December 16, 2024 • 11 mins
Artifacts of the Arcane:
The world has abandoned magic, but magic hasn’t abandoned the world.
Tommy tracks down Naomi for help.
----
Find out more about series writer Jake Kerr:
https://jakekerr.com
Visit our epic fantasy podcast The Thieves Guild:
https://podcastalchemy.studio/thievesguild/
----
Find out more about series writer Jake Kerr:
https://jakekerr.com
Check out our other drama podcasts!
The Thieves Guild
An epic fantasy centered around the city-state of Ness
Some secrets are worth dying for. Some are worth killing for.
https://podcastalchemy.studio/thievesguild
Thursday
A cyberpunk VR Thriller
No one can be trusted when nothing is real.
https://podcastalchemy.studio/thursday
The world has abandoned magic, but magic hasn’t abandoned the world.
Tommy tracks down Naomi for help.
----
Find out more about series writer Jake Kerr:
https://jakekerr.com
Visit our epic fantasy podcast The Thieves Guild:
https://podcastalchemy.studio/thievesguild/
----
Find out more about series writer Jake Kerr:
https://jakekerr.com
Check out our other drama podcasts!
The Thieves Guild
An epic fantasy centered around the city-state of Ness
Some secrets are worth dying for. Some are worth killing for.
https://podcastalchemy.studio/thievesguild
Thursday
A cyberpunk VR Thriller
No one can be trusted when nothing is real.
https://podcastalchemy.studio/thursday
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Artifacts of the Arcane by Jake Kerr. Season one, The
Staff of Light, episode fifteen, Plans are made.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
I didn't remember leaving the building. Maybe I passed people,
maybe I didn't. Maybe people talk to me, maybe they didn't.
All I wanted was to find Naomi and tell her
what happened. I didn't know what she would say, but
I had no other options. The people in the Citadel
didn't care about me. They wanted the staff. Mister Ali
didn't care about me either, He just wanted to destroy
(00:42):
the staff. I didn't know why, and I didn't care.
All I knew was that the only person I could
count on was Naomi, and even she possibly still hated me.
I stumbled around, cursing the illusions that were placed on everything.
I finally found the door to my quarters, but the
academy was further down. I ran to the next door,
(01:03):
and it still took longer than I expected. I tried
the handle and it opened. I walked in and found
myself in another antechamber, like the one that had the
staircase to my quarters. This floor was dusty and worn, however,
and the staircase was marked by chips in the balustrade
and damaged steps. To the right was a large door
that was closed. To the left were double doors that
(01:26):
were held open by doorstops. Beyond them was a long
hallway filled with wooden doors with frosted windows. Young Men
in the same uniform I was wearing wandered here and there.
Some had a few metals or stripes, but most were unadorned.
They paid me no mind. I remembered the corporal mentioning
that they would find room for Naomi in the floor
above the dormitories. So I climbed the stairway, which was
(01:48):
mostly empty. The top was again similar to my quarters
in the other part of the building. I started walking
toward the hallway that led to what I hoped were
the rooms over the dormitories. When a young man exited
the hallway, he looked at me and squinted.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
You shouldn't be up here. Who are you and who
is your floor captain?
Speaker 2 (02:06):
I nervously tapped the cane on the floor. The young man,
who looked about five or six years older than me,
crossed his arms. I considered my options and realized I
had only one. I was alone, my family was dead,
and my friend betrayed me. The only one I could
rely on was myself. I stopped tapping the cane and
held it up. I'm the arch Mage and I'm looking
(02:28):
for Naomi, a student of the academy. Is she housed
on this floor. The young man glanced at the cane
and then looked at my face.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
You are not the arch Mage.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
I had enough. No one respected me, no one cared
for me. I squeezed the staff in my fist, and
a dazzling light shone forth. The young soldier shaded his eyes.
I didn't care if I blinded him. I am the
arch Mage, and if you don't help me, I will
be forced to go to Lord Ainsley and drag him
here to help me instead. The young man stepped back,
(03:00):
still shielding his eyes. I can assure you that Lord
Ainslie will not be happy.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
I'm sorry, Archmage.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
He looked down, avoiding the glare of the staff. She's
down the whole third door on the right. I snuffed
out the light, and the soldier looked back at me.
His eyes were watering. Do you know if she's in
her room?
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Yes, she is. I was just delivering her the schedule
for her disciplinary duties. He inched toward the steps. Disciplinary duties. Yes,
she left her class this morning without permission. She has
kitchen duty as punishment.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Punishment, he nodded. I pictured Naomi being told to clean
dishes and laughed. I will discuss this with her, I added,
trying to sound solemn, although I couldn't get the picture
of Naomi hurling detonations at piles of dishes out of
my mind.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Can I leave, sir?
Speaker 2 (03:49):
The soldier had made his way to the top of
the stairway and looked like all he wanted to do
was sprint downstairs. I nodded, and he did so. I
knocked on Naomi's door. I waited, and as I was
just about to knock again, the door flew open and
there was Naomi, wearing the same uniform as me, her
golden hair disheveled and half covering her face, her eyes bloodshot.
(04:12):
The snarl on her face fell as she recognized me. Tommy,
I need your help, I replied, unable to think of
anything charming or witty to say. She grabbed my arm,
pulled me into the room, and slammed the door. The
room was small, maybe ten foot square. There was a
cut in the corner, a chest at its end, and
a wooden chair next to a small desk.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
That was it.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Naomi slid her hair behind her ears and sat on.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
The cut So what's the problem street light?
Speaker 2 (04:41):
She motioned to the chair, and I sat down. It's
a long story.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
Well, I have nothing but time. I'm leaving this place
as soon as I can. Do you know what my
first class was this morning?
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Elementary illusion. It was the first thing that came to
mind after my meeting with Cain introduction to Domes magic.
She practically spat the words, do.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
You know how many other magicians were in the class
with me?
Speaker 2 (05:07):
None?
Speaker 4 (05:08):
You got it.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
I couldn't quite believe what I was hearing. She was
already practically at master level, and they had her working
on magic to do chores. It made no sense.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
So what's your story? They have plans for you to
illuminate Big Ben for tourists.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Eleven years ago, my parents died in a subway crash
in New York. Naomi sat up straight, stared at me
for a moment, and then lowered her head.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
Tommy, I'm so sorry.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
My grandfather raised me the Pelevon, Yes, but I didn't
know that. I barely knew about magic at all until
days ago.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
But you're the arch mage. How could you not know?
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Naomi stared at me, fully engaged in my story. I
then outlined the events of the past week. I described
the attack from the shadows, the attack on the restaurant,
and how my grandfather had given me the staff, and
how mister Ali was to protect me as we escaped.
I described the river, the gollums, and finding ourselves at
the way station. Through it all, I outlined the underlying
(06:10):
story of my grandfather wanting to keep the staff and
mister Ali wanting to get rid of it.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
You mentioned that on the train.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
I nodded. I then outlined my meeting with kin. Her
jaw dropped as I described his illusions.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
Illusion is not my speciality, although I can perform a
few of them.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
This did not surprise me at all. In fact, it
wouldn't have surprised me if her few illusions were near
master level.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
So let me assure you that what he did sounds impossible.
No one could be that skilled with magic. Illusions are
simply too complicated to do what you describe the coordinated
body control it would take.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
I thought back to Kine's spastic body movements and wondered
if that was related to his abilities was his entire
body prepping spells while I watched. I thought back to
the pain of my arm on fire and replied, I
assure you he is that skilled. I then discussed how
mister Ali and I went to meet with Lord Gort.
I then described the conversation, ending with mister Ali's betrayal.
(07:11):
I clenched the staff in my hand. I don't know
what to do. Naomi stared at me.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
How could he betray his friend like that?
Speaker 2 (07:20):
I don't know. I looked at Naomi, and the sympathy
and concern on her face removed any doubts I had.
She cared about me. I didn't know what to say,
and the silence lingered. I considered what she had gone
through as well, and I realized that all we had
was each other. I lowered my head and whispered, I'm
(07:41):
sorry about your mother. She sounds like she was an
amazing woman. It felt right to say it. Naomi didn't reply,
and I glanced up to see if she was perhaps
mad at me. She was crying, so I looked away.
She cleared her throat and then whispered, thank you. I
glanced at her, and she was wiping her eyes. She
(08:02):
looked at me, smiled, and added, we're both alone now.
I nodded the domestic mage and the street light. Naomi grinned,
So what do we do? We will save my grandfather.
I said the words with an unexpected force.
Speaker 4 (08:17):
Absolutely, we'll save your grandfather, and he'll be able to
use the staff to make everything right.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
As soon as she said the words, I could tell
she felt bad. She covered her mouth with her hand
and added.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
I'm sorry, Tommy, I didn't mean it that way.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
I smiled.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
It's okay.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
I know he's more powerful than I am. I'm kind
of useless. Actually, I just don't want to be alone anymore.
And as soon as I said it, I felt bad.
She had just lost her mother. Could I be any
more insensitive? I broke the awkward silence that followed by saying,
but first we have to get out of here. We
can perhaps get beyond the walls. But then where do
(08:56):
we go? You can be sure that someone will be
chasing us. Naomi smiled and stood up.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
You forget that I'm the granddaughter of a legendary whaymaster.
I know all the train stops in England. Once we
get our bearings, I'll find a stop, and we can
flee on a train.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Will that work? Trust me? I stood up, and for
some reason, Errol Flynn popped into my head. The grandchildren
of legends, alone without family, unwonted despite our power. I
meant to be inspirational and said the words as if
I were narrating a motion picture. I smiled and held
out my hand. We make a good team. Naomi looked
(09:34):
at me and hesitantly took my hand. It was the
hesitation that killed me. As soon as I shook her hand,
I realized how stupid it was. She was beautiful and
powerful and smart, and we were about to travel alone together,
and I pretend we're in a movie. And even worse,
I shook her hand. Who does that? I quickly pulled
(09:55):
my hand away. My heart was racing from anger at myself,
and I that if I didn't get away for at
least a little bit, I would die of embarrassment. I
need to get my old shoes. These boots don't fit.
I lied, I'll meet you here after I go grab
them from my room. Okay. She tucked her hair behind
her ears again and I turned away. Did she have
(10:16):
to be so pretty? I walked out the door and
down the steps. I tried to forget the handshake, but
I couldn't. All I could think about was that her
hand was warm and soft, and that she had gripped
my hand tight
Speaker 4 (11:00):
As
Artifacts of the Arcane by Jake Kerr. Season one, The
Staff of Light, episode fifteen, Plans are made.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
I didn't remember leaving the building. Maybe I passed people,
maybe I didn't. Maybe people talk to me, maybe they didn't.
All I wanted was to find Naomi and tell her
what happened. I didn't know what she would say, but
I had no other options. The people in the Citadel
didn't care about me. They wanted the staff. Mister Ali
didn't care about me either, He just wanted to destroy
(00:42):
the staff. I didn't know why, and I didn't care.
All I knew was that the only person I could
count on was Naomi, and even she possibly still hated me.
I stumbled around, cursing the illusions that were placed on everything.
I finally found the door to my quarters, but the
academy was further down. I ran to the next door,
(01:03):
and it still took longer than I expected. I tried
the handle and it opened. I walked in and found
myself in another antechamber, like the one that had the
staircase to my quarters. This floor was dusty and worn, however,
and the staircase was marked by chips in the balustrade
and damaged steps. To the right was a large door
that was closed. To the left were double doors that
(01:26):
were held open by doorstops. Beyond them was a long
hallway filled with wooden doors with frosted windows. Young Men
in the same uniform I was wearing wandered here and there.
Some had a few metals or stripes, but most were unadorned.
They paid me no mind. I remembered the corporal mentioning
that they would find room for Naomi in the floor
above the dormitories. So I climbed the stairway, which was
(01:48):
mostly empty. The top was again similar to my quarters
in the other part of the building. I started walking
toward the hallway that led to what I hoped were
the rooms over the dormitories. When a young man exited
the hallway, he looked at me and squinted.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
You shouldn't be up here. Who are you and who
is your floor captain?
Speaker 2 (02:06):
I nervously tapped the cane on the floor. The young man,
who looked about five or six years older than me,
crossed his arms. I considered my options and realized I
had only one. I was alone, my family was dead,
and my friend betrayed me. The only one I could
rely on was myself. I stopped tapping the cane and
held it up. I'm the arch Mage and I'm looking
(02:28):
for Naomi, a student of the academy. Is she housed
on this floor. The young man glanced at the cane
and then looked at my face.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
You are not the arch Mage.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
I had enough. No one respected me, no one cared
for me. I squeezed the staff in my fist, and
a dazzling light shone forth. The young soldier shaded his eyes.
I didn't care if I blinded him. I am the
arch Mage, and if you don't help me, I will
be forced to go to Lord Ainsley and drag him
here to help me instead. The young man stepped back,
(03:00):
still shielding his eyes. I can assure you that Lord
Ainslie will not be happy.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
I'm sorry, Archmage.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
He looked down, avoiding the glare of the staff. She's
down the whole third door on the right. I snuffed
out the light, and the soldier looked back at me.
His eyes were watering. Do you know if she's in
her room?
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Yes, she is. I was just delivering her the schedule
for her disciplinary duties. He inched toward the steps. Disciplinary duties. Yes,
she left her class this morning without permission. She has
kitchen duty as punishment.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Punishment, he nodded. I pictured Naomi being told to clean
dishes and laughed. I will discuss this with her, I added,
trying to sound solemn, although I couldn't get the picture
of Naomi hurling detonations at piles of dishes out of
my mind.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Can I leave, sir?
Speaker 2 (03:49):
The soldier had made his way to the top of
the stairway and looked like all he wanted to do
was sprint downstairs. I nodded, and he did so. I
knocked on Naomi's door. I waited, and as I was
just about to knock again, the door flew open and
there was Naomi, wearing the same uniform as me, her
golden hair disheveled and half covering her face, her eyes bloodshot.
(04:12):
The snarl on her face fell as she recognized me. Tommy,
I need your help, I replied, unable to think of
anything charming or witty to say. She grabbed my arm,
pulled me into the room, and slammed the door. The
room was small, maybe ten foot square. There was a
cut in the corner, a chest at its end, and
a wooden chair next to a small desk.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
That was it.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Naomi slid her hair behind her ears and sat on.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
The cut So what's the problem street light?
Speaker 2 (04:41):
She motioned to the chair, and I sat down. It's
a long story.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
Well, I have nothing but time. I'm leaving this place
as soon as I can. Do you know what my
first class was this morning?
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Elementary illusion. It was the first thing that came to
mind after my meeting with Cain introduction to Domes magic.
She practically spat the words, do.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
You know how many other magicians were in the class
with me?
Speaker 2 (05:07):
None?
Speaker 4 (05:08):
You got it.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
I couldn't quite believe what I was hearing. She was
already practically at master level, and they had her working
on magic to do chores. It made no sense.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
So what's your story? They have plans for you to
illuminate Big Ben for tourists.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Eleven years ago, my parents died in a subway crash
in New York. Naomi sat up straight, stared at me
for a moment, and then lowered her head.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
Tommy, I'm so sorry.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
My grandfather raised me the Pelevon, Yes, but I didn't
know that. I barely knew about magic at all until
days ago.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
But you're the arch mage. How could you not know?
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Naomi stared at me, fully engaged in my story. I
then outlined the events of the past week. I described
the attack from the shadows, the attack on the restaurant,
and how my grandfather had given me the staff, and
how mister Ali was to protect me as we escaped.
I described the river, the gollums, and finding ourselves at
the way station. Through it all, I outlined the underlying
(06:10):
story of my grandfather wanting to keep the staff and
mister Ali wanting to get rid of it.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
You mentioned that on the train.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
I nodded. I then outlined my meeting with kin. Her
jaw dropped as I described his illusions.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
Illusion is not my speciality, although I can perform a
few of them.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
This did not surprise me at all. In fact, it
wouldn't have surprised me if her few illusions were near
master level.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
So let me assure you that what he did sounds impossible.
No one could be that skilled with magic. Illusions are
simply too complicated to do what you describe the coordinated
body control it would take.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
I thought back to Kine's spastic body movements and wondered
if that was related to his abilities was his entire
body prepping spells while I watched. I thought back to
the pain of my arm on fire and replied, I
assure you he is that skilled. I then discussed how
mister Ali and I went to meet with Lord Gort.
I then described the conversation, ending with mister Ali's betrayal.
(07:11):
I clenched the staff in my hand. I don't know
what to do. Naomi stared at me.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
How could he betray his friend like that?
Speaker 2 (07:20):
I don't know. I looked at Naomi, and the sympathy
and concern on her face removed any doubts I had.
She cared about me. I didn't know what to say,
and the silence lingered. I considered what she had gone
through as well, and I realized that all we had
was each other. I lowered my head and whispered, I'm
(07:41):
sorry about your mother. She sounds like she was an
amazing woman. It felt right to say it. Naomi didn't reply,
and I glanced up to see if she was perhaps
mad at me. She was crying, so I looked away.
She cleared her throat and then whispered, thank you. I
glanced at her, and she was wiping her eyes. She
(08:02):
looked at me, smiled, and added, we're both alone now.
I nodded the domestic mage and the street light. Naomi grinned,
So what do we do? We will save my grandfather.
I said the words with an unexpected force.
Speaker 4 (08:17):
Absolutely, we'll save your grandfather, and he'll be able to
use the staff to make everything right.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
As soon as she said the words, I could tell
she felt bad. She covered her mouth with her hand
and added.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
I'm sorry, Tommy, I didn't mean it that way.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
I smiled.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
It's okay.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
I know he's more powerful than I am. I'm kind
of useless. Actually, I just don't want to be alone anymore.
And as soon as I said it, I felt bad.
She had just lost her mother. Could I be any
more insensitive? I broke the awkward silence that followed by saying,
but first we have to get out of here. We
can perhaps get beyond the walls. But then where do
(08:56):
we go? You can be sure that someone will be
chasing us. Naomi smiled and stood up.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
You forget that I'm the granddaughter of a legendary whaymaster.
I know all the train stops in England. Once we
get our bearings, I'll find a stop, and we can
flee on a train.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Will that work? Trust me? I stood up, and for
some reason, Errol Flynn popped into my head. The grandchildren
of legends, alone without family, unwonted despite our power. I
meant to be inspirational and said the words as if
I were narrating a motion picture. I smiled and held
out my hand. We make a good team. Naomi looked
(09:34):
at me and hesitantly took my hand. It was the
hesitation that killed me. As soon as I shook her hand,
I realized how stupid it was. She was beautiful and
powerful and smart, and we were about to travel alone together,
and I pretend we're in a movie. And even worse,
I shook her hand. Who does that? I quickly pulled
(09:55):
my hand away. My heart was racing from anger at myself,
and I that if I didn't get away for at
least a little bit, I would die of embarrassment. I
need to get my old shoes. These boots don't fit.
I lied, I'll meet you here after I go grab
them from my room. Okay. She tucked her hair behind
her ears again and I turned away. Did she have
(10:16):
to be so pretty? I walked out the door and
down the steps. I tried to forget the handshake, but
I couldn't. All I could think about was that her
hand was warm and soft, and that she had gripped
my hand tight
Speaker 4 (11:00):
As
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