Chapter 11: One for the Poets (Part 1 of 3) Transcript

OPENING

[Music: "Main Title" (triumphant orchestral music) starts.]

NARRATOR The Call of the Flame: An Audio Play. Chapter Eleven: One for the Poets. Part One of Three.

[Music: "Main Title" ends.]

SCENE ONE: LAST CHANCE

[SFX: Crickets singing, water splashing, wagon wheels rolling.]

[Music: "The Knights" (tense, then triumphant music) starts.]

NARRATOR (Voiceover) Through the rolling hills move the band of knights, their armour shining under the light of the moon. Still caged lies the girl, sleeping fitfully, in her hands the ashes of sanbaniel herb.

BRAND Halt.

[Music: "The Knights" ends.]

[SFX: Footfall on grass, knight chatter and shuffling around.]

VILLADIUS Bri!?

BRI (Sleepily) Villadius?

[SFX: Horse hooves approaching.]

BRAND Who approaches?

[SFX: Horses snorting and whinnying.]

VILLADIUS Lord Magnir Villadius, and this is Magnir Guarin.

GUARIN Arch-Magnir.

BRAND Fancy titles, too bad they're worthless now. King Masun has named Master Sorseer Ultovín as his Magical Advisor.

VILLADIUS Have you never heard the tales of Sorseers and their deeds? Why do you think he wants her? He wants her, the— (Hesitates) —The last Magnir, out of the way, so he can commit his evils undeterred.

BRAND He could want her head for all I care. If he gave the word, I'd be happy to bring it.

VILLADIUS She is under my protection.

BRAND (Laughs) Not anymore.

VILLADIUS Are you not knights of the Three Towers?

[SFX: Knight sipping ale, others laughing.]

VILLADIUS Protectors of the innocent and helpless? This girl is an innocent, she's under our care, and—

BRI OH, SHUT IT! Both of you.

VILLADIUS For the Gods you serve, for the Kingdom you protect, I beg of you to spare me a moment to speak with her.

BRAND Fine, but I get to listen.

VILLADIUS Fair enough.

[SFX: Footfall on grass, then footsteps.]

VILLADIUS Bri, I'm here to end this nonsense.

BRI Seems like you've just brought more of it.

VILLADIUS Bri, this is our last chance, not just for the Magnir, but for yourself. What you are, where you came from, none of that matters. Come with me, this is your last chance at having a purpose. We can form a resistance, and stand up to the Sorseers, the Dark Bride, and Ultovín. We have word is he's far to the north at Bolg's Crown. While he is away, let us build our strength.

BRI You should find him, maybe give peace another try.

BRAND Your time is up, Red Robe. Be on your way.

VILLADIUS (Sighs) Daresanse neva.

BRI I don't suppose you have a plan to get me out of here?

VILLADIUS I'm afraid we are outnumbered. I did not expect—

BRI Then why are we even talking?

[SFX: Footsteps on grass.]

GUARIN Any luck?

[SFX: Leather saddle creaking.]

VILLADIUS I'm starting to think Rhuadu has left me cursed.

[SFX: Horse hooves striding.]

GUARIN What now? Without Bri, how can we hope to breathe life into our cause?

VILLADIUS We ride for Bolg's Crown.

GUARIN To the Sorseers? To Ultovín?

VILLADIUS Perhaps we can…

GUARIN Do what?

VILLADIUS Meet Ultovín face to face, and then…we'll see what I am capable of doing for all Magnir.

[SFX: Horse hooves striding, horses snorting and neighing, wagon wheels turning.]

BRAND It seems your reliance on the strength of men is at its end, girl. You'll be going only where we say you'll go, tavern wench.

BRI Not just a tavern wench. Not just a Magnir. I'm the daughter of someone infamous.

BRAND Oh, right. The man that managed to rut this world properly into chaos, didn't he? Even where you Gaths triumph, you fall right back in the mud.

[SFX: Cage strike.]

BRI Oh! Oof—

BRAND Like always.

BRI How do we keep falling? Because we stand up, again and again. In spite of your sticks, your stones, your swords. I will get to my feet. And you will push because you're afraid of me. And who I am.

[Music: "Death by Dragon Fire" (hopeful music building to dark, triumphant chorus) starts.]

BRI Father's mistakes are not mine, but his strength, I claim.

BRAND Sit down. Or I will put you down.

BRI Don't you know?

[SFX: Distant rumble.]

BRI My father's name is resented, and feared, for a reason.

[SFX: Horse whinnies in fear.]

BRAND Woah, woah.

BRI After he killed the Chieftan of Gods, do you know what came down on all those Gathish villages?

[SFX: Horses continue whinnying in distress.]

ELLIS Sir Brand, do you hear—?

[SFX: Gigantic wings flapping in distance.]

CALAN We should go.

BRI Death by dragon fire.

BRAND No…

NURANG (Roars)

ELLIS A DRAGON!?

[SFX: Knights screaming.]

NURANG FLEE! FLEE, you shiny little RATS!

[Music: "Death by Dragon Fire" ends.]

CALAN Wait! I-I've read the stories! Don't run! Find COVER!

NURANG (Roars)

SOLDIER #1 RUN!

[SFX: Gigantic clawed feet swiping, bodies flying.]

BRAND Don't run you, cowards! Stand up and fight!

SOLDIER #2 WATCH THE TAIL!

[SFX: Tail whipping.]

BRAND Give me that lance! Take this! HAH!

[SFX: Lance whipping through air, stabbing impact.]

NURANG NYAAAH!

[SFX: Beat.]

BRAND Oh, no…

NURANG (Growls)

BRAND NOT AGAIN! AAAAAAAAAH!

[SFX: Dragon fire roars, body thudding wetly to ground.]

[SFX: Fire crackling, gigantic footsteps on grass.]

[Music: "Death by Dragon Fire" starts.]

BRI Right here!

NURANG You dared knock upon my door again in the spirit realm? Was this your idea of a TRAP!? Worm!?

[SFX: Beat.]

NURANG What…are you doing in a cage?

BRI You think I'm here by choice?

NURANG So…you really are hunted, like myself.

BRI As you see.

[Music: "Death by Dragon Fire" ends.]

NURANG (Sudden groan)

BRI It's lodged in your shoulder, you can't reach it. Not without hands.

[SFX: Iron cage squealing and tearing, thudding to ground.]

BRI Thanks.

[SFX: Footsteps on grass.]

BRI Now, hold still. (Grunts, straining)

NURANG (Growling, then a roar)

BRI It's out.

NURANG I have misjudged you, worm.

[SFX: Gigantic footsteps on grass.]

BRI Wait! I could use your help. Or at least…a ride?

[Music: "Death by Dragon Fire" starts.]

NURANG (Grumbles) It would be a great indignity…but never let it be said dragons are not without our own sense of honour.

BRI (Grunting with effort)

NURANG (Low growling)

NARRATOR (Voiceover) Hiding between tall blades of grass, high on a far-off hill, Calan bears witness to the remarkable sight of Bri the Barmaid and Nurang the Black, as the girl climbs up the dragon's wing and onto its back—

[SFX: Dragon wings flapping.]

BRI OOOH!

NARRATOR (Voiceover) —And together, they take flight into the moonlit sky.

[SFX: Wing flapping fades.]

[Music: "Death by Dragon Fire" ends.]

SCENE TWO: TOO LATE

[Music: "My Friends" (mysterious percussive and choral music) starts.]

[SFX: Water splashing, armoured footsteps marching, chains rattling.]

NARRATOR (Voiceover) Far to the West, a great distance on horse or by foot, lies a sacred and dark place, deep through the mountains before a great river, reaching far to the sea. Bolg’s Crown, named for the Father of Gods, the cruel giver of all life.

[SFX: Distant screaming and crying of prisoners.]

NARRATOR (Voiceover) A tremendous cavern lies within, an amphitheatre of water, like a mirror under the moon. Cages held aloft by webs of rope and chain hang above the lake on all sides.

[SFX: Metal clinking, footsteps on gravel.]

NARRATOR (Voiceover) The Master Sorseer stands on a high rock before the dark water.

ULTOVIN Keep them quiet.

[SFX: Prisoners clamouring, armoured footsteps grow closer.]

SOLDIER #1 Get back!

SOLDIER #2 All of you, shut up!

[SFX: Striking impact, muffled groan, prisoners gasp.]

SOLDIER #3 Keep your mouth shut, or I’ll gut you right here.

SOLDIER #1 In irons.

PRISONER #1 I was taken on my boat!

[SFX: Cages rattling and creaking, chains clinking, water rushing.]

SOLDIER #2 Back off!

SOLDIER #4 Silence! Or we may begin the bloodletting early.

SOLDIER #3 (Laughs)

PRISONER #2 Help us!

PRISONER #3 The pikes below us, they’ll run us through before we even touch the water!

PRISONER #4 What can we do?

PRISONER #3 (Weeping)

TARÚK Hold dear the memories of those you will be leaving behind.

[SFX: Footsteps on gravel.]

CAPTAIN What is it? What have you called me here for?

SOLDIER #1 This one, my Lord Captain. We caught him trying to enter the cavern.

VILLADIUS You must unhand me!

[SFX: Cloak swooshing.]

VILLADIUS I am the Lord Magnir of Wynhold.

GUARIN And I am the Arch-Magnir of Bellar.

CAPTAIN Lord Magnir Villadius? I’m sorry, but you’re not allowed. Master Sorseer Ultovín was very clear on that.

[SFX: More footsteps.]

VILLADIUS Do you know what is about to happen, Captain?

CAPTAIN Stand down!

VILLADIUS No! I will not!

[SFX: Swords drawing.]

SOLDIER #1 Hey!

CAPTAIN Seize them!

SOLDIER #2 Swords!

[SFX: Swords whooshing.]

GUARIN Stay back!

VILLADIUS Do you think any one of you can hold contest with me? I have been using a sword since your grandfathers—

[SFX: Sword rings.]

[Music: "My Friends" ends.]

GUARIN Put it down, Villadius.

VILLADIUS Guarin!

[SFX: Sword clatters to ground.]

VILLADIUS Why?

GUARIN I have thought long and hard, Villadius. It’s only a matter of time before the Sorseers take hold of Bellar. And after that, the Wynland kingdom will be surrounded on three fronts by the Sorseers. There was a time that I would die for the Chieftan. But…what if nothing awaits us anymore? What if the world promised to us by Rhuadu after we pass is nothing but darkness? Our time here may be all we have left.

[SFX: Footsteps on gravel.]

ULTOVIN Magnir. Opportunists to the end.

GUARIN Just tell me, Master Sorseer—when you take the continent and all of Aburen for your Dark Bride and the Deep God—will you not spare the Magnir order, all of our practices and peoples?

ULTOVIN No.

[SFX: Blade drawn, slicing flesh.]

GUARIN (Choking noise)

VILLADIUS NO! (Struggling)

[Music: "Bellar" (majestic, slightly foreboding music) starts.]

[SFX: Soldiers grunting, cloth rustling.]

VILLADIUS Gods damn you!

GUARIN (Choking noise)

[SFX: Body thudding to ground.]

GUARIN (Choking fades out)

ULTOVIN Congratulations, you are about to find out what awaits you in the next world.

VILLADIUS (Grunting, struggling)

[SFX: Cloak whooshing.]

ULTOVIN You and I both know that the Magnir would never spare, nor suffer a Sorseer to live while wounded. Now you will know how we return that sentiment when the sun sets on the Magnir and your empire. Once the moon is at its peak, blood will flow from this mountain to the sea and the Deep God will be the new God of Wynhold and all of Aburen.

[Music: "Bellar" ends.]

VILLADIUS The West will never accept barbarism as faith!

ULTOVIN How many thousands of times have we gone over this, friend? Why is it that killing thousands in war is more just than killing a few hundred at once?

[Music: "Villadius and Ultovín" (soft, tragic music) starts.]

ULTOVIN Will seeing the thousand bodies of your foes in a pit unsettle you to the violence of the Magnir peace keepers? We are both slaves, Villadius, to different Gods, to different fathers, but in the end, we give them the blood they want.

[SFX: Footsteps on gravel.]

CAPTAIN Master Sorseer, the cages are secured.

ULTOVIN The spikes?

CAPTAIN Erected beneath them.

ULTOVIN On my command, lower the cages over the spears. If the lake beneath the mountain isn’t red by dawn, the Pestilence will endure and kill everything it touches. Lock the Lord Magnir away.

CAPTAIN In one of the cages?

ULTOVIN No—to watch.

[SFX: Armor clinking.]

VILLADIUS Ultovín.

[SFX: Cloak whooshing.]

ULTOVIN Please, spare us both the indignity of begging.

[SFX: Cloth rustling.]

VILLADIUS I am sorry. For leaving you on the eve of battle. It would have been better to die by your side. Drowned, or burned alive, together.

ULTOVIN You left me alone! They banished me! The Sorseers, for conspiring with you, sympathising with the enemy. I risked the love of my family for yours! And instead of bringing our table together, I lost both!

VILLADIUS Please, forgive me—my ocean.

ULTOVIN It is too late to make amends for the past—my wildfire. 

VILLADIUS Ultovín…

ULTOVIN Gag him as well.

[SFX: Armour clinking, struggling, cloth rustling.]

VILLADIUS Ultovín! No! Don’t do this! Don’t do—! (Muffled)

[Music: "Villadius and Ultovín" ends.]

SCENE THREE: TO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD

[Music: "Workingar" (somber horns) starts.]

[SFX: Wind whistling.]

JENQUO What should we do now?

[SFX: Footsteps crunching in snow.]

MYRTLE What can we do now? The full moon is risen. By the time it sets, all prisoners of Ultovín will be dead. 

[Music: "Workingar" ends.]

JENQUO Someone has to know.

IRIKLAS We know. And that's all that we can hope for now. I'm sorry.

[SFX: Beat.]

JENQUO Is it just me, or is that bird over there really big?

[SFX: Distant wing flapping.]

IRIKLAS It's not a bird, silly, that's—oh, zia dier, it's a dragon!

JENQUO Ehh…is it?

IRIKLAS It's getting closer!

MYRTLE (Sighs) Calm down, it's not a dragon. I've seen one, and it's only—

NURANG (Distant roar)

MYRTLE OOOH—!

[SFX: Hurried footsteps struggling in snow.]

MYRTLE —OH, BUGGER, IT'S THAT DRAGON!

IRIKLAS RUN for it, Jenquo!

JENQUO ACHI-WO, I'M GOING!

MYRTLE Into the house! (Panting)

[SFX: Wooden door creaking open and shut, footsteps on wood.]

MYRTLE (Panting and whimpering)

JENQUO (Catching breath)

[SFX: Gigantic wing flapping grows closer.]

NURANG (Distant growling)

JENQUO Over here, out the window!

MYRTLE (Whispering) Shh, shh, keep it down!

NURANG (Muffled growling)

[SFX: Wooden floor creaking.]

IRIKLAS What are you two doing!?

MYRTLE It's landing…

[SFX: Muffled snow crunching under gigantic footsteps.]

NURANG (Muffled growling)

[SFX: Muffled shuffling in snow.]

[Music: "You Could’ve Been Happy" (plaintive, forlorn music) starts.]

IRIKLAS Oh, she's a big one, too. Very black.

JENQUO Like a night sky.

IRIKLAS Wait, what are you doing!? Jenquo, come here!

[SFX: Wooden door creaks open.]

JENQUO It's Bri!

MYRTLE (Splutters) Bri? Oh, my stars, it really is her.

NURANG (Muffled growling turns clear) Is this the one? The one where the three just ran and hid themselves?

BRI Aye. That's them. All of them.

MYRTLE (Distant panting)

BRI Let me just— (Grunts)

[SFX: Footfall in snow.]

MYRTLE Oh, careful! Oh, oh… (Muttering) Oh, she’s bigger than I remember…

NURANG (Low growl)

JENQUO Girl, are you all right!?

NURANG (Growling)

JENQUO Whooaa, easy now… 

BRI It's fine! I'm fine, they're fine, the dragon's fine.

MYRTLE (Spluttering) No one's ridden a dragon in centuries, even before Rhuadu fell. You never stop surprising me, Bri.

BRI I really don't mean to.

[Music: "You Could’ve Been Happy" ends.]

JENQUO Incredible! You tamed a dragon!

NURANG (Grumbles) I came of my own free will, Dwarf.

BRI Right, as atonement for chasing you and me.

IRIKLAS (Calling from distance) Is she all right!?

BRI I've been better!

MYRTLE Aw, well, if it—she—brought you to us, all is forgiven?

NURANG (Growling) Is this the one that raised the dead to attack me?

[SFX: Beat.]

MYRTLE …Oh. Um—eh—eh, no! You've got the wrong Halfin. (Nervous laugh, then dead serious whisper) Please don’t hurt me.

NURANG No, I don't. I smell you.

BRI Enough of that! Anything Myrtle did was to protect me. And we're all alive now, so it matters little.

NURANG …I'll be watching you, little mouse.

MYRTLE (Nervous laugh) Right…yep!

[Music: "Bri Runs" (soft, wistful music) starts.]

JENQUO Oh, Bri!

[SFX: Footsteps in snow, cloth rustling in embrace.]

BRI (Soft laugh)

JENQUO It's so good to have you back.

BRI I could say the same of you! What are you doing here with Myrtle?

[SFX: More footsteps in snow.]

JENQUO Truth be told, we were looking for you.

IRIKLAS (Rapidly) I know you ran off because you wanted to be alone and forge your own destiny and whatnot without being used as a pawn on the great cosmic game board, but…

JENQUO If we are to fight back against the darkness that's coming…well, we could really use a light. Yours.

BRI I'm sorry for leaving you behind. I didn't know then if I could trust anyone. But after you've followed me into a dragon's den, Myrtle—no offense—

NURANG (Indignant huff)

BRI And finding you here, Iriklas and Jenquo— (Laughing) —I'm assuming without pay?

JENQUO Some offense.

IRIKLAS Nah, it's a fair question, but no, we're here to do, uh—eh, what's it called? The right thing?

JENQUO If you could believe it. We've come a long way.

BRI I do want to forge my own path. But I tried doing it alone, and it didn't get me far. I only hope to prove worthy of the faith you've put in me…Where's Tarúk?

MYRTLE (Under her breath) Oh, yes, uh… (Normal volume) Bri…Tarúk is…

BRI No…!

MYRTLE Well, he's not dead…

IRIKLAS Mohrians—the Deep God's hunters—they took him.

MYRTLE Ultovín is going to use him and countless others.

BRI What?

[Music: "Bri Runs" ends.]

JENQUO In a ritual sacrifice. Tonight.

BRI But he's still alive!?

MYRTLE We don't even know where it's taking place.

BRI …Bolg's Crown.

MYRTLE Oh…that's even worse than not knowing.

IRIKLAS It's over a thousand miles away!

JENQUO We'd never get there in time, even on horses.

[Music: "Death by Dragon Fire" (hopeful music building to dark, triumphant chorus) starts.]

BRI …What about on wings?

NURANG (Long laughs) …No.

[SFX: Footsteps on snow.]

BRI Why not? Are you scared of the Sorseers?

NURANG They will have a God at their back.

BRI And so do we. Remember?

[SFX: Wing flex.]

NURANG (Growling) You are testing the limits to my gratitude, little worm. Do not pull on my scales.

[SFX: More footsteps.]

BRI We can’t leave Tarúk and the rest of the prisoners to die.

MYRTLE We’re with you!

JENQUO To the ends of the world.

IRIKLAS And back, hopefully back!

BRI (Soft laugh) Thank you, my friends. Come on, then!

[SFX: Footsteps in snow.]

JENQUO I'm about to be the second person in six hundred years to ride a dragon!

NURANG Don't get used to it.

JENQUO (Yelps)

IRIKLAS Don't mind me— (High-pitched) —Taking one gentle step—

NURANG Elvans. Think you know about immortality.

IRIKLAS Mmm, okay…?

MYRTLE Uh, could-could someone give me a hand?

BRI Climb on. Gently now.

[SFX: Scraping on scales.]

MYRTLE Right… (Panting with effort) Hoo! I-I've never done this before. In fact, I don't think any Halfin has done this before.

IRIKLAS Then I suppose this is one for your books.

JENQUO And one for the poets.

NURANG Hold on. If you should fall, I will not be able save you.

[SFX: Wings flapping.]

IRIKLAS Wait! Before we go, I think I need to take a-a—AAAAAAAH!

BRI (Screams trailing off)

MYRTLE (Screams trailing off)

JENQUO (Screams trailing off)

[Music: "Death by Dragon Fire" ends.]

CLOSING CREDITS

[Music: "Main Title" starts.]

[Music: "Main Title" ends.]

[Music: "End Credits" (rustic percussive music) starts.]

NARRATOR The Call of the Flame: An Audio Play. Starring Bonnie Bogovich, Stephen Cumberworth, Jacob Williamson, Corey Borchers, Hayden Ashley, Abigail Turner, Xathian, Gary Gibbs the Second, and Sarah Ruth Thomas as Nurang. For the full cast list, please visit thecalloftheflame.com. This podcast was written and produced by Kurt Cañez. With music by Adam Halpin, with additional tracks by Stephen Cumberworth, both can be found on Bandcamp. This chapter was co-written with Nadi Reed Perez. Sanavran speech by Megan Watson. Editing by Kurt Cañez and Sasha Blore. Read the podcast description and follow us on our pages of media. And don’t forget to take our brand-new listener survey for our podcast so that we can ensure the highest quality in our show and Patreon content. Join our Discord at the link in the podcast description. Meet the cast and crew and other followers of our play. Send a bird bearing the hashtag COTF Podcast and follow us on Twitter @calloftheflame. Leave us a review on iTunes. Although the greatest way to support the show is to become a patron of ours on our Patreon page so that we may maintain our production. Five dollar and above listeners get exclusive content such as music tracks by Adam Halpin and extended episodes. Special thank you to our patrons: Zane Simon, Vincent King, Stacy Holbrook, Ryan Cushman, Joshua DiMaggio, John the Smith, Jon Winstead, Jolly, Cassie M, Ben Blair, and Andrew Vandereigh. To ask us about sponsorship, send an electronic letter to thecalloftheflamepodcast@gmail.com. This has been a Magnir Production. I am your narrator, George Hoctor. We thank you all for listening.

KURT Hey everybody, it’s Kurt, writer and creator of The Call of The Flame. This one took a little while. I swear, every time I think I’m 99% done with an episode, it’s more like eighty percent, then there’s another 2-3 days of work to do. I wanna say thank you to everybody for your patience with us and the series from the bottom of my heart. From the Hear Now festival, to working with clients for the first time after they discovered us, we’d love to hear from you on our Twitter and our Discord, which you can join in the description. And for those of you who like surveys, we’ve attached one to the description of this episode, too. We wanna make sure we’re making the best show possible, it takes about 2 minutes to fill out. Let us know what you think of everything from the writing to Hoctor’s voice. I mean, it’s great, I don’t know what else you can say. Also, shortly after this episode is posted, we’ll be posting a preview on this feed for our first Patreon exclusive episode. It’s not a bonus episode so much as it is a spin off, some more lore from the world of Aburen, and if everyone wants to see more of that kind of thing, I’ll be more than happy to write it. That’s it for this soap box, enjoy Part One of our Book One finale. Take it away, Hoctor.