Episode 7: Madison and Booze

Gather 'Round the Trashfires

In a world where shadowy organizations make living weapons out of cheerleaders, Robert combats his true nemesis - underage drinking.

The cohort also does their best to plan for an upcoming rescue mission.

---------

Episode Transcript:

Get your snack and beverage of choice ready. It’s time to “Gather ‘Round the Trashfires” for a tabletop roleplaying story! I’m your host, Bek Andrew Evans.

My current and main running story for this podcast is the misadventures of the cohort from the Deviant: the Renegades chronicle I’ve been playing in since early 2021. And I play Geri.

For those of you unfamiliar with Deviant, it’s a TTRPG about people who were formerly human but were irreparably changed in traumatic ways to the point their very Souls broke and they became something Other. They seek vengeance on those who made them, those who hunt them, those who seek to exploit them for what they are and will never leave them be.

As such, this podcast will feature heavy themes and content throughout. There’s an overall content warning for language, violence, criminality, homelessness, substance use, human experimentation, cults and religious extremism, mentioned torture, kidnapping, implied incest and incest-related comments, and abusive relationships. On episodes where there is a new content warning or a particularly notable instance of one of these, I’ll call it out.

I hope y’all enjoy hearing about my cohort’s antics and stumbling headfirst into the mysteries of the world as much as I have.

[Music Intro: "_violence" by Avantist]

Green Country Calcination Episode 7: Madison and Booze

After the visit with Lucas, the cohort had their work cut out for them starting preparations to rescue Cassidy. One of the first things on Geri's list of things to do was give the cohort a non-telepathic means of group communications in the cabin.

She totally wasn't annoyed with AJ still being upset with her at all. And definitely didn't have to rewrite her first entry in the extremely low-tech shared pen and journal set several times to scratch out such phrases as 'Since AJ's being a pissbaby...'

The end result of the notice is rather short and direct, simply informing the others the journal is to share messages and gathered information for when their schedules didn't line up to always meet face-to-face.

Geri also decided she wanted that argument with AJ to stop, but wasn't sure how to be positive it would stop. So naturally, she attempted to solve the issue of non-consensual telepathy with... more non-consensual telepathy. Instead of just talking to literally anyone.

Because talking about your problems out loud makes you look stupid. You can't just admit you don't know things you by all accounts should.

She decided, since Beth has an innate understanding of emotions and was at least somewhat close to AJ while they were at the ward, to Reconnect to her again and - instead of initiating a private conversation - to poke around in Beth's brain for the information she wanted.

She looked for what Beth knew about AJ's emotional state while they were at the ward, what Beth might know about how to smooth things over with AJ, and what Beth knows about how to (mundanely) get people to not be upset, generally.

Beth knew that things were very delicate for AJ - his whole world had just been shattered when he learned his beloved uncle Gabriel had kept secrets from him. Especially secrets like this.

Beth believed the best way to smooth things over with AJ was for honesty to be the best policy. And for general knowledge on making people less upset? She believed truthfulness, mutual respect, and clear learning from mistakes usually work best.

Most of those were things Geri didn't want to hear. She put off settling the issues with AJ she caused until she could hopefully find an approach she didn't hate.

We start our scene shortly after dusk in the cohort's cabin. It's been a couple short days since meeting Lucas. During the past days AJ's been making a ruckus at all hours in the garage he's claimed as his bedroom, holing up in there except for supply runs.

Geri's in the kitchen cooking dinner for the whole cohort - home-style mac n' cheese. She's readily taken on several domestic tasks for cohort functioning and is actually good at them. She doesn't tend to venture outside the cabin as much as the others for her research and other conspiracy-fighting tasks.

Robert's actually awake, starting his evening casually sipping on a glass of dark spirits.

AJ finally slinks out of the garage, wearing a flannel button-up, jeans, and an apron with a hula dancer's body on it. He watches Geri cooking for a moment before conspicuously rummaging for frozen foods instead.

Geri tries to offer him some of the food she's making, letting him know it's for everyone, but just then, the door slams open and shut again.

It's Madison. The girl's frazzled, clinging to the door wide-eyed, locking it. Peeking out the peephole. She takes a few breaths but it doesn't do much to calm her. She's wearing a simple casual outfit - dark jeans, sneakers, dark sweater, with her hair tied up in a messy bun.

AJ was about to answer Geri, but at the sight of Madison, makes a lighthearted joke asking if Lucas can turn into honeybadgers now, in a gentle attempt to coax an explanation from her.

Madison's explanation is choppy, panicked, and out of breath. She throws pieces of an explanation at the cohort - the 'blonde church lady' was at the woods. The church set a trap - Madi was leaving messages only Cass could understand and somehow the Church could, too. So they set a big trap... But Madi spotted it in time. She doesn't think any of the church folk spotted her on the way back.

Madi doesn't swear even under these dire circumstances, preferring non-swear filler curses instead like "frick." Geri, however, curses freely and openly and lets out an extended "Fuuuuuuuuuck" at the news.

AJ walks over to Madi and asks her how she's doing, mentally. He asks if she needs anything. He rambles a bit in his trying to be comforting and says while he knows Madi's under 21, it seems like a dark liquor kind of situation.

Madi demands Vodka.

AJ immediately realizes he has Made a Terrible Mistake in his attempts at comfort rambling and offers to make her delicious hot chocolate instead. Maybe she'll forget about the booze comment?

Madison is undeterred. She knows what she wants and she tells AJ where the vodka's kept as she collapses in a heap on the floor.

AJ offers the cocoa again, and sweetens the deal with mini marshmallows. Geri tries to help, offering the other girl fresh homemade mac and cheese.

Madi orders AJ to get the vodka. AJ isn't sure what to do with the normally sweet and peppy little cheerleader several years his junior ordering him around. He hesitates for a moment, but does it.

Robert's still in his seat, observing the scene and sipping his drink. He notes after a while of thinking on it that Madi's friend's definitely not okay or the church has someone with powers like Geri.

Geri explains that powers like that are either Gifts of Knowledge or Wisdom, from the list of Spiritual Gifts categories from the Bible the Church of Charismatic Virtues preaches about.

Madison worries the church might be torturing Cassidy for information.

AJ's returned with Madi's drink and offers it to her, a very small amount of plain vodka in a glass. He asks if she'd like anything in it as he offers it, but before he can even get through his question, she's already taken the glass, knocked it back, and asked him for more.

Geri's off in her own little world of thought for several moments, before something clicks and she remembers from the very vague description that person Madison encountered was the Youth Minister of the Church of Charismatic Virtues, who supposedly has a "Gift of Wisdom" and can talk directly to God. Geri thinks maybe it is a power like hers.

Robert chastises AJ for bringing the booze and tells him not to let Madi get drunk because it'll make her irrational. AJ gives Robert a look that he's free to deal with it.

Madison starts arguing with Robert that he shouldn't be a jerk because he's currently drinking. Robert counters that this is his last glass and he's had the experience to know self-control and how to hold his liquor.

Madi says she has plenty of experience with alcohol - she went to Cassica Hall!

Geri wants the pair to quit arguing, there's way more important shit to deal with than Madison having a little vodka in the cabin. Like the girl in danger.

Robert says he can't let the group binge-drink because he still has morals.

Madi urgently wants more vodka so she doesn't accidentally another mass-murder. Robert makes everything worse asking wouldn't the vodka make her more likely to kill people?

Madi and Robert keep arguing until Robert abruptly says he's not her dad, she can do whatever the fuck she wants. AJ tries his best to calm the two down, reminding them of the Very Important Shit going on. He tells Robert the cohort won't let Madison go overboard and tells Madi that of course she has morals, she's the most straight-laced of the cohort.

At that moment, there's a tension-breaking whir of a table saw from the garage followed by a gleeful 'wheeeeee.'

The cohort immediately gets distracted by Zuse. AJ's so very done with Zuse's shit, asking 'Again?' Robert asks why Zuse is messing around with the saw, then drops the question. Geri just yells at full volume to Zuse that she made food as she starts dishing out the mac and cheese into bowls.

Madison's hand's sparking without her meaning to. Maybe without her noticing. She pushes to her feet and reaches for the bottle of vodka in AJ's hand.

Robert starts to make half a complaint about giving Madison vodka, but cuts himself off and just grumbles instead.

Hearing the siren songs of food, Zuse enters the main area - wearing dark shades, shimmer gold and leopard print boxers, bunny slippers, and a floofy pink bathrobe. His hair's lighter than usual, either from the bits of sawdust he's covered in, experiments with hair bleaching, or a little of both.

Zuse takes in the state of the cohort and observes out loud there's a lot of tension. He calls it "awkward feng shui."

Robert says it's always tense.

Madi can't tell whether that's her mother's bathrobe and doesn't care, it's Zuse's now.

AJ gets distracted from Madison trying to take the whole damn bottle and gently guilts her to try to hold back, asking if she wants to have to tell Cassidy she had to wait an extra day with the crazy church because Madison had a hangover.

Madi's not listening to anyone and takes a whole gulp of vodka straight out of the bottle, all while saying the cohort needs to save Cass right now.

Robert tells her that if they need to do it now, unless she's making a Molotov, she needs to put down the bottle.

When Geri offers Zuse his bowl of mac and cheese, he excitedly grabby-hands and nearly loses his damn slipper scrambling over to get it. He asks where the cohort's going while shoveling hot cheesy noodles into his mouth.

AJ looks to Zuse then and says he'll have to change clothes. And stay out of his workshop - aka the garage. Zuse replies he'll just wear the car, obviously. He makes zero promises about AJ's workshop.

Madison wants to go out very soon, if not now. Before the crazy cult kills Cass. She says the cohort needs a plan, like, super fast.

Robert reassures Madison the cohort will rescue Cass before the cult kills her. He says this time of day, the evening and night, is his time of day where he doesn't have to dress like a weirdo or be in horrific pain.

Zuse, curious, asks if they're going on a murder adventure. Robert corrects him that it's a rescue adventure. Madison loses her shit that oh my god the cohort isn't terrible like the cult, they're not gonna murder, of course it's a rescue mission. Zuse acknowledges the answer but doesn't seem to mind either way.

Geri says their first priority is to rescue anyone the church has captive, then slow the church down somehow if they can till they can hit them harder later.

AJ agrees, and suggests the cohort should leave the cabin soon after the rescue since the church was snooping so uncomfortably close.

Robert adds after a moment that the cohort can't rule out killing people because the cohort doesn't have good control over their powers yet, so they can't risk holding back if they need to use them.

Madi asks Robert if he's ever killed before, and he says he hasn't but thinks Geri has and she seems 'not that deranged.'

Geri neither confirms whether she's killed nor comments on her level of perceived derangement.

She instead changes the subject, saying if even half of what they preach is true, they've got at least 6 or so Remade on their side. Robert says that's just more reason they can't hold back - not try to kill, of course, but not worry too much about killing. Go all out or else one of the cohort might die.

Geri's down with Robert's idea, sort of, but thinks that it'll take strategy to fully dismantle the cult and not just going off half-cocked. She's adamant the hostages need to be prioritized, though she's largely not opposed to blasting things along the way.

Madison wonders what separates them from the cult if they're planning on murdering people. She doesn't want to be responsible for more death. She just wants to save her friends. AJ, also, is visibly uncomfortable with Robert's comments on holding back.

Zuse is, once more, extremely engrossed in eating rather than the younger cohort members discussing things. He sprawls out on a chair while the others argue. Some of the others are eating as they discuss as well, Robert and Geri. The only one who's refused Mac and Cheese outright is AJ.

AJ reassures Madison that the cohort will save the people the church took, gently attempting to take the vodka bottle from her hands.

Madison was so, so very worked up from that conversation - the idea of killing again, of even being in a situation where it might be a reasonable idea to kill. A potent electric shock flows through her hands and shatters the bottle when AJ tries to touch it - but somehow his reflexes are fast enough, he jumps

out of harm's way, only getting a little glass on his sleeve. He jokes around for her to go easy on his hands.

Geri was about to hand Madi her bowl of Mac and cheese, but then the bottle explodes, so she offers to get a towel and broom instead.

Zuse doesn't say anything as he continues stuffing his face, but boy is he smirking watching the sudden Events. None of the cohort seem to notice him.

Robert tells Madi to not worry about it, that none of them know how to fully control their powers yet - he claims he sometimes wakes up bigger than he should. AJ mutters that most of them don't have full control yet and glares at the spot on the floor Geri's standing on.

Madi apologizes, tipsy and confused, and scurries off with Geri to get cleaning supplies.

Robert recommends Madi not over-stress herself, just do some breathing exercises and try to relax on the couch while they all come up with a plan, otherwise she might hurt herself.

Zuse pipes up with a good-natured question - asking if Madison's proposing an assault on the Church of Charismatic Virtues. Madison insists it's a rescue as she and Geri clean. Geri hasn't bothered to put on shoes while dealing with broken glass.

Robert gently offers to take the mop from Madison and do the cleaning for her so she can calm down and rest instead. Madison reluctantly complies, still crackling all over with little sparks of electricity.

Zuse explains that if it's possible people will be harmed, it's an assault for a rescue. He tries to get her to understand, from the perspective of an experienced former soldier, that what matters is intent if they need to use violence.

AJ is too stressed with the whole situation to seriously listen to what Zuse actually said, and tells him to knock it off as he leads the sparking, tipsy baby to the couches to rest.

Zuse is unbothered by agitated new Remade snapping and just goes back to enjoying the last of his mac and cheese.

Zuse very much doesn't baby and coddle Madison like the others do. He doesn't treat her like essentially a child, he treats her like on the same level as all the other new Remade. Still much younger and less experienced than him, but an adult capable of understanding nuanced and dark topics.

AJ sits with Madison to comfort her, using a pair of rubber insulator gloves from his apron pocket to protect himself. He also tells Robert to go ahead and tell the cohort whatever update he'd been wanting to tell them.

Robert says he's started training at night. He reports he can create three super-fast clones of himself, and while they can't fight he can sorta switch between them. But he can't hulk out while doing the clones, it's one or the other. However, not being in the sun is VERY important.

AJ has the idea that the clones could deploy some of his gadgets. Madison engages some with Robert's explanation and it seems to help take her mind off things and help her begin to (slowly) calm down.

Zuse eventually notices he has a little bit of glass embedded in his arm from when the bottle exploded. He tugs it out and the bloodless wound knits itself back together, shimmering with nanites. He's barely inconvenienced and picks his teeth with the shard of glass.

Madison and Geri stare at Zuse, though Geri soon goes back to cleaning. AJ's in the other room and doesn't notice.

Zuse puts his dishes in the sink, shard of glass in the trash, and retrieves some of his beloved ice cream sandwiches, and some

for AJ and Madi as well when they ask. When Robert tells him they can't buy infinite ice cream sandwiches, Zuse retorts they wouldn't have to if they let him merge with the ice cream truck.

Back on focus, finally, AJ asks if the cohort has an idea of the layout of the Church of Charismatic Virtues. Madi asks who the church woman who 'looks kinda like if Miley Cyrus handed out The Watchtower' is.

Geri explains she's the Youth Minister, named Serena Chaffin. Serena supposedly has the gift of wisdom and hears secret wisdom from God, which Geri thinks might be similar to her own dream power.

Zuse suggests Serena may actually be hearing voices, possibly even some godlike entity. Like an angelic being, primordial echos from dead universes, goetia... faeries. AJ is... displeased at the idea of god or gods plural being real now.

AJ asks what gadgets he needs to prepare for the rescue. He suggests his smokey-bois - the RC car with smoke bomb, he also wants to make something effective against enemies in the dark. He asks Geri if they use radio comms.

Geri says they do, even for normal functions since it's a weird megachurch of a few thousand people.

AJ doesn't like the idea of a full-frontal assault with that many people and prefers infiltration. Madi has no idea how they'd infiltrate if the church would recognize them right away.

Madi notes that it's kinda weird for there to be women in high-up leadership positions, and awkwardly asks Geri if it's anything like the NXIVM cult situation. Geri dismisses the idea with prejudice and clear disgust on the basis that "Empress Palpatine" Head Elder Agatha is ancient.

Robert has... an idea. Since the church probably has good security if they can keep prisoners, Robert suggests he can draw out all the security by busting up windows or something in his sandstone monster form, and then run away whenever security gets too close. Then the rest of the cohort can be sneaky.

Zuse is totally for the plan, He wants an excuse to use kung fu. When questioned about it, he says he has combat programming for self-defense and implies he can know or activate different martial arts knowledge as needed.

During the conversation, AJ's been scribbling down notes for new gadgets. He suggests they could try that trope of dressing as guards and pretending to bring in prisoners. They could pretend to have caught Geri, even. Madi adds they'd have to pretend to have caught her, too, since the church knows who she is.

Geri's not super keen on the idea but not totally opposed, either. Robert thinks it's riskier than his plan to smash windows in monster form.

Robert brings up the possibility of the Church calling up The Society, which Geri and Madi dismiss since the two organizations are known to not like each other. Zuse mutters something about drama in the Web of Pain.

AJ suggests, for the infiltration, he and Robert look pretty average already, and they can look even more different doing things like shaving and wearing the uniform since the Church won't know their faces. They'll already have to go at night from Robert's restrictions.

Robert keeps hardcore advocating for plan smash. Geri tries ineffectively to explain why it might be a bad idea, so AJ calls the first group vote.

All in favor of Plan Hulk Smash

Robert... and Zuse. He wants to kung fu.

All in favor of Plan 'These Are Not the Droids You're Looking For'

AJ, Geri, Madi... and also Zuse. He does the famous Star Wars line about Lukes and fathers and clarifies unnecessarily that he doesn't mean Madi's Luke.

No one bothers to tell Zuse about voting twice.

AJ suggests maybe they could use parts of both plans - have ZuseCar and Robert Clones ready for action and chaos with gadgets, maybe break a wall down while the rest of the cohort sneaks in. Madison suggests scaling the chaos back to maybe plan B... or C. Maybe the last resort. Something to keep in the back pocket.

Zuse asks if Madi's a pacifist, which Geri and Madi counter. Madi lists Camille and the soldiers as people she's attacked on purpose... she just prefers not killing if she can avoid it. She also adds that she attacked Zuse, and the two reminisce with awe how wild the moment was.

Robert thinks they should all try to embrace what they are, like Madison and Zuse enjoying their shared memory of power usage - they may as well become more like Zuse as they get older and really own the fact that they're freaks.

Zuse mildly scolds Robert - the Society psychologists said the word 'freak' was bad for morale.

Madison admits to missing therapy - but definitely not the torture or drugs.

Zuse says some people liked the drugs since they calmed down the bad parts, too. Madison argues the Society only gave the Remade the power-null pills to help train them into weapons, which Zuse doesn't have a response for.

The cohort does admit they need combat training. Even Madison. AJ's only combat move is running the fuck away. Robert says they'll also need to work on fighting as a team and says obviously, he'll always be in front.

They know Cass will be an ally when they rescue her but they're unsure if she has powers, too. Zuse says the Church may try to make Cass Remade if she's not already from the storm, and explains that's the purpose of groups like that.

When asked how they might do it, Geri explains her father tried to drown her while the church elders and others witnessed.

AJ blurts out, momentarily forgetting he'd been refusing to speak to the girl, that Geri's father was trying to trigger a Divergence.

Robert blurts out a bunch of curses and a question about how many people with powers are in this backwater-ass region. The listeners should be reminded that the Tulsa Metro area where the church is has over 1.1 million residents and is the second-largest metro area in Oklahoma.

Zuse explains not everyone in a conspiracy has powers - and implies Remade can be worshiped or reviled or something in between. He further explains that if he's already said the power comes from the soul, and is released by the cracks... the process can get... dark.

Madison gets visibly angry and starts sparking again. She says they have to free Cass. And stop the Church.

Robert says he'll crack his soul as much as he needs to, it's not like he can go back and live a normal life, can't even take a fucking shower. Might as well go all the way. He says he's gonna sleep a bit to conserve energy - despite being nocturnal already - and to wake him up if they end up going out that night.

AJ leads a hardcore planning session, quick confirming that Robert can make three clones before he leaves. He lists off his planned gadget as "two Smokey-bois, one shouty-gal, and... something." He tells the others to pack ear protection and shades, and asks where they're getting a church security uniform.

Geri remembers they keep some on-site and one of the guards is kinda new, ignorant of the conspiracy bullshit... and has a crush on her. He miiiight want her and her father to make nice, but that was part of the ruse anyway.

AJ suggests convincing the guy to be part of the ruse, sort of. Tell him Geri's trying to make nice with her old man but she's scared they'll shoot her friends. Geri adds she could always say she's reconnecting after her psych ward visit.

Zuse suggests she set up a date and then jump him with a team of Robert clones, for added drama.

Madison says Zuse needs Jesus, which sends Zuse into infodump mode about how there's many theories Jesus might be Remade, and one that overcame drawbacks. He says that maybe they all need a little Jesus.

Geri says she's had more than enough already. Madi corrects her that was fake crazy cult Jesus. Geri just goes quiet with a slightly forced polite smile while little scarlet wisps begin to flicker around her, singing the couch. The others are too wrapped up in the conversation to notice.

AJ asks if that means they can get powers by cannibalizing Remade, which Zuse denies... but admits he's never tried.

And then he gives the idea way too much thought for comfort. Madison admonishes him with a light, sparky kick to the shin reminding him no murder and no cannibalism.

Zuse asks what if the person signed a waiver? Cuz he had a long time to browse the internet as a server and you can only read so much news and one time he came across this thing called Vore...

Madison, innocently, asks what vore is.

AJ threatens to find a way to give Zuse a timeout if he keeps it up.

Zuse ignores AJ and tells Madi it's a sex thing, and loud whispers 'use incognito.'

Madi's interested in the information, like she's been gifted a forbidden, shiny treasure.

Geri collects the dishes to bring them to the other room while not entirely present in the conversation.

AJ warns Madi not to look it up and Madi asks Zuse if it's some gross abuse thing. The guys say it's not like that but AJ still insists she shouldn't look it up.

Madison loses interest and helps Geri with dishes, telling her the guys are crazy. She notices something's wrong with Geri and offers a hug once Geri responds a little, getting matching singed clothes in the process.

AJ is about to return to the garage to start work on the gadgets for the mission, and tells Madi to stay away from the booze and try some other ways to relax before go time.

Zuse begs AJ to be allowed to merge with some complicated electromagnetic device... and swears he won't zap AJ's nipple. Again.

AJ, deeply unamused, threatens to EMP Zuse into a coma if he comes into the garage again. Zuse tuts at AJ and annoyingly reminds him that he's necessary to keep around since AJ can't waste all the cohort money on gas to power his tools.

AJ says he can just use the bank of Madison and Zuse reminds him, in an ever-increasingly irritating tone, that they don't have access to her trust fund yet- before he runs past AJ into the garage.

AJ relents, reluctantly, saying Zuse can help if he behaves. Almost immediately, there's crashing, cursing, shouting, squeals, cackles, and more whirs of the saw from the garage before the ruckus silences.

Once they're the last two left, Geri and Madison make some calming cocoa. Madi says she's making the cocoa like her nanny made it for her and her brother when they were little. She admits she was closer to her than to her mom, since her nanny was actually around. Geri didn't have a nanny, but explains some people from the church helped raise her since she was always sick growing up, and supposes she grew out of whatever it was.

Back to planning, Geri says she'll write up information about the church layout and what she knows about the cult people in charge. She plans on dreaming about the church for last-minute information.

The information she remembered about the Church of Charismatic Virtues and its leadership isn't wholly factual, but a lot vibes-based. Her entry for Elder Agatha Reynolds is as follows:

- On the council for something like 50 years?

- so imagine Emperor Palpatine but a woman

- not sure if she can actually do the lightning thing like Palpatine but who the fuck knows

- like if moldy potatoes were a person

- the potatoes are nicer

- Old af

- I'd joke about bathing in the blood of children to maintain her beauty but that sort of culty shit might be happening SO

Other notables include: Derek Finley

- 1000% creeper vibes

- rehabilitation minister: ministers to "lost souls" at prisons

- and Head of Security

- he has some sort of power but really it might just be the inescapable ick factor

Serena Chaffin

- first woman Youth Minister

- gift of Widom an supposedly speaks to God, who tells her secrets, especially about the past.

- too perky

- I'd say kill he with fire, but you literally can't

Some other key points of information she shares about the church is it's address, the fact the church's spiritual direction is controlled by the Elder Council with the Pastor acting more as a face, anyone who develops "gifts" ends up working for the church, often in a prestigious leadership position, and the church believes if you're holy enough, you're not supposed to get drawbacks from your "spiritual Gifts" which they draw on specific literal interpretations of the bible for their justification.

She also says that if Cassidy's being kept at the church, it's not somewhere publicly accessible... it would have to be underground.

Geri and Madison chat about the church and its belief system as Geri writes up her notice. She adds to previous explanation that Charismatic Virtues believes it's a sign of proper piousness to not have the bad side effects of the powers, and you better be holy enough or be able to hide that you aren't.

Geri's frustrated to learn Serena the Youth Minister didn't have any burns or scars when Madison saw her - and Geri explains both her father's a faith healer and Serena's claim to fame is showing her faith through fire-walking. She's never been burned at that, either.

Geri describes Serena as like 'an extra-evil Church Karen', and then the Rehabilitation Minister - also the head of security - as a greasy creep that gives off vibes of someone you shouldn't be alone with.

Madi offhandedly mentions she had a coach like that. Geri says the home Study Minister might be another healer and might be able to manipulate emotions, and Agatha aka Empress Palpatine is supposed to be a prophet.

There's another Elder who has Discernment of Spirits - he can speak to spirits trapped on Earth that haven't yet gone to Heaven or Hell.

Geri finishes up talking about the layout long into the night, talking about what little she knows about the secret culty basement and the several entrances. Most are at the church proper, though one is at Serena's house.

The girls bond over cocoa and infiltration plans.

[Music Outro: "Time Will Fail Us" by Troigo]

Thanks for listening, This has been Gather ‘Round The Trashfires with Bek Andrew Evans. Please subscribe to this podcast for future updates and leave a review or comment, I’d love to hear what you think. You can follow me on a few different social platforms with the username "bekandrew." That's [spells username] on tumblr and bluesky, mainly.

If you'd like to support me, subscribe to my Patreon at Patreon.com/BekAndrewTTRPG and purchase my art prints and tabletop products, including my Deviant: the Renegades community content novella related to this chronicle via my linktree in the description.

AJ is played by Roen,

Geri is played by me,

Madison is played by Syn,

Robert is played by Pandito,

And our Storyteller is Casey Grant.

The intro theme is "_violence by Avantist" from the Free Music Archive, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0.

The end theme is "Time Will Fail Us" by Troigo from the Free Music Archive, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0.

If you like the songs, I encourage you to check out more of their work. I've linked their Bandcamps in the description.

Until next time.

Follow my Patreon at Patreon.com/BekAndrewTTRPG Check out my other work at linktr.ee/bekandrew Check out the Intro and Outro artists' Bandcamps! https://theavantist.bandcamp.com/music https://troigo.bandcamp.com/ Remember to subscribe and see y'all next week!
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/gather-round-the-trashfires/donations