Today on SuperIdols! RPG, the club gets together on a Saturday to practice for their upcoming gig. Or rather that's what they WOULD be doing... if they could get into their club room!
Today on SuperIdols! RPG, the club gets together on a Saturday to practice for their upcoming gig. Or rather that's what they WOULD be doing... if they could get into their club room!
Episode 6 Transcript: https://superidolsrpg.wordpress.com/2021/11/25/episode-6-transcript/
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Cast:
- Dana Lexa (she/her, @AuthorX) as Valerie Pearce / Violence Violet
- Tea (they/them, @Nonbinaritea) as Evangeline "Angie" Blake / Bane Raven
- Maria (she/her, hir/hirs, @ThatAceGal) as Ann Davil / War Cry
- Drak (he/him, @Drakoniques) as Jaiden Lott / Elementum
- Luca (he/they) as Queen Bee
- ErynCerise (she/her, @eryncerise) as The GM
NPC Name Spellings:
- Karen
- Freddie Blake
- Emily
Featured Patrons:
- Blake1995
- IciclePrism
- Nerine
- Rain Crystal
Featured Podcast:
- Transplanar RPG: https://linktr.ee/TransplanarRPG
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Logo Art: Prissmbell (@Prissmbell)
Character Art: Onsta (@onstamonsta)
Opening Theme: "Le Chevalier Noir 'version_instrumentale'" by Cyborgjeff (used under license from Jamendo Music)
Ending Theme: "Born To Drive Me Crazy - Instrumental Version" by Lance Conrad (used under license from Storyblocks.com)
Music for Jaiden's song was composed and performed by Street Sorcery: https://streetsorcery.bandcamp.com
Other incidental music and sound effects for this episode are licensed from Storyblocks.com and Freesound.org. For inquiries about specific tracks, please contact the GM on Twitter @eryncerise.
This campaign is played using Masks: A New Generation, written by Brendan Conway and published by Magpie Games, with custom moves by ErynCerise and Zak P.
SuperIdols! RPG is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Eryn: Previously on SuperIdols RPG.
Angie: Just to establish for no weird reason at all, but you all do go to this school right?
Allen: My mom’s away and I have a bunch of chores and the weekend, so…
Kenzie: Oh, right, right, right, you always have a million and one things to do.
Angie: How about we meet at 7:30 am before school starts so that way we can…
Eryn: Oh I should remind everybody by the way it is Friday right now.
Angie: Monday. But maybe we can get started on some dance practices sometime this weekend?
Drak: I have like a little keyboard and I try to think up tunes and melodies and stuff that I could present to the team
Eryn: You write a really great first draft. And with that we’re going to say the evening ends with everyone feeling excited for the practice on Saturday.
[electro music plays]
Eryn: Hello and welcome back to SuperIdols RPG. As always I am your GM, ErynCerise. And with me today are Dana.
Dana: Hello.
Eryn: Tea.
Tea: Hello!
Eryn: Drak.
Drak: Heya.
Eryn: Maria.
Maria: Howdy.
Eryn: And Luca.
Luca: Ca va?
Eryn: So we are here for the start of a new in game day. It’s your first weekend day of the game. But before we launch straight into that, there’s a couple of housekeeping things I want to take care of before we start. So the first one I want to mention is that Valerie got an advancement recently, and I don’t think we went over what that was on the recording. Why don’t you let us know what you chose.
Dana: So that is a move from another playbook that is the Syon Playbook which is I believe is from the Pheonix Academy expansion. The move is called Changed Sides. When you mislead or trick an enemy by pretending to be on their side, roll +Danger. On a hit, they buy your charade for now. On a 7-9 choose one, on a 10+ choose two. Those are choosing from: You avoid having to provide concrete evidence, you create an opportunity, or you expose a weakness or flaw. On a miss, someone else watching comes to the worst possible conclusion and acts on it.
Eryn: Nice. This could be very good when engaging with rival factions or labels or whatnot.
Dana: Yep.
Eryn: Okay and the other thing I want to do is something I meant to do in the last episode but forgot. So for Allen/Queen Bee, you are the Janus and the Janus has a special move about handling their obligations.
Luca: Yes.
Eryn: And that move is, when time passes, roll +Mundane to see how you're managing your obligations. On a hit, things are going pretty well. You have an opportunity or advantage thanks to one of your obligations. On a 7-9 you’ve lapsed in one of your obligations, your choice. And on a miss, you haven’t given your normal life anywhere near the attention it deserve, the GM chooses two obligations that are going to bite you in the butt. So I’m going to have you roll your +Mundane and see how you’re keeping up with things.
Luca: Perfect. Okay I’ve got an 8.
Eryn: Okay so you’ve really only fallen behind on one obligation, everything else is kind of going okay now. You get to pick which obligation you’ve fallen a bit behind on.
Luca: Okay let’s see. I have a job as the library person, I have my household chores, and I have the environmental club at school. Probably my household chores are falling behind
Eryn: I see. You might have a little bit of trouble this morning actually because you know you have the meeting coming this afternoon, but you forgot your parents asked you to go on a small grocery run this afternoon. If you don’t hustle, that might cut into practice time.
Luca: Oh. Yeah that’s a problem.
Eryn: What do you do about that when you’re confronted with this in your kitchen in the morning?
Luca: I could either say I’m going to do it and then not do it or I can try and say that I can’t spare the time with the practice and school work. I think I’m going to say,
Allen: I’m sorry mom, I just can’t manage.
Allen’s Mom: Honey we need milk and eggs and whatnot. What do you think we’re going to do for dinner? I have to go out this afternoon too, I don’t have time to do that.
Allen: There’s delivery service, I can pay for it.
Allen’s Mom: You shouldn’t have to. It’s fine. We’ll deal with it somehow.
Allen: I should be doing this but I can’t do it right now, I’m sorry. I just don’t have the time. If I don’t get to school in time it will be a problem.
Allen’s Mom: It’s fine.
Eryn: I should clarify, do you have both mom and dad? What’s your parental situation?
Allen: I think I have both mom and dad but my dad works full time.
Eryn: So your dad might not even be there right now, he might be working.
Allen: Yeah.
Eryn: So your mom is giving you the exasperated look right now. She can’t deal with it right now but doesn’t have time to scold you fully right now.
Allen: I’m trying to make her think it’s a school work thing and not an Idol thing. She knows but…
Eryn: Yeah she knows but if it’s a school thing she can’t force you to drop it because that would be bad for you, but she’s also not happy that you didn’t plan things out better. So you may end up leaving the house in a bit of a mood today.
Allen: Yeah.
Eryn: Anyway.
Allen: That sucks.
Eryn: With that out of the way, is there anything else anyone wants to do before heading out for the day?
Drak: I think all I’d really do is maybe like get all the paper of the little bit of music I wrote together frantically as I rush out very anime style. Grab a piece of toast.
Eryn: Running out with a piece of sheet music in your mouth.
Drak: Yeah.
[all chuckle]
Drak: I’ve got toast in my hand and sheet music in my mouth. I’ve got them mixed up for some reason.
Eryn: Yep. That’s a great mental picture. Please someone draw fan art of that.
Tea: I think Angie may have been up a bit later, maybe looking up something Tube videos. Probably looking up dance videos. What’s the streaming service we’re using in this fictional world?
Drak: I think you mentioned it last time.
Eryn: Yeah. I think YouTube exists but I think there is also a dedicated IdolTube that spun off of it.
Maria: IdolGram or something it was called?
Eryn: Oh yeah there’s IdolGram too.
Tea: IdolGram. So I’m looking up choreography videos on IdolTube.
Maria: Very fair.
Tea: But I’m doing the same thing were I’m rushing through and eating a toast while getting my shoes on and that kind of thing.
Eryn: Okay. So you’re getting everything together. Of course Freddie is trying mess with you as usual. He’s managed to load his Nerf Gun with chewed gum and is trying to shoot it at your head or something.
Tea: [groans]. I am going to storm up to him and try to take the Nerf Gun away from him because I’ve had enough of this.
Eryn: I’m going to have you Directly Engage a Threat. He’s trying to shoot you with a gum gun.
[all laugh]
Tea: Okay.
Eryn: Oh no. You got a 6 and you also don’t have anyone around to help right now.
Tea: No.
Eryn: So unfortunately he’s a little too small and quick right now. He just dashes around you. And manages to get off a good hit out. And he gets some nice sticky gum in your hair.
[Tea Sighs]
Freddie: [laughs] You look so silly.
Tea: I’m going start chasing after him. I’ve completely stopped worrying about being late.
Eryn: He’s laughing like a goblin running around the house.
Tea: Yeah. And I’m also of course going to be going,
Angie: Mom!
Angie’s Mom: Angie and Freddie, for the love of god damned Christ stop that right now and let me take my Xanax.
Angie: He just got gum in my hair.
Angie’s Mom: Well get some scissors and deal with it. I don’t have time to deal with it right now.
Eryn: And she’s got a cold compress on her forehead.
Tea: So where is this gum in my hair.
Eryn: Thankfully it is in an easy-ish place to get out. Like in the bottom of your ponytail. But it’s still kind of tangly.
Tea: I’m going to stomp upstairs so I can cut it out. Probably isn’t the first occurrence of this happening, but I’m going to plot revenge.
Eryn: Alright and I’m going to have you mark angry because you’re definitely angry at this point.
Tea: Okay.
Eryn: And you’re also going to be late.
Tea: Oh no, okay.
Eryn: Anyone else want to try anything before they go?
Maria: If no one else wants to go first, I have something in mind.
Eryn: Definitely, go for it.
Maria: Ann regularly gets up early, around 6 or 7 am. She gets up early to go jogging. She dresses in a sweatshirt and just regular exercise clothes. She has her change of clothes in her bag which she carries in her bag and she has it filled with rocks because it kind of disorients her how easy it is to run for long times and how easy it is to move. She could pick up a car or not pick up a car but hold one up. It disorients her because it’s disorienting to go from one thing to another. So when she runs she tries to wear, like when a jogger wears weights around their legs to make it feel more natural.
Eryn: I guess if you’ve got that strength, use it, for sure.
Maria: It was a weird day when she went to the beach to fill up her bag with rocks. And that’s what she does, she’s jogging and once it gets time to arrive at the Idol training practice session, she will be there.
Eryn: Cool, cool. The meeting isn’t until 2 in the afternoon so you’ve got plenty of time to do whatever and practice and exercise. You might even to be able to get to the school grounds early and run around the track for a little while.
Maria: That sounds cool.
Eryn: Yeah. So you’re probably going to be the first one there, I’m going to say. And then Jaiden will get there the earliest as well. He’s very efficiently got everything either in hand or in mouth. Allen might be a bit late. Angie’s going to be quite late, unfortunately. And how’s Valerie’s morning going? Morning and early afternoon.
Dana: I think Valerie’s morning probably mostly involves lying in bed watching anime as one does. And I guess I still need to talk to Grace my assistant at Rain Shadow Records and eventually talk to Mary Rain about basically pulling favors to get us to look at the stage in advance. I’m not sure if that should be before or after the meeting.
Eryn: That can be at any time you want. Before or after, whichever you prefer.
Dana: Alright, then I’ll probably call Grace to try to set this up before the meeting and then figure out when I have to talk to Mary in the future.
Eryn: That sounds good. You give Grace a call and they pick up fairly quickly.
Grace: Hello, this is Grace. How – oh, Valerie, how’s it going?
Valerie: Oh it’s going fine. At the club we were told about the gig that was set up at the Stormlight.
Grace: Ah yes, I do know about that. I’m sorry that I didn’t get to call you about it sooner. It did come up fairly suddenly as things with Mary often do. But yes, that is set, you are all booked for a couple weeks from now on the 19th and let me know if you need help with the logistics for that. What do you need set up?
Valerie: We want to be able to figure out choreography on the stage itself. I know it’s always busy. Could we get a look at the stage sometime in advance? Far enough that we can figure out the size and start planning?
Grace: Yeah that certainly would be good. I wish I could say I could do that for you. What I can do is if you do manage to set that up is I could talk to the venue and work out the nitty gritty and stuff. Like setting up equipment and scheduling and stuff. But I’m basically a glorified go-fer. I don’t have the authority to make up those bookings myself. I think you might actually have to talk to Mary to get that set up.
Valerie: Okay.
Grace: She would have the authority to actually talk to the club and book that kind of thing.
Valerie: I was afraid you’d say that.
Grace: Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
Valerie: Well I guess can you schedule that or let her know and I’m sure she’ll demand whatever time she wants.
Grace: Sure. I’ll let her know to expect your call. I can put something temporary on the calendar. Maybe some suggested dates and times. We’ll see how it goes with her. Fingers crossed. We know how unpredictable she can be, let’s say.
Valerie: Alright, thank you.
Grace: It’s a good sign that she set this gig up for you in the first place, I guess? So here’s hoping.
Valerie: Yeah, here’s hoping that she just let me do it.
Grace: Mm-hm. Alright well I will get on that as quickly as possible and you let me know when you’ve been able to speak to Mary. I guess she’ll let me know probably before you can get to me.
Valerie: Mm-hm.
Grace: Well thanks. I’ll get back to you later then. You have a good day.
Valerie: You too, Grace.
Grace: Thanks. You got this.
Eryn: And you can’t see it but you know that they’re giving you a thumbs up.
Dana: Yeah I kind of reflexively give them a thumbs up as well even though they can’t see me either.
Eryn: Yeah. Alright. That’s taken care of. I don’t think that cuts into your time getting to the meeting. You know how to monitor your time fairly well while you’re watching anime.
Dana: That’s right. This is a fantasy scenario playing someone who’s not myself managing her time while watching anime.
Eryn: Exactly. I don’t have an appropriate watching anime move for you to roll for, so be glad you don’t have to roll for that. So you head off to the meeting. To start it will be Ann and Jaiden and Valerie all arrive at a similar time frame and you probably will have to meet out in front of the school because none of you have a key to get into the school on the weekend.
Drak: I think Jaiden runs up, papers still in hand, probably toast in hand as well, because he figured out he has to switch those around to work and he’s out of breath.
Jaiden: Oh, I’m not late, phew.
Eryn: Where are the other two of you at now?
Dana: I’ve already positioned myself to be leaning casually against the wall.
Eryn: The perfect lean.
Dana: I obviously had to hurry here to arrive slightly early to give the appearance that I don’t care at all.
[all chuckle]
Maria: Ann strides up and as soon as she arrives she drops her back which gives far too heavy of a clunk when it hits the ground because of the aforementioned stones and she opens it up and pulls out a rolled-up leather jacket. Ann is not smart, she doesn’t realize that rolling leather is a bad decision. And it’s length goes down to her legs and she takes off her sweatshirt and throws on the theater jacket instead.
Eryn: Cool.
Jaiden: Hey Ann.
Ann: How are ya?
Jaiden: Tired. I ran the whole way.
Maria: Ann is searching her brain for what to say and goes,
Ann: You should walk next time.
Maria: And in her head she’s like, nailed it!
[all laugh]
Maria: We were discussing inspirations for our characters and I realized that Ann is just early redemption arc Zuko.
Eryn: Yes.
Dana: Perfect. Valerie will also walk over and say,
Valerie: It seems like not everyone is here so you can catch your breath but I think it may be better to not show up out of breath for practice.
Jaiden: Good point. Good point. But I was really excited because I’ve got a surprise for everyone. I want everyone else to be here first, but I’ve got a surprise.
Drak: And while he’s saying that he’s hiding a piece of paper behind his back, but he realizes he hasn’t hid it so it’s not much of a surprise yet. So he’s just holding it behind his back.
Dana: Valerie’s eyes dart to where he’s obviously holding something behind his back but doesn’t say anything.
Jaiden: I think you guys are going to love it. Honestly. I think it’s good. I’m going to quit talking about it because I feel if I keep talking I’ll give it away.
Valerie: Okay.
Jaiden: And he just covers his mouth with a hand.
Eryn: He’s so cute.
Dana: I just want to protect him. Me the player, not Valerie.
Eryn: Yeah, Valerie doesn’t care of course.
Dana: No she doesn’t care about anything.
Eryn: Of course. Okay so you all stand there and chat for a little bit. It takes a bit but, Allen, you would have transformed on the way right?
Luca: Absolutely. I’m just strutting up fully transformed and say,
Queen Bee: Oh, you’re here already?
Eryn: Before you do that we’re going to do a quick version of the Transformation Move. You don’t have to go through the whole transformation sequence. Although we didn’t go through your transformation sequence last time so if you want to tell us what that sequence looks like, you can.
Tea: Ooh.
Luca: I think that might be good for another moment. I have a few ideas, but if nobody gets to see it, it’s not as fun to do it.
Eryn: Okay, so you can shift anything up, one and down one.
Luca: Okay, I’m going to shift down Mundane and shift up Danger.
Eryn: Okay.
Luca: Mundane 1, Danger 0, okay.
Queen Bee: So is everybody ready to get down to business?
Eryn: Wait, no, you didn’t do it right. You know what you have to say.
Drak: [singing] Let’s get down to business...?
Eryn: No, it’s obviously let’s get down to BEES-ness.
Drak: Oh no.
Tea: The bee pun.
Maria: If I weren't worried it'd upset the recording, I'd leave the chat right now.
[all laugh]
Eryn: Sorry, continue.
Queen Bee: So, everybody ready for some practice?
Jaiden: Yes.
Queen Bee: Good. If we want this gig to work, we need to build up some buzz.
[rim shot – bee buzzing]
[Ann groans]
Dana: Valerie turns her eyes away and covers her mouth so that people don’t see her smirking.
Drak: Jaiden openly laughs, he doesn’t care. He loves it. Out of character, Drak, Drak is like oh no, a pun. But Jaiden is all about them.
Eryn: Karen comes up from behind queen bee with finger guns and just says,
Karen: Got ‘em.
Queen Bee: Oh hey Karen.
Karen: Hello.
Eryn: And she waves a yellow light stick at Queen Bee.
Maria: Ann just smiles a lot.
Eryn: I think at this point, finally, Angie can come rolling in.
Tea: Uh, I am definitely running.
Eryn: Are you in your good Chanel Sports again?
Tea: No. Actually she’s just wearing some sports shorts and runners and a tank top with a sweatshirt over it but the sweatshirt is a zip up and it’s open. It looks very sporty. If it’s name brand, you probably wouldn’t know. But it looks like she rushed to put everything on to get over here.
Eryn: And your hair is mysteriously about half an inch shorter than the last time everyone saw her and slightly jagged at the ends.
Tea: Yeah. If anyone notices, that’s also happened. But yeah, she’s panting.
Dana: I think I would like to pierce the mask.
Eryn: Ooh. On Angie?
Dana: Yes. I want to find out why my definite rival for leadership of this group is showing up late and possibly bedraggled.
Eryn: Alright then, go for it. Also, you get a +1 because you have Influence over Angie. I keep forgetting about influence when you all do moves against each other.
Dana: Oh that’s right. That’s good because my Mundane is -1.
Tea: Ooh.
Drak: Oh.
Eryn: Ooh so that is a 10. On a 10+ you get to ask three questions out of: "What are you really planning?", "What do you want me to do?", "What do you intend to do?", "How could I get your character to [blank]?", or "How could I gain influence over you?"
Dana: Maybe Assess the Situation would have been better. None of these really are... "What happened here" or... "Why are you like this?"
Eryn: "What are you really planning?" or "What do you intend to do?" might be the closest. Or "How could I get your character to explain what happened?"
Maria: That’s a good one.
Dana: I’m going to go with "What do you intend to do?" and Valerie asks Angie up and down and says,
Valerie: Are you okay? Did something happen?
Angie: Just a little brother I have to murder. But I’m fine otherwise.
Tea: She stands and starts straightening her clothes a little bit like she’s trying to show she totally planned this but it’s very obvious that she didn’t and she’s seething. And she’s mad so she doesn’t normally talk about her home life at all or her parents. I’m sure there’s enough rumors around school about what happened because that’s how school works, but it’s probably the first time she’s ever mentioned her family. But she’s so mad at Freddie that she’s looking for accomplices.
Dana: I don’t really the other questions. I just wanted to see if I could confirm or sus out what was going on.
Eryn: Okay. Alrighty then we’ll leave it at that.
Tea: Annoying little brother is probably enough of an explanation.
Eryn: Okay y’all are together up at the front of the school not exactly sure what you’re going to do because no one has a key to get into this school.
Maria: We approach the lock and Ann starts slowly raising her firsts.
Angie: Maybe we don’t do that.
Ann: It’d be quick.
Angie: Did we forget to tell Ms. Doyle that we were planning on practicing?
Jaiden: Oh.
Eryn: Yes you did. I think as I recall from your last session, you wanted to book the auditorium or something but you won’t be able to until Tuesday when school is back in. By the way there’s no school on Monday because it is Labor Day in universe. I just realized that. So what you’re doing here on Saturday is you still want to practice but you don’t necessarily have access to your regular room to do it. Either get into the room somehow or find an alternate place to practice.
Angie: Okay, so, um, first thing we should do is check to see if people actually know how to do their jobs around here and actually locked the doors. Never know. So maybe we can just split up and check all the doors and then meet back at the front?
Tea: Eryn, where’s the front of the school on this map?
Eryn: Um, it’s the bottom end of the map where the office is, that’s kind of where the entrance is. The doors by the office.
Tea: Okay I just wanted to make sure.
Eryn: I see where your little circle is. It’s right where you are there.
Tea: Perfect. Let’s try that first.
Eryn: Alrighty. So everyone’s splitting up. Is everybody going individually? Anybody going in pairs or trios?
Drak: I mean I guess we’d technically go in pairs because we can only go around to the left or to the right.
Tea: Yeah probably just split up in two groups, essentially, because we’re just splitting up and going in two directions, right? There’s five of us…
Eryn: Six of you including Karen.
Tea: Yeah, so an even split. So I’m going to start walking and expect some people to follow me with an angry power walk.
Dana: Valerie immediately turns and starts walking the opposite direction.
Luca: Choose your alignment.
Tea: Angie is 100% lawful evil.
Maria: This is what Civil War should have been
Eryn: Okay everyone else. Angie is walking in one direction, let’s say to the right. Valerie’s walking in the other direction, to the left. Who’s going with whom?
Drak: Jaiden’s too indecisive so he’s waiting for everyone else to choose and then go to where there is the least amount of people. So he’s staring at everyone else like, "Where you guys going?"
Eryn: Karen shrugs and just kind of leans against the wall.
Luca: Queen's going to make a bid for it.
Queen Bee: Jaiden, you’re with me.
Luca: And I start climbing up the wall to get to the roof access.
Eryn: Because you can do that, yes. Actually that’s probably a good time to roll Unleash Your Powers. Because you can do that fine by yourself, but while carrying Jaiden. I think you need to roll for it.
Luca: Yes, perfect.
Tea: Yes.
[pause for dice rolling]
Eryn: Very nice.
Luca: Nice.
Eryn: So you are able to Michael Jackson moonwalk your way up the side of the school with Jaiden in your arms, and you look fabulous doing it.
Jaiden: What? Oh, okay, I guess this is happening now. Okay. Okay.
Queen Bee: Yes it is.
Tea: I feel like Angie looks at this happening and just nods approvingly.
Eryn: So that leaves Ann and Karen in the front of the school. Ann, what are you going to do?
Maria: I’m really tempted to break the lock without thought to consequences.
Eryn: You can if you want.
Maria: Ann is going to follow Valerie.
Eryn: Alright, I guess Karen will follow along with Angie because she doesn’t want Angie to feel lonely.
Tea: Aww.
Angie: Hi Karen. Do you have a little brother?
Tea: Just as a theoretical question to ask as they’re walking away.
Eryn: She tilts her head.
Karen: You could say that.
Angie: Perfect, I need some ideas.
Karen: Oh, what can I help you with?
Eryn: She seems very cordial all of a sudden.
Angie: When he does little pranks on you, how do you get revenge?
Karen: Hm. We don’t really have that kind of an adversarial relationship. We just kind of... get along, talk it out. You know, civil like.
Angie: [sighs] Why am I not surprised? Ugh. I bet Valerie has some ideas. Anyway, let’s keep going.
Eryn: Alright so you all head around the right-hand side of the school. You’re heading towards the track area. Actually I’m going to say you see someone you recognize running around the track. It is Emily, the girl who was there on the first day of the Idol Club with you who was scared and left at the end of it.
Tea: Oh, okay.
Eryn: She’s also on the track team. So she’s just running tack on the weekend.
Tea: Okay. I’m probably just going to wave her down. Because I know from experience with all my sporty prep friends that you don’t just try to distract them and interrupt them mid sprint run or whatever because they might hurt themselves or whatever. So she might wave.
Eryn: Oh yeah. And Emily eventually spots you and her face lights up because she’s happy to see someone she recognizes too. But then she looks a little guilty because she know she just abandoned you a few days back. So she looks unsure about whether she wants to approach or not. But she does jog in place and give you a wave.
Tea: Yeah. I’m just going to shout.
Angie: Emily, do you have a key to the school?
Emily: Oh, no, I’m just here to run today. I think there might be an access way some way but I’m not sure where it is.
Angie: Oh, okay, thanks!
Tea: I just wave and keep going. I don’t really care that she left. If you’re no use to me then…
Eryn: She runs but she doesn’t say anything else.
Tea: Yeah after I’ve asked the question and got my answer I just keep going.
Eryn: Okay so with that I’m going to cut around to the other side of the school where Valerie and Ann are. So you’re around the longer west side of the school that extends further out so there isn’t much to find in the way of interesting scenery but there are a few more doors along the side of the building.
Dana: Yeah. Valerie feels a little bit uncomfortable because she feels she put her foot in her mouth when talking with Ann the first time. So I’m feeling embarrassed and just walking right where I know the next door is to try to jimmy or jiggle the handle, see if it’s locked.
Eryn: You do that and, unfortunately, it seems the school might not have money but they are competently run so the door is locked.
Maria: Ann is currently looking upwards and then looks down at Valerie and goes,
Ann: You know I could probably launch you up there. It seems to be working well for Jaiden and Bee, so I’m just saying it’s an option.
Maria: This is Ann attempting to form a bond.
Valerie: I should probably transform before we try anything like that, just in case. I’m not sure I should do it out here though. Everyone wants to keep – I guess not everyone can keep it a secret. But I mean, I have, in my case, I have, um, you know, um, you know what? It’s fine. It’s fine.
Ann: You don’t have to be nervous. I’m not smart but I understand. We’re cool if that’s what you mean. Believe me, what you did is pretty light under the radar of what I’ve dealt with before, so we’re cool.
Valerie: Okay so well sorry for being weird. I’ll try to relax…
Eryn: I also will say, sorry to interrupt, if you do want a place where you can transform in a place that you can’t really be seen, there is a little alcove where room 346 and room 201 on the map are, there a little corner where you might not be as seen.
Maria: I do like Ann suggesting that you don’t have to go along with that. We won’t do it, it’s cool. It wasn’t me seriously suggesting. That was just Ann being an awkward person.
Dana: Mm-hm. I think Valerie is still going to go find that alcove to transform, if for no other reason than she feels more confident and less awkward that way.
Eryn: Alright, that makes sense. So you’re going to do your transformation sequence move. We’ve gone through how it looks a couple times so we don’t have to go through all that again. But you gain access to your powers and you get to switch your labels. Which labels would you like to shift?
Dana: I would like to shift my Mundane up and my Danger down.
Eryn: Okay, any reason why Mundane up, I’m curious?
Dana: In this case, I’m actually transforming because I’m desperately trying to feel, ironically, more confident, and capable of being in a social situation right now.
Eryn: That makes sense. Alright. Awesome. So you finish your transformation, the last of your ribbons tie into place and you are ready if you are willing to go along with Ann’s plan. The Plan of Ann.
Dana: No I’ll step back out and say,
ViVi: Actually I have another idea. I haven’t really done this much with my powers but I can move things. So, uh, let’s see.
Dana: I’m going to try to use my telekinesis to push the door open from the other side.
Eryn: Oh. Alright then. Well this is definitely counts as an obstacle, so I’m going to have you roll Freak to unleash your powers.
Dana: Alright, that’s another regular hit.
Eryn: So you have a 9 and you have two team points. Ann, would you like to help and make that a 10?
Maria: Are you okay with that, Dana?
Dana: Yeah.
Maria: Cool. Yeah I’m down for helping. I kind of imagine, is it a push or a pull door?
Eryn: It would be a push from the inside.
Maria: Yeah as it’s opening Ann will not pull the door out of its hinges but just pull it forward a bit to help with the opening if that makes sense?
Eryn: Yeah, Valerie’s got it with her telekinesis just about, almost got the lock, but it’s just a little bit jammed and needs some extra oomph, which Ann can provide.
Dana: I think I have an idea of how Ann helps?
Eryn: Oh yeah.
Maria: Go for it.
Dana: It’s like a push bar to open, right?
Eryn: Mm-hm.
Dana: So the bar glows purple as ViVi, Violence Violet, holds up her hand to try to control it and the bar pushes in but she can’t, like, she’s trying to swing the whole door open and can’t get enough force with the telekinesis to move the whole door and then Ann walks over and just pulls it over since the bar has been pushed already.
Eryn: Awesome.
Maria: I like that.
Eryn: Perfect.
Maria: Awesome, thank you.
Eryn: Alright so you have successfully opened a door. Yay [applauds]. You’ve solved my door puzzle.
Tea: We’ve broken into the school!
Eryn: You don’t have to worry about alarms in this school just because I don’t want to deal with that. There’s no alarm, you just get into the school. Alright and before we move on to the two of you, we’re going to go back up to the roof with Queen Bee and Jaiden. So Queen Bee you have successfully moonwalked your way up to the roof with Jaiden in tow. Literally swept Jaiden off his feet. And now you’re on the roof. There’s not much up here. There is the structure that houses the door that leads into the building and a fence kind of around the edges of the roof.
Luca: Perfect, I try the door, see if it’s open.
Eryn: Actually it is. This is the one door that’s unlocked.
[all chuckle]
Luca: Thank god for smoke breaks.
Eryn: That’s exactly why it’s unlocked.
Jaiden: Good thinking Bee. But could you like give me more of a heads-up next time you pick me up and walk up the side of a building? Because that was terrifying.
Queen Bee: I’m sorry honey. I just could have used a lock pick.
Jaiden: Okay.
Queen Bee: And with your powers you were the best one available. I promise I’ll never carry you in my arms without asking you before.
Jaiden: Thank you. Thank you. Oh this is not good for my heart.
Queen Bee: I’ll go first then.
Eryn: Also I want to acknowledge your use of "honey", thank you.
[rim shot]
Dana: Yes.
Drak: I follow behind him.
Eryn: You descend the stairs down from the roof into the main sort of atrium area of the school. You’re around the main office so 100, 101, that kind of area. You are free to make your way through the building. I guess that leaves Angie and Karen behind the school by the track.
Angie: Yeah, I would have said I try to open that door and if it didn’t work I would keep moving on.
Eryn: Yeah, the doors in the back aren’t really working out. Thankfully, I might just give this one to you, y’all have the additional magical power of cell phones. So once the rest of you are inside the school, you might want to text the others and let them know you’ll let them in.
Drak: I’ll text and say.
Jaiden: Yeah the roof entrance was open, so you can climb up the roof.
Tea: I’ll text back and say we’re waiting by the back track entrance.
Eryn: Yeah you’re by the door by the gym or by change room A, that door leading out.
Tea: Yeah. I assume we have a group chat.
Eryn: Yeah you have a group chat at this port.
Tea: On IdolCord.
[all laugh]
Tea: Sorry.
Eryn: No, we just run with it. You’ve got to run with it at this point.
Drak: Oh god, IdolCord, I love that.
Dana: It’s called DiscIdol and the icon is a CD.
Tea: Oh I love that. It’s DiscIdol. Yeah.
Eryn: Or is that the competing service?
Dana: Either or.
Tea: I like DiscIdol.
Eryn: Alright you have a group chat on DiscIdol. What is your server name called?
Tea: Angie probably set it up so it’s definitely just the Fork McNally Idol Club.
Eryn: [laughs] Right, Fork McNally because you haven’t fixed the spelling yet. Didn’t fix it at all.
Tea: Yeah.
Eryn: You’re chatting on the Fork McNally Idol Club DiscIdol server. Jaiden lets you know that they were able to get in through the roof. And I assume Jaiden and Queen Bee are going to head to the back of the school and let Angie and Karen in?
Drak: Uh, yeah.
Luca: Yes.
Eryn: And I think Valerie and Ann, are you headed straight to the room or are you going to meet them at the back?
Dana: We can all meet up at the same time.
Eryn: Alright just for the sake of expediency, everyone meets up and heads to the room together and congratulations, you’re in your practice room
[fanfare plays]
Tea: Perfect.
Angie: So, um, I forgot my clipboard because I was a little distracted today. So I’m just going to put a note in our DiscIdol Chat…
Tea: I almost said Discord by accident.
Angie: To remember to schedule Saturdays at 2 PM for our practice sessions.
Eryn: And this is just for using the conference room. You still have to work on getting the auditorium. So you’re all there so yeah. Go at it. Do what thou wilt.
Angie: Okay, first, who is going to be playing instruments and who is going to be singing and dancing? Or is everybody doing everything?
Jaiden: I can play instruments. I’m probably better at it than I am at singing, but if we need more singers and dancers, I don’t mind doing that as well.
Ann: I don’t dance. Not a chance.
Angie: Okay.
ViVi: But you do rhyme some of the time.
[Tea giggles]
Eryn: Like when Ann gets a plan.
Maria: I was actually referencing High School Musical I don’t dance.
Drak: I had a feeling.
Dana: That went completely over my head.
Drak: I was like is it just me?
Eryn: I do have to watch that as research for this podcast, don’t I?
Drak: It literally is.
Tea: Yeah, you can bet on it.
Eryn: I will say now I’m not going to watch Glee at least.
Angie: Okay, so that leaves me and Queen Bee, I guess, to be support for ViVi?
Tea: And I look over perplexed because ViVi is in full transformation.
Dana: I just nod.
Angie: So what I’m thinking, uh,
Tea: We don’t have any measurements for the actual venue yet, right?
Drak: Yeah.
Tea: So we’re just kind of…
Eryn: Yeah you’ve looked up the measurements online but without actually being there it’s just numbers. It’s hard to tell exactly what they are unless you have a measuring tape out.
Tea: Yeah. And I forgot all my stuff at home. So all the stuff I wrote down. I definitely would have done meticulous research on that. So I’ll kind of say,
Angie: We’ll have our instrument players. Maybe we’ll form a V towards the front with the point being ViVi facing the stage. And then me and Bee and then Jaiden and Ann. And then we’ll all be spread out enough to all be seen but – how do people think of that?
Drak: Jaiden is nodding very enthusiastically.
Jaiden: Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.
ViVi: Yeah, that sounds great.
Ann: I can work with that.
Angie: I don't know how much control we’ll have over the lighting, but hopefully the lighting will make sure we’re all lit up and focused on. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. So yeah, that was my first plan.
Eryn: Also, during this, Karen is kind of moving over to Jaiden and kind of, like, peeking around his back where that paper is and, like just poking at it.
Drak: Yeah he is practically vibrating how excited he is. And when he sees Karen trying to take a peek he breaks and says,
Jaiden: Okay, okay, fine, yes you can see it. Guys, guys, okay I got really excited yesterday. So I tried to write a song, well some music, I haven’t gotten lyrics yet. But I tried to write some music that has all of us encompassed in it.
Drak: He pulls out the sheet music.
Jaiden: It’s not perfect. I think there’s still parts we can work on together. But here?
Drak: He holds it out with both hands.
Angie: Oh my god, that was so fast.
Tea: And I take it and look at it and then hand it to Violet.
Eryn: I should probably also ask, who all in the group knows how to read sheet music and who doesn’t?
Maria: Well Ann, actually, would she?
Eryn: Ann is punk, so she could take it either way.
Maria: I don’t think she knows how to read sheet music. She kind of inherited her powers when she came to the punk rock.
Eryn: That just makes her more punk rock.
Tea: I don’t think Angie would. I think she would know, when hearing the songs, how to choreograph them. But I don’t think she’d be skilled in that part.
Dana: I think ViVi would have learned while taking actual lessons over the summer.
Eryn: How about Queen Bee?
Luca: Just the bare minimum of understanding of notation.
Eryn: I will say for the couple of you who know how to read sheet music, you see a very energetic track. You don’t know how it’s going to sound, exactly, because you don’t know what instruments will go to it. But it sounds very upbeat but also there’s a power behind it that reflects the gothic rock sensibilities that they want to be present in a show that features Valerie.
Jaiden: So, what do you think?
ViVi: This looks really good. Really interested to see how it sounds. It looks really good from what I can see.
Drak: Jaiden is grinning from ear to ear.
Eryn: And Karen actually raises a hand and says,
Karen: I have some software at home, I could make a demo, if you need one.
Jaiden: Yes, yes. I wanted to do that, but I have no idea how to use any of that is.
Eryn: She nods. She has probably the equivalent of whatever Garage Band is in this world.
Angie: Looks we have a producer.
Eryn: Yeah and she gives you a very professional smile like,
Karen: Yes, of course you do.
Drak: I love Karen.
Maria: Same.
Tea: I love how there’s hidden talent we exactly need for the show.
Maria: It’s an anime. This is how it works.
Eryn: She also seemed to know how to set up the speakers for you and everything last time. So she’s maybe a little more technically minded than you give her credit for.
Angie: That would be great Karen.
Eryn: She takes the sheet from you.
Karen: Yeah I can make up some virtual instruments and make a basic mock up. Should be good.
Jaiden: I love that. I can play some of it now just so you can get what it sounds like on a piano. I can play that.
Angie: Absolutely.
Jaiden: Do we have a piano or keyboard in this room?
Eryn: Yeah let’s say you do. The school knows this was meant to be the Idol Club’s room. There’s a few things left over from previous years like a basic keyboard set up and speakers and amps. Maybe even a couple basic – not a full drum set but a couple basic drums sort of things.
Drak: Drums and a piano.
Eryn: And of course there’s an acoustic guitar because every music room needs a music guitar.
Drak: I think Jaiden would definitely look back and forth between the drum set and the keyboard. But they’ll probably get a better feel for the music from the keyboard then the drums. So he heads to the keyboard, turns it on and tries to play it from what he remembers. Because he went over it quite a bit last night so I think he remembers at least a decent amount of it.
Eryn: Alrighty, and is this something where you’re trying to get a specific reaction out of people or are you just trying to demonstrate what the song sounds like?
Drak: I think I’m trying to get a reaction out of people.
Eryn: Okay. So we can again use the It’s Time for My Solo move. Which I have rewritten slightly since the last time we used it so it can be used in a general context and not in the context I originally meant it for. So for It’s Time for My Solo, whenever you put your heart into a performance or impassioned speech with the intent to elicit a specific reaction from one or more people, roll +Savior. You cannot use this move again until a new scene starts. And on a 10+, your audience is completely won over. Even enemies will feel their hearts start to stir over, if only for a moment. Take +1 forward on your next move and choose an additional effect, which I’ll go through if you get a 10+. On a 7-9 you get a decent reaction. Most of your audience reacts the way you want, within reason. But some are still unmoved. If your audience is a single person, they acknowledge your talent but may point out some glaring flaws in your performance. Take +1 forward on your next move and mark a condition that reflects how you feel on your performance’s short comings.
Drak: Oh no.
Eryn: And on a miss you bomb. Mark two conditions and your audience may start spreading the word about your screw up. I don’t think they would in this case but you might just…
Drak: Oh no, I have a -1 in Savior.
Eryn: …damage the views of your abilities in the eyes of your clubmates. And any enemies in your audience are unphased and continue doing what they were doing before.
Drak: Oh boy, okay.
Eryn: You get to roll, do you want to transform to do this, or do you want to do this as Jaiden?
Drak: Strategically I think it would be smart to transform, but I don’t think it makes sense story wise.
Eryn: That’s what I would think. I think I’d ask you to justify it if you were to transform.
Drak: Yeah. So Savior, right?
Eryn: Yes.
Drak: Oh boy, he’s going to bomb. I’ve got -1. Okay.
Eryn: And you also have some conditions as well. Oh you still got a – or wait, did you?
Drak: Oh yeah, pretty good. Oh no.
Eryn: Oh no!
Tea: Oh dammit you got a 2.
Drak: No!
Luca: Dear.
Drak: I bombed. Oh no.
Eryn: So you get to mark a potential, but you also get to mark two conditions. I’ll give you the choice of what they are. You can mark Afraid, Angry, or Hopeless. Those are the conditions you don’t have marked yet.
Drak: Yeah I think Afraid and Hopeless.
Eryn: Oh no. Jaiden, you have four conditions marked. You poor boy!
Dana: Oh no.
Eryn: And I should point out, if you do want to transform later, you will not be able to unless you clear at least one condition.
Drak: Oh. Oh no.
[tense piano music plays]
Drak: I think he’s really excited and very nervous about what he’s playing and he forgets some parts and some keys.
Eryn: Yeah you've got so much adrenaline running through your system, you’re shaking and it’s just like every now and then you’re not hitting the right notes…
[piano music becomes dissonant]
Eryn: You’re going too fast, rushing through the song and it’s not sounding the way you want it to sound in your head and you’re getting increasingly more Oh god oh god oh god, why, why, why, why, why?
Drak: Yeah I think I end up bailing halfway through like ugh.
Jaiden: Sorry guys. I… I swear it does sound better than that.
Eryn: How does everybody else feel about this?
ViVi: Alright, well, maybe once we have a demo
Dana: And I look over at Karen.
Eryn: She nods.
ViVi: Then I will get a better idea of how it sounds.
Drak: Jaiden just nods. Looks very dejected.
Eryn: Oh.
Maria: Ann puts a hand on Jaiden’s shoulder.
Ann: You’re only human. We all make mistakes. Believe me, I know that much.
Jaiden: Thanks.
Eryn: And actually, as you’re having this conversation, you hear the door open. And standing in the doorway is Diana. And two girls you don’t recognize. And that’s where we’re going to leave it.
Dana: Ooh.
Maria: Oh shit.
Tea: Ohhhh.
Drak: What?
Tea: I knew it was going to be Diana!
Drak: Oh no. If it’s going to be a fight, I have four conditions.
Dana: Oh no.
Tea: Oh no!
Maria: Here’s the plan. No one else transform and you let me, the 8-foot tall brick shithouse beat the hell out of them. That’s the plan.
[all laugh]
Eryn: Alrighty, well thank you all so much for that session. Again, it went a little short. But I Think it was a really good place to end it and I’m looking forward to seeing how y'all handle next time. I have plans for next time.
Luca: I can’t wait!
Drak: Oh no.
[upbeat music plays]
Eryn: Thank you so much for listening to SuperIdols RPG. Our cast for today was Dana Lexa as Valerie Pearce, Theawinde as Evangeline Blake, Maria Fanning as Ann Davil, Drakoniques as Jaiden Lott, Luca as Queen Bee, and ErynCerise as the GM. Special thanks go to today’s featured VIP Patrons: Blake1995, IciclePrism, Nerine, and Rain Crystal. This campaign is played using Masks: A New Generation, written by Brendan Conway and published by Magpie Games, with custom moves by ErynCerise and Zak P. Our opening theme is "Le Chevalier Noir (Instrumental)" by Cyborgjeff and is used under license from Jamendo Music. Our ending theme is "Born to Drive Me Crazy (Instrumental)" by Lance Conrad, and is under license from Storyblocks.com. Music for Jaiden’s Song was composed and performed by Street Sorcery. You can find his music on Bandcamp at StreetSorcery.bandcamp.com. Other incidental music and sound effects for this episode are licensed from storyblocks.com and freesound.org.
If you liked this episode, please consider liking and commenting on the YouTube upload, or leaving us a review on your podcasting platform of choice. Stick around for a teaser for Transplanar RPG, an all trans, anti-colonialist homebrew campaign that streams live on Twitch. Thank you again for listening. Stay well and goodbye until next time.
[scales play]
Announcer: Blessed be the dull, for they have no mind to doubt. Blessed be the cruel, for they have no heart to vow. Blessed be the weak, for they have no teeth to gouge. Blessed be the empty, for we have no soul to shroud.
[bass music plays]
When a paroxysm of tragical disasters disappears the stars and vanishes the gods, four strangers must overcome their differences and their dramas to save the world and themselves. Hi, my name is Connie and I am the GM and Executive Producer behind Transplanar RPG, an all trans, POC-led, 100% homebrew actual play campaign set in the non-colonial, anti-orientalist world of Andake. New episodes stream every other Saturday at 3 PM Central on Twitch at TransplanarRPG. Past VODs are available on YouTube at TransplanarRPG, as is a succinct yet detailed recap document. Follow us on Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram at, you guessed, TransplanarRPG. Thank you.
Transcription by Cassie Hauschildt: https://www.chtranscription.com/
Proofreading by ErynCerise
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