Goshawk | Ep. 28

Greetings, listeners, and welcome back to The White Vault, Gosshawk. I'm K.A. Stats, writer and creator of The White Vault, co-founder of Fool and Scholar Productions, and personal spokesperson for our Patreon. Our company is tiny, independent, and almost entirely funded by listeners, so if you find value in the stories we tell, please consider checking out our Patreon. You are what makes us possible, and in the world of large companies and podcasting giants, we endure. As always, to learn more, click on the link in the show notes or go to patreon.com slash foolandscholar. Now we return again to the chill of the White Vault. Hi, this is Rob Benedict. And I am Richard Speight. We were both on a little show you might know called Supernatural. It had a pretty good run. 15 seasons, 327 episodes. And though we have seen, of course, every episode many times, we figured, hey, now that we're wrapped, let's watch it all again. And we can't do that alone. So we're inviting the cast and crew that made the show along for the ride. We've got writers, producers, composers, directors, and we'll, of course, have some actors on as well, including some certain guys that played some certain pretty iconic brothers. It was kind of a little bit of a left-field choice in the best way possible. The note from Kripke was, he's great, we love him, but we're looking for like a really intelligent Duchovny type. With 15 seasons to explore, it's going to be the road trip of several lifetimes. So please join us and subscribe to Supernatural then and now. The war is over and both sides lost. Kingdoms were reduced to cinders and armies scattered like bones in the dust. Now the survivors claw to what's left of a broken world, praying the darkness chooses someone else tonight. But in the shadow dark, the darkness always wins. This is old school adventuring at its most cruel. Your torch ticks down in real time. And when that flame dies, something else rises to finish the job. This is a brutal rules light nightmare with a story that emerges organically based on the decisions that the characters make. This is what it felt like to play RPGs in the 80s, and man, it is so good to be back. Join the Glass Cannon podcast as we plunge into the shadow dark every Thursday night at 8 p.m. Eastern on YouTube.com slash the glass cannon with the podcast version dropping the next day. See what everybody's talking about and join us in the dark. Maybe those things won't kill us. This lady may not either But I'll die of starvation in this cave if we go any slower We're just taking our time, being cautious And once we know we're safe, I have some protein bars you're welcome to Really? Fine Once we get out of the caves, it's the cold that'll do the job One problem at a time Hey, Mr. Kidland Just good luck. Okay. You go and rescue people, right? Have you ever had to tell someone's family that they didn't make it? Yeah. A couple times. How do you do that? Tell someone that... who they love isn't coming back? As a professional, I'm direct but understanding. I give people space. It's not my place to grieve with them. Sometimes I'm viewed like a killer. Like I'm the one who took their someone away. But for you, for your sister, that's different. It's your grief. And when you tell others, you'll unlock a new part of that grief. It'll be difficult But you'll be relieving yourself of carrying a burden that needs to be shared Guess I gotta live through this first One problem at a time Exactly You're getting the hang of it I just Don't want her or me To be more girls who go missing If I don't make it, just make sure our family finds out. We didn't run away. We wouldn't do that. Of course I would. But it won't be needed. Do you hear the hum, too? Yeah, I have for a while. I heard it first when I was alone. It seems to be around where the stones have that glow. Right. You mentioned seeing that. Can I ask what it means? I can't really tell you, even if I knew everything. Right. Do you still have a radio or satellite phone? Can we radio them from a cave? Will it work, you think? At least then, they'll know we're alive and in here, and maybe we can get out of here faster? I can check the radio. But down here, odds are we won't reach anyone. But the lights are working, so at least the interference is behind us. Give me a second. We'll try, but the radio might be too loud. Dragana, Ify, this is Kid Lutt. Are you there? Over. This is Kid Lutt. Are you there? Over. Maybe they can hear us, but can't respond. Even if she can't speak. If she had the radio active and heard me, she'd click back. Nope. Guess I'm not supposed to ask about that either? Come on, let's get moving. We're not too far from the next section. You know, I'm impressed you went this far into the cave on your own. Seems like a stupid thing, really. Not that you gave me a choice. There's that smell again. Wait. We should have passed by the bones a while ago. We did. This must be a different section. Maybe we took a wrong turn. We're turning around. Come on. There aren't too many passages in here. We'll find the gate. But keep an ear open. We're lucky this isn't a more developed site. Those places are built for those creatures to move around in. Here, we have the advantage because we're smaller. So, those creatures are always big like that? As far as I know. But usually, I only see them when they're still a statue. What does that mean? I'm not gonna answer that one either. Goodbye. White Vault. Gotthag. You brought two of those here Is this a fucking joke I already going mad I have my own as well Wait wait I didn bring them with any intention to harm you only to protect ourselves and to do as they asked Here. I have one. Here. I found it earlier. Well, no, I didn't find it. It was just there once I got Dragana onto the old tarp. What are these things? Jason had these too He gave one to us, put it on the church porch Said it was a gift Where'd that one go? Then he didn't know you were a family member? Or maybe it did and thought the artifact was aligned with his cause With Jason gone, we can't know What happened to him exactly? How was he acting? Did he say anything we should know? When we first got here, he pretended to be helpful, and we thought he could get us out of here. But he tricked us, and he killed Mika by drowning her in the lake. It was like some switch had flipped, and he started trying to convince us to join him in some kind of important work, which mostly meant trying to kill us. He also had one of those creatures pretend to be me, and dragged a man named Lewis out to the lake. And he was digging like the creatures are and kept saying he was helping and that we could help. Eventually he killed himself by diving into the lake. But he must have killed a lot of people before that too. Those graduate students you were asking about, I have never seen them here. It was just me and Adele. Until I called Dragona. And what about the other woman? Adele, is she family? No, she's just a normal teenager. Teenager? How? There's a child here? Believe me, she doesn't want to be. It was It was her and her older sister, Mika. We ran here together. There were these two men. Louis, I mentioned earlier, and a bastard named S. And my friend Jean. He's gone now, too. And which family are you from? Is there one in Russia, Dragona? Two. Yeah, well... My mother is a first-generation Russian immigrant to Canada. And I guess it's from her, so... Probably one of them. Yes, it passes through the mother. And your surname? Officially, I've my mother's. Talanova. But I use Talno professionally. So, the small statues are connected to these creatures, too? These are a different kind of creature. Less physical. They mess with your mind more so than usual for these things. They get in your dreams and they'll keep you from... their bad news. But because of the family luck, that doesn't happen. It does to me. It might have been so in the past. But now the luck has partially abandoned us as well. After what we witnessed in Cairo, we don't believe the system works anymore. Whatever it might have been, it's failing. And if you never knew about your family and the sides, you never would have directly benefited from the luck to begin with. Perhaps indirectly through your mother, though, if she was still part of the work. So what does that mean? It wasn't my fault? What would have been your fault? Jean's death. Or Mika's. If it wasn't the family luck that stopped it from being me, then... It was just... The normal, God-doesn't-fucking-care luck. Even we don't know how it works. But I'm sure Dragana has explained that it was never your fault. Right. Dragana, these artifacts are the evolution of the Guardians. Thankfully, they are... Stop. I'm not like you, so only tell me what I need to know to fix this or get the fuck out of here. Of course. I apologize. There are two factions of the Guardians now. Some are still on our side, while a new group has turned against the traditional cycles in hopes of starting something new. The new guard has fewer artifacts, we believe, but perhaps more guardians. Or at least guardians emboldened to attack outside of site locations. They may not have many artifacts on their side, but they have something new. Dr. Amelia Murray. Who's that? I don't know her or that family name. The other. You may not know her. I met her once, and even then it was barely so. She was there at the Svalbard site over ten years ago, and that's when she disappeared. Apparently she's been with the Guardians since then, and they've made her into something else. Fucking oily orca skin under her own. Whatever she is now, it's not human. She's their ace. The Guardians protect her, but she's strong on her own. So what do we do? Or what are you planning on doing? Why bring those things here? If this place is really becoming a new site, then we need to get the artifacts to the antechamber. Or where the antechamber will be. When we get them there, they'll attack the Guardians, who have sided with the new Guard, and we can regain control over the Fisher location. Stop the plan before it has time to form. So Old Guard is just the old ways, and the new Guard is all the murdering and the Murray monster. Really inventive lot, you family types. This is no time for pity. I've been trying to figure out how to change this shit for over a decade. And I've been stabbed twice today, so I'm going to be petty when someone shows up to tell me that the change that's finally come about is worse than the original bullshit. So sure, why not? Let the artifacts kill them all. At least a number of fucking monsters will drop instead of us. with enough of the artifacts here to help. We can also hope that the Guardians' two-week-to-win will bend and return to the status quo. Dragana, are you okay with this? Does this sound right? And what about a possible end to all this? There's no way Linnea up and die just to leave everything up to chance. Or worse, her mother. No way in hell. Exactly, actually. Linnea had been working on a possible solution to ending the cycles. She had the report prepared, and when she died, we were given access to it. Though the required path forward would devastate a lot of people and the planet. More than all of this. Lini and I had been collecting data on the Fisher sites for over a decade Though nothing ever went as far as this place And once everything starts changing, she goes and dies So you did like her I'm confused No, but she was competent and I thought we shared the same goal Her death means things are going to get a lot worse And she doesn't have to suffer through it with me Or do the hard part of figuring it out. And I never thought I'd be working to put things back the way they were. I don't think it's ever gone back to as it was. Not after this. We don't know that. So you get the creepy carvings to somewhere and what, that's it? We go home? No, I don't think so. Whatever Dr. Murray is It seems it took them over ten years to get her that way To make her If they think she is important If she is part of this new guard We'll need to get rid of her. Good. That's what I wanted to do anyways. What? Do you mean to kill her? I did suggest that earlier. If it's her or us, of course. Plus, she stabbed me. and I'm an eye for an eye kind of woman. You still have to get to her. Where is she? Is the side in here or back outside? She's never left the lake, even after it emptied. Yeah, and I don't see her leaving that lake. Not if that's where the first doors are coming up. Would she not be left unprotected, or at the least less protected, once we release the artifacts in the antechamber? Oh. Good idea. Good timing. You just said she wasn't even human. How are you going to kill her? We've brought guns. Though we would like to hold onto them for personal protection. I've got my own guns. Well, Kiblet has the shotgun. Still, I don't think that will work. We also brought some explosive materials with us, just in case. But I don't know how to use them. Dees? Oh, no. No idea. I can handle that part. If it's not something I'm familiar with, I will work it out. I have a small quantity of explosives I brought myself which can be used to set it off. Kidlat also knows a bit if needed. What did you bring? Did it come with any accessories? Uh, well, I'm not sure. I'll just show you. So you get to talk to Marie when we get to the antechamber. After. And don't make it sound so simple. What? So this is the plan now? No, no, no. We leave. We get Adele and Kidlat, and we get the hell out of here. Eri, Ifi, I don't want you to stay. You, Adele, if we find her, I want you both gone. But this is literally my... Dragona? Hey, hey, hey, hey, not again. Dragona? You okay? Yeah, just a terrible thought. This is my life, Edie. I've been doing this for so long, I've gone mad. I've done so much for Graham. But I'm going to do this for him and me. And honestly, I'm not leaving the families in charge of sorting out their own shit anymore. We can do both. We can try to do both. So if we have explosives and get out of here, we can call your helicopter and then drop them on her from above, right? That might work. You got a helicopter out here. Is that how you made it here? The weather was too bad to land, and the lake was glowing. But there's no way to call him back here, not with how things have picked up. And I'm not endangering some poor SOP's life on the off-transit would work. Mizumi was lit. Geological luminance would indicate that the bottom of the lake is near the antechamber. Possibly, but there are no man-made or guardian-made structures here. Everything is brand new, and they don't follow the tradition of the heart. They just toss people in a hole. You guys brought sethones and radios here, right? Any luck on them out here? Just chanting. And voices. Thought so. If the plan is to send the two young women back through the cave to the snowmobiles, and to get them back north on their own, You should know there are people suffering from madness making their way here. And they do not care if you are family or otherwise. They set up an ambush on our drive. There's no way for us to know how many are out there. When or if we find Kitlet, he'll go with them. I won't let anyone get Adele. Not again. Can I keep this? For now? Maybe. Let's see if we find Kitlet first. How's your breathing? Any increased tightness? No. No, but my side feels terrible. Am I able to drink water? It's not going to go in my lungs or something. I don't want to leak. No, please. Here. You think I'll live, Doc? The hospital? Most certainly. Here, it depends on what you do. And you're very casually holding explosives, so I'm not making any definitive statements. Smart man. Is Dr. Murray still human enough to speak? Yeah. Would it not be more prudent to get answers from her? to learn more about why this is happening, to stop it from happening again. What do you think she's going to do? Monologue her plans to us? Fuck no. Anytime she speaks, it's in condescending riddles and... Oh yeah, she tries to kill you. No, I'm not waiting. The more time they have to build the site, the more difficult it will be for you to reach the antechamber, and so it will be more difficult for me to get my shot. I agree. If the faction that Dr. Murray serves is causing the events taking place worldwide, we stop her here as soon as we are able. Okay. Begin with the battle. Then we do it. We attack simultaneously. Agreed. So, do you know how to use those then? Oh, yes. That's that, then. Explosives. A rather universal answer to a certain set of questions. Explosives have worked in the past to destroy one of these sites. Well, to be more accurate, it mauled the site and closed it up for a while. I don't know if it cracked any of the statues, but I sure hope so. You said statues before, too. The creatures we call guardians are most often seen in an immovable, solid state, and appear as large stone statues. In all previous records, they would remain unmoving and imposing when under observation. Well, I've never seen them that way. You talk about the Patagonian site's destruction as though you were there. I was, rushing down that mountain as the rocks shook free. You worked for Valsigna already by then? You destroyed that site? No, though looking back, I wouldn't have opposed being the one to do it. Ah. No. Someone suffering from the change did it. What? Again? We're wasting time we don't know we have. It's time. Dees is right. We can't stay in here indefinitely. The construction of the new site may involve a lot of changes to the natural and already modified landscape. This mine is no exception. It is not safe. So it's not an earthquake? That makes a lot more sense. It means not known for its quakes. Help me up. Here. Don't lift this arm too much, or the skin will move under the bandages and tape. Yeah, I know. I can feel it. E.D., can I speak with you? Alone? Of course. Don't move yourself. We'll step away. Please. Come. Iri, I don't trust them. Not their full intentions. But I do think they want to stop these guardians. From what I know of the families, they'll do anything to maintain their privileged lifestyle. But I won't trust that they care about getting you out of here one way or another. We get the keys for the snowmobile At least one of them And you leave With Adele Absolutely We not leaving her behind And if at all possible it be nice to get Kidlet back But it only gets worse from here on out. We've been running from them so far, and you'll keep running. But I'm going out there to stop Emilia, and those guys are going to agitate the world's most... gruesome hornet's nest. When that happens, you need to be gone. You have the same pissed off face as your father. I am pissed. Pissed that any of this has happened. It's not just kidnapper assholes in the woods. It's some world conspiracy with monsters and magic. Monsters, yes. Magic? That's a bit far. No one's floating rocks or jumping buildings. That's not magic, that's the Force. Sounds like magic. I have to find Adele. She's in here somewhere, and I'm not leaving without her. Your dad would think you're being an idiot. But he was the same kind of idiot. Can't we turn on the light again? The light from the stones is still enough for now. We don't want to attract attention. They're still in here. Fine. Do you hear that? Just bugs. We're in a cave. Yeah. There's more light up ahead. Too much light. Keep to the left. We're going to run out of cave. If we try to avoid that way, we don't... Stop thinking that way. Come on. Bugs! You've got bugs! Come on, baby! Come on, baby! Come on, baby! Come on, baby! Come on, baby! See any more? Don't look, bugs. Don't like them on me. Those bugs were heavy. Where'd they go? You okay? Yeah. You? Good. My youth quick's normal. Even for all this normal stuff. I... I know it can happen. But I don't know if that was an earthquake. It may have been a rockfall. Either way, let's hurry. We don't want to be in here if there's going to be more. Don't want to be here at all. Fuck. But what's... Oh. No, it's gone. Not gone, but inaccessible. We... We'll find a different way out. This was the rocks we hurt? Did they do this on purpose? Can they do that? I don't think. I don't know. Maybe. Maybe they followed me here. I'm not sure, but I got away from them as fast as I could. If that happened, I'm sorry, but we can't stop here. We just need to find a new way out. And if they're building something down here, then there must be another way out. But we'll check the areas away from the lights first. Come on. We're going back. Back? Back. I can hear them again. Where do we even go? One moment. This way. Here, hide, now. Little bird. Little bird. I'm here for you, little bird. The trees have told me we have not left. You haven't flown away, little bird. I suffered, Adele. Sinking into the water. You could have come for me. You could have. But you did it. You can still come to me. We can be together. Us reunited. Flying away together. No heart. No teeth. Those niceties are archaic. Just us. Little Bird. Together, in the end, flying into the light. Starring Lauren Tucker, Hildur Magnusdolter, Marcy Edwards, Tanya Milojevic, Louise Cruz, Daisuke Tsuji, and Denise Halfyard. For access to bonus episodes, early episodes, and ad-free episodes, visit patreon.com slash foolandscholar and support this show and its creators. This is a Fool and Scholar production. Thank you for listening. Oh, please. Not that music. That music gives me nightmares from my childhood. Could we get something a little bit lighter, some lighter music here? Are you a fan of true crime TV shows? And what about Unsolved Mysteries, the show that jump-started all of our love of true crime? I'm Ellen Marsh and I'm Joey Taranto and we host I Think Not a true crime comedy podcast covering some of the wildest stories from your favorite true crime campy TV shows all the way to unsolved mysteries baby you will laugh you will cry you'll think about true crime in a whole new way and you'll also ask yourself who gave these people mics new episodes of I Think Not are released every Wednesday with bonus episodes out every Thursday on Patreon and every Monday you can listen to our True Crime Rundown, where we go over the top true crime headlines of the week. So come and join us wherever you listen to your podcasts. 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