A Dreamless Sleep Act I

by Getoh the Living

Prologue

The Chorus enters, standing alone on a bare stage and addressing the audience.

Chorus

In a strange new world of hostility,
The race of Man, noble, warlike, and cruel
Were met by a group of like-minded men,
Still warlike, still cruel, yet lacking the rest.
Neither Man nor Goblin wished for peace, for
What, they pondered, could they possibly share,
For Men had many colors, yet none green.
With foul and wicked weapons raised to throats,
A sword pointed either direction watched,
For first move would then determine first death.
Humans pulled, and Goblins pushed, back and forth,
An endless struggle, where no man slept, No
Man dreamed of anything but an end to
This ceaseless corpse collection created
By such beastly men as seen in mirrors.
Come back with us, to fields of Nerodil
And Gremont, where suns have not since shown so,
To see Humanity at its basest,
Lost, grieving, afraid, and may we shine light
Once again on those battlefields of yore,
To show in glory there is also grief,
And so, too, in grief, glory comes once more.

Act I Scene I

Exterior: Goblin Caves. Zelgrile, the Goblin Matriarch, enters with her daughter Jibral.

Jibral

Mother, I have been meaning to ask you
Of this land we reside on, which you call
Nerodil. Where does such a name come from?

Zelgrile

Nerodil was once a land of Giants
But the Gods grew spiteful and destroyed them.
The Giants Kingdom was flooded by Gods,
Destroyed by their own blessèd miracle.
Nerodil was where they fled, fearful yet
Grateful to live through divine punishment.
Nerodil was thus named as a tribute,
With Giant Prince Nero the sacrifice.
His noble blood spilt on Nerodil soil
Would keep all their men safe from holy might.

Jibral

Then why do us Goblins control this land?
If Giants made peace, if their blood is here
Tainting the soil with celestial grace
Then why have I not once seen a Giant?

Zelgrile

Because, my dear girl, the Gods struck again.
Their wrath was more forceful, their hate returned
As the Giantfolk were driven once more
From their land.

Jibral

But how, Nero's blood was spilled?

Zelgrile

Because it was not the Gods hands who killed.
The Gods blessed a race, to hold all their hate
To be bearers of war, conquest, and fate.
The God Bane gave his blessing, sent them to war
The Giants were driven away once more.

Jibral

Mother, this makes no sense to me.

Zelgrile

Why's that?

Jibral

Bane is God of us Goblins, isn't he?

Zelgrile

Yes, my sweet flower, he watches us all,
We pray for his guidance and sacrifice
To his personage. But we listen not
To all his teachings, barbaric and crude.
We make peace, not war, when it's possible.
He'll strike back one day, he or another
As Matriarch, it's my job and, too, yours
To protect all your people, keep them safe.
I abandoned Bane's Church for such safety,
For no war, but to keep peace for my folk.
I hope not to see the day they strike back,
And pray that it never shall come to us.
My citizens mean more any God.
My citizens, my land, and above all, you.

Seglat, the Goblin Jailor, enters.

Seglat

Matriarch, I have bad news. News which would haunt your ears to hear, and yet news which would do more wrong to leave unspoken. I do not know how to tell you, but there are invaders in Goblin lands.

Zelgrile

Invaders? Who are these tresspassing men?

Seglat

They are just that, my lady: Men.

Act I Scene II

Coast. Varth Dreamless, the leader of the Humans, stands with his young protege, Gellark Lionrage. A crowd of Humans stands before him. These are all of the Humans.

Varth

This strange land is familiar yet not,
A new frontier, whereupon we stake claim
To a renewed life. A prosperous life.
I promise to lead you to such a life.
For that is my purpose as your leader,
Why I was chosen to lead from the start.

A man in the crowd, named Eden Zunno, raises his hand.

Eden

Dreamless, tell me, what are we to do now?
We've no home, no place to belong, nothing.
Who are we to follow your word blindly,
As if you know any more than we do!

Gellark

Don't say that! Varth is honorable, just,
Noble, kind, and everything else that thou aren't,
Nor will you ever be if you keep this
kind of thing up! We succeed when building
Each other up, not tearing ourselves down.

Varth

Calm down, the two of you. Gellark is right,
We must work as a unit, not against,
But agreed. I understand doubts that are
Had of my rule, I have such doubts myself.
It is Human nature to doubt, just as
It is natural to breathe, it is natural
To tear down. Doubt of others comes simply
From self doubt. One believes they must tear down
Another to raise themselves to high heights.
Such a thought is a contrarian one,
For tearing another tears down oneself,
Shifts the tearers feelings, spreads them like plague.
We must not tear each other down, but build
Our egos with our words, thoughts, and actions.
To raise each other up, sacrifice must
Be taken. Your problems are yours to fix.
One cannot shift a burden, but only
Delay it, allow someone else to hold
A weight that would else crush them otherwise.
Ones burdens are theirs alone to carry,
Others can support you, but not your burden.
I will carry my burden, which is the
Kingdom we will build. All I ask from you is
Your support, belief, trust, and faith in me.

Eden

I cannot promise faith, Dreamless, but I
Can promise that I will build up
Rather than tear down. I can make us all
A place to live, if you will do the same.

Gellark

Is that even a question? Of course Varth
Would do that for us, he promised just now.

Varth

Gellark, the two of us will discuss this
After Eden and I are done. As for
Everyone else, settle in for the night.
Tomorrow we set off to find a home.

The crowd leaves, leaving Eden and Varth onstage alone. Gellark also lingers, hiding from sight.

Eden

Do we know much about the surroundings?

Varth

We know nothing. I've sent some scouts to search,
But little has returned from their mission.

Eden

Does that not worry you?

Varth

Hardly at all.
I trust the men I assigned to do it,
And I know they were the most capable
People we have on our side. They'll do it.

Gellark
(Aside)

Such men are capable, or so says Varth,
Yet they seem vanish without a trace.
Varth took me in, brought me around his hearth,
Yet he will not look at me, face-to-face.
I, too, wish to be capable like them,
To gain the trust of the man I admire,
From there, grow a grand tree from my base stem,
Be the one relied on when times are dire.
Can I be a great man like my mentor?
I am a young man, little to my name,
Yet the day will come where the crowds adore
Me for my actions, greater or the same
As Varth. Gellark be the name on all minds
The greatest of men who saved all humankinds.

Eden

Tell me, Varth, your thoughts on the boy Gellark.

Varth

Gellark is like a babe I nursed myself,
I wish to protect him, but I cannot
Let him be put in danger. I made a
Promise, long ago, to his father Dale.
Since that day, the boy has been like mine own,
I could not in any sane state of mind
Place a bare babe on a brutal battlefield.

Gellark stands up from the bush, revealing himself in his offense.

Gellark

A babe!

Gellark storms out, upset.

Eden

Had you known the boy was listening in?

Varth

I figured it possible, but not so
He's a young one, he has room enough
To grow. He must learn that he is not yet
Ready for our work, lest he place himself
In danger for his misplaced, misused pride.

Eden

He will run into battle now, not out.
I hope and, for you, pray, for his safety,
Or else I fear for us all under you
If you could not even protect the one
Who meant the most to you, what then are we?

Eden exits, leaving Varth alone onstage.

Varth

What then are those, those who follow a man
With naught even a dream nor a vision
For the future. Safety is not a dream
Nor is it an ideal, but a right
That all men and women are born to have.
When babes are born to the world, they know not
Danger, but the loving embrace of their
Mother. Danger is not a natural
Instinct, and yet we adapt to fear death.
Death is to be feared, of course, for we can
Only achieve greatness in life. Greatness
Of self, greatness of love, greatness of others.
Life is the basic state of man, and so
Is not something they need work hard to earn.
I am no great man simply because I
Wish for the bare minimum, it is the
World that treats my goal as impossible,
And so the world that is my enemy.
I alone stand here atop the cursed world,
I alone can make the changes needed,
And I alone can bring safety to all.
Life to all. Dreams to all. For I have none.
All I have is my life, and that's enough.

A soldier enters, the Captain.

Captain

Mr Dreamless, we took a walk around
The perimeter of our camp and found
Bodies. The men we sent out are all dead.

Varth

Hast thou seen Gellark?

Captain

Gellark, sir? Our men
Lie dead and our safety is on the line!

Varth

Aye, on the line. Yet in peril it be
If Gellark is not found. Will you listen,
Or shall I do everything on my own?

Act I Scene III

The Coast, Gellark is alone, looking out over the distance. He sees a helmet on the ground beside him, once belonging to the scouts Varth had sent out.

Gellark

Capable men! Call as such capable men and look at what happens to them! They die, they flee, they leave behind scant but remnants of valor and nothing else. If this be so capable a man, then where lie he? If the crown that once sat atop his head is here and not he, then what say he, from Hell, Heaven, or such vacant a world as I stand? Call this not a helmet, but carve into its front the word capable and place it atop the head of ones best man. Carve in its interior the title fool, as to see the inside is to see thus. For the fool that once wore such a helmet left behind such title with it. Yet here I stand to take it and, thus, prove my worth.

Gellark picks up the helmet, placing it on his head. It is too big to fit on him, but he still keeps it on.

Gellark

Call it to me now, oh keepers of honor! Call me hero, call me warrior, call me a name I have yet to earn, for events as that are commonplace in the land of clowns that I have found myself in, where simple common sense is outweighed by the rule of beasts. Place upon me the responsibility, of which I could handle with ten times the grace of such capable men.

Varth Dreamless enters.

Varth

It does not fit you, and you would do best
To pray that it never will. It is a
Heavy burden, the helm and title
Of a warrior. Many men who bear
It pray in those moments where it all counts
That they could throw the helm away and flee.
But responsibility is not so
Easily abandoned as a helmet,
The resulting grave is an eternal weight
Which can never be left behind.

Gellark

What so?
If responsibility is so fraught
Then who bears so heavy and long a weight?

Varth

Those folk willing to confront Death herself
And never once see their loved ones again.

Gellark

I do not mind the thought of death when all
I knew has left me behind and both my
Parents left me for the grave!

Varth

Enough!

Varth slaps Gellark.

Varth

If you mean to say I have no love for
You, then I know not how else I could show
Then already I do. Do not ever
Mock death, for it will eventually
Catch up to you and leave you with nothing.
Death is no laughing matter. So live.

Gellark

I do not understand. How can you tell
Me to live, and yet throw yourself into
Danger, to death?

Varth

I do what's needed for you.
Still, death is not a subject I greet kind
With a smile or with ease. If I am dead
Then that stench will linger with those I love
And haunt them for the remainder of their
Days. My skeleton will remain in their
Closets as my empty grave waits for them
To follow me. Beckons them with the call
To the void. In death I could not care for
Those that rely on me, instead leave them
Hanging. Worst of all, however, in death
I could not see you again, my dear boy.
I hope, in a far off time, you will be
There at my grave, tears of love for my past,
Yet I hope too, fleetingly, that day will
Not come. That I could live forever with
You, taking care of you and keeping you
Safe. The one dream I have, a futile one.
Death comes for us all. The least we can give
Is respect, dignity, and grace for life.

Gellark

I do not understand your apprehension.
You give yourself away for your people,
And yet you fear death for them. Is that not
A double standard of honor and fear?

Varth

Honor and fear go hand in hand, jointly
Leading men to early graves for honor
Of battle and fear of loss, honor of
Thieves and fear of those who catch them as such,
Honor of love and fear of it slipping
Away with not a trace left but the pain
That lingers in a heart that will not long
Be beating. The most honorable men
Are those who carry their fear with pride, and
The men who tell their tales are those without
Either. Those are the men who live enough.
Not dying in blazes of glory, nor
Alone in fear of the unknown, but in
Ignorant bliss. Pray to die such a man.

Gellark

I pray not to die at all, yet if I
Must, I will die in the greatest battle
That has ever been observed, a hero.

Varth

Heroes are the most tragic of us all.
I see words may not get to you today,
Let us hope they have no need to do so.
May peace be our fate, may death come in sleep,
And may dreams become our reality.

A scream is heard offstage.

Gellark

What was that? Why would someone be screaming like that unless-

Varth

Stay behind me. I can keep us both safe.

Act I Scene IV

The Fields. The Captain stands guard as Eden Zunno approaches him.

Eden

How goes the watch, Captain? Anything odd?

Captain

Odd indeed. A foe lies out there somewhere,
And we know not who, why, or how they are.

Eden

Do alert us if ever they appear,
We now have enough problems to deal with,
A surprise attack's the last thing we need.
Especially Varth. He has plenty wrong.

Eden exits, leaving the Captain alone.

Captain

Varth Dreamless? Why Varth Dreamless to lead us?
What good can a man so distracted by
Other issues for the people who
Depend on him? Nothing at all, that's what.

Zelgrile enters the stage with Seglat.

Zelgrile

You spoke no lie, Seglat. This here is man.

Seglat

I do not tell lies, my lady. I would not consider it. Especially not to you.

Captain

Hark! Who goes there?

Zelgrile

I am Zelgrile, Matriarch of Goblins.
Who may you be? The man in charge of men?

Captain

If only such a thing were true, creature,
I would have the authority to strike
You down and bury you in a shallow
Grave. I am not, however, Varth Dreamless.

Zelgrile

Varth Dreamless is your leader then? I see.
Then you will serve as an opening act
To your masters death.

Captain

I serve no master,
And damn my orders if to kill you here!

The two fight. Zelgrile gets the upper hand, cutting down the Captain with her axe.

Zelgrile

He made no sound. That will do me no good.
He seemed disloyal. A circus is here,
It seems, to have such men who disregard
Orders to charge into battle. Foolish,
Yet smart nonetheless, for I'd have killed him
Whether he charged or had not, death still comes.

Seglat

My lady, I must ask, why is it that you struck down such a man? I understand his hostile intent, but your words say to me that you would kill anyway. Why do you believe these men pose a threat?

Zelgrile

The Gods have sent new threats to us, and so
I repay them in kind with a threat of my own.
I curse the Gods, and I protect my brave
People, who stand by my side and follow
Me no matter what. If blood must be spilled
For my people, then so be it Seglat.

Eden Zunno enters again.

Eden

Captain, do you have an idea where Varth
Could be? I have been trying to find him
And yet he constantly eludes my search
And he escapes my sight at every turn.

Zelgrile

You know the Dreamless man, red hair?

Eden

Who the-
What are you, foul creature, and why do you
Address me as if I have a reason
To answer a question posed by your kind?

Zelgrile

I will answer you not, only Dreamless.
I tire of these endless back-and-forth games.
Bring me Dreamless, or face your death, red hair.

Eden

I will do no such thing, I will instead...

Eden tosses a rock, not at Zelgrile, but behind her. He then hides behind a larger rock, cowering in fear.

Eden
(Aside)

I fear for my life, I fear for my death.
Which phrase is correct in such a moment
As this? I die here, what then happens to me?
Is there naught but void, life all but empty?
I fear it, oh stars, I fear what comes next.

Zelgrile

Scream, man. Scream in your final moments here.
Scream that the Gods above will hear your cry.
When you join them then, even they shall laugh
At the so-called "man" who feared his own fate!

Eden

If a scream is what thou wants out of me,
Then a scream shall be what thou gets from me!

Eden stands, screaming and fleeing offstage.

Zelgrile

That will do nicely, I am proud to say.
The Dreamless Man will fall into our trap,
And we will rid this land of cursèd men.

Seglat

What then are we to do? There are stories of those that eat dreams, that say they will bring with them despair and terror. If that is the case, could this man be one like that? Or perhaps worse, he is the despairful, terrified man left behind by such monsters. We would do better to mind our business, my lady.

Zelgrile

We will scout this Dreamless Man then, Seglat.
We shall see with our own two eyes whether
He is a monster or a man to be
Feared. We will determine this ourselves then.

Varth Dreamless enters, with Gellark Lionrage behind him.

Varth

Who let out such a shriek? With a voice full
Of fear and pain, I must believe a foe
Has arrived to cause havoc in my land.

Zelgrile

Your land? You men are bold, indeed, Dreamless.

Varth

How know you my men? Be you a reaper?

Zelgrile

I am not the one who shall be reaping,
For your hubris, I shall force you to reap
What you sow, Dreamless Man.

Varth

Then come, woman!
I know not your name, nor know your purpose,
But I will protect and avenge my men.

Zelgrile

I will say it one last time then, Dreamless.
Listen close, for I shant say it again.
I am Zelgrile, Matriarch of Goblins,
And harbinger of yours and Mankinds doom.

Before anyone can attack, Gellark jumps between them, looking to Varth.

Gellark

You said you would not die! How can you do such a thing as charge into battle against an unknown foe, even if they pose a threat, and still claim to not intend to die? What will I do then? You told me to live, so live!

Varth

If living were so simple, none would die.
Death comes when it must, we must avoid it
When possible. When not, we have then failed.
I will live in memory if not body.

Gellark turns to Zelgrile now, holding the helmet on his head.

Gellark

Then I will be the one to die. We need
You, Varth. The people, the land, and me too.
So I shall die in your place, and you lead
As you do now. Lead for us all, for me.
For the future of mankind itself!

Zelgrile

Is this here your boy, Dreamless Man?

Varth

Indeed.
What do you intend to do with such news,
Zelgrile, Matriarch of Goblins?

Zelgrile

That is all I need hear for now, Dreamless.
The boy reminds me of mine own daughter,
Jibral. Just as foolishly brave as he.
I will leave you be for now, but if you
Trespass on my land or spread further out,
My daughter and I'll kill you and your son.

Zelgrile leaves, with Seglat following close behind. Varth kneels at the body of the Captain.

Gellark

Was he the one that screamed? I can't believe
They would kill the Captain in such cold blood.

Varth

Silence, Gellark. Give the captain respect.
As I said, we must respect life, even
When that life is taken away from us.
Give him a moment for your grief, my boy.

Gellark bows his head.

Varth
(Aside)

This is what you give to me, is it not?
A portent of the fate that awaits us,
And not a way to escape such an end.
We are all to die then, is that not it?
To leave behind no mark on this new world,
Instead to leave but corpses, ours or theirs.
To fight, to kill, to die, to bury all
But ourselves, for that is the job of he
Who remains in the graveyard of failure.
I spite you today then, fate! I'll not die!
Gellark will not die! My people will not
Die! Humanity will not die! No,
We will live on regardless of this fate.
Try to kill us. We will be ready for you.

Varth Dreamless by Jarhed

Zelgrile by Jarhed