Ep7 | Crater Tales

make sand bath or do you want to rest? All I want to do now is take it slow, fight somewhere peaceful and rest. O. Okay, rest is a good option. Rest serious astrom what part of take its slow and find somewhere peaceful? Arrest? Don't you understand? Should we follow him? Either? Yea logo? Come on serious, I will hold you down and pull your eyelids shut if that's what it takes to get some rest around here? Rest? Either he's found

a place? What down there? Interesting? I wouldn't have expected to come across such exotic topography in the desert, Yet here we are standing at the brink of a massive crater. Do you think it's quiet at the bottom well, given the crater's convexity and desolate expanse, I suppose so right, last one down to the crater's center, cuddles the serious. Tonight's ah ah, quit me. We'll set up camp here at the crater's Serious, gather some stones off the ground

and get a fire going for warm Yeah, how're cooking? Logo, Come join us. I don't know how you do the rest. We have yet to come up with a satisfactory explanation as to why the craters here in the first place. Doesn't it strike you both? Is odd? Logo? Tonight, I'll leave the big questions for you and Serious to worry about. Mentally, I am checking out. Serious, Put that scrap metal down. You don't know where it's from or what it's doing here. Serious,

snow and Serious, no white hole here too. You do drop it before you injure yourself. For all we know, it could be left over strapnel from who knows what this steal from CFS blade of ancient warrior Princess Flora see steal rank from blood of enemies that's called rusts. Serious and say you cut yourself and it gets infected, How are we supposed to get you help down here. Tell me about Flora Ether he's just making up a story. No story true. From Cyrisian legend Flora most fearless warrior

in all of land. Most men hide behind shield in battle. Flora fight with two blades and spin like store were impressive. Mm Flora leader of great warrior tribe called Nomad's tribe of First Leaf. Here here is where they find desert paradise here in oasis. What do you think this was an oasis? Plants, food, water all here, This hole we stand in filled with water. Seriously, this barren crater could

hardly be classified as an oasis. M oasis, no war because most savage beasts known to world once lived here. Oh yeah, what's that? Oculus occulus from ancient warrior history. Oculus one eyed cyclops, size of ten men, strength of hundred. Nobody stands chance. He eats greatest warriors two at a time, and wear bones as jewelry. It's flesh now like us either his body hard as rock, sharpest blades snap like

twig against skin, even against oculus eye. Only weakness is soft spot on top of oculus head way out of mortal reach and Nomad's h they come here to Oculus, home in oasis, one of the finding swimming in mos a gray bottle. I drink to my bellies full. I've been through my heart's contents. I am a happy sidecom Homy rambles sounds like he's time for dinner. Let's see what's on the menu for tonight, Hot Flora. We've journeyed too far in the desert. Are no mad. People's face

thirst and starvation be spirits grow weak. Unless we turn back now, this will be the end of our tribe. Elder one, This isn't the end. This is only the beginning, No mad. When you joined me on this expedition, I promised you drink till you're drenched, food till you're plump, and riches beyond your wildest dreams. Some of you lost faith along the ways, But today my promise is fulfilled. Just beyond these desert dunes lies our oasis, the whole paradise.

Here here, Flora has led us to the promised land. Raise your swords, lift your shields, no man, three strikes of your shield to Flora's honor. Put away your swords and shields. There will be time for celebration later. Now come our oasis. Await, Laura. Food has never been so filling, water has never tasted so refreshing, and the richest gold has never shine so bright. My kin, your delight fills me with joy. May we reap the spoils of our journey for now and all of eternity. Laura, it's not

safe here. There are signs that leads me to believe we are unwelcome visitors in another's home. This is one home I don't mind, Sherry, but not just anyone lives here. I am afraid we may have stumbled into the home of a cyclops elder one. You've said before, our people have roamed the desert for far too long. You're right, but there's enough here for all to prosper. Have you no respect for the hollowed law? Cyclopsis are the most

hostile beasts in all the leads. If the Cyclops doesn't see eye to eye, my blades will talk for me. You must listen. Taken break up person in half with his hands of weapons cannot pierce his body. No mortal enemy has ever defeated the Cyclops in battle. No mad be on high alert. Take cover where you can find it, Flora, what's going on? We're expecting company. No, mad you heard her. Drop what you're doing and retreat behind the nearest boulder,

a tall tree, high God, that was a fine tasty meal. Ivo. It was a bore of a vitough bore thing. I nearly his fold at home. Ah, I can't wait to washington. That was some cold refreshing water. Wait a minute, someone's been in my garden and they're still here. Are you, Marculus, ruler of these lands? Good? Does enter my sacred then come out? Come out wherever you are, or I'll find you any jew, I'll follow you all, Laura, we cannot

fide for long Beast as it stands. If we divide into groups and make a run for it, at least some may escape with their lives. No, that's the coward's way. I'll speak to Oculus. You'll have to get his attention first. What that tackles? Who goes there? Oculus? I am Flora Warrior, princess of the Nomad's conqueror of great beasts. Do I have your attention? Yes, you have it, and you have a broken blade as well. I lay my second blade

on the ground, a hollow gesture. May I approach? Approach, little wol My people have traveled a great distance across this desert. This land is rich and bountiful. We only ask for enough food and water to spend the night, and we'll be on our way before sunrise. Oh you'll be lucky if I let you spend the night as fertilizer in my garden. And I have one final proposal to offer. Please consider it carefully. We don't want to hurt you. You hurt me. That's like a fleet hurting

a bear. Though you do look a bit gamy. After I eat you, I wonder if you'll hurt me with a Tommy egg. You're folly amuses me. Calmly, I shall extend ahead, step upon my palm, and I wish you up level so we may speak face to face. Oculus, you are big and strong. I know, mad people, we are great warriors. But here before you plead as humble. I have laid down my blade on the desert floor and approached unarmed. Reconsider what I asked before, or we

will be forced to end your life. You know your puny weapons cannot hurt me unless you reach the spot at my tippy tippy top. Then you and your friends will go squishy squishes. What indeed, I tell you, no moral has ever reached a soft spot atop a cyclops. Very well, you leave us no other choice like please, you shall feast on your rotting carcass starting with your high No man, I lead the charge into battle. You've come with me this far, William fight beside me once again?

We fight together as one. Then today we earn our prepare for comb fighting with the break formations around the flights, me writing the trip wires to attack the BFI's lengths. I need to take my place to front. Oh wait, my command, you commence the pendulum strike. Now silence, where are you bet your boo? I will dine on your flesh and drink a puard of every last one of you. First quadrant, now, third quadrant. Go yeah, a good quadrant.

Try one quadrant, So, Laura, the trichoire is secure. The piece's legs are locked to weathers, ready on account to pull the wires topped three. Two, Why the great Syclops,

Laculus and you Oculus are at my mercy? Take it old, Please say that we will keep not we will Then Flora and Nomad's take water and reaches from oasis and continued journey conquering more great beasts across land, until one day no more beasts but for conquering, and no man's realized only beasts left is damn And for this day weep, weep and weep, but kill o water. They don't promoculus, they cry out and tears turn into world's ocean, seas and lakes. Serious, don't be sad. It's a beautiful story.

I agree, despite the glaring logical inconsistencies that tall tale could move anyone to tears serious, no cry serious, have sand denied like oculus and no insistency story true? Well, for one, tears are naturally sale. So while hypothetically the nomad's tears could be the source of the world salty oceans and seas, how do you account for the formation of fresh bodies of water? Yeah? And why would the nomads leave so soon from an oasis they were trying

so hard to find in the first place. To explain that serious no care serious no in hart story true, I don't see how you can argue with that logic. Logic, what logic? It's missing every component of a sound logical argument. You know, have better greater story, Actually I do. While you were carrying on about the Cyrisian legend. I noticed the marking on the southern perimeter. Follow me, take a look at this. What is it? Shure animal in rock? Close?

It's a fossil. I've never observed anything quite like it before, but it appears to be the imprint of a prehistoric creature, degraded over time by weathering and erosion. What's strange is that it looks more like a stained outline than an impression. But I don't know what other than a fossil could result in this mark on the surface's exterior. Serious never see animal like that before. Technically, if you have, what do you mean? Well, the impression looks like an amalgamation

of organic constructs. This can happen during diagenesis. Diagenesis the physical and chemical changes exhibited in rocks as a result of exposure to extreme temperatures and pressure. It can preserve an impression, but often distorts the figure. So what well? At first, I wasn't sure what to make of this. It could be a combination of creatures, an ancient ancestor, or even the missing link between serious and modern man. But the more I thought about it, the more it

became clear. To me that the fossil source could only be one thing, the contour Quava. The contour Quava. It lives deep below the surface and is unlike any other creature known to us. It has the head of a fawn, body of a person, and stands upright on goatlike hind legs, moving swiftly with the poisoned grace of a ballerina that

sounds like a hoax. There are countless purported sightings and alleged accounts to support the existence of this majestic creature, though unfortunately none of the evidence is thus far verifiable. But that doesn't mean it's not true. Serious light to meet contour Quava. No, you wouldn't. The contour Quava is a hideous beast. It has alien like ruby red slits for eyes, a serpent tongue that's always hissing and clicking as it scans for prey, and twin serrated antlers atop

its head the size of anvils. They scrape against the cave ceiling as it walks. Six golden spikelike books line its back, and it has cloven hooves for feet. Oh and did I mention the spiral mark on its forehead? That glows crimson red in the dark. Log stop, you're scaring serious. The contour Aquava's appearance is the last thing he should be afraid of. It's nothing compared to its voice.

The contra Quava's voice is said to possess a magical quality when it opens its those who hear its call fall under a trance like state as they're hypnotized by its ballerina tippy toe dance. Hidden in the notes of its siren song are believed to be the truth to all the world's secrets. That's ridiculous. And I thought you said it lives underground. Why wouldn't have been down here

in this crater. It must have been uncovered during a mining expedition, which brings me to the only logical conclusion as to the crater's origin. This crater we're standing in is all that remains of an open pit mine mining. What exactly desert diamonds, sandstones, black opal and I'm afraid they dug too deep. Drill hit a snag again. Warman Stone's not going to be happy, bottle Stone. The drill

must have caught on something could be opals. Why did you say the black of the better get the digging Sapphire Lazily, give me a hand here, sure thing, Amber Sapphire, got your pickaxe already? Headye, Captain Amber Lasily aloud clear the debris. It's not oples it's a hole. No an entrance too bad at least four and Stone can't say we didn't try. Yeah, No use fooling around here and getting ourselves hurt or in trouble. Ladies, We're not going anywhere.

We've just hit pay dirt. Amber, slow down. We can't go in there. There's no telling how deep the hole goes or what's even down there exactly. The potential's unlimited. That's the best part. Come on, Or had to go down the hall. She just had to go down the hall. We might find something valuable down there. Besides, can't let Amber go alone regretless? Right, where are you? Okay, get back here and get me those shappy Lazily got a match for my lantern here, one for yours and one

for mine. At least I always travel prepared. What was that I heard something hiss? You? Probably just to match you? Thanks? Whoa check it out? Okay, painting, I'm just some drawn ages ago by early man. Just think of the answers to life's greatest mysteries. We'll find out here, untouched by modern hands and just waiting to be discovered. I've never seen such exquisite detail captured in painting before. You can make out the sheer awe on each person's face as

they run towards that haven in the light. Good. What's that thing they're running from? Whatever it is? Ship True's hugly looks deformed, must be their own version of form and stone central tone branches off in the discrete past like an underground lab. You know. Being down violates all mining safety protocol which are put into place to protect us from ending up in situations precisely like this, and

we're breaking them voluntarily of our own volition. We've just discovered and as of yet unknown underground world full of untold treasures, hidden knowledge, buried secrets, forgotten truths lost to time. Turn back if you want, I'm forging forward as right be the side of a lifetime. Fine, at least let's stay together this way. I heard something lazily quick complaining which try to at least enjoy the adventure. But I

wasn't saying anything sapphire me neither. Then? Who is the words seem to float through the air and rush past us like wind. Whoever speaking must be up ahead. Sh I've heard about this phenomenon before. Phantom whispers. Phantom whispers, they're fragments of words from conversation spoken hundreds of years ago by the ancients who dwelled here. The acoustics of these caves have preserved their sound as echoes and trapping them in time from the bottom of this cavern where

they lived. Slowly over the centuries, their words rise up through the tunnels to reach the surface, similar to how light from stars that died millions of years ago is just reaching us now. And do you know what that means? That we're easy dropping on ancient civilizations. And I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be happy about this. That as we descend deeper into the bowels, it's like we're traveling back in time itself. If we can puzzle together a full transmission,

who knows what secrets of the universe will unravel. We have to keep going, We have to reach the source tremors. We've gone too deep. We have to go back now, for it's too late. What it's what I can't I can't it's fun. Attention, its foment arms. What are we waiting? I don't leave the glowing mark of the crimson spiral on its forehead, the contra que buff it's real. I have to follow it. I have to learn the secrets of its song. If you taste that thing into the abyss,

you'll only lose yourself. She's right, you can have my share of the opals one. We're done with the job. Please, let's just turned back. It's not adopt the opals. It was never about the opals. Don't you understand. We're at the precipice of all that is known and all that is hidden. The monumental truths that we stand to uncover will bring forth a new era of enlightenment and forever change the course of life as it stands. I have to go after it ever lively. Go to the service

and get out. I'll track down am No way forget prtocol. We'll find her together. Okay, where to go? She could have disappear down any one of these tunnels. This way we have to go. We sealed off from her, managed to clear a path in the rocks. Amber won't last the night. On the other side of this Caden. That's if she's even still alive. Don't talk like that. You're not giving up at her all that. Ever, we'll get

you out, even if it takes us all night. We won't stop until no stone is left a drunk Sapphire, help me clear some box. You have to create a passage for airflow. What we're not meant to know? Me some secrets of the universe are getting open and not for us to understand. I don't know. I don't tend to find up. Yes, that should find some airflow, Stamphire, don't block the opening. Ever, can you hear me? If you can hear me, walk towards my words, stay focused

on clearing the rocks. Ever, ever is that you? I think I see her do the opening slip last one, pass me the lantern. We can find a way to reach her if you could just listen to me. Ever, follow the sound of my We're going to get you out of here. Nothing never look closer. I can almost make out her face. Ember, it's you. What's that mark on your forehead? The red spiral neber Amber is no longer. I have spoken the words to unlock the master door.

I have learned two It's beyond the conscious mind. I've experienced the sound of silence, the color of darkness, the size of the infinite. But what I could never have imagined is that the path to enlightenment has always been concealed within How twisted is reality, and that the true nature of exists it at once at our fingertips get always just beyond our grass amber. We're not meant to understand. We're not meant to know the secrets. Coming here was

a mistake. This was no mistake. Down here, I have communed with the cosmes. I have stared into the soul of the sun and witnessed its blinding rays of light. There's no return, there never was. This is can't be truth. I would accept it. Then you must hear for yourself what is hidden shall always be buried. List him and learn the truth. I'm never mind your mockery. Now that we've come together in agreement as to why the crater

is here, I suppose we can finally get some rest. Yeah. Right, your story has all the credibility of a conspiracy theory. It's full of holes bigger than the crater worth standing in. No such thing as contour quava. Well, you'd believe me if you heard its call. But I understand it's hard for lesser minds to fathom abstract concepts such as forbidden knowledge. Fine, the mystery of the crater's origin will forever remain unsolved.

Have it your way, Uh, I think I found what caused the crater, or at least what's left of this. Either that rock come from ground to probably black opal from the open pit mine. No, this is something entirely different. Well, let me take a look. I suppose rocks go. It's not uninteresting. It is a green clash like appearance. Hard to say if it's igneas sedimentary, or metamorphic. You don't come across the specimen like this every day, but I

wouldn't say it's particularly special. Keep it as a souvenir. You're both wrong, and whatever made this crater, it wasn't monster or machine. It came from the night sky. Joseph, my father, it's time we must leave now. Our people look to you for guidance. What is the meaning of this ceremony? Blood magic? Father? You can't, My dear daughter, you should not have entered my tent unannounced that the final plague, the Plague of Eternal Night, has begun. It

envelops our city comat in total darkness. I know, and father, do you not hear the bells tolling for us? Listen to their chimes, Gay, sound like the most heavenly music to my ears. Taar, my daughter, I do not hear the music. But Darren rings the bells of freedom. He has promised to let our people go. Yes, yes, that is all very well. We shall finally be free from his tyranny and oppression. We must leave from Huxlaris under

cover of darkness to receive our lord's commandments. Tar, my, dear child, you do not know Farn like I do. He is a diabolical man. He murdered his own father for the throne. He slaughtered his own son in a fit of rage. Only a fool would believe fair On will honor his promise to free our people. But Arkhan, our cold, watches over us. Arkhan watches over us. Will our lord watch over us as we wander the desert, as we scavenge the sand for scraps, daughter, This is

our land, Kumat is our home. When we are but not even one hundred steps from here, Pharaon will send his soldiers to hunt us down and slay us Where we stand, Ar Khan will protect us, just as he set the plagues upon Kumat. He will deliver us to freedom and show us the way to salvation. When Phaon brains a hail of arrows across the sky, when he sends his hounds to smite us, when his stones a fire stormed down upon us, How will our Khan protect us? Then?

Can we truly put our faith in that? Ar Khan may have answered recent prayers, but where was he or the lost generations who lived and died as slaves under Pharaoh? How can you say such things? Because we must take our people's future into our own hands, forge our own path, fight fire with fire, You do not such vile things. Father. Now I must return to our people, my daughter. Just as there are the powerful forces of good in this world,

there are even greater forces of evil. Once you know that to be true, you will understand the choices that have been made. Tonight, go now, I will join our people's But there is work to maloon Supreme being of the infirm Fallen key of arc by Joseph Prime Elder of the Archonite Summon, you please accept my mother, I ask her brain hell fire down on Kumat, burn the city to the ground, and turn its people to ash. Where ar conveiled us with his restraint, show no mercy

in your fund. In return, our people will worship you at your altar and pledge our souls to your come out. Arconnights ahead. Arcon's light ray of light cuts through the darkness, shining our cap forward to celeration dark. I'm here, father, is all set right? Yes, my DearS, it goes out, will secondarkness. We will never reach my solaris arconas We must keep going. We mustn't lose our faith. Look, a giant Afar will be no more good Sue that is a miracle has heard our affairs and sent a miracle.

I am sure of it. We have nothing to fear now in our home. Com't that right, father, Yes, dart it is an act of divine retribution for those who held doubts. Take his wrath as affirmation of your belief. No longer must be run from our homeland like refugees from the ashes. We will rise again, Argantes, by the grace of our Lord. We shall rebuild. Food will be plentiful, Our defense is supreme, and we will create a land worthy to call our home. We start tonight and we

do it as free people. Here Father, I've received word that the rebuild has been progressing faster than planned. Arkan's divine blessing must still be with us. That's good to hear, Tahar. But the heads of the different rebuilds are expected to arrive with updates very well. But to her, for the good of my conscience, I must confess to you something from that night on the father that must begin eat head of the harvest. She will have news to share. Yes,

it will be good to hear from her, Tahar. Joseph, I bring with me great news. The seeds we so just last night have already grown into plants ten feet tall, with crops right for a feast. It is truly a blessing from Arkhan. Father, that is tremendous. We shall have enough mood to last us through the cold season. Yes, yes, go, please have a sink, Tohr. Wait outside, of course, Father, these plants they're grow It's unnatural, surely you jest, for how can that be? It is one of our CON's miracles.

We gathered the soil from where the meteorites struck and planted our seeds in this divine dirt. You did what please? I understand you may be skeptical, so let me show you in my bag. I've brought with me a gift, a cornucopia of our ripest cross. Won't you try some? Thank you? But I'm not hungry. Do the others outside the farm know about this? Of course? Of course we've

already begun distributing the harvest among the villagers. And what's more, consuming these crops comes with a deeper blessing beyond just their nourishment. What is this? You referred to? The music, the beautiful music. Don't you hear the heavenly sounds? I do not hear the music. You must go now, I must think you'll hear the music, Joseph, you'll hear. Who is it? Father, the master blacksmith Gideon is here? Send him in Ah, Joseph, what a fine day in Kumat? Indeed, Gideon,

How goes the development of our weapon? Supply it is blessed, truly blessed. Our armory is nearly fully stocked. Truly, how so, thanks to a new discovery black metal, black metal, it has allowed us to make weapons that are indestructible. With it, we will conquer all threats to our people. That is impossible my reaction at first as well. But here I bring you a present, A saber worthy of a great leader.

Black metal, Where did you find it? We forge these swords out of iron that came from the meteorite itself. At first, the metal seemed so foreign to my hands. I didn't think I could crack. But the more I worked with it, the closer I felt to Arka, this is an abom nation. Dispose of every last blade made from it. Ah, but we've already armed all the soldiers. Thanks to ark On, our protection is now guaranteed. And what's more, working with this metal has shown me the

hidden depths of its composition. Don't you hear the beautiful music? I do not hear the music. Now out, I want you out to take a referral weapon. You'll hear it. Joseph, You'll hear it. Dar. Send in the next visitor, Dar, Dar. Where have you gone? Gideon? Have you seen to Horror? Has she come by the armory? Joseph? Won't you join us in celebration. We've just sacrificed our first foreign children, as instructed by the music of our coon, whoa good wait, Joseph,

you'll hear it. You'll hear it. Good, eat you must help me. Have you seen to hear at the farms? Joseph, my friend, how good to see you again? So soon? Good? What has happened to your limbs? They're nothing more than stumps? Who did this to you? Joseph? No one did this to me. I did it to myself. You did this? Have you lost your mind? It's all part of Arkon's master plan. We harvested the plants, and ate, and ate and ate, but it did not fill our stomachs one bit.

But then we realized we were wrong for expecting nourishment from our harvest, for our con blessed us at birth with perfectly tender limbs. So one by one we devoured our own bodies, smiling and humming to our lord's song. Don't you hear it? Won't you? Sing along? I? I do not hear the music? Please please, Joseph, sing along? Please? I must go sing sing? Oh? What have I done? I must reach the side where the media fell, the place where the solid began, and put an end to

this evil. At once dark, at last I found you at the great role spire. What is the meaning of this madness, My father, how blessed we are for you to join us in worship with this infernal fire we honor our Lord at the holy sight where our concert us free. Don't you hear the music? Are you hearing? I hear the music? Cans into the fire, my lord, I'm coming home. That was a somber story. Their story, no fun, terrible story. I never said I had a happy ending. I'm ready to get some sleep. Now, sleep

after that. You give serious bad dreams? All right, you can sleep next to me tonight. Serious? Oh, keep you safe. We'll go. You stand up until you solve the mystery behind the crater. Actually, I was just thinking about how sleeping adjacent to someone can raise body heat as an effective safety measure against hypothermia. And it is chilly out tonight. Okay, come on, get in here. Maybe all our stories are wrong, maybe bits and pieces of them are true. Or maybe

the answer will come to us in our sleep. Who knows, And maybe that's how it's meant to be. I'm I supposed to sleep with this intquest created by Michael Freiberg, a production of iHeartRadio and Astro Media. Executive produced by Michael Freiberg and iHeartRadio co produced by Adam Raimundo and Chelsea English. Sound supervisor and mix by Dennis Denbeck. Sound designed by Dan Timmins, Music by Trey Toy and James Newberry.

Performances by Matthew Brossard, Ether, Mike Leibovitz, Serious, Mike Kaplan, Logo, Lucy poul Umbra featuring Nick Nanny, Oculus, Rista Osborne, elder One, Carolina Ravassa, Flora Massa, Gibson Warrior Leader, Shata Pursharman, Amber Camilo, Theobald, Lazily, Ninatar, Sapphire, Greg Stone, Horman Stone, Dan Timmins, Conturqueva, gen Cone, Tahar, Tom Delgado, Joseph Julia, Morrizawa Guinea, Paul Jackson, Gideon director and head writer, Michael Freiberg, writers, Tom Delgado and Wild

Julian story editor, Chelsea English, dialog editor Adam Raimunda, Foley, Host, Red full Cast and crew in the description. Find more podcasts from my Heart Radio on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.