Our heroes meet an outfitter of the sub-urban variety.
Transcript is below the cut!
Transcript provided by Ria Couoh.
**************
(00:00) INTRO:
(00:00): PREVIOUSLY ON…
TESSA
Previously on Inn Between…
Inn Between theme plays in the background.
CASTOR
We’re coming up on Drow and dwarf territory, right?
ZARA
You’re saying there’s a way forward under the mountains?
TODE
You know, “wildlands” is a bit of a misnomer; even here, people find a way to live.
KNOWLES
You’re saying there’s a way forward over the mountain?
TODE
Then, you and your friends are also going after the Gem of Fortune?
CYBILENE
Yes! Oh, it’s quite the quest! Very exciting!
ROSIE
Time to get an edge on the competition.
Inn Between theme fades.
(01:00) THE OUTFITTER.
Background sounds of a tavern.
KNOWLES
So, we have a decision to make: either we… hoof it across the surface over the mountains, or we make our way underground through dwarf and Drow territory.
Gut reactions, go.
ZARA
Anyone claustrophobic?
CASTOR
No.
ROSIE
(snorts)
No.
TODE
(cheerfully)
I have not had the opportunity to find out!
KNOWLES
I’m not.
CASTOR
The tunnel systems can be really confusing though if you’re not used to them.
KNOWLES
If you’re not used to tunnels? Or if you’re not familiar with the tunnels you’re going through?
CASTOR
Oh, sorry. The latter.
(thoughtfully)
Although… being familiar with tunnels in general doesn’t hurt.
ROSIE
Well, between you and me we’ve pretty much got that part covered, right?
CASTOR
Oh, yeah, for sure.
KNOWLES
I don’t suppose you’re familiar with the area?
CASTOR
Delaroca’s in an entirely different range? I’ve… never been here.
ZARA
There isn’t anything up on the surface? No towns or anything? It can’t all be wildlands.
ROSIE
Unless we go underground, this is the last civilization we’ll see until just outside the Glacial Caverns.
KNOWLES
So you’re familiar with the area?
ROSIE
(suddenly uneasy)
Uhm… yes. Yep. Mhm.
KNOWLES
This place isn’t exactly the best spot to resupply for a long trip.
So… in summary?
ZARA
Either we… stock up on subpar supplies here and try to walk overland through dangerous wilderness for multiple weeks, or we… go underground and have relatively the same experience as we’ve been having, just with a roof over our heads.
CASTOR
Well. When you put it like that.
ROSIE
(nervously)
Mm…
(clicks her tongue)
I mean, it’s not, like… that bad.
KNOWLES
How do you figure?
ROSIE
Overland traveling can be fun! I mean, don’t you like camping?
KNOWLES
No.
ZARA
Why don’t you want to go underground?
CASTOR
She is familiar with the area… Unless…!
(suspicious, nervous)
Do you know something we don’t?
ROSIE
Well, hang on. I’m familiar with the immediate area. If we went much further than the next city underground, we’d need a map!
KNOWLES
(considering)
Mm. Good to know…
ROSIE
But! We don’t have to go underground! The first city is going to be a Drow city and, like…
(fumbling)
Well, like… think of the culture shock!
CASTOR
(dubiously)
Culture shock?
ROSIE
I don’t suppose anyone’s familiar with the principle of “reciprocity”?
KNOWLES
Like… the concept or…?
ROSIE
The principle. The… Drow principle.
TODE
I don’t believe I am.
ROSIE
Okay, so… It’s pretty complicated but, basically, you only take what you can repay and, when you give, you expect repayment.
TODE
That doesn’t sound too complicated!
ROSIE
Doesn’t it?
What if what you’re giving is time? Or… emotional energy? Or social effort?
CASTOR
But that’s not hard to deal with! Back home, all you had to do with the drow I knew was make sure you were being fair.
ROSIE
Those were expat drow!
They understood that interacting with them was a cost and paid you back by… not being weird about it!
(takes in a breath)
Trust me, it’s a whole different world in a Drow city. The expectations are higher.
TODE
Really?
ROSIE
Mhm!
If you buy a map, they’ll probably upcharge you for the mental labor of dealing with someone who doesn’t “really get” reciprocity.
KNOWLES
Oh, that’s annoying!
CASTOR
Wait! So… what if you change your name? Would they consider that a cost? Like… the mental energy of remembering a new name?
ROSIE
Oh! Uhm… No, actually. The… the opposite.
If anything, correcting someone when they call you the wrong name or… pronouns or… whatever is saving them from accruing debt to you.
Like, they owe you if they call you the wrong thing.
KNOWLES
Alright. I think that tracks.
ZARA
If we’re going into Drow cities, isn’t it a good thing we have you?
ROSIE
(alarmed)
No! Seriously, I am terrible at being a drow!
You don’t want me keeping track of your reciprocity! Why do you think I came out of the mountains?
KNOWLES
That’s why you don’t want to go underground? Culture shock?
ROSIE
Yes! Well… no.
(sigh)
Sort of.
ZARA
Which one of those answers is the right one?
ROSIE
Look, it’s just like…!
Door creaks open.
ROSIE
(shocked)
(under her breath)
Leaping Lolth, it’s Stella.
KNOWLES
What? What’s wrong?
CASTOR
Who’s Stella?
ROSIE
Uh…
(loudly)
Look over there!
CASTOR
Where?
Soft chair scoot.
TODE
Rosie?
ZARA
(baffled)
Where did she go?
Footsteps coming closer.
STELLA
(brightly, cordial)
Good evening, folks! May I have a moment of your time? I’m sure it will be worth your while!
KNOWLES
Uh… Yes, sorry. Sure.
STELLA
Thank you.
(charmingly)
My name is Stella Muneshyl. And am I right in thinking that you are adventurers? On your way to the Glacial Caverns?
TODE
Why, yes! Yes, we are!
STELLA
This lovely village isn’t ideal for resupplying! Oh, whatever route you take, no doubt you’d like to start from Rello Holennish!
ZARA
(to herself)
Twice Sound City…? That can’t be right.
STELLA
(pleased)
Oh! You speak Elvish!
ZARA
I’m rusty.
STELLA
Ah, you speak the wood elf dialect!
In Drow, it’s Echo City. It’s not too far from here.
I thought you might like to know that my family’s shop, Muneshyl Supply, is very conveniently located in the city center! And that mentioning me will get you a discount? Wink, wink?
KNOWLES
Now, that is worth our while.
ZARA
Do you sell maps?
STELLA
We do! Both overland and underground.
TODE
Sounds promising.
KNOWLES
Thanks, Ms. Muneshyl. This might be exactly what we were looking for!
CASTOR
(hesitant)
I don’t know, Rosie was pretty adamant about not going underground at all.
STELLA
(faltering)
Uh, did… Did you say… Rosie?
KNOWLES
Yes, friend of ours! Do you know her?
STELLA
Uhm… Mm. S-sorry, uhm…
(trying to recover her previous cheer)
Likely not! Ah… probably a different Rosie. Mine has…
(sighs)
(with great difficulty)
Passed away. Uhm… quite some time ago.
ROSIE
What?
Several gasps from the crew and stella.
STELLA
(awed)
ErshiLolthley!
CASTOR
Where did you come from?
ROSIE
(angrily)
I’m not dead! Why would you think I’m dead?
STELLA
(shell-shocked)
I… I… I can’t believe it.
ROSIE
(losing her anger)
U—Uhm…
(uneasy cheer)
Hi, Stella.
STELLA
(with a disbelieving laugh)
Hi?
CASTOR
(whispers)
Uh, so… is that her sister or…?
KNOWLES
(hurried, panicked shushing)
Sh! Sh!
STELLA
(polite tone brimming with rage)
How do you want to do this?
ROSIE
(heavy sigh)
(tiredly)
Can we not? Can we just… not do this?
STELLA
Rosie…
ROSIE
This is exactly why I ran away in the first place, okay? Can’t we just… talk?
STELLA
Well!
(scoffs)
(sharply)
That would be really convenient for you, wouldn’t it?
ROSIE
What?
STELLA
(progressively losing her temper)
After what you’ve put me through! And Mother! And… And then just showing up out of the blue!
I thought you were dead!
ROSIE
Well, I’m not! I’m here!
STELLA
Ah, yeah! Yeah! I can see that now!
ROSIE
(fumbles)
Does Mother know what happened? Did you tell her?
STELLA
Of course not! I keep up my end of reciprocity!
ROSIE
What are you talking about?
STELLA
(hurt)
You said you would write to me.
(choked breath)
You said you would let me know you were alive!
ROSIE
I said I would… try to write.
STELLA
(pointedly)
And did you? Did you try?
ROSIE
Uhm… I- I… did. Yes.
STELLA
(groans)
Why did I ever trust you? I should have told Mother.
ROSIE
Why did you just assume I was dead?
STELLA
What else was I supposed to think?
ROSIE
(a touch scared)
You’re not going to tell her now, are you?
STELLA
I owe her that much, don’t I?
ROSIE
(groans)
(unhappily)
What do you want?
STELLA
(low)
I want you to tell her.
ROSIE
No! Absolutely not!
STELLA
After all the suffering you’ve caused her—
ROSIE
No! She’ll just want me to… come home and act like nothing’s changed and take over the business…
STELLA
(disbelieving)
Well, not if I have anything to say about it!
ROSIE
Oh! Oh right!
(sarcastic)
You were real torn up when I left, weren’t you? Must be so hard for you to ascend to your rightful place at Mother’s side!
STELLA
As if you even wanted to be involved!
(exasperated)
Everything’s such an ordeal with you!
ROSIE
And for you it’s… roses and rainbows!
(mockingly)
Is there a single thing that doesn’t come easy to you, Stella?
STELLA
Oh!
(scathingly)
Just because you don’t have one reciprocal bone in your body—
ROSIE
(darkly)
ErshiLolthley, nulwishelil ruma unMima!
STELLA
(yelling)
Nultimeshilen harata, alshura! Etnulrishilen myret unnyr!
KNOWLES
(alarmed)
Ladies! Ladies, can we cool it just a little bit?
STELLA
Hm!
ROSIE
(grumbles)
CASTOR
(uneasily)
You… should have written her a letter, Rosie.
ROSIE
Not you too!
CASTOR
This is maybe the worst possible way to leave home!
ROSIE
You don’t know what you’re talking about!
ZARA
Seriously, Rosie?
STELLA
Why didn’t you at least let me know you were okay, hm?
ROSIE
I just…
(beat)
I just thought a clean break would be easier!
STELLA
Easier for who, Rosie?
A pause.
STELLA
(hesitant, without any of her previous anger)
Did you… ever join a circus?
ROSIE
No…. That… didn’t work out. Did you ever get up the guts to talk to that girl down the street?
STELLA
(softly)
She moved away.
ROSIE
Oh.
A pause.
ROSIE
(sighs)
(slowly, earnestly)
Look, I’m sorry.
(struggling with her words)
I’m really, really sorry. I’ve made a… a lot of stupid, selfish decisions in my life, but… pretending you didn’t exist was… was probably the most selfish.
STELLA
Yeah. It was.
ROSIE
I would like the chance to make it up to you.
STELLA
Then come home with me.
ROSIE
I… I can’t do that! I can’t go back to trying to be someone I’m not.
STELLA
What? A drow?
ROSIE
I’ll always be drow, but… I can’t live my whole life keeping score!
I owe Mother a lot, but I don’t owe her that! Anyway, I’m more concerned with making this up to you.
STELLA
If you want reciprocity, then… then…
(sigh)
(continued)
… come home and at least speak to Mother? Please?
ROSIE
She is going to hate me for leaving.
STELLA
She loves you, Rosie. She never understood you…
(mutters)
And, if I’m being honest, I don’t think I do either…
(normal volume)
But… she loves you.
(sigh)
Let her see you alive.
KNOWLES
(gently)
Will you be in danger if you go home, Rosie?
ROSIE
No, no. It’s… nothing like that.
CASTOR
Your mother definitely thinks you’re dead, though…?
ROSIE
Does she?
STELLA
Eh… you disappeared really convincingly. She was on the lookout for ransom letters for, uhm… Quite some time.
ROSIE
Oh, Leaping Lolth…
ZARA
Ransom letters?
STELLA
Eldest daughters of the wealthiest people in the city don’t just disappear willy-nilly!
KNOWLES
(with good humor)
Well, look who’s secretly refined and highfalutin after all!
ROSIE
I… guess.
CASTOR
I’m starting to see why you didn’t want to go home.
TODE
You won’t be alone, Rosie. Whatever you choose.
ZARA
Maybe you need the help of a… walking confrontation?
ROSIE
Maybe so.
(beat)
(softly)
Thanks, guys.
A pause.
ROSIE
Okay. I’ll come home. For… a short visit, okay?
STELLA
(with great relief)
Good. Okay.
ROSIE
Yeah.
STELLA
(with a more casual, lighter tone)
Now, are you going to introduce me to your friends, or…?
ROSIE
Oh! Silly me.
Uh, this is Tode, Zara, Knowles, and Castor. Guys, this is my baby sister—
STELLA
(fake, forced laugh)
(seriously)
We are twins.
ROSIE
My tiny widdle sweet sister, Stella… who should definitely eat with us! I mean…
(warmly)
If you’re not too busy playing brand ambassador.
STELLA
Well…
(beat)
Uh, you are the only adventurers here at the moment!
Chair scoots.
STELLA
So! What have you been doing all this time?
KNOWLES
(with an exaggerated, overly curious tone, high pitched)
Wow! Look…
(clicks their tongue)
Look… Look at… Look over there! Look… at the bar! I bet there’s food there! I’ll go over there!
Chair scoots. Footsteps fade away.
STELLA
(weirded out)
Uhm. Uh, why did…? Uhm…?
ROSIE
(fondly)
They’re a really good friend.
I’m a thief.
STELLA
(delighted)
You are not.
ROSIE
I am!
TODE
A very good thief too.
ROSIE
(proudly)
One of the best!
STELLA
(a little panicked)
Okay, aha, maybe don’t tell Mother that?
Background sounds of tavern fade away.
(15:14) OUTRO:
(15:14) NEXT TIME ON…
Inn Between theme plays in the background.
TESSA
Next time, on Inn Between…
STELLA
I bet I can get you a map with all the shortcuts marked… After you talk to Mother.
ROSIE
Be polite to everyone, no matter what. Don’t window shop unless you mean to buy something, and above all…
(warning, serious whisper)
Do not cross my mother.
MOTHER
(gasp)
Rosie? My Rosie?
ROSIE
(uneasy)
Hi, Mom.
MOTHER
Where have you been, young lady?
ROSIE
Leaping Lolth…
(15:50) CREDITS:
HANNAH
This episode, “The Outfitter,” was written and directed by Hannah Wright with assistant director William Wright. The show is produced and edited by Katherine Ayers.
The voice of Castor is Caleb Del Rio. The voice of Zara is Quin Leigh. The voice of Tode is Anthony Morales. The voice of Rosie is Lucille Valentine. The voice of Knowles is JV Hampton-VanSant.
Additional voices this episode by Kira Apple, Alice Jooren, Steven Goldman and Hannah Wright.
This episode also featured the voice of special guest Sena Bryer as Stella. Listen to her incredible show, Dreambound.
Our theme song is by Eli Hamada McIlveen and our artwork is by Gabrielle Buxman. Our transcriber is Ria Couoh.
Transcripts for this and every episode can be found on our website, thegoblinshead.com.
Music ends.
HANNAH
Find and follow us on Twitter, @inn_between_. Or support us on Patreon, at patreon.com/thegoblinshead.
If you like the show, get permanently trapped in an AI-generated MMORPG. Or leave us a review.
Thanks for listening!
HANNAH
This story was created in the traditional territory of the Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Ute peoples, and edited in the unceded territory of the Salish, Kootenai, and Kalispel peoples.
(16:53) POST-CREDITS:
Background sounds of tavern.
CUSTOMER
(petulantly)
The quality of service here is very disappointing!
STELLA
(fascinated)
Wow.
TESSA
(flatly)
Oh, you’re absolutely breaking my heart.
CUSTOMER
Isn’t the customer always right?
STELLA
(snorts)
What?
TESSA
(with disbelieving laughter)
Who on earth told you that?
STELLA
That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard!
(laughs)
TESSA
Some people have no idea how to behave!
Background sounds of tavern fade away.
EPISODE ENDS.