Transcript – A Trail of Poison

[Quest of Ruin theme plays]

ANNOUNCER
Scroll and Dagger presents:
Quest of Ruin
Episode Twenty-Six
A Trail of Poison

[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 you join us just in time for an investigation into a string of murders that has been taking place in the secluded oasis city of Sacara.

WILL
Town of Sacara, you mean.

MATT
Oh, not this again.

WILL
I’m just saying, by elven standards, Sacara isn’t a city. Caras Aeglir was a city, Narolin was a city. Stonehelm is the last real one.

GINA
And you say I take this too seriously.

MATT
You do.

GINA
But it’s a city by human standards, isn’t it? I mean, is the Temple of Ilaheld like a cathedral?

LEAH
The what?

WILL
You’re assuming that Ilarth has the same rules about what makes a city as we have.

GINA
Well, why not?

ROSIE
Look, could you carry this on later? When I’m not around?

WILL
Fine, fine, fine.

ROSIE
Thank you. We’ve got a sultry widow to interrogate.

GAME MASTER
… I don’t think I said anything about her being sultry?

ROSIE
Well, isn’t she?

GAME MASTER
I mean… I – I guess you could describe her that way.

ROSIE
Ha!

GAME MASTER
Well, sultriness aside, you are in the Bolivar estate and the widow of the recently poisoned Lord Bolivar has invited you into the mansion…

[Transitioning to the Bolivar mansion, Lady Bolivar leads the party into the living room.]

LADY BOLIVAR
Why don’t you all take a seat? – Not there!

BALINK
Eh?

LADY BOLIVAR
You four can sit over there.

BALINK
On the floor?

LADY BOLIVAR
You may of course stand, if you would prefer.

BALINK
[muttering] Undur Kurv.

AIOLIN
Easy, Binks.

YAELA
Oh. Thank… you.

VURIETH
Much more comfortable, thank –

LADY BOLIVAR
Yes yes, please sit or stand and be silent. Now, Inquisitor, please come join me.

[Laethar sits down on the couch beside her.]

LAETHAR
[stiffly] Thank you.

[Emilio carries a tray in and sets it down.]

EMILIO
Shall I serve, Ma’am?

LADY BOLIVAR
Of course, Emilio. So, Inquisitor Leoncio Buscadore Alfonso Monrunnio, what do you think about this whole dreadful ordeal hmm?

LAETHAR
… I…

LADY BOLIVAR
Come come, I am told the mind of an inquisitor moves fast as the lightning, you must have some ideas in that clever brain of yours.

LAETHAR
I – [coughs] … well…

VURIETH
[quietly] Laethar looks terribly uncomfortable. Should we try to help him?

YAELA
Nope.

VURIETH
Are you certain, Yaela?

AIOLIN
If he leans any further backwards he’s gonna fall off the sofa.

BALINK
[chuckling] Think he fancies her?

YAELA
I really doubt it.

BALINK
Well look at him, squirming like an eel in a bread basket!

AIOLIN
An eel in a what now?

BALINK
It’s a goblin thing.

AIOLIN
Remind me to never go to a goblin baker…

VURIETH
Shouldn’t we say something?

YAELA
Laethar can handle himself. He has faced much worse than a… uh…

AIOLIN
Scantily clad widow?

BALINK
Pushy posh lady?

VURIETH
I do not believe that we should judge her for her appearance. It is a very nice gown.

BALINK
Nice and fluffy round the edges.

AIOLIN
Looks chilly.

YAELA
Oh hush.

[Balink and Aiolin chuckle.]

LADY BOLIVAR
So, what do you want from me?

LAETHAR
[recovering a little] Well, we – I – am looking for any more information you can give me on the succession of murders. Another occurred just hours ago.

LADY BOLIVAR
Oh my goodness. Well, that is just dreadful. Who was it?

LAETHAR
[lying] Um… we are not sure yet, we are waiting for information.

LADY BOLIVAR
Well, of course I am happy to help. Ask me anything, my dear inquisitor. And I do mean anything.

LAETHAR
Yes. Right. Well, if you don’t mind, I can just go over some – uh – of the basics again first. When did your husband’s murder happen?

LADY BOLIVAR
Tomorrow will be exactly three weeks ago. Four in the afternoon.

LAETHAR
And it was you that found him?

LADY BOLIVAR
It was! Oh it was awful. I must have missed the whole thing. I was dropping in to visit a friend you see.

LAETHAR
I see. And you found him…?

LADY BOLIVAR
Right here. On this couch.

[Laethar stands up immediately.]

LAETHAR
I see.

LADY BOLIVAR
Oh, do sit back down, don’t be silly. I have had it cleaned.

LAETHAR
I would rather stand, thank you. So, you found him poisoned, yes?

LADY BOLIVAR
Yes. Frothing at the mouth, wide terrified eyes, pale as snow! I’ve never witnessed a scarier sightl.

LAETHAR
And was there anyone else in the house?

LADY BOLIVAR
Oh my dear, of course! Never a dull moment here, let me see… well – the cook, if I remember correctly, was around the back collecting the meat delivery, the maids were out in the secondary garden hanging the washing, I was down the road having tea with Lady Delgado at her abode, and my son Peregrin was out on one of his walks. Such a shame. No one to hear, no one to see.

LAETHAR
Did your husband have any enemies? Anyone who may have been responsible?

LADY BOLIVAR
Oh certainly. I told the guards as much. But they refused to listen to me.

LAETHAR
Might I ask who you suspect?

LADY BOLIVAR
Of course you may!

LAETHAR
[sighs] … Alright. Who do you suspect?

LADY BOLIVAR
The Lord Edelmiro Cortez, he owns the estate besides mine – I mean, ours. He sits on the council of the Masters and was a colleague of my husband. My late husband.

LAETHAR
And might I ask why you suspect this man?

LADY BOLIVAR
You may.

LAETHAR
[sighing again] Why do you suspect this man of murder?

LADY BOLIVAR
Because, dear Inquisitor, he hungered for my husband’s position as Grand Master of Coin, which he now has!

LAETHAR
I see, that is actually quite helpful. Thank you, Lady Bo-

LADY BOLIVAR
Nina, please, darling. I am Nina Escarlata Bolivar. You may call me Nina, if I may call you Leoncio?

LAETHAR
Certainly, why not. Very well. Thank you for your time, Lady Nina. We shall leave you to your… grief.

BALINK
[quietly] More like her wine and cakes.

YAELA
[giggling] Hush!

AIOLIN
He’s not wrong though.

VURIETH
Little one, please do not do what I believe you are thinking.

BALINK
What?

VURIETH
I will buy you ten cakes all to yourself, if you do not steal any here.

BALINK
Hm. Deal!

LAETHAR
[mid-conversation] No, no we really must be going. Thank you ever so much.

LADY BOLIVAR
So soon? But you have barely touched your champagne!

LAETHAR
You are most kind but we should continue our investigation. Thank you – no, really, thank you.

EMILIO
Shall I show our, ah – [sniffs] guests out, ma’am?

LADY BOLIVAR
Oh, very well then. But you can come back any time, my dear Leoncio.

LAETHAR
Thank you for the invitation. And my apologies for your loss.

LADY BOLIVAR
Mm, yes. Quite sad times for us all. Ta-ta then!

[The door shuts behind them as they leave.]

YAELA
… So.

LAETHAR
Don’t. Say. A word.

YAELA
We weren’t –

LAETHAR
Say. Nothing.

YAELA
Alright alright, let’s just go.

[Their footsteps begin to crunch down the gravel path.]

VURIETH
Would you like a hand taking that off, my friend?

LAETHAR
Yes. Now, if you would hurry up.

VURIETH
Of course.

YAELA
Laethar, there is no need to be so snippy with us.

[Vurieth pulls the headscarf off Laethar.]

VURIETH
There you are, back to yourself again.

LAETHAR
Thank you.

AIOLIN
Should we try to talk to that neighbour next? This Lord Cortez? See if he knows anything.

BALINK
Oh no, not more champagne people…

VURIETH
That’s the house there, isn’t it? The next one over? It does not look as though anyone is home.

LAETHAR
No one of importance, at any rate.

VURIETH
What do you mean?

LAETHAR
Even if it looks quiet, a house that size is never empty. There will be serving staff, maids, any number of people.

BALINK
So what you’re saying is… perfect time to visit!

YAELA
How so?

BALINK
Well, who’s most likely to know the dark secrets and the hidden stuff and the motives for murder? The staff!

AIOLIN
Good point, that.

VURIETH
That is a brilliant idea, little one.

YAELA
I agree, but do you think they would speak to us?

AIOLIN
Well, in a city full of sheltered judgemental humans, who’s the most likely to relate to outsiders? Anyone on the bottom.

LAETHAR
It is worth a try, I suppose.

YAELA
Alright, let’s get going then. The day is getting on, and this council chairman could be back any moment.

[Later, Aiolin moves through a tavern to join the party.]

AIOLIN
Here we are, took a while but I got served.

BALINK
Thank you!

LAETHAR
Right, let’s go over what we found out.

YAELA
We know that one member from each family, the Bolivars, the Ortegas and now the Aritzas has been killed, only one and each time in the same way.

VURIETH
Each time led to someone else profiting or improving their own position.

AIOLIN
But it was a different person each time.

BALINK
Maybe it was a coincidence? They all just happened to be poisoned?

YAELA
I don’t think so. From what everyone said, it seems to be the same poison each time.

LAETHAR
Perhaps it’s a hired killer? They all used the same person who killed everyone the same way?

AIOLIN
We’ll have a hard time proving that.

BALINK
Unless we find the killer.

YAELA
That’s what we’ve been trying to do.

BALINK
Nah, we’ve been trying to figure out who the murderer is, who actually wanted them folks dead. If an assassin’s involved, that’s different. And might be better for us.

VURIETH
How so?

BALINK
Well if this was a bunch of rich people killing each other, they’d all be trying to hide it.

LAETHAR
Whereas a professional killer will still be available for hire.

BALINK
Yup! And finding ’em can’t be that hard if all those poshos could do it. We just need to look in the right place.

VURIETH
But how will we find the right place?

BALINK
I was a master criminal, remember?

AIOLIN
Master?

BALINK
Alright, I was a pretty successful criminal. But, point is, I know the signs to look out for and the kinds of people we wanna be asking.

YAELA
Alright so, where do we start?

MENACING HUMAN
Hey, you! Outsiders.

BALINK
About here, I reckon.

MENACING HUMAN 2
We heard you have been asking questions. Bothering your betters.

LAETHAR
Bothering your betters, you mean.

MENACING HUMAN
What did you say?

YAELA
Hush, Laethar. Don’t mind him. We’re not looking for any trouble.

MENACING HUMAN 2
Well you should have thought of that earlier.

AIOLIN
Look.

[Aiolin’s chair scrapes as he stands up.]

AIOLIN
There’s no need for this –

MENACING HUMAN
Hey! You stay where you are.

AIOLIN
What?

MENACING HUMAN
We’ll not take your threats, orc!

AIOLIN
I’m not threatening –

MENACING HUMAN 2
Sit back down or I will put you down.

[A crossbow is readied.]

VURIETH
Best sit down, my friend. Slowly.

MENACING HUMAN 2
That’s right, listen to your friend.

[Wood creaks as Aiolin sits down slowly.]

MENACING HUMAN
Now, let me tell you what’s going to happen.

LAETHAR
You’re going to turn around and stop bothering us?

MENACING HUMAN 2
One more word out of you, elf-scum, and I will slit your throat for you.

LAETHAR
Get out of my face, human, your breath stinks.

YAELA
Laethar, will you stop –

MENACING HUMAN
[amused] Yes, back away from the elf, Abelio. You do have a strong reek, and they are known for their weak constitutions.

VURIETH
Alright, we can –

MENACING HUMAN
I mean, you can’t expect more from the people who lost the field to the Harbinger, fleeing like the cowards they are.

YAELA
…. Oh dear.

BALINK
Should we -?

YAELA
[resigned] No, no point now.

MENACING HUMAN 2
What you muttering about?

LAETHAR
Probably this.

MENACING HUMAN 2
Hey, what are you –

[There’s a scuffle, and the humans shout as a punch is thrown and a nose is broken. There is a scream.]

MENACING HUMAN
What the –

BALINK
Grab ‘em!

[With a larger scuffle, tables tip over and glasses smash. A couple of the patrons scream.]

AIOLIN
Got ’em!

YAELA
[breathing heavily] Laethar, would you just calm down a little now?

LAETHAR
Echil firen eru-ten!

VURIETH
You know that all you do is give them the reaction they are looking for when you lose your temper so.

AIOLIN
He’s out cold now, you can let go.

[A body drops to the floor.]

MENACING HUMAN
[muffled] Get off me!

BALINK
Aiolin, could you budge over just a bit?

AIOLIN
Sure, why?

BALINK
I wanna ask this guy some questions.

YAELA
Be careful.

BALINK
Not me you gotta worry about.

[Aiolin shifts his weight and the human groans.]

BALINK
Right, listen up, Gajol! You seem like someone what spends time with the scoundrels of the world, that right?

MENACING HUMAN
Uh, yeah.

BALINK
And so you’d be the one to ask about finding someone, right? Maybe someone for hire? Maybe someone what don’t ask no questions and takes coin upfront?

MENACING HUMAN
I wouldn’t tell you scum anything.

BALINK
Ah, wrong answer, buddy.

[Balink unsheathes a dagger and stabs him. The human howls in pain.]

VURIETH
Oh my goodness!

MENACING HUMAN
You little scum-bloated rodent son of a –

BALINK
You don’t insult my mamma.

[There’s a metal thud as the handle of the dagger connects with the man’s skull. The man grunts in pain.]

YAELA
Binks –

BALINK
Shush! Now, mister. I gots a question for you.

[Balink lowers his voice.]

BALINK
Are there any in this city who walk under the red moon?

MENACING HUMAN
How do you…?

BALINK
See, we ain’t so different after all.

MENACING HUMAN
… I…

BALINK
So, answer?

MENACING HUMAN
[quietly] There is one.

BALINK
Tell me about them.

MENACING HUMAN
Rumour says he’s not one of us. But no one ever managed to find out. Looks human. Talks human. But… is not. Some say he walks among the cityfolk and they don’t know.

BALINK
How do we contact him?

MENACING HUMAN
You can leave messages. In a box. It’s hidden in the Western Sewer, under the Road of Jewellers.

BALINK
Alrighty then. You’ve been sorta useful. You can go.

MENACING HUMAN
You –

LAETHAR
Don’t bother threatening us, human. Just look afraid and run away. And take your friend with you.

[The human leaves, dragging his friend with him across the floor.]

LANDLADY
Outlanders! I will see that the guards hear about this!

YAELA
See that you do. Captain Duilio will be interested in how the hunt is going.

LANDLADY
I… what?

VURIETH
This should cover all the damages.

[A coin purse jingles.]

VURIETH
We are so sorry for the disturbance.

[They leave, and transition to the Road of Jewellers.]

YAELA
Have you found it yet?

BALINK
[echoing] Not yet!

LAETHAR
So, this is the plan? Leave a message for this mysterious… person, and hope that they turn up?

AIOLIN
That’s pretty much it, yes.

VURIETH
Balink seems optimistic.

LAETHAR
I’d hardly call that encouraging.

YAELA
He does seem to know about these things.

BALINK
[echoing] Aha!

AIOLIN
Sounds like he’s found it.

LAETHAR
But how long will we have to wait? I’m getting a little tired of the local scenery.

YAELA
Well all we can do for now is wait. If no one shows up, we can come up with a new plan.

[Balink climbs the metal rungs up and out of the sewer.]

BALINK
Right, I put the note in. Let’s go.

VURIETH
And you’re sure this person will turn up?

BALINK
Definitely.

AIOLIN
So, where is this meeting place?

BALINK
That statue we saw a while back, in that little courtyard. Figured it was quiet and out the way enough but still close to other people if things got nasty.

LAETHAR
As if any of these people would lift a finger to aid us…

YAELA
Alright, I remember the place. Come on, we may as well head there now.

[The party’s feet move over cobblestone as they enter the courtyard.]

VURIETH
How long has it been?

AIOLIN
Nearly three hours.

YAELA
So, could you explain exactly what you did, Binks? You asked after… what?

BALINK
An assassin, basically. I figured if anyone might know what’s going on, it’d be the criminal underbelly. Every place’s got one. No matter how big, how small, or how stuck-up and rude the residents are.

LAETHAR
So there’s a chance this fellow coming to meet us is the killer we’re after?

BALINK
Yup. And if we think it’s him we can take him! Five on one. Even the best assassins I’ve met couldn’t beat all of us at once.

RIUNT
You have not met me though, master Bam Baj.

LAETHAR
Gods above us!

AIOLIN
Where did you come from?

YAELA
Was sneaking up on us really necessary?

RIUNT
All comes with the occupation, of course. One cannot be too careful.

LAETHAR
And I suppose the hood and scarf are all part of the occupation as well?

RIUNT
Naturally. I believe you adopted a similar guise, Master Elf. You know how unwelcoming this fair city can be to outsiders.

LAETHAR
Well, quite.

VURIETH
I must congratulate you, sir, on your deft feet. You have caught us all quite off guard.

AIOLIN
You’re the, uh… one we asked to meet, then?

RIUNT
That depends. Would any of you know the time we may walk in the shade?

YAELA
Pardon?

LAETHAR
Time of what?

BALINK
I walk at three. The others at dawn.

AIOLIN
You what?

RIUNT
Very well. Come.

[Riunt leads them away and unlocks a door. They all step inside.]

BALINK
Cool! An oubliette! I never seen one of these before!

RIUNT
The city has a fair few. I make use of them from time to time.

[The door closes.]

RIUNT
Now let us speak plainly to one another.

[Riunt removes his scarf and hood.]

BALINK
Whoa!

YAELA
[excited] Oh!

VURIETH
[shocked] You’re a dibolu?

RIUNT
I am. I’m surprised you recognised me. Are there any of my kind in the Ashen Plains?

VURIETH
Oh, no. But I lived in the Fae for a short time and I met one or two of them there.

RIUNT
Ah, I see.

AIOLIN
If you do not mind my asking, what, ah… I mean, I heard that all of your kind were scattered, lost to the corners of the world or else fled back to the Fae.

RUINT
You believed correct, Master Orc. For the most part. There are still some of us around. Those of use who can go unnoticed and unremarked.

LAETHAR
I have not met a dibolu in centuries. Not since…well, not since the War of the Lamps.

RIUNT
And you still have not. I am only a part-blood. My father was Riurn of Shadewood Isle, my mother was an elf of Pale Harbour.

YAELA
Oh, I know Shadewood –

BALINK
But where’s your horns?

YAELA
Binks, don’t be rude.

RIUNT
Look closer, Master Bam Baj.

[There’s a shuffle as Riunt kneels down.]

BALINK
You hacked them off?

RIUNT
Not I. That was the work of some truly delightful humans over a year or so back. However, they inadvertently did me a favour. I can pass much easier without them. I simply continue to file down the stumps.

YAELA
That is… awful.

VURIETH
I am so sorry for your experiences, my friend.

RIUNT
It makes no matter now. So, to business. You reached out to me. Are you looking to bid someone moonlit tidings?

AIOLIN
Eh?

VURIETH
I believe they are using code, none outside their circle can understand.

RIUNT
Correct. So – you four are all new to the game then? What brings you knocking at my door?

LAETHAR
I would hardly call depositing messages in a dank sewer knocking…

BALINK
We’re investigating the murders what’ve gone on up top. You know anything about them?

RIUNT
As a matter of fact, I do. Most intriguing. But why are they of such interest to you? Surely a bunch of outsiders wouldn’t wish to stay here any longer than necessary. And I cannot imagine any of the oh so cheery city council would pay you to investigate.

YAELA
We are hunting down the true culprit so they may be brought to justice.

RIUNT
And so that you can leave the city?

LAETHAR
Obviously.

BALINK
So do you got any ideas? Or… have you been walking under the red moon recently?

RIUNT
[laughs] No, Master Bam Baj. I have been predominantly mixing fine spirits and concocting ales to soothe the mind of late.

AIOLIN
What does all of that mean?

VURIETH
I think it means he has not been hired to kill anyone – well, lately.

AIOLIN
Oh well then, splendid.

LAETHAR
You expect us to believe that, Mister… ?

YAELA
Oh yes, we never caught your name.

RIUNT
I never threw it your way, Aranoss.

LAETHAR
How about you tell us instead?

RIUNT
[chuckles] Well, who might you be, fine travelling companions? I am acquainted quite amiably with your goblin here. Master Bam Baj has a reputation which precedes him – three years, didn’t you say?

BALINK
Yeah.

RIUNT
You, however, dawn-dwellers, I do not know.

AIOLIN
If you wouldn’t mind, we are not exactly up to speed with the criminal lingo.

RIUNT
Dawn-dweller, just our little joke. Thieves, murderers and others of our kind work in the night while others, the respectable sort, rise with the dawn.

AIOLIN
I see.

VURIETH
What makes you so certain that we have not delved into the life of crime?

RIUNT
Well, apart from anything else- it is written on each of your faces, clear as day. You think we cannot sniff out our own? Plus, Bam Baj here confirmed it.

YAELA
Look, perhaps proper introductions can wait until after we’ve gotten to the bottom of this. We came to you for information on these murders. Do you have any?

RIUNT
I do. First of all, this is no game of the nobility. The low have been struck as well as the high. A common girl, her father and a stable-hand were all poisoned in the same way some days before the Lord Bolivar.

LAETHAR
I see. And second of all?

RIUNT
There has been a further murder. Not more than an hour ago.

VURIETH
Oh no…

YAELA
You are sure? Where?

RIUNT
The other side of town. Another commoner, so you’ll likely have no run-ins with any guards.

BALINK
If you ain’t been doing them, do you know who has?

RIUNT
I do not, though I would be most interested to find out which dawn-walker has been encroaching on my territory.

YAELA
Dawn-walker? You mean this isn’t a professional killer?

RIUNT
Spirits, no! Their methods are atrocious! Clearly experimental, especially the first few. Somebody playing around with herbs and potions to make poison. They have gotten better, but they are still sloppy. No true one of my occupation would leave such a mess.

LAETHAR
That is interesting…

RIUNT
But that is all I know. Now, I wish you luck in your endeavours, but I have already lingered too long.

AIOLIN
Where are you going? Not like you can leave the city any more than we can.

RIUNT
Perhaps, perhaps not. But even in a locked city, there is much to do.

BALINK
May your nights be cloudy.

RIUNT
And your steps soft.

LAETHAR
And what exactly is that supposed to-

[Riunt shade-steps away.]

YAELA
Did he just –

AIOLIN
How?

VURIETH
Well, dibolu are of the Fae.

BALINK
Well, that’s a new lead at least. Wanna go talk to some common folks about their dead now?

[Dice roll and clatter at the gaming table.]

GAME MASTER
And that is where we shall leave it for today.

ROSIE
Cool, we need to make a move anyway.

WILL
Yep. Same time next week?

[The players agree.]

MATT
Gina, Leah, you want a lift home?

LEAH
Yes please!

GINA
Ooh, yeah, thank you. See you next week!

GAME MASTER
See you.

[The door closes. There is a pause – and then whispering sounds.]

GAME MASTER
They are making progress. Though I fear the Poisoner will evade their capture. They have passed the test and will wish to join the other four.

[The whispering continues.]

GAME MASTER
Oh, they will, I think. They are only missing one piece of the puzzle. As ever, the simplest question is the one that’s overlooked.

[The whispering continues. The clock ticks.]

GAME MASTER
Exactly. If the first victim they found, that Adalia girl, was dead by the time they reached her, it couldn’t have been her who screamed. Her windpipe would have been too constricted. So, who was it who screamed?

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