Transcript – Seed

[Quest of Ruin theme plays]

ANNOUNCER
Scroll and Dagger presents:
Quest of Ruin
Episode Twenty-Eight
Seed

[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 we open today’s session with the five of you travelling with the Mech’nist Abnay Gearturner. You head east, away from Sacara, basically following the way you came.

ROSIE
Does Abnay say anything more about the job?

GAME MASTER
Nothing much yet. He says he will when you’ve found somewhere safe to stop for the night.

GINA
Didn’t you say this part of the world was arid desert?

GAME MASTER
I mean much of it, yeah.

WILL
Well, where does he think we’re going to be able to stop? Sacara’s the only settlement for miles.

LEAH
Yeah, I thought we’d be camping.

MATT
I think we’ll be ok.

ROSIE
How do you figure?

MATT
I… um… I don’t know. Just have a feeling, I guess.

GAME MASTER
Well, you’re not wrong. Because, as luck would have it, you actually encounter a caravan of travelling merchants.

WILL
Oh right. Well, that’s lucky.

ROSIE
Hang on. Are they hostile?

GAME MASTER
They’re a little jumpy at first but, as soon as they can tell you’re not wasters or bandits, they’re happy to let you pitch up with them. And when they see Vurieth, they’re even happier. Because, as it turns out, this is an Ashlander caravan.

MATT
Oh, sweet.

WILL
Okay, as soon as we’ve set up camp, I’m gonna ask Abnay to explain just what the deal is.

GAME MASTER
Go for it.

[Dice roll and the transition music plays. Campfires crackle as, in the distance, groups of merchants talk and laugh.]

VURIETH
I thank you for your kindness, Zaeim Kahina. I cannot tell you how pleased I am to be among my own people again.

KAHINA
You and your friends are welcome at our fires, Alhaju Vurieth. It is good to see you safe and well after so long outside the Plains.

VURIETH
I admit, I have felt the pull of home much of late. To return to the mountains, to see the Ash Lake again… but I have a duty to my companions. Until that is done, I must stay with them.

KAHINA
I will give praise to your father when I next see him. He has raised you well.

VURIETH
You honour me.

KAHINA
It is deserved. Come find me later. We shall smoke Stonebark leaf together and speak of the past.

VURIETH
I would like that. Thank you.

[Kahina leaves.]

BALINK
… but I don’t get what you were doing outside Sacara in the first place!

ABNAY
I already told you, didn’t I? I was looking for mercenaries!

YAELA
I think he means it seems odd to travel this far south just to find mercenaries. Last I checked, we weren’t the only group working in Lhain.

ABNAY
Well… I…

AIOLIN
You were down here on some other business, weren’t you?

ABNAY
I may have been instructed to find out a few things.

YAELA
Instructed by who?

ABNAY
Someone I respect and who had an interest in the recent events here in Sacara.

LAETHAR
You mean the murders?

ABNAY
Well, not much else to talk of round here, is there?

VURIETH
But who would want to know of the deaths?

LAETHAR
Indeed. Not many beyond the walls of the “Holy City” would care much about it, I’d have thought.

ABNAY
Aye, not many. But a few. But that’s all I’m going to say on the matter. It doesn’t concern you anyway.

BALINK
Alright, fair enough. How about instead you tell us about this job?

LAETHAR
Yes, good idea. Come on, Master Gearturner, let’s hear it.

ABNAY
Alright, alright. But I’m just gonna tell you now, you’re not gonna like it. You’re not gonna want to do it. Any of you. But especially you.

YAELA
What?

LAETHAR
Why especially me?

ABNAY
Because of where the job is.

VURIETH
And where is that?

BALINK
More importantly, what is the job? And more more importantly, what does it pay?

ABNAY
It’s a retrieval job. There’s something King Iswald wants and I have been given a note of promise, signed by his own hand, that whoever undertakes this mission will be paid… well, see for yourself.

[Abnay pulls out a piece of paper and lays it on the table between them. The paper is unfolded.]

BALINK
Holy snot!

YAELA
That’s…

ABNAY
Exactly.

VURIETH
That much? For one job?

LAETHAR
What could possibly be worth so much?

BALINK
Did you see this, Aiolin? … Aiolin!

AIOLIN
Hm? Sorry, I was trying to work out this glyph group. What’s this?

BALINK
The possible pay for Abnay’s job.

[There’s a rustle of paper.]

AIOLIN
That… can’t be right.

ABNAY
Oh, but it is. All collectable from the king upon delivery of the item.

LAETHAR
And just what is the item?

ABNAY
[sighs] A ceredh.

LAETHAR
… You’re not serious.

ABNAY
Oh I am. Completely.

AIOLIN
But, how?

YAELA
There hasn’t been one of those for over two thousand years.

AIOLIN
Not for lack of trying.

BALINK
Hang on, I’m confused.

VURIETH
Yes, me also. I have not heard of this ceredh.

AIOLIN
You’ll be familiar with its work though.

LAETHAR
There has only ever been one ceredh. A seed of pure creation. At the end of the fourth age, when all efforts to stop Ongron Corchir’s March of the Dead had failed, the ceredh was forged. And with it the mountains of Lithmelin were remade.

VURIETH
Oh. … Oh.

AIOLIN
Exactly. The great eruption that turned the Lithmelin desert into the Ashen Plains.

LAETHAR
And the secret of the ceredh’s creation was lost along with its creator.

YAELA
That’s what we were told, anyway. But now it seems otherwise.

BALINK
So the trick to making them wasn’t lost?

ABNAY
Of course it was! Why do you think nobody has made one since? Plenty of people have tried. Most recently King Iswald himself. Though you apparently killed that attempt.

BALINK
What? We never stopped him doing anything!

YAELA
Wait. You mean the wyrm?

ABNAY
If you saw it, you’ll know that was no wyrm. It was an Impossible-beast. A spawn.

YAELA
A pellry? But they’re extinct!

ABNAY
Mostly. The art to their making is still known to some.

VURIETH
But why would King Iswald do such a thing?

ABNAY
The spawn is a creature of pure creation. He thought, as did quite a few of us, that the heart of such a creature would contain enough potential power to be used in the making of a ceredh.

BALINK
Well I suppose that explains why he was so angry that we killed it.

LAETHAR
It doesn’t excuse letting the creature run rampant over his kingdom and his people.

YAELA
But why does he want a ceredh so badly?

ABNAY
Well, think about it. A ceredh can do almost literally anything. With such a thing in our possession, what might we accomplish? Turn the Ashen Plains back to how they were, maybe? Make the rivers all run fresh again. Or maybe even –

AIOLIN
Undo all the damage that the War of Destruction did.

ABNAY
Exactly. Imagine it. The western kingdoms able to support life again, the fae woods blooming. The mountains of Orod Eiliant raised to the glory of old. Esgardor and Sarnor thriving and Ardh Narasant once more full of the sound of the Sea and its rivers.

LAETHAR
[weakly] Don’t.

ABNAY
Everyone wouldn’t be crammed into the edges and corners of the world anymore. Scrounging what we can among the rocks and in the snow of Weisscrag. We would be free.

[Laethar’s chair clatters to the floor.]

LAETHAR
Enough! That’s enough. You talk of a thing that is impossible.

YAELA
[soothingly] Laethar, please –

ABNAY
It’s not impossible, Laethar. With a ceredh, anything is attainable.

LAETHAR
There is no ceredh.

ABNAY
There is! Another was made, or at least found. I don’t know if it’s a new one or the same seed that caused the eruption but it was there! Just before the War of Destruction.

BALINK
Wait, hang on.

VURIETH
Before?

AIOLIN
So why hasn’t it been used already?

ABNAY
Well, here’s the bit you’re not going to like.

YAELA
Oh no.

ABNAY
It was taken by the Harbinger.

AIOLIN
Oh.

VURIETH
Well, he would have destroyed it, surely. To prevent it being used for precisely this purpose?

AIOLIN
A ceredh can’t be destroyed. Because of what it is, it’s basically always in a state of making itself.

BALINK
So, what happened to it?

ABNAY
Well, he –

LAETHAR
He would have taken it to the Dannengwath.

ABNAY
… Yes.

LAETHAR
Where it still is?

ABNAY
… Yes.

LAETHAR
Right. Well, thank you very much. But no.

VURIETH
What?

AIOLIN
Laethar…

VURIETH
Think of what this might mean, my friend.

BALINK
Think of what we could do with that much money!

LAETHAR
You may all do as you please. But I will not. If you wish to run this fool’s errand, then good luck to you. But I will not go.

[Laethar walks away. Yaela’s stool shifts.]

YAELA
I’ll go talk to him.

VURIETH
Shall I come to?

YAELA
No, I think it had best just be me.

VURIETH
Very well.

[Yaela walks away, and the sound fades to her hurried footsteps moving outside the merchants’ camp.]

YAELA
Laethar! Wait!

LAETHAR
I won’t do it! I can’t!

YAELA
Calm down!

LAETHAR
Don’t tell me to calm down! You heard him! The Dannengwath! Bad enough to go into Ardh Narasant, but the Harbinger’s tower itself?

YAELA
I know.

LAETHAR
I can’t. I just can’t.

YAELA
I know it’s a lot to ask. It would be insane for anyone to do… but I don’t see how we can turn this down. If the ceredh is real, if we really can undo all of it –

LAETHAR
You can go if you want. Nothing’s stopping you all going.

YAELA
You know we’d need you.

LAETHAR
I don’t see why. You’re easily my match as a fighter. And Aiolin’s stronger than me without trying.

YAELA
That’s not what I meant. If we’re to face him –

LAETHAR
I can’t. After all this. After everything.

YAELA
You have to. You should have done it a long time ago.

LAETHAR
… I know. You’re right, I know you’re right. I just really wish you weren’t.

YAELA
That sounds familiar.

[Laethar and Yaela laugh.]

YAELA
So, will you come with us?

LAETHAR
You know that I will.

[At the edges of the merchant camp, the others talk.]

BALINK
So…

ABNAY
So.

BALINK
We kinda, y’know… saved your shop from thieves.

ABNAY
Mhmm.

BALINK
And… now we’re gonna do this job for you…

ABNAY
If your friend agrees.

BALINK
One, we can go with or without Laethar, and two, you ain’t seen Yaela turn on her persuading glare yet. Make a sick old goblin leap outta bed and get right back to work, she could.

ABNAY
I believe it.

BALINK
So…?

ABNAY
So?

BALINK
So… is we cool?

ABNAY
Cool?

BALINK
Yeah, y’know, put all old grudges behind us, plough on forward into a new world!

ABNAY
I suppose –

BALINK
Forge our way into a friendship! Set the enemies of our pasts in flames! Burn the bridges of an-im-os-ity! Make a firm and solemn vow to –

ABNAY
Alright! I said alright!

BALINK
Alright?

ABNAY
Yes, you irritating little snot-rag. Yes. You and me can have a blank slate. Just this once. In case you really do get this seed and we really do start the world over.

VURIETH
A fresh start for a fresh start, how appropriate.

BALINK
Shake on it?

ABNAY
Fine.

BALINK
[spits into hand] Friends!

ABNAY
Well, let’s not push it. [spits into hand] How about associates?

BALINK
Mm… fine.

[Balink and Abnay shake hands.]

VURIETH
I do not think I will ever entirely understand goblins…

ABNAY
Best not to try.

AIOLIN
Heads up. They’re coming back.

VURIETH
So, what did you decide? Are we all going?

LAETHAR
Very much against my better judgement, but yes. We will go to Ardh Narasant together.

VURIETH
I am pleased to hear that, my friend.

ABNAY
Right then, we can begin planning.

[Abnary unfurls a map.]

ABNAY
Here’s my proposed route. We head north along the Ilaluin until we’re clear of the Sacaran mountains, then we head west across Ilarth. If we make good time we can reach the Gailaeglir mountains inside of a week. Then we turn north to the Sea of Nara.

AIOLIN
Makes sense.

VURIETH
I will be sorry to leave. It has been pleasant to be around my own people again.

YAELA
Well there’s no reason we have to leave right away. We can stay the night here and set off in the morning.

VURIETH
I would like that.

LAETHAR
Alright. We’ll get a good night’s sleep and be away at first light on the morrow.

[In the morning, the party prepares to depart.]

ITRI
You are sure you will not take them? They are fine quality.

YAELA
I am sure they are, herdmaster, but truthfully? I do not know if we will survive this journey, and I would not feel right leaving such fine creatures alone in the wastes.

ITRI
Very well, if you’re sure.

ABNAY
We’ll be alright with the two we have. Come and help me hitch them up, will you?

BALINK
On it!

KAHINA
I wish you luck on your journey, Vurieth. May your travels be safe that you may once again step foot on the grey sands of home.

VURIETH
Alsafar yumin, Zaeim.

KAHINA
Alsafar amina.

BALINK
Come on, Vurieth! Sun will have gone down by the time you’re ready!

VURIETH
I am ready.

LAETHAR
And you, Aiolin?

AIOLIN
Hm?

LAETHAR
You are going to put that book down just a little, while we’re travelling, I hope.

AIOLIN
Yes yes, of course I will.

LAETHAR
Alright. Lead the way then, Master Gearturner.

[Abnay flicks the reins. The horses begin walking on and the wheels of the cart rumble on the road.]

ITRI
[quietly] Be safe.

[A campfire crackles at the end of the day.]

ABNAY
A good day’s journey. I’d say we’ve made good progress. Tomorrow we can begin heading west. It’s four days till we reach the Caladnin river, so we’ll need to be careful with our water.

YAELA
How are we for food?

ABNAY
With what those Ashlanders sold us, we should have plenty.

BALINK
Hence why it’s roast goat and fresh veg for dinner!

AIOLIN
Vurieth, can I have a word?

VURIETH
Hm? Yes, of course.

YAELA
Is everything alright?

AIOLIN
Yes, just need to talk about the book.

LAETHAR
Well, don’t be too long. The food’s almost ready.

AIOLIN
We won’t be long.

[A little way away from the campfire, Aiolin and Vurieth talk.]

VURIETH
What is it, my friend?

AIOLIN
I think I’ve figured it out.

VURIETH
What?

AIOLIN
What was done to you. Why it’s affected your magic.

VURIETH
You have? But that’s good news, is it not?

AIOLIN
I’m not sure, so I wanted to explain in private. If you want to tell everyone then we can, I just thought you should know first.

VURIETH
Ah, I see. So what have you found?

AIOLIN
Here, look.

[Aiolin opens the book.]

AIOLIN
From what I can gather, it’s not known exactly when or where vampires came from. Even the ancients didn’t know.

VURIETH
Well, that is disheartening.

AIOLIN
Not quite. Because they might have just not known what they were seeing. See, this part here says that the first vampires were met in the northernmost lands. That there was conflict and they were most protective of… well it doesn’t really translate but there’s a glyph grouping here. This one means object. This one is dominance, or rulership, and it’s coupled with the “I” which I think means “god”.

VURIETH
You think it means the monolith?

AIOLIN
I think so. Especially since… well, look at the dominance glyph. Remind you of anything?

VURIETH
It does look a little like it…

AIOLIN
And this passage here. As far as I can make out, it reads “and they protected that place for it was from there that they drew their power, their magic.”

VURIETH
These vampires had magic?

AIOLIN
Well, it makes sense. This book is from the first age. Any vampires would have had to be elves or dwarves and the elvish ones would have had magic. But, if I’m reading this right, then their power came from that monolith rather than the lighthouses.

VURIETH
I see. So, what does this mean?

AIOLIN
Right, so, you normally draw your magic from the Fae, through the lighthouses, right? But then those fledglings tried to make you a vampire. If the ritual had succeeded, then the source of your magic would have shifted to whatever power feeds through the monolith.

VURIETH
But the ritual did not succeed.

AIOLIN
Exactly. We interrupted it before they could finish. But I think those fledglings did enough to attach you to the source of vampire magic but not enough that you can’t use the magical energy that comes from the lighthouses.

VURIETH
So, you think I am drawing from both?

AIOLIN
Exactly. And they can’t be used at the same time so they are, in effect, cancelling each other out.

VURIETH
So, what can I do?

AIOLIN
I don’t know.

[Vurieth makes a sound of frustration.]

AIOLIN
You have to understand, this is something that’s never happened before. Or at least, there’s no record of it. We’re dealing with something new. But what we do know is you have been able to do some magic since the ritual.

VURIETH
Not reliably.

AIOLIN
But it does mean you can still draw on the power of the lighthouses, and ignore the other source.

VURIETH
And you are certain it is the power of the Fae I am drawing on? What is to say I am not drawing on this other power, the one that comes from the monolith?

AIOLIN
You use wilding magic, Vurieth. The power of the monolith is of domination. I don’t think it would allow itself to be channelled in that way.

VURIETH
I suppose that makes sense.

AIOLIN
So, do you want to tell the others or do you want to keep this between us?

VURIETH
No, we should tell them. Perhaps together we can figure this out.

[Fading out, they return to the campfire.]

BALINK
… Snot!

LAETHAR
And you’re sure about this?

AIOLIN
I mean, not sure if we can prove it but it’s the only explanation I’ve been able to come up with that makes sense.

BALINK
But what about the times they’ve done magic?

AIOLIN
I’m still trying to figure it all out. Best guess, the cancelling out effect creates a build up of energy so when they cast a spell that is successful, it’s given extra power.

YAELA
But there’s no rhyme or reason to when a spell will actually work?

VURIETH
I do not think so. As far as I can tell, it is completely random.

LAETHAR
So, what can be done?

AIOLIN
No idea. I mean, it might be that now you know what’s going on, you may be able to refocus and steer your power in the right direction…?

VURIETH
I doubt it will be so straight-forward.

AIOLIN
Well… yeah.

BALINK
See, concentration is a real art form. You can’t just do it.

LAETHAR
And you would know?

BALINK
Uh-huh. Gotta be super concentrate-y when you’re fixin’ up explodies!

AIOLIN
I suppose he has a point there.

BALINK
And when you gotta do it fast, or on the run, y’know!

VURIETH
Would you have any tips for me, little one? On how I may concentrate better myself?

BALINK
Hmm… let me have a think about it.

LAETHAR
Personally, I say that like anything it will require discipline and practice. I was not born talented with a blade. I had to learn the way of the sword, honing my craft over years. I had to earn it.

VURIETH
I am not entirely unpractised in my own craft, my friend.

LAETHAR
I realise that. But you need to retrain yourself. The magic no longer works how you are used to, so: re-train. Find out how it works and realign yourself accordingly.

YAELA
That is not at all bad advice, Laethar.

LAETHAR
There is no need to sound so surprised.

VURIETH
So, I should practise then?

LAETHAR
Every day. Twice perhaps. I shall help.

VURIETH
… I mean no disrespect, my friend, but how could you help?

AIOLIN
I’m curious myself.

[There’s a moment of silence.]

YAELA
Well, Laethar used to know a lot of mages.

LAETHAR
Yes, quite so. And I am familiar with the techniques they used to centre themselves and focus their power. Of course, those were true elven mages so I don’t know how effective they’ll be for a wilding like you.

[Laethar laughs. It’s forced.]

VURIETH
[uncertainly] I see.

YAELA
But focusing yourself couldn’t hurt either. Perhaps we could meditate together, that might help reconnect you with the Fae.

VURIETH
Yes, thank you. Thank you everyone, I appreciate your help.

AIOLIN
We’ll figure this out, don’t worry.

ABNAY
[distantly] Oi, you lot. This stew’s gonna burn if you leave it alone like this!

LAETHAR
Then maybe try stirring it yourself!

ABNAY
I’m not the one who took cooking duty.

BALINK
[sighs] Fine, fine, I’m on it.

[Balink scampers over – and dice roll and clatter at the gaming table.]

GAME MASTER
Okay, so you rest the night. Yaela, on your watch you hear some sounds out in the dark but you’re pretty sure they’re just nocturnal animals and nothing comes near so you’re not too worried.

ROSIE
Okay, fine.

GAME MASTER
You continue travelling across Ilarth. It is a harsh and barren country, definitely hit badly by the War of Destruction. As you travel you see what must be the ruins of other cities and towns that dotted the land. All now dry, dead and crumbling.

MATT
So we must be getting close to the Harbinger’s lands now right?

GAME MASTER
Very close, yes. In fact, as you travel further north-west you see that the ruins you pass by become less and less recognisable as places where people once lived. It’s as if there was an eruption of destructive force that sort of petered out the further it went.

GINA
So is that why Sacara wasn’t hit by the Horde?

GAME MASTER
It’s part of it. Also Sacara had the benefit of being surrounded by mountains and a river, so it wasn’t easy for the Horde to get at it.

GINA
But why did the Horde become less destructive the further they went? You said they completely annihilated the western lands.

WILL
They did.

GAME MASTER
Well you’ll have to ask the Harbinger, if you get the chance.

LEAH
Okay, so how long does the journey take?

GAME MASTER
Well, as Abnay predicted, it does indeed take the better part of a week. You were lucky and you had just about enough water for yourselves and the horses but you’re definitely feeling the thirst by the time you see the Gailaeglir mountains and, more pleasing to your eyes, the Caladnin River.

ROSIE
Right so, first thing is to drink and wash and fill our canteens.

WILL
Agreed.

GINA
And then what?

GAME MASTER
Well, this river marks the border of Ardh Narasant. A little way to the north are the lands that were once called Nan Calargail, the Land of the bright light. They are now called Nan Ûcalad, the Lands of Un-light.

MATT
Well that’s ominous.

GAME MASTER
Yes indeed, and it is there that we shall end for today.

WILL
Fair. We’re getting close to the end now, though, right?

GAME MASTER
Certainly looks that way, yeah. Should be wrapping up fairly soon.

LEAH
Just need to deal with the Harbinger!

GAME MASTER
Well, you need to get to him first and you’ve got a whole country filled with his horde to get through.

WILL
Well that’ll be fun.

MATT
Okay, if we’re done, I need a drink.

[The others agree, and leave. The door closes.]

GAME MASTER
Getting close to the end.

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