~The Witcher: Geralt X Listener SFW: The Rusalki~ {Patreon Exclusive}

A new job, but something about it just doesn't seem to be rubbing Geralt the right way...

Contains: Mentions of Violence Towards Women, Mentions of Murdering Women, Monsters, Light Confessions, Adventure, Folklore/Lore, Non Canon Compliant

                                                                             The Folklore:    

 So, the Rusalka/Rusalki are  ghosts/succubi from Polish Pre-Christian Folklore! They were spirits of girls/women who died an unnatural or violent death, especially if murdered at the hands of men. They take their revenge on any man that dares to stray near the forest or river/lake that they inhabit. They also miss the human world, and they want to share the company of humans, but they need to draw energy from nearby living things. Their power comes from their sexual attraction, and like succubae from other lore, they suck the energy out of men through sex. They appear as beautiful pale corpses with green eyes and can easily be found on nights where there is a new moon, dancing in open fields and forests across Poland.

I thought this would be a really cool concept for Geralt, because it sounded exactly like the kind of thing he would be hired to fight, and, the Witcher novels were created by a Polish author. I did do a little bit of fudging with the folklore and Witcher lore and here and there, but I'm not here to be 100% canon compliant lol. Anyways, I know this one turned out more adventure style than loving and pairing like with the listener, but I tried to add in some moments showing that Geralt genuinely does care for the listener. Hopefully those come across! Also, I play more than one character in this, and did some different sound mixing lol, I hope it turns out ok!

TRIGGER WARNING: This audio contains talk and mentions of violence and murder committed against women. If that is potentially triggering to you, please do not listen to this audio.

~Audio Transcript Below~

GERALT: I've been hired to destroy a group of Rusalki.

Apparently they've been terrorizing this village for the past year or so....believed to be responsible for the disappearance of young women......

The man who hired me says he believes that they're being turned into more Rusalki........

*pause*

Rusalka---or Rusalki, if there are more than one---have life draining abilities, and they're usually created by unnatural or violent deaths.......

*pause*

It's horseshit.....that's why I didn't want to talk to him......

It's true that Rusalki are created due to unnatural or violent deaths in women, but their life draining abilities are more akin to Succubi than anything, so they're more prone to attacking men, not women. They miss the human world and human companionship.....but usually not enough to actually hurt or kill another woman......

*pause*

He wasn't just wrong.....like you said we've dealt with people being wrong when they hire me.....but something about his confidence doesn't sit right with me. The term, 'Rusalka' isn't common knowledge, neither is the fact that he seemed to know that the Rusalki are more prevalent during the new moon, dancing in some of the open fields of the forest near their village......

Something isn't right. The whole story isn't being told.........

*pause*

Follow me, and stay close......we'll see soon enough what's going on.....

*fade out*

*fade in*

*softly* This is where he said the Rusalki have been spotted......

Stay close to the edge of the forest.....don't step into the clearing just yet......

*pause*

This is a Ydren sigil.....

*hushes*

I'm creating a failsafe.......a way to keep both you and I at the advantage and keep us safer.......

Stay to the edge, and be quiet....I'm going to inscribe more around the edge of the clearing.......

*fade out*

*fade in*

Now.....stand near this sigil, and do not move from that spot, do you understand?

*pause*

It's always a matter of life and death, and I'd like to keep you alive.......

Hand me that rock by your foot.......

*shuffling*

Another failsafe.......

*pause*

Be quiet.....the clouds are beginning to part..........

*pause*

*a whisper* That's one of the Rusalka.........

*sword draws*

*steps on ground*

RUSALKA: Oh my.....look at you.....aren't you a pretty thing? Why don't you come here and share a dance with me? The night is beautiful isn't it?

*more steps on ground*

GERALT: It's not going to work, your seduction.......

RUSALKA: Are you not a man?

*pause*

No......you are different......

*hisses*

GERALT: Catch.

RUSALKA: *screeches*

*warping magic noise*

*sword chime*

RUSALKA: *hisses*

You are no better than any other of the men who created us!

I am not alone!

GERALT: Whether you are or not, your sisters will be of no help to you......

I have sigils just like this inscribed around the edges of this clearing.....they cannot help you....

RUSALKA: Why have you not yet killed me, then?

GERALT: I'm here to have questions answered........and I'm fairly certain they will not end in your death......they may in fact help you.......

RUSALKA: I do no believe you~!

SECOND RUSALKA: *Screeches*

GERALT: *Growls* I told you not to move!

RUSALKA: .......You brought someone you care for with you.....how careless.......

GERALT: *Growls*

RUSALKA: Surrender yourself, release us, and we will let them go.......

GERALT: Give me the name of the man who murdered you all, and I will help you seek vengeance!

*pause*

*sighs*

RUSALKA: Who told you this?

GERALT: The man who hired me, he knew an unusual amount about you Rusalki, and explained that you were taking young women from the village and turning them into Rusalka themselves....

RUSALKI: *hiss*

GERALT: That's what I thought.......he murdered you first, I assume, and when he got away with it, he continued to torture and murder young women, enjoying the high he gained and trying to replicate it.......trying to slake his lust. He was afraid however of gaining too much attention, of garnering suspicion, but he could not contain his sick need. However, he learned of your existence, and started bringing more and more of you to the outskirts of the forest during the day, killing you with his bare hands, and blaming the Rusalki for more being created. To him it was the perfect way to get away with his crimes.......

RUSALKA: *hiss* It sounds as though he is the same man....he killed all of us, and bound us to this forest.....

GERALT: He probably personally---but never vocally--credits all of the murders that the Rusalki commit as his own, since he created you in the first place. However he is a paranoid man, and probably knew it could not last forever, that you Rusalki would grow too many in number, and may become powerful enough to seek out revenge outside of the forest, even in daylight, especially when the villagers became aware, and started to complain about the missing young women. Conveniently for him, he heard that a Witcher was passing through, and that he might be rid of the Rusalki once and for all if he hired said Witcher, and no one would be any the wiser to what he had done.

He could even continue to murder and create more Rusalki if I were to slay you all, and chalk it up to a Witcher doing a poor job. The cycle would not end with me......

RUSALKA: A Witcher you are then............

So......what happens now.......

*soft sword noise*

GERALT: I help you kill him instead. He'll want proof that I slayed all of you, and so I can bring him here, 'show' him that the forest is cleared, and once his guard is down, you all do what you wish with him. And once he is dead, you may finally pass on.....

RUSALKA: How do we know this is not a trap??? That you will not simply leave???

GERALT: You don't. You'll still exist. You can continue to drain the energy of the men of the village, grow stronger in number if I do not return. What do you have to lose?

RUSALKA: ........While the idea......of terrorizing that village......those who do not see or care to see what is clearly happening.....we do not wish this fate on any other woman where it can be avoided.......as you say....Witcher......

GERALT: Release my friend.....and I will release the sigils once we are out of the forest.......

RUSALKA: *chuckles* You are clever......smart to be wary of us, Witcher.......release them!

GERALT: I will return with your man later tonight......

*pause*

Now come.....we have a contract to fulfill.........

*walking away*

*fade out*

*fade in*

GERALT: *growls* I specifically told you not to move from that sigil, it was protecting you!

*pause*

If you simply trusted me you wouldn't need to know the whole of my plans........

*pause*

*sighs*

I'm.....sorry.....you did warn me.....from being attacked by the other Rusalka......but it was incredibly dangerous of you to do........you......don't do it again.......

*walking*

Yes......she was telling the truth.......

*pause*

Of course I care about you......otherwise I wouldn't be able to stand having you around......besides, If I had left you behind you would have found a way to insert yourself into the job in the most dangerous way......like you always do.........

*pause*

Yes, I am going to bring him back to them..........Not all monsters are non-human.......humans have the capacity to be far more monstrous than any other kind combined......

The world will be a better place if he is gone. I won't lose sleep over his death.

*pause*

Regardless of whether or not I'm blamed, or we don't get any compensation......sometimes righting a wrong.....is worth more than getting paid........

*long pause*

Come now....keep up.....we have a job to finish.......