Chapter 21: We'd Both Go Plunging Downwards

Description: row of posters on an empty street. The posters read ‘Let Shrue do it for you’ and are increasingly worn from left to right.’ Underneath, a caption reads, 'It’s not going to be like last time, folks. I’ve seen that for myself.’

## Credits

### Featured Voices

* Daphne Nitsuga as Mercer
* JV Hampton Van-Sant as Gage
* Sarah Griffin as Shrue
* Sena Bryer as Ana
* Oliver Smith as Jeff
* B. Narr as Faulkner

### Additional Voices

James J Harringman, Tanja Milojevic, Lucille Valentine, Cole Weavers and Calder Dougherty

## Meta Data

### Content Warnings

This episode also features scenes of intense body horror from the 26-minute mark onwards.

## Episode Guide

As Mercer and Gage continue their pursuit of the Trawler-man's disciples down the length of the White Gull, the ambitious Adjudicator Shrue embarks upon their re-election campaign...

## Description

### The Hunt Continues

The episode begins with gunfire and the sound of wind. Mercer tells us that she and Gage are succeeding in their task. The river is, however, putting up a fight. They sit facing each other at their camp, talking about their god in the darkness. They have been building their god. The Beast That Stalks In The Long Grass does not yet fully exist. Mercer says that once The Beast is born, it’ll eat them first and become part of it.

### Shrue's Re-Election Campaign

Willard Trunce delivers an advert as Adjudicator Shrue walks through the lobby. Ana then calls a meeting for her re-election campaign, to applause from Shrue’s staff. Shrue gives the floor back to Ana and Jeff. They discuss the state of their campaign. Her biggest competitor is Barbeau. She seems to be paired with The Unspeakable Visage of the Atrocious Foe. Jeff has prepared a video for Shrue for her partnership with The Smiling And Head-Shaking Child Upon the Perfectly Balanced Scales. Shrue is unconvinced by this proposal. Jeff and Ana tell her to position herself as in favour of the war, but having concerns over it. Shrue points out that she is staunchly against the war. Shrue requires a god that reflects her and her policies. She wants to draft in the Saint Electric. Ana points out that the Saint doesn’t get involved in local elections, proposing The Noose Of Twinning Throats. It’s about harmony. Shrue suggests changing the name to something with less negative connotations, but likes the idea. Jeff asks her about her position on Mercer and Gage, it doesn’t reflect well on her and it’s been affecting polling in the North. It also seems like it’s been difficult to contact Mercer and Gage recently. Shrue tells them to set up a meeting.

### Shrue's Second Meeting With Mercer and Gage

Jeff ushers Mercer and Gage through a busy restaurant. Shrue is busy with journalists, they gesture for Mercer and Gage to sit with her and they do. Shrue offers them food, which they decline. Jeff clears the reporters. Shrue tells Mercer and Gage that they either need to finish their work or tone it down. Mercer and Gage tell them that they have just been doing as directed, that killing a god means destroying all of those who are faithful. Shrue says that they’re killing off voters. Mercer suggests that they hadn’t thought through what it means to kill a god. Shrue provides alternative suggestions for how Mercer and Gage conduct themselves. Mercer firmly says that The Beast That Stalks In The Long Grass is set on this god, and what has been done cannot be undone. Gage asks Shrue about the war, Shrue says they’re working on preventing it. Bluntly, Mercer tells Shrue that they can’t stop the war before they both leave.

### The Love-Saint Attack

The sound of a car door slamming and the spray of cologne. Adjudicator Shrue expresses her discomfort with meeting with Mercer and Gage. Jeff consoles her, and Ana tells Shrue what’s next on the agenda for the day. They are to lay a wreath outside Bellwethers. Shrue wonders why they’re being asked to pretend that Bellwethers matters so much, and that tomorrow they need to strike a more positive note. Suddenly, Ana exclaims. Barbeau has just passed them on the way to the same diner they just left. Jeff and Ana bicker for a minute before they come to a stop. Jeff mentions there’s something blocking the road. Ana leaves the car to go take a look. She turns back to call that there’s someone trapped under the tree. The Love-Saint says he needs help, hypnotising Ana. Jeff beeps the car horn and yells to try and get Ana’s attention. Ana is absorbed. Shrue is in shock, asking what just happened to Ana. Jeff spots more of them behind them, and tells Shrue to put on a pair of headphones. The headphones play an ‘Emergency Anti-Prayer Tape’. It continues to play over the following events. The car swerves and flips over before crashing down and coming to a stop. Jeff kicks out his door and breaks Shrue’s window before telling them that they need to run. The tape cuts out and Jeff tells them to keep running. Jeff himself collapses. Shrue turns back to help him, and Jeff sends them away. Jeff has been hypnotised. Shrue does as they are told and runs. The Love-Saint catches up to Jeff, and he is also absorbed. The tape is playing again as Shrue runs. Shrue struggles, climbing a fence onto a roof. The Love-Saint has found them. They beg it to leave them alone. The recording rewinds and begins again. Shrue sobs.

### Shrue's Press Conference

Shrue expresses their thanks to the emergency crew for rescuing them, and their sympathies to the families of their staff. They announce some time off to recover. Shrue blames the attack on the Linger Straits. Shrue gives a personal speech about the state of their territory. They still do not want another war. They announce their developing partnership with the Noose Of The Twin Throats. The conference continues as Shrue flails, but it appears to be coming from the radio now. Shrue abruptly ends the conference. Diane Stone continues to talk about the political situation. Faulkner tells someone to turn off the radio. The episode ends with the sound of a van continuing down the road.

## Trivia

* Shrue’s campaign slogans were written by Kiri Wolff and Clay Scarberry.

## References

1. ↑ Episode Release Announcement on Tumblr
2. ↑ Official episode synopsis at https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/5fec690f8211cf453a1b89e2
3. ↑ Episode Release Announcement on Tumblr