[SPEAKER_06]: You're listening to a tale's yet told production, if your discretion is advised.

[SPEAKER_07]: Blood in the snow is a horror actual play series using the game hunt by Gidler R.P.G.S.

[SPEAKER_07]: The story is inspired by Gothic tales of monster hunting and vampirism, so be wary.

[SPEAKER_07]: In check the episode description for content warnings as well as a list of cast in crew.

[SPEAKER_02]: sanguis papilai, the blood of the people, protector knights and guardians of the crypt, overseers of funerary rights, residing in a crimson castle, on the top of the hill, that looms over the hidden city of Azeroth, deep within the illusion-reforced.

[SPEAKER_02]: The last hour of the sun's light illuminates, a small courtyard, stained with muddy footprints, red from the natural hue of the soil still wet from yesterday's spring rains.

[SPEAKER_02]: Training dummies have been pushed aside, and a crowd has gathered.

[SPEAKER_02]: Two days ago, one night by the name of Swan Arcade was challenged to a friendly duel in a not so friendly way by an older night by the name of Titus the Silisk.

[SPEAKER_02]: It was a matter of a bruised ego in one too many drinks but he threw the gauntlet and he wants to put Swan's skills to the test.

[SPEAKER_02]: The storm has broken.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's a little bit drier today than it was before.

[SPEAKER_02]: Still muddy, but comparatively dry.

[SPEAKER_02]: The day has come.

[SPEAKER_02]: A handful of other nights, and a few towns folk that heard about the fight are crowded around.

[SPEAKER_02]: As the light of the setting sun peeks through a gap in the clouds illuminating Swan Arcade, Joe, what do we see?

[SPEAKER_01]: Swan Arcade is a lean muscle sort of tall, agile looking athlete of a night.

[SPEAKER_01]: She has long sort of blood red hair and like a healthy like tan and like kind of freckles to her.

[SPEAKER_01]: She is rich, so there is a very perpetual like [SPEAKER_01]: distaste, disgust, attired, bored, look to her at all times, rolling her eyes, and listen, it's not her fault that she only joined a couple years ago at this point, and she is by far one of the best fenders.

[SPEAKER_01]: Anything related to a polar, anything related to a one-handed sort of weapon, [SPEAKER_01]: If it isn't cumbersome, she's going to take you down, and listen, all she said over that fateful dinner was, well, I know that I could beat you tight this basilisk, and now we're here.

[SPEAKER_02]: And in comparison, Titus is serpentine from the waist down.

[SPEAKER_02]: but is shorter and length than you'd expect for a naga.

[SPEAKER_02]: And he compensates for this with an over bloated ego.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's nearly twice your age and the stories you've heard say that he was in your position years ago.

[SPEAKER_02]: The young hot shot eager to get out into the field.

[SPEAKER_02]: His breastplate is worn and weathered, having saved him countless times.

[SPEAKER_02]: His blade is long and serrated, and story say that he wants coded this blade with venom to slay a chimera.

[SPEAKER_02]: That been terrorizing the forest.

[SPEAKER_02]: Around half the scales and Titus are outfitted with steel plates, just enough to provide a little bit more protection, not enough to restrict his ability to coil.

[SPEAKER_02]: He points his blade towards you, Swan, and he says, For all these people I'll prove that you're not half the night, I was, I'm whatever will be.

[SPEAKER_02]: I'll humble that ego of your Swan.

[SPEAKER_02]: If it's glory you won't, you can try your best to take it from me.

[SPEAKER_02]: and then he looks out towards the crowd of people and he goes, and after you fail or gladly celebrate you with anyone that wants to help me actually break or sweat like and there's a few chuckles.

[SPEAKER_01]: We failed to clarify one thing died as Basilisk.

[SPEAKER_01]: This is a battle to the death.

[SPEAKER_02]: You see him blink almost in like surprise.

[SPEAKER_02]: But then a small smirk grows onto their serpentine face.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's not often a commotion like this begins to brew an azerod, and people can't take their eyes off of you, too.

[SPEAKER_02]: The anticipation is through the roof.

[SPEAKER_02]: He looks over at the crowd and then back to you and goes, so be it.

[SPEAKER_02]: Two ends of the ring and one comes out referring to the circle that has been drawn into the ground and creates a bit of a barrier between you and the rest of your [SPEAKER_02]: impromptu audience.

[SPEAKER_02]: He pulls out his blade, he points it toward you, and he goes, then let us begin.

[SPEAKER_02]: And at that, let's jump into some what of a combat scenario.

[SPEAKER_02]: How this is going to work, since we're playing Hunt, is that I'm going to give you a chance to define how you want to approach this scenario.

[SPEAKER_02]: And that is going to determine how things turn out.

[SPEAKER_02]: You'll be able to use either your valor, your guilt, or your haste, valor for bold things, sort of reckless things, more forceful things, guilt for the more methodical calculated decisions and haste for the faster past quick decisions, more instinctive.

[SPEAKER_02]: So, with that said, how will you first start to approach Titus?

[SPEAKER_01]: We never laid out any rules about playing fair.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's still muddy outside.

[SPEAKER_02]: That it is.

[SPEAKER_01]: I have a spear is my weapon of choice and I am going to use Gile at first and I'm going to use the butt end of my spear to kick up literally mud and dirt and sand up into his area to get an advantage.

[SPEAKER_02]: Okay, so you immediately start the conflict by throwing this red clay-like mud into this man's face.

[SPEAKER_02]: Effecting his ability to effectively see you.

[SPEAKER_02]: He stumbles a little bit, despite not having feet to stumble with.

[SPEAKER_02]: but loses his balance would be the right word to use.

[SPEAKER_02]: And he is now moving toward you as he's wiping out the clay with their free hand and moving toward you and struggling to get a good beat on you as they swing and swipe down at you with that large serrated blade like a saw.

[SPEAKER_02]: You can use haste to try to dodge out of the way.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'll use haste, absolutely.

[SPEAKER_02]: Alright, so you duck and dodge past the blade as it swings over your head and creates an opening for you.

[SPEAKER_02]: His back is turned.

[SPEAKER_02]: The tail end of his serpentine body is closer to you than his head is currently.

[SPEAKER_02]: And his arm has over extended in a way where, you know, for a fact that you have your first clear opening.

[SPEAKER_02]: How do you approach it?

[SPEAKER_01]: I want to use my spear as if it were a jagged, blunt disgusting thing, and by that I mean I want to get into the meteor part of his torso, and then just sort of almost dig in deep.

[SPEAKER_01]: and then pull out a little bit and then back in, sort of, that can, I will take, that can be valor or I will take it to be anything.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, sounds like it could be valor since you're just jumping right on in there.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_02]: And you said you're taking this in with the blunt end.

[SPEAKER_01]: With the blade now.

[SPEAKER_02]: with the blade now.

[SPEAKER_02]: So you go up and you see the scales on tight as is serpentine body about every other one has these steel plates fixed to them.

[SPEAKER_02]: To give him a little bit more protection but since his back is completely turned you have a clear opening that's trying to peer straight through one of the ones that are not covered in a steel plate.

[SPEAKER_02]: And as you do, you see like the green of his blood splurt out, and as it lands on your hand, you do feel almost like a slight burning sensation, like perhaps, [SPEAKER_02]: that venom that you hear he used against the chimera seems to potentially be sourced from himself.

[SPEAKER_02]: It almost burns immediately upon touch, but you are wearing gloves and armor ice of hose.

[SPEAKER_02]: As he's lashing out from the pain, he attempts to just roll over, since he has a cylindrical body, so just roll over and throw you off of his back, launching you into the mud and skidding across the ground, and he immediately is bleeding all over the ground just from having the [SPEAKER_02]: blade thrusted into his body, and he tries his best to correct himself before moving in one more time.

[SPEAKER_02]: You've already got him on the back foot here.

[SPEAKER_02]: Well, you've already got him a huge disadvantage.

[SPEAKER_02]: You already struck a pretty mean, narrowly blow against him.

[SPEAKER_02]: And you can tell that you can finish him right now.

[SPEAKER_02]: How do you approach finishing Titus?

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm going to lunge, closing the gap, aiming true, and with perhaps his last image of me being a sick fascination with his blood, with a twisted, [SPEAKER_01]: not the bored, distasteful, sort of looks the rolling eyes of full grounded attention from her to him this time.

[SPEAKER_01]: And she smiles big laughs.

[SPEAKER_01]: And she plunges for his heart.

[SPEAKER_02]: And your blade pierces through his scales.

[SPEAKER_02]: And you watch his eyes widen at the moment.

[SPEAKER_02]: The blade pierces through the heart of serotitis.

[SPEAKER_02]: Emerging on the other side of that body.

[SPEAKER_02]: He immediately begins to fall limp, but at the end of a spear, you're too far for him to catch onto you as he stumbles, and struggles, eventually finding himself falling into that blood-red mud, heaving his last breath.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's what I like about spears.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm on this side.

[SPEAKER_01]: You're on that side.

[SPEAKER_01]: Picked, plucked like a little thing.

[SPEAKER_01]: Rest well, tight as specialists.

[SPEAKER_02]: And as you say these last words, the last words that tight us will ever hear, you watch the light fade from his eyes.

[SPEAKER_02]: He is but mortal.

[SPEAKER_02]: and all knights eventually die, as his blood is shed, the crowd had been cheering and was hyped up for most of this fight.

[SPEAKER_02]: But as they watch him take his last breath, gasps, and through the air, and a few of the knights pushed past and go to go check on Titus, perhaps they can drag him to [SPEAKER_02]: Maybe, and they try their best to drag his body away as this crowd slowly begins to sparse.

[SPEAKER_01]: What?

[SPEAKER_01]: Everyone?

[SPEAKER_01]: They were the terms that were agreed upon, but as fights inspire now, as Titus said, right?

[SPEAKER_01]: No?

[SPEAKER_02]: And do you do see a few people as you are addressing this audience that's like they've gasped and like the oh shit he's actually dead?

[SPEAKER_02]: And you do see people beginning to like just leave at that and not even listening to your attempts to [SPEAKER_02]: to go, hey, these were just the terms, but you do see a handful of people sticking around to like ask you, like, oh, do you want to go to get a drink later at the taverns and stuff like that?

[SPEAKER_02]: And as the crowd disperses, and the sun finally begins to disappear, giving way to the moon, and you start gathering your equipment to leave, you hear footsteps approaching you from behind.

[SPEAKER_02]: Dressed only in the finest of fabrics, mostly white with ornate red and bellishments.

[SPEAKER_02]: Possibly died using the iconic natural red hews of the grass surrounding Osirod.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's tall.

[SPEAKER_02]: lean, with long hair, currently pulled into a ponytail, and he has to bend over a little to meet you, either I.

Lord and Estatios, one of sanguine's popularized biggest financial supporters, who is typically a recluse.

[SPEAKER_02]: I suppose I've missed you'll do.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yes, you have, my Lord.

[SPEAKER_01]: What does she have?

[SPEAKER_05]: I'm sure you fought valiantly.

[SPEAKER_01]: I fought within the agree terms.

[SPEAKER_02]: And he gives you a little bit of a smile.

[SPEAKER_02]: I've heard of out your adventures.

[SPEAKER_02]: He doesn't stick around for patrols much before that glory, power adventure.

[SPEAKER_01]: I prefer the gratuitity.

[SPEAKER_02]: Graturity, that's a good way to put it, and he sort of looks up at the night sky, and then back down to you, I would love to honor your valiant heroics, but you care for joining me for dinner two weeks from now, the night of the full moon.

[SPEAKER_02]: Apart apps.

[SPEAKER_01]: Certainly.

[SPEAKER_02]: I'll make sure all my assistants give you all the information that you need to know.

[SPEAKER_02]: I want to have a bit of a fancier deal.

[SPEAKER_02]: I suppose I've been away from the people of Azeroth for a long time.

[SPEAKER_02]: I believe now is the time to get more acquainted at least with saying we's partly lie since you're so meaningful here and I would love to have you.

[SPEAKER_01]: I would love to be had.

[SPEAKER_02]: And he gives you like, one of those like gentlemanly like kiss on the back of the hand, sort of deals, and then he goes, then I'll look forward to seeing you soon.

[SPEAKER_02]: And at that you see him begin to walk away and you see the carriage he pulled up on with a overhang over it that prevents him from being seen from the outside of it and his driver pulls open the door to the carriage, allowing him to step in as he gives you one last wave.

[SPEAKER_02]: And as this is happening, Titus' body is finally being shepherded into the halls of the castle, the crimson castle of St.

Whisphopi-Li.

[SPEAKER_02]: The doors of the grand reception hall burst open, letting wind blow through the chamber kicking up the urnate handcrafted rug that leads to the center of the room.

[SPEAKER_02]: The night's struggle a bit to carry Titus due to the serpentine nature of his body.

[SPEAKER_02]: They drag a little slowly, but surely escaping the gaze of the statues of the greatest nights to ever have lived.

[SPEAKER_02]: Titus had thought he'd be immortalized up there one day.

[SPEAKER_02]: But as he fades in and out of consciousness, fear, uncertainty, and anger courses through him, knowing that he's going to die before that ever comes into fruition.

[SPEAKER_02]: As the last of his blood seeps out through every foot they drag him.

[SPEAKER_02]: And that's where the doc comes in.

[SPEAKER_02]: Sengui's popular eye has been around for quite some time and save quite a few lives.

[SPEAKER_02]: There is staple of the city.

[SPEAKER_02]: Of course, there would be citizens who offer their aid to the order.

[SPEAKER_02]: In this case, we have BLIVE.

[SPEAKER_02]: Young Dr.

Blive, you've probably heard word that there was going to be a duel today between Swan and Titus.

[SPEAKER_02]: Either way, you know there's a possibility that you're going to get a wounded night soon.

[SPEAKER_02]: And as soon as you hear metal boots clinking across the stone floors, what do we see as you prepare for the inevitability of, you know, a visitor?

[SPEAKER_06]: The inevitability of a visitor wasn't really concerned to live, as he heard who was supposedly dueling this afternoon, when he heard the name of Swan mentioned, as one of the combatants, [SPEAKER_06]: he did not even bother to prepare.

[SPEAKER_06]: What you see standing in his office is a young gentleman very at the moment fresh-faced mid-length black hair quite unkempt despite being so put together clothing lies.

[SPEAKER_06]: wearing a vest, clean shirt, an apron to cover his garb, and as the night's stroll into his office bringing a wounded body, he is unbothered, cleaning his instruments.

[SPEAKER_06]: And as he looks towards them, he just, let's not assign of not really displeasure, but of kind of utility, in reality, blive nose, whoever this other person is, can only be considered as dead by the time they've gotten to the office.

[SPEAKER_02]: And that he is, [SPEAKER_02]: when the nights arrived, they struggled pulling that limp body onto your table.

[SPEAKER_02]: And it probably didn't take too much for you to be able to tell that that man's already dead.

[SPEAKER_06]: I don't really understand why bringing here what's the point of putting him in the table.

[SPEAKER_06]: Is it too late?

[SPEAKER_05]: Is there anything you can do?

[SPEAKER_02]: How long have you been lights here and one of the nights that you're talking to has only been a night for about six months like they just joined and the older one is you can tell more experienced and while this is all futile you can tell that he just doesn't want [SPEAKER_02]: to let this night know that he didn't try.

[SPEAKER_02]: He couldn't have tried.

[SPEAKER_02]: There's a hardened look to the older.

[SPEAKER_06]: Well, you've seen quite familiar already with how things work here.

[SPEAKER_06]: But you, you seem to do.

[SPEAKER_05]: Yes.

[SPEAKER_06]: Well, if the name swan is attached to any duel, don't come to me, Elvira can take care of everything.

[SPEAKER_06]: This man was dead as soon as he made the deal.

[SPEAKER_06]: Unfortunately, yes.

[SPEAKER_02]: And a hush follows over the realm, and a feeling of defeat washes over the younger night.

[SPEAKER_02]: and the older night just places a hand on his shoulder.

[SPEAKER_02]: And happens, kid, we'll go alert the crept of keepers.

[SPEAKER_06]: Look, I don't mean to be crass.

[SPEAKER_06]: I don't mean to be nonchalant about this.

[SPEAKER_06]: It is quite upsetting that one of us was taken down by her.

[SPEAKER_06]: But it is the nature of the culture here.

[SPEAKER_06]: If I could have changed it, I would.

[SPEAKER_06]: Unfortunately, Ms.

Swan is known to do what they please.

[SPEAKER_02]: I have.

[SPEAKER_02]: And tears flow from the face of the younger night for a moment, but you see him wipe the tears away and steal himself.

[SPEAKER_02]: Thank you, Doctor, we'll get out of your hair now.

[SPEAKER_06]: Well, at least, Titus is known for poisons and I've wondered how he's done it.

[SPEAKER_06]: The very least let me study his blood, let me get a sample before you leave, maybe his passing might be a views of us at least.

[SPEAKER_02]: and both of them give a nod.

[SPEAKER_02]: We'll leave you to it then.

[SPEAKER_06]: And I take instruments, clinking and clanking.

[SPEAKER_06]: As I take a syringe, it takes samples of the blood, put them in vials, put them in jars, and send them off as the body is ready to move onto its next stage.

[SPEAKER_02]: And the eventually you do hear a knock at the door during the process after the nights have already left.

[SPEAKER_02]: And you see a tall and portly woman with feathered ears and eyebrows denoting a fae ancestry of some kind, dressed in vestments befitting a priest.

[SPEAKER_02]: Your confidant, maize, stands in the doorway.

[SPEAKER_02]: Uh, I was told that a night was wondering what to do, was everything okay.

[SPEAKER_06]: Well, who did, is really the term I do, unfortunately he's passed.

[SPEAKER_02]: She...

[SPEAKER_02]: does like a small prayer that you've probably seen her do before after learning of another night that's passed.

[SPEAKER_02]: She runs the temple outside of which the crypt entrance is and she comes into the infirmary that you've got set up in the castle and goes, well, are you okay?

[SPEAKER_06]: Of course.

[SPEAKER_06]: I'm quite used to this.

[SPEAKER_02]: By this point, being used to it doesn't mean that it's okay.

[SPEAKER_02]: How are you holding up?

[SPEAKER_06]: I'm quite well actually.

[SPEAKER_06]: I think my time here [SPEAKER_06]: But there are moments that I wish I could save more what.

[SPEAKER_06]: I know, in certain circumstances, I can't too much.

[SPEAKER_06]: I mean, it does bother me.

[SPEAKER_06]: It does.

[SPEAKER_06]: But that will just be a hindrance to work.

[SPEAKER_06]: I respect your commitment.

[SPEAKER_06]: And I respect yours.

[SPEAKER_06]: This might not be easy.

[SPEAKER_06]: I don't understand how they can do it really, revel in it, be proud of killing, whether it's creatures or their own.

[SPEAKER_02]: I can't speak for the nights as I'm not one myself, but housing the crypt near the temple.

[SPEAKER_02]: I've watched bodies carted in every time, and it is heartbreaking every time.

[SPEAKER_02]: Even though I don't see what causes it.

[SPEAKER_02]: But whether it's by sickness or by blade, we all end up in the ground one day.

[SPEAKER_06]: It's unfortunate.

[SPEAKER_06]: Hopefully we can stay further away as long as we can.

[SPEAKER_06]: Right.

[SPEAKER_06]: Anyway, I'm so rude, can I get you anything?

[SPEAKER_02]: Oh, no, it's all fine.

[SPEAKER_02]: I've got plenty of tea back at the temple.

[SPEAKER_02]: I also was told to let you know that Lord Anastasia is planning a banquet, and they want you there as well.

[SPEAKER_06]: I mean, it's, it's all over, but I guess I, I appreciate this sentiment.

[SPEAKER_02]: I've also been invited, so I do share the surprise.

[SPEAKER_02]: I'm not night neither of you, but it's an honor.

[SPEAKER_05]: I think we should shut up.

[SPEAKER_06]: Well, don't you be there, I think it would be nice to know a familiar, more pleasant face will be attending as well.

[SPEAKER_02]: Then I'll see you there.

[SPEAKER_02]: And if you ever need comfort, the temple will always be open to you.

[SPEAKER_02]: and she gives you a warm smile and turns.

[SPEAKER_02]: We drift away from the crimson castle.

[SPEAKER_02]: the light of three different moons falls onto the cemetery, which was placed directly between the town and the hill, the crimson castle rests upon.

[SPEAKER_02]: Tributes left behind for the dead, decorate the grave stones.

[SPEAKER_02]: The stone pathways are stained with the same muddy red foot prints from yesterday's weather.

[SPEAKER_02]: Some of these footprints lead to a small building with a domed roof and a slightly open steel gate inside is nothing more that a spiral staircase leading deep underground.

[SPEAKER_02]: It is down these stairs into the crypt below, that we venture next.

[SPEAKER_02]: Narrow passageways lined with carved out alcoes where the dead rest eternally, candles rest in wall sconces, flickering out or light through the halls similar to the cemetery above.

[SPEAKER_02]: Gifts for the dead have been placed in designated spaces along the entire crypt as tributes.

[SPEAKER_02]: only these tributes aren't out in the open, at the ones above, which makes them easier for Allerick to steal.

[SPEAKER_02]: At least, that's what he thinks.

[SPEAKER_02]: He slinks through the crypt silently and carefully sliding silver coins and heirloom necklaces into a burlap sack believing himself [SPEAKER_02]: tonight's keeper of the crypt, and yesterday's, and likely tomorrow's two.

[SPEAKER_02]: You've been hearing this clinking and self-satisfied snickering for a while now, trying to trace the echoes to their source.

[SPEAKER_02]: You've finally seen him a dwarfish fellow who you've never seen before, perhaps passing through town and attempting to make the best of it by stealing from those who can no longer defend themselves.

[SPEAKER_02]: the dead.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's unaware that you have your eyes on him.

[SPEAKER_02]: What do we see?

[SPEAKER_07]: Standing in the dark, Elvira is about as tall as this dugout cavern is the armor she wears [SPEAKER_07]: doesn't seem to reflect light in the same way that one would expect metal to.

[SPEAKER_07]: So as she moves forward, there is no glinting, just a large, dark figure moving closer.

[SPEAKER_07]: For her size, she is rather quiet, a practiced skill on her part.

[SPEAKER_07]: She has time, more than anything else in these cramps, and it's easier to catch the rats before they can hear you move, and what will work on rats will work on a thief.

[SPEAKER_07]: And so I think he doesn't realize until El Vira is standing in his path and he bumps into her, falling back on his ass to the ground looking up at the towering figure above him.

[SPEAKER_07]: And there's no face to look back down at.

[SPEAKER_07]: just the cold, hard, plating of a helm.

[SPEAKER_02]: And as he looks up at you with terror in his eyes, because he thought he was down here alone.

[SPEAKER_02]: You just hear, oh fuck, oh fuck.

[SPEAKER_07]: And a voice echoing out from underneath the helmet goes, do you take pleasure in your work?

[SPEAKER_07]: Do you take pleasure?

[SPEAKER_04]: No, no, no.

[SPEAKER_07]: Then why do you do it?

[SPEAKER_07]: Look, I...

You come into the home of the dead, and she takes us up forward, and take what is rightfully theirs, given to them by those they love.

[SPEAKER_07]: And you make it your own.

[SPEAKER_07]: knowing that they cannot stop you even if they want to.

[SPEAKER_07]: He takes another step forward.

[SPEAKER_04]: Look, I just thought that they are not going to make use of it.

[SPEAKER_07]: Who are you to say that?

[SPEAKER_02]: And you can see on his expression that he knows he's fucked up and his eyes are darting around looking for an exit looking for a way out of this conversation, [SPEAKER_07]: Elvira knows these holes better than anyone.

[SPEAKER_07]: And so she has kind of back to him up to a place where there is kind of like at a cross section of a bunch of different like halls.

[SPEAKER_07]: Like there is a path for him to escape.

[SPEAKER_07]: And when he tries, she does not stop him immediately.

[SPEAKER_02]: So as he turns and he runs down the left side of the intersection, [SPEAKER_02]: How do you approach this situation?

[SPEAKER_07]: were there only two different ways that that can go and he's definitely not going to go back the way he came because he knows that that leads to the dead and so he's going to take the left passage while Vera will already be there waiting for him.

[SPEAKER_02]: And so he goes down this left passage and you hear the sounds of his feet pitter-patterning until eventually the sound of his face colliding with the metal of your armor clumps and [SPEAKER_02]: And he looks up at you one more time to stun to speak.

[SPEAKER_07]: You know, I do this because unlike you, I do take pleasure in my work.

[SPEAKER_07]: To her side, she is holding this long, dark staff that is mounted with what I think is an unlit lantern and it's this like cold steel heavy metal.

[SPEAKER_07]: and she raises it and slams it on the ground in the lantern lights up.

[SPEAKER_02]: catching your flame, you immediately watch this man piss himself, and you can see it beginning up all around his feet as he's attempting to back away from you on the floor, not even managing to scurry to his full height.

[SPEAKER_07]: She says, I will give you one minute to return everything to its [SPEAKER_07]: but it will be quick if you can do it in time.

[SPEAKER_07]: Now, starting, starting now?

[SPEAKER_02]: She just stands there, fuck, fuck.

[SPEAKER_02]: And he immediately gets up and grabs the burlap sack and disappears through the darkness and you can hear the, the, the, the, the jingling of the sack as he tries his best to find where every single spot was.

[SPEAKER_02]: However, I'm sure you knew that one minute would not be enough.

[SPEAKER_02]: Oh, of course not.

[SPEAKER_07]: It takes at least three to get back.

[SPEAKER_07]: And so, Elvira waits at the entrance, waiting for him to eventually come back because there is only one way out.

[SPEAKER_02]: and eventually he comes back with an empty sack and he immediately falls onto his knees.

[SPEAKER_02]: Tears in his eyes.

[SPEAKER_03]: Sorry, please, please, I didn't mean to do.

[SPEAKER_03]: Let it mean to offend you.

[SPEAKER_07]: You did not offend me.

[SPEAKER_07]: You offended all those who lie here in their rest.

[SPEAKER_07]: And those who love them enough to come and give them cherished gifts for them to take into the afterlife.

[SPEAKER_07]: Those are the ones you failed.

[SPEAKER_07]: Those are the ones you disrespected.

[SPEAKER_07]: Tell me.

[SPEAKER_07]: How does it feel to know that your end is close at hand?

[SPEAKER_02]: And she raises her staff.

[SPEAKER_07]: What I, is there in the one in this moment, you wish you had said something to, and like raises it above her head.

[SPEAKER_05]: My cousin, he didn't know I left, I never said goodbye.

[SPEAKER_07]: And she brings down the staff and stops it just above his head.

[SPEAKER_07]: Just enough for the flames to kind of start to singe the top of his head.

[SPEAKER_07]: Then go tell that person you loved him.

[SPEAKER_07]: And remember how it felt to believe you were going to die.

[SPEAKER_02]: And he immediately runs away into the night, disappearing into the hills of Osirod.

[SPEAKER_02]: And, you hear voice behind you.

[SPEAKER_02]: Evira!

[SPEAKER_02]: It's Marquis, the head of the Division of Knights.

[SPEAKER_02]: Who watched the crimp?

[SPEAKER_02]: It's been three days, Evira.

[SPEAKER_02]: You can't stay down here forever.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's like coming out from behind like a tombstone in the cemetery Seeing you standing at the entrance.

[SPEAKER_07]: Someone must watch the bodies and none Do so as diligently.

[SPEAKER_07]: I come here.

[SPEAKER_07]: There are many rats.

[SPEAKER_07]: I must kill.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think you've been down here for too long [SPEAKER_07]: You can't have been back.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's been three days.

[SPEAKER_02]: I've worked the cemetery shift twice and I haven't seen you come up on either one.

[SPEAKER_02]: Ah, yes.

[SPEAKER_02]: It was the...

[SPEAKER_02]: I told me you took his shift two days ago.

[SPEAKER_07]: He said his back was hurt.

[SPEAKER_02]: Of course, I'll reset that.

[SPEAKER_02]: Look, I understand that you're dedicated to the cause.

[SPEAKER_02]: but you need to learn to relax sometimes.

[SPEAKER_02]: At this rate, you won't get any rest until you're the one being put to rest in the crypt.

[SPEAKER_07]: I make sure to eat and drink when necessary.

[SPEAKER_07]: And I have gotten quite used to taking small breaks while just standing.

[SPEAKER_07]: That way, if anyone were to come in, they would think that I'm still there protecting it and that prevents, you know, it scares them so that they [SPEAKER_07]: Don't, you know.

[SPEAKER_07]: I don't love me if you did wearing that helmet over there, uh...

Well, who is last time you took it off?

[SPEAKER_07]: If you are saying I started my shift three days ago, then four days ago.

[SPEAKER_02]: And Marquise just there that you, Marquise has like a big bushy beer that when he does where his helmet just sticks out the bottom of the helmet and it's like got specks of gray in it.

[SPEAKER_02]: He has big old brown eyes, bald head, and a notable like tattoo on their right cheek of two daggers crossed over one another.

[SPEAKER_02]: and uh he sort of is like looks at you in disbelief and goes we're gonna have someone come by and relieve you of your shift so you can take some time off and in two weeks that lords the uh recluse and a stacier so I think his name was [SPEAKER_02]: He wants all of us knights to gather for a banquet, take a break, come on up.

[SPEAKER_07]: What if someone tries to use that as an opportunity to break into the...

We'll lock the crypt down!

[SPEAKER_07]: If all the knights were there, someone should be here to make sure it is locked down.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's going to be fine for just one night of there, just a few hours as all I'm asking.

[SPEAKER_02]: I-I'll be good for ya.

[SPEAKER_02]: Please.

[SPEAKER_07]: You're sure.

[SPEAKER_07]: Okay, I will go, but I will make sure that it is locked down.

[SPEAKER_07]: I will do a security check before the banquet, just to make sure that everything is sealed off.

[SPEAKER_02]: I have gotten very good at eating through helmet.

[SPEAKER_07]: Oh, I'm sure.

[SPEAKER_07]: I'm sure.

[SPEAKER_07]: It is all about life.

[SPEAKER_02]: It as we fade away from that scene.

[SPEAKER_02]: These two weeks passed by relatively unadventful, just normal, normal stuff for the nights of Singwee's popular.

[SPEAKER_02]: Uh, but let's take a look at each and every one of you in your quarters getting ready for the banquet.

[SPEAKER_02]: Uh, swan.

[SPEAKER_02]: How does what is what is swan or koddy planning on wearing to this banquet?

[SPEAKER_01]: A fully white leather sort of ensemble, some golden buttons, languishing sleeves, something I can move around in dancing, but anything worth to happen, my mobility would not be impeded.

[SPEAKER_02]: What does Blive plan on wearing to this banquet?

[SPEAKER_06]: Blive plans to wear a pinstriped double breasted suit.

[SPEAKER_06]: It's navy blue with great pinstrips.

[SPEAKER_06]: With a royal blue ass caught, and just a regular white shirt.

[SPEAKER_02]: All right.

[SPEAKER_07]: Um, I, I, I think she's probably just wearing like casual clothing, um, something that's like easy for her to move in.

[SPEAKER_07]: And there's like, I don't think she really has like a lot of fancy clothes.

[SPEAKER_07]: Yeah, she like really just has, like, not a hoodie.

[SPEAKER_07]: But she has just like a simple like cotton shirt with like maybe like a leather jerky and it's like as like fancy as it gets, you know?

[SPEAKER_07]: And like some like really like clean Like boots [SPEAKER_07]: But it's like, yeah, it's it's still functional for like she's ready to bounce whenever is necessary just like the moment there's like, oh man, there seems like there's going to be trouble outside or like [SPEAKER_07]: I heard someone say something's going on at the crib.

[SPEAKER_07]: I'm ready to leave and like go get on my armor and go do what I need to do.

[SPEAKER_07]: I probably bring my staff if they let me if they let me bring it into the door, if not like will like be like okay keep it at a place where I can see it and go give it in case I need to.

[SPEAKER_07]: I might have to leave very quickly.

[SPEAKER_07]: It just depends.

[SPEAKER_01]: Do they let us be armed?

[SPEAKER_02]: I feel as though they do, because this banquet is actually being held in a banquet hall that has, for the longest time, not been used in the crimson castle.

[SPEAKER_02]: Where better to hold a banquet for singly's popular than in their own walls?

[SPEAKER_02]: This room did require a lot of dusting off, but it's usable.

[SPEAKER_02]: each and every one of you are as you walk through the halls looking for where the doors are.

[SPEAKER_02]: You see the other nights moving by you and their own fancy outfits, whether they're wearing dresses or sort of a tighter fitting robe or more like a suit sort of a fair.

[SPEAKER_02]: You do see plenty of the other nights, all similarly dolled up, and eventually, all three of you cross paths in front of the closed grand doors of the banquet hall, and you see each other.

[SPEAKER_01]: Elvaira, blight.

[SPEAKER_07]: Hello.

[SPEAKER_07]: Good evening.

[SPEAKER_01]: Life you are, well dressed.

[SPEAKER_06]: I mean, it is a banquet, and I don't have any regalia to put on, so...

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm surprised.

[SPEAKER_01]: Elvirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr [SPEAKER_01]: Well, that's not the point that I was trying to make, but I see it is interesting, but actually you are here by life and that you were a doctor.

[SPEAKER_06]: I'm just surprised as you.

[SPEAKER_01]: And then I'm seeing this person, I believe, just washes linens and then there's other person.

[SPEAKER_01]: I, looks she looked around, was led to believe that this was going to be a banquet of prestige.

[SPEAKER_06]: I think everybody's job is just as important.

[SPEAKER_06]: But I understand why you would assume that.

[SPEAKER_06]: Good work with tightness.

[SPEAKER_01]: Thank you.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yes.

[SPEAKER_01]: Everyone was very upset with me.

[SPEAKER_06]: That is something I was quite surprised as well.

[SPEAKER_06]: I assumed by the time that he was done with them, they would have bought them straight to reveal.

[SPEAKER_01]: Well, they can do it with they went.

[SPEAKER_01]: I lay things out very clearly to everyone and for some reason that is a bright new perspective apparently.

[SPEAKER_06]: Might be a little too bright, a little too new.

[SPEAKER_01]: Did you have a fun time, Elvira, dressing up the body?

[SPEAKER_07]: I wouldn't call it fun.

[SPEAKER_01]: It was pleasing to...

Did you do a good job then whatever?

[SPEAKER_07]: I feel like I always do a good job.

[SPEAKER_07]: If I'm not, I would love someone to tell me what I could be doing better.

[SPEAKER_07]: But so far, most people just seem to tell me I should slow down doing it in general, which seems counter-productive.

[SPEAKER_01]: by all the dry-out that is such a bore to listen to you speak.

[SPEAKER_07]: I'm sorry.

[SPEAKER_07]: You asked question and I answered.

[SPEAKER_07]: I figured that's how that was.

[SPEAKER_07]: I could dress it up more if you would like.

[SPEAKER_07]: I'm not the best with words.

[SPEAKER_07]: There aren't many people to talk to in the crypt.

[SPEAKER_06]: Swan, the excitement of battle doesn't have to be carried over with social interactions like this.

[SPEAKER_06]: I think, well, this is quite pleasant and nice.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm just excited to see what Lord Anastasia was thinking, bringing everyone.

[SPEAKER_01]: Everyone.

[SPEAKER_06]: with your excitement comes my curiosity.

[SPEAKER_06]: You are right, this is quite a huge banquet for all of the staff and all the nights be congregated together under this banquet hall.

[SPEAKER_07]: Can I start taking a look around?

[SPEAKER_07]: I think the two of them questioning things is now putting me on a alert of like, oh shit, is this a trap?

[SPEAKER_07]: Is someone going to the crypt?

[SPEAKER_07]: And so, like, I just want to like, I'm taking a look at exits.

[SPEAKER_07]: Does it seem like there are guards posted?

[SPEAKER_07]: Like, what is what's the vibe?

[SPEAKER_02]: You don't notice that it's actually oddly unguarded.

[SPEAKER_02]: Uh, since all the nights are actually wearing their formal clothes, uh, I guess we're, we're all here.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, and so you see mostly like, oh, that's, oh, well, hell, this was supposed to be got a weight.

[SPEAKER_02]: There will come also in formal clothes, uh, and you see just as, like, just, [SPEAKER_02]: formal looking night after formal looking night after servant after cook after just all sorts of people who work within the crimson castle are here, dressed in their best.

[SPEAKER_02]: And as you look down a hall, you see coming around the corner followed by around three others, Lord and a [SPEAKER_02]: dressed in a loose, slowy white fabric with red trim along the sleeves, red shoes, and his hair taken down from the ponytail so that it flows as he walks down the hallway, greeting the [SPEAKER_02]: and he eventually sees all three of you standing in front of the door as the great banquet hall, and he goes, oh, everyone's here.

[SPEAKER_05]: I'm excited to get to dying with you all.

[SPEAKER_06]: I don't mean to speak for everybody else, but I think we share the same sentiment.

[SPEAKER_06]: Thank you for inviting us to such a lovely banquet.

[SPEAKER_06]: Especially us, the stuff.

[SPEAKER_05]: Oh well.

[SPEAKER_02]: This castle wouldn't be the same without you.

[SPEAKER_06]: It's nice to be appreciate it.

[SPEAKER_02]: And tonight we'll be able to appreciate it delicious, mere, served by my own personal cooking staff.

[SPEAKER_02]: Since I've made sure to give yours a break tonight.

[SPEAKER_02]: Now, let's say we get this banquet started.

[SPEAKER_02]: both of two, and he turns towards the giant wooden doors, and he pushes them open, and as the doors swing open, we fade the black.

[SPEAKER_07]: Blood in the snow features Oliander as Game Master, Kendrick as Elvira Gibral, Fabian Lele as Blife, and Josephine as Swan Arcade, with editing and sound design by Oliander.