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Session 0
A session (currently) exclusive to Patreon contributors, though clips are used in the official announcement trailer, and are canon to the series as a whole. The Blue Dragon Detective Agency has just hired Kyle as their new intern, and their first case as a trio is tracking down an escaped convict, which they successfully accomplish.
Session 1
The Session begins with a summary of the state of the world. Fiction is a living planet, colonized by Spelljammers before they learn it has a will of its own, which mocks its new inhabitants by creating new races that are caricatures of them and influencing people so they'll always have lives filled with cartoonish action.
Celebrating from the success of their first case, the Blue Dragon Detective Agency starts out ordering drinks from a bar, with Blugen putting on a performance with some musicians to afford some higher-end Fey alcohol. However, Blugen can't handle the taste, having an over-the-top reaction. He also briefly sees the true forms of people at the bar, but brushes it off as drunken hallucination, not knowing the qualities of what he drank. The group's celebration is then interrupted by two masked members of the Golden Pin, an organization that doubles as both the royal guard and an actor's guild. They escort the detective trio to a limo waiting outside, but not before Belghast gets them to pay to take the Fey alcohol with them.
The limo is a "Running Gag", a Mimic trained for a specific purpose, that's also much larger on the inside. There, the detectives meet their new client: Arden Well, prince of Acme, the city in Fiction where they all live. Arden had gotten word of their success, but knows that the Blue Dragons are still a bunch of unknowns, making them perfect for an investigation he wants them to perform while undercover as Golden Pin members. Apparently, there was a murder on the set of a film chronicling his family's life, and the killer left a note stating how they're planning regicide. If the case becomes too well-known, Fiction itself might empower the killer to make a better story, so it's best to deal with it discreetly. Arden himself plans to join them on the investigation, revealing that he has a secondary alias as one of the city's major movie producers. However, after Blugen gets on his nerves, he also warns that if the Detectives screw things up, he'll have them all erased.
At the film lot, owned by an Ogre named Ford Money, the Detectives and their clients quickly bump into a detective working the case, Betsy Mancatcher, and her diminutive partner, Brother Killroy. Blugen is a bit perturbed, as he thinks they're stealing his and Blugen's "tall and serious partnered with small and comedic" schtick, but quickly gets over it when Killroy asks to be friends. Arden is immediately on edge, as Killroy is on the "Board of Directors" (AKA he's a Cleric for Fiction's gods) and wasn't expecting someone so high-profile to be present; additionally, Mancatcher might blow things out of proportion in order to empower her own story. At this point, Belghast and Kyle decide to introduce themselves with false identities just in case (Hew-mer and Elk, respectively), and Blugen's a tad miffed he didn't get the memo and used his real name when befriending Killroy.
The next obstacle the Agency faces is getting past the cops on the scene, as the also-small Bitesized doesn't initially buy their story of being Golden Pin members there to keep the production running. Blugen and Kyle manage to convince her, but she ends up flustered and smashes a large glass pane, which Belghast notes will be reported to a superior.
The Agency has now properly reached the film lot, and are introduced to the main suspects, including Ford Money, his "secretaries", the drama queen director (of the film), the crew, and the film's cast. Arden reacts poorly upon seeing his younger sister, even if it's just an actress, as it's a highly classified secret that his actual sister is studying abroad. Belghast immediately searches for evidence instead of interrogating anyone, getting Killroy's permission to use a spell to learn how many people passed through the area at the time of the murder. Given the lack of spellcasters in Acme, this attracts a bit of unwanted attention (and Arden's frustration at the lack of tact), but does bring to light some vital evidence, such as a slime trail and the presence of something large that ran on its hands and feet.
Blugen and Kyle, meanwhile, learn a few things from their suspects and the official investigators: the crew's contracts end in three days, Ford's lecherous tendencies are perturbing, Bitesized was recently on probation after tearing someone's arm off, Mitzy (an usher) was brought in after the murder to help tend to everyone's needs, the two girls constantly being groped by Ford prefer to be called his "secretaries", the actress playing the queen has some ego issues, and the studio is still moving out props from the director's last film, in which King Well defeated a giant Girallon (an ape-like D&D monster) with fisticuffs. Kyle in particular also has a heart-to-heart with Lena, the actress playing the young princess; she's actually much older than her childlike appearance indicates, and he sympathizes with her desire to fit in.
Belghast is still prioritizing clues over potentially false witness statements, so he plans to conduct a séance and speak with the victim directly, but can't do so publicly because they're supposed to be undercover. He gets Blugen to distract everyone with a performance, having him drink the bottle of Fey alcohol from earlier to help. Almost everyone is enthralled by the resulting performance, especially Mitzy, but Bitesized is steadfast and standing guard in the most inopportune location possible. Realizing they don't have a back-up plan, Belghast, Kyle, and Arden debate how to get past her before Blugen's performance dies down. Bitesized's partner Zap mistakes their anxiety as a need to use the bathroom, and offers to escort them. Just when it looks like they got a lucky break, Killroy notes he also needs to use the bathroom, and tags along with Belghast, Kyle, Arden, and Zap, potentially throwing a monkey's wrench into whatever comes next.
Celebrating from the success of their first case, the Blue Dragon Detective Agency starts out ordering drinks from a bar, with Blugen putting on a performance with some musicians to afford some higher-end Fey alcohol. However, Blugen can't handle the taste, having an over-the-top reaction. He also briefly sees the true forms of people at the bar, but brushes it off as drunken hallucination, not knowing the qualities of what he drank. The group's celebration is then interrupted by two masked members of the Golden Pin, an organization that doubles as both the royal guard and an actor's guild. They escort the detective trio to a limo waiting outside, but not before Belghast gets them to pay to take the Fey alcohol with them.
The limo is a "Running Gag", a Mimic trained for a specific purpose, that's also much larger on the inside. There, the detectives meet their new client: Arden Well, prince of Acme, the city in Fiction where they all live. Arden had gotten word of their success, but knows that the Blue Dragons are still a bunch of unknowns, making them perfect for an investigation he wants them to perform while undercover as Golden Pin members. Apparently, there was a murder on the set of a film chronicling his family's life, and the killer left a note stating how they're planning regicide. If the case becomes too well-known, Fiction itself might empower the killer to make a better story, so it's best to deal with it discreetly. Arden himself plans to join them on the investigation, revealing that he has a secondary alias as one of the city's major movie producers. However, after Blugen gets on his nerves, he also warns that if the Detectives screw things up, he'll have them all erased.
At the film lot, owned by an Ogre named Ford Money, the Detectives and their clients quickly bump into a detective working the case, Betsy Mancatcher, and her diminutive partner, Brother Killroy. Blugen is a bit perturbed, as he thinks they're stealing his and Blugen's "tall and serious partnered with small and comedic" schtick, but quickly gets over it when Killroy asks to be friends. Arden is immediately on edge, as Killroy is on the "Board of Directors" (AKA he's a Cleric for Fiction's gods) and wasn't expecting someone so high-profile to be present; additionally, Mancatcher might blow things out of proportion in order to empower her own story. At this point, Belghast and Kyle decide to introduce themselves with false identities just in case (Hew-mer and Elk, respectively), and Blugen's a tad miffed he didn't get the memo and used his real name when befriending Killroy.
The next obstacle the Agency faces is getting past the cops on the scene, as the also-small Bitesized doesn't initially buy their story of being Golden Pin members there to keep the production running. Blugen and Kyle manage to convince her, but she ends up flustered and smashes a large glass pane, which Belghast notes will be reported to a superior.
The Agency has now properly reached the film lot, and are introduced to the main suspects, including Ford Money, his "secretaries", the drama queen director (of the film), the crew, and the film's cast. Arden reacts poorly upon seeing his younger sister, even if it's just an actress, as it's a highly classified secret that his actual sister is studying abroad. Belghast immediately searches for evidence instead of interrogating anyone, getting Killroy's permission to use a spell to learn how many people passed through the area at the time of the murder. Given the lack of spellcasters in Acme, this attracts a bit of unwanted attention (and Arden's frustration at the lack of tact), but does bring to light some vital evidence, such as a slime trail and the presence of something large that ran on its hands and feet.
Blugen and Kyle, meanwhile, learn a few things from their suspects and the official investigators: the crew's contracts end in three days, Ford's lecherous tendencies are perturbing, Bitesized was recently on probation after tearing someone's arm off, Mitzy (an usher) was brought in after the murder to help tend to everyone's needs, the two girls constantly being groped by Ford prefer to be called his "secretaries", the actress playing the queen has some ego issues, and the studio is still moving out props from the director's last film, in which King Well defeated a giant Girallon (an ape-like D&D monster) with fisticuffs. Kyle in particular also has a heart-to-heart with Lena, the actress playing the young princess; she's actually much older than her childlike appearance indicates, and he sympathizes with her desire to fit in.
Belghast is still prioritizing clues over potentially false witness statements, so he plans to conduct a séance and speak with the victim directly, but can't do so publicly because they're supposed to be undercover. He gets Blugen to distract everyone with a performance, having him drink the bottle of Fey alcohol from earlier to help. Almost everyone is enthralled by the resulting performance, especially Mitzy, but Bitesized is steadfast and standing guard in the most inopportune location possible. Realizing they don't have a back-up plan, Belghast, Kyle, and Arden debate how to get past her before Blugen's performance dies down. Bitesized's partner Zap mistakes their anxiety as a need to use the bathroom, and offers to escort them. Just when it looks like they got a lucky break, Killroy notes he also needs to use the bathroom, and tags along with Belghast, Kyle, Arden, and Zap, potentially throwing a monkey's wrench into whatever comes next.
Session 2
Picking up right where we left off, Belghast, Kyle, Arden, and Killroy have been escorted through an adjacent theater/museum section to the bathroom, with Zap waiting outside to escort them back. As the seance ritual requires four people, Belghast requires Killroy's aid, but can't reveal what he's actually doing lest he blows their cover. Belghast ends up making a complete mess of the bathroom, blaming it on the studio's cheap pipework, and successfully bluffs that Golden Pin members can summon Toilet Goblins in order to do housework. Fortunately, despite his high status, Killroy is naive enough to believe him.
Successfully summoning the spirit of Marlow, the dead actor, the group learns that he was killed on a smoke break, and didn't see his killer. Marlow has also been targeted by killers in the past, for reasons that aren't clear yet. The ghost guesses the Ogre was responsible for his passing, but it's simply conjecture. The seance over, the four walk out of the bathroom, and Zap is bewildered at the mess. Belghast fails to bluff the security officer, and Killroy's simplistic explanation of the truth is implausible, but Belghast uses Killroy's reputation to force Zap to take his word. Killroy then pays for the repairs himself, and Zap worries he's just accepted a bribe. Belghast and Killroy then have a brief word about what they saw, and while Belghast pleads that they keep things discreet, Killroy hates keeping secrets and wants to immediately report things to Mancatcher.
Back at the main lot, Blugen's act ends just in time for everyone else's return. The crazy performance has made Ford upset enough to throw a table, but Brother Killroy cleaves it in two using his powers. Belghast then openly announces the presence of toilet ghosts, alarming mostly everyone, though brothers Norbert and Danny think it makes sense given some other weird things they've seen on set. Ford's now completely ticked off from all the nonsense, and wants the Golden Pin gone by the end of the day.
With opportunities seemingly running out, the party once again splits up to interview suspects. Belghast focuses on actress Honey, and learns that she's worked with Roger and Lena in the past, but Marlow was a newcomer, an A-lister to everyone else's B-list (explaining the "unwanted attention" his ghost claimed to have dealt with). Marlow was a positive, supportive guy while Roger is a perfectionist. Honey also admits that Lena rubs her the wrong way, and when asked if Honey can transform as well as Lena (under the guise of the Golden Pin hiring her for future performances), Honey insists she can mold her personality perfectly rather than admitting her physical abilities (or lack of them).
Blugen investigates Roger, the director, asking about the casting process. Roger got special permission for the royal family's likenesses and then picked actors from past productions that fit the bill. The understudy Denton was a new addition, who was able to change his physical form perfectly, but Roger thinks his voice needs work. When it comes to culprits, Roger thinks the Ogre's most likely; Ford Money's lot is the perfect size for his production, which cost Roger a lot of cash, and he views the murder as little more than a delay that might lead to having to pay even more to extend contracts. Roger isn't a day over 100, and has worked with Honey since the early part of their careers. He admits that Lena is very adaptable, but Honey is more rigid when it comes to physical transformation. The stagehands, ushers, and secretaries work directly for Ford. Roger likes working with Patty, who knows every nook and cranny, even finding incredibly large props and seemingly carrying them herself. Finally, Roger tells Blugen that it would be a boon if someone could get Betsy and her probing questions away from the set so he could focus on filming.
Kyle talks to Patty, the propmaster, who keeps fiddling with a pincushion. Kyle asks about Mr. Member, but Patty wasn't close to the actors. Patty worked hard on the production because it's bigger than any she'd worked on previous, and they're planning a screening party later. Patty loves her job and making things, demonstrating to Kyle by taking some basic craft supplies and producing a fabric rose. She's also not originally from Fiction, having immigrated to apply her craft. Patty's 30-ish, has been working for 15 years, and was hired by Ford after mishaps at other studios. Patty's had some weird run-ins with the editing staff, as the production needed off-kilter items; she claims an upcoming scene involves a fight with monsters that weren't really described to Patty, and there's a lot of meandering Running Gags she needs to deal with. She also notes that Ford once told everyone the studio was built over a rat colony. Patty then reveals that the rose she just made is an improper mimic, which she summons back to her, and that she has many at her disposal thanks to Ford. As long as you regularly feed them, they respond to orders well; in fact, a lot of camera work and prop maintenance is also run by Running Gags. Patty invites Kyle to the back storeroom if he and the others need to check props for their Golden Pin safety inspection, though she might not be there right away, as she's also been tasked with moving some props to a different location.
Their free time running out after the three conversations, the film cast splits up, and the party reconvenes. Belghast does take a moment to observe the people leaving the set, still curious about the large footprints and slime trail he had uncovered previously, and it's noted that the most likely to have left one or the other are the Aberrations on the set: Mitzy, Oscar, and the larger Running Gags that Patty works with. The group also takes a moment to note that Glamor, the cyclops "secretary", looks different from the other Sketches they had seen, including her partner Magic. Everyone agrees that, with what they have, investigating the Running Gags could be key. They immediately search for the storeroom, but Blugen briefly ends up so lost he ends up at the studio's front with Bitesized, but she's quickly annoyed by him and tosses him in the right direction.
The storeroom turns out to be blocked from the inside with a pile of boxes, but has a catdoor for small creatures like Patty and Blugen. Blugen uses the attribute shift skill to bump his strength up a bit at the cost of constitution, in order to move the boxes. He's successful, but the upmost box comically falls on Blugen once the others can get in. The storeroom is dark, but Belghast has a flashlight and Blugen creates a point of light. Patty doesn't seem to be there yet, as she warned, so the team decides to investigate current props while they wait, most of which seem to be from "The Banana's Peel", the King Well vs. Girallon production mentioned previously. There are ziggurats with Yuan-ti aesthetic, one of which has a trail of something red coming from the top; Blugen tastes it, and it's oil paint. Belghast checks the weight of ziggurats just in case, and can't budge it at all. At the top, Blugen finds an additional storage space containing a half-eaten candy bar, some paint, one of Patty's pincushions, and yellow putty. Blugen collects the chocolate and accidentally gets the putty stuck to his hand; rather than worry, he decides to hi-five Belghast and get stuck together, because it would be more funny. Belghast tries to cut the putty with a sword, and it runs, leaving a slime trail; evidently, it's the most basic material that makes a Running Gag.
Kyle explores the darkness, and sees a giant prop of some kind of animal; upon closer examination, it's a disassembled Displacer Beast taxidermy. Belghast wants to keep the putty cornered while Blugen moves to assist Kyle, getting his pants snagged on prop foliage on the way. With Blugen's light, they find a golden idol with an ape's face on a monument near the taxidermy. Kyle then points out that Blugen's snagged a vine, which has now coiled around him; Blugen grabs and tries to remove it, but is instead stuck to it. Kyle fails to pull him out, and Blugen gets pulled into a pack of carnivorous plant Running Gags that appear to have gone feral, which everyone fights. As the battle continues, the golden ape idol is also revealed to be a Running Gag and joins in.
Just when things are getting messy, a large box from a catwalk overhead falls onto the ape idol, thanks to Patty arriving just in time and deciding to help fight back. The Running Gags are now focused on Patty, but the Blue Dragon Detectives immediately rush to support her instead of taking advantage to patch themselves up. Working together, the group is victorious, and then a sudden realization hits: if the group didn't come to the storeroom as soon as they did, Patty would have been a second casualty.
Successfully summoning the spirit of Marlow, the dead actor, the group learns that he was killed on a smoke break, and didn't see his killer. Marlow has also been targeted by killers in the past, for reasons that aren't clear yet. The ghost guesses the Ogre was responsible for his passing, but it's simply conjecture. The seance over, the four walk out of the bathroom, and Zap is bewildered at the mess. Belghast fails to bluff the security officer, and Killroy's simplistic explanation of the truth is implausible, but Belghast uses Killroy's reputation to force Zap to take his word. Killroy then pays for the repairs himself, and Zap worries he's just accepted a bribe. Belghast and Killroy then have a brief word about what they saw, and while Belghast pleads that they keep things discreet, Killroy hates keeping secrets and wants to immediately report things to Mancatcher.
Back at the main lot, Blugen's act ends just in time for everyone else's return. The crazy performance has made Ford upset enough to throw a table, but Brother Killroy cleaves it in two using his powers. Belghast then openly announces the presence of toilet ghosts, alarming mostly everyone, though brothers Norbert and Danny think it makes sense given some other weird things they've seen on set. Ford's now completely ticked off from all the nonsense, and wants the Golden Pin gone by the end of the day.
With opportunities seemingly running out, the party once again splits up to interview suspects. Belghast focuses on actress Honey, and learns that she's worked with Roger and Lena in the past, but Marlow was a newcomer, an A-lister to everyone else's B-list (explaining the "unwanted attention" his ghost claimed to have dealt with). Marlow was a positive, supportive guy while Roger is a perfectionist. Honey also admits that Lena rubs her the wrong way, and when asked if Honey can transform as well as Lena (under the guise of the Golden Pin hiring her for future performances), Honey insists she can mold her personality perfectly rather than admitting her physical abilities (or lack of them).
Blugen investigates Roger, the director, asking about the casting process. Roger got special permission for the royal family's likenesses and then picked actors from past productions that fit the bill. The understudy Denton was a new addition, who was able to change his physical form perfectly, but Roger thinks his voice needs work. When it comes to culprits, Roger thinks the Ogre's most likely; Ford Money's lot is the perfect size for his production, which cost Roger a lot of cash, and he views the murder as little more than a delay that might lead to having to pay even more to extend contracts. Roger isn't a day over 100, and has worked with Honey since the early part of their careers. He admits that Lena is very adaptable, but Honey is more rigid when it comes to physical transformation. The stagehands, ushers, and secretaries work directly for Ford. Roger likes working with Patty, who knows every nook and cranny, even finding incredibly large props and seemingly carrying them herself. Finally, Roger tells Blugen that it would be a boon if someone could get Betsy and her probing questions away from the set so he could focus on filming.
Kyle talks to Patty, the propmaster, who keeps fiddling with a pincushion. Kyle asks about Mr. Member, but Patty wasn't close to the actors. Patty worked hard on the production because it's bigger than any she'd worked on previous, and they're planning a screening party later. Patty loves her job and making things, demonstrating to Kyle by taking some basic craft supplies and producing a fabric rose. She's also not originally from Fiction, having immigrated to apply her craft. Patty's 30-ish, has been working for 15 years, and was hired by Ford after mishaps at other studios. Patty's had some weird run-ins with the editing staff, as the production needed off-kilter items; she claims an upcoming scene involves a fight with monsters that weren't really described to Patty, and there's a lot of meandering Running Gags she needs to deal with. She also notes that Ford once told everyone the studio was built over a rat colony. Patty then reveals that the rose she just made is an improper mimic, which she summons back to her, and that she has many at her disposal thanks to Ford. As long as you regularly feed them, they respond to orders well; in fact, a lot of camera work and prop maintenance is also run by Running Gags. Patty invites Kyle to the back storeroom if he and the others need to check props for their Golden Pin safety inspection, though she might not be there right away, as she's also been tasked with moving some props to a different location.
Their free time running out after the three conversations, the film cast splits up, and the party reconvenes. Belghast does take a moment to observe the people leaving the set, still curious about the large footprints and slime trail he had uncovered previously, and it's noted that the most likely to have left one or the other are the Aberrations on the set: Mitzy, Oscar, and the larger Running Gags that Patty works with. The group also takes a moment to note that Glamor, the cyclops "secretary", looks different from the other Sketches they had seen, including her partner Magic. Everyone agrees that, with what they have, investigating the Running Gags could be key. They immediately search for the storeroom, but Blugen briefly ends up so lost he ends up at the studio's front with Bitesized, but she's quickly annoyed by him and tosses him in the right direction.
The storeroom turns out to be blocked from the inside with a pile of boxes, but has a catdoor for small creatures like Patty and Blugen. Blugen uses the attribute shift skill to bump his strength up a bit at the cost of constitution, in order to move the boxes. He's successful, but the upmost box comically falls on Blugen once the others can get in. The storeroom is dark, but Belghast has a flashlight and Blugen creates a point of light. Patty doesn't seem to be there yet, as she warned, so the team decides to investigate current props while they wait, most of which seem to be from "The Banana's Peel", the King Well vs. Girallon production mentioned previously. There are ziggurats with Yuan-ti aesthetic, one of which has a trail of something red coming from the top; Blugen tastes it, and it's oil paint. Belghast checks the weight of ziggurats just in case, and can't budge it at all. At the top, Blugen finds an additional storage space containing a half-eaten candy bar, some paint, one of Patty's pincushions, and yellow putty. Blugen collects the chocolate and accidentally gets the putty stuck to his hand; rather than worry, he decides to hi-five Belghast and get stuck together, because it would be more funny. Belghast tries to cut the putty with a sword, and it runs, leaving a slime trail; evidently, it's the most basic material that makes a Running Gag.
Kyle explores the darkness, and sees a giant prop of some kind of animal; upon closer examination, it's a disassembled Displacer Beast taxidermy. Belghast wants to keep the putty cornered while Blugen moves to assist Kyle, getting his pants snagged on prop foliage on the way. With Blugen's light, they find a golden idol with an ape's face on a monument near the taxidermy. Kyle then points out that Blugen's snagged a vine, which has now coiled around him; Blugen grabs and tries to remove it, but is instead stuck to it. Kyle fails to pull him out, and Blugen gets pulled into a pack of carnivorous plant Running Gags that appear to have gone feral, which everyone fights. As the battle continues, the golden ape idol is also revealed to be a Running Gag and joins in.
Just when things are getting messy, a large box from a catwalk overhead falls onto the ape idol, thanks to Patty arriving just in time and deciding to help fight back. The Running Gags are now focused on Patty, but the Blue Dragon Detectives immediately rush to support her instead of taking advantage to patch themselves up. Working together, the group is victorious, and then a sudden realization hits: if the group didn't come to the storeroom as soon as they did, Patty would have been a second casualty.
Session 3
The episode starts with the Blue Dragon Detectives briefing Mancatcher, Arden, Bitesized, and Killroy on the storeroom clash, after a short rest to recover. Patty's known for getting around through vents, but the door should not have been blocked, indicating that the intent was to trap Patty alone with the feral Gags. However, the matter is complicated due to how defective Running Gags should only be reactivated with a code phrase, which only the creator (Patty) should know. On that topic, Patty's a tad miffed with Belghast for trying to attack the Mimic Ooze, while Blugen insists he wanted to just be friends with it and use it for laughs.
Mancatcher's opinion of the group has improved now that they've saved a life, and divulges there was "silver hair" near the back of the lot where the victim was killed. Coincidentally, the prop Patty was supposed to be locating was a Girallon suit for an upcoming fight scene; the beast in question is a giant, four-armed silver-haired ape-like beast, which fits all of the evidence aside from some claw marks. The suit seems now like the most likely murder weapon, and though it was tailored for Oswald "Oscar" Highprice, other large creatures (Mitzy/Ford) might have worn it.
Mancatcher requests that the "Golden Pin" rounds up the suspects, hoping they stick together if there's further danger. Most of them are back at the main set. While meeting with the stagehands, Denton states that Danny was tasked with fetching him a white/silver wig. Danny points to an on-set wardrobe rather than speaking. Oscar and Ford are supposed to be renegotiating their contract. Bitesized checks on Zap with a communicator, who's near the concession stand, and says that Mitzy's working on repairing the restroom.
Belghast wants to check on the wig before they go fetch Ford, Zap, and the others. Danny turns out to be deaf, but knows sign language and some Giant. Norbert is a rough translator; they have separate lives and he can't do it perfectly. Roger and Danny have issues with Belghast wanting to inspect the wig and possibly tamper with their perfection. Belghast can't touch, but he can look, seeing various outfits alongside the wig in the wardrobe. Belghast asks what they're going to shoot in the final shot that day; Roger confirms that Denton is made to fight Highprice in the Girallon suit. They had already recorded the scene with Marlow before his death, and now need to reshoot it for Denton, though Denton had stated he didn't need to change the outfit much. Belghast detects some magic on the outfits, deducing that someone that touched it was a mage, but he isn't allowed to cast Identify without touching. Roger starts to accuse Belghast of being a magician, but Belghast just claims to be good at tracking them. With a bit of convincing and reassurance, Belghast is allowed to touch the wig's skullcap while Roger holds it, and reveals it's covered in Transmutation magic.
Roger accuses Patty of making a Running Gag outfit, but she claims innocence; additionally, Sketch transformation doesn't leave residue, so the only remaining possibility is that there's secretly a wizard in the production. The group try to inspect the nearby characters. Blugen looks at Patty, who asks why he's staring, and claims it's just because there's not many people eye-level to him. Blugen, Patty, and Killroy then briefly bond over how they're all too short for theme park rides. Meanwhile, Belghast can't sense magic from Honey, but Kyle sees that Denton is lying and nudges Belghast towards him. Belghast gives Denton a squint that says "you're bullshitting me"; when Denton asks what's his deal, Belghast outright says "You're bullshitting me." Overhearing this, Betsy pulls out a small wand and traces it over Denton, detecting that Denton's a mage. Denton confesses, having kept it a secret because he wanted to be awarded for his own merits instead of using magic to get an edge. However, he needed alterations for the combat scene, as it turns out Roger's fights are VERY realistic and dangerous, especially since Oscar was a former Spelljammer pilot and a skilled combatant. Belghast asks why this production is still running if it's so dangerous, and Roger begs him not to shut them down. Before the Detectives leave the scene, Patty tells them the code phrase to deal with any more of her Running Gags they might encounter is "hugs & kisses" in Goblin language, which Belghast notes is adorable.
The crew heads to the Concession Stand through the theater lobby. Blugen jumps through a window after seeing a suspicious shape and almost gets smacked by Zap's billy club when it turns out to just be him. Zap turns out to have a "vice" of soda and was trying to have a quiet moment alone to deal with recent stress of both the murder and working alongside Bitesized. The party attempt to take some snacks, but Zap is still security and doesn't want to be accounted for the loss of inventory, slapping Kyle with the club for trying to take some candies. Belghast attempts to get Kyle and Zap to bond over being interns. Zap admits he's being overworked, having to deal with concessions while also doing security. Kyle notes that Zap's got some liquor mixed in with the soda, which turns out to be Miss Glamour's instead of his own, which had been misplaced. Zap is insistent he needs to keep tabs on it or he'll get in trouble, but Blugen manages to convince him they need to deliver it for a good impression, as well as to take a bit of candy to help keep the bottle's misplacement quiet. Kyle feels bad and ends up sharing his candies with Zap before they leave.
The party goes upstairs and immediately run into Glamour & Magic standing guard at Ford's door, at the other end of a decorative garden/water fixture. Blugen gives them their liquor, and gets headpats. The drink itself is a rum called Voidswig, often drunk by Spelljammer captains, and was there before the girls were hired, though Ford cycles through "secretaries" frequently. The girls won't let the party into Ford's room until his meeting with Oscar is done. Blugen considers sneaking into the office through the water fixture's pipework, but the girls won't let him touch the display, and try to charm him. The detectives tell the girls they just need to warn Ford and Oscar about the Running Gags, informing them of the danger; the door to Ford's office then opens as if on cue, the meeting ended. Ford implies that he has leverage over Oscar and contract negotiations didn't go to Oscar's plans. The party tells them of the Running Gag attack, and try to convince him they should stay and investigate longer because of all the bills that'll come from unchecked ventilation and potential crew injuries. Ford only cares whether or not Killroy was attacked because of his importance, and no one else; even Patty, the almost-second-victim who makes and trains Running Gags for him for free. Belghast threatens to shut down the lot and have him be forced to work with scabs, but Ford looks to Magic and Glamour, implying they can just charm some new actors. The party then mentions looking for the Girallon suit, which finally gets Ford's interest, as it's supposed to be under Oscar's supervision and losing it would be a breach of his contract. Oscar tries defending himself, but his emotions get the better of him; just as he's about to cause a surge of rage magic, Glamour and Magic grab Oscar and Hold Person him. It's decided to meet with the others, but before leaving the area, Blugen decides to dip a toe into the water feature. One of the statues in it turns and glares at him, so Blugen wisely just leaves.
With everyone together, Betsy Mancatcher goes over the case: the original murder weapon was likely the suit, which Oscar had special magic to pilot, and the Gags that attacked Patty were set for disposal. The storeroom vents were tampered with, which means the killer can likely change size to both fit the vents and wear the suit. The editing room is closed prior to the film airing, and large claw marks have been located near the murder scene. Blugen decides to ask Patty about how she can craft Mimics; Patty explains how Spelljammers imported components, and she raised the ones in her control. It's simple but illegal to teach a Gag to kill. Patty's been working at the lot long enough for 4-5 movies, and old props are either repurposed, shut off for later, or euthanized and made into something new. Patty does note that retraining can be difficult if you're not specific, revealing she's lost a finger in the past. Blugen states that Patty's talented, which makes her blush, but Norbert chimes in and says it doesn't take much skill, since stagehands need to control the Gags too. Blugen easily manages to zing Norbert about his skill in return.
Belghast asks about access to the editing room; Ford has the keys at night, and Bitesized in the day. Small passages are unmonitored, to Ford's frustration, but are efficient. Belghast asks if a Gag could have operated the suit, but it's so complex that it would require an advanced, sentient Mimic that's treated by Fiction's citizens as an entirely separate race: the Mock. They ask about Oscar's contract; Oscar's only paid in full as long as the suit isn't tampered with. Betsy notes that they got Patty to cross-reference material she had previously patched the suit with, and confirms the suit was at the scene. Norbert takes a moment to throw another insult at Oscar, accusing him of ruining minds. Belghast requests keys to the editing room to look for the suit, but Ford's only willing to give the keys to the actual investigators; Ford has some kind of chip against the Golden Pin, and only respects Killroy's authority.
Kyle just outright asks if Killroy's murdered anyone; Killroy's killed heretics in the past, but nobody on the set is one...though he does glare at Denton, who was outed as a secret mage. To be heretical is to be an enemy of the Storytellers, and thus all of Fiction. Kyle then asks if Denton's murdered anyone; Denton says Marlow was a hero to him that he'd never willingly harm, and he also didn't attack Patty because he can't risk being fired now that he's finally a star in a big production. Lena can vouch for Denton, having worked with him in the past. Kyle asks if she's ever murdered someone, to her bafflement. Belghast detects history between Lena and Denton, and Lena reveals she's the one that recommended Denton to Roger. Kyle then asks if Honey did it, and gets slapped with a prop fan for it; at this, he decides to stop asking people questions.
Everyone's anxious in general, but Norbert's staring at Patty, Mitzy, and Oscar, the Spelljammers. Ford's also against Oscar, knowing of his Mind Control powers and using the Secretaries to charm his minds. Norbert has a personal issue with Spelljammer immigrants, but not the natural denizens such as Blugen. Blugen plays mind games with Norbert, asking if he's sure Oscar's not manipulating him right now, but Betsy puts a stop before things get violent. Belghast asks Killroy if he'd like to check the editing room, but Ford says he shouldn't, and Killroy respects that. Killroy is then thrilled when Belghast says that Ford respects Killroy, and convinces Killroy to prove it by asking to check out the editing room with Mancatcher. Just to rub it in, Belghast holds hands with Killroy. Ford is absolutely steamed, but will allow the official detectives to investigate. Belghast tries to weasel in by saying he's the only one capable of "non-magically" summoning ghosts like before, but it turns out Killroy can also talk to ghosts, and just thought it'd be more fun for Belghast to do his thing earlier, so there's no obligation to bring him. Belghast relents, with Arden quietly mouthing to him that it'll be alright.
Belghast asks Mitzy when she was hired, and also tells her not to worry about Norbert's judgmental attitude because he sucks, in Norbert's earshot. Mitzy arrived two years ago and came because she's a movie nerd, and was hired three months after Zap. Mitzy is very comfortable working with Zap, who is also good at interpreting for her, showcasing much better chemistry than he has with Bitesized. Ford, Bitesized, Betsy, and Killroy prepare to go to the Editor's Room, the most likely place the still-missing Girallon suit could be stashed; everyone else remains, and the tension quickly leads to infighting, with Oscar ready to throw hands at Norbert. Magic and Glamour also leave the set, as they are tasked with guarding Ford's office. Arden gets the gang together, and suggests they investigate using a dumbwaiter in the museum part of the film lot where the storehouse props were supposed to be moved to. Arden also managed to get some pictures of the evidence from Patty. Blugen asks about the claw marks at the crime scene; the Girallon suit shouldn't have claws, but could be modified. Mitzy is big enough and clawed, but due to her wingflaps, she couldn't fit into the suit to strike the blunt force killing blow on Marlow.
Blugen suggests inciting Norbert and Oscar to fight in order to make a distraction, but Arden doesn't want to instigate a hate crime. However, he's interested when the party informs him of Zap's soda addiction, as well as Zap's "attraction" to Mitzy. Arden suggests requesting Zap and Mitzy for a tour of the museum as their escape from the crowd, the former to keep him out-of-the-way, and the latter because she might know useful movie info that could prove relevant to the case, since past film props are proving to be a reoccurring clue. The detectives are successful, while Arden sticks back to try and prevent bloodshed between Norbert and Oscar. While they're passing by the concession stand, Blugen notices weird claw marks that weren't there before, and are similar to those from the crime photo, but smaller. The only suspects that they know have been in this area since they escorted Ford and Oscar to the set earlier were Zap, doing his final checks of the concession stand before getting Mitzy, and Glamour and Magic recently heading to Ford's office. Blugen checks Zap's fingers just in case he could've left claw marks; his fingers are clean, and talks about getting a manicure from a Miss Carla before getting back on-track. A thud and muffled scream comes from upstairs; Belghast says to keep it down while they're investigating, while everyone drags him upstairs to help.
Back up near Ford's office, some of the stone in the water feature has been destroyed, and Magic's in a corner, knocked out and looking like she was forcibly pushed. Blugen rushes to her aid, across the feature, narrowly avoiding a Cone of Frost from a statue meant as a security measure; the others walk around it. Magic has suffered blunt force trauma to the head. The group shouts for Glamour, who's absent, but nothing happens. Blugen's able to identify the problem and use his natural talent to awaken Magic, but she's a bit delirious. All Magic remembers is Glamour getting grabbed by some figure before she got knocked out. Belghast decides to use this opportunity to check Ford's now-unguarded office, "for burglars". On the way is a hall with a massive window overlooking the lot. Belghast continues into a large office room, and takes the opportunity to investigate Ford's desk. He finds paperwork for four of the past movies worked on the set (none of which are the one involving the golden ape idol), which look out-of-place from the others. Belghast glances through them quickly, and it's mostly bad critic reviews and controversy, with some suspicious papers mentioning a missing critic named Mr. Kingfisher; Belghast is familiar with the case. There's also an invoice for magical items from the Star Kingdom (where Arden's sister is learning magic), namely Divination and Teleportation runes meant for a machine like a projector.
Meanwhile, Kyle checks down a nearby hallway using Darkvision (an oddly non-human trait), and spots the monstrous Girallon suit carrying a body. He rushes after it, followed by Mitzy carrying Magic's body, who's in turn followed by Blugen and Zap. Belghast overhears the sudden commotion through a wall and knows to bug out of Ford's office before he's caught snooping. While running down the hall, he checks through the massive window that Arden, Oscar, and Norbert are still in the lot (and thus not involved in this current situation), though he can't stop to do a full observation. As the party unites and continues to give chase, they see it running into the museum area. Blugen tries to cast an illusion of Ford to stop it, and succeeds; the beast tries to brush past the illusion, but drops Glamour in the process. Zap chases after the beast, while Mitzy and the party check on Glamour; she's barely alive, meaning that the party has just saved another potential victim. They also take a moment to note that, since the monster reacted to Ford, it's probably not him they're dealing with right now. Also noting that Oscar was still in the film lot, and how Mitzy is there with them, all of the most-likely suspects for wearing the Girallon suit are now accounted for.
As Zap enters the darkness of the museum after the beast, he's immediately knocked out, and then there's the sound of a projector whirring. The party moves in to check on Zap, but he's disappeared, as has the Girallon. Examining the main room, there are some Medieval Renaissance-esque equipment, Spelljammer stuff, and a creepy doll. There's also a table with four film reels, the ones detailed in the reports Belghast skimmed earlier earlier. A viewing screen is on, and the projector is indeed running, but there's no film in it. Curious, and deciding to start from the film chronologically produced first, Belghast asks Kyle to insert "The Goofus Gallivant", a tale about hunting a legendary bird cryptid called the Goofus. However, as Kyle picks the film up for him, he starts to fade away and disappears into the movie; it turns out this is the device the Divination and Teleportation runes were for. The film locks into the projector, and the party (including Mitzy) quickly end up sucked in after him.
Mancatcher's opinion of the group has improved now that they've saved a life, and divulges there was "silver hair" near the back of the lot where the victim was killed. Coincidentally, the prop Patty was supposed to be locating was a Girallon suit for an upcoming fight scene; the beast in question is a giant, four-armed silver-haired ape-like beast, which fits all of the evidence aside from some claw marks. The suit seems now like the most likely murder weapon, and though it was tailored for Oswald "Oscar" Highprice, other large creatures (Mitzy/Ford) might have worn it.
Mancatcher requests that the "Golden Pin" rounds up the suspects, hoping they stick together if there's further danger. Most of them are back at the main set. While meeting with the stagehands, Denton states that Danny was tasked with fetching him a white/silver wig. Danny points to an on-set wardrobe rather than speaking. Oscar and Ford are supposed to be renegotiating their contract. Bitesized checks on Zap with a communicator, who's near the concession stand, and says that Mitzy's working on repairing the restroom.
Belghast wants to check on the wig before they go fetch Ford, Zap, and the others. Danny turns out to be deaf, but knows sign language and some Giant. Norbert is a rough translator; they have separate lives and he can't do it perfectly. Roger and Danny have issues with Belghast wanting to inspect the wig and possibly tamper with their perfection. Belghast can't touch, but he can look, seeing various outfits alongside the wig in the wardrobe. Belghast asks what they're going to shoot in the final shot that day; Roger confirms that Denton is made to fight Highprice in the Girallon suit. They had already recorded the scene with Marlow before his death, and now need to reshoot it for Denton, though Denton had stated he didn't need to change the outfit much. Belghast detects some magic on the outfits, deducing that someone that touched it was a mage, but he isn't allowed to cast Identify without touching. Roger starts to accuse Belghast of being a magician, but Belghast just claims to be good at tracking them. With a bit of convincing and reassurance, Belghast is allowed to touch the wig's skullcap while Roger holds it, and reveals it's covered in Transmutation magic.
Roger accuses Patty of making a Running Gag outfit, but she claims innocence; additionally, Sketch transformation doesn't leave residue, so the only remaining possibility is that there's secretly a wizard in the production. The group try to inspect the nearby characters. Blugen looks at Patty, who asks why he's staring, and claims it's just because there's not many people eye-level to him. Blugen, Patty, and Killroy then briefly bond over how they're all too short for theme park rides. Meanwhile, Belghast can't sense magic from Honey, but Kyle sees that Denton is lying and nudges Belghast towards him. Belghast gives Denton a squint that says "you're bullshitting me"; when Denton asks what's his deal, Belghast outright says "You're bullshitting me." Overhearing this, Betsy pulls out a small wand and traces it over Denton, detecting that Denton's a mage. Denton confesses, having kept it a secret because he wanted to be awarded for his own merits instead of using magic to get an edge. However, he needed alterations for the combat scene, as it turns out Roger's fights are VERY realistic and dangerous, especially since Oscar was a former Spelljammer pilot and a skilled combatant. Belghast asks why this production is still running if it's so dangerous, and Roger begs him not to shut them down. Before the Detectives leave the scene, Patty tells them the code phrase to deal with any more of her Running Gags they might encounter is "hugs & kisses" in Goblin language, which Belghast notes is adorable.
The crew heads to the Concession Stand through the theater lobby. Blugen jumps through a window after seeing a suspicious shape and almost gets smacked by Zap's billy club when it turns out to just be him. Zap turns out to have a "vice" of soda and was trying to have a quiet moment alone to deal with recent stress of both the murder and working alongside Bitesized. The party attempt to take some snacks, but Zap is still security and doesn't want to be accounted for the loss of inventory, slapping Kyle with the club for trying to take some candies. Belghast attempts to get Kyle and Zap to bond over being interns. Zap admits he's being overworked, having to deal with concessions while also doing security. Kyle notes that Zap's got some liquor mixed in with the soda, which turns out to be Miss Glamour's instead of his own, which had been misplaced. Zap is insistent he needs to keep tabs on it or he'll get in trouble, but Blugen manages to convince him they need to deliver it for a good impression, as well as to take a bit of candy to help keep the bottle's misplacement quiet. Kyle feels bad and ends up sharing his candies with Zap before they leave.
The party goes upstairs and immediately run into Glamour & Magic standing guard at Ford's door, at the other end of a decorative garden/water fixture. Blugen gives them their liquor, and gets headpats. The drink itself is a rum called Voidswig, often drunk by Spelljammer captains, and was there before the girls were hired, though Ford cycles through "secretaries" frequently. The girls won't let the party into Ford's room until his meeting with Oscar is done. Blugen considers sneaking into the office through the water fixture's pipework, but the girls won't let him touch the display, and try to charm him. The detectives tell the girls they just need to warn Ford and Oscar about the Running Gags, informing them of the danger; the door to Ford's office then opens as if on cue, the meeting ended. Ford implies that he has leverage over Oscar and contract negotiations didn't go to Oscar's plans. The party tells them of the Running Gag attack, and try to convince him they should stay and investigate longer because of all the bills that'll come from unchecked ventilation and potential crew injuries. Ford only cares whether or not Killroy was attacked because of his importance, and no one else; even Patty, the almost-second-victim who makes and trains Running Gags for him for free. Belghast threatens to shut down the lot and have him be forced to work with scabs, but Ford looks to Magic and Glamour, implying they can just charm some new actors. The party then mentions looking for the Girallon suit, which finally gets Ford's interest, as it's supposed to be under Oscar's supervision and losing it would be a breach of his contract. Oscar tries defending himself, but his emotions get the better of him; just as he's about to cause a surge of rage magic, Glamour and Magic grab Oscar and Hold Person him. It's decided to meet with the others, but before leaving the area, Blugen decides to dip a toe into the water feature. One of the statues in it turns and glares at him, so Blugen wisely just leaves.
With everyone together, Betsy Mancatcher goes over the case: the original murder weapon was likely the suit, which Oscar had special magic to pilot, and the Gags that attacked Patty were set for disposal. The storeroom vents were tampered with, which means the killer can likely change size to both fit the vents and wear the suit. The editing room is closed prior to the film airing, and large claw marks have been located near the murder scene. Blugen decides to ask Patty about how she can craft Mimics; Patty explains how Spelljammers imported components, and she raised the ones in her control. It's simple but illegal to teach a Gag to kill. Patty's been working at the lot long enough for 4-5 movies, and old props are either repurposed, shut off for later, or euthanized and made into something new. Patty does note that retraining can be difficult if you're not specific, revealing she's lost a finger in the past. Blugen states that Patty's talented, which makes her blush, but Norbert chimes in and says it doesn't take much skill, since stagehands need to control the Gags too. Blugen easily manages to zing Norbert about his skill in return.
Belghast asks about access to the editing room; Ford has the keys at night, and Bitesized in the day. Small passages are unmonitored, to Ford's frustration, but are efficient. Belghast asks if a Gag could have operated the suit, but it's so complex that it would require an advanced, sentient Mimic that's treated by Fiction's citizens as an entirely separate race: the Mock. They ask about Oscar's contract; Oscar's only paid in full as long as the suit isn't tampered with. Betsy notes that they got Patty to cross-reference material she had previously patched the suit with, and confirms the suit was at the scene. Norbert takes a moment to throw another insult at Oscar, accusing him of ruining minds. Belghast requests keys to the editing room to look for the suit, but Ford's only willing to give the keys to the actual investigators; Ford has some kind of chip against the Golden Pin, and only respects Killroy's authority.
Kyle just outright asks if Killroy's murdered anyone; Killroy's killed heretics in the past, but nobody on the set is one...though he does glare at Denton, who was outed as a secret mage. To be heretical is to be an enemy of the Storytellers, and thus all of Fiction. Kyle then asks if Denton's murdered anyone; Denton says Marlow was a hero to him that he'd never willingly harm, and he also didn't attack Patty because he can't risk being fired now that he's finally a star in a big production. Lena can vouch for Denton, having worked with him in the past. Kyle asks if she's ever murdered someone, to her bafflement. Belghast detects history between Lena and Denton, and Lena reveals she's the one that recommended Denton to Roger. Kyle then asks if Honey did it, and gets slapped with a prop fan for it; at this, he decides to stop asking people questions.
Everyone's anxious in general, but Norbert's staring at Patty, Mitzy, and Oscar, the Spelljammers. Ford's also against Oscar, knowing of his Mind Control powers and using the Secretaries to charm his minds. Norbert has a personal issue with Spelljammer immigrants, but not the natural denizens such as Blugen. Blugen plays mind games with Norbert, asking if he's sure Oscar's not manipulating him right now, but Betsy puts a stop before things get violent. Belghast asks Killroy if he'd like to check the editing room, but Ford says he shouldn't, and Killroy respects that. Killroy is then thrilled when Belghast says that Ford respects Killroy, and convinces Killroy to prove it by asking to check out the editing room with Mancatcher. Just to rub it in, Belghast holds hands with Killroy. Ford is absolutely steamed, but will allow the official detectives to investigate. Belghast tries to weasel in by saying he's the only one capable of "non-magically" summoning ghosts like before, but it turns out Killroy can also talk to ghosts, and just thought it'd be more fun for Belghast to do his thing earlier, so there's no obligation to bring him. Belghast relents, with Arden quietly mouthing to him that it'll be alright.
Belghast asks Mitzy when she was hired, and also tells her not to worry about Norbert's judgmental attitude because he sucks, in Norbert's earshot. Mitzy arrived two years ago and came because she's a movie nerd, and was hired three months after Zap. Mitzy is very comfortable working with Zap, who is also good at interpreting for her, showcasing much better chemistry than he has with Bitesized. Ford, Bitesized, Betsy, and Killroy prepare to go to the Editor's Room, the most likely place the still-missing Girallon suit could be stashed; everyone else remains, and the tension quickly leads to infighting, with Oscar ready to throw hands at Norbert. Magic and Glamour also leave the set, as they are tasked with guarding Ford's office. Arden gets the gang together, and suggests they investigate using a dumbwaiter in the museum part of the film lot where the storehouse props were supposed to be moved to. Arden also managed to get some pictures of the evidence from Patty. Blugen asks about the claw marks at the crime scene; the Girallon suit shouldn't have claws, but could be modified. Mitzy is big enough and clawed, but due to her wingflaps, she couldn't fit into the suit to strike the blunt force killing blow on Marlow.
Blugen suggests inciting Norbert and Oscar to fight in order to make a distraction, but Arden doesn't want to instigate a hate crime. However, he's interested when the party informs him of Zap's soda addiction, as well as Zap's "attraction" to Mitzy. Arden suggests requesting Zap and Mitzy for a tour of the museum as their escape from the crowd, the former to keep him out-of-the-way, and the latter because she might know useful movie info that could prove relevant to the case, since past film props are proving to be a reoccurring clue. The detectives are successful, while Arden sticks back to try and prevent bloodshed between Norbert and Oscar. While they're passing by the concession stand, Blugen notices weird claw marks that weren't there before, and are similar to those from the crime photo, but smaller. The only suspects that they know have been in this area since they escorted Ford and Oscar to the set earlier were Zap, doing his final checks of the concession stand before getting Mitzy, and Glamour and Magic recently heading to Ford's office. Blugen checks Zap's fingers just in case he could've left claw marks; his fingers are clean, and talks about getting a manicure from a Miss Carla before getting back on-track. A thud and muffled scream comes from upstairs; Belghast says to keep it down while they're investigating, while everyone drags him upstairs to help.
Back up near Ford's office, some of the stone in the water feature has been destroyed, and Magic's in a corner, knocked out and looking like she was forcibly pushed. Blugen rushes to her aid, across the feature, narrowly avoiding a Cone of Frost from a statue meant as a security measure; the others walk around it. Magic has suffered blunt force trauma to the head. The group shouts for Glamour, who's absent, but nothing happens. Blugen's able to identify the problem and use his natural talent to awaken Magic, but she's a bit delirious. All Magic remembers is Glamour getting grabbed by some figure before she got knocked out. Belghast decides to use this opportunity to check Ford's now-unguarded office, "for burglars". On the way is a hall with a massive window overlooking the lot. Belghast continues into a large office room, and takes the opportunity to investigate Ford's desk. He finds paperwork for four of the past movies worked on the set (none of which are the one involving the golden ape idol), which look out-of-place from the others. Belghast glances through them quickly, and it's mostly bad critic reviews and controversy, with some suspicious papers mentioning a missing critic named Mr. Kingfisher; Belghast is familiar with the case. There's also an invoice for magical items from the Star Kingdom (where Arden's sister is learning magic), namely Divination and Teleportation runes meant for a machine like a projector.
Meanwhile, Kyle checks down a nearby hallway using Darkvision (an oddly non-human trait), and spots the monstrous Girallon suit carrying a body. He rushes after it, followed by Mitzy carrying Magic's body, who's in turn followed by Blugen and Zap. Belghast overhears the sudden commotion through a wall and knows to bug out of Ford's office before he's caught snooping. While running down the hall, he checks through the massive window that Arden, Oscar, and Norbert are still in the lot (and thus not involved in this current situation), though he can't stop to do a full observation. As the party unites and continues to give chase, they see it running into the museum area. Blugen tries to cast an illusion of Ford to stop it, and succeeds; the beast tries to brush past the illusion, but drops Glamour in the process. Zap chases after the beast, while Mitzy and the party check on Glamour; she's barely alive, meaning that the party has just saved another potential victim. They also take a moment to note that, since the monster reacted to Ford, it's probably not him they're dealing with right now. Also noting that Oscar was still in the film lot, and how Mitzy is there with them, all of the most-likely suspects for wearing the Girallon suit are now accounted for.
As Zap enters the darkness of the museum after the beast, he's immediately knocked out, and then there's the sound of a projector whirring. The party moves in to check on Zap, but he's disappeared, as has the Girallon. Examining the main room, there are some Medieval Renaissance-esque equipment, Spelljammer stuff, and a creepy doll. There's also a table with four film reels, the ones detailed in the reports Belghast skimmed earlier earlier. A viewing screen is on, and the projector is indeed running, but there's no film in it. Curious, and deciding to start from the film chronologically produced first, Belghast asks Kyle to insert "The Goofus Gallivant", a tale about hunting a legendary bird cryptid called the Goofus. However, as Kyle picks the film up for him, he starts to fade away and disappears into the movie; it turns out this is the device the Divination and Teleportation runes were for. The film locks into the projector, and the party (including Mitzy) quickly end up sucked in after him.
Session 4
The investigators, Mitzy, Zap, and the "secretaries" awaken in the jungle setting of the movie "The Goofus Gallivant". Magic and Glamor suddenly snap out of a trance, and reveal that Ford had used magic to control them. They also admit to having used the projector in the past to deal with Ford's enemies; a nearby corpse is (falsely) presumed to be the missing Aarakocra critic Mr. Kingfisher. However, they have no recollection of what happened to Marlow, which potentially means a different culprit is responsible for his murder. Everyone turns to Mitzy to see if she has any advice for how to survive, but she was always pulled away to do her job before seeing the climax of any film shot on the studio, though one of the secretaries remembers that "the Goofus sleeps within the ziggurat". Belghast decides to check the body before they search for the exit, and finds a Golden Pin emblem in a pocket, explaining Ford's animosity with the organization. They also realize that the critic's body is still fresh despite being thrown in years ago, and Blugen realizes that "time" in the film only moves when they do; they can even reverse the sunset by moving backwards to where they entered.
The party (with Zap's help) notice that some pillars near their starting position react to light, and use their flashlights to solve a puzzle that points them in a direction to go. Mitzy tries flying to get a better view, but ends up frozen and drained of color when "out-of-shot". Just as they try to drag her back in, Glamour freaks out and knocks everyone out with some kind of magic; when the investigators awaken, everyone else (including Mitzy) has gone, notable time has passed, and there are runes in their pockets. Furthermore, it quickly becomes evident that they had done things in the past few days they have no memories of, as there's new scribbles and missing pages in Belghast's journal.
As the Investigators start on the path to the ziggurat, they realize they're susceptible to "movie logic"; namely, they have no need for food or a bathroom despite all the time that has supposedly passed. Along the way, they find another corpse with a journal stating that shrines of the Goofus could grant blessings that will help prepare them for the main event, as well as the corpse of the original film's "C-Plot Love Interest". Blugen "Mr. Magoo"'s his way to treasure, but Kyle has the corresponding rune, so Blugen decides to get his attention with an illusory flower while Belghast is distracted by collecting the skulls of the dead. Once opened, they find a gnarled hat, which Blugen puts on; it attunes to his head, granting him more awareness of the jungle's surroundings, and the chest disappears. Double-checking the hat after reuniting with Belghast, it turns out to contain various critters inside, such as a frog and a white bat.
Further along the trail, they reach a swamp, where they can see a hut and an opened chest similar to the one the hat was in. Belghast checks its density with one of the purloined skulls; it's quickly pulled to the bottom. Another side-path leads to another rune-locked chest that contains a levitating, illuminating orb, which Belghast claims, though Blugen smelling something attractive nearby almost causes him to wander away. Kyle crosses some pillars stuck in the swamp to reach the opened chest, finding a new (and much safer) path right after reaching the chest. Next to the chest is some coins, and inside the open chest is an eye in darkness that talks about "The Viewer" in deepspeech (which Kyle understands), which surprises Kyle enough that he slips into the murky swamp. He recovers, but in the process, notices that he was being watched from nearby. When the other two go to help him out, they all smell that alluring scent again, and start suspecting that the nearby flowers are up to something; Belghast throws a skull at them, which ends up hitting and revealing it was a camouflaged, carnivorous plant-dinosaur hybrid, a race otherwise known as the Voen.
Battle music plays in their heads as more Voen appear and attack. The party fends them off, tossing one into the swamp where an alligator devours it. However, one Voen nearly kills Kyle, and when Blugen helps revive him, Kyle's face is notably warped. Kyle's secret is out: he's a Mock, pretending to be human. While he'd rather not go into details about it at that time, it does allow Kyle to use some of the supernatural powers he'd been hiding, such as attacking with an elongated tongue. Victorious, the team instantly accepts Kyle's true form, and they decide to take a rest in the nearby hut before continuing (or asking further about his deception).
The party (with Zap's help) notice that some pillars near their starting position react to light, and use their flashlights to solve a puzzle that points them in a direction to go. Mitzy tries flying to get a better view, but ends up frozen and drained of color when "out-of-shot". Just as they try to drag her back in, Glamour freaks out and knocks everyone out with some kind of magic; when the investigators awaken, everyone else (including Mitzy) has gone, notable time has passed, and there are runes in their pockets. Furthermore, it quickly becomes evident that they had done things in the past few days they have no memories of, as there's new scribbles and missing pages in Belghast's journal.
As the Investigators start on the path to the ziggurat, they realize they're susceptible to "movie logic"; namely, they have no need for food or a bathroom despite all the time that has supposedly passed. Along the way, they find another corpse with a journal stating that shrines of the Goofus could grant blessings that will help prepare them for the main event, as well as the corpse of the original film's "C-Plot Love Interest". Blugen "Mr. Magoo"'s his way to treasure, but Kyle has the corresponding rune, so Blugen decides to get his attention with an illusory flower while Belghast is distracted by collecting the skulls of the dead. Once opened, they find a gnarled hat, which Blugen puts on; it attunes to his head, granting him more awareness of the jungle's surroundings, and the chest disappears. Double-checking the hat after reuniting with Belghast, it turns out to contain various critters inside, such as a frog and a white bat.
Further along the trail, they reach a swamp, where they can see a hut and an opened chest similar to the one the hat was in. Belghast checks its density with one of the purloined skulls; it's quickly pulled to the bottom. Another side-path leads to another rune-locked chest that contains a levitating, illuminating orb, which Belghast claims, though Blugen smelling something attractive nearby almost causes him to wander away. Kyle crosses some pillars stuck in the swamp to reach the opened chest, finding a new (and much safer) path right after reaching the chest. Next to the chest is some coins, and inside the open chest is an eye in darkness that talks about "The Viewer" in deepspeech (which Kyle understands), which surprises Kyle enough that he slips into the murky swamp. He recovers, but in the process, notices that he was being watched from nearby. When the other two go to help him out, they all smell that alluring scent again, and start suspecting that the nearby flowers are up to something; Belghast throws a skull at them, which ends up hitting and revealing it was a camouflaged, carnivorous plant-dinosaur hybrid, a race otherwise known as the Voen.
Battle music plays in their heads as more Voen appear and attack. The party fends them off, tossing one into the swamp where an alligator devours it. However, one Voen nearly kills Kyle, and when Blugen helps revive him, Kyle's face is notably warped. Kyle's secret is out: he's a Mock, pretending to be human. While he'd rather not go into details about it at that time, it does allow Kyle to use some of the supernatural powers he'd been hiding, such as attacking with an elongated tongue. Victorious, the team instantly accepts Kyle's true form, and they decide to take a rest in the nearby hut before continuing (or asking further about his deception).
Session 5 (FINALE)
After their rest, the party decides to check around the area for the chest corresponding to Blugen's rune. Immediately, they stumble upon the ziggurat, but decide to poke around its base first. As Belghast climbs a pillar to get a better view, Kyle and Blugen notice a shimmer in the sky. While investigating, Kyle and Blugen find a skeleton wearing mystic gloves. Kyle has to damage the corpse to obtain them, causing some moral struggling. Near the body is a waterfall with an unmarked locked chest behind it. Kyle uses his newfound strength from wearing the gloves to break it open and find a ceremonial dagger. Meanwhile, Belghast finds Blugen's chest, and tries to get their attention. Blugen tries to surprise Belghast with the dagger like a slasher villain, but it works too well, and Belghast shoots his Mirror Image into smoke. Inside the last chest is snakescale armor, and after giving it to Kyle, Kyle and Blugen race up the ziggurat while Belghast strides behind them.
At the top of the ziggurat, Blugen realizes it's very similar to the ziggurat prop from the film lot, but there are a few additions; namely, a throne next to some symbols of eyes, and some sarcophagi with slots. Using the dagger as a key, Blugen successfully opens the first, and frees Magic. The second try, however, goes awry and leads to bloodshed; Zap's been stabbed in the shoulder, taking a Death Saving Throw, and the dagger would've pierced his heart if not for his short stature. One of two eye symbols lights up due to the bloodshed, however, and Belghast considers stabbing Mitzy as well to complete the ritual. Everyone else is aghast. However, the next sarcophagi they check doesn't contain Mitzy (and couldn't, due to her large size), but a Kenku, the REAL Mr. Kingfisher. Though he nearly dies, they're able to stabilize him, and the party then finds Glamor in the last sarcophagus. With both symbols now alight, Kyle checks out the throne, getting warped away when he sits.
Kyle finds himself in a magically dark room with a circle of blood on the floor, and the sound of breathing surrounding him. Checking around, Kyle finds some larger sarcophagi. Opening some up, Kyle finds a human wearing ritzy clothes, likely another of Ford's past victims, as well as Mitzy's unconscious body. Meanwhile, Blugen decides to test the throne next, taking Zap's body with him, causing them to pop up near Kyle. The breathing sounds get louder, and Kyle panics, since now, as he claims, they're the A-Plot and left Belghast with the sacrificial coffins as the B-Plot. Checking more coffins, they find another person dressed similarly to the stagehands. However, as they uncover more coffins and uncover more corpses, the breathing still gets louder. Meanwhile, Belghast is weighing his options, wondering if he should "progress the plot" with more sacrifices, before noticing something approach...a Girallon. Belghast decides, rather than dealing with it alone, to "follow" his allies, with the other unconscious bodies in tow. With his arrival, a symbol is now visible on the ground, which Blugen decides to activate. It summons something huge, horrible, and terrifying, that looks to devour the party...until they hear an "OH BOY" and are saved by one of Killroy's Smites.
The party awakens back at the film lot, still wearing their treasures from the film. Arden, Mancatcher, and Killroy have cornered Ford, while Magic, Glamour, Zap, Mitzy, and the other bodies they uncovered are resting in the next room. Killroy claims they were watching the Detectives on the big screen, and that Ford tried to kill them too. Ford has his hand on a gun, which has an eye symbol identical to the ones in the film, and Kyle dives in to wrestle it away. Unfortunately, it fires, releasing eldritch energy and a lightning spell. Everyone's stunned, with the exception of Belghast due to racial immunity, who chases after Ford when he then tries to flee. Cornering the Hexblade Ogre in a theater room, Belghast strikes with a fireball; Ford's just able to say "You'll never take me-" before it hits him, knocking him back and burning a viewscreen nearby, producing a shimmer that's unfamiliar to him but familiar to the others as they catch up. As he's cornered, Ford gives a motive rant, revealing that the lot's been used for sacrifices for years, and how it's been empowering him...but as he gloats about being immortal, the monstrosity from the film's sacrificial room peers out of the burning viewscreen, reaches an arm out, and drags Ford in. As the link between worlds fades, one final threat leaps out of the screen and emerges into the real world: the Girallon. It's larger than ever, having emerged from a theater-sized screen.
The party starts fighting, getting a bit of a bonus from Killroy at the start as thanks for preventing any further casualties, though the Namr has now run out of magic and faints. A massive wound reveals that the beast's body is like paper-mache covering a mechanical skeleton and Running Gag heart, but Blugen trying to attack with the ceremonial dagger reveals that it can recover from things connected to the sacrifices, partially patching itself back up. It's a huge struggle that leaves everyone (particularly Blugen) battered, but the party manages to tear it apart and send it back in the last remains of the screen before it's completely burnt away...and all without even attempting the "hugs & kisses" keyphrase.
The Detectives reunite with everyone else, who are (perhaps miraculously) all alive. Mancatcher admits that her true reason for being here was to investigate "The Viewer", the being from the void, but things got out of hand. Ford had tried to kill them all when they were separated, thinking that a Directorate sacrifice would be "high-profile" enough to satisfy "The Viewer" for a long time, which was apparently why Marlow was killed as well. Arden, still as magnate "H.P. Mycron", offers to hire everyone that worked for Ford. After all is said and done, Arden asks the Detectives if they're alright, while also admitting that he knew about Kyle's secret from the start. They can't keep any evidence, but at least they prevented the royal family from getting cursed by an eldritch being, which rewards them with a hefty sum of ten grand. Dropping them off at their office, Arden asks if they'd be available to work for him again in the future, but states that the next time he calls, it will most certainly be for celebration. The campaign ends with Belghast asking Kyle if he'd like to have a permanent position, using some of his share to give Kyle his first official paycheck as a Blue Dragon Detective.
At the top of the ziggurat, Blugen realizes it's very similar to the ziggurat prop from the film lot, but there are a few additions; namely, a throne next to some symbols of eyes, and some sarcophagi with slots. Using the dagger as a key, Blugen successfully opens the first, and frees Magic. The second try, however, goes awry and leads to bloodshed; Zap's been stabbed in the shoulder, taking a Death Saving Throw, and the dagger would've pierced his heart if not for his short stature. One of two eye symbols lights up due to the bloodshed, however, and Belghast considers stabbing Mitzy as well to complete the ritual. Everyone else is aghast. However, the next sarcophagi they check doesn't contain Mitzy (and couldn't, due to her large size), but a Kenku, the REAL Mr. Kingfisher. Though he nearly dies, they're able to stabilize him, and the party then finds Glamor in the last sarcophagus. With both symbols now alight, Kyle checks out the throne, getting warped away when he sits.
Kyle finds himself in a magically dark room with a circle of blood on the floor, and the sound of breathing surrounding him. Checking around, Kyle finds some larger sarcophagi. Opening some up, Kyle finds a human wearing ritzy clothes, likely another of Ford's past victims, as well as Mitzy's unconscious body. Meanwhile, Blugen decides to test the throne next, taking Zap's body with him, causing them to pop up near Kyle. The breathing sounds get louder, and Kyle panics, since now, as he claims, they're the A-Plot and left Belghast with the sacrificial coffins as the B-Plot. Checking more coffins, they find another person dressed similarly to the stagehands. However, as they uncover more coffins and uncover more corpses, the breathing still gets louder. Meanwhile, Belghast is weighing his options, wondering if he should "progress the plot" with more sacrifices, before noticing something approach...a Girallon. Belghast decides, rather than dealing with it alone, to "follow" his allies, with the other unconscious bodies in tow. With his arrival, a symbol is now visible on the ground, which Blugen decides to activate. It summons something huge, horrible, and terrifying, that looks to devour the party...until they hear an "OH BOY" and are saved by one of Killroy's Smites.
The party awakens back at the film lot, still wearing their treasures from the film. Arden, Mancatcher, and Killroy have cornered Ford, while Magic, Glamour, Zap, Mitzy, and the other bodies they uncovered are resting in the next room. Killroy claims they were watching the Detectives on the big screen, and that Ford tried to kill them too. Ford has his hand on a gun, which has an eye symbol identical to the ones in the film, and Kyle dives in to wrestle it away. Unfortunately, it fires, releasing eldritch energy and a lightning spell. Everyone's stunned, with the exception of Belghast due to racial immunity, who chases after Ford when he then tries to flee. Cornering the Hexblade Ogre in a theater room, Belghast strikes with a fireball; Ford's just able to say "You'll never take me-" before it hits him, knocking him back and burning a viewscreen nearby, producing a shimmer that's unfamiliar to him but familiar to the others as they catch up. As he's cornered, Ford gives a motive rant, revealing that the lot's been used for sacrifices for years, and how it's been empowering him...but as he gloats about being immortal, the monstrosity from the film's sacrificial room peers out of the burning viewscreen, reaches an arm out, and drags Ford in. As the link between worlds fades, one final threat leaps out of the screen and emerges into the real world: the Girallon. It's larger than ever, having emerged from a theater-sized screen.
The party starts fighting, getting a bit of a bonus from Killroy at the start as thanks for preventing any further casualties, though the Namr has now run out of magic and faints. A massive wound reveals that the beast's body is like paper-mache covering a mechanical skeleton and Running Gag heart, but Blugen trying to attack with the ceremonial dagger reveals that it can recover from things connected to the sacrifices, partially patching itself back up. It's a huge struggle that leaves everyone (particularly Blugen) battered, but the party manages to tear it apart and send it back in the last remains of the screen before it's completely burnt away...and all without even attempting the "hugs & kisses" keyphrase.
The Detectives reunite with everyone else, who are (perhaps miraculously) all alive. Mancatcher admits that her true reason for being here was to investigate "The Viewer", the being from the void, but things got out of hand. Ford had tried to kill them all when they were separated, thinking that a Directorate sacrifice would be "high-profile" enough to satisfy "The Viewer" for a long time, which was apparently why Marlow was killed as well. Arden, still as magnate "H.P. Mycron", offers to hire everyone that worked for Ford. After all is said and done, Arden asks the Detectives if they're alright, while also admitting that he knew about Kyle's secret from the start. They can't keep any evidence, but at least they prevented the royal family from getting cursed by an eldritch being, which rewards them with a hefty sum of ten grand. Dropping them off at their office, Arden asks if they'd be available to work for him again in the future, but states that the next time he calls, it will most certainly be for celebration. The campaign ends with Belghast asking Kyle if he'd like to have a permanent position, using some of his share to give Kyle his first official paycheck as a Blue Dragon Detective.
