Transcript – Creatures of the Night

[Quest of Ruin theme plays]

ANNOUNCER
Scroll and Dagger presents:
Quest of Ruin
Episode Eleven
Creatures of the Night

[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 tod –

ROSIE
Never mind all that, can you explain what the hell happened last session?

GAME MASTER
[laughing] Okay, okay. You figured out that the whole of Fallersby was under an enchantment, and his enchantment was centred, for some reason, on a cake that Carrow and the rest of the village kept telling you was “for later”.

MATT
Which we decided wasn’t creepy at all, for some reason.

GAME MASTER
That would be the enchantment.

WILL
Speaking of, how come Matt and I didn’t get resistance? We both have elder blood.

GAME MASTER
Elder blood wasn’t enough for an enchantment of that strength. Yaela got a resist basically because she has fae blood.

LEAH
And I’m guessing orcs and goblins don’t get any kind of resistance to enchantments?

GAME MASTER
[chuckling] Not even slightly, no.

GINA
Okay, okay, okay, that I can deal with. But what was with the cake?

ROSIE
And the whole “open the eye” thing?

GAME MASTER
Well, Rosie, you figured out that the cake was the focal point of the enchantment. By cutting it open, it broke that enchantment. And this had a few consequences. First and most obvious, you guys are released from its effects.

LEAH
Can I do a notice check?

GAME MASTER
Hmmm you’ve just come out of a lengthy enchantment is the thing… okay, do me a rally test first.

[Leah rolls the dice.]

LEAH
Seventeen?

GAME MASTER
Right, okay, I’ll let you do a check, but take seven points of temporary damage for being woozy.

LEAH
Ugh, okay… [rolls] fourteen.

GAME MASTER
Your eye is immediately drawn to the cake. Now that it’s cut, you see it for what it is. Mouldering, full of rot and maggots. It’s clearly been there for weeks, months, if not longer.

[Will makes a noise of disgust.]

GAME MASTER
You look around and see that the rest of the village is much the same. Until a second ago, everything was clean, perfect even, the air was clear and warm. Now, though, you see the buildings are ruins. Falling apart, rotting away.

[The villagers’ screaming is heard faintly in the background.]

GAME MASTER
The villagers begin screaming and they begin to visibly and rapidly age, turning from youthful and healthy to wizened and hunched in seconds. Many of them even turn to dust before your very eyes.

MATT
And what about Carrow?

GAME MASTER
You don’t see him.

[The sounds of the gaming table fade to the sounds of Yaela’s footsteps, hurrying, and an eerie silence around them.]

YAELA
Hurry up, come on!

LAETHAR
What happened?

YAELA
I am still not certain, but let’s gather our belongings and get out of here.

BALINK
My tummy hurts…

AIOLIN
Aw, you want a piggyback, little one?

BALINK
Uh huh!

AIOLIN
Up you get!

[Aiolin lifts him, and they all begin to walk.]

VURIETH
[shaken] We… was that… were we under a spell?

YAELA
I think so. Please, I will tell you everything I know when we are out of this place.

LAETHAR
Where did we leave our possessions? My sword?

YAELA
It’s in our – in our rooms at the inn. It’s not far, please, hurry, come on!

[They move faster, and their footsteps fade. There is a moment’s pause – and then a swirling rush of magic.]

CARROW
Very clever girl. Very clever.

[There is a gasp – another voice, lost in the magic, murmurs an indecipherable response.]

CARROW
Yes, yes. I shall try again. The Bliss will come to all, in time.

[There is another lost response.]

CARROW
All for you, my Lady. All for you…

[The sounds fade to the party shivering in the strong winds as they move, frost crunching under their feet.]

BALINK
H-h-h-how m-much f-f-further?

YAELA
You see th-those trees?

BALINK
Uh huh…

YAELA
A few m-miles yet.

AIOLIN
If this wind would let up, it wouldn’t be so bad.

VURIETH
Qu-qu-quite. This gale is f-freezing.

LAETHAR
[audibly taking great pains not to stutter in the cold] Let us try to keep moving, shall we? Keep the blood pumping, keep us warm.

VURIETH
You have a good point there, my friend.

LAETHAR
Obviously.

[They walk on – and something moves.]

YAELA
Did anyone else h-hear that?

LAETHAR
What do you mean?

YAELA
I d- I don’t know, I thought I heard something.

BALINK
Big or s-small something?

AIOLIN
Would it matter?

BALINK
Big means d-d-danger. Small means d-dinner!

[The wind carries a howl.]

YAELA
There it is.

AIOLIN
I heard it that time.

BALINK
Sounded big.

LAETHAR
Probably just some wolves.

YAELA
You think a wolf pack would be out hunting? In this?

LAETHAR
Well maybe, if they were hungry eno –

[There is a crack.]

LAETHAR
… what did I just step on?

YAELA
I can’t see.

AIOLIN
Vurieth, can’t you do anything?

VURIETH
I can try.

[They incant, conjure light, and then speak with effort.]

VURIETH
There, it’s not much.

AIOLIN
It’s better than nothing.

BALINK
There’s something buried here.

[Balink digs through the snow, and then makes a noise of disgust.]

BALINK
It’s bones!

VURIETH
What?

BALINK
Look!

AIOLIN
They look human. Must be some poor sod got lost out here. Froze to death.

LAETHAR
I don’t think that’s it. Ashlander, bring that light closer, will you?

YAELA
What is it?

LAETHAR
Just as I thought. Look.

YAELA
… oh.

BALINK
It’s got fangs!

VURIETH
An obyri?

BALINK
What?

AIOLIN
It’s another word for vampire. And yes, that’s what it looks like.

YAELA
A young one, though. See?

AIOLIN
Oh yeah, the limbs are still normal. And the skull hasn’t begun lengthening.

LAETHAR
But what would a fledgling vampire be doing out here? There were no blood covens this far north, even before the War.

VURIETH
Well it’s fully decomposed, it must have been here a while.

AIOLIN
Not necessarily. Vampires decompose pretty much at the point of death. Could have been here for ages or just an hour, wouldn’t make any difference.

YAELA
Laethar, those howls –

LAETHAR
Yes, I’ve just had the same thought.

BALINK
What?

LAETHAR
We need to make for the trees. Quick as we can.

AIOLIN
No argument here.

[They all begin to move.]

VURIETH
But what is it?

LAETHAR
No time to explain now, we need to run. Yaela?

YAELA
I’ve got my eyes and ears open, don’t worry.

LAETHAR
Right. Aiolin, carry Balink, will you? We need to move fast.

[The party runs as the wind carries howls behind them.]

LAETHAR
[breathing heavily] How far off are they?

YAELA
[breathing heavily] Not far.

AIOLIN
There’s no way we’re making the forest.

BALINK
Maybe we could fight them?

LAETHAR
We don’t know how many there are. We shouldn’t risk it until we know exactly what we’re dealing with.

YAELA
We need somewhere to hide.

VURIETH
Look! There’s a gap in the rocks!

AIOLIN
Would that even work? They must have our scent by now.

[The howling gets louder.]

YAELA
No time to argue. Just get down there! Vurieth, how much power do you have left in you?

[The party jumps, lands, and shifts to hide.]

VURIETH
A fair bit. Probably not enough for combat though.

YAELA
Do you know the Wall of Silence?

VURIETH
I am afraid not. My people only ever learned a weaker version. It can muffle sounds but it will not stop them completely.

[The howling gets closer.]

LAETHAR
That will have to do.

[Vurieth begins to incant.]

BALINK
I can see something out there.

VURIETH
Praefoco!

[There is a rush of magic – and then the creatures howling sound muffled, as if being heard through water. Laethar draws his sword.]

YAELA
[whispering] What are you doing?

LAETHAR
[whispering] There’s no harm in being prepared.

AIOLIN
Shh, I think they’re here.

[There is muffled skittering, sniffing, and snarling.]

BALINK
They’re weird-looking.

VURIETH
Get down!

[Something skitters closer, sniffing and growling, and then moves away.]

VURIETH
[whispering] Did you see how many there were?

BALINK
Not really. But I think we can take them.

LAETHAR
[whispering] Well, I’m not so sure. Let’s just stay down and, if they find us, we can deal with them then.

YAELA
[whispering] How long will they stay?

LAETHAR
[whispering] No idea. Probably until morning. Then they’ll go try and find shelter from the sun.

VURIETH
[whispering hoarsely] Wait, what? You’re saying those… things are vampires?

YAELA
Yes. Well, sort of.

LAETHAR
We’ll explain in the morning. For now, try and get some rest.

AIOLIN
Small chance of that.

[In the morning, the wind fades. Laethar stretches.]

LAETHAR
Are they gone?

BALINK
Yeah, they just ran off.

LAETHAR
They stayed out there all night?

VURIETH
Yes. I think they knew we were here, but just couldn’t find us.

LAETHAR
I’m surprised they stuck around so long after sunrise.

VURIETH
Yes, that seemed strange to me too. The stories my people told of the obyri always said the sun was their bane, that they fled from it. Yet those creatures did not.

BALINK
I mean it was definitely hurting them. Their skins had started smoking by the time they ran off.

AIOLIN
They didn’t seem to realise the sun had even risen. I must admit, I never pictured vampires being quite so, well, feral.

YAELA
That’s because they weren’t true vampires.

VURIETH
What do you mean –

LAETHAR
Come on, let’s start moving, we can explain on the way.

[The party climbs up, and their sounds fade to Vurieth’s voice as they all walk, a little later.]

VURIETH
So there are different types of vampires?

YAELA
Yes. The kind we encountered last night are called Thirsters. They’re unfortunate ones, the ones whose minds were completely dissolved by their turning. True vampires use them as hounds. They’re very good at sniffing out blood.

AIOLIN
So, why couldn’t they find us?

LAETHAR
Well, as you saw this morning, Thirsters have little regard for the sun. Yes. I think they’re maybe just too stupid to understand that’s where the pain comes from. Anyway, because they keep staying out past dawn, their eyes get burned. Most Thirsters are almost entirely blind and so rely on scent and sound.

VURIETH
That is why you had me cast that spell?

YAELA
Exactly. You were right. They would have known we were right there but, because they couldn’t hear us, they couldn’t pin down exactly where we were.

AINA
Very clever.

VURIETH
What the –

DAGMAR
We didn’t even think of that. But then, we wouldn’t have been able to if we had.

YAELA
Stay back!

AINA
Or you’ll what, exactly?

LAETHAR
[drawing his sword] Come a little closer and find out.

[There is rushing, and Aina is immediately nose to nose with Laethar.]

AINA
That close enough, pretty boy?

VURIETH
Obyri!

HALFNOR
Hey, what’d you call her?

AINA
Calm yourself, Halfnor. It’s just what they call us to the South East.

AIOLIN
How many more of you are there?

DAGMAR
Two more. [raising voice] Leif! Agil! Come out and say hello. We hear the footsteps of two more vampires. So, you see? You’re outmatched. So don’t do anything stup –

BALINK
Don’t see how we’re outmatched. There’s five of us, five of you.

DAGMAR
[chuckling] Yes, goblin, but you see we’re five vampires while you are five mortals.

VURIETH
Incorrect.

DAGMAR
Excuse me?

VURIETH
Well, first of all, Yaela is a fae, so she is immortal as well. I, it is true, am only partly elven but my friend Laethar is truly of the elder blood – and, I believe, is much older and more experienced than you, since from what my learned friend, the orc, said yesterday, I do not believe you five are truly vampires.

HALFNOR
You dare –

LAETHAR
No, they’re right. I’ve met a few of your kind over the years. You five are still fledglings, aren’t you? So, what, just left the coven? Thought you’d go for a stroll with your master’s hounds?

AINA
Shut up!

[Aina strikes Laethar, and he falls to the floor. A blade is drawn.]

HALFNOR
I’ll show you who’s a fledgling, you uppity little –

VURIETH
Caelitelum!

[Halfnor grunts as the magic missile crashes into him.]

AINA
What?!

BALINK
Surprise!

[There is a series of explosions, followed by Balink laughing.]

YAELA
Take them!

AINA
You!

VURIETH
Ah!

AINA
I can smell the magic in your veins – it rises, it soars!

DAGMAR
It is strong, sister!

VURIETH
[struggling] Get off me!

DAGMAR
No no, no. You. You shall be –

AIOLIN
Leave them alone!

[Aiolin shoves Dagmar away, and they grapple.]

HALFNOR
[joining Aina] I smell it too, such power! Such glory!

VURIETH
What is it to you?

AINA
I can almost taste it.

AIOLIN
[still fighting Dagmar] Balink! Get those three!

BALINK
On it!

AINA
[whispering in Vurieth’s ear] You would do well with us. Your power would serve us all and bring us to greatness. Recognised, adored, loved.

VURIETH
I…

HALFNOR
It dances on your skin. It’s like sugar in your soul.

VURIETH
My… my magic?

AINA
Sweeter than fruits, brighter than moonlight…

[Aina bites Vurieth, and Vurieth yells in pain.]

BALINK
Aiolin, duck!

[He throws an explosive, and it goes off loudly. Halfnor screams in pain.]

DAGMAR
Sister, run!

[The world seems to slow as Aina speaks to Vurieth.]

AINA
Your blood runs hot with magic. With your memories also. I know your story now, as though I were there beside you, your flight from the Ashen Plains… running, running, lost, lost, so alone. I can see every one spread out for me like a painting, smell them, feel them. And, soon, you will know us as well.

[There is a rush as the fledglings leave.]

YAELA
Is everyone alright? Laethar? Vurieth?

LAETHAR
I am quite alright.

BALINK
They sure move fast!

LAETHAR
Yes, I must admit I was not expecting them to be quite that fast.

YAELA
They took us all by surprise there.

AIOLIN
Vurieth?

VURIETH
… Y-yes?

AIOLIN
Are you alright?

VURIETH
… yes.

BALINK
Did they getcha?

VURIETH
… I…

AIOLIN
Oh Blood, look at their neck!

BALINK
Yep, they gotcha.

YAELA
Oh spirits, Vurieth! Are you okay?

LAETHAR
Will all of you calm down?

YAELA
Calm down! One of those monsters just bit Vurieth!

LAETHAR
Yes, so, one of them had a bit of a feed. It’s not the end of the world.

YAELA
[growling] Laethar!

VURIETH
But, doesn’t that mean that I will…

AIOLIN
What?

VURIETH
That I will become… like them?

[There is a pause, then everyone speaks in rapid succession.]

YAELA
What?

AIOLIN
Where did you get that from?

LAETHAR
What are you talking about, Ashlander?

VURIETH
But, the stories, they all said…

AIOLIN
Oooh, I see. [laughs] A lot of old stories say that any vampire can turn anyone else into another vampire.

[Laethar laughs.]

BALINK
… well that’s just silly.

LAETHAR
[amused] You’re fine, Ashlander, don’t worry yourself. Only true vampires can turn people, and only then with a ritual. That rabble aren’t undead enough yet to actually pass it on. Hence why they’re out in the middle of the morning sun.

BALINK
I was wondering about that.

VURIETH
So, am I truly alright?

YAELA
I mean, you have still been bitten. Do you want to sit down?

VURIETH
No, no I… I… thank you.

LAETHAR
We should move. They know where we are now.

YAELA
Are we all alright to move?

[Balink, Aiolin, and Vurieth agree simultaneously.]

YAELA
If we make a move now, we should be a good deal closer to Daeryn by nightfall.

[They begin to walk.]

BALINK
[quietly] Hey.

VURIETH
[quietly] … yes.

BALINK
You’re not still worried, are you?

VURIETH
[touching their neck] … well.

BALINK
They were right. Laethar and Aiolin. About vampires and the turnin’ ritual. I heard you gotta outright die to make it work. So, you’re fine, really. Want a hanky to stop it bleedin’?

VURIETH
You are too kind, little one. Thank you.

BALINK
Kind’s all we got now, ain’t it?

VURIETH
I am afraid you are right.

BALINK
So… what did it feel like?

VURIETH
I am sorry?

BALINK
Y’know, how’d it feel? Having a fangy-thing sucking on your neck?

VURIETH
Odd. Very odd.

BALINK
Hurt lots?

VURIETH
Oh yes. Very much.

BALINK
You can keep the hanky if you like.

VURIETH
Thank you, Binks.

[In a shallow cave, wind whistles past.]

LAETHAR
This will have to do.

YAELA
It is small – Aiolin, can you fit?

AIOLIN
If I crouch. It’s plenty big if we all sit.

BALINK
Bagsie first watch!

YAELA
Oh, alright Binks. Thank you. Did you want company?

BALINK
Nah, only if one of you wants to.

VURIETH
I am rather wide awake, I shall sit with you.

LAETHAR
If you’re stopping up as well, might be an idea to cast that muffling spell again, just be on the safe side. They might have more thirsters out there.

VURIETH
Yes, I shall.

[There is a crackle of fire, and the other three sleep.]

BALINK
So… maybe a rude question but… you sure your spell worked this time?

VURIETH
Why do you ask?

BALINK
Well… now, it’s not like I know anything about magic or whatnot but… you seemed kinda… ahh, more knackered than when you did it last time. And it didn’t go whoosh in like the same way.

VURIETH
“Whoosh?”

BALINK
Yeah, like when you cast them spells, and it goes wh-

[Vurieth laughs softly.]

VURIETH
“Whoosh,” I see.

BALINK
So… you think it worked?

VURIETH
I cast it the same way as I did previously.

BALINK
That ain’t the same.

VURIETH
No. I suppose not. You are no fool, Binks.

BALINK
Well, hangin’ round all you clever lot, rubs off on a goblin, don’t it?

VURIETH
I feel… alive. But tired. But unable to sleep. [sighing] Sorry, it – it is difficult to explain.

BALINK
How’s the bite?

VURIETH
[shifting the fabric] You tell me.

BALINK
Hmmm… looks kinda red and swollen. But not like, oozing or anything.

VURIETH
Well that is good, I suppose.

BALINK
Sorry.

VURIETH
Sorry? Why, my friend?

BALINK
I could have been quicker on them bombs.

VURIETH
Don’t be silly. Those fledglings were faster than any of us, Binks. Do not apologise. There is no need from me.

[There is a transition to later that night.]

YAELA
Vurieth?

VURIETH
Hello, Yaela. Balink has fallen asleep – I took the second watch as well.

YAELA
That is very kind of you. Would you like to try and rest? I could take over.

VURIETH
No, no. I am fine. Get some more rest. The sun will be up in a couple of hours.

YAELA
Alright, if you’re sure. But wake one of us up if you need.

VURIETH
I shall.

[Fire crackles gently, and Balink snores as the wind blows softly. Then there are fast footsteps, at great speed.]

VURIETH
You-!

[A hand covers their mouth, and they try to shout, but it’s muffled.]

AINA
Shh. Hush now.

HALFNOR
The rest are asleep.

AINA
Let your guard slip, didn’t you, Ashlander?

AINA
Perhaps you are feeling weak. Perhaps you just need to feed.

[There is a bite into flesh.]

VURIETH
No!

[Their voice is quickly muffled again as Vurieth is forcefully fed Aina’s blood.]

AINA
It is our family blood. Let it fill you. Let it strengthen you.

HALFNOR
Aina…

AINA
Feel it, embrace it. Soon you shall have much more.

[Vurieth’s muffled objections get quieter.]

HALFNOR
Okay, they’re out. That’s enough, Aina. We need to go.

AINA
Sleep now. You’ll soon be truly one of us. [quietly] And you will lead us to greatness.

[Vurieth is carried away – and dice roll as we return to the gaming table.]

GAME MASTER
Alright, I will need awareness checks from all of you.

WILL
Do I get to use my advantage on that?

GAME MASTER
Heightened senses, so yes.

WILL
Woo!

[Gina rolls the dice.]

GINA
Well that’s a no for Aiolin.

ROSIE
[rolls] Aw, mine went off the table, can I roll again?

GAME MASTER
Go on then.

ROSIE
[rolls again] Aw, that’s worse! That’s a definite no for Yaela.

GAME MASTER
Will?

WILL
… my rolling has not been good today.

LEAH
Seriously? With advantage as well?!

MATT
Maybe he’s just having a really nice dream.

ROSIE
Come on Balink!

GINA
Oh yeah, Leah hasn’t rolled yet!

WILL
[dramatically] We still have hope!

MATT
Please hear them kidnapping me, I don’t want to be a vampire! Awful on the stats – like, travelling in the daylight? Ugh.

LEAH
[rolls] Uh oh…

[The players make noises of surprise and frustration.]

GINA
Leah, nooooo!

MATT
Well, I’m a vampire now.

GAME MASTER
Interesting. So, none of you notice the stealthy figures slipping into the night, dragging Vurieth with them. But unfortunately, we have come up on time, so we shall have to pick this one up next time. Say goodbye, everybody!

PLAYERS
Bye!

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