diff --git a/lib/nw/kernel/Kernel.cpp b/lib/nw/kernel/Kernel.cpp
index 8beabf30c..80a8a8692 100644
--- a/lib/nw/kernel/Kernel.cpp
+++ b/lib/nw/kernel/Kernel.cpp
@@ -166,6 +166,7 @@ void set_game_profile(GameProfile* profile)
 
 void unload_module()
 {
+    // Since everything is getting nuked, it's not necessary to call Module::destroy
     services().shutdown();
     services().module_loaded_ = false;
     services().start();
diff --git a/lib/nw/kernel/Objects.cpp b/lib/nw/kernel/Objects.cpp
index 22afbe519..ac91d0f68 100644
--- a/lib/nw/kernel/Objects.cpp
+++ b/lib/nw/kernel/Objects.cpp
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ void ObjectSystem::destroy(ObjectHandle obj)
         }
         objects_[idx] = new_handle;
 
+        o->destroy();
         switch (new_handle.type) {
         default:
             break;
diff --git a/lib/nw/objects/Area.cpp b/lib/nw/objects/Area.cpp
index 6451f8724..d6771d9d0 100644
--- a/lib/nw/objects/Area.cpp
+++ b/lib/nw/objects/Area.cpp
@@ -145,6 +145,24 @@ Area::Area()
     set_handle(ObjectHandle{object_invalid, ObjectType::area, 0});
 }
 
+void Area::destroy()
+{
+#define DESTROY_OBJECTS(thing)                       \
+    for (auto it : thing) {                          \
+        nw::kernel::objects().destroy(it->handle()); \
+    }
+    DESTROY_OBJECTS(creatures);
+    DESTROY_OBJECTS(doors);
+    DESTROY_OBJECTS(encounters);
+    DESTROY_OBJECTS(items);
+    DESTROY_OBJECTS(placeables);
+    DESTROY_OBJECTS(sounds);
+    DESTROY_OBJECTS(stores);
+    DESTROY_OBJECTS(triggers);
+    DESTROY_OBJECTS(waypoints);
+#undef DESTROY_OBJECTS
+}
+
 bool Area::instantiate()
 {
     tileset = nw::kernel::tilesets().get(tileset_resref.view());
diff --git a/lib/nw/objects/Area.hpp b/lib/nw/objects/Area.hpp
index dd5c5ef83..9738e8c8b 100644
--- a/lib/nw/objects/Area.hpp
+++ b/lib/nw/objects/Area.hpp
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ struct Area : public ObjectBase {
     virtual const Common* as_common() const override { return &common; }
     virtual Area* as_area() override { return this; }
     virtual const Area* as_area() const override { return this; }
+    virtual void destroy() override;
     virtual bool instantiate() override;
 
     /// Deserialize from JSON
diff --git a/lib/nw/objects/Creature.cpp b/lib/nw/objects/Creature.cpp
index acc8aa90b..3bd586a28 100644
--- a/lib/nw/objects/Creature.cpp
+++ b/lib/nw/objects/Creature.cpp
@@ -100,6 +100,12 @@ Creature::Creature()
     inventory.owner = this;
 }
 
+void Creature::destroy()
+{
+    equipment.destroy();
+    inventory.destroy();
+}
+
 bool Creature::instantiate()
 {
     if (instantiated_) return true;
diff --git a/lib/nw/objects/Creature.hpp b/lib/nw/objects/Creature.hpp
index 1f9ee0cbd..4b1a1d88b 100644
--- a/lib/nw/objects/Creature.hpp
+++ b/lib/nw/objects/Creature.hpp
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ struct Creature : public ObjectBase {
     virtual const Common* as_common() const override { return &common; }
     virtual Creature* as_creature() override { return this; }
     virtual const Creature* as_creature() const override { return this; }
+    virtual void destroy() override;
     virtual bool instantiate() override;
     virtual InternedString tag() const override { return common.tag; }
     virtual Versus versus_me() const override;
diff --git a/lib/nw/objects/Equips.cpp b/lib/nw/objects/Equips.cpp
index 047166b8a..4804950b5 100644
--- a/lib/nw/objects/Equips.cpp
+++ b/lib/nw/objects/Equips.cpp
@@ -16,6 +16,15 @@ Equips::Equips(Creature* owner)
 {
 }
 
+void Equips::destroy()
+{
+    for (auto& e : equips) {
+        if (e.is<nw::Item*>()) {
+            nw::kernel::objects().destroy(e.as<nw::Item*>()->handle());
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 bool Equips::instantiate()
 {
     int i = 0;
diff --git a/lib/nw/objects/Equips.hpp b/lib/nw/objects/Equips.hpp
index 4946d416a..e2c357970 100644
--- a/lib/nw/objects/Equips.hpp
+++ b/lib/nw/objects/Equips.hpp
@@ -153,6 +153,7 @@ struct Equips {
     Equips& operator=(Equips&&) = default;
     ~Equips() = default;
 
+    void destroy();
     bool instantiate();
     bool from_json(const nlohmann::json& archive, SerializationProfile profile);
     nlohmann::json to_json(SerializationProfile profile) const;
diff --git a/lib/nw/objects/Inventory.cpp b/lib/nw/objects/Inventory.cpp
index 2c88d3fe3..ea396eced 100644
--- a/lib/nw/objects/Inventory.cpp
+++ b/lib/nw/objects/Inventory.cpp
@@ -9,16 +9,26 @@
 
 namespace nw {
 
+void Inventory::destroy()
+{
+    for (auto& it : items) {
+        if (!it.item.is<Item*>()) { continue; }
+        auto item = it.item.as<Item*>();
+        item->inventory.destroy();
+        nw::kernel::objects().destroy(item->handle());
+    }
+}
+
 bool Inventory::instantiate()
 {
-    for (auto& ii : items) {
-        if (std::holds_alternative<Resref>(ii.item)) {
-            auto temp = kernel::objects().load<Item>(std::get<Resref>(ii.item).view());
+    for (auto& it : items) {
+        if (it.item.is<Resref>()) {
+            auto temp = kernel::objects().load<Item>(it.item.as<Resref>().view());
             if (temp) {
-                ii.item = temp;
+                it.item = temp;
             } else {
                 LOG_F(WARNING, "failed to instantiate item, perhaps you're missing '{}.uti'?",
-                    std::get<Resref>(ii.item));
+                    it.item.as<Resref>());
             }
         }
     }
@@ -77,15 +87,15 @@ nlohmann::json Inventory::to_json(SerializationProfile profile) const
             }
 
             payload["position"] = {it.pos_x, it.pos_y};
-            if (std::holds_alternative<Item*>(it.item)) {
+            if (it.item.is<Item*>()) {
                 if (SerializationProfile::blueprint == profile) {
-                    payload["item"] = std::get<Item*>(it.item)->common.resref;
+                    payload["item"] = it.item.as<Item*>()->common.resref;
                 } else {
-                    Item::serialize(std::get<Item*>(it.item), payload["item"], profile);
+                    Item::serialize(it.item.as<Item*>(), payload["item"], profile);
                 }
             } else {
                 if (SerializationProfile::blueprint == profile) {
-                    payload["item"] = std::get<Resref>(it.item);
+                    payload["item"] = it.item.as<Resref>();
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -148,13 +158,13 @@ bool serialize(const Inventory& self, GffBuilderStruct& archive, SerializationPr
         }
 
         if (SerializationProfile::blueprint == profile) {
-            if (std::holds_alternative<Resref>(it.item)) {
-                str.add_field("InventoryRes", std::get<Resref>(it.item));
+            if (it.item.is<Resref>()) {
+                str.add_field("InventoryRes", it.item.as<Resref>());
             } else {
-                str.add_field("InventoryRes", std::get<Item*>(it.item)->common.resref);
+                str.add_field("InventoryRes", it.item.as<Item*>()->common.resref);
             }
         } else {
-            serialize(std::get<Item*>(it.item), str, profile);
+            serialize(it.item.as<Item*>(), str, profile);
         }
     }
     return true;
diff --git a/lib/nw/objects/Inventory.hpp b/lib/nw/objects/Inventory.hpp
index 3a503f2eb..af3380e1a 100644
--- a/lib/nw/objects/Inventory.hpp
+++ b/lib/nw/objects/Inventory.hpp
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include "../serialization/Serialization.hpp"
+#include "../util/Variant.hpp"
 #include "ObjectBase.hpp"
 
 #include <cstdint>
-#include <variant>
 
 namespace nw {
 
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ struct InventoryItem {
     bool infinite = false;
     uint16_t pos_x;
     uint16_t pos_y;
-    std::variant<Resref, Item*> item;
+    Variant<Resref, Item*> item;
 };
 
 struct Inventory {
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ struct Inventory {
     Inventory& operator=(Inventory&&) = default;
     ~Inventory() = default;
 
+    void destroy();
     bool instantiate();
 
     bool from_json(const nlohmann::json& archive, SerializationProfile profile);
diff --git a/lib/nw/objects/Item.cpp b/lib/nw/objects/Item.cpp
index f04852b95..6e493a7ec 100644
--- a/lib/nw/objects/Item.cpp
+++ b/lib/nw/objects/Item.cpp
@@ -17,6 +17,11 @@ Item::Item()
     inventory.owner = this;
 }
 
+void Item::destroy()
+{
+    inventory.destroy();
+}
+
 bool Item::instantiate()
 {
     if (instantiated_) { return true; }
diff --git a/lib/nw/objects/Item.hpp b/lib/nw/objects/Item.hpp
index 74ee7b285..6a355bca4 100644
--- a/lib/nw/objects/Item.hpp
+++ b/lib/nw/objects/Item.hpp
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ struct Item : public ObjectBase {
     virtual const Common* as_common() const override { return &common; }
     virtual Item* as_item() override { return this; }
     virtual const Item* as_item() const override { return this; }
+    virtual void destroy() override;
     virtual bool instantiate() override;
     virtual InternedString tag() const override { return common.tag; }
 
diff --git a/lib/nw/objects/Module.cpp b/lib/nw/objects/Module.cpp
index 23c5fa951..4c8e34ccb 100644
--- a/lib/nw/objects/Module.cpp
+++ b/lib/nw/objects/Module.cpp
@@ -64,16 +64,16 @@ nlohmann::json ModuleScripts::to_json() const
 
 size_t Module::area_count() const noexcept
 {
-    if (std::holds_alternative<Vector<Area*>>(areas)) {
-        return std::get<Vector<Area*>>(areas).size();
+    if (areas.is<Vector<Area*>>()) {
+        return areas.as<Vector<Area*>>().size();
     }
     return 0;
 }
 
 Area* Module::get_area(size_t index)
 {
-    if (std::holds_alternative<Vector<Area*>>(areas) && index < area_count()) {
-        return std::get<Vector<Area*>>(areas)[index];
+    if (areas.is<Vector<Area*>>() && index < area_count()) {
+        return areas.as<Vector<Area*>>()[index];
     }
 
     return nullptr;
@@ -81,19 +81,28 @@ Area* Module::get_area(size_t index)
 
 const Area* Module::get_area(size_t index) const
 {
-    if (std::holds_alternative<Vector<Area*>>(areas) && index < area_count()) {
-        return std::get<Vector<Area*>>(areas)[index];
+    if (areas.is<Vector<Area*>>() && index < area_count()) {
+        return areas.as<Vector<Area*>>()[index];
     }
 
     return nullptr;
 }
 
+void Module::destroy()
+{
+    if (areas.is<Vector<Area*>>()) {
+        for (auto it : areas.as<Vector<Area*>>()) {
+            nw::kernel::objects().destroy(it->handle());
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 bool Module::instantiate()
 {
     if (instantiated_) return true;
     LOG_F(INFO, "instantiating module");
 
-    auto& area_list = std::get<Vector<Resref>>(areas);
+    auto& area_list = areas.as<Vector<Resref>>();
     Vector<Area*> area_objects;
     area_objects.reserve(area_list.size());
     for (auto& area : area_list) {
@@ -263,11 +272,11 @@ bool Module::serialize(const Module* obj, nlohmann::json& archive)
     archive["locals"] = obj->locals.to_json(SerializationProfile::any);
     archive["scripts"] = obj->scripts.to_json();
 
-    if (std::holds_alternative<Vector<Resref>>(obj->areas)) {
-        archive["areas"] = std::get<Vector<Resref>>(obj->areas);
+    if (obj->areas.is<Vector<Resref>>()) {
+        archive["areas"] = obj->areas.as<Vector<Resref>>();
     } else {
         auto& area_list = archive["areas"] = nlohmann::json::array();
-        for (const auto area : std::get<Vector<Area*>>(obj->areas)) {
+        for (const auto area : obj->areas.as<Vector<Area*>>()) {
             area_list.push_back(area->common.resref);
         }
     }
@@ -324,12 +333,12 @@ bool serialize(const Module* obj, GffBuilderStruct& archive)
     serialize(obj->scripts, archive);
 
     auto& area_list = archive.add_list("Mod_Area_list");
-    if (std::holds_alternative<Vector<Resref>>(obj->areas)) {
-        for (const auto& area : std::get<Vector<Resref>>(obj->areas)) {
+    if (obj->areas.is<Vector<Resref>>()) {
+        for (const auto& area : obj->areas.as<Vector<Resref>>()) {
             area_list.push_back(6).add_field("Area_Name", area);
         }
     } else {
-        for (const auto& area : std::get<Vector<Area*>>(obj->areas)) {
+        for (const auto& area : obj->areas.as<Vector<Area*>>()) {
             area_list.push_back(6).add_field("Area_Name", area->common.resref);
         }
     }
diff --git a/lib/nw/objects/Module.hpp b/lib/nw/objects/Module.hpp
index 040cb8fde..0023b8930 100644
--- a/lib/nw/objects/Module.hpp
+++ b/lib/nw/objects/Module.hpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include "../i18n/LocString.hpp"
 #include "../serialization/Serialization.hpp"
 #include "../util/ByteArray.hpp"
+#include "../util/Variant.hpp"
 #include "LocalData.hpp"
 #include "ObjectBase.hpp"
 
@@ -42,7 +43,7 @@ struct ModuleScripts {
 };
 
 struct Module : public ObjectBase {
-    using AreaVariant = std::variant<Vector<Resref>, Vector<Area*>>;
+    using AreaVariant = Variant<Vector<Resref>, Vector<Area*>>;
 
     static constexpr int json_archive_version = 1;
     static constexpr ObjectType object_type = ObjectType::module;
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@ struct Module : public ObjectBase {
 
     virtual Module* as_module() override { return this; }
     virtual const Module* as_module() const override { return this; }
+    virtual void destroy() override;
     virtual bool instantiate() override;
 
     size_t area_count() const noexcept;
diff --git a/lib/nw/objects/ObjectBase.cpp b/lib/nw/objects/ObjectBase.cpp
index edbfb2df8..3dafd2f99 100644
--- a/lib/nw/objects/ObjectBase.cpp
+++ b/lib/nw/objects/ObjectBase.cpp
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ namespace nw {
 // == ObjectBase ==============================================================
 // ============================================================================
 
+void ObjectBase::destroy()
+{
+}
+
 EffectArray& ObjectBase::effects() { return effects_; }
 const EffectArray& ObjectBase::effects() const { return effects_; }
 
diff --git a/lib/nw/objects/ObjectBase.hpp b/lib/nw/objects/ObjectBase.hpp
index 1716ab513..022b2404f 100644
--- a/lib/nw/objects/ObjectBase.hpp
+++ b/lib/nw/objects/ObjectBase.hpp
@@ -29,9 +29,11 @@ struct ObjectBase {
     ObjectHandle handle() const noexcept { return handle_; }
     void set_handle(ObjectHandle handle) { handle_ = handle; }
     const EffectArray& effects() const;
-    virtual Versus versus_me() const { return Versus{}; }
     EffectArray& effects();
+    virtual void destroy();
+    virtual bool instantiate() = 0;
     virtual InternedString tag() const;
+    virtual Versus versus_me() const { return Versus{}; }
 
     virtual Area* as_area() { return nullptr; }
     virtual const Area* as_area() const { return nullptr; }
@@ -59,7 +61,6 @@ struct ObjectBase {
     virtual const Trigger* as_trigger() const { return nullptr; }
     virtual Waypoint* as_waypoint() { return nullptr; }
     virtual const Waypoint* as_waypoint() const { return nullptr; }
-    virtual bool instantiate() = 0;
 
 private:
     ObjectHandle handle_;
diff --git a/lib/nw/objects/Placeable.cpp b/lib/nw/objects/Placeable.cpp
index 94e42e467..d38146ba8 100644
--- a/lib/nw/objects/Placeable.cpp
+++ b/lib/nw/objects/Placeable.cpp
@@ -69,6 +69,11 @@ Placeable::Placeable()
     inventory.owner = this;
 }
 
+void Placeable::destroy()
+{
+    inventory.destroy();
+}
+
 bool Placeable::instantiate()
 {
     if (instantiated_) return true;
diff --git a/lib/nw/objects/Placeable.hpp b/lib/nw/objects/Placeable.hpp
index 4bdf761d3..d6b6679b1 100644
--- a/lib/nw/objects/Placeable.hpp
+++ b/lib/nw/objects/Placeable.hpp
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ struct Placeable : public ObjectBase {
     virtual const Common* as_common() const override { return &common; }
     virtual Placeable* as_placeable() override { return this; }
     virtual const Placeable* as_placeable() const override { return this; }
+    virtual void destroy() override;
     virtual bool instantiate() override;
     virtual InternedString tag() const override { return common.tag; }
 
diff --git a/rollnw-py/wrapper_objects.cpp b/rollnw-py/wrapper_objects.cpp
index 91e2b00fd..ff6cae735 100644
--- a/rollnw-py/wrapper_objects.cpp
+++ b/rollnw-py/wrapper_objects.cpp
@@ -535,7 +535,7 @@ void init_objects_module(py::module& nw)
         .def("get_area", [](nw::Module& self, size_t index) { return self.get_area(index); }, py::return_value_policy::reference_internal)
         .def("__len__", [](const nw::Module& self) { return self.area_count(); })
         .def("__iter__", [](nw::Module& self) {
-                auto& areas = std::get<std::vector<nw::Area*>>(self.areas);
+                auto& areas = self.areas.as<std::vector<nw::Area*>>();
                 return py::make_iterator(areas.begin(), areas.end()); }, py::keep_alive<0, 1>())
 
         .def_readwrite("description", &nw::Module::description)
diff --git a/tests/kernel_load_module.cpp b/tests/kernel_load_module.cpp
index 5f97d45ce..8ef686392 100644
--- a/tests/kernel_load_module.cpp
+++ b/tests/kernel_load_module.cpp
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ TEST(Kernel, LoadModuleErf)
     auto area = mod->get_area(0);
     EXPECT_TRUE(area);
     EXPECT_TRUE(area->common.resref == "start");
+    mod->destroy(); // Make sure nothing crashes, not called on unload..
     nw::kernel::unload_module();
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/objects_store.cpp b/tests/objects_store.cpp
index 22bfcbcd9..bb4fab0f1 100644
--- a/tests/objects_store.cpp
+++ b/tests/objects_store.cpp
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ TEST(Store, JsonDeserialize)
     EXPECT_TRUE(ent->blackmarket);
     EXPECT_EQ(ent->blackmarket_markdown, 25);
     EXPECT_GT(ent->inventory.weapons.items.size(), 0);
-    EXPECT_EQ(std::get<nw::Resref>(ent->inventory.weapons.items[0].item), "nw_wswdg001");
+    EXPECT_EQ(ent->inventory.weapons.items[0].item.as<nw::Resref>(), "nw_wswdg001");
 }
 
 TEST(Store, JsonRoundTrip)
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ TEST(Store, GffDeserialize)
     EXPECT_TRUE(ent->blackmarket);
     EXPECT_EQ(ent->blackmarket_markdown, 25);
     EXPECT_TRUE(ent->inventory.weapons.items.size() > 0);
-    EXPECT_EQ(std::get<nw::Item*>(ent->inventory.weapons.items[0].item)->common.resref, "nw_wswdg001");
+    EXPECT_EQ(ent->inventory.weapons.items[0].item.as<nw::Item*>()->common.resref, "nw_wswdg001");
 }
 
 TEST(Store, GffRoundTrip)