The Brave Soldier and the Ghost of Mordulkin

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Tailos
Posts: 33
Joined: Wed Dec 02, 2015 8:56 pm
Location: UK

The Brave Soldier and the Ghost of Mordulkin

Postby Tailos » Wed Apr 13, 2016 9:01 pm

Below, hidden in the spoiler, is a draft of the upcoming performance at the Heltharn Theatre between Dove and Marcellus, should the characters manage to get together and perform at a fixed date. Please avert gaze if you'd rather be amazed in game. :lol: It remains a draft with edits to be made and should therefore be considered unfinished.
Spoiler:
== Act 1 - Nicos ==
The scene begins with NICOS and CYLLA embracing upon the steps of their home. NICOS is wearing the armour of a warrior, about to leave while CYLLA refuses to let NICOS go. Eventually, they disentangle and NICOS begins his song.

NICOS SINGS:
"Forgive me, sweet Cylla, that I must make haste,
Upon chariot we battle, to foes we lay waste,
Glories do beckon and fortunes' to earn,
Our lives will be bettered, reputation's return.

And o', how i'll miss you, such dear love of mine,
But I'll carry your love into battle and shine:

As armour to still both the arrow and sword,
As sword to break through the shields of the horde.
As wings that will beckon for home after all;
That into mine arms, o' love, shall you fall.

So forgive me, sweet Cylla, that I must depart;
But my promise I give - you'll remain in my heart."

NICOS then leaves the stage. CYLLA begins her song.

CYLLA SINGS:
<song>

Once complete, she - too - leaves the stage. Many moons pass. and CYLLA offers small poems/words to her missing husband. The curtains fall.

=== Act 2: Cylla's Death ===
The scene opens with CYLLA on her death bed, her heart weakened by NICOS' absence. Pale as a ghost, she begins her song.

CYLLA SINGS:
<song>

At the end, she dies. The curtain falls.

=== Act 2: Nicos' Return ===
The scene opens with NICOS singing from off-stage.

NICOS SINGS:
"My love do you of'n think of me,
As you wander through the trees.
It's your eternal beauty,
That brought me to my knees.

My love you are, as pure as driven snow,
and you live inside my heart,
Love for the place we live,
Keeps me strong now we're apart."

NICOS enters the stage and, upon reaching centre-stage, he looks up at his old home (now in disrepair), his back to the audience, before falling to his knees in true dramatic fashion. A few words are spoken before he gathers his composure enough to enter the house. From off-stage, the audience can hear NICOS howl in sorrow as he learns the truth. He continues the rest of the song slowly.

NICOS SINGS:
"My love, I always feel you,
Where'ere on this land I tred,
This land, this home, Mordulkin,
This is where I'll lay my head.

The eternal sleep claimed you,
But you're always in my heart.
My friends, this land, this life I love,
Keeps me strong now our love's gone dark."

The curtain falls.

=== INTERMISSION ===

=== Act 3: Anger ===
The curtain opens, NICOS sits in a chair in his home. He looks to the stars through an open window, speaking as if CYLLA's ghost was in the room. He then begins his song:

NICOS SINGS:
"Out on grassy plains do chariots race,
Horse and man fall beneath the chase.
And steel clashes as lightning arcs,
With soldiers slain within the dark.

By dawn we stand, our men are healed,
The enemy routed from the field,
With heroes named, our thoughts as one,
Of homeward march beneath the sun.

To see our loved ones left behind,
O' Cylla, I returned, to find:
That you have gone, my choice to blame,
To leave you in search of fame.

Such consequence, the Gods decree,
Must be fair to punish me,
To take away that which I hold dear,
And make misery in life this clear.

For Cylla, forgive me, my choice that day,
When I chose fame and fortune pay,
A foolish one that i'll ever rue,
The fortune I already held in you."

Soon after, he falls asleep.

CYLLA appears on stage not long after NICOS enters into a drunken slumber. Her song is one of forgiveness - she forgives him his outburst, and expresses a desire to be with NICOS once more.

CYLLA SINGS:
<song>

The curtain falls.

=== Act 3: Bargaining ===
Another night has passed and NICOS laments CYLLA's passing.

NICOS SINGS:
"O' Gods, have you not had your fill?
For my bloodstained sword speaks,
And the carrion crows call,
That your hunger can never be sated?

O' Gods, my love, must you take her as well?
Have I not served you well,
And your desires answered,
With the bodies that litter the field?

Pray, take me too, then, o' Gods,
That my love might be free,
My Cylla be spared from this,
And my life be forfeit instead?"

When silence answers him, he leaves the stage to head to bed.

Meanwhile, CYLLA's ghost appears. This time, her song is one of mourning. She is coming to realise that NICOS still cannot see or hear her and that her time remaining is short.

CYLLA SINGS:
<song>

The curtain falls as the dawn breaks.

=== Act 3: Depression ===
This night, empty bottles of wine lie about the stage floor. NICOS is sat at his chair and once more sings to his lost wife, but the lyrics this time are no longer as hopeful. He laments in bittersweet tones, with no family to return to.

NICOS SINGS:
"I tire, I am weary and my sword is gone
The battle is over but the dying’s not done –
I’d call on my strength, that I may choose life,
And though my heart’s breaking, I used all in the strife.

So I weep you a song, I sing with my tears,
I give you my crying, I've nothing else left.
I weep you a song, I sing with my tears,
I give you my crying, I’ve nothing else left, my dear.

The bloody and battered stagger from fields,
Some shouldering their weapons, some carried on shields.
No power to fight death, no strength left for healing,
Warm blood’s on my hands, but numb is all I’m feeling.

So I weep you a song, I sing with my tears,
I give you my crying, I've nothing else left.
I weep you a song, I sing with my tears,
I give you my crying, I’ve nothing else left, my dear."

Eventually, NICOS heads upstairs to bed.

CYLLA appears. Her song is slow and mournful again, this time in response to NICOS'.

CYLLA SINGS:
<song>

Her song ends with a movement of the curtains as she passes by when the dawn breaks. The curtain falls.

=== INTERMISSION ===

=== Act 4: Acceptance ===
A few nights have passed. NICOS has overcome his drinking over CYLLA's passing, but he remains in mourning. At the table by candlelight, he offers up his final song.

NICOS SINGS:
"Once more tried , once more failed
O' Cylla, my whole life a race!
Will I win or will I lose?
Will dreams ever be fulfilled?

Things I did, things I said,
Always sorry in the end.
Should I leave, turn a page?
Should my memory erase?

Takes so much skill, takes so much will
Walking this road to the end
Every single moment to savour,
No live, not want to forget.

No more sighs, no more cries,
No more telling myself lies!
Life simple, life sweet,
I will chase, I will live!"

CYLLA appears, this time before NICOS has left, and begins to sing. He does not see or hear her. CYLLA's song, too, is hopeful, melancholy yet sweet. Again she expresses her love for her husband after hearing his words.

CYLLA SINGS:
<song>

The curtain closes without anything strange.

=== Act 4: Closure? ===
On the final night of the play, NICOS is now washed and wearing clean clothes. His demeanor has changed and, once again, he is himself. In his hand he holds a portrait of both of them together. To this, he begins to sing.

CYLLA's ghost appears next to him, taking the portrait in her hands also, held between them. She begins to sing in a duet with NICOS.

NICOS SINGS:
"Lilac and roses, the first smell of morning,
The scent of the even'time, bouquet of night,
Gentle the breeze as my lady walks over,
Softly Selune lends my lady her light."

CYLLA SINGS:

NICOS SINGS:
"Sweeter than angels and warmer than sunshine,
Hair red as sunset and skin white as snow,
And if I must go then I shall carry with me,
A silken favour scented with lilac and rose."

CYLLA SINGS:

NICOS SINGS:
"She waits for me now as she did on that first day
She carries a light that inside her does grow
So I'll carry on, for each night I grow stronger
For that's when I dream of my lilac and rose."

CYLLA SINGS:

BOTH SING:

As the song closes, the candlelight flickers. NICOS watches it before turning to face CYLLA. Both smile at each other.

The curtain closes for the last time.

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Obsidian Sea
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Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2015 3:09 pm
Location: London, UK

Re: The Brave Soldier and the Ghost of Mordulkin

Postby Obsidian Sea » Fri May 27, 2016 9:16 am

Precious Harp of Cimbar,

Of course we at the theatre are delighted for the content of your first draft. Such passions touch the heart, and might thaw the cold about us all if performed with full, rich conviction to the words - and nothing less do we expect nor imagine capable of you. I extend the pardon on behalf of all of us here at the theatre for the impolite delay upon our words, but of course the cares of the city at large in recent tendays have been felt here also, and urgency was shown to other matters with which we could not stall our involvement. We hope to hear soon from The Silver Elf, but flightiness is so in the character of her that I fear she has the wingspan of not a dove, but a Dragon, and she is taken altogether too far from reach of letters as she travels too oft between the settlements.

Nevertheless, we are thrilled with your diligence, and trust in the integrity of your partnership. Though we shall wait out the hour hoping to hear from The Silver Elf, to both of you it had best be known that there is one primary edit, or addition, that we seek to be made to the script.

Catering to the higher echelons of society, and to nobles from further afield than Sarshel, it is our requirement that the play offer some allusion and message concerning the death of His Majesty Most Gracious, King Imphras V. Perceived avenues for addressing this are in Nicos' motivations to go to war, serving and protecting his king, or in the comfort that he receives in his latter years, awaiting reunion with Cylla, throughout the which he contents his heart with service to the crown. Howsoever you choose to edit the script we shall leave to your discretion, for we trust the honours of the script detail to you and to The Silver Elf, having little doubt as to your capacity.

Warmest regards in this cold season,

Coretta Reen, Executive Producer for The Heltharn Theatre

25th Mirtul; The Melting
Heomar Bloodstone

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Aryen Caladras
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