[0.0s] Dumbgeons and Dragons begins in a moment. [6.0s] Alydin, it's the end of the day and you're locking up the Magic Closet. [11.5s] Oh yeah. [12.0s] It's been a while. You've seen the two that tried to pull the wool over your eyes and steal some goods from you the other day. [23.0s] You've seen them walking by the store. They look very sheepish. [26.0s] I make extreme eye contact and I do like that I point at my eyes and I point at them. They know. [32.0s] They know. Any time that you do that to them, they quickly turn tail. [37.0s] Like they don't even look like they're trying to come in and do bad things. [40.0s] Like they're just walking up the nerve to try and like come by the things that they actually wanted. [47.0s] But now they're scared off and we're probably going to wait till Bizard comes back. [51.0s] I've done sketches of their faces and put them up next to the till. [54.0s] Of course you have. [56.0s] Don't serve these people here. [58.0s] Yeah, no, no. They shot a fan. [60.0s] Bizard's going to come back and there's going to be like 50 people up on this wall where previously there might have been one. [66.0s] Trying to steal from me. [67.0s] I don't think any of them have actually stolen from you. [70.0s] There were probably only the two, but everybody who walks in I feel like you're just- [74.0s] No, no. I want to be a good business person. [77.0s] Of course. [78.0s] But you've gotten really good at sketching people so like there's that. [82.0s] You could be a street character artist now. [85.0s] I've been drawing them like you're French girls. [87.0s] Yeah. [88.0s] I am. [90.0s] I'm feeling pretty good about my situation here in the Magic Shop here. [95.0s] You've been doing a great job and you're heading off to check on the kids who have, as we previously found out, [102.0s] have been moved around the city in the three different locations. [105.0s] There's the school. [107.0s] There's a shed, which is where Tally is staying with a small contingent of the children. [114.0s] And the mill, you being still the eldest of all of these kids, where do you go first when you're doing these rents? [122.0s] I think I go check in at the shed because Tally as my number two, my protege. [131.0s] Yeah, she would think of her as a protege. [137.0s] Like it goes Bizard and then me and then Tally. [142.0s] I wasn't going to say it. [144.0s] We were all thinking it. [146.0s] Just to double check that things are going all right and just to check in with who I left in charge. [156.0s] Of course. [158.0s] You make your way through the streets and the shed isn't too far from the stables where you previously were. [167.0s] It maintained its form at the very least after the monsters attacked and days since several of the guards who knew that you were [175.0s] staying there did come by and like board up the door that was busted open from when that monster came out. [182.0s] So there's no more getting back into that cellar, at least not in its current state. [187.0s] But you make your way to the shed. [189.0s] And as you're walking up to the shed, it's getting towards evening hours. [193.0s] You hear a soft lullaby being sung from the shed and it sounds like Tally's voice and like some of the kids are singing along. [203.0s] I just I I loitered the door for a minute because this is this is a nice moment and I don't want to spoil it. [211.0s] And I'm proud of Tally for keeping the kids like, you know, at the very least entertain. [216.0s] They're all not just sitting around looking at each other being like, I wonder when the next monsters going to destroy our home. [222.0s] You hang at the door and the tune is familiar. [226.0s] It's it's a lullaby tune. [228.0s] So I mean, all songs basically kind of sound like what? [234.0s] Like that kind of. Yeah, I thought you were starting off some good King Wentz. [244.0s] Very similar start, but on that third note, it deviates. [247.0s] So you got to watch it. Yeah. [249.0s] But as you're listening, you catch kind of the tail end of this song and the words as you go up to the door become more clear. [259.0s] And the words you hear at the end of this song are so stay with me. [265.0s] Don't go astray or in the night you'll fade away. [269.0s] For once you hear his lonesome song, the banjo man won't wait too long. [277.0s] What the fuck? [281.0s] Dumbgeons and Dragons is a D&D actual play podcast. [285.0s] And I'm your Dungeon Master Russ More, he him. [288.0s] Also joining me today is Amy More as Alydin, she her. [292.0s] And then I heard what you were singing. [294.0s] Tom Laird as Kavlaran Goldweave, he him. [297.0s] Oh, no, you mixed up your cyanide tablet. [299.0s] And Kyle Claset as Bizard the Wizard, he him. [302.0s] I bet they try to call it a work pod, huh? [304.0s] Dumbgeons and Dragons is a Patreon supported podcast. [307.0s] And you can join us today at patreon.com slash Tom Dragoncast. [311.0s] There's a seven day free trial and a whole bunch of episodes for you to listen to. [315.0s] We hope to see you over there. [317.0s] And now fuck it. Let's play. [324.0s] Bench and Cav. [326.0s] So previously you two were at the... [332.0s] Had one of the most uncomfortable dinner experiences of Kavlaran's life. [338.0s] You guys were at the cured pig. [341.0s] Let's say you spent at least part of the day there. [344.0s] You've finished up. [346.0s] Bizarre, your mum has brought the bill. [350.0s] And everything OK? [354.0s] Cav, it's been lovely to meet you. [357.0s] Super nice to meet you too. [359.0s] Yes. Well, I hope to see you again, Bizarre. [361.0s] I expect to see you again before you go heading back to Vintersmouth. [365.0s] And of course I will think on what we talked about earlier. [370.0s] And I will formulate just how I'm feeling in that state about coming back to Vintersmouth. [378.0s] And in fairness, I will consider going to see Dad. [385.0s] I don't... I'm not... [388.0s] Don't... It's OK. [390.0s] Distress yourself, OK? [392.0s] Believe me, I will not, Mother. [394.0s] But, thank you. [396.0s] There's a call from the kitchen in the back. [398.0s] She says, I've got to go. I'll see you very soon. [401.0s] She gives you a big hug and says, I love you. [404.0s] And then heads back into the kitchen. [406.0s] Leaving the two of you to finish up at the table and decide where you both need to go next. [415.0s] So, Kav, do they give you a pretty good stipend? [419.0s] Because, you know, this seems like a really good business lunch to talk about what we're going to bring to the officials, right? [427.0s] I love where your head's at, B. Love it. [431.0s] Yeah, the stipend's not great, but it'll cover our lunch. Absolutely. [437.0s] Sick. [438.0s] Let me pull out the Contra chips. [444.0s] So, I've got to swing by the Comptroller's office. [448.0s] You're welcome to come with, but it might be pretty boring. [452.0s] OK, let's see. [455.0s] The library is kind of in the opposite direction, so I'm going to stick with you for now. [461.0s] And, you know, I know the librarians, so I'll be able to just... [465.0s] They'll let me in. It'll be fine. [468.0s] OK, cool. [469.0s] Yeah, let's head on to the Comptroller's office. [472.0s] I don't know. Working for the mayor has kind of shown me a little bit of behind the curtain of the, you know, red tape and everything. [478.0s] And I have a slight interest in it, especially if I'm going to continue to be a business owner. [483.0s] Yeah, absolutely. [485.0s] All right. Let's, I mean, we'll settle up here. [488.0s] We'll head on our way and spill the beans, I guess. [492.0s] Sounds good. [494.0s] Dine and dash on your mom. [497.0s] Yes, by settle up here, I mean run out the door. [500.0s] Yes, they'll never find us. [505.0s] You head off to, I guess, question for Cav. [510.0s] Does Cav have... [511.0s] Yes, I did get a receipt. [512.0s] Great. That was the first question. [514.0s] You submit your receipts. Make sure you get them in by end of day on Friday. [517.0s] Otherwise, the whole thing just falls apart. [519.0s] You have to wait the whole... Yeah, yeah. [522.0s] But my real question was, does Cav have an office here? [527.0s] Cav doesn't have his own office. [530.0s] He's got like a cubicle amongst a wall of other cubicles. [535.0s] I bet they try to call it a work pod, huh? [538.0s] You know, they like to call it just your workstation, but like it ain't fooling anyone. [544.0s] We enter into what's familiar to Cav, but he hasn't been here, obviously, in a few months. [552.0s] What is time? [554.0s] And bizarre, this is probably not a building that you've been in. [560.0s] Certainly not. [562.0s] Part of the many city official buildings that surround the King's Tower. [569.0s] You enter in and there's a series of long winding hallways, [574.0s] and you get back to the auditor general's office, the comptroller's office, and several others. [582.0s] So there is a wall of cubicles. [585.0s] And as you're walking by, there are several people working, writing in ledgers, [590.0s] and a couple of them kind of look up and back down to their books. [594.0s] And you walk by one and like there are papers stacked to the ceiling on this desk. [600.0s] Cav, it's your desk. [604.0s] Yep, make yourself at home. There's a chair around here somewhere. [609.0s] Okay, should have brought Oak with you. [612.0s] Oh my god, he would make, he would just, this would all disappear and it would be a dream. [617.0s] Well, kind of edge between the piles and everything and almost knock one over and I stabilize it. [624.0s] I mean, that one was there before I left, but like, all right. [628.0s] These other two, they're new. [630.0s] So do you have to do all this right now or how does this work? [636.0s] I don't think so. [638.0s] I think, you know, more pressing issues than this. [641.0s] I was just making sure that my ficus was alive. [644.0s] George, thanks for watering it. [646.0s] No problem. [648.0s] Cav, this one's dated a year ago. [652.0s] Yeah, it's fine. I'll get to it. [655.0s] Yeah, I'm not very good at my job. [657.0s] It's somebody appealing the tax rate on their, okay. [661.0s] I mean, that's not something I can personally solve. [664.0s] I just need to like, give it the old once over. [667.0s] But yeah, it's just, you know, other things took priority. [669.0s] There's a tap on your shoulder, Cav, and a clearing of a throat. [673.0s] And you turn around and somebody recognized her name is Stacey and she's got another stack of papers. [678.0s] And she says, oh, it's good to see you, Cav. [680.0s] And she piles it on top of one of the lower piles of papers. [684.0s] It says, we've just been keeping these here for you until you get back. [687.0s] Take your time. [688.0s] Okay, well, I'm not really like back yet. [691.0s] Just a quick pop in, just to stop over. [693.0s] You're here though. [694.0s] So how do you do? [695.0s] If you could just take care of this, because it has fallen over a couple of times [699.0s] and we've tried to put it back together, [701.0s] but it feels like there's going to be some work in to sort out all this paperwork. [705.0s] Yeah, all the king's horses and all the king's men, you know. [708.0s] Oh, speaking of the king's men, is Wiggins in? [712.0s] I saw him earlier. He was doing his rounds. [714.0s] So if he's not in his office, he can't be too far. [716.0s] All right, cool. Thanks, Stacey. [718.0s] I just got to, I'm going to take my buddy here. [721.0s] Oh, sorry, Stacey, Bazaard, Bazaard, Stacey. [724.0s] Pleasure to meet you. [725.0s] Nice to meet you. [726.0s] Shake your hand. [727.0s] Yeah. [728.0s] Are you also in auditing? [730.0s] No. [731.0s] Are you new here? [732.0s] I don't do this job and I'm not doing anything here. [734.0s] Yeah. [735.0s] Okay. [736.0s] Well, that's fair. [737.0s] Okay, well, it's good to meet you. [738.0s] We'll probably see you around. [740.0s] Cav, great to have you back. [742.0s] I'll let everybody know that you're here. [744.0s] No, I'm just popping in. [746.0s] Cav is here. [747.0s] Just to stop over, just a little. [748.0s] George. [749.0s] How do you do? [750.0s] Cav is here. [751.0s] Oh, no. [752.0s] I spotted his ficus. [753.0s] He just thanked me. [754.0s] Thanks, George. [755.0s] Anytime. [756.0s] All right, let's go try to catch Wiggins. [759.0s] Come on. [760.0s] You head out of the cubicle area down the hallway. [762.0s] You pass by a lovely woman who looks and says, Cav, I heard you were back. [768.0s] No, just ever so briefly. [771.0s] Just stopping in. [772.0s] So excited to have you back. [773.0s] And she keeps going. [774.0s] Again, still not back. [776.0s] And you make your way to Comptroller Wiggins' office. [780.0s] The door's slightly ajar. [783.0s] You hear some grumbling inside. [785.0s] It sounds like one voice. [787.0s] But it does sound familiar. [788.0s] It sounds like Comptroller Wiggins. [791.0s] Is now a good time? [793.0s] Oh, yeah, yeah. [794.0s] Come on in. [795.0s] Come on in. [796.0s] Who's that? [797.0s] Oh, Cav. [798.0s] Cav, I heard you were back. [799.0s] Come on. [800.0s] It's great to have you. [801.0s] Come on in. [802.0s] Just here for just a scooch of time. [804.0s] Oh, yeah, sure. [805.0s] Come on in. [806.0s] Come on in. [807.0s] Hey, you got a new friend there. [808.0s] Oh, yes. [809.0s] Sorry. [810.0s] Wiggins, this is my friend Bazaar. [811.0s] Bazaar, this is Wiggins. [812.0s] Nice to meet you. [813.0s] Great to meet you. [814.0s] Great to meet you. [815.0s] Come on in. [816.0s] You're looking to get into auditing, I hear. [817.0s] Or perhaps just paperwork in general. [820.0s] No, I'm a business owner. [823.0s] So I'm... [824.0s] So you're going to submit paperwork? [825.0s] He runs the local magic shop. [827.0s] In Vintersmouth. [828.0s] Oh, great. [829.0s] Oh, yes. [830.0s] No, not here. [831.0s] No, in Vintersmouth, where I've been for several months. [833.0s] Yes. [834.0s] Right. [835.0s] You were in Vintersmouth. [836.0s] Yeah, yeah, yeah. [837.0s] Still am. [838.0s] Got to go back there. [839.0s] Just stopping in. [840.0s] It's going around that you're back and that you're going to take care of that huge [842.6s] pile of paper on your desk. [844.0s] I mean, I'm just... [845.0s] I'm really not. [846.0s] I'll level with you. [847.0s] I'm not going to do it. [848.0s] I mean, half of that is correct, Cav. [849.0s] You are back, but just that latter half, right? [852.0s] Yeah. [853.0s] Yeah. [854.0s] Just... [855.0s] Easy misunderstanding. [856.0s] Quick little pop-in. [857.0s] Just back for a sec. [858.0s] Okay. [859.0s] Let's just... [860.0s] All seriousness, it's great to see you back. [861.0s] But your last report said that you didn't find anything, so I didn't expect to see you [866.8s] back for quite some time. [869.4s] Yep. [870.4s] Mm-hmm. [871.4s] What are you doing here? [872.4s] Oh, well, things have changed. [875.4s] So you are back. [876.4s] Nope. [877.4s] Nope. [878.4s] Not in that department. [879.4s] In the previous department, in the didn't find anything department. [882.4s] Really? [883.4s] I'm just going to skoosh this door closed for a sec. [886.0s] Oh, yeah, of course. [887.3s] Come on in. [888.3s] Come on in. [889.3s] Have a seat. [890.3s] Have a couple chairs. [891.3s] See? [892.3s] Paper work everywhere. [893.3s] It's just how we do it here. [894.3s] Do you need coffee? [895.3s] Or water? [896.3s] Or something? [897.3s] I'm good. [898.3s] Coffee sounds good. [899.3s] Great, great, great, great, great. [900.3s] He goes and moves another stack of papers and there's a coffee machine that looks [903.4s] like it's been off for a while and pours it into the cup. [907.8s] There's no steam coming off of it and hands it to you. [910.4s] It is cold. [911.4s] Thank you. [912.4s] You're welcome. [913.4s] I hold it. [914.4s] That's official city coffee. [915.4s] It doesn't get any better than that. [917.4s] It really does. [919.2s] OK, so yeah, in the things have changed in the not finding anything department, I just [924.6s] got a little little something here and I reach into my bag and I pull out the books [930.6s] and I like slam them down on the table and say, oh, Wiggins, you're going to you're [936.3s] just going to love reading this. [938.2s] And he sits down in his desk and flips them open, positions his glasses at the [944.6s] end of his nose and says, oh, my. [949.8s] We'll be right back. [953.8s] It's the middle. [956.4s] So this week has been a good week. [958.9s] Everybody lists something good that's happened to them. [961.6s] I moved into my new house. [963.0s] Yeah. [965.0s] Oh, Tom shouldn't have gone first. [966.8s] That's a really good one. [968.3s] Yeah, sorry. [969.3s] Yeah, sorry. We'll cut yours to the end, Tom, but that is very exciting. [975.5s] You have gay. [976.5s] I'm getting the winter tires changed on both of our vehicles. [979.5s] Nice. Great. [980.8s] Yeah. Thank God, because if he didn't do it, nobody would. [985.0s] I got some new Halloween decorations finally up in my game. [988.1s] Not so boring outside of the house. [990.4s] Oh, I fixed my window that I smashed because I'm a little slugger. [994.0s] Oh, yeah. [996.5s] Dennis, the menace to yourself. [999.1s] Um, I learned that it only takes me 15 minutes to clean a whole thing of liquid yogurt out of a backpack. [1006.7s] Oh, information you didn't want to learn, but you did. [1009.5s] And you did it. [1010.5s] I know. [1011.5s] Good for you in a pinch. [1012.9s] You get some yogurt in your backpack. [1015.0s] You know, it's going to take 15 minutes. [1016.8s] OK, it's not bad. [1019.1s] Zero follow up questions. [1020.3s] What if it's Greek yogurt? [1021.5s] Oh, see, I said zero. [1023.1s] Greek yogurt would be easier because it's not liquid in every way. [1026.8s] You can scoop more of it. [1028.3s] There was cooling. [1029.6s] Yeah. [1031.5s] Yeah. Cut it down to seven minutes for Greek yogurt. [1033.7s] That's my guess. Yeah. [1036.9s] But all these great things are happening. [1038.7s] It feels like there's just some cool vibes in the air right now. [1042.4s] And we just want to pass that along to you. [1044.8s] And hopefully you're having a great week. [1046.5s] Especially to our patron, who this episode is dedicated to. [1051.3s] Yeah. [1052.3s] Yeah. Oh, my God. [1053.4s] The look on Russ's face was great. [1056.8s] I was on the edge of doing it and Carla came in. [1059.6s] That's one of the great things that happened this week. [1063.9s] This person who Russ has at his fingertips. [1067.9s] Yeah, Russ has prepared. [1069.9s] He's just so excited to say their name. [1071.9s] I know. He's bouncing up and down. [1075.1s] You've got to slow down and take a deep breath. [1078.4s] You don't even know the name that I'm going to give you. [1081.0s] I know. I'm so excited. [1082.0s] Well, you keep it a secret. [1083.9s] Yeah, we don't even know. [1085.1s] I don't like to tell everybody so that you're surprised. [1088.1s] It's in a sealed envelope. [1090.3s] All right. Got the envelope. [1092.3s] I just sound like you like we're spitting. [1097.5s] That's how you get an envelope open. [1099.0s] You got to make it. You got to get a little lip on there. [1101.1s] You got to get a little lip on there. [1103.3s] So you can see through it a little bit, almost. [1105.8s] That's right. [1106.7s] Yes. Thank you to this week's patron, William F. Kirkwood. [1112.7s] Thanks, William. [1115.7s] Thanks for being one more wonderful thing [1118.4s] that happened this week. [1120.4s] Absolutely. [1121.2s] Also, your name sounds like a movie star name. [1123.1s] It really does. [1124.0s] Yeah, the F that really throws it in there. [1125.8s] I think so. [1126.9s] But also, it's just like real solid names. [1129.7s] Yeah. [1131.0s] Like when you see that name come up fourth in the credits, [1133.8s] you're like, he's the bad guy because he's very recognizable. [1137.6s] So good. [1140.2s] Thank you, William, for being the bad guy in our movie. [1144.7s] Absolutely. [1145.5s] Yeah. [1146.9s] We hope you're having a great week, [1148.4s] and we hope you're enjoying this episode. [1149.7s] We'll get you back to it. [1150.6s] Thanks so much for being here. [1151.8s] We love you, bye. [1152.9s] We love you, bye. [1154.8s] I wish all your backpacks are not filled with you. [1162.4s] And we're going to cut back to Vintersmouth. [1167.3s] Kick us off. [1169.4s] Kicking us off by kicking that door open. [1172.1s] The children scream. [1173.4s] Ah! [1174.0s] What was that? [1175.5s] Hi, you guys. [1176.4s] Hi. [1176.9s] Oh, surprise. [1179.0s] You scared us so much. [1180.6s] I'm so sorry. [1181.9s] I was just so excited to see you guys. [1184.7s] It's great to see you. [1185.9s] How was the day at the Magic Closet? [1188.4s] Oh, pretty good. [1190.0s] That's good. [1190.7s] Business is booming. [1191.9s] Oh, fantastic. [1193.3s] Bizard is going to love that he put you in charge. [1196.1s] I saw you put so many new pictures up today. [1199.4s] It was only one extra, and she knew why. [1204.4s] She knew. [1205.1s] I'm sure she did. [1206.0s] She did. [1206.6s] Yeah, you're doing a great job. [1208.5s] Yeah, yeah, speaking about jobs, [1210.5s] can I just talk to you outside the shack? [1212.3s] Oh, sure. [1212.8s] Just over here a little bit. [1213.9s] You guys, you just hang out, OK, you guys? [1216.3s] Probably ring around the rosy. [1217.9s] Now sing it creepy like, no. [1220.4s] Ring around the rosy. [1223.2s] I pulled Tally outside. [1225.0s] Yeah, what's up, boss? [1226.0s] And she pulls the door closed behind her. [1228.7s] What's up? [1229.7s] What's up? [1230.2s] What's up? [1230.9s] What's up? [1231.9s] So walking up, hear you singing to the kids. [1235.5s] Oh, that's what we were doing. [1236.4s] Oh, fantastic. [1237.3s] Love it. [1237.9s] I was in that moment so proud of you. [1241.9s] I was like, look at Tally taking on all [1245.2s] of this responsibility. [1247.5s] Just taking care of these kids. [1250.8s] And then I heard what you were singing. [1253.0s] OK. [1254.2s] Oh, you just heard the Banjo Man song. [1257.9s] Yeah, no, that's a new song that we heard. [1261.0s] We were down by the docks there. [1266.0s] Why did you take the kids down at the docks? [1268.2s] They've got to get out. [1269.0s] You've got to stretch their legs every now and again. [1270.8s] You can't keep them in this shed all day long. [1273.0s] Don't bring them down to the docks. [1274.5s] I'm pulling my hair out, Alydin. [1276.0s] I'm pulling my hair out. [1277.1s] I've been home with the kids all day. [1280.0s] Now I guess you know how I felt. [1281.7s] I just needed to get out for a little fresh air. [1284.4s] Listen, next time have them play around the pond. [1287.7s] Don't bring them down to the docks. [1290.4s] OK, anyways, we were down at the docks. [1292.7s] And there was this lovely man singing a bunch of songs. [1295.9s] So we all pulled up and gathered around. [1298.0s] And he was doing a great job. [1299.6s] And then he came to this one, the Banjo Man. [1302.0s] And there was a tale about how there's some missing children. [1307.0s] And it was a little bit of a spooky, scary ghost story [1310.2s] more than anything. [1311.6s] But then taught us this lullaby to sing about the Banjo Man. [1315.7s] And we really loved it. [1317.5s] Felt really calming. [1320.9s] That song's like real creepy. [1324.5s] Well, which part did you hear? [1326.3s] The end. [1327.3s] Oh, well, I mean, contextually, you probably [1330.1s] want to hear the- [1330.7s] OK, well, sing me the whole thing, then. [1331.5s] OK. [1331.9s] Convince me. [1332.7s] OK, you ready? [1333.5s] I'm ready. [1334.7s] From your diaphragm, dig deep. [1336.7s] Hush now, child, and close your eyes. [1342.2s] The Banjo Man will sing the skies with silver strings [1349.7s] and gentle sound. [1352.3s] He'll lead you where no harm is found. [1356.5s] See, no harm is meaning good. [1359.3s] He plays for those who dream and weep. [1363.7s] His melody will soothe your sleep. [1367.7s] But if you wander far from bed, he'll [1372.1s] play a song to fill your head. [1376.6s] Soothing is what the Banjo Man's doing. [1379.7s] In shadows deep and woods so tall, [1383.6s] the Banjo Man will softly call. [1387.6s] With music sweet, your steps he'll [1390.7s] guide through mist and dark to where he'll hide. [1395.6s] It's like a game, like peek-a-boo, [1398.2s] like hide-and-go-seek. [1399.2s] So he's calling? [1400.1s] So stay with me. [1402.1s] Don't go astray. [1404.5s] Or in the night, you'll fade away. [1408.4s] For once you hear his lonesome song, [1412.3s] the Banjo Man won't wait too long. [1419.2s] They like it when you go up at the end. [1420.9s] Tally, oh my god. [1422.7s] What? [1423.6s] That's messed up. [1424.5s] What do you mean that's messed up? [1425.8s] That is a horrific song to sing to children. [1429.0s] But what are you talking about? [1430.2s] I'm talking about some creepy dude [1433.6s] singing a song to kids in the woods. [1436.5s] Well, there was a guy down at the docks. [1438.5s] That is different. [1439.9s] Singing this very song to children. [1442.3s] And there were adults there. [1444.2s] Sorry, I bumped into you. [1445.6s] I apologize. [1446.6s] I'm just getting very animated. [1450.0s] OK, I need you to hear me. [1451.3s] So we don't like the song. [1452.4s] Tell me what part about the song we don't like. [1454.5s] I don't like that it is telling the children [1458.5s] that there is a creepy Banjo Man somewhere [1461.7s] who fills their head with nice songs, [1464.4s] but also subsequently hides in the forest. [1476.3s] And lures children. [1478.0s] That's not what I took out of the song. [1480.2s] Oh, but that's what it is. [1483.1s] And then this song sounds like a warning. [1486.1s] You better not go too far from your bed, [1488.3s] otherwise a Banjo Man is going to get in your head. [1490.7s] Well. [1491.7s] Well. [1492.7s] OK, so I'm hearing your feedback. [1495.6s] I'm hearing your feedback. [1497.0s] So what you're saying is that also, [1499.4s] it's a song that they like, [1501.1s] but also it warns them not to walk away in the dark. [1504.3s] We've had that problem before. [1505.9s] You've had? [1506.9s] Well, I'm just talking about it in general. [1508.5s] You know, the kids sometimes have walked off in the past. [1510.9s] They've been pretty good. [1511.9s] They've been pretty good lately. [1513.5s] But like, this is a constant reminder to stay in the shed. [1516.3s] That was Jimothy and he was sleepwalking. [1518.7s] OK. [1519.7s] Well, yeah. [1520.7s] I know. [1521.7s] Jimothy is the tale we tell everybody. [1523.7s] But now we've got the Banjo Man. [1525.3s] Yeah, but I don't think that scaring the kids [1527.5s] is a good idea. [1528.5s] I won't sing the Banjo Man anymore. [1530.5s] Thank you. [1531.5s] What if you were to do the Banjo Man [1533.5s] What if you were to just change a couple of words? [1536.1s] Make it your own. [1537.7s] Make it not so ominous. [1540.1s] OK. [1541.1s] That means spooky. [1542.1s] That's a good one. [1543.1s] Subsequently, I won't make it ominous. [1548.3s] Nailing it. [1550.7s] Quick learner on that vocab. [1552.1s] And it could be whatever you want. [1554.5s] But like, just don't make it creepy. [1556.7s] And we want the children to stay because they like to stay [1562.5s] and they feel safe, not because if they leave, [1565.9s] something terrible will happen to them. [1568.3s] That's fair. [1568.9s] I mean, we were singing the one that you taught us, [1571.5s] the Rockabye Baby one. [1572.7s] But like the baby falls from a treetop in that one. [1575.7s] The branch isn't that high. [1577.3s] But I see where you're coming from. [1579.3s] Cautionary tales. [1580.5s] You know what? [1581.1s] Maybe just OK, going forward. [1584.3s] We just sing happy songs for the kids. [1586.5s] Just happy songs. [1587.3s] Yeah, because like stuff's really hard [1588.9s] and they like legitimately. [1591.3s] That means like really, really just saw a monster. [1595.5s] That is true. [1597.1s] And I bet that's going to leave [1599.5s] some long lasting, you know, stuff for them. [1605.9s] Yeah, they have some of them scream in the night. [1608.3s] But you know, that's. [1611.3s] Jesus Christ. [1614.3s] I'm going to need you to tell me [1617.1s] who's screaming in the night. [1618.7s] Sure. [1619.3s] Tally begins to walk back [1620.7s] and you hear them singing the song again on inside. [1624.5s] OK, I'll shut it down. [1625.9s] I just bust the door open. [1627.5s] Everybody shut up. [1628.5s] No talking. [1629.7s] Subsequently, Alydin is going to make sure [1634.7s] that we don't sing this song ever again. [1636.7s] Now, point to your friend who was screaming last night. [1640.7s] I point to Sarah. [1643.9s] And then they point to Walter. [1646.9s] And then they point to Dee. [1648.5s] It's everybody, isn't it? [1650.5s] Is everybody screaming at night? [1651.7s] Not everybody. [1652.7s] Well, in my defense, once Sarah started, [1654.9s] what was I going to do, not scream? [1656.5s] It was like a domino attack. [1657.5s] That would be very scary. [1658.5s] So here's what I hear. [1662.1s] Look, I dig inside of my bucket [1664.9s] and I pull out a piece of chalk. [1667.1s] You see this? [1667.9s] Yeah. [1668.9s] This is magic chalk. [1672.9s] For real, because I work in a magic shop. [1677.9s] She's basically a magician. [1679.7s] Whoa. [1680.7s] Is there an employee discount? [1682.7s] Can you eat it? [1683.9s] No, don't eat it. [1684.9s] It's chalk. [1685.9s] Magic chalk. [1687.3s] So here's what I'm going to do. [1689.5s] And I go to the front door [1691.7s] and I draw a thick line of chalk. [1695.5s] You see that line? [1697.5s] Yeah, everybody see that line? [1699.7s] Uh-huh. [1700.7s] That line is magic [1703.9s] and no bad stuff can pass it. [1707.9s] Wow. [1708.9s] What about at the window? [1710.9s] Well, let me just check. [1712.1s] And I go over to the window [1713.5s] and on the sill I go shh. [1715.7s] Good thinking. [1716.3s] Can't pass the window either. [1717.9s] Uh, so bad stuff can't get in through the door or the window. [1721.5s] So you know what? [1722.7s] Only good stuff is in here. [1724.3s] So when you sing songs, [1726.1s] let's sing good songs [1727.1s] and fill this place up with good stuff. [1729.1s] Does that mean Jim, [1729.9s] are these feet stinks going to stay outside? [1732.9s] Oh, good question. [1734.5s] Are you guys smelly? [1735.5s] Jimothy, are you smelly? [1737.7s] Yeah. [1738.9s] Whoa, Jimothy has a much deeper voice than I in it, doesn't he? [1743.9s] That's OK. [1744.9s] It's called puberty. [1746.9s] Yeah, yeah, it is. [1748.3s] And it's OK. [1749.1s] Everybody eventually goes through it [1751.3s] and all the kids look to each other in shock and fear. [1756.1s] Oh, we did that little field trip with everybody. [1760.1s] So is this the first place or the last place you visited? [1764.3s] Because you probably want to tell them not to sing this. [1766.9s] Did not. [1768.9s] You want them to sing different songs. [1772.5s] This was my first stop, [1774.5s] but thank you for that information. [1776.9s] Great. [1777.5s] All right. [1777.9s] Do you guys need anything? [1779.7s] You got more of that chalk? [1781.3s] I dig inside of my bucket [1783.5s] and I find another piece of chalk. [1785.9s] Yep. [1786.5s] Great. [1787.5s] So no eating it. [1789.9s] Tally hands it over to one of the children. [1792.3s] Just make sure you do a full perimeter. [1793.9s] Full perimeter of the shed, OK? [1796.1s] Don't miss any spots. [1798.1s] And I take out a few cookies from those buns dough [1803.3s] and I give them to Tally. [1805.1s] Thank you. [1805.9s] Not just for you. [1806.7s] Split them among the kids. [1808.5s] Of course. [1809.1s] Yeah, of course. [1810.3s] You know what? [1810.9s] You're doing a really good job. [1812.7s] Oh, thank you. [1814.5s] It's a learning experience. [1816.1s] And you're nailing it. [1817.9s] And you took the feedback well. [1820.3s] Well, I mean, if you put your back up [1823.5s] against constructive criticism, [1825.3s] nobody gets anywhere. [1826.7s] Great words. [1827.9s] Wise. [1828.5s] All right. [1829.1s] Bye, you guys. [1831.1s] Bye. [1831.5s] Love you. [1832.5s] I love you too. [1834.3s] Door shuts. [1835.1s] Everybody go to bed. [1836.7s] I look up at the sky. [1838.1s] The sun's still up. [1839.5s] It's like four o'clock. [1841.1s] See Tally through the window just chain smoking. [1845.9s] Nap time, kids. [1848.9s] Got to write a new fucking lullaby. [1851.3s] And I book it to the mill. [1854.7s] We see you tear off towards the mill. [1856.8s] And we fade back into Comptroller Wiggins' office, [1861.1s] who's flipping through the ledger. [1863.1s] And he says, so tell me one more time [1867.1s] where you got these books from. [1869.1s] All right, so these books were under locking key [1873.7s] in Nina's office. [1875.7s] There are so many names in this book, [1880.5s] like names I don't even recognize. [1883.3s] But some names I do recognize. [1886.9s] Like Nina and the mayor. [1889.1s] Nina and the mayor are all over this. [1891.9s] I'm more concerned about, perhaps, [1895.9s] a noble name that exists not within that town, [1900.7s] but in this town. [1902.3s] And he flips back a couple pages. [1904.5s] And he says, did you see this one? [1907.3s] And he points to a name, and it's Lady Cressida Thorne. [1911.1s] Yep, yeah, I saw that one in there a couple times. [1914.3s] He sits back and takes a swig of his cold coffee. [1920.1s] But like, what do we do with all these names? [1922.7s] What do we do with all these names? [1927.1s] He's gone, like, Stark White, [1930.5s] his previously unmentioned, unkempt mustache and goatee. [1937.7s] He starts pulling at it, just like combing it [1941.3s] through with his hands. [1942.9s] He says, this is a little bigger [1947.1s] than I thought it was going to be. [1948.5s] I thought it was just going to be some local stuff. [1950.7s] But this is like working with many different regions. [1954.5s] Oh, yeah, no, and like everyone from dwarves [1957.9s] to pirates to diplomats. [1959.7s] It's wild. [1960.9s] How did Knops is inept? [1964.1s] How did Knops pull this off? [1967.5s] Oh, I don't think Knops did. [1969.9s] That's the thing. [1972.3s] So you think Knops is the fall guy. [1975.1s] Or like knows what's happening. [1979.1s] But I think he knows he's just like, [1981.1s] oh, well, there's much smarter people [1982.9s] who can run this instead of me. [1984.3s] So I'm just going to like, I'll be the figurehead. [1987.5s] But that's as far as my role goes. [1990.5s] Right. [1991.5s] So we have to be. [1994.1s] He closes the book, closes all of the books, [1997.7s] and stacks them back up. [1999.3s] And we have to be very careful about this. [2005.3s] Looks over your shoulder, makes sure the door is still closed, [2008.1s] like checking the sill underneath, [2010.1s] making sure there's no like shadows at the doors. [2013.3s] We have to be very careful about this. [2016.5s] Who knows your back? [2018.7s] Everybody knows your back. [2020.3s] Literally, everybody in the office knows your back. [2023.3s] But what if like I leave again, [2028.3s] and then whatever is going to happen, [2032.1s] happens once I'm gone. [2033.5s] And then maybe people won't correlate [2036.5s] that I had this news for you. [2040.3s] So you're putting this on me? [2042.7s] Well, like you're Comptroller for a reason. [2045.7s] I do endless amounts of paperwork. [2051.5s] There hasn't been this. [2053.1s] There hasn't been since I started. [2055.7s] I've been here for 42 years. [2058.7s] I'm supposed to retire in three weeks. [2061.9s] Oh my God, I had no idea. [2063.3s] They were going to throw a big party for me. [2066.1s] Usually there's like a card that goes around, [2068.5s] but I guess with me not being here for a while, [2070.5s] I probably missed out on that. [2071.7s] It's probably on one of the piles on your desk. [2074.3s] Oh, yeah. [2077.7s] Bazaar, what do you think? [2078.7s] What should we do? [2080.3s] Well, I find it interesting that a noble person [2085.3s] from Kingston would wind up sending money to Vintersmouth. [2089.3s] What reason would they have to do that? [2092.7s] Especially considering like how the mayor has used [2097.5s] the money for gold statues. [2099.5s] Unless they're trying to make themselves some kind of, [2102.1s] I don't know, a vacation spot made just for them. [2105.7s] But I love Vintersmouth, but I don't think it's that really. [2111.3s] Well, I mean, I don't know. [2112.9s] I don't know what the end goal is, [2114.9s] but looking through the book, [2117.1s] it seems like her payments are, [2120.9s] well, they correlate with Nopz's authority [2123.7s] and like anytime there's a challenge to him, [2125.7s] she seems to like re-up that payment. [2129.7s] So obviously something there between the two of them, [2133.1s] but I don't know what it could be. [2136.1s] What if we just focus on getting Nopz and Nina out? [2143.3s] What about that? [2144.7s] Yeah, we could focus on that. [2146.7s] I think that's the move and the evidence here [2150.3s] would hopefully, what we're willing to divulge, [2153.7s] yeah, would certainly get them out. [2157.7s] I don't know how rich this Cressida person is, [2161.7s] but unless they have... [2163.1s] You see Jav making the money sign [2165.1s] with his fingers in the background. [2167.1s] I could only assume based off of the brief numbers I saw, [2170.9s] but if they have the money to throw like this, [2176.7s] who says they wouldn't just throw it behind [2179.3s] any kind of lawmen to make it just go away? [2186.1s] And nothing happens. [2187.3s] Yeah, yeah, I see your point. [2190.3s] Evidence burned, evidence dismissed. [2195.1s] Wiggums looks to you, Kav. [2197.1s] Have you made... [2198.7s] I see you've got some notes there on this. [2201.1s] Have you made any copies of anything that's in this? [2205.9s] Not like a copy per se, [2208.1s] but like jotting down my thoughts. [2211.3s] Of course, of course, of course, of course. [2213.3s] Here's what I'm proposing. [2214.7s] Here's the spaghetti that I'm throwing at the wall here. [2217.1s] Love it. Hit me with it. [2218.1s] I don't know how long you've been walking around [2220.5s] with these books for, [2221.5s] but I don't think you should be walking around with these books. [2224.3s] Oh, yeah, full agreement there. [2226.3s] We need to keep these books somewhere safe [2228.9s] that nobody is ever going to look. [2231.3s] I would say the giant stack of paperwork on my desk, [2233.7s] but someone might actually look there, you know, for the card. [2236.7s] Okay, so what if we go find the card, [2239.7s] get the card out of the stack, [2241.3s] and as ridiculous as this sounds, [2243.5s] what if we hid these books inside that giant stack of papers [2247.5s] that nobody's ever going to look, [2249.3s] and they just keep piling papers on top of it? [2251.7s] So your solution is to find the needle in the paper stack. [2255.9s] Yes. [2256.9s] And then hide more needles in said paper stack. [2259.1s] And then hide more needles in the paper stack. [2261.3s] And what I think I need to do here [2265.7s] is to start asking some pointed questions [2269.7s] to some people that I trust [2272.1s] and figure out exactly how high this goes up [2275.7s] so that we can figure out who to take this to. [2280.3s] And I'm sorry to tell you, but I don't think you're back yet. [2283.9s] Oh, yeah, no, I'm thrilled to hear that. [2286.5s] I did not want to do anything back here. [2289.7s] I mean, not that, you know, there's not, [2291.9s] like, I want to come back here eventually. [2293.7s] Yeah, I understand. [2294.7s] There's lots going on down in Vintersmouth. [2296.9s] Yeah, I feel like we need to keep you in Vintersmouth. [2302.5s] You've developed some relationships with people [2305.3s] who obviously are presumably connected with this, yes? [2309.7s] Yeah, yeah, one really good relationship [2313.1s] with my friend Bench, who is, [2315.1s] well, he comes up in that book a few times, doesn't he? [2317.5s] Yeah, he did notice that name. [2320.3s] Okay, so maybe, [2322.9s] maybe you can use that to your advantage. [2325.3s] If you, guaranteed, he knows what you've been doing, right? [2331.1s] We haven't been keeping that a secret. [2332.7s] You were there with explicit directions to audit the office. [2335.7s] Oh, yeah, yeah, he knows, he knows, yeah. [2338.9s] He doesn't know what we found. [2340.9s] No. [2341.5s] But he knows what I'm doing there. [2342.9s] Okay, if we're able to keep you there, [2346.3s] you can gain any more information. [2348.9s] Obviously, these books are gone. [2350.5s] That may pose some questions. [2353.7s] Could be a problem. [2354.3s] But why would you come back if you had the books? [2357.7s] Only a fool would do that. [2358.7s] Only a fool would do that. [2361.1s] It looks too bizarre, right? [2362.9s] Only a fool. [2363.5s] That's my thought on it, too. [2366.3s] Okay. [2368.9s] When's the next ship out that you're looking to take? [2372.7s] Biz, like tomorrow, right? [2375.1s] Yeah, we can head back out up and hit up the library tonight [2378.3s] and then see what my mom says tomorrow morning, then we're off. [2381.3s] Perfect. [2381.9s] Oh, we still got to stop by a chest of drawers. [2383.9s] Of course. [2384.5s] Maybe that can just be like on the way. [2386.1s] If you know what you want, I know what I want. [2388.3s] Got their catalog in the mail a couple of months ago and saw what the... [2392.5s] They've got some nice seasonal patterns. [2395.3s] I was just there last week. [2396.7s] Oh, okay. [2398.1s] I always love when they get the seasonal stuff in because it's not in the catalog. [2401.9s] So you just have to kind of go see what's there. [2403.7s] That's right. [2404.3s] It's exciting. [2405.3s] Okay. [2406.9s] I will start spreading the news. [2410.1s] I'm going to go tell Stacey that you're not going to be here. [2413.3s] She's going to be very upset. [2414.7s] Well, I mean, literally, if you tell Stacey, then everyone will know. [2418.1s] So I'm going to go tell her that you're not here and there's been a bit of a mix up. [2422.7s] They'll continue to pile papers. [2424.5s] Yeah, just keep putting that paper. [2425.7s] I'll be back to do it. [2426.9s] Don't you worry about that aggressive wink. [2429.5s] Yeah, yeah. [2430.5s] Bureaucracy is cool. [2432.1s] Take these books and put them back in your desk. [2436.9s] I trust you to put them in a place in a certain stack. [2441.7s] Nobody's going to touch the fucking stack. [2443.7s] That's all I'm saying. [2444.7s] So put them back in your desk and then casually exit the building. [2450.9s] I will ask those questions. [2453.1s] I will try and get some information before you go as to what could possibly be your [2459.9s] next step or if there's somebody we can take this to quicker. [2466.7s] Sounds good. [2467.7s] Always a pleasure, Wiggins. [2469.1s] Always a pleasure, Cass. [2470.3s] And I am sorry. [2472.7s] No, no, no, no, no. [2473.7s] This is great. [2474.5s] This is what we sent you out there for. [2476.1s] I was hoping he was just inept and didn't know how to add numbers. [2480.5s] But it turns out he's got enough backing that... [2483.9s] Oh, yeah, there's some super corruption. [2486.1s] Gosh. [2487.1s] Okay. [2488.5s] He cracks open a little container and pops two pills into his mouth and just starts [2494.5s] chewing them up. [2495.5s] Oh, no, you mixed up your cyanide, Cass. [2500.3s] And now he's dead. [2502.7s] It just seems like a running joke in this office. [2504.9s] Somebody else's problem now. [2506.9s] Oh, you cyanide pills. [2508.3s] Oh, no. [2509.1s] Womp, womp. [2510.5s] All right. [2511.1s] So we'll meet tomorrow at the usual spot. [2516.5s] You know where we do all the office outings. [2520.3s] You know, you've been to the office outings, right? [2523.7s] Yeah. [2524.1s] You've never been to a single office outing. [2526.9s] No, I haven't. [2529.7s] So we started meeting at the escape rooms so we can go meet at the escape rooms. [2534.9s] Okay. [2535.3s] Nobody's going to expect a business dealing at the escape room. [2539.1s] That's a place where joy goes. [2540.7s] Okay. [2541.7s] I'll see you tomorrow. [2543.5s] He heads down the office. [2545.5s] Stacy, you hear it calls down. [2548.5s] The two of you head back down the hallway towards your desk and you've got those [2552.7s] books in hand. [2554.1s] Oh, I put them back in my bag at this point, I believe. [2556.9s] You're not walking around with them like this, just held it in front of you. [2559.7s] Don't look over here. [2561.3s] You've got the books in your bag. [2562.5s] Mind your business. [2564.5s] At the books in your bag, you're heading back towards your desk. [2567.5s] You hear George walks by, he says, oh, sorry, I actually back. [2571.7s] Stacy said you weren't. [2573.3s] Oh, yeah, no, just back. [2574.7s] Just just for a little scooch of time and then back to back to back to the [2579.9s] dub. [2580.1s] It's good to see you. [2580.9s] Do you mean to keep water in the ficus? [2582.5s] Are you going to take that with you? [2584.3s] You know what? [2584.9s] I'm going to take it with me. [2586.1s] Roger that. [2586.5s] I appreciate you keeping it alive. [2588.3s] It's one of the easiest things I've ever done in this place. [2591.7s] Well, it's good to see you. [2593.5s] Can't wait to see when you are back and pleasure to meet you. [2597.5s] Keeps carrying on. [2598.9s] Good, dude. [2599.7s] Yeah, you know what? [2600.9s] George is solid. [2601.5s] And as I like, I tuck the books into like the never-ending stack of [2605.7s] paperwork and the card is like on top of one of the other stacks. [2609.9s] It's delightful. [2617.5s] Dumbgeons and Dragons Season 4 Episode 9 starring Amy More as Alydin, [2622.7s] Tom Laird as Kavlaran Goldweave, Kyle Clasett as Bizard the Wizard, [2626.9s] and Russ More as your dungeon master. [2629.3s] Dialogue editing by Carla Maxedad and sound design by Russ More. [2633.5s] This episode featured music from Epidemic Sound and Slipstream and [2637.5s] sound effects from Epidemic Sound, Boom Library and Sound Ideas. [2641.5s] Our amazing cover art and character designs are by Matt Garbutt [2645.5s] and a huge thank you to our supporting producers, [2648.1s] Gabriel Lynch, Jessica Babiak, Cat Waterflame, Jacob Madden, [2651.7s] Christian Brown, Angaron Kierzen, Perry Matey, Old School Gamer D, [2656.3s] Craig Zeiss, L.A. Branton, Barbara Sandrzaik and Sarah Murphy. [2660.3s] Dumbgeons and Dragons is a Patreon-supported podcast and you [2663.3s] can find us at patreon.com slash dumbdragoncast where you [2666.3s] get an episode dedication, a whole bunch of exclusive content, [2670.1s] access to exclusive community channels in our Discord, hangouts [2674.3s] and so much more. We can't wait to see you over there. [2677.3s] Oh, and merch. Merch is over there too. [2680.5s] After three months, we'll send you some. [2683.3s] Just like that. Join us today. [2685.1s] But until then, have a great week and we'll talk to you soon. [2688.9s] Dumbgeons and Dragons is a Dumb Dragons production.