RQG/RQ Streams Crossover Special - What Is Here?

## Content Warnings

Part 1 Contamination/hazardous accident, workplace bullying, smoking/vaping (inc. SFX), nightmares; SFX: high pitched beeps & static; mentions of: accidental death, loss, murder, social anxiety, claustrophobia
Part 2 Cults, workplace hostility, physical violence, panic (inc. SFX), claustrophobia, smoking/vaping (inc. SFX); mentions of: invasive thoughts, death, riots, cave ins, children in peril

## Plot Summary

Join Helen, Lydia, Ben and special guests Anil and Mike of RQ Streams as they create a community of lunar miners and the strange force lurking beneath them... The players play in improvised scenes as various characters on a moon mining base. Some characters recur, others are only in one scene. The characters must navigate the perils of a discovery in their isolated existence, along with the tensions in the community, disturbing nightmares, and the worst horror of all... Capitalism!

## Character Summary

*Each player plays several characters, some of whom recur between scenes.*

Helen plays: A fresh-faced miner, just come from Earth (scene 1, scene 6); the CEO of the mining company (scene 3, scene 11); Shelley, a teacher at the moon school and sister of the CEO (scene 4, scene 10), a scientist in the moon labs (scene 9).

Anil plays: Geoff, a veteran miner who's been here a few years and is having strange dreams (scene 1, scene 5, scene 6, scene 10); the chief ecological consultant for the company (scene 3, scene 9, scene 11).

Ben plays: Lenny, a miner that has been here for about 6 months (scene 1, scene 6, scene 10); Joe, a porter at the base (scene 2); a newly- brought-in miner (scene 8); the CFO of the company (scene 11).

Lydia plays: Charlize, a lab assistant working with the scales (scene 2), Jan, a teacher at the moon school (Scene 4); a newly- brought-in miner (scene 6); another lab assistant (scene 9); Buddy, a grizzled miner who's been here a decade, married to Shelley (Scene 10); the CTO of the company (scene 11).

Mike plays: A technician brought in to help clean up a malfunction (scene 2); the COO of the mining company (scene 3, scene 11); Si, a miner having strange dreams (scene 5); a newly- brought-in miner (scene 6); Jimmy, the teenaged son of Buddy and Shelley (scene 10).

## Synopsis

*In the game What Is Here?, players tell a story collaboratively using cards. They create a myth around a being though a community's eyes using a deck of cards, and answering the question prompts through short roleplay scenes.*

***Editor's Note: Some characters are only named in subsequent scenes, but I have chosen to retroactively name these characters from their first appearance.***

### Episode 1

We open on a community of miners on Earth's moon, set in the future. They are mining for an unspecified mineral.

#### Scene 1: In a tunnel

*Three miners are working in a tunnel, and are discussing the nature of the being.*

Helen's character asks Anil's character (Geoff) if they've ever seen the being, and they says they've seen bits of it, for example what looks like incredibly shiny scales that have been taken back to the base's lab. The scales shine like a diamond but with the lustre of gold. Ben's character (Lenny) asks for more info- what is the nature of the scales? Are they a power source? Geoff replies that when a scale is found, it's taken to the lab and the miners don't see it again. The lab scientists apparently keep to themselves for the most part. Lenny adds that one of their colleagues was fired for making a fuss about the scales, so clearly they are worth a lot. The consensus is that upper management don't like people asking too many questions. Geoff adds that the scales are only found deep down, and that the new tunnels opening up in Site B might yield more. Helen's character imagines being in its presence.

#### Scene 2: In the labs

*A porter brings a new sample to a lab assistant and a technician who work with the scales. The technician has been brought in to clean up a malfunction with the scale container.*

The technician is wearing a hazmat suit, but the substance is only considered hazardous to touch, and does not pose an airborne risk. The lab assistant (Charlize) is trying to take stock of the lab supplies left after the accident, and they are all trying to clean up before more important people are called in. Charlize is complaining that they're almost out of silicate, and that they have to prepare it manually here; they are worried about getting in trouble with the higher-ups. They pass the technician the 'hazard' sign, noting that it still has some of the much on it from last time, and grumbles that the higher-ups don't care about the lowly manual staff. The technician then asks Charlize to pass over a 'squirty thing' on a barrel labelled 'radioactive'. Charlize hopes the barrel is merely mislabelled, but the technician says that the barrels used to be used for drilling substances and are now used in the labs due to budget cuts. They talk about how on the Moon, people have to improvise and recycle, and that nothing is labelled properly. Charlize says she's heard some 'funny things', at which point the porter enters with more scales.

Charlize says the 'funny things' are probably just radioactivity, and the porter says the lab staff have to be more careful (referencing the accident), saying he hates getting more of the substance. The porter introduces himself as Joe. The technician tries to make an official-sounding report about the cleanup, but Joe reassures him that he's just a porter and doesn't care about that stuff. The technician is relieved. He says the scientists hate it when the 'stuff' is spilled because it's really valuable, but Charlize thinks it's just really toxic. The technician then relays a story of his friend Geoff, who stepped in some of the substance, and how it melted through his PPE. Joe says he's getting out of the lab as quickly as he can, but the others ask him what he thinks of the substance. He says that it goes in the safety capsules, then he moves them; he doesn't want any more to do with it- he gets a 'weird feeling', and it's 'creepy'. He says it just feels wrong. The technician then says he gets that too, and Charlize wonders whether it's related to the machinery breaking all the time. Charlize and the technician then talk about the cafe, and that Charlize is allowed in, but that maintenance staff have their own quarters and aren't welcome in the cafe. Charlize then mentions that one of the cooks has been ill recently, possibly related to another substance spill, but that the higher-ups keep on making the workers pick it up.

**BREAK**

#### Scene 3: In the board room

*In a flashback to the first discovery of the substance, the CEO has brought the COO (chief operating officer) and the chief ecological consultant to the board room to discuss the new substance and what it to do about it.*

The CEO and the COO demand that the 'environmentalist' give them answers quickly- what is the situation? The ecological consultant says that something was found in Sector C last week and that it was sent to the labs. The ecologist is very excited that this is incontrovertible evidence that there are endemic life forms on the Moon. The COO is not impressed, saying that none of his crews have found any such evidence. The ecologist shows the COO some photos of the scales, then shows him a photo of something found down a side tunnel. It looks like a helix, but ends in a 'spine', like a porcupine's. They are apparently parts of a creature. The CEO isn't convinced either, and suggests they are some unusual form of rock. The ecological consultant says that there is a lot of carbon present, and definite organic components. The CEO still isn't convinced, and asks if it moves or respires. The ecologist says they haven't found any living specimens, but that they are sure that there is at least one creature, and possibly a colony that they are disturbing. They recommend sealing off Sector C and conducting more tests.

The COO asks the ecologist a series of questions. He asks why the evidence is in photographic format rather than body-camera video format. [We also learn that the COO and the chief ecological consultant came to the moon on the same shuttle.] The ecologist says that they didn't go down the tunnels themself, and that the photos are from the lab. They state that there is video evidence from the tunnels. The asks the CEO for her blessing to send an armed team down with the next group of miners to eradicate the colony. The ecologist protests, and the CEO is interested in whether the creature has any value or interesting properties. The ecologist suggests that perhaps the scales and spines have absorbed interesting minerals, (they liken them to keratin, but with a silicate base), but that they need more resources to study the creature. The CEO then agrees to defer her decision on what to do with the creature until it has been collected and studied some more. The obsequious COO praises the CEO, and they both laugh.

#### Scene 4: At the family barracks school

*Teachers at the family barracks for miners with families are discussing what the children have been drawing.*

Shelley is sitting smoking in the cramped 'staff room' when the second teacher, Jan, comes in, and asks for a spare cigarette. Jan is a little concerned about the drawings of some of the children for when she was putting up a display, themed on 'draw something you love about your home'. The children have all drawn the... monster? Well, not a monster exactly, but... One of the children just drew gold glitter pen over the whole of their paper, but somehow it's slightly disturbing. Some have faces; on one it's mostly just shininess, but there's a hint of a tail. Jan is reluctant to put the pictures up on the display board given how they are a little...wrong. Shelley tells Jan to relax- kids draw weird stuff all the time. Jan asks Shelley whether anything is amiss with the teenagers. Jan adds that it's one thing for the miners to have their superstitions, but it's another to spread them to the children- she asks her husband Geoff not to talk about the creature in front of little Jim. Shelley again iterates that things are fine, not spooky at all, and that the creature is just some caterpillar or something.

Jan then says that as well as the drawing,s in the 'making a puppet from rubbish (broken lab equipment)' art class, the smaller children all made their puppets golden and scaly, and hunted each other around the room with them, and mentioned things about not going too deep. She adds that the teens' poetry on the display boards also seem to mention not going too deep a lot. She wonders if that's normal teen behaviour, or whether teens on Earth would make that kind of poetry. Shelley reassures her, saying that they're a colony of miners- everyone's lost someone because they've gone too deep. Jan's not sure, and decides to burn the drawings and tell the kids there was an air leak- they're used to that. She's just not sure young minds hinting at something hunting in the deep is all that healthy. Shelley counters that on Earth they would be into the Bermuda Triangle, or some other weird thing- that's just kids. Jan is reassured. They smoke some more. Jan decides to start the kids on a dinosaur project to get them excited about going back to Earth- some children say they don't remember it.

Shelley says she's going to keep any poems Jan takes down, as they'll make her a lot of money some day. Jan remarks that Shelley has a lot in common with her sister, the CEO.

#### Scene 5: In the bunkroom

*Two miners are sleeping on their off-shift in a communal bunkroom. A light goes on, and Si asks if Geoff is awake.*

Si is concerned about Geoff- he's sweating and seems a bit out of sorts. Geoff tells Si everything's fine, but Si is having none of it. He says Geoff's having nightmares again. Geoff denies it, but Si says that in his previous bunkroom (2b), everyone has been having the same dream: a golden shimmer, something that looks a bit like a diamond with the quality of gold, a boom, a flash, and then nothing. Geoff is intrigued, and sits up in bed. Si confirms that yes, it was all of the people in the previous bunkroom having the same dream, at the same time, every night. Si asks if that's what Geoff has been experiencing. Geoff asks if Si is joking, and Si denies this.

Geoff finally admits that he's having this dream. He's working down in an unfamiliar tunnel (it must be familiar though, right?), then out of the corner of his eye he sees something shining. He wonders if he's found a new seam, and whether he will get a bonus. Looking again, he realises it's not a seam, just something on the ground. It sparkle,s shine,s and draws the eye. Stepping closer, really hearing the thud of his boot (in a way he shouldn't because of ear protection), he can see a flash. It's like gold; like a diamond. It looks like what people say are in the labs. His glove is shining, and he gets a feeling of warmth, as if the suit's environmental systems are playing up- but the sensors are working. He reaches for it, but then wakes up. Si chimes in, saying he often wakes in a pool of his own sweat, sometimes on the floor.

Geoff says it's been a week or thereabouts, and Si snaps. He says he's requesting a transfer first thing in the morning- he can't face going through the dreams again.

### Episode 2

It's a few years later. The deeper tunnels have been better explored, the myth of the golden scaled creature has solidified, and a cult has formed in the mining community around it. The cult is entwined with a workers' union after better rights for the mine workers. Upper management want to break the union for financial reasons, but they're also slightly concerned about the cultish nature of the union. Upper management is sending in armed groups to oust the problem workers and replace them with new miners from Earth. The scab shuttles have arrived, and pitched battles are breaking out between the established miners and those that have been brought in to replace them.

#### Scene 6: In the mess hall

*The established miners are eating in the mess hall, across from the new scab miners. The atmosphere is tense.*

Helen's character points out the new miners, and Lenny and Geoff sigh. Lenny is still outraged that upper management would bringing new miners just to break the union- the established miners have been working so hard, both at mining, and at fighting for their rights. Helen's character is unsurprised by upper management's behaviour, saying that they don't care about the workers. Geoff adds that their hard work is why the company is still going, and that they deserve to be here.

Two new miners clang down their trays in front of the group and antagonise them, telling them to move, and that they're here to fix what the established miners have broken. The established miners protest, and call the new miners scabs (see Trivia) and the lapdogs of the bosses. The new miners say they're here for the good pay, as long as they don't paint occult symbols on the tunnel walls. Helen's character says they're for protection, and Geoff says that's none of the scabs' business. Geoff also asks them how they're going to fare a few years down the line when their numbers fall (due to accidents and so on) and there's no union to help them. The two groups then argue about their union reps (the established reps care, the new reps are in management's pocket).

Helen's character picks up a bottle of milk and empties it onto the table. Lydia's character hits her with a tray, and a fight escalates, including overturned furniture and physical violence. It turns into a riot, and Helen's character dies in the process. This hits Geoff and Lenny hard, as they were Helen's character's mentors.

The riot is used as an excuse to terminate the contracts of the established miners.

#### Scene 7: In the tunnels

*Geoff, Lenny, and the other established miners are hiding out in the tunnels after their contract has been terminated. They don't trust that the shuttles will actually take them back to Earth.*

Geoff asks Lenny what they will do now. They worry that the scabs, who don't understand 'The Golden Scale', will go in, down to the deep tunnels, and mess things up. There'll be more deaths and more dreams. Lenny suggests taking their families down to the tunnels and defending it- the miners know the tunnels like it's their home.

Geoff speaks to the assembled people: They'll Take what they can, and head down to the tunnels- they'll contact some scientists and technicians who'll sort them out with habitation and food. This is their home, and the scabs won't take it from them!

[Ben adds that the reason efficiency has gone down is that the established miners have been specifically avoiding mining the golden scale and this has slowed them down.]

#### Scene 8: In the tunnels

*After an altercation, possibly with the old miners, some of the new miners are trapped.*

Lydia's character is trying to keep down panic, and is trying to reassure the others that management will send people to dig them out. Mike's character is more openly desperate, and Ben's character is outright panicking. He says he saw a flash, and wonders if it was from a booby trap set by the old miners. Mike's character says it's just like the dream he had, and Lydia's character slaps him, saying they don't need to hear about his silly nightmares now. It might have looked like something large and scaly, but they're on the Moon! He's probably just seeing weird things due to the effects of low gravity. Lydia's character mentions that they're never seen so much shiny stuff- it's everywhere, and it's so bright that Mike's character can't see which way is up.

Lydia's character then asks the others if they noticed movement in the rocks- they had the old miners right there, and were ready to attack them with the mining equipment, then suddenly there was a light, possibly claws? No, that couldn't be it. Ben's character adds that there was a flash, and screaming, and then they ran... and now it's just them- where did the rest of the team go? Lydia's character says they must have got out, and must have gone to get help. In the meantime, the group's eyes will adjust to the brightness of the scales. Mike's character wonders if they've turned (sided with the cult), and Ben's character, panicking again, asks if they're all trapped under the rockfall. The others try to talk their way out of that being true- Trev and Frank couldn't be trapped under there, surely! Ben's character starts wondering if some of the things he heard from the old guard on the shuttles wasn't rubbish after all, and that the myth has more basis in reality than they had thought. Mike's character says he's been hearing the same things from the new miners and hadn't even spoken to the old ones.

Lydia's character talks it down, saying that their brains are being messed with by the low gravity and that rumours of a big creature that controls one's mind are just that- rumours. They've heard that you need to paint on the walls to stay safe; to do the rituals. But of course that's not true!

Mike's character hears something...

**BREAK**

#### Scene 9: In the labs

*Back in the labs, the scientists have shut themselves in and are trying to find a way to protect the creature, while the Chief Ecological Consultant hold off the board.*

The chief ecological officer tells the scientists that the board doesn't know the substance as well as they do. The lab assistant (not Charlize) is trying to prepare a stable form of the substance, and has made a stable compound by using the same words that the old guard chant. She's not sure how she could explain it in a write-up, but it did work... The ecologist wonders if it's sonic stabilisation, and reiterates that they need to present the stable form to everyone so that both the board and the miners (new and old) will realise there's nothing spooky about it and calm down. The lab assistant isn't convinced that the bosses will be placated by this, and instead suggests taking it to the resistance in the mines- she knows the way in.

The scientist counters that they're here to get rid of the creature and that it's driving everyone mad, but the ecologist says that no, stability of the substance is what will help the miners in the deep levels, and that the lab assistant should go to them. The ecologist will hold off the board in the meantime. The scientist isn't convinced that it will help, and wonders if getting the stable substance near the volatile substance will cause the stability to spread throughout the mine, but the lab assistant says that no, the miners say they already know how to achieve stability: when they chant, the mine becomes safe. The scientist likes the idea of controlling rather than killing it, but the ecologist and the lab assistant say it's more like establishing a symbiotic relationship with it.

The scientist imagines what they could do if it were loyal to them, and the others scoff.

[Lydia adds that there are apparently now three factions.]

#### Scene 10: In a deep cavern

*A mining family (Shelley, Buddy and their son Jimmy [see Trivia]) are holed up with Lenny, Geoff, and some others, making an underground home for themselves.*

Buddy gives the signal, and the drill is switched on. It breaks through a wall, and Buddy is surprised by the size of the golden form in front of her. Previously they've only seen scale,s spines, threads... but this thing is as big as a house and it's all shining. Jimmy asks his mother why it's so bright, and Shelley replies that it's because it's beautiful. Buddy reminds everyone to remain respectful and they won't get hurt by it. Geoff starts a low hum, and the others join in.

Buddy can see the potential of the cavern as a home- there's space for food storage, water reclamation, and so on. They don't even need solar power, because the creature is so bright. Geoff reiterates that this could be their new home, and the others agree- although Jimmy is nervous, and asks if he'll see his friends again. Shelley replies that he's got new friends now, but Lenny and Buddy reassure him that they'll bring others down here too. Geoff is the most religious about it too, saying they'll see the light. Lenny asks, what better place to protect it, than at its heart? The others agree. Buddy says they need to set up defences, but that they are safe from the biggest equipment, as management know they'll destroy the seam if thy attack so crudely.

Buddy asks Geoff if he has his ceremonial robes, and Geoff gets them from his pack. Lenny gets to painting symbols on the wall, and Jimmy starts practising making traps. Buddy asks her wife Shelley to send a message to those on the surface that they've found somewhere safe that they can fall back to. The group chants as they work and start to move boxes.

#### Scene 11: In the board room

*Shelley has taken a message to the surface that the old guard have found a safe place to live down there, and rather naively has told her sister the CEO. The CEO is now deciding, with the rest of the board, what to do with the old guard miners. The Chief ecological officer is horrified.*

The CEO tells the others that she's just got a message from her sister, and that all the troublemakers are down in the deep mines. The ecologist protests that they're not troublemakers, but the COO and the CTO chime in, saying that they caused trouble and have stolen mining equipment. The CFO adds that the trouble they've caused has really hit their bottom line this quarter, and he'd rather it were wrapped up quickly. The ecologist says it's perfectly possible to wrap this up quickly- and safely- and that a round-table talk will lead to an amicable solution.

The COO says he's found a mutually beneficial solution. Just let the old guard live down there, and save on the costs of housing them. The CTO adds that they could claim on the insurance of the stolen mining equipment, and that by synthesising their own version of the substance they don't even need to mine. The CFO thanks the ecologist for opening up such a profitable avenue (stabilising the substance), and the ecologist protests that that's not what they meant, and that more research is needed, and an amicable solution with the miners. The COO says that the research will come, eventually.

The CTO says they're merely very kindly letting the miners keep the equipment, and that if any of them come to the surface they'll have to pay off their debt. The CFO adds that they're just giving them what they want, and the CEO adds that technically they're trespassing. The CFO, agrees, saying that they've bought the rights to hte moon, after all. Finally, adds the COO, they've found something they can agree on! The CFO is really looking forward to getting some accounting on the go, as this is going to be a very, very profitable year.

The ecologist is horrified, and as the rest of the board celebrates their cleverness and suggests bonuses for them all, the CEO fires the ecologist, who is escorted out, protesting, by two security guards. The whole board laughs heartily at this, as they crack open some space champagne and hand around cigars.

A final scene- the scientists see their manager, the ecologist being dragged away, and a determined gleam comes into their eyes. Perhaps there is a small glimmer of hope, after all.

## Quotes

**Geoff**: "We've been working real hard these last couple of years! I know the numbers don't necessarily look good, but we're hard workers- we deserve to be here! We're the reason why the company's been here all this time!"
**Lydia's character**: (clanging down tray, as does Mike's character) "I- I think you'll need to move that stuff out of the way."
**Lenny**: "We're sitting here."
**Helen's character**: "We were here first!"
**Lydia's character**: " Ohh, yeaah, but that doesn't really make much difference now, does it, love?"
**Helen's character**: " Don't call me love, you're younger than me!"
**Geoff**: " Wait, wait, hang on, hang on..."
**Lydia's character**: " Hey, we're here, we've gotta fix what you guys have broken!"
―Geoff, Lenny, Lydia's character and Helen's character (the established vs. the new miners) have an altercation in the mess hall.

"This is our home! They ain't gonna take it from us! They won't get their hands on this. This. Is. Our. Home. They ain't gonna take it from us!"
―**Geoff, inspiring the crowd of old miners in the tunnels**

**COO**: " Madame CEO, if I may? I may have found a solution that will benefit us all."
**CEO**: "Please continue."
**COO**: "If they want to live down there, might I suggest that we allow them to? It saves on operations costs across the board, and also means that, ah, we don't have to worry about any habitation up here, apart from the scientists' quarters."
**CEO**: "Aha, yes..."
**CTO**: "I mean... we could maybe write off all the losses of the equipment they've taken..."
**CEO**: "Ah, the insurance, of course! Ohoho!"
**CTO**: "So long as we have, as the ecological officer has told us, a safe and stable means of making and recreating the substance up here, there's no need for us to go down there. "
**Ecologist**: (Sounds of protest)
**CFO**: "Thank you, ecological officer, for opening up such a lucrative avenue of profit wit your stabilisation!"
**Ecologist**: "No! that's not what I meant!"
―The CEO, COO, CTO, and CFO discuss how to resolve the problem with the miners, and the Chief Ecological Consultant protests.

## Mechanics

Questions are determined using a set of ordinary playing cards (French deck). Heart cards: Emotional impact; Diamonds: material impact; Spades: physical impact; Clubs: cultural impact. Face cards /court cards are in some way wild cards.

### Episode 1

Anil draws the Ace of Diamonds: **What is a piece of it worth?**
Scene 1: Three miners in a recently-excavated tunnel are discussing the nature of the being. Roleplayers: Anil, Helen, and Ben.

Ben draws the 7 of Hearts: **What thrills you about it, or what chills you?**
Scene 2: A lab assistant and a technician in the labs are working with the scales, and a porter joins the discussion. Roleplayers: Lydia, Mike, and Ben.

Helen draws the 10 of Hearts: **Do you want to protect it, or hunt it?**
Scene 3: A flashback scene to when it was first discovered, involving the company leaders. Roleplayers: Helen, Mike, and Anil.

Lydia draws the 3 of Diamonds: **What is being made to represent it, or what is being destroyed in its likeness?**
Scene 4: A few years post-discovery, in a school at the family barracks. Roleplayers: Lydia and Helen.

Mike draws the 2 of hearts: **What dream did it appear in, or what nightmare?**
Scene 5: In a bunkroom, two miners talk about strange dreams. Roleplayers: Mike and Anil.

Helen draws the wild card: The red joker. **Something huge happens because of it; this is terrible. What happens?**

### Episode 2

Scene 6: A tense meeting in the miners' mess hall, between the established miners and the new blood. Roleplayers: Ben, Helen, Anil, Mike, Lydia.

Anil draws the 10 of diamonds: **What has it left for you, or what has it taken away?**
Scene 7: Back in the tunnels, Ben's character Lenny and Geoff, along with other terminated miners are hiding. Roleplayers: Anil, Ben.

Ben draws the 2 of spades: **Who has it attacked, or who has it helped?**
Scene 8: Some of the new miners are trapped after an altercation. Roleplayers: Mike, Lydia, (Ben).

Helen draws the 9 of diamonds: **What can kill it, or what can create it?**
Scene 9: In the labs, the scientists are trying to find out how to protect the creatures. Roleplayers: Anil, Helen, Lydia.

Lydia draws the 6 of diamonds: **Where does it live? what does its home look like?**
Scene 10: In a deep cavern, an old guard mining family, trying to secure a safe place for the old guard, comes across its home. Roleplayers: Lydia, Helen, Ben, Mike, Anil.

Mike draws the wild card: the Queen of diamonds. **Someone is profiting from it in some way. How does this affect the community?**
Scene 11: In the board room, the CEO has just got a message from Shelley, and is deciding with the board what to do with the deep mines. Roleplayers: Helen, Anil, Mike, Lydia, Ben.

## Trivia

'Scab' is a derogatory term for picket-line breakers, and was used extensively during the mining strikes in the UK in the 1980's.

Due to a slight misremembering of who said what, both of the smoking teachers (Shelley and Jan) now have sons called little Jimmy.