Episode 36: Keeping Up Appearances

**Episode 36: Keeping Up Appearances** (C1E36) is the thirty-sixth episode of the first campaign of The Table is Yours: A Role-playing Adventure Show. The Faded Fates divulge into many of the different goings on with the guests at their honor banquet before heading back to The Pale White Castle Keep...

## Synopsis

### Salvador is Gay

Shae pauses for a moment to stop her world from spinning; she grips the Pontiff’s arm for support. Amnestria explains that she is telling her this for her own benefit and that hopefully Shae will find answers with Salvador. Shae thanks her and subtly urges her to leave her to this conversation by herself. Amnestria squeezes Shae’s hands, wishes her luck, and joins back up with the Archbishop. Shae walks confidently over to Salvador and cuts straight to the chase; “I hear you knew my father?”. Salvador is caught off guard, and Isa and her mother are also surprised to see Shae approach with such intensity. Salvador says it is possible and asks for Shae’s father’s name. As the name, “Umel”, leaves her lips, a paleness washes over the Balladors. Salvador explains that he did know a man named Umel, but he was a tiefling and he died in battle during The War Against Darkness. Shae tells him that, yes her father was a tiefling and he was in that war. Salvador is getting more upset before Elena jumps in; she explains that Umel died saving Salvador in battle so it couldn’t have been him. Salvador reiterates that it couldn’t have been him, he was pretty sure Umel would not have children. Shae tells him that a lot of things are possible, and she is certain this was her father.

Salvador repeats that it couldn’t be his Umel because they were lovers. A stunned silence falls over Isa and Elena as they digest what was just said. Salvador sighs and says that they were childhood friends who went to war together and then became more than that; Umel died saving him, but if what Shae is saying is true then that means Umel is still alive. Salvador, with sadness in his eyes, immediately asks Shae if Umel ever spoke about him or their time together. Shae tells him that Umel didn’t remember anything from his life before, and he wasn’t in her life for long either. Shae asks if they can meet up sometime to discuss him, and Salvador agrees; he turns to Elena and tells her they need to talk about Umel and why Isa is a tiefling… he needs to tell her the truth. At this moment, Shae’s mind lapses, her vision floods with the silhouettes of the dead. They are all attached to people in the room, so many of the aristocrats have death on their hands. She stumbles into Isa who catches her and holds her up as they walk to grab a drink from the bar and then join the rest of their party.

### Nothing is Coming Up Connie

At the bar, Wash sits next to Connie who looks rough. Connie asks if he thinks they are bad people, and Wash says that they are. Connie sighs and puts her head down on the counter, only for a bartender that bears a striking resemblance to her to tap her on the shoulder. The bartender asks if she needs a drink and calls her, “kitten”, alerting Connie that it is Darrien. Scarlet (Darrien’s current persona) tells Wash that Connie is upset because her family is angry about the choices she made, but that Connie is also angry about the choices she made. Connie scowls at them and puts her head back down on the bar. Darrien tries their best to cheer her up, but it seems like a lost cause, so they pass the task over to Wash as they make their way to the dance floor. Scarlet walks to Codex who is still reeling from her conversation with Lord Kes. Before Scarlet gets to her though, Codex is approached by a little girl named Mattie who proclaims the Faded Fates as her heroes. She was in the library with her mother when Codex came in to warn everyone to evacuate, and if she hadn’t told them to leave, then who knows what could have happened. Codex smiles and is happy she did some good. Mattie tells her that her mom is a writer and sometimes her books are in libraries. Mattie then asks if Codex will sign her book for an autograph. Codex agrees and tells Mattie to meet her at the family table and she can get all of The Faded Fates to sign. Mattie runs off to find her mother and her book, visibly excited.

Codex is then intercepted by Scarlet who pulls her into a dance. At first Codex is surprised, but it doesn’t take her long to notice Darrien’s tell, the purple triangle in their left eye. Codex tells them that she is trying to do something, but Darrien tells her it won’t take long. They just want to thank her for helping Connie. They look over at the bar where steam is rising off of Connie’s head. Darrien clarifies that today was a rough day for her, but other than that, she seems to be much happier. They also apologize to Codex for underestimating her and say she has more than proven herself. Codex is flattered, but doesn’t totally feel the same. Darrien explains that she brings everyone hope, which is important in a group like The Faded Fates. Codex smiles and tells Darrien something her dad always tells her: “One of the bravest things you can do is have hope”. She smiles, and the two part ways as Codex joins the families again.

At the family table, Terrance and Axel are still talking. Axel is really caught up on Connie’s inventions and refuses to believe she did all of that by herself. They talk about how Connie was a lazy artificer, she always looked for the easiest way to get things done. Terrance chuckles a bit. Terrance asks if Axel wants a relationship with their sister. Axel says of course they do, but she makes it really hard. Axel says Connie is so many people: Adelaide, Cornelia, One, Ruby… how can they know who she is? Terrance tucks that bit of information away in his brain for later. Axel gets worked up and reveals they hold resentment about the accident that killed Ezra and put them in a wheelchair. They explain that she keeps so many secrets, they just wish they can know more about how she made what she made. Terrance, feeling sympathy for Axel and knowing that Connie is a hard person to work with sometimes, lets slip that Connie is working with someone. She isn’t “civil folk”, Terrance says. A tuft of smoke comes from Axel’s head as they raise their voice, “she made a pact?”. They begin to wheel themself towards their sister, Terrance starts to stop them but figures he should stay out of it. Axel goes right up to Connie and demands that she tell them about the pact. Connie is already over it and says that it doesn’t matter, she can’t change it now. She will just never be as good as her siblings. Axel calls Connie a bitch before turning and joining their parents again. Connie turns and locks eyes with Terrance, who immediately scrambles to Codex to tell her that he fucked up. Codex points upwards to show that she has a child, Mattie, on her shoulders. Terrance laughs uncomfortably and takes a seat at the table next to Shae.

### Seating Arrangements

The banquet commences as plates are served for everyone at the table, although there are more people gathered than there are seats, namely because of Isa’s parents. Finley chooses to sit between Theodore and Salvador, and after some of his comments are taken in the wrong manner by Elena, she explodes on Finley, and Isa ushers her away towards the ‘tide Thorns. Estella and Terrance try to diffuse a very awkward situation and eventually the table falls silent. Terrance asks about the child on Codex’s shoulders. Codex introduces Mattie as her mother, a professor at The Summit, joins them. Professor Cantree explains that she is very thankful that The Faded Fates evacuated the school; she and her daughter were saved because of their kindness. The party tells her they were just trying to help, that is all they ever wanted to do. Mattie passes her book around for everyone to sign, and Codex doodles pictures of everyone next to their names. Isa returns and signs off as well. They thank everyone once more before they leave, and the table’s mood is slightly lifted after this interaction.

### It Will Come Back

As the event concludes, Codex pulls her brother aside. She explains the Hexaleep to him and asks if he can do some research on it. Dogma tells her that he will have access to texts that will be helpful. He feels bad about not helping her last time, so he wants to help her now. She also tells him about her magic being dormant, and he explains that something similar, though not as intense, happened to him. He was panicking about a test, and a burst of magic came from him; after that, he couldn’t use his magic for a couple days. He glosses over something about having nightmares, but Codex stops him. She tells him that she is also having nightmares, but she doesn’t open her eyes despite the horrific noises she hears. Dogma tells her that he sees hands reaching towards him, a cage, and people in robes. He asks that if she has the nightmare again to look and see if it’s the same. She says she will need to sleep first for that to happen. Codex laughs half-heartedly, but Dogma looks at her with concern; he is worried about his sister. He asks for her to be safe and she promises she will be. The siblings hug each other, and with that, the banquet ends.

### Drunken Teleports

The Faded Fates return to the keep after an emotionally exhausting evening being honored by Zobraria as heroes. The party discuss their options to reconvene with the di Martes and decide to call Maude. Isa speaks with Maude via sending stone and invites her and the newly-returned and devastated Shawm to the keep. Shawm goes immediately to bed, and Maude stays with the Faded Fates in the kitchen. Maude asks Finley permission to enter his mind as he visualizes the location where the di Martes are hidden. Instead of waiting until the morning, Maude accidentally (and drunkenly) teleports the party to Vilmire. Finley leads the party to the entrance of the Panworks abandoned mineshaft, the headquarters of the Martyrs of Ponteugh.