Cast of Characters:

​NARRATOR
BARD
LION OF CHADATRU
CHADATRU
RUTILOR
BOTOLF

​

The Narrator recites:

As you notice the troupe members standing to one side, a curtain appears before them blocking them from view. The curtain parts in the center, showing a Bard on a stage drinking from his mug. He appears not to notice the audience as his eyes look over three statues that are in different positions upon the stage.

​The Bard walks over to the smallest of the statues, which sits on the stage far right, and kneels in front of it. He appraises it as he takes another gulp from his ale. The house-cat-size statue appears to be a mongoose with it’s small body and short stubby tail. The Bard looks at the statue again with a smile before rising and walking over to the next statue. The mongoose’s round eyes appear to follow the Bard as it moves around on the stage.

The Bard sings:

So ferocious and yet so small
This aspect stands above them all
No lies could he tell
Those he judge he will expel
Defender of the gods to the core
This positive aspect, Rutilor.

The Bard walks across the stage to the medium-sized statue placed on the stage far left. This statue causes him to give a bit of a shiver as he looks into the piercing eyes of the goshawk. He quickly takes a couple of gulps from his ale to steady his nerves, before returning his study of the goshawk statue. This robust bird has a long narrow tail, short rounded wings and a bold white eyebrow, that seems to be raised as if it’s questioning the Bard’s existence. The Bard shudders and moves rather quickly to the third statue, placed on center stage.

The Bard sings:
Dishonesty and deceit
These are some traits he keeps
Bribery and corruption are more
Fallen Paladins he will adore
He always looks for the huge rip-off
This negative aspect, Botolf.

The Bard looks proudly at the center statue, that of a noble regal lion. His great maw seems to be slightly open, allowing the Bard to get a good glimpse of the great sharp teeth that protrude from it. However, the Bard doesn’t feel afraid, but protected. He is unable to help himself as he reaches out to touch the stone mane.

The Bard sings:
Lord of Justice, that is him
Arbitrating at his every whim
He’s fierce in the battle
In lies he does nae dabble
The truth he will ensue
This great blind god, Chadatru.

The Narrator recites:
Suddenly, all three statues come alive! The blue-grey goshawk lets out a loud “kak-kak-kak-kak” as it rises to the air and lands on the head of the lion while the mongoose scampers around the Bard’s legs causing him to flail as he tries not to fall. The mongoose swiftly runs and jumps on the lion’s massive back.

The Bard stumbles a bit trying to regain his balance as the animals look straight in his eyes. As he stands there rubbing his eyes trying to believe this is happening, the mongoose and the goshawk meld into the lion. The Bard blinks then covers his mouth, dropping his ale, as he tries to cover up his scream. He tries to move back, but entangles his feet, falling to the ground. The lion, now with blue-grey wings and a furry stub tail, moves towards him.

The Bard notices that the lion is blinded and unable to see him. He stumbles as he tries to stand and back away quietly when the lion opens its great maw.

The Lion of Chadatru recites:
Fear me not, unless you are troubled with sin. For I am the Lord of Justice. You have come for a story, have you not? Well, dear Bard, here’s a story that you won’t resist.

The Narrator recites:
The scenery changes before your eyes, showing a newer Elanthia. One with no towns or roads. You wouldn’t realize it was the same if it wasn’t for a few landmarks that still stand to this day. The lion’s booming voice seems to follow the scenery change.

Chadatru recites:
Many many moons ago, we gods were the only ones to walk upon the lands that you do today.

Though it is quite hard to imagine on this day, it is true.
Faenella sang at her hearts delight in those grasslands north of here,
Kertigen worked hard in the forge that he built deep in the wastelands,
Hodierna tended her fields of special herbs with which she healed
us when we were wounded. Meraud always performing his magic from the shadows,
Tamsine watching over us and making sure we were well fed and taken care of.

Faenella sings at the top of her voice, swaying to her music.

Glythide pours himself a glass of wine, savoring its rich flavor

Hodierna gathers fresh georin and hulnik grass and begins crushing it in a stone mortar.

Chadatru recites:
We were content as well as we could be. For though it was merely us that walked upon these lands, we had enough to contend with. Damaris the assassin who brought many of us to Truffenyi who raised us with his special talents. Everild, always rushing to battle with someone. Our sisters and brothers, good and bad, were ours. And we had to adapt with the whim of each, for each of us were different and alike in many ways.

Damaris stalks Kertigen as he heads to the forge, Damaris’ bow aimed at Kertigen’s heart.
Everlid runs onto the battlefield brandishing his sword for all to see.

Chadatru recites:
There came a day when the sun didn’t shine and not a moon appeared in the sky. All of us stopped what we were doing and simply looked up at the bleak darkness surrounding us. Many of us stumbled around looking for others while those with torches held them out to us as beacons.

​Chadatru recites:
As we gathered around, a fierce wind blew out our torches throwing us in the dark once again. We stood our ground and wondered what this strange event was. Never had we seen such a happening as this!

Chadatru recites:
Suddenly a great bolt shot from the sky, spilling us to the ground and placing us in a deep sleep. As I awoken, the sky was brilliant once again by the sun. I closed my eyes from its brightness. Enclosed in this self-darkness, I felt a closeness to me stir. I re-opened my eyes only to see different images of me, laying there! Not one, but two!

The Narrator recites:
The scenery changes briefly as the Lion looks at the Bard who has regained his calmness and even has retrieved another ale from his backpack. The lion smiles knowingly as he sees the look of bewilderment on the Bard’s face.

Chadatru recites:
Aye, Bard, in those days I could see. But let me continue before I get ahead of myself.

The Narrator recites:
The scenery returns to the newer Elanthia, the lion’s booming voice returning with it.

Chadatru recites:
As I was saying, I opened my eyes to find not one, but two different images of me. One on either side. Hav’roth and the rest were no longer there. I looked closely at these figures and soon saw some of their differences more clearly.

Chadatru looks over to Rutilor on his left.

Chadatru recites:
The one to my left had a kindly face, though looking upon the many swords on his being I knew he was a force to be reckoned with if provoked.

Chadatru looks over to Botolf on his right.

Chadatru recites:
The one to my right carried a deceitful face, though at the time I could not tell you why. However I recall later his face seemed to twist and turn under the surface as if his very skin was alive!

Chadatru recites:
Bewildered, I was unable to look upon their faces anymore. I looked towards the sky once more, trying to determine what had exactly happened. The sun seemed to glow with a brilliance unlike any before. As I stared into those rays, my eyes burned beyond belief, yet I was unable to turn away. I grasped the hands of the figures next to me, their fingers seeming to meld with mine.

Chadatru gazes up.

Chadatru holds Rutilor and Botolf’s hands.

​Chadatru recites:

I’m unsure how long we were there or even what time it was, for by this time as I’m sure you realize, I was blind. Then I realized that the figures were speaking for the first time.

Rutilor recites:
Be not afraid, Chadatru, for we are here with you always.

​Botolf recites:
Kak! You shall never see us again!

Botolf gives a little laugh at his own joke.

​Chadatru recites:
Who are you? Were you here before? Surely you could not be for I would have seen you. When I had eyes.

Chadatru bows his head.

Rutilor recites:
We are aspects of you, Chadatru. The positive and the negative. I am Rutilor and this is Botolf. We have been with you for all your duration.

Botolf recites:

Looks like you are stuck with us, fella. Hey nice looking blade ya got there, Rutilor. I got a nice little dagger that I could trade for that. Filled to the hilt with gems, it is.

Botolf smirks as he taps an ordinary short dagger.

Chadatru recites:
I can sense which is which between the two of you. Why are you here? What has happened?

Rutilor recites:
We are here because you need us. Though each of us are different in our ways, we are the same person. Soon we will have mortals who will need us. Need you.

Chadatru recites:
Mortals? Need me? I am blind! Of what help can I be to them?

Botolf recites:
Kak! This is to be a god? A blind man who fights fiercely? Kak! This is no god! I should be the God! I can easily carry out what needs to be done to those mortals.

Botolf wipes his blade upon his leathers, looking around.

Rutilor recites:
Chadatru, you are more brave than you think. You are more just because you are blind. You are unable to be persuaded by gifts. Your blade sails in your battles quicker than mortal eyes, though you cannot see.

The Narrator recites:
And at this moment, a great trumpet seemed to sound. Rutilor and Botolf held the hands of Chadatru as they hurried towards the trumpet. Hurried to the sound of many feet trampling the ground, of blades clashing against each other. A whoosh by Chadatru’s ear made him draw his blade. Remembering the words of Rutilor, he held his blade before him, feeling the movements in the air from a slice of a blade. Quickly, he parried and clashed his blade against the opposing one. He fought and fought to the last of the battle.

Rutilor holds hands with Chadatru and Botolf.

Chadatru draws his blade.

Chadatru draws his blade and quickly parries. With a quick thrust, he sticks his blade into his opponent.

The Narrator recites:
Upon reaching the center of the battlefield, Chadatru overheard a group of men arguing their sides. This time with words, but Chadatru could tell he would soon be hearing the clash of blades again. He brushed by a tree and picked off an aromatic laurel. Holding it high in his hand, he strode forward to two of the men and quickly settled their debate.

​Chadatru places his hand on two of the men and talks in low tones. So in low in fact, that others have gotten closer to the god to hear him. As he turns to walk away, the group of men seem to be at ease. Two men turn and watch him join Rutilor and Botolf.

The Narrator recites:
The scenery returns to the stage where the Bard sits in front of the lion, listening carefully to Chadatru’s tale.

Chadatru recites::
The men were paladins Rutilor told me afterwards. ‘Defenders of a cause, honorable,’ he said. Botolf had replied to him, ‘Different causes. Different honor. One has fallen from ya, Rutilor.

​The Lion of Chadatru smiles at the Bard, his fangs glistening in the light. His blue-grey goshawk wings fold around his taut abdomen while his furry mongoose tail brushes lightly against the floor.

Chadatru recites:
But he always remains with me, no matter which of my aspects He chooses.

Chadatru roars!

The Narrator recites:
And with that, the curtains close before you. With a blink of the eye, they disappear and again the Tavern Troupe stands before you.