage that is committed to the worship of the divine Devotion, which they sometimes refer to as Fervor. Common practices include the regular checking of one's pulse and multi-day group picnic outings. People Sea Crepuscule (he/him): Master of the Concave Wing of the Dim Liturgy's primary monastery, where he leads the search for specific details and predictions from the Glass Archive's remnants. Marlon Styx a.k.a. Em (he/him): Undercover BIS agent assigned to infiltrate Violet Cove. Has become enamored with the Dim Liturgy's holy text. Tenn Alpenglow (he/him): Bodyguard of Kenneth Marian Colver and Knight of the Fabreal Duchy. Resents his assignation to guard the cowardly Viceroy, but takes seriously his sworn oath to serve under the Duchy's new masters. Kenneth Marian Colver (he/him): Former member of the Curtain, now Kesh's Viceroy on the world. Reports up to the Stargrave. Bread concerns have been replaced with violence concerns. Grand Magnificent (he/him): A complex figure in the history of the Twilight Mirage. Member of the Notion, Excerpt of the Divine Arbit, and (above all else) an artist. Places Isle of the Broken Key: Home of the Dim Liturgy since its obscure creation thousands of years ago. Now serves as base for the entire Violet Cove unit of the Cause, including the Devotees and (most recently) additional support teams from the Twilight Mirage. Chimera's Lantern: The second moon of Palisade, shaped oddly like a wasp's nest or paper lantern. New arrivals to the world find its occasional glow unnatural and frightening. Objects The Kestral White: Flagship of Palisade's Viceroy, Kenneth Marrian Colver. Hovers like a hawk on a thermal updraft, searching for its prey. Gambeson: The Gambeson is only about 10 meters tall (less than half an Altar), but it is nevertheless a terrifying scourge of the battlefield. Modeled after an iron maiden, except with it's tortorous doors attached to its back serving as wings. Its head features a metalworked face, twisted into extreme and offputting smile. Its skeletal frame serves not only as body, but cage: pilots are criminal conscripts forced to pay off their "debt" to Kesh by the Divine Plight, earning their freedom through combat achievements. Divines Asepsis (it/its): The final living remnants of a Divine who pursues its particular vision of purity at the cost of everything else. Kept, studied, and utilized by Captain Kalvin Brnine. The Reflecting Pool, f.k.a the Divine Past, f.k.a. Crystal Palace (it/its): In the era before the founding of the Divine Principality, Crystal Palace served as the supreme oracle engine of the Rapid Evening and the Principality of Kesh. At the end of that era, it lost its ability to predict the future, but continued as a vast archive of the past, and became canonized as the Divine Past (which now serves as the Reflecting Pool, center of the Witch in Glass' kingdom). The final record of its predictions into the future are stored on Palisade, under protection (and study) of the Dim Liturgy and Violet Cove. Hosted by Austin Walker (@austin_walker) Featuring Janine Hawkins (@bleatingheart) Sylvi Bullet (@sylvibullet), Ali Acampora (@ali_west), Art Martinez-Tebbel (@atebbel), Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal), Keith J Carberry (@keithjcarberry) and Andrew Lee Swan (@swandre3000) Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt (available on bandcamp) Text by Austin Walker Cover Art by by aurahack (aurahack.jp) With thanks to Arthur B., chocoube, DB, deepFlaw, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, huw, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, K. Morris, Katie Diekhaus, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mike & Ruby, Nich Maragos Olive Perry, Patrick Murray, Robert Lasica, Shawn Hall, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, viviridian, and Voi for their support We are playing Armour Astir: Advent with additional playbooks from Strangers in the Night and 106th Astir Squadron. If you enjoy the show, consider supporting the TTRPG. This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to friendsatthetable.cash.

16 Jun 20232h 36min

This episode carries content warnings for discussion of blood loss and medical coercion. The crew of the Blue Channel find themselves at a crossroad. After helping to return the Cause to its feet after a period of over-extension, they discovered that they had been misled by their commander, Gucci Garantine. Now, they have a new mission: Travel to the city of Baseline, a testbed for the Frontier Syndicate, and support a growing rebellion there. But there is another option: Pursue their own ends, root out corruption in Violet Cove, care for one of their own, and (hopefully) send a message to the Cause's leadership… This week on PALISADE: Upon Our Grace I don't wanna talk if you're not gonna talk to me nice / Talk to me nice / Talk to me nice Dossier Organizations Violet Cove: The Dim Liturgy claim to have seen the Divine Devotion's arrival coming in their sacred text: A battered and corrupted backup of Crystal Palace's final predictions for the future. Now the two cults work together to oust the Bilats... and perhaps to do more intriguing things, as well. The Devotees: A church from the Twilight Mirage that is committed to the worship of the divine Devotion, which they sometimes refer to as Fervor. Common practices include the regular checking of one's pulse and multi-day group picnic outings. People Lucent Reflection (she/they): Cantor of the Convex Wing of the Dim Liturgy's primary monastery, where she aids in the study of trends, moods, and atmospherics in Glass Archive's remnants, Sea Crepuscule (he/him): Master of the Concave Wing of the Dim Liturgy's primary monastery, where he leads the search for specific details and predictions from the Glass Archive's remnants. Marlon Styx (he/him): Undercover BIS agent assigned to infiltrate Violet Cove. Has become enamored with the Dim Liturgy's holy text. Places Isle of the Broken Key: Home of the Dim Liturgy since its obscure creation thousands of years ago. Now serves as base for the entire Violet Cove unit of the Cause, including the Devotees and (most recently) additional support teams from the Twilight Mirage. Divines Asepsis (it/its): The final living remnants of a Divine who pursues its particular vision of purity at the cost of everything else. Kept, studied, and utilized by Captain Kalvin Brnine. The Reflecting Pool, f.k.a the Divine Past, f.k.a. Crystal Palace (it/its): In the era before the founding of the Divine Principality, Crystal Palace served as the supreme oracle engine of the Rapid Evening and the Principality of Kesh. At the end of that era, it lost its ability to predict the future, but continued as a vast archive of the past, and became canonized as the Divine Past (which now serves as the Reflecting Pool, center of the Witch in Glass' kingdom). The final record of its predictions into the future are stored on Palisade, under protection (and study) of the Dim Liturgy and Violet Cove. Hosted by Austin Walker (@austin_walker) Featuring Janine Hawkins (@bleatingheart) Sylvi Bullet (@sylvibullet), Ali Acampora (@ali_west), Art Martinez-Tebbel (@atebbel), Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal), Keith J Carberry (@keithjcarberry) and Andrew Lee Swan (@swandre3000) Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt (available on bandcamp) Text by Austin Walker Cover Art by by aurahack (aurahack.jp) With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Cassie Jones, chocoube, Daniel Laloggia, DB, deepFlaw, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, fen, Greg Cobb, huw, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, K. Morris, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mike & Ruby, Nich Maragos, Olive Perry, Patrick Murray, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Rosa W., Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Viviridian, Voi, weakmint, We are playing Armour Astir: Advent with additional playbooks from Strangers in the Night and 106th Astir Squadron. If you enjoy the show, consider supporting the TTRPG. This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to friendsatthetable.cash.

9 Jun 20232h 15min

This episode carries content warnings for discussion of death. With the Cause stretched thin, it is up to the Blue Channel to rearm, resupply, and restore their allies. It should be a simple operation, but each delivery of supplies comes with its own new revelations. Some—like the arrival of new supplies from their freebooting friends of Carmine Bight—are welcome surprises. Others, like new details about the Afflictions, are stunning developments. And one hangs over the others: a revelation of the most mundane sort, like the heading of a memo, or the typeface of a meeting's minutes… This week on PALISADE: Worth the Trouble Pt. 2 A dried up cityscape / My twisted personality / My forgotten past / My distorted memories Dossier Organizations Jade Kill: Based in Joyous Guard, this military arm of the Cause is operated by the Delegate liberation faction known as Reunion and supported by Kalar Anakalar's (he/him) Giantkiller unit and a wing of Swordbreakers. Led by August Righteousness (he/him). Violet Cove: The Dim Liturgy claim to have seen the Divine Devotion's arrival coming in their sacred text: A battered and corrupted backup of Crystal Palace's final predictions for the future. Now the two cults work together to oust the Bilats... and perhaps to do more intriguing things, as well. Grey Pond: With members of the Oxblood Clan, the Company of the Spade, and the Shale Belt's Concrete Front, these blue collar revolutionaries are experts at getting the Cause the equipment it needs (and maintaining what it has when that's the only available option). Carmine Bight: From ramshackle additions to the rocky shores of Rifle Island, Captain Skelton Knaggs (he/him) and his fearsome flotilla launch rusted pirate vessels beneath the waves, guided by a coalition of Hyphan navigators. Rose River: Though they are undoubtedly committed to the Cause, this unique research unit (combining Veronique (she/her), her Divine Fealty (any pronouns), and their followers with an out-of-time NEH Sleep Detachment squad) hope for a day when they can be something other than soldiers. The Branched: A post-human society of beings who have transformed their bodies into forms terrifying and spectacular and free—only to have the threat of war force them to rebuild themselves as soldiers first and foremost. After centuries of fighting a purely defensive war, the Branched have now begun to strike into the Principality's territory. The Sable Court: These Hyphan witches once lived only on the eastern shores of Partizan's Lake Timea, horns and antlers glittering in the light of Girandole. But today, they soar through the sea of stars, following the same Strand paths that their ancestors once did. New Earth Hegemony: Once, the NEH was massive, galactic-scale power that threatened conquest of The Twilight Mirage. It was reduced to a single fleet—now lost—which provided its inhabitants endless, digital life. People Jesset City (he/him): After helping to kick off Millennium Break on Partizan, Jesset served as one of its major leaders during its expansion across the Principality. Now, he uses his talents in Hollow and Altar engineering, piloting, and cipher breaking on behalf of the Grey Pond unit of the cause. Still considers himself to be a member of the Party of the Wolf, though those designations have largely fallen from use. General Tomorrow Mourning (she/her): Leader of the Qui'Err Coalition's forces en route to the Twilight Mirage. Silverbrick (they/them): A "visionary" architect, technologist, and urban planner of the Frontier Syndicate. Kalar Anakalar, the Giantkiller (he/him): This legendary member of Millennium Break is much more than his nom de guerre. Loyal comrade, proud father, and ever faithful believer. Former member of the Society for Banners and Bright Returns, one of the founding organizations of Millennium Break. Partial Palisade (he/him): A man who was once a Divine, now living in the shell of a being quite unlike what he once was. Griesel Sunset (he/him): Coriolos' father, a zealous Devotee. Currently lives on the Isle of the Broken Key. Iklins Slinger (she/her): Carmine Bight's sword arm. Naval tactics. Fire and fury. Fiercely loyal to Captain Skelton Knaggs. Mustard Red (she/her): A cyborg who once served as a member of Brink Proxy, with a speciality in surveillance. Joined the Cause during the Devotees expansion onto Palisade. Places Bontive Valley: Blessed by the departed divine Bounty, the Valley provides the Bilats with fruit that never rots and hyper-nutritional grain. The Shale Belt: A low, resource-filled mountain range in the north-central of Palisade. Home to the Concretists and their revolutionary Concrete Front, a secular and technologically-minded group with roots in the Twilight Mirage. They take their names from favorite artistic works and have blended their bodies with a special concrete (and some respiratory cybernetics) that aids in their breathing. The Brink: A space station and transport hub that orbits the outer edge of the Twilight Mirage. Divines The "Divine" Arbit: The amoral machine turned de facto treasurer keeps the Frontier Syndicate a step ahead in all matters of commerce. Mysteries The Five Afflictions: A group of "monstrous" beings that haunt the dark corners of Palisade. They have been named as follows: Dust a.k.a Pride's Mirror a.k.a. The Looking Glass Refrain a.k.a. Yesterday's Reprise a.k.a. The Ghastly Chorus Ravel a.k.a. Labyrinth's Thread a.k.a. The Hedge Maze Cleave a.k.a. Whetstone's Opposite a.k.a. The Sanguine Hatchet Oversight a.k.a. Hell's Facade a.k.a. The Empty Garden Hosted by Austin Walker (@austin_walker) Featuring Janine Hawkins (@bleatingheart) Sylvi Bullet (@sylvibullet), Ali Acampora (@ali_west), Art Martinez-Tebbel (@atebbel), Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal), Keith J Carberry (@keithjcarberry) and Andrew Lee Swan (@swandre3000) Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt (available on bandcamp) Text by Austin Walker Cover Art by by aurahack (aurahack.jp) With thanks to Arthur B., Chocoube, DB, deepFlaw, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Huw, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, K. Morris, Katie Diekhaus, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mike & Ruby, Nich Maragos, Olive Perry, Patrick Murray, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, viviridian, Voi We are playing Armour Astir: Advent with additional playbooks from Strangers in the Night and 106th Astir Squadron. If you enjoy the show, consider supporting the TTRPG. This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to friendsatthetable.cash.

2 Jun 20231h 27min

This episode carries content warnings for mind reading and medical coercion. Though the Cause has made important gains during their most recent efforts, they nevertheless find themselves limping. In the northwest, both Jade Kill and Grey Pond find themselves stretched thin, low on key resources necessary for holding their newly taken territory in the Bontive Valley. Rose River and Carmine Bight, normally sustained by keeping to their island strongholds, have instead been deployed across the planet, and find themselves low on basic goods. Even the Dim Liturgy seems under-supplied—the contents of their supply depots do not match up with their balance books. How could that have happened? And so it seems at this moment that resupplying the Cause falls on the Blue Channel. Unfortunately, the Blue Channel has many of its own wounds to lick first… This week on PALISADE: Worth the Trouble Pt. 1 I'm not okay / In fact, I'm sick today, I'm on the floor Dossier Organizations The Branched: A post-human society of beings who have transformed their bodies into forms terrifying and spectacular and free—only to have the threat of war force them to rebuild themselves as soldiers first and foremost. After centuries of fighting a purely defensive war, the Branched have now begun to strike into the Principality's territory. The Devotees: A church from the Twilight Mirage that is committed to the worship of the divine Devotion, which they sometimes refer to as Fervor. Common practices include the regular checking of one's pulse and multi-day group picnic outings. People The Witch in Glass a.k.a. Clementine Kesh (she/her): A former scion of Kesh who, after knitting a bond with the adversary Perennial, came into control of the broken body of the Divine Past, which she has renamed the Reflecting Pool. Rules over the Crown of Glass, a city-state on the southeastern reaches of Palisade. A shaky ally of Millennium Break. Haunted by an old foe. Gucci Garantine (she/her): A defector from Stel Kesh, who used the remaining wealth and power of House Brightline to help found Millennium Break. Currently a key member of the resistance efforts on Palisade, and the commander of Millennium Break forces there. Codename Watershed. Midnite Matinee (she/her): Leporine scout and member of the Blue Channel. She and her trusty Pack-model light AutoHollow Popcorn (she/her) used to run a repo company, but now are tentatively committed to the Cause and Millennium Break. Routine Rennari (he/him): Half-Apostolsian, scion of a minor Kesh noble house, and the Blue Channel's heavy. Hunting "Hunt" Tomorrow (he/him): Concretist specialist in communications and technology, assigned to the Blue Channel during its integration into the Cause. Saffron Septet (she/her): A doctor from the Twilight Mirage who lives as a digital consciousness, spread across a number of bodily forms including a heavy Torch Unit, a small motorcycle, and a unique and specially-crafted surgeon body. Gig Kephart (he/him): A DIY vlogger from the Twilight Mirage who lived during a time of chaos and change, just years before the founding of the Divine Principality. Misericorde 'Miseri' (he/they): Former Nidean scion who helped secure Palisade for the Bilateral Intercession. Officially MIA, but secretly working with Pact loyalist Cor'rina Corrine (cor/cors), famed Apostolosian peacemaker (and Miseri's rival), as agents of chaos on the planet. Places The Twilight Mirage: Created over 5000 years ago by what was then the Divine Empyrean in an effort to protect the Divine Fleet, of which they were a member. The Mirage is a false nebula that obscures the position of its inhabitants both visually and by distorting time and space. Inside, there is now a vibrant and peaceful culture that spans eight planets, orbiting a dark and living Divine sun. Bontive Valley: Blessed by the departed divine Bounty, the Valley provides the Bilats with fruit that never rots and hyper-nutritional grain. Divines Perennial (she/her): The Principality's so-called 'adversary,' who lives at the center of the galaxy and whose chaotic whims spread through her "Perennial Wave," an ever-present nanoparticle that has recently bonded with Kalmeria. Hosted by Austin Walker (@austin_walker) Featuring Janine Hawkins (@bleatingheart) Sylvi Bullet (@sylvibullet), Ali Acampora (@ali_west), Art Martinez-Tebbel (@atebbel), Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal), Keith J Carberry (@keithjcarberry) and Andrew Lee Swan (@swandre3000) Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt (available on bandcamp) Text by Austin Walker Cover Art by by aurahack (aurahack.jp) With thanks to Arthur B., Chocoube, DB, deepFlaw, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Huw, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, K. Morris, Katie Diekhaus, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mike & Ruby, Nich Maragos, Olive Perry, Patrick Murray, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, viviridian, Voi We are playing Armour Astir: Advent with additional playbooks from Strangers in the Night and 106th Astir Squadron. If you enjoy the show, consider supporting the TTRPG. This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to friendsatthetable.cash.

26 Mai 20231h 58min

Across Palisade, the Bilateral Intecession continue to respond to the Cause's expansion into the Bontive Valley. For some, like the Swordbearer Ramondre, this means a direct response in defense of one's honor. But for others, like BIS Commander Connadine, it means an opportunity to pursue more intriguing targets than mere revolutionaries. This week on PALISADE: The Wheels Turning Pt. 2 Homeward we go, it's victory Dossier Organizations The Bilateral Intelligence Service: Formerly called the Curtain, the BIS is a Kesh-operated organization which specializes in espionage, subterfuge, and surveillance. Though it is as secretive as ever, it is no longer the true source of power in Kesh territory. Instead, Cynosure Whitestar-Kesh has modernized its structure and operation, and has ensured that it remains well integrated into the Bilateral Intercession's greater workings—as to better keep one eye on them. Jade Kill: Based in Joyous Guard, this military arm of the Cause is operated by the Delegate liberation faction known as Reunion and supported by Kalar Anakalar's (he/him) Giantkiller unit and a wing of Swordbreakers. Led by August Righteousness (he/him). Violet Cove: The Dim Liturgy claim to have seen the Divine Devotion's arrival coming in their sacred text: A battered and corrupted backup of Crystal Palace's final predictions for the future. Now the two cults work together to oust the Bilats... and perhaps to do more intriguing things, as well. Grey Pond: With members of the Oxblood Clan, the Company of the Spade, and the Shale Belt's Concrete Front, these blue collar revolutionaries are experts at getting the Cause the equipment it needs (and maintaining what it has when that's the only available option). Carmine Bight: From ramshackle additions to the rocky shores of Rifle Island, Captain Skelton Knaggs (he/him) and his fearsome flotilla launch rusted pirate vessels beneath the waves, guided by a coalition of Hyphan navigators. People Connadine (he/him): Commander of the BIS on Palisade. An expert in psychological operations and folklore. A conductor warming his orchestra. Marlon Styx (he/him): Undercover BIS agent assigned to infiltrate Violet Cove. Has become enamored with the Dim Liturgy's holy text. Narmine "Ketch" Te'ketch (he/him): Hyphan member of Carmine Bight, Narmine is a lifelong criminal turned joyous revolutionary. Pilot of The Captain. The Facer Canceller (he/him): Operative of the BIS who specializes in asset recovery. Discretion opitonal. The Lost Duchess, Constantina Malady (she/her): It was said, she would arrive on a black horse with white fetlocks. She did. But they did not say what would come after. Gentian (she/her): Elect of the Divine Crusade. Impossibly old, yet a source of power and vibrance. Ramondre (she/her) and Ignadiah (he/him): Swordbearers of Gentian, Elect of Crusade. Rivalrous and devout. Kalar Anakalar, the Giantkiller (he/him): This legendary member of Millennium Break is much more than his nom de guerre. Loyal comrade, proud father, and ever faithful believer. Former member of the Society for Banners and Bright Returns, one of the founding organizations of Millennium Break. Places Bontive Valley: Blessed by the departed divine Bounty, the Valley provides the Bilats with fruit that never rots and hyper-nutritional grain. Mysteries The Iconoclasts: Something beyond the human, desperate to eradicate subjectivity itself. The Fundament: In the depths of the world, further on even than the Diadem… there is the Fundament. Hosted by Austin Walker (@austin_walker) Featuring Janine Hawkins (@bleatingheart) Sylvi Bullet (@sylvibullet), Ali Acampora (@ali_west), Art Martinez-Tebbel (@atebbel), Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal), Keith J Carberry (@keithjcarberry) and Andrew Lee Swan (@swandre3000) Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt (available on bandcamp) Text by Austin Walker Cover Art by by aurahack (aurahack.jp) With thanks to Arthur B., Chocoube, DB, deepFlaw, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Huw, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, K. Morris, Katie Diekhaus, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mike & Ruby, Nich Maragos, Olive Perry, Patrick Murray, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, viviridian, Voi We are playing Armour Astir: Advent with additional playbooks from Strangers in the Night and 106th Astir Squadron. If you enjoy the show, consider supporting the TTRPG. This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to friendsatthetable.cash.

19 Mai 20231h 42min