Chapter 6: City of Lies (Part 1 of 2) Transcript
OPENING
[Music: "Main Title" (triumphant orchestral music) starts.]
NARRATOR The Call of the Flame: An Audio Play. Chapter Six: City of Lies. Part One of Two.
[Music: "Main Title" ends.]
SCENE ONE: CART CHASE
[SFX: Farm animals grunting, liquid splashing, crowd chatter.]
[SFX: Muffled sounds of punching, glass breaking, and furniture moving around.]
GAMBLER #1 (Muffled) Thief!
JENQUO (Muffled) Out the door!
[SFX: Wood splintering, bodies thudding to ground.]
JENQUO (Groaning)
IRIKLAS Jenquo, I say it's time to cut our losses!
[Music: "Cart Chase" (playful percussive battle music) starts.]
JENQUO Agreed! Run!
[SFX: Footsteps running on dirt, angry mob voices following.]
GAMBLER #2 Get back here, you cheaters!
GAMBLER #3 Get them!
MYRTLE Good heavens! What did they do!?
[SFX: Horses whinnying and snorting.]
TARÚK What they always do. This is on their heads. We are close to the city if you want to leave them—
BRI Myrtle, can you calm down these horses?
MYRTLE Yes, I have an incantation! I just need oats! (Mumbling, barely audible) In fact…actually, I don't need the incantation.
TARÚK (Growls) For this, I left the Gathish wood.
[SFX: Running footsteps on dirt.]
JENQUO (Panting)
IRIKLAS (Panting)
GAMBLER #1 Cheaters!
GAMBLER #3 Get them!
GAMBLER #2 Get back here, you cheaters!
JENQUO How many are following us?
IRIKLAS More than ten! Don't look back!
GAMBLER #2 Get back here you—
JENQUO I can't keep up!
[SFX: Gravel scattering, horse whinnying, carriage wheels grinding.]
GAMBLER #3 My carriage!
BRI Hop in! Quickly, you two!
GAMBLER #3 Horses, quickly!
IRIKLAS Okay! Coming! (Grunting)
[SFX: Footfall on wood.]
BRI Hya!
JENQUO Wait, wait, not yet! (Panting)
TARÚK Come on, Dwarf! (Grunting)
JENQUO (Grunting)
[SFX: Footfall on wood.]
MYRTLE Um, fellow—they're getting horses!
[SFX: More horses whinnying and galloping.]
MYRTLE They're catching up!
GAMBLER #2 Get them!
IRIKLAS Cast a spell on them!
MYRTLE That's—what!? I don't do that! I'm not a witch, I'm an Incanter!
GAMBLER #1 Get them!
IRIKLAS Make a tree to fight them!
MYRTLE Do you have any idea how long that takes!?
JENQUO Then throw a rock or—one of those barrels or something!
GAMBLER #3 Get back here you cheaters!
IRIKLAS Here, let me give you a hand!
BRI Wait, before you go causing serious harm, why are they after us!?
IRIKLAS Nothing! We just won the game and took all winnings is all!
JENQUO Yes, sore losers, the bunch!
MYRTLE Fellows! They're coming at both sides!
IRIKLAS Throw your fire, girl!
BRI What!?
IRIKLAS You said you've been practicing!
BRI I can't THROW my fire! YOU throw your fire!
GAMBLER #2 Ha!
[SFX: Blades drawn.]
GAMBLER #2 Hold still, dwarf!
JENQUO (Grunting)
GAMBLER #2 (Yelling)
[SFX: Punching impact, gravel crunching as body thuds to ground.]
IRIKLAS Gah! He's got me by the head!
GAMBLER #1 Give me that bag!
TARÚK (Growling)
[SFX: More punching and grabbing.]
GAMBLER #1 Put me down, put me down!
TARÚK (Grunting)
GAMBLER #1 (Yells)
[SFX: Gravel crunching as body thuds to ground.]
BRI I've seen sore losers at my tavern—they're never this angry!
TARÚK Did you cheat!?
JENQUO (Simultaneously) NO!
IRIKLAS (Simultaneously) NO!
JENQUO We used secret and possibly illegal advantages, but we still won!
IRIKLAS Wait, don't be mad! Don't be—!
TARÚK ARRRRGGHH!
IRIKLAS Ugh, oh no.
TARÚK I ought to tear your heads off for this!
MYRTLE Um—sorry to interrupt, but there's more!
IRIKLAS Okay then. Let's get on with— (Grunts)
TARÚK Come here!
IRIKLAS GAH! Orc! Don't—!
[SFX: Coins clinking.]
IRIKLAS No, no, no, no!
JENQUO Achiwo! What are you doing!?
BRI Tarúk, don't do it!
IRIKLAS Our winnings!
[SFX: Coins clinking and then scattering.]
TARÚK Take it and be GONE!
JENQUO OHH…come on!
IRIKLAS NO!
GAMBLER #1 My money!
GAMBLER #2 WHOA!
GAMBLER #3 That's mine! Hands off!
[SFX: Horses whinny, galloping ceases, mob voices fade into distance.]
[SFX: Carriage slows to a roll, remaining horse slows to walk.]
IRIKLAS Do you have any idea how much money that was!?
TARÚK No. Do YOU?
IRIKLAS I— (Groans) Jenquo, tell me you took some of it in your bag there?
JENQUO No, but I stole that man's sweet roll. I had my eyes on it all morning.
[SFX: Crunchy pastry bite.]
IRIKLAS (Groans)
BRI Myrtle, take the reins.
MYRTLE Oh! Oh, yes, I can—oh my. Ooohh. (Whispers incantations)
[SFX: Horse nickers and whinnies.]
BRI You cheated for that money. How could you?
IRIKLAS Admittedly, cheating isn't my style.
JENQUO But without it, we can't bribe our way into the guarded city.
IRIKLAS Yes. Besides, they placed their bets knowing they could lose.
BRI Yes, for fair play.
IRIKLAS If they were so smart, they wouldn't have let themselves be fooled.
TARÚK Then what does that make you?
BRI It makes US dirt broke. And with no plan.
SCENE TWO: NOT HUNGRY
[SFX: Fire crackling, meat sizzling, chewing noises.]
IRIKLAS No coppers, but thank the Gods we have arrows.
JENQUO Well done on that seasoning, Halfin.
[SFX: Distant birdsong.]
MYRTLE Oh yes, I did bring some spices. Sadly, they're Halfin-sized, so that was all of it…
TARÚK You haven't eaten, girl.
BRI I'm fine.
[SFX: Grass and twigs rustling.]
MYRTLE Oh, where are you going?
BRI To get some air.
[SFX: Footsteps on dirt.]
JENQUO What do you suppose is bothering her?
MYRTLE Her best friend just betrayed us. She's heartbroken.
IRIKLAS She would make a terrible smuggler, I'll tell you that.
JENQUO What if she leaves us?
TARÚK I will speak to her.
[SFX: More footsteps.]
IRIKLAS Dramatic bunch.
MYRTLE It seems warranted here.
IRIKLAS I meant all of you.
[SFX: Wind rustling through grass.]
SCENE THREE: USED, NOT USEFUL
[SFX: Stream burbling, stones sploshing in water one after another, birds singing.]
[SFX: Footsteps crunch in the underbrush.]
TARÚK Bri.
BRI Hello, Tarúk.
TARÚK You're troubled, I know.
BRI "Troubled." That's a way to say it.
TARÚK What happened with Calan was not your fault.
BRI I'm not sad. I'm…angry.
TARÚK That is a more useful reaction.
BRI I knew him my whole life, Tarúk. He was my friend. But that's not what he wanted. He-he lied to me.
TARÚK He lied to himself as well. When I trained him, he was…eager. Not afraid like he should have been. He was eager to impress.
BRI Aye.
[Music: "Bri’s Theme" (soft, plaintive music) starts.]
TARÚK To be your knight.
BRI (Scoffs)
TARÚK Learn from this. Look back at the signs. And you won't be deceived so easily again.
BRI Aye I won't. But…that knight, the one I burned. He talked about using me like—like I wasn't a person. Like I had no choice. Am I walking into something where I cannot escape? Am I meant not to be useful, but to be used?
TARÚK Maybe.
BRI (Sighs) More than ever, I feel I don't know what I will do when this is over. If this will ever be over.
TARÚK You fear you cannot return to Gathland to your little tavern. With the Knights and Calan seeking you, and with the matter of Sorseers and Magnirs always over you.
BRI Home is behind me.
TARÚK If home is where you spend the rest of your days, then it is always ahead of you.
BRI (Teasing) Like you? Mister I'm-Going-Nowhere?
TARÚK …Hm.
BRI What did happen to you? In Workingar?
[SFX: Footsteps crunching underbrush.]
TARÚK I'm going back to camp.
BRI (Playfully) You know, the more you play at revealing your secrets, the more disappointing they'll be when I find out.
SCENE FOUR: THE SMUGGLING PLAN
[SFX: Footsteps through underbrush, wind rustling through the grass, birdsong.]
BRI Um, Myrtle?
TARÚK Where is the Dwarf and the Elvan?
MYRTLE Oh, they left to have a chat.
[SFX: Beat of silence.]
BRI What are they doing?
TARÚK Probably coming up with a plan to smuggle us, since they don’t have one.
BRI Oh.
[SFX: Footsteps through underbrush.]
JENQUO We are back!
BRI Grand.
IRIKLAS Yes and we can no longer afford to withhold the details of this smuggling plan of ours we've been keeping from you this whole time.
JENQUO We will need you all to obey us and follow our every step. We'll need the cart, the one with the wine barrels. We sneak into them and just roll into the city. Myrtle, your job will be the most important.
MYRTLE Oh, brilliant! I borrowed a lot of ingredients in the last village from the Knights’ stock and I've been reading up on potions we could use, especially—
JENQUO (Interrupting) We need you to take handle the horses and speak to the guards.
MYRTLE I—oh? I can take my chances in one of the barrels? I won't need much room.
[SFX: Horse nickers and snorts.]
IRIKLAS You're the least threatening of us, and Halfins are closer regionally than any of our tribes.
MYRTLE I think I can be put to better use than this.
IRIKLAS Then make a potion, AND take the reins. 'Scuse me for a moment
[Music: "Iriklas and Jenquo" (playful, scheming music) starts.]
BRI Okay, we have—one, two—six barrels in that wagon.
TARÚK We will be considerably heavier than what's in it.
[SFX: Footsteps on grass.]
JENQUO Then we better hope they don't weigh us. Now for the best part, emptying the barrels.
[SFX: Wooden thud.]
JENQUO Come, Orc help me with this lid, so that we may dispose of its—
[SFX: Wooden lid creaking open, flies buzzing.]
JENQUO Fish!?
BRI Oh for the love of—! (Coughs) That smell!
TARÚK What smell? It's just fish. My homeland smells like this.
BRI Is that why you're running away from it?
TARÚK Come. Dump half where it can't be seen.
BRI Or smelt.
JENQUO Half!? Why half?
TARÚK Of the barrel. And when I am inside, you will fill it again.
JENQUO You are mad!
TARÚK We cannot risk an inspection. They have to appear full.
BRI Can I get some of that one hundred gold you were promised for delivering me, Dwarf?
TARÚK Where is the Elvan?
[SFX: Footsteps on grass.]
IRIKLAS Did you save any wine for me?
[SFX: Flies buzz.]
BRI …Who wants to tell the pretty Elvan boy the new plan?
[SFX: Beat.]
MYRTLE (Under her breath) Oh, here we go again…hyah!
[SFX: Reins whip, horse nickers, cart wheels grind.]
MYRTLE Oooh…
[SFX: Wooden barrels bumping.]
TARÚK (Muffled) Everyone be silent.
IRIKLAS (Muffled) Jenquo.
JENQUO (Muffled) What is it?
IRIKLAS (Muffled) I hate you.
JENQUO (Muffled) I know.
[Music: "Iriklas and Jenquo" ends.]
SCENE FIVE: BELLAR
[SFX: Water splashing, crowd chatter, dog barking, bells chiming, sheep bleating.]
[Music: "Bellar" starts.]
NARRATOR (Voiceover) The City of Bellar is not unlike Wynhold. A fortress city resting on an island dividing a great river. Also, a land of Knights and Kings. A land of taste, and of passion, at its truest height as of late—
[SFX: Angry mob clamouring.]
NARRATOR (Voiceover) —With protest, anger, and whispers of war between the people of this fair land and those who rule them.
[SFX: Cart wheels grinding, horse whinnying.]
MYRTLE Hello! Yes, coming through, coming through!
TARÚK Why have we stopped?
MYRTLE Because we're here.
BRI Is anyone looking?
MYRTLE (Low) No, nobody is looking, but be extra quiet—
[SFX: Barrel lid pops open loudly, fish slapping and squishing, flies buzzing.]
JENQUO FREEDOM!
MYRTLE I said quietly!
[SFX: More fish spilling and squishing.]
TARÚK Dammit, Dwarf, someone could have heard that.
JENQUO I don't care, Orc man. The smell was too much for this nose.
[SFX: More squishing.]
BRI Ugh, I'm going to barf.
TARÚK Come.
[SFX: Footsteps on cobblestone.]
BRI What? Into the streets? Like this?
JENQUO Do you see a bathtub anywhere, girl?
TARÚK Halfin, do you know a way to—um—
MYRTLE What? Enchant your smell?
TARÚK Nevermind.
[SFX: More squishing, flies buzzing, wooden creaking.]
[SFX: Footsteps on cobblestone, water splashing, angry mob yelling.]
COURANT (Preaching in background) Hear me, the Chieftan of Gods has not passed. He has left us, for we are sinful!
BRI Now that we're finally here…
TARÚK It would appear we need only find a Magnir Temple.
COURANT (Preaching in background) We betrayed him, allowed this Deep God to gather in strength.
JENQUO Would it look anything like two tall towers with a bell in between them?
IRIKLAS And about a hundred angry people between here and there?
COURANT (Preaching in background) He punished us for the slaughter of women and children by taking away our greatest protectors.
BRI That would be my guess.
[SFX: Angry mob intensifies.]
COURANT We must repent, show him our sorrow, only then can we prevent a world under the Deep God's wrath. He is evil, he is coming, and he will destroy us all—!
[SFX: Footsteps on cobblestone.]
BRI Hello there! You! Preacher.
COURANT Yes, my light —?
BRI I need to speak to you. We're looking for someone.
COURANT I see many people pass through here, my light.
BRI Oh no, I came too far and been through too much for that answer.
COURANT I must spread the word, you mustn't interrupt—
[SFX: Tomato splattering, mob laughing.]
TARÚK I think your congregation has seen to that. Come here, you damn fool, or I'll make you come here.
[SFX: Footsteps on wood.]
JENQUO Tough crowd.
COURANT The red cloak hides the stain of tomate.
TARÚK How well does it hide blood?
[SFX: Tomato remnants squishing to ground.]
BRI We're looking for Magnir Guarin.
COURANT Magnir Guarin?
BRI Yes. I came all the way from Gathland to speak with him.
IRIKLAS Yes, and we endured all manner of things, like Sorseers.
JENQUO Pirates.
IRIKLAS Bribed guards.
JENQUO Nixies.
IRIKLAS Evil trees.
MYRTLE Hey!
JENQUO Blood-drinking dead men.
IRIKLAS Wicked Knights.
TARÚK These two.
BRI We were told he'd be in the Magnir Temple. Is that it over there?
COURANT It was, though the days of Rhuadu have passed, some still come for his word. I can take you to him, my light. And—and your friends?
BRI I believe they're owed some kind of reparation. After that, I don't know.
COURANT Of course. All are welcome under the roof of our humble Temple, in my view. And we have much, much coin to spare. Come closer… (Whispering) The Chimera's men are watching us.
BRI The Chimera? You mean Ultovín?
COURANT Oui. My Master, Magnir Guarin, has planned a secret meeting. In the catwalks before the great ashen river.
BRI I understand. Come on, then.
JENQUO What is your name, Bellish friend?
COURANT Courant, my Dwarven friend.
[SFX: Footsteps on cobblestone.]
SCENE SIX: THE BRIDGE
[SFX: Thunder rumbling, rain pouring, wood and ropes creaking.]
NARRATOR (Voiceover) Dusk begins to fall over the castle city Bellar. The Voyagers and Courant walk the castle's wooden exterior, catwalks built between the stone and waves. A light fog blows from the east over their meeting.
[SFX: Footsteps on wood.]
BRI Why were those people heckling you? I thought Rhuadu the Chieftan of Gods was loved here.
[Music: "Rhuadu" (mystical choral music) starts.]
COURANT Oui, he was. But he was brought to this land by Elvans long ago. All these temples and statues were raised by the crown to overcompensate. The people's faith became ever stronger after the Night's Plague, when fire magic was all that protected Bellar from the hordes of the undead.
MYRTLE Oh aye, fire is a good tool against the Night's Plague. The Incanters had a hand, too—
COURANT People forgot all the Deep God and his Sorseers had done in days long past. But now that Rhuadu has passed away, they are starting to remember. Abandoning the new faith for the old.
MYRTLE So your people are turning to the old faith, the Deep God?
IRIKLAS That might be a problem later.
COURANT Why do you say, Elvan?
IRIKLAS Because the Dark Bride Neradial fancies the Deep God, and taking over might be made a lot easier if she has support on this land already. I mean, that is a frightening thought, no?
JENQUO I heard she has a sea monster.
IRIKLAS Yes, that she rides like a horse.
JENQUO If that horse had three heads and lived underwater.
IRIKLAS And were giant serpents that could destroy ships and knock towers into the sea.
COURANT Oh, oui, that fact has weighed heavily on my mind. The followers of Rhuadu and the Magnir have been praying.
BRI (Groans)
TARÚK Bri, what is it?
BRI Nothing, just…if my father never killed Rhuadu, maybe this land wouldn't be going through such hell right now. Maybe this Neradial wouldn't be conquering like she is.
TARÚK We are not our fathers.
BRI Then why did I get this power? Am I supposed to be the one to fix it? What does it mean?
IRIKLAS Where'd they go?
JENQUO I can't see in this fog.
COURANT There they are, my light. Are you well?
BRI I'm fine, preacher man. Come on, Tarúk.
[Music: "Rhuadu" ends.]
MYRTLE (Sneezes) Oh, oh my goodness. Did we have to meet somewhere so dark, so cold, and so—wet…
JENQUO Preacher man, you're getting ahead of us—!
[SFX: Wet splash.]
JENQUO And this fog is—
[SFX: Beat of silence, rain pelting, thunder rumbling.]
IRIKLAS Where did he go?
TARÚK I can't see him.
JENQUO Did he fall over the edge?
MYRTLE Oh, no. We should turn back.
BRI Hold on.
COURANT (Laughter echoing)
[Music: "Courant" (dark and mysterious music, slowly building to percussive battle music) starts.]
COURANT (Echoing) So it is true!
MYRTLE He's not a Preacher for Rhuadu.
TARÚK Draw weapons.
[SFX: Blades draw, fire ignites.]
MYRTLE …Ooh, I forgot to bring one.
BRI Take my dagger, hurry!
[SFX: Spear swishing.]
COURANT (Echoing) The Master Sorseer told me of you, girl. And I laughed in his face.
[SFX: Footsteps on wood, chains jangling.]
IRIKLAS Do you hear that?
COURANT A girl who could summon fire as the Magnir once could? But now I see, he was telling the truth.
TARÚK Footsteps, on both sides. We're blocked.
HENCHMAN #1 (Echoing laughter)
[SFX: More blades draw, weapons rattling, chains clinking.]
COURANT My only regret when you Magnir lost your power is that it wasn't by our hand. Now, I have the chance to watch your fire leave your spirit as I kill you.
TARÚK When I kill you, Sorseer, there will be no speech.
MYRTLE How many are there?
IRIKLAS Raise your flame higher, girl.
BRI How many?
IRIKLAS No more than—six, on the left. Orc?
TARÚK More than that.
BRI We're outnumbered.
COURANT Only I kill the girl. Slay the rest!
[SFX: Blades ringing.]
TARÚK Do you think twelve men can stand to face with an Elvan warrior, a spearman from Kanduk, a Magnir, and an Orc?
COURANT We have Eternal Koannus. What do you have?
[SFX: More footsteps on wood, sword drawn.]
GUARIN She has the Magnir!
COURANT What!? Guarin!
GUARIN Magnir! Draw swords! Ignite!
[SFX: Swords draw, matches light, fire ignites.]
IRIKLAS Burning swords! On either side of us, behind those men.
BRI Magnir!
JENQUO YES!
GUARIN Send them to their Deep God!
[SFX: Battle cries, running footsteps, swords clashing.]
[Music: "Courant" 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, Ash Williams, Abigail Turner, Xathian, and Gary Gibbs the Second. 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. Additional audio editing by Sasha Blore. Leave us a review on iTunes and follow us on our pages of media. Send a bird bearing the hashtag COTF Podcast and tweet to us @CalloftheFlame. Five dollar and above listeners get exclusive content such as music tracks by Adam Halpin and extended episodes. Gather around in two weeks for the next installment of our play. To ask us about sponsorship, send us an electronic letter to thecalloftheflamepodcast@gmail.com. This has been a Rubbish Log Production. I am your narrator, George Hoctor. We thank you all for listening.
[Music: "End Credits" ends.]
[Music: "The Journey to Wynhold" (peaceful harp music) starts.]
KURT Hey everybody, this is Kurt, the creator of The Call of the Flame, and writer, and editor, and, umm, yeah, I do all that stuff. First time speaking on here. I wanna start this off by saying thank you so much for listening. Holy crap, it is good to hear people like the show. The reason I’m here is because we need the support of listeners like yourself. Support can come in a lot of ways. We spend a lot of time working on the show, but most of the crew have jobs outside this podcast. I know I do. Consider taking a look at our Patreon. At the $1 tier, just $1 a month, we have the discord channel with all 22 members of our cast and crew. We’re active every day and share random stuff, plugging projects and dubs we’ve got going. But at the $5 tier we have extended episodes, extended lore, fanservice, and stuff I threw in there because I thought it might be fun. My favourite bonus, though, is music by Adam Halpin and Stephen Cumberworth. I’s my favourite mostly because I didn’t make it. More than 30 mins of music composed just for the show, including the Nixie's songs, and a bonus one for the extended episode. And finally, you will have your name read in the credits by our own illustrious George Hoctor, our narrator. His voice is like butter. It’s very—I actually describe it in the script when we first started casting—the romantic voice of the bard that recounts the tale. All of your pledges will go to the improvement of the show, will go straight to audio editing, so that I can devote more time writing the show, so we can devote more time bringing the story to you. That’s probably the biggest thing you can do to support the show, but on top of that, it would go a long way if you shared the show with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, share it on Tumblr…I’m pretty sure they survived their local apocalypse. Hell, go old school, send a raven…actually don’t, just give the raven a home, and feed it and give it some water. Umm, yeah, it would probably like that, it doesn’t wanna send your paper to other places and people. Anyways, we’ve got one heck of a season left to deliver, and I thank you so much for listening, we’ve got a lot in store for you, thanks.
[Music: "The Journey To Wynhold" ends.]