Transcript – The Tower of Knowledge

[Quest of Ruin theme plays]

ANNOUNCER
Scroll and Dagger presents:
Quest of Ruin
Episode Fourteen
The Tower of Knowledge

[Theme fades to urban background noise, with sounds of stationery and dice in the foreground.]

GAME MASTER
Hello and welcome to Quest of Ruin, the post-apocalyptic fantasy roleplaying podcast. I am your host and Game Master, and these are the players.

WILL
Will.

GINA
Gina!

ROSIE
Rosie.

LEAH
I’m Leah!

MATT
And Matt.

GAME MASTER
Zero rehearsal. [chuckles] That’s a lie. [clears throat] Okay, so, when we left off you guys were resting in the town of Athradhel, the place that sits on the border between the mortal realm and the Fae Realm. You decided you were going to go into the Fae Realm to find out more about the monolith and the ritual that Vurieth got dragged into.

MATT
Literally.

GAME MASTER
Yeah, literally dragged into.

ROSIE
So, we are going to the Fae then?

GAME MASTER
[exasperated] God, yes!

ROSIE
Yay!

WILL
Well, someone’s certainly excited.

GAME MASTER
God, ain’t she just. All week, I’ve been getting messages.

MATT
Seems a bit extra.

ROSIE
I’m just excited.

GAME MASTER
I mean, sure, but it’s not that big a deal.

GINA
Can we just get started?

GAME MASTER
Right, okay. So you rest for the night and, in the morning, Duliniel leads you out of Athradhel and towards the border of the Fae Realm.

[There is gentle, tinkling music and the sound of footfalls on grass as the party moves through the forest.]

BALINK
How much further is it?

DULINIEL
Not far, little one, not far.

BALINK
If she calls me that one more time –

YAELA
Alright, Binks, just calm down.

VURIETH
Is it really that bad? I’ve called you my little friend many times.

BALINK
Yeah, but you’re my friend, so it’s with affection. She’s just a condescending –

LAETHAR
That may be the case. But she is our guide. Best not to upset her.

VURIETH
Indeed. And we will need all of the help we can get. The Fae Realm is not a place easily navigated.

YAELA
Excuse me, and what makes you think I would not be just as good a guide as Duliniel?

VURIETH
Oh… well… I…

LAETHAR
Well, I may not be of the great and wondrous Calfaeri, but I do at least know that, with the Fae being so changeable, it is likely to have shifted around a lot since you were last there.

DULINIEL
Master Laethar speaks the truth, Lady Yaela. The Isle of Norn has shifted a great distance in the last few years. I am sure you could find it but your time is far too valuable for such unnecessary work.

YAELA
Well… I suppose.

DULINIEL
Come, the border is only a little further.

[Duliniel runs ahead.]

AIOLIN
Do you not find it a little… cloying?

YAELA
[unconvincingly] Of course not. She just wishes to help. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

AIOLIN
[sarcastically] Of course not.

[The party reaches the border.]

DULINIEL
And here we are!

BALINK
… I don’t get it, it looks the same as the rest of the forest.

DULINIEL
Only if you look with your eyes. You need to see into the gap.

BALINK
… what?

YAELA
Don’t worry about it, Binks, I’ll help you through.

BALINK
Through what?

VURIETH
You’ll find out.

DULINIEL
Come, this way.

[Reality is bent – and the fae realm is entered.]

BALINK
Okay, yeah, Vurieth, I get what you were talking about now.

YAELA
[happily] It’s so good to be back!

LAETHAR
Well at least someone’s happy.

DULINIEL
How can you not be happy, Master Laethar? Can you not feel the magiwinds swirling around you? The pure energy of this place?

LAETHAR
Oh I can certainly feel it.

AIOLIN
It is a bit hard to ignore, isn’t it?

BALINK
I wanna go home.

YAELA
Oh come on, stop being so dramatic. We’re here now, so let’s just do what we came to do.

VURIETH
Yes, indeed. Duliniel, where is this library?

DULINIEL
Through this way.

VURIETH
I see.

AIOLIN
I don’t, what?

LAETHAR
Physics don’t really work in the same way here, Aiolin. The Fae is in an almost constant state of flux. It’s hard to explain but you don’t so much travel to a place as… move through space and into the other location.

AIOLIN
… you just described walking, but in a weird way.

VURIETH
He is also right. You’ll see in a moment.

AIOLIN
… alright.

DULINIEL
Here we are, follow me.

[Reality is walked through, and closes behind them.]

AIOLIN
[grunts] Right, I did not care for that.

BALINK
I think I’m gonna be sick.

LAETHAR
You never get used to it.

YAELA
Big babies.

LAETHAR
Could you stop being so damned chipper?

YAELA
[hums] … no.

VURIETH
Is that the tower?

YAELA
Yes, that’s it.

AIOLIN
It’s enormous. That’s really a library?

DULINIEL
Come. I sent word to the keeper of the tower, he is expecting us.

YAELA
Istaband? Spirits, it’s been years since I’ve seen him.

DULINIEL
I know he will be happy to see you, Lady Yaela. And you, Perinoss Vurieth. I understand you have been here before?

VURIETH
Yes, indeed. But I never came to this place.

DULINIEL
Well then this will be a great experience for you. And your friends, of course. Barad-Angol is unlike anything you will have seen in your world.

LAETHAR
Well, I’m sure the Remnant Library is impressive, all things considered.

AIOLIN
Nope. Even the Sonrai College paled compared to this place.

LAETHAR
[muttering] Whose side are you on?

AIOLIN
You can’t deny the facts. ‘Specially when they’re staring you in the face like this.

[They approach the tower – and the doors creak open.]

ISTABAND
Now, who comes? I know it can’t be Yaela Tangleweave, for she’s out gallivanting in the mortal realm.

YAELA
Istaband, it is wonderful to see you again.

ISTABAND
Likewise, my dear. Duliniel, I thank you, you may return to your duties.

DULINIEL
Yes, Librarian.

[Duliniel leaves.]

ISTABAND
I must say, I wasn’t expecting so many of you. And an orc and a goblin among you. This is the first time I’ve had the pleasure of meeting one of your kindreds.

AIOLIN
Oh well, the pleasure is mine.

BALINK
Yeah, yeah, real nice place you got here.

ISTABAND
My thanks. And is this the half-elf of Lithindbar that I heard about?

VURIETH
Uh, yes – yes, Master Librarian.

ISTABAND
Oh please, call me Istaband. Any friend of Yaela’s is welcome in my presence… with some exceptions.

YAELA
Istaband…

LAETHAR
Master Librarian.

ISTABAND
[coldly] Well met, Laethar Ithilim Narolinion.

LAETHAR
I actually go by –

ISTABAND
I know the name you take now. The Tower of Knowledge hears all. But I am not so inclined to let you leave your shame behind you.

LAETHAR
How gracious of you.

YAELA
Please –

ISTABAND
I see you still lack proper respect.

LAETHAR
Only for those who don’t deserve it.

ISTABAND
I had hoped my niece had tired of joining you on doomed and pointless exploits by now.

LAETHAR
Well I am delighted to disappoint you.

YAELA
[sharply] Alright, both of you stop it! I am not having this again. If the two of you can’t be civil with each other, then just don’t speak.

[There is a pause.]

ISTABAND
Apologies, Yaela. I regret my words. Let us move to the subject of why you are here?

YAELA
We seek quite old knowledge. The source of vampirism.

ISTABAND
[suddenly a little jumpy] That is… ancient knowledge indeed. That harkens back to the Dawn Years. I’m not sure we have anything here.

YAELA
… Istaband, you have all the histories of the world here. I’ve seen the books myself.

ISTABAND
Histories of the world from the rise of civilisation. The birth of vampirism pre-dates such histories.

AIOLIN
But there must be something. If you have writings from the ancient cultures, well, they’ll surely have notes about what we’re after?

ISTABAND
Well, perhaps… but honestly I forget where such histories might be found.

VURIETH
Are you well, Master Istaband? You seem… anxious about something.

YAELA
You’ve never forgotten a thing in your life, Uncle. What is the matter?

ISTABAND
The matter? Nothing, nothing whatsoever. I merely… well…

AIOLIN
Well, if you just point us in the direction of your oldest histories, I think I could –

ISTABAND
No! I mean, that is… Yaela, could I –

AIOLIN
I think I understand. You’re worried we might damage the collection.

ISTABAND
What?

AIOLIN
No no, I understand. Old texts are fragile and those who don’t know what they’re doing or are disrespectful… 

LAETHAR
… what?

AIOLIN
Well they can damage them by accident. But I promise, your collection will be fine.

ISTABAND
It’s not that. Well, alright. The oldest tomes are on the top floor. But getting up there requires magic and, unfortunately, I’m rather drained and my assistant is… well… um –

VURIETH
It’s no problem. I am a mage, perhaps I can help?

ISTABAND
Well, yes, very well. Come, let me show you how the elevator works.

[The elevator rises to the top floor.]

ISTABAND
And here we are. I shall… I shall return to the bottom floor. Let me know if you need anything else.

YAELA
Thank you, Uncle.

[The party walks into the library.]

BALINK
So, he was definitely acting strange, right?

LAETHAR
Absolutely.

YAELA
I’ve never seen him get that protective over the collection before. He’s usually happy to let anybody look at anything, providing they’re respectful.

VURIETH
So, how shall we do this? There is a lot to look through.

AIOLIN
Perhaps it would be a good idea to split up?

YAELA
Alright well, we’ll go look down here and you two can look that way. If we find anything, we can just meet back up here.

VURIETH
Sounds like a good idea.

[We hear Yaela and Aiolin stride off.]

BALINK
Wait for me!

[The group separates, and we hear Aiolin pulling out books and replacing them, grunting impatiently.]

YAELA
Aiolin, are you alright?

AIOLIN
Hm? Yeah, fine. Just getting a bit sick of Laethar’s attitude.

YAELA
[sounding amused] I know the feeling. Why do you think I asked you to come with us?

BALINK
He’s always been like that.

YAELA
You think I’d have stuck around with him this long if that were true?

BALINK
I mean as long as I’ve known him.

YAELA
We only met you after the Last Resistance. Believe me, there was a time that Laethar was actually good company.

[Aiolin laughs.]

AIOLIN
I can’t believe that.

YAELA
It’s true. He told stories, he laughed, he even sang.

BALINK
Now I know you’re making this up.

AIOLIN
The War really did a number on him, huh?

YAELA
There’s a lot he deals with. That’s why I can never bring myself to be too harsh with him.

AIOLIN
Even so, there was no reason to be like that with Istaband.

BALINK
I take it they have a history?

YAELA
You could say that. As Keeper of Barad-Angol, Istaband sits on the High Council. Back when the Harbinger was first starting out, before the Battle of Bloody Tears, Laethar came to to ask for help from the fae. Istaband was one of those who called for the fae to remain out of the war. He said that the troubles of the mortal world were none of our concern, and we should focus on defending our own realm, rather than taking the fight to the Harbinger.

AIOLIN
Ah.

YAELA
Exactly. We didn’t get involved until much later. Until much too late.

BALINK
I can see why he’d be annoyed about that.

AIOLIN
You sound like you regret what happened.

YAELA
Of course I do.

AIOLIN
Did you know Laethar when he came before the council?

YAELA
… I did. I counted him among my greatest friends.

AIOLIN
So why –

YAELA
Aiolin. If you don’t mind, I’d rather not talk about that. Not right now. Can we just… get back to what we’re supposed to be doing?

AIOLIN
Sure.

BALINK
I might have found something.

[Laethar and Vurieth walk between the shelves.]

LAETHAR
I have no idea where to even start.

VURIETH
You could look through these for days and not even read half of them.

LAETHAR
I don’t suppose you know any kind of locator spell?

[Vurieth chuckles.]

VURIETH
Afraid not.

[Laethar sighs.]

LAETHAR
Well, I suppose it’s the old fashioned way. What do you think? V for vampire? R for Rituals?

VURIETH
You do not seem to be taking this seriously.

LAETHAR
Well, I told you. A turning ritual requires a High Blood. That’s just a fact.

VURIETH
Oh, you mean like the fact that an elf could not be turned into a Waster?

LAETHAR
… alright, fair point. I admit there have been a few occasions where I was mistaken.

VURIETH
Excuse me? There must be dust in my ears, I think I just heard –

LAETHAR
Don’t get too clever, Ashlander.

VURIETH
[chuckling] My apologies. Perhaps you are right. Perhaps their ritual was meaningless, but I would rather know for sure.

LAETHAR
Well, I can’t –

[There’s a slithering sound.]

VURIETH
Shh! Did you hear that?

LAETHAR
Hm?

VURIETH
I thought I heard something move.

LAETHAR
I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a fox-bat living in here. Look at this mess, it’s an absolute disgrace.

[The sound repeats.]

VURIETH
That was no fox-bat.

[The sound repeats – closer.]

LAETHAR
Maybe we should go and find the others.

[At the other side of the top floor, Balink, Yaela, and Aiolin talk.]

BALINK
Well sorry, the book did say enormous rock!

YAELA
Roc without a k! Binks, that was a book about rare birds!

AIOLIN
Interesting though.

YAELA
There has to be something here. Aiolin, you know libraries the best of us. Where should we start?

AIOLIN
That’s the thing, I’ve been trying to figure out the filing system and – well, there doesn’t seem to be one.

BALINK
Eh?

AIOLIN
As far as I can tell, everything in here has just been put away at random. There’s no rhyme or reason to any of it.

YAELA
That’s impossible. Istaband would never allow the library to get into that kind of state.

BALINK
You sure?

[Balink pulls two books from the shelf.]

BALINK
Because I’ve got an Aladian encyclopedia here next to a book of children’s poems from Dathland. Don’t really see how these two go together.

AIOLIN
They don’t.

YAELA
But why would –

[There’s a slithering sound. Balink makes a sound of disgust.]

AIOLIN
What is it?

BALINK
I dunno! Something moved!

AIOLIN
Maybe a rat?

BALINK
Nah, too big to be a rat.

YAELA
You’re both being silly. There’s no way Istaband –

[There’s a louder slithering sound.]

AIOLIN
… okay, I heard it that time.

YAELA
So did I.

BALINK
See? Told you!

[Balink scrambles up onto a shelf.]

YAELA
Binks! Get down!

BALINK
[faintly, from high up] No way! The floor’s dangerous if there’s somethin’ smitherin’ around!

YAELA
[momentarily distracted] Say that again?

BALINK
Huh? What? There’s somethin’ smitherin’ around!

[Yaela laughs.]

AIOLIN
Uh, Balink, that’s not quite the right –

[The slithering sound repeats.]

BALINK
There it is again!

AIOLIN
Blood! What is that?!

YAELA
Stay still, both of you! Listen!

[Across the library, Laethar and Vurieth walk quickly.]

LAETHAR
Shh, stop a moment!

[Their footsteps stop.]

VURIETH
Is it back?

LAETHAR
Yes. I cannot tell where it is though.

VURIETH
Oh, gods, do you think Istaband is alright?

LAETHAR
I could not begin to pretend to care.

VURIETH
Laethar –

LAETHAR
Let’s not talk about it.

VURIETH
Whatever went on between you two, I… you know I would not judge, yes?

LAETHAR
Yes, I am very aware of your insistence of seeing the good in everyone, Ashlander. You know that’s going to get you into trouble one of these days.

VURIETH
I do not think so.

LAETHAR
[amused] Of course you don’t.

[Vurieth puts their hand on Laethar’s shoulder.]

VURIETH
Look, the point is, though you do a good job of hiding it, I think you are a good person. Whatever happened between you and Master Istaband, I’m sure there was a good reason. And if you wish to talk about it, that’s fine. If not, that is well too.

[Laethar is quiet. Vurieth moves along the shelf.]

VURIETH
I do not hear whatever that noise was anymore. Perhaps we can get back to our search as we check on the others?

LAETHAR
[softly] Istaband helped convince the fae not to join us to fight the Harbinger.

VURIETH
Ah. I did think –

LAETHAR
I came before their council with Yaela. You see –

[The slithering is louder, closer.]

VURIETH
What – ?

LAETHAR
Who turned out the light?

VURIETH
Not I, my friend.

LAETHAR
Where are you? Ashlander?

VURIETH
Here!

[Vurieth grabs Laethar’s arm – and the slithering gets even louder.]

LAETHAR
Right. Let’s just try to get back out.

VURIETH
I cannot see anything. Can y –

[Vurieth yelps.]

LAETHAR
What is it?

VURIETH
I do not know. I could have sworn something grabbed my ankle.

LAETHAR
Let’s just keep moving, come on. This darkness must end eventually.

VURIETH
I cannot even make out the bookshelves.

[There’s a thud as Vurieth smacks into a bookshelf.]

VURIETH
Ah! Okay, I think I found them.

LAETHAR
Now which way?

VURIETH
The others turned right.

LAETHAR
Yes, but where is that?

VURIETH
It is too dark, even for me.

LAETHAR
Can you see anything at all?

VURIETH
Not a thing. Should we call them, or –

[Vurieth is grabbed and dragged backwards, and they yelp in surprise. Their voice is faint and distant.]

LAETHAR
Oh for – I’m coming!

VURIETH
Let go of me! What do you want?! What do you want with me?!

[The creature pauses.]

LAETHAR
Ashlander?!

VURIETH
Laethar?!

[Laethar draws his sword.]

LAETHAR
Keep talking! I don’t want to hit you by accident.

VURIETH
[more distantly, from even further away] You are too kind for your own good, Laethar! Ah!

LAETHAR
Try to grab hold of something!

VURIETH
Alright, I – ow!

[Shelves are knocked over as Vurieth struggles with the creature.]

LAETHAR
You shroud yourself in darkness. Afraid to face me, coward?

[Vurieth yells a magic spell, and there is a crack of lightning.]

LAETHAR
By the gods!

[Vurieth yells in pain as they fight.]

LAETHAR
It’s a… I…

VURIETH
Laethar! Laethar!

[The slithering swallows Vurieth up – and there is silence.]

LAETHAR
Ashlander? Ashlander?! Vurieth!?!

[Laethar runs, then knocks into a bookshelf and books tumble to the floor.]

LAETHAR
I must find the others.

[The other three run frantically.]

YAELA
Laethar?! Laethar? Vurieth?!

BALINK
Oi, Grumpy! and Less Grumpy?!

AIOLIN
What on earth was all that?

YAELA
I have no idea. The Library is kept sealed, nothing should be able to get in here without Istaband’s permission!

BALINK
Woah!

AIOLIN
What the –

YAELA
That’s magical darkness… what…

BALINK
[rushing ahead] You guys in there?

YAELA
Binks! Come back!

LAETHAR
[distantly] Yaela?

YAELA
Laethar!

[Balink walks straight into Laethar.]

BALINK
Ouch! Oh hey, there you are!

LAETHAR
Get me out of this infernal darkness!

BALINK
Sure thing, come on!

[They emerge from the darkness.]

YAELA
Laethar, are you alright? Where is Vurieth?

LAETHAR
Something chased us, it caught them! It took them. I do not know where, they just vanished!

BALINK
Oh oh! Was it smitherin’?

LAETHAR
What?

BALINK
We heard it too! It were smitherin’ along the floor!

AIOLIN
He means, we heard a creature slithering about. Was that what took Vurieth?

LAETHAR
Yes – yes, exactly that. I think I even caught a glimpse of it. Vurieth shot lightning at it and –

YAELA
Did you recognise it?

[Laethar sighs.]

LAETHAR
No, not at all. It was… well, it… it looked like tentacles…

BALINK
Like an octopus?

LAETHAR
Well… yes, but just the tentacles. I didn’t see a head or anything like that.

AIOLIN
That sounds unlikely.

LAETHAR
I know but – but that’s what I saw.

BALINK
Well, that’s a good thing right? No gob, no teeth, no eating Vurieth.

YAELA
I admire your optimism, Binks, but it could still do harm.

AIOLIN
True. It could sap them of their soul, strangle the life from them, dissolve their skin and –

[Balink makes a sound of disgust.]

AIOLIN
Sorry. I… have read far too many books on dangerous creatures.

LAETHAR
You are right though. We must find them.

YAELA
How do we start? You said they vanished?

LAETHAR
Yes, it was as if they disappeared from right beside me.

AIOLIN
That is likely some kind of teleportation magic. That would explain why you didn’t see a head. It just sent the tentacle through, grabbed Vurieth and dragged them back.

YAELA
But how do we track it?!

AIOLIN
Every spell like that requires an anchor, a place to re-emerge on the other side. Ties like that leave tethers, if we’re lucky we could find one and follow it.

BALINK
Like a string in a cave?

LAETHAR
A what?

BALINK
Y’know, when you go exploring in a new cave? You tie string round something at the entrance, then keep uncoiling the rest as you go, and when you wanna get back, you just follow it!

YAELA
Please tell me you did not do this by yourself?

BALINK
Allllll the time!

YAELA
The fact you are still alive is incredible.

AIOLIN
But yes, that is the basic idea.

LAETHAR
So, how do we find these strings?

AIOLIN
It won’t be so easy for us. We don’t have nearly enough magical skill to just fumble around and find it. We’ll have to work out what drives the creature, what it wants. Then use that to try and connect to the traces it left behind.

BALINK
… run that by me again?

LAETHAR
But what on earth could a giant tentacled monster want?

YAELA
Vurieth.

LAETHAR
But why them, specifically?

AIOLIN
What do you mean?

LAETHAR
Well… didn’t you say that you heard it too? Close by?

BALINK
Yeah.

LAETHAR
So then… why didn’t it attack you too? You are just as easy a target and it had plenty of tentacles.

BALINK
Because there was three of us, maybe?

LAETHAR
I doubt the creature would have cared how many of you there were. Trust me, it could have carried all of us off, easily.

[Balink makes a distressed sound.]

AIOLIN
Okay, I see what you’re saying. If this creature had ample opportunity to take any one of us, and in fact could have taken all of us, why only go for one, and why specifically go for Vurieth?

YAELA
And why is it living here in the library? It’s not exactly much of a hunting ground, you saw how few people were here.

AIOLIN
It must be connected. Maybe… maybe this thing feeds on knowledge.

BALINK
Eh?

AIOLIN
Well, think about it. Why else would it make its home here? Like Yaela said, there’s not much edible stuff around. So it must be the library itself. Barad-Angol, the biggest collection of knowledge in the world. And then, when it finds new knowledge, it draws it into itself with those tentacles, like sampling something new!

[Balink makes a sound of disgust.]

YAELA
So… then why take Vurieth? Ashlanders have been around for centuries, they’d hardly be “new knowledge”.

LAETHAR
Perhaps because of their magic?

AIOLIN
Mages are rare among Ashlanders.

BALINK
And ones tainted by vampirism would be rarer… [pause] I’ve got it, right?

LAETHAR
I didn’t believe it – but if they were infected…

AIOLIN
No, he’s right. Think about it! If this creature does hunger for knowledge and learning, it’s likely been feeding on this place for a while. All the books, all the secrets, plenty of knowledge. It’s probably absorbed most of what there is to know. But then, what if a complete anomaly wandered into its den?!

BALINK
An amon-a-what-now?

AIOLIN
Vurieth may be one of a kind! An Ashlander tainted with the vampiric blood! That would be downright irresistible to such a creature!

YAELA
Spirits, you’re right… we have to get to them!

LAETHAR
But how?

AIOLIN
Well, we know what it wants is Vurieth… perhaps if we make our own version of Vurieth, we may get drawn in too, to wherever its lair is?

LAETHAR
 “Our own version of Vurieth?”

YAELA
… Aiolin, what…?

BALINK
So like… make a scarecrow what looks like them?

AIOLIN
Not quite so literal. Uh… alright so… here!

[Aiolin pulls a book from a shelf.]

YAELA
Sands to Ashes; A History of Lithindbar.

AIOLIN
I found it earlier, I was going to show it to Vurieth. But this is a link to them. Lithindbar, the Ashen Plains, their homeland. And if we find more “knowledge” connected with them; books about Ashlanders, nomads, magic, maybe even on vampires, all the things that make Vurieth Vurieth, then we can put them all together, as almost a big melting pot of information and hopefully that will draw us in to the creature.

BALINK
… Then we kill it?!

AIOLIN
We get Vurieth back.

LAETHAR
Well this all sounds ludicrous, but I am willing to give anything a try right now. I do not want to split up again, though.

YAELA
You are right, Laethar. Let’s stick together and work quickly. Grab anything you think would relate to Vurieth – their person, their life, anything.

BALINK
Let’s go!

[Dice roll and clatter at the gaming table.]

GAME MASTER
Okay, do me a search check.

WILL
Okay, I got a 16.

GAME MASTER
Sweet okay, you… Gina, you alright?

GINA
Why are you trying to ruin libraries?

[The players laugh.]

GAME MASTER
I am not trying to ruin libraries!

GINA
I swear you are!

MATT
Also, did I do something to you?!

GAME MASTER
What?

MATT
I got abducted by vampires, I get dragged into the dark by an eldritch horror –

GAME MASTER
I swear it’s not personal.

MATT
It feels like it is! Laethar never gets stolen.

ROSIE
Uh – guys, have you seen the time?

GAME MASTER
Wha – oh god!

LEAH
I need to get back!

GAME MASTER
Yep, no problem, we can finish there. We’ll pick this up next time, until then, goodbye!

PLAYERS
Bye!

[The end theme plays and the Announcer recites the credits]