1
00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:04,480
Speaker 1: The Necromancer of Pricene contains adult content and may not

2
00:00:04,559 --> 00:00:15,640
be suitable for children. Parental guidance is suggested. In the

3
00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:20,320
world of Turinlay rests an enormous island called Pricene. The

4
00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:23,719
nation of Pricene is governed by a king and council,

5
00:00:24,199 --> 00:00:26,920
though the real power rests in the hands of ten

6
00:00:27,039 --> 00:00:32,039
cursed immortals, powerful supernatural figures who serve only their self interests.

7
00:00:32,719 --> 00:00:36,840
The land is plagued with black blooded monsters, corrupt political leaders,

8
00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:40,520
and bloodthirsty bandits, and the one man who is willing

9
00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:42,679
to stand up to them all just so happens to

10
00:00:42,719 --> 00:00:47,399
be an unholy abomination, a summoner of the undead, the

11
00:00:47,439 --> 00:01:20,040
Necromancer of Pricene.

12
00:01:53,159 --> 00:01:57,439
Speaker 2: Welcome back, my fellow scoundrels, outcasts and miscreants. Allow me

13
00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:01,159
to summarize what's happened thus far. I returned to the

14
00:02:01,159 --> 00:02:04,159
town of Willow's Bend after leaving Frank safely behind in

15
00:02:04,159 --> 00:02:07,359
a nearby field. The Festival of the Faded Four was

16
00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:10,560
in full swing by the time I arrived. The heroes

17
00:02:10,599 --> 00:02:13,360
were being celebrated for the victory of the Highway bandits

18
00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:16,240
and their murderous demon, which you and I both know

19
00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:20,080
is complete bullshit, but what are you gonna do? Finch

20
00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:22,080
sought me out and we discussed the watcher who had

21
00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:24,879
come to town, one of the cursed, a man named Wrath.

22
00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:29,080
She also not so subtly implied that she didn't trust

23
00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:33,719
me and would be keeping her eye on me. Fantastic Mike,

24
00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:36,319
the owner of the Rusted Saw, gave a speech in

25
00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:39,280
honor of the Faded four, and then the townsfolk and

26
00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:43,400
the advents got nice and intoxicated. Just as the celebration

27
00:02:43,599 --> 00:02:47,960
was really kicking off, three more of the monstrous bears

28
00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:52,960
attacked the town. The scene was gory and terrifying, and

29
00:02:53,039 --> 00:02:56,759
the advents did little to help. While I would like

30
00:02:56,879 --> 00:02:59,639
to tell you that my necromancy was unleashed into its

31
00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:03,000
full glory and I saved the day, it was actually

32
00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:06,400
Wrath who stepped up. He made quick work of one

33
00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:08,360
of the creatures, and things were beginning to look up.

34
00:03:09,319 --> 00:03:12,960
That is until he threw his sword, which lodged itself

35
00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:18,080
safely through my back. My name is Charts. I have

36
00:03:18,159 --> 00:03:21,039
the ability to reanimate the dead, and I'm on a

37
00:03:21,159 --> 00:03:25,520
quest to kill the most powerful man in pri scene

38
00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:32,759
if I'm still alive. That is chapter six, the word

39
00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:39,439
of wrath serenity. I lay in a small grove just

40
00:03:39,479 --> 00:03:43,400
outside Ecodon, enjoying the melodic chorus of birds and the

41
00:03:43,439 --> 00:03:47,159
warmth of the autumn sun on my face. The wildflowers

42
00:03:47,159 --> 00:03:50,280
had retreated into hiding, leaving the trees to take center

43
00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:54,719
stage and their vibrant display of fiery hues. My head

44
00:03:54,759 --> 00:03:56,759
rested on the book that I'd brought along to read,

45
00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:01,319
some fictitious tale of knights and dragons. I'm sure I

46
00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:05,400
remember this day. How could I forget? It's haunted my

47
00:04:05,479 --> 00:04:09,680
thoughts every day for the past two years. The scent

48
00:04:09,759 --> 00:04:13,439
of approaching rain filled my nostrils, its earthy promise, both

49
00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:18,600
calming and urgent. Rainstorms rarely lingered this high in the mountains,

50
00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:23,399
but I was not dressed for wet weather. Reluctantly, I stood,

51
00:04:23,519 --> 00:04:26,560
brushing the grass from my tunic, collected my book, and

52
00:04:26,639 --> 00:04:30,800
began the short walk home. The world shifted in that

53
00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:35,839
unsettling way only dreams can manage. The vibrant leaves shriveled,

54
00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:40,319
turning to ash. Smoke billowed skyward, blotting out the sun

55
00:04:40,399 --> 00:04:44,600
and choking the birds into silence. My chest grew heaving

56
00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:48,519
with dread and I found myself running toward Ecoden, propelled

57
00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:54,279
not by fear but by a grim, unshakable urgency. No

58
00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:58,079
monsters chased me through the forest, although dreams of that

59
00:04:58,199 --> 00:05:02,040
nature have haunted many of my nights. No, this time

60
00:05:02,439 --> 00:05:05,800
I was the pursuer, chasing what I already knew would

61
00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:10,399
be found. Everything shifted again, as dreams do. The forest blurred,

62
00:05:10,439 --> 00:05:13,399
and I was suddenly at the edge of Ecodon. The

63
00:05:13,519 --> 00:05:17,240
ramshackle wooden gate meant to keep out wandering goats and deer,

64
00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:21,439
hung open. Smoke poured out from behind the walls, curling

65
00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:26,360
into the sky like a malevolent specter searching for escape.

66
00:05:26,519 --> 00:05:29,120
The sun had abandoned us in favor of a looming

67
00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:33,279
darkness that seemed to stretch beyond the heavens. Frank appeared

68
00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:36,199
in the gateway, grinning his best smile, which he referred

69
00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:39,959
to as the Ancient Charmer. His arms extended toward me,

70
00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:43,959
each hand offering a choice, a perfectly cut tiger's eye

71
00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:46,399
gem in his left hand, a seed from the tree

72
00:05:46,439 --> 00:05:50,519
of life in the right. The choice was presented a

73
00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:55,759
gem merchant like my father or a necromancer. But hadn't

74
00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:56,680
I already chosen?

75
00:05:57,560 --> 00:05:57,800
Speaker 3: Or?

76
00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:03,639
Speaker 2: Moreover, hadn't the choice already been made for me? Frank's

77
00:06:03,639 --> 00:06:06,439
eyes locked onto mine, pleading for a decision, and yet

78
00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:10,399
sorrowful that such a choice must be made. I hesitated.

79
00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:15,079
This wasn't how it happened. Frank didn't greet me at

80
00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:18,199
the gate, nor had he offered me the gem or seed.

81
00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:22,639
I shook my head, refusing both the illusion and the decision.

82
00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:26,720
The choice had been made for me long ago, and

83
00:06:26,759 --> 00:06:30,879
I bore no blame for what came after. Frank's smile

84
00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:33,480
faded into a grimace as he dissolved into the nether

85
00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:40,600
scape of the dream world, another figure emerged in its place, Taller, broader, menacing,

86
00:06:42,079 --> 00:06:44,439
They broke through the veil of smoke, wielding a long

87
00:06:44,519 --> 00:06:48,759
black pike tipped with a cruel leaf shaped spearhead and

88
00:06:48,839 --> 00:06:51,720
two jagged hooks along the shaft, one near the head

89
00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:55,839
and one closer to the weapons center. His eyes burned

90
00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:59,759
like smoldering coals, and his teeth gleamed with a predator's

91
00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:04,000
hung As he leveled the weapon toward my chest, icy

92
00:07:04,319 --> 00:07:08,839
terror climbed each vertebra of my spine, paralyzing my body

93
00:07:08,879 --> 00:07:13,120
and silencing the scream trapped behind my lips. The man

94
00:07:13,279 --> 00:07:18,480
was a nightmare incarnate. His grin mocked me, a grotesque

95
00:07:18,639 --> 00:07:25,800
mirror of Frank's ancient charmer. This wasn't real. Ekadin never burned,

96
00:07:25,839 --> 00:07:30,040
and I never faced this nightmare. I pushed through the

97
00:07:30,079 --> 00:07:34,040
fear and straightened my back, standing resolute and challenging the

98
00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:38,439
demon before me. I would not be intimidated. I was unafraid.

99
00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:47,959
I was, and that is when Torch's pike pierced my chest.

100
00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:52,720
The sharp medicinal smell of iodine, mingled with the soft

101
00:07:52,879 --> 00:07:56,759
herbal sweetness of lavender, pulled me from the depths of unconsciousness.

102
00:07:57,759 --> 00:08:00,360
My hands explored my surroundings, and I found my self

103
00:08:00,399 --> 00:08:03,600
tucked into the most comfortable mattress I had ever lain

104
00:08:03,639 --> 00:08:08,040
in the ticking of a clock's pendulum, hammered rhythmically, the

105
00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:13,439
only sound in an otherwise oppressive silence. No bird songs

106
00:08:13,439 --> 00:08:17,920
heralded the day, no insect chirps claimed the night. Only

107
00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:21,639
the mechanical heartbeat of the time piece. As the haze

108
00:08:21,639 --> 00:08:25,199
of sleep lifted, panic took its place. Where was I,

109
00:08:25,439 --> 00:08:28,160
what happened to the monsters, to the town, to Frank?

110
00:08:29,199 --> 00:08:34,759
And where were my clothes? I became acutely aware of

111
00:08:34,799 --> 00:08:38,519
my nakedness save for the bandages tightly wrapped around my chest.

112
00:08:39,279 --> 00:08:43,000
The fabric itched against my skin, adding to the disorientation

113
00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:46,440
of not knowing what the fuck was going on. I

114
00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:48,759
pulled my elbows back to lift myself on the bed,

115
00:08:48,799 --> 00:08:51,919
but the movement sent a searing pain through my shoulder

116
00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:56,080
and back. I yelped an agonizing cry and collapsed back

117
00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:59,840
onto the mattress. Torch had stabbed me with his pike.

118
00:09:00,919 --> 00:09:04,240
Only no, that wasn't right. I was stabbed through the

119
00:09:04,279 --> 00:09:08,039
back by Wrath, not the figure from my nightmare, two

120
00:09:08,039 --> 00:09:14,639
different watchers, two different nightmares. I clinched my eyes, willing

121
00:09:14,639 --> 00:09:20,480
myself to breathe through the pain. Clarity grudgingly resurfaced. I

122
00:09:20,559 --> 00:09:23,159
used my left hand to wipe away the newly formed tears.

123
00:09:23,840 --> 00:09:26,200
The singular source of noise was the first item to

124
00:09:26,279 --> 00:09:29,639
grab my attention. A grand clock towered against the wall,

125
00:09:30,039 --> 00:09:33,840
its wooden frame beautifully crafted. It reminded me of a

126
00:09:33,879 --> 00:09:38,559
piece Frank's father had back and echoed in Homesickness bloomed

127
00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:42,679
in my chest, a painful emotional ache that rivaled my

128
00:09:42,759 --> 00:09:46,799
physical wound. I forced my eyes to continue their inspection.

129
00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:49,559
A cart near the foot of the bed held tools,

130
00:09:49,639 --> 00:09:52,039
many of which I had only ever seen from artist

131
00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:56,360
renderings in medical books. Behind the cart, pressed against the

132
00:09:56,360 --> 00:10:00,279
far wall, was a beautifully crafted bookshelf packed with to homes,

133
00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:04,440
both horizontal and vertical. Dozens of books were stacked on

134
00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:06,919
top of the case, and more still on the floor

135
00:10:06,919 --> 00:10:10,639
in front of it. Bizarre art decorated the walls, and

136
00:10:10,919 --> 00:10:14,639
clothing littered the floor. A desk sat beneath a window,

137
00:10:14,919 --> 00:10:19,519
neat and orderly, contrasting the chaos around it. My gaze

138
00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:22,960
fell on the pile of clothes, my tunic cut into strips,

139
00:10:23,519 --> 00:10:27,759
my blood staining the fabric. My hand instinctively moved to

140
00:10:27,799 --> 00:10:31,919
my chest, tracing the bandages. The pain burned like a

141
00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:36,120
slim fire poker, sliding through my torso and exiting my back.

142
00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:40,039
I gritted my teeth and looked out the window. Beyond

143
00:10:40,039 --> 00:10:43,639
the glass, the tops of limbering pines and quaking aspens

144
00:10:43,679 --> 00:10:46,960
swayed to a light breeze. I was on the outskirts

145
00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:50,240
of Willow's Bend, or perhaps out of the city entirely.

146
00:10:51,279 --> 00:10:56,159
I forced myself upright, curiosity outweighing caution. A book sat

147
00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:59,960
prominently on the desk, A journal perhaps its leather cover

148
00:11:00,279 --> 00:11:03,519
hinting at secrets within. I was just beginning to reach

149
00:11:03,559 --> 00:11:07,600
for it when the door creaked open Raft entered.

150
00:11:09,039 --> 00:11:13,559
Speaker 3: Ah, you're awake. That's wonderful, but I suggest you lay

151
00:11:13,639 --> 00:11:19,039
back down. Any undue stress could reopen your wounds. I

152
00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:22,000
did a fine job stitching you up, but you've lost

153
00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:25,120
quite a bit of blood, and I don't recommend losing

154
00:11:25,159 --> 00:11:26,440
any more if you can help it.

155
00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:28,360
Speaker 2: Where am I?

156
00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:32,559
Speaker 3: You're in my home. I brought you here after the

157
00:11:32,639 --> 00:11:33,799
attack at the festival.

158
00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:37,240
Speaker 2: Are we still in Willows Bend?

159
00:11:38,759 --> 00:11:43,159
Speaker 3: Yes, I have property in the northwest corner of the town.

160
00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:47,600
I enjoy the tranquility of the place, don't you.

161
00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:50,399
Speaker 2: I should go.

162
00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:55,480
Speaker 3: I have to, You have to what You're in no

163
00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:59,360
shape to travel. My things are at the end the

164
00:11:59,559 --> 00:12:04,519
rusted saw. The rusted saw burned to the ground during

165
00:12:04,519 --> 00:12:08,720
the attack, and with it your belongings. The items you

166
00:12:08,799 --> 00:12:10,879
had on you when I brought you here have been

167
00:12:11,159 --> 00:12:13,759
kindly stowed in a small box at the foot of

168
00:12:13,799 --> 00:12:17,799
your bed. Nothing is missing, if that's a concern, All

169
00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:23,519
my things, they are only possessions. You can find more.

170
00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:28,559
The important thing is that you're alive now. I have

171
00:12:28,639 --> 00:12:31,480
some medicine for you. It will help you sleep while

172
00:12:31,519 --> 00:12:33,600
your body recovers from the wounds.

173
00:12:34,639 --> 00:12:35,159
Speaker 2: What is it?

174
00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:40,399
Speaker 3: Why are you a doctor or nurse familiar with the

175
00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:41,240
ways of healing?

176
00:12:42,399 --> 00:12:46,159
Speaker 2: No, but I do like to know what I'm about

177
00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:47,279
to put into my body.

178
00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:52,159
Speaker 3: Well, that's reasonable. The tincture is a mix of rowan

179
00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:57,559
leaf a gave muddled the blackberries, and water. Are you satisfied?

180
00:12:58,559 --> 00:13:01,200
Speaker 2: I guess good.

181
00:13:01,879 --> 00:13:05,480
Speaker 3: Now open up and drink it. You have a long

182
00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:06,960
road to recovery.

183
00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:10,200
Speaker 2: I drank the tincture and slept.

184
00:13:13,639 --> 00:13:21,240
Speaker 1: The necromancer of Pricene will return after these messages. Hey everyone,

185
00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:24,200
If you're enjoying what you're hearing, but would prefer to

186
00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:27,240
continue listening without ads, we have an option for that.

187
00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:30,519
All of our Patreon subscribers get add free listening to

188
00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:33,879
every show in the Creative Typo network. If you're interested

189
00:13:33,919 --> 00:13:37,120
in becoming a patron and supporting the show and the cast,

190
00:13:37,360 --> 00:13:39,879
we invite you to check out our website at www

191
00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:42,840
dot creativetypo dot com and the link to our Patreon

192
00:13:42,919 --> 00:13:45,360
is right there on the front page. All right back

193
00:13:45,399 --> 00:13:51,200
to the show.

194
00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:55,919
Speaker 2: I woke from a dreamless slumber. The weight of the

195
00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:58,960
drug induced unconsciousness still pressing on me like a one

196
00:13:59,039 --> 00:14:03,559
hundred pound blot. My body felt sluggish, the ache in

197
00:14:03,639 --> 00:14:07,279
my right shoulder surfacing like an unwelcome reminder of reality.

198
00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:10,960
I blinked against the haze, purposefully reaching up with my

199
00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:15,480
left hand to rub the sleep from my eyes. Once again,

200
00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:19,960
the window drew my gaze a faint rectangle of impenetrable blackness.

201
00:14:20,879 --> 00:14:23,559
Night had claimed the world outside, and the towering pines

202
00:14:23,639 --> 00:14:27,519
nearby formed an unbroken wall that barred any light from

203
00:14:27,559 --> 00:14:31,480
the moon and stars. Rath sat at his desk, scribbling

204
00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:34,720
something into his journal, his form illuminated by an assortment

205
00:14:34,759 --> 00:14:37,960
of candles and lanterns. The door of the bedroom was

206
00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:41,720
now open, but the space beyond was shrouded in darkness.

207
00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:45,360
This room was the only area Wrath carried to lighten.

208
00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:48,720
I turned my attention to the watcher, taking in his

209
00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:51,879
features to the best of my ability, given the limited

210
00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:55,559
view of my current angle. His hair was a tangle

211
00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:58,919
of black curls, cut short. He had changed out his

212
00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:02,000
red button up for a and his charcoal vest was

213
00:15:02,039 --> 00:15:05,600
neatly folded over the back of his chair. The sound

214
00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:08,639
of his pens scratching against paper echoed in the quiet room,

215
00:15:08,679 --> 00:15:11,840
punctuated by the occasional sip he took from a whiskey glass.

216
00:15:12,639 --> 00:15:16,759
It wasn't until that moment I realized how parched I felt.

217
00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:21,519
My mouth was dry and burning, my lips cracked and swollen.

218
00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:25,759
I felt like a used polish cloth left out in

219
00:15:25,799 --> 00:15:30,360
the sun, stiff and crusty. Almost as if he could

220
00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:33,279
sense my thoughts, Rath's voice broke the silence.

221
00:15:34,399 --> 00:15:37,879
Speaker 3: You must be thirsty. Would you care for a glass

222
00:15:37,879 --> 00:15:38,279
of water?

223
00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:40,720
Speaker 2: Yes? Please?

224
00:15:42,039 --> 00:15:44,600
Speaker 3: Of course. How does your shoulder feel?

225
00:15:45,279 --> 00:15:49,480
Speaker 2: Okay? I think I'm afraid to move it too much.

226
00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:54,639
Speaker 3: Well, that's okay for now. Tomorrow we'll begin working on

227
00:15:54,679 --> 00:15:57,519
some light stretches to ensure future mobility.

228
00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:00,639
Speaker 2: How long have I been here?

229
00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:07,240
Speaker 3: For? Five days? So far? Here, drink this, it's water.

230
00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:08,360
Speaker 2: Thanks.

231
00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:12,519
Speaker 3: The first day was the worst by way of your wound.

232
00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:16,559
After getting you stitched back together, the fever set in.

233
00:16:17,240 --> 00:16:21,600
Speaker 2: I had a fever. Was it an infection of sorts?

234
00:16:22,519 --> 00:16:25,679
Speaker 3: The fever was extreme enough that I felt it appropriate

235
00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:29,600
to keep you in a drug induced slumber. I attempted

236
00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:33,320
to keep you hydrated throughout that time, but you're a

237
00:16:33,559 --> 00:16:39,159
difficult patient. If I'm being honest, I'm sorry. I'll think

238
00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:43,519
nothing of it. In any case, your fever finally broke

239
00:16:43,639 --> 00:16:47,759
late this afternoon. You were medicated one final time just

240
00:16:47,799 --> 00:16:50,919
before dusk, and then I monitored you to see if

241
00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:55,919
your fever would return. Luckily it did not. I re

242
00:16:56,159 --> 00:16:59,840
bandaged your chest about two hours ago, assuming you would

243
00:16:59,840 --> 00:17:03,360
have then, but you must have been exhausted because you

244
00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:05,000
barely fidgeted while I worked.

245
00:17:05,359 --> 00:17:11,000
Speaker 2: I thank you for healing me.

246
00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:15,160
Speaker 3: Well, I'm happy to be of assistance. Well, it only

247
00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:19,319
seems right considering I'm slightly to blame for your wound.

248
00:17:19,799 --> 00:17:21,960
Speaker 2: You threw your sword at me.

249
00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:28,160
Speaker 3: Well, not at you specifically, you happen to place yourself

250
00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:32,279
between me and my target at an unfortunate moment. The

251
00:17:32,359 --> 00:17:35,200
sword pierced your right shoulder blade down to the hilt.

252
00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:39,559
The singed blade exited through your chest and struck the

253
00:17:39,599 --> 00:17:40,839
creature that was holding you.

254
00:17:41,519 --> 00:17:42,640
Speaker 2: Did you kill it?

255
00:17:43,119 --> 00:17:45,920
Speaker 3: Yes, I nearly killed you as well.

256
00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:48,599
Speaker 2: Did the thing bite me?

257
00:17:49,359 --> 00:17:49,559
Speaker 1: No?

258
00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:52,680
Speaker 3: Your only wound of note is from my blade.

259
00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:57,480
Speaker 2: Then I don't understand, with the way the wound looks,

260
00:17:57,559 --> 00:18:01,119
the sword would have missed anything vital. Why did I

261
00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:06,720
get so sick? Why was my fever so bad? Wait?

262
00:18:08,160 --> 00:18:09,839
Is your blade poisoned?

263
00:18:10,519 --> 00:18:14,440
Speaker 3: I thought you said you weren't a doctor. You seem

264
00:18:14,759 --> 00:18:19,480
well educated in the human anatomy for someone unassociated with

265
00:18:19,559 --> 00:18:20,200
the profession.

266
00:18:20,839 --> 00:18:23,480
Speaker 2: I'm not a doctor. I just like to read a

267
00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:31,519
lot about human anatomy, among other topics. Interesting, you're sidestepping

268
00:18:31,559 --> 00:18:34,119
my question. How did I almost die?

269
00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:38,400
Speaker 3: Charts? Do you know who I am?

270
00:18:39,079 --> 00:18:42,559
Speaker 2: You're a Watcher, one of the cursed named Wrath.

271
00:18:43,359 --> 00:18:49,680
Speaker 3: Wrath is my station. My name is Benjamin Wright, and

272
00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:55,000
I am indeed one of the Cursed. Are you feeling

273
00:18:55,039 --> 00:18:57,519
well enough to continue with this conversation?

274
00:18:58,559 --> 00:19:03,720
Speaker 2: I feel fine well despite the shoulder, but I'm not tired,

275
00:19:03,799 --> 00:19:04,680
if that's what you mean.

276
00:19:05,799 --> 00:19:10,279
Speaker 3: Okay, why don't you tell me what you have heard

277
00:19:10,319 --> 00:19:13,920
about the Cursed. We can start there and I'll fill

278
00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:14,640
in the gaps.

279
00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:21,039
Speaker 2: I've heard different stories, many conflicting, but most agree that

280
00:19:21,119 --> 00:19:23,920
the Cursed are one of the three branches of leadership

281
00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:27,240
and the Watchers. They partner with the political and administrative

282
00:19:27,279 --> 00:19:30,680
branches to run the guild. People say that the Cursed

283
00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:34,880
do not participate in standard mercenary work. Some people say

284
00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:38,519
they act as assassins for king and council, but others

285
00:19:38,559 --> 00:19:41,319
say they've been elevated above mercenary work, and instead the

286
00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:44,960
curse pursue their own agendas. How am I doing so far?

287
00:19:45,839 --> 00:19:48,119
Speaker 3: I have no notes? Please continue?

288
00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:52,880
Speaker 2: All right? There are ten cursed in all. Some say

289
00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:55,880
the cursed can't die of old age. They will live

290
00:19:55,920 --> 00:19:59,079
forever as long as no one kills them. Others think

291
00:19:59,079 --> 00:20:01,920
it's a persona handed down from one watcher to another

292
00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:04,039
when the current cursed is ready to retire.

293
00:20:04,799 --> 00:20:09,400
Speaker 3: Both statements are nearly true, while at the same time

294
00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:15,319
comically false. We do not live forever, but the aging

295
00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:20,680
process of a cursed is significantly decelerated because of their

296
00:20:20,759 --> 00:20:25,359
bond to their woe shard. With that said, I do

297
00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:28,599
not know of any curse that has died of old age.

298
00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:32,720
They are either slain in battle or their cursed weapon

299
00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:33,759
takes them.

300
00:20:34,240 --> 00:20:38,480
Speaker 2: It takes them. What does that mean? And what are

301
00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:39,440
woe shards?

302
00:20:40,279 --> 00:20:44,880
Speaker 3: Each of the cursed watchers holds a cursed weapon. We

303
00:20:45,079 --> 00:20:50,680
call them woe shards. Mine is named the Singed Blade.

304
00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:54,160
It holds vast amounts of energy that I can access

305
00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:58,200
at will, but no power is truly given freely.

306
00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:01,880
Speaker 2: Seems unnecessarily cryptic.

307
00:21:02,799 --> 00:21:06,119
Speaker 3: Each time I access the power of the singed blade.

308
00:21:06,759 --> 00:21:10,640
It drains a little more life from me. It is

309
00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:15,759
something we cursed prefer not to discuss. As for your

310
00:21:15,839 --> 00:21:19,920
second point, our stations are not handed down from one

311
00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:24,720
watcher to another. Instead, if one of the cursed falls,

312
00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:28,160
the other watchers will be given the opportunity to take

313
00:21:28,200 --> 00:21:33,440
their place. However, the decision does not belong to the cursed,

314
00:21:34,119 --> 00:21:38,799
It belongs to the Woe Shard. A watcher will attempt

315
00:21:38,799 --> 00:21:42,519
to wield the cursed weapon in question. If they are rejected,

316
00:21:43,160 --> 00:21:45,440
the watcher is eliminated.

317
00:21:45,559 --> 00:21:48,799
Speaker 2: You mean they're killed. Do the cursed kill them or

318
00:21:48,839 --> 00:21:51,000
does the weapon the weapon?

319
00:21:52,160 --> 00:21:55,839
Speaker 3: They are given one day to bond the woe Shard.

320
00:21:56,640 --> 00:21:59,880
If the bond is accepted, they become the next cursed.

321
00:22:00,599 --> 00:22:03,519
If the bond is denied, they are destroyed.

322
00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:06,920
Speaker 2: Why would anyone take that risk?

323
00:22:08,079 --> 00:22:13,160
Speaker 3: Why wouldn't they? Most people believe that they are special

324
00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:18,200
in one way or another. They are young and untouchable

325
00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:25,279
with their peers. They romanticize their future, dreaming fantastical stories

326
00:22:25,359 --> 00:22:28,480
about what their life will be like once they've tamed

327
00:22:28,559 --> 00:22:32,599
the weapon. It isn't until they are standing before the

328
00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:36,759
wo Shard that their fear takes hold, and by then

329
00:22:37,599 --> 00:22:42,680
it is too late. Pride winds over logic and they

330
00:22:42,720 --> 00:22:46,440
take the weapon, giving their lives over to fate.

331
00:22:47,160 --> 00:22:49,359
Speaker 2: How many of them die?

332
00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:54,319
Speaker 3: Frost Reaver is the cursed battle axe that belongs to

333
00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:58,160
the Watcher Dread. It is the most recent of the

334
00:22:58,200 --> 00:23:02,240
ten to be claimed. Over the span of six years,

335
00:23:03,119 --> 00:23:07,680
one hundred and thirty seven watchers attempted to wield the

336
00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:12,200
axe before frost Reaver finally selected the next Dread.

337
00:23:12,799 --> 00:23:16,039
Speaker 2: One hundred thirty seven watchers died.

338
00:23:17,079 --> 00:23:22,480
Speaker 3: Yes, many of them perished within minutes of touching the axe.

339
00:23:22,599 --> 00:23:26,279
The very nature of the weapon is a curse, draining

340
00:23:26,319 --> 00:23:30,400
the life away from any it deems unworthy. Once a

341
00:23:30,480 --> 00:23:34,119
wo shard has bonded its watcher, it will reject any

342
00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:38,880
others that attempt to touch its metal. Additionally, the chosen

343
00:23:38,920 --> 00:23:44,079
wielders are in turn cursed, their soul slowly being drained

344
00:23:44,160 --> 00:23:45,799
in exchange for power.

345
00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:50,640
Speaker 2: Who did Frostreaver choose as the next Dread? What made

346
00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:51,359
them so different?

347
00:23:52,119 --> 00:23:55,759
Speaker 3: Well, I'm sorry, but that is not my story to tell.

348
00:23:57,279 --> 00:24:01,759
What more do you know of the cursed weapons? Uh?

349
00:24:03,319 --> 00:24:08,200
Speaker 2: Not much, just that no two are the same. You're

350
00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:09,640
the only person that carries a sword.

351
00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:14,799
Speaker 3: It's a fashion, but yes, you are correct, no two

352
00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:19,920
are the same, though many have similar attributes. For instance,

353
00:24:20,519 --> 00:24:25,359
all cursed can sense their weapons regardless of distance. If

354
00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:28,079
I were to leave the Singed Blade on a ship

355
00:24:28,160 --> 00:24:31,079
and let it sail across the lane, would see I

356
00:24:31,119 --> 00:24:34,519
would inherently know which direction I'd need to travel in

357
00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:35,400
order to find it.

358
00:24:35,839 --> 00:24:39,559
Speaker 2: That's handy in case anyone ever stole it.

359
00:24:40,839 --> 00:24:43,839
Speaker 3: No sane person would ever attempt to steal one of

360
00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:47,599
the Woe Shards, but I guess you're correct, it would

361
00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:52,640
be handy. Another attribute they all share is that no

362
00:24:53,079 --> 00:24:58,319
mortal human besides another cursed, can survive a blow from

363
00:24:58,359 --> 00:24:59,480
one of the weapons.

364
00:25:00,200 --> 00:25:03,000
Speaker 2: What do you mean your blade ran me through and

365
00:25:03,160 --> 00:25:03,880
I survived.

366
00:25:04,839 --> 00:25:10,039
Speaker 3: Yes, you did, and you shouldn't have. You should have

367
00:25:10,119 --> 00:25:14,279
died immediately. Do you remember when you asked if I'd

368
00:25:14,319 --> 00:25:18,720
poisoned the Singeblade. The answer is no, I did not.

369
00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:22,759
There is no need for me to add poison. It

370
00:25:22,839 --> 00:25:26,759
is deadly on its own accord. But for some reason

371
00:25:27,319 --> 00:25:31,119
it did not kill you. I'm not certain if that's

372
00:25:31,160 --> 00:25:34,799
because the Cingeblade didn't want to kill you, or if

373
00:25:34,839 --> 00:25:39,279
you're somehow resistant to it, But I intend to find

374
00:25:39,279 --> 00:25:44,400
out Now the time for conversation is over. You need

375
00:25:44,440 --> 00:25:48,480
your rest, and I should return to my studies. But

376
00:25:49,319 --> 00:25:51,839
I have more questions and you will have plenty of

377
00:25:51,880 --> 00:25:56,599
time to ask them, but not tonight. Tonight you rest.

378
00:25:57,440 --> 00:26:02,799
Tomorrow the real work begins.

379
00:26:04,119 --> 00:26:09,599
Speaker 1: Charts is voiced by Josh Allen. Benjamin Wright aka Wrath

380
00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:15,000
is voiced by Ray O'Hare. Audio engineering by Adam Culbertson

381
00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:21,160
and Richard Collins, editing by Tisha Zang, Music provided in

382
00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:27,640
part by Elizabeth Blakeley and written by Nico Rodriguez. The

383
00:26:27,680 --> 00:26:31,720
Necromancer of Pricene is a Creative Typo Entertainment production. For

384
00:26:31,759 --> 00:26:35,119
more information about this show, our cast, or other shows

385
00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:38,880
under Creative Typo, please check out our website at www

386
00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:42,000
dot creative typo dot com. And thank you for listening.

387
00:26:43,640 --> 00:26:47,279
A very special thank you to our executive producers from Patreon,

388
00:26:47,960 --> 00:27:07,160
Nick Mead and Patrick t Arsenal