In the Name of Kretosh

Act 1, Scene 1

Narrator 1: In a land lost in time, a planet destroyed by war, two raging factions fought since anyone could remember.

Narrator 2: But it was not always like this, there was a time in Kretosh where peace governed, and the clans were friends and the people lived long and healthy. They were always two factions, for two different gods had come to Kretosh to plant the seed of life and to guide their new civilizations in their ways. 

Narrator 1: Nekane, the goddess of the wind, created the Katai. They were nice gentle Kayitas that believe in the ways of nature. Though sometimes wild, they were kind and loving. 

Narrator 2: Valco, the god of fire and strength created the Empire, he was a strong believer of strictness and rules. The Kayitas he created were fierce and bold, they had a hidden rage in them and though some were violent they liked their peace. 

Narrator 1: When the gods thought it was time to go and let the civilizations flourish on their own, they gave them one last gift.

Narrator 2: Nekane gave her people the gift of turning invisible and the ability to shift the wind at their pleasure. Valco gave his people the gift to control fire.

Narrator 1: When the gods left, the Kayitas wanted to preserve the peace, so the build the city of Temgros in the middle of the borderline, and made it the capital of both clans. Where no matter what you were, a Katai or an Imperial, you would always be a Kayita.

Narrator 2: In the middle of the capital a throne room was built, which held two thrones. One of silver, for the Katai. For them, silver meant strength and equilibrium. It was also Nekane’s precious metal. The other throne was for the Imperials, made of gold. It represented power and riches. It was also the material in which Valco's armor was made.

(Open curtains)

(Just outside the throne room, the General is screaming at the face of Counselor Ying)

Narrator 1: Both kings were meant to sit there, a Queen and a King for the land of Kretosh. But not all believe that sharing the power was a good idea.

General Shang: Why do we do this? Why wait? Does the king seriously think that those bad blooded wind insects will remain at peace? They are liars. I’m sure they are planning a way to keep the throne just for themselves.

Counselor 1: General, stop immediately! You are making a scandal. The king trusts the queen of the Katai and so shall we.

General Sang: Oh please, open up your eyes. The king is clearly not thinking. That witch must have poisoned him somehow, they are vile creatures that hide in the dark.

Counselor 1: General please, if the kings hear you, you are as good as dead. You know the king's law and punishment for anyone that dares to threaten the peace. It’s banishment to the Nimara Desert, and do you know who lives there? A giant Kayita eating serpent!! 

Counselor 2: Now look who is screaming and making a scandal.  I for once agree with the General.

General Shang: Thank you counselor Martha.

Counselor 2: Now, now General. I may agree with you that the sons of the Wind are up to no good. But let’s not jump to drastic conclusions. Do you have any hard evidence of their plotting?

General Shang: Well no, but...

Counselor 1: Then you can prove nothing! You are risking us all for nothing, your own mere paranoia. 

General Shang: I’m not paranoid. Do you seriously trust those Kayitas that don’t follow the same laws, that they have a different ruler and that they have different ways? For starters the belief that we were created by a Wind goddess. It was clearly Valco, his ways are the right ones, his rules are the right ones, and he is the righteous God of Kretosh.

Counselor 1: Even though we know that Valco created us, they have the right to think differently.

General Shang: And how do we know that their fake god doesn’t tell them to force us all into their fake faith.

Counselor 2: He is right, we don’t know what their ways are, they could be the same or they could be different and savage.

Counselor 1: Oh my Valco! If their ways were bad and hurtful don’t you think they would have acted by now?

General Shang: If they have a good tactician they will wait for us to turn around and stab us in the back.

Counselor 1: This conversation is sub-realistic, nothing is happening and nothing will happen. There is no conspiracy.

General Shang: Just wait and see, maybe you’ll die but I’m not going to be caught off guard.

(General Shang puts on the helmet he's been holding onto and walks out)

Counselor 1: If you support his points of view, then you shouldn’t be a counselor. The king wants peace, and that he shall have.

Counselor 2: We shall see.

(Close curtains)

Act 1, Scene 2

(At the Ales n' Beds Tavern in the lower part of the city. The General is venting his frustration with Counselor Ying with the best Ale of Temgros)

General Shang: Oh Valco, why did you abandoned us? (Hic) Can't you see from the sky that we are walking right into a trap? Why did you let those insects alive? (Hic) They are corroding the mind of the king. (Hic) Oh Valco, oh Valco, why! (Hic)

Imperial Citizen 1: Hey, you!

(Shang looks vaguely at him and points at himself).

Yeah, you. Why are you saying our gods' name in vain! You are drunk! You are cursing yourself.

General Shang: Oh, why does it matter! The king is making a fool of himself, and with that, he is making a fool out of the mighty (Hic) Empire.

IC 1: Oh for the sake of Valco, someone should kick him out of here. How can you say that about our king?

General Shang: Because it’s true. (Hic) He is joining forces with that wind insect.

IC 1: You mean the Katai queen?

General Shang: The one and only, that witch.

Katai Citizen 1: How dare you? Say those words again to my face if you dare.

IC 2: I’m sure the general isn't thinking clearly, there is no need to get into a fight.

General Shang: No! The one who isn't thinking clearly is the king (Hic). He agrees with a wind insect. And you are just as bad as her! Wasting all the good ale with this wind insects.

KC 2: Nero, we should go, he is just saying nonsense.

KC 1: No! First, he disrespects our queen and then he insults us.

(Turns and faces the General)

 I'm gonna show you the stars.

General Shang: Okay, bring it on!

(They start punching each other, while KC 2, IC 1 and IC 2 try to stop them.)

IC 2: Someone call a guard, please!!

(A guard arrives and stops the fight, another one arrives and holds the general who is badly beaten up and cannot stand alone)

Guard 1: What happened here!?

KC 2: The general drank too much ale.

KC 1: He insulted the kings and us, I was just teaching him a lesson.

Guard 1: Just take the General to his house. And next time just call a guard first and we will deal with it.

(Close Curtains)

Act 1, Scene 3

(The general is sleeping in his bed, but suddenly a bang is heard outside his window, he stands up and opens the window, down he sees some Imperial Citizens that want to speak to him, he goes downstairs and invites them inside, and they are all seating in a table.)

Rebel 1: General, we heard you.

Rebel 2: Yeah, we heard you in the tavern.

Rebel 1: You were saying how bad the king was acting getting all friendly with that queen.

Rebel 4: Yeah, that wind insect.

Rebel 3: We came because we want to stop him from making the worst decision in the history of the Empire.

Rebel 1: What we are trying to say is that we want to overthrow the king and separate from that wind insect.

General Shang: Wait a minute, overthrow the king is way too much, and after all, he hasn’t done anything bad

Rebel 2: He hasn’t?

General Shang: No he hasn’t. It’s that wind insect, she is infecting his mind.

Rebel 1: Then we kill her!

Rebel 2 and 4: Yeah! Kill her!

General Shang: No, we don’t kill her. If we do that then they will see us as the bad guys. We need to make the rest of the Imperials aware that the Sons of the Wind have no good intentions.

Rebel 3: But how are we going to do it if they haven’t done anything wrong yet?

General Shang: Then we will have to make them do something bad, don’t you think?

Rebel 1: What do you have in mind general?

General Shang: Well, maybe the queen is not the best target. If those insects, for example, were to kill or threaten someone as important as the king, then the whole Empire will view them as bad.

Rebel 3: So we threaten our own king?

General Shang: No, the insects will do it.

Rebel 4: But aren’t we going to do it?

General Shang: You know the problem with royals. They never learn names or faces of commoners. To their eyes, we will be just Katai soldiers.

Rebel 1: That is a smart plan General, but how are we gonna get the Katai clothes?

General Shang: I'm a general, I control the military, I can get the guards uniforms. All you have to do is call as many Revolutionaries as possible and be ready for tomorrow. A toast to the King!

Rebels 1, 2, 3 &4: To the king, long live his majesty!

(Close Curtain, Narrators Appear)

Narrator 1: And so, as the morning came the Rebels and the General started their plan, they dressed up as Katai soldiers and walked down the hallways of the palace.

Narrator 2: Nobody could imagine what would happen next, the General locked the throne room and left one door open. From where the kings came with the Counselors, and after they were all seated the rebels came from behind and slit their throats.

Narrator 1: All that was left was to incriminate the Katai queen, so they left her alive but unconscious. The General called the real guards when the rebels left and accused the Queen of killing the King.

Narrator 2: A day after the events, the jury decided the queen was to be guilty since the only witness was the General and he accused her. She was tried for murder and was executed the same day as the trial.

Narrator 1: But that didn't end there. It was just the beginning of the war, the Katai were angry that their Queen had just been, as they put "murdered", they believed in the innocence of their Queen, and wanted justice. On the other hand, the Imperial saw the Katai as their enemies, nobody trusted each other.

Narrator 2: And so the people left Temgros because violence was starting to dominate the streets, you couldn't put a Katai and an Imperial in a locked room together unless you want two dead bodies. A week later the Empire declared war on the Sons of the Wind and so the Thousands Years War started.

(Act 2, Scene 1)

Narrator 1: And this is where our story starts, exactly 5 thousand years later. The land of Kretosh, now arid and destroyed, was divided into two unequal territories. The northeastern mountains controlled by the Katai held the only mines that still worked and the only place where minerals could be extracted. Here the weather was cold, it snowed day and night and the only way to survive was to live in the caves filled with toxic fumes from the mineral extraction.

Narrator 2: And the rest of Kretosh belonged to the Empire, who throughout the war had been more successful with their fire powers. But sadly the earth had been burned and no minerals were left in the soil. Nothing grew, only dirt could be seen. They also hold the Nimara Desert, but nobody dared to venture there since the giant serpent roamed freely.

Narrator 1: The Kayitas from both clans were starving and sick but there was nothing anyone could do except fight and wait.

Narrator 2: Or so they thought.

(Open Curtains, Narrators go away)

(Nekane, princess of the Katai is combing the hair of her white horse Asti)

Reed: (calls from within) Nekane! Nekane!

Nekane: What does this boy want now? I wish father would let me out of the mines without an escort. (Looks at Asti) Yeah, I know Asti. I also want to go to the valley, but remember, those barbaric Imperials have been spotted really close to the mines openings, and we need to be careful.

(Enter Reed who is been running and now is sweaty and tired)

Reed: There you are... I've been looking for you.

Nekane: Yeah, I can see that. (Keeps combing Asti)

Reed: What part of "Nekane you can't leave without an escort" don't you understand?! You know your father only says it for your protection.

Nekane: I don't need protection, I can defend myself, I’ve trained.

Reed: Yes, we know you can handle enemies, but what if something goes wrong and they capture you?

Nekane: Then I escape.

Reed: But what if you can't? You have to think about the others. You are our princess, once your father dies, you must lead us. If they kidnap you who is going to be our leader and guide us?

Nekane: First of all, father isn't going to die anytime soon. Second I didn't choose to be the princess, I can't guide the Katai. And lastly, I know you got my back even when I say to leave me alone.

Reed: One day I’m gonna do what you say and I’m not going to be able to save you.

Nekane: Yeah that is never going to happen. (Giggles)

(Reed holds Nekane against a tree and starts messing with her hair, they both look at each other’s eyes and smile)

Reed: You know, you look beautiful today.

Nekane: I know

(They kiss)

Nekane: What was that for?

Reed: Why not... Was it bad?

Nekane: You'll have to give me another one to compare.

(Reed closes in to kiss her but before he does anything he jumps away and looks at their surroundings.)

Nekane: What’s wrong?

Reed: Don't move.

Nekane: But what is it?

(Reed closes Nekanes’ mouth and puts one hand on it)

Reed: There is someone hiding behind those bushes. You stay here I'll go see.

(Reed moves silently to the bushes while Nekane holds Asti so she doesn’t move)

Reed: Who is over here? Come out this instant!

Imperial Assassin: Oh I’m so sorry. I’m a merchant that lost his way. I saw you and I wondered if you could help me.

Reed: You wear Katai clothes but I've never seen you before. Why are you in the valley, no one is permitted to be here.

IA: As I told you before, I’m a Katai merchant, lost my way when coming from the eastern port.

Nekane: (to Reed) Reed! He is lying, my father wouldn't permit trading with the port controlled by the Imperials.

Reed: (to Nekane) I know, but let’s see what he comes up with when I present him to your father. (To the IA) Do you mind coming with us to the mines?

IA: Of course not, I was on my way over there.

Nekane: Yeah sure.

(They all walk out and enter the mines, Nekane holds the torch and they enter the Kings Conference room, where the king and his generals are reunited discussing a plan of attack.)

(Close Curtains & and open)

(Act 2, Scene 2)

King Daniel: What is this intrusion?

Nekane: I’m sorry to intrude father, but this stranger appeared out of the blue while I was tending to my horse.

King Daniel: Do you have an explanation for this?

IA: Yes sir, I'm a merchant and I got lost on my way back to the mines.

Reed: He said that he came from the eastern ports.

King Daniel: If you are a merchant, may I see your merchandise?

IA: Well, when I got lost I traveled through Imperial-controlled territory and they stole everything.

King Daniel: And how come that they left you alive?

IA: I’m just a merchant, I really have no value, it doesn't make a difference if I'm dead or alive.

King Daniel: Then it doesn't matter now if you are dead or alive. Generals, kill him!

(Two generals hold him while a third kills him)

Nekane: Father no! Why did you do that?!

King Daniel: Everyone leave I need a minute alone with my daughter.

Reed: (to Nekane) I'll be outside if you need me.

(Everyone gets out except the King and Nekane)

Nekane: Father why?! What if he was innocent?

King Daniel: He wasn't. He was probably an Imperial Assassin. It couldn't be a coincidence that he showed up when you were alone and far from help.

Nekane: It's true that it didn't make sense his story of being a merchant, but maybe he wasn't going to do anything bad.

King Daniel: Oh Nekane, for Goddess sake, wake up! We are in a war! You are the most prized thing for the Katai, you have a target on your back. If the Empire kills you, the will win this war!

Nekane: What war, father? What are we fighting for!? There is nothing left. No lands, no resources, no nothing. This war is nonsense. Tell me, father, what are we fighting for!?

King Daniel: For our survival dear, for mine, for yours, for the survival of the Sons of the Wind. The Empire is an evil thing, they want only to eradicate us, and we need to protect ourselves.

Nekane: But father, wouldn't it be easier to go back to how we were when the gods were here?

King Daniel: Those are only children stories! There can be no peace between our clans.

Nekane: But the books...

King Daniel: The books are bedtime stories!

Nekane: Then tell me, how did the fighting start father, how did it destroy everything?

King Daniel: There was always fighting, since the beginning of times, since the creation of the universe.

Nekane: No father! You are wrong. If you just read our ancient books you'll see that...

King Daniel: Stop this!! There was never peace and there will never be peace. Not as long as I'm King.

Nekane: I’ll change it, there is no need for war, you...

King Daniel: Enough! Thank Reed for saving you and go do your chores.

Nekane: Yes father.

(Nekane leaves outside the meeting room and faces Reed who has been waiting)

Reed: What happen Nekane, are you alright? You seem mad.

Nekane: How am I suppose to be alright, a man has just been murder in front of me.

Reed: It was either him or us. Your father did the right thing.

Nekane: How can you say that? Murder is a crime its wrong!

Reed: Nekane we are in a war, we can't think of the injustices committed till it ends. If your father let him lived he could have warned others of our position. We survive because we can hide.

Nekane: Then lets end this war, lets make peace. No more deaths, no more injustices.

Reed: Everyone wants it to end, but no one can do it. We can't beat them, and they can't beat us. And peace, how are we gonna make peace after thousands of years of war?

Nekane: We got to start somewhere. I can go ask the prince of the Empire if they are willing to make a peace treaty. That way father isn't at risk, and it would be a sign of trust.

Reed: Are you crazy!! Going to the Empires capital is suicide ... and foolish. You are talking like a child.

Nekane: And you are talking like my father. And you know what he has done? cause death, for both factions. He doesn't even know what we are fighting for!

Reed: Nekane, listen to me. Stay save, stay with us in the mines. Don't go out to explore, or to try foolish quest. Live long so you can lead us into battle, for glory and for life. When you die, you'll go down as one of the greatest queens of the Katai. The children will look at you as a great warrior and fighter, and they will fight just as good as you.

Nekane: I don't want to go down as someone else who continue the fight, I don't want to be a warrior. I want to be remembered as the one who ended the fight. The one who was able to look pass our differences and build towards a new united nation together, Katais and Imperials, like the old times.

Reed: That is impossible Nekane. You know what you want cannot be done. There was always fighting and they will always be.

Nekane: Not if I have anything to say. You are either with me or against me. I tell you this because I can trust you. In two days, before the sun rises in the East, I'll leave for the Empires Capital, you can either join me on my journey or you can stay and kill whoever poor innocent passes through the mountains. Bye Reed.

(Nekane leaves)

Reed: You know I'll follow you till hell if needed. 

(Curtains close)

Act 3, Scene 1

(Two days later. Nekane waits for Reed outside the mines with two backpacks full of food and some treasure. Nekane is armed with leather armor and a sword, she has everything she need for her journey. Soon Reed joins her and without any words they start their descent of the Mountains and head south towards the old forgotten city of Temgros.)

(Open curtains)

Reed: Where are we going?

Nekane: The Empires Capital.

Reed: Do you know where is that?

Nekane: South.

Reed: How south?

Nekane: A lot. Now can we please keep going?

Reed: Yeah sorry... But why are we going to Temgros first?

Nekane: You just can't shut up can you? Because in the book it says that in Temgros, a long time ago, both clans co-existed in peace. So I'm guessing that there should be some writing as to where the Empires Capital is located.

Reed: That is a really big guess. What if they moved the capital? And what book are you talking about?

Nekane: If they moved the capital then when we get to the Empires land we ask. And the book, is just and old thing I found in the library about the old times, when we where at peace with each other.

Reed: You know? I think you are the only Kayita that has enter the library since it was build.

Nekane: It's a great place actually, lots of knowledge.

Reed: Yeah, but who has the time to read. We are at war, everyone is training and or fighting. And how do you plan to ask an Imperial where the capital is? Cause like we dress like Katai, and we are kind of there enemies.

Nekane: Lets just focus on one thing at a time. First we need to find Temgros, then we'll think about interacting with the Impirials.

(Close curtains)

(Reed and Nekane continue their journey till they reach the ruins of an old city, Temgros. The buildings are broken and plants dominate everything. They walk to a main structure and see the thrones. They wander and read off some walls it with writings and drawings, also from some books with can be found on the floor. Reed sits on the golden throne.)

Reed: Hey look, I'm a king!
Nekane: Really Reed? We are searching for a way to end a war and you are playing Queens and Kings.
Reed: What? I have to have fun somehow.
Nekane: How can you have fun in a place like this. It gives me the creeps... And weren't you the one that said we are at war, in a hurry, and we had to be careful
Reed: You take the fun out of everything darling.
Nekane: What did you just call me?
Reed: My beautiful darling.

(Nekane ignores his comments, and reads out loud from a book call The Empires States Travel Guide)

Nekane: Look this dates back 5 thousand years, its almost in perfect conditions. Caema the Empire main city located just above the river Salanis and under the temple of Valco. Look it gives an exact location. Let me just get a map.

Reed: Hey look at this guy (says looking at a mural of Valco and Nekane) He is so angry, and so stiff. And look at this one, she is soo old and too much jewlery.

Nekane: Jajajaja She is Nekane, our godsess.

Reed: She is ?!?!

Nekane: Yes she is ( laughts)... Come help me out Reed. Look, in the maps there is no river. But according to the Guide, Salanis should travel from the Easter  Salanis mountain range down to the Nimara dessert.

Reed: Thats interesting, could it be, that the river is no longer there?

Nekane: How can that happen?

Reed: Well Imperials did destroyed the land when they battle, with their fire power they could have dried up the river.

Nekane: But to dry an immense river, would they have needed thousands of years.

Reed: Well the conflict did start thousands of years ago.

Nekane: What have we done to our poor Kretosh, we have destroyed it.

Reed: No, not we, they. They are the killers.

Nekane: Ok, so our next step is to go north-east, just before reaching the valleys of the mountains.