Chaos and Consumption

Act One, Scene One: A Crossing of Threads

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CAST:

Chix'ani, the dracnari nomad
- leader of a ragtag tribe of desert roamers

Xisanil, a dracnari youth
- energetic and outspoken son of Chix'ani

A dracnari female (unnamed)
- common member of the nomad tribe

Chendethi, mercenary of the Sunscar
- enigmatic and deadly woman of the desert

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SCENE DESERT: The barren expanse of this desert scene is
almost perfect in replication, bright lights mimicking the glare
and heat of the sun upon the sand. A rolling screen of carefully
timed and detailed scenery spans the entire width of the stage,
outlines of dunes and shimmering waves of heat scrolling past.
A similar construct brings further props across the floor in a
continuous, though seemingly well-varied, loop, cacti and rolling
dunes rising to challenge the characters as they appear to walk
on and on.

EFFECT A1S1E1 (11)
Bathed beneath the brilliant light of Father Sun, the scene
revealed as the curtains part is one of a barren desert devoid
of life, save for the odd cactus. Heat is visible rising from the
stage in shimmering waves, impossibly felt from your current
viewpoint.

PROP NOMADS: Numerous men and women in a wide variety of
age and size, all dracnari, compose this nomadic tribe. Those
that are clothed wear various garments of tattered silk or dark
leather, while those who are not are instead adorned with
elegant accessories of polished sandstone and gold. From the
most dignified elder to the youngest child, each is clearly worn
and weary from their travels, eyes tired and expression bleak.

EFFECT A1S1E2 (7)
A procession composed of emerald-scaled dracnari comes into
view to your left, stepping around and over the dunes, boulders
and buffeting waves of sand that stream towards them as they
walk, seemingly in place, on centre stage.

ROLE (M) XISANIL: Xisanil, a dracnari youth

COSTUME XISANILCOSTUME: Visibly brimming with energy
and youthful bliss, Xisanil is as slender and slight as any
dracnari child. His dark scales bear a faint viridian shimmer,
progressing from a deep green to a reflective black from
head to tail. Burning with curiosity, his large eyes meet
close above his reptilian maw, lending him a look of utter
innocence despite his scaly exterior.

XISANIL: (sliding down a low dune) Father, I am confused.
Why did we not bring the camp with us, this time?

EFFECT A1S1E3 (3)
The dracnari to whom the question was directed, a broad-
shouldered and burly specimen bearing scales of emerald
and violet, casts a careful glance over his shoulder before
addressing his son.

ROLE (M) CHIX'ANI: Chix'ani, the dracnari nomad

COSTUME CHIX'ANICOSTUME: Broad of frame and nearing
seven feet in height, Chix'ani boasts a commanding and
somewhat imposing air. Thick, musclebound limbs each
end in wickedly sharp talons, the play of light across their
ebony surface lending an appearance more intimidating
than anything. His great tail is dotted with hooked barbs
of the same shining black substance, contrasting against
the glimmer of his violet and emerald scales.

CHIX'ANI: (curtly) Please, my son...just keep walking.

XISANIL: shrugs in response, keeping stride with his father
as he leaps and romps through the sand.

EFFECT A1S1E4 (7)
The group continues their steady, silent pace through the
desert, hushed whispers passing through their numbers as
most glance about obvious fear.

EFFECT A1S1E5 (1)
A sudden rustling precedes a raucous explosion of noise,
a great sandstorm rising up and whipping about with a
strange and sudden might.

EFFECT A1S1E6 (7)
Stunned into a more prevalent silence, the company
suddenly comes to a halt, all eyes turning towards Chix'ani
as they stand against the buffeting sand.

CHIX'ANI: (firmly) We must make haste for the ridge. I know
not what forces are at work here, but it is clear that they do
not bode well!

EFFECT A1S1E7 (8)
As if in response to his words, a second great rush of wind
blow across the desert, redirecting the flow of the sandstorm
before it ceases entirely.

ROLE (F) FEMALE: A dracnari female

COSTUME FEMALECOSTUME: Unremarkable in her appearance,
this aslaran female wears a simple wrap of undyed silk about
her slender form. Her eyes appear somewhat sunken, and she
seems to move in an overly cautious manner that betrays her
constant fear.

FEMALE: pauses for a moment, her eyes widening as she
stares towards the eastern skyline.

FEMALE: Chix'ani...Chixani, look to the skies!

EFFECT A1S1E8 (7)
Following the female's horrified gaze, each member of the
company turns in unison to stare towards the broad, wavering
horizon, murmurs and whispers soon turning to utterances of
prayer and, in more than a few cases, what would seem to be
strings of expletives. A great crimson cloud has amassed in the
distance, looming near the skyline and churning with an eerie
malevolence.

CHIX'ANI: (attempting to quiet the unrest) Friends, we must
remain strong. A simple mirage cannot b--

EFFECT A1S1E9 (7)
He is interrupted by the shrill whistle of a flying dart, which
passes just inches from his head before disappearing into the
sand.

EFFECT A1S1E10 (7)
Unsheathing rapiers and daggers of shining gold, Chix'ani and
a handful of others quickly assemble in a protective circle. The
very young and very old watch from behind the warriors' ranks,
scanning the dunes cautiously.

CHIX'ANI: I am called Chix'ani, we are but simple nomads. We
seek passage to the eastern ridge!

EFFECT A1S1E11 (7)
The desert remains silent.

CHIX'ANI: Reveal yourselves!

EFFECT A1S1E12 (11)
A pool of sand suddenly begins pulling itself into a sinkhole, a trio
of yellow-scaled dracnari rising from its depths like colourful
scorpions. They crawl upwards and rise to their feet without a
moment's hesitation, blowguns and throwing knives poised to
strike. Moving forward as a unit, they quickly eliminate the
distance between themselves and the nomads before coming to
a halt.

ROLE (F) CHENDETHI: Chendethi, mercenary of the Sunscar

COSTUME CHENDETHICOSTUME: Curvacious and slender, this
dracnari woman moves with a practiced grace and affinity for
the desert around her. Her face and arms are shrouded with
layered veils of lavender and silver, the golden edging matching
the reptilian eyes that stare from behind narrow slits. Supple,
blackened leather traces across her form in a system of straps
and cut sheets, the handles of countless unidentifiable weapons
visible as they sit tucked away in various, convenient locations.

EFFECT A1S1E13 (14)
"Chix'ani," states the tallest of this group, a female draped in
veils of silk. She strides forward to stand before the nomad, her
head inclined curiously.

EFFECT A1S1E14 (7)
Her comrades stare from behind her with caution, narrowed
eyes glaring from within their cowls.

CHIX'ANI: As I said, we seek only passage through the eastern
mountains.

CHIX'ANI: lowers his blades in a show of good faith, his tail
lashing anxiously from side to side.

EFFECT A1S1E15 (7)
The tall female stands in silence for another handful of
moments before reciprocating the gesture, returning her
curved knives to the holsters strapped to her thighs.

EFFECT A1S1E16 (14)
"Well met, nomad. I am Chendethi, mercenary of the Sunscar
clan."

EFFECT A1S1E17 (7)
With a sharp wave of her hand, Chendethi orders her coterie
to stand down. Each of them stows their weapons away in an
almost disappointed manner, muttering quietly.

CHIX'ANI: Sunscar...tell me, does your camp lie near the eastern
ridge?

CHENDETHI: (laughingly) The eastern ridge? My friend, your sense
of distance is somewhat flawed. If you seek the eastern ridge, you
have at least six days of travel ahead of you.

EFFECT A1S1E18 (7)
This news is met with dismay from all of Chix'ani's company,
parents consoling their children even as their own faces
cross with hopelessness.

CHENDETHI: The fact that you seek the ridge is proof enough for
me. Our Seer spoke of your coming, nomad.

CHIX'ANI: (curiously) Your Seer?

EFFECT A1S1E19 (7)
She nods simply, beckoning to the nomad tribe as she turns on her
heels and begins walking in a seemingly-random direction.

The nomads turn towards their leader questioningly, glancing
from him to the enigmatic mercenary as she disappears over a
nearby dune. He nods, and they all set off in a brisk run to
catch up.

CHIX'ANI: What does your Seer know of these happenings? Is it
as we all fear?

CHENDETHI: She does not know, for sure. For the past eight months
she has sat in trance, going on about moons and clouds and
crystals...nothing strange, for her.

EFFECT A1S1E20 (7)
The backdrop of the stage scrolls to reveal the barest hints
of desert encampment, nestled within ledges of stone that jutt
out from sandstone plateaus.

XISANIL: (again dashing playfully through the sand) Father, what
is a Seer?

CHENDETHI: Sariti, our Seer, is a wisewoman of sorts. You will
see quite soon - we draw close to the camp.

XISANIL: (in a chipper tone) Oh, so she is like Tenari! She was
mean, she did not want to leave with us.

CHIX'ANI: Son, do not speak of our mystic with such disrespect.

XISANIL: (softly) But she was so mean...she told us we were all
going to be eaten!

CHIX'ANI: casts his stern gaze towards his son, who shrinks back
slightly and turns his head in shame.

CHENDETHI: Then it would seem we are all on the same page,
indeed.

EFFECT A1S1E21 (7)
Returning to silence, the mercenary motions for her followers
to increase their pace, seemingly oblivious to the strange, red
haze that just barely skims the midday horizon.

EFFECT A1S1E22 (7)
The nomads as well seem to have forgotten about this omen,
trekking along with a solemnity comparable to a burial march as
the lights of the stage begin to dim.

EFFECT A1S1E23 (7)
Your view of the desert fades just as the curtains begin to
close. Various noises and whispers echo from behind the
curtains as the stagehands prepare the following scene.