Friends At The Table

For generations, the Chasmata family has had an outsized place in the politics of Stel Kesh. Certainly, they were as loyal and stately as any other great house of the self-proclaimed First Stel. But their income, prestige, and reach seemed to exceed their material position in the Principality. Partly, this had to do with the dynasty’s close ties to the Curtain. Like the Kesh family itself, many children of House Chasmata would go on to serve in the Principality’s most secret and sacred institution. But there was something else, too. A reward, perhaps, for a most difficult service. This week on PARTIZAN: The Prison at the Top of the World ///Operation Dossier\\\ //Organizations\\ House Chasmata: Despite not being the highest ranking house on Partizan, the Chasmata family has governed Stel Kesh’s holdings on the moon for as long as Kesh has been here. But in the last century, the family seems more interested in an archeological dig in the northern ice cap than in managing its estates. This has not, unfortunatel

Miles to the south of the Chasmata Quarry, AO Rooke loads an artillery shell into cannon. It’s the third to be fired, in a set of 50. He is providing cover, he was told, for the operation’s infiltration unit to get what it was they needed. “Except,” he worried to himself, “the infiltration unit did not know what it was they needed. He punctuated his concern by slamming the hatch on the howitzer shut. “And that crew, specifically,” he thought, “is a strange fit for infiltration to begin with.” And so AO Rooke had a thought: He and his crew would fire 50 rounds into the sky towards the Quarry. But he would do so at two-thirds the normal speed, giving Kalar, Phrygian, Sovereign Immunity, and the Figure in Bismuth just a little more time before the attention of the mysterious base fell on them. This week on PARTIZAN: The Tunnels Beneath ///Operation Dossier\\\ //Organizations\\ House Chasmata: Despite not being the highest ranking house on Partizan, the Chasmata family has governed Stel Kesh’s holdings on the moo

Buried deep in the records of the Divine Past is a peculiar absence. What is buried beneath the northern pole of Partizan? “The Chasmata Quarry,” says the only public record, “specializes in rare mineral extraction.” Eight words. But other quarries on Partizan all have more. You could write a book about the excavations spread across the Columnar’s Memoria Teardrop, or those digs spread hive-like through the Apostolosian Barranca, or the industrial pockmarks across the long Orion flats of the Low Slate. So why, why were there only eight words about the Chasmata Quarry? This week on PARTIZAN: The Unbreakable Quarry ///Operation Dossier\\\ //Organizations\\ House Chasmata: Despite not being the highest ranking house on Partizan, the Chasmata family has governed Stel Kesh’s holdings on the moon for as long as Kesh has been here. But in the last century, the family seems more interested in an archeological dig in the northern ice cap than in managing its estates. This has not, unfortunately for Apostolos, limited

On a map, it would seem as if the Blue Channel and its inhabitants, revolutionaries of the Millennium Break movement, were nearing freedom from the Partizan system. But a map does not show the whole of the picture. For instance, a map would not reveal that heels of Aponia, hallow of GLORY ace pilot Sabeeha, were scraping across the roof of Kal'Mera Broun's ship. It would not show the members of the ship's crew taking increasingly risky action. And it would it show what surprises lie ahead of them, at their nearest destination... This week on PARTIZAN: Orbital Decay ///Operation Dossier\\\ //Organizations\\ The Pact of Necessary Venture: Though they trace their lineage back to an exploratory committee founded in the late 14th century of the Perfect Millenium, the Pact was not made in earnest until five years ago in 1418 PM, soon after hostilities began between Kesh and Apostolos.  It’s original leadership committee, Plumeria, Gallica, Myosotis, Rye, and Hyacinth determined that to ensure the future stability o

The Blue Channel and its inhabitants have left Partizan behind. And as it grows dim in the distance, they have time to both reflect on the hard path here and plan ahead to what they hope will be a bright future. But before the moon can disappear entirely, it reaches again. Breaking away was never going to be easy... This week on PARTIZAN: Engine Burn ///Operation Dossier\\\ //Organizations\\ Organization for the Foundation of the Orion Republic (OFOR): A group of growing import in Orion territory, who advocate for Orion’s secession from the Divine Princiipality and re-establishment as a league of democratic, merchant republics. Both OFOR and their opposition, the yet-unnamed Principality loyalist faction, have support across class demographics. Many.corporations and independent guilds see OFOR as an opportunity for additional profit, while others believe that leaving the Principality is a risk too great to take. After Law’s attack on Oxbridge, OFOR has largely relocated in “The Old Old,” a region towards the

In a hanger on a beach on the Isles of Logos, Kal’Mera Broun, Jesset City, Ver’Million Blue, Thisbe, Eiden Teak, Avar, Ryrira, and Si’Dra Balos stand around a spaceship. In just over a week, if all goes to plan, they will be inside of it and it will be outside of the Partizan system.  First, though, they’ll need to secure a launch platform, get past security checkpoints on and off world, and ensure the safety of not only themselves but the materials they’ll need to actually build something wherever they end up. If, that is, they decide they want to build anything together at all... This week on PARTIZAN: Escape Velocity ///Operation Dossier\\\ //Organizations\\ Organization for the Foundation of the Orion Republic (OFOR): A group of growing import in Orion territory, who advocate for Orion’s secession from the Divine Princiipality and re-establishment as a league of democratic, merchant republics. Both OFOR and their opposition, the yet-unnamed Principality loyalist faction, have support across class demograp

As the shape in the sea draws ever near, much of SBBR--with the help of their rivals in the Company of the Spade--begin to evacuate hundreds of thousands out of a city of millions. But Kal'mera Broun turns elsewhere, to their ship, looking for guidance before this new invader arrives.   This week on PARTIZAN: The Red Light  ///Operation Dossier\\\ //Organizations\\ Organization for the Foundation of the Orion Republic (OFOR): A group of growing import in Orion territory, who advocate for Orion’s secession from the Divine Princiipality and re-establishment as a league of democratic, merchant republics. Both OFOR and their opposition, the yet-unnamed Principality loyalist faction, have support across class demographics. Many.corporations and independent guilds see OFOR as an opportunity for additional profit, while others believe that leaving the Principality is a risk too great to take. The Party of the Wolf: One of two quickly growing parties inside of Millennium Break, named for their fallen hero, Valence. T

Having returned from his audience on the Reflecting Pool, Sovereign Immunity briefs his SBBR and their allies on the impending arrival of what the Witch in Glass would only refer to as "the Red Light." WIth only one day to prepare, SBBR stalls out, torn on whether to accept their longtime foe's offer of sanctuary or to take their chances on their own. For newcomers Kalar Anakalar and Phrygian, this is both a worry and an opportunity. SBBR may not have the heroic verve that the stories said they did, but that only means that its in need of a push... This week on PARTIZAN: The Gravity of Absence  ///Operation Dossier\\\ //Organizations\\ Organization for the Foundation of the Orion Republic (OFOR): A group of growing import in Orion territory, who advocate for Orion’s secession from the Divine Princiipality and re-establishment as a league of democratic, merchant republics. Both OFOR and their opposition, the yet-unnamed Principality loyalist faction, have support across class demographics. Many.corporations an

Content Warnings: Discussion of a broken bone, killing of dog-like creatures, killing of humans via firearm, near-asphyxiation The Witch in the Glass By Sarah Morgan Bryan Piatt “MY mother says I must not pass Too near that glass; She is afraid that I will see A little witch that looks like me, With a red, red mouth to whisper low The very thing I should not know!” “Alack for all your mother’s care! A bird of the air, A wistful wind, or (I suppose Sent by some hapless boy) a rose, With breath too sweet, will whisper low The very thing you should not know!” Hosted by Austin Walker (@austin_walker) Featuring Janine Hawkins (@bleatingheart) Sylvi Clare (@sylvisurfer), Ali Acampora (@ali_west), Art Martinez-Tebbel (@atebbel), Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal), Keith J Carberry (@keithjcarberry) and Andrew Lee Swan (@swandre3000) Produced by Ali Acampora (@ali_west) Music by Jack de Quidt (available on bandcamp) Text by Austin Walker Cover Art by Craig Sheldon (@shoddyrobot) A transcription is available for this

Content Warnings: Violence against cats, birds, and dog-like creatures. Religious sacrifice of cats. Brief discussions of a broken bone and its treatment. The Witch in the Glass; a play in Five Acts  Act 1: Perseverance, or the Sage HouseAct 2: Contentment, or the Community at Chorus Island Act 3: The Single Star, or the View She Sees of Poppies SpreadAct 4: Attention, or the Snow in SummerAct 5: The Present Day, or the Adversary Dramatis Personae Clementine (Jack de Quidt) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...  A discarded scion of the empire Gallica (Austin Walker) … … … ... ... ... ... ... ... ...  A representative of a powerful pact Gur Sevraq (Austin Walker) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...  A discontinuous prophet Thisbe (Janine Hawkins) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...    A homesick laboring machine  Sovereign Immunity (Art Martinez-Tebbel) … A once infamous revolutionary Kal’Mera Broun (Ali Acampora) … … ... ... ... ...  A troubled engineer looking for a way out Jesset City (Austin Walker)   … … … ... .

After months away, SBBR has finally returned to Oxbridge, only to find it burning. Every day, the city is rocked by its own political revolution, as members of the Organization for the Foundation of the Orion Republic--who seek to reform Stel Orion as a league of independent republics--fight against Principality loyalists in the streets, alleys, and canals of the Stel’s largest city on Partizan. The City of Little and Plenty is scarring over. But SBBR (and much of Millennium Break) have their own wounds to attend to.  This week on PARTIZAN: Guests, Invited and Otherwise ///Operation Dossier\\\ //Organizations\\ Organization for the Foundation of the Orion Republic (OFOR): A group of growing import in Orion territory, who advocate for Orion’s secession from the Divine Princiipality and re-establishment as a league of democratic, merchant republics. Both OFOR and their opposition, the yet-unnamed Principality loyalist faction, have support across class demographics. Many.corporations and independent guilds see

Inside of the High Altar, dignitaries sit under the flickering light of a projector, while above them, the very subjects of the film they watch fend off an attack that threatens their lives. The divine Motion and GLORY, a unit of cloned Apostolosian supersoldiers which she has taken on as her pet project, have descended onto the small city of Auspice only to run headfirst into SBBR. The initial skirmishes have seen both sides battered and bruised, with schemes blooming into flowers of blood across the battlefield. As the night continues, every step locks into place, a dance sweeping across the city towards a final, desperate dip.  This week on PARTIZAN: A Single Shot ///Operation Dossier\\\ //Organizations\\ The Isle of Logos: An independent nation built by the followers of the prophet Logos Kantel’s around their very first church. Though only a small handful of islands in the Prophet’s Sea, the Isles keep a standing defense force that rivals any individual unit of the Major Stels. The Branched: A post-human

For Kalar Anakalar and Phrygian, SBBR’s newest recruits, it seemed like another boilerplate mission. A too-warm, too-quiet night in seaside town, making sure that the people in suits and dresses could go about their politicking and gallivanting in safety. But when Ver’Million Blue called in a strange occurrence at the Strand Semaphore station to the north of Auspice, they understood this would be no ordinary mission. But no warning would prepare these new recruits--or the rest of SBBR for that matter--for GLORY, and the hardest fight they’d faced yet. This week on PARTIZAN: GLORY Arrives ///Operation Dossier\\\ //Organizations\\ The Isle of Logos: An independent nation built by the followers of the prophet Logos Kantel’s around their very first church. Though only a small handful of islands in the Prophet’s Sea, the Isles keep a standing defense force that rivals any individual unit of the Major Stels. The Branched: A post-human society of beings who have transformed their bodies into forms terrifying and spe

It has been just over fifty days since Millennium Break took Cruciat, and each day has been more busy than the last. The hammer of the Principality fell on the organization’s independent cells across the moon, and now the leaders of Millennium Break seek allies wherever they can find them. No potential partner in the fight against tyranny is more important than the Isle of Logos. As a sovereign nation with key control in Partizan’s great sea, the Isle could offer Millennium Break a literal port in troubled waters. And so, Gucci Garantine and Apparatus Aperitif have spent the better part of a month negotiating towards that end.  Protecting these ever-moving negotiations has been trying, as SBBR can attest to. Even the quiet days, where nothing happens, require utmost focus and practiced determination. Yet they cannot hope for such a today to be such a day: One where the only red they see is that of the carpet rolled out for VIPs, where the only flash in their eyes comes from the cameras capturing the event.  T

Content Warnings for this Episode Throughout: Violence During a Public Event 00:00 - 20:30: Disrespect of the Dead, Implied Disrespect of a Dead Body  1:41:00 - End: Death, Deliberation about Character Sacrifice, Suicide by Sacrifice, Immolation, Violence During a Public Event,  Hey everyone, this has been a really heavy week: Wildfires across the western United States, Hurricane Laura in the Caribbean and gulf states, the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha and the murder of two Black Lives Matter protesters by Kyle Rittenhouse, all during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Given all of that, we wanted to be very upfront about the content of this week’s episode, which is also a pretty heavy one.  We stand in solidarity with those who are suffering right now--both under the weight of police brutality and natural disaster--, and we know that even natural disasters often cut hardest against those in the margins. So I hope you’ll take a moment to consider helping those in need right now. Below are a small coll

A month ago, Millennium Break seized control of Cruciat, ushering in a new age on the holy moon of Partizan. But like a counterpunch already chambered, the great Stels of the Divine Principality hit back with force and speed, driving minor Millennium Break bases into the dirt. Today, along with Cruciat, the only two strongholds left to the revolutionary group are the Lambic House and a trio of cities along the eastern edge of the Prophet’s Path. Millennium Break must hold this ground, at all costs. And that is why, though they were one of the founders of the group, and its first executive elected, Valence’s request for support in finding the parts of the Exemplar was denied. Even now, with actionable intel from their contact in Columnar, SBBR was being told that they’d need to go it alone.  And with the memory of Gur Sevraq fresh in their minds, they saw no other option... This week on PARTIZAN: Buried Beneath Golden Leaves ///Operation Dossier\\\ //Organizations\\ The Knights of Order: Order towers over the

Hey everyone, welcome to a very special bonus episode of Friends at the Table. As we said on Twitter, we're currently taking a few weeks off after the end of Kingdom to catch up on things, prep for the rest of PARTIZAN, and generally tak ea break.  Many of us here on the show have spent some of that break by playing Blaseball, the internet sensation that VICE's Gita Jackson describes as "an online, joke-y, facsimile of [baseball] ...  about baseball fandom, and the bullshit that goes along with it." It's an absolute blast, and because so many of us were getting into it, Art had the great idea of wanting to sponsor a season or two of the game. So, he reached out, we chatted with the folks behind Blaseball (though we didn't get to meet the commissioner himself), and here we are.  If you are just joining us for the first time as a fan of Blaseball who doesn't know anything about us, we hope this episode is an enjoyable introduction into the sort of stories we tell and games we play. If you're a fan of ours who

For those who live under tyranny, the exhaustion and fear is such that it can be hard to even imagine or recognize what escape or progress or revolution look like. But when Icebreaker Prime came over the horizon, the citizens of Cruciat, beaten down by generations of chic, high-minded Kesh terror, knew exactly what they were looking at. Millennium Break. Cruciat was all but undefended, with the bulk of Kesh’s forces engaged with Motion her Apostlosian forces to the west--an attack they would not have anticipated if not for late coming intelligence from an Apostolosian traitor.  Now, the revolution had to make a final decision in this first stretch of what would surely be a decades long campaign: Was it time to make a definitive strike. To take not just any city, but the city a Princept sometimes calls home. The city where the prisoners turned radicals of the Rapid Evening were once held. Where knowledge is locked away from those that need it most. Where hierarchy is woven into the streets themselves. The ques

However the Summer Passage of Arms--a yearly competition of strength, skill, acumen, and style--began, it has followed in the fate of many similar comptetitons prior and become a proxy for nationalistic fervor. On the Isle of Summer in the Prophet’s Sea, all five Great Stels gather to test each other in a host of events. Commenters often say that the games bring out “the best of the Principality.” This is true, though perhaps more true--and obvious through its omission--it is the case that the Passage serves to hide the worst of the Principality, too. The winner earns glory, but each Stel--even those currently at war with each other--also seeks something else through their simple presence at the games: To convince the world that this is what ‘civilization’ looks like. At home, the Stels drive their boots into the backs of their most vulnerable citizens. But here on the beautiful Isle of Summer, they gather in the name of fair and even conflict on an agreed upon battleground to see who is the noblest of them a

With its internal threats sorted, at least for now, Millennium Break’s de facto leaders shift the bulk of their attention outward. As rebellion is sparked across Partizan, a new question takes center stage: If Millennium Break wants to lead this revolutionary moment, does it need to step out into the light of day? Who can they save if they take this risk? And who do they put in harms way if they refuse to rise to the challenge? As a dire situation develops in the Memoria Teardrop, it becomes clear that these are not hypothetical questions. A decision must be made. This week on PARTIZAN: Breaking Vigil ///Operation Dossier\\\ //Organizations\\ The Vigil City Equiaxed Commune: Across Columnar space, the Equiaxed--a culture of people who augment their synthetic frames with living, organic materials for a variety of reasons--are persecuted, outlawed, arrested, and even experimented on. One way that this vulnerable and targeted group has found some peace is to live together in communal living spaces, where they ca