Speaker 1: Atomicon twenty twenty five is coming May third and fourth
at the Detrient and Technical College Convention Center in North Charleston,
South Carolina. This fan driven celebration of all things geeky
celebrates its eleventh year with guest of Honor Delilah Dawson's
Charleston Absent Friends, the annual film festival, panels, podcasts, costume contests,
and so much more. Go to atomicon dot org for
tickets and more information, and we'll see you there. Fa'ma.
Speaker 2: The Black Raven Chronicles written by Jonathan Nellen, produced at
FBL Studios in Charleston, South Carolina. Original compositions by Paul Flowers.
Chapter three, The client.
Speaker 3: Damn it, this is the seventh missing person's case this week, Thomas.
Where all these people keep.
Speaker 4: Going, You're asking the wrong person. That's the sixty four
thousand dollars question, isn't it. I think maybe Chuckles has
moved on up to human trafficking.
Speaker 3: Not his style. He doesn't even like pushers near his club. Extortion,
gun running, bank robbery, those are Chuckles games. This is
a new player entirely.
Speaker 5: Oh Thomas, in my office, now.
Speaker 3: Oh crap, did you follow the chain of custody.
Speaker 4: My pride is hurt that you think so less of me.
I didn't forget got the stamp phone right here. What
do you think this is all about?
Speaker 6: Quick jacking?
Speaker 5: And shut the fucking door.
Speaker 4: I'm right, all right. You don't have to tell me twice.
Shut the damn door.
Speaker 5: Special Division needs you saw it in the lieutenant. Give
me those detective batches.
Speaker 3: Special Division. What happened to Tombs and Lewis?
Speaker 5: You know those are missing persons. You've been working.
Speaker 4: About twenty four reported within the line six or so
weeks with no connection between them whatsoever? What about them?
Speaker 5: It's not the same face?
Speaker 3: Yeah, sign these Bureau of Anomalous Research and Defense. Wait
a minute, kat, these are federal NDAs. What the hell
is going on?
Speaker 5: As a raiser, it's coach, Special Division. Sign the paper
so I can bring you a time. Isn't on our side?
Speaker 7: I made my way back to the bunker to collect
my knife and gun and see if the doc would
make any sense of what happened to me With those
blood tests. I still didn't buy this whole wold vampire spiel,
but I know I was attacked. I saw my old
shirt with my own eyes I'm not saying I should
be dead, but there's no way I shouldn't be banged
up and much worse off than I am. I was
almost to his office door when I heard the arguing
and saw the girl walk out and towards me in
the hall, just like a cross between a dominatrix and
an eighties action movie cop.
Speaker 8: I need more information than just that you were running tests, doctor.
I will be back after I meet with our representative.
Hopefully he has been more resourceful. Watch where you're going,
you big oath?
Speaker 6: Oh?
Speaker 7: Who the hell uses words like oaf anymore? Honestly, this
girl had a chip on her shoulder the size of Texas.
I wondered for a second how some girl who looked
like she was barely legal could have that much attitude.
I guess she thought I was staring, because she came
back and swung to slap me, but I caught her hand.
Speaker 8: How did you?
Speaker 7: I don't know what your problem is, little girl, but
I am not even remotely in the mood for your crap.
Speaker 8: Don't call me little girl. I'm far older than you think,
and I don't appreciate men ugling me.
Speaker 7: Perversely oggling you kid, you ran into me and then
got route. I was just trying to see if you
could fit through the door with that giant chip on
your damn shoulder. Did they stopped teaching you kids manners
while I was overseas?
Speaker 8: Perhaps you're right? I beg your pardon. I forgot myself,
it seems.
Speaker 7: Yeah, don't worry about it. Is Doc Johnson in there.
Speaker 8: Yes, kids with doctor Simmons. Are you a patient?
Speaker 7: Eh? Something like that? Got the doc checking some stuff
for me. Thanks, kid, I'm.
Speaker 8: Not a kid.
Speaker 9: The report said the patient was exposed in near death.
He should have been kept here and monitored.
Speaker 10: A report was wrong. His injuries were superficial and there
was no evidence he was exposed. I checked his blood
work several times myself. This is my facility and that
most treat patients as I see fit. Remember doctor Simon's
you are here as a guest. I am here under
the purview of the council itself.
Speaker 9: Be that as it may. I am here because my
expertise and viral infections is crucial to finding a treatment
for this mess. Who are you and what do you want?
Speaker 7: Sorry? Just here to speak to the doc.
Speaker 10: Yes, this young man is a private detective search for
a lost dog, and I had some information for him.
Right this way, son, I'll be right back with you,
doctor Salmon. I'm sorry, mister v Almar. This is not
a good time, and I don't have the results for
those tests yet. I'm afraid.
Speaker 7: Well, that's disappointing. But I also came to get some
personal effects.
Speaker 10: No, yes, of course, her belongs. I have them right
here in my desk. Who we were so distracted this morning,
I plum forgot we'd take them off here, and then
I opened my desk and got quite a shock. I
used to weapons to my facility.
Speaker 7: Makes sense? So what's up with the igor over there?
Was he talking about me?
Speaker 3: He was?
Speaker 10: And don't mention anything about the event. I'm not sure
why I do not trust doctor Simon in the least.
I feel like it's up to something, but I can't
figure out what.
Speaker 7: I'm kind of booked up on cases, doc, right off?
Speaker 10: Or to help you out, Oh heavens no, ifrig I
want you nowhere near him, please trust me on that.
He definitely doesn't have your best interest in mine.
Speaker 7: Well, if you need me to take out his leg,
just let me know. I kind of feel like I
owe you a freebee after last night.
Speaker 10: Well, if my home's about you, is right, we'll be
calling you to collect on that.
Speaker 11: Sir.
Speaker 10: You could be more help than you know.
Speaker 7: Hey, you can't park. Oh, creat it's you Murray. Hey, buddy,
how's the arm doing? Murray had thought he could strong
arm me one day, so I thanked him for it
by dislocating his elbow.
Speaker 10: It's just fine, mister pall mallins.
Speaker 7: Good to hear. Let me know if you ever want
to rematch buddy. Yes, he doesn't want to go for
round two. Shame that.
Speaker 3: Oh hello, mister Velmont, would you like me to get
you a table? We have a few in the reserved area.
Mister Simmons has this hold him for VIPs like you.
I'll even take care of you personally. I'll make sure
you have everything you need.
Speaker 7: The red hair and curves definitely had me considered just
what it was I might need for a moment. Fishnet
stockings and pencil skirt of her uniform probably added a
few seconds pause. But I wasn't here for pleasure. Sorry, miss.
It's business only tonight.
Speaker 3: It's always business, mister Velmont. One of these days you're
going to have to have some fun just let me
know when you do. Tall, dark and handsome.
Speaker 7: You didn't need to be a psychic to know what
kind of fun she.
Speaker 6: Had in mind.
Speaker 7: A younger me, he might have been ready to go,
but it had been too weird of a day, and
I really was just hoping Chuckle's little job would be
my normal style of hired gun work. Honestly, I could use.
Speaker 6: Some normal evening alm.
Speaker 7: I was like going, Frank, was he up there?
Speaker 6: Yeah? Both as meeting with No more as you can
go up.
Speaker 7: You've got to see a tailor, Frank, your gun is
bulging out? What oh yea though I got that, I
sent the other gun, Frank.
Speaker 6: Oh oh yeah, yeah that makes more en.
Speaker 11: Hey, Alma, yeah, I never got a dance, they think,
but you ain't doing that thing with my knee.
Speaker 6: He got it, liked it to me.
Speaker 11: Why.
Speaker 6: I appreciate that.
Speaker 7: A couple of months ago, Frank had come to me
suspicious that his niece was in an abusive relationship. I
confirmed as much, and then held that little punk over
the Raven River bridge until he pissed himself and sword
and never go near her again. Don't mention it. Things
like that need to be done. I hope he's doing
better now, buddy.
Speaker 11: Yeah, he moved game with me and forever right after.
If he's been being a real that.
Speaker 7: Guy, well, if he ever isn't nice, call me and
I'll handle it. That goes for Trevor too.
Speaker 5: I assume you understand the severity of the situation. I
would hate for something to happen to the Lady Knife
World on your watch. It could severely damage our relationship.
Speaker 6: While I appreciate your pathum, Miss the Cane, I can
assure you I have arranged a more than capable of
squad who could speak of the devil afraid one in me.
I knew you would not disappoint. This is a mister Cane. Yeah,
why now believe we'll be satisfy And taking his leap.
Speaker 7: Leslie's facade may not have broken, but I could tell
this man made him uncomfortable. As he stood, he came
close to my height and built. The biggest difference between
us was his hair, long and gray, as if it
had seen the passage of many years, but his eyes
and skin looked young and vibrant. He reached out his hand,
which I took, not expecting him to squeeze like he did.
A smile flashed across his face and then vanished when
I squeezed back.
Speaker 5: Wow, it is a pleasure to meet you, mister Refred.
I can see mister Simon as everything quite independ It
seems I won't be needed here after rule. Good evening
to you both.
Speaker 6: I'm happy over here. I guess hasn't arrived yet, so
let's just relax. Mick path that is so, it was just.
Speaker 7: For a second, so brief. I barely turned my head
to him in time to catch it. But chuckles facade broke,
and in that instant I saw he was afraid of what.
I had no idea, but I was sure it was
something to do with this kne I had just made.
Speaker 3: Whiskeys and you cigar, mister Simon, there be anything else
he'll be needing?
Speaker 6: Oh, no need to call me, mess of Simeon shill
chuckles will be five. We'll call you if we need
anything else.
Speaker 7: New employee.
Speaker 6: Yes, Frank's den niece. She's walking away through all, so
I decided to give her a job. After all, Frank
is lack of family.
Speaker 7: That's Frank's niece. I really don't see it.
Speaker 6: Well, she's not the one you thinking, Uh, she's the
old assist. But yes, Frank is definitely singular in his family.
Speaker 7: You're a regular philanthropist, Leslie. So what's the deal with
that kne guy.
Speaker 6: He's kind of that composition. He wants to take over
the town.
Speaker 7: As a word, he wants to muscle you out. Wow,
he's got a pair on him.
Speaker 6: No, he wants to replace my benefactors. Afraid he wants
me to work for him.
Speaker 7: Okay, you have got to level with me here, Leslie.
Who are these benefactors? Why are you being so mysterious
about them? What's the deal.
Speaker 6: I'm not show the best way to explain to you.
Afraid I can assure you. They're not bad guys. They
just needed a bad guy, and I fit. There's this
why to complicated store.
Speaker 7: Look, I can't handle any more surprises today, Leslie. It
has just been weird. First I wake up on a
slab in an underground bunker. Then this dwarf tries to
tell me I died and came back a vampire, a
vampire of all things. And honestly, I gotta tell you,
I've never seen that look on your face before.
Speaker 6: Wait, wait, you you ain't Doctor Johnson's facility.
Speaker 7: Yeah, I was Wait a minute, how do you know
about doc Johnson? We're fine, Mandy, thanks, but the conversation
just got serious.
Speaker 8: What the hell are you doing here?
Speaker 6: Wait? You who know each other? How how is that possible?
When the good fool you are.
Speaker 7: Man tried to slap me earlier? What is she Frank's
niece too?
Speaker 8: I already apologized for my rudeness, and if you weren't
so garish, I would never have reacted that way.
Speaker 7: What the fuck is garish? And honestly, how do you
get around with that chip on your shoulder? It's fucking massive.
Speaker 6: Afraid. This is Kia, not was She is the fixer, Kia.
This is the man I've asked to assist and protection.
Speaker 7: No way, just not happening. This is getting too far
into the twilight zone for me. I don't even want
to find that damn dog anymore.
Speaker 6: Afraid. Please, I went to you because they need your help,
My friend, I need your help.
Speaker 7: Fine, I'll help. She's supposed to fix a computer. She's
barely eighteen.
Speaker 8: I am older than you think.
Speaker 7: Fine, you're twenty one whatever.
Speaker 6: Afraid, I will explain everything, But first, what what you're
doing with doctor Joneson?
Speaker 7: Well, long story short, I got jumped and stabbed. The
doc patched me up, but then he was all worried
I had some virus. He ran some tests and looks
like I'm immune to whatever it is.
Speaker 6: Wait, wait, wait a plus say, oh wait, you're a mili.
You're a mil to the vampire vibes.
Speaker 7: Wait you believe in vampires? Hey, keep your hands off, lady,
hold fuck ship. She's a fucking vampire.
Speaker 6: Oh how is he so strong?
Speaker 7: Indeed, I need you to bring me the bottle and
leave it. You know what, bring a second bottle to Manda.
Speaker 6: If you would, please, Afraid, why don't you sit down
and breathe? I will have Kida explain. I promise you
everything is gonna be fine.
Speaker 7: Vampires are real, So that thing that tried to kill
me really was a vampire. Wait, you've been working for vampires?
Are you working for vampires? Are you a vampire?
Speaker 6: Chuckles?
Speaker 7: You have to tell me the truth if I ask, right.
Speaker 6: Afraid, I work with the vampires and several others overside
a Hill for twice some time. I act as the
go between the cossier.
Speaker 7: If you're will, are you delivering homeless people as something
to eat?
Speaker 8: That is a vicious stereotype. My people rarely drink from humans.
It's frowned upon outside of a romantic relationship.
Speaker 7: Say that to your buddy that jumped me in the
old tunnels.
Speaker 8: That thing is not my buddy. It is an abomination
and it threatens to destroy everything we have built here.
Speaker 6: Thelm, what what you get doing in those tunnels?
Speaker 7: I was looking for that damn dog? What is so
damn funny?
Speaker 8: For centuries we've hidden ourselves in our world from your time,
and you stumble upon it looking for a lust puppy.
Speaker 7: It's quite funny, Yeah, hilarious. How the hell did that
thing that attacked me get down there? If you guys
are doing so well running a place.
Speaker 6: Kia, if I may afraid, this is what Kire is
here to find out. They have lived beneath the city
for hundreds of years. Kiro was born in those tunnels.
Speaker 7: She was born in the old tunnels. Why not in
the docks facility or at the hospital.
Speaker 8: For that matter, because they didn't exist when I was born.
Speaker 7: That bunker is almost one hundred years old, and the
hospital is older than that. Who was president when you
were born?
Speaker 8: I was in my forties when Washington became president. Does
that count?
Speaker 7: Holy shit, you're serious? You were born before the Revolutionary.
Speaker 6: War by a few decades one amy, damn, I think I.
Speaker 7: Called you kid earlier.
Speaker 8: Yes, I know, eternal youth can be quite.
Speaker 7: Annoy Wait, eternal youth. I'm sorry. You're gonna have to
start at the beginning to that.
Speaker 8: It's definitely beneficial if you know the truth.
Speaker 11: Now.
Speaker 8: There are four general types of vampires, Cursed, natural, turned,
and infected. Cursed vampires are created by a powerful magic,
usually by God herself or a lesser God. A number,
maybe a handful. They're immortal, cursed to be outcast, hated,
and shunned. They have a lot of the movie weaknesses
except the hole killing them things. Generally, they wander and
avoid any contact with society for a lengthy period of time.
Speaker 7: You're so like Dracula that.
Speaker 8: Yes, Lad Tepish was the most famous cursed vampire. He
kept to the outskirts of the old country, mostly next
or natural vampires like me. We trace our lineage all
the way back to Lilith. When she was cast out
of Eden, she was raped by a human. The child
born of that violation was the first vampire given superior strength, health,
and senses, as well as the longevity to rival the
ancients of Abraham. Every natural born vampire is descended from
that line. Although not all children of vampires are born vampires.
Some are born to be what we call a half blood.
They live shorter lives and are essentially human weak.
Speaker 7: So they're born, meaning you can have kids.
Speaker 8: Why is it so surprising that we can bear and
raise children?
Speaker 7: Fir point continue, I'm sorry.
Speaker 8: Next are the turn These are humans who undergo a
ritual to receive vampiric gifts. It is extremely dangerous and
quite often leads to a painful death. If success, the
turned gain our long lifespan and our strength, but they
become allergic to sunlight, silver, and several spices, and they
can be killed as easily as any human.
Speaker 7: Would want that kind of deal.
Speaker 6: No, if I may.
Speaker 8: Continue, this next part is important.
Speaker 7: Oh yeah, sorry.
Speaker 8: Infected vampires are technically not really vampires. Once infected, they
become beasts driven by their hunger. They gain claw like
nails and fangs, but none of the other strengths of
the vampire a cricks. They also gain all of the
weaknesses of turned and cursed vampires. They are basically trapped
in a life of suffering.
Speaker 7: Damn, that sounds horrible. How do they get.
Speaker 8: Infected by abominations and mutations like the one that attacked you?
That's why we must stop it before it destroys the
lives of any more humans.
Speaker 7: Any more humans? Holy shit? Is that why all those
people have gone missing?
Speaker 8: Yes, mister vauma, and if we do not act quickly,
they will all likely die.
Speaker 2: Black Rod written by Jonathan Hilly, Sound designed by Marshan Brone,
give direction Jacqueline Brown's They Get Out Directors, original compositions
record The Brain The Night They Came by Nick guard Off.
The album featuring Stevie Summers, Nick Haney, Sam Saunders, Jonathan Phoenix,
Corey Bishop, Abigail Helms, Josh slabnek An E. C. Hart.
Please supporting the podcast by going to Patreon dot com.
Ford Slash, The Carolina Storyteller. Hey, folks, it's John. Thanks
for listening to the second episode of Valmont. I hope
that you enjoyed it. While the podcast is always going
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why we have Patreon. You can support the podcast by
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Thank you all for your support, and again you can
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Speaker 1: Thank you,