Episode 57 - Late to the Party

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'll witness much chicanery, tomfoolery, and if you're lucky, maybe even some ballyhoo. But now I want to introduce the Prime Minister of Sinister, the Foreman of Fornicating Skyward, the Numero Uno of rolling numero uno, and the 75th most hated GM in podcast history, our friendly neighborhood GM Matthew. How are you tonight, Matthew? Matt: Pretty good. It looks like I'm back on the polls. Jason: Whatever makes you sleep at night. Ben playing Rell, how are things old chap? Ben: Hello. Jason: Rebecca who is playing the kind and generous Martle. Bore us with bunny facts Rebecca. Rebecca: I'm not gonna lie, I don't have one. Jason: Boston, playing our favorite shrub Juniper. What say you? Boston: I'm filling out my calendar. Jason: Natalia, Z. What ho, Natalia? Natalia: Ewo! How are you today, Jason? Jason: Lastly, Mitch playing Z-rial. What's up? Mitch: Ignored. Natalia: Right? Ouch.

Episode Description
The Party plan their next move at the terminal and get their first crew members for the ship Jörmungandr.

Summary
Before they go to Parliament, Theran checks on Ardrial. She's doing better, but is still coming to terms with her father's death. She wants something to do, and Theran suggests a job at the Lucky Outlaw Emporium, where the crew normally drinks. The proprietor, Ms. Monday, is an android whose holographic facial software is stuck on a single expression. Theran offers her a bottle of wine from his moon and the Lightcaster, given that she is a gun enthusiast. She likes the gun, and agrees to hire Ardrial and keep an eye on her. Theran offers to help her out getting a new face processor, but she says she's got a friend helping her out with that. She cuts Theran's tab in half, which makes it 1000 credits - Z has been putting drinks on his tab.

Zarial asks Jörmungandr if there's somewhere to garden, and Jörmungandr shows him a few rooms on the fifth floor that can be converted into gardens, on the condition that no dirt makes its way into the rest of the ship. Zarial buys 200 pounds of dirt, fertilizer, and tools from a dragonborn seller and has them sent to the ship. He can't find seeds, but Z, remembering him talking about starting a garden when they went drinking earlier, finds him and gives him the purple flowers she got with the hunting lodge.

Martle goes to Juniper to learn Higher Primordial, but isn't getting it. Juniper lends her a book, so Martle can try again later.

Lelia says goodbye to them at the ship, giving them a program to help them find the signal relay. They meet the backup squad Lelia sent with them, and Martle puts them at Jörmungandr's disposal.

Z pilots to the Parliament asteroid, avoiding traffic. Parliament is no longer full of lights, and Jörmungandr says at least 50% of life support is shut off. The signal relay is in one of these dead zones, so the crew will need voidsuits. As Z brings the ship closer, they get attacked by Parliament fighters, piloted by zombies. Rell fires the main cannon and the fighters dissolve as Jörmungandr roars, as if releasing a breath weapon. Jörmungandr says there are no life signs where they'll be going, but can't sense for undead. Juniper draws a teleportation circle so they can get back immediately when they're done. Martle hooks her brain up to Jörmungandr and uses Divine Sense. As her awareness drifts to the asteroid, she feels the thoughts of many undead. As she returns, she hears the flapping of wings, and hears a voice similar to Ashley's behind her. She turns around and sees Lilith's true form: a decaying body, milky white eyes, no nose, sunken cheeks, stringy hair, threadbare clothes showing exposed ribs, and decaying wings. Martle talks to Lilith casually, and Lilith threatens to take Lelia's soul. Martle becomes enraged, and Lilith is pleased. She asks why Martle is here, and says she's here to augment her army. She is angry with Martle for destroying her ships, and congratulates Martle on Jörmungandr, saying he seems like a Progenitor ship, and she senses one on board. Martle says there isn't, but doesn't seem to fool Lilith. Lilith tells her to keep an eye on her ship, or Lilith might take it.

Martle wakes up saying Lilith is a jerk. She says there are zombies on the asteroid, and tells the crew about Lilith's visit, filling Zarial in on who she is.

Jörmungandr docks, and the crew put on their voidsuits, which are self-adjusting for size. Martle tells the backup squad to stay on Jörmungandr. The crew walks into an airport-like building full of zombies, some of which are eating others. Z sets off a weapon scanner, and the episode ends with all the zombies charging.

New Information

 * Ardrial is in the equivalent of her late teens to early twenties, around 120-130.
 * Theran's wine is made by other villages on Set that weren't attacked, so it's not too rare.
 * Androids can eat, but don't need it for sustenance.
 * Lilith was at one time a messenger for Nimtar, and helped guide souls to the afterlife. If they were approved for heaven by Nimtar, she would take them there, and if he judged them unworthy, she would strike them down.

Memorable Quotes
Theran: You deserve this. You were born. That's why you deserve this.

Martle: Why are you bringing dirt onto my ship? Zarial: I'm starting a garden. Martle: Why? Zarial: So I can feel at home? Martle: Yeah that's fair. Okay.

Natalia: If there is a secret door that opens to a pub that they all end up hanging out with, I'm having a serious talk with Jörmungandr. Matt: Putting that in my notes now. Natalia: Shit! Z will find this. Matt: Even if you do, Jörmungandr won't let you in. Natalia: Dammit!

Trivia

 * Jason came up with the name of the Lucky Outlaw Emporium.
 * Miss Monday is a side character in a short story Matt wrote about an android detective, Aspect, who is the friend Ms. Monday mentioned.
 * This is the first episode with Miss Monday and the extra crew on Jörmungandr.
 * Rebecca got 201 psychic damage/healing (depending on who you ask) for a pun.
 * Ben rolled a -1 on Rell's history check, it being a nat 1 and a -2 modifier.