February 17, 2023 • 54 mins
Aether, Sirius, and Logo find themselves in an uncharted valley. They encounter a kooky lighthouse keeper, a sinister desert gang, and a mysterious black mountain mass in the distance.
Intra Quest – Created by Michael Freiberg
A production of iHeartRadio and Astrum Media
Executive Produced by Michael Freiberg and iHeartRadio
Co-produced by Adam Raymonda and Chelsea English
Sound Design and Mix by Dennis Dembeck
Music by Trey Toy
Episode written by Michael Freiberg
Performances by:
Matthew Broussard | Aether
Mike Lebovitz | Sirius
Myq Kaplan | Logo
Lucie Pohl | Umbra
Featuring:
Nick Naney | Gateman
Casey James Salengo | Sherlock
J.P. McDade | Fang
Maddy Smith | Zephyr
Dina Hashem | Luna
Nina Tarr | Nadir
Joe List | Sunken Child
Director and Head Writer: Michael Freiberg
Writers: Tom Delgado and Will Julian
Story Editor: Chelsea English
Dialogue Editor: Adam Raymonda
Additional Music: Matthew Blocha
Foley: Post Red
Key Art: Rich Davies
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
In request created by Michael Freiberg, a production of I
Heart Radio and Astro Media. Listen with headphones for three
D audio. The gate that's gauntlet ahead of the tunnel corridor,
three drop gates, and a final swing gate with archers
and spearman guard in the exit. Our only hope is
to clear it. The fourth shuts keep running a don't
(00:28):
stop until we're saving the desert sands. That's the landing
rub us. There one more to go into the final
Blackstone swing gate, but that's we're beginning to down. We'll
do a single file. I'll leave the way Love go Serious,
come on, third game, Serious Lee trapped behind the drop gate,
(00:55):
don't worry. Serious, we'll get you out. On what happened
third Gateail bunchetions it didn't. Then it dropped immediately too late.
By the time we managed get Serious free, the doors
of the final swing hit will have already close shut,
sealing us inside of you. The drop gates driving. But
why no time for questions. As soon as Serious sway right,
(01:18):
the final swing gate is so open, listen. The best
chance we have of making the best of guards outside
is to spread out the dunes and six agg as
we run follow my lead. Okay, see, I'm ever your
side down. Get that fiery something drop, go keep moving,
(01:42):
run towards the seting sun downs a chance to escape,
Give them safe passage onto the dudes. I secured the
gate with them, But sir, you're letting them get away.
So to be it an arrow or spear through the
head is too good for these three? A quick and
painless death. What would be the fun? Let them get
(02:03):
lost in the desert and sucking either water plumbs this time? Ah?
Are you too? Okay? From the fall, I'm a face
(02:27):
full of sand like you're just serious? Okay, technically I'm
still mobile. Then, Welcome to the Azrael desert. We're lucky
we made it here alive. Our number one priorities should
be finding a path back to the main route that
leads to them all layer all we have of the
supplies on our back, so we'll have to be resourceful
if we plan to survive out here. Speaking of which,
(02:47):
we're in the desert. Are we surveying the immediate grounds?
We appear to be standing at the bottom of a
deep and narrow chasm of valley. To be precise, to
our rear and sides are towering rock face too steep
to scale without proper equipment. In the distance, at the
other end of the valley, there's some sort of unidentifiable
black land mass. I venture to call it a small
mountain and silhouette, but I can't be certain from so
(03:07):
far away. Map. Indeed, only we had a map, I
could pinpoint our location in the desert. Map. Oh, what
do you have there? The map? Yes, serious, you grabbed
it off the gate man's desk before we left. Let
me take a look. M h, it's all here, the
main route across the desert leading to the Molair, the
(03:29):
baobab tree marking its location, and a pathway from atop
these cliffs to guide us there. It plots out everything
required to find our way to the mole Air, recover
the satellite dish, and complete the agency's mission. Everything that is,
except for a current location. This valley is missing from
the maps diagram. The unidentified black land mass. Assuming it's
(03:49):
a mountain, it could have a trail leading out of
the valley. With terrain, we can actually climb. Well, it's possible,
but that's the only path forward. We have to keep moving,
keep trying to find a way out. Sure, either good.
Let's get a move on then. Now, as long as
we're traveling through uncharted territory, it's imperative we remain on
high alert of our surroundings. Otherwise, could we expose ourselves
(04:11):
to unwelcome surprises and may fail to identify opportunities along
the way. And need I remind you too, it's only
a matter of time until we run out of food
and water, our hope of escape dwindles, and we end
up trapped in this valley with no way out. Stop
my toe on this pesky rock. Wait, that's not a
rock either. It's a cock show. What's a cock shell
(04:36):
doing in the middle of the desert. Serious? Here, Hold
it's your ear and listen, you can hear the ocean.
Oh wait, pretty pink? Serious? Alright, serious, knock it off.
(05:02):
This is exactly the kind of negligence I warned about.
Serious as antics may have given away our position. He's
just having some fun. Besides, we're the only ones down here.
Good reason. Still, we need to proceed with the utmost
caution until we confirm we're indeed alone. Despite what seems
like a foregone conclusion, who knows what could be lurking
in this valley. I'll tell you what's lurking in this
(05:24):
valley right now, sand rocks and the grating sound of
your serious, I said, knock it off, the serious, No
make sound? Where did that come from? I have a
theory either, but I'll need you to be absolutely quiet
as Serious sounds the shell again. Go ahead, blow the
shell A three four, Serious come here for a moment.
(05:53):
This mission maybe too much for Logo. He's been acting
weird since we met him, and the fall probably pushed
him over the edge. Keep an eye on him. Big brands,
more fragile logo. It's all going to be okay. We're
gonna get you some help, and you can stop counting now.
(06:14):
Precisely as hypothesized, Serious sounded a final time. Hum him.
I guess serious Blue into the shell. I started counting
seconds in my head. I'm confirming it now, but I
believe we're about five miles away from the black Land
Mass at the valley's end. How do you figure? And
(06:35):
what about the sound we just heard? Where did that
come from? It's an echo. It's all quite logical. As
observers at ground level, our lineup sight is limited to
roughly three miles beyond which objects seemingly vanished past the horizon.
The only reason we can identify the Black land mass
the head is due to its great height, allowing us
to make out the mountaintop while it's base remains hidden
from view. Sound, however, is unencumbered by these optical limitations.
(06:58):
When serious blows through the cock shell, the sound travels
all the way to the black mountain mass in the distance,
and then returns to us as a reflection of the
original signal echo. Precisely, and given that the speed of
sound and dry air is roughly three three per second,
I can calculate our distance from the mountain working through
the formula speed of sound equals distance divided by time,
(07:18):
and then having the answer to account for our one
way direction of travel, brings us to the five mile
marker I alluded to, which is the total distance to
our path of escape and wherein life the basis of
the reverberation of sounds throughout the valley magic not magic math,
and like before, the sound should be coming back to us.
Intent nine eight seven sounds like you're off by a
(07:39):
few seconds must be a rounding error. No, I stand
by it. Total return time for the sound is a
function of its distance travel. That can only mean one thing.
The Black Mountain Mass, whatever it is, is moving towards us. Ah. Oh,
then let's get a move on. Come on, but didn't
you hear what I said? We could stay here and
wait for it to come to us, or we can
go and face it head on. I choose onwards and upwards. Serious,
(08:04):
wait for me. Since we're proceeding forward, it's important to
note that every five second reduction and echo return time
corresponds to approximately half a mile nearer in distance. So
the sooner the echo returns, the closer we are noting.
Serious sound the shell from time to times, so we
(08:24):
know how far we are away from the Black Mountain Mass. Now,
if we could only reach a higher vantage with increased
range of sight, we might be able to identify the
nature of the approaching object and even chart out a
path back to the main route. We'll be on the
lookout anything else. No, let's just hope that Black Mountain
Mass doesn't speed up. Oh, no, logo, I think I'm
(08:45):
starting to lose it. My eyes are deceiving me. Too
serious informations, too much. Step man, snap over on the right,
on that nearby isolated cliff, side. I see a beam
of light coming from what looks like a lighthouse. There's
even steps car up into the rock face leading up
to it from the valley. It must be a symbol
for my subconscious. Do I go into the light or
run away from it? Lighthouse on lone cliff? Serious, you
(09:11):
see it too, see logo? Don't be so dramatic. Thanks,
you're looking up all right, you're right the lighthouse. There's
our higher advantage point. I bet we can restock on
supplies too. There may even be a way to call
for help. We're saved. Well I didn't quite save that,
but we're saved. We're saved. I'm going into the light. Ah,
(09:39):
come on, serious Logo's head into that light like I'm
off the flame. We might have to save him from
getting burned. Here we are the lighthouse. Hello, anyone home?
(10:00):
No answer? Serious, No, don't do it. The doors unlocked.
Make sure to be on your best behavior when we
meet the lighthouse keeper. Were lucky. We'll learn the fastest
way out of this value back to the main route.
(10:25):
This place is all run down, it's full of cobwebs
of all Then that door, it must lead to the
keeper's quarters. Wait, before we enter, it would be wise
(10:46):
to formulate a plan. One of us should stay behind
at the lighthouse to try and mind for supplies and
information from the benefit of this hidvantage point. That way,
the other two compare up and continue exploring the valley
and share their findings upon return. Okay, how do you
propose we split up? It should be merit based. Serious.
You're a natural tracker. You can locate trails or detect
(11:08):
hidden dangerous and your talents are best utilized down on
the valley floor. Either you're you're you like to talk
a lot, so you should be a little bit quick
friends out of any hostile strangers encountered out in the valley.
As for me, well, I'm an intellectual. I could ingratiate
myself with the keepers. I'm sure this lighthouse is full
of complex machinery that requires a lot of technical know
(11:29):
how and a scientific knowledge to operate things that would
be painfully boring to the average individual. For the sake
of the team, I volunteered to stay be hide. Oh
how brave of you? Logo? Serious? Do you agree to
our hero's proposal? Chicken hardball baw baw deal Waiting One
(11:52):
last thing? What if I need to protect myself when
I'm alone. Can I borrow a weapon? We don't travel
with weapons, remember, but you do go emissions that take
you to places like this. What do you mean you
don't travel with weapons? We found bringing weapons into unfamiliar
places just invite trouble. Besides serious protects us. Now let's
go in MS. How nice? How long you're just in time?
(12:21):
Thank you? We're aching. You were expecting us? No, oh,
it kind of sounded like you were. How good of
you to come? If I don't, you'd be early. I'd
have finished tidying up. We don't mind. But wait, we
didn't plan to come here. We happened here by chance
and a little late. If you ask me. It's tea time,
(12:43):
but I'm afraid it hasn't much left. Please help yourselves
way ahead of you. Now that you're here, we can
finally start. Okay, Oh, I'm ether. This is why are
we fellows? Logo and big guys serious? And I'm shullock.
Have a seat, So tell us, Sherlock. Why is there
(13:07):
a lighthouse out here in the desert? The lighthouse? Why
is it overlooking the desert? The lighthouse? Desert? I don't
follow the building we're in right now. Normally it'd be
overlooking an ocean, but instead it's here in the desert.
Oh yes, that lighthouse. Well, let's see, it's a long story. Ah,
(13:34):
you were saying, what the story you were gonna tell us?
The story behind the lighthouse? Oh yes, back to the
days when it was wet all over. At the time,
I was a sail stationed on the s S. Pangaea.
Beauty of the vessel, fabulous true, love them like they
have a family, which they were. I come from a
(13:55):
long line of seafars, bus and tame the wall. Next
thing I know, we're surrounded, and then cannon bar blood
right in the hole caused us to bear up bos
and we never had a chance. Once we hit that
(14:16):
ice bag. They say n an icebread lies beneath the
water service, and one hundred percent of the time I
found that to be true. I'll tell you. It took
us grab and to get those anvils back on board
the ark. But I digressed. We were gone. Just then
we saw the guiding light of this lighthouse and swam ashore.
(14:36):
We made it to our new home, and over time
I became its captain. What eventually came to darkness that
covered the land. The water turned to vapor and was
sucked up by the night sky. Then it got hot,
real hot. That's try eat red toe stick together and
(15:02):
lips shut. I started sweating. I felt moisture pulling up
on my brow, maybe thirsty, So I decided to come in.
He makes some nice tea. Then you three walked in.
How in considerate of me? Let me get you a refill?
S No, I am, I'm all right, nonsense, I insist
(15:29):
more tea would be lovely. About the lighthouse, though, how
long has it been here? Shoot? About as long as
I can remember, I reckon since the dawn of time.
It's so that dang grandfather taunting me for an eternity,
TikTok TikTok, calling my name, trying to hypnotize me with
(15:53):
its golden rock. Sherlock, Sherlock, prodding me with a pointy hands,
old croc old croc driving me cuckle goockle. Why I
ought to rip your hands right up and break your face?
(16:16):
Who's killing time? Now? Grandfather? Okay, where will we serious?
And I were dressed on our way up leaving so soon,
really wish we could say, but we have business back
down in the valley. Wait, great meeting me too. I
should also be your best behavior logo. Remember you're a guest. No, please,
(16:40):
don't leave me alone with this insane lee, gracious host.
So do you like being a lighthouse keeper? There's something
(17:04):
off with Sherlock. He's a little but scatter brain. You
dodged a bullet with that one. Hey, keep sounding the
shell while we walk. Someone could think it's a distress
signal when we come to our rescues. Well, serious, it's
(17:30):
just us too again, out on a mission. Just like
old times. We're a long way from imperiod. We go
home soon. Yeah, assuming logo actually knows what he's talking about.
With that astronomy, mumbo jumbo can show us how to
reach imperiod by following the eclipses path of totality dress
(17:51):
logo logo Smart, I know, but I just can't stop
thinking about it. The day we returned home, part of
me worries that maybe we've been gone too long, too
much time has passed. We'll get back and everything will
be different. At home, we knew that people were trying
to save all have changed so much so they might
(18:15):
as well be strangers in some foreign land. Another part
of me worries that we'll get back and find that
nothing is different. The people in places preserved same as before,
but Imperia no longer feels like home because we're the
ones who have changed. Hear that the sound returned more quickly.
The black mass must be getting closer. Ah, what is
(18:45):
the series? Spot? Something traps white flat thorough like follow?
Where do you think leads? M flowers? Field of white flowers?
(19:05):
A serious? You know what this means? There must be
water nearby, but now vultures free block. I guess there's wrong,
(19:29):
doesn't after all? That makes begamating cold? Can't running good?
To resist? Ignore it, don't engage, keep moving, Hi, stop running,
but will open byre do it? Do it? I think
(19:50):
they're bluffing or they actually have a gun. Gun scared tactics,
No way, it's looting. You can't get bullets in this hemisphere,
for it's a warning shop, and I'm warning you. I
never missed twice. I stand corrected. You don't fire, We'll cooperate.
(20:11):
How about a compromise. If you want oil, we can
get you oil. We've got oil. And it ain't just
for fueling, neither it's for burning. It's the amulet. You've
got paid by thinking it. Menched my host a rather nicely.
Don't either his life nor his amulate our eyes to tea.
They're only tess want this service? Fine? And where am i? Men?
(20:38):
Allow me to make a proper introduction. I'm fat chief
alchemist of the Necronos. Please here a Zipper and Luna,
sunken charls. We welcome you to our hello grounds, the
valley of the shadow of Death. We'll make ourselves right
en up. Check out the big man. Looks like we've
(20:59):
got ourselve green dumb came across all flowers? Did you
pretty unknown? They only grow here in the billy Something
about the nutrients in the soil, our own organic fertilize
the blood of heathens. And if you peel back at
the petals, you'll find a secret in side. When the
(21:22):
flower dies, it releases spools. Just one taste of the
interior risk will bring you closer to the inner truth.
We're not here for your flowers. Oh, we're not worried
about that. What do you want? It's what our master designs.
Your master. You'll meet her soon enough, Zeppa, Luna, load
(21:45):
up Chicago for transport. Give me arist of time there,
get to walk in walking, You're walking. Oh God, we
(22:10):
can't believe. I'm better ask Sherlock for help, as either says,
desperate times call for desperate measures. Sherlock, my travel companions
and I are experiencing some navigational difficulties. Our map of
the surrounding area is incomplete, and while I can overlook
a few missing topographical features and contour lines, the valley's
(22:31):
absence renders the map inadequate as a cartographic guide. Since
you reside here, it would be highly agreeable if you
would please direct me to the nearest path leading out
of the valley. So you're seeking direction in life, I
suppose you could say that be aware what lies in
the desert, What lies there? The black viper, the call
(22:54):
of the void shadows. People can spend a lifetime chasing echoes.
So I'm getting lost along the way Others others fine,
what they were hoping to hear? Which is the song
stress at the end of the tune? Do you know
who's behind your lullaby? I'm sorry, but I can't interpret
(23:16):
your cryptic language. Simplize, symbolize, simplize. Look, here's the map.
How about you point to our current locations, and we'll
use that as a reference marker. Oh me, but I'm
not even here right now, of course not. Do you
(23:39):
have any travel insight or just more in a nonsense. Well,
I'm a traveler too, you know, a time traveler. I
live in the future. I dwell in the past. You
won't find me in the present. Now, what are you doing? Drawing?
(24:00):
Is your path forward? A circle? You drew a circle
that which has no beginning, has no end. Bound to
repeat this endless loop we are I'm hunger insatiable, like
the serpent that face on its own toe. I can't
take much more of this. The problem you faces You're
(24:23):
too smart for your own good. What well your problem?
Your problem is that you don't make any sense. I
can't even understand you because of the way you speak.
Talk without rhythm, don't alert the priest. Walk without rhythm,
don't attract the beast. Walk without rhythm, don't attract the beast, sherlock.
(24:49):
If you didn't want to help, then you should have
just said, so, okay, I'm headed up to the observation
deck so I can get a view of the valley.
At least then this visit will have the more something
true about living down. High Priestess Nadia, we brought you
(25:14):
two outsiders, caught them trespassing in the near the gardens.
You too, what do you call yourselves? I'm ether, that's serious.
We stumbled here by accidents, Ether serious, how fortunate an accident.
You're just in time. The moon's almost at zena. Our
(25:34):
ceremony is about to begin. Fang, Zephyr Luna, show our
guests of honor to the observation brig where they may
be whole the awakening at one Cypriestess, you heard her
prepare to get walking. Now. The big one had with
(25:55):
him this comb shell. I took it so he wouldn't
disrupt the ceremony. I want to tell, said how rarefined.
Let him hold on to it. I don't think it's
a good idea to an outsider being position of an
instrument during the ceremony. Yet you think it wise to
talk back to your High Priestess. Sorry, Fang, question my
(26:15):
command again and I'll ensure you die and unholy death.
Luna return the shell to him right away. High Priestess,
here serious, I invite you to join us and honoring
our master with your music, the sound of your shell
(26:36):
will add to the symphony of the summoning a h
Now take them away to the brig my pleasure. High Priestess,
you too, get a move on. Even from up here
(27:05):
on the observation deck, I still can't quite make out
with that black masses. The distance is too far away,
and it's dark and foggy out. Now where's it headed?
Retract the optical magna fog? Sherlock, When did you come
up here? But yes, good idea. If I adjust the
beacons angle to refocus the light upon our immediate vicinity,
(27:27):
at least I can observe if anything of notice happening
on the valley floor contracting, contracting testing, ocular realignment. Oh
no either and serious. It looks like they're in trouble, Sherlock.
Those people down there, they'll see the light and know
(27:48):
someone's up here. Will they come for you me? No,
I'm nobody, and you can't hurt someone with nobody. I'm
a ghost and I hoped myself, so I think they'll
leave you alone. People come to the lighthouse looking for
the key to Sherlock, but they lack the right frame
(28:10):
of mind to open the door within. You know, I
used to be just like you. I remember it like
it was tomorrow. In a future life, I was the
queen of the odd country. Then she took everything from me. H.
She lives in the walls of my attic, and she
(28:32):
kills me every night, sherlock. When she visits you turned
down her offer. The Golden Goose comes with a noose.
Once she catches you shall never let loose. She hunts
the game. You're paying her game. Only yourself to blame
when she drives you insane. I've said too much. Please
(28:56):
look at come on, get moving, he says. No way
to treat your guests of honor? Now is it? You
made me waste my last bullet on a warning shot.
Now you're gonna wish it was you I wasted instead.
Zippa the brig. The door to the cage is open,
(29:20):
and the waiting filler up. You too, get it perfect fit.
Don't be said you too, I'm jealous. After all, you've
(29:43):
got a front row view of the ceremony. Hi Priestess
approaches how our guests doing sitting pretty in the brig?
They ain't going nowhere? Thank go prepare the tribute for
the awakening. Hi, Hi Priestess Luna Zefyr ready the grounds.
I'll speak with our guests and enlighten them on a ritual.
(30:07):
It will be our honor comes after her, My fortunate sons,
Your arrival is a good omen a. Few outsiders ever
witnessed the glory of our master's work, Your master. Where
do you serve the one true savior? Umbra? Why? Yes,
(30:33):
she is the last bastion of truth in a world
full of lies. Umbra, and only Umbra will lead us
into suffering and deliver us to salvation. Why why would
you choose to worship something that brings you suffering. Suffering
is glorious, It's divine, There is truth, it's suffering. I
(30:58):
don't understand you choose to suffer room either life is suffering.
From the moment you enter this world, you're born a prisoner,
condemned to a life with no reason for being, no
deeper meaning, no higher purpose. Where you search for answers,
you find only questions. The wise among us see the
(31:20):
life for what it truly is, a cruel joke played
in a cold world apathetic to our existence. Some get
sick and never get well. Others lose their sanity and
stay lost in their minds. The lucky few pass silently
into the night. You're wrong. There's more to life than that.
(31:43):
There has to be. The only constant in life is
chaos and suffering. The only certainty death. Beyond that, it's
just a seat. You see ether in a futile attempt
to make sense of it. All wickedest lie people tell
themselves is that they have no control over their lives,
(32:05):
that they're too weak to influence their destiny, that they
have no choice but to suffer at the whims of
fate and fortune. But they're wrong. We can choose. We
can submit to the chaos. We can choose to suffer.
We can embrace death, and in that there is freedom.
(32:26):
In that lies the path to salvation. That's your answer.
Give up, We give in, We give in to what
is real. We give in to Umbra, willingly surrendered to her.
To commit yourself to Umbra makes you invincible, for then
nothing else can hurt you. It's the only sane choice
(32:49):
in this insane world. You may not understand, but there
is pleasure to despair, a relief from torment, a solace
and suffering. Through Umbra, we may rest in peace, High Priestess,
(33:11):
we arranged the grounds and identified the source of the
light that intrudes upon our sacred rights. It stems from
atop the southern cliff, the old lighthouse. I'll gather the
others and put it out. No, my child. On the contrary,
let it shine a light on our master's glory. Is
the lighthouse not worth searching for? First tributes fit for offering?
(33:32):
I've paid a visit to the beacon before, and spoken
with its keeper. There was nothing left for Umbra to possess.
As you say, let the light illuminate our ceremony, so
all may bear witness to her glory, Big man, blow
your shell for Umbra. Ah. Do it's serious, High Priestess.
(34:01):
The tribute is secured and has been branded with the
mark of possession. He's ready to be received. Good. Inoculate
him with the elixir one drop of sweet white flower
nectar to open his mind to the inner truth. Hear
that voice, give him a taste of the risen serious
(34:23):
the black mass. It must be close, it begins, What
(34:44):
do I do? What do I do? Either and serious
or in danger? Down there? Even if they fend off
the assailants, the black mass is still getting closer. I
ever heard a sound you can't come here that echoes
in your years, drawn in by the pitch hands, fixed
in frequency. That must be it. Sound. Sound must be
(35:05):
what's attracting the black mask, like when it hurd the
horn of the cock shell. I can try to lure
it away to the cliffs here and keep either in
serious safe. Does this lighthouse have a fog horn? It
does great? Where is it? Service room upstairs? In the attic?
The attic, of course, anything else I should know about
the fog horn? Fog fog one is broken. The fog
(35:26):
horn is broken, Yes, sorry, broken? How do I fix it?
You're searching for the right answer, but asking the wrong question.
What please? My friends are in big trouble and there
isn't much time. That fog horn might be the only
thing that can save them. Tell me how to fix it.
I don't think you understand the nature of the problem.
It's not the break in the horn. It's the tear
(35:47):
in the sky, the rupture in the ground, the fracture
in the fabric that ripples through what. We are out
of sync with the world, but we're made of the
world too. To set everything right, we need to risk
store balance in ourselves and our universe. Fix the world. Okay,
but first the fog horn. Where do I start? It
(36:07):
all begins with a big bang, a tug of the
pull cord, a flash in the pan that'll fire up
the engine and get the mantel rotating again as it
should be, and you will be on your way. Okay,
but give a schematic or manual of some sort. You're
the lighthouse keeper. You must have dealt with this before.
It's all been set into motions. Since the world began
(36:29):
spinning on its axis. We to cycle around this wheel
we call existence, passing through the three phases birth, life,
and death. Round and round and round we go. Maybe
I am asking the wrong question. How do I restore
balance to our universe and save the world? You find
the folk rum. See the world seesaws back and forth,
(36:52):
back and forth between order and chaos, chaos and order,
But everything that goes up must come down. To set
everything right and restore balance in our universe, find the
fulgrum and make it level. Is that all you have
to say? And when the time is right, flip the
switch and listen to the harmony of the spheres plays out.
How will I know when the time is right? The
(37:13):
intuition of course, what am I doing? What a waste
of time? That grandfather clock was right. You're just a
crazy old crock now. And remember, don't forget. In the
hour of the blood Moon and the pale Blue, we
(37:34):
summon the Umbra, are one true master. Heed the call
of the necronauts, Travelers to the Intra, Guardians of the
Valley of the Shadow of Death, Martyrs for your possession,
Show us the path home to your inner kingdom, for
we have lost our way on this terrestrial plane. Shatter
(37:55):
the grand allusion and reveal to us our true selves
so we may finally see what's real. Illuminate our final
resting place, and we shall be born again in your
fertile womb, immortal and death. We live to carry on
your name. The sunken child is blessed with the Holy Few.
(38:27):
We offer you a tribute so you may rise from
your eternal slumber, a dormant vessel bound to your will.
Fill his vacant head with your sacred knowledge, Flow through
his veins with your blackest bile. Move his lips so
he may speak the words that open the hidden door
(38:48):
to the Intra. Oh yes, oh yes, possess, I feel
her awakening within. See through his charcoal eyes, manifest in
his weighty mind, mind his spirit as yours to incarnate.
Use his body as you wish. Bring forward the night fire,
(39:10):
carry the torches to the sacrificial pire. O Umbra, take
me home. I'm ready to be received, burned away my weakness,
rise from my ashes. Show me the one true path,
and I will follow you into the night. We pray
to thee, save me from myself and set me free.
(39:30):
You sleep inside my soul. Awaken me, turned out to
SIMI fire. Stop stop the ceremony. How dare you went
to feel the dear? That's not the way to channel Umbra.
It won't work, Trust me, I said, why now, this
(39:55):
can't be the first time you performed the ceremony as
Umbra ever awakened. I'll did you the meaning of silence
that speake. Stop the ceremony. You have our ears. Either
enlighten us with your hidden wisdom, but pick your words carefully. Oh,
(40:15):
they'll be your last. You said it yourself. You worship
the pain and suffering Umber brings. You'd like nothing more
than for her to possess your soul, the one true
path home. Then your words are meaningless. The sunken child,
suffering and illusion. The ceremony a lie. No, Dear, how
can you let a prisoner talk like this? He's just
(40:36):
a heathen? Does he speak for the High Priestess? Hold
your tongue, fang Or, I will hold it for you.
Finish what you were saying. Umber of feeds off suffering,
but you necronouts welcome death and hopes of channeling her,
which means for you it's not suffering at all. It's pleasure.
That's why Umber won't awaken. You don't know true suffering.
(40:58):
What can speak? This sunken child, like all the others,
will give his life in vain for a promise that
can't be kept. How can any of you call yourselves
your master's true servants when all you offer Umbra is
false suffering. So spare the life of the sunken child,
and in this charade, release us and preserve your honor
(41:21):
before Umbra. That's the one true path home. Enough, release
our guests from the brig. You can't do it now,
fang Or, you will be left behind when we depart.
Gentle with untying our ropes. You heard the High Priests
(41:44):
for guests, Dear, thank you for understanding my partner and
I thank prepare these two for tribute. What it will
be my own a high priestess. Let's time with the
holy feel tie them to the sacrificial pie. But you're right,
(42:13):
we necronauts have nothing to offer our master. We'd already
give our lives, Willie Lane. But you, my surrogate childs,
you possess a gift that of true suffering. You are
our key to reaching the entry tribute. Secure to the pilet. Please,
(42:36):
you're making a mistake. We'll be needing this amulance where
you're going now, Etha, will you my amulance? You too
will serve as vessels for Umbrah's glory. Resumed the ceremony.
(43:10):
I'm sure the foghorn problem isn't anything. Some simple troubleshooting
can resolve. Engine. Probably just need some oil. Yeah that's right,
a little oil and all of everything up and running
in no time. Oh no, there's a lot more machinery
than I anticipated. Okay, okay, not a problem, no cause
(43:35):
for concern. I'll take a moment to survey the room
and explore the environment. M hm hm. There's there's some
complex mechanisms. Tubular devices, A stable of levers, pulleys, hand cranks,
and bats. They are bats. Okay, okay, it's really no problem.
(44:00):
I'll take a step by step, apply the scientific method,
and have a foghorn fixed and operational shortly. Mm hmmm,
I wonder what happens if I pull this lever and
press first steps. So with this step, how about if
(44:22):
I connect these two chords together? Photo photo photo. This
isn't working at all. I'm just randomly pulling levers and
pressing buttons. At this rate, it could take forever, and
by then it'd be too late. He's no more Hancko,
(44:44):
black mass disappear. We have bigger concerns at the moment.
Are one true master? We offer you these two tributes,
pure of mind and soul. They're real tears from real cries.
Will soon feel the whites of their eyes when we
wash them in the fire. They will burn most bright,
(45:07):
and their screams will bless the night. They will suffer
as our chosen martyrs bodies yours to possess and show
us the true path home to the Intra. They see
the staring him rang for the night by us. Come on, logo, think,
(45:44):
how is it that Sherlock was once able to operate
the fog horns complex machinery. There must be some method
to this madness. What was it he said about how
it starts. It all begins with a big bang, a
tug of the pull chord. That's as good a place
to start as any. H M. The engine. It's actually starting. Okay?
What was next? We to cycle around this wheel. We
(46:07):
call existence round and round and round we go the
hand wheel. Okay, hands in position ten and two. Let's
turn this wheel clockwise one, two, three. I hear the
smoke heating up through the clips. It's working. Then what okay?
(46:31):
The world seesaws back and forth between chaos and order.
To set everything right and restore the balance, find the
fulcrum and make it level. Here a metal beam resting
uneven upon its central pivot point or fulcrum. Next to
it are three steel weights of ten, five and fifteen pass.
I can s two sides equal to balance the beams.
(46:56):
The pressure gage is stabilizing, and when the time is right,
lit the switch and listen. It's the harmony of the
spears played out. I suppose that was as good a
time as henny. Here goes nothing. It's alive. It's alive,
(47:17):
my creation live, awaken up. Oh, I can from your
sleep my feeling, I feels her awakening. I can trip
(47:40):
you twitch five, Oh masta, break through the ground and
open avoid to swallow us home. Were welcome your return
phrase me to what's happening till your black worm? Now
(48:16):
it's too late. That team's gone, hip a Luna. Pull
back to the li ground. Let's side. Wait, don't leave
us tied tie you can keep you from the end
of don't to put it in. Say hi to a
(48:38):
faster I appy less, Let's go, black worm, come for
ouz ah serious, Sorry, this looks like the k Don't
(48:59):
be sad. Don't people at the bird. We'll worry for
you either, worm and follow horn, leave and go home.
(49:20):
We're saved, how Sherlock. I don't know if I'll ever
understand you. All that nonsense. It made sense. I'm off
to rescue my friends. I hope we meet again one day.
You can take my sand slid. It's in the basement.
Get you that quick up sure, stick to the eye
(49:43):
ground all about look good, no time for questions. Get
(50:05):
off too, there's no way out my mountain mask That
was worm leap yap a bally an. Now that the
worm has gone, that could be just crazy enough to work. Logo.
Don't get any wild ideas up one step ahead of yet,
(50:29):
as it look pretty tight. But if we can make
it through that slip in the valley rock, we might
be able to escape. Keep your legs and arms inside
the vehicle. It's about to get cozy. We're in time.
The crevice the walls is turning a narrow around us,
but the end is only a few yards ahead. Serious
three stings pop and selling that show a trust me,
(50:55):
now going to skip past that rock vile. We're finally free.
We made it through show dropt sand. Let it go.
(51:15):
It's great. I'm doing it. I'm really doing it. I'm
saving to day. Look at me, I'm a be David.
No helmet, no hardest, I'm trying without a mask. I flover. Oh,
we're out of gas. But now head to the high
ground leading out of the valley. We'll be safe their
(51:37):
once we're off the dune. The worm camp peers through
calcified rock. Who okay, but why are you walking like that? Oh?
I talk without rhythm. Don't alert the priest. Walk without rhythm,
don't attract the beast, come on, walk like me. Can't
beat him? Yeah, baby, Oh no, Please don't hurt them.
(52:29):
They're just pawns. They're just eating it in ponds in
this tragic game of life. Yeah. InterQuest created by Michael Freiberg,
(53:08):
a production of I Heart Radio and Astro Media Executive
produced by Michael Freiberg and I Hear Radio, co produced
by Adam Ramunda and Chelsea English. Sound design and mixed
by Dennis Dembeck. Music by Trey Toy. Performances by Matthew Brissard, Ether,
Mike Leaviovitz, Serious Mike Kaplan, Logo, Lucy poul Umbra featuring
(53:33):
Nick Nanny gate Man, Casey, James Lango, Sherlock, j P
mcdaide Fang, Mattie Smith, Zephyr, Tina Hesham, Luna, Nina tar Nader,
Joe List, Sunken Child. Director and head writer Michael Freiberg,
writers Tom Delgado and Will Julian, story editor Chelsea English,
(53:56):
dialogue editor Adam Ramunda. Additional music Matthew Blaca, fully post
red full cast and crew in the description. Find more
podcasts from my Heart Radio on the I Heart Radio app,
Apple podcast, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
In request created by Michael Freiberg, a production of I
Heart Radio and Astro Media. Listen with headphones for three
D audio. The gate that's gauntlet ahead of the tunnel corridor,
three drop gates, and a final swing gate with archers
and spearman guard in the exit. Our only hope is
to clear it. The fourth shuts keep running a don't
(00:28):
stop until we're saving the desert sands. That's the landing
rub us. There one more to go into the final
Blackstone swing gate, but that's we're beginning to down. We'll
do a single file. I'll leave the way Love go Serious,
come on, third game, Serious Lee trapped behind the drop gate,
(00:55):
don't worry. Serious, we'll get you out. On what happened
third Gateail bunchetions it didn't. Then it dropped immediately too late.
By the time we managed get Serious free, the doors
of the final swing hit will have already close shut,
sealing us inside of you. The drop gates driving. But
why no time for questions. As soon as Serious sway right,
(01:18):
the final swing gate is so open, listen. The best
chance we have of making the best of guards outside
is to spread out the dunes and six agg as
we run follow my lead. Okay, see, I'm ever your
side down. Get that fiery something drop, go keep moving,
(01:42):
run towards the seting sun downs a chance to escape,
Give them safe passage onto the dudes. I secured the
gate with them, But sir, you're letting them get away.
So to be it an arrow or spear through the
head is too good for these three? A quick and
painless death. What would be the fun? Let them get
(02:03):
lost in the desert and sucking either water plumbs this time? Ah?
Are you too? Okay? From the fall, I'm a face
(02:27):
full of sand like you're just serious? Okay, technically I'm
still mobile. Then, Welcome to the Azrael desert. We're lucky
we made it here alive. Our number one priorities should
be finding a path back to the main route that
leads to them all layer all we have of the
supplies on our back, so we'll have to be resourceful
if we plan to survive out here. Speaking of which,
(02:47):
we're in the desert. Are we surveying the immediate grounds?
We appear to be standing at the bottom of a
deep and narrow chasm of valley. To be precise, to
our rear and sides are towering rock face too steep
to scale without proper equipment. In the distance, at the
other end of the valley, there's some sort of unidentifiable
black land mass. I venture to call it a small
mountain and silhouette, but I can't be certain from so
(03:07):
far away. Map. Indeed, only we had a map, I
could pinpoint our location in the desert. Map. Oh, what
do you have there? The map? Yes, serious, you grabbed
it off the gate man's desk before we left. Let
me take a look. M h, it's all here, the
main route across the desert leading to the Molair, the
(03:29):
baobab tree marking its location, and a pathway from atop
these cliffs to guide us there. It plots out everything
required to find our way to the mole Air, recover
the satellite dish, and complete the agency's mission. Everything that is,
except for a current location. This valley is missing from
the maps diagram. The unidentified black land mass. Assuming it's
(03:49):
a mountain, it could have a trail leading out of
the valley. With terrain, we can actually climb. Well, it's possible,
but that's the only path forward. We have to keep moving,
keep trying to find a way out. Sure, either good.
Let's get a move on then. Now, as long as
we're traveling through uncharted territory, it's imperative we remain on
high alert of our surroundings. Otherwise, could we expose ourselves
(04:11):
to unwelcome surprises and may fail to identify opportunities along
the way. And need I remind you too, it's only
a matter of time until we run out of food
and water, our hope of escape dwindles, and we end
up trapped in this valley with no way out. Stop
my toe on this pesky rock. Wait, that's not a
rock either. It's a cock show. What's a cock shell
(04:36):
doing in the middle of the desert. Serious? Here, Hold
it's your ear and listen, you can hear the ocean.
Oh wait, pretty pink? Serious? Alright, serious, knock it off.
(05:02):
This is exactly the kind of negligence I warned about.
Serious as antics may have given away our position. He's
just having some fun. Besides, we're the only ones down here.
Good reason. Still, we need to proceed with the utmost
caution until we confirm we're indeed alone. Despite what seems
like a foregone conclusion, who knows what could be lurking
in this valley. I'll tell you what's lurking in this
(05:24):
valley right now, sand rocks and the grating sound of
your serious, I said, knock it off, the serious, No
make sound? Where did that come from? I have a
theory either, but I'll need you to be absolutely quiet
as Serious sounds the shell again. Go ahead, blow the
shell A three four, Serious come here for a moment.
(05:53):
This mission maybe too much for Logo. He's been acting
weird since we met him, and the fall probably pushed
him over the edge. Keep an eye on him. Big brands,
more fragile logo. It's all going to be okay. We're
gonna get you some help, and you can stop counting now.
(06:14):
Precisely as hypothesized, Serious sounded a final time. Hum him.
I guess serious Blue into the shell. I started counting
seconds in my head. I'm confirming it now, but I
believe we're about five miles away from the black Land
Mass at the valley's end. How do you figure? And
(06:35):
what about the sound we just heard? Where did that
come from? It's an echo. It's all quite logical. As
observers at ground level, our lineup sight is limited to
roughly three miles beyond which objects seemingly vanished past the horizon.
The only reason we can identify the Black land mass
the head is due to its great height, allowing us
to make out the mountaintop while it's base remains hidden
from view. Sound, however, is unencumbered by these optical limitations.
(06:58):
When serious blows through the cock shell, the sound travels
all the way to the black mountain mass in the distance,
and then returns to us as a reflection of the
original signal echo. Precisely, and given that the speed of
sound and dry air is roughly three three per second,
I can calculate our distance from the mountain working through
the formula speed of sound equals distance divided by time,
(07:18):
and then having the answer to account for our one
way direction of travel, brings us to the five mile
marker I alluded to, which is the total distance to
our path of escape and wherein life the basis of
the reverberation of sounds throughout the valley magic not magic math,
and like before, the sound should be coming back to us.
Intent nine eight seven sounds like you're off by a
(07:39):
few seconds must be a rounding error. No, I stand
by it. Total return time for the sound is a
function of its distance travel. That can only mean one thing.
The Black Mountain Mass, whatever it is, is moving towards us. Ah. Oh,
then let's get a move on. Come on, but didn't
you hear what I said? We could stay here and
wait for it to come to us, or we can
go and face it head on. I choose onwards and upwards. Serious,
(08:04):
wait for me. Since we're proceeding forward, it's important to
note that every five second reduction and echo return time
corresponds to approximately half a mile nearer in distance. So
the sooner the echo returns, the closer we are noting.
Serious sound the shell from time to times, so we
(08:24):
know how far we are away from the Black Mountain Mass. Now,
if we could only reach a higher vantage with increased
range of sight, we might be able to identify the
nature of the approaching object and even chart out a
path back to the main route. We'll be on the
lookout anything else. No, let's just hope that Black Mountain
Mass doesn't speed up. Oh, no, logo, I think I'm
(08:45):
starting to lose it. My eyes are deceiving me. Too
serious informations, too much. Step man, snap over on the right,
on that nearby isolated cliff, side. I see a beam
of light coming from what looks like a lighthouse. There's
even steps car up into the rock face leading up
to it from the valley. It must be a symbol
for my subconscious. Do I go into the light or
run away from it? Lighthouse on lone cliff? Serious, you
(09:11):
see it too, see logo? Don't be so dramatic. Thanks,
you're looking up all right, you're right the lighthouse. There's
our higher advantage point. I bet we can restock on
supplies too. There may even be a way to call
for help. We're saved. Well I didn't quite save that,
but we're saved. We're saved. I'm going into the light. Ah,
(09:39):
come on, serious Logo's head into that light like I'm
off the flame. We might have to save him from
getting burned. Here we are the lighthouse. Hello, anyone home?
(10:00):
No answer? Serious, No, don't do it. The doors unlocked.
Make sure to be on your best behavior when we
meet the lighthouse keeper. Were lucky. We'll learn the fastest
way out of this value back to the main route.
(10:25):
This place is all run down, it's full of cobwebs
of all Then that door, it must lead to the
keeper's quarters. Wait, before we enter, it would be wise
(10:46):
to formulate a plan. One of us should stay behind
at the lighthouse to try and mind for supplies and
information from the benefit of this hidvantage point. That way,
the other two compare up and continue exploring the valley
and share their findings upon return. Okay, how do you
propose we split up? It should be merit based. Serious.
You're a natural tracker. You can locate trails or detect
(11:08):
hidden dangerous and your talents are best utilized down on
the valley floor. Either you're you're you like to talk
a lot, so you should be a little bit quick
friends out of any hostile strangers encountered out in the valley.
As for me, well, I'm an intellectual. I could ingratiate
myself with the keepers. I'm sure this lighthouse is full
of complex machinery that requires a lot of technical know
(11:29):
how and a scientific knowledge to operate things that would
be painfully boring to the average individual. For the sake
of the team, I volunteered to stay be hide. Oh
how brave of you? Logo? Serious? Do you agree to
our hero's proposal? Chicken hardball baw baw deal Waiting One
(11:52):
last thing? What if I need to protect myself when
I'm alone. Can I borrow a weapon? We don't travel
with weapons, remember, but you do go emissions that take
you to places like this. What do you mean you
don't travel with weapons? We found bringing weapons into unfamiliar
places just invite trouble. Besides serious protects us. Now let's
go in MS. How nice? How long you're just in time?
(12:21):
Thank you? We're aching. You were expecting us? No, oh,
it kind of sounded like you were. How good of
you to come? If I don't, you'd be early. I'd
have finished tidying up. We don't mind. But wait, we
didn't plan to come here. We happened here by chance
and a little late. If you ask me. It's tea time,
(12:43):
but I'm afraid it hasn't much left. Please help yourselves
way ahead of you. Now that you're here, we can
finally start. Okay, Oh, I'm ether. This is why are
we fellows? Logo and big guys serious? And I'm shullock.
Have a seat, So tell us, Sherlock. Why is there
(13:07):
a lighthouse out here in the desert? The lighthouse? Why
is it overlooking the desert? The lighthouse? Desert? I don't
follow the building we're in right now. Normally it'd be
overlooking an ocean, but instead it's here in the desert.
Oh yes, that lighthouse. Well, let's see, it's a long story. Ah,
(13:34):
you were saying, what the story you were gonna tell us?
The story behind the lighthouse? Oh yes, back to the
days when it was wet all over. At the time,
I was a sail stationed on the s S. Pangaea.
Beauty of the vessel, fabulous true, love them like they
have a family, which they were. I come from a
(13:55):
long line of seafars, bus and tame the wall. Next
thing I know, we're surrounded, and then cannon bar blood
right in the hole caused us to bear up bos
and we never had a chance. Once we hit that
(14:16):
ice bag. They say n an icebread lies beneath the
water service, and one hundred percent of the time I
found that to be true. I'll tell you. It took
us grab and to get those anvils back on board
the ark. But I digressed. We were gone. Just then
we saw the guiding light of this lighthouse and swam ashore.
(14:36):
We made it to our new home, and over time
I became its captain. What eventually came to darkness that
covered the land. The water turned to vapor and was
sucked up by the night sky. Then it got hot,
real hot. That's try eat red toe stick together and
(15:02):
lips shut. I started sweating. I felt moisture pulling up
on my brow, maybe thirsty, So I decided to come in.
He makes some nice tea. Then you three walked in.
How in considerate of me? Let me get you a refill?
S No, I am, I'm all right, nonsense, I insist
(15:29):
more tea would be lovely. About the lighthouse, though, how
long has it been here? Shoot? About as long as
I can remember, I reckon since the dawn of time.
It's so that dang grandfather taunting me for an eternity,
TikTok TikTok, calling my name, trying to hypnotize me with
(15:53):
its golden rock. Sherlock, Sherlock, prodding me with a pointy hands,
old croc old croc driving me cuckle goockle. Why I
ought to rip your hands right up and break your face?
(16:16):
Who's killing time? Now? Grandfather? Okay, where will we serious?
And I were dressed on our way up leaving so soon,
really wish we could say, but we have business back
down in the valley. Wait, great meeting me too. I
should also be your best behavior logo. Remember you're a guest. No, please,
(16:40):
don't leave me alone with this insane lee, gracious host.
So do you like being a lighthouse keeper? There's something
(17:04):
off with Sherlock. He's a little but scatter brain. You
dodged a bullet with that one. Hey, keep sounding the
shell while we walk. Someone could think it's a distress
signal when we come to our rescues. Well, serious, it's
(17:30):
just us too again, out on a mission. Just like
old times. We're a long way from imperiod. We go
home soon. Yeah, assuming logo actually knows what he's talking about.
With that astronomy, mumbo jumbo can show us how to
reach imperiod by following the eclipses path of totality dress
(17:51):
logo logo Smart, I know, but I just can't stop
thinking about it. The day we returned home, part of
me worries that maybe we've been gone too long, too
much time has passed. We'll get back and everything will
be different. At home, we knew that people were trying
to save all have changed so much so they might
(18:15):
as well be strangers in some foreign land. Another part
of me worries that we'll get back and find that
nothing is different. The people in places preserved same as before,
but Imperia no longer feels like home because we're the
ones who have changed. Hear that the sound returned more quickly.
The black mass must be getting closer. Ah, what is
(18:45):
the series? Spot? Something traps white flat thorough like follow?
Where do you think leads? M flowers? Field of white flowers?
(19:05):
A serious? You know what this means? There must be
water nearby, but now vultures free block. I guess there's wrong,
(19:29):
doesn't after all? That makes begamating cold? Can't running good?
To resist? Ignore it, don't engage, keep moving, Hi, stop running,
but will open byre do it? Do it? I think
(19:50):
they're bluffing or they actually have a gun. Gun scared tactics,
No way, it's looting. You can't get bullets in this hemisphere,
for it's a warning shop, and I'm warning you. I
never missed twice. I stand corrected. You don't fire, We'll cooperate.
(20:11):
How about a compromise. If you want oil, we can
get you oil. We've got oil. And it ain't just
for fueling, neither it's for burning. It's the amulet. You've
got paid by thinking it. Menched my host a rather nicely.
Don't either his life nor his amulate our eyes to tea.
They're only tess want this service? Fine? And where am i? Men?
(20:38):
Allow me to make a proper introduction. I'm fat chief
alchemist of the Necronos. Please here a Zipper and Luna,
sunken charls. We welcome you to our hello grounds, the
valley of the shadow of Death. We'll make ourselves right
en up. Check out the big man. Looks like we've
(20:59):
got ourselve green dumb came across all flowers? Did you
pretty unknown? They only grow here in the billy Something
about the nutrients in the soil, our own organic fertilize
the blood of heathens. And if you peel back at
the petals, you'll find a secret in side. When the
(21:22):
flower dies, it releases spools. Just one taste of the
interior risk will bring you closer to the inner truth.
We're not here for your flowers. Oh, we're not worried
about that. What do you want? It's what our master designs.
Your master. You'll meet her soon enough, Zeppa, Luna, load
(21:45):
up Chicago for transport. Give me arist of time there,
get to walk in walking, You're walking. Oh God, we
(22:10):
can't believe. I'm better ask Sherlock for help, as either says,
desperate times call for desperate measures. Sherlock, my travel companions
and I are experiencing some navigational difficulties. Our map of
the surrounding area is incomplete, and while I can overlook
a few missing topographical features and contour lines, the valley's
(22:31):
absence renders the map inadequate as a cartographic guide. Since
you reside here, it would be highly agreeable if you
would please direct me to the nearest path leading out
of the valley. So you're seeking direction in life, I
suppose you could say that be aware what lies in
the desert, What lies there? The black viper, the call
(22:54):
of the void shadows. People can spend a lifetime chasing echoes.
So I'm getting lost along the way Others others fine,
what they were hoping to hear? Which is the song
stress at the end of the tune? Do you know
who's behind your lullaby? I'm sorry, but I can't interpret
(23:16):
your cryptic language. Simplize, symbolize, simplize. Look, here's the map.
How about you point to our current locations, and we'll
use that as a reference marker. Oh me, but I'm
not even here right now, of course not. Do you
(23:39):
have any travel insight or just more in a nonsense. Well,
I'm a traveler too, you know, a time traveler. I
live in the future. I dwell in the past. You
won't find me in the present. Now, what are you doing? Drawing?
(24:00):
Is your path forward? A circle? You drew a circle
that which has no beginning, has no end. Bound to
repeat this endless loop we are I'm hunger insatiable, like
the serpent that face on its own toe. I can't
take much more of this. The problem you faces You're
(24:23):
too smart for your own good. What well your problem?
Your problem is that you don't make any sense. I
can't even understand you because of the way you speak.
Talk without rhythm, don't alert the priest. Walk without rhythm,
don't attract the beast. Walk without rhythm, don't attract the beast, sherlock.
(24:49):
If you didn't want to help, then you should have
just said, so, okay, I'm headed up to the observation
deck so I can get a view of the valley.
At least then this visit will have the more something
true about living down. High Priestess Nadia, we brought you
(25:14):
two outsiders, caught them trespassing in the near the gardens.
You too, what do you call yourselves? I'm ether, that's serious.
We stumbled here by accidents, Ether serious, how fortunate an accident.
You're just in time. The moon's almost at zena. Our
(25:34):
ceremony is about to begin. Fang, Zephyr Luna, show our
guests of honor to the observation brig where they may
be whole the awakening at one Cypriestess, you heard her
prepare to get walking. Now. The big one had with
(25:55):
him this comb shell. I took it so he wouldn't
disrupt the ceremony. I want to tell, said how rarefined.
Let him hold on to it. I don't think it's
a good idea to an outsider being position of an
instrument during the ceremony. Yet you think it wise to
talk back to your High Priestess. Sorry, Fang, question my
(26:15):
command again and I'll ensure you die and unholy death.
Luna return the shell to him right away. High Priestess,
here serious, I invite you to join us and honoring
our master with your music, the sound of your shell
(26:36):
will add to the symphony of the summoning a h
Now take them away to the brig my pleasure. High Priestess,
you too, get a move on. Even from up here
(27:05):
on the observation deck, I still can't quite make out
with that black masses. The distance is too far away,
and it's dark and foggy out. Now where's it headed?
Retract the optical magna fog? Sherlock, When did you come
up here? But yes, good idea. If I adjust the
beacons angle to refocus the light upon our immediate vicinity,
(27:27):
at least I can observe if anything of notice happening
on the valley floor contracting, contracting testing, ocular realignment. Oh
no either and serious. It looks like they're in trouble, Sherlock.
Those people down there, they'll see the light and know
(27:48):
someone's up here. Will they come for you me? No,
I'm nobody, and you can't hurt someone with nobody. I'm
a ghost and I hoped myself, so I think they'll
leave you alone. People come to the lighthouse looking for
the key to Sherlock, but they lack the right frame
(28:10):
of mind to open the door within. You know, I
used to be just like you. I remember it like
it was tomorrow. In a future life, I was the
queen of the odd country. Then she took everything from me. H.
She lives in the walls of my attic, and she
(28:32):
kills me every night, sherlock. When she visits you turned
down her offer. The Golden Goose comes with a noose.
Once she catches you shall never let loose. She hunts
the game. You're paying her game. Only yourself to blame
when she drives you insane. I've said too much. Please
(28:56):
look at come on, get moving, he says. No way
to treat your guests of honor? Now is it? You
made me waste my last bullet on a warning shot.
Now you're gonna wish it was you I wasted instead.
Zippa the brig. The door to the cage is open,
(29:20):
and the waiting filler up. You too, get it perfect fit.
Don't be said you too, I'm jealous. After all, you've
(29:43):
got a front row view of the ceremony. Hi Priestess
approaches how our guests doing sitting pretty in the brig?
They ain't going nowhere? Thank go prepare the tribute for
the awakening. Hi, Hi Priestess Luna Zefyr ready the grounds.
I'll speak with our guests and enlighten them on a ritual.
(30:07):
It will be our honor comes after her, My fortunate sons,
Your arrival is a good omen a. Few outsiders ever
witnessed the glory of our master's work, Your master. Where
do you serve the one true savior? Umbra? Why? Yes,
(30:33):
she is the last bastion of truth in a world
full of lies. Umbra, and only Umbra will lead us
into suffering and deliver us to salvation. Why why would
you choose to worship something that brings you suffering. Suffering
is glorious, It's divine, There is truth, it's suffering. I
(30:58):
don't understand you choose to suffer room either life is suffering.
From the moment you enter this world, you're born a prisoner,
condemned to a life with no reason for being, no
deeper meaning, no higher purpose. Where you search for answers,
you find only questions. The wise among us see the
(31:20):
life for what it truly is, a cruel joke played
in a cold world apathetic to our existence. Some get
sick and never get well. Others lose their sanity and
stay lost in their minds. The lucky few pass silently
into the night. You're wrong. There's more to life than that.
(31:43):
There has to be. The only constant in life is
chaos and suffering. The only certainty death. Beyond that, it's
just a seat. You see ether in a futile attempt
to make sense of it. All wickedest lie people tell
themselves is that they have no control over their lives,
(32:05):
that they're too weak to influence their destiny, that they
have no choice but to suffer at the whims of
fate and fortune. But they're wrong. We can choose. We
can submit to the chaos. We can choose to suffer.
We can embrace death, and in that there is freedom.
(32:26):
In that lies the path to salvation. That's your answer.
Give up, We give in, We give in to what
is real. We give in to Umbra, willingly surrendered to her.
To commit yourself to Umbra makes you invincible, for then
nothing else can hurt you. It's the only sane choice
(32:49):
in this insane world. You may not understand, but there
is pleasure to despair, a relief from torment, a solace
and suffering. Through Umbra, we may rest in peace, High Priestess,
(33:11):
we arranged the grounds and identified the source of the
light that intrudes upon our sacred rights. It stems from
atop the southern cliff, the old lighthouse. I'll gather the
others and put it out. No, my child. On the contrary,
let it shine a light on our master's glory. Is
the lighthouse not worth searching for? First tributes fit for offering?
(33:32):
I've paid a visit to the beacon before, and spoken
with its keeper. There was nothing left for Umbra to possess.
As you say, let the light illuminate our ceremony, so
all may bear witness to her glory, Big man, blow
your shell for Umbra. Ah. Do it's serious, High Priestess.
(34:01):
The tribute is secured and has been branded with the
mark of possession. He's ready to be received. Good. Inoculate
him with the elixir one drop of sweet white flower
nectar to open his mind to the inner truth. Hear
that voice, give him a taste of the risen serious
(34:23):
the black mass. It must be close, it begins, What
(34:44):
do I do? What do I do? Either and serious
or in danger? Down there? Even if they fend off
the assailants, the black mass is still getting closer. I
ever heard a sound you can't come here that echoes
in your years, drawn in by the pitch hands, fixed
in frequency. That must be it. Sound. Sound must be
(35:05):
what's attracting the black mask, like when it hurd the
horn of the cock shell. I can try to lure
it away to the cliffs here and keep either in
serious safe. Does this lighthouse have a fog horn? It
does great? Where is it? Service room upstairs? In the attic?
The attic, of course, anything else I should know about
the fog horn? Fog fog one is broken. The fog
(35:26):
horn is broken, Yes, sorry, broken? How do I fix it?
You're searching for the right answer, but asking the wrong question.
What please? My friends are in big trouble and there
isn't much time. That fog horn might be the only
thing that can save them. Tell me how to fix it.
I don't think you understand the nature of the problem.
It's not the break in the horn. It's the tear
(35:47):
in the sky, the rupture in the ground, the fracture
in the fabric that ripples through what. We are out
of sync with the world, but we're made of the
world too. To set everything right, we need to risk
store balance in ourselves and our universe. Fix the world. Okay,
but first the fog horn. Where do I start? It
(36:07):
all begins with a big bang, a tug of the
pull cord, a flash in the pan that'll fire up
the engine and get the mantel rotating again as it
should be, and you will be on your way. Okay,
but give a schematic or manual of some sort. You're
the lighthouse keeper. You must have dealt with this before.
It's all been set into motions. Since the world began
(36:29):
spinning on its axis. We to cycle around this wheel
we call existence, passing through the three phases birth, life,
and death. Round and round and round we go. Maybe
I am asking the wrong question. How do I restore
balance to our universe and save the world? You find
the folk rum. See the world seesaws back and forth,
(36:52):
back and forth between order and chaos, chaos and order,
But everything that goes up must come down. To set
everything right and restore balance in our universe, find the
fulgrum and make it level. Is that all you have
to say? And when the time is right, flip the
switch and listen to the harmony of the spheres plays out.
How will I know when the time is right? The
(37:13):
intuition of course, what am I doing? What a waste
of time? That grandfather clock was right. You're just a
crazy old crock now. And remember, don't forget. In the
hour of the blood Moon and the pale Blue, we
(37:34):
summon the Umbra, are one true master. Heed the call
of the necronauts, Travelers to the Intra, Guardians of the
Valley of the Shadow of Death, Martyrs for your possession,
Show us the path home to your inner kingdom, for
we have lost our way on this terrestrial plane. Shatter
(37:55):
the grand allusion and reveal to us our true selves
so we may finally see what's real. Illuminate our final
resting place, and we shall be born again in your
fertile womb, immortal and death. We live to carry on
your name. The sunken child is blessed with the Holy Few.
(38:27):
We offer you a tribute so you may rise from
your eternal slumber, a dormant vessel bound to your will.
Fill his vacant head with your sacred knowledge, Flow through
his veins with your blackest bile. Move his lips so
he may speak the words that open the hidden door
(38:48):
to the Intra. Oh yes, oh yes, possess, I feel
her awakening within. See through his charcoal eyes, manifest in
his weighty mind, mind his spirit as yours to incarnate.
Use his body as you wish. Bring forward the night fire,
(39:10):
carry the torches to the sacrificial pire. O Umbra, take
me home. I'm ready to be received, burned away my weakness,
rise from my ashes. Show me the one true path,
and I will follow you into the night. We pray
to thee, save me from myself and set me free.
(39:30):
You sleep inside my soul. Awaken me, turned out to
SIMI fire. Stop stop the ceremony. How dare you went
to feel the dear? That's not the way to channel Umbra.
It won't work, Trust me, I said, why now, this
(39:55):
can't be the first time you performed the ceremony as
Umbra ever awakened. I'll did you the meaning of silence
that speake. Stop the ceremony. You have our ears. Either
enlighten us with your hidden wisdom, but pick your words carefully. Oh,
(40:15):
they'll be your last. You said it yourself. You worship
the pain and suffering Umber brings. You'd like nothing more
than for her to possess your soul, the one true
path home. Then your words are meaningless. The sunken child,
suffering and illusion. The ceremony a lie. No, Dear, how
can you let a prisoner talk like this? He's just
(40:36):
a heathen? Does he speak for the High Priestess? Hold
your tongue, fang Or, I will hold it for you.
Finish what you were saying. Umber of feeds off suffering,
but you necronouts welcome death and hopes of channeling her,
which means for you it's not suffering at all. It's pleasure.
That's why Umber won't awaken. You don't know true suffering.
(40:58):
What can speak? This sunken child, like all the others,
will give his life in vain for a promise that
can't be kept. How can any of you call yourselves
your master's true servants when all you offer Umbra is
false suffering. So spare the life of the sunken child,
and in this charade, release us and preserve your honor
(41:21):
before Umbra. That's the one true path home. Enough, release
our guests from the brig. You can't do it now,
fang Or, you will be left behind when we depart.
Gentle with untying our ropes. You heard the High Priests
(41:44):
for guests, Dear, thank you for understanding my partner and
I thank prepare these two for tribute. What it will
be my own a high priestess. Let's time with the
holy feel tie them to the sacrificial pie. But you're right,
(42:13):
we necronauts have nothing to offer our master. We'd already
give our lives, Willie Lane. But you, my surrogate childs,
you possess a gift that of true suffering. You are
our key to reaching the entry tribute. Secure to the pilet. Please,
(42:36):
you're making a mistake. We'll be needing this amulance where
you're going now, Etha, will you my amulance? You too
will serve as vessels for Umbrah's glory. Resumed the ceremony.
(43:10):
I'm sure the foghorn problem isn't anything. Some simple troubleshooting
can resolve. Engine. Probably just need some oil. Yeah that's right,
a little oil and all of everything up and running
in no time. Oh no, there's a lot more machinery
than I anticipated. Okay, okay, not a problem, no cause
(43:35):
for concern. I'll take a moment to survey the room
and explore the environment. M hm hm. There's there's some
complex mechanisms. Tubular devices, A stable of levers, pulleys, hand cranks,
and bats. They are bats. Okay, okay, it's really no problem.
(44:00):
I'll take a step by step, apply the scientific method,
and have a foghorn fixed and operational shortly. Mm hmmm,
I wonder what happens if I pull this lever and
press first steps. So with this step, how about if
(44:22):
I connect these two chords together? Photo photo photo. This
isn't working at all. I'm just randomly pulling levers and
pressing buttons. At this rate, it could take forever, and
by then it'd be too late. He's no more Hancko,
(44:44):
black mass disappear. We have bigger concerns at the moment.
Are one true master? We offer you these two tributes,
pure of mind and soul. They're real tears from real cries.
Will soon feel the whites of their eyes when we
wash them in the fire. They will burn most bright,
(45:07):
and their screams will bless the night. They will suffer
as our chosen martyrs bodies yours to possess and show
us the true path home to the Intra. They see
the staring him rang for the night by us. Come on, logo, think,
(45:44):
how is it that Sherlock was once able to operate
the fog horns complex machinery. There must be some method
to this madness. What was it he said about how
it starts. It all begins with a big bang, a
tug of the pull chord. That's as good a place
to start as any. H M. The engine. It's actually starting. Okay?
What was next? We to cycle around this wheel. We
(46:07):
call existence round and round and round we go the
hand wheel. Okay, hands in position ten and two. Let's
turn this wheel clockwise one, two, three. I hear the
smoke heating up through the clips. It's working. Then what okay?
(46:31):
The world seesaws back and forth between chaos and order.
To set everything right and restore the balance, find the
fulcrum and make it level. Here a metal beam resting
uneven upon its central pivot point or fulcrum. Next to
it are three steel weights of ten, five and fifteen pass.
I can s two sides equal to balance the beams.
(46:56):
The pressure gage is stabilizing, and when the time is right,
lit the switch and listen. It's the harmony of the
spears played out. I suppose that was as good a
time as henny. Here goes nothing. It's alive. It's alive,
(47:17):
my creation live, awaken up. Oh, I can from your
sleep my feeling, I feels her awakening. I can trip
(47:40):
you twitch five, Oh masta, break through the ground and
open avoid to swallow us home. Were welcome your return
phrase me to what's happening till your black worm? Now
(48:16):
it's too late. That team's gone, hip a Luna. Pull
back to the li ground. Let's side. Wait, don't leave
us tied tie you can keep you from the end
of don't to put it in. Say hi to a
(48:38):
faster I appy less, Let's go, black worm, come for
ouz ah serious, Sorry, this looks like the k Don't
(48:59):
be sad. Don't people at the bird. We'll worry for
you either, worm and follow horn, leave and go home.
(49:20):
We're saved, how Sherlock. I don't know if I'll ever
understand you. All that nonsense. It made sense. I'm off
to rescue my friends. I hope we meet again one day.
You can take my sand slid. It's in the basement.
Get you that quick up sure, stick to the eye
(49:43):
ground all about look good, no time for questions. Get
(50:05):
off too, there's no way out my mountain mask That
was worm leap yap a bally an. Now that the
worm has gone, that could be just crazy enough to work. Logo.
Don't get any wild ideas up one step ahead of yet,
(50:29):
as it look pretty tight. But if we can make
it through that slip in the valley rock, we might
be able to escape. Keep your legs and arms inside
the vehicle. It's about to get cozy. We're in time.
The crevice the walls is turning a narrow around us,
but the end is only a few yards ahead. Serious
three stings pop and selling that show a trust me,
(50:55):
now going to skip past that rock vile. We're finally free.
We made it through show dropt sand. Let it go.
(51:15):
It's great. I'm doing it. I'm really doing it. I'm
saving to day. Look at me, I'm a be David.
No helmet, no hardest, I'm trying without a mask. I flover. Oh,
we're out of gas. But now head to the high
ground leading out of the valley. We'll be safe their
(51:37):
once we're off the dune. The worm camp peers through
calcified rock. Who okay, but why are you walking like that? Oh?
I talk without rhythm. Don't alert the priest. Walk without rhythm,
don't attract the beast, come on, walk like me. Can't
beat him? Yeah, baby, Oh no, Please don't hurt them.
(52:29):
They're just pawns. They're just eating it in ponds in
this tragic game of life. Yeah. InterQuest created by Michael Freiberg,
(53:08):
a production of I Heart Radio and Astro Media Executive
produced by Michael Freiberg and I Hear Radio, co produced
by Adam Ramunda and Chelsea English. Sound design and mixed
by Dennis Dembeck. Music by Trey Toy. Performances by Matthew Brissard, Ether,
Mike Leaviovitz, Serious Mike Kaplan, Logo, Lucy poul Umbra featuring
(53:33):
Nick Nanny gate Man, Casey, James Lango, Sherlock, j P
mcdaide Fang, Mattie Smith, Zephyr, Tina Hesham, Luna, Nina tar Nader,
Joe List, Sunken Child. Director and head writer Michael Freiberg,
writers Tom Delgado and Will Julian, story editor Chelsea English,
(53:56):
dialogue editor Adam Ramunda. Additional music Matthew Blaca, fully post
red full cast and crew in the description. Find more
podcasts from my Heart Radio on the I Heart Radio app,
Apple podcast, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
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