320: Me Did Not Write That

## Summary

As the storm begins to rage outside, the bartender reveals that Zol Berdia (or at least someone who looked exactly like him) stayed at the inn a couple of weeks ago, and then Will manages to obtain his letter, but only after he takes pity on the bartender's perceived poverty and makes a very generous donation. A family from Gully's End staying at the inn recognises Batthwack as their king, and the party discuss the unsettling possibility that the slivers of dark power they're hunting down have created evil reflections of themselves. In an unexpected and dark twist, a weird baby voice is heard inside Rosco's throat.

## Synopsis

Outside the storm has begun to rage. The bartender asks if they're interested in gods and tells them that Zol Berdia himself stayed at the inn about two weeks ago. Will's attention is suddenly laser focused on the bartender. She continues, telling them that the man claimed not to be Zol Berdia, saying they were from the Slivery Isles and lived in Carnivar, but looked exactly like him, so she's sure he was just trying to protect his true identity. Raphina questions the bartender, learning that Zol Berdia was dressed in a flowing robe, had a horse when he arrived, ate stew, drank beers and paid his bill. The bartender describes what he looked like, and it matches what the party saw in the painting in Beartoggle.

Will changes the subject back to the letter, which he's secretly desperate to get hold of. He claims that not handing it over will breach the rules of the Six Rivers' *Postal Service Authority*, a thing he just made up. Rosco backs him up and the bartender buys Will's claim that he is a trainee employee for this organisation, suggestively saying *"Maybe I need a leg up then?"* Something clicks in Will's head, and he suddenly realises that this poor woman must be desperate for money if she's trying to bribe an official. He feels intense empathy for her plight and takes her to one side to give her a pouch of 100gp, insisting that she keep this a secret or he'll lose his job. She's wide eyed and hands over the letter. He tells the others that he obtained the letter by intimidating her.

Bernard returns and with secret *Messages*, reports to Will that the family were talking about Batthwack as if he were a half orc and their king. They're from somewhere in the Gully's End region. Will wonders whether to share this information. Bernard reminds Will how his improving relationship with Batthwack is part of the reason that he's been able to come back.

   Having noticed Will and Bernard engaged in a long, private conversation, the others go and look at a notice board spotted by the front door. One notice reads: *"Relief fund for Morrow's Inlet. Money can be sent care of Krikrik."* Another: *"Guitar lessons. Cheap! Remy in Trent."* And Another: *"Wanted Dead or Alive. Runcible Jones. Crimes: Pilfering, slander, public nudity, libel. Report to the Sheriff of Shuncer for reward."* There's a crude sketch of a goblin-like creature.

Will needles Batthwack about the "King Batthwack" situation. Batthwack denies that any such king exists. The group recall the creepy mirror reflections at the carnival. Are there two Batthwacks? There were two Raphinas, the other a serial killer who they still haven't encountered. Will eyes Rosco suspiciously. His reflection showed him as a young man, so Will theorises that Rosco's future must be one in which het gets younger and eventually turns into a baby. Captain Clockface shakes his head at that. Batthwack doesn't believe that any of their alter egos are real and Raphina wonders if they never met the other Raphina because she *was* that other Raphina. Anyway, it seemed her alternate reality vanished after they defeated the sliver in Beartoggle.

Will tells Batthwack what Bernard had overheard, that the family recognise him as the king of Gully's End. Batthwack thinks for a moment before going over to the family, who stare at him wide-eyed. *"I'm so sorry we bothered you, Your Majesty!"* says the mother. He tries to put them at ease and offers each of the children one of the playing cards he's designed. They draw the 5 of hearts and the jack of spades and the older girl holds hers reverently.

While Batthwack's talking to the family, Will tells the others about the other interesting fact he garnered: that they think King Batthwack is a half orc. Rosco's confused; Batthwack keeps denying there's a king in Gully's End, but this family's reaction to him says otherwise. Is Batthwack lying about not being a king? He has been acting strangely, and his memories have been weird. Will swipes his hand over Batthwack's head to check for invisible crowns. There's nothing there. With reflections and slivers running through is mind, Rosco says ominously, *"These slivers of reality... these things that are piercing through into this world, they might be producing reflections that are a bit more than just reflections."* Will's worry is that when they get to Gully's End they may encounter an evil Batthwack, but will the good Batthwack be strong enough to defeat him? Batthwack seems confident that he would win.

Rosco asks the group about Will's handwriting being on the sign outside the carnival. Will admits to having *"business investments in certain churches,"* which he says is perfectly reputable. Anyway, he claims that lots of people have the same handwriting. Maybe the sign was written by his bad sliver reflection? He says he certainly didn't write that sign, or doesn't remember writing it. Rosco and Raphina agree that blaming everything on your doppelganger might discourage accountability; they should have a healthy amount of suspicion and scepticism. Will's angry at that, saying they were all good for suspicion until Rosco joined the group and created a surplus.

They're mid-argument when in a sudden and unsettling moment that recalls Will's theory that Rosco will eventually turn into a baby, the sound of a baby's voice is suddenly heard from somewhere at the back of Rosco's throat, saying *"Let me outta here!"* They would have all thought this were a circus trick of some kind were it not for the shock and surprise on Rosco's face as he claps his hands to his mouth. Rosco begins hurriedly gathering his things and making an excuse about having gas when he feels a tug at his jacket. It's the four-year-old girl. In a weirdly calm voice she says quietly, *"They're coming."* There's a pause and Rosco burps.

## Quotes

* Bartender (describing Zol Berdia): *"Impeccably dressed..."* Will: *"In what? In..."* Rosco: *"Peccably, she said. In peccably!"*
* Rosco: *"Hey, Clockface, did you hear the song that Batthwack requested for you on the sending stone?"* Eric: *"This is the one time Captain Clockface speaks and he says, 'I don't know if that was canon.'"*
* Will: *"Batthwack you also don't remember some things that have happened."* Sheemie: *"Talk about 'who's a baby.'"* Will: *"Oh Batthwack, you baby. Sheemie, ouch!"* Batthwack: *"I thought Sheemie was talking about himself."* Sheemie: *"No I'm a man, drinking my ale!"* Raphina: *"...Learning to read."*
* Alex: *"When Will lies to Batthwack for the 200th time, he's immediately gonna transform into King Batthwack from the reflection and then the game will end."* Eric + KT together: *"That was like two years ago!"*

## Trivia

* The episode title quotes KT/Will. Rosco wants to get to the bottom of why there was a sign in Will's handwriting outside the Coyote's carnival, saying something about Zol Berdia. Will is naturally defensive, but does say, *"I have business investments in certain churches. I don't think that's a terrible thing. But I will say that, honestly, no deception role needed, I will say that I didn't... I have no recollection of writing that, so like me... the me that you have been friends with for so long, everyone, for so long. We are friends. Me... did not write that."* Mo: *"Me did not write that too!"* Adam: *"Will's turning into Mo! Mo is future Will! That's the twist of this whole campaign!"* Eric: *"As they're standing next to each other in suits."*
* Did you know... in F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story *The Curious Case of Benjamin Button*, Benjamin's son is called Roscoe: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The\_Curious\_Case\_of\_Benjamin\_Button\_(short\_story)
* This week's episode description describes the Pork Fried Dice wiki as: hearty.

## Gallery

*Main article: The Art of Pork Fried Dice*

## References

1. ↑ It's AB18, so "about two weeks ago" would be around AB4, the day right after the party left the lizardfolk lair and had various encounters in the forest... See episode 187: We Have a Lot To Discover About Raphina's Digestive System
2. ↑ Later in the show, Abby points out the verbal connection between "Slivery Isles" and "slivers". KT explains the origin of the Six Rivers location of the Slivery Isles, but also intriguingly states, *"That's just a real place that a couple of people are from,"* and *"I know of a certain couple people or at least one person that's from there."* As far as this wiki editor knows, no-one has been confirmed as coming from the Slivery Isles... So... THAT'S interesting! 👀
3. ↑ The painting of Zol Berdia in Beartoggle looked exactly like Eldon. See episode 255: Have You Ever Played, Uh, Hopscotch?
4. ↑ KT rolled a natural 1 for their insight check.
5. ↑ See episode 290: Between "Gaping" and Other Things
6. ↑ See episode 311: The Head Sack
7. ↑ See episode 315: Willanetics