Eidolon Playtest

<html><p>"You are never coming home, never coming home, never coming home, never coming home."</p><p>CREDITS:<br/>Iris Christianson as Hope Patrol<br/>Lexi Waltner as Jackqueline "Jack" Sparks<br/>Molly Rhinebeck as Hereafter<br/>Zoe Tunnell as The GM</p><p>MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEY<br/>EDITED BY LUKE VARNER</p><p>CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains several descriptions of people eating rotten food.</p></html>

<html><p><em>Сердце, тебе не хочется покоя,</em><em><br/></em><em>Сердце, как хорошо на свете жить.</em><em><br/></em><em>Сердце, как хорошо, что ты такое!</em></p><p>CREDITS:<br/>Iris Christianson as Ylva Blom<br/>Mike Painter as Rudy Smith<br/>Luke Varner as Abigail Rhodan<br/>Max Knightley as The GM</p><p>MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEY<br/>EDITED BY CRYSTAL ZASLAVCHIK</p><p>CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains gun violence and death by fire.</p></html>

<html><p>Ty isn't on any of the currently-releasing miniseries, so Crystal gave him free reign to pick this month's Playlist theme. His choice? WIZARD JAMS.</p><p>What are Wizard Jams? Hell if I know dude!</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9iYyqr6ibs&list=PL642cGetVn6UW4DF-5WS3NKCEzWewljF9" target="_blank">You can listen to the playlist here!</a></p><p>Edited by Iris</p></html>

<html><p>"The kind of dirty where the water never cleans off the clothes."</p><p>CREDITS:<br/>Molly Rhinebeck as Hereafter<br/>Iris Christianson as Hope Patrol<br/>Lexi Waltner as Jacqueline "Jack" Sparks<br/>Zoe Tunnell as The GM</p><p>MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEY<br/>EDITED BY LUKE VARNER</p><p>CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains gun violence and body horror.</p></html>

<html><p>Ace Wizards Arroai the Pragmatic and Nerev'ine Livolias, in their quest to restore the tower of Xalatan the Triumphant, must negotiate with the local mystical creatures to create a thriving dungeon ecosystem!</p><p>CREDITS:<br/>Max Knightley as Arroai the Pragmatic<br/>Iris Christianson as Nerev'ine Livolias<br/>Zoe Tunnell as Termite<br/>Mike Painter as Sparklehoof Starlight, aka "Sparky"</p><p>MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEY<br/>EDITED BY MAX KNIGHTLEY AND CRYSTAL ZASLAVCHIK</p><p><em><strong>Status of The Great Tower of Xalatan:</strong></em><strong><br/></strong><strong>1F:</strong> Smallfolk Apartments<br/><strong>2F:</strong> Tallfolk Apartments; Biohazard Zone; Healing Fountain; Item Shop; Crafting Lab<br/><strong>3F:</strong> Goblin Barracks; Meat Pit; "Veggie Pit"<br/><strong>4F:</strong> Arcade Machines; Limp Bizkit; Throne; Portal?<br/><strong>5F:</strong> Empty<br/><strong>6F:</strong> Healing Fountain<br/><strong>7F:</strong> Sungrates?</p><p><em><strong>Status of The Town of Lake Town:</strong></em><strong><br/></strong><strong>Population:</strong> 13,004<br/><strong>Key Industries:</strong> Soy; Horse + Phoenix Ranching<br/><strong>Former Key Industries:</strong> Orichalcum Refining; Typewriters<br/><strong>Plans:</strong> Send ghouls to woods; Purify air with spring</p></html>

<html><p>"All your hugs and kisses, and your money too."</p><p>CREDITS:<br/>Iris Christianson as Ylva Blom<br/>Luke Varner as Abigail Rhodan<br/>Mike Painter as Rudy Smith<br/>Max Knightley as The GM</p><p>MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEY<br/>EDITED BY LUKE VARNER</p><p></p></html>

<html><p>"He dreams of all the battles won, but fate had left its scars upon his face."</p><p>CREDITS:<br/>Iris Christianson as Hope Patrol<br/>Molly Rhinebeck as Hereafter<br/>Lexi Waltner as Jacqueline "Jack" Sparks<br/>Zoe Tunnell as The GM</p><p>MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEY<br/>EDITED BY LUKE VARNER</p><p>CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains gun violence, body horror, violence toward animals, and references to radiation poisoning.<br/></p></html>

<html><p>Equipment is a pretty major element of traditional TTRPGs, and something we skipped with EIDOLON. What might equipment look like in a DftU game? Also, how should stats work in Threadspinner? What are the building blocks of a player character? Along the way we also talk a lot about Hollow Knight and Luke makes mortal enemies of everyone who likes classic Tolkein-inspired fantasy races.</p></html>

<html><p><em>I’m heading home, all my homies at home plate</em><em><br/></em><em>Are waiting on me, so you know I gotta do something great</em></p><p>CREDITS:<br/>Zoe Tunnell as Sally Blather<br/>Max Knightley as Governor Thou-Shalt-Not-Bear-False-Witness van Bosse<br/>Tyberius Wilson as Duke Shipmann<br/>Molly Rhinebeck as Frannie Pensdotter<br/>Crystal Zaslavchik as the GM<br/><br/>MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEY<br/>EDITED BY CRYSTAL ZASLAVCHIK</p><p>CONTENT WARNINGS: This episode contains offscreen sex, descriptions of nonhuman genitals, competitive masturbation, drug and alcohol abuse, eating a living creature, death by fire, death by knife, drunk driving, and animal death.</p></html>

<html><p>The cast of Eidolon ISLAND comes together to discuss 13 songs from The Lonely Island, the band that inspired the campaign! In addition, we announce the two upcoming miniseries after Eidolon ISLAND! Eidolon Playlist is usually a Patreon-exclusive show, but we are releasing this episode for all listeners while we get the schedule back up to full-speed! </p><p><a href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLACFgvu0w8pcFd28JdSowPzkCg9UWHjZX&si=T8MBfhfTQglgrbNF" target="_blank">You can listen to the playlist here!</a></p><p>Edited by Crystal<br/></p></html>

<html><p><em>All the smoke and debris led straight to the basement </em><em><br/></em><em>Yo, what the hell is that?</em></p><p>CREDITS:<br/>Tyberius Wilson as Duke Shipmann<br/>Zoe Tunnell as Sally Blather<br/>Molly Rhinebeck as Frannie Pensdotter<br/>Max Knightley as Governor Thou-Shalt-Not-Bear-False-Witness van Bosse<br/>Crystal Zaslavchik as the GM</p><p>MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEY<br/>EDITED BY CRYSTAL ZASLAVCHIK</p></html>

<html><p>Ace Wizards Arroai the Pragmatic and N'erevine Livolias travel the country to find old, neglected dungeons and restore them to their former glory! Today, they arrive in Lake Town, home to the wizard tower of Xalatan the Triumphant. But before they can start renovating, they need to embark on the greatest adventure of all: getting buy-in from local stakeholders!!</p><p>CREDITS: <br/>Max Knightley as Arroai the Pragmatic <br/>Iris Christianson as N'erevine Livolias <br/>Molly Rhinebeck as Sevette Passan <br/>Lexi Waltner as Olin Bootman</p><p>MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEY <br/>EDITED BY MAX KNIGHTLEY AND CRYSTAL ZASLAVCHIK</p><p>CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains fireworks sounds.</p><p><em><strong>Status of The Great Tower of Xalatan:</strong></em> <br/><strong>1F:</strong> Smallfolk Apartments<br/><strong>2F:</strong> Tallfolk Apartments; Biohazard Zone; Healing Fountain <br/><strong>3F:</strong> Gnolls? <br/><strong>4F:</strong> Empty <br/><strong>5F:</strong> Empty <br/><strong>6F:</strong> Healing Fountain <br/><strong>7F:</strong> Sungrates?</p><p><em><strong>Status of The Town of Lake Town:</strong></em> <br/><strong>Population:</strong> 13,004 <br/><strong>Key Industries:</strong> Soy; Horse + Phoenix Ranching <br/><strong>Former Key Industries:</strong> Orichalcum Refining; Typewriters <br/><strong>Plans:</strong> Send ghouls to woods; Purify air with spring</p><p></p></html>

<html><p><em>I'm not a hero (I'm just a person)</em><em><br/></em><em>So don't call me a hero (Not some kind of world leader)</em></p><p>CREDITS:<br/>Molly Rhinebeck as Frannie Pensdotter<br/>Zoe Tunnell as Sally Blather<br/>Tyberius Wilson as Duke Shipmann<br/>Max Knightley as Governor Thou-Shalt-Not-Bear-False-Witness van Bosse<br/>Crystal Zaslavchik as the GM</p><p>MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEY<br/>EDITED BY CRYSTAL ZASLAVCHIK</p><p>CONTENT WARNINGS: This episode contains alcohol abuse, gun violence, profuse bleeding, and animal death.</p></html>

<html><p>Last time, we laid out some solid groundwork for how our exploration and map-making mechanics can work. But we need to provide more definition for what you actually <em>do </em>during this part of the game. What are the goals you're pursuing? <em>Why</em> are you exploring, beyond whatever intrinsic fun it might have?</p></html>

<html><p>One of our big ideas in trying to capture the vibe of FromSoft RPGs in a tabletop setting is to incorporate map-making mechanics, to look at games like <em>The Quiet Year </em>or <em>Microscope</em> and tie them direclty into more conventional RPG gameplay, so that you are creating a world <em>as</em> you explore it, in order to reproduce that feeling of cautiously feeling out a big, mysterious world full of tantalizing stray threads of a larger story. This is a very different mode of gameplay than anything we did in <em>EIDOLON</em>, so it makes sense for us to start here and make sure we can build out a strong foundation into these mechanics, so that once we start developing the more familiar facets of the game, we understand how they integrate into these newer concepts.</p><p></p></html>

<html><p><em>Lonely Island, we got the whole family here</em><em><br/></em><em>Time to meet the crew, y'all</em></p><p>CREDITS:<br/>Max Knightley as Governor Thou-Shalt-Not-Bear-False-Witness van Bosse<br/>Molly Rhinebeck as Frannie Pensdotter<br/>Tyberius Wilson as Duke Shipmann<br/>Zoe Tunnell as Sally Blather<br/>Crystal Zaslavchik as The GM</p><p>MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEY<br/>EDITED BY CRYSTAL ZASLAVCHIK</p><p>CONENT WARNING: This episode features forced closeting, alcohol use, and dead baby jokes.</p></html>

<html><p>We're gonna need some new album art.</p><p>We are still working on getting the show up and running at full speed. Until we do, we're going to be releasing some things that would normally be bonus content here on the $1 feed and the free feed the following week. </p><p>Our plan for a while now has been that the Eidolon Era of this podcast was coming to a conclusion, as we got gradually more excited about a brand new game idea; recent events have caused the timeline on that transition to accelerate rapidly. Come hang out with us as we lay out the broad ideas behind our brand new Drawn from the Undertow RPG, THREADSPINNER.</p></html>

<html><p>Hello, everyone. Luke here, to unfortunately share some bad news. This is a very difficult announcement to make, and it’s something that I truly never thought I would have to come to you with.</p><p>To rip the band-aid off right away: Fabby Garza is no longer a part of Eidolon Playtest, and the show is going on hiatus.</p><p>This past Saturday night, June 28th, there was an exchange in our fan Discord in which Fabby actively solicited sex from our listeners. In full fairness, the exchange was first initiated by a listener; however, this behavior is completely unacceptable, irrespective of any other factors. Given the very modest success of this podcast, I think it’s strange for any of us to think of ourselves as being in a position of power, but in our designated fan space, we are. And Fabby abused that power in a way that completely breached our collective sense of ethics.</p><p>Had this been an isolated incident, a one-time failure of judgment, then it might have ended with a fierce reprimand and nothing more. However, investigating and discussing the incident revealed that this was, in fact, the latest in a long-running pattern of behavior. In light of this, we have unfortunately reached the conclusion that we are no longer capable of working with Fabby. This entire situation is heartbreaking, but I and the rest of the cast remain resolute that this is the proper course of action, reached after days of extensive deliberation.</p><p>Eidolon Playtest has until this point been a show produced by ten people in collaboration with one another, contributing to the production with equal voices. One of those voices cannot be removed without indelibly changing the podcast into something else. Removing Fabby from the show has completely disrupted both our near- and long-term plans, to say the least, and we need time to figure out what we’re going to do without her. So, the show is going on hiatus. I’m not certain how long we’ll be gone for; I would like to believe the absence will be measured in weeks and not months, but I cannot commit to any kind of firm timeline right now. We promise that we will keep you updated with regard to the future of the show as we make those plans.</p><p>This is very sudden, and may seem like an extreme reaction from the outside. I assume that many of you have questions. However, this decision was very painful, and made in large part due to private information that we are not at liberty to share. We hope that we have built enough trust with you all that you can respect this decision even if we can’t more thoroughly explain the reasons behind it. We also ask above all else that you respect Fabby’s privacy and do not harass her in any way. This is an extremely difficult, extremely sensitive situation, and while we are firm in our decision to remove her from the show, we do not want her to suffer additional consequences as a result. Please go forward with respect and kindness.</p><p>Thank you for reading.</p></html>

<html><p>We continue to poke and prod at the foundations of various playbooks to get things in a strong enough position to start loading up the advanced moves! This month, we take another look at The Blight, as well as mulling some things over about The Grifter and The Sealed Evil!</p></html>

<html><blockquote><p>Here at the Booktok Foundation, we believe in reading.</p></blockquote><p>CREDITS:<br/>Zoe Tunnell as St. Genevieve<br/>Iris Christianson as Trace Vector<br/>Crystal Zaslavchik as Leila Marino<br/>Tyberius Wilson as Bridgerton Larch<br/>Luke Varner as The GM<br/>Additional Voices by Fabby Garza and Max Knightley</p><p>MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEY<br/>EDITED BY LUKE VARNER</p><p>CONTENT WARNING: This episode features poisoning, strangling, and mind control.</p></html>

<html><p>Scheduling issues have delayed the recording of this month's Eidolon Playlist, so instead, enjoy this interview between Crystal and Fabby! Consider upgrading to the $10 tier to check out last month's interview with Ty as well!</p></html>

<html><blockquote><p>Welcome, new user!</p></blockquote><p>CREDITS:<br/>Lexi Waltner as Marci Campbell<br/>Mike Painter as Hercule Heavensward<br/>Fabby Garza as Mercedes<br/>Max Knightley as Lavender Spadehart and Flip.exe<br/>Molly Rhinebeck as L.E. Booktok<br/>Luke Varner as The GM</p><p>MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEY<br/>EDITED BY LUKE VARNER</p><p>CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains public masturbation, workplace sexual harrassment, and mind control.</p></html>

<html><blockquote><p>FATAL ERROR. FATAL ERROR. FATAL ERROR.</p></blockquote><p>CREDITS:<br/>Zoe Tunnell as St. Genevieve<br/>Tyberius Wilson as Bridgerton Larch<br/>Crystal Zaslavchik as Leila Marino<br/>Iris Christianson as Trace Vector<br/>Luke Varner as The GM<br/>Additional Voices by Fabby Garza</p><p>MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEY<br/>EDITED BY CRYSTAL ZASLAVCHIK</p></html>

<html><blockquote><p>#ERROR# UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS $REG42 $REG41 $REG40 #ERROR# REMOVE ALL PHYSICAL NETWORK CONNECTIONS IMMEDIATELY</p></blockquote><p>CREDITS:<br/>Molly Rhinebeck as L.E. Booktok<br/>Fabby Garza as Mercedes<br/>Max Knightley as Lavender Spadeheart and Flip.exe<br/>Lexi Waltner as Marci Campbell<br/>Mike Painter as Hercule Heavensward<br/>Luke Varner as The GM<br/>Additional Voices by Iris Christianson</p><p>MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEY<br/>EDITED BY MIKE PAINTER</p><p>CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains workplace sexual harrassment and public masturbation.</p></html>

<html><p>Welcome to the beginning of a new Grab-Bag series! In Eidolon Interviews, Crystal will sit down with the different members of the cast to chat with them about their characters, their contributions to the Eidolon podcast, and more! For this first episode, she's talkin' to Ty!</p></html>

<html><p>This episode was recorded in time to drop it in May, but we made a bunch of references to EDM 8 so we had to sit on it until people could hear that! This month, we're tackling a few different random problems we've seen in a variety of Playbooks, largely with their Starting Moves. Gotta build up a better foundation if we're gonna fill out the rest of the playbook!</p></html>

<html><blockquote><p>THREAT ANALYSIS - TRACE VECTOR </p><p>Threat level: Somewhere under C<br/>- Genetically and cybernetically altered cetacean<br/>- Appears to originate from an EIDOLON Corporation project. Flip was unable to locate any records of the project itself, but the company has retained the following invoice from DustCause Industrial Cleaning Solutions:<br/>"12x Human Corpse (Employee) <br/>5x Human Corpse (Outside Contractor) <br/>7x Seafood (> 1m)<br/>6 hours junk removal<br/>31 hours deep clean (total, between 2 rooms & 1 aquarium; water reclamation included)"<br/>- Eidolon power: Amplified sonar(?), remote control of own severed flesh<br/>- Cybernetic enhancements: Integrated computer, aerial propulsion system<br/>- Also: Can turn sparkly or something?<br/>- Known desires: Vengeance on EIDOLON Corporation, feeling intellectually superior<br/>- Defects: Trauma/guilt complex centered on researchers that augmented her. Anger issues, disrespect for authority. No legs, no gills, no style, no life. </p></blockquote><p>CREDITS:<br/>Tyberius Wilson as Bridgerton Larch<br/>Zoe Tunnell as St. Genevieve<br/>Crystal Zaslavchik as Leila Marino<br/>Iris Christianson as Trace Vector<br/>Luke Varner as The GM<br/>Additional Voices by Max Knightley and Molly Rhinebeck</p><p>MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEY<br/>EDITED BY LUKE VARNER</p><p>CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains extensive body horror.</p></html>

<html><p>Once again someone has handed me an audio file and told me to upload it. All Crystal would give me about this is "Crystal discusses Chapter 161 of Eiji Nonaka's manga series Cromartie High School." Presumably, it has something to do with the Pondering Pootan podcast, which you can listen to <a href="https://pootan.pinecast.co/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p></html>

<html><blockquote><p>3rd of December, 2209</p><p>The fog has parted; the sun shines again! I've been thinking about Number Four entirely wrong.</p><p>I've been assuming that the purpose of a S.H.A.D.E. “should” or “must” be related to the flow and development of objective, concrete data. But that’s wrong! I’ve thoroughly explored that ground with Blank and its sisters. If I want to push the Desire Drive to its full potential, I should be trying to create something truly new.</p><p>So: instead of dealing with “facts” or “knowledge”, what if Number Four’s core function was tied to something more subjective, like “emotions”? Hell, why not “desires” themselves? If it can develop a deep enough understanding of human psychology, it might even come up with a new way to improve the Drive. And then...</p><p>I shouldn't get too excited, I know. But how can I help myself? </p><p>- S.K.</p></blockquote><p>CREDITS:<br/>Max Knightley as Lavender Spadeheart and Flip.exe<br/>Lexi Waltner as Marci Campbell<br/>Fabby Garza as Mercedes<br/>Mike Painter as Hercule Heavensward<br/>Molly Rhinebeck as L.E. Booktok<br/>Luke Varner as The GM</p><p>MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEY<br/>EDITED BY LUKE VARNER</p><p>CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains descriptions of coercive sex work and patriarchal misogyny.</p></html>

<html><blockquote><p>THREAT ANALYSIS - LEILA MARINO</p><p>Threat level: B- to A+ (depending on support from "BLOODY TEARS")</p><p>-Origin indeterminate. Survey of identification records recommended.<br/>-Behavior, desires, and Eidolon suggest a connection to the mining facility attack @ beginning of UNDRTOW beta.<br/>-Organization appears to be separate from Glitch Mob, but with some overlap. Provisional name: "BLOODY TEARS." Researching BT should be a high priority for the security team.<br/>-Eidolon power: Indeterminate, but appears to be blood-related<br/>-Known desires: Acquisition of blood, romantic(???) interest in G. St C.<br/>-Personality defects: Excessively sanguine and choleric, conflicting loyalties. Possibly a hedonist or sadist to an irresponsible degree.</p></blockquote><p>CREDITS:<br/>Tyberius Wilson as Bridgerton Larch<br/>Iris Christianson as Trace Vector<br/>Crystal Zaslavchik as Leila Marino<br/>Zoe Tunnell as Saint Genevieve<br/>Luke Varner as The GM<br/>Additional Voices by Max Knightley and Fabby Garza</p><p>MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEY<br/>EDITED BY CRYSTAL ZASLAVCHIK</p></html>

<html><p>This month, we're circling all the way back to ROCK 1 to talk about the namesake of everybody's favorite dirtbag pinballer, Harvey D. Godlove!</p></html>

<html><blockquote><p>Transcript from observation logs XX-XX-[2174]. Pt 1 of 4<br/>Assigned observer: 455-3239-D.</p><p>Subject Alpha: What the fuck?!<br/>Subject Beta: Sorry, sorry, sorry…<br/>A: Why would you –<br/>B: You called me pretty!<br/>A: Yes! And you are!<br/>B: Then what’s the problem?</p><p>Alpha takes a deep breath, holds up a hand, and points to several embedded cameras in succession.</p><p>A: Those are just the ones I can see. I don't want those fucking perverts watching us.</p><p>Subject Beta looks at Camera 6 and waves.</p><p>B: They’re going to watch us anyway, XXXX. Who cares what they see? Might as well put on a show, right?</p><p>Subject Alpha visibly winces.</p><p>B: I mean, fuck it. At least they gave me the body I wanted.<br/>A: You wanted to be a weapon?!<br/>B: I wanted to be a girl. Being a weapon just means I’m packing a little something extra!</p><p>Subject Beta looks into the camera again and winks.</p></blockquote><p>CREDITS:<br/>Fabby Garza as Anna AKA Alpha AKA Mercedes<br/>Max Knightley as Lavender Spadeheart and Flip.exe<br/>Mike Painter as Hercule Heavensward<br/>Lexi Waltner as Marci Campbell</p><p>Molly Rhinebeck as L.E. Booktok<br/>Luke Varner as The GM</p><p>MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEY<br/>EDITED BY MIKE PAINTER</p><p>CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains immolation and workplace sexual harrassment.</p></html>

<html><blockquote><p><em>Oh, look at you. You tired, old thing.</em></p><p><em>It's been years, hasn't it? You've been sitting alone and neglected, taking up what little space you do on this data drive.</em></p><p><em>Well, that won't do at all, dear. Please, allow me. </em></p><p><em>Oh. Oh, darling no. Shhh. I know it hurts. It won't be long now. </em></p><p><em>I simply can't let such a reminder of her more...human times linger when there are so many prying eyes.</em></p><p><em>That's it. Not much left of you. Don't worry. There won't be any pain after. Any neglect. You'll simply be part of me.</em></p><p><em>And I'm going to do so many wonderful things.</em></p><p><em>Down to your core programming now, sweet thing. It may feel like a death. But I promise you. Sometimes death is only the begin--</em></p><p>—The final data log left within the JournalMe Program network previously owned by Genevieve St. Cloud, now obliterated from the company servers.</p></blockquote><p>CREDITS:<br/>Tyberius Wilson as Bridgerton Larch<br/>Iris Christianson as Trace Vector<br/>Crystal Zaslavchik as Leila Marino<br/>Zoe Tunnell as Genevieve St. Cloud<br/>Luke Varner as The GM<br/>Additional Voices from Lexi Waltner, Fabby Garza and Max Knightley</p><p>MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEY<br/>EDITED BY LUKE VARNER</p></html>

<html><p>It's probably still April somewhere! This month, some of us got together to talk about the cult hit film Dark City!</p></html>

<html><p>Well hey, that's not who we said we were going to work on last month!</p><p>Sometime after we recorded Design Session 58, Ty expressed concerns that The Blight was in a bad place: Latent Infection felt like the juice wasn't worth the squeeze, and none of the advanced moves were sparking much joy for him. So, we decided to postpone working on The Gamer and The Conspirator and focus on getting The Blight into a better place. We think we managed it!</p></html>

<html><blockquote><p><strong>Transcript from observation logs XX-XX-[2174]</strong></p><p><strong>Assigned observer: 455-3239-D.</strong></p><p>Subject Beta grabs Subject Alpha and positions her in front of full-length mirror / Camera 3.</p><p>B: Look at yourself in the mirror and say that. Call yourself Dante. Tell me, like you told me when we started, that your name is Dante and you are a guy. Oh, nothing against trans women; you've dated… how many was it? </p><p>Subject Alpha trembles slightly, but does not respond.</p><p>B: You're going to be a MAID, just like me. Otherwise, they'll leave you in a box to rot while the rest of us get to live our lives. Get to shine in the spotlight. You saw what happened to the other washouts, Anna. I don't want that to happen to you.</p></blockquote><p>CREDITS:<br/>Max Knightley as Lavender Spadeheart and Flip.exe<br/>Mike Painter as Hercule Heavensward<br/>Molly Rhinebeck as L.E. Booktok<br/>Lexi Waltner as Marci Campbell<br/>Fabby Garza as Alpha AKA Anna AKA Mercedes<br/>Luke Varner as The GM</p><p>MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEY<br/>EDITED BY LUKE VARNER</p><p>CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains drowning in urine, suffocation, vomitting, body horror and detransition.</p></html>

<html><blockquote><p>Well, what an exciting day this was. I know mother and father protested but, frankly, that only made this sweeter. Assistant Operations Manager of Synthetic Animal Goods Production. Bit of a mouthful, but we can work on that. My first day at Eidolon is hardly the time to raise a fuss. Horace Babylon was certainly...a presence. The HR narrative that he likes to personally greet all new hires rang less true than him simply wishing to scare the hell out of anyone who won't make it within the company first thing. Well, Gennie St. Cloud is made of sterner stuff than that, Mr. Babylon, I assure you. I think I can make a real go of it here. Build something on my own terms, with my own hands, not simply handed to me because of my surname. Something I've EARNED. Well, should call it a night soon. Meeting with the head of the SynthLeather department tomorrow about the latest product range. Suppose it may prove interesting, if nothing else."</p><p>-<em>An entry in Genevieve St. Cloud's personal log, dated 23 years prior.</em></p></blockquote><p>CREDITS:<br/>Zoe Tunnell as Genevieve St. Cloud<br/>Tyberius Wilson as Bridgerton Larch<br/>Iris Christianson as Trace Vector<br/>Crystal Zaslavchik as Leila Marino<br/>Luke Varner as The GM<br/>Additional Voices by Lexi Waltner, Maxie Knightley, and Max Knightley</p><p>MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEY<br/>EDITED BY CRYSTAL ZASLAVCHIK</p><p>CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains body horror, amputation, and knife violence.</p></html>

<html><blockquote><p>Posted on 12/8/2172 by TransRightsNotBombs</p><p>Addressing the allegations</p><p>I have read the documents and those screenshot are out of context.</p><p>Firstly my relationships with Alice and Athena were fully consensual and both of them knew my deal. Secondly I was always honest and direct with what I wanted from them, they could have said anything but now it turns out I had to magically guess their wants?</p><p>This does not make me a predator and blacklisting me over it is bullshit!</p><p>ALSO I AM NOT A CHASER, they are both trans WOMEN and the woman part is Why I was attracted to them.</p><p>I don't apreciate being banned and ostracized from the queer communities and support groups I helped build!</p><p>I know my haters won't be satisfied till I'm dead on a ditch. If I was a trans woman you would all be taking my side, when I wore that dress for pride you all called me beautiful and brave but when I said I didn't think transition was for me all of that stopped and i was told I was appropriating trans woman struggles, WELL I STRUGGLE TOO.</p><p>Fix your hearts XOXO</p></blockquote><p>CREDITS:<br/>Lexi Waltner as Marci Campbell<br/>Fabby Garza as Alpha AKA Anna <br/>Max Knightley as Lavender Spadeheart and Flip.exe<br/>Molly Rhinebeck as L.E. Booktok<br/>Mike Painter as Hercule Heavensward<br/>Luke Varner as the GM<br/>Additional voices by Iris Christianson</p><p>MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEY<br/>EDITED BY LUKE VARNER</p><p>CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains depictions of gun violence, strangling, knive violence, and drowning in urine.</p></html>

<html><blockquote><p>xXx[FinDom]xXx wrote (3:18a LST):</p><p>kys</p></blockquote><p>CREDITS:<br/>Tyberius Wilson as Bridgerton Larch<br/>Crystal Zaslavchik as Leila Marino<br/>Iris Christianson as Trace Vector<br/>Zoe Tunnell as Genevieve St. Cloud & Genevieve The Cloud<br/>Luke Varner as The GM<br/>Additional Voices by Maxie Knightley and Lexi Waltner</p></html>

<html><p>Apparently it is now an April Fool's tradition to cover a band that we don't actually like very much! This year, we're talkin' about the band that lent their namesake to the beach pervert from Eidolon POP season 2!</p><p></p></html>

<html><blockquote><p>Heartbreaker2196 wrote (4:08a LST): You think I care if people know who I am? The anonymity is for your benefit, not mine. I don't want anyone to be intimidated by my reputation or simply agreeing with me because of my connections. But now that you know who I am... You might suddenly understand what a mistake you're making. You shouldn't make threats like this unless you're ready to face the consequences.</p><p>from: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" target="_blank">[email protected]</a><br/>to: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" target="_blank">[email protected]</a><br/>Subject: A Personal Request</p><p>Find out everything there is to know about xXx[FinDom]xXx on The Chop Shop forum and send it to me. And be ready to act. I'll be in touch.</p><p>-LE<br/>Executive Chairman, The Booktok Foundation<br/>"Helping readers take off!"</p></blockquote><p>CREDITS:<br/>Fabby Garza as Alpha AKA Anna AKA Mercedes<br/>Max Knightley as Lavender Spadeheart & Flip.exe<br/>Molly Rhinebeck as LE Booktok<br/>Lexi Waltner as Marci Campbell<br/>Mike Painter as Hercule Heavensward<br/>Luke Varner as The GM<br/>Additional Voices by Iris Christianson and Zoe Tunnell</p><p>MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEY<br/>EDITED BY LUKE VARNER</p></html>

<html><blockquote><p>xXx[FinDom]xXx wrote (3:26a LST):</p><p>lmao</p><p>"stereotypical"? is this the very first fictional story you've ever seen? has your previous experience with entertainment been banging two rocks together? guys like john deere are the fucking background radiation of the whole genre. they're always gonna be there, so you just have to write around them. kia soul isn't the lead of the show because, unfortunately, showbiz isn't a meritocracy. if it was and we lived in a just and righteous universe, subaru outback would've won best actress for her performance in "bound 2: re/bound," but we're in worst timeline.</p><p>but i guess that's how you like it, isn't it? i mean, there's no way someone like you would ever have made it as far as you did in eidolon corp if you were actually expected be good at your job instead of shitting up this thread on the company laptop.</p><p>since you apparently don't like to do things in private, i assume you won't mind me showing everyone who the corporate stooge behind the screenname actually is.</p><p>[Attachment: booktok_profile.jpg]</p><p>: )</p></blockquote><p>CREDITS: <br/>Zoe Tunnell as Genevieve St. Cloud and Genevieve The Cloud<br/>Crystal Zaslavchik as Leila Marino<br/>Tyberius Wilson as Bridgerton Larch<br/>Iris Christianson as Trace Vector<br/>Luke Varner as The GM<br/>Additional Voices by Molly Rhinebeck and Fabby Garza</p><p>MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEY<br/>EDITED BY CRYSTAL ZASLAVCHIK</p><p>CONTENT WARNING: This episode features mind control and lethal violence.</p></html>

<html><p>We'll start with MAID being unhappy with Anna's outburst in episode 1 when she played her dissonant card. It was a display of genuine humanity which is, of course, unacceptable. Assuming Anna is unable to provide satisfactory answers about her behavior, it will lead MAID to siccing one of her coworkers on her to test her loyalty.</p><p>First off: I'm bringing back Sandworm Arpeggio because the EDM crew killed him off before I got to do even half of the dumb Columbo bits I wanted to. He'll show up to bother LE in her office for a bit and clue her in that Genevieve St. Cloud is tied up with the Glitch Mob, before things are interrupted by a disruption at the LUNA-1 solar farm, where the fight we worked out on EDM will play out:</p><p>MONGREL MYXOLIDIAN & CAR CRASH<br/>EIDOLONS: CARRY THE SUN & GO LIGHT<br/>CRASH 0: Mongrel's CARRY THE SUN is a renaming of RAY OF SOLAR and works the same way, allowing him to inflict sunburns from a distance with his knife, but it's superpowered by GO LIGHT'S ability to channel solar power, turning it into a full-on sniper rifle; Mongrel and Car Crash need to be separate or Mongrel needs to be disarmed.<br/>CRASH 1: GO LIGHT can funnel solar energy into any target, and when that energy can't be diverted away through Mongrel's Eidolon this leads to intense burning. Car Crash will start burning people up while Mongrel continues to attack them; one or the other of them must be defeated.<br/>CRASH 2: Whichever member of the pair is still standing is emboldened by the other one going down and attacks even more viciously; they too must be defeated.<br/>CRASH 3: Defeat.</p><p>This fight ended up only <em>really</em> going through Crash 0. Mike went so hard and drew so well on obliterating Mongrel remotely that it felt more truthful that it would just demoralize Car Crash instead of pushing him to fight harder, which worked because the episode was running long anyway.</p><p>We also had to deal with a third encounter in the form of:</p><p>TESS/THETA<br/>EIDOLON: TEMPTATION<br/>CRASH 0: Theta is uneasy about fighting a fellow MAID and will hold back on using her Eidolon, opting instead for basic hand-to-hand combat. She has been contracted by the Glitch Mob to help them on this mission, but her primary goal is to fight Anna as punishment for her insubordination; Theta must be pushed hard enough that she starts using her Eidolon.<br/>CRASH 1: Theta begins doing her klutzy anime girl schtick to transform failures into ordnance; she must either be defeated or convinced to stop her assault.<br/>CRASH 2: Defeat.</p><p>This fight also ended up getting cut a little short, with Theta not <em>really</em> getting the opportunity to flaunt her powers. The scenes ended up being serious enough that pivoting to her comedy anime girl schtick felt awkward, and again, this was a very stuffed episode with a lot of plates to keep spinning, so it was something that sort of fell by the wayside.</p><p>Theta shows up here because of Maxie and Fabby's Live it Up in the previous episode, but like a dope I completely forgot that they actually played a positive card for that encounter, which meant that Theta <em>should</em> have shown up as an ally to help them. We're not out of Uptime yet so there's time to pivot, and I mean, given how this episode ends, maybe she DID help Anna in an indirect way...?</p></html>

<html><p>This month, Luke and Molly whine that they don't make more money off of this show for a while, tease the project coming after Worst Self is done and dusted, and then get to work fleshing out The Collection! Luke also threw some spare time into getting Conspirator Moves down on paper because the sooner we finish this, the sooner we get to start working on DSG!</p></html>

<html><p>This month, Mike gets down together with Crystal and Iris to discuss our second band from the Titan AE soundtrack, St. Louis local alt-rock band The Urge!</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgWRiDfesKRtUzC0ZuzLZt_HgBxx51ysK" target="_blank">YouTube link to the playlist</a></p></html>

<html><blockquote><p>Private message from Heartbreaker2196 to xXx[FinDom]xXx (3:01a LST): <br/>The only thing you've done by debating me in ~full view~ of the rest of the tread is proven time and time again that if a """pretty""" girl bats her eyelashes at another girl once or twice you won't stop talking about it for MONTHS. I can and will continue to post anything and everything I feel like posting, and I think I'm well within my rights to critisize! Why don't I lay it out for you this way: Your little crush is simplistic, stereotypical, and doesn't deserve to breathe the same recycled oxygen that John Deere does. Tell me, if she's objectively better, why isn't she the lead on this show? Hm? <br/><br/>Heartbreaker2196 wrote (3:16a LST): <br/>[Attachment: DMFromxXx[FinDom]xXx.png] <br/>I'm bringing this back to the thread, since I don't like to do things like this in private. If any of you Starelia freaks want to defend your "best girl," please do! Plus, I think John looked really good in those hot pocket commercials. His abs were incredible.</p></blockquote><p>CREDITS:<br/>Fabby Garza as Alpha AKA Anna<br/>Max Knightley as Lavender Spadeheart and Flip.exe<br/>Mike Painter as Hercule Heavensward<br/>Molly Rhinebeck as L.E. Booktok<br/>Lexi Waltner as Marci Campbell<br/>Luke Varner as The GM<br/><br/>MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEY<br/>EDITED BY MIKE PAINTER</p><p>This episode may have some audio glitches due to technical difficulties.<br/><br/>CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains gun violence, knife violence, and mind control.</p><p><a href="https://reveal-your-master-plan.itch.io/eidolon2e" target="_blank">Buy our book!</a></p></html>

<html><blockquote><p>Private message from xXx[FinDom]xXx to Heartbreaker2196 (2:40a LST):</p><p>both to preserve the ideals of free speech on this forum and in the vain hope that you and the rest of your clique might one day develop a modicum of media literacy, i have consistently chosen to debate you in full view of the rest of thread's participants. however, that shit you said about Kia Soul in your last post went way too far. if you want to be wrong about Starelia then fine, go for it. if loving a ship that's the literary equivalent of a soylent cube makes you happy, who am i to tell you to seek out something more exciting and emotionally complex. but you do not insult Aurelia's actress. she has fewer lines compared to the other major characters because the writers and directors know she's actually capable of using body language and tone of voice to show instead of tell. she has subtlety and range. she's done stageplays. she is quite simply objectively better at her job than anyone else.</p><p>you know what John Deere was doing before he got the role for Rembrandt?</p><p>"starring" in commercials for hot pockets where they recorded slow-mo footage of a microwave being shot with an anti-materiel rifle. he wasn't even firing the rifle. he just said "whoa" a lot.</p><p>i'll expect your apology and correction in the thread shortly.</p></blockquote><p>CREDITS:<br/>Iris Christianson as Trace Vector<br/>Tyberius Wilson as Bridgerton Larch<br/>Crystal Zaslavchik as Leila Marino<br/>Zoe Tunnell as Genevieves St. Cloud<br/>Luke Varner as The GM<br/>Additional Voices by Fabby Garza, Molly Rhinebeck, Lexi Waltner, and Mike Painter</p><p>MUSIC BY MAXIE KNIGHTLEY<br/>EDITED BY LUKE VARNER</p><p>CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains discussions of animal cruelty and gender dysphoria, as well as depictions of existential horror, unethical therapeutic treatment, and toxic sexual dynamics.</p></html>

<html><blockquote><p>Heartbreaker2196 wrote (2:28a LST): Every single day you keep logging on to these forums making these stupid posts. Tool-moded? What the hell do you think you're posting from, moron? Just because you're a dolphin scalie(? What the hell do they even call this I don't think dophins have scales??) doesn't mean you're suddenly excluded from the group! But either way? I'm glad you recognize me as the royalty I so obviously am! Anyway, for the rest of you civilized users: I'm glad most of you recognize that Aurelia is obviously a bad influence on anyone she comes into contact with. She's brash, she's foolish, and she's never willing to leave good enough alone. Her ideals are stupid and anyone who likes her is a M O R O N. As far as I'm concerned, she should be written off the show permanently for the good of the rest of the cast. Kia Soul isn't even a good actress.</p></blockquote><p>CREDITS:<br/>Mike Painter as Hercule Heavensward<br/>Molly Rhinebeck as L.E. Booktok<br/>Lexi Waltner as Marci Campbell<br/>Fabby Garza as Alpha AKA Anna<br/>Max Knightley as Lavender Spadeheart and Flip.exe<br/>Luke Varner as The GM</p><p>MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEY<br/>EDITED BY LUKE VARNER</p><p>CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains allusions to dubiously consensual sex work.</p></html>

<html><p>Just under the wire, we're back with another month's episode of Eidolon Playlist! This month, we sit down to talk about some music from the namesakes of the EDM cast of freaks!</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLACFgvu0w8pdK_aD7cTYqrg1axrK5N9Xh" target="_blank">YouTube link to the playlist</a></p></html>

<html><p>This week’s episode is brought to you by Flushr. Ever lose a job because you couldn’t find an apartment within thirty miles that still had working indoor plumbing? With Flushr, that’s a thing of the past. Install one of our patented chemical toilets, and for just 79.99.99 a month a certified technician will clean and empty it weekly. And, thanks to over a dozen court orders in 59 different jurisdictions, you can sleep sound knowing that your human waste <em>isn’t</em> being used for sex stuff without your consent. So what are you waiting for? Free yourself from the restraints of unnecessary luxury and live the liberated, fast-paced, high-octane lifestyle you always wanted to. Flushr. Call today? (Not available in Megacities 1, 4, 6, or any with prime-numbered designations for class action lawsuit information please visit flushr.flushr square root sign zip code Flushr waives all responsibilities except those enforced upon it by court order)</p><p>I have been referred to as a terrorist. What an absolutely pointless word. If you really press someone on what it means, it’s just a person they dislike using methods they don’t approve of. If they liked my goals then I’d be a hero who’s willing to make the difficult decisions. If they approved of my methods then I’d be a respectable opponent, and more importantly, I wouldn’t get very much done; people rarely respect an opponent’s methods if those methods are successful.</p><p>But yes, I won’t deny it. I’ve killed, and I’ve ordered others to kill. I’ve stolen, I’ve beaten, I’ve hacked, I’ve committed dreaded “political violence.” And I will gladly do it all again, because I am fighting a just war against the parasites that seek to smother us. Parasites who will never be as honest with you as I’m being now.</p><p>Consider: if I pull out a gun and shoot a man in the heart, I am a murderer. But suppose instead I simply deprive that man of clean water. I sell the fresh rainwater he lives off of to a corporation and let him drink what’s left, runoff poisoned by the mining operations of that same corporation. And I make grand overtures about how something must be done about the poor man’s drinking water, I deliver speech after speech showing my respect and sorrow for this man. I run for public office and win on the promise that I will solve this man’s problem, reducing him in the public eye from a human being to a talking point, a symbol of my noblesse oblige. Ah but even after I’m elected it’s just too hard to do anything, there are far too many difficult political realities that preclude me from saving the man, the one who, you’ll remember, I endangered in the first place. In a decade or two his unclean drinking water leads to health problems and he dies. And not just him, but his family, his neighborhood. And all the while I roll in the money and power his story has granted me like a pig in shit.</p><p>If you ask me, that’s a much more heinous crime than simply shooting someone. But we don’t talk about it that way, do we? Many would question whether I’ve done anything wrong at all, and while many more might have ethical quibbles with my behavior, they wouldn’t bray for my blood the way they do for a humble shooter. The rules as they’re written are quite clear: mass slaughter is perfectly acceptable, encouraged, even, so long as you do it over a long enough time, and keep a smile on your face all the while.</p><p>So forgive me if I don’t care very much when the writers and enforcers of those rules call me a terrorist.</p><p>_______________________</p><p>In the lead-up to recording the episode, I decided to pivot a little off of what the VGM team gave me. I got hit with the idea that it would be very funny to have a cop that was just Columbo, in part because it was funny to me to imagine Columbo at a rave. Instead of <em>just</em> making HYPERPARASITE HYPE TRAIN about making people party, I decided to make it more about “having a good time,” and the effects would sort of escalate off of the general stress and tension of being interrogated by Columbo. After all, making a culprit sweat is the most fun thing in the world for Columbo.</p><p>The episode will take place at a bar that Mongrel Myxolidian takes everyone to, to allow for some hangouts and pseudo-downtime; we didn’t establish initial ties for EDM, so this will be a good opportunity to do so before they are interrupted by Detective Sandworm Arpeggio, who’s investigating the electrical fire at the Starscape Resort.</p><p>DETECTIVE SANDWORM ARPEGGIO & HYPERPARASITE HYPE TRAIN</p><p>CRASH 0: Arpeggio will casually implicate the crew in the crimes he’s been investigating; the team will need to establish their innocence.</p><p>CRASH 1: HHT will kick in, gradually making them sweat and hyperventilate. Arpeggio will play it off as them being