Transcript – The Free Temple

[Quest of Ruin Theme plays]

ANNOUNCER
Scroll and Dagger presents
Quest of Ruin
Episode Three
The Free Temple

[Theme music fades to sounds of urban life]

GAME MASTER 
Where the hell are they? 

LEAH 
Got stuck in traffic, they’ll be here soon. 

[A doorbell rings]

MATT 
Hey, speak of the devil. 

[Carpeted footsteps as someone walks away, the door opens and closes, and more footsteps approach]

ROSIE 
Hey! Hey, sorry we’re late. 

WILL 
Accident on the high street. 

GAME MASTER 
No worries, you’re here now. 

GINA 
Did you at least bring the snacks? 

WILL 
Oh, um, yeah. Uh, here you go. 

[Will throws a packet of crisps over to Gina, who opens them immediately]

GINA 
(sing-song) Thank you!

[Gina begins eating]

GAME MASTER 
Okay let’s get started. Matt can you press record? 

MATT 
Mhm. Oh, it already is. 

GAME MASTER 
Oh right. Must’ve pressed it by accident. 

GINA 
No problem, we can edit this out later. 

GAME MASTER 
True, okay let’s get started. Hello and welcome back to Quest of Ruin, the fantasy roleplaying podcast run by me, and yeah, this lot are here too!

PLAYERS
[various hellos]

GAME MASTER 
Alright, so, we left off when the party had just left Abnay Gearturner. With the money you got, you head to the largest inn you can find and decide to get an evening of well earned relaxation.

[Transition music with dice rolls plays, and the sound of wind through a grassy plain fades up]

YAELA 
How many do you see? 

LAETHAR 
Couple of dozen perhaps. 

VURIETH
I am not sure a direct assault like this is the wisest course of action. 

LAETHAR 
Well I’m not sure why you’re even here. You were paid what was promised, feel free to go. 

YAELA 
You know full well that we would not have a chance at this by ourselves. 

VURIETH 
And I could not well let my friends go into such danger without my aid. 

LAETHAR 
I’ve told you, we are not-

YAELA 
Aiolin! How does it look? 

[Aiolin approaches, rustling through the grass]

AIOLIN 
It’s incredible. The layout is reminiscent of the hedonistic churches of the Ancient Empire, but it’s built into the mountain in a spiral shape! Just like the-

LAETHAR 
Yes, yes, that’s all very interesting, but did you find where she’s being kept? 

AIOLIN 
Oh, er, yeah, sorry. She’s up in the main arena. Balink is in position. 

LAETHAR 
And is he out of sight? He knows his instructions? 

YAELA 
Will you relax? Binks can keep himself hidden and he won’t do anything until we get there. Although, I’m guessing he is preparing for something.

AIOLIN 
He did say something about cluster bombs. 

YAELA 
Right, we’d best be quick then. 

LAETHAR 
Does everyone remember the plan? 

PARTY
[variations on yes]

LAETHAR 
Alright, then get to your positions. Quietly! 

[Footsteps through the grass as everyone heads to their positions]

AIOLIN 
Do you think this will work? 

VURIETH 
We counted carefully, we know their movements. I say we certainly have a good shot. 

[Pause]

AIOLIN 
Do you see Balink yet? 

VURIETH 
Not yet…

[Pause]

AIOLIN 
Why are you here, Vurieth? 

VURIETH 
(sigh) You overheard Master Monrunn, I take it?

AIOLIN 
A little bit, aye. 

VURIETH 
Then you heard my answer. 

AIOLIN 
Hmm. So you just want to help Yaela then? 

VURIETH 
Yes, but not just her. I meant all of what I said. 

AIOLIN 
You’d really consider the elf a friend? He sure as bone doesn’t think of you as one. 

VURIETH
Well, perhaps not. But he is a friend of Yaela, so I shall continue to treat him as one. 

AIOLIN 
You’re far too forgiving.

[The wind fades down and then back up, across the other side of the plains, and there are footsteps through the grass. A sword is drawn]

YAELA 
Two on the far side, three by the fire pit. One keeping watch by the rocks up on the trail. Three in the tent. 

LAETHAR 
Shouldn’t be too much trouble, assuming the Ashlander can do their part. 

YAELA 
You don’t give them enough credit. 

LAETHAR 
You give them too much. 

YAELA 
There was a time you would have embraced Vurieth like a sibling. 

LAETHAR 
That was a long time ago. I know better now. 

YAELA 
I keep telling you, they are not a human. 

LAETHAR 
That blood is still there. And I cannot, will not, bring myself to trust it. Not again. Not after ev-

[Laethar is cut off by a far-off explosion]

LAETHAR (ctd)
Well I suppose that’s our fault for letting the goblin get bored. 

[Yaela draws and fires an arrow]

YAELA 
Are you going to keep grumbling, or go do your part? 

[In the background, a magic spell is heard]

YAELA (ctd)
Vurieth’s already doing theirs.

[The wind fades down and back up, with Balink running through the grass, panting as explosions set off behind him. He removes a pin, and lobs another explosive with a ‘hup’]

BALINK
One Cavernvault, two Cavernvault, three, four, FIVE! 

[The explosive goes off perfectly on time, there is a shifting of rubble]

BALINK 
There she goes! 

[The rubble and wind fade down, and the wind fades back up on Aiolin and Vurieth battling together]

AIOLIN
Besides! 

[Vureith is casting spells, Aiolin fighting off cult members as they charge the pair]

AIOLIN (ctd)
You think he would do the same for you? Blood, he spends most of his time trying to get rid of you. 

VURIETH 
(panting) That is why I must show him some grace. He has the wrong idea about me. I can show him that he is wrong, but I can only do so with friendship and trust. 

AIOLIN 
Far, far too forgiving! 

VURIETH 
You are entitled to your opin-AHH!

[Vurieth ducks a sword swinging at their head, and it clatters against a rock. Aiolin punches the cultist]

AIOLIN
Get off ‘em!

[Vurieth casts another spell]

AIOLIN 
Look out! Another two are heading down the path! 

[The wind fades down, then back up on Yaela and Laethar]

YAELA 
There’s more of them! 

LAETHAR 
How many? 

YAELA 
Six or seven! 

LAETHAR 
Where abouts? 

YAELA 
Eastern side, they’re running for the- oh by the gods, they’re heading for Binks! 

LAETHAR 
Do they see him?! 

YAELA 
How should I know?!

[Laethar huffs, then starts running]

LAETHAR
You hold here, I’ll go and get the goblin! 

[His voice then the wind fades away, the wind fading back up on Aiolin and Vurieth, who finishes casting a spell. Laethar approaches at speed]

VURIETH 
Master Laethar? What are you doing over here? 

LAETHAR 
(panting] Balink! 

VURIETH 
What? 

AIOLIN
What happened? 

VURIETH 
Laethar! 

[Laethar runs past and away]

AIOLIN 
You think things have gone wrong over there? 

VURIETH 
I hope not.

AIOLIN 
Should we go after ‘im? 

VURIETH 
No… No. No, we must keep all the exits covered. If we let them get away and they have her with them… 

AIOLIN 
Blood! You’re right, but I don’t like just sitting here doing nothing. 

[A crash in the background, more cultists charge the pair, Vurieth lets off a spell]

VURIETH 
Ha. I doubt we shall be getting bored, my friend. 

[Vurieth casts another spell as Aiolin fights a cultist off]

AIOLIN 
They look a bit well armed for cultists! 

VURIETH 
They must have hired protection! I do not think I can deal with all of them. 

[More cultists charge towards them]

AIOLIN 
I’ll take any you miss. 

[A huge explosion is set off, rubble and cracking stone begin as the temple starts to fall. Cultists scream in the background]

VURIETH 
Sands preserve us! 

AIOLIN 
Blood, the whole thing’s gone down! That’s where Laethar was headed! D’you think-? 

VURIETH
Oh dear… 

[The wind fades down. The cold silence of a wreckage fades up as Balink makes his way through the rubble, coughing]

BALINK
Laethar? Laethar are you in there? 

[Balink tugs at the rocks, causing some to fall and dust to trickle]

BALINK (ctd)
Laethar? Can you hear me?! 

LAETHAR 
(muffled and sounding weak) I’ve got her… 

[Aiolin and Vurieth approach, panting]

VURIETH 
Is he… is… he…?

BALINK 
Yeah, I can’t get to him. He said he’s got the girl. 

VURIETH
Oh, thank the Wanderer. 

AIOLIN 
Get out of the way. I can do it. Balink, go and fetch Yaela. 

[Aiolin starts to shift and move the rubble, grunting with the effort]

BALINK 
But what about them cultists? 

VURIETH 
I think any that have escaped the blast have run off. You should be safe. 

[Balink scurries away, and Aiolin continues hauling rock] 

AIOLIN 
Come on, come on! 

[Aiolin heaves a particularly large rock, creating a small gap through which we can hear Laethar’s laboured breathing and the crying of a young girl]

AIOLIN (ctd)
Laethar! Can you climb- oh, Blood… 

VURIETH 
Is he-? Is she-? 

LAETHAR 
(groans) Get her up. 

AIOLIN 
I can’t fit down there, I can move more of this rubble, but it’ll take a while. Vurieth? 

VURIETH 
Yes, I am going. 

[Vurieth begins to make their way to where Laethar is while Aiolin continues to shift the rubble]

VURIETH (ctd)
Laethar! Laethar, can you hear me? It’s Vurieth.

LAETHAR 
Just, take her. 

ELLOIN 
(Sniffling) Where are you taking me? 

LAETHAR 
They are going to take you home.

VURIETH 
We are going to take you home. Laethar will be there too. 

ELLOIN 
H-he’s bleeding a lot. 

VURIETH 
I know. I know, but he is going to be alright. For now, we have to get you up out of this hole, then we can help Laethar. Do you understand? 

ELLOIN 
A-alright… 

VURIETH 
Come with me, just step up here… 

[Elloin begins to climb up, the debris shifting under her feet slightly, and she squeaks]

LAETHAR 
It’s alright, you’re doing just fine. 

VURIETH 
Yes, you are. Now just step up here. Yes, there you go. Now, see where my hand is? 

[Vurieth’s voice fades away, and the focus is on Laethar’s laboured breathing. He coughs, and the cold air of the wreck fades away. The winds outside fade back up, and Yaela is still dealing with cultists]

YAELA
Don’t even think about it!

[She fires three arrows in quick succession, only a couple hitting their targets]

YAELA (ctd)
Damnit! I can still get those last two though.

[She fires two more arrows, only one hits its mark]

YAELA (ctd)
Well, I suppose one is better than two.

[Balink runs up through the grass, panting]

YAELA (ctd)
Binks! You’re alright! That was some amazing explosive work. A little earlier than planned but… What’s wrong? 

BALINK 
(Panting) Laethar got the girl, but he’s stuck. He couldn’t get clear before the bomb went off. 

YAELA 
What, under the temple?! 

BALINK 
Yeah.

YAELA 
And the others? 

BALINK 
All fine, I think. They’re with him now. 

YAELA
Right, take me to them.

BALINK
(tired) Okay!

[They both run off in the direction of the temple, and the winds fade down. The cold air of the temple’s ruins fades back up, Aiolin is still moving rocks]

VURIETH 
Can you move anything? 

LAETHAR 
Not without considerable pain. Look, will you just take the girl and go? I think it should be quite obvious I won’t be making it out of this. 

VURIETH 
I do not accept that. 

LAETHAR 
Then you’re a bigger idiot than I thought. Both my legs are probably shattered, I’m not going anywhere. 

VURIETH 
(stammers) When we get you out, I can heal you. 

AIOLIN
Alright, we’re nearly there. 

LAETHAR 
Look, Ashlander, I will admit that you have decent enough skill with combat magic, but healing is a lot more refined and complex. Not something to be attempted by a half-trained wilding like yourself. No offence. 

VURIETH 
None taken. 

AIOLIN 
(muttering) Hm! There should be. 

LAETHAR 
My point is, I’m in quite enough pain already. 

VURIETH 
(insistent) I can help. 

LAETHAR 
I’m sure you want to and I don’t doubt you’d give it your all but-

[Laethar interrupts himself with a groan of pain]

ELLOIN 
Why won’t you let them help you? 

AIOLIN 
A good question.

[One final grunt and cracking of stone]

AIOLIN (ctd)
I think I can reach him now. 

[Aiolin reaches and grunts as he lifts Laethar out of the hole, and Laethar groans in pain as he is lifted]

ELLOIN 
He said he can heal you, w-why wouldn’t you want him to? 

VURIETH 
Err… 

LAETHAR 
It’s not a simple matter, child. 

ELLOIN 
He’s an elf, he can heal you with magic. 

VURIETH 
Um… actually-

LAETHAR 
Firstly, they are only a half-elf. 

ELLOIN 
Oh, sorry. 

VURIETH 
Do not worry about it. 

LAETHAR 
Secondly, they are a wilding. 

ELLOIN 
What does that mean? 

VURIETH 
It means I wasn’t taught how to use my magic in one of the old schools. I picked it up by myself. 

ELLOIN 
But you can do healing, right? 

VURIETH 
Yes, indeed. 

ELLOIN 
(frustrated) So what’s the problem? 

AIOLIN 
I’d quite like to know that too. 

VURIETH 
Aiolin! 

[Balink and Yaela approach across the debris]

YAELA 
Oh spirits, Laethar, you look like hell. 

LAETHAR 
Oh, well thank you, it’s lovely to see you too. 

BALINK 
His legs are busted. 

VURIETH 
We know. 

BALINK
He ain’t gonna be able to walk very far. 

AIOLIN 
We know. 

BALINK 
Aiolin’ll have to carry him. 

LAETHAR 
Excuse me?! 

BALINK 
Well he ain’t gonna let Vurieth heal him, is he? So we’ll have to carry him. 

YAELA 
Why wouldn’t he let Vurieth heal him? 

ELLOIN 
Because he’s being stupid! 

YAELA 
(warningly) Laethar? 

LAETHAR 
Don’t look at me like that. 

YAELA 
Oh for pity’s sake. Vurieth, heal him. 

YAELA 
Enough! I’ll not hear another word about it. Vurieth, heal him. Laethar, if you have a problem with this, you can take it out on me later. 

LAETHAR 
(sigh) Fine. 

[The cold air under the temple fades away, before the sounds of the party walking along a dirt road fade up]

ELLOIN 
I can’t believe my parents hired you to come after me. 

VURIETH 
They were very worried about you. 

ELLOIN 
But father never spends any money he doesn’t have to.

VURIETH 
He did not hesitate, child. 

AIOLIN 
I don’t suppose you know why those cultists took you in the first place? 

ELLOIN 
No. None of them really spoke to me. Apart from one lady. Her name was Agrippesa? I think she was the leader.

VURIETH 
Hm. Interesting… 

AIOLIN 
What did she say to you? 

ELLOIN 
She kept saying stuff like her time was over and a new soul must be claimed. 

LAETHAR 
Sounds like the usual cult nonsense. 

YAELA 
Did you see her? Before the explosion, I mean. 

ELLOIN 
No, I hadn’t seen her for a while. I think I heard one of the others say she’d gone to get someone?

VURIETH 
So, the cult leader is still somewhere out there. 

LAETHAR 
Hm, maybe. Still, that hardly matters. We’ve done what we set out to do. 

BALINK 
Yes! It’s soft beds and lotsa drink, at last! 

YAELA 
You had quite enough last night, Binks. 

BALINK 
You can never have too much! 

YAELA 
You most certainly can. 

BALINK
No, I don’t think that you can actually. 

YAELA
Bink, you’re going to have to…

[Yaela and Balink carry on arguing, their voices fading as they walk ahead of the others]

ELLOIN
Hey, wait up!

[Elloin follows after them]

AIOLIN 
You look troubled. 

LAETHAR 
Hm? 

VURIETH 
Are you thinking of the cultists? 

LAETHAR 
That obvious, am I? 

AIOLIN 
I thought you said they hardly matter?

LAETHAR 
Well, I suppose they don’t really. Still, the fact that this Agrippesa is likely out there somewhere…

AIOLIN 
Heh. Not like she can do anything. Pretty sure we killed most of her cult. 

LAETHAR 
We killed most of the cultists in that temple, but we don’t know if that was the only group of their church. We don’t really know anything about them.

VURIETH 
Do we need to? They abducted someone, and who knows what they were going to do with her. 

AIOLIN 
I’ve read enough about cults to guess it wouldn’t have been good. 

LAETHAR 
But the why is important. Will they try again? Are there other groups? We don’t know. 

AIOLIN 
I’m surprised you’re so curious about it. 

LAETHAR 
I may be a mercenary, that doesn’t mean I don’t care… More kidnappings means more potential work.

AIOLIN 
(chuckles) There’s the angle. 

LAETHAR 
And, if you two wished to join us for that work… well, you’d be welcome. 

VURIETH 
Oh, we know. 

AIOLIN 
Yaela already offered, and we accepted. 

LAETHAR 
(sigh) Of course she did. 

AIOLIN 
We’d best get a move on. It’s starting to get dark. 

[Aiolin walks ahead, leaving Laethar and Vurieth to talk]

VURIETH 
I appreciate the chance that you-

LAETHAR 
Nothing’s changed, Ashlander. 

VURIETH 
What? 

LAETHAR 
Don’t get me wrong. I am grateful for everything you did back in the temple and, though I am loath to admit it, you have proven that you are a skilled mage, if undisciplined. 

VURIETH 
Uhh… thank you? 

LAETHAR 
But the fact remains that I cannot trust you. If Yaela didn’t want you along so much, I would not be saying any of this, but since we are now going to be a real crew, I felt you should know all the facts. 

VURIETH 
May I ask why? 

LAETHAR 
You may not. 

VURIETH 
…Hm. I see. Well, I suppose I should thank you for telling me. 

LAETHAR
I just wanted things to be clear. 

VURIETH 
I suppose they are.

[The sounds of the party walking on the road fade. A door squeaks, and the faint sounds of a tavern fade up]

MRS HILLFOOT 
Elloin! Oh, thank goodness! 

[Mrs Hillfoot hugs her daughter]

ELLOIN 
I’m fine, Mummy! 

MRS HILLFOOT 
Are you? Did they hurt you? Did they feed you? Oh, what did they do to you? 

ELLOIN 
I said I’m fine, Mum! 

MR HILLFOOT 
You did it, you saved her! 

YAELA 
It was nothing, Mr Hillfoot. 

BALINK 
Nothing?! 

YAELA 
(pointedly) Yes, it was our pleasure to help. 

BALINK 
Uh, OH! Oh, right, yeah, we were happy to do it… you’re still gonna pay us though, right? 

YAELA 
Binks! 

MR HILLFOOT 
Oh yes, of course. 

[A purse of coins exchanges hands]

MR HILLFOOT (ctd)
I hope you gave those buggers what for. 

YAELA 
I doubt they’ll be doing it again. 

MRS HILLFOOT 
Good! The thought of my little girl cooped up in a cage or something…

ELLOIN 
I wasn’t in a cage, Mummy. Actually, as long as I didn’t leave the temple, they let me go about pretty much as I liked.

AIOLIN 
They didn’t even lock you up at night? 

ELLOIN
Mmmm, nuh-uh. 

MR HILLFOOT 
Hell’s Teeth, girl. Why didn’t you just escape? 

MRS HILLFOOT 
She was probably too scared to. 

ELLOIN 
No, it wasn’t that. I don’t really know why I didn’t. I guess it just didn’t occur to me. 

MR HILLFOOT 
“Didn’t occur to you” indeed. Do you know how much it cost to rescue you? And you could’ve just left at any time?

 VURIETH 
In fairness, there is a lot of wild country between here and that temple. It is unlikely, that if she had run, that she would have got very far. 

AIOLIN 
And that’s if the cultists hadn’t caught up with her first. Speaking of, if you were free to move around the temple, would you mind telling me about some of the things you saw? 

ELLOIN 
Well I-

MRS HILLFOOT 
Absolutely not. Bad enough my poor daughter getting traumatised, without having to relive it. 

ELLOIN 
I wasn’t traumatised!

MR HILLFOOT 
I don’t suppose you found out why they kidnapped Elloin? 

LAETHAR 
There wasn’t really much chance to ask. 

AIOLIN 
I would guess she was to be used in some sort of ritual, probably a sacrifice or offering. 

MRS HILLFOOT 
Oh my gods! 

MR HILLFOOT 
But why Elloin?! 

AIOLIN 
I’m afraid I couldn’t guess about that. 

MRS HILLFOOT 
Well it hardly matters anyway. What’s important is Elloin is back with us, and she’s safe and we can take the first cart back to Burrowton. 

MR HILLFOOT 
Quite right.

[Chairs scrape on the floor as the Hillfoots stand up]

MR HILLFOOT (ctd)
Once again, you have my thanks. I don’t know what I would have done without you. 

MRS HILLFOOT 
Well, Elloin, say thank you. 

ELLOIN 
Thank you. 

YAELA 
You’re very welcome. We shall take our leave now then, stay safe on the road to Burrowtown. 

[The party begin to file out, Yaela pauses]

YAELA (ctd)
Are you coming?

LAETHAR
Uh, you go on ahead. I’ll catch up in a moment.

[He waits until they’ve all left]

LAETHAR 
Elloin, here. Take this. 

ELLOIN 
What is it? 

LAETHAR 
It will help. If anyone ever tries to hurt you. 

ELLOIN 
Will those people come to take me away again? 

LAETHAR 
No. I do not think so. But this is… Just in case. 

ELLOIN 
Thank you, Laethar. 

[Elloin surprises Laethar with a hug]

LAETHAR 
Oh- uh. Hm.

ELLOIN 
You’ll be safe too, won’t you? 

LAETHAR 
O-of course. 

ELLOIN 
Promise? 

LAETHAR
Excuse me? 

ELLOIN
Promise me!

LAETHAR 
I-I promise. 

ELLOIN 
Will you come see me again one day? 

LAETHAR
I shall certainly try. 

ELLOIN 
Good! 

LAETHAR 
I must be going. Take care of yourself, Elloin. And your parents. 

[Laethar heads to the door]

ELLOIN 
I will! 

[Laethar’s footsteps retreat, and the sounds of the tavern fade away before fading back up again, louder than before as the party enjoy their payment]

BALINK 
Cheers to a profitable operation! 

YAELA 
To getting Elloin home safely. 

BALINK 
And to great food and drink, at last!

AIOLIN 
To all three, then. 

[They clink tankards, and the three fall into a conversation in the background]

VURIETH 
(To Laethar) What held you up back there, my friend? 

LAETHAR 
Oh. Just… Making sure of something.

VURIETH 
Making sure of what? 

LAETHAR
Making sure she will be safe. 

VURIETH 
That was kind of you. 

LAETHAR 
Well, she is only a child. They may well have left some imprint upon her. 

VURIETH 
You mean to check up on her then? 

LAETHAR 
I do. 

VURIETH 
You have a good heart, my friend. 

[The other conversation comes back to full volume]

BALINK 
But but but- did you see the way it fell?! One smooth crash! 

AIOLIN 
Yes, it was very good work. 

YAELA 
Binks, as ever, we are amazed by your ability to blow things to smithereens. 

BALINK 
To smithereens!!

LAETHAR 
So. Where to next? 

YAELA 
I thought we could rest up here for a day or two, then maybe head north to Weisscrag. There’s always plenty of work up there.

AIOLIN 
That would be interesting. 

VURIETH 
Indeed, our caravan never went that way.

 BALINK
I’ve not been there either. 

LAETHAR 
It is harsh and cold but you’re not wrong about the work. I would not object to returning. 

YAELA
Alright then. 

[Transition music with dice rolls plays, fading to urban ambience]

GAME MASTER 
And I think we’ll end it there. 

ROSIE 
Wait, hang on, who were the Hillfoots? 

WILL 
Yeah, I was wondering that. 

GINA 
Um… they were Elloin’s parents. 

ROSIE 
Did we meet them before? 

LEAH 
Well, yeah, they’re the ones who gave us the quest. 

WILL 
Did you tell them that before we got here? 

GAME MASTER
… No. We were waiting on you, remember? 

MATT 
Maybe we should end the episode before we carry on? 

GAME MASTER 
Good shout. Okay. Well that’s the end of today’s episode, join us next time for the next chapter of the story, which will see our heroes travelling to the frozen north. Until then, goodbye. 

PLAYERS
[variations on bye] 

ROSIE 
Alright, alright! So, the Hillfoots…

[The end theme plays over Rosie’s voice and the Announcer recites the credits.]