S1E20 - Trial By Fire

Where We Left OffThe crew left the Grove Family Cabins behind, their boat heavy with people and questions. Reuben, Ted, and Marlene came aboard. So did Chop — the super mutant — and his broken Sentry Bot project: Buddy Bot. They were headed north, back toward Hope.What Happened This TimeUpstream, the crew fished and spotted trouble. Mirelurks in the water. Dozens. Possibly hundreds. Then came the real problem: a Mirelurk Queen, moving along the river nearby.They didn’t fight. They watched. They waited. They got lucky.Not long after, they found the aftermath of someone else’s bad luck — a merchant caravan torn apart on a riverbank. Sam and Raven investigated while Chop, Jim, and the settlers stayed aboard. They looted what they could: med kits, food, armor, and a legendary shotgun.On the way back to the boat, Raven slipped — tumbling into a nest of hatchlings. Chop pulled her out while the others covered. They got back on the water, battered but breathing.Then the call came in. Tom, on the Hope radio frequency:“Dock the boat. Everyone stays aboard — except Sam.”Mayor Smiles was calling for a trial.The Dreamer’s PriceSam met with Tom and later, Mayor SMILEs. The offer: five jurors, selected from a list Sam would provide, but subject to approval. The crime: the murder of a member of the Eightfold Path. The timeline: 24 hours. Not self-defense, they said. Not this time.The sentence? Still unclear. But death was on the table.Sam started planning. Alfred the Mr. Handy raised concerns — not just about the trial, but about Jim.Jim, still on the boat, offered a defense no one asked for. A checklist of good deeds. A few smiles. A few unsettling laughs. No remorse. And maybe no plan.They Plan — But Not All TogetherThe jury list started forming: Lena. Tom. Terry. Jacob. Hell’s Bells. Sam sent for Rusty Dusty Bones — the ghoul with a gift for law and a group of holotapes to give him all the ideas he could need. If he could make it north in time, he might just save Jim’s life.Meanwhile, Raven started to wonder: if this town is about second chances… does Jim deserve one?Next?Tomorrow at high noon, Hope holds its first post-war trial. The jury will decide. Rusty’s on the road. SMILEs is watching. And something is moving upriver, behind them.If they can’t hold the line — Hope falls next.Watch the bonus episode➡️ Check it out here on Ko-fi 🔦 Join the Adventure* 🎥 Watch us live every Sunday at 7:30 PM ET on Twitch* 📺 Catch up on episodes via our main YouTube channel* 📺 Watch Fallout prop reviews & deep dives on Overseer Kyle’s channel* 💬 Join our Discord for behind-the-scenes content and community discussions* 🎙️ Listen to Tales From Tomorrow – our story-driven Fallout TTRPG podcast* 🎙️ Tune into Vault Broadcast – our Fallout creator interview series* 💰 Support us on Ko-fi for behind-the-scenes content & shoutouts* 📱 Follow us on TikTok and Instagram🛒 Use Our Affiliate Codes* 🧢 20% Off Bethesda Gear Shop* Use any of the following codes: VAULT2* (If one doesn’t work, try the next — they expire regularly)* 👉 gear.bethesda.net* 📚 10% Off Fallout TTRPG at Modiphius* Use code: BTALES* 👉 modiphius.net* 🛍️ Shop Amazon (Support Us)* 👉 amzn.to/4buk0Er This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tftfallout.substack.com/subscribe