Episode 1: First Day on the Job

The **"First Day on the Job"** (C1E1) is the first episode of the first campaign of The Table is Yours: A Role-playing Adventure Show. A group of adventurers meet at the most unlikely of places: a college graduation. They soon learn some attendees have a secret plot to cause disaster...

## **Synopsis**

### **Setting the Scene**

The episode opens on Zobraria in the year of 393 Post Divide (P.D.), exactly 50 years to the day from when the legendary adventuring heroes known as Rohg Q’an thwarted the catalyst betrayer god - Bynlotl, first of the lesser gods and firstborn child of Zoha’ruhs, the Sun God (also known as The Fair Father), and Quedona, the Moon Goddess (also known as The Moonmother). Two members of Rohg Q’an, Kleptar and Nova Dhenozath, ready themselves to give a speech at the Arcadian Summit University, to inspire the heroes yet to be in the land where civilization was first born and cradled in this world of Zohdona.

### **Introductions**

Character introductions begin with Terrance Astanas, eyes wide and frantic behind his goggles, fumbling around his makeshift lab. He has vials labeled with different letters scattered across the table as rats chitter quietly in their cages on the other side of the room. He focuses on vials filled with a yellowish-orange liquid and, as he drips some of this concoction into the mouth of a rat, its muscles bulk up slightly and then return to normal. As Terrance carries on with his tests, the door creaks open to reveal a tall, blue, and bald Vedalken man who enters the room with a guard on either side of him. Vorano, Terrance calls him, gestures for the guards to leave and asks Terrance for updates on his product, specifically if he was able to make it last any longer. Terrance, who often speaks faster than his thoughts manifest, tries to explain that once the adrenaline kicks in, the effects are on a time limit, and he isn’t sure of anything he can do to make it last longer without inflicting harm on the person taking the serum. Terrance offers the idea of taking multiple, but he isn’t sure of the effects of that, either. Vorano smiles and simply says, “good”.

Next to be introduced, Codeximalla Saori, a half-harengon girl, waits anxiously in a brightly lit room somewhere in Precinct Three of The Burg. Eventually, the door opens, and an imposing figure enters. This Loxodon man has a gentle composure to him. He wears the holy symbol of Quedona and offers his name, Nami. The two idly converse, and Nami mentions they are waiting for a couple more to join their party. Soon, the two remaining members join: Elin, a spunky halfling with a lot of knives and no money, and Charus, a kind elven woman with a diplomatic air to her. As the group discusses what their first mission might be, a tiefling man by the name of Shawm enters the room to give them their assignment. He tells the party there will be a disturbance at the Arcadian Summit University graduation ceremony, and they need to stop it, find out who is behind it, and bring them in or kill them, whichever is easier. Shawm asks if the group has any questions, and Elin asks about money. Shawm says they will be paid on a sliding scale based on ability and experience. Codex asks what to do if the law gets involved, and Shawm sighs and smiles gently as he explains they are now a part of the Red Raven Adventuring Guild and are protected under the Coup Condalit as long as they stick to doing their assigned job. Shawm hands Charus a scroll containing their documentation and wishes them good luck with their mission.

The introductions continue with Wash, a gruff and handsome man covered in tattoos, standing next to One, a woman in elegant clothes, in the shadows of a fluorescently lit bar. A metal doberman, v2, sits next to One. A man in cowherd’s garb, Carlisle, speaks in a southern drawl and tells the others a man named Vorano is planning to make a move at the graduation ceremony. Carlisle continues, saying he knows Vorano is giving his guys something that makes them stronger. Carlisle instructs Wash and One to collect a sample so they can study its properties. Wash asks if they need to try and not cause a scene at the ceremony because he’s not confident in his ability to not cause a scene. One rolls her eyes, saying when they’re “topside” they need to keep things under control. Carlisle speaks up again and says they are to avoid authorities at all costs. The most important objective is to bring back whatever Vorano is giving his men. One and Wash nod and gather their things. v2 follows One attentively and crawls up her back, taking the form of a backpack. One taps the metal, and an armored hood covers her face, hiding her identity.

Last but not least, Shae Erebos, a pale-skinned shadow elf, reclines in the office of Yolena Theyarus, a speaker for the graduating class at the Arcadian Summit University. As Yolena paces, Shae walks to her and offers her kind, calming words. She promises to stay near Yolena at all times, and the two walk towards the graduation ceremony, hand in hand.

### **Graduation**

Kleptar and Nova take the stage to deliver their commencement address as a hush falls over the auditorium. Yolena is next, and Shae gives her much-needed reassurance before she takes the stage. As Yolena takes the stage, Wash and One notice members of the audience with a “V” embroidered on their clothing rising from their seats. Wash tries to get a better look and heads towards the back of the auditorium, pretending he needs to smoke. Vorano's men immediately see and recognize Wash as they start to surround him.

Codex whispers to her newly-formed adventuring party and walks towards the backstage entrance in her Lightfoot uniform. She sees Vorano’s men surrounding Wash and instead heads towards him at the back of the auditorium, identifying them as an immediate threat. Shae and One quickly join, and a commotion ensues as Vorano’s men pull vials of green, luminescent liquid out of their sleeves and chug them. Instantly, they double in size. As Codex downs the first, Codex’s party attempts to assist, but Vorano’s men crush Nami’s head, tear Elin in half, and punch through Charus’s chest before they can do so. Shae fires a shot from her bow, killing one of Vorano’s men, as Wash frees himself from the grip of another. One abandons the fight altogether for her mission assigned by Carlisle; she is able to find a cracked vial of the serum, mends the glass, and pockets it.

From the front of the auditorium, Nova and Kleptar throw their weapons and pierce the two remaining, hulking men to the ground. Wash urges One to leave with him as Codex and Shae follow. Together, they head towards the June Box, One and Wash’s place of employment and a place frequented by Shae.

Back in that dark, dingy lab Terrance feverishly works. Muttering under his breath, he holds up a vial labeled Formula B, and an orange liquid sloshes around inside. A knock at the door pulls Terrance out of his focus and he quickly hides the vial under his desk. Vorano enters alone, holding a vial with a glowing green liquid. He looks at Terrance and says, “we need to talk”.