Join Liam Renwick at his home for an evening and listen to the tale of his origin story, told from his perspective.
CW: References to violence, restraint, homelessness, despair, and demons (not affiliated with religious iconography). Sound effects for blood occur at 16:59 to 17:01 and 22:06 to 22:08, and beating hearts at 19:13 to 19:18.
Join Dax as she narrates a short story about the wizard’s backstory, told during the present day from his perspective.
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Transcript by Dax
Upbeat piano intro ends [00:28]
Dax: Welcome to Roads Uncharted, a podcast for nerds, by nerds. This is going to be a special bonus episode exploring the background of one of my favorite NPCs: Liam Renwick. Please be aware that if you are tuning in for the first time, there will be some spoilers about Liam’s nature included in this episode. If you want to come back and listen after you’ve caught up, now is the time to hit pause. [pauses] Okay, now that they’ve been given time to duck out, I want to point out the content warnings listed in the show notes. As always, your safety and enjoyment are important to us.
A mysterious tune fades in [01:10]
Dax: The camera pans down from the starry night sky toward an abandoned building. It’s large and the architecture suggests it was once a lavish manor house out in the country. The windows are now broken with rotting curtains blowing in the night breeze. The decorative stone is chipped and crumbling, and an eerie presence seems to lurk around the perimeter. As you approach, you begin to feel uneasy, as if you are trespassing on some well-guarded secret. Suddenly, the door opens and the warm glow of candlelight shines from the interior.
A plump woman greets you at the door, beckoning you to follow her inside. Her warm smile dispels you of any hesitation you might have felt at the threshold. In contrast to the exterior, everything inside the home is comfortably appointed and well maintained. The glass is whole and the curtains plush and free from the deterioration of time. The floor is polished, the furniture expensive looking, the decorations tasteful. She leads you to a parlor down the hall, where a man stands near a fireplace holding a glass of deep red wine in his hand.
He turns to look at you and appears to be in his mid-forties with black hair streaked with grey at the temples. His eyes seem kind, yet shrewd. He has good bone structure and a strong jaw, though his expression seems more irritated than is warranted when welcoming a guest. Despite the expensive surroundings, he is dressed in very simple breeches and a loose-fitting linen shirt, and surprisingly stands there barefoot. He gestures at you to sit down and takes a sip of his wine. When he speaks, you hear a deep and velvety baritone but it is the feeling the sound evokes that is surprising. The words may be rude, yet you feel your nerves calm and your body relax.
Dax (as Liam): [in a deeper, masc voice] Ah, I suppose I should welcome you into my home. My housekeeper will have things to say if I do not so…[pauses, clears throat] ‘Welcome, please come in. Do have a seat by the fire. Can we get you some refreshments?’ There. I’ve done my duty as host. Now tell me, why are you really here? [pauses] I see.
So, you want to know the story of how I became what I am? Wealthy? Knowledgeable? Introverted and isolated? [scoff] No, I know what you mean. You want to know how I became this. I suppose I could honor your request, assuming you swear on everything you hold dear that you will never tell another living soul. For if you do, it would not be difficult to track you down and make you regret that choice.
Dax: Liam takes another sip of the wine before placing the glass onto the mantel. He takes a deep breath and when he turns to face you his face reveals a broad, pleasant smile.
Music shifts to a dreamy tune [04:21]
Dax (as Liam): Now, where to begin? What is that phrase storytellers like to use? I knew it once. Ah, yes. Long ago, there lived a young boy who wanted nothing more than to test the limits of knowledge and become the most powerful wizard in the world. That boy grew into a man, one trapped by the restrictions of family duty. I can’t say for sure, but perhaps it was those limitations that made him the target of a most ruthless hunter. [pause] My apologies, I seem to have gotten ahead of myself. Let me try again.
Dax: Liam walks slowly to the nearby window, forcing you to turn your body in order to keep him in your sights. He clasps his hands behind his back, staring out into the deep shadows of night. Though you sit in silence for a mere few moments, time seems to drag on as you wait for him to continue. Eventually he does, without turning to face you.
Dax (as Liam): I grew up the second son of an illustrious, albeit infamous, family. They are long dead now, their line completely wiped from memory. Yet it is important to note given its impact on my early life. My mother, gods rest her soul, was a marvel of a woman. Intelligent, quick witted, beautiful. She was also strict, intolerant of mistakes and severe in her retribution should anyone cross her.
Dax: Liam pauses in his narration and walks to a portrait at the far back wall. You wonder why you’d never noticed it when you first entered, as the man in the portrait bears a striking resemblance to your host. You watch as he lifts a hand and gently places it against the gilt frame.
Dax (as Liam): My father, on the other hand, was often absent. He served as an advisor to the king and as a high-ranking member of society his duties kept him from home for long periods of time. My memories of him at home bring to mind a man exhausted by expectations, stuck in the traditions of his line, and afraid to show affection toward his children. My siblings were a bizarre mix of them both, but none of them grew to anything remarkable so we’ll leave it at that.
Dax: He plucks his hand away as if the frame suddenly is hot to touch. A grimace crosses his face for barely a moment before he returns to the mantel and quaffs the remainder of his wine.
Dax (as Liam): I wanted more than they were going to allow me. True, I wasn’t beholden to certain societal expectations like my older brother nor the duty to marry well like my younger sisters. There was still a requirement to marry well and have children, of course. Be the backup in the event the unthinkable occurred to my brother. I had always held a penchant for learning, a desire to know everything and anything. I was by far the best student among my siblings and, had things turned out differently, probably would have been a good head of the family.
As you can probably guess by my last statement, my brother didn’t live long enough to take over his expected role. He died in a dual at nineteen. His insufferable dedication to family honor put his life at risk and he paid a dear price for that honor. At that point, my father had become very ill and was no longer in a position to manage the household. Suddenly a responsibility that was never supposed to be mine to bear was thrust upon me. I was an obnoxious, stubborn, cocky and selfish adolescent too concerned with making my own desires and dreams come true. So I ran away from home that very night and never looked back.
Dax: Liam pauses to look at you, assessing any judgment your features reveal about the tale so far. He smiles gently, a sadness in his eyes that is oddly and unexplainably unsettling. Before you can comment, the sound of footsteps can be heard as two maids sweep into the room bearing trays laden with silver and fine linen napkins. The trays are placed before you on the low table and the domed covers are lifted to reveal a feast.
Roast pork coated in a reddish glaze that smells both spicy and sweet, accompanied by baked apples, sauteed dark greens that are bathed in garlic and butter and fresh baked rolls. Another servant enters with a pair of wine bottles. One contains a chilled white wine that he pours into the fine crystal wineglass in front of you. The other bottle he uses to refresh Liam’s drink, the deep red sloshing pleasantly against the glass. The trio of servants take their leave as Liam raises his glass to you.
Dax (as Liam): I hope you enjoy your refreshments. My chef is extremely talented.
Dax: He sips the wine and sets it back on the mantel before continuing his tale.
Dax (as Liam): I won’t bore you with the details of the time I spent away from home. I travelled. I took on any odd job I could find to make enough money to get from one place to another. Eventually, I made my way to the city of Kidohlva where I found work as a dishwasher at one of the inns. Popular among travelers and students alike, I would often find myself dallying in the common areas to hear them tell stories of their travels, or of what they learned in class that day. My attempts at hiding this dalliance as cleaning or tidying only went so far with the owner, of course.
One day, he approached me and told me he’d noticed my distracted nature and was tired of giving me tasks that were left half-completed. I thought I knew what he was getting at and turned in my apron and keys. As I started to leave, however, he surprised me. Told me he’d paid for my entrance into the university and that, if I wanted to repay him, that I “better make something of myself” one day.
Music shifts to a gentle piano melody [10:14]
Dax: Liam chuckles at that, his mouth quirking into a smile as the memory bubbles to the surface.
Dax (as Liam): The university is…an absolute wonder. I threw myself into every class I could find, and I quickly surrounded myself with those of similar desires. Unlike my family, these people wanted to better not only themselves, but the world around them.
Dax: He glances at you and a sly smile graces his features.
Dax (as Liam): You’ve heard I was expelled, haven’t you? That’s why you’re looking at me confused? No, don’t deny it. I can spot that look a mile away. I attended classes in Kidohlva for the better part of a decade. I made a few good friends, people I still miss to this very day. The rest either saw me as common or competition. Common, because my entry fee was paid by a mere innkeeper, and competition because…well.
Dax: He says no more on the subject, but rather takes a seat on the nearby chaise. Leaning forward, his forearms braced against his thighs and hands clasped, he continues.
Dax (as Liam): I excelled at my arcane studies. Few take courses at the higher levels because it can be a grueling, sometimes agonizing affair. In spite of my desire to learn more, there were some courses deemed unacceptable to teach. I will admit, looking back, my curiosity got the better of me.
Dax: He relaxes a little and runs a hand through his hair.
Dax (as Liam): At the time I attended the university there was a professor of the arcane specializing in demonic study. Generally, the course taught anatomy, how to protect yourself and others against, et cetera…ad nauseum…you get the idea. The war had been over for almost a hundred years but it was still considered an important topic to learn. Well, this professor quickly picked up on my interest in the nuances of such study, and took me on as an independent learner during off-hours. I would go to class during the day, and for a few hours at night would work with them in their personal laboratory.
This went on for several months, mind you. Hours toiling away at everything from grinding dried ingredient components into powder, to translating and rewriting ancient texts, even memorizing spells and rituals. It all came to a head one night: we were going to summon a demon and get answers directly from it. For years, few had questioned why the Spellweavers involved demons during the war. We have their reasons in old texts, of course, but the idea that these powerful casters would summon creatures from the foul depths of hells never sat right with some of us. We were sick of conjecture and estimation. Theorizing. It was time to collect tangible, factual data that could be presented to the university and, eventually, the world.
Dax: A heavy sigh escapes your host, his head dipping as if in shame.
Music shifts to a melancholy tune [13:35]
Dax (as Liam): Unfortunately, we underestimated the power a demon could wield on this plane. Og’thakath wasted no time sundering the summoning circle, killing the professor and dragging me down into the hells. I do not wish to relive the time spent there, let’s just say that in order to come back to this plane I made a dangerous deal with the demon. My return was an unwelcome one, however, and I was expelled from the university as well as banned from the city. They wrote me off as eccentric, rather than admit one of their own could commit a crime as heinous as demon summoning on campus.
Dax: Liam stands once again, takes the glass from the mantel and takes a sip before tossing it into the fire. Flames flash briefly from the fireplace and the room is filled with an intense, momentary heat.
Dax (as Liam): Fools. [sighs] The year that followed was probably the lowest point of my life. Homeless, jobless, purposeless. My father had passed years ago and I had no word of my mother or sisters. My friends refused contact after my expulsion, so I was left totally and utterly alone. I began to steal food when I was hungry, sticking to the shadows in my travels and avoiding the local guard as best I could.
I still remember the night it happened. It was winter, I hadn’t eaten in days and was huddled in a dark alley of a large city. I will keep that detail private, in the hopes you do not go searching for the one who made me what I am. I was fighting sleep and failing when I heard a gentle voice ask me when the last time was that I had a bath and a decent meal.
Dax: Liam’s back is turned to you, and you notice the shoulders slump slightly.
Dax (as Liam): At first, I thought I’d imagined it, but then my blurred vision noticed a shadowed figure standing at the end of the alleyway. They came closer and offered me a hand. As if in a trance I followed them to the street, climbed into their polished carriage and returned to their home with them. It was smaller than this house, and not nearly as well furnished, but still warm and inviting. I was given a hot bath, a warm and sumptuous meal, including a good deal of wine, and a soft bed to sleep in.
I stayed with my host for a few days, helping the servants during the day in an effort to repay the kindness I’d been shown. At night I stayed up late to talk with my host, each of us sharing tales from our past: our family, friends, places we’d visited and things we’d done. I felt as if my life were finally turning around and from here I could start anew. I made plans to head back home to pick up the trail of my kin, to ask their forgiveness if possible and do what I could to rekindle the connection.
Music shifts to a somber tune [16:40]
On the fourth night I awoke to the sight of my host hovering over my bed. They apologized for frightening me and sat close on the edge of my mattress. A gentle caress on my cheek set my heart pounding, a delicate kiss against my lips left me hungry for more. When their kisses delved lower, I felt the sharp pain of fangs at my throat. At first, I’ll admit, it was enjoyable. But as the blood coursed through my veins some instinct told me I was in danger. Try as I might I couldn’t push them off of me, and I was left drained. I spent two days in bed on the brink of death. The servants cared for me as if I was merely sick with the flu, rather than a victim of their master’s habits.
Dax: Liam turns his head just enough for you to catch his profile in the firelight, his eyes downcast as he speaks.
Dax (as Liam): The evening of the second day, my host returned. They told me they were a vampire and had finally become bored living a solitary life. They touted the benefits of immortality, of living as you wish each day without concerns or fear. They offered me a choice: I could die in their home and be forgotten by all who knew me, or I could let them turn me and live a life truly worth living.
Dax: Liam turns to you in full now, and slowly moves toward your chair.
Dax (as Liam): Obviously, I chose to become like them. For three hundred years I have lived and learned. I have loved and lost as only an immortal can. I have atoned for my past mistakes and rekindled connections I once thought lost. I went from expelled student to the trusted advisor to the Council of Kidohlva, from estranged son to the sole survivor of an ancient line. I am a powerful wizard, wealthy and generous employer to my staff, and solitary hunter.
Music shifts to a tense melody [18:49]
Dax: Your host stops just shy of the chair where you sit and leans forward, bracing his hands against the arm rests. He draws so close you can smell the soap used to wash his clothes, and something metallic on his breath. He slowly smiles, revealing the tips of fangs. The relaxed air about you suddenly feels tight in your chest, your heart begins to race as his pupils dilate.
[heart pounding]
Dax (as Liam): I am going to give you a choice, mortal. Pray think about it before you speak your decision aloud.
Dax: Suddenly, you hear the sound of something large moving behind your host. A deep, menacing voice chimes in.
[bump and then growl]
Dax (as the demon): [voice pitched very low] Are you finally done playing with the food, Liam?
Dax: Despite the warmth of the fireplace, you feel a sudden chill down your spine. Cold sweat breaks out and your body begins to tremor slightly. Your instincts tell you that you are prey, but you’re subconsciously aware that, somehow, something worse lurks in the room. Your fears are confirmed when the creature comes forward and into your view. Large, hulking muscle in a warped humanoid form that stands nearly as tall as the room. Under a mass of swirling smoke and dancing flame, you spy skin of a reddish-orange hue, a set of ram’s horns and large black eyes that seem to stare at you from the depths of some unknown abyss.
Dax (as Liam): Oogie, how good of you to join us.
Dax (as Og’thakath): We have matters to discuss and you’ve been ignoring my summons.
Dax: Your eyes dart between Liam’s face and the demon behind him. His pupils have returned to normal and his fangs are no longer noticeable, but his normally controlled expression is wrought with annoyance. He stands straighter, turning to face the demon as if you are not even there.
Dax (as Liam): The debt between us has been repaid, remember? I’m surprised Pax didn’t notify you -
Dax (as Og’thakath): This is not about debts, you fool! [growls] It is also not a matter to be discussed lightly in front of mortals. Get rid of it.
Dax: The demon turns and skulks out of the room. [thump] Your fight or flight response has been activated, yet you seem to be frozen to the chair. You can feel your mind willing you to do something yet you cannot. Something holds you back. Liam turns to you and smiles gently, his pupils once again dilated.
Dax (as Liam): My apologies, I suppose the decision has been made for you. I truly hope you’ve enjoyed your last meal.
Dax: In a flash Liam is on you, his left arm wrapped around your body while his right cradles your head. His fangs pierce your flesh and you are reminded of what he said of his own experience. The pain from the bite doesn’t last long, but is swiftly replaced with a euphoric feeling. An intoxicating bliss. You feel your body relax and your lids grow heavy, as if you’ve consumed too much of the wine and now require a long sleep. The room around you begins to swim, and soon you fall into darkness.
Music fades out [22:33]