EP. 143 Pilgrims and Poets

[00:00:05] Speaker A: You are listening to an atomic broadcasting production. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the feature presentation. And remember, do your part. Such as, like, comment rate and don't forget to tell a friend to tune in for an atomic time. [00:00:32] Speaker B: Now, where did we leave off? [00:00:35] Speaker C: Ah, yes. [00:00:38] Speaker B: Before returning to rejoin the rest of the party, Val and Uvir decided to visit Troll Forge and seek answers from Pilgrim. [00:00:54] Speaker A: So I have a game that I've been playing. [00:00:58] Speaker D: What? [00:00:59] Speaker C: Yeah, I know. [00:01:01] Speaker D: It's. [00:01:01] Speaker A: It's just come out. You might have heard of it. [00:01:05] Speaker D: Maybe, Maybe, maybe. [00:01:07] Speaker A: It's called Crimson Desert. [00:01:09] Speaker D: Oh, yeah. I. I've been hearing a lot about that. It looks all right. It looks interesting. What is? [00:01:14] Speaker C: What? [00:01:15] Speaker D: I don't even understand. I don't even know what you do. It's like an open world. [00:01:18] Speaker A: It's an open world. Open world rpg. It is. It's huge. [00:01:23] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:01:23] Speaker A: Like, the world is genuinely huge. Like traveling on horseback in game. It takes you a few real world minutes to. To traverse in this world. [00:01:35] Speaker D: Oh, no, no. Like fast travel or anything. [00:01:37] Speaker A: Just that there are. Okay, there's fast travel. [00:01:39] Speaker C: You have to go find them. [00:01:40] Speaker D: Ah. [00:01:41] Speaker C: And unlock them. [00:01:42] Speaker D: Neat. [00:01:43] Speaker A: But I. And I say this as it could be. It has the potential to be the skyrim of this generation of games. [00:01:55] Speaker D: This guy is it. So does it also, like, not function properly? [00:02:02] Speaker A: No, it actually does function. [00:02:05] Speaker D: That's good. [00:02:06] Speaker A: So the thing. There are a couple things and I have one complaint. And honestly, it's a complaint that they're working on. So the controller scheme. It is the first game where I've said that they say specifically, like, best way to play this is with controller. [00:02:21] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:02:21] Speaker A: Usually, like, they don't make that specification. [00:02:24] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:02:26] Speaker A: However, the. The scheme. [00:02:28] Speaker C: The. [00:02:29] Speaker A: The button scheme is. I really just wish they change or I could have the ability to change two buttons. [00:02:34] Speaker D: Do they not have a mapping? You can't remap. [00:02:37] Speaker A: I can't remap the controls. [00:02:39] Speaker D: What a bummer. [00:02:41] Speaker A: I'll get to that. I'll get to that. [00:02:42] Speaker D: They say a game is designed for a controller. Then you should at least allow some rem. [00:02:48] Speaker A: Well, and that's why I said I believe they're working on it. Because my one complaint. I play with an Xbox controller. [00:02:53] Speaker D: Dope. [00:02:55] Speaker A: X is jump. A is sprint. [00:02:59] Speaker D: No, no. [00:03:01] Speaker A: Right. [00:03:01] Speaker D: That's not. Okay. [00:03:02] Speaker A: Right. I know. [00:03:04] Speaker D: The left button cannot be the jump and the bottom be the sprint. It's like B can be sprint. I mean, like, why don't you just push in the joystick to sprint? Because what does that do? What does that do in this game, [00:03:18] Speaker A: it actually has another function. What does it do? It controls like a magic grappler. [00:03:25] Speaker D: Why does that as be your ass? [00:03:26] Speaker A: I don't know, man. Honestly, Like, I can get over the rest of it, but those two X and A need to be squabbed just for. Just for me. [00:03:36] Speaker D: That's all. Yeah, like, what the heck. [00:03:38] Speaker A: I can. I can figure out the rest of the mappings and how to use them, but X and A3 Romy for loop and it still does. [00:03:45] Speaker D: 29 years of my life learning that the jump button is the bottom button. [00:03:50] Speaker E: Yes. [00:03:50] Speaker A: Is a. [00:03:50] Speaker D: To have a suddenly tell me. [00:03:52] Speaker A: No, no, it's. It. Oh, it. [00:03:54] Speaker C: It. [00:03:54] Speaker A: It messes with me. However, never play this game with. With that being said, one of the things that I've really appreciated about Pearl Abyss, who's created Crimson Desert, is that they listen to their player base. So they originally had. And it didn't matter if you had controller or. Or key or keyboard and mouse, you could not change any of your buttons. They had no remapping that. One of the very first patches within the first. I think almost within the first month, if not two months, they're like, hey, we heard you. Here, here, you can remap now with keyboard and mouse. And they. Another big complaint from players at launch, right, Was that there weren't enough fast travel locations. And this is a seriously huge map and there weren't enough fast travel locations. They're like, hey, we heard you. Now there's a bunch more. So they've been actively putting out patches as. As they hear complaints and concerns and stuff and fixing these issues. And they're one of the only games that actually started out with a low player base and have grown to one of the largest player bases from launch. Usually if. If a launch happens and it crashes it, you never recover from it. They have, because they have actively addressed the concerns. Which is why I say, yeah, I know right now I can't remap those two, but I think they're working on it right now, so. [00:05:37] Speaker E: Well, that's good to hear because the only thing I've known about Crimson Desert is Abby and I will often watch like, compilations of game fails. And the only thing we've ever seen of Crimson Desert is like physics going haywire. [00:05:51] Speaker A: I having played it, the physics isn't that bad anymore. [00:05:55] Speaker D: Do you. [00:05:55] Speaker A: So I think they've patched a lot of those issues out. [00:05:58] Speaker D: Get like a roster of characters you [00:06:00] Speaker A: play as you have technically three player or characters that you can play. [00:06:05] Speaker D: Okay. I saw people posting like, I'M playing as so and so this time. And like I'm like. [00:06:11] Speaker A: And you unlock them as you progress the game. I'm playing as the main character. [00:06:16] Speaker D: Okay. [00:06:18] Speaker A: And yeah. And there's pros and cons to that. It doesn't bother me. [00:06:23] Speaker D: It looks really. [00:06:24] Speaker C: It is a gorgeous game. [00:06:26] Speaker D: My main thing is it's open world and I struggle to play open world games. So I don't know if I'll play but I see a lot of people playing it. I see it all over the Internet. It looks fun, it looks popular. [00:06:38] Speaker A: I mean so this is where I. I expose a little bit of how I play games and I. I have no problem with this because if you're playing a game, you're playing it to enjoy and enjoy yourself for sure. How that. [00:06:53] Speaker D: Or to crush your competition or. [00:06:55] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:06:55] Speaker D: Well, how much better you are than [00:06:57] Speaker A: other people surely single player. So the only competition is against myself. [00:07:02] Speaker D: I love the. [00:07:04] Speaker A: You have minions that you can fight different difficulties depending on area. The bosses have been described as Elden Ring esque and they are difficult. Now, unlike Elden Ring and Dark Souls, you actually have difficulty levels that you can choose. [00:07:21] Speaker C: You can do easy, medium, hard. [00:07:24] Speaker A: I've been playing a medium because I don't want to kill myself. And also I'd like a little bit of a challenge. I also look up and this is. This is where everybody might boo me. I look up where locations and stuff and have a map of where everything is and even some puzzles because that's not my thing. If it's your thing, it exists in the world. [00:07:46] Speaker D: That's totally cool. [00:07:48] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:07:48] Speaker D: The Dark Souls franchise part of when they created the first Dark Souls game, they specifically were like Internet forums exist now we want people to use them. So they made. Part of why everything's so confusing in those games is because they want you to get in the community and learn from other people about where things are hidden and what things are. Yeah, like that's what I do. Elden Ring, when I was playing that for a little bit, I just look stuff up. [00:08:13] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:08:13] Speaker D: Where do I worsen here? Where do we these things located? And I'll just go do that because like I don't want to spend all that time walking to a corner and then being like, there's nothing here, there's nothing. Okay, cool. [00:08:24] Speaker A: And. And for me. And for me that's kind of. That's really what it is is like, yeah, there's a bunch of puzzles. If you love puzzles, this game has puzzles galore and enjoy yourself. I by all means I. When I'm playing the game, usually it's at the end of a long day and I don't want to think. I want to. I want to explore, enjoy the music, enjoy the scenery because it is a gorgeous game. [00:08:51] Speaker D: It does look nice. [00:08:52] Speaker A: And, and you know, fight my minions, fight my bosses, go and perform tasks, get more powerful, get more armor, upgrade my armor, stuff like that. You know, anything you really want to do. They have everything. An investment system where you can invest your money and choose if you want high risk, medium risk, or low risk investments at the bank. [00:09:14] Speaker D: That adds on to a thought I had earlier. Where I want to. Seeing how it plays, it looks like almost like a single player mmo. Like, it's like the vibe it gives. It has like investment that gives me even more of that kind of vibe. [00:09:27] Speaker A: Pearl Abyss made Black Desert. [00:09:29] Speaker D: Yeah. Which is an mmo. [00:09:30] Speaker A: Which is an mmo. [00:09:31] Speaker D: I have played that a little bit and I didn't like it. [00:09:35] Speaker A: Crimson Desert is the first time where I've seen a game promise the fact that you could do just almost anything you want to do. And they have gotten the closest to truly fulfilling that. And they keep getting better with each patch and with each listening to their player base. [00:09:54] Speaker D: Real big question, very important. Is there romance? [00:09:58] Speaker A: I have no idea. I. I haven't gotten to that. You can get pets, though. You can pick up cats and pet them. You can pick up dogs and I don't know if you can pick up dogs, but you can pet dogs and get pet dogs. [00:10:08] Speaker D: Amazing. That's pretty cool. I heard stuff about pets. You can get really random pets. [00:10:11] Speaker A: Yeah, you can get. You can get lots of pets. [00:10:14] Speaker D: Like, feel like someone said something about a cow once. I don't know how. [00:10:19] Speaker A: It wouldn't surprise me. I haven't gotten. I haven't gotten to the point where I start looking for pets. However, I can say that my wife wants to play Crimson Desert just because [00:10:29] Speaker C: she can get a bunch of pets and cats and dress them up. [00:10:34] Speaker D: You know what they're doing. [00:10:35] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Whoever. Whoever made this game. The people that made this game are animal people. Because your pets can't die and you can't hurt them. And Abby will like that. [00:10:48] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:10:48] Speaker A: And there were foodies because you can create different meals and stuff. [00:10:53] Speaker C: And it looks. [00:10:54] Speaker A: It makes me hungry when I play. [00:10:58] Speaker D: Interesting. [00:10:59] Speaker A: Yeah. Anyway, other than that, all. All that to say is that I. I think it's a great game. It's not. It wasn't. It's not usually a genre that I go for, but I have been enjoying myself. I find it relaxing. I think it's a game that you can play however you wish to and get some enjoy enjoyment out of it. So I would recommend maybe trying it out or you know, waiting a little bit and and it. And do a little bit of research and if it's something you like, have fun. [00:11:31] Speaker E: And if you the audience, if any of you are playing Crimson Denser, jump in the Discord and let us know what your thoughts are. [00:11:37] Speaker A: Oh yeah, I'd love to talk to you guys. [00:11:39] Speaker D: Is there any level of co op or multiplayer in any way? [00:11:43] Speaker C: Not that I'm aware. [00:11:44] Speaker D: 100 single player. Okay, cool. I wasn't sure. Yeah, I like hanging out with friends. [00:11:50] Speaker A: I do too. I like having games that do both. Games that I can just play by [00:11:54] Speaker C: myself or games that I can play with friends. [00:11:57] Speaker E: Yeah, so that is a great example. Crimson Desert is a great example of a game that you can only play by yourself. You know, it's a great example of a game you can only play with your friends. [00:12:06] Speaker D: So I've also been playing. [00:12:08] Speaker A: Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Hell Divers two. [00:12:11] Speaker B: No, sorry. [00:12:13] Speaker D: Dead by Daylight. [00:12:15] Speaker E: Pathfinder. [00:12:17] Speaker A: Oh, Pathfinder. Who plays that? [00:12:19] Speaker D: Is that. It's like an mmo? [00:12:21] Speaker E: There's this like indie group called Atomic Broadcasting and they've got this neat show called the Written and Lost. You should check it out. [00:12:26] Speaker D: They're the only people that play Pathfinder online. [00:12:28] Speaker E: No, the only people. We begin with a familiar view of the mountainside just outside of Trollforge. The doors are once again repaired from the attack from the rock last time our party was there. And then suddenly blip into existence. U and Val standing right outside the doors, directly on target. [00:12:56] Speaker C: Nailed it. [00:13:00] Speaker A: U releases Val's arm from when they teleported. [00:13:06] Speaker C: But he doesn't take a step forward yet. [00:13:11] Speaker A: In fact, it seems as if he's listening to hear if there is any [00:13:17] Speaker C: hammer falls or anything around. [00:13:22] Speaker E: It's quiet at first, but then you do hear noises from inside the Forge. And an occasional like sounds like Pilgrim's probably inside, maybe not currently hammering something out. But he's there. [00:13:41] Speaker A: Val, you see Uvair take out a [00:13:43] Speaker C: scroll and on it. [00:13:46] Speaker A: Or you can recognize it as a scroll that he bought while they were in Tar Kazmuk, called Time Pocket. And in his other hand you see a flare that Geordi will remember as being given to him by Itis. [00:14:10] Speaker D: Geordi doesn't look like he remembers. [00:14:12] Speaker E: Oh, that flare. [00:14:13] Speaker A: Yeah, that flare. [00:14:14] Speaker B: Yes. [00:14:15] Speaker D: Imagine like a flare you just light. [00:14:18] Speaker C: Yes. [00:14:19] Speaker A: As he activates the spell and it flare disappears from his hand. [00:14:28] Speaker D: Ooh. Interesting. What was that? What was that there? Something I need to know. [00:14:41] Speaker C: A precaution. [00:14:44] Speaker D: Right. [00:14:44] Speaker C: Okay. Well, I will not force you, but I do wish that you would at least not take part in what is to come. Not necessarily for my sake, but also for Pilgrim's. I will not say stay out here and wait, but I must request that I meet with Pilgrim, at least alone. Where you are is up to you. She [00:15:22] Speaker D: put your arm, her hand on your shoulder. I'll stay close, but I'll give you space. [00:15:31] Speaker A: He pats your hand. [00:15:33] Speaker C: Thank you, Val. [00:15:35] Speaker D: I'll be ready in case something happens. [00:15:39] Speaker C: And hopefully, you will not need to do anything. As he walks to the doors and pulls them open. [00:15:52] Speaker A: But I imagine they don't actually creak or groan. [00:15:55] Speaker E: Nope. They swing silently and easily. [00:15:58] Speaker C: Mm. How'd I know at that? [00:16:05] Speaker A: Val, you might remember that they didn't always do that. [00:16:10] Speaker D: I don't believe they've been broken most of the time I've been here. [00:16:16] Speaker C: And you might know that it is [00:16:18] Speaker A: very difficult to do [00:16:21] Speaker C: and in fact, [00:16:23] Speaker A: would require a high level of mastery [00:16:25] Speaker C: to create doors such as that. [00:16:27] Speaker D: Especially that big. [00:16:29] Speaker A: Something that you would have only seen recently in Tarkasmuk. [00:16:34] Speaker E: Val, what is your crafting training? [00:16:37] Speaker D: I'm trained. [00:16:38] Speaker A: Okay. [00:16:40] Speaker E: So, Uwe, then you would probably recognize upon opening these doors that this level of craftsmanship probably exceeds that even of the doors in Tarkasmuk. [00:16:52] Speaker D: Crazy. [00:16:54] Speaker A: And without looking back, he slowly makes [00:16:58] Speaker C: his way into the forge. [00:17:03] Speaker A: And the forge itself is actually for the audience's sake. Further into into the mountains side, there's [00:17:11] Speaker E: a little bit of an atrium, and then it turns to the right, and then there's a hallway that leads you to the forge proper. [00:17:20] Speaker A: U walks into the atrium. And there, I imagine, he now hears the steady pounding of a hammer. [00:17:30] Speaker E: Still no steady pounding. You. You hear somebody at work in the forge, but it doesn't sound like they're hammering anything out right now. Sounds like maybe shifting equipment or something. [00:17:43] Speaker A: At the entrance of the hallway, over [00:17:46] Speaker C: pauses for a moment, and then, with an intake of breath, he pounds his [00:17:53] Speaker A: staff into the ground. [00:17:55] Speaker C: And once again, you hear this resounding. [00:18:02] Speaker A: Through the hallway. [00:18:04] Speaker E: When you do, you hear like a clattering from inside the forge, like someone dropped something. [00:18:10] Speaker A: Oh. [00:18:11] Speaker B: Oh, my. There's someone here. [00:18:18] Speaker A: And without answering, Uwe starts walking forward. [00:18:23] Speaker C: It is me, Pilgrim. [00:18:25] Speaker A: With another boom. As now he's using it as a walking stick. [00:18:32] Speaker C: I have come to speak with you again. [00:18:36] Speaker A: Boom. [00:18:37] Speaker E: Uwe, as you finish walking down the hall and Round around the corner, you see a creature in the forge. Does not appear to be a troll. Instead, it's a sort of a large, hunched creature that has a long, like, furry tail and a snout, like face. And you're immediately reminded of the strange statue that you and your companions found in the bean room at the beginning of your adventure. [00:19:11] Speaker D: Oh, my gosh. It finally comes back around. [00:19:15] Speaker A: That was a circle back. [00:19:16] Speaker D: That was a vat here. That's. [00:19:21] Speaker A: Maybe we didn't know what that was. [00:19:23] Speaker D: That's dope. [00:19:27] Speaker E: And he. This creature looks towards you, sees you entering the room, and immediately, like, tries to cover his face. [00:19:35] Speaker B: I'm sorry. I wasn't expecting visitors. [00:19:43] Speaker C: Hello, pilgrim. [00:19:47] Speaker B: Hello. Uh, [00:19:56] Speaker C: I see you have grown more in your craftsmanship. [00:20:01] Speaker B: Yes, I've been. I've been busy. [00:20:06] Speaker C: I could tell by the doors. I can honestly say I don't know I've ever seen their like. And I recently came from my home, Tar Kasmu. [00:20:19] Speaker B: Well, thank you. [00:20:21] Speaker E: And he starts, like, bending down to pick up the tools and things he dropped earlier. [00:20:27] Speaker B: I don't suppose you came all this way to compliment the duels. [00:20:32] Speaker C: No, pilgrim, I have not. [00:20:37] Speaker B: Oh, dear. [00:20:40] Speaker C: I have come to. To ask questions that perhaps only one of the Vaatiyar could answer. [00:20:48] Speaker B: He drops all the stuff again. [00:20:51] Speaker D: The. [00:20:53] Speaker B: Where did you hear that word? [00:20:57] Speaker C: I learned it recently, pilgrim, along with a bit about what I am or more, what is on me. [00:21:14] Speaker B: Uwe, I'm. I'm so sorry. He had no way of knowing. [00:21:22] Speaker C: He had no way of knowing. Knowing what, pilgrim? What did the poet not know? [00:21:34] Speaker B: Hey, it's complicated. He. He didn't know how it would affect you. He didn't mean. He didn't mean to harm anyone. He didn't mean to have any of this happen. [00:21:56] Speaker C: I'm not going to pretend that I understand proper, Pilgrim, but I will say this for your sake and mine. I have not lived what I remember of my 300 years without understanding that in every story there can be two sides. I have heard one. I'm sure you can imagine that it was not good. [00:22:25] Speaker B: No, we're not very popular these days. [00:22:30] Speaker C: Then perhaps you can teach me what the other side of the story is. [00:22:41] Speaker E: He sets his hammer down on the anvil and turns his back on you and just kind of like stands up back straight for a moment. And he's such a, like, lanky figure and is normally hunched that when he stands up straight, it's just a massive difference. And I was like, looming at like, 12ft tall. [00:23:02] Speaker B: And he says, I swore an oath not to get involved in the. In fact, in the affairs of mortals ever again. And if I were to answer any of your questions that might conflict with the terms of the Concord. I can't tell you where the poet is or where you might find him. Even if you were to ask me. I couldn't tell you. Couldn't mark it on a map for you. I couldn't tell you he's not far from here. Couldn't tell you that at all. [00:23:43] Speaker C: And I couldn't tell you that I am truly mortal. You anymore. [00:23:49] Speaker E: He like quirks his head and looks back at you. [00:23:55] Speaker B: No, I suppose. I suppose you're not, are you? If you were truly mortal, you would be dead by now, wouldn't you? [00:24:06] Speaker C: From what I understand. Perhaps dead multiple times over. But I can't truly tell you that, can I? [00:24:21] Speaker D: What? [00:24:26] Speaker B: Long ago, Hoover, my people lived in peace in the first world. We were pre eminent craftsmen. Each of us. Each of us plied a trade. And I don't suppose it would be too arrogant of me to say we invented trades. The trades exist because we are what we are. I suppose it's time to tell you that Pilgrim is not my real name. Truly. I might be better known as the Smith. For that is what I am, is the Smith. I've spent countless lifetimes honing my craft. Even before this material plane existed, I knew more about smithing than your mortal dwarven smiths will ever understand. And even now I struggle to find new challenges to expand my knowledge. There were many of us. Well, still are, I suspect. But many of us each for our own trade. The smith, the sculptor, the painter. But none of us were really quite like the poet. You see, when a smith takes metal, he crafts it and makes something that is into something that it wasn't. When the painter creates the illusion of life, it doesn't change the world that it's in. It just creates a new world. World. You look at a painting and you see beyond it to what could be. You look at a sculpture and you see what could be in this world. And the poet was different when he said something. It's almost as if the world itself agreed with him. After a few centuries, I forget when exactly after we'd come to the material world, the poet began writing. He took to writing down his poems. And typically he only shared them with us, with the other. Vaatir. I think that's why it took so long to realize the power he held. Because we were. I don't know, we were enough that we could hear his craft and appreciate it. Unlike this world, that it couldn't really appreciate the art. It just became the art. So he took to writing. As we'd spread out, it was hard to find Vaatia to share his work with. And, well, some of those writings made their way into the wrong hands. And judging from you, I suspect you found one of his poems. [00:27:54] Speaker C: The book and the library. The one memory that I feel almost most sure of. But why do I feel most sure of that? [00:28:08] Speaker B: I suppose that moment sticks in your mind as being the last time your fate was its own. Untethered to the poem that he wrote. But [00:28:27] Speaker C: where did it go? Where did. It was gone whenever I read it. Whenever. [00:28:35] Speaker A: After. [00:28:37] Speaker C: After the runes. [00:28:41] Speaker A: And he looks down at his arm. [00:28:45] Speaker B: The runes [00:28:49] Speaker C: appeared after the book was gone. [00:28:58] Speaker B: Uwe, like I told you before, [00:29:03] Speaker D: the [00:29:03] Speaker B: poet's works were so persuasive that reality itself bent to conform to the tale. Apparently, the poem that you attempted to read. Well, you were already similar enough that reality decided that you were the fulfillment of that story. Story? [00:29:29] Speaker C: A teacher I taught at Tarakazmuk. [00:29:36] Speaker B: Yes. [00:29:38] Speaker C: And the others. [00:29:41] Speaker A: And he gestures to his other arm. [00:29:44] Speaker C: And all the else. [00:29:46] Speaker A: All the other runes there. [00:29:49] Speaker C: I imagine these are other aspects of my life. [00:29:57] Speaker B: Most of these runes on you u detail all of the ups and downs, the. The triumphs and tragedies of your life. But there is precious little left of this poem that you have not yet fulfilled. And since reality believes that to be the case, that you will do what this poem says you will do. I don't know how better to put this than to say you will keep going on until you complete the poem. [00:30:45] Speaker C: But what of my memories that I have lost? The life that I have led that others remember that I do not? [00:30:59] Speaker B: I don't understand. You've got memories you've lost? [00:31:05] Speaker C: Yes. When I have traveled in this realm, that there are people that I have met that remember me, that I have no memory as of. There are things that I have done that. [00:31:23] Speaker A: And with a tap, a book appears in his hand. [00:31:28] Speaker C: Things that I have written that I have no memories of. [00:31:32] Speaker A: And he hands the book to Pilgrim. [00:31:34] Speaker E: He takes the book from you, flips through it, looks it over, looks back at you. [00:31:42] Speaker B: I don't. I don't see this happening. [00:31:51] Speaker C: And yet it has. That was given to me, Pilgrim. I did not find it. I have met people that have known me for many, many years. There are adventuring parties that I have been with that know my name that I have no memory of. There are pieces that are missing in [00:32:15] Speaker B: this story that's that's not right, though. You. [00:32:19] Speaker C: You. [00:32:20] Speaker B: It's. It should only be interfering with the parts of the story that it talks about. And it doesn't talk about what books you've written. It shouldn't be erasing books. It shouldn't be erasing people that you know. [00:32:37] Speaker C: And yet somehow it is. In fact, it is. If that. Those that interact with me are affected by whatever this is. [00:32:49] Speaker B: In what way? [00:32:52] Speaker C: There is a family, a noble family that no longer exists. [00:33:01] Speaker B: Erasing entire family lines. That. That shouldn't be possible. Unless. Unless he's violated the Concord himself. Unless he's writing again. [00:33:21] Speaker C: That, pilgrim, I think, is close to the truth. For the ones that told me the other side of the story have said that the poet has been altering the natural way of things. [00:33:42] Speaker B: He had. [00:33:42] Speaker E: He had. [00:33:43] Speaker B: He used to. But he stopped. He stopped with the Concord. That's why we have the Concord. You don't realize. [00:33:53] Speaker C: No, pilgrim, I'm not saying that. I have been told that I have met him on more than one occasion. [00:34:02] Speaker B: You've met him? [00:34:03] Speaker C: I don't remember it. [00:34:07] Speaker B: Uwe, the poet died. Over a hundred years ago. [00:34:23] Speaker C: But what, did he have a hard time following them? Did he agree with the Concord? [00:34:31] Speaker B: It was his idea. He made us all swear to it after his final error. [00:34:42] Speaker C: And what was his final error, pilgrim? Or shall I use your real name? [00:34:49] Speaker B: Yes, you can call me by my real name. His final error was the first time he had intentionally altered someone's fate. He thought that perhaps by using his powers to change reality, that he could create someone capable of destroying Fafnir. It didn't work the way he thought it would. Something went terribly wrong. And. Well, just as you're going on and on until your poem is complete, for some reason, this. This King Aid. He just went on and on, even after Fafnir was killed. And I. I don't know why. [00:35:42] Speaker C: Because Fafnir never died. [00:35:46] Speaker B: What? [00:35:48] Speaker C: Unless what I saw level half of Joel was an illusion. Or perhaps the corpse of Ered as we slew him was also an illusion. It was Ered that looked me in the eye before he died and said you, too, fell for his machinations. [00:36:17] Speaker B: I could only assume that he was referring to the runes. [00:36:20] Speaker C: Yes. And at the time, I thought he was referring to Fafnir. That somehow Ered had kept him trapped. [00:36:32] Speaker B: I can't pretend to understand this, but [00:36:36] Speaker C: how did the poet die? Smith, [00:36:44] Speaker B: I think that's a story that you should ask the poet. [00:36:58] Speaker C: Ask one who can rewrite reality how they died. [00:37:04] Speaker B: Oh, I'm sorry. I Was being very unclear. He's back. [00:37:17] Speaker C: Okay. He died and came back. As did perhaps Fafnir. [00:37:25] Speaker E: His entire face falls [00:37:31] Speaker D: time. Like Val says that, like out loud. From up. She's like up at the top of the doorway, hanging from the ceiling. [00:37:41] Speaker B: The smith. [00:37:42] Speaker C: Smith. [00:37:42] Speaker E: If he heard you, there's no indication. He seems to be lost in whatever realization he just had. [00:37:50] Speaker B: I sincerely hope that I am wrong. But if I am right, it may be impossible to truly kill Fafnir. [00:38:06] Speaker C: And why would you make have such a thought? [00:38:12] Speaker B: You're going to have to ask the poet. I've already told you too much. It's he who made our concord. And it's he who can break it. He can tell you our true history. He who can tell you your end. [00:38:35] Speaker C: Some things, Smith, are best left unknown. I do not wish to know how I end. But I do wish to know how to have an end. And I wish to know how to prevent others from ending. Fafnir must be stopped. The poet may need to be stopped. For how can one that has died and come back not break what is natural in this realm? [00:39:21] Speaker B: Uwe, we aren't natural in this realm. We don't belong here. We belong in the first world. And your world doesn't. Doesn't know how to handle that. [00:39:36] Speaker C: Then why, my friend, are you here? [00:39:41] Speaker B: In short, we were banished. But more than that. I know you'll have to speak with a poet. [00:39:53] Speaker A: Uvert sinks into deep thought for a good few moments. [00:40:02] Speaker C: I have heard your side of the story, Smith. And while I do not know what I feel about Sippoet or about what you have told me. Me, I choose to trust you, my friend. And then I have one final question. Two, really, but one that will supersede the other. [00:40:32] Speaker E: He nods encouragingly. [00:40:35] Speaker C: Can you give me a reason why when I go meet the poet, I cannot use this? I should not use this. [00:40:46] Speaker A: As he opens his hand and suddenly the flare appears. [00:40:53] Speaker B: Who? Who is that meant to draw the attention of? [00:41:00] Speaker C: I do not know their names, their true names. Only that they are acquainted with the oldest one in the Grungjir forest. That one helped me when I was injured there, Helped us right before Ered in our fight with him. And told me the second part of this story. That the poet was messing with the natural realm. That he had been manipulating my life. And that is why I am missing parts of my memories. That my story has been overwritten or rewritten. That he must be eliminated and killed. And the sisters would help. [00:41:59] Speaker B: I can't say sure who these people are, but they sound like someone who does not really know what happened. And they think that somehow by killing the poet, it will make things right. Or at least stop things from getting worse. But unless I'm very much mistaken, he just needs to be left alone. [00:42:28] Speaker C: Who are the Vaatir's enemies, pilgrim, that banished you from the first Realm? [00:42:37] Speaker A: And did they banish you because you [00:42:41] Speaker C: were instruments of change? [00:42:45] Speaker B: No, they. They banished us for a good reason. [00:42:51] Speaker E: It. [00:42:52] Speaker B: It was the eldest, the. Well, shall we say the gods of the first world. And it was the poet. And it was his crime. But I do not think that I should speak to you directly. He has done his penance. If he chooses to share with you. That is his choice. [00:43:17] Speaker C: A fair answer then. My second question. Can you tell me where I can find the Poet? [00:43:32] Speaker B: He winces like it's physically painful for him. I really, really shouldn't. But I understand that as much as we've already meddled with your fate, telling you where to find him and where to talk to him, can't do too much more harm. There's a structure not far from here called the Drillstones. They're impossible to miss. They stand out as 60 foot spires from the earth. Near the base of those is an entrance to a secluded vault. Unless he's moved in the last 60 years, that's where you'll find him. [00:44:26] Speaker C: Thank you for your honesty and your friendship. [00:44:35] Speaker B: Of course, if you do go over, be sure to bring your friends. I've helped the poet to secure the place against intruders. It will be difficult to get through. [00:44:51] Speaker C: I don't suppose you have a map or anything, saying what you did? He says with a half smile. [00:45:01] Speaker B: No. That my friend would be going too far into meddling. It would be difficult to predict what effects that would have. [00:45:16] Speaker C: That I understand about your oath, pilgrim. And about you. Bringing you mentioning my friends. There is one here, if you have not already understood and your oath is still fulfilled. Come, Val. I know you are there. [00:45:44] Speaker D: From the top of the doorway. Val starts like walking down like she's going downstairs, but it's just all air. [00:45:53] Speaker C: I believe you have already met before. But let me introduce to you a future usher of Pharasma. One who is immortal. [00:46:08] Speaker B: Well, that definitely qualifies as not breaking my oath. How'd you do? [00:46:15] Speaker D: Hi. [00:46:16] Speaker C: I'm the one who can be trusted. [00:46:19] Speaker D: Yes, we may not have a map, but we do have the gods on our side here. And they'll guide us correctly. [00:46:28] Speaker C: But there is one thing you need to understand. Well, not everything that you have heard today Must leave. Can leave. We cannot tell our friends everything. Not just for our sake, but also for our friend the Pilgrim, as he must remain. [00:46:54] Speaker D: I'll ask you more specifics later. [00:47:02] Speaker C: Thank you. Again, my friend. I do not know if we will meet again. I do hope that we will. I do not know if you are able to stay much longer, given your current form. [00:47:22] Speaker E: He glances up towards the wall and [00:47:25] Speaker B: he's like, I can shroud myself if needed. [00:47:31] Speaker C: I know the others would like to visit you as well. [00:47:35] Speaker B: I may have to make another pilgrimage and return once you've all passed on and forgotten my legacy. But it was nice to be back in the old forge again. [00:47:52] Speaker C: There's a little bit of you that will continue, my friend. [00:47:56] Speaker A: And Uver once again taps the ground with his staff. [00:48:03] Speaker E: Pilgrim kind of nods a little bit to himself and sighs. [00:48:07] Speaker B: That's what I'm afraid of. [00:48:10] Speaker C: As long it is with me. I do not think it will break your oath. [00:48:17] Speaker B: I can only hope. [00:48:19] Speaker D: Val looks down at her arm, like. Thinking like, what does that mean? [00:48:24] Speaker C: Both things that you have made will not break out oath. [00:48:29] Speaker B: I tried. I really tried to only do what your human smiths and your human craftsmen could do. But I truly and sincerely apologize if somehow this ends up ruining everything. [00:48:49] Speaker C: Far from it, my friend. In fact, if. If you cannot already tell, which I'm sure you can. There's one very enthusiastic smith that would wish to meet you. He will not. [00:49:06] Speaker B: As it must be. [00:49:08] Speaker D: I think Val's gonna walk up the Pilgrim for just a second and kind of like, touch his hand. You have great gifts, and these gifts should be used for good. And even if there's been times where you feel like your gifts have not been done, so there's always opportunities for redemption. You're not trapped by your past, [00:49:45] Speaker B: Val. I appreciate your wisdom, and there is much truth to it. But one thing that I've learned over my many years is that the same hammer that can shape and mould metal can destroy if applied in the wrong ways at the wrong times. Maybe someday we. We Valtir will interfere with mortal life once again. But not now. The wound is still too fresh. [00:50:23] Speaker C: For now, be an inspiration, as you have been already to that smith in Tarkasmuk. It does not harm to inspire others to be better. And when you make your pilgrimage and they come here and they see the remnants of what you have done, it will not be evil to inspire wonder in the eyes that see it. Not all forms of, as you would say, meddling are bad. Your very presence cannot be masked. But it must not necessarily be evil. Now, I believe our time here is at an end. And it is time, I think, that you and I reconnect with our friends. For if what you say is true, Smith, then to defeat Fafnir, we must first speak to the poet. [00:51:43] Speaker B: I'm afraid that will be necessary. When you do see him, Just tell him. Tell him I forgive him. I don't know if the others do, but I have. [00:52:04] Speaker C: I will, my friend. I will. And Uver walks up and [00:52:17] Speaker A: places a [00:52:18] Speaker C: hand on his arm. It was an honor having you as a friend, Pilgrim. For though that is not your true name, it is the name that I will remember you as kind, gentle, a mystery, a friend. And though I may never see you in this lifetime, that I will keep with me for as long as I am here and beyond. [00:53:05] Speaker B: And in a way, you and your friends, even those of your friends who are still truly mortal, have a sense of immortality. Because I will never forget you or them. [00:53:20] Speaker C: Farewell. Calm down. We return to Joel. [00:53:30] Speaker D: All right. Sounds good. [00:53:36] Speaker A: And with that, Uvert will walk to [00:53:40] Speaker C: the door [00:53:43] Speaker A: and turning one last time, [00:53:47] Speaker C: raise a hand of farewell to Pilgrim before completely exiting the mountain and out [00:53:53] Speaker A: the doors, closing them quietly behind him, [00:54:01] Speaker C: And then turning the vowel. Now, you see what I said about being careful what you hear or why I wished you to be careful about what you heard. And I say this not in blame, but in that not everything that is known must be spread, even to those that we hold dear. The true nature of Pilgrim cannot be known to our friends. You heard. [00:54:40] Speaker A: Why [00:54:43] Speaker D: can understand some of that? Yeah. But there's a lot of information that seems like it affects others directly. [00:54:55] Speaker C: And that is what we will address. When I speak to our friends about what we are going to do, what we must do, I will tell them only so much so that they do not go into it unprepared. And what they learn when we get there, that is not something I will control. If they learn the truth about everything, should he tell us or not tell us, then so be it. But the secrets that I have been told today by the words of the smith, I will not spread. And I ask that you not as well. I imagine in your new profession as usher, you will learn many such secrets and have much knowledge that must never be known by the mortal world. Consider it a test. [00:55:59] Speaker A: And as he's been talking, he's actually [00:56:02] Speaker C: been casting the teleportation ritual. [00:56:08] Speaker A: And when he finishes his speech, he reaches out and touches your arm. [00:56:15] Speaker D: As you like, reach out to touch her arm. She steps back a Second, and she's like, I make no promises for deceit or lies. I know what you say, and there will be many things I learn. Yes. [00:56:37] Speaker C: I ask not for your deceit, Val. Nor do I ask for you to practice deception. I simply ask for discretion. [00:56:50] Speaker D: Truth can't be controlled, my people. [00:56:53] Speaker C: Truth is controlled by those who carry it. And truth can be just as harmful as it is helpful. For would it not be truthful to speak of where you are to those that search for you? [00:57:16] Speaker D: Yes. [00:57:18] Speaker C: But should that truth be spread? I see. [00:57:25] Speaker D: And how much harm is being done because of that truth being hidden? [00:57:31] Speaker C: Or how much harm is being prevented by some truths being held only by those who need to know them? As I said, I do not ask for your deception. I simply ask for discretion. For truth can harm far greater in many cases than it can help. But knowledge brings choice, or knowledge can take away choice. [00:58:00] Speaker D: I'll make no oaths today. [00:58:03] Speaker C: That is all that I ask. Now come. It is time we returned. Annie reaches for your arm again. [00:58:12] Speaker D: She'll hesitantly take it. [00:58:16] Speaker C: I do not take your choice away from you, Val. And I will not. And with that, he completes the incantation, and whoop. [00:58:27] Speaker A: We're back in, Joel. [00:58:30] Speaker E: And that is where we'll end this episode. [00:58:37] Speaker A: All right. [00:58:37] Speaker E: And the hero point for this episode goes to Sven, who did, like, 80% of the talking. [00:58:45] Speaker D: Thanks. [00:58:48] Speaker E: It's a consolation prize for how many [00:58:50] Speaker B: times I told you. [00:58:51] Speaker E: I won't tell you the answer to that. [00:58:53] Speaker A: Yeah, I'll take it. Oh, boy. That was an info dump. Oh, all right. I'm actually kind of sad because I think that might be the last time [00:59:09] Speaker C: I interact with Pilgrim. [00:59:11] Speaker A: Quite possibly. And I like that. [00:59:14] Speaker C: I liked interacting with Pilgrim. [00:59:18] Speaker A: Other than that, I'm gonna go have an existential crisis for uwe's sake. Bye, [00:59:28] Speaker B: and we will see you all [00:59:30] Speaker E: in the next episode. [00:59:32] Speaker A: Oh, my goodness, bro. [00:59:36] Speaker E: This has been an Atomic Broadcasting production. If you enjoyed the show, make sure to give us some support by liking, commenting and following. These things really do make a difference in getting the word out and helping our community grow. Also, make sure to check us out on threads and check out the Discord server, where you can chat with other fans and discuss all the recent developments and happenings. Links to all these good things in the description below. The Written and the Lost is an original story that uses trademarks and or copyrights owned by Paizo, Inc. Used under Paizo's fan content Policy. Atomic Broadcasting and the Written and the Lost are not published, endorsed, or specifically approved by Paizo for more information about Paizo, Inc. And paizo products, visit paizo.com. hope to see you all in the next episode. Until then, have an atomic time. [01:00:28] Speaker D: I'm sorry. I feel like I just put together something really big about your character. I don't know if you already know it, so I'm not going to say anything that. Anyway. Sorry. [01:00:39] Speaker A: Oh, [01:00:45] Speaker D: Yeah. Anyway. [01:00:48] Speaker C: Hmm. Moving on.