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Episode: Part 41 "The Windmill"

Author: Harlan Guthrie
Duration: 00:53:55

Episode Shownotes

In the first Part of Season 5 Arthur & The Entity within find themselves in a new place. Unsure of where to begin the two struggle to find their footing and a way to repair the damage that has been done in their friendship. With the stakes more real than

they've ever been before and the "stick" hanging over their heads, the two must find a way forward...Consider supporting now at: https://www.patreon.com/TheINVICTUSStream Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Full Transcript

00:00:13 Speaker_03
Cain!

00:00:17 Speaker_05
Cain, goddammit, Cain! He's gone, Arthur.

00:00:22 Speaker_01
Cain, you son- He's gone! The gateway, he opened it- Shut up! Shut up! You- Arthur, I- You fucking villain!

00:00:36 Speaker_03
After everything. After you tried to murder Oscar, and I forgave you. After lying to me about... about everything.

00:00:45 Speaker_05
You... Oh, fuck you, Arthur. You can't tell me you wouldn't have done the exact same thing. What? I absolutely would not have. We're supposed to be friends. Are we, though? These last few days you've treated me like a fucking tagger! Oh, here we go again!

00:01:04 Speaker_05
You can brush me off again, just like you did- I didn't brush you off, you childish prick!

00:01:08 Speaker_03
I spoke to Noel for you! I brought you exactly what you claimed you didn't have in Oscar. So what the fuck are you even talking about? You- I'm trapped!

00:01:19 Speaker_05
Just like Yellow was in Larsen. Just like Noel was in the Dreamlands. You are my goddamn keeper, and I am sick of it! I'm through being beaten down after every choice I make.

00:01:31 Speaker_05
Are you seriously trying to take the stance that trying to erase my memory was the fair and honest way? What I am saying is I am through being treated like a passenger. I can do more now.

00:01:44 Speaker_01
And I won't hesitate to. What?

00:01:50 Speaker_05
You heard me. And you saw me. I don't I have more abilities now. I have more... options.

00:02:05 Speaker_03
You... projecting yourself like that... it took a lot from me. You know that.

00:02:15 Speaker_05
It... it rendered me useless. You can't... Maybe I can. I'm not... I'm saying that maybe I... I deserve some... Some fucking grace here, Arthur!

00:02:36 Speaker_02
I don't... Listen... Listen... I... I'm just saying... Don't act like you wouldn't have done the same thing! Arthur...

00:02:55 Speaker_05
You would've. What do you want? You want the power. Okay. Fine. You wanna call the shots? Find the Blackstone? You're tired of being a passenger, you wanna drive this body? Fine! Clearly you can now. In some manner. That's not what I'm saying!

00:03:20 Speaker_05
I'm saying- Oh, I hear exactly what you're saying.

00:03:23 Speaker_03
You're saying that I better forgive and forget that you tried to fuck with my brain. Because if I don't, you'll take control from me. And you believe that argument makes you what? More powerful?

00:03:38 Speaker_05
Did you not just say to Yellow that true weakness is believing your power makes you superior? What the fuck is wrong with you?

00:03:56 Speaker_01
I don't know.

00:03:59 Speaker_05
I'm all seeing yellow, feeling trapped, watching Noel almost die.

00:04:10 Speaker_02
I don't know, Martha. I'm so lost. I'm so

00:04:33 Speaker_01
For eons I ruled with no counter, no equal.

00:04:40 Speaker_05
My whims, my will, my entire existence catered to fulfilling my own desires. No boundaries in the slightest way. The idea of being stifled in the smallest way was never even a possibility.

00:04:59 Speaker_05
And though I don't remember that time, I don't remember that life, I can feel its influence, like a deep-seated memory that refuses to reveal itself. I can feel it always, roiling beneath the surface. killing Oscar felt so natural, so instinctual.

00:05:38 Speaker_05
It didn't even really dawn on me what was actually happening until you confronted me about it. It's so much easier to fall back on the instinctual parts of me.

00:05:57 Speaker_02
But I feel torn in two. I'm lost, Arthur.

00:06:05 Speaker_05
I don't know what to do, and I'm frustrated.

00:06:13 Speaker_03
I don't know. But stop turning that frustration towards me. You want to command me? You want to take over this body? No. Do it or don't. But stop threatening me.

00:06:30 Speaker_05
I... What am I supposed to say? After that... After Kane offered me... You say you fucked up, John. Jesus Christ. I... I know.

00:06:49 Speaker_03
It was an absolute betrayal of my trust. One I don't see a path back from right now. I'm sorry.

00:07:02 Speaker_05
Well, I'll tell you this. It was a very human thing to do.

00:07:08 Speaker_03
So I suppose if you're keeping Tali, unforgivable as that was, at least it was a human fuck-up.

00:07:20 Speaker_05
The deal with Kain- In a moment. We need to get out of this rain.

00:07:26 Speaker_04
Where?

00:07:28 Speaker_05
What the fuck am I- It's alright, it's okay. It's alright. There's a stone windmill nearby. We're standing in a field. It's night time. A row of trees nearby can be seen, but I can't see much else.

00:07:42 Speaker_05
The windmill is only barely visible between flashes of lightning. This way? Yes. Left. Wait, wait. Yes, left. Why wait? Nothing. I thought. It's nothing. You're sure? Yes, the door is just ahead.

00:08:15 Speaker_03
Well, small blessings. Oh, it smells in here.

00:08:23 Speaker_05
Like, I don't know, rot. It's pitch black. search for a light switch? Reflex, I suppose. Guess I'll need to rearrange some thinking. Jesus Christ. When? How are we supposed to- Light first. I can't see anything in here. Right.

00:08:50 Speaker_05
Everything is soaked through in the bag. Fuck! The lighter? Yeah, I can... I need to dry it out, maybe. I need to... I can't see anything. What do you need? I just need something to rub it against. A piece of wood or... The floor is wood. Right.

00:09:09 Speaker_05
I... I didn't mean it. About taking control. But you can project yourself now. I know. But I... It wasn't an empty threat. It... I wouldn't do that without talking to you. Unless... How did it feel? It felt... powerful. There. Yes. Okay.

00:09:47 Speaker_05
It's dim, but we're in a stone windmill. The floor is made out of thick wooden boards covered in what looks like dust. Above us, there's... Arthur, douse the light! There's something in the rafters, staring at us. In what?

00:10:10 Speaker_05
I only saw its yellow eyes in the reflection of the light, but it was silently clinging to one of the wooden beams, staring at us. It saw us? It's been watching us the whole time. Say something to it.

00:10:35 Speaker_03
We don't... I don't mean you any harm.

00:10:41 Speaker_05
I'm lost. I've gotten lost in the rain, and... Look.

00:10:51 Speaker_03
I just want a place to... A place from the rain that I can... I don't mean any...

00:11:09 Speaker_02
What?

00:11:11 Speaker_04
What the fuck are you laughing for? Stop it! It's an owl. It's an owl, John. It's a fucking owl. An owl? See?

00:11:26 Speaker_05
I don't... Only its eyes are...

00:11:34 Speaker_04
It's fine, it's fine, look.

00:11:37 Speaker_05
Look, given all we've been through, all we've experienced together, given everything we've accomplished and survived, it's completely expected that you might be a little jumpy.

00:12:02 Speaker_04
We've weathered some truly Horrific storms, John. Both of us.

00:12:12 Speaker_03
Together.

00:12:15 Speaker_05
And now... And now? And now we're in the fucking 1200s, I suppose. Jesus Christ.

00:12:28 Speaker_04
Somewhere in England.

00:12:30 Speaker_05
I can scarcely believe it. Given everything Kane has shown to be possible, I believe it. That whirlwind of power... He killed all other versions of himself. I... He is insane. And has power unlike anything I believe I've ever seen.

00:12:56 Speaker_03
This England... It may not even be... I mean... It may be a different one than I... know of.

00:13:08 Speaker_05
What do you mean? He spoke of many different keys, remember? Different versions of... Right. Well, I know admittedly very little history of England around this time. Nearly none, but even what I do know, it It could be totally different.

00:13:29 Speaker_05
We may not be in... our version of this... date. Does that make any sense? All that makes sense is that we have one job to do here. And then... And then... Speculating and then will lead us nowhere. You're right. We have only the stick to think about.

00:13:52 Speaker_05
The things Cain could do. Will do. So, the, uh... Blackstone, then. Yes. The Blackstone. Well, at least you didn't give us a deadline. Small graces. But I hear what you're saying. This world could be very different than what we expect. On every front.

00:14:21 Speaker_05
So, we... we eat the elephant. One bite at a time. There's a torch on the wall. The central wooden pillar here. Right, thanks. It's there. There. Okay. What do we see? We're in a small, round room. There's a ladder that leads up, and another that leads down.

00:14:52 Speaker_05
Above, the beams support the structure up to a large wooden gear that seems just above a platform. It doesn't seem to be turning. The ladder down leads through an open hatch.

00:15:06 Speaker_05
On this level, there's a small crudely made wooden cabinet, and a small table with a stool. Let's check the cabinet. To your right. Look, we can't afford to be at odds here, John. Not anymore. I know. But it is time to grow up. In every sense of the word.

00:15:31 Speaker_05
Do you get it? It's not about growing up, Arthur. It's not that simple or straightforward. I... I need a moment to figure out... What it is I am. What I truly desire to become. I get that. I get that. And if you want to... Look, I'm here.

00:16:01 Speaker_05
If you need to... I just... I need to think. I'd like to take a moment and understand what these past few days have meant. Since coming back. from the dark world. It's only been a handful of days.

00:16:21 Speaker_05
I thought I was certain of what I wanted, but I realize now that I need time. There was so much I couldn't explain because you weren't able to know where I had come from. But now, with you knowing, perhaps... Yes, yes, I understand. Thank you. Anything?

00:16:49 Speaker_05
Some dried leaves. Some sort of... what looks like rope? Oh, candles! Mostly burned to the nub. We'll take them. There are three of them. At this point, anything helps. Cain said something about your time in the Dark World. Yes, Arthur.

00:17:15 Speaker_05
Look when you're ready. I'm not going to push you into anything, but I need you to know... I would have forgiven you, John.

00:17:27 Speaker_03
Easily. Taking that deal from Kane. Clearly, it was the right call.

00:17:36 Speaker_05
I would have understood. I realize that now. I've made mistakes. Such as thinking that could be anything more sinister than a fucking owl. Hey, if it's any consolation, owls in the... well, in this time period were bad omens in their own right.

00:17:54 Speaker_02
Were they?

00:17:56 Speaker_05
Yes. They gained a sinister reputation because of their nocturnal persuasion.

00:18:02 Speaker_03
But truth be told, I've always quite liked them.

00:18:05 Speaker_05
Hm. Sinister just because they were nocturnal. In fact, they believed an owl's call was the foretelling of someone's death. Given that we're alone, unsure of where we are with little to no food, I'd agree, and say that its presence is quite a bad omen.

00:18:27 Speaker_05
Nonsense.

00:18:31 Speaker_04
Hello there! Hello! Hey!

00:18:34 Speaker_03
My name is Arthur.

00:18:37 Speaker_04
The voice in my head is John. What's your name?

00:18:40 Speaker_05
Arthur. You're a pretty thing, I bet. What does it look like? It's brown. yellow eyes. A horned owl. Great horned. Do its ears peek out like little horns?

00:18:56 Speaker_02
Arthur!

00:18:58 Speaker_05
I recognize your compulsion for needing to befriend every creature you meet. But in the flickering torchlight, the owl's shadow cuts a dark and foreboding aura amongst the rafters. Why don't we name you something safe? John, right?

00:19:20 Speaker_05
Something that feels comfortable. Comfortable? What?

00:19:27 Speaker_03
Alexander.

00:19:28 Speaker_05
Alexander the Owl. What say you, friend?

00:19:34 Speaker_04
Well, see? He likes it.

00:19:38 Speaker_03
Or she. I don't know how to tell the difference. Look, we have shelter from the storm. We can sleep on the floor if need be, right? So we have everything we need for tonight. Let's just worry about that, one moment at a time.

00:19:54 Speaker_03
If we start thinking about the wider view of things here...

00:19:58 Speaker_05
We're just gonna get overwhelmed. Well, we should make sure there are no other animals living here before sleeping. Yes, of course. We'll poke around first. Above us, you said... Yes, it opens up to a plateau of sorts.

00:20:11 Speaker_05
A wooden floor higher above, though I can't vouch for its stability from down here. Right, right. And then there's down. Yes. Which first? Let's head down, probably. Alright. We can search up after. And Alexander agrees with down, so... Wonderful.

00:20:33 Speaker_05
The ladder down is to your right. It's a crude wooden ladder. Some of the bark from the branches that were used to make the rungs still remains.

00:20:47 Speaker_03
I think you'll find that quite common from now on.

00:20:50 Speaker_05
Ornate woodwork is a luxury, not necessary, or of interest for most people, especially in this age. Careful! The ladder is old. How far down? A bit. Ten feet, maybe. Right. The rungs are bending under your weight. Oh. What? The smell.

00:21:17 Speaker_03
I noticed it when we first entered.

00:21:19 Speaker_05
It's much stronger down here. It smells of... rot. Perhaps they kept food down here. Possible. What do you see? We're in the dark, damp, medium-sized basement, I suppose, of this windmill.

00:21:40 Speaker_05
The walls are made of the same stone as above, a variety of cobblestone stacked upon themselves, layered to create a random pattern of sturdy rock. Right.

00:21:50 Speaker_05
In the center, connected to the upper floor, it seems there's a large stone wheel, and a basin of sorts. Right, for grinding whatever... Yes, only it doesn't seem to have been used in some time.

00:22:05 Speaker_05
There is a small amount of whatever wheat was left in the grindstone. But it's mostly gone. Is that what you're smelling? No, I don't think so. It smells... wetter. Well, the light only just touches the walls of this round room.

00:22:25 Speaker_05
You'll need to move forward a bit. In the corner opposite us, beneath the large wooden floor above, there are a few crates. It looks like loose wheat was kept in them, but now is gone. And... What? There's... something... in the wall. What? A... crack.

00:22:59 Speaker_05
This way. Well, left. That's it. That's it. The smell... Yeah, it's coming from... The wall here... It's... Cracked open. The jagged stonework is almost... Unzipped.

00:23:22 Speaker_03
Broken?

00:23:23 Speaker_05
No. No. It's... It's as if the stonework was pulled apart. By hand? Chisel? No, I mean... It just... It wasn't built like this, or broken. It looks pulled apart, literally. As if the wall itself moved. Okay. Beyond, I can't see much of anything.

00:23:56 Speaker_05
But the torch is catching the light of something within. Glistening, almost. Wait, wait. It continues. Yes. The torchlight is reflecting off the walls within. They look... wet. It smells... earthy. But... off. Bitter and damp. Can we block it?

00:24:31 Speaker_05
seal it in some way. You could try to move the crates in front, but they're not very large and fairly empty. It wouldn't do much. No. No, that's fair.

00:24:41 Speaker_04
Well, let's just not linger here, then.

00:24:43 Speaker_05
Agreed. Though... What? Well, is this place safe to rest? Let's just see if we can find something to block it, and then decide what we should do if we can't. All right. What else is down here? It's larger than upstairs. Inarguably. John? Sorry, sorry. What?

00:25:08 Speaker_05
Just... The hole. Yes? There's something. I feel like I can see it from the corner of my eye. No matter where I look. Its presence fills the air down here. Standing as imposing as a monolith, and yet only a vertical jagged strike, like that of lightning.

00:25:39 Speaker_05
Both the top and bottom sew together again. Only the center widens, as if depicting a vertical mouth with jagged, broken stone teeth. Yes, um... Yes, yes. The crates, the crates. Over here, right? Yes.

00:26:03 Speaker_05
Like I said, they are pieces of loose wheat, dry and forgotten. Though, the way it's spilled on the floor... What about the way... I don't know. It could be seen as if someone tried to make a... well, bedding. Or at least a comfortable place to sit.

00:26:22 Speaker_05
Okay. The way the crates are positioned, away from the wall. Someone was here? Yes, I'd say someone moved them. Recently, you think? No way to know. But I imagine whoever was here was not the windmill's owner.

00:26:36 Speaker_05
Someone like us, seeking shelter from whatever forces rage outside. In fact... What? I think? Buy your last shoe. There's something glistening in the stalks of wheat. Here. Yes. Oh.

00:26:59 Speaker_04
Oh, what is this? Ow!

00:27:04 Speaker_05
I pricked my finger on this. A brooch. Oh, a brooch. Damn. Your finger is bleeding. We should have used our left hand. Yes, well, I feel it's important for you to still feel like you have... Control. Yes. You don't need to do that. I want to.

00:27:31 Speaker_05
I know it's your body. Approach. That seems... odd.

00:27:38 Speaker_04
What is it?

00:27:39 Speaker_05
It's a long silver brooch with a pin in the back. It depicts two deer running from what looks like a lion. Deer? Perhaps gazelle. The lion is eating the one in the back, while the one in the front escapes. It doesn't have horns like the one in the front.

00:28:04 Speaker_04
It's a fawn.

00:28:08 Speaker_05
A young one? I think so. The lion is biting into the hindquarters of the elder, and behind the lion, a snake watches in a tree. It hisses angrily at the scene. This doesn't... This seems far too valuable to be forgotten in a wheat pile.

00:28:30 Speaker_05
Additionally, it doesn't feel like it belongs here. Well, I nearly missed it. You've really started to master your investigative ways, you know. Ah, thanks. New York was... helpful. What? Did you... No. Is there...

00:28:56 Speaker_05
Perhaps there's a way to block it from the inside. I don't think we want to go in. No, no. But, I have to admit, I'd feel better knowing where it went. It could just be a dead end, or an animal's hole.

00:29:11 Speaker_04
Right.

00:29:11 Speaker_05
Right, look, it is just a passage. Probably created by the shifting of earth. Entering it. Well, it would put our mind at ease. Well, he's landed on a rung of the ladder. You're not very shy, are you? Is he? Most owls are fairly timid.

00:29:37 Speaker_05
Look, all I'm considering is peace of mind. Revealing this small earthen crevasse to be a tree root that split the stone... Or a downpour having broken a part of the foundation. Right. It would make me sleep much, much easier, I do agree.

00:29:56 Speaker_05
Not that you couldn't keep an eye on it. Mind you, there could be something upstairs to block the hole as well. And we do want to explore there.

00:30:05 Speaker_04
Right.

00:30:06 Speaker_05
Yes. I just want to know nothing is coming out of that that we don't want to visit from. Upstairs, then. If we find something to block it. There's our answer. If not... Venturing in for... peace of mind. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

00:30:25 Speaker_05
Back up the ladder, then. Alexander is on the rungs of the top. Yeah, he'll move. Careful now. The ladder is... It supported us on the way down. Yes, but... Awful.

00:30:43 Speaker_03
Fuck! God damn it! I told you! What fucking difference does telling me make? I can't climb any lighter. God damn!

00:30:58 Speaker_05
You're bleeding?

00:30:59 Speaker_03
Yes.

00:31:00 Speaker_05
How badly? How bad? I can't see. You dropped the torch. Is it still lit? Yes. Where is it? To your left. There. Fuck, Arthur. A large splinter is protruding from between your third and fourth finger. You need to pull it out.

00:31:33 Speaker_00
Oh, fuck.

00:31:35 Speaker_05
There. Your... The blood is... Is there any fabric around here? Something I can wrap it with?

00:31:42 Speaker_01
No.

00:31:43 Speaker_05
Mind you, the robe is... Oh, goddammit. Is the ladder... In pieces. Ten feet, eh? At least.

00:32:11 Speaker_00
Fuck!

00:32:17 Speaker_05
Your friendly owl sits perched upon an empty wall sconce on the opposite side of the room. Not now, Alexander.

00:32:28 Speaker_03
This stupid rope. It's soaking wet. We've been weighed down by it. By all of this stuff. Our bag? Yes!

00:32:47 Speaker_05
Where can I put the... The torch? Yeah. Where? Somewhere. You can lean it against the center... Here? Yes. There. There. There. Okay. Okay. What are you doing? I'm gonna go through this bag. It's been too long and we're just... Just what? We're not home anymore.

00:33:09 Speaker_03
I'm not gonna be home. For a long time.

00:33:16 Speaker_05
If ever again. We need to be smart. Stop toting around some of this junk. Like this. What is this? Paper. It's soaking wet. Letters. One from Frank, the butcher, Anna. They're ruined. Completely. I can't read them. The ink is all run. Toss them.

00:33:40 Speaker_05
Along with this, money. And my wallet, I suppose. We don't need that. Not here.

00:33:51 Speaker_03
What are these? John.

00:33:56 Speaker_05
What am I... What's wrong? No, no, nothing. I feel like... I can... Like it's watching. Focus. And we can get out of here. Right, right, right. What is this? What are these, keys? Daniel's car. The Hotel Tudor. Marie's... Right, don't need them.

00:34:31 Speaker_05
Those are the books. The bestiary and the one with my symbol on it. The bestiary? I didn't... Wasn't this from long ago? Yes. This era? I think so.

00:34:46 Speaker_03
This may be important.

00:34:47 Speaker_05
Very important. We'll keep both. Definitely this one for now, for sure. Once we're out of here, we'll take a look at it. Agreed.

00:34:55 Speaker_04
Oh, what is... The tangerine.

00:35:00 Speaker_05
What is... I don't think we need that. Or two masks. Keep the pallid mask. It allowed us to see the creature in the mines. Sure. Get rid of the order's mask. Though you do have the robe and the ring and the medallion.

00:35:15 Speaker_05
We'll keep the medallion and the ring, but not the robe. The order may exist here. What is... That's the Crystallizer of Dreams. Right, right. Right, the trader said that this allowed travel of... Items between worlds. And views places far away in dreams.

00:35:39 Speaker_05
Right. Right, good to know. Good to keep. And that is the glass of... Leng. This let us see the bluffs in the dreamlands. Why did it?

00:35:52 Speaker_03
I don't know.

00:35:55 Speaker_05
We don't know why it showed us that. Should we... use this again? Yes. Yes.

00:36:04 Speaker_04
It can't hurt, can it?

00:36:07 Speaker_05
It's an oddly shaped piece of glass. Like ice, you said? Yes, rounded in the corners. With an odd discoloration of blue and violet. Let's hope it still works. I... see... darkness. Nothing. Nothing, Arthur. Damn. I don't see... Wait. What?

00:36:33 Speaker_02
A flash of lightning. I do see. It's... a castle, Arthur.

00:36:41 Speaker_05
What? A large castle, sitting against a pitch-black night sky. I can barely make it out, but it's there. It sits next to a cliff, as if perched. Reminds me of Addison. That's it. That's all I can see.

00:37:01 Speaker_03
Well, okay. Okay. We know something. Last time the glass showed us the way forward.

00:37:09 Speaker_05
How to get where we needed to be. Maybe this will do the same. Let's hope. We're keeping this for sure. This is the shaving tip. Inside are fishing hooks and... Well, you put a number of them... Right, right. Still safe. It doesn't feel wet.

00:37:31 Speaker_05
No, no, it's not. I'll put the broach in as well. Okay. All right. What else is... This... is... Damn. Broken. What is... Larson's flute. Broken. Fuck. Useless now. I'd imagine so. Did you just... hear... Yes. Okay. Cane's dagger. Frustratingly useful.

00:38:20 Speaker_05
We should put it on our belt, actually. At least the robe kept most of the water off your suit. It won't last long. I don't know what to do about this.

00:38:34 Speaker_04
There. Oh! What? My pockets. I have my... lighter. And my handgun is still holstered.

00:38:45 Speaker_05
Oh. Empty, though. But you have another clip!

00:38:51 Speaker_03
Right! Right!

00:38:55 Speaker_05
Great. Seven shots. Still. You're not wrong. Anything else in your pockets? Um... The Vanguard! The Vanguard? We asked it about Anastanzic the other day. Didn't Cain say something about it? About... giving it a mouth? Cain said a lot of nonsense.

00:39:16 Speaker_05
But you're not wrong.

00:39:18 Speaker_03
We'll think on it. For now, I'll keep it in my pocket. And... finally here. What is... What?

00:39:25 Speaker_05
Oh. The letter from Oscar. Right. I... forgot about it. I tucked it into my inside breast pocket before. Yes. Do you want to? No. No, not now. Okay, so, my lighter, Oscar's note, the vanguard, Kane's dagger, and the gun are all on me.

00:39:52 Speaker_05
So we're keeping the two books, the pallet mask, the crystallizer of dreams, the glass of Lange and the fallen star medallion, and ring. And then in the shaving tin? Well, you have your shaving kit, fishing hooks, the coin.

00:40:06 Speaker_05
Daniel's ring, Marie's locket, and a picture of... Thoreau. Yes. Well, that's... everything. Our whole life. Everything we have to accomplish this goal with. And three black candles. What? The three candles. Right, right. Now. Getting back up. Arthur.

00:40:35 Speaker_05
Don't tell me it's not possible. I don't see a way. There must be. None that I can see, Arthur. Especially in your state. So. We. Are. I think so. I don't know what... Do you hear that? Yes. What does it sound like to you? Whispers. Yes. Or it could be a breeze.

00:41:17 Speaker_05
A breeze? It could be a way out. It would have to be quite large in there. Yes. If it does go deeper... How do we plan on keeping sense of our direction? Well, I'll keep one hand on the wall, like always. The other holding the torch. Right.

00:41:37 Speaker_05
Hopefully there's nothing... no animals within that could mean to do us harm. In which case... if there are, what about the dagger? Draw the dagger. But I'm already holding the torch with my other hand. That means I couldn't keep a hand on the wall.

00:41:56 Speaker_05
We could get lost. But it also means if anything is in there, we have protection. I'd rather stumble around in the dark for a few moments longer than have something attack us while we are unarmed. No, I wouldn't.

00:42:12 Speaker_05
The darkness, even with the torch, is pervasive.

00:42:16 Speaker_03
The torchlight will cast tricks on your eyes, Jon, and something about this feels... Corrupted. Corrupted?

00:42:25 Speaker_05
No, I... You think that... I don't know. I don't know what to think yet. And I hesitate to. Because... Because that's our only way forward. Right. It lay before us. Again, the torchlight dances along something wet within. It almost seems like starlight.

00:42:58 Speaker_05
The foul stench of rot is almost a companion now. Its rancid, earthy note seems sweeter somehow. Sweeter? So long, Alexander. I hope we meet again. Stay safe. Within, within. Oh, God. The passage is tight. Tighter than it looked from the outside.

00:43:38 Speaker_05
The walls are slick with... I don't know. It's thick. The light is filling the space, but the dampness is dimming the torch. I don't know how long. What? It's just fighting against the humidity. Keep going. The rock is black, almost burnt looking.

00:44:21 Speaker_04
Oh, I can barely move here.

00:44:22 Speaker_05
Fuck. What is... What is this? What am I... What am I feeling? I don't know. It... It's a... thin, translucent... flesh-colored barrier. What? It's just before us. It looks almost... like... tissue. A membrane. I can see the cavern continue beyond.

00:44:50 Speaker_05
You just need to push through. I can barely move. Just break it. With what? I can't reach the dagger. Your fingertip, Arthur. Just see if you can't break it with your hand. Oh, God. It's stretching, almost like skin. There are dark veins throughout it.

00:45:16 Speaker_05
Jesus. Stretching still. Fucking Christ. Use your fingernail to pierce it, Arthur. Once you've broken the skin and gotten a finger through, you can tear it like a seam. It's... It's... There's a black liquid coming from the seam running down your hand.

00:45:52 Speaker_05
What is it? What's on me? My arm. There's nothing on your arm. Except for the black liquid. Keep going. It's true. There's something. There is something. I can feel it. Arthur, there isn't. Now drag your finger down. Split the membrane so we can pass through.

00:46:16 Speaker_03
There is. There is, god damn it. I can feel something moving. Under the sleeve of my shirt. Yes, keep going.

00:46:26 Speaker_05
Keep tearing it.

00:46:29 Speaker_01
Use your palm to push down. Tear it faster. There!

00:46:39 Speaker_05
It's large enough to pass through. Let's move. You can smell the stench now. It's stronger in here. John, there is something! Hold still, let me see. I don't see either. There are...

00:47:05 Speaker_02
All over you then.

00:47:07 Speaker_03
I can feel... I can feel them all over my... Collar. And my... Neck.

00:47:13 Speaker_05
Turn around. Let me see the... What? The membrane. This side of it. It's covered in... Small, black... Maggots.

00:47:27 Speaker_00
Ow!

00:47:35 Speaker_01
They're all over your hair and down your neck.

00:47:39 Speaker_00
Fuck. Fuck.

00:47:59 Speaker_05
Are you okay? They seem harmless.

00:48:03 Speaker_03
None of this seems harmless, John.

00:48:08 Speaker_05
Seems... wrong. Like... in a front. In a front to what? What is this? Where are we? The caves more resemble the membrane now. The walls are still black rock, but seem to have a fleshy hue to them. The maggots are... Everywhere. Clinging to the walls.

00:48:38 Speaker_05
Seemingly feasting on whatever liquid is being produced here. We need to leave. We need to get out of here. The path splits two ways, more or less. Right or left. Okay, let's go. Listen. Let me listen. Okay, we stay right. We stay right. Agreed.

00:49:04 Speaker_05
hand on the wall. Just ignore the maggots.

00:49:12 Speaker_03
Okay. Okay, I have my hand on the wall.

00:49:18 Speaker_05
The floor is beginning to descend. But the uneven surface makes it difficult. It's okay. Between the light and you tracking the wall with your hand, we're keeping sight of the... You're okay. You're okay. Yes, yes. It's continuing down.

00:49:36 Speaker_02
Steeply.

00:49:37 Speaker_05
I can feel that. You may need to climb a bit here. Feel for the stones. Okay, where? This way. Oh, Jesus. Large fissures open above and around us. Some are far too small to navigate. Others seemingly shrink down into nothing.

00:50:11 Speaker_03
What is... This smell is... What was that?

00:50:22 Speaker_05
What just happened? Something just blew off the torch. darkness.

00:50:29 Speaker_03
Light it again. I... We light it again, right?

00:50:34 Speaker_05
I don't know. What's wrong? I don't know. Something is... Something is... We're not alone.

00:50:46 Speaker_03
What are you seeing? What are you... Nothing.

00:50:50 Speaker_00
I see nothing. I hear nothing.

00:51:01 Speaker_05
What are we doing? What are we- We need to move. We need to light the torch. No light. No light. It'll see us. Okay. No torch. But draw the dagger.

00:51:14 Speaker_03
Keep my hand on the wall. I can't- We'll navigate by sound and feel.

00:51:23 Speaker_05
This way. I can hear it louder. Down this way.

00:51:31 Speaker_03
Listen! Rain! Away out!

00:51:36 Speaker_00
This way!

00:51:39 Speaker_05
Here, left! Left! Right! Here, here! I hear it! I hear it! I see a flash of light! We're in a small area, small room almost. What is it? Blue light comes from bolts of lightning. Where's the light coming from? I don't know, but... A small hole. In the ceiling.

00:52:08 Speaker_05
How small? Far too small. Far too high for us. But the rain is... It's... water. Falling through the ceiling. Travelling from the ground above.

00:52:27 Speaker_04
No! But we're close to the surface.

00:52:34 Speaker_02
Arthur.

00:52:35 Speaker_04
That has to mean something, right? That we're... Arthur.

00:52:42 Speaker_05
There are bones on the floor of this room. Human bones. The maggots are feasting on them beneath our feet. There are chains on the walls. Chains? Arthur!

00:53:10 Speaker_05
Through the flickering light that comes from above, I can just make out the silhouette of a figure, chained to the far wall. His arms are spread out on either side.

00:53:27 Speaker_01
Alive?