S3E6 - Through a Glass Darkly

Ayla Forsythe
(Slow poetic narration.) Year 1523 23 days after our First Snowfall. 22 of these days we have been under siege... day in and day out. The first week they seemed to toy with us. Small sorties and some sporadic skirmishes. Making us believe we were winning... but then came the real terror as undead legions started coming in the dusk or in the evening... or even the middle of the night. Breaking us... Slowly. Soon we didn't realize the last time some of us had slept living in a constant state of high alert. Hearts racing when you lay down as if there was too much tea or coffee. The last two weeks have been a blur. We've lived in a rotation commanding the trebuchets in sparse teams with only one leader to control the barrage. Father...
(pause for a brief smile) you'll be pleased to know my mousey hair is luckily not matted as it hangs to my shoulders. This is amazing... Given the fact bathing hasn't been a luxury we have afforded ourselves as regularly as we probably should. My team is very forgiving of the rancid symphony of odors we... we just try to do our best to ignore them... Honestly once it is mentioned it can take hours to forget it so we prefer to not torture ourselves. The day started with their new normal vanguard of skeletal warriors... Shambling bones of the restless dead eagerly cascading into our weapons...
(beat) as if hoping for some sort of respite from the torment of undeath. This was followed by sorties of mercenaries all from bloodthirsty Trull if I were to guess. They are all Orcs and Men mainly though we have heard of more Elves and possibly Dwarves in their ranks.
(sigh) I'm personally not surprised, after all the lust for gold cares not about its victim as it corrupts the soul of the mercenary. I'm one of the few of us from the farms of nearby Tova I believe. Of course Greyson the boy who used to tease me for my tom-boyishness in school is here. We actually rode in together. He's different now a shadow of maturity hangs over him, no doubt from his time at the front line. There may be more of us in the local militia being mustered as a backstop. We fear putting these
untrained farmers, bakers and laymen into the battle. They claim they are all willing to protect the freeworld against the growing power of Lord Pallus but father...
(beat) I do not have the stomach for sending them to slaughter. I can see the pain in Lord Alvars eyes when he looks at them. There is a dwarf berserker among their ranks, one of the ones who came to join us the night before the first assault. I remember him really enjoying the provisions we brought to their meeting. He's probably the only seasoned warrior among them, and that only means they will be like a mob on the battlefield...
(sighing) I should stop, its sounding like I'm complaining and as you taught me, Father... there's no good in doing that. Its just... Morale is very low. We lose some of our own every day but it seems no matter how many we slay they come back the next day as if nothing happened. We started noticing some of their dead coming back in the unholy vanguard, or it could have been our minds playing tricks on us. Well today started as the other days have, and as the day progressed it seemed today would be more of the same as before... but... well I would be proven wrong yet again.
transition
sounds of raging close quarters battle
benedict
(sword strike) Yah! Captain Morren! The center is pouring towards us!
Morren
(yelling) pikeman! hold your line!
(clanging swords in battle) yah!
orc1
(grunt) time to die lady! (squeal as struck with sword)
morren
(sword strike) Not today. (pant before calling) Benedict! you take Bryce and push forward with those pikemen!
Bryce
(shouting) yes Captain!
Nar - Keldor
The battlefield had churned mud for almost a month in this area till now the mud was in 2 or 3 ft mounds throughout where their feet had pushed them from the originally flat earth. The moist sound of sludge under boots was muffled by the din of steel, leather and flesh clashing violently. Morrens face was caked with mud on one side matting her ash colored hair to her cheek back to her left ear. The battle sounds faded in her head for a moment as she took a breath leaning on her worn longsword.
Morren
(sigh and speaking to herself out of breath) We will... persevere... Knightlord guide us.
switch to dark army
horses whinny on a hill overlooking the battle
una
(prophecising, hissing.) ah... it is as I have forseen most honored Cobalt. Their faith... is fading. Breaking... Yesss.
Nar - Keldor
The 4 of them stood on horseback at the top of the hill over looking the battlefield to the east. At the far end a few miles away was the Celestine tower glinting in the noon sunlight. Una's eyes were closed behind her dark hood but Cobalt knew she didn't need eyes to see. See was a seer and a gifted one considering she served the dread Lord Dekkion... And it was good to note... was still alive. Like the golden eyed Dabria who rode next to her on the far right. His Undead legions were led by only a handful of living Centurians such as Dabria who then commanded hundreds of undead on the battlefield. Una was different. There was something or someone inside the young woman. Her hair fell like ravens feathers framing her face from behind the dark hood. A blackened spear held in her hand
cobalt
(laughing) hahaha!... Hmm... now as they are frozen in fear we must...
(hissing) SNAP them.
dabria
(chuckle) Snap them? And how will you do that? Using our undead ogres perhaps? how about the banshees... We can send them out this evening.
cobalt
No Dabria. No banshees. I believe it may be time to show them the true power this army possesses.
Nar - Keldor
Dabria recoiled slightly from the veiled insult. But looking at Una her eyes opened brief enough, bringing her back into control of her emotions. Cobalt didn't seem to notice, turning to the dark eyed man on her Left. She noted the dark beard coiled from his chin moved slightly as he smiled through a sideways glance back at her. Coolly anticipating her plan.
cobalt
(patronizing) Tell me Azure. How are you feeling today.
azure
(chuckle) I would... LOVE to stretch out a bit.
cobalt
(sinister) Be My... Guest...
Nar - Keldor
Azure slid off the horse... and took a few steps forward through the clearing down hill. Taking in a deep breath he threw his arms out and down to the ground groaning in the short burst of intense but welcomed pain. In mere seconds he was on all fours with a reptilian head towering into the sky 20 feet. stretching out from his body were great mustard yellow and blue wings. His human form was now replaced with that of his natural magnificence. That of a deep sapphire blue dragon.
azure
(deep bellowing roar)
SFX DOOR Transition
(sounds of being inside the tower)
cordelia
Are you sure?
Zorin
Yes. Of course I'm sure...
(sigh to himself) ...after weeks of this I better be sure.
Eralin
He's not sure.
zorin
I am! ...You should be too you were with me!
eralin
Not that much with you.
Nar - Keldor
For weeks the party had been exploring the upper section of the central tower while Cordelia was studying the selection of leather bound tomes in the great mezzanine with Lorvana helping by recalling stories and songs of long ago. Though the selection was relatively much smaller than that of the Ivory Library she was used to studying in; it still was very impressive on its own. After the first 10 days Zorin decided that he and Eralin would find a way up into the shaft itself. It was then that he realized it did not run parallel with the stairwell going up but had 2 90 degree bends before continuing straight up into the darkness. They were now following this leg up a long spiral staircase that seemed to climb forever.
vix
Well. It still doesn't make sense why it would go this way.
zorin
(frustrated sound)
Vix
But (beat) ...but I will trust in your expertise.
Zorin
Well...
(proud) Thank you.
sophie
(suprised) Vix... did you just concede to Zorin?
vix
I... in fact did.
sophie
wait. Really?
vix
Absolutely.
zorin
(under his breath) at least someone gives me some respect around here.
vix
Expertise in his field after all... includes hiding lockpicks in uncomfortable places.
zorin
Hey! It... it was my boot.
vix
Sure it was... Whatever you say... Expert.
Zorin
(under breath) Shut up.
Nar - Keldor
Soon the party came to the top of the stairs where after a short landing of 10 feet a door lay in front of them. a strong wind pushing against the iron bound oak of the door and the shards of sunlight around the frame was a noticed warning of what lay on the other side. They guarded their eyes from the forgotten daylight as Zorin and Eralin lifted the oaken bar and opened the door.
(SFX wind door opens birds eagle cry battle sounds distant.)
The sun blinded them as they walked out onto the 20 foot platform that was ringed with a 4 foot high battlement. Not for repelling any kind of arrow at this distance but for something to hold onto from this height to avoid tipping over into the expanse below. Clouds rolled close and even some smaller wisps stretched out below their level. Sophie felt a little sick, a familiar voice echoing that feeling.
zorin
wow well... this is the top... How high is this again?
zane
(sick) oh... oh man. that me feeling that or you Sophie. I'm sorry if its...
sophie
(queezy)Stop Zane its not helping.
cordelia
What's that?
sophie
(urrp) oh this is.. I'll ... I'll wait for you all inside.
Zorin
She'll be ok.
(beat) Look at that. You can see forever.
Nar - Keldor
Zorin and his friends looked at the battlefield before them a quarter mile below the wind whipping by in gusts that threatened to pull them from their footing but only in their mind. The Fresh air smelled clean from here and though it felt icy it was dry. The roar of battle seemed to be a dull rumble from this height. As everyone looked out Cordelia went to the center of the platform where she found a similar ring of tile that matched the one in the ceiling of the portal room.
cordelia
Hey Zorin look at this.
zorin
(frozen) Uhhh....mm Cordelia?
cordelia
what? (sigh) Come here its only a second.
Zorin
you... wanna come here actually.
cordelia
(sigh impatiently) Fine. What is it? it better be...
(pause in suprise) Oh.. oh no...
Nar - Keldor
Horror sank in her heart as Zorin was pointing to a swift blue shape that flew close to the ground
towards the troops guarding the tower.
sfx door transition
(SCENE as like before - Team loading the trebuchets and launching them. Yells and cheers.)
gustav
(yelling from afar) Ayla! Look dead ahead!
Ayla Forsythe
(to herself) ...oh no... knightlord protect us... (narration)I looked out across the battle field and and saw a blue shape in the distance approaching quickly. Once it reached our front lines fear cut through me to the core as Lightning ripped a swath through our ranks. I was frozen in fear. I looked at Gustav whose eyes were wide with concern. Silvies voice cracked through our paralyzed fear.
Silvie
Dragon!!! Don't wait for it! Load! Now!
SFX - Calls echo from the other 3 trebuchet teams as they grunt and begin hauling
Ayla Forsythe
(narration)A dragon... and its huge Blue serpentine form was coming our way. By the gods themselves a real dragon... I drew in a ragged breath.
( SFX Breath)
(narration) I turned back to the rope attached to the long arm of the trebuchet and took my usual review to make sure I didn't see any tearing.
(calling) You heard her... Load!
(narration) I joined my team as we rapidly turned the war machine winding that massive arm down and lifting the several tons of counterweight off the ground simultaneously. Based off our last shot I knew where our arc was. Too risky to adjust now. I imagined the arc and the line where the stone would be thrown. I know how long the whipping motion took... I knew the feel of the leash in my hand...
(beat) I was one with this machine now.
roar of battle far off
gustav
Ready Captain! ... and Holding!
silvie
(announcing proud to the team) Well this is a big one today!
Ayla Forsythe
(narrating) then she looked at me and smiled.
silvie
But you can't rely on me for this one... You... You know where your shot will go. Get it there!
gustav
Yes Captain!
Ayla Forsythe
Yes Captain!
All
Yes Captain!
Ayla Forsythe
(narrating) Captain Silvie knew she would slow it down, that our disciplined formation this time needed to just act quickly.
silvie
...may the knightlord guide your hands...
(shouting) FIRE AT WILL!
Ayla Forsythe
(narrating) We held the line of trebuchet like coiled serpents waiting to strike. The dragon let out another blast into supply wagons at the edge of the river... Almost in range... I began to hear our war machines launch.
(SFX - Trebuchet launching and whistling through the air. crashing, screaming)
Ayla Forsythe
(to herself slightly panicked) Steady...
(Narrating) It came closer...
gustav
(yelling) Fire!!
Ayla Forsythe
(narrating) I heard Gustav launch.
(to herself slightly panicked) one... two... three... now!
(narrating) and pulled my line as well. I watched the four remaining stones sail through the air towards the dragon... the first the dragon cut hard to the left and barely missed the second stone as well... but in doing so over corrected into Gustavs stone and finally mine found its mark across its head driving it towards a heavy skid into the ground.
CHEERS ERUPTING
TRANSITION
vix
Thats...
(sigh) That's Impossible.
Zorin
Yeah!!! Look at that! that was... wait (beat) What do you mean impossible?
vix
(condescending) a trebuchet cant take down a dragon.
Zorin
(beat) bu...eh...
(sigh) Vix. It just did.
vix
I refuse to accept this... Magic. Absolutely... There must have been magic involved.
sophie
Tons of it!
Vix
(proudly) yes.
sophie
all the magic!
vix
(sigh) stop.
cordelia
hey... so Zorin check this out.
Nar - Keldor
Cordelia was standing next to the ring of tile again.
Zorin
(excited) Well, that's gotta be it! (beat) hmm... I wonder if it opens from the same gear downstairs I used to crawl into it.
sophie
But it still doesn't explain what the big spell component is.
vix
(realizing) wait.
Nar - Keldor
Vix looked around the platform and then at the sky itself. Snapping his fingers he turned to the others a proud grin on his face.
vix
(chuckle) ha! ...That's it.
Zorin
...that's what?
vix
The largest most powerful spell component my salt crusted companion.
(chuckle) ...One we can't hold Zorin... The sun.
cordelia
How did they get it down there if there was the bend...
(realizing) in..
sophie
Mirrors!
Zorin
Mirrors!
Vix
yes but the sun changes all day doesn't it so there must be something here to control it from down below.
Nar - Keldor
Zorin flipped a tile on the north side revealing a double gear. He studied it briefly.
Zorin
This appears to change two mechanisms independently on the same shaft... Now we should look for some mirrors that have a hexagonal shaft to mount in this hole.
sophie
Hey, I may have found where they are in the room next to the portal. It looked like a lab but all kinds of large lenses I thought... Without taking the sheets off... I suppose they could actually be mirrors!
eralin
Why didn't you take off the sheets and look?
Sophie
(sigh) You don't get this far in life just lifting up sheets in spooky places, Eralin.
(beat) Just seems to be against the rules.
Nar - Keldor
The group went back down to the room that Sophie described. Cordelia lifted the tan and dusty sheet which fell apart in her hands from centuries of no use. Revealing a polished silver disc. It was concave towards the middle and covered in a clear thick glaze that retained and protected the reflective properties of the silver. Lifting the other moldering threads they found 2 other identical discs. Zorin and Eralin went back into the tunnel above the portal taking the disk with them. Finding Identical points in the floor hidden under a loose tile they placed the mirrors with snap as they aligned to the ancient gear work.
Over the next few hours all were in place. Then they returned to the portal room for a final test.
cordelia
Ok... so there is no fancy words or spell work... I believe and Vix correct me...
Vix
(interrupting) oh! oh I will.
cordelia
(continuing sharply) IF... I'm wrong. Correct me if
I'm wrong.
Vix
Gladly
cordelia
(sigh) The sun will be the power source and we can use the gems to talk to the other towers. Provided...
vix
Provided... they still have their's activated as well.
zorin
And its not in parts everywhere like this one.
cordelia
Ok here we go.
Nar - Keldor
Cordelia absently played with the tied ends of a simple yarn bracelet on her left wrist. A twisted red and orange colored cord forming an faded and treasured friendship bracelet. One Sophie had made her when they first became friends.
Meanwhile Zorin and Eralin turned the large gear on the wall that opened the hatch in the ceiling. Now when it opened... small aquamarine gems glowed next to the crank... increasing in intensity. Something they didn't notice before. the 2 smaller cranks would move which gems glowing in an arc. They noticed there was a second arc with a faint glow between two stones on one to the right and another one at the center.
zorin
lets line them up. I wonder if its a guide to the suns position.
nar - keldor
Turning the wheels the glowing light moved across the arc of gems until they lined up. As Eralin finished his adjustments the room slowly began to glow until it was bathed in light.
cordelia
Yes! that's it!
Nar - Keldor
Cordelia's face glowed with excitement and
anticipation.
vix
Cordelia you...
(beat) (smiling) Were not wrong.
Nar - Keldor
She almost saw a smile from the elf's face but she brushed it off as wishful thinking.
cordelia
(cautiously) ok... Here we go.
Nar - Keldor
The Blue Sapphire glowed brightly at the top in the sunlight. the various metals glinted and glowed almost bringing the dragons depicted from their frozen state. To the left of the Sapphire was Coal Black Jet and then a deep red Ruby. To the right of the sapphire was an Emerald and finally a Diamond. She reached to the diamond and pressed in on it. The Diamond locked in place glowing brightly and instantly.
(SFX GATE SOUNDS RUMBLE ETC)
Cordelia jumped back as the gate began to hum and streak tendrils of light across the frame like the tuning of a drum. Once the glow subsided she could see another room on the other side. Similar to this one only white marble with rose quartz. Several benches and a table were spread across floor. Looking back at her friends they all stood frozen in place and wide eyed... Zorin shrugged slightly with his eyes wide in disbelief.
zorin
can.. can you step in?
cordelia
(cautiously) well...
(sigh) One way to find out.
nar - keldor
she reached down and picked up a small fragment of and old white Candle from the ground. and tossed it into the room.
rue
Huh? (Throat Clear) ...What the?
nar - keldor
Cordelia heard footsteps approach the portal and a familiar Voice. The tall man came into view his bald head rich Sepia in tone topped the deep blue robes and was riddled with the familiar tattoos she remembered.
rue
(suprised)Well... hello Cordelia.
(smiling) Welcome back to the Ivory Library. How can your fellow librarians assist you?