Perilake educates the Playwrite about Lady Bianca
The Salt Knight finds himself in a most perilous situation
A Creature made from Wood and Straw
cherishes every Moment of Life
Night of the 2nd Riverday of Petals, Bohat
Referee
“ … I will - I promise to ask him! - but first tell me: What else have you planned for tomorrow?” Lady Wendela is sitting on the bench between the white haired hermit and Lady Inga. Avert runs to his mother and embraces her. He is sleepy and excited at the same time. Wendela turns around to greet Perilake. “Speaking of the devil ...” Yordanka sits opposite Wendela on an upturned bucket. “Well, you will have to wait like everyone else.” And with a side glance to Aloisia: ”Needless to say we will address the spiritual needs as well as the …“ she takes a sip of her cup and smiles. “ ... pleasures of the flesh.”
Ser Perilake, The Gilded Knight
Perilake smiles warmly down at Inga as Avert sits himself down on the floor in front of his mother, and stands behind her, his hand on her shoulder. As his eyes raise, the gilded knight's gaze hardens, cold and shining as his namesake
"That was a fine performance, Yordanka. I wanted to compliment you before I took Avert to bed." He waves his hand at the stage. "Your artistry is impressive indeed, and the stories well told. Though in truth, I think you do the Lady Bianca a disservice." Inga's hand reaches up and tightens on Perilakes as Yordanka frowns. Perilake raises his other hand to forestall her objections.
"I remember the Iron Knight well. She was as proud and loyal as your play, and I admired her greatly in my time at Kranach. But your story fails her; the woman I knew was no sad puppet, forced into a duel she did not wish. She was a warrior, and a cunning one."
"Lady Bianca sought battle, and she found it; even after she fell, the flags of war were raised as she wished. I would remember her as no victim, but as the victor of her ambitions. Someone who was willing to not just die for what they believed in, but for others to do so. And sharper than her steel, was her strategy; she made her true victory inevitable. I would not insult her by reducing her to less than she was." He hold Yordanka's gaze for a long, silent moment, then nods and some warmth returns to his voice. "I hope you will bring your performance to Farkash in time."
Referee
Yordanka looks surprised and ponders your words. After a while she says slowly “The Duel … is never the same … and never the same for everyone, like all good plays. But your words ring true, Gilded Knight, and you speak with honour. I will gladly come to the Citadel.” As the evening progresses most peasants leave the square still talking about the show and laughing and singing but the night will be short and their work won't wait for them. Eventually only Yordanka and her bottler Mieszko are left under the oak while Pedrag brings another round of Jabukovača.
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| In the mountains east of Bohat |
Night of the 2nd Riverday of Petals, in the mountains east of Bohat
Sir Anastaz, The Salt Knight
Anastaz quickly grabs his javelin and coral mace from his pack while Marko lunges for the staff. The boy strikes at Anastaz's head, but the Salt Knight ducks, and the staff whistles through empty air. Anastaz brings his mace down on the staff, which breaks in half with a crunch. He waves his javelin at Marko, and the bestial boy stumbles back. Seizing on his uncertainty, the Salt Knight leaps on the boy, bringing both to the ground with a thud. When the dust clears, Anastaz has Marko pinned to the ground.
Referee
When he realizes the futility of resisting you he just lies there watching the stars while you tie him up. You remove the knife from his belt and search his body for hidden weapons but find nothing but tchotchke: There are petals in his pockets, a half finished wooden figurine, a piece of string etc. When you touch the petals they release a musky unpleasant smell that reminds you of something that you immediately forget. You help him onto his feet and ask him to lead you to the place where he lost consciousness.“A little bit further still, Salt Knight.” he croaks.
Your climb is painfully slow, Marko kicks up sand that falls into your eyes, he jerks the rope with his full weight when you are unbalanced and makes himself heavy when you have to push him. It is long after midnight when you reach a ledge around a rock, the southern hills far below you. “We are near, Salt Knight. I saw the lamb and I followed it over this ledge. And then I saw a light glinting in the evening sun. I'll show you.” He is about to walk onto the ridge.
Sir Anastaz, The Salt Knight
Anastaz, nonplussed by Marko's childish tricks, gives the boy slightly more slack and follows closely behind as he ascends the ridge. His ears prick up at the mention of light, and he shields his eyes as he allows Marko to lead him onto the ledge.
Referee
Halfway around the rock the figure before you stops, his foot idling over the narrow band of rock that barely holds him. He turns around. His face is older now and there are wrinkles around his eyes. He looks almost sad. “Tizra didn't make us to live … he made us for a purpose.” He looks down and leans forward. He whispers something. And then he jumps.
Sir Anastaz, The Salt Knight
A look of shock flits across Anastaz's face. He looks around in the instant the creature leaps into the air and spots a half-rotted tree stump. The Salt Knight tosses the rope around the stump, stamps on the rope with one foot, and digs in his other heel as he pulls back as much of the slack as he can.
Referee
You lean back with all your strength. The rope tightens and the wood creaks. The rope burns into the skin of your hands … but you stop it sliding further and you hold the terrible weight of the creature that dangles at the end of the rope. He looks up with his dark eyes. The dangerous sparkle is gone ... and is replaced with something else.
Sir Anastaz, The Salt Knight
His heart pumping, breaths ragged, Anastaz plunges his javelin into the soil and lashes the rope around it. He crawls to the edge of the ridge on his stomach, and he laboriously begins pulling up the dangling rope. He looks pained, and sweat pours from his brow until finally he can nearly reach the creature's hand. He extends an arm. "Come on up."
Referee
The creature grabs your hand and slowly pulls himself up. The hand you hold has lost some of its shape, it feels cold and swollen. When he finally climbs onto the overhang with a grunt, he just lies there for a while breathing hard. Something catches your eye. The moon is reflected on a shiny surface to the south, across the chasm on another peak. “Marko lives”, the creature croaks as he laboriously gets up. He looks much older now and his straw-like hair is greying. “I will lead you to him.”
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Spilled from a cauldron to serve their master. |
Sir Anastaz, The Salt Knight
"Thank you. I do not know what manner of being you are, but I am sorry Tizra was so cruel with your kind."
Referee
The creature bends his dark gaze towards you. “We are the Vyměněnec and made of wood and straw and meat and fleece.” His mouth twitches as if disgusted by his own existence. ”Spilled from a cauldron to serve our master. What little soul we have is stolen and I intend to give mine back.” He looks over to the dizzying lights. “We have some way to go and my strength is waning. We need to make haste.” He begins the long climb down.
During one of his frequent breaks the Vyměněnec leans against an ivy covered rock and listens. His skin hangs from his face in folds and his eyes are closed. It is still some time before dawn but a single bird defies the dark with a longing song.
Sir Anastaz, The Salt Knight
Anastaz surveys the tattered features of the Vyměněnec. He asks, "For what purpose did Tizra create you? What do they intend for the children they have stolen?"
Referee
The Vyměněnec listens for a long while to the bird's song and after you already thought that he might have forgotten the questions he finally sighs: “Oh so few moments left ... to live a life never meant to last.” He tries to compose himself “When you banished Coredis from your Realm they returned to The Thrice-Ninth Kingdom leaving Tizra behind to bear the shame of the defeat alone. Ever since my master has been searching for ways to get back in the Steward's good grace. He reckons revenge on those who shamed the Steward would please them very much.” He opens his eyes and looks over to the opposing cliff face. The lights you had glimpsed before are now obscured by rock. “The children entertain Tizra in his halls with their company. But it is my siblings and I who were created to execute his revenge.”
Sir Anastaz, The Salt Knight
"Is there any way to free your comrades from their geas? If your lives are so short, you should live them to the fullest."
Referee
He slowly gets up leaning heavily on his staff. “You showed me kindness when I had no right to expect anything but death.” He shakes his head. “And even now you think about saving the lives of those who want to destroy you.” ”Our lives - mine and that of my siblings - are borrowed from those who were stolen. I made my choice. I fear they have made theirs.” He adjust his staff and laboriously continues.
It is before dawn when you reach the peak on the other side of the valley. The Vyměněnec has grabbed the staff with both hands and leans forward wheezing with every breath. Through the cloth you can see a cairn adorned with jewels and mirrors but there are no lights: the moon has paled and the stars are gone. There is small wooden door in the side of the mound engraved with dried and twisted leaves, roots and branches adorned with berries and ivy. The doorknob is shaped in the form of a viper that bites its tail and there is a silver bell above the door.
Sir Anastaz, The Salt Knight
Anastaz turns his blindfolded head to the Vyměněnec. He slowly moves his hand toward the silver bell, and raises his shoulders slightly.
Referee
The Vyměněnec shakes his head violently and coughs but is unable to speak.
Sir Anastaz, The Salt Knight
Anastaz pulls his hand back. He slowly kneels to listen at the door.
Referee
You hear faint music played by a harp.
Sir Anastaz, The Salt Knight
Anastaz pauses for a while, and waits to see if the Vyměněnec reacts.
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| The mirrored Cairn (mirrors not depicted) |
Referee
The Vyměněnec slumps to the ground and leans against the mirrored cairn. His face is almost gone behind folds of flesh except for his dark eyes. The staff slips from his fingers that are partially grown together. Between raspy breaths he whispers weakly “I cannot go further, my friend. You need to go alone. Find Marko and bring him to me.” He looks to the east where the sun will rise soon.
Sir Anastaz, The Salt Knight
Anastaz nods, and very carefully tries the serpent doorknob.
Referee
The door opens and the silver bell rings.
Sir Anastaz, The Salt Knight
Anastaz grimaces, waits a second, then slowly tries to squeeze himself through the door.
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