~*~ Scene 1 ~*~

[Set:
Snug Bedroom - Though small for the bed stand, wardrobe and desk it holds, this
bedroom manages to be snug instead of cramped. The tightly woven dark rug on the
floor adds to the snug feel, while a potted vine on the desk is doings its best
to consume both the desk and chair to create more room for everything else. ]

[Props:
Desk - Sturdy but vine covered, this desk is clearly rarely used.
Bed - This bed is narrow and covered in many blankets and pillows.
Wardrobe - This wardrobe stands with its left door ajar.]

[Characters:
NYDA - A tall young elfen, Nyda has a boyish slenderness accented by a trim
build and the braid she’s pulled her long dark her back into. Her brown eyes
hold a perpetual air of sleepiness, though her movements are swift and graceful.
The wear of an active life shows on her clean and fitted cotton trousers and
blouse.
SKADRI - Petite for a human, Skadri holds herself as if she’d like to be even
smaller. Her short blond hair has been styled to frame her face, and golden eye
shadow makes her large blue eyes stand out against the demureness of the rest of
her appearance. Slightly scuffed leather slippers contrast with her soft blue
dress.]

Sun light pours through an open window, shining on a young elfen girl sleeping
under a pile of blankets.

A knock sounds on the door to the room.

NYDA mumbles and buries her head under her pillow.

The door swings open, slamming against the wall as Skadri bounds into the room.

NYDA grumbles and fixes both arms firmly over her pillow.

SKADRI: Nyda! Nyda, look at what I bought!

SKADRI pulls the blankets off Nyda and sits on the bed next to her.

SKADRI pulls something from a pocket and shoves both hands under Nyda's pillow.

SKADRI: Isn't it wonderful?

NYDA: Mmph.

NYDA removes one hand from the pillow and feels blindly around. Finding Skadri,
she attempts to push her off the bed.

SKADRI scoots back to her place right next to Nyda.

NYDA grumbles and pulls the pillow off of her head. She takes a long gold thread
from Skadri and holds it up, staring at it.

NYDA: What is this?

SKADRI: (leaning forward conspiratorially) The finest spun gold. If you ask the
Fates to wind it around your thread when they cut it, you'll be rich in your
life after the Portal.

NYDA moves the thread to her left hand and stares at her right.

NYDA: It's gold thread.

SKADRI: I just said that.

NYDA holds up her glittering right hand.

NYDA: No, I mean it's thread with gold tint on it. The tint's coming off.

SKADRI: (looking close to tears) It'll still work, right?

NYDA: How would I know? Where did you get this?

SKADRI: (in a loud whisper) There's some sellers behind the old market. They've
got things to help keep you safe when you step through.

NYDA: And how much did you pay for it?

SKADRI: One hundred twenty sovereigns.

NYDA looks around, then wipes her hand on Skadri's hair.

SKADRI: What are you doing?

NYDA: I am spreading your magic, money making tint all over you so you don't
lose it.

SKADRI: (eagerly) Do you think that will work?

NYDA pauses, then hands the thread back to Skadri.

NYDA: I think it definitely says something about your future.

SKADRI glares at Nyda and pushes herself farther back on the bed. She settles
her feet on the edge of the bed and wraps her arms around her knees.

SKADRI: How can you make jokes about this?

NYDA: (lying back) Because it's not a big deal.

SKADRI: Not a big deal!

NYDA: It's not, loads of my family have been doing it for generations.

SKADRI: You don't know that! We all forget them when they step through.

SKADRI: Maybe they're all lying just so we'll off ourselves through that Portal.
Maybe there's... there's... just a pit beyond the Portal!

SKADRI: A giant horrible pit they drop us into to die in!

NYDA closes her eyes.

NYDA: If it's really just a giant pit, enough of my relatives have tumbled into
it to fill it up by now. We'll land safely on top of the lot of them and walk to
the edge.

SKADRI: (with an exasperated sigh) Nyda.

NYDA: Might step on a few noses or something, but that's a privilege of youth.

SKADRI: You're hopeless.

NYDA: Do you think I should wear really soft shoes just in case?

SKADRI grabs the pillow and thumps Nyda with it

SKADRI slides off the bed with a huff.

SKADRI: Get dressed. We'll be late to meet the others.

The bedroom fades into darkness, granting Skadri privacy as she begins to dig
through her wardrobe.

~*~ Scene 2 ~*~

[Set:
QuietStreet - Shops line this street, open and working to entice customers,
though few people are about so early in the day.]

[Prop:
StoreFront - Enticing smells and fresh bread displayed in one window tempt
customers into the bakery.]

[Characters:
NYDA - as before
SKADRI - as before
ALLUVION - A blue skinned merian, Alluvion shows distinct signs of human
ancestry in his broad-faced features and build. No hair grows on Alluvion’s
head, but a jaunty hat with a feather does its best to gloss over that fact
while taking attention from the plainness of his trousers and shirt.
SAPELLA - Five feet, four inches tall, Sapella stands with her chin high and her
shoulders back to give herself the illusion of more height, added to by the
heels on her trim boots. Her face is pleasant, but her features seems
permanently set in the half distracted expression of someone about to be
distracted by daydreaming. She is wearing a linen blouse and blue-green skirt.
TORY - Tall for a human at six feet, four inches, Tory wears the perpetual good
natured grin of someone who can look down at most friends. His wide hands are
calloused from hard work, and his heavy leather boots and pants are covered in
dust. His linen shirt is clean.]

The light, slightly stronger, returns and shines along a road with scattered
foot traffic.

SKADRI tows Nyda down the road by her grip on Nyda's hand. Two boys and another
girl trail after them.

SKADRI: Hurry up! There‘s so much to see!

ALLUVION: Tell me again, why are we here?

SKADRI: We swore we'd step through the Portal of Fate together tomorrow.

ALLUVION: And my mum already made me swear I'd not get drunk and try to step
through the portal hungover. What else is there to spend money on?

SKADRI: Why will none of you take this seriously?

SKADRI: Am I the only one here who actually listens to some of the things they
say about the Portal of Fate?

SKADRI: If we don't do it right, we could come out in the wrong place, or worse,
in the wrong body!

SKADRI: You know what they say Viscanti really are.

ALLUVION: Your great-aunt Minee?

SKADRI: They say they're-

SKADRI stops in the middle of the street.

SKADRI: What?

SAPELLA: Oh Skadri, he's just teasing you.

SKADRI: Oh gods. He's right. I know she liked to drink.

SAPELLA: I’m sure your aunt didn’t go through the Portal drunk.

SKADRI: She was. I know she was, I thought it was just nerves but she's out
there right now and she's probably got horns and a tail and who knows what else
just because she couldn't answer straight when they asked her what race she was!

SAPELLA: Alluvion! Tell her you're teasing!

ALLUVION: (with an evil grin) Well, I don't know that I'm lying, do I? Who knows
what dark fates await us on the far side of the Portal of Fate? What a slip of
the tongue could do, or even a bad stutter?

ALLUVION: (staring at Skadri) Do you stutter, Skadri?

SKADRI: N-n-no.

NYDA pats Skadri’s shoulder.

NYDA: You're the one dragging us here for mystical and magical remedies to all
our problems. I'm sure they've got something to keep you from getting drunk
before you step into the Portal.

SKADRI: Really?

NYDA: Yes. It's called selling you a bunch of stuff so that you can't afford
alcohol.

SKADRI: Nyda, I'm being serious!

NYDA: But he's not, so what are you worrying about?

SKADRI: It's important! What if... if... if something horrible happened, and you
came out with two heads or something?

ALLUVION grabs Tory from behind and puts him in a strangle hold as he makes
faces at Skadri over Tory's shoulder.

ALLUVION: GRARRR! I am a horrible foreboding image of your future, Skadri! You
are going to have two heads! Twwoooo heeaads, and the second one is going to be
realllly ugly!

ALLUVION covers Tory's face with one hand.

ALLUVION: So uggggllly you will have to hide it in shame for the rest of your
liiiiife!

TORY elbows Alluvion in the gut and shoves Alluvion off of him.

TORY: If I got stuck with you for the rest of my life, I would have to hide my
face. In shame.

SAPELLA: (smiling up at Tory) Besides, I'm not willing to share you for the rest
of your life.

TORY smiles at Sapella and takes her hand.

TORY: Though if I had to be mixed up with someone...

ALLUVION: (to Nyda) I bet you twenty sovereigns they step through the Portal at
the same time just to see if they can.

SKADRI glares at her friends.

SKADRI: If you think this is a joke, then why are you coming?

NYDA: Because your mother will blame me if someone tries to eat you.

ALLUVION: Because I want to distract Nyda so someone can eat you.

SAPELLA: I'm going to visit my aunt, this is a shortcut.

SAPELLA: (smiling up at Tory) I don't need anything special to know I'll find
what I want on the other side of the Portal.

TORY: I'm just walking her to her aunt's. I have to help my father today.

SKADRI: Fine, but when you've all got ten tails and pink scales and eyes on your
knees, and I'm fine because I came prepared, don't expect any sympathy from me!

ALLUVION: Eyes on my knees will be awesome. I won't need any sympathy.

SKADRI snorts and stomps off, but slows to let Nyda and Alluvion catch up with
her before they turn at the end of the street.

SAPELLA gives Tory a quick kiss.

SAPELLA: I'll see you later, right?

TORY: This afternoon, my sweet.

The street fades away as Sapella walks into a shop and Tory walks back up the
street.

~*~ Scene 3 ~*~

[Set:
Bakery - This bakery is bright and airy, with light streaming in through the
lacy white curtains over large, open windows. Meticulously scrubbed floors and
counters gleam under their layers of flour and sugar. The rich aroma of fresh
baked breads and sweets lingers in the air.]

[Prop:
Counter - This counter holds several cooling racks half full with pastries.]

[Characters:
SAPELLA - as before
AUNT PATSY - A robust middle aged woman, Aunt Patsy has clearly both enjoyed her
own sweets and developed an iron fist to rule her kitchens with. Her graying
brown hair has been pulled back into a tight bun and covered with a lacy white
bonnet to keep it out of her work. Her flour smattered white apron has been
heavily starched.
UNCLE VINNY - As robust as his wife, Uncle Vinny shows signs of having indulged
in his drink as well as his wife’s cooking. His cheeks and nose are
permanently ruddy. His eyes are alert, though not horribly intelligent. He is
wearing drab trousers and tunic under a starched white apron.]

The smell of fresh baked bread wafts across the stage as Sapella walks through
the front room of a bakery and into the back. Rows of ovens radiate heat and
crisp pastries sit cooling on racks on one counter.

A large woman with an apron rolls out dough at another counter. An equally large
man carefully lays fresh pastries in a basket.

SAPELLA: Good morning Aunt Patsy, Uncle Vinny!

UNCLE VINNY waves at Sapella.

AUNT PATSY smiles at Sapella and nods at a lump of dough in a bowl on the
counter.

SAPELLA obediently nods and crosses to the sink to wash her hands.

AUNT PATSY: What are you doing out this way so early, sweetie?

SAPELLA: Skadri's dragging the rest off to buy charms for the Portal of Fate.

UNCLE VINNY: (nodding) I know that market. Springs up every year around this
time.

SAPELLA pats her hands dry and begins rolling out a ball of dough.

AUNT PATSY: You're not buying yourself anything?

SAPELLA laughs.

SAPELLA: Aunt Patsy, you know I don't need anything!

UNCLE VINNY: 'Course you don’t! You take after me.

SAPELLA smiles down at the dough.

UNCLE VINNY: (grinning at old memories) Your aunt here was awfully unhappy with
me, Sapella, when I decided I had to step through that Portal.

UNCLE VINNY: I told her nothing could change my feelings for her, but I just
felt like I had to try it.

AUNT PATSY: (half under her breath) Because that twit Sirie had gone ahead, and
you'd only have a chance if she'd had no memories.

UNCLE VINNY: Oh, she likes to tease me, but she knows I was right!

UNCLE VINNY: I stepped through that Portal, and it turned me right back around
and landed me here! Still had my job and your Aunt here waiting for me!

UNCLE VINNY piles the last of the pastries into the basket and picks it up.

UNCLE VINNY: I came out right where I was supposed to be. You don't worry,
Sapella. That boy of yours is a decent sort.

UNCLE VINNY gives Aunt Patsy a peck on the cheek and walks out.

SAPELLA: I know it'll turn out just the same for Tory and I.

AUNT PATSY: Hnnn.

SAPELLA: What?

AUNT PATSY: Sapella, if you want a man, sometimes you have to take care of
matters yourself. Don't leave it to all this happy sighing and loving looks.

SAPELLA: What do you mean?

AUNT PATSY: I mean I wasn't about to lose your uncle, even if he was dumb enough
to sniff around where there was never any interest. So I just settled things for
him.

SAEPLLA: (alertly) How?

AUNT PATSY: With three bottles of whiskey and a lot of gold paint on the closet
door.

SAPELLA stares at Aunt Patsy.

AUNT PATSY: He came out with a headache and no memory of what really happened,
and there's an extra pie to your mum every month for helping me out.

SAPELLA: The- the closet door?

AUNT PATSY: The closet door.

SAPELLA: I have to go! I have to find Tory!

SAPELLA turns and runs out the door.

The stage goes dark.

~*~ Scene 4 ~*~
[Set:
CrowdedBackMarket - The back walls of tall buildings cast much of the street in
shadows here. Wide enough to allow carts to pass side by side, travelers have
been reduced to foot to fit between the temporary stalls constructed on each
side of the street.]

[Props:
Cushion - Meant to allow a scribe someplace to sit, this cushion does not manage
to make sitting on the ground look more appealing.
DustyStall - Every inch of this stall is covered in either heart shaped charms,
dust or both.]

[Characters:
NYDA - as before
SKADRI - as before
SAPELLA - as before
TORY - as before
ALLUVION - as before
A HAGGARD SCRIBE - Sitting cross legged on a cushion, this scribe looks like a
man who has seen better days. His clothes are worn thin and mended, and his long
face is slightly sunken around the cheeks and eyes.
A SMIRKING ELFEN - Something suspicious lingers in this elfen’s eyes and
smile, though the rest of him is neat and professional looking. His short black
hair has been trimmed to just above his pointed ears. He is wearing black from
head to toe. ]

In a winding maze of back alleys, a market made of ramshackle stalls staffed by
a motley assortment of people comes into view. Notably young people examine
wares and dash between the stalls in small knots.

NYDA pokes a wooden athame covered in purple paint with one finger.

SAPELLA comes running up behind Nyda and grabs, dragging her several feet past
the seller before her momentum runs out.

NYDA: Sapella? What are you doing here?

SAPELLA: I've seen the light! I've got all my savings here, we need to find Tory
and get buying!

NYDA: What the Nil are you- hey!

SAPELLA starts to drag Nyda off.

NYDA: Alluvion! Alluvion, help!

ALLUVION glances up at Nyda and grins before returning his attention to a scribe
sitting cross-legged on the ground with a board across his legs as a desk.

NYDA: Alluvion, you are so useless! I'll be back, you hear! And I'll remember
this!

SAPELLA drags Nyda off into the crowd.

A HAGGARD SCRIBE: You are Alluvion, a merian seventeen years old, waiting to
join New Celest and the Aquamancers.

ALLUVION: Wait, I said "waiting to thrive in and one day rule the Aquamancers."

A HAGGARD SCRIBE: (impatiently waving the scroll to dry it) Yes, yes, it's all
in there. Everything you'll need.

A HAGGARD SCRIBE rolls the scroll tightly and places it in a bright red leather
pouch, sealing it with a blot of red wax.

A HAGGARD SCRIBE: Don't open this before you step through the Portal of Fate. If
you do, I'm not responsible if the Fates ignore it.

ALLUVION nods and hands the scribe several coins in exchange for the pouch.

A HAGGARD SCRIBE: Who's next! Step right up, no gimmicks no questions, walk
through the Portal of Fate with your success already scribed and recorded!

SKADRI: Me! Me! I want one!

A HAGGARD SCRIBE: Your future's assured, young lady! What's your name?

SKADRI: Skadri! And I'm five foot four, and very beautiful- well, I'm cute. I'm
always told I'm cute. I think it's in the nose because it just says "cute" and
not “beautiful,” but I like it and I want the fates to get it right. And I
like pink and I want to come out liking pink, and I want to be a member of the
Spiritsingers, but only because I have a great voice and I want the Fates to
remember that! I also think I should have the same haircut. I mean, this was
expensive and-"

A HAGGARD SCRIBE stares at Skadri, his scrawling slowing as his eyes slowly
glaze over.

SKADRI cheerfully continues to enumerate her many, many qualities to the scribe,
who is now making no more than vague waving motions over the paper with a pen
that has clearly gone dry.

NYDA meanders out of the crowd and stands behind Skadri.

SKADRI: "-and it must taste like apples! I think that's everything."

A HAGGARD SCRIBE hastily waves the paper about to dry it and then shoves it into
another leather pouch.

A HAGGARD SCRIBE: I certainly think that should cover it all!

A HAGGARD SCRIBE spills wax across his desk in his haste to seal the pouch.

NYDA: Skadri, just how much have you spent here?

SKADRI blushes and mumbles about no one remembering loans in two days.

SAPELLA bursts out of the crowd, Tory's hand clasped in hers.

SAPELLA: Nyda! You said there was just the thing for true love nearby!

NYDA: I did. It's two stalls down that way.

NYDA points farther up the street to a stall covered in heart-shaped charms.

SAPELLA runs up to the stall.

SAPELLA: I need your strongest charm!

A SMIRKING ELFEN looks Sapella up and down.

A SMIRKING ELFEN: Well, if you like him you could try the gold trimmed one right
there.

SAPELLA draws herself up to her full height.

SAPELLA: I'll have you know, I don't just like him, I love him!

A SMIRKING ELFEN: Then you should have the best, shouldn't you?

SAPELLA: I should, and I'll take it!

SAPELLA reaches for the gold trimmed charm.

A SMIRKING ELFEN catches Sapella's hand and pats it.

A SMIRKING ELFEN: That's not our best charm. A charm could be lost! What you
really need is something that becomes a part of you, just like your love.

SAPELLA lets out a gusty sigh, taking Tory's hand and clasping it to her heart.

SAPELLA: I do! I do, that's exactly what I need!

A SMIRKING ELFEN: And that means, you need a tattoo.

SAPELLA: A tattoo?

A SMIRKING ELFEN: A tattoo! With his name on it, and he'll get one with yours.
That way you'll both know who to look for, and the Fates will know who to tie
you with.

SAPELLA: Tie me with?

A SMIRKING ELFEN: Of course. If the Fates tie your thread to another's, you’ll
be bound together for all your lives.

SAPELLA sighs again and beams at Tory.

SAPELLA: Let's do it, Tory! Only...

TORY: Only what, my lovely?

SAPELLA: Only, will you go first? I think needles are very sharp.

TORY: (brimming with manly pride) Of course I'll go first.

A SMIRKING ELFEN motions Tory to walk behind the counter while he flips open a
case full of inks and needles.

A SMIRKING ELFEN: What name shall it be?

TORY: Sapella. No, make it Lady Sapella.

TORY smiles at Sapella.

SAPELLA giggles and looks at her feet.

A SMIRKING ELFEN rolls up Tory's left sleeve and starts to work.

SKADRI wanders up to the stall. She watches the smirking elfen work for some
time, chewing her lip fretfully.

NYDA walks past Skadri, catching her by the back of her shirt and dragging her
off.

NYDA: Skadri, you don't even have a boyfriend!

SKADRI: I love myself! I think that's a good enough reason!

NYDA drags Skadri back into the crowds.

TORY looks down at the smirking elfen's work.

TORY frowns.

TORY: How is this supposed to work again? I can only read the word 'lady.'

A SMIRKING ELFEN: Ah, but that's the beauty of it! The rest wraps around back
here, and that way all the girls chasing you will know the name of your true
love!

TORY: (with a sudden interest) Girls chasing me?

A SMIRKING ELFEN: Hordes and hordes of them.

SAPELLA: Hordes? What hordes?

TORY: Does that happen a lot?

A SMIRKING ELFEN: All the time to people who step through the Portal of Fate.
That's why you've got this here tattoo!

TORY: Realllly?

SAPELLA: He doesn't need anyone chasing him but me!

A SMIRKING ELFEN finishes his work on Tory and starts wiping off his needles.

A SMIRKING ELFEN: Of course not. And this way, you'll be able to know you're
chasing the right one. If you manage to be in the front of the pack, at least.

SAPELLA: Hmph!

SAPELLA grabs Tory's arm and tows him away.

TORY: Wait, Sapella! Weren't you going to get one?

SAPELLA: What, so the hordes and hordes of young men chasing me know who I love?

TORY: There'd better not be in hordes of young men!

SAPELLA: You'd better hope not!

TORY: Oh my lovely sweet flower, how could you think any others could mean as
much to me? You are my jewel, my love-"

The two disappear into the crowd. The crowd fades from view as the stage goes
dark.

~*~ Scene 5 ~*~

[Set:
BeforePortalofFate - The walls of this enormous cave are covered in hieroglyphs
of undetermined meaning. Though the wind howls outside the entrance, it causes
no more than a pleasant circulation of air inside.]

[Props:
Crowd - A crowd has gathered to say farewell, young and old smiling or crying,
and a few of the young making faces at each other.]

[Characters:
NYDA - as before
SKADRI - as before
SAPELLA - as before
TORY - as before
ALLUVION - as before]

The light dawns on a small crowd of family and friends crowd gathered around a
great golden portal on a mountain side. The crowd has left the space in front of
the Portal empty, while all around it many embrace or cry softly.

SAPELLA gives her aunt and uncle one last hug before taking Tory by the hand and
walking out into the empty space left before the Portal of Fate.

ALLUVION gives a pretty young merian a jaunty kiss and saunters over to stand
next to Tory.

NYDA hugs her mother, then walks towards her friends, towing a nervous Skadri
behind her.

NYDA: Shall we all just rush it?

SKADRI: NO!

SKADRI: What if it doesn't matter if you're drunk, and the real way Viscanti are
made is if too many people go through at once?

NYDA sighs.

SKADRI: Oh right, I'd forgotten. You don't have to worry at all right now
because if there is just a giant pit on the other side, at least it's already
full from the rest of your family.

NYDA gives Skadri a comforting pat on the shoulder.

SAPELLA: We'll go through first. Um, Tory?

TORY beams down at Sapella.

TORY: I'll go first. But you'll be right behind me, right, my love?

SAPELLA: Of course!

TORY kisses Sapella, then strides towards the Portal of Fate.

SAPELLA waves madly at Tory's retreating back.

The crowd and the rest of the friends start to cheer as Tory steps through the
Portal and out of sight, all except for Skadri, who whimpers a bit.

~*~ Scene 6 ~*~

[Set:
WithinPortalofFate - There is no up or down here, just a rolling mass of primal
matter that flickers with iridescent colours. Reflected in this space are
glimpses and hints of the past and possible future.]

[Props:
Circle - A circle of golden flames with a myriad of possibilities flickering in
its center.
Spindle - Strange light halos this spindle.]

[Characters:
SAPELLA - as before
TORY - as before
ALLUVION - as before
CLOTHO - A stately woman just past middle age, Clotho’s gray streaked dark
hair has been wound into a neat bun to prevent it from catching in her work. Her
eyes glow with a measureless wisdom from the years she has seen.
LACHESIS - Dressed in finely woven, muted pastels, Lachesis is a stately woman
with her dark hair pulled back into a plait. Coils of brightly colored thread
are looped about her broad silver belt, and her eyes hold both wisdom and
sadness.]

The scene jerks wildly, then dissolves into the rolling mass of iridescent
colours that is the inside of the Portal of Fate. Tendrils of gray fog snake
about the floor.

TORY appears from the fog, a dazed expression on his face and all of his
belongings gone. A single strategic tendril of fog continues to cling to him.

CLOTHO rubs a long thread between her fingers, scrutinizing Tory with only mild
interest.

CLOTHO: What do you remember of yourself?

TORY looks around in confusion, then looks down at himself. He spies the tattoo
on his left arm and tries to get a better look at it.

TORY: Lady...?

There are two soft pops followed by a noise much like, "sloooop."

Another bit of fog hastily snaps across Tori's chest.

TORI blinks down at herself in confusion.

CLOTHO: Very well. Where is your homeland?

TORI: The Serenwilde.

TORI glances behind the top tendril of fog.

TORI: Something doesn't seem quite right here.

CLOTHO: What guild are you a part of?

TORI: The Serenguard.

TORI: I really think something's not quite right. I think I liked myself better
before this.

CLOTHO: When you become certain, that’s what gilded mirrors are for. You need
to speak with my sister, Lachesis.

CLOTHO pulls the thread tight and the snips it from her spindle.

TORI vanishes from sight.

CLOTHO: Hmph. We've been getting a lot with that problem lately.

CLOTHO begins to spin another thread.

The fog shifts to embrace Sapella who appears looking equally dazed and in need
of the fog's aid.

CLOTHO: What do you remember of yourself?

SAPELLA thinks hard for a minute.

SAPELLA: (beaming) I'm supposed to be meeting someone!

CLOTHO: Very well. What is your homeland?

SAPELLA: I... I'm not sure. I wonder where he is? I'd hate to be in a different
city from him.

CLOTHO is forced to slow her spinning as Sapella keeps talking.

SAPELLA: Oh, but wouldn't it be romantic if we were star crossed lovers from
rival cities? Or what if our love was strong enough to create a bridge between
two warring fractions?

CLOTHO: What guild are you a part of?

SAPELLA: Oh, I'm certain I'm a part of whatever guild he is! I remember. We're
supposed to have our threads tied together, so that we'll never be parted and we
will know our love for each other the moment we see each other!

CLOTHO gives Sapella a long look.

CLOTHO: Very well.

CLOTHO reaches out and plucks a second thread from midair. She ties the two
threads together carefully while Sapella beams to herself and rambles on about
finding her love again.

CLOTHO snaps the first thread from her spindle, and both the threads and Sapella
disappear.

CLOTHO starts spinning the next thread.

LACHESIS walks out of the fog with soft footsteps, pausing to
stand behind Clotho.

LACHESIS: Sister, why are so many threads getting knotted up lately? It's making
my weaving difficult.

CLOTHO: We have agreed to allow them their fates, and that is what they ask for.

LACHESIS: You are right. But wasn't that last one tied to a gorgog?

CLOTHO: There's no accounting for mortal tastes.

CLOTHO: (waving her sister away) Go, my sister. This thread is nearly ready.

CLOTHO nears the end of the thread.

ALLUVION appears, looking dazed and clenching the red leather pouch so hard his
knuckles have turned white.

The extra tendril of fog lingers, in case it should be needed.

ALLUVION: I'm not giving it up, so you can all just quit trying to take it!

CLOTHO regards Alluvion calmly.

CLOTHO: What do you remember of yourself?

ALLUVION stares at Clotho a moment, then loosens his grip on the pouch enough to
open it and pull out the wax sealed scroll.

ALLUVION cracks the wax seal and unrolls the scroll.

ALLUVION: I am Alluvion. I am an eighteen year old merian.

CLOTHO: Very well. What is your homeland?

ALLUVION: My homeland is... is... This can't be right.

CLOTHO pauses in her weaving and raises one eyebrow at Alluvion.

ALLUVION frantically reads to the end of the scroll and then flips it over,
staring at the blank back for more.

CLOTHO: What guild are you a part of?

ALLUVION: This can't be what I wanted to have written! Can I do this again?
Twenty minutes back out the other side and I can find whoever wrote this and
teach them a thing or two!

CLOTHO taps one finger impatiently on her spinning wheel.

CLOTHO: There is no turning back. Just tell me what the scroll says.

ALLUVION clears his throat self consciously and begins to read.

ALLUVION: I am Alluvion. I am an eighteen year old merian. You know what? It was
one little slip in one news article! One little slip and then it's all hot
pokers in uncomfortable places just because people think stepping through the
Portal of Fate makes them so high and mighty they can treat their scribes
however they want! Then after the hot pokers it's out on my ear and here I am
stuck writing notes for pathetic idiots who think a scroll will help them
through the Portal.

ALLUVION: (watching Clotho out of the corner of his eye as he reads) Is it my
fault if you mumble when you say where you want me to record your words? Or how
about when you talk so fast I don't have time to punctuate?

ALLUVION: Well, bugger you, Portal Hopper! Bugger you by Ashtorath!

CLOTHO: (Pulling the thread from her spindle) Nihilists it is!

ALLUVION: (Just before he disappears) WHAT?

CLOTHO starts to spin the next thread, but her spindle sticks and the thread
refuses to be spun properly.

CLOTHO: (with a frown) What now?

~*~ Scene 7 ~*~

[Set:
BeforePortalofFate - The walls of this enormous cave are covered in hieroglyphs
of undetermined meaning. Though the wind howls outside the entrance, it causes
no more than a pleasant circulation of air inside.
Nothingness - Blackness reigns here, without a hint of light or that there ever
was light.
GaintPit - With no explanation or apparent reason, the only feature in this
landscape is an enormous pit full of cheerful people.]

[Props:
SmallCrowd - Only a few people still linger before the Portal of Fate.]

[Characters:
NYDA - as before
SKADRI - as before
CLOTHO - as before
LACHESIS - as before
ATROPOS - only appears off stage
BAKEN DEKOVEN - A cheerful looking young man, Baken appears to be rather bruised
and has a perpetual squashed look. His eyes keep straying to look above him.]

The iridescent colours fade or realign themselves back into the mountainside
before the Portal of Fate. Though much of the crowd has dispersed, Skadri and
Nyda remain standing in front of the Portal.

SKADRI backs as far away from the Portal of Fate as Nyda's grip on her hand will
let her.

SKADRI: You know, I really do think I can't do this now. I think I left a pot on
the stove, and I have to go back and check. If I go through now, I won't
remember to check later, and what if the house burns down?

SKADRI manages to pull Nyda a few feet further from the Portal.

SKADRI: So clearly, it'd be utterly irresponsible for me to go through the
Portal right now. I'm sure in a few weeks the market will have a few more
sellers, and I can pick up a few more trinkets, check all the pots before I come
and then think about this.

NYDA sighs.

NYDA: Fine, fine! If you don't want to, it's not like I can make you, is it?

SKADRI pauses in her pulling.

SKADRI: Really?

NYDA wraps one arm around Skadri.

NYDA: Of course not.

SKADRI: What?

NYDA uses the arm she has around Skadri to fling the other girl head first
towards the Portal of Fate.

SKADRI trips along the way but can't check her momentum, and goes tumbling
through the Portal of Fate.

An enormous crash echoes throughout the stage as everything on it bumps and
jerks around.

CLOTHO: (Voice echoing across the stage) Graceful.

Everything on stage starts to take on a distinctly frayed look.

LACHESIS: (Voice echoing across the stage) Our loom! You landed on our loom!

The mountain, Nyda and the remains of the crowd begin to unravel into
nothingness.

ATROPOS: (Voice echoing across the stage) Landed on it? She broke it!

The stage goes dark as the last bits of reality come undone.

LACHESIS: (Voice echoing in the darkness) These threads are a mess! It'll take
forever to fix tall this!

ATROPOS: (Voice echoing in the darkness) How many cities do we have again?

CLOTHO: (Voice echoing in the darkness) Does it really matter? We've lost a
couple before and they found them eventually.

Light floods back to the stage, revealing a large pit that appears to have been
dug in the middle of the nowhere and filled with people who look surprising
comfortable.

NYDA comes falling from the sky and lands atop the pile of people.

BAKEN DEKOVEN: Welcome to the family, kiddo! Please get off my head.

LACHESIS: (Voice echoing across the stage)That can't be right, can it?

CLOTHO: (Voice echoing across the stage) Close enough.

~*~ CURTAIN ~*~