Cast of Characters:

NARRATOR
GYPSY QUEEN
GYPSY 1
GYPSY 2
GYPSY 3
JOSIAH THE PALADIN
PALADIN 1
PALADIN 2
LADY PALADIN
THIEF

​

Narrator recites:

Welcome Ladies, Lords and Fairfolk from all over. Tonight we shall present for your pleasure. ‘For Naught of the Gypsy Queen’.

Narrator recites:

‘Neath the shadow of the Dragons’ Mouth, by the light of the crimson moon, the Queen of the gypsies sits brooding on her lookout perch. She is the one ruler of Ker’Leor, the shadowy land on Therengia’s border. All around her, her faithful work at their daily deeds. Below her is her latest desire, the walled city of Therenborough.

​Gypsy 1 looks up at his friend in frustration.

​Gypsy 1 exclaims:

Hey, I’ve got my old chest here, but I’ve done lost my key!

​Gypsy 2, chuckles.

Gypsy 2 says:

No worries, keep it on ya, we’ll go ranger hunting in Langenfirth later, they’ve always got some lockpicks on them.

​Gypsy 2 grins at Gypsy 1.

​Gypsy 1 puts her box in her backpack.

​Gypsy 1 nods to Gypsy 2.

​The Gypsy Queen stands on the hill overlooking the walled city of Therenborough.

​The Gypsy Queen sighs.

​The Gypsy Queen patiently sings:

Over hill and over dale
These lands I do pledge myself
Through the fires of mages go
To defend this land so raw and true.

​They build their fences
They build their walls
Their homesteads slice the land
No thought of who came before.

​These people will not live in harmony
With the nature they claim to love
I can no longer allow them to live within
And disregard their savage ways.

​A chorus of Gypsies sing:

They build their fences
They build their walls
We can no longer see them live
For naught of the Gypsy Queen.

​The Gypsy Queen announces:

Our lands have too long been given over to those who wish to pen it in for their own uses.

​The Gypsies cheer!

​A chorus of Gypsies sing:

Over hill and over dale
These lands we do pledge ourselves
Through the fires of mages go
To defend our land so raw and true.

​Burn their fences!
Slight their walls!
Their lives we shall relinquish
For naught of the Gypsy Queen!

​The Narrator recites:

Welcome to Therenborough, jewel of the north, home of the Paladins. The citizens of Theren have enjoyed many years of prosperity since the fall of the bandits that defiled her walls for so long. See there in the Quadrangle. Here comes some of the guards now.

​Josiah the Paladin and many happy ironclad folks enter the room.

​A chorus of voices join with Josiah the Paladin as he sings:

The walls of Theren has stood
Through thick and through thin
Its walls eternally strong

​The bandits and the thieves
Have tried their best to ransack her
Yet she stands in her glory for all.

All Hail the towers of Theren
All Hail the Lord in his hall
All Hail to our Therenborough
All Hail the Paladin’s call

The Narrator gazes off to the south.

​The Narrator blinks.

​The Narrator yells:

Call to the Guard, the Gypsies are attacking the city!

​Josiah the Paladin and the Paladins of Theren hold their ground as the Gypsies enter the room.

​Gypsy 1 enters the room.

​Gypsy 2 enters the room brandishing her hunting sword.

Gypsy 3 enters the room.

​Josiah the Paladin bravely defends Therenborough with the honor and valor of a true Knight.

Paladin 1 defends Therenborough bravely.

Paladin 2 defends Therenborough bravely, and they beat back the gypsies!

​Gypsy 1 is struck down.

​The Thief searches a gypsy.

​The Thief raises a chest up high for all to see.

The Gypsy Queen looks at the thief in disgust as she comes forward.

​The Gypsy Queen yells:

Stop!

​The Gypsy Queen darkly sings:

We have for too long stood by watching
As you’ve come and carved up our land.
We were here long before you arrived
And we’re here to give our demand.

​The Gypsy Queen raises her staff and beats it down into the ground with a thunderous crack.

The Gypsy Queen says firmly:

These lands belong to the gypsies!

​The Gypsy Queen darkly sings:

You have two days to decide
What you will do with my quest
Will walk from this land unaccosted
Or will you die at the hands of my best!

​Paladin 2 looks at the dead gypsy and scoffs.

​The Gypsy Queen looks and notices Josiah and is transfixed by his gaze.

​The Gypsy Queen forces her eyes away from Josiah and retreats with her gypsies.

​Josiah the Paladin cheers heartily as the last gypsies retreats from sight.

Josiah says:

Good work men….and woman.

​Paladin 1 lets out a hearty cheer as the Gypsy Queen falls out.

​Paladin 2 cheers when she’s out of sight.

​The Lady Paladin cheers when she’s out of sight.

​Paladin 1 says:

Gee, Josiah, you scared her away!

​Josiah the Paladin says:

I don’t know what I did. She just looked at me and walked away.

​Paladin 2 says:

That’s a woman for ya. Always backin’ out when the goin gets tough.

​Lady Paladin says:

Hey now, don’t make me show you about things getting tough.

Paladin 2 says:

Present company accepted of course.

Paladin 2 smiles at the Lady Paladin.

Paladin 2 says:

We know you’re good, you’re one of the guys around here. But some of them other women…

Paladin 2 sighs.

Paladin 2 says:

There’s no teaching them to hunt proper.

​Gypsy 3 raises her eyebrow at Paladin 2.

​Paladin 2 sings:

A paladin’s day is spent honing
The skills of a lifetime of work
But nothing destroys all this practice
Than a witch with one tiny quirk

​Paladin 2 smirks.

​Paladin 2 recites:

There was a lady from Leth Deriel
Who’s face was as bright as a new shining bell
But out in the field
Her sword she would wield
And boy did that face go to hell.

​Paladin 2 sings:

A day of joy on the battlefield
Is all that I need to stay sane
But at the end of the day, the wife wants to play
This here is the paladin’s bane.

​Paladin 1 smiles.

​Paladin 1 recites:

Did you hear ’bout the Ranger from Lang
Who danced with the moss mey who sang
The voice was such bliss
He leaned in for a kiss
Then realized ’twas his bell she just rang.

​Paladin 1 sings:

Oh, the paladin’s bane is the ladies
They’re always distracting our minds
They’re cute and they’re frilly, and act a bit silly
It can make a man’s armor confined.

​Paladin 2 recites:

John Bobby from down south, he got married
THey went for romance and got ferried
He fell overboard
And she got his sword
Now she’s rich and he just got buried

​Paladin 1 grins like an idiot.

​Paladin 1’s voice joins with Paladin 2 as he sings:

A paladin’s bane is the ladies
They coo and they coddle us soft
They smell of perfume and the complain till they fume
It’s a rot, it’s a farce!
It’s a gosh darn shame!
There’s really no pleasing them off.

​Paladin 1’s voice joins with Paladin 2 as he sings:

The ladies they all love the armor
We polish it till we’re in pain.
They must see their faces in bright shiny places
Thus starts the paladin’s bane.

​Narrator recites:

For two days the paladins stood on guard, waiting for the Gypsy Queen to return. Then came the day the Gypsies returned with reinforcements. The Gypsy Queen enters the room with ichor rats and undead along side her marauders and scouts. The paladins look at the overwhelming forces and prepare to fight to their deaths for the protection of Theren.

Gypsy 2 saunters into the room adjusting her chain shirt.

Gypsy 3 enters the room.

Gypsy Queen enters the room.

Paladin 1 holds his ground bravely in the name of Therengia!

Paladin 2 defends Therenborough bravely.

​Lady Paladin defends Therenborough bravely.

​Josiah the Paladin bravely defends Therenborough with the honor and valor of a true Knight.

​The Gypsy Queen raises her hand to Josiah, beckoning him.

​The Gypsy Queen calmly says:

Come, sweet man, there is more to you than these walls. Be with me and we shall turn away now.

​Josiah the Paladin states emphatically:

This is no way to win a heart, Gypsy Queen!

​The Gypsy Queen smiles whimsically.

​The Gypsy Queen smugly says:

What do I care for hearts. I collect things; people, objects, land. All is mine for the taking if I choose. I offer you a chance to be chosen. I would chose you over this walled city. All you have to do is come with me.

​Josiah the Paladin sighs sadly.

​Josiah the paladin tenderly sings:

There is a song in the wind that you cannot quite hear
When the spring trees rustle their new leaves
There’s a dance that you cannot see
When the snow is melting into the earth.

​Far from the eyes of the world
Nestled in the arms of the Gods
There’s where you’ll find
The Paladin’s heart

​As clear as the stream from the mountain
When the spring sun spreads it’s warmth on the land
As sweet as the grass on the meadow
When the morning dews still lie upon the earth

​Strong as the keep on the hill
Pure as the temple in the valley
Here is
The Paladin’s heart

​See how the falcon flies
So high in the noon day sky
It’s glory desired by many
But none can reach so high

Yet for I whose soul is pristine
I sail high within heaven’s arms
There’s where you’ll find
The Paladin’s heart

The Gypsy Queen smiles.

The Gypsy Queens asks:

Would you give yourself, for the sake of your little town?

​Josiah the Paladin looks at the hordes of the Gypsy Queen then looks back at his fellow Paladins in dismay.

​Josiah the Paladin bows his head and sighs.

Josiah the Paladin says:

I will go with you. If I know that my city and my lord will be safe.

​Paladin 2 winces.

The Gypsy Queen smiles triumphantly.

The Gypsy Queen says:

Come then.

The Gypsy Queen holds out her hand to Josiah.

​Josiah the Paladin walks by her and out of town.

​The Gypsy Queen and her hordes leave Theren.

​Josiah the Paladin takes a last look at the walled city of Theren and sighs deeply.

​Josiah the paladin sadly sings:

Chadatru blessed this land
He blessed this great wall of stone
It stands as a show of his glory to all

​My heart shall always be Theren
My sword its wonderous strength
I rejoice to see her thriving avenues

All Hail the towers of Theren
All Hail the lord in his hall
All Hail to our Therenborough
All Hail the Paladin’s call

​Josiah the Paladin takes one last look at the walls and follows the Gypsy Queen somberly into the forests of Ker’Leor.

​The Narrator ponders sadly and watches Josiah leave. The lights dim and after a few moments of movement they come back up and you see the familiar scene of the edge of the forest.

​The Narrator recites:

Later in Ker’Leor. The Gypsy Queen finds Josiah brooding at the edge of the camp.

​The Gypsy Queen looks at Josiah sitting on a nearby rock.

​The Gypsy Queen says:

I wish I could talk you into wearing something less aggravating than that armor of yours.

​Josiah the Paladin haggardly says:

I do not do anything for your pleasure.

​The Gypsy Queen sighs deeply.

​Josiah the Paladin stares down the hillside out of Ker’Leor.

​The Gypsy Queen frowns.

​Josiah the Paladin sighs sadly.

​The Gypsy Queen reminds Josiah:

You chose to come here.

​Josiah the Paladin sighs.

Josiah the Paladin says:

There was no choice M’Lady.

​The Gypsy Queen frowns.

​Josiah the paladin sings:

In Therenborough
Neath the wall of the keep
The dust hits your nose
Like a wave

​And I work my time
Trying to make life better
With dreams of honor
And a home someday.

My compromise, to myself
Is to always be true to myself
But here, I see no compromise
No compromise for you and I

​The Gypsy Queen sings:

In the gypsy lands
We must work for our bread
Near the breath of the dragon
And the crags of the land.

And my day is spent
As leader to my people
I have learned not to yield
To any single person’s hand.

My compromise, to myself
Is to always be true to myself
But here, I see no compromise
No compromise for you and I.

​Josiah the paladin’s voice joins with The Gypsy Queen as she sings:

There are too many risks
At stake in this deed
There are too many lives
Looking to us and our needs

​If I were you, I would consider
The truthfulness to myself
Because I see no compromise
No compromise…

​Josiah the paladin sings:

In Therenborough
Neath the wall of the keep
The dust hits your nose
Like a wave

​The Gypsy Queen sings:

Oh, my day is spent
As leader to my people
I have learned not to yield
To any single person’s hand.

​Josiah the paladin’s voice joins with The Gypsy Queen as she sings:

My compromise, to myself
Is to always be true to myself
But here, I see no compromise
No compromise for you and I.

​Josiah the Paladin says:

I chose to be a Paladin and live in Theren. This is not living.

​The Gypsy Queen ponders.

The Gypsy Queen says:

I will think on this, you do nothing for me this way.

​The Gypsy Queen leaves Josiah to brood.

​Narrator recites:

Darkness settles like a thick cloak between you and the mountains of Ker’Leor. The night air is chilling, sweeping from the west to swirl across the dusty road. Howling beasts taunt and badger from the shadows at the edge of your vision, and an occasional scraping sound of unknown origin seems to follow right at your heels. Those stars visible in the sky trace a course almost identical to yours, invoking the sensation of walking endlessly yet standing still.

​Narrator recites:

At the edge of Ker’Leor the paladins are massing.

​Paladin 2 raises his arm.

Paladin 2 says:

We shall take on these forces and retrieve our lost companion before he is truly compromised!

​The Lady Paladin cheers!

​Paladin 1 lets out a hearty cheer!

​Paladin 2 cheers!

​Paladin 2 leads the massed force forward. A line of Gypsies stands out of the foliage and bars the way.

​Gypsy 2 stands defiantly against the gathered paladins.

​Gypsy 3 stands defiantly.

​Paladin 1 says:

Stand aside!

​Gypsy 2 cheers.

Gypsy 2 says:

Long Live the Gypsy Queen!

​Gypsy 3 yells:

You there, come out from the shadows!

​Josiah the Paladin comes out of the shadows.

​The Gypsy Queen comes out of the shadows.

​Paladin 2 gasps!

​Gypsy 2 gasps!

​Paladin 1 gasps!

​The Gypsy Queen raises her arms, as her voice echoes through the mountainside.

The Gypsy Queen shouts:

Enough!

​The Gypsy Queen looks over the area and smiles at the confusion she created.

​Gypsy 2 stands ready to attack, her hunting sword drawn for battle.

​Gypsy 3 stands ready to attack.

​The Gypsy Queen stands proudly.

The Gypsy Queens says:

I have thought long on problem concerning Theren.

​The Gypsy Queen looks down the hill to the walled city of Theren.

The Gypsy Queen says:

It seems as if the expansion of Theren is forever encroaching on the gypsy lands.

​The Gypsy Queen frowns.

​The Gypsy Queen raises her staff high in the air and drives it into the ground with a her great and powerful strength.

​The Gypsy Queen watches as the staff is implanted into the ground where it takes on new life. Its slender form begins to twist and turn about and forms itself into a tree with twisted boughs forever marking the landscape.

​The Gypsy Queen inspects her creation and then turns to the paladin forces.

The Gypsy Queen says:

Here marks the beginning of the gypsy lands. As long as this bough survives, it will be a symbol of what could have happened, but was avoided.

​The Gypsy Queen points down the hill to the city.

The Gypsy Queen says:

Beyond this twisted bough, lies your land. Theren is given leave to grow and prosper as long as it does not attempt to claim Ker’Leor as it’s own.

​The Gypsy Queen frowns and points into the mountains on the other side of the bough.

The Gypsy Queen says:

These are the lands of my people, and we will not be chased out. The people of Theren will not be welcome for any reason, so enter at your own risk.

​The Gypsy Queen nods to Josiah

The Gypsy Queen says:

Go with them, and leave this place. You do not belong with us.

​Josiah the Paladin bows to the Gypsy Queen then joins his Paladin forces.

​The Gypsy Queen joins the gypsies and they leave the field.

​The Gypsy Queen disappears into the forest, and was never seen again.

Josiah the Paladin smiles proudly.

​A chorus of voices join with Josiah’s voice as he sings:

The walls of Theren has stood
Through thick and through thin
Its walls are eternally strong

​The bandits and the thieves
Have ransacked it’s halls
Yet she stands in her glory for all

All Hail the towers of Theren
All Hail the lord in his hall
All Hail to our Therenborough
All Hail the Paladin’s call

​Chadatru blessed this land.
He blessed this great wall of stone.
It stands as a show of his glory to all

​My heart shall always be Theren
My sword its wonderous strength
I rejoice to see her thriving avenues

​All Hail the towers of Theren
All Hail the lord in his hall
All Hail to our Therenborough
All Hail the Paladin’s call