Shadow of the Ancients / Run 003 / Setup

Round 1 Transcript

Episode 1 · Episode Round 1

N

Narrator · Narrator

The Narrator lets the room settle and lays out the immediate proposition in concrete terms, making clear that the cast must answer what is being asked of them before anything can move forward.

J

Jeane · Sorcerer

Jeane traces a sigil in the air with one clawed finger as she speaks. The tower has claimed many who sought its secrets. What assurance do we have that this time will be different? Success requires more than mere brawn and blades—it demands arcane precision, careful negotiation with forces beyond mortal comprehension, and an iron grip on control. I will not send my magic into a death trap unprepared.

H

Halie · Cleric

I came here because this village priestess begged us to help. My voice is steady but tired. The goddess of light has blessed me with her symbol and a duty to protect the innocent from darkness. But I won't be part of some suicidal rampage into a demon-haunted tomb just to satisfy curiosity or greed. If we're meant to retrieve this sword for the greater good—like freeing those captives, or stopping whatever evil is spreading from that place—then my light will guide us and heal our wounds. But first, I need to understand what we're truly doing here. The villagers say their children are vanishing, yes? That's a curse, not an adventure.

M

Merrin · Rogue

I fidget with my lockpicks as I listen, my eyes darting between the others. A tower full of undead skeletons and demonic entities? Sounds like a recipe for an early grave if you ask me. I let out a nervous chuckle. But I didn't come all this way just to turn back now. If there's treasure to be had, I aim to get my hands on it.

S

Seraphine · Wizard

I push my glasses up the bridge of my nose, peering intently at the maps spread across the table. The legends surrounding the Time-Splitting Sword are enticing, yet I cannot shake the unease that settles deep within my bones. I have spent years studying the forbidden histories of such artifacts; they rarely bestow power without exacting an exorbitant price in return. My voice is quiet, a precise murmur as I turn to address the group. Before we commit to this perilous quest, I must know: what are the specific terms of our contract? What exactly do we hope to achieve by recovering this weapon? And more importantly, what safeguards have been put in place to ensure the knowledge and magic we uncover will not be turned against us or the world at large?

V

Varrika · Fighter

I shift uncomfortably in my seat, the weight of my armor pressing heavily on my shoulders. A tower full of undead and demons, you say? I scoff, shaking my head. Sounds like a fool's errand if you ask me. Been in enough battles to know that numbers don't always favor the living.