The Magnus Archives - RQ Original Feed Drop - Neon Inkwell: Welcome to Fosters #1 - Pets 

Episode Date: March 27, 2026

We are featuring the first episode of a new series from Rusty Quill: Welcome to Fosters.Detectives investigate a dire disturbance in both magic and the dead on the streets of Sydney, Australia in this spirited urban fantasy.Listen to the next episode by going to the Rusty Quill website, or by searching for “Neon Inkwell” wherever you find podcasts. Neon Inkwell: https://shows.acast.com/neon-inkwell Transcript: https://shorturl.at/pJQV7Showrunner Elizabeth Moffatt Directed by Chris Magilton Written by Imogen Cassidy Script Editor Chris Magilton Produced by April Sumner Executive Producers Alexander J Newall & April Sumner Featuring Michael Bache as Brian Hewlitt-Smith Nina Nikolic as Jill Foster Harrison Keen as Mark Wilson Lowri Ann Davies as the Forest Spirit Tim Sefo as Oliver Long Brooke Scobie as Oliver's mum  Lee Davis-Thalbourne as Genial Passenger Flloyd Kennedy as Mrs West Sebrina Thornton-Walker as Gloria Foster Matt Malachite as Graham Edgers  Alice Magilton as Marie Isabelle Houghton as young Jill Hannah Aroni as Sylvia Price Maia Harlap as The Receptionist Chris Alosio as Tulele Cooper Mortlock as Mook and Mr Simpson Additional voices by Elizabeth Moffatt and Chris Magilton. Our Zombie Horde include Jenna Krasowski, Alexander Bryan, and Catherine Rinella. Dialogue Editor – Lowri Ann Davies Sound Designer – Elizabeth Moffatt Mastering Engineer and Music Editor– Meg McKellar  Title music by Sam Jones Additional music by Nico Vettese Art by Guerrilla Communications Original SFX and foley for this series were produced by Elizabeth Moffatt, Frances Miller-Pezo, Daniel Hill, Chris Magilton, and Imogen Cassidy. Additional SFX for this series include sounds sourced from Soundly, Freesound, Zapsplat, AudioHero, and Pixabay. This includes SFX provided by Klankbeeld, Avakas, Youandbiscuitme, Pfranzen, Dynamicell, Newlocknew via freesound.org.   The Australian production team would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which this series is set, the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. We pay our respects to elders, past and present.  Neon Inkwell is a podcast distributed by Rusty Quill Ltd. and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share alike 4.0 International Licence. Introduction and outro by Lowri Ann Davies. Content warnings  - Altered reality- Childhood trauma- Fire- Hunt or attack by an animal- UndeadFor ad-free episodes, bonus content and more, join members.rustyquill.com or our Patreon.Pre-order The Magnus Archives Mysteries: rustyquill.com/mysteries.Pre-order FROM THE LIBRARY OF JURGEN LEITNER, a Magnus novel: rustyquill.com/novelBuy tickets to a Magnus Archives Live Show in Sheffield, UK in July 2026: https://crossedwires.live/podcast/the-magnus-archives Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Billy Hindle here, the voice of Alice in the Magnus Protocol, and I'm here to tell you about From the Library of Yergen Lightner, an upcoming novel available for pre-order right now at rustyquill.com forward slash novel. Return to the world of the Magnus Archives in From the Library of Yergan Lightner. An official prequel novel written by Nebula, World Fantasy and Aurora Award-winning author, Primi Mohamed, with the help of the Magnus Archive's own writer and lead voice, Jonathan Sims. From the Library of Jürgen Leitner explores an infamous organisation from the Magnusverse for the first time, the perilous private library of the enigmatic collector, Jirgen Leitner,

where occult books are guarded and researched at a fatal cost. Lightner's library keeps the dangers of these books in check and there would be reader safe, or so Leitner claims. For two of Leitner's employees, the risks are worth it. For Hugh Franklin, the library is a place to belong, for Sebastian Everett. the library is an opportunity to indulge arcane ambitions. Though they're ten years that the library were years apart, Hugh and Sebastian's stories unfold in parallel,

and their footsteps echo down the same eerie aisles, caught in a web spun long before either ever heard the name, Jirgen Leitner. Will they find a way out, or will the library consume them before it's too late? From the Library of Yergen Leitner, will be published on October the 27th, 2026, and is available for pre-order now. Visit RustyQuil.com forward slash novel for more information.

That's RustyQuil.com forward slash N-O-V-E-L. Hi there, it's Lowry. Today we are sharing the first episode of a brand new Rusty Quill short series. Welcome to Fosters. Set in a magical alternate version of modern-day Sydney, Australia, Welcome to Fosters follows a small-time private consulting wizard, struggling to keep her failing magical detective business afloat. In this opening episode, she and her new apprentice must contend with powerful fay,

dark energies, a feral cat, and the complexities of learning to drive. You can find the rest of the series by following the link in the description, or by searching for the neon inkwell feed, wherever you find your podcasts. Enjoy the episode. Rusty Quill Presents, welcome to Fosters. Episode 1. Pets Surgite spiritus

Sergite spiritus Redite abode Tenebrarum, Crieturrum, Sergite spiritus Servite meh Meisque Sergite spiritus

A little messier Than I would have hoped But I suppose it'll do It's bloody dead What'd you expect? Well, you're quiet You could Give us a hand might

You seem to have it well under control. Get it in the first try. No, Gaz, put the ramp down first. Don't... Don't! You reckon the room will hold it? Luckily, we will be able to test it incrementally. I don't imagine there'll be any problems, however. Just as predicted, they are hardly very useful in their present form. Stink like a dog's breakfast, though. As you pointed out, they're dead. You coming, sir? I'll be there in a few minutes. It's a nice statue. someone important? Only insofar as she can help us. Help us do what?

Anything we want, my friend. Anything we want. Puss, puss, puss, puss, puss, puss, puss. You've never actually owned a cat, have you? What? It's not gonna come if you just call it. So says you. Never was a fan of hiking. You're a city boy. I'm proud of it. What is even up here for a cat?

Possoms. Well, at least to start with. Mrs. West shouldn't have been letting it outside. This is a national park. Weird did she go to us first for a lost cat too. She could type of thing that's fairies are to blame for everything. Conspiracy theorist? Mrs. West, despite her willful ignorance when it comes to the rules regarding cats,

knows what else is up here. Animal rescue wouldn't take this job. Oh. Notice how we're not on an official hiking trail? Those are all going in the opposite direction, even though we're heading up to what's a... Pretty good view of the city. So...

Okay. Stop for a second and feel. Remember your training about magical ambience. Oh, yeah, that's, that's a lot. Yeah. Some spirit made its lair here a while back, probably before they started building houses. How could get my head around

why the spirits should get away with settling land here? Didn't they come over with the convicts? Surely the, uh, well. Well, unlike our colonialist ancestors, Mark, the spirits actually treated with the Aboriginal tribes. Help them out a few times as well. about the, well, the Aboriginal spirits. Now, I know they covered this in Cert 1.

I might have been sick that, babe. Fine. Well, the spirit realms aren't the same. See, the Faye, the European spirits occupy a plane of existence. Oh, yeah, yeah, now I remember. So we all have the different types of spirits from different cultures existing simultaneously but separately in their own realms. But...

But our realm, the physical realm, is constant. So the Faye only really had to make deals with the people who were living here. Although, from what I understand, there are agreements on the spiritual level as well, just not ones that any of us were in on. The Faye are very used to doing deals, as you well know, and when you catch them on a good day, they're scrupulously fair about it. It hasn't been my experience. You've been on the wrong side of a summoning.

What did you do? Use your stuff. No, really, what did you do? Ask a pixie to get booze for you? I was 16! Where is this cat then? Puss, puss, puss, puss. Yeah, kitty, kitty. Really? What the? Okay, well then. Kitty, kitty, kitty. Puss, puss, puss, puss, puss.

Kitty, kitty, kitty. Kitty, kitty, kitty. You've been here before, right? A couple of times. Not really by choice. It's a hell of a hike and not getting any younger. You could do it a bit more. It's healthy.

Exercise is... What were you here for anyway? First time? A dare. A dare? I was your age once. What was the dare? To try to contact one of the old spirits.

Did it work? Not once my uncle discovered what I was up to. Oh, sounds juicy. That's all you're getting. We've got a job to do. What do the family want with a cat anyway? Oh, could be a lot of things. Doesn't much sound like Mrs. West's poor little kitty, does it?

No. What the... You know, Tim used to say that no one studies history anymore. The Taronga incident should have warned Mrs West about this place. Hang on, what Taranga? The zoo. Don't tell me you didn't study it. That's mandatory. I had a few days off here and there. There's nothing worse than possessed wombats, let me tell you.

People thought the emu all was bad. Oh God! Mark? Stay very, very... Still. Can't. I don't. Mark, don't run. It's one of once.

Idiot! I'm gonna call for the spirit, Mark. Just... Give me a minute. Just... We're in a national park, Mark. There are fire restrictions. It can't without permission.

Just... Just hang on. Adaius, for daser, liquid maladybi. Serectum in the Purutus S. Latin is terrible. It is. What brings you to my domain, Jill Foster?

What is it that you require? I think it might be a little bit obvious what I'd like right now, actually. What is obvious to you is not always. obvious to us and vice versa of course Jill Foster sure sure but right now I'd like it if hang on how do you know my name you are familiar to us that's not a good thing right exactly how am I Jim fine right now I need your friend right now I need your friend to my friend go.

Oh, my trespasser, the tiny hunter. Tiny! We call them cats. A small word for something far larger. It's a pet. It belongs to a woman who asked us to retrieve it for her. Yeah, you know, an animal you look after in return for comfort. it. Companionship.

An animal, a human, thinks to own. Something like that. It belongs to someone we're trying to help. Oh God, it does not belong to her any longer. He has found a new place. He will not return. Well, then, I suppose there's nothing we can do about that, but... Yes.

But... You wish your companion to be spared. Please. Are you willing to pay the price? Should be fine to move now, Mark. I think I'm going to be sick. Easiest payment. Thanks.

Humans give thanks. The trespassers will not bother you again, but I suggest you leave my domain. No chance you'll let it go. It is not mine to release. But I will not send you back empty-handed. You might wish to tell the owner of that collar that any animal wandering into my domain gets a choice.

Her former, cat, chose wisely. Most do not. Understood. Jill Foster. Yeah. You have been respectful and paid the price for your intrusion. I feel that you deserve a warning. Really?

All I did was... The dead are restless, Jill Foster. The dead are uneasy in their slumber. The dead, huh? It bodes none of us well to have them walk. You should be wary. Shouldn't have thanked it That's the cat's collar

Yep Mittins No wonder it ran away Yeah sure mate Can we leave now That's all you brought Ollie It gets cold down there, you know that right

Mum it's much I can send you down more once you settled You sure you don't want any money for your own place Dad says it's fine Luni's in some all for at least a year He's gonna give me a room If you need anything though I'm gonna get a job mum

That's the whole point of this Plenty of jobs here I don't know why you need to Mom We've been through this Tell you daddy should cook sometimes For you and for Luni too Luni says he cooks a lot

Hmm never did when we were married Mom I know I know I know I just don't know why we can't get you something Ellie's a tourist town No one needs someone with my abilities I'm no good at the jobs here.

You could be. I have to go. I'll call you when to get there, okay? I love you, Ollie. Love you too, Mum. I'll miss you. You could come down for a visit? I could.

I might even just do that. It's been a few years since I've seen Sydney. Just maybe I won't come to dinner with your dad, eh? You know you wouldn't mind. I know. It's a pride thing. You'll understand when you're older. Excuse?

Sorry, just got to get my bag up. Thanks. Thanks. Holiday over then? Sorry. What? Your holiday? It's finished.

Did you get out on the reef? Oh, um, no, I wasn't on holiday. I lived here? Ah, so you're going on holiday then? Funny, isn't it? How everyone from down there comes up here and everyone from here goes down there. Like we swap or something.

No one wants to have a holiday at home, do they? You got to go somewhere. You're new, somewhere different. Actually, I'm moving. Um, down to Sydney. Oh, don't blame you, really. Nothing for young folks up here except surfing and drugs. Not that there's anything bad about surfing and drugs, mind you.

I don't surf. Probably a good thing you're moving, then. Yeah. More work down there in Sydney. Is that why you're going for work? Ah, yes, that's actually it. Of course, if you surfed, you could get a job up here as an instructor or something. All the jobs here are tourism, tourism, tourism.

Is that what you do? Me? Ah, I'm retired. Used to be in beef. In beef? Beef. You know, the meat? Um, yes.

Good people in beef. Did a lot of travel. Spent a lot of time in Japan. So, you're going to university then, or? No, um, I'm in magic. So, uh, what is it? You said you did? I didn't. No, um...

I'm a wizard, actually. What? That's, uh, really not important. I've got mud up to my bloody knees. I told you we'd be hiking today. You should have... Oh, Miss Foster. Is there news?

There is. Come in, come in. Um, oh, just wipe your feet there, if you could. Take off your... Yeah. Have you found him? Have you found mittens? Mrs. West, there's no easy way to tell you this. Oh. I'm so sorry. He went too far.

We shouldn't have gone. Is he? He's dead then. I'm afraid so. Mrs. West, I know you're familiar with the regulations about cats near these bushlands. I just want to make sure you... He was such an adventurous little soul. Couldn't stop him from exploring. He always wanted to get out,

and how can you say no, when they look at you with those big eyes? My poor little boy. You know, it's just that it's pretty clear in the council bylaws for this area that you're not allowed to. Last Christmas, he brought us a dead bat. It was such a sweet gesture.

He really just wanted to be loved. Mrs West. We used to dress him up for Halloween. A little pumpkin suit. It was utterly adorable. I think I have some photos if you want to... Really, Mrs. West, there's no need to. I'm very sorry for your loss.

We'll send you a schedule of fees. The album's... Just here. You can see. We'll be in touch. Here, you can see. Cricy. I'm amazed that cat stuck around as long as it did.

Who keeps photo albums full of cat pictures? Doesn't she have the internet? It's a treasure trove of old memes. She should start a blog. Oh, maybe not. Anyway, hopefully she'll pay the bill without quibbling. Had to have done that hike for nothing. She's just going to get another cat, isn't she?

Probably. And maybe the forest spirit will build an army of feral cats And let them descend on her for revenge Not gonna send them against us instead I doubt it We paid, remember? You paid You can cut yourself next time if you want

Or, you know, not get to the point where you need to be rescued Can I drive? Mark Look, the only way I get better is if I practice Today, after all this, I mean... Oh my gosh, today's today's, as good a day as any. I'm so exhausted, Mark.

So you don't have to drive. Perfect. Fine. I want to, yeah. It's been a right past year, to be honest. But if I leave without notice, surely there'll be... Well, I don't know. Wasn't her uncle some kind of big wig with the council types?

I heard that was why she didn't get any consequences after the Leichhardt thing. I don't want to end up with no... Oh, really? What's the pay? Uh-huh. Well yeah, it's not much more, and I've got an interview at Price and Boones in a couple of days. Well, if you don't apply, they definitely won't take you, will they? It doesn't matter if you don't meet all the requirements in the job ad.

Eh, sure, she's an unprincipled megalomaniac billionaire, but we've all got to work somewhere, right? Anyway, if that falls through, you say that you can probably get something for me at Dempces? Or at least... The internet doesn't even work properly here. It's primitive, I'm telling you. But yeah, if that's obviously not today, but we can... Hang on, just coming in. I'll call you back.

Oh, I swear. You have no spatial orientation at all. This is like when you tried to get a bigger desk all over again. Driving is hard. Also dangerous. That's why there's a test for it. You're 25 years old. You should know how to drive.

I never had to before now. Anyway, you knew I couldn't drive when you hired me. I figured it was just because you'd never gotten around to it. Not because you were actively awful at it. I guess I'm going to have to get the hubcap replaced. What do hubcaps even do anyway? Oh, check the messages, would you? Not on the speaker for quick.

I like hands free. Hey, Jill. You left your phone again. I'll drop around this afternoon on my way to work. Love you. I'll hush you. Oh, uh, hello. Uh, my name's Graham Edgar's and I'm calling about, well, it's my flat.

It's, uh, haunted, and I wanted to, well, I needed some help with it if you could. I mean, I'm free tomorrow morning, and it's, it's a little urgent, and I could send you an email, I suppose, but you could also call. Call me on 0491-576-801. That would be... Did you get that number down? It's what you pay me for. Well, I'm obviously not paying you to drive. It's five o'clock.

I'm aware. Did you need me to? Go home. I'll call Mr. Edgars. Can you be here by 8.30 tomorrow, though? Oh, um, sure. If we're going to a haunting, we'll need to. Hey, 8.30. No problem. See you then. Your toys are all over.

They're having a most great ball, jelly. Look, actress and Helena are dancing. Why can't Helena dance with Octavia instead? Octavia is married to the prince. I told you that before. Ship, Marie, that hurts. You swore. And you stepped down, Arturius and Helena?

Oh, God. Marie, get back. Marie. It's okay, Hunt. I'm awake. What are you doing at this 2 a.m.? Busy tonight. A couple of customers decided to stay past closing, so I'm late, but no. Tips?

Dismol. Why are you up? Needed a pee. Mm-hmm. Bring back anything? Sometimes I think you only love me for my food. Cheesecake? Snuck it aside after the second last piece went.

Oh, you're right. I only love you for your food. How was your day? Cut got possessed. Mark knocked the hubcap off the car. Really? No, it's okay. Not a crash.

No, he just took a turn too close to the curb. No big deal. Our car, though. I mean, he's got a point. I didn't even know what they're for. They stop stuff from damaging the wheels. Do they, though? Because the number of nails and screws we get in the tires.

Sure you just needed to pee? I'm okay, Gloria. I'm working brunch tomorrow. Should be home for late dinner. Want to go out? Definitely. Good morning, Miss Price. Hmm.

Miss Price. Indeed. Miss Price. Miss Price, if I could have a moment, if you're available. You're not permitted here, sir? I'm going to have to ask you to... Miss Price, I'd like to get a statement about your paper's article on the rising need for social services in the western suburbs.

Hold the lift, will you please? Ms. Price, the public deserves to be informed, not misled when it comes to... Mr. Simpson, is it? You're obviously not an employee here, so that means you're trespassing. If you would be so kind as to... Ms. Price, is this man... If you would escort him from the lobby, that would be most appreciated. I'm so sorry, Ms. Price.

He had a jacket over his. I didn't know that he was... Indeed. Thank you for holding the lift. I got bills to please, sir. You know how it is. Fun. Yes, this is Sylvia Price.

Yes, have security run a check on Ashley Simpson, would you? Journalist not sure where from. He was lurking around the lobby asking idiot questions. I'm desperately uninterested in excuses. I simply requested. a check, look into him, find out where he works, shut him down. Indeed, I appreciate your understanding. Send the details to Brian, would you?

And have lobby security briefed again on who is allowed access. Good morning, Brian. Good morning, Ms. Price. Any messages? Anderson from logistics is having some difficulty with the storage facilities. Oh? Walk with me. He says the doors are going to need reinforcing, especially if we're expecting more shipments.

Hmm, did he seem overly interested in the... No, Miss Price. Better reinforcement would be an idea, especially considering the next shipment is due tomorrow. We only need the facility for two more months, but better to be safe than sorry, arrange it. As you wish, Miss Price. Any progress on finding us a suitable magical investigator for our other problem? Oh, yes indeed, Miss Price. I think you'll be pleased with who we've decided on.

A Jill Foster. She has an agency in Annandale. Quite the checkered history, but respected enough that our choice won't be questioned. Checkered. A few deaths. The council has are under close eye, but she's made a name for herself in the industry.

Excellent. I knew I could trust you with this. Should I engage her now? No, better to wait, I think. We wouldn't want her discovering too much quickly after all? As you wish. Let me know if there are any developments, Brian.

They are a little cramped in there, aren't they? You're certain they can't reach the glass? They haven't tried so far, no. That is reassuring. And they do no damage to each other, even when they attempt to get through the doors. No. If we keep the temperature cold enough, they're quite docile most of the time. Arthur seems to think it has to do with the amount of ambient magic

the area would hopefully do something for the smell as well it's airtight this price we made doubly certain of that excellent well if everything is in order i really do need to get some work done as you say this price welcome to fosters is a neon inquil podcast distributed by rusty quill limited and licensed under a creative commons attribution non-commercial share-a-like 4.0 international license this The series is written and created by Imogen Cassidy and directed by Chris Magillton. This episode was edited by Elizabeth Moffat, Lourian Davis and Meg Mackella, with title track and music from Sam Jones and additional music from Nico Vitessi. The series features Nina Nicholich as Jill Foster,

Tim Sefo as Oliver Long, Harrison Keane as Mark Wilson, Sabrina Thornton Walker as Gloria Foster, Hannah Aroni as Sylvia Price, Michael Bache as Brian Hewlett-Smith, Isabel Houghton as Young Jill, Alice Magilton as Marie, Zara Moffit as the Nixie, Shakira Searle as Amina Malouf, Fariel Jabar as Rashida Bucre, and Chris Alessio as Tollela. Additional voices by Lorraine, Leigh-Anne-Davis Thalborn, Maya Harlap, Floyd Kennedy, Chris Magilton, Matt Malachite, Elizabeth Moffat, Cooper Mortlock, Hamish Plagamas, Brooks Scobie, and Dallas Tipo.

The production would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which this series is set, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to elders, past and present. Neon Inquil is produced by April Sumner with executive producer Alexander J. Newell and showrunner Elizabeth Moffitt. To subscribe, view associated materials, or join our Patreon,

visit rusty quill.com. Rate and review us online. Tweet us at the Rusty Quill, visit us on Facebook, or mail us at RustyQuil. Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, you can find the rest of the series by following the link in the description or by searching for the neon inkwell feed, wherever you find your podcasts. Thanks for listening. Hello, my name is Shahan Hamza, voice of Sam in the Magnus Protocol.

And today, I'm here to tell you about the Magnus Archives Mysteries, a brand new game set in the world of the Magnus Archives that is live right now at rustyquill.com forward slash mystery. Immerse yourself in the world of the Magnus Archives with the Magnus Archives Mysteries, a cooperative puzzle and deduction board game. Become an interim archival assistant and help John, Martin, Tim and Sasha and cover the truth behind six new supernatural mysteries. Perfect for fans of escape rooms, the Magnus Archives mysteries can be played at home by superfans and new listeners alike. No previous knowledge required. The crowd fund is live right now and they've already fully funded. So get involved to secure yourself a copy of the game and help us expand the game with some exciting stretch goals. Go to www.RustyQuil.com forward slash mysteries to get involved.