Volume 1: In the Blood Ep. 24 - Apollo’s Gift
TRANSCRIPT - In the Blood Ep. 24 - Apollo’s Gift
Tau
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Tau
You’re listening to a parody that is not affiliated with or endorsed by Supergiant Games in any way, we’re just big ol’ nerds making improv fanfiction.
ROGUE RUNNERS is...rated R, for pretty much everything you can find in Greek Mythology: violence, assault, self-harm, offensive language, insensitive humor, and intense themes. We encourage everyone to check out our show notes and transcripts on our website at Whisperforge.org. Are you ready to run? Then welcome to Volume 1: In the Blood.
[SFX: Intro music.]
Tau
So as you climb the stairs, you find yourself at another long stairway corridor. It's identical to the one that you found going up from Tartarus to Asphodel. So there's the fountain that you can drink from, there is a large basin of purple ooze. And then there is a fountain of like red blood pouring from these tiered ewers stacked on top of each other.
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"Well, Pelops can't drink it all this time."
Michael (Arete)
Arete will approach the fountain and cup his hands and take a hearty sip.
[SFX: Splash.]
Michael (Arete)
(slurps up water)
Nicholas (Alexander)
It's the fountain or the basin?
Tau
It's like a fountain that comes from a basin, there's there's only so many words I can use for round things that hold water and there's three of them in a row next to each other. So think of it like kind of like there's like a little like depression in the ground that one could also call the basin but it is functionally the same thing as a fountain.
Giancarlo (Rolf)
Rolf walks up to the depression and says "It gets better buddy," and drinks from it.
[SFX: Water splashes.]
Tau
(chuckles)
Amanda (Annie)
Annie would like to go drink some water! Please! She's parched!
Tau
So everybody drinks from the fountain. As you do this, you all arrive at level 10.
[SFX: Ethereal tone.]
Players
(gasp and sigh with delight)
Tau
Why don't you guys describe for me what that entails for you?
Giancarlo (Rolf)
Some of the skin around Rolf's face that peeled off in the Pelops fight regrows as he drinks from the fountain. Some of the dark circles around his eyes go away as he goes up to level 10. Get some new spells including a new cantrip called swordburst. So... that's there and he's also going to recover some spell slots.
Nicholas (Alexander)
Alexander's base health will be up to 69.
Tau
Good! That's that's what people say. Right?
Giancarlo (Rolf)
Good.
Nicholas (Alexander)
Yeah, they say "Ooo groovy!"
Tau
Good job.
Nicholas (Alexander)
Starting at 10th level, you and friendly creatures within 10 feet of you can't be frightened while you're conscious.
Tau
That's nice.
Amanda (Annie)
Nice.
Nicholas (Alexander)
And I guess I'm gonna put my sword in the water to feed the flowers.
Tau
Alright, you do that and then you see the little petals on Marigold that were kind of wilting a little bit after the last fight, they all... stand erect.
Michael (Arete)
(wheeze laugh)
Giancarlo (Rolf)
(clears throat) Little Cypress erect again.
Michael (Arete)
Arete, he increases two ability stats and he's putting it all into dexterity babey! Because I'm a one trick pony. And does a little bit of healing as well.
Amanda (Annie)
Annie levels up to level 10. And Annie's max hit points goes up to 94.
Giancarlo (Rolf)
(gently gasps)
Tau
I imagine her, like she's a 17 year old girl, but she is like the beefiest person on the team.
Giancarlo (Rolf)
(grunting) Hoorah.
Amanda (Annie)
(laughs)
Nicholas (Alexander)
It's all that chocolate milk.
Amanda (Annie)
(beefy) It's all that chocky milk!
Tau
So you drink from the fountain, you leveled up, you got some healing in. What's going on?
Michael (Arete)
"So speaking of depressed Rolf, I think we might need to have a little chat. Are you, are you okay? You haven't been the same since you went in the blood there."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"We want to chat. What is it? What has you down. I will kill it for you."
Michael (Arete)
"I mean, that no, no, no, this is a I mean, relatively I'm fine. This is all very odd. This is all very strange, all very difficult, but uh, are you okay? You, uh, seem... different. You want to talk about it?"
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"I... am... awake."
Michael (Arete)
"Okay, you're gonna need to be a little bit more specific, because I'm not entirely sure what awake means. I mean, we're all awake. We haven't slept in a really long time."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"I've embraced the task before us."
Michael (Arete)
"Uh huh... yeah, we had embraced the task a couple of times, then we died a few times doing the task, but, uh, this time seems a little different."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"Arete What do you think awaits you when we succeed at our task?"
Michael (Arete)
"Well, personally, for me, it would be a nice little cup of revenge, best served cold."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"I've seen you in battle. I've no doubt at your abilities, who is it that you seek this revenge upon?"
Michael (Arete)
"My adoptive brother. He, huh, he killed me."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"Mm."
Michael (Arete)
"Killed me in cold blood because our father chose me to take over the family business."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"I'm sorry to hear it."
Michael (Arete)
"I can appreciate that."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"I assume the soul jar is for him, no?"
Michael (Arete)
"Oooh, yes."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"Wonderful. I've seen you in battle. I have no doubt you can accomplish what you're setting out to do. What happens after that?"
Michael (Arete)
"I've been thinking about that. You know, sometimes it takes watching someone who was once quite a joyful person, such as yourself, spiraling into what seems like a pit of darkness and despair to really make me question my life choices. Uh."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"No, Arete, no, no. Quite the opposite. You see darkness. I just see truth. The light of what it is. You will kill this person, yes? You will trap him in the jar, if you're lucky. Maybe Nemesis comes up to the surface and takes it from you and lets you live the rest of your life in peace, yes? From what I know about you your life was not a peaceful one, was it?"
Michael (Arete)
"No, it certainly was not."
[SFX: Bass tones filter into the music, casting an ominous tone.]
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"It rarely is what awaits you in life is battle. And even with this second chance at life, you will die, Arete. You may be betrayed, perhaps. You may fall ill. You may be taken in battle. Perhaps you even live to my old age and pass on naturally. And guess. Where. You. End. Up."
Michael (Arete)
"Right back here."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"There is nothing else, Arete. There is only battle."
Michael (Arete)
"Fuck me.
Amanda (Annie)
"Um. Excuse me?
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"Yes?"
Michael (Arete)
"Ye-yes.
Amanda (Annie)
"Sorry, I-."
Michael (Arete)
"Yes, Annie?"
Amanda (Annie)
"The room isn't that big and there's a bit of an echo, so I just, I happened to overhear.
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"You you're welcome to listen in, we are in Olympiad. As far as I'm concerned, you're the only souls that I care to protect, if we can even call it that.
Amanda (Annie)
"I just wanted to say that you had said something about darkness and darkness being truth. But, um."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"I don't, I don't find it dark."
Amanda (Annie)
"Well, I-I-"
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"I just I've taken off the rose tinted glasses, so to speak."
Tau
Annie, make an insight check.
Amanda (Annie)
That is a dirty 20.
Tau
You notice some of that lilac mist, that you guys were all running away from earlier, beginning to kind of radiate off of Rolf.
Amanda (Annie)
Annie's just gonna step a little bit away from Rolf. She just would rather not be in that mist. "But Rolf, I just, what I-I also fell into the darkness or saw the darkness at one point too. But what you see as truth or what you consider darkness as truth, I saw darkness and I got here. So I don't know, I just don't think that we don't always have to see it that way. I know that everything comes to an end. So yeah, when we do die again, when we do get out of here. And yes, we're gonna die again, that's gonna happen, but I mean, the whole reason we were doing this again was to get a second chance. If you don't even see it as that or you're not even excited about it, then forgive me. But what? What's the point?"
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"One must do something with all of eternity."
Amanda (Annie)
"No, that's not true. Not necessarily. Not if you don't want to. I'm not I'm not saying you shouldn't. I'm just--"
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"We're the lucky ones this time, understand that. Next time we come back, maybe we're one of the Heretics or the Goons or the Gentry, depending on what you do. Or if you're lucky, maybe you're one of us again, and you try to escape. The point is, we, no matter what you do in your life, I'm not telling you not to enjoy it. There are plenty of joys to be had in life. I know that. I consider myself fortunate to have lived the life I did. But at the end of the day, that would be nothing but an infinitely small point in the eternal timeline ahead of you, which will be spent here in battle. The god have shown it to me. (laughs darkly) So why not embrace it, and be the best at it? Learn your craft and harness it. The better you are, the more people you can cut down before they cut you down, the less pain you have to endure."
Amanda (Annie)
"Um..."
Nicholas (Alexander)
"Your words are lost on her old man. Remember how she got here."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"Anastasia, what would you do? When we escape? I weep for you child, truly. To have had such little time before you found yourself here. You deserve a good rotten, solid run."
Amanda (Annie)
"I don't think that's true. I don't think I deserve anything. I made the decision."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"You were misguided."
Amanda (Annie)
"That's okay. I just know that with a second chance, I'll go back and I'll take advantage of it because I know that it will come to an end. But I feel like that means I should just cherish every moment even moreso now."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"I do not argue against that. I simply see the reality of what lies beyond. You see it too. It's a round you, we're here. So if you get out, go! Enjoy it. If you think I'm not going to have a good time when I get out of here. Absolutely. I'll make the most of whatever time I have away from the battle. But now I know what waits for me."
Amanda (Annie)
"Well, Rolf, if you get out of here, who's to say that you'll end up back here?"
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"Where else would one go?"
Amanda (Annie)
"Well, you know, you're... where where you actually, not not that you don't belong here or anyth- that you're-"
Michael (Arete)
"Not to try to get into a trap of a logical argument with you here Rolf, but are you sure that you're after life, wherever you're meant to be, is a false dream? Because it seems very strange to me that there's only people of our culture here, of our beliefs. It seems very strange that if this is the only place to go, that people like you are also not here."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"I do not know why you are the predominant beings. But when I walked through the shades, after our, I believe after our first attempt, I bumped into others from distant lands, not just mine, others. This is not just Grecian. This is what there is."
Nicholas (Alexander)
"It's true. Your sword of war is not of this culture."
Michael (Arete)
"Fair enough. I suppose. I have not seen enough concrete evidence to sway me away from thinking that your after life is not some sort of possibility, Rolf. I think that there is a serious clerical error at work here."
Nicholas (Alexander)
"I agree. So Annie, you should fight for people like Rolf, fight for yourself, for a second chance, a better chance. You were robbed. Fight for those who have wronged you."
Amanda (Annie)
"Well, if I'm being completely honest, I was really the only person that wronged me. And I am fighting. I know you don't see it as that. But Alex, I'm fighting every day. I know, time doesn't exist down here. But I've been fighting every day."
Nicholas (Alexander)
"As have I, even in life."
Amanda (Annie)
"Well, yeah, duh, you're Alex the Great."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"Annie. You may not agree with the paths we've chosen. But we're all just fighting, so that you and of course, the rest of us, maybe reprieved of the battle for a moment, so that you may accomplish what you wish and come back, ready to face the music. From the very beginning, we've known it. We're the gods' play things, the game shows as we twist and turn through Tartarus, sure, they send us boons, but they also mock us. I'm just willing to do whatever it takes to give your soul a rest for a moment. And it won't matter in the long run. When it comes to eternity, that rest will surely be forgotten. But in that moment, at least, I will have accomplished something for someone one person I know who is actually good here. Even if it's not in her own best interest."
Amanda (Annie)
"I'm gonna keep fighting. It just might not be in the way that you do it."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"That's fine."
Amanda (Annie)
"I'm sorry."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"You need not apologize, child. I just wanted to make that known because I have a feeling, when we're done here, you will likely want to forget all of us."
Amanda (Annie)
"I disagree. But I guess we'll get there when we get there."
Michael (Arete)
"Is that how you feel, Rolf? You want to forget us?"
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"(gently) No. I want to save you. Because I know people like you. And I can't imagine the agony that are during summer in this hellscape right now."
Michael (Arete)
"Yeah."
Amanda (Annie)
"I'm sorry. Your brother killed you."
Michael (Arete)
"Thanks, Annie. That, uh, that means a lot."
Amanda (Annie)
"Hm."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"For what it's worth, Arete, I don't have much to do when I get out of here. Just one thing. If you want to send me back with the jar, I'll bring it for you. I will guarantee its delivery."
Michael (Arete)
"Thank you, Rolf."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"Of course, the offer stands for any of you. Once my task is complete, if you need to send anything back, I can bring it."
Michael (Arete)
"A task? What task are you talking about? What do you have planned?"
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"A delivery."
Michael (Arete)
"A delivery?"
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"A promise I didn't get to keep."
Michael (Arete)
"All right. All right. You keep talking in vague mannerisms, vague ways. I guess you don't want to talk about it, that's fine. I shared with you that my brother killed me but I get it. I get it. We're not that close yet for you. I understand."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"I have to deliver my friend's ashes."
Michael (Arete)
"Ohhh. I'm, I'm sorry." And Arete puts his hand on Rolf's shoulder. "Well, shall we get through this next layer of hell so we can all go about our tasks in the world above?"
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"We are so much closer than I thought we would get."
Nicholas (Alexander)
"Let's enjoy Elysium while we're here."
Michael (Arete)
"Oh, I plan to."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"Let's do it. Alexander. Have you anything you need to see while we're here?"
Nicholas (Alexander)
"I'm not sure, it seems like do not belong after all. The gods are punishing me for simply carrying out their deeds."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"It seems to me like that punishment means nothing. We have chosen already who gets punished. This is all just whims. They're indulging themselves and pretending it's justice."
Nicholas (Alexander)
"It's true. Perhaps I'll leave Elysium in ruins."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"Well, keep in mind where you will return. Perhaps not ruins but do leave your mark. Secure your place. Secure that bag."
Tau & Players
(laugh)
Tau
You have to end it with "Sis."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"Secure that bag, sis." and Rolf stands up from the fountain.
Michael (Arete)
Arete stands up and dusts himself off.
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"Shall we see what's available at the well?"
Michael (Arete)
"Why not?"
Tau
With a spring in your step you approach the well, Rolf, and you do feel some inspiration coming on as you do it.
[SFX: Inspiration chime.]
Giancarlo (Rolf)
Ahhh. "How many obols do we have?"
Michael (Arete)
"We have 245 obols."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
Ooo."
Nicholas (Alexander)
"Hm."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"Perhaps a hundred obols?"
Nicholas (Alexander)
"I believe so."
Amanda (Annie)
"Sure."
Michael (Arete)
"Looking to make a nice deposit today," and he'll withdraw 100 obols from the sack and deposit them in the well.
[SFX: Thunking splashes.]
Tau
You see a flagon of a substance you call HydraLight emerge.
[SFX: A cork pops with a glimmering chime followed by bubbling liquid.]
Tau
And you see all of this red blood just fly out of it and into each of your bodies and you all restore up to 38 points.
Amanda (Annie)
Wow.
Michael (Arete)
Ooo.
Nicholas (Alexander)
Juicy.
Tau
It has one additional effect, each time you enter a new chamber you restore four hit points
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"Ah delicious! Are we good to go?"
Michael (Arete)
"I think so. Let me see your one two step," and then Arete will dance up the rest of the stairs into Elysium.
Tau
Alright, so you see this like blueish green light from the stairwell leading up.
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"Stairway to heaven. No well, slightly less hell, I guess."
Amanda (Annie)
(slightly musical) Annie I think is gonna make her way up. Ba ba dup.
[SFX: A woosh then silence. Then... bird song and gentle water fades in.]
Tau
The heat of Asphodel abandons you completely. Here, the air rarefied and crisp blows cool on your prickling skin. For a moment it feels as if you've already won. For a moment it seems as if you're on the surface again. This is the first time in perhaps centuries that you have a real sky above you, rather than an endless black or thundery clouds. Here the skies are green, and at the ground at your feet is a dazzling verdant green as grass juts out around scattered square stepping stones like gift tissue around presents. Everything around you glimmers as speckles of sunlight being through leaves just above you. On your right, a small bit of Earth juts out over a cliffside. From it, you can see the wide Plains of Elysium resting place for heroes and those most beloved by the gods. Below the cliff, you hear the sound of soft water running. The river Lethe winds its way through paradise. Short of Olympus, there's no better place to be.
Tau
"I could stay here for the rest of my eternity."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
Rolf is going to look out at the cliff that juts out and then look at Alexander.
Nicholas (Alexander)
Alexander is like, looking at the sword, thinking of a past relationship and he's walking through the tall, I hope no, it's not tall grass, is it?
[SFX: Slight crunch of footsteps and the whispering brush of grass.]
Tau
It's it's uncut. It like licks your shins, your muscley shins.
Nicholas (Alexander)
(laughs) The tips of his fingers are probably like feeling that tall lean grass and he's gonna walk up to Rolf and just like (deep inhale) breathe in that that nice air and have a look, have a gander.
Tau
As you do that, you see more of the same site that I described. But what does become much more noticeable is the sound of the river Lethe running underneath you.
[SFX: The flow of the river grows louder.]
Giancarlo (Rolf)
I believe that's the river that makes you forget, no?
Giancarlo (Rolf)
You can roll history.
Giancarlo (Rolf)
I will history. 22.
Tau
In Orphism, a great mystical religious movement, it was believed that the newly dead who drank from the river Lethe would lose all the memory of their past existence. The initiated were taught to seek instead of the river of memory, Mnemosyne, thus securing the end of transmigration of the soul. That is Encyclopedia Britannica. But yeah, basically by and large, this is the river of forgetfulness.
Tau
"What a gift it would be, to forget everything now."
Nicholas (Alexander)
"Do you believe that you could rebirth yourself and repent I suppose, dipping in there?"
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"No. Not repent but to exist in mindless ignorance. That is the closest I can come to imagining a real end. You cannot wipe away your past. But you can shape your future."
Nicholas (Alexander)
"Well, Rolf, ahem, I forgot that I have a water skin here full of the River Styx. But what if we filled it with some of the water from the river below?"
Giancarlo (Rolf)
Is the river within touching distance?
Tau
You would have to climb down to it. It's about it's about maybe like 100 feet underneath you.
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"I'm sure we'll have more accessible opportunities in the near future. But yes, I don't see why we couldn't try it."
Nicholas (Alexander)
"I think so."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"I mean, who's stopping us? You want to just chill here for a few days? Like right here, where it's safe?"
Nicholas (Alexander)
"A long rest? I would love that."
Amanda (Annie)
"I know, we don't all agree all the time, but I too would very much like this."
Michael (Arete)
"I could do with a nice extended stay in the entrance of Elysium."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"This looks like the closest we'll get to peace in a while."
Nicholas (Alexander)
"Let's enjoy it before we're sent back."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"Maybe we'll run into one of the other Olympiads"
Amanda (Annie)
"(sighing) Maybe we'll see them here."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"Arete, you could get some, some sugar."
Nicholas (Alexander)
"Alright." And Alexander...
[SFX: A heavy thud.]
Nicholas (Alexander)
...plops to the ground. "(snores)"
Michael (Arete)
Arete, seeing Alexander knockout, he turns to the other two who are still just clinging to waking and he goes, "Uh, now that he's asleep, I was worried that he might get freaked out if I said this, but you know, I think we're going to be fine. So I'm just gonna take a little snoozy poo as well."
Tau
(laughs)
Amanda (Annie)
"Arete!"
Michael (Arete)
"But I do have this," and Arete pulls from his equipment bag, a bag of ball bearings, and he casts them on the floor.
Tau & Players
(laugh)
Nicholas (Alexander)
(joking) That'll stop those floating Heretics.
Tau & Players
(laugh)
Tau
Surely this will stop Pelops! (musically old timey) Wadawawawa! He falls on his ass and goes "Aw beans!"
Michael (Arete)
After watching the rest of his Olympiad, even Alexander in his sleep laughing him, Arete slowly picks up all the ball bearings and puts them back in the bag. And goes "Fine. If nobody wants my balls, I'll just put them away."
Nicholas (Alexander)
You might as well leave them there and then pick them up when you leave.
Michael (Arete)
Too late! He puts them back in the bag and it goes to sleep.
[SFX: Arete thumps down.]
Tau
(gathers themself) All right. Ahem. Arete, you have been called to a meeting with your father, Constantine Enklima.
[SFX: A gentle breath and plucky string music plays.]
Tau
You are a little early for your meeting and you see that the drapery that would form the barrier between his chambers and the rest of the Enklima estate is slightly open. And you see a brilliant blinding sunlight from indoors emanating from behind this cloth.
Michael (Arete)
Arete draws his weapon...
[SFX: The sharp clink of scraping metal.]
Michael (Arete)
...and approaches cautiously and he calls out, "Father? Are you in there?"
Tau
You hear a sound of a Crystal Globe shattering. And then the golden light that was coming out from behind the cloth vanishes. And then you hear him say, "(clears throat) Yes, yes, come in my son."
Michael (Arete)
I put the dagger away and I go enter into the chamber.
Tau
As you enter the chamber, your father turns to greet you and you see just golden fire burning in his eyes for a moment. And then he blinks and it's gone and he has normal eyes again.
Giancarlo (Rolf)
(gasps)
Tau
"I have something I would like to ask you."
Michael (Arete)
"Name it, father."
Tau
"What do you know of the god Apollo?"
Michael (Arete)
"Well, he is a god of prophecies, god of the arts. I know I wasn't always the best student with the tutors that you would give. That's what I mostly remember. Is there something else specifically, father?"
Tau
He stands upright and he clasps his hands behind him as if you were a teacher proctoring an exam. "Beauty, knowledge, music, prophecy, these would be useful gifts for our house to have. Do you not agree?"
Michael (Arete)
"Very much so father, we would be the envy of the world."
Tau
"The god Apollo has decided that it is time for him to transfer one of his gifts, from one of his recipients, to us."
Michael (Arete)
"That would be a great honor, father."
Tau
"Tell me Arete, how many men have you killed?"
Michael (Arete)
"In your service or in total?"
Tau
"How many men have you killed?"
Michael (Arete)
"223."
Tau
"What if I told you there was a way to kill a spirit without killing a person?"
Michael (Arete)
"What? How would that be possible?"
Tau
He reaches into his robes and he withdraws a jewel. It's a golden jewel. And he holds it up to his eye and he looks through it. And he says "We're going to a party at an estate. At this party, the god Apollo has left someone our gift. When you look through this lens, you will be able to see who possesses this gift and you will use this gem to take it from them."
Michael (Arete)
"How is it to be done?"
Tau
"Simply through this lens," and then he hands it to you. "You'll know what to do when the time is right."
Michael (Arete)
"Yes father," and I bow.
[SFX: The music fades and a crowd fades in with lively string music.]
Tau
Annie it is your 15th birthday at the Pantazis estate. You are part of the entertainment for your family and your friends and your family's extended network. As music plays all around you, but you are in the middle of a fearsome solo on your viol. You hear the music within you and you feel as if the gods are moving through you as you play so beautifully on your viol that people are moved to tears. They drop their food onto their laps, tears drop from their eyes. They clap uproariously as you finish your piece.
[SFX: A cacophony of clapping.]
Tau
What do you do?
Amanda (Annie)
I take a bow and say "Thank you!"
Tau
Your family and friends all nod and congratulate you and you just see everybody that you would want at your 15th birthday party you see around you, including an old friend of yours who comes up to you with a small box.
Amanda (Annie)
"Peter!"
Tau
Peter smiles and he says, "Annie, you're getting so big now."
Amanda (Annie)
"I mean, I'm still pretty short. But I'm 15!
Tau
(chuckles)
Amanda (Annie)
"But I'm short."
Tau
"Yeah. You'll always be like a little sister to me. But listen, if you ever get tired of playing music, I got you this," and he holds up a small little box.
Amanda (Annie)
"I mean, I don't think I'm ever gonna get tired of playing music, but I'm gonna take the gift too!" And Annie is gonna grab the gift. And she's gonna open it.
[SFX: Paper crinkles.]
Tau
You open it and it is probably one of the most advanced contraptions you have ever seen. It is a music box. And when you twirl it, it plays music for you.
Amanda (Annie)
"(gasps) Where did you get this?"
Tau
"Ah, okay, well, let's just say I happen to have some friends over at the temple of Hephaestus. And they were working on something a little weird. And I asked them about it. And when I heard that they could do with it, I asked if they could make something like this. So I drew up the plans and they made it. What do you think?"
Amanda (Annie)
"Peter? This is amazing. Are you kidding?"
Tau
(relieved) "I'm so glad you like it."
Amanda (Annie)
"I love it."
Tau
"Well, you probably won't ever need it, but just made me think of you." He kind of just stammers for a moment. And he looks around at the party. And he says "Um, so um happy birthday, Annie."
Amanda (Annie)
"Thank you, Peter." And Annie is going to give him a huge bear hug.
Tau
As you give him a huge bear hug, Arete, make a perception check.
Giancarlo (Rolf)
(gasps)
Michael (Arete)
As Arete makes this perception check, he also gives him a twink hug, ha ha.
Tau
(laughs)
Michael (Arete)
Arete rolls a 16.
Tau
Okay, with a 16, you are at a party at the Pantazis estate. And it is a beautiful villa, you suspect that this family is not quite as rich as the Enklimas, but the Enklima estate where it is much more functional, it's much more businesslike, and those people clearly live well below their means. So it was like much more functional. Whereas this is a beautiful villa. There are plants and courtyards and you know, musicians everywhere and just banquet tables of food that just brim over the edge. So you're having a bit of a hard time finding out who you're supposed to see. And then Constantine EnKlima bumps into and he says, "By the way, I gave Nicholas one of those gems as well, whichever of you claims the gift of Apollo first becomes the heir to the Enklima legacy." And then he just keeps walking. And across the room, you see the smug brother that murdered you all those years ago. He is also just hamming it up at the party, talking to people, shoveling food into his mouth, and just periodically thinking he is so slick. He's holding up a little golden gem to his eye and looking around through it. What do you do?
Michael (Arete)
Do I see any position that gives me like the high ground?
Tau
So there are basically large crates of food that are next to the banquet tables. So you could climb onto some of the crates of like silverware or you know glassware and try to get a better view that way.
Michael (Arete)
Is that kind of in the middle of everything? Or is it off to the side?
Tau
That's pretty off to the side.
Michael (Arete)
All right, I'm gonna go ahead and do that.
Tau
Um, so from here, you feel like you would have advantage on making perception checks.
[SFX: The crates creak as Arete climbs them.]
Michael (Arete)
Alright, I'm gonna go ahead and try to perceive... a 19.
Tau
As you're at this party and you're looking through the gem, it is hard for you to find anything because your eye no matter what just keeps turning back to your brother, who you see on the opposite end of the villa also using this gem, trying to see through the gem as well. And then finally, you see just the tiniest flash of what appears to be sunlight, but it's not coming from above. It seems to be coming from a person. And you see a figure hugging a boy and she's holding a music box in her hand and you see this golden light inside of her that's just brimming as you hold the gem up to your eye.
[SFX: An ethereal tone rings.]
Michael (Arete)
"Bingo." I climb down from the boxes and I start making my way to where I saw the lady of light.
[SFX: Creaks then footsteps on stone.]
Tau
It is very easy to get to her, she's talking to her friend, she's distracted. Make a perception check.
Michael (Arete)
A 12.
Tau
You notice a bit late that your brother, Nicolas Enklima, has also found this target and is also weaving his way through the crowd and is about to close in as well.
Michael (Arete)
Arete, thinking quickly... well, how close did I make it to the girl before I noticed this?
Tau
You're about 10 feet away right now.
Michael (Arete)
Okay.
Tau
He's about 15 feet away.
Michael (Arete)
Having my ball bearings on me...
Giancarlo (Rolf)
(chuckle)
Michael (Arete)
Arete kind of like tosses some out onto the dance floor...
[SFX: The ball bearings clatter lightly and roll.]
Michael (Arete)
...to cause a distraction of somebody falling over on the dance floor.
Tau
You unleash the ball bearings. Annie, you hear a clattering of ball bearings and people tripping all around you.
[SFX: Partygoers cry out.]
Amanda (Annie)
"Oh no! Is everyone okay? And Annie's going to try and help up the nearest person, whoever is closest to her.
Michael (Arete)
Arete is going to approach the girl and start to offer help to some of the other people that are near her that have fallen over. "Oh, please allow me." And with one hand, he helps the person that she's helping up and the other hand that has the gem in it, he presses on to her back, in like a friendly gesture of "I'm here to help."
Tau
You do that, and then the gem in your hand suddenly feels very, very hot as if it has absorbed whatever it would absorb from a person.
Michael (Arete)
I take the scalding gem, place it back in my pocket, finish helping the person up and go, "Is there anything else that you needed help with? Sorry about that. Got here a little late, didn't I?"
Amanda (Annie)
(faintly) "No, it's okay."
Michael (Arete)
And Arete turns back and exits the dance floor area and heads off to find his father.
[SFX: Footsteps.]
Tau
The rest of the party continues without incident. That night Annie, as you're getting ready for bed, you reflect on your birthday. And you think about what a wonderful birthday you had, and the beautiful gift you'd gotten from your dearest friend. And suddenly this emptiness starts taking ahold inside of you. And you'd play the music box to yourself as you go to sleep. And you think "Happy birthday to me." And then you all awaken.
[SFX: With a woosh, it becomes silent. Then the water fades in.]
Tau
And you were all fully rested.
Giancarlo (Rolf)
(grunts and snores)
Michael (Arete)
Upon awakening Arete kinda opens his eyes and then remembering his dream, his eyes get kind of like, wider. He sits up and he becomes very occupied with making sure that like his bag and the rest of the campsite so to speak is kind of tidy and ready to move out and move on.
Nicholas (Alexander)
Arete, you said you would watch.
Michael (Arete)
"Oh, um ah, I didn't. I didn't. Sorry there. Sometimes, you know, you got to sleep when you can. It was only briefly, I promise. And we're fine anyway, aren't we?"
Nicholas (Alexander)
"Well everyone seems to be intact. Yes. Oh, are we ready to die again? And again and again."
Michael (Arete)
"Yeah, haha, yeah, absolutely."
Nicholas (Alexander)
"Oh, she's still, um, asleep."
Amanda (Annie)
No, Annie's awake. She's just staring at Arete.
Michael (Arete)
Arete feels the eyes on him but continues to go about his business. And he goes over to Rolf and he shakes him...
Giancarlo (Rolf)
(snorts and coughs)
Michael (Arete)
...and he's like "Rolf, it's time to wake up, bud"
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"(gags, gasps) Whyyy? I was asleep, I haven't slept in so long."
Michael (Arete)
"Yeah well uh, your allotted time for for resting has expired, my friend so it's time to rise and shine."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"(sticks out his tongue) Blegh. Does anyone have a glass of water?"
Nicholas (Alexander)
"No, but I do have one day of rations that may have bread."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
(shaking off the sleep) "Alright, I'm good. (sighs) Everyone ready?"
Nicholas (Alexander)
"Oh, you still have some drool over there. You have some--"
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"Sorry. (slurps)"
Nicholas (Alexander)
"Yep."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"Anastasia, are you all right?"
Amanda (Annie)
"Huh?"
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"You alright?"
Amanda (Annie)
"No."
Nicholas (Alexander)
"Are any of us all right?"
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"W-w-what is it? What?"
Tau
Make a history check Annie. And Arete.
Amanda (Annie)
Oo. 32. (cackles)
[SFX: The opening intro tone fades in, running underneath the scene without change, mounting tension.]
Michael (Arete)
(sharp intake of breath) And Arete's is a 22.
Tau
You both have fairly good recollection of a very strange dream you had last night.
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"What is it? We can't have cloudy minds in battle. Okay. Do you have a nightmare or something?"
Michael (Arete)
"In a in a manner of speaking? Yes."
Amanda (Annie)
"I don't know. I had I had a dream and Arete was there."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"I'm, well Annie. It's a little uncomfortable. But these things happen... sometimes."
Amanda (Annie)
"No. No. No. No. No."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"What?"
Michael (Arete)
"What was I, uh, what was what was I doing in the dream, Annie?"
Amanda (Annie)
"I think you should tell me that."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"Oh, shit."
Michael (Arete)
"Um, I mean, I uh, I had a dream as well."
Amanda (Annie)
"Okay, tell me about it."
Michael (Arete)
"You did happen to be in it. But who's to say that we had the same dream?"
Amanda (Annie)
"Well that's what I'm trying to find out. Do you want to tell me what your dream was about?"
Michael (Arete)
"Uh. Just some family business. My father you know he just had me doing an assignment, you know."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"Speak plainly, rogue."
Michael (Arete)
(sighs)
Tau
Arete make a history check with disadvantage. And Annie make a history check with disadvantage and yes, I am timing these.
Amanda (Annie)
Oh, crud.
Michael (Arete)
With disadvantage, it's an 18.
Tau
Okay.
Amanda (Annie)
(disappointed sigh) With disadvantage, it's a 14.
Nicholas (Alexander)
Whoa.
Tau
Okay. Both of you seem to be having rapidly diminishing memory of what you just dreamed of. Much like a real dream.
Michael (Arete)
(desperate) "All right, so um, basically I was sent to a party because my father wanted this gift from Apollo. And you had an Annie and I put a gemstone on your back, and I took the dream from you or not the dream. I-I, Oh, what did I take from you? Oh, shit. I took something."
Amanda (Annie)
(growing more upset) "You took something from me? I just remember it's it was it was like a like it was a birthday party. I was talking. I was talking to Peter. And then I saw you and I I obviously didn't know it was you. But now I know it was you. But I just remember feeling really weird at the end of the dream."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"It's alright honey." And Rolf puts a hand on your back and says, (unconvincing) "Yes, it's it's a dream."
Michael (Arete)
"Was it, was it a dream or a memory?"
Amanda (Annie)
(breathing, on the edge of crying)
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"It was just a dream. Right?"
Nicholas (Alexander)
"Rolf, what did you dream?"
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"Something about puffins."
Nicholas (Alexander)
"Puffins."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"God, I'd kill for a good puffin now. Anyways, it was just a dream. Right?"
Amanda (Annie)
"I don't know. It just felt really real. No, yeah, it was, it has- (breath) What are the chances? (breath) Yeah, it was just a dream, obvious. Yes, we've been we've been. We're hanging out all the time. We're an Olympiad, for Zeus' sake. We're at Olympiad and and, obviously, it could have been anyone. Rolf, you could have been in my dream. You could have been at my birthday party, right?" (continues to breath in gasps)
Giancarlo (Rolf)
And he's talking to him. But Rolf is just staring directly at Arete.
Michael (Arete)
"I remember every assignment I've ever been sent on."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"Anastasia, what did he take from you?"
Amanda (Annie)
"It felt like everything."
Michael (Arete)
"It was a blessing from Apollo."
Amanda (Annie)
"What?"
Michael (Arete)
"You were blessed by Apollo with a wonderful gift. My father desired this gift and he told me that Apollo had chosen our family to receive this gift. That it was our duty to take it. So I took it. I didn't know it was you Annie. How could I? I didn't even know you."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
Rolf is gonna grab him by the neck.
Amanda (Annie)
"No, Rolf, stop."
Michael (Arete)
(chokes)
Amanda (Annie)
"Rolf, stop. Rolf, stop it."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
And he's gonna drag Arete over to the cliff above the river Lethe, and he's gonna hold him there.
Michael (Arete)
(still choking) "Let me gooo."
Amanda (Annie)
"Rolf, stop. Rolf, stop it."
Michael (Arete)
"What are you waiting for? Do it."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"It's too easy. When we leave here, you enter my jar." And he lets you go.
[SFX: Arete falls to the ground with a thud, gasping.]
Amanda (Annie)
Annie's gonna run over to Arete and just (gently) "Are you okay?"
Michael (Arete)
"(coughs) I'm fine. I'm sorry, Annie."
Amanda (Annie)
"I don't blame you."
Nicholas (Alexander)
"I don't understand, did the thief steal her will to live?"
Amanda (Annie)
"He didn't know."
Michael (Arete)
"Well."
Amanda (Annie)
"You didn't know. You-you. Of course you didn't know."
Tau
What you do remember, Arete, this is not your dream recollection. This is just what you remember from your life. You remember that the Pantazis family was actually vaguely beginning to become competitive with the Enklima family. And this was a way to ensure that your fortunes would be secured.
Michael (Arete)
"I... I didn't know you personally, Annie, but I... I knew. I always knew what I was doing when I would get sent on a mission or something. (on the verge of breaking) But it was my family. I, I I had to put my family first because they were the ones who put me first. Otherwise, I would have died somewhere on top of a cliff all alone. (pause) Who does that to a child?"
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"Should be good conversation to have with Pelops' father."
Michael (Arete)
"Perhaps you're right then, Rolf. I did know what I was doing. I'm sorry. I cannot change the past but I can help you secure your future Annie. And I will do everything I can to help you." And Arete goes back to where they were sleeping and continues to pack.
Tau
You do that with some inspiration...
[SFX: Bright inspiration ding.]
Tau
...as does Annie.
[SFX: Bright, higher pitched inspiration ding.]
Tau
Whenever you feel like it, there are two gates and these seem more like physical like solid, gilded beautiful gates. And one of them has a Crystal Globe that has an image of gems in it and another one has an image of a Daedalus hammer in it.
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"The hammer, no?"
Nicholas (Alexander)
"Hm."
Nicholas (Alexander)
"The hammer."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"I think so."
Nicholas (Alexander)
I'll touch the hammer.
Tau
Globe shatters in the gate slides up.
[SFX: The gentle tinkle of breaking glass and then the scrape of stone sliding.]
Tau
And on the other side, you hear thunderous applause.
[SFX: The intense roar of a crowd.]
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"It's either that or it's a gladiator battle. Go on, thief."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"Koalemos?"
Nicholas (Alexander)
"No."
Michael (Arete)
And Arete strides in.
[SFX: Portal swoosh.]
Amanda (Annie)
"Rolf you can't take his soul."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"Why not? He took yours."
Amanda (Annie)
"He didn't know it was me, Rolf. He was just--"
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"He knew what he was doing, Annie. We need people like you. You're the only thing that keeps some of us in line."
Amanda (Annie)
"But I can't even keep you in line!"
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"You're a child. It's not your job. Had he not done what he did, who knows what you could be doing now?"
Amanda (Annie)
(her voice grows faster, desperate, the tears not far behind) "Rolf, please. You don't have to do this. I I know I know how it feels. I know how you're feeling. You feel like there's nothing left. You feel like you're empty and there's nothing left. But please. There's so much more. Rolf please."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"Are you going to be alright?"
Amanda (Annie)
"I don't know. I'll be fine."
Giancarlo (Rolf)
"I'll make you a deal. Arete will assist me. I will assist him. When it is our time, when we're out of here, we'll give him the opportunity to reflect and decide his fate. To not let it weigh on you. It will be his decision. You're a good person, Anastasia," and I walked through the portal.
Amanda (Annie)
Annie just sighs. "I don't feel like one," and she walks through the portal.
[SFX: Portal swoosh.]
[SFX: Outro music.]
ROGUE RUNNERS Volume 1: In the Blood, stars our players Nicholas Benetatos as Alexander the Great, Amanda Facosta as Anastasia Pantazis, Giancarlo Herrera as Rolf Yannik, and Michael Pisani as Arete Laskaris. Dungeon Mastering and NPC voices are by me, Tau Zaman. Cover art by Chandler Candela. Audio editing by Daniel Manning. Sound design and editing by Giancarlo Herrera. Title music by Sage G.C., with vocals by Jessica Dahlgren and Sage G.C. Character theme music by Giorgio Volpe. Additional music by Epidemic Sound. Transcription by Eli Barraza.
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