Session 82

General Summary

• Annu replied to Grogery's report, acknowledging the new information and confirming that Margaret Rookfeather was in a relationship with Vicra before she "died" 231 years ago (he's not convinced by the official story).
• Down the stairs, the party was greeted by another strange head-on-a-snake entity that served as the receptionist for the doctor's office. She indicated that the doctor will be able to see them in 23 hours, and that they were welcome to wait in the lounge, but that she would need to see some identification if they wanted to be let into the employees-only areas.
• The lounge was staffed by a single zombie butler offering drugs to help them chill out in the lounge, to help pass the time more easily. Kesmet used some minor illusions to successfully trick the zombie into thinking that both he and Dwardazik had authentic identification to proceed to another employees-only area beyond the lounge, but Dwardazik kept ruining their opportunity to investigate further by trying and failing to jam the door open.
• Dazki used the forgery kit to produce a full set of authentic-looking identification badges for the party, giving each party member a job title, and the party was able to successfully convince the receptionist to let them past her door into the employees-only area that way, though she did ask that they "fix" some odd issues that she noticed with their badges.
• The next room was "Accounting and Filing", filled with "Heads" chatting to one another.
• Dazki ran into a bureaucratic loop trying to get a hold of someone who could help "fix" the issues with their identification, but he did learn that the party could meet the "Head of Heads" if they could fulfill four criteria, one of which is to prove that they can withstand "oxygen fluctuations".
• The ghost of Secretary, who had just possessed Dazki not that long ago, was sifting through one of the cabinets looking for something.
• Marvin caused a bit of chaos by shuffling around a bunch of forms and telling one of the heads to fill out all of them, foiling whatever Secretary was trying to do.
• The Head of Heads is apparently located just beyond Garbage, so the party proceeded to "Garbage and Recycling".
• "Garbage" was a well-organized and meticulously documented repository of various items, some of which were surprisingly expensive and useful. The party grabbed a few, but the room seemed to react to taking these items without updating the catalog, so they made sure to update it before grabbing more.
• "Recycling" was a very dark locked room that smelled strongly of blood. The party took that to mean that "recycling" means something different than what they expected, and locked the room back up.
• The room for the Head of Heads is protected by a door with another Head next to it, validating all the criteria for meeting with the Head of Heads.
• The party turned around, proceeding through an employee lounge with a few more Heads, to a construction site.
• There was a foreman and two masterpieces actively working on building what appears to be some kind of altar.
• The party barked a torrent of bureaucratic-sounding orders at the foreman, who got fed up and quit on the spot.
• Dwardazik convinced a masterpiece to break down the door that would lead deeper into the lair, but there was a pile of rubble in the way that he could not convince the masterpiece to remove.

Full Recap

Annu replies to Grogery's message just before the party goes downstairs. The reply is spoken in a hurry and with some elven phrases mixed in where it is faster to do so, in order to stay within the time limit:

You have not yet stated coordinates to the infected location. Turmoiled materials react poorly in pocketed dimensions and close interaction chances spreading to other traveled locations. You are not authorized to handle, research, or eliminate Turmoil. I am required to inform you that you will leave the infected materials on sight for elimination.   Information on Vicra Lammergeyer's research is restricted. I can only speak regarding personal accounts or opinions of him. I was witness briefly to the relationship Margaret Rookfeather and Vicra Lammergeyer, the forms you described to me. Rookfeather was congenitally ill for a long time, but her personality did not reflect the physical hardship. I believe Lammergeyer and Rookfeather knew each other intimately, as, even as young as he was during our overlap in research, he would become distracted whenever her health seemed to deteriorate. Rookfeather is reported to have died 231 years ago, but upon further examination, I am unsatisfied with the documentation. The most likely scenario, which is not held by the government or its offices and shouldn't be considered as true, is that Lammergeyer continued illegal research in private as Rookfeather's health deteriorated.   Confusingly, information regarding the manipulation and elimination of souls is outside of my jurisdiction. I will pass on the information and inquiries to the correct jurisdiction. You would usually be correct in assuming the jurisdiction is mine, if I were anything else than what I am. The elimination or alteration of a nonaggressive soul by a non-clergyman is not permitted.   Information regarding the Turmoil-related symbolism is restricted to you.   Information regarding the smuggling of illicit and dangerous good is restricted to you.   The implication of a Turmoil-based deity is concerning and undocumented. The information is restricted to you. When dealing with an entity tied to a deity or other powerful entity, there are rules that they must follow in order to maintain their subservient relationship. There is no negotiation possible to persuade the truly devout. It is illegal to engage hostilely with an unwilling participant unless in defense; however, if Vicra is determined to be a dangerous and hostile character, then some legal protections may apply.

This reply makes Marvin a little curious:

Marvin: So, Annu does not like us having information?   Grogery: Here's the thing about Annu. He doesn't have a lot of choice in the matter on what information he can and can't give us. He seems convinced that what he wants is entirely irrelevant.   Marvin: And what's this about Margaret?   Grogery: I guess she was always a happy person, but every time her health would deteriorate, Vicra would get distraught and leave his work behind. So it seems that that's how the Turmoil got to him, if that makes sense.   Dazki: And we're probably gonna have to kill her.   Dwardazik: Lads, I've been pretty deep in the mountains before, but this staircase doesn't sit well with me.   Grogery: Is it not structurally sound?   Dwardazik: No, no, I'm just saying I've got a bad feeling that we're going down to a place where Vicra would like to keep sanctuary. I can feel it.   Dazki: Into the mouth of the beast, right? Well, let's get going.   Marvin: No time like the present!   Kesmet: We've got to get closer to Dennis somehow.

A Heady Reception

There is a small lit, intricately carved desk in the center of this room. It's in front of a pillar with another metal hatch like the one that was in front of the Waiting Room.   Dazki approaches the desk, and a head slithers out of the hatch.

Receptionist: I apologize for the inconvenience, but due to unforeseen circumstances, the Doctor is not currently available. If you would like to reschedule or leave a message for the Doctor, please let me know.   Marvin: When's the next available appointment?   Kesmet: I can do March. Is March OK?   Receptionist: It is possible for the Doctor to become available in twenty-three hours.   Marvin: ...interesting...   Receptionist: If you would like to wait for that designated amount of time, please follow the path to the north.   Marvin: To the north! OK, excellent. Thank you. He quickly moves a little towards the south exit from the room, a door clearly labeled "Employees Only".   Kesmet: Hey, we're employees, right? We can totally go in there!

Dazki rifles through the reception desk, which is rather bare. He gets the sense that this is only here to comfort those who would have to speak to the receptionist and is of no use to the receptionist herself.

Receptionist: In order to make identification easier, we do suggest that you remove any masks or hoods, as they may obscure your appearance.   Dazki: We thank you for that advice.

The party has a side conversation about that.

Dwardazik: I'm not sure I feel like removing my mask...   Marvin: Yeah, I'm not doing that.   Dazki: I think you're the only person that would actually be safe to.   Marvin: What makes you say that?   Dazki: You're expected.   Marvin: Yeah, but I don't like examinations. I don't want anything poking and prodding.   Dwardazik: Hey, lads. You see this thing right here and how it kinda goes into the floor? I've been thinkin' about it and lookin' at it... it's remindin' me of some things I've seen before. I gotta say that this creature's not something we want to fight. I'm gonna wager that there's probably a lot more to it than meets the eye.   Dazki: Makes sense.   Marvin: You think it's, like, a mile long or something?   Dwardazik: Couldn't tell ya. All I know is it feels like the very tip of the iceberg.   Dazki: So, do we want to go look at the waiting room, or is there something else we can do?   Marvin: I'm going to bet that the waiting room won't lead us to where we need to go.   Dwardazik: I agree. Let's check out the south. ...actually...

Marvin and Kesmet go down to the south, while Dwardazik strikes up some small talk with the receptionist to distract it, and Grogery helps by distracting from that.   The door has a large sign that says "Employees Only". It also has a smaller sign that says "Accounting and Filing — Authorized Personnel Only". It has a bar on it that's wedged into a rock on the side.   Marvin pulls on the bar to try to open it, to no avail. He motions over for Dazki to help. Kesmet decides to just check out what's going on to the north. There are arrows painted on the floor, pointing the way. Cautiously continuing further down the hall, he sees a sign: "This section of the lounge under construction. Apologies for the mess".   Roped off along the side of the corridor are two large, ogre-like undead. They are busy rearranging rubble. He returns to the party (well, the two who aren't sneakily poking around at the south door) to report what he's found, letting them know that he wants to keep going under the shroud of invisibility. Dazki investigates the door, discovering that it's actually arcane locked: no finesse will get through this one. Either they would need authorization, or they would have to move that bar.

Dazki suggests that Marvin just take his mask off and ask to be allowed through the door.   Marvin: True, I was specifically invited, and I don't think the receptionist would want me waiting 23 hours!   They regroup with the rest of the party.   Marvin, taking his mask off: I was specifically invited, and I would like to go through now.   Receptionist: You do not have identification of being an employee or authorized personnel.   Marvin takes out The Mask of the Wasted Breath.   Marvin: Will this suffice?   Receptionist: There is a lost-and-found area near the lounge if you wish to drop off any goods that you may think belong here.   Kesmet: Is the lounge to the north? Is that the lounge?   Receptionist: Why, yes, it is.   Kesmet: It looks a little disheveled, under construction. Do you have a secondary lounge, perhaps?   Receptionist: The primary lounge is further down the hallway. We apologize for the mess; we are ever expanding.   Dwardazik: You look absolutely beautiful today!   Receptionist: I appreciate your compliment and will log it accordingly.   Dazki: I don't think this is the time for that, Dwardazik.   Marvin: So, I came all the way here because Vicra said he could fix me. He gave me his mask, and everything! And now I can't go in?   Receptionist: The doctor will be able to see you shortly. He is unavailable at the moment. You are more than welcome to wait in the lounge for the allotted time.   Marvin: He said that I could wait in the VIP area, where the employees are!   Receptionist: Entities without proper identification are not permitted in the employees-only area.   Grogery: What even is "proper identification", anyway?   Receptionist: Employees are easily identifiable by their use of designated nametags.   Marvin: ...seriously?

Mentioning the nametags, the party members look down. Indeed, the receptionist has something like a lanyard looped around her base, with something like an ID card at the bottom. Dwardazik look at it closely, and there's a name on it, but it's written in Primordial.

Dwardazik: I'm sorry, I can't read that, but it looks pretty good!   Dazki moves closer to examine the ID card.   Receptionist: I would like to suggest again that you please remove all masks or hoods that may obscure your appearance, in order to make identification easier.   The nametag reads: "Head of Reception".   Dwardazik: Hey, Kesmet... now that we know what we're lookin' for, you've got one of those, right?   Kesmet: A "Head of Reception"?   Grogery: No, a nametag!   Dwardazik: A nametag, right? In fact, you're the one holding all of our nametags right now, right?   Kesmet: Oh, right, right! Of course! But darn, I left them back upstairs.   Dazki: Why don't we go into the waiting room, and we can look through our bag and find them.   Marvin: Yeah, that sounds good.   Dwardazik: Let's do that.   Receptionist: Do take care of your ID. It would be irresponsible to lose or misplace it.   Dazki: Sorry, we're new here. A little bit responsible, you know how it is... gotta learn the ropes and everything. Thank you for your help.   Kesmet: Yeah, they hired us as architects. You know, "always expanding"!

Dazki leads the way down the hall to the north, as Kesmet gives a heads-up about the two undead rearranging rubble. As they pass, they pay no attention to the undead, who likewise pay no attention to the party. Around a sharp bend, there is a nice-looking door of frosted glass and wood. Dazki opens it: it's not locked or anything.

Lounging About

Editor's note: here's an example of "lounge music".   Upon opening the door, there is a waft of a sweet, woody smell, even through the masks. Similar to Overlook, but not as unpleasant. A large hexagonal bath, heated and bubbling, dominates the center of the chamber. Strewn about are various cushions and blankets. Upon entering, a zombie in formalwear greets the party, similar to a bellhop. He approaches with a silvery gray tray containing small drink glasses, a carafe of "what's probably wine", and a line of cigar-like items.

Zombie: Can I get you anything while you wait, sirs?   Dwardazik: What kind of smokes are those?   Zombie: Only the best, from the far east.   Dwardazik takes one and lights it up.   Grogery: Dwardazik, no...   The cigar has hints of something like tobacco, but with hints of something dank.   Dwardazik: Hey, guys, this is pretty good! You should try one.   Dazki: Not right now, Dwardazik, and I don't think you should right now either. Excuse me, sir butler?   Zombie: Why yes, sir, what can I do for you today?   Dazki: Could you acquire me a lap desk?   Zombie: Right away, sir.

The zombie leaves through a door to the south, leaving the party alone.

Marvin sits down on a bench and starts playing a song.   Grogery: Dwardazik, you know that most of the stuff in this room is to keep people calm and sedated before the doctor sees them, right?   Dwardazik just puffs his cigar-like thing.   Dwardazik: Look, we're about to go face almost-certain death. Although, admittedly, I don't want to die. So, I could use a couple puffs here. What do you think, Marvin? Kesmet? Grogery?   Kesmet: I don't smoke.   Marvin: That stuff does bad things to my voice.   Grogery: I thought we wanted to stay sharp, for the things to come. Whatever you judge to make yourself the most effective.   Dwardazik: Ah, well...   Dwardazik puts out the cigar-like thing.   Kesmet: The sooner we take out the dude and get info about Dennis and his defenses, the sooner we can go back to town, and then we can get fucked-up. Since we're no longer fugitives from the law. (I think. I wasn't clear on that...)   Dazki: Yeah, we're no longer fugitives, but step out of line again and our heads are on spikes.   Marvin: Wait, am I included in this now?   Dwardazik: Welcome to the club, Marvin. Guilty by association.   Marvin: Shit.   Kesmet: Honestly, compared to everything we've been through, that's like the least threatening threat.   Dazki: It came from the Firelord himself. It's pretty threatening.   Grogery: This whole thing with Baxton made a bit of a fool out of the Firelord and his government. Plus, I think we destroyed a Turmoil destruction caravan at some point, and the only reason we got forgiven is because we took care of Baxton, who was basically an existential threat at that point.   Kesmet: And with Turmoil, we've faced worse than just beheading and then impalement.

The zombie butler returns with a small lap desk / dinner tray. It has a vase on it with a few flowers in it. He hands it to Dazki, who accepts it graciously.   Dazki investigates the door to the south that the zombie butler used. Before he can even touch it, he stops himself — it seems like it would be problematic for living individuals to interact with it... or, perhaps, individuals who have souls.

Dazki: Hey, Kesmet!   Kesmet: I sense a disturbance in the force...   Kesmet: What's up?   Dazki: Do you think you might be able to use your Mage Hand trick on this door? It doesn't like things with life forces, but I would assume your magic hand does not count.   Kesmet: You assume, or you know?   Dazki: I don't know.   Kesmet: That sounds a little more dangerous than your average electric shock rune.   Dazki: Hmm, it might not be able to carry enough weight to open the door, though. We might need a bigger hand. At least we have a Plan B...   Dwardazik: I understand that. Mr. Butler, sir. These smoking cigars of yours... where are they from, and what should I expect the effects to be? You said "the far east", but anywhere in particular?   Zombie: It's a wonderful calming blend of herbs found in the east, with many distinct and almost fruity flavors. It helps ease the mind and makes the waiting go by easier. Sometimes the waits can be quite long, here.   Dwardazik: I expect it might be some time before we might see the Doctor. You think I might have a few of those?   Zombie: Why, certainly! If there's anything else I can get you, just let me know.   Dwardazik takes the rest.   Dazki: So, our backup is Marvin's particularly large hand.   Marvin: You know what they say about people with large hands...   Dazki: Yeah, they can hold a lot of things.   Marvin: Large gloves!   Dwardazik: Excuse me, butler, but what's through that door?   Zombie: That is the door that leads further into the Doctor's offices.   Dwardazik: I was informed by the head receptionist that there is a VIP waiting room. Is that through that door? Because this one seems like the commoners' waiting room.   Zombie: I apologize, but the VIP lounge area is currently under construction.   Dwardazik: Ah, was that the area that we passed through, or was that further in?   Zombie: It is further in, but it's a bit of a mess right now.   Kesmet: That's perfect! We're the architects that they hired to fix it up. We should take a look at it, to assess the situation. We will need to get hard hats and come back tomorrow to actually continue the construction, though.   Zombie: I did notice that you do not have proper identification. If you want, I can talk to the foreman about it?   Dwardazik: That might be a good idea. Those ants are pretty crazy up there... he might have lost it to an ant. Oh, but Kesmet, you're holding onto your backup card, right? Can't you pull it out of your back pocket?   Kesmet: Uh, no. Don't really have it, no.   Dwardazik: The... card! Misplacing it's such a MINOR thing! It's like it would have disappeared, you know, almost like an ILLUSION.   Kesmet: Oh, OK, yes! Hang on, let me quickly check over here...   Zombie: So would you like me to check with the foreman on your behalf?   Kesmet subtly conjures a minor illusion of an ID badge with the title, "Master Welder", and shows it to the zombie butler.   Zombie: Well, if you would like me to escort you to the foreman, I can show you where he is.   Kesmet: It's fine if we pass through there, though? It's not dangerous for living people?   Zombie: Well, I can open the door for you, if that is a concern. You are a metabolic individual, then?   Dazki: Yes, we are all metabolic individuals.   Zombie: Understood.   Dwardazik: I'm under employ by the lad over here.   Zombie: May I see your identification as well?   Dwardazik: Yeah, he's the one who has it.   Dazki starts forging ID cards for everyone.   Kesmet: Yeah, give me one second.   Kesmet turns away from everyone and creates an illusion of a new ID for Dwardazik, with the title "Structural Support Engineer", and "gives" it to Dwardazik, the two of them carefully working together to make sure that Dwardazik's fingers don't pass through it as Kesmet moves it around.   Zombie: These IDs are quite peculiar, but what do I know, I'm a zombie butler. Very well, I can escort both of you down the hallways to the foreman.   Dazki: Yeah, you two go ahead. We'll wait here while you get things cleared up, see if we can look through our things and find our own ID cards.

The zombie butler opens the door and starts leading Kesmet and Dwardazik down the tunnel, when Dwardazik tries to jam a piton into the door to hold it open. He fails, and just as the door is about to close, he jumps back into the lounge.

Kesmet: Hey, Mr. Zombie Butler Dude? I think my buddy couldn't make it past the door fast enough, and it closed on him. Do you mind?   Zombie: I will go back and get him after we reach our destination. It sounded like you were quite in a hurry, yes?   Kesmet: It does me no good if we go one person at a time.

The zombie returns to the door and opens it again.

Zombie: I do request that you keep up.   Dwardazik: Oh, sorry about that.

Dwardazik tries the exact same thing, failing again, jumping back into the lounge again. Kesmet calls the zombie butler back again.

Kesmet: You know what, I think my friend there might have hit his head from being in one too many tunnels. Maybe we'll just wait.   Zombie: Are you sure? The foreman does not like people to be late.   Kesmet: The rest of them are going to be late anyway.

The zombie butler brings Kesmet back into the lounge, and Kesmet bops Dwardazik in the head.   The party relaxes in the lounge for a while, as Dazki finishes forging IDs for all of them. It takes him a while, though, and the fog in the lounge is enough that Dazki, Marvin, and Kesmet feel lasting effects that make them calmer, slower, more relaxed... and have slower reflexes. It has an interesting effect on Marvin: during this period, he actually comes off as a completely well-adjusted, level-headed person. If you didn't know his character, you might not even be able to tell that he's been sedated.   The IDs are labeled as follows (with Undermart aliases, not their actual names):

Character	Job Title
Kesmet	Master Welder
Dwardazik	Structural Support Engineer
Marvin	Lead Safety Inspector
Grogery	Human Resources Officer
Dazki	Assistant Safety Inspector

Dazki: So, I say we go to the receptionist.   Dwardazik: Sounds fine to me.   Dazki: Or do you think it would be easier to pull one over on this guy?   Kesmet: I think we should go through the proper entrance. Longbeard doesn't seem to be able to go through doors properly.   Dazki, to the zombie: If you'll excuse us for a moment, we need to get some air. The smoke in here is definitely not agreeing with me.   Zombie: No worries. Remember, if you get lost, to follow the arrows back to the lounge.   Dazki: Thank you very much, I certainly will.   Marvin: Come on, assistant. We've got work to do.   Dazki: Lead the way.

They start heading back to the front desk.

Kesmet: Hey, I don't feel so good. Maybe we should go lie down upstairs and, um... um... um... sleep. I'm kinda hungry. Do we have rations or something?   Dwardazik: Pull yourself together!   Dazki: I'm feeling the same from the smoke. Masks didn't really seem to help...   Marvin: Listen. As the lead safety inspector, I understand you're all concerned. However, we need to get our asses there.   Dwardazik: Well, you heard the safety inspector!   Marvin: I say it's all fine!   Grogery: Are you sure? It smelled way stronger than Overlook in there.   Dwardazik: What are you talkin' about, it wasn't so bad! I even had some of the cigar!   Dazki: I wasn't lying that I feel like I need to clear my head.   Dwardazik: Well what are we gonna do, huh? You want us to walk outside the anthill?   Dazki: No, just... somewhere that's not so damn strong... with that smoke stuff.   Grogery: Yeah, not the room that's literally trying to sedate people.

They arrive at the front desk.

Marvin: Um, hello, "Head" was it?   Receptionist: Hello, welcome back!   Marvin: Yes, we did manage to find our IDs. Is there any equipment that can help us filter out whatever it is that we're breathing down here?   Receptionist: Most of the area here is filled with a traditional air-like substance.   Marvin: Yes, I am familiar with —   Receptionist: Have you been versed in the locations to go, in case of emergencies?   Marvin: Are there evacuation routes?   Kesmet: He's the... he's the head of safety. Or something. He should probably know the... the routes.   Marvin: Yes, that would be useful information to know.   Kesmet: Also, hang on... ASSISTANT! ...of safety, or whatever. ...you also gotta know the routes, right?   Dazki: Yup...   Receptionist: In case of a metabolic cleansing procedure, please follow the highlighted runes to the designated safe areas for metabolic individuals. It shouldn't be too hard to miss.   Grogery: So, the runes will probably turn on if such a procedure is instigated, thereby warning us of it, correct?   Receptionist: You've got it!   Marvin: Understood. Is this identification sufficient?   Receptionist, snaking its head around to look at them: The IDs look official, but it's odd that none of you are Heads of anything?   Kesmet: We're more like... hands. We do stuff. You're a head.   Kesmet moves to pat Receptionist on the head, but Marvin swats his hand away.   Dazki: It could just be a translation error, going from one language to another. A Master Welder would be a "Head" Welder, a Lead Inspector could be a "Head" Inspector. It's just a linguistic thing, going back and forth from our native languages to yours.   Receptionist: I recommend that you get them reprinted with the "Head of" IDs.   Dazki: Is there a printing office we could use to get them fixed, inside the Accounting and Filing area?   Receptionist: You can fill out the appropriate paperwork to schedule a meeting with the Head of Identification.   Dazki: And where could we get said paperwork?   Receptionist: All of the documents can be found within Accounting and Filing.   Marvin: May we enter?   Receptionist: I don't see why not.   Dazki: Thank you.

Kesmet attempt to pat her on the head again, but she quickly slithers away into her metal hole. She reappears next to the door and opens the door for the party, the bar sliding into the wall. Kesmet then touches Dwardazik's beard, but it's not as satisfying as he had hoped, so he stops.

Dwardazik: Hey, Head Receptionist? When you're off shift, hit me up.

Receptionist winks at Dwardazik and slithers back into her hole, but not before Kesmet is finally able to pat her on the head. She doesn't seem to mind. It's cold and wet.

Maximum Headroom

Some artwork representing the heads that can be seen around here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10xNoBghj2gmEyPYUb6nkIQxgKPT1RuLvlNul5Vvno5o   This room is dominated by four hexagonal pillars made of a combination of stone and metal. Many metal portholes and trapdoors litter the pillars, the sides of the walls, and even some in the floor. More of these strange beings protrude from these openings, with the snake bodies and heads at the end. Some are disfigured, missing the top side of their head. Similar to the receptionist, each one has a lanyard draped around its snakelike form. The heads just chat at one another, talking numbers. Occasionally, one will disappear into its hole to appear next to a different head and then say some things at it.   Each head seems to be the "Head of" a department, or the "Head of" a piece of information. None of them seems to be superior to any other. As they chat, they give seemingly inane information. For example, one will just keep telling the others the current temperature and humidity of the room. Another seems to be tracking vital signs of... something, rattling it off to whatever head it appears next to.   Marvin picks a head arbitrarily and approaches it.

Marvin: Hello, we're looking for the Head of Identification. Can you help us?   Head: Hello!   Marvin: Yes, hello, how are you doing?   Head: I am the head of Garbage and Recycling. There are currently 37 pots within the garbage sector.   Marvin: That is fascinating!

Dazki tries a different approach, yelling out asking to find the Head of Information / Head of Directions. A head pops out next to him, from a nearby hatch. It doesn't have any eyes, but that doesn't seem to affect it.

Head of Assistance: I heard you are lost and are looking for assistance. I am the Head of Assistance.   Dazki: Hi, Head of Assistance! I need the Head of Identification. There seem to be a few typos on our identification cards. Could you guide me to them?   Head of Assistance: I am unable to guide you to the Head of Identification without the appropriate paperwork.   Dazki: Where would I find the appropriate paperwork?   Head of Assistance: This information can be gathered by talking to the Head of Paperwork.   Dazki: Which head is the Head of Paperwork?   Head of Assistance: For information on the identity of the Head of Paperwork, it is advised to talk to the Head of Heads.   Dazki: OK, who is the Head of Heads... or do I need specific paperwork to meet the Head of Heads as well?   Head of Assistance: In order to meet with the Head of Heads, there are four criteria that would need to be met. Would you like to hear the four criteria that would need to be met in order to meet with the Head of Heads?   Dazki: I would love to hear the four criteria that would need to be met.   Grogery: It would assist us quite a lot.

The Head of Assistance slithers back into its hatch, and a different head pops out of a different hatch nearby, its body stretching several feet to close the distance.

Head: You are interested in meeting with the Head of Heads?   Dazki: Yes, yes we are.   Head: In order to acquire the appropriate paperwork for such a meeting, you would need to have:

1. Proof of nonliving nature, or proof that the individual is fully protected from deadly oxygen fluctuations hazardous to metabolic individuals,
2. Proper ID designation,
3. A piece of information that would be valuable to the Head of Heads, that only one of your ID would have access to, and
4. The appropriate document 36-B-2, filled out in triplicate, to be distributed to the appropriate Heads.

Grogery: So, basically, we would need to see the Head of Paperwork.   Dwardazik: Yeaaaah, where would we get 36-B-2 if we can't see the Head of Paperwork without seeing the Head of Heads?   No reply.   Dwardazik: Where would we get Form 36-B-2?   Head: For that information, please see the Head of Paperwork.   Dazki: ...thank you for your assistance.

Dazki begins to walk around the room, just looking at nametags to see if he can find any of these people himself. The rest of the party follows suit, except for Kesmet, who is hesitant to enter a room with so many people inside. The nametags are written in different languages, some in each of Dwarven, Elven, Common, Primordial, and Abyssal. Around the sides of the room are several cabinets.   Dazki notices the ghost of Secretary messing around with one of the cabinets and whispers to the party.

Dazki: It looks like Secretary is back in here, trying not to get noticed by the heads (for some reason or another). Do we just leave it alone if it leaves us alone?   Grogery: Seems like the best course of action.   Dazki: Are you OK with that, Grogery?   Grogery: It's a ghost. It can go through the floor. What use is chasing it in here?   Dazki: Grogery... can a ghost re-possess a person after it's been forcibly ejected?   Grogery: I think you're fine for the first 24 hours.

Marvin looks around the cabinets for the indicated forms and finds form 36-B-2. He takes the needed three copies to Dazki, and then he rearranges the other forms randomly as Dazki begins filling them out.   Kesmet carefully, deliberately, makes his way to the opposite side of the room. A head pops out of the floor, interrupting his path to tell him the melting points of various metals. Kesmet replies, "THERE ARE 18 PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM", and steps around it to join the others who are at a door across the room.   The door is another simple, foggy glass door, labeled "Garbage and Recycling" with another sign saying, "Head of Heads through Garbage".   Marvin looks for, and finds, the "Head of Requests". When the two make contact, the Head addresses Marvin:

Head of Requests: Request update on safety of main construction zone.   Marvin: All employees currently healthy. No injuries thus far. Suggest that they take a break and avoid excessive overtime.   Head of Requests: Request ambient temperature and humidity of construction site.   Marvin: Please fill out all forms in the request box to get temperature.

Head of Requests slithers back into a hole.

---

Grogery pushes on the door. It opens.

Grogery: Now, Kesmet, we don't know what's beyond this door, so we are going to proceed slowly, and carefully.   Marvin: It said "Garbage and Recycling"...   Kesmet: OK. OK, yep. Quickly and carefully!

One Man's Treasure...

Kesmet pushes his way through into the corridor.

Kesmet: Ahh, sweet relief!   Grogery: Kesmet, do you have a problem with crowds?   Kesmet: No, of course not!   Grogery: Do you have a problem with crowds of heads?   Kesmet: No, of course not!

The next room is somehow both haphazard and well-organized. There are soggy, fragrant burlap sacks of something that has clearly rotten long ago, but neatly arranged into piles and barrels. Old, clotted material, neatly arranged in a line. There are also arrows on the floor that lead to a strange lectern with a book on top of it.   Dazki heads to the lectern and takes a look at the book. It is closed and unlabeled, but attached to the lectern with a sturdy chain. Upon further investigation, Dazki discovers that this is a log book, immaculately maintained. It documents the entire inventory of this room, and exactly where those contents "should" be. The fact that it says exactly where something "should" be means that bad things might happen if something is altered without altering the logbook.   The party begins rooting around a little bit, seeing a hallway leading further in and a door labeled "Recycling". Marvin speaks up:

Marvin: Guys, I'll be honest, I don't think Vicra's office is gonna be in the garbage.   Dazki: Yeah, probably not.

Dwardazik sees loose coins and small gems scattered around and picks them up. Kesmet grabs a health potion. As they do, a couple of Turmoil-related events trigger: Kesmet becomes confused for a time (fortunately, without attacking anyone, despite the >1/3 chance of that outcome), and Dwardazik showers Kesmet with colors.   Dazki, having finished his investigation, turns around to see the chaos erupting behind him and sighs heavily ("yeah, seems about right").

Dazki: So this book here is a ledger.   Kesmet: A letter to who?   Marvin: Ahh, great, more bureaucracy.   Dazki: A ledger. Ledger. List of what (and where) everything is.   Kesmet: Neat. OK.   Dwardazik: ...and?   Dazki: Moving things without marking it in the ledger first seems to cause... that.   Dwardazik: Well, mark off this 68 gold that I just took.   Dazki: All right, 68 gold from trash pile 3CJ-12 has been removed for... "supplemental purposes".   Kesmet: Also, I took this health potion from over here.   Dazki: ...potion removed for "supplemental purposes".   Dwardazik: There's a bunch of gems over here, can we take those too?   Dazki: Yeah, let me find them in the ledger first... are we really gonna spend our time doing this?   Dwardazik: That looks like about 200 gold worth of gems! Kesmet: Dazki. Dazki. Dazki! Look at me.   Dazki: I'm looking...   Kesmet: I'm still high. I'm still high. Can we do something, something, to get our mind off of things? Honestly, stealing health potions (and, apparently, gold) helps us take our mind off things, right? Right. So. Let's find all the healing potions and then let's find anti-werewolf serum. That's here, right? It's gotta be, by the look of this place.   Dazki: I didn't see it, but —   Kesmet: Noooo! This is the worst day ever.   Marvin: ...does this have anything to do with Dennis?   Kesmet: Why, what do you know about Dennis?   Marvin: He's a werewolf, right?   Kesmet: Well, yeah, but what do you know about him? Do you have information? Talk, man, talk!   Marvin: Dog goes bow-wow. That's all I know.   Kesmet: That's not helpful.   Dazki: OK, I've marked off the gems. Is anybody going to take anything else?   Grogery: Wait, this is "garbage"? Why would someone be throwing out gold or gems?   Dazki: I'd assume it's because they don't have need of it down here, based on the look of how things work. You think the "Heads" out there need gold for anything?   Grogery: No, but the cultists and whatnot would eventually need to leave to get supplies... just weird. Who the heck doesn't use gold?   Dazki: The people of Ov—   Grogery: I understand Overlook because they... I don't know, but... these people don't have money?   Dazki: They probably do most of their trade with Overlook.

Some more rummaging through, the party finds some other goods and such. Among them, those that seem actually story-relevant:

• Dazki manages to find another flintlock pistol, but it is broken. He lets Marvin take it.
• Dazki also finds tools that he can use to unjam his jammed flintlock pistol. He does so.
• Dwardazik looks around for magic items, finding a "Circlet of Blasting" and a "+1 crossbow". He takes both.
• Grogery, looking for items of religious significance, finds a Peloric totem that he reclaims.
• Kesmet finds a silver dagger to replace one of his many non-silver daggers.

Grogery offers the Bag of Holding for anyone who wants to vacuum up any last objects. Kesmet then realizes something...

Kesmet: Wait, we could put more daggers in the Bag of Holding!   Grogery: No, we are not filling up the Bag of Holding with daggers. I don't want to stab myself every time I want to —   Kesmet: But a dagger only weighs, like —   Grogery: Kesmet. Moderation. If you... if you have too many daggers, then the ones you have aren't as special!   Kesmet: They don't have to be special. They just have to be effective at cutting werewolves.   Grogery: Yeah, but... diminishing returns.   Kesmet: OK, but if I find 30 more silver daggers, I'm swapping out the non-silver daggers.   Grogery: This is fine. I just don't feel like stabbing myself every time I reach into the Bag of Holding to get something that could heal people. Kinda counterproductive.   Dwardazik, whispering to Grogery: That's not how the Bag of Holding works, you just —   Grogery, whispering back: He doesn't know how the Bag of Holding works!

They wait another ten minutes for the effects of the smoke from the lounge to clear, then plan their next move.

---

Dwardazik: So, what about that door that leads to "Recycling", eh?   Kesmet: That's probably where they dump the dead bodies so that Vicra can use them as material to build new bodies or something. Or more zombies. We should go through there.   Dwardazik: Might as well take a look, then.   Kesmet: If we found all this cool crap in the garbage, imagine what we'll find in recycling! If it's not dead bodies, then we might find... greater potions of healing!   Grogery: I think it's going to be dead bodies.   Dazki: I put my money on dead bodies.   Grogery: Or possibly some bodies in a transitory state between life and death.   Dwardazik: That's my suspicion, but we should probably check...   Kesmet: Anything could be behind the door! It might even be... not dead bodies!

Dwardazik tries to open the door. It's locked — a reinforced wooden door.

Recycled Content

Their plan having been foiled by the lock on the door, the party retreats to   Dazki picks open the lock, and the party enters the room labeled "Recycling". The door creaks open into near-complete darkness, an awful smell of clotted blood and humidity rushing out. Grogery lights up a small object, passing it up, and Dwardazik throws it into the room to illuminate it a bit.

Kesmet: Maaaaan, it's dead bodies.   Dazki: I'm gonna say that we do not go up there, unless we absolutely have to.   Grogery: Yeah... no. Yeah, no. No.   Kesmet: Should we at least torch the place?   Grogery: No, we need to keep our magic about us, in case we run into Vicra.

The party walks away, and Dazki shuts the door and locks it back up.

HEADing in a Different Direction

The party starts down the next tunnel from Garbage, arriving at a door with another head next to it.

Dazki: Hello! Is this the office for the Head of Heads?   Head: This is the office for the Head of Heads.   Dazki: We need to speak to the Head of Heads.   Head: In order to speak to the Head of Heads, you need to fulfill four criteria. Can you fulfill those four criteria?   Dazki: No. Where would we find protection from oxygen fluctuations?   Head: That is not my job. I do not know.   Grogery: I guess we have to go talk to the Heads again...   Kesmet: Are our IDs OK, at least?   Head: You have fulfilled the requirement of proper ID designation.

The party turns back a little to talk among themselves.

Grogery: So we need information to prove that we didn't just steal these IDs?   Dazki: We don't need to "prove" it... for example, the Head of Safety just needs to give a safety report.   Grogery: OK, so we just need proof that we're fully protected from "deadly oxygen fluctuations". The Mask of the Wasted Breath would count, at least for one of us.   Marvin: Well, it also just chokes you.   Dazki: Over time.   Kesmet: Let's go back to the trash pile and get creative! See if we can jury-rig an oxygen tank or something.   Dazki: We could do that, or we could see what's down that other hallway.   Dwardazik: Let's go down that other hallway.   Grogery: Yeah, other hallway.   Kesmet: Yeah... everything in there is probably not going to attack us.   Dazki: Hopefully.

They go back through Garbage, and then they turn north, surprising Kesmet.

Kesmet: Oh, you meant that hallway!   Dazki: Yeah, that one. Not the one with the dead bodies.   Kesmet, getting nervous: Hmm... I don't know, look, the dead bodies aren't doin' nothin'! They're not moving, they don't count.   Dazki: Yeah, but how many dead bodies have we seen here that could move?   Kesmet: Touché. He starts taking deep breaths on the other side of the door, pumping himself. OK.   Dazki: It's just thirty feet, Kesmet. You can do this. Thirty feet to the hallway.

They go down the next hallway.

Lollop In Your Business

This is a larger, open room. A couple of heads chat to one another next to a glass jug full of some sort of liquid. Another "stands" next to a table full of obviously stale sweets and a few candles. Out of one of the hatches, there is a hand instead of a head, which holds a wooden cup.

Dazki: We've found the employee lounge.   Dwardazik: Well. Huh.

Dazki moves casually through the room, the rest of the party following, to the next door. It is another simple door, roped off with a sign saying "Under Construction".

Grogery: Ahh, that's why we're here! We're construction workers! Obviously.

Dazki opens the door.

⚠️⚠️⚠️Under Construction⚠️⚠️⚠️

In the room are two large mutated creatures on leashes made out of chain. They are scraping off tar, polishing and painting runes, moving rubble, etc. There is one smaller, "squirrely fellow" carrying parts of bodies, pans, and a shovel. It's hard to tell if this entity is living or dead at first glance. He seems to be a bit of a hoarder, and he directs the two monsters on what to do. Dazki calls out to the smaller one.

Dazki: You there, are you the foreman?   Foreman: Yeah, I'm the foreman! Who the heck are you?   Dazki: Safety inspection.   Foreman: There's no such thing as "safety inspection".   Dazki: That depends. Do you want to see my ID?   Foreman: I don't need to see no flippin' ID. What do you take me for, some sort of mook?!   Dazki: No, I take you for the foreman. That's why I addressed you as such.   Foreman: Just do your heckin' job, whatever that is, and get outta here.   Dazki: All right, well, thank you. These guys are going to be all nice and friendly, I suppose?   Foreman: That ain't up to me, now, is it? That's up to you.   Dazki: I just mean, if we walk around doing our assessment without getting in the way of their work, they're not going to become aggressive?   Foreman: You would know better than me, right? "Assistant Safety Whatever"?   Marvin: Do I hear some dissent going on in there?   Foreman: Yeah, and who might you be?   Marvin: I happen to be the lead safety inspector, and you should also know that we're all a union organization! You're trying to stop us from doing our job? That's a problem. You're gonna have to talk to the union.   Dwardazik: Listen here. I can see you're doing a lot of construction, but have you seen this tunnel structure right now?! I'm gonna have to bring this up with Health and Safety. Look at this! This is a completely unsafe working environment! These tunnels could collapse at any point!   Dazki: I need you to file form 720-C-7 in triplicate and submit that to the Head of Filing before I can accept that.   Grogery: Oh, and don't forget, you have to submit a copy of that form for each of your direct reports, which I'm guessing includes these two?   Dwardazik: Now, excuse me here, but I'm not done making my assessment! I will give you the appropriate forms after I'm done making my assessment! These tunnels are now unsafe, and they need to be completed to the full Complete Tunnel Structural Safety Certification. I will have to come here in three days and make sure that everything is up to snuff. If that's approved, then you can go through Health and Safety.   Marvin: Mr. Longbeard, I couldn't have said it better myself. This place, I'm worried just standing where I am right now.   Dwardazik: Now, excuse me, you can't just talk to me like that! HR?   Grogery: Yes?   Dwardazik: I was just harassed by the Safety lead.   Grogery: OK, well, I'm going to need you to submit it in paper so that we have it in writing, and then I can get together an investigative team to look into this and get some interviews.   Foreman: You know what? You know what? Screw this union crap! I don't get paid enough for all this stupid paperwork and —   Grogery: You're not supposed to talk about how much money you make. It's against company policy.   Foreman: You know what, you know what? You take it!   Foreman hands over his shovel, hoe, a leg from a baby with a bite mark in it, a bag of a thousand ball bearings, two hammers.   Foreman: I quit! This is stupid!   Dazki, calling out as he leaves: Don't forget to file Resignation Form 7-C and file it with HR on your way out!   Grogery: Yeah, I'm going to need a copy of your resignation letter.

Foreman gives a rude gesture and leaves. The two large entities (probably masterpieces) look at one another, confused. They then shrug, then get back to building the altar. Dazki goes to the next door, which has no label. Dazki inspects it for traps / alarms, finding nothing of the sort but noticing that it is unstable, almost like they actually do need safety inspection.

Grogery: Before we go through this door, I'm gonna need you all to sign these waivers. Company policy.   Dwardazik: What do you see there, Dazki?   Dazki: This door does not appear to be particularly stable yet. Would you be able to give those masterpieces, if they can reach it, instructions on how to stabilize the ceiling and door frame.

Dwardazik looks into the door. The materials surrounding the door are pretty standard for the rest of the dungeon: acid stone, originally created by ants, not great for building because of how brittle it can be. The door, however, is made out of something more like granite. It is very heavy, and probably should not be affixed to something so brittle as these walls. Brute force will knock this door right down. Dwardazik yells out to the two masterpieces.

Dwardazik: Now listen here. The foreman has left, and you two mooks are left to pick up the pieces. Look at this door! Did you guys install this door today?! Look at how much this door weighs, and look at how much it's pulling on the sides of the wall! This tunnel is unstable! Anyone tries to use this door, the whole tunnel collapses, and what's gonna happen then? I'm gonna get Health and Safety on my ass because you guys couldn't build something straight. I need you guys to take down this door right away and put in a wooden one. It'll weigh less, and it's just as secure.

He is very persuasive, so persuasive that the masterpiece temporarily forgets that it's on a leash that prevents it from going all the way over there. Marvin offers to undo the chains, but the masterpiece ignores him and just keeps trying to approach the door.

Marvin: Should we take this off, guys?   Dwardazik: Well, yes. Everyone back up, Health and Safety back up.   Grogery: OK. Oh, and while we're all here, I'd like to remind everybody to sign up for the company picnic that we're having on Friday.

Dazki picks the locks on the manacles, freeing it. The masterpiece picks up the door and sets it aside, then fetches the door to the employee lounge (shattering the intricate glass and wooden door jamb) and puts it in place where the other was. Dazki shouts into the lounge, "Sorry, instructions weren't detailed enough... you know how these guys are", and one of the heads in the lounge ("Head of Rumors") immediately starts talking about what happened.

Kesmet: Hey, this gives me an idea... what if we try to replace the door where the Head of Heads is?   Dazki: We could get through the door, but we'd still need to be able to breathe in the atmosphere in there, with all the "oxygen fluctuations".   Kesmet: Well, we have the other three criteria, right?

Through the door is... a huge, impassable pile of rubble.

Dwardazik: Now, that's acceptable work!   Marvin: ...it is?   Dwardazik: So, listen here. This tunnel needs to get cleared out, right away. That door is the correct thing to do, but now this tunnel is unstable. We need to get these rocks out of there, and then shore up some supports. Start moving those rocks to the other side of the room, behind the altar. In fact, line them up against the wall.

This time, the masterpiece ignores his request and goes back to building its altar.