SBR 1.39: Lament

"'A final cry; a last gasp out of the darkness; and a new path opens up for our unlikely host of Spirit Box Radio...'"

Events of Note

 * Sam found a letter in Marie's room addressed to him.
 * They conduct a group séance and he sees a vision of Marie and Rhytidia.
 * Oliver, Anna, and Kitty all turn up at the studio at different points.
 * Sam reads a letter from Nagisa.
 * Something catastrophic happens at the end of the episode.

Summary
Sam begins the episode by telling the listeners about a letter that he found in Madame Marie's room. They went in there for the first time since her death and it was lying on her pillow. Marie says in the letter that all she wanted to do was keep Sam safe, and to fight something. She does explain herself. Sam is furious.

He messages user covenbabe666 to organise a group séance, and when they do, several other users reply offering their services, including Regular Caller Beth and Georgie from Dyserth, amongst others. The Recording Machine reveals that it can see inside the forums, specifically it can see the dead users, and encourages Sam. He grabs some candles and the shards remaining from the Crystal Ball, and calls out to speak to Madame Marie.

Two voices fade in, soon recognisable as Marie and Rhytidia. Marie is freaking out about being pregnant, explaining to Rhytidia that it is different this time. Marie does not tell them the full story, but it is understood that Marie made a deal when she was younger, and now she is afraid that the One who Walks Here and There will take her son. Rhytidia states that even if the child turns out to be like their father, they'll still be Marie child. Marie interprets this differently, saying that she would kill her child should they become too powerful and evil. The vision ends there.

Sam is understandably distressed by this. He calls out for his sisters and Oliver, to no avail. They start crying, and tell the listeners about the last time that they ever saw her, how she used to tell them that they were special every single day. The last time he saw her, she had come in from a storm, soaked through, unable to meet Sam's eye. She said that she 'did [her] best'. Sam originally thought that she meant that she did her best to be okay, but understands now that that was not the intention.

At this, Revel begins to meow at Sam, but leaves. Sam apologises to the listeners, but is startled by a door creaking. There is a moment, and then Oliver enters the studio. He says that Sam called to him. Not an unavoidable invocation like last time, but an offer that Oliver felt able to refuse should he want to. He states that that was a strange experience. Oliver casually reveals that he can pick locks (because, y'know, he's cool edgy queer person, obviously he can pick locks). Sam asks for comfort, and as Oliver presumably hugs them, Anna turns up. She is appropriately horrified to see her brother snuggling with a man that she has vocally stated her distrust of.

Sam moves on to reading the response he had received from Nagisa. They state that they never knew that Marie had had a son, and that their original letter had been sent to the house on Banemouth Road, not the Spirit Box Radio P.O. box. They talk about words of power and how through repetition and consistent intent, one can manufacture a word of power. Likewise, one could break a word of power by muddying its meaning repeatedly. Nagisa says that Marie's original letter to them asked them to review a new ritual, an Arcane Maze.

Sam finishes reading, and seems to be in great pain, specifically in their throat. There is a loud knocking coming from the trap door. Sam identifies the burning pain as the Algiz birthmark on his throat. Throughout this, Sam is rambling aloud about Marie lying, asking questions that go unanswered. There are strange sounds around them, much like an earthquake. Kitty enters the studio, and Anna and Oliver conclude rather quickly that the four of them need to leave. They try to drag Sam out, but he refuses. As he does, there is a loud cracking sound that fades to the sound of a ticking clock.

Characters Featured

 * Sam Enfield
 * Revel (Cat)
 * Oliver Boleyn
 * Anna Enfield
 * Kitty Enfield
 * The Recording Machine
 * Madame Marie (vision)
 * Rhytidia Delphus (vision)
 * The Flat Cap Man (mentioned)
 * Nagisa (mentioned)

Listeners writing in/mentioned:


 * CovenBabe666
 * Regular Caller Beth
 * Georgie from Dyserth
 * Show-Caller Emily
 * Mystery
 * Karl