Transcript – An Open Palm

[Quest of Ruin theme plays]

ANNOUNCER
Scroll and Dagger presents:
Quest of Ruin
Episode Seventeen
An Open Palm

[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.

PLAYERS
Hello!

GAME MASTER
So, last time you arrived in Burrowton, to find there was something strange going on in the surrounding countryside. People in the town spoke of several halflings who had left Burrowton to go off exploring in the world. Meanwhile, Yaela found out that these travellers were not getting that far after all.

ROSIE
[shudders] Yep, lots of bugs. Gross.

GAME MASTER
Indeed. You found that they had been overtaken by swarms of strange insects that seemed to be feeding on them somehow. Elloin, the halfling girl you rescued from the cultists, seemed to know something about them, but did not make anything clear to you. Upon finding the swarms, you were attacked –

MATT
Excuse me? I was attacked, this lot just happened to be there.

WILL
Alright, so we were adjacent to the attack.

GAME MASTER
You were attack-adjacent. But, for whatever reason, Vurieth emerged unharmed from the swarm attack. You were all able to get back to the Blue Griffin pub, which is where you encountered another familiar face…

[Leaving the gaming table, the party and Reynard sit at a table.]

REYNARD
Come, sit down. Hm, it’s a bit dingy here, let’s have some light. Tolo naur.

[Reynard snaps his fingers while incanting.]

REYNARD
There we are.

AIOLIN
You’re a mage?

REYNARD
Oh, heavens no. I carry no more of the gift than any other elf, just a little prestidigitation. Now, come, sit, please.

LAETHAR
I think I’d rather stand, thank you.

REYNARD
Oh, Laethar, don’t be so tiresome. This isn’t a threat or anything. Just an invitation to a friend.

YAELA
Friend?

REYNARD
You sound a little wound up, Yaela.

YAELA
Oh, I wonder why.

REYNARD
So do I. Here I am, offering you a job and you –

LAETHAR
Last time you gave us a job, you refused to pay us for it.

YAELA
It was rather annoying.

LAETHAR
We ended up having to track down someone else to buy it.

REYNARD
You were successful, I trust?

LAETHAR
We were.

REYNARD
So then, all is well. Incidentally, who did you find to take it off your hands?

AIOLIN
What’s that to you?

REYNARD
What it is to me, my good fellow, is information.

LAETHAR
But why would you want to know? You didn’t want the grimoire, so why would you care who we sold it to?

REYNARD
Information is power, Laethar. Call it a cliche, but it’s true. Forget ebony marks, that is the real currency of the day.

YAELA
Well, we’re not going to tell you.

REYNARD
Very well. There are other ways of finding out. For now, let’s discuss your new job.

LAETHAR
The job that we haven’t agreed to do yet.

[A coin purse lands on the table.]

LAETHAR
… what?

[A door opens.]

VURIETH
Reynard?

BALINK
What’s that slug-sack doing here?

AIOLIN
Easy, Balink, calm down –

BALINK
Calm down, nothing! Sends us on a job, doesn’t pay us, and has the brass to come back here and – hello, what’s this?

[The coin purse jangles.]

REYNARD
That is the payment for taking my shipment the rest of the way to Kapulbaur.

BALINK
Wait? Ka-Ka-Kapulbaur?

AIOLIN
You alright there, little guy?

YAELA
Wait, what do you mean this is the payment?

LAETHAR
You wouldn’t give us the whole thing upfront. I assume this is an advance.

VURIETH
Ah, of course. Half now, half when we get back?

REYNARD
No no, it’s all there.

[There’s a pause, followed by the jingle of coins, as the purse is examined.]

YAELA
There must be nearly three hundred marks in here!

REYNARD
It is an urgent delivery. And of great importance, so that is to ensure its safe arrival.

AIOLIN
Even so, this is very generous of you.

LAETHAR
Yes… very generous…

YAELA
Unusually generous.

REYNARD
The lot of you have become so suspicious since I last saw you.

VURIETH
A lot has happened, Master Reynard. You must forgive us for being a little on edge.

REYNARD
Hm, then I suppose I shall.

LAETHAR
Though the payment is generous, I don’t see why you’d want us to take it. We don’t have a cart or wagon and Kapulbaur’s a week’s journey.

BALINK
[quietly] Ka-Kapulbaur…

REYNARD
Oh, I’ll be giving you my wagon. L’Boar can procure me a new one. As for why, there’s some urgent business in Heria I’d like to get back to. The sooner I can get back to it, the better, so this works out for everyone.

YAELA
You’re giving us the wagon?

REYNARD
Gods above, is there an echo? Yes, you take the wagon and make the delivery. This is the whole payment for doing so, an amount I’d call more than reasonable. What is so complicated?

LAETHAR
Not complicated so much as –

[Vurieth clears their throat.]

VURIETH
[whispering] Perhaps it is best not to question?

YAELA
[whispering] I think they’re right. You were saying you wanted something simple, well, here it is.

LAETHAR
Hmm, good point. Balink?

BALINK
Kapulbaur…

LAETHAR
… alright. Aiolin?

AIOLIN
Seems like a good deal to me.

LAETHAR
Very well, we accept.

REYNARD
Marvellous. You’re delivering to a goblin by the name of Gangnik, he’s the Quaestor of Kapulbaur, you’ll find him in the city storehouse. The wagon’s outside. Please leave it with Gangnik, he’ll get it back to me.

[Reynard stands.]

VURIETH
You are leaving now?

REYNARD
As charming as Dathland is, I’d rather not spend more time than I have to here. No, I’ll be heading back north to a less… quaint corner of the world. Stay safe.

[Reynard leaves.]

LAETHAR
[sigh] I suppose we should do likewise.

YAELA
Already? We’ve only just arrived!

AIOLIN
We should stay a night, if anything so Vurieth can recover.

VURIETH
I am perfectly fine.

YAELA
You’re sure?

VURIETH
Yes, those insects did not leave a mark on me.

LAETHAR
But you passed out!

AIOLIN
That was probably the shock.

LAETHAR
Well, either way, you’ll have to rest on the move. Even with a cart, it will take the better part of a week to reach Kapulbaur.

[Balink shudders.]

LAETHAR
What is the matter with you?

BALINK
Nothing!

YAELA
I was hoping that we’d have at least a day to rest up, maybe take it easy.

LAETHAR
So did I. But, like you said, we finally have a nice simple job, and my guess is Reynard won’t be happy with us just sitting around doing nothing.

BALINK
I mean… I mean we already have the money right? So, what’s to stop us taking our time? Or, even better, just not going to Kapulbaur?

VURIETH
I would imagine, not giving us any more work in the future, and perhaps setting his orcs on us to retrieve the money he gave us.

AIOLIN
I wouldn’t chance it.

BALINK
Hmm… fine.

LAETHAR
Come. If we leave now, we can make some distance before sundown.

[They leave – and with the sound of horses’ hooves, the cart rolls across a bump in the road.]

BALINK
Ow!

LAETHAR
Oh, will you stop complaining?

BALINK
I will, when the road is less bumpy!

AIOLIN
Don’t worry, we’ll be stopping soon.

LAETHAR
If Yaela’s found a good spot to stop in. I don’t like the look of this place.

AIOLIN
It’s a peaceful little valley! Look, there’s even a stream! I’m half expecting a deer to come prancing over the horizon.

LAETHAR
… Perfect spot for an ambush.

VURIETH
Well even if that is so, I think we can handle any local vagabonds that try to bother us.

BALINK
Sure, if you can get your nose out of that book long enough.

VURIETH
Well this is a full genealogy of the many Blood Covens of the vampires. There’s a lot to get through. And I thought you were going to help me with the translation of the other one?

BALINK
… I’ve been busy!

VURIETH
With what?

BALINK
With business, that’s what.

[Balink opens a book.]

BALINK
Now shut up, I’m translating!

AIOLIN
Oh, here’s Yaela now.

[Yaela jogs up to join them.]

LAETHAR
Did you find anything?

YAELA
Nope. Just a nice little place by the river about a half a mile further on. Looks like it’ll be a good spot to make camp.

LAETHAR
And there was nothing else? No sign of… I don’t know, robbers or monsters or anything?

YAELA
None that I could find.

LAETHAR
Hmm.

YAELA
Are you disappointed?

LAETHAR
No – no, I just have this odd feeling I can’t place. Like there’s something we can’t see watching us.

YAELA
Didn’t think it was possible for you to get even more paranoid.

LAETHAR
Oh hush. Very well, let’s get to your lovely spot and make camp. I think we could all do with a good rest.

[That night, the campfire crackles.]

YAELA
Are you all finished eating?

VURIETH
Hm? Oh yes, sorry I was about to go and wash it –

YAELA
Don’t worry, I can take care of it.

VURIETH
Are you sure?

YAELA
Yes, you have to get through that book. I don’t mind, really.

VURIETH
Oh, well, thank you very much.

[Yaela takes the bowl from Vurieth and leaves to wash it.]

AIOLIN
How are you getting on with that?

VURIETH
Making progress, but it’s hard going.

AIOLIN
Found anything useful?

VURIETH
Not yet. I don’t think even this book goes back far enough. I need something about where vampirism truly originated.

AIOLIN
The Arwaena one would probably have that information.

VURIETH
Yes. A shame none of us can read it.

AIOLIN
Aye. [sighs] Master Sonrai would probably be able to help. He was an expert in all those old languages.

VURIETH
You never did tell me what happened to your old master.

AIOLIN
Dead probably. He hasn’t been seen since the fall of the College. Just one more great store of knowledge lost thanks to the War of Destruction, I suppose.

[There’s a clattering.]

AIOLIN
What are you doing in there?

LAETHAR
Just going through what’s in here. Taking stock, so to speak.

VURIETH
You do not mean you are looking in the chest?

LAETHAR
No, Ashlander, I’m not snooping. This isn’t my first delivery job. But there’s more than just Reynard’s chest in here. There’s sacks of grain, wooden boards, rope, even some metal bars, for who knows what reason.

AIOLIN
Hmm, let me see those a minute.

[Aiolin climbs into the wagon.]

VURIETH
So, what is odd about that? We are delivering to Kapulbaur’s storehouse, these are basic supplies.

LAETHAR
But what does Reynard get out of this? It just seems too – too philanthropic for him.

VURIETH
Well you have known him longer –

AIOLIN
Blood above! Have you seen this?

LAETHAR
What – by the gods!

AIOLIN
An infinity bag!

LAETHAR
I haven’t seen one of these since the War.

AIOLIN
You think it still works?

LAETHAR
One way to find out.

[Laethar opens the bag to reveal the swirling void within.]

LAETHAR
Looks like it does.

[He closes it again.]

AIOLIN
Interesting. Wonder what this buyer of Reynard’s needs with one of these.

BALINK
Will you lot shut up? How am I supposed to translate this twaddle with the lot of you talking so much?

[Back in the cart, it rolls along the road, through the rain.]

VURIETH
[shivering] I am very much missing the Blue Griffin common room right now.

LAETHAR
I think we all are.

BALINK
I wouldn’t mind so much, but there’s a hole in the roof back here and it’s dripping right onto my head.

LAETHAR
Well, sit somewhere else then.

BALINK
There’s nowhere else to sit! There’s too much junk. And here I was gonna get a nice kip.

YAELA
Don’t worry, Binks. You can get all the sleep you want when we stop this evening. I’ll take your turn doing first watch, if you like.

LAETHAR
Yaela, are you sure?

YAELA
Of course, why?

LAETHAR
Well, you’ve been taking most of the watch shifts for the past two nights. You need to rest too, don’t forget.

YAELA
I’m fine, Laethar, don’t you worry about me. I’m fae, remember? I don’t need as much sleep.

LAETHAR
But you do need some.

YAELA
Oh, I could watch most of the night and still be ready for the next day. In fact, I don’t mind doing that if it’d be helpful.

AIOLIN
Here, use this.

[Aiolin hands Balink a large book.]

BALINK
A book?

AIOLIN
Aye. Gorbak’s Art of the Raid. I always keep a copy on me. It’s backed on wood and wrapped with leather, should be fairly waterproof.

BALINK
Wow! Thanks!

VURIETH
You are letting him use a book as an umbrella?

AIOLIN
Of course. He needs it and I’m not using it.

VURIETH
But is that not quite a rare book?

AIOLIN
First edition. But he needs it so I don’t mind.

VURIETH
I see…

[Later that night, Balink tinkers in the background.]

LAETHAR
Yaela! You need to sleep!

YAELA
I’m fine!

LAETHAR
You are not! You haven’t slept in four days!

YAELA
The others need sleep more than I do.

LAETHAR
Look at yourself, you can barely keep your eyes open!

YAELA
I am perfectly fine.

[Their arguing fades.]

BALINK
Aiolin? Do you have anything heavy I can use as a hammer? I tried that book you gave me, but it didn’t quite do the job, think I might have cracked the cover.

AIOLIN
Oh no, I’m sorry about that. Shall I find you a heavier one?

VURIETH
You shouldn’t use a book for that, Balink. Here, this is my family’s runestone, passed down to me by my father, and his father before him. This should work better.

BALINK
Aww, thanks Vurieth.

[Balink scampers away, and Laethar and Yaela’s voices fade back in.]

LAETHAR
I’ll take first watch tonight, just go and get some rest.

YAELA
I’m fine, honestly.

LAETHAR
Well even if you are –

YAELA
I am!

LAETHAR
You’re not! I’d still feel happier taking the first watch.

YAELA
[sighs] Alright, you can take first watch.

LAETHAR
Thank you.

YAELA
And I’ll do it with you. Now give me your plate, I’ll go wash up.

LAETHAR
Wait, hang on –

[We return once more to the cart rolling down the road.]

AIOLIN
Hm, well the infinity bag definitely works. Look at this.

VURIETH
Wha – oh, sands.

AIOLIN
[muffled] It just goes on and on.

LAETHAR
Well, that would be why it’s called an infinity bag.

VURIETH
Please take it off, that is… very horrible to look at.

AIOLIN
[amused] Suit yourself.

BALINK
Aaaand done.

AIOLIN
What was that?

BALINK
I’m done. I’ve translated the whole thing.

VURIETH
The whole book?

BALINK
Yeah, sorry I took so long. Had to make those repairs. Speaking of; here’s your runestone back.

VURIETH
Oh, well, thank you Balink, but I do not mind if you want to keep it.

BALINK
No no, it’s yours, I shouldn’t have had it this long.

VURIETH
I really do not mind –

LAETHAR
Balink! You were going to tell us about the translation?

BALINK
Hm? Oh yeah, sorry about that. Here.

[Balink passes Vurieth the book.]

BALINK
So it was the title what caught my eye. Oezok Nanangund. Basically means Great and Terrible Hunters of the Deep Places. I thought that might be promising, and I was right! It’s a whole bunch of stories about vampire encounters down in the Deeps. Some of them are hundreds, maybe thousands of years old.

VURIETH
That’s amazing, Balink.

AIOLIN
Aye, well done.

LAETHAR
Did you find anything useful?

BALINK
It was a bit waffle-y for me. But it’s all translated so if Aiolin wants to have a look…

VURIETH
But of course, here you are Aiolin.

AIOLIN
No no, you should be the first to read it. You’re the one that needs to know.

VURIETH
But you are the better reader, it makes sense for you to be the one –

AIOLIN
I really think –

LAETHAR
[impatient sound] I’m going to find Yaela.

[Laethar walks away.]

BALINK
I don’t mind doing it, if it makes things easier for you.

[A short way away, Laethar approaches Yaela.]

LAETHAR
I thought I told you to get some sleep!

YAELA
And since when have I listened to you?

LAETHAR
Couldn’t hurt you to try it once in a while. Why are you doing this?

YAELA
I don’t know what you’re talking about.

LAETHAR
I think you do. Staying awake for days on end, doing all the chores, why are you forcing yourself to do all this?

YAELA
I’m happy to do it –

LAETHAR
Oh don’t give me that. You’re a generous person, Yaela, but you’re pushing yourself too hard! You might be of the fae, but you need to stop.

YAELA
It’s because I’m fae that I can’t!

LAETHAR
What?

YAELA
The Fae were supposed to be incorruptible. No matter what happened out here in the mortal realm, the Fae was supposed to be safe. And Istaband, the council, they were supposed to be better. Now it turns out the Fae is tainted too and it was Istaband who let that taint in.

LAETHAR
… you’re trying to prove –

YAELA
I’m not trying to prove anything. I just… feel like there’s a lot to make up for.

LAETHAR
Yaela, all these years we’ve been friends. I trust you more than anyone else. And I promise you, the fact that you’re a fae has nothing to do with it. I don’t know what’s happened with the Fae Realm, or your uncle, but you are the same person you’ve always been. You are not tainted. So for the sake of the gods, will you look after yourself?

YAELA
… wow.

LAETHAR
What?

YAELA
Nothing… you just… said something intelligent.

LAETHAR
Yes… well… don’t worry, I won’t make a habit out of it.

[The two laugh.]

LAETHAR
Come on, let’s get back. You can sleep in the back of the cart. The others will keep quiet for you. They’ve been extremely accommodating recently, don’t know if you noticed.

[The two begin walking back.]

YAELA
What do you mean? They’re always helpful.

LAETHAR
Oh helpful, yes, but it’s gone beyond that now. Aiolin’s giving out his books like they’re loose change and as for Balink, he’s doing the cooking, translating old books and he even tried to give the Ashlander their runestone back. First time I’ve ever seen him give anything away.

YAELA
Wait, what?! How did Balink get Vurieth’s runestone?

LAETHAR
Hm? Oh, they gave it to him.

YAELA
No, no they can’t have.

LAETHAR
Yaela, they did, I saw them do it.

YAELA
But, no… a family runestone is sacred to the Ashlanders. They’re meant to be fragments of Minalith, the last pieces they could take before the city sank beneath the sands. No one, besides an Ashlander, is allowed to touch them!

LAETHAR
… Vurieth gave it to Balink to use as a hammer.

YAELA
Something’s wrong. We have to go!

[Yaela and Laethar begin running, and on the road, Aiolin, Vurieth, and Balink talk to a stranger.]

AIOLIN
Of course, if you give us a moment we’ll get you the money.

VURIETH
I’m so glad we were able to find you to help you.

[Laethar and Yaela come running up.]

LAETHAR
What are you doing?

BALINK
This guy is down on his luck.

BEGGAR
Good morrow, sir, madam.

BALINK
We’re giving him all our money, so he can get back on his feet.

YAELA
What?

VURIETH
It really is the least we can do. Would you like my shoes, also? Yours look a little worn.

BEGGAR
Oh, no need for that. Just the money, I’d be grateful for –

[Laethar draws his sword.]

LAETHAR
Open your coat.

AIOLIN
Laethar!

BEGGAR
There’s no need –

YAELA
Do as he says.

[There is a pause, the beggar sighs, and there is the sound of coins jingling.]

LAETHAR
As I thought.

VURIETH
What?

YAELA
He’s a con-man, Vurieth.

BEGGAR
Can’t blame a fellow for trying.

LAETHAR
I certainly can. And how did you even find us? Barely anybody uses the Ospen Pass anymore, we came this way for that reason.

BEGGAR
Oh, I was called here, squire. And word to the wise, friend, you might want to stifle that relic you’re carrying. It’s a beacon to anyone who craves the Open Hand, you take my meaning?

LAETHAR
I do not.

BEGGAR
Your loss. Good day to you.

[The beggar walks away, whistling.]

YAELA
Relic? What’s he talking about?

VURIETH
Oh, you’ll work it out. I’m sure of it.

AIOLIN
Absolutely. If anyone can figure this out, it’s these two.

LAETHAR
The package! Reynard’s delivery. It must be affecting our minds, somehow.

AIOLIN
That’s amazing, well done for figuring that out.

LAETHAR
Please stop doing that!

YAELA
But how can we do anything about it?

LAETHAR
The infinity bag. Aiolin, can you give me the infinity bag?

AIOLIN
Of course, happy to.

[Aiolin throws Laethar the bag – Laethar catches it.]

YAELA
Will it fit in there?

LAETHAR
It’s an infinity bag, Yaela, I think we’ll be alright.

YAELA
But how will that mask the effect?

[The two of them climb into the wagon.]

AIOLIN
Well because of its infinite space, if what Reynard gave us is having an effect on us, then that effect will be swallowed in the void inside the bag. But I’m sure you knew that already.

VURIETH
Of course they did.

YAELA
I know they’re being sincere, but it sounds so condescending.

LAETHAR
Mm.

[The bag is opened, the void swirling within.]

LAETHAR
The bag can’t be open too long or it’ll collapse on itself.

[Laethar and Yaela struggle with the box and the bag.]

AIOLIN
Here, let me help.

VURIETH
I will help too.

BALINK
And me!

[With effort, they’re able to push it into the bag, and close it. There is a moment of silence.]

AIOLIN
Um… what just happened?

BALINK
I feel all funny.

VURIETH
I… it feels familiar.

AIOLIN
Yeah like… like that cave back in the Blackstone Mountains.

BALINK
Different though.

LAETHAR
Do you still feel it?

AIOLIN
No. It’s more like when we were leaving the cave, after the spell or curse or whatever it was had worn off.

YAELA
So, Reynard gave us a cursed object?

LAETHAR
Seems that way. But unlike that cave, it appears that this thing makes you want to give things up rather than hoard them.

AIOLIN
That might explain why Reynard was happy to give us everything we needed.

VURIETH
Ah. Then I think he may not be so happy when we see him next.

LAETHAR
Maybe. But I don’t see why he’d have reason to complain. I mean, curse or not, it’s not like we made him give us anything.

YAELA
That’s true. If he didn’t find out what it was he was selling to this guy in Kapulbaur, that’s not our fault.

BALINK
Does that mean we still have to go to Kapulbaur?

YAELA
Binks, what is the matter with you? You’ve been jumpy ever since we took the job –

BALINK
What? It’s nothing! Don’t know what you’re talking about! Hey, hey, hey, did any of you see that weird design on the lid of the box?

YAELA
Don’t change the subject –

AIOLIN
Design?

VURIETH
I saw nothing.

BALINK
Yeah, it was all in gold and it was all twisty like those pictures in old books.

AIOLIN
Wait, hang on, talking of books –

VURIETH
What did it look like?

BALINK
Difficult to say. But, if I had to guess, I’d say it looks like a hand.

AIOLIN
You ruined my First Edition Gorbak!?

BALINK
You said I could have it!

AIOLIN
I didn’t say you could use it to hammer your bloody bombs together!

BALINK
I thought it’d be fine, it’s a heavy book.

AIOLIN
Give it back, now!

[Dice roll and clatter at the gaming table.]

GAME MASTER
And we shall pick it up from there next time.

GINA
I can’t believe you used my book as a hammer!

LEAH
I mean, it seemed like something Balink would do.

MATT
You need to stop getting wound up about imaginary books!

GINA
They’re not imaginary!

MATT
… what?

WILL
They are.

GINA
Yeah… I know… sorry, I guess I got too into character.

[The players laugh.]

WILL
Happens to the best of us.

ROSIE
Can I ask something?

GAME MASTER
You can.

ROSIE
Well this curse was like the one in the cave, you said.

GAME MASTER
Correct.

ROSIE
Well, that time I got immunity because of my fae blood and Will got it because of his elf blood. So, how come I got affected this time?

GAME MASTER
Oh… yeah… that’s a good point.

ROSIE
Like, I don’t mind, it was fun, just seems odd.

GAME MASTER
Yeah, no, you should have. Sorry, must have slipped my mind.

WILL
Well it worked out well enough, right?

GAME MASTER
True true. Anyway, until next time, we shall say goodbye.

PLAYERS
Bye!

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