Goshawk | Ep. 21

0:00Hello listeners, I'm KaStats, the writer and creator of The White Vault, and I want to welcome you to the final season of The White Vault, Gozhog. After eight seasons stretching across multiple continents and nearly a decade, the White Vault is coming to an end. For those already in the know, our Patreon is abuzz with news of one final patch for the White Vault. For the uninitiated, every season we release a patch, and the last of them is upon us. The new supporter-exclusive Survivor patch is underway, and you can learn how to secure yours by visiting and joining us on Patreon. Don't wait too long, as there is a cutoff date, and we will only create as many as our supporters require.

0:41Over a decade of podcasting, and we here at Fool and Scholar Productions are still a proudly indie company, and our stories are primarily funded by you, the audience, listeners, and fans. If you find value in our work, and like to hear that companies like us are still out here fighting the good fight, consider joining us on Patreon. And for those supporters who want a true piece of the White Vault to take home with them, We're celebrating the end of the series with not only the patch, but also a truly unique construct. For those at the Guardian tier, the very statues themselves are within reach.

1:16To learn more, click on the link in the show notes or go to patreon.com slash foolandscholar. I hope you enjoy this final season, and now we commence the beginning of the end. When you hear it. starting or growing your own business can be intimidating and lonely at times your to-do list may feel endless with new tasks and lists can easily begin to overrun your life so finding the right tool that not only helps you out but simplifies everything as a built-in business partner can be a game changer for millions of businesses that tool is shopify shopify is the commerce platform behind millions of businesses around the world and 10 of all e-commerce in the U.S.

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2:58That's the sound of zero sugar, 200 milligrams of caffeine, and the power to burn body fat. Storm, energy for life. Storm Energy Blend helps boost metabolism, which in combination with exercise and a healthy diet helps burn fat. This product alone does not produce weight loss. Individual results may vary. No! This will succeed. You see me and think of me as an enemy. It's bigger than me. In every way. I am here to start the process, to aid in it and see it through. And now, it has already begun. You see? What are... I'm part of something new. Myself. And then, together. You are becoming... No.

3:53Oh, I am fully realized. And I am the newest attendant. I may look, as you said, not a day older, but I am very different. Beneath the skin. In the heart.

4:15Why? Things will not remain as they are. The people here, I've seen it. Even before I was taken to my change, I've seen the destruction firsthand. This place is rotting. The temperatures have risen and have not stopped, and the world cannot remain as a stagnant incubator. The shell will need to form the way. It's time to wake up. What? I didn't want to end up where you are. What? The struggle, the inevitable pain. I love my son. I miss him. I hope you understand that your choice to not have a child has saved you from an even deeper pain than this.

5:18The feeling of futility does not compare to the feeling of loss, not for me. And I feel neither, not now. And after everything you did for the families, it still means nothing. You should have enjoyed your life, Dracarna. You should have used your time wisely. You saw the constant work, the toil that Lenea struggled under all these years, and you chose to join her. Lunacy.

5:53I do miss him. Loosen a bit. She wants to speak. When you see it. It sees you too. Go on. When you hear it. This influence. This madness is how they see you. It's how they value you. Peel it all away. And then you will suffer. Because that's what we are to them, Dracara. Just smart, frightened hogs for slaughter. The currency of their trade. Say it. It hears you too. The world is changing. When you give to it... It gives... to you.

6:52Leave her there. She can say goodbye.

7:06The White Vault. Gotthug.

7:21Thank you.

7:49I'm sorry.

8:03Dragana? Should we go back? No. No. We get you to safety first. That's the plan. I can go back after move the faster the better Come on come on we're nearly there Whoa Watch it. I don't think anyone's been here in decades and the ground cover is loose. Yeah, no shit There that's the entrance we spotted earlier

8:56Okay, put your foot on that ledge and grab my hand.

9:03Oh, thanks.

9:10Oh. It's dark

9:17Take this Okay, tighten it, tighten it to your head And here If things get colder, open these Shake them and put them inside your jacket The warmth should last a few hours Don't move from behind me Don't listen to any voices you might hear And don't waste battery if you can avoid it Come on It already feels better. Without the wind, I mean, the dark, though. I never realized how bright the night was outside with all the snow. Well, realized, sure, but never really appreciated. Don't get too comfortable. We don't know what's in here yet. Please, whisper. Oh, sorry. But this is far enough, right?

10:05You need to go back and help them. I'll stay here. I won't go anywhere. You have to promise me that you'll come back though, alright? No. What? No, yes, we'll come back for you. But no, I'm not leaving yet. You're not safe until we've found somewhere further from the entrance where you can hide. And I need to know where that's going to be so we can find you when we get back. Now come on. Fine.

10:35We're lucky. I don't think it's freezing down here. Just how hidden do we have to be? Do you think they'll come in the mine? Those creatures actively hunt down the people around their... Let's call it a base. So if the lake is somewhere near the center of their territory, then they can certainly get out this far. But it is possible to hide from them. We've done it before, and we've seen it work for others. Oh, well, that sounds... good. They don't seem to have a good sense of smell. But they have great low light or dark vision. So it's not just about hiding in the dark. You need to obscure yourself or create some kind of barrier.

11:18Their tendency is to go for the easiest or most entertaining prey. I take it back. None of that sounds good. Sorry. What? What the fuck? Go, go in there. Find a hole in the wall or a bunch of rocks and hide. What? No! Let me out of here! Shh, shh. You need to be quiet. Let me out of here. It's to help you, I swear. I'm sorry. Locking me in a cold, dark cave does not help me. It does. It does, really. And I need to go back for Dragana and Ify. What? Why lock me in here, though? What if something is in here with me? 100 % there's something out here. Less than 100 % there's something in there. So please, Adele, go find a corner and hide.

12:03With a gate lock, no one will think you got in here on your own. And it'll be a hell of a lot easier to find this door than some random rock when I come back You just need to hide, but I can't stay here any longer Turn off your light once you find a place to settle into and don't make a sound No, please! Don't leave me in here! I can't get out! What if you don't come back? What if you die? I'll die! Mr. Kidlat! Kidlat, please! This? Fuck! Adele, this is a hiding place. And a deterrent. But only if you hide. Like I said, they go after easy prey. And you hidden away in the mines behind that gate.

12:45No, no. It's fucking lucky. That's what it is. Please, please, please. What if you don't come back? I'm sorry.

13:20Georgana! Georgana! Hey, hey, hey, hey, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, in the air, don't, don't move, can you speak? Shit, don't, don't move. The knife. They need to... You need to go. Go find Gitlat. Not happening. Just like you. Fuck. Yeah, so you said. Now some bad news. We need to move. I know. I know how to do a fireman's drag. Do you think you can... No, no, I don't think... I can raise my arms. I... help me. I might walk. Are you sure? There's a knife in your side. Not sure. I'm going to try. Help me. Right. Sure.

14:19I can put you back. Shut up and lift. Okay.

14:33Now, look.

14:39That way.

14:50You know, when I was a kid, I... I thought you were invincible. Because of all the stories. What are you talking about? I am invincible. See? I'm stabbed. But I'm walking. Well, hobbling. But how many people... Do you know who have done this? I'm good enough. Point proven. We bet. But when we get to the rock, we stop and check the pleading, yeah? Yeah, yeah, yeah, we can do that.

15:53A side pocket near you. A small knife.

16:01Cut up the side of the shirt to the base of the bigger knife. Okay, try not to move. You meet after all that walking.

16:15Yeah, so you've been stabbed. Blood too, then? Yeah, well, blood. though less than I would have thought but I'm not a doctor so we have to damn life in breathing it's hard breathing is hard uh okay what should I do and who was that woman you you knew her how she was British and and those things they're real and they and they listen to her what What the fuck? What's going on?

17:24When was I last stabbed? A year and a half ago. Though a lot less worrisome than this for sure. I'm me, so put the pistol down before you hurt yourself further. Oh, sure. It's not bleeding a lot, but that worries me because then where the fuck is the blood going? Where's Adele? She's safe for now. Good. How do we help Dragona? We can't stay out here. She... There's not a lot of blood pooling beneath the skin, but the knife is through her ribs, and I think it's impacting her lungs somehow. I'm not sure. I... Maybe we secure the blade in place, then get her up to the mine. There's a place that's more secure than just the mine entrance, and without the windchill, it's safer still.

18:15We can figure out more once we're there. Sounds... bad. Maybe... I'm a little bit invincible. Don't. Don't. How do I help? Hold those there. And don't move the knife. Yeah, yeah. Got it. Stay conscious. So, who was the woman who stabbed you? Dr. Amelia Murray. Back in Svalbard. She had a helicopter, not what else. Does that name mean anything to you? No, but Dragana's been doing this a lot longer than I have. Dragona, stay awake. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, can you tell me, um, what did she mean, uh, when Amelia said it's in my blood? Dragona? Dragona? Dragona?

20:09The End You call this small? Well, no, not normal. I'd assume. Not that we would know. Oh, yes. Right. Didn't... Didn't even cross my mind.

20:29Is there everything? Is there anything? Is there anything? We're going to go back this. So, I'm going to go back this way. Stuart says they don't know if it's over, so don't stand up yet. Oh, I'll stay seated. I've suddenly come to the upsetting realization about how much an airplane just is in the air. Other people do this all the time. How brave. Or we are exceedingly delusional cowards.

21:11You know, I never thought I was religious, but I swear I prayed when the second drop hit. Just the potential of impromptu death is casually terrifying. Without the luck, we're just people. Why do we think we can help? We overvalue ourselves. Just people help all the time. In fact, we made it that way by locking ourselves away. So, as family, after what we had and what we've done, if we're only spurred to direct action when threatened, then we are cowards. Kosuke, what's beyond the wall doors? Well, we're not sure, but... One moment. Oh, there's a door. Where… Ah, there's a shot! That's so good…

22:05If we continue to review the Valsigna report… It appears as though it is your SIGIA matriarch Hulda, who has been spearheading the investigation into that. Hulda… No. We haven't even brought scientific equipment out to our side, right Rick?

22:23Not as far as I know But I don't know very much, and Hulta has yet to return any of my calls since the start of the flight. I have to try again, but I can't keep calling every hour, not if something is happening back home. I hope everyone is okay. Perhaps the calls cannot connect in this weather. Maybe. With her, though, there are several options. Weather excluded. Our families have similar tendencies, I see. After everything I've seen, I think all the families have comparable complications. And this Jason Ujita, why is he so important to you? It's interesting. We began to worry after his mood.

23:10No, his personality changed. From what the report stated, he didn't question anything at first. He was raised in the family, like myself. but he's not from our, you would call it the matriarch line, I believe. He's a distant cousin, and though he has the capacity for the luck, he would have been left to a normal life had he so chosen. But when he was young, when he learned about all this, he became zealous. A devout? Devout, yes. But then he began to change. The years of perfect work, his loyalty, it all wavered as he began to question things. The devout can develop odd traits, so at first it was not noted as an important change.