Chapter 9: The Lays of Workingar (Part 2 of 3) Transcript

OPENING

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

NARRATOR The Call of the Flame: An Audio Play. Chapter Nine: The Lays of Workingar. Part Two of Three.

[Music: "Main Title" starts.]

SCENE ONE: THE SPELL-BREAKER

TALOG (Roaring)

[SFX: Running footsteps creaking on wood, sword drawn, tables rattling.]

[SFX: Flame ignites and crackles, footsteps halt, orc crowd gasps.]

BRI That's right! Come any further, and the storied hall of your fathers becomes a throne of ash!

TALOG You think you're faster than ME, wench!?

[SFX: Giant bones creaking heavily, orc crowd murmuring.]

DANAL You've angered the bones. If you spill blood in this hall, your bloodline will be cursed.

TALOG Orcan blood, not Human.

[SFX: Sword rings.]

TALOG This is Rhundhal, the Spell-breaker.

[Music: "The Orcan King" (foreboding percussion and chanting) starts.]

TALOG I speak the words—I so much as cut you with this—and you'll never cast again. You'll just be a tavern wench.

BRI I already am just a tavern wench.

[Music: "The Orcan King" ends.]

[SFX: Sword whooshing.]

TALOG You'll be a DEAD tavern wench!

[SFX: Footsteps creaking on wood.]

RÖK Put out your fire and put down your sword. She is under my protection. Stop this madness, Talog. To strike down one so weak would be weakness in itself.

ULRAUG We should have the Skald decide what to do with her.

[SFX: Orc crowd murmuring.]

TALOG Go on. Lead Rök to her prize. If I see you again, I will cut off your head myself.

[SFX: Heavy footsteps creaking on wood, sword sheathe.]

[Music: *]

MYRTLE Not very kingly.

BRI No wonder Tarúk left. This land is shit.

[SFX: Tankard clanking, liquid pouring, steam hissing as flame extinguishes.]

DANAL I-I—I can't believe it. I lost my powers. Like all Magnir, except…you! How? How did you do it? How did you gain Rhuadu's favour if he's dead—?

BRI Thanks, and I don't know. I haven't the slightest clue and I wish everyone would just leave me alone about it. Will I ever finish a drink in peace? (Groans)

[SFX: Footsteps on wood.]

RÖK We need to go before Talog's rage gets the better of him.

DANAL To where?

RÖK To find my brother. My real brother.

DANAL Tarúk is involved? By the Flame, I shouldn't have gotten so drunk just before this. Come on, my house isn't far from here. It's a bit isolated, but out of Talog's sight.

[SFX: Footsteps on wood.]

SCENE TWO: TERRIBLE FATHERS

[SFX: Water lapping, sword sharpening, ropes creaking, footsteps on wood.]

JENQUO I think two of us should stay awake this time, while the third sleeps.

IRIKLAS Come now, don't be silly. We're miles from any Nixies and Nokkens.

TARÚK He's not wrong. I doubt I'll get any sleep tonight. Rest, both of you.

IRIKLAS So, your father…you, um—? (Slicing noise)

TARÚK Cut his throat? No, I stabbed him through his eye and into his head.

[SFX: Sword sheathe.]

TARÚK I tried going for the heart, but he attacked me, left me no choice.

IRIKLAS Yes. Quite up front.

JENQUO At least you did not stab him in the back.

IRIKLAS Talk about breaking your old man's heart—

TARÚK It's an awful long swim to shore, don't you think?

IRIKLAS Point taken.

[SFX: Footsteps on wood.]

JENQUO Do your people know? Your family?

[Music: "Tarúk’s Theme" (regal, melancholy music) starts.]

TARÚK No. It's bad enough that I gave up my crown, let alone murdered my own king and father.

JENQUO Why?

TARÚK Because he was evil. A stupid king. He deserved to die. I couldn't repair the damage he had done to our lands, not while those who revered him still lived. We are a strong people, but a dull one. They think there's no solution strength can't fix. You don't like strangers? Build a barrier. No animals to hunt? Walk further to find it. You hate your neighbour? Cannot bother you if he's dead. They like simplicity, and he had made things simple…they didn’t know what it cost them.

IRIKLAS Now who rules in your stead?

TARÚK …My little brother. Talog.

JENQUO Is he wise?

TARÚK (Grunts)

[SFX: More footsteps.]

JENQUO You're not afraid of punishment. You're afraid of seeing what your actions wrought you.

IRIKLAS Is that…why you wanted to lose that fight?

TARÚK Those that die a glorious death find peace in the next world. Force of habit. I care not.

IRIKLAS Glorious? Getting killed by a bandit in an old fortress?

JENQUO It is wise to set your goals low.

[Music: "Tarúk’s Theme" ends.]

[SFX: Cork bottle pops.]

IRIKLAS Here's to being disappointing sons to terrible fathers. (Sips)

TARÚK Thanks.

[SFX: Bottle sloshes.]

TARÚK (Gulps, then grunts)

SCENE THREE: SALVAGE

[SFX: Orc crew grunting, wood groaning, bell ringing, footsteps on wooden dock.]

RÖK Load this one up. Enough for four days, then we'll find more elsewhere. More arrows!  (Grunts with effort)

[SFX: Wooden lid creaking open.]

MYRTLE What is this?

RÖK The salvage of your boat. Nothing but rags and books.

MYRTLE …Books?

[SFX: Orc crew chattering.]

ORC #1 (Distant) LET’S FIND SOME MEAT!

SCENE FOUR: DIFFICULT HAND

[SFX: Feet crunching in snow, fire crackling, distant orc chatter.]

DANAL I've been here for a while, gotten used to these folk. You don't know how nice it is to finally see a girl without tusks, or muscles bigger than my own.

BRI You don't know how refreshing it is to not be called a fair maiden. (Laughs)

DANAL Well, I didn't think so. I-I mean—

BRI What?

DANAL Well, I mean—

BRI What?

DANAL You worked in a tavern, you're Gathish, and well, you know—

BRI What do they say about Gathish girls?

DANAL Well, I, um, I—

BRI You don't need to answer I know what they say. Lots of Wynish boys came to Gathland and came upon my tavern to find out if it's true. And I send them home with a black eye and blue bollocks.

[SFX: Rocks clattering.]

DANAL (Laughs) That's one good thing they say about Gathish girls. You're fiery.

BRI In more ways than one many have found.

DANAL You gave me a good fright at that hall. Talog fears the dragon's curse, but even I thought he'd strike you.

BRI Maybe a light prick on that steel would do me good, if it really can destroy magic.

[SFX: Beat.]

BRI There it is, that look. Like I have this power, and how selfish I am for wishing I didn't have it.

DANAL When I first came here from the Temple of Sparrowfall, the Wulflangs killed two of my fellow Enkindlers. Hired Sorseers to silence us. And they did. I was alone, so starved I ate the snow. The Gungrors came upon me. Tarúk was the only thing standing between me and a cut throat. He asked me if I had a skill. Smithing. In truth, I just dabbled. Saved my life.

BRI But you were enslaved.

DANAL He promised to free me when he became king, and he did. All of us.

BRI Became one of them? Even after they killed your people and enslaved you?

DANAL What else could I do?

BRI Go home? Avenge them? Or at least find a new career. You were young then.

DANAL I wanted to. So badly, to just return to my home, tell them I failed. The flame burns most things to ash, but for strong things, it transforms.

[SFX: Stoking embers in fire.]

DANAL Melts us, so that it can fit a mould. Of a candle, a sword, a crown. You'll burn many times in your life, girl, and become something else. Sorry, still thinking about the forge.

BRI You really are an Enkindler, aren't you?

DANAL More of a smith in truth.

BRI I hated fire preachers back in Gathland, with their red cloaks and sermons. Did you get many followers here?

DANAL No, not a particularly spiritual people, especially not during King Thorok's reign. The land still suffers from that man's stupidity. Starvation is plaguing us and will take a number of our people in winter, unless the warring tribes kill enough hungry mouths.

BRI You think Tarúk can make things right, don't you? That's why you're looking for him, so he can solve all your problems for you.

DANAL It may be too late, I fear. Tarúk was a wise king, but he was troubled, unsure of himself. But he walked the path to peace with our enemies. He even negotiated with the bloody giants.

BRI Giants?

DANAL He found an Uldaben trader who could speak some of their tongue and brought him to their table to discuss peace terms.

BRI That's incredible.

DANAL He prepared us for the harsh winters, for the two seasons he spent in the hall. I almost understand why he left. He was dealt a difficult hand. With orcs, you are either strong, or you are smart. It's rare to see someone as Tarúk. His brilliance lent to his strength.

[Music: "Bri’s Theme" (soft, plaintive music) starts.]

BRI The better for his father to over-encumber him. We came into this world with no say in what we have to do, or whose mess we have to clean up. Why? Why must it be him that sets things to rights?

DANAL Who else can? Me? A foreigner of another race? Rök doesn't have the blood. None but Talog do. We have neither the choice, nay the responsibility that Tarúk held. You may run, you can let responsibility find a new bearer if you wish. You wouldn’t know what you'd be giving up, and by the time you did, you can't get it back.

[Music: "Bri’s Theme" ends.]

SCENE FIVE: THE BOOK

[SFX: Ropes creaking, footsteps on wood, wooden lid creaking open, cloth shuffling.]

MYRTLE Let's see here.

[SFX: Ship salvage shuffling and clattering.]

MYRTLE Candle…candle…ah, wait, no, that's a carrot…Ah! Here we are.

[SFX: Wooden lid shutting, lantern door creaking open, match lighting, lantern creaking, more footsteps, book thudding on table, pages flipping.]

MYRTLE Lakaashen…Halashen…Sh-shoushen…Oh, my word.

[Music: "Courant" (dark and mysterious music, slowly building to percussive battle music) starts.]

MYRTLE This isn't a Sorseer’s book. It's an Incanter spellbook. What on Earth was he doing?

[SFX: Distant water splashing, wood thudding, dripping.]

ULTOVÍN (Heavy breathing)

MYRTLE (Slight yelp)

[SFX: Slow footsteps on wood.]

MYRTLE (Under her breath) Oh no…Ultovín!

ULTOVÍN (Heavy breathing)

[SFX: Wooden lid creaking open, shuffling noises.]

ULTOVÍN Where is it?

[SFX: More footsteps.]

ORC #1 HEY!

[SFX: Sword draws, hurried footsteps.]

ORC #1 Get off our—!

[SFX: Blade drawing, slicing noise.]

ORC #1 (Gurgles)

MYRTLE (Whimpers)

ULTOVÍN You should have stayed asleep.

[SFX: Body thuds to floor.]

ORC #1 (Gurgling)

[SFX: Footsteps on wood.]

ULTOVÍN Accept this sacrifice, Deep God. Let the winds guide me to what is mine. My texts. So that I can see your will done.

MYRTLE Oh, no…

[Music: "Courant" ends.]

SCENE SIX: LIKE LANTERNS IN THE DARKNESS

[SFX: Wind blowing, rain pelting, ropes creaking, distant thunder.]

JENQUO (Shivering) May I borrow that cloak?

IRIKLAS Oh, endalan, you should've brought one of your own.

[SFX: Cloak whooshes.]

TARÚK We're nearing land. There should be an Elvan tower close by, and a bridge to the mountain path.

IRIKLAS We're not coming in through the bay?

TARÚK Too exposed. We must enter through the mountains.

JENQUO You know your way, all the way through those mountains?

[SFX: Footsteps on wood.]

TARÚK Yes. At a great cost. The sooner we get out of the water, the better.

[SFX: Water splash, boat shuddering and creaking.]

IRIKLAS Whoa!

JENQUO Just the rocks.

[SFX: Wood strains, thudding noises.]

JENQUO Curse this pelt of frozen rain! I can't see any of them coming!

[SFX: Splashing.]

IRIKLAS Just hold on tight, we'll be—

[Music: "It's Father" (chilling percussive and choral music) starts.]

[SFX: Wet thudding.]

MOHRIAN #1 (Gibbering, then screaming)

IRIKLAS AAAGH!

TARÚK IRIKLAS!

IRIKLAS AGH! GET IT OFF!

MOHRIAN #1 (Screaming)

JENQUO Hold still!

[SFX: Meaty slice.]

TARÚK A clean cut!

IRIKLAS Ughh! Was that a Blood Drinker? A Nixie?

[SFX: Footsteps on wood.]

JENQUO Neither. Let's see—

[SFX: Wet gloop.]

JENQUO It's a man—

IRIKLAS It's got fins, webbed hands, scales, big eyes—

JENQUO And its teeth are like needles—

MOHRIAN #1 (Gibbering)

JENQUO AAH!

IRIKLAS AAH!

JENQUO (Grunts)

[SFX: Kicking impact, head plops in water.]

IRIKLAS Good punt.

TARÚK Mohrians! Souls from the Deep God's hell. They're here for me!

IRIKLAS What!?

TARÚK I was a fool to endanger you two like this.

IRIKLAS Orc, you seem to know what's happening!?

TARÚK I know that we need to get to shore, and as far from the water as—

[SFX: Mohrians gibbering, water splashing, boat thudding.]

JENQUO More are coming! I can see their eyes, like lanterns in the darkness.

[SFX: Wet footfall on wood, water dripping.]

THOROK (Watery drone) TARÚK…

JENQUO A one-eyed Orc…

THOROK (Watery drone) BOY…

[SFX: Beat.]

TARÚK …It's father.

[Music: "It's Father" ends.]

CLOSING CREDITS

[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 chapter was written by Kurt Peterson and co-written with Nadi Reed Perez. Sanavran speech by Megan Watson. 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. Editing by Kurt Cañez and Sasha Blore. Read the podcast description and follow us on our pages of media. 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: Ben Blair, Cassie M, Cloudy Evalage, John Doyle, Jon Winstead, Ryan Cushman, Zane Simmon. Gather around in two weeks for the next installment of our play. To ask us about sponsorship, send an electronic letter to thecalloftheflamepodcast@gmail.com. And now a message from our playwright.

KURT Hi everybody, it’s Kurt, coming in with a special soapbox this week. I wanna plug the Audioverse awards, audioverseawards.net.  Audio dramas are being nominated for the categories of original composition, performance, sound design, vocal direction, writing, and the whole production in genera,l and we could be nominated for any one of those categories, for any one of those things. You can nominate any voice actor in this whole show, you can nominate Adam Halpin and Stephen Cumberworth for their music composition for our show, you can nominate the show for writing or sound design, you can nominate us for the whole production and vocal direction. Nominations close on September 30th, we need only three votes for any one of those categories to actually appear on the nominee list. So please go to audioverseawards.net/nominate, that’s audioverseawards.net/nominate, and as always, please plug the show and share it around. The only marketing the show gets is word of mouth and we wanna make sure we get plenty of word of mouth. We’ve be putting more clips on Twitter lately, showcasing the series’ content. Please share it around, tell your friends. I’m so terrible at closing these out. I’m just gonna leave it to Hoctor. Hoctor, Hoctor, close us out!

NARRATOR This has been a Magnir Production. I am your narrator, George Hoctor. We thank you all for listening.