-=Another Achaean Play=-

Prologue

(Marik gathers lumber at dawn. The woods are dark. Little light can be
seen.
Marik is wearing rags.)

Marik: How dull is sun while honour
Fills my master's barded face
While he recalls the days of past
And glories of the men as
In the galls of Logos people
Went and when a single death
Meant more than words could tell.

Before the world has split
And demons came abroad,
The life has different been
For men, for plants and surely for the gods
I wish my eyes could fill with tears
Of time when Maya laid Nicator's staff
Upon the champions arms
And when Vertani came across the planes
With their cubes of dread
But even then, the life went on
And laughter echoed through cerulean skies
While joy has filled their faces
In a world of beauty

(Picks up another dead piece of wood.)

There times have passed forever
No deity is strong enough to bring them back
And as I speak the last of Paladins
Is leaving there day of eternal pain
To cross the river of the dead and
Meet his long dead friends,

Today, he promised, to tell the
Final story of his life
Before the days of Cursed Spawn
Before the death of love.

(Puts away the axe, enter a small wooden cottage.)

Act I

Scene 1

(Knight in full plate enters the stage, followed by an archer in
serpentine
scales. The area resembles a wood with a little wooden cottage in the
middle. A
campfire is burning outside.)

Hondoras: And thou arest indeed sure that
This is where your friends seeks refuge.
To meh it looks more like a robbers
Den than house of noble warrior.

Poliniz: I am most certain, Paladin.
And though this is no larger than a Merchant's shop, I have no
Slightest doubt that here we'll
Find great Amis of Hashan.

Hondoras: Now tell meh, serpent, who is this
We're seeking. He'd better beth
A man of trust if we are to take
Him on our journey.
Those manticores are the most
Horrifying beasts I hope I'd ever
Have to lay my eyes upon
And if one of thou chooses then
To fly, I'd rather go in by myself

Than fall with naked back.

Poliniz: Thou have my word, the man
Of whom we're speaking has
Lions living in his spirit.
He bled as many times for my discretion
Life as bow of mine has fired.

Hondoras: A son of Rahamala he must beth
Indeed, if thou are telling truth.
And even though a serpent, I will
Take thou's word, young soldier of
The dreadful lands of north.

(Amis enters from behind holding lumber under his left arm and a dead
wolf on
his right shoulder.)

Amis: The man your speaking to has earned
My trust and means more to me
Than world save wife and daughter.

(They turn around.)

But, hail! Who are ye, if you
Don't mind saying.

Hondoras: My name is Hondoras. I am a former
Paladin Shallam's, descendent of
Great Manu and a son of light.
I cometh to though because of a
Grand concern that your friends hath
Laid upon my shoulders.

A child is very ill, the plague has
Filled her mind. She is more of a
Demon than a girl. Her eyes have
Turned to satin while her nails are
Smoking with infernal flame.

Kortoxian had a look at her and said
There could be only little hope to
Bring her mind to saneneth once again
He asked for gold and boiling blood of
Manticores grand leader in change for
Syrup that can cleanse her body
And her mind.

Amis: T'is is a tragedy indeed, in which
We are but puppets. But son of
Light, excuse my recklessness,
I cannot come with you, I have a
Business of my own. The tailor
Will be here in day or two and
If I don't have enough furs,
My family will starve.

Poliniz: O Amis. The girl we speak of you
Do know so well.

Amis: T'is so? Who be this wicked
Child you speak of?

Hondoras: It'd be a virgin of Hashan,
Named after once great mage
Whose death hath shaken pillars of
Our hopes and almost crushed the
Ever living doom upon us

Poliniz: (interrupting) Name is Gora.

(Amis lets the wolf and the lumber fall as he descends on the earth.)

Amis: (whispering) My only child

Hondoras: We must depart at once if we're to
Reach the caves at time. The
Horses will be ready as we
Shallth cross Delosian Bridge by morrow.
From there it is but chance
That hold your daughters threat
Of life uncut, but by divines,
O Lady Miramar, I shall not
Let the rings of scissors touch.
It is my duty and my omen,
To help the weak and the exhausted
And even though the blood of honours
Flows within thou veins
And even though thou muscles couldth
Break the mithril alloys of my blade
You are both, feeble and fatigued,
And thus, by Lady, I shall follow thou.

Amis: I don't know if I can. Perhaps those are
The cogs of time or wages of fate,
But I don't know.
Oh Lady Maya, why my daughter?
Why does this plague befalls
Our lands and takes away our children?
Not even Sartan can be evil so to take
Away our rays of light!

(Poliniz kicks him between the ribs.)

Poliniz: Alas, great warrior is weeping like a
Child. Who are you, monk or mouse?
The Paladin is right! The time is short.

Amis: O sands of time are forming dunes
Of destiny

Poliniz: Be still, you wimp. The child's in
Danger. This is no time and if
You have a chance to save her,
Take it!

Amis: The sun goes down and so are
Forces of my wife. Nilia, sweet
Nilia. If we shall fail not even
Her great dwarven heart will take it.
I cannot lose them both.
The dusk of our era is reaching it's
Most nocturne state. I sense that
This plague is but a beginning of
Some much greater burden on our
Lives. But on my friends, no monk,
No snake around shall see it.

(Stands up)

Alas! The day is reaching it's own fate,
And night will soon take over.
Let us be swift before the thieves
And wolves will open hunt for us
While we shall head to Delos!

Poliniz: It's time!

Hondoras: We shall move on!
(Everybody leaves but Amis. He picks up a little stone and puts it in
his
pocket.)

Amis: (quietly) to our final destination.

Scene 2

(Hashan. Room of War. Regent's standing at window. Drazik's sitting at
the
table in the middle.)

Katia: I would presume the raid is
Over.

Drazik: I'd say it is indeed.

Katia: It is but luck that kept us going
Through this fight. Outnumbered
We were and are yet indeed. T'is
Long since I have seen a massacre
Like this.

Drazik: Aha! Those bloody raiders cost us
Crates of gold. The Crown of Ithmia,
Hah! If this continues we will have
To sell the walls and make a living of them
For us, the great leaders.

Katia: Do not be foolish. My minions
Can go on. The enemy's no match
To us! It's but for other houses,
Whose heads can't give orders
To their troops.

They should just thank me and the
Gods, for my engagement as a regent
And your most honoured work.

Drazik: Your speaking truth! They're nothing
But the scum of streets with
Those minuscule ideas in their minds.
Removing their corpses causes much
More trouble, than their skill of fight.

Democracy! What good is it to Me, who
Reached the top already. They need
Commands and iron fists to clean their
Minds from thoughts of liberty. It's
But for Us, superior beings, who
Shall rule over this havoc.

Katia: How right you are once more, the
Ruler of Hashan till end of time.

(a young soldier storms into the room)

Katia: How dare you break our strategic
Meeting.

Soldier: Most Noble Lord, most trusted regent.
Forgive me for my rudeness, the second
Wave is coming. Swishowski's forces
Have already taken gold of gates.

Katia: As you have just perceived, Milord.
Here is the second wave you were
Expecting.

Soldier: You are a master tactician, Sire. It
Is an honour to serve you. Only a fool like I
Could have thought that the siege
Was over!

(bows and leaves the stage)

Drazik: Ary! Time to kill those swines and
Remind me about this little man once later.

(exeunt)

Act II

Scene 1

(Amis leads the troop through a paths in Ithmia. Poliniz and Hondoras
follow
him behind.)

Hondoras: Thou friend sure knowth the woods,
As for a citizen of Crown.
If Amis doeth not slow his pace
We'll soon be lying, choking, on
The leaves of bloodroot.

Polyniz: Aye, t'is been a long since I've
Seen him cleansing through the forests.
It is but for life of Nilia and Gora.
But tell me, paladin,
You have a wife?

Hondoras: No, no, dear Sir. Like many men
I lead a life of quite desperation.
My armor shines like sun and
Many have I slain,
But when it comes to woman's heart,
I'm nothing but a mouse.
Though might not note it now, but
It's a spleen I feel, like arrows
Cutting through my veins, on every
Darkened morrow rise, when
Loneliness comes hither.

I searched for love, but found just disappointment
In giving soul and heart to the most fairsome
Lady, which was already taken.

Polyniz: Well tell me of her, knight.

Hondoras: She was the fairest tale my eyes have
Ever read with voice that has diminished
Singing of the birds and laughter of
The woods. Her gentle skin was softer
Than the silks of our Jewel, while
Her breath perfumed the deadly
Fumes of roaming death around me.
And as she rode her pearl white steed,
A daughter of the banker, yes she was
Indeed, her dark-blond ringful hair
Has slashed through elemental air.
Not being larger than a common dwarf
Her absence and rejection of my love,
Still leaves my heart in scars of agony.

Polyniz: Ah, knights. You are all like a band
Of brothers, you know one, you'll
Recognize the other.

Though noble and well trained, you are
Still very young. As time goes on, you'll
To cope with minor matters, like a
Silly woman's heart, who knows no
More than showing off with men of
Her's among her bloody friends.

Hondoras: Thou speakth a lie! My lady is much
More than skin and flesh, she's but an
Angel landing on this sinful worlds
To sing her godly song.

Polyniz: Nonsense! You'll learn to lead your
Melancholic fits into the dungeons of
Inferno. This is a dialog of brain and
Heart that we are leading.

Take my advice, young knight, your
Only digging your own trap by giving
In to woman's smile, her shine of
Eyes or other of her filthy tricks. They
Are but hawks who seek the prey for
Their daily comforts and after that
They leave you to the scavenger named
Feelings. If you are to be victorious
In battles of this type go take the
Scabbard while it is still fresh and after
Time, as fun will turn to trouble, find
Another one to once again serve as a
Sheath to your great sword!

Hondoras: I might be young, well possibly naive
And though areth right, I'm led by soul
Rather then mind, but if your words are
True, how come that we are running.

Amis: (screaming) The town of Delos is
In sight!

(exeunt)

Scene 2

(Vertani fortress. Throne room. The Lord holds council. Lord, four sages
and
messenger are on stage.)

Sage1: Our encampment's growing steadily.

Sage2: The balance on resources still remains
In plus.

Sage3: No raids this week.

Sage4: We have the cure for the us
Threatening plague.

(Lord nods)

Lord: How are our relations to the outside
World?

Sage2: All cities now went neutral. Shallam is
Still supporting us where can, Ashtan
Is still biting its lips and Mhaldor
Has not yet figured out what happened.

Lord: Tell me, who is the strongest state,
Who has the largest army and where
Could we seek allies if one shall
Breach our walls?

Sage3: That we are not sure of.

(Lord nods)

Lord: Than call me 7 of your most trusted
Men.

Sage1: Milord.

(Sage1 goes to the messenger and whispers something, the messenger runs
out of
the room)

Sage4: Why seven, Lord. Please tell us of
Your thought.

Lord: Can you not think, Demetricus?

Sage4: Well, I might have some ideas on
It.

Sage1: We'll send in spies dressed as our priests.

Sage2: Who'll act as if they want to spread
Our culture and beliefs.

Sage3: But will keep their eyes wide open.

Sage4: 6 for each city of these lands.

Lord: And one for Delos.

(Messenger enters with 7 Vertani with staves.)

Lord: In the name of the Vertani Empire, I
Suspend a task on your behalf.
Consider it being an honour, that you
Are permitted to work on this most
Important task. Shall you fail, I
Shall personally burn down your homes and
See your families flee into the woods.
Demetricus will give you the objectives.

Spies: Yes, Milord.

(start leaving)

Lord: (speaking to Vertani in red)
For you Accoris, I have a special task.

(He claps his hands. Everyone but Accoris leaves)

Accoris: (kneeling) My liege?

Lord: I knew your brother before I
Could count till ten. He was
A true imperial Mage and a
Man, who earned more trust
Of mine than I can think of.

Accoris: He fought like a wolf, my liege.

Lord: Indeed, but now he is gone and
There is nothing that could ever
Return him to us.

Accoris: I'm not sure that I understand, my liege?

Lord: I need somebody else to be my
Guard. I could announce a turnier
And appoint the champion as my
New right hand, but I shall not do
So. You and your brother have the
Same blood flowing through your veins,
And, indeed, he talked of you with
Pride.

Accoris: It's an honour to serve you, my liege.

Lord: Now, now. Do not be too hasty.
I cannot appoint someone by a
Simple clap of hands for such an important
Position and thus I will bestow a quest
On you.

It will not be an easy task, but I
Believe in you. It's a mission with
No return for the next few decades
And I'm afraid, I cannot permit
You meeting your family before
The objective is accomplished. Would
You accept those conditions, son?

Accoris: I am ready to die for the glory of
The Empire and the prosperity of our
Citadel.

Lord: Very well, but I need you alive,
Understood?

Accoris: Yes, my liege!

Lord: Very well. (sigh)
I'm sending you on a journey, Accoris,
A long, long journey.

Your destination is Hashan, where you
Will do everything possible to earn
The thrust of the citizens and gain
Access to the council. You shall
Join the city's guard and help
The common folk. You are more than
Trained for it.
Do you know anything about Hashan?

Accoris: It's one of the grand cities on this
Continent. Located in north eastern
Reaches of Ithmian forest. Named
The "The Crown of Ithmia" after it's location.

Lord: Indeed. (nods)

However, much more important is it's
Current conflict with Ashtan. Hashan
Is on a bring of war. The current
Seneschal, Drazik, might well let
It come to the worst. The streets are
Already covered with bodies of both
Sides. This is just what we want.
If our troops shall ever reenter this
Plane, Hashan would be a great ally.
Not even it's neutrality will keep
It from falling under our control,
If and only if, we will have our
Man in their government. And this
Is precisely your mission.

It shall not be simple, but the
Empire believes in you.

(He stops for a second and gives a parchment to Accoris.)

Give this to the quartermaster and he'll provide
You will all the necessary equipment
For your journey. Now let me be
By myself. Be ready to part by the
Morrow. It will be the last occasion
For questions to be asked.

Accoris: My lord. (stands up)
It's an honour.

(exeunt)

Scene 3

(Marik gathers the lumber)

Marik: Six years have past since my master's
Parture into halls of dead. His tomb
Has grown with moss and soon will sink
Into the darkness of the waste that
Falls on our lands by bits with everyday.

Like fleas it hides behind our eyes
But day by day, it grows and drinks
More and more of our juices.

Alas, good master! Your death has comn
On time, for even halls dead are
Like a paradise in our lives, but I
Have sworn to fight when my time
Comes and yet I am a living dead already.

The Spawn is growing larger and these
Little people can be nothing but his slaves,
But yet I sworn to my freedom
And to tell the story of your life.

(stands up)

And time shall come when I'll fulfill
My duty to the dead.

Act III

Scene 1

(Mountain range. Top.
Hondoras and Poliniz standing next to a wooden pedestal. On it lies
Amis, eyes
closed, holding a red ribbon belt in his hands, wrists resting on his
chest.
Hondoras stands with a burning torch in his left hand.)

Poliniz: Complete the ritual, paladin.

(Hondoras solemnly makes a slow nod closing his eyes in the process.)

Hondoras: As the flames of our mutually bound bodies
Extinguishes, the everlasting ethereal fire
Of our souls engrowth. Thou hath offered
Your life for the life of your child, by
Taking, our path of doom, but though hath
Not yet lost the infinite existence. The trinity
Is no more and our fellowship ends here,
Grand Amis.

Thou shall knowst that your offer will
Not go unnoticed. Your daughter will
Be saved, dear friend, whatever the cost
We'll have to carry.

(lays 1st coin in Amis' left hand)

In Lady Miramar's name, I beg the ferryman
Of fate to carry you across.

(lays 2nd coin in Amis' right hand)

In Lady Miramar's name, I forgive you all the
Evils you've done, though of doing or passed your
Ears over without kneeling to the Garden.

(takes a thin stick and breaks it into two placing the first half below
Amis'es
hands, the second breaking again into two, gives one to Poliniz and
placing the
second in his vest.)

Poliniz: (placing a red plate next to Amis' feet)
The manticore that took your life is now
No more and Lady Kresis takes away your
Duty of retaliation. The retribution has
Been done for you. Now the devil that
Has pierced your leathers is at you feet.
Do not be tense, we will continue fighting.

I shall part to Hashan at once.

(takes the torch from Hondoras, lays beneath the woods. Flames cover the
pedestal.)

Farewell, brethren.

(leaps onto his steed and gallops away at full speed.)

Hondoras: (looking at the cloud of dust and slowly disappearing figure
of
Poliniz)
Take care, brother

(Hondoras looks around and breathes in the fresh mountain air. A touch
of
coolness tickles his hair as he stares into the far.
He focuses his eyes on Amis, draws his sword and kneels to him, while
laying
all his weight over the sword before him)

In the name of Lady Miramar and by the
Powers given to me through the Holly Church,
The Order of the most honourful Paladins and
The Pearl City of Shallam, I perform this
Last ritual to your name and dispatch thou
Body from your soul, sending it to it's
Final destination and the eternal salvation.

By the devotion of my brothers and
Sisters of the Holly Order, I remove the
Final entanglements of your deeds
Thou shall not part forgotten,
By the will of Lady and her servants, I shall
Perform this chorale

(quietly sings his prayers.)

Scene 2

(Dark stage, Deep male voice with soft accent.)

Male Voice: And the dragoon knight rode on as cold
Winds of Chronos whistles pass his ear.
He shivered, but the first time in
His life an inner warmth of his heart kept
The spirits high.

(A cough of a little boy or girl can be heard. Feeble voice of a little
girl
rings through the air)

Feeble Voice: But wasn't he afraid to ride through Ithmia
Alone in night. Mummy says, that there are many
Evil monsters in Ithmia.

Male Voice: Of course he was, but he had a mission and
The life of the princess was only in his hands.
With a promise on his shoulder he had the
Strength and the courage of twenty trolls.

Feeble Voice: But but even trolls are afraid of dark.

Male Voice: And so are you little princess? I'll give you
This gem. It's a present from my elder brother.
I want you to have it. Take it in your
Hands and say "Al'lices".

Feeble Voice: (cough) Al'lices!

(Dim blue light overfloods the room. A simple bed stands in the far
corner.
Little girl lies there. Next to her sits Accoris.)

Male Voice: You see now. There's no need to be afraid, my
Little Gora.

Gora: It's so beautiful

(Gora pulls the little gem closer to her chest and turns to the wall,
cuddling
below the blankets.)

Accoris: (smiling)
I will return by noon, sleep for now and you
Will feel better before the cocks will sing their
Songs.

Gora: But you didn't finish the story yet, Master Accoris.

Accoris: All to it's time,
All to it's time, Gora

Gora: Good night
(yawns and falls asleep)

Accoris: Night, little princess, your story is far from
Over

(covers her with another blanket. Exeunt)

Scene 3

(Encampment. Mercenaries pass by the scene. Orders can be heard in the
far. The
Tower of Elements of Hashan can be seen on the horizon. In the middle, a
table
covered with maps. Two men, Swishowski and Polyniz stand pointing at
different
locations. Swishowski's wearing a mage robe with reinforced protection
vest.
Elemental staff gently lies on the tree.)

Swishowski: Right, let me get this straight, you are
Asking me to give you a cover while you deliver
The vial to Kartoxian and therefore risk the
Lives of my men without even being aware of
His presence in Hashan. You cannot be serious?!

Poliniz: Absurd, isn't it? But I've sword to a dieing
Friend.

Swishowski: Who appeared to be a Hashani monk.

(sighs)

Look, Poliniz, I know how much your promise means
To you, but remain sane, we cannot do it.

Hashani troops are reforming, the mages have set
A cataclysm in the area, the monks have sunk
Into their concentration and the serpents are
Just waiting for us to reappear, lurking in their
Shadows.

If we strike now, we will never get the
Chance to leave again. Apart from that we are
Waiting for the reinforcements to arrive.

Poliniz: Surely you could give me some sort of aide?

Swishowski: Indeed, I can give you a good advice, Poliniz.

Come back to the real world! The only thing which
Awaits you in Hashan is your own doom. You
Are an enemy t them, just like everyone else in this
Camp and I are your allies. If you even
Try to put your feet unto their grounds well,
You know what will happen.

Just think about it. You are risking your life
For a Hashani, whom you don't even know, who
Might already be dead and who might give
You to the guards as soon as you appear. You
Are committing a suicide without knowing it.

Want another advice? Join my forces and you
Will get everything your heart desires Gold,
Fame, women! It can all be yours.
Just think about it for a minute You are
A good warrior, Poliniz, I'd be very grateful
To lead you into the next assault.

(little pause)

Poliniz: I have sworn and

Swishowski: Right, I see, you want it to go the hard way,
Let me propose a little deal to you.

Poliniz: I'm all yours.

Swishowski: There is a secret entrance to Hashani sewers.
I know it from the times when I used to bash
There with a fellow Sorcerer. If you join my
Army after completing your task, I will give you
The directions.

Poliniz: If there's no other way, then tell me where this entrance
Is.

Swishowski: Good You there! Come here! (Man enters)

Man: General?

Swishowski: Get me a carrier pigeon, I need to contact someone.

Man: Yes, General!

(exeunt)

Act IV

Scene 1

(Katia waiting amongst the blue fogs of the Erreptor Street, Hashan.
Soldier
nears her.)

Soldier: Lady Katia! (bow/kneel)

Katia: Bad news again?

Soldier: Not in the least, Lady!

Katia: How so? Has Swishowski put his hands to rest or
Has Drazik been accepted by Hashan at last? What
News have you brought to me, dear.

Soldier: We have captured one of the enemies.

Katia: Execute him immediately.

Soldier: But, Lady, it's

Katia: How dare you speak against me? You doubt my
Orders? Who are you, minion, to go against a
Member of the council and the leader of Serpentlords?!

Soldier: Milady

Katia: Your doing it again, are you not, dear? Do you need some
Serous punishments and discipline? How dare you
Insult me, my house and everything I stand for?

Soldier: It's Poliniz, Lady

Katia: Poliniz the who?

Soldier: Poliniz of Shadowsnakes, we caught him in the old
Quarters

Katia: Why didn't you tell me this earlier? Are you
Completely stupid or do you just like playing
A food? Where are you from, dear?

Soldier: Delos, Lady.

Katia: I knew it. Surely a son of some jester and
A stable girl, correct?

Soldier: (smirks) I'm a Serentesh's grandson

Katia: A bloody idiot! That what you are and now
Bring me this scumbag!

Soldier: Yes, Lady!

(walks away)

Katia: Poliniz, Poliniz, Poliniz

(claps her hands together)

Who could be more appropriate to the situation we are
In, but Poliniz (grins)
Poliniz, most welcome to Hashan, you'll like it here,
Before we chop of head of yours and place it on the
Crossroads of the grand

Poliniz, the last witness of the unwitnessable. It is
Upon time to seal this knowledge in his grave,
For I shall not retreat and give away the power
Granted to Me by My words.

When shall I, if not now pour poisons in the food
Of my beloved Poliniz

The secrets will become a never retold legend and
My will shall flourish.

(The soldier enters with Poliniz in cuffs)

Soldier: To your order, Lady Katia, the prisoner is under
Your custody.

Katia: I know

Soldier: Permission to leave, Lady.

Katia: Denied, you will stay here for a while longer.

Soldier: Yes, Milady!

Katia: Hush!
well, well what can you say in your defense,
Poliniz

Poliniz: I think you've put on some weight, honey.

Katia: Speak what you wish. Noone will hear your wretched
Tongue ever again, my dear.

Poliniz: That's fine by me, just make it quick. It's been
Seven years since we last met , and I still tend to
Get those headaches from your voice, however, it's good
That you kept your good, old bad habits of calling
Everybody "dear".

Katia: Be still and tell me when and where you've
Entered Hashan!

Poliniz: Hard to complete them both at the same time, but if you
Ask me in this manner, I bribed one of your sleeping guards
And walked down the Road to Eternity at dawn.

Katia: Then you went to the old city, killed the Vertani
Missionary, got caught by my best men

Poliniz: And quickly robbed each treasure vault of Sapience

Katia: And while attending to my office, you have slain
Another Hashani citizen and a member of the guard
(grins)
Guards!
(Soldier comes closer)

Soldier: Yes, Lady.

Poliniz: (Jumping and tripping over the cuffs)Nooo!
Run you idiot!

Katia: (ticking with her tongue)
Ta-ta, too late you imbecile! (comes close to the guard)

Soldier: Milady?

(Katia jumps up in the air and with a sleek move slits the throat of the
guard.)

Milady why? (drops on the floor dead)

Katia: And got caught by me, Poliniz
Stand up, you twit, the gallows will not wait
Till dusk

(exeunt)

Scene 2

(Deep woods of Ithmia. Troop of armed men. Swishowski stands leaning on
his
staff)

Swishowski: (singing a child's song)
Ding, dong, cut the snake's head
Ding, dong, with a dagger cut it off
Ding, dong, cut the snake's head
Ding, dong, but the fangs are not yet dead

Ding, dong, follow the path of light
Ding, dong, fight for freedom not delight
Ding, dong, follow the path of light
Ding, dong, and in the end you'll win

Ding, dong

(Mercenary approaches)

Mercenary: Chief!

Swishowski: Ding, dong, and we ride on

Mercenary: Chief!

Swishowski: I'm not deaf, you nitwit. What is it?

Mercenary: There some strange man in dark robes
Waiting for you.

Swishowski: Strange? In what way?

Mercenary: Well Uh tall, bigga than me!

Swishowski: A troll?

Mercenary: Dunno, but speaks funny!

Swishowski: Disarm him and bring him here.

Mercenary: Not armed, chief!

Swishowski: At night? In Ithmia? Strange indeed
Bring him here!

Mercenary: Yes, chief!

(Mercenary leaves)

Swishowski: Arox! To me!

(A small goblin comes up to him, wielding a dark shortbow)

Swishowski: I want your archer team to wait in these bushes. At
My mark, I want you to fire your best score at this
Sartan-junior

Arox: Aye, cheef.

Swishowski: Just wait for the mark this time, ok?

Arox: I told you it wasn't me the last time, cheef. The
Arrow just appeared from nowhere!

Swishowski: And killed my cat

Arox: Tough luck, cheef! Must be a sign!

Swishowski: They're coming. Get in those bushed, before the
Sign will twist a giraffe out of you.

(goblin hides)

Greetings stranger (mercenary enters with a cloaked man)
And welcome to my camp! Take a seat!
(the cloaked figure nods and sits down)
Who are you?

Figure: No time for courtesy, General. My name is of no
Importance. My race is a reason alone to be haunted

Swishowski: T'is so?

Figure: Yessir.

Swishowski: Well, you are safe here, however I do no speak
With people who are afraid of their own faces.

Figure: Very well then.
(remove hood)
Accoris of Vertani, at your service.

Swishowski: (jumping up) A Vertani!

Accoris: No time for this, General. I'm but a messenger
And a runaway from your enemy.

Swishowski: Well?

Accoris: Here is a letter. I was told to give it to you
Incase something happens.

Swishowski: Something happened?

Accoris: Read for yourself, General, I'm to head for home now.
Be well.

Swishowski: (nods while staring at letter)
Lead him out and do not chase him
Lower your bow, Arox.

Mercenary: To be done, chief!

Swishowski: Now, now (removes the seal)
To General Swishowski,
Confidential

(opens the letter, starts reading)

Hail comrade,

I'm writing this letter to you from the home
Of a most noble lady, Nilia, the widow of
My friend Amis. The security got tight
Here and I do not believe that I can ever
Make it out alive. Maybe you were right,
Mate. Most probably, I'm being executed
As you read this letter, but it doesn't matter
Anymore. The Vertani told me who and what I
Am. Nothing matters now

I'm asking you for one last favour before my existence
Will be nothing but another page of the book of
Dead. Neither, Ashtan nor any other state, has
A slightest idea of what grows beneath us. Not
Even the Gods can predict the future now. If you
Do not complete my task, there will be no tomorrow
For the next generations.

Seek out the Paladin Hondoras and give him the ring
From your left pocket
(Swishowski stops reading)
Ring?
(He grabs for his pocket and removes a ring with a missing gem.)
What a crazy thing.
(continues reading)
This ring was given to me by my father and he got
It from his father, who received it from Nicator himself.
Until yesterday, it was nothing but a piece of jewellery
To me, however now I understand and so will you as
Time passes. Give it to Hondoras and tell him that
The ring is his, but not for him. He should keep it,
But he shouldn't take it with him. Do not tell him
Anything else, not even "Hail". How you do it
Is your problem, General, but it needs to be done, no
Matter what it costs.

With these final lines, I announce that my ink is almost out,
Just as are my forces,

I bid you fare well and safe travels.

Truly yours,
Poliniz d'Ashtan

(Swishowski puts down the paper, ponders for a minute and calls to arms)

(exeunt)

Epilogue

(Gate of Shallam. The walls have taunted black. The sky is crimson red
and a
dark cloud hovers above the city of light. Malik stands in the middle of
the
stage with his sword unshed. He is wearing Hondoras' platemail. Next to
him a
young lady, semi-tanned in white dress.)

And thus Poliniz laid his life to permit our future
The time he gave us is now over and we have, but
One last chance. By my masters blade I swear to
Fight until the last drop of what once was called
Blood and to besiege the inhumane creation of the human
Envy.

(Exclaims to spectators. Light wind blowing from the left. The girl
turns away
from the stage and looks in the far.)

The time has comn!
Today, we, the people of Achaea, shall pay our final
Toll for the mistakes of our ancestors.
Today we shall once again return the balance to
Divines and make the evil perish.
Today is the last day of our slavery and the last
Day of the dead.

The time has comn for life to flourish,
For love to be reborn and for justice's return.
Though weary and entangled, our Lady Miramar,
Will smile upon our last crusade and Lord Prospero
Will recount his wealth before our Lord Neraeos
Will once again sail on his ship. We cannot loose a
Thing, but our half-dead bodies!

But today, be thou an orc, a man or dwarf,
The blood'll be blood, the life'll be life,
For we'll recall our mutual right to fight.

(The girl nears Marik and places her hand over his)

The virgin of Hashan and bearer of the gem
Of truth,
Please lead us on.

(He kneels to Gora placing his forehead next to her hand)
(whispering) Lead us on, sweet Gora

Gora: (takes a small gem from a coral necklace)

Al'lices and Sapience unites

(Bright light pierces through the skies striking the ground and forming
an aura
around the stage)

(Curtains close)

By Caecilius Azon


Penned by my hand on the 5th of Daedalan, in the year 409 AF.