Transcript – Escape

[Quest of Ruin theme plays]

ANNOUNCER
Scroll and Dagger presents:
Quest of Ruin
Episode Twenty
Escape

[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 once more delving into the world of Toor with the help of my players.

PLAYERS
[disconsolate sounds]

GAME MASTER
What’s wrong with you?

ROSIE
I don’t know, just been feeling pretty rubbish all week.

LEAH
Yeah, same.

WILL
It’s your fault.

GAME MASTER
How is it my fault?

WILL
You got us all depressed with that stuff last week.

GAME MASTER
Oh well, that makes sense.

LEAH
It is weird that we’ve all been feeling this way?

MATT
I haven’t.

GINA
Yeah, I’ve had quite a good week.

WILL
I guess it’s just us then.

GAME MASTER
Apparently so. But, on the off chance that you’re right and it is the state of our characters that’s got you so sad, we shall crack on. So, you were in a strange cave, deep beneath the mountains of Kapul Votar, where some mysterious presence has driven Yaela to despair…

[Transitioning to the cave of last episode, voices echo as people speak.]

YAELA
You really wouldn’t mind? If I decided to leave?

LAETHAR
Your life is your own, Yaela. I’m – I’m sorry if I’ve made you feel otherwise. I’ll obviously be sad to see you go but only because I shall miss you. Not because I need you to stay with me.

THE ECHO
[whispering softly] He’s lying. He’s too dependent on you. He won’t let you leave.

YAELA
Do you mean that?

LAETHAR
Have I ever lied to you?

YAELA
Not that I know of… alright, let’s go.

LAETHAR
I’m right behind you.

[The Echo lets out a sound of frustration. In another part of the cave, voices echo as people speak.]

THE ECHO
[harsh, firm] Stay.

FYONA
I… think I want to stay here, Binky.

BALINK
Please, Fy?

THE ECHO
She made her choice, but you could stay with her.

FYONA
Think about it. Binks, we could be just us two. No disappointments, just us.

BALINK
We are not disappointments.

FYONA
[giggles] You’re a wanted criminal and I’m the forgotten daughter. We are the disappointments. You’re fooling yourself.

BALINK
I…

[There is a pause.]

BALINK
I never meant for any of that to happen.

FYONA
What?

BALINK
It was stupid. I was too wrapped up in bein’ clever. And them guys in the gang were so… I don’t know. They kept sayin’ I was their secret weapon, I was special. Made me think I was all grown up and important so… I just did what they said.

[Fyona is silent.]

BALINK
But I knew it were too much powder. I knew it would bring the place down. I tried to tell them but no one would listen.

FYONA
At – at the bank?

BALINK
Yeah. We was right under it, down this tunnel they made. Shovelled away for weeks and when they finally got through they called me in. Treated me like the prince of crime, they did. said everythin’ was relying on me and I was everythin’ they ever hoped for. So I built the explosives and we went down their tunnel. But when we was under the safe bit, they looked at what I got and they start sayin’ all this stuff…

THE ECHO
They did not believe you…

BALINK
No, they didn’t! They said “how’s anythin’ that puny gonna blast us in anywhere?” They kept telling me to add powder. I told them no, I told them back off, said I know what I’m doing. but they just kept on about it. Then they start threatening me. When that didn’t work they start threatening you.

FYONA
You mean – us?

BALINK
Yeah. Mama, Dad, everyone. They knew where we lived, said they’d come to our place in the night and… well…

FYONA
So you blew up the bank on top of them?

BALINK
Yeah… I mean, technically, they did it to themselves. Kept making me add more and more until they said it looked like enough. Then I lit the fuse and… pegged it back down the tunnel.

FYONA
I can’t believe you made it out.

BALINK
Sorry.

FYONA
Why you sorry for?

BALINK
It was a stupid mess. Getting in with all that. I should’ve just gone to work with Dad or something. Me and Carsu could’ve been partners.

FYONA
[giggling] You always sucked at smithing, Binky.

BALINK
[surprised laughter] Oi!

FYONA
What? It’s true! You were never going to stay home with us. You were always destined to go off and have adventures.

BALINK
See you can tell which of us is the cleverclogs can’t you? Using big fancy ideas like that.

FYONA
It’s true. You got caught up in something real bad, but you were always meant to go out and do crazy things.

BALINK
You want to come with me sometime?

FYONA
Really?

BALINK
Yeah. We could go on our own little adventure.

FYONA
I’d like that.

THE ECHO
[panicked] You won’t be allowed. They’ll say you’re too young. They’ve never believed you could do anything.

BALINK
When you’re a bit older. Mama will go nutty if I took you off now.

FYONA
Promise?

BALINK
Promise.

FYONA
Can we go home now?

BALINK
Course.

[The Echo growls in frustration. Elsewhere in the cave, voices echo as people speak.]

AIOLIN
Balink?

VURIETH
I can’t see him anywhere.

THE ECHO
You won’t find them.

AIOLIN
Are you still here?

VURIETH
You have lost, creature. Begone.

THE ECHO
Very well. I am done with you. Clearly I spoke too soon. But the day will come when you shall call for me and on that day, I shall welcome you happily.

AIOLIN
I wouldn’t count on it.

[The Echo fades.]

AIOLIN
Not seen that side of you before.

VURIETH
What do you mean?

AIOLIN
Well the way you commanded that thing. “Begone!” Very impressive stuff.

VURIETH
[laughs] You are teasing me.

AIOLIN
Maybe a bit. But it’s still a new side to you. It’s good. Maybe you’ll not be such a pushover anymore.

VURIETH
I would hardly call myself a pushover –

BALINK
[distantly] Aiolin? Vurieth?

AIOLIN
Balink! Over here!

BALINK
I can hear you!

AIOLIN
There you are.

VURIETH
And you found your sister.

FYONA
[nervously] Hi.

VURIETH
Everyone has been very worried about you.

FYONA
They have?

AIOLIN
Of course! Your mother’s been worried sick. Hope you have a good explanation for running off like that.

FYONA
I… I didn’t…

BALINK
It’s fine, Aiolin. We’ve talked it over. She won’t do it again. Where are the others?

AIOLIN
Back down that way. Something seems to be wrong with Yaela.

BALINK
When you say “something”…

AIOLIN
Doesn’t want to move. Seems really depressed.

BALINK
Sounds familiar.

AIOLIN
You get it too?

BALINK
Kinda. Bit hard to explain. I think Fyona got the worst of it.

FYONA
It… it was just a nice feeling to know that I could just stay down here and not have to worry or bother with anything anymore…

AIOLIN
Have you heard a voice down here?

BALINK
A voice?

AIOLIN
Yeah. Telling you that stuff. How life is hard and you can just give up and so on?

VURIETH
Is that what it said to you? It just told me to go away.

BALINK
I don’t… I mean… now you mention it.

LAETHAR
[distantly] Balink? Is that you?

AIOLIN
It’s him. And me and Vurieth too.

YAELA
Oh, thank the spirits you’re all alright.

AIOLIN
You seem like you’re doing better.

YAELA
Yes, much better. And ready to get out of this hole.

VURIETH
I agree. Let’s go.

BALINK
Right behind you.

[Vurieth leads Yaela and the goblins away.]

AIOLIN
So, how did you do it?

LAETHAR
Oh, you know, nothing major. Just had to confront one of my shortcomings.

AIOLIN
Just the one?

LAETHAR
[laughs] Yes, well, only so many hours in the day.

AIOLIN
Well whatever you said, it seems to have worked.

LAETHAR
I told her she could leave.

AIOLIN
What?

LAETHAR
She wants to go, Aiolin. You saw how she was in the Fae, how she’s been since. She wants to return.

AIOLIN
If she wanted to go, why wouldn’t she just leave?

LAETHAR
… That’s not important.

AIOLIN
I think it is –

LAETHAR
The point is, Yaela is free to leave, to live her own life, to return to the Fae, if that is her wish.

AIOLIN
And you think she will?

LAETHAR
I think it’s likely, yes.

AIOLIN
Well… that’s…

LAETHAR
Indeed.

AIOLIN
Well, Vurieth won’t be happy. You know how they look to her.

LAETHAR
They are welcome to go with her if they wish. You and Balink also. I doubt she’d object to your company.

AIOLIN
Just yours?

LAETHAR
I believe so, yes.

AIOLIN
But then, what will you do?

LAETHAR
I’ll carry on, I suppose. There are plenty of places that can make use of a sellsword. And there are some things I’ve been meaning to take care of.

BALINK
Oi, slowpokes! Vurieth found the exit! Come on.

[They scramble out of the caves, huffing for breath.]

LAETHAR
That’s it, this way – watch that rock, it’s slippery!

YAELA
There is a good hand-hold over here.

AIOLIN
Who’s next up? I can give you a boost.

BALINK
Fy, go on.

FYONA
I can’t reach…

BALINK
Here, lemme –

AIOLIN
Careful, Balink!

YAELA
Grab my hand!

BALINK
Gotcha!

[Balink hoists himself up.]

BALINK
Alright Fy, come on.

FYONA
Alright…

[Fyona clambers up and out of the cave.]

VURIETH
Laethar, could I come your way? I do not think I have the strength for hanging by my arms.

LAETHAR
Yes, here.

[Laethar helps Vurieth up.]

AIOLIN
Well, we best get Fyona back home and tell everyone where their missing people have gone.

VENSSA
Oi!

LAETHAR
Oh, now what?

YAELA
Who’s there?

CRIMINAL 2
What you doing?

LAETHAR
Considering you interrupted us, I would ask you the same question.

VENSSA
Keep your trap shut. You might get yourself hurt.

LAETHAR
I beg your pardon?

VENSSA
It means shut up!

[A pistol cocks.]

VENSSA
Now hand over your cash and no one needs to get shot, okay?

BALINK
Oh nuts… it’s Venssa!

LAETHAR
And quite a few friends…

VURIETH
Do you know these goblins?

BALINK
Uh… yeah, sort of.

VENSSA
Hang on… that sounds like…

CRIMINAL 2
No way!

VENSSA
It’s not?

CRIMINAL 3
Bloody hell, is that Bam Baj?

BALINK
… Yep.

VURIETH
“Bam Baj?” Balink, you have a criminal nickname?

BALINK
Well, ’course!

VENSSA
We finally found you!

AIOLIN
I believe that means… Fire Maker, right?

BALINK
That’s me!

VENSSA
Time to meet your damn maker, you little sh –

[Yaela’s bowstring tightens.]

YAELA
Well that’s quite enough of that.

VENSSA
What do you think you’re doing?

CRIMINAL 2
Put that away. We don’t have to hurt you too, but we will.

YAELA
I’d love to see you try.

[Weapons are drawn.]

CRIMINAL 3
Alright, you asked for it.

[Venssa laughs nastily, and other goblins join in, before heavy machinery begins to click and whirr.]

LAETHAR
What, by all the gods –

BALINK
Get down!

[Bullets bounce off masonry as the party ducks.]

AIOLIN
What is that thing?

BALINK
It’s a heavy auto-repeater gun!

VURIETH
Truly the ingenuity of goblins is fascinating.

LAETHAR
[sarcastically] Yes, how thrilling it is!

FYONA
Binks! I’m scared!

AIOLIN
Don’t worry, we’ll be alright.

YAELA
I certainly hope so. Laethar?

LAETHAR
Yes?

YAELA
Do you have a plan?

LAETHAR
I’m… working on it.

[The gun stops firing.]

CRIMINAL 2
Come on out, Bam-Baj! Give yourself up, and we’ll let the others go.

VENSSA
It’s only you we’re after, Binks! Come on out!

YAELA
[shouting] How about we’ll have a think and then give you a call when we’ve made a decision?

CRIMINAL 3
Haha, the pink elf’s funny.

[The gun fires again, and the goblins laugh.]

YAELA
…what did that little creep just call me?

LAETHAR
I believe he called you a pink elf.

YAELA
… Well… that’s just not on.

[She vanishes.]

AIOLIN
What the-?

FYONA
She’s gone!

LAETHAR
Well, I’ve not seen her do that in a long time.

VURIETH
Has she-?

LAETHAR
Yes. Be ready to move.

BALINK
Wait, what’d she do?

[The gun stops firing.]

VENSSA
Alright, this is your last chance. Come out now and we’ll – agh!

LAETHAR
Go!

[The party charges.]

VURIETH
Caelitelum!

[Their magic fizzles.]

VURIETH
… what?

CRIMINAL 2
Aww, magic not working? Well-

[A stone cracks him in the arm.]

CRIMINAL 2
Agh! You little-!

[The gun is readied.]

AIOLIN
Watch out!

CRIMINAL 2
Oh Gorrik.

[Aiolin roars, and the goblin screams.]

BALINK
Fy, I need you to stay here, alright?

FYONA
But where are you going?

BALINK
To help Yaela.

FYONA
No, no you won’t be safe –

BALINK
Yeah I will. Just, you stay here.

VURIETH
My friend, what do you have in mind?

[There’s a metallic clink, a spark, and then the sound of a lit fuse.]

BALINK
What else?

LAETHAR
Whenever you’re ready, Balink!

FYONA
I want to help!

BALINK
Fy-

FYONA
I can help, Binky. I’m smart!

BALINK
[pausing] Alright. Take these.

[Balink passes Fyona a pile of small metal balls.]

BALINK
Can you throw them so they hit the ground right between those two?

FYONA
Yeah, I can.

BALINK
Brilliant. Alright, Vurieth you got some lightning in you?

VURIETH
I – ah – I think so.

BALINK
On three then? THREE!

VENSSA
Watch out!

[Balink tosses the bomb, and Fyona throws a couple of the explosive balls. Vurieth shouts a spell and there’s a loud crack of lightning.]

LAETHAR
Oh gods!

AIOLIN
Get down!

[A string of explosions erupts.]

VENSSA
Every goblin for themselves! Scarper!

[The surviving goblins scatter, screaming and cursing.]

BALINK
Hmm, still no whoosh…

VURIETH
What was that?

YAELA
Well. I think that did the job.

VURIETH
Yaela! You Shade-stepped!

FYONA
That was amazing.

YAELA
It wasn’t much. All fae have the power to walk between the spaces in the world.

BALINK
I’ve never seen you do that before!

YAELA
Well, there’s never been much need to. Now, come on, let’s get Fyona back home before the guards turn up.

BALINK
Yes! Right, let’s go!

[Yaela, Balink and Fyona leave.]

VURIETH
She told me she couldn’t do that anymore.

LAETHAR
More likely she didn’t want to.

AIOLIN
That does make sense. Shade-stepping involves touching the Fae, from what I’ve read. Kind of like a stone skimming the surface of a pond. Can’t imagine that would be much fun for her if she was missing home.

VURIETH
Come on, let’s catch up.

[Vurieth leaves.]

AIOLIN
Or she’s planning on returning home.

LAETHAR
Well, either way, it’s her business.

[In the Fangsnor family home, the family exclaims as the party returns with Fyona in tow.]

MRS FANGSNOR
Fyona? Oh, Fyona! We were so worried!

MR FANGSNOR
Fyona! Thank Gorrik and Gor! Where have you been?!

FYONA
I… um…

BALINK
Just got a bit lost, didn’t you, Fy?

FYONA
I…

MRS FANGSNOR
Lost? Oh, sweetheart, however did that happen?

FYONA
I didn’t mean to…

MR FANGSNOR
Of course you didn’t. Well, what does it matter, I suppose. You’re home and you’re alright. She is alright, isn’t she?

LAETHAR
We believe so.

VURIETH
Just a bit of shock, but she was very brave.

[The other children rush in to hug Fyona.]

BALINK
We… uh… we ran into some of the old gang on our way back… Venssa and them lot.

MR FANGSNOR
You did?

BALINK
Yeah, they were real mad.

AIOLIN
But we sorted them out. They won’t be giving anyone any grief anymore.

MR FANGSNOR
[aside] By ‘sorted them out’, I’m guessing you mean they’re dead?

AIOLIN
[quietly] Well, uh, some of them. The others ran off.

MR FANGSNOR
I see. Well, I can’t say they’ll be missed.

BALINK
They can’t trace anything back to us, Dad. Don’t worry. You’re all safe, no one knows I was here.

MR FANGSNOR
So you’ll be off again then, will you?

BALINK
… Yeah, dad. I think I have to.

MR FANGSNOR
We understand, son. We just miss you is all.

BALINK
I just want you all safe.

MR FANGSNOR
You ‘re a good lad, Binky. Good lad.

[The conversation switches from Mr Fangsnor and Balink to Laethar, Yaela and Mrs Fangsnor.]

LAETHAR
… and advise everyone to stay away from those caves. That creature cannot be easily fought. I doubt very much it even has a corporeal form that could be attacked.

MRS FANGSNOR
Right, right. Gosh, we can do that. Spread the word, that kind of thing.

YAELA
And there were some who may still be down there. There could be… um… bodies, or some who are too far gone to want to return.

VURIETH
It may bring some peace to know what became of them, but any rescue mission may prove futile.

MRS FANGSNOR
Oh Fy, we are so glad you are out!

FYONA
Me too.

[Outside the Fangsnor home, the children scamper round, as the party start giving their goodbyes.]

BALINK
So, remember my promise?

FYONA
When I’m older. You’ll take me on an adventure.

BALINK
That’s right. Oh, and here –

FYONA
What’s that?

BALINK
These are little crackers. I call them ‘colour snaps’.

FYONA
Wow, what do they do?

BALINK
Throw one at Carsu and see.

FYONA
[giggles] Okay.

[She tosses one of the pellets, and there’s a pop followed by a rush of smoke. Carsu coughs.]

CARSU
What was that?

FYONA
Gotcha!

CARSU
That was you?

FYONA
Yep! You’re all blue!

CARSU
Whoa, what? That’s so cool! Can I have a go?

FYONA
Sure!

[She hands him one, and he goes chasing after the twins.]

BALINK
You’ll be alright.

FYONA
Yeah. I will.

BALINK
Right, I gotta say bye to mama and dad.

[Balink is pressed to Mrs Fangsnor’s chest in a hug.]

MRS FANGSNOR
Be safe, won’t you?

BALINK
Uh huh.

MRS FANGSNOR
You promise me?

BALINK
I promise to… try.

MRS FANGSNOR
That will have to do.

MR FANGSNOR
Come back soon as you can, there’s a good lad.

BALINK
I will.

MR FANGSNOR
And here, this is to take with you. remind you of home.

BALINK
Oh. Oh, whoa. Thanks, Dad.

LAETHAR
We are ready to depart as soon as you are.

BALINK
Yup. I’m coming.

[They move down the road outside Kapulbaur.]

YAELA
So, where to next?

LAETHAR
Well I suppose that rather depends on you. And the others, of course.

YAELA
What are you talking about?

LAETHAR
Well, I imagine the Ashlander and the others will want to stay with you but if you’re heading back to the Fae, they might not be so eager.

YAELA
The Fae? Laethar, I’m not going back to the Fae.

LAETHAR
Well then, where are you going?

YAELA
That’s what I was asking you, you normally pick the places we go to and it’s worked out fine so far.

[Aiolin approaches.]

AIOLIN
You think so?

LAETHAR
You can hardly blame our misadventures on me!

AIOLIN
Relax, I was joking. Just thought I’d say my goodbyes before you headed off.

YAELA
Why are you both so convinced I’m going somewhere?

LAETHAR
Well… down in the caves. You said… you said you wanted to leave.

YAELA
Did I?

LAETHAR
Uh…

YAELA
Look, all this time, I’ve felt like I had to stay with you because you wouldn’t be able to get by on your own. I thought you’d do something stupid after… well, after everything, and I felt like I had to stay to make sure you’d be alright. Maybe over time I started to resent that, and whatever that thing in the caves was brought it all up, but that doesn’t mean I want to leave you. I just wanted the choice, to know that if I did want to leave then I could. Do you understand?

LAETHAR
Not really, no.

YAELA
[laughs] Look, just don’t worry about it. I’m not going anywhere, at least for the time being. Now, look at your map, and pick somewhere we can find a job. I’m going to go scout the area.

[She runs off.]

LAETHAR
Did you understand her?

AIOLIN
Monrunn, I’ve spent most of my life in academia, surrounded by dusty books and dustier old men. I’m not sure I’m the one to ask about women.

LAETHAR
Hm, well I suppose the important thing is that she’s staying. Apart from –

BALINK
[distantly] Guys! Come quick! Something’s wrong with Vurieth!

AIOLIN
Oh, what now?

LAETHAR
Come on!

[Further back down the road, there is a strange pulsing sound, followed by the flow of liquid.]

VURIETH
What is going on? Balink, stay back, I don’t want to hurt you.

BALINK
It’s okay, it’s okay. Laethar and Aiolin will know what to do.

LAETHAR
Balink? What’s – oh gods!

AIOLIN
Vurieth? What is that?

VURIETH
I don’t know! I’m not doing it!

LAETHAR
What happened?

BALINK
I don’t know! One second we was just talking and the next… I mean… that happened!

VURIETH
It hurts! Make it stop!

AIOLIN
Alright, just calm down, take a deep breath.

[Yaela approaches.]

YAELA
Laethar? What’s… Vurieth!

[Vurieth breathes deeply, and the pulse and drip of liquid eventually stops.]

YAELA
Is that blood?

[Vurieth collapses.]

LAETHAR
Ashlander!

AIOLIN
Vurieth!

BALINK
Vurieth!

[Dice roll and clatter at the gaming table.]

WILL
Oh God, what’s wrong with you now?

MATT
Hey, it was a really bad roll! I didn’t ask for this!

GINA
Alright, just calm down. So, what’s wrong with them?

GAME MASTER
All you’re able to tell for sure is what Balink told you. Him and Vurieth were talking when suddenly blood began flowing from their arms, pulsing with magical energy.

ROSIE
What were you two even talking about?

WILL
It was something about the fight with the goblins, I think?

LEAH
Yeah, that was it. I said I noticed something off about that lightning bolt they cast.

GAME MASTER
Oh, guys, I think we might be out of time.

WILL
Wait, what?

GINA
Oh god, it is late.

GAME MASTER
Right, we’ll call it there and pick it up from here. Join us for that, next time.

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