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Quarter

written by Lendren Starfall

Being an account of an extraordinary day, seen from four viewpoints,
none of them the whole truth.
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Part IV: Pragmatism
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Cast

High Wisdom Jesslana Mes'ard
Pollera Starleaf, Blue-Blossom
Nerren Talnara, Wind Song

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SCENE ArborealLibrary: Stone walls line the stage, strewn with vines and
flowers which seem nearly ready to pull the walls down. Indeed, in places, the
vines have worked their way through the stone, causing widening cracks which
only do not bring the walls crashing in due to their imposing bulk. Wooden
panels line many of the walls, the better to support shelves laden with books,
while more books are arrayed on free-standing shelves and stacked haphazardly on
desks and tables.

EFFECT S4dawn (6): The curtain rises on a cluttered library, its stone walls
shot through with flowering vines, as the sun rises, its slanting rays casting
warmth onto the piles of books scattered on tables and desks.

ROLE Jesslana (F): High Wisdom Jesslana Mes'ard

COSTUME JesslanaCostume (Jesslana): She is a graceful high elfen and remains
almost entirely concealed in her bookwormish outfit, deep brown eyes lowered and
hidden behind crystal spectacles, long brown hair tied up in a sturdy braid, and
her figure completely lost inside bundled robes. Ink stains smear her fingers
and even have found their way to a cheek, unnoticed. She is wearing
silver-rimmed spectacles, creamy white robes of the shimmering moon, sturdy
leather shoes of emerald green, and an argent moonflower.

Jesslana: ENTER emerges from behind a bookshelf, leafing through a tome as she
brings it to table to add it to the clutter.

Jesslana: sits down and continues paging through the tome, comparing things
with several other books and occasionally making notes on a messy sheaf of
parchment.

ROLE Pollera (F): Pollera Starleaf, Blue-Blossom

COSTUME PolleraCostume (Pollera): She is a nimble faeling and stands scarcely
as tall as the length of her own wings. With delicately pointed ears and
chiseled features, she looks like nothing so much as a small elfen girl, maybe
only in her teen years, with a soft smile, sapphire eyes, strawberry blonde hair
barely past her ears, and a slim figure yet to fill out. The fae influence is
only seen in her wings, but it is strongly pronounced there, those wings of
sapphire blue being large enough to brush the ground and loom over her head.
Striations within the deep blue of her wings resemble those in the petals of
flowers, and in fact, her wings look more like huge, gossamer flower petals than
like butterfly wings. She is wearing azure robes sprinkled with stars, and a
silver circlet.

Pollera: ENTER flits in as if carried by a stray breeze, her huge sapphire-blue
wings fluttering rapidly, and perches on the corner of the desk.

Jesslana: swats at Pollera without looking up, as if brushing away an fly.

Pollera: Hey, watch it!

Jesslana: (looking up and adjusting her spectacles) Oh my word, I'm sorry, I
didn't see you.

Pollera: Of course you didn't, with your nose as always in a book. Looks like
one book isn't good enough for you today, that's, what, seven?

Jesslana: (turning back to the tome) Eight. Nerren told me more about the rite
that the Nihilists have been planning and I think I've just about got it figured
out.

Pollera: He's been sneaking into their guildhall again?

Jesslana: (flipping a page) Mmhmm.

Pollera: You know he's just trying to court you. Secrets are the only thing
you seem interested in, so he tries to get them for you. I told him you're
mine, but he won't listen.

Jesslana: (paying no attention whatsoever) Mmhmm.

Pollera: (waving her hand in front of the tome) You're not even listening, are
you?

Jesslana: (looking up and adjusting her spectacles again) What?

Pollera: What's so interesting about this, anyway? I mean, I recognize the
value in all that know-your enemy-stuff, but shouldn't Glomdoring be our focus?

Jesslana: Why, are they doing something?

Pollera: Inevitably. You know, when I first went looking to find you so I
could come tease you, I thought I sensed you on the rooftops of New Celest.

Jesslana: (looks up again, blinking) On the what of where?

Pollera: That's what I thought, so I checked, and you were wearing nekai.

Jesslana: (taking off her spectacles and chewing thoughtfully on the frame)
Hmm, that's right, that wyrdling killed me in Acknor and took my face. I should
probably notify the Celestians. If I write a letter, will you deliver it to
Dame Aellen?

Pollera: Only if you promise to go for a walk with me afterwards. It's a
lovely day, though it's going to rain later.

Jesslana: (scribing a hurried note) Mmhmm. I wonder what Glomdoring is up to.
After you deliver this, can you try to find out for me? I would, but I am
really close to putting this together.

Pollera: They're not going to care, most of them are sleeping off hangovers
anyway.

Jesslana: (already turned back to the tome) Mmhmm.

Pollera: EXIT shakes her head in amusement and flits off with the letter in
hand, gazing fondly back to Jesslana one last time before disappearing.

Jesslana: continues paging through the tome, updating her notes.

PAUSE

Jesslana: (looking up) Wait, hangovers?

Jesslana: fishes a scroll out of the pile and runs her finger down it.

Jesslana: Ah, yes, their culture festival. This might be just the opportunity
that Vellera is looking for.

Pollera: ENTER zips in and does a few twirls around Jesslana before perching on
the back of the chair next to her.

Jesslana: Did you know they're having their--

Pollera: Culture festival, yes, I know, that's why they're all hung over.
Hardly anyone there and they didn't seem the least bit concerned about the
nekotai, but I told them.

Jesslana: They should take the threat of Glomdoring more seriously, but when
it's convenient to be fooled by a fresh coat of paint over the taint, they've
always been happy to do it.

EFFECT S4clouds (6): The warming sunlight begins to grow diffuse as clouds
start to roll in. The leaves on the ivy begin to flutter and turn upside down,
promising rain later in the day.

Pollera: Still, whatever Glomdoring is up to can't be good, but I didn't see
any sign of them visiting our borders or our villages.

Jesslana: (flipping through another book) It's the Domoth of Death, they just
captured it, didn't they?

Pollera: What? No, Magnagora did, two months ago.

Jesslana: (tapping pages in several books) Yes, that's what I mean. That's the
missing piece. See, it's right here, Project Shallamar. If you combine this
and this, it all adds up. And what's more, it can be done both ways, but I bet
Vellera hasn't considered that.

Pollera: looks over Jesslana's shoulder at the frantically scribbled diagram
the elfen is making.

Jesslana: This is... very interesting. We can make use of this. Quickly, we
must act quickly. First, if Magnagora is not yet aware of Celest's slumber, we
must make them aware of it.

Pollera: If they were aware, would they be marching an army towards Celestia?

Jesslana: (looking up and nodding) Precisely.

Pollera: Then they are aware.

Jesslana: (scribbling furiously on another scroll) Excellent, that'll save us
much-needed time.

EFFECT S4noon (6): A break in the heavy cloud cover reveals the warmth of noon,
the sun directly overhead catching the dust motes and flitting butterflies
dancing between the stacks in stark color for a moment, before the light is
again blurred into the diffuse glow of the brewing stormclouds.

Pollera: What about Glomdoring?

Jesslana: Yes, good point. They won't have figured out Project Shallamar, but
they will no doubt be aware something's going on and thinking of some sneaky way
to take advantage of it. Go find Nerren and have him spy on Glomdoring, while I
visit New Celest.

Pollera: (surprised) Why do you need to visit there? Why not just send those
books?

Jesslana: (chewing on her spectacles) If Dame Aellen saw this, she'd figure it
out herself. But if I tell her only what I need to, she'll let Magnagora kill
one of their Supernals before she turns the trap back on Magnagora.

Pollera: blinks, stares at Jesslana, and then narrows her eyes.

Jesslana: We'll trick Celest into letting Magnagora do terrible damage, and end
up with them grateful to us for it, all the while arranging Magnagora's
downfall. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, and even more knowledge is
far more deadly.

Pollera: (clapping her hands) That's delightful. I'll go get Nerren. He'd do
anything if you ask it, you know.

Jesslana: (gathering up her books) Yes, he's very dutiful.

Pollera: (hiding a giggle) I'm sure that's all it is.

Jesslana: EXIT SILENT

SCENE Faethorn1: The ethereal forest fills the stage, dominated by the tall
tree in its center whose balcony has been decorated to resemble Maeve's court,
though concealed by curtains of vines and foliage. To the far left, the
shimmering gateway of the Water Plane rises at the stage's edge, while opposite
it the cracked archway of the Earth Plane crouches ominously. Fae of all sorts
scamper and flit amongst the trees, their shapes gossamer patterns of light and
shadow.

EFFECT S4thunderstorm (6): As the looming clouds crack with thunder and start
to pour sheets of rain on the ground outside, the curtain drops, hiding all but
the sounds of the storm. When the curtain rises, Faethorn fills the stage,
Maeve's court concealed within the balcony, with the shimmering archways of the
Elemental Planes at either end of the stage.

ROLE Nerren (M): Nerren Talnara, Wind Song

COSTUME NerrenCostume (Nerren): He is a graceful wild elfen and easily
overlooked or forgotten, his features unremarkable and his posture unassuming.
Close-trimmed hair of chestnut brown sits on his head like a mop, while his
murky green eyes seem to be focused on something far away. When he moves, he is
nearly silent, only a whisper of movement in the air to signal his passage, and
even the song that spills from his viola is barely audible over the sounds of
the wind which it resembles. He is wearing patterned robes of brown and green.

Pollera: flits through the woods, eyes darting this way and that, rain
streaming through her hair.

Pollera: (in a quiet voice, barely more than a loud whisper) Nerren, are you
here?

Nerren: ENTER steps out from behind a tree, right in front of Pollera.

Nerren, to Pollera: Shhhh, the Glooms are on their way.

Pollera, to Nerren: (hovering to whisper in his ear) You need to find out what
they're doing without them realizing you're doing so.

Nerren: (raising an eyebrow) Why?

Pollera: No time to explain, but Jesslana thinks they're about to do something
and we need to find out what.

Nerren: (eyes getting a bit more unfocused) Is she coming here?

Pollera: No, but if you do this for her, I'm sure she'll be grateful later.

Nerren: (starting to move deeper into the woods) Oh, then I'd best get into
place immediately. You should get out of here, or they'll see you.

Pollera: (watching his retreating form forlornly) It's nice of you to be
concerned.

Nerren: chooses a spot in the forest and then waves his hands over himself,
reforming his appearance to that of a conspicuously gnarled tree.

Pollera: EXIT sighs once, then flits back the way she came.

Nerren: stands stock-still, shrouded in an illusion as a gnarled tree, watching
silently as the people of Glomdoring filter into the woods and start enslaving
fae in shackles.

Nerren: (silently, to himself) Quite a lot of them just for bringing fae to
their Avatars, and odder still that they do not bring them there, but just
gather them.

Nerren: refreshes the illusion as two of them come closer.

Xylly: ENTER moves to stand right next to Nerren, apparently oblivious of the
conspicuous tree.

Kaleeza: ENTER leads a coffle of enslaved fae to just before the furrikin.

Kaleeza, to Xylly: We must ensure Maeve doesn't notice what we're doing. When
this is done, it'll be a violation of the tah'vrai accords.

Xylly, to Kaleeza: (leaning against Nerren, unaware he's not a tree) Will this
be worth that? If she finds out, her wrath could be devastating.

Kaleeza, to Xylly: (with a sneer) She will never find out, and neither will
those fool Serens. Now, let's bring the fae to the Elemental Planes to meet
their tortured doom.

Xylly, to Kaleeza: As ever I obey you, Mistress.

Kaleeza: EXIT leads her enslaved fae towards the Water Gate, prodding them
painfully as she goes.

Xylly: EXIT drags his struggling fae towards the Earth Gate, heedless of their
cries.

Jesslana: ENTER SILENT

Nerren: turns and steps to the side, revealing Jesslana standing behind him.

Jesslana, to Nerren: (peering at him appraisingly) Is that exactly how it
happened, their precise words?

Nerren: (sheepishly avoiding her gaze) Well, approximately. That's the general
gist of it, anyway.

Jesslana: Well, it's good you found out. So, they're off in the elemental
planes now?

Nerren: Yes, and I dread to think of what they're doing there. I haven't dared
to go find out, they would notice my arrival.

Jesslana: There's no need, I doubt we could stop them at this point anyway.
Better to take advantage of the fact that they don't know that we know what
they're doing. You go tell Maeve, and I'll go back to the library and see if I
can figure this out.

Nerren: (hurriedly) Shouldn't you come with me to speak to Maeve? I mean,
you're a Moondancer...

Jesslana: (shaking her head) There's no time. They will be finished soon. We
must be ready.

Jesslana: EXIT turns and strides off purposefully, completely unaware of
Nerren's longing gaze following her.

Nerren: exhales fluidly, then turns to the tree at rear center of the stage and
climbs up into the balcony, pulling aside the curtains of vines that conceal it.

SCENE Faethorn2: The ethereal forest fills the stage, dominated by the tall
tree in its center whose balcony has been decorated to resemble Maeve's court,
with shadowy shapes moving about at the back, out of sight. To the far left,
the shimmering gateway of the Water Plane rises at the stage's edge, while
opposite it the cracked archway of the Earth Plane crouches ominously. Fae of
all sorts scamper and flit amongst the trees, their shapes gossamer patterns of
light and shadow.

EFFECT S4nightfall (6): As the storm continues to rumble distantly and the rain
remains steady, the sun slips below the horizon, causing the clouds to dim to a
darker grey, seeming more ominous and brooding.

Nerren: (to an unseen figure in the balcony) No, your Majesty, we don't have
proof yet, but my lady Jesslana is seeking it right now.

Pollera: ENTER flits into the forest and darts urgently towards the tree.

Nerren: Yes, your Majesty, the High Wisdom Jesslana. She bade me speak to you
while she seeks answers to these questions in the library.

Pollera: flies up into the tree and lands, perched, on the edge of the balcony.

Nerren: We thought it best to warn you as early as possible, in case you might
be able to save some of the fae from whatever fate awaits them on the Elemental
Plane.

Pollera: I spied on them on the Earth Plane and saw them driving the fae to
attack, and be consumed by, the creatures there, without let or quarter. It was
ghastly, and I could barely retrain myself from trying to stop them, though I
was one against many.

Nerren: turns to Pollera and offers her a wan, troubled smile.

Pollera: I deemed it prudent to return with the information instead, your
Majesty, thinking that while I might save one fae before dying, the intelligence
I carried might save many, once it was in your hands.

Nerren: What proof do you need, your Majesty? Can not you tell yourself what
is happening to your fae?

EFFECT S4Q1 (0): There is an angry flash of faeriefire in the balcony, from
which both Nerren and Pollera flinch away.

Pollera: He meant no slight, your Majesty, he only worries about those fae who
even now are suffering terribly. A few may yet remain... undigested.

Jesslana: ENTER hurries in and crosses to the tree, carrying a musty tome under
one arm.

Nerren: (blanching) All of them? Then it is too late to save them?

Pollera: (putting a comforting hand on Nerren's shoulder, her voice uncertain)
They are immortal, they will recover eventually, scarred, but whole...

Jesslana: (hauling herself over the balcony's edge) Your Majesty, I have here
the proof you seek, the terrible truth. Pollera is wrong, the fae will never
recover unless you sunder the bonds of the tah'vrai, releasing the accords.

Pollera: stares stupefied at Jesslana.

Jesslana: (offering the book to the shadowy shapes at the back of the balcony)
The terms of the bargain are clear. Glomdoring has violated it, and you are
free to renounce their freedom of passage, and cast out the Avatars of Mother
Night.

Nerren: But the fae cannot be saved?

Jesslana: Not while the tah'vrai binds them; they lack the will necessary to be
free of the elemental forces. Once the bonds are broken, they will eventually
work their way free.

EFFECT S4cloudbreak (6): With a final flash of lightning in the distance, the
clouds break, showing the silver light of the waning crescent moon shining
brightly in the north sky.

Nerren: takes Jesslana's left hand lightly in his, giving it a supporting
squeeze while remaining unobtrusively behind her.

Jesslana: No, your Majesty, I ask no bargain nor boon, this information is
freely given and I require no gift in return.

Pollera: silently takes Jesslana's right hand in hers, wings flapping lazily to
hold her in place beside the High Wisdom.

Jesslana: As you wish, your Majesty, though seeing the fae returned safely will
be gift enough.

EFFECT S4Q2 (0): A soft glow of gentle faeriefire enfolds the three for a
moment, then fades. A moment later, a screeching howl arises in the balcony, a
plaintive wail of rage and hurt, accompanied by a blazing tower of angry
faeriefire that begins to wing its way to the south.

FINISH

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