S4E4 - BLOOD AND DRAGONS

NAR - KELDOR The battle began and the two dwarves attacked ferociously, shaking off the dragonfear and replacing it with deep dwarven rage, hacking into the dragon with their axes. Thotmir was bitten by the gaping maw, teeth biting into his chest and sending shock waves of electricity though his body. Skotmir ran to the rear leg to strike like felling a tree. Thotmir was hit full on by the lightning breath, sparks radiating across his blue armor as he fell unconscious. Benedict and Dabria made their way down the ramps, echoes of battle resonating as other voices filled the halls with vendors purchasing provisions like lizards barbecued on sticks or large insects. Ale and mead were poured from huge barrels taller than the kobolds tending them and the soft jingle of coins rattling filled their greedy ears. DABRIA Come this way... I... bought us some time. (soft chuckle) BENEDICT Sure... wh.. what did you do? NAR - KELDOR She smiled deviously. DABRIA I... sent an old friend a message... a suggestion really. A small message to Dekkion suggesting the match was boring. As we were leaving I saw him complain to Pallus who agreed... (chuckle) tossing his goblet. BENEDICT Good thinking that should draw out the match a bit while we get down there. 49. ANNOUNCER Bring out the human warrior! NAR - KELDOR Far from Benedict's sight on the arena floor Sophie didn't hesitate to assist her chosen brother Skotmir. Running to the dragon, she gripped a low shoulder and swung upward landing on his jagged spine. Producing the two daggers of Zane she plunged them into the dragon's back. Howling in pain the dragon swatted the annoyance with his tail, sending Sophie tumbling to the ground. Pallus became enthralled, tossing his arms around like a stage director as he shouted at the announcer under the roar of the crowd. The match paused, Sophie and Azure stepping back out of range of each other for a moment while the crowd grew silent save confused murmurs of anticipation. All except Skotmir. Seeing his brother's crumpled and unmoving form on the ground, he remained stuck in his fury... and continued to charge the dragon. Azure swatted a paw down on him, pinning him to the ground. AZURE Time to wait, you impatient insect! SKOTMIR (groans and struggles while pinned) SOPHIE Skotmir! Save your energy! NAR - KELDOR Meanwhile to the right of the same gate the gladiators had entered from, Benedict and Dabria had slipped into the shadows as they saw Lord Pallus, flanked by 4 guards and a very excited Dekkion, enter. Waiting for the gate to open, they stood mere feet away from their would be assassins in the shadows. DEKKION (Laugh)Yes my lord. This will prove to be most exciting! LORD PALLUS (Laughter) NAR - KELDOR From the other side of the Arena Zorin saw the gate (MORE) 50. NAR - KELDOR (CONT'D) clank open and his father's entourage step out to the arena floor. ZORIN What are you doing, old man? Wait... NAR - KELDOR Pallus motioned a hand in Zorin's direction. ANNOUNCER He calls for props folks! (beat) Their deaths shall be framed in a glorious and bloodsoaked setting designed by our great leader! NAR - KELDOR Suddenly, trees shot out onto the arena floor from the prop entrance, Zorin diving into the shadows to remain unseen as a few dozen mercenaries and servants moved in to move everything into place at the call of Lord Pallus himself. Soon, building facades came out, and much to Zorin's horror. ZORIN Oh no... stay down you idiot! NAR - KELDOR Also, the crates hiding Eralin. TRANSITION UNA You better answer me. NAR - KELDOR Una approached one of the glowing torches. It spat a green flame in the shape of a rose, a skull and finally ashes. UNA'S PATRON WHY HAVEN'T YOU FREED ME?! NAR - KELDOR ...the voice in her head shrieked out. UNA'S PATRON GROW STRONGER AND FIND ME IN STRATH! 51. UNA I will... my master... but first I need to know how to rescue these prisoners and get them out of here. UNA'S PATRON Maybe there's more power in them than you know. Just like you refuse to recognize the power within yourself. Chalkos is being lied to... These aren't the betrayers in his tragedy, but I assure you they were in the play! (Softer) Maybe... my little Una, THEY actually need to rescue you. NAR - KELDOR The torch flared and sputtered to a normal orange glow. She turned back to the group. CORDELIA Well? UNA They are the friends... of Chalkos. CORDELIA (gasp) They could be... (realization these are the good dragons) we... we need to tell Chalkos. LORVANA I'll do it. He. (smiles) He's my friend. NAR - KELDOR Lorvana saw a mouse and whispered a song under her breath. The mouse ran to her. LORVANA Tell Chalkos we see a terrible thing about the prisoners. All of them are being destroyed slowly and they are really friends of the Kobolds. And they are his friends. Tell him we need his help. (standing up and turning to the group) Ok. Lets get his friends. NAR - KELDOR They approached a hall to the side of that chamber with several cells, rusty bars caked with centuries of neglect. Inside the cells were the forms of 5 people. KOGYRUS Who are you? CORDELIA Una, spring the lever at the far end of the wall. (MORE) 52. CORDELIA (CONT'D) That should let them out. I'm still watching the chamber with the dark altar. NAR - KELDOR Cordelia was struggling to keep her overwhelming feelings at bay. She was overcome with hope but knew she first had to get them out of there. The gates swung open. UNA Let's go. NAR - KELDOR They were human and elf, if they were to guess. But something was different. Eyes were brighter. Powerful muscles rippled under robes. Despite their weakened state they held an unquestionble power behind their eyes. CHALKOS (roaring) Liars! Thieves! Decievers! BETRAYERS! NAR - KELDOR The sound of Chalko's anger shook the foundation of the temple as he ripped the chain from the wall. Cordelia saw the 3 figures in the altar run to investigate, leaving the weakened man alone. CORDELIA We are trapped! UNA No. We can try to flee deeper into the volcano this way. Follow me! CORDELIA Take them, I will join you. I'm going back for the last one. LORVANA I'll help you! NAR - KELDOR Una and the prisoners ran one way down the wide hall while Cordelia and Lorvana ran back to the altar room. Soon after, a roar erupted down the hall. LORVANA Go! Take him back! I... need to save Chalkos. 53. ARYAT (weakly) Chalkos? He... still lives? LORVANA Yes. (beat) Please Cordelia. CORDELIA But you... LORVANA Go! NAR - KELDOR Cordelia nodded as she scooped an arm around the weakened man and then began to stumble down the hall. Lorvana ran as fast as her little legs could carry her, back towards the roaring Chalkos, wondering if she made the right decision but knowing in her heart she did. Turning the corner, she saw Chalkos hunched but still able to run towards her in the wide hall, his form barely clearling the opening. CHALKOS (roar) Run! Run Little one! Climb on! NAR - KELDOR Bending a wing low, Lorvana darted up to sit astride his neck as they barreled down the hall. Looking behind her, the glow of fire erupted as she realized there was another dragon... close behind. TRANSITION NAR - KELDOR Pallus paced, admiring the scene before him. 4 fabricated palm trees stood in the center along with the facade of an ancient temple. He was particularly nodding at the cutouts of some terrified villagers. LORD PALLUS This is fine work! Isn't it? DEKKION Yes, my lord! NAR - KELDOR Eralin felt Lord Pallus draw closer, but as he did something familiar pulled at his neck. Suddenly it felt like he was being pulled slowly towards him, like a magnet. Peeking from behind the barrel, he saw Pallus mindlessly caressing the dragon turtle pommel (MORE) 54. NAR - KELDOR (CONT'D) of the sword at his hip. ERALIN Wha...? What is is this? NAR - KELDOR Looking at his necklace, he saw the blue eyes begin to radiate. Looking out he saw the red eyes of the sword answer, softly glowing. ERALIN I... NAR - KELDOR A wave of memory washed over him as he saw himself restrained on an altar, his being poured from a screaming mouth as the red stones filled with all he was, all he remembered. He saw 3 cloaked men draining him into the ruby. And all went black until Zorin found him, or at least part of him, in the underworld. Imprisoned in a ruby cage. Suddenly one word sat at the front of his mind. Forgotten. Until now. DEKKION Watch out, my lord! NAR - KELDOR Eralin stood up from the crates, surprising Pallus. PALLUS (laugh) NAR - KELDOR Pallus laughed as he regarded the new combatant, before his eyes grew wide in recognition. His eyes fell to the necklace in horror. PALLUS You! DEKKION What? No... NO!!! NAR - KELDOR A great pull happened that pulled from his sword and the necklace itself. A flash of light, and Eralin's necklace was gone as were the eyes on Pallus's Sword. Dekkion was enraged as he scrambled away howling. 55. DEKKION NO! Not you! Impossible, we watched you die on that altar! NAR - KELDOR Eralin stepped forward smiling, as he felt whole again. Looking up, he repeated the word in his mind. ERALIN Rood -o nen. NAR - KELDOR Eralin felt a familiar change as his body grew, expanding outward. The skin on his back hardened and his hands became scaled flippers. The front rows of the crowd shrank back in terror, for before them was a hulking 20 ft high Dragon Turtle. AZURE YEEES!! Come at me my cousin! This is a glorious day! NAR - KELDOR Azure charged at Eralin, driving him into the wall of the arena as everyone scattered to get out of the way. Eralin faced the dragon as his throat erupted a cone of superheated steam in a shrieking deep roar. It hit full on, peeling the flesh from one side of Azure's face from the skull beneath. This was the battle Azure longed for. He tried to summon back his breath, but had to resort to claws and bites. The blows glanced off the hard spiked Dragon Turtle's shell, protecting most of its body. Eralin breathed in again for a final attack... and Azure crumpled to the ground. The great wyrm was slain. ERALIN (groan) Ugh... Can't breathe... whew... ugh... (recovered) Skotmir! NAR - KELDOR Returning to his humanoid form after finding himself out of breath, Eralin rushed to Skotmir's side only to be greeted by several dozen guards. DEKKION Hard to take your form out of water isn't it? What was your name again... Ah yes. Eralin. How you came to escape the realm of the dead is curious. VERY curious... Hmm well no matter, I caught you again (MORE) 56. DEKKION (CONT'D) didn't I, little fish? (beat) Take them away. NAR - KELDOR Skotmir carried the limp form of his brother over his shoulder as they were all escorted back into the gate leading down the ramp to their cells. A voice was barely heard in the shadows as they walked by, but not over the roar of the crowd outside. BENEDICT Knightlord, please give him strength. SHARPTOOTH Mistress Dabria, please follow me. NAR - KELDOR The familiar voice from the deeper shadows behind them startled her. DABRIA What? (beat) Sharptooth? SHARPTOOTH Yes. Please my friend follow me. We need to go now. BENEDICT But Zorin and... SHARPTOOTH No time! Come and live to fight another day. It's the only way. They will soon know you are here. DABRIA Its true. Dekkion can sense me, I'm sure of it. And if Azure is here that means Cobalt has likely exposed our lie now. At least to some. SHARPTOOTH This way. NAR - KELDOR As they disappeared deeper into a tunnel hidden in the shadows, Benedict turned back. BENEDICT I'm sorry. May the the Maiden guide you, my friend. 57. NAR - KELDOR And he was gone. DOOR TRANSITION CORDELIA (running) Uh... um...(pant) not now! Woah! NAR - KELDOR Cordelia ran frantically, trying to remember a spell as they burst into a glowing cavern. Magma fell all around the chamber 300 feet away on all sides as they ran along the thin rock bridge spanning the heart of the volcano. CORDELIA Ugh! NAR - KELDOR The alarm spell went off in her head as Isenatha's voice called out to her. ISENATHA Run my friends, they are coming! Go! I will meet you back at the keep! NAR - KELDOR Several Kobolds swooped in out of nowhere on the bridge. KOBOLD 1 Come with us! UNA Who are... KOBOLD 2 No time, look! CHALKOS (Roar) They are behind us! Run! NAR - KELDOR The bridge shook as the Copper dragon slammed one foot in front of the other on all fours. The giant form of the Red Dragon Fury burst onto the bridge before taking flight in the wide chamber to allow the smaller guards to pass beneath him. FURY Stop them, you fools! (roar) Chalkos! 58. CHALKOS Hold on, little one! NAR - KELDOR Sensing Fury draw breath into his mighty lungs, Chalkos threw one broad fanlike wing up as a shield over himself, Lorvana and effectively the rest of the group, who had now reached the far exit. FURY (Roar) NAR - KELDOR The blast of Fire slammed into his wing, driving him closer to the exit. They were only mere steps away but the guards of the Dark Army were closing in fast. LORVANA Look up there! NAR - KELDOR Looking up, he sees how fragile the rocks above are... and smiles. Keeping the wing up to the blast he dashed to the exit. CHALKOS Goodbye, Fury! (laughs then a quick heavy groan as if lifting something heavy.) NAR - KELDOR Chalkos suddenly angled his wing to reflect breath into the loose rocks above as he blew acid across the bridge. They dove into the exit as everything crashed down, sealing them in the hall. CORDELIA Nice work! CHALKOS Thank you! I like to think of... KOBOLD 1 Please come! Your friends await you ahead, there is no time! NAR - KELDOR They continued running down the hall for what seemed like several minutes before coming to a large cavern with hundreds of Kobolds milling about. 59. CORDELIA A village? UNA I... Never knew of this place. NAR - KELDOR They are approached by several of these rebel kobolds. But 2 more familiar faces step forward. BENEDICT Cordelia! CORDELIA Benedict! UNA Ah! Hello dark sister. (beat) And Sharptooth correct? SHARPTOOTH We are the shadowclaws. We wish to return Enruk to what it was before the dark army came. Before the arena and the greed we are slaves to. Come now, you must flee. NAR - KELDOR They slid a large rock, that blended with the cave entrance, behind them. Benedict noted they effectively were hiding from any pursuers that could come their way. Sharptooth took them to one of many exits on the opposite side of the cavern networked there. Each had rocks poised to keep this place a secret for however long was needed...or even forever, they imagined. SHARPTOOTH Here. This will take you through the mountains to the east. Into Chikara. Take them home from there. Please take these healing salves and food for the journey. And... NAR - KELDOR She looked at Dabria and smiled. SHARPTOOTH My friendship and prayers... forever. TRANSITION 60. NAR - KELDOR Deep under the arena lie the cells of both combatants and champions alike. The halls grew quiet now at the end of the day, and only the occasional footsteps of a guard were not heard in sparse but regular sequence. But amongst the rats there was another shadow lurking the halls, free outside the cages. Free... but now alone. ZORIN Well, here we are again Zorin... (sigh) Where are we going to go now?