Episode 3.6 - Shelter

Summary

The Road of Shadows – Episode 3.6: "Shelter"

Release Date: November 12, 2024
Created by Mark R. Healy | A Beyond The Dark Production

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Introduction

In Episode 3.6, titled "Shelter," of The Road of Shadows, host Mark R. Healy continues the gripping narrative of Daniel Knox as he delves deeper into the enigmatic world of the Shadows. Set against the backdrop of the remote mountain community of Black Ridge, this episode intensifies the suspense as Daniel and his ally, Amber, navigate perilous encounters and unravel deeper secrets surrounding the Shadows.

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Main Plot: The Pursuit of Blake

The episode opens with Daniel and Amber regrouping after a fierce confrontation with the Shadows. Their mission: to track down Susan Blake, the elusive mastermind behind the Shadows' mysterious activities in Black Ridge.

Key Discussions:

• Strategizing the Final Confrontation:
  Daniel asserts, “We need to find a way to track Blake down. Only this time, we need to finish the kill” (02:19). Amber expresses concern about the increasing threat, questioning, “Aren’t you concerned about the fact that we’re dealing with multiple Shadows?” (02:34), highlighting the escalating danger they face.

• The Nature of Shadows and Their Coordination:
  The duo debates the Shadows' ability to collaborate. Daniel remarks, “Shadows can’t stand to be around one another” (02:54), suggesting inherent discord among the creatures. Amber counters, “Isn’t it possible they might put their differences aside in a situation like this?” (03:01), pondering the possibility of united Shadows against them.

Amber’s Health Concerns: A significant portion of their dialogue revolves around Amber's deteriorating health due to exposure to the Shadows. Daniel theorizes, “The longer I’m exposed to a shadow, the sicker I get” (05:30), while Amber reflects, “I definitely seem to get sicker the longer I’m exposed to the shadows” (26:03). This revelation becomes a pivotal point in their strategy against the Shadows.

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Subplot: Sukistra and Bragaso’s Conflict

Parallel to Daniel and Amber’s mission, the episode explores the strained relationship between Sukistra and Bragaso, two Shadows grappling with their dark past and the impending threat of the Nostromo—the enforcers of the Shadows' order.

Notable Interactions:

• Sukistra Confronts Bragaso: Sukistra attempts to reconcile, stating, “Help me find a way to neutralize them” (12:02), but Bragaso rebuffs his efforts, emphasizing the forbidden nature of their past actions.

• Revelation of Forbidden Hunts: The tension peaks when Sukistra accuses, “How many kills did we share?” (09:40), and Bragaso firmly responds, “It was wrong. We should never have done it” (10:58), unveiling the deep-seated guilt and fear of repercussions from their kin.

This subplot enriches the narrative by showcasing the internal conflicts within the Shadows, adding layers to the overarching struggle between Daniel’s group and the Shadows.

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Climax: Infiltrating the Homeless Shelter

Daniel and Amber execute a cunning plan to infiltrate Blake’s homeless shelter under the guise of searching for a lost wedding ring.

Key Events:

• Deceptive Tactics: Daniel approaches Maddie, a staff member, and fabricates a story about losing his wedding ring during farm work, convincing her to let them search the storeroom (16:02).

• Tense Discovery: While searching Blake's office, Daniel detects the familiar scent of death, identifying it as the presence of Rosso, a formidable Shadow (21:31). This leads to a high-stakes chase through the building, culminating in the disappearance of Rosso.

Critical Realizations:

• Saving Toby: The protagonists encounter Toby, another shelter resident, and prevent him from falling victim to Blake’s hunt, stating, “Not only did we save an innocent life, we might have just thrown a spanner in the works for Blake and Ricasso” (25:32).

• Amber’s Breakthrough: Amber makes a crucial connection between her sickness and her proximity to the Shadows, prompting a potential solution to their plight: “Holy. That could be it” (26:26), suggesting that both time and proximity are factors in her condition.

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Conclusion: A Glimmer of Hope

As the episode wraps up, Daniel and Amber reflect on their narrow escape and the insights gained:

• Plan Moving Forward: Daniel acknowledges, “Maybe that's the answer to our problems” (26:35), indicating that understanding the triggers of Amber’s sickness could be key to combating the Shadows.

• Support from the Shelter: Maddie’s return to the shelter and her unease about Blake’s disappearance hint at future developments and alliances that may aid Daniel and Amber in their mission.

The episode concludes with a sense of urgency and determination as the protagonists prepare for the inevitable confrontation with Blake, armed with newfound knowledge and a fragile hope for survival.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Daniel on Shadows’ Nature:
  “The Shadows' true nature can't be seen by anyone but me” (01:55).

• Amber’s Realization:
  “I definitely seem to get sicker the longer I’m exposed to the shadows” (26:03).

• Sukistra’s Plea:
  “Help me find a way to neutralize them” (12:02).

• Daniel’s Determination:
  “We need to find Blake and end it” (14:58).

• Saving Toby:
  “We might have just thrown a spanner in the works for Blake and Ricasso” (25:32).

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Looking Ahead

Episode 3.6 "Shelter" deepens the mystery surrounding the Shadows while advancing Daniel and Amber’s quest to eradicate them. As they uncover critical weaknesses and form tentative alliances, the stage is set for an intense showdown. Listeners are left eagerly anticipating the next installment in The Road of Shadows, where the battle between light and darkness promises to escalate further.

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For more in-depth insights, character art, and exclusive content, visit patreon.com/BeyondTheDark. Explore additional episodes and follow the journey at roadofshadows.com.

Transcript

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[Mark R. Healy]

The road of Shadows Created by Mark R. Healy A Beyond The Dark Production Season 3 Episode 6 Shelter.

[Daniel]

Careful, Amber. You look a bit unsteady on your feet.

[Amber]

Actually, I'm doing a little better now. I don't feel quite as sick as before. And my shoulder has stopped throbbing. Thank God.

[Daniel]

I'll get you some coffee.

[Amber]

Thanks. So where to from here?

[Daniel]

I don't know if that much has really changed.

[Amber]

You don't? Wait, did you. Did you somehow miss the part where we just got our asses kicked?

[Daniel]

The Shadows ran from us, not the other way around. They know they're going toe to toe with us. Well, that's a fight they're not going to win. So as far as I'm concerned, we're back to where we were yesterday. We need to find a way to track Blake down. Only this time, we need to finish the kill.

[Amber]

Aren't you concerned about the fact that we're dealing with multiple Shadows?

[Daniel]

Now, it's not ideal, but we can cope.

[Amber]

What if this is another Pete Davis situation? He called in backup, remember? Another four Shadows turned up at that ambush in Colton.

[Daniel]

You think there might be more than two?

[Amber]

Who knows? There could be five or 10.

[Daniel]

Or I think that might be stretching it. Shadows can't stand to be around one another. Usually remember them bickering in the cabin.

[Amber]

Well, yeah, but isn't it possible they might put their differences aside in a situation like this?

[Daniel]

Well, as long as I have my axe and you can draw their blood, who cares how many they throw at us?

[Amber]

Blake almost managed to take us down by herself, Daniel. She almost suffocated us with that gas. The next time we underestimate these fuckers, it's going to get us killed.

[Daniel]

Look, I'm not taking this lightly. I'm just saying I still think we have the advantage.

[Amber]

The question is, if Blake has other shadows helping her out in Black Ridge, why did it take so long for them to show up at the panic room?

[Daniel]

I'm not sure they coordinated this. It all seems a bit haphazard. Maybe she only called in this Ragaso guy after we cornered her.

[Amber]

That would mean they share some kind of mental telepathy or something.

[Daniel]

Maybe they do. Although I haven't read anything about it in the Compendium.

[Amber]

There are a few gaps in the Compendium. More than a few, actually.

[Daniel]

Maybe we should write our own. A revised edition.

[Amber]

Yeah, I'll put it on my to do list. Unfortunately, there's still a lot the two of us don't know about them.

[Daniel]

Well, look on the bright side. At least we know that Blake is our target for certain.

[Amber]

I guess I had my doubts for a while there, but. Yeah, I saw her face when she came out of that panic room. Yeah, she was in Bloodlust.

[Daniel]

Do you think that had anything to do with you feeling sick all of a sudden?

[Amber]

It's possible. Maybe. Huh? Maybe when the shadows go into bloodlust, they radiate more of that mental energy of theirs.

[Daniel]

Do you think it could have been your proximity to Blake as well? Maybe being close to a shadow exacerbates your nausea.

[Amber]

If I had to guess, I would say it has more to do with the time of exposure than proximity.

[Daniel]

How do you figure that?

[Amber]

I've been thinking about it for a while now. Remember when I first came to Blackridge, I felt nothing at all.

[Daniel]

Yeah.

[Amber]

Blake walked right past me at the parade. If her being close to me was a trigger, I should have at least felt a twinge. But I didn't.

[Daniel]

So your sensitivity to them is more a function of time?

[Amber]

Yeah, that's the way I'm leaning. It's like the longer I'm exposed to a shadow, the sicker I get. And when my exposure is low, I don't feel anything at all. Then it reaches a certain threshold and all of a sudden it hits me.

[Daniel]

When you arrived in town, you were Feeling great, right?

[Amber]

I was pretty much back to full health. But inside, my body was already starting to react to Blake. The wound on my shoulders started to flare up, and then over the course of a day or two, the levels built up to where I started to feel sick again.

[Daniel]

That would explain why you reacted to Shilling back in Clifford Springs right away. You were already at the threshold by the time we rode into town.

[Amber]

Yep. It all fits.

[Daniel]

That also means that every time we encounter a shadow, there's an invisible clock ticking away. If you don't kill it fast enough, you're going to keep getting sicker and sicker until.

[Amber]

That's a sobering thought, isn't it?

[Daniel]

How long do you think you've got?

[Amber]

I have no idea, Daniel. The chapter about Amber getting sick, that's another one missing from the compendium.

[Daniel]

Back in Clifford Springs, it was only a couple of days before you got really bad.

[Amber]

Right now, I feel okay. I'm fine. Let's just get back to the task at hand. The sooner we get the job done, the better.

[Daniel]

Right. So we need to find out where Blake and Rugasso have gone. Or if they're even still in town.

[Amber]

They're here. I know that much. I can still feel them.

[Daniel]

So where the hell would they go?

[Amber]

Blake said she owned the abandoned health club. For all we know, she could own half the buildings in Black Ridge.

[Daniel]

There would be records of that, wouldn't there?

[Amber]

Unless she's covered her tracks by using false identities or something like that.

[Daniel]

Which is pretty likely. Yeah, assuming she does own multiple places, that would give her plenty of options. There could be panic rooms in every single one of those properties. There's no way we'd be able to find her.

[Amber]

Let's just concentrate on what we do know. What have we got?

[Daniel]

Not a lot. After Blake and Rugasso drove off, we searched that panic room at the health club from top to bottom. There were no clues. It was totally bare.

[Amber]

So that that makes it easy, then. Let's go to the one place in town we know. She does own. The homeless shelter. That's where our investigations have.

[Sukistra]

Sukistra. Are you down here?

[Bragaso]

Of course I'm here, Bragaso. Where else would I be?

[Sukistra]

Are you feeling any better? Now that you've nestled yourself underground, are you finding the darkness soothing?

[Bragaso]

I was, yes. And then you came blundering into it.

[Sukistra]

Sorry to disturb you. I wouldn't have come down here unless it was absolutely necessary. We need to talk.

[Bragaso]

Later.

[Sukistra]

I always light your den. Sukistra. The alignment is exquisite. Although Your shrine has fallen into disrepair, hasn't it? Hmm. Do you want me to find some more ornaments?

[Bragaso]

And don't touch it. Keep your filthy hands off.

[Sukistra]

Filthy hands, eh? You do have a short memory, don't you? These hands of mine, they helped to claw out every nook and hollow in this den. I worked shoulder to shoulder with you for days on end until it was done. I admit that was a long time ago. Decades. But I haven't forgotten.

[Bragaso]

Why are you doing this? Constantly reminding me about the past. Are you trying to torture me?

[Sukistra]

I like remembering. And even though you won't admit it, I think you do, too.

[Bragaso]

Nothing could be further from the truth.

[Sukistra]

How many kills did we share, Sukistra? How many times did we take down prey and then bask in the aftermath of a feast, our bellies full and our lust sated?

[Bragaso]

Don't speak of that. Ever.

[Sukistra]

Why not? The kin can't hear us down here. No one can.

[Bragaso]

What we did was forbidden, Bragasso. It's been forbidden since the first Monarch drew breath. If anyone found out about it.

[Sukistra]

But they never did find out about it, did they? It was always our secret. Yours and mine.

[Bragaso]

That doesn't mean that we should be discussing it so carelessly like this. If something slipped and the kin became aware.

[Sukistra]

So what if they did?

[Bragaso]

So what if they. Have you lost your mind? We'd be cast down in shame.

[Sukistra]

Is that why you treat me like a pariah nowadays? I'm a disgrace, is that it?

[Bragaso]

Of course not.

[Sukistra]

You never thought I was worthy of you, did you? You never saw me as an equal.

[Bragaso]

It has nothing to do with that. Hunting together. It was wrong. We should never have done it.

[Sukistra]

It sure didn't feel wrong.

[Bragaso]

Ricasso. Leave me alone.

[Sukistra]

You can't stay down here in your den forever.

[Bragaso]

I'm not going anywhere. Not until I've fed. I'm too weak. I need shelter.

[Sukistra]

They'll be coming for us. The Nostromo. You understand that, don't you?

[Bragaso]

They won't find us. Not until we're ready for them.

[Sukistra]

Ready? Yes. Just like the others in our kin who thought they were ready. Pete Davis, Dr. Schilling. I don't need to tell you what happened to them.

[Bragaso]

I'm not afraid of the Nostromo.

[Sukistra]

Maybe you should be. Their mutations are worrying. Our toxins have made them powerful.

[Bragaso]

You think I don't know that? Look at me then.

[Sukistra]

Help me find a way to neutralize them. Or would you rather lie here, cradling yourself and wallowing in self pity?

[Bragaso]

What is it you want to Talk about.

[Sukistra]

What did they say to you while they had you trapped in that room?

[Bragaso]

Nothing. Idle threats.

[Sukistra]

Is that all?

[Bragaso]

Mostly. There was something. When I was preparing myself for the kill. Daniel. He told the girl that.

[Sukistra]

He told her what?

[Bragaso]

Well, he said that he could smell something burning. That he thought I was going into bloodlust.

[Sukistra]

Bloodlust.

[Bragaso]

His own word for it, I suppose.

[Sukistra]

So he can sense when we're about to kill?

[Bragaso]

Yes.

[Sukistra]

Do you think this might lead him to us? If you were to feed.

[Bragaso]

Possibly. I don't know. At the very least, he would know that I'm becoming stronger again.

[Sukistra]

Maybe we can throw off this scent of his.

[Bragaso]

You have an idea?

[Sukistra]

Maybe.

[Bragaso]

Will it buy us more time so that I can heal?

[Sukistra]

At the very least, it will help us to cover our tracks.

[Bragaso]

Yes. That's good.

[Sukistra]

But first things first. We need you to get your strength back. We need to make a kill.

[Bragaso]

I know how we can do that. In fact, making a kill should be the easy part.

[Sukistra]

Ah, there. That's the old Zukistra I know so well. It's good to see that glimmer in your eye again.

[Bragaso]

Lean in close, ragazzo, and I'll tell you what to do.

[Amber]

My dad works in B2B marketing. He came by my school for career day and said he was a big roas man. Then he told everyone how much he loved calculating his return on ad spend. My friends still laugh at me to this day.

[Toby]

Not everyone gets B2B. But with LinkedIn, you'll be able to reach people who do. Get a $100 credit on your next ad campaign. Go to LinkedIn.com results to claim your credit. That's LinkedIn.com results. Terms and conditions apply. LinkedIn, the place to be. To be.

[Amber]

Are you sure this is going to work, Daniel? The whole premise seems a little. Well, no offense, but it seems a little flimsy.

[Daniel]

Oh, it's flimsy as hell. I'm aware of that, but it's the best I can come up with at short notice.

[Amber]

We could take some more time if you want, see if we can think of something better.

[Daniel]

No, we have to keep moving forward. If the Shadows are calling in reinforcements by this time tomorrow, we could really be up against it, just like you said. Hell, they could be running amok all over town by then. We need to find Blake and end it, I guess. Don't worry. I'll do the talking. Follow me. Reception's just through here.

[Maddie]

Hi there. Welcome to Blake's homeless shelter. I'm Maddie. How can I help you?

[Daniel]

Hey, Maddie. My name's Daniel. I was hoping to see Susan Blake, if she's available.

[Maddie]

Oh, I'm sorry, but Ms. Blake had to step out for the day.

[Daniel]

Do you have a number I could call her on? Or maybe her home address? I really need to see her.

[Maddie]

Unfortunately, I'm not allowed to give out any personal staff details. Hope you understand.

[Daniel]

Oh, totally. That's fine. I.

[Maddie]

Is something the matter?

[Daniel]

This is gonna sound really stupid, I know, but can you do me a favor?

[Maddie]

Well, that depends.

[Daniel]

See, I work for Michael Cordell on the farm just out of town. Do you know it?

[Maddie]

Of course. Mr. Cordell is a great friend and ally of the shelter.

[Daniel]

Right. I was here earlier, actually, helping to deliver some fresh produce.

[Maddie]

Oh, was that you? We're so grateful for your help.

[Daniel]

Sure, no problem. But unfortunately, that's where the stupid part comes in. See, I was helping to pack some of the crates out of the farm, and after it was all done, you wouldn't believe it, but my wedding ring was gone.

[Maddie]

Really? That's terrible. You don't think someone stole it, do you?

[Daniel]

No, not at all. In fact, I'm almost certain I know what happened. See, sometimes when I'm working, that's what gets in there.

[Maddie]

And you think the ring slipped off.

[Daniel]

While I was packing? Yeah. My wife, Amber, she keeps telling me to get it resized, but I just keep forgetting. Right, honey?

[Amber]

Hm? Oh, right. Yeah. Honey, you're such an idiot sometimes. This is actually the third time he's lost it.

[Maddie]

Oh.

[Amber]

Sometimes I wonder if this might be his way of telling me he wants a divorce.

[Maddie]

I'm sure that's not it.

[Daniel]

But anyway, Maddie, I wonder if you might be able to do me a solid here. Do you know if those crates have been unpacked yet?

[Maddie]

No, I don't think they have. They were still sitting in the storeroom last I checked.

[Daniel]

Perfect. Would it be possible for us to take a look back there and see if you can find it?

[Amber]

Well, it's really important, Maddie. The ring is a family heirloom, actually.

[Maddie]

Well, I could probably go take a look.

[Daniel]

We don't want to take up too much of your time. If you'd like to show us the store room, I'm sure we could search for it ourselves. Should only take a few minutes.

[Maddie]

Okay, sure. Yeah, no problem. This way. Follow me.

[Amber]

After you, honey.

[Maddie]

I think it was over here.

[Daniel]

Yeah, I see the crates. This is perfect. Thanks, Maddie.

[Amber]

Let me give you a hat.

[Daniel]

Sure. Start on that one if you like.

[Amber]

I'm going to have to spread these out a little, so I can see what I'm doing. Is that okay? Maddie, don't worry.

[Daniel]

We'll pack everything back when we're done. You won't even know we were here.

[Maddie]

That's fine. I really should get back to the desk.

[Daniel]

Of course. Don't let us keep you.

[Amber]

We'll come find you when we're done. Thanks again.

[Maddie]

Oh, no problem.

[Daniel]

Good luck. Okay. So far, so good. Let's wait a minute to make sure she's gone.

[Amber]

Do I have to keep pretending to search for this imaginary wedding ring?

[Daniel]

We'd better, just in case someone comes past.

[Amber]

Oh, and by the way, the next time you spring a shotgun wedding on me, you might want to give me a little more notice. You caught me off guard there.

[Daniel]

Sorry. I was thinking on my feet.

[Amber]

You were supposed to just tell her you lost some jewelry.

[Daniel]

Details are important.

[Amber]

The best lie is a simple one.

[Daniel]

Hey, it worked, didn't it? That's all that counts. Come on. I think that's long enough. Let's move.

[Amber]

Do you know where Blake's office is located?

[Daniel]

Yeah, I've been here before, remember? It's down the back. Looks like the coast is clear.

[Amber]

Well, let's just hope our friend Maddie doesn't come looking for us.

[Daniel]

This won't take long. With any luck, we'll be in and out before she even realizes it's locked.

[Amber]

Yeah, no surprises there.

[Daniel]

Give me a second. I'm on. Got it. Come through.

[Amber]

Okay. So this is it. You're sure this is Blake's office?

[Daniel]

Yeah, this is the one. Why?

[Amber]

Well, it looks pretty normal, actually.

[Daniel]

What were you expecting? Severed heads hanging from the ceiling?

[Amber]

I don't know. After seeing the monster under her skin, it's just hard to imagine herself settling in here every morning for a day's work, you know, like a normal person.

[Daniel]

She's anything but normal.

[Amber]

Okay. Why don't you check the desk? I'll look through the filing cabinet.

[Daniel]

Right.

[Amber]

Out of curiosity, what are you hoping to find here?

[Daniel]

Anything that might have some personal information on it. An electricity bill, a phone bill, Anything that might help us track her down.

[Amber]

I'm seeing a lot of documents for the whole homeless shelter. Plumbing repairs, purchases of supplies.

[Daniel]

Knowing how meticulous the shadows can be when covering their tracks. It's probably a long shot that we're gonna find anything, but at this point, I'm not sure what else we can do.

[Amber]

Fair enough.

[Daniel]

Hey, look at this.

[Amber]

A coffee mug.

[Daniel]

Yeah, collecting dust. Bet Blake's never used it.

[Amber]

A prop. Just like all that stuff at Schilling's place. And now that you mention it, I see a lot of similarities here. There are no photographs of Blake anywhere.

[Daniel]

Nor any of the people who lived here. The homeless people from past or present.

[Amber]

No evidence that they were ever here.

[Daniel]

Exactly.

[Amber]

I'm not seeing anything much at all.

[Daniel]

Keep searching. Check around here. Under the desk.

[Amber]

Is something the matter?

[Daniel]

I think I smell something burning. No, it's like something died under the desk here.

[Amber]

G. Look, if you're about to tell me that Blake is keeping body parts in a bucket under there or something, I swear I'm going to.

[Daniel]

Wait. It's not coming from under the desk.

[Amber]

So where then?

[Daniel]

It's him. Rosso. He's in the goddamn building.

[Amber]

Are you sure that's what it is?

[Daniel]

It's the same smell as the other times back in Mosquito Falls with the emissary and earlier when Rigasu arrived at the abandoned health club. The scent of the wilted just took me a minute to recognize it.

[Amber]

Is Blake here too?

[Daniel]

If she is, she's not in bloodlust yet. What the fuck are they playing at?

[Amber]

Look. There he is.

[Daniel]

He's got someone. Where? With him. Who is that?

[Amber]

I don't know, some guy. Rasto's leading him towards the exit.

[Daniel]

That can't be good. We have to save him. Come on. Hey, stop.

[Amber]

He's making a run for it.

[Daniel]

Watch your step.

[Amber]

Oh, that would be a lot easier if ah, that bastard stopped knocking over.

[Daniel]

He just dropped the guy he was escorting. Looks like he's making a run for it. Come on. He's heading out the back. He's jammed something up against the door. We'll have to go the other way.

[Amber]

Go, go. I'll catch up to you.

[Daniel]

God damn.

[Amber]

What happened? Where is he?

[Daniel]

The bastard disappeared. Might have run off into the woods or something.

[Amber]

He's gone?

[Daniel]

Yeah, looks like it.

[Amber]

What do you think all that was about?

[Daniel]

If I had to guess, I'd say he was collecting some nourishment for his friend Blake. She must be hurting after what you did to her. She's going to have to feed if she wants to regain her strength. Just like Schilling did.

[Amber]

Well, I guess we'd put a stop to that.

[Daniel]

Let's go talk to the guy who was with Regasso. See what he has to say. Excuse me, mister, can we talk to you for a second?

[Unknown]

What's going on? Did I do something wrong?

[Daniel]

No, not at all. My name's Daniel and this is Amber. You are?

[Unknown]

Toby.

[Daniel]

Toby, we just wanted to ask you about that guy you were with.

[Unknown]

Who are you?

[Daniel]

We're friends. We have reason to believe that man wanted to hurt you.

[Unknown]

He did?

[Amber]

Yes. We're almost certain.

[Unknown]

Do you know why he ran off like that? Seemed like something spooked him good and proper.

[Amber]

What did he say to you? The man?

[Unknown]

Well, he came up to me and told me that he worked for Ms. Blake. Said she wanted to see me about something.

[Daniel]

Did he tell you why?

[Unknown]

No. Just told me it was urgent. Like I said, I assumed I'd done something wrong. I mean, I've tried to follow all the rules since I got here, but I figured I must have messed up somehow. Wouldn't be the first time.

[Amber]

Trust me, it has nothing to do with you, Toby.

[Daniel]

Did the guy tell you his name?

[Unknown]

No.

[Daniel]

Anything else? Did he mention where you were going or.

[Unknown]

No. He said Ms. Blake wanted to see me, but that's all.

[Amber]

Okay. We won't take up any more of your time. Toby, why don't you. Why don't you go back and relax? I'm sure we'll get to the bottom of it sooner or later.

[Unknown]

You sure?

[Amber]

Absolutely. Go on. We'll take care of it.

[Unknown]

If you see Ms. Blake, tell her. Well, tell her I'm sorry if I did something.

[Amber]

Of course. Take it easy, Toby.

[Daniel]

That guy just dodged a bullet.

[Amber]

Yep. I guess he'll never know how close he came to becoming Blake's lunch.

[Daniel]

Not only did we save an innocent life, we might have just thrown a spanner in the works for Blake and Ricasso.

[Amber]

They're going to have to find their meals somewhere else.

[Daniel]

Just a temporary setback, most likely. They'll probably just. You okay?

[Amber]

Yeah. I just got hit by another wave of sickness right in the middle of that chase. Sorry I flaked out on you.

[Daniel]

You don't have to apologize for that.

[Amber]

You know, I think maybe you were right about the proximity thing.

[Daniel]

What about it?

[Amber]

I definitely seem to get sicker the longer I'm exposed to the shadows. But not just that. When they're close to me, the sickness gets more. Much worse.

[Daniel]

So maybe it's a combination of both time and also proximity.

[Amber]

I'm starting to think that it's not a coincidence that every time they're near, I start to lose it in a big way.

[Daniel]

Holy. That could be it.

[Amber]

It could be what?

[Daniel]

The answer to our problems.

[Amber]

In what way?

[Maddie]

Daniel Hambur. I'm sorry. So sorry about all of this. We just had a situation here and. Well, I'm. I'm still trying to figure out exactly what happened. Ms. Blake seems to have disappeared and I'm not used to running things by myself.

[Daniel]

It's all good, Maddie. We were just leaving anyway. Thanks for your help.

[Maddie]

Is everything okay?

[Daniel]

Fine. Come on, Amber. Let's go.

[Maddie]

Oh, Daniel. Did you end up finding what you were looking for?

[Daniel]

Yeah. You found it. All right. Thanks again, Maddie. See you around.

[Mark R. Healy]

The Road of Shadows is created by Mark R. Healy. Want to delve deeper into the story? Head over to Patreon to find character concept art and other bonuses like ad free episodes that you can hear a week early. All of that and more is available now at patreon.com BeyondTheDark. Check out more of my podcasts at the roadofshadows.com the Road of Shadows Season 3 stars Hamish Plagemas, Marta De Silva, Liz Mori, Maria Damunu Simon, Allison Eden Solomon Xander Grant, Sian Luxford and Terence Addison. The Road of Shadows is a beyond the dark production.

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[Bragaso]

The world has still ended.

[Toby]

Darcy was a cafeteria worker.

[Bragaso]

Do you see that minotaur sitting out in the food court?

[Sukistra]

What minotaur?

[Toby]

Just an ordinary everyday human. Probably Egerton.

[Daniel]

You didn't even need a fairy cake. Why did you eat a fairy cake? Because I stress eat sometimes.

[Toby]

Egerton was a PR flak for the Imperial government.

[Daniel]

This extremely devastating explosion was in fact a celebration.

[Toby]

He's a flightless fairy with a sweet tooth.

[Daniel]

There was some zombies, but Blatt blew them up. I climbed a tree. And we're skipping ahead.

[Sukistra]

And we're skipping ahead.

[Toby]

Blatt used to be a filing clerk.

[Sukistra]

I'll pneumatic tube it up, sir.

[Toby]

Now he's discovering the secrets of his half demon heritage. Like his ability to summon a soul bound weapon.

[Sukistra]

Oh, you're here to destroy a time, eh? Well, eat Bazooka.

[Toby]

Three normal dweebs rescued from the end of the world and sent on a last ditch quest to save all of reality.

[Daniel]

There is a way to stop the.

[Sukistra]

Shattering, but we need u3 the end.

[Toby]

Of time and Other Bothers, an improvised fantasy role playing game set in the world of Al Alba Salix. Find it in your favorite podcast app or visit other bothers.com there's no evil, so you're welcome.

[Unknown]

Flawless logic.

[Bragaso]

Oh boy.