Tag: Balancing The Cha
TRANSCRIPT
AGLOR: Cousin, I can’t tell you how good it is to have you with us again after all this time.
DARVIK: It feels … a bit strange, I don’t mind telling you. My children have never been in Erogenia.
PANEL 2
AGLOR: Well … as you know, in my opinion, the Fox Tribe hasn’t really been in what you or I would call Erogenia since my aunt …
DARVIK: Went crazy?
AGLOR: In a word. Yes.
DARVIK: Well, she’s in Summerland now, gone to be reunited with her wits at long last. Poor stupid b-
AGLOR: Darvik …
DARVIK: Right . Least said about that the better.
AGLOR: Well, we are still all … adjusting. Most folk are welcoming the change back to normalcy, but some people in high places seemed to benefit from Kurya’s eccentric way of doing things, so I am running into opposition here and there. And, well … we’re all foxes, aren’t we?
DARVIK: Yes.
AGLOR: Which is why I need you, and I hope you will take a seat on my council. Please.
IPOLA: How odd. Hearing you put it like that … Another man like you - in some ways - spoke of the same things to me just days ago. But he wasn’t so full of hate as you are. His way didn’t need for others to die or be destroyed so his people could live and create themselves, owing nothing to Erogenia. He was … a wise man, I think. Even if all the Erogenian nations are destroyed and all of us killed - you would still remember us, no matter how you tried to forget. If we did the same to you - we would still remember you. You can rewrite history all you want, but you are from our seed. We are part of each other, even in our blood. We have been since the beginning, for ill and for good. Perhaps there is another way. A way I couldn’t see when I made that oath twenty years ago. There must be - if we can only find it.
GORSHASH: No.
IPOLA: We could destroy you, as I promised. You have found the dragons, but there is more and greater power in the world than even the dragons - and there always has been. If this war goes forward, it could end in a hollow victory for us all.
GOSHASH: That is your weakness, Ipola Queen. You speak as one who fears destruction. God revels in it, and in all that dies for His glory. That is why we will prevail.
TRANSCRIPT:
IPOLA: Thanks. He talked … too much.
GORSHASH: No, I will not have your thanks. I will have nothing from you.
IPOLA: So - are we going a few rounds, then... you and me?
GORSHASH: No. Clothe yourself. Take your weapons. I will arrange for a mount and that you may leave this sacred place. If you take care you may find your way home past our sentries and patrols.
IPOLA: Okay. Care to tell me why?
GORSHASH: You already know, I think.
IPOLA: Humor me for a moment.
GORSHASH: Because I wish for Kor Lachnis’ words to be a lie. I will make it so that Urtts owe nothing to him - or to you. We will owe nothing to your kind. We will be the makers of ourselves, and we will be the ones to defeat and destroy you - even as you swore you would do to the Urtt those years ago. Eroghen shall die, its memory forgotten. And, in time, Urtts will make our own slaves, even the degraded eshtakks will be wiped out - and you will be as if you had never been.
TRANSCRIPT:
Riderless, the dragon flies off.
Ipola surveys her dead enemies, and her dead friend.
IPOLA: Hrraarch ... Oh, Luna, how can I ever balance this?
KOR LACHNIS: Thuu-duthracani!
IPOLA: AAGH!
A sudden magick bolt takes Ipola from behind - she is down.
KOR LACHNIS: <Marvelous. So unexpected ... And so completely marvelous! Take her back to the temple. >
ZONA: That is *not* the reason we came after you. The reason … I … came after you.
TULA: There was more than one reason. More than one purpose in our actions. Not all of it is under our control. But you are here. Zona and you are together. And that is a powerful good, not just for you two.
PONTAGAR: And that? (pointing at the torc)
ZONA: Mentl is my silver-bonded and a member of our tribe.
PONTAGAR: Charming.
MENTL: You got a problem with that, Big Red?
PONTAGAR: (shrugs) If I do or don’t, what does it matter to you? Just kill a dragon, little man, and this I swear - any problems I ever had with you will go away. Gen venon co Eroghen. Welcome to the tribes of Erogenia.
ZONA: I’m proud of you, Pontagar. You’ve learned some rudimentary manners.
PONTAGAR: Hmf!
ZONA: But we also have some important news. From my mother.
(Pontagar and Rannik’sears prick up)
ZONA: And also from my father.
(Pontagar and Rannik: “WHAAAA?”)
"Dig my grave"
Dig my grave
Mentl plows a hole in the ground sufficient for the corpses - all while keeping the dirt suspended above it
GUNTIG: Well, that’s ...
TULA: Impressive?
TULA: For what it’s worth, I think you made a very persuasive case.
IPOLA: I am glad the three of you were there to add your voices.
TULA: Me too.
IPOLA: Zonn’s right. They’re … an unallied tribe. We can’t hold them to an oath that only some of them took twenty-five or thirty years ago.
TULA: We could. There’s a precedent.
IPOLA: I won’t.
TULA: I know.
POLA: I … am so glad you are here. So glad you found Mentl, and that you and Zona are well.
TULA: Not half as glad as we are, but yes, I appreciate it.
IPOLA: What about the artifact?
TULA: The Book? Mentl has It - or It has him. It pops in and out when It pleases Itself to do. We no longer worry about It when It disappears. It always comes back eventually.
IPOLA: Ah - until the time It doesn’t.
TULA: I try not to think about that.
UISSAN: Your Majesty …
TETHIK: Well, at least he didn’t kill you, fellow. Dammit! Fool, I should have - (sees a note with the ring on top of it)
“THANN: My Lord Tethik, Sorry to disappoint you, but now that Mommy’s not holding my hand, I decided I didn’t want to wait around for you to try to kill me. Trust me, it wouldn’t have ended well for you, and while I know we’re not friends, I don’t like killing people for free if I can help it. Do yourself a favor and don’t try to find me.
Thann”
TETHIK: Bastard.