The Pride of Duskwall prepares to once again embark across the Void Sea, this time to head towards Drix's homeland of Severos. But before the train can take on passengers, various members of the crew must make discoveries of themselves or others. And once departed, it shall be an uneasy ride regardless of any deathland horrors. Drix opens a box. Pippin is re-introduced to some coworkers. Andrel threatens to bite ankles.

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For the full transcript, go to https://ghosts-on-a-train.captivate.fm/episode/ep-31-a-drawn-out-departure. We apologize that this week's transcript does not have timestamps, due to a technical difficulty.

Ghost Lines by John Harper. Music by Sebastian Black. Art by Yoshiko Agresta.

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TRANSCRIPT:

Radio Announcer Greg

The Pride of Duskwall prepares to leave the light of the Burned King, once again stepping across the inky darkness of the Inner Void Sea to travel on to the Isle of Severos. Before the heaving locomotive begins its journey, each member of the crew of the Pride must make a decision: to step back on to the metal behemoth and ride through the Deathlands, or to collect their things and retire. It is a repetitive decision, one made every trip, and yet the choice is always a crucial one. Will the engineer bearing a scar from the supernatural risk another one? Will the liaison who has witnessed terror unknown once more expose herself to horrors? Will the vagrants who have had their very wills subverted continue their service? And before all others, will the Line Bulls uphold their vow to face those dangers head on? None would be shamed should they choose not to return, and yet once more they do, showing their bravery and commitment when they report for duty on board the Pride of Duskwall.

Greg

Hello, welcome back to Ghosts on a Train! This is a podcast where we play Ghost Lines, an RPG by John Harper. I am your conductor, Greg, and I run the game.

Hannah

I'm Hannah, I play Andrel Anderson. Child, dorg owner, mystery solver.

Guy

I'm Guy, I play Pip, currently depressed boy who's dealing with backstory.

Hannah

Yay! I love, like, I love that you said currently, like Pip being depressed is a recent development.

Greg

Yeah, like, like Pip wasn't introduced as wasting away in a bar for ten years.

Guy

He wasn't actively depressed. He was more, like, passively, just like, I have accepted my fate and it's fine. And now he's just like, ah, fuck, I have to think about things.

Stefen

Fair. I'm Stefen, I play Drix, and Drix is a cowboy, rodeo enthusiast, and spurs wearer, which all are the same thing.

Greg

He's a cowboy! On a steel horse he rides. He's wanted, dead or alive.

Hannah

Is he?

Greg

No.

Hannah

Okay.

Stefen

I mean, wouldn't you like to find out?

Hannah

Ugh, I want the Drix lore!

Greg

Well, well, we might not be getting Drix lore, but Drix is about to make a discovery, as where we left off, the Pride of Duskwall stopped by the Iruvian city of Sunfall, so named for its active volcano that warms the place. Along the trip to Sunfall from U'duasha was, among a group of several Ministry of Preservation members, Laudius Dalmore the Second, the young... dilettante? Dilettante, that's a word, who Drix had a duel with in response to Drix making him suffer consequences to his actions by trying to pull love them and leave them in a brothel back in Akaros. It turns out that while, in addition to being the Lord Governor's son, he is going to be the, a new officer for the Ministry of Preservation, just like his father before him, as the Dalmores are apparently a Ministry family, bred up to be from there. Laudius Dalmore the Second came on board with a mysterious piece of luggage which Drix immediately noticed, and Laudius saved Drix from the threats of being hollowed. And when, when confronted about this, Laudius explained that he would, he would need something from Drix on the trip across the Void Sea into Irondale, a city in Severus. Severos. I, you know, I've been saying Severus, because we were like, "That's how you say it in Severus," and I think unfortunately I'm just gonna say it correctly. It's, I'm consciously trying to have NPCs that aren't Severosi say Severos, but now I've been reprogrammed.

Stefen

Good, good.

Greg

Yeah. So we'll pick right up from there. As Drix, you've arrived. You've arrived early to the Pride of Duskwall, because you know, especially with the city under a kind of martial law due to a volcanic dam mishap, it would have been suspicious to linger around, but now you're showing up to work early. You have gone on to the freight box car. It doesn't take you long to locate this large suitcase that seemed to be very heavy. It's bound with a lock, and there's also some, a couple strange symbols.

Drix

All right, all right. Can I roll an insight check to see if Drix is familiar with these symbols?

Greg

Sure. Sure. Roll it.

Hannah

If Drix gets possessed again, I'm going to laugh.

Stefen

That is a five.

Greg

Okay, ask me one right now. Do you have a particular question? And I'll focus in around that.

Drix

Yeah. What's really going on here? Pertaining to the symbols.

Greg

So, first off, I'll also toss in a thing about the lock. The lock itself doesn't seem to be, there's not, like, a key to it. It's more that, more like a latch, to be honest. But the symbols hum faintly with some electroplasm. The symbols themselves you've spotted, have... you've spotted them. Probably during your training. These are ghost related symbols and they are sort of to weakly contain things, weakly contain spirits.

Drix

Okay, uh, Drix is going to run to the crew car real quick and grab a spirit bottle, just in case.

Greg

Cool. As you re-enter with the spirit bottle, you see, with his frustratingly good hair and dressed like a Hamilton cast member, Laudius Dalmore the Second, the Akarosi nobleman, looking at you, seeing clearly that the suitcase is disturbed.

Laudius Dalmore II

Well, Drix, I see you couldn't wait until I explained things.

Drix

I'm going to level with your, Laudius. You haven't done a whole lot to inspire trust.

Greg

He, he demures for a second.

Laudius Dalmore II

Yes, I suppose I have not. But regardless, this is, was a matter that I was going to speak to you about, and we have some modicum of privacy here. You won't need that spirit bottle right now. These are for a last resort, should the machine not work.

Greg

And he undoes the latch. And there's some steam. Well, not steam, there's, like, some, some cool air escapes. And he opens it up. And this suitcase, this suitcase was child sized because there is a child in it.

Hannah

WHAT?

Greg

Inside is Gafou, Laudius Dalmore's dog's body who worked as a second in the duel. He is unconscious, and it looks like he's connected to some things. You see his shirt is open because there's, like, little diodes connected to him.

Drix

I thought you said you were taking care of the Third.

Laudius Dalmore II

I am, Drix. He's fallen ill, or apparently had fallen ill. A condition that had long been ignored, because, well, he was disposable. I... after you humbled me and my father further poured salt into that raw wound which you had given me, I realized that Gafou was the closest thing to a friend that I had. The reason... I need to save him. And you're... I'm enlisting your help not only because I helped you, but also I realize that I've endangered the entire train by bringing him here. And it is your fault for awakening these feelings within my noble heart.

Drix

I think that was a compliment, but honestly, it is really, really unclear.

Laudius Dalmore II

I feel unclear! It's, it's not as if Gafou and I are really friends. You know, we can't be. He's, he's a child and he's been my servant for, well, more than half his life at this point. He's called a dog's body because it's easier to think of him as an animal than a person.

Drix

So there is a real inherent power dynamic that you two are confronting, that you really should talk about when all this is over is what I'm understanding.

Laudius Dalmore II

Yes, well, I'll never get the chance if he dies.

Drix

I'm not gonna let that happen.

Laudius Dalmore II

Good. Because for a while, I used to tell myself that if he didn't work for me, he'd be dead on the street. And so, you know, I was helping him. But couldn't my father have just helped him without assigning him to serve me? He, he deserves to live because he's alive. Not because he's useful.

Guy

Oh, shit, actualization.

Laudius Dalmore II

I... well, I've clearly taken a drastic step here.

Stefen

Drix gives him a hug.

Laudius Dalmore II

But there is, there is, I have heard tell that there are magicians in Severos that can cure such, such ailments. And Gafou, right now, he is, well, he is somewhere between life and death. And I, this, this, this will keep his body a present vessel. And this, this case should, should keep him from leaving should his, his spirit come loose. And I need you to know about this. So you can help me keep it secret, and also so... also so if he does get loose, you can not eliminate him, if you can just get him back.

Drix

Okay, I'm not going to let Gafou... I'm not going to let him be silenced, and I will not let his ghost off of this train. Which is a wild thing to say, honestly.

Laudius Dalmore II

Yes, I realize it is a little ironic to ask of you, a Line Bull, to betray your creed and keep a ghost upon the train.

Drix

Eh, believe it or not, we've done... you know what, actually, I'm, I'm remembering who I'm talking to. Do you know who you're going to, for this magic?

Laudius Dalmore II

Well, I am not quite sure myself. I know that through Irondale, I can perhaps find a guide who will lead me to one of those Arcane Fortresses. You know, it's, the Empire, the Imperium doesn't officially recognize those that they do not control, but I can grease palms.

Drix

Okay. We'll figure it out. It definitely won't be easy, but we'll, we'll make sure we get Gafou the help he needs I... man, I'm glad you told me about this. I do want to help. And for what it's worth, I appreciate the change that you've gone through.

Laudius Dalmore II

Yes, well, I'm still mulling over how much I appreciate being changed. But I suppose, I suppose if this turns out well then I shall think naught but positive thoughts about you, Drix.

Drix

Thanks. This is gonna be a long trip.

Greg

Drix, you hear the sounds of a door closing. Laudius left the outside door to the freight car open. You came in through the crew car, and from the, from the crew car through the office car. This is one of the outside doors elsewhere, and Trevor, who sort of wandered on, looks like he was just dropping something off at the office car. Through the window between you he sort of looked and saw your conversation with Laudius. At the moment he's just sort of looking through, confused, but he's not approaching.

Stefen

Do I notice him?

Greg

Yes, that's what I'm describing. You notice this.

Stefen

All right.

Drix

It seems we're gonna have to... know what? Who do you want to keep this from?

Laudius Dalmore II

Well, ideally, everybody.

Drix

Well, that's no longer an option. So we're gonna have to pick and choose.

Laudius Dalmore II

Well, I suppose you can tell you Line Bull friends. But other than that, this is a secret to everyone.

Drix

Okay. Trevor is looking over at us right now.

Laudius Dalmore II

Blast!

Greg

And yeah, Laudius will lock up the case, puts it back. And then he goes -

Laudius Dalmore II

I shall go fetch my retainers, and we shall be in the parlor car.

Drix

All right, keep me informed, and I'll check on the whole situation every now and again.

Laudius Dalmore II

All right. I trust you, Drix. And thank you.

Drix

You're welcome.

Greg

He heads off.

Stefen

I'm gonna go talk to Trevor.

Greg

Hell yes. Yeah, Trevor... he welcomes you as you, as you, he waits for you to open it up.

Trevor

Hey there, Drix. What the hell is going on over there?

Drix

Uh, I don't know, Trevor. What did you see?

Trevor

I saw you with that customer. You know, one of the Ministry guys. With a boy in a box?

Drix

Ooh, yeah. Okay, so you saw... you saw the boy.

Trevor

Listen, we're, we're not human traffickers, all right? Like, I -

Drix

I swear, I swear to you that is not what this is. Um, let's, let's see. Let's see. You know what, there's already rumors flying over all around the train, right? You... I believe it was Georgie I mentioned it to, but Laudius and I kind of co-parent a boy.

Trevor

Wow, that's - you've been, have you been sending money? I mean, you must be pretty out of the child's life.

Drix

I try and check in every now and again. Look, I don't - I have to travel a lot for work. Laudius is rich, obviously, and can keep, can keep Gafou in good health and comfort, which is kind of what this is.

Trevor

I mean, listen, not a knock on you, not a knock on you, but it seems like, it seems like, you know, the kid's not really getting a lot from you. I don't know, it'd really mess, really messed a kid up to, you know, only half-see their dad, okay.

Drix

You're right. You're right. You're right. And I'm gonna try to be better. It's really, really tough right now. It's just a matter of -

Trevor

Wait, wait, hold on! Hold on a minute! Why was he in a box?

Hannah

I was wondering how long it was gonna take you to get there.

Drix

Gafou is sick right now. That box is what is keeping him alive.

Trevor

Drix, you can't, you can't, you can't have a dying kid on a train.

Drix

I -

Trevor

What if, what if he dies? What if he bites it? Becomes a ghost?

Drix

I'm not gonna let that happen. All right, come to the front with me real quick.

Trevor

No, no, no, no, hold on. We gotta, we gotta tell, we gotta tell Candace at least, right?

Drix

Wait, wait, Trevor, I'm going to show you something. And it's gonna blow your mind, okay?

Greg

As you're saying this, either Pippin or Andrel shows up.

Hannah

I can show up.

Andrel

Hey, guys.

Drix

Hey, um, okay, well, I guess -

Trevor

Andrel, did you know about Drix's kid?

Andrel

Drix, you have a kid?

Drix

It's Third! It's the Third.

Andrel

What?

Stefen

From the duel! It's the Third.

Andrel

Oh, you let your kid help? Help be in a duel against you?

Drix

Andrel, you were there! You talked with him!

Andrel

Yeah, I did! He's your kid?

Drix

No! Kind of. You know, I'm responsible, I'm responsible for him, because, you know, part of the deal of...