A Dreamless Sleep Act II

by Getoh the Living

Act II Scene I

The interior of the Church of Erathis. A Goblin Guard stands amongst the pews as a giant statue of the Goddess Erathis looms over him. Eden Zunno enters, hiding from sight.

Goblin Guard (Aside)

I am sick of this damned job. Guarding the Church of a God we don't even worship... what a waste. One little Goblin to guard the largest building in the known world. Seems more like a Draconian thing to me.

Eden
(Aside)

What in the strange new world might this place be?
A monumental structure for a God,
The Goblins that attacked had mentioned Gods
Yet I knew not their meaning. However,
Now I see it plainly before mine eyes.
A Temple, unfathomably large,
Crafted by such small creatures as Goblins,
All for the sake of one old Deity.
I admire their dedication to them,
This God who they claim exists in this world,
But I cannot believe in such falsehoods.
Belief is a sham, faith a fools errand,
And Gods a frail concept to justify
Ones unjustifiably done actions.
Man should believe in man if anything,
Else lose belief in its entirety,
For belief is wasted on mere concepts.
If I am meant to believe in something,
I need proof that my efforts are not wasted.

Goblin Guard
(Aside)

What is it that makes this Temple so special? Erathis does not manifest here, she may as well not even exist. Simply because we Goblins could not tear the immense structure down ourselves is meant to mean that we must guard it? Or is there further meaning in it? Does the Matriarch believe this would be some base of enemies? We Goblins drove out Giants, there is not an enemy that could be sent at us that could topple our might! It would be a sight, certainly. Proof of some kind in the Goddess Erathis... more proof then an overlarge place of worship. Eh... wake me up when there's a point.

The Goblin Guard lies down on the ground, taking a nap as Eden approaches the Erathis statue.

Eden
(Aside)

What could this be? A statue of a God?
Nay, this statue before me is Human,
A woman to be precisely truthful.
Is there something to read here? This appears
To be in our language, even. Erathis.
That is her name, it appears. Yet, what else
Is there to learn here? Who is this woman
Honored with a Temple if not a God?
Why does she carry a visage of man
If she is God of a world with no men
But monsters parading around as such?

Eden stumbles upon a stack of stone tablets with text carved into them. He looks through them as he speaks.

Eden
(Aside)

Supplements, suppose, these appear to be,
Again in the same tongue I speak my piece.
What speak you, oh font of all knowledge,
Who be this woman, immortalized here?
The Lady Erathis, Goddess of Law,
Herald of Invention and of Progress,
And thus Bastion of Civilization.
And so it is so, Lady Erathis,
That you're, in fact, a Goddess after all.
Forgive my doubts, if it means anything,
Belief is tough to stir up in this day.
Still, I question you, Lady Erathis.
How God? Wherefore Celestial? What then
Does that mean for this world of which you call
In these writings of stone Totania?
Humanity, mankind, is a new breed
On this planet, familiar yet different,
The Matriarch of Goblins said as such,
That we were unrecognizable beasts.
How then, Dear Lady, are we such as you?

The Goblin Guard on the ground begins snoring extra loud, and Eden notices him.

Eden

I see you, vile creature, Goblin afoul,
Tainting a Temple that never belonged
To you. I will rid this land of your kind
If it means I find an answer to
What I wish to know, and I just happen
To know how. Taste what Erathis calls "Magic."

Lightning is produced by lightning mages on stand-by in the wings, striking the Goblin Guard, who is shot off the stage. Eden stands there, looking at his hand.

Eden
(Aside)

So the "Magic" is truly real, Lady.
Your word thus far is true, however I
Still must know the truth of your personage.
Why holdest thou secrets so magical?
Why dost thou scorn the Goblinfolk of here?
Why are there no other Humans nearby?
This brings one final question to my mind,
Why especially do you look like me?

Eden stares at the statue for a moment, studying its resemblance to a Human. There is no feature of it that would make it seem otherwise. This is undoubtedly a Human woman. The sound of Goblin footsteps in the distance is heard.

Eden
(Aside)

Erathis, O the beautiful Goddess,
Wast thou waiting, and if so, why?
These faces I see before me, on you
And the statues that stand beside your grace
Appear Human, and yet how could that be?
How, unless, you were waiting just for us,
Humanity, to free you from your sleep.
I vow now, my lady, I shall free you!
Today, tomorrow, twelve years from today
However long it shall take, I'll return.

The sound of Goblins entering the Church causes Eden to flee, taking the tablets with him as he exits offstage.

Act II Scene II

The Church of Erathis, Zelgrile and Jibral stand holding a remnant of the Goblin Guard.

Jibral

Who could have done such a thing? To kill him
And then leave him to rot in such a place.

Zelgrile

The answer is sadly simple, daughter.
The men have come for vengeance against us.
We must now plan our next move carefully,
Else they do what's done here on a grand scale.

Jibral

How does Man have such a power, to char
A man, allow his corpse to collect flies,
With naught but a few moments time between
Living and dead states for their poor victim?

Zelgrile

It is Magic they wield, the art of Elves
And Draconians, not of Man or Goblin.

Jibral

Then how?

Zelgrile

Erathis is how, Jibral dear.
She must have passed on knowledge of magic
And now we stand at a disadvantage.

Jibral

Then the answer to our question is there.
You and I shall seek the same trick ourselves.

Zelgrile

The Magic College! You are a genius!

Jibral

Let us hope that is what we need to win,
Else we learn magic to carry us to our graves,
And give the Humans time to expand land
They would call their own.

Zelgrile

If it matters not,
Then nor do our lives, for there is no way
We can defeat fire without fire our own.
This land is my land, this land is your land,
I will not let man take our rightful land
And I will not let Gods torment us more.
Allow them expansion, it will then make
Our victory all the more satisfying.

Jibral

What plan have we for after and now?
Who leads, who lives, who loses victory
If Matriarch and Successor flee home
Then who remains to replace her in Hell?

Zelgrile

They shall hide in the caves of Dwarven lands,
Where safety is assured and secrets kept.
Our business now lies with the Grand Wizard,
Seventh to her title, Perzita Theldrar.
May she teach us magic to kill off Man.

Jibral

And may our men survive our absence thus.

Act II Scene III

The coast. Gellark Lionrage is being trained by Varth Dreamless.

Varth

When you swing your blade, swing it with care, pride,
Attentiveness, and an understanding
Of life and how it ends: by your own blade.

Gellark

Why are you training me with a big sword,
You wield a polearm, a spear,
Why hinder my training, my skill, my worth
By training me with something you use not?

Varth

My killing potential is higher, too,
Which I hope yours is not, nor ever be.
The polearm is designed to kill afar,
Stay far enough that one cannot connect
With the corpse they are creating, stay kept
Far enough they can only see the blood
And not the pain, the life they are taking.
There is no defense in a polearmed spear,
However a sword is close to the heart
Where one can use it to defend themselves
As well as the people around them too.
With swords you see your foe as close as see
Yourself, see fear and anger, see too pain,
And know that you have cut a person down.
Not a monster, there are no true monsters,
But ones fellow man. Perhaps then you will
Hesitate when you take another life.

Gellark

Why teach me to fight at all then, if you
Intend for me to not cut down our foes?

Varth

In this world, fighting is necessary,
But killing one another is not.

Eden Zunno enters, carrying the tablets.

Eden

I'm home!

Varth

Where hast thou been, our dear Eden?
We have had feasts in your mourning, these years.

Eden

Travel on foot is arduous and long,
Not mentioning the task I undertake.

Gellark

What is that outfit? Wherefore do you hold
Such rocky tablets?

Eden

Nay, Holy Tablets.

Gellark

Holy? If ever there is one I shant
Believe Holy, it is a man like you.

Varth

Hold, Gellark, hear out the returnèd man.
Speak your piece, what mean you by Gods?

Eden

Well, sir,
The Lady Erathis, Goddess of Law,
Invention, Civilization, and Man.

Gellark

How Goddess of Man? We are but newborns
On this planet.

Eden

Not planet, Totania.
That is this Holy world we have been found
Within. Lady Erathis waited here,
Looking like you and I. Looking like Man.

Varth

She is as we are? Human, through and through?
Perhaps, then, if there are others,
We can appeal, to their Humanity.

Eden

Speak not your blasphemes! Speak of no one else
No other God but our own Erathis.
There are others, this she writes, but tell me,
If one God intends give us help, why then
Would you seek help from another, eh Varth?

Gellark

Why should we believe then a word you say?
What proof have you of Gods or Goddesses,
Let alone this singular, Human one?

Eden

You truly wish to know why I believe?
Keep your eyes peeled and your belief ready.

Eden reaches his hand out. Lightning appears magically in front of him, striking and vanishing.

Eden

Behold, noble men, the gift of Magic!
With it, anything can be done for us.

Varth

Say Magic? Gods can make some magic then?

Eden

Erathis makes Magic, yes. Corellon,
Made Magic in its entirety, though.
Erathis still is our benefactor.

Varth

Those Tablets, though, teach the secret Magic?
With them, we could learn how it is so used?

Eden

Not so easily. Only some are blessed
With the potential for Magic power.
I would wager you, Varth, are unable
To make this Magic. I can help test it.
The two of you, study up. Read this text.

Eden shows the two one of the tablets. They begin reading it as Eden addresses the audience.

Eden
(Aside)

It is not so easy for one who does
Not believe. Belief grants me powerful
Abilities I would otherwise lack.
It took years, from the day I fled this land,
To the day I found your Church and you there
To this new day I may finally spread
The word of your Grace. I was once a man,
Belief lacking, no faith in anything.
It was your Magic and your face of Man
That helped me find the light I missed before.
I shall not let blasphemous words be said
Against you, Holy Lady of Mankind.
I will protect your great honor, your grace,
And anything in my mortal power.

Varth and Gellark come back from reading it. Varth steps forward.

Varth

I believe I understand that I know
Now power and how we're supposed to grow.
Utilizing portals in our own brains,
And without this growth, our power refrains.
Tempt me not with power so great as this,
Tempt me not with indescribable bliss,
Grant me power and so, too, grant me growth,
Take this plea as a promise, as my oath!

Varth reaches his hands out, attempting to do magic. As he closes his eyes and reaches out... nothing happens. He frowns.

Varth

What is it, some wind, that I now control?
Grant me the power you promised to dole!
Let me protect my people with your gift,
They are your people too, let this be swift!
Protect us, Erathis, if you're really there,
There is no true way that this can be fair.
Have I failed in my quest, this early on?
Is the unstarted battle already withdrawn?
Is my purpose all lost, the Goblins won?
Is there lingering hope, or is there none?

Gellark Lionrage steps forward. He too holds his hands out.

Gellark
(Aside)

I see in his eyes hope fading away,
I understand now why my life must stay.
I see it, that hope comes from future dreams,
The laugh of a friend, not hearing their screams.
I'll protect that, if you allow me to
I shall do the things Varth Dreamless can do.
It will be tough, perhaps too much for me,
So I'll grow to that level, set Varth's mind free,
Unshackle the hope he held at the seam,
And grant him the chance, perchance now, to dream

In front of Gellark, fire appears.

Eden

Fire, I see, that is the power which you wield.
A powerful one, and second to none
But Dark, a rarified type.

Varth

I'm so proud,
Yet I worry if this is fire enough?

Gellark looks down at the flames, dejected at Varth's worries. And so, a wave of water rushes over and puts out the flames.

Eden

Another type of Magic, was this Varth?

Varth

If only it was, but I have nothing
Of such, no power of mine to speak of.
Gellark, if this be you, then how is it,
If fire is your Magic, then what Water?

Gellark

I know not, yet I know still there is more,
More power to unlock beyond this door.
Watch now, Varth, I shall show what I can do,
And watch, Eden, as I show up your slew.

A wind blows, gaining more power as lightning strikes through it. The rest of the Magic choreography is up to directors, but he shows off Light, Dark, Earth, and Ice Magic as well.

Eden

What you did was every affinity
Attainable by Man, a feat so grand
I do not understand.

Varth

He is an Ace.

Eden

What is an Ace?

Varth

Someone who can use all
Affinities: Fire, Water, Ice, Lightning,
Earth, Air, Light, and Dark. Then, they are an Ace.

Gellark

Are Aces normal?

Varth

No, it is quite rare.
This scripture says that there are about four
In every generation. You are one
Out of a million, Gellark. You're special.
Just like I have always told you you are.
You're one of four in a generation,
So... more than ever, you need to live on.

Eden

Come with me, we will find a way to train
Both myself and Gellark. We will fight back
These Goblins. This land is our land, not theirs.

Varth

We need to discuss your rhetoric too.
Let us go.

Eden and Varth leave, leaving Gellark onstage.

Gellark
(Aside)

So I am an Ace. How wonderful, eh?
Whatever I can imagine, I do.
But my brain in this moment, it's racing
With thoughts, with so many ideas, with all
I'd do. Yet too it is empty, with naught
In it, the thoughts condensing and colliding
Until nothing remains. My mind is blank
To the potential I know that I have.
All ideas leave as soon as they enter,
All that is left is the idea that I
Must live up to what my father could not.
I am an Ace, unlimited power
At my fingertips, and yet I can do
Nothing.

Varth
(Offstage)

Are you coming Gellark?

Gellark

Yes, Varth.

Act II Scene IV

At the Magic College. Jibral sits on a bench, alone.

Jibral
(Aside)

Why am I not enough for my mother?
Magic was what she wanted, yet I can't.
I have no mana, I have no Magic,
I have no purpose to mine own people!
What is my purpose then? To rot away,
To be a corpse for my mother to hold
And leave all behind with my gruesome death?
A child should not die before the parent,
A parent needn't hold their lifeless spawn,
Yet the Gods in their infinite curses
Hath damned me to an early grave alone,
And granted Zelgrile power to live on.
Mayhaps I die, nothing then shall be lost.

Zelgrile enters quickly, sitting beside Jibral.

Zelgrile

Quick, Jibral, shield me from her watchful gaze!
She trains me endlessly and never rests,
She will not cease, not until I am strong
Enough to give her a challenging fight.

Jibral

You knew this would happen, mother of mine.
Grand Wizard Perzita's known for travelling
Around the world and fighting strong, fierce foes.

Zelgrile

I had expected her to come help us.

Jibral

Why so? Man is not strong enough, they'd waste
Her time. She would much rather train a strong
Person than fight a weak one for reasons
Such as politics, safety, and the like.
Be glad at least that she's doing this much,
And let her train you to defeat Mankind.

Perzita Theldrar, the Seventh Draconian Grand Wizard, enters stage.

Perzita

You'd do best to get back into the arena right this minute, Zelgrile. If you don't, I am going to drag you back there with all my might and then you'll be too exhausted to get any training done because you'll already be trying to fight against me there and that just drains all the energy that you need for fighting!

Zelgrile

Why not take Jibral and teach her to fight,
You train others with such great skill, Narkard
The Elf or the Nereid Cilnis Damolnath.
As you teach them, teach my girl then. Jibral,
She cannot use Magic, but she could fight!

Perzita

I don't teach non-mages. She, as you know, has no Magic. Not a little bit. I find fighting people like her less fun, especially if their techniques are my techniques, which they would be if I were to teach her. To me, she may as well have no power.

Zelgrile

That is my daughter you are speaking to,
I do not care if you are Grand Wizard,
You could be the God of Dwarves for all I care,
However, when it comes to my daughter
Or people, you do not cross me. Got it?

Perzita

This is the Goblin Matriarch I was looking for. Fired up, ready to rip my throat out!

Zelgrile

Perhaps I will, rip out your Dragon throat,
Get that breath weapon myself from your own
Old, rotting corpse. I could kill you, if I tried.

Perzita

Let me see that then. I wish not for a boring life, and no one should seek a boring death. What I seek is the peak of mortality. A fiery death, a glorious death, where all can stare on in awe and say "There was a woman who truly had lived." If your death does not make a mark, your life is not worth speaking of. Come, Zelgrile. See if you can grant me this greatest of glories. Now that you're all heated, let's see how well you can fight! Are you coming, young daughter of the Matriarch?

Jibral

No. I've seen you two fight enough I could
Most likely fully replicate your style
And teachings if I really wanted to.

Perzita runs offstage, followed by Zelgrile. Zelgrile stands at the edge of the stage for a moment, looking to Jibral. Jibral smiles and waves and Zelgrile nods, walking away. Leaving Jibral onstage alone again.

Jibral
(Aside)

A pathetic life I lead, is it not?
To live and suffer, ridiculed for that
Of which I cannot control, my power.
I am powerless, not simply because
I lack power with no Magic, though this
Is true as well, but also due to my
Inadequacy in comparison
Towards the woman who gave birth to me.
How am I to live on if I am next,
The one to carry her torch, next in line
To lead, yet lacking the power to lead.
If I continue on like this I may
As well not live at all. To die would be
A glorious ending to my sad tale,
Yet not a death sitting on my own feet,
But glorious, fiery death, as said
By that Perzita I detest and admire.
So let it come quick or give me purpose
Beyond even the one I envy most.
I was taught to curse you, but instead I
Shall plead. Oh Gods, in the Heavens above,
Give me a chance or bring me to my death.

Eden Zunno by Jarhed

Jibral by Jarhed

Perzita Theldrar by Jarhed