The door, which had been sealed all this time suddenly opens. Inside the other room is darkness, expect for a spotlight on six very normal looking chairs arranged around a desk. It is a holographic desk, with no one at it. The desk looks like it comes from any late night show someone might have watched before all this happened.

A holographic sign appears, and it says:

PLEASE BE SEATED. LIVE BROADCAST WILL OCCUR WITHIN 1 MINTUE AFTER RECAP IS AIRED.

Then the words vanish, only to be replaced with a timer counting down from 60, with another set of words appearing.

TIME TO RECAP IN...59...58...
This message was last edited by the player at 15:40, Fri 15 July 2022.

- "No problems fireballing into melee. Duly noted."

Chalei'nh chuckled for a moment, and then scooted over a bit to allow the others more room to sit on the sofa. At the countdown starting, she could be heard softly humming a tune which most would recognize as the theme to the Muppet Show.

Mo shuffles in and sits, scratching at his fur.

"Forgot to ask about fleas," he says

"Oh for the love of..." Connor said as he rolled his eyes as the others suddenly, somehow, started talking about ways to use him in friendly fire strategies. And with literal fire too.

"...you know what? I'll think about it. But it's confessional time in a bit. Can't keep our glorious Shaitan overlords waiting too much longer, now can we?" he said sarcastically as he proceeded to his seat.

"It's time for me to look pretty for the camera."

Moya sat down, stretching as luxuriantly as she can, displaying her ink as a tree displays its flowers or a bird its feathers.

In reply to Connor (msg # 75):

"If they wanted pretty or at least presentable they should have peroxided a better 'Green Room' to freshen up before the show'

Nathan prepared to do his part to be entertain on behalf his team and the world they all once knew

- "If they had a green room my head would look like a floating set of eyes and a mouth. So i kind of can understand that."

Chalei'nh smirked, giving Nathan an over-the-glasses look.

- "I can cast some quick Prestidigitation spells though, great for hygiene and if you've got a preferred scent...?"

"Juniper", says Moya and winks at Chalei'nh. She knows why she winks but does anyone else?

Chalei'nh nodded and quickly cast the cantrip, removing dirt, stains and dried sweat from the dungeon from Moya's skin and clothes, and leaving behind a subtle scent that did indeed smell like juniper. She would do the same for any other that asked, and would eventually give herself a scent of lily of the valley. She was unaware of the symbolism of the choices though.

"If they wanted pretty they would have allowed Keyla in here." She said with a small shrug. "By the way, I hope you all do not mind being wet. He was not kidding when he said I have a weather angle to my abilities."

Connor frowned.

"Sadly our cantrips don't work right now. They did something and our abilities are shut off. On the plus side, I don't have to hear Cabochon's relentless whining. So who knows maybe this is a reprieve?" he said with a smirk.

"But it is what it is. The audience will just have to see us at our finest...even if that finest is us being scruffy around the edges."

Moya makes a noise in her throat and says, "Speak fi yerself.  Ah'm scruffy tae the core."

Sure enough, the countdown reaches 0.

The system message reads:

RECAP COMMENCING.

First there seems to be some sort of recounting of earth's history. The language translation that seem to be automatic via the HUD is not working. At least for the group. There are videos and images showing earth's conflicts, crimes, and catastrophes. What is not shown is any positive image of human culture, or its events most likely taken out of context. For example, it shows a three stooges clip, but done in a documentary like form. Thus taking all the humor out of it, and only showing the most negative context.

Then the group sees modern images of images of people fighting. Clearly people from earth. Mostly they are people who did not reach the guildhall, and died fighting the spider mites and their deadly pets. Including some who fell to traps. Some quick flashes are people who went into the labyrinth with the group members as humans, but did not make it.

Finally, there is video of the group as they are now. Transformed and fighting with power and skill. You also see people you have never met, in new forms fighting enemies you have never seen. A tiger man with a sword fighting humanoids with squid heads. A tall women with three giant dogs that breathe fire at animated vines. A man in boxers, a leather jacket, and no shoes beating the crap out of goblins, being aided by a cat that shoots lasers from its eyes.

Finally the images briefly show the part themselves. Mo swinging his burning flail. Moya growing deadly plant spines from her body. Chalei'nh using punches and kicks while wind comes from her limbs with deadly effect. Tsuki, Connor, and Nathan even see some clips of them fighting the Web Troll.

Then the recap ends, and the holographic sign reads:

INTERVIEW PORTION COMMENCING IN...60...59...

The countdown runs its course, and the sign changes, and a voice is heard. It's the AI, sounding more like its old self, and its voice doing the game show host-like imitation.

"You know him, you love him! It's....QUAAAAAAAAAAAASAAAAAAAAAAR!"


An image appears, in strange alien writing, but for each of you it is automatically translated as: THE QUASAR SHOW.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:24, Wed 20 July 2022.

At the desk appears a holographic alien waving to a crowd, with a unseen band playing him on. The crowd is also unseen at first, but then starts to blink into existence all around you. They are also holograms, and seem to be in the darkness that surrounds the stage you are on. Its hard to make them out, but you manage to see them, both seated and screaming in pleasure, are many strange beings. Some are Gnolls, like Mo. Some are Kitsune, like Tsuki. There are elves, and goblins, and all manner of beings. There are also humans...but they seem off. Not like earth humans, although its hard to tell. Some have extra shaggy eyebrows, and that's the only difference. Others are odd colors, like green. Nobody is dressed like they come from modern earth, only in strange jumpsuits or ancient clothing.

"Thank you! Thank you! I love you all! Please, please, sit! I gotta talk to these mooks! Forgettaboutit!" Came the voice of the host. Quasar, presumably, looks a lot like a classic 'Grey' of science fiction film fame. Expect he's wearing a tux made of what looks like tinfoil. You know he's not speaking any earth language, but the translation has kicked in again. He's speaking some language you know, but his accent sounds like he's from Jersey Shore, as in the reality TV show.

The alien sits at the desk, and gestures to you all. "I would like to thank my guests for being here. Nathan, Tsuki, Connor, Mo, Maya and Chalei'nh. Welcome to the Quasar show!" The crowd burst into screaming applause once more, and he waves both his oversized hands at them to be quiet. They eventually do.

"So, we have seen some big things from you mooks. What can you tell us about yourselves?" He asks. His large, black, unblinking eyes seem to take in the entire group at once.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:01, Thu 21 July 2022.

Chalei'nh smiled at the crowd when the host was being introduced, though when the attention was back on the host she leaned slightly towards Moya, mumbling something.


When they were being introduced she waved, making some mock punches like she had been shown doing in the recap for show. She wasn't quite sure whether it'd make any difference in the long run, but it was best to just play along.

- "Well, what's there to tell? Lived in a peaceful little corner of our world where the only thing trying to kill you is the air conditioning bill, and then your people presented an offer that was hard to refuse. After stepping through i did spend half a day glitch hunting though, so..."

She shrugged, leaving it at that. She felt that if they were listening enough to ask for a followup  question they would ask one, and if not then nothing she said would be considered important anyway in this section and this would mostly be about Quasar having his face on camera.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:40, Wed 20 July 2022.

Moya stretched, letting the audience enjoy her tattoos.  "Hello there boys girls and other genders." she said.  "Ah'm Moya fi Embra and all mah life ah've loved trees and flowers and herbs in general. Dis'nt matter whether they're green or red or brown and I love fungi just as much, especially magic mushrooms."

Connor rolled his eyes at everything. If their PR-Rep told them they should each have a schtick or theme, being the dark-humor sarcasm guy seemed like as good a fit as any.

"Well let's see...I was living a perfectly peaceful life. Well peaceful enough if you don't count my annoying ex frequently being annoying that is. But seriously I was at a bar celebrating turning 21, and went outside to catch some fresh air, then turn around only to see the whole block vaporized along with everyone in it. Including some of my friends might I add. Then having Earth reverted to like the middle ages over night since this show ate up all the buildings that were out infrastructure too. Then stumbling into one of these portals and surviving death spiders, gremlins, and trolls. And somehow figuring out a way to still look good during this craziness..." Connor said to the audience with a firm dry tone.

"So um...yeah, that about sums it up." he added.

He then considered.

"But I guess if you want to know more about me as a person...I like long walks on the beach, Cheesecake is my favorite dessert, I am partial to the color periwinkle and to hell with anyone who says it isn't a real color and merely the invention of a certain very popular crayon brand that was a favorite of kids everywhere, and I also totally consider Pluto to be a planet. I enjoy chemistry, but I also like geeky things too. Like for instance I think the fantastical elements of this 'death-game' are actually pretty neat and I'm really enjoying it. Well you know, except for the 'death' parts anyway." he said.

"Oh and by the way? Those images they just showed you all just now? The ones that looked like snap shots of Earth culture and history? They totally miss the point. If you guys think that's all there is to Earth, you're missing a LOT of context and nuance. I mean I get it humans aren't always great, but you guys are totally getting the wrong gist of the three stooges."

Mo is most defintiely not good at this. "I'm from London," he says, "And that film is all wrong, just like they say."

He stares at the lights, bright in his face, and freezes. He feels sick. He doesn't know what to do.

Moya mutters a string of Scots and Gaelic obscenities under her breath.  She reached out and lay her hand on top of Mo's.  "Hey, big man, luik at me, nae at them.  Ye see me?  Guid.  Now, imagine ahv got me tuts oot.  Diz that help?  No.  How about this then.  "When Scotland played Yorkshire at Crucket, who won the toss?  Dinnae ken?  That's cause nobody did and nobody knows whither ut was McPherson or Sidebottom who pocketed the coin?^*"  She smiled.  "Stay with me Mo.  Tell me, what's your favourite flower?  Who's your football team?  Better now Mo?"

^* This works just as well with Scotland against the Netherlands at football but only when they other person's Dutch.

Mo looks down at Moya. She's far shorter than him so that gets his eyes out of the lights and away from the audience, which is a good start.

The eyeful of flesh is less helpful though, so he flushes and makes to move away. Or he would flush but his face is all muzzle and fur now.

He decides to imagine she's one of his sisters and suddenly her pale skin doesn't bother him. "Arsenal," he replies with a hyaenic grin, "What's that got to do with anything?"

"Well then, ye're fi London. Ye're a Gooner,. Now tell me what ye're all about.".

In reply to Moya (msg # 92):

Nathan will wait until the interplay between Moya and Mo is complete before he speaks. waiting for them to indicated they are done.

Moya smiles, "Nathan, wid ye mind taking ye're turn while I help Mo get ready Hun?"

Connor looked at Mo.

"If you can't or don't want to talk a lot...then just don't No pressure. The audience knows it's gonna get varied responses from us because we're different people. So just gather your thoughts and speak when you're ready and good for it." he said encouragingly.

"And who knows? If you need some conversation practice I'll introduce you to Cabochon soon after this. Trust me...he'll keep chattering away until he gets put away, if you get my drift. you'll be a speaking master under his tutelage by the time we beat the next apex." he added with a grin.

- "Pretty much. Don't know much about showbiz, but if there's one thing that stuck watching it, it's 'character'."

Chalei'nh smirked, half-turned to watch the exchange between Mo and Moya play out. With Connor lending his advice as well, she figured she may as well chip in with her own.

- "Talk a lot? It's your character. Don't say much? It's your character. Show up in a dress? It's what your character would do. Best thing you could do is to just be yourself, it may not give off the absolute bestest impression -- whatever that may be -- but at least no one will catch you breaking it."