Episode 77 - In a Name

Intro
Jason: Hello, and welcome Celestial Expanse, a real play D&D podcast set in the Celestial Expanse universe. My name is Jason, and I'll be playing everyone's favorite heretic elf, Theran. Tonight, you will witness much chicanery, tomfoolery, ballyhoo, and if you're lucky, we're gonna give Matt six shots. Matt: Fuck you. Jason: But now I want to introduce the Prime Minister of Sinister, the Foreman of Fornicating Skyward, the Numero Uno of rolling numero uno, our shot-loving GM, Matthew. What's going on, Matthew? Matt: Roll death saves. Jason: Oh wow. Someone's grumpy. Ben - Martle: Vaccines are supposed to help against random death saves. Jason: Right? Ben - Boston: But we didn't specify what kind of shot it was, is it a jello shot, is it - Jason: Oh. Body shot... Mmhm. Boston: - tequila, is it the needle kind, is it the pointy kind, or is it the gun one. Jason: The gun one. Ben playing Rell. What's going on Ben? Ben: Shots shots shots shots! Jason: Shots for everybody. Boston, playing our favorite shrub Juniper. Boston: My arm hurts. Jason: My arm hurts too. Ben: Me too. Jason: The kind and generous Martle. Martle: Eyo. Jason: Natalia, playing Z. Natalia: *laughs* Wow. Hi. I actually wanted to read a tweet out loud because I thought that it was hilarious and I wanted to share it with you guys. Jason: Tweet your tweet, tweeter! Natalia: Roleplaying and Rollplaying tweeted, "Shitty character idea: Brad the basic barbarian. Calls everyone bro, takes selfies with all the NPCs, attacks wielding a lacrosse stick, yells "Bradster in the house!" when he rages." Jason: Well, I don't see the problem with that. Natalia: Roleplaying and Rollplaying, I love it. Jason: When he gets hammered it's always "I love you bro" for like an hour. Matt: Mm. Natalia: Yup. Boston: "I love you so much bro." Jason: "Love you bro." Mitch - Martle: "I'm not gay but I love you so much bro." Boston: "I'm not your bro bro." Matt: Okay guys, come on. Jason: "No homo, bro!" I'd like to bro your bro bro. Anyway. Mitch playing Zarial. How are you doing Mitch? Mitch: Pretty good. Jason: Would you like a haircut sir? Mitch: I already got one. Jason: Oh! Okay. Mitch: Today, actually. Jason: Really? Mitch: Yeah. Jason: Which one? Natalia: All of them. Mitch: Many on the left, many on the right, and a lot on the back, and you know none on the top, actually. Jason: Really. No more mullet for you. Mitch: I didn't think I had a mullet. Jason: I don't know if you had a mullet either. I know you're a lot of party in the front, but you're more party in the front and party in the back, so. Natalia: Now he's just party on the top. Mitch: Yeah, now it's a party up on top. Jason: Did you trim the beard, too, at the same time as the haircut? Mitch: No. Natalia: Have not gotten there yet. Jason: Don't want to lose your strength, Samson. Matt: Wow. Jason: Back to you, Matt. Matt: Uh, beforehand, everybody who's been talking about shots, one moment, take that much damage. Martle: I've been good, so I don't take any. Natalia: I have not even said the word. Boston: I've been pretty good. Jason: 51465 points of damage. Ben: I have evasion! Jason: Yeah I used evasion, I only took 26,000, ha ha ha! Shit'll show you. Mitch: I'll use my defense crest. So I take 6 less damage.

Episode Description
The crew take a moment to rest and take stock of what is in store for them.

Summary
Rell goes to check on Juniper, who seems okay. Martle and Lelia talk about Lelia's impending demise, her and Theran, Martle's nonexistent love life, Mama Gail, and Zarial doing paperwork. Z asks Martle to come to her quarters and they talk about the Sin. She also asks if they can set up communications with her father's caretakers, and Jörmungandr says to ask Jax. Martle notices Z get flustered, and she and Jörmungandr tell her to ask Jax out to dinner. Z protests at first, then starts planning dates. She goes to change into slightly nicer clothes, puts her hair up in a bun, then goes to see Jax.

One of Zarial's reports contains information on a possible sighting of Amethyst around the Central Paramount systems. Martle asks for more info, and Zarial finds that he's in the Reegor system with two Lilith and Athena. He also approves some requests from the marines quartermaster for food and sprayons.

Z knocks on Jax's door. It sounds like he rummages in a drawer for a second, then answers the door wearing an open vest over a tight brown shirt. She asks Jörmungandr to tell Jax what she needs, but he refuses, so she bumbles her way through an explanation. Jax doesn't know who Hadran is, so he says he'll ask Marcule and send her the link. They exchange NID info, and Z asks if he'd like to join her for a drink. He says he will after the mission, since they're about to land. Z agrees and backs away awkwardly.

The crew meet on the bridge just before they exit the jump, Z coming down from her jitters. They see Barama, which is about the size of the Parliament asteroid, with a reddish tinted atmosphere. Alarms go off, and the episode ends with them seeing four Inquisition ships.

Memorable Quotes
Martle: I don't have a love life, Lelia. Lelia: You could have had one. Martle: I could have yes. It was taken from me, just like everything else.

Z: It's because he infuriates me so much, that stuck up pompous little handsome-looking beard-having muscle I don't know, just he makes me angry.

Ben (very quietly): I don't actually have a last name, for reasons.

Trivia

 * The player for Martle is testing out a different name, and meanwhile is going by Martle on the podcast.
 * Natalia forgot Z's dad's name.