S4E3 - THE ARENA

NAR - KELDOR Zorin walked out onto the street, stroking his chin in anticipation. He hadn't seen his father for 12 years, and just the realization made him feel anxious. The small breakfast of pasty gruel and salted eggs from the inn was trying to make its return. It felt like a hot ember under his quickly beating heart, deep within his chest. His jaw was drawn tight from the quaking anger, much like his short bow. He was followed by Eralin and Dabria who passed him making their way to where they found a place for them in the growing crowd. Not too close to draw attention and not too far... well for the same reasons. He felt Benedict place a hand on his shoulder, giving him a quick look of reassurance. This was going to be a horrible reunion. A murmur rolled down the crowd, helping to announce the procession well ahead of the parade. Soon, a plume of fire erupted from 5 multicolored dancers leading a column of dark armored soldiers marching down the center of the street. The dancers breathed plumes of fire as they juggled both fire and blades, weaving their way to clear a path. Zorin noticed they were dressed in colored scales mimicking 5 different colored dragons. As the dancers passed, the marching military soon followed, some shambling and undisciplined as opposed to the more senior troops who drove the crowd back from sheer terror. Orcs and men mainly. Immediately following the soldiers rolled an ornate chariot. BENEDICT Oh my god... DABRIA Not in this city. NAR - KELDOR 12 men clad in dirty rags groaned as they carried the black and gold platform on lacquered poles across their shoulders, 6 to a side. Weeping wounds from fresh lash marks graced their backs and bruises (MORE) 32. NAR - KELDOR (CONT'D) marked their once proud cheeks. 2 figures stood defiant on the platform. Lord Pallus stood at the front with his arms crossed, a cruel smirk crossing his face. To his left, a gaunt man stood icy cold and unmoving. DABRIA That’s Dekkion. NAR - KELDOR Zorin recognized the dark cleric. The same man who struck down Zane when they were children. ORC CENTURIAN Hail Lord Pal-lus! Hail Lord Pal-lus! Move and bow before his excellency you worms! Hail Lord Pal-lus! NAR - KELDOR Rasped the lead orc, and the crowd repeated back in awe and fear. ZORIN Where are they going? DABRIA (sadly) The Arena. NAR - KELDOR Zorin noticed a tinge of contempt rolling off her tongue. DABRIA Wait here. NAR - KELDOR Who knows what possessed Dabria's next action. Was it guilt of being one of those executioners of pain for so long? Not fully understanding, but feeling it to be right, Dabria hung her head and quietly worked powerful magic, gripping the goat's horn at her neck. Her diety answered. Whether mocking her or not he answered her. (DABRIA gasp) She drew from her life force and slowly passed her own essence to the poor men carrying the chariot. (Groans from the men) They felt the pain leave slowly, but were careful to 33. not show the relief. Dabria's viens grew black from the fingertips like a runaway infection. Her eyes became jaundiced and her cheeks sunken. The pain was unbearable, but she welcomed it. Time itself seemed to slow to a crawl. She raised her eyes weakly to see that child from a dream so long ago, her blonde matted tresses softly moving in the wind. Her blue eyes, that once poured tears cutting paths through her soot stained cheeks when they last met, were now clear. In fact, as she looked, she saw the girl stronger, beautiful and caring. She held her hands out and smiled. GHOST GIRL You are on the right path. Keep going. NAR - KELDOR And she disappeared. Time returned to normal and Dabria gently wheezed as to not gain too much attention. DABRIA (gasping as she drops a bit, almost collapsing) BENEDICT I got you. Can I... help you? DABRIA Yes. NAR - KELDOR No-one noticed the Paladin hiding in dark armor calling upon his own god to help heal his comrade. DOOR TRANSITION NAR - KELDOR Rising in the morning, Lorvana and Isenatha watched the armies clear the camps for the parade. The view from the window of the second floor room they had rented was actually perfect for viewing the arm, as well as the horrible Temple that was their destination. Cordelia disguised them once again as Dragon Army soldiers. CORDELIA Una, what is this temple for? UNA The Thorn... or... The Prince of Righteous Vengeance. (MORE) 34. UNA (CONT'D) (beat) Stay close and don't raise any suspicion. Cordelia's spell can only do so much to disguise you. (beat) There. See there. We must pass between those two observation towers. (environment transition desert wind) NAR - KELDOR The sun was climbing in the morning sky now behind the clouds. High above the parched landscape leading to the temple, an elven guard leaned over a giant war horn in the tower. Spotting something, his eyes narrowed before a cruel smile twisted from a corner of his mouth. He motioned for the other guard to see something. GUARD 1 Hey. Check this out. Is that? KEHLVAN Yeah... Mistress Una. Looks like the seer has some friends with her today too. Whatever. GUARD 1 Heh, look at that one Kehlvan... A kid. KEHLVAN What? Oh... hahaha! Good for them. Make them work for their gruel says I. NAR - KELDOR They laughed to themselves, thinking the tiny form of Lorvana was simply a servant child. They returned to scanning the horizon. The other guards usually posted would be absent at this time. Una was certain of this. Pallus was arrogant and believed in secrets guarding themselves. (door creak transition to internal echoing temple footsteps) They entered the great hall of worship. A dark wooden throne now perched on the dais where once sat an ancient altar. A deep echo as they walked seemed to amplify their footsteps not matter how they tried to muffle them. UNA I know its back here... Ah! NAR - KELDOR Once behind the throne itself Una felt the wall behind the crimson velvet draped there. Just as she (MORE) 35. NAR - KELDOR (CONT'D) remembered the door, which matched the wall so perfectly, swung open. Inside was a large hall. No visible doorway marked the 4 walls. Una pointed directly across from the doorway. UNA That's a secret door leading outside into the mountains. Somewhere in here is a way down into the dungeons. NAR - KELDOR Isenatha quietly broke in nervously. ISENATHA Una, I... I'll wait here to guard the escape if needed. From here you will need to delve deeper and I may prove to be... a distraction. NAR - KELDOR Una considered her offer but was curious as to her true intention. UNA Interesting proposal...(beat) Yes. Yes you should wait here. The 3 of us can move more swiftly then. CORDELIA Wait. (Spell Casting) Ok, there is a spell on the door back out to the throne room if someone approaches this door... You will know. NAR - KELDOR They nodded at each other. Lorvana pulled out the gem from Elloveve and peered through it at the secret door outside. Magic letters sprung to life. LORVANA Yay! (pause) Hey... wait a minute, look at that. At an other end of the room she clearly saw the glow of magic letters outlining another secret door... DOOR TRANSITION NAR - KELDOR A 300 foot stone brick wall stood in front of the approaching crowd. Lines of people weaved the multiple switchbacks leading up to the top. It made (MORE) 36. NAR - KELDOR (CONT'D) Zorin's head reel. ZORIN Woah... This must be the arena. DABRIA Hmm.. Benedict and I can pass as Officers but you two will draw too much attention and possibly too much risk. NAR - KELDOR She looked at Zorin. He nodded in acknowledgement. ZORIN Eralin, lets find our own way in. NAR - KELDOR The tall Eralin nodded from beneath the dark hood framing his pale face and platinum hair. It took but a moment for them to disappear into the surrounding crowd, like waves on the sea. OGRE 2 Show your support, drop your coins here! OGRE 1 Encouraged! Hey! Do it tiny! OGRE 2 Hahaha! Ah... um... Go ahead mistress... NAR - KELDOR The large ogres at the gates nodded to Dabria and knew better than to question the presence of the unrecognized officer at her side. Dabria was a unique cleric they were well aware of. A Centurian of Dekkion, Master of the Undead is terrifying enough but her disturbing focus around manipulating the pain of others could strike fear in most of the Dark Army. Hence her nickname of the "Mistress of Pain" They made their way up the huge ancient stadium rows. The stadium was able to seat hundreds of thousands of people and towered 300 feet in the air. This was definitely a marvel to behold. Row after row was lined up all the way to the top, where the lower classes were forced to sit far away and so high that the unaided eye would likely see nothing. Those final rows were not even given a wall at their back to brace them from a tumble backwards to a gruesome (MORE) 37. NAR - KELDOR (CONT'D) death below. The officers were granted seating lower, alongside a booth in the center jutting out 25 feet from their row for Pallus himself. The arena floor was made of sand, with the wall towering 30 feet around the perimeter, slightly angled outward and topped with long bladed spikes to prevent any unwanted climbing. BENEDICT This could... (beat) Dabria, do they bring dragons into this arena? NAR - KELDOR Before she could answer, the crowd erupted as Lord Pallus stepped forward on the balcony with Dekkion to his right. His arms outstretched, he welcomed his bloodthirsty and beloved crowd to his games. DOOR TRANSITION ZORIN (Panting from a light jog but hushed) He.. hey here we are NAR - KELDOR Zorin and Eralin made their way down the dark and damp alley between the barracks and the arena. Looking closely at the stone wall, Zorin found a small opening in the cut stone they could squeeze though. ZORIN Ok this looks like some sort of... storage? What is... wait... Is that a palm tree? (voices approaching) Oh jeez Eralin hide! NAR - KELDOR They quickly tried to hide themselves. Zorin ducked back in the shadows easily. Eralin's head darted back and forth frantically, trying to find something to hide behind. ZORIN Hey! That barrel! No, not in it you idiot! Get behind the crates around it. Yeah! Now don't... move... (Voices blabbing about something in the ) (MORE) 38. ZORIN (CONT'D) (background) As the Kobolds milled around the room gathering supplies for the arena, Zorin was able to move freely in the shadows, making his way to the mouth of the arena itself. Taking a moment to look around, he now saw that the room was filled with facades of scenes on wheels painted like trees, or stones. Some small buildings with ropes to move windows from behind the slats were lined up, pointing out the huge door itself. As he drew closer he could hear the deafening roar of the crowd above. ZORIN (hushed)This... is going to be a huge production. TRANSITION CORDELIA An hend I see palan awaui o nin! (spell casting) NAR - KELDOR An orb the size of a small orange appeared, floating in the air before Cordelia. It glowed dimly with a ghostly blue light, but not enough to draw too much attention. LORVANA Wow! What's that? CORDELIA (proudly) A magic eye. I can see what it sees. For now it will scout ahead for us... what did you find? LORVANA Oh found some glass bottles. Nothing in them but I got a few just in case. UNA Mmmm-hmmm. (beat) Wise. Let's continue on. CORDELIA (Gasping) Wait.. is that what I think oh wow! (excitedly) Yes lets press on. NAR - KELDOR They walked swiftly to keep up with Cordelia's excited pace. The musty smell of the lower level echoed stale water despite the surface's dry cracked earth. Entering the next room, it opened to a doubled (MORE) 39. NAR - KELDOR (CONT'D) and vaulted ceiling, a faint mural depicting dragons and kobolds feasting together. At the end of the room they found a crouched figure and Cordelia's magic eye hovered slightly. The hulking body shivered in the dark recess of the room from under what appeared to be a red orange sheet of thin metal. As a slow breath entered its great lungs, a deep voice boomed forth. CHALKOS (tired)...whoever you are... (beat) come no closer. CORDELIA We... mean no harm or intrusion oh great one. CHALKOS Great one? (chuckles) You... you certainly have nice manners. (chuckle and grunts as he sits up to walk slowly) NAR - KELDOR The form raised from the ground, a shimmer of light now dancing over what was suddenly known to be shining copper scales. He stepped into the light, revealing a 30 foot long dragon. His scales gleamed like a copper penny, though age and wear may have dulled them slightly. A huge chain clattered across the stone floor from a single leg. The faint outline of a great doorway could be seen on the other side of his body. He lowered his powerful head down to the group, and though they were awestruck they noticed they didn't feel overcome with fear like with the other dragons. Lorvana stepped forward, smiling. LORVANA Wow... you are so pretty! CHALKOS (chuckle) Well... so are you my little friend. LORVANA Oh! Call me Lorvana. Please. What is your name? CHALKOS Chalkos. (chuckle) It's not often I get many visitors as kind as you, Lorvana. Its quite refreshing. LORVANA Thats so nice. Sorry my friends are so quiet. We never met a nice dragon before. 40. NAR - KELDOR Chalkos's eyes seemed to dull slightly with sadness for a moment at this. CHALKOS I'm. I'm sorry that has been your experience. LORVANA May I. (beat) Um... if its ok with you I mean. NAR - KELDOR Lorvana held up her tiny hand, palm outstretched in front of her kind and harmless eyes. Chalkos was taken aback for a moment. He could not remember the last time he was greeted with such reverance. He drew his head closer and felt her hand on the side of his muzzle. He smiled warmly. CHALKOS Thank you. (beat) That was nice. CORDELIA Chalkos, we wish to pass. Would that be ok? CHALKOS My new friends, I... I have been bound here to protect the way though I know not from who. I only know I must. Beyond here are held the betrayers of the kobolds. LORVANA Can we not free you? That chain looks so heavy and mean. NAR - KELDOR Chalkos looked at the heavy iron, 5 inches in width bent into 2 foot reinforced links. He brought his head back to look at the littlest member of the group. She could see years of pain, with a strong resolution behind his eyes. Even not remembering fully the reason for his fate, he would stay here. He would die here. He would guard this with his life forever. CHALKOS (sadly) No. No, little one, I must stay here. If nothing else, I know I cannot let them leave. They... hurt my family and killed my friends. (beat) They took my memory. (sigh) You may pass, but promise me you will not release them. 41. LORVANA Oh, I promise you Chalkos. As your new friend, I promise. CHALKOS (happy) Hmm! Yes. Yes, I believe your promise is stronger than this iron chain my little friend. You may pass. NAR - KELDOR They made their way down the hall past ancient sculptures and monoliths erected in the worship of what appeared to be dragons. Horns either curved to the front or flared behind thier heads. Some were singular from the snout, several formed a crown and beard. CORDELIA I see every dragon here. The Good dragons like Chalkos too. UNA Isenatha. She said good and evil are taught. CORDELIA Hmm. (beat) Yes, she did. But I don't know if she really knew what was... UNA Hush! (beat) Wait. Hear that? MORTAS (soft dark chanting repeat 3x) Ash kulkodar ob uluk kulkodar. Ash mabrotnosh azat burz gaddur. Mir kulkodar lump ishi ghash shakamub. Bumbullaum agh balt. Zau dot agh vuras shara. Broshan pallus! Broshan dekkion! STOCUK (soft dark chanting repeat 3x) Ash kulkodar ob uluk kulkodar. Ash mabrotnosh azat burz gaddur. Mir kulkodar lump ishi ghash shakamub. Bumbullaum agh balt. Zau dot agh vuras shara. Broshan Pallus! Broshan Dekkion! NAR - KELDOR They began to hear a dark forgotten language. As they proceeded towards the source it grew louder and louder. 42. CORDELIA (hushed) Let's wait here. Go. NAR - KELDOR The magical eye darted up the hall. CORDELIA (Relaying what she sees. Slightly strained from concentration but not too much.) I... I see two hidden, um. Dark... yes dark figures around a small, slime covered altar... They stare at a person on the altar in concentration, um. Chanting. (GASP) Looming over them, also staring at the object upon the altar, is... is a red dragon. Wait... It's changing... into a man. FURY (laughing) HAHHAHA! Well, Mortas and Stockuk, I can FEEEEL it working. Hahaha. Yes. He is ready. The Dark Queen has opened his life force to us. Now. Take it! CORDELIA A red haired man. UNA With a red beard? (beat) Is he thin and wiry? CORDELIA Yes. UNA Fury. CORDELIA Wait... Lord Pallus's mount?! UNA Ha! Don't let him hear you say that. He will never believe he is Pallus's servant. (beat) Though we all know he is. CORDELIA On the altar is a man. His beard is braided in a different way than I've ever seen... with bronze beads. The men have paused chanting and one is holding some twisted brass scepter up to a dragon's mouth. Wait, it's not a scepter, it's a tall vial or vase, dripping... liquid. (MAN SCREAMS) The man is in agony as blue white energy pours from his mouth and eyes, charging the large gemstones in the room with (MORE) 43. CORDELIA (CONT'D) his own life. They are pulling the spirit from these prisoners! TRANSITION ORC 1 Move! Death awaits all of ya! ORC 2 Yeah! Don't want to keep the crowd waiting. Hehehe! ORC 1 Or Maldros! Hahaha! (laugh) ORC 2 Hahaha! (laugh) NAR - KELDOR Skotmir, Thotmir and Sophie are ushered roughly out of their cells by the Guards, finding themselves walking up a long ramp with a dozen other men. Covered in a network of bruises, Sophie notes the battered shoulders almost like a yoke or heavy weight was placed upon them. THOTMIR Hey! (stumble grunt) SKOTMIR Woah! (grunt) I... I got you brother. NAR - KELDOR As they were shoved up the hall, a shudder ran through the brothers at the sound of a bloodthirsty crowd. The music grew louder and louder, announcing the procession for the arena. Thotmir turns to Skotmir and Sophie. THOTMIR The forge watches over us today, my friends. Fight well. NAR - KELDOR Entering the red glow of the day, they saw hundreds of thousands of spectators roaring at their arrival. The stone brick and sandstone towered in every direction from the high wall, as far as the eye could see. Pillars and stands alternated in a dizzying (MORE) 44. NAR - KELDOR (CONT'D) pattern swirling hundreds of feet into the air. ORC 2 Move! NAR - KELDOR Sophie felt the kick into her back knocking her forward. She was in shock at the scene around her. The sounds of the blood thirsty crowd numbed her senses. These people wanted to watch them die. The more horrible the better. ZANE Hey. SOPHIE I... ZANE Your heart hurts... SOPHIE They are all so horrible. All of them. ZANE Listen to me. Don't focus on those outside the ring. Just... just survive. Do what you do best Sophie. Fight. NAR - KELDOR Pallus and Dekkion stepped forward on the tall balcony reserved for them. Dekkion nodded at him before his voice magically boomed into the arena and hushed the crowd. DEKKION Who are these wretches brought before his magnificence, Lord Pallus?! I shall tell you! They are those that shall face your judgement in the ring of fire and blood! Die well! For your lives are now... not your own. NAR - KELDOR Looking around, Skotmir saw the newest captives, some terrified, some resolute. He spat on the ground in disgust, his proud dwarven blood boiling. These were innocent people committed to a dark unfair fate. DEKKION Maldros! We commit them to you, King of Gladiators! 45. NAR - KELDOR From the opening came Maldros the Dark, cloak flapping behind his hulking form, red eyes glowing. Sophie froze as a wave of memory hit her. TRANSITION She is in an arena not unlike this one, twin daggers in her hands. She feels acrobatic, confident and a bit cynical. Across the arena is Maldros, clutching a wound at his side and kneeling. A wound delivered by the crude orcish daggers in her hands. Or were they her hands? Was this even her memory? She turns her head in the arena to see Zane standing next to her. With the same daggers in his hands. Blood cutting through dirt and dust on his cheek. Despite this he turned and smiled. ZANE (Laugh) I never finished that story on our way to First Port did I? I like being able to share them like this now. Share my memories with you.(serious and calming) Hey, I got this. (beat) I'm with you, Sophie... Always. NAR - KELDOR The vision faded. She saw Skotmir's puzzled face. SKOTMIR You alright? SOPHIE I.. I know him. Well not me, but Zane does. NAR - KELDOR The first event was announced to be 6 people, all from the chariot death match. When the booming war horn was sounded, one member immediately cut the throat of the man next to him. Someone only yesterday saved his life on the battlefield. Panic entered the eyes of a young man who ran in terror from them all. Another dropped to his knees, dropping the weapon on the ground, arms outstretched refusing to fight. An anguished cry erupted from his cracked chapped lips. Another man drove an axe into his back, ending his nightmare. BENEDICT This is horrible, these were our men. 46. DABRIA Yes. NAR - KELDOR Dabria turned to Benedict. DABRIA Benedict, our goal was to find out what he plans to do next. Don't you see? BENEDICT See what... wait. Oh no! NAR - KELDOR A wave of realization poured over his soul like the quench of a fresh blade. They had found what they came for. Lord Pallus was going to strike Garnet Keep. BENEDICT we need to get out of here and get back to warn... ANNOUNCER Behold the slain before you all! They die for all your enjoyment. Next we bring you 2 brothers, dwarven sons of the Garnet Mountains! NAR - KELDOR Benedict's eyes grew wide as the 2 brothers walked into the dust together. BENEDICT Skotmir! DABRIA I have a feeling your mind has changed about leaving, then? BENEDICT Not without him. I swear it. DABRIA Good. Lets see if we can get to where they leave the arena. I have an idea. Once the match starts we will... (AZURE DRAGON ROAR) oh no! NAR - KELDOR The cheers became deafening as their challenger entered the arena. It was a 35-foot blue dragon, his scales battered, wings torn and bent to odd angles in places, but more notably his face destroyed and one (MORE) 47. NAR - KELDOR (CONT'D) eyed. She knew this dragon. Too well. ANNOUNCER Witness the mighty Azure! A lifetime of battle served, he wishes to continue to kill for your enjoyment! AZURE This is my honor and fate to die for you in this glorious arena! And I will do so happily! BUT! NAR - KELDOR He dropped his head low to stare at his enemies with one massive black-rimmed yellow orange eye. Azure was now being honored. He knew he would no longer fly and this would be a glorious death this day. Lightning crackled between the teeth of his sneering maw. AZURE (sneering slow cold chuckle) Not today... (chuckle) and NOT to you maggots. (beat) HAHAHA!! (roar) SKOTMIR (battlecry) THOTMIR (battlecry) Thunderclap and steel SFX with an erupting crowd!