Title: Cloudward, Ho!
GM: Brennan Lee Mulligan
Players: Emily Axford (she/her) as Marya Junková (she/her). Zac Oyama (he/him) as Daisuke Bucklesby (he/him). Siobhan Thompson (she/her) as Vanellope Chapman (she/her). Lou Wilson (he/him) as Montgomery LaMontgommery (he/him). Ally Beardsley (they/them) as Olethra MacLeod (she/her). Brian Murphy (he/him) as Maxwell Gotch (he/him).
Streaming Service: Dropout

If you missed them, catch up on our review of the first episode!

With the legendary crew of the Zephyr now united, our adventure truly begins. Unfortunately, before they can set sail for Zood, Lord Kensington Cosgrove Mordecestershire arrives, claiming that the Zephyr was surrendered by Maxwell’s father and should be turned over to him.

Mordecestershire reveals he had spoken with MacLeod and worked with her before she disappeared. Thinking quickly, the group lie that Montgomery is dying. Fortunately, or unfortunately, Mordecestershire shifts his line, announcing he’ll simply search the vessel for proprietary information which was raffled off. He clucks his tongue, announcing Maxwell’s father is cross with him.

Throwing his weight around, Mordecestershire belittles and interrogates the crew until Daisuke can’t stand by, launching us into our first combat of the series.

The Dimension 20 Art Department hits it out of the park once more. High above the clouds, the Zephyr’s crew take the advantage, heavily in thanks to Montgomery’s vigilant guide ability which permitted everyone to have an additional 6 added to their initiative order.

There’s a clear line forming between the old crew and the new, and combat was a fantastic way to highlight that. As the legendary crew calls out, prepping and supporting each other in big moves, the younger members and the Gotch crew NPCs fumble, struggling to keep up with a group of legends with decades of experience together.

Maxwell holds his own, managing to throw our big bad off the ship; unfortunately, Mordecestershire has a flight suit hidden on him, which makes sense with the reveal he’s also on Widow’s Breath, a toxic chemical which makes flight easier.

Olethra quickly takes cover, recognizing her own inexperience. Considering Mordecestershire paid her special attention, removing herself was likely the best bet regardless. However, she uses her time productively, sneaking in to hide her grandmother’s log, and as she’s doing so, she uncovers a secret compartment.

Olethra tries to hide it elsewhere, but failing that, she hides it on her person and prepares a shot to protect Marya. Her actions are just in time as Mordecestershire breaks into the room. Montgomery comes in, shooting the pale man and marking him as his quarry, which gives Olethra a chance to leap into her mech. As it activates, Mordecestershire makes his escape, and this week’s episode ends.

Highlights

Smog-filled cities and fantastical but toxic drugs treated like Victorian cocaine are a common feature in steampunk, drawing in the more realistically dark sides of the Industrial Revolution. I wasn’t expecting filter feeder comparisons with hair-filled mouths, but Dimension 20 manages to surprise with an extra strike of horror where it is least expected.

When everything is about the air, whether it be a yearning for the sky or steam-power, throwing in terms like “Queen’s Smog” and “Widow’s Breath” are a haunting fit. Having recently read John Green’s Everything is Tuberculous, the romanticism of a deadly disease bounced around my brain hearing both. Nothing is more Victorian than beautifying what kills you, and the comparison of the Eisengestian brutes to cave fish with filter-feeder like hair in their mouths hits a Lovecraftian note that paints a very clear picture of the era.

Final Score (5 out of 5 Stars)

With this first round of combat, we get to see the clear divide between our characters this season. Decades as a team reinforces the legendary status of the Zephyr’s original crew while our two newer characters, Maxwell and Olethra, struggle at points to keep up. Older and with some fighting experience, Maxwell manages to more than hold his own, and Olethra makes some smart moves, but Maxwell definitely comes out ahead.

We’ll have to wait for next week to learn what Olethra found in the secret compartment and learn what the mech can do.

Let us know what you think in the comments below or go over to our Discord channel to join the conversation.

Featured Image: Dimension 20

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The Boss Rush Podcast: The Flagship Podcast of Boss Rush Media and the Boss Rush Network

The Boss Rush Podcast – The Boss Rush Podcast is the flagship podcast of Boss Rush Media and the Boss Rush Network. Each week, Corey, Stephanie, LeRon, and their friends from around the internet come together with other creators, developers, and industry veterans to talk about games they’ve been playing, discuss video game and entertainment based topics, and answer questions solicited on social media and the community Discord. 

New episodes of The Boss Rush Podcast release every Monday morning on YouTube and all major podcast applications like Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Patreon supporters gain one week early access. 

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