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Acknor's Shadow
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Characters

Ellory Pufftail, a furrikin maiden
Avren Pufftail, the baby furrikin
Delatini Pufftail, the furrikin matron
Yojimbo Buntz, the apothecary
Vroshnak the Destroyer, an orc
Grokgar, the Yellow Overseer

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Prologue
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The scene shimmers slightly, giving a blurred vision of a bright, sunlit field.

An unseen voice says, "It is said that the young dare to do what the old do
not, because they do not know the danger. So it was for me in my youth, when I
was yet ignorant of the danger of that other village so close to Estelbar. For
me then, Acknor was a fable, a myth. For all it was bare miles away, it could
have been on the other side of the Basin of Life for all the attention I paid
it."

An unseen voice says, "One day, of course, the inevitable happened, and
Acknor's shadow fell upon Estelbar. That is the story I must tell today-- not
for my own glory, but for those who follow, for the danger is not past."

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Act I.
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Scene 1:
A Carrot Patch
The ground has been cleared of weeds and furrows dug in neat rows. Growing in
the mounds created by the furrows are the tops of carrots, looking nothing more
than green leaves. However, near the base, the orange root can be seen just
barely sticking out of the ground.

The scene sharpens, and two furrikin are seen standing within the bright
lushness of the field. One is but a babe, and resembles nothing so much as a
ball of fur. The other is older, red-furred and squirrel-like, with a foxy
beauty to her features.

Avren: Lory! Lory! Carrot!

Ellory: No, Avren, no carrots. You've had too much to eat today, you little
glutton.

Ellory picks Avren up and tickles him mercilessly!

Avren squeals with laughter.

Ellory (putting Avren down): Now, stop bothering me while I pick these carrots
for Master Yojimbo, will you? Go off and play.

Avren (hopefully): Carrot?

Ellory: Hush, you.

Ellory waves Avren away and begins industriously tugging at carrots.

Avren bites down on a tuft of green leaves protruding from the ground, and
pulls at it with all his might, his tiny paws scrabbling against the ground.
With a scattering of dust and grass, a carrot comes free. Avren darts a glance
at Ellory, who is still gathering carrots and seems oblivious.

With triumphant smugness, Avren darts off with his prize in his mouth.

As the sun passes below the horizon's edge, Mother Night unveils her terrible,
shadowy beauty, spreading darkness across the land.

Ellory straightens up and rubes her back.

Ellory: Avren, we're done. Let's go home.

Ellory: Avren?

She is answered by only silence.

Ellory: Avren!

Ellory gathers her carrots in her arms and strides over to the edge of the
carrot field. She steps on something, and looks down.

The carrots fall out of her arms, rolling away from Ellory as she stares down
at the ground.

A nibbled carrot and a half-eaten, sugar-coated berry lie abandoned in the long
grass.

Scene 2: A grain silo
The grain silo is a tall affair of mortar and stone that also goes down deep
into the earth, providing a cool dry space to store grains of wheat is
well-sealed bins. Though there are no windows, up high on the walls are open
slats to keep the air circulating and fresh. The smell of wheat is heavy and
rich, and dust from the grain makes the air glitter with golden motes.

The scene shimmers and changes until it shows a grain silo, in which Delatini
Pufftail, the furrikin matron is busily thrashing a sheaf of wheat.

Ellory dashes in, banging the door in her haste.

Ellory: Ma, ma, have you seen Avren?

Delatini (testily): What do you mean, have I seen Avren? I thought he was with
you?

Ellory looks panicked.

Ellory: I can't find him anywhere! I've looked in all the fields, the orchards,
even the tae'dae playground. He isn't there!

Delatini straightens up.

Delatini: Ellory Pufftail, do you mean to tell me you've lost your baby
brother?

Ellory: Yes! That's exactly it!

Delatini: I told you to look after him! Is this how you deal with
responsibility? By Bollikin, if he's come to harm--

Ellory (voice rising in anger): I have things of my own to do! I can't spend
every moment of my day minding a baby, as you well know-- otherwise you'd have
looked after your son yourself instead of making me do it every day! And you
tell me about responsibility?

Delatini: Don't talk to me like that, Ellory!

Ellory: Don't talk to me like that!

Delatini: I'll talk to you however I like--

Ellory: Hypocrite!

Delatini cries out in anger, and gives Ellory a sharp shove, sending her
crashing to the floor.

There is a dead silence. Ellory picks herself up, and silently brushes herself
off, though her upright fur betrays her agitation.

Ellory stares at Delatini, then jerks the door open and goes off into the
night.

Delatini: Ellory! Ellory--

The door slams with a final crash.

Scene 3: The Aging Apothecary
In the centre of the little workshop is a long table, upon which sits a variety
of beakers, tubes and alembics filled with bubbling, colourful liquids. Upon the
far wall is a cabinet filled with jars and canisters of exotic herbs and spices.
The floor is covered with a fireproof glassblade rug, though someone has
managed to scorch even that. The air is thick with smoke and strange scents
fill the air.

The scene shimmers and shifts into a view of an apothecary, with bottles and
vials scattered all over the place. Yojimbo Buntz is standing here, muttering
under his breath. Beside him is Ellory, and on the counter is the sugar-coated
berry.

Ellory: That's all I've found. I've heard stories about furrikin who go
missing. Is it true, Master Yojimbo?

Yojimbo: I'm afraid it is indeed a chokeberry, Ellory. Though there have never
been any records of babes being taken-- mostly they take farmers, those old
enough to work in their foul fields.

Ellory gnaws her lip in worry.

Ellory: Have there been any records of-- of those who have been rescued from
Acknor?

Yojimbo: They are few and far between. Sometimes the commune which protects us
helps us, but for the most part we are left alone. It has been long since the
antidote to the mind-numbing poison the orcs use to enslave our brethren has
last been brewed.

Ellory: You can make it, can't you?

Yojimbo: Yes.

Yojimbo pauses.

Yojimbo: You do realise that you will have to go into Acknor yourself in order
to give it to your brother, do you not? The chances of you being captured as
well are just as great, if not greater than, your chances of success. Delatini
would never agree to let you go.

Ellory: Avren's the apple of her eye, you know. Her baby son, her dearest
child. If I can get him out... well, I think she would be happy then, even if--

Ellory stops abruptly, and takes a deep breath. When next she speaks, her voice
sounds slightly strained.

Ellory: Anyway, I'll help you make the brew.

Yojimbo looks at Ellory for a long moment.

Yojimbo: Unnecessary. I already have all I need.

Yojimbo picks up a carrot, and weighs it in his hand. From his pocket he takes
a little glowing vial, and splashes a bit upon the carrot, which begins to glow
with golden radiance.

Yojimbo: I always do try to keep some of the potion handy.

Yojimbo gives the carrot to Ellory.

Yojimbo: Good luck.

Ellory nods and leaves, like a shadow in the night.

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Act II
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Scene 1:
Within the Slave Pens
The scene changes once more, showing the Acknor Slave Pen, garish and squalid.
Loud crashes echo through the hallway, and there is litter everywhere on the
dirt floor. A door stands ajar, and the walls are rough and splintered, with
rough holes gouged into them serving as storage cabinets.

The earth trembles slightly, and the next moment a furry head pokes out of the
dirt. Ellory clambers out, revealing a freshly-dug tunnel.

Ellory looks around nervously, then slowly pushes at the door. It gives an
enormously loud creak. A bellow arises from within.

Ellory cringes.

Vroshnak the Destroyer marches out.

Vroshnak: Stupid furball!

Vroshnak aims a painful kick at Ellory.

Vroshnak (muttering to himself): Grang make me watch slaves, hah! One day I
smash him!

Vroshnak suddenly looks suspiciously at Ellory.

Vroshnak: Wait. You, furball. You aren't a slave.

Ellory is shaking. Too terrified to lie, she nods her head.

Vroshnak (slyly): Furball, you do something for me. You get me a club to smash
Grang, or I call slavers.

Ellory stares.

Vroshnak: Do it! Give me club before dawn.

Ellory scampers out.

Vroshnak snorts, and goes back in to the room.

Glorious rays of morning light burst forth from Father Sun's crown as it peeks
over the world's edge, announcing a bright and shining new dawn.

Ellory tiptoes in, looking over her shoulder. In her hands she holds a sharp,
heavy club. It is so large that she can barely lift it, and the sharp splinters
have made scratches on her hands.

Ellory pushes the door open, and slips inside.

After a moment, there is a roar.

Vroshnak yells, "Sharp club! I smash Grang!"

Vroshnak stamps out of the room, his heavy footsteps taking him toward the
Acknor compound. A moment later, a very pale Ellory emerges, and darts off in
the opposite direction.

Scene 2:
Within the Slave Pens

Avren is here, curled up in a ball and whimpering. His eyes are unfocused, and
he looks utterly miserable.

Grokgar, the Yellow Overseer is here, snoring in his sleep.

Ellory tiptoes in, and her eyes widen as she sees Avren. Her gaze strays to
Grokgar, and she clenches her fists, hardly daring to breathe.

Ellory starts to creep slowly towards Avren.

Grokgar mumbles in his sleep.

Ellory freezes, then seeing that Grokgar has not woken, continues her slow
crawl.

After what seems like an eternity, Ellory reaches Avren.

With infinite care, Ellory, produces the glowing carrot from her pocket, and
puts it to Avren's mouth.

Avren bites down on the carrot half-reflexively.

Ellory holds her breath.

Slowly, Avren's eyes clear, and he seems to rise out of his stupor. All of a
sudden, his head snaps up and he sees Ellory.

Avren (wailing): Lory!

Avren leaps into Ellory's arms.

Avren: Lory, I want to go home.

Ellory (panicked): Hush! Hush, Avren!

Ellory slaps a hand over Avren's mouth, but it is too late. Grokgar stirs.

Grokgar: Furball escaping!

Grokgar roars and charges at Ellory, effortlessly raising both her and Avren
into the air.

Ellory struggles, to no avail.

Grokgar strikes Ellory about the head with a heavy, clawed fist, cutting four
parallel slashes in her face.

Ellory screams, and Avren begins to bawl.

Grokgar stabs Ellory in the leg with a huge, curved tusk.

Grokgar: I make an example of you, scum!

Suddenly, a shout pierces the air.

Vroshnak yells, "I beat Grang! Grang is dead! I am Chieftain! Orcs, come and
swear to me, or I smash you!"

Grokgar snarls, and looks undecided.

Vroshnak: Come, or I smash you like Grang!

Grokgar makes a noise of anger, and throws Ellory down.

Grokgar: I deal with you later, furball!

Grokgar scuttles off to the compound.

With supreme effort, Ellory picks herself up from the ground, and gathers Avren
in her arms. Limping, she leaves the slave pens unnoticed in the general
confusion, with nothing to mark her passage except the blood flowing down her
face like tears and dripping into the dust.

Act III
Scene 1: The Aging Apothecary
Set remains the same as that in Act I, Scene 3

Delatini: Yojimbo, please tell me it is not true. My daughter has gone to
Acknor?

Yojimbo: Yes, Delatini, it is true.

Delatini (agitatedly): Why? Gods, why?

Yojimbo: She seemed to think it was what you would want, that you cherished
young Avren more. That it justified her going to Acknor to attempt a rescue.

Delatini starts to sob quietly.

Delatini: Oh, my children, my children. Am I to lose all of them to the dark
village, Yojimbo? Such a headstrong girl... I wish she had listened, taken more
care, done what she was told...

Yojimbo: You are describing Delatini, not Ellory. I think, Delatini, your
children do not understand you very well. Nor you them. Perhaps it is time to
change that.

Delatini (bitterly): If she ever comes back alive.

Yojimbo: I have hope that it should be so.

There is a pounding at the door.

Yojimbo leaps up, remarkably agile for his age, and yanks it open.

Ellory stands there, bedraggled and bloody, with Avren in her arms, still
sniffling softly.

Delatini: Ellory!

Delatini rushes over and catches Ellory in her arms just as she topples over.

Ellory (dreamily): I'm back, ma.

Ellory slumps in a dead faint.

Scene 3:

The scene shimmers and becomes vague, and the unseen voice speaks again.

An unseen voice says, "So we returned from Acknor, Avren and I, but there was
little enough celebration. I shall bear my scars and my limp to the end of my
days. Avren is young, and he will recover, but it will be long before he is his
old, merry self."

An unseen voice says, "I sometimes wonder what would have happened if I had not
gone, and I do not deny that I have sighed over my scarred face and my twisted
limb, envying the other girls their unspoiled beauty. But I do not regret that
I rescued my brother, only that he was taken in the first place. And sometimes
I wonder: how many before him were captured? How many lived all their lives in
that squalid village, enslaved and abused?"

An unseen voice says, "How long until the slavery of our kindred ends, once and
for all?"